The East India Company, in the beginning, was not at all interested in education, for at that time in England there was not state system of education and any state inference was resented.

The Charter Act of 1813 may be regarded as a turning point in the history of Indian education. It was, for the first time, that the British Parliament recognized the importance of educating the Indians and set aside a definite sum of money for its encouragement. Till now, the Company did not regard itself responsible for educating the Indian people.

After 1813, it became its sacred duty to do so. A sufficiently large amount of sum, hence forth began to be set aside annually for the propagation of education. From 1813 to 1857, the Company, therefore, opened many schools and colleges under it direct control, which laid the foundation of the English system of education in India.

The Charter Act made it obligatory on the part of the East India Company to spread education in India: It laid the foundation of State System of Education in India.

Note: The Charter Act of 1833:

• Deprived the Governors of Bombay and Madras of their legislative powers.
• Due to it, Lord William Bentick became the first Governor-General of India.