Which of the following statements relating to the Government of India

Which of the following statements relating to the Government of India Act, 1858 is/are correct?

  • 1. The British Crown assumed sovereignty over India from the East India Company.
  • 2. The British Parliament enacted the first statute for the governance of India under the direct rule of the British.
  • 3. This Act was dominated by the principle of absolute imperial control without any popular participation in the administration of the country.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2 only
2 only
1, 2 and 3
1 and 3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2018
All three statements are correct. The Government of India Act, 1858, explicitly transferred the territories and governance of India from the East India Company to the British Crown (Statement 1). This marked the beginning of direct rule and the Act was the first comprehensive statute passed by the British Parliament specifically for the governance of India under the Crown (Statement 2). The Act consolidated imperial control, abolishing the Company’s dual control system and establishing the Secretary of State for India, without introducing any form of popular participation or representation in the administration (Statement 3).
This Act was a direct consequence of the 1857 Revolt and aimed at better administration and tighter control over India by the British government.
The Act also abolished the Board of Control and the Court of Directors, replacing them with the Secretary of State for India and the Council of India.