Government of India Act,1858

 

Credit:- www.opennaukri.com

The Government of India Act, 1858 was an important piece of legislation passed by the British Parliament that fundamentally changed the way that India was governed. 

Before the Act was passed, India was governed by the East India Company, a private British company that had been granted a royal charter to trade in India in the early 17th century. However, by the 19th century, the East India Company had effectively taken over the administration of India, with its own army, civil service, and judiciary.

The Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the First War of Indian Independence, brought the shortcomings of the Company's rule to the attention of the British government, leading to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1858. 

Under the Act, the British Crown took over the administration of India from the East India Company, with Queen Victoria becoming the Empress of India. The Act abolished the East India Company and transferred its powers and territories to the British government. It also established the office of the Secretary of State for India, who was responsible for the administration of India and who had the power to make rules and regulations for the governance of India.

The Act also introduced a number of other significant changes to the governance of India. For example, it created a new system of government in India that was based on a dual system of authority, with power shared between the British government and local Indian councils. It also established a new system of courts and introduced new laws aimed at promoting justice and equality.

Overall, the Government of India Act, 1858 represented a major shift in the way that India was governed, marking the beginning of the direct rule of India by the British government, which continued until India gained independence in 1947.