Analyze the effects of British rule in India on culture, economy, and governance through these engaging MCQs.
Colonial history of India MCQs
When did the British East India Company first establish a presence in India?
a) 1498
b) 1600
c) 1757
d) 1857
Which British monarch granted a royal charter to the British East India Company in 1600?
a) Queen Elizabeth I
b) King James I
c) Queen Victoria
d) King George III
Who was the first Governor of the British East India Company in India?
a) Sir Thomas Roe
b) Sir Thomas Munro
c) Sir Warren Hastings
d) Sir Robert Clive
What was the primary commodity that the British East India Company sought to trade when it was first established?
a) Cotton
b) Tea
c) Opium
d) Spices
The Battle of Plassey in 1757 marked a significant turning point for British rule in India. Who led the British forces to victory in this battle?
a) Sir Thomas Roe
b) Sir Thomas Munro
c) Sir Warren Hastings
d) Robert Clive
Who was the Mughal emperor during the Battle of Plassey in 1757?
a) Shah Jahan
b) Aurangzeb
c) Jahangir
d) Bahadur Shah II
What was the name of the infamous event in 1919 when British troops opened fire on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar, resulting in numerous casualties?
a) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
b) Morley-Minto Reforms
c) Simon Commission
d) Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
Which Indian leader is known for his role in the Non-Cooperation Movement and the Civil Disobedience Movement against British rule in India?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Bhagat Singh
c) Mahatma Gandhi
d) Subhas Chandra Bose
The Simon Commission, appointed by the British government, faced strong opposition in India because it:
a) Supported Indian demands for self-rule
b) Included Indian members
c) Was seen as an all-white committee
d) Proposed economic reforms
Who was the last Mughal emperor and a symbolic leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
a) Bahadur Shah II
b) Aurangzeb
c) Shah Jahan
d) Jahangir
In what year did the British Crown assume direct control over India, effectively ending the rule of the British East India Company?
a) 1600
b) 1757
c) 1857
d) 1858
Who served as the Governor-General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
What was the main commodity that the British East India Company traded with China during the early 19th century?
a) Cotton
b) Silk
c) Opium
d) Tea
What was the name of the treaty that concluded the Second Anglo-Sikh War, resulting in the annexation of Punjab by the British East India Company?
a) Treaty of Lahore
b) Treaty of Amritsar
c) Treaty of Buxar
d) Treaty of Jandiala
Who is known as the “Lion of Punjab” and played a key role in the annexation of Punjab by the British East India Company?
a) Rani Lakshmi Bai
b) Maharaja Ranjit Singh
c) Sir John Lawrence
d) Sir Henry Lawrence
Which Indian leader is associated with the famous slogan “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it” and the concept of “Swaraj” (self-rule)?
a) Bhagat Singh
b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
c) Dadabhai Naoroji
d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Who is often called the “Grand Old Man of India” and was a prominent figure in the Indian National Congress during British rule?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Dadabhai Naoroji
c) Subhas Chandra Bose
d) Mahatma Gandhi
In 1942, the Quit India Movement was launched under the leadership of:
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Bhagat Singh
c) Mahatma Gandhi
d) Subhas Chandra Bose
The British introduced a system of education in India, known as the “Macaulay’s Minutes,” which aimed to:
a) Promote traditional Indian learning
b) Preserve indigenous languages
c) Spread English education
d) Foster religious studies
Which event in 1947 led to the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan as a separate nation?
a) Poona Pact
b) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
c) Indian Independence Act
d) Quit India Movement
The Non-Cooperation Movement, initiated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, aimed to:
a) Gain complete independence from British rule
b) Seek limited autonomy within the British Empire
c) Promote religious harmony
d) Boycott foreign goods and promote swadeshi products
The British introduced a system of taxation on the cultivation of indigo, which led to the famous Indigo Revolt in Bengal. What was this system called?
a) Ryotwari system
b) Mahalwari system
c) Zamindari system
d) Nilgiri system
Who authored the book “The Wealth of India” in 1813, which promoted British colonial interests in India?
a) Karl Marx
b) Adam Smith
c) David Ricardo
d) Thomas Malthus
The Doctrine of Lapse, a policy introduced by Lord Dalhousie, allowed the British East India Company to annex princely states if they lacked a natural heir. Which state’s annexation led to significant controversy and unrest?
a) Jodhpur
b) Jhansi
c) Mysore
d) Hyderabad
Who was the ruler of the Sikh Empire at the time of the Second Anglo-Sikh War in 1848-49, which led to the annexation of Punjab by the British East India Company?
a) Maharaja Ranjit Singh
b) Bahadur Shah II
c) Rani Padmini
d) Maharaja Duleep Singh
What was the name of the 1857-1858 uprising against British rule in India, which is often referred to as the “First War of Independence” or the “Indian Mutiny”?
a) Indian Rebellion of 1857
b) Sepoy Mutiny
c) Battle of Plassey
d) Mughal Uprising
Which British officer played a significant role in suppressing the Indian Rebellion of 1857 and later became the Viceroy of India?
a) Sir Charles Napier
b) Lord Canning
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Sir Colin Campbell
Who was the last Mughal emperor and a symbolic leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
a) Bahadur Shah II
b) Aurangzeb
c) Shah Jahan
d) Jahangir
The British East India Company’s rule in India ended with the passage of which act in 1858, transferring power to the British Crown?
a) Government of India Act
b) Charter Act of 1833
c) Regulating Act of 1773
d) Indian Independence Act
What was the name of the infamous event in 1919 when British troops opened fire on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar, resulting in numerous casualties?
a) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
b) Morley-Minto Reforms
c) Simon Commission
d) Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
What was the name of the proponent of “satyagraha” (nonviolent resistance) who played a key role in India’s struggle for independence against the British East India Company and the British Crown?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Bhagat Singh
c) Mahatma Gandhi
d) Subhas Chandra Bose
Which act passed in 1833 by the British Parliament ended the British East India Company’s monopoly on trade with India?
a) Regulating Act
b) Government of India Act
c) Charter Act
d) Indian Independence Act
The East India Company’s dominance in India is often associated with the term “raj.” What does “raj” mean in this context?
a) Rule
b) Religion
c) Rebellion
d) Rights
Who served as the Governor-General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
What event in 1857 was a major catalyst for the Indian Rebellion against the British East India Company’s rule?
a) Battle of Plassey
b) Sepoy Mutiny
c) Treaty of Buxar
d) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
What was the name of the British government’s response to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ended the rule of the British East India Company and transferred control of India to the British Crown?
a) Government of India Act
b) Charter Act of 1833
c) Regulating Act of 1773
d) Indian Independence Act
Which British Viceroy of India is known for the introduction of the Vernacular Press Act of 1878?
a) Lord Curzon
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Lytton
d) Lord Ripon
Who was the Governor-General of India responsible for the introduction of the Doctrine of Lapse policy?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
What was the British East India Company’s primary source of revenue collection in India during its rule?
a) Trade tariffs
b) Land revenue
c) Industrial taxes
d) Export duties
The British East India Company is often associated with the “Doctrine of __________,” which allowed it to take control of territories where there were no direct heirs.
a) Monarchy
b) Lapse
c) Annexation
d) Empire
Who was the British Governor-General of India during the time of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
What event in 1857 was a major catalyst for the Indian Rebellion against the British East India Company’s rule?
a) Battle of Plassey
b) Sepoy Mutiny
c) Treaty of Buxar
d) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
What was the name of the British government’s response to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ended the rule of the British East India Company and transferred control of India to the British Crown?
a) Government of India Act
b) Charter Act of 1833
c) Regulating Act of 1773
d) Indian Independence Act
In what year did the British Crown assume direct control over India, effectively ending the rule of the British East India Company?
a) 1600
b) 1757
c) 1857
d) 1858
What event in 1857 was a major catalyst for the Indian Rebellion against the British East India Company’s rule?
a) Battle of Plassey
b) Sepoy Mutiny
c) Treaty of Buxar
d) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
What was the name of the British government’s response to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ended the rule of the British East India Company and transferred control of India to the British Crown?
a) Government of India Act
b) Charter Act of 1833
c) Regulating Act of 1773
d) Indian Independence Act
Which British Prime Minister is associated with the decision to dissolve the British East India Company and transfer control of India to the British Crown?
a) William Pitt the Younger
b) Robert Walpole
c) Benjamin Disraeli
d) William Ewart Gladstone
The Regulating Act of 1773 was enacted by the British Parliament to regulate the affairs of the British East India Company. Who was appointed as the first Governor-General of Bengal under this act?
a) Sir Thomas Munro
b) Sir Warren Hastings
c) Lord Cornwallis
d) Lord Curzon
What was the primary purpose of the Permanent Settlement of 1793 in Bengal, also known as the Zamindari System?
a) To promote industrialization
b) To encourage education
c) To fix land revenue rates
d) To abolish the caste system
The British East India Company introduced a major trading post in Calcutta, which later became the capital of British India. What was the name of this trading post?
a) Bombay
b) Madras
c) Calcutta
d) Agra
Which British Viceroy of India introduced the Vernacular Press Act of 1878, which restricted the freedom of the Indian press?
a) Lord Curzon
b) Lord Dalhousie
c) Lord Lytton
d) Lord Ripon
Who was the first Governor-General of India under the direct control of the British Crown after the dissolution of the British East India Company?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
The British East India Company is often associated with the “Doctrine of __________,” which allowed it to take control of territories where there were no direct heirs.
a) Monarchy
b) Lapse
c) Annexation
d) Empire
Who was the British Governor-General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
What event in 1857 was a major catalyst for the Indian Rebellion against the British East India Company’s rule?
a) Battle of Plassey
b) Sepoy Mutiny
c) Treaty of Buxar
d) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
What was the name of the British government’s response to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ended the rule of the British East India Company and transferred control of India to the British Crown?
a) Government of India Act
b) Charter Act of 1833
c) Regulating Act of 1773
d) Indian Independence Act
In what year did the British Crown assume direct control over India, effectively ending the rule of the British East India Company?
a) 1600
b) 1757
c) 1857
d) 1858
What event in 1857 was a major catalyst for the Indian Rebellion against the British East India Company’s rule?
a) Battle of Plassey
b) Sepoy Mutiny
c) Treaty of Buxar
d) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
What was the name of the British government’s response to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ended the rule of the British East India Company and transferred control of India to the British Crown?
a) Government of India Act
b) Charter Act of 1833
c) Regulating Act of 1773
d) Indian Independence Act
Who is often called the “Father of Indian Railways” for his contributions to the development of the railway system in India during British rule?
a) George Stephenson
b) James Watt
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Sir William Ramsay
The British East India Company is often associated with the “Doctrine of __________,” which allowed it to take control of territories where there were no direct heirs.
a) Monarchy
b) Lapse
c) Annexation
d) Empire
What was the main commodity that the British East India Company traded with China during the early 19th century?
a) Cotton
b) Silk
c) Opium
d) Tea
Which Indian leader is associated with the famous slogan “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it” and the concept of “Swaraj” (self-rule)?
a) Bhagat Singh
b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
c) Dadabhai Naoroji
d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Who is often referred to as the “Grand Old Man of India” and was a prominent figure in the Indian National Congress during British rule?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Dadabhai Naoroji
c) Subhas Chandra Bose
d) Mahatma Gandhi
In 1942, the Quit India Movement was launched under the leadership of:
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Bhagat Singh
c) Mahatma Gandhi
d) Subhas Chandra Bose
The British introduced a system of education in India, known as the “Macaulay’s Minutes,” which aimed to:
a) Promote traditional Indian learning
b) Preserve indigenous languages
c) Spread English education
d) Foster religious studies
What was the British East India Company’s primary source of revenue collection in India during its rule?
a) Trade tariffs
b) Land revenue
c) Industrial taxes
d) Export duties
The British East India Company is often associated with the “Doctrine of __________,” which allowed it to take control of territories where there were no direct heirs.
a) Monarchy
b) Lapse
c) Annexation
d) Empire
Who was the British Governor-General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
What event in 1857 was a major catalyst for the Indian Rebellion against the British East India Company’s rule?
a) Battle of Plassey
b) Sepoy Mutiny
c) Treaty of Buxar
d) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
What was the name of the British government’s response to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ended the rule of the British East India Company and transferred control of India to the British Crown?
a) Government of India Act
b) Charter Act of 1833
c) Regulating Act of 1773
d) Indian Independence Act
In what year did the British Crown assume direct control over India, effectively ending the rule of the British East India Company?
a) 1600
b) 1757
c) 1857
d) 1858
Who was the last Mughal emperor and a symbolic leader of the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
a) Bahadur Shah II
b) Aurangzeb
c) Shah Jahan
d) Jahangir
What event in 1857 was a major catalyst for the Indian Rebellion against the British East India Company’s rule?
a) Battle of Plassey
b) Sepoy Mutiny
c) Treaty of Buxar
d) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
What was the name of the British government’s response to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ended the rule of the British East India Company and transferred control of India to the British Crown?
a) Government of India Act
b) Charter Act of 1833
c) Regulating Act of 1773
d) Indian Independence Act
In what year did the British Crown assume direct control over India, effectively ending the rule of the British East India Company?
a) 1600
b) 1757
c) 1857
d) 1858
What was the main commodity that the British East India Company traded with China during the early 19th century?
a) Cotton
b) Silk
c) Opium
d) Tea
What was the British East India Company’s primary source of revenue collection in India during its rule?
a) Trade tariffs
b) Land revenue
c) Industrial taxes
d) Export duties
The British East India Company is often associated with the “Doctrine of __________,” which allowed it to take control of territories where there were no direct heirs.
a) Monarchy
b) Lapse
c) Annexation
d) Empire
Who served as the Governor-General of India during the Indian Rebellion of 1857?
a) Lord Cornwallis
b) Lord Curzon
c) Lord Dalhousie
d) Lord Canning
