Vision Academy EducareVision Academy Educare
Question 49 of 73 · Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule
Questionmedium
This question was previously asked in

SSC

The English East India Company abolished the 'Dual Government' (diarchy) in Bengal and took direct charge of revenue administration in:

Answer View answer ▾

Answer: Option D — 1772

Detailed Solution

The English East India Company abolished the "Dual Government" (diarchy) in Bengal in 1772, under Warren Hastings, and took direct charge of revenue administration.

About the Dual Government:

  • After 1765, the Company held the Diwani (right to collect revenue) of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
  • The Nawab of Bengal held the Nizamat (law and order and criminal justice).
  • In practice, the Company had power without responsibility, and the Nawab had responsibility without power.
  • The Company collected revenue through Indian deputies, such as Muhammad Reza Khan in Bengal and Raja Shitab Rai in Bihar.

Results of the Dual Government:

  • The administration broke down; officials and Company servants enriched themselves, and the peasants were heavily exploited.
  • Trade and crafts declined, and Indian weavers were forced to sell cloth to the Company at low prices.
  • The terrible Bengal famine of 1769-1770, in which about one-third of the population of Bengal is believed to have died, made the situation worse.

The abolition in 1772:

  • The Company's directors decided to "stand forth as Diwan" and take direct control.
  • Warren Hastings, who became Governor of Bengal in 1772, carried out the change.
  • The Company's own officials took charge of revenue collection.
  • The treasury was moved from Murshidabad to Calcutta.
  • The Indian deputy diwans were removed.
  • Revenue was collected through a five-year settlement, auctioned to the highest bidders (the "farming" system).
  • A Board of Revenue was set up.
  • Collectors were appointed in the districts.
  • Civil and criminal courts were set up in each district.
  • The Nawab's allowance was reduced.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗1765 was the year the Diwani was granted.
  • ✗1773 was the year of the Regulating Act.
  • ✗1784 was the year of Pitt's India Act.

Quick tip

Remember: Dual Government (1765) abolished in 1772 by Warren Hastings (Company "stood forth as Diwan"; treasury moved to Calcutta; Collectors appointed).

💬 Discussions on this question

Ask a doubt ›

Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.

Ask a doubt

More Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule Questions

View all ›
  1. Q1.The Battle of Buxar, which established British power in Bengal, was fought in:
  2. Q2.The Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between the East India Company and:
  3. Q3.Under which treaty did the East India Company obtain the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa from Shah Alam II?
  4. Q4.The treaty signed between Lord Wellesley and Peshwa Baji Rao II in 1802, accepting the Subsidiary Alliance, was the:
  5. Q5.In 1651, the English established their first factory in Bengal on the banks of which river?

More General Knowledge Questions

  1. Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
  2. Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
  3. Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
  4. Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
  5. Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms

Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the arrival of the Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danes and French in India, the growth of the East India Company, and the battles, wars and treaties through which British power expanded, including the Battles of Plassey and Buxar, the Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Sikh wars, and policies such as subsidiary alliance and the doctrine of lapse. Typical questions ask which battle was fought in which year and between whom, which treaty ended which war, and which Governor-General introduced a policy. For example, the Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between Robert Clive and Siraj-ud-Daulah, and the Treaty of Allahabad (1765) gave the Company the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Practise the arrival of Europeans and expansion of British rule questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

‹ All Arrival of Europeans & Expansion of British Rule questionsBrowse all topics ›