Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Education.

Key Points

• Charles Wood was the President of the Board of Control(Introduced through Pitt’s India Act, 1784) of English East India Company.
• He had also been the Secretary of the state of India.
• In 1854 he sent a despatch to Lord Dalhousie(the Governor-General of India at that time).
• Wood’s despatch suggested that primary schools must Adopt vernacular languages.
• Through the despatch, he also suggested that high schools use anglo-vernacular medium and that English should be the medium for college-level education.
• Hence, Wood’s Despatch is considered as ‘Magna-Carta’ of English Education in India.

The correct answer is Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the .extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such - absolute power was undesirable in one person.

Key Points

• Provisions of Charter Act 1793
  • This Act continued the company’s rule over the British territories in India.
  • It continued the company’s trade monopoly in India for another 20 years.
  • The Act established that “acquisition of sovereignty by the subjects of the Crown is on behalf of the Crown and not in its own right,” which clearly stated that the company’s political functions were on behalf of the British government.
  • The company’s dividends were allowed to be raised to 10%.
  • The Governor-General was given more powers.
  • He could override his council’s decision under certain circumstances.
  • He was also given authority over the governors of Madras and Bombay.
  • When the Governor-General was present in Madras or Bombay, he would supersede in authority over the governors of Madras and Bombay.

​Additional Information

• In the Governor-General’s absence from Bengal, he could appoint a Vice President from among the civilian members of his Council.
• The composition of the Board of Control changed.
• It was to have a President and two junior members, who were not necessarily members of the Privy Council.
• The salaries of the staff and the Board of Control were also now charged to the company.
• After all expenses, the company had to pay the British government Rs.5 Lakhs from the Indian revenue annually.
• Senior company officials were barred from leaving India without permission.
• If they did so, it would be considered as a resignation.
• The company was granted the authority to grant licenses to individuals and company employees to carry on trade in India.
• This was known as ‘privilege’ or ‘country trade’.
• This led to shipments of opium to China.
• This Act separated the revenue administration and the judiciary functions of the company leading to the disappearance of Maal Adalats (revenue courts).

• A sculpture of a chariot of Harappa times was found at Daimabad, Maharashtra.
• Daimabad is an archaeological site that was discovered in 1958.
• The excavations were conducted between 1976-79 here.
• Lothal is an ancient Indus site situated in Gujarat.
• Banawali is an ancient Harappan site situated on the dry river bed of Saraswati.
• Kalibangan, which means black bangles, is an ancient Indus site situated in Rajasthan.

🔑 Key Points

• The Vijay Stambh (Tower of Victory) is located within the Chittorgarh Fort in Rajasthan.
• It was constructed by Maharana Kumbha between 1440 and 1448 AD.
• The tower commemorates his victory over the combined armies of Mahmud Khalji I of Malwa and Sultan Qutbuddin Ahmad Shah II of Gujarat in 1440 AD.

The correct answer is Takshashila 

• Gandhara was an ancient kingdom situated along the Kabul and Swat rivers of Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• The capital of Gandhara was Takshashila also known as Taxila.
• 16 kingdoms were included in Mahajanapadas.
• Ancient Buddhist Literature, Anguttara Nikaya text gives the list 16 Mahajanapadas.
• They are - Kashi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Machcha, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboja.
• These Mahajanpadas are either Monarchy or a Republics (Ganasanghas).
• The important Republics of this period were the Sakyas of Kapilavastu and the Licchavis of Vaishali.
• The important monarchical Mahajanpadas of this period were Kaushambi (Vatsa), Magadha, Kosala, and Avanti.