Question

Mention four administrative changes brought through the Govt of India Act ​

Answer 1

Answer:

British Parliament brought the Government of India Act, 1858, which made the following changes:

i. Transferred powers from the East India Company to the Crown.

ii. A member of British Parliament was made secretary of state of India to exercise powers on behalf of the Crown and was responsible to the British Parliament.

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iii. The Governor General for India was provided with an Executive Council, whose decision he was empowered to override.

The Indian Council’s Act, 1861, made the following changes:

i. Enlarged Governor General’s council for legislative purpose.

ii. 6-12 members could be inducted in Governor General Executive Council, of which at least half could be Indian or English.

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iii. Imperial legislative body was merely an advisory body.

The Indian Council’s Act, 1892:

i. Additional members could be indirectly elected to the Legislative Council. For the very first time, an element of election was sought to be introduced for the first time.

ii. Budget could be discussed and questions could be asked by the indirectly elected members also.

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iii. India was divided into provinces for administrative convenience. Bengal, Bombay and Madras were presidencies which had more powers than the provinces.

iv. The British reorganized the Indian Army but it was dominated by the European branch of the army. In addition the maximum age for entry into the Civil Services was gradually reduced from 23 to 19. The princely states were rewarded for their supportive role for the British in 1857 revolt. Their right to adopt heirs could be respected and integrity of their territories granted against future annexation.

Thus British made several changes with the objective of gradually involving Indians in the British administrative structure with the object of preventing any major upsurge from the nationalist front by creating a permanent group of loyalists.