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During the Colonial rule in India, the British government established numerous committees and commissions across various fields such as education, law enforcement and administration. These initiatives aimed to implement reforms, streamline administration and modernize different sectors of governance. The formation of these significant committees and commissions played a crucial role in shaping the legal, administrative and social structures of British India.
Committees and Commissions Established by the British in India
The following is an overview of some of the prominent committees and commissions instituted by the British, primarily focused on judicial reform, administrative reform, and social reform:
Judicial Reforms: Various committees were established to standardize and reform the legal and judicial framework in British India, seeking to implement a structured legal system based on British principles.
Administrative Reforms: To enhance the efficiency of the colonial administration, several commissions were set up to assess and reorganize governance structures, ensuring a smooth functioning of the British government in India.
Social Reforms: In response to changing social dynamics and the need for modernization, committees on social reforms were introduced, addressing issues like education, health, and welfare.
This list provides a summary of the key British Indian committees and commissions, highlighting their contributions to judicial, administrative, and social sectors and their role in shaping the course of Indian history.
List of Committees and Commissions in India before Independence
The below list consists of Committees and Commissions, which were constituted by the British during colonial period for administrative reforms, judicial reforms and social reforms.
Name of Committees/ Commissions | Year | Governor-General/Viceroy | Subjects of the Committees/ Commissions |
Charles Wood Despatch | 1854 | Lord Dalhousie | Education |
Hunter Commission | 1882 | Lord Ripon | Education |
Raleigh Commission | 1902 | Lord Curzon | Education (Indian Universities Act) |
Sadler Commission | 1917 | Lord Chelmsford | Education |
Hartog Commission | 1929 | Lord Irwin | Education |
Sargent Plan | 1944 | Lord Wavell | Education |
Campbell Commission | 1866 | Sir John Lawrence | Famine |
Stratchy Commission | 1880 | Lord Lytton | Famine |
Lyall Commission | 1886 | Lord d Elgin-II | Famine |
MacDonnell Commission | 1900 | Lord Curzon | Famine |
Mansfield Commission | 1886 | Lord Dufferin | Currency |
Fowler Commission | 1898 | Lord Elgin-II | Currency |
Hilton Young Commission | 1926 | Lord Linlithgow | Currency |
Fraser Commission | 1902 | Lord Curzon | Agriculture |
Scott-Moncrieff Commission | 1901 | Lord Curzon | Irrigation |
Babington Smith Commission | 1919 | Lord Chelmsford | Currency |
Hunter Committee Report | 1919 | Lord Chelmsford | Punjab Disturbances |
Muddiman Committee | 1924 | Lord Reading | To examine the working of Diarchy of the Montague-Chelmsford reforms |
Butler Commission | 1927 | Lord Irwin | Indian States |
Whitley Commission | 1929 | Lord Irwin | Labour |
Simon Commission | Lord Irwin | To investigate the progress of the governance scheme and suggest new steps for reform | |
Sapru Commission | 1935 | Lord Linlithgow | Unemployment |
Chatfield Commission | 1939 | Lord Linlithgow | Army |
FIoud Commission | 1940 | Lord Linlithgow | Tenancy in Bengal |