Background: Macaulay's Minute of 1835
Context: Thomas Babington Macaulay’s “Minute on Indian Education” (Feb 1835) was a landmark policy recommendation under Lord William Bentinck.
Main Aim: To replace the old policy of promoting traditional oriental learning (Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic) with Western knowledge and English education.
Famous Quote: Macaulay wanted to create a class of Indians who were “Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect.”
What Macaulay Proposed
Promote European literature and science among Indians
He argued Indian classical works were of little practical use in modern times.
He wanted people to study European literature and science — in English — rather than Sanskrit or Arabic.
✅ This matches Option A.
Stop expenditure on Oriental works; spend only on English education
Funds were previously allocated to publish Sanskrit/Persian texts.
Macaulay wanted this funding diverted entirely to English-language education.
✅ This matches Option D.
Why not the other options?
Option B: "Impart knowledge of English literature and science through translated texts" —
❌ Incorrect. Macaulay rejected the idea of translating European works into local languages. He believed English itself should be taught directly.
Option C: "Encourage branches of native learning by more useful studies" —
❌ Misleading. Macaulay did not want to encourage native learning at all — he wanted to replace it.
✅ Therefore:
Only A and D match Macaulay’s actual proposals.
Correct answer: 1 (A and D only).
Year-wise PYQs
