10th Standard, Social History, Chapter – 3
The Impact of the British Rule in India
Exercises
I. Fill in the following blanks with suitable answers:
1. Diwani Adalat in civil court was introduced by Warren Hastings
2. The post of Superintendent of Police was created by Lord Cornwallis
3. The Permanent Zamindari system was introduced in Bengal and
Bihar provinces in 1793.
4. The Land tax system introduced by Alexander Reed is Ryotwari System
5. The report given by Macaulay became the base of modern education system.
6. The Regulating Act was implemented in the year 1773.
II. Discuss and answer the following questions:
7. Illustrate the judicial system formulated through The British East India Company.
Answer: A new Judicial System started finding roots when the British rule began taking over from the Mughal rule. After the Battle of Buxar in 1764, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam handed over the ‘Diwani Rights’, the authority to collect land taxes to the British. With this, Dual-Administration came into effect in Bengal region. This is also called as ‘Dual-Governance’. Later on the British thought of bringing more centralized judicial system in India. With the implementation of this system, the British overtook the authority of the Mughal and established their supremacy in India. This was attained by implementing new Judicial System in India. According the administrative plan devised by Warren Hastings who took over the administration as Governor in 1772, two types of courts were needed to be established in each district: ‘A Diwani Adalat’ as a civil court and ‘Nijamat Adalat’ as a criminal court. In these civil courts Hindus were dispensed justice as per the Hindu scriptures and the Muslims as per the Shariyat. Slowly, the British legal procedures were introduced in the criminal courts. Civil courts came under the administration of European officers. Though the criminal courts were under the control of ‘Qajis’, they were functioning under the supervision of European officers.
8. What were the measures undertaken at the time of the British in Police system?
Answer: The Police were in charge of maintaining the internal law and order situation. Lord Cornwallis implemented the efficient Police System in India for the first time. He created the new post of Superintendent of Police (SP). He divided a district into many ‘Stations’ in 1793 and put every station under a ‘Kotwal’. Similarly he put every village under the care of ‘Chowkidhar’. ‘Kotwal’ was made accountable for thefts, crimes and other law violations at village level. The severe drought of 1770 led to a weak law and order situation. Hence, the entire police system was brought under the control of the British Officers. The system of appointing British Magistrates started in 1781. The Police Officers were under the power of the Magistrates. The Police system underwent continuous changes. In 1861, the Indian Police Act was implemented. This law became the base of good law and order as well as administration. But, Indians were not appointed for the post of officers. In 1902, the Police Commission allowed the appointment of suitable Indians qualified for the post of the police officers. In spite of all these measures, the discrimination against the Indians did not end.
9. British land tax system made the Indian farmers to “born in debt, lived in debt and died in debt”. How?
Answer: Though the small farmers were given land ownership, they were subjected to more suffering due to heavy land taxes. The officials took punitive actions to collect land taxes. The farmers had to borrow from the money lenders whenever the crops failed. They had to sell their lands whenever they failed to repay the loans. Though the British East India company government claimed that the new system benefit the farmers, the irony was that more farmers had to lose their lands due to its implementation. According to Charles Metcalf, “the Indian farmers were born in debt, lived in debt and died in debt due to the land tax policies of the British”.
10. What were the main aspects of Ryotwari system?
Answer: The Ryotwari System was first implemented in Baramahal region by Alexander Reed in 1792. This system was later implemented in Madras and Mysore region by Thomas Munroe in 1801. Most of these regions had become part of British Empire by that time.
Under this system, both the farmer and the British East India company were directly linked. The tiller of the land was recognized as the owner of the land. The owner had to pay fifty percent of produce as land tax to the British East India company government. The land tax had thirty years tenure. The tax could be reviewed after this tenure.
11. What were the effects of British Land taxes?
Answer: The Impact of British Land Tax system are,
1. A new class of Zamindars who exploited the farmers was created.
2. The farmers who were subjected to the exploitation of the Zamindars, became landless slowly.
3. Land became a commodity. Loans could be raised by mortgaging the lands.
4. Many Zamindars also had to mortgage their lands in order to pay the land taxes.
5. The Agriculture sector became commercialized and had to grow raw materials needed by industries back in England.
6. The money lenders became strong.
12. Make a list of the effects of British Education in India.
Answer: The effects of British Education in India are,
1. Indians could develop modernity, secularism, democratic attitudes and rationality along with Nationalistic ideals.
2. Impetus was received for the local literature and languages. This facilitated unity in thinking process among the educated class.
3. Periodicals started emerging. These scrutinized the policies and working of the government which in turn enabled the Indians to have critical opinions on various issues.
4. New social and religious reformation movements emerged.
5. The thoughts of thinkers like J.S. Mill, Rousseau and Montesquieu brought fresh thinking in the mind of educated youth of India.
6. The freedom struggles that were taking place across the globe influenced the Indians also.
7. Indians could understand and appreciate their rich tradition.
13. What were the restrictions imposed in Regulating Act?
Answer: Main restrictions imposed in Regulating Act are as follows.
1. Before the implementation of the act, there were three presidencies under British rule. They are: Bengal, Madras and Bombay. All these three were independent administrative units. Under Regulating Act, the Bengal Presidency gained control over the other two presidencies.
2. The Governor of Bengal became the Governor General of all the three presidencies.
3. The Governor General was authorized to direct, exercise control and to supervise over the other two presidencies.
4. The Bombay and Madras presidencies could not declare war on anyone or enter into peace agreements without prior approval of the Governor General of Bengal Presidency and the Board of Directors of the British East India Company. Only during acute emergencies, they were entitled to act independently.
5. According to this Act, Supreme Court was established in Calcutta. In this central court, one Chief Justice and three ordinary judges were officiating.
14. What were the important features of the Indian government act of 1858?
Answer: the important features of the Indian government act of 1858 are as follows.
1. The license of The British East India Company was cancelled and India was brought under the direct administration of the Queen.
2. The post of Governor General was changed into ‘Viceroy’. Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India.
3. A new post called ‘Secretary of State for India’ was created in the British government. The secretary was part of British cabinet and was responsible for the administration of India.
4. A Council of India was created in order to assist the secretary in the administration. The council had fifteen members.
15. How does the India Government Act of 1935 become the base of Indian Constitution?
Answer: Most the provisions in the Indian Constitution are based on this act. This act allowed the formation of fully responsible government by Indians. This act was applicable both to the Indian principalities and also to the British India regions. The following were the important features of this act:
1. A federal system of Indian Principalities, British governed regions and dominion states was formed.
2. Reserve Bank of India were established.
3. Dyarchy was established at the centre.
4. Dyarchy was abolished at the provincial level and autonomy was granted.
5. The Federal Court was established.
16. What were the important features of 1919 Act?
Answer: The following were the important features of 1919 act.
1. Act formulated Bi-Cameral legislative body. Lower House and Upper House were formed.
2. Dyarchy was allowed at provincial governments.
3. A high commissioner was appointed for India.
4. Promised to improve local self government.
5. Provincial budget was separated from central budget.
6. ‘Separate Electoral College’ was extended for Muslims, Sikhs, Anglo-Indians and Europeans.
Additional Questions and Answers
- British implemented ‘Divide and Rule’ policy among the Indian rulers and slowly dominated all the rulers and subjugated them.
- At that time, India was devoid of One Nation Concept and was scattered into various kingdoms.
- Lord Cornwallis introduced the administration of civil services.
- In 1800, Lord Cornwallis opened Fort William College in Calcutta to provide education for the benefit of people aspiring to join Civil Services.
- Dual-Administration came into effect in Bengal region is also called as ‘Dual-Governance’.
- Two types of courts were needed to be established in each district: ‘A Diwani Adalat’ as a civil court and ‘Nijamat Adalat’ as a criminal court.
7. What is Permanent Zamindari System?
Answer: Lord Cornwallis implemented a new land tax policy in Bengal during 1793 in order to generate steady revenue annually. This was called Permanent Zamindari System. Under this system, Zamindar became the land owner.
8. The expansion of the British Education India received special support after the appointment of Lord William Bentinck in 1828 C.E as the Governor General of India.
9. The Governor General Lord Dalhousie established Universities in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras as per the suggestions of Charles Wood’s Commission (1854).
10. What are the main aspects of Charter Act 1833?
Answer: the main aspects of Charter Act 1833 are as follows.
1. The Governor General of Bengal was named as the Governor General of India.
2. The Governor General was vested with powers to direct, control and supervising all trades in India.
3. The Central Government of Bengal had the final right to decide on issues like war, peace and diplomatic relationship with the princely states of India.
4. The Governor General was mandated to put his difference of opinion with Executive Committee members in writing whenever he differed with the majority opinion.
5. The Act barred any discrimination based on religion, birth and skin colour.
6. The Governor General was mandated to appoint a law professional as member to his executive committee.
7. All British Companies were allowed to have trade relationship in India.
11. What are the important features of Indian Government Act 1858?
Answer: The important features of Indian Government Act 1858 are as follows.
- The license of East India Company was cancelled and India was brought under the direct administration of the Queen.
- The post of Governor General was changed into ‘Viceroy’. Lord Canning became the first Viceroy of India.
- A new post called ‘Secretary of State for India’ was created in the British government. The secretary was part of British cabinet and was responsible for the administration of India.
- A Council of India was created in order to assist the secretary in the administration. The council had fifteen members.
12 . What are the important features of Indian Councils Act of 1909?
Answer: The following were the important features of this Act:
- The total number of central legislature members were increased to 60 from 16.
- The number of council members were also increased in the provinces.
- The members for the legislature was allowed through election for the first time.
- In order to provide separate representation for Muslims, ‘Separate Electorate College’ was created.
13. What are the important features of Indian Councils Act of 1935?
Answer: the important features of Indian Councils Act of 1935 were as follows.
- A federal system of Indian Principalities, British governed regions and dominion states was formed.
- Reserve Bank of India were established.
- Dyarchy was established at the centre.
- Dyarchy was abolished at the provincial level and autonomy was granted.
- The Federal Court was established.
III. Activities:
1. The British created a friendly environment for themselves by implementing administrative reforms in India. Organize a debate competition on this topic.
2. Collect information on various other laws implemented by the British apart from those discussed in lesson with the help of your teacher.
