Q. When did the East India Company acquire Diwani rights in Bengal?
A). 1757
B). 1764
C). 1765
D). 1773
Answer: C). 1765
Explanation: The Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the East India Company the Diwani rights (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765, following the Company’s victory at the Battle of Buxar (1764).
Q. Before the East India Company got Diwani rights in Bengal, how did they purchase Indian goods?
A). By printing their own money
B). By paying in gold and silver imported from Britain
C). By exchanging goods produced in Europe
D). By collecting revenue from Indian peasants
Answer: B). By paying in gold and silver imported from Britain
Q. When did the great famine take place in Bengal?
A). 1757
B). 1765
C). 1770
D). 1784
Answer: C). 1765
Explanation: In 1770 a terrible famine killed ten million people in Bengal About one-third of the population was wiped out.
Q. Match the following land revenue settlements with the officials who introduced them:
1. Permanent Settlement A). Thomas Munro
2. Mahalwari Settlement B). Holt Mackenzie
3. Ryotwari Settlement C). Lord Cornwallis
Options:
A). 1–A, 2–B, 3–C
B). 1–B, 2–A, 3–C
C). 1–A, 2–C, 3–B
D). 1–C, 2–B, 3–A
Answer: D). 1–C, 2–B, 3–A
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Permanent Settlement of 1793:
1. It fixed the land revenue permanently and made zamindars the owners of land.
2. Under this system, the ryots (peasants) paid revenue directly to the Company.
3. The system was primarily introduced in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
A). 1 and 2 only
B). 2 and 3 only
C). 1 and 3 only
D). 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C). 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Peasants did not pay revenue directly; zamindars collected it for the Company.
Q. Which of these is NOT a problem of the Permanent Settlement?
A). Zamindars often neglected improving land and agriculture
B). Peasants faced high rents and exploitation
C). Revenue demand on zamindars was permanently fixed
D). Zamindars sometimes lost their lands due to inability to pay revenue
Answer: C). Revenue demand on zamindars was permanently fixed
Q. According to British revenue records, what is a “mahal”?
A). A zamindar’s private land
B). A group of peasants cultivating the same crop
C). A village or a group of villages
D). A government-owned agricultural estate
Answer: C). A village or a group of villages
Explanation: In the British revenue system, a mahal referred to a village or group of villages that was considered a single revenue-paying unit.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Mahalwari Settlement of 1822:
1. Under the Mahalwari system, revenue was collected from the village (mahal) as a whole.
2. The assessment and revision of revenue were to be done periodically by the British officials.
3. It was introduced mainly in the Bengal Presidency.
A). 1 and 2 only
B). 2 and 3 only
C). 1 and 3 only
D). 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A). 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Mahalwari settlement is introduced in North Western Provinces (Uttar Pradesh).
Q. Who was responsible for collecting revenue in the Mahalwari Settlement?
A). Zamindars
B). Village headmen
C). Individual ryots
D). British Governor directly
Answer: B). Village headmen
Explanation: In the Mahalwari system, the village headmen collected revenue from the entire mahal (village) and paid it to the Company.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Ryotwari Settlement:
1. Under the Ryotwari system, revenue was collected directly from the individual cultivator (ryot).
2. The assessment of land revenue was made permanent and not subject to revision.
3. It was tried on small scale by Captain Alexander Read in the area taken after the war with Tipu Sultan.
A). 1 and 2 only
B). 2 and 3 only
C). 1 and 3 only
D). 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C). 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Revenue in the Ryotwari system was not permanent; it was revised periodically based on surveys
Q. Match the following crops with the regions where the British persuaded cultivators to grow them:
1. Jute A). Assam
2. Tea B). Punjab
3. Sugarcane C). Bengal
4. Wheat D). Madras
5. Rice E). United Provinces (UP)
Options:
A). 1–B, 2–A, 3–C, 4–D, 5–E
B). 1–A, 2–B, 3–C, 4–E, 5–D
C). 1–C, 2–A, 3–E, 4–B, 5–D
D). 1–B, 2–E, 3–A, 4–D, 5–C
Answer: C). 1–C, 2–A, 3–E, 4–B, 5–D
Q. Indigo cultivation in Bengal was expanded mainly because:
A). It required very little labour
B). There was a high demand for blue dye in Europe
C). It grew easily without irrigation
D). It was cheaper than cotton
Answer: B). There was a high demand for blue dye in Europe
Explanation: The British forced farmers to grow indigo because European textile industries demanded large quantities of blue dye.
Q. Match the following crops with the type of climate in which they grow:
1. Indigo A). Cool and temperate climate
2. Woad B). Tropical
Options:
A). 1–A, 2–B
B). 1–B, 2–A
Answer: B). 1–B, 2–A
Q. What is the main difference between Indigo and Woad?
A). Indigo is a blue dye, while Woad produces a red dye
B). Indigo gives a deeper and richer blue dye than Woad
C). Woad was grown in India, while Indigo was grown only in Europe
D). Indigo is an artificial dye, while Woad is a natural dye
Answer: B). Indigo gives a deeper and richer blue dye than Woad
Explanation: Both Indigo and Woad are natural blue dyes, but Indigo produces a much deeper, richer blue.
Q. A large farm operated by a planter employing various forms of forced labour is called:
A). Subsistence farm
B). Plantation
C). Cooperative farm
D). Mixed farm
Answer: B). Plantation
Explanation: A plantation is a large estate where a single crop (like tea, coffee, cotton, or Tobacco) is grown, often using hired or forced labour.
Q. Match the following European powers with the regions where they first began large-scale indigo plantations:
1. French A). Venezuela
2. Portuguese B). Jamaica
3. English C). Brazil
4. Spanish D). Saint-Domingue (Caribbean Islands)
Options:
A). 1–A, 2–C, 3–B, 4–D
B). 1–B, 2–A, 3–D, 4–C
C). 1–C, 2–D, 3–A, 4–B
D). 1–D, 2–C, 3–B, 4–A
Answer: D). 1–D, 2–C, 3–B, 4–A
Q. When did the African slaves rise in rebellion in Saint-Domingue?
A). 1776
B). 1789
C). 1791
D). 1804
Answer: C). 1791
Q. When did France end slavery in its colonies?
A). 1792
B). 1804
C). 1833
D). 1848
Answer: A). 1792
Q. Which of these is NOT correct about Nij indigo cultivation?
A). Indigo was grown on land directly managed by the planters
B). Nij cultivation required large areas of fertile land
C). It was easy for planters to find sufficient labour for nij fields
D). Planters needed large number of bullocks, ploughs, and other equipment for cultivation
Answer: C). It was easy for planters to find sufficient labour for nij fields
Q. Which of these is NOT correct about the Ryoti system of indigo cultivation?
A). Peasants were made to sign contracts to grow indigo
B). Planters gave loans to peasants for indigo cultivation
C). Peasants could freely choose whether or not to grow indigo
D). Indigo plants exhausted the soil, reducing fertility
Answer: C). Peasants could freely choose whether or not to grow indigo
Explanation: In the Ryoti system, peasants were not free to choose. They were forced or pressured to grow indigo through contracts and loans,
Q. Match the following:
1. Lathiyals A). Company officials who supervised and forced peasants to cultivate indigo
2. Gomasthas B). Lathi weilding strongmen maintained by the planters
Options:
A). 1–A, 2–B
B). 1–B, 2–A
Answer: B). 1–B, 2–A
Q. The Blue Rebellion (Indigo Revolt) took place in which year?
A). 1857
B). 1859
C). 1862
D). 1872
Answer: B). 1859
Explanation: The Blue Rebellion occurred in 1859 when Bengal peasants refused to grow indigo for European planters.
Q. The main cause of the Blue Rebellion was:
A). Increase in land tax
B). Harsh and coercive methods used by indigo planters
C). Shortage of rainfall
D). Decline in wheat production
Answer: B). Harsh and coercive methods used by indigo planters
Explanation: The revolt was triggered by extreme brutality and force used by indigo planters to compel peasants to grow indigo.
Q. Which group supported Bengal peasants during the Blue Rebellion?
A). Indigo planters
B). British army
C). Local zamindars
D). European traders
Answer: C). Local zamindars
Explanation: Many zamindars supported peasants because indigo cultivation damaged the soil and reduced land productivity.
Q. Which British magistrate issued a notice stating that ryots would not be compelled to accept indigo contracts?
A). Ashley Eden
B). Thomas Munro
C). Holt Mackenzie
D). Lord Cornwallis
Answer: A) Ashley Eden
Explanation: The government feared a larger rebellion, so it decided to act against the planters.
Q. What was the outcome of the Blue Rebellion?
A). Indigo planters gained more power
B). Peasants were imprisoned in large numbers
C). The British government set up the Indigo Commission
D). Indigo cultivation expanded in Bengal
Answer: C). The British government set up the Indigo Commission
Explanation: The Indigo Commission (1860) was created to investigate the issue, and it criticised the planters’ oppressive practices.
Q. Who was the President (Chairman) of the Indigo Commission of 1860?
A). Ashley Eden
B). Lord Cornwallis
C). W. S. Seton-Karr
D). Dinabandhu Mitra
Answer: C). W. S. Seton-Karr
Q. After the Blue Rebellion, the British declared that:
A). Indigo cultivation was compulsory
B). Peasants could grow indigo only for export
C). Peasants would not be forced to grow indigo
D). Indigo price would be fixed by the government
Answer: C). Peasants would not be forced to grow indigo
Explanation: The British government announced that no peasant could be compelled to grow indigo.
Q. Who led the Champaran Indigo Satyagraha in 1917?
A). Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B). Rabindranath Tagore
C). Mahatma Gandhi
D). Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: C). Mahatma Gandhi
Q. Match the following:
1. Ryot A). village
2. Mahal B). peasant
3. Nij C). Cultivation on ryot’s land
4. Ryoti D). Cultivation on planter’s own land
Options:
A). 1–A, 2–C, 3–B, 4–D
B). 1–B, 2–A, 3–D, 4–C
C). 1–C, 2–D, 3–A, 4–B
D). 1–D, 2–C, 3–B, 4–A
Answer: B). 1–B, 2–A, 3–D, 4–C