Katana VentraIP

Government of India Act 1858

The Government of India Act 1858 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (21 & 22 Vict. c. 106) passed on 2 August 1858. Its provisions called for the liquidation of the British East India Company (who had up to this point been ruling British India under the auspices of Parliament) and the transferral of its functions to the British Crown.[2]

For other uses, see Government of India Act.

Long title

An Act for the better Government of India.

2 August 1858

1 November 1858

Lord Palmerston, then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, introduced a bill in 1858 for the transfer of control of the government of India from the East India Company to the Crown, referring to the grave defects in the existing system of the government of India.[3] However, before this bill was to be passed, Palmerston was forced to resign on another issue.


Edward Stanley, 15th Earl of Derby (who would later become the first Secretary of State for India), subsequently introduced another bill which was titled "An Act for the Better Governance of India" and it was passed on 2 August 1858. This act provided that India was to be governed directly and in the name of the Crown.

The company's territories in India were to be vested in , the company ceasing to exercise its power and control over these territories. India was to be governed in the Queen's name.

the Queen

The Queen's received the powers and duties of the company's Court of Directors. A council of fifteen members was appointed to assist the Secretary of State for India. The council became an advisory body in Indian affairs. For all the communications between Britain and India, the Secretary of State became the real channel.

Principal Secretary of State

The Secretary of State for India was empowered to send some secret despatches to India directly without consulting the council. He was also authorised to constitute special committees of the council.

The Crown was empowered to appoint a and the governors of the presidencies.

Governor-General

An was to be created under the control of the Secretary of State.

Indian Civil Service

All the property and other assets of the East India Company were transferred to the Crown. The Crown also assumed the responsibilities of the company as they related to treaties, contracts, and so forth.

[4]

The act ushered in a new period of Indian history, bringing about the end of Company rule in India. The era of the new British Raj would last until the Partition of India in August 1947, when the territory of India was granted dominion status as the Dominion of Pakistan and the Dominion of India.[4]

East India Stock Dividend Redemption Act 1873

British Raj

India Office

Governor-General of India

Indian Councils Act 1909

Government of India Act 1935

History of Bangladesh

History of India

History of Pakistan

One Scholar's Bibliography

Partial text of Government of India Act 1858

Partial text of Government of India Act, 1858 (21 & 22 Vict. c. 106)