Question

Examine various aspects of administration and other activities of East India Company as contained in the fifth report.

Hint:

The Fifth Report of the East India Company provided crucial insights into the exploitative nature of the Company’s rule in India, which contributed to growing discontent and eventual resistance.

Answer 1

The Fifth Report, officially known as the Report from the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Affairs of the East India Company, was published in 1812 and provides a detailed account of the administrative and commercial activities of the East India Company during the 18th century.
- Administrative Control: The report highlights the structure of the East India Company's administration, detailing its governance, policies, and the role of Company officials in managing territories. It also discusses the Company's military control, including its management of Indian rulers and their territories. - Revenue Collection: The report elaborates on how the East India Company's monopoly on trade allowed it to extract revenue from India through taxation, which it used to fund its administrative and military activities.
- Corruption and Mismanagement: The report also reveals widespread corruption among Company officials, including issues related to bribery, exploitation of Indian subjects, and the inefficient management of Indian resources.
- Social and Economic Impact: It examines the detrimental economic impact of the East India Company's policies on Indian industries, such as the destruction of the local textile industry due to the import of British manufactured goods.
Thus, the Fifth Report offers a comprehensive view of the East India Company's activities, highlighting both its administrative functioning and the negative effects of its rule on Indian society.