British Administration – Warren Hastings Top 100 MCQs With Answer and Explanation

1. Warren Hastings was the first ___________.
A) Governor of Bengal
B) Governor-General of Bengal
C) Governor-General of India
D) Viceroy of India

2. Warren Hastings became Governor-General in___________.
A) 1765
B) 1772
C) 1773
D) 1785

3. Which Act created the office of the Governor-General of Bengal?
A) Charter Act, 1813
B) Regulating Act, 1773
C) Pitt’s India Act, 1784
D) Charter Act, 1833

4. Warren Hastings served as Governor of Bengal before becoming Governor-General from___________.
A) 1760–1765
B) 1770–1772
C) 1772–1773
D) 1774–1776

5. Warren Hastings’ early career in India began with the East India Company at___________.
A) Madras
B) Calcutta
C) Bombay
D) Cuttack

6. Before becoming Governor of Bengal, Hastings served as Resident at___________.
A) Lucknow (Awadh)
B) Hyderabad
C) Delhi
D) Surat

7. Warren Hastings became a member of the Calcutta Council in___________.
A) 1758
B) 1761
C) 1763
D) 1769

8. Which body had the authority to control Hastings under the Regulating Act?
A) King-in-Council
B) Board of Control
C) Court of Directors of the Company
D) Parliament directly

9. Under the Regulating Act (1773), the Governor-General was assisted by___________.
A) Three council members
B) Four council members
C) Five council members
D) Six council members

10. Which of the following members of the Council often opposed Warren Hastings?
A) Sir Elijah Impey
B) Philip Francis
C) John Macpherson
D) Richard Barwell

11. The conflict between Hastings and Philip Francis is known as___________.
A) Bengal Dispute
B) Impey–Hastings affair
C) Hastings–Francis feud
D) Calcutta Council quarrel

12. Hastings fought a duel in 1780 with___________.
A) Philip Francis
B) Elijah Impey
C) Richard Barwell
D) Robert Clive

13. Hastings’ first major administrative role in Bengal (1772) was___________.
A) Governor of Bengal
B) Governor-General of Bengal
C) Collector of Revenue
D) Chief Justice

14. Warren Hastings abolished the system of___________.
A) Zamindari settlement
B) Farming of revenue (auction system)
C) Ryotwari settlement
D) Permanent Settlement

15. Hastings is often credited with laying the foundation of___________.
A) Judicial reforms in India
B) Doctrine of Lapse
C) Permanent Settlement
D) Indian Penal Code

16. The Governor-General of Bengal was directly responsible to___________.
A) The British Crown
B) Board of Control
C) Court of Directors of the Company
D) British Parliament

17. Hastings’ administrative experiments in Bengal were mainly due to___________.
A) Pressure from British Parliament
B) Company’s financial crisis
C) French threat
D) Indian rebellion

18. Hastings’ judicial reforms were carried out in___________.
A) 1772 and 1780
B) 1772 and 1774
C) 1772 and 1781
D) 1772 and 1785

19. Which Act established the Supreme Court at Calcutta in 1774 during Hastings’ tenure?
A) Regulating Act, 1773
B) Pitt’s India Act, 1784
C) Charter Act, 1813
D) Charter Act, 1833

20. The first Chief Justice of the Calcutta Supreme Court was___________.
A) Sir Elijah Impey
B) Philip Francis
C) Henry Russell
D) Charles Cornwallis

21. Hastings was accused of misusing his influence over___________.
A) Philip Francis
B) Richard Barwell
C) Elijah Impey
D) Robert Clive

22. The impeachment trial of Warren Hastings in Britain lasted from___________.
A) 1788–1795
B) 1788–1799
C) 1787–1795
D) 1787–1799

23. Hastings resigned from the post of Governor-General in___________.
A) 1780
B) 1782
C) 1785
D) 1788

24. Warren Hastings is often called___________.
A) The Maker of Modern India
B) The Builder of British India’s administration
C) The Architect of the British Empire in India
D) The Father of Indian Civil Service

25. Hastings’ early reforms aimed mainly at___________.
A) Reducing Mughal influence
B) Financial stability of the Company
C) Expanding British territories
D) Encouraging missionary work

26. In 1772, Warren Hastings shifted the treasury and revenue headquarters from Murshidabad to___________.
A) Dacca
B) Patna
C) Calcutta
D) Cuttack

27. Hastings abolished the system of revenue farming in Bengal and replaced it with___________.
A) Zamindari settlement
B) Ryotwari settlement
C) Annual settlement with zamindars and cultivators
D) Permanent Settlement

28. The primary objective of Hastings’ revenue reforms was___________.
A) Expansion of British territory
B) Maximizing agricultural productivity
C) Ensuring regular income for the Company
D) Protecting peasants from zamindars

29. Hastings introduced the system of revenue collection through Company officials known as___________.
A) Collectors
B) Settlement Officers
C) Amins
D) Supervisors

30. Hastings’ collectors were supervised by___________.
A) Provincial Councils
B) Board of Revenue
C) Governor-General’s Council
D) Nawab’s officials

31. Hastings’ judicial reforms of 1772 introduced two main courts at the district level___________.
A) Mofussil Diwani Adalat (civil) and Faujdari Adalat (criminal)
B) Supreme Court and High Court
C) Sadar Diwani Adalat and Sadar Nizamat Adalat
D) Collector’s court and Magistrate’s court

32. The Sadar Diwani Adalat (civil appeals court) at Calcutta was presided over by___________.
A) Indian judges only
B) Governor and members of Council
C) Supreme Court judges
D) Nawab of Bengal

33. The Sadar Nizamat Adalat (criminal appeals court) was headed by___________.
A) Governor-General
B) Nawab’s deputy (Naib Nazim)
C) Supreme Court
D) Collector

34. In Hastings’ judicial system, Hindu law was applied in matters of___________.
A) Criminal cases
B) Civil disputes among Hindus
C) Revenue disputes
D) Trade disputes

35. In Hastings’ judicial system, Muslim law was applied in matters of___________.
A) Civil disputes among Hindus
B) Criminal law and Muslim personal law
C) Trade and commerce
D) Land revenue

36. Hastings employed which group as law officers in his courts?
A) British barristers only
B) Indian pundits and qazis
C) French missionaries
D) Zamindars

37. In 1781, Hastings reformed his judicial system to___________.
A) Transfer revenue collection back to zamindars
B) Reduce Supreme Court interference
C) Introduce Permanent Settlement
D) Introduce jury trials

38. The Act of Settlement (1781) clarified that the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction applied only to___________.
A) All Indians
B) Company’s servants and Calcutta residents
C) Zamindars across Bengal
D) Nawab’s officials

39. Hastings encouraged the codification of Hindu law by appointing___________.
A) William Jones
B) Sir Elijah Impey
C) Nathaniel Halhed
D) Charles Grant

40. Hastings founded the Calcutta Madrasa in 1781 to___________.
A) Train Muslim law officers
B) Promote Persian literature
C) Educate zamindars’ children
D) Counter missionary activities

41. Hastings is credited with starting which institution for higher learning of oriental languages and culture?
A) Hindu College, Calcutta
B) Asiatic Society of Bengal
C) Calcutta Madrasa
D) Sanskrit College, Varanasi

42. Hastings introduced judicial reforms mainly to___________.
A) Please the Nawab of Bengal
B) Bring uniformity in administration
C) Remove Mughal officials completely
D) Promote Western law only

43. Hastings’ revenue reforms were partially successful because___________.
A) Peasants gained full protection
B) Collectors often became corrupt
C) Zamindars were given hereditary rights
D) Revenue was reduced

44. Hastings abolished which dual system of government in Bengal?
A) Nawab–Company dual control
B) Mughal–British rule
C) Zamindar–Ryot system
D) French–British administration

45. Hastings’ dual system abolition meant that___________.
A) Nawab retained judicial authority
B) Company took over both revenue and administration
C) Mughals regained power in Bengal
D) Zamindars collected revenue directly

46. Hastings introduced the system of “Diwani Adalat” to deal with___________.
A) Criminal justice
B) Civil cases relating to property, inheritance, contracts
C) Religious disputes only
D) Appeals to the Nawab

47. Hastings introduced “Faujdari Adalat” to deal with___________.
A) Civil disputes
B) Criminal justice
C) Revenue disputes
D) Trade and commerce

48. Hastings’ revenue reforms laid the foundation for later settlements like___________.
A) Permanent Settlement (1793)
B) Ryotwari Settlement
C) Mahalwari Settlement
D) All of the above

49. Hastings was a patron of Indian learning and culture. He supported___________.
A) Translation of Bhagavad Gita into English
B) Sanskrit College at Varanasi
C) Asiatic Society of Bengal
D) All of the above

50. Hastings’ administrative reforms overall aimed at___________.
A) Maximizing Company’s profits while creating a workable government
B) Empowering Nawabs of Bengal
C) Reducing Company’s power
D) Promoting democratic governance

51. Warren Hastings’ foreign policy is generally described as___________.
A) Forward Policy
B) Ring Fence Policy
C) Subsidiary Alliance
D) Doctrine of Lapse

52. The main principle of Hastings’ Ring Fence Policy was___________.
A) Annexation of Indian states
B) Creation of buffer states around British territories
C) Establishing British paramountcy everywhere
D) Subsidizing Indian princes for missionary activities

53. Warren Hastings’ foreign policy was largely driven by___________.
A) French threat in Deccan
B) Maratha and Mysore power
C) Financial crisis of the Company
D) Mughal weakness

54. Which Mughal Emperor gave the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the Company (retained under Hastings)?
A) Bahadur Shah I
B) Farrukhsiyar
C) Shah Alam II
D) Aurangzeb

55. Hastings’ dealings with Shah Alam II resulted in___________.
A) Restoring him to Delhi
B) Reducing his pension
C) Allowing him to join Marathas
D) Bringing him under French influence

56. Warren Hastings allied with which state against Mysore during the Second Anglo-Mysore War?
A) Hyderabad (Nizam)
B) Awadh
C) Marathas
D) Both A and C

57. The Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784) began due to___________.
A) French intervention
B) British attack on Mahe, a French possession under Haidar Ali’s protection
C) Maratha alliance with Haidar Ali
D) Bengal famine

58. The chief antagonist of the British in the Second Anglo-Mysore War was___________.
A) Tipu Sultan
B) Haidar Ali
C) Nizam Ali Khan
D) Maratha ruler Madhavrao

59. Haidar Ali died in___________.
A) 1780
B) 1781
C) 1782
D) 1784

60. Which treaty ended the Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784)?
A) Treaty of Srirangapatnam
B) Treaty of Madras
C) Treaty of Mangalore
D) Treaty of Salbai

61. The Treaty of Mangalore was signed between___________.
A) British and Marathas
B) British and Haidar Ali
C) British and Tipu Sultan
D) British and Nizam

62. The Treaty of Mangalore (1784) was significant because___________.
A) It was the last treaty signed on equal terms between British and an Indian ruler
B) It annexed Mysore to the British
C) It gave French territories to the British
D) It restored Shah Alam II’s authority

63. Warren Hastings’ involvement in Rohilla War (1774) was due to his alliance with___________.
A) Marathas
B) Nizam of Hyderabad
C) Nawab of Awadh
D) Mughal Emperor

64. The Rohilla War (1774) resulted in___________.
A) Complete annexation of Rohilkhand by the British
B) Rohillas defeated and territory annexed by Awadh
C) Rohilla victory over Awadh and British
D) Creation of a buffer state under Mughal protection

65. Hastings was criticized for the Rohilla War because___________.
A) He acted against the British Crown
B) He hired British troops to Awadh for money
C) He tried to annex Rohilkhand himself
D) He allied with Tipu Sultan

66. Hastings faced criticism in Britain particularly from___________.
A) Robert Clive
B) Lord Cornwallis
C) Edmund Burke
D) Philip Francis

67. Hastings’ dealings with Begums of Awadh involved___________.
A) Annexing Awadh
B) Confiscating their treasures to fund wars
C) Restoring their jagirs
D) Helping them against the Nawab

68. The First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782) took place during Hastings’ tenure. Which treaty ended it?
A) Treaty of Salbai
B) Treaty of Purandar
C) Treaty of Bassein
D) Treaty of Mangalore

69. The Treaty of Salbai (1782) was signed between___________.
A) British and Tipu Sultan
B) British and Madhavrao I
C) British and Mahadji Scindia
D) British and Peshwa Baji Rao II

70. Under the Treaty of Salbai, the British recognized___________.
A) Haidar Ali’s sovereignty
B) Madhavrao II as Peshwa
C) Shah Alam II’s authority
D) Tipu Sultan’s expansion

71. The Treaty of Salbai resulted in___________.
A) 20 years of peace between British and Marathas
B) Annexation of Maratha territories
C) Defeat of Marathas
D) Complete withdrawal of British from Deccan

72. Hastings’ foreign policy in relation to Indian states can be best described as___________.
A) Annexationist
B) Defensive and pragmatic
C) Subsidiary alliance-based
D) Aggressive forward policy

73. Hastings’ role in Indian wars was often criticized in Britain as___________.
A) Wasteful and aggressive
B) Too defensive
C) In favor of Indian rulers
D) Weak and indecisive

74. Hastings’ foreign policy was ultimately aimed at___________.
A) Expanding the British Empire
B) Protecting Bengal’s frontiers and revenues
C) Defending the Nawab of Awadh
D) Countering Mughal influence

75. Which war during Hastings’ tenure demonstrated the strength of Mysore under Haidar Ali and Tipu Sultan?
A) First Anglo-Mysore War
B) Second Anglo-Mysore War
C) Third Anglo-Mysore War
D) Fourth Anglo-Mysore War

76. Warren Hastings resigned from the post of Governor-General in___________.
A) 1780
B) 1782
C) 1785
D) 1787

77. Hastings was succeeded as Governor-General by___________.
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) John Macpherson (Acting)
C) Philip Francis
D) Richard Wellesley

78. Warren Hastings faced impeachment mainly due to the efforts of___________.
A) Robert Clive
B) Edmund Burke
C) William Pitt
D) Charles James Fox

79. Hastings’ impeachment trial began in the British Parliament in___________.
A) 1785
B) 1787
C) 1788
D) 1790

80. The impeachment trial of Warren Hastings lasted until___________.
A) 1790
B) 1792
C) 1795
D) 1799

81. The main charges against Hastings included___________.
A) Oppression of Indian rulers and corruption
B) Misuse of Company’s funds
C) Arbitrary rule and cruelty in Rohilla and Awadh affairs
D) All of the above

82. Which incident involving Awadh was a major charge in Hastings’ impeachment?
A) Treaty of Salbai
B) Confiscation of Begums’ treasures
C) Annexation of Rohilkhand
D) Treaty of Allahabad

83. Which affair was another major charge against Hastings?
A) Rohilla War (1774)
B) Treaty of Mangalore
C) Treaty of Sugauli
D) Charter Act of 1813

84. Warren Hastings was finally___________.
A) Convicted and jailed
B) Convicted but pardoned
C) Acquitted of all charges
D) Executed

85. Despite acquittal, Hastings___________.
A) Never held office again
B) Returned as Governor-General
C) Became Viceroy
D) Was knighted by the King

86. Hastings is remembered for laying the foundation of___________.
A) Doctrine of Lapse
B) Subsidiary Alliance
C) British administrative system in India
D) Partition of Bengal

87. Which later Governor-General built upon Hastings’ judicial and revenue reforms?
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Lord Wellesley
C) Lord Bentinck
D) Lord Dalhousie

88. Hastings supported the translation of the Bhagavad Gita into English by___________.
A) Charles Wilkins
B) Nathaniel Halhed
C) William Jones
D) Brian Hodgson

89. Hastings also supported the translation of Hindu law into English by___________.
A) Charles Wilkins
B) Nathaniel Halhed
C) William Jones
D) Philip Francis

90. Hastings founded which institution for training in Muslim law?
A) Asiatic Society of Bengal
B) Calcutta Madrasa
C) Sanskrit College at Varanasi
D) Fort William College

91. Hastings patronized which great Orientalist scholar, who later founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal?
A) Charles Grant
B) William Jones
C) Elijah Impey
D) Henry Dundas

92. Hastings’ reforms emphasized___________.
A) Imposing English law only
B) Blending Company rule with Indian traditions
C) Removing all native institutions
D) Missionary education

93. Hastings’ administrative style was criticized because___________.
A) He spent too much on Indian culture
B) He was arbitrary and autocratic
C) He ignored military security
D) He avoided revenue collection

94. Hastings is often regarded as___________.
A) The true founder of British rule in India
B) The last Company ruler
C) The first Viceroy
D) The founder of the Indian National Congress

95. Hastings’ policies in general were more___________.
A) Expansionist and annexationist
B) Defensive and consolidation-oriented
C) Focused on missionary activities
D) Focused on trade only

96. One of Hastings’ key administrative achievements was___________.
A) Abolishing the dual system of government in Bengal
B) Introducing Permanent Settlement
C) Establishing Indian Civil Service exams
D) Annexing Punjab

97. Hastings is remembered in Indian history as___________.
A) The last Mughal governor of Bengal
B) The first effective builder of British Indian administration
C) The founder of Indian universities
D) The first Governor-General of independent India

98. The impeachment of Hastings is significant in British history because___________.
A) It was the first impeachment of a colonial administrator
B) It was the longest trial in British parliamentary history
C) It exposed corruption in the East India Company
D) All of the above

99. Which later historian praised Hastings for his vision and administrative skill despite controversies?
A) Macaulay
B) James Mill
C) R.C. Majumdar
D) Dadabhai Naoroji

100. In summary, Warren Hastings’ rule is best described as___________.
A) Purely exploitative with no reforms
B) A phase of administrative foundation and cultural patronage, despite controversies
C) A period of aggressive expansion of Company rule
D) A failure in both administration and diplomacy