Modern History › British Administration & Economic Policies – UPSC Prelims PYQs

38 questions · 1996–2026 · answers as per the UPSC key

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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 ?

(a) Aiding the flow of remittances from India and maintaining India’s creditworthiness
(b) Providing support to Indian importers
(c) Encouraging export of cotton produce from India
(d) Preventing depreciation of the Rupee in terms of gold
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Answer: (a) Aiding the flow of remittances from India and maintaining India’s creditworthiness

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :

  1. Aurang — In-charge of treasury of the State
  2. Banian — Indian agent of the East India Company
  3. Mirasidar — Designated revenue payer to the State

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century ?

(a) Indian handicrafts were ruined.
(b) Machines were introduced in the Indian textile industry in large numbers.
(c) Railway lines were laid in many parts of the country.
(d) Heavy duties were imposed on the imports of British manufactures.
Show answer
Answer: (a) Indian handicrafts were ruined.

Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

(a) peasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of planters
(b) its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions
(c) national leaders’ opposition to the cultivation of indigo
(d) Government control over the planters
Show answer
Answer: (b) its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions

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
Show answer
Answer: (d) he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in India

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) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the

(a) increase in the export of Indian handicrafts
(b) growth in the number of Indian owned factories
(c) commercialization of Indian agriculture
(d) rapid increase in the urban population
Show answer
Answer: (c) commercialization of Indian agriculture

The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were

(a) Raw cotton, oil-seeds and opium
(b) Sugar, salt, zinc and lead
(c) Copper, silver, gold, spices and tea
(d) Cotton, silk, saltpetre and opium
Show answer
Answer: (d) Cotton, silk, saltpetre and opium

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 :

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs : Institution — Founder

  1. Sanskrit College at Benaras — William Jones
  2. Calcutta Madarsa — Warren Hastings
  3. Fort William 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
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 only

Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India?

  1. Dadabhai Naoroji
  2. G. Subramania Iyer
  3. R. C. Dutt

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

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
Show answer
Answer: (c) removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans

With reference to Ryotwari Settlement, consider the following statements :

  1. The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government.
  2. The Government gave Pattas to the Ryots.
  3. The lands were surveyed and assessed before being taxed.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None
Show answer
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3

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 ?

(a) Making Zamindar's position stronger vis-a-vis the ryot
(b) and
(c) above
(d) None of the (a),
Show answer
Answer: (c) above

Who among the following Governor Generals created the Covenanted Civil Service of India which later came to be known as the Indian Civil Service?

(a) Warren Hastings
(b) Wellesley
(c) Cornwallis
(d) William Bentinck
Show answer
Answer: (c) Cornwallis

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?

(a) Lord Cornwallis felt that the District Collector's efficiency of revenue collection would enormously increase without the burden of other work
(b) Lord Cornwallis felt that Judicial power should compulsorily be in the hands of Europeans while Indians can be given the job of revenue collection in the districts
(c) Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such absolute power was undesirable in one person
(d) The judicial work demanded a deep knowledge of India and a good training in law and Lord Cornwallis felt that District Collector should be only a revenue collector
Show answer
Answer: (c) Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such absolute power was undesirable in one person

Who among the following used the phrase ‘Un-British’ to criticize the English colonial control of India?

(a) Anandmohan Bose
(b) Badruddin Tyabji
(c) Dadabhai Naoroji
(d) Pherozeshah Mehta
Show answer
Answer: (c) Dadabhai Naoroji

Who was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed?

(a) Lord Irwin
(b) Lord Reading
(c) Lord Chelmsford
(d) Lord Wavell
Show answer
Answer: (c) Lord Chelmsford

Consider the following statements:

  1. Robert Clive was the first Governor-General of Bengal.
  2. William Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 only

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?

(a) Lord Lytton
(b) Lord Bentinck
(c) Lord Ripon
(d) Lord Canning
Show answer
Answer: (c) Lord Ripon

Consider the following statements :

  1. Warren Hastings was the first Governor General who established a regular police force in India on the British pattern
  2. A Supreme Court was established at Calcutta by the Regulating Act, 1773.
  3. The Indian Penal Code came into effect in the year 1860.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 and 3

Who among the following repealed the Vernacular Press Act?

(a) Lord Dufferin
(b) Lord Ripon
(c) Lord Curzon
(d) Lord Hardinge
Show answer
Answer: (b) Lord Ripon

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

(a) Pitt's India Act — Warren Hastings
(b) Doctrine of Lapse — Dalhousie
(c) Vernacular Press Act — Curzon
(d) Ilbert Bill — Ripon
Show answer
Answer: (c) Vernacular Press Act — Curzon

Consider the following Viceroys of India during the British rule:

  1. Lord Curzon
  2. Lord Chelmsford
  3. Lord Hardinge
  4. Lord Irwin

Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of their tenure?

(a) 1 ‑ 3 ‑ 2 ‑ 4
(b) 2 ‑ 4 ‑ 1 ‑ 3
(c) 1 ‑ 4 ‑ 2 ‑ 3
(d) 2 ‑ 3 ‑ 1 ‑ 4
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 ‑ 3 ‑ 2 ‑ 4

The aim of education as stated by the Wood’s Despatch 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
Show answer
Answer: (b) The spread of western culture in India

During the colonial period in India, what was the purpose of the Whitley Commission?

(a) To review the fitness of India for further political reforms
(b) To report on the existing conditions of labour and to make recommendations
(c) To draw up a plan for financial reforms for India
(d) To develop a comprehensive scheme for Civil Services in India
Show answer
Answer: (b) To report on the existing conditions of labour and to make recommendations

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
Show answer
Answer: (a) To bring Indians and Europeans on par as far as the criminal jurisdiction of courts was concerned

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

(a) the zamindars were trusted by the farmers
(b) there was no official check upon the zamindars
(c) it was the responsibility of the British Government
(d) the farmers were not interested in getting pattas
Show answer
Answer: (b) there was no official check upon the zamindars

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:

(a) I-A, II-C, III-B, IV-D
(b) I-A, II-D, III-B, IV-C
(c) I-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B
(d) I-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D
Show answer
Answer: (b) I-A, II-D, III-B, IV-C

There was no independent development of industries in India during British rule because of the

(a) absence of heavy industries
(b) scarcity of foreign capital
(c) scarcity of natural resources
(d) preference of the rich to invest in land
Show answer
Answer: (a) absence of heavy industries

The Governor General who followed a spirited "Forward" policy towards Afghanistan was

(a) Minto
(b) Dufferin
(c) Elgin
(d) Lytton
Show answer
Answer: (d) Lytton

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?

(a) Warren Hastings
(b) Lord Cornwallis
(c) Lord Wellesley
(d) Lord Hastings
Show answer
Answer: (c) Lord Wellesley

The term "imperial preference" was applied to the

(a) special privileges on British imports in India
(b) racial discrimination by the Britishers
(c) subordination of Indian interest to that of the British
(d) preference given to British political agents over Indian Princes
Show answer
Answer: (a) special privileges on British imports in India

“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

(a) Lord Dufferin
(b) Lord Curzon
(c) Lord Lytton
(d) None of the above
Show answer
Answer: (b) Lord Curzon

Who among the following was associated with the suppression of Thugs?

(a) General Henry Prendergast
(b) Captain Sleeman
(c) Alexander Burnes
(d) Captain Robert Pemberton
Show answer
Answer: (b) Captain Sleeman

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)

(a) II, I, IV, III
(b) II, I, III, IV
(c) I, II, IV, III
(d) IV, III, I, II
Show answer
Answer: (a) II, I, IV, III

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

(a) I, III, IV, II
(b) I, IV, III, II
(c) III, I, IV, II
(d) III, II, IV, I
Show answer
Answer: (a) I, III, IV, II

Who among the following leaders did not believe in the drain theory of Dadabhai Naoroji?

(a) B. G. Tilak
(b) R. C. Dutt
(c) M. G. Ranade
(d) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Show answer
Answer: (d) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan