Charter Act of 1813 : Features, Importance, & Drawbacks

The Charter Act of 1813: The Charter Act of 1813 created and expanded the power of direction and superintendence of the Board of Control. The most important reason for the Charter Act of 1813 was that a sum of one lakh rupees was to be provided annually by the company for the “revival and improvement of literature” and “encouragement of the learned natives of India.”.

Christian missionaries were able to share their beliefs in English according to the Charter Act of 1813. In this article, we will learn what the Charter Act of 1813 is. is. Along with this, we will also discuss the historical background, features, importance, and effects of the Charter Act of 1813.

Charter Act 1813

What is the Charter Act of 1813?

• The monopoly of the East India Company in India was ended by the Charter Act of 1813, commonly known as the East India Company Act of 1813. It maintained the authority of the British East India Company in India and renewed its charter. However, the monopoly was limited to opium and tea farms and trade with China, reflecting the growth of British dominance in India.
• This was indeed one of the most important steps taken by the British government in relation to India. This was clearly the first step towards accepting the principles of state responsibility for education.

Charter Act of 1813: Historical Background

• The Charter Act of 1813, or East India Company Act 1813, was passed by the British Parliament to renew the charter of the British East India Company and to continue the rule of the British East India Company in India for the next 20 years.
• The Continental Policy of Napoleon Bonaparte of France: Options for British traders on the European continent were reduced. The Continental Policy in Europe under Napoleon Bonaparte (which prohibited the import of British goods to French allies in Europe) harmed British merchants and other traders. This led to an increase in the demand by British traders to end the East India Company’s monopoly in India and open the Indian market to other British traders, which the company rejected.
• Growing popularity of Adam Smith’s free trade policy theory: Supporters of this policy believed that ending the monopoly of the East India Company in trade with India would lead to the development of British commerce and industry.
• Under the Charter Act of 1813, the company maintained its monopoly in commerce and the tea trade with China but enabled British merchants to trade in India with complex licensing requirements. The Act also extended the jurisdiction of Indian provincial governments and courts and provided finance to support the revival of Indian literature and the progress of science.

Charter Act of 1813 Provisions

Here are some of the important provisions of the Charter Act of 1813:

• The Charter Act of 1813 re-established British sovereignty over British possessions in India.
• This Act established the authority of the Crown over the British colonies in India. The rule of the corporation was extended for an additional 20 years. The company’s commercial monopoly was destroyed, except for trade with China, tea, and opium.
• Permission to Christian Missionaries: The Charter Act of 1813 permitted persons who wished to go to India to promote moral and religious reforms.
• He was successful in obtaining the appointment of a bishop to British India with his headquarters at Calcutta under the provisions of the Missionary Act.
• The Act mandated increased corporate accountability for the education of Indians under its control as well as financial grants to assist in the revival of Indian literature and scientific research. Provision for investment in education: The Charter Act provided for the company to play a wider role in the education of Indians by setting aside one lakh rupees.

Important Features of the Charter Act of 1813

Following are the important features of the Charter Act of 1813:

• The East India Company’s dominance over India was broken by the Charter Act of 1813.
• The East India Company still had a monopoly on tea, opium, and trade with China.
• The rule of the company was extended to 20 years.
• The Charter Act of 1813 imposed a fine on anyone who did not pay taxes.
• The territorial income and commercial profits of the company were governed under the Charter Act of 1813. Under the Act, a provision was made for the company to invest one lakh rupees annually in the education of Indians.
• The Act established a cash prize program to encourage research and revive Indian literature.

Importance of the Charter Act of 1813

The Charter Act has important educational implications for India. The Charter Act, 1813, has immense importance in the history of Indian education. It served as the cornerstone for contemporary Indian education and had great influence on later successes in Indian education.

• According to the first implication, the company will bear educational responsibilities and duties to the Indian people. With this goal in mind, the company would spend one lakh rupees annually, a sum that was clearly absent before 1813.
• The company will set up a separate agency to implement Section 43 of the Act.
• An educational promotion project was started. Before 1813, the company sometimes gave financial support indirectly through missionaries, but now it is directly engaged in the management and administration of educational institutions. Education in India required public funds.
• The Charter Act marked the official beginning of the state system of education. Private business, namely missionary business, was also allowed to run simultaneously. This educational collaboration between official and informal businesses is still strong today.
• The Charter Act stopped the wave of opposition that had been started by Charles Grant, Wilberforce, and others. Well-organized modern educational systems were established as a result of the missionaries’ ability to create large numbers of modern English schools throughout India.
• As soon as India’s borders were opened to missionaries, they started coming to the country from around the world, especially from Scotland, Germany, and America, as well as England. In fact, missionaries from outside Great Britain did not come to India until 1833. The Charter Act gave rise to a period of debate regarding the purpose, medium, and agency of education, as well as its goals and essence.

Drawbacks of the Charter Act of 1813

• The East India Company’s monopoly ended with the enactment of the Charter Act of 1813, but the company continued to dominate the tea trade in China and India.
• Therefore, trade with India was for all goods, but tea was made accessible to British subjects.

Changes were brought about in the field of education by the Charter Act, 1813.

• According to the Charter Act of 1813, the company was required to invest Rs 1 lakh for the education of Indians.
• This was the first action taken by the British monarchs to promote the study of science and literature in India. However, the Charter Act did not provide any clear rules. While heated debates raged over the content and delivery method of education, the funds sanctioned for the project remained unused for 20 years.
• One faction was in favor of promoting traditional Indian education using Persian and classical Sanskrit as well as local languages. This group was named Orientalists.
• The opposition party, led by Lord Macaulay Law, a member of the Governor General’s Council, emphasized the introduction and promotion of Western education.
• To provide education to the small number of Indians, the government began establishing English-medium schools and universities. The government announced that Indians educated in British schools would be offered work in government offices in 1844, the same year that English was made the official language.
• As a result, English-language education got a boost in India.

Conclusion

Without question, the most important legislation passed by Parliament in the 19th century was the Charter Act of 1833. This Act opened the ground for unifying British India and establishing a powerful central government there. This Act abolished specific criteria of exclusion from the administration of the nation for the first time in the history of British India. It also allowed the codification of laws. This law gave Indian citizens the freedom to manage the county without being bound by their caste, creed, or other characteristics.

FAQs on The Charter Act of 1813

1. Who was the governor-general of India during the 1833 Charter Act?

The Governor-General of India during the enactment of the Charter Act of 1833 was Lord William Bentinck. He served as the Governor-General of India from 1828 to 1835. Lord Bentinck was in office when the Charter Act of 1833 was passed by the British Parliament, and he played a key role in implementing its provisions in India.

2. Which act created the Governor-General?

The creation of the office of Governor-General in India is associated with the Regulating Act of 1773. The Regulating Act was a significant piece of legislation passed by the British Parliament to address the issues of governance and administration in the East India Company’s territories in India. It established the office of the Governor-General of Bengal, and Warren Hastings became the first person to hold this position in 1774. Subsequent acts, such as the Charter Acts of 1833 and 1853, further defined and expanded the powers of the Governor-General in India.

3. Why was the Charter Act of 1833 introduced?

The Charter Act 1833, which was enacted by the British Parliament, provided for the establishment of a Law Commission for the consolidation and codification of Indian laws. The said Act provided for the addition of a fourth ordinary member to the Governor General in Council for India who was to be a legal expert in the making of laws. Lord Macaulay was appointed as the fourth ordinary member and was entitled to participate in the meetings of the Governor General in Council for the making of laws.

4. Why is it called the Charter Act?

The term “Charter Act” is derived from the fact that these legislative measures were enacted through a charter issued by the British Crown. A charter is a formal document that grants certain rights, privileges, or powers. In the context of British India, the charter was a legal instrument through which the British Crown extended or renewed the East India Company’s authority to govern and administer its territories in India.