Constitutional Developments in India

 Constitutional Developments in India

Qts 1 .Explain  about   Regulating Act of 1773

1.The Act was the beginning of parliamentary control over the Company. It changed the constitution of the Court of Directors and subjected their actions to British Govt.

2. Government of Bengal to be carried out by a Governor-General at Fort William and his Council of 4 members (Warren Hastings-first Governor General at Fort William).

3.The Governor General-in-Council to supervise and control Bombay and Madras Presidencies in matters of peace and war.

4.Establishment of a Supreme Court at Calcutta (first Chief Justice - Sir Eliyah Impey). 

5.The Act 'laid the foundation of a unitary type of government in British India'.

6.According to Burke, the Regulating Act was 'an infringement of national right, national faith and national justice'.

Qts2. Explain  about  Pitt's India Act of 1784 :

1.Reiterated the supremacy of British Parliament over the administration of the Company. 

2.The Company's territories in India were called the 'British Possessions in India'.

3.Reduced the strength of the Council from 4 to 3.

4.Established a Board of Control, consisting of 6 members (called Commissioners) to supervise and control the Government of India.

5.Giving to the Court of Directors the right to make all appointments in India.

6.Governor's Councils established in Madras and Bombay.

Qts3 .  Explain  about Charter Act of 1813 :

1.The Act for the first time directed the East India Company to sanction one lakh rupees annually for the development of education.

2.The Act ended the Company's trade monopoly, except for trade in tea and trade with China. The last two were ended by the Charter Act of 1833.

3.Missionaries allowed to preach in India.

4.The constitutional position of the British territories in India was explicitly defined for the first time.

Qts4. Explain about Charter Act of 1833 :

1.Governor-General of Bengal designated as Governor-General of India. William Bentinck the first Governor General of India.

2.Abolition of Company's monopoly of trade in tea and trade with China.

3.All restrictions on European immigration into India were removed.

4. Inclusion of a Law Member (4 members now) in the Council of the Governor-General (Macaulay - the first Law Member). A Law Commission was set up under Macaulay for codification of Indian laws.

Qts5. Explain about Charter Act of 1853 :

1. Appointment of a separate Lt. Governor for Bengal.

2.Depriving the Company (Court of Directors) of its right to appoint and recall officials in India and reduction of the number of Directors from 24 to 18.

3.Introduction of system of direct recruitment to the ICS through a competitive exam.

4.For the first time, the legislature given the right to frame its own rules of procedure.

5. Inclusion of additional members to the Governor-General's Council, which was to act as the Legislative Council (total members -12).

Qts6.Explain about Government of India Act of 1858 :

1.Indian administration taken over by the British Crown. Viceroy to be Crown's representative (Lord Canning - first Viceroy).

2.Abolition of Board of Control and Court of Directors.

3.Appointment of a Secretary of State (SoS) for India, who would be a member of the British Cabinet. The SoS would rule India with the aid of a 15-member Council. Sir Charles Wood first SoS for India.

Qts7. Explain about Indian Councils Act of 1861 :

1.Legislative Councils established at the Centre and in presidencies and provinces.

2.Empowered the Governor-General to make rules for the more convenient transaction of business in the Council.

3. Introduction of Portfolio system in the government of India. Governor-General empowered to issue ordinances which were not to remain in force for more than 6 months.

Qts8. Explain about Indian Councils Act of 1892 :

1.Enlarged the size and functions of the Imperial and Provincial Councils.

2.Introduction of indirect elections for the non-official members of the Imperial and Provincial Councils. However, official majority retained at both the levels.

3. The Councils to have the right to discuss budget (but not to vote) and ask questions to a limited extent.

Qts 9. Explain about Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms):

1.Introduced element of direct elections to the Legislative Councils.

2.Created an official majority in the Imperial Legislative Council and non-official majorities in the provincial legislative councils.

3.Increase in the deliberative functions of the Councils at both levels.

4. Introduced for the first time in Indian politics the separate electorate (for Muslims).

5.The beginning of non-official resolutions in the Council.

Qts10.  Explain about Government of India Act of 1919 (Montford Reforms):

1.During the premiership of Lloyd George. 

2. Provided for a distribution of power between the Centre and the provinces.

3.Provided for a Bicameral Legislature at the Centre. The Upper House- for 5 years, and the Lower House for 3 years. The elections were direct, but the franchise was restricted. The principle of separate electorate was not abandoned.

4.The powers of the Legislative Assembly were restricted. Though it was given the power to pass the budget, it had no right either to discuss or to vote on certain items.

5.Introduced the system of Dyarchy in the Provinces. The Governor-in-Council holding charge of Reserved subjects and the Governor and the ministers the Transferred subjects.

6.The Governor was supreme in provincial administration and legislation. All bills passed by the provincial legislatures required the assent of the Governor and the Governor- General. In case of the Transferred subjects, the Governor had the power to reject the advice of his ministers and act on his own.

7.Provided for the first time the establishment of a Public Service Commission.

Qts11. Explain about Government of India Act of 1935 : 

1.Introduced the concept of an All-India Federation comprising of the British Provinces and the Princely States (through the Instrument of Accession). It did not come into existence since the Princely states did not give their consent for the union.

2. Division of power into 3 lists - Federal, Provincial and Concurrent. Residuary Powers with the Governor-General.

3. Provided for Dyarchy at the Centre. Two chambers :

        i:Federal Assembly - for 5 years.

       ii: Council of States - 1/3rd of members retiring every 3 years.

4.Non-votable items in the Federal budget about 80%.

5.Provincial autonomy - Introduction of responsible government in the provinces and abolition of Dyarchy in them.

6. Provincial Legislatures were made bicameral for the first time, in 6 provinces (Bengal, Madras, Bombay, United Province, Bihar and Assam).

 7.Separate electorates provided for Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans.