Development of Education in Modern India

1. The Asiatic Society of Bengal’ was founded by Sir William Jones in the

The Asiatic Society of Bengal’ was founded by Sir William Jones in the year

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1782
1784
1786
1791
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The Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded by Sir William Jones in the year 1784.
– Sir William Jones, with the support of Warren Hastings (the then Governor-General of Bengal), founded the Asiatic Society in Calcutta on January 15, 1784.
– The society was established with the aim of promoting Oriental studies and conducting research into the history, antiquities, arts, sciences, and literature of Asia.
– It played a crucial role in unlocking India’s ancient past by translating and studying numerous Sanskrit and other Oriental texts.
The founding of the Asiatic Society marked the beginning of systematic Oriental scholarship in British India and was instrumental in creating a greater understanding of Indian culture and history among European scholars. Its publications, particularly the journal *Asiatick Researches*, were highly influential.

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2. Who among the following translated the Manusmriti into English for the

Who among the following translated the Manusmriti into English for the first time?

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Sir William Jones
Charles Wilkins
N. B. Halhed
Warren Hastings
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Sir William Jones translated the Manusmriti into English for the first time.
– Sir William Jones (1746-1794) was a British philologist, jurist, and scholar of ancient India. He founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784.
– He was a pioneer in the study of Sanskrit and translated several important Indian texts.
– His translation of the *Manu Smriti* (or *Laws of Manu*) titled “Institutes of Hindu Law, or, the Ordinances of Menu” was published in 1794. This was the first complete English translation of this ancient legal and social treatise.
– Charles Wilkins translated the Bhagavad Gita and the Hitopadesha into English. N. B. Halhed translated the Code of Gentoo Laws (a compilation of Hindu laws based on various texts) into English. Warren Hastings encouraged such translations and studies but did not perform the translation himself.
Sir William Jones’s work was crucial in introducing ancient Indian literature, philosophy, and legal systems to the Western world and played a significant role in the development of Oriental studies. He is also known for observing the linguistic similarities between Sanskrit, Greek, and Latin, laying the foundation for comparative linguistics.

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3. The Indian Universities Commission appointed by Lord Curzon in 1902 wa

The Indian Universities Commission appointed by Lord Curzon in 1902 was headed by

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Sir William Hunter
Sir Thomas Raleigh
Lord Haldane
Dr. Michael Sadler
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Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of India (1899-1905), appointed the Indian Universities Commission in 1902. This commission was constituted to inquire into the conditions and prospects of the universities established in British India and to suggest measures for improving their constitution and working. The commission was headed by Sir Thomas Raleigh, who was then the Law Member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
– The commission was appointed in 1902 by Lord Curzon.
– Its purpose was to inquire into Indian universities and suggest reforms.
– The chairman of the commission was Sir Thomas Raleigh.
Based on the recommendations of the Raleigh Commission, the Indian Universities Act of 1904 was passed. This Act aimed to reform the administration and governance of universities, increase governmental control, and shift focus towards teaching and research rather than merely conducting examinations. Other commissions mentioned are related to education but were headed by different individuals: Hunter Commission (1882) by Sir William Hunter and Sadler Commission (1917) by Dr. Michael Sadler.

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4. Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female

Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?

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Annie Besant
Debendranath Tagore
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Sarojini Naidu
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The Hindu Female School, founded in Calcutta in 1849 by J.E.D. Bethune, was a pioneering institution for women’s education in India. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was deeply involved with Bethune in the establishment of this school and became its first Indian secretary. After Bethune’s death in 1851, Vidyasagar took on the responsibility of running the school, often funding it from his own pocket, demonstrating his strong commitment to the cause of female education. The school was renamed Bethune Female School in honour of its founder and later evolved into Bethune College.
– Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a key associate and the first Indian secretary of the Hindu Female School (later Bethune Female School).
– He played a crucial role in its management and sustenance after Bethune’s demise.
– The school was founded by J.E.D. Bethune in 1849.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a renowned Bengali polymath and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance. He was a social reformer who championed widow remarriage, opposed child marriage, and advocated for women’s education. His efforts were instrumental in opening up educational opportunities for girls in India during the 19th century. Annie Besant was associated with later educational movements, Debendranath Tagore was a prominent figure in the Brahmo Samaj and Indian philosophy, and Sarojini Naidu was a nationalist leader and poet in the 20th century.

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5. With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in Ind

With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs :

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InstitutionFounder
1. Sanskrit College at BenarasWilliam Jones
2. Calcutta MadarsaWarren Hastings
3. Fort William CollegeArthur Wellesley

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?

1 and 2
2 only
1 and 3
3 only
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The correct answer is B) 2 only.
Let’s examine each pair:
1. **Sanskrit College at Benaras – William Jones:** This pair is incorrect. The Sanskrit College at Benaras (Varanasi) was established in 1791 by Jonathan Duncan, the Resident at Benaras, with the support of Governor-General Lord Cornwallis. William Jones was a prominent scholar of Oriental studies and founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784 in Calcutta, but he did not found the Sanskrit College at Benaras.
2. **Calcutta Madarsa – Warren Hastings:** This pair is correct. The Calcutta Madarsa (now known as Aliah University) was established in 1781 by Warren Hastings, the first Governor-General of Bengal. It was established to promote the study of Muslim law and related subjects.
3. **Fort William College – Arthur Wellesley:** This pair is incorrect. Fort William College was established in 1800 by Lord Richard Wellesley, who was the Governor-General of Bengal from 1798 to 1805. It was intended to provide training to British civil servants in Indian languages, history, and culture. Arthur Wellesley was Richard Wellesley’s younger brother, who later became the Duke of Wellington and was known for his military career.
These institutions represent early attempts by the British colonial administration to engage with Indian languages, laws, and cultures, partly for administrative convenience and partly influenced by Orientalist scholars. They played a role in shaping the educational landscape during the colonial period.

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6. Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in

Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India ?

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  • 1. Charter Act of 1813
  • 2. General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823
  • 3. Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 and 2 only
2 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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All three statements are correct and relate to the introduction and development of English education in India. The Charter Act of 1813 was the first legislative step by the British government to acknowledge the importance of education in India by allocating Rs. 1 lakh annually. The General Committee of Public Instruction was formed in 1823 to manage this grant. This committee became the focal point of the Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy, which debated the medium of instruction (Oriental languages vs. English) and the content of education (traditional Indian vs. Western knowledge). The victory of the Anglicists, strongly influenced by Macaulay’s Minute, paved the way for the official adoption and promotion of English education in the following years (e.g., Wood’s Despatch in 1854).
The introduction of English education was a gradual process involving legislative action (1813 Act), administrative bodies (1823 Committee), and significant ideological debate (Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy).
Lord William Bentinck, the Governor-General, passed a resolution in 1835 adopting the Anglicist view, making English the official language of government and the medium of instruction in higher education.

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7. Regarding Wood’s Despatch, which of the following statements are true?

Regarding Wood’s Despatch, which of the following statements are true?

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  • 1. Grants-in-Aid system was introduced.
  • 2. Establishment of universities was recommended.
  • 3. English as a medium of instruction at all levels of education was recommended.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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The correct option is A because statements 1 and 2 are true regarding Wood’s Despatch, while statement 3 is false.
Wood’s Despatch of 1854 was a significant document outlining the British government’s policy on education in India. It proposed a comprehensive system from primary to university level.
Statement 1 is true: The Despatch recommended the introduction of a system of grants-in-aid to encourage private educational institutions. Statement 2 is true: It recommended the establishment of universities in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, modeled on the University of London. Statement 3 is false: While it recommended English as the medium of instruction for higher education and for secondary education alongside vernaculars, it specifically recommended vernacular languages at the primary level. It did not recommend English as the medium of instruction at *all* levels.

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8. When was the Kothari Commission appointed by the Government of India t

When was the Kothari Commission appointed by the Government of India to look into the education sector of India?

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1967
1966
1965
1964
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The correct answer is D) 1964.
The Kothari Commission, officially known as the Education Commission, was appointed by the Government of India on July 14, 1964.
The commission was chaired by Dr. D. S. Kothari, then Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). It was the fifth commission in India since independence and the first to deal with education in a comprehensive manner at all levels. The commission submitted its report in June 1966. Its recommendations significantly influenced India’s education policy for decades.

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9. Which one of the following statements about the English Education Act

Which one of the following statements about the English Education Act of 1835 is NOT correct ?

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It was proposed by Governor General William Bentinck on the advice of Macaulay
It made English the language of instruction in Indian education system
With the formal institutionalization of English as the language of instruc- tion, the stage was set for a new direction to Indian education
To the existing Oriental Institutions fresh awards of stipends to students and the publication of classical texts were to continue
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Statement D is NOT correct. The English Education Act of 1835, based on Macaulay’s Minute, significantly curtailed or ceased government support for traditional Oriental institutions and the publication of classical Oriental texts. The focus shifted towards promoting Western education through the medium of English.
Macaulay’s Minute was a strong advocacy for Western education in English, arguing against continued funding for Orientalist learning. The 1835 Act implemented this policy shift, prioritizing English and Western sciences and literature over traditional Indian learning.
Statement A is correct; it was proposed during Bentinck’s tenure based on Macaulay’s recommendation. Statement B is correct in that it established English as the dominant language for higher education and government. Statement C is correct as it marked a clear departure in the direction of educational policy in British India. The debate between Orientalists and Anglicists was a key prelude to this Act.

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10. Which of the following is / are characteristic (s) of the debate betwe

Which of the following is / are characteristic (s) of the debate between “Anglicists” and “Orientalists” in the 1830s ?

  • 1. The Anglicists wanted to cut the money being spent on printing Sanskrit and Arabic texts
  • 2. The Anglicists wanted to cut the money spent on printing Sanskrit texts, but wished to continue to print in Persian
  • 3. The Orientalists wanted stipend for the students of Arabic and Sanskrit
  • 4. The Orientalists started a new Sanskrit College in Delhi

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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1 only
1, 3 and 4
1 and 3 only
2, 3 and 4
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The correct answer is C, which states that statements 1 and 3 are correct.
The Anglicists favoured Western education through the medium of English and sought to cease government funding for traditional Oriental institutions and the printing of Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian texts. The Orientalists, conversely, advocated for the promotion of traditional Indian learning in these languages and supported measures like providing stipends to students studying them.
The debate culminated in Macaulay’s Minute of 1835, which strongly advocated for the Anglicist viewpoint, leading to a shift in government policy towards promoting Western education through English. Statement 2 is incorrect because Anglicists opposed funding for all Oriental languages, including Persian. Statement 4 is not a characteristic defining the core debate itself, which was about funding and the medium/content of education rather than the establishment of new specific institutions by Orientalists during the peak of this debate (existing institutions were the focus of funding cuts proposals).

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