Pre-Partition Era-02

1858–1900 Pre-Partition Era

Question Key Point(s)

Transferred power from East India

What was the Government of India
Company to British Crown; Viceroy
Act 1858?
appointed

Who was the first Viceroy of India

Lord Canning
(1858–1862)?

What policy did Lord Canning follow Conciliation policy; amnesty; policy of
after 1857? reconciliation

British policy by Dalhousie (1848–1856)

What is Doctrine of Lapse?
to annex states without heirs

Name a state annexed under Doctrine

Jhansi, Satara, Nagpur
of Lapse.

What was Bahadur Shah Zafar’s role in

Symbol of resistance; last Mughal ruler
1857?

What happened to Bahadur Shah

Sent into exile in Rangoon (Myanmar)
Zafar after the revolt?

What policy followed after 1857 to Promise to respect princes’ rights and
ease discontent? traditions

What was Queen Victoria’s Policy of fairness, justice, non-

Proclamation (1858)? interference in religion
Question Key Point(s)

Brahmo Samaj, Arya Samaj, Aligarh

What were main social-religious
Movement, Deoband Movement,
reform movements after 1857?
Prarthana Samaj

Who founded Brahmo Samaj? Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1828)

What were Brahmo Samaj’s main Combat sati, caste distinctions; promote
goals? monotheism

Who founded Arya Samaj (1875)? Swami Dayananda Saraswati

What was Arya Samaj’s main motto? “Go back to the Vedas”—Vedic purity

Educational reform for Muslims under

What was Aligarh Movement?
Syed Ahmed Khan

What institution was a product of Aligarh Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental

Aligarh Movement? College (Later AMU)

What was Deoband Movement Conservative Islamic education; Deoband

(1867)? Madrasa

Maulana Qasim Nanotvi and Rashid

Who founded Deoband?
Gangohi

A reform movement in Bombay; against

What was Prarthana Samaj (1867)?
caste distinctions

Who was its main leader? MG Ranade

What policy resulted from Vernacular Censorship and control over Indian-
Press Act (1878)? language press
Question Key Point(s)

What controversy arose due to Ilbert Debate over trial by European judges for
Bill (1883)? European suspects

What was the main aim of Indian Provide platform for Indians to voice
National Congress (1885)? their demands

Who presided over first INC meeting

Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee
in 1885?

What were main demands by INC Legislative councils’ expansion,

(1885–1900)? representation for Indians

Who was Dadabhai Naoroji? Grand Old Man of India, first British MP

What was his main theory? Drain of Wealth

Who supported Drain of Wealth

R.C. Dutt
theory?

What role did Bal Gangadhar Tilak Led assertive or Extremist group within
play in INC? INC

“Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have

What was Tilak’s famous quote?
it”

What policy is Lord Ripon (Viceroy Local self-government (Ripon Resolution

1880–1884) famous for? 1882)

What legislation related to Lord

Ripon Resolution (1882)
Ripon?

What famine struck in 1866–1867? Orissa Famine

Question Key Point(s)

What commission investigated famine

Famine Commission
policy afterwards?

What was Curzon’s policy (Viceroy Improvement of education;

1899–1905) toward education? strengthening administration

What institution related to

archaeology was founded by British Archaeological Survey of India (1861)
during this era?

Later policy (1909) (but roots lie in

What policy enforced a separate
growing separate representation after
electorate for Muslims?
1885)

What was The Age of Consent Act Raise age of consent for marriage to 12
(1891)? years

Who supported Age of Consent

Bengal reformers, social reform groups
legislation?

What major event happened in 1885 The first meeting of Indian National
related to political representation? Congress in Bombay

What was Surendranath Banerjee’s Founder of Indian Association (1876); a

role? forerunner to INC

What was Poona Sarvajanik Sabha An association to enable civic

(1867)? participation

What was East India Association Established by Dadabhai Naoroji in

(1866)? London; to raise India's issues
Question Key Point(s)

What policy after 1857 made the

Reduction in number of Indian soldiers
British army predominantly
in key artillery and heavy weapons
European?

What % of British army in India was

About two-thirds British soldiers
British after 1857?

What role did English education policy Led to establishment of schools and
(Wood’s Despatch, 1854) play? universities; growing political awareness

What was Simla Conference (1864) Attempt to reorganize administration in

about? north-western provinces

What was the significance of Act for Introduced Legislative Council with non-
Better Government of India (1861)? official members

What policy related to forestry was British Forest Act (1865) — regulated
implemented by British? forest use

What railway policy was implemented Large-scale railway expansion — for

during this era? administration and movement of troops

What telegraph policy was The electric telegraph network

implemented after 1857? connected major cities
1900–1920 Pre-Partition Era
Question Key Point(s)

What policy did Curzon (Viceroy

Conservative policy; partition of Bengal (1905)
1899–1905) implement?

What was partition of Bengal Division of Bengal into East Bengal and West
(1905)? Bengal; fueling nationalist resistance

What movement arose due to

Swadeshi Movement (1905)
partition of Bengal?

What were Swadeshi Boycott of British goods; promotion of

Movement’s main tactics? indigenous products

Who were Leaders of Swadeshi Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala
Movement? Lajpat Rai, Aurobindo Ghosh

What policy reversal was made

Curzon’s reversal — reunification of Bengal
in 1911?

Where was the capital of British

From Calcutta (Kolkata) to Delhi
India shifted in 1911?

What significance did Delhi Coronation of George V; announcement to

Durbar (1911) hold? move the capital

What major event in 1906

influenced Muslim politics in Formation of All-India Muslim League (1906)
British India?

Where was All-India Muslim

Dhaka (Dacca), East Bengal
League formed?
Question Key Point(s)

Who were the main founders of

Agha Khan, Viqar-ul-Mulk, Salimullah Khan
All-India Muslim League?

What were the main aims of the Safeguarding Muslim interests; separate
All-India Muslim League? representation; loyalty to British Crown

What policy is Morley–Minto Introduction of separate electorate for

Reform (1909)? Muslims; expansion of legislative councils

Muslims vote separately to elect their own

What is separate electorate?
representatives

Who implemented Morley– Viceroy Minto (1905–1910) and British

Minto Reforms? Secretary of State for India, Morley

Enhanced representation for Indians;

What was the significance of
separate electorate for Muslims; entry into
Indian Councils Act 1909?
councils

What major policy followed after

Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms (1919)
1914 (World War I)?

Who were Montagu and Edwin Montagu (Sec. of State for India) and
Chelmsford? Lord Chelmsford (Viceroy 1916–21)

What were Montagu– Introduction of Dyarchy; transfer of some

Chelmsford Reforms’ main powers to provinces; greater participation by
features? Indians

A system with a division of power — some

subjects under British control (reserved) and
What is dyarchy?
some under responsible ministers
(transferred)
Question Key Point(s)

What policy document paved Montagu Declaration (1917) — promise of

the way for these reforms? eventual responsible government

What major event influenced

World War I (1914–1918)
British policy during this era?

How did World War I affect Rising nationalist demands for self-rule and
India's politics? greater representation

What was the Home Rule Led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant;
Movement (1916)? demanded self-rule within British Empire

What was Annie Besant’s role in

Established Home Rule League (1916)
Home Rule?

What was Tilak’s Home Rule Led self-rule movement in Maharashtra;

League? spreading mass awareness

British legislation extending wartime

What was Rowlatt Act (1919)? emergency powers (trial without jury; arrest
without warrant)

What event resulted from

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre (1919)
Rowlatt Act’s implementation?

What was Jallianwala Bagh British troops opened fire on unarmed,

Massacre? peaceful protesters in Amritsar (1919)

Who was the British commander

General Reginald Dyer
at Jallianwala Bagh?

What was the Hunter

British inquiry into Jallianwala Bagh incident
Commission (1919)?
Question Key Point(s)

What was the Congress’ reaction Non-cooperation; growing disillusion with

to the tragedy? British justice

What policy followed the

Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms Government of India Act (1919)
(1919)?

What were main features of Dyarchy; separate electorate; expansion of

Government of India Act (1919)? councils

What was Satyagraha? Non-violent resistance (Gandhiji’s tactic)

Who is M.K. Gandhi and his role Leader of freedom movement; campaigns
after 1915? non-violence and Satyagraha

What campaigns did Gandhiji Rowlatt Satyagraha; Non-Cooperation

launch (1919-20)? Movement (1920)

What event marks the shift

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)
toward mass politics?

What political party supported Indian National Congress (Gandhiji’s

Non-Cooperation? leadership)

What was Gandhiji’s main

demand in Non-Cooperation Full Swaraj (self-rule)
Movement?

What role did the All-India Support for Ottoman Caliphate and
Khilafat Committee play? strengthening Hindu-Muslim unity

Who were Leaders of Khilafat Shaukat Ali, Mohammed Ali, Maulana Abul
Movement? Kalam Azad
Question Key Point(s)

What Hindu-Muslim unity was The Congress-Khilafat alliance against British

forged in 1919-20? policy

What was Gandhiji’s policy

Boycott of councils, schools, British titles and
toward British institutions during
services
Non-Cooperation?

What major meeting decided

Congress Nagpur Session (1920)
Non-Cooperation policy?

What were the main results of Rising mass participation; growing unity;
Non-Cooperation (1920)? eventual arrest of Gandhiji
1920–1947 Pre-Partition Era (CSS Preparation) 🔹
Question Key Point(s)

What policy followed after

Swaraj Party formation (1923); entering councils
Non-Cooperation (1920)?

Who founded Swaraj Party? C.R. Das (Chittaranjan Das) and Motilal Nehru

What was Simon Commission All-British commission (without ANY Indian

(1927)? representation)

What was Indian reaction to Large-scale protests and “Simon Go Back”

Simon Commission? slogans

Demand for dominion status and a federal

What Nehru Report (1928)?
constitution

Who prepared Nehru Report? Motilal Nehru with all-party representatives

What was Jinnah’s 14 points Muslims’ safeguards; separate electorate; 1/3

(1929)? representation

What policy followed Civil

Round Table Conferences (1930-32)
Disobedience (1930)?

Who led Civil Disobedience

M.K. Gandhi — Salt March to Dandi
Movement (1930)?

What was Round Table Series of constitutional negotiations in London

Conference? with British, INC, ML, princes

What pact resulted from

Gandhiji–Irwin Pact (Release of political
Gandhiji–Irwin meeting
prisoners; arrest policy relaxation)
(1931)?
Question Key Point(s)

What communal policy was Communal Award by British Prime Minister

implemented in 1932? MacDonald

Gandhiji and Ambedkar compromise — seats

What was Poona Pact (1932)?
for Dalits within general electorate

What policy was implemented

Provincial autonomy; federal structure;
in Government of India Act
bicameral legislature
(1935)?

What major event happened in Provincial elections — Congress won majority in

1937 related to 1935 Act? 7 provinces

What was Congress’ policy Resigned from governments in 1939 in protest

after 1937 elections? against British policy

What policy was August Offer Promise to include more Indians in

(1940)? administration after war

All-India Muslim League’s demand for separate,

What was Lahore Resolution
independent states for Muslims (future
(1940)?
Pakistan)

Who presented Lahore

A.K. Fazlul Haq (Bengal)
Resolution (1940)?

What was Cripps Mission British proposal for self-government after the
(1942)? war with a constituent assembly

What was Quit India Mass protest against British domination; call for
Movement (1942)? “British Quit India”

Who gave the Quit India Call? M.K. Gandhi

Question Key Point(s)

What were British’ response to Mass arrest of Congress leaders; severe

Quit India? repression

What was Rajagopalachari [Link]’s proposal to ease conflict

Formula (1944)? between INC and ML

What were main points in Separate state if a majority prefers it;

Rajagopalachari Formula? compromise to avoid civil war

What was Simla Conference Attempt by Viceroy Wavell to form a

(1945)? representative executive council

All-India Muslim League insisted it alone

Why did Simla Conference fail?
represented Muslims

What were General Elections Congress won majority seats; ML secured

1945-46 result? majority seats for Muslims

British team (Cripps, Pethick-Lawrence, A.V.

What was Cabinet Mission
Alexander) to propose steps toward
(1946)?
independence while retaining unity

What main proposal came Union of India with weak center; groups for
from Cabinet Mission? provinces

What was League’s Direct Call by All-India Muslim League (Jinnah) for
Action Day (1946)? separate state

What happened after Direct

Riots in Kolkata; communal violence
Action Day?

What was Mountbatten Plan Partition of British India into two dominions —
(1947)? India and Pakistan
Question Key Point(s)

Who was Viceroy during

Lord Louis Mountbatten
Partition?

What Independence Act British legislation that granted independence to

(1947)? two dominions

Partition; two separate dominions (India,

What were main terms of
Pakistan); constituent assemblies; end of
Independence Act 1947?
British suzerainty

What borders were decided by The boundary between India and Pakistan
Radcliffe Commission? (Punjab, Bengal)

What mass migrations resulted Large-scale population exchanges; communal

from Partition? violence; refugees

What role did M.K. Gandhi play

Worked for peace, unity, reconciliation
at the time of Partition?

What were Jinnah’s first words

to Pakistan’s constituent “Unity, faith, discipline”
assembly?

What major policy Jinnah

Secular state with equal rights for minorities
advocated for Pakistan?
 🔹Table of Important Acts 1857–1947🔹
Act Year Viceroy Key Provisions or Developments

- Transferred power from East

India Company to British Crown.
- Viceroy made representative of
Lord Canning the Crown.
Government of India Act 1858
(1856–1862) - Secretary of State for India
introduced in London.
- abolished Company’s Board of
Control and Court of Directors.

- Established Legislative Council

with non-official members.
- Viceroy could add up to 12
Indian Councils Act 1861 Lord Canning members.
- Portfolio System introduced in
administration.
- Mainly advisory role.

- Number of members in
legislative councils increased.
- Principle of indirect election
Lord Lansdowne
Indian Councils Act 1892 introduced.
(1888–1894)
- Limited opportunity for Indians
to raise questions and submit
memoranda.

Morley–Minto Reforms Lord Minto - Separate electorate for Muslims.

1909 - Number of seats for Indians in
(Indian Councils Act) (1905–1910)
legislative councils increases.
Act Year Viceroy Key Provisions or Developments

- Introduction of an Imperial
Legislative Council with 60
members.
- Viceroy retaining ultimate
control.

- Introduction of dyarchy in
provinces (diarchy = division into
“reserved” and “transferred”
subjects).
- Voting franchise slightly
Government of India Act Lord Chelmsford widened.
1919
(Montagu–Chelmsford) (1916–1921) - Bicameral legislature (Legislative
Assembly + Council of State) at the
center.
- About 140 seats in Legislative
Assembly with limited
representation.

- Abolished dyarchy and

introduced provincial autonomy.
- Bicameral federal structure
(Federal Assembly and Council of
States).
Lord Willingdon - Separate electorate for Muslims
Government of India Act 1935
(1931–1936) and other minorities continued.
- Number of seats in Federal
Assembly (375); Council of States
(260).
- Provincial assemblies directly
elected by the people.
Act Year Viceroy Key Provisions or Developments

- Partition of British India into two

dominions — India and Pakistan.
- Constituent assemblies to frame
Lord their own constitutions.
Indian Independence Act 1947 Mountbatten - British legislation (like 1935 Act)
(1947) to expire upon independence.
- Viceroy’s powers abolished;
governors-general to represent
the Crown.
🔹Table of Important Administrative and Infrastructural
Developments by British (1857–1947)🔹
Brief Description or
Institution/Infrastructure Year Viceroy
Role

Backbone of British
Lord Canning administration;
Indian Civil Services (ICS) 1858
(1856–1862) implemented policy
and maintained order

Established a
Police System (Indian
1861 Lord Canning professional and
Police Act)
centralized police force

Replaced Supreme
High Courts (Calcutta, Courts with High
1862 Lord Canning
Madras, Bombay) Courts; unified legal
framework

First 3 major British-

Educational Institutions
established
(Calcutta, Madras, 1857 Lord Canning
universities (Calcutta,
Mumbai)
Madras, Mumbai)

Managed roads,
Public Works Department Lord Dalhousie irrigation, bridges,
1854
(PWD) (1848–1856) canals, railways,
telegraphs

Audit and Finance System 1860 Lord Canning Establishment of Audit

Departments and
 Brief Description or
Institution/Infrastructure Year Viceroy
Role

Accountant General’s
Office

Canning (1861);
Advisory and policy-
Curzon (1899–
Legislative Council and formulating bodies,
1861–1935 1905);
Provincial Councils reflecting limited
Chelmsford
representation
(1916–21)

Local-self government
Lord Ripon
Municipal Corporations 1882 institutions (Calcutta,
(1880–1884)
Madras, Bombay)

Rapid expansion;
made administration,
Railways 1853 Lord Dalhousie troop movement, and
raw material export
much faster

Established post
offices and telegraph
Post and Telegraph Services 1854 Lord Dalhousie
lines across British
India

Canning;
General Bureaucracy Organized
Curzon;
(Political Agents, 1861–1935 administration with
Chelmsford;
Commissioners) specialized services
Willingdon

Army Reorganization After 1857 Lord Canning Reduction in number

of Indian soldiers;
 Brief Description or
Institution/Infrastructure Year Viceroy
Role

policy to keep British

soldiers dominant

Established RBI as the

Lord Willingdon
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 1935 central bank under RBI
(1931–1936)
Act, 1934

Framework for
education; advocated
Wood’s Dispatch for English medium
1854 Lord Dalhousie
(Educational Reforms) education and funding
for schools and
universities

Established by
Alexander
Archaeological Survey of
1861 Lord Canning Cunningham; for
India (ASI)
conserving historical
sites

First systematic
Lord Mayo
Census Operations 1871 population census; aid
(1869–1872)
for policy making

Compilation of data
related to population,
Statistical Bureau 1862 Lord Canning
agriculture, health,
education
 Brief Description or
Institution/Infrastructure Year Viceroy
Role

Lord Lytton
1880 Investigated causes
(1876–1880);
Famine Commissions (Strachey), and policy responses
Lord Elgin
1898 (Lyall) to famine
(1894–1899)

Managed British
Indian Forest Service 1865 Lord Canning forestry policy and
administration

Pusa (Bihar), later IARI,

Imperial Agricultural Lord Curzon Delhi — agriculture,
1905
Research Institutes (1899–1905) breeding, irrigation
practices

Bentinck Established medical

Medical Colleges (Calcutta,
1835–1860 (1828–1835); education and training
Madras, Mumbai, Lahore)
Canning for doctors

Established technical
Engineering Colleges education
1847–1864 Lord Dalhousie
(Roorkee, Madras, Pune) (engineering) for
administration
🔹Table of Major Indus Valley Sites with Discovery and
Key Features🔹
Discovery
Site Discoverer Key Features
(Year)

Large Granaries, Town Planning,

Harappa (Punjab,
1921 Daya Ram Sahni Drainage System, Seal
Pakistan)
inscriptions

R. D. Banerji
Mohenjo-daro Great Bath, Granary, Assembly
1922 (Rakhaldas
(Sindh, Pakistan) Hall, Drainage System
Banerjee)

Chanhudaro Bead making factory, metal-

1931 N. G. Majumdar
(Sindh, Pakistan) working, specialized production

Kalibangan
Evidence of plowed fields, fire-
(Rajasthan, 1953 A. Ghosh
altars, fortified town
India)

Lothal (Gujarat, Dockyard, warehouse, bead

1954 S. R. Rao
India) factory; significant port for trade

Ropar (Ropar, Cemetery, houses, pottery, a

1955 Y. D. Sharma
Punjab, India) small fortified town

Large water reservoir,

Dholavira
1967 J. P. Joshi sophisticated water
(Gujarat, India)
management, citadel

Rakhigarhi
1997 Amrendra Ghosh Large settlements, human
(Haryana, India) skeletons, extensive craft
 Discovery
Site Discoverer Key Features
(Year)

production, ceremonial
structures
🔹Table of Important Viceroys, Their Roles
Viceroy Period Key Roles or Actions (for MCQs)

Act of 1858, transfer of power from East India

Lord Canning 1856–1862 Company to British Crown, Indian Council Act 1861,
high courts, ICS

Doctrine of Lapse, Railways’ introduction, PWD,

Lord Dalhousie 1848–1856
telegraph, Wood’s Dispatch (Education 1854)

Local Self-Government (1882), policy of

Lord Ripon 1880–1884
appeasement toward Indians, Ilbert Bill controversy

Royal Durbar (Delhi 1877), Vernacular Press Act

Lord Lytton 1876–1880
(1878), Second Anglo-Afghan War

Bengal Partition (1905), Police and University

Lord Curzon 1899–1905
Reforms, Preservation of Monuments

Indian Councils Act 1909 (Minto–Morley Reforms)

Lord Minto 1905–1910
— separate electorate for Muslims

Transfer of Capital from Calcutta to Delhi (1911),

Lord Hardinge 1910–1916
Delhi Durbar

Lord Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms (1919), Rowlatt Act

1916–1921
Chelmsford (1919), Jallianwala Bagh incident (1919)

Repeal of Rowlatt Act, signing of Anglo-Afghan

Lord Reading 1921–1926
Treaty (1921)
Viceroy Period Key Roles or Actions (for MCQs)

Simon Commission (1928), Round Table

Lord Irwin 1926–1931
Conferences, Gandhi–Irwin Pact (1931)

Lord Government of India Act 1935, Reserve Bank of

1931–1936
Willingdon India (RBI 1935)

Lord World War II policy, August Offer (1940), Quit India

1936–1943
Linlithgow Movement (1942)

Simla Conference (1945), Wavell Plan (1945),

Lord Wavell 1943–1947
General Elections (1946)

March–
Lord Indian Independence Act (1947), Partition of British
August
Mountbatten India (1947)
1947