PPT: Constitution of India: History - Development & Salient Features | Indian Economy for UPSC CSE PDF Download

 Page 1


Constitution of India: 
History, Development & 
Salient Features
Page 2


Constitution of India: 
History, Development & 
Salient Features
Pitt's India Act and Early Governance
Political Control
Pitt's India Act (1784) separated the East India 
Company's commercial and political functions. It 
established the Court of Directors for commerce 
and Board of Control for political affairs, bringing 
Indian governance under direct British 
Government oversight.
Administrative Changes
The Act reduced the Governor General's council 
to three members and officially designated Indian 
territories as "the British possession in India. " It 
also established Governor's councils in Madras 
and Bombay presidencies.
Page 3


Constitution of India: 
History, Development & 
Salient Features
Pitt's India Act and Early Governance
Political Control
Pitt's India Act (1784) separated the East India 
Company's commercial and political functions. It 
established the Court of Directors for commerce 
and Board of Control for political affairs, bringing 
Indian governance under direct British 
Government oversight.
Administrative Changes
The Act reduced the Governor General's council 
to three members and officially designated Indian 
territories as "the British possession in India. " It 
also established Governor's councils in Madras 
and Bombay presidencies.
Charter Acts: Expanding British 
Control
1
Charter Act of 1813
Ended Company's monopoly over Indian trade, allowing all British 
subjects to trade with India and introducing free trade principles.
2
Charter Act of 1833
Established the Governor-General of India position, with Lord William 
Bentick as first appointee, and created a Central legislature for India.
3
Legislative Changes
Centralized legislative authority by removing powers from Bombay and 
Madras provinces. Converted East India Company into a purely 
administrative body.
Page 4


Constitution of India: 
History, Development & 
Salient Features
Pitt's India Act and Early Governance
Political Control
Pitt's India Act (1784) separated the East India 
Company's commercial and political functions. It 
established the Court of Directors for commerce 
and Board of Control for political affairs, bringing 
Indian governance under direct British 
Government oversight.
Administrative Changes
The Act reduced the Governor General's council 
to three members and officially designated Indian 
territories as "the British possession in India. " It 
also established Governor's councils in Madras 
and Bombay presidencies.
Charter Acts: Expanding British 
Control
1
Charter Act of 1813
Ended Company's monopoly over Indian trade, allowing all British 
subjects to trade with India and introducing free trade principles.
2
Charter Act of 1833
Established the Governor-General of India position, with Lord William 
Bentick as first appointee, and created a Central legislature for India.
3
Legislative Changes
Centralized legislative authority by removing powers from Bombay and 
Madras provinces. Converted East India Company into a purely 
administrative body.
Charter Act of 1853: Administrative 
Reforms
1
Legislative-Executive Separation
Separated the Governor-General's Council's legislative and executive 
functions, establishing early foundations for power separation in Indian 
governance.
2
Provincial Representation
Appointed six members to the Central legislative council with four 
from provincial governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal, and Agra, 
creating limited regional representation.
3
Civil Service Reforms
Introduced open competition for Company civil servant recruitment, 
making the Indian Civil Service accessible to all qualified candidates.
Page 5


Constitution of India: 
History, Development & 
Salient Features
Pitt's India Act and Early Governance
Political Control
Pitt's India Act (1784) separated the East India 
Company's commercial and political functions. It 
established the Court of Directors for commerce 
and Board of Control for political affairs, bringing 
Indian governance under direct British 
Government oversight.
Administrative Changes
The Act reduced the Governor General's council 
to three members and officially designated Indian 
territories as "the British possession in India. " It 
also established Governor's councils in Madras 
and Bombay presidencies.
Charter Acts: Expanding British 
Control
1
Charter Act of 1813
Ended Company's monopoly over Indian trade, allowing all British 
subjects to trade with India and introducing free trade principles.
2
Charter Act of 1833
Established the Governor-General of India position, with Lord William 
Bentick as first appointee, and created a Central legislature for India.
3
Legislative Changes
Centralized legislative authority by removing powers from Bombay and 
Madras provinces. Converted East India Company into a purely 
administrative body.
Charter Act of 1853: Administrative 
Reforms
1
Legislative-Executive Separation
Separated the Governor-General's Council's legislative and executive 
functions, establishing early foundations for power separation in Indian 
governance.
2
Provincial Representation
Appointed six members to the Central legislative council with four 
from provincial governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal, and Agra, 
creating limited regional representation.
3
Civil Service Reforms
Introduced open competition for Company civil servant recruitment, 
making the Indian Civil Service accessible to all qualified candidates.
Government of India Act, 1858: End of Company 
Rule
Transfer of Power
In 1858, the British Crown 
assumed direct control of India 
from the East India Company. 
The Board of Control and Court 
of Directors were abolished, 
replaced by the Secretary of 
State for India supported by a 
15-member Council of India.
Centralized 
Administration
The Governor-General, now 
titled Viceroy, headed a 
centralized administration with 
no separation of powers. All civil, 
military, executive and legislative 
authority was concentrated in 
the Governor-General in Council 
who reported directly to the 
Secretary of State.
Bureaucratic Structure
The administration operated as a 
bureaucracy detached from 
Indian public opinion. The 
Secretary of State exercised 
complete control over Indian 
governance, answerable only to 
the British Parliament.