Constitutional Developments Till 1858

The Charter Act of 1813 was a significant legislation: - Company’s rule and trade monopoly in India was extended to another 20 years. Monopoly was ended except for the trade in tea and with China. - This asserted the Crown’s sovereignty over British India by defining the constitutional position of the British in India. - This act also empowered the local governments to impose taxes on the persons subject to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. - The European British subjects were also strengthened in India over the power of the provincial governments and courts. - Financial provision was made to encourage a revival in Indian literature and for the promotion of science. - This act also envisages that missionaries can go and spread the Christianity in India. 

* The Charter Act of 1833 was the final step towards centralisation in British India. * It made the Governor-General of Bengal as the **Governor-General of India** and vested in him all civil and military powers. The act created, for the first time, the Government of India having authority over the entire territorial area possessed by the British in India. * **Lord William Bentick** was the first Governor-General of India. * It deprived the Governor of Bombay and Madras of their legislative powers. The Governor-General of India was given **exclusive legislative powers** for the entire British India. **Hence option (D) is the correct answer.**