Lesson - 8 British Policies and Administration in India after 1858 [History]

Exercise Answers

A. Choose the correct options for the following:

1. The proclamation of Queen Victoria was made in:

a) 1757

b) 1858

c) 1957

d) 1965

Ans. b) 1858

2. The role of India was interested in two hands of Queen of England:

a) by 1858 act

b) by 1861 act

c) by 1865 act

d) bi 1876 act

Ans. a) by 1858 act

3. First municipality in India was established:

a) in 1865 at Madras

b) in 1867 in Bengal

c) in 1868 in Uttar Pradesh

d) none of the above

Ans. a) in 1865 at Madras

4. The head of Indian secretariat was called 

a) India Secretary

b) viceroy

c) governor general

d) secretary

Ans. a) India secretary

B. Fill in the blanks:

1. To help the viceroy a ________ members of council was formed. 

Ans. four

2. The British economic policies were formed to protect the interests of __________ .

Ans. England

3. In 1876 the minimum age for Civil Services was _______. 

Ans. 19

4. To implement wood proposals Lord Ripon constituted _______ Commission.

Ans. hunter

C. Very short answer type questions:

1. By which act queen of England was made the Empress of India?

Ans. 1858

2. After 1858 how was the Governor General addressed?

Ans. After 1858 the Governor General was addressed as viceroy. 

3. Who was called the 'father of local governance'?

Ans. The father of local governance was called Lord Ripon. 

D. Short answer type questions:

1. Describe the proclamation of the Queen in short. 

Ans. a. Any new Indian state will not be annexed by the British government in India.

b. It also promised to pay due respect to age old customs and traditions of India.

c. It promised to take measures for moral and material progress of Indian. 

d. Indians and British will be treated as equals.

2. What changes were made by 1861 act?

Ans. By an act passed in 1861, addition of 6 to 12 members was made to the executive council of Governor General. 

The legislative councils were also formed in other provinces after Bengal, Bombay, and Madras. 

The legislative councils were responsible for provincial administration but before enacting any law of prior permission from Governor-General general was a must. 

3. Describe the administrative division after 1858. 

Ans. After 1858, vital changes were made in administrative organisation. Legislative councils were formed in provinces. Legislative councils was set up in Bengal and Bombay (1862), Uttar Pradesh (1886), West Bengal (1894) and Assam in 1905. With 1919 ordinance the dual rule policy was introduced and by the ordinance of 1935 provincial supremacy came into force. 

E. Long answer type questions :

1. Write about the decisions of 1858 act.

Ans. a. The act put an end to the rule of East Indian company in India. 

b. The control of the administration of India was transferred to the queen of England.

c. The viceroy was made representative of the queen in India.

d. A post of the secretary of India and his council was constituted in England for control over administration in India.

e. The secretary of India was entrusted with the task of administrative setup.

2. Write short note on army reorganization.

Ans. The role of Indian soldiers in the revolt of 1857 shook the foundation of the British rule in India. The British government made conscious effort to reorganize the army to prevent the recurrence of similar struggle. The Indian army was reorganized and strengthened so that they could help expand imperial power. Following changes were made

1. The European army of East India company was made a part of Indian British army. 

2. Arrangements were made to send the English officials and soldiers regularly to India. 

3. The number of Indian soldiers were curtailed and European soldiers were increased.

4. Appointments were made on racial grounds.

3. Give short information about the local administration in brief.

Ans. The local administration played an important role in fulfilling of the main policies of the British government. The system introduced in India by the British is still prevalent with slight changes. After 1861, necessities of Zilla Parishad and municipalities were felt, so municipalities was established in Madras in 1865, in Punjab in 1867 and Uttar Pradesh in 1868. After that municipal ordinance was passed to levy local taxes to meet the expenditure on local Administration and works. 

4. Evaluate the British economic policies in precise. 

Ans. The economic policy was restructured by the British after 1858. They followed the policy of plundering and exploiting the resources of India. The British government abolished the tax on import and allowed free trade in India. That lured lot of foreign companies to India and this had a disastrous effect on Indian industries. The Indian industries were the victims of this policy. The financial policy of British government was to protect and fulfill the interests of England.

5. Describe the British education policy. 

Ans. In the beginning the objective of the British policy was to make the Indians mental slaves. The British education policy was initialised in the beginning of 18th century. The missionaries arrived in India by 1820 and started imparting English education. They preached Christianity along with providing education to Indians. The 1854 Wood proposal had suggested to spread English education simultaneously with the education in Indian languages. There was also a proposal to train the teachers. In 1882 Lord Ripon constituted hunter commission to implement the proposals of Wood's Despatch. This laid emphasis on primary education, physical and mental education were given priority. In 1904 University act was passed to affiliate the university and to appoint professors as per needs of students.