India Office

The India Office was a British government department established in 1858 following the passage of the Government of India Act, 1858. It replaced the Court of Directors and the Board of Control of the East India Company, transferring the governance of India directly to the British Crown. The department was based in Whitehall, London, and was headed by the Secretary of State for India, a member of the British Cabinet.

Structural Composition and Governance

The Secretary of State for India was responsible for the administration of British India. To advise and assist the Secretary, the India Office included the Council of India.

• The Council of India consisted of 15 members, initially appointed by the Secretary of State.
• Of these 15 members, seven were originally elected by the Court of Directors of the East India Company, while eight were appointed by the Crown.
• The Act required that a majority of the members must have served or resided in India for at least ten years.
• The Council had limited powers; it served primarily as an advisory body, though it held significant authority over the expenditure of Indian revenues.

Evolution of the India Office

The function and influence of the India Office evolved alongside constitutional changes in India throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

• Government of India Act, 1919: This Act altered the composition of the Council of India, reducing its membership to between eight and twelve members. It also introduced the office of the High Commissioner for India in London to handle commercial and agency functions, relieving the India Office of some administrative burdens.
• Government of India Act, 1935: The Council of India was abolished under this Act. The Secretary of State was provided with a body of advisers, ranging from three to six, to assist in matters relating to India.
• Independence (1947): Upon the partition and independence of India and Pakistan, the India Office was merged with the Dominions Office to form the Commonwealth Relations Office.

Role of the Secretary of State for India

The Secretary of State was the supreme authority in London regarding Indian affairs. Their duties included:

• Superintending the actions of the Governor-General of India and the various provincial Governors.
• Managing the financial affairs of the Indian administration, including the approval of the Indian budget.
• Coordinating with the British Parliament and answering questions regarding policies in India.
• Exercising the power of appointment for high-ranking civil and military positions in the Indian administration.

Key Administrative Functions and Departments

The India Office functioned through various departments categorized by administrative needs:

• Political and Secret Department: Managed relations with the Princely States and handled sensitive intelligence and foreign affairs.
• Military Department: Oversaw the administration of the Indian Army and defense policies.
• Financial Department: Managed the collection and expenditure of revenues generated in India.
• Public and Judicial Department: Handled legal issues, legislation, and civil service administration.
• Economic and Overseas Department: Dealt with trade, commerce, and colonial economic policy.

Trivia and Historical Facts

• The India Office building, located on King Charles Street in London, was completed in 1867 and designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. It remains a notable example of Victorian architecture.
• The salary and expenses of the Secretary of State and the India Office staff were initially paid out of the revenues of India, a point of constant contention among Indian nationalists who viewed this as a “Home Charge” drain on Indian wealth.
• The Council of India was often viewed by Indian critics as an “old guard” of retired British officials who were inherently opposed to liberal reforms or the transfer of power to Indians.
• With the creation of the High Commissioner for India in 1920, India gained its first formal diplomatic representation in London, distinct from the colonial administrative machinery of the India Office.

Summary of Legislative Framework