MCQ on Development of Press and Education System in Modern India

🟢 EASY (1–20)

Who is considered the father of the Indian press?
A) Mahatma Gandhi
B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D) Annie Besant
Answer: B
Explanation: Raja Ram Mohan Roy started the newspaper Sambad Kaumudi and is regarded as the father of the Indian press.
Which was the first newspaper published in India?
A) The Hindu
B) Bombay Samachar
C) Bengal Gazette
D) Indian Mirror
Answer: C
Explanation: Bengal Gazette (also known as Hicky’s Gazette) was the first newspaper in India, published in 1780.
Who introduced English education in India?
A) Lord Wellesley
B) Lord Cornwallis
C) Lord Macaulay
D) Lord William Bentinck
Answer: D
Explanation: Lord William Bentinck introduced English education through Macaulay’s Minute in 1835.
Which act laid the foundation of modern education in India?
A) Regulating Act, 1773
B) Charter Act, 1813
C) Pitt’s India Act, 1784
D) Indian Councils Act, 1861
Answer: B
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1813 allocated funds for promoting education in India.
Which newspaper was started by Bal Gangadhar Tilak?
A) Kesari
B) Hindustan Times
C) Swadesamitran
D) Tribune
Answer: A
Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak started Kesari in Marathi and Mahratta in English.
Who wrote the famous ‘Minute on Indian Education’?
A) Lord Ripon
B) Lord Curzon
C) Thomas Babington Macaulay
D) Charles Wood
Answer: C
Explanation: Macaulay’s Minute (1835) advocated for English education in India.
Which was the first vernacular newspaper in India?
A) Kesari
B) Bombay Samachar
C) Samachar Darpan
D) Amrita Bazar Patrika
Answer: C
Explanation: Samachar Darpan was the first Bengali-language newspaper, started in 1818.
Who started the newspaper ‘Indian Opinion’?
A) B.G. Tilak
B) Mahatma Gandhi
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Dadabhai Naoroji
Answer: B
Explanation: Gandhi started Indian Opinion in South Africa to voice Indian concerns.
Which university was established first in India?
A) Delhi University
B) University of Calcutta
C) Madras University
D) Bombay University
Answer: B
Explanation: The University of Calcutta was established in 1857 along with Bombay and Madras universities.
When was the Vernacular Press Act passed?
A) 1857
B) 1861
C) 1878
D) 1885
Answer: C
Explanation: The Vernacular Press Act was passed in 1878 by Lord Lytton to curb the freedom of vernacular press.
Which act provided for the appointment of a Director of Public Instruction?
A) Charter Act, 1813
B) Wood’s Despatch, 1854
C) Indian Councils Act, 1861
D) Hunter Commission, 1882
Answer: B
Explanation: Wood’s Despatch recommended setting up a DPI in each province.
The Hunter Commission was appointed in:
A) 1854
B) 1870
C) 1882
D) 1905
Answer: C
Explanation: Lord Ripon appointed the Hunter Commission in 1882 to evaluate primary and secondary education.
Which press act abolished the Vernacular Press Act?
A) Press Act, 1908
B) Press Act, 1910
C) Press Law Repeal Act, 1881
D) None of the above
Answer: C
Explanation: The Vernacular Press Act was repealed in 1881 by Lord Ripon.
Which missionary organization started Serampore College?
A) London Missionary Society
B) Baptist Missionary Society
C) Church Mission Society
D) Wesleyan Missionary Society
Answer: B
Explanation: Baptist missionaries established Serampore College in 1818.
Who among the following founded Aligarh Muslim University?
A) Syed Ahmad Khan
B) Zakir Husain
C) Muhammad Iqbal
D) Maulana Azad
Answer: A
Explanation: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan founded Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, which became AMU.
Which was the first Indian language newspaper?
A) Bombay Samachar
B) Samachar Darpan
C) Raja Vachan
D) Kesari
Answer: B
Explanation: Samachar Darpan was the first Indian-language newspaper in Bengali.
The education policy of Lord Curzon emphasized:
A) Western education
B) Technical education
C) Centralized control and regulation
D) Free education
Answer: C
Explanation: Curzon’s reforms (1904) emphasized central control and regulations.
Which press act aimed at curbing nationalist activities during British rule?
A) Vernacular Press Act
B) Press Act of 1908
C) Press Regulation Act
D) Press Act of 1835
Answer: B
Explanation: The Press Act of 1908 targeted extremist nationalist press.
Who started the Hindu College in Calcutta?
A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
B) David Hare
C) Henry Derozio
D) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Answer: B
Explanation: David Hare played a key role in the founding of Hindu College (1817).
The Indian Education Commission of 1882 is also known as:
A) Macaulay Commission
B) Ripon Commission
C) Hunter Commission
D) Raleigh Commission
Answer: C
Explanation: The 1882 Education Commission under W.W. Hunter is known as the Hunter Commission.

🟡 MODERATE (21–40)

What did Wood’s Despatch of 1854 emphasize?
A) Religious education
B) Persian as official language
C) English and vernacular education
D) Private education only
Answer: C
Explanation: It emphasized English as the medium for higher education and vernaculars at the school level.
Which Indian leader started the journal ‘Young India’?
A) Subhas Chandra Bose
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) Mahatma Gandhi
D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Answer: C
Explanation: Gandhi edited Young India, a weekly journal published by the Sabarmati Ashram.
Which act introduced compulsory primary education in some parts of British India?
A) Indian Education Act, 1858
B) Curzon’s Education Policy, 1904
C) Government of India Act, 1919
D) Hunter Commission Report, 1882
Answer: D
Explanation: Hunter Commission recommended compulsory primary education where possible.
Who among the following edited ‘Kesari’?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Tilak
C) Gandhi
D) Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: B
Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak edited the nationalist newspaper Kesari.
The Sadler Commission (1917-19) was related to:
A) Secondary education
B) Primary education
C) University education
D) Technical education
Answer: C
Explanation: Sadler Commission examined problems of Calcutta University and recommended reforms in university education.
Which English official was responsible for the 1835 Education Minute?
A) William Bentinck
B) Charles Metcalfe
C) Macaulay
D) Curzon
Answer: C
Explanation: Thomas Macaulay wrote the minute advocating English education.
Which report led to the formation of the University Grants Commission (UGC)?
A) Radhakrishnan Commission
B) Kothari Commission
C) Hunter Commission
D) Mudaliar Commission
Answer: A
Explanation: The Radhakrishnan Commission of 1948 led to the formation of UGC.
The first education minister of independent India was:
A) Zakir Husain
B) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
C) Rajendra Prasad
D) S. Radhakrishnan
Answer: B
Explanation: Maulana Azad was the first education minister from 1947 to 1958.
Which paper exposed the Indigo planters’ atrocities in Bengal?
A) Hindu
B) Kesari
C) Hindu Patriot
D) Young India
Answer: C
Explanation: Hindu Patriot exposed the brutalities of Indigo planters.
The first education commission after independence was:
A) Mudaliar Commission
B) Radhakrishnan Commission
C) Kothari Commission
D) None of these
Answer: B
Explanation: Radhakrishnan Commission (1948–49) dealt with university education.
Which British Governor-General promoted press freedom by repealing press restrictions?
A) Wellesley
B) Curzon
C) Metcalfe
D) Lytton
Answer: C
Explanation: Charles Metcalfe removed press restrictions in 1835, known as “liberator of the Indian press”.
Which press law brought compulsory registration for newspapers?
A) Press Act, 1908
B) Indian Press Act, 1910
C) Vernacular Press Act
D) Press and Registration Act, 1867
Answer: D
Explanation: The Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867 introduced mandatory registration.
Who founded the ‘Voice of India’ newspaper?
A) Dadabhai Naoroji
B) Tilak
C) Gokhale
D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: A
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji started Voice of India to raise political awareness.
Who established the Central Hindu College at Benares?
A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B) Annie Besant
C) Gandhi
D) Tagore
Answer: B
Explanation: Annie Besant founded the college which later became part of BHU.
Which Indian leader described press as ‘mighty engine’?
A) Nehru
B) Gokhale
C) Gandhi
D) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Answer: D
Explanation: Roy considered the press a “mighty engine” of social reform.
Which English daily was started in 1878 by Theosophists?
A) The Hindu
B) New India
C) The Indian Mirror
D) The Leader
Answer: B
Explanation: Annie Besant started New India for political advocacy.
Which Indian language press was most suppressed under the Vernacular Press Act?
A) Hindi
B) Urdu
C) Bengali
D) Tamil
Answer: C
Explanation: Bengali newspapers were the primary target of the 1878 Act.
The Kothari Commission was appointed in:
A) 1948
B) 1952
C) 1964
D) 1970
Answer: C
Explanation: Kothari Commission was established in 1964 to propose a unified education system.
Which nationalist paper was founded by Subhas Chandra Bose?
A) Swarajya
B) Forward Bloc
C) Azad Hind
D) Free India
Answer: C
Explanation: Azad Hind was published during Bose’s leadership of INA.
Which education report emphasized “learning without burden”?
A) Kothari Report
B) Radhakrishnan Report
C) Yashpal Committee
D) Mudaliar Report
Answer: C
Explanation: Yashpal Committee Report (1993) focused on reducing burden on school children.

🔴 HARD (41–50)

Which act made it mandatory for Indian newspapers to deposit security?
A) Press Act 1835
B) Press Act 1908
C) Press Act 1910
D) Vernacular Press Act
Answer: C
Explanation: The 1910 Act required a security deposit to control anti-British publications.
The Raleigh Commission (1902) was related to:
A) University education
B) School education
C) Technical training
D) Journalism education
Answer: A
Explanation: It reviewed university education and led to the Indian Universities Act, 1904.
Which publication was started by Syed Ahmad Khan to propagate modern ideas?
A) Aligarh Journal
B) Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq
C) The Comrade
D) Muhammadan Observer
Answer: B
Explanation: Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq promoted social reform among Muslims.
What was the main recommendation of the Sadler Commission?
A) Ten-year school education
B) Abolition of English education
C) Intermediary stage between school and university
D) Women’s education to be banned
Answer: C
Explanation: It proposed a two-year intermediate course between school and university.
Which newspaper supported British policies and criticized Congress during freedom movement?
A) Kesari
B) The Pioneer
C) Young India
D) The Hindu
Answer: B
Explanation: The Pioneer often supported colonial rule.
Which act led to central government control over Indian universities?
A) Education Act 1902
B) University Act 1904
C) Hunter Act 1882
D) Curzon Act 1900
Answer: B
Explanation: The Indian Universities Act of 1904 increased government control over universities.
Which period saw the maximum suppression of Indian press by the British?
A) 1857–1870
B) 1870–1885
C) 1908–1919
D) 1920–1935
Answer: C
Explanation: Several repressive acts were passed during 1908–1919 to curb revolutionary literature.
Which Indian paper was printed both in English and Bengali overnight to evade censorship?
A) Amrita Bazar Patrika
B) The Hindu
C) Samachar Darpan
D) The Leader
Answer: A
Explanation: It converted to English overnight to escape Vernacular Press Act.
The Indian Press Act of 1910 was enacted by:
A) Lord Lytton
B) Lord Curzon
C) Lord Minto
D) Lord Hardinge
Answer: C
Explanation: Minto introduced this act to curb revolutionary publications.
Which education commission first suggested 10+2+3 pattern?
A) Sadler Commission
B) Kothari Commission
C) Radhakrishnan Commission
D) National Knowledge Commission
Answer: B
Explanation: The Kothari Commission (1964–66) proposed the 10+2+3 structure of education.

🟢 EASY (1–20)

🟡 MODERATE (21–40)

🔴 HARD (41–50)

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