Macaulay’s Minute (1835)

• Lord Macaulay promoted English education, considering Western knowledge superior to Indian literature.

Wood’s Despatch (1854) – “Magna Carta of English Education in India”

• Encouraged government responsibility for education and grants for private initiatives.

Education Policies Under British Crown Rule

Hunter Commission (1882-83)

• Supported vernacular (local) language education and female education.
• Recommended dividing secondary education into literary (for university) and vocational (for jobs).

Indian Universities Act (1904)

• Increased government control over universities.

Government Resolution on Education Policy (1913)

• The British refused compulsory primary education but promised future literacy improvement.

Sadler Commission (1917-19)

• Recommended 12 years of schooling and a 3-year university degree.
• Emphasized female education and technical education.

Education Policies Under Dyarchy

Hartog Committee (1929)

• Recommended primary education but no compulsory system.
• Encouraged vocational education for average students instead of higher education.

Sergeant Plan of Education

• Proposed free primary education (ages 3-6) and compulsory education (ages 6-11).
• Promoted technical, commercial, and teacher education.

Development of Technical Education

• Roorkee Engineering College (1847) and Calcutta College of Engineering (1856) were established.
• Medical education began in Calcutta (1835).
• Lord Curzon expanded professional courses in medicine, agriculture, and engineering.

Development of the Press

Censorship Act (1799)

• Newspapers had to get approval before publishing.

Licensing Act (1823)

• Publishers had to get a government license.

Press Act (1835) – “Metcalfe Act”

• Freedom of the press was restored.

Vernacular Press Act (1878)

• Restricted Indian-language newspapers critical of British rule.

Indian Press Act (1910)

• Required security deposits from newspapers printing anti-British content.

Development of Civil Services

Cornwallis Reforms (1786-1793)

• Introduced merit-based promotions and banned bribes.

Wellesley’s Fort William College (1800)

• Trained new civil service recruits.

Charter Act of 1853

• Introduced competitive exams for civil service recruitment but kept Indians out of top positions.

Indian Civil Service Act (1861)

• Exams were held only in England and were difficult for Indians to pass.

Aitchison Commission (1886)

• Divided civil services into Imperial, Provincial, and Subordinate Services.

Montford Reforms (1919)

• Proposed a Public Service Commission for recruitment.

Lee Commission (1924)

• Suggested 40% British, 40% Indian, and 20% promotions from the provincial service.

Government of India Act (1935)

• Established Federal and Provincial Public Service Commissions but kept British officials in control.

Development of Police System

Cornwallis Code (1793)

• Introduced a structured police administration in Bengal.

Police Act (1861)

• Established a provincial police force.

Development of Judiciary

Warren Hastings’ Reforms

• District courts were set up for civil cases.
• Supreme Court of Calcutta (1773) was introduced for British subjects.

Cornwallis Reforms

• Established circuit courts in major cities.
• Introduced district judges to handle civil cases.

Bentinck’s Reforms

• Moved circuit courts’ functions to district collectors.
• Established Sadar Diwani Adalat (civil court) and Sadar Nizamat Adalat (criminal court) in Allahabad.
• Introduced English as the official language for Supreme Court proceedings.

Conclusion

Despite slow Indianization of governance, British policies influenced India’s modern administration, education, press, police, and judiciary. These changes shaped India’s path toward independence and governance reforms.