The Indian Constitution, one of the most comprehensive and longest constitutions in the world, has undergone several changes and reforms since its inception in 1950. However, the evolution journey towards its creation began much earlier, with administrative and legislative reforms being introduced by the British government to govern their colony in India. In this blog post, we will take a look at the major administrative and legislative reforms that took place before and after 1857.

Administrative & Legislative Reforms Before 1857

Regulating Act of 1773

The Regulating Act of 1773 was the first attempt by the British government to regulate and govern their colony in India. The act established the office of Governor-General of Bengal, which was to be held by a British civil servant, and established a council to assist the Governor-General. The act also established a supreme court in Calcutta, which had jurisdiction over all British subjects in India.

Pitts India Act of 1784

The Pitts India Act of 1784, also known as the East India Company Act 1784, was a significant step towards the British government’s control of India. The act established a board of control, consisting of six British politicians, to oversee the affairs of the East India Company, which controlled the British territories in India. The act also established a system of government in India, with a Governor-General and a council to assist him.

Charter Act of 1793

The Charter Act of 1793, also known as the East India Company Act 1793, extended the powers of the board of control established by the Pitts India Act of 1784, and also established a system of government in India, with a Governor-General and a council to assist him. The act also established a system of justice, with the supreme court in Calcutta and the courts of circuit, and the charter act also abolished the trade monopoly of the East India Company.

Charter Act of 1813

The Charter Act of 1813, also known as the East India Company Act 1813, extended the powers of the board of control established by the Pitts India Act of 1784 and provided for the appointment of a Governor-General and a council to assist him. The act also established a system of justice, with the supreme court in Calcutta and the courts of circuit, and also abolished the trade monopoly of the East India Company.

Charter Act of 1833

The Charter Act of 1833, also known as the East India Company Act 1833, abolished the East India Company’s monopoly on trade with China and East Indies, it established a system of government in India, with a Governor-General and a council to assist him, and it also established a system of justice, with the supreme court in Calcutta and the courts of circuit.

Charter Act of 1853

The Charter Act of 1853, also known as the East India Company Act 1853, ended the East India Company’s role as a territorial power in India, it established a system of government in India, with a Governor-General and a council to assist him, and it also established a system of justice, with the supreme court in Calcutta and the courts of circuit.

Administrative & Legislative Reforms After 1857

Government of India Act 1858

The Government of India Act 1858, also known as the East India Company Act 1858, ended the East India Company’s rule in India, and transferred control of India from the East India Company to the British Crown. The act established a system of government in India, with a Governor-General and a council to assist him, and it also established a system of justice, with the supreme court in Calcutta and the courts of circuit.

Indian Councils Act 1861

The Indian Councils Act 1861, also known as the Indian Councils Act of 1861, aimed to increase the participation of Indians in the government. The act expanded the membership of the Governor-General’s council and allowed for the appointment of non-official members, including Indians. It also allowed for the establishment of legislative councils in the provinces, with both official and non-official members. This act, however, did not grant Indians any real power in the government and was primarily seen as a means to pacify growing dissent.

Indian Councils Act 1892

The Indian Councils Act 1892, also known as the Indian Councils Act of 1892, expanded on the 1861 act by increasing the number of non-official members in the legislative councils and allowing for the introduction of bills by non-official members. The act also allowed for the creation of a central legislative council, which would have members from both the provinces and the central government. However, like the 1861 act, this one too did not grant any significant power to Indians and was primarily seen as a cosmetic change.

Morley Minto Reforms and the Indian Councils Act 1909

The Morley Minto Reforms, also known as the Indian Councils Act 1909, were the first constitutional reforms to grant Indians a limited role in the government. The act expanded the number of non-official members in the legislative councils and allowed for the appointment of Muslim representatives. The act also allowed for the creation of separate electorates for Muslims, which was seen as a major step towards communal representation.

The Government of India Act 1915

The Government of India Act 1915, also known as the Indian Government Act 1915, further expanded on the 1909 act by increasing the number of non-official members in the legislative councils and allowing for the appointment of representatives from different communities and backgrounds. The act also established a system of dyarchy, where certain subjects were to be under the control of the Governor and certain subjects were to be under the control of elected Indian ministers.

Montague Chelmsford Report and the Government of India Act 1919

The Montague Chelmsford Report, also known as the Government of India Act 1919, was based on the recommendations of a commission appointed to review the working of the 1915 act. The act further expanded on the 1909 and 1915 acts by increasing the number of non-official members in the legislative councils and allowing for the appointment of representatives from different communities and backgrounds. The act also established a system of dyarchy, where certain subjects were to be under the control of the Governor and certain subjects were to be under the control of elected Indian ministers.

Simon Commission

The Simon Commission, also known as the Indian Statutory Commission, was appointed in 1927 to review the working of the 1919 act and recommend further constitutional reforms. The commission was met with widespread protests, as it did not include any Indian members. The commission’s report was ultimately rejected by the Indian political leadership, leading to the appointment of a subsequent commission.

The government of India Act 1935

The Government of India Act 1935, also known as the Indian Government Act 1935, was the last major constitutional reform before the independence of India. The act expanded on the 1919 act by increasing the number of non-official members in the legislative councils and allowing for the appointment of representatives from different communities and backgrounds. The act also established a system of federalism, where certain subjects were to be under the control of the central government and certain subjects were to be under the control of the provinces.

Cripps Mission

The Cripps Mission, also known as the Cripps Proposals, was a plan proposed by the British government in 1942 to grant India independence after the end of World War II. The plan, however, was rejected by the Indian political leadership as it did not grant full independence and did not address the demands of the Muslim League for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan.

Cabinet Mission Plan

The Cabinet Mission Plan, also known as the Cabinet Mission to India, was a plan proposed by the British government in 1946 to transfer power to the Indians and to address the demands of the Muslim League for a separate Muslim state of Pakistan. The plan proposed the creation of a Union of India and the partition of British India into Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan.

The Mountbatten Plan

The Mountbatten Plan, also known as the Indian Independence Act 1947, was the final plan proposed by the British government for the transfer of power to the Indians. The plan, based on the Cabinet Mission Plan, proposed the partition of British India into the independent dominions of India and Pakistan and the transfer of power to the Indians on August 15, 1947.

The Indian Independence Act 1947 of the British Parliament

The Indian Independence Act 1947 of the British Parliament granted independence to India and Pakistan and provided for the transfer of power from the British government to the Indian government.

In conclusion, the Indian Constitution has evolved over time through various administrative and legislative reforms, starting from the Regulating Act of 1773 to the Indian Independence Act 1947. Each act has contributed to the gradual empowerment of Indians in the government and has laid the foundation for the democratic and secular nation that India is today. It is important to understand the history of these reforms in order to appreciate the development of the Indian Constitution.

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