British Expansion in India: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)
1 previous year UPSC Prelims question on British Expansion in India (Modern History). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–1 of 1 question
UPSC 2010Modern History · British Expansion in India
Q1. By a regulation in 1793, the District Collector was deprived of his judicial powers and made the collecting agent only. What was the reason for such a regulation?
Explanation
The 1793 regulation was introduced as part of Lord Cornwallis’s judicial and administrative reforms during his tenure as Governor-General of India. Statement (a) is incorrect: Cornwallis’s reforms aimed at revenue efficiency, but the primary goal of depriving the District Collector of judicial powers was to ensure systemic fairness and prevent the concentration of power. Statement (b) is incorrect: The policy was not based on a racial division of duties; instead, it focused on the principle of separating powers to prevent misuse. Statement (c) is correct: Lord Cornwallis was concerned about the concentration of power in the hands of the District Collector, who held both revenue and judicial authority. To prevent inefficiency and corruption, he restructured the system, separating executive and judicial functions. Statement (d) is incorrect: While judicial work required knowledge and training, Cornwallis’s decision was primarily driven by the need to separate powers rather than concerns about the qualifications of the District Collector.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2010
(c) Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such absolute power was undesirable in one person.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on British Expansion in India?
This page covers 1 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on British Expansion in India (Modern History), asked from 1999 to 2018. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for British Expansion in India?
Questions on British Expansion in India (Modern History) are available for 9 years, from 1999 to 2018. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
