Reforms of Warren Hastings

Warren Hastings was first Governor of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal), who remained in office during 1732 to 1818. He was the real  builder of the modern Indian administrative system. His reforms can be outlined as following.

Administrative Reforms

• Removal of Deputy Subedars.
• Appointment of English Collectors.
• Establishment of a Board of Revenue at Calcutta.
• Shifting of treasury from Murshidabad to Calcutta.
• Re-organisation of Nawab’affairs by the Company.
• Stoppage of tribute to Shah Alam.
• Reduction of Pension of Nawab of Bengal.

Judicial Reforms

• Abolishing the judicial functions of the Zamindars.
• Establishment of the Civil and Criminal Courts in
• stablishment of Sadar Diwani Adalat and Sadar Nizamat.
• Bringing of the judicial prcceedings in writing.
• Appointment of Indian Judges in Criminal Courts.
• Administration justice according to Quran for Muslims and Shastras for Hindus .

Financial Reforms

• Pension of the Nawab of Bengal reduced from Rs. 32 lakhs to Rs. 16 lakhs.
• Tribute of the 25 lakhs of Shah Alam was stopped.
• Districts of Kara and Allahabad were taken from Shah Alam and sold to Shuja-ud-daula for Rs. 30 lakhs.
• Treaty was made with Nawab of Oudh to help him in return of the district of Banaras and Rs. 40 lakhs.
• Amount of Pensions to the servants of the Company was also reduced.
• Currency was improved.

Revenue Reforms

• Appointment of British land Revenue Officers.
• Appointment of Board of Revenue.
• Five year Land Revenue Settlement.
• Appointment of Rai Rayan. One year settlement in place of 5 years settlement on the basis of highest bidding.

Commercial Reforms

• Abolition of the dustak
• Abolition of large number of customs posts.
• Despatch of Commercial Missions to other countries.

Other Reforms:

• Hastings curbed Thieves, Dacoits and suppressed Sanyasi revolt
• Police of Calcutta was improved.
• He abolished Tax on marriages.