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Q44 (CDS-I/2009) History & Culture › Modern India (Pre-1857) › British administrative reforms Answer Verified

Who among the following has started the Public Works Department in India in AD 1848 ?

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: B
Explanation

Lord Dalhousie, who served as the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856, is credited with the establishment of the Public Works Department (PWD) in India [t5][t7]. Before his tenure, public works were managed by Military Boards, which often led to delays and inefficiencies. Dalhousie reorganized this by creating a separate, dedicated department in every province to oversee the construction of vital infrastructure such as roads, canals, and bridges [c1][t6]. His administration saw the opening of the Ganges Canal in 1854 and the expansion of the Grand Trunk Road [c1][t6]. Because of these extensive modernization efforts, including the introduction of railways, telegraphs, and postal reforms, he is often referred to as the 'Maker of Modern India' [t7]. The PWD was specifically established to provide a systematic approach to civil engineering projects across the presidencies [t9].

Sources

  1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > 14. Lord Dalhousie 1848-1856 > p. 818
  2. [2] https://gacbe.ac.in/pdf/ematerial/18BHI34A-U4.pdf
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