Government of India Act 1858

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The Government of India Act 1858 was a landmark British law that ended East India Company rule and transferred the administration of India directly to the British Crown, inaugurating the British Raj.


Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom
constitutional law
administrativeChange centralized control of Indian affairs in London
reduced autonomy of authorities in India
alsoKnownAs An Act for the Better Government of India
appliesTo territories under the sovereignty of the British Crown in India
cameIntoForce 1858-11-01
category 1858 in British law
Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom concerning India
British rule in India
constitutionalSignificance shifted sovereignty in India from a chartered company to the British state
country United Kingdom
createdBody Council of India
createdOffice Secretary of State for India
effectOnMonarchy made the British monarch the sovereign of British India
followedBy Indian Councils Act 1861
governanceModel imperial centralization under the British Crown
headOfAdministrationDesignated Viceroy of India
historicalContext passed after the Indian Rebellion of 1857
implementedBy British civil service in India
inspired later constitutional reforms in British India
jurisdiction British India
language English
legalStatusOfCompany stripped East India Company of governmental functions
legalSystem English law
legislature Parliament of the United Kingdom
monarchAtEnactment Queen Victoria
policyChange asserted direct responsibility of the British government for Indian administration
ended the commercial role of the East India Company
providedThat the Governor-General of India would also be styled Viceroy
purpose to transfer the government of India from the East India Company to the British Crown
redefinedTitleOf Governor-General of India
relatedEvent Proclamation of 1858 by Queen Victoria
replaced rule of the East India Company in India
result beginning of direct Crown rule in India
end of East India Company rule in India
inauguration of the British Raj
royalAssentDate 1858-08-02
scope civil administration of British India
military administration of British India
shortName Government of India Act 1858
symbolicEffect marked formal beginning of the British Raj
transferredPowersFrom Court of Directors of the East India Company
transferredPowersTo British Crown
Secretary of State for India
yearEnacted 1858


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