British Imperialism & Resistance MCQ — 414 Practice Questions with Answers

Explanation

The Ilbert Bill (1883), introduced by Viceroy Ripon's law member C.P. Ilbert, proposed allowing Indian judges to try European offenders. It was bitterly opposed by Europeans in India.

Explanation

Lord Ripon passed the Resolution on Local Self-Government in 1882, which is considered the Magna Carta of local self-government in India. It laid the foundation for democratic decentralization at the local level.

Explanation

The Mahalwari System was introduced by Holt Mackenzie in 1822 in NW Provinces, Awadh, Central India, and Punjab. Revenue was collected from the village (mahal) as a whole. The village headman was responsible for collecting revenue from individual cultivators.

Explanation

The Rowlatt Act (Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919) allowed the government to imprison any person suspected of terrorism without trial for up to 2 years, and trial without jury. It was based on the Sedition Committee report chaired by Justice Rowlatt. It was called the 'Black Act' by Indians. Gandhi launched the Rowlatt Satyagraha against it. All Indian members of the Imperial Legislative Council voted against it, but it was passed by the British majority.

Explanation

Romesh Chunder Dutt (1848-1909) wrote 'The Economic History of India' in two volumes (1901, 1903) which comprehensively documented British economic exploitation of India. He supported Dadabhai Naoroji's Drain Theory with detailed statistical analysis. He served as ICS officer and later Congress president (1899). His work established that British policies deliberately deindustrialized India and drained its wealth through unfair trade, taxation, and the home charges system.