1. Introduction
2. Background
3. Provisions of the Charter Act of 1833
3.1. India as a British Colony
3.2. Split in Bengal Presidency
3.3. Enhanced Power of Governor General of India
3.4. Codifying the Laws
3.5. Indians in the Government Service
3.6. Mitigation of Slavery
3.7. More Bishops
4. Significance of the Act of 1833
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Topic – Charter Act of 1833 (Notes)
Subject – History
(Modern Indian History)
Table of Contents
Introduction
- The Government of India Act 1833, or the Saint Helena Act 1833, or The Charter Act of 1833 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and it gave another lease of life to the Company for next 20 years.
- The charter was renewed for another 20 years, but the company was asked to close its commercial business.
- Thus, this time the charter was renewed on the condition that Company should abandon its trade entirely, alike with India and China, and permit Europeans to settle freely in India.
- The act, first of all, threw open judicial positions to Indians and provided for the appointment of a law commission for codification of laws.
Background
- The 20 years renewal of the charter in 1813 ran out in 1833.
- 20 Years between Charter Act of 1813 and 1833 witnessed great changes in England. Industrial Revolution had made great impact.
- Cheap products of the new machines and their export overseas widened the outlook of the people.
- Class consciousness gave a new tone to British politics. A new class of intelligentsia emerged to take up matters on behalf of the labourers.
- In 1830, The Whigs (later known as liberal party) came into power and opened the way for the triumph of the liberal principles. The gospel of the Rights of Man was openly preached and the doctrine of free trade was widely accepted.
- The political atmosphere in Britain at that time was also fully charged with enthusiasm for reform, as the Reform Act of 1832 had just been passed.
- It was in this atmosphere of reform and liberal ideas that the Parliament was called upon to view the Charter of the Company in 1833.
- This was the time for the government to do a careful assessment of the functioning of the company in India.
- When the charter was again due for renewal in 1833, there was a fresh and more widespread agitation in Britain for the abolition of the Company and a direct takeover of the Indian administration by the government.
- But this view was not shared by the majority in the Parliament and it agreed with Macaulay that the Company’s rule in India had to be continued though on a different basis.
- A parliamentary inquiry was held, and the Act of 1833, which followed from its recommendations, became a landmark in the constitutional history of India.
- Macaulay was the Secretary to the Board of Control and James Mill, a disciple of Bentham, occupied a high position at the India House. They influenced the Charter Act of 1833.
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