India Office

The India Office was an authority (Ministry ) of the British Government with responsibility for all aspects of administration of British India. It was established due to the Government of India Acts of 1858 and existed until the partition of India in 1947. Headed it was the Secretary of State for India.

History

The Government of India Act of 1858 was passed by the British Parliament against the backdrop of the Indian Rebellion of 1857 on August 2, 1858. Through him the possessions of the East India Company were placed under a crown colony of the British Crown. The previous Board of Control was abolished and in its place created the India Office, under the direction of Secretary of State for India. This was as a member of the Cabinet responsible to the British Parliament, and exercised his functions the Governor-General and Viceroy of India and the Indian Civil Service from. At his side stood as an advisory body of the 15-member Council of India.

The duties of the India Office, the preparation of the Legislation of the British Parliament in all matters relating to India belonged. Among the important reforms in the interests of greater Indian self-government include the Indian Councils Act of 1861 et seq, and the Government of India Acts of 1919 and 1935.

For the 1937 spun off from British India Burma own Burma Office was created and changed the title of the Secretary of State for India in Secretary of State for India and Burma. The India Office was dissolved in 1947 after the independence of India and Pakistan. The responsibility for the two new Dominions went to the Commonwealth Relations Office on (previously Dominions Office ).

Seat

Seat of the India Office was from 1868 the building of today's Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Whitehall. The offices were located with those of the Foreign Office in the west wing of the building, while in the other wing, the Home Office and the Colonial Office were located.