UPSC Prelims 2023 GS Paper I · Q50 of 98 History easy

By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India?

  1. (a) The Regulating Act
  2. (b) The Pitt's India Act
  3. (c) The Charter Act of 1793
  4. (d) The Charter Act of 1833 ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• The Charter Act of 1833 made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India, with full civil and military authority over all British territories in India; Lord William Bentinck was the first — option (d).

• The Act also centralised legislation, ended the Company's commercial functions and added a Law Member (Macaulay) to the Council.

• The Regulating Act of 1773 had created the Governor-General of Bengal (Warren Hastings); Pitt's India Act of 1784 set up the Board of Control; the Charter Act of 1793 extended the Company's charter.

• The title changed again to Viceroy under the Government of India Act, 1858.

• Hence option (d).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) The Regulating Act
The Regulating Act created the Governor-General of Bengal, not of India.
(b) The Pitt's India Act
Pitt's India Act established the Board of Control; it did not change the title.
(c) The Charter Act of 1793
The Charter Act of 1793 renewed the Company's charter without this change.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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