Which one among the following Acts for the first time allowed Indians,

Which one among the following Acts for the first time allowed Indians, at least theoretically, entry to higher posts in British Indian administration ?

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Charter Act, 1813

Charter Act, 1833

Charles Wood's Education Despatch, 1854

Indian Councils Act, 1861

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-1 – 2016

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The correct answer is B) Charter Act, 1833.

The Charter Act of 1833, specifically Section 87, contained a provision stating that no Indian subject of the Crown residing in British India would be disabled from holding any office or employment under the Company by reason only of his religion, place of birth, descent, colour, or any of them. This theoretically opened the doors for Indians to enter higher administrative posts, although the actual implementation was slow and limited in practice.

Prior to 1833, policies generally excluded Indians from higher administrative positions based on race and origin. The 1833 Act, part of significant reforms during the tenure of Governor-General Lord William Bentinck, aimed at centralizing administration and bringing about certain social and administrative changes. While Section 87 was a significant declaration, the actual number of Indians in high posts remained very small for decades. The other acts mentioned did not contain such a specific provision for entry into higher administration. The Charter Act of 1813 ended the Company’s trade monopoly (except for tea and China). Charles Wood’s Education Despatch of 1854 dealt with education reform. The Indian Councils Act of 1861 was primarily about associating Indians with legislative functions.

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