Q4 · UPSC Prelims 2019 · Set A · Art and Culture

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Consider the following statements about 'the Charter Act of 1813':1.It ended the trade monopoly of the East India Company in India except for trade in tea and trade with China.2.It asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company.3.The revenues of India were now controlled by the British Parliament.Which of the statements given above are correct?

A 1 and 2 only
B 2 and 3 only
C 1 and 3 only
D 1, 2 and 3

Correct answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Explanation

  1. A

    1 and 2 only

    (a) 1 and 2 only. The Charter Act of 1813 ended the Company’s Indian trade monopoly except tea and the China trade, and it asserted the Crown’s sovereignty over the territories the Company held. Statement 3 is the false extra: Indian revenues were not placed under the British Parliament by this Act. That two-statement code is the official key.

  2. B

    2 and 3 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only. Statement 2 is sound, but statement 3 is not; dropping the true monopoly clause and keeping the false revenue clause means this code is not the key.

  3. C

    1 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only. Statement 1 is sound, but statement 3 is not, so this pair is not the key.

  4. D

    1, 2 and 3

    (d) 1, 2 and 3. All-three needs statement 3 true. Company-era revenues stayed with the Company’s Indian administration under Board of Control oversight; parliamentary takeover of Indian revenues belongs to the later 1858 settlement, so all-three is not the key.

Summary. Official key is (a) 1 and 2 only. The 1813 Charter opened Indian trade to all British merchants except tea and China, and it stated Crown sovereignty over Company territories. It also earmarked a lakh of rupees for education, a frequent neighbour fact. It did not transfer the revenues of India to Parliament. Honour the stored letter (a).

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