50 Most Frequently Asked MCQs on Constitutional Developments in British India

1. The Regulating Act was passed in:

A. 1765
B. 1773
C. 1784
D. 1793
Answer: B. 1773

2. The Regulating Act of 1773 was passed during the reign of:

A. George II
B. George III
C. William IV
D. Queen Victoria
Answer: B. George III

3. Under the Regulating Act (1773), the Governor of Bengal became the:

A. Governor-General of Bengal
B. Governor-General of India
C. Viceroy of India
D. Governor of British India
Answer: A. Governor-General of Bengal

4. Who became the first Governor-General of Bengal under the Regulating Act?

A. Robert Clive
B. Warren Hastings
C. Cornwallis
D. Wellesley
Answer: B. Warren Hastings

5. The Supreme Court at Calcutta was established in:

A. 1773
B. 1774
C. 1784
D. 1793
Answer: B. 1774

6. Pitt’s India Act was passed in:

A. 1773
B. 1784
C. 1793
D. 1813
Answer: B. 1784

7. Pitt’s India Act introduced the system of:

A. Dyarchy
B. Dual Control
C. Provincial Autonomy
D. Separate Electorates
Answer: B. Dual Control

8. Pitt’s India Act created the:

A. Board of Control
B. Constituent Assembly
C. Executive Council
D. Federal Court
Answer: A. Board of Control

9. The Charter Act of 1813 ended the monopoly of the East India Company over:

A. Tea trade only
B. Trade with India (except tea and trade with China)
C. Trade with China only
D. Salt trade
Answer: B. Trade with India (except tea and trade with China)

10. Which Charter Act introduced ₹1 lakh annually for education in India?

A. Charter Act, 1793
B. Charter Act, 1813
C. Charter Act, 1833
D. Charter Act, 1853
Answer: B. Charter Act, 1813

11. The Charter Act of 1833 made the Governor-General of Bengal the:

A. Governor-General of India
B. Viceroy of India
C. Governor of British India
D. Chief Commissioner
Answer: A. Governor-General of India

12. Who became the first Governor-General of India under the Charter Act, 1833?

A. Warren Hastings
B. Lord William Bentinck
C. Lord Dalhousie
D. Lord Canning
Answer: B. Lord William Bentinck

13. The Charter Act of 1833 ended the East India Company’s:

A. Political functions
B. Commercial activities
C. Judicial powers
D. Military powers
Answer: B. Commercial activities

14. The Charter Act of 1853 is significant because it:

A. Introduced Dyarchy
B. Separated the legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General’s Council
C. Introduced Provincial Autonomy
D. Ended Company rule
Answer: B. Separated the legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General’s Council

15. Open competition for the Indian Civil Services was introduced by the:

A. Charter Act, 1813
B. Charter Act, 1833
C. Charter Act, 1853
D. Government of India Act, 1858
Answer: C. Charter Act, 1853

16. The Government of India Act was passed in response to the:

A. Battle of Plassey
B. Revolt of 1857
C. Partition of Bengal
D. Quit India Movement
Answer: B. Revolt of 1857

17. The Government of India Act, 1858 transferred power from the:

A. British Crown to Parliament
B. East India Company to the British Crown
C. Parliament to the Governor-General
D. Crown to the Company
Answer: B. East India Company to the British Crown

18. The first Viceroy of India was:

A. Warren Hastings
B. Lord Canning
C. Lord Ripon
D. Lord Curzon
Answer: B. Lord Canning

19. The office of the Secretary of State for India was created by the:

A. Regulating Act, 1773
B. Pitt’s India Act, 1784
C. Government of India Act, 1858
D. Indian Councils Act, 1861
Answer: C. Government of India Act, 1858

20. The Indian Councils Act of 1861 restored the system of:

A. Separate Electorates
B. Portfolio System and Legislative Councils
C. Dyarchy
D. Provincial Autonomy
Answer: B. Portfolio System and Legislative Councils

21. Which Governor-General introduced the Portfolio System?

A. Warren Hastings
B. Lord Canning
C. Lord Ripon
D. Lord Curzon
Answer: B. Lord Canning

22. The Indian Councils Act of 1892 is known for:

A. Provincial Autonomy
B. Increasing the number of legislative members and indirect election
C. Separate Electorates
D. Dyarchy
Answer: B. Increasing the number of legislative members and indirect election

23. The Morley-Minto Reforms were introduced in:

A. 1905
B. 1909
C. 1919
D. 1935
Answer: B. 1909

24. The Morley-Minto Reforms are also known as the:

A. Indian Councils Act, 1909
B. Government of India Act, 1919
C. Charter Act, 1833
D. Indian Independence Act
Answer: A. Indian Councils Act, 1909

25. The most important feature of the Morley-Minto Reforms was:

A. Provincial Autonomy
B. Separate Electorates for Muslims
C. Dyarchy
D. Universal Franchise
Answer: B. Separate Electorates for Muslims

26. Separate Electorates were introduced for:

A. Hindus
B. Muslims
C. Sikhs
D. Anglo-Indians
Answer: B. Muslims

27. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms were introduced through the:

A. Government of India Act, 1919
B. Government of India Act, 1935
C. Indian Councils Act, 1909
D. Charter Act, 1853
Answer: A. Government of India Act, 1919

28. The Government of India Act, 1919 introduced:

A. Provincial Autonomy
B. Dyarchy in Provinces
C. Federal Court
D. Separate Electorates
Answer: B. Dyarchy in Provinces

29. Dyarchy means:

A. Rule by two authorities
B. Direct British Rule
C. Rule by Governors only
D. Parliamentary Government
Answer: A. Rule by two authorities

30. Which subjects remained under the Governor in the Dyarchy system?

A. Transferred Subjects
B. Reserved Subjects
C. Local Subjects
D. Village Subjects
Answer: B. Reserved Subjects

31. The Government of India Act, 1935 provided for:

A. Dyarchy at the Centre
B. Provincial Autonomy
C. Abolition of Provinces
D. Complete Independence
Answer: B. Provincial Autonomy

32. Which Act is regarded as the longest Act passed by the British Parliament for India?

A. Government of India Act, 1919
B. Government of India Act, 1935
C. Indian Independence Act, 1947
D. Charter Act, 1833
Answer: B. Government of India Act, 1935

33. The Federal Court of India was established under the:

A. Government of India Act, 1919
B. Government of India Act, 1935
C. Indian Independence Act, 1947
D. Charter Act, 1853
Answer: B. Government of India Act, 1935

34. The Reserve Bank of India was established under the provisions of the:

A. Government of India Act, 1919
B. Government of India Act, 1935
C. Charter Act, 1833
D. Indian Independence Act
Answer: B. Government of India Act, 1935

35. The Indian Independence Act was passed in:

A. 1946
B. 1947
C. 1948
D. 1950
Answer: B. 1947

36. The Indian Independence Act came into force on:

A. 26 January 1950
B. 15 August 1947
C. 3 June 1947
D. 26 November 1949
Answer: B. 15 August 1947

37. The Indian Independence Act created:

A. One Dominion
B. Two Dominions – India and Pakistan
C. Three Dominions
D. Federal India
Answer: B. Two Dominions – India and Pakistan

38. The Indian Independence Act was based on the:

A. Cripps Proposal
B. Cabinet Mission Plan
C. Mountbatten Plan (3 June Plan)
D. Simon Commission Report
Answer: C. Mountbatten Plan (3 June Plan)

39. Match the following:

Regulating Act – 1773
Pitt’s India Act – 1784
Government of India Act – 1858
A. 1 only
B. 1 & 2 only
C. 2 & 3 only
D. 1, 2 & 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 & 3

40. Match the following:

Morley-Minto Reforms – Separate Electorates
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms – Dyarchy
Government of India Act, 1935 – Provincial Autonomy
A. 1 only
B. 1 & 2 only
C. 2 & 3 only
D. 1, 2 & 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 & 3

41. Which pair is NOT correctly matched?

A. Regulating Act – Warren Hastings
B. Government of India Act, 1858 – Lord Canning
C. Morley-Minto Reforms – Separate Electorates
D. Government of India Act, 1935 – Dyarchy in Provinces
Answer: D. Government of India Act, 1935 – Dyarchy in Provinces

42. Arrange the following chronologically:

Regulating Act
Pitt’s India Act
Charter Act, 1833
Government of India Act, 1858
A. 1 → 2 → 3 → 4
B. 2 → 1 → 3 → 4
C. 1 → 3 → 2 → 4
D. 3 → 1 → 2 → 4
Answer: A. 1 → 2 → 3 → 4

43. Consider the following statements:

Regulating Act was passed in 1773.
Pitt’s India Act was passed in 1784.
Government of India Act, 1858 ended Company Rule.
A. 1 only
B. 1 & 2 only
C. 2 & 3 only
D. 1, 2 & 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 & 3

44. Consider the following statements:

Morley-Minto Reforms introduced Separate Electorates.
Government of India Act, 1919 introduced Dyarchy.
Government of India Act, 1935 introduced Provincial Autonomy.
A. 1 only
B. 1 & 2 only
C. 2 & 3 only
D. 1, 2 & 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 & 3

45. Which Act first recognised the Company’s political functions under Parliamentary control?

A. Regulating Act, 1773
B. Pitt’s India Act, 1784
C. Charter Act, 1813
D. Charter Act, 1833
Answer: B. Pitt’s India Act, 1784

46. Which Act abolished the East India Company’s commercial activities?

A. Charter Act, 1813
B. Charter Act, 1833
C. Charter Act, 1853
D. Government of India Act, 1858
Answer: B. Charter Act, 1833

47. Which Act introduced open competition for the Civil Services?

A. Charter Act, 1813
B. Charter Act, 1833
C. Charter Act, 1853
D. Government of India Act, 1919
Answer: C. Charter Act, 1853

48. Which Act introduced Provincial Autonomy?