Q80. Regarding the ICS, consider:
(1) the 1919 reforms provided for examinations in India;
(2) Indians outnumbered Europeans within the ICS by 1941.
Which statements are correct?
[UPPSC RO/ARO General Studies (5 December 2021)]
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: The Montagu–Chelmsford reforms facilitated later ICS examinations in India, which began in 1922. Indian recruitment grew in the interwar years and surpassed European representation by 1941. Both developments indicate gradual Indianization of a once overwhelmingly European service.
Q79. Under the Police Act of 1861, whose written authorization was required for a police officer to take employment outside police duty?
[UP Police Sub-Inspector (27 November 2021, Shift 3)]
(A) Governor
(B) Chief Minister
(C) Chief Secretary
(D) Inspector-General of Police
Answer: (D) Inspector-General of Police
Explanation: The Police Act of 1861 restricted outside employment by police personnel without prescribed written permission of the Inspector-General. Such provisions reflected a disciplined, hierarchical police bureaucracy developed under colonial administration following the Revolt of 1857.
Q78. Which Act of the British Parliament provided for the Supreme Court at Calcutta?
[UP Police Sub-Inspector (25 November 2021, Shift 3)]
(A) Regulating Act, 1773
(B) Pitt’s India Act, 1784
(C) Indian Councils Act, 1861
(D) Charter Act, 1813
Answer: (A) Regulating Act, 1773
Explanation: The Regulating Act of 1773 authorized establishment of the Calcutta Supreme Court, which opened in 1774. This was an early parliamentary intervention in Company government and introduced a new royal judicial institution in Bengal.
Q77. Which Act ended the East India Company’s monopoly of trade in India?
[UP Police Sub-Inspector (16 November 2021, Shift 1)]
(A) Charter Act, 1853
(B) Charter Act, 1833
(C) Indian Councils Act, 1909
(D) Charter Act, 1813
Answer: (D) Charter Act, 1813
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1813 ended the Company’s exclusive control over most trade with India but preserved its tea and China trade monopoly. The latter privileges ended with the Charter Act of 1833, when commercial business ceased.
Q76. Regarding the Indian Councils Act of 1861, which is correct:
(1) it enlarged the Governor-General’s Council for legislation;
(2) the Governor-General could not increase its membership?
[UPSC NDA II GAT (14 November 2021)]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (A) 1 only
Explanation: The 1861 Act enlarged the council with additional legislative members while permitting appointments within the statutory range. The second statement misstates the Governor-General’s powers. Lawmaking nevertheless remained tightly controlled by the colonial executive rather than elected representatives.
Q75. Who is called the father of local self-government in India?
[UP Police SI (13 November 2021, Shift 3)]
(A) Lord Dalhousie
(B) Lord Canning
(C) Lord Ripon
(D) Lord Mayo
Answer: (C) Lord Ripon
Explanation: Lord Ripon’s 1882 resolution laid the groundwork for more representative municipal and district boards. His approach sought to encourage participation by Indian non-official members, although local bodies remained subject to extensive colonial oversight.
Q74. Which Act strengthened the Viceroy’s authority over his council by replacing collective functioning with a departmental portfolio system?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims General Studies (24 October 2021)]
(A) Indian Councils Act, 1861
(B) Government of India Act, 1858
(C) Indian Councils Act, 1892
(D) Indian Councils Act, 1909
Answer: (A) Indian Councils Act, 1861
Explanation: The Indian Councils Act of 1861 recognized departmental portfolios and authorized rules for transacting Executive Council business. Individual members assumed charge of specific departments, enabling more streamlined decisions while retaining the Viceroy’s overriding authority.
Q73. Which statute first made indirect election of Indian representatives to legislative councils possible?
[SSC MTS 2020 (13 October 2021, Shift 3)]
(A) Government of India Act, 1833
(B) Indian Councils Act, 1892
(C) Government of India Act, 1915
(D) Indian Councils Act, 1861
Answer: (B) Indian Councils Act, 1892
Explanation: The 1892 Act introduced limited indirect selection of non-official council members through recommendations by local bodies and institutions. It did not establish democratic elections or responsible government, but it was an important stage in legislative representation.
Q72. Consider:
(1) The 1919 reforms gave voting rights to all women above 21;
(2) the 1935 Act reserved legislative seats for women.
Which is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims GS (10 October 2021)]
(A) Statement 1 only
(B) Statement 2 only
(C) Both statements
(D) Neither statement
Answer: (B) Statement 2 only
Explanation: The 1919 reforms did not establish universal women’s suffrage. The Government of India Act of 1935, however, provided reserved legislative seats for women and widened the restricted electorate. Full adult franchise arrived only after independence.
Q71. Under which Charter Act was provision made for India’s first Law Commission?
[MH SET History (26 September 2021)]
(A) Charter Act, 1793
(B) Charter Act, 1813
(C) Charter Act, 1833
(D) Charter Act, 1853
Answer: (C) Charter Act, 1833
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1833 authorized a Law Commission to examine and codify Indian law. The first commission began work under T. B. Macaulay in 1834, eventually contributing to major colonial legislative codification initiatives, including criminal law reform.
