Stop guessing and start measuring! 📊 Our latest BPSC Prelims...
Read MoreCharles Metcalfe (Acting Governor-General, 1835–1836)
Profile
- Charles Metcalfe served as the Acting Governor-General of India from 1835 to 1836.
Coinage Reform (1835)
- In 1835, the practice of issuing coins bearing the name of the Mughal Emperor was stopped.
- Significance: This marked a symbolic shift away from Mughal authority and reflected the Company’s growing assertion of sovereignty.
Press Act of 1835 (Metcalfe Act)
- In 1835, Metcalfe introduced the Press Act, also known as the Metcalfe Act.
- A major step was the repeal of the 1823 Licensing Regulations, which had effectively enabled pre-censorship by making it illegal to run a press without government permission.
- Because he removed these restrictive licensing controls, Metcalfe came to be remembered as the “liberator of the Indian press.”
Impact
- This liberal press policy contributed to the rapid growth of newspapers and strengthened public debate and political awareness.
Key Provision (as per the Press Act, 1835)
- Under the Act, the publisher had to pay a certain fee for bringing out publications.
- A publication could be forced to stop functioning if required through an official declaration/order.
