Which of the following statements about the ideology of Utilitarianism in the context of British India is /are correct? 1. Utilitarianism believed that the rule of law was necessary for societal betterment 2. James Mill expounded the principles of Utilitarianism in his famous book ԕtilitarians and the RajԠ 3. Utilitarians differed from the liberals in significant ways 4. Utilitarianism had distinct authoritarian tendencies Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Utilitarianism in British India, championed by figures like James Mill and Jeremy Bentham, emphasized the rule of law and administrative rationalization to achieve the 'greatest happiness of the greatest number' [1]. Statement 1 is correct as they sought to replace traditional systems with a scientific, rational legal framework. Statement 2 is incorrect; while James Mill was a key figure, his famous work was 'The History of British India', not 'Utilitarians and the Raj' (which is a modern work by Eric Stokes). Statement 3 is correct; Utilitarians differed from liberals by prioritizing efficient, centralized administration over individual liberty in the colonial context. Statement 4 is correct as their approach was often authoritarian and paternalistic, viewing Indian society as stagnant and requiring firm British guidance to progress [2]. Thus, statements 1, 3, and 4 are correct.

Sources

1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 19: Towards Modernity > 19.1 Emergence of Reform Movements > p. 298
2. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 2: Major Approaches to the History of Modern India > Colonial Approach/ Historiography > p. 14