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Q82 (UPPCS/2021) Polity & Governance › Constitutional Basics & Evolution

Which one of the following Acts of British India strengthened the Viceroy's authority over his executive council by substituting 'portfolio' or 'departmental' system for corporate functioning ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A

Explanation

The Indian Councils Act of 1861 is a significant landmark in the constitutional history of India. It transformed the Viceroy's Executive Council into a cabinet-like body by introducing the portfolio system. This system was originally initiated by Lord Canning in 1859 but received statutory recognition through this Act.

Under the portfolio system, each member of the Executive Council was put in charge of one or more specific departments (such as Home, Revenue, or Finance) and was authorized to issue final orders on behalf of the Council regarding matters in those departments. This replaced the earlier practice of corporate functioning, where the entire Council collectively deliberated on every administrative matter. By decentralizing administrative tasks to individual members while keeping them answerable to the Viceroy, the Act significantly streamlined governance and strengthened the Viceroy's overall authority over the executive machinery.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2002 · Q62 Relevance score: 8.77

Which one of the following Acts of British India strengthened the Viceroy’s authority over his executive council by substituting “portfolio” or departmental system for corporate functioning?

IAS · 2008 · Q58 Relevance score: 2.09

Which one of the following suggested the reconstitution of the Viceroy’s Executive Council in which all the portfolios including that of War Members were to be held by the Indian leaders?

CDS-II · 2018 · Q61 Relevance score: -0.35

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.

NDA-I · 2016 · Q85 Relevance score: -0.90

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

IAS · 2006 · Q26 Relevance score: -1.49

Consider the following statements : I. The Charter Act of 1853 abolished East India Company’s monopoly of India trade. II. Under the Government of India Act 1858, the British Parliament abolished the East India Company altogether and undertook the responsibility of ruling India directly. Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?