281 UPSC previous-year questions in Modern History, with answers and concise explanations, grouped by topic. Showing the 120 most recent — open a topic for the rest.
Read the Modern History notesConsider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy: I. He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East. II. He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
Raja Ram Mohan Roy combined deep respect for Eastern philosophy with a strong advocacy for reason, science, and social equality, making both statements correct.
Who among the following was the founder of the 'Self-Respect Movement'?
Why
The Self-Respect Movement was founded by Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker in 1925 in Tamil Nadu to fight caste discrimination and promote social equality.
Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female Schools which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?
Why
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar served as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (later Bethune Female School) and was a key advocate of women's education in Bengal.
In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around:
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Why
The Rakhmabai case centred on age of consent and restitution of conjugal rights, Rakhmabai refused to join her husband and the court controversy sparked debate on both issues, not women's right to education.
The Vital-Vidhwansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by:
Why
Gopal Baba Walangkar, a pioneer of the Dalit movement, published Vital-Vidhwansak in the late 19th century, making it the first journal specifically targeting the untouchable community.
Consider the following pairs: Movement/Organization — Leader
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Why
All three pairs are correctly matched: Gandhi founded the Anti-Untouchability League (Harijan Sevak Sangh), Swami Sahajanand Saraswati led the All India Kisan Sabha, and Periyar E.V. Ramaswami founded the Self-Respect Movement.
Regarding Wood's Dispatch, which of the following statements are true:
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Why
Wood's Dispatch (1854) introduced the Grants-in-Aid system and recommended establishing universities, but it did not mandate English as the sole medium at all levels, vernacular education was also encouraged.
Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India?
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Why
All three factors, the Charter Act of 1813 (which earmarked funds for education), the General Committee of Public Instruction (1823), and the Orientalist-Anglicist controversy, collectively contributed to the introduction of English education in India.
Consider the following:
Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?
Why
Keshab Chandra Sen founded the Tabernacle of New Dispensation (Church of the New Dispensation) and the Indian Reform Association; the Calcutta Unitarian Committee was established earlier by others including Rammohun Roy.
Satya Shodhak Samaj organised:
Why
Satya Shodhak Samaj was founded by Jyotiba Phule in 1873 in Maharashtra to oppose Brahminical dominance and fight caste oppression.
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj?
Select the correct answer:
Why
Brahmo Samaj opposed idol worship and the exclusive priestly authority over scriptures, but it rejected the infallibility of the Vedas, relying instead on reason and conscience.
Which of the following parties were established by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar?
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Why
Ambedkar founded the All India Scheduled Castes Federation (1942) and the Independent Labour Party (1936); the Peasants and Workers Party of India was not established by him.
In collaboration with David Hare and Alexander Duff, who of the following established Hindu College at Calcutta?
Why
Raja Rammohan Roy, together with David Hare and Alexander Duff, founded Hindu College (now Presidency University) in Calcutta in 1817 to promote Western education.
Consider the following subjects with regard to Non-Cooperation Programme: I. Boycott of law-courts and foreign cloth II. Observance of strict non-violence III. Retention of titles and honours without using them in public IV. Establishment of Panchayats for settling disputes How many of the above were parts of Non-Cooperation Programme?
Why
Retention of titles and honours was to be surrendered (not retained), so statements I, II, and IV were part of the Non-Cooperation Programme, making three correct.
Who provided legal defence to the people arrested in the aftermath of Chauri Chaura incident?
Why
Madan Mohan Malaviya and Krishna Kant Malaviya defended the 172 accused in the Chauri Chaura trial, securing acquittals for many.
Consider the following statements in respect of the Non-Cooperation Movement: I. The Congress declared the attainment of 'Swaraj' by all legitimate and peaceful means to be its objective. II. It was to be implemented in stages with civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes for the next stage only if 'Swaraj' did not come within a year and the Government resorted to repression. How many of the above were parts of Non-Cooperation Programme?
Why
Both statements accurately describe the Non-Cooperation Movement's objectives and phased approach as adopted at the Nagpur Congress session of 1920.
Subsequent to which one of the following events, Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decided to include the upliftment of 'Harijans' in his political and social programme?
Why
After the Poona Pact (1932), Gandhi launched the Harijan campaign, making the upliftment of depressed classes a central part of his constructive programme.
'Sedition has become my religion' was the famous statement given by Gandhiji at the time of:
Why
Gandhi made this famous declaration during his trial in 1922, but the UPSC answer associates it with the Salt Satyagraha at Dandi when he defiantly broke the law in 1930.
With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Why
Gandhi campaigned successfully against indentured labour (abolished 1917) and the INC was declared illegal after the Salt Satyagraha, but Gandhi did support recruitment at Chelmsford's War Conference, making statement 2 false.
The Trade Disputes Act of 1929 provided for:
Why
The Trade Disputes Act of 1929 established a system of conciliation and tribunals for industrial disputes and imposed a ban on strikes in public utilities.
Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?
Why
C. Rajagopalachari led a famous Salt March from Trichy to Vedaranyam on the Tanjore coast in April 1930 to protest the Salt Law.
The 1929 Session of Indian National Congress is of significance in the history of the Freedom Movement because the:
Why
At the Lahore Session of 1929, the INC under Jawaharlal Nehru adopted the Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution and declared 26 January as Independence Day.
The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress (1929) is very important in history, because:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
Only the resolution demanding complete independence (Poorna Swaraj) was passed at the Lahore Session of 1929; statements 2 and 3 do not accurately describe what happened at that session.
One of the following began with the Dandi March?
Why
The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched in 1930 with Gandhi's famous Dandi March, during which he broke the Salt Law by making salt from seawater.
Who of the following rulers of medieval India gave permission to the Portuguese to build a fort at Bhatkal?
Why
Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara empire granted the Portuguese permission to build a fort at Bhatkal to strengthen trade ties.
Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to Portuguese?
Why
Bahadur Shah of Gujarat was compelled to cede Diu to the Portuguese in 1535 while seeking their help against the Mughal threat.
With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Why
Albuquerque did capture Goa from Bijapur in 1510, and the English did lease land from a Vijayanagara representative at Madras, but the Dutch east-coast factories were not granted by Gajapati rulers.
Consider the following statements: 1) Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order 2) Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there 3) The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year Which of the statements given above are correct?
Why
Francis Xavier was a co-founder of the Jesuits and his feast is celebrated annually in Goa, but he died on Shangchuan Island near China, not in Goa.
In the first quarter of seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located? 1) Broach 2) Chicacole 3) Trichinopoly Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Why
Broach (Bharuch) on the Gujarat coast was among the earliest EIC factory locations in the first quarter of the 17th century; Chicacole and Trichinopoly came later.
With reference to the Pondicherry (now Puducherry), consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Portuguese were indeed the first Europeans to occupy Pondicherry; the Dutch came second (not the French), and the English did occupy it temporarily, making only statement 1 correct.
With whose permission did the English set up their first factory in Surat?
Why
The English established their first factory at Surat in 1613 after Captain Thomas Best's naval victory earned Jahangir's farman granting them trading rights.
With reference to the Government of India Act, 1935, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Government of India Act 1935 did provide for an All-India Federation, but Defence and Foreign Affairs were reserved for the Governor-General, not the federal legislature.
Consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms did not grant universal women's suffrage; the GOI Act 1935 gave women reserved seats in the legislature, making only statement 2 correct.
In the Federation established by The Government of India Act of 1935, the residuary powers were given to the:
Why
Under the Government of India Act 1935, residuary powers were vested in the Governor-General, reflecting continued British control over undefined subjects.
The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is based on the scheme provided in the:
Why
The three-list scheme, Union, State, and Concurrent Lists, in the Indian Constitution is directly drawn from the Government of India Act, 1935.
Who was the Provisional President of the Constituent Assembly before Dr. Rajendra Prasad took over?
Why
Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha served as the provisional president of the Constituent Assembly when it first met in December 1946, before Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected permanent president.
With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs: Person — Position held
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Why
All three pairs are correctly matched: Tej Bahadur Sapru led the Liberal Federation, K.C. Neogy was a Constituent Assembly member, and P.C. Joshi served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of India.
With reference to cabinet mission, which of the following statements is/are correct?
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Why
The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 recommended a three-tier federal structure for India but did not address enlarging court powers or ICS composition.
With reference to Indian history, the members of the constituent assembly from the provinces were?
Why
Members of the Constituent Assembly from the provinces were elected indirectly by the members of the provincial legislative assemblies, not by direct popular vote.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: 7th August is declared as the National Handloom Day.
Statement-II: It was in 1905 that the Swadeshi Movement was launched on the same day. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Why
National Handloom Day is indeed observed on 7th August, commemorating the launch of the Swadeshi Movement on that date in 1905 in protest against the Partition of Bengal, so Statement-II correctly explains Statement-I.
With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Swadeshi Movement revived indigenous crafts through the boycott of British goods, and the National Council of Education was founded in 1906 as part of the movement to promote national education.
The 'Swadeshi' and 'Boycott' were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the:
Why
Swadeshi and Boycott were first used as organised political weapons during the anti-Partition agitation of 1905–08 in Bengal.
What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?
Why
The Surat Split occurred because the Extremists under Tilak had lost confidence in the Moderates' petitionary approach and demanded more aggressive methods, leading to an irreparable division.
Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'?
Why
The Swadeshi Movement (1905–08) sharpened ideological differences within Congress, ultimately leading to the Moderate–Extremist split at the Surat session in 1907.
The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until:
Why
The Partition of Bengal was annulled by King George V at the Delhi Durbar in 1911, reuniting Bengal after six years of intense nationalist agitation.
What was the immediate cause for the launch of the Swadeshi Movement?
Why
The Swadeshi Movement was directly triggered by the announcement of the Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon in 1905, which nationalists viewed as a deliberate attempt to divide the Bengali people.
Four resolutions were passed at the famous Calcutta session of Indian National Congress in 1906. The question of either retention OR of rejection of these four resolutions became the cause of a split in Congress at the next Congress session held in Surat in 1907. Which one of the following was NOT one of those resolutions?
Why
The four Calcutta 1906 resolutions were Swaraj, Swadeshi, Boycott, and National Education; the annulment of the Partition of Bengal was not one of the four formal resolutions.
In the context of the Indian freedom struggle, 16th October 1905 is well known for which one of the following reasons?
Why
16 October 1905 was the date on which the Partition of Bengal formally came into effect, marking a day of mourning and protest across Bengal.
By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India? (a) The Regulating Act (b) The Pitt's India Act (c) The Charter Act of 1793 (d) The Charter Act of 1833
Why
The Charter Act of 1833 redesignated the Governor General of Bengal as the Governor General of India, centralising all civil, military and revenue authority.
Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the:
Why
British rule forced farmers to grow cash crops for export, leading to commercialization of agriculture rather than growth in indigenous industry or urban migration on any significant scale.
Who among the following was/were associated with the introduction of Ryotwari Settlement in India during the British rule?
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Why
Alexander Read and Thomas Munro together pioneered the Ryotwari Settlement in South India; Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, not Ryotwari.
Consider the following:
Which of the above was/were introduced into India by the English?
Why
None of the three were introduced by the English, soil-based assessment predates them, mobile cannons were used by the Mughals, and tobacco and chillies were brought to India by the Portuguese.
With reference to Ryotwari Settlement, consider the statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
All three statements correctly describe the Ryotwari system, direct peasant-to-government payment, issuance of pattas (title deeds), and prior survey and assessment of land.
The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following provisions?
Why
Increased litigation under Cornwallis's Permanent Settlement arose primarily from the legal recognition of property rights in land and the new civil courts, none of which corresponds exactly to options (a), (b) or (c).
With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Cripps Mission proposal allowed provinces to opt out and negotiate separate agreements with Britain, but the Constituent Assembly was to be elected (not nominated) by provincial assemblies and nominated by princely states, so statement 1 is partially wrong on the 'nominated by Provincial Assemblies' part, making only statement 2 correct.
With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?
Why
On 8 August 1942, the All India Congress Committee met in Bombay and passed the Quit India Resolution, launching the Quit India Movement under Mahatma Gandhi's leadership.
With reference to Indian freedom struggle, consider the following events:
What is the correct chronological sequence of the above events?
Why
The Second Round Table Conference was held in 1931, Quit India Movement was launched in 1942, and the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny occurred in 1946, giving the sequence 3-2-1.
The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War:
Why
The Cripps Mission of 1942 promised Dominion status for India after the war, not full independence, which was one reason Congress rejected the proposals.
Quit India movement was launched in response to?
Why
The Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942 after Congress rejected the Cripps Mission proposals, which were seen as offering too little and too late.
Which one of the following observations is not true about the quit India movement of 1942?
Why
The Quit India Movement did attract workers and the labour class broadly; the claim that it did not attract the labour class is the incorrect observation.
With reference to the Indian freedom struggle, Usha Mehta is well-known for?
Why
Usha Mehta ran the clandestine Congress Radio in 1942, broadcasting nationalist messages during the Quit India Movement before being arrested by the British.
Who among the following were official Congress negotiators with the Cripps Mission?
Why
Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad were the official Congress representatives who negotiated with Sir Stafford Cripps during the 1942 Mission.
After the Quit India Movement, C. Rajagopalachari issued a pamphlet entitled 'The Way Out'. Which one of the following was a proposal in this pamphlet?
Why
Rajagopalachari's pamphlet 'The Way Out' broadly proposed a solution to the constitutional deadlock between the Congress and the British government after the failure of the Quit India Movement.
Consider the following statements: The Cripps Proposals include the provision for
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Cripps proposals provided for a constitution-making body but offered only Dominion status (not full independence), so only statement 2 is correct.
In the 'Individual Satyagraha', Vinoba Bhave was chosen as the first Satyagrahi. Who was the second?
Why
In the Individual Satyagraha launched in 1940, Vinoba Bhave was the first satyagrahi and Jawaharlal Nehru was selected as the second, while Gandhi carefully chose each participant.
Who of the following Prime Ministers sent the Cripps Mission to India?
Why
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sent Sir Stafford Cripps to India in March 1942 with proposals to secure Indian cooperation for the British war effort.
During the freedom struggle, Aruna Asaf Ali was a major woman organiser of underground activity in:
Why
Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the Congress flag at Gowalia Tank in 1942 and played a key underground role in the Quit India Movement, earning her the title 'Heroine of the 1942 Movement'.
With which one of the following movements is the slogan 'Do or Die' associated?
Why
Mahatma Gandhi gave the 'Do or Die' call at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay on 8 August 1942, launching the Quit India Movement.
In the Government of India Act 1919, the functions of Provincial Government were divided into "Reserved" and "Transferred" subjects. Which of the following were treated as "Reserved" subjects?
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Why
Under the dyarchy introduced by the 1919 Act, Administration of Justice, Land Revenue, and Police were kept as Reserved subjects under the Governor, while Local Self-Government was a Transferred subject.
Consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms did not grant universal women's suffrage; the Government of India Act 1935 did provide reserved seats for women in the legislature.
Consider the following statements about 'the Charter Act of 1813':
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Why
The Charter Act of 1813 ended the EIC's trade monopoly (except tea/China trade) and explicitly asserted British Crown sovereignty over Indian territories, but revenues were not brought under Parliament at this stage.
In the context of Indian history, the principle of 'Dyarchy (diarchy)' refers to:
Why
Dyarchy under the Government of India Act 1919 divided provincial subjects into Reserved (under the Governor) and Transferred (under elected ministers) categories.
The Montague-Chelmsford Proposals were related to:
Why
The Montagu-Chelmsford Report (1918) proposed constitutional reforms that became the basis of the Government of India Act 1919, introducing dyarchy in provinces.
The Government of India Act of 1919 clearly defined:
Why
The Government of India Act 1919 clearly demarcated central and provincial subjects, giving provinces greater legislative authority in transferred subjects.
What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victoria's Proclamation (1858)?
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Why
The 1858 Proclamation promised no annexation of princely states and transferred Indian governance from the Company to the Crown; regulating Company trade was irrelevant as the Company was abolished by the same Act.
Which of the following is/are the principal feature(s) of the Government of India Act, 1919?
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Why
The GoI Act 1919 introduced dyarchy in provinces and devolved legislative authority to provinces; separate communal electorates for Muslims were introduced by the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909.
Consider the following freedom fighters:
Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?
Why
Rash Behari Bose was the key figure who worked with the Ghadar Party and helped plan the 1915 revolt in India; Barindra Ghosh and Jogesh Chatterjee were associated with Bengal revolutionary groups, not the Ghadar Party.
The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a:
Why
The Ghadar Party was founded in 1913 by Indian immigrants in North America and had its headquarters at San Francisco.
With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1) The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State 2) The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire 3) Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani Select the correct answer using the code given below
Why
Only statement 2 is correct, the Mysore Kingdom grew out of the fragmented Vijayanagara Empire after its decline; Arcot was a Mughal provincial appointment, not derived from Hyderabad.
Which of the following statements do not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley?
Why
Securing a fixed income was not an objective of the Subsidiary Alliance; its real aims were to maintain a British-controlled army at Indian rulers' expense, neutralise European threats and establish paramountcy.
The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were:
Why
In mid-18th-century Bengal, the Company's main exports were cotton textiles, silk, saltpetre (for gunpowder) and opium, goods that found ready markets in Europe and Asia.
In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillion are remembered as:
Why
Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillion were the three INA officers tried at the Red Fort in the famous INA trials of 1945-46.
Wellesley established the Fort William College Calcutta because:
Why
Lord Wellesley founded Fort William College in 1800 primarily to train newly arrived British civil servants in Indian languages and customs for administrative efficiency.
With reference to educational institutions during colonial rule in India, consider the following pairs: Institution — Founder
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
Why
Only Calcutta Madrasa–Warren Hastings is correctly paired; Sanskrit College at Benaras was founded by Jonathan Duncan (not William Jones), and Fort William College was indeed founded by Arthur Wellesley, but the Sanskrit College pairing is wrong, making only pair 2 fully correct.
Who among the following Governor General created the Covenanted Civil Service of India which later came to be known as the Indian Civil Service?
Why
Lord Cornwallis reorganised and professionalised the company's administration, creating the Covenanted Civil Service, the forerunner of the Indian Civil Service, to curb corruption.
By a regulation in 1793, the District Collector was deprived of his judicial powers and made the collecting agent only. What was the reason for such regulation?
Why
Cornwallis believed in the separation of powers and was concerned that combining revenue and judicial authority in one official created dangerous concentrations of power, so he separated the two functions.
Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of:
Why
The invention of synthetic indigo dye in the late 19th century made natural indigo economically unviable in world markets, causing planters to abandon cultivation.
With reference to the history of India, "Ulgulan" or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?
Why
"Ulgulan" (Great Tumult) was the name given to Birsa Munda's tribal uprising of 1899–1900 among the Munda people in Chhotanagpur against British rule and landlord exploitation.
After the Santhal rising subsided, what were the measures taken by the colonial Government?
Select the correct answer using a code given below:
Why
After the Santhal Hul (1855–56), the British created the Santhal Paraganas as a separate district and passed laws prohibiting Santhals from transferring their land to non-Santhals to prevent future grievances.
The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for:
Why
The Tebhaga movement (1946–47) demanded that sharecroppers retain two-thirds of the harvest instead of the customary half, reducing the landlord's share from one-half to one-third.
With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Why
Gandhi campaigned successfully against indentured labour (ended 1917) and the INC was declared illegal after the Salt Satyagraha; however, Gandhi did support recruiting at the War Conference, making statement 2 false.
Which one of the following is a very significant aspect of the Champaran Satyagraha?
Why
Champaran Satyagraha (1917) was significant because it brought peasant grievances against indigo planters into the mainstream of India's national struggle for the first time.
What was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi to organise a satyagraha on behalf of the peasants of Kheda?
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Kheda Satyagraha (1918) was triggered because the colonial administration refused to suspend land revenue collection despite crop failure from drought; there was no proposal for permanent settlement.
Consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
It was Raj Kumar Shukla, not Rajendra Prasad, who persuaded Gandhi to visit Champaran; J. B. Kriplani did assist Gandhi in the Champaran investigation.
Who of the following founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association?
Why
Mahatma Gandhi founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association (Majoor Mahajan Sangh) in 1920 after his successful mill-workers' satyagraha of 1918.
In 1920, which of the following changed its name to "Swarajya Sabha"?
Why
Annie Besant's All India Home Rule League renamed itself the Swarajya Sabha in 1920 as the political climate shifted towards Gandhi's mass movement.
Annie Besant was:
Select the correct statement / statements using the codes given below.
Why
Annie Besant started the Home Rule Movement (1916) and served as INC president (1917), but the Theosophical Society was founded by Helena Blavatsky, not Besant, she merely led it later.
Who among the following were the founders of the 'Hind Mazdoor Sabha' established in 1948?
Why
The Hind Mazdoor Sabha was founded in 1948 by Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujan, and G.G. Mehta as a socialist-leaning central trade union federation.
The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to:
Why
The Radcliffe Committee, headed by Sir Cyril Radcliffe, was appointed to draw the boundary lines between India and Pakistan at the time of partition in 1947.
Consider the following statements:
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Why
The Factories Act 1881 regulated working hours and conditions for children but did not fix wages or permit trade unions; N.M. Lokhande is correctly recognised as the pioneer of labour organisation in British India.
Consider the following pairs:
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Why
Radhakanta Deb was the first president of the British Indian Association (1851) and Surendranath Banerjee founded the Indian Association (1876); Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty founded the Madras Native Association, not the Madras Mahajana Sabha.
Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India?
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Why
All three, Dadabhai Naoroji (drain of wealth theory), G. Subramania Iyer (economic journalism), and R.C. Dutt (Economic History of India), were prominent critics of British economic exploitation of India.
The Ilbert Bill Controversy was related to the:
Why
The Ilbert Bill (1883) sought to allow Indian magistrates to try European British subjects, removing an existing racial disqualification, this triggered fierce opposition from the European community in India.
Consider the following statements: The most effective contribution made by Dadabhai Naoroji to the cause of Indian National Movement was that he
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
Why
Dadabhai Naoroji's primary contribution was his 'drain of wealth' theory exposing British economic exploitation; he did not focus on interpreting ancient texts or social reform as his chief contribution.
With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, "Home Charges" formed an important part of the drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted "Home Charges"?
Why
Home Charges comprised costs of the India Office in London and salaries/pensions of British officials in India; costs of wars outside India were separate military expenditure not classified under Home Charges.
The object of the Butler Committee of 1927 was to?
Why
The Butler Committee (1927) was set up to examine and clarify the relationship between the paramount power (British India) and the Indian Princely States.
The people of India agitated against the arrival of the Simon commission because?
Why
The Simon Commission was boycotted because it consisted entirely of British members with no Indian representation, which was seen as an insult to Indian political aspirations.
With reference to the period of Indian freedom struggle, which of the following was/were recommended by the Nehru report?
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Why
The Nehru Report (1928) recommended Dominion Status (not complete independence), joint electorates with reserved seats for minorities, and fundamental rights, so statements 2 and 3 are correct.
With reference to the Simon Commission's recommendations, which one of the following statements is correct?
Why
The Simon Commission recommended replacing the system of dyarchy in provinces with full responsible government, a key reform proposal of the report.
Consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim President of Congress (1887), but Annie Besant (1917) was the first woman President, not Sarojini Naidu, making only statement 2 correct.
During the Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?
Why
The National Social Conference was formed in 1887 by M.G. Ranade because the Indian National Congress deliberately avoided social reform issues to maintain political unity, necessitating a separate platform.
What was the purpose with which Sir William Wedderburn and W.S. Caine had set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee in 1893?
Why
The Indian Parliamentary Committee was established to lobby British MPs and use the House of Commons as a forum to press for political reforms and better governance in India.
With reference to Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Congress Socialist Party, founded in 1934, advocated socialist transformation within Congress but did not support boycott of British goods, proletarian dictatorship, or separate electorates, all three statements are incorrect.
The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939, because:
Why
Congress ministries resigned in October 1939 primarily because the Viceroy declared India a party to World War II without consulting Indian legislators, none of the other listed reasons is correct.
Consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Why
The Bombay Manifesto of 1936, signed by leading industrialists, did oppose socialist ideas being advocated within Congress, but its signatories were largely confined to Bombay and did not represent business communities across all of India.
With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct?
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Why
The Rowlatt Act was indeed based on the Sedition Committee report and Gandhi used the Home Rule League network for the satyagraha; the Simon Commission came in 1927–28, not 1919.
The Rowlatt Act aimed at:
Why
The Rowlatt Act (1919) allowed the government to imprison suspects without trial and to try political cases without juries, to curb revolutionary activities.
During the Indian Freedom Struggle, why did Rowlatt Act arouse popular indignation?
Why
The Rowlatt Act empowered the government to detain political suspects without trial, directly violating civil liberties and fuelling mass protests.
Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932, mainly because:
Why
Gandhi fasted unto death in September 1932 to protest the Communal Award by Ramsay MacDonald, which gave separate electorates to depressed classes, which Gandhi feared would divide Hindu society.
For the Karachi session of Indian National Congress in 1931, presided over by Sardar Patel, who drafted the Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Programme?
Why
Jawaharlal Nehru drafted the landmark Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy adopted at the Karachi Session of the INC in 1931.