According to the Regulating Act of 1773 of the East India Company, to whom did the governors of Madras and Bombay report regularly?

The Correct answer is The Governor General.

Key Points

• The Regulating Act of 1773 was an important legislative measure passed by the British Parliament to regulate the affairs of the East India Company in India.
• The act created the position of the Governor General of Bengal, who was given supervisory authority over the governors of Madras and Bombay.
• The Governor General was tasked with overseeing and ensuring better coordination between the presidencies of Madras, Bombay, and Bengal.
• This act marked the beginning of a centralized administration in India and aimed to curb the corruption and inefficiency prevalent in the East India Company's governance.
• The first Governor General appointed under the Regulating Act was Warren Hastings.
• The governors of Madras and Bombay were required to report regularly and act according to the directives of the Governor General to ensure uniformity in policies and governance.
• The Regulating Act also established a Supreme Court in Calcutta to handle legal issues, further strengthening the role of the Governor General.

Additional Information

• The British Parliament
  • The British Parliament passed the Regulating Act of 1773 but did not directly oversee the operations of the East India Company's presidencies.
  • The act aimed to reduce the company's autonomy and introduce a centralized administrative system.
  • The Parliament had the power to legislate but did not directly manage the day-to-day affairs of the Indian presidencies.
• Court of Directors
  • The Court of Directors was responsible for overseeing the commercial and administrative aspects of the East India Company.
  • They were based in London and played a role in policymaking but did not directly supervise the governors of Madras and Bombay.
  • The Court of Directors reported to the British Parliament rather than directly managing presidencies.
• The British Crown
  • The British Crown was involved in India's governance later, especially after the Government of India Act 1858, which transferred control from the East India Company to the Crown.
  • During the time of the Regulating Act of 1773, the Crown did not directly manage the presidencies or supervise their governors.