In this article, we discuss Pitts India Act 1984 for various competitive exams such as UPSC, SSC, etc...
The Pitts India Act 1784 was passed to remove the shortcomings of the Regulating Act 1773.
In 1783, Willian Pitt became the youngest Prime Minister of Britain. East India Company Act 1784 is also known as Pitt's India Act.
After the Regulating Act of 1773, the British government started regulating the East India Company. But still, the actual control of the company was with the Court of Directors.
The British government wanted to increase their control over the Indian territories and hence they brought Pitt's India Act.
There was no change in the trade monopoly of the company in this act. The full control of the company's commercial and political affairs was with the 24 Courts of Directors sitting in Britain.
Pitta's India Act divides the political and commercial affairs of the company. The British government formed a new body called the Board of Control. There are 6 members on the board of control.
The Board of Control controls the civil, military, and political affairs of the company, and the board of directors controls the commercial activities of the company.
The Board of control is a purely Government body and managed by the Secretary of state who is the Cabinet Minister in British Government. Apart from this, there were 4 privy councilors and 1 exchequer.
The British Kings used to nominate Privy councilors. Dual government for Indian administration was formed by Pitt's India Act. In this act, the rights of the Court of Proprietor were abolished.
In the regulating act of 1773, in the executive council of governor-general of bengal, there are 4 members. In Pitt's India Act, the members of the executive council were reduced to 3 members.
What used to happen earlier, if a law had to be passed, the Governor-General and 4 members used to vote. On the basis of majority voting, it was decided whether the law would be passed or not.
If 3 out of 4 members refused to pass the bill, then the Governor-General could not pass the bill. Therefore, 1 member was reduced in this act so that even if 2 votes were obtained, the bill could be passed.
At the provincial level also, the number of members of the Executive Council of the Governor-General in Bombay and Madras was reduced to three. In both of these, the Commanders-in-Chief were introduced.
After this act, all the territorial possessions of the East India Company were to be ruled by the British Government.
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