Practice test

Historical background - Test Set 9

Review 20 exam-focused questions with detailed explanations, then start the interactive test when you are ready.

20 questions

Questions and explanations

  1. Question 1

    The first Secretary of State for India appointed under the Government of India Act, 1858 was:
    1. Lord Canning
    2. Lord Stanley
    3. Lord Halifax
    4. Charles Wood
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  2. Question 2

    The "Doctrine of Lapse," associated with Lord Dalhousie, was effectively discontinued after the enactment of the Government of India Act, 1858. This indicated a shift towards:
    1. A more aggressive policy of annexation.
    2. A more cautious and less interventionist policy towards princely states.
    3. The complete integration of princely states into British India.
    4. Granting greater autonomy to the princely states
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  3. Question 3

    UPSC CSE Prelims 2018
    What was the most significant feature of the Indian Councils Act, 1861?
    1. Introduction of bicameral legislature
    2. Legalization of Indian Civil Services
    3. Association of Indians in legislative work
    4. Appointment of a Viceroy
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  4. Question 4

    SSC CGL 2021
    Which of the following was restored by the Indian Councils Act, 1861?
    1. Diarchy
    2. Provincial legislative powers
    3. Legislative powers of the Crown
    4. Legislative powers of the provinces
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  5. Question 5

    BPSC Prelims 2020
    The Governor-General under Pitt’s India Act had to act in conformity with:
    1. Court of Directors
    2. Board of Control
    3. Secretary of State
    4. Parliament
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  6. Question 6

    UPSC CDS 2018
    Which British Prime Minister was associated with the enactment of Pitt’s India Act, 1784?
    1. William Pitt the Elder
    2. Lord North
    3. William Pitt the Younger
    4. Robert Walpole
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  7. Question 7

    Under Pitt’s India Act of 1784, who was responsible for managing the East India Company’s commercial activities?
    1. Board of Control
    2. Court of Directors
    3. Governor-General-in-Council
    4. British Parliament
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  8. Question 8

    UPSC Civil Services Prelims
    Question: Pitt’s India Act, 1784 was primarily enacted to:
    1. Grant complete autonomy to the East India Company in its trade affairs.
    2. Establish a system of dual government in British India.
    3. Transfer all administrative powers from the East India Company to the British Crown.
    4. Resolve the financial crisis of the East India Company.
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  9. Question 9

    Pitt’s India Act, 1784 made the Governor-General subordinate to:
    1. The Court of Directors only.
    2. The British Parliament only.
    3. Both the Court of Directors and the Board of Control.
    4. The British Crown directly.
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  10. Question 10

    The term "British possessions in India" was first officially used in:
    1. The Regulating Act of 1773
    2. Pitt’s India Act, 1784
    3. The Charter Act of 1813
    4. The Government of India Act, 1858
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  11. Question 11

    Which of the following was a significant provision of the Act of 1786 regarding the powers of the Governor-General?
    1. The Governor-General was empowered to appoint and remove members of his Council.
    2. The Governor-General's term of office was fixed for ten years.
    3. The Governor-General was made directly answerable to the British Parliament.
    4. The Governor-General was given the power to override the decisions of his Council in certain special cases.
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  12. Question 12

    UPSC CDS 2020
    The Act of 1786 was passed primarily to:
    1. Create the post of Governor-General
    2. Establish the Supreme Court at Calcutta
    3. Introduce dual system of governance
    4. Empower the Governor-General to override his Council
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  13. Question 13

    BPSC Prelims 2020
    The authority to override the decision of Executive Council in India was first given to:
    1. Lord Warren Hastings
    2. Lord Cornwallis
    3. Lord Wellesley
    4. Lord Dalhousie
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  14. Question 14

    UPSC CSE Prelims 2020
    What was a major provision of the Charter Act of 1793?
    1. The end of the East India Company’s rule
    2. Introduction of civil services in India
    3. Continuation of the Company’s trade monopoly
    4. Abolition of dual government
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  15. Question 15

    SSC CGL Tier-I 2022
    Which Charter Act for the first time allowed the Company’s servants to be paid from Indian revenues?
    1. Charter Act of 1813
    2. Regulating Act 1773
    3. Pitt’s India Act 1784
    4. Charter Act of 1793
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  16. Question 16

    BPSC Prelims 2019
    Under the Charter Act of 1793, how long was the Company’s charter extended for?
    1. 30 years
    2. 20 years
    3. 10 years
    4. Indefinitely
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  17. Question 17

    UPSC Civil Services Prelims
    The Charter Act of 1813 is significant in Indian history primarily because it:
    1. Established the direct rule of the British Crown over India.
    2. Introduced the Permanent Settlement in Bengal.
    3. Ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India, except for trade in tea and with China.
    4. Granted Indians the right to participate in the administration of the country.
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  18. Question 18

    NDA/CDS
    Which of the following commodities did the East India Company retain its trade monopoly over in India after the Charter Act of 1813?
    1. Cotton and textiles
    2. Spices and precious metals
    3. Tea and opium
    4. Tea and trade with China
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  19. Question 19

    A significant provision of the Charter Act of 1813 was the allocation of funds for:
    1. The promotion of education in India.
    2. The development of railways in India.
    3. The establishment of new Supreme Courts in Madras and Bombay.
    4. The welfare of the Company's European employees.
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  20. Question 20

    The Charter Act of 1813 asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over:
    1. Only the directly administered territories of the East India Company.
    2. All territories acquired by the East India Company in India.
    3. Only the major port cities like Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay.
    4. Only the areas where British citizens resided in India.
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