Q41. Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding the racial discrimination inherent in the colonial judicial system?
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 41–50 of 64 questions
Q42. The Statutory Civil Service, consisting of one-sixth of covenanted posts reserved for Indians of ‘high families’, was introduced in 1878-79 by:
Explanation
Lord Lytton introduced the Statutory Civil Service in 1878-79, reserving one-sixth of covenanted posts for Indians of high families.
Q43. Match List I with List II:
| British Official/Personality | Associated Policy/Event |
|---|---|
| A. Lord Curzon | i. Codification of Laws |
| B. Lord Ripon | ii. Partition of Bengal (1905) |
| C. Lord Macaulay | iii. Repeal of the Vernacular Press Act |
| D. Lord Morley | iv. Introduction of Communal Electorates |
Explanation
Curzon is linked to the Partition of Bengal, Ripon to the repeal of the Vernacular Press Act, Macaulay to the codification of laws and Morley to communal electorates. This gives A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv.
Q44. What was a primary reason for the failure of ‘Dyarchy’ implemented under the Government of India Act 1919?
Explanation
Dyarchy failed because ministers had no control over the Reserved departments, especially finance and police, which stayed with the Governor.
Q45. The 1905 partition policy generated widespread nationalist outrage. Which of the following most appropriately describes the administrative rationale publicly claimed by the colonial government?
Explanation
The government said the partition of 1905 was meant to ease Bengal’s administrative burden and promote the development of Assam and eastern Bengal.
Q46. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The establishment of colonial Cantonments led to a highly integrated urban landscape where European soldiers and native populations freely mixed.
Statement II: The architectural style of colonial bungalows in Civil Lines was specifically designed to assert racial superiority and ensure physical separation from the native environment.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Statement I: The establishment of colonial Cantonments led to a highly integrated urban landscape where European soldiers and native populations freely mixed.
Statement II: The architectural style of colonial bungalows in Civil Lines was specifically designed to assert racial superiority and ensure physical separation from the native environment.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Cantonments kept Europeans and Indians apart, so Statement I is false. The bungalows of Civil Lines were designed to show racial superiority and keep distance from native areas, so Statement II is true.
Q47. Consider the following statements regarding the Indian Councils Acts of 1861 and 1892:
I. The Act of 1861 initiated the process of legislative decentralization.
II. The Act of 1861 introduced the portfolio system into the executive council.
III. The Act of 1892 allowed members to ask supplementary questions in the council.
IV. The Act of 1892 permitted the discussion of the annual financial statement.
V. The Act of 1892 established a completely elected non-official majority in the central legislative council.
Which of the following combinations of statements is correct?
I. The Act of 1861 initiated the process of legislative decentralization.
II. The Act of 1861 introduced the portfolio system into the executive council.
III. The Act of 1892 allowed members to ask supplementary questions in the council.
IV. The Act of 1892 permitted the discussion of the annual financial statement.
V. The Act of 1892 established a completely elected non-official majority in the central legislative council.
Which of the following combinations of statements is correct?
Explanation
The Act of 1861 began legislative decentralisation and introduced the portfolio system. The Act of 1892 allowed discussion of the budget, but did not give supplementary questions in the way described or an elected non-official majority, so I, II and IV are correct.
Q48. Who was the first Viceroy of India following the enactment of the Government of India Act 1858?
Explanation
Lord Canning, the Governor-General in 1858, became the first Viceroy of India after the Government of India Act 1858.
Q49. Given below are two statements, one labelled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The colonial government extensively used sedition laws (IPC Section 124A) to suppress nationalist journalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Reason (R): Nationalist newspapers were successfully creating widespread political awakening and disaffection against British rule among the Indian masses.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): The colonial government extensively used sedition laws (IPC Section 124A) to suppress nationalist journalism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Reason (R): Nationalist newspapers were successfully creating widespread political awakening and disaffection against British rule among the Indian masses.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Explanation
The government used Section 124A widely against nationalist journalism because nationalist papers were creating political awakening and disaffection. R explains A.
Q50. Which of the following was NOT a feature of the colonial judicial system established by the British?
Explanation
The British system introduced the idea of the Rule of Law, a hierarchy of civil and criminal courts and codified law. It did not remove racial discrimination in the trial of Europeans, so B is not a feature.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 41 | (c) The fierce opposition to the Ilbert Bill by Europeans led to its immediate enactment in its original, unamended form. |
| 42 | (b) Lord Lytton |
| 43 | (d) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv |
| 44 | (a) Ministers lacked control over vital ‘Reserved’ departments, especially finance and police |
| 45 | (a) To relieve the Bengal government of its administrative burden and promote the development of Assam |
| 46 | (d) Statement I is false but Statement II is true. |
| 47 | (a) I, II and IV only |
| 48 | (c) Lord Canning |
| 49 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 50 | (b) Elimination of racial discrimination in the trial of European subjects |
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.