British Administration & Economic Policies — UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions
37 questions from UPSC CSE Prelims GS Paper 1 on British Administration & Economic Policies (Modern History). Spanning from 1996 to 2024. Practice with show/hide answers and detailed explanations.
What UPSC Asks About British Administration & Economic Policies
Based on 37 questions across 19 years, UPSC has consistently tested aspirants' understanding of British Administration & Economic Policies within the broader Modern History syllabus. The questions range from factual recall to application-based analysis.
Recent trends show UPSC moving towards statement-based questions that combine multiple aspects of British Administration & Economic Policies. Aspirants should focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing isolated facts.
Q: कॉर्नवालिस द्वारा राजस्व संग्रहण के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :
1. राजस्व संग्रहण के देयताबंधी बंदोबस्त के अधीन, किसानों को फसल खराब होने या प्राकृतिक आपदाओं की स्थिति में राज्य भुगतान से छूट दी गई थी।
2. बंगाल स्थायी बंदोबस्त के अधीन, यदि ज़मींदार नियमित रूप से या उसने राज्य को राजस्व का भुगतान करने का प्रबंध रखा, तो उसे उसकी ज़मींदारी दे दी जाती थी।
उपरोक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/कौन-से सही है/हैं ?
Q: 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?
Q: 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:
Q: निम्नलिखित में से किससे/किनसे भारत में अंग्रेज़ी शिक्षा की नींव पड़ी?
1. 1813 का चार्टर एक्ट
2. जनरल कमेटी ऑफ पब्लिक इन्स्ट्रक्शन, 1823
3. प्राच्यवाद एवं आंग्लवाद विवाद
नीचे दिए गए कूट का प्रयोग कर सही उत्तर चुनिए:
Q: 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?
Q: 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?
Q: 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)Making East India Company an overlord of Zamindars
Q: 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
Q: 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?
Q: 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?
Q: 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?
Q: 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?
Q: 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
Q: 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:
Q: 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?
Q: “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
Q: 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)
Q: 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
Q: 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
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Prelims questions have been asked from British Administration & Economic Policies?▼
UPSC has asked 37 questions on British Administration & Economic Policies in GS Paper 1 Prelims between 1996 and 2024. This sub-topic falls under Modern History.
In which years has UPSC asked about British Administration & Economic Policies?▼
Questions on British Administration & Economic Policies have appeared in UPSC Prelims in the following years: 2024, 2020, 2018, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996. The topic has appeared in 19 out of 31 years.
What is the difficulty level of British Administration & Economic Policies questions in UPSC Prelims?▼
Among 37 questions on British Administration & Economic Policies: 18 are easy, 18 are moderate, and 1 are difficult. Most questions test conceptual understanding of the topic.