Question 56 from UPSC CSE 2018 - Modern History

Question

Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India?
1. Charter Act of 1813
2. General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823
3. Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1, 2, and 3

Strategy: The strategy focuses on identifying key historical events that influenced English education:
*   **Charter Act of 1813:** Opened the door by allowing funds for education.
*   **General Committee of Public Instruction (1823):** Debated educational content and language.
*   **Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy:** Centered on English as the medium of instruction.
All three factors significantly contributed to the spread of English education.

Key Info: The establishment and spread of English education in colonial India unfolded through several key historical stages:

*   **The Charter Act of 1813**
    *   Marked a turning point, allowing the British Indian administration to allocate public funds (Rs 1 lakh annually) for promoting education and knowledge.
    *   This act represented the first state intervention in Indian education, despite initial delays and a small budget.

*   **General Committee of Public Instruction (1823)**
    *   Formed to guide educational policy, its members held conflicting philosophies--the Anglicists advocated Western sciences and English, while Orientalists emphasized traditional Indian learning in classical languages.

*   **Orientalist-Anglicist Controversy**
    *   This debate critically influenced official attitudes, focusing on whether educational resources should support Indian languages/classics (Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian) or promote Western subjects and English medium.
    *   The controversy culminated in 1835 with **Macaulay's Minute**, endorsed by Lord William Bentinck, which decisively favored English as both the medium and content of education.

Each of these stages--the Charter Act, the Committee's formation, and the ensuing controversy--was historically crucial to the eventual establishment and dominance of English education in colonial India.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 and 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1 and 3 only

Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India? Charter Act of 1813 General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823 Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India?

Charter Act of 1813

General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823

Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy
Select the correct answer using the code given below: