The Colonial Era in India

📘 The Colonial Era in India

🌍 Section A — Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

🕰️ Concept: Introduction & Meaning of Colonialism

What does the term colonialism mean?
A. Rule by elected representatives
B. Control of one country by another for its benefit
C. Development of local industries
D. Peaceful cultural exchange
✅ Answer: B
The “Age of Colonialism” began in which century?
A. 13th century
B. 14th century
C. 15th century
D. 16th century
✅ Answer: C
Which was NOT a motive for European colonial expansion?
A. Political rivalry
B. Economic gain
C. Religious conversion
D. Environmental protection
✅ Answer: D
Who first reached India by sea in 1498?
A. Christopher Columbus
B. Ferdinand Magellan
C. Vasco da Gama
D. Bartholomew Diaz
✅ Answer: C
Vasco da Gama landed in India at:
A. Calicut (Kozhikode)
B. Bombay
C. Goa
D. Diu
✅ Answer: A
The Portuguese captured Goa in:
A. 1502
B. 1510
C. 1560
D. 1600
✅ Answer: B
The Portuguese introduced which system to control sea trade?
A. Ryotwari
B. Cartaz
C. Zamindari
D. Doctrine of Lapse
✅ Answer: B
Who was the queen who resisted the Portuguese at Ullal?
A. Rani Lakshmibai
B. Rani Abbakka
C. Rani Durgavati
D. Rani Chennamma
✅ Answer: B
The Goa Inquisition began in:
A. 1510
B. 1540
C. 1560
D. 1600
✅ Answer: C
The Goa Inquisition ended in:
A. 1700
B. 1800
C. 1812
D. 1820
✅ Answer: C

⚓ Concept: Dutch, French, and British Arrival

The Dutch East India Company was formed in:
A. 1592
B. 1602
C. 1612
D. 1622
✅ Answer: B
The Dutch were defeated by King Marthanda Varma in:
A. 1731
B. 1741
C. 1751
D. 1761
✅ Answer: B
The Battle of Colachel was fought between:
A. Dutch and Marathas
B. Dutch and Travancore
C. Portuguese and British
D. British and Mysore
✅ Answer: B
The French East India Company established its main base at:
A. Goa
B. Pondicherry
C. Surat
D. Bombay
✅ Answer: B
Who was the Governor-General of French India from 1742–1754?
A. Dupleix
B. Lally
C. Clive
D. Cornwallis
✅ Answer: A
The Carnatic Wars were fought between:
A. Dutch and French
B. British and French
C. Portuguese and Dutch
D. British and Marathas
✅ Answer: B
The English East India Company was founded in:
A. 1588
B. 1595
C. 1600
D. 1602
✅ Answer: C
The royal charter for the East India Company was granted by:
A. Queen Mary
B. Queen Elizabeth I
C. King George I
D. King Henry VIII
✅ Answer: B
The Company first established a trading post at:
A. Calcutta
B. Surat
C. Madras
D. Bombay
✅ Answer: B
The “divide and rule” policy means:
A. Uniting all people
B. Encouraging differences to prevent unity
C. Promoting equality
D. Ending trade conflicts
✅ Answer: B

⚔️ British Expansion & Policies (21 – 40)

The Battle of Plassey took place in ____.
A. 1741 B. 1757 C. 1764 D. 1857
✅ Answer: B
The Nawab of Bengal defeated at Plassey was ____.
A. Mir Jafar B. Siraj-ud-Daulah C. Tipu Sultan D. Marthanda Varma
✅ Answer: B
The British commander at Plassey was ____.
A. Lord Dalhousie B. Robert Clive C. Warren Hastings D. Dupleix
✅ Answer: B
Mir Jafar became the Nawab of Bengal because ____.
A. He fought bravely B. He betrayed Siraj-ud-Daulah C. He was elected D. He married the princess
✅ Answer: B
The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by ____.
A. Lord Curzon B. Lord Dalhousie C. Lord Wellesley D. Lord Lytton
✅ Answer: B
The Subsidiary Alliance system was introduced by ____.
A. Lord Wellesley B. Lord Dalhousie C. Robert Clive D. Lord Ripon
✅ Answer: A
Under the Subsidiary Alliance, Indian rulers had to ____.
A. Keep British troops and pay for them
B. Send soldiers to Britain
C. Build forts for the British
D. Adopt British religion
✅ Answer: A
The first Indian ruler to accept the Subsidiary Alliance was the ____.
A. Nizam of Hyderabad B. King of Mysore C. Peshwa D. Nawab of Awadh
✅ Answer: A
The “Doctrine of Lapse” ignored the Indian custom of ____.
A. Dowry B. Adoption C. Fasting D. Inheritance
✅ Answer: B
Which of the following states was annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse?
A. Mysore B. Punjab C. Jhansi D. Hyderabad
✅ Answer: C
The policy of “Divide and Rule” mainly aimed to ____.
A. Encourage unity B. Create conflicts among Indians C. Promote education D. Stop wars
✅ Answer: B
The British Crown took direct control of India in ____.
A. 1757 B. 1770 C. 1858 D. 1947
✅ Answer: C
The period from 1757 to 1858 is called ____.
A. Company Rule B. British Raj C. Home Rule D. Civil Disobedience
✅ Answer: A
After 1858, India came under ____.
A. Queen Victoria B. Parliament of India C. The East India Company D. None of these
✅ Answer: A
The East India Company’s main aim was ____.
A. Educate Indians B. Trade and make profit C. Spread democracy D. Protect Indian culture
✅ Answer: B
The Company’s army mainly consisted of ____.
A. British soldiers only B. Indian sepoys C. Maratha kings D. Foreign mercenaries
✅ Answer: B
The “Mir Jafar” episode is remembered as a symbol of ____.
A. Courage B. Trade C. Betrayal D. Unity
✅ Answer: C
The British used the Delhi Durbar of 1876 to ____.
A. Proclaim Queen Victoria as Empress of India
B. Declare war on France
C. Launch railway service
D. Celebrate independence
✅ Answer: A
The capital of British India was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in ____.
A. 1905 B. 1911 C. 1919 D. 1947
✅ Answer: B
The phrase “an empire on the cheap” referred to ____.
A. Expensive wars B. Subsidiary Alliance system C. Free trade D. Education reforms
✅ Answer: B

🌾 Famines & Economic Exploitation (41 – 60)

The first major famine under British rule occurred in ____.
A. 1757 B. 1770 C. 1857 D. 1877
✅ Answer: B
The Bengal Famine (1770–72) caused about ____ deaths.
A. 1 million B. 5 million C. 10 million D. 20 million
✅ Answer: C
The Great Famine (1876–78) occurred mainly in ____.
A. Bengal B. Punjab C. Deccan & South India D. Assam
✅ Answer: C
The British Viceroy during the Great Famine was ____.
A. Lord Lytton B. Lord Dalhousie C. Lord Ripon D. Lord Curzon
✅ Answer: A
The Delhi Durbar feast during the famine was attended by about ____ guests.
A. 5,000 B. 20,000 C. 68,000 D. 100,000
✅ Answer: C
The number of major famines during British rule was about ____.
A. 5 B. 10 C. 15–20 D. 30
✅ Answer: C
The Drain of Wealth theory was proposed by ____.
A. Mahatma Gandhi B. Dadabhai Naoroji C. Jawaharlal Nehru D. Sardar Patel
✅ Answer: B
Dadabhai Naoroji’s famous book was ____.
A. Indian Economy B. Poverty and Un-British Rule in India C. Drain Theory D. Rise of India
✅ Answer: B
Romesh Chunder Dutt wrote ____.
A. Economic History of India B. India Wins Freedom C. Discovery of India D. India Divided
✅ Answer: A
Modern economist Utsa Patnaik estimated India’s loss under colonialism as ____.
A. $1 trillion B. $10 trillion C. $45 trillion D. $100 trillion
✅ Answer: C
The main export from India during British rule was ____.
A. Steel B. Raw materials C. Machinery D. Books
✅ Answer: B
British policies ruined which famous Indian industry?
A. Shipbuilding B. Textile C. Glass D. Both A and B
✅ Answer: D
Governor-General William Bentinck said: “The bones of the cotton weavers are bleaching the plains of India.” in ____.
A. 1820 B. 1834 C. 1857 D. 1870
✅ Answer: B
India’s share of world GDP before British rule was about ____.
A. 5 % B. 10 % C. 20 % D. 25 %
✅ Answer: D
By 1947, India’s share of world GDP fell to about ____.
A. 1 % B. 3 % C. 5 % D. 10 %
✅ Answer: C
The famine commission of 1878–80 declared that ____.
A. Relief was a right B. Poor had no right to relief C. Famine was over D. Taxes would reduce
✅ Answer: B
The term “Free Market Cruelty” refers to ____.
A. Britain’s refusal to control grain prices during famines
B. Indian merchants cheating
C. Farmers hoarding grain
D. Export subsidies
✅ Answer: A
The first railway line in India opened in ____.
A. 1837 B. 1845 C. 1853 D. 1857
✅ Answer: C
The main purpose of railways under British rule was ____.
A. Tourism B. Military control and trade transport C. Public service D. Pilgrimage
✅ Answer: B
Who paid for railway construction in India?
A. British Parliament B. Indian taxpayers C. Private merchants D. Local kings
✅ Answer: B

⚙️ Education & Society (61 – 80)

Before British rule, most Indian schools were run by ____.
A. British missionaries B. Local communities and temples C. Foreigners D. Merchants
✅ Answer: B
Macaulay’s Minute on Education was written in ____.
A. 1828 B. 1835 C. 1848 D. 1858
✅ Answer: B
Macaulay wanted to create Indians who were ____.
A. Independent thinkers B. Indian in blood but English in taste C. Traditional teachers D. Uneducated workers
✅ Answer: B
Macaulay compared Indian literature to ____.
A. Greek texts B. One shelf of European books C. Chinese philosophy D. Persian poems
✅ Answer: B
Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the ____.
A. Arya Samaj B. Brahmo Samaj C. Prarthana Samaj D. Indian National Congress
✅ Answer: B
Raja Ram Mohan Roy worked against ____.
A. Sati & child marriage B. Widow remarriage C. Education D. Printing press
✅ Answer: A
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar is known for ____.
A. Fighting for widow remarriage B. Leading a revolt C. Inventing printing D. Teaching English in London
✅ Answer: A
Swami Dayananda Saraswati founded the ____.
A. Brahmo Samaj B. Arya Samaj C. Prarthana Samaj D. Theosophical Society
✅ Answer: B
The printing press helped spread ____.
A. British propaganda only B. Education & reform ideas C. Famine reports only D. Trade records
✅ Answer: B
The first Indian newspaper was ____.
A. Kesari B. The Hindu C. The Bengal Gazette D. Amrita Bazar Patrika
✅ Answer: C
Kesari newspaper was started by ____.
A. Raja Ram Mohan Roy B. Bal Gangadhar Tilak C. Gopal Krishna Gokhale D. Ishwar Vidyasagar
✅ Answer: B
Charles Metcalfe called Indian villages ____.
A. Backward B. Little republics C. Dirty D. Disorganised
✅ Answer: B
Traditional panchayats were replaced by ____.
A. Self-rule B. Centralised British bureaucracy C. People’s assemblies D. Village unions
✅ Answer: B
The new British courts used ____ language.
A. Persian B. English C. Sanskrit D. Hindi
✅ Answer: B
The Indian National Congress was founded in ____.
A. 1857 B. 1875 C. 1885 D. 1905
✅ Answer: C
The first president of INC was ____.
A. Dadabhai Naoroji B. W. C. Bonnerjee C. Gopal Gokhale D. Bal Tilak
✅ Answer: B
The founder of INC was ____.
A. A. O. Hume B. Lord Ripon C. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan D. Curzon
✅ Answer: A
National song Vande Mataram was part of ____.
A. Anandamath B. Gita C. Discovery of India D. Rig Veda
✅ Answer: A
Anandamath was written by ____.
A. Rabindranath Tagore B. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay C. Ishwar Vidyasagar D. Premchand
✅ Answer: B
The message of Vande Mataram was ____.
A. Praise for British rule B. Devotion to Mother India C. Religious chant D. Poem about rain
✅ Answer: B

🔥 Resistance & 1857 Revolt (81 – 100)

The Revolt of 1857 began at ____.
A. Delhi B. Lucknow C. Meerut D. Kanpur
✅ Answer: C
The immediate cause of the 1857 Revolt was ____.
A. Tax increase B. New rifle cartridges with animal fat C. New education law D. Foreign trade
✅ Answer: B
Mangal Pandey belonged to ____ regiment.
A. Bengal Army B. Madras Army C. Punjab Army D. Maratha Cavalry
✅ Answer: A
Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared the leader of the Revolt at ____.
A. Kanpur B. Delhi C. Jhansi D. Lucknow
✅ Answer: B
Nana Saheb led the rebellion in ____.
A. Lucknow B. Kanpur C. Delhi D. Gwalior
✅ Answer: B
Rani Lakshmibai fought bravely in ____.
A. Delhi B. Jhansi and Gwalior C. Lucknow D. Patna
✅ Answer: B
Begum Hazrat Mahal led the revolt in ____.
A. Lucknow B. Kanpur C. Delhi D. Jhansi
✅ Answer: A

🔥 Resistance & 1857 Revolt (continued)

Tantia Tope was a close associate of:
A. Nana Saheb B. Rani Lakshmibai C. Both A and B D. Bahadur Shah Zafar
✅ Answer: C
Rani Lakshmibai died fighting the British in:
A. 1857 B. 1858 C. 1860 D. 1862
✅ Answer: B
The Revolt of 1857 was finally suppressed in:
A. 1857 B. 1858 C. 1859 D. 1860
✅ Answer: C
After 1857, the British reorganised the Indian army to:
A. Reduce soldiers B. Mix castes and religions to avoid unity C. Increase Indian officers D. Train soldiers abroad
✅ Answer: B
The 1857 Revolt was called “The First War of Independence” by:
A. V. D. Savarkar B. Dadabhai Naoroji C. Bankim Chandra D. Rabindranath Tagore
✅ Answer: A
One main cause of the Revolt of 1857 was:
A. Religious interference B. Tax reduction C. Free land grants D. British respect for Indian rulers
✅ Answer: A
The Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to:
A. Rangoon (Myanmar) B. Singapore C. London D. Colombo
✅ Answer: A
The Sepoys were:
A. Farmers B. Soldiers in the British Indian Army C. Traders D. Craftsmen
✅ Answer: B
The British Crown took over Indian administration through:
A. Regulating Act B. Indian Councils Act C. Government of India Act, 1858 D. Charter Act
✅ Answer: C
The Revolt of 1857 failed mainly because:
A. Lack of unity & coordination B. Strong foreign support C. Modern weapons D. Lack of cause
✅ Answer: A
Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1858) promised:
A. End of British rule B. Equal treatment and religious freedom C. Free land D. Tax-free trade
✅ Answer: B
After the 1857 Revolt, who became India’s real ruler?
A. Parliament B. The British Crown C. East India Company D. Local kings
✅ Answer: B
The Revolt of 1857 was important because it:
A. Ended foreign rule B. United Indians for the first time against British rule C. Created new religions D. Started a famine
✅ Answer: B

🎯 ✅ Complete Summary of the 100 MCQs

Theme	Question Range	Focus
Meaning of Colonialism & Portuguese	1–10	Definition, Vasco da Gama, Goa, Rani Abbakka
Dutch, French & British Entry	11–20	Colachel, Dupleix, Plassey
British Expansion Policies	21–40	Doctrine of Lapse, Subsidiary Alliance
Famines & Economic Drain	41–60	Naoroji, Bentinck, Utsa Patnaik
Education & Society	61–80	Macaulay, Roy, Vidyasagar, Arya Samaj
1857 Revolt & Resistance	81–100	Mangal Pandey, Jhansi, Hazrat Mahal, Queen Victoria

✏️ Section B – Short Answer Questions (2–3 Marks Each)

🕰️ 1–10: Meaning & Early Colonisation

What is colonialism?
✅ Colonialism means control by one country over another’s political, economic, and cultural life for its own benefit.
Name any two European powers who came to India for trade.
✅ Portugal and France.
When and where did Vasco da Gama arrive in India?
✅ In 1498, at Calicut (Kozhikode), Kerala.
What was the ‘cartaz’ system?
✅ A pass system introduced by the Portuguese, forcing ships in the Indian Ocean to buy permits for trade.
Who was Rani Abbakka and why is she famous?
✅ She was the Queen of Ullal (Karnataka) who bravely fought the Portuguese in the 16th century.
What was the Goa Inquisition?
✅ A Portuguese religious court (1560–1812) that punished Indians who refused to convert to Christianity.
Why did Europeans come to India in the 15th and 16th centuries?
✅ To find new trade routes and to buy spices, silk, and precious stones.
What was the main aim of colonial powers in India?
✅ To gain wealth, expand trade, and establish political power.
What was the outcome of the Battle of Colachel (1741)?
✅ King Marthanda Varma of Travancore defeated the Dutch, ending Dutch power in India.
Who established the French East India Company and where was its base?
✅ The French established it in 1664, with its base at Pondicherry.

⚔️ 11–20: British Expansion & Policies

When was the English East India Company founded?
✅ In 1600 by a charter from Queen Elizabeth I.
Name the main trading centres of the East India Company.
✅ Surat, Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta.
What was the significance of the Battle of Plassey (1757)?
✅ It marked the beginning of British political control in India.
Who were the two main rivals in the Battle of Plassey?
✅ Siraj-ud-Daulah and Robert Clive.
What is the Doctrine of Lapse?
✅ Policy of annexation by Lord Dalhousie stating that if a ruler died without a natural heir, his kingdom would be taken over.
Who introduced the Subsidiary Alliance and when?
✅ Lord Wellesley in 1798.
Which Indian ruler first accepted the Subsidiary Alliance?
✅ The Nizam of Hyderabad.
What was the main idea behind ‘Divide and Rule’?
✅ To create differences among Indians to prevent unity and maintain British control.
When did the British Crown take direct control of India?
✅ In 1858, after the Revolt of 1857.
What was the East India Company’s real motive in India?
✅ To make profit by controlling trade and exploiting resources.

🌾 21–30: Economic Exploitation & Famines

What caused the Bengal Famine of 1770?
✅ Crop failure combined with high land taxes and British neglect.
Who was Robert Clive?
✅ A British officer who led the Company’s victory in the Battle of Plassey.
What was the Great Famine (1876–78)?
✅ A severe famine in South India under Lord Lytton that killed around 8 million people.
What is meant by the ‘Drain of Wealth’?
✅ Continuous transfer of India’s wealth to Britain through trade, taxes, and exploitation.
Who explained the ‘Drain of Wealth’ theory?
✅ Dadabhai Naoroji.
Name any two famous books on India’s economic exploitation.
✅ “Poverty and Un-British Rule in India” by Dadabhai Naoroji and “Economic History of India” by Romesh Dutt.
What happened to Indian textile industries under British rule?
✅ They declined due to heavy import duties and competition from British goods.
Who said, “The bones of the cotton weavers are bleaching the plains of India”?
✅ William Bentinck.
What was India’s share of world GDP before and after colonial rule?
✅ Around 25% before British rule, less than 5% by 1947.
Who paid for British railways and telegraphs in India?
✅ Indian taxpayers, not Britain.

⚙️ 31–40: Education, Social Changes & Reforms

Who wrote ‘Macaulay’s Minute on Education’ and when?
✅ Thomas Babington Macaulay in 1835.
What was Macaulay’s aim in education policy?
✅ To create Indians who were “Indian in blood but English in taste.”
What effect did Macaulay’s education policy have?
✅ It destroyed traditional learning and created an English-speaking elite.
Who is known as the “Father of Indian Renaissance”?
✅ Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Name two social evils opposed by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
✅ Sati and child marriage.
Which reformer worked for widow remarriage?
✅ Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Who founded the Arya Samaj and when?
✅ Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1875.
What role did the printing press play in colonial India?
✅ It helped spread reform ideas and national awakening.
Who started the newspaper ‘Kesari’?
✅ Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
What did Charles Metcalfe call Indian villages?
✅ “Little republics.”

🔥 41–50: Revolts, Resistance & Legacy

Who started the Revolt of 1857 by attacking British officers?
✅ Mangal Pandey at Barrackpore.
Where did the 1857 Revolt begin?
✅ Meerut.
Who was declared the leader of the Revolt in Delhi?
✅ Bahadur Shah Zafar.
Name any two leaders of the 1857 Revolt.
✅ Rani Lakshmibai and Nana Saheb.
Where did Begum Hazrat Mahal lead the revolt?
✅ Lucknow (Awadh).
Who called the 1857 Revolt “The First War of Independence”?
✅ Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (V.D. Savarkar).
What happened to Bahadur Shah Zafar after the Revolt?
✅ He was captured and exiled to Rangoon (Myanmar).
When was the Indian National Congress founded and by whom?
✅ In 1885 by A.O. Hume.
Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?
✅ W.C. Bonnerjee.
What does the phrase “Indians funded their own subjugation” mean?
✅ The British used Indian taxes to build railways, telegraphs, and armies that were used to control India itself.

here’s the complete set of 30 Long Answer Questions (5 marks each) from Chapter 4: The Colonial Era in India (Class 8), written in simple Class 8-level language, yet detailed enough for exams.

Each question is followed by a clear, well-structured answer.

🧾 Section C – Long Answer Questions (5 Marks Each)

🌍 1–10: Early Colonial Expansion

Explain the meaning of colonialism and how it affected India.
✅ Colonialism means one country controlling another for its own economic and political benefit. The British controlled India’s trade, industries, and administration. They took raw materials, sold finished goods back to Indians, and destroyed local industries. It made India poor and dependent.
Describe the main motives behind European colonisation.
✅ The motives were: (1) Political rivalry among European powers; (2) Economic gain — trade in spices, silk, and gold; (3) Religious aim — to spread Christianity; (4) Curiosity to explore new lands; and (5) Desire for global power and prestige.
Who was Vasco da Gama? What was his contribution to India’s colonial history?
✅ Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese sailor who reached Calicut in 1498, opening the first direct sea route between Europe and India. His arrival marked the beginning of European colonisation in India.
Describe the main features of the Portuguese rule in India.
✅ They set up trading centres at Goa, Diu, and Daman; introduced the ‘cartaz’ system; controlled spice trade; and used force to convert Indians to Christianity. The Goa Inquisition (1560–1812) made them unpopular.
Who was Rani Abbakka and how did she resist the Portuguese?
✅ Rani Abbakka was the queen of Ullal (Karnataka) who fought several wars against the Portuguese in the 16th century. She built alliances with local rulers and defeated them many times. She became a symbol of resistance against European colonisers.
Write a short note on the Dutch in India.
✅ The Dutch came to India in 1602 and traded in spices and textiles. Their main centres were at Masulipatnam, Nagapattinam, and Cochin. They were defeated by Marthanda Varma at the Battle of Colachel (1741), ending their power in India.
What were the main French settlements in India and how did they lose control?
✅ French bases were Pondicherry, Chandernagore, Mahe, and Karaikal. They fought three Carnatic Wars (1746–1763) against the British. The British victory under Robert Clive ended French ambitions in India.
Explain the importance of the Battle of Plassey (1757).
✅ It was fought between Siraj-ud-Daulah and Robert Clive. The betrayal by Mir Jafar led to the British victory. It marked the beginning of British political power in India and the decline of Indian independence.
How did the British establish political control over India after Plassey?
✅ After Plassey, the British became the real rulers of Bengal. They used policies like the Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse to annex Indian states. They controlled the army, trade, and administration.
Explain the policy of “Divide and Rule.”
✅ The British encouraged religious and regional differences among Indians. They divided Hindus and Muslims to weaken unity. This policy helped them rule India for almost 200 years.

⚔️ 11–20: British Policies, Economy, and Impact

Describe the Doctrine of Lapse. Give two examples of its application.
✅ Introduced by Lord Dalhousie, it stated that if a ruler died without a natural heir, his kingdom would be annexed. Jhansi (under Rani Lakshmibai) and Satara were taken using this policy.
Explain the Subsidiary Alliance system.
✅ Introduced by Lord Wellesley in 1798. Indian rulers had to keep British troops and pay for them. They couldn’t form alliances or declare war without British permission. It made Indian rulers powerless.
Why did many Indians call British projects like railways and telegraphs “a tool of control”?
✅ Though the British claimed they built them for progress, these projects mainly served their needs—transporting troops, exporting raw materials, and maintaining control over India. Indians paid for their construction through taxes.
What do we mean by “Indians funded their own subjugation”?
✅ The British used Indian revenue to build infrastructure and maintain armies that helped them rule India. So, the same money collected from Indians was used to keep them under control.
Explain the effects of British economic policies on Indian agriculture.
✅ Farmers were forced to grow cash crops like indigo, cotton, and opium instead of food crops. High taxes and low prices led to poverty, debt, and frequent famines.
What were the causes and effects of the Bengal Famine (1770)?
✅ Causes: British neglect, crop failure, and high land tax. Effects: About 10 million people died; agriculture collapsed; and the East India Company’s image was damaged.
What was the Great Famine of 1876–78?
✅ It occurred in South India during Lord Lytton’s time. Around 8 million people died. While people starved, British officials spent lavishly on a grand feast at the Delhi Durbar.
Explain the Drain of Wealth theory. Who proposed it?
✅ Proposed by Dadabhai Naoroji, it stated that India’s wealth was being drained to Britain through trade profits, salaries, and taxes. It made India poor and Britain rich.
Discuss the decline of Indian industries under British rule.
✅ Indian handicrafts and textiles were destroyed by heavy import duties on Indian goods and free entry for British goods. Many artisans lost their livelihood.
What role did Indian reformers play during British rule?
✅ Reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Swami Dayananda Saraswati fought social evils, promoted education, and encouraged equality.

⚙️ 21–30: Education, 1857 Revolt & Legacy

Explain Macaulay’s education policy and its effects.
✅ Macaulay introduced English education in 1835 to create a class of Indians loyal to the British. It ended traditional learning but spread Western ideas and produced early national leaders.
Describe the contributions of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
✅ He fought against Sati, promoted women’s education, founded the Brahmo Samaj (1828), and worked for modern education and press freedom.
Who was Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and what were his reforms?
✅ A reformer and scholar who worked for widow remarriage, girls’ education, and simplified Bengali prose.
Explain the causes of the Revolt of 1857.
✅ Causes: Political annexations, economic exploitation, military grievances (cartridges with animal fat), and religious interference. It was the first major revolt against British rule.
Name four important leaders of the 1857 Revolt and their regions.
✅ Rani Lakshmibai – Jhansi; Nana Saheb – Kanpur; Begum Hazrat Mahal – Lucknow; Bahadur Shah Zafar – Delhi.
What were the main reasons for the failure of the 1857 Revolt?
✅ Lack of unity, poor coordination, limited area of revolt, modern British weapons, and betrayal by some rulers.
What were the results of the Revolt of 1857?
✅ The East India Company was abolished; India came under direct rule of the Crown; the Mughal dynasty ended; and new policies of tolerance were promised.
Describe Queen Victoria’s Proclamation of 1858.
✅ It promised equal treatment, religious freedom, and an end to expansion. But real control remained with British officials.
What were the positive and negative effects of British rule in India?
✅ Positives: Railways, telegraph, modern education, unity under one government. Negatives: Poverty, famines, exploitation, and cultural destruction.
Why is the Colonial Era considered both a period of exploitation and awakening?
✅ While British rule exploited India’s wealth and people, it also introduced modern education, printing, and reforms that led to new ideas and eventually, India’s struggle for freedom.

📘 Section D – Case-Based Questions (20 × 1–3 marks each)

🧩 Case Study 1: Vasco da Gama’s Voyage (1498)

In May 1498, Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese sailor, reached Calicut (Kozhikode). This event opened the first direct sea route between Europe and India. It changed world trade forever, allowing European powers to control Asia’s spice trade.

Q1. Who was Vasco da Gama?
✅ A Portuguese sailor who reached India in 1498.

Q2. Why was his arrival important?
✅ It began the era of European colonisation in India.

🧩 Case Study 2: The Goa Inquisition (1560–1812)

The Portuguese introduced a religious court called the Goa Inquisition to punish anyone who refused to convert to Christianity. Many Indians were tortured or forced to change their religion.

Q1. What was the Goa Inquisition?
✅ A Portuguese court that punished people for not converting.

Q2. What was its effect on Indians?
✅ It created fear and hatred against Portuguese rule.

🧩 Case Study 3: Rani Abbakka of Ullal

Rani Abbakka, the queen of Ullal in Karnataka, led several wars against the Portuguese. She built alliances with other rulers and became a symbol of courage.

Q1. Who was Rani Abbakka?
✅ A brave queen who resisted the Portuguese.

Q2. What does her story show?
✅ Indian resistance to European domination.

🧩 Case Study 4: The Dutch in India

The Dutch East India Company came to India in 1602. They traded in spices and textiles but were defeated in the Battle of Colachel (1741) by Travancore’s king, Marthanda Varma.

Q1. When did the Dutch come to India?
✅ 1602.
Q2. Who defeated them?
✅ Marthanda Varma at the Battle of Colachel.

🧩 Case Study 5: French Ambitions

The French East India Company, founded in 1664, aimed to control Indian trade. Their main base was Pondicherry. But they were defeated by the British in the Carnatic Wars.

Q1. Who founded the French East India Company?
✅ France in 1664.
Q2. What ended French power in India?
✅ Their defeat in the Carnatic Wars.

🧩 Case Study 6: Battle of Plassey (1757)

The Battle of Plassey between Siraj-ud-Daulah and Robert Clive changed Indian history. Mir Jafar’s betrayal helped the British win, marking the start of British rule.

Q1. Who fought the Battle of Plassey?
✅ Siraj-ud-Daulah and Robert Clive.
Q2. What was its result?
✅ Beginning of British political control in India.

🧩 Case Study 7: Doctrine of Lapse

Lord Dalhousie’s Doctrine of Lapse said that if a ruler died without a son, his kingdom would go to the British. States like Jhansi were annexed.

Q1. Who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse?
✅ Lord Dalhousie.
Q2. Why was it disliked by Indian rulers?
✅ It took away their kingdoms unfairly.

🧩 Case Study 8: Subsidiary Alliance (1798)

Under this policy, rulers had to accept British troops and pay for them. They couldn’t form foreign alliances. The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first to accept it.

Q1. Who introduced this system?
✅ Lord Wellesley.
Q2. What was its effect?
✅ Indian states lost independence.

🧩 Case Study 9: Economic Drain

Dadabhai Naoroji showed that Britain took India’s wealth through taxes, trade, and profits. He called this the “Drain of Wealth.”

Q1. What did Naoroji’s theory explain?
✅ How Britain made India poor by taking its wealth.
Q2. Name his book.
✅ “Poverty and Un-British Rule in India.”

🧩 Case Study 10: The Great Famine (1876–78)

During Lord Lytton’s rule, a terrible famine struck South India. Over 8 million died, while British officials held a grand feast in Delhi.

Q1. When did the Great Famine occur?
✅ 1876–78.
Q2. Why was the government criticised?
✅ For ignoring starving people while celebrating luxury events.

🧩 Case Study 11: William Bentinck’s Statement

Bentinck said, “The bones of the cotton weavers are bleaching the plains of India,” showing the ruin of Indian industry.

Q1. What did he mean?
✅ Indian weavers had lost their livelihood due to British imports.
Q2. What caused it?
✅ Destruction of Indian textile industry.

🧩 Case Study 12: Macaulay’s Education Policy (1835)

Macaulay wanted Indians who were “Indian in blood but English in taste.” This led to English-medium education replacing traditional learning.

Q1. Who was Macaulay?
✅ A British official who introduced English education.
Q2. What was its long-term impact?
✅ Creation of an English-speaking elite and educated nationalists.

🧩 Case Study 13: Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s Reforms

He fought against Sati, promoted women’s education, and started the Brahmo Samaj in 1828.

Q1. Which social evil did he oppose?
✅ Sati.
Q2. What was his contribution to education?
✅ He promoted modern and scientific learning.

🧩 Case Study 14: Revolt of 1857 – The Spark

The use of rifle cartridges coated with animal fat angered Hindu and Muslim soldiers, leading to the Revolt of 1857.

Q1. What was the immediate cause of the revolt?
✅ Cartridges coated with cow and pig fat.
Q2. Where did it begin?
✅ Meerut.

🧩 Case Study 15: Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi

After the British refused to recognise her adopted son, she led her army and fought bravely in the Revolt of 1857.

Q1. Why did the British annex Jhansi?
✅ Doctrine of Lapse.
Q2. How did Rani Lakshmibai die?
✅ In battle against the British in 1858.

🧩 Case Study 16: Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh

Begum Hazrat Mahal led the revolt in Lucknow after the annexation of Awadh.

Q1. What triggered her revolt?
✅ Annexation of Awadh by the British.
Q2. Why is she remembered?
✅ For her leadership and bravery during the 1857 Revolt.

🧩 Case Study 17: Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1858)

After the Revolt, the Crown promised religious freedom and equal justice, but continued control remained in British hands.

Q1. What did Queen Victoria’s Proclamation promise?
✅ Religious tolerance and fairness.
Q2. Was it truly followed?
✅ No, discrimination continued in practice.

🧩 Case Study 18: Founding of the Indian National Congress (1885)

A.O. Hume helped start the INC to give Indians a voice in government. W.C. Bonnerjee was its first president.

Q1. When was INC founded?
✅ 1885.
Q2. Why was it formed?
✅ To represent Indian interests under British rule.

🧩 Case Study 19: Bankim Chandra and “Vande Mataram”

Bankim Chandra’s novel Anandamath inspired freedom fighters. Its song “Vande Mataram” became a symbol of patriotism.

Q1. Who wrote “Vande Mataram”?
✅ Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Q2. What was its message?
✅ Love and devotion to Mother India.

🧩 Case Study 20: Economic Losses Under British Rule

Modern economists estimate India lost nearly $45 trillion to Britain between 1765 and 1947.

Q1. Who made this modern estimate?
✅ Utsa Patnaik.
Q2. What does it show about British rule?
✅ That it caused massive economic exploitation of India.

⚖️ Section E – Assertion and Reason Questions (20 Total)

Each question has two statements — choose the correct option:
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 true, R is false
D. A is false, R is true

A: Vasco da Gama’s voyage opened India to European powers.
R: He discovered the sea route from Europe to India.
✅ Answer: A
A: The Portuguese introduced the cartaz system.
R: It allowed ships to travel freely in the Indian Ocean.
✅ Answer: C
A: The Dutch were defeated at the Battle of Colachel.
R: King Marthanda Varma of Travancore led Indian forces.
✅ Answer: A
A: The French became dominant in India after the Carnatic Wars.
R: They won the Battle of Plassey.
✅ Answer: C
A: The Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of British power.
R: Indian rulers trusted the British completely.
✅ Answer: C
A: The Doctrine of Lapse was opposed by Indian rulers.
R: It took away states without natural heirs.
✅ Answer: A
A: The Subsidiary Alliance made Indian rulers independent.
R: They had to pay for British troops stationed in their state.
✅ Answer: C
A: Famines became frequent under British rule.
R: British focused on exporting crops, not feeding people.
✅ Answer: A
A: Dadabhai Naoroji exposed the Drain of Wealth.
R: He showed how Britain transferred Indian wealth abroad.
✅ Answer: A
A: Railways were built to help Indian farmers.
R: The British used railways mainly to move troops and goods.
✅ Answer: C
A: Macaulay introduced English education to help Indians progress.
R: His aim was to create clerks loyal to the British.
✅ Answer: C
A: Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj.
R: He wanted to reform society and end social evils.
✅ Answer: A
A: The Revolt of 1857 began in Calcutta.
R: Mangal Pandey attacked British officers at Meerut.
✅ Answer: C
A: Rani Lakshmibai fought against the British annexation of Jhansi.
R: The Doctrine of Lapse denied her adopted son’s right to rule.
✅ Answer: A
A: Begum Hazrat Mahal supported the British in 1857.
R: She wanted to protect Awadh from annexation.
✅ Answer: D
A: Queen Victoria’s Proclamation ended East India Company rule.
R: India came directly under the British Crown in 1858.
✅ Answer: A
A: The Indian National Congress was formed in 1857.
R: A.O. Hume founded it in 1885.
✅ Answer: D
A: “Vande Mataram” inspired Indians in the freedom movement.
R: It symbolised devotion to the motherland.
✅ Answer: A
A: British rule led to India’s economic growth.
R: Britain took away India’s wealth through unfair trade.
✅ Answer: C
A: Colonialism caused suffering but also social reform.
R: Western education created awareness and reform movements.
✅ Answer: A

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The Colonial Era in India