Question map
Which of the following statements relating to the Government of India Act, 1858 is/are correct? 1. The British Crown assumed sovereignty over India from the East India Company. 2. The British Parliament enacted the first statute for the governance of India under the direct rule of the British. 3. This Act was dominated by the principle of absolute imperial control without any popular participation in the administration of the country. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
The Government of India Act, 1858, was enacted following the Revolt of 1857 to transfer sovereignty and administrative powers from the East India Company to the British Crown [4]. This act represented the first statute for the governance of India under direct British rule, liquidating the Company and establishing the British Raj [2]. Administratively, it replaced the Board of Control and Court of Directors with a Secretary of State for India, a British Cabinet member responsible to Parliament [2]. While the Act improved the administrative machinery in England, it did not substantially alter the internal system of government in India at the time [1]. It was characterized by absolute imperial control, as the Secretary of State and the Viceroy wielded complete authority without any provision for popular participation or representation of Indians in the administration of the country [2].
Sources
- [1] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 9: Administrative Changes After 1858 > Administration > p. 151
- [3] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 1: Historical Background > Government of India Act of 1858 > p. 4
- [4] https://cbc.gov.in/cbcdev/crown/crown1.html
- [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Central Government > p. 525