Category 26 · Modern History

Administrative and Judicial Developments Under British Rule

11 micro topics in Modern History for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Evolution of the Civil Services: Cornwallis to the Charter Act of 1853; Indian Civil Service Act, 1861, Statutory Civil Service and the Aitchison Committee; and 9 more.

26.1

Evolution of the Civil Services: Cornwallis to the Charter Act of 1853

The civil service began as the East India Company's commercial service, and Cornwallis (Governor-General 1786-93) first organised it, raising salaries, banning private trade and presents, and enforcing promotion by seniority. Wellesley set up Fort William College…
26.2

Indian Civil Service Act, 1861, Statutory Civil Service and the Aitchison Committee

The Indian Civil Service Act of 1861 reserved certain offices for covenanted civil servants, with an examination held in England, in English, on Greek and Latin learning, and a maximum age cut from 23 in 1859…
26.3

Montford Reforms, Lee Commission and Evaluation of the Civil Services

The Montford Reforms of 1919 recommended simultaneous examinations in India and England and recruitment of one-third of the service in India, rising 1.5 per cent a year. The Lee Commission of 1924 recommended 50:50 parity between…
26.4

Evolution of the Police System in Modern India

Before British rule there was no formal police: watchmen guarded villages, faujdars, amils and kotwals kept order under the Mughals, and zamindars did police duty. Warren Hastings restored faujdars in 1774, Cornwallis created a regular force…
26.5

The Military Under the British

After 1857 the army was reorganised to prevent another revolt: European troops were raised to about one-third, Europeans were given the key arms and the officer corps, and the Indian branch was run on a policy…
26.6

Judicial Reforms Under Warren Hastings

The Mayor's Courts of 1726 began the common law system in India. Under Warren Hastings (1772-85) the Company set up District Diwani Adalats for civil cases under the collector, with appeal to the Sadar Diwani Adalat,…
26.7

Judicial Reforms Under Cornwallis and Bentinck

Cornwallis (1786-93) separated revenue from justice, replaced the Fauzdari courts with circuit courts, graded the civil courts from Munsiff to Sadar Diwani Adalat, and laid down the Cornwallis Code, which brought officials and Europeans under the…
26.8

Major Administrative Changes After 1857: Central and Provincial Government

After 1857 the British moved to narrow the ruler-subject gap while consolidating their economic interests in a new stage of colonialism. The Act of 1858 transferred power from the Company to the Crown through a Secretary…
26.9

Local Bodies Under British Rule

Local bodies were promoted for financial, civic, political and administrative reasons. Local boards of nominated members appeared in 1864-68; Mayo's Resolution of 1870 began local finance; and Ripon's Resolution of 1882, which made him the father…
26.10

Constitutional Development 1773-1858: Regulating Act to the Act of 1858

Between 1773 and 1858 a series of Acts gradually brought the East India Company under the control of the British Parliament: the Regulating Act of 1773, Pitt's India Act of 1784, the Charter Acts of 1793,…
26.11

Constitutional Development 1861-1935: Councils Acts to the Government of India Act

After 1858 the constitution developed through the Indian Councils Acts of 1861, 1892 and 1909, the Government of India Act of 1919 and that of 1935. Each widened the councils and the electorates a little while…

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Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in Administrative and Judicial Developments Under British Rule?

Administrative and Judicial Developments Under British Rule has 11 micro topics in Modern History: Evolution of the Civil Services: Cornwallis to the Charter Act of 1853; Indian Civil Service Act, 1861, Statutory Civil Service and the Aitchison Committee; Montford Reforms, Lee Commission and Evaluation of the Civil Services; Evolution of the Police System in Modern India; The Military Under the British; Judicial Reforms Under Warren Hastings; Judicial Reforms Under Cornwallis and Bentinck; Major Administrative Changes After 1857: Central and Provincial Government; Local Bodies Under British Rule; Constitutional Development 1773-1858: Regulating Act to the Act of 1858; Constitutional Development 1861-1935: Councils Acts to the Government of India Act.

Is Administrative and Judicial Developments Under British Rule important for UPSC Prelims?

Administrative and Judicial Developments Under British Rule is a part of the UPSC Prelims Modern History syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 11 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.