Constitutional Landmark

Question 1

Regulating Act, 1773

Answer 1

• British government to regulate affairs of East India Co.
• Designated Governor of Bengal as Governor General of Bengal. Warren Hastings was the First Governor General.
• Established a Supreme Court at Calcutta.

Question 2

Pitts India Act, 1784

Answer 2

• Indian affairs under direct control of British government.
• Board of Control was established.

Question 3

Charter Act of 1793

Answer 3

• Salary of company to drawn from the Indian exchequer.
• The Governor General and governors to override the decision of Councils. • Company got monopoly of trade with India for another 20 years.

Question 4

Charter Act, 1833

Answer 4

• Governor General of Bengal became Governor General of India.
• Lord William Bentinck was the rst Governor General of India.
• The Act centralized British rule in India.
• Created Government of India, with authority over all of British India.
• East India Co. lost its monopoly of tea trade and China trade.
• The Indian Civil Services was founded.

Question 5

Charter Act, 1853

Answer 5

• Separated legislative & executive functions of Governor General’s Council. • Open competition for Indian Civil Services.
• Patronage of the directors of the company ends.

Question 6

Government of India, Act, 1858

Answer 6

• Act known as the Act for the Good Government of India.
• Company rule was replaced by British crown.
• Secretary of State for India was appointed to exercise the power of the Crown. He was a member of British cabinet, responsible to it and was assisted by Council of India with 15 members.
• Governor General became the agent of the crown and now known as Viceroy of India.
• Lord Canning became the rst Viceroy of India.

Question 7

Indian Councils Act, 1861

Answer 7

• Parliamentary system started in India.
• Indians became non-of cial members of the legislature.
• Started decentralization of power.
• Recognition to the ‘Portfolio’ system, was introduced by Lord Canning in 1859.

Question 8

Indian Councils Act, 1892

Answer 8

• Introduced indirect elections. Governor General could nominate members.
• Functions of Legislative Council Expanded to discuss the budget and ask questions to the executive.

Question 9

Indian Councils Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms.

Lord Morley was then the secretary of state for India and Lord Minto was then the viceroy of India).

Answer 9

• Central Legislative Council became imperial Legislative Council with of cials forming the majority.

• Provincial legislative councils had a majority of non-of cial members.
• Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the rst Indian to join the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
• Introduced communal representation for muslims with a separate electorate system. Legalized communalism.

Lord Minto created a communal electorate.

Question 10

Government of India Act, 1919/ Montague - Chelmsford Reforms. Montague was the secretary of state for India and Lord Chelmeford was the viceroy of India.

Answer 10

• Separated central subjects from provincial subjects.
• Provincial subjects were transferred and reserved.
• Transferred subjects were administered by Governor with the help of ministers who were responsible to the legislature.
• Reserved subjects were administered by Governor and Executive Council who were not responsible to the legislature.
• Dyarchy/ Dual system of government was introduced.
• Bicameral legislature with upper and lower houses were formed with direct elections.
• Majority of members in both houses were directly elected.
• 3 of the 6 members of governor-general’s council had to be Indians.

Question 11

Government of India Act, 1935

Answer 11

• Established All India federation of provinces & princely states as constituent units.
• It provided for the establishment of Reserve Bank of India, Federal Court, Public Service Commission, Provincial Public Service Commission & Joint Public Service Commission for two or more Provinces.
• Federal, provincial and concurrent were lists introduced.
• Abolished dyarchy in provinces which now had provincial autonomy.
• Introduced dyarchy at the centre and bicameralism in the provinces.
• Introduced responsible governments in provinces.

Question 12

The August Offer, 1940

Answer 12

• Expansion of the Governor-General’s Executive Council to include more Indians.
• Establishment of an Advisory War Council.

Question 13

Cripps Proposals, 1942

Answer 13

• Provision made up for participation of Indian States in the Constitution making body.
• The leaders of the principal sections of the Indian people were invited to take active and effective participation in the councils of their country.

Question 14

C.R. Formula, 1944

Answer 14

• C.R. Raja Gopalchari presented the ‘C.R. Formula’ by which the Muslim League would support the Congress demand for complete freedom.

Question 15

Wavell Plan, 1945

Answer 15

• Under this plan, India was to be granted Dominion status in the near future.

Question 16

Lord Attlee’s Announcement, March 1946

Answer 16

On 15 March 1946, Lord Attlee declared that as the tide of nationalism was surging ahead in India, it was in British interest to take positive action.

Question 17

Cabinet Mission Plan, 1946

Answer 17

• There should be a Union of India, embracing both British India and the states which should deal with foreign affairs.
• To set up Interim Government.
• A Constituent Assembly should be set up to draw up the future Constitution of the country

Question 18

Indian Independence Act, 1947

Answer 18

• Declared India as independent & sovereign state.
• Established responsible government at the Center & Provinces.
• Designated Governor General of India & Provincial Governors as Constitutional heads or nominal heads.
• Lord Mountbatten became the rst Governor General of free India. The First & last Indian
• Governor General was C. Rajagopalachari.