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Difficulty: MediumConstitutional Development, Framing, and Preamble

With reference to the Pitt's India Act of 1784, consider the following statements:

1. It established a Board of Control to manage political affairs, thereby introducing a system of dual government.
2. It empowered the Governor-General to override his council in extraordinary circumstances.
3. The Company's territories in India were for the first time called the 'British possessions in India'.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 3 onlyAnswer
  2. B
    1 and 2 only
  3. C
    2 and 3 only
  4. D
    1, 2 and 3

Answer

The correct combination is '1 and 3 only'.
The option stating '1 and 3 only' is correct. The Pitt's India Act of 1784 established the Board of Control to direct political, civil, and military operations while leaving commercial functions with the Court of Directors, establishing a dual system of control. Additionally, it declared company territories as 'British possessions in India' for the first time. The power to override council decisions was introduced later by the Act of 1786.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze statement 1 regarding the Board of Control and dual government.
Statement 1 is correct. The Pitt's India Act of 1784 established a 6-member Board of Control to supervise civil, military, and revenue affairs, leaving commercial affairs to the Court of Directors, thus creating a dual system of governance.
To verify the administrative structure created by the 1784 Act.
2
Analyze statement 2 regarding the Governor-General's power to override his council.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The power of the Governor-General to override council decisions in special situations was enacted under the Act of 1786 (specifically to meet Lord Cornwallis's demands), not the 1784 Act.
To distinguish provisions of the Pitt's India Act of 1784 from subsequent amendatory legislation.
3
Analyze statement 3 regarding the terminology 'British possessions in India'.
Statement 3 is correct. The 1784 Act explicitly designated the East India Company's territories as the 'British possessions in India' for the first time.
To check legal nomenclature changes under British parliamentary control.

Key Concept

Key provisions and structural changes introduced by the Pitt's India Act of 1784 versus the Act of 1786
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Topics

Constitutional Development, Framing, and Preamble

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