History Question Bank Section-A

1. Which of the following was the motivation for establishing the Board of Control
under the Pitts India Act of 1784?
(1) To safeguard the British possessions in India.
(2) To promote India’s commercial interests.
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) None of these

2. Which Charter established the High Court at Calcutta?

a) The Charter of 1860
b) The Charter of 1858
c) The Charter of 1853
d) The Charter of 1862

3. A Supreme Court was to be set up at ……………. under the Regulating Act of 1773.
a) Bombay
b) Calcutta
c) Madras
d) Nagpur

4. Which of the following is not true with regard to the establishment of the Supreme
Court under the Regulating Act of 1773?
a) It comprised of 1 Chief Justice and 3 puisne judges.
b) It had no ecclesiastical jurisdiction.
c) All appeals against its judgements could be made to the King’s Court in England.
d) It was to be a Court of Record.

5. Who among the following abolished the District Faujdari Court and set up the Circuit
Court at Calcutta?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Warren Hastings
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Cornwallis

6. The Pitt’s Act provided for not more than…….Privy Councilors.

a) 3
b) 7
c) 5
d) 6

7. The Pitts India Act, 1784 provided for the Company to be represented by:
 a) The Governor-General
b) The Board of Control
c) The Court of Directors
d) The Chancellor of the Exchequer

8. Which of the following statement(s) is correct about the Regulating Act of 1773?
(1) It was the first step taken by the British government to control and regulate the
affairs of the East India Company in India.
(2) It recognized, for the first time, the political and administrative functions of the
Company.
(3) It laid the foundation for central administration in India.
a) Only 1
b) Only 1 and 2
c) Only 2 and 3
d) 1, 2 and 3

9. Which of the following statement(s) is correct about the Charter Act of 1793?
(1) It ended the Company’s trade monopoly in India.
(2) It continued the Company’s rule over the British territories in India.
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

10. Which of the following statement(s) is correct about the Charter Act of 1793?
(1) It increased the jurisdiction of the Governor-General over the Governors of
Bombay and Madras.
(2) The Supreme Court’s jurisdiction was increased to the high seas.
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

11. The Charter Act of 1833 allowed the Company to have its own administrative and
political process till………………
a) 30th January, 1854
b) 30th April, 1853
c) 30th April, 1854
d) 30th February, 1853

12. Which Act of the British Parliament abolished the East India Company’s monopoly
over trade in India?
a) The regulating Act of 1773
b) The Pitts India Act of 1784
c) The Charter Act of 1813
d) None of the above
13. Which of the following statement(s) is correct about the Charter Act of 1813?
(1) It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade
in tea and trade with China.
(2) It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by
the Company.
(3) The revenue of India came to be controlled by the British Parliament.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) All of the above

14. The 1813 Act provided a grant of……………… rupees per annum for the promotion
of education in India.
a) 1 Lakh
b) 10 Lakh
c) 5 Lakh
d) 15 Lakh

15. Which act sought to do away with the misery of the British merchants as a result of
the continental system in Europe by allowing them to trade in India?
a) The Charter Act of 1833
b) The Charter Act of 1793
c) The Charter Act of 1813
d) The Charter Act of 1853

16. Which of the following statements is correct about the Charter Act of 1813?
a) The Act separated, for the first time, the legislative and executive functions of the
Governor-General’s council.
b) The Act supported the revival and development of Indian literature by
providing a sum of 1 lakh per annum.
c) The Act provided for the establishment of an Indian Law Commission.
d) The Act introduced the concept of fair competition for recruitment in civil
services.

17. Through which Act were the Christian missionaries successful in getting a Bishop
appointed for India?
a) The Pitts India Act of 1784
b) The Charter Act of 1793
c) The Charter Act of 1813
d) The Regulating Act of 1773

18. Which Act in British India was responsible for paving the way for shipment of opium
to China?
a) The Charter Act of 1813
b) The Pitts India Act of 1784
 c) The Charter Act of 1853
d) None of the above

19. Which of the following statements is not true as per the Charter Act, 1853?
a) The Law Member was to be a full-fledged member of the Governor-General’s
Council.
b) The Law Member would have the right to sit at executive meetings of the Council.
c) The Law Member would have the right to vote at the executive meetings of the
Council.
d) None of the above

20. The Second Law Commission was set up as per the……………..?

a) The Government of India Act of 1858
b) The Charter Act of 1853
c) The Charter Act of 1793
d) The Charter Act of 1833

21. Which of the following was recommended by the Second Law Commission?
a) A plan for the amalgamation of the Supreme Court at Fort St William in Bengal
with the Sadr Diwani and Nizamat Adalats.
b) Adoption of the Codes of Civil and Criminal Procedure throughout the
jurisdiction of the High Court.
c) A plan to install a judicial system in the North Western Province.
d) All of the above

22. Which Act provided for the creation of the Halsbury College and the Addiscombe
Military School?
a) The Government of India Act of 1858
b) The Charter Act of 1813
c) The Charter Act of 1793
d) The Charter Act of 1833

23. Which of the following statements is correct about the Charter Act of 1833?
(1) The Governor-General of Bengal became the Governor-General of India.
(2) The Presidency of Agra was established.
(3) The Legislative Council was established.
a) Only 1 and 2
b) Only 2 and 3
c) Only 1 and 3
d) All of the above

24. Who was the first Governor-General of British India?

a) Warren Hastings
b) William Bentinck
c) Lord Dalhousie
 d) John Shore

25. Which Act established the First Law Commission?

a) The Charter Act of 1813
b) The Charter Act of 1833
c) The Charter Act of 1853
d) The Charter Act of 1793

26. Which Act abolished the Company’s monopoly in trade with China and the tea trade?
a) The Charter Act of 1833
b) The Charter Act of 1813
c) The Charter Act of 1853
d) The Charter Act of 1793

27. Which Act designated the Indian Civil Services as an open competition?
a) The Charter Act of 1793
b) The Charter Act of 1813
c) The Charter Act of 1833
d) The Charter Act of 1853

28. How many members was the Legislative Council to consist of ?

a) 5
b) 6
c) 8
d) 12

29. Which two provinces were added to the British Indian territory in 1833?
a) Sindh and Punjab
b) Orissa and Bengal
c) Sindh and Balochistan
d) Punjab and Haryana

30. The Supreme Court had……….distinct types of jurisdiction.

a) 4
b) 3
c) 2
d) 1

31. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the Charter of 1853?
a) The East India Company was free to collect revenue and acquire territories in
India.
b) The East India Company was not allowed the free possession of territories but was
free to collect revenue in India.
c) The East India Company was allowed possession of territory and revenue in
India till the pleasure of the British Crown.
 d) The East India Company was allowed free possession of territories but was not
free to collect revenue in India.

32. The Charter of 1853 created which of the following territories for administrative
efficiency?
a) Central Province and Assam
b) Central Province and Burma
c) Central Province, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam
d) Central Province, Burma and Assam

33. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the Charter of 1853?
a) It did not introduce local representation in the Indian Central Legislative Council.
b) It extended the Company’s rule in India indefinitely.
c) It was the last in the series of the Charter Acts.
d) It introduced a nomination system for appointment in the Indian Civil Services.

34. What event led to the passing of the Government of India Act, 1858?
a) The Pabna rebellion
b) The Deccan Riots
c) The Revolt of 1857
d) The Phadke revolt

35. The Collector could not give the death penalty without the permission of
the……………..
a) The Sadr Nizamat Adalat
b) The Mohfussil Diwani Adalat
c) The Sadr Faujdari Adalat
d) The Registrar’s Court

36. Which was/were dissolved under the Government of India Act, 1858?
(1) The Board of Control
(2) The Court of Directors
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) None of the above

37. Which of the following statements is not true regarding the Government of India Act,
1858?
a) India was to be governed in the Queen’s name.
b) The Queen’s Principal Secretary of State received the powers and duties of the
Company’s Court of Directors.
c) The Indian Civil Service was created.
d) The British Parliament was empowered to appoint a Governor-General and
the Governors of the Presidencies.
38. Who was the Prime Minister of Britain at the time of the commencement of the
Government of India Act, 1858?
a) Lord Palmerston
b) Russell II
c) Edward Smith-Stanley
d) Benjamin Disraeli

39. What were the major changes brought about in the home government under the Act of
1858?
a) India was to be governed in the name of the Crown.
b) The Secretary of State was to exercise all powers of the Court of Directors.
c) The Board of Control and the Court of Directors was dissolved.
d) All of the above

40. The Council of the Secretary of the State for India was to consist of:
a) 15 members; 8 appointed by the Crown and 7 elected
b) 15 members; 7 appointed by the Crown and 8 elected
c) 15 members; 9 appointed by the Crown and 6 elected
d) 15 members; 6 appointed by the Crown and 9 elected

41. What was the value of the cases to be decided by the superior courts in Bombay prior
to the establishment of English laws?
a) 100 xeraphims
b) 250 xeraphims
c) 350 xeraphims
d) 200 xeraphims

42. When was the proclamation issued to abolish all Portuguese laws applicable in
Bombay and replace them with English laws?
a) 12 September, 1673
b) 1 August, 1672
c) 2 October, 1563
d) 13 August, 1672

43. The Sadr Nizamat Adalat was presided over by the…………

a) Daroga
b) Naib
c) Collector
d) Burgess

44. What was the value of the civil cases that the Court of Conscience was allowed to
decide?
a) Upto 13 xeraphims
b) Upto 20 xeraphims
c) Upto 10 xeraphims
d) Upto 30 xeraphims
45. Who was the first Governor-General of Bengal?
a) Robert Clive
b) Mir Jafar
c) Warren Hastings
d) Sir William Jones

46. When were the Diwani and Faujdari adalats established at district level by Warren
Hastings?
a)1750
b)1772
c)1773
d)1785

47. Which of the following acts created the designation of the Governor-General of
Bengal?
a) Charter Act of 1813
b) Pitts India Act 1784
c) Morley-Minto Reforms
d) Regulating Act of 1773

48. Who was responsible for matters relating to marriage and contract under the reforms
introduced by Warren Hastings?
a) Zamindars
b) The Mohfussil Diwani Adalat
c) The Sadr Faujdari Adalat
d) None of the above

49. Collectors in each district were to be assisted by:

a) A mufti, a qazi and 2 maulvis
b) A mufti, 2 qazis and a maulvi
c) 2 muftis, a qazi and a maulvi
d) A mufti, a qazi and a maulvi
50. When did Warren Hastings introduce his third set of judicial reforms?
a) 1774
b) 1780
c) 1782
d) 1772

51. Which of the following statement(s) is correct about the judicial reforms of Warren
Hastings?
(1) He established two courts for resolving disputes: the Mohfussil Diwani Adalat for
civil cases and the Mohfussil Faujdari Adalat for criminal cases.
(2) He shifted the Sadr Nizamat Adalat to Calcutta and put it under the supervision of
the Governor-General and the members of his Council.
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) Both 1 and 2
d) None of the above

52. In which year did Warren Hastings separate the work of revenue collection from that
of administration?
a) 1774
b) 1780
c) 1782
d) 1772

53. The Supreme Courts in the Presidencies continued to function till………?

a)1857
b)1858
c)1860
d)1861

54. Which of the following is incorrect regarding the 1774 judicial reforms of Warren
Hastings?
a) A Board was established at Madras to issue instructions to the Provincial
Councils.
b) A separate department called the Council of Revenue was created.
c) The naibs held the courts of the Mohfussil Diwani Adalat.
d) These reforms were succeeded by the 1780 reforms.

55. Arrange the following in ascending order:

(1) The Sadr Diwani Adalat
(2) The Provincial Court of Diwani Adalat
(3) The Zamindar’s Court
(4) The Mohfussil Diwani Adalat
a) 3,2,4,1
b) 3,4,2,1
c) 4,2,3,1
d) 4,3,1,2

56. When was the Mayor’s Court established in Bombay and Bengal?
a) 1726
b) 1678
c) 1710
d) 1789

57. Which of the following courts was established under the Regulating Act of 1773?
a) The Supreme Court of India
b) The Supreme Court at Fort St William
c) The District Diwani and Faujdari Adalats
d) None of the above
58. When was the Federal Court set up?
a)1937
b)1835
c)1784
d)1921

59. After the abolition of the 4 circuit courts, their functions were transferred to:
a) The Collectors under the supervision of the Commissioner of Revenue and
Circuit
b) The Zamindari Courts
c) The Diwani Adalats under the supervision of the Governor-General
d) The Faujdari Adalats under the supervision of the Governor-General’s Council

60. Who made English the official language for proceedings in the Supreme Courts?
a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Warren Hastings
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Cornwallis

61. The Charter of 1833 was demanded by:

a) The Public Servants
b) The Public
c) The British Citizens
d) The East India Company

62. Before English, which was the language of the courts?

a) Hindi
b) Persian
c) Sanskrit
d) Urdu

63. Which of the following was related to the law commission in British India?
a) Sargent Plan
b) MacDonnell Commission
c) Fraser Commission
d) Macaulay Commission

64. Who established the sovereignty of law in India?

a) Lord Dalhousie
b) Warren Hastings
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Cornwallis

65. Who was the first Chief Justice of Supreme Court in British India?
a) Sir Elijah Imphey
 b) Sir Robert Chambers
c) Sir John Anstruther
d) Sir Henry Russell

66. According to the Charter of 1793, the Governor and the Commander-in-Chief could
not leave India without the permission of……..
a) The King
b) The Crown
c) The Governor-General
d) The East India Company

67. The Charter of 1793 allowed private merchants to trade in ships upto…………tonnes.
a) 40,000
b) 30,000
c) 56,000
d) 35,000

68. Who was the first Indian to get selected in the Indian Civil Services?
a) Ras Bihari Bose
b) Satyendra Nath Tagore
c) Devendra Nath Tagore
d) Surendra Nath Banerjee

69. Which Act introduced the Indian Civil Services?

a) The Charter Act of 1813
b) The Charter Act of 1833
c) The Charter Act of 1853
d) The Charter Act of 1793

70. Who were appointed as the first 3 puisne judges in the Calcutta Supreme Court?
a) Robert Chambers, Elijah Imphey and John Thomas
b) John Hyde, Robert Chambers and Elijah Imphey
c) Robert Chambers, John Hyde and Stephan Caesar Lemaitre
d) Robert Chambers, Stephan Caesar Lemaitre and Elijah Imphey

71. Which of the following is incorrect about the Regulating Act of 1773
a) The Act was based on the reports of the committee headed by Warren
Hastings
b) A Supreme Court was established in Calcutta as a result of this Act
c) Sir Elijah Imphey was appointed as the first Chief Justice
d) It was introduced to safeguard the British possessions in India.

72. The Regulating Act of 1773 forbade the officials of the Company from lending
money at more than………rate of interest.
a) 10%
b) 12%
 c) 15%
d) 18%

73. The Regulating Act of 1773 was based on the reports of the committee headed
by………………………
a) Lord Palmerston
b) Lord North
c) Lord William Bentinck
d) Lord Cornwallis

74. Under the Charter of 1860, what was the value of appeals which went from the High
Court to the Provisional Court?
a) Rs 10,000
b) More than Rs 10,000
c) Less than Rs 10,000
d) None of the above

75. What were the factors responsible for passing of the Regulating Act of 1773?
(1) The desire of the British Empire to have a share in the spoils of the war.
(2) To prohibit officials of the East India Company from indulging in private trade.
(3) To abolish the monopoly of the East India Company in trade in India.
(4) To prevent the domination of erstwhile officials of the East India Company in the
British Parliament.
a) Only 1 and 2
b) Only 2 and 3
c) 1, 2 and 4
d) All of the above

76. Which of the following is not true regarding changes in the Company’s government in
India under the Regulating Act of 1773?
a) The Governors of Bombay and Madras Presidencies were made subordinate to the
Governor of Bengal.
b) The Governor-General of India was to be assisted by a Council of 6
members.
c) The members of the Council could be removed by the King on the
recommendation of the Director.
d) The ordinances issued by the Governor-General of India could become law when
duly registered and signed by the Supreme Court.

77. When was the early Mayor’s Court established in Madras?

a) 1678
b) 1726
c) 1710
d) 1789
78. Till when did the Registrar’s Court function in Bombay?
a) 1809
b) 1817
c) 1823
d) 1833

79. In……….. the admiralty jurisdiction of the Supreme Court was extended to try all
offences committed on the High Seas.
a) 1773
b) 1784
c) 1793
d) 1764

80. During its functioning, the Supreme Court in all Presidencies administered the
Common Law as it prevailed in England in………
a)1726
b)1728
c) 1730
d)1731

81. Which Act resulted in the passing of the Pitts India Act 1784?
a) The Amending Act of 1780
b) The Amending Act of 1781
c) The Amending Act of 1782
d) The Amending Act of 1783

82. The Board of Control consisted of………..members?

a) 2
b) 4
c) 6
d) 8

83. The Charter Act of 1853 reduced the number of the Company’s Directors to……..
a)24
b)18
c)12
d)15

84. Which Act ended the dual system of government in India?

a) The Government of India Act, 1858
b) The Charter Act of 1853
c) The Charter Act of 1833
d) The Charter Act of 1813

85. Who was appointed as the first Law Member of the Governor-General’s Council?
a) Lord North
 b) Lord Palmerston
c) Lord Bentinck
d) Lord Macaulay

86. What was the main purpose of the Charter of 1833?

a) To provide a common law for the country
b) To separate the legislature and the executive
c) To better govern India
d) To provide for better trade in India

87. Which Act provided for the creation of a separate government in Bengal?
a) The Charter Act of 1813
b) The Charter Act of 1833
c) The Charter Act of 1853
d) The Charter Act of 1793

88. In the interest and safety of the Company, the Governor-General could override the
Governor-General’s Council but this priority was not to apply to………….. matters.
a) Judicial
b) Taxation
c) Legislative
d) All of the above

89. The members of the Governor-General’s Council were required to have been resident
in India for……………..years.
a) 12
b) 15
c) 10
d) 8

90. The Mayor’s Court at Madras was part of the…………………….

a) Madras Corporation
b) Madras Bank
c) Madras Company
d) Madras Committee

91. ……………………..were eminent citizens who had full municipal rights and could
also act as magistrates.
a) Xeraphims
b) Pagodas
c) Burgesses
d) Puisnes

92. A…………….was an official of the mayor’s court was appointed by the Governor in
Council every year to serve the processes of the court.
a) Alderman
 b) Burgess
c) Xeraphim
d) Sheriff

93. Who abolished the judicial powers of the zamindars?

a) Warren Hastings
b) John Shore
c) Cornwallis
d)William Bentinck

94. The judicial reforms of Warren Hastings were passed in…………

a) 1772, 1773, 1780 and 1781
b) 1771, 1774, 1780 and 1781
c) 1772, 1774, 1780 and 1781
d) 1772, 1774, 1780 and 1782

95. The number of the Faujdari Adalats were fixed at………….by Warren Hastings.
a) 12
b) 14
c) 16
d) 18

96. According to the Regulating Act of 1773,………………….were allowed to vote in

the General’s Court.
a) Any person who held atleast 500 pounds worth of stock in the East India
Company for atleast 6 months.
b) Any person who held atleast 1000 pounds worth of stock in the East India
Company for atleast 1 year.
c) Any person who held atleast 250 pounds worth of stock in the East India
Company for atleast 3 months.
d) Any person who held atleast 750 pounds worth of stock in the East India
Company for atleast 9 months.

97. The Amending Act of 1781 was replaced by the Pitts India Act 1784 due to
the…………….war.
a) American War of Independence
b) World War I
c) The Battle of Plassey
d) The Battle of Buxar

98. The Board of Control included……….members of the Privy Council.

a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 6
 99. When did the Charter Act of 1833 come into effect?
a) 1833
b) 1834
c) 1835
d) 1836

100. Who was the first Chief Justice of the Madras Supreme Court?
a) Benjamin Sullivan
b) Sir Elijah Imphey
c) Charles Rice
d) Thomas Strange