Two Eras of Constitutional Development
🏢 Company Rule — 1773 to 1858 CE (85 years)
👑 Crown Rule — 1858 to 1947 CE (89 years)
All Acts — Quick Reference
| Era |
Act |
Year |
Key Intro |
| Company |
Regulating Act |
1773 |
First Governor General; Supreme Court |
| Company |
Pitts India Act |
1784 |
Dual Government (Court of Directors + Board of Control) |
| Company |
Charter Act |
1813 |
End of trade monopoly; Education ₹1 lakh; Christian missionaries |
| Company |
Charter Act |
1833 |
Governor General of India (1st: Bentinck); Law Commission |
| Company |
Charter Act |
1853 |
Legislative vs Admin separated; Civil Services open competition |
| Crown |
Govt of India Act |
1858 |
Viceroy (1st: Canning); Secretary of State; End Company rule |
| Crown |
Indian Councils Act |
1861 |
Portfolio system; Ordinance power to Viceroy |
| Crown |
Indian Councils Act |
1892 |
Indirect elections; Budget debate; Non-official members increased |
| Crown |
Indian Councils Act |
1909 |
Morley-Minto; Separate electorate for Muslims; Satyendra Sinha |
| Crown |
Govt of India Act |
1919 |
Montagu-Chelmsford; Dyarchy; Bicameral at Centre |
| Crown |
Govt of India Act |
1935 |
All India Federation; 3 Lists; RBI; Bicameral provinces |
| Crown |
India Independence Act |
1947 |
End British rule; Constituent Assembly; Princely states free |
🏢 Company Rule — 1773 to 1858 CE
1
Regulating Act, 1773
1773
- Governor of Bengal → Governor General of Bengal (Mumbai + Madras under him)
- First Governor General: Lord Warren Hastings
- Beginning of Central Administration
- Establishment of Supreme Court (1774)
- 1st Chief Justice: Sir Elijah Impey
- Other Judges: Robert Chambers, Stephen Caesar Le Maistre, John Hyde
2
Pitts India Act, 1784
1784
- Introduced Dual Government System:
→ Commercial matters: Court of Directors
→ Political matters: Board of Control
- Council of Governor General reduced from 4 to 3
- Company's territory called 'British-Possession in India'
- End of Trade Monopoly (except Tea & Trade with China)
-
₹1 Lakh annually allocated for Education
-
Christian missionaries allowed to enter British India
- Governor General of Bengal → Governor General of India
- First Governor General of India: Lord William Bentinck
- Law Commission formed in 1834 → Chairman: Lord Macaulay
- Monopoly in Tea & Trade with China completely abolished
- Legislative and Administrative functions separated
- Court of Directors reduced from 24 to 18
- Indians permitted to join Civil Services (open competition introduced)
-
Local Representation permitted in Central Legislative Council
👑 Crown Rule — 1858 to 1947 CE
1
Government of India Act, 1858
1858
- Rule transferred to British Crown
- Governor General of India → Viceroy of India
- First Viceroy: Lord Canning
- Creation of post: Secretary of State for India
- Abolition of Court of Directors and Board of Control
2
Indian Councils Act, 1861
1861
- Legislative Council for Punjab, Bengal, North Western Province
- Inclusion of Indian Representatives in law-making
- Legislative powers returned to Bombay & Madras
-
Portfolio system initiated
-
Ordinance power to Viceroy
3
Indian Councils Act, 1892
1892
- Central & Provincial Legislative Councils — increase in Non-Official members
- Introduction of Indirect Elections
- Right to ask questions and debate on budget
4
Indian Councils Act, 1909 — Morley-Minto Reforms
1909
-
Separate Electorate for Muslims — first time introduced
- Expansion of Central and Provincial Legislative Councils
- First Indian in Executive Council of Viceroy: Satyendra Prasad Sinha
- Named after: Secretary of State Morley + Viceroy Minto
5
Government of India Act, 1919 — Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
1919
- Introduction of Dyarchy (Dual Government) at provincial level
-
Bicameral system at central level
-
Direct elections (limited franchise) + expansion of separate electorate
- Named after: Secretary of State Montagu + Viceroy Chelmsford
6
Government of India Act, 1935
1935
- Provisions for All India Federation
- Federal, Provincial & Concurrent Lists
- Establishment of Federal Judiciary and Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
-
Bicameral system at Provincial level
- Expansion of Separate Electorates
- Basis of many provisions of the Indian Constitution
7
India Independence Act, 1947
1947
- End of British Rule in India
- Abolition of Viceroy and Secretary of State
- Princely states given option: Join India or Pakistan or remain independent
-
Constituent Assembly given power to frame and adopt Constitution
Important "Firsts" & Key People
| First / Achievement |
Who / When |
Act |
| First Governor General of Bengal |
Lord Warren Hastings |
Regulating Act 1773 |
| First Chief Justice (Supreme Court) |
Sir Elijah Impey |
Regulating Act 1773 |
| First Governor General of India |
Lord William Bentinck |
Charter Act 1833 |
| Law Commission Chairman |
Lord Macaulay (1834) |
Charter Act 1833 |
| First Viceroy of India |
Lord Canning |
Govt of India Act 1858 |
| First Indian in Viceroy's Executive Council |
Satyendra Prasad Sinha |
ICA 1909 (Morley-Minto) |
| Portfolio System introduced |
— |
Indian Councils Act 1861 |
| Dyarchy introduced |
— (Provincial level) |
Govt of India Act 1919 |
| RBI established |
— |
Govt of India Act 1935 |
| Separate Electorate — Muslims |
First introduced |
ICA 1909 (Morley-Minto) |
| Civil Services open to Indians |
Open competition |
Charter Act 1853 |
| Direct Elections introduced |
Limited franchise |
Govt of India Act 1919 |
Reforms Named After People
| Reform Name |
Act Year |
Named After |
| Morley-Minto Reforms |
1909 |
Secretary of State Morley + Viceroy Minto |
| Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms |
1919 |
Secretary of State Montagu + Viceroy Chelmsford |
Dual Government — Two Instances
-
Pitts India Act 1784: Dual Govt at top level — Court of Directors (commerce) + Board of
Control (politics)
-
Govt of India Act 1919: Dyarchy at provincial level — reserved subjects +
transferred subjects
⚠️ Exam Traps
Trap #1 — Governor General of Bengal vs India
Regulating Act 1773 → "Governor General of Bengal" (1st: Warren Hastings). Charter Act 1833 → "Governor General of India" (1st: William Bentinck). The two titles are different.
Trap #2 — The Charter Act of 1813 did not completely end the Company's monopoly
The Charter Act of 1813 ended the Company's trade monopoly except for tea and trade with China. The Charter Act of 1833 ended the remaining monopoly completely.
Trap #3 — Where was Dyarchy introduced?
The Government of India Act, 1919 introduced Dyarchy at the provincial level, not at the central level. It introduced a bicameral legislature at the Centre. Do not confuse these two features.
Trap #4 — When was the Separate Electorate introduced?
Separate electorates for Muslims were introduced by the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 and expanded by the 1919 reforms. Remember: 1909 for introduction, 1919 for expansion.
Trap #5 — When was the RBI established?
The Reserve Bank of India was established in 1935 under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, before the Constitution came into force.
Trap #6 — First Viceroy
Lord Canning was the first Viceroy of India under the Government of India Act, 1858. He had previously served as Governor-General of India; the same person held a different title after the Act.
Trap #7 — Court of Directors — Reduction
Court of Directors reduced from 24 to 18 by Charter Act 1853. Council of Governor General reduced from 4 to 3 by Pitts India Act 1784. These were separate reductions under different Acts.
Trap #8 — Morley-Minto vs Montagu-Chelmsford
Morley-Minto (1909) = Separate electorate for Muslims + Indirect elections. Montagu-Chelmsford (1919) = Dyarchy + Direct elections + Bicameral at Centre. Their names and features are different.