Historical Background of Indian Constitution

The Constitution of India is the longest writen constitution of any sovereign country in the world. The constitution contains 444 articles in 22 parts, 12 schedules and 118 amendments with 117,369 words in English-translation. The need of a Constitution for India resulted in the formation of a Constituent Assembly in 1946 and it came into force on 26th January 1950. However there are many events or acts which have a great influence on Indian Consttitution and polity. They have helped to a great extent in the formation of the framework of the constitution. One who studies Indian Polity has to go through the historical background of Indian Constitution for a deeper knowledge. Thus it makes Historical Background of Indian Constitution a very important part for any examination in India which has General Studies paper.

In the view of APSC exam, there is a trend of putting questions from this topic every year. Specially if you go through general studies paper of 2013 prelims, there are lots of questions on this topic. One point to be noted is that the questions are direct questions i.e. you have to read only the very important points, dates, years, other names from the acts. Keeping all the points in mind, we have taken the most important points from different acts which influenced Indian Constitution. Do note that though there are many other features of each act, we have added only the important ones for you so that it does no consume much of your time and it gives you all you need. The events are put in the chronological order.

Regulating Act of 1773

• Can be stated as the foundation of central administration in India.
• For the first time, British parliament took control over Governance of East India Company.
• The Act was born on the basis of the report of a committee headed by the British Prime Minister Lord North.
• Governor of Bengal was made the ‘Governor General of Bengal‘ and the governors of Bombay and Madras are brought under him. An Executive Council of four members was created to assist him. The first Governor-General of Bengal was Lord Warren Hastings.
• A Supreme Court was established in Calcutta in 1774. It comprised of one chief justice and three other judges.
• The servants of the Company was prohibited from engagement in any private trades or accepting any present or bribe from natives.

 

Pitt’s India Act of 1784

• The comapnies territories in India were called the “British possessions in India“
• Introduced by then British Prime Minister William Pitt.
• Created double government system in India by diving the political and commercial functions of the East India Company.
• Court of Directors to manage Commercial affairs and Board of Control(newly created body) to manage Political parts.

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Charter Act of 1833

• Governor General of Bengal is renamed as Governor General of India.
• Lord William Bentick became first Governor General of India
• Governor General of India was given all power of civil and military affairs.
• Bombay and Madras governors lost their legislative powers.
• East India Company became a purely administrative body in place of a commercial body.

 

Charter Act 1853

• Last act of the series Charter Acts passed by the British Parliament between 1793 and 1853.
• The Governor General’s council’s legislative and executive functions were separated.
• The selection and recrutment for Civil Services were made open. (The Macaulay Committee, the committee on Indian Civil Services was appointed in 1854)

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Government of India Act of 1858

• Also known as Act for the Good Government of India.
• Governor General of India became as The Viceroy of India.
• Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India.
• Ended the double government system in India.

 

After this there were three other Acts as

• Indian Councils act of 1861, 1892 and 1909
• Indian Councils Act of 1909 is also known as Morley-Minto Reforms.

 

Government of India Act of 1919

• Came into force in 1921.
• Also known as Montagu-Chelmsford.
• It introduced bicameralism and as a result Indian Legislative Council was relapced by Upper Body and Lower Body.
• Direct election was introduced for the selection of both the bodies.
• For the recruitment of Civil servants, in 1926, Central Public Service Commission was set up.

 

Government of India Act of 1935

• Established All India Fedaration consisting of provinces and princely states as units.
• It introduced bicameralism in six out of eleven provinces. Assam was one of them.
• Provided for the establshment of a Reverse Bank of India. (established in April 1, 1935)
• Provided for the establishmen of a Federal court. (was set up in 1937)

 

Indian Independence Act of 1947

• Declared India as an independent and sovereign state from 15^th August, 1947 and ended the British rule in India.
• Partitioned India as India and Pakistan
• Abolished the office of Viceroy of India and introduced Governor-General.
• Lord Mountbatten became the first Governor General of the new dominition of India.

 

If you think, there is any point that should be added, please put in the comment box.

 

References –

• Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth.
• Lucent’s General Knowledge.
• wikipedia.
• Image courtesy – Internet