UPSC Prelims 2003 · General Studies

Question 128: History and Culture

Which one of the following provisions was NOT made in the Charter Act of 1833?

aThe trading activities of the East India Company were to be abolished

bThe designation of the supreme authority was to be changed as the Governor General of India in Council

cAll law-making powers to be conferred on Governor General in Council

dAn Indian was to be appointed as a Law Member in the Governor-General’s Council

AnswerThe answer is (d).

The Charter Act of 1833 ended the East India Company's trading activities and made it a purely administrative body, redesignated the supreme authority as the Governor-General of India in Council, centralised all law-making in the Governor-General in Council, and added a fourth (Law) member, Macaulay. It did not provide for an Indian Law Member; it said only that no Indian would be debarred from office by religion, descent or colour, but in practice none was appointed.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) This was provided: the trading activities were ended.
(b) This was provided: the title became Governor-General of India in Council.
(c) This was provided: law-making was centralised.
(d) Correct: no Indian Law Member was provided; the Law Member was an Englishman, Macaulay.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2003, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.