Lord Curzon's Policies: Strengthening British Administration
Lord Curzon's tenure as Viceroy of India (1899-1905) involved numerous administrative and social reforms. The question asks to identify the policy *primarily* designed to enhance British administrative control and strategic interests.
Analyzing Policy Options
- Agriculture Department: While intended to improve farming, this was more about economic development and preventing famine, not direct consolidation of power.
- Police and CID Reorganization: This reform focused on improving law and order, intelligence gathering, and efficiency of the police force. Such measures are crucial for maintaining internal security and suppressing dissent, directly strengthening administrative and strategic control.
- Education Reforms (Universities Act 1904): This act aimed to increase government control over higher education. While it consolidated administrative oversight, its primary focus was academic rather than security-based control.
- Archaeological Survey: The preservation of ancient monuments was primarily a cultural and historical initiative, although it could bolster the image of British patronage.
Identifying the Best Exemplification
Comparing the options, the reorganization of the police and the establishment of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stand out. These measures were directly aimed at:
- Enhancing the state's capacity for surveillance and intelligence gathering.
- Improving the efficiency and reach of law enforcement across India.
- Consolidating the British administrative machinery for better control.
Therefore, the police and CID reforms best exemplify a policy driven by the need to strengthen British administration and strategic interests.
Conclusion
The reorganization of the police and the establishment of the CID were key initiatives under Lord Curzon that directly served to bolster the administrative efficiency and strategic control of the British Raj.
Important Questions from Viceroy and Governor
Which Governor General of Bengal underwent impeachment proceedings in the British Parliament?
Consider the following statements related to Wellesley's administration:
1) In the six years of Wellesley's administration, the army accounted for 42.5 percent of the Company's total expenditure.
2) Wellesley's administrative measures were restricted to the affairs of the Company and had nothing to do with the commercial and military affairs of the Indian ruling families.
Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?Who among the following introduced the Permanent Settlement of Bengal in 1793?
Soon after the formation of Indian National Congress, the British became suspicious of nationalists. Who among the following called Congress representing only the elite --'a microscopic minority'?
The arms Act which disallowed Indians from having arms was passed in ______.
