Indian Political Department
Encyclopedia
The Indian Political Department originated in a resolution passed
on September 13, 1783 by the Board of Directors of the East India Company
; this decreed
the creation of a department which could help “relieve the pressure” on the
administration of
Warren Hastings
in conducting its "secret and political business".
In 1843, Governor-General
Ellenborough
reformed the administration,
organizing Secretariat of the Government into four departments – Foreign, Home, Finance and Military. The officer in charge of the foreign department was supposed to manage the “conduct of all correspondence belonging to the external and internal diplomatic relations of the government”.
A distinction was made between the “foreign” and “political” functions of the department; relations with all “Asiatic powers” (including native princely states of India) were treated as “political” and those with all European powers as “foreign”.
At independence, the Foreign and Political department of the British India government was transformed into the new Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations.
on September 13, 1783 by the Board of Directors of the East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
; this decreed
the creation of a department which could help “relieve the pressure” on the
administration of
Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
in conducting its "secret and political business".
In 1843, Governor-General
Governor-General of India
The Governor-General of India was the head of the British administration in India, and later, after Indian independence, the representative of the monarch and de facto head of state. The office was created in 1773, with the title of Governor-General of the Presidency of Fort William...
Ellenborough
Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough
Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough GCB, PC was a British Tory politician. He was four times President of the Board of Control and also served as Governor-General of India between 1842 and 1844.-Background and education:...
reformed the administration,
organizing Secretariat of the Government into four departments – Foreign, Home, Finance and Military. The officer in charge of the foreign department was supposed to manage the “conduct of all correspondence belonging to the external and internal diplomatic relations of the government”.
A distinction was made between the “foreign” and “political” functions of the department; relations with all “Asiatic powers” (including native princely states of India) were treated as “political” and those with all European powers as “foreign”.
At independence, the Foreign and Political department of the British India government was transformed into the new Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations.