MCQs: History & Status of English in India

1. Who arrived in Kozhikode (Calicut) in 1498, opening the sea route to India?

A. Christopher Columbus

B. Vasco da Gama

C. Ferdinand Magellan

D. Bartholomew Diaz

Answer: B. Vasco da Gama

 

2. When was the East India Company (EIC. established?

A. 1498

B. 1600

C. 1757

D. 1857

Answer: B. 1600

 

3. Who called the East India Company and its agents "The Birds of Prey"?

A. Lord Macaulay

B. Edmund Burke

C. Charles Grant

D. Warren Hastings

Answer: B. Edmund Burke

 

4. Which battle marked the establishment of British rule in India?

A. Battle of Plassey (1757)

B. Battle of Buxar (1764)

C. Battle of Panipat (1761)

D. Battle of Wandiwash (1760)

Answer: A. Battle of Plassey (1757)

 

5.Who established the Asiatic Society in 1784 for oriental research?

A. Warren Hastings

B. William Jones

C. Charles Grant

D. Lord Cornwallis

Answer: B. William Jones

 

6. Who is considered the "Father of English Education in India"?

A. Lord Macaulay

B. Charles Grant

C. William Bentinck

D. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Answer: B. Charles Grant

 

7.What was the main objective of Macaulay’s Minute (1835)?

A. To promote Sanskrit and Arabic education

B. To create a class of Indians who were "English in taste, opinions, morals, and intellect"

C. To ban English education in India

D. To establish missionary schools only

Answer: B. To create a class of Indians who were "English in taste, opinions, morals, and intellect"

 

8.Which act made English the official language of administration and courts in 1837?

A. Charter Act of 1813

B. English Education Act of 1835

C. Wood’s Dispatch of 1854

D. Government of India Act of 1858

Answer: B. English Education Act of 1835

 

9.What theory did Macaulay propose to educate Indians through a select few who would then teach others?

A. Upward Mobility Theory

B. Downward Filtration Theory

C. Vernacularization Theory

D. Orientalist Theory

Answer: B. Downward Filtration Theory

 

10.Who among the following strongly opposed Sanskrit and Arabic education, calling them "full of errors"?

A. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

B. Lord Macaulay

C. William Jones

D. Warren Hastings

Answer: B. Lord Macaulay

 

11.Which document is known as the "Magna Carta of English Education in India"?

A. Macaulay’s Minute (1835)

B. Wood’s Dispatch (1854)

C. Charter Act of 1813

D. Hunter Commission Report (1882)

Answer: B. Wood’s Dispatch (1854)

 

12.Which universities were established in 1857 as a result of Wood’s Dispatch?

A. Delhi, Allahabad, Punjab

B. Calcutta, Madras, Bombay

C. Banaras, Aligarh, Hyderabad

D. Patna, Lucknow, Nagpur

Answer: B. Calcutta, Madras, Bombay

 

13.What was the medium of instruction at the primary level as per Wood’s Dispatch?

A. English

B. Sanskrit

C. Vernacular languages

D. Persian

Answer: C. Vernacular languages

 

14.Who among the following was a strong supporter of Western education through English?

A. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

B. Swami Vivekananda

C. Dayanand Saraswati

D. Mahatma Gandhi

Answer: A. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

 

15.What term is used for Indians who adopted Western culture and education under British rule?

A. Orientalists

B. Anglicists

C. Macaulay’s Children

D. Nationalists

Answer: C. Macaulay’s Children

 

16.Which Governor-General introduced English as the official language of government and education in 1835?

A. Lord Dalhousie

B. Lord William Bentinck

C. Lord Cornwallis

D. Lord Wellesley

Answer: B. Lord William Bentinck

 

17.Which commission criticized Macaulay’s Downward Filtration Theory in 1882?

A. Hunter Commission

B. Sadler Commission

C. Raleigh Commission

D. Simon Commission

Answer: A. Hunter Commission

 

18. Who translated Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntalam into English?

A. Charles Grant

B. William Jones

C. Max Muller

D. Thomas Macaulay

Answer: B. William Jones

 

19.Which act first allocated funds (Rs. 1 lakh) for education in India?

A. Charter Act of 1793

B. Charter Act of 1813

C. Charter Act of 1833

D. Charter Act of 1853

Answer: B. Charter Act of 1813

 

20.Who appointed the Hunter Commission (1882) to review the implementation of Wood’s Dispatch?

A. Lord Curzon

B. Lord Ripon

C. Lord Dalhousie

D. Lord William Bentinck

Answer: B. Lord Ripon

 

21.Which level of education was assigned to local bodies as per the Hunter Commission?

A. University education

B. Secondary education

C. Primary education

D. Technical education

Answer: C. Primary education

 

22.The Indian Universities Act (1904) was based on the recommendations of which commission?

A. Hunter Commission

B. Raleigh Commission

C. Sadler Commission

D. Kothari Commission

Answer: B. Raleigh Commission

 

23.Who criticized Macaulay’s education system as a "living monument to colonial mission"?

A. Mahatma Gandhi

B. N. Krishnaswamy

C. Rabindranath Tagore

D. B.R. Ambedkar

Answer: B. N. Krishnaswamy

 

24.The term "Macaulayism" refers to:

A. Revival of Sanskrit education

B. Imposing British culture via education

C. Promoting vernacular languages

D. Banning English in India

Answer: B. Imposing British culture via education

 

25.Which pre-independence document recommended vernaculars as the medium of instruction at the primary level?

A. Macaulay’s Minute (1835)

B. Wood’s Dispatch (1854)

C. Hartog Committee Report (1929)

D. Sargent Plan (1944)

Answer: B. Wood’s Dispatch (1854)

 

26.Who among the following opposed English education, calling it "slavery of the mind"?

A. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

B. Mahatma Gandhi

C. Jawaharlal Nehru

D. Subhas Chandra Bose

Answer: B. Mahatma Gandhi

 

27.The Sargent Plan (1944) proposed:

A. Free and compulsory education for all children up to 14 years

B. Banning English in schools

C. Making Sanskrit compulsory

D. Closing missionary schools

Answer: A. Free and compulsory education for all children up to 14 years

 

28.Which commission recommended the gradual replacement of English with Indian languages post-independence?

A. Kothari Commission (1964-66)

B. Radhakrishnan Commission (1948)

C. Mudaliar Commission (1952)

D. Hunter Commission (1882)

Answer: A. Kothari Commission (1964-66)

 

29.English was retained as an "associate official language" in India due to:

A. Anti-Hindi protests in South India

B. Demand from British officials

C. Lack of Indian language textbooks

D. Pressure from the UN

Answer: A. Anti-Hindi protests in South India

 

30.The Three-Language Formula (1968) included:

A. Hindi, English, and a regional language

B. Sanskrit, English, and a foreign language

C. Hindi, English, and a classical language

D. English, French, and German

Answer: A. Hindi, English, and a regional language

 

 

31.Raja Ram Mohan Roy advocated for English education because:

A. He wanted Indians to reject their culture

B. He believed it would modernize India

C. He was paid by the British

D. He disliked Sanskrit

Answer: B. He believed it would modernize India

 

32.Who established the Hindu College in Kolkata (1817)?

A. William Bentinck

B. David Hare

C. William Jones

D. Charles Wood

Answer: B. David Hare

 

33.Charles Grant’s "Observations on the State of Society" (1792) argued:

A. Sanskrit was superior to English

B. English would "cure the darkness" of Indian society

C. Missionaries should be banned

D. Persian should remain the court language

Answer: B. English would "cure the darkness" of Indian society

 

34.Which act allowed missionaries to enter India for education and proselytization?

A. Charter Act of 1793

B. Charter Act of 1813

C. Charter Act of 1833

D. Government of India Act (1858)

Answer: B. Charter Act of 1813

 

35.The English Education Act (1835) replaced Persian with English in:

A. Courts and administration

B. Primary schools

C. Religious institutions

D. Trade agreements

Answer: A. Courts and administration

 

36.The Official Languages Act (1963) ensured English would continue as an associate official language for:

A. 5 years

B. 10 years

C. 15 years

D. Indefinitely

Answer: D. Indefinitely

 

37.Which state led the anti-Hindi agitation (1965), demanding English’s retention?

A. West Bengal

B. Tamil Nadu

C. Maharashtra

D. Kerala

Answer: B. Tamil Nadu

 

38.Who among the following opposed English education, calling it "defective and based on foreign culture"?

A. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

B. Mahatma Gandhi

C. Lord Macaulay

D. Dr. Radhakrishnan

Answer: B. Mahatma Gandhi

 

39.The National Education Movement (1905-1938) was a reaction to:

A. Introduction of English in primary schools

B. Lord Curzon’s anti-national education policies

C. The Hunter Commission’s recommendations

D. Wood’s Dispatch

Answer: B. Lord Curzon’s anti-national education policies

 

40.The Wardha Scheme of Basic Education (1937) was proposed by:

A. Dr. Zakir Hussain

B. Mahatma Gandhi

C. Jawaharlal Nehru

D. Sardar Patel

Answer: B. Mahatma Gandhi

 

41.What was the principle of Gandhi’s Wardha Scheme?

A. "English Ever, Hindi Never"

B. "Learn while you earn, earn while you learn"

C. "Downward Filtration Theory"

D. "Three-Language Formula"

Answer: B. "Learn while you earn, earn while you learn"

 

42.Which constitutional article initially allowed English as an official language for 15 years (1950-1965)?

A. Article 343

B. Article 370

C. Article 21A

D. Article 44

Answer: A. Article 343

 

43.The Official Languages Act (1963) ensured:

A. Hindi would replace English in 1965

B. English would continue indefinitely alongside Hindi

C. Regional languages would be abolished

D. Sanskrit would be revived

Answer: B. English would continue indefinitely alongside Hindi

 

44.Which state led the "Anti-Hindi Agitations" in 1965 against making Hindi the sole official language?

A. Maharashtra

B. West Bengal

C. Tamil Nadu

D. Punjab

Answer: C. Tamil Nadu

 

45.The Three-Language Formula (1956) included:

A. Hindi, English, and Sanskrit

B. Mother tongue, Hindi, and English

C. English, French, and German

D. Sanskrit, Arabic, and Persian

Answer: B. Mother tongue, Hindi, and English

 

46.Who chaired the University Education Commission (1948) that recommended the establishment of UGC?

A. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

B. Dr. Zakir Hussain

C. Dr. Kothari

D. Maulana Azad

Answer: A. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

 

47.The Kothari Commission (1964-66) is also known as:

A. National Knowledge Commission

B. Indian Education Commission

C. Secondary Education Commission

D. Radhakrishnan Commission

Answer: B. Indian Education Commission

 

48.Which policy introduced the 10+2+3 education system?

A. NPE 1968

B. NPE 1986

C. Kothari Commission

D. Sargent Report

Answer: C. Kothari Commission

 

49.NEP 2020 replaced which earlier policy?

A. NPE 1968

B. NPE 1986

C. Wood’s Dispatch

D. Macaulay’s Minute

Answer: B. NPE 1986

 

50.What does NEP 2020 recommend about the medium of instruction till Grade 5?

A. Only English

B. Mother tongue/regional language

C. Hindi compulsory

D. Sanskrit preferred

Answer: B. Mother tongue/regional language

 

51.Which state was the first to implement NEP 2020?

A. Tamil Nadu

B. Karnataka

C. Maharashtra

D. Uttar Pradesh

Answer: B. Karnataka

 

52.The Official Languages Act of 1963:

A. Made Hindi sole official language

B. Continued use of English indefinitely

C. Banned regional languages

D. Made Sanskrit compulsory

Answer: B. Continued use of English indefinitely

Explanation: It ensured English would remain in use alongside Hindi for official purposes.

 

53.The Kunzru Committee (1955) emphasized:

A. Immediate switch to Hindi medium

B. Gradual transition from English to Indian languages

C. Abolition of English teaching

D. Only Sanskrit in universities

Answer: B. Gradual transition from English to Indian languages

Explanation: It cautioned against hasty replacement of English as medium of instruction.

 

54.The Kothari Commission (1964-66) is famous for:

A. Introducing 10+2+3 system

B. Banning English in schools

C. Recommending single language formula

D. Abolishing higher education

Answer: A. Introducing 10+2+3 system

Explanation: It proposed this structural reform in Indian education system.

 

55.NPE 1986 advocated:

A. Mother tongue at school level

B. Only English in universities

C. Elimination of Hindi

D. Sanskrit as compulsory subject

Answer: A. Mother tongue at school level

Explanation: It supported regional languages at school level while recognizing English's importance.

 

56.The Yashpal Committee (1993) recommended:

A. Heavy school bags for children

B. No homework for primary classes

C. Only English medium schools

D. Abolition of mother tongue teaching

Answer: B. No homework for primary classes

Explanation: It aimed to reduce burden on young students.

 

57.NEP 2020 proposes:

A. 10+2 structure to continue

B. 5+3+3+4 curricular structure

C. Only English medium schools

D. Elimination of mother tongues

Answer: B. 5+3+3+4 curricular structure

Explanation: It replaces the old 10+2 system with this new framework.

 

58.The first anti-Hindi agitation occurred in:

A. 1937 in Madras Presidency

B. 1947 in Bengal

C. 1965 in Punjab

D. 1971 in Kerala

Answer: A. 1937 in Madras Presidency

Explanation: Protest against Rajaji's compulsory Hindi education order.

 

59.The 1968 NPE was based on:

A. Macaulay's Minute

B. Wood's Dispatch

C. Kothari Commission

D. Radhakrishnan Commission

Answer: C. Kothari Commission

Explanation: First NPE incorporated Kothari Commission's recommendations.

 

60.The Ramamurti Commission (1990) reviewed:

A. NPE 1968

B. NPE 1986

C. Wood's Dispatch

D. Macaulay's Minute

Answer: B. NPE 1986

Explanation: It evaluated implementation of 1986 education policy.

 

61.Janardhan Reddy Committee was formed to:

A. Review NPE 1986

B. Draft NEP 2020

C. Abolish English

D. Promote Sanskrit

Answer: A. Review NPE 1986

Explanation: It led to modifications in NPE 1986 and POA.

 

62.Operation Blackboard (1987) aimed to:

A. Provide minimum school infrastructure

B. Teach only English

C. Eliminate Hindi

D. Promote Sanskrit

Answer: A. Provide minimum school infrastructure

Explanation: It ensured basic facilities in primary schools.

 

63.The 2009 Yashpal Committee recommended:

A. Continuing deemed universities

B. Replacing UGC with CHER

C. Abolishing English

D. Making Hindi compulsory

Answer: B. Replacing UGC with CHER

Explanation: Suggested overhaul of higher education regulators.

 

64.SSA – Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (2001) aimed to:

A. Universalize elementary education

B. Teach only English

C. Abolish vernaculars

D. Promote Sanskrit

Answer: A. Universalize elementary education

Explanation: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan focused on universal enrollment.

 

65.The 86th Constitutional Amendment (2002) made education:

A. Free and compulsory for 6-14 age group

B. English medium mandatory

C. Hindi compulsory nationwide

D. Sanskrit compulsory

Answer: A. Free and compulsory for 6-14 age group

Explanation: Added Article 21A for right to education.

 

66.The 1956 Three-Language Formula was approved at:

A. Shimla Conference 1961

B. Calcutta Conference 1957

C. Delhi Convention 1960

D. Madras Meeting 1958

Answer: A. Shimla Conference 1961

Explanation: CMs' conference simplified and approved the formula.

 

67.EFLU was originally established as:

A. Central Institute of English

B. English Teaching Mission

C. British Council Institute

D. Oxford University branch

Answer: A. Central Institute of English

Explanation: Began as CIE in 1958, later became CIEFL and EFLU.

 

68.The 1953 UGC was inaugurated by:

A. Nehru

B. Maulana Azad

C. Radhakrishnan

D. Rajendra Prasad

Answer: B. Maulana Azad

Explanation: Education Minister Azad inaugurated UGC.

 

69.The Secondary Education Commission (1952) was chaired by:

A. Dr. Lakshmana Swami Mudaliar

B. Dr. Radhakrishnan

C. Dr. Kothari

D. Dr. Zakir Hussain

Answer: A. Dr. Lakshmana Swami Mudaliar

Explanation: VC of Madras University headed this commission.

 

70.The 1955 Official Languages Commission chairman was:

A. B.G. Kher

B. Maulana Azad

C. Nehru

D. Rajaji

Answer: A. B.G. Kher

Explanation: First Bombay CM chaired this commission.

 

71.The 1968 anti-Hindi agitation demanded:

A. Scrapping three-language formula

B. Making Hindi compulsory

C. English only in Madras

D. Sanskrit as national language

Answer: A. Scrapping three-language formula

Explanation: Protesters opposed Hindi imposition in Tamil Nadu.

 

72.The 1986 anti-Hindi agitation opposed:

A. Navodaya Schools

B. English teaching

C. Mother tongue education

D. Sanskrit colleges

Answer: A. Navodaya Schools

Explanation: DMK opposed Hindi-medium Navodaya Vidyalayas.

 

73.NEP 2020 states English is:

A. A test of intelligence

B. Just a language, not intelligence test

C. Should be eliminated

D. Must replace all Indian languages

Answer: B. Just a language, not intelligence test

Explanation: Policy clarifies English is merely a language skill.