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The real beginning of western education in India can be dated from
Explanation
The real beginning of Western education in India is dated to the Charter Act of 1813. This landmark legislation represented the first time the British East India Company took a formal government role in promoting education [1]. Specifically, Section 43 of the Act mandated the Company to set aside an annual sum of one lakh rupees for the 'revival and improvement of literature' and the 'promotion of the knowledge of science' among Indians. While earlier institutions like the Calcutta Madrasah existed, they focused on traditional learning [2]. The 1813 Act also allowed Christian missionaries to enter India, which significantly accelerated the spread of Western-style schooling. Although Macaulay’s Minute of 1835 later defined the medium of instruction as English, the foundational legal and financial commitment to Western education was established by the 1813 Charter.
Sources
- [1] https://www.khagarijancollege.ac.in/online/attendence/classnotes/files/1630245058.pdf
- [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 30: Development of Education > Under Company Rule > p. 563