British Acts and Constitutional Development of India Notes for SSC Exams

The British Acts passed between 1773 and 1947 shaped the system of government in India and later became the base of the Indian Constitution. SSC exams regularly ask which Act introduced a feature, such as dyarchy, separate electorates or a Federal Court. These British Acts and constitutional development notes for SSC give all the important Acts year-wise in simple tables, so that you can remember the main feature of each Act.

Acts of the Company Rule (1773 to 1858)

Acts After 1858 (Crown Rule)

Important Features of the 1919 Act

• Subjects were divided into Central and Provincial lists.
• Provincial subjects were again divided into Transferred (given to Indian ministers) and Reserved (kept by the Governor) subjects. This was called Dyarchy.
• The Central Legislature had two houses: the Council of State and the Legislative Assembly.
• A Public Service Commission was proposed.

Important Features of the 1935 Act

• It was the longest Act passed by the British Parliament for India and gave a big part of the Indian Constitution.
• Dyarchy was ended in the provinces and started at the Centre.
• Provincial autonomy was given, and elections were held in 1937.
• A Federal Court (1937), the Reserve Bank of India (1935) and Federal Public Service Commission were started.
• Burma and Aden were separated from India.

Indian Independence Act, 1947

• It created the two dominions of India and Pakistan from 15 August 1947.
• The British Crown lost its control over the Indian states.
• The Constituent Assemblies of both countries became sovereign.
• The office of Secretary of State for India was abolished.

How These Acts Link to the Constitution

Quick Tips

• Prepare a year-wise list of the Acts and write the main feature next to it.
• Remember that the Acts of 1909, 1919 and 1935 are asked the most.
• Link Dyarchy with the 1919 Act and provincial autonomy with the 1935 Act.
• Note that the 1858 Act came after the Revolt of 1857, and it ended the rule of the Company.

Quick Revision Points

• The Regulating Act of 1773 started the control over the Company.
• The Charter Act of 1833 created the post of Governor-General of India.
• The Act of 1909 gave separate electorates to Muslims.
• The 1919 Act introduced Dyarchy in the provinces.
• The 1935 Act gave provincial autonomy and created the Federal Court.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. Which Act created the post of Governor-General of Bengal?
   Answer: Regulating Act, 1773
2. Which Act ended the trade of the East India Company in India?
   Answer: Charter Act, 1833
3. Which Act introduced separate electorates for Muslims?
   Answer: Indian Councils Act, 1909
4. Which Act introduced Dyarchy in the provinces?
   Answer: Government of India Act, 1919
5. Which Act gave provincial autonomy to the provinces?
   Answer: Government of India Act, 1935
6. Which Act ended the rule of the East India Company?
   Answer: Government of India Act, 1858
7. Which Act provided for the Federal Court?
   Answer: Government of India Act, 1935
8. Which Act divided India into two dominions?
   Answer: Indian Independence Act, 1947
9. Who was the first Indian member of the Viceroy's Executive Council?
   Answer: S. P. Sinha (1909)
10. Which Act introduced the open competition for civil services?
    Answer: Charter Act, 1853

How to Practise This Chapter

Prepare a year-wise chart of the Acts and revise it for ten minutes daily. Then solve questions from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. Read this chapter with Governor-Generals and Viceroys of India and Revolt of 1857. Then read Indian Polity to see how these Acts became the base of the Constitution, and visit the Indian History notes page for the full list.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Regulating Act of 1773?

It was the first Act of the British Parliament to control the East India Company. It created the post of Governor-General of Bengal and a Supreme Court at Calcutta.

What was the Charter Act of 1833?

It made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India and ended the commercial functions of the Company.

Which Act ended the rule of the East India Company?

The Government of India Act, 1858 ended the Company rule after the Revolt of 1857, and the power went to the British Crown.

What is the Morley-Minto Reform?

It is another name for the Indian Councils Act, 1909. It gave separate electorates to Muslims and increased the size of the legislative councils.

What is Dyarchy?

Dyarchy means a double government. Under the Act of 1919, some provincial subjects were given to Indian ministers (transferred), and others stayed with the Governor (reserved).

Which Act introduced provincial autonomy?

The Government of India Act, 1935 introduced provincial autonomy, and the provincial elections were held in 1937.

Which Act has the greatest effect on the Indian Constitution?

The Government of India Act, 1935 is the most important, because many parts of the Constitution, such as the federal system, are based on it.

What was the Indian Independence Act, 1947?

It was the Act of the British Parliament that divided India into two dominions, India and Pakistan, and ended the British rule on 15 August 1947.

Who was the first Indian to join the Viceroy's Executive Council?

S. P. Sinha was the first Indian member of the Viceroy's Executive Council, in 1909.

What is the difference between the Regulating Act and the Pitt's India Act?

The Regulating Act of 1773 started the control over the Company, while Pitt's India Act of 1784 created the Board of Control and divided commercial and political work.

How can I remember the British Acts easily?

Make a table of Act, year and main feature. Remember the four most asked Acts of 1858, 1909, 1919 and 1935, and revise them weekly.

How many questions come from British Acts in SSC exams?

Usually one or two questions come from this topic in SSC General Awareness papers, and it also helps in the Indian Polity section.