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Question 34 of 43 · British Acts & Policies
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The Act which changed the designation of the 'Governor of Bengal' to 'Governor-General of Bengal' was the:

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Answer: Option A — Regulating Act of 1773

Detailed Solution

The Regulating Act of 1773 changed the designation of the "Governor of Bengal" to the "Governor-General of Bengal".

Background:

  • After the Battle of Plassey and the grant of the Diwani, the English East India Company had become a political power in India.
  • However, there was great corruption among the Company's servants, the Company was in financial difficulty, and the great Bengal famine (1769-1770) caused shock in Britain.
  • The Company asked the British government for a loan, and Parliament decided to regulate its affairs.

Main provisions of the Regulating Act:

  • The Governor of Bengal became the Governor-General of Bengal, with an Executive Council of four members.
  • The Governors of Bombay and Madras were placed under the Governor-General of Bengal in matters of war and peace.
  • A Supreme Court was set up at Fort William, Calcutta (1774), with a Chief Justice and three other judges; Sir Elijah Impey was the first Chief Justice.
  • The Company's servants were prohibited from engaging in private trade and from accepting presents and bribes.
  • The Court of Directors had to report to the British government on the Company's revenue, civil and military affairs.

Significance:

  • It was the first step taken by the British government to control and regulate the affairs of the Company in India.
  • It recognised, for the first time, the political and administrative functions of the Company.
  • It laid the foundations of central administration in India.

Defects:

  • The Governor-General could be outvoted by his council, which led to quarrels.
  • The relationship between the Supreme Court and the Governor-General's Council was not clearly defined.
  • The control over Bombay and Madras was weak.
  • These defects were removed by later Acts.

Pitt's India Act (1784):

It set up the Board of Control in Britain to supervise the political affairs of the Company, creating a system of "double government".

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Pitt's India Act and the Charter Acts of 1813 and 1853 made other changes.

Quick tip

Remember: Regulating Act of 1773 = Governor of Bengal became Governor-General of Bengal (council of four); Supreme Court at Calcutta (1774; Chief Justice Elijah Impey); first step of parliamentary control.

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British Acts & Policies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of British Acts & Policies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the constitutional and administrative acts passed during British rule, from the Regulating Act of 1773 and Pitt's India Act of 1784 to the Charter Acts, the Indian Councils Acts, the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935, and the Indian Independence Act of 1947, along with British economic, land revenue and education policies. Exam questions usually ask what a particular act introduced: the Indian Councils Act 1909 introduced separate electorates for Muslims, the Government of India Act 1919 brought dyarchy to the provinces, and the 1935 Act provided for a federation and provincial autonomy. Land revenue systems (Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari and Mahalwari) and education milestones such as Wood's Despatch (1854) are also tested. Practise the British acts and policies questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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