Records of the Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India

General records on all subjects.

Unrestricted

The Board of Commissioners for the Affairs of India, more commonly known as the Board of Control or the India Board, was established by Act of Parliament in 1784 to represent the British Government in its dealings with India and the East India Company. It supervised the proceedings of the Company in all matters of administration, and approved the Company's dispatches to India, with the power to alter them as it saw fit. It also had the authority to dictate dispatches on its own account which the EIC Court of Directors were obliged to sign and send out whether they concurred with them or not. In the beginning the Board consisted of six Commissioners, ie one of the Secretaries of State and the Chancellor of the Exchequer plus four other Privy Councillors. From 1793 the Board had a permanent President (previously this office had been held by the senior presiding Privy Councillor). From time to time over the years changes were made to its constitution, and its powers over the East India Company were increased. In November 1858 when the Crown took over the direct management of the Government of India from the East India Company the powers of the Company and the Board were transferred to the Secretary of State for India in Council.