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Polity Basics

The document provides an overview of the historical background and events leading up to the making of the Indian constitution. It summarizes the key British acts that centralized control of India and gradually increased Indian representation, such as the Regulating Act of 1773, Charter Acts of 1833 and 1853, Government of India Acts of 1858, 1909, and 1935. It also briefly discusses the Indian Independence Act of 1947, which declared India independent and set up responsible governments at the center and provinces.

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49 views

Polity Basics

The document provides an overview of the historical background and events leading up to the making of the Indian constitution. It summarizes the key British acts that centralized control of India and gradually increased Indian representation, such as the Regulating Act of 1773, Charter Acts of 1833 and 1853, Government of India Acts of 1858, 1909, and 1935. It also briefly discusses the Indian Independence Act of 1947, which declared India independent and set up responsible governments at the center and provinces.

Uploaded by

vicky
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INDIAN POLITY

BOOKLIST
 Polity NCERT Books for UPSCPolity: NCERT
Class IX – Political Science: Democratic Politics
Part – I

 Polity: NCERT Class X – Political Science:


Democratic Politics Part – II

 Polity: NCERT Class XI – Political Science:


Indian Constitution at Work
 Polity: NCERT Class XI – Political Science:
Political Theory

 Polity: NCERT Class XII – Political Science I:


Contemporary World Politics

 Polity: NCERT Class XII – Political Science II:


Politics in India since Independence

 For Polity: Class 9 to 12 NCERT books should be


read in detail, with a focus on 11th and 12th (of
which World Politics, only if time permits).
TOPICS FOR THE DAY
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

 MAKING OF THE CONSTITUTION

 SALIENT FEATURES OF THE


CONSTITUTION
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 Regulating Act 1773

 First time the British Parliament resorted to


regulate the affairs of the East India Company.
 The Governor of Bengal was made the Governor-
General of Bengal (Warren Hastings).
 An Executive Council of the Governor-General
was created with 4 members.
 Centralised the administration with the
Presidencies of Madras and Bombay being made
subordinate to the Bengal Presidency.
 Supreme Court was established at Calcutta as
the Apex Court in 1774.
 Prohibited company officials from engaging in
private trade and from accepting gifts from
Indians.
PITT’S INDIA ACT 1784

 Commercial and political functions of the


company separated. The Court of Directors
managed the commercial activities while the
Board of Control managed political affairs.

 The company territories in India were called


‘British possession in India’.

 Governor’s Councils were set up in Madras and


Bombay as well.
CHARTER ACT 1813

 This act ended the East India Company’s


monopoly over trade with India. Trade with India
was open to all British subjects.
CHARTER ACT 1833

 Governor-General of Bengal was designated the


Governor-General of India (Lord William
Bentinck).
 The legislative powers of the Bombay and
Madras Presidencies were removed.
 This act ended the commercial activities of the
company and it was transformed into an
administrative body.
CHARTER ACT 1853

 The legislative and executive powers of the


Governor-General’s Council were separated.

 A Central Legislative Council was created of 6


members out of which 4 were appointed by the
provisional governments of Madras, Bombay,
Agra and Bengal.

 The Indian civil service was opened as a means to


recruit officers for administration through open
competition.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1858

 After the 1857 revolt, the rule of the company


was ended and the British possessions in India
came directly under the British Crown.
 The office of the Secretary of State for India was
created. He was assisted by a 15-member Council
of India.
 The Indian administration was under his
authority and the Viceroy was his agent. The
Governor-General was designated the Viceroy as
well (Lord Canning).
 The Court of Directors and the Board of Control
were abolished.
INDIAN COUNCILS ACT 1861

 Indians were given representation in the


Viceroy’s Councils. 3 Indians entered the
Legislative Council.
 Provisions were made for the entry of Indians in
the Viceroy’s Executive council also as non-
official members.
 Portfolio system was recognised.
 Decentralisation initiated with the presidencies
of Madras and Bombay being restored their
legislative powers.
INDIAN COUNCILS ACT 1892

 Indirect elections (nominations) were introduced.


 Legislative Councils expanded. Gave more
functions to the legislative councils such as the
discussion of budget and questioning the
executive.
INDIAN COUNCILS ACT 1909 (MORLEY-
MINTO REFORMS)

 Direct elections to the legislative councils were


introduced for the first time.
 Central Legislative Council became the Imperial
Legislative Council.
 Number of members of the legislative council was
increased from 16 to 60.
 The concept of separate communal electorate was
accepted.
 For the first time, an Indian was made a member
of the Viceroy’s Executive Council. (Satyendra
Prasad Sinha – Law Member).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1919
(MONTAGUE-CHELMSFORD REFORMS)

 Central and provincial subjects were separated.


 Diarchy was introduced in the provincial
governments with executive councillors being in
charge of the reserved list and the ministers in
charge of the transferred list of subjects.
 The ministers were nominated from among the
elected members of the legislative council and
were responsible to the legislature.
 Bicameral legislature was introduced for the first
time at the centre. (Legislative council and
legislative assembly later to become Rajya Sabha
and Lok Sabha respectively).

 It mandated 3 members of the Viceroy’s executive


council to be Indians.
 This act provided for the first time, the
establishment of a public service commission in
India.
 This act extended the right to vote and with this
about 10% of the population acquired voting
rights.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1935

 An all-India Federation was proposed which


would consist of British India and the princely
states. This never materialised though.
 Subjects were divided between the centre and the
provinces. Centre was in charge of the Federal
List, provinces in charge of the Provincial List
and there was a Concurrent List which both
catered to.
 Diarchy was abolished at the provincial level and
introduced at the centre.
 More autonomy was accorded to the provinces
and in 6 out of 11 provinces, bicameral
legislature was introduced.
 A federal court was established and the Indian
Council abolished.
 Burma and Aden was severed off from India.
 This act provided for the establishment of the
RBI.
 This Act continued until it was replaced by the
new Indian Constitution.
INDIAN INDEPENDENCE ACT 1947

 India was declared independent and sovereign.


 The Viceroy and the Governors were made
constitutional (nominal) heads.
 Set up responsible governments at the centre and
the provinces.
 Assigned both legislative and executive powers to
the Constituent Assembly of India.

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