Q21. Which British Governor-General famously remarked after the Third Anglo-Mysore War, "We have crippled our enemy effectively without making our friends too formidable"?
British Imperialism and Early Resistance: RAS Prelims MCQs
50 RAS Prelims MCQs on British imperialism and early resistance follow the Company from its charter to the Mysore and Maratha wars. The Treaty of Allahabad, Dual Government, the four Anglo-Mysore wars, Tipu Sultan’s reforms and the Maratha struggle with the British are asked as facts, treaties and sequences.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 21–30 of 50 questions
Q22. Match List I: (Innovations/Reforms of Tipu Sultan) with List II: (Details) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Innovations/Reforms of Tipu Sultan | Details |
|---|---|
| A. Introduction of a new calendar | i. Formed to build a modern navy |
| B. Jacobin Club | ii. Established in Seringapatam by French soldiers |
| C. Board of Admiralty | iii. Set up to promote trade and industry |
| D. Commercial Boards | iv. Based on the Mauludi era |
Explanation
Tipu introduced a calendar based on the Mauludi era, set up a Jacobin Club in Seringapatam with French soldiers, formed a Board of Admiralty for a navy and created Commercial Boards. This gives A-iv, B-ii, C-i, D-iii.
Q23. Identify the correctly matched pair regarding Tipu Sultan’s foreign diplomacy:
Explanation
Tipu sent embassies to France, Constantinople and Kabul for support against the British, so all three pairs are correct.
Q24. Identify the statement that does not reflect the military and administrative reforms introduced by Tipu Sultan:
Explanation
Tipu organised his infantry on European lines, tried to curb the Jagirdari system and introduced new coinage. He did not ban modern artillery, so C is not a reform of his.
Q25. From which of the following European powers did Tipu Sultan NOT actively seek military assistance against the British?
Explanation
Tipu sought help from France, the Ottoman Empire and the French in Mauritius, but did not actively seek it from Spain.
Q26. Consider the following statements about Tipu Sultan’s economic policies:
I. He planted a ‘Tree of Liberty’ at Seringapatam.
II. He attempted to establish a state monopoly on key export items like sandalwood and pepper.
III. He banned the cultivation of sericulture (silk) as un-Islamic.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. He planted a ‘Tree of Liberty’ at Seringapatam.
II. He attempted to establish a state monopoly on key export items like sandalwood and pepper.
III. He banned the cultivation of sericulture (silk) as un-Islamic.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Tipu planted a Tree of Liberty at Seringapatam and tried to establish state monopolies on goods like sandalwood and pepper. He promoted sericulture and did not ban it, so III is wrong.
Q27. Tipu Sultan’s method of administration and economic management is often described by modern historians as an early attempt at:
Explanation
Tipu’s state trading, monopolies and commercial boards are often described as an early attempt at state capitalism.
Q28. Match List I: (Anglo-Mysore Wars) with List II: (British Governors-General/Governors at the time) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
| Anglo-Mysore Wars | British Governors-General/Governors at the time |
|---|---|
| A. First Anglo-Mysore War | i. Lord Cornwallis |
| B. Second Anglo-Mysore War | ii. Harry Verelst |
| C. Third Anglo-Mysore War | iii. Lord Wellesley |
| D. Fourth Anglo-Mysore War | iv. Warren Hastings |
Explanation
The First Anglo-Mysore War was in the time of Harry Verelst, the Second under Warren Hastings, the Third under Lord Cornwallis and the Fourth under Lord Wellesley. This gives A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii.
Q29. The British commander who successfully led the assault on Seringapatam during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799) was:
Explanation
General David Baird led the assault on Seringapatam in 1799 during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, in which Tipu Sultan was killed.
Q30. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Choose the correct option from the choices given below:
Assertion (A): Lord Wellesley declared the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War against Tipu Sultan in 1799.
Reason (R): Tipu Sultan had attacked the British ally, the Nizam of Hyderabad, in 1798.
Assertion (A): Lord Wellesley declared the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War against Tipu Sultan in 1799.
Reason (R): Tipu Sultan had attacked the British ally, the Nizam of Hyderabad, in 1798.
Explanation
Lord Wellesley initiated the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799 primarily due to Tipu Sultan’s secret negotiations with the French and his refusal to accept a Subsidiary Alliance. The claim that Tipu attacked the Nizam in 1798 is incorrect; rather, it was the British who sought to eliminate Tipu to ensure their absolute dominance and prevent any French resurgence in India.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 21 | (b) Lord Cornwallis |
| 22 | (a) A-iv, B-ii, C-i, D-iii |
| 23 | (d) All of the above are correctly matched |
| 24 | (c) He banned the use of modern artillery and relied exclusively on traditional cavalry. |
| 25 | (a) Spain |
| 26 | (a) I and II only |
| 27 | (b) State capitalism |
| 28 | (a) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii |
| 29 | (d) David Baird |
| 30 | (c) A is true but R is false. |
Key facts from British Imperialism and Early Resistance
- The Charter of 1600 gave the English East India Company a trading monopoly; the Company moved its western headquarters from Surat to Bombay in 1687.
- By the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) the Company got the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa; Dual Government separated Diwani (revenue) from Nizamat (police and justice) and was ended by Warren Hastings.
- The Treaty of Madras ended the First Anglo-Mysore War; the Third War (1790-92) began with Tipu’s attack on the Raja of Travancore.
- Lord Cornwallis said after the Third Mysore War that the British had crippled their enemy without making friends too strong.
- David Baird led the assault on Seringapatam in 1799.
- Tipu Sultan planted a Tree of Liberty, set up a Board of Admiralty and tried to monopolise trade in goods like sandalwood and pepper.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on British Imperialism and Early Resistance?
This page has 50 practice MCQs on British Imperialism and Early Resistance (Modern Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What did the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) give the Company?
The Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, meaning the right to collect revenue. This gave the Company financial control over the richest provinces of India and is seen as the real beginning of its political power.
What was Dual Government in Bengal?
A system in which the Company held the Diwani (revenue collection) while the Nawab kept the Nizamat (police and judicial functions). Power and responsibility were split, which led to misrule, and Warren Hastings abolished it.
What caused the Third Anglo-Mysore War?
Tipu Sultan’s attack on the Raja of Travancore, an ally of the British. The war ended in 1792 with the Treaty of Seringapatam, by which Tipu lost about half his territory.