Pitt's India Act, 1784

Pitt's India Act was passed in August, 1784. The purpose was to remove defects in the Regulating Act. Its essential plan was the same. Company's public affairs and its administration in lndia were to come directly under supreme control of the British Government. The right of the Company to territorial possessions was however not touched, so it essentially meant a compromise. 

The Act established a Board of Control consisting of six~commissioners, including, two Cabinet ministers. The Board of Control was to guide and control the work of the Court of Directors and the Government of India. They were to control all matters of civil and military Government of the British territories in India. A secret committee consisting of three Directors was appointed to take the place of the Court ' of Directors in political and military matters. 

The Constitution of the Company's government in lndia was revised. The Act established the principle that the government of lndia be placed under the Governor General and a Council of three, so that if only one member of the Council supported him, he could have his way. The Governor General was given a casting vote. The Act clearly stated that the Presidencies of Madras and Bombay were to be subordinate to the Presidency of Bengal in all matters of war, diplomatic relations and revenue.

The Governor General and council were made subordinate to British Government. They were forbidden to declare war and enter into any treaty without the sanction of the directors or the secret committee. Pitt's lndia Act is important in many aspects. The President and the board were destined to be the future Secretary of State for lndia and his council. It helped in uniting lndia by giving supreme power to Governor General over the Governors of Presidencies. By reducing one member of the Executive Council of the Governor General his position was strengthened. The Governor General and Governors were given the authority to override their councils. The possessions of the Company in India came under the supremacy of the British Parliament. 

The Act laid the foundation of a centralized administration-a process which reached its climax towards the close of the nineteenth century. Parliament's control over East lndia Company was tightened, a trend which remained conspicuous till the Crown directly took over the Government of lndia in 1858. The Act had many defects too. It had divided authority and responsibility. The Governor General had two masters, the Court of Directors and the Board of Control. Out of this conflict of authority emerged the view of the primacy of the man on the spot. Cornwallis accordingly stretched his authority to the widest possible limit. The actual state of affairs were not known to the Home Government. This gave Governor General an opportunity to act in his discretion even on matters of importance.

The Government of India was to be carried on till 1857 according to the framework given in the Pitt's lndia Act. Cornwallis, when appointed Governor General, insisted on having the power to override his council in important matters such as safety, peace abd interests of the Crown in India. The Act of 1786 gave him the powers he asked for. The offices of the Governor General and the Commander-in-Chief were to be united in the same person. Declaratory Act of 1788 gave full powers and supremacy to the Board of control. This wa6 a step towards transfer of powers of the Company to the Crown.