Famines, Epidemics and the Government Policy – UGC NET History – Practice Questions

Famines

1. Which among the following was the first major famine under British rule in India?

A) Bengal Famine (1770)
B) Chalisa Famine (1783–84)
C) Agra Famine (1837–38)
D) Orissa Famine (1866)

2. The Bengal Famine of 1770 is estimated to have caused the death of approximately:

A) 2 million people
B) 10 million people
C) 15 million people
D) 20 million people

3. Match the following famines with their respective regions:

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

4. Which among the following colonial policies institutionalized revenue extraction over subsistence concerns?

A) Ryotwari Settlement
B) Mahalwari Settlement
C) Subsidiary Alliance
D) Permanent Settlement under Cornwallis Code (1793)

5. Assertion (A): The East India Company reduced revenue collection during the Bengal Famine of 1770.
Reason (R): The Company prioritized humanitarian relief over fiscal extraction.

A) Both (A) and (R) are true.
B) Both (A) and (R) are false.
C) (A) is true but (R) is false.
D) (A) is false but (R) is true.

6. The Chalisa Famine (1783–84) has been linked to:

A) Volcanic eruption
B) Monsoon floods
C) El Niño-induced drought
D) Cyclone activity

7. Match the following famine commissions with their outcomes:

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

8. Which famine led to the formation of the first Famine Commission?

A) Bengal Famine (1770)
B) Agra Famine (1837–38)
C) Orissa Famine (1866)
D) Great Famine (1876–78)

9. Which British official delayed acknowledging the Orissa Famine of 1866?

A) Lord Lytton
B) Sir Richard Temple
C) Sir Cecil Beadon
D) George Campbell

10. Assertion (A): The Great Famine of 1876–78 occurred while grain exports from India continued.
Reason (R): British imperial trade priorities outweighed famine relief concerns.

A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) correctly explains (A).
B) Both (A) and (R) are false.
C) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation.
D) (A) is false but (R) is true.

11. Which Viceroy was criticized for hosting the Delhi Durbar during the Great Famine of 1876–78?

A) Lord Lytton
B) Lord Ripon
C) Lord Curzon
D) Lord Mayo

12. The “Temple Wage” during famine relief was associated with:

A) Free grain distribution
B) Heavy labor with below-subsistence food support
C) Land redistribution
D) Village grain storage

13. Match the following famines with approximate death tolls:

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

14. The Famine Codes of 1883 were primarily based on recommendations of:

A) George Campbell
B) Charles Trevelyan
C) Sir Richard Temple
D) Sir Richard Strachey

15. Assertion (A): The Famine Codes ensured uniform famine relief across all provinces.
Reason (R): Provincial governments had discretionary power in implementation.

A) Both (A) and (R) are true.
B) (A) is false but (R) is true.
C) Both (A) and (R) are false.
D) (A) is true but (R) is false.

16. Which famine is popularly known as ‘Chhappania Akal’?

A) Bengal Famine (1943)
B) Great Famine (1876–78)
C) Indian Famine (1899–1900)
D) Orissa Famine (1866)

17. Match the following personalities with their views/actions on famine:

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

18. Which among the following best describes Amartya Sen’s explanation of the Bengal Famine of 1943?

A) Lack of food production only
B) Climate change exclusively
C) Entitlement failure due to inflation and wage collapse
D) River flooding

19. Winston Churchill’s wartime cabinet was criticized for:

A) Excessive grain imports to India
B) Immediate famine declaration
C) Refusal to divert food shipments to Bengal
D) Ending grain exports completely

20. Assertion (A): The Bengal Famine of 1943 occurred despite adequate previous rice production.
Reason (R): Wartime inflation and hoarding worsened access to food.

A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) correctly explains (A).
B) Both (A) and (R) are false.
C) (A) is false but (R) is true.
D) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

21. Which among the following colonial systems often left tenants without reserves during famines?

A) Zamindari System
B) Ryotwari Reform
C) Cooperative Farming
D) Village Panchayat System

22. Colonial railways during famines often:

A) Prevented all famine deaths
B) Facilitated grain exports instead of local relief
C) Eliminated food shortages
D) Replaced bullock transport entirely

23. Match the following famines with chronological order:

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

24. Which British official considered famine a “natural corrective” to population growth?

A) Lord Ripon
B) George Campbell
C) Richard Strachey
D) Charles Trevelyan

25. Assertion (A): Traditional village grain reserves remained strong under British rule.
Reason (R): Colonial governance protected local food safety mechanisms.

A) Both (A) and (R) are true.
B) Both (A) and (R) are false.
C) (A) is true but (R) is false.
D) (A) is false but (R) is true.

26. Approximately how many Indians are estimated to have died due to famine and famine-related diseases between 1765 and 1947?

A) 5–10 million
B) 15–20 million
C) 30–35 million
D) 50–60 million

27. Match the following policy terms with meanings:

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

28. Which famine exposed the complete collapse of colonial famine policy during World War II?

A) Orissa Famine
B) Great Famine
C) Bengal Famine of 1943
D) Agra Famine