TEST 03: MODERN INDIAN HISTORY

Syllabus : British policies in India & revolt of 1857

1. Which of the following is not correct about Zamindari System?

1. Landlords were given hereditary rights of succession of the lands under them.

2. The Zamindars could not sell or transfer the land as they wished

Choose the correct answer from the following code:

A. Only 1

B. Both 1 and 2

C.  Only 2

D.  None of the above

Ans: C

• Explanation: Features of Zamindari system

1. Landlords or Zamindars were recognised as the owners of the land. They were given hereditary rights of succession of the lands under them.

2. The Zamindars could sell or transfer the land as they wished.

3. The Zamindars’ proprietorship would stay as long as he paid the fixed revenue at the said date to the government. If they failed to pay, their rights would cease to exist and the land would be auctioned off.

4. The amount to be paid by the landlords was fixed. It was agreed that this would not increase in future (permanent).

5. The fixed amount was 10/11th portion of the revenue for the government and 1/10th was for the Zamindar. This tax rate was way higher than the prevailing rates in England.

2. The Fort William College at Calcutta was founded during the reign of which of the

following?

A. Sir John Shore

B. Lord Wellesley

C. Sir George Barlow

D.  Lord Hastings

Ans: B

• Explanation: He adopted the policy of Subsidiary Alliance- a system to keep the Indian rulers under control and to make British the supreme power.

• He opened College to train the Company’s servants in Calcutta. So, Known as the Father of Civil Services in India. He founded the Fort William College at Calcutta.

3. Which of the following were the features of the charter act of 1833:

1. The Company’s monopoly over trade in India ended, but the Company retained the trade with China and the trade in tea

2. The governor-general was given the power to superintend, control and direct all civil and military affairs of the Company

Choose the correct answer from the following code:

A. Only 1

B.  Both 1 and 2

C.  Only 2

D.  None of the above

Ans:C

• Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: It is the feature of Charter act of 1813

• The Charter Act of 1813

• The Company’s monopoly over trade in India ended, but the Company retained the trade with China and the trade in tea.

• The Company’s shareholders were given a 10.5 per cent dividend on the revenue of India.

• The Company was to retain the possession of territories and the revenue for 20 years more, without prejudice to the sovereignty of the Crown. (Thus, the constitutional position of the British territories in India was defined explicitly for the first time.)

• Powers of the Board of Control were further enlarged.

• A sum of one lakh rupees was to be set aside for the revival, promotion and encouragement of literature, learning and science among the natives of India.

• Statement 2 is correct: The Company’s monopoly over trade with China and In tea also ended.

• The lease of 20 years to the Company was further extended. Territories of India were to be, governed in the name of the Crown All restrictions on European immigration and the acquisition of property in India were lifted. Thus, the way was paved for the wholesale European colonisation of India.

• In India, a financial, legislative and administrative centralization of the Government was envisaged: The governor-general was given the power to superintend, control and direct all civil and military affairs of the Company.

4. Consider the following statements about the Policy of Ring Fence:

1. It was aimed at creating buffer zones to defend the Company’s frontiers.

2. Policy of subsidiary alliance was an extension of the Policy ring fence

3. Protection from Maratha and Afghans were the major reason for the Policy of Ring Fence.

Choose the answer from the following code:

A. Only 1

B. Only 2 and 3

C. Only 1 and 2

D. All the above

Ans: D

• Explanation: POLICY OF RING FENCE (1765-1813)

• This policy was reflected in Warren Hastings’ wars against the Marathas and Mysore, and aimed at creating buffer zones to defend the Company’s frontiers. The main threat was from the Marathas and Afghan invaders (the Company undertook to organize Awadh’s defence to safeguard Bengal’s security). Wellesley’s policy of subsidiary alliance was an extension of ring fence—which sought to reduce states to a position of dependence on British Government in India. Major Powers such as Hyderabad, Awadh and the Marathas accepted subsidiary alliance. Thus, British supremacy was established.

5. Match the following pair

            Governor General/             Viceroy Event

1. Sir George Barlow           i Treaty of Sagauli,

2. Lord Hastings                  ii First Burmese War

3. Lord Wellesley                iii Treaty of Bassein

4. Lord Amherst                  iv Vellore Mutiny

Choose the answer from the following code:

    1 2 3 4

A.  iv i iii ii

B. iv iii i ii

C.  ii i iii iv

D.  ii iii i iv

Ans: A

• Explanation:

• Governor General/ Viceroy Event

• Sir George Barlow – Vellore Mutiny

• Lord Hastings – Treaty of Sagauli

• Lord Wellesley – Treaty of Bassein

• Lord Amherst- First Burmese War

6.  Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Anglo-Nepal War

2. Fourth Mysore War

3. First Afghan War

4. Second Maratha War

Choose the answer from the following code:

A.  2<4<1<3

B. 4<2<3<1

C.  3<4<2<1

D.  1<2<3<4

Ans: A

• Explanation:

• Fourth Mysore War (1799).

• Second Maratha War (1803-05).

• Anglo-Nepal War (1814-16)

• First Afghan War (1838-42).

7. Consider the following statement about Treaty of Sagauli:

1. The treaty was concluded when Lord Minto was Governor General

2. The Gurkhas gave up their claim over the Tarai region and ceded the areas of Kumaon and Garhwal to the British.

Choose the correct answer from the following code:

A. Only 1

B. Both 1 and 2

C.  Only 2

D. None of the above

Ans: C

• Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Lord Hastings was the Governor-General from 1813 to 1823.

• Treary of Sagauli was ratified in 1816.

• Statement 2 is Correct: In March 1816, the Treaty of Sagauli was concluded. The Gurkhas gave up their claim over the Tarai region and ceded the areas of Kumaon and Garhwal to the British. The British now secured the area around Shimla and their north-western borders touched the Himalayas. The Gurkhas had to withdraw from Sikkim and they also agreed to keep a British Resident at Katmandu. It was also agreed that the kingdom of Nepal would not employ any other foreigner in its services other than the English. The British had also obtained the sites of hill stations like Simla, Mussoori, Nainital, Ranikhet and developed them as tourist and health resorts.

• After this victory in the Gurkha War Hastings was honoured with English peerage and he became Marquis of Hastings.

8.  Consider the statements about reforms carried by William Bentick

1. He introduced the double batta system in the military department

2. He abolished the provincial courts of appeal established by Cornwallis

3. He abolished the system of sati in British India

Choose the correct answer from the following code:

A.  Only 1

B.  Only 2 and 3

C. Only 1 and 3

D. All the above

Ans: B

• Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: William Bentick reduced the salaries and allowances of all officers and additional staff were removed. In the military department, he abolished the system of double batta. (Batta was an allowance to troops on active service.)

• Statement 2 is correct: Bentinck’s administrative reforms speak of his political maturity and wisdom. In the judicial department he abolished the provincial courts of appeal established by Cornwallis.

• Statement 3 is correct: The social reforms of William Bentinck made his name immortal in the history of British India. These include the abolition of Sati, the suppression of Thugs and the prevention of female infanticide

9. Consider the following about “Intellectual charter of India”

1. It was prepared by Sir Charles wood

2. It provided an outline for the comprehensive scheme of education at primary only

3. Dalhousie fully accepted the views of Charles Wood and took steps to carry out the new scheme

Choose the correct answer from the following code:

A.  Only 1

B. Only 2 and 3

C.  Only 1 and 3

D. All the above

Ans: C

• Explanation:

• Dalhousie had also evinced in the development of education. The educational Despatch of Sir Charles Wood (1854) was considered the “Intellectual Charter of India”. It provided an outline for the comprehensive scheme of education at primary, secondary and collegiate levels.

• Dalhousie fully accepted the views of Charles Wood and took steps to carry out the new scheme. Departments of Public Instructions were organized. The Universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras were founded in 1857.

10.  Consider the following statement about Revolt of 1857

1. The Revolt was sparked off by the episode of the greased cartridges

2. All the sections of Indian society supported the Revolt of 1857

3. Hindu-Muslim divide was the major cause of failure of the Revolt

Choose the correct answer from the following code:

A.  Only 1

B.  Only 1 and 2

C. All the above

D. Only 2 and 3

Ans: A

• Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The 1857 Revolt was sparked off by the episode of the greased cartridges. The new Enfield rifle had been introduced for the first time in the Indian army.

• Its cartridges had a greased paper cover whose end had to be bitten off before the cartridge was loaded into the rifle. The grease was composed of fat taken from beef and pig. The religious feelings of the Hindu and Muslim sepoys were terribly wounded. The sepoys believed that the government was deliberately trying to destroy their religious and cultural identity.

• Statement 2 is incorrect: The first and foremost cause was that the Revolt failed to embrace the whole of India. Different sections of society such as moneylenders, merchants and modern educated Indians were actually against the Revolt.

• Statement 3 is incorrect: Hindu-Muslim unity was well displayed during the revolt of 1857 So much so that after the revolt, British Administrators took decisive steps to break this unity which culminated into partition of India in 1947.

11. Which among the following was not an economic cause of the revolt of 1857?

A.  Heavy taxation

B.  But down on major patronage for artisans and handicrafts

C.  Increasing availability of market for Indian cotton.

D.  Increased pressure on agricultural land

Ans: C

• Explanation: increasing availability of market for Indian cotton.

• Because Indian cottons were banned from the European markets.

12. Which external events influenced the revolt of 1857?

1. First Afghan war

2. Punjab wars

3. Crimean wars

4. Santhal rebellion

A.  1 only

B. 1  and 2

C. 1, 2 and 3

D. All of the above

Ans: D

• Explanation: All the wars took place during the same time and hence had a lot of affect on Indian mindset.First Afghan war(1838- 42) Punjab wars(1845- 49) Crimean wars(1854- 56) Santhal rebellion (1855- 57)

13. What were the socio- religious causes during the period of 1857  that caused unrest among people?

1. Activities of Christian missionaries

2. Attempts to bring social reforms

3. Taxation of mosques and temple lands

4. Racial superiority complex of Britishers

   A. 1, 2  and 3

   B.  All of the above

   C.  Only 3

   D. 3 and 4

Ans : B

14. Why were the sepoys discontent?

1. They had to cross seas to serve

2. Lesser emoluments compared to the British counterpart

3. Racial discrimination

4. They were allowed to wear sectarian marks, and hence religions were supported in the army.

A. All of the above

B. 1,2 and 3

C. Only 4

D.  3 and 4

Ans: B

• Explanation: They weren’t allowed to wear the sectarian and caste marks.

15. Find the incorrect match for the Centre of the revolt and leaders associated

A. Delhi ———— General Bakht Khan

B.  Kanpur ———– Nana Saheb

C. Lucknow ———— Begut Hazarat Mahal

D. Bareilly ———– Kunwar Singh

Ans: D

• Explanation: At Bareilly, head was Khan Bahadur.

• Kunwar Singh, was head in Bihar.

16. Find the incorrect match for the centre of the revolt and associated british officer

A. Delhi ————- James Neill

B. Kanpur ————- Sir Hugh wheeler

C. Lucknow ———— Henry Lawrence, Sir Collin Campbell

D.  Jhansi ————- Sir Hugh Rose

Ans: A

• Explanation:  In Delhi, the officers were John Nicholson, Willoughby and Hudson.

• James Neil was officer in Benaras.

17.Which among the following is not true about the revolt?

A. The revolt was marred by communal riots.

B. There was complete cooperation between Hindus and Muslims at all levels : people, soldiers and leaders.

C. Cow slaughter was banned.

D.  Rebels acknowledged Bahadur Shah Zafar, as the emperor.

Ans: A

• Explanation:  People and politics were not basically communal before 1858.

18. Why did the revolt of 1857 fail?

1. It was not joined by certain groups and classes.

2. Modern educated Indians looked at it as backward looking.

3. Indian soldiers were well equipped

4. There was a coherent ideology during the revolt.

A. All of the above

B. 1, 2 and 3

C.  Only 4

D.1 and 2 

Ans: D

• Explanation:  The soldier was a peasant in uniform, they were not well equipped and had no proper leadership.

• The people had individual interests and hence no coherent ideology existed.

19. Which among the following is/are true?

1. This was the first revolt against British.

2. The leaders had a vision of unified India.

A. Only 1 is correct

B.  Only 2  is correct

C. Both 1 and 2 are correct

D. None is correct

Ans: D

• Explanation:  This wasn’t the first uprising against the British, it was preceded by several events. Leaders had parochial interests and no vision for India.

20. Find the incorrect option

1. Introduction of the enfield rifle was the immediate factor for start of the revolt

2.  The revolt broke out in northern and central part of India.

A. Only 1 is correct

B. Only 2 is correct

C. Both 1 and 2  are correct

D. None

Ans: D

• Explanation:  The soldiers thought that these rifles will destroy their religion, as the cartridge had to be aten off.