Charter Act of 1813

The East India Company Act 1813, also known as the Charter Act 1813, was an Act of the British Parliament that extended the British East India Company’s charter and maintained the Company’s dominance in India. With the exception of the tea and opium trades, as well as trade with China, the Company’s commercial monopoly was shattered, demonstrating the rise of British dominance in India.

The History of the Charter Act of 1813:

British tradesmen and merchants suffered as a result of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Continental System in Europe (which barred the import of British goods into French allies in Europe).

As a result, they wanted a portion of British trade in Asia and the end of the East India Company’s monopoly.

This was not acceptable to the company.

Finally, the Charter Act of 1813 authorised British merchants to trade in India under a stringent licensing system.

However, the business maintained its monopoly in China and the tea trade.

Why was the charter act of 1813 introduced?

British commodities were restricted from entering French allies’ territory because of Napoleon Bonaparte’s Continental System in Europe, and British traders and merchants suffered as a result.

They requested access to Asian ports and the elimination of the company’s monopoly so that they could trade in Asia as well.

British merchants were allowed to trade in India under a stringent licensing system under this Act.

Tea and trade with China were still monopolised by the company.

Key Features:

• The British sovereignty over British territories in India was reasserted by the Charter Act of 1813.
• End of the EIC’s trade monopoly, save for tea, opium, and trade with China: As a result, all British subjects were allowed to trade with India for all commodities except tea. This lasted until 1833, when the company’s trading functions were terminated by a subsequent charter.
• Christian Missionaries’ Permission: The Charter Act of 1813 allowed anybody who wanted to go to India to promote moral and religious reform to do so.
• In accordance with the Act, the missionaries were successful in obtaining the appointment of a Bishop for British India, with his headquarters in Calcutta.
• The company’s territorial income and commercial profits were regulated under the Charter Act of 1813. 
• It was requested that the corporation keep its territorial and commercial accounts separate.
• The dividend for the corporation was set at 10.5 percent.
• Provision for Education Investment: The Charter Act established a provision for the firm to play a larger part in the education of Indians under its control by allocating Rs.1 lakh every year.

It gave local governments in India the right to levy taxes on individuals and punish those who did not pay them.

The 1833 Charter Act

Features:

• The British colonisation of India was legalised by the Charter Act of 1833. The East India Company’s economic activities came to an end, and it became an administrative entity. It said that the government would hold the company’s Indian possessions “in trust for His Majesty, His heirs, and successors.”
• It elevated the Governor-General of Bengal to the position of Governor-General of India, giving him complete civil and military authority. As a result of this, Lord William Bentinck became the first Governor-General of India, and the administration of India was centralised.
• Bombay and Madras governors lost their legislative powers. The Governor-General of India held legislative authority over British India as a whole.
• Regulations were used to refer to laws enacted under earlier acts, whereas Acts were used to refer to laws enacted under this act.
• The Indians shall not be prevented from holding any seat, office, or job under the Company, according to this Act, which established an open competition system for public servant selection. It also stipulated that the Haileybury College of London set quotas for future civil workers. However, in the near future, this open competition approach will not be successful.
• Any legislation in British Indian territory could be amended, repealed, or changed by the Governor-General in Council. The Governor-council General’s was to be made up of four members once more, with the fourth member having only restricted authority.
• The Governor-government General’s was renamed Government of India, and the council was renamed India Council for the first time.
• To codify all Indian laws, the Indian Law Commission was founded. Lord Macaulay was the head of the first Law Commission.
•  This legislation also required the Governor General-in-Council to take steps to alleviate the status of slavery in India, which had existed since the Sultanate Era.
• It regulated the establishment of Christian institutions in India and increased the number of bishops to three.

Conclusion:

The Charter Act of 1813 established and expanded the direction and supervisory powers of the Board of Control. The provision of a sum of rupees one lakh per year for the revival and improvement of education and encouragement of India’s learned natives, as well as the introduction and promotion of scientific knowledge among the inhabitants of British Indian territories, was one of the most important provisions of the Charter Act of 1813. This was the first step toward acknowledging the concept of state responsibility for education. Without a doubt, this term was one of the most significant actions taken by the British administration in connection to India.