The Historical Background of Indian National Constitution - Company Rule 1773–1858 bit bank

Political Science Bitbank in the form of Multiple Choice Questions 1773–1858 bit bank Home Page of Political Science Bit Bank

British India Constitutional Acts Bit Bank (Questions 1-50)

Q1: The Regulating Act of 1773 elevated the Governor of which presidency to the position of Governor-General of Bengal?

A) Bombay B) Madras C) Bengal D) Calcutta

💡 C) Bengal

Q2: Who was appointed as the first Governor-General of Bengal under the Regulating Act of 1773?

A) Lord Cornwallis B) Sir Elijah Impey C) Warren Hastings D) Robert Clive

💡 C) Warren Hastings

Q3: The Supreme Court established in Calcutta in 1774 under the Regulating Act of 1773 had jurisdiction over:

A) All inhabitants of India B) Only British subjects and Company servants C) Only Indian subjects D) Only the Presidency towns

💡 B) Only British subjects and Company servants

Q4: Who was appointed as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court established at Calcutta?

A) Lord Cornwallis B) Sir Elijah Impey C) Lord Wellesley D) Warren Hastings

💡 B) Sir Elijah Impey

Q5: Which of the following was not a provision of the Regulating Act of 1773?

A) Establishment of the Supreme Court at Calcutta B) Prohibition on private trade by Company officials C) Abolition of the East India Company D) Requirement for the Company to submit financial reports to the British government

💡 C) Abolition of the East India Company

Q6: Which of the following was a limitation of the Regulating Act of 1773?

A) Clear definition of jurisdiction of the Supreme Court B) Efficient resolution of financial mismanagement C) Ambiguity in the powers of Governor-General vis-à-vis the Executive Council D) Complete prohibition of British government oversight

💡 C) Ambiguity in the powers of Governor-General vis-à-vis the Executive Council

Q7: The Act of Settlement 1781 is also known as:

A) Pitt’s India Act B) Amending Act of 1781 C) Charter Act of 1793 D) Morley-Minto Reforms

💡 B) Amending Act of 1781

Q8: One of the main purposes of the Amending Act of 1781 was to:

A) Abolish the Supreme Court at Calcutta B) Clarify the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and resolve conflicts C) Remove the Governor-General of Bengal D) End the dual system of control

💡 B) Clarify the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and resolve conflicts

Q9: The primary objective of the Amending Act of 1781 was to:

A) Abolish the East India Company B) Clarify the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court C) Increase trade monopolies D) Establish provincial assemblies

💡 B) Clarify the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Q10: According to the Amending Act of 1781, the Supreme Court's jurisdiction was limited to:

A) The whole of British India B) Presidency towns and native states C) The city of Calcutta D) The Bombay Presidency

💡 C) The city of Calcutta

Q11: Which of the following was a provision of the Amending Act of 1781?

A) Empowering the Supreme Court to interfere in revenue matters B) Exempting Company servants acting in their official capacity from Supreme Court jurisdiction C) Abolishing the provincial courts of the Company D) Giving the Company complete autonomy from British oversight

💡 B) Exempting Company servants acting in their official capacity from Supreme Court jurisdiction

Q12: The Amending Act of 1781 recognized which of the following judicial institutions?

A) Supreme Court only B) Privy Council C) Company’s provincial courts D) Federal Court of India

💡 C) Company’s provincial courts

Q13: Which British Prime Minister is associated with the Pitt’s India Act of 1784?

A) William Pitt the Younger B) Lord Palmerston C) Sir Robert Walpole D) Benjamin Disraeli

💡 A) William Pitt the Younger

Q14: The Pitt’s India Act of 1784 established which body to oversee the Company’s civil, military, and revenue affairs?

A) Court of Directors B) Board of Control C) Supreme Court D) Privy Council

💡 B) Board of Control

Q15: Under Pitt’s India Act, the dual system of control was established between:

A) Indian princes and British officials B) Board of Control and Court of Directors C) Supreme Court and Provincial Courts D) Governor-General and the British Parliament

💡 B) Board of Control and Court of Directors

Q16: Which of the following changes was made to the Executive Council by the Pitt’s India Act of 1784?

A) It was abolished B) Its size was increased to six members C) Its size was reduced to three members D) It was made independent of the Governor-General

💡 C) Its size was reduced to three members

Q17: What was a major limitation of the Pitt’s India Act of 1784?

A) It ended British control over the Company B) It completely solved the administrative inefficiencies C) It led to bureaucratic delays due to dual control D) It abolished the Governor-General’s position

💡 C) It led to bureaucratic delays due to dual control

Q18: The Pitt’s India Act strengthened the Governor-General’s power particularly in matters of:

A) Trade monopolies B) War, peace, and diplomacy C) Judiciary reforms D) Tax collection

💡 B) War, peace, and diplomacy

Q19: Under the Charter Act of 1793, the trade monopoly of the East India Company was extended for how many years?

A) 10 years B) 15 years C) 20 years D) 25 years

💡 C) 20 years

Q20: Which provision under the Charter Act of 1793 aimed to ensure judicial impartiality?

A) Establishment of the Law Commission B) Separation of revenue and judicial functions C) Abolition of slavery D) Introduction of open competition for civil services

💡 B) Separation of revenue and judicial functions

Q21: What right was granted to British subjects in India under the Charter Act of 1793?

A) Right to vote B) Right to appeal to the British Crown against Company decisions C) Right to participate in governance D) Right to free trade

💡 B) Right to appeal to the British Crown against Company decisions

Q22: Which Act ended the East India Company's trade monopoly with India (except China trade and opium)?

A) Regulating Act of 1773 B) Pitt’s India Act of 1784 C) Charter Act of 1813 D) Charter Act of 1833

💡 C) Charter Act of 1813

Q23: Under the Charter Act of 1813, how much annual grant was allocated for promoting education among Indians?

A) ₹50,000 B) ₹1 lakh C) ₹2 lakh D) ₹5 lakh

💡 B) ₹1 lakh

Q24: Which of the following was a significant consequence of the Charter Act of 1813?

A) Abolition of slavery B) Introduction of open competition for civil services C) Beginning of free trade in India D) Establishment of the Board of Control

💡 C) Beginning of free trade in India

Q25: Under the Charter Act of 1833, the Governor-General of Bengal was redesignated as:

A) Governor-General of Madras B) Governor-General of India C) Governor-General of Calcutta D) Viceroy of India

💡 B) Governor-General of India

Q26: Who became the first Governor-General of India under the Charter Act of 1833?

A) Lord Cornwallis B) Lord Wellesley C) Lord William Bentinck D) Lord Dalhousie

💡 C) Lord William Bentinck

Q27: The Charter Act of 1833 led to the establishment of which body to codify Indian laws?

A) Supreme Court B) Board of Control C) Law Commission D) Privy Council

💡 C) Law Commission

Q28: Which of the following was a humanitarian reform mandated by the Charter Act of 1833?

A) Prohibition of sati B) Abolition of slavery C) Legalization of widow remarriage D) Ban on child marriage

💡 B) Abolition of slavery

Q29: What major economic change was introduced by the Charter Act of 1833?

A) Retention of trade monopoly B) End of the Company's commercial functions C) Establishment of dual government D) Introduction of income tax

💡 B) End of the Company's commercial functions

Q30: What significant promise regarding civil services was made in the Charter Act of 1833?

A) Only British citizens can apply B) Open competition for all, irrespective of race, religion, or caste C) Reservation for British subjects D) Civil services limited to Company employees

💡 B) Open competition for all, irrespective of race, religion, or caste

Q31: Which of the following Acts first explicitly declared the British Crown's sovereignty over Indian territories?

A) Regulating Act of 1773 B) Pitt’s India Act of 1784 C) Charter Act of 1813 D) Charter Act of 1833

💡 C) Charter Act of 1813

Q32: One major limitation of the Charter Act of 1833 was:

A) It introduced slavery B) It ignored Indian representation in governance C) It abolished trade with China D) It removed the post of Governor-General

💡 B) It ignored Indian representation in governance

Q33: Which Charter Act introduced the separation of executive and legislative functions in India?

A) Charter Act of 1793 B) Charter Act of 1813 C) Charter Act of 1833 D) Charter Act of 1853

💡 D) Charter Act of 1853

Q34: Under the Charter Act of 1853, how many additional members were added to the Governor-General’s Council for legislative purposes?

A) 4 B) 6 C) 8 D) 10

💡 B) 6

Q35: Which Act first introduced open competitive examinations for recruitment to the Indian Civil Service (ICS)?

A) Pitt’s India Act of 1784 B) Charter Act of 1833 C) Charter Act of 1853 D) Government of India Act of 1858

💡 C) Charter Act of 1853

Q36: Who had the power to appoint a Lieutenant-Governor for Bengal under the Charter Act of 1853?

A) Governor-General B) Board of Control C) British Crown D) Indian Legislative Council

💡 B) Board of Control

Q37: The Legislative Council created under the Charter Act of 1853 included nominees from which presidencies?

A) Bengal, Madras, Bombay B) Punjab, Bengal, Madras C) Madras, Bombay, Punjab D) Bombay, Punjab, Sindh

💡 A) Bengal, Madras, Bombay

Q38: Which statement correctly describes the impact of the ICS examinations under the Charter Act of 1853?

A) Exams were held in India, allowing wide participation B) Exams were open but practically inaccessible to most Indians C) Exams were only for British citizens D) Exams were abolished

💡 B) Exams were open but practically inaccessible to most Indians

Q39: Which of the following was a key theme in the constitutional development of British India?

A) Decentralization of power B) Gradual centralization under the Governor-General C) Complete self-rule for Indians D) Dissolution of the East India Company immediately

💡 B) Gradual centralization under the Governor-General

Q40: The period of Company rule saw increasing control by which body over Indian administration?

A) British Parliament B) Indian National Congress C) Mughal Emperor D) French East India Company

💡 A) British Parliament

Q41: Which Act created the Law Commission to codify Indian laws?

A) Charter Act of 1793 B) Charter Act of 1813 C) Charter Act of 1833 D) Charter Act of 1853

💡 C) Charter Act of 1833

Q42: Despite provisions for inclusion, Indian representation in governance during Company rule was:

A) Fully realized B) Nominal and exclusionary C) Encouraged through direct elections D) Driven by Indian nationalist leaders

💡 B) Nominal and exclusionary

Q43: What was a major economic consequence of the Company’s revenue system?

A) Rapid industrialization B) Economic prosperity for Indian farmers C) Agrarian distress and economic stagnation D) Complete abolition of taxes

💡 C) Agrarian distress and economic stagnation

Q44: Which of the following social reforms was associated with the Charter Act of 1813?

A) Abolition of Sati B) Promotion of missionary activities C) End of child marriage D) Introduction of reservation system

💡 B) Promotion of missionary activities

Q45: Which social impact of Western education is correctly identified?

A) Decline of political awareness B) Strengthening of traditional Indian education C) Sparks of social reform movements like Brahmo Samaj D) Complete rejection by Indian society

💡 C) Sparks of social reform movements like Brahmo Samaj

Q46: The Revolt of 1857 was partly a consequence of:

A) Full Indian participation in governance B) Growing discontent due to exclusion from administration C) Economic prosperity under the Company D) Effective Indian legislative representation

💡 B) Growing discontent due to exclusion from administration

Q47: Which of the following correctly describes the outcome of constitutional developments from 1773–1858?

A) Strengthening of Mughal rule B) Foundation for transfer of power to the British Crown C) Establishment of Indian independence D) Abolition of British laws in India

💡 B) Foundation for transfer of power to the British Crown

Q48: The Permanent Settlement of 1793 primarily affected which sector?

A) Trade B) Industry C) Agriculture D) Judiciary

💡 C) Agriculture

Q49: Which feature of the Company’s rule led to the economic drain of India?

A) Protectionist trade policies favoring Indian merchants B) Export of raw materials and import of British goods C) Complete self-reliance of Indian economy D) Full reinvestment of profits in India

💡 B) Export of raw materials and import of British goods

Q50: Which movement in India was influenced by Western education and social reform debates?

A) Arya Samaj B) Brahmo Samaj C) Swadeshi Movement D) Quit India Movement

💡 B) Brahmo Samaj