OTEE Modern Indian History 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The Battle of Plassey in 1757 was fought between the British East India Company and which Indian ruler?
- Hyder Ali
- Siraj ud-Daulah (Correct answer)
- Tipu Sultan
- Mir Qasim
Correct answer: Siraj ud-Daulah
Siraj ud-Daulah, Nawab of Bengal, was defeated at Plassey, establishing British dominance in India.
Question 2: The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 primarily through the efforts of which person?
- Bal Gangadhar Tilak
- Dadabhai Naoroji
- A.O. Hume (Correct answer)
- Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Correct answer: A.O. Hume
Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, was the principal founder of the Indian National Congress.
Question 3: Lord Dalhousie's Doctrine of Lapse was used primarily to annex which of the following states?
- Awadh
- Punjab
- Satara (Correct answer)
- Mysore
Correct answer: Satara
Satara was the first state annexed under the Doctrine of Lapse in 1848 because its ruler died without a natural heir.
Question 4: The Permanent Settlement of 1793 introduced by Lord Cornwallis fixed land revenue permanently with which group?
- Peasants (ryots)
- Zamindars (landlords) (Correct answer)
- Village panchayats
- British district collectors
Correct answer: Zamindars (landlords)
The Permanent Settlement fixed revenue obligations permanently with zamindars, making them hereditary landowners.
Question 5: In which year did the British Crown formally take over administrative control of India from the East India Company?
- 1857
- 1858 (Correct answer)
- 1861
- 1876
Correct answer: 1858
The Government of India Act 1858 transferred control from the Company to the British Crown following the 1857 revolt.
Question 6: Who served as the first Viceroy of India after the Crown took over from the East India Company?
- Lord Dalhousie
- Lord Curzon
- Lord Canning (Correct answer)
- Lord Ripon
Correct answer: Lord Canning
Lord Canning, who was Governor-General during the 1857 revolt, became the first Viceroy of India in 1858.
Question 7: The revolt of 1857 began at Meerut when Indian soldiers (sepoys) refused to use cartridges allegedly greased with animal fat. Which regiment sparked the first open mutiny?
- 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry (Correct answer)
- 34th Native Infantry
- 19th Bengal Native Infantry
- 85th Light Infantry
Correct answer: 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry
The 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry at Meerut rose in open mutiny on May 10, 1857, marking the start of the widespread revolt.
OTEE Modern Indian History 2
The Battle of Plassey in 1757 was fought between the British East India Company and which Indian ruler?