Historical Perspectives — MCQs

All questions with answers and explanations

Read the full set here, or use the practice card above to test yourself one question at a time.

1. The Regulating Act, 1773 created the office of:

   • Viceroy of India
   • Governor-General of Bengal (correct answer)
   • Secretary of State for India
   • President of the Board of Control

   Explanation. It created the office of Governor-General of Bengal, first held by Warren Hastings, and set up a Supreme Court at Calcutta.

2. Pitt's India Act, 1784 is best known for introducing:

   • Separate electorates
   • A system of "dual control" between the Company and a Crown-appointed Board of Control (correct answer)
   • The Federal Court
   • Universal adult franchise

   Explanation. The Company continued its commercial functions, while a new Board of Control took charge of political and administrative affairs.

3. Which Act first divided legislative and executive functions within the Governor-General's Council?

   • Charter Act, 1813
   • Charter Act, 1833
   • Charter Act, 1853 (correct answer)
   • Indian Councils Act, 1861

   Explanation. The Charter Act, 1853 separated legislative and executive functions and introduced open competitive examinations for the Civil Service.

4. The Government of India Act, 1858 was passed as a direct result of:

   • The Rebellion of 1857 (correct answer)
   • The Simon Commission Report
   • World War I
   • The Morley-Minto Reforms

   Explanation. It transferred administration of India from the East India Company directly to the British Crown and created the office of Secretary of State.

5. Which Act first gave the Governor-General the power to nominate Indians as non-official members to his legislative council?

   • Indian Councils Act, 1861 (correct answer)
   • Indian Councils Act, 1892
   • Indian Councils Act, 1909
   • Government of India Act, 1919

   Explanation. The Indian Councils Act, 1861 was a small but genuine first step toward Indian participation in lawmaking.

6. Separate electorates for Muslims were introduced for the first time by:

   • The Indian Councils Act, 1892
   • The Indian Councils Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) (correct answer)
   • The Government of India Act, 1919
   • The Government of India Act, 1935

   Explanation. The Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909 introduced separate electorates for Muslims for the first time in Indian constitutional history.

7. Under dyarchy, introduced by the Government of India Act, 1919, "reserved" subjects were controlled by:

   • Ministers answerable to the elected provincial legislature
   • The Governor and his executive council (correct answer)
   • The Secretary of State alone
   • The Federal Court

   Explanation. Reserved matters, such as the police, remained with the Governor and his executive council.

8. Which commission, appointed in 1927, had no Indian member?

   • The Cabinet Mission
   • The Simon Commission of 1927 (correct answer)
   • The Cripps Mission
   • The Constituent Assembly

   Explanation. The Simon Commission was appointed in 1927 and had no Indian member.