Which act established the supremacy of the Presidency of Bengal over the other two presidencies of Madras and Bombay; unlike earlier when the three presidencies were independent of each other under their respective governors?
-
Regulating Act, 1773
-
Pitts India Act, 1784
-
Charter Act of 1793
-
Charter Act of 1813
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Provisions of the Regulating Act:
- The Act limited Company dividends to 6% until it repaid a £1.5M loan and restricted the Court of Directors to four-year terms.
- It prohibited the servants of company from engaging in any private trade or accepting presents or bribes from the natives.
- The Act elevated Governor of Bengal Warren Hastings to Governor-General and subsumed the presidencies of Madras and Bombay under Bengal's control. (Therefore, option '1' is correct)
- The Act named four additional men to serve with the Governor-General on the Calcutta Council:
Lt-Gen John Clavering, George Monson, Richard Barwell and Philip Francis.
Barwell was the only one with previous experience in India. These councilors were commonly known as the "Council of Four".
- A supreme court was established at Fort William at Calcutta. British judges were to be sent to India to administer the British legal system that was used there.