Development of Press and Education MCQ: Macaulay's Minute, Wood's Despatch & BHU

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Where was the first Madarsa set up by the British in India?

   • A.Madras
   • B.Bombay
   • C.Aligarh
   • D.Calcutta✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: In 1780, Warren Hastings founded the first Madarsa (Madarsa 'Aliya') at Calcutta for the study of Muslim law and related subjects.

2. Q2.Who founded the Sanskrit College at Varanasi in 1791?

   • A.Jonathan Duncan✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Warren Hastings
   • C.Lord Macaulay
   • D.William Jones

   Explanation: The Sanskrit College was established in 1791 by Jonathan Duncan, the resident at Benaras, for the study of Hindu law and philosophy.

3. Q3.Who founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784?

   • A.Charles Wilkins
   • B.Max Muller
   • C.William Jones✓ Correct Answer
   • D.James Prinsep

   Explanation: Sir William Jones established the Asiatic Society at Calcutta in 1784 to study India's past and oriental education.

4. Q4.Why was the Fort William College established by Lord Wellesley?

   • A.To promote oriental learning
   • B.To provide employment to Indians
   • C.To train British civilians for administrative purposes✓ Correct Answer
   • D.To teach English to Indians

   Explanation: Fort William College was founded in 1800 to train British civilians in Indian languages and customs for administrative purposes.

5. Q5.Which Act granted one lakh rupees for education in India for the first time?

   • A.Charter Act of 1833
   • B.Charter Act of 1813✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Wood's Despatch 1854
   • D.Indian Council Act 1892

   Explanation: The Charter Act of 1813 allotted Rs. 1,00,000 annually to promote education among the Indian masses.

6. Q6.Who is considered the propounder of the 'Filtration Theory' in India's education policy?

   • A.Charles Wood
   • B.Lord Macaulay✓ Correct Answer
   • C.J.S. Mill
   • D.Lord Cornwallis

   Explanation: Lord Macaulay propounded the 'Downward Filtration Theory', believing that educating the elite would eventually filter down to the masses.

7. Q7.Which document is considered the 'Magna Carta of English Education in India'?

   • A.Macaulay's Minute
   • B.Hunter Commission Report
   • C.Wood's Despatch✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Sadler Commission Report

   Explanation: Charles Wood's Despatch (1854) is considered the 'Magna Carta of English Education in India' as it was the first comprehensive plan for the spread of education.

8. Q8.In which year were the universities of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras established?

   • A.1854
   • B.1857✓ Correct Answer
   • C.1882
   • D.1905

   Explanation: Following the recommendations of Wood's Despatch, the universities of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras were established in 1857.

9. Q9.The Hunter Commission (1882) was appointed to review the progress of education after which event?

   • A.Charter Act of 1813
   • B.Macaulay's Minute
   • C.Wood's Despatch of 1854✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Revolt of 1857

   Explanation: The Hunter Commission was established in 1882 to analyze the educational development in India after Wood's Despatch of 1854.

10. Q10.The Sadler Commission (1917) was primarily related to which university?

    • A.Bombay University
    • B.Madras University
    • C.Calcutta University✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Delhi University

    Explanation: The Sadler Commission was appointed in 1917 to study and report on the problems of Calcutta University.

11. Q11.Who established the first women's university in Bombay?

    • A.M.G. Ranade
    • B.D.K. Karve✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Ramabai
    • D.Annie Besant

    Explanation: D.K. Karve established the first women's university in Bombay in 1916.

12. Q12.Who among the following was associated with the foundation of the Deccan Education Society?

    • A.Firoz Shah Mehta
    • B.B.G. Tilak✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Dayanand Saraswati
    • D.Raja Ram Mohan Roy

    Explanation: The Deccan Education Society was established in 1884 by B.G. Tilak, V.K. Chiplunkar, and G.G. Agarkar.

13. Q13.Which college was established by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in collaboration with David Hare?

    • A.Hindu College✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Delhi College
    • C.Mayo College
    • D.Sanskrit College

    Explanation: Raja Ram Mohan Roy, along with David Hare, established the Hindu College in Calcutta in 1817.

14. Q14.Who laid the foundation stone of Banaras Hindu University in 1916?

    • A.Madan Mohan Malviya
    • B.Annie Besant
    • C.Lord Hardinge✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Mahatma Gandhi

    Explanation: Lord Hardinge, the then Viceroy, laid the foundation stone of BHU on 4th February 1916.

15. Q15.Which was the first newspaper published in India?

    • A.The Bengal Gazette✓ Correct Answer
    • B.The Calcutta Gazette
    • C.Madras Courier
    • D.Bombay Herald

    Explanation: The Bengal Gazette, started by James Augustus Hickey in 1780, was the first newspaper in India.

16. Q16.Who enacted the Vernacular Press Act of 1878?

    • A.Lord Ripon
    • B.Lord Lytton✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Lord Curzon
    • D.Lord Hastings

    Explanation: The Vernacular Press Act was passed during the tenure of Lord Lytton in 1878 to control the vernacular press.

17. Q17.Which Governor-General repealed the Vernacular Press Act?

    • A.Lord Lytton
    • B.Lord Ripon✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Lord Curzon
    • D.Lord Dufferin

    Explanation: Lord Ripon repealed the Vernacular Press Act in 1882.

18. Q18.Who was the first Indian to go to jail for the performance of his duty as a journalist?

    • A.Surendranath Banerjee
    • B.Bal Gangadhar Tilak✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Dadabhai Naoroji
    • D.Motilal Ghosh

    Explanation: B.G. Tilak was the first Indian to be punished and imprisoned (in 1882) for the performance of his duty as a journalist.

19. Q19.Who started the Persian weekly 'Mirat-ul-Akhbar'?

    • A.Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
    • B.Raja Ram Mohan Roy✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Lala Lajpat Rai
    • D.Maulana Azad

    Explanation: Raja Ram Mohan Roy published the Persian newspaper 'Mirat-ul-Akhbar' in 1822.

20. Q20.Which was the first Hindi newspaper published in India?

    • A.Udant Martand✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Samvad Kaumudi
    • C.Kesari
    • D.Bengal Gazette

    Explanation: The first Hindi newspaper 'Udant Martand' was published from Calcutta on 30th May, 1826.