Modern Indian History — Terms Glossary

53 terms in this section — every one exam-ready for UGC NET History (Code 06).

TermDefinitionPeriod / Context
Akali Movement A 1920s Sikh reform movement aimed at liberating Gurudwaras from corrupt hereditary mahants, leading to the creation of the SGPC. Modern India (1920–1925)
Aligarh Movement A socio-educational reform initiative founded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to promote modern scientific education among Indian Muslims. Modern India (1875 onwards)
August Offer (1940) A proposal by Viceroy Linlithgow offering executive council expansion and a post-war constitution-making body in exchange for war cooperation. Constitutional History (1940)
Bhoodan Movement A voluntary land reform movement started by Vinoba Bhave in 1951 at Pochampally to induce wealthy landowners to donate land to the landless. Post-Independence India
Blue Water Policy The maritime strategy formulated by Portuguese Viceroy Francisco de Almeida focused on establishing naval supremacy over the Indian Ocean. Advent of Europeans
Boycott The economic and social strategy of refusing to purchase British manufactured goods or participate in colonial institutions during the Swadeshi era. National Movement (1905–1911)
Brahmo Samaj A monotheistic socio-religious reform organization founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828 to oppose sati, caste discrimination, and idolatry. Modern India (1828)
Cabinet Mission (1946) A British mission (Pethick-Lawrence, Cripps, Alexander) proposing a three-tiered federal structure and a Constituent Assembly for a united India. Constitutional History (1946)
Cartaz System A naval trade license or pass issued by the Portuguese Empire to control maritime merchant shipping and enforce trade monopolies in the Indian Ocean. Advent of Europeans
Charter Act of 1813 British legislation that ended the East India Company's trade monopoly in India (except for tea and trade with China) and allocated ₹1 lakh for education. Constitutional History (1813)
Charter Act of 1833 Legislation that completely ended the East India Company's commercial activities, designating the Governor-General of Bengal as Governor-General of India. Constitutional History (1833)
Commercialization of Agriculture The forced transformation of Indian agriculture under British rule toward growing cash crops (indigo, cotton, opium) for export markets. Colonial Economy
Communal Award (1932) A decision announced by Ramsay MacDonald granting separate electorates to depressed classes, leading to Gandhi's fast and the Poona Pact. Constitutional History (1932)
Cripps Mission (1942) A mission led by Sir Stafford Cripps in 1942 offering Dominion Status to India after WWII, rejected by Congress as a "post-dated cheque." Constitutional History (1942)
De-industrialisation The historiographical term for the decline of India's traditional handicraft industries (notably textiles) under colonial economic policy during the 19th century — a central theme in the economic history of colonial India. Colonial Economy (19th century)
De-industrialization The destruction of traditional Indian handicraft and artisan manufacturing industries due to influx of cheap British machine-made imports. Colonial Economy
Deoband Movement An orthodox Islamic revivalist movement established at Deoband in 1866 by Qasim Nanautavi and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi targeting moral reform. Modern India (1866)
Doctrine of Lapse An annexation policy implemented by Lord Dalhousie annexing princely states whose rulers died without a natural male heir (e.g., Satara, Jhansi). British Imperial Expansion
Drain of Wealth The unrequited export of Indian capital, resources, and revenues to Britain without receiving adequate economic returns, articulated by Dadabhai Naoroji. Colonial Economy
Dual System of Government Administrative scheme instituted by Robert Clive in Bengal (1765–1772) separating revenue rights (Diwani) from law enforcement (Nizamat). British Expansion (1765–1772)
Dyarchy A system of provincial dual governance introduced by the Government of India Act 1919, dividing subjects into Transferred and Reserved lists. Constitutional History (1919)
Feitoria Fortified coastal trading posts, factories, or commercial warehouses established by European companies along Indian coastlines. Advent of Europeans
Gramdan An offshoot of the Bhoodan movement where entire villages pooled their land holdings for collective management and equitable distribution. Post-Independence India
Home Charges The official expenditure incurred in Britain by the Secretary of State for India, including pensions, interest on debt, and military purchases. Colonial Economy
Hunter Commission (1882) An education commission appointed under Lord Ripon to review the progress of education since Wood's Despatch, emphasizing primary education. Social / Educational History
Ilbert Bill (1883) Proposed legislation under Lord Ripon aimed at granting Indian magistrates jurisdiction to try European offenders, provoking intense Anglo-Indian protest. Modern India (1883)
Indian Councils Act 1909 Also known as the Morley-Minto Reforms, introduced separate electorates for Muslims and expanded legislative council memberships. Constitutional History (1909)
Mahalwari A colonial land-revenue settlement system, mainly in the North-Western Provinces and Punjab, in which revenue was assessed on the village or estate (mahal) as a unit, with joint responsibility among its landholders. Colonial Economy (North-Western Provinces & Punjab)
Mahalwari System A land revenue settlement introduced by Holt Mackenzie (1822) in the North-Western Provinces, assessing revenue collectively on whole village estates (Mahals). Colonial Economy
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms Constitutional reforms embodied in the Government of India Act 1919 that instituted dyarchy in British Indian provinces. Constitutional History (1919)
Mountbatten Plan (1947) The June 3, 1947 plan by Viceroy Mountbatten outlining the partition of British India into India and Pakistan and the transfer of power. Constitutional History (1947)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) A cold-war foreign policy platform co-founded by Jawaharlal Nehru asserting strategic autonomy from major power blocs. Post-Independence Foreign Policy
Panchsheel The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence signed by India and China in 1954 to guide bilateral diplomatic relations. Post-Independence Foreign Policy
Paramountcy The doctrine asserting the supreme sovereign authority of the British Crown over all princely states in India. British Imperial Policy
Passive Resistance A non-violent political action strategy involving non-cooperation with colonial laws, articulated by Aurobindo Ghose and later developed by Mahatma Gandhi. National Movement
Permanent Settlement (1793) A land revenue system introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal fixing land tax permanently with landlords (Zamindars). Colonial Economy
Pitt's India Act (1784) Legislation establishing the Board of Control in London to supervise East India Company political affairs, creating dual control. Constitutional History (1784)
Poona Pact (1932) An agreement between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi replacing separate electorates for depressed classes with reserved seats. Political History (1932)
Provincial Autonomy Governance framework introduced under the Government of India Act 1935 abolishing provincial dyarchy and granting responsible provincial rule. Constitutional History (1935)
Radcliffe Line The boundary demarcation line drawn by Sir Cyril Radcliffe in 1947 to divide Bengal and Punjab between India and Pakistan. Post-Independence / Partition
Regulating Act of 1773 The first parliamentary Act to supervise and control East India Company affairs in Bengal, establishing the office of Governor-General. Constitutional History (1773)
Ryotwari A colonial land-revenue settlement system (notably in Madras and Bombay presidencies) under which the state assessed and collected revenue directly from the individual cultivator (ryot), without a zamindar intermediary. Colonial Economy (Madras & Bombay Presidencies)
Ryotwari System A land revenue system introduced by Thomas Munro and Alexander Read in Madras/Bombay where revenue was collected directly from peasant proprietors (Ryots). Colonial Economy
Safety Valve Theory The hypothesis proposed by early writers that the Indian National Congress was founded by A.O. Hume to release popular anti-British discontent safely. National Movement History
Satyashodhak Samaj A social reform organization founded by Jyotirao Phule in 1873 to empower lower castes, women, and shudras against Brahmanical hegemony. Modern India (1873)
Self-Respect Movement An anti-caste social movement launched by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy in Tamil Nadu in 1925 advocating equal rights and rationalism. Modern South India (1925)
States Reorganization Commission A body appointed in 1953 (Fazl Ali, H.N. Kunzru, K.M. Panikkar) to recommend reorganizing Indian state boundaries along linguistic lines. Post-Independence Consolidation
Subsidiary Alliance A diplomatic system used by Lord Wellesley requiring Indian rulers to maintain British troops, pay subsidies, and accept a British Resident. British Expansion
Sunset Law A clause in the Permanent Settlement specifying that if a zamindar failed to deposit land revenue by sunset of the due date, their estate would be auctioned. Colonial Economy
Swadeshi The nationalist campaign promoting indigenous industry and self-reliance while rejecting foreign goods, sparked by the 1905 Partition of Bengal. National Movement (1905)
Vernacular Press Act (1878) Restrictive press legislation passed under Lord Lytton to curtail the freedom of non-English newspapers, later repealed by Lord Ripon. Modern History (1878)
Wood's Despatch (1854) A foundational document on Indian education issued by Charles Wood recommending primary education in vernaculars and higher education in English. Educational History (1854)
Young Bengal Movement A radical intellectual movement led by Henry Louis Vivian Derozio in the 1820s advocating free thought, rationalism, and social reform. Modern India (1820s)

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