Governor/Governor General/Viceroy (Part-I)

21. Under whose leadership was the Suppression of Thugs achieved? [65ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (b) Captain Sleeman

Solution:The thugs included the followers of both Hindu and Muslim religion. They used to worship Kali, Durga or Bhavani. They used to cut the head and offer it as a sacrifice in the feet of the goddess. Lord William Bentinck appointed Captain Sleeman to take action against these thugs. He arrested 1562 thugs between 1826 to 1835 A.D. many of them were hanged, and rest of them were banished of lifetime. By 1837 A.D., the organized thugs came to an end.

22. Which of the following were the social reforms introduced by William Bentinck? [67ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2022]

1. Abolition of Sati
2. Abolition of slavery
3. Removal of disabilities due of change of religion
4. Suppression of the organized bands of Thugs.
Choose the correct answer from the codes given below.

Correct Answer: (c) 1,2 and 4 only

Solution:Lord William Bentinck became the Governor General of Bengal presidency in 1828 A.D. In 1829 A.D., he declared the practice of sati' as a crime and abolished it. Bentinck tried to supress thugs by running a campaign against the gang of thugs. Bentinck also worked on education and freedom of the press. In the time period of Bentinck Government of India Act, 1833 was passed which abolished salvery. In 1835 he went back to England. The provision of disqualification due to change of religion was removed in 1850 A.D. Hence statement (1), (2) and (4) are correct so option (c) will be the answer.

23. Sati system was abolished by- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) (Pre) 1990, 2012, M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993,1998]

(a) Lord Warren Hastings
(b) Lord Wellesley
(c) Lord William Bentinck
(d) Lord Ripon

Correct Answer: (c) Lord William Bentinck

Solution:The meaning of Sati's 'holy and virtuous woman.' In Hindu rituals, the marriage is considered as Sanskar which means 'relation of spirits. 'The Brahmins of the 18ᵗʰ century use to believe that if a woman becomes Sati, seven generations of his husband will achieve heaven. It was quite famous among highly reputed Brahmins, Kshatriya and Rajputs. Few conscious rulers of India also tried to abolish this system, Akbar was one of them. Marathas entirely abolished this system in the state. Portuguese and French also tried to abolish this system in Goa and Chandranagar respectively. It was Raja Ram Mohan Roy who started his campaign against Sati practice. The Bengal Sati Regulation, or Regulation XVII (17), A.D. 1829 of the Bengal Code was legal act promulgated in Bengal Presidency. In 1830, this regulation was also implemented in Madras and Bombay Presidenceis. Then Governor-General Lord William Bentinck which banned the practice of Sati system.

24. Who was the first Governor-General of India? [66ᵗʰ B.P.S.C. Re Exam (Pre) 2020]

Correct Answer: (e) None of the above/More than one of the above

Solution:The meaning of Sati's 'holy and virtuous woman.' In Hindu rituals, the marriage is considered as Sanskar which means 'relation of spirits. 'The Brahmins of the 18ᵗʰ century use to believe that if a woman becomes Sati, seven generations of his husband will achieve heaven. It was quite famous among highly reputed Brahmins, Kshatriya and Rajputs. Few conscious rulers of India also tried to abolish this system, Akbar was one of them. Marathas entirely abolished this system in the state. Portuguese and French also tried to abolish this system in Goa and Chandranagar respectively. It was Raja Ram Mohan Roy who started his campaign against Sati practice. The Bengal Sati Regulation, or Regulation XVII (17), A.D. 1829 of the Bengal Code was legal act promulgated in Bengal Presidency. In 1830, this regulation was also implemented in Madras and Bombay Presidenceis. Then Governor-General Lord William Bentinck which banned the practice of Sati system.

25. In which year Sati System was abolished by William Bentinck? [M.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2015]

(a) 1825 A.D.
(b) 1827 A.D.
(c) 1829 A.D.
(d) 1830 A.D.

Correct Answer: (c) 1829 A.D.

Solution:The meaning of Sati's 'holy and virtuous woman.' In Hindu rituals, the marriage is considered as Sanskar which means 'relation of spirits. 'The Brahmins of the 18ᵗʰ century use to believe that if a woman becomes Sati, seven generations of his husband will achieve heaven. It was quite famous among highly reputed Brahmins, Kshatriya and Rajputs. Few conscious rulers of India also tried to abolish this system, Akbar was one of them. Marathas entirely abolished this system in the state. Portuguese and French also tried to abolish this system in Goa and Chandranagar respectively. It was Raja Ram Mohan Roy who started his campaign against Sati practice. The Bengal Sati Regulation, or Regulation XVII (17), A.D. 1829 of the Bengal Code was legal act promulgated in Bengal Presidency. In 1830, this regulation was also implemented in Madras and Bombay Presidenceis. Then Governor-General Lord William Bentinck which banned the practice of Sati system.

26. ' Hill Assembly Plan' was set up for the development of Adivasi by [Jharkhand .P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) T. Wilkinson
(b) Cleveland
(c) Lord William Bentinck
(d) Lord Macaulay

Correct Answer: (b) Cleveland

Solution:'Hill Assembly Plan' was set up for the development of Schedule Tribe by Cleveland. He placed the entire range of hills inhabited by Pahariyas under a uniform administration of Hill assembly under hereditary hills chiefs, called sardars. The assembly met twice a year and had wide powers including that of inflicting or rescinding capital punishment, Sardars were entrusted the duty of reporting all crimes and law and order problems in the villages under their control the authorities.

27. The export of slaves from Bengal was banned in which year? [Jharkhand .P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) 1764
(b) 1789
(c) 1858
(d) 1868

Correct Answer: (b) 1789

Solution:The export of slaves from Bengal was banned in 1789 A.D. In 1811 and 1823 A.D. several laws were made regarding slaves. In Charter Act, 1833 the Governor was asked to make a law to abolish slavery at the earliest. In 1843, Slavery was declared illegal in all parts of India. Under Indian Penal Code slavery was declared as a crime in 1860 A.D.

28. Awadh was annexed to British Empire in India by: [U.P.PC.S. (Pre) 1991, 1994]

(a) Policy of subsidiary alliance
(b) Doctrine of Lapse
(c) Maladministred
(d) By waging war

Correct Answer: (c) Maladministred

Solution:Lord Dalhousie efficiently made the plan and accused Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah for maladministration end merged his state in the British Empire in February 1856. He sent his officer to inquire the ground reality who sent him a detailed report regarding maladministration. He sent that report to Landon to obtain permission to merge the Awadh. Lord Dalhousie (1848-56) merged Satara in 1848, Jaitpur and Sambalpur in 1849, Bhagat in 1850, Udaipur in 1852, Jhansi in 1854 and Nagpur in 1854 under the principle of Doctrine of Lapse.

29. The princely state of Baghat was annexed to the British in [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) 1848
(b) 1850
(c) 1852
(d) 1853

Correct Answer: (b) 1850

Solution:Lord Dalhousie efficiently made the plan and accused Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah for maladministration end merged his state in the British Empire in February 1856. He sent his officer to inquire the ground reality who sent him a detailed report regarding maladministration. He sent that report to Landon to obtain permission to merge the Awadh. Lord Dalhousie (1848-56) merged Satara in 1848, Jaitpur and Sambalpur in 1849, Bhagat in 1850, Udaipur in 1852, Jhansi in 1854 and Nagpur in 1854 under the principle of Doctrine of Lapse.

30. Which of the following Princely States was not annexed by the British? [63rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017]

Correct Answer: (b) Gwalior

Solution:Sindh was annexed during the tenure of Lord Ellenborough (1842-1844 AD). Awadh was annexed in 1856 AD on the ground of maladministration during Lord Dalhousie tenure, Satara was annexed in 1848 AD.