Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Formation of the Hunter Commission
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Lord Curzon was Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905 and is remembered for a number of controversial and far reaching measures. These include the Partition of Bengal and the Universities Act, as well as various commissions. In exam questions, students are often asked to identify which reforms or commissions belonged to his tenure and which did not. This question asks you to detect the measure that clearly belongs to a different period and is therefore not associated with Curzon's administration.
Given Data / Assumptions:
The options list Partition of Bengal, Formation of Bharatiya Lok Sevak Mandal, Establishment of a Famine Commission, Formation of the Hunter Commission, and a Universities Act. We assume that the learner knows that Curzon is mainly associated with Partition of Bengal in 1905 and with the Indian Universities Act of 1904. We also assume some awareness that certain commissions were created earlier in the nineteenth century and that some organisations like Bharatiya Lok Sevak Mandal were formed later by Indian leaders rather than by viceroys.
Concept / Approach:
The Hunter Commission, formally the Indian Education Commission of 1882, was appointed under Lord Ripon, not Lord Curzon. It examined questions related to primary and secondary education. Curzon, by contrast, set up a separate Universities Commission that led to the Indian Universities Act of 1904. While there were famine related commissions and Curzon did create a Famine Commission around 1900, the Hunter Commission clearly belongs to an earlier period and is thus the measure that is not associated with his administration in standard exam classifications.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Lord Curzon's tenure lasted from 1899 to 1905.
Step 2: Match Partition of Bengal with 1905 and the Universities Act with 1904, both of which clearly fall within his period.
Step 3: Remember that Curzon also dealt with famine conditions and set up commissions relating to famine relief, so a Famine Commission can be linked to his general policy context.
Step 4: Identify that the Hunter Commission was appointed in 1882, much earlier, under Lord Ripon to examine education policy.
Step 5: Conclude that Formation of the Hunter Commission is the item not associated with Lord Curzon's administration.
Verification / Alternative check:
Looking at a timeline of viceroys and commissions, you will find the Hunter Commission of 1882 clearly placed under Lord Ripon, years before Curzon became Viceroy. The Partition of Bengal and the Indian Universities Act are always mentioned as Curzon era measures. While Bharatiya Lok Sevak Mandal was an Indian political organisation formed later, exam keys commonly focus on the Hunter Commission as the famous example of a commission not belonging to Curzon's time. This makes it the safest answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Partition of Bengal is wrong as an answer here because it is directly associated with Curzon and took effect in 1905. The establishment of a Famine Commission is also not clearly wrong for exams, since Curzon's administration dealt with famine policy and commissions. Bharatiya Lok Sevak Mandal as a name can cause confusion but is not a British official commission in the same sense and is usually not used as the primary contrasting case in this type of question. The Universities Act option is tied closely to Curzon's attempt to control universities through the 1904 legislation. Only the Hunter Commission is confidently and consistently placed in a different viceroyalty under Lord Ripon.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes think of Curzon only in connection with Partition of Bengal and forget his involvement with university reforms, leading them to doubt those options. Others may be unsure of the exact date of the Hunter Commission and fail to realise that it predates Curzon by nearly two decades. To avoid these errors, it is helpful to memorise a small list: Curzon is linked with Partition of Bengal 1905, Universities Act 1904, and several commissions, whereas the Hunter Commission 1882 belongs firmly to Lord Ripon.
Final Answer:
The measure not associated with the administration of Lord Curzon was the Formation of the Hunter Commission.
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