Which among the following Acts provided for the establishment of a Supreme Court of Justice at Calcutta for Europeans, their employees and the citizens of India?
- (a)The Regulating Act of 1773
- (b)The Charter Act of 1793
- (c)The Charter Act of 1813
- (d)Government of India Act of 1858
Correct — A, the Regulating Act of 1773. This was Britain's first major parliamentary intervention in the Company's affairs, and it provided for a Supreme Court at Calcutta — set up in 1774 at Fort William — with jurisdiction over Europeans, their employees and the inhabitants of Calcutta. The same Act made the Governor of Bengal the Governor-General, with an executive council of four.
- (b)The Charter Act of 1793 — The Charter Act of 1793 renewed the Company's charter for twenty years and regularised senior salaries; it did not create the Supreme Court, which already existed from 1774.
- (c)The Charter Act of 1813 — The Charter Act of 1813 ended the Company's trade monopoly (except tea and the China trade) and admitted missionaries; it had nothing to do with the Calcutta Supreme Court.
- (d)Government of India Act of 1858 — The 1858 Act transferred power from the Company to the British Crown after the 1857 revolt — long after the Supreme Court had been founded.
The Regulating Act, 1773 was Parliament's first step to control the East India Company's administration in India. Besides the Supreme Court at Calcutta, it created the office of Governor-General of Bengal and subordinated Bombay and Madras to Bengal in some matters.
All four options are genuine constitutional Acts, so the year 1773 and the specific clue of a Supreme Court at Calcutta are what single out the Regulating Act.
- The Regulating Act, 1773 established a Supreme Court at Calcutta, functioning from 1774 at Fort William.
- It designated the Governor of Bengal as Governor-General of Bengal, aided by a council of four.
- Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of Bengal under this Act.
- It was the first parliamentary attempt to regulate the Company; Pitt's India Act of 1784 followed.
- Confusing the Regulating Act (1773) with the later Charter Acts.
- Assuming the Supreme Court was created in 1858 with Crown rule — it dates to 1774.
Asked by matching a colonial Act to a specific provision — Supreme Court, Governor-General or Board of Control.
Match List I (Acts of Colonial Government of India) with List II (Provisions): A. Charter Act, 1813 B. Regulating Act C. Act of 1858 D. Pitt's India Act.
- (a) A-2 B-4 C-3 D-1
- (b) A-1 B-3 C-4 D-2
- (c) A-2 B-3 C-4 D-1
- (d) A-1 B-4 C-3 D-2
Answer(a) A-2 B-4 C-3 D-1
Same concept — matching colonial Acts to their provisions, with the Regulating Act among them. Knowing the Regulating Act's Supreme Court / Governor-General clause is exactly what both questions test.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Who was the first Governor-General of Bengal, appointed under the Regulating Act of 1773?
- (a)Robert Clive
- (b)Warren Hastings
- (c)Lord Cornwallis
- (d)Lord Wellesley
Answer(b) Warren Hastings — the first Governor-General of Bengal.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Board of Control to supervise the Company's civil and military affairs in India was created by
- (a)Regulating Act 1773
- (b)Pitt's India Act 1784
- (c)Charter Act 1813
- (d)Government of India Act 1858
Answer(b) Pitt's India Act 1784 — it set up dual control through the Board of Control.