UPSC Prelims 2014 · GS Paper I
Question 92: History and Culture
What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victoria's Proclamation (1858)?
- 1.To disclaim any intention to annex Indian States
- 2.To place the Indian administration under the British Crown
- 3.To regulate East India Company's trade with India
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
Queen Victoria's Proclamation of 1 November 1858 followed the Government of India Act 1858, which ended the East India Company's rule and placed the administration of India under the British Crown. The Proclamation announced this transfer and promised that the Crown would not annex Indian states, would respect the rights of princes, and would observe religious tolerance. It did not regulate the Company's trade; that was the subject of earlier Charter Acts.
- 1. It promised no further annexation of Indian states.
- 2. It placed Indian administration under the Crown.
- 3. Regulating the Company's trade was the work of earlier Charter Acts.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: It promised no further annexation of Indian states.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: Regulating the Company's trade was the work of earlier Charter Acts.
Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statement 2.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right. It disclaimed annexation and placed the administration under the Crown.
- (b) Wrong. Statement 1 was also an object of the Proclamation.
- (c) Wrong. Trade regulation was not its object.
- (d) Wrong. Statement 3 is false.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.