Q1. Which legal principle, introduced by the British in colonial India, emphasized that all individuals and authorities, including the government, must act in accordance with established laws?
- Theocracy
- Rule of Law
- Divine Right of Kings
- Caste-Based Justice
Correct Option: 2. Rule of Law.
Explanation: The Rule of Law introduced by the British signified that no one, including government officials, was above the law. This was a major departure from earlier systems where rulers could act based on personal discretion or tradition, without being legally accountable. It aimed (in theory) to ensure legal equality and a system based on defined laws rather than arbitrary rule.
Q2. Which of the following was an exception to the principle of ‘equality before law’ during British rule?
- Rich and poor were treated equally.
- Brahmins received harsher punishments.
- Europeans had separate courts.
- All legal proceedings were free of cost.
Correct Option: 3. Europeans had separate courts.
Explanation: Despite claiming legal equality, Europeans were tried only in European courts, receiving leniency and protection, leading to frequent miscarriages of justice.
Q3. What was the primary reason increasing intervention of British in India’s social and cultural life after 1813?
- To spread Christianity
- To preserve traditional Indian customs
- Influence of the Industrial Revolution and rising liberal ideas in Britain
- Pressure from Indian reform movements
Correct Option: 3. Influence of the Industrial Revolution and rising liberal ideas in Britain.
Explanation: After 1813, Britain’s social and cultural policy in India shifted due to major transformations back home — particularly the Industrial Revolution, which created economic motives (like turning India into a market for British goods), and the spread of Enlightenment and liberal thought, which encouraged a belief in “civilizing” colonized societies. These influences led the British to interfere more actively in Indian society, aiming to reform and reshape it according to Western ideals.
Q4. What was a major achievement of the early British police in India?
- Suppression of thuggee and dacoity
- Banning child marriage
- Ending zamindari system
- Introducing modern education
Correct Option: 1. Suppression of thuggee and dacoity.
Explanation: The early police under British rule succeeded in reducing crimes like dacoity and suppressing thuggee, which involved organized robbery and murder on highways.
Q5. What was one of the negative outcomes of the British-introduced judicial system?
- It was based on divine law
- Justice was speedy and cheap
- It became expensive and slow
- Only customary law was followed
Correct Option: 3. It became expensive and slow.
Explanation: Though the system promoted rule of law and equality, in practice it became costly, slow, and corrupt, making it inaccessible for the poor and vulnerable.