Q1. What policy regarding recruitment to the Civil Service changed after the Charter Act of 1853?
- Indians were allowed to hold high positions
- Civil servants had to pass a competitive examination
- The College of Fort William was re-established
- Only army officers could join the Civil Service
Correct Option: 2. Civil servants had to pass a competitive examination.
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1853 ended the practice of nomination by Company directors and introduced competitive exams for recruitment.
Q2. What was a key feature of the Indian Civil Service under Cornwallis?
- Equal opportunities for Indians
- Training provided in India only
- Promotions based on merit
- Promotions based on seniority
Correct Option: 4. Promotions based on seniority.
Explanation: To maintain independence from external influences, promotions were granted based on seniority, not merit.
Q3. Why did Indian soldiers remain loyal to the British before 1857?
- They were ideologically aligned with British rule
- They lacked proper weapons to rebel
- They were bound by a tradition of loyalty to paymasters
- They were given high ranks in the army
Correct Option: 3. They were bound by a tradition of loyalty to paymasters.
Explanation: Indian soldiers traditionally served loyally those who paid them regularly—a trait the British used to maintain control.
Q4. What title is often given to the Indian Civil Service during British rule?
- Colonial Framework
- Bureaucratic Wall
- Imperial Backbone
- Steel Frame of British Rule
Correct Option: 4. Steel Frame of British Rule.
Explanation: The ICS was called the “steel frame” because it upheld British control through its powerful administrative structure.
Q5. Which of the following was not cited by the British as a justification for excluding Indians from high administrative positions?
- The belief that Indians were morally degenerate
- The perception that Indians were inherently corrupt
- The intent to reserve prestigious jobs for British citizens
- The claim that Indians lacked military training
Correct Option: 4. The claim that Indians lacked military training.
Explanation: The British justified excluding Indians from high office by promoting racial stereotypes — claiming Indians were morally inferior and corrupt — and to protect lucrative positions for their own citizens. However, lack of military training was not a reason cited for their exclusion from administrative posts, making option D the least relevant justification.