EXERCISE

Very short/ short answer questions

Q1. Who was the first Portuguese sailor to discover the sea route between India and the west? When and where in India did he arrive for the first time?

Answer: The first Portuguese sailor to discover the sea route between India and the west was Vasco da Gama. He arrived at Calicut port in India for the first time in 1498 A.D.

Q2. Who was the English sailor able to move round the earth through the sea route?

Answer: The English sailor who was able to move around the earth through the sea route was Francis Drake. He circumnavigated the globe in 1580 A.D.

Q3. Who was the English sailor who entered India for the first time with a petition letter and when?

Answer: The English sailor who entered India for the first time with a petition letter was John Mildenhall. He reached India with a petition letter from Queen Elizabeth in 1599 A.D.

Q4. When and where did the East India Company initially establish?

Answer: The English East India Company was formed in 1600 A.D. by a group of English merchants as a trade organization to trade with the oriental world.

Q5. Write two objectives of the East India Company to permanently rule in India?

Answer: The two objectives of the East India Company for their permanent rule in India were:

1. To expand their trade and commercial interests.
2. To gain political power by taking advantage of the growing weakness and enmity among the Indian ruling class.

Q6. When and where in India was the first trade centre of the English established?

Answer: The English East India Company established its first trade centre at Masulipatam in 1611 A.D. after getting permission from the Sultan of Golkunda.

Q7. What is ‘Fort William’?

Answer: ‘Fort William’ was the name given to the English East India Company’s trade centre at Calcutta, in honour of William III, the King of England.

Q8. Which were the two main divisions of the British administrative period of dependent India?

Answer: The two main divisions of the British administrative period of dependent India were:

1. The first phase, from the downfall of the Mughal Empire to the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, during which the East India Company established its rule.
2. The second phase, from 1858 to 1947, when the British Crown took over direct administration of India.

Q9. Who, when and with what objective was the ‘Govt. of India Act enacted? Answer: The ‘Govt. of India Act’ was enacted by the British Parliament on 2nd August, 1858. The objective was to entrust the British government with the direct power of ruling India after the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 and to satisfy the agitated Indians.

Q10. When and with what objective was the ‘Indian Councils Act’ enacted? Answer: The ‘Indian Councils Act’ was enacted in 1861 A.D. The objective of this Act was to make the educated Indians familiar with the new administrative structure and to involve them in the legislative process, thereby reducing their dissatisfaction.

Short / long answer

Q1. What were the efforts made by the British to establish trade relation with India? Analyse the steps by which they succeded.

Answer: The English merchants formed the East India Company in 1600 A.D. to trade with the East. Their efforts to establish trade relations with India included:

1. In 1608, Captain William Hawkins visited Emperor Jahangir but failed to gain lasting privileges.
2. In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe succeeded in obtaining permission to set up factories at Surat and other places.
3. In 1715, A delegation under John Surman and surgeon William Hamilton impressed Emperor Farukhsiyar by curing him of an illness.

As a reward, the Company received three imperial firmans granting duty-free trade in Bengal, regarded as the “Magna Carta” of British power in India.

Q2. How did the East India Company establish three trade centres at three important places in India?

Answer:  The East India Company gradually established three important trade centres in India:

1. Masulipatam (1611): The Company set up its first trade centre with the permission of the Sultan of Golkunda.
2. Fort St. George, Madras (1639): Initially, a centre was founded at Armagaon (1636). Later, through a treaty with the King of Chandragiri, it was shifted to Madras and renamed Fort St. George.
3. Fort William, Calcutta (1690): Company officer Job Charnock obtained zamindari rights over Kali Ghata, Sutanutee, and Gobindapur. These villages merged into Calcutta, where a trade centre was built and renamed Fort William.

Thus, the Company secured strong trade bases on India’s eastern coast, strengthening its presence in the subcontinent.

Q3. Who was the most remarkable person of the East India Company to pave the way for the establishment of British imperialism in India? Write with four arguments about his strategies to lay the foundation stone of the British Empire?

Answer: Robert Clive was the most remarkable person of the East India Company who paved the way for British imperialism in India. Though he began as an ordinary servant, his sharp diplomatic skills helped weaken rival European companies and strengthen the British position. He cleverly won over native rulers like the Nawab of Bengal, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and several Rajput kings through war or friendship, compelling them to surrender authority. In the Battle of Plassey (1757), he deceitfully defeated Siraj-ud-daulah, which marked the foundation of British rule in India. Later, through the Treaty of Allahabad (1765), Clive secured the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, giving the company political authority.

Q4. Write the causes for the outbreak of the Sepoy Mutiny.

Answer: The main causes the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 were:

1. The name of the Mughal Emperor was removed from the Company’s coins in 1835, which upset the royal class.
2. The introduction of English in administration, replacing the royal Persian language, caused dissatisfaction among the Indians.
3. The reactionary administration of Lord Dalhousie, especially his ‘Doctrine of Lapse,’ angered many Indian rulers and people.
4. There was growing unrest among the royal class and the common people due to the exploitative policies of the British.
5. The immediate trigger was the introduction of new rifle cartridges, which were rumoured to be greased with the fat of pigs and cows, offending both Hindu and Muslim sepoys.

Q5. Mention four important results of the Sepoy Mutiny.

Answer: The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 brought several important results that shaped the future of India:

1. Constitutional Changes: The Government of India Act, 1858 transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown. The Governor-General was replaced by the Viceroy, who acted as the Queen’s direct representative.
2. End of Doctrine of Lapse: The British abandoned the controversial annexation policy and allowed native rulers to retain their states, especially those who had supported the British.
3. Social Impact: The revolt ended the medieval stagnation of Indian society, encouraging exposure to Western ideas and fostering national consciousness.
4. Divide and Rule: To counter Indian unity, the British introduced this policy to maintain stronger control.

Q6. Mention four administrative changes brought through the ‘Govt. of India Act’.

Answer: Four important administrative changes brought through the Government of India Act, 1858 were:

1. Transfer of Authority: The Board of Control and Court of Directors of the East India Company lost their powers, which were transferred to the Secretary of State for India, a member of the British ministry.
2. Council of 15 Members: The Secretary of State was assisted by a Council of 15 members to advise on Indian administration.
3. Appointment of Viceroy and Governors: The British government gained the power to appoint the Viceroy and Provincial Governors, and the Governor-General of India was given the new title of Viceroy.
4. Control of Army: The East India Company’s army was brought under the direct control of the British Crown.

Q7. Write about two main reforms of Lord Canning.

Answer: Two main reforms of Lord Canning were:

1. Financial Reforms: To strengthen the economy devastated by the rebellion, Lord Canning invited finance experts to India. Based on their suggestions, he imposed income tax for the first time on people earning Rs. 500 or more per month and imposed import duties of ten percent on all imported commodities.
2. Bengal Rent Act (1859): He enacted the ‘Bengal Rent Act’ in 1859 to resolve the turmoil caused by the Permanent Settlement. This law gave tenants rights over their land and protected indigo farmers from the control of indigo merchants.

Q8. Write two merits and two demerits of the ‘Indian Councils Act’.

Answer: Merits of the Indian Councils Act are :

1. The Act was a significant first step in the constitutional history of India, as it provided a legal procedure for the inclusion of Indians in the legislative functions of the highest administrative unit.
2. It introduced a cabinet system in Indian administration by allowing the Viceroy to distribute portfolios among the members of the Central Executive Council.

Demerits of the Indian Councils Act are:

1. The power given to the Provincial Legislative Councils was very limited. The Governor-General of Bengal retained unlimited powers and could override the suggestions or proposed laws of the Councils.
2. The Indians who were nominated to the Councils were not true representatives of the people but were mostly from high-class origins and elite landlords.

Q9. Discuss the changes occurred through the local self-government during the British period.

Answer: The British introduced local self-government in India to improve administration and provide political education to Indians.

1. Financial Decentralization: Lord Mayo’s Resolution on Financial Decentralization (1870) gave provinces responsibility for departments like education, health, and police, laying the groundwork for local bodies.
2. Foundation of Local Self-Government: Lord Ripon’s Resolution (1882) established Local Boards (Area Councils) in each sub-division, with a majority of members elected by the people.
3. Urban and Rural Bodies: The system was applied in both rural and urban areas. Primary Boards were formed in rural areas, while Town Committees and Municipal Boards were set up in urban areas, with 75% of members elected.
4. Democratic System: Despite some resistance from the British, Ripon’s reforms introduced democratic local self-government for the first time.

Q10. How were the Indians included in the civil services? Discuss the growth of these services.

Answer: The inclusion of Indians in the civil services was a gradual process that unfolded over several decades. Initially, the Charter Act of 1833 allowed recruitment of Indians to higher posts, but the Act of 1853 introduced competitive examinations, held only in England, making it difficult for many Indians to participate. Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to join the civil services in 1864. The age limit was briefly reduced by Lord Lytton from 22 to 19, but after protests led by Surendranath Banerji, it was restored. The Aitchison Commission categorized civil services into Imperial, Provincial, and Sub-ordinate, with Imperial posts mostly for Englishmen. Later, the Montague-Chelmsford Report (1919) allowed exams in India, and the Lee Commission (1923) aimed for 50% Indian representation, while the Government of India Act (1935) further institutionalized Federal and Provincial Civil Service Commissions.

Q11. Mention three differences of the civil services of British occupied India and independent India.

Answer: The civil services in British India and independent India differed in several ways:

• Recruitment Method: In British India, the highest posts were largely reserved for the English, and competitive examinations were primarily held in England. In independent India, open competitive examinations are conducted on an all-India level.
• Control and Management: During British rule, civil services were controlled by the British government and served colonial interests. After independence, they were reformed to serve the people and are managed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and State Public Service Commissions.
• Objective: The goal under British rule was to maintain colonial control, whereas in independent India, it focuses on nation-building, public welfare, and development.