British Rule in India
Complete Notes for SSC GD Exams
Introduction
Time Period: 1757 – 1947
Main Controlling Power: British East India Company → British Crown
British Rule (also called Colonial Rule) was a major turning point in Indian history. It began with the Battle of Plassey (1757) and ended with Independence in 1947.
1. What is British Rule in India?
British Rule refers to the period when India was controlled by:
British East India Company
1757–1858
British Government / Crown Rule
1858–1947
During this time, Britishers controlled:
- Indian administration
- Economy and trade
- Army and law
- Education and resources
- Land revenue systems
- Foreign policy
Simple Definition
British Rule in India is the period from 1757 to 1947 when India was governed by British East India Company first and later by the British Government.
2. Phases of British Rule (SSC GD Important)
| Phase | Time Period | Controlled By |
|---|---|---|
| Company Rule | 1757–1858 | East India Company |
| Crown Rule (British Raj) | 1858–1947 | British Government |
Memory Trick:
"C → C" → Company Rule THEN Crown Rule
3. How British Rule Started?
Battle of Plassey (1757) – Beginning of British Power
Key Facts:
- British defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah (Bengal Nawab)
- Mir Jafar helped the British
- East India Company got control over Bengal
Significance:
Marked the beginning of British political control in India
Battle of Buxar (1764)
British Defeated:
- Mir Qasim (Bengal)
- Shuja-ud-Daulah (Awadh)
- Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II
Outcome:
Gave full administrative power of Bihar, Bengal, Orissa to British
Significance:
This battle made British the real rulers of India.
4. Major Governor Generals & Viceroys
100% Exam Questions come from here
A. Important Governor Generals
| Governor General | Important Work |
|---|---|
| Warren Hastings | Regulating Act, Supreme Court |
| Lord Cornwallis | Permanent Settlement (Zamindari System) |
| Lord Wellesley | Subsidiary Alliance |
| Lord Hastings | Ended Pindaris |
| Lord Dalhousie | Doctrine of Lapse, Railways, Telegraph |
Memory Trick:
"H-C-W-H-D" → Hastings, Cornwallis, Wellesley, Hastings, Dalhousie
B. Important Viceroys (After 1858)
| Viceroy | Important Work |
|---|---|
| Lord Canning | First Viceroy; Indian Councils Act 1861 |
| Lord Lytton | Vernacular Press Act |
| Lord Ripon | Father of Local Self Government |
| Lord Curzon | Partition of Bengal (1905) |
| Lord Hardinge | Shifted capital to Delhi (1911) |
| Lord Chelmsford | Jallianwala Bagh (1919) |
| Lord Irwin | Gandhi–Irwin Pact |
| Lord Linlithgow | Quit India Movement |
| Lord Mountbatten | Last Viceroy; Partition of India |
Memory Trick:
"C-L-R-C-H-C-I-L-M" (Canning → Mountbatten)
5. British Economic Policies (Loot of India)
| Policy | Impact |
|---|---|
| Drain of Wealth | India's wealth sent to England |
| Heavy taxes | Farmers became poor |
| Destruction of Indian industry | Handicraft, textile collapse |
| Commercial crops | Indigo, cotton replaced food crops |
| Famines | Bengal Famine (1770, 1943) |
Worse impact:
Indian economy became colonial & dependent.
6. British Land Revenue Systems
| System | Introduced By | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent Settlement | Lord Cornwallis | Bengal |
| Ryotwari | Thomas Munro | Madras, Bombay |
| Mahalwari | Holt Mackenzie | North India |
7. Major British Laws & Acts (SSC GD Favourite)
| Act | Importance |
|---|---|
| Regulating Act 1773 | First control of British govt on company |
| Pitts India Act 1784 | Dual control system |
| Charter Act 1813 | Ended Company's monopoly on trade |
| Charter Act 1833 | Governor-General of India post created |
| Government of India Act 1858 | Crown Rule started |
| Morley-Minto Act 1909 | Separate electorates |
| Montagu-Chelmsford Act 1919 | Dyarchy |
| Government of India Act 1935 | Provinces autonomy; basis of Indian Constitution |
8. Social & Religious Reformers Under British Rule
| Reformer | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Raja Ram Mohan Roy | Abolition of Sati (1829) |
| Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar | Widow remarriage |
| Dayanand Saraswati | Arya Samaj |
| Jyotiba Phule | Education for lower castes |
| Swami Vivekananda | Ramakrishna Mission |
9. Education Policies by British
| Policy | Introduced By | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| English Education Act 1835 | Macaulay | Promote English |
| Woods Dispatch 1854 | Charles Wood | Modern education system |
10. Indian National Congress (INC)
Formation
1885
Founder
A.O. Hume
First President
W.C. Bonnerjee
INC played a major role in:
- Freedom struggle
- National movement
- Reforms & protests
11. Important Revolts Before 1857
| Revolt | Year | Leaders |
|---|---|---|
| Sanyasi Revolt | 1770 | Sanyasis |
| Vellore Mutiny | 1806 | Indian soldiers |
| Wahabi Movement | 1820–1870 | Syed Ahmed Barelvi |
| Santhal Revolt | 1855 | Sidhu & Kanhu |
| Kol Revolt | 1831 | Col tribes |
| Poligar Revolt | 1799 | South India |
12. Revolt of 1857 (First War of Independence)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year | 1857 |
| Cause | Cartridge issue (greased cartridges) |
| Leaders | Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, Tantya Tope |
| Result | Failed but major impact |
| Aftermath | End of Company Rule → Crown Rule started |
Memory Trick:
"M-R-T" → Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmi Bai, Tantya Tope
Impact of British Rule
Negative:
- Exploitation of farmers
- Industrial destruction
- Famines
- Cultural destruction
Positive (Few):
- Railways
- Telegraph
- Postal system
- Legal system
- Modern education
13. Quick Revision Table
| Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Start of British Rule | 1757 – Battle of Plassey |
| Company Rule | 1757–1858 |
| Crown Rule | 1858–1947 |
| First Viceroy | Lord Canning |
| Last Viceroy | Lord Mountbatten |
| Important act | Govt of India Act 1935 |
| Land system | Permanent, Ryotwari, Mahalwari |
| First Revolt | Revolt of 1857 |
Master Indian History for Competitive Exams!
Join Courage Library for comprehensive study materials and expert guidance.
Be a Couragian!