Administrative and Constitutional History of Modern India

Paper Code: 
25 HIS 424 (C)
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

This course empowers students to analyze the British East India Company's evolution into a state and its consolidation through administrative and judicial mechanisms. It fosters critical evaluation of India's administrative and constitutional history, including the growth of legislative councils and the enactment of various Acts from 1813 to 1935. Additionally, students will assess the formation of the Constituent Assembly and the development of the Indian Constitution.

Course Outcomes: 

Course

Outcome (at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment Strategies

Course Code

Course Title

25 HIS 422 (C)

Administrative and Constitutional History of Modern India

(Theory)

 

 

CO196-Assess administrative and judicial growth during 1793-1858, focusing on Charter Acts and the Act of 1858.

CO197- Appraise British processes, Civil Services recruitment, Indianization demand, and Bureaucracy's role briefly

CO198- Analyse the Growth of Legislative Councils (1853-1909)

CO199- Examine Government of India Acts 1919, Dyarchy, and Act of 1935, focusing on Provincial Autonomy

CO200-Critically evaluate the formation and working of the Constituent Assembly and the constitution of 1950.

CO201-Contribute effectively in course-specific interaction

Approach in teaching:

Interactive Lectures, Discussion, Tutorials, Reading assignments, Power Point Presentation

 

Learning activities for the students:

Self-learning assignments, Effective questions, Seminar presentation

Class test, Semester End Examinations, Quiz, Solving problems in tutorials, Class Assignment, Presentation, Individual and group projects

 

12.00
Unit I: 
British Administration and Legislation

Growth of Administrative and Judicial Systems during 1773-1858 with special reference to the Charter Acts of -The Regulating Act of 1773, Amending Act of 1781,Pitt’s India Act of 1784, The Charter Act of 1813, The Charter Act of 1833.

12.00
Unit II: 
Development of Bureaucracy

Recruitment to Civil Services – Demand for Indianisation of Services, Role of Bureaucracy

Process of Administrative decentralization.

 

12.00
Unit III: 
The Legislative Councils

Growth of Legislative Councils (1853-1909)- The Charter Act of 1853, Indian Council Act of 1861, Indian Council Act of 1892, Minto Morely Reform Act 1909.

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
Government Acts and Political Evolution

Government of India Acts 1919 and Dyarchy.

Act of 1935 and Provincial Autonomy

Cabinet Mission Plan

12.00
Unit V: 
The Framing of the Indian Constitution

Constituent Assembly and the constitution of 1950.

Salient Features of the constitution.

Essential Readings: 
  • Sanghmitra: Indian Consititution Acts : East India Company to Independence.
  • A.B. Keith : A Constitutional History of India 
  • M.V. Pylee : Constitutional Government in India
  • C.H. Phillips : Evolution of India and Pakistan. 1858-1947

 

References: 
  • B.B. Mishra : Administrative history of India( 1834-1947)
  • B. Prasad : Origin of Provincial Autonomy
  • B.N. Pandey : Introduction of English Law in India
  • Coupland : The Constitutional Problem
  • Ilbert Courtney : Government of India
  • VCP Choudhary : Administration of Lord Lytton
  • H.L. Singh : Problems and Policies of British in India
  • Spangenberg : British Bureaucracy in India 

E-Resources:

 

Academic Year: 
2025-26
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