UPSC Prelims 2023 Q50: Modern History – Constitutional Developments & British Plans (1909 - 1947)

UPSC Prelims 2023, General Studies Paper I · Modern History

By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India?

Answer: (d) The Charter Act of 1833

Explanation

From Governor-General of Bengal to Governor-General of India

Act	Key change
Regulating Act, 1773	Created the post of Governor-General of Bengal (Warren Hastings); set up the Supreme Court at Calcutta
Pitt's India Act, 1784	Set up the Board of Control; dual government of Company and Crown
Charter Act, 1793	Renewed the Company's charter for 20 years
Charter Act, 1813	Ended the Company's trade monopoly (except tea and China trade)
Charter Act, 1833	Governor-General of Bengal became Governor-General of India (Lord William Bentinck); ended all trade
Government of India Act, 1858	Title became Viceroy (Lord Canning)

The Charter Act of 1833 centralised power: the Governor-General of India got all civil and military powers.

Answer: (d) The Charter Act of 1833.

(a) Incorrect. The Regulating Act (1773) created the post of Governor-General of Bengal.
(b) Incorrect. Pitt's India Act (1784) set up the Board of Control.
(c) Incorrect. The Charter Act of 1793 simply renewed the Company's charter.
(d) CORRECT. The Charter Act of 1833 made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India.

1773: GG of Bengal (Hastings). 1833: GG of India (Bentinck). 1858: Viceroy (Canning).

The Charter Act of 1833 created the Governor-General of India.

Choosing the Regulating Act because it created the Governor-General post; that was of Bengal only.
Mixing up the 1813 and 1833 Charter Acts.
Thinking the title Viceroy came in 1833; it came in 1858.

Bengal 1773 → India 1833 → Viceroy 1858. Three dates, three titles.