Government of India Act 1858

Background

• EIC blamed for mismgmt of Indian affairs after 1857 Revolt
• Brit public demanded end of EIC rule $⟹$ replacing absentee sovereignty with direct rule of Brit State
• WEMC wanted direct british rule for greater accountability of govt
  • they believed India would modernize as IR and Democracy came in Brit under Brit State

Changes in British State

• EIC rule ended; rule of Brit state began
• Policy of Subordinate Union 1858-1947 towards Indian rulers
  • $⟹$ sovereignty of whole india with Crown
  • $\therefore$ legally Mughal empire ended
  • Indian states made part of Brit empire as 565 Princely States with Relationship of Paramountcy with British monarch
• via Royal Titles Act 1876, Queen Victoria empowered to take title of Kesari Hind or Empress of India. In 1877, Lytton 7680 organized imperial / Delhi Darbar where Queen Victoria got coronated as Kesari Hind
  • $⟹$ she was using title informally since 1858
• administratively, more continuation than change
• Prez of BoC replaced by Secretary of State of India who was to be main authority and in charge of India
• BoC became India Council headed by SoS with 15 members. The 7 member of CoD of EIC were absorbed into it
• dual control of GG ended as Viceroy and GG now had only one boss i.e. SOS for India
• Canning 5662 first viceroy
• Same Civil Services during EIC exam of 1853 continued & was held only in London as earlier but it was to be conducted by the govt and training to be given by govt
  • $\therefore$ Haileybury college discarded