🔹 Q1. Assertion (A): The Permanent Settlement of 1793 ensured a stable revenue collection system for the British.
Reason (R): The revenue was fixed permanently, benefiting both the British and the peasants.
📌 Options:
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
🔹 Q2. Assertion (A): The Ryotwari system led to a direct relationship between the British government and the farmers.
Reason (R): Under this system, the revenue rates were fixed permanently without revision.
📌 Options:
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
🔹 Q3. Consider the following statements about the Mahalwari system:
- It was introduced by Holt Mackenzie in 1822.
- The revenue was settled directly with individual peasants.
- It was implemented mainly in North India.
📌 Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
🔹 Q4. Which of the following statements about the Drain of Wealth theory are correct?
- It was proposed by R.C. Dutt.
- It stated that India’s wealth was being transferred to Britain without adequate returns.
- The main drain occurred through high salaries paid to British officials in India.
📌 Select the correct answer:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
🔹 Q5. Identify the region on the map where the Permanent Settlement was first implemented.
📌 Options:
(a) Bombay Presidency
(b) Madras Presidency
(c) Bengal Presidency
(d) Punjab
🔹 Q6. Arrange the following economic policies in chronological order:
- Introduction of Permanent Settlement
- Introduction of Mahalwari System
- Introduction of Ryotwari System
- Establishment of Tata Iron and Steel Company
📌 Correct order:
(a) 1-3-2-4
(b) 1-2-3-4
(c) 3-2-1-4
(d) 2-1-3-4
🔹 Q7. Arrange the following events in chronological order:
- Indigo Revolt
- Introduction of the Mahalwari System
- Dadabhai Naoroji’s Drain of Wealth Theory
- Introduction of Ryotwari System
📌 Correct order:
(a) 2-4-1-3
(b) 4-2-3-1
(c) 2-3-4-1
(d) 4-1-2-3
🔹 Q8. A peasant in South India is forced to pay high land revenue directly to the British government. His revenue rate is revised every few years, and he does not have any intermediary landlords.
📌 Which revenue system is being described?
(a) Permanent Settlement
(b) Mahalwari System
(c) Ryotwari System
(d) Zamindari System
🔹 Q9. A weaver in Bengal complains that cheap British cloth is flooding the market, making it impossible for him to sell his handwoven textiles. He is forced to work in agriculture or migrate to cities for survival.
📌 Which British policy is responsible for this situation?
(a) Doctrine of Lapse
(b) Deindustrialization Policy
(c) Mahalwari Settlement
(d) Subsidiary Alliance
🔹 Q10. Match the following revenue systems with their respective regions:
| Revenue System | Region |
|---|---|
| A. Permanent Settlement | 1. Bombay & Madras |
| B. Ryotwari System | 2. North-Western Provinces |
| C. Mahalwari System | 3. Bengal & Bihar |
📌 Correct match:
(a) A-1, B-2, C-3
(b) A-3, B-1, C-2
(c) A-2, B-3, C-1
(d) A-1, B-3, C-2
🔹 Q11. Assertion (A): The British introduced railways in India to promote industrial development.
Reason (R): The primary purpose of the railways was to facilitate the movement of British goods and military troops.
📌 Options:
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
🔹 Q12. Assertion (A): The introduction of British economic policies led to the destruction of traditional Indian industries.
Reason (R): Heavy tariffs were imposed on Indian goods while British imports were allowed duty-free.
📌 Options:
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
🔹 Q13. Which of the following statements is incorrect about the British economic impact on India?
(a) The Drain of Wealth theory was first proposed by Dadabhai Naoroji.
(b) British economic policies led to the self-sufficiency of Indian villages.
(c) Indian industries declined due to competition from British machine-made goods.
(d) British economic policies increased landless laborers in India.
🔹 Q14. Identify the incorrect statement regarding British industrial policies in India.
(a) Indian textiles faced high tariffs in Britain, while British textiles entered India duty-free.
(b) The Indian railway system was developed mainly for British economic and military needs.
(c) Indian industrialists like Tata & Birla benefited immensely under British rule.
(d) The Swadeshi Movement was a response to British economic exploitation.
🔹 Q15. Locate the region where the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 took place on a given map of India.
📌 Options:
(a) Bihar
(b) Punjab
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Gujarat
🔹 Q16. Assertion (A): The British implemented the Commercialization of Agriculture in India.
Reason (R): It aimed at increasing food security for Indian peasants.
📌 Options:
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
🔹 Q17. Assertion (A): The introduction of the railways in India contributed to the decline of Indian handicrafts.
Reason (R): Railways facilitated the easy import of cheap British machine-made goods into Indian markets.
📌 Options:
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
🔹 Q18. Which of the following statements about the Ryotwari system is incorrect?
(a) It was introduced by Thomas Munro in the early 19th century.
(b) The system was mainly applied in Madras and Bombay Presidencies.
(c) The revenue rates were fixed permanently and could not be revised.
(d) The peasants were directly responsible for revenue payments to the government.
🔹 Q19. Consider the following statements regarding the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60:
- It was led by Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas.
- The revolt occurred due to the exploitative system of indigo cultivation enforced by British planters.
- The British passed the Bengal Tenancy Act in response to the revolt.
📌 Which of the statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
🔹 Q20. Arrange the following economic policies in chronological order:
- Introduction of the Permanent Settlement
- Introduction of the Indigo Cultivation System
- Introduction of the Mahalwari System
- Dadabhai Naoroji’s Drain of Wealth Theory
📌 Correct order:
(a) 1-2-3-4
(b) 2-1-4-3
(c) 1-3-2-4
(d) 3-2-1-4
🔹 Q21. Arrange the following events in chronological order:
- Introduction of the Ryotwari System
- Deindustrialization of Indian handicrafts
- Famines due to British land revenue policies
- Swadeshi Movement
📌 Correct order:
(a) 1-2-3-4
(b) 2-1-3-4
(c) 1-3-2-4
(d) 3-2-1-4
🔹 Q22. Match the following British revenue policies with their key characteristics:
| Revenue Policy | Key Characteristic |
|---|---|
| A. Permanent Settlement | 1. Revenue fixed permanently |
| B. Ryotwari System | 2. Revenue paid directly by farmers |
| C. Mahalwari System | 3. Revenue revised periodically |
📌 Correct match:
(a) A-1, B-2, C-3
(b) A-3, B-1, C-2
(c) A-2, B-3, C-1
(d) A-1, B-3, C-2
🔹 Q23. Match the following British Acts with their impact on India:
| Act | Impact |
|---|---|
| A. Charter Act of 1813 | 1. Allowed British imports into India duty-free |
| B. Charter Act of 1833 | 2. Ended East India Company’s commercial monopoly |
| C. Government of India Act 1858 | 3. Transferred power from the Company to the British Crown |
📌 Correct match:
(a) A-2, B-1, C-3
(b) A-1, B-2, C-3
(c) A-3, B-1, C-2
(d) A-1, B-3, C-2
🔹 Q24. A farmer in North India is struggling with periodic increases in land revenue and collective payments made by the entire village community. This system was introduced by the British.
📌 Which revenue system is being described?
(a) Permanent Settlement
(b) Mahalwari System
(c) Ryotwari System
(d) Zamindari System
🔹 Q25. An Indian artisan who once made textiles by hand is now unemployed because British machine-made cloth has taken over the market. He is forced to work in agriculture.
📌 Which of the following British policies is responsible?
(a) Policy of Free Trade
(b) Doctrine of Lapse
(c) Pitt’s India Act
(d) Charter Act of 1853
🔹 Q26. Which of the following statements about the economic impact of British rule is incorrect?
(a) British economic policies led to the deindustrialization of Indian handicrafts.
(b) Indian goods faced high tariffs in Britain, while British goods entered India duty-free.
(c) The introduction of railways helped in the revival of Indian handicrafts.
(d) Commercialization of agriculture led to food insecurity for Indian peasants.
🔹 Q27. Identify the incorrect statement regarding British revenue policies.
(a) The Mahalwari System was introduced in the North-Western Provinces and Punjab.
(b) The Ryotwari System gave land ownership rights to individual farmers.
(c) The Permanent Settlement allowed peasants to negotiate their revenue directly with the British.
(d) The Ryotwari System was introduced in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies.
🔹 Q28. Identify the area where the Mahalwari System was primarily implemented.
📌 Options:
(a) Bengal and Bihar
(b) Punjab and North-Western Provinces
(c) Bombay and Madras
(d) Gujarat and Rajasthan
🔹 Q29. Locate the region where the Champaran Satyagraha, which protested against the British Indigo Planters, took place.
📌 Options:
(a) West Bengal
(b) Bihar
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Maharashtra
🔹 Q30. The British encouraged the cultivation of cash crops like indigo and opium. Identify the main region where opium was cultivated under British policies.
📌 Options:
(a) Punjab
(b) Bihar and Bengal
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Tamil Nadu
🔹 Q31. The British economic policies led to the transformation of India into a colonial economy. Which of the following statements about this transformation is correct?
(a) India became a major exporter of raw materials and a market for British manufactured goods.
(b) Indian industries were promoted to compete with British goods.
(c) Heavy industrialization took place in India under British rule.
(d) British policies ensured self-sufficiency in food production in India.
🔹 Q32. The British introduced the Drain of Wealth Theory to highlight economic exploitation in India. Who was the first to systematically explain this concept?
(a) R.C. Dutt
(b) Dadabhai Naoroji
(c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(d) B.R. Ambedkar
🔹 Q33. Which of the following economic policies of the British was responsible for repeated famines in India during the 19th century?
(a) Emphasis on the cultivation of commercial crops over food crops
(b) Implementation of welfare schemes for peasants
(c) Encouragement of local industries and irrigation projects
(d) Reduction of land revenue to help farmers
🔹 Q34. Consider the following statements regarding British economic policies:
- The policy of Deindustrialization led to the decline of Indian handicrafts.
- The Drain of Wealth resulted in the outflow of Indian capital to Britain.
- The Commercialization of Agriculture led to an increase in subsistence farming.
📌 Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
🔹 Q35. The Famine Commission of 1880 was appointed by the British government after the Great Famine of 1876-78. What was its primary recommendation?
(a) Reduction of land revenue
(b) Construction of irrigation facilities
(c) Promotion of cash crop cultivation
(d) Increase in tax collection to prevent future famines
🔹 Q36. Which of the following is NOT a direct impact of British economic policies in India?
(a) Decline of Indian textiles and handicrafts
(b) Introduction of the Permanent Settlement system
(c) Strengthening of village-level self-sufficiency
(d) Expansion of railways to facilitate British trade
🔹 Q37. The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 was a direct result of which exploitative practice?
(a) The forced cultivation of opium
(b) The Tinkathia system imposed by British planters
(c) Heavy taxation on agricultural produce
(d) The introduction of the Ryotwari system
🔹 Q38. The Ryotwari and Mahalwari systems introduced by the British were different from the Zamindari system because:
(a) They gave land revenue collection rights to British officials
(b) They gave peasants direct ownership of land
(c) They permanently fixed revenue collection rates
(d) They abolished taxes on agricultural production
🔹 Q39. During British rule, which of the following regions suffered the most due to the decline of textile industries?
(a) Punjab and Haryana
(b) Bengal and Madras
(c) Assam and Manipur
(d) Gujarat and Rajasthan
🔹 Q40. Which British policy allowed duty-free entry of British machine-made textiles into India, leading to the decline of local industries?
(a) Vernacular Press Act
(b) Charter Act of 1813
(c) Ilbert Bill
(d) Government of India Act, 1858
🔹 Q41. Which of the following Acts allowed British traders to carry out free trade in India, leading to the decline of Indian industries?
(a) Regulating Act of 1773
(b) Pitt’s India Act of 1784
(c) Charter Act of 1813
(d) Government of India Act, 1858
🔹 Q42. Consider the following statements regarding British land revenue policies:
- The Permanent Settlement system was introduced in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.
- Under the Ryotwari System, the revenue was directly collected from the peasants.
- The Mahalwari System was introduced in regions like Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
📌 Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
🔹 Q43. Which of the following was an impact of the Drain of Wealth policy on India?
(a) Development of indigenous industries
(b) Strengthening of rural self-sufficiency
(c) Increase in poverty and famines
(d) Growth of banking and financial institutions
🔹 Q44. The British encouraged the cultivation of which cash crops in India for their own economic benefit?
(a) Wheat and Barley
(b) Indigo and Opium
(c) Cotton and Jute
(d) Both (b) and (c)
🔹 Q45. Which economic policy of the British led to a one-way free trade system that flooded Indian markets with British goods?
(a) Doctrine of Lapse
(b) Laissez-faire policy
(c) Swadeshi Movement
(d) Commercialization of Agriculture
🔹 Q46. Consider the following statements regarding the economic impact of British rule in India:
- The colonial economy led to the deindustrialization of India.
- The introduction of railways primarily aimed at improving Indian trade and economy.
- British policies led to the destruction of traditional artisan industries in India.
📌 Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
🔹 Q47. Which of the following was NOT a consequence of British economic policies in India?
(a) Decline of handloom industries
(b) Rise of a capitalist industrial economy
(c) Increase in rural indebtedness
(d) Dependency on British imports
🔹 Q48. The Commercialization of Agriculture during British rule had which of the following consequences?
(a) Increase in food production for local consumption
(b) Expansion of small-scale farming
(c) Shift from subsistence farming to cash crop production
(d) Strengthening of the village economy
🔹 Q49. Which statement correctly describes the Famine Policy of the British?
(a) British introduced large-scale relief efforts to prevent famines.
(b) Agricultural surplus was distributed among peasants to ensure food security.
(c) British policies worsened food crises by prioritizing cash crops over food crops.
(d) Farmers were encouraged to stockpile food grains to prevent famines.
🔹 Q50. Match the following economic policies with their impacts:
| Policy | Impact |
|---|---|
| A. Permanent Settlement System | 1. Peasants faced high land taxes |
| B. Ryotwari System | 2. Land revenue was fixed permanently |
| C. Drain of Wealth Theory | 3. Capital was transferred to Britain |
| D. Commercialization of Agriculture | 4. Farmers shifted to cash crops |
📌 Choose the correct match:
(a) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
(b) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
(c) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
(d) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
Answer Key for 50 MCQs on British Economic Policies & Their Impact on India
1-10:
- (b)
- (d)
- (b)
- (c)
- (b)
- (d)
- (b)
- (c)
- (a)
- (b)
11-20:
- (c)
- (a)
- (d)
- (b)
- (b)
- (a)
- (c)
- (d)
- (b)
- (d)
21-30:
- (b)
- (d)
- (c)
- (c)
- (a)
- (d)
- (b)
- (a)
- (c)
- (a)
31-40:
- (c)
- (b)
- (d)
- (a)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
41-50:
- (c)
- (d)
- (c)
- (d)
- (b)
- (c)
- (b)
- (c)
- (c)
- (a)
✅ Keep revising and practising! These questions will help solidify your understanding of British Economic Policies & Their Impact on India for the UPSC Prelims. 🚀📚🔥