Lesson Overview: History in Law Entrances is not about dates; it is about Constitutional Evolution and Key Personalities. AMU and JMI focus heavily on the transition from “Company Rule” to “Crown Rule” and the specific Acts that built the Indian legal system.

1. The Constitutional Milestones (Legal History)

• Regulating Act, 1773: Established the Supreme Court at Calcutta (1774). This was the first step toward a legal system. (Source: AMU 2019)
• Charter Act, 1813: Ended the Trade Monopoly of the East India Company (except tea and trade with China). (Source: AMU 2023)
• Govt of India Act, 1858: Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (Nov 1, 1858) ended Company rule. Power transferred to the British Crown. (Source: AMU 2022, 2024)
• Indian Coinage & Paper Currency Act, 1899: Passed by Lord Curzon. (Source: JMI 2020)
• Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919): Introduced Dyarchy (Dual Govt) in Provinces. (Source: JMI 2022)
• Govt of India Act, 1935: The blueprint for the Indian Constitution. It provided the scheme for the distribution of powers (Union/State Lists). (Source: JMI 2019)

2. The Freedom Struggle: Timeline & Events

• 1905:Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon.
  • Update: The Partition was cancelled in 1911 by Lord Hardinge. (Source: AMU 2021)
• 1919:Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
  • Commission: The Hunter Commission was set up to investigate it. (Source: JMI 2022)
  • Current Connect: India observed the 100th anniversary in 2019. (Source: JMI 2019)
• 1942:Cripps Mission.
  • Sent by British PM Winston Churchill to secure Indian support for WWII. (Source: AMU 2019, 2021)
• 1946:Cabinet Mission Plan.
  • Members: Lord Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, A.V. Alexander.
  • Outcome: Proposed the Constituent Assembly to frame the Constitution. (Source: AMU 2022, 2024)

3. Key Personalities (The “Who’s Who”)

• Dadabhai Naoroji: The “Grand Old Man of India.” First Indian elected to the British Parliament. Wrote “Poverty and Un-British Rule in India” (Drain Theory). (Source: JMI 2020, 2024, AMU 2024)
• Lord Cornwallis: Father of the Civil Services in India. (Source: AMU 2022)
• Lord Metcalfe: Known as the “Liberator of the Indian Press”. (Source: JMI 2023)
• G.K. Gokhale: Founded the Servants of India Society. (Source: JMI 2023)
• Sir Syed Ahmad Khan: Founder of AMU.
  • Biography: Hayat-i-Javed (written by Altaf Hussain Hali). (Source: AMU 2021)

4. Current Connect: History in the News

• The Sengol: The historic scepter given to Nehru in 1947 to symbolize the “Transfer of Power” was recently installed in the New Parliament Building (2023). This links modern history to the Chola dynasty tradition.
• Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (2023): Replaces the IPC (1860). Note that IPC was drafted by Lord Macaulay (First Law Commission). (Source: AMU 2022)
• Har Ghar Tiranga: The Flag Code of India has been amended recently to allow flags to be flown day and night, reviving interest in the Constituent Assembly’s adoption of the flag (July 22, 1947).