Moderate nationalists of the Indian National Congress
1. opposed the extension of the Permanent Settlement to protect peasants from the exploitation of the zamindars.
2. criticized the aggressive foreign policy of the Britishers toward Afghanistan.
3. exposed England’s providential mission in India.
4. demanded military expenditure should be evenly shared by the British government.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Question

Moderate nationalists of the Indian National Congress
1. opposed the extension of the Permanent Settlement to protect peasants from the exploitation of the zamindars.
2. criticized the aggressive foreign policy of the Britishers toward Afghanistan.
3. exposed England&rsquo;s providential mission in India.
4. demanded military expenditure should be evenly shared by the British government.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

ONLiNE UPSC · Accepted Answer

Statement 1 is not correct: The British Indian Association of Landowners maintained a cordial relationship with the Congress for the first few initial years and remained its major source of finance. The Congress, therefore, could not dispense that landed aristocrats and could not consequently take a logical stand on peasant questions. They demanded an extension of permanent settlement only in the interest of zamindars and opposed the cadastral survey in 1893-94, though it was meant to protect the peasants from the manipulation of the zamindar.

Statement 2 is correct: British India was heavily involved in Afghanistan primarily due to geopolitical rivalry with Russia known as the Great Game. This led to multiple conflicts including the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Anglo-Afghan Wars. The Indian National Congress criticized the high military expenditure on frontier policies and war in Afghanistan. Moderates argued that the resources spent on these military campaigns could be better utilized for the development and welfare of the Indian people. Hence.

Statement 3 is not correct: The Providential Mission Theory was based on the assumption that the British were given a divine command for ruling India. The expectation of the moderate politician was that full political freedom would come gradually and India would be ultimately given self-governing rights like those enjoyed by the other colonies such as Canada or Australia. With an intrinsic faith in the providential nature of the British rule in India, they hoped that one day they would be recognized as partners and not subordinate in the affairs of the empire and be given the right of full British citizenship.

Statement 4 is correct: The British Indian Army was being used in imperial wars in all parts of the world, particularly in Africa and Asia. These and the Indian Frontier Wars of the 1890s put a very heavy burden on the Indian finances. The Moderates demanded that this military expenditure should be evenly shared by the British Government. Indians should be taken into the army as volunteers and more and more of them should be appointed in higher ranks. The British government agreed to share only a small fraction of military expenditure, less than 1 million pounds in all.

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E Question 1	⏱ 0
Moderate nationalists of the Indian National Congress 1. opposed the extension of the Permanent Settlement to protect peasants from the exploitation of the zamindars. 2. criticized the aggressive foreign policy of the Britishers toward Afghanistan. 3. exposed England’s providential mission in India. 4. demanded military expenditure should be evenly shared by the British government. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2, 3 and 4 only