CUET UG History Booster Test 3 - Santhals and Agrarian Expansion -

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CUET UG History Booster Test 3 - Santhals and Agrarian Expansion

⏱️ 30 Minutes

❓ 20 Questions

📌 Answers are locked once submitted — results and explanations appear at the end.

CUET UG History Booster Test 3 - Santhals and Agrarian Expansion

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QUESTION 1 OF 20

Assertion (A): The British immediately invited Santhals to settle the Rajmahal hills because they were inherently peaceful and docile.
Reason (R): The primary objective of the British was to subdue the Paharias and transform them into settled agriculturists, but they had failed in this task.

Answer Review

1 Assertion (A): The British immediately invited Santhals to settle the Rajmahal hills because they were inherently peaceful and docile.
Reason (R): The primary objective of the British was to subdue the Paharias and transform them into settled agriculturists, but they had failed in this task.

A Both A and R are true, and R explains A.

B Both A and R are false.

C A is true, but R is false.

D A is false, but R is true.

💡 Short Explanation

�� British motives were economic and political. �� Paharias resisted colonial plans. �� Santhals were invited after British failure with Paharias.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The Assertion is false because the British did not invite the Santhals merely because they were "peaceful and docile." The main reason was their ability to clear forests and expand cultivation. → The Reason is true because British officials initially tried to pacify and transform the Paharias into settled agriculturists. When these efforts failed, they turned to the Santhals for agrarian expansion. → Hence, Option D is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Assertion is false.
�� Option B → Reason is true.
�� Option C → Reason is historically correct.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

Evaluate the truth of Assertion and Reason separately.

Final Logic:

British policy was driven by agrarian expansion, not by perceptions of docility.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Failed Paharias → Invite Santhals"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Settlement of Santhals

2 Analytically, how did Francis Buchanan's observation of Gunjuriya reflect the broader colonial ideology of his time?

A It reflected a deep respect for indigenous tribal cultures over modern agriculture.

B It equated the clearance of land and agricultural expansion with "progress" and aesthetic beauty.

C It proved that the British genuinely wanted to preserve the forest ecosystem.

D It showed that he believed the Paharias were far superior cultivators to the Santhals.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Colonial ideology valued cultivation. �� Forest clearance was linked to progress. �� Agricultural landscapes were admired.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Buchanan admired Gunjuriya after the Santhals transformed forest land into cultivated fields. This reflected the colonial belief that forests were "wild" and agriculture represented civilization, order, and beauty. → Option B best captures this ideology.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Colonial officials generally preferred settled agriculture over tribal lifestyles.
�� Option C → Forest preservation was not the primary objective.
�� Option D → Buchanan praised Santhal cultivation, not Paharia methods.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

Connect Buchanan's description with colonial beliefs about progress.

Final Logic:

Colonial ideology equated cultivation with civilization.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Clear Forest = Progress"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Buchanan's View of Cultivation

3 Match the agricultural tools/modes with their symbolic representations in the Rajmahal context:

List 1	List 2
1. Hoe	a. Paharia shifting cultivation
2. Plough	b. Santhal settler power
3. Clearings with ash	c. Santhal market integration
4. Commercial crops	d. Potash enrichment for Paharia pulses

A 1-b, 2-a, 3-d, 4-c

B 1-a, 2-c, 3-b, 4-d

C 1-c, 2-b, 3-a, 4-d

D 1-a, 2-b, 3-d, 4-c

💡 Short Explanation

�� Hoe symbolized Paharias. �� Plough symbolized Santhals. �� Ash enriched soil. �� Commercial crops linked to markets.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Hoe represented Paharia shifting cultivation (1-a). Plough symbolized Santhal agricultural expansion (2-b). Ash clearings provided potash enrichment (3-d). Commercial crops reflected market integration (4-c). → Therefore Option D is the correct match.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Reverses hoe and plough symbolism.
�� Option B → Incorrectly links plough with market integration.
�� Option C → Misplaces multiple matches.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Option Grouping

Application:

Match symbols and practices with their correct historical meanings.

Final Logic:

Only Option D correctly aligns all four relationships.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Hoe–Paharia, Plough–Santhal"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: The Hoe and the Plough

4 The rapid expansion of cultivation by the Santhals was heavily driven by the colonial state's underlying need to enlarge the sources of land revenue and produce crops for ________.

A Export

B Local famine relief

C The zamindars' personal use

D Livestock fodder

💡 Short Explanation

�� Colonial agriculture supported trade. �� Export crops generated profits. �� Revenue expansion was central.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The colonial state encouraged agricultural expansion to increase land revenue and produce crops for export markets. This reflected broader colonial economic goals.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option B → Famine relief was not the main objective.
�� Option C → Policy was not designed for zamindars' personal needs.
�� Option D → Livestock fodder was not the focus.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

Connect colonial agrarian policy with economic objectives.

Final Logic:

Revenue and export production drove expansion.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Cultivation = Revenue + Export"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Expansion of Agriculture

5 Which analytical statement about the creation of Damin-i-Koh is incorrect?

A It symbolized the containment and territorial bounding of the Santhals by the colonial state.

B It created a physical and social boundary between Santhals and Paharias.

C It was designed to allow Santhals to continue their nomadic lifestyle indefinitely.

D It was a strategic tool for the colonial state to ensure a stable, taxable agricultural base.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Damin-i-Koh encouraged settled life. �� It created fixed boundaries. �� Colonial revenue depended on stability.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Damin-i-Koh was established to settle Santhals permanently and expand cultivation. It was not meant to support nomadic movement. Therefore Option C is incorrect and hence the correct answer.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Correct analytical interpretation.
�� Option B → Boundaries separated communities.
�� Option D → Stable agriculture meant stable revenue.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Odd One Out

Application:

Identify the statement inconsistent with colonial settlement policy.

Final Logic:

Damin-i-Koh promoted settlement, not mobility.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Damin = Settlement, Not Nomadism"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Damin-i-Koh

6 What does the stipulation of clearing one-tenth of the land within ten years indicate about British agrarian policies?

A They wanted to protect the remaining nine-tenths as environmentally reserved forests.

B They used conditional land tenure to aggressively force the pace of agricultural expansion.

C They believed Santhals were inherently too lazy to clear more land without a quota.

D They wanted to gradually phase out agriculture in favour of extensive mining operations.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Land grants had conditions. �� Forest clearance was encouraged. �� Agricultural growth was prioritized.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The condition attached to land grants reveals the colonial state's determination to expand cultivation quickly. Land tenure was linked to productive agricultural use, making Option B correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Forest conservation was not the purpose.
�� Option C → No such assumption appears in NCERT.
�� Option D → Mining was not the policy objective.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

Interpret the policy through colonial revenue goals.

Final Logic:

Conditional grants accelerated cultivation.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Grant Land, Clear Land"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Land Grants and Agrarian Policy

7 Arrange the following events highlighting the demographic and policy shifts in the region in chronological order:
1. Damin-i-Koh is formally demarcated.
2. Santhal population reaches over 82,000.
3. British attempt a brutal extermination policy against the Paharias.

A 1, 2, 3

B 2, 3, 1

C 3, 1, 2

D 1, 3, 2

💡 Short Explanation

�� Extermination policy came first. �� Damin-i-Koh followed. �� Population growth occurred later.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Chronology: British extermination campaigns against Paharias (1770s) Damin-i-Koh demarcated (1832) Population exceeds 82,000 (1851) Thus Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Places extermination last.
�� Option B → Starts with the latest event.
�� Option D → Damin came after extermination attempts.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

Arrange events according to NCERT chronology.

Final Logic:

Extermination → Damin → Population Expansion.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Paharia Policy → Damin → Population Boom"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Rajmahal Timeline

8 The exponential rise in the Santhal population from a mere 3,000 to over 82,000 in a span of a little over a decade directly correlated with an increased volume of ________ flowing into Company coffers.

A Revenue

B Timber

C Silk cocoons

D Industrial goods

💡 Short Explanation

�� More cultivation increased taxes. �� Agricultural expansion benefited the Company. �� Revenue collection grew rapidly.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Population growth led to village expansion and increased cultivation. This directly enlarged the land revenue collected by the East India Company, making Option A correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option B → Timber was not the primary outcome.
�� Option C → Silk cocoons were collected but not the central objective.
�� Option D → Industrial goods were unrelated.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

Link demographic growth to colonial financial interests.

Final Logic:

More cultivators meant more revenue.

🧠 Memory Trick

"More People = More Revenue"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Revenue Expansion

9 Assertion (A): The cultivation of commercial crops entirely insulated the Santhals from the volatility of colonial markets and exploitation.
Reason (R): Settled agriculture bound the Santhals to a complex and exploitative network of traders and moneylenders.

A Both A and R are true, and R explains A.

B Both A and R are true, but R does not explain A.

C A is true, but R is false.

D A is false, but R is true.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Commercialization increased dependence. �� Traders and moneylenders gained influence. �� Exploitation intensified.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The Assertion is false because commercial agriculture did not protect Santhals from exploitation. Instead, it increased dependence on markets. The Reason is true because market integration connected Santhals with traders and moneylenders, often leading to debt and land loss.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Assertion is false.
�� Option B → Assertion is false.
�� Option C → Reason is true.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

Evaluate both statements independently.

Final Logic:

Commercial agriculture increased vulnerability rather than protection.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Market Link = Debt Risk"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Market Integration and Exploitation

10 How did market integration paradoxically lead to the Santhals' social downfall?

A It made them too wealthy, leading to internal civil wars among chiefs.

B It exposed them to exorbitant interest rates from dikus, leading to the loss of their lands.

C It caused them to abandon agriculture entirely for a nomadic trade lifestyle.

D It led to the British permanently banning Santhal-produced goods in Europe.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Dikus charged high interest. �� Debt caused land alienation. �� Exploitation fueled rebellion.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Market integration brought Santhals into contact with traders and moneylenders (dikus). Heavy debt and high interest rates often resulted in loss of land, creating widespread resentment and contributing to the Santhal Revolt.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → No such civil wars occurred.
�� Option C → Santhals remained cultivators.
�� Option D → No ban on Santhal goods existed.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

Identify the actual consequence of market participation described in NCERT.

Final Logic:

Debt and land loss were the key outcomes of exploitative market integration.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Diku Debt = Land Loss"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Moneylenders and Land Alienation

11 The strict restriction of Paharias to the barren and rocky upper hills critically hampered their ability to utilize the natural ________ of the soil, which is essential for shifting agriculture.

A Fertility

B Minerals

C Moisture

D Alkalinity

💡 Short Explanation

�� Shifting cultivation depends on fertile soil. �� Rocky hills had poor agricultural potential. �� Loss of fertile land weakened Paharia livelihoods.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Shifting cultivation required access to fertile land that could regenerate after periods of fallowing. When the Paharias were pushed into barren and rocky upper hills, they lost access to naturally fertile soils. This severely reduced agricultural productivity and contributed to impoverishment. → Option A correctly identifies the key factor essential for shifting cultivation.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option B → Mineral content was not the primary concern in NCERT's explanation.
�� Option C → Moisture is important, but fertility was the central issue.
�� Option D → Alkalinity is not discussed in relation to Paharia agriculture.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

Identify the soil characteristic most directly connected with shifting cultivation.

Final Logic:

Without fertile land, shifting cultivation could not be sustained.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Shifting Cultivation = Fertile Soil"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Impact on Paharias

12 Which of the following is an incorrect analysis of the loss of Paharia livelihoods?

A The massive contraction of forests directly harmed the hunters among them.

B Their inability to move to new, fertile lands destroyed their agricultural yields.

C The colonial government provided them with well-paying administrative jobs to compensate for the loss of forests.

D The earlier pacification campaigns had already severely restricted their traditional raids for survival.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Forest contraction reduced resources. �� Mobility restrictions harmed agriculture. �� No compensation program existed.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

NCERT explains that Paharias suffered because forests shrank, fertile lands became inaccessible, and traditional economic activities declined. There is no evidence that the colonial government compensated them through well-paying administrative jobs. Hence Option C is incorrect and therefore the correct answer.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Forest loss affected hunting and gathering.
�� Option B → Restricted mobility weakened shifting cultivation.
�� Option D → Pacification campaigns reduced traditional raiding activities.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Odd One Out

Application:

Identify the statement unsupported by NCERT evidence.

Final Logic:

The colonial state did not compensate Paharias through administrative employment.

🧠 Memory Trick

"No Forest, No Compensation"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Decline of Paharia Livelihoods

13 Match the ideological view with the respective entity it represented in the 19th-century colonial mindset:

List 1	List 2
1. Forests	a. Savage and unruly
2. Settled agriculture	b. Ideal and vigorous clearers
3. Paharias	c. Basis of an ordered society
4. Santhals	d. Associated with wildness

A 1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a

B 1-c, 2-d, 3-b, 4-a

C 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d

D 1-d, 2-c, 3-a, 4-b

💡 Short Explanation

�� Forests symbolized wildness. �� Agriculture symbolized order. �� Paharias were viewed negatively. �� Santhals were favored settlers.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Colonial ideology associated forests with wildness (1-d). Settled agriculture was viewed as the basis of an orderly society (2-c). Paharias were often portrayed as savage and unruly (3-a). Santhals were seen as ideal forest clearers and cultivators (4-b). → Thus Option D is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Incorrectly reverses forests and Santhals.
�� Option B → Mismatches agriculture and forests.
�� Option C → Incorrect ideological pairings.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Option Grouping

Application:

Match colonial perceptions with the relevant groups.

Final Logic:

Only Option D reflects the colonial worldview described in NCERT.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Forest-Wild, Farm-Order, Paharia-Unruly, Santhal-Ideal"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Colonial Perceptions

14 Assertion (A): The British drive to clear forests was fundamentally an economic and political strategy.
Reason (R): Extension of settled agriculture was deemed necessary to enlarge land revenue sources, produce export crops, and establish a settled society.

A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

B Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

C A is true, but R is false.

D A is false, but R is true.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Forest clearance expanded cultivation. �� Revenue and exports were priorities. �� Settled populations were easier to govern.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The Assertion is true because colonial forest clearance was motivated by economic and political objectives rather than environmental concerns. The Reason is also true because settled agriculture increased revenue, encouraged export production, and facilitated administrative control. Therefore, the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option B → The Reason directly explains the Assertion.
�� Option C → Reason is true.
�� Option D → Assertion is also true.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

Assess whether the Reason explains the Assertion.

Final Logic:

Revenue, exports, and control motivated forest clearance.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Clear Forest = Revenue + Control"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Expansion of Cultivation

15 What was the ultimate, grim realization of the Santhals regarding the land they had painstakingly brought under cultivation?

A They realized it was naturally infertile and abandoned it.

B They realized the Paharias were the rightful owners and returned it.

C They realized the land was slipping away from their hands due to heavy state taxes and crushing debt.

D They realized it was better suited for factories and sold it to the British.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Taxes increased pressure. �� Debt caused land alienation. �� Exploitation intensified.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Although the Santhals had cleared forests and made the land productive, heavy taxes and indebtedness gradually deprived them of ownership. Moneylenders acquired land when debts remained unpaid. Thus Option C accurately captures their realization.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Fertility was not the problem.
�� Option B → No such return of land occurred.
�� Option D → Industrial sale of land is unsupported.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

Connect exploitation with loss of land.

Final Logic:

Debt and taxation caused land alienation.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Clear Land, Lose Land"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Exploitation of Santhals

16 The systemic appropriation of Santhal lands by moneylenders, or 'dikus', was facilitated by the Santhals' inability to pay high ________ charged on loans.

A Bribes

B Rates of interest

C Tolls

D Custom duties

💡 Short Explanation

�� Moneylenders charged excessive interest. �� Debts accumulated rapidly. �� Land was seized when loans were unpaid.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Dikus charged extremely high rates of interest on loans. When Santhals were unable to repay, moneylenders took possession of their lands. This process became a major cause of resentment and rebellion.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Bribes were not the central issue.
�� Option C → Tolls were unrelated to debt.
�� Option D → Customs duties were not involved.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

Identify the financial mechanism behind land loss.

Final Logic:

Excessive interest rates trapped Santhals in debt.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Interest → Debt → Land Loss"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Dikus and Debt

17 Arrange the sequence of events leading up to the Santhal Revolt analytically:
1. Land slips from Santhal hands due to exorbitant debt and taxes.
2. Santhals are persuaded to demarcate and heavily settle Damin-i-Koh.
3. Santhals decide to rebel against zamindars and the state to create an ideal world.

A 1, 2, 3

B 3, 2, 1

C 2, 1, 3

D 1, 3, 2

💡 Short Explanation

�� Settlement occurred first. �� Exploitation followed. �� Rebellion came last.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

First, Santhals were encouraged to settle Damin-i-Koh (2). Over time, heavy taxes and debt caused land loss (1). Growing exploitation eventually led them to rebel against zamindars, moneylenders, and the colonial state (3).

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Land loss came after settlement.
�� Option B → Rebellion was the final stage.
�� Option D → Settlement preceded exploitation.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

Arrange events according to cause-and-effect chronology.

Final Logic:

Settlement → Exploitation → Revolt.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Settle → Suffer → Revolt"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Causes of the Santhal Revolt

18 Which statement incorrectly describes the visual representation of the Santhal Revolt in British media (such as the Illustrated London News)?

A It showed British officials triumphantly riding on an elephant to signal victory.

B It graphically depicted Santhal villages being burnt down as a show of might.

C It portrayed the rebels in chains to emphasize the strict restoration of colonial order.

D It depicted the Santhals negotiating peacefully on equal terms with British generals.

💡 Short Explanation

�� British media emphasized imperial authority. �� Rebellion was shown as suppressed. �� Equality with rebels was not portrayed.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Colonial illustrations highlighted British military power, burning villages, captured rebels, and restoration of order. They did not portray Santhals as equal negotiating partners. Therefore Option D is incorrect and hence the correct answer.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Such images symbolized British victory.
�� Option B → Burning villages appeared in colonial depictions.
�� Option C → Captured rebels symbolized restored authority.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Odd One Out

Application:

Find the description inconsistent with colonial propaganda.

Final Logic:

British media did not depict equality between rulers and rebels.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Empire Shows Power, Not Equality"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Visual Representation of Revolt

📄 Passage

"By the 1850s, the Santhals felt that the time had come to rebel against zamindars, moneylenders and the colonial state, in order to create an ideal world for themselves where they would rule. It was after the Santhal Revolt (1855-56) that the Santhal Pargana was created, carving out 5,500 square miles from the districts of Bhagalpur and Birbhum. The colonial state hoped that by creating a new territory for the Santhals and imposing some special laws within it, the Santhals could be conciliated."

Analytically, the creation of the Santhal Pargana by carving out 5,500 square miles was primarily a colonial strategy aimed at:

A Increasing the military strength and autonomy of the Santhals.

B Spatially isolating the Santhals to conciliate them and systematically prevent future uprisings.

C Handing over the disputed territory back to the indigenous Paharias.

D Fully integrating the Santhals into the mainstream, unregulated zamindari system.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Revolt forced administrative changes. �� New territory was created. �� Conciliation and control were key goals.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The passage states that Santhal Pargana was created to conciliate the Santhals after the rebellion. Analytically, this also helped the colonial state administer and contain the region more effectively, reducing the likelihood of future uprisings.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Military autonomy was not granted.
�� Option C → Territory was not returned to Paharias.
�� Option D → Special laws meant separate administration, not complete integration.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

Interpret the broader political purpose behind the policy.

Final Logic:

Conciliation and administrative control drove the creation of Santhal Pargana.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Pargana = Pacification"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Creation of Santhal Pargana

📄 Passage

According to the passage, what was the underlying political goal of imposing "special laws" in the new territory?

A To pacify and conciliate the Santhals after a highly violent rebellion.

B To enforce the Permanent Settlement more rigorously on tribal lands.

C To strictly limit the Santhals to hunting and gathering activities.

D To grant the dikus unquestionable, legal authority over all Santhal lands.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Rebellion challenged colonial authority. �� Special laws were conciliatory measures. �� Stability was the primary objective.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The passage explicitly states that special laws were introduced so that the Santhals could be conciliated. The colonial state hoped to reduce unrest and stabilize the region after the revolt.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option B → Permanent Settlement is not mentioned in the passage.
�� Option C → No such restriction was imposed.
�� Option D → The purpose was conciliation, not strengthening dikus.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

Use direct textual evidence from the passage.

Final Logic:

The passage clearly identifies conciliation as the purpose of special laws.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Special Laws = Peace Policy"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Aftermath of the Santhal Revolt

CUET UG History Booster Test 3 - Santhals and Agrarian Expansion

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