The expansion and nature of company rule

Question 1

1612: What significant event marked the beginning of the East India Company’s presence in India?

Answer 1

The establishment of trading settlements by the East India Company.

Question 2

1757: What battle secured the East India Company’s control over Bengal?

Answer 2

The Battle of Plassey.

Question 3

1764: After which battle did the East India Company gain Diwani rights over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha?

Answer 3

The Battle of Buxar.

Question 4

1764: What are Diwani rights?

Answer 4

The rights to collect revenue and administer civil justice.

Question 5

1766–1799: Which series of wars did the East India Company fight against the Kingdom of Mysore?

Answer 5

The Anglo-Mysore Wars.

Question 6

1772–1818: What conflicts took place between the East India Company and the Maratha Confederacy?

Answer 6

The Anglo-Maratha Wars.

Question 7

Who was the ruler of Mysore known for using iron-encased gunpowder rockets?

Answer 7

Tipu Sultan.

Question 8

1798–1805: Which Governor-General accelerated Company expansion through subsidiary alliances?

Answer 8

Lord Wellesley.

Question 9

What was the subsidiary alliance system?

Answer 9

A policy where Indian states accepted British troops and control of foreign affairs in exchange for protection.

Question 10

1814–1816: Which war brought Nepal under indirect British influence?

Answer 10

The Anglo-Nepalese War.

Question 11

1828–1835: Which Governor-General introduced major social and administrative reforms?

Answer 11

Lord Bentinck.

Question 12

1829: Which practice was abolished under Lord Bentinck’s social reforms?

Answer 12

Sati, the practice of widow burning.

Question 13

What reform allowed widows to legally remarry?

Answer 13

The legalization of widow remarriage in 1829.

Question 14

1830s: Which major road was improved to connect Calcutta, Delhi, Peshawar, and Kabul?

Answer 14

The Grand Trunk Road.

Question 15

1835: What act promoted Western-style education in English?

Answer 15

The English Education Act.

Question 16

1842–1855: Which major irrigation project benefited 5,000 villages?

Answer 16

The Ganges Canal.

Question 17

What was the length of the Ganges Canal?

Answer 17

Approximately 350 miles.

Question 18

1830s–1850s: How did land reforms affect zamindars?

Answer 18

Zamindars were forced to pay taxes directly to the Company, leading to debt and land confiscations.

Question 19

Which cash crop were peasants forced to cultivate for export?

Answer 19

Opium.

Question 20

What impact did cheap British textiles have on India?

Answer 20

They led to the decline of the Indian textile industry.

Question 21

1848–1856: Who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse?

Answer 21

Lord Dalhousie.

Question 22

What was the Doctrine of Lapse?

Answer 22

A policy denying adoption rights to heirs of princely states, allowing annexation.

Question 23

How many princely states were annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse?

Answer 23

33 princely states.

Question 24

Name one princely state annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse.

Answer 24

Jhansi (also Assam, Arcot, and Oudh).

Question 25

1849: Which war led to the annexation of Punjab?

Answer 25

The Second Anglo-Sikh War.

Question 26

Which territories were annexed after the Second Anglo-Sikh War?

Answer 26

Punjab and Kashmir.

Question 27

1854: Which region was annexed to the Company territory?

Answer 27

Berar.

Question 28

1856: Which princely state was annexed just before the 1857 Rebellion?

Answer 28

Oudh.

Question 29

By 1857: How many administrative presidencies did the Company govern India through?

Answer 29

Three presidencies: Bengal, Madras, and Bombay.

Question 30

What was the size of the East India Company’s army of Indian sepoys?

Answer 30

Over 250,000 sepoys.

Question 31

Why did the East India Company rely on Indian collaboration?

Answer 31

Because many Indian rulers and elites allied with the British for personal gain.

Question 32

Name one Indian ruler who collaborated with the British.

Answer 32

Mir Jafar.

Question 33

Which Maratha leader allied with the British?

Answer 33

Bajirao II.

Question 34

What was the main grievance over the justice system under Company rule?

Answer 34

It was biased, lenient towards British officials and harsh towards Indians.

Question 35

What type of missionary activity increased under Company rule?

Answer 35

Christian missionary activity.

Question 36

Who supported the abolition of sati and was a key Indian reformer?

Answer 36

Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Question 37

What was one reason for limited popular resistance to British rule?

Answer 37

Fragmentation among kingdoms, castes, and linguistic groups.

Question 38

Which region saw increased agricultural prosperity due to irrigation projects?

Answer 38

Muzaffarnagar.

Question 39

1857: What event marked the culmination of widespread discontent?

Answer 39

The Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Question 40

Name two leaders of the 1857 Rebellion.

Answer 40

Nana Sahib and the Rani of Jhansi.

Question 41

1858: What major administrative change followed the 1857 Rebellion?

Answer 41

The British Crown took direct control of India.

Question 42

Siraj-ud-Daulah: Who was he and what happened to him in 1757?

Answer 42

The Nawab of Bengal defeated by the Company at the Battle of Plassey.

Question 43

Shah Alam II: Who was he and what happened in 1764?

Answer 43

The Mughal Emperor defeated at the Battle of Buxar.

Question 44

What was the primary economic exploitation of cash crops under Company rule?

Answer 44

Forced cultivation of opium for export to China.

Question 45

What were the three presidencies under Company rule?

Answer 45

Bengal, Madras, and Bombay presidencies.

Question 46

What was the significance of the Grand Trunk Road improvements?

Answer 46

Enhanced trade and troop movement across northern India.

Question 47

How did the English Education Act affect traditional institutions?

Answer 47

It diverted funding from traditional Hindu and Muslim schools.

Question 48

What was one social consequence of Christian missionary activity?

Answer 48

Resentment among Hindus and Muslims fearing forced conversion.

Question 49

Why did high taxation under land reforms anger zamindars?

Answer 49

It led to debt and loss of lands when taxes were not paid.

Question 50

Which policy forced zamindars to pay revenue directly to the Company?

Answer 50

Land revenue reforms of the 1830s–1850s.

Question 51

What role did Indian sepoys play in maintaining Company rule?

Answer 51

They formed the majority of the Company’s military.

Question 52

What canal project improved irrigation in northern India?

Answer 52

The Ganges Canal.

Question 53

How many villages benefited from the Ganges Canal?

Answer 53

Approximately 5,000 villages.

Question 54

What was the economic impact of the decline of the Indian textile industry?

Answer 54

Increased unemployment among Bengal textile workers.

Question 55

What was one trigger for the Indian Rebellion of 1857 related to sepoys?

Answer 55

The fear over animal fat in rifle cartridges.

Question 56

What was the East India Company?

Answer 56

A British joint-stock company granted trade monopoly and later sovereignty in India.

Question 57

What were Indian princely states?

Answer 57

Semi-autonomous regions under British suzerainty.

Question 58

Who was Raja Ram Mohan Roy?

Answer 58

Indian reformer who campaigned against sati and for modernization.

Question 59

Who was Lord Dalhousie?

Answer 59

Governor-General known for expansion policies and reforms.

Question 60

Who was Lord Bentinck?

Answer 60

Governor-General who abolished sati and introduced social reforms.

Question 61

What long-term impact did English education have in India?

Answer 61

It created an English-educated elite who later led nationalist movements.

Question 62

What was one outcome of the 1857 Rebellion?

Answer 62

The end of Company rule and start of British Crown rule.

Question 63

What defined the Doctrine of Lapse’s approach to adoption?

Answer 63

It denied rights of adopted heirs if not direct male descendants.

Question 64

How did Company rule change local crafts?

Answer 64

It undermined traditional artisans with imported British goods.

Question 65

Which region remained loyal due to irrigation benefits?

Answer 65

Muzaffarnagar.

Question 66

Why was Company authority weaker in rural areas?

Answer 66

Limited administrative infrastructure outside major cities.

Question 67

What was one administrative structure in each presidency?

Answer 67

Each had a Governor, civil services, and an army.

Question 68

Which British policy aimed to modernize postal and telegraph services?

Answer 68

Reforms under Lord Dalhousie.

Question 69

What was a major transport innovation under Company rule?

Answer 69

Expansion of the Grand Trunk Road.

Question 70

How did land reforms sometimes benefit peasants?

Answer 70

They could acquire land from indebted zamindars.