Civil Services, Police, Judiciary, Education, Labour & Trade Unionism

A collection of flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on civil services, police, judiciary, education, labour, and trade unionism in Indian modern history.

Why was Cornwallis called the 'father of Indian civil services'?

He raised salaries, enforced promotions by seniority, debarred bribes and enforced anti-private trade rules.

What contradiction lay in the Charter Act of 1833 vs 1853 regarding ICS?

1833 opened exams to Indians but wasn’t implemented; 1853 mandated open competition but remained biased.

Why was Satyendra Nath Tagore’s 1863 ICS selection revolutionary?

He broke racial barriers despite exams based on classical Greek and Latin.

What elitist mechanism was introduced through the Statutory Civil Service of 1879?

Only high-caste Indians from aristocratic families were nominated by local governments.

What contradiction persisted even after Aitchison Committee recommended removing ‘covenanted’ vs ‘uncovenanted’?

Exams still held only in UK and systemic barriers for Indian promotions remained.

Why was Cornwallis' reorganization of the thana system under Indian daroga significant?

It relieved zamindars from policing and institutionalized centralized rural policing.

Why was the 1860 Police Commission a turning point in Indian law enforcement?

It led to the Indian Police Act and formalized a colonial police force with preventive control.

Which recommendation of the 1902 Police Commission revolutionized intelligence in India?

Creation of CID at the provincial level and Intelligence Bureau at the center.

Why did Bentinck’s abolition of the SP office fail in the 1830s?

Collectors could not handle police + revenue duties effectively, weakening administration.

What was the outcome of the 1855 Madras Police Torture Inquiry?

It marked colonial acknowledgment of systemic police brutality.

How did the Cornwallis Code establish judicial autonomy?

It separated revenue from justice and made officials liable in civil courts.

What was unique about the 1773 Regulating Act's Supreme Court?

It extended jurisdiction to British subjects and Indian nationals in Calcutta.

Why were circuit courts under Cornwallis eventually abolished by Bentinck?

They were inefficient, overburdened, and disconnected from local realities.

Which 1833 development marked codification of Indian laws?

Law Commission under Macaulay leading to IPC (1860), CPC (1859), CrPC (1861).

What legal dualism was addressed by merging Sadar Adalats and SCs in 1865?

Unified parallel systems for Europeans and Indians into High Courts.

What was Mayo’s key contribution to financial decentralization?

Empowered provinces to raise local taxes and balance their own budgets.

Why is Ripon called the father of local self-government?

He proposed non-official majority and elected representation in local bodies.

What did the 1908 Royal Commission recommend regarding village panchayats?

Granting them limited judicial powers in petty cases.

Why were provincial boards called 'district boards' or 'tehsil boards' under Ripon?

To reflect tiered decentralization with functional specializations.

Which flaw weakened Ripon’s resolution despite democratic intent?

Elected members remained a minority in most municipalities.

Why was the 1881 Factory Act colonial in motive?

It was lobbied by Lancashire mill owners to curb Indian competition.

How did the 1891 Act increase gendered labour exploitation?

Regulated women's work hours but left male hours unregulated.

What legal tool allowed planters to criminalize breach of contract?

Under 1891 Act, absconding laborers could be arrested.

What triggered the first inquiry into labour rights?

The 1875 Commission and 1881 Factory Act.

Why did moderates oppose factory laws initially?

They feared it would raise costs for Indian-owned industries.

Why was ‘deindustrialization’ a cornerstone of nationalist economic critique?

Handicrafts declined due to British import policies and forced commercial crops.

How did the national bourgeoisie emerge despite colonial suppression?

Indian industrialists like Cowasjee Nanabhoy began cotton mills using swadeshi sentiment.

Why did colonial railways fail to foster Indian growth?

They served British export routes and drained Indian resources.

How did famine and railways reflect economic drain theory?

Food was exported even during famines through rail and ports.

What was the nationalist response to British trade infrastructure?

Demand for an independent economy with Indian capital.

What ideological conflict did the Anglicist-Orientalist controversy reveal?

Debate between traditional vs. modern education; English vs. vernacular.

How did Wood’s Despatch (1854) try to reverse filtration theory?

Called for mass education, hierarchy of institutions, and vernacular emphasis.

What was James Thomson’s village education experiment aimed at?

Creating technical rural personnel for PWD and Revenue departments.

What made Bethune School (1849) a feminist milestone?

It was the first school exclusively for girls.

What structural reform did Saddler Commission introduce?

Intermediate college before university, separate boards, residential campuses.

Why did the Indian University Act 1904 centralize academic control?

Govt could veto senate decisions and nominate majority of university fellows.

What dual language recommendation did Bentinck’s reforms initiate?

English for Supreme Court, Persian/Vernacular for lower courts.

What flaw did Hartog Committee (1929) find in education expansion?

Mass illiteracy with poor quality; recommended vocational over literary expansion.

What vision did Sergeant Plan (1944) lay for education?

Free universal elementary education with vocational and adult literacy goals.

Why was vernacular education continuously neglected?

Despite commissions, it received lesser funds, attention, and policy continuity.

Why did early nationalists avoid supporting labour strikes?

Feared industrial slowdown and competition with British interests.

What made AITUC's 1920 formation historically radical?

Linked trade unionism to anti-imperialism, first mass federation.

Why did communists oppose ILO affiliation in AITUC?

Saw it as pro-imperial and aligned with Western capitalist model.

How did the 1926 Trade Union Act secure labour rights?

Granted legal recognition, civil/criminal immunity, but limited political action.

Why did the 1929 Trade Disputes Act restrict strike power?

Mandated 1-month notice, banned strikes outside trade disputes.

What was the global reaction to Meerut Conspiracy Case (1929)?

Widespread international condemnation and worker solidarity in UK.

Why did AITUC split into Geneva-Amsterdam vs Moscovite groups?

Debate over affiliating with IFTU (reformist) or RILU (revolutionary).

Who founded 'Working Men’s Mission' and why?

Brahmo Samaj to morally educate workers.

How did JN Sengupta and VV Giri contribute to trade unionism?

They blended nationalism with organized industrial labour rights.

Why did corporatist trend under NM Joshi lead to a breakaway?

He opposed militant communism and formed All India Trade Union Federation.