Charter Act of 1793: Importance & its Key Features

Charter Act, 1793 AD provisionalised the Company’s trade monopoly with India. The realm of Governance of Governor-General increased over the Governors of Bombay and Madras. The Supreme Court’s jurisdiction was increased to the high seas. They can appoint the members of the Civil services as justices of the Peace, scavengers for the presidency towns and can ban on the sale of liquor without license.

Features of the act

1. Act provided the exclusive trade privileges and renewed twenty years.
2. The realm of Governance of Governor-General increased over the Governors of Bombay and Madras.
3. A ‘Regular code’ of all regulations that could be enacted for the internal Government of British territory in Bengal was framed. The regulation was applied to the rights, persons and property of the Indian people and bounded the courts to regulate their decisions by the code itself.

This act was made only fairly minimal changes to either the system of government in India or British oversight of the Company's activities. Most importantly, the Company's trade monopoly was continued for a further 20 years. Salaries for the staff and paid members of the Board of Control were also now charged to the Company.

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