OPSC OAS 2020 PrelimsHistory, Art & CultureQuestion 14
Solved previous year question from the OPSC OAS/OCS 2020 Preliminary Examination (General Studies), with the official answer key and a detailed explanation.
Question
Who was the Chairman of the First Famine Commission in 1880 ?
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Answer & Explanation
Correct answer: (A) Sir Richard Strachey
- The First Famine Commission was established in 1880 in response to the severe famines that struck India during British rule, particularly the Great Famine of 1876–78.
Chairman: Sir Richard Strachey
- He was a British civil servant in India and had significant experience in Indian administration.
- Under his leadership, the First Famine Commission was formed to investigate the causes of famines and to suggest measures to prevent future occurrences.
- The Commission emphasized the importance of early warning systems, famine codes, relief works, and transportation infrastructure like railways.
Other Famine commissions
- Campbell commission(1866):Odisha famine 1865-66
- Strachey Commission(1880):after the Great Famine of 1876-78.Developed the first comprehensive Famine Code.
- James Lyall Commission(1898): after the Indian Famine of 1896-97.
- MacDonnell Commission(1901):After the Indian Famine of 1899-1900.
