(A) Brahmanic, Buddhist, and Islamic Education in Ancient and Medieval India
1. Which of the following was a major aim of Brahmanic education?
A. Commercial development
B. Liberation through knowledge
C. Training in warfare
D. Promotion of technology
Answer: B
2. The chief method of teaching in Brahmanic education was:
A. Writing on palm leaves
B. Lecture method
C. Rote memorization and oral transmission
D. Group discussion
Answer: C
3. The language of instruction in Brahmanic education was primarily:
A. Pali
B. Urdu
C. Sanskrit
D. Persian
Answer: C
4. The term “Upanayana” in Brahmanic education refers to:
A. School uniform
B. Initiation ceremony into student life
C. Final examination
D. Graduation
Answer: B
5. The Buddhist education system emphasized:
A. The caste system
B. Liberation through rituals
C. Ethical and moral training
D. Memorization of Vedas
Answer: C
6. The primary medium of instruction in Buddhist education was:
A. Sanskrit
B. Pali
C. Urdu
D. Persian
Answer: B
7. Which of the following institutions was a major center of Buddhist learning?
A. Takshashila
B. Nalanda
C. Ujjain
D. Ayodhya
Answer: B
8. Buddhist education was open to:
A. Only Brahmins
B. All castes including women
C. Only men of ruling class
D. Foreigners only
Answer: B
9. Islamic education in medieval India was imparted through:
A. Gurukuls and Ashrams
B. Madrasas and Maktabs
C. Pathshalas and Tols
D. Vidyapeethas
Answer: B
10. The main focus of Islamic education was on:
A. Logic and Vedanta
B. Vedic Mathematics
C. Quranic studies and Islamic law
D. Astronomy and Warfare
Answer: C
11. The language of instruction in medieval Islamic education was:
A. Arabic and Persian
B. Pali
C. Urdu
D. Hindi
Answer: A
12. Which Mughal emperor is known for supporting educational institutions and scholars?
A. Akbar
B. Aurangzeb
C. Babur
D. Shah Jahan
Answer: A
13. The Gurukul system was associated with:
A. Islamic education
B. Buddhist education
C. Brahmanic education
D. Modern missionary education
Answer: C
14. Which of the following was not a feature of Buddhist education?
A. Practical and moral instruction
B. Promotion of Vedic rituals
C. Monastic life and discipline
D. Emphasis on logical reasoning
Answer: B
15. Which major Indian university attracted students from foreign countries during ancient times?
A. Nalanda
B. Serampore
C. Fort William
D. Hunter
Answer: A
16. Who was the founder of Nalanda University?
A. Kumaragupta I
B. Harshavardhana
C. Ashoka
D. Gautamiputra Satakarni
Answer: A
17. What was the nature of student life in Brahmanic education?
A. Luxurious and royal
B. Strictly disciplined and ascetic
C. Independent and liberal
D. Casual and entertainment-oriented
Answer: B
18. The term “Chatuspathi” was used for:
A. Military schools
B. Buddhist monasteries
C. Advanced centers of Brahmanic learning
D. Islamic seminaries
Answer: C
19. In which system were students known as ‘Bhikshus’ or ‘Sramanas’?
A. Brahmanic
B. Buddhist
C. Islamic
D. Colonial
Answer: B
20. Education in Islamic Madrasas was largely funded by:
A. Commercial taxes
B. Student fees
C. State endowments (waqf)
D. Caste donations
Answer: C
21. The curriculum of Islamic education in India included:
A. Vedic literature
B. Quran, Hadith, Fiqh
C. Trigonometry and Calculus
D. Buddhist scriptures
Answer: B
22. The concept of ‘Guru-Shishya Parampara’ is associated with:
A. Islamic education
B. Buddhist Sangha
C. Brahmanic system
D. Colonial education
Answer: C
23. Which period saw the greatest flourishing of Buddhist education?
A. Gupta Period
B. Mauryan Period
C. Mughal Period
D. British Period
Answer: A
24. Which ancient center of learning is associated with Buddhism in Bihar?
A. Vikramshila
B. Serampore
C. Benaras
D. Ujjain
Answer: A
25. Which of the following correctly matches system and teacher’s title?
A. Islamic – Bhikshu
B. Brahmanic – Mullah
C. Buddhist – Acharya
D. Christian – Pandit
Answer: C
(B) Pre-Independence Educational Developments in India
Serampore Mission, Macaulay’s Minute, Wood’s Despatch, Hunter Commission, Sadler Commission, Wardha Scheme, Sargent Report
26. The Serampore Trio consisted of:
A. Macaulay, Curzon, Bentinck
B. Rammohan Roy, William Jones, Warren Hastings
C. William Carey, Joshua Marshman, William Ward
D. Duff, Trevelyan, Elphinstone
Answer: C
27. The main contribution of the Serampore Mission was:
A. Introducing Western Science
B. Promoting English literature
C. Establishing printing press and vernacular education
D. Conducting civil services exam
Answer: C
28. Which year did Macaulay’s Minute on Indian Education get introduced?
A. 1813
B. 1835
C. 1854
D. 1882
Answer: B
29. The key objective of Macaulay’s Minute was to:
A. Promote indigenous learning
B. Encourage women’s education
C. Create a class of Indians “English in taste”
D. Train artisans
Answer: C
30. Macaulay’s Minute strongly advocated the medium of instruction as:
A. Persian
B. Sanskrit
C. Vernacular
D. English
Answer: D
31. The document known as the ‘Magna Carta of English Education in India’ is:
A. Macaulay’s Minute
B. Wood’s Despatch
C. Sargent Report
D. Hunter Commission Report
Answer: B
32. Wood’s Despatch was issued in the year:
A. 1835
B. 1854
C. 1882
D. 1917
Answer: B
33. Wood’s Despatch emphasized the establishment of:
A. Madrasas
B. Universities
C. Private Schools
D. Industrial training institutes
Answer: B
34. Wood’s Despatch recommended the creation of a:
A. Primary education fund
B. Department of Public Instruction
C. Caste-based curriculum
D. Teaching hospital
Answer: B
35. Which commission first examined the status of primary education in India?
A. Sadler Commission
B. Hunter Commission
C. Radhakrishnan Commission
D. Calcutta University Commission
Answer: B
36. The Hunter Commission was set up in:
A. 1854
B. 1882
C. 1904
D. 1917
Answer: B
37. The main recommendation of Hunter Commission (1882) was related to:
A. Higher education
B. Secondary and primary education
C. Religious education
D. Women’s technical education
Answer: B
38. The Sadler Commission was formed to review the:
A. Primary education system
B. Secondary schools
C. University education
D. Sanskrit education
Answer: C
39. The Sadler Commission was appointed in:
A. 1902
B. 1917
C. 1935
D. 1944
Answer: B
40. A major recommendation of Sadler Commission was:
A. Compulsory education
B. 12-year school system before university
C. Mother tongue medium
D. Privatization of education
Answer: B
41. Which commission recommended a separate board for secondary education?
A. Hunter Commission
B. Sadler Commission
C. Wood’s Despatch
D. Wardha Scheme
Answer: B
42. The Wardha Scheme of Education was proposed under the leadership of:
A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. Rabindranath Tagore
C. Annie Besant
D. Tilak
Answer: A
43. The Wardha Scheme is also known as:
A. Basic Education
B. Scientific Education
C. Colonial Education
D. Mass Literacy Programme
Answer: A
44. The Wardha Scheme was presented in the year:
A. 1920
B. 1937
C. 1944
D. 1952
Answer: B
45. Which of the following was the focus of Basic Education (Wardha Scheme)?
A. Free textbooks
B. Craft-centered learning
C. Mass promotion
D. Distance learning
Answer: B
46. Which report laid the foundation of post-war educational planning in India?
A. Wood’s Despatch
B. Macaulay Minute
C. Sargent Report
D. Hunter Commission
Answer: C
47. Sargent Report was published in:
A. 1937
B. 1944
C. 1947
D. 1950
Answer: B
48. The Sargent Plan aimed to provide:
A. Free higher education
B. Compulsory education for children aged 6–14
C. Religious education
D. Military training in schools
Answer: B
49. The goal of the Sargent Report was to be achieved within:
A. 10 years
B. 20 years
C. 40 years
D. 25 years
Answer: B
50. The primary critique of Sargent Report was:
A. Too radical for colonial goals
B. Ignored Indian languages
C. Overemphasis on craft
D. Unrealistic timeline and financial burden
Answer: D
51. Which commission suggested that education should be transferred to Indian hands as early as possible?
A. Sargent Report
B. Hunter Commission
C. Sadler Commission
D. Wood’s Despatch
Answer: D
52. Which document introduced the concept of grants-in-aid to educational institutions?
A. Sargent Report
B. Macaulay’s Minute
C. Wood’s Despatch
D. Hunter Commission
Answer: C
53. One of the criticisms of Macaulay’s Minute is that it:
A. Emphasized indigenous knowledge systems
B. Ignored Indian languages and culture
C. Promoted vocational training
D. Promoted women’s education
Answer: B
54. The main aim of Islamic education in medieval India was:
A. Industrial training
B. Spread of rationalism
C. Promotion of Quranic teachings and Arabic language
D. Commercial training
Answer: C
55. The Maktabs and Madrasas were educational institutions of which period?
A. Buddhist
B. Vedic
C. Islamic
D. British
Answer: C
56. In Islamic education, the curriculum mainly focused on:
A. Sanskrit grammar and Vedas
B. Secular science and Western logic
C. Religious instruction, law, grammar, and logic
D. Arts and painting
Answer: C
57. Serampore College was granted the status of a university to confer degrees by:
A. Macaulay
B. The Danish Crown
C. The East India Company
D. The Charter Act of 1813
Answer: B
58. Who led the missionary activities of the Serampore Trio?
A. Joshua Marshman
B. William Ward
C. William Carey
D. David Hare
Answer: C
59. Which educational commission stressed the vocationalization of secondary education?
A. Wardha Scheme
B. Sadler Commission
C. Macaulay’s Minute
D. Hunter Commission
Answer: A
60. The motto of the Basic Education Scheme was:
A. Learn to Earn
B. Learning for Liberation
C. Learning by Doing
D. Education for All
Answer: C
61. Under the Wardha Scheme, education was to be:
A. Literary and abstract
B. Practical and activity-based
C. Based on British textbooks
D. Conducted in English
Answer: B
62. According to the Wardha Scheme, the medium of instruction should be:
A. English
B. Persian
C. Hindi
D. Mother Tongue
Answer: D
63. The Sargent Report visualized India’s educational development over:
A. 10 years
B. 15 years
C. 20 years
D. 40 years
Answer: C
64. The term “Magna Carta of Indian Education” is commonly used for:
A. Sadler Report
B. Macaulay’s Minute
C. Wood’s Despatch
D. Wardha Scheme
Answer: C
65. Which educational initiative aimed to reduce the gap between mental and manual work?
A. Macaulay’s Education Policy
B. Sadler Commission
C. Basic Education
D. Sargent Report
Answer: C
66. The Islamic system of education in India was mainly patronized by:
A. British administrators
B. Hindu kings
C. Muslim rulers and nobles
D. European missionaries
Answer: C
67. During the medieval period, the main centers of Islamic learning were:
A. Gurukuls
B. Tols
C. Madrasas
D. Monasteries
Answer: C
68. Which one of the following reports first emphasized the training of teachers?
A. Macaulay’s Minute
B. Wood’s Despatch
C. Hunter Commission
D. Sargent Report
Answer: B
69. Which of the following was NOT a feature of Brahmanic education?
A. Individualized instruction
B. Emphasis on memorization and oral tradition
C. Equality of educational access
D. Spiritual and moral training
Answer: C
70. Buddhist education was mainly imparted in:
A. Temples
B. Pathshalas
C. Viharas and Monasteries
D. Mosques
Answer: C
71. Which of the following institutions is a legacy of the Christian missionary effort?
A. Calcutta Madrasa
B. Serampore College
C. Hindu College
D. Benaras Sanskrit College
Answer: B
72. One of the key features of Buddhist education was:
A. Knowledge of Sanskrit Vedas
B. Debate and discussion
C. Persian grammar
D. Study of Greek texts
Answer: B
73. What was the aim of Macaulay’s policy?
A. Spread of mass education
B. Empowerment through vocational education
C. Creation of a class loyal to British ideals
D. Religious education in the native tongue
Answer: C
74. Which plan was criticized for being too ambitious and not feasible financially?
A. Wood’s Despatch
B. Sargent Plan
C. Wardha Scheme
D. Hunter Commission
Answer: B
75. Who among the following supported education as a tool for spiritual and moral development in ancient India?
A. Lord Curzon
B. Mahatma Gandhi
C. Brahmanic Scholars
D. Macaulay
Answer: C
76. The Upanayana ceremony was associated with which stage of education in Brahmanic system?
A. Graduation
B. Initiation into education
C. Completion of Vedic studies
D. Marriage
Answer: B
77. Which of the following was a residential institution in ancient Buddhist education?
A. Madrasa
B. Pathshala
C. Vihara
D. Tols
Answer: C
78. In ancient India, what was the primary medium of instruction in Brahmanic education?
A. Pali
B. Prakrit
C. Persian
D. Sanskrit
Answer: D
79. Which text played a significant role in Buddhist monastic education?
A. Rigveda
B. Quran
C. Tripitaka
D. Manusmriti
Answer: C
80. The curriculum of Brahmanic education primarily included:
A. Trade and commerce
B. Vedas, rituals, and philosophy
C. Modern sciences
D. Engineering and technology
Answer: B
81. The aim of education in Islamic period was primarily to:
A. Impart democratic values
B. Provide economic freedom
C. Cultivate religious and moral values
D. Encourage industrial skills
Answer: C
82. Education under the Islamic system in India was mostly organized by:
A. The British Government
B. Hindu religious orders
C. Muslim clergy and rulers
D. Christian missionaries
Answer: C
83. Which language was the medium of instruction in Islamic education in India?
A. Arabic and Persian
B. Sanskrit
C. English
D. Pali
Answer: A
84. Serampore College was established in:
A. 1793
B. 1818
C. 1835
D. 1854
Answer: B
85. Who was NOT a part of the Serampore Trio?
A. William Carey
B. Alexander Duff
C. Joshua Marshman
D. William Ward
Answer: B
86. The main purpose of the Hunter Commission (1882) was to:
A. Evaluate university education
B. Revise Macaulay’s Minute
C. Review progress of primary and secondary education
D. Expand English medium education
Answer: C
87. According to Wood’s Despatch, the responsibility of education should primarily lie with:
A. British Parliament
B. Local rulers
C. Provincial governments
D. Missionaries
Answer: C
88. Which of the following reports suggested the establishment of a Department of Education in each province?
A. Macaulay’s Minute
B. Wood’s Despatch
C. Sargent Report
D. Wardha Scheme
Answer: B
89. The Sadler Commission (1917–1919) was appointed to examine:
A. Primary education
B. Secondary education
C. University education in Calcutta
D. Teacher training
Answer: C
90. One key recommendation of the Sadler Commission was:
A. Free and compulsory primary education
B. Separation of Intermediate and University Education
C. Education through mother tongue
D. Nationalization of education
Answer: B
91. The Wardha Scheme of Education was influenced by the ideas of:
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Rabindranath Tagore
C. Mahatma Gandhi
D. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Answer: C
92. In the Wardha Scheme, education was to be self-supporting through:
A. Government grants
B. Craft-centered learning
C. Charity
D. Commercial partnerships
Answer: B
93. Which of the following commissions was formed under the chairmanship of Sir John Sargent?
A. Wood’s Despatch
B. Sargent Report
C. Hunter Commission
D. Sadler Commission
Answer: B
94. The Sargent Report advocated:
A. Elimination of private institutions
B. A 100% literacy rate by 1960
C. Compulsory military training
D. Free secondary education only
Answer: B
95. Macaulay’s Minute marked the beginning of:
A. Indigenous education
B. Use of vernacular languages
C. Western education through English
D. Universal adult literacy
Answer: C
96. The “Downward Filtration Theory” was associated with:
A. Sadler Commission
B. Macaulay’s Minute
C. Sargent Report
D. Hunter Commission
Answer: B
97. The phrase “to create a class of persons Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste” is associated with:
A. Wood’s Despatch
B. Macaulay’s Minute
C. Sadler Commission
D. Sargent Report
Answer: B
98. Who said: “I have no knowledge of either Sanskrit or Arabic. But I have read English…” in support of English education?
A. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
B. Lord Ripon
C. T.B. Macaulay
D. Sir Charles Wood
Answer: C
99. A significant effect of missionary education in colonial India was:
A. Increased literacy in Sanskrit
B. Encouragement of Muslim education
C. Introduction of printing and publishing
D. Decline of English language
Answer: C
100. The main criticism of the British colonial education policy was:
A. It promoted mass education
B. It encouraged Indian languages
C. It created elite bureaucracy and ignored mass literacy
D. It emphasized scientific research
Answer: C