Charter Acts of 1833 and Charter Act of 1853

Features and provisions of Charter Acts of 1833 and Charter Act of 1853

Charter Act of 1833 made Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor General of India who was given exclusive legislative powers and other provinces of Madras and Bombay were stripped of its legislative powers. With the Charter Act of 1833, the commercial activities of East India Company came to an end the Company became purely an administrative body.

Charter Act of 1853 extended the life of East India Company but did not specify the time period for extension and it differentiated the Governor-General's Council into Executive Council and a Legislative Council of 6 members.

Here we will discuss about the features and provisions of Charter Acts of 1833, Charter Act of 1853 and Timeline for the post of Governor General.

Charter Act of 1833

What are the features of Charter Act of 1833?

The features of Charter Act of 1833 are:

a) The Governor-General of Bengal became the Governor-General of India with exclusive legislative powers, so other presidencies of Bombay and Madras were deprived of their legislative powers.

b) The Governor-General of India was given civil and military powers. So for the first time, the Government of India was created which had the authority over the entire territorial area possessed by the British in India.

• The First Governor-General of India was Lord William Bentick

c) Earlier to the Charter Act of 1833, the laws made were called Regulations but, going forward the laws created will be called as Acts.

d) The activities of East India Company as a commercial body came to an end. Hence, Company became purely an administrative body.

It provided that company's territories in India were to be held by it "in trust for his Majesty, his heirs and successors".

e) It attempted to introduced a system of open competition for selection in Civil Services.

Further, it stated that Indians should not be debarred from holding any place, office and employment under the company. These two provisions were nullified after opposition from the Court of Directors. 

Charter Act of 1853

What are the features of Charter Act of 1853?

The features and provisions of Charter Act of 1853 are:

a) The Charter Act of 1853 was the last act in the series of Charter Acts passed from 1793-1853.

b) The Governor-General's Council was differentiated into executive council and legislative council. 

c) The newly formed legislative council called Indian (Central) Legislative Council comprises of 6 members called Legislative Councillors.

The legislative council acted as a mini-parliament by adopting same procedures as British Parliament. 

The legislative function was treated as a special function for the first time which required special machinery and process.

d) Out of 6 legislative Councillors, 4 were appointed from local (provincial) governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal and Agra. 

This was 1st time the local government was given representation in the Indian (Central) Legislative Council. 

e) The Charter Act of 1853 extended the Company's rule but didn't specify any particular time period as was done in previous charters which extended the Company's life by 20 years.This meant that Company's rule could be ended at any time by the Parliament. 

f) The covenanted civil service was thrown open to Indians and an open competition system was introduced for the selection and recruitment of civil servants .

Macaulay Committee: The Committee on Indian Civil Service was appointed in 1854.

Timeline for the post of Governor General

The presidencies of Bengal, Bombay and Madras had a Governor of their own. 

i) The Regulating Act of 1733 made Governor of Bengal as Governor General of Bengal who became superior to the Governor of other presidencies of Bombay and Madras. 

ii) With the enactment of Charter Act of 1833, the Governor General of Bengal was made Governor General of India who was given exclusive LEGISLATIVE POWERS and the legislative powers of Governor of other presidencies of Bombay and Madras were taken away.

iii) The Government of India Act of 1858 made the Governor General of India as the Viceroy of India and with this act East India Company's rule in India came to an end and the powers were transferred to the crown.

Points to remember:

• Who was the first Governor General of Bengal? Warren Hasting (1773)
• Who was the first Governor General of India? Lord William Bentinck (1833)
• Who was the last Governor General of India? Lord Canning (1858)

• Who was the first Viceroy of India? Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India in 1858.
• Who was the last Viceroy of India? Lord Mountbatten (1947)
• Who was the first Governor General of India after Independence? Lord Mountbatten (1947)

Continue to Read about:

• Regulating Act of 1773
• Pitts India Act of 1784

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