Question

short note on dual system of administration

Answer 1

The East India Company became the real master of Bengal at least from 1765. Its army was in sole control of its defence and the supreme political power was in its hands.

The Nawab depended for his internal and external security on the British. As the Diwan, the Company directly collected its revenues, while through the right to nominate the Deputy Subahdar, it controlled the nizamat or the police and judicial powers.

This arrangement is known in history as the 'dual' or 'double' government. It held a great advantage for the British: they had power without responsibility.

The Nawab and his officials at the responsibility of administration but not the power to discharge weaknesses of the government could be blamed on the Indians while its fruits were gathered by the British. The consequences for the people of Bengal were disastrous: neither the Company nor the Nawab cared for their welfare.

The Company's servants now had the whole of Bengal to themselves and their oppression of the people increased greatly. We can quote Clive himself:

I shall only say that such a scene of anarchy, confusion, bribery, corruption, and extortion was never seen or heard of in any country but Bengal; nor did such and so many fortunes acquire in so unjust and rapacious a manner.

Answer 2

It is introduced by Robert Clive in Bengal. 

Dual Government in Bengal the Nawab depended for his internal and external security on the British.

As the dewan, the company directly collected its revenues, while though the right to nominate the Deputy subahdar, it controlled the nizamat or the police and judicial powers. 

This Dual Government System in Bengal held a great advantage for the British. 

The Nawab and his officials had the the responsibility of administration but not the power to discharge it.

Nawab was granted Rs.53 Lakhs per annum for the administration but later on this amount was reduced to 32 Lakhs and all the responsibilities were with the Nawab and all the powers with the British. 

This dual system was proved to be unsuccessful and in 1772 it was ended by Lord Warren Hastings on the orders of the directors of the company.

In this time, Nawab-ud-Daulla and Saif-ud-Daull were the nawabs of Bengal. At the time of end of this system Mubaraq-ud-Daulla was the nawab of bengal.