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). Dono alag
titles hain.
Trap #2 — Charter Act 1813 — Monopoly Khatam Nahi Hua Completely
Charter Act 1813 mein trade monopoly khatam hui except Tea & Trade with China. Yeh 1833 mein
completely khatam hui. "Completely abolished" = 1833, not 1813.
Trap #3 — Dyarchy — Kahan?
Dyarchy introduced by Government of India Act 1919 — at Provincial level,
Central level pe nahi. Bicameral legislature = Central level (1919). Confuse mat karo.
Trap #4 — Separate Electorate — Kab?
Muslims ke liye Separate Electorate pehli baar 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) mein aaya. 1919
mein expand hua. 1909 = introduction, 1919 = expansion.
Trap #5 — RBI Kab Bana?
RBI (Reserve Bank of India) established under Government of India Act 1935 — not 1947 or
later. Yeh Indian Constitution se pehle bana.
Trap #6 — First Viceroy
First Viceroy of India = Lord Canning (Government of India Act 1858). Pehle woh Governor
General of India the (Act 1858 ke baad Viceroy ban gaye). Same person, different title.
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. Dono alag
reductions, alag 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. Dono ke names aur
features alag hain.