Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
(1 × 10 = 10 marks)
- Education before British rule was mainly given in
a) Universities
b) Missionary schools
c) Pathshalas, Maktabs, and Madrasas
d) English schools - Which subject was not commonly taught in Pathshalas?
a) Reading
b) Writing
c) Moral values
d) Western science - Maktabs and Madrasas mainly focused on
a) Mathematics and science
b) Islamic studies, Persian, and Arabic
c) English literature
d) Engineering - Which group of British officials supported Indian languages?
a) Anglicists
b) Orientalists
c) Missionaries
d) Reformers - The Charter Act of 1813 made it compulsory for the British to
a) Open universities
b) Spend money on education
c) Teach only English
d) Stop Indian education - Thomas Macaulay believed that
a) Indian knowledge was superior
b) Education should be free for all
c) Western knowledge was superior
d) Sanskrit should be promoted - Wood’s Dispatch is known as
a) English Education Act
b) Filtration Theory
c) Magna Carta of Indian Education
d) Basic Education Scheme - Filtration Theory aimed to educate
a) Only women
b) Only rural people
c) A small elite group
d) All Indians equally - The universities of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras were established in
a) 1835
b) 1854
c) 1857
d) 1880 - Nai Talim was proposed by
a) Rabindranath Tagore
b) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
c) Warren Hastings
d) Mahatma Gandhi
See Also: Education and Colonial Rule Quick Revision Notes
Section B: One-Word Answer
(1 × 5 = 5 marks)
- Name the schools where Islamic education was taught.
- Who started Calcutta Madrasa?
- In which year was Macaulay’s Minute introduced?
- What theory aimed to spread education from elites to masses?
- Which education system focused on craft-based learning?
Section C: Very Short Answer Questions
(2 × 5 = 10 marks)
- Mention any two features of education before British rule.
- Who were Anglicists?
- State one aim of British education in India.
- Why did early female education face resistance?
- What was the main purpose of English education according to the British?
Section D: Short Answer Questions
(4 × 5 = 20 marks)
- Describe the role of Pathshalas in pre-British education.
- Explain the debate between Orientalists and Anglicists.
- What were the main recommendations of Wood’s Dispatch (1854)?
- How did English education benefit only certain sections of society?
- Write a short note on Aligarh Muslim University and its origin.
See Also: Quick Notes for Last Minute Revision – Education and Colonial Rule
Section E: Long Answer Questions
(8 × 3 = 24 marks)
- Describe the system of education in India before British rule.
- Explain Macaulay’s Minute and its impact on Indian education.
- Discuss the impact of British education on Indian society.
- Explain the contributions of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan to modern education.
- Compare the educational ideas of Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi.









