Which of the following statements regarding the Charter Act of 1833 i...
Option c is correct.
- Relevance: Constitutional Developments important topic. Asked frequently in previous years questions.
- Statement 1 is correct: The Company lost all its trading rights, including those of tea and in trade with China that had been spared by the Charter Act of 1813. Now it remained purely as an administrative body, The sole function of the company was to take care of British territorial possessions in India for the Crown.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: The restrictions on Missionaries to preach Christianity and encourage conversions had already been lifted by the Charter Act of 1813. The Charter Act of 1833 removed all restrictions on immigration and acquisition of property by Europeans in India. This finally cleared the way for widespread and complete colonisation of India.
- Statement 3 is correct: The Governor General’s Council until then had only 3 members. But a new member - a law member was added for professional advice on law making, as British possessions in India had increased substantially.
- Knowledge Base: Following are all the salient features of the Charter Act of 1833: The lease of 20 years to the Company was further extended. Territories of India were to be governed in the name of the Crown.
1) The Company’s monopoly over trade with China and in tea also ended.
2) All restrictions on European immigration.
3) the way was paved for the wholesale European colonisation of India.
4) In India, a financial, legislative and administrative centralisation of the government was envisaged:
a. The governor-general was given the power to superintend, control and direct all civil and military affairs of the Company.
b. Bengal, Madras, Bombay and all other territories were placed under complete control of the governor-general.
c. All revenues were to be raised under the authority of the governor-general who would have complete control over the expenditure too.
d. The Governments of Madras and Bombay were drastically deprived of their legislative powers and left with a right of proposing to the governor-general the projects of law which they thought to be expedient.
5) A law member was added to the governor-general’s council for professional advice on law-making.
6) Indian laws were to be codified and consolidated.
7) No Indian citizen was to be denied employment under the Company on the basis of religion, colour, birth, descent, etc. (Although the reality was different, this declaration formed the sheet-anchor of political agitation in India.)
8) The administration was urged to take steps to ameliorate the conditions of slaves and to ultimately abolish slavery. (Slavery was abolished in 1843.)