Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Which of the following statements about the ideology of Utilitarianism in the context of British India is/are correct? 1. Utilitarianism believed that the rule of law was necessary for societal betterment. 2. James Mill expounded the principles of Utilitarianism in his famous book, 'Utilitarians and the Raj'. 3. Utilitarians differed from the liberals in significant ways. 4. Utilitarianism had distinct authoritarian tendencies. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Solution & Analysis
Answer: D
Concept
Utilitarianism was a dominant British colonial ideology (led by Bentham and the Mills) that sought to transform Indian society through law and rational administration.Explanation
The school argued for 'the greatest happiness of the greatest number'. In the Indian context, this translated into a top-down, often authoritarian governance structure that favored efficient law over democratic rights.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Statement 1 is correct. They believed codified, scientific laws were better than tradition for societal progress.
Logic 2: Statement 2 is incorrect. James Mill wrote *The History of British India*. 'The Utilitarians and India' is a modern academic book by Eric Stokes.
Logic 3: Statement 3 is correct. While liberals focused on individual rights and gradual change, Utilitarians were willing to use state power more aggressively to 'engineer' happiness.
Logic 4: Statement 4 is correct. Because they believed experts knew what was best for the people, they often supported authoritarian colonial rule as long as it was 'efficient'.