According to the Regulating Act of 1773 of the East India Company, to whom did the governors of Madras and Bombay report regularly?​

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) The Governor General

• The Regulating Act of 1773 was passed by the British Parliament to regulate the affairs of the East India Company and improve the administration in India.

• According to the Act, the governors of Madras and Bombay were made subordinate to the newly appointed Governor-General of Bengal.

• The governors of Madras and Bombay were required to report directly to the Governor-General in Bengal, who had greater powers than the other governors, marking the first step towards centralizing the administration of the British territories in India.

• This was part of the larger effort to streamline and centralize the governance structure in India under the East India Company.

Information Booster:

• Regulating Act of 1773: The Regulating Act of 1773 was a significant attempt by the British government to address the growing corruption and mismanagement of the East India Company. It created the position of the Governor-General of Bengal to oversee the Company’s administration. This Act was the first step toward the centralization of governance in India.
• Pitts India Act of 1784: This Act was passed to rectify some of the shortcomings of the Regulating Act of 1773. It allowed the British government to have direct control over the East India Company by creating the Board of Control, which supervised the Court of Directors of the Company, thus placing India under indirect British control.
• Charter Act of 1813: The Charter Act of 1813 ended the East India Company’s monopoly on trade (except for trade with China and the trade in tea), while continuing its administrative control over India. It also authorized the British government to make laws for India, marking a significant step toward legal centralization.
• Charter Act of 1833: This Act extended the powers of the Governor-General of India (now with the title of Governor-General of India rather than just Bengal), and it also centralized legislative powers in the hands of the Governor-General's Council. It marked the beginning of direct British rule in India, as the Company's administrative role was phased out.
• Indian Councils Act of 1861: This Act was introduced to make the legislative process more representative by creating an Indian Legislative Council. It allowed the British to include Indian members in the council, though their role remained limited.
• Government of India Act 1858: After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, this Act led to the dissolution of the East India Company and transferred the control of India directly to the British Crown, marking the beginning of the British Raj. The Secretary of State for India was appointed to oversee the affairs of India.
• Indian Independence Act of 1947: This was the Act that officially granted India its independence, dividing the British Indian Empire into India and Pakistan, marking the end of British colonial rule.