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UGC NET English Questions

UGC NET English June 2025: Solved Indian Writing Questions (Paper II)

All questions with answers and detailed explanations

Pioneer of English Education Blueprint

Question 1: Who prepared the first blueprint on English education in India in 1792?

1. William Carey
2. Charles Grant ✓
3. Lord Minto
4. William Pitt
Answer: 2. Charles Grant

📖 Explanation:

Charles Grant, an East India Company official, authored the 1792 report "Observations on the State of Society..." This document is considered the first formal blueprint promoting English education and Christian values in India, predating Macaulay's Minute.

Official Language Recommendation

Question 2: Who wrote to the Committee of Public Instruction on introducing English as official language of the Government and that of education?

1. Robert Clive
2. Warren Hastings
3. William Bentinck ✓
4. Zachary Macaulay
Answer: 3. William Bentinck

📖 Explanation:

Lord William Bentinck, as Governor-General (1828–1835), authorized and implemented the shift. He supported Thomas Babington Macaulay's Minute on Indian Education (1835), which formally introduced English as the medium of instruction and the official language of administration and education.

Lord Curzon's Education Reform

Question 3: Lord Curzon used the report of Indian Universities Commission of 1902 to:

1. decentralize school education.
2. give representation to Indians in policy making.
3. withdraw Indian Universities Act of 1904.
4. centralize school education under a Director-General of Education. ✓
Answer: 4. centralize school education under a Director-General of Education.

📖 Explanation:

Lord Curzon's reforms, based on the 1902 Commission, led to the Indian Universities Act of 1904. The aim was to centralize and increase governmental control over higher education, notably by creating the post of a Director-General of Education and restricting university autonomy.

Scheduled Languages (1991 Census)

Question 4: According to the 1991 census, ________ languages are considered scheduled languages.

1. 17
2. 18 ✓
3. 20
4. 22
Answer: 2. 18

📖 Explanation:

The 1991 Census of India officially recognized 18 languages as Scheduled Languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. This number included the three languages (Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali) added by the 71st Amendment in 1992, which was reflected in the census data. The current total is 22 (after 2003).

Raja Rammohun Roy's Appellation

Question 5: Who described Raja Rammohun Roy as 'the inauguration of the modern age in India'?

1. Rabindranath Tagore ✓
2. Cavelly Venkata Boriah
3. Mahatma Gandhi
4. Jyotiba Phule
Answer: 1. Rabindranath Tagore

📖 Explanation:

The Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore famously described Raja Rammohun Roy as "the inauguration of the modern age in India," recognizing Roy's pioneering work in social reform, rational thought, and the establishment of modern education and religious liberalism (Brahmo Samaj).

Chronology of Indian English Literary Institutions

Question 6: Arrange the following statements in a chronological order:

(A) Nissim Ezekiel founded Quest, a general intellectual review associated with liberal democratic politics.
(B) The Illustrated Weekly of India sponsored a short story competition and began publishing contemporary Indian English poetry.
(C) The Writers Workshop began to publish volumes of poetry.
(D) C. R. Mandy became editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India.

1. A, C, B, D
2. D, B, A, C ✓
3. B, C, A, D
4. B, A, D, C
Answer: 2. D, B, A, C

📖 Explanation:

This order traces the institutional development of Indian English writing post-1947:

D. C. R. Mandy became editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India (1947): This marked the beginning of a key national platform for Indian writers.

B. The Illustrated Weekly of India sponsored a short story competition and began publishing contemporary Indian English poetry (Early 1950s): This provided exposure for emerging talents like Ezekiel and Moraes.

A. Nissim Ezekiel founded Quest (1955): This established a significant liberal intellectual journal supporting new writing and criticism.

C. The Writers Workshop began to publish volumes of poetry (1958): Founded by P. Lal in Calcutta, this independent press became crucial for publishing first collections by major Indian English poets.

Chronology of Indian English Novels

Question 7: Arrange the following novels in a chronological order as per their years of publication:

(A) The Serpent and the Rope
(B) Two Leaves and a Bud
(C) A Bend in the Ganges
(D) So Many Hungers
(E) Waiting for the Mahatma

1. A, E, B, D, C
2. B, A, C, E, D
3. C, D, B, E, A
4. B, D, E, A, C ✓
Answer: 4. B, D, E, A, C

📖 Explanation:

The correct chronological order by publication year is:

B. Two Leaves and a Bud (Mulk Raj Anand) – 1937 (Critique of colonial plantation life).

D. So Many Hungers! (Bhabani Bhattacharya) – 1947 (Set against the Bengal Famine and Partition year).

E. Waiting for the Mahatma (R. K. Narayan) – 1955 (Set during the Quit India Movement).

A. The Serpent and the Rope (Raja Rao) – 1960 (Philosophical exploration of East–West identity).

C. A Bend in the Ganges (Manohar Malgonkar) – 1964 (Detailed narrative of the Partition).

Chronology of Language Policy in India

Question 8: Arrange the following commissions, committees, and events, which were important in the context of the history of English in India, in chronology:

(A) Gokak Committee Report
(B) Acharya Ramamurti Commission
(C) All India Language Conference
(D) Kothari Commission
(E) The Official Language Act

1. B, E, D, C, A
2. C, E, D, A, B ✓
3. A, B, D, C, E
4. D, E, C, B, A
Answer: 2. C, E, D, A, B

📖 Explanation:

The chronological order of these key policy milestones is:

C. All India Language Conference (1949): Discussed post-independence language policy (Hindi vs. English).

E. The Official Language Act (1963): Ensured English would continue for official purposes alongside Hindi post-1965.

D. Kothari Commission (1964–66): Recommended the Three-Language Formula, including English.

A. Gokak Committee Report (1983): Supported the primacy of Kannada in Karnataka, reflecting continued language debates.

B. Acharya Ramamurti Commission (1990): Reviewed the National Policy on Education, upholding English's global and academic role.

Chronology of Philosophical Works

Question 9: Arrange the following works chronologically:

(A) The Heart of Hindustan
(B) Occasional Speeches and Writings
(C) Eastern Religions and Western Thought
(D) Dhamnutpada
(E) The Principal Upanishads

1. D, C, A, B, E
2. C, A, E, B, D
3. B, C, D, E, A
4. A, C, E, B, D ✓
Answer: 4. A, C, E, B, D

📖 Explanation:

Arranging the works by their publication or significant English translation/citation dates:

A. The Heart of Hindustan (1912): Early nationalist and cultural exploration.

C. Eastern Religions and Western Thought (1939): Major comparative philosophy work by Radhakrishnan.

E. The Principal Upanishads (1953): Radhakrishnan's key translation and commentary.

B. Occasional Speeches and Writings (1965): Posthumously compiled collection of Radhakrishnan's addresses.

(D. Dhammapada is an ancient text, c. 3rd Century BCE, but its modern English influence and use in these contexts follow the establishment of this philosophical tradition.)

Matching Works with Authors

Question 10: Match List-I with List-II:

List I (Work):
(A) Poverty and Un-British Rule in India
(B) The Slave Girl of Agra
(C) Love Songs and Elegies
(D) Gora

List II (Author):
(I) Romesh Chander Dutt
(II) Dadabhai Naoroji
(III) Rabindranath Tagore
(IV) Manmohan Ghosh

1. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III ✓
2. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
3. A-III, B-I, C-IV, D-II
4. A-IV, B-II, C-III, D-I
Answer: 1. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III

📖 Explanation:

A. Poverty and Un-British Rule in India – II. Dadabhai Naoroji: A seminal economic critique (1901) of British colonial exploitation written by the Grand Old Man of India.

B. The Slave Girl of Agra – I. Romesh Chunder Dutt: A historical romance set during the Mughal period, showcasing Dutt's narrative fiction style.

C. Love Songs and Elegies – IV. Manmohan Ghosh: A poetic collection reflecting classical influence and emotional lyricism from one of India's early modern poets.

D. Gora – III. Rabindranath Tagore: A socio-political novel (1910) by Tagore addressing nationalism, identity, and reform in colonial India.

Matching Plays with Playwrights

Question 11: Choose the correct match of play and playwright:

(A) Hali - Rabindranath Tagore
(B) Tiger Claw - Lakhan Deb
(C) The Flute of Krishna - P A Krishnaswami
(D) Nalini - Gurucharan Das
(E) Hayavadana - Girish Karnard

1. B, C and E Only ✓
2. A, D and E Only
3. A, C and D Only
4. B, C and D Only
Answer: 1. B, C and E Only

📖 Explanation:

The correct matches are B, C, and E:

B. Tiger Claw - Lakhan Deb: Correct. Historical play about Tipu Sultan.

C. The Flute of Krishna - P A Krishnaswami: Correct. A children's play about Lord Krishna.

E. Hayavadana - Girish Karnard: Correct. A seminal Indian play about identity and folklore.

The incorrect matches are:

A. Hali - Rabindranath Tagore: Incorrect; Hali is a long poem by Altaf Hussain Hali.

D. Nalini - Gurucharan Das: Incorrect; Nalini is an early play by Rabindranath Tagore.

English Education Milestones in India

Question 12: Choose the correct events corresponding with their year:

(A) The Official Languages Commission submitted its report in 1936.
(B) The first ELTI was established in Allahabad in 1954.
(C) The Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages was established in Hyderabad in 1958.
(D) National Policy on Education came in 1960.
(E) The NEP and POA came in 1986.

1. B, C and E Only ✓
2. A, B and C Only
3. B, C and D Only
4. C, D and E Only
Answer: 1. B, C and E Only

📖 Explanation:

The correct statements correlating events with their years are B, C, and E:

B (Correct): The first ELTI (English Language Teaching Institute) was established in Allahabad in 1954.

C (Correct): The CIEFL (now EFLU) was established in Hyderabad in 1958.

E (Correct): The major National Education Policy (NEP) and Programme of Action (POA) were launched in 1986.

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