SSC CGL 2025 PYQ — Question 37

Correct Answer

It placed the Company's possessions under British Parliament's supremacy.

Explanation

Pitt's India Act of 1784 was a landmark legislation that established a system of 'dual control' in India. Its most significant long-term administrative outcome was the assertion of the British Parliament's direct control and supremacy over the East India Company's territories in India. By creating a Board of Control, the British government effectively supervised the political and administrative activities of the Company, turning India's territories into official 'British possessions.'

The Act established a Board of Control consisting of six commissioners, including a Secretary of State and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to oversee the Company's civil, military, and revenue operations. This shift drastically reduced the East India Company's autonomy, subordinating it to the British government’s policy directives. This framework set the precedent for subsequent constitutional developments, ultimately leading to the Crown taking complete control of India in 1858.

Important Questions and Answers

Question: Why is the Pitt's India Act considered a system of 'dual control'?

Answer: It is called dual control because it created a division of power where the East India Company handled commercial activities, while the British government-appointed Board of Control oversaw political and administrative matters.

Question: What happened to the Governor-General’s position under this Act?

Answer: The position was strengthened, and the Governor-General was given the power to override the council in matters of peace, war, and revenue.