Which harmful social practice was banned in 1829 by Lord Bentinck during the British rule in India?

Correct option is C

Correct Answer: (c) Sati
Explanation:
· Sati, the practice in which a widow was forced or expected to immolate herself on her husband’s funeral pyre, was officially banned in 1829 by Governor-General Lord William Bentinck.
· The abolition was strongly supported by reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Information Booster:
· Regulation XVII of 1829 declared Sati illegal and punishable as culpable homicide.
· This was a major social reform during British India and marked a turning point in women’s rights.
· The Bengal Presidency was the first to ban it; later extended to other regions.
Additional Knowledge:
· Dowry (a): Became legally prohibited in 1961 under the Dowry Prohibition Act.
· Polygamy (b): Not banned in 1829; reforms occurred much later (e.g., Hindu Marriage Act 1955).
· Child marriage (d): Restricted by the Sarda Act (Child Marriage Restraint Act), 1929,