Question map
Which one of the following had created the office of the Secretary of State for India ?
Explanation
The office of the Secretary of State for India was created by the Government of India Act 1858 [3]. Following the Revolt of 1857, the British Parliament passed this Act to transfer the power of governance from the East India Company directly to the British Crown [3]. This legislation abolished the Board of Control and the Court of Directors, ending the system of 'double government'. In their place, a new department called the India Office was established in London, headed by the Secretary of State for India [4]. The Secretary of State was a member of the British Cabinet and was assisted by a 15-member statutory body known as the Council of India [3]. While subsequent acts like the Morley-Minto Reforms (1909) and Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) involved the Secretary of State, the office itself originated in 1858 [1].
Sources
- [3] https://cbc.gov.in/cbcdev/crown/crown1.html
- [4] Introduction to the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (26th ed.). > Chapter 1: THE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND > Utility of a Historical Retrospect. > p. 4
- [1] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 9: Administrative Changes After 1858 > Administration > p. 151