Expansion of British Rule MCQ: Early Colonial Administration & Civil Service Reforms

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

1. Q1.Who was the first English person to visit the court of Jahangir?

   • A.Sir Thomas Roe
   • B.Ralph Fitch
   • C.William Hawkins
   • D.Peter Mundy✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: William Hawkins was the first English person by East India Company to visit the court of Jahangir in 1608-1611 AD.

2. Q2.Which treaty ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War?

   • A.Treaty of Madras
   • B.Treaty of Mangalore
   • C.Treaty of Srirangapatnam
   • D.Treaty of Mysore✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: The Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-92) ended with the Treaty of Srirangapatnam in 1792.

3. Q3.Under which Act was the Supreme Court established at Calcutta?

   • A.Regulating Act 1773
   • B.Pitt’s India Act 1784✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Charter Act 1813
   • D.Charter Act 1833

   Explanation: By the Regulating Act of 1773, a Supreme Court was established at Calcutta in 1774 with Elizah Impey as its Chief Justice.

4. Q4.Who is considered the founder of the British Empire in India?

   • A.Warren Hastings
   • B.Lord Cornwallis
   • C.Robert Clive
   • D.Lord Dalhousie✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: Robert Clive is known as the founder of English rule in India who defeated the forces of Bengal's Nawab in the Battle of Plassey.

5. Q5.Which Governor-General introduced the 'Ryotwari System'?

   • A.Lord Cornwallis
   • B.Thomas Munro and Alexander Reed
   • C.Lord Wellesley✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Lord Hastings

   Explanation: The Ryotwari system was started by Thomas Munro and Alexander Reed in Baramahal district of Tamil Nadu.

6. Q6.Who captured Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510?

   • A.Francisco de Almeida
   • B.Afonso de Albuquerque
   • C.Nino da Cunha✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Vasco da Gama

   Explanation: In 1510, Afonso de Albuquerque snatched Goa from Yusuf Adil Shah, the ruler of Bijapur, and established his authority there.

7. Q7.Which English monarch received Bombay as a dowry from the Portuguese in 1661?

   • A.James I
   • B.Charles I
   • C.Charles II
   • D.Henry VIII✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: In 1661, King of Britain Charles II married Portuguese Princess Catherine and received Mumbai as a gift (dowry).

8. Q8.Who is credited with the foundation of the city of Calcutta?

   • A.Sir Thomas Roe
   • B.Job Charnock
   • C.Lord Clive✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Warren Hastings

   Explanation: Job Charnock, head of the factory of Qasim Bazar, selected Sutanuti (a place in Calcutta) and established Calcutta as a base in 1690.

9. Q9.Which treaty ended the First Carnatic War (1746-48)?

   • A.Treaty of Paris
   • B.Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
   • C.Treaty of Madras✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Treaty of Pondicherry

   Explanation: With the end of the war in Europe, the war in India ended too with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748).

10. Q10.Who founded the French East India Company in 1664?

    • A.Louis XIV
    • B.Colbert
    • C.Dupleix✓ Correct Answer
    • D.De Almeida

    Explanation: Colbert, a minister of Louis XIV, founded the French East India Company in 1664.

11. Q11.Who abolished the 'Dual Government' system in Bengal in 1772?

    • A.Lord Cornwallis
    • B.Warren Hastings
    • C.Robert Clive✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Lord Wellesley

    Explanation: Warren Hastings in 1772 firstly ended the dual government system of Bengal by order of the Court of Directors.

12. Q12.Who is known as the 'Father of Civil Services' in India?

    • A.Lord Wellesley
    • B.Lord William Bentinck
    • C.Lord Cornwallis
    • D.Lord Dalhousie✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Indian Civil Services or Public Services was started by Lord Cornwallis.

13. Q13.Who established the Fort William College at Calcutta?

    • A.Warren Hastings
    • B.Lord Wellesley
    • C.Lord Cornwallis✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Lord William Bentinck

    Explanation: Lord Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta to train British civilians for administrative purposes.

14. Q14.Who was appointed by Lord William Bentinck to suppress the 'Thugs'?

    • A.Colonel Sleeman
    • B.Hector Munro✓ Correct Answer
    • C.General Dyer
    • D.Charles Napier

    Explanation: Captain Sleeman was appointed by William Bentinck to tackle the Thug activities. By 1837, the organized nature of Thugi ended.

15. Q15.Who passed the Widow Remarriage Act in 1856?

    • A.Lord Dalhousie
    • B.Lord Canning
    • C.Lord William Bentinck✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Lord Ripon

    Explanation: With the efforts of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Lord Canning in 1856, passed the Widow Remarriage Act.

16. Q16.Who led the Revolt of 1857 in Lucknow?

    • A.Rani Laxmi Bai
    • B.Nana Saheb
    • C.Begum Hazrat Mahal
    • D.Kunwar Singh✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Revolt in Lucknow began under the leadership of Begum Hazrat Mahal on 30th May, 1857.

17. Q17.Who was conferred the title of 'Punjab Kesari'?

    • A.Bhagat Singh
    • B.Ranjeet Singh
    • C.Lala Lajpat Rai
    • D.Lala Hardayal✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: Lala Lajpat Rai is also known as 'Punjab Kesari'. He was a major political leader of Punjab.

18. Q18.Which Governor-General is associated with the introduction of 'Local Self-Government' in India?

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

    Explanation: Lord Ripon is associated with the introduction of Local Self-Government in India.

19. Q19.In whose tenure was the first Census held in India in 1872?

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

    Explanation: First Census took place in 1872 during Lord Mayo. Proper census took place in 1881 during Lord Ripon.

20. Q20.Who founded the 'Indian Association' in 1876?

    • A.Dadabhai Naoroji
    • B.Surendranath Banerjee
    • C.Gopal Krishna Gokhale✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Bal Gangadhar Tilak

    Explanation: Indian Association was founded in 1876 at Kolkata by Surendranath Banerjee and Anand Mohan Bose.