The Great Outbreak of 1857 brought about important changes in the character of Indian administration and the future development of the country. In this context discuss:

(a) The changes introduced in the administrative set-up of the British territories in India.

(b) The changes in the Army.

(c) The changes in the relationship with Princely States.

(a) The most significant result of the uprising of 1857 was the end of the rule of the East India Company and assumption of the Government of India directly by the Crown. This was done by the Government of India Act of 1858 which had the following provisions-

1. It transferred the power to govern India from the East India Company to the British Crown.
2. The Company's Board of Control and Court of Directors were abolished. The power was to be exercised by the Secretary of State for India, aided by a Council. The Secretary of State was a member of the British Cabinet and was responsible to the Parliament. Thus, the ultimate power over India remained with the British Parliament.
3. Actual governance was to be carried on, as before, by the Governor-General who was also given the title of Viceroy or Crown's personal representative.
4. Appointments to the Civil Service were to be made by open competition under rules made by the Secretary of State.

(b) The Indian army was reorganised after 1858, to prevent the reoccurrence of another uprising, in the following way-

1. The strength of the European troops in India was increased. The ratio of European to Indian troops was fixed at 1:2 (Bengal army) and 2:5 (Madras and Bombay armies). The general principle was that the number of Indian sepoys should not exceed twice that of the European troops.
2. European troops were kept in key geographical and military positions.
3. The sophisticated weapons and ammunition were never placed under the charge of the Indians. All Indian artillery units, with the exceptions of a few mountain units, were disbanded.
4. Discrimination on the basis of caste and religion was practised in the recruitment of the army.
5. Newspapers, journals and nationalist publications were prevented from reaching the soldiers.
6. In order to discourage nationalism, measures such as introduction of caste and community in most regiments were taken.

(c) The changes in the relationship with Princely States are as follows:

1. The Policy of Annexation and the Doctrine of Lapse were abandoned.
2. Some of the Indian princes had remained loyal to the British and had helped them in suppressing the uprising.
3. Their loyalty was rewarded with the announcement that their right to adopt heirs would be respected and the integrity of their territories guaranteed against future annexation.
4. In 1876, Queen Victoria assumed the title of the "Empress of India". The Indian princes willingly became junior partners or agents of the British Crown because they were promised that they would continue as rulers of their States.