CHAP 7 Administrative Changes After 1857

• CHANGED SITUATION AFTER 1857.

• Shock of revolt of 1857.

• Emergence of new colonial powers.

• British supremacy in world economy challenged.

• Large-scale British capital investment in India.

• CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT AT THE CENTRE.

• The Crown assumed the power to govern—to be exercised through a
secretary of state.

• Indians could be associated with legislative process in Imperial
Legislative Council, which had very limited power.

• CHANGES IN PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION.

• A process of financial and administrative devolution initiated in
1870.

Half-hearted and inadequate measures, aimed at increasing revenue
only, introduced.

CHANGES IN LOCAL BODIES A process of decentralisation
initiated in 1860s. Ripon's Resolution of 1882, a positive step.
Overall paucity of funds and absence of real powers.

CHANGES IN THE ARMY Supremacy of European branch ensured.

• Indian branch to be reorganised on the basis of balance and
counterpoise.

• Indians to be excluded from important and strategic locations and
branches.

• The Army to be used for the defence of the empire and its expansion,
and to promote commercial interests of Great Britain.

• PUBLIC SERVICES Very tough for Indians to be able to enter it.

• Subordinate them to British authority.

• ADMINISTRATIVE POLICIES Divide and Rule.

• Hostility to educated Indians.

• Zamindars and landlords propped as counterweights to the nationalists.

• Reversal of policy of support to social reforms.

• Social services ignored.

• Half-hearted and inadequate labour legislations introduced.

• Stifling of press wherever seen to be helping the nationalist upsurge.

• Racial arrogance.

 • FOREIGN POLICY Reach out to natural geographical frontiers for
internal cohesion and defence.

• Keep other European powers at an arm's length.

• Promote British economic and commercial interests.