KTBS KARNATAKA
STATE SYLLABUS
CLASS – 10
ENGLISH MEDIUM
SUBJECT – SOCIAL STUDIES
HISTORY
UNIT 2.THE EXTENSION OF THE BRITISH RULE
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
I. Fill in the following blanks with suitable answers:
1. Diwani Adalat in civil court was introduced by Warren Hastings.
2. The post of Superintendent of Police was created by Lord Cornwallis.
3. The Permanent Zamindari system was introduced in Bengal and Bihar provinces in 1793.
4. The Land tax system introduced by Alexander Reed is Ryotwari System.
5. The report given by Macaulay became the base of modern education system.
6. The Regulating Act was implemented in the year 1773.
II. Discuss and answer the following questions:
7. Illustrate the judicial system formulated through East India Company.
Ans.- The East India Company introduced a new judicial system which began to take root after they took over from the Mughal rule. The key developments included:
– The Battle of Buxar in 1764, after which the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam handed over the ‘Diwani Rights’ to the British, giving them authority to collect land taxes in the Bengal region.
– This led to the establishment of Dual-Administration, also known as ‘Dual-Governance’ in Bengal.
– Warren Hastings, in 1772, proposed the creation of two types of courts in each district: ‘Diwani Adalat’ (civil court) and ‘Nijamat Adalat’ (criminal court).
– Civil courts handled cases based on Hindu scriptures for Hindus and Shariyat for Muslims, while British legal procedures were introduced gradually in criminal courts.
– Civil courts were under the administration of European officers and criminal courts, although under ‘Qajis’, functioned under European supervision.
– The system centralized judicial control, reducing the authority of the Mughal legal system and establishing British supremacy in legal matters.
8. What were the measures undertaken at the time of the British in Police system?
Ans.- – Lord Cornwallis implemented the first efficient Police System in India.
– In 1793, he created the new post of Superintendent of Police (SP) and divided districts into many ‘Stations’ each under a ‘Kotwal’.
– Every village was put under the care of a ‘Chowkidhar’.
– The severe drought of 1770 weakened the law and order situation, bringing the police system under British control.
– British Magistrates were appointed starting in 1781, with police officers under their power.
– The Indian Police Act of 1861 was implemented, forming the base of a structured police system, but higher positions were not given to Indians.
– In 1902, the Police Commission allowed qualified Indians to be appointed as police officers, though discrimination persisted.
9. British land tax system made the Indian farmers to “born in debt, lived in debt and died in debt”. How?
Ans.- – The British land tax policies, particularly the Permanent Zamindari System, Mahalwari System, and Ryotwari System, heavily burdened farmers with high taxes.
– Farmers were often unable to pay these taxes, especially during poor harvests, leading to borrowing from moneylenders.
– As debts mounted, many farmers were forced to sell their land to repay loans, perpetuating a cycle of debt.
– The Ryotwari System required farmers to pay half of their produce as tax, further straining their finances.
– The exploitation by Zamindars and the demand for commercial crops for British industries worsened the plight of farmers, ensuring they remained in perpetual debt.
10. What were the main aspects of Ryotwari system?
Ans.- – Introduced by Alexander Reed in 1792 and later implemented by Thomas Munroe in Madras and Mysore regions in 1801.
– The system established a direct link between the farmer (ryot) and the company government.
– The farmer was recognized as the owner of the land but had to pay fifty percent of the produce as land tax to the company.
– The land tax had a tenure of thirty years, after which it could be reviewed.
– Despite recognizing the farmer as the owner, the heavy taxes led to severe financial strain and increased borrowing from moneylenders, resulting in loss of land and perpetual debt.
11. What were the effects of British Land taxes?
Ans.- – Creation of a new class of Zamindars who exploited the farmers.
– Farmers became landless due to exploitation by Zamindars.
– Land became a commodity, allowing for loans to be raised by mortgaging it.
– Many Zamindars also had to mortgage their lands to pay taxes.
– Agriculture became commercialized, focusing on raw materials needed by British industries.
– Strengthening of money lenders’ position in society.
12. Make a list of the effects of British Education in India.
Ans.- – Development of modernity, secularism, democratic attitudes, and rationality among Indians.
– Promotion of nationalistic ideals.
– Impetus for local literature and languages, fostering unity in thinking among the educated class.
– Emergence of periodicals that scrutinized government policies and actions, encouraging critical opinions.
– Rise of new social and religious reformation movements.
– Influence of thinkers like J.S. Mill, Rousseau, and Montesquieu on the educated youth.
– Inspiration from global freedom struggles.
– Appreciation of India’s rich tradition and heritage among Indians.
13. What were the restrictions imposed in Regulating Act?
Ans.- – Centralization of control with the Bengal Presidency gaining authority over Madras and Bombay presidencies.
– Governor of Bengal became the Governor General of all three presidencies.
– Bombay and Madras presidencies could not declare war or enter peace agreements without approval from the Governor General of Bengal and the Company’s Board of Directors.
– Establishment of a Supreme Court in Calcutta with a Chief Justice and three judges.
– Aimed at regulating the Company’s affairs and administration in India under British government control.
14. What were the important features of the Indian government act of 1858?
Ans.- – Cancellation of the East India Company’s license and transfer of administration to the British Queen.
– Change of the Governor General’s title to ‘Viceroy’, with Lord Canning as the first Viceroy of India.
– Creation of the post ‘Secretary of State for India’ within the British government, responsible for Indian administration.
– Establishment of a Council of India to assist the Secretary, comprising fifteen members.
– Announcement by Queen Victoria promising the all-round development of India.
15. How does the India Government Act of 1935 become the base of Indian Constitution?
Ans.- – It introduced a federal structure integrating Indian principalities, British-governed regions, and dominion states.
– Established the Reserve Bank of India.
– Implemented dyarchy at the central level while granting provincial autonomy.
– Abolished dyarchy at the provincial level.
– Established the Federal Court.
– Many provisions from this act were incorporated into the Indian Constitution, influencing its federal structure and administrative framework.
16. What were the important features of 1919 Act?
Ans.- – Introduction of a bi-cameral legislative body with Lower House and Upper House.
– Implementation of dyarchy in provincial governments.
– Appointment of a high commissioner for India.
– Commitment to improving local self-government.
– Separation of provincial budget from central budget.
– Extension of ‘Separate Electoral College’ to Muslims, Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, and Europeans.
