https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Charter_Act_1793Charter Act 1793 - Revision history2026-07-31T12:09:32ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Charter_Act_1793&diff=493628&oldid=prevTrinaAshby9096 at 21:51, 4 April 20262026-04-04T21:51:06Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Act of the Parliament of Great Britain}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}<br />
{{Use British English|date=November 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox UK legislation<br />
|short_title = East India Company Act 1793{{efn|name=st|The citation of this act by this [[short title]] was authorised by section 1 of, and the first schedule to, the [[Short Titles Act 1896]]. Due to the repeal of those provisions it is now authorised by section 19(2) of the [[Interpretation Act 1978]].}}<br />
|type = Act<br />
|parliament = Parliament of Great Britain<br />
|long_title = An Act for continuing in the East India Company for a further Term the Possession of the British Territories in India, together with their exclusive Trade under certain Limitations; for establishing further Regulations for the Government of the said Territories, and the better Administration of Justice within the same; for appropriating to certain Uses the Revenues and Profits of the said Company, and for making Provision for the good Order and Government of the Towns of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay.<br />
|year = 1793<br />
|citation = [[33 Geo. 3]]. c. 52<br />
|territorial_extent = [[Great Britain]]<br />
|royal_assent = 11 June 1793<br />
|commencement = 11 June 1793{{efn|The [[Acts of Parliament (Commencement) Act 1793]].}}<br />
|repeal_date = 1 January 1916<br />
|replaces = {{ubli|[[Trade to the East Indies Act 1718]]|[[East India Company Act 1786]]}}<br />
|amendments = {{ubli|[[Indian Presidency Towns Act 1815]]|[[Statute Law Revision Act 1887]]|[[Statute Law Revision Act 1888]]|[[Government of India Act 1912]]}}<br />
|related_legislation = {{ubli|[[Regulating Act 1773]]|[[East India Company Act 1784]]|[[East India Company Act 1813]]|[[Government of India Act 1833]]|[[Government of India Act 1858]]}}<br />
|repealing_legislation= [[Government of India Act 1915]]<br />
|status = Repealed<br />
|original_text = https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=XwbC08mcZ-4C&pg=PA133<br />
|use_new_UK-LEG = no<br />
}}<br />
<br />
The '''East India Company Act 1793'''{{efn|name=st}} ([[33 Geo. 3]]. c. 52), also known as the '''Charter Act 1793''', was an [[Act of Parliament (United Kingdom)|act]] of the [[Parliament of Great Britain]] which renewed the Charter issued to the [[East India Company|British East India Company]] (EIC). The veto which was originally given to [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|Lord Cornwallis]] was continued for all the [[Governor-General of India|Governors-General]].<br />
Bombay and Madras presidency were kept under superintendence of [[Bengal Presidency|Fort William]].<br />
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== Provisions ==<br />
In contrast with legislation concerning [[British India]] proposed in the preceding two decades, the 1793 Act "passed with minimal trouble".<ref>''A Constitutional History of India 1600–1935'', [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]], Methuen, London, 1936, p.&nbsp;100</ref> The Act made only fairly minimal changes to either the system of government in India or British oversight of the company's activities. Most importantly, the company's trade monopoly was continued for a further 20 years. Salaries and pensions for the staff, paid members of the Board of Control, and others involved in Indian administration were now charged to the Company, to be paid from Indian revenues, since they were regarded as government officials rather than mere merchants. Private trade with China was permitted under the name "country trade", which allowed the Company to avoid direct responsibility for illegal trading of opium. Other provisions of the Act included:<br />
# The Governor-General was granted extensive powers over the subordinate presidencies of Madras and Bombay.<br />
# The Governor-General's power of over-ruling his council was affirmed.<br />
# Royal approval was mandated for the appointment of the Governor-General, the governors, and the Commander-in-Chief.<br />
#This Act continued the company's rule over the British territories in India.<br />
#It continued the company's trade monopoly in India for another 20 years.<br />
#The Act established that “acquisition of sovereignty by the subjects of the Crown is on behalf of the Crown and not in its own *right,” which clearly stated that the company's political functions were on behalf of the British government.<br />
#The company's dividends were allowed to be raised to 10%.<br />
#The Governor-General was given more powers.<br />
#When the Governor-General was present in Madras or Bombay, he would supersede in authority over the governors of Madras and Bombay.<br />
#In the Governor-General's absence from Bengal, he could appoint a vice president from among the civilian members of his Council.<br />
#The composition of the Board of Control changed. It was to have a President and two junior members, who were not necessarily members of the Privy Council.<br />
#The salaries of the staff and the Board of Control were also now charged to the company.<br />
#After all expenses, the company had to pay the British government 5 Lakh British Pounds from the Indian revenue annually.<br />
#Senior company officials were barred from leaving India without permission. If they did so, it would be considered as a resignation.<br />
#The company was granted the authority to grant licenses to individuals and company employees to carry on trade in India (known as the "privilege" or "country" trade), which paved the way for [[History of opium in China|shipments of opium]] to China.<ref>{{Cite book | title = The Edinburgh Encyclopædia<br />
| last = Brewster<br />
| first = David<br />
| author-link = David Brewster<br />
| volume = 11<br />
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=cg4bAQAAMAAJ<br />
| year = 1832<br />
| publisher = J. and E. Parker<br />
| page = 275}}This was known as 'privilege' or 'country trade'. This led to shipments of opium to China.<br />
This act separated the revenue administration and the judiciary functions of the company leading to the disappearance of Maal Adalats (revenue courts).</ref> <br />
#Revenue administration was separated from judicial responsibilities, which brought an end to the functioning of Maal Adalats, or revenue courts.<br />
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== Next charter act ==<br />
The company's charter was next renewed by the [[East India Company Act 1813]] ([[53 Geo. 3]]. c. 155).<br />
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== Subsequent developments ==<br />
The whole act was repealed by section 130 of, and the fourth schedule to, the [[Government of India Act 1915]] ([[5 & 6 Geo. 5]]. c. 61), which came into force on 1 January 1916.<ref>{{Cite legislation UK|act=Government of India Act 1915|type=act|year=Geo5/5-6|chapter=61}}</ref><br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[East India Company Act]]<br />
* [[Regulating Act 1773]]<br />
* [[East India Company Act 1784]]<br />
* [[East India Company Act 1813]]<br />
* [[Government of India Act 1833]]<br />
* [[Government of India Act 1858]]<br />
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== Notes ==<br />
{{Notelist}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{GB legislation}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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[[Category:Great Britain Acts of Parliament 1793]]<br />
[[Category:Repealed Great Britain Acts of Parliament]]<br />
[[Category:1793 in India]]<br />
[[Category:Legislation in British India]]<br />
[[Category:East India Company Acts]]<br />
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