- This important Act was enacted in the wake of the Revolt of 1857 - also known as the First War of Independence or the ‘sepoy mutiny’.
- The act is known as the Act for the Good Government of India.
- It abolished the East India Company, and transferred the powers of government, territories and revenues to the British Crown.
Features of the Act were -1. It provided that India was now to be governed by, and in the name of, Her Majesty.
2. Governor-General of India would now be Viceroy of India.
3. Viceroy was the direct representative of the British Crown in India.
4. Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India.
5. It abolished the Board of Control and Court of Directors thus ending the system of double government.
6. It created a new office, Secretary of State for India, having complete authority and control over Indian administration.
7. The secretary of state was a member of the British cabinet and was responsible ultimately to the British Parliament.
8. It established a 15-member Council of India to assist the secretary of state for India.
9. The Council was an advisory body with secretary of state as chairman of the council.
10. It formed the secretary of state-in-council as a body corporate which is capable of suing and being sued in India and in England.
- The Act of 1858 was, however, largely confined to the improvement of the administrative machinery by which the Indian Government was to be supervised and controlled in England.
- It did not alter in any substantial way the system of government that prevailed in India.
