UGC-NET-English

Background on Charles Grant
Charles Grant (1746–1823) was a British parliamentarian and director of the East India Company.

In 1792, he prepared a famous document called the “Observations on the State of Society among the Asiatic Subjects of Great Britain”.

This document strongly influenced the Charter Act of 1813, which for the first time provided a clause for promoting education in India.

Charles Grant’s Educational Recommendations
- Medium of Instruction – English
- He argued that Indian knowledge systems and classical languages (Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic) were “decayed” and unfit to bring progress.
- Therefore, he recommended that English should be introduced as the medium of instruction.
- Type of Education – Western/Modern
- Grant emphasized the need to introduce Western education, not traditional Indian learning.

He specifically highlighted subjects like:
- English literature
- Natural sciences
- Mechanical inventions/technology
- Moral and Religious Purpose
- He also believed that Western education (especially through English) would help “civilize” Indians, make them more loyal to the British, and prepare the ground for the spread of Christianity.

Now let’s analyze the options:
“English as the medium of instruction in an Indian system of education that included literature, art and craft”
❌ Incorrect. Grant rejected the Indian system of education (Sanskrit, Persian, traditional learning). He wanted a Western system, not Indian traditions.

“English as the medium of instruction from lower levels in a few states as an experiment”
❌ Incorrect. He didn’t talk about experimenting in some states or starting from the lower levels. His was a broad recommendation for a national policy shift.

“English as the medium of instruction in a Western system of education that included literature, natural sciences and mechanical inventions”
✅ Correct. This matches perfectly with Grant’s recommendations:
- English as the medium
- Western system of education
- Inclusion of literature, sciences, and mechanical inventions

“English as the medium of instruction in regional medium institutions that included only literature”
❌ Incorrect. He did not recommend regional medium institutions, and he stressed sciences and inventions along with literature—not just literature.