UPSC CSE Prelims
Charter Acts Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Charter Acts with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
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By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — The Charter Act of 1833
The Charter Act of 1833 was a landmark legislation that centralized administrative control in British India. It redesignated the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India, granting him authority over the entire British territorial possessions in India with unified civil and military powers. Lord William Bentinck became the first Governor-General of India under this Act, which also stripped the Governors of Bombay and Madras of their legislative powers, vesting exclusive legislative authority for all of British India in the Governor-General.
📝 Short Notes: Charter Acts and Constitutional Developments
| Act | Year | Key Provisions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulating Act | 1773 | Created Governor-General of Bengal (Warren Hastings); established Supreme Court at Calcutta |
| Pitt's India Act | 1784 | Established dual government system; created Board of Control |
| Charter Act | 1793 | Extended Company's trade monopoly for 20 years; increased salaries of Board of Control members |
| Charter Act | 1813 | Ended Company's trade monopoly except tea and China trade; promoted education |
| Charter Act | 1833 | Governor-General of Bengal became Governor-General of India; ended commercial functions of Company; opened civil services to Indians |
| Charter Act | 1853 | Separated legislative and executive functions; introduced competitive examination for civil services |
Consider the following statements about ‘the Charter Act of 1813’:
- It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China.
- It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company.
- The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2 only
The Charter Act of 1813 was a landmark legislation that ended the East India Company's trade monopoly in India (except for tea and China trade) and explicitly asserted British Crown sovereignty over Indian territories. However, direct parliamentary control over Indian revenues was not established by this Act.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Act abolished the Company's trade monopoly in India, opening trade to all British merchants, but retained the monopoly over tea and trade with China for another 20 years.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Act explicitly asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company, marking a constitutional milestone in British-India relations.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The Act required separate accounts for commercial and territorial revenues, but direct parliamentary control over Indian revenues was only established through the Government of India Act 1858 after the Company's rule ended.
📝 Short Notes: Charter Acts and Company Rule
| Act/Year | Key Provisions |
|---|---|
| Regulating Act 1773 | Created post of Governor-General; Established Supreme Court in Calcutta; Company's affairs subjected to British Government scrutiny |
| Pitt's India Act 1784 | Dual system of control: Court of Directors (commercial) and Board of Control (political); Distinguished commercial and political functions |
| Charter Act 1813 | Ended trade monopoly (except tea & China trade); Asserted Crown sovereignty; Allocated funds for education; Christian missionaries allowed |
| Charter Act 1833 | Ended all commercial activities of Company; Governor-General of Bengal became Governor-General of India; Centralized administration |
| Charter Act 1853 | Separated legislative and executive functions; Introduced open competition for civil services; Extended British Parliament control |
| Government of India Act 1858 | Transferred power from Company to Crown; Created Secretary of State for India; Ended Company rule completely |
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