Economic Impact of British Rule on India

51. In which one of the following years was the first telegraphic connecti

In which one of the following years was the first telegraphic connection established between Europe and India ?

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1851
1854
1865
1871
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2022
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Option C is correct. The first successful and reliable direct telegraphic cable connection between Europe (via Persia and the Persian Gulf) and India was established in 1865.
Establishing reliable telegraph communication between Europe and India in the 19th century was a major technological and infrastructural achievement that significantly reduced communication time.
While telegraph lines were laid in India from the early 1850s (1851 was the first experimental line, 1854 saw lines like Calcutta-Agra), connecting India to Europe required overcoming significant geographical challenges, primarily laying submarine cables across the Arabian Sea and establishing land lines through intermediate territories. The 1865 link was crucial for administrative and commercial purposes during the British Raj.

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52. Which one of the following statements with regard to ryotwari settleme

Which one of the following statements with regard to ryotwari settlement is not correct ?

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In southern and western India, the ryotwari settlement was adopted.
Ryotwari was in principle a direct contract between the ryot and the state.
It means a tax contract valid for usually 30 years.
In principle, it strengthened the former elite, the zamindars and weakened the peasantry.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2021
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The correct answer is D) In principle, it strengthened the former elite, the zamindars and weakened the peasantry.
The Ryotwari settlement was designed to establish a direct relationship between the individual cultivator (ryot) and the state, eliminating intermediaries like zamindars. Therefore, it did not strengthen the zamindars; in areas where it was implemented, the zamindari system was not prevalent or was replaced.
Statements A, B, and C are correct characteristics of the Ryotwari settlement. It was implemented primarily in Madras and Bombay Presidencies (southern and western India). It was a direct contract between the peasant and the state, and the land revenue was usually fixed for a period, often around 30 years. While the intention was to protect the ryots, high revenue demands often led to distress and indebtedness.

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53. Which one of the following British firms was taken over by Soorajmull-

Which one of the following British firms was taken over by Soorajmull-Nagarmull group ?

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McLeod
Octavius Steel
Davenport
Andrew Yule
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2021
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The correct answer is B) Octavius Steel.
The Soorajmull Nagarmull group, a prominent Indian business house, acquired control of the British managing agency firm Octavius Steel and Co. Ltd. in the post-independence era.
During the period of decolonization and the subsequent decades, many British managing agency houses operating in India were taken over by Indian business groups. Soorajmull Nagarmull was one such group that expanded its empire through these acquisitions, including that of Octavius Steel, which had interests in jute, tea, and other sectors.

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54. The Limitation Law, which was passed by the British in 1859, addressed

The Limitation Law, which was passed by the British in 1859, addressed which one of the following issues?

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Loan bonds would not have any legal validity.
Loan bonds signed between money-lender and Ryots would have validity only for three years.
Land bonds could not be executed by moneylenders.
Loan bonds would have validity for ten years.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2019
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The correct answer is B) Loan bonds signed between money-lender and Ryots would have validity only for three years.
The Limitation Law, passed in 1859 by the British, stipulated that a bond of loan would have legal validity for only three years. This meant that a moneylender could not sue a Ryot (peasant) for the recovery of a debt based on a bond after three years had passed since the bond was signed.
This law was intended to limit the period for which old debts could be claimed. However, it sometimes worked against the Ryots during periods of distress. Moneylenders would often get new bonds signed every few years or use other means of debt recovery outside the legal framework, leading to exploitation. This law, among other factors, contributed to agrarian discontent, such as the Deccan Riots of 1875, where Ryots attacked moneylenders’ houses and shops to burn debt bonds and deeds.

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