Which of the following cities became the capital of British India in the late 18th century?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -3rd)

Explanation

Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) was established as the capital of British India in 1772, which falls within the 'late 18th century' timeframe.
The first Governor-General, Warren Hastings, moved all key administrative offices to Kolkata, making it the center of British power in India.
Kolkata served as the capital for nearly 140 years, from 1772 until the capital was officially shifted to Delhi in 1911.

Option A: Madras (now Chennai) was an important administrative center, but only for the Madras Presidency in Southern India, not for the entirety of British India.
Option C: Bombay (now Mumbai) was a vital commercial hub and the capital of the Bombay Presidency in Western India, but it was never the central capital of British India.
Option D: Delhi became the capital of British India much later. The decision was announced in 1911, and the city was inaugurated as the capital in 1931, which is in the 20th century, not the 18th.

Visual 1: Map - A historical map of British India from the late 18th or 19th century, highlighting the Bengal, Madras, and Bombay Presidencies and showing Kolkata as the capital.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain History of the capital of British India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This is a general knowledge question, which is a component of the non-nursing section in many nursing entrance examinations.
Understanding the historical context of major Indian cities can be relevant for community health nurses when learning about the development of health systems and institutions, many of which were established during the British era.
What if the question asked for the capital in the early 20th century? The answer would still be Kolkata until the official shift to Delhi was announced in 1911.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: the subject ('capital of British India') and the specific time frame ('late 18th century').
This is a factual recall question from Indian history, often included in the general knowledge section of competitive exams.
Evaluate each option based on the specified time frame. Madras and Bombay were important regional headquarters (Presidencies) but not the supreme capital.
Recall or deduce that Delhi's role as the capital is a 20th-century development.
This process of elimination leaves Kolkata, which was established as the capital by Warren Hastings in 1772, fitting the 'late 18th century' description perfectly.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qt5oDozl3-oq99NQl8f3cL

Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -3rd)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.