Cornwallis Code
Encyclopedia
The Cornwallis Code is a body of legislation enacted in 1793 by the East India Company
to improve the governance of its territories in India
. The Code was developed under the guidance of Charles, Earl Cornwallis
, who served
as Governor-General of India
from 1786 to 1793.
The code contained significant provisions governing policing and judicial and civil administration. Its best known provision was the Permanent Settlement
, which established a revenue collection scheme which lasted into the 20th century.
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...
to improve the governance of its territories in India
Company rule in India
Company rule in India refers to the rule or dominion of the British East India Company on the Indian subcontinent...
. The Code was developed under the guidance of Charles, Earl Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
, who served
Cornwallis in India
British General Charles Cornwallis, the 2nd Earl Cornwallis, was appointed in February 1786 to serve as both Commander-in-Chief of British India and Governor of the Presidency of Fort William, also known as the Bengal Presidency. Based in Calcutta, he oversaw the consolidation of British control...
as Governor-General of India
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...
from 1786 to 1793.
The code contained significant provisions governing policing and judicial and civil administration. Its best known provision was the Permanent Settlement
Permanent Settlement
The Permanent Settlement — also known as the Permanent Settlement of Bengal — was an agreement between the East India Company and Bengali landlords to fix revenues to be raised from land, with far-reaching consequences for both agricultural methods and productivity in the entire Empire and the...
, which established a revenue collection scheme which lasted into the 20th century.