Charter Act of 1813, 1833, 1853

During the colonial era, the British Parliament approved the important Charter Acts of 1813, 1833, and 1853, which established guidelines for the administration and government of British India. Significant developments occurred in England between the 1813 and 1833 Charter Acts. The Industrial Revolution was mostly to blame for this. A cheaper product export from these new machines expanded people's opportunities. British politics have witnessed the emergence of a new class consciousness. There emerged an intellectual class to represent the labour class. The victory of liberal values followed the Whigs' election in 1830. Human rights were publicly proclaimed, and free commerce was practised. Below is a brief overview of each:

This Story also Contains

1. Key Features of the Charter Act of 1813, 1833, and 1853; Short Overview
2. Charter Act of 1813
3. Charter Act of 1833
4. Charter Act of 1853
5. Conclusion

Key Features of the Charter Act of 1813, 1833, and 1853; Short Overview

Charter Act of 1813

The East India Company Act is sometimes referred to as the 1813 Charter Act. The British East India Company provided the Charter, which was renewed by the UK parliament by this act. Subsequently, the company's rule in India was implemented. China was the only country remaining, aside from the trade in tea, opium, and other commodities. The company's other advertisements came to an end.

What is the Charter Act of 1813?

• The East India Company Act of 1813 was the common name for the 1813 Charter Act.

• This act established the British East India Corporation's charter and gave the corporation the authority to rule India.

• It was passed by the parliament of the United Kingdom.

• The corporation had finished most of its contracts for the British East India Corporation; the only commodities still available for sale were opium and tea, and business continued with China.

• Through this statute, British India allocated one hundred thousand rupees for Indian education.

• The Christian missionaries permitted them to spread their beliefs and speak in English.

• Regarding the European British and the temporary government, this law enhanced the understanding and authority of the Indian courts.

• Indian literary works were also strongly promoted to advance the field of science.

Before, the governor-general of Bengal oversaw the education system. This Act aimed to enhance the well-being and needs of the populace, as well as the ethical and spiritual backing and duties that the British government failed to offer to its citizens when it was enacted. It succeeded in challenging the self-centred nature by showing a sense of duty.

A group of legislators known as the East India Company was deeply concerned about natural resources and felt that the British people had to lead by example by allowing affluent people to act without restriction.

The British legislative body passed the East India Company Charter through the Charter Act of 1813, which remained in force for approximately two decades. They concluded that introducing Christianity to the Indians might make them perceive it as a threat and could lead to opposition towards British trade activities.

In 1793, the company's founding document was renewed, and its following document was renewed in 1833.

Historical Background; The Charter Act of 1813

• The European Strategy of Napoleon Bonaparte, which prohibited the entry of British goods into French allies across Europe, aggravated the situation for British merchants and traders.

• Consequently, they wanted a piece of the British trade in Asia and the dissolution of the Eastern India Company's exclusive control. The company opposed this.

• In the end, British companies were allowed to enter India with strict licensing conditions through the Charter Act of 1813. However, they still held exclusive control over tea and trade with China.

Provisions of the 1813 Charter Act;

1. The Crown's jurisdiction over British territories in India was affirmed by this Act.

2. The firm added twenty more years to its control. All commerce was resumed, except for trade with China, opium, and tea.

3. It gave local governments the authority to impose taxes on citizens under the Supreme Court's jurisdiction.

4. The dividend policy of the corporation was set at 10.5%.

5. The Act increased the jurisdiction of Indian courts over British citizens living in Europe.

6. The act's authorisation for missionaries to travel to India and carry out religious proselytisation was another significant component. According to the Act, the missionaries were successful in appointing a bishop for British India, with his headquarters located in Calcutta.

7. The legislation allocated funds for the advancement of science and the resuscitation of Indian literature.

8. Additionally, the firm was to play a bigger part in the education of the Indians working for them. One lakh rupees was to be set aside for this reason.

Charter Act of 1833

The first piece of legislation allowing Indian immigrants to freely engage in a democratic political system was the Charter Act of 1833. The Government of India Act of 1833 and the Saint Helena Act of 1833 are other names for this legislation. The British Empire had just undergone the Industrial Revolution when the landmark Charter Act of 1833 was enacted.

The British Parliament extended the East India Company's 1813 Charter Act by passing the Charter Act 1833. Through the enactment of the Charter Act of 1833, the British Parliament extended the East India Company's rights by an extra 20 years following the termination of the commercial and administrative authority granted by the Act of 1813 at the close of 1833.

A legal expert was designated to be a fourth consistent member of the Governor General in Council for India, tasked with the responsibility of drafting laws under the Act. Lord Macaulay became the fourth consistent member of the Governor General in Council, possessing the power to participate in the creation of laws during sessions.

Background; Charter Act of 1833

During the time frame spanning the Charter Act of 1813 through the Charter Act of 1833, England experienced notable transformations. The Industrial Revolution largely took the credit for this. A more affordable item sent out from these new devices broadened people's chances. In the realm of British politics, a fresh awareness of class identity has taken root. This led to the rise of an educated elite to stand in the shoes of the working class. The triumph of progressive ideals came after the Whigs secured power in 1830.

The rights of individuals were declared to the public, and open trade was conducted. In the 1833 recharter, there emerged and grew a stronger call from the British Crown for it to take direct charge of the Indian governance and cancel the charter. Nevertheless, the Parliament disagreed with Macaulay's choice and thought that the business should persist in governing India. A legislative review resulted in the enactment of the Act of 1833, signifying a pivotal moment in the history of Indian constitutional development.

Features of the Charter Act of 1833;

• The governors of Madras and Bombay lost their ability to legislate. An exclusive legislative branch led by the Governor-General of India oversaw the governance of British India. Acts enacted under this act are referred to as "Acts" in contrast to rules established under earlier acts.

• It gave the Bengal Governor-General the authority to perform the duties of both the Bengal Governor-General and the Governor-General of India.

• Consequently, the legislation created an Indian government that ruled over the whole territory that the British had previously controlled.

• One of the several sections in the Act specified that government employees would be selected through a competitive process. Moreover, it was declared that Indians would not face any restrictions in occupying any type of managerial position or employment within the organization. However, this provision was dismissed by the Court of Directors.

• The East India Company ceased its business activities and transformed into an administrative entity alone. The company said under this condition that its interests in India would be held "in trust for His Majesty, His heirs and successors."

Provisions of the Charter Act of 1833;

1. Indian Law Commission;

• The Indian Law Commission was to be established, according to the statute. The statute mandates that any Indian law be introduced as an "Act" to the British Parliament.

• It was desired to codify Indian law in its entirety. The Law Commission's first chairman was Lord Macaulay.

2. India became a British colony;

• The Governor-General of Bengal replaced the title of Governor-General of India.

• Therefore, Lord William Bentinck was selected to serve as India's inaugural Governor-General. Consequently, the administration of the country became centralized.

• The leaders of Madras and Bombay lost their power to pass laws. Lawmaking power was transferred to a Governor-General to manage British India.

• The governor-general has the power to modify, revoke, or alter any laws, regardless of their origin - either local, international, or colonial - that were in effect on British Indian land.

• The organization's affairs related to the military and civilian matters were managed by the Governor-General in Council.

• The committee led by the governor general was set to have four members. However, the authority of the fourth member was still limited.

• The Council of India and the Governor-General's Government were first recognised in India.

3. Slavery;

• The slavery that was practised at the time in India was lessened by this act. The British Parliament outlawed slavery in 1833 throughout the British Empire and all of its territories.

4. Indians in Government Service;

• It was the first law that offered Indians a say in how the nation was run. It said that employment in government should be based only on merit, and that race, colour, or religion should not be taken into consideration.

5. Tilted towards Christianity;

• The legislation permitted the appointment of three bishops to serve in India as the number of British citizens there increased. The statute also lays forth guidelines for Christian entities looking to establish themselves in the nation.

Charter Act of 1853

The last of the series of Charter Acts passed while the Company was in charge was the one from 1853. From 1773 to 1858, it was regarded as one of the most remarkable actions of all time.

The British Parliament enacted the Charter Act of 1853 to extend the charter of the East India Company. In contrast to the earlier charter acts of 1793, 1813, and 1833, which extended the charter for 20 years, the length of time the business charter was being renewed was not specified in this statute. During the tenure of Lord Dalhousie as India's Governor-General, this Act was passed.

What is the Charter Act of 1853?

The last of the subsequent Charter Acts passed under the Company's control was the Charter Act of 1853. From 1773 to 1858, it was regarded as one of the most remarkable actions of all time. Based on recommendations made by the Select Committee of Enquiry in 1852, this statute was created.

It's interesting to note that the Legislative Council did not introduce the idea of province representation until the Charter Act of 1853. With the passage of the most recent charter act, the British were granted the confidence that they could keep the Indian lands in trust for their monarchy, rather than for the predetermined period provided by the earlier charter acts.

Features of the Charter Act of 1853;

1. The law-making and administrative bodies had distinct duties from each other, as outlined in the Charter Act of 1853.

2. The establishment of the contemporary form of governance through the Charter Act in 1853 marked the beginning of the modern Parliamentary system of government.

3. The law no longer includes the time limit that was present in previous Charter Acts. Consequently, it extended the duration of the EIC's regulations indefinitely.

4. The Executive Committee was trimmed down to six individuals, each selected by the king or queen.

5. The method of exclusively granting government jobs through referrals was ended by the Charter Act of 1853. This led to Indians becoming excessively keen on securing roles in the Indian Civil Services, resulting in a competitive environment.

6. The British initiated the establishment of the local governance framework and for the initial time in ages, increased their presence in the legislative assembly. It's noteworthy that among the members, a few hailed from Madras, Bengal, Bombay, and the North Western Province.

Provisions of the Charter Act of 1853;

1. A decrease in the number of Board of Directors;

The council was initially led by 24 boards of directors that handled all the concerns. However, the number of BOD members was lowered from 24 to 18 and then to 6 with the passage of the Charter Act of 1853. A crucial prerequisite was that all six of these members have to be appointed by the Crown rule and fall under the purview of the Crown rule.

2. Authority to Assume a New Presidency;

Different presidencies were first conceptualised with the passage of the Charter Act in 1853. The Act gave the Court of Directors the authority to choose Punjab's Lieutenant Governor (LG). Thus, a new presidency was established in 1859.

3. Opening the Civil Service to All;

The Charter Act of 1853 included, among other noteworthy provisions, the opening of public offices to all Indians. The practice of solely awarding government employment based on recommendations was terminated by the Charter Act of 1853. Indians were now overly eager to fill positions in the Indian Civil Services, creating a competitive atmosphere.

4. Governor-General Council Expansion;

The growth of the Governor-General's Office was given special attention in the Charter Act for the first time. The council's duties were now divided into two categories: legislative and executive. The council's previous membership count was six, but that number also increased to twelve.

Conclusion

The article concludes that the Charter Acts significantly influenced the political, social, and economic landscape of the Indian subcontinent and marked pivotal stages in British colonial rule. The company's commercial monopoly with India was eliminated with the passage of the Charter Acts of 1813 and 1833, except for the tea trade. Any British citizen might engage in commerce with India. In addition, the Charter Act of 1833 forced the corporation to discontinue all of its operations in India. In the series of Charter Acts permitted under the Company's regulations, the Charter Act of 1853 served as the decisive one. From 1773 to 1858, it was regarded as one of the most amazing performances in history.