Constitutional Development of India (Part-I)

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, 1813, compelled the East India company to assert the responsibility for the education of the Indian people. It made a provision for an annual grant of a sum of 1 lakh rupees for the promotion of education in India.

The Charter Act, 1833, was renewed on the condition that the Company should abandon its trade entirely, alike with India and China, and permit Europeans to settle freely in India. The Company lost its monopoly in China and also the trade of tea, which it enjoyed with the Charter Act of 1813. Governor General of Bengal was made the Governor-General of British India with this Act, and all financial and administrative powers were centralized in the hands of Governor-General-in-Council. The 4th member was appointed to act as a member of the Council except for legislative purposes. A British member was appointed as a Law Member in the Governor-General's Council. A first fourth person appointed as the Member of the Council was Lord Macaulay. Thus, option (d) is the correct answer.

The Charter Act, 1833, was renewed on the condition that the Company should abandon its trade entirely, alike with India and China, and permit Europeans to settle freely in India. The Company lost its monopoly in China and also the trade of tea, which it enjoyed with the Charter Act of 1813. Governor General of Bengal was made the Governor-General of British India with this Act, and all financial and administrative powers were centralized in the hands of Governor-General-in-Council. The 4th member was appointed to act as a member of the Council except for legislative purposes. A British member was appointed as a Law Member in the Governor-General's Council. A first fourth person appointed as the Member of the Council was Lord Macaulay. Thus, option (d) is the correct answer.

The Montagu-Chelmsford Report recommended increasing the number of Indians in administration and also recommended that the examination shall be jointly held in Britain and India for Civil Services. On their recommendation, the Civil Services was held together in England and India from 1922. The Aitchison Commission submitted its report in 1887. The Commission opposed the demand of the simultaneous holding in England as well as in India.

The Charter Act, 1853, provided that the salary of the members of the Board of Control, its Secretary, and other Officers would be fixed by the British Government but the payments would be made out of the Company's funds. The number of the Directors of the Court of Directors was reduced from 24 to 18, of whom 6 were to be nominated by the Crown. The Court of Directors was divested of its right to patronage and Company's services were thrown open to competition, and no discrimination of any kind was to be made. A Committee with Macaulay was formed in the following year (1854) to give effect to the scheme of appointment in Civil Services through competition.

A decisive step had been initiated in the separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislature by the Charter Act of 1853. It was the first time in India when the Legislative Council was established. The total number of the members in the Legislative Council was 12.

1922 onwards, ICS exam began to be held in India. In 1924, Lee Commission had recommended in its report for the establishment of an independent and impartial Public Service Commission for India, and on the basis of such recommendation, the Public Service Commission was established in 1926. Subsequently, by the Government of India Act, 1935, Public Service Commissions were established separately for both the Central and the State Government Services. Under this act, Federal Public Service Commission was formed in place of Public Service Commission.

Regulating Act, 1773, was passed by the British Parliament for the regulation of the British East India Company's Indian Territories, mainly in Bengal. The main provisions of the Act were the appointment of a Governor-General of Fort William in Bengal with supervisory powers over the Presidencies of Madras (now Chennai) and Bombay (now Mumbai). The Governor-General had a Council of four who were given the power to cast a vote but no veto. Warren Hastings was appointed the first Governor-General of Bengal.

Regulating Act, 1773, was passed by the British Parliament for the regulation of the British East India Company's Indian Territories, mainly in Bengal. The main provisions of the Act were the appointment of a Governor-General of Fort William in Bengal with supervisory powers over the Presidencies of Madras (now Chennai) and Bombay (now Mumbai). The Governor-General had a Council of four who were given the power to cast a vote but no veto. Warren Hastings was appointed the first Governor-General of Bengal.