Q51. Identify the odd one out concerning the constitutional development of British India:
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 51–60 of 64 questions
Q52. Match List I with List II:
| Commission | Primary Subject |
|---|---|
| A. Aitchison Commission | i. Superior Civil Services in India (1924) |
| B. Frazer Commission | ii. Public Services in India (1886) |
| C. Lee Commission | iii. Police Reforms (1902) |
| D. Macaulay Commission | iv. Codification of Indian Laws (1834) |
Explanation
The Aitchison Commission (1886) dealt with public services, the Frazer Commission (1902) with police, the Lee Commission (1924) with superior civil services and the Macaulay Commission (1834) with codification of laws. This gives A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv.
Q53. Which of the following statements accurately describes the role of the police system established under the Indian Police Act of 1861?
Explanation
The Police Act of 1861 created a paramilitary-style force to keep colonial order and suppress dissent, under the District Magistrate. It was not made for community policing.
Q54. The British introduced the theoretical concept of the ‘Rule of Law’ in India. However, in practice, this was heavily compromised by which of the following colonial policies?
Explanation
The Rule of Law was weakened in practice by sweeping sedition laws and racially unequal trial procedures.
Q55. What was the long-term political effect of the introduction of communal electorates by the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909?
Explanation
The separate electorates of 1909 made religious identity the basis of political rights, which led to deep communal divisions in the long term.
Q56. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The Government of India Act 1858 created a 15-member Council of India to assist the Secretary of State for India.
Statement II: The members of this Council were exclusively elected by the Indian legislative councils.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Statement I: The Government of India Act 1858 created a 15-member Council of India to assist the Secretary of State for India.
Statement II: The members of this Council were exclusively elected by the Indian legislative councils.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Government of India Act 1858 created a 15-member Council of India to assist the Secretary of State, so Statement I is true. Its members were not elected by Indian councils, so Statement II is false.
Q57. Which constitutional reform was preceded by the historic August Declaration of 1917, which promised "the increasing association of Indians in every branch of the administration"?
Explanation
The August Declaration of 1917 promised increasing association of Indians in administration and was followed by the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919.
Q58. Which of the following pairs regarding colonial Census operations is correctly matched?
Explanation
The 1901 census, under Risley, used anthropometric measurements and caste rankings. The 1872 census was not synchronous and complete, the 1881 census was the first synchronous one and the 1931 census did collect caste data.
Q59. Colonial urban planning frequently used the pretext of ‘sanitation’ and ‘public health’ to:
Explanation
Colonial authorities often used sanitation and public health as a reason to demolish native dwellings and enforce racial segregation.
Q60. Consider the following statements regarding the features of colonial policing in India:
I. The police force was structured hierarchically with Europeans dominating the higher ranks.
II. The Daroga system was notoriously corrupt and oppressive towards the peasantry.
III. The Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 was used by the police to brand entire communities as habitual offenders.
IV. The police were largely sympathetic to the nationalist movement and frequently refused orders to lathi-charge protesters.
V. The CID (Criminal Investigation Department) was established following the recommendations of the Frazer Commission.
Which of the given statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The police force was structured hierarchically with Europeans dominating the higher ranks.
II. The Daroga system was notoriously corrupt and oppressive towards the peasantry.
III. The Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 was used by the police to brand entire communities as habitual offenders.
IV. The police were largely sympathetic to the nationalist movement and frequently refused orders to lathi-charge protesters.
V. The CID (Criminal Investigation Department) was established following the recommendations of the Frazer Commission.
Which of the given statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Colonial police had Europeans in the top ranks, the Daroga system was corrupt, the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 branded communities as habitual offenders and the CID followed the Frazer Commission. The police were not generally sympathetic to nationalists, so IV is incorrect.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 51 | (b) Vernacular Press Act 1878 |
| 52 | (a) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv |
| 53 | (c) It was designed as a paramilitary force to maintain colonial order and suppress political dissent. |
| 54 | (d) The enactment of sweeping sedition laws and racially discriminatory trial procedures |
| 55 | (c) It institutionalized religious identities as the basis for political rights, leading to deep divisions |
| 56 | (c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false. |
| 57 | (a) Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms 1919 |
| 58 | (c) 1901 - Census that utilized anthropometric measurements and caste rankings |
| 59 | (a) Justify the demolition of native dwellings and enforce racial segregation |
| 60 | (a) I, II, III and V 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.