DAY – 39 : Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2026 : MODERN INDIA

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Statement I is correct. The Portuguese introduced the Cartaz system as a naval licensing mechanism to regulate and control maritime trade in the Indian Ocean. Merchant ships were required to obtain this permit from Portuguese authorities, enabling them to enforce dominance over sea routes and commercial activity.

Statement II is correct. Afonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510 and established it as a permanent base of Portuguese power in India.

Statement III is correct. The decline of Portuguese power in India was caused by several factors. The rise of stronger European powers such as the English and the Dutch weakened their dominance. Regional forces like the Marathas also challenged their position. Additionally, the discovery and colonization of Brazil shifted Portuguese focus toward the Atlantic, reducing their involvement in the Indian Ocean.

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Statement I is correct. The Golden Farman was issued by Sultan Abdullah Qutb Shah of Golconda, granting the English East India Company favourable trading privileges, including duty concessions and freedom to trade in the ports of Golconda.

Statement II is correct. The English East India Company established its first factory in South India at Masulipatnam in 1611, which became an important centre for trade on the Coromandel Coast.

Statement III is incorrect. The English were granted Bombay by the British Crown (as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza to Charles II in 1661) and later transferred it to the Company. The right to mint coins was not granted by Aurangzeb; rather, coinage privileges evolved later and were subject to Mughal authority and regulation.

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Pair I is correct. Khan Bahadur Khan, a descendant of the Rohilla chiefs, led the revolt in Bareilly and assumed administrative control, establishing a parallel government in the Rohilkhand region.

Pair II is correct. Kunwar Singh, the zamindar of Jagdishpur in Bihar, led the uprising against the British, and Arrah became important centre of military engagement, including the famous siege of Arrah (1857), closely associated with his campaign.

Pair III is incorrect. Bakht Khan, a former subedar from Bareilly, reached Delhi and became the chief military commander of the rebel forces under Bahadur Shah II. He played a central role in organising resistance in Delhi, not Kanpur.

Pair IV is correct. Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was a prominent leader in Awadh, especially associated with Faizabad. He mobilised large-scale resistance and was known for his leadership and ideological influence during the revolt.

Pair V is incorrect. Azimullah Khan was the close advisor and diplomat of Nana Sahib and was associated with Kanpur. He played a role in planning and political strategy but was not linked to Delhi.

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Statement I is correct. The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 required new recruits in the Bengal Army to serve overseas if required. This created resentment among sepoys, particularly high-caste Hindus, as crossing the sea (kala pani) was believed to result in loss of caste and religious purity. It became an important religious grievance contributing to the Revolt.

Statement II is incorrect. Although the Company’s administration was foreign and often exploitative, it cannot be characterised as “highly efficient.” In reality, the administrative system suffered from corruption at lower levels, a complex and expensive judicial structure, and lack of accessibility for the common people. These factors led to widespread dissatisfaction and inefficiency rather than effective governance.

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Statement I is incorrect. The withdrawal of the Doctrine of Lapse and recognition of the right of adoption were not provisions of the Government of India Act, 1858. These were policy changes reflected in the Queen’s Proclamation of 1858, which accompanied the transfer of power but was distinct from the Act itself.

Statement II is incorrect. The reorganisation of the army, including increasing the proportion of European troops relative to Indian soldiers, was an administrative and military reform carried out after the revolt, but it was not a direct provision of the 1858 Act.

Statement III is correct. The Act abolished the dual system of control by ending the Board of Control and the Court of Directors, and vested authority in a new office—the Secretary of State for India—assisted by a Council.

Statement IV is correct. The Governor-General of India also assumed the title of Viceroy, representing the British Crown in India, marking the formal beginning of Crown rule.

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

• Bangabhasha Prakasika Sabha (I) was established in 1836, making it one of the earliest associations aimed at promoting political awareness and discussion among educated Indians.
• Zamindari Association / Landholders’ Society (II) was formed in 1838 by zamindars to safeguard their interests, particularly in relation to land revenue policies of the colonial state.
• Bengal British India Society (III) was founded in 1843, focusing on promoting political consciousness and discussing administrative reforms in British India.
• British India Association (IV) was established in 1851 through the merger of the Landholders’ Society and the Bengal British India Society, representing a more organised political body articulating Indian demands.

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

Statement I is correct. The Indian Association of Calcutta was founded in 1876 by Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose with the objective of creating a strong public opinion on political issues and mobilising educated Indians.

Statement II is correct. The Association aimed at uniting Indians across regions on a common political platform, going beyond narrow class interests, and thus represented an important step toward broader political organisation before the formation of the Indian National Congress.

Statement III is correct. It played a leading role in organising agitation against the reduction of the maximum age limit for the Indian Civil Service Examination, which adversely affected Indian aspirants. This issue became one of the earliest examples of organised political protest.

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Statement I is incorrect. The Ilbert Bill (1883) was introduced during the tenure of Lord Ripon, not Lord Lytton. It was piloted by Sir Courtenay Ilbert, the Law Member of the Viceroy’s Council.

Statement II is incorrect. The Bill proposed to allow Indian judges and District Magistrates to try European British subjects in criminal cases, not merely civil cases. The core issue was removal of racial discrimination in criminal jurisdiction.

Statement III is correct. The intense and organized opposition by the European community, and the eventual compromise, exposed racial discrimination and limitations of colonial liberalism. This acted as a catalyst for Indian political awakening and contributed to the emergence of an all-India political organization.

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Statement I is correct. The British Indian Association was formed in 1851 through the merger of the Landholders’ Society (Zamindari Association) and the Bengal British India Society, marking an important step in early political organisation.

Statement II is correct. In 1852, the Association submitted a petition to the British Parliament, raising demands such as the separation of executive and judicial functions, inclusion of Indians in administration, and other administrative reforms.

Statement III is incorrect. The Association primarily represented the interests of the landed aristocracy, especially zamindars, rather than the emerging middle-class intelligentsia. Its leadership and orientation were largely conservative and elite-driven.

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Pair I is correct. Sadras, located on the Coromandel Coast near present-day Chennai, was established by the Dutch (VOC) as a trading settlement. It functioned as an important centre for textile trade and Dutch commercial activity in South India.

Pair II is incorrect. Tellicherry (modern Thalassery) on the Malabar Coast was an English settlement under the East India Company. It served as a key base for the spice trade, especially pepper, and later developed into a strategic administrative centre. It was not associated with the French.

Pair III is correct. Tranquebar (Tharangambadi) was established by the Danes in 1620 under an agreement with the Nayak of Tanjore. It became the headquarters of Danish trade in India and is also known for early missionary activities.

Pair IV is incorrect. Chinsura (Chinsurah) in Bengal was a Dutch settlement and an important centre of their trade in eastern India. The English later acquired it from the Dutch in the 19th century, but its original establishment was not by the English.

Answer: (b) 4,125

Solution:

Ratio of consecutive years’ interest = 3,240 / 2,700 = 1.2

Rate = 20% per annum

Second year interest = 2,700 / 1.2 = 2,250

First year interest = 2,250 / 1.2 = 1,875

Total interest (first two years) = 1,875 + 2,250 = 4,125

Answer: (b) 3,100

Solution:

Simple Interest = (1,00,000 × 10 × 3) / 100 = 30,000

Amount under compound interest:

= 1,00,000 × (1.1)³

= 1,00,000 × 1.331

= 1,33,100

Compound Interest = 1,33,100 − 1,00,000 = 33,100

Gain = 33,100 − 30,000 = 3,100

Answer: (a) 8,000

Solution:

Time periods:

Elder = 13 years, Younger = 15 years

E(1.05)^13 = Y(1.05)^15

E / Y = (1.05)^2 = 441 / 400

Total ratio = 841

Each unit = 16,820 / 841 = 20

Younger’s share = 400 × 20 = 8,000

Answer: (c) 16 years

Solution:

If a sum doubles in 4 years, then:

2 = growth factor in 4 years

16 = 2⁴ → requires 4 doublings

Total time = 4 × 4 = 16 years

Answer: (b)

Solution:

The passage highlights that traditional models are failing because they ignore the biological limits and the value of ecosystem services which actually underpin the economy. Option (b) directly captures this core criticism. Option (a) is too extreme (the passage suggests a shift, not a halt). Option (c) is a specific detail but not the primary inference regarding the nature of economic models. Option (d) is the exact opposite of the passage’s argument.