Analyze the circumstances and outcomes of the Pitt's India Act of 1784: 1. It established a dual system of control by creating a Board of Commissioners for civil and military affairs alongside the Court of Directors managing commercial operations. 2. It reduced the strength of the Governor-General's executive council from four members to three to ensure decisive executive action. 3. It granted the Governor-General-in-Council absolute authority to declare war and peace with Indian princely states without prior approval from the British Crown.

💡 Solution & Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Pitt's India Act of 1784 created the Board of Control to supervise political matters while leaving commercial control with the East India Company directors, and it reduced the council size to three members, including the Commander-in-Chief. Statement 3 is incorrect because the Act strictly subordinated the presidencies and the Governor-General to the British authorities in London regarding declarations of war and diplomacy. This legislation laid the institutional foundations for parliamentary oversight in India.