Introduction to Political Science and Constitutional Development in India

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the theoretical foundations of Political Science and the key legislative and historical milestones of British constitutional development in India from 1600 to 1853.

Aristotle

The Greek philosopher regarded as the father of Political Science.

Political Science

A branch of Social Science that deals with the rights and duties of individuals and the governance of society.

Polity

The structure and system of governance within any given society.

Company Rule

The period of Indian history from $1773$ to $1858$ during which the British East India Company (BEIC) exercised control.

Crown Rule

The period of direct British administration in India from $1858$ to $1947$.

Treaty of Tordesillas

A $1494$ agreement between Spain and Portugal that used Cape Verde Island as a benchmark to divide the world into East and West for exploration.

Vasco da Gama

The first European to reach Calicut (Kozhikode) in the late fifteenth century, where he was received by King Zamorin.

British East India Company (BEIC)

A private company formed in $1600$ that arrived in India as traders in $1608$.

Captain William Hawkins

A representative of the BEIC who arrived on the ship Hector in $1608$ to visit the Mughal Ruler Jahangir.

Battle of Swally

A naval battle fought in $1612$ in which the British defeated the Portuguese to establish naval supremacy.

Black Hole Tragedy

An incident where Siraj ud-Daulah locked $143$ Britishers in a room, leading to a significant loss of life.

Battle of Plassey

A decisive battle fought on $23$ June $1757$ where Robert Clive defeated Siraj ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal.

Battle of Buxar

A battle in $1764$ where the BEIC defeated the combined forces of the Nawab of Awadh, the Mughal Ruler, and Mir Qasim.

Diwani Rights

Revenue collection rights acquired by the BEIC for Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar following the Battle of Buxar.

Dual Government

A system established by Robert Clive from $1765$ to $1772$ where the BEIC held Diwani rights while the Nawab managed administration; ended by Warren Hastings.

Regulating Act of 1773

The first law passed by the British Parliament to regulate the affairs of the BEIC, establishing the office of Governor-General of Bengal (GGB).

Warren Hastings

The last Governor of Bengal and the first Governor-General of Bengal, serving from $1773$ to $1781$.

Sir Elijah Impey

The first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court established at Fort William, Calcutta, in $1774$.

Act of Settlement 1781

Also known as the Amending Act or Declaring Act, it aimed to resolve jurisdictional conflicts between the Supreme Court and the Governor-General in Council.

Pitt's India Act of 1784

Legislation that established a 'Double Government' system by creating the Board of Control while retaining the Court of Directors.

Board of Control

A body consisting of $6$ members created to manage the political, military, and revenue affairs of the British possessions in India.

Act of 1786

An act that granted Lord Cornwallis the power to veto his council in extraordinary cases and combined the role of Governor-General with Commander-in-Chief.

Cornwallis Code 1793

A set of judicial reforms that separated revenue collection from judicial powers and established the Zamindari System.

Dadabhai Naoroji

Known as the 'Grand Old Man of India', he proposed the 'Drain of Wealth Theory' and was the first Indian to be an M.P. in Britain in $1892$.

Charter Act of 1813

An act that ended the BEIC's trade monopoly (except for tea and trade with China) and allocated $1$ lakh rupees for education in India.

Charter Act of 1833

An act that designated the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India (GGOl) and stripped the BEIC of its commercial functions.

Lord William Bentinck

The first Governor-General of India, who introduced English education and banned Sati in Bengal in $1829$.

Lord Macaulay

The first Law Member of the Governor-General's Council ($1834$), author of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and proponent of the 'Downfiltration Theory'.

Charter Act of 1853

The act that introduced a 'Mini Parliament' and approved open competition for the Indian Civil Services (ICS).