1. Who was the chairman of the committee responsible for the Sargent Report (1944)?
A. Zakir Hussain
B. John Sargent
C. Radhakrishnan
D. S. Mudaliar
Answer: B. John Sargent
Explanation: The Sargent Report is named after Sir John Sargent, who was the Educational Adviser to the Government of India and chaired the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) committee in 1944.
2. What was the main aim of the Sargent Report?
A. To nationalize education in India
B. To recommend immediate independence
C. To create a comprehensive post-war educational plan
D. To promote religious education
Answer: C. To create a comprehensive post-war educational plan
Explanation: The report aimed to plan for the development of education in India after WWII, envisioning a free and compulsory system for all children.
3. According to the Sargent Plan, what was the proposed age for free and compulsory education?
A. 5–10 years
B. 6–14 years
C. 7–17 years
D. 6–12 years
Answer: B. 6–14 years
Explanation: The report recommended free and compulsory education for all children in the age group of 6–14 years for a period of 11 years.
4. Which of the following educational stages was not part of the structure proposed in the Sargent Report?
A. Pre-primary education
B. Junior Basic education
C. High school education
D. Technical education
Answer: B. Junior Basic education
Explanation: The concept of “Basic Education” came from Gandhi’s Wardha Scheme. The Sargent Report suggested Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary (with bifurcation), University, and Technical education but not “Basic education” in Gandhian terms.
5. The Sargent Report planned the complete implementation of its recommendations over how many years?
A. 5 years
B. 10 years
C. 20 years
D. 40 years
Answer: C. 20 years
Explanation: The report envisaged full implementation over a 20-year period, i.e., by 1964.
6. According to the Sargent Plan, at what age was a child to be admitted to pre-primary education?
A. 2 years
B. 3 years
C. 4 years
D. 5 years
Answer: C. 4 years
Explanation: The plan proposed pre-primary education for children aged 3 to 6 years, starting ideally at age 4.
7. What was the suggested duration of secondary education in the Sargent Plan?
A. 4 years
B. 5 years
C. 6 years
D. 7 years
Answer: C. 6 years
Explanation: Secondary education was to be of 6 years, divided into junior (3 years) and senior (3 years) stages.
8. What did the Sargent Report emphasize regarding female education?
A. No mention
B. Should be merged with male education
C. Should be developed parallel to male education
D. Should be stopped temporarily
Answer: C. Should be developed parallel to male education
Explanation: The report emphasized equal educational opportunities for both genders, encouraging the development of female education.
9. Which type of education received a special emphasis in the Sargent Plan apart from general education?
A. Military education
B. Religious education
C. Vocational and Technical education
D. Agricultural education only
Answer: C. Vocational and Technical education
Explanation: Recognizing industrial development, the plan emphasized technical and vocational education for self-reliance and employment.
10. The Sargent Report recommended the establishment of which of the following?
A. A national religious board
B. University Grants Commission (UGC)
C. Central Bureau of Education
D. Directorate of Adult Education
Answer: C. Central Bureau of Education
Explanation: To coordinate efforts across provinces and departments, the report recommended the setting up of a Central Bureau of Education.
11. What provision was made for physically handicapped children in the Sargent Report?
A. No mention
B. Separate schools and training
C. Exclusion from education
D. Inclusion in regular schools
Answer: B. Separate schools and training
Explanation: The report advocated for special institutions for children with disabilities, providing specialized training and care.
12. What was the stance of the Sargent Report on teacher training?
A. Non-essential
B. Emphasized rigorous training
C. Left to private institutions
D. De-emphasized for secondary schools
Answer: B. Emphasized rigorous training
Explanation: The report stressed the need for high-quality teacher training institutions for all levels of education.
13. What kind of adult education was proposed in the Sargent Report?
A. Evening classes only
B. Literacy campaigns for adults
C. Technical training for adults
D. None of the above
Answer: B. Literacy campaigns for adults
Explanation: Adult education was to focus on eradicating adult illiteracy, especially in rural areas.
14. In the Sargent Plan, the bifurcation of secondary education included which two streams?
A. Vocational and religious
B. Academic and technical
C. Commercial and clerical
D. Modern and classical
Answer: B. Academic and technical
Explanation: The plan suggested dividing secondary education into academic and technical/vocational streams after a common junior stage.
15. Which of the following policies or schemes did the Sargent Report precede?
A. NEP 1986
B. Kothari Commission
C. Wardha Scheme
D. Mudaliar Commission
Answer: D. Mudaliar Commission
Explanation: The Sargent Report (1944) preceded the Mudaliar Commission (1952-53) which also focused on secondary education reform.
16. The Sargent Report was published by which advisory body?
A. Indian Education Service
B. Ministry of Education
C. CABE (Central Advisory Board of Education)
D. UGC
Answer: C. CABE (Central Advisory Board of Education)
Explanation: The report was drafted and published under the guidance of CABE.
17. What was the opinion of Gandhiji about the Sargent Report?
A. Fully supportive
B. Critical due to lack of Indian ethos
C. No comment
D. Welcomed with enthusiasm
Answer: B. Critical due to lack of Indian ethos
Explanation: Gandhiji criticized the report for ignoring Indian culture and values, especially craft-centered basic education.
18. How did the Sargent Plan propose to fund the educational reforms?
A. By increasing military taxes
B. Through donations
C. Through state and central budgets
D. By international loans
Answer: C. Through state and central budgets
Explanation: It proposed financial sharing by both provincial and central governments.
19. Which wartime context influenced the drafting of the Sargent Plan?
A. World War I
B. Indian Rebellion
C. World War II
D. Cold War
Answer: C. World War II
Explanation: The report was a Post-War educational reconstruction plan, drafted toward the end of WWII in 1944.
20. What was the ultimate goal envisioned by the Sargent Report for Indian education?
A. Privatization of education
B. Universal and high-quality national education system
C. Religious supremacy through education
D. Complete westernization
Answer: B. Universal and high-quality national education system
Explanation: The report aimed for a unified, free, and compulsory education system to build a modern and self-reliant India.
21. The Sargent Report recommended how many years of university education after secondary education?
A. 2 years
B. 3 years
C. 4 years
D. 5 years
Answer: B. 3 years
Explanation: The Sargent Plan recommended a 3-year university degree course after completion of secondary education.
22. What was the vision of the Sargent Plan regarding illiteracy?
A. Tolerate it for decades
B. Reduce it gradually without a timeline
C. Eliminate illiteracy within 20 years
D. Leave it to NGOs
Answer: C. Eliminate illiteracy within 20 years
Explanation: The report aimed to eradicate illiteracy in the country within 20 years by implementing adult education and compulsory primary schooling.
23. Which Commission or policy first suggested free and compulsory education before the Sargent Report?
A. Hunter Commission
B. Macaulay’s Minute
C. Wardha Scheme
D. None
Answer: C. Wardha Scheme
Explanation: The Wardha Scheme (1937) proposed free and compulsory education, especially based on craft-centered learning.
24. According to the Sargent Plan, which authority was responsible for implementing reforms in education?
A. Local Panchayats
B. Provincial Governments
C. Central Government only
D. Private Trusts
Answer: B. Provincial Governments
Explanation: Education was a provincial subject, and implementation was to be carried out primarily by provincial governments, with coordination from the center.
25. What was the suggested pupil-teacher ratio in the Sargent Report for primary education?
A. 20:1
B. 30:1
C. 40:1
D. 50:1
Answer: B. 30:1
Explanation: The Sargent Report suggested a pupil-teacher ratio of 30:1 to ensure quality attention and effective teaching.
26. Which aspect of Indian education did the Sargent Report not directly address?
A. Curriculum structure
B. Teacher training
C. Religious instruction
D. Vocational education
Answer: C. Religious instruction
Explanation: The Sargent Report focused more on secular and technical reforms, and gave little attention to religious education.
27. Which educational system did the Sargent Report attempt to replace?
A. British colonial system
B. Macaulay’s clerical education
C. Gandhian Basic Education
D. Brahmanic Education
Answer: B. Macaulay’s clerical education
Explanation: The Sargent Plan aimed to replace the Macaulay-inspired system that focused on creating clerks and literates, with a modern and comprehensive model.
28. What was the recommendation of the Sargent Report for gifted children?
A. Ignore them
B. Provide scholarships and special education
C. Let them join university early
D. Enroll them in foreign institutions
Answer: B. Provide scholarships and special education
Explanation: The report recommended special attention, scholarships, and facilities for the development of gifted children.
29. How many years of education did the Sargent Plan propose as the total minimum span for a child from pre-primary to end of secondary?
A. 8 years
B. 10 years
C. 12 years
D. 14 years
Answer: D. 14 years
Explanation: The plan included 3 years pre-primary, 6 years primary, and 6 years secondary = 15 years total (some overlap considered 14 years of schooling as basic education goal).
30. What did the Sargent Report recommend for the medium of instruction at the primary level?
A. English only
B. Hindi only
C. Regional/vernacular languages
D. Sanskrit
Answer: C. Regional/vernacular languages
Explanation: The report emphasized the use of mother tongue or regional languages as the medium of instruction in primary education.
31. Which statement is TRUE regarding the university education under the Sargent Plan?
A. Focused on classical studies only
B. Should be limited to elite groups
C. Should be research-oriented and democratic
D. Should exclude science and technology
Answer: C. Should be research-oriented and democratic
Explanation: The plan recommended research-oriented, liberal, and democratic university education, accessible to capable students.
32. What role did the Sargent Report assign to education in national development?
A. Economic only
B. Political only
C. Holistic – economic, social, cultural
D. No role
Answer: C. Holistic – economic, social, cultural
Explanation: The report treated education as essential for economic productivity, cultural unity, and democratic citizenship.
33. What was the report’s suggestion on language education at the secondary level?
A. One foreign language only
B. Compulsory Sanskrit
C. Multilingual education with priority to Indian languages
D. Eliminate regional languages
Answer: C. Multilingual education with priority to Indian languages
Explanation: The report supported multilingual education, giving importance to Indian languages while allowing learning of foreign languages.
34. Which segment of the population was targeted by the Sargent Plan’s adult education programme?
A. Youth (18–25)
B. Only women
C. All illiterate adults
D. Prisoners only
Answer: C. All illiterate adults
Explanation: The adult education initiative aimed to eradicate illiteracy among all adults, especially rural masses.
35. What was the major limitation of the Sargent Report?
A. Lack of planning
B. Overambitious and financially unrealistic
C. Ignored women’s education
D. Focused only on higher education
Answer: B. Overambitious and financially unrealistic
Explanation: The plan was often criticized as idealistic and financially impractical for post-war India due to high cost estimates.
36. How did the report propose to support backward areas and communities?
A. Leave to private agencies
B. Ignore them
C. Provide special financial grants and infrastructure
D. Reserve English-medium schools
Answer: C. Provide special financial grants and infrastructure
Explanation: The report emphasized uplifting backward communities and rural areas through state-sponsored support.
37. What was the role of local bodies in the Sargent Report’s implementation model?
A. Supervisory only
B. No role assigned
C. Active role in organizing primary schools
D. Role in appointing Vice Chancellors
Answer: C. Active role in organizing primary schools
Explanation: The plan assigned local authorities a key role in primary education management and development.
38. What did the report recommend regarding curriculum reform?
A. Rote learning
B. Moral and physical development
C. Western content only
D. Scriptural learning
Answer: B. Moral and physical development
Explanation: The report called for well-rounded curricula including moral, physical, and practical training.
39. What was the opinion of contemporary national leaders about the Sargent Plan?
A. Complete acceptance
B. Rejection due to colonial bias
C. Supported with reservations
D. Ignored entirely
Answer: C. Supported with reservations
Explanation: Many leaders appreciated the vision, but criticized the lack of Indian ethos and feasibility.
40. Which of the following is NOT a recommendation of the Sargent Report?
A. Free and compulsory education for 6–14
B. Emphasis on technical education
C. Introduction of military training
D. Training of teachers
Answer: C. Introduction of military training
Explanation: The report focused on education and development, not on military training.
41. Which document served as a blueprint for India’s post-war educational reconstruction?
A. Macaulay’s Minute
B. Hunter Commission
C. Sargent Report
D. Sadler Commission
Answer: C. Sargent Report
Explanation: The Sargent Report (1944) was prepared to guide India’s educational rebuilding after WWII.
42. Which future education body was inspired by the central planning idea in the Sargent Report?
A. NCERT
B. NCTE
C. UGC
D. AICTE
Answer: C. UGC
Explanation: Though not directly created by it, the Sargent Report’s idea of centralized planning inspired institutions like the UGC later.
43. How did the Sargent Report classify secondary schools?
A. Urban vs. Rural
B. Public vs. Private
C. Academic and Technical streams
D. English vs. Vernacular
Answer: C. Academic and Technical streams
Explanation: The plan bifurcated secondary education into academic and technical/vocational streams.
44. Which factor made the implementation of the Sargent Report difficult in post-war India?
A. Public resistance
B. Financial limitations and political unrest
C. British opposition
D. Overtrained teachers
Answer: B. Financial limitations and political unrest
Explanation: The Second World War, freedom movement, and lack of funds made implementation nearly impossible.
45. Who described the Sargent Plan as a “fascinating ideal”?
A. Dr. Radhakrishnan
B. Mahatma Gandhi
C. Nehru
D. Sir John Sargent
Answer: C. Nehru
Explanation: Pandit Nehru appreciated the Sargent Plan’s vision and called it a “fascinating ideal”, though hard to implement.
46. What was the suggested minimum qualification for primary school teachers in the Sargent Report?
A. Primary pass
B. Class 8
C. Matriculation with training
D. University graduate
Answer: C. Matriculation with training
Explanation: The report stressed trained teachers, preferably matriculates with proper pedagogical training.
47. What was the vision for the status of teachers in the Sargent Plan?
A. Clerks
B. Government servants
C. Respected professionals
D. Volunteers
Answer: C. Respected professionals
Explanation: The plan envisioned teachers as nation-builders, deserving social respect and fair salary.
48. How did the report suggest handling school dropouts?
A. Exclude them from the system
B. Provide mid-day meals
C. Integrate with vocational training
D. No suggestion made
Answer: C. Integrate with vocational training
Explanation: The plan recommended alternate paths like vocational education to retain and support school leavers.
49. Who was the Finance Member of Viceroy’s Council when the Sargent Plan was released?
A. J. Nehru
B. Liaquat Ali Khan
C. Sir Ardeshir Dalal
D. John Mathai
Answer: C. Sir Ardeshir Dalal
Explanation: Sir Ardeshir Dalal was responsible for financial considerations when the Sargent Plan was proposed.
50. The Sargent Report was presented under which British colonial structure?
A. Indian Legislative Council
B. House of Commons
C. Viceroy’s Executive Council
D. Central Advisory Board of Education
Answer: D. Central Advisory Board of Education
Explanation: The Sargent Report was a policy initiative under the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) in 1944.