Static Quiz 07 July 2025 (Modern History)

Q1.a
Explanation:
The Charter Act of 1833:
• The Charter Act of 1833 came under the backdrop of great changes that had taken place in Great Britain because of the Industrial Revolution.
◦ Laissez-faire was accepted as the principle of the government’s attitude towards industrial enterprise.
◦ The liberal movement resulted in the Reform Act of 1832.
• The administration was urged to take steps to ameliorate the conditions of slaves and to ultimately abolish slavery.
• As a result of this act, in India, slavery was outlawed by Act V of 1843 by Ellenborough. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q2.c
Explanation:
The Act of 1786:
• Cornwallis wanted to have the powers of both the governor-general and the commander-in-chief. The new Act conceded this demand and also gave him the power.
• Cornwallis was allowed to override the council’s decision if he owned the responsibility for the decision. Later, this provision was extended to all the governor-general.
◦ Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q3.c
Explanation:
• Pitt’s India Act of 1784:
◦ The government’s control over the Company’s affairs was greatly extended.
◦ A Board of Control consisting of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a Secretary of State, and four members of the Privy Council (appointed by the Crown) were to exercise control over the Company’s civil, military, and revenue affairs.
◦ All dispatches were to be approved by the board.
◦ A dual system of control was thus set up.
• The Charter Act of 1793:
◦ The revenue administration was separated from judicial functions, leading to the disappearance of the Maal Adalats.
• The Charter Act of 1833:
◦ All restrictions on European immigration and the acquisition of property in India were lifted, paving the way for wholesale European colonization of India.
• The Charter Act of 1853:
◦ Local representation was introduced in the Indian legislature.
◦ The legislative wing came to be known as the Indian Legislative Council.
◦ A law to be promulgated needed the assent of the Governor-General, who could veto any Bill of the legislative council.
• Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q4.c
Explanation:
• The Doctrine of Lapse:
◦ Policy of annexation by the British East India Company during the mid-19th century.
◦ Formulated by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856.
◦ Any princely state under direct or indirect British control would be annexed if the ruler was “manifestly incompetent” or died without a direct male heir.
• States Annexed:
◦ Sambalpur:
▪ Located in present-day Odisha, India.
▪ Ruled by local kings of the Chauhan dynasty.
▪ Annexed in 1849 after the death of Narayan Singh, who had no natural heir.
◦ Jaipur:
▪ Located in present-day Rajasthan.
▪ Founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727.
▪ Not annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse; signed Subsidiary Alliance in 1818.
◦ Udaipur (Chhattisgarh):
▪ Located in present-day Chhattisgarh.
▪ Ruled by local chieftains.
▪ Annexed in 1852 after the ruler’s death without a direct male heir.
◦ Nagpur:
▪ Located in present-day Maharashtra.
▪ Part of the Bhonsle Maratha Confederacy.
▪ Annexed in 1853 after the death of Raghuji III, who died without a male heir.
Hence, option (1) is correct for Sambalpur, option (2) is not correct for Jaipur, option (3) is correct for Udaipur, and option (4) is correct for Nagpur.

Q5.a
Explanation:
• Background of Warren Hastings’ Policy of Ring-Fence:
◦ Governor-General of Bengal from 1772 to 1785.
◦ Policy served as a strategic defense mechanism.
◦ Aimed to create a defensive perimeter around British-controlled territories.
◦ Threats from powerful Indian states (Marathas, Mysore) and Afghan invaders.
• Objective of the Policy:
◦ Not to expand British territory directly but to safeguard interests by creating buffer zones.
◦ Allied states like Awadh were fortified with British military support.
• Implementation and Impact:
◦ Reflected in various military and diplomatic maneuvers.
◦ Provided military assistance to allied states under the condition they bear the cost.
◦ Avoided direct military engagements while weakening potential threats.
◦ Laid groundwork for later strategies like Wellesley’s Subsidiary Alliance.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.