British Expansion & Policies PYQs

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1. Prelims 2026Q12British Expansion & Policies

   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 ?

   aAiding the flow of remittances from India and maintaining India’s creditworthinessbProviding support to Indian importerscEncouraging export of cotton produce from IndiadPreventing depreciation of the Rupee in terms of gold
2. Prelims 2020Q21British Expansion & Policies

   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 ?

   a1 and 2 onlyb2 and 3 onlyc3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
3. Prelims 2020Q23British Expansion & Policies

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

   aIndian handicrafts were ruined.bMachines were introduced in the Indian textile industry in large numbers.cRailway lines were laid in many parts of the country.dHeavy duties were imposed on the imports of British manufactures.
4. Prelims 2020Q33British Expansion & Policies

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

   apeasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of plantersbits unprofitability in the world market because of new inventionscnational leaders’ opposition to the cultivation of indigodGovernment control over the planters
5. Prelims 2020Q34British Expansion & Policies

   Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because

   ahe was asked by the Board of Directors at London to do sobhe wanted to revive interest in oriental learning in Indiache wanted to provide William Carey and his associates with employmentdhe wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in India
6. Prelims 2018Q19British Expansion & Policies

   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 :

   a1 and 2 onlyb2 and 3 onlyc1 and 3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
7. Prelims 2018Q52British Expansion & Policies

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

   aincrease in the export of Indian handicraftsbgrowth in the number of Indian owned factoriesccommercialization of Indian agriculturedrapid increase in the urban population
8. Prelims 2018Q75British Expansion & Policies

   Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley ?

   aTo maintain a large standing army at other's expensebTo keep India safe from Napoleonic dangercTo secure a fixed income for the CompanydTo establish British paramountcy over the Indian States
9. Prelims 2018Q76British Expansion & Policies

   Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India ?

   1.Charter Act of 1813

   2.General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823

   3.Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy

   Select the correct answer using the code given below :

   a1 and 2 onlyb2 onlyc1 and 3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
10. Prelims 2018Q89British Expansion & Policies

    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 ?

    a1 and 2b2 onlyc1 and 3d3 only
11. Prelims 2017Q13British Expansion & Policies

    Who among the following was/were associated with the introduction of Ryotwari Settlement in India during the British rule ?

    1.Lord Cornwallis

    2.Alexander Read

    3.Thomas Munro

    Select the correct answer using the code given below :

    a1 onlyb1 and 3 onlyc2 and 3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
12. Prelims 2013Q81British Expansion & Policies

    The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the

    aimposition of certain restrictions to carry arms by the Indiansbimposition of restrictions on newspapers and magazines published in Indian languagescremoval of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeansdremoval of a duty on imported cotton cloth
13. Prelims 2012Q37British Expansion & Policies

    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?

    a1 onlyb1 and 2 onlyc1, 2 and 3dNone
14. Prelims 2011Q53British Expansion & Policies

    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 ?

    aMaking Zamindar's position stronger vis-a-vis the ryotbMaking East India Company an overlord of ZamindarscMaking judicial system more efficientdNone of the (a), (b) and (c) above
15. Prelims 2011Q59British Expansion & Policies

    With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, "Home Charges" formed an important part of drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted "Home Charges"?

    1.Funds used to support the India Office in London.

    2.Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British personnel engaged in India.

    3.Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British.

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    a1 onlyb1 and 2 onlyc2 and 3 onlyd1, 2 and 3
16. Prelims 2010Q82British Expansion & Policies

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

    aWarren HastingsbWellesleycCornwallisdWilliam Bentinck
17. Prelims 2010Q85British Expansion & Policies

    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?

    aLord Cornwallis felt that the District Collector's efficiency of revenue collection would enormously increase without the burden of other workbLord 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 districtscLord Cornwallis was alarmed at the extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such absolute power was undesirable in one persondThe 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
18. Prelims 2007Q11British Expansion & Policies

    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?

    aLord LyttonbLord BentinckcLord RipondLord Canning
19. Prelims 2007Q54British Expansion & Policies

    The ruler of which one of the following States was removed from power by the British on the pretext of misgovernance?

    aAwadhbJhansicNagpurdSatara
20. Prelims 2005Q24British Expansion & PoliciesAnswer disputed

    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?

    a1 and 2b2 and 3c1 and 3d1, 2 and 3
21. Prelims 2005Q25British Expansion & Policies

    Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the battles fought in India in the 18th Century?

    aBattle of Wandawash - Battle of Buxar - Battle of Ambur - Battle of PlasseybBattle of Ambur - Battle of Plassey - Battle of Wandawash - Battle of BuxarcBattle of Wandawash - Battle of Plassey - Battle of Ambur - Battle of BuxardBattle of Ambur - Battle of Buxar - Battle of Wandawash - Battle of Plassey
22. Prelims 2005Q77British Expansion & Policies

    Who among the following repealed the Vernacular Press Act?

    aLord DufferinbLord RiponcLord CurzondLord Hardinge
23. Prelims 2004Q31British Expansion & Policies

    Consider the following princely States of the British rule in India:

    1.Jhansi

    2.Sambalpur

    3.Satara The correct chronological order in which they were annexed by the British is

    a1, 2, 3b1, 3, 2c3, 2, 1d3, 1, 2
24. Prelims 2004Q60British Expansion & Policies

    Which of the following pairs are correctly matched?

    List I (Period) : List II (Wars)

    1.AD 1767-69 : First Anglo-Maratha War

    2.AD 1790-92 : Third Mysore War

    3.AD 1824-26 : First Anglo-Burmese War

    4.AD 1845-46 : Second Sikh War

    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    a2 and 4b3 and 4c1 and 2d2 and 3
25. Prelims 2004Q90British Expansion & Policies

    Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

    aPitt's India Act — Warren HastingsbDoctrine of Lapse — DalhousiecVernacular Press Act — CurzondIlbert Bill — Ripon
26. Prelims 2004Q121British Expansion & Policies

    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?

    a1 ‑ 3 ‑ 2 ‑ 4b2 ‑ 4 ‑ 1 ‑ 3c1 ‑ 4 ‑ 2 ‑ 3d2 ‑ 3 ‑ 1 ‑ 4
27. Prelims 2004Q134British Expansion & Policies

    Consider the following statements:

    1.In the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated Ibrahim Lodi.

    2.Tipu Sultan was killed in the Third Anglo-Mysore War.

    3.Mir Jafar entered in a conspiracy with the English for the defeat of Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah in the Battle of Plassey.

    Which of these statements given above is/are correct?

    a1, 2 and 3b3 onlyc2 and 3dNone
28. Prelims 2003Q71British Expansion & Policies

    The aim of education as stated by the Wood’s Despatch of 1854 was

    aThe creation of employment opportunities for native IndiansbThe spread of western culture in IndiacThe promotion of literacy among the people using English medium of languagedThe introduction of scientific research and rationalism in the traditional Indian education
29. Prelims 2003Q135British Expansion & Policies

    With reference to colonial rule in India, what was sought by the Ilbert Bill in 1883?

    aTo bring Indians and Europeans on par as far as the criminal jurisdiction of courts was concernedbTo impose severe restrictions on the freedom of the native press as it was perceived to be hostile to colonial rulerscTo encourage the native Indians to appear for civil service examinations by conducting them in IndiadTo allow native Indians to possess arms by amending the Arms Act
30. Prelims 2002Q93British Expansion & PoliciesAnswer disputed

    With which one of the following mountain tribes did the British first come into contact with after the grant of Diwani in the year 1765?

    aGarobKhasiscKukisdTipperahs