Reforms under Lord William Bentinck | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

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Lord William Bentinck (1828 –1835 A.D.) 
Lord William Bentinck assumed the office of the Governor General in 1828. As Governor General, 
Bentinck had initiated an era of progress and reforms. He was the first Governor General of British 
India who acted on Welfare of people. William Bentinck adopted a policy of non-intervention and 
non-aggression with Indian states. 
Charter Act of 1833 
The Charter Act of 1833 was a significant constitutional instrument defining the scope and 
authority of the East India Company. The various provisions of the Act were 
? It made the Governor General of Bengal as the 
Governor-General of India and vested in him all civil 
and military powers. 
? The Governor General of India was given exclusive 
legislative powers for the entire British India. 
? It ended the activities of the East India Company as a 
commercial body, which became a purely 
administrative body. 
? Attempted to introduce a system of open 
competition for selection of civil servants 
Reforms under William Bentinck 
The advent of Lord William Bentinck ushered in a new era in the annals of India in many ways. 
Although his tenure of office covered only a short span of seven years, it saw a period of enduring 
reforms. They may be classified as financial, administrative, social and educational. 
? Financial Reforms 
?  Administrative Reforms 
?  Educational Reforms 
?  Social Reforms 
Financial Reforms: When Bentinck assumed the Governor-Generalship in 1828, the financial 
position of the Company was poor. The exchequer was very weak. The state budget showed a 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
BRITISH RULE
 
 
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Lord William Bentinck (1828 –1835 A.D.) 
Lord William Bentinck assumed the office of the Governor General in 1828. As Governor General, 
Bentinck had initiated an era of progress and reforms. He was the first Governor General of British 
India who acted on Welfare of people. William Bentinck adopted a policy of non-intervention and 
non-aggression with Indian states. 
Charter Act of 1833 
The Charter Act of 1833 was a significant constitutional instrument defining the scope and 
authority of the East India Company. The various provisions of the Act were 
? It made the Governor General of Bengal as the 
Governor-General of India and vested in him all civil 
and military powers. 
? The Governor General of India was given exclusive 
legislative powers for the entire British India. 
? It ended the activities of the East India Company as a 
commercial body, which became a purely 
administrative body. 
? Attempted to introduce a system of open 
competition for selection of civil servants 
Reforms under William Bentinck 
The advent of Lord William Bentinck ushered in a new era in the annals of India in many ways. 
Although his tenure of office covered only a short span of seven years, it saw a period of enduring 
reforms. They may be classified as financial, administrative, social and educational. 
? Financial Reforms 
?  Administrative Reforms 
?  Educational Reforms 
?  Social Reforms 
Financial Reforms: When Bentinck assumed the Governor-Generalship in 1828, the financial 
position of the Company was poor. The exchequer was very weak. The state budget showed a 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
BRITISH RULE
 
 
 
   
 
deficit of one million rupees. It became necessary on the part of the Governor-General to take 
effective steps to improve the financial condition. To achieve this he adopted the following 
measures: 
? He reduced the salaries and allowances of all officers and additional staff were removed. 
? In the military department, he abolished the system of double batta. (Batta was an 
allowance to troops on active service.)  
By these financial reforms at the time of his departure, he left the treasury with a surplus of Rs.1.5 
millions. 
Administrative Reforms: Bentinck’s administrative reforms speak of his political maturity and 
wisdom.  
? In the judicial department he abolished the provincial courts of appeal established by 
Cornwallis. They were largely responsible for the huge arrears of cases.  
? Another good measure of Bentinck was the introduction of local languages in the lower 
courts and English in the higher courts in the place of Persian.  
? He launched the revenue settlements of the North West Province 
Educational Reforms: The introduction of English 
Education was a significant event of Lord William 
Bentinck’s administration. He appointed a committee 
headed by Lord Macaulay to make recommendations for 
the promotion of education. 
? English became the medium of instruction in Schools and Colleges. 
? Bentinck made English, the official language of India.  
? Bentinck encouraged the Christian missionaries to establish schools and colleges in 
India. 
? Western system of education began to spread among the middle and upper class 
Indians 
Social Reforms: The social reforms of William Bentinck made his name immortal in the history of 
British India. These include the abolition of Sati, the suppression of Thugs and the prevention of 
female infanticide. 
Abolition of Sati - Widow was supposed to burn herself alive on the funeral pyre of her deceased 
husband.  At first it was a voluntary act. But, as days went on, the widow was forced to die by her 
relatives. Passed a law in 1829. It declared the practice of Sati as a criminal and illegal offence.  
Bentinck got the support of Raja Rammohan Roy and Devandranath Tagore, the noted social 
reformers of Bengal. 
 
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Lord William Bentinck (1828 –1835 A.D.) 
Lord William Bentinck assumed the office of the Governor General in 1828. As Governor General, 
Bentinck had initiated an era of progress and reforms. He was the first Governor General of British 
India who acted on Welfare of people. William Bentinck adopted a policy of non-intervention and 
non-aggression with Indian states. 
Charter Act of 1833 
The Charter Act of 1833 was a significant constitutional instrument defining the scope and 
authority of the East India Company. The various provisions of the Act were 
? It made the Governor General of Bengal as the 
Governor-General of India and vested in him all civil 
and military powers. 
? The Governor General of India was given exclusive 
legislative powers for the entire British India. 
? It ended the activities of the East India Company as a 
commercial body, which became a purely 
administrative body. 
? Attempted to introduce a system of open 
competition for selection of civil servants 
Reforms under William Bentinck 
The advent of Lord William Bentinck ushered in a new era in the annals of India in many ways. 
Although his tenure of office covered only a short span of seven years, it saw a period of enduring 
reforms. They may be classified as financial, administrative, social and educational. 
? Financial Reforms 
?  Administrative Reforms 
?  Educational Reforms 
?  Social Reforms 
Financial Reforms: When Bentinck assumed the Governor-Generalship in 1828, the financial 
position of the Company was poor. The exchequer was very weak. The state budget showed a 
  MODERN INDIAN HISTORY 
   
 
BRITISH RULE
 
 
 
   
 
deficit of one million rupees. It became necessary on the part of the Governor-General to take 
effective steps to improve the financial condition. To achieve this he adopted the following 
measures: 
? He reduced the salaries and allowances of all officers and additional staff were removed. 
? In the military department, he abolished the system of double batta. (Batta was an 
allowance to troops on active service.)  
By these financial reforms at the time of his departure, he left the treasury with a surplus of Rs.1.5 
millions. 
Administrative Reforms: Bentinck’s administrative reforms speak of his political maturity and 
wisdom.  
? In the judicial department he abolished the provincial courts of appeal established by 
Cornwallis. They were largely responsible for the huge arrears of cases.  
? Another good measure of Bentinck was the introduction of local languages in the lower 
courts and English in the higher courts in the place of Persian.  
? He launched the revenue settlements of the North West Province 
Educational Reforms: The introduction of English 
Education was a significant event of Lord William 
Bentinck’s administration. He appointed a committee 
headed by Lord Macaulay to make recommendations for 
the promotion of education. 
? English became the medium of instruction in Schools and Colleges. 
? Bentinck made English, the official language of India.  
? Bentinck encouraged the Christian missionaries to establish schools and colleges in 
India. 
? Western system of education began to spread among the middle and upper class 
Indians 
Social Reforms: The social reforms of William Bentinck made his name immortal in the history of 
British India. These include the abolition of Sati, the suppression of Thugs and the prevention of 
female infanticide. 
Abolition of Sati - Widow was supposed to burn herself alive on the funeral pyre of her deceased 
husband.  At first it was a voluntary act. But, as days went on, the widow was forced to die by her 
relatives. Passed a law in 1829. It declared the practice of Sati as a criminal and illegal offence.  
Bentinck got the support of Raja Rammohan Roy and Devandranath Tagore, the noted social 
reformers of Bengal. 
 
 
   
 
 
Suppression of Thugs: They were hereditary robbers. The Thugs used to attack innocent 
travelers and caravans of traders. Campaign under Colonel Sleeman from 1830 against the 
thugs. Nearly 2000 of them were captured, punished and transported to the Andaman and 
Nicobar Islands. 
Abolition of Female Infanticide, Human Sacrifice: To please the Gods and Goddesses human 
sacrifice was offered among certain communities in India. Female infanticide, that is, the 
practice of killing female children at the time of their birth, was in practice. Both the practices 
were declared illegal by Bentinck and severe punishments were given