Q1. What major change did the Charter Act of 1813 bring about in the East India Company’s trade?
- Allowed unrestricted trade for all European powers
- Abolished the Company’s monopoly on all trade in India
- Allowed trade with China for all British traders
- Made tea trade a government monopoly
Correct Option: 2. Abolished the Company’s monopoly on all trade in India.
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1813 ended the East India Company’s trade monopoly in India (except for tea and trade with China), opening Indian trade to other British merchants.
Q2. The Charter Act of 1833 centralized legislative authority by:
- Creating a bicameral legislature
- Giving each presidency equal legislative powers
- Allowing Indian provinces to pass their own laws
- Vesting all legislative power in the Governor-General of India
Correct Option: 4. Vesting all legislative power in the Governor-General of India.
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1833 made the Governor-General of India (Lord William Bentinck was the first) the sole legislative authority, centralizing law-making power.
Q3. The provision for open competition for Indian Civil Services was introduced in which Act?
- Charter Act of 1813
- Charter Act of 1833
- Charter Act of 1853
- Pitt’s India Act of 1784
Correct Option: 3. Charter Act of 1853.
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1853 introduced, for the first time, an open competition system for recruitment to the Indian Civil Services. The Macaulay Committee was set up in 1854 to implement it.
Q4. The Indian Legislative Council was created by which Act?
- Act of 1786
- Regulating Act of 1773
- Charter Act of 1813
- Charter Act of 1853
Correct Option: 4. Charter Act of 1853.
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1853 separated legislative and executive functions of the Governor-General’s Council, leading to the formation of the Indian Legislative Council with legislative members.
Q5. Which Act ended the commercial functions of the East India Company, making it solely an administrative body?
- Charter Act of 1833
- Pitt’s India Act of 1784
- Regulating Act of 1773
- Charter Act of 1853
Correct Option: 1. Charter Act of 1833.
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1833 ended the trading activities of the East India Company, converting it into a purely administrative agency working on behalf of the British Crown.