It was an important piece of legislation that had profound implications for the governance and administration of India during the British colonial period.
Here are the key points and provisions of the Government of India Act of 1858:
- End of the East India Company’s Rule: The Act effectively ended the rule of the British East India Company in India. The administration of India was transferred from the company to the British Crown. This marked the beginning of the British Raj, where India came under direct British rule.
- The Secretary of State for India: The Act created the office of the Secretary of State for India in the British government, who was a member of the British Cabinet and was responsible for the governance of India. This office replaced the Board of Control that had previously overseen the East India Company’s affairs.
- The Viceroy of India: The Act established the office of the Viceroy of India. The Viceroy, appointed by the British Crown, was the highest-ranking official in India and represented the British monarch. The Viceroy was given extensive powers and authority.
- The Indian Civil Services (ICS): The Act continued to emphasize the importance of the Indian Civil Services, which was the elite administrative service responsible for running the government. The ICS officers were recruited through competitive examinations in Britain.
- Legislative Councils: The Act expanded the powers of the Legislative Councils in India. It introduced the concept of “portfolio government,” where each member of the council was assigned a specific department. However, most members of the Legislative Councils continued to be British officials.
- Local Self-Government: The Act allowed for limited representation of Indians in some legislative councils. A few Indians were appointed as non-official members of the councils, marking a tentative step toward Indian participation in the legislative process.
- Financial Control: The Act established financial control by the British government over India. It made the Secretary of State for India responsible for India’s finances.
- Indian Councils Act of 1861: The Act of 1858 was followed by the Indian Councils Act of 1861, which further expanded the legislative councils’ powers and introduced the principle of election in some councils. This marked another step toward Indian participation in governance.
The Government of India Act of 1858 had a profound impact on the governance of India during the British colonial period. It laid the foundation for the centralized and bureaucratic administration of India under British rule and set the stage for later constitutional developments that eventually led to India’s independence in 1947.