Historical Background of the Indian Constitution

Historical vocabulary terms and key legislative acts covering the British Company Rule ($$1773$$-$$1858$$) and Crown Rule ($$1858$$-$$1947$$) in India.

Diwani

Rights over revenue and civil justice obtained by the East India Company in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in $1765$.

Regulating Act of 1773

The first step taken by the British Government to control and regulate the affairs of the East India Company in India.

Governor-General of Bengal

The designation created by the Regulating Act of $1773$ to replace the Governor of Bengal; the first was Lord Warren Hastings.

Supreme Court at Calcutta

Established in $1774$ under the Regulating Act of $1773$, comprising one chief justice and three other judges.

Act of Settlement

The Amending Act of $1781$ passed to rectify defects in the Regulating Act of $1773$, exempting official actions of the Governor-General and Council from the Supreme Court's jurisdiction.

Pitt’s India Act of 1784

An act that distinguished between commercial and political functions of the Company and established a system of double government.

Board of Control

A body created in $1784$ to manage political affairs and supervise all operations of the civil and military government or revenues of British possessions in India.

Charter Act of 1813

Abolished the trade monopoly of the Company in India, except for trade in tea and trade with China.

Governor-General of India

The designation created by the Charter Act of $1833$; Lord William Bentick was the first to hold this office with authority over the entire territorial area possessed by the British in India.

Charter Act of 1853

The last of the series of Charter Acts which separated the legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General’s council for the first time.

Indian (Central) Legislative Council

A separate legislative wing of the Governor-General's council established in $1853$ that functioned as a mini-Parliament.

Macaulay Committee

The Committee on the Indian Civil Service appointed in $1854$ following the introduction of an open competition system for civil servant recruitment.

Act for the Good Government of India

Another name for the Government of India Act of $1858$, which abolished the East India Company and transferred powers to the British Crown.

Viceroy of India

The direct representative of the British Crown in India created by the Act of $1858$; Lord Canning was the first.

Secretary of State for India

A new office created in $1858$ vested with complete authority and control over Indian administration, responsible to the British Parliament.

Portfolio System

A system introduced by Lord Canning in $1859$ where a member of the viceroy’s council was made in-charge of one or more departments.

Morley-Minto Reforms

The Indian Councils Act of $1909$, named after Lord Morley (Secretary of State) and Lord Minto (Viceroy).

Satyendra Prasad Sinha

The first Indian to join the viceroy’s executive council, appointed as the Law Member under the Act of $1909$.

Father of Communal Electorate

A title given to Lord Minto for introducing a system of communal representation for Muslims through separate electorates.

Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms

The Government of India Act of $1919$, named after the Secretary of State Montagu and Viceroy Lord Chelmsford.

Dyarchy

A dual scheme of governance introduced in $1919$ that divided provincial subjects into 'transferred' and 'reserved' categories.

Central Public Service Commission

A recruitment body set up in $1926$ as provided by the Government of India Act of $1919$.

Simon Commission

A seven-member statutory commission appointed in $1927$ to report on the condition of India under its new Constitution.

Communal Award

A scheme of representation for minorities announced by Ramsay MacDonald in $1932$ which included separate electorates for depressed classes.

Poona Pact

An agreement between the Congress and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar that retained the Hindu joint electorate and provided reserved seats for the depressed classes.

Government of India Act of 1935

A detailed document with $321$ Sections and $10$ Schedules that provided for an All-India Federation and provincial autonomy.

Mountbatten Plan

The partition plan put forth by the Viceroy of India on June $3$, $1947$, which led to the enactment of the Indian Independence Act.