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Constitutional Development of India (Part-I)

📆 October 25, 2024

Total Questions: 42

21. British East India Company lost the monopoly of Tea trade by — [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

Correct Answer: (c) The Charter Act of 1833
Solution:There were many consecutive Acts which were passed by British East India Company, as follows: Charter Act 1833. All commercial advantages and rights were completely abolished by the Charter Act 1833. Now, Company had only administrative rights on behalf of the British Crown.

22. . In which of the following year almost the entire area of present Uttar Pradesh was separated from Bengal Presidency and placed under Agra Presidency? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]

Correct Answer: (c) 1834 A.D.
Solution:The area of present-day Uttar Pradesh was acquired gradually by East India Company from the last quarter of the 18th century to the mid-19th century. This entire area was first placed with Bengal presidency, but in 1834, it was separated to form North-Western Provinces under Agra Presidency.

23. Which of the following Acts transferred the Government of India from East India Company to the Crown? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]

Correct Answer: (c) The Government of India Act, 1858
Solution:British Parliament tabled the Government of India Act, 1858, which transferred powers from the East India Company to the Crown. A member of the British Parliament was made Secretary of State for India to exercise powers on behalf of the Crown and was responsible to the British Parliament, assisted by the Advisory Council of India. The Council of India had 15 members, 8 appointed by the Crown and 7 elected by the Court of Directors. Secretary of State for India was to exercise the powers which were being enjoyed by the Court of Directors and Board of Control.

24. Consider the following statements — [I.A.S. (Pre) 2006]

  1. The Charter Act, 1853 abolished East India Company monopoly of Indian trade.
  2. Under the Government of India Act, 1858, the British Parliament abolished the East India Company altogether and undertook the responsibility of ruling India directly.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:The Charter Act of 1813 ended the monopoly of the East India Company in India. However, the company's monopoly in trade with China and trade in tea remained intact. Thus statement 1 is not correct. British Parliament brought the Government of India Act, 1858, which transferred powers from the East India Company to the Crown and took the responsibility of ruling India directly. Thus statement 2 is correct.

25. Which one of the following Acts empowered the Governor-General of India to issue Ordinances? [U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001 U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (b) Indian Councils Act of 1861
Solution:The Indian Councils Act of 1861 introduced significant reforms, including the expansion of the Executive Council, the formalization of the portfolio system, legislative devolution to provinces, the nomination of Indian members, the Viceroy's emergency ordinance power, and the authority to regulate council business.
  • Introduction of the Portfolio System: The act formalised Lord Canning's 'portfolio'
    system, which assigned specific government departments to each council member.
    This was intended to improve administrative efficiency by allowing members to issue final orders within their respective departments.
  • Legislative Devolution to Provinces: The act returned legislative powers to the
    Bombay and Madras Presidency, reversing previous acts' centralisation trends. It also established new legislative councils in Bengal (1862), the North-Western Frontier Province (1866), and Punjab (1897), laying the groundwork for increased provincial autonomy.
  • Nomination of Indian Members: According to the act, the Viceroy may nominate
    Indians to legislative councils. Lord Canning recommended three prominent Indians: the Raja of Benaras, the Maharaja of Patiala, and Sir Dinkar Rao.
  • Viceroy's Ordinance Power: The act granted the Viceroy the authority to issue
    ordinances valid for up to six months during an emergency without legislative council approval. Despite the act's decentralisation measures, this provision emphasised the Viceroy's retained central authority.
  • Empowerment to Regulate Council Business: The act empowered the Viceroy to issue rules and orders to ensure that the council runs smoothly, consolidating his control over legislative procedures and improving operational effectiveness.

26. Which one of the following Acts of British India strengthened the Viceroy’s authority over his executive council by substituting "portfolio" or departmental system for corporate functioning? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]

Correct Answer: (a) Indian Councils Act, 1861
Solution:The Indian Council Act, 1861, strengthened the Viceroy’s authority. Canning reorganized his executive Council, instituting departmental distribution of responsibilities. He substituted "portfolio" or department system by which every department of administration was headed by an individual.

27. By a Regulation in 1793, the District Collector was deprived of his judicial powers and made the collecting agent only. What was the reason for such regulation? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (c) Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such absolute power was undesirable in one person.
Solution:Cornwallis judicial reforms took the final shape in 1793 and were embodied in the famous Cornwallis Code. The new reforms were based on the principle of Separation of Powers. Under the influence of the eighteenth-century French philosophers, Cornwallis sought to separate the revenue administration from the administration of justice. The Collector was the head of the revenue department in a district and also enjoyed extensive judicial and magisterial powers. Cornwallis believed that concentration of all powers in the hands of the Collector in the District retards the improvement as a judge of the Diwani Adalat redress the wrongs done by him as collector or assessor of revenue? Thus, neither the landlords nor the cultivators could regard the Collector as impartial Judge in revenue cases: The Cornwallis Code divested the Collector of all judicial and magisterial powers and left him with the duty of administration of revenue. A new class of officer called the District Judge was created to preside over the District Civil Court. The District Judge was empowered with magisterial and police functions.

28. The monopoly of the East India Company in India’s trade was abolished in [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]

Correct Answer: (c) 1813
Solution:The monopoly of East India Company in India’s trade was abolished by the Charter Act of 1813. But they held the monopoly on the trade of Tea and trade with China.

The Charter Act of 1813, also referred to as the East India Company Act 1813, was a legislative measure passed by the British Parliament that extended the East India Company's charter for an additional 20 years. This extension was notable for reflecting a shift in British policy regarding the administration of India.

  • The Act restricted certain monopolistic rights of the East India Company while allowing it to retain control over the trade in tea and commerce with China.
  • It liberalised Indian trade by allowing all British merchants to participate, except in these areas.
  • Additionally, the Act established a more organised and regulated framework for governance in India, incorporating provisions for education, missionary activities, and specific financial allocations.

29. By which Act, the British Parliament had abolished the monopoly of East India Company's trade in India except Tea and China trade? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2017]

Correct Answer: (a) Charter Act of 1813
Solution:The monopoly of East India Company in India’s trade was abolished by the Charter Act of 1813. But they held the monopoly on the trade of Tea and trade with China.The Charter Act of 1813, also referred to as the East India Company Act 1813, was a legislative measure passed by the British Parliament that extended the East India Company's charter for an additional 20 years. This extension was notable for reflecting a shift in British policy regarding the administration of India.
  • The Act restricted certain monopolistic rights of the East India Company while allowing it to retain control over the trade in tea and commerce with China.
  • It liberalised Indian trade by allowing all British merchants to participate, except in these areas.
  • Additionally, the Act established a more organised and regulated framework for governance in India, incorporating provisions for education, missionary activities, and specific financial allocations.

30. By which of the following regulations, British East India Company's trade monopoly in India was abolished? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (c) Charter Act of 1833
Solution:The Charter Act of 1833 centralized British governance in India by extending the East India Company's lease and empowering the Governor-General, while lifting trade monopolies and facilitating European colonization. It also prohibited discrimination against Indians and initiated reforms to improve slavery conditions, leading to its abolition in 1843.

The Company's 20-year lease was extended. The Crown would govern India's territories, and the Company's monopoly on trade with China and tea was lifted.

The restrictions on European immigration and property acquisition in India have been lifted. This paved the way for extensive European colonisation of India.

The Charter Act, 1833 centralised administrative power by establishing a single governing body for British India. The administrative powers of the
East India Company were transferred to a new position known as the Governor-General of India.

• The governor-general was appointed to oversee and direct the Company's civil and military affairs.
• The governor-general assumed complete control over Bengal, Madras, Bombay, and other territories.
• The governor-general would control all revenues and expenditures.

• The Governments of Madras and Bombay lost their legislative powers and were only able to propose law projects to the Governor-General.
A law expert was appointed to the governor-general's council to provide professional advice on legislation.

The Company prohibits discrimination against Indian citizens based on religion, colour, birthplace, or descent. Although the reality differed, this declaration served as the foundation for political activism in India.
The administration was urged to improve slavery conditions and eventually abolish it. (Slavery was abolished in 1843)

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