UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 52
With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, "Home Charges" formed an important part of drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted "Home Charges"?
- Funds used to support the India Office in London.
- Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British personnel engaged in India.
- Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct Option: B
Explanation: Colonial “Home Charges” were payments remitted from Indian revenues to Britain for imperial administration and British officials’ services and pensions.
Statement / Item-wise Analysis:
1: Correct - Correct: the India Office in London and related administrative costs were charged to India.
2: Correct - Correct: pensions and salaries/leave costs of British personnel were a significant outflow.
3: Incorrect - Incorrect in the keyed classification: overseas military expeditions were a wider imperial burden, not the specifically listed recurring Home Charges.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Incorrect - omits supported item 2.
B: Correct - includes the supported statements and excludes the unsupported ones.
C: Incorrect - includes unsupported item 3; omits supported item 1.
D: Incorrect - includes unsupported item 3.
Review Note: Some historical accounts describe military expenditure and overseas campaigns as part of the overall drain; this question uses the narrower standard “Home Charges” classification.