SSC CGL Preparation – Day 13

History: British Rule in India

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🔰 Introduction

British rule in India began with the arrival of the British East India Company in the early 17th century and continued until India gained independence in 1947. It can be divided into two major phases:

1. Company Rule (1757–1858)
2. Crown Rule (British Raj, 1858–1947)

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🏴 Phase 1: British East India Company Rule (1757–1858)

🔹 Battle of Plassey (1757)

• Fought between: British East India Company vs Siraj-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Bengal)
• Outcome: British victory due to betrayal by Mir Jafar
• Significance: Marked the beginning of British political control in India

🔹 Battle of Buxar (1764)

• Fought between: British vs Mir Qasim (Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daula (Awadh), and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II
• Outcome: British victory
• Significance: Diwani rights (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa granted to British

🔹 Dual Government (1765–1772)

• Introduced by: Robert Clive
• British collected revenue while Nawab handled administration (a failed system)

🔹 Regulating Act, 1773

• First step to regulate the Company’s affairs
• Introduced office of Governor-General of Bengal (Warren Hastings)

🔹 Pitt’s India Act, 1784

• Created a system of dual control: British Government & Company

🔹 Charter Acts (1793, 1813, 1833, 1853)

• Step-by-step end to Company monopoly
• Charter Act of 1833: Made the Governor-General of Bengal → Governor-General of India (Lord William Bentinck)

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🔥 Revolt of 1857 – The First War of Indian Independence

🔹 Causes:

• Political: Doctrine of Lapse by Lord Dalhousie
• Economic: Peasants, artisans suffered due to exploitative policies
• Military: Discontent among Indian sepoys
• Religious: Use of greased cartridges (pork & beef fat) offended Hindus and Muslims

🔹 Major Leaders:

• Mangal Pandey (triggered the revolt)
• Rani Laxmi Bai (Jhansi)
• Bahadur Shah Zafar (Delhi)
• Tatya Tope, Nana Sahib, Kunwar Singh

🔹 Outcome:

• Suppressed by 1858
• End of East India Company rule
• Beginning of direct British Crown rule

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👑 Phase 2: British Crown Rule (1858–1947)

🔹 Government of India Act 1858:

• End of Company Rule
• Power transferred to British Crown
• Secretary of State for India appointed
• Viceroy replaced Governor-General (1st Viceroy: Lord Canning)

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📜 Major Reforms & Acts During British Rule

🔸 Indian Councils Act (1861, 1892, 1909)

• 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms): Introduced separate electorates for Muslims

🔸 Government of India Act 1919

• Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
• Introduced Dyarchy in provinces (dual rule: reserved & transferred subjects)

🔸 Government of India Act 1935

• Proposed All India Federation
• Introduced Provincial Autonomy
• Abolished Dyarchy at the provincial level

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⚙️ British Economic Policies

• Deindustrialization of Indian handloom & crafts
• Commercialization of agriculture (cash crops)
• Famines due to exploitative land revenue systems (e.g., Permanent Settlement)
• Drain of Wealth theory by Dadabhai Naoroji

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📚 Impact of British Rule

Positive Contributions	Negative Impacts
Railways, Postal system, English Education	Economic drain, Destruction of local industries
Modern Legal and Civil Services	Agricultural distress, Famines
Introduction of modern education & press	Racial discrimination, suppression of rights

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🧠 Important British Officials

British Officer	Contribution
Lord Cornwallis	Introduced Permanent Settlement
Lord Wellesley	Subsidiary Alliance
Lord Dalhousie	Doctrine of Lapse, Railways
Lord Canning	1st Viceroy, passed Government of India Act 1858
Lord Curzon	Partition of Bengal (1905)
Lord Ripon	Liberal Viceroy, Ilbert Bill
Lord Mountbatten	Last Viceroy, oversaw Indian Independence

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🏁 Conclusion

The British rule in India lasted nearly 200 years, shaping modern India’s political, legal, and economic structures while also igniting nationalist sentiments that led to India’s eventual independence.