Consequences of 1857

Notes

Administrative changes

Government of India Act, 1858: ended the Company's rule; power passed to the British Crown. A Secretary of State for India (a Cabinet member) with a 15-member Council of India controlled the administration. The Governor-General became Viceroy; Lord Canning was the first.
Queen's Proclamation (1 November 1858), read at Allahabad: no further annexation of territory; treaties with princes to be honoured and the right of adoption respected; religious toleration; equal and impartial admission to services by ability; pardon to rebels (except those who had murdered British subjects).
Doctrine of Lapse abolished; adoption sanads granted to princes.
Indian Councils Act, 1861 (non-official Indians nominated to the Viceroy's Council); IPC (1860), CPC (1859), CrPC (1861), Indian High Courts Act (1861), Police Act (1861).

Military changes

Peel Commission (1859) reorganised the army: the proportion of European troops was raised (1:2 in the Bengal Army, 2:5 in Madras and Bombay); the artillery and key positions were reserved for Europeans.
Recruitment on the lines of "martial races" (Sikhs, Gurkhas, Pathans, Jats) and a policy of mixing regiments by caste and region to prevent unity (divide and rule).

Policy towards princes and society

Princes were seen as "breakwaters in the storm" (Canning); their loyalty was rewarded, and the princely states were preserved as British allies under paramountcy.
A policy of non-interference in social and religious matters; social reform slowed.
The British turned hostile to Muslims at first (blaming them), and later adopted divide and rule between Hindus and Muslims. Racial bitterness increased.
The Mughal dynasty ended: Bahadur Shah II was exiled to Rangoon.

Long-term effects: greater attention to railways and communications (for military and economic control); the Revolt left a memory of resistance that later nationalists drew upon; the Indian National Congress was formed in 1885.

Key Points

Government of India Act, 1858: rule passed to the Crown; Secretary of State; Viceroy.
Queen's Proclamation (1 November 1858, Allahabad).
Doctrine of Lapse ended; princes assured of their right to adopt.
Peel Commission (1859): army reorganised; martial races.
Divide and rule; end of the Mughal dynasty.

MCQs

Q1. Which Act transferred the administration of India from the Company to the Crown? (a) Regulating Act, 1773 (b) Charter Act, 1853 (c) Government of India Act, 1858 (d) Indian Councils Act, 1861 Ans: (c).

Q2. The first Viceroy of India was: (a) Lord Dalhousie (b) Lord Canning (c) Lord Ripon (d) Lord Mayo Ans: (b).

Q3. The Queen's Proclamation of 1858 was read out at: (a) Delhi (b) Calcutta (c) Allahabad (d) Bombay Ans: (c). 1 November 1858.