Local Self Government – UGC NET History – Practice Questions

1. Local Self-Government in India is considered essential primarily because it:
A. Encourages centralization of administration
B. Fosters the spirit of liberty among citizens
C. Promotes military administration
D. Replaces provincial governance entirely

2. Which among the following Presidency towns witnessed the earliest municipal experiments in India?
A. Agra, Bombay, Madras
B. Madras, Delhi, Calcutta
C. Madras, Calcutta and Bombay
D. Surat, Bombay and Calcutta

3. The Corporation established in Madras in 1687 was formed under the orders of:
A. Court of Directors
B. Governor-General in Council
C. Board of Revenue
D. East India Parliament

4. Match List I with List II regarding early municipal administration in Presidency towns.

A. (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
B. (a)-(iii), (b)-(iv), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
C. (a)-(iv), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(i)
D. (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)

5. Under the Regulating Act of 1773, Justices of Peace in Presidency towns were appointed by the:
A. Provincial Governors
B. Governor-General
C. Secretary of State
D. Municipal Committee

6. Assertion (A): Presidency towns suffered from severe sanitary problems during the colonial period.
Reason (R): Public drains were used as receptacles for filth and carcasses were often left on roads.

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

7. Lottery funds between 1817 and 1830 in Madras and Calcutta were mainly used for:
A. Military expenditure
B. Education grants
C. Judicial reforms
D. Construction of roads and drains

8. Which tax was levied in Bombay to support road-making activities?
A. Tax on carriages and carts
B. Salt tax
C. Property tax
D. Water tax

9. The gradual transfer of municipal power from Justices of Peace occurred mainly to the:
A. Provincial Governor
B. Chief Magistrate
C. Collector
D. Municipal Chairman

10. Match List I with List II regarding Presidency town municipal developments.

A. (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B. (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
C. (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
D. (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)

11. The Act passed for Bombay in 1845 concentrated powers in a:
A. Municipal Assembly
B. Provincial Committee
C. Conservancy Board
D. Revenue Board

12. Assertion (A): The public enthusiastically participated in municipal taxation under the 1840 and 1841 Acts.
Reason (R): Inhabitants readily accepted control over tax assessment and collection.

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

13. Act XXIV of 1856 mainly focused on:
A. Police administration
B. Conservancy and improvement of towns
C. Land revenue
D. Judicial administration

14. Which Act dealt with assessment and collection of municipal rates in Presidency towns?
A. Act XXIII
B. Act XXIV
C. Act XXVI
D. Act XXV

15. Which Presidency town Act included provisions for gaslighting and sewer construction?
A. Calcutta Act of 1856
B. Madras Act of 1841
C. Bombay Act of 1858
D. Mayo Resolution of 1870

16. Match List I with List II regarding municipal institutions.

A. (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)
B. (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
C. (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(ii)
D. (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)

17. Who worked as Municipal Commissioner in Bombay to improve sanitation?
A. Ripon
B. Crawford
C. Risley
D. Curzon

18. The Bombay Municipal Act of 1872 is credited for establishing:
A. Complete elected autonomy
B. Provincial supremacy
C. Panchayat administration
D. Strong executive officer controlled by committee

19. Assertion (A): Government intervened in Calcutta in 1899 due to worsening sanitation.
Reason (R): The Calcutta Corporation Act of 1899 limited elected representation.

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

20. The executive authority in the Calcutta Corporation after 1899 was vested in the:
A. Chairman
B. Collector
C. Governor
D. Municipal Commissioner

21. In Madras, the elective system was introduced in:
A. 1872
B. 1881
C. 1899
D. 1904

22. Which among the following best characterizes the Madras Corporation after 1881?
A. Entirely nominated body
B. Fully elected executive
C. Government-appointed salaried President and Vice-Presidents
D. Abolition of budgetary powers

23. Match List I with List II concerning Presidency towns.

A. (a)-(i), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv)
B. (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(i), (d)-(iv)
C. (a)-(iv), (b)-(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)-(i)
D. (a)-(iii), (b)-(ii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)

24. Before 1842, municipal legislation outside Presidency towns was:
A. Highly developed
B. Completely decentralized
C. Based on elections
D. Practically absent

25. Assertion (A): The Bengal Act of 1842 remained ineffective.
Reason (R): It was fully mandatory for all provinces.

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