UPSC Prelims 2018 · GS Paper I
Question 76: History and Culture
Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India ?
- 1.Charter Act of 1813
- 2.General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823
- 3.Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (d).
The Charter Act of 1813 set aside Rs 1 lakh a year for the education of Indians, starting the state's role in education. The General Committee of Public Instruction (1823) managed it, and its Orientalist members favoured Sanskrit and Arabic learning. The Orientalist-Anglicist controversy was settled in favour of English by Macaulay's Minute (1835) and Bentinck's resolution. All three contributed to the introduction of English education.
- 1. The 1813 Act set aside Rs 1 lakh for education.
- 2. The General Committee of Public Instruction (1823) ran public education, and the debate arose in it.
- 3. The Anglicist side won, leading to the 1835 decision for English.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: The General Committee of Public Instruction (1823) ran public education, and the debate arose in it.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) and (b) go: each of them leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: The Anglicist side won, leading to the 1835 decision for English.
Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.
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) Incomplete: the controversy also mattered.
- (b) Incomplete: the other two also contributed.
- (c) Incomplete: the General Committee of Public Instruction also contributed.
- (d) Right: all three steps led to English education.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2018, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.