After the revolt of 1857, via the Government of India Act 1858, the Crown had assumed the direct responsibility for the Government of India. By this act, all legislative, administrative and Financial Powers came to be concentrated in which among the following?
Viceroy and Governor General
Incorrect AnswerViceroy’s and his council
Incorrect AnswerSecretary of State for India and his council
Correct AnswerViceroy’s Council
Incorrect AnswerExplanation:
Correct Answer: C [Secretary of State for India and his council]
Explanation:The Government of India Act 1858, marked the beginning of new chapter in the constitutional history of India. The Act known as the Act for the Good Government of India, provided for liquidation of East India Company, and transferred the powers of government, territories and revenues to the British Crown.
The Secretary of State for India was a cabinet minister in the British Government while his agent in India was the Governor General in India. Thus, Governor General worked as a representative of the British Government much like today’s governors work as representatives of the President of India. The Governor-General of India was responsible for administration of the country.
Along with this, a new office of Viceroy was created to work as a diplomat to parley with the princely states.
However, it was provided that the both the offices to be held by same person. The objective of having same person occupy two offices was to avoid any conflict of interest as it used to be between the Governor General and Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Fort Williams in initial days of East India Company. {Warren Hastings and Lord Impey used to lock horns then}.
Viceroy was made responsible to Secretary of State for India. Viceroy was to be a direct representative of the British Crown in India. Lord Canning thus became the first Viceroy of India.
The Government of India Act 1858 was largely confined to the improvement of the administrative machinery by which the Indian Government was to be supervised and controlled in England. It did not alter in any substantial way the system of government that prevailed in India.
By: Harman Sandhu ProfileResourcesReport error