During the British period, the decisive official step to introduce English education in India at the state level was taken under whose authority?

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with the social and educational policy of the British in India. The introduction of English education as a state supported medium was a turning point in the cultural and intellectual history of colonial India. It created a new English educated middle class that played an important role in later political developments. The question asks you to identify under whose authority the major official decision to promote English education was made.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The theme is the introduction of English education in India as official policy.
• We are asked who was responsible for this decisive step.
• The options are Lord Curzon, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Lord Dalhousie and Lord William Bentinck.
• We assume familiarity with the Macaulay Minute and the role of the Governor General.

Concept / Approach:
Thomas Babington Macaulay, as a member of the Governor General's Council, wrote the famous Minute on Education in 1835, strongly advocating English as the medium of higher education and dismissing traditional oriental learning. However, it was Lord William Bentinck, the then Governor General of India, who accepted Macaulay's recommendations and issued the resolution that formally adopted the promotion of English education as state policy. Later figures like Lord Dalhousie and Lord Curzon made other educational reforms but did not originate this decisive shift. Therefore, while Macaulay provided the influential argument, the official introduction at the government level is credited to Lord William Bentinck.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Macaulay wrote his Minute on Indian Education in 1835, arguing for English as the medium of instruction. Step 2: Recognise that Macaulay himself was not the Governor General but a legal member of the Council. Step 3: The formal government resolution accepting Macaulay's ideas and promoting English education was issued by Lord William Bentinck. Step 4: Lord Dalhousie and Lord Curzon belonged to later periods and are better known for other policies such as railways, annexations and university reforms. Step 5: Therefore, the decisive official step is ascribed to Lord William Bentinck.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most history texts clearly state that the English Education Act of 1835, which endorsed English as the medium for higher education and redirected funds from oriental learning to English institutions, was passed under Lord William Bentinck. Macaulay's Minute is usually reproduced or summarised alongside this, showing that he influenced the decision as an adviser. Lists of reforms under Bentinck highlight both social legislation like the abolition of sati and the adoption of English education policy, confirming his central role.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Lord Curzon: Known for the Universities Act of 1904 and his controversial policies in Bengal, but not for initiating English education in the 1830s.
Thomas Babington Macaulay: Authored the famous Minute advocating English, but as he was not the Governor General, he did not officially promulgate the policy; Bentinck did.
Lord Dalhousie: Associated with railways, telegraphs, the Doctrine of Lapse and expansion of British territory, rather than the original introduction of English education as state policy.

Common Pitfalls:
Students often confuse influence with official authority. Because Macaulay's name is so strongly linked with English education, some candidates choose him as the person who "introduced" it. However, exam questions usually expect you to identify the Governor General under whose rule the policy was implemented. Remembering that Bentinck accepted Macaulay's recommendations and issued the key resolution helps avoid this mistake.

Final Answer:
The decisive official step to introduce English education in India was taken under Lord William Bentinck as Governor General.