Which one among the following Acts for the first time allowed Indians, at least theoretically, entry to higher posts in British Indian administration ?

The Charter Act of 1833 was a landmark piece of legislation that theoretically allowed Indians to enter higher posts in the British Indian administration. Section 87 of the Act explicitly stated that no native of India, nor any natural-born subject of His Majesty, should be disabled from holding any place, office, or employment by reason of religion, place of birth, descent, or color [1]. This provision effectively removed the legal barriers to Indian participation in the civil services, although it remained largely unimplemented in practice for several decades [1]. While the Charter Act of 1853 later introduced an open competition system for recruitment [4], the 1833 Act is recognized as the first to establish the principle of non-discrimination in administrative appointments. Subsequent reforms like the Indian Councils Act of 1861 focused more on legislative representation rather than administrative entry [3].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 26: Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments > Charter Act of 1853 > p. 514
2. [3] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 1: Historical Background > 4P Indian Polity > p. 4
3. [4] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 1: Historical Background > The features of this Act were as follows: > p. 5
4. [2] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 1: Historical Background > 4P Indian Polity > p. 4