The Charter Act Of 1793, 1813 And 1833

 

The East India Company Act 1793, also known as the Charter Act of 1793, was an Act of the British Parliament that renewed the British East India Company's (EIC) charter and continued the Company's rule in India. The 1793 Act "passed with minimal trouble," in contrast to British India legislation proposed in the previous two decades. The Act made only minor changes to either India's political system or British oversight of the Company's operations. For another 20 years, the company's trade monopoly was maintained. The Charter Act of 1813 was the next act to renew the Company's charter.

 

1.    The Act acknowledged the Company's political functions and stated unequivocally that "acquisition of sovereignty by Crown subjects is on behalf of the Crown and not in its own right."

 

2.    The company was given permission to increase its dividend to 10%.

 

3.    Salaries for employees and paid members of the Board of Control were now deducted from the company's profits.

 

4.    The company was required by the Charter Act of 1793 to pay the British Government 5 lakh British pounds annually from the surplus revenue after paying all necessary expenses, interest, dividends, and salaries from the Indian Revenues.

 

5.    The Governor-General was given broad authority over the subordinate administrations.

 

6.    In exceptional circumstances, the Governor General had the authority to defy the Council's majority. As a result, he was given more authority. 

 

7.    The Governor General and the governors of the other presidencies could now override the respective councils, and the commander in chief was no longer a member of the Governor General's council unless he was specially appointed by the Court of Directors to be a member. 

 

8.    The appointment of the Governor-General, governors, and Commander-in-Chief required royal approval. 

 

9.    It was forbidden for senior officials to leave India without permission. If a senior official left India without permission, it was regarded as resigning. 

 

10.    The EIC was given the authority to grant trading licences to both individuals and Company employees in India (known as the "privilege" or "country" trade), paving the way for opium shipments to China.

 

11.    The courts were reorganised and their jurisdictions were redefined as a result of this act. The revenue administration was separated from the judicial functions, which resulted in the Maal Adalats' disappearance.

 

The Berlin Decree of 1806 and the Milan Decree of 1807, issued by Napoleon Bonaparte, prohibited the import of British goods into European countries allied with or dependent on France, and established the Continental System in Europe. Because of these difficulties, British traders demanded access to Asian ports and the dissolution of the East India Company's monopoly. The East India Company, on the other hand, argued that its political power and commercial privileges could not be separated. The controversy was eventually resolved by requiring all British merchants to trade with India to obtain a licence. The East India Company Act of 1813, also known as the Charter Act of 1813, was an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament that renewed the British East India Company's charter and continued the Company's rule in India. 

 

The company's monopoly on trade was extended for another 20 years. The Charter Act of 1833 was the next act to renew the Company's charter.

 

1.    The Act asserted the Crown's sovereignty over British India. For the first time, the charter act of 1813 explicitly defined the constitutional position of British territories in India. 

 

2.    The company's territorial revenues and commercial profits were regulated by this act. The company's debt was to be reduced, and a 10.5 percent annual dividend was set.

 

3.    This act also gave local governments the authority to levy taxes on people who fall under the Supreme Court's jurisdiction. 

 

4.    With the exception of the tea trade and trade with China, the Company's commercial monopoly was ended. The expansion of British power in India is reflected in this painting.

 

5.    This act also included provisions allowing people to travel to India for the purpose of promoting moral and religious improvement. (Missionaries of Christianity)

 

6.    In India, the provincial governments and courts were given more power over European British subjects. 

 

7.    Financial support was provided to encourage the revival of Indian literature and the advancement of science. 

 

8.    There was also a provision that the company invest Rs. 1 lakh in the education of Indians every year.

 

The Saint Helena Act 1833, also known as the Government of India Act 1833 or the Charter Act of 1833, was an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament that gave the Company a new lease on life for the next 20 years. The charter was renewed for another 20 years in 1813, but it expired in 1833. This was the time for the government to conduct a thorough examination of the company's operations in India. 

 

The company's charter was renewed for another 20 years, but it was asked to shut down its commercial operations. Thus, the charter was renewed this time on the condition that the Company abandon all trade with India and China and allow Europeans to freely settle in India.

 

 

a.    The British colonisation of India was legalised by the Charter Act of 1813, and the company's territorial possessions were allowed to remain under its control, but were held "in trust for his majesty" for the service of the Government of India.

 

b.    It ended the British East India Company's commercial activities and turned it into a purely administrative organisation.

 

c.    With the Charter Act of 1813, the company lost its monopoly in China as well as its monopoly in the tea trade.

 

d.    The Governor-General of Bengal was renamed the Governor-General of India. Lord William Bentinck became the "First Governor General of British India" after the Charter Act of 1833.

 

e.    The Company's civil and military affairs were given to the Governor-General in Council to control, supervise, and direct. 

 

f.    The central government was supposed to have complete control over revenue and expenditure raising. i.e., the Governor General-in-Council wielded complete financial and administrative authority. 

 

g.    The number of members of the Governor General's Council was restored to four, after being reduced to three by Pitt's India Act. However, the 4th member's ability to function has been restricted. Except for legislative purposes, the 4th member had no authority to act as a member of the council. Lord Macaulay was the fourth person to be appointed as a member of the Council.

 

 

a.    The Presidency of Bengal was divided into two presidencies by the Charter Act of 1833, which were to be known as the Presidency of Fort William and the Presidency of Agra. However, this provision was never implemented and was later suspended.

 

 

a.    It took away the legislative powers of the governors of Bombay and Madras. For all of British India, the Governor-General was given exclusive legislative powers.

 

b.    The Governor-General-in-Council has the authority to repeal, amend, or change any law or regulation affecting all persons (whether British or native or foreign), all places and things in all parts of British India, all company servants, and all articles of war.

 

c.    However, any laws passed by the Governor-General-in-Council could be vetoed by the Court of Directors, which is overseen by the Board of Control.

 

 

a.    The 1833 charter act is thought to be an attempt to codify all Indian laws.

 

b.    The British parliament, as the supreme body, retained the power to legislate and repeal acts for the British territories in India. 

 

c.    The Act of 1833 mandated that all laws enacted in India be laid before parliament and referred to as Acts. The Governor-General-in-Council was directed by the Charter Act of 1833 to establish an Indian Law Commission in order to codify the laws.

 

d.    Lord Macaulay was the most important member and Chairman of the first Indian Law Commission, which was established by the Charter Act of 1833. 

 

e.    The law commission's goals were to investigate the jurisdiction, powers, and rules of the courts of justice, existing forms of judicial procedure, and the nature and operation of all types of laws. 

 

f.    It was ordered that the Law Commission submit its report to the Governor General-in-Council, who would then file it with the British parliament.

 

 

a.    The Charter Act of 1833, section 87, stated that merit would be the basis for employment in government services, and that candidates' religion, birthplace, or race would not be taken into account. This policy had never been seen before in any of the previous acts.

 

b.     As a result, the Charter Act of 1833 was the first act that allowed Indians to freely share administration in the country. 

 

c.    It attempted to implement a system of open competitions for civil servant selection. However, due to opposition from the Court of Directors, who retained the power to appoint Company officials, this provision was repealed.

 

 

a.    This act also directed the Governor General-in-Council to take measures to alleviate the current state of slavery in India. 

 

b.    While drafting any laws, the Governor General-in-Council was also directed to consider marriage laws, as well as the rights and authorities of family heads.

 

 

a.    The number of British citizens in India was growing. 

 

b.    The charter act of 1833 regulated the establishment of Christian institutions in India, and the number of bishops was increased to three.

 

a.    The Indian government assumed the Company's debts and agreed to pay its shareholders a 10.5 percent dividend on their capital for the next 40 years from Indian revenues. 

 

b.    This added to India's burden and proved to be an important component of the wealth drain.