Economic Policies of the British: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)
3 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Economic Policies of the British (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 1–3 of 3 questions
UPSC 2012Modern History · Economic Policies of the British
Q1. With reference to Ryotwari Settlement, consider the following statements: 1. The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government. 2. The government gave Pattas to the Ryots. 3. The lands were surveyed and assessed before being taxed. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The Ryotwari System was started by Thomas Munro and Alexander Reed. It was started in the Baramahal district of Tamil Nadu and later spread to Madras, parts of Bombay, East Bengal, Assam and Coorg. Ryots were required to pay the revenue directly to the government
Statement 2 is correct: Ryots (farmers) were given the ownership and other rights (Pattas) over the land.
Statement 3 is correct: The Ryotwari System involved high taxes (50% in dryland and 60% in wetland) and the taxes had to be paid regardless of the harvest, leading to peasant distress. The land was surveyed and an assessment for its productivity before imposing taxes. This assessment was based on the quality and size of the land, and the tax was usually a fixed portion of the estimated crop yield. Mahalwari System Permanent Settlement Ryotwari Settlement Punjab and UP Bombay and Madras Bengal Bihar and Orissa
UPSC 2012Modern History · Economic Policies of the British
Q2. Consider the following statements: The most effective contribution made by Dadabhai Naoroji to the cause of Indian National Movement was that he-1. Exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British. 2. Interpreted the ancient Indian texts and restored the self-confidence of Indians. 3. Stressed the need for eradication of all the social evils before anything else. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Dadabhai Naoroji (Grand Old man of India) wrote the "Poverty and UnBritish Rule in India" in which he propounded The Drain of Wealth Theory and exposed the economic exploitation of Indians by the British.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda, etc. interpreted the ancient texts and restored the self confidence of Indians, not Dadabhai Naoroji. Swami Dayananda Saraswati even gave the call to "go back to vedas".
Statement 3 is incorrect: Raja Rammohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Keshav Chandra Sen, Atmaram Pandurang, etc. emphasized the need for eradication of all social evils before anything else.
UPSC 2012Modern History · Economic Policies of the British
Q3. Consider the following: 1. Assessment of land revenue on the basis of nature of the soil and the quality of crops. 2. Use of mobile cannons in warfare. 3. Cultivation of tobacco and red chillies. Which of the above was/were introduced into India by the English?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: After getting the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765 the major aim of the British East India Company was to increase their land revenue collection without caring of its consequences on cultivators and peasants.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The first recorded use of Artillery in India is at the Battle of Adoni in 1368 by the Bahamani kings against the Raja of Vijayanagar.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Tobacco and Red Chillies were introduced by Portuguese not British.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2012
(c) 1, 2 and 3
2
2012
(a) 1 only
3
2012
(d) None
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Economic Policies of the British?
This page covers 3 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Economic Policies of the British (Modern History), asked from 1996 to 2024. 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 Economic Policies of the British?
Questions on Economic Policies of the British (Modern History) are available for 12 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
