1. Where was the first Madarsa set up by the British in India?
(a) Madras
(b) Bombay
(c) Aligarh
(d) Calcutta
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]
Ans. (d) Calcutta
- In 1780, Warren Hastings started the Madarsa ‘Aliya’ school in Calcutta.
- Its first leader was Mulla Mujjuddin.
- This school taught Arabic, Persian, and Muslim laws and its graduates helped as translators during British rule.
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2. The Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded by
(a) Sir William Jones
(b) Wilkins
(c) Max Muller
(d) James Prinsep
[U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2006, U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004, Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2003, R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1999]
Ans. (a) Sir William Jones
- At the start of British rule in India, they didn’t care about improving education.
- Some of them were interested in it for their own reasons and to gain power.
- Warren Hastings, the Governor-General of Bengal, was very interested in expanding Oriental education.
- Sir William Jones, who was a Justice of the Calcutta High Court, set up the Asiatic Society in Calcutta.
- They did research on Oriental education and culture, and British civilians were taught Indian languages, laws, customs, religion, and geography.
- Thanks to Wilkins Jones, Colebrook, and William Carey, Oriental education was more successful.
- In 1791, Jonathan Duncan started the Sanskrit College in Varanasi (Banaras).
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3. Who founded the First Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya at Varanasi?
(a) Jonathan Duncan
(b) Warren Hastings
(c) Lorel Macaulay
(d) Bankim Chandra
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
Ans. (a) Jonathan Duncan
- At first, the British didn’t care much about education in India, but some of them wanted to gain political power, so they tried to spread education.
- Warren Hastings, the Governor-General of Bengal, had a strong desire to promote oriental education.
- Sir William Jones, who was a Justice of the Calcutta High Court, set up the Asiatic Society at Calcutta in 1784.
- This society studied oriental education and culture, and the British civilians were taught Indian languages, laws, customs, religion, and geography.
- Through the work of Wilkins Jones, Colebrook, and William Carey, oriental education was spread.
- In 1791, Jonathan Duncan started the Sanskrit College in Varanasi (Banaras).
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4. Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because :
(a) he was asked by the Board of Directors in London to do so
(b) he wanted to revive interest in oriental learning in India
(c) he wanted to provide William Carey and his associates with employment
(d) he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purposes in India
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2020]
Ans (d) he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purposes in India
- Wellesley established Fort William College in Kolkata on July 10, 1800, for the purpose of teaching British people how to handle administrative matters in India.
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5. With reference to the Fort William College Calcutta. Which of the statement/s is/are correct?
1. It was founded on 10th June 1800 A.D. within the Fort William Complex in Calcutta.
2. The main purpose of establishing this college, was to teach Indian languages to British officers.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Code –
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
[U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre.) 2021]
Ans (b) Only 2
- William College was created by Richard Wellesley on July 10th, 1800 within the Fort William area of Calcutta.
- It was made to teach Indian languages to British officials and also to teach other skills needed for administrative work.
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6. With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs –
Institutions – Founder
1. Sanskrit College at Benaras – William Jones
2. Calcutta Madarsa – Warren Hastings
3. Fort William College – Arthur Wellesley
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (b) 2 only
- Jonathan Duncan established the Sanskrit College of Benaras in 1791 AD.
- Warren Hastings established the Calcutta Madarsa in 1780 AD, and Richard Chole Wellesley founded Fort William College.
- Therefore, option (b) is correct.
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7. Who among the following was offered membership in the Royal Asiatic Society of Paris?
(a) Dadabhai Naoroji
(b) Michael Madhusudan Dutta
(c) Raja Rammohan Roy
(d) Vivekanand
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
Ans. (b) Michael Madhusudan Dutta
- Michael Madhusudan Dutta was invited to be a part of The Asian Society of Paris, which was set up in 1822.
- Dadabhai Naoroji was a British MP in the Liberal Party for the House of Commons from 1892 to 1895 – he was the first Asian to hold this role.
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy started the Brahmo Sabha Movement in 1828, which eventually became the influential Bengali-socio-religious Reform Movement known as the Brahmo Samaj.
- In 1893, Swami Vivekananda represented India at the Parliament of the World Religion in the US, and he founded the Ramakrishna
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8. Who amongst the following Englishmen, first translated Bhagavad Gita into English?
(a) William Jones
(b) Charles Wilkins
(c) Alexander Cunningham
(d) John Marshall
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2001]
Ans. (b) Charles Wilkins
- Sir Charles Wilkins was an Englishman famous for being the first person to translate the Bhagavad Gita into English.
- He had the help of Warren Hastings, who was the Governor-General of Bengal at the time.
- Warren Hastings was very interested in promoting Eastern learning.
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9. Who among the following was the first to translate Kalidasa’s famous work ‘Shakuntala’ into English?
(a) Charles Wilkins
(b) Henry Colebrooke
(c) Johana Wolfgang von Goethe
(d) Sir William Jones
[U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Mains) 2010]
Ans. (d) Sir William Jones
- Sir William Jones was the first person to turn Kalidasa’s Shakuntala into English.
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10. The main reason for the British Government to spread modern education in India during the pre-independence period was –
(a) The need for educated Indians in minor administrative posts
(b) To promote Indian culture
(c) To modernize the Indian people so that they could share their political responsibilities
(d) None of the above
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
Ans. (a) The need for educated Indians in minor administrative posts
- The major reason for the British Government to spread modern education in India during the pre-independence period was to reduce the expenditure of administration.
- The government wanted to increase the number of educated Indians to fulfill their requirements.
- There was an urgent need for educated Indians in minor administrative posts of British rule.
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11. Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India?
1. Charter Act of 1813
2. General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823
3. Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (d) 1, 2 and 3
- In 1813, the British Parliament passed the East India Act, which provided 100,000 rupees to promote education in India.
- It also allowed Christian missionaries to spread the English language and their religion.
- In 1823, a committee of 10 people was set up, with Lord Macaulay as the President, and they were given one lakh rupees to spend on education.
- But they couldn’t decide which language should be used to teach, so there was a 12-year-long debate between the supporters of English (Anglicists) and the Classic language (Orientalists).
- In the end, Lord Macaulay wrote a report saying that English should be the language used to teach so that the people of India can better understand how to govern themselves.
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12. Which Act of the British Government granted Rs. One lakh for education in India for the first time?
(a) Wood’s Dispatch, 1854
(b) Charter Act, 1813
(c) Charter Act, 1853
(d) Indian Council Act, 1892
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
Ans. (b) Charter Act, 1813
- The Charter Act of 1813, also known as the East India Company Act, was a law made by the British Parliament that continued the British East India Company’s rule in India.
- Their commercial monopoly was over, except for the tea and China trade.
- This Act also gave out 100,000 rupees to help with the education of the Indian people for the first time.
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13. Charles Wood’s Despatch was related to which of the following?
(a) Education
(b) Trade
(c) Administrative Reforms
(d) Military Reforms
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (a) Education
- In 1853, it was decided that India needed an organized educational system.
- This led to the creation of the Wood’s Despatch, led by Sir Charles Wood.
- The goal of the Despatch was to teach Western knowledge to the Indian people and help them develop their minds and character.
- It also included plans to create an education department in each province, universities modeled after the London University in big cities, government schools in every district, grants for private schools, teaching in the native language, and support for women’s education.
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14. Regarding Wood’s Dispatch, which of the following statements is true?
1. A Grants-in-Aid system was introduced.
2. The establishment of universities was recommended.
3. English as a medium of instruction at all levels of education was recommended.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]
Ans. (a) 1 and 2 only
- The Charles Wood Dispatch in 1854 proposed a system of financial support and suggested the creation of universities in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay that would be modeled after universities in Britain.
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15. In the Hunter Commission report, special emphasis was laid on the development of:
(a) Girls’ education
(b) Higher education
(c) Primary education
(d) Technical Education
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004, U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
Ans. (c) Primary education
- In 1882, W.W. Hunter started the Hunter Commission to look into how education had progressed since 1854.
- Lord Ripon was part of this commission, which suggested improvements for primary education and vocational training in secondary education.
- It also pointed out that there weren’t enough resources for female education. Some of its ideas were put into action.
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16. Who appointed the First Indian Education Commission and in which year?
(a) Lord Ripon in 1882
(b) Lord William Wedderburn in 1885
(c) Lord Curzon in 1905
(d) Lord Lytton in 1880
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021]
Ans (a) Lord Ripon in 1882
- The Hunter Commission, the first Education Commission in India, was set up in 1882 by Lord Ripon with Sir William Hunter as the chairperson.
- Sir William Hunter was part of the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
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17. When was the National Council of Education established?
(a) 15th August 1903
(b) 15th August 1904
(c) 15th August 1905
(d) 15th August 1906
[53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]
Ans. (d) 15th August 1906
- On 16 November 1905, the people of Rangpur had a meeting.
- Eight days earlier, they had opened the Rangpur National School to teach Indian students both general and technical knowledge.
- After a student protest at Madaripur High School, the people were determined to form the National Council of Education (NCE).
- At the Academic Club meeting, Subodh Chandra Basu Mullick promised to give one lakh Rupees to a National University in Bengal.
- Ashutosh Chowdhary urged everyone to come to the Bengal Landholders Association for a conference on 16 November.
- The purpose of the conference was to create an NCE to teach literary, scientific, and technical subjects all over India and under national control.
- The NCE established the Bengal National College and Bengal National School on 15 August 1906.
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18. Sadler Commission was related to:
(a) Judiciary
(b) Revenue Administration
(c) Education
(d) Police Administration
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (c) Education
- In 1917, the Indian government set up a commission to look into the issues of Calcutta University.
- The head of the commission was Dr. M.E. Sadler, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds, and two Indian members, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee and Dr. Zia-ud-din Ahmad.
- The commission thought that improving secondary education was important for improving university education.
- It criticized the University Act, of 1904, and said that there was no good connection between colleges and universities.
- Even though the commission studied Calcutta University, its suggestions and comments could be used for other universities in India too
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19. When did the British Government appoint the Sadler University Commission for reforms in education :
(a) 1919
(b) 1917
(c) 1921 (d) 1896
[48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) 1917
- In 1917, the Indian government created the Sadler Commission to look into the issues of Calcutta University.
- Dr. M.E. Sadler from the University of Leeds was chosen as the leader of the commission, which also included Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee and Dr. Zia-ud-din Ahmad.
- The commission believed that the improvement of secondary education was important for improving universities.
- It also said that there was no good connection between the colleges and universities.
- The commission’s findings were relevant to other universities in India.
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20. Lord Macaulay was related to:
(a) Military reforms
(b) Abolishment of Sati
(c) English Education
(d) Permanent settlement
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2007]
Ans. (c) English Education
- William Bentinck asked Lord Macaulay to lead a group to suggest ways to improve education in India.
- Macaulay suggested that European literature and science be taught in English.
- William Bentinck agreed with this idea and the Government Resolution in 1835 made English the main language for India.
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21. During India’s colonial period, the theory of downward filtration was related to:
(a) Railways
(b) Education
(c) Irrigation
(d) Poverty alleviation
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2013]
Ans. (b) Education
- During India’s colonial period, the ‘Downward Filtration’ theory was linked to educational progress.
- This theory suggests that education should flow from those who have it (like the upper classes) to those who don’t (the lower classes and the general public).
- Lord Macaulay argued that the goal of educating the masses could be achieved by first educating the elite group, who could then pass on their knowledge to the rest of the population.
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22. The propounder of “Filtration Theory” in India’s education policy was :
(a) Charles Wood
(b) Macaulay
(c) J.S. Mill
(d) Cornwallis
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]
Ans. (b) Macaulay
- During India’s colonial period, the ‘Downward Filtration’ theory was associated with educational improvement.
- This theory meant that knowledge was transferred from the higher classes to the lower classes.
- Lord Macaulay’s opinion was that the goal of educating the masses would be met by first educating the elite group.
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23. The foundation of the modern educational system in India was laid by:
(a) The Charter Act of 1813
(b) Macaulay’s Minutes of 1835
(c) The Hunter Commission of 1882
(d) Woods Dispatch of 1854
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1993]
Ans. (b) Macaulay’s Minutes of 1835
- In 1835, Lord Macaulay suggested that English should be the language of higher education in India and that Western subjects should be studied.
- This was accepted by Lord Bentinck, who declared that all funds for education should be used for English education alone.
- This marked the start of Western education in India, which has since spread rapidly.
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24. In whose reign was English Education introduced in India?
(a) Lord William Cavendish Bentinck
(b) Lord Hardinge
(c) Lord Minto
(d) Lord Dalhousie
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
Ans. (a) Lord William Cavendish Bentinck
- In 1835, Lord Macaulay suggested that English should be the language of higher education in India and that Western knowledge should be the main focus of study.
- The British government accepted this idea and on the 7th of March, 1835, declared that funds for education should only be used for English education.
- This decision started the spread of Western education in India.
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25. The first three universities in India (Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay ) were established in which year?
(a) 1857
(b) 1881
(c) 1885
(d) 1905
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2010]
Ans. (a) 1857
- In 1854, Charles Wood wrote down the major rules of the Indian education system.
- This system created three Universities in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay that were modeled after London University in 1857.
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26. The establishment of the first Women’s University in Mumbai was the result of the efforts of
(a) Dayaram Gindumal
(b) D.K. Karve
(c) M.G. Ranade
(d) Ramabai
[U.P. P.S.C. (GIC) 2010, U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006, U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
Ans. (b) D.K. Karve
- Professor Dhondv Keshav Karve was an Indian social reformer who worked to advance the causes of widow remarriage and women’s education.
- He founded a Widow Remarriage Association and later established a Widow’s Home in Poona to provide high-caste widows with jobs and make them self-supporting.
- In 1916, he founded the Indian Women’s University in Bombay.
- For his work, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest honor, in 1958.
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27. Who was associated with the formation of the Deccan Educational Society?
(a) Justice Ranade
(b) Firoz Shah Mehta
(c) B.G. Tilak
(d) Dayananda Saraswati
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013, U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Spl) (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (c) B.G. Tilak
- The Deccan Education Society was created in 1884 by four people – Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Vaman Shivram Apte, and Mahadeo Ballal
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28. Which of the following was established first?
(a) Hindu College, Calcutta
(b) Delhi College
(c) Mayo College
(d) Muslim-Anglo Oriental College
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]
Ans. (a) Hindu College, Calcutta
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an important person who worked to bring modern education to India.
- He worked with David Hare and Alexandar Duff to create the Hindu College in Calcutta in 1817.
- Later, Mayo College was set up in Ajmer in 1875, Muslim Anglo-Oriental in Aligarh in 1875, and Delhi College was founded in 1824
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29. Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh was founded in which of the following years?
(a) 1876
(b) 1891
(c) 1875
(d) 1874
[U.P.R.O. / A.R.O. (Mains) 2016]
Ans (c) 1875
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an early leader in the promotion of modern education.
- He joined forces with David Hare and Alexandar Duff to create the Hindu College in Calcutta in 1817.
- Mayo College opened in Ajmer in 1875, Muslim Anglo-Oriental in Aligarh in 1875, and Delhi College was founded in 1824.
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30. In collaboration with David Hare and Alexander Duff, who of the following established Hindu College at Calcutta?
(a) Henry Louis Vivian Derozio
(b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(c) Keshab Chandra Sen
(d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]
Ans. (d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a big supporter of modern education.
- He helped to create the Hindu College in Calcutta with David Hare and Alexandar Duff in 1817.
- Mayo College was set up in Ajmer in 1875, Muslim Anglo-Oriental in Aligarh in 1875 and Delhi College in 1824.
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31. Which one of the following had vigorously advocated for religious education in Indian Universities?
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Swami Vivekanand
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Madan Mohan Malviya
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
Ans. (d) Madan Mohan Malviya
- Madan Mohan Malviya (1861-1946) was a famous Indian educator and political leader who played an important part in the Indian independence movement.
- He strongly supported the idea of having religious education in Indian universities and established Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi in 1916.
- Malviya was the Vice-Chancellor of B.H.U. from 1919 to 1938.
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32. Who was the following laid the foundation stone of Banaras Hindu University:
(a) Madan Mohan Malviya
(b) Maharaja Vibhuti Narain Singh
(c) Lord Hardinge
(d) Annie Besant
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2003]
Ans. (c) Lord Hardinge
- Lord Hardinge, who was the Viceroy at the time, put the first stone in place for the Banaras Hindu University on February 4th, 1916 during Basant Panchami
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33. Which one of the following was the first to be declared as Central University?
(a) Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
(b) Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow
(c) Banaras Hindu University of Varanasi
(d) University of Allahabad
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
Ans. (c) Banaras Hindu University of Varanasi
- Banaras Hindu University was the first Central University created by Madan Mohan Malviya in 1916.
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