Development of Education in Modern India

Total Questions: 37

1. Where was the first Madarsa set up by British in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]

Correct Answer: (d) Calcutta
Solution:In 1780, Warren Hastings founded Madarsa at Calcutta.

It was the first educational institution in British India. The Calcutta Madrasa was established to teach and study Muslim law, Arabic, and Persian. The Madrasa was originally located in Baithakkhana, near Sealdah in Calcutta.

In 1827, the Madrasa was moved to its current location at Wellesley Square. The Anglo Persian Department was established in 1854 as part of the Calcutta Madrasa.

2. The Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded by [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006 U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004, Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2003, R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1999]

Correct Answer: (a) Sir William Jones
Solution:Britishers showed no interest in the advancement of learning in the early phase of their rule in India. Some of the Britishers in their personal endeavours and for political gain showed some interest in spreading education.

Warren Hastings, Governor-General of Bengal, showed a keen interest in spreading oriental education. Sir William Jones, then Justice of Calcutta High Court, established Asiatic Society of Bengal in Calcutta (1784 A.D.).

Here they started research on oriental education and culture and the British civilians were taught Indian languages, laws, customs, religion, geography, etc. By endeavors of Wilkins Jones, Colebrook and William Carey, this oriental education got a foothold. In the year 1791, Jonathan Duncan established the Sanskrit College at Varanasi (Banaras).

3. Who founded First Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya at Varanasi? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]

Correct Answer: (a) Jonathan Duncan
Solution:Britishers showed no interest in the advancement of learning in the early phase of their rule in India. Some of the Britishers in their personal endeavours and for political gain showed some interest in spreading education.

Warren Hastings, Governor-General of Bengal, showed a keen interest in spreading oriental education. Sir William Jones, then Justice of Calcutta High Court, established Asiatic Society of Bengal in Calcutta (1784 A.D.).

Here they started research on oriental education and culture and the British civilians were taught Indian languages, laws, customs, religion, geography, etc. By endeavors of Wilkins Jones, Colebrook and William Carey, this oriental education got a foothold. In the year 1791, Jonathan Duncan established the Sanskrit College at Varanasi (Banaras).

4. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

Assertion (A): The Asiatic Society of Bengal was established in the period of Warren Hastings and he modestly declined the offer of Presidentship of the learned body in favour of Sir William Jones.

Reason (R): Warren Hastings was himself a great scholar and an ardent orientalist who used to encourage the study of Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Solution:Warren Hastings was the Governor General of Bengal during 1774-85 AD. He himself was a prolific scholar and a staunch supporter of oriental learning. It was with his study of Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic.

It was his encouragement and support that the Asiatic Society of Bengal was established in 1784 AD, however, he rejected the proposal for the chairmanship of this institution in favour of Sir William Jones.

Charles Wilkins, Nathaniel Halhead, Jonathan Duncan etc. contributed to the study of oriental studies under the patronage and support of Warren Hastings. Warren Hastings wrote the preface to the English translation of 'Bhagavad Gita' done by Charles Wilkins.

According to the question, two things are mentioned in the statement—(1) the establishment of the Asiatic Society and (2) Warren Hastings not accepting its presidency in favour of William Jones. For the same reason, it is described that he himself was a scholar and encouraged the study of oriental studies.

The encouragement for the study of oriental science here confirms the reason for both the statements. Thus it is clear that both the statement in question and the reason are correct and reason is the correct explanation of the statement. The Commission has given answer (b) to this question, which is not correct. The correct answer should be (a).

5. Who among the following was offered membership of the Royal Asiatic Society of Paris? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]

Correct Answer: (b) Michael Madhusudan Dutta
Solution:Michael Madhusudan Dutta was offered membership in La Societe Asiatique (The Asian Society) of Paris. It was established in 1822. Dadabhai Naoroji was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament (MP) in the United Kingdom House of Commons between 1892 to 1895 and the first Asian to be a British MP. Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Sabha Movement in 1828, which engendered the Brahmo Samaj, an influential Bengali-socio religious reform movement. Swami Vivekananda travelled to the United States, representing India in 1893 at the Parliament of the World's Religion and founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.

6. Who amongst the following Englishmen, first translated Bhagavad-Gita into English? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2001]

Correct Answer: (b) Charles Wilkins
Solution:Sir Charles Wilkins, an Englishman known as the first translator of Bhagavad Gita into English for which the preface was written by Warren Hastings. Warren Hastings, the then Governor-General of Bengal showed a keen interest in spreading oriental education.

7. Who among the following was the first to translate Kalidasa’s famous work 'Shakuntala' into English? [U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Mains) 2010]

Correct Answer: (d) Sir William Jones
Solution:Sir William Jones was the first to translate Kalidasa’s Abhigyan Shakuntalam into English.

Abhigyan Shakuntalam is a Sanskrit play written by Kalidasa that is considered a foundation of India's culture and society. It is a tragic love story between King Dushyanta and Shakuntala, the foster daughter of a sage. The play is considered to be an excellent example of human love and natural love.

8. The main reason for the British Government to spread modern education in India during the pre-independence period was [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]

Correct Answer: (a) The need for educated Indians in minor administrative posts
Solution:The major reason for the British Government to spread modern education in India during the pre-independence period was to reduce the expenditure on administration. The government wanted to increase the number of educated Indians to fulfill their requirements. There was an urgent need for educated Indians in minor administrative posts under British rule.

9. Which Act of the British Government granted Rs. One lakh for education in India for the first time? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]

Correct Answer: (b) Charter Act, 1813
Solution:The Charter Act of 1813 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that renewed the charter issued to the British East India Company and continued the Company's rule in India.

However, the company's commercial monopoly was ended except for the tea trade and the trade with China. This Act allotted Rs 100,000 to promote education among the Indian masses for the first time.

10. Regarding Wood's Dispatch, which of the following statements are true? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2018]

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Solution:Charles Wood's Dispatch (1854) introduced the grants-in-aid system. It also recommended the establishment of universities in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay on the pattern of London University.