Q1. Who is credited with the creation of a regular police force in British India?
- Lord Cornwallis
- Warren Hastings
- Lord Macaulay
- William Bentinck
Correct Option: 1. Lord Cornwallis.
Explanation: Cornwallis is considered the creator of the regular police force in India. He relieved zamindars of their policing duties and established thanas under darogas. This marked the beginning of organized policing in British India.
Q2. What was a ‘thana’ in the context of British India’s police system?
- A court of appeal
- A revenue unit
- A police circle or station
- A prison for criminals
Correct Option: 3. A police circle or station.
Explanation: Cornwallis organized police administration into circles called thanas, each headed by a daroga (Indian officer). This was a unit of local law enforcement.
Q3. What did William Bentinck say about the police in 1832?
- They were the guardians of peace.
- They acted more like predators than protectors.
- They enforced the law equally.
- They had improved village security.
Correct Option: 2. They acted more like predators than protectors..
Explanation: Bentinck criticized the police harshly, saying they were “a more ravenous beast of prey than the wolf,” indicating how the public feared the police more than criminals.
Q4. Who was appointed to head the 1833 Law Commission in India?
- Warren Hastings
- Lord Cornwallis
- William Bentinck
- Lord Macaulay
Correct Option: 4. Lord Macaulay.
Explanation: The 1833 Law Commission, formed to codify Indian laws, was headed by Lord Macaulay. It led to the creation of the Indian Penal Code and other legal codes.
Q5. Which Governor-General abolished the Provincial Courts of Appeal and Circuit in 1831?
- William Bentinck
- Cornwallis
- Warren Hastings
- Lord Dalhousie
Correct Option: 1. William Bentinck.
Explanation: William Bentinck abolished the Provincial Courts and transferred their duties to District Judges and Collectors, improving judicial efficiency.