Relevant Titles

1. CBSE Class 12 MCQs — Urban Planning and City Design in Colonial India

2. NCERT-Based Quiz: Urbanisation, Planning & Architecture (Class 12 History)

3. 60-Question Practice Test — Urban Planning in Colonial India (CBSE XII)

4. Quick Revision MCQs — Colonial Urban Planning & City Design for Class 12

5. Online Test: Urbanisation under British Rule — CBSE Class 12 History (Theme 12)

Introduction Paragraph 

Explore the evolution of urban planning and city design in colonial India through this NCERT-aligned CBSE Class 12 History MCQ quiz. Part of Theme 12 – Colonial Cities: Urbanisation, Planning and Architecture, this topic examines how British rule reshaped Indian urban spaces through infrastructure, sanitation, civic governance, and architectural aesthetics. Students can learn about key features like civil lines, cantonments, improvement trusts, municipal governance, railway connectivity, and port development that transformed Indian towns into centers of trade and administration. These multiple-choice questions follow CBSE exam patterns, testing conceptual understanding, factual recall, and analytical reasoning. Each question is paired with a short explanation, reinforcing NCERT-based concepts for clear understanding. The 60-question, 60-minute timed format helps simulate exam conditions and improve accuracy. Ideal for CBSE board exam preparation, classroom revision, and online self-study, this quiz strengthens understanding of how colonial planning influenced the growth of cities such as Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, and Delhi — creating a lasting urban legacy still visible in modern India.

Sample MCQs with Explanations

Q1. What was the main objective behind the development of “civil lines” in colonial cities?
A. To accommodate Indian merchants
B. To house European officials in clean, spacious areas
C. To promote Indian craftsmanship
D. To host weekly markets
✅ Correct: B
Explanation: Civil lines were segregated residential zones for European officials, planned for sanitation, security, and comfort, separate from crowded Indian quarters.

Q2. Which institution managed civic services like drainage, street lighting, and sanitation during colonial rule?
A. Improvement Trusts
B. Public Works Department
C. Municipal Boards
D. Village Panchayats
✅ Correct: C
Explanation: Municipal Boards, established under Municipal Acts, handled local governance, including roads, drains, markets, and public health management.

Q3. Which planning idea introduced tree-lined avenues and open spaces into colonial city layouts?
A. Factory system
B. Garden City movement
C. Industrial zoning
D. Fortress planning
✅ Correct: B
Explanation: The Garden City concept inspired colonial planners to integrate parks, gardens, and green boulevards for healthier urban living.

Q4. Which Indian city’s development around Fort St. George is an example of early colonial grid planning?
A. Calcutta
B. Bombay
C. Madras
D. Delhi
✅ Correct: C
Explanation: Madras grew around Fort St. George with a grid-like pattern of administrative, residential, and commercial zones — an early planned city model.

Q5. Why did colonial authorities establish Improvement Trusts in Indian cities?
A. To improve market regulation
B. To plan sanitation and redevelopment in congested areas
C. To build temples and mosques
D. To manage foreign trade
✅ Correct: B
Explanation: Improvement Trusts were created to control urban growth, widen streets, and redevelop unhealthy or congested areas for better sanitation and order.