Q. In which year did the British East India Company first settle in Madras?
a). 1608
b). 1613
c). 1639
d). 1644
Answer: c. 1639
Explanation: The Nayak rulers under the Vijayanagara kingdom granted land to the British (Francis Day) at Madras in 1639.
Q. When did the British East India Company agents first settle in Calcutta?
a). 1613
b). 1639
c). 1690
d). 1707
Answer: c. 1690
Explanation: In 1690, Job Charnock, an agent of the East India Company, established a settlement at Calcutta
Q. How did the English East India Company acquire Bombay?
a). By defeating the Portuguese in battle
b). As a gift from the Mughal emperor
c). As part of the dowry
d). By purchase from the Dutch
Answer: c. As part of the dowry
Explanation: In 1661, Bombay was given to the British Crown as part of the dowry when Catherine of Braganza (Portugal) married King Charles II of England.
Q. How did Mirza Ghalib describe Delhi during the Revolt of 1857?
a). As a city of celebrations and festivals
b). As a paradise turned into a desert
c). As a prosperous trading hub
d). As a city of poets and scholars only
Answer: b). As a paradise turned into a desert
Explanation: Mirza Ghalib, in his letters, described Delhi after 1857 as a ruined city — once a paradise, now desolate and lifeless.
Q. When was the first all-India census conducted?
a). 1861
b). 1872
c). 1881
d). 1891
Answer: b). 1872
Explanation: The first synchronous all-India census was conducted in 1881 during the viceroyalty of Lord Ripon (1880-84).
Q. When was the Survey of India established?
a). 1767
b). 1878
c). 1803
d). 1871
Answer: b). 1878
Q. Where did the British build Fort St. George in India?
a). Bombay
b). Calcutta
c). Madras
d). Surat
Answer: c). Madras
Explanation: It became the first English fortress in India and the base for the East India Company in the region.
Q. Shimla was founded during which war?
a). First Anglo-Maratha War
b). Second Anglo-Sikh War
c). First Anglo-Sikh War
d). Anglo-Nepalese War
Answer: d). Anglo-Nepalese War (Gurkha War)
Explanation: Shimla was developed as a hill station during the Anglo-Nepalese War (1815–1816) by the British, later becoming the summer capital of British India.
Q. Which war led to British interest in Mount Abu?
a). First Anglo-Maratha War
b). Second Anglo-Maratha War
c). Third Anglo-Maratha War
d). Anglo-Sikh War
Answer: c). Third Anglo-Maratha War
Explanation: Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan, is in the Aravalli Hills and became a popular British retreat during colonial times.
Q. The British got Darjeeling from which kingdom?
a). Sikkim
b). Bhutan
c). Nepal
d). Tibet
Answer: a). Sikkim
Explanation: The British obtained Darjeeling from the Chogyal of Sikkim in 1835. It was developed into a hill station and tea-growing area, later becoming an important British summer retreat in India.
Q. Which Viceroy officially moved his council to Shimla?
a). Lord Dalhousie
b). John Lawerence
c). Lord Canning
d). Lord Elgin
Answer: b). John Lawerence
Q. What is a sanitariums?
a). A market for selling sanitary goods
b). A hospital or place for recovery from illness
c). A military barrack
d). A recreational park
Answer: b). A hospital or place for recovery from illness
Q. Match the following caste-specific neighbourhoods in Madras with the communities that lived there:
1. Chintadripet
2. Royapuram
3. Washermenpet
4. Triplicane
a). Brahmins
b). Boatman who work for the Company
c). Weavers and artisans
d). Colony of dyers and bleachers of cloth
Options:
A). 1–c, 2–b, 3–d, 4–a
B). 1–b, 2–c, 3–a, 4–d
C). 1–d, 2–a, 3–b, 4–c
D). 1–c, 2–d, 3–a, 4–b
Answer: A). 1–c, 2–b, 3–d, 4–a
Q. Which church in Madras became the centre for Roman Catholics during colonial times?
a). St. Mary’s Church
b). San Thome
c). St. Andrew’s Church
d). Royapuram Church
Answer: b). San Thome
Q. Calcutta grew by joining three villages. Which of the following was not one of them?
a). Sutanuti
b). Gobindapur
c). Kalikata
d). Murshidabad
Answer: d). Murshidabad
Explanation: Calcutta developed by merging the villages of Sutanuti, Gobindapur, and Kalikata.
Q. Where did the British build Fort William in India?
a). Madras
b). Calcutta
c). Bombay
d). Surat
Answer: b). Calcutta
Q. The residence of the Governor-General, known as the Government House in Calcutta, was built by:
a). Lord Cornwallis
b). Lord Wellesley
c). Lord Hastings
d). Lord Dalhousie
Answer: b). Lord Wellesley
Q. Which Governor-General of India passed a minute (Administrative order) on town planning in Calcutta?
a). Lord Wellesley
b). Lord Cornwallis
c). Lord Hastings
d). Lord Dalhousie
Answer: a). Lord Wellesley
Explanation: Lord Wellesley (1798–1805) passed a minute on town planning in Calcutta. He emphasized sanitation, road widening, and strict building regulations to give the city a more orderly and colonial appearance.
Q. Cholera made their first major appearance in Calcutta in which year?
a). 1717
b). 1817
c). 1857
d). 1896
Answer: b). 1817
Q. The plague first appeared in Calcutta in which year?
a). 1817
b). 1857
c). 1896
d). 1905
Answer: c). 1896
Q. Bombay (Mumbai) was originally made from:
a). A single island
b). A group of seven islands
c). A peninsula
d). A river delta
Answer: b). A group of seven islands
Explanation: Bombay was originally a cluster of seven islands—Colaba, Old Woman’s Island, Bombay Island, Mazgaon, Mahim, Parel, and Worli.
Q. Which city became the commercial capital of colonial India?
a). Calcutta
b). Bombay
c). Madras
d). Delhi
Answer: b). Bombay (Mumbai)
Q. The Town Hall in Bombay is an example of which architectural style?
a). Gothic Revival style
b). Indo-Saracenic style
c). Neo-Classical style
d). Baroque style
Answer: c). Neo-Classical style
Explanation: The Town Hall in Bombay (Asiatic Society of Bombay), completed in 1833, is one of the finest examples of Neo-Classical architecture in India.
Q. The Elphinstone Circle in Bombay was later renamed as?
a). Azad Maidan
b). Horniman Circle
c). Shivaji Park
d). Oval Maidan
Answer: b). Horniman Circle
Q. Which of the following is not built in the Neo-Gothic architectural style in Bombay (Mumbai)?
a). Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
b). Rajabai Clock Tower
c). Bombay High Court
d). Asiatic Society of Bombay
Answer: d). Asiatic Society of Bombay
Q. Which Indian banker funded the construction of the Rajabai Clock Tower in Bombay (Mumbai)?
a). Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy
b). Premchand Roychand
c). Cowasji Jehangir
d). Dadabhai Naoroji
Answer: b). Premchand Roychand
Q. The Bombay Secretariat building was designed by which British architect?
a). F. W. Stevens
b). George Wittet
c). Henry St. Clair Wilkins
d). Charles Stevens
Answer: c). Henry St. Clair Wilkins
Q. Which of the following buildings was not designed by F. W. Stevens?
a). Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (Victoria Terminus), Mumbai
b). Municipal Corporation Building, Mumbai
c). Royal Alfred Sailors’ Home, Mumbai
d). Gateway of India, Mumbai
Answer: d). Gateway of India, Mumbai
Q. The Gateway of India in Mumbai was built in which architectural style?
a). Gothic Revival style
b). Indo-Saracenic style
c). Neo-Classical style
d). Baroque style
Answer: b). Indo-Saracenic style
Q. The Gateway of India in Mumbai was built to welcome which King and Queen?
a). King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra
b). King George V and Queen Mary
c). King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
d). King William IV and Queen Victoria
Answer: b). King George V and Queen Mary
Explanation: The Gateway of India, built in the traditional Gujarati Style to welcome King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay in 1911.
Q. The Taj Mahal Hotel in Bombay (Mumbai) was built in which architectural style?
a). Gothic Revival style
b). Indo-Saracenic style
c). Neo-Classical style
d). Dravidian style
Answer: b). Indo-Saracenic style
Explanation: The Taj Mahal Hotel, opened in 1903 by Jamsetji Tata, was designed in the Indo-Saracenic style.
Q. What is a multi-storeyed single-room apartment with long open corridors built around a courtyard called?
a). Haveli
b). Chawl
c). Bungalow
d). Kothi
Answer: b). Chawl
Q. Who wrote Amar Katha?
a). Kadambini Ganguly
b). Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain
c). Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
d). Binodini Dasi
Answer: d). Binodini Dasi
Explanation: Binodini Dasi (1863- 1943) was a pioneering figure in Bengali theatre.
• She closely worked with Dramatist Director Girish Chandra Ghosh (1844- 1912).
• She was one of the prime movers behind setting up the Star Theatre (1883).