Question

Whose obnoxious acts are mentioned below ?

a. Lowering the age of admission to the Indian Civil Service.

b. Imposition of restrictions upon the liberty of the press.

c. The Arms Act, 1878.

d. Abolition of duties on the imports of British products.

1. Lord Lytton
2. James Wilson
3. Sir Lawrence
4. Lord Macaulay

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Lord Lytton

The correct answer is Lord Lytton.

• Lord Lytton was a man of literary tastes but he suffered from two handicaps.

1. He was not acquainted with affairs in India.
2. Disraeli, the Prime Minister of England had deputed him to India with the specific object of pursuing a forward policy against Afghanistan.

 

• The policy of Lord Lytton was reactionary which provoked the national sentiments of the Indians.
• Among the measures, the one taken up by him was to move a little forward in the policy of financial devolution with the expectation that the provincial governments would develop their revenue resources.
• Due to a serious famine in the years 1876-1878 and inadequacy of the relief provided by the government, a Famine Commission was appointed which suggested several measures to the government, forming the basis of its subsequent famine policy.
• Lytton held a Darbar at Delhi on January 1, 1877, where Queen Victoria was declared the Queen Empress of India with all pomp and show at a time when India was in the grip of famine.
• Lord Lytton helped in intensifying the economic exploitation of India by Britain by pursuing the policy of free trade and abolishing import-tax on thirty articles including the tax on the coarse cloth.
• Lytton passed the Vernacular Press Act in 1878 which curbed the liberty –Of the Indian Press publishing newspapers in local Indian languages.
• Lord Lytton passed the Arms Act in 1878 by which the Indians were asked to seek a licence to keep, sell or purchase arms.
• He introduced the Statutory Civil Service in India to provide jobs to loyal Indians and dampen the spirit of the Indians, in general, to compete for covenanted services.
• The qualifying age of Covenanted Service Examination held in London was also reduced from 21 to 19 so that it became further difficult for the Indians to compete for it.
• Thus, most of the administrative measures of Lytton went against the interests of Indians.
• Hence option 1 is correct