Modern History › British Administration & Economic Policies – UPSC Prelims PYQs
38 questions · 1996–2026 · answers as per the UPSC key
The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following reasons ?
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With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :
- Aurang — In-charge of treasury of the State
- Banian — Indian agent of the East India Company
- Mirasidar — Designated revenue payer to the State
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
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Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century ?
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Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of
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Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because
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Regarding Wood's Dispatch, which of the following statements are true ?
- Grants-in-Aid system was introduced.
- Establishment of universities was recommended.
- English as a medium of instruction at all levels of education was recommended.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
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Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the
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The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were
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Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India ? 1. 2. 3.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
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With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs : Institution — Founder
- Sanskrit College at Benaras — William Jones
- Calcutta Madarsa — Warren Hastings
- Fort William College — Arthur Wellesley
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?
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Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India?
- Dadabhai Naoroji
- G. Subramania Iyer
- R. C. Dutt
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
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The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the
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With reference to Ryotwari Settlement, consider the following statements :
- The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government.
- The Government gave Pattas to the Ryots.
- The lands were surveyed and assessed before being taxed.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following provisions ?
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Who among the following Governor Generals created the Covenanted Civil Service of India which later came to be known as the Indian Civil Service?
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By a regulation in 1793, the District Collector was deprived of his judicial powers and made the collecting agent only. What was the reason for such regulation?
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Who among the following used the phrase ‘Un-British’ to criticize the English colonial control of India?
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Who was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed?
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Consider the following statements:
- Robert Clive was the first Governor-General of Bengal.
- William Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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The first Factory Act restricting the working hours of women and children and authorizing local governments to make necessary rules was adopted during whose time?
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Consider the following statements :
- Warren Hastings was the first Governor General who established a regular police force in India on the British pattern
- A Supreme Court was established at Calcutta by the Regulating Act, 1773.
- The Indian Penal Code came into effect in the year 1860.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Who among the following repealed the Vernacular Press Act?
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Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
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Consider the following Viceroys of India during the British rule:
- Lord Curzon
- Lord Chelmsford
- Lord Hardinge
- Lord Irwin
Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of their tenure?
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The aim of education as stated by the Wood’s Despatch of 1854 was
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During the colonial period in India, what was the purpose of the Whitley Commission?
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With reference to colonial rule in India, what was sought by the Ilbert Bill in 1883?
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Under the Permanent Settlement, 1793, the zamindars were required to issue pattas to the farmers which were not issued by many of the zamindars. The reason was
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Match List I with List II
and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List I – Land system I. Land allotted to big feudal landlords II. Land allotted to revenue farmers or rent collectors III. Land allotted to each peasant with the right to sublet, mortgage, transfer, gift or sell IV. Revenue settlements made at village level
List II A) Jagirdari System B) Ryotwari System C) Mahalwari System D) Zamindari System
Codes:
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There was no independent development of industries in India during British rule because of the
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The Governor General who followed a spirited "Forward" policy towards Afghanistan was
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At a time when empires in Europe were crumbling before the might of Napoleon which one of the following Governors-General kept the British flag flying high in India?
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The term "imperial preference" was applied to the
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“The Congress is tottering to its fall and one of my great ambitions while in India, is to assist it to a peaceful demise.” This statement is attributed to
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Who among the following was associated with the suppression of Thugs?
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What is the correct chronological sequence of the following? I. Wood's Education Despatch II. Macaulay's Minute on Education III. The Sargeant Education Report IV. Indian Education (Hunter Commission)
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Consider the following landmarks in Indian education: I) Hindu College, Calcutta II) University of Calcutta III) Adam’s Report IV) Wood’s Despatch The correct chronological order of these landmarks is
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Who among the following leaders did not believe in the drain theory of Dadabhai Naoroji?