UPSC Prelims 2018 Q76: Modern History – British Administration & Economic Policies
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Introduction of English Education in India - Contributory Events
| Event | Contribution to English Education | Correct? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Charter Act of 1813 | First state grant of Rs 1 lakh/year for education in India; opened the path for organised education policy. | YES |
| 2. General Committee of Public Instruction (GCPI), 1823 | Formed to advise on how the Rs 1 lakh grant should be used. The GCPI became the platform for the Orientalist vs Anglicist debate. | YES |
| 3. Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy | Debate within GCPI: Orientalists (H.T. Prinsep, H.H. Wilson) favoured Indian classical languages (Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian); Anglicists (Macaulay, Trevelyan) favoured English. Resolved by Macaulay's Minute (1835) and Bentinck's endorsement - English became the medium at higher levels. | YES |
All three events cumulatively led to English education becoming official policy.
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy (3) also decisively led to English education via Macaulay's Minute of 1835.
- (b) Incorrect. All three events (Charter 1813, GCPI 1823, Orientalist-Anglicist debate) collectively led to English education.
- (c) Incorrect. The GCPI (2) was the institutional forum where the debate happened - it cannot be excluded.
- (d) CORRECT. Charter Act 1813 (funding), GCPI 1823 (institutional advice), and Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy (policy direction via Macaulay's Minute 1835) all led to English education.
Key point
English education timeline: Charter Act 1813 (Rs 1 lakh grant) -> GCPI 1823 (advisory body) -> Orientalist-Anglicist debate (1820s-30s) -> Macaulay's Minute 1835 + Bentinck's Resolution -> Wood's Despatch 1854 (grants-in-aid, universities).
Remember
The introduction of English education in India was a cumulative process. The Charter Act of 1813 provided the first state funding (Rs 1 lakh) for education. The General Committee of Public Instruction (1823) became the advisory body. The Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy of the 1820s-30s, resolved by Macaulay's Minute (1835) and Bentinck's endorsement, tilted the balance decisively towards English as the medium of higher education.
Common mistakes
- Missing the GCPI (1823) role - it was the crucible where the Orientalist-Anglicist debate was fought out.
- Assuming Macaulay alone brought English education - the process involved decades of institutional evolution.
- Confusing the Charter Act 1813 education grant with the Charter Act 1853 provisions (which reformed civil service).
Exam tip
English education evolution: 1813 (funding), 1823 (GCPI), 1835 (Macaulay-Bentinck), 1854 (Wood's Despatch - grants-in-aid + universities), 1857 (Calcutta, Bombay, Madras universities established), 1882 (Hunter Commission review).
Sources
- NCERT Class 8 - Our Pasts III (Civilising the 'Native', Educating the Nation)
- Bipan Chandra - India's Struggle for Independence (Chapter on Modern Education)