The legislations in British India included legislative bodies in the presidencies and provinces of British India. These legislations were created under Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom.
They were responsible for passing many laws that to this day are used in Independent India. This article will provide a list of acts passed by the British in India.
This topic is important for IAS Exam from both prelims and mains perspectives.
Legislations in British India (UPSC Notes):- Download PDF Here
It is one thing being familiar with the legislative acts passed during the British colonial rule but candidates must also know why some of these acts were passed. The display of extra knowledge will increase the chances of scoring higher marks in the exam.
The purposes of some of these acts are highlighted below:
Legislation in British India
| Name of Legislation | Purpose of Legislation | Date of Enactment |
| Regulating Act of 1773 | To overhaul management of East India Company’s rule in India | June 10th, 1773 |
| Pitt’s India Act of 1784 | This act was passed to address the shortcomings of the Regulating Act of 1773. It provided for the joint rule of the crown and company with the crown being the supreme authority. | August 13th, 1784 |
| Charter Act of 1813 | It renewed the charter issued to East India Company by the British Crown but also ended the company’s monopoly in certain areas of trade. | (Royal Assent) July 21st, 1813 |
| Bengal Sati Regulation Act of 1829 | This act made the practice of Sati illegal in all areas under company rule and its practitioners liable to prosecution | December 4th, 1829 |
| Hindu Widows Remarriage Act of 1856 | This act legalised the remarriage of widows, who were earlier forbidden from marrying and shunned from society as a result. | July 26th, 1856 |
| Government of India Act of 1858 | Following the 1857 mutiny, the British Parliament passed this act to liquidate the East India Company. The colonial rule of India came directly under the control of the British Government. This act marks the beginning of the British Raj. | August 2nd, 1858 (Commenced, 1st November 1858) |
| Indian Councils Act of 1892 | This act bought various amendments to the composition and function of legislative councils of British India | February 3rd, 1893 (Royal Assent on June 20th, 1892) |
| Government of India Act of 1919 | This act expanded the participation of Indians in the government of India when earlier only British members were allowed to take part. | December 23rd, 1919 |
| Rowlatt Act, 1919 | This act indefinitely extended the emergency measures of preventive indefinite detention, incarceration without trial and judicial review enacted in the Defence of India Act 1915 | March 18th, 1919 |
| Government of India Act of 1935 | The act allowed for a greater degree of autonomy to the provinces of British India ending the diarchy introduced by the Government of India Act, 1919 | April 1st, 1937 (Royal assent on 24th July 1935) |
| Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 | This act regulates the Indian Labour Law with regards to trade unions as well as individual workmen | April 1st, 1947 |
| Indian Independence Act, 1947 | It is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan. | August 15, 1947 (Royal assent – July 18th, 1947 |
Legislations in British India (UPSC Notes):- Download PDF Here
The British passed various legislations in India with the motivation to preserve their commercial and economic interests along with preserving their own power in the Indian subcontinent.
The first several acts—passed in 1773, 1780, 1784, 1786, 1793, and 1830—were generally known as East India Company Acts. Subsequent measures—chiefly in 1833, 1853, 1858, 1919, and 1935—were entitled Government of India Acts.
In order for candidates to better test their static and dynamic knowledge, it is advisable that they take the UPSC Prelims Test Series. Along with testing their knowledge, the mock test allows candidates to better gauge their strengths and weaknesses, therefore allowing for a greater scope for improvement in any weak areas.