History – Chapter 3: THE IMPACT OF THE BRITISH RULE IN INDIA
I. Choose the correct answer
1. The law which allowed to establish the Supreme Court in Calcutta
A) Regulating Act of 1773
B) Charter Act of 1833
C) Government of India Act of 1935
D) Indian Council Act of 1909
Answer: A) Regulating Act of 1773
2. The post of Superintendent of Police was created by
A) Warren Hastings
B) Cornwallis
C) Wellesley
D) Dalhousie
Answer: B) Cornwallis
3. The British Governor who established new universities in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras
A) William Bentinck
B) Warren Hastings
C) Dalhousie
D) Thomas Munro
Answer: C) Dalhousie
4. The act which provided separate electoral college for Muslims
A) 1909 Indian Council Act
B) 1919 Indian Govt Act
C) 1935 Indian Govt Act
D) 1892 Indian Council Act
Answer: A) 1909 Indian Council Act
5. The Government of India Act, 1935 is an important document of Independent India because
A) It introduced Diarchy provinces
B) It established a Board of Control
C) It introduced separate electoral constituencies on the basis of caste
D) It created a Federal System
Answer: D) It created a Federal System
6. The Permanent Zamindari System was introduced by
A) Warren Hastings
B) Cornwallis
C) Wellesley
D) Dalhousie
Answer: B) Cornwallis
7. The report that became the base for English education in India was the report made by
A) Alexander Reed
B) Macaulay
C) Charles Wood
D) Peel
Answer: B) Macaulay
II. Answer the following in one sentence each
8. Who was the first British Governor to promote modern education in India?
Answer: William Bentinck
9. Who implemented the Mahalwari System?
Answer: R.M. Bird and James Thompson
10. What is Mahal?
Answer: A group of villages or a revenue collection unit (Taluk).
11. What is the Policy of Assertion?
Answer: Allowing Indians limited participation in law-making.
12. What is Diwani Adalat?
Answer: The civil courts during British rule.
13. Who became the first Viceroy of India in 1858?
Answer: Lord Canning
14. What was the major objective of Charter Acts?
Answer: To extend the trade license and rule of the East India Company.
15. Which was the highest post available to Indians in the British Army?
Answer: Subedar
16. Who said “Indian farmers were born in debt, lived in debt and died in debt”?
Answer: Charles Metcalfe
17. Which Act made provision for the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India?
Answer: Government of India Act, 1935
III. Answer the following in 3–4 sentences each
18. How did the British use the Indian Council Act of 1909 to divide and rule Indians?
Increased number of members in Central and Provincial Legislative Councils
Introduced elections for the first time
Separate Electorate was given to Muslims
Created communal division → weakened National Unity
19. The military was the base of administration during British rule – Justify
British army helped expand control throughout India
Suppressed internal rebellions and external threats
Ensured enforcement of British laws and authority
Maintained British supremacy permanently
20. Main features of the Regulating Act
Governor-General of Bengal controlled Madras and Bombay
Governor-General supervised and directed other presidencies
Supreme Court established in Calcutta with Chief Justice and 3 judges
presidencies couldn’t wage war or peace without permission
V. Answer the following in 6–8 sentences each
21. Features of the Ryotwari System
Implemented by Alexander Reed and Thomas Munro
Used in Madras and Mysore regions
Direct relation between farmer (Ryot) and Government
Farmer became landowner
50% revenue fixed to pay to Government
Revenue demand was high → Farmers in debt
Exploitation by moneylenders increased
22. Effects of British Education System in India
Introduced modern and scientific thinking
Growth of nationalism and unity among educated class
Development of newspapers and public opinion
Social and religious reform movements emerged
Encouraged local languages and literature
Awareness about Indian culture and freedom ideas grew
23. The land tax system exploited Indian farmers – Justify
New Zamindars exploited peasants
Heavy taxes forced peasants into debt
Land became a saleable commodity
Farmers lost their lands to moneylenders
Agriculture became commercial and risky
Rural poverty increased across India
24. Provisions of the Montagu–Chelmsford Act of 1919
Introduced Diarchy in provinces
Bicameral legislature created at Centre
Separate budgets for Centre and Provinces
Local self-government encouraged
Separate electorates extended to Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, Europeans
High Commissioner appointed for India
25. Government of India Act 1935 → Basis for Indian Constitution
Provided Federal system – later adopted in Constitution
Provincial autonomy introduced
RBI established
Federal Court formed
Administrative structure used as blueprint for Independent India
26. Changes in Judicial System during British rule
Warren Hastings reorganized courts
Diwani Adalats → Civil Courts
Nizamat Adalats → Criminal Courts
Hindu laws for Hindus, Muslim laws for Muslims
District magistrates handled civil justice
Qazis handled criminal cases under supervision