The Charter Act of 1793:

The Charter Act, 1793 was the first in the series of Charter Acts and made no significant changes
in the existing arrangement. It only consolidates the existing laws.

Circumstances for the enactment:

The East India Company was granted to monopolize the Eastern Trade in 1773 for 20 years,
which expired in 1793. So Court of Directors applied to the Parliament for renewal.
British Government was at war with revolutionary France. So petitions put by the leading
merchants of the country to abolish the monopoly of the company failed to take the attention of
the Government. So the Bill was passed without any difficulty.

Main provisions:
1. The Company’s commercial monopoly was renewed for 20 years, with the important
provision that private individuals would be allowed to trade to the extent of 3000 tons of
shipping.
2. The members of the Board of Control and their staff, were henceforth to be paid out of
Indian revenue.
3. The Governor-General of Bengal and Governors of Bombay and Madras were to have
only 3 members of these Councils, These members were required to be persons who had
resided in India for 12 years at the time of their appointment.
4. The Commander-in-Chief ceased to be a member of the Governor-General-in-Council
unless specially appointed by a member of the Directors.
5. The Governor-General-in-Council had full power and authority to superintendent, direct
and control the presidencies.
6. The Governor-General and the Governors could exercise their veto in case affecting in
any way the safety, tranquillity or interests of British possession in India.
7. The Governor-General, Governors, the Commander-in-Chief and a few other high
officials could not go out of India on leave so long as they held the office.
8. Receiving of gifts was henceforth considered a misdemeanour.
9. The civil servants of the Company were to be graded in ranks according to seniority of
service. No post with pay of over 500 pounds was to be awarded to any person except
covenanted servants of the Company.
10. The sale of liquor was made subject to the grant of a license.