Consider the following statements about 'the Charter Act of 1813' : 1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China. 2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company. 3. The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (a)
• The Charter Act of 1813 ended the East India Company's monopoly over Indian trade, retaining only its monopoly in tea and the China trade (statement 1).
• It expressly asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Company's Indian territories (statement 2), and set aside ₹1 lakh a year for education and allowed missionaries into India.
• Statement 3 is wrong: Parliament did not take control of Indian revenues in 1813; the Company continued to administer them until the Crown assumed direct rule in 1858.
• Hence 1 and 2 only, option (a).
Why the other options are wrong
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: revenues stayed with the Company.
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong; statement 2 is correct.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statement 3 is wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2019, held on 2 June 2019. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.