Colonial land revenue and economy — UPSC Prelims PYQs
22 questions in this bank come from Colonial land revenue and economy, spanning UPSC Prelims papers from 2011 to 2025. Every question here carries all four options, the correct answer and a full explanation.
It has appeared in 11 of the last 16 papers, most heavily in 2018 with 4 questions. That is a steady presence rather than a guaranteed one.
The themes examined most often within it are Economic impact of British colonial rule in India (4), Ryotwari Settlement in British India (4), Reforms and Revolts in Early Nationalism (3), British colonial agricultural policies in India (2) and East India Company agents in India (2). Those counts are of questions in which the theme is examined, not merely mentioned.
Questions here are spread across History (19), Economy (2) and Geography (1). Between them they draw on 30 distinct themes, so this is a broader area than a single revision note can cover. That is 1.5% of the 1433 questions in the bank — useful for deciding how much revision time it deserves.
It has been asked less often lately — roughly 1.0 questions a year across the last five papers, against 1.7 before that.
It was not examined in 5 of those papers. Each question below links to its full explanation and to related questions on the same theme from other years, so a weak area can be worked through in one pass rather than hunted for paper by paper.
UPSC Prelims 20251 question
UPSC Prelims 20222 questions
- Geography
Consider the following States: 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Kerala 3. Himachal Pradesh 4. Tripura How many of the above are generally known as tea- producing States?
- History
With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements: 1. The Dutch established their factories/warehouses on the east coast on lands granted to them by Gajapati rulers. 2. Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate. 3. The English East India Company established a factory at Madras on a plot of land leased from a representative of the Vijayanagara empire. Which of the statements given above are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20212 questions
- History
Consider the following statements: 1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince. 2. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus. 3. It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- History
In the first quarter of the seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located? 1. Broach 2. Chicacole 3. Trichinopoly Select the correct answer using the code given below.
UPSC Prelims 20202 questions
- History
With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Aurang - In-charge of treasury of the State 2. Banian - Indian agent of the East India Company 3. Mirasidar - Designated revenue payer to the State Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
- History
Which of the following statements correctly explain the impact of the Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century?
UPSC Prelims 20191 question
UPSC Prelims 20184 questions
- History
After the Santhal Uprising subsided, what was/were the measure/measures taken by the colonial government? 1. The territories called ‘Santhal Paraganas’ were created. 2. It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a non- Santhal. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- History
With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs: Institution Founder: 1. Sanskrit College at Benaras - William Jones 2. Calcutta Madrasa - Warren Hastings 3. Fort William College - Arthur Wellesley Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
- History
The staple commodities of export by the English East Indian Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were
- History
Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the:
UPSC Prelims 20172 questions
- History
Who among the following was/were associated with the introduction of Ryotwari Settlement in India during the British Rule? 1. Lord Cornwallis 2. Alexander Read 3. Thomas Munro Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- History
Consider the following statements: 1. The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the wages of industrial workers and to allow the workers to form trade unions. 2. N. M. Lokhande was a pioneer in organizing the labour movement in British India. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20151 question
UPSC Prelims 20141 question
UPSC Prelims 20123 questions
- History
The Rowlatt Act aimed at:
- History
Consider the following: 1. Assessment of land revenue on the basis of nature of the soil and the quality of crops. 2. Use of mobile cannons in warfare. 3. Cultivation of tobacco and red chillies. Which of the above was/were introduced into India by the English?
- History
With reference to Ryotwari Settlement, consider the following statements: 1. The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government. 2. The government gave Pattas to the Ryots. 3. The lands were surveyed and assessed before being taxed. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20113 questions
- History
With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, “Home Charges” formed an important part of the drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted “Home Charges”? 1. Funds used to support the India Office in London. 2. Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British personnel engaged in India. 3. Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- History
The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following provisions?
- History
Which amongst the following provided a common factor for tribal insurrection in India in the 19th century?
