Q21. The concept of building ‘Cantonments’ during colonial rule was primarily driven by the need for:
British Political and Administrative Policies: RAS Prelims MCQs
64 RAS Prelims MCQs on British political and administrative policies cover the constitutional Acts, the civil services, the police and the judiciary, press laws, sedition and divide and rule. The Government of India Act 1858, the Councils Acts of 1861 and 1892, the 1909 and 1919 reforms and the Partition of Bengal are asked with their provisions and dates.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 21–30 of 64 questions
Q22. Consider the following statements regarding the British policy of ‘Divide and Rule’:
I. The partition of Bengal in 1905 was a geographic manifestation of this policy, aiming to create a Muslim-majority province in the east.
II. The introduction of separate electorates in 1909 was strongly opposed by British administrators but forced upon them by unified Indian leaders.
III. This policy exploited regional and communal divisions to prevent the emergence of a unified nationalist movement.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. The partition of Bengal in 1905 was a geographic manifestation of this policy, aiming to create a Muslim-majority province in the east.
II. The introduction of separate electorates in 1909 was strongly opposed by British administrators but forced upon them by unified Indian leaders.
III. This policy exploited regional and communal divisions to prevent the emergence of a unified nationalist movement.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The 1905 Partition of Bengal created a Muslim-majority province in the east and divide and rule exploited communal splits. The separate electorates of 1909 were not forced on the British by Indian leaders, so II is incorrect.
Q23. The Frazer Commission (1902) was appointed by Lord Curzon primarily to review and recommend reforms in which of the following areas of colonial administration?
Explanation
The Frazer Commission of 1902, appointed by Lord Curzon, reviewed and recommended reforms in police administration.
Q24. Match List I with List II:
| Legal Code/Act | Year of Enactment |
|---|---|
| A. Indian Penal Code | i. 1859 |
| B. Code of Criminal Procedure (first enactment) | ii. 1860 |
| C. Code of Civil Procedure | iii. 1861 |
| D. Indian Evidence Act | iv. 1872 |
Explanation
The Indian Penal Code dates from 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure from 1861, the Code of Civil Procedure from 1859 and the Indian Evidence Act from 1872. This gives A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv.
Q25. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919?
Explanation
The 1919 Reforms brought a bicameral central legislature, with two chambers. They did not abolish separate electorates or fully Indianise the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
Q26. Consider the following statements regarding the use of Sedition laws and political repression in British India:
I. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was convicted under Section 124A for his writings in Kesari.
II. Mahatma Gandhi was tried for sedition in 1922 for articles written in Young India.
III. The colonial government used sedition laws sparingly and only against violent revolutionaries.
IV. Section 124A allowed the government to suppress any critical opinion by equating it with disloyalty.
Which of the given statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was convicted under Section 124A for his writings in Kesari.
II. Mahatma Gandhi was tried for sedition in 1922 for articles written in Young India.
III. The colonial government used sedition laws sparingly and only against violent revolutionaries.
IV. Section 124A allowed the government to suppress any critical opinion by equating it with disloyalty.
Which of the given statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Tilak was convicted for his writings in Kesari, Gandhi was tried in 1922 for articles in Young India and Section 124A let the government suppress criticism as disloyalty. Sedition laws were not used sparingly, so III is wrong.
Q27. What was a primary consequence of the stringent Press laws, such as the Vernacular Press Act of 1878, on the Indian nationalist movement?
Explanation
Harsh press laws like the Vernacular Press Act pushed nationalist discourse underground and made some newspapers switch to English.
Q28. Arrange the following colonial press regulations in the correct chronological order:
I. Metcalfe Act (Liberation of the Indian Press)
II. Licensing Regulations by John Adams
III. Vernacular Press Act
IV. Censorship of Press Act by Lord Wellesley
Select the correct order:
I. Metcalfe Act (Liberation of the Indian Press)
II. Licensing Regulations by John Adams
III. Vernacular Press Act
IV. Censorship of Press Act by Lord Wellesley
Select the correct order:
Explanation
Wellesley’s press censorship came in 1799, John Adams’s licensing regulations in 1823, the Metcalfe Act in 1835 and the Vernacular Press Act in 1878. The order is IV, II, I, III.
Q29. Which of the following pairs concerning the Civil Services in British India is correctly matched?
Explanation
The Lee Commission recommended setting up a Public Service Commission. Simultaneous ICS exams began in 1922, the Aitchison Commission raised the age limit and the Islington Commission did not recommend abolishing the ICS.
Q30. Consider the following statements regarding the 1905 partition policy:
I. It was officially justified as a necessity due to the unwieldy size of the Bengal presidency.
II. It sought to merge parts of eastern Bengal with Assam to create a new province.
III. The policy was enthusiastically welcomed by the Indian National Congress as a step towards regional autonomy.
IV. It successfully implemented the partition of the Punjab to manage agricultural administration.
V. The partition was ultimately annulled in 1911 due to intense political opposition.
Which of the following combinations of statements is incorrect?
I. It was officially justified as a necessity due to the unwieldy size of the Bengal presidency.
II. It sought to merge parts of eastern Bengal with Assam to create a new province.
III. The policy was enthusiastically welcomed by the Indian National Congress as a step towards regional autonomy.
IV. It successfully implemented the partition of the Punjab to manage agricultural administration.
V. The partition was ultimately annulled in 1911 due to intense political opposition.
Which of the following combinations of statements is incorrect?
Explanation
The 1905 partition was justified by the size of Bengal, merged eastern Bengal with Assam and was annulled in 1911. The Congress opposed it and the Punjab was not partitioned, so III and IV are incorrect.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 21 | (c) Creating isolated and defensible urban spaces for European military and civilian residents |
| 22 | (b) II only |
| 23 | (b) Police administration |
| 24 | (b) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv |
| 25 | (a) It introduced bicameralism at the central level through two legislative chambers |
| 26 | (b) I, II and IV only |
| 27 | (d) It forced nationalist discourse underground and pushed some newspapers to switch to English |
| 28 | (a) IV, II, I, III |
| 29 | (d) Lee Commission - Recommended the establishment of a Public Service Commission |
| 30 | (b) III and IV only |
Key facts from British Political and Administrative Policies
- The Government of India Act 1858 transferred power from the Company to the Crown and created the Secretary of State and the India Council.
- Section 124A (sedition) was inserted into the IPC in 1870; the Vernacular Press Act was passed in 1878 under Lytton and repealed by Ripon.
- The Indian Councils Act 1861 introduced the portfolio system; the Act of 1892 let members discuss the budget and ask questions.
- The Morley-Minto Reforms 1909 introduced communal electorates; Dyarchy came with the 1919 Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms.
- The Frazer Commission (1902) reviewed police; the Indian Police Act of 1861 placed the police under the District Magistrate.
- Curzon’s 1905 Partition of Bengal aimed at weakening nationalism and was annulled in 1911.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on British Political and Administrative Policies?
This page has 64 practice MCQs on British Political and Administrative Policies (Modern Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What did the Government of India Act 1858 do?
It transferred the government of India from the East India Company to the British Crown, abolished the Board of Control and the Court of Directors and created the Secretary of State for India, helped by a Council of India.
What did the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 introduce?
Separate (communal) electorates for Muslims in the legislative councils, along with some expansion of Indian representation. The communal electorate hardened religious identities in politics and is seen as a key step in divide and rule.
Who was the first Indian to clear the ICS?
Satyendranath Tagore, in 1863. The ICS examination was held in England, and the Lytton-era reduction of the age limit to 19 later made it even harder for Indians to compete.