Administrative Structures and Constitutional Developments – Practice Questions

The policy of Paramountcy

1. Policy of Paramountcy refers to:
A. Equality between British and Indian states
B. Isolation of princely states
C. Supremacy of British authority over Indian affairs
D. Complete autonomy to princely rulers

2. Who instituted the Policy of Paramountcy in India?
A. Lord Wellesley
B. Lord Cornwallis
C. Lord Dalhousie
D. Lord Hastings

3. Lord Hastings served as Governor-General of India during:
A. 1798–1805
B. 1813–1823
C. 1828–1835
D. 1848–1856

4. Under the Policy of Paramountcy, the Governor-General claimed the right to:
A. Abolish zamindari system
B. Conduct elections in princely states
C. Form military alliances only
D. Intervene in internal affairs of princely states

5. Which company maintained the principle of Paramountcy?
A. Dutch East India Company
B. French East India Company
C. Portuguese Trading Company
D. East India Company

6. The fear of whose invasion influenced British expansion in north-western India?
A. French
B. Afghan
C. Persian
D. Russian

7. The First Anglo-Afghan War was fought between:
A. 1830–1833
B. 1838–1842
C. 1845–1848
D. 1850–1854

8. Sindh was annexed mainly during the Governor-Generalship of:
A. Lord Hastings
B. Lord Wellesley
C. Lord Ellenborough
D. Lord Ripon

9. Punjab was annexed by the British in:
A. 1833
B. 1842
C. 1845
D. 1849

10. Punjab before annexation was ruled by:
A. Maharaja Gulab Singh
B. Maharaja Jaswant Singh
C. Maharaja Hari Singh
D. Maharaja Ranjit Singh

11. Match List I with List II regarding phases of British Paramountcy:

A. a–ii, b–iii, c–i, d–iv
B. a–ii, b–iii, c–iv, d–i
C. a–iii, b–ii, c–iv, d–i
D. a–i, b–ii, c–iii, d–iv

12. The first phase of British expansion (1757–1813) is known as:
A. Subsidiary Cooperation
B. Subordinate Unity
C. Annexation Policy
D. Policy of Ring Fence

13. Assertion (A): During the Ring Fence period, the British largely avoided interference in Indian affairs.
Reason (R): The British were not yet strong enough to confront all Indian powers simultaneously.

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

14. The British emerged as the dominant power in India during:
A. Mughal consolidation
B. French supremacy
C. Initial phase of Ring Fence policy
D. Era of Local Self-Government

15. Which phase witnessed the implementation of subordinate isolation?
A. 1757–1813
B. 1813–1858
C. 1858–1905
D. 1905–1947

16. During subordinate isolation, the British claimed:
A. Equality with princely states
B. No control over native rulers
C. Princely India as a direct colony
D. Supremacy over all native states

17. The shift from subordinate cooperation to annexation occurred mainly during:
A. 1757–1784
B. 1784–1813
C. 1834–1858
D. 1885–1905

18. Which body officially announced the annexation policy in 1834?
A. Board of Control
B. Parliament of Britain
C. Governor-General’s Council
D. Court of Directors

19. Match List I with List II regarding Governor-Generals and policies:

A. a–ii, b–i, c–iii, d–iv
B. a–iii, b–i, c–ii, d–iv
C. a–ii, b–iv, c–iii, d–i
D. a–iv, b–ii, c–i, d–iii

20. Lord Dalhousie justified annexation through:
A. Permanent Settlement
B. Vernacular Education
C. Doctrine of Lapse and maladministration theory
D. Ryotwari settlement

21. Assertion (A): Dalhousie pursued annexation more aggressively than his predecessors.
Reason (R): He introduced new justifications such as the Doctrine of Lapse.

A. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
C. A is true, but R is false
D. A is false, but R is true

22. Which princely state was annexed first under the Doctrine of Lapse by Dalhousie?
A. Jhansi
B. Nagpur
C. Awadh
D. Satara

23. Which state marked the end of annexations under the Doctrine of Lapse?
A. Satara
B. Jhansi
C. Sambalpur
D. Nagpur

24. Awadh was annexed on the ground of:
A. Doctrine of Lapse
B. French alliance
C. Economic bankruptcy
D. Misgovernment or maladministration

25. Which was the last major annexation by the British in India?
A. Satara
B. Jhansi
C. Punjab
D. Awadh

26. Match List I with List II:

A. a–ii, b–i, c–iii, d–iv
B. a–i, b–ii, c–iii, d–iv
C. a–ii, b–i, c–iii, d–iv
D. a–iii, b–iv, c–ii, d–i

27. The British adopted subordinate unity after:
A. 1833 Charter Act
B. Pitt’s India Act
C. Revolt of 1857
D. Partition of Bengal

28. Which statement best explains British abandonment of annexation after 1857?
A. Economic decline in Britain
B. Princely rulers largely remained loyal during the revolt
C. Rise of nationalism
D. Pressure from Russia

29. Assertion (A): After 1857, the British preferred princely states over annexation.
Reason (R): Native rulers had supported British authority during the revolt.

A. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation
B. A is true, but R is false
C. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation
D. A is false, but R is true

30. Which document outlined the post-1857 policy of subordinate unity?
A. Regulating Act, 1773
B. Charter Act, 1833
C. Indian Councils Act, 1861
D. Queen’s Proclamation of 1858

31. The Government of India Act, 1858 formally:
A. Introduced elections
B. Accepted the new policy toward princely states
C. Ended Company trade only
D. Introduced dyarchy

32. Under British policy after 1857, rulers were granted:
A. Parliamentary rights
B. Right of adoption in many states
C. Independent foreign policy
D. Tax exemption

33. How many native rulers were granted special adoption rights due to lack of natural heirs?
A. 120
B. 145
C. 150
D. 160

34. Match List I with List II regarding princely states:

A. a–iv, b–iii, c–ii, d–i
B. a–iii, b–iv, c–ii, d–i
C. a–iv, b–ii, c–iii, d–i
D. a–iv, b–iii, c–ii, d–i

35. Which princely state resisted British annexation under Rani Channamma?
A. Mysore
B. Hyderabad
C. Travancore
D. Kittur

36. Rani Channamma was arrested in:
A. 1818
B. 1820
C. 1824
D. 1830

37. Assertion (A): Rani Channamma opposed British expansion in Kittur.
Reason (R): The British refused to recognize her adopted son as heir.

A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true, but R is false
D. A is false, but R is true

38. Rani Channamma died in prison in:
A. 1824
B. 1826
C. 1827
D. 1829