ASKiIMAN™ ARCHIVE / INDIAN POLITY
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Historical Evolution

From Merchant Charters to Sovereign Republic

PART I — COMPANY RULE (1773 – 1858)

SUB-REALM 02.1

Regulating Act 1773

  • First EIC regulation
  • Governor-General of Bengal
  • Supreme Court at Calcutta
  • Executive Council created
SUB-REALM 02.2

Pitt's India Act 1784

COM
POL
  • Double Government system
  • Commercial vs Political
  • Board of Control
  • Court of Directors
SUB-REALM 02.3

Charter Act 1833

  • Final centralisation step
  • Governor-General of India
  • Purely administrative body
  • Lost legislative powers
SUB-REALM 02.4

Charter Act 1853

  • Separated legislative/executive
  • Central Legislative Council
  • Open civil service
  • Local representation

PART II — THE CROWN TAKES OVER (1858 – 1947)

SUB-REALM 02.5

Govt of India Act 1858

  • EIC abolished
  • Viceroy created
  • Secretary of State
  • Crown assumes control
SUB-REALM 02.6

Indian Councils Act 1861

  • Decentralisation begins
  • Non-official members
  • Portfolio system
  • Ordinance power
SUB-REALM 02.7

Indian Councils Act 1892

BUDGET ?
  • Increased non-officials
  • Budget discussions
  • Executive questioning
  • Maintained official majority
SUB-REALM 02.8

Indian Councils Act 1909

  • Morley-Minto reforms
  • Separate Muslim electorates
  • Indian executive association
  • Increased council size
SUB-REALM 02.9

Govt of India Act 1919

TRN
RES
  • Montagu-Chelmsford reforms
  • Provincial Dyarchy
  • Central Bicameralism
  • Separated budgets
SUB-REALM 02.10

Govt of India Act 1935

  • Structural blueprint
  • Provincial Autonomy
  • Three Federal Lists
  • Established RBI
SUB-REALM 02.11

Independence Act 1947

  • End of British rule
  • Partition of India
  • Sovereign Constituent Assemblies
  • Lapsed paramountcy
SUB-REALM 02.12

The Colonial Legacy

  • Administrative machinery
  • Judicial framework
  • Parliamentary system
  • 1935 Act structural basis
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