Given below are two statements:

Statement I: University of Punjab at Lahore and University of Allahabad were established during colonial rule in India.

Statement II: The main reason of their establishment was the increasing demand in these places for higher education including ‘Oriental’ as well as modern European education.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is Both Statement I and Statement II are true.

Let us analyze both statements in detail to understand why they are correct:

Analysis of Statement I:
The University of the Punjab (located in Lahore, now in Pakistan) was established on October 14, 1882, under the British colonial administration. The University of Allahabad (located in Prayagraj, India) was established on September 23, 1887, also during the British colonial period. Since both institutions were founded in the late 19th century under British administration, Statement I is true.

Analysis of Statement II:
During the late 19th century, there was a growing demand for higher education in the northern and northwestern regions of British India. Unlike the earlier presidency universities of Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras (established in 1857), which focused heavily on Western instruction, the establishment of the University of Punjab was significantly driven by the demand to integrate and promote both vernacular / 'Oriental' learning (local languages, literature, and classical texts) and modern European education. The University of Allahabad was similarly established to cater to the educational aspirations of the United Provinces, combining European scientific education with local academic needs. Therefore, Statement II is true.