Microtheme: British Policies —
14 questions asked in Prelims in the past.

1. [2026] Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after its annexation in 1856:
   1. The taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates but allowed to retain their arms and forts.
   2. A Summary Revenue Settlement was made in 1856 assuming that the taluqdars were outsiders.
   3. The British believed in taking revenue directly from the peasants by removing the taluqdars.
   • (a) 2 and 3 only
   • (b) 1 and 3 only
   • (c) 1, 2 and 3
   • (d) 2 only
   Correct Answer: (A) 2 and 3 only
2. [2020] Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because
   • (a) he was asked by the Board of Directors at London to do so.
   • (b) he wanted to revive interest in oriental learning in India.
   • (c) he wanted to provide William Carey and his associates with employment.
   • (d) he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in India.
   Correct Answer: (D) he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in India.
3. [2018] With reference to educational institutes during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs :
   Institution Founder
   1. Sanskrit College William at Benaras – William Jones
   2. Calcutta Madarsa – Warren Hastings
   3. Fort William Arthur College – Arthur Wellesley
   Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?
   • (a) 1 and 2
   • (b) 2 only
   • (c) 1 and 3
   • (d) 3 only
   Correct Answer: (B) 2 only
4. [2018] Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley?
   • (a) To maintain a large standing army at other’s expense
   • (b) To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger
   • (c) To secure a fixed income for the Company
   • (d) To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States
   Correct Answer: (C) To secure a fixed income for the Company
5. [2018] Regarding Wood’s Dispatch, which of the following statements are true?
   1.Grants-in-Aid system was introduced.
   2.Establishment of universities was recommended.
   3.English as a medium of instruction at all levels of education was recommended.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:
   • (a) (a)1 and 2 only
   • (b) b)2 and 3 only
   • (c) c)1 and 3 only
   • (d) d)1, 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (A) (a)1 and 2 only
6. [2017] Consider the following statements:
   1. The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the wages of industrial workers and
   to allow the workers to form trade unions.
   2. N.M. Lokhande was a pioneer in organizing the labour movement in British India.
   Which of the above statements is/are correct?
   • (a) 1 only
   • (b) 2 only
   • (c) Both 1 and 2
   • (d) Neither 1 nor 2
   Correct Answer: (B) 2 only
7. [2017] The object of the Butler Committee of 1927 was to
   • (a) Define the jurisdiction of the Central and provincial governments
   • (b) Define the powers of the Secretary of State for India
   • (c) Impose censorship on national press
   • (d) Improve the relationship between the government of India and the Indian states.
   Correct Answer: (D) Improve the relationship between the government of India and the Indian states.
8. [2014] The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to
   • (a) solve the problem of minorities in India
   • (b) given effect to the Independence Bill
   • (c) delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan
   • (d) enquire into the riots in East Bengal
   Correct Answer: (C) delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan
9. [2014] The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until:
   • (a) The First World War when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended.
   • (b) King George V abrogated Curzon's Act as the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911.
   • (c) Gandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience Movement.
   • (d) The Partition of India in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan.
   Correct Answer: (B) King George V abrogated Curzon's Act as the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911.
10. [2013] The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the
    • (a) imposition of certain restrictions to carry arms by the Indians
    • (b) imposition of restrictions on newspapers and magazines published in Indian languages
    • (c) removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of
      the Europeans
    • (d) removal of a duty on imported cotton cloth
    Correct Answer: (C) removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of
    the Europeans
11. [2009] In collaboration with David Hare and Alexander Duff, who of the following established Hindu College at Calcutta ?
    • (a) Henry Louis Vivian Derozio
    • (b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
    • (c) Keshav Chandra Sen
    • (d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
    Correct Answer: (D) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
12. [2008] Assertion (A): The Congress Ministries in all the provinces resigned in the year 1939.
    Reason (R): The Congress did not accept the decision of the Viceroy to declare war against Germany in the context of the Second World War.
    • (a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
    • (b) Both A and R are individually true and R is not the correct explanation of A
    • (c) A is true but R is false
    • (d) A is false but R is true
    Correct Answer: (A) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
13. [2003] The aim of education as stated by the Wood’s dispatch of 1854 was:
    • (a) The creation of employment opportunities for native Indians
    • (b) The spread of western culture in India
    • (c) The promotion of literacy among the people using English medium of language
    • (d) The introduction of scientific research and rationalism in the traditional Indian education
    Correct Answer: (D) The introduction of scientific research and rationalism in the traditional Indian education
14. [2003] With reference to colonial rule in India, what was sought by the Ilbert Bill in 1883?
    • (a) To bring Indians and Europeans on par as far as the criminal jurisdiction of courts was concerned.
    • (b) To impose severe restrictions on the freedom of the native press as it was perceived to be hostile to colonial rulers.
    • (c) To encourage the native Indians to appear for civil service examinations by conducting them in India.
    • (d) To allow native Indians to possess arms by amending the Arms Act.
    Correct Answer: (A) To bring Indians and Europeans on par as far as the criminal jurisdiction of courts was concerned.