Q100. Who chaired the Public Service Commission that recommended raising the maximum age for competitive civil-service examinations?
[UGC NET History (10 October 2022, Shift 2)]
(A) William Digby
(B) Charles Aitchison
(C) Herbert Risley
(D) Valentine Chirol
Answer: (B) Charles Aitchison
Explanation: The Aitchison Public Service Commission was appointed in 1886 under Viceroy Dufferin. Sir Charles Aitchison chaired it. The commission considered greater Indian entry, service classification and age limits, although the colonial system continued to favour European recruits.
Q99. By what other name is the Indian Councils Act, 1909, known?
[RRB Group D (7 October 2022, Shift 1)]
(A) Simon Commission
(B) Quit India Movement
(C) Chauri Chaura incident
(D) Morley–Minto Reforms
Answer: (D) Morley–Minto Reforms
Explanation: The Morley–Minto reforms were legislated through the Indian Councils Act of 1909. They expanded legislative councils and provided separate Muslim electorates, but neither established provincial dyarchy nor produced a popularly accountable central executive.
Q98. Which enactment permitted the East India Company to retain its Indian territories and revenues in trust for the Crown without fixing another twenty-year renewal?
[RRB Group D (29 September 2022, Shift 2)]
(A) Regulating Act, 1773
(B) Charter Act, 1853
(C) Indian Councils Act, 1909
(D) Government of India Act, 1935
Answer: (B) Charter Act, 1853
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1853 did not renew Company administration for the usual fixed twenty-year period. Territories and revenues continued to be held in trust for the Crown, while Parliament reserved the possibility of ending Company government.
Q97. In which year was the Regulating Act passed by the British Parliament?
[RRB Group D (22 September 2022, Shift 3)]
(A) 1773
(B) 1861
(C) 1875
(D) 1793
Answer: (A) 1773
Explanation: Parliament enacted the Regulating Act in 1773 as an early attempt to supervise Company rule in India. It created the Governor-General of Bengal with a council and authorized a Supreme Court at Fort William in Calcutta.
Q96. Who is regarded as the Father of Local Self-Government in India?
[RRB Group D (6 September 2022, Shift 1)]
(A) Warren Hastings
(B) Robert Clive
(C) Lord Wellesley
(D) Lord Ripon
Answer: (D) Lord Ripon
Explanation: Lord Ripon’s 1882 resolution sought representative local administration through municipal and district boards. It advocated greater non-official participation and local responsibility, earning Ripon the conventional title Father of Local Self-Government in India.
Q95. The East India Company Act, 1813 is also known by which name?
[RRB Group D (24 August 2022, Shift 1)]
(A) Charter Act
(B) British Parliament Act
(C) Indian Council Act
(D) Indian Independence Act
Answer: (A) Charter Act
Explanation: The East India Company Act of 1813 was a Charter Act renewing the Company’s authority while ending its exclusive right over most commerce with India. The privileged tea and China trades remained exceptions until 1833.
Q94. Which British law defined powers and responsibilities of the governing organs of the East India Company?
[RRB Group D (23 August 2022, Shift 1)]
(A) Indian Councils Act, 1892
(B) Pitt’s India Act, 1784
(C) Regulating Act, 1773
(D) Government of India Act, 1858
Answer: (C) Regulating Act, 1773
Explanation: The Regulating Act, 1773 gave statutory definition to important Company governing offices and imposed Parliament’s initial controls. It created a Governor-General and council in Bengal while requiring Company authorities to report on administrative matters.
Q93. Assess statements on local government: (i) Ripon’s 1882 resolution formally established a two-tier system for administrative efficiency. (ii) Under the 1919 reforms, local self-government became a transferred provincial subject. Which is correct?
[DSSSB Patwari (21 August 2022, Shift 3)]
(A) Neither statement
(B) Only (i)
(C) Only (ii)
(D) Both statements
Answer: (C) Only (ii)
Explanation: Ripon’s 1882 resolution encouraged participatory municipal and district boards, not the stated rigid two-tier scheme. The Montagu–Chelmsford changes made local self-government a transferred subject under provincial dyarchy, handled by ministers responsible to legislatures.
Q92. Who introduced the Daroga system in place of policing by zamindari thanedars?
[SSC Selection Post Graduation Level (5 August 2022, Shift 3)]
(A) Lord Hastings
(B) Lord Wellesley
(C) Lord Minto I
(D) Lord Cornwallis
Answer: (D) Lord Cornwallis
Explanation: Cornwallis reduced zamindari control over policing by establishing an official daroga-led police structure. The new thanas were intended to improve supervision and policing across districts, though coercive colonial priorities and local abuses frequently remained.
Q91. Under the Indian Councils Act of 1861, how long was the term of the six to twelve nominated additional legislative members?
[SSC Selection Post Graduation Level (4 August 2022, Shift 2)]
(A) Two years
(B) Six years
(C) Five years
(D) Three years
Answer: (A) Two years
Explanation: The Act of 1861 provided for six to twelve additional members of the Governor-General’s council for legislative purposes, serving two-year terms. It distinguished lawmaking business from executive work and permitted limited non-official participation without popular parliamentary control.
