Explanation:

The Charter Act of 1833 was passed in the British Parliament which renewed the East India Company’s charter for another 20 years. This was also called the Government of India Act 1833 or the Saint Helena Act 1833.

The company’s commercial activities were closed down. It was made into an administrative body for British Indian possessions. The company’s trade links with China were also closed down. This act permitted the English to settle freely in India. This act legalised the British colonisation of the country. The company still possessed the Indian territories, but it was held ‘in trust for his majesty’. The Governor-General of Bengal was re-designated as the Governor-General of India. This made Lord William Bentinck the first Governor-General of India. Thus, the country’s administration was unified under one control. The Governors of Bombay and Madras lost their legislative powers. The Charter Act 1853 was passed in the British Parliament to renew the East India Company’s charter. Unlike the previous charter acts of 1793, 1813 and 1833 which renewed the charter for 20 years; this act did not mention the time period for which the company charter was being renewed. This Act was passed when Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of Indian Civil Services. This act removed the right of patronage to appointments in civil service held by the Court of Directors. Appointment was to be done only by open competition based on merit and was open to all. The report recommended that only the ‘fittest’ be selected to the ICS. The Government of India Act 1858 was an Act of the British parliament that transferred the government and territories of the East India Company to the British Crown. The company’s rule over British territories in India came to an end and it was passed directly to the British government.

East India Company was liquidated. Indian territories of Britain were to be governed in the name of the British Queen. The Court of Directors and the Board of Control were scrapped. The powers of the company’s Court of Directors were vested with the Secretary of State for India. This Secretary of State was to be a British MP and a member of the Prime Minister’s cabinet. He was to be assisted by a council of 15 members. He was also the channel of communication between the British government in Britain and the Indian administration. He also had the power to send secret despatches to India without consulting his council. Via the Secretary of State, the British parliament could ask questions regarding Indian affairs. The representative of the British government in India was the Governor-General and Viceroy (both the same person to avoid conflict). The Viceroy and the governors of the various presidencies were appointed by the Crown. The Viceroy was to be assisted with an Executive Council. This act made India a direct British colony. This act abolished the dual government of the Pitt’s India Act