Question

The last of the Charter Act concerning India was the Act of _______________.
A. 1773
B. 1813
C. 1853
D. 1793

Answer 1

Hint: The last of the Charter Act concerning India was the act which renewed the East India Company’s charter. It did not even mention the time period for which the company charter was being renewed.

Complete answer:
The last of the Charter Act concerning India was the act of 1853. It had its impact on the large Indian territory colonised by British.

The features of this act are:
1. For the first time, this act separated the legislative and executive functions of the Governor - General's council.

2. This Act cleared the path for the open competition system of selection and recruitment of civil servants. To make it successful, The Macaulay Committee was appointed in 1854.

3. For the first time it introduced the local representation in the Indian (Central) Legislative council and of the six new legislative members of the governor - general's council, four members were appointed by the local (provisional) governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal and Agra.

Looking at the options given:
Option A. 1773: This is known as the "Regulating Act of 1773" in which this Act was used for the first time to control and regulate the affairs of the East India Company in India. It is an incorrect option.

Option B. 1813: This Act was enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom to colonize Indian territory. It is an incorrect option.

Option C. 1853: The last of the Charter Act concerning India was the act of 1853. This is the correct answer.

Option D. 1793: This Act was also known as the East India Company Act of 1793 which was passed in the British Parliament in which the company charter was renewed. It is an incorrect option.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C)

Note: The Charter Act of 1853 made the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India. This act even reduced the company’s influence on India as it separated the legislative and executive functions of the Governor General’s council. Further, this act led to the creation of Assam, Burma and the central provinces.