The British presence in India began in 1608 when traders from the East India Company arrived in the country. The company was granted a charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600, giving it the exclusive right to trade in India. By 1765, the company's role in India expanded beyond trading when it obtained the 'diwani' rights, giving it control over revenue and civil justice in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. This marked the beginning of the company's transformation into a territorial power.
Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the 'sepoy mutiny,' the British Crown took direct control of the governance of India in 1858. This period of direct rule by the British Crown continued until India gained its independence on August 15, 1947.
These events have greatly influenced our constitution and polity. They are explained here in a chronological order under two major headings:
i) The Company Rule (1773-1858)
ii) The Crown Rule (1858-1947)
THE COMPANY RULE (1773-1858)
THE CROWN RULE (1858-1947)
