The Acts of incorporation passed in 1857 provided for the establishment of Universities of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras on the model of:

​Prior to the arrival of the British Empire, Hindus, and Muslims received their education through Pathshala and Madrassa. 

Key Points

• ​Warren Hastings founded the Calcutta Madrasah in 1781 to study Islamic law and related topics.
• Jonathan Duncan founded Sanskrit College in Benaras to study Hindu law and philosophy. 
• In a well-known minute from 1853, Lord Dalhousie argued vehemently in favour of vernacular education.
• ​In 1857, universities at Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras were established on the model of the University of London. 
• The Saddler University Commission was established to investigate and report issues at Calcutta University. 

Thus, the Acts of incorporation passed in 1857 provided for the establishment of the Universities of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras on the model of the University of London. 

Additional Information

• Wood's Despatch suggested using English as the primary language of instruction for both higher education and school-level vernaculars.