Important Legislations passed in India during British rule

Here is a list of important legislation passed in British India under the rule of the East India Company (1765-1858) or in the period of the British Raj (1858-1947).

Name of Legislation	Purpose of Legislation	Date of Enactment
Regulating Act of 1773	To overhaul management of East India Company’s rule in India	1773
Pitt's India Act of 1784	This act was passed to address the shortcomings of the Regulating Act of 1773. It provided for the joint rule of the crown and company with the crown being the supreme authority.	1784
Charter Act of 1813	It renewed the charter issued to East India Company by the British Crown but also ended the company’s monopoly in certain areas of trade.	1813
Bengal Sati Regulation Act of 1829	This act made the practice of Sati illegal in all areas under company rule and its practitioners liable to prosecution.	1829
Religious Disabilities Actt of 1850	abolished all laws affecting the rights of persons converting to another religion or caste.	1850
Hindu Widows Remarriage Act of 1856	a result of "Ishwar Chandra" campaigns	1856
Government of India Act of 1858	Following the 1857 mutiny, the British Parliament passed this act to liquidate the East India Company. The colonial rule of India came directly under the control of the British Government. This act marks the beginning of the British Raj.	1858
The Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860	23 chapters that comprise of 511 sections.	1860
Indian High Courts Act, 1861	Erect and establish high court of Judicature at Calcutta, Madras and Bombay.	1861
Indian Divorce Act 1869	It amends the law relating to the divorce of people professing Christianity.	1869
Native marriage Act 1872	"Keshav Chandra Sen" played an important role, girl age - 14 years	1872
Royal Titles Act 1876	Recognized Queen Victoria as Empress of India.	1876
The Indian Arms Act of 1878	The act included the mandatory licensing to carry a weapon, but contained exclusions for some groups and persons, for instance "all persons of Kodava (Coorg) race".	1878
Ilbert Bill of 1883	Viceroy Ripon: The act stipulated that Indian judges could try Europeans.	1883
Age of Consent Act, 1891	Raised the age of consent for sexual intercourse for all girls, married or unmarried, from ten to twelve years.	1891
Indian Councils Act of 1892	This act bought various amendments to the composition and function of legislative councils of British India	1893
The Indian Universities Act, 1904	On the recommendations of Indian Universities Commission.	1904
Government of India Act of 1919	This act expanded the participation of Indians in the government of India when earlier only British members were allowed to take part.	1919
Rowlatt Act, 1919	This act indefinitely extended the emergency measures of preventive indefinite detention, incarceration without trial and judicial review enacted in the Defence of India Act 1915	1919
Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929 (Sharda Act)	prevention of child marriage, age - 14 (Girls) & 18 (Boys)	1929
Government of India Act of 1935	The act allowed for a greater degree of autonomy to the provinces of British India ending the diarchy introduced by the Government of India Act, 1919	1937
Industrial Disputes Act, 1947	This act regulates the Indian Labour Law with regards to trade unions as well as individual workmen	1947
Indian Independence Act, 1947	It is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that partitioned British India into the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan.	1947