Changes in Indian Administration after 1858 MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Changes in Indian Administration after 1858 - Download Free PDF

Key Points

• In 1858, the British Parliament passed the Government of India Act, transferring the rule of India from the East India Company to the British Crown.
• This was a direct consequence of the Revolt of 1857, which exposed the weaknesses and inefficiencies of the East India Company's administration.
• The transfer marked the beginning of the "British Raj," with Queen Victoria assuming the title of "Empress of India" in 1877.
• The Governor-General of India was given the title of "Viceroy" to signify the authority of the Crown.

Important Points

• The British Crown took over the administration of India due to the widespread discontent and unrest that culminated in the Revolt of 1857.
• The East India Company was dissolved, and the British Government assumed direct responsibility for governance.
• The Act of 1858 aimed to pacify Indians by promising reforms and safeguarding their rights, although these promises were rarely fulfilled.
• Lord Canning, who was the last Governor-General of India under the East India Company, became the first Viceroy under the Crown.

The Correct answer is Government of India Act, 1858.

Key Points

• The Government of India Act, 1858 was passed following the widespread revolt of 1857, also known as the First War of Indian Independence.
• This act marked the abolition of the East India Company’s rule in India and transferred the administrative power directly to the British Crown.
• The act provided for the appointment of a Secretary of State for India, based in London, to oversee Indian administration.
• A Council of India was created to assist the Secretary of State in decision-making, comprising members with experience in Indian affairs.
• The act also introduced the post of the Viceroy of India, who would act as the representative of the British Crown in India.
• This act signified a major shift in governance, moving from a commercial entity's control (East India Company) to a formal imperial administration.
• It emphasized the importance of reforms in governance and administration to prevent another large-scale uprising like the 1857 revolt.

 Additional Information

• Government of India Act, 1935
  • The Government of India Act, 1935 was a milestone in the constitutional development of India.
  • It proposed the establishment of federalism in India and introduced the concept of provincial autonomy.
  • This act provided for the establishment of an All-India Federation, although it was never fully implemented.
  • It also extended the system of communal representation and introduced the concept of a bicameral legislature at the provincial level.
• Indian Councils Act, 1909
  • The Indian Councils Act, 1909, also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, introduced separate electorates for Muslims for the first time.
  • It increased the size of legislative councils at both the central and provincial levels.
  • It marked a step toward granting limited representation to Indians in governance but fell short of meeting the demands for self-rule.
• Pitt's India Act
  • The Pitt's India Act of 1784 was enacted to address the mismanagement of the East India Company’s rule in India.
  • It created a dual system of governance, dividing powers between the Company and the British government.
  • The act established the Board of Control to oversee the political functions of the Company in India.
  • It aimed at improving accountability and ensuring that British interests were safeguarded in India.

The correct answer is Law Member was made a full member of the Executive Council of the Governor General..

Key Points

• The Government of India Act, 1858, led to the abolition of the Board of Control and the Court of Directors of the East India Company.
• The armed forces of the East India Company were transferred to the Crown.
• The designation of the Governor General of India was changed to the Viceroy of India, representing the British monarch.
• While the Act did reform administrative structures, it did not specifically make the Law Member a full member of the Executive Council of the Governor General.

Additional Information

• Government of India Act, 1858
  • The Act marked the end of the rule of the East India Company and the beginning of direct British governance in India.
  • All administrative and revenue control of India was transferred to the British Crown.
  • The Secretary of State for India, based in London, was given full control over Indian affairs.
  • It introduced a new administrative structure, establishing the office of the Viceroy of India.
• Administrative Reforms
  • The Act aimed to improve governance by centralizing authority and reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies.
  • It led to the restructuring of the Indian Civil Service to ensure better administration.
  • The Indian Council was established to assist the Secretary of State for India.
• Impact on Indian Society
  • Increased British intervention in social and cultural aspects of Indian life.
  • Introduction of new policies and reforms aimed at modernizing Indian society.
  • Heightened sense of nationalism and the beginning of organized movements against British rule.
• Subsequent Acts
  • The Government of India Act of 1919 and 1935 introduced further reforms, paving the way for increased Indian participation in governance.
  • These acts laid the groundwork for the eventual independence of India in 1947.

The correct answer is Option 2.

Key Points

• The Government of India Act 1858 is also referred to as an 'Act of Good Governance.' This terminology reflects the British aim to introduce reforms for better administration following the 1857 revolt.
• The Act transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown, thereby vesting control of Indian territories directly in the Queen.
• The Act led to the establishment of the office of the Secretary of State for India, who was responsible for overseeing Indian affairs.
• It marked the end of the East India Company's rule and the beginning of direct British governance in India.
• The Governor-General of India was re-designated as the Viceroy, symbolizing the Crown's direct control over India.

Additional Information

• Revolt of 1857: Also known as the First War of Indian Independence, it was a major uprising against the British East India Company.
• East India Company: A British trading company that controlled large parts of India before the Government of India Act 1858.
• Secretary of State for India: A British cabinet position established to manage Indian affairs post-1858.
• Viceroy: The highest official in British India, representing the Crown.
• Queen Victoria's Proclamation: A declaration made in 1858, promising improvements in governance and fair treatment of Indian subjects.

The correct answer is Indian Councils Act of 1861.

Key Points

• The Indian Councils Act of 1861 marked a major milestone in introducing Indian representation in the legislative process of British India.
• It allowed the Viceroy to nominate Indians as non-official members to his Legislative Council.
• Three Indians were nominated in 1862, including Raja of Benaras, Maharaja of Patiala, and Sir Dinkar Rao.
• The Act also provided for the inclusion of Indians in the law-making process, though their role was largely advisory and limited to certain areas.
• The primary aim was to placate Indian opinion and include local elites in governance post the 1857 Revolt.

Additional Information

• Charter Act of 1813:
  • This Act ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India, except for trade in tea and with China.
  • It marked the beginning of British efforts to introduce Western education in India.
  • However, it did not contain any provisions for Indian representation in governance.
• Charter Act of 1853:
  • The last of the Charter Acts, it separated legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General's Council.
  • It introduced an open competition system for civil services but did not allow Indian representation in the legislature.
• Indian Councils Act of 1892:
  • This Act expanded the Legislative Councils and allowed limited discussion on budgets but did not grant Indians substantial legislative powers.
  • It introduced an indirect election process for some members, but the electorate was highly restricted.
• Significance of the 1861 Act:
  • The Indian Councils Act of 1861 is considered the first step toward Indian political participation in the governance of British India.
  • It laid the groundwork for future reforms, like the Acts of 1892 and 1909, which gradually increased Indian involvement.

The correct answer is 1878.

Key Points

• Between 1876 until 1880, Lord Lytton held the position of Viceroy of India.
• He approved both the 1878 Arms Act and the Vernacular Press Act.
• The Arms Act was developed by the British during the 19th century in response to the rising Indian nationalism.
• It became law in 1878.
• The production and sale of firearms in the nation were controlled by this statute.
• No Indian was permitted to produce, market, or even possess a weapon without first obtaining a government permission.
• The British intended to prevent Indians from possessing rifles and pistols because they did not want another uprising like the one that occurred in 1857 CE.​

Additional Information

• The Indian Parliament passed the Arms Act of 1959.
• Its goal was to strengthen and reform the law governing firearms and ammunition in an effort to stop the use of illegal weapons and the violence that results from them.
• The Indian Arms Act of 1878 was replaced by it.
• In 1959, the Arms Act was adopted.​

The Correct Answer is Option 4 i.e Indian Council Act 1861.

The correct answer is Social Reform Act.

• Act III, 1872 was a Social Reform Act.
• India Act III, 1872 is also known as the Special Marriage Act.
• It was passed on 2nd March 1872.

Important Points

Some important provisions:

• Marriages may be celebrated under this Act between persons neither of whom professes the Christian or the Jewish, or the Hindu or the Muhammadan, or the Parsi or the Buddhist, or the Sikh or the Jaina religion. 
• The President of the Union may appoint Registrars under this Act for specified areas in the Union of Burma.

The correct answer is Government of India Act of 1858.

Key Points

• The Government of India Act of 1858 was the Act of the British Parliament which stated that a member of the British Cabinet was appointed Secretary of State for India.
• The Government of India Act 1858 was enacted by the British Parliament on 2 August 1858.
• With the passage of the Government of India Act 1858, the East India Company's territories and government were turned over to the British Crown.
• Following the end of the company's administration over British colonies in India, control was transferred directly to the British government.
• Lord Stanley was appointed as the first Secretary of State for India.

Additional Information

•  The Indian Councils Act 1861 was an Act of the British Parliament that changed the executive council of India into a cabinet that utilised the portfolio system.
• The Regulating Act of 1773 was an Act of the British Parliament designed to restructure the East India Company's administration of its rule in India.
• The British Parliament enacted the Charter Act, 1853 to extend the charter of the East India Company.

The Correct Answer is Government of India Act 1858.

Key Points:

The correct answer is 1878.

Key Points

•  Vernacular press act 1878
  • ​British India passed the Vernacular Press Act (1878) to restrict press freedom and discourage criticism of British policy, notably the opposition that had risen since the commencement of the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–80).
  • The Act was submitted by Lytton, the Viceroy of India at the time, and on March 14, 1878, the Viceroy's Council unanimously approved it. In order to "better control" the vernacular press and effectively penalise and prohibit "seditious literature" in "publications in oriental languages," the Vernacular Press Act (VPA) was passed.
  • As a result, the British had nothing but hatred for the (non-English speaking) Indian press.

Additional Information

•  The Bengal Gazette was the first newspaper to be printed in India. James Hickey, the editor of this publication, was a vocal opponent of the East India Company. The newspaper was shut down as a result within two years of starting to publish.
• The Bengal Gazette served as the model for a number of Indian newspapers that are presently printed in all major languages. These journals carried editorials that were anti-colonial and attacked the East India Company's haughtiness.
• The existence of such columns was crucial in educating the rapidly emerging educated Indian class about the brutal colonial authority that had been imposed upon India by a force that professed to support democracy.
• The East India Company, which wished to uphold its hegemony in India despite all obstacles, was harmed by this. Especially when the Second Anglo-Afghan War began in 1878, newspapers like Amrita Bazar Patrika and others were vociferous in their condemnation of the British in India.
• Viceroy Lord Lytton, therefore, created the Vernacular Press Act in 1878 to regulate seditious reports in vernacular newspapers published in India in an effort to stop this.
  Due to the agitation, it produced among the Indians, Lord Ripon abolished the Vernacular Press Act in 1881.

The correct answer is Government of India Act 1858.

Key Points

• By the Government of India Act 1858, Governor General received the title of Viceroy.Lord Canning become first viceroy of India.
• He represented Secretary of State and was assisted by an Executive Council, which consisted of high officials of the Government. 

Additional Information

• India's rule came directly under British Crown.
• The administration was to be run by Her Majesty, through the Secretary of State for India, assisted by the Council of India
• The court of Directors and Board of control were abolished.
• The council of India was an advisory body, with the secretary of state as its Chairman.
• This act made India a direct colony of the British Crown.
• Council of India had 15 members, 8 appointed by the Crown and the appointment of the remaining 7 persons were to be elected from the member of the Court of Directors
• This act aboilished the dual government of Pitts India Act.
• Also ended Doctrine of Lapse.

The correct answer is the Government of India Act, 1858

Key Points

• Government of India Act 1858 was also known as 'Act for the Good Government of India'. 
• It ended the Dual government scheme initiated due to Pitt's India act.
• This act also ended the doctrine of lapse. 
• The powers of the Company’s Court of Directors were vested with the Secretary of State for India.
• This Secretary of State was to be a British MP and a member of the Prime Minister’s cabinet. He was to be assisted by a council of 15 members.
• The representative of the British government in India was the Viceroy. 

Additional Information

The correct answer is Indigo Disturbances.

Key Points

• The Indigo revolt was a peasant movement that rose in Bengal in 1859.
• It was also known as Nil bidroha.
• Peasants were compelled to plant Indigo rather than Food Crops.
• They were provided loans called 'dadon' for indigo planting which was at a high-interest rate. And eventually, it resulted in a rebellion.

Additional Information

• The peasant movement or the revolt started from the villages of Gobindapur and Chaugacha in Krishnanagar, Nadia district.
• Digambar Biswas and Bishnucharan Biswas first led the rebellion against the planters in Bengal in 1859.
• It spread rapidly in Birbhum, Burdwan, Pabna, Khulna, and Narail, Murshidabad.

The Correct Answer is Option 3 i.e Charter Act of 1853.

Key Points

• Charter Act of 1853:
  • It laid down a provision that there could be open competition for ICS.
  • Law member was made full-fledged members of the council.
  • For the purpose of the legislation, the council was expanded by six additional members.
  • The legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General’s council were separated for the first time.

Additional Information

• Charter Act of 1813:
  • The monopoly of EIC was abolished in terms of trade with India.
  • The company still enjoyed the monopoly in terms of tea and china trade for 20 more years.
  • This act provided a grant of one lakh rupees per annum for the promotion of education in India.
  • This act gave power to local governments to impose and collect taxes.
• Charter Act of 1833:
  • This act is also known as Saint Helena Act 1833.
  • Lord William Bentick became the first governor-general of India.
  • 4th member was added as a law member in the council of governor-general but only for the purpose of the legislation as a temporary member. (Lord Macaulay was the first law member)
  • Bombay and Madras were deprived of their power to legislate.
  • The Act legalized the British colonization of the country.
  • The Law Commission was organized under Lord Macaulay to codify all Indian laws.
  • Complete abolition of monopoly even in terms of tea and china trade.
  •  
• Charter Act of 1793:
  • Privileges of EIC were extended for 20 more years.
  • Commander in chief henceforth would not be a member of the council.
  • This act granted the authority to grant licenses to individuals and company employees to carry on trade in India.