NCERT Notes: The Charter Act Of 1833 - Features & Significance [Modern Indian History For UPSC]

• The company’s commercial activities were closed down. It was made into an administrative body for British Indian possessions.
• The company’s trade links with China were also closed down.
• This act permitted the English to settle freely in India.
• This act legalised the British colonisation of the country.
• The company still possessed the Indian territories but it was held ‘in trust for his majesty’.

India became a British colony

• The Governor-General of Bengal was re-designated as the Governor-General of India. This made Lord William Bentinck the first Governor-General of India.
• Thus, the country’s administration was unified under one control.
• The Governors of Bombay and Madras lost their legislative powers.
• The Governor-General had legislative powers over entire British India.
• The Governor-General in council had the authority to amend, repeal or alter any law pertaining to all people and places in British Indian territories whether British, foreign or Indian native.
• The civil and military affairs of the company were controlled by the Governor-General in council.
• The Governor-General’s council was to have four members. The fourth member had limited powers only.
• For the first time, the Governor-General’s government was called Government of India and the council was called India Council.

Indian Law Commission

• The act mandated that any law made in India was to be put before the British Parliament and was to be called ‘Act’.
• As per the act, an Indian Law Commission was established.
• The first Law Commission had Lord Macaulay as its chairman.
• It sought to codify all Indian law.

Split in Bengal Presidency

• The act provided for the Presidency of Bengal to be divided into the Presidencies of Agra and Fort William.
• But this never came into effect.

Indians in Government service

• This was the first act that gave permission for Indians to have a share in the country’s administration.
• It stated that merit should be the basis of employment to government service and not birth, colour, religion or race.

Slavery

• The act provided for the mitigation of slavery existing in India at that time.
• The British Parliament abolished slavery in Britain and all its possessions in 1833.

Tilt towards Christianity

• Since the number of British residents in the country was increasing, the act allowed for having three Bishops in India.
• It also sought to regulate the establishment of Christian institutions in India.

• It was the final step in the centralisation of India’s administration.
• The ending of the East India Company’s commercial activities and making it into the British Crown’s trustee in administering India.
• Codification of laws under Macaulay.
• Provision for Indians in government service.