Explore topic-wise InterviewSolutions in .

Correct option is (c) Warren Hastings

Civil Service, Army, Police and Judicial System.

To protect their interests in India.

1. True

2. True

3. True

The Regulating Act was passed in 1773 A.D. to check the working of the East India Company.

Mostly the English people were appointed on higher posts during the British rule.

In 1856 A.D, there were 2,33,000 Indians and 45,322 Europeans in the British army.

The British government brought following constitutional changes in India :

1. Regulating Act:  An Act was passed in 1773 A.D. to check the activities of English East India Company. It was known as the Regulating Act. According to this Act :

• The civil and military administration of the company came under the control of the British Parliament. The Parliament got control over its revenue too.
• The governor of Bengal was made the Governor-General of the British India. A council of members was appointed to help the Governor-General in discharging his duties.
• The Governor-General was empowered to control the two presidencies of Bombay and Madras.

2. Pitt’s India Act: Pitt’s India Act was passed to remove the defects of the Regulating Act. According to this :

• Political and commercial functions of the company were separated. The Board of Directors was now to look after the commercial activities of the company only.
• A Board of Control consisting of six members was formed through which the British government could fully control the affairs of the company in India.
• The council of the Governor-General was to have three members instead of four.
• The Governor-General in council got complete powers to direct and control Bombay and Madras presidencies.

3. The Charter Act, 1833:

• The company was restricted to do trade through Charter Act of 1833 so that it could completely concentrate on administration of the British India.
• Governor-General and his council were given the name the Governor-General and his Council of India.
• A legal member was included in council of Governor-General to make laws for the country. Right of making law was taken away from presidencies governments. In this way control of government was made very powerful.

4. The Charter Act 1853: Another Charter Act was passed in 1853 A.D. Legislative and Executive were separated through this Act. Now total of 12 members were there in legislative. Interference of central government in the affairs of company was increased. Now it was free to take rule of India in its hands at any moment.

A brief description of military, police and judicial administration of India in the British empire is given below:

1. Military Administration: The military was one of the most important part of the British administration. It gave a great contribution in establishing and spreading the British empire in India. In 1856, there were 2,33,000 Indians and 45,300 European soldiers in the British military. Indian soldiers were given very less wages and incentives as compared to the British soldiers. Highest rank for Indians in military was the subedar. Indian soldiers were badly treated by the British officers. That’s why Indian soldiers revolted against the British in 1857 A.D.

It became necessary to reorganize the military after the great revolt of 1857 A.D. the British didn’t want that soldiers would again go for revolt.

So the following changes were brought in Indian military while keeping in mind these things :

• The number of British soldiers were increased.
• Only the British to be appointed in Artillery.
• Indians and Europeans in the military of Madras and Bombay were kept in the ratio of 2:1.
• European troops were kept at all the important places from a geographical and military point of view.
• Now the British started recruiting people of different religions and castes in one regiment of soldiers so that people of other religion should remain ready to kill people of one religion in case of any rebellion.
• Soldiers of Awadh, Bihar and Central India took part in the revolt of 1857 A.D. Now their numbers in the military was reduced and number of Gorkhas, Sikhs and Pathan soldiers was increased.

2. Police: Lord Cornwallis gave a new look to the police system to establish law, order and peace in the empire. He appointed one Police Superintendent in each district. Each district was further divided in divisions and ancient division system was given a new look. Every division was kept under one Daroga or inspector. Function of police in villages was being done by Chowkidars. Indians were not being given higher posts in police department. Their salary was also very low as compared to the British. They were badly treated by Britishers as well.

3. Judicial System: The British established important judicial system in India. Its main feature was written laws.

• Warren Hastings established Revenue and Criminal Courts in each district.
• According to Regulating Act of 1773, A Supreme Court was established in Calcutta. Lord Cornwallis prepared a book called Cornwallis code to give directions to judges.
• Lord William Bentick started jury system in Bengal in 1832 A.D.
• In 1833 A.D. the Indian Law Commission was appointed which completely reorganized the whole judicial system. Right of making laws was given to Governor-General through Charter Act.
• Common legal system was introduced in the whole of the country. According to this, all the Indians were considered as equal in front of law without any discrimination.

Even after this, discrimination against Indians was there and they were deprived of some specific rights. For example, Indian judges were not allowed to hear the cases of Europeans. Lord Rippen, in 1883 A.D. tried to give this right to Indian judges but remained unsuccessful.

Most of the employees of the company were corrupt before 1858. They carried on private trade and earned a lot of money through bribes and gifts. Clive and Warren Hastings tried to end this corruption but they did not succeed in this mission. Cornwallis came to India after Warren Hastings. He banned private trade by the officials of the company. They were forbidden to accept bribes or gifts. He increased the salaries of the employees so that they were not tempted to accept bribes. Upto 1853, the Directors of the Company appointed the British as employees of the company. But after the passing of Charter Act of 1853, the appointments to civil services were made through a competitive examination to be held in London. The main feature of the civil services before the passing of this Act was that the Indians were debarred from these services.

The British government made discrimination between the Indians and the British in making recruitments in the army. Indians were given low salaries as compared to the British. The arrangements for their lodging and boarding were also of low quality. Indian soldiers were not given due respect. They were often insulted. They could only reach the posts of the ‘Subedars’ by promotion. Contrary to it, the British were directly appointed as officers. This policy of discrimination later on became the cause of the revolt of 1857.

Indian Law Commission was constituted in 1833 A.D. It was established for the compilation of laws.

An Act was passed in 1773 A.D. to check the working of the English East India Company. It was known as the Regulating Act. According to this Act :

1. The civil and military administration of the company came under the check of the British Parliament. The Parliament got control over its revenues too.
2. The Governor of Bengal was made the Governor-General of British India. A council of members was appointed to help the Governor-General in discharging his duties.
3. The Governor-General was empowered to control the two presidencies of Bombay and Madras.

It was necessary to reorganize the army after the great revolt of 1857 A.D. The British didn’t want that soldiers would again go for revolt. So the following changes were brought in Indian military while keeping in mind these things:

1. The number of British soldiers were increased.
2. Only Britishers started to be appointed in artillery.
3. Indians and Europeans in the military of Madras and Bombay were kept in the ratio of 2: 1.
4. European troops were kept at all the important places from geographical and military point of view.
5. Now the British started recruiting people of different religions and castes in one regiment of soldiers so that the people of other religions should remain ready to kill people of one religion in case of any rebellion.
6. Soldiers of Awadh, Bihar and Central India took part in the revolt of 1857 A.D. Now their members in the military was reduced and number of Gorkhas, Sikhs and Pathan soldiers was increased.

In order to remove the defects of the Regulating Act, the British Parliament passed the Pitt’s India Act in 1784. According to this act :

1. Political and commercial functions of the company were separated. The Board of Directors was now to look after the commercial activities of the company only.
2. A Board of Control consisting of six members was formed through which the British Governments could fully control the affairs of the company in India.
3. The council of the Governor-General was to have three members instead of four, one of these members was to be the commander in chief of India.
4. The Governor-General in council got full powers to direct and control Bombay and Madras presidencies.

Correct option is (b) Regulating Act

Correct option is (b) 1784 A.D.

Supreme Court in Calcutta was established in 1773 A.D. by the Regulating Act.