Question

Who passed the Bengal Tenancy Act to protect the interests of the farmers?
a)Lord Cornwallis
b)Lord Canning
c)Lord Hastings
d)Lord Wellesley

Answer 1

Hint: The Bengal Tenancy Act was passed in the year 1885 by the then Governor-General of Fort William, who was also the 1st Marquess of Hastings.

Complete answer: The Bengal Tenancy Act was first introduced in the year 1885 when the British came to rule India. This was an enactment of the Bengal government by the Britishers, that defined the rights of zamindars and landlords and also that of their tenants. This act was passed in response to widespread protests and revolts by the peasants that had threatened the stability of the British Colonial Government back then.
a)Lord Cornwallis: Lord Cornwallis was the Governor-General of the Presidency of Bengal from 1786 to 1793 and is famous for introducing the reforms in the Civil Services of India. The Tenancy Act was nonexistent at that time. So, it is an incorrect option.
b)Lord Canning: Lord Canning was the first Viceroy of India after the rule had been transferred from the English East India Company to the British Crown. It was in 1858, which is almost 38 years later than the Bengal Tenancy Act. So, it is an incorrect option.
c)Lord Hastings: Lord Hastings, originally known as Edward Hastings was the Governor-General of Bengal Presidency in the year 1822. He had passed the Bengal Tenancy Act for the farmers. So, it is the correct option.
d)Lord Wellesley: Lord Wellesley had introduced the Doctrine of Subsidiary Alliance where the allied king of a state in India had to accept the stationing of British troops at his own expenses in his territory. Since this took place two decades before 1822, Lord Wellesley could not have been involved in the Tenancy Act. So, it is an incorrect option.
Therefore, option c is correct.

Note: Do not confuse Lord Hastings in the question with Warren Hastings, who was also the Governor-General of Bengal from 1773 to 1785 and is credited with the introduction of Civil Services in India.