Q70. Pitt’s India Act was enacted in which year?
[SSC Stenographer, Shift 1 (2024)]
A. 1781
B. 1784
C. 1782
D. 1780
Answer: B. 1784
Explanation: Pitt’s India Act of 1784 strengthened British political oversight through a Board of Control, while the East India Company’s directors retained important corporate functions. This followed the 1773 attempt at regulation and distinguished commercial management from political oversight of Company territories.
Q69. Which Act recognised the allocation of separate portfolios among members of the Governor-General’s Council?
[SSC Stenographer, Shift 1 (2024)]
A. Indian Councils Act, 1858
B. Indian Councils Act, 1861
C. Indian Councils Act, 1909
D. Indian Councils Act, 1892
Answer: B. Indian Councils Act, 1861
Explanation: The Indian Councils Act, 1861, restored legislative functions and expanded councils by allowing nominated additional members, including Indians. The portfolio system formalised departmental responsibility within executive government, a reform associated with Lord Canning.
Q68. Which was NOT a provision of Pitt’s India Act, 1784?
[SSC Stenographer, Shift 2 (2024)]
A. Creation of a six-member Board of Control
B. Closer supervision of Bombay and Madras
C. A smaller Governor-General’s Council
D. Assumption of all Company debts by the British government
Answer: D. Assumption of all Company debts by the British government
Explanation: Pitt’s India Act of 1784 strengthened British political oversight through a Board of Control, while the East India Company’s directors retained important corporate functions. The measure altered political supervision and council arrangements; it did not transfer every Company debt to the British Treasury.
Q67. Consider two statements about the Charter Act, 1833: (A) It renamed the Governor-General of Bengal as Governor-General of India; (B) William Bentinck was the first holder. Which is incorrect?
[SSC MTS, Shift 2 (2024)]
A. Neither statement
B. Only B
C. Only A
D. Both statements
Answer: A. Neither statement
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1833 ended the Company’s remaining trading privileges, centralised legislative authority and created the office of Governor-General of India. Both statements accurately describe the restructuring of the central executive office under the 1833 law.
Q66. Which legislation ended Company government and began direct Crown administration in India?
[SSC MTS, Shift 1 (2024)]
A. Government of India Act, 1919
B. Government of India Act, 1858
C. Charter Act, 1853
D. Charter Act, 1833
Answer: B. Government of India Act, 1858
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1858, transferred governance from the East India Company to the British Crown, introducing a Secretary of State for India. The 1858 transfer followed the uprising of 1857 and replaced Company supervision with the Secretary of State’s authority.
Q65. Which Act created the Board of Control for supervising the East India Company?
[SSC CGL, Shift 1 (2024)]
A. Charter Act, 1813
B. Regulating Act, 1773
C. Charter Act, 1793
D. Pitt’s India Act, 1784
Answer: D. Pitt’s India Act, 1784
Explanation: Pitt’s India Act of 1784 strengthened British political oversight through a Board of Control, while the East India Company’s directors retained important corporate functions. The statutory Board enabled British government direction over important civil, military and revenue affairs conducted in India.
Q64. Which Act transferred the rule of India from the East India Company to the British Crown?
[SSC CGL, Shift 1 (2024)]
A. Charter Act, 1833
B. Regulating Act, 1773
C. Pitt’s India Act, 1784
D. Government of India Act, 1858
Answer: D. Government of India Act, 1858
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1858, transferred governance from the East India Company to the British Crown, introducing a Secretary of State for India. The Crown assumed sovereignty over Company-held territories and the Viceroy represented it in India.
Q63. Which statements about the Morley-Minto Reforms are correct? (a) They became law in 1909; (b) They enlarged legislative councils; (c) They introduced separate Muslim electorates.
[SSC CGL, Shift 3 (2024)]
A. Only (b) and (c)
B. (a), (b) and (c)
C. Only (a) and (c)
D. Only (a) and (b)
Answer: B. (a), (b) and (c)
Explanation: The Indian Councils Act, 1909, also called the Morley-Minto Reforms, enlarged legislative councils and introduced separate Muslim electorates. All three statements describe core elements of the Indian Councils Act of 1909, including the significant communal electoral innovation.
Q62. Which enactment brought India’s administration under the direct rule of the Crown?
[SSC CGL, Shift 3 (2024)]
A. Charter Act, 1833
B. Regulating Act, 1773
C. Pitt’s India Act, 1784
D. Government of India Act, 1858
Answer: D. Government of India Act, 1858
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1858, transferred governance from the East India Company to the British Crown, introducing a Secretary of State for India. Crown rule replaced Company territorial administration, while Parliament retained overall legislative authority for imperial affairs.
Q61. In which year was Queen Victoria’s Proclamation announcing Crown government issued?
[WBPSC WBCS History Mains (2024)]
A. 1855
B. 1859
C. 1800
D. 1858
Answer: D. 1858
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1858, transferred governance from the East India Company to the British Crown, introducing a Secretary of State for India. Read at Allahabad in November 1858, the proclamation followed the Government of India Act transferring power to the Crown.
