Question

The Government of India Act, ................... transferred the responsibility of administration of India from the East India Company to the British Crown.

• A. 1909
• B. 1858
• C. 1919
• D. 1935

Hint:

Remember 1857 (The Rebellion) and 1858 (The Transfer of Power) as a cause-and-effect pair. The rebellion was the cause, and the Government of India Act 1858 was the immediate effect, marking the beginning of the British Raj.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Historical Context
The question asks to identify the specific Act of the British Parliament that officially ended the rule of the East India Company in India and placed India directly under the control of the British government (the Crown).

Step 2: Analyzing the Turning Point
The major event that triggered this transfer of power was the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (also known as the Sepoy Mutiny). After the rebellion was suppressed, the British government concluded that the East India Company's administration was ineffective and responsible for the unrest. As a direct consequence, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act in 1858.

Step 3: Evaluating the Acts


(A) 1909: The Indian Councils Act of 1909, or Morley-Minto Reforms, introduced separate electorates for Muslims and increased the size of legislative councils.

(B) 1858: The Government of India Act of 1858 abolished the East India Company and transferred its powers to the British Crown. It created the office of the Secretary of State for India and designated the Governor-General as the Viceroy. This matches the question's description.

(C) 1919: The Government of India Act of 1919, or Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, introduced a system of dyarchy (dual government) in the provinces.

(D) 1935: The Government of India Act of 1935 provided for a federal structure and provincial autonomy, forming the basis for much of the Constitution of India.


Step 4: Final Answer
The Government of India Act of 1858 was the legislation that transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown. Therefore, option (B) is the correct answer.