PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

(PYQ) WORKBOOK OF
HISTORY OF
MODERN INDIA
For Civil Services Prelims Examination

(1200+ Topic Wise Solved Objective Questions from UPSC CSE Prelims (1991 to 2023),
CAPF & CDS EXAM (2014 to 2023) and STATE PCS Prelims Exams (1991 to 2023))

PYQ WORKBOOK

Forum Learning Centres

DELHI (ORN) MUKHERJEE PATNA HYDERABAD GURGAON
NAGAR
19, Pusa Road, 2nd 862, Banda 2nd floor, AG 1st Floor, SM Plaza, Property No. 894,
Floor, IAPL House, Bahadur Marg, Palace, E Boring RTC X Rd, Indira G.F., Saraswati
Opposite Metro Ist Floor, Dr. Canal Road, Patna, Park Road, Jawahar Vihar, Chakkarpur,
Pillar #95-96, Mukherji Nagar, Bihar - 800001 Nagar, Hyderabad, Near MG Rd
Karol Bagh, New Near Batra Telangana - Metro Station,
Delhi-05 Cinema, Delhi - 500020 Sector-28,
110009 Gurgaon, Haryana
https://blog.forumias.com | www.academy.forumias.com | 9311740400
 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (PYQ) WORKBOOK OF
HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
For Civil Services Prelims Examination

First Edition (Print): 2024

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in any retrieval system of
any nature without the written permission of the copyright holder and the publisher, application
for which shall be made to the publisher.
©Forum (Flaviant Network Pvt. Ltd.)

This book/material is sold subject to the conditions that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise,
be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any
form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition
including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

We are continuously working on improving our quality. If you are unhappy or happy with the
quality of this study material, want to report an error, or want to leave us feedback, you can email
us at ravi@forumias.com

© 2024 1st Print Edition | For feedback email us : ravi@forumias.com

 The PYQ WORKBOOK
Dear Aspirants,

ForumIAS is glad to inform you that we have come up with a PYQ Workbook Series
to provide the aspirants with a holistic idea regarding challenges and opportunities
associated with the changing pattern and difficulty level of UPSC CSE Prelims Exam.
The PYQ Workbook includes the questions asked in different objective questions-based
exams conducted by Union Public Service Commission like UPSC CSE Prelims Exam,
CAPF Exam and CDS Exam. It will also include the solved previous year questions from
different State PCS Prelims Examinations, to equip the aspirants with every relevant fact
and concept needed for their UPSC CSE Prelims Exam preparation. This PYQ Workbook
Series, along with ForumIAS Practicebooks and Comprehensive Testbooks, will help the
aspirants to get the required factual as well as conceptual clarity regarding the different
subjects and to crack their UPSC CSE Prelims Exam.

Trend of Modern History Questions in UPSC CSE Prelims in recent years:

HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

14

11
No. of Questions

10
10
10 8
7
6
5 7 7 7
4 4 4

2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2023

Year
Number of Modern History questions asked in UPSC CSE GS-1 Prelims from 2011 till
2023

 As it can be seen from the above analysis, the weightage of questions of History
of Modern India has experienced a fluctuating trend in recent years. Somewhere
between 4 to 15 questions have been asked in History of Modern India each year and
the difficulty level of questions have varied.
 The questions in Modern History have been a good mix of traditional and not so
traditional ones in recent years. The traditional questions can be answered with a good
reading of NCERTs and standard books.
 On the other hand, there have been a few random and not so traditional questions
related to different personalities and aspects related to them, some isolated events in
History of Modern India etc. For example, a) Rakhmabai case b) question related
to archaeologists Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess
and Walter Elliot c) question related to Francis Xavier etc. Also, some questions on
books like Songs from Prision, Desher Katha and a question which relates National
Handloom Day with the Swadeshi Movement. These types of questions have been
asked mostly because these personalities or books or cases or events have been in news
for one reason or other.

Ultimately, one has to supplement the knowledge from standard books with current affairs.
With this basic strategy, aspirants will be able to answer 70 to 80 percent questions of History
of Modern India with ease.

Happy Learning and Happy Testing!!!

Your team @ForumIAS
 INDEX
UNIT 1. ADVENT OF EUROPEANS AND CONSOLIDATION OF
BRITISH EMPIRE IN INDIA .....1 – 25
1.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years' Questions .....1
1.2. Other Examination Previous Years' Questions .....3
SOLUTIONS .....10

UNIT 2. REBELLIONS AND REFORM MOVEMENTS .....26 – 80

2.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years' Questions .....26
2.2. Other Examination Previous Years' Questions .....28
SOLUTIONS .....45

UNIT 3. EMERGENCE OF INDIAN NATIONALISM [1857-1919] .....81 – 135

3.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years' Questions .....81
3.2. Other Examination Previous Years' Questions .....85
SOLUTIONS .....100

UNIT 4. ERA OF MASS NATIONALISM [1919 - 1947] .....136 – 212

4.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years' Questions .....136
4.2. Other Examination Previous Years' Questions .....144
SOLUTIONS .....162

UNIT 5. GOVERNANCE AND OTHER ASPECTS .....213 – 258

5.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years' Questions .....213
5.2. Other Examination Previous Years' Questions .....216
SOLUTIONS .....230

UNIT 6. MISCELLANEOUS .....259 – 346

6.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years' Questions .....259
6.2. Other Examination Previous Years' Questions .....265
SOLUTIONS .....288
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

ADVENT OF EUROPEANS AND CONSOLIDATION OF BRITISH EMPIRE IN INDIA
*This unit consists of questions from Advent of Europeans and Consolidation of British empire in
India.

1.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions (a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only
1. With reference to Indian history, consider (c) 3 only
the following statements: (d) 1, 2 and 3
1. The Dutch established their factories/ 4. Which of the following statements correctly
warehouses on the east coast on lands explain the impact of Industrial Revolution
granted to them by Gajapati rulers. on India during the first half of the
2. Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa nineteenth century? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2020]
from the Bijapur Sultanate. (a) Indian handicrafts were ruined.
3. The English East India Company (b) Machines were introduced in the Indian
established a factory at Madras on a plot textile industry in large numbers.
of land leased from a representative of the (c) Railway lines were laid in many parts of
Vijayanagara empire. the country
Which of the statements given above are (d) Heavy duties were imposed on the
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2022] imports of British manufactures
(a) 1 and 2 only 5. The staple commodities of export by the
(b) 2 and 3 only English East India Company from Bengal
(c) 1 and 3 only in the middle of the 18th century were:
(d) 1, 2 and 3 [UPSC CSE Pre. 2018]
(a) Raw cotton, oil-seeds and opium
2. In the first quarter of seventeenth century,
(b) Sugar, salt, zinc and lead.
in which of the following was/were the
(c) Copper, silver, gold, spices and tea
factory/factories of the English East India
(d) Cotton, silk, saltpetre and opium
Company located?
1. Broach 6. Economically, one of the results of the
2. Chicacole British rule in India in the 19th century was
the [UPSC CSE Pre. 2018]
3. Trichinopoly
(a) increase in the export of Indian
Select the correct answer using the code given handicrafts
below: [UPSC CSE Pre. 2021] (b) growth in the number of Indian owned
(a) 1 only factories
(b) 1 and 2 (c) commercialization of Indian agriculture
(c) 3 only (d) rapid increase in the urban population
(d) 2 and 3
7. Consider the following:
3. With reference to the history of India, [UPSC CSE Pre. 2012]
consider the following pairs: 1. Assessment of land revenue on the basis
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2020] of nature of the soil and the quality of
crops.
1. Aurang In-charge of treasury of the
2. Use of mobile cannons in warfare.
State
3. Cultivation of tobacco and red chillies.
2. Banian Indian agent of the East
Which of the above was/were introduced into
India Company
India by the English?
3. Mirasidar Designated revenue payer (a) 1 only
to the State (b) 1 and 2
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly (c) 2 and 3
matched? (d) None

1 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
8. During the time of which Mughal Emperor
did the English East India Company
establish its first factory in India?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2009]
(a) Akbar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shahjahan
(d) Aurangzeb
9. In the year 1613, where was the English East
India Company given permission to set up a
factory (trading post)?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2006]
(a) Bangalore
(b) Madras
(c) Masulipattam
(d) Surat
10. Which one of the following is the correct
statement? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2005]
(a) The modern Kochi was a Dutch colony
till India’s Independence.
(b) The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and
built Fort Williams in the modern Kochi.
(c) The modern Kochi was first a Dutch
Colony before the Portuguese took over
from them.
(d) The modern Kochi never became a part
of the British colony.
11. Which of the following shifted his capital
from Murshidabad to Munger?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2005]
(a) Alivardi Khan
(b) Siraj-ud-Daula
(c) Mir Jafar
(d) Mir Qasim
12. Which one of the following is the correct
chronological order of the battles fought in
India in the 18th Century?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2005]
(a) Battle of Wandiwash-Battle of Buxar-
Battle of Ambur-Battle of Plassey
(b) Battle of Ambur-Battle of Plassey-Battle
of Wandiwash-Battle of Buxar
(c) Battle of Wandiwash-Battle of Plassey-
Battle of Ambur-Battle of Buxar
(d) Battle of Ambur-Battle of Buxar-Battle of
Wandiwash-Battle of Plassey
13. Consider the following statements:
1. In the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmad
Shah Abdali defeated Ibrahim Lodi
2. Tipu Sultan was killed in the Third
Anglo-Mysore War
PYQ Workbook
3. Mir Jafar entered in conspiracy with the
English for the defeat of Nawab Siraj-ud-
daulah in the Battle of Plassey
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2004]
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) None of the above
14. Which one of the statements is not correct?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2003]
(a) Ali Mardan Khan introduced the system
of revenue farming in Bengal.
(b) Maharaja Ranjit Singh set up modern
foundries to manufacture cannons at
Lahore.
(c) Sawai Jai Singh of Amber had Euclid’s
‘Elements of Geometry’ translated into
Sanskrit.
(d) Sultan Tipu of Mysore gave money for
the construction of the idol of Goddess
Sharda in the Sringeri temple.
15. In India, among the following locations,
the French established their earliest factory
at: [UPSC CSE Pre. 2003]
(a) Surat
(b) Pulicat
(c) Cochin
(d) Qasim Bazar
16. With reference to the entry of European
powers into India, which one of the
following statements is NOT correct?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2003]
(a) The Portuguese captured Goa in 1499
(b) The English opened their first factory in
South India at Masulipatnam
(c) In Eastern India, the English company
opened its first factory in Orissa in 1633
(d) Under the leadership of Dupleix, the
French occupied Madras in 1746
17. Which of the following pairs are correctly
matched?
List-I (Period) List-II (War)
A. AD 1767-69 1. First Anglo-Maratha
War
B. AD 1790-92 2. Third Mysore War
C. AD 1824-26 3. First Anglo-Burmese
War
D. AD 1845-46 4. Second Anglo-Sikh
War
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre. 2004]
2
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

(a) 2 and 4 A B C D
(b) 3 and 4 (a) 4 3 2 1
(c) 1 and 2 (b) 4 3 1 2
(d) 2 and 3 (c) 3 4 1 2
18. With which one of the following mountain (d) 3 4 2 1
tribes did the British first come into contact 22. Who among the following was the first
with after the grant of Diwani in the year European to initiate the policy of taking
1765? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2002] part in the quarrels of Indian Princess with
(a) Garo a view to acquire territories?
(b) Khasi [UPSC CSE Pre. 1996]
(c) Kuki (a) Clive
(d) Tipperah (b) Dupleix
19. Who among the following Indian rulers (c) Albuquerque
established embassies in foreign countries (d) Warren Hastings
on modern lines? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2001] 23. Hooghly was used as a base for piracy in the
(a) Haider Ali Bay of Bengal by: [UPSC CSE Pre. 1995]
(b) Mir Qasim (a) Portuguese
(c) Shah Alam-II (b) French
(d) Tipu Sultan (c) Danish
(d) British
20. Match list-I with list-II and select the
correct answer using the codes given below 24. Which one of the following pairs is correctly
the lists: matched? [UPSC CSE Pre. 1995]
List-I List-II List-I List-II
(Voyagers) (Countries) (a) Battle of Buxar Mir Jafar Vs. Clive
A. Vasco da Gama 1. Spain (b) Battle of French Vs. East
B. Christopher 2. Portugal Wandiwash India Company
Columbus (c) Battle of Dalhousie Vs.
C. Captain Cook 3. Holland Chilianwala Marathas
D. Tasman 4. Great Britain (d) Battle of Khurda Nizam Vs. East
India Company
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre. 2000]
A B C D 25. The first to start a joint stock company to
(a) 3 2 1 4 trade with India were:
(b) 2 1 4 3 [UPSC CSE Pre. 1994]
(c) 1 4 3 2 (a) Portuguese
(d) 4 3 2 1 (b) Dutch
(c) French
21. Match list-I with list-II and select the (d) Danish
correct answer using the codes given below
the lists: 1.2. Other Examination Previous Years’
List-I List-II Questions
(Year) (Event) 26. Consider the following events and arrange
A. 1775 1. First Anglo-Burmese War them in chronological order:
B. 1780 2. First Anglo-Afghan War I. Battle of Mudki
C. 1824 3. First Anglo-Maratha War II. Battle of Porto Novo
D. 1838 4. Second Anglo-Mysore III. Battle of Shakarkheda
War IV. Battle of Bedara
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre. 1999] Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

3 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

A B C D 32. In which of the following places the Dutch

(a) III IV II I established their trading centre in India?
(b) I II III IV [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
(c) II III IV I (a) Nagappattinam, Chinsura, Machilipatnam
(d) IV III II I (b) Surat, Bharuch, Agra
27. At which place did Raja Ranjit Singh set up (c) Cochin, Ahmedabad, Patna
the Adalat-i-Ala? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021] (d) All of the above
(a) Amritsar 33. Who remarked about the East India
(b) Lahore
Company that “The Company is an anomaly,
(c) Firozpur
but it is part of a system where everything is
(d) Multan
an anomaly”? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
28. In India the First Municipal Corporation (a) Warren Hastings
was set up in which one among the following (b) G.B. Macaulay
places? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021] (c) Lord Clive
(a) Calcutta (d) Henry Dundas
(b) Madras
(c) Bombay 34. Match list-I with list-II and select the
(d) Delhi correct answer using the codes given below
the lists:
29. With reference to the Treaty of “Aix-la-
Chapelle-1748” which of the following List-I List-II
statements is/are correct? A. First Carnatic War 1. Ended by Treaty
1. The 1st Carnatic War was ended. of Paris
2. The English got back Madras.
B. Third Carnetic 2. Britishers Lost
Select the correct answer using the codes War
given below. [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
C. Second Carnatic 3. Inconclusive
(a) 1 only War War
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 D. First Mysore War 4. Ended by
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 Treaty of Aix La
Chapelle
30. Who among the following established a Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
modern armory in Dindigal Mysore in
1755? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020] A B C D
(a) Nanjraj (a) 1 3 4 2
(b) Haider Ali (b) 2 4 1 3
(c) Devraj (c) 4 1 3 2
(d) Chikka Krishnaraj (d) 3 1 4 2
31. Match list-I with list-II and select the 35. Which of the following is correctly matched?
correct answer using the codes given below [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]
the lists:
List-I List-II
List-I List-II
(a) First Anglo- Hyder Ali was defeated
A. Treaty of Allahabad 1. 1782 Mysore War War
B. Treaty of Manglore 2. 1784 (b) Second Hyder Ali defeated the
C. Treaty of Salbai 3. 1769 Anglo-Mysore British
D. Treaty of Madras 4. 1765 War
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019] (c) Third Anglo- Tipu Sultan won the
Mysore War battle and did not cede
A B C D
his territory to British
(a) 4 2 3 1
(b) 2 4 3 1 (d) Fourth Anglo- Tipu was defeated and
(c) 4 2 1 3 Mysore War was killed in the thick
(d) 2 4 1 3 of battle

PYQ Workbook 4
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

36. Which one of the following statements is 1. The first European power to occupy
correct about Dalip Singh, the ex-Maharaja Pondicherry were the Portuguese.
of Punjab? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] 2. The second European power to occupy
(a) He died in Paris on 23 October 1893. Pondicherry were the French.
(b) He was cremated at Nasik. 3. The English never occupied Pondicherry.
(c) He never renounced the Sikh faith. Which of the statements given above is/are
(d) He had never visited Russia. correct? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
37. Which one of the following was the last (a) 1 only
Governor of Bengal appointed by the (b) 2 and 3
Mughal Emperor? (c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
(a) Sarfraz Khan 44. Sirajuddaula was defeated by Lord Clive in
(b) Murshid Quli Khan the battle of- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
(c) Alivardi Khan (a) Plassey
(d) Shujauddin Muhammad Khan (b) Buxar
(c) Munger
38. Begum Samru constructed most eminent (d) Wandiwash
church at: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]
45. In which Governor’s tenure, Diwani rights
(a) Mount Abu of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha was granted
(b) Nainital to East India Company by Emperor Shah
(c) Sardhana Alam? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
(d) Kanpur (a) Lord Clive
39. Which one of the following was the (b) Lord Cornwallis
Emperor of India when the British East (c) Lord Wellesley
India Company was formed in London? (d) Lord William Bentinck
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012] 46. The kingdom of Ranjit Singh included–
(a) Akbar [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
(b) Jahangir (a) Delhi
(c) Shahjahan (b) Kabul
(d) Aurangzeb (c) Makran
40. At which one of the following places in (d) Srinagar
India did the Portuguese build their first 47. Among the following factories in Bengal,
fortress? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010] the one established by the Portuguese was:
(a) Anjidiv [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004]
(b) Cannanore (a) Bandel
(c) Cochin (b) Chinsurah
(d) Goa (c) Hooghly
(d) Shrirampur
41. Tipu Sultan defeated the British Army in
1780 at– [U.P.P..C.S. (Mains) 2009] 48. Who among the following was the founder
(a) Hyderabad of Calcutta?
(b) Pollilur [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
(c) Srirangapatna (a) Charles Ayar
(d) Nizamabad (b) Job Charnok
(c) Garold Angiyar
42. Who were the first Europeans to come to (d) William Novris
India for trade? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
49. The Anglo-Afghan relations in the 19th
(a) Dutch century were influenced by the fear of
(b) English whose expansion towards India?
(c) French
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2004]
(d) Portuguese
(a) Afghanistan
43. With reference to Pondicherry (Now (b) France
Puducherry), consider the following (c) Iran
statements: (d) Russia

5 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

50. The most decisive battle that led to the (a) De Almeida
establishment of supremacy of the British (b) Albuquerque
in India was: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2003] (c) Dupleix
(a) The Battle of Buxar (d) Robert Clive
(b) The Battle of Plassey
57. Bombay was taken over by the English East
(c) The Battle of Wandiwash
India Company from–
(d) The Third Battle of Panipat
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
51. Who among the following is considered the (a) The Dutch
founder of French Company in India: (b) The French
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2003] (c) The Danish
(a) Richelieu (d) The Portuguese
(b) Mazarin
(c) Colbert 58. Capital of Kingdom of Maharaja Ranjit
(d) Franco Martin Singh was: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]
(a) Amritsar
52. The French failed to establish power in the (b) Patiala
Deccan because: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998] (c) Lahore
(a) Duplex was not a capable general (d) Kapurthala
(b) The English had a strong army
(c) The French were not liked by the Indians 59. With which misal was Ranjit Singh related
(d) Pondicherry was not a strategic Centre [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2021]
53. The following European Powers entered (a) Aahluvaliyan
into Indian trade at one time or the other: (b) Dalevaliyan
1. The English (c) Kanhaiya
(d) Shukarchakiya
2. The Dutch
3. The French 60. Where was the Western presidency situated
4. The Portuguese in the early period of the East India
Company? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Select the correct chronological order of their
entry from the code given below: (a) Surat
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997] (b) Satara
(c) Bombay
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4
(d) Panaji
(b) 4, 2, 1, 3
(c) 3, 4, 2, 1 61. Which English Governor of East India
(d) 2, 3, 4, 1 Company in India was expelled by
54. The secret of success of East India Company Aurangzeb- [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]
in India was: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994] (a) Aungier
(a) Absence of Nationalism in India (b) Sir John Child
(b) The company army received western (c) Sir John Gayer
training and they had modern arms. (d) Sir Nicholas Waite
(c) Indian Soldiers lacked fidelity 62. Who was the ruler of Delhi at the time of
consequently the one who paid them the battle of Buxar?
sufficient could have them on his service [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
(d) All the above three
(a) Aurangzeb
55. Who was the real founder of Portuguese (b) Shah Alam I
power in India? (c) Bahadur Shah Zafar
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2003] (d) Shah Alam II
(a) Vasco da Gama 63. Which of the following war began the
(b) Albuquerque consolidation of British supremacy over
(c) Bartholomeu Dias India? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]
(d) George Oxdone
(a) Battle of Buxar
56. Which one of the followings is connected (b) Battle of Plassey
with ‘Blue Water’ policy? (c) 3rd Battle of Mysore
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016] (d) Independence Struggle of 1857

PYQ Workbook 6
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

64. The successor of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (c) Dost Mohammad

was: [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003] (d) Sher Ali
(a) Harsingh Nalwa 72. Tipu Sultan set up his capital at–
(b) Kharak Singh
[38th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1992]
(c) Sher Singh
(d) Naunihal Singh (a) Srirangapatna
(b) Mysore
65. British general who defeated/beat Haider (c) Banglore
Ali in War of Porto Novo: (d) Coimbatore
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
73. Which of the following statements about
(a) Captain Popham ‘Agency Houses’ is/are correct?
(b) Sir Eyer Coote 1. They were important commercial
(c) Sir Hector Munro formations in the late eighteenth and
(d) General Goddad nineteenth century India.
66. Who was appointed Deputy Diwan of 2. The operation of managing agencies
Murshidabad by Robert Clive after the remained confined to Calcutta.
Allahabad Treaty? Select the correct answer using the code given
[45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001] below. [CAPF 2022]
(a) Mohd. Raza Khan (a) 1 only
(b) Shitab Rai (b) 2 only
(c) Rai Durlabh (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Syed Ghulam Hussain (d) Neither 1 nor 2
67. Who was the first Portuguese Viceroy in 74. Consider the following statements about
India? [45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001] the Treaty of Amritsar (1809) :
(a) Diaz 1. The Treaty fixed the Sutlej as the boundary
(b) Vasco da Gama between the Punjab and British India.
(c) Almeida 2. It was after this treaty that Maharaja
(d) Albuquerque Ranjit Singh was able to annex Jammu,
68. Which of the British officials defeated Multan and Kashmir to his domains.
Portuguese at Sowlley? Which of the statements given about is/are
[44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000] correct? [CAPF 2020]
(a) William Hawkins (a) 1 only
(b) Thomas Best (b) 2 only
(c) Thomas Roe (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Josiah Child (d) Neither 1 nor 2
69. Which one of the following was the 75. Examine these two statements carefully and
immediate cause of the First Carnatic War? select the correct answer using the codes
[44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000] given below.
(a) Anglo-French Rivalry Statement I – In 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah
(b) Austrian War of Succession was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta on the
(c) Issues of Carnatic Succession plea that the region was being misgoverned.
(d) Capture of French ships by the British Statement II – The Nawab was accused of
70. Englishmen made the Treaty of being unable to control the rebellious chiefs
Srirangapatna with– and Taluqdars.
[42nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997] Codes: [CAPF 2018]
(a) Hyder Ali (a) Both the statements are individually
(b) Dupleix true and Statements II is the correct
(c) Tipu Sultan explanation of Statement I
(d) Nandraj (b) Both the statements are individually
true but Statement II is not the correct
71. Ranjeet Singh got famous Kohinoor explanation of Statement I
diamond from- [41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996] (c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false
(a) Shah Shuja (d) Statement I is false but Statement II is
(b) Zaman Shah true

7 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

76. Which one of the following commercial (a) Signature

centres declined after mid-eighteenth (b) Land document
century? [CAPF 2018] (c) Trade permit
(a) Calcutta (d) Tax on textiles
(b) Madras 81. Which one of the following was primarily
(c) Dhaka associated with ‘Dadni’ system?
(d) Bombay [CDS 2023 (I)]
77. Examine these two statements carefully and (a) Textile production
select the correct answer using the code (b) Warfare
given below. (c) Payment to officials
Statement I The British legal scholars (d) Revenue collection
relied on Indian Pandits and Maulavis for 82. The British policy towards Afghanistan in
understanding of canons of authoritative the first half of the 19th century aimed at
texts. [CDS 2022 (II)]
Statement II British codified the Hindu Laws (a) Strengthening Afghanistan as a buffer
in 1783 and the Muslim Laws in 1785. against Russia.
Code: [CAPF 2017] (b) Weakening Russian influence In
(a) Both the statements are individually true Afghanistan but not promoting a strong
and statement II is the correct explanation Afghanistan either.
of statement I. (c) Promoting Russian influence in
(b) Both the statements are individually Afghanistan to control insurgent tribal
true, but statement II is not the correct leaders.
(d) Annexing Afghanistan as a directly-
explanation of statement I.
controlled British Territory.
(c) Statement I is true, but statement II is
false. 83. The work Siyar-ul- Mutakherin, which
(d) Statement I is false, but statements II is describes the Battle of Plassey, 1757, was
true. written by [CDS 2020 (I)]
(a) Salabat Jung
78. Which one of the following statements
(b) Qasim Khan
about the Treaty of Allahabad is NOT
(c) Ghulam Husain
correct? [CAPF 2017]
(d) Ram Mohan Roy
(a) It was signed in the year 1765.
(b) The Mughal Emperor by a Farman 84. Which of the following features of the State
formally granted the Diwani of Bengal, of Arcot in 18th century South India are
Bihar and Orissa to the East India correct?
Company. 1. The founders of the dynasty that ruled
(c) Awadh was restored to its Nawab on Arcot were Daud Khan Panni and
payment of 50 lakhs. Saadatullah Khan.
(d) Banaras and the Surrounding tracts were 2. Arcot became the site of a protracted
detached from Awadh and handed over struggle between the English and Dutch
to Shah Alam II. East India Companies from the 1740s.
3. Decentralisation was a key feature of the
79. The First Anglo-Maratha War was State of Arcot in the 18th century.
concluded by which one of the following?
4. The other major State to emerge in South
[CDS 2023 (I)] India at this time was Mysore.
(a) The Treaty of Surat
Select the correct answer using the codes
(b) The Treaty of Purandar
given below: [CDS 2015 (I)]
(c) The Convention of Wadgaon
(a) 1 and 2
(d) The Treaty of Salbai
(b) 1, 2 and 4
80. In the context of eighteenth century India, (c) 3 and 4
what was Dastak? [CDS 2023 (I)] (d) 2 and 4

PYQ Workbook 8
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

85. Which of the following statement(s) about (c) Both 1 and 2

the penetration of English into Bengal is/ (d) Neither 1 nor 2
are correct? 86. Consider the following statements
1. Job Charnock arrived in Sutanati in 1. Battle of Buxar provided the key to the
August, 1690 and laid the foundation of English to establish their rule in India.
Calcutta which later became the heart of 2. The Treaty of Allahabad, concluded in
the British Indian empire. 1765, enabled the British to establish
2. The French East India Company built a their rule in Bengal.
fort near the Fort William in Calcutta. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
correct? [CDS 2014 (I)]
Select the correct answer using the codes
(a) Only 1
given below: [CDS 2014 (II)] (b) Only 2
(a) Only 1 (c) Both 1 and 2
(b) Only 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

9 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
SOLUTIONS
1.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions
1. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Gajapati dynasty came to an end
in around 1542, whereas the Dutch East India Company was
formed in 1602 through a charter.
Statement 2 is correct: Albuquerque acquired Goa from the
Sultan of Bijapur in 1510 with ease; the principal port of the
Sultan of Bijapur became “the first bit of Indian territory
to be under the Europeans since the time of Alexander the
Great”.
Statement 3 is correct: British East Indian company entered
a treaty with the native Cheiftaim of Madras (a representative
of Vijaynagar Empire) to lease a site in Madras in 1639.
2. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
By 1st quarter of 17th century, English East India Company
had established factories at Surat, Broach, Ahmedabad,
Agra, and Masulipatnam and not at Chicacole and
Trichinopoly.
The timelines are:
1613- A permanent factory of the east India company
established at Surat
1616- 1st factory in south at Masulipatnam
1619- Sir Thomas Roe set up factories at Agra, Ahmedabad,
and Broach.
3. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is incorrect. Aurang was a Persian term for a
warehouse.
Pair 2 is correct. Banians acted as intermediaries for
European merchants in Bengal particularly for East India
Company.
Pair 3 is correct. Before the Ryotwari settlement system in
Madras Presidency, the company recognized mirasidars as
the sole proprietors of land. They acted as the Designated
revenue payer to the State.
4. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
During Mughal Period, Indian handicrafts produced
excellent quality of textile products and as per estimates
nearly two hundred varieties of cotton and silk fabrics were
exported from India.
When Industrial Revolution took place in England, Britain
needed raw materials from India and a wide market for its
machine-made goods. Thus, owing to industrial revolution
cheap machine-made goods from Britain flooded the
PYQ Workbook
Indian markets and India supplied the raw material
(Cotton) to Britain.
Indian textiles now had to face stiff competition from
machine-made English textiles in the European and
American markets. Heavy duties were imposed on imported
Indian textiles in Britain. The machine-made cheap textiles
of Britain successfully captured the African markets. This
led to severe downfall of Indian handicraft.
5. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
In 1600, the East India Company acquired a charter from the
ruler of England, Queen Elizabeth I, granting it the sole right
to trade with the East.
The fine qualities of cotton and silk produced in India, had a
big market in Europe. So, cotton and silk from Bengal were
the major items of export from India. Indigo and saltpetre
were the other major imports from India, and the fact that
both products were produced in the eastern Gangetic plain,
especially in Bihar and Bengal, stimulated British efforts to
establish factories on the east coast as well as the west coast
of the Indian subcontinent. Pepper, cloves, cardamom and
cinnamon from India too were in great demand in Europe.
Early in the 18th century the Portuguese found that they
could import opium from India and sell it in China at a
considerable profit. By 1773 the British had discovered the
trade, and became the leading suppliers of the Chinese
market. The opium exports from British India to China
increased from 4,000 chests per year at the beginning of the
19th Century to more than 60,000 chests by the 1880s.
6. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
One of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th
century was the emergence of the commercialisation
of agriculture. So far, agriculture had been a way of life
rather than a business enterprise. Now agriculture began
to be influenced by commercial considerations. Certain
specialised crops began to be grown not for consumption in
the village but for sale in the national and even international
markets. Commercial crops like cotton, jute, groundnut,
oilseeds, sugarcane, tobacco, etc., were more remunerative
than foodgrains.
Important Tips
Economic impacts of British Rule in India:
• After 1820, European markets were virtually closed
to Indian handicrafts, as a result Indian export of
handicrafts fell drastically. Cheap and machine-made
imports flooded the Indian market due to one-way
free trade for the Britishers and imposition of heavy
tariffs of nearly 80 per cent on Indian products.
10
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• There was a rapid decrement in the number of Indian
owned industries. Indian industry was steadily
destroyed. The demand from Indian textile industry
was replaced by British made clothes. A thriving
ship-building industry was crushed. The British ships
contracted by the Company were given a monopoly
over trade routes, while even the Indian merchant
ships plying along the coast were made to face heavy
duties. Also, The British did not allow the Indian steel
industry to grow.
• Another important feature of British rule in India
was Deurbanisation i.e. the decline of many cities
and a process of ruralisation of India. Many artisans,
faced with diminishing returns and repressive policies
abandoned their professions, moved to villages and
took to agriculture.
7. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect. During Mauryan times the
assessment of land revenue was done according to the
quality of the land and the nature of the crop, and the rate
of land revenue was not on the gross produce of the land
but it was computed after taking into account the gross
income and also expenditure per unit of land and also after
considering the producers’ surplus. Hence this practice of
revenue assessment is use in Indian since ancient times.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Mughals excelled in the use
of firearms. The Mughal emperor Babur conquered India
in 1526 using mobile cannons drawn by bullocks, horses,
and camels. Thus, mobile cannons were not introduced into
India by the English.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Portuguese contribution to
the diversification of Indian agriculture was substantial.
They are credited with introducing into India tobacco,
sweet potatoes, red chillies, pineapples, papayas and
cashewnuts. Thus, it was not introduced into India by the
English.
8. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mughal Emperor Jahangir permitted the English East
India Company to establish their factory in 1613 at Surat.
The British East India Company came to India for trading in
spices, an important commodity in Europe back then and as
it was used to preserve meat. Apart from this, they primarily
do trading in silk, cotton, indigo dye, tea, and opium.
Important Tips
Mughal and East India Company:
• Mughal emperor Jahangir granted a Farman to
Captain William Hawkins permitting the English to
erect a factory at Surat in 1613.
• In 1615, Thomas Roe, the Ambassador to James I, got
an imperial Farman from Jahangir for doing trading
and establish factories all across the Mughal empire.
11
• In 1616, the company established its first factory in the
south in Masulipattanam.
9. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
In 1612 Sir Thomas Roe visited to Mughal Emperor
Jahangir to arrange for a commercial treaty that would
give the company exclusive rights to reside and build
factories in Surat and other areas. In return, the company
offered to provide the Emperor with goods and rarities from
the European market. Jahangir accepted the proposal and the
company created trading posts in Surat (where a factory was
built in 1613), Madras (1639), Bombay (1668), and Calcutta
(1690).
10. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
William Fort Thrissur, Kerala was constructed by the Dutch
East India Company with the permission from Kingdom of
Cochin in 1714 after defeating the Portuges.
William Fort was later occupied by Zamorin of Calicut and
thereafter Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan defeated Zamorin of
Calicut and renamed it as Tipu Sultan Fort. The fort was
captured and recaptured many times by British Empire,
Dutch East India Company, Kingdom of Mysore, Zamorin of
Calicut and Kingdom of Cochin. Hence statement a, c, and
d are incorrect.
11. Solution: (d)
Exp) Optio d is the correct answer.
Mir Qasim was the Nawab of Bengal who shifted his capital
from Murshidabad to Munger during his reign. He ruled
from 1760 to 1763 and is known for his efforts to modernize
the administration and military of Bengal. His reign was
marked by conflicts with the British East India Company,
leading to the Battle of Buxar in 1764, where he was defeated
by the British and their allies. His decision to shift the capital
to Munger was part of his attempts to assert his authority and
break away from British influence.
Important Tips
• Alivardi Khan (1671 – 9 April 1756), known as Nawab
of Bengal from 1740 to 1756, rose to prominence by
defeating Sarfaraz Khan in 1740, thereby ending the
rule of the Nasiri dynasty of Nawabs and establishing
his own authority.
• Siraj ud-Daulah was the Nawab of Bengal from 1756
to 1757. He was defeated by the British in the Battle of
Plassey and was killed shortly afterwards.
• Mir Jafar was the Nawab of Bengal from 1757 to 1760.
He was installed by the British for his favors to British
in winning Battle of Plassey.
12. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The correct chronological order of the battles fought in India
in the 18th century is:
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
1. Battle of Ambur (1746)- It was fought between the
Mughal Empire and the Maratha Empire. The Mughals
were defeated and the Marathas gained control of the
Carnatic region.
2. Battle of Plassey (1757)- It was fought between
the British East India Company and the Nawab of
Bengal. The British were victorious and this led to the
establishment of British rule in Bengal.
3. Battle of Wandiwash (1760)- It was fought between the
British East India Company and the French East India
Company. The British were victorious and this led to the
end of French influence in India.
4. Battle of Buxar (1764)- It was fought between the
British East India Company and the combined forces
of the Mughal Empire, Awadh, and Bengal. The British
were victorious and this led to the British gaining control
of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
13. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect- The Third Battle of Panipat was
fought in 1761 between the Maratha Empire and the Afghan
Empire, led by Ahmad Shah Abdali. The Afghans won the
battle, and the Maratha Empire was severely weakened.
Ibrahim Lodi was not involved in this battle.
Statement 2 is incorrect- Tipu Sultan was killed in the
Fourth Anglo-Mysore War in 1799.
Statement 3 is correct- Mir Jafar entered into a conspiracy
with the British for the defeat of Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah in
the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
14. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The system of revenue farming in Bengal was introduced by
Murshid Quli Khan, the first Nawab of Bengal. Ali Mardan
Khan was a general in the army of Murshid Quli Khan.
15. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The French East India Company was the last to be formed
among Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, and French. The company
established its first factory in Surat under Francis Caron in
1668. The second factory was established at Masulipatnam a
year later, in 1669.
Important Tips
French East India Company:
• Jean-Baptiste Colbert founded the French East India
Company in 1664.
• Francois Martin of the French East India Company
established a trading centre in 1674 at Pondicherry.
• In 1674, the François Martin of the French East India
Company established a trading centre at Pondicherry,
which eventually became the chief French settlement
PYQ Workbook
16. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Afonso de Albuquerque acquired Goa from the Sultan of
Bijapur Ismail Adil Shah with the help of Krishnadev raya
(ruler of Vijaynagar empire) in 1510. He is also known to
have abolished the practice of Sati in Goa. Hence statement
a is incorrect.
The British established their first factory in the South India
in Masulipatnam in 1611. Hence statement b is correct.
In Eastern India, the English company opened its first factory
in Orissa in 1633. Hence statement c is correct.
Under the leadership of Dupleix, the French occupied
Madras in 1746. Hence statement d is correct
17. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The First Anglo-Maratha
War (1775-1782) resulted from the power struggle in the
Maratha Empire. The Treaty of Surat led to British support
for Raghunathrao against the Peshwa, but the British-
Calcutta Council annulled it. Battles followed, and the Treaty
of Salbai (1782) made the East India Company retain Salsette
and Broach, secured a Maratha guarantee against Hyder Ali,
and instilled Madhavrao II as Peshwa.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Third Anglo-Mysore War
(1790-1792) arose due to strained Anglo-Mysore relations.
Tipu Sultan’s aggressive actions, refusal to release English
prisoners, and alliances with the French led to war. The
conflict ended with Treaty of Seringapatam (1792), where
Tipu ceded half his kingdom to the British, paid a substantial
indemnity, and surrendered two sons as surety.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: The First Anglo-Burmese
War (1824-1826) began over territorial disputes along the
Bengal-Burma borders. The British declared war in 1824,
leading to battles, including the Battle of Yangon. In 1825,
they entered Ava, the Burmese capital, but faced tough
resistance. The war’s hardships, diseases, and rain led to
the Treaty of Yandabo in 1826, resulting in Burma ceding
Assam, Manipur, Arakan, and coastal areas to the British and
accepting a British resident at Ava.
Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: The Second Anglo-Sikh
War (1848-1849) was fueled by the humiliation of the first
war, mistreatment of Maharani Jindan Kaur, and conflicts in
Multan over tax assessments. Battles occurred at Ramnagar
and Chilianwala, with an indecisive outcome in Ramnagar
and a Sikh victory in Chilianwala. The British won the final
battle at Gujrat in 1849. Punjab was annexed, the young
Maharaja Duleep Singh was sent to England, and the Koh-i-
Noor diamond came under British control.
18. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Khasi people are an indigenous tribe of northeastern
India. They inhabit the Khasi Hills, which are located in the
state of Meghalaya. The British first came into contact with
the Khasi people in 1765, after the grant of Diwani of Bengal.
12
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
The British were interested in the Khasi Hills because these
were a source of timber and other resources. The Khasi
people were initially hostile to the British, but they were
eventually subdued by the British military.
19. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, was the
first Indian ruler to establish embassies in foreign countries
on modern lines. He established embassies in France, Turkey,
and Egypt in the late 18th century. These embassies were
staffed by trained diplomats, and they were responsible for
conducting relations between the Kingdom of Mysore and
these countries. Tipu Sultan’s decision to establish embassies
in foreign countries was a sign of his forward-thinking and
his desire to modernize the Kingdom of Mysore. He believed
that by establishing embassies, he could learn from the West
and improve the military and technological capabilities of
his kingdom.
20. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was the first European
to reach India via the Atlantic Ocean at Calicut in India.
Columbus was born in the Italian seaport of Genoa in
1451. In 1476 Columbus moved to Lisbon, Portugal, and for
many years attempted to gain support for a journey he was
planning to find new trade routes to the Far East. Eventually
Ferdinand and Isabella, the King and Queen of Spain,
agreed to finance him.
Abel Tasman was the greatest of the Dutch(Holland)
navigators and explorers, who was the first European to sight
Tasmania, New Zealand, Tonga, and the Fiji Islands.
James Cook was a British naval captain, navigator, and
explorer who sailed the seaways and coasts of and conducted
three expeditions to the Pacific Ocean ranging from the
Antarctic ice fields to the Bering Strait and from the coasts
of North America to Australia and New Zealand.
21. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: The First
Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782) began with the Treaty of
Surat and ended with the Treaty of Salbai. It saw British defeat
and the restoration of positions before the war. The conflict
resulted from political turmoil in the Maratha Empire after
the murder of Narayanrao Peshwa.
Option B in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: The Second
Anglo-Mysore War (1780-1784) was influenced by Anglo-
French hostilities during the American Revolutionary War.
Hyder Ali, ruler of Mysore, initially succeeded against the
British but faced setbacks. French and British forces from
Europe joined the conflict. When France made peace, the
British sought a resolution, resulting in the unfavorable 1784
Treaty of Mangalore.
Option C in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: The First
Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) was the initial conflict in
13
a series between the British and Burmese empires. It resulted
in a decisive British victory, granting them control over
Northeastern India, including Assam, Manipur, Cachar, and
more, while Burmese agreed to pay an indemnity and sign a
commercial treaty.
Option D in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: The First
Anglo-Afghan War (1838-1842) was a British campaign in
Afghanistan, initially supporting Shah Shujah in a succession
dispute but ending in a disastrous retreat from Kabul. It was a
key event in the Great Game, a 19th-century British-Russian
rivalry for influence in Central Asia.
22. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Dupleix was a son of a director of the French East India
Company and joined the Company’s service at Pondicherry
in 1720. He was the first who lend European troops to the
Indian state in the matter of quarrels.
23. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
Hooghly was used as a base for piracy in the Bay of
Bengal by the Portuguese. Hooghly was one of the main
economically growing districts in West Bengal. Hooghly was
in a good position both in industry and agriculture. During
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Hooghly was
controlled by the Portuguese settlers and traders. Portuguese
merchants sailed from the ‘Bay of Bengal’ to Hooghly to
deceive the customs duties, and practised piracy in the
region.
Important Tips
Portuguese Decline in India:
• While most of India got its independence from the
British, the Portuguese still held on to its colonial
outposts in India.
• On July 24, 1954, an organisation called the “United
Front of Goans’ seized the Dara naive while Nagar
Haveli was seized by Azad Gomantak Dal in August
of that year.
• The decision by the International Court of Justice at
The Hague to give access to Portugese territories in
India was rendered useless.
• Adopting a ‘wait and watch’ tactic from 1951 to
1961, the Indian government highlighted the issue of
decolonisation before the international communities,
while at the same time enforcing an economic embargo.
• It was in December 1961, when the Indian military
launched an invasion of Goa. Against overwhelming
odds, the Portuguese tried to put up a fight but were
swiftly defeated by the Indian Army.
• The Governor of Portuguese India signed the
Instrument of Surrender on 19 December 1961,
Liberating Goa after 450 years of Portuguese rule in
India.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
24. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Pair a is incorrect- Battle of Plassey (and not Buxar) was
between Mir Jafar and Clive. It occurred on 23 June 1757.
On the other hand, Battle of Buxar occurred on October 22-
23, 1764 and it involved the British East India Company,
led by Hector Munro, facing the combined forces of Mir
Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal; Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab
of Awadh; and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.
Pair b is correct- The Battle of Wandiwash was a decisive
victory for the British East India Company over the French
East India Company. It was fought on 22 January 1760 at
Vandavasi, in the present day Tiruvannamalai district of
Tamil Nadu. The battle was part of the Seven Years’ War,
which was being fought in Europe at the time. The British
and French were also fighting a parallel war in India, and the
Battle of Wandiwash was a major turning point in that war.
The British were led by Sir Eyre Coote, and the French were
led by the Marquis de Bussy-Castelnau. The British had a
numerical advantage, and they were also better equipped.
The French were defeated and were forced to withdraw from
India.
Pair c is incorrect- The Battle of Chilianwala was fought on
13 January 1849 between the British East India Company
and the Sikh Empire. It was a bloody and indecisive battle,
with both sides claiming victory. The battle took place in
the Chillianwala region of Punjab, now in Pakistan.
Pair d is incorrect- The Battle of Khurda was fought on 11
March 1795 between the Maratha Empire and the Nizam
of Hyderabad. The Marathas were victorious, and the
Nizam was forced to cede much of his territory and pay an
indemnity of Rs. 3 crores.
25. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Dutch were the first to start a joint-stock company to trade
with India. The Dutch East India Company established the
world’s first stock market in Amsterdam in March 1602.
Important Tips
Dutch East India Company:
• The formation of the company took place in March
1602.
• The Dutch East India Company established factories in
India at Masulipatnam in 1605 AD, Pulicat (1610 AD),
Surat (1616 AD), Bimlipatam (1641 AD), Karaikal
(1645 AD), Chinsura, Kasimbazar, Patna, Balasore,
Nagapatam, and Cochin.
• Pulicat was the main centre of Dutch in India till 1690
AD. Later Nagapatam replaced it.
• The Dutch conceded to the British after their defeat in
the Battle of Bedera in 1759 AD
1.2. Other Examination Previous Years’
Questions
PYQ Workbook
26. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Chronological order:
• Battle of Shakar Kherda (1724): The Battle of Shakar
Kherda occurred on 11 October 1724 near Sakhar
Kherda in Berar, India, between Nizam-ul-Mulk and
Mubariz Khan, the Subedar of Deccan. Nizam-ul-Mulk
emerged victorious, defeating and killing Mubariz Khan.
As a result, he was rewarded with the title of Asaf Jah and
reappointed as the Subedar of the Deccan province by
Emperor Muhammad Shah Rangeela in 1725.
• Battle of Bedara (1759): The Battle of Chinsurah or
Bedara occurred on 25 November 1759 during the Seven
Years’ War near Chinsurah, a Dutch outpost. British
forces, led by Colonel Francis Forde, defeated the Dutch
East India Company, who had been invited by the Nawab
of Bengal to help expel the British from Bengal.
• Battle of Porto Novo (1781): The Battle of Porto Novo
occurred on 1 July 1781 during the Second Anglo-Mysore
War. Sir Eyre Coote’s British force, with over 8,000 men,
defeated an estimated 40,000-strong army led by Hyder
Ali of the Kingdom of Mysore in Porto Novo, India.
• Battle of Mudki (1845): The Battle of Mudki was fought
on 18 December 1845, between the forces of the East India
Company and part of the Sikh Khalsa Army, the army of
the Sikh Empire of the Punjab. The British army won an
untidy encounter battle, sustaining heavy casualties.
27. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Raja Ranjit Singh set up the Adalat-i-Ala, the highest court
of the Sikh Empire, in Lahore. Lahore was the capital of the
Sikh Empire, and it was a major cultural and commercial
center. The Adalat-i-Ala was responsible for hearing appeals
from district and provincial courts and settling disputes
between individuals and communities. The final court of
appeal lies with the Raja Ranjit Singh himself.
28. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In 1687, the first municipal corporation in India was
set up at Madras. The Chennai Municipal Corporation
(officially the Corporation of Chennai), formerly known as
the Corporation of Madras, is the civic body that governs
the city of Chennai (formerly Madras), India. Inaugurated
on September 29, 1688, under a Royal Charter issued by
King James II on December 30, 1687, as the Corporation of
Madras, it is the oldest municipal body of the Commonwealth
of Nations outside Great Britain. It is headed by a mayor,
who presides over 200 councillors, each of whom represents
one of the 200 wards of the city. It is also the second oldest
corporation in the world.
29. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The First Carnatic War is remembered for the Battle of St.
Thome (in Madras) fought between the French forces and
the forces of Anwar-ud-din, the Nawab of Carnatic, to whom
14
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
the English appealed for help. The First Carnatic War was
an extension of the Anglo-French War in Europe which was
caused by the Austrian War of Succession. The Treaty of Aix-
La-Chapelle, (1748) ended the War of Austrian Succession.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Under the terms of this treaty, Madras was handed back
to the English. The French, in turn, got their territories in
North America. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Important Tips
The War of Austrian Succession:
• Between 1740 and 1748, most of Europe’s great powers
were involved in a conflict caused by the question of
Maria Theresa’s succession to the Austrian Habsburg
crown.
• The war involved all of Europe, with France, Prussia,
Spain, Bavaria and Saxony arrayed against Austria and
Britain.
• The first two series of wars, the First Silesian War
(1740–42) and the Second Silesian War (1744–45) were
centered around Austria and Prussia.
• The third war was centred on the continued conflict
between France and Britain over colonial possessions
in India and North America.
• During the war, British troops proved their worth as
soldiers.
The war was concluded with the Peace treaty of Aix-la-
Chapelle, signed in October 1748.
• Under this treaty, France agreed to leave the Austrian
Netherlands and give back Madras to Britain in return
for Louisbourg.
• Maria Theresa was also confirmed as Austrian ruler.
30. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Haider Ali, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, established
a modern armory in Dindigal in 1755. The armory
was established to manufacture and store weapons and
ammunition for the Mysorean army. Haider Ali was a
skilled military leader and innovator, and he modernized
and expanded the Mysorean army during his reign. The
Dindigul armory was one of several military and industrial
establishments he established to support his military
campaigns and improve the strength and capability of his
forces.
31. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
A. Treaty of Allahabad- 4. 1765.
On August 16, 1765, the Treaty of Allahabad was
formalized, establishing an agreement between Shah
Alam II, the Mughal Emperor and successor of Alamgir
II, and Robert Clive, a representative of the East India
Company. This accord came into being following the
Battle of Buxar, which took place on October 22, 1764.
15
B. Treaty of Mangalore- 2. 1784
Executed on March 11, 1784, the Treaty of Mangalore
marked a pivotal agreement between Tipu Sultan and
the British East India Company. This significant accord
was established in the city of Mangalore and effectively
concluded the Second Anglo-Mysore War..
C. Treaty of Salbai- 1. 1782
Formally executed on May 17, 1782, the Treaty of Salbai
materialized as a result of extensive negotiations between
delegates from the Maratha Empire and the British
East India Company. This treaty was the culmination of
efforts to resolve the consequences of the First Anglo-
Maratha War and was ultimately inked by Warren
Hastings and Mahadaji Sindhia.
D. Treaty of Madras- 3. 1769
On April 4, 1769, the Treaty of Madras materialized as
a significant pact that marked the conclusion of the First
Anglo-Mysore War. This peace accord, signed between
Mysore and the British East India Company, led by
Lord Harry Verelst, was a pivotal step towards ending
the hostilities. The conflict, which had ignited in 1767,
saw Hyder Ali’s forces making advances that brought
them close to capturing Madras during one phase of the
fighting.
32. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
In 1602, the United East India Company of the Netherlands
was formed and given permission by the Dutch government
to trade in the East Indies including India. The Dutch
founded their first factory in Masaulipatam in Andhra
Pradesh in 1605. Subsequently, they also established trading
centres in various parts of India.
Konkan (Northern part of Westcoast India) - Surat (1616-
1795), Agra (1621-1720), Burhanpur, Kanpur (1650-1685),
Ahmadabad (1617-1744), Bharuch, Vengurla (1637-1685),
Kundapura (1667- ca.1682), Patna.
Malabar (Southern part of Westcoast India) - Veeramala
Hills,Cheruvathur , Cannanore (1663-1790) (taken from
Portugal), Ponnani (ca. 1663), Cochin, Purakkad (ca. 1680-
1750), Kayamkulam (ca. 1645), Quilon (Coylan) (1661)
(taken from Portugal).
Coromandel (East coast of India) - Golkonda(1662-ca
1733), Jaggernaikpoeram , Nagelwanze (1669-1687); now
Nagulavancha, Machilipatnam, Petapoeli (1606-1668);
now Nizampatnam, Paliacatta (1610-1781/ 1785-1795/ 1805-
1825) to the English; now Pulicat, Tegenapatnam, Kudalur
(1608-1758); now Cuddalore, Nagapattinam (1658-
1781) to the English, Tuticorin or Tutucorim (1658); now
Thoothukudi, chinsura.
33. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
“The Company is an anomaly but it is part of a system where
everything is an anomaly” remark was given by Thomas
Babington Macaulay.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Thomas Babington Macaulay.
• He became India’s first Law Member of the Governor-
General Council after the Charter Act of 1833 was
passed.
• He ensured that English flourished in India.
• He brought education policy in 1835 and was published
titled “Minute on Indian Education”.
• He advocated imparting English to Indians and
teaching them in English.
• English Education Act was passed in 1835 by Lord
William Bentick.
34. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The correct answer is A- 4, B-1, C-3, D-2.
First Carnatic War (1746-1748)- Between: On one side
there was the Governor of France, Duplex, and the Nawab
of Karnataka, on the other, the Governor of the English East
India Company. The war ended with the Treaty of Aix-la
Chapelle, which was signed in 1748.
Second Carnatic War (1748-1754) - Nizam of Hyderabad
died resulting in a war of succession. Duplex supported
Muzzafar Jung for Hyderabad and Chanda Sahib for
Karnataka. Whereas, British supported Nasir Jang for
Hyderabad and Nawab Anwar-ud-din for Karnataka. The
war was inconclusive.
Third Carnatic War (1756 - 1763) - The immediate cause
was the Seven Year War (1756-1763) in Europe. Robert
Clive and Watson captured Chandranagar. The Battle of
Wandiwash happened in 1760. Between Eyre Coot( British
General) and Count de Lally(French General). The French
were defeated in this war.The Treaty of Paris was signed in
1763.
First Mysore War (1767-1769): It was fought Between Hyder
Ali and the Triple Alliance of Maratha, Niza, and Britishers.
British lost the war. The Treaty of Madras was signed in 1769.
35. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Pair a is incorrect- The First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-
69) was fought between the British East India Company
and Hyder Ali, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. The
war ended in a stalemate with the signing of the Treaty of
Madras in 1769.
Pair b is incorrect- The Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-
84) was fought between the British East India Company
and Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. The war ended with
the signing of the Treaty of Mangalore in 1784.
Pair c is incorrect- The Third Anglo-Mysore War (1790-
92) was fought between the British East India Company,
the Maratha Empire, and the Nizam of Hyderabad against
Tipu Sultan. The war ended with the signing of the Treaty
of Srirangapatna in 1792.
PYQ Workbook
Pair d is correct- The Fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799)
was fought between the British East India Company and
Tipu Sultan. The war ended with the death of Tipu Sultan in
the Battle of Srirangapatna in 1799.
36. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Dalip Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, died in
Paris on 23 October 1893 at the age of 55. He was cremated
at Elveden, Suffolk, England.
Important Tips
Here are some more details about Dalip Singh’s life:
• He was born in Lahore, Punjab, on 6 September 1838.
• He was the only son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and
Maharani Jind Kaur.
• He was proclaimed Maharaja of the Punjab in 1843, at
the age of five.
• He was deposed in 1849 after the Second Anglo-Sikh
War.
• He was exiled to England, where he lived on a pension
from the British government.
• He converted to Christianity in 1853.
• He married Bamba Müller, a German woman, in 1864.
• He had eight children.
• He died in Paris in 1893.
37. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Murshid Quli Khan was the last Governor of Bengal
appointed by the Mughal Emperor. He was appointed in 1717
by Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar. He was a very capable
administrator and is credited with bringing stability and
prosperity to Bengal. He also founded the Nasiri dynasty of
Nawabs of Bengal.
38. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
One of the most eminent churches that Begum Samru
constructed is the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces in
Sardhana. The church was built in 1823 and it is considered
to be one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in
India. The church is also known as the Samru Church or the
Begum Samru’s Church.
Important Tips
Begum Samru, also known as Samru bibi, was a military
leader and a philanthropist. She was born in 1770 in
Sardhana, Uttar Pradesh, India. She was the daughter
of a Hindu merchant and a Muslim woman. She was
married to a French soldier, Walter Reinhardt Sombre,
who died in 1778.
16
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
After the death of her husband, Begum Samru took
control of his army and became a powerful military leader.
She fought against the Maratha Empire and the British
East India Company. She was also a philanthropist and
she built a number of schools, hospitals, and mosques in
Sardhana.
39. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Akbar was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from
1556 to 1605. Akbar was the Emperor of India when the
British East India Company was formed in London on 31
December 1600 CE.
Important Tips
Facts about Akbar:
• Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent,
Bairam Khan, who helped the young emperor expand
and consolidate Mughal domains in India.
• With a strong personality and a successful general,
Akbar gradually enlarged the Mughal Empire to
include much of the Indian subcontinent.
• His power and influence, however, extended over
the entire subcontinent because of Mughal military,
political, cultural, and economic dominance.
• To unify the vast Mughal state, Akbar established a
centralized system of administration throughout his
empire and adopted a policy of conciliating conquered
rulers through marriage and diplomacy
40. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The first fort built by the Portuguese was Fort Emmanuel in
Kochi, Kerala. The permission for building it was granted to
them by their ally, the local maharaja of Kochi in 1503 AD.
The structure was simple and used local materials.
41. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Tipu Sultan defeated the British Army in 1780 at Pollilur.
The Battle of Pollilur was fought on 10 September 1780 near
Conjeevaram, the city of Kanchipuram in present-day Tamil
Nadu state, India, as part of the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
It was fought between an army commanded by Tipu Sultan
of the Kingdom of Mysore, and a British East India Company
force led by Colonel William Baillie. The Mysore army won
a decisive victory, capturing Baillie and his entire force.
42. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama was the first European
to reach India via the Atlantic Ocean at Calicut in India.
Portuguese were followed by the Dutch when they tried to
enter the Indian market in the middle of the 16th century.
The British and the French came much later.
17
43. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Portuguese were the first European power to set up a factory
in the Pondicherry region during the 16th century. Hence,
statement 1 is correct.
After the Portuguese, the second European power to capture
Pondicherry was the Dutch. Hence, statement 2 is Not
correct.
In the year 1761, the British captured Pondicherry from the
French but later had to return it back to the French under the
Treaty of Paris (1763). Hence, statement 3 is Not correct.
Important Tips
The story of Pondicherry:
• The French East India Company set up a trading center
at Pondicherry in the year 1674, and this later became
the most prominent French settlement in India. But the
French continuously faced opposition from the Dutch
and the English.
• In the year 1693, Pondicherry was again captured by
the Dutch as the French Governor Francois Martin
surrendered to the Dutch Governor. Later, in the year
1699, the French regained Pondicherry from the Dutch.
• Pondicherry was occupied several times by the British,
but it was ultimately the French who ruled the territory.
• The de facto transfer of Pondicherry from the French
government to the Indian union took place in 1954. But
the treaty affecting the de jure transfer of Pondicherry
got finally ratified in the year 1962.
44. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Battle of Plassey took place on June 23, 1757. It was
a pivotal battle in Indian history where the British East
India Company, led by Robert Clive, decisively defeated
Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. The victory at the
Battle of Plassey marked the beginning of British colonial
dominance in India.
Important Tips
The Battle of Wandiwash happened on January 22, 1760,
when the French tried to take control of the Vandavasi
Fort in Tamil Nadu. The British, commanded by British
Lieutenant-General Sir Eyre Coote, stopped their attempt,
leading to the Battle of Wandiwash and playing a part in
the Third Carnatic War. The Treaty of Paris was signed
between the East India Company and French.
45. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The sixteenth Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II, played a
pivotal role in the transfer of Diwani rights, specifically for
Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, to the East India Company on
12th August 1765 under the tenure of Robert Clive. The
battle of Buxar concluded with the signing of the Treaty
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
of Allahabad in 1765. This treaty granted the East India
Company the authority to collect taxes, which is referred
to as Diwani rights, for the territories of Bengal, Bihar, and
Orissa.
Important Tips
• Lord Cornwallis was the Governor of Bengal from
1786 to 1793. He was responsible for introducing
a number of reforms, including the Permanent
Settlement of Bengal.
• Lord Wellesley was the Governor-General of India
from 1798 to 1805. He was responsible for expanding
the British Empire in India.
• Lord William Bentinck was the Governor-General
of India from 1828 to 1835. He was responsible for a
number of reforms, including the abolition of sati and
the introduction of English education in India.
46. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Maharaja Ranjit Singh, widely recognized as Sher-e-Punjab,
emerged as the prominent figure at the helm of the Sikh
Empire, a dominion that held sway over the northwestern
region of the Indian subcontinent during the first half
of the 19th century. His realm encompassed a notable
expanse, incorporating Srinagar, Attock, Peshawar, Bannu,
Rawalpindi, Jammu, Gujrat, Sialkot, Kangra, Amritsar,
Lahore, and Multan.
47. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Vasco da Gama set up a trading factory at Cannanore.
Gradually, Calicut, Cannanore and Cochin became the
important trade centres of the Portuguese.They also set
up factory at Hoogly in west Bengal. Gradually, under the
pretext of protecting the factories and their trading activities,
the Portuguese got permission to fortify these centres.
48. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The founding of the modern city of Kolkata earlier known
as Calcutta dates back to 1690. The foundation has been
ascribed to Job Charnock, an agent of the British East
India Company, who landed in the village of Sutanuti and
established a British factory there. Present day Kolkata
stands laid its foundation originally on these three villages:
Sutanuti, Kalikata and Gobindapur.
49. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Anglo-Afghan relations in the 19th century were
influenced by the fear of Russian expansion towards India.
This was known as the “Great Game”. The British were
concerned that the Russians would try to conquer India, and
they used Afghanistan as a buffer state to prevent this.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
• The First Anglo-Afghan War (1839-42) was fought
because the British were worried that the Russians
were gaining influence in Afghanistan. The British
invaded Afghanistan and installed a puppet ruler, Shah
Shuja, but they were eventually forced to withdraw.
This conflict marked a key episode in the 19th-century
Great Game rivalry between Britain and Russia for
Central Asian influence.
• The Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-80) was also
fought because of the British fear of Russian expansion.
The British invaded Afghanistan again and forced the
Afghans to accept a British protectorate. The British
secured their objectives with the Treaty of Gandamak
and a decisive victory over Ayub Khan outside
Kandahar. Abdur Rahman Khan, chosen by the British,
confirmed the treaty, establishing a buffer between the
British Raj and the Russian Empire.
• The Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919) was the last
of the Anglo-Afghan wars. It was fought because the
Afghans wanted to regain their independence from
the British. The British were defeated in this war, and
Afghanistan was finally able to assert its independence.
It ended in an armistice. The Anglo-Afghan Treaty of
1919 recognized the Durand Line as the Afghanistan-
India border, granting Afghans control over foreign
affairs while ensuring border stability.
50. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Battle of Buxar, occurred on 22 October 1764, as a
confrontation at Buxar in northeastern India. It pitted the
British East India Company’s forces, led by Major Hector
Munro, against a combined army comprising an alliance of
Indian states including Bengal, Awadh, and the Mughal
Empire. This crucial battle solidified British authority over
Bengal and Bihar, following their initial triumph at the
Battle of Plassey in 1757, and signified the conclusion of
the endeavor to govern Bengal through a puppet nawab.
Subsequently, the company assumed control. The British
triumph at Buxar led to the expansion of British dominion
over a substantial portion of the Indian subcontinent.
Important Tips
The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on 14 January
1761 between the Maratha Empire and the invading
army of the Durrani Empire. The battle took place in and
around the city of Panipat, approximately 97 kilometres
(60 mi) north of Delhi. The Afghans were supported
by three key allies in India: Najib-ud-Dawlah who
persuaded the support of the Rohilla chiefs, elements of
the declining Mughal Empire, and most prized the Oudh
State under Shuja-ud-Daula. The Maratha army was led
by Sadashivrao Bhau, who was third-highest authority
of the Maratha Confederacy after the Chhatrapati and
the Peshwa.
18
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
The battle was a decisive victory for the Afghans. The
Maratha army was routed and Sadashivrao Bhau was killed
in battle. The defeat of the Marathas at the Third Battle of
Panipat marked the end of their expansionist ambitions
and led to a decline in their power. The Afghans, under
Ahmad Shah Durrani, emerged as the dominant power in
the north of India.
51. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
French East India Company was established in the 17th
century to oversee French commerce with India, eastern
Africa, and other territories of the Indian Ocean and the East
Indies. It was established by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, finance
minister to King Louis XIV.
Important Tips
French in India
• In 1668, the first French factory was established in
Surat.
• In February, 1701, Pondicherry was made the capital of
the French settlements in India.
• French occupied Mahe in Malabar, Yanam in
Coromandel and Karaikal in Tamil Nadu.
• The arrival of Duplex as French governor saw the
beginning of Anglo-French conflicts in India.
52. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Though the British and the French came to India for trading
purposes, they were ultimately drawn into the politics of
India. Both had visions of establishing political power over
the region. The French failed to establish power in Deccan
because they were drawn in war with British in southern
states of India and also British had a strong army and base in
India than the French.
53. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The correct order is 4-2-1-3
Portuguese in 1498 - The first Portuguese mission was led
by Vasco da Gama who reached Calicut via the Cape of Good
Hope in May 1498 where he was favourably received by the
local ruler Zamorin.
Dutch in 1602 - The Dutch also established their trade
centres in India. Cornelis de Houtman was the first Dutch
citizen to arrive in India. The Dutch East India Company
was formed in 1602, They overpowered the Portuguese and
established their control over the centres of spice cultivation
in India. They established their trade posts in Gujarat,
Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
English in 1608 - British emperor James I sent Captain
William Hawkins to the court of Jahangir in 1608, to seek
permission to establish trading posts in India.
French in 1664 - French were the last among the European
companies to enter India. In 1664, during the reign of Louis
19
XIV, the efforts of his minister Colbert resulted in the
formation of the French trading company
54. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Of all the European nations who came as traders to India after
new sea routes were discovered, England emerged as the most
powerful and successful by the end of the eighteenth century.
The major factors which can be attributed for the success
of the English against other European powers—Portugal, the
Netherlands, France and Denmark—in the world in general
and in India in particular were as follows.
• The British soldiers were a disciplined lot and they
received western training and had modern arms.
• Indian Soldiers lacked fidelity consequently the one
who paid them sufficient could have them on his
service.
• With the exception of the Glorious Revolution of 1688,
Britain witnessed stable government with efficient
monarchs.
• There was absence of Nationalism in India.
55. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Alfonso de Albuquerque laid the foundation for the
Portuguese in India. He replaced Almeida as a governor in
the year 1509 AD. In the year 1510 AD, he captured Goa
from the Sultan of Bijapur. Alfonso de Albuquerque was
considered as a real founder of the Portuguese power in
India.
Important Tips
• Vasco Da Gama was the one who discovered the sea
route to India in 1498.
• Francisco De Almeida was the first Portuguese Viceroy
in India, he constructed the fort Anjediva.
• Alfonzo De Albuquerque set-up his headquarters in
Cochin.
• Nino Da Cunha was a Portuguese governor in India
from 1528 to 1538. He shifted Portuguese headquarters
from Cochin to Goa.
56. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Francisco de Almeida followed the Blue Water Policy. As per
this policy, the Portuguese should be the sole trade power
in the Arabian sea and the Indian Ocean. It called for the
Portuguese to be powerful at the sea instead of building
fortresses on the Indian mainland. In 1505, ‘Francisco de
Almeida’ was elected as the 1st Governor and Viceroy of
India. The Blue water policy was reversed by Alfonso de
Albuquerque.
57. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
King Charles II of Britain married Catherine of Braganza
in 1661. King “Charles II” was given a huge dowry by the
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Portuguese as a marriage treaty. Portugal handed over the
city of Bombay to Charles II as a part of that dowry. Portugal
handed the city on 3rd July 1661. England acquired the 7
Islands of Bombay and Catherine’s dowry of Tangier.
58. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lahore was the capital of the Kingdom of Maharaja Ranjit
Singh. He captured Lahore in 1799 and made it the capital
of his empire. Lahore was a strategically important city,
located at the crossroads of trade routes between Central
Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. It was also a major
cultural center, with a rich history and heritage.
Important Tips
Maharaja Ranjit Singh:
In his youthful years, Maharaja Ranjit Singh engaged in
multiple campaigns aimed at expelling the Afghans, and
he ascended to the title of “Maharaja of Punjab” when he
reached the age of 21. He was the solitary offspring of Maha
Singh. His birth transpired on the 13th of November 1780
in Gujranwala, which is presently situated in Pakistan.
The establishment of Patiala as the capital of the princely
state of Patiala occurred in 1763. Notably, Amritsar,
founded by Sri Guru Ramdass Ji, the fourth guru of the
Sikhs, took shape around 1574 A.D. Moving further,
Kapurthala State, previously under the dominion of
Ahluwalia Sikh rulers, held the status of a former Princely
state within Punjab.
59. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Ranjit Singh was the last Misaldar (commander) of the
Sukerchakia Misl, which was one of the 12 Sikh misls that
existed in Punjab in the 18th century. The Sukerchakia Misl
was founded by Charat Singh, the grandfather of Ranjit
Singh. Ranjit Singh eventually united all the Sikh misls and
established the Sikh Empire.
Important Tips
Facts abot Misl:
• The Aahluvaliyan Misl was led by Jassa Singh
Ahluwalia.
• The Dalevaliyan Misl was led by Hari Singh Dhillon.
• The Kanhaiya Misl was led by Jai Singh Kanhaiya.
60. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The first British settlement in the western Presidency was
in 1618 when the East India Company established a factory
at Surat. The British were protected by a charter from the
Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
Important Tips
British in India:
• The East India Company transferred its Western India
Headquarter from Surat to Bombay in 1687. Then
Bombay presidency came into existence.
PYQ Workbook
• In 1687 Bombay became the capital of the Company’s
territories in India. The area administrated from
Bombay the Bombay Presidency roughly covers the
modern states of Sindh( Pakistan), Gujrat, and Western
Maharashtra.
• The Presidency Includes: Konkan, Nashik, and
Pune divisions of the present-day Indian state of
Maharashtra.
61. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Sir John Child, the English Governor of East India Company
in India, was expelled by Aurangzeb. Child became involved
in a war with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, whose troops
captured Surat and forced Child to make peace.
62. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Shah Alam II was the ruler of Delhi at the time of the Battle
of Buxar (22 October, 1764). Following their victory in the
Battle of Buxar (1764), the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II
conferred the Diwani rights upon the East India Company.
This granting of Diwani rights, specifically pertaining to
Bengal, occurred in 1765. In essence, Diwani rights signify
the authority to manage and collect land revenue.
63. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Battle of Plassey gave the British control of Bengal and
marked the beginning of their gradual consolidation of British
Supremacy over much of India. The British chose Bengal,
particularly Kolkata (Calcutta), due to its strategic location,
weak local ruler, rich resources, educated population, and
potential for trade. The region’s fertile land, abundant supply
of resources, and access to the Ganges River facilitated trade
and business. The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June
1757 between the forces of the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud-
Daulah, and the British East India Company, led by Robert
Clive. The British victory in the Battle of Plassey marked the
beginning of British rule in India. The battle was won by the
British due to a number of factors, including the betrayal of
Mir Jafar, the commander of the Nawab’s army, the superior
military training and equipment of the British forces, and
the support of the local Hindu population.
Important Tips
Battle of Buxar- It occurred on October 22-23, 1764. It
involved the British East India Company, led by Hector
Munro, facing the combined forces of Mir Qasim, the
Nawab of Bengal; Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh;
and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. Mir Qasim
suffered defeat from the British.
3rd Battle of Mysore- The Third Anglo-Mysore War took
place in South India, involving the Kingdom of Mysore
and various forces including the British East India
Company, the Kingdom of Travancore, the Maratha
Empire, and the Nizam of Hyderabad. British won the
war and Treaty of Srirangapatnam was signed.
20
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Independence Struggle of 1857- Also known as the
Sepoy Mutiny or the First War of Independence, it was a
major uprising against British rule in India that began on
10 May 1857. The rebellion was triggered by a number of
factors, including the introduction of new cartridges that
were rumored to be greased with cow and pig fat, which
was offensive to both Hindu and Muslim soldiers
64. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Kharak Singh was the eldest legitimate son of Maharaja
Ranjit Singh. He was proclaimed Maharaja of the Punjab
on June 27, 1839, after the death of his father. However,
Kharak Singh was a weak and indecisive ruler, and he was
soon challenged by his younger half-brother, Sher Singh. In
October 1839, Kharak Singh was deposed and imprisoned
by Sher Singh. He died in prison in November 1840.
65. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Sir Eyre Coote was the British general who defeated Haider
Ali in the War of Porto Novo. The Battle of Porto Novo was
fought on 1 July 1781 between forces of the Kingdom of
Mysore and British East India Company in the place called
Porto Novo (now known as Parangipettai) on the Indian
subcontinent, during the Second Anglo-Mysore War. The
British force, numbering more than 8,000 men under the
command of Sir Eyre Coote defeated a force estimated at
40,000 under the command of Hyder Ali.
66. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Mohammed Raza Khan was appointed as the Deputy
Diwan of Murshidabad by Robert Clive after the Allahabad
Treaty. The Allahabad Treaty was signed in 1765 between
the East India Company and the Mughal Emperor Shah
Alam II. The treaty gave the East India Company the right to
collect revenue from Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. Mohammed
Raza Khan was a trusted advisor of Robert Clive and he
was instrumental in helping the British to consolidate their
power in Bengal.
Important Tips
Treaty of Allahabad:
• Signed in Allahabad on August 16, 1765.
• Scripted by I’tisam-ud-Din, a Bengali Muslim scribe
and Mughal Empire diplomat.
• Involved the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II and
Robert Clive of the East India Company.
• Resulted from the British victory over Shah Alam
and the Nawabs of Awadh and Bengal in the Battle of
Buxar.
Impact of the Treaty:
• Marked the beginning of British political and
constitutional involvement in Indian affairs.
21
• Initiated British rule in India and established their
political influence.
Diwani Rights Granted:
• Under the treaty terms, Shah Alam granted the East
India Company Diwani rights.
• Diwani rights allowed the Company to collect taxes on
behalf of the emperor from the eastern provinces of
Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa.
• It gave the Company direct authority to collect revenue
from the people of these regions.
Exchange of Benefits:
• In exchange for Diwani rights, the East India Company
paid an annual tribute of 26 lakh rupees to the emperor.
• The Company secured the districts of Kada and
Allahabad for Shah Alam II as part of the arrangement.
67. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Portuguese king Manuel I made Francisco de Almeida
viceroy of the newly conquered territories of India in March
1505. Almeida was made First Viceroy in India because of his
achievement in the wars against the Moors.
68. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In 1612 the East India Company’s ships defeated the
Portuguese in the Sowlley estuary off Surat. The naval
Battle of Sowlley, also known as Battle of Suvali, took place
on 29–30 November 1612 off the coast of Suvali a village
near the Surat city and was a victory for four English East
India Company galleons over four Portuguese galleons.
Thomas best led the British forces in this decisive war.
This relatively small naval battle is historically important as
it marked the beginning of the ascent of the English East
India Company’s presence in India.
69. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Joseph Francis Dupleix the French governor of Chandarnagar
was not in favor of violence or war with English. At that time
Commodore Barnet, the English commander captured some
French ship. This was the immediate cause of war.
Important Tips
• The First Carnatic War was an extension of the
Anglo-French War in Europe which was caused by the
Austrian War of Succession.
• The war was concluded with the Peace treaty of Aix-la-
Chapelle, signed in October 1748
• The First Carnatic War is remembered for the Battle
of St. Thome (in Madras) fought between the French
forces and the forces of Anwar-ud-din, the Nawab of
Carnatic, to whom the English appealed for help
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
70. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Treaty of Srirangapatna was signed on 18 March 1792,
between the British East India Company and Tipu Sultan,
the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. The treaty ended the
Third Anglo-Mysore War. Under the terms of the treaty,
Tipu Sultan agreed to cede half of his kingdom to the British,
including the districts of Malabar, Coimbatore, and Salem.
He also agreed to pay a large indemnity to the British. In
return, the British agreed to recognize Tipu Sultan as the
ruler of the remaining half of his kingdom.
71. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Ranjit Singh got the famous Kohinoor diamond (along
with another diamond Darya-i-noor and Timur Ruby)
from Shah Shuja Durrani, the former king of Afghanistan.
Shah Shuja was forced to flee to Lahore in 1813 after being
overthrown by his brother, Dost Mohammad. Ranjit Singh
offered Shah Shuja asylum in Lahore, but on the condition
that he give up the Kohinoor diamond. Shah Shuja agreed,
and the Kohinoor diamond became one of the most prized
possessions of the Sikh Empire.
72. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, set up
his capital at Srirangapatna. Srirangapatna is located on
an island in the Cauvery River, in the Mandya district of
Karnataka, India. It was a strategically important location,
as it was surrounded by water on three sides. Srirangapatna
was also a well-fortified city, making it difficult to attack.
Important Tips
Tippu Sultan:
• Born as Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tippu on November
10, 1750, in Devanahalli (present-day Bangalore).
• Son of Hyder Ali, who had risen in the ranks of the
Wodeyar dynasty’s army, rulers of Mysore.
• Earned the nickname “Tiger of Mysore.”
Military Innovations and Anglo-Mysore Wars:
• Expanded iron cased Mysorean rockets and
commissioned the military manual Fathul Mujahidin.
• Utilized rockets against British and allied forces
during the Anglo-Mysore Wars.
• Fought in battles like the Battle of Pollilur and Siege of
Srirangapatna.
• Tipu sent an embassy to Constantinople and another
in 1787 to Paris to strengthen his position against the
English.
Treaties and Conflicts:
• Negotiated the 1784 Treaty of Mangalore with the
British, ending the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
PYQ Workbook
• Engaged in the Maratha–Mysore War and signed the
Treaty of Gajendragad.
• Forced into the Treaty of Seringapatam during the
Third Anglo-Mysore War, losing previously conquered
territories.
• Defeated in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War by a
combined British, Maratha, and Nizam force in 1799.
Contributions and Conflicts:
• Made endowments to Hindu temples, including
Ranganathaswami Temple at Srirangapatna.
• Appointed Hindu officers and provided land grants to
Hindu temples, showcasing religious tolerance.
Implemented Reforms:
• Tippu is recognized for pioneering the use of iron-
cased rockets in warfare.
• In the Anglo-Mysore Wars, he introduced modern
war rockets (though some sources attribute the initial
introduction to his father, Hyder Ali, and Tippu
improved upon them).
Coinage System:
• Under Haidar Ali, coins featured pagodas with Persian
inscriptions in the name of Mughal Emperor Shah
Alam II.
• Tippu Sultan continued the issuance of pagodas,
mohurs, and rupees, with entirely new inscriptions.
• In copper coinage, Haidar Ali initiated the larger
paisa, which Tippu Sultan expanded by introducing
additional denominations.
Land Revenue and Sericulture:
• Tippu introduced a novel land revenue system in
Mysore.
• He also played a role in promoting sericulture, a
practice that still provides employment for many
Kannadigas.
73. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct- Agency Houses were important
commercial formations in the late eighteenth and
nineteenth century India. They were essentially private
companies that provided a range of services to the British
East India Company (EIC), including banking, insurance,
and shipping.
Statement 2 is correct- The operation of managing agencies
remained confined to Calcutta, which was the capital of
the EIC. This was because Calcutta was the main center
of British trade and commerce in India. The managing
agencies were able to operate effectively in Calcutta because
they had access to a large pool of financial resources and
skilled manpower.
74. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
22
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Statement 1 is correct- The Treaty of Amritsar was signed in
1809 between the British East India Company (represented
by Charles T. Metcalfe) and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the
ruler of the Sikh Empire. The treaty fixed the Sutlej River as
the boundary between the Sikh Empire and British India. It
also allowed the British to maintain a presence in the Punjab,
which was seen as a strategic buffer between the British and
the Afghans.
Statement 2 is correct- The treaty helped Maharaja Ranjit
Singh to consolidate his power in the Punjab. After the
treaty, he was able to annex Jammu, Multan, and Kashmir
to his domains. These annexations made the Sikh Empire
one of the most powerful states in South Asia
75. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: In 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah
was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta on the plea that the
region was being misgoverned. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was
the last ruler of Awadh, a princely state in northern India.
He was deposed by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of
India, who accused him of neglecting the administration and
welfare of his subjects. The British East India Company then
annexed Awadh and brought it under its direct rule. This
was one of the causes of the revolt of 1857, as many people in
Awadh resented the British interference and injustice.
Statement II is correct: The Nawab was accused of being
unable to control the rebellious chiefs and Taluqdars. The
chiefs and Taluqdars were the local landlords and nobles who
had considerable power and influence in Awadh. They often
defied the authority of the Nawab and resisted his attempts
to reform the revenue system and curb their privileges. The
British used this as a pretext to justify their annexation of
Awadh, claiming that they would restore law and order and
protect the rights of the peasants.
Statement II is also the correct explanation of Statement I.
The British allegation of misgovernance against Nawab Wajid
Ali Shah was based on his supposed inability to control the
rebellious chiefs and Taluqdars, who posed a threat to the
stability and security of Awadh. The British argued that they
had to intervene and take over Awadh to ensure its proper
administration and development.
76. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Dhaka was a leading commercial centre in Bengal that
flourished in the seventeenth century due to its trade in
cotton textiles, silk, muslin, saltpetre, sugar, etc. It had a
cosmopolitan population of merchants, artisans, bankers
and weavers from different regions and communities. It also
had a thriving export market with Europe, West Asia and
Southeast Asia. However, Dhaka declined in the eighteenth
century when the British became the dominant political and
economic power in India after the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
77. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
23
Statement 1 is correct: British did rely on Indian Pandits
and Maulavis for understanding the Hindu and Muslim
laws respectively. They appointed them as court advisers and
translators of the ancient texts.
Statement II is incorrect: British did not codify the Hindu
and Muslim laws in 1783 and 1785 respectively. The actual
codification of Hindu and Muslim laws took place much later,
in the 19th century, through a series of legislative acts and
judicial decisions. The Charter Act of the British Parliament
of 1833 established a Law Commission to unify and codify
Indian laws, which it achieved between 1862 and 1872 with
the Indian Divorce Act of 1869, the Hindu Wills Act of 1870,
the Special Marriage Act of 1872, the Indian Evidence Act
of 1872, the Christian Marriage Act of 1872, The Married
Women’s Property Act 1874; The Indian Majority Act of
1875 and Divorces Registration Act 1876 all came out of this.
With the implementation of the Avadh Laws Act in 1876,
modifications were also introduced to Muslim personal law.
The Kazis Act 1881, the Transfer of Property Act 1882, the
Guardians and Wards Act 1890, and the Bengal Protection
of Mohammadan’s Pilgrim Act 1896 were all key legislation
that followed.
Important Tips
• The Calcutta Madrasa was founded by Warren
Hastings in 1781 for the study of Muslim law and
related subjects, such as Persian and Arabic languages.
• The Sanskrit College was established by Jonathan
Duncan, the resident at Benaras, in 1791 for the study
of Hindu law and philosophy, as well as the Sanskrit
language.
78. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Banaras and the surrounding tracts were not handed over to
Shah Alam II, but to Balwant Singh, the zamindar of Banaras.
Balwant Singh of Benares was granted these territories by the
East India Company as a part of the Treaty of Allahabad in
1765. He later transferred them to Shah Alam II in 1775
79. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The First Anglo-Maratha War was concluded by The Treaty
of Salbai. The Treaty of Salbai, signed in 1782, brought an
end to the First Anglo-Maratha War. The treaty was signed
between the British East India Company and the Maratha
Empire, specifically the Peshwa (prime minister) of the
Marathas. The treaty established peace between the two
parties and defined the territorial boundaries and terms of
engagement.
Important Tips
• The Treaty of Surat: It was a peace treaty signed
between the British East India Company and the
Marathas in 1775. It was an attempt to bring a
temporary cessation of hostilities during the First
Anglo-Maratha War. However, the Treaty of Surat did
not mark the conclusion of the war but rather a brief
pause in the fighting.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• The Treaty of Purandar: It was signed in 1776 between
the British East India Company and the Marathas. It
followed the Battle of Wadgaon, where the British
suffered a significant defeat. The treaty established
peace between the two sides and led to the restoration
of territories to the Marathas.
• The Convention of Wadgaon took place in 1779 during
the First Anglo-Maratha War. It was a significant event
where the Marathas, led by their commander-in-chief
Mahadji Shinde, achieved a decisive victory over the
British forces.
80. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Dastak was a trade permit or pass issued by the local
authorities, granting the European traders permission to
conduct their trade within a specific region or territory. The
Dastak served as a form of authorization and protection
for the European merchants, ensuring their safety and
facilitating their commercial transactions.
81. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Dadni system was a phase of business management of
the English East India Company in Bengal in the eighteenth
century. The company used to engage local merchants to
procure goods, especially textiles, from the market on its
behalf. They were called dadni-merchants, because they
received advances from the company for delivering goods
under stipulated terms.
The Dadni system played a crucial role in promoting textile
production and craftsmanship in regions where it was
prevalent.
82. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
British policy towards Afghanistan in the first half of the
19th century aimed at: weakening Russian influence in
Afghanistan but not promoting a strong Afghanistan
either.
• The British were concerned that Russia would attack
India via Afghanistan and the country’s northwestern
border, and wanted to keep Russia at a safe distance from
the Indian border.
• The British adopted a forward policy, which implied
that they had to take initiatives to protect the boundary
of British India from a probable Russian attack, either
through treaties with the neighbouring countries or by
annexing them completely.
• The British also wanted to weaken and end Russian
influence in Afghanistan, but they did not want a strong
Afghanistan. They wanted to keep her a weak and
divided country which they could easily control.
83. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
Siyar-ul-Mutakherin was written by Ghulam Husain Khan
Tabatabai, an Indian historian from the 18th century Bengal.
He was an 18th-century Persian historian who served in
the court of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, the last independent
Nawab of Bengal.
Important Tips
The Siyar-ul-Mutakhkherin is in three volumes:
• Volume I gives an account of the geography, climate,
animals, forts, saints and Ulama of Hindustan, and
briefly surveys its history from the epic age to the reign
of aurangzeb.
• Volume II discusses the history of Bengal from the
death of Aurangzeb and deals with the nizamat of
Murshidabad, the relations of the English with the
nawabs, the battle of Palashi, and establishment of
English supremacy in Bengal and Bihar together with
British administrative system.
• Volume III discusses the history of the Nizam of
Haidarabad, Haidar Ali of Mysore, Nawab-Wazirs
of Oudh, Emperor Muhammad Shah, Ahmad Shah
Abdali’s invasions and his wars with the Marathas.
The volume comes to an end after the affairs of the
English upto 1781 AD.
84. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Daud Khan Panni and Saadatullah
Khan were the founders of the dynasty that ruled Arcot, a
princely state that was established by the Mughal emperor
Aurangzeb in 1692 and later became a protectorate of the
British East India Company.
Statement 2 is correct: Arcot became the site of a protracted
struggle between the English and Dutch East India
Companies from the 1740s, as part of their rivalry for trade
and influence in India.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The State of Arcot in the 18th
century was characterized by centralization rather than
decentralization. The rulers of Arcot sought to consolidate
their power and establish a strong central authority.
Statement 4 is correct: The other major State to emerge in
South India at this time was Mysore. In the 18th century,
the Kingdom of Mysore, under the leadership of rulers like
Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, emerged as a significant power
in South India.
85. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Job Charnock arrived in Sutanati in
August 1690 and laid the foundation of Calcutta, which
later became the heart of the British Indian empire. Job
Charnock is considered one of the founders of Calcutta (now
Kolkata) and played a significant role in establishing British
presence in Bengal.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The French East India Company
did not build a fort near Fort William in Calcutta. Fort
24
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
William was built by the British East India Company in
the 18th century and served as a major British stronghold
in Bengal.
86. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Battle of Buxar, which took place
in 1764, was a decisive battle in the Indian subcontinent.
The victory of the British East India Company in this battle
provided them with a key advantage and paved the way for
25
their establishment of control over Bengal and other parts
of India.
Statement 2 is correct: The Treaty of Allahabad was signed
on 16 August 1765 between the Mughal Emperor Shah
Alam II and Robert Clive of the East India Company, in the
aftermath of the Battle of Buxar. It granted the Company the
diwani rights, or the right to collect revenue, in Bengal,
Bihar, and Odisha. This effectively gave the British control
over these regions and marked a significant step in their
establishment of political power in India.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

REBELLIONS AND REFORM MOVEMENTS
*This unit consists of questions from the Revolt of 1857, the Peasant and Trible Movements and the
Socio-Relegious Reform Movements.

2.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions 6. After the Santhal Uprising subsided, what
was/were the measure/measures taken by
1. Who among the following was associated as the colonial government?
Secretary with Hindu Female School which [UPSC CSE Pre. 2018]
later came to be known as Bethune Female 1. The territories called ‘Santhal Parganas’
School? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2021] were created.
(a) Annie Besant 2. It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer
(b) Debendranath Tagore land to a non-Santhal.
(c) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Select the correct answer using the code given
(d) Sarojini Naidu below:
2. The Self-Respect Movement was initiated (a) 1 only
by [UPSC CSE Pre. 2021] (b) 2 only
(a) B.R. Ambedkar (c) Both 1 and 2
(b) Jyotiba Phule (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker 7. Which among the following events
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru happened earliest? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2018]
3. In the context of Indian history, the (a) Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj.
Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around (b) Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neel Darpan.
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2020] (c) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote
1. women’s right to gain education Anandmath.
(d) Satyendranath Tagore became the first
2. age of consent Indian to succeed in the Indian Civil
3. restitution of conjugal rights Services Examination.
Select the correct answer using the code
8. The Trade Disputes Act of 1929 provided
given below:
for [UPSC CSE Pre. 2017]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(a) the participation of workers in the
(b) 2 and 3 only
management of industries.
(c) 1 and 3 only
(b) arbitrary powers to the management to
(d) 1, 2 and 3
quell industrial disputes.
4. Indigo cultivation in India declined by the (c) an intervention by the British Court in
beginning of the 20th century because of the event of a trade dispute.
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2020] (d) a system of tribunals and a ban on strikes.
(a) peasant resistance to the oppressive 9. Satya Shodhak Samaj organized
conduct of planters [UPSC CSE Pre. 2016]
(b) its unprofitability in the world market (a) a movement for upliftment of tribals in
because of new inventions Bihar
(c) national leaders’ opposition to the (b) a temple-entry movement in Gujarat
cultivation if indigo (c) an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra
(d) Government control over the planters (d) a peasant movement in Punjab
5. With reference to the history of India, 10. Consider the following:
“Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the 1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee
description of which of the following
events? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2020] 2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation
(a) The Revolt of 1857 3. Indian Reform Association
(b) The Mappila Rebellion of 1921 Keshav Chandra Sen is associated with the
(c) The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 establishment of which of the above?
(d) Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899-1900 [UPSC CSE Pre 2016]

PYQ Workbook 26
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

(a) 1 and 3 only (a) Introduction of a new system of land

(b) 2 and 3 only revenue and taxation of tribal products.
(c) 3 only (b) Influence of foreign religious missionaries
(d) 1, 2 and 3 in tribal areas.
(c) Rise of a large number of money
11. The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant lenders, traders and revenue farmers as
Movement in Bengal was for middlemen in tribal areas.
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2013] (d) The complete disruption of the old
(a) the reduction of the share of the landlords agrarian order of the tribal communities.
from one-half of the crop to one-third
15. Which one of the following places was
(b) the grant of ownership of land to peasants associated with Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s
as they were the actual cultivators of the Bhoodan Movement at the beginning of the
land movement? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2007]
(c) the uprooting of Zamindari system and (a) Udaygiri
the end of serfdom (b) Raipur
(d) writing off all peasant debts (c) Pochampalli
12. Which of the following statements is/are (d) Venkatagiri
correct regarding Brahmo Samaj? 16. With reference to the ‘revolt of 1857’ who
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2012] of the following was betrayed by ‘friend’
1. It opposed idolatry. captured and put to death by the British?
2. It denied the need for a priestly class for [UPSC CSE Pre. 2006]
interpreting the religious texts. (a) Nana Sahib
3. It popularized the doctrine that the Vedas (b) Kunwar Singh
are infallible. (c) Khan Bahadur Khan
Select the correct answer using the codes (d) Tatya Tope
given below: 17. Which one of the following revolts was made
(a) 1 only famous by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in
(b) 1 and 2 only his novel ‘Anand Math’?
(c) 3 only [UPSC CSE Pre. 2006]
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (a) Bhil uprising
(b) Rangpur and Dinajpur uprising
13. During Indian freedom struggle, the
(c) Bishnupur and Birbhum rebellion
National Social Conference was formed. (d) Sanyasi rebellion
What was the reason for its formation?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2012] 18. Who was the Governor-General of India
(a) Different social reform groups or during the Sepoy Mutiny?
organizations of Bengal region united [UPSC CSE Pre. 2006]
to form a single body to discuss the (a) Lord Canning
issues of larger interest and to prepare (b) Lord Dalhousie
appropriate petitions/representations to (c) Lord Hardings
the government (d) Lord Lytton
(b) Indian National Congress did not want to 19. Who among the following was not associated
include social reforms in its deliberations with the formation of U.P. Kisan Sabha in
and decided to form a separate body for February 1918? [UPSC CSE Pre.2005]
such a purpose (a) Indra Narayan Dwivedi
(c) Behramji Malabari and M. G. Ranade (b) Gauri Shankar Misra
decided to bring together all the social (c) Jawaharlal Nehru
reform groups of the country under one (d) Madan Mohan Malviya
organization
20. Which one of the following territories was
(d) None of the statements (a) , (b) and (c) not affected by the Revolt of 1857?
given above is correct in this context.
[UPSC CSE Pre.2005]
14. Which amongst the following provided a (a) Jhansi
common factor for tribal insurrection in (b) Chittor
India in the 19th century? (c) Jagdishpur
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2011] (d) Lucknow

27 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

21. Which one of the following places did 25. M.C. Setalvad, B.N. Rao, and Alladi
Kunwar Singh, a prominent leader of the Krishnaswamy Iyer were distinguished
Revolt of 1857 belong to? members of the: [UPSC CSE Pre. 1997]
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2005] (a) Swaraj Party
(a) Bihar (b) All India National Liberal Federation
(b) Madhya Pradesh (c) Madras Labour Union
(c) Rajasthan (d) Servants of India Society
(d) Uttar Pradesh
26. Consider the following passage:
22. Consider the following statements: His principle forte was social and religious
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2001] reform. He relied upon legislation to do away
1. Arya Samaj was founded in 1835. with social ills and worked unceasingly for
2. Lala Lajpat Rai opposed the appeal of the eradication of child marriage and the
Arya Samaj to the authority of Vedas in purdah system. To encourage consideration
support of its social reform programme. of social problems on a national scale, he
3. Under Keshab Chandra Sen, the Brahmo inaugurated the Indian National Social
Samaj campaigned for women’s education Conference, which for many years met for
4. Vinoba Bhave founded the Sarvodaya its annual sessions alongside the Indian
Samaj to work among refugees. National Congress. Their reference in this
Which of these statements are correct? passage is to: [UPSC CSE Pre 1996]
(a) 1 and 2 (a) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(b) 2 and 3 (b) Behramji Merwanji Malabari
(c) 2 and 4 (c) Mahadev Govind Ranade
(d) 3 and 4 (d) B.R. Ambedkar
23. Consider the following events: 27. The word Adivasi was used for the first time
1. Indigo Revolt to refer to the tribal people by:
2. Santhal Rebellion [UPSC CSE Pre. 1995]
3. Deccan Riot (a) Mahatma Gandhi
4. Mutiny of the Sepoys (b) Thakkar Bappa
(c) Jyotiba Phule
The correct chronological sequence of these
(d) B.R. Ambedkar
events is: [UPSC CSE Pre. 1999]
(a) 4, 2, 1, 3 28. Who among the following was the leader of
(b) 4, 2, 3, 1 some anti-British revolts in Sambhalpur?
(c) 2, 4, 3, 1 [UPSC CSE Pre.1994]
(d) 2, 4, 1, 3 (a) Utirat Singh
24. Match list-I with list-II and select the (b) Surendra Sai
correct answer using the codes given below (c) Kattabomman
the lists: (d) Sayyid Ahmad Barelvi

List-I List-II 29. Whose main aim was to uplift the backward
classes? [UPSC CSE Pre. 1993]
A. Moplah revolt 1. Kerala
(a) Prarthana Samaj
B. Pabna revolt 2. Bihar (b) Satyashodhak Samaj
C. Eka Movement 3. Bengal (c) Arya Samaj
D. Birsa Munda revolt 4. Oudh (d) Ramakrishna Mission
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre. 1997]
2.2. Other Examination Previous Year’s
A B C D Questions
(a) 1 3 4 2
(b) 2 3 4 1 30. Match list-I with list-II and select the
(c) 1 2 3 4 correct answer using the codes given below
(d) 3 4 1 2 the lists:

PYQ Workbook 28
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

List-I List-II Place Leadership

(Persons) (Associated works/
Posts) (a) Sambhalpur Surender Sahi
A. D.K. Karve 1. Establishment of (b) Ganjam Radhakrishna
Girls School in Dandsena
Calcutta (c) Kashmir Gulab Singh
B. J.E.D. Bethune 2. Secretary, Widow
Re-marriage (d) Lucknow Liyaqat Ali
Association
34. Which of the above pairs is NOT correctly
C. Ishwar Chandra 3. Starting a crusade
matched? [UPPCS (Pre) 2018]
Vidyasagar against child
marriage Rebellion Year
D. B.M. Malabari 4. Principal of (a) Santhal 1855
Sanskrit College in (b) Kol 1831
Calcutta (c) Khasi 1829
Code: [UPPCS (Pre) 2022]
(d) Ahom 1815
A B C D
(a) 2 1 4 3 35. Which one the following social reformers
strongly opposed Jury Act of 1826?
(b) 1 2 3 4
(c) 1 2 4 3 [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
(d) 2 1 3 4 (a) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
31. Which one of the following is correctly (c) Mahadev Govind Ranade
matched? [UPPCS (Pre) 2022] (d) Rajnarayan Basu
(a) Bharat Dharma Mahamandal - Delhi 36. Who has written ‘Satyarth Prakash’?
(b) Deva Samaj - Banaras [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
(c) Radhaswami Satsang - Lahore (a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(d) Sanatan Dharma Rakshini Sabha - (b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Calcutta (c) Swami Vivekananda
(d) Dayanand Saraswati
32. Match list-I with list-II and select the
correct answer using the codes given below 37. Which of the above following was started in
the lists: opposition to the religious/social ideas of
Ram Mohan Roy?
List-I List-II [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
(Movement) (Year) (a) Digdarshan
A. Pabna rebellion 1. 1855-56 (b) Samachar Chandrika
B. Eka Movement 2. 1873-85 (c) Samvad Kaumudi
(d) Bengal Gazette
C. Santhal Rebellion 3. 1922
38. With reference to “Santhal Hool” of 1855,
D. Tana Bhagat 4. 1914 which of the following statement/s is/are
Movement correct? Select the correct answer from the
Code: [UPPCS (Pre) 2019] codes given below:
A B C D 1. Major Burrough lost the battle with
(a) 1 2 4 3 Santhals near Bhagalpur.
(b) 2 3 1 4 2. Gokko was an important leader of Godda.
(c) 3 1 4 2 3. Mahajan Deen Dayal Rai is also an
important name in this context.
(d) 4 3 2 1
4. There was a time when Santhals enjoyed
33. Which of the followings pairs is NOT full sovereignty over the area of Ganga
correctly matched? [UPPCS (Pre) 2018] valley near Muzaffarpur.

29 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

Codes: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017] 46. In which State was the Bhoodan Movement
(a) 1 only first started? [UPPCS (Mains) 2013]
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only (a) In Andhra Pradesh
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) In Karnataka
(d) 2 and 3 only (c) In Tamil Nadu
39. Whose name, amongst the following is not (d) In Uttar Pradesh
associated with the Revolt of 1857? 47. Who among the following prominently
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017] fought for and got widow remarriage
(a) Col. St. Legar legalized? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]
(b) Lt. Col. Gibbs (a) Annie Besant
(c) Col. Wallace (b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(d) All of the above (c) M.G. Ranade
40. Who amongst the following was the leader (d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
of the 1857 uprising at Allahabad? 48. Who among the following had played
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015] an important role in passing the Native
(a) Nana Saheb Marriage Act of 1872?
(b) Azimullah [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
(c) Tatya Tope (a) Devendra Nath Tagore
(d) Maulvi Liyaqat Ali (b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
41. The Tarkeshwar Movement of 1924 in (c) Keshav Chandra Sen
Bengal was against: (d) Shyam Chandra Das
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2015] 49. The statement “the so-called first national
(a) Corruption in temples war of independence was neither first, nor
(b) Violence national, nor a war of independence’ is
(c) Arrest of political leaders associated with- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
(d) Communalism (a) R.C. Majumdar
42. ‘Hali System’ concerned: (b) S. N. Sen
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015] (c) Tarachand
(a) Bonded labour (d) V.D. Savarkar
(b) Exploitation of peasants 50. Which one of the following conceptions is
(c) Untouchability true about the Revolt of 1857?
(d) Illiteracy [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
43. Dar-ul-Ulum was established by– (a) Indian historians have described it as an
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014] Indian mutiny
(a) Maulana Shibli Numani (b) British historians have described it as a
(b) Maulavi Hussain Ahmad war of independence
(c) Maulavi Abdullah Chakralavi (c) It gave a death blow to the system of East
(d) Maulana Ahmad Riza Khan India Company’s rule in India
(d) It was for the improvement of the
44. Who among the following social reformers administrative machinery in India
was known for proficiency in the Sanskrit
language? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] 51. The official historian of Indian Freedom
(a) Dayanand Saraswati struggle was- [UPPCS (Pre) 2010]
(b) Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar (a) R.C. Mazumdar
(c) Raja Rammohan Roy (b) Tarachandra
(d) All of the above (c) V.D. Savarkar
(d) S.N. Sen
45. Who among the following had presided
over the All-India Trade Union Congress 52. Which among the following organizations
held at Nagpur in 1929? supported Shuddhi movement?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] [U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2010]
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru (a) Arya Samaj
(b) Acharya Narendra Dev (b) Brahmo Samaj
(c) Subhas Chandra Bose (c) Dev Samaj
(d) Yusuf Meherally (d) Prarthana Samaj

PYQ Workbook 30
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

53. Match these former revolts in 19th century 59. Match list-I with list-II and select the
with these related areas: correct answer using the codes given below
the lists:
List-I List-II
A. Kuki revolt 1. Punjab List-I List-II
B. Kuka revolt 2. Bengal A. Bardoli 1. Swami
Satyagraha Shraddhananda
C. Pabna revolt 3. Bihar Saraswati
D. Birsa Munda revolt 4. Tripura B. Bhartiya Kisan 2. Sardar Vallabhbhai
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010] Vidyalaya Patel
A B C D C. Bengal Praja 3. Fazlul Haq
(a) 4 2 1 3 Party
(b) 2 3 1 4 D. Bakashat 4. N.G. Ranga
(c) 4 1 3 2 Agitation
(d) 4 1 2 3 Code: [UPPCS (Mains) 2006]
54. The First Society founded by Raja Ram A B C D
Mohan Roy was: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009] (a) 2 3 4 1
(a) Brahma Samaj (b) 2 4 3 1
(b) Atmiya Sabha (c) 1 4 2 3
(d) 4 1 3 2
(c) Brahma Sabha
(d) Tatvabodhini Sabha 60. Match list-I with list-II and select the
correct answer using the codes given below
55. The founder of ‘Bhartiya Brahmo Samaj’ the lists:
was: [U.P. P.C.S. (Spl.) (Mains) 2008]
List-I List-II
(a) Devendranath Tagore
(b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (Events) (Dates)
(c) Keshav Chandra Sen A. Barrackpur Mutiny 1. July, 1806
(d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy B. Berhampur Revolt 2. November,
1824
56. The first event relating to the war of
Independence of 1857 was– C. Santhal Revolt 3. 1855-56
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008] D. Vellore Mutiny 4. February, 1857
(a) Kanpur’s Revolt and taking over the [UPPCS (Mains) 2006]
leadership by Nana Saheb A B C D
(b) Begum Hazrat Mahal’s leadership of (a) 2 4 3 1
Oudh (b) 2 1 4 3
(c) Marching of Sepoys to Delhi’s Red Fort (c) 3 4 2 1
(d) 1 2 3 4
(d) Revolt by Rani of Jhansi
61. Who among the following is known as
57. Who among the following was the leader of ‘Martin Luther of India’?
the revolution of 1857 in Assam? [U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007] (a) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
(a) Diwan Maniram Dutta (b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Kandarpeshwar Singh (c) Swami Vivekanand
(c) Purandar Singh (d) Swami Shraddhanand
(d) Piali Barua 62. Who among the following represented
58. What did the Act V of 1843 make illegal? India at the World Parliament of Religions
at Chicago in 1893?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007] [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
(a) Child marriage (a) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
(b) Infanticide (b) Ram Krishna Paramhans
(c) Sati (c) Swami Vivekanand
(d) Slavery (d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy

31 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

63. Who was the founder of Ram Krishna (c) Shiv Narayan Agnihotri
Mission? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004] (d) Swami Shraddhananda
(a) Ramkrishna Paramhansa 69. Which one of the following was the author
(b) M.N. Das Gupta of ‘Gulamgiri’? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]
(c) Swami Vivekananda (a) B.R. Ambedkar
(d) Swami Rangnath Nanda (b) Jyotiba Phule
64. Which one of the following is correctly (c) Mahatma Gandhi
matched? [UPPCS (Spl) (Mains) 2004] (d) Periyar

(a) Brahmo Samaj of Raja Ram 70. Which of the following places was the
India Mohan Roy Centre of the Gadakari rebellion?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]
(b) Tatvabodhini Sabha Keshav Chandra
Sen (a) Bihar Sharif
(b) Kolhapur
(c) The Satyashodhak Devendranath (c) Surat
Samaj Tagore (d) Sylhet
(d) The Servants of Gopal Krishna 71. The Pagalpanthi rebellion was indeed a
India Society Gokhle rebellion of: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]
65. Who said that “If God were to tolerate (a) Bhils
untouchability, I would not recognize him (b) Garos
as God at all”? (c) Gonds
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004] (d) Koliyas
(a) B.R. Ambedkar 72. Who among the following was the leader of
(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak the Farazi rebellion? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai (a) Aga Muhammad Raza
(d) Mahatma Gandhi (b) Dadu Miyan
(c) Shamsher Gazi
66. Match list-I with list-II and select the
(d) Wazir Ali
correct answer using the codes given below
the lists: 73. In the 1930s, peasant movements were
started in different parts of the country at
List-I List-II the instance of various leaders. Match them
A. Brahmo Samaj 1. Mumbai with their respective areas of influence:
B. Manav Dharma Sabha 2. Surat List-I List-II
C. Arya Samaj 3. Kolkata A. Sahjanand Saraswati 1. Hyderabad
D. Nadwah-ul-Ulama 4. Lucknow B. Khudai Khidmatgars 2. Southern
Code: [UPPCS (Mains) 2003] Assam
A B C D C. Swami Ramanand 3. Bihar
(a) 4 1 3 2 D. Abdul Hamid Khan 4. NWFP
(b) 1 4 3 2
Code: [UPPCS (Pre) 1998]
(c) 3 1 4 2
(d) 3 2 1 4 A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4
67. Velu Thampi led a rebellion against the (b) 3 4 1 2
British in- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002] (c) 4 3 2 1
(a) Kerala (d) 2 3 1 3
(b) Maharashtra
74. Who among the following was the leader of
(c) Mysore
the revolt during 1857 at Bareilly?
(d) Telangana
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]
68. Who was the founder of Radha Swami (a) Khan Bahadur
Satsang? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2002] (b) Kunwar Singh
(a) Haridas Swami (c) Maulvi Ahmad Shah
(b) Shiv dayal Sahab (d) Birzis Kadir

PYQ Workbook 32
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

75. Which one of the following uprisings 82. Who was the British Prime minister during
occurred in Maharashtra? the revolt of 1857? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998] (a) Churchill
(a) Bhil uprising (b) Palmerston
(b) Kol Uprising (c) Attlee
(c) Rampa uprising (d) Gladstone
(d) Santhal uprising
83. Match list-I with list-II and select the
76. Who among the following was not related to
correct answer using the codes given below
the Revolt of 1857? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996]
the lists:
(a) Begum Hazrat Mahal
(b) Kunwar Singh List-I List-II
(c) Uddham Singh A. Child Marriage 1. Ishwarchand
(d) Maulavi Ahmadullah Vidyasagar
77. Who of the following is responsible for the B. Suppression of 2. Colonel
revival of Vedas: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1995] Thuggee Sleimen
(a) Rama Krishna Paramhans C. Widows’ Remarriage 3. M.G.
(b) Ramanuja Ranade
(c) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
D. Suppression of 4. Lord
(d) Swami Vivekanand
Pindaris Hastings
78. Indians were assured of many things in Code: [UPPCS (Pre) 1990]
the declaration by Queen Victoria in 1858.
Which among the following assurances was A B C D
fulfilled by the British Government: (a) 3 2 1 4
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994] (b) 4 2 1 3
(a) Policy of annexation will be abandoned (c) 1 4 3 2
(b) ‘Status quo’ of the native rulers would be (d) 2 3 1 4
maintained 84. What was the main cause of 1857 revolt?
(c) Equal treatment would be given to all
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]
subjects, Indians, and Europeans
(d) There would be no interference in the (a) Public Outrage
social and religious beliefs of the Indians (b) Military discontent
(c) Management of Christian Missionaries
79. Who among the following great men is
(d) Policy of the British Empire
called the ‘Father of Indian Renaissance’?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994] 85. The Rajamundri Social Reform Association
(a) Vivekananda to encourage widow re-marriage was
(b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded in 1878 by-
(c) Rabindra Nath Tagore [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre.) 2021]
(d) Dayanand Saraswati (a) Veeresalingam
80. Chief centre of Wahabi Movement during (b) K. Ramakrishan Pillai
19th century was: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994] (c) K.T. Telang
(a) Lahore (d) Gopalachariar
(b) Patna
86. Which of the following pairs is NOT
(c) Amritsar
(d) Pune correctly matched? [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2018]

81. Which of the following were not protested Institution Founder

by Raja Ram Mohan Roy? (a) Servants of India Society G.K. Gokhale
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1992] (b) Social Service League N.M. Joshi
(a) Child marriage (c) Seva Samiti H.N. Kunzru
(b) Sati system
(c) Western education (d) Social Reform Shri Ram
(d) Idolatry Association Bajpai

33 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

87. Consider the following statements: 92. What was common among Brahma Samaj,
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2016] Ram Krishna Mission, and Arya Samaj?
Assertion (A): Socio-religious movements of [R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2008]
the 19th century resulted in the modernization (a) None of these three had a political
of India. mission but they helped to develop a
Reason (R): Rationalism, scientific temper spirit of patriotism
and other such ideas which are the basis of (b) All the three originated from Bengal
modernization were at the core of the socio- (c) Founder of all the three was educated in
religious movements. England
Select the correct answer from the code given (d) Founder of all the three took active part
below: in politics
(a) (R) is true, but (A) is false. 93. Who amongst the following first used the
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the word ‘Swaraj’ and accepted Hindi as the
correct explanation of (A). national language?
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 1999]
(d) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not
the correct explanation of (A). (a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Swami Dayanand
88. Arrange the following uprisings against (c) Swami Vivekanand
the British colonial power in India prior to (d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
1857 in the various parts of the country in
the correct order: 94. Who gave Vallabhbhai Patel the title of
(i) Sepoy mutiny in Bengal ‘Sardar’? [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1997]
(ii) Kutch Rebellion (a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Pandit Nehru
(iii) Sepoy mutiny at Vellore (c) Maulana Azad
(iv) Santhal uprising (d) Kasturba
(v) Kol uprising
95. The British were able to suppress the
Code: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2013] uprising of 1857 in Rajput states because:
(a) (i), (iii), (ii), (v), (iv)
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1996]
(b) (ii), (iii), (i), (v), (iv)
(c) (iv), (i), (iii), (ii), (v) (a) The local Rajput rulers did not support
(d) (iii), (i), (ii), (iv), (v) revolutionaries.
(b) The educated middle class supported the
89. Who is considered as the first ‘Modern Man’ British.
of India? [R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2012] (c) The soldiers in cantonments were
(a) Nana Saheb not prepared to accept leadership of
(b) A. O. Hume revolution from outside Rajasthan.
(c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy (d) The newspaper could not project the true
(d) Swami Vivekanand aim of the revolution.
90. The Greatest Parsi Social reformer of the 96. The immediate cause of India’s first war of
19th century was:
independence was:
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2010]
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1993]
(a) Sir Jamshedji
(b) Sir Rustom Behramji (a) Doctrine of Lapse by Lord Dalhousie
(c) Navalji Tata (b) Suspicion about British interference in
(d) Behramji M. Mallabari religion
(c) Military discontent
91. Who launched the ‘Lasodia Movement’ for (d) Economic exploitation of India
social reforms amongst the Bhils of Mewar,
Bagar and nearby regions? 97. The first peasant movement of India was:
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2008] [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1992]
(a) Mavji (a) Champaran
(b) Govind Giri (b) Bardoli
(c) Surmal Das (c) Begu
(d) Moti Lal Tejawat (d) Bijolia

PYQ Workbook 34
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

98. The largest number of soldiers participated (a) R.G. Bhandarkar

in the Struggle of 1857 came from– (b) M.G. Ranade
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015] (c) Pandit Ramabai
(a) Bengal (d) Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
(b) Oudh 106. Who among the following was the founder
(c) Bihar of ‘Dev Samaj’?
(d) Rajasthan [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2003]
99. Who among the following famous reformers (a) Vallabhbhai Patel
wrote the books Jnyana Yoga, Karma Yoga, (b) Dadabhai Naoroji
and Raja Yoga? (c) Shiv Narayan Agnihotri
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015] (d) Ramakrishna Paramhansa
(a) Swami Vivekananda 107. The first freedom struggle of 1857 failed
(b) Ranade because– [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998]
(c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy (a) There was lack of the unity of purpose in
(d) Ramakrishna Paramahansa Indian sepoys
100. The campaign for widow remarriage in (b) Generally, Native Kings supported British
Maharashtra was led by: (c) British Soldiers were better equipped and
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013] organised rather than Indians
(a) Vishnu Parashuram Pandit (d) All of the above
(b) B.M. Malabari 108. Match list-I with list-II and select the
(c) Gopal Hari Deshmukh correct answer using the codes given below
(d) Dadabhai Naoroji the lists:
101. Who was the founder of Bahujan Samaj? List-I List-II
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2010] A. Raja Ram 1. Said that Brahmovad
(a) Sri Narayan Guru Mohan Roy should be made the
(b) Mukund Rao Patil religion of the world
(c) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(d) B.R. Shinde B. Keshav 2. Identified Hinduism
Chandra Sen with religion
102. The first Indian to write in Indian language instituted in Vedas
on the causes of the uprising of 1857 was:
C. Dayanand 3. Emphasized that
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009] Saraswati there are several
(a) Syed Ahmed Khan ways to reach God
(b) V. D. Savarkar
D. Ramakrishna 4. Purest form of
(c) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Paramhansa Hinduism is
(d) None of the above
contained in
103. Who was ‘commander-in-chief ’ of Nana Upanishads
saheb? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008] Code: [UP Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998]
(a) Azimullah A B C D
(b) Birjis Qadir (a) 1 4 2 3
(c) Tatya Tope (b) 1 4 3 2
(d) None of the above (c) 4 1 3 2
104. The Bengali leader who opposed socio- (d) 4 1 2 3
religious reforms and supported orthodoxy 109. The Tebhaga Movement was started in 1946
was- [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008] from bengal under the leadership of:
(a) Radhakant Deb [66th B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020]
(b) Nemisadhan Bose
(a) Muslim League
(c) Hemchandra Biswas
(b) Kisan Sabha
(d) Hemchandra De
(c) Indian National Congress
105. Who was the chief director of Prarthana (d) Trade Union
Samaj in Maharashtra? (e) None of the above/More than one of the
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004] above

35 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

110. Who wrote the famous play, Neel Darpan 115. The Indigo Rebellion was about-
in which oppression of Indigo farmers was [BPSC (Pre) 2018]
displayed? [66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020] (a) the peasant not wanting to grow indigo
(a) Sharat Chandra Chatterjee but being forced
(b) Rabindranath Tagore (b) the peasant wanting to grow indigo but
(c) Barindra Ghosh being forced not to
(d) Dinabandhu Mitra (c) the peasant not wanting to grow indigo
(e) None of the above/More than one of the but being forced to grow at a price that
above was unacceptable
111. Poona Sarvajanik Sabha was founded in: (d) a protest movement that carried and
[66th B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020] indigo-coloured flag
(a) 1858 by Mahadev Govind Ranade 116. Who among the following did not rebel
(b) 1870 by Mahadev Govind Ranade against the British East India Company’s
(c) 1870 by Pandita Ramabai Ranade control over them? [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2018]
(d) 1870 by Surendranath Banerjee (a) Raja of Vijayanagar
(e) None of the above/More than one of the (b) Nizam of Hyderabad
above (c) Polygar of Tamil Nadu
112. Which of the following was not a reason (d) Dewan Velu Thampi of Travancore
for making the sepoys of the East India (e) None of the above/More than one of the
Company rebellious? [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2018] above
(a) The efforts of the officers of the company 117. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati published a
to spread Christianity journal named: [63rd B.P.S.C (Pre.) 2017]
(b) The order to the sepoys to travel on ships (a) Jankranti
(c) The stoppage of Bhatta (b) Hunkar
(d) The inefficiency of the officers (c) Krishak Samachar
(e) None of the above/More than one of the (d) Vidrohi
above (e) None of the above/More than one of the
113. Identify the correct combination from the above
options given below for Prathana Samaj, 118. Who was elected the first President of All
Young India, Lokahitavadi, Satyashodhak India Kisan Sabha at Lucknow in 1936?
Samaj, Rehnumai Mazdayasan Sabha:
[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]
[BPSC (Pre) 2018]
(a) N.G. Ranga
(a) Gopal Hari Deshmukh, Atmaram
(b) E.M.S. Namboodripad
Pandurang, Mohandas Karamchand
(c) Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
Gandhi, Jyotiba Phule, Naoroji Furdonji
(d) Acharya Narendra Dev
(b) Atmaram Pandurang, Mohandas
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
Karamchand Gandhi, Gopal Hari
above
Deshmukh, Jyotiba Phule, Naoroji
Furdonji 119. The Waghera Uprising happened in–
(c) Atmaram Pandurang, Jyotiba Phule, [56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Gopal (a) Surat
Hari Deshmukh, Naoroji Furdonji (b) Poona
(d) Naoroji Furdonji, Atmaram Pandurang, (c) Calicut
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Gopal (d) Baroda
Hari Deshmukh, Jyotiba Phule
(e) None of the above/More than one of the 120. Who was the founder of ‘Prarthana Samaj’?
above [53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]
114. Who began the Faraizi Movement? (a) Atmaram Panduranga
(b) Tilak
[BPSC (Pre) 2018]
(c) Annie Besant
(a) Haji Shariatullah (d) Rasbihari Ghose
(b) Syed Ahmed
(c) Salimullah 121. Who founded the ‘Theosophical Society’?
(d) M.A. Jinnah [53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]

PYQ Workbook 36
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

(a) Madame H.P. Blavatsky (c) Bankim Chandra Chatterji

(b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy (d) Raja Rammohan Roy
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
129. Which of the following groups did not
(d) Swami Vivekananda
participate in the revolt of 1857?
122. Kol Mutiny of 1831 under Buddho Bhagat [40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]
took place in which of the following regions? 1. Agricultural Labour
[66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2010] 2. Sahukar
(a) Kutch 3. Farmers
(b) Singhbhum 4. Landlords
(c) Western Ghats
(d) Satara Select your answer from the following codes:
(e) None of the above/More than one of the (a) Only 1
above (b) 1 and 2
(c) Only 2
123. The revolt of 1857 at Lucknow was led by: (d) 2 and 4
[48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]
130. Who called the revolt of 1857 a conspiracy?
(a) Begum of Oudh
(b) Tatya Tope [40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]
(c) Rani Lakshmibai (a) Sir James Outram and W. Taylor
(d) Nana Saheb (b) Sir John K.
(c) Sir John Lawrence
124. After the revolt of 1857, the British recruited (d) T.R. Homes
the Soldiers from the-
[48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008] 131. Trace the tribe that rebelled against
Britishers because human sacrifice system
(a) Brahmins of U.P. & Bihar
was banned– [40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]
(b) Bengalis and Orria’s from the East
(c) Gurkhas, Sikhs, and Punjabis in the North (a) Kuki
(d) Madras presidency and Marathas (b) Khond
(c) Oraon
125. Which one of the following commissions is (d) Nackda
associated with the Army Reorganization
after the suppression of the Revolt of 1857? 132. Who demanded the right to enter temples
that caused a terrible riot in Tirunevali in
[45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001]
1899? [40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]
(a) Public Service Commission
(a) Okalinga
(b) Peel Commission
(b) Nadars
(c) Hunter Commission
(c) Mahar
(d) Simon Commission
(d) Pali
126. The Revolt of 1857 was witnessed by the
133. Consider the following statements:
poet– [45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001]
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
(a) Mir Taqi Mir
(b) Zauq Assertion (A): The first war of Independence
(c) Ghalib in 1857 failed to secure freedom from the
(d) Iqbal British Government.
Reason (R): The leadership of Bahadur Shah
127. Kuka Movement was organized by–
Zafar did not have popular support and most
[45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001] of the Indian rulers of important States shied
(a) Guru Ram Das away from the struggle.
(b) Guru Nanak
Select the correct answer from the code given
(c) Guru Ram Singh
below:
(d) Guru Gobind Singh
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the
128. The best representative of Neo-Hindustan correct explanation of (A).
in the second half of the nineteenth century (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not
was– [41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996] the correct explanation of (A).
(a) Ramkrishna Paramhans (c) (A) is true, and (R) is false.
(b) Swami Vivekanand (d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

37 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

134. What was the purpose of Barhiyataal (a) 1 and 2

resistance in Munger? (b) 1, 2 and 3
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994] (c) 3 and 4
(a) Demand of Bakast land restoration (d) 1, 3 and 4
(b) Muslim peasants may not be exploited 139. Which of the following statements about
(c) Abolishment of Zamindari custom Prarthana Samaj are correct? [CAPF 2019]
(d) Beginning of class struggle 1. Its aim was to reform the Hindu society.
135. Who founded Ramosi Krishak Jatha in 2. It was based in Maharashtra.
Maharashtra? [39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994] 3. It believed in Monotheism.
(a) Justice Ranade 4. It had greatly influenced the Brahmo
(b) Gopal Krishna Gokhale Samaj.
(c) Vasudeo Balwant Phadke Select the correct answer using the code given
(d) Jyotiba Phule below:
136. ‘Nai-Dhobi Band’ was a form of social (a) 1 and 2
boycott in 1919 which– (b) 2 and 3
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994] (c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 4
(a) was started by the farmers of Pratapgarh
district 140. Consider the following events: [CAPF 2019]
(b) was a movement started by saints for the 1. Foundation of the Ramakrishna Mission
emancipation of the people lower classes 2. Foundation of the Arya Samaj
(c) was a step against contractors of lower 3. Foundation of the Brahmo Samaj
castes by landlords 4. Foundation of the Paramhans Mandali
(d) was a movement against contractors by
lower castes Which one of the following is the correct
chronological order of the above?
137. Which of the following statement(s) is/are (a) 1, 2, 3, 4
correct? (b) 2, 3, 4, 1
1. Parmahansa Mandali was founded in (c) 3, 4, 1, 2
Bengal by Swami Vivekananda. (d) 3, 4, 2, 1
2. Prarthana Samaj was started in 141. Which one of the following statements
Maharashtra with the aim of reforming about the Indigo Revolt of 1859 is correct?
Hindu religious thought and practice. [CAPF 2017]
Select the correct answer using the codes (a) It broke out at Poona and Ahmadnagar.
given below [CAPF 2020] (b) It was directed against moneylenders.
(a) 1 only (c) It was supported by the intelligentsia of
(b) 2 only Bengal.
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) It was directed against the petty Zamindars
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 and ex-employees of the planters.
138. Which of the following statements about 142. Which of the following is/are
the Arya Samaj, which emerged in the late characteristic(s) of the Ryotwari system?
19th century are correct? [CAPF 2019] 1. It was the brainchild of Thomas Munro.
1. Had a very strong support base amongst 2. It was meant to reduce intermediaries.
the trading castes. 3. Cultivating peasants were gradually
2. Introduced ‘Shuddhi’ or mass purification. impoverished by the system.
3. The moderates in the Arya Samaj were 4. It was introduced in parts of Madras and
headed by Hans Raj and Lajpat Rai and Bengal Presidency.
set up a chain of Dayanand Anglo-Vedic Select the correct answer using the code given
colleges. below. [CAPF 2016]
4. The Arya Samaj had fewer members than (a) 1 only
the Brahmo Samaj. (b) 1, 2 and 3
Select the correct answer using the code given (c) 2 and 4 only
below: (d) 2, 3 and 4

PYQ Workbook 38
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

143. Who among the following founded the C. Satyasodhak 3. Mundas

Atmiya Sabha in 1815? [CAPF 2016] Samaj
(a) Keshab Chandra Sen D. Ulgulan 4. Kunbi peasantry
(b) Debendranath Tagore
Codes: [CAPF 2015]
(c) Ram Mohan Roy
(d) Bijoy Krishna Goswami A B C D
(a) 2 4 1 3
144. Consider the following statements about (b) 2 1 4 3
the Santhal Hool of 1855-56. [CAPF 2016] (c) 3 4 1 2
1. The Santhals were in a desperate situation (d) 3 1 4 2
as tribal lands were leased out. 147. In 1893, there occurred a split in the Arya
2. The Santhal rebels were treated very Samaj on the issue(s) of [CAPF 2015]
leniently by British officials. 1. Meat-eating vs vegetarianism.
3. Santhal inhabited areas were eventually 2. Caste system and widow remarriage.
constituted into separate administrative 3. Shuddhi of converts.
units called Santhal parganas. 4. Anglicised vs Sanskrit-based education.
4. The Santhal rebellion was the only major Select the correct answer using the code
rebellion in mid 19th century India. given below.
Which of the statements given above is/are (a) 1, 3 and 4
correct? (b) 2 and 4 only
(a) 1 only (c) 1 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 (d) 1 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 148. Who among the following were well known
(d) 1 and 3 only as champions of women’s education in
145. Match List I with List II and select the colonial India? [CAPF 2015]
correct answer using the code given below 1. Sister Subbalaksmi
the lists. 2. Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain
3. Keshub Chandra Sen
List I (Peasant List II (Leader/ 4. Ananda Coomaraswamy
Movement) Follower)
Select the correct answer using the code
A. Bakasht Land 1. Baba Ramchandra given below.
Movement
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
B. Eka Movement 2. Kunhammed Haji (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
C. Mappila Rebellion 3. Madari Pasi (c) 3 and 4 only
D. Avadh Kisan Sabha 4. Karyanand Sharma (d) 1 and 2 only
Movement 149. Which one among the following is not true
Codes: [CAPF 2015] for the Brahmo Samaj? [CAPF 2014]
A B C D (a) It considered Vedic scriptures as infallible
(a) 4 3 2 1 (b) It opposed idolatry
(b) 4 2 3 1 (c) It emphasized the worship of one God
(c) 1 2 3 4 (d) It emphasized the worship of God without
(d) 1 3 2 4 the mediation of priests

146. Match List I with List II and select the 150. Which one among the following is not true
for the Theosophical Society of Madam H P
correct answer using the code given below
Blavatsky? [CAPF 2014]
the lists.
(a) It was founded outside India
List I (Movement) List II (Mass base/ (b) It advocated the revival of ancient
Following) religions
A. Bardoli 1. Bargadars (c) It recognized the doctrine of
Satyagraha transmigration of soul
(d) It was silent on the idea of Universal
B. Tebhaga 2. Kaliparaj Brotherhood

39 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
151. Who among the following founded the
Hindu Dharma Sabha in the 19th century?
[CDS 2023 (I)]
(a) Radhakanta Deb
(b) Ram Mohan Roy
(c) Dwarkanath Tagore
(d) Keshab Chandra Sen
152. The ‘Tattvabodhini Sabha’ was established
by [CDS 2020 (I)]
(a) Devendranath Tagore in 1839
(b) Keshab Chandra Sen in 1857
(c) Akshay Kumar Datta in 1850
(d) Dwarakanath Tagore in 1840
153. Which one of the following towns was not a
centre of the Revolt of 1857?
[CDS 2020 (II)]
(a) Ayodhya
(b) Agra
(c) Delhi
(d) Kanpur
154. Consider the following statements: The
Azamgarh Proclamation refers to
1. the declaration by the rebels of 1857.
2. the statement by the leader of the
underground movement in the Revolt of
1942.
Which of the statements given above is/are
not correct? [CDS 2020 (II)]
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
155. The following item consist of two
statements, Statement I and Statement II.
Examine these two statements carefully and
select the correct answer using the code
given below:
Statement I: The Oudh Kisan Sabha
established in 1920 failed to bring under its
wing any Kisan Sabhas.
Statement II: The Oudh Kisan Sabha asked
the Kisans to refuse to till Bedakhli land, not
to offer hari and begar. [CDS 2019 (II)]
(a) Both the statements are individually true,
and Statement II is the correct explanation
of Statement I.
(b) Both the statements are individually
true, but Statement II is not the correct
explanation of Statement I.
PYQ Workbook
(c) Statement I is true, but Statement II is
false.
(d) Statement I is false, but Statement II is
true.
156. The elected President of the All-India Kisan
Sabha, which met in Vijayawada (1944), was
[CDS 2018 (II)]
(a) Sahajananda Saraswati
(b) Vinoba Bhave
(c) Achyut Rao Patwardhan
(d) Narendra Dev
157. Which one of the following peasant
struggles was an outcome of British opium
policy?
[CDS 2017 (II)]
(a) Phulaguri Dhawa [1861]
(b) Birsaite Ulgulan [1899-1900]
(c) Pabna Revolt [1873]
(d) Maratha Peasant Uprising [1875]
158. Which of the following statements about
the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak
Committee (SGPC) are correct?
1. It began as the political wing of the Singh
Sabhas in the late 19th century.
2. It was formed in 1920 as part of the
upcoming Akali movement.
3. It was founded to reclaim control of
the Sikh shrines from the government
manipulated loyalist committees.
4. It formed the Akali Dal to coordinate
groups (Jathas) to reclaim control of the
shrines.
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below [CDS 2017 (I)]
(a) 1, 3 and 4
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 2 and 3 only
159. Which of the following statement(s) about
the social base of the Arya Samaj in British
India is/are correct?
1. It was located mainly in Punjab and
Western Uttar Pradesh.
2. It mainly comprised the trading castes.
3. It was much more limited than that of the
Brahmo Samaj.
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below [CDS 2017 (I)]
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
40
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

160. Which of the following statement(s) about 163. The following item consist of two
Jyotirao Phule’s Satyashodhak Samaj statements, Statement I and Statement II.
Movement in Maharashtra is/are true? Examine these two statements carefully and
1. The Satyashodhak Samaj was set-up in select the correct answer using the code
1873. given below:
2. Phule argued that Brahmins were the Statement I: Ram Mohan Roy in his famous
progeny of ‘alien’ Aryans. work Gift to Monotheism put forward weighty
3. Phule’s focus on the Kunbi peasantry in arguments against belief in many Gods and
the 1880s and 1890s led to a privileging for the worship of a single God.
of Maratha identity. Statement II: Ram Mohan Roy in his Precepts
Select the correct answer using the codes of Jesus tried to separate the moral and
given below: [CDS 2015 (II)] philosophic message of the New Testament.
(a) 1 and 2 [CDS 2014 (II)]
(b) Only 2 (a) Both the statements are individually true,
(c) 1 and 3 and Statement II is the correct explanation
(d) 1, 2 and 3 of Statement I.
161. Which of the following statement(s) about (b) Both the statements are individually
Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah, who played an true, but Statement II is not the correct
important part in the Revolt of 1857 is/are explanation of Statement I.
correct? (c) Statement I is true, but Statement II is
1. He was popularly known as Danka Shah false.
or the Maulvi with a drum. (d) Statement I is false, but Statement II is
true.
2. He fought in the famous Battle of Chinhat.
3. He was killed by British troops under the 164. The following item consist of two
command of Henry Lawrence. statements, Statement I and Statement II.
Select the correct answer using the codes Examine these two statements carefully and
given below: [CDS 2015 (II)] select the correct answer using the code
(a) Only 1 given below:
(b) 1 and 3 Statement I: The Bethune School, founded
(c) 2 and 3 in Calcutta in 1849 was the first fruit of the
(d) 1 and 2 powerful movement for women’s education
that arose in the 1840s and 1850s.
162. Which of the following is/are the
characteristic(s) of the Sannyasi and Fakir Statement II: The first step in giving
uprisings? modern education to girls was undertaken by
1. These uprisings refer to a series of Vidyasagar in 1800. [CDS 2014 (II)]
skirmishes between the English East (a) Both the statements are individually true,
India Company and a group of Sannyasis and Statement II is the correct explanation
and Fakirs. of Statement I.
2. One reason for the uprising was the ban (b) Both the statements are individually
on free movement of the Sannyasis along true, but Statement II is not the correct
pilgrimage routes. explanation of Statement I.
(c) Statement I is true, but Statement II is
3. In the course of the uprisings in 1773,
Warren Hastings issued a proclamation false.
banishing all Sannyasis from Bengal and (d) Statement I is false, but Statement II is
Bihar. true.
4. Are contemporaneous with the Non- 165. The following item consist of two
Cooperation Movement. statements, Statement I and Statement II.
Select the correct answer using the codes given Examine these two statements carefully and
below: [CDS 2015 (I)] select the correct answer using the code
(a) 1 Only given below:
(b) 1 and 3 Only Statement I: The annexation of Awadh by
(c) 1, 2 and 3 Lord Dalhousie in 1856 adversely affected the
(d) 2 and 4 Only financial conditions of the sepoys.

41 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

Statement II: The sepoys had to pay higher (a) W.H. Russel
taxes on the land where their family members (b) Robert Peel
stayed in Awadh. [CDS 2014 (II)] (c) Gladoston
(a) Both the statements are individually true, (d) Palmerston
and Statement II is the correct explanation 172. ‘Indian nationalism in the middle of the
of Statement I. 19th century was in Embryonic stage’.
(b) Both the statements are individually Which historians are related to this fact?
true, but Statement II is not the correct [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2020]
explanation of Statement I. (a) Dr. R.C. Majumdar and Dr. S.N. Sen
(c) Statement I is true, but Statement II is (b) Sir James Outram and W. Tailor
false. (c) T.R. Homes and L.E.R. Reas
(d) Statement I is false, but Statement II is (d) Sir John Lawrence and Seale
true.
173. Who founded the Adi Brahma Samaj?
166. Who among the following was not associated [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2020]
with the activities of the Theosophical (a) Devendranath Tagore
Society? [CDS 2014 (I)] (b) Keshav Chandra Sen
(a) Madame HP Blavatsky (c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Mr AO Hume (d) Ravindranath Tagore
(c) Col HS Olcott
174. Which of the following brave from Bhopal
(d) Mrs Annie Besant
led the main movement and sacrificed
167. Azimullah Khan was an advisor to- his life during the first struggle for
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2012] Independence in 1857?
(a) Nana Saheb [MPPCS (Pre) 2019]
(b) Tatya Tope (a) Fazil Mohammad Khan
(c) Rani Laxmi Bai (b) Sheikh Ramzan
(d) Kunwar Singh (c) Dost Mohammad Khan
(d) Habibulla Khan
168. Which tribal leader is known as ‘Dharti
Aaba’ (Father of World)? 175. “The British empire is rotten to the core,
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2002] corrupt in every direction and tyrannical
and mean.” This statement was made by-
(a) Jiriya Bhagat
(b) Kanu Sanyal [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
(c) Roop Nayak (a) Sister Nivedita
(d) Birsa Munda (b) Savitribai Phule
(c) Annie Besant
169. Mangal Pandey incident took place at: (d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
176. Who adorned Ram Mohan Roy with the
(a) Meerut title of ‘Raja’? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
(b) Barrackpore (a) Aurangzeb
(c) Ambala (b) Robert Clive
(d) Lucknow (c) Mahatma Gandhi
170. Sharda Act related to– (d) Mughal Emperor Akbar-II
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2002] 177. Who among the following was the first
(a) Prevention of child marriage leader to organize labour movement in
(b) Prevention of inter-caste marriage India? [M.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2017]
(c) Prevention of widow marriage (a) B.P. Walia
(d) Prevention of tribal marriage (b) Lala Lajpat Rai
171. Who was the Correspondent of the (c) N.M. Lokhande
(d) N.G. Ranga
Newspaper ‘Times’ published from London
in 1857 wrote that “Nobody in the North 178. Modern Historian, who called the revolt of
India looks at white man’s car with friendly 1857 as the first Independence War was–
view”? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2020] [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]

PYQ Workbook 42
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

(a) Dr. R.C. Mazumdar 3. Revolt of Gumsur was led by Shrikar

(b) Dr. S.N. Sen Bhanja
(c) V. D. Savarkar 4. Dhananjay was father of Shrikar Bhanja
(d) Ashok Mehta
Which of the above statements is/are true?
179. Who of the following had struggled against [Chhattisgarh PCS (Pre) 2021]
Britishers in 1857? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(a) Chandrasekhar Azad
(b) Ramprasad Bilsmil (b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) Saadat Khan (c) 1 and 2
(d) Makhan Lal Chaturvedi (d) 1 only
180. Which reformer of Maharashtra is also 186. Who has advocated ‘Practical Vedanta’?
known as ‘Lokahitvadi’? [Chhattisagarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1995] (a) Dayanad
(a) M.G. Ranade (b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Gopal Krishna Gokhale (c) Gandhi
(c) Pandit Ramabai (d) Vivekananda
(d) Gopal Hari Deshmukh
181. Which of the following statement is not 187. The following popular movements occurred
correct? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1995] after 1857:
(a) Dr. Annie Besant was a Theosophist 1. Santhal Rebellion
(b) The International headquarter of 2. Indigo Revolt
Theosophical society is in Madras 3. Deccan Agriculturists Riots
(c) Swami Dayanand founded Arya Samaj 4. Birsa Munda Uprising
(d) Mahatma Gandhi was born in
Gandhinagar Select the correct answer:
182. Which of the following statements is not [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
correct? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994] (a) 1, 2, 3
(a) In 1829, William Bentinck declared Sati (b) 2, 3, 4
System an offence by law. (c) 1, 2, 4
(b) The Government had passed an Act in (d) 1, 3, 4
1856 under which Hindu widows could
remarry. 188. The revolt of Vellore occur during the
(c) Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya regime of which Governor?
Samaj in 1875. [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
(d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the supporter (a) Wellesley
of Sati System. (b) Lord Minto
183. Maharani Laxmibai had combated in last (c) Lord Cornwallis
battle against– [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992] (d) Sir George Barlow
(a) Hugh Rose (e) None of the above
(b) Guff
189. Who was the composer of the song ‘Vande
(c) Niel
(d) Havlock Mataram’?
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
184. The symbol of 1857 independence struggle
was– [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990] (a) Rabindra Nath Tagore
(a) Lotus and Chapatis (b) Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
(b) Eagle (c) Sarojini Naidu
(c) Scarf (d) Bankimchandra Chatterjee
(d) Two sword 190. Who was the leader of Bhumij Revolt?
185. Read the following statements and choose [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021]
the correct option: (a) Bhagirath
1. Ganjam Revolt occurred during AD 1800 (b) Dubia Gosain
to 1805 (c) Jatra Bhagat
2. Ganjam Revolt was led by Dhananjay (d) Ganga Narain

43 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

191. The first tribal leader who was inspired by (c) Both (a) and (b)
Mahatma Gandhi and his ideology was- (d) None of (a) and (b)
[Jharkhand PCS (Pre) 2013]
193. Who of the following said, ‘good
(a) Alluri Sitaram Raju
Government is no substitute for Self-
(b) Jodanang
(c) Jhabkar Bapa Government’?
(d) Rani Gaidinliu [Uttaranchal P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
192. Who led the revolt of Santhals? (a) Lokmanya Tilak
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003] (b) Swami Vivekananda
(a) Siddhu-Kanhu (c) Swami Dayanand
(b) Bhairav Chand (d) Ravindranath Tagore

PYQ Workbook 44
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
SOLUTIONS
2.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions
1. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was the secretary of Bethune
school established in 1849 also known as Hindu female
school. He was one of the pioneers of higher education for
women in India.
2. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, or Periyar, as he was called, came
from a middle-class family. Interestingly, he had been an
ascetic in his early life and had studied Sanskrit scriptures
carefully. Later, he became a member of the Congress, only
to leave it in disgust when he found that at a feast organised
by nationalists, seating arrangements followed caste
distinctions – that is, the lower castes were made to sit at a
distance from the upper castes. Convinced that untouchables
had to fight for their dignity, Periyar founded the Self
Respect Movement. He felt that all religious authorities saw
social divisions and inequality as God-given. Untouchables
had to free themselves, therefore, from all religions in order
to achieve social equality.
3. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Dr. Rukhmabai (1864
–1955) was an Indian physician and feminist. She is best
known for being one of the first practising women doctors
in colonial India as well as being involved in a landmark
legal case involving her marriage as a child bride between
1884 and 1888.
Statement 1 is incorrect. Education wasn’t an issue in this
case.
Important Tips
Dr. Rukhmabai was married off at the young age of eleven
with Dadaji Bhikaji, who was nineteen years old. She
stayed at her parent’s house and she educated herself under
the guidance of her stepfather. In 1885, after 12 years of
marriage, Bhikaji filed a petition in the court and sought
“restitution of conjugal rights”.
Rakhmabai Defense Committee was formed by Behramji
Malabari and Pandita Ramabai in her defence. In March
1887, Rukhmabai was ordered to go live with her husband
or spend six months in Jail. Rukhmabai wrote to Queen
Victoria about her situation. The Queen overruled the
court’s verdict and dissolved the marriage. In July of 1888,
Dadaji accepted monetary compensation of two thousand
rupees to dissolve the marriage. The case continued for
4 years until Dadaji was compensated in 1888, outside of
court. The case was instrumental in the drafting of the
Age of Consent Act in 1891.
45
4. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In the 18th and 19th century there was a significant increase
in the Indigo production in Bengal and Bihar due to
increasing demand and production. Though the revolts of
farmers and oppressive zamindari system had some negative
impact on indigo farming, a major reason for its falling
cultivation was the invention of Synthetic indigo, which
made natural indigo non-profitable for farmers as well as
traders.
Important Tips
Indigo (Neel) is a blue dye which comes from the Indigo
plant. It was widely grown in India firstly for the East India
Company and later for the British Raj. In the nineteenth
century, it was one of the most profitable commodities
traded in the European market often called “Blue Gold”.
5. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Munda Rebellion is one of the prominent 19th century
tribal rebellions in the subcontinent. Birsa Munda led this
movement in the region of south Ranchi in 1899-1900.
Aimed at establishing Munda Raj or Munda rule in this
region, revolt came to be known as The Ulgulan (meaning
total revolt) or “the Great Tumult”.
Important Tips
Significant causes of Munda rebellion:
In 1874, the British replaced the traditional Khuntkari
system of Munda tribals by the zamindari system. The
introduction of zamindari system created the classes of
zamindars (landlords) and ryots (tenants). Following the
monetisation of economy, the tribals had to depend on
cash for paying the rent and for meeting their daily needs.
This made them dependent on the money-lenders.
6. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. The Santals belonged to Bengal
Region and were among the worst sufferers due to the
permanent settlement. The Santhals under the leadership
of Sidhu and Kanhu raised in 1856 with a view to put an
end to colonial rule in India. They disrupted the railway and
postal communications between Bhagalpur and Rajmahal.
The Rebellion was pacified with the creation of a separate
district consisting of the Santhal Parganas. The British
hoped that by creating a new territory for the Santhals and
imposing some special laws within it, the Santhals could be
conciliated.
Statement 2 is correct. After the rebellion was suppressed,
the British passed the Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, 1876
which prohibit the transfer of santhal owned land to a
non-Santhal.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
7. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• Neeldarpan was written by Dinabandhu Mitra - 1858-
59 (During the Indigo Revolt)
• Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to
succeed in the Indian Civil Services Examination – 1863
(Surendranath Banerjee, Subash Chandra Bose also
cleared ICS in later years)
• Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj - 1875
• Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandmath –
1882
8. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The British were alarmed by the frequent strikes and rising
influence of the communists in the trade unions which gave
it a militant character. To control the Indian working class
the Trade Disputes Act, 1929 was passed.
The 1929 Act made provisions for establishment of
Courts of Inquiry and Consultation Board with a view
to investigate and settle trade disputes. It also stated
that incitement to participate in an unlawful strike was a
criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment for up to two
years. For a lawful strike 15 day’s notice was to be given.
9. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Satya Shodhak Samaj was founded by Jyotirao Phule on
September 24, 1873. The goal of the group was fight against
Brahaminical domination and upliftment of downtrodden
groups such as women and shudras. He demanded
representation of all classes of the Hindus in all the local
bodies, in services and institutions and also established a
primary school.
Important Tips
The aims and objectives of SatyaShodhak Samaj were as
follows:
• Spread of education among Shudras to make them
aware of their rights and get them out of the influence
of sacred books made by the Brahmins.
• To unite all shudras and ati-shudras against Brahminical
order and culture.
• Establishing ideal society based on Faith in one god
without intermediaries like priest and rejection of
caste system and four varna division of society.
• Membership of the Satyashodhak Samaj was open to
all those who accepted it ideology irrespective of their
caste, sect and religion.
10. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Keshav Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment
of Tabernacle of New Dispensation and Indian Reform
Association. He was a social reformer and leader of the
PYQ Workbook
Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious movement that advocated
for monotheism and social reforms.
• He founded the Tabernacle of New Dispensation,
also known as Naba Bidhan, in 1868 as a new religious
institution that combined elements of Hinduism,
Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.
• He also founded the Indian Reform Association in
1870 as a secular organization that aimed to promote
education, women’s rights, legal reforms, and social
welfare
Keshav Chandra Sen was not associated with the
establishment of the Calcutta Unitarian Committee, which
was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore,
and William Adam in 1823 as a platform to propagate
Unitarianism and rationalism
11. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Tebhaga movement (1946) was a major peasant
movement that took place in Bengal led by All India Kisan
Sabha. the peasants challenged the prevailing system of share
cropping, demanding two thirds of the produce from land
for themselves and one third (tebhaga) for the landlords.
Tebhaga literally means ‘one-third share’ of harvests.
Traditionally, sharecroppers held their tenancy on fifty-
fifty basis of the share of the produce, known as barga, adhi,
bhagi, etc., all meaning half share.
As a result of this movement, Bargardari Bill was passed,
which provided that the share of the harvest given to the
landlords would be limited to one third of the total, but the
Act was not fully implemented.
12. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. Brahmo samaj was established by
Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828. It supported monotheism
of Vedas and Unitarianism of Christianity. It opposed idol
worship. Prayers, meditation and readings of the Upanishads
were to be the forms of worship and no graven image, statue
or sculpture, carving, painting, picture, portrait, etc., were
to be allowed in the Samaj buildings, thus underlining the
Samaj’s opposition to idolatry and meaningless rituals.
Statement 2 is correct. It denied the need for priestly class
for interpreting religious writings. It discarded the faith in
divine incarnation. It denounced polytheism and criticized
caste system.
The long-term agenda of the Brahmo Samaj was to purify
Hinduism and to preach monotheism.
It took no definite stand on the doctrine of Karma and
transmigration of soul and left it to individual Brahmos to
believe either way.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Brahmo Samaj contested the
doctrine that the Vedas are infallible. It believed that no
scripture or man is infallible. The doctrine that the Vedas
are infallible was given by Dayanand Saraswati who founded
the Arya Samaj.
46
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
13. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
National Social Conference also referred to social reform
cell of Indian National Congress (INC) was formed in 1887
by Mahadev Govind Ranade. Leaders of INC were of the
view that Congress platform should be devoted to political
topics only and formed National Social Conference as an
adjunct to INC for this purpose. The Conference advocated
inter-caste marriages and opposed kulinism and polygamy.
14. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The British enforced the Forest Act of 1865 and 1878
and established monopoly over the forested land. Also,
the extension of settled agriculture into tribal areas
was contrary to the tribal practice of Shifting Cultivation.
Extension of Settled Agriculture led to influx of non-tribals
in the tribal area. This reduced the tribals to labourers in
lands they had been owning for generations.
Thus, with the arrival of British, the social and economic
structure which existed for centuries was disrupted.
The handover of tribal lands and the encroachment of
moneylenders, merchants and British laws generated a lot
of pressure on the tribal life. This provided for the common
grounds for tribal insurrection.
15. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Bhoodan movement was first started in Andhra Pradesh.
The movement was initiated by Vinoba Bhave in 1951 at
Pochampally village in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh
(now Telangana). Some of the largest donations came from
the Raja of Ranka, who donated 102,001 acres, and the
Nizam of Hyderabad, who donated 14,000 acres. By 1969,
the movement had collected about 4 million acres of land,
which was distributed among 5.3 million families.
Important Tips
The Bhoodan movement was a remarkable example
of voluntary and peaceful social change in India. It
challenged the feudal system and empowered the poor
and marginalized sections of society. It also inspired many
other movements such as Gramdan (village gift), Sarvodaya
(welfare of all), and Antyodaya (upliftment of the last).
The movement showed the potential of Gandhian ideals
and methods in transforming India’s rural landscape.
16. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Tatya Tope was betrayed by Man Singh, one of his closest
associates. He was captured by the British forces on April 07,
1859, and after a hurried trial for waging war against the East
India Company, he was hanged on April 18, 1859.
47
Important Tips
Cause of death of others Leader:
• Nana Sahib escaped to Nepal after British took the
control of Kanpur and he probably perished in the
jungle of Nepal.
• Kunwar Singh succumbed to injuries he sustained in
the fight against the British on 26 April 1858.
• Khan Bahadur Khan escaped to Nepal where the
Nepal army captured him and returned to the British.
He was tried, sentenced to death, and hanged in the
Kotwali (Police Station) on 24 February 1860.
17. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The novel “Anand Math” by Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhyay made the Sanyasi Rebellion famous. The
novel, released in 1882, is set during the Bengal famine
of 1770 and revolves around the events of the Sanyasi
Rebellion. It follows the story of Mahendra and Kalyani,
a couple facing hardships during the famine, and their
involvement with the Sannyasi uprising against British rule.
The novel depicts the rebellion’s objectives, struggles, and the
characters’ contributions, contributing to the popularization
of the Sanyasi Rebellion in the context of India’s struggle
against colonial rule.
Important Tips
Sanyasi Revolt:
• Overview: The Sanyasi Revolt (1770-1779) was a
significant rebellion against British colonial rule in
Bengal during the late 18th century. Led by sanyasis
and sadhus in Murshidabad and Baikunthapur
forests of Jalpaiguri, it aimed to challenge British
exploitation and oppressive policies. Pandit Bhabani
Charan Pathak emerged as a key leader.
• Cause: The revolt was triggered by a severe famine in
1770 and discontent over British economic policies,
pushing sanyasis and sadhus to rebel against British
rule.
• Nature: The revolt was marked by armed resistance
by these ascetics, symbolizing widespread popular
discontent against British authorities.
• Objectives: The revolt sought relief from oppressive
British taxation and demanded local magistrate
appointments.
• Spread: The uprising spread through incidents like the
1770 Baikunthpur revolt and multiple Sanyasi Revolts
in Bengal until 1779.
• Importance: It was one of the earliest organized
protests against British oppression, influencing later
revolts like the Santhal Revolt.
• Failure: The revolt faced challenges due to internal
caste conflicts and lack of a unified leadership, leading
to its eventual failure.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
18. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lord Canning was the Governor-General of India during
the Sepoy mutiny of 1857. He had the unique opportunity
to become the Governor-General as well as the first Viceroy
according to the Government of India Act 1858.
19. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Jawaharlal Nehru was not associated with the formation of
U.P. Kisan Sabha in February 1918. The U.P. Kisan Sabha
was a peasant organization that was set up by Gauri Shankar
Misra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi, with the support of
Madan Mohan Malviya, who were members of the Home
Rule League. The U.P. Kisan Sabha aimed to mobilize the
peasants against the oppressive zamindari system and the
colonial government. Jawaharlal Nehru joined the peasant
movement later in 1920, when he visited the villages
in U.P. to look at the farmers’ conditions at the behest of
Baba Ramchandra, who was another leader of the peasant
movement.
20. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Chittor was not at all affected by the revolt of 1857. Jhansi,
Jagdishpur and Lucknow actively revolted against the
atrocious rule of British.
21. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Kunwar Singh, a prominent leader of the Revolt of 1857,
belonged to Jagdishpur, Bihar. At the age of 80, he led a
selected band of armed soldiers against the troops under the
command of the British East India Company.
22. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Arya Samaj was founded in 1875
by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, not in 1835.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Lala Lajpat Rai was a supporter
of Arya Samaj and its appeal to the authority of Vedas in
support of its social reform programme. He was a member of
Arya Samaj and also edited its journal, Arya Gazette.
Statement 3 is correct: Under Keshab Chandra Sen, the
Brahmo Samaj campaigned for women’s education and
other social reforms. He organised the Bamabodhini Sabha
in 1862 to facilitate women’s education and also published
the Bamabodhini Patrika, a journal that carried articles on
women’s issues.
Statement 4 is correct: Vinoba Bhave founded the Sarvodaya
Samaj (Society for the Welfare of All) in 1952, which aimed
to promote the principles of Sarvodaya through education,
social service, and community development activities. He
also worked among refugees during the Partition of India
and persuaded them to adopt non-violence and constructive
work.
PYQ Workbook
23. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The correct chronological sequence of the events is:
• Santhal Rebellion (1855-56)
• Mutiny of the Sepoys (1857)
• Indigo Revolt (1859)
• Deccan Riot (1875)
24. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct matching of the movements with their respective
locations is:
A. Moplah revolt - 1. Kerala
B. Pabna revolt - 3. Bengal
C. Eka Movement - 4. Oudh
D. Birsa Munda revolt - 2. Bihar
Important Tips
• The 1921 Malabar Rebellion, also known as Moplah
Rebellion or Mappila Rebellion, was an uprising
in Kerala against British colonial rule and the
prevailing feudal system. It encompassed attacks on
colonial symbols, clashes between Mappila peasants
and landlords, and resulted in widespread casualties
and imprisonment.
• The Eka Movement emerged in 1921 in Hardoi,
Bahraich, and Sitapur (in oudh princely state),
initially supported by Congress and the Khilafat
movement. Led by Madari Pasi, it protested high rents,
thekedars’ oppression, and sharecropping. Religious
rituals marked Eka meetings, uniting peasants against
unjust practices. Leadership shift to Pasi and turning
to violence caused the loss of Congress support.
Repression led to its end by March 1922.
• The Pabna Peasant Uprising (1873–76) in Bengal,
led by Ishan Chandra Roy (“Bidrohi Raja”), was a
peaceful resistance by peasants against oppressive
zamindars. It emerged due to enhanced land taxes,
evictions, and denial of occupancy rights. Peasants
declared some areas independent, forming a rebel
army. Famine and police action eventually subdued
the revolt, with authorities ensuring peace and legal
resolution.
25. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
M.C. Setalvad, B.N. Rao, and Alladi Krishnaswamy Iyer
were distinguished members of the Servants of India
Society. They were all eminent lawyers and jurists who
contributed to the drafting of the Constitution of India.
M.C. Setalvad was the first Attorney General of India and
the chairman of the First Law Commission of India. B.N.
Rao was the chief advisor to the Constituent Assembly and
later a judge at the International Court of Justice. Alladi
Krishnaswamy Iyer was one of the chief architects of the
Constitution and a member of the Drafting Committee.
48
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
• The Swaraj Party was a political party that emerged
from the Congress in 1923, led by C.R. Das and Motilal
Nehru. It aimed to enter the legislative councils and
obstruct the functioning of the British government in
India.
• The All-India National Liberal Federation was
another political party that was formed in 1919 by
Surendranath Banerjee and others. It supported
constitutional reforms and cooperation with the
British government.
• The Madras Labour Union was one of the earliest
trade unions in India that was founded in 1918 by
B.P. Wadia and others. It represented the workers of
Buckingham and Carnatic Mills in Madras
26. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mahadev Govind Ranade was a scholar, social reformer,
judge, and author who was one of the founding members
of the Indian National Congress. He relied on legislation
to do away with social ills and worked unceasingly for
the eradication of child marriage, the purdah system, and
other social evils. He also inaugurated the Indian National
Social Conference in 1887, which was a forum for discussing
social issues and reforms alongside the Indian National
Congress.
27. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Thakkar Bapa (Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar) is credited
with coining the term “Adivasi” to refer to tribal people in
India. Although the term gained popularity later, Thakkar
Bapa first used it in his writings and speeches. He was an
Indian social worker who worked for the upliftment of tribal
communities, particularly in Gujarat, and played a significant
role in empowering Harijans. In 1922, he founded the Bhil
Seva Mandal. Later, he became the general secretary of
the Harijan Sevak Sangh founded by Mahatma Gandhi in
1932. The Bharatiya Adimjati Sevak Sangh was founded on
24 October 1948 on his initiative.
28. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Surendra Sai, a valiant leader, led anti-British revolts in
Sambalpur. Born in 1809, he fought against British rule
even before and after the 1857 Revolt. Sai opposed British-
installed rulers, resisted oppressive policies, and conducted
guerrilla warfare. Despite imprisonment and betrayals, his
struggle persisted until his death in 1884. His efforts played
a significant role in the fight against British colonialism in
the region.
49
Important Tips
• Tirot Sing, also known as U Tirot Sing Syiem, born in
1802 in Mairang, was a Khasi chief who led resistance
against British attempts to control the Khasi Hills
in the early 19th century. He fought using native
weapons, engaging in guerrilla warfare. Captured in
1833, he died on 17 July 1835 in Dacca. His defiance
is honored annually as U Tirot Sing Day in Meghalaya.
• Veerapandiya Kattabomman, an 18th-century
Palayakarrar of Panchalankurichi, Tamil Nadu,
resisted British taxation and influence. He led a
rebellion, fighting initially from his fort and later
through guerrilla tactics. Captured with local support,
he was executed on 16 October 1799 in Kayathar after
a 15-day interrogation.
• Syed Ahmad Barelvi, was a 19th-century Indian
Islamic revivalist and military leader who initiated
a jihad movement against British colonial rule. He
advocated for puritanical interpretations of Islam,
denounced practices like saint veneration, and aimed
to establish an Islamic state. His teachings influenced
Ahl-i Hadith and Deobandi movements.
29. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Satyashodhak Samaj was a social reform society founded
by Jyotirao Phule in Pune, Maharashtra, on 24 September
1873. The main aim of Satyashodhak Samaj was to promote
education and social rights for the underprivileged groups,
especially women, Shudras, and Dalits, in Maharashtra. The
society also opposed the Brahminical domination and the
caste system, and advocated for the equality of all human
beings as the children of one God.
Important Tips
• The main aim of Prarthana Samaj was to reform
Hinduism by removing idolatry, casteism, superstition,
and ritualism, and promoting monotheism, rationalism,
and social service.
• The main aim of Arya Samaj was to revive the Vedic
religion and culture by rejecting the later accretions
of Hinduism, such as idolatry, polytheism, casteism,
and untouchability, and promoting the authority of the
Vedas.
• The main aim of Ramakrishna Mission was to spread
the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who
was a mystic and a saint who preached the harmony of
all religions and the divinity of all souls.
2.2. Other Examination Previous Years’
Questions
30. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
• D.K. Karve stands for Dhondo Keshav Karve, a social
reformer and educator who was a pioneer in promoting
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
widows’ education and remarriage. He founded the
first women’s university in India, the SNDT Women’s
University, in 1916. In 1893, Karve established the
Widow Re-marriage Association. He also received the
Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India, in 1958.
• J.E.D. Bethune stands for John Elliot Drinkwater
Bethune, an English lawyer and educator who was a
supporter of women’s education in India. He founded
the Calcutta Female School (now known as Bethune
College) in 1849, which was one of the first schools for
girls in India.
• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a scholar, writer, and
social reformer who is considered the father of Bengali
prose. He was also a champion of women’s rights and
fought for widow remarriage, abolition of child marriage,
and female education. He was the principal of Sanskrit
College in Calcutta from 1851 to 1858.
• B.M. Malabari stands for Behramji Merwanji Malabari,
a Parsi poet, author, and publicist who campaigned
against child marriage and for the protection of women’s
rights. He wrote a series of letters titled Notes on Infant
Marriage and Enforced Widowhood, which influenced
the passage of the Age of Consent Act of 1891.
31. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Sanatan Dharma Rakshini Sabha was a society formed in
1873 in Calcutta by orthodox Hindus who wanted to defend
their religion from the criticism and reform of the Brahmo
Samaj and other movements. The society aimed to preserve
the eternal (sanatan) principles of Hinduism and to promote
education, charity, and social service among the Hindus. It
also opposed the conversion of Hindus to other faiths and
supported the revival of Vedic learning.
Important Tips
• Bharat Dharma Mahamandala was a prominent
Hindu organization founded by Pandit Din Dayalu
Sharma in Haridwar in 1887. Its objective was to bring
together all leaders of the orthodox Hindu community
and to work together for the preservation of Sanatan
Dharma.
• Deva Samaj was a religious and social reform society
founded by Shiv Narayan Agnihotri in Lahore in 1887.
Agnihotri was a former follower of the Brahmo Samaj,
but later developed his own system of philosophy and
ethics based on the concept of Deva or the Supreme
Being.
• Radhaswami Satsang was a spiritual movement
founded by Shiv Dayal Singh in Agra in 1861. Singh
claimed to be a manifestation of Radhaswami or the
Lord of the Soul, and taught a method of meditation
that involved listening to the inner sound or shabd.
PYQ Workbook
32. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The matching of movements with their respective years is as
follows:
A. Pabna Rebellion - 2. 1873-85
B. Eka Movement - 3. 1922
C. Santhal Rebellion - 1. 1855-56
D. Tana Bhagat Movement - 4. 1914
Important Tips
• The Santhal Rebellion (1855-1856) in Jharkhand
and West Bengal, India, opposed British East India
Company’s oppressive revenue and zamindari
systems. Led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, around
60,000 Santhals rebelled, seeking to end exploitation.
The revolt involved clashes with British troops and
local forces, resulting in thousands of casualties. The
rebellion was quelled, leading to significant casualties
and destruction, with the rebels lacking firepower
against British military.
• The Tana Bhagat Movement (1914-1920) in
Chhotanagpur, British India, opposed British
policies and exploitative zamindars, using
Satyagraha. They, led by Jatra Bhagat, resisted taxes,
zamindars, banias, Muslims, Christians, and British,
aligning with Gandhi’s non-violent principles. In
1920, they joined Indian nationalist and Satyagraha
movements, supporting non-cooperation.
33. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is correct: Surendra Sai was the leader from
Sambhalpur (Odisha) during 1857 revolt. He and his
supporters carried on with their guerrilla warfare till 1862.
On 16 May 1862, Surendra Sai surrendered to the British and
the rebellion came to an end.
Pair 2 is correct: The revolt in Ganjam erupted in 1856-
1857 under the active support of the sabaras, a local tribe.
It was led by Radhakrishna Dandsena. Captain Wilson was
sent to control the situation. Wilson set fire to many sabara
villages and destroyed their crops. Finally, Radhakrishna
Dandasena and some of his rebel friends were arrested and
executed in 1857.
Pair 3 is correct: Maharaja Gulab Singh Jamwal (1792–
1857) was the founder of Dogra dynasty and the first
Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. He
remained loyal to Britishers. The Gulab Singh send his son
Ranbir Singh with 2,000-foot soldiers, 200 cavalry and six
heavy guns to help the British in the siege of Delhi during
1857 revolt.
Pair 4 is incorrect: Maulvi Liyaqat Ali led the Revolt of
1857 in Allahabad (not in Lucknow). The revolt of 1857 in
Lucknow was led by Begum Hazrat Mahal.
50
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

Important Tips 36. Solution: (d)

Places of revolt of 1857 and their leaders: Exp) Option d is the correct answer.

Place of Indian Leaders British Officials “Satyarth Prakash” was written by Swami Dayanand
Revolt who suppressed the Saraswati, a prominent Hindu reformer and the founder of
revolt the Arya Samaj. The book, which translates to “The Light
Delhi General Bakht John Nicholson of Truth,” outlines his philosophical and theological ideas,
Khan promoting the principles of rationalism, Vedanta, and social
Kanpur Nana Sahib Sir Colin Campbell reform.
Lucknow Begum Hazrat Henry Lawrence
Important Tips
Mahal and Sir Colin
Campbell Other books written by Swami Dayanand Saraswati:
Bihar Kunwar Singh William Taylor • Rigvedadi Bhashya Bhumika (Introduction to the
Commentary on the Vedas), which is an introduction
Bareilly Khan Bahadur Sir Colin Campbell
to his commentary on the four Vedas
Jhansi Rani Laxmibai General Hugh Rose
• Vedang Prakash (The Light of the Vedangas), which is
Allahabad Maulvi Liaquat General Neil a treatise on the six auxiliary disciplines of the Vedas
Ali
• Sanskar Vidhi (The Method of Sacraments), which
is a book on the sixteen Hindu sacraments, such as
34. Solution: (d) naming ceremony, initiation, marriage, etc.
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
37. Solution: (b)
The Ahom Rebellion took place in 1828 and not 1815
in Assam, as a response to British control following the Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
First Anglo-Burmese War. Led by Gomdhar Konwar, the The publication that was started in opposition to the
Ahom prince and his followers rebelled against British
religious and social ideas of Ram Mohan Roy was Samachar
encroachment, formally installing Konwar as king. Their
Chandrika. It was a Bengali newspaper that was founded
attempt to seize Rangpur failed, leading to arrests and trials.
in 1822 by Gangakishore Bhattacharya, a follower of the
Ultimately, the British relented, restoring a portion of the
kingdom to the Assamese ruler Maharaja Purandar Singh orthodox Hindu leader Radhakanta Deb. It was the first
Narendra. newspaper to be printed in Bengali type and the second
oldest Bengali newspaper after Samachar Darpan. It was a
35. Solution: (b)
conservative and reactionary newspaper that criticized
Exp) Option b is the correct answer. the reformist and progressive views of Ram Mohan Roy
The social reformer who strongly opposed the Jury Act of and his Brahmo Samaj. It defended the practices of idolatry,
1826 was Raja Ram Mohan Roy. He opposed the Jury Act of caste system, polygamy, and sati, and attacked the western
1826 as a flagrant injustice and a violation of the principle
education and culture that Roy advocated.
of equality before the law. He prepared and sent a petition
to both houses of the British Parliament, protesting against Important Tips
the act and demanding its repeal. He argued that the act was • Digdarshan was a Bengali monthly magazine that
based on the false assumption that Indians were incapable was founded in 1818 by William Carey, a Baptist
of judging their fellow citizens impartially, regardless of missionary and linguist. It was the first Bengali
their religion. He also pointed out that the act would create periodical and the first Indian magazine to deal
resentment and distrust among the different religious with science and general knowledge. It was edited
communities in India. by Ram Mohan Roy’s brother Ramdulal Dey and
had contributions from Roy himself. It propagated
Important Tips
rationalism, monotheism, and social reforms among
• The Jury Act of 1826 was a law passed by the British the Bengali readers.
government in India that introduced religious
• Samvad Kaumudi was a Bengali weekly newspaper
distinctions in the judicial system of the country.
that was founded in 1821 by Ram Mohan Roy
• According to the act, only Christians had the right to himself. It was the first Indian-owned newspaper and
sit as jurors in trials involving Christians, while Hindus the first to express Indian public opinion. It dealt with
and Muslims were excluded from such cases. various topics such as religion, philosophy, politics,
• However, Christians could also sit as jurors in trials economics, education, and social issues. It advocated
involving Hindus and Muslims, thus creating an for freedom of press, constitutional reforms, abolition
unequal and discriminatory situation of sati, women’s rights, and modern education.

51 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Bengal Gazette was an English weekly newspaper
that was founded in 1780 by James Augustus Hicky,
an Irishman who worked as a surgeon in the British
East India Company. It was the first newspaper to be
printed in India and the first to be published by an
Indian. It was a radical and sensationalist newspaper
that exposed the corruption and scandals of the British
officials and criticized the policies of Governor-
General Warren Hastings. It also supported the cause
of Indian independence and nationalism
38. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Major Burrough was defeated by
the Santhals in 1855. A small contingent of force under
Major Burrough was called to suppress the rebels but he
met tremendous resistance and was defeated at Pirpainati,
Bhagalpur. The victory of the Santhals over the all mighty
British further fueled the rebellion and it spread like wildfire.
Statement 2 is correct: Gokko was one of the chief rebel
leaders of the Santhals. He led attacks, organized resistance,
and fought against colonial oppression, becoming a
prominent figure in the Santhal rebellion.
Statement 3 is correct: Mahajan Deen Dayal Rai was a
moneylender who exploited the Santhals. He was one of the
main targets of the Santhal Hool.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Santhals never enjoyed full
sovereignty over the area of Ganga valley near Muzaffarpur.
They were the tribal people who were subject to the authority
of the zamindars and the British.
39. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Option a is incorrect: Col. St. Legar was one of the
commander of British army who fought against the rebellions
of Dewan Velu Thampi in 1809.
Option b is incorrect: Lt. Col. Gibbs is also not associated
with the Revolt of 1857.
Option c is incorrect: Col. Wallace took part in Cornwallis’s
operations against Tipu Sultan in 1791–92, including the
siege of Seringapatam in 1792.
40. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Maulvi Liyaqat Ali led the Revolt of 1857 in Allahabad. He
set up his own government and made a series of political
and military appointments. But soon the city was recaptured
by the Brtish forces under the command of Lt. Col. Neill.
But, this great freedom fighter escaped from there and was
caught after 14 years on September 1871 at Bombay Railway
Station due to the treachery of his friends. He was tried in the
Court of Law and sentenced to death, but died in captivity
in Rangoon on May 17, 1892.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Maulvi Liyaqat Ali:
• Maulvi Liaqat Ali (1817-1892) was born on 05 October
1817.
• Maulvi Liaqat Ali’s father’s younger brother Dayem Ali
married Chanchal Bai who was Rani Lakshmi Bai’s
father Moropant’s sister living in Banaras.
• For this reason, Maulvi Liaqat Ali often addressed Rani
Laxmi Bai as Chhabili Behn or Chhoti Behn (younger
sister). Later, to help Rani Laxmi Bai, Maulvi Liaqat
Ali sent his famous Topchi (cannon operator)
Khuda Baksh from Allahabad to Jhansi where he got
martyrdom in war.
• On the night of 06 June 1858, the mess of Sixth
Infantry Cantonment of Allahabad was attacked by
the rebellions of Banaras.That was the beginning of
the uprising and the city was thrown at the mercy of
uncontrolled rebellions.
• On 07 June 1858, Maulvi Liaqat Ali took control of
the situation.
• Maulvi Liaqat Ali made Khusro Bagh his military
operational headquarters since it was the only fortified
spacious place available in the city.
• Neill led the attack with his powerful artillery on
Khusro Bagh on 16 June. Neill successfully seized the
Khusro Bagh but the Maulvi was out of his reach.
• People were hanged from the trees. Many young
children were hanged simply because they were beating
drums and parading with green flags in their hands.
For this reason, the people named Lt. Col. Neill a
Butcher of Allahabad. Many English historians like
Kaye, Malleson, and Charles Ball have written about
the barbaric killing of Allahabad citizens.
• Maulvi was able to dodge English officers for a full
fifteen years which was impossible for any ordinary
rebellion.
41. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Tarkeshwar Movement of 1924 in Bengal was against
the corruption in temples. It was a religious reform
movement that challenged the abuse of power by the Mahant
(head priest) of the Tarakeswar Shiva temple. The movement
was led by Swami Satyananda and Swami Viswananda, who
entered into Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) on 20th
May 1924. The movement soon turned anti-British and anti-
zamindari, as the Mahant sought help from the colonial
authorities and the landlord of British connections.
42. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Hali System was related to bonded labour. It was
a system where the Dubla or the Hali borrowed money
from Patidar or other Ulji Paraj and in repayment of it, he
worked as his master’s permanent agricultural labourer for
52
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
a lifetime, simply because he could never repay the loan.
Consequently, for a Hali the chain of bondage continued
from one generation to another.
43. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Maulana Shibli Numani was one of the founders of Dar-
ul-Ulum Nadwatul Ulama, an Islamic seminary in Lucknow,
India, that aimed to reform and uplift the Muslim society
on orthodox lines. He was also a prominent scholar, poet,
historian, and critic of orientalists.
44. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
All the three social reformers mentioned; Dayanand
Saraswati, Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and Raja Rammohan
Roy were known for their proficiency in the Sanskrit
language. They used their linguistic skills to study various
religious and philosophical texts and to write their own
works on social and educational reforms.
• Dayanand Saraswati was a great scholar of Sanskrit,
Persian and English languages and also knew Arabic,
Latin and Greek. He wrote his magnum opus Satyarth
Prakash (1875) in Hindi, which was later translated into
many languages
• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was the principal of Sanskrit
College in Calcutta from 1851 to 1858. He was a brilliant
student at Sanskrit College, where he received the title
Vidyasagar (“Ocean of Learning”), and in 1850 he was
appointed head pandit (scholar-teacher) of Fort William
College, Calcutta.
• Raja Rammohan Roy was a great scholar of Sanskrit,
Persian and English languages and also knew Arabic,
Latin and Greek. He translated the Upanishads into
Bengali, Hindi, and English and wrote commentaries on
them.
45. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the All-India Trade Union
Congress held at Nagpur in 1929. The split occurred in
AITUC at the Nagpur session in 1929, where the communists
captured the leadership of the organization and supported
the affiliation with the Red International of Labour Unions
(RILU), also known as Profintern. The reformers, who
wanted to affiliate with the International Federation of Trade
Unions (IFTU), also known as Amsterdam International,
opposed this move and formed a rival federation called the
National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) in 1929. The split
weakened the trade union movement in India and affected
its role in the freedom struggle.
46. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Bhoodan movement was first started in Andhra Pradesh.
The movement was initiated by Vinoba Bhave in 1951 at
Pochampally village in Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh
(now Telangana).
53
Important Tips
The Bhoodan movement:
• The Bhoodan movement was a voluntary land reform
movement in India that was initiated by Gandhian
Vinoba Bhave in 1951.
• The movement aimed to persuade wealthy landowners
to donate a part of their land to the landless peasants,
who would cultivate it for their own subsistence.
• One landlord, Ramachandra Reddy, offered to donate
100 acres of his land, which inspired others to follow
suit. Bhave named this act of generosity as Bhoodan,
meaning land gift
47. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a social reformer who
fought for and got widow remarriage legalized in India.
He was an Indian educator, writer, philosopher, and social
reformer. He was a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance
and a pioneer of modern Bengali prose. He advocated for
the widow remarriage act and cited Hindu scriptures to
show that widow remarriage was well within the folds of
Hinduism. Through his efforts, Lord Canning enacted the
Widow Remarriage Act throughout British India in 1856.
48. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Keshav Chandra Sen was a Hindu philosopher and social
reformer who attempted to incorporate Christian theology
within the framework of Hindu thought. He was a member
of the Brahmo Samaj and later formed his own society called
the Bharatvarshiya Brahmo Samaj in 1866. He played an
important role in passing the Native Marriage Act of 1872,
which legalized inter-caste and inter-religious marriages
among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, and Christians.
Important Tips
• Devendra Nath Tagore: He was a Hindu philosopher
and religious reformer who founded the Brahmo
religion in 1848. He was a leader of the Brahmo Samaj
and a pioneer of modern Bengali prose. He campaigned
against sati, polygamy, child marriage, and caste
discrimination. He also supported widow remarriage
and women’s rights.
• Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar: He was an Indian
educator and social reformer who fought for and got
widow remarriage legalized in India. He also opposed
child marriage and polygamy and did much to promote
the education of girls. He was a key figure of the Bengal
Renaissance and a Sanskrit scholar. He translated the
Katha Upanishad and the Bhagavad Gita into Bengali.
49. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
R.C. Majumdar tried to summarize the revolt of 1857
differently. According to him, the revolt was neither the
first, nor was it national, nor was it a war of independence.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Views of otherIndian historians about the Revolt of
1857:
• Tarachand: It has to be admitted that the war against
the British was not inspired by any sentiment of
nationalism, for in 1857 India was not yet politically
a nation.
• V.D. Savarkar: The upsiring of 1857 was not a sepoy
mutiny. It was a India’s first war of independence.
• S. N. Sen: What began as a fight for religion ended as a
war of independence.
50. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Option 1 and 2 are incorrect: While British historians
(not Indian historian) called the revolt the Sepoy Mutiny,
whereas Indian historians (not British historians) named it
the Revolt of 1857 or the First War of Indian Independence.
It was the first expression of organised resistance.
Option 3 is correct: Revolt of 1857gave a death blow to
the system of East India Company’s rule in India. The
East India Company’s rule in India came to an end as a
result of the uprising. India was now directly governed by
the British Crown. The Doctrine of Lapse was disregarded,
and the claims of Indian kings were acknowledged.
Option 4 is incorrect: The revolt was started due to
British interference in religion and hurting the religious
sentiments of the Indians. However, there were many
other reasons. All groups having their own concerns behind
participating in the revolt of 1857. For instances, Zamindars
and some rulers wanted to claim their authority in their
territory and peasants wanted the relaxation in taxes,
etc. Hence, it was not only for the improvement of the
administrative machinery in India.
51. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
S.N. Sen can be called as official historian of Indian freedom
struggle. The book written by the S.N. Sen was the book
published by the Government of India. Book “Eighteen
Fifty-Seven” was written by well-known Indian Historian
Dr. Surendra Nath Sen. It was published in May 1957 by
the publication division, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting, Government of India. The book gives an
unbiased record of the first uprising against the British.
Books written by other historians given in option are not
officially published by the Government of India.
Important Tips
The important books and authors on the Revolt of 1857
are as follows:
• Book written by R.C. Mazumdar: The Sepoy Mutiny
and the Revolt of 1857
• Book written by Syed Ahmed Khan: Asbab-e-
Baghawat-e-Hind (The Causes of the Indian Revolt)
PYQ Workbook
• Book written by Karl Marx: The First Indian War of
Independence 1857-1859
• Book written by Sashi Bhusan Chaudhuri: Civil
Rebellion in the Indian Mutinies, 1857-1859
• Book written by Puran Chand Joshi: Rebellion in
1857: A Symposium
52. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Shuddhi Movement was started by the Arya Samaj founded
by Swami Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 in Bombay to bring
back the people who converted to Islam and Christianity
from Hinduism. The movement aimed at abolishing the
practice of untouchability by converting outcasts from
other religions to Hinduism and integrating them into the
mainstream community. The movement also strove to reduce
the conversions of Hindus to Islam and Christianity, which
were underway at the time.
53. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The correct match between the former revolts in the 19th
century and their related areas is:
A. Kuki revolt - 4 (Tripura)
B. Kuka revolt - 1 (Punjab)
C. Pabna revolt - 2 (Bengal)
D. Birsa Munda revolt - 3 (Bihar)
Important Tips
• The Kuki Rebellion (1860-61) in Tripura was a tribal
uprising against British and oppressive rule. Led
by Ratan Pooya, Kukis attacked villages, prompting
British intervention. Despite Kuki resistance, British
forces punished leaders, and the rebellion subsided.
The revolt highlighted tribal resilience and defiance
against colonial forces.
• The Kuka Movement, led by Baba Ram Singh,
was a religio-political uprising in Punjab against
British rule, rooted in opposition to new policies and
religious beliefs. Despite government suppression, the
movement persisted, leading to social and political
change. Baba Ram Singh’s leadership and Guru Hari
Singh’s continuation shaped its legacy.
54. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Atmiya Sabha in 1815,
in Calcutta, as a religious and social reform movement.
The Atmiya Sabha aimed to propagate his doctrines of
monotheistic Hinduism and to oppose the superstitions,
orthodoxy, and oppression that prevailed in Indian society
and religion. The Atmiya Sabha later evolved into the
Brahmo Sabha in 1828, which became the Brahmo Samaj,
a more influential and organized socio-religious movement.
54
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
• Brahma Samaj was the original name of the Brahmo
Samaj, a socio-religious movement founded by Raja
Ram Mohan Roy in 1828. The Brahma Samaj aimed to
propagate the doctrine of monotheism and to reform
the Hindu society and religion from superstitions,
orthodoxy, and oppression.
• Tatvabodhini Sabha was a splinter group of the
Brahmo Samaj, founded by Debendranath Tagore in
1839. The Tatvabodhini Sabha aimed to encourage
religious inquiries and disseminate the essence of the
Upanishads.
• The Tatvabodhini Sabha also published a newspaper
called Tattvabodhini Patrika, which propagated the
new creed and advocated for social reforms.
• In 1843, Debendranath Tagore and his followers
joined the Brahmo Samaj and merged the
Tatvabodhini Sabha with it.
55. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The founder of ‘Bhartiya Brahmo Samaj’ was Keshav
Chandra Sen. He was a social reformer and leader of the
Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious movement that advocated
for monotheism and social reforms. He founded the
Bharatvarshiya Brahmo Samaj, also known as the Brahmo
Samaj of India, in 1866 as a separate organization from
the original Brahmo Samaj, which was led by Debendranath
Tagore. He introduced some radical changes in the doctrine
and practice of Brahmoism, such as accepting Christ as
an incarnation of God, performing inter-caste and inter-
religious marriages, and allowing women to participate in
religious ceremonies. He also founded the Indian Reform
Association in 1870 as a secular organization that aimed to
promote education, women’s rights, legal reforms, and social
welfare.
56. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
On 11 May 1857, a band of rebel sepoys and civilians marched
to Delhi’s Red Fort to seek the leadership of Bahadur Shah
Zafar, the Mughal Emperor, for mutiny. Actually the Sepoys
needed someone to legitimise the revolt and they thought
Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the right person at that
moment. With him on their side, the Sepoys knew that the
mutiny would become a political struggle which is exactly
what the Sepoys wanted.
Important Tips
Other events related to the revolt of 1857:
• Kanpur’s Revolt started on June 6, 1857 and Nana
Saheb took over the leadership. On June 6, 1857 Nana
Saheb and his soldiers attacked the British soldiers
of 53rd native infantry at Kanpur. He along with his
soldiers attacked the entrenchment of the British East
India Company which was under General Sir Hugh
Wheeler.
55
• Begum Hazrat Mahal took over the reigns at Lucknow
where the rebellion broke out on June 4, 1857 and
popular sympathy was overwhelmingly in favour of the
deposed Nawab of Awadh Wajid Ali Shah. Her son,
Birjis Qadir, was proclaimed the nawab and a regular
administration was organised with important offices
shared equally by Muslims and Hindus.
• Rani Lakshmi Bai defended Jhansi against British
troops when Sir Hugh Rose besieged Jhansi on 23
March 1858. The bombardment of Jhansi began on
24 March but was met by heavy return fire and the
damaged defences were repaired.
57. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Diwan Maniram Dutta was the leader of the revolution of
1857 from Assam. He belonged to a prominent Assamese
family and was employed as a clerk in the British
administration. Maniram Dewan and Piyali Barua were the
masterminds behind the execution of the anti-British plot
during the revolt of 1857 in Assam. Maniram was the leader
and directed the revolt from Calcutta and Piyali Barua
executed all the plans as the Chief Lieutenant in Assam.
Important Tips
Maniram Diwan:
• Maniram Dutta Baruah, popularly known as
Maniram Dewan, was born on 17 April, 1806 in
Charing in Sibsagar district.
• He was a counsellor to the Ahom King Purundar
Singha.
• He was the first Indian to set up a tea garden at
Chenimore in Jorhat.
• With the discovery of tea bushes in Assam, the
British decided to start tea cultivation there. They
deposed Purandar Singha and took control of the
administration.
• He along with Piyali Barua was arrested and found
guilty. They were publicly executed by hanging at
Jorhat jail on 26 February, 1858.
58. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Slavery was made illegal by Act V of 1843, also known as
the Indian Slavery Act, which outlawed many economic
transactions associated with slavery. The act stated that no
public officer shall sell or cause to be sold any person or the
right to the compulsory labour or services of any person on
the ground that such person is in a state of slavery. The act
also declared that no rights arising out of an alleged property
in the person and services of another as a slave shall be
enforced by any civil or criminal court or magistrate within
the territories of the East India Company.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
• Child marriage was made illegal by the Age of Consent
Act in 1891, which raised the age of consent for sexual
intercourse for girls from 10 to 12 years.
• Infanticide was made illegal by the Bengal Regulation
XXI of 1795, which declared infanticide as murder and
punishable by death
• Sati was made illegal by the Bengal Sati Regulation
in 1829, which declared the practice of sati or widow
immolation as illegal and punishable by law.
59. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• Bardoli Satyagraha: This was a farmers’ agitation and
nationalist movement in India against the increased
taxation of farmers by the colonial government. It
demanded a cancellation of the 22% tax hike being levied
in Bombay Presidency. The movement began on 12 June
1928 and was eventually led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,
who earned the title of ‘Sardar’ (leader) for his role.
• Bhartiya Kisan Vidyalaya: This was not a political party,
but an educational institution established by N.G. Ranga,
a freedom fighter, classical liberal, parliamentarian and
farmers’ leader. He founded the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s
Andhra Pradesh Kendra in Hyderabad in 1956 and
started the Bhartiya Kisan Vidyalaya, a school for rural
children, in 1959.
• Bengal Praja Party: This was a political party of Bengal in
the latter days of British India. It was formed by a coterie
of eighteen (of the total of thirty) Muslim members of
the Bengal Legislative Council following a snap election
held in June 1929 with A.K. Fazlul Huq as its leader, and
Abdur Raheem, a Delhi-born Urdu-speaking Calcutta
merchant (not to be confused with Sir Abdur Rahim) as
the deputy leader.
• Bakasht Agitation: This was a peasant movement
launched for the abolition of the zamindari system in
Bihar during 1937-39. The movement was organised
by the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha led by Swami
Sahajanand Saraswati. The movement was against the
eviction of tenants from Bakasht lands by zamindars
and led to the passing of the Bihar Tenancy Act and the
Bakasht Land Tax.
60. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct match between List-I (Events) and List-II
(Dates) is:
A. Barrackpur Mutiny - 2. November, 1824
B. Berhampur Revolt - 4. February, 1857
C. Santhal Revolt - 3. 1855-56
D. Vellore Mutiny - 1. July, 1806
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
• The Barrackpore mutiny of Nov 1824 saw Indian
sepoys rebelling against British officers during the
First Anglo-Burmese War. The mutiny arose due to
cultural insensitivity, negligence, and poor supply,
causing resentment. Troops refused to march, leading
to a confrontation. Loyal soldiers and British regiments
surrounded the camp, resulting in casualties. Mutineers
were punished, the 47th Regiment disbanded, and its
officers dismissed.
• The Berhampore Mutiny of 27 February 1857
occurred when the 19th Regiment of Bengal Native
Infantry refused greased cartridges. Confronted by
cavalry and artillery, the regiment disbanded under
censure, led by Lt-Col Mitchell. They were subsequently
disbanded in Barrackpore on 31 March.
• The Vellore Mutiny on July 10, 1806, marked a
significant Indian sepoys’ uprising against the East
India Company. Triggered by grievances over changes
in dress code and disrespect for religious practices,
mutineers seized Vellore Fort, leading to clashes and
about 350 mutineer deaths.
61. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati is often referred to as the
“Martin Luther of India” for his efforts for religious reforms.
He founded the Arya Samaj, a socio-religious organization
that aimed to promote social equality, rationalism, and the
revival of Vedic principles.
62. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The person who represented India and Hinduism at the
World Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1893 was
Swami Vivekananda. He was a Hindu monk and philosopher
who propagated the teachings of Vedanta and Yoga. He also
travelled extensively across India and abroad, spreading his
message of universal brotherhood, spiritual awakening, and
social service.
63. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The founder of Ram Krishna Mission was Swami
Vivekananda. He was a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa,
who was a mystic and saint.
Important Tips
• Swami Vivekananda set up the Ramakrishna Math
and its twin organisation, Ramakrishna Mission,
in 1886 with the help of other sanyasin disciples of
Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
• The headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and
Ramakrishna Mission is at Belur Math in West
Bengal, India.
56
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• The Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission
have several centres and institutions all over the world,
which are engaged in various spiritual, educational,
and social service activities
64. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Servants of India Society was founded by Gopal
Krishna Gokhale in 1905 as a secular organization that
dedicated itself to the welfare of the Indian people and the
cause of national liberation. Gokhale was a moderate leader
who believed in constitutional methods and cooperation with
the British government. He also worked for social reforms
such as female education, abolition of untouchability, and
prevention of child marriage.
Important Tips
• The Brahmo Samaj of India was founded by Keshav
Chandra Sen in 1866 as a splinter group of the
original Brahmo Samaj, which was founded by Raja
Ram Mohan Roy in 1828. Sen was a radical reformer
who advocated for inter-caste and inter-religious
marriages, women’s education, and social service.
• The Tatvabodhini Sabha was founded by
Debendranath Tagore in 1839 as a branch of the
Brahmo Samaj, which he later merged with Brahamo
Samaj in 1850. Tagore was a conservative reformer who
emphasized the authority of the Upanishads and the
Vedanta philosophy.
• The Satyashodhak Samaj was founded by Jyotiba
Phule in 1873 as an independent social movement
that aimed to uplift the oppressed and marginalized
sections of society, especially the Dalits, women, and
peasants.
65. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In 1916, Bal Gangadhar Tilak delivered a speech at the All
India Depressed Classes Conference in Bombay, where
he denounced untouchability as a sin and a crime against
humanity. He said, “If a God were to tolerate untouchability,
I would not recognize him as God at all”. He also quoted the
Vedas and the Upanishads to show that untouchability had
no scriptural sanction and was a later invention by selfish
people.
66. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
• Brahmo Samaj was founded in Calcutta (now Kolkata)
in 1828 by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. It was a reformist
movement within Hinduism that rejected the authority
of the Vedas, idol worship, caste system, and other
practices. It also adopted some elements of Christianity
and Islam in its beliefs.
• Manav Dharma Sabha was founded in Surat in 1844
by Durgaram Manchharam Mehta, Dadoba Pandurang
Tarkhadkar, and a few others. It was one of the earliest
57
socio-religious reform organizations in Gujarat and
British India. It aimed to expose the hypocritical acts
present in Christian, Muslim, and Hindu religions. It also
accepted the concept of monotheism and advocated for
social reforms.
• Arya Samaj was founded in Mumbai in 1875 by
Dayananda Saraswati. It was a revivalist movement
within Hinduism that promoted the authority of the
Vedas as the source of true knowledge. It opposed
polytheism, idol worship, caste system, and other
practices. It also introduced proselytization and social
reforms in Hinduism.
• Nadwah-ul-Ulama is a council of Muslim theologians in
India that was formed in 1893 in Kanpur. The council
established the Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, a famous
Islamic seminary in Lucknow, on 26 September 1898.
The council aimed to reform the prevalent educational
system and to eliminate the differences among Muslim
groups on different religious issues
67. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Velu Thampi led a rebellion against the British in Kerala.
Velu Thampi, also known as Thampi Chempakaraman
Velayudhan, was the Dalawa (Prime Minister equivalent) of
the Kingdom of Travancore. He spearheaded an insurrection
against the British East India Company in the early 18th
century. Velu Thampi’s rebellion aimed to address internal
issues, corruption, and British interference in Travancore’s
affairs, ultimately resulting in his confrontation with British
forces.
68. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The founder of Radha Swami Satsang was Shiv Dayal
Singh, also known as Shivdyal Sahab or Soami Ji Maharaj.
He was a Hindu banker of Agra, who believed that human
beings could perfect their highest capabilities only through
repetition of the shabda (“sound”), or nam (“name”), of
God. He revealed himself as the sant satguru (true teacher
of spirituality) in 1861 and began instructing a group of
followers. He wrote two books, both titled Sar Bachan
(“Essential Utterances”), one in prose and one in verse.
69. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Jyotiba Phule was the author of Gulamgiri, a book that
exposed the oppression and discrimination faced by the
lower castes in India. He dedicated his book to the American
movement to end slavery and compared the plight of the
Dalits to that of the African Americans. He was also a social
reformer who founded the Satya Shodhak Samaj, a society
that aimed to uplift the marginalized groups in Maharashtra.
70. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Gadakari rebellion centered in Kolhapur, Maharashtra,
was a response to British land acquisition following their
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
occupation of Satara. In 1844, the agrarian Maratha-
militia, known as Gadkaris, rebelled against British actions.
They established a parallel government, taking control of
forts like Samangarh and Bhudargarh. Although eventually
suppressed, this revolt symbolized resistance against colonial
rule, driven by issues like unfair land policies and indigenous
industry decline.
71. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Pagalpanthi rebellion was a rebellion of Garos. The
movement originated in the northern Mymensingh and
Sherpur District area, mainly inhabited by tribal groups
like the Garos. The Pagal Panthis, a socio-religious order
emerging in late 18th-century Bengal, sought to uphold
religious principles and landless peasants’ rights. Led by
Tipu Shah, the movement evolved into armed resistance
against the British and the zamindar system. It was
predominantly influenced by the Hodi, Garo, and Hajong
tribes, and led by Hodi leader Janku Pathar and Debraj
Pathar. It was eventually suppressed by the British in 1833.
72. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The leader of the Farazi rebellion was Dudu Miyan, also
known as Muhsin Uddin Ahmad. Dudu Miyan was a
significant figure in the Faraizi Movement in Bengal. He
took over the movement after the death of his father, Haji
Shariatullah, and guided the Faraizi movement towards
a more radical and agricultural focus, establishing an
efficient organizational structure. He aimed to establish
a separate state within British-ruled territory and actively
participated in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Dudu Miyan
was imprisoned by the British administration and eventually
released before his death in 1862.
73. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• Sahjanand Saraswati: He was the leader of the peasant
movement in Bihar, where he formed the Bihar
Provincial Kisan Sabha in 1929 and mobilised peasant
grievances against the zamindari attacks on their
occupancy rights. He also founded the All-India Kisan
Sabha in 1936 and issued a Kisan Manifesto demanding
abolition of zamindari and cancellation of rural debts.
• Khudai Khidmatgars: They were a predominantly
Pashtun nonviolent resistance movement against the
British Raj in colonial India, based in the North-
West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
Pakistan). They were led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also
known as Bacha Khan or Badshah Khan, who was a
close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. They wore red
shirts as their uniform and participated in various civil
disobedience campaigns against the British.
• Swami Ramanand: He participated in Satyagrahas (“non-
violent resistance” campaigns) and was imprisoned for
111 days by Osman Ali Khan. Swami Ramanand Tirtha
PYQ Workbook
is credited for having created a revolutionary movement
to integrate Hyderabad State with the Indian Union in
1948.
• Abdul Hamid Khan: Popularly known as Maulana
Bhasani, Abdul Hamid Khan was self-educated, village-
based, a fire-brand, and skeptical about colonial
institutions. In 1919, Bhasani joined the non-cooperation
movement and khilafat movement to mark the launching
of his long and colourful political career. He went to
Santosh in Tangail (Southern Assam) to take up the
leadership of the oppressed peasants during the Great
Depression period.
74. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Khan Bahadur Khan Rohilla was the grandson of Hafiz
Rahmat Khan, who was the Nawab of Rohilkhand in
Uttar Pradesh. On 31 May 1857, Khan Bahadur Khan
Rohilla declared independence at Bareilly, the capital of
Rohilkhand. He revolted against British when he was 70
years old. Various steps were taken by him to ensure harmony
among the Hindus and Muslims. Cow slaughter was banned
by him during the celebration of Hindu festivals. Due to
the efforts made by Khan Bahadur, the Britishers could not
split the Hindus and Muslims in this region to fulfill their
imperialist motives.
75. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Bhil uprising, which took place in Maharashtra in
1818, was a notable tribal revolt against British colonial
rule. The Bhil tribe, deprived of their longstanding forest
rights and subjected to mistreatment, rose in rebellion.
The British responded with military force to quell the
uprising, ultimately leading to a peace treaty, which resulted
in certain concessions being afforded to the Bhil community.
Important Tips
• The Rampa Rebellion (1922-1924), led by Alluri
Sitarama Raju, was a tribal uprising in Madras
Presidency, British India. Triggered by colonial forest
policies, economic hardships, and forced labor, Raju,
a charismatic leader, united tribes and sympathetic
muttadars against British rule. The rebellion, marked
by guerrilla warfare and Raju’s capture in May 1924,
revealed local discontent and ended his messianic anti-
colonial struggle.
• The Kol uprising (1831-1832) in Chhota Nagpur
was a tribal revolt against East India Company
exploitation. Led by Budhu Bhagat and others,
Kols rebelled due to encroachments by non-tribals,
forced labor, and oppressive land policies. Tribes
like Munda, Oraon, and Chero joined. British officer
Thomas Wilkinson suppressed it by killing leaders and
followers.
58
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
76. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Udham Singh was an Indian revolutionary belonging to
the Ghadar Party, who is well known for the assassination
of Michael O’Dwyer on 13 March 1940. Michael O’Dwyer
was the lieutenant governor of Punjab at the time of the
Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsa. All others were related
to the Revolt of 1857.
77. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati was responsible for the revival
of Vedas. He was the founder of Arya Samaj, a reform
movement of Hinduism that advocated the supremacy of the
Vedas and opposed idolatry, untouchability, child marriage,
and other social evils. He also gave the slogan of ‘let’s go
back to Vedas’ and attributed all the beliefs from the Vedic
period until today as a false religion.
78. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Option a is correct: After the declaration by Queen Victoria
in 1858, Policy of annexation was abandoned. Policies such
as Doctrine of Lapse was disregarded.
Option b is incorrect: Though it was said in the
proclamation that ‘Status quo’ of the native rulers would be
maintained. But Britishers did not abide by it. For instances,
British wanted to include princely state of Manipur under
British rule in 1891 after the Anglo-Manipur war of
1891. Manipur was the last of the independent states to be
incorporated into British India.
Option c is incorrect: It was said in the proclamation that
equal treatment would be given to all subjects, Indians, and
Europeans. But it did not happen in reality. For instances,
British classified Indian castes into the ‘martial’ caste and
the ‘non-martial’ caste based of allegiance shown during the
revolt of 1857. Caste, religion and ethnicity or race became
more crucial while enlisting a soldier. Indians were still not
promoted to the rank of officers in any of the army station.
Option d is incorrect: It was said in the proclamation that
there would be no interference in the social and religious
beliefs of the Indians. But they passed many legislations
to interfere in the social and religious order of the society.
For instances, The Criminal Tribes Act of 1871, Transfer of
Property Act 1882, The Age of Consent Act, 1891, etc.
Important Tips
• In 1871, the British government in India passed the
Criminal Tribes Act. This Act classified many mobile
craftsmen, traders, and pastoralists as criminal tribes.
• The Transfer of Property Act 1882 is an Indian
legislation which regulates the transfer of property in
India. It contains specific provisions regarding what
constitutes a transfer and the conditions attached to it.
It came into force on 1 July 1882.
59
• The Age of Consent Act, 1891 was a legislation
enacted in British India on 19 March 1891 which
raised the age of consent for sexual intercourse for all
girls, married or unmarried, from ten to twelve years
in all jurisdictions, its violation subject to criminal
prosecution as rape.
79. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a prominent Indian reformer
and leader who brought about social, religious, and
educational reforms in India in the 19th century. He was
influenced by the western ideas of rationalism, humanism,
and democracy and challenged the superstitions, orthodoxy,
and oppression that prevailed in Indian society and
religion. He founded the Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious
movement that advocated for monotheism, abolition of caste
discrimination, women’s rights, and modern education. He
also campaigned against the practice of sati, child marriage,
and polygamy and supported widow remarriage. He is
widely regarded as the father of Indian renaissance for his
visionary and progressive ideas that shaped modern India.
Important Tips
• Rabindra Nath Tagore was a Bengali poet, writer,
musician, painter, and Nobel laureate. He also founded
the Visva-Bharati University at Santiniketan, where he
experimented with new forms of education, art, and
rural development.
• Dayanand Saraswati was an Indian reformer and
founder of the Arya Samaj, a reform movement of
Hinduism. He was influenced by the western ideas of
rationalism, humanism, and democracy and challenged
the superstitions, orthodoxy, and oppression that
prevailed in Indian society and religion.
• Vivekananda propagated the teachings of Vedanta and
Yoga. He was a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
and the founder of the Ramakrishna Mission and Math.
He is best known for his speech at the Parliament of
the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893, where he
introduced Hinduism to the western world.
80. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The chief center of the Wahabi Movement during the 19th
century was Patna. The movement, led by Sayyid Ahmad of
Rae Bareli, aimed to purify and reform Islam in response to
Western influences, emphasizing the Quran and Hadith. It
sought to restore the true spirit of Islam and eliminate un-
Islamic practices.
Important Tips
Wahabi Movement:
• The Wahabi Movement emerged as a revivalist
response to Western influences and the decline
among Indian Muslims, inspired by teachings of
Abdul Wahab and sermons of Shah Walliullah.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Shah Walliullah, an 18th-century leader, aimed for
unity among four Muslim jurisprudence schools,
integrating their best elements, and recognizing
individual conscience in religious interpretations.
• Shah Abdul Aziz and Syed Ahmad Barelvi further
popularized Walliullah’s teachings and added a political
context.
• The movement aimed to eliminate un-Islamic practices
and restore Arabia-like society.
• India was considered Dar-ul-Harb (the land of the
kafirs), and it needed to be converted to Dar-ul-
Islam (land of Islam).
• Initially targeting Punjab Sikhs, the movement
shifted focus to British after Punjab’s annexation
(1849).
• During the 1857 Revolt, Wahabis played a role in anti-
British sentiment. The movement declined against
British military strength by the 1870s.
81. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy did not protest against western
education, but rather supported it and advocated for
its introduction in India. He himself was well-versed
in several languages, including English, Persian, Arabic,
Sanskrit, Bengali, and Hindi. He wrote several books and
articles in English and Bengali on various topics such as
religion, philosophy, history, politics, and economics. He
also established several schools and colleges in India that
imparted western education along with Indian culture.
He believed that western education would help Indians to
progress and modernize their society and nation.
He was a prominent social reformer who protested against
practices such as child marriage, the Sati system, and idolatry.
He advocated for social and religious reforms to modernize
and uplift Indian society.
82. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Viscount Palmerston was British Prime Minister during the
revolt of 1857. His tenure was from 1855 to 1858. Similarly,
Winston Churchill (1940-45) was the Prime Minister during
Quit India Movement of 1942 and Clement Attlee (1945-
51) was the Prime Minister when India got independence
in 1947.
83. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: M.G Ranade
was a strong advocate for the abolition of child marriage.
He believed that child marriage was harmful to both the
girl child and the society as a whole. He argued that child
marriage led to early pregnancy, which could have serious
health consequences for the girl child. He also argued that
PYQ Workbook
child marriage prevented girls from getting an education
and from participating in the workforce. Ranade persisted
in his efforts, and he eventually succeeded in getting the
Indian government to pass the Child Marriage Restraint Act
in 1929.
Option B in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: In
suppression of Thugs, along with William Bentinck, one
more name is cherished. This able officer was William
Henry Sleimen. Initially he was a soldier and later became
the administrator. In 1835, the ‘Thuggee and Dacoity Dept’
was created by William Bentinck and William Henry Sleeman
was made its superintendent.
Option C in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: Pandit
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-91), the principal of
Calcutta’s Sanskrit College, was largely responsible for
widow remarriage act 1856. He pushed tirelessly to establish
a widow remarriage culture in the nation.
Option D in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: Lord
Hastings played a pivotal role in suppressing the Pindaris
by organizing a large army. He personally led the force
from the north, while Sir Thomas Hislop commanded the
south. Under his leadership, the British forces successfully
dismantled the Pindari bandits by 1818, ending their menace
in the region.
84. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Various policies of the British Empire were the main cause of
1857 revolt. The immediate cause was the cartridge of the
new ‘Enfield Rifle’ which was greased with cow and pig fat.
Other than that their economic policies, political strategies,
and administrative factors also played key role behind the
revolt of 1857.
Important Tips
Cause of 1857 revolt:
• Political Causes:
• Suspicion in the minds of almost all the ruling
princes against British, through such policies as
of ‘Effective Control’, ‘Subsidiary Alliance’, and
‘Doctrine of Lapse’.
• Economic Causes:
• Heavy taxation
• Discriminatory tariff policy against Indian products
• Destruction of traditional handicrafts industry
• Socio-Religious Causes:
• Racial and a superiority complex characterised the
British administrative attitude towards the native
Indians.
• British interference in the socio-religious affairs of
the Indian public like abolition of sati, support to
widow-marriage, etc
60
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Influence of Outside Events:
• British suffered serious losses in the the First
Afghan War (1838–42), Punjab Wars (1845–49),
and the Crimean Wars (1854–56). The British were
seen to be not so strong and it was felt that they
could be defeated.
85. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Rajamundri Social Reform Association to encourage
widow re-marriage was founded in 1878 by Veeresalingam.
He was a social reformer who fought against hiring nautch
girls and spearheaded a campaign for widow remarriage. He
also constructed Brahmo Mandir, Widows’ Home, Social
Reform Association in Madras, Hitakarini Samajam, Girls’
School. He donated his property to these institutions and
inspired an army of youth with his zeal.
Important Tips
• K. Ramakrishan Pillai: He was an Indian nationalist
writer, journalist, editor, and political activist. He
edited Swadeshabhimani (The Patriot), the newspaper
which became a potent weapon against the rule of the
British and the erstwhile princely state of Travancore
(Kerala, India) and a tool for social transformation.
• K.T. Telang: He was an Indian lawyer and judge at
Bombay High Court. He was also an Indologist, a
Sanskrit scholar, and a social reformer. He was one of
the founding members of the Indian National Congress
and the first secretary of INC.
• Gopalachariar: He was an Indian lawyer and
administrator who acted as the Diwan of Travancore
from 16 August 1906 to 26 October 1907. He was born
into a Vaishnavite Brahmin family in Sarukkai, Madras
Presidency in 1850. He worked as a vakil in Madurai
before being appointed a sub-judge in 1885.
86. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Social Reform Association was founded by Kandukuri
Veeresalingam Pantulu, a Telugu writer and social reformer.
He established the association in 1878 in Rajahmundry,
Andhra Pradesh, to promote widow remarriage, women’s
education, and social service.
Shri Ram Bajpai was the founder of the Seva Samiti Boy
Scouts Association, a scouting organization for Indian boys.
He started the association in 1914 in Bombay, on the lines
of the worldwide Baden-Powell Organizations, which at that
time banned Indians from joining it.
Important Tips
• Servants of India Society : G.K. Gokhale. This was
a society of social workers and reformers founded by
Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1905 in Pune, Maharashtra.
The society aimed to promote education, sanitation,
health care, and self-reliance among the masses.
61
• Social Service League : N.M. Joshi. This was a social
welfare organization founded by Narayan Malhar Joshi
in 1911 in Bombay. The league worked for improving
the living and working conditions of the urban poor,
especially the industrial workers.
• Seva Samiti : H.N. Kunzru. This was another
organization founded by a prominent member of
the Servants of India Society, Hridayanath Kunzru.
Founded in 1914 at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, the Seva
Samiti had as its objective to organize social service
during natural disasters like floods and epidemics,
to promote the spread of education, cooperation,
sanitation.
87. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Assertion (A) is correct: Socio-religious movements of
the 19th century resulted in the modernization of India
by introducing reforms in various aspects of society and
religion, such as education, women’s rights, caste system,
social evils, and religious tolerance. These movements also
contributed to the growth of nationalism, democracy, and
secularism in India.
Reason (R) is correct explanation of Assertion (A): The
reason why the socio-religious movements resulted in
the modernization of India was because they adopted
rationalism, scientific temper and other such ideas as their
guiding principles. These ideas enabled them to critique
and reform the existing social and religious practices and
institutions that were oppressive, backward, and stagnant.
These ideas also inspired them to embrace the values of
liberty, equality, fraternity, justice, and humanism that were
essential for the development of a modern nation.
88. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct order of the uprisings against the British colonial
power in India prior to 1857 is:
• Sepoy mutiny in Bengal (1764)
• Sepoy mutiny at Vellore (1806)
• Kutch Rebellion (1816-32)
• Kol uprising (1831-32)
• Santhal uprising (1855-56)
89. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy, often referred to as the “Father
of the Indian Renaissance,” played a significant role in
advocating for social, educational, and religious reforms
in the 19th century. He championed causes such as widow
remarriage, abolition of the Sati practice, and the promotion
of modern education. His efforts laid the foundation for the
modernization and reform movements in India, earning
him the title of the first ‘Modern Man’ of the country.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
90. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Behramji M. Malabari was the greatest Parsi social
reformer of the 19th century. He was born in 1853 in a
Persian family in Baroda. He edited a circular against child
marriage and in support of widow remarriage. He also
wrote several books and articles on social issues, such as
The Indian Eye on English Life, Gujarat and the Gujaratis,
and Infant Marriage and Enforced Widowhood in India. He
campaigned for the enactment of the Age of Consent Act,
1891, which raised the minimum age of marriage for girls
from 10 to 12 years. He also founded the Indian Spectator, a
weekly newspaper that advocated for social reforms.
Important Tips
• Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy was a Parsi merchant,
philanthropist, and knight. He was one of the first
Indians to be knighted by Queen Victoria in 1842.
• Sir Rustom Behramji Karanjia was a Parsi journalist,
editor, and publisher. He was the founder of the Blitz,
a weekly tabloid that covered politics, entertainment,
and sports. He was also known for his anti-imperialist
and pro-socialist views.
• Navalji Tata was a Parsi industrialist and philanthropist.
He was the father of J.R.D. Tata, the founder of Tata
Group. He was also involved in various social welfare
activities, such as supporting the Indian Institute of
Science, the Tata Memorial Hospital, and the Lady Tata
Memorial Trust.
91. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Govindgiri (1858–1931), also known as Govind Guru
Banjara, launched the ‘Lasodia Movement’ for social
reforms amongst the Bhils of Mewar, Bagar, and nearby
regions. He was a social and religious reformer who
aimed to improve the moral character, habits, and
religious practices of the tribal communities. He preached
monotheism, temperance, forsaking crimes, and encouraged
adopting the ways of the upper castes. He faced opposition
from ruling classes but gained a significant following. He was
arrested and imprisoned for his activities, and the movement
had a lasting impact on tribal communities.
92. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Brahma Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, and Arya Samaj were
three socio-religious reform movements that emerged in the
19th century in India. None of these three had a political
mission but they helped to develop a spirit of patriotism.
They aimed to reform and revitalize Hinduism by rejecting
the superstitions, rituals, caste system, and other social
evils that had corrupted it. They also promoted rationalism,
humanism, and universalism as the core values of Hinduism.
None of these three movements had a political mission
or agenda, as they focused on the spiritual and moral
PYQ Workbook
upliftment of the people. However, they indirectly helped
to develop a spirit of patriotism and nationalism among
the Indians by creating a sense of pride in their culture
and heritage. They also inspired many freedom fighters
and leaders who participated in the Indian independence
movement.
93. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The word “Swaraj” was first used in the Indian political
context by Dayanand Saraswati, inspired by the Irish “Home
Rule” movement. Swami Dayanand’s talks of Swadeshi Raj
or Swaraj at a time when the country was so backward in
political consciousness. He had already given the slogan
‘India for the Indians, this slogan became the basis of the
Indian National Congress during the Calcutta Session.
The idea of Swaraj have been fully discussed in the sixth
chapter of the Satyartha Prakash. It was Swami Dayanand
Saraswati whose major contribution to Indian Nationalism
was firstly for promoting Hindi as national language.
94. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi gave the title of Sardar to Vallabhbhai
Patel for his great organizational skill in The Bardoli
Satyagraha. It was during the struggle and after the Indian
National Congress victory in Bardoli Satyagraha, that Patel
first began to be referred to as Sardar. He was a prominent
leader of the Indian independence movement and a social
reformer.
95. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The British were able to suppress the uprising of 1857 in
Rajput states because the local Rajput rulers did not support
revolutionaries. The British government suppressed the
tribal rebellions in Rajput states as they had the support
of the Rajput rulers of Mewar, Partapgarh and Dungarpur
States, etc.
96. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The immediate cause of India’s first war of independence
was the suspicion about British interference in religion.
The cartridge of the new ‘Enfield Rifle’ was greased with
cow and pig fat and had to be bitten before loading. This
was unacceptable to the Hindus and Muslims. The cow
was sacred to the Hindus, while the pig was taboo for
the Muslims. This paved the way for immediate protest by
Mangal Pandey, and the revolt broke out.
97. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Peasant movement in Rajasthan began for the first time
from Bijoliya in 1897. It continued in 3 phases between
1847-1941. Bijolia was a Jagir of the Udaipur State.
62
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• The first phase- Between 1897-1915. It was marked by
a spontaneous movement that was advanced by local
leadership. Important Persons: Initially, Nanji Patel of
Berisal and Thakari Patel of Gopal Niwas and later Sadhu
Sitaram Das.
• The second phase- Between 1915-1923. Marked a new
state of consciousness among the peasants and it was
led by trained and mature leaders of national status.
Not only this but this movement also linked up with
the mainstream of the nation. Important Persons: Vijay
Singh Pathik, Manik Lal Verma.
• The third phase- continued up to 1941
Important Tips
• Champaran: This was a peasant movement in Bihar
in 1917, led by Mahatma Gandhi against the British
indigo planters who exploited the farmers and forced
them to grow indigo at low prices.
• Bardoli: This was a peasant movement in Gujarat in
1928, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel against the British
government’s decision to increase the land revenue by
22% despite the crop failure and famine.
• Begun movement: It was one of the peasant movements
in Rajasthan during the British Raj in India. It was a
protest against the high taxes and oppression imposed
by the feudal lord (jagirdar) of Begun, who was one
of the 16 nobles (solah umrao) of Mewar state. The
movement started in 1921 and lasted until 1941, when
the peasants achieved some relief and reforms.
98. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The largest number of soldiers who participated during
struggle of 1857 came from Awadh (Oudh). Due to
unemployment, more than 75% of people participated in
Awadh.
Important Tips
• Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was dethroned and exiled
to Calcutta on the plea that the region was being
misgoverned. The British government also wrongly
assumed that Wajid Ali Shah was an unpopular ruler.
On the contrary, he was widely loved.
• The removal of the Nawab led to the dissolution
of the court and its culture. Thus a whole range of
people – musicians, dancers, poets, artisans, cooks,
retainers, administrative officials and so on – lost their
livelihood.
• In Awadh, more than anywhere else, the revolt became
an expression of popular resistance to an alien order.
• In Awadh where resistance during 1857 was intense
and long lasting, the fighting was carried out by
taluqdars and their peasants.
63
• The large majority of the sepoys of the Bengal Army
were recruited from the villages of Awadh and eastern
Uttar Pradesh. Awadh was, in fact, called the “nursery
of the Bengal Army’’.
99. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Swami Vivekananda was a famous reformer and philosopher
who wrote the books Jnyana Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Raja
Yoga, based on his lectures and teachings on the different
paths to liberation in Hinduism. These books explain the
concepts and practices of Jnana Yoga (the path of knowledge),
Karma Yoga (the path of action), and Raja Yoga (the path
of meditation), respectively. Swami Vivekananda also
introduced the term Raja Yoga as a synonym for classical
yoga, which is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu
philosophy. He was a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahansa,
who was a mystic and saint.
100. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The campaign for widow remarriage in Maharashtra
was led by Vishnu Parashuram Pandit. He was a social
reformer and a scholar who founded the Widow Remarriage
Association in 1850 and also launched the widow re-marriage
movement. He was inspired by Jyotirao Phule, another social
reformer who advocated for the rights of women and Dalits.
He also wrote several articles and books on the subject of
widow remarriage and social reform.
101. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The founder of Bahujan Samaj was Mukund Rao Patil,
a rich peasant and a patil (village headman) from Satara
district. He was the adopted son of Krishnarao Bhalekar,
a close associate of Jyotirao Phule, the pioneer of the
Satyashodhak (Truth-Seeking) movement. Mukund Rao
Patil was influenced by Phule’s teachings and continued his
legacy of fighting for social justice and equality. Mukund
Rao Patil launched a village newspaper called Din Mitra
(Friend of the Poor) in 1910, which became the mouthpiece
of Bahujan Samaj.
Important Tips
• Bahujan Samaj was a social and political movement
that emerged in Maharashtra in 1910 to oppose the
exploitation of the lower castes by the upper castes,
especially the Brahmins, landlords, and moneylenders.
• It also opposed the Indian National Congress, which
it considered to be dominated by the upper castes and
indifferent to the problems of the masses
102. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was the first Indian to have written
in an Indian language on the causes of the Revolt of 1857.
In 1859, Sir Syed published the booklet Asbab-e-Baghawat-
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
e-Hind (The Causes of the Indian Revolt) written in the
Urdu language and later translated in English. The booklet
analyzes the reasons for the 1857 revolt as such as aggressive
British expansion and ignorance of local customs by British
as the chief reasons
103. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Tatya Tope was the Commander in Chief of the Indian troops
at Kanpur under the leadership of Nana Saheb.
Important Tips
Tatya Tope:
• He was also known as Ramachandra Pandurang Tope.
• He was born in 1814 in Nashik, Maharashtra.
• He was an intimate friend and the right hand of Nana
Saheb, the adopted son of Peshwa.
• He forced General Windham to retreat from the city
of Gwalior.
• He collaborated with Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi to
seize Gwalior.
• He was defeated by Sir Colin Campbell on December
6, 1857.
• He was hanged on April 18, 1859, in Shivpuri in
Madhya Pradesh.
104. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Radhakant Deb was a scholar and a leader of the Calcutta
conservative Hindu society, who opposed the socio-
religious reforms initiated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and
others. He defended the practice of sati and formed the
Dharma Sabha, a society that protested against the abolition
of sati by Lord William Bentinck in 1829. He also resisted
the efforts of Christian missionaries to convert Hindus and
advocated for the preservation of orthodox Hinduism.
Important Tips
• Nemisadhan Bose was an academic and a former vice-
chancellor of Visva-Bharati University. He was not a
leader of the Bengali society and did not oppose socio-
religious reforms.
• Hemchandra Biswas was a freedom fighter and a bomb
expert. He was associated with the revolutionary group
led by Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Aurobindo Ghosh.
He went to France to learn the science of bombs and
designed the first Indian national flag in Paris. He was
arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in the
Alipore Bomb Case.
105. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
M.G. Ranade was a prominent social reformer and a judge
of the Bombay High Court. He joined the Prarthana Samaj
in 1869 and became its chief director in Maharashtra. He
also played a key role in other social reform movements such
PYQ Workbook
as the Depressed Classes Mission Society of India and the
National Social Conference.
Important Tips
• R.G. Bhandarkar was an Indian scholar, orientalist,
and social reformer.
• He was a Sanskrit scholar and a pioneer of
Indological research in India.
• He was also a member of the Prarthana Samaj and
advocated for religious and social reforms among
the Hindus.
• He was awarded the title of Companion of the Order
of the Indian Empire in 1911.
• Pandit Ramabai was an Indian social reformer,
educationist, and feminist.
• She was the first woman to be awarded the titles of
Pandita and Sarasvati as a Sanskrit scholar by the
University of Calcutta.
• She was also one of the ten women delegates of the
Congress session of 1889.
• She converted to Christianity and founded the
Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission, a charity for
destitute women and children.
• Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was an Indian social reformer,
educationist, and thinker.
• He was a close associate of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and
co-founded educational institutes such as the New
English School, the Deccan Education Society and
Fergusson College.
• He was the first editor of Kesari newspaper and
later started his own periodical, Sudharak, in which
he campaigned for social reforms such as widow
remarriage, caste abolition, and female education.
106. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The founder of Dev Samaj was Shiv Narayan Agnihotri.
He was a Hindu social reformer who emerged as a leading
member of the Brahmo Samaj, a Hindu reform movement.
He broke from Brahmoism in 1887 to form his own religious
group, the Dev Samaj (Divine Society). He advocated
reforms of the social system of the Hindus, such as the
elimination of caste discrimination, the education of women,
widow remarriage and the abolition of child marriage. He
also claimed to have attained the highest possible plane of
existence and that eternal bliss could only be attained with
his guidance.
107. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The first freedom struggle of 1857 failed because of many
reasons. Some of them are:
• There was lack of the unity of purpose in Indian sepoys.
There was no all India veneer about the revolt. The
eastern, southern, and western parts of India remained
more or less unaffected.
64
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Many native kings supported British such as Rulers of
Gwalior, Kashmir, Bhopal and Hyderabad, etc.
• British Soldiers were better equipped and organised
rather than Indians. The Indian soldiers were fighting
generally with swords and spears and very few guns and
muskets. On the other hand, the European soldiers were
equipped with the latest weapons of war like the Enfield
rifle.
108. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a social and religious
reformer who founded the Brahmo Samaj, a movement
that advocated for monotheism, rationalism, and
human rights. He was also a pioneer of modern Indian
education and journalism. He opposed the idolatry
and ritualistic worship, and worked towards reviving
Vedic ideologies. He believed that the purest form of
Hinduism is contained in the Upanishads, which are
the philosophical texts that expound the essence of the
Vedas.
• Keshav Chandra Sen was a Hindu philosopher and
social reformer who attempted to incorporate Christian
theology within the framework of Hindu thought. He was
a follower of Raja Ram Mohan Roy and later became the
leader of the Brahmo Samaj of India, a splinter group of
the original Brahmo Samaj. He also tried to introduce
Christian doctrines such as Trinity, Incarnation, and
Atonement in his teachings. He said that Brahmovad or
the worship of one Supreme Being should be made the
religion of the world.
• Dayanand Saraswati was a Hindu ascetic and founder
of the Arya Samaj, a reform movement of Hinduism. He
advocated the doctrine of Karma and Reincarnation.
He emphasized the Vedic ideals of brahmacharya,
including celibacy and devotion to God. He believed
in the infallible authority of the Vedas as the source of
true knowledge and rejected all other scriptures and
traditions as corruptions. He identified Hinduism with
religion instituted in Vedas.
• Ramakrishna Paramhansa was a Hindu mystic and
spiritual leader who had a profound influence on the
modern Hindu renaissance. He was a devotee of Kali and
experienced various forms of ecstasy in his worship. He
realized that all religions are true and lead to the same
ultimate reality. He emphasized that there are several
ways to reach God and one should follow one’s own
chosen path with sincerity and devotion.
109. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Tebhaga movement was a notable peasant agitation
that was started in Bengal by the All India Kisan Sabha
of the peasant front of the Communist Party of India
(1946–1947). It was a fierce peasant uprising on the eve of
India’s independence and the partition of Bengal. Tebhaga,
65
simply put, meant that two-thirds of the crops, tilled by the
bargadars and adhiars would have to go to them.
Important Tips
The Tebhaga movement:
• The Tebhaga movement was a significant peasant
agitation that was started in Bengal by the All India
Kisan Sabha of peasant front of the Communist Party
of India (1946–1947)
• The movement aimed at improving the share of the
peasants who worked as sharecroppers on the lands of
the landlords.
• The movement sparked off in an area under PS
Chirirbandar in the district of Dinajpur. The assembled
peasants refused to give fifty per cent to the Zamindars;
instead, they offered thirty-three per cent out of the
total yield.
110. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The famous play “Neel Darpan” (The Indigo Mirror)
was written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1858–1859. The
play depicted the oppression of indigo farmers and was
a significant influence on the Indigo Revolt of 1859 in
Bengal. It also played a pivotal role in the development of
theatre in Bengal and influenced the establishment of the
National Theatre by Girish Chandra Ghosh.
111. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• Poona Sarvajanik Sabha was a socio-political
organization in British India that started with the aim
of working as a mediating body between the government
and the people of India and to popularize the peasants’
legal rights.
• It was founded on 2 April 1870 in Pune, Maharashtra,
by a group of 95 members elected by 6000 persons
• Among its founders were Mahadev Govind Ranade, a
scholar, social reformer, judge, and author, and Ganesh
Vasudeo Joshi, a lawyer and activist.
• The organization was a precursor to the Indian National
Congress, which started with its first session from
Maharashtra itself. In 1875, the Sabha sent a petition
to the House of Commons demanding India’s direct
representation in the British Parliament.
112. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement a is correct: The officers of the company wanted
to spread Christianity in India. Christian missionaries
were allowed to enter India and carry on with their mission
of proselytizing. These activities were looked upon with
suspicion and made the sepoys of the East India Company
rebellious.
Statement b is correct: The General Service Enlistment
Act of 1856 was passed by the British Parliament in 1856.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
It required every soldier of Bengal army to go overseas for
deployment if required. To the religious Hindu of the time,
crossing the seas meant loss of caste.
Statement c is correct: The Indian sepoy was equally unhappy
with his emoluments compared to his British counterpart.
A more immediate cause of the sepoys’ dissatisfaction was
the order that they would not be given the foreign service
allowance (bhatta) when serving in Sindh or in Punjab.
Statement d is incorrect: The inefficiency of the officers
was not the reason for making the sepoys of the East India
Company rebellious. Officers were mainly British. They
had shown their leadership prior to revolt of 1857 such
as Robert Clive during Plassey war, Hector Munro during
battle of Buxar, and others. Similarly, East India Company
was fortunate in having the services of men of exceptional
abilities in the Lawrence brothers, John Nicholson, James
Outram, Henry Havelock, etc during the revolt of 1857.
113. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• Prathana Samaj: This was a social reform society
founded by Atmaram Pandurang in Bombay in 1867. It
was inspired by the Brahmo Samaj of Bengal and aimed
to promote monotheism, rationalism, and human rights
among the Hindus.
• Young India: This was a weekly journal in English
founded by Lala Lajpat Rai in 1916 and later published
by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi from 1919 to 1931.
It was a platform for Gandhi to spread his views on non-
violence, civil disobedience, Swaraj, and social issues.
• Lokahitavadi: This was the pen name of Gopal Hari
Deshmukh, a social reformer and writer from
Maharashtra. He wrote articles on various social issues
such as education, women’s rights, caste system, religious
superstitions, and economic development.
• Satyashodhak Samaj: This was a social movement
founded by Jyotiba Phule in Pune in 1873. It aimed
to liberate the oppressed and marginalized sections of
society, especially the Dalits, women, and peasants.
• Rehnumai Mazdayasan Sabha: This was a religious
reform association founded by Naoroji Furdonji and
other progressive Parsis in 1851. It sought to purify the
Zoroastrian religion from the influence of Hindu elements
such as child marriage, polygamy, separate dining of men
and women, and use of nirang for sterilizing customs.
114. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Haji Shariatullah was the founder of the Faraizi movement,
a religious reform movement that aimed to purify Islam
from un-Islamic practices and to uphold the obligatory
duties (farz) of Muslims. He started the movement in 1818
in East Bengal, where he mobilized the peasants against the
oppression of the landlords, the indigo planters, and the
British government. He also opposed the Hindu influence
on Muslim culture and society. He was influenced by the
PYQ Workbook
Wahhabi movement of Arabia and the teachings of Shah
Waliullah of Delhi.
Important Tips
• The Wahabi movement was an Islamist revivalist
movement in the 19th century. The movement was
influenced by the teachings of Abdul Wahab of Arabia
and Shah Walliullah of India, who advocated for a
return to the pure and simple Islam of the Prophet
Muhammad and his companions.
• The Ahmadiyya movement is a modern Muslim
messianic movement that originated in Punjab, India,
in 1889. It was founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad,
who claimed to be the Mahdi (Guided One) and
Messiah expected by Muslims and other religions. The
movement believes in the finality of prophethood with
Muhammad, but also considers Ahmad as a subordinate
prophet who came to revive Islam.
• The Deobandi movement is a revivalist movement
within Sunni Islam that adheres to the Hanafi school of
law. It formed in the late 19th century around the Darul
Uloom Madrassa in Deoband, India, by Muhammad
Qasim Nanautavi, Rashid Ahmad Gangohi, and several
others. The movement aimed to purify Islam from
foreign influences and innovations, and to revive the
original teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.
• The Aligarh movement was a socio-religious reform
movement among Muslims that began in response
to western influences and British rule in India. It
was organized by Syed Ahmad Khan. The movement
advocated for Western education, scientific rationalism,
and cultural modernization for Muslims
115. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Indigo Rebellion, also known as Nil bidroha, was
a peasant movement that occurred in Bengal in 1859.
Peasants resisted being forced to grow indigo at prices they
found unacceptable. Village leaders and ryots were at the
forefront, along with former employees of European planters.
The movement spread across different districts and resulted
in violent attacks against indigo factories and planters. It
ended with the formation of the Indigo Commission in 1860,
which introduced reforms to address the exploitative system.
116. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Option a is incorrect: Raja of Vijayanagar was not
contemporary of Britishers. So it is incorrect.
Option b is correct: Nizam of Hyderabad did not rebel
against the British East India Company. Hyderabad became
a British protectorate from 1798 until India’s independence
in 1947. Hyderabad was the British protectorate from 1798.
Option c is incorrect: The poligars of Tamil Nadu gave a
stiff resistance to the British between 1795 and 1805. The
problem started in 1781, when the Nawab of Arcot gave
66
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
the management and control of Tinneveli and the Carnatic
Provinces to the East India Company. This arrangement
caused resentment among the poligars who considered
themselves as independent sovereign authorities within their
respective territories.
Option d is incorrect: Dewan Velu Thampi is known for
his role in the rebellion against the British East India
Company in 1809. He led a group of soldiers and civilians
in an attempt to overthrow British rule in Travancore, but
the rebellion was ultimately suppressed, and he was captured
and executed.
117. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati published a journal called
“Hunkar”. He was a peasant leader, a nationalist, and an
ascetic who formed the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha in 1929
and the All India Kisan Sabha in 1936.
118. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was elected the first President
of All India Kisan Sabha at Lucknow in 1936. He also led
the Bakasht Movement in Bihar in 1937-1938 against the
eviction of tenants from self-cultivated lands by zamindars.
He was arrested during the Quit India Movement and was
honoured by Subhash Chandra Bose and All India Forward
Bloc as a freedom fighter.
Important Tips
• N.G. Ranga: He was an Indian freedom fighter, classical
liberal, parliamentarian and farmers’ leader. He was
the founding president of the Swatantra Party, and an
exponent of the peasant philosophy. He received the
Padma Vibhushan award for his contributions to the
Peasant Movement.
• E.M.S. Namboodripad: He was an Indian communist
politician and theorist, who served as the first Chief
Minister of Kerala in 1957–1959 and then again in
1967–1969. As a member of the Communist Party of
India (CPI), he became the first non-Congress Chief
Minister in the Indian republic.
• Acharya Narendra Dev: He was one of the leading
theorists of the Congress Socialist Party in India.
His democratic socialism renounced violent means
as a matter of principle and embraced the satyagraha
as a revolutionary tactic. He was active in the Hindi
language movement. He was a key leader of the
Congress Socialist Party from its founding in 1934
and was imprisoned several times during the freedom
struggle. He served as Vice Chancellor of University
of Lucknow from 1947-1951 and then served as
Vice Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from
December 1951 to 31 May 1954.
119. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
67
The Waghera Uprising occurred in Baroda. Lasting from
1818 to 1820, the Waghera chiefs of Okha Mandal rebelled
due to both foreign domination and the oppressive demands
imposed by the Gaekwad of Baroda, supported by the British
administration. The uprising was pacified through a peace
agreement in November 1820.
120. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Atmaram Panduranga was the founder of Prarthana Samaj,
a movement for religious and social reform in Bombay, India,
based on earlier reform movements. Prarthana Samaj was
founded by Atmaram Pandurang in 31 March 1867 when
Keshub Chandra Sen visited Maharashtra, with an aim to
make people believe in one God and worship only one God.
It became popular after Mahadev Govind Ranade joined.
The main reformers were the intellectuals who advocated
reforms of the social system of the Hindus.
121. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, along with Henry
Steel Olcott and William Quan Judge, founded the
Theosophical Society in 1875. The society aimed to promote
spiritual and philosophical exploration, study of ancient
wisdom traditions, and the search for deeper truths in the
realms of religion, science, and philosophy.
122. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Kol Mutiny of 1831, led by Buddho Bhagat, occurred
in Singhbhum, Chhota Nagpur, including areas of Ranchi,
Hazaribagh, and Palamau. The uprising was sparked by
economic exploitation, land tenure changes, and oppressive
practices of the British administration, which led to the
Kols and other tribal communities rebelling against these
injustices. The rebellion involved violent clashes and
resistance against outsiders, especially moneylenders and
landlords, who were seen as exploiting the tribal population.
The rebellion was eventually suppressed by British forces.
123. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The revolt of 1857 in Lucknow was led by Begum Hazrat
Mahal of Oudh (Awadh). She took over the reigns at Lucknow
where the rebellion broke out on June 4, 1857.
Important Tips
Revolt of 1857 in Lucknow:
• Birjis Qadir, son of Begum Hazrat Mahal, was
proclaimed the nawab and a regular administration
was organised with important offices shared equally
by Muslims and Hindus.
• Henry Lawrence, the British resident, the European
inhabitants, and a few hundred loyal sepoys took
shelter in the residency to protect themselves.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• The residency was besieged by the Indian rebels, and
Henry Lawrence was killed during the siege.
• The early attempts of Sir Henry Havelock and Sir
James Outram to recover Lucknow met with no
success.
• Finally, Sir Colin Campbell, the new commander-
in-chief, evacuated the Europeans with the help of
Gorkha regiments.
• In March 1858, the city was finally recovered by the
British, but guerrilla activity continued till September
of the same year.
124. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
After the revolt of 1857, the British recruited the Soldiers
from the Gurkhas, Sikhs, and Punjabis in the North.
British classified them into Martial Caste. These soldiers
supported the British during the revolt of 1857.
125. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
After the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the British government
sought to bring changes in the military system. Thus, the
Peel Commission was set up in 1857. Peel Commission had
the task of identifying social groups and regions from which
‘loyal’ soldiers could be recruited.
126. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mirza Ghalib (1797–1869), the eminent Urdu poet who
belonged to Delhi witnessed the historic First War of
Independence of 1857 and the subsequent re-occupation
of the city by the British. Mirza Ghalib has provided a
fascinating eyewitness account of the uprising of 1857 in his
Persian diaries Dastambu as well as his letters addressed to
various friends and confidantes.
127. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Kuka Movement, also known as the Namdhari
Movement, was organized by Guru Ram Singh. Baba Ram
Singh (1816-1885) founded the movement in 1857, after
being a disciple of Balak Singh since 1841. The movement
aimed to establish a set of rituals similar to Guru Gobind
Singh’s Khalsa, advocating for wearing the five symbols
while carrying a stick instead of a sword. The movement
emphasized abandoning idol worship, maintaining moral
virtues, refraining from beef consumption, and protecting
cattle.
Important Tips
Kuka Movement:
• The Kuka Movement was initiated in Punjab by Baba
Ram Singh as a direct response to British authority
following the year 1849.
PYQ Workbook
• This movement held deep-seated roots in both
political and religious spheres, with its primary
goal being a resistance against the newly established
British governmental framework.
• The movement’s origins can be traced back to the
emotionally charged chanting practices of the
Namdharis, which led to their moniker as the
“Kukas” or shouters.
• The Kukas advocated for civil disobedience, the
cessation of cow slaughter, and non-cooperation as
forms of opposition against the British regime.
• At the forefront of this movement was Baba Ram
Singh, a former soldier, who succeeded the leadership
of Baba Balak Singh and Bhagat Jawar Mal.
• The British government took stringent measures
to suppress Kuka activities, resulting in arrests and
confrontations.
• The Kukas lent their support to Gandhiji’s non-
cooperation movement and initiated newspapers
such as Satyug and Kuka.
• The movement’s enduring impact resonates in how
it shaped Mahatma Gandhi’s strategies for India’s
profound social and political transformation.
128. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The best representative of Neo-Hinduism in the second
half of the nineteenth century was Swami Vivekananda.
He was a Hindu monk and philosopher who propagated
the teachings of Vedanta and Yoga. He was a disciple
of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and the founder of the
Ramakrishna Mission and Math. He is best known for his
speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago
in 1893, where he introduced Hinduism to the western
world. He also travelled extensively across India and abroad,
spreading his message of universal brotherhood, spiritual
awakening, and social service.
Important Tips
• Ramkrishna Paramhans was a mystic and saint who
practiced various forms of Hinduism, Islam, and
Christianity. He was the guru of Swami Vivekananda
and inspired him to spread his teachings. He is regarded
as an avatar of God by some of his followers.
• Bankim Chandra Chatterji was a Bengali novelist
and journalist who wrote several influential works of
fiction and non-fiction. He is considered as the father
of modern Bengali literature and one of the pioneers
of Indian nationalism. He wrote Anandamath, a novel
that introduced the song Vande Mataram, which
became a symbol of the freedom movement.
129. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Sahukar and Landlords did not participate in the revolt
of 1857. Big zamindars acted as ‘break-waters to storm’.
68
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Most Indian rulers refused to join and often gave active help
to the British. Whereas Agricultural Labour and Farmers
participated. There were several reforms in the revenue
system and taxation that affected the peasants and labours
heavily. This economic factor of Peasants was one of the
main reasons for revolt.
130. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
British historians had always tried to downplay the Great
Revolt of 1857 in its very character. Sir James Outram and
William Tayler said, “ The 1857 revolt was the conspiracy
of Hindu and Muslims against Britishers. Sir James Outram
is best known for his role during the relief and capture of
Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny. William Tayler was a
civil servant of the East India Company who lived in India
from 1829 until 1867. He became commissioner of Patna in
1855 and in 1857 was involved in the suppression of the 1857
Sepoy Mutiny.
131. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The tribe that rebelled against the Britishers due to the
banning of the human sacrifice system was the Khond
tribe. The Khond Uprising took place in the regions of
Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, specifically between 1837 and
1856. The Khonds rebelled against British rule because of
various factors, including the imposition of additional
taxes, the intrusion of Zamindars and moneylenders into
tribal areas, and the outlawing of the “Mariah” practice,
which involved human sacrifice and was prohibited by the
British government. Chakra Bisoi, a young raja and leader
of the Khonds, led the uprising against the British forces.
The Khonds resisted using traditional weapons like axes,
hatchets, bows, and arrows, but their efforts were eventually
suppressed by the technologically superior British forces.
132. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Nadars are a Tamil caste of India who were predominantly
involved in the cultivation of palmyra trees and jaggery.
They also faced discrimination and oppression from the
upper castes, especially the Brahmins and the Maravars, who
denied them the right to enter temples and worship.
In 1899, a group of Nadars from Kamudi or Kamuthi, a town
in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, attempted to enter the
Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, which was under the
trusteeship of the Raja of Ramnad, Baskara Sethupathy. The
Nadars forcefully entered the temple on the night of May 14,
1899, and performed rituals in the sanctum sanctorum. The
temple entry agitation was an important step in the history
of Kamudi and the Nadar community’s struggle for social
justice and equality.
133. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The first war of Independence in 1857 failed to secure
freedom from the British Government. The leaders were
69
executed and shot dead by the Britisher. By the end of 1859,
British authority over India was fully re-established. We failed
mainly because we lacked unity. The leadership of Bahadur
Shah Zafar did not have popular support as he was just
a symbolic leader. Most of the Indian rulers of important
States shied away from the struggle such as the Scindia of
Gwalior; the Holkar of Indore; the rulers of Patiala, Sindh,
and other Sikh chieftains; and the Maharaja of Kashmir.
Hence, Assertion (A) and Reason (R) both are correct and
(R) is the correct explanation of (A).
134. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Barhiyataal resistance in Munger, Bihar, was primarily
aimed at the demand for the restoration of Bakasht lands
to the tenants. Bakasht lands were originally held by tenants
but were taken over by landlords in lieu of non-payment of
dues. The movement, which took place during the 1930s, was
organized in response to the eviction of tenants from these
lands by Zamindars. Led by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
and supported by the Kisan Sabha, the movement aimed to
protect the rights of the peasants and resist the exploitation
by landlords. The agitation eventually led to the settlement
of Bakasht lands with the tenants, securing their tenancy
rights.
135. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Vasudev Balwant Phadke (4 Nov 1845 – 17 Feb 1883)
founded the Ramosi Krishak Jatha in Maharashtra. As an
Indian freedom fighter and revolutionary, he aimed to end
colonial rule. The Jatha, a peasant organization, protested
the exploitation of the Ramosi community by zamindars.
It effectively raised awareness and demanded improved
treatment for the Ramosis.
136. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Nai-Dhobi Band was a form of social boycott in 1919. It was
organised by the panchayats of Awadh to deprive landlords
of the services of even barbers and washermen in Pratapgarh
district. This was part of the peasant movement in Awadh
led by Baba Ramchandra, who established the Awadh Kisan
Sabha in 1920.
137. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect- Paramahansa Mandali was
founded in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1849 by Durgaram
Mehtaji and Dadoba Pandurang. It was a secret socio-
religious group that aimed to reform Hindu religious thought
and practice. The Mandali was disbanded in 1860 after its
existence was revealed to the public.
Statement 2 is correct- The Prarthana Samaj was initiated
in Maharashtra by Atmaram Pandurang. The primary
objective of the Prarthana Samaj was to bring about reforms
in Hindu religious thought and practice. One of their key
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
beliefs was the advocacy of monotheism while strongly
criticizing the practice of idol worship.
Important Tips
Paramhansa Mandali was based on seven principles of
Dadoba:
• Worship of God alone
• Emphasis on love and moral conduct
• Unity of spiritual religions
• Promotion of individual freedom of thought
• Importance of proper actions and speech
• Belief in the unity of mankind
• Provision of the right knowledge to all
138. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Arya Samaj did have a strong
support base among the trading castes. The movement
gained popularity among the mercantile communities and
trading castes, particularly in northern India.
Statement 2 is correct: The Arya Samaj introduced the
concept of ‘Shuddhi,’ which means mass purification.
Shuddhi aimed at reconverting individuals who had
previously converted to other religions back to Hinduism.
Statement 3 is correct: The moderates in the Arya Samaj
were headed by Hans Raj and Lajpat Rai. They played
significant roles in the Arya Samaj movement. Additionally,
the Arya Samaj did establish a chain of educational
institutions called Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) colleges.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Arya Samaj had more
members than the Brahmo Samaj, which was another
Hindu reform movement that emerged in the 19th century.
The Arya Samaj was more popular and influential than the
Brahmo Samaj, especially in northern and western India.
The Arya Samaj had about 4 million members by 1947, while
the Brahmo Samaj had less than 100,000 members by then.
139. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Prarthana Samaj aim was to reform
the Hindu society. It advocated for social reforms such
as abolition of caste system, child marriage, and widow
remarriage, and promotion of female education and
intercaste marriage.
Statement 2 is correct: It was based in Maharashtra. It was
founded in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1867 by Atmaram
Pandurang and others. It had its greatest influence in and
around Maharashtra state.
Statement 3 is correct: It believed in Monotheism. It
followed the teachings of the Marathi saint-poets who
worshipped one God and rejected idolatry and ritualism. It
also emphasized the unity of all religions and paths to God.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Prarthana Samaj was influenced
by the Brahmo Samaj, not vice versa. The Prarthana Samaj
PYQ Workbook
was founded after Keshab Chunder Sen, a leader of the
Brahmo Samaj, visited Bombay in 1864.
140. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
• Foundation of the Brahmo Samaj: This was a socio-
religious reform movement founded by Raja Ram Mohan
Roy and Dwarkanath Tagore in 1828 in Calcutta.
• Foundation of the Paramhans Mandali: This was a
socio-religious group founded by Atmaram Pandurang
in 1848 in Bombay. He was helped by Dadoba Pandurang
and Bal Krishna Jaykar.
• Foundation of the Arya Samaj: This was a Hindu
reformist movement founded by Swami Dayanand
Saraswati in 1875.
• Foundation of the Ramakrishna Mission: This was
a Hindu religious organization founded by Swami
Vivekananda in 1897. It was inspired by the teachings
of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, a mystic saint who
preached the harmony of all religions and paths to God.
141. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Indigo Revolt of 1859 was supported by the intelligentsia of
Bengal. Many educated middle-class Bengalis sympathized
with the cause of the indigo farmers and exposed the
atrocities of the British indigo planters. Indian newspapers,
such as the Hindu Patriot and the Som Prakash, reported on
the plight of the peasants and the violence of the planters.
The play Nil Darpan (Mirror of Indigo) by Dinabandhu
Mitra, which depicted the oppression and exploitation of the
indigo cultivators, became a powerful tool of propaganda
and mobilization.
Option a is incorrect: The Indigo Revolt did not break out
at Poona and Ahmadnagar, but in Bengal, especially in the
districts of Nadia, Jessore, Murshidabad, Pabna, Rajshahi
and Malda.
Option b is incorrect: It was directed against the British
indigo planters, who forced the peasants to grow indigo on
their lands under oppressive and exploitative conditions.
The peasants were paid very low prices for their indigo crop
and were often trapped in a cycle of debt and bondage.
Option d is incorrect: The revolt was not directed against
the moneylenders or the petty zamindars, although they
were also part of the oppressive system that supported the
planters.
Important Tips
Facts regarding Indigo Revolt:
• The indigo revolt was led by Bishnu Biswas and
Digambar Biswas who belonged to the Nadia district
of Bengal. Later they were joined by peasant leaders
from other parts of Bengal, such as Shyamal Mondal
from Kalna, Burdwan.
70
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• The play Nil Darpan or the ‘Mirror of Indigo’ was
written by Dinabandhu Mitra. It remains a classic
because it was written during the movement in 1859.
It narrated the sufferings, oppression and struggle of
indigo cultivators.
• The play Nil Darpan was translated into English by
poet Michael Madhusudan Dutta and published by
Anglican priest James Long.
142. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Munro was a British administrator
who served as Governor of Madras from 1820 to 1827. He
was the architect of the Ryotwari system.
Statement 2 is correct: The Ryotwari system was designed to
eliminate the intermediaries who had traditionally collected
land revenue from the cultivators. This was done in order
to give the cultivators direct ownership of their land and to
reduce the amount of revenue that was lost to intermediaries.
Statement 3 is correct: The Ryotwari system led to high
tax rates, 50% in dryland and 60% in the wetland, which
gradually impoverished many cultivators. The rates were
high and unlike the Permanent System, they were open to
being increased. Additionally, tax rates were fixed, but the
prices of agricultural produce fluctuated. As a result, the
cultivators often found themselves unable to pay the land
revenue.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Ryotwari system was
introduced in parts of Madras and Bombay presidencies, as
well as in Assam and Coorg. However, it was not introduced
in Bengal presidency.
143. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In 1815, Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Atmiya Sabha,
a philosophical discussion circle in Kolkata. The Atmiya
Sabha was a precursor to the Brahmo Samaj, which was
founded by Roy in 1828.
Important Tips
• Ram Mohan Roy established the Brahmo Sabha
in 1828, which evolved into the Brahmo Samaj,
promoting monotheism, rationalism, and social
reforms to challenge orthodox Hindu practices.
• Debendranath Tagore founded the Adi Brahmo Samaj
in 1848, advocating monotheism, social equality, and
the abolition of caste practices.
• Keshab Chandra Sen formed the Brahmo Samaj of
India in 1866, promoting monotheistic worship and
universal brotherhood. He later split and formed the
Sadharan Brahmo Samaj in 1878, embracing a wider
spectrum of people and advocating social reforms.
144. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Santhals were losing their land
to outsiders and they were feeling increasingly desperate.
71
Statement 2 is incorrect: The British suppressed the
rebellion brutally and many Santhals were killed.
Statement 3 is correct: The British government constituted
separate administrative units for the Santhals in order to
protect them from exploitation.
Statement 4 is incorrect: There were other major rebellions
in mid 19th century India, such as the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.
Important Tips
The Santhals:
• The Santhals were the tribal people who lived in the
Chota Nagpur plateau in present-day Jharkhand.
• They were in a desperate situation as their tribal lands
were being leased out to outsiders. The Santhals also
felt that they were being exploited by the British
officials and moneylenders.
• The rebellion was led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu,
two Santhal leaders. The rebels quickly gained control
of large parts of the Chota Nagpur plateau. However,
the British eventually suppressed the rebellion.
• After the rebellion, the British government
constituted separate administrative units called
Santhal Parganas for the Santhals. These areas were
given special status and the Santhals were given certain
concessions.
145. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
A. The Bakasht Land Movement was led by Karyanand
Sharma (4).
B. The Eka Movement was associated with Madari Pasi (3)
C. Mappila Rebellion led by Kunhammed Haji (2).
D. Avadh Kisan Sabha Movement was associated with Baba
Ramchandra (1).
Important Tips
Moplah Rebellion,1921:
• Moplah Rebellion was led by the Mappila Muslims
that targeted British Officers and Hindu landowners.
• The succession of the riots was headed by
Variyamkunnath Kunjahammed Haji.
• The Khilafat movement in Malabar stirred up the
communal sentiments of the Mappila Muslims and led
to the armed revolt in Malabar.
• The riots led to the damage of the temples, homes, and
the oppression of the Hindus and official authorities of
the British.
146. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• Bardoli Satyagraha led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was
a peasant movement benefiting the Kaliparaj in Gujarat.
• Tebhaga Movement led by Kisan Sabha fought for fair
sharecroppers’ (Bargardars) crops in Bengal.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Satyashodhak Samaj by Jyotirao Phule uplifted Kunbi
peasantry in Maharashtra.
• Ulgulan led by Birsa Munda benefited the Munda tribe
in Jharkhand.
Important Tips
Tebhaga Movement(1946-47):
• In the early 19th century, affluent peasants called
jotedars gained prominence in Bengal. They amassed
vast land holdings, controlled local markets, and
dominated money lending, exerting power over poor
cultivators.
• Jotedars, concentrated in North Bengal, employed
sharecroppers (bargadars) who cultivated large
agricultural areas and handed over half of the harvest
to jotedars.
• In late 1946, bargadars challenged the system,
demanding to pay only one-third of the produce and
store it in their own godowns, backed by the Floud
Commission’s recommendation.
• The movement was led by the All India Kisan Sabha,
the peasant wing of the CPI. Initially, participation
was limited, but it grew when the Bengal Bargadars
Temporary Regulation Bill incorporated their
demands in January 1947.
• Police, at the behest of jotedars, suppressed the
sharecroppers, leading to a decline in the movement
by March 1947.
• Despite government promises, the bill wasn’t
immediately passed. It was only in 1950 that the bill
was finally enacted into law.
147. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Arya Samaj split in 1893 over meat-eating vs
vegetarianism and Anglicised vs Sanskrit-based education.
The Mahatma group, led by Mahatma Hansraj, was vegetarian
and supported Sanskrit education, while the Cultured Party,
led by Swami Shraddhanand, was meat-eating and supported
Anglicised education. Caste and widow remarriage were
not major factors.
148. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• Sister Subbulakshmi was a social reformer and
educationist who played a key role in the development
of women’s education in India. She founded the Sharada
Sadan in Chennai, which was one of the first schools for
girls in India.
• Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain was a Bengali writer,
social reformer, and women’s rights activist. She is best
known for her utopian novel, “Sultana’s Dream”, which
imagines a world where women are equal to men. She
founded the Mahila Samiti, which was one of the first
organizations to promote women’s education in Bengal.
PYQ Workbook
• Keshub Chandra Sen was a Bengali social reformer and
religious leader. He founded several schools for girls,
and he worked to improve the status of women in
society.
• Ananda Coomaraswamy was an art historian,
philosopher, and critic. He was a strong advocate for
Indian culture and heritage, and he worked to promote
the study of Indian art and philosophy in the West. He did
not work specifically in the field of women’s education.
149. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Brahmo Samaj was a religious reform movement founded
by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828. The Brahmo Samaj
rejected the authority of the Vedas and emphasized the
worship of one God. It also opposed idolatry and emphasized
the worship of God without the mediation of priests.
150. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Theosophical Society was founded in New York City in
1875 by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott,
and William Quan Judge. The society’s stated goals include
the formation of a “nucleus of the universal brotherhood
of humanity.” The society has also published numerous
works on the subject of Universal Brotherhood, and it has
held numerous conferences and events on the topic.
Important Tips
Theosophical Society of India:
• Madame H. P. Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott founded
the Theosophical Society in New York in 1875.
• Theosophy gained prominence in the Indian
community and civilization in 1879.
• The Society relocated its headquarters to Adyar, near
Madras (Chennai), India, in 1882.
• Annie Besant played a crucial role in popularizing
Theosophy in India and became a valuable member.
• Theosophy was a philosophy that merged mysticism,
spiritualism, and metaphysics, drawing heavily from
Buddhist and Hindu thought.
• The Society aimed to foster unity and brotherhood
among its members.
151. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Radhakanta Deb founded the Hindu Dharma Sabha in
Calcutta in 1830. The main purpose of the organization
was to oppose the current social reform movements led by
prominent figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Henry
Derozio.
Important Tips
• Ram Mohan Roy was a social reformer and the founder
of Brahmo Samaj. He supported Western education
and culture and advocated for the abolition of sati and
other social evils
72
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Dwarkanath Tagore was a businessman and a
philanthropist. He was a close associate of Ram
Mohan Roy and supported his reformist ideas. He also
promoted Western education and trade in India
• Keshab Chandra Sen was a religious leader and a
social reformer. He was a member of Brahmo Samaj
and later founded his own sect called Naba Bidhan.
He advocated for women’s rights, education and social
service.
152. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Tattvabodhini Sabha was a religious organization
founded by Devendranath Tagore in 1839. The goal of the
Sabha was to promote a more rational and humanist form
of Hinduism based on the Upanishads. The Sabha published
a journal called Tattvabodhini Patrika, which was a major
forum for the discussion of religious and philosophical
issues.
153. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
The Revolt of 1857 began in Meerut on May 10, 1857, and
spread to other parts of the country, including Delhi, Agra,
and Kanpur. Ayodhya was not a center of the Revolt of 1857.
The city was under the control of the Nawab of Awadh,
who was a loyal ally of the British. The Nawab suppressed
any attempts at rebellion in Ayodhya, and the city remained
calm throughout the revolt.
154. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Azamgarh Proclamation refers
to the declaration by the rebels during the Indian Rebellion
of 1857 (also known as the Sepoy Mutiny or First War of
Independence).
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Azamgarh Proclamation is
not associated with the Quit India Movement of 1942 or any
underground movement during that time.
Important Tips
The Azamgarh Proclamation:
• The Azamgarh Proclamation was authored mostly
by Firoz Shah, the grandson of Mughal Emperor
Bahadur Shah II. The English translation of the
manifesto was published in the Central Delhi district
of Delhi, by the Delhi Gazette on September 29, 1857.
• The manifesto provides a detailed list of the different
grievances of different sections of the society against
the unjust colonial rule, and asserts the ability of the
Mughals to establish their suzerainty over India.
• In the proclamation, the rulers and chieftains are
advised to accept the throne of Delhi and stand up for
their subjects in times of crisis.
73
• The author reasons that, ‘both Hindoos and
Mohammedans are being ruined under the tyranny
and oppression of the infidel and treacherous
English’.
• By making them aware of the injustice done by
the English the manifesto appeals to landlords,
merchants, public servants, artisans, and people
of different religions to accept the Badshahi
Government and assures a better economic, social,
and cultural future after the defeat of the British.
• Finally, warnings are made that anyone who accepts
Colonial rule even after the circulation of this
ishtihar will have his property confiscated and
imprisoned with his family, and sentenced to death.
155. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement I is false: The Oudh Kisan Sabha did bring
under its wing several other Kisan Sabhas. For example,
the Azad Kisan Sabha of Gorakhpur, the Kisan Sabha of
Faizabad, and the Kisan Sabha of Bahraich were all affiliated
to the Oudh Kisan Sabha.
Statement II is true: The Oudh Kisan Sabha asked the Kisans
to refuse to till Bedakhli land, not to offer hari and begar.
Bedakhli land was land that had been taken away from
the Kisans by the landlords. Hari and begar were forms of
forced labor that the Kisans were forced to perform for the
landlords.
156. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was elected as the president
of the All India Kisan Sabha at its eighth session in
Vijayawada in 1944. He was a leading figure in the Indian
peasant movement, and he played a major role in organizing
and mobilizing the peasantry against the zamindari system.
Important Tips
All India Kisan Sabha:
• The All India Kisan Sabha was formed in 1936 at
Lucknow.
• All India Kisan Sabha is also known as ‘Akhil Bhartiya
Kisan Sabha.’
• Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was the head of the
Sabha.
• The secretary of this association was NG Ranga.
• The motives of the All India Kisan Sabha were:
• To abolish the Zamindari system,
• Provide free land to agricultural and other rural
laborers.
• To institutionalize credit.
• To raise the rural masses’ standard of living.
• To put an end to the exploitation of agricultural
and other rural laborers.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
157. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Phulaguri Dhawa, or Phulaguri Uprising, was a
peasant revolt that occurred in Assam, India, in 1861. It
was a direct response to the oppressive practices enforced
by the British colonial authorities as part of their opium
policy. The indigenous peasants, primarily from the Ahom
community, were forced to cultivate opium poppy plants
and meet specific quotas imposed by the British. The revolt
emerged as a resistance against this exploitation, with the
peasants refusing to comply and actively protesting against
forced labor and economic hardships. It was the Assam’s first
organized peasant movement.
Important Tips
• Birsaite Ulgulan [1899-1900]- The Birsaite Ulgulan
was a tribal uprising led by Birsa Munda in the late
19th century. It was primarily a movement against
the exploitation and oppression faced by the tribal
communities under British colonial rule.
• Pabna Revolt [1873]- The Pabna Revolt was an
agrarian uprising that occurred in Bengal in 1873. It
was mainly a protest against the harsh and exploitative
indigo plantation system imposed by the British.
• Maratha Peasant Uprising [1875]- The Maratha
Peasant Uprising, also known as the Deccan Riots,
took place in the late 19th century in the Deccan
region of India. It was a protest against the oppressive
revenue policies and land revenue collection practices
introduced by the British.
158. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect- The Singh Sabhas were a reformist
movement that began in the late 19th century. The SGPC
was not formed until 1920, and it was not the political wing
of the Singh Sabhas.
Statement 2 is correct- The SGPC was formed in 1920
as part of the upcoming Akali movement. The Akali
movement was a protest against the control of Sikh shrines
by the government-appointed mahants, who were often
corrupt and had little regard for Sikh religious practices.
Statement 3 is correct- The SGPC was founded to
reclaim control of the Sikh shrines from the government
manipulated loyalist committees. The loyalist committees
were appointed by the government to control the shrines, but
they were often corrupt and did not have the best interests
of the Sikh community at heart. The SGPC was formed to
replace these loyalist committees with a body that would be
accountable to the Sikh community.
Statement 4 is correct- The SGPC formed the Akali Dal to
coordinate groups (Jathas) to reclaim control of the shrines.
The Akali Dal was a political party that was formed to support
the goals of the SGPC. The Akali Dal played a key role in the
Akali movement, and it eventually succeeded in reclaiming
control of the Sikh shrines for the Sikh community.
PYQ Workbook
159. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct- The Arya Samaj was initially located
mainly in Punjab and Western Uttar Pradesh. The Arya
Samaj was a Hindu reform movement that was founded
in 1875 by Dayananda Saraswati. The Samaj was based
on the principles of the Vedas, and it sought to reform
Hinduism by removing practices that were considered to
be superstitious or harmful.
Statement 2 is correct- It was popular among the trading
castes, as the Samaj’s emphasis on education and social
reform appealed to these groups.
Statement 3 is incorrect- The Brahmo Samaj was a more
elite movement than the Arya Samaj, and it had a smaller
following. However, the Brahmo Samaj was more influential
in the intellectual circles of British India, and it played a
significant role in the development of modern Hinduism.
160. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Jyotirao Phule founded the
Satyashodhak Samaj (Society of Seekers of Truth) in 1873
in Maharashtra, India. The organization aimed to challenge
and eradicate social inequalities, particularly the caste
system prevalent in society at that time.
Statement 2 is correct: Jyotirao Phule challenged the
prevailing Brahminical dominance and the hierarchical
caste system in Indian society. He argued that Brahmins,
who held the highest social status in the caste system, were
not indigenous to India but were descendants of “alien”
Aryans who invaded the country.
Statement 3 is correct: In the later years of his activism,
Jyotirao Phule shifted his focus towards the Kunbi
peasantry, a farming community in Maharashtra. Phule
believed that the Kunbi community, traditionally considered
part of the lower castes, had a strong historical and cultural
connection to the Maratha empire and should be recognized
and uplifted.
161. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Ahmadullah Shah was also known
as Danka Shah or Nakkar Shah, because he used to carry
a drum (danka or nakkar) with him and beat it to gather
people for his speeches and rallies.
Statement 2 is correct: Ahmadullah Shah fought in the
Battle of Chinhat on June 30, 1857, in which the British
forces under Sir Henry Lawrence were defeated by the rebels
led by Nana Sahib, Bakht Khan and Ahmadullah Shah.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Ahmadullah Shah was not killed by
British troops, but by a local zamindar named Raja Jagannath
Singh of Powayan, who betrayed him and shot him when he
came to meet him on June 5, 1858.
74
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
162. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Sannyasi and Fakir uprisings
were a series of rebellions that took place in Bengal and
Bihar between 1767 and 1800, involving a group of Hindu
ascetics (Sannyasis) and Muslim mendicants (Fakirs) who
opposed the British rule and exploitation.
Statement 2 is correct: One of the reasons for the uprising
was the ban imposed by the British on the free movement
of the Sannyasis along their traditional pilgrimage routes
across Bengal and Bihar.
Statement 3 is correct: Warren Hastings was the Governor-
General of Bengal from 1772 to 1785, who faced several
challenges from the Sannyasi and Fakir rebels during his
tenure. In 1773, he issued a proclamation banishing all
Sannyasis from Bengal and Bihar, declaring them as outlaws
and enemies of the state.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Non-Cooperation Movement
was a mass civil disobedience campaign launched by
Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress
against the British rule in India in 1920-22. The Sannyasi
and Fakir uprisings took place much earlier, in the late
18th century, soon after the British acquired political power
in Bengal following their victory at the Battle of Buxar in
1764.
163. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Both the statements are individually true but Statement II
is not the correct explanation of Statement I.
Statement I is correct: Ram Mohan Roy, a prominent social
and religious reformer in 19th-century India, put forward
weighty arguments against belief in many Gods and
advocated for the worship of a single God. His work “Gift
to Monotheism” reflects his critique of polytheism and his
promotion of monotheistic ideas.
Statement II is correct: Ram Mohan Roy, in his work
“Precepts of Jesus,” aimed to separate the moral and
philosophical teachings of the New Testament from the
theological aspects of Christianity. He emphasized the
universal moral principles and ethical teachings of Jesus
while downplaying specific Christian doctrines.
While both statements describe different aspects of
Ram Mohan Roy’s works, there is no direct explanatory
relationship between the two statements.
164. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement I is true but Statement II is false
Statement I is correct: The Bethune School, founded in
Calcutta in 1849 by John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune, was
one of the earliest institutions established as a result of
the growing movement for women’s education in the 19th
century. It played a significant role in promoting education
for girls and women in India.
75
Statement II is incorrect: The first step in giving modern
education to girls in India was not undertaken by Vidyasagar
in 1800. Vidyasagar was born in 1820 and died in 1891, so he
could not have undertaken any step in 1800.
Important Tips
Ishwar Chandra Vidhyasagar:
• Among Vidyasagar’s social reform works are
‘Bidhobabivah’ on widows’ right to remarry (1855),
and ‘Bahubivah’ on the prohibition of polygamy
(1871), and Balyabivah on the flaws of child marriage.
• As a result of his tireless efforts, the then-Government
of India passed the Widow Remarriage Act in 1856.
• Vidyasagar began working as an ‘Assistant Secretary’ at
the Sanskrit College in 1846.
165. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement I is correct: The annexation of Awadh by Lord
Dalhousie in 1856 did have adverse effects on the financial
conditions of the sepoys. The annexation resulted in the
dissolution of the princely state of Awadh and the elimination
of the ruling Nawab’s authority. As a consequence, the sepoys,
who were predominantly recruited from Awadh, lost their
privileged positions and the economic benefits they received
from the Nawab’s court.
Statement II is correct: After the annexation, the British
implemented new land revenue policies in Awadh, which
included higher taxation. The sepoys, who were landowners
or had family members residing in Awadh, had to bear the
burden of increased land taxes. This financial burden further
worsened their economic conditions and added to their
grievances.
166. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mr AO Hume was not associated with the activities of the
Theosophical Society. Mr AO Hume was a British civil
servant and political reformer who founded the Indian
National Congress in 1885. He was influenced by the ideas
of Theosophy, but he was not a member of the Theosophical
Society.
167. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Azimullah Khan served as the Chief Advisor and Minister
of Nana Saheb. He played a key role in the negotiations that
terminated the Siege of Cawnpore (Kanpur) . Representing
Nana Sahib, Azimullah met with the British commander
of the garrison Major-General Sir Hugh Wheeler and
agreement was reached that the garrison and their families
would be evacuated and taken by boat to safety in Allahabad.
His powerful poetic expressions brought about an
atmosphere of closely integrated coexistence of Hindu and
Muslim communities. The patriotic song was composed by
revolutionary Azimullah Khan and published in a news daily
“ Payme Azadi” patronized by Nana Sahib. One original
copy of it has been preserved by British Museum, London.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
168. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Birsa Munda, known as ‘Dharti Aaba’ (Father of Earth),
revived traditional tribal culture and opposed British
Christian missionary activities. He preached against
religious conversions and taxes imposed by the Church.
Birsa became a healer, miracle-worker, and preacher,
gaining a significant following among the Mundas, Oraons,
and Kharias. His teachings emphasized the importance
of returning to their original tribal religious practices,
earning him the title ‘Dharti Aaba.’
Important Tips
Munda Ulgulan: Tribal Uprising
• Origin and Provocation:
• The rebellion emerged among the Munda tribe in
Chhota Nagpur, Jharkhand, triggered by British
colonialism, zamindars, and missionaries.
• Disruption of Traditional Land Ownership:
• The Munda’s Khuntkatti System, involving
collective land ownership, was undermined by
outsiders becoming landowners, forcing Mundas
into labor roles.
• Leadership of Birsa Munda:
• Birsa Munda emerged as a leader, championing
Munda rights, traditions, and independence.
The 1894 revolt aimed to establish a ‘Munda Raj,’
targeting police stations and government property.
• Influence and Outcomes:
• Though suppressed in 1900 with Birsa’s capture and
demise, the rebellion left a lasting impact on tribal
movements.
• The British enacted the Chotanagpur Tenancy Act
in 1908, safeguarding tribal land rights.
• “Khuntkatti” rights were recognized, and “Beth
begari” was prohibited, securing legal protection
for tribal land rights.
169. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mangal Pandey incident took place at Barrackpore. Mangal
Pandey, a sepoy of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry (BNI),
attacked two British officers in Barrackpore on March 29,
1857. He was overpowered and executed on April 8, 1857
while his regiment was disbanded in May. However, the
revolt of 1857 is formally supposed to be begun from Meerut
on May 10, 1857.
170. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Sharda Act is the commonly used name for the Child
Marriage Restraint Act, which was passed in 1929 by the
Imperial Legislative Council of India. The act fixed the age
of marriage for girls at 14 years and boys at 18 years. It
was a result of the social reform movement in India and was
PYQ Workbook
named after its sponsor Harbilas Sharda, a judge and Arya
Samaj member.
The act aimed to prevent child marriage, which was a
prevalent and harmful practice in Indian society. Child
marriage had adverse effects on the health, education, and
rights of girls and boys. The act made it illegal for anyone
to perform, conduct, or direct any child marriage and
prescribed penalties for those who violated it.
171. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
William Howard Russell was an Irish reporter with the
“Times” and is considered to have been one of the first
modern war correspondents. He was sent to India by The
Times to report on the conflict of 1857–1859 known as the
Indian Mutiny. He written in the newspaper “Times” that
after the 1857 revolt, nobody in the North India looks at
white man’s car with friendly view.
172. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
R.C. Majumdar and S.N. Sen conclude that the revolt of 1857
was “Not an organized ‘national’ revolt”. They consider
that Indian nationalism in the middle of the 19th century
was in the Embryonic stage. The wave of Nationalism
was emerged in 19th-century in British India as a reaction
against the consolidation of British rule and due to spread of
Western civilization.
173. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The founder of the Adi Brahma Samaj was Devendranath
Tagore. He was a social reformer and leader of the Brahmo
Samaj, a socio-religious movement that advocated for
monotheism and social reforms. He founded the Adi
Brahmo Samaj in 1866 as a separate organization from the
original Brahmo Samaj. He introduced some conservative
changes in the doctrine and practice of Brahmoism, such as
rejecting Christ as an incarnation of God, opposing inter-
caste and inter-religious marriages, and emphasizing the
authority of the Vedas.
174. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Fazil Mohammad Khan from Bhopal led the main
movement and sacrificed his life during the first struggle
for Independence in 1857. Adil Mohammed Khan and Fazil
Mohammed Khan, two brothers, became one of the chief
rebel leaders from Bhopal region during 1857 revolt. They
were in the service of the Bhopal state which was loyal to the
British, Adil Khan and his brother Fazil Khan took up arms
against the East India Company. They urged the sipahis of
the Bhopal regiment to join the uprising and throw out the
foreigners. Encouraged by his call, the native soldiers seized
the Sehore cantonment on 5th August 1857. Shortly after,
he attacked Garhi-Ambapani and Pathari and captured both
territories. In December, a military unit under Hugh Rose
76
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
was dispatched to deal with Khan’s forces, and by January
1858, they besieged the Rahatgarh fort, arrested and executed
Fazil Khan on 29 January 1858.
175. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Sister Nivedita was a disciple of Swami Vivekananda and a
social worker, author, and teacher. She wrote many letters
to her friend Miss MacLeod, expressing her hatred for British
rule. One such letter says “The British empire is rotten to the
core, corrupt in every direction, and tyrannical and mean.”
She was also known as ‘Lokmata’ (Mother of People) by
Rabindra Nath Tagore, ‘Real Lioness’ by Vivekananda, and
‘Agnishikha’ (the flame of fire) by Aurobindo Ghose.
176. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Ram Mohan Roy was adorned with the title of ‘Raja’ by
Mughal Emperor Akbar-II. Akbar II was the 19th Mughal
emperor who ruled from 1806 to 1837. He was the son of
Shah Alam II and the father of Bahadur Shah Zafar. He sent
Ram Mohan Roy as his ambassador to Britain in 1831 to
plead for his pension and restoration of his powers. He also
conferred him with the title of ‘Raja’ in recognition of his
services, contribution and talent.
177. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The first leader to organize the labor movement in India
was N.M. Lokhande. Narayan Meghaji Lokhande played
a significant role in improving the working conditions of
textile mill workers in the 19th century. He founded the
Bombay Mill Hands Association and later established the
Mumbai Kamgar Sangh. His efforts led to important labor
rights for workers, such as weekly holidays, designated work
hours, and timely salaries. He is widely recognized as the
Father of the Trade Union Movement in India.
178. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In India, the term First War of Independence was first
popularized by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in his 1909
book “The History of the War of Indian Independence”,
which was originally written in Marathi. He wrote about
the guerilla warfare tricks used in the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny.
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, insisted
on using the term First War of Independence to refer to
the event of 1857, and the terminology was adopted by the
Government of India.
179. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Saadat Khan was the leader of the revolution of 1857 in
Indore. He is revered for not only defeating the British but
also compelling them to flee their base within a few hours of
the encounter that took place on 01 July 1857. It was only
on 15 December, 1857 that the British forces managed to get
77
control of the region again. He managed to evade capture and
continued to wage further struggle till September 1874, when
he was finally captured and executed. Chandrasekhar Azad
and Ramprasad Bilsmil were associated with Hindustan
Republican Association (HRA) whereas Makhan Lal
Chaturvedi was an Indian poet, writer, essayist, playwright
and a journalist. All these three were born after 1857.
180. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Gopal Hari Deshmukh was a social reformer and writer
from Maharashtra, who wrote under the pen name
Lokahitwadi (meaning “one who speaks for the welfare of
the people”). He was a judge and a member of the Governor-
General’s Council in 1880. He advocated for self-reliance,
Western learning, humanitarianism, and social service as
the means to improve the condition of India. He also wrote
against the evils of casteism, superstition, and orthodoxy,
and supported the cause of women and education.
Important Tips
• Gopal Hari Deshmukh also known as “Lokahitawadi”,
was a writer and social reformer from Maharashtra. He
was born on 18 February 1823 and died on 9 October
1892.
• He began writing articles aimed at social reform in
Maharashtra at the age of 25, under the pen name
Lokhitawadi, for the weekly Prabhakar.
• In 1880, he was a member of the Governor General’s
Council and a judge.
• He was a strong supporter of women’s rights and a
proponent of female education.
181. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi was born in Porbandar, a coastal town
in Gujarat, on 2 October 1869. Gandhinagar, the capital
city of Gujarat, was named after Mahatma Gandhi, but it
was established in 1960, more than a decade after his death
Gandhinagar is about 400 km away from Porbandar.
Important Tips
• Dr. Annie Besant was a British socialist, theosophist,
women’s rights activist, and supporter of Indian self-
rule. She became a member of the Theosophical Society
in 1890 and its president in 1907. The Theosophical
Society was a religious movement that promoted the
study of ancient wisdom and the unity of all religions.
• The International headquarters of the Theosophical
Society is located in Adyar, Madras (now Chennai),
India. It was established there in 1882 by Helena
Blavatsky, one of the founders of the society, who
moved from New York to India. The headquarters
consists of a campus with various buildings, gardens,
libraries, and a temple.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Swami Dayanand Saraswati was an Indian philosopher,
social reformer, and founder of the Arya Samaj, a
Hindu reform movement that advocated the authority
of the Vedas and rejected idolatry, caste system, and
ritualism.
182. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a social and religious reformer
who opposed the practice of sati and worked tirelessly
to abolish it. He witnessed the death of his sister-in-law
through sati when he was a child and was deeply affected
by it. He wrote several articles and petitions against sati
and challenged the orthodox Brahmins who justified it on
religious grounds. He also formed an association of like-
minded people who helped him in his crusade against sati.
Important Tips
Other important facts:
• William Bentinck was the Governor-General of
India from 1828 to 1835. He passed the Bengal Sati
Regulation in 1829, which declared the practice of sati
or widow immolation as illegal and punishable by law.
• The Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act was passed in
1856 by the British Parliament, which allowed Hindu
widows to remarry legally and inherit their deceased
husbands’ property.
• Swami Dayanand Saraswati was a Hindu reformer
and revivalist who founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 in
Bombay.
183. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Along with the help of Tatya Tope and other rebel soldiers, the
Rani Laxmibai captured the fort of Gwalior. Afterwards,
she proceeded to Morar near Gwalior to confront a British
counterattack led by Hugh Rose. Rani Laxmibai died
while fighting in Gwalior on 18th June 1858, aged 23. She
was dressed as a soldier when she died. Hugh Rose led the
British forces against Rani Laxmi Bai and on her death said
that “here lay the woman who was the only man among the
rebels”. Hugh rose crushed the revolt in Jhansi and regions
around it.
184. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lotus and Chapatis (Bread) are considered as the symbol
of the revolt of 1857. Lotus is pure and is related to God.
Bread is the basic need of everyone. There are opinion of
some scholars that the slices of bread and lotus were passed
to different villages to carry forward some messages.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Chapati movement, 1857:
• In March 1857, Dr. Gilbert Hadow, an army surgeon
in the employ of East India Company, wrote the
following lines describing a strange movement afoot
in 1857, in a letter to his sister in Britain. “There is
a most mysterious affair going on throughout the
whole of India at present. No one seems to know the
meaning of it. It is not known where it originated, by
whom or for what purpose, whether it is supposed to
be connected to any religious ceremony or whether it
has to do with some secret society. The Indian papers
are full of surmises as to what it means. It is called the
chapati movement.”
• Thousands of unmarked chapatis were distributed
to homes and police outposts throughout India by
runners at night, and the people who accepted the
offerings would quietly make more batches and pass
them on.
• Extensive enquiries were conducted for understanding
the meaning of this bizarre distribution but nothing
concrete was found. As there was not a word written on
or sign made on the chapatis, the British were unable
to find grounds for stopping or arresting the chapati
runners who were quite often police chowkidars
themselves.
185. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Ganjam Revolt was a tribal
uprising that took place in the Ganjam district of Odisha in
1800-1805. The revolt was caused by the oppressive policies
of the British East India Company. The British had taken
over the administration of the Ganjam district and had
begun to impose heavy taxes on the people. The tribal people
of Ganjam were also being exploited by the zamindars. The
Ganjam Revolt was suppressed by the British in 1805.
Statement 2 is correct: The Ganjam Revolt was led by
Dhananjay Bhanja, the last king of Ghumsur. Dhananjay
resisted British annexation, inspiring tribal support. Despite
several attempts, British troops couldn’t capture him, and the
revolt continued even after his death in 1835.
Statement 3 is correct: The Revolt of Gumsur was initiated
by Shrikar Bhanja. He led the rebellion against British
authority in Ghumsur, assisted by tribal chiefs. The revolt
aimed to resist British attempts to annex the estate and
depose loyal village headmen. Dhananjay Bhanj, successor of
Shrikar Bhanja, later continued the resistance against British
rule.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Dhananjay Bhanj succeeded
his father, Strikara Bhanj, as the zamindar of Gumsur and
continued the resistance against the British.
78
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Uprisings in Ganjam and Gumsur (1800, 1835–37):
• The region of Ganjam witnessed significant uprisings
during the early 19th century. Strikara Bhanj, the
zamindar of Gumsur in Ganjam district, initiated
a rebellion in 1800 by refusing to pay revenues and
garnering support from fellow zamindars. This
uprising led the British authorities to allocate certain
districts under Strikara’s control.
• Rebellions in Ghumsur and Parlakhemndi arose due
to factors like alienation and irregular revenue
payment.
• In 1807-08, Dhananjay Bhanj succeeded his father,
Strikara Bhanj, and continued the resistance against
British rule. Despite his efforts, Dhananjay eventually
surrendered in 1815 due to mounting pressure.
• In 1830, burdened by unpaid arrears, Dhananjay
Bhanj once again rose against the British. British
forces responded by occupying Gumsur and Kolaida
in November 1835.
• The uprisings severely challenged the authority of the
British government in the region. Although Dhananjay
Bhanj passed away in December 1835, his followers
persisted in their resistance efforts.
• The struggle persisted until February 1837 when a
prominent leader named Doora Bisayi was arrested.
This marked a turning point, and the zamindari of
Gumsur was subsequently forfeited.
186. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Practical Vedanta was advocated by Vivekananda, a Hindu
monk and philosopher who propagated the teachings of
Vedanta and Yoga. Practical Vedanta refers to a modern
interpretation of Vedanta philosophy that emphasizes its
application in daily life and social service. It is based on
the idea that all beings are divine and that serving them is
the highest form of worship.
187. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• The Santhal rebellion took place before 1857 in around
1855.
• The popular movements that occurred after 1857 are:
• Indigo revolt (1859-1860)
• Deccan Agriculturists Riots (1875)
• Birsa Munda uprising (1899-1900)
79
Important Tips
• The Deccan Riots of 1875 were a peasant uprising
in Maharashtra, targeting oppressive debt peonage
imposed by moneylenders. Peasants attacked
moneylenders’ properties, burning debt bonds and
deeds. The riots arose due to deceitful practices,
high-interest rates, and exploitation by moneylenders
who profited from post-American Civil War cotton
demands. It reflected agrarian distress and interplay
between credit, commerce, and colonial policies.
188. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Vellore mutiny occurred during the regime of Sir
George Barlow. The mutiny took place on July 10, 1806,
and was a significant early instance of a large-scale revolt
by Indian sepoys against the British East India Company.
The mutineers seized the Vellore Fort and engaged in violent
conflict with British troops. The rebellion was subdued by
cavalry and artillery from Arcot.
189. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The composer of the song “Vande Mataram” is Bankim
Chandra Chatterjee. The song was written in the 1870s and
first appeared in Chatterjee’s Bengali novel “Anandmath”
in 1882. It became an integral part of India’s independence
movement and was adopted as the national song of India
in 1950 by the Constituent Assembly. The song is an ode
to the motherland and played a significant role in inspiring
patriotism during the struggle for independence.
190. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Ganga Narain Singh led the Bhumij Rebellion during
1832-1833 in the Dhalbhum and Jungle Mahal areas of the
Midnapore district, Bengal Presidency. The rebellion was in
response to British exploitation and policies, triggered by the
dispute over succession to the Barabhum Raj. Ganga Narain
formed the Sardar Gorilla Vahini Sena, gaining support from
various regions. His guerilla campaigns and strategic attacks
led to significant unrest and casualties among British forces.
The rebellion compelled the British to withdraw oppressive
laws and policies.
191. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The first tribal leader inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s
ideology was Haipou Jadonang. Jadonang, a Naga spiritual
leader and political activist from Manipur, established the
Heraka religious movement and sought to unite his people
against foreign imperialism. He admired Gandhi’s civil
disobedience movement and even attempted to meet him.
Jadonang’s leadership was marked by his efforts to preserve
Naga culture and fight against British colonial rule.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
• Alluri Sitarama Raju (1897/98–1924) was an Indian
revolutionary who led the Rampa Rebellion (1922-
1924) against British colonial rule. He fought for
tribal rights, opposing the 1882 Madras Forest Act.
Raju, known as “Manyam Veerudu,” orchestrated
guerilla campaigns in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. He
raided police stations, seeking weapons for his forces.
Captured and executed by the British, he remains a
symbol of resistance.
• Gaidinliu Pamei (1915–1993), known as Rani
Gaidinliu, was a Naga leader who led a revolt against
British rule. Joining the Heraka movement at 13, she
later fought to drive out the British from Manipur and
Naga areas. Arrested at 16, she was released in 1947
after Nehru’s intervention. She championed Naga
traditions and was honored with a Padma Bhushan.
192. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Santhal rebellion, also known as the Santhal Hool, was
a significant revolt against the British East India Company
PYQ Workbook
and the zamindari system in present-day Jharkhand and
West Bengal, India. It was led by the four sibling brothers -
Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav Murmu. The rebellion
aimed to resist the oppressive revenue system, usury
practices, and exploitation by local zamindars. It began
on June 30, 1855, and lasted until January 1856 when it was
suppressed by the British forces.
193. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Swami Dayanand observed that “Good government was
never a good substitute for self-government”. This quote
reflect his vision of a free and prosperous India, where the
people would govern themselves according to the principles
of Vedic dharma, without depending on any external
authority or power. He wanted to revive the ancient glory of
India, which he thought was lost due to centuries of foreign
invasions and domination. He also wanted to create a sense of
national unity and identity among the diverse communities
and regions of India, by emphasizing their common heritage
and culture.
80
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

EMERGENCE OF INDIAN NATIONALISM [1857-1919]
*This unit consists of questions from Emergence of Indian Nationalism from the 1st war of independence
in 1857 to various events till 1919.

3.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions 3. Surendranath Founder of the Indian
Banerjee Association
1. Consider the following freedom fighters:
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly
1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh matched?
2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee (a) 1 only
3. Rash Behari Bose (b) 1 and 3 only
Who of the above was/were actively associated (c) 2 and 3 only
with the Ghadar Party? (d) 1, 2 and 3
[UPSC CSE Pre 2022] 5. What was the main reason for the split in
(a) 1 and 2 the Indian National Congress at Surat in
(b) 2 only 1907? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2016]
(c) 1 and 3 (a) Introduction of communalism into
(d) 3 only Indian politics by Lord Minto.
2. Which one of the following is not a political (b) Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity
of the moderates to negotiate with the
method of the moderates in the National
British Government.
Movement? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2021]
(c) Foundation of Muslim League.
(a) Overthrow of alien rule (d) Aurobindo Ghosh’s inability to be elected
(b) Constitutional agitation as the President of the Indian National
(c) Slow, orderly political progress Congress.
(d) Mobilisation of public opinion
6. The ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’ were adopted
3. With reference to Swadeshi Movement as methods of struggle for the first time
consider the following statements: during the- [UPSC CSE Pre. 2016]
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2019] (a) agitation against the Partition of Bengal
1. It contributed to the revival of the (b) Home Rule Movement
indigenous artisan crafts and industries. (c) Non-Cooperation Movement
2. The National Council of Education (d) visit of the Simon Commission to India
was established as a part of Swadeshi 7. Who of the following was/were economic
Movement. critic/ critics of colonialism in India?
Which of the statements given above is/are [UPSC CSE Pre. 2015]
correct? 1. Dadabhai Naoroji
(a) 1 only 2. G. Subramania Iyer
(b) 2 only 3. R. C. Dutt
(c) Both 1 and 2 Select the correct answer using the code given
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 below.
4. Consider the following pairs: (a) 1 only
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2017] (b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
1. Radhakanta First President of (d) 1, 2 and 3
Deb the British Indian
8. Which one of the following movements has
Association
contributed to a split in the Indian National
2. Gazulu Founder of the Madras Congress resulting in the emergence of
Lakshminarasu Mahajana Sabha ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’?
Chetty [UPSC CSE Pre. 2015]

81 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

(a) Swadeshi Movement (c) removal of disqualifications imposed on

(b) Quit India Movement
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement
(d) Civil Disobedience Movement
9. Consider the following statements
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2015]
1. The first woman President of the Indian
National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.
2. The first Muslim President of the Indian
National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji.
Which of the statements given above is / are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
10. The Partition of Bengal made by Lord
Curzon in 1905 lasted until
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2014]
(a) the First World War when Indian troops
were needed by the British and the
partition was ended.
(b) King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at
the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911.
(c) Gandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience
Movement.
(d) the Partition of India in 1947 when East
Bengal became East Pakistan.
11. The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2014]
(a) revolutionary association of Indians with
headquarters at San Francisco.
(b) nationalist organization operating from
Singapore.
(c) militant organization with headquarters
at Berlin.
(d) communist movement for India’s freedom
with headquarters at Tashkent.
12. The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to
the [UPSC CSE Pre. 2013]
(a) imposition of certain restrictions to carry
arms by the Indians.
(b) imposition of restrictions on newspapers
and magazines published in Indian
languages.
the Indian magistrates with regard to the
trial of the Europeans.
(d) removal of a duty on imported cotton
cloth.
13. Consider the following statements:
The most effective contribution made by
Dadabhai Naoroji to the cause of Indian
National Movement was that he
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2012]
1. exposed the economic exploitation of
India by the British.
2. interpreted the ancient Indian texts and
restore the self-confidence of Indians.
3. stressed the need for eradication of all the
social evils before anything else.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
14. With reference to the period of colonial
rule in India, “Home Charges” formed
an important part of drain of wealth
from India. Which of the following funds
constituted “Home Charges’’ ?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2011]
1. Funds used to support the India office in
London.
2. Funds used to pay salaries and pensions
of British personnel engaged in India.
3. Funds used for waging wars outside India
by the British.
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
15. What was the purpose with which Sir
William Wedderburn and W.S. Caine had
set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee
in 1893? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2011]
(a) To agitate for Indian political reforms in
the House of Commons.
(b) To campaign for the entry of Indians into
the Imperial Judiciary.
(c) To facilitate a discussion on India’s
Independence in the British Parliament.
(d) To agitate for the entry of eminent Indians
into the British Parliament.

PYQ Workbook 82
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
16. What was the immediate cause for the
launch of the Swadeshi Movement?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2010]
(a) The partition of Bengal done by Lord
Curzon.
(b) A sentence of 18 months rigorous
imprisonment imposed on Lokmanya
Tilak.
(c) The arrest and deportation of Lala Lajpat
Rai and Ajit Singh; and passing of the
Punjab Colonization Bill.
(d) Death sentence pronounced on the
Chapekar brothers.
17. In the context of the Indian Freedom
Struggle, 16th October 1905 is well-known
for which one of the following reasons?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2009]
(a) The formal proclamation of Swadeshi
Movement was made in Calcutta town
hall.
(b) Partition of Bengal came into effect.
(c) Dadabhai Naoroji declared that the goal
of Indian National Congress was Swaraj.
(d) Lokmanya Tilak started Swadeshi
Movement in Poona.
18. Who was the Viceroy of India when the
Rowlatt Act was passed?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2008]
(a) Lord Irwin
(b) Lord Reading
(c) Lord Chelmsford
(d) Lord Wavell
19. The first conference of Indian National
Congress held at– [UPSC CSE Pre. 2008]
(a) Kolkata
(b) Lahore
(c) Mumbai
(d) Pune
20. Consider the following statements about
Madam Bhikaji Cama:
1. Madam Cama unfurled the National Flag
at the International Socialist Conference
in Paris in the year 1907.
2. Madam Cama served as private secretary
to Dadabhai Naoroji.
3. Madam Cama was born to Parsi.
83
Which of the statement (s) given above is/are
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2006]
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 3 only
21. What was Kamagatamaru?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2005]
(a) A political party based in Taiwan
(b) Peasant Communist leader of China
(c) A naval ship of Voyage to Canada
(d) A Chinese village where Mao Tse lung
began his long march.
22. Where were the Ghadar revolutionaries,
who became active during the outbreak of
World War I based? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2005]
(a) Central America
(b) North America
(c) West America
(d) South America
23. The name of the famous person of India
who returned the Knighthood conferred on
him by the British Government as a token
of protest against the atrocities in Punjab in
1919 was: [UPSC CSE Pre. 2004]
(a) Tej Bahadur Sapru
(b) Ashutosh Mukherjee
(c) Rabindra Nath Tagore
(d) Syed Ahmed Khan
24. With reference to the period of extremist
nationalist movement in India with its spirit
of Swadeshi, which one of the following
statements is NOT correct?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2002]
(a) Liyakat Hussain led the Muslim peasants
of Barisal in their agitations.
(b) In 1889, the scheme of national education
was formulated by Satish Chandra
Mukherjee.
(c) The Bengal National College was founded
in 1906 with Aurobindo as the Principle.
(d) Tagore preached the cult of Atmasakti,
the main plank of which was social and
economic regeneration of the villages.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

25. Which one of the following submitted in D. Kuka Movement 4. Aurobindo

1875 a petition to the House of Commons Ghosh
demanding India’s direct representation in Code: [UPSC CSE Pre. 2000]
the British Parliament? A B C D
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2002] (a) 1 3 4 2
(a) The Deccan Association (b) 1 3 2 4
(b) The Indian Association (c) 3 1 2 4
(c) The Madras Mahajan Sabha (d) 3 1 4 2
(d) The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha 30. While delivering the presidential address,
the Congress President who advocated the
26. The Hunter Committee was appointed after introduction of Roman script for the Hindi
the: [UPSC CSE Pre. 2001] language was: [UPSC CSE Pre. 2000]
(a) Blackhole incident (a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jalianwalla Bagh massacre (b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Uprising of 1857 (c) Abul Kalam Azad
(d) Partition of Bengal (d) Subhash Chandra Bose
27. Who among the following organized the 31. Which one of the following Indian leaders
famous Chittagong armoury raid? was dismissed by the British from the
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2001] Indian Civil Service?
(a) Laxmi Sehgal [UPSC CSE Pre. 1999]
(b) Surya Sen (a) Satyendranath Tagore
(c) Batukeshwar Datta (b) Surendranath Banerji
(d) J.M. Sengupta (c) R.C. Dutt
(d) Subhash Chandra Bose
28. Consider the following statements about
32. The first venture of Gandhi in all-India
the Indian National Congress: politics was the: [UPSC CSE Pre. 1999]
1. Sarojini Naidu was the first woman to be (a) Non-Cooperation Movement
the President of the Congress. (b) Rowlatt Satyagraha
2. C.R. Das was in prison when he functioned (c) Champaran Movement
as the President of the Congress. (d) Dandi March
3. The first Britisher to become the President 33. Which one of the following defines
of the Congress was Alan Octavian Hume. extremist ideology during the early phase
4. Alfred Webb was the President of the of Indian freedom movement?
Congress in 1894. [UPSC CSE Pre. 1998]
Which of these statements are correct? (a) Stimulating the production of indigenous
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2000] articles by giving them preference over
(a) 1 and 3 imported commodities.
(b) Obtaining Self-Government by
(b) 2 and 4
aggressive means in place of petitions and
(c) 2, 3 and 4 constitutional ways.
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (c) Providing national educational according
29. Match list-I with list-II and select the to the requirements of the country.
correct answer using the codes given below (d) Organizing coups against the British
the lists: empire through military revolt.
34. The Indian Muslims, in general, were
List-I List-II NOT attracted to the extremist movement
A. Chhittagaon 1. Kalpana Dutt because of the: [UPSC CSE Pre. 1998]
Armoury Raid (a) influence of Sir Sayyid Ahmed Khan
B. Abhinav Bharat 2. Guru Ram Singh (b) anti-Muslim attitude of extremist leaders
(c) the indifference is shown to Muslim
C. Anushilan Samiti 3. Vinayak aspirations
Damodar (d) extremist’s policy of harping on Hindu
Savarkar part

PYQ Workbook 84
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

35. Who was the leader of the Ghadar Party? 40. What was common among Madam Bhikaji
[UPSC CSE Pre. 1998] Cama, M. Barkahtulla, V.V.S Iyer and M.N.
(a) Bhagat Singh Roy? [UPSC CSE Pre. 1994]
(b) Lala Hardayal (a) All of them were leading members of the
(c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak International Communist Movement.
(d) V.D. Savarkar (b) M. Barkatulla was the Prime Minister and
the rest were ministers in the Provisional
36. Match list-I with list-II and select the Government of free India established by a
correct answer using the codes given below group of revolutionaries at Kabul.
the lists: (c) All of them were among the prominent
revolutionaries outside India operating
List-I List-II in different countries during the freedom
A. Abhinav Bharat 1. Sri Aurobindo movement.
Society Ghosh (d) All of them were accused in the case
relating to the throwing of a bomb on
B. Anushilan Samiti 2. Lala Hardayal
Lord Hardinge.
C. Gadar Party 3. C.R. Das
3.2. Other Examination Previous Years’
D. Swaraj Party 4. V.D. Savarkar Questions
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre. 1996]
A B C D 41. Consider the following events and arrange
them in chronological order:
(a) 4 1 3 2
1. The foundation of Gadar Party.
(b) 1 4 3 2
(c) 1 4 2 3 2. Chittagong Armoury Raid.
(d) 4 1 2 3 3. Set up of the ‘Indian Independence
Committee’ at Berlin.
37. The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crime 4. Central Assembly Bomb Case.
Act (1919) was popularly known as the: Select the correct answer from the codes
[UPSC CSE Pre. 1996] given below. [UPPCS (Pre) 2022]
(a) Rowlatt Act (a) 1, 3, 4 and 2
(b) Pitt’s India Act (b) 3, 1, 2 and 4
(c) Indian Arms Act (c) 3, 1, 4 and 2
(d) Ilbert Bill (d) 1, 3, 2 and 4
38. The Barrah dacoity was the first major 42. Who among the following was NOT
venture of the revolutionary terrorists of associated with the Kanpur Conspiracy
the freedom movement in: Case of 1924?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 1995] [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021]
(a) Bombay-Karnataka (a) Muzaffar Ahmed
(b) Punjab (b) Nalini Gupta
(c) East Bengal (c) Shaukat Usmani
(d) The Madras Presidency (d) M.A. Ansari
43. Who among the following Governor-
39. Which of the following international
Generals ridiculed Congress as representing
events influenced the course of the national only a ‘microscopic minority’ of people?
movement in India before the advent of
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
Mahatma Gandhi?
(a) Lord Dufferin
1. Italian-Abyssinian War, 1898 (b) Lord Curzon
2. Boxer Movement in China (c) Lord Minto
3. Revolutionary Movement in Ireland (d) Lord Lansdown
4. Victory of Japan in the Russo-Japanese 44. Who founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal
War in Calcutta in 1784?
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre. 1994] [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
(a) only 1, 2 and 3 (a) Jonathan Duncan
(b) only 1, 2 and 4 (b) William Jones
(c) only 3 and 4 (c) Warren Hastings
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (d) Charles Grant

85 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

45. Among the following who established All 52. The first President of Indian National
India Harijan Sevak Sangh? Congress was- [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
[UPPCS (Mains) 2017] (a) Dadabhai Naoroji
(a) B.G. Gokhale (b) Surendra Nath Bannerji
(b) M.K. Gandhi (c) Womesh Chandra Bannerjee
(c) B.R. Ambedkar (d) A. O. Hume
(d) None of the above 53. In which one of the following sessions,
46. Which of the following pairs is not correctly Congress declared its policy towards the
matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017] Indian States for the first time?
(a) Delhi Conspiracy Case - Amirchand [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
(b) Kakori Conspiracy Case - Ashfaqualla (a) Nagpur session
(c) Lahore Conspiracy Case - Jatin Das (b) Gaya session
(d) Nasik Conspiracy Case - Ras Bihari Bose (c) Calcutta session
(d) Lucknow session
47. Who amongst the following was one of
the founders of the Bombay Presidency 54. In which of the following sessions of Indian
Association in 1885? National Congress, Jawaharlal Nehru spoke
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016] of socialism as the key to the solution of
(a) Feroz Shah Mehta India’s problems?
(b) P. Anand Charlu [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]
(c) M. V. Raghav Cheriyar (a) Lahore
(d) S. N. Banerjee (b) Lucknow
(c) Allahabad
48. Which of the following sessions of the (d) Ramgarh
Indian National Congress was presided
over by C. Vijay Raghav Chariar? 55. Who among the following was Government
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016] advocate in Kakori Conspiracy Case?
(a) Lucknow Session (1916) [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]
(b) Nagpur Session (1920) (a) Mohan Lal Saxena
(c) Gaya Session (1922) (b) Jagat Narain Mulla
(d) None of the above (c) Krishna Bahadur
(d) Prabhat Chandra
49. Who among the following was the President
of Indian National Congress continuously 56. Who amongst the following was the first
for six years? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016] Chairman of the Ghadar Party?
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]
(b) Abul Kalam Azad (a) Lala Hardayal
(c) G. K. Gokhale (b) Sohan Singh Bhakna
(d) Dadabhai Naoroji (c) Pandit Kashi Ram
(d) Keshar Singh
50. Who of the following continuously from
1904 onwards emphasized on the grant of 57. Match list-I with list-II and select the
‘self-rule’ to India? correct answer using the codes given below
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016] the lists:
(a) S. N. Banerjee List-I List-II
(b) Aurobindo Ghosh (Organizations) (Founders)
(c) Firoz Shah Mehta
(d) Dadabhai Naoroji A. Land Holders’ 1. S.N. Banerji
Society
51. Who among the following was not an
B. British India 2. Anand Mohan Bose
extremist nationalist leader?
Society
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]
(a) Bipin Chandra Pal C. Indian Society 3. William Adams
(b) B.G. Tilak D. Indian 4. Dwarkanath Tagore
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai Association
(d) G.K. Gokhale Code: [UPPCS (Mains) 2014]

PYQ Workbook 86
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

A B C D Code: [UPPCS (Mains) 2014]

(a) 4 3 2 1 A B C D
(b) 4 2 3 1 (a) 1 2 3 4
(c) 3 2 4 1 (b) 2 3 1 4
(d) 4 1 2 3 (c) 4 2 3 1
58. Who of the following were elected to (d) 2 1 4 3
collaborate with Mahatma Gandhi who
62. Under whose chairmanship a committee
was to author the new Constitution of the
was formed to defend the accused in Kakori
Congress as per the resolution of Indian
National Congress at Amritsar Session, Case? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
1919? (a) Acharya Narendra Dev
1. B.G. Tilak (b) Govind Ballabh Pant
2. N.C. Kelkar (c) Chandrabhanu Gupta
(d) Motilal Nehru
3. C.R. Das
4. I.B. Sen 63. Who said, “criticism and independent
Select the correct answer from the code given thought are the two characteristics of a
below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014] revolutionary”?
(a) 2 and 4 [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]
(b) 1 and 2 (a) Bhagat Singh
(c) 3 and 4 (b) Ram Prasad Bismil
(d) 1 and 3 (c) Sachindranath Sanyal
59. The last session of Indian National Congress (d) Bhagwati Charan Vohra
attended by Bal Gangadhar Tilak was: 64. India House in London was established by:
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014] [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]
(a) Calcutta Session, 1906 (a) Shyamji Krishna Verma
(b) Surat Session, 1907 (b) Barkat Ullah
(c) Calcutta Session, 1917 (c) Virendranath Chattopadhyay
(d) Amritsar Session, 1919 (d) Lala Har Dayal
60. Who amongst the following revolutionaries 65. The Lieutenant Governor of Bengal at the
refused to drink the given milk on the eve of
time of Partition of Bengal was:
his execution and said “Now, I shall take my
mother’s milk only.”? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014] (a) Sir Andrew Fraser
(a) Rajguru (b) H.H. Risley
(b) Ashfaqualla (c) Brodrick
(c) Ramprasad Bismil (d) A.T. Arundel
(d) Bhagat Singh 66. The British journalist H.W. Nevinson was
61. Match list-I with list-II and select the associated with: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
correct answer using the codes given below (a) Non-Co-operation Movement
the lists: (b) Civil Disobedience Movement
(c) Swadeshi Movement
List-I List-II
(d) Quit India Movement
(Organizations) (Founders)
67. The task of drafting Congress Inquiry
A. Abhinava Bharat 1. V.D. Savarkar
Committee report on Jallianwala Bagh
B. Mitra Mela 2. G.D. Savarkar Massacre was entrusted to:
C. Indian Republican 3. S.N. Sanyal [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
Army (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Hindustan 4. S. Sen (b) Mahatma Gandhi
Republic (c) C.R. Das
Association (d) Fazlul Haq

87 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

68. Match list-I with list-II and select the List-I (President) List-II (Session of
correct answer using the codes given below Congress)
the lists:
A. Dr. M.A. Ansari 1. Haripura
List-I List-II B. Purushottam Das 2. Kanpur
(President) (Places, where Tandon
Meetings of Indian C. Sarojini Naidu 3. Madras
National Congress
was held) D. Subhash Chandra 4. Nasik
Bose
A. Abul Kalam Azad 1. Amritsar, 1919
Code: [UPPCS (Pre) 2012]
B. Sarojini Naidu 2. Bombay, 1934
A B C D
C. Motilal Nehru 3. Kanpur, 1925 (a) 1 2 4 3
D. Dr. Rajendra 4. Ramgarh, 1940 (b) 2 3 1 4
Prasad (c) 3 4 2 1
Code: [UP RO/ARO (Mains) 2014] (d) 4 1 3 2
A B C D 74. Mahatma Gandhi presided over only in one
(a) 1 3 2 4 session of the Indian National Congress in
(b) 2 4 3 1 1924. Where was the session held?
(c) 3 2 4 1 [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
(d) 4 3 1 2 (a) Gaya
69. Bhagat Singh’s memorial is situated at– (b) Amritsar
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] (c) Belgaon
(a) Ferozpur (d) Kanpur
(b) Amritsar 75. Who among the following started the ‘Mitra
(c) Ludhiana Mela’ union? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
(d) Gurdaspur (a) Shyamji Krishna Verma
70. When did Bal Gangadhar Tilak get the title (b) Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Lokmanya? [UPPCS (Mains) 2012] (c) Lala Hardayal
(a) Swadeshi movement (d) Sohan Singh Bhakana
(b) Revolutionary movement 76. Who among of the following led the
(c) Home Rule Movement agitation against the partition of Bengal
(d) Quit India Movement (1905)? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
71. Aurobindo Ghosh was brilliantly defended (a) Surendranath Bannerjee
in the Alipore Conspiracy Case by– (b) C.R. Das
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012] (c) Ashutosh Mukherjee
(a) Chittaranjan Das (d) Rabindranath Tagore
(b) W.C. Banerjee 77. Who was the first to suggest the boycott of
(c) Motilal Nehru British goods in Bengal?
(d) Tej Bahadur Sapru [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
72. A provisional Government of India with (a) Aurobindo Ghosh
Raja Mahendra Pratap as its President was (b) Krishna Kumar Mitra
established during the first World War in? (c) Motilal Ghosh
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012] (d) Satish Chandra Mukherjee
(a) Afghanistan 78. Who among the following led the Swadeshi
(b) Germany Movement at Delhi?
(c) Singapore [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
(d) Turkey (a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
73. Match list-I with list-II and select the (b) Ajit Singh
correct answer using the codes given below (c) Lajpat Rai
the lists: (d) Syed Haidar Raja

PYQ Workbook 88
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

79. Who among the following leaders was a (a) East India Association
supporter of ‘Swadeshi’? (b) London India Society
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009] (c) Indian Association
(a) Aurobindo Ghosh (d) Indian National Conference
(b) Feroz Shah Mehta 87. Who among the following transformed the
(c) Dadabhai Naoroji traditional Ganapati festival of Maharashtra
(d) Subhash Chandra Bose into a national festival and gave it a political
80. Yugantar Party was led by– character? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009] (a) Ramdas
(b) Shivaji
(a) Jatindranath Mukherjee
(c) Mahadev Govind Ranade
(b) Sachindranath Sanyal (d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(c) Rasbehari Bose
(d) Subhash Chandra Bose 88. The Indian Home Rule Society in London
was started by– [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
81. Who among the following was never elected
(a) Annie Besant
as a President of the ‘Indian National
(b) B.G. Tilak
Congress’? (c) M.K. Gandhi
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008] (d) Shyamji Krishna Verma
(a) Lala Lajpat Rai
(b) Annie Besant 89. Who among the following had founded the
(c) Moti Lal Nehru ‘Indian Society of Oriental Art’ to revive
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak ancient art traditions of India?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
82. The Haripura Session of Indian National (a) Abanindranath Tagore
Congress, 1938 was presided over by: (b) Nand Lal Bose
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008] (c) Asit Kumar Haldar
(a) Abul Kalam Azad (d) Amrita Shergill
(b) J.B. Kripalani
90. Who resigned from the membership of
(c) Rajendra Pradesh
Viceroy’s Executive Council as a protest
(d) Subhash Chandra Bose against Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?
83. Who founded the ‘Anushilan Samiti’? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2008] (a) Mahatma Gandhi
(a) P. Mitra (b) Rabindranath Tagore
(b) Varindra Ghosh (c) Shankaran Nair
(c) V.D. Savarkar (d) Jamnalal Bajaj
(d) Narendra Gosain 91. Match list-I with list-II and select the
84. Who had established “India Independence correct answer using the codes given below
League”? [U.P. P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2008] the lists:
(a) Motilal Nehru
(b) Mahatma Gandhi List-I List-II
(c) Rashbihari Bose (Organizations) (Founders)
(d) Lala Lajpat Roy A. British Indian 1. Gopal Krishna
85. Who suggested launching a no tax Association Gokhale
campaign as a protest against the Rowlatt B. Bombay 2. K.T. Telang
Act? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008] Presidency
(a) Abul Kalam Azad Association
(b) Gandhiji C. Central 3. Radha Kant Dev
(c) Rabindranath Tagore Mohammadan
(d) Swami Shraddhanand National
86. Name the organization formed by Association
Surendranath Banerjee which merged with D. Servants of India 4. Sayyid Amir Ali
the Indian National Congress in 1886: Society
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007] Code: [UPPCS (Mains) 2006]

89 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

A B C D (a) Rajguru and Sukhdev

(a) 1 2 4 3 (b) Khudiram Bose and Surya Sen
(b) 3 2 4 1 (c) Madan Lal Dhingra and Udham Singh
(c) 3 1 2 4 (d) Kartar Singh Sarabha and Ashfaqullah
(d) 4 3 2 1 Khan
92. Who among the following was not the 97. Seeds of discard were in which event during
member of the Hindustan Republican National Movement, and which eventually
Association (HRA)? divided the country, was–
[U.P.P.C.S (Mains) 2006] [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004]
(a) Bhagat Singh (a) Establishment of Muslim League in 1906.
(b) Chandra Shekhar Azad (b) Division of Bengal in 1905.
(c) Ram Prasad Bismil (c) Khilafat Movement Supported by
Gandhiji.
(d) Shiv Verma
(d) Reservation of seats and separate
93. In which of the following Sessions of the electorates for Muslims in legislative
Indian National Congress Bal Gangadhar assemblies.
Tilak had expressed “Swaraj is my 98. Who is regarded as the “Mother of Indian
birthright; I shall have it”? Revolution”? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004] (a) Annie Besant
(a) Banaras Session, 1905 (b) Sarojini Naidu
(b) Calcutta Session, 1906 (c) Rama Bai
(c) Surat Session, 1907 (d) Bhikaji Rustam Cama
(d) Lucknow Session, 1916
99. “Daro-deewar pe hasrat ki nazar karte hain,
94. Given below is a list of persons who became khush raho ahle-vatan ham to safar karte
Presidents of Indian National Congress. hain.’’ was said by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
Arrange them in chronological order. (a) Ashfaqullah Khan
1. Mahatma Gandhi (b) Bahadur Shah Zafar
2. Jawaharlal Nehru (c) Ramprasad Bismil
3. Vallabh Bhai Patel (d) Wazid Ali Shah
4. Smt. Sarojini Naidu 100. During the Indian freedom struggle, a large
Select your answer using the code given in unarmed crowd gathered in the Jallianwala
the list. Bagh at Amritsar on April 13, 1919 to
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004] protest against the arrest of:
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 2 (a) Swami Shraddhanand and Mazharul Haq
(c) 1, 4, 2 and 3 (b) Madan Mohan Malviya and Mohammad
(d) 4, 3, 1 and 2 Ali Jinnah
(c) Mahatma Gandhi and Abul Kalam Azad
95. Given below is a list of organizations. Select (d) Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlu and Dr. Satyapal
those engaged in revolutionary activities,
using the codes given below the lists: 101. “The Congress is faltering to its fall and
one of my great ambitions while in India
1. Abhinav Bharat
is to assist it to a peaceful demise.” This
2. Anushilan Samiti declaration was made by:
3. New Nationalist Party [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
4. Indian Patriot Association (a) George Hamilton
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004] (b) Lord Curzon
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (c) Lord Dufferin
(b) 1 and 2 (d) Lord Minto
(c) 2, 3 and 4
102. Which of the following occurred last?
(d) 1, 2 and 4
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]
96. Which of the following pair got sentence to (a) Annexation Policy
be hanged for assassination of the British (b) Partition of Bengal
officers in England? (c) Permanent Settlement
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004] (d) Subsidiary Alliance

PYQ Workbook 90
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

103. Which one of the following events was (c) Valentine Chirol
characterized by Montague as ‘Preventive (d) Henry Cotton
Murder’? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]
111. Who among the following threw a bomb in
(a) Killing of INA activities
(b) Massacre of Jallianwala Bagh the Central Legislative Assembly on April 8,
(c) Shooting of the Mahatma 1929, to make the deaf British Government
(d) Shooting of Curzon-Wythe hear?
1. Bhagat Singh
104. Who among the following was not present at
the founding session of the Indian National 2. Sukhdev
Congress? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997] 3. Rajguru
(a) Dadabhai Naoroji 4. Batukeshwar Datta
(b) G. Subramaniya Iyer Select the answer from the code given below:
(c) Justice Ranade [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]
(d) Surendranath Bannerjee
(a) 1 and 2
105. Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (b) 2 and 3
was formed by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996] (c) 1 and 3
(a) Subhash Chandra Bose (d) 1 and 4
(b) Ras Bihari Bose
(c) Chandra Shekhar Azad 112. Who among the following were the critics
(d) Sardar Bhagat Singh of the Swadeshi movement and pleaded for
a better understanding between the East
106. On what charge was Jatin Das arrested: and the West?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]
(a) Meerut Conspiracy
(b) Peshawar Conspiracy (a) W.C. Banerjee
(c) Lahore Conspiracy (b) S.N. Bannerjee
(d) Chittagong Armed Dacoity (c) R.N. Tagore
(d) B. G. Tilak
107. Who from the following killed Michael O’
Dwyer responsible for Jallianwala Bagh 113. Which of the following pairs do NOT
massacre? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994] match?
(a) Prithvi Singh Azad 1. British India Society - London
(b) Sardar Kishan Singh 2. East India Association - Calcutta
(c) Udham Singh 3. National India Association - London
(d) Sohan Singh Josh
4. Indian Association - Bombay
108. Who launched the first Home Rule League Find your answer with the help of given code:
Movement? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]
(a) Annie Besant
(b) Sarojini Naidu (a) 1 and 2
(c) Surendranath Banerjee (b) 3 and 4
(d) Tilak (c) 1 and 3
(d) 2 and 4
109. Who was the Viceroy of India at the time of
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919? 114. Match list-I with list-II and select the
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990] correct answer using the codes given below
(a) Lord Chelmsford the lists:
(b) Lord Minto
List-I List-II
(c) Lord Dalhousie
(d) Lord Canning A. Indian League 1. Shishir Kumar
Ghosh
110. Who called Bal Gangadhar Tilak the ‘Father
of Indian Unrest’? B. Indian Association 2. Anand Mohan
Bose
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]
(a) Lord Curzon C. India National 3. Syyad Ahmad
(b) Vincent Smith Liberal Federation Khan

91 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

D. United Indian 4. Surendranath 120. Who established Indian Association in 1876

Patriotic Bannerjee AD? [67th BPSC (Pre) 2022]
Association (a) Surendranath Banerjee
(b) Chittaranjan Das
Code: [UP Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008] (c) W.C. Banerjee
A B C D (d) Aurobindo Ghosh
(a) 1 3 4 2 (e) None of the above/More than one of the
(b) 2 1 4 3 above
(c) 3 2 4 1 121. In which place Khudiram Bose tried to kill
(d) 1 2 4 3 Kingsford?
115. Who was the leader of the Swadeshi [67th BPSC (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2022]
Movement in Madras? (a) Patna
(b) Darbhanga
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008] (c) Muzaffarpur
(a) Srinivas Shastri (d) Gaya
(b) Rajagopalachari (e) None of the above/More than one of the
(c) Chidambaram Pillai above
(d) Chintamani 122. Who has said about Bengal Partition, “The
116. Name the first recorded Muslim who was partition announcement fell like a bomb
hanged for Indian freedom- shell”?
[67th BPSC (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2022]
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
(a) Surendra Nath Bannerjee
(a) Mohammad Ali (b) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(b) Shaukat Ali (c) Bipin Chandra Pal
(c) Ashfaq Ullah Khan (d) Chittaranjan Das
(d) Azizuddin (e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
117. Select the correct sequence of the following
events by using the codes given below: 123. Which of the following was NOT objective
1. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of the Indian National Congress as pointed
out by W.C. Banerjee in 1885?
2. Dr. Satyapal’s incarceration [66th B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020]
3. Amritsar Congress Session, 1919 (a) To promote contact and friendship
Select the answer from the code given below: among the protectors of the interests of
Code: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2003] the country.
(a) 2, 1, 3 (b) To promote the feeling of nationalism
among fellow countrymen by removing
(b) 1, 2, 3 the feeling of casteism, communalism
(c) 2, 3, 1 and regional biases.
(d) 3, 2, 1 (c) To express the viewpoint on the necessary
118. Who accused Indian National Congress of social issues with due consent of the
educated class.
practising ‘politics of prayer, petition and
(d) To determine on which direction and on
protest’? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) which basis the work has to be done in
2002] the coming years for the Indian public
(a) Lala Hardayal interest.
(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak (e) None of the above/More than one of the
(c) Subhash Chandra Bose above.
(d) Sardar Bhagat Singh 124. Who was the Second Muslim President in
119. Partition of Bengal was done mainly for: the Indian National Congress?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998] [66th B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020]
(a) Abul Kalam Azad
(a) To divide the Hindu and Muslims (b) Zakir Hussain
(b) For administrative convenience (c) Rahimtulla Mahomed Sayani
(c) To weaken the growth of Nationalism in (d) Badruddin Tyabji
Bengal (e) None of the above/More than one of the
(d) For the development of Bengal above

PYQ Workbook 92
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

125. Who is the author of the popular song, 131. Which movement started after the Partition
Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil of Bengal?[59th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]
Mein Hai? [66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020] (a) Civil Disobedience
(a) Surya Sen (b) Swadeshi Movement
(b) Chandra Shekhar Azad (c) Quit India Movement
(c) Sardar Bhagat Singh (d) Non-Cooperation Movement
(d) Ram Prasad Bismil 132. The protest method of moderate leaders of
(e) None of the above/More than one of the the Congress was:
above [48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]
126. Who founded Abhinav bharat society in (a) Non-Co-operation
1906 in London? (b) Constitutional agitation
[66th B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020] (c) Passive resistance
(a) Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (d) Civil disobedience
(b) Shyamji Krishna Varma 133. Who said that “Congress Movement was
(c) Sohan Singh neither inspired by the people, nor devised
(d) P.N. Bapat or planned by them”?
(e) None of the above/More than one of the [47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]
above (a) Lord Dufferin
127. Which revolutionaries were hanged in the (b) Sir Syed Ahmed
‘Kakori Train Robbery Case’? (c) Lord Curzon
[65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019] (d) Lala Lajpat Rai
(a) Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqualla 134. Who propounded the doctrine of ‘Passive
(b) Veer Savarkar and Vasudev Chapekar Resistance’? [47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]
(c) Prafulla Chandra Chaki and Khudiram (a) Mahatma Gandhi
Bose (b) Bipin Chandra Pal
(d) Surya Sen and Udham Singh (c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(e) None of the above/More than one of the (d) Aurobindo Ghosh
above 135. The second session of the Indian National
128. The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre happened in Congress was presided over by-
the context of which Gandhian Satyagraha? [45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001]
[B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2018] (a) Ganesh Agarkar
(a) Swadeshi Satyagraha (b) Surendranath Bannerjee
(b) Rowlatt Satyagraha (c) Dadabhai Naoroji
(c) Bardoli Satyagraha (d) Feroz Shah Mehta
(d) Individual Satyagraha 136. Which one of the following leaders belonged
(e) None of the above/More than one of the to the Extremist wing of the Congress?
above [45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001]
129. Who established a branch of Anushilan (a) Aurobindo Ghosh
Samiti at Patna in 1913? (b) Dadabhai Naoroji
[63rd B.P.S.C (Pre.) 2017] (c) G.K. Gokhale
(a) Rewati Nag (d) S.N. Bannerjee
(b) Yadunath Sarkar 137. Who gave the ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ slogan?
(c) Sachindra Nath Sanyal [45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001]
(d) Mazharul Haque (a) Iqbal
(e) None of the above/More than one of the (b) M.K. Gandhi
above (c) Bhagat Singh
130. Who was the President of Gaya Session of (d) S.C. Bose
the Indian National Congress held in 1922? 138. The founder of the Indian National
[56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015] Congress was a: [43rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1999]
(a) Chittaranjan Das (a) Civil Servant
(b) S.N. Banerjee (b) Scientist
(c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (c) Social Worker
(d) Hakim Ajmal Khan (d) Commander

93 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
139. Most of the moderate leader hailed from:
[43rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1999]
(a) Rural areas
(b) Urban areas
(c) Both rural and urban area
(d) Punjab
140. Name the Viceroy of India concerned with
Bengal partition–[42nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]
(a) Lord Hardinge
(b) Lord Curzon
(c) Lord Lytton
(d) Lord Minto
141. Home Rule Movement was symbol of
starting a new phase of freedom movement
in India because:[41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]
(a) It put a perfect project for the self-
Government before the nation
(b) Leadership of the movement came in the
hands of Gandhiji
(c) Hindus and Muslims started to struggle
jointly
(d) It established co-ordination between
extremists and moderates
142. Indian National Congress opposed the
Rowlatt Act because it aimed-
[41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]
(a) To limit the individual liberty
(b) To ban on Indian National Congress
(c) To enlarge the communal delegations
(d) To imprison national leaders charging the
traitors to the nation
143. Which of the following classes was mainly
unaffected by the Swadeshi Movement of
1905?
(i) Women
(ii) Farmers
(iii) Muslim
(iv) Intellectuals
Select your answer to the following codes–
[40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]
(a) i and ii
(b) i, ii and iii
(c) ii and iii
(d) i and ii
144. Who among the following did not contribute
to Home Rule League?
[40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Annie Besant
(c) S. Subrahmanyam Ayer
(d) T.S. Alcott
PYQ Workbook
145. What was the cause of the outbreak of
Ghadar Revolution?
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
(a) Arresting of Lala Hardyal
(b) Komagata Maru incident
(c) Beginning of first World War
(d) Hanging of Kartar Singh Sarabha
146. Who called the Congress Conference as
the ‘Annual National Festival of Educated
Indians’? [MPPCS (Pre) 2021]
(a) Lala Lajpat Rai
(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(d) Vipin Chandra Pal
147. An important event of Lord Dufferin’s
tenure as Viceroy was-
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
(a) Establishment of Ramakrishna Mission
(b) Establishment of Muslim league in Dhaka
(c) Establishment of Indian National
Congress
(d) Beginning of the First Census
148. Who among the following was the youngest
person to become the President of the
Indian National Congress?
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Abul Kalam Azad
(c) Ananda Mohan Bose
(d) Bhupendra Nath Bose
149. Consider the following statements and
select the correct answer from the codes
given below:
1. Subhash Chandra Bose formed the
Forward Block
2. Bhagat Singh was one of the founders
of Hindustan Socialist Republican
Association,
Code: [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]
(a) Only 1 is correct
(b) Only 2 is correct
(c) Both 1 and 2 are correct
(d) None of these
150. Which implication was taken in Lucknow
session of Congress in 1916?
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]
(a) Separate electorate demand of Muslim
League was accepted.
(b) Temporary merger of Muslim League and
Congress occurred
(c) A Muslim person was elected as President
of Congress
(d) None of the above
94
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

151. Which of the following revolutionaries was [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2013]
not hanged for Lahore Conspiracy? (a) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990] (b) Only (iii) and (iv)
(a) Batukeshwar Dutt (c) Only (i), (iii) and (iv)
(b) Sukhdev (d) Only (i) and (iv)
(c) Sardar Bhagat Singh 155. Who among the following became President
(d) Rajguru of Indian National Congress?
152. Match list-I with list-II and choose the [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2012]
correct answer from the code given below– (a) Sucheta Kriplani
(b) Aruna Asaf Ali
List-I (c) Annie Besant
A. Howrah Conspiracy case (d) Vijay Lakshmi Pandit
B. Lahore Conspiracy case 156. In 1889, a committee was set up in Britain
C. Delhi Conspiracy case to gain support for the Congress, who
D. Alipore Conspiracy case amongst the following was its President–
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1996]
List-II
(a) Sir W. Wadderburn
(i) Master Ami Chand (Amir Chand) (b) Mr. Digby
(ii) Arvindo Ghosh (c) Dadabhai Naoroji
(iii) Jatindranath Mukherjee (d) W.C. Banerjee
(iv) Rajguru 157. The following programmes were launched
Code: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre.) 2021] by the nationalist against the partition of
Bengal:
(a) A-(iv), B-(iii), C-(ii), D-(i)
(b) A-(i), B-(ii), C-(iii), D-(iv) 1. Boycott
(c) A-(iii), B-(iv), C-(i), D-(ii) 2. Swadeshi
(d) A-(ii), B-(iii), C-(iv), D-(i) 3. Non-cooperation
4. National education
153. Which of the following statements is/are
Select the correct answer using the codes
true? given below:
I. After the Nagpur Session (1920) of Congress, [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
the Provincial Congress Committees were (a) 1, 2 and 3
constituted on linguistic basis. (b) 2, 3 and 4
II. In 1948, Congress rejected the demand of (c) 1, 3 and 4
formation of provinces on linguistic basis. (d) 1, 2 and 4
Select the correct answer from the code (e) None of these
below: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2018] 158. Match list-I with list-II and select the
(a) Only I correct answer using the codes given below
(b) Only II the lists:
(c) Neither I nor II List-I List-II
(d) Both I & II
A. Jatin Das 1. During life
154. Which amongst the following statements is/ imprisonment
are true about V.D. Savarkar?
B. Chandrashekhar 2. Hunger strike
(i) He founded Abhinav Bharat - A Azad
revolutionary organization.
C. Bhagat Singh 3. During encounter
(ii) In order to inspire Indian nationalist, he
wrote the biography of Mazzini. D. Kalpana Datt 4. Hanged
Code: [Chhattisgarh PCS (Pre) 2013]
(iii) He also authored “The Indian War of
Independence - 1857” which provides a A B C D
nationalist view of the revolt of 1857. (a) 3 2 4 1
(b) 2 3 4 1
(iv) He jumped into the sea from the sailing (c) 2 3 1 4
ship in order to escape British captivity. (d) 3 4 1 2
Choose the correct answer: (e) 1 2 4 3

95 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
159. Who among the following was not associated
with the Kakori incident?
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
(a) Ram Prasad Bismil
(b) Surya Sen
(c) Rajendra Lahiri
(d) Ashfaq Ullah
160. Muzaffar Ahmad, S.A. Dange, Shaukat
Usmani and Nalini Gupta were jailed for
which conspiracy?
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]
(a) Kakori train heist
(b) Chattagaon Armoury raid
(c) Meerut conspiracy case
(d) Kanpur Bolshevik conspiracy case
161. The first Political Organization established
in India in 1838 was known as-
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
(a) British India Society
(b) Bengal British India Society
(c) Settlers Association
(d) Zamindari Association
President of Indian National Congress
at the time of Independence was?
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
(e) Mahatma Gandhi
(f ) Jawaharlal Nehru
(g) J.B. Kripalani
(h) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
162. Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were
sentenced to death in–
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
(a) Alipur conspiracy case
(b) Lahore conspiracy case
(c) Kakori conspiracy case
(d) Kanpur conspiracy case
163. When was Bengal reunited due to the
protests by Indians?
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
(a) 1905
(b) 1911
(c) 1947
(d) 1971
164. Vande Mataram became the theme song of
the Indian National Movement during–
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
(a) Swadeshi Movement
(b) Champaran Movement
(c) Anti-movement of Rowlatt Act
(d) Non-cooperation movement
PYQ Workbook
165. Who among the following suggested the
winding up of the Indian National Congress
after India attained independence?
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
(a) C. Rajagopalachari
(b) Acharya Kripalni
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Jayaprakash Narain
166. Consider the following Statements:
1. The First Session of the Indian National
Congress was held in Calcutta.
2. The Second Session of the Indian
National Congress was held under the
presidentship of Dadabhai Naoroji.
3. Both Indian National Congress and
Muslim League held their sessions at
Lucknow in 1916 and concluded the
Lucknow Pact.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only
167. Arrange the following organization on the
basis of their correct order:
1. Bombay Association
2. Madras Mahajan Sabha
3. Indian Association
4. Indian League
Code: [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4
(b) 2, 3, 1, 4
(c) 3, 4, 2, 1
(d) 1, 4, 3, 2
168. Activities of Barindra Ghosh had given
birth of secret revolutionary organization
named as- [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
(a) Anushilan Samiti
(b) Swadeshi Bandhawa Samiti
(c) Brati Samiti
(d) Sadhawa Samaj
169. Which of the following are true in the
context of Swadeshi movement in 1905?
1. Massive demonstrations were held in
Bengal.
2. Hartal was observed in Calcutta.
3. The movement was initiated by the
moderates but was taken over by the
revolutionary nationalists at a later stage.
Select the correct answer using the code given
below: [CAPF 2019]
96
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

(a) 1, 2 and 3 3. It advocated a constructive programme of

(b) 1 and 2 self help or ‘atmashakti”.
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3 4. In the sphere of education, national
schools were established.
170. Which among the following statements
about the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is/ are Select the correct answer using the code
correct? givenbelow. [CAPF 2016]
1. In Jallianwala Bagh troops opened fire (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
upon an unarmed crowd.
(b) 1 and 4 only
2. The troops were under the command of
General Dyer. (c) 2, 3 and 4 only
3. The troops did not issue any warning to (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
the people before opening fire.
173. Which of the following statements about the
Select the correct answer using the code given
below: [CAPF 2019] founding of the Indian National Congress
(a) Only 1 (INC) is/are correct?
(b) 1 and 2 1. The INC was formed in Bombay in 1885.
(c) 1, 2 and 3
2. The first President of the INC was WC
(d) 2 and 3
Bannerjee.
171. Examine these two statements carefully and
select the correct answer using the code Select the correct answer using the code given
given below. below. [CAPF 2016]
Statement I: Dadabhai Naoroji argued that (a) Only 1
what was being drained out was ‘potential (b) Only 2
surplus’ that could generate more economic
(c) Both 1 and 2
development in India if invested in India.
Statement II: Imperialists believed that (d) Neither 1 nor 2
India was brought into the large capitalist 174. Which of the following statements about
world market and that was in itself a progress
the Champaran Satyagraha is/are correct?
towards modernisation.
Code: [CAPF 2017] 1. The Champaran region had a long
(a) Both the statements are individually true tradition of anti-planter discontent and
and statement II is the correct explanation agitation.
of statement I.
2. Mahatma Gandhi gave all India publicity
(b) Both the statements are individually
true, but statement II is not the correct to the grievances of Champaran
explanation of statement I. cultivators.
(c) Statement I is true, but statement II is 3. The cultivators of Champaran had
false.
(d) Statement I is false, but statements II is protested against excessive taxation on
true. sugar.
172. Which of the following statements about Select the correct answer using the code given
the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal in 1905 below. [CAPF 2016]
are correct?
(a) 1 only
1. It was marked by the mass mobilisation
through the organisation of ‘Samitis’. (b) 1 and 2 only
2. It was marked by the mass mobilisation (c) 2 and 3 only
through labour strikes. (d) 1, 2 and 3

97 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
175. Which one of the following was NOT the
feature of the Home Rule Movement in
India? [CAPF 2015]
(a) Boycott and Picketing
(b) Two separate Home-Rule Leagues
rather than one All-India Home-Rule
Organisation
(c) Setting up of discussion groups and
reading rooms
(d) Sale and circulation of pamphlets
176. Which one among the following explains
the meaning of the Safety Valve Theory in
the context of Indian National Movement?
[CAPF 2014]
(a) A theory that argued that the Congress
was formed as a safe outlet to the
discontented educated Indians.
(b) A theory that argued that the Congress
was formed as a sale outlet to the hostile
attitude of the British towards the Indian
people.
(c) A theory which beloved that the British
and the ex-rebels of 1857 should amicably
resolve their differences against each
other.
(d) As idea aimed at promoting goodwill
among the Indian people.
177. The headquarters of Ghadar Movement/
Party were at [CDS 2022 (I)]
(a) San Francisco
(b) Stanford University
(c) Portland
(d) Florida
178. Which one of the following was NOT a
demand made by the Congress moderates?
[CDS 2020 (II)]
(a) Universal Adult Franchise
(b) Repeal of the Arms Act
(c) Extension of Permanent Settlement
(d) Higher Jobs for Indians in the army
179. The following item consist of two
statements, Statement I and Statement II.
Examine these two statements carefully and
select the correct answer using the code
given below: [CDS 2019 (II)]
Statement I: Non-cooperation began in
Punjab with the student movement inspired
by Lala Lajpat Rai in January 1921.
Statement II: The Sikh dominated central
PYQ Workbook
Punjab countryside was stirred by the
powerful Akali upsurge.
(a) Both the statements are individually true,
and Statement II is the correct explanation
of Statement I.
(b) Both the statements are individually
true, but Statement II is not the correct
explanation of Statement I.
(c) Statement I is true, but Statement II is
false.
(d) Statement I is false, but Statement II is
true.
180. Which of the following statements about the
Non-Cooperation Movement is/are correct?
1. It was marked by significant participation
of peasants from Karnataka.
2. It was marked by non-brahmin lower
caste participation in Madras and
Maharashtra.
3. It was marked by the lack of labour unrest
in places like Assam, Bengal and Madras.
4. It was badly shaken by the Chauri Chaura
incident in 1922 after which Gandhiji
decided to continue with the movement
on a much smaller scale.
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below. [CDS 2018 (I)]
(a) 1 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 2 only
181. Which of the following statement(s) about
the formation of the Indian National
Congress is/are true?
1. The Indian National Congress was formed
at a national convention held in Calcutta
in December 1885 under the presidency
of Motilal Nehru.
2. The Safety Valve Theory regarding the
formation of the Indian National Congress
emerged from a biography of AO Hume
written by William Wedderburn,
3. An early decision was that the President
would be from the same region where the
session was to be held.
4. WC Bannerjee was the first President of
the Indian National Congress.
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below: [CDS 2015 (II)]
(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 1 and 3
98
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

182. Consider the following statements about 183. Consider the following statements
the First Session of the Indian National 1. BG Tilak founded the Home Rule League
Congress
in April 1916, in Maharashtra.
1. It was held in Bombay in 1885.
2. Surendranath Bannerji could not attend 2. NC Kelkar was not associated with Home
the session due to the simultaneous Rule Movement.
session of the Indian National Conference. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? [CDS 2014 (I)]
correct? [CDS 2014 (I)]
(a) Only 1
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2 (b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

99 PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
SOLUTIONS
3.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions
1. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Indian revolutionaries in the United States of America and
Canada had established the Ghadar (Rebellion) Party in
1913. While most of the members of the party were Sikh
peasants and soldiers, their leaders were mostly educated
Hindus or Muslims.
Some of the prominent Ghadar leaders were: Baba Gurmukh
Singh, Kartar Smgh Saraba, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Rahmat Ali
Shah, Bhai Parmanand, and Mohammad Barkatullah. Other
revolutionaries were active in India and abroad.
In 1915, during an unsuccessful revolutionary attempt,
Jatin Mukerjea popularly known as Bagha Jatin gave his life
fighting a battle with the police at Balasore. Rash Bihari
Bose, Raja Mahendra Pratap, Lala Hardayal, Abdul
Rahim, Maulana Obaidullah Sindhi, Champak Raman
Pillai, Sardar Singh Rana, and Madam Cama were some
of the prominent Indians Ghadar Leaders who carried on
revolutionary activities and propaganda outside India
2. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The national leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozshah
Mehta, D.E. Wacha, W.C. Bonnerjea, and S.N. Banerjea who
dominated the Congress policies during this period were
staunch believers in ‘liberalism’ and ‘moderate’ politics and
came to be labelled as Moderates to distinguish them from
the neo-nationalists of the early twentieth century who were
referred to as the Extremists.
The moderate political activities involved constitutional
agitation within the confines of law and showed a slow but
orderly political progress. The Moderates believed that the
British basically wanted to be just to the Indians but were not
aware of the real conditions.
Therefore, if public opinion could be created in the country
and public demands be presented to the Government through
resolutions, petitions, meetings, etc., the authorities would
concede these demands gradually.
To achieve these ends, they worked on a two-pronged
methodology one, create a strong public opinion to arouse
consciousness and national spirit and then educate and unite
people on common political questions; and two, persuade the
British Government and British public opinion to introduce
reforms in India on the lines laid out by the nationalists.
Overthrow of Alien Rule was not a political method of the
moderates in the National Movement.
3. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. The Swadeshi Movement
included boycott and public burning of foreign goods and
PYQ Workbook
contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts
and industries. The Swadeshi Movement celebrated our
indigenous fabrics, weavers and the country’s artisans.
August 7 has been chosen as National Handloom Day as
it was the day that the Swadeshi Movement was started in
1905.
Self-reliance or ‘atma shakti’ was encouraged. The swadeshi
spirit also found expression in the establishment of swadeshi
textile mills, soap and match factories, tanneries, banks,
insurance companies, shops, etc.
Statement 2 is correct. The National Council of Education
- Bengal (or NCE - Bengal) was an organisation founded
by Indian nationalists in Bengal in 1906 as part of the
Swadeshi Movement.
It was set up to organise a system of education— literary,
scientific and technical—on national lines and under
national control.
Important Tips
Swadeshi Movement:
• The Swadeshi Movement had its genesis in the anti-
partition movement which was started to oppose the
British decision to partition Bengal. On August 7,
1905, with the passage of the Boycott Resolution in
a massive meeting held in the Calcutta Townhall, the
formal proclamation of Swadeshi Movement was made.
• During Swadeshi Movement, a Bengal Institute of
Technology was set up for technical education and
funds were raised to send students to Japan for
advanced learning. Also, the Bengal National College,
inspired by Tagore’s Shantiniketan, was set up with
Aurobindo Ghosh as its principal.
4. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Option 1 is correct. The British Indian Association was
established on 31 October 1851 with entirely Indian
membership to promote government efficiency and
ameliorate the condition of Indias. The first committee of
the association was composed of: Raja Radhakanta Deb –
President, Raja Kalikrishna Deb – Vice-President.
Option 2 is incorrect. In 1884, M. Veeraraghavachariar,
G.S Iyer and P. Anandacharlu established the Madras
Mahajana Sabha. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty founded
the Madras Native Association.
Option 3 is correct. Indian Association was the first
Nationalist Organization founded in British India by
Surendranath Banerjee and Anand Mohan Bose in 1876.
The association found an issue in opposing the lowering of
the age limit for civil service examinations (1877) , which
was disadvantageous to Indian candidates; and in 1878
it objected to the Vernacular Press Act, which stifled the
Indian press. It displaced the Indian League, which had been
100
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
founded the year before, and criticised the British Indian
Association, which it regarded as a reactionary body of
landlords and industrialists.
5. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
There was a fundamental difference between the political
ideologies of the extremists’ and moderates which led to
their split at Surat Session of Congress in 1907.
The veteran moderate politicians refused to accommodate
the new extremist’s trend within the Congress policies and
programmes, and this led to the split in the Congress in its
Surat session in 1907.
The Extremists, during the Swadeshi Movement, decided to
give a call for wide passive resistance and boycott of schools,
colleges, legislative councils, municipalities, law courts, etc.
The Moderates, encouraged by the news that council reforms
were on the anvil, decided to tone down the scheme adopted
at Calcutta Session.
The Extremists thought that the people had been aroused
and the time had come for direct confrontation with the
British. They considered the Moderates to be a drag on
the movement and no longer have faith in the capacity of
the moderates to negotiate with the British Government.
They decided that it was necessary to Part Company with
the Moderates, even if it meant a split in the Congress. On
the other hand, the Moderates thought that it would be
dangerous that stage to associate with the Extremists whose
anti-imperialist agitation would be ruthlessly suppressed by
the mighty colonial forces.
Both sides adopted rigid positions, which ultimately led to
split. The moderates after the Surat Split in 1907 demanded
colonial self-government, as against the extremist demand of
complete independence.
6. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
To meet the growing nationalist challenge in eastern India,
on 19 July, 1905 the Government of India announced its
decision to form the new province of “Eastern Bengal and
Assam”, comprising the Chittagong, Dacca and Rajshahi
divisions, Hill Tippera (Tripura) , Malda and Assam. The
province came into existence on 16 October, 1905, by
breaking up Bengal and its Bengali speaking people.
In the beginning the leaders resorted to sharp press
campaigns against the partition scheme, numerous public
meetings in opposition to it and the drafting of petitions to
the Government for annulment. However, they realized it
made no effect to the authorities. This led to a search for
new techniques from the middle of 1905 and resulted in
the discovery of the boycott of British goods as an effective
weapon. The boycott of British products was followed
by the advocacy of swadeshi (Indian-made) or exhorting
purchasers to buy indigenously produced goods as a
patriotic duty. Thus, Swadeshi and Boycott started against
Partition of Bengal in 1905. It also showcase the rich swadeshi
tradition of culture, art, literature, music and science.
101
7. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Dadabhai Naoroji in his book titled Poverty and Un-British
Rule in India talked about the drain theory. R. C. Dutt’s
The economic history of India, Ranade’s Essay on Indian
Economics, G. Subramania Iyer’s Economic Aspect of British
Rule were also critics of economic policies of British.
8. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Surat split happened in the year 1907 just after the Swadeshi
Movement. The Swadeshi movement has its genesis in the
anti-partition movement which was started to oppose the
British decision to divide Bengal. With the start of the
Swadeshi movement at the turn of the century, the Indian
National Movement took a major leap forward. Within the
congress, there was rift between several members regarding
the movement.
9. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect. Annie Besant who was instrumental
in creation of Home Rule League presided over the 1917
session in Calcutta and became the first woman president
of INC.
Sarojini Naidu joined the Indian National Movement in the
wake of the 1905 partition of Bengal. She was elected as the
President of the Indian National Congress Party in 1925,
Kanpur Session. Thus, Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian
women President of INC.
Statement 2 is correct. Badruddin Tyabji came back to India
from England in December 1867 and became the first Indian
barrister in the High Court of Bombay.
Badruddin Tyabji became the first Muslim president
of the Indian National Congress. Overall, he was the
third President of the Congress after WC Bannerjee and
Dadabhai Naoroji (1886).
10. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted
until 1911, when King George V announced to annul the
partition of Bengal at the Royal Darbar in Delhi in 1911. It
was decided to annul the partition of Bengal in 1911 mainly
to curb the menace of revolutionary activities.
On 22 March 1911, a royal proclamation announced that the
Durbar would be held in December to commemorate the
coronation in Britain a few months earlier of King George V
and Queen Mary and allow their proclamation as Emperor
and Empress of India. Without public forewarning, the
announcement of the move of India‘s capital from Calcutta
to Delhi was also made at the Durbar. King George V also
announced to annul the partition of Bengal
11. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
The Ghadar party was found in San Francisco by Lala
Hardayal, Sohan Singh Bakhna, Mohammed Barkattullah
etc. Shortly after the outbreak of World War I, many of the
Ghadrites returned to India and for several months during
1915 carried on terrorist activities in central Punjab. Ghadar
Party was associated with the Ghadar mutiny which was
meant to overthrow the British rule from India.
12. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Criminal Procedure Code of 1873 laid down that except
in Presidency towns no Magistrate or Sessions Judge could
try a European British subject unless he himself was a
European by birth.
The Illbert Bill (1883) , proposed by viceroy Lord Ripon
intended to give jurisdiction to Indian judges over Europeans.
It sought to empower the Indian district Magistrates and
sessions judges to try Europeans in criminal cases.
Ripon’s Government had sought to abolish “judicial
disqualification based on race distinctions” and to give the
Indian members of the covenanted civil service the same
powers and rights as those enjoyed by their European
colleagues. Ripon had to modify the bill, thus almost
defeating the original purpose, because of the stiff opposition
from the European community.
13. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Naoroji’s major contribution to the Indian independence
movement was his “Drain of Wealth” theory, a detailed
analytical study of how the colonial rulers of the
subcontinent pillaged its economic resources and
shattered its industrial capacity. The theory was most
cogently demonstrated in his 1901 work Poverty and Un-
British Rule in India.
Naoroji used the British imperial state’s own data to prove
its historical impoverishment of the subcontinent by
mapping Indian net profit alongside different ventures being
undertaken by the British Raj. He calculated that drain of
India’s wealth, resulted in a yearly loss of approximately £30-
40 million with only £250,000’s worth of capital injected
back into India per annum.
14. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Home Charges’ referred to the expenditure incurred in
England by the Secretary of State on behalf of India.
The following constituted the Home Charges:
Dividends on East India Stock, Interest on Public debt raised
abroad, the salaries of the officers, establishments of the and
building connected with the Home Department of Indian
Government, furlough and pensions to British officers in
Military and Civil departments in India. Charges of all
descriptions paid to the British troops serving in India and
portion of the cost of transporting the British troops to and
from India.
PYQ Workbook
15. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The role of Sir William Wedderburn and W.S. Caine were
instrumental in setting up the Indian Parliamentary
Committee in 1893. Wedderburn played a key role in
passing the resolution for simultaneously conducting Civil
Services Exam in India.
The British Committee of Indian National Congress decided
to carry Indian Propaganda on three fronts:
• In House of Common by organising the Indian
Parliamentary Committee
• On platform, by arranging meetings and lectures
• In the press, by founding the journal ‘India’
Important Tips
Indian Parliamentary Committee:
The British Committee of Indian National Congress was
founded in 1889 by Sir William Wedderburn as Chairman
and William Digby as it’s secretary to achieve political
reforms in India by gathering support from British
public. Dadabhai Naroji and W.S.Caine were some of its
important members. Sir William Wedderburn entered
House of Commons in British Parliament in 1893 as a
Liberal member.
16. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The immediate cause for the launch of the Swadeshi
Movement was the partition of Bengal done by Lord
Curzon.
Swadeshi Movement was a comprehensive movement that
lasted 6 years.
Important Tips
Swadeshi Movement:
• Although Swadeshi Movement was regarded as a
cultural movement celebrating the rich harvest of
history, the rich traditions like folk music, paintings,
the culture of Bengal were highlighted
• Tilak called this movement “Bahishkar Yoga“ and most
of the Bengali intelligentsia that was initially not in
favor of the boycott movement got integrated with the
Swadeshi movement. This was primary learning for the
national movement.
• According to Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Lala Lajpat
Rai, it was training in ‘self determination’, ‘self-help’,
and ‘self-reliance’
17. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Partition of Bengal on 16 th October 1905, despite
facing strong opposition from Indian nationalists, marked a
significant turning point for the Indian National Congress.
Lord Curzon, the Viceroy of British India, proposed the
partition as a means to improve governance in the vast
province.
102
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

Important Tips Important Tips

Partition of Bengal: Rowlatt Act
• Bengal, which included present-day West Bengal, • The act authorised the government to imprison any
Bihar, Odisha, Bangladesh, and Assam, was under suspect without trial and conviction in the court of law.
British rule since 1765. • It enables the government to suppress the habeas
• The province became challenging to administer due to corpus.
its large size and rapidly growing population, reaching • The Government wanted to replace the provision of
almost 80 million by the early 20th century. repression in Defense of India Act 1915 by a permanent
• Initially, Curzon proposed the partition as a purely law.
administrative measure but later saw it as a political • It was based on the report of Justice S.A.T. Rowlatt’s
tool to undermine growing nationalism. Committee of 1918.
• The proposed partition would result in two provinces: • Mahatma Gandhi organized satyagraha against Rowlett
Bengal (including West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar) and Act. This was the first nationwide mass uprising under
Eastern Bengal and Assam. leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Bengal would have a Hindu majority, while Eastern • The act was never actually implemented.
Bengal and Assam would have a Muslim majority.
Calcutta would remain the capital. 19. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
18. Solution: (c)
The first conference of the Indian National Congress was
Exp) Option c is the correct answer. held in Bombay from December 28 to 31, 1885. It was
attended by 72 delegates from all over India. The session was
The Rowlatt Act was passed by the government under the presided over by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee, a lawyer from
period of Lord Chelmsford. It was passed in February 1919. Calcutta. The main topics discussed at the session were the
need for greater Indian representation in the government,
All Indian member of the Central Legislative Council the improvement of education and the development of the
opposed the bill. Indian economy.
Important Tips
List of all the Indian National Congress Session from 1886 till Independence:
Year Location President Importance
1886 Calcutta Dadabhai Naoroji National Conference and National Congress.
1887 Madras Syed Badruddin Tyabji Muslims were asked to join hands with national leaders.
1888 Allahabad George Yule First Non-Indian/English President.
1889 Bombay Sir William Wedderburn –

1890 Calcutta Feroz Shah Mehta –

1891 Nagpur P. Ananda Charlu –

1892 Allahabad W C Bonnerjee –

1893 Lahore Dadabhai Naoroji –

1894 Madras Alfred Webb –

1895 Poona Surendranath Banerjee –

1896 Calcutta Rahimtullah M. Sayani National song ‘Vande Mataram’ sung for the first time

1897 Amravati C. Sankaran Nair –

1898 Madras Ananda Mohan Bose –

1899 Lucknow Romesh Chandra Dutt –

1900 Lahore N G Chandavarkar –

1901 Calcutta Dinshaw E. Wacha –

103 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

1902 Ahmedabad Surendranath Banerjee –

1903 Madras Lal Mohan Ghosh –

1904 Bombay Sir Henry Cotton –

1905 Benares Gopal Krishna Gokhale Expressed resentment against the partition of Bengal

1906 Calcutta Dadabhai Naoroji The word ‘Swaraj’ was mentioned for the first time

1907 Surat Rash Behari Ghosh Party splits into extremists and moderates

1908 Madras Rash Behari Ghosh Previous session continued

1909 Lahore Madan Mohan Malaviya Indian Councils Act, 1909

1910 Allahabad Sir William Wedderburn –

1911 Calcutta Bishan Narayan Dhar ‘Jana Gana Mana’ sung for the first time

1912 Bankipore Raghunath Narasinha –

(Patna) Mudholkar

1913 Karachi Syed Mohammed –

1914 Madras Bhupendra Nath Basu –

1915 Bombay Satyendra Prasanna Sinha –

1916 Lucknow Ambica Charan Mazumdar Lucknow Pact – joint session with the Muslim League

1917 Calcutta Annie Besant (1847 – 1933) First woman president of the INC

1918 Bombay And Syed Hasan Imam (Bombay) Two sessions were held. First in Bombay in August/
Delhi And Madan Mohan Malaviya September Second in Delhi in December
(Delhi)

1919 Amritsar Motilal Nehru Jallianwala Bagh massacre strongly condemned

1920 Nagpur C Vijayaraghavachariar –

1921 Ahmedabad Hakim Ajmal Khan (acting –

President For C R Das)

1922 Gaya C R Das –

1923 Kakinada Maulana Mohammad Ali, –

1924 Belgaum M K Gandhi –

1925 Kanpur Sarojini Naidu (1879 – 1949) First Indian woman president

1926 Guwahati S Srinivasa Iyengar –

1927 Madras M A Ansari –

1928 Calcutta Motilal Nehru All India Youth Congress formed

1929 Lahore Jawaharlal Nehru Resolution for ‘Poorna Swaraj.’ Civil Disobedience
movement for complete independence to be launched, 26
January to be observed as ‘Independence Day’.

1930 No Session – –

1931 Karachi Vallabhbhai Patel Resolution on fundamental rights and national economic
progress. Gandhi-Irwin pact endorsed. Gandhi nominated
to represent INC in the second round table conference

PYQ Workbook 104

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

1932 Delhi Amrit Ranchhorddas Seth –

1933 Calcutta Malaviya Was Elected But –

Mrs Nellie Sengupta Presided

1934 Bombay Rajendra Prasad –

1937 Lucknow Jawaharlal Nehru –

1936 Faizpur Jawaharlal Nehru First rural session/first session to be held in a village

1938 Haripura Subhas Chandra Bose National planning committee set up under Nehru

1939 Tripuri Subhas Chandra Bose Bose was elected but had to resign since Gandhi supported
Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Instead, Rajendra Prasad was
appointed

1940 Ramgarh Abul Kalam Azad –

1941-45 – – No session because of arrest

1946 Meerut Acharya Kripalani Last session before independence

1948 Jaipur Pattabhi Sitaramayya First session after independence

20. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect- Bhikhaiji Cama put up the “Flag
of Indian Independence” on August 22, 1907, during a
meeting in Germany. This flag looked like the Calcutta Flag
and had green, yellow, and red parts that stood for Islam,
Hinduism, and Buddhism.
Statement 2 is correct- She got to know Dadabhai Naoroji,
who was leading the British Committee of the Indian National
Congress. She started working as his private secretary. She,
along with Naoroji and Singh Rewabhai Rana, helped start
Varma’s Indian Home Rule Society in February 1905.
Statement 3 is correct- Born on September 24, 1861, in
Bombay (which is now Mumbai), Madam Cama came from
a well-off Gujarati Parsi family. Her parents were Sorabji
Framji Patel and Jaijibai Sorabji Patel. Her dad was a
merchant and an important person in the Parsi community.
They were a famous couple in the city.
21. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Komagata Maru, a steamship built in Scotland in 1890
and later owned by Germany and Japan, saw various names
including Stubbenhuk, Sicilia, Komagata Maru, and Heian
Maru. In 1914, it transported 376 Sikh and other migrants
from the Far East to Canada, resulting in the Komagata
Maru incident when Canadian authorities in Vancouver
refused most of them entry and they were on ship for the 2
months. Later, they were forced to return to India where the
Imperial Police attempted to arrest the group leaders.
22. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Situated in San Francisco, the Ghadr revolutionaries
established branches not only along the US Coast but also in
the distant East. The Ghadar Party, an Indian revolutionary
group, originated mainly with Indian individuals. It
exhibited a diverse composition, featuring leaders from
Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim backgrounds. This organization’s
headquarters were located in San Francisco, United States
(West America).
23. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Rabindranath Tagore returned his Knighthood award as a
protest when he came to know about the Jallianwala Bagh
Massacre on 22 May 1919. He arranged a protest meeting
in Calcutta, post which, he finally gave off his British
Knighthood as ‘a symbolic act of protest’.
24. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The nationalist movement in India was a period of intense
struggle against British colonial rule, marked by various
movements and agitations. The Swadeshi movement was
one such movement that aimed at promoting Indian-made
goods and boycotting British goods. Liaquat Hussain was not
associated with any such agitation in Barisal. He took the
movement to Patna and organised the East Indian Railway
strike in 1906. He also wrote fiery articles in Urdu to rouse
nationalist sentiments in Muslims. He was supported by
other Muslim swadeshi agitators like Ghaznavi, Rasul, Din
Mohammed, Dedar Bux, Moniruzzaman, Ismail Hussain,
Siraji, Abdul Hussain and Abdul Gaffar. Hence Option a is
incorrect.
Satish Chandra Mukherjee was a prominent educationist
and social reformer who formulated the scheme of national
education in 1889. The scheme aimed at promoting
education among the masses and was an important aspect of
the nationalist movement. Hence Option b is correct.

105 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
The Bengal National College was founded in 1906 by
Aurobindo Ghosh and other nationalist leaders. Aurobindo
was the Principal of the college and the institution played
an important role in promoting nationalist ideology and
education. Hence Option c is correct.
Rabindranath Tagore was a prominent nationalist leader
who promoted the concept of Atmasakti or self-reliance. He
believed that the regeneration of Indian society could only
be achieved through the upliftment of the villages. Hence
Option d is correct.
25. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
In 1875 the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha submitted a petition
to the House of Commons signed by 21,713 persons
demanding direct representation of India in Parliament.
The influential Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, formed in April
1870 in Maharashtra, aimed to mediate between the British
government and Indians, addressing public grievances and
fostering patriotism. Led by figures like G.V. Joshi and
Mahadev Govind Ranade, it supported local communities,
established arbitration courts, and organized famine relief.
Important Tips
The Deccan Association:
• Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, Bal Gangadhar Tilak,
and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar established the Deccan
Education Society in 1884, which founded Fergusson
College in Pune in 1885. The society played a vital
role in promoting education, establishing schools
and colleges, with significant figures like Gokhale
and Karve contributing. It expanded its educational
endeavors across Maharashtra, gaining support from
various princely states.
Madras Mahajana Sabha:
• Founded in 1884 by M. Veeraraghavachariar, G.
Subramania Iyer, and P. Anandacharlu, Madras
Mahajana Sabha was a significant Indian nationalist
organization based in the Madras Presidency. It
aimed to address Indians’ rights and welfare, advocating
education, social reform, and political consciousness.
It played a role in preparing the ground for the Indian
National Congress and actively participated in freedom
movements, including the Salt Satyagraha.
26. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
After the terrible massacre at Jallianwala Bagh on 13th April,
1919, the Legislative Council of the government of India
constituted the Hunter Committee to examine the mishap
that occurred there.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Hunter Commission
• On October 14, 1919, the Government of India
announced the formation of the Disorders Inquiry
Committee.
• The committee was commonly known as Hunter
Commission after the name of chairman, Lord William
Hunter. It also had Indian members.
• In the final report submitted in March 1920, the
committee unanimously condemned Dyer’s actions.
• However, the Hunter Committee did not impose any
penal or disciplinary action against General Dyer.
27. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
On 18 April 1930, Chittagong armoury raid led by Surya
Sen. In 1929, Surya Sen was the Secretary of the Chittagong
District Congress Committee. In early 1929, they formed
a plan to organize an armed rebellion. They plan to capture
two main armouries in Chittagong and the arming of a
large band of revolutionaries with the seized arms. The raid
was undertaken inthe name of Indian Republican Army,
Chittagong Branch. Surya Sen was formally declared the
President of the Provisional Revolutionary Government.
The Union Jack was pulled down and the National Flag was
hoisted.
28. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect- The first woman to be the President
of the Congress was Annie Besant, who was elected president
in 1917 and 1933.
Statement 2 is correct-C.R. Das was in prison when he
functioned as the President of the Congress in 1922. He was
arrested by the British government for his role in the Non-
Cooperation Movement.
Statement 3 is incorrect-George Yule, a Scottish merchant
living in England, was the first Britisher to hold the position
of President in the Indian National Congress (INC). In
1888, he became the fourth President of the INC during the
session held in Allahabad.
Statement 4 is correct-Alfred Web presided the session of
Indian National Congress in 1894 at Madras.
29. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
• Kalpana Dutt was a remarkable Indian revolutionary
who participated in the Chittagong Armory Raid led by
Surya Sen on 18 April 1930. In the jail, she was visited
by Gandhi and received letters from Rabindranath
Tagore and C F Andrews. The latter addressed her as his
daughter from his previous life. Kalpana was given a life
sentence but was eventually released in 1939.
106
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Baba Ram Singh Kuka started the Kuka Movement in
1872. The Kukas were also referred Namdharis, who
were a sect within Sikhism. They started as a group for
religious purification in Sikhism under Ram Singh. He
was the first Indian who used Non-Cooperation as an
ideology and boycotted British services and goods.
The movement received a political overtone with the
established aim of restoring Sikh rule in Punjab and
ousting the foreign powers.
• Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was the founder of
theAbhinav Bharat society. It was one among several
such revolutionary societies functioning in Maharashtra
at that time, which believed in the overthrow of British
rule through armed rebellion.
• Aurobindo Ghosh was closely associated with the
Anushilan Samiti. Anushilan Samiti was a well-known
covert revolutionary organisation that operated out of
Bengal in the 20th century with the goal of removing
colonial authority.
30. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Subhash Chandra Bose in his presidential address (1938),
advocated the introduction of Roman script for the Hindi
language. He argued that this would make it easier for
people to learn Hindi and that it would help to promote
unity among the Indian people. Bose’s proposal was not
popular with all Congress members. Some people felt that it
would be a betrayal of the Indian heritage to abandon the
Devanagari script. However, Bose’s proposal was eventually
adopted by the Congress.
31. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Surendranath Banerji was dismissed by the British from
the Indian Civil Service due to a minor judicial error.
Despite his appeals in England, he believed that racial
discrimination was a factor in his dismissal. This incident
contributed to his growing disillusionment with the British
administration and fueled his nationalist sentiments. He
became a prominent Indian nationalist leader, founding
the Indian National Association and advocating for Indian
political rights.
32. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Rowlatt Satyagraha was the first venture of Gandhi in all-
India politics. On 24th February, 1919 at Bombay, Mahatma
Gandhi started a campaign and formed a Satyagraha Sabha
against the Rowlatt Act. Rowlatt Act permitted few political
cases to be tried without juries and allowed internment of
suspects without trial.
107
Important Tips
Gandhi and Rowlatt act:
• Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil
disobedience against Rowlatt Act, which would start
with a hartal on 6 April.
• Rallies were organized in various cities, workers went
on strike in railway workshops, and shops were closed
down.
• Alarmed by the popular upsurge, and scared that lines
of communication such as the railways and telegraph
would be disrupted, the British administration decided
to clamp down on nationalists.
• Local leaders were picked up from Amritsar, and
Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi.
33. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Option a is incorrect: Stimulating the production of
indigenous articles by giving them preference over imported
commodities was a part of the Swadeshi Movement, which
was associated with both moderate and extremist phases
of the freedom movement. It aimed at promoting domestic
industries to reduce economic dependence on British goods.
Option b is correct: The extremist ideology during the early
phase of the Indian freedom movement focused on achieving
self-government through assertive means rather than relying
on petitions and constitutional ways. This approach involved
active resistance, mass mobilization, boycotts, and non-
cooperation to challenge oppressive British colonial rule
and advance India’s independence.
Option c is incorrect: Providing national education
according to the requirements of the country was a goal
shared by both moderate and extremist leaders. The focus
was on fostering education that met the needs of the Indian
society and promoted a sense of national identity.
Option d is incorrect: Organizing coups against the British
empire through military revolt doesn’t accurately represent
the ideology of the early phase of the Indian freedom
movement. Extremists focused on non-violent methods of
protest and active resistance, rather than outright military
coups. They aimed to challenge British dominance through
civil disobedience and mass mobilization.
Important Tips
Extremist Movement during the early phase of Indian
freedom movement:
The Extremist leaders (1905-1920)diverged from the
Moderates in their skepticism towards British rule and
belief in British justice. They rejected petitioning and
embraced agitation. Their approach included:
• Boycott and Swadeshi Movement: They urged the
boycott of foreign goods and promotion of Swadeshi
products to stimulate indigenous industries and trade.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Non-Cooperation: Extremists refused cooperation
with the British bureaucracy, even boycotting
governmental activities.
• Nationalistic Education: They established schools
and colleges using Indian languages, instilling pride
in India’s heritage, fostering nationalism, and self-
reliance in students.
• Passive Resistance: Non-payment of revenue and taxes,
coupled with setting up indigenous administrative
units parallel to British ones at local levels.
• Mass Mobilization: Public meetings and processions
galvanized public sentiment and engagement.
• Swadeshi Enterprises: Extremists established
Swadeshi textile mills, soap factories, banks, and more,
driven by patriotism rather than business intent.
• Non-Violence: Extremists discouraged violence
against British rule and disapproved of political
assassinations.
• Support for Revolutionaries: They sympathized with
revolutionary activities but did not directly engage in
them.
34. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Indian Muslims, in general, were not attracted to the
extremist movement due to the extremist leaders’ policy
of harping on Hindu aspects. The extremist movement in
India was largely Hindu-centric and focused on reviving
Hindu culture and traditions. This alienated many Indian
Muslims, who felt that the movement did not represent
their interests. The extremist movement also used religious
symbolism and rhetoric that was offensive to many Muslims.
For example, the movement celebrated Hindu festivals and
figures, such as Shivaji and Ganesha. This further alienated
Muslims from the movement.
35. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Lala Har Dayal was the leader of the Ghadar Party, a
revolutionary organization founded in 1913 by Indian
immigrants in the United States and Canada. The Ghadar
Party was committed to overthrowing British rule in India
through armed revolution.
Important Tips
Ghadar Party:
Lala Hardayal, along with individuals like Baba Sohan
Singh Bhakna, Sant Baba Wasakha Singh Dadehar,
Pandit Kanshi Ram Maroli, Baba Jawala Singh, and
Santokh Singh, played crucial roles. Notably, Lala
Hardayal initiated the formation of the Hindi Association
of the Pacific Coast, which would later be recognized as
the Hindustan Ghadar Party in May 1913. The purpose
behind this initiative was to exert influence over the
Indian immigrant population in Portland.
PYQ Workbook
36. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
• Abhinav Bharat society was founded by Vinayak
Damodar Savarkar in 1904. It was one among several
such revolutionary societies functioning in Maharashtra
at that time, which believed in the overthrow of British
rule through armed rebellion.
• Anushilan Samitiwas one of the secret revolutionary
organisations operating in Bengal founded by
Satish Chandra Basu. It was led by the nationalists
Pramathanath Mitra,Aurobindo Ghosh and his brother
Barindra Ghosh and others.
• The Ghadar Party, initially named the Pacific Coast
Hindustan Association, was formed in was formed on 15
July 1913 in the United States under the leadership of
Lala Har Dayal, Baba Jawala Singh, Santokh Singh and
Sohan Singh Bhakna as its president.
• The swaraj party was formed by Chittaranjan Das,
Motilal Nehruand other members of the Indian National
Congress on 1 January 1923. Chittaranjan Das was the
President of the Swaraj Party. The swaraj party was
formed to fight British colonialism.
37. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919,
popularly known as the Rowlatt Act was a legislative council
act passed by the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi in
March 1919. The act indefinitely extended the emergency
measures of preventive indefinite detention, incarceration
without trial.
38. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Barrah dacoity was the first major venture of the
revolutionary terrorists of the freedom movement in 1908,
in Dhaka district of East Bengal. Barrah dacoity was
organised by Dacca Anushilan under Pulin Das to raise
funds for revolutionary activities.Revolutionaries attacked
the residence of the Zamindar of Barrah.
39. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
All of the mentioned international events influenced the
course of the Indian national movement before Mahatma
Gandhi’s arrival:
• Italian-Abyssinian War, 1898: The Italian invasion
of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) in 1898 captured the
attention of Indian nationalists. The invasion exposed
the imperialistic ambitions of European powers and their
disregard for the sovereignty of smaller nations, serving
as a reminder of British colonial rule in India.
• Boxer Movement in China: The Boxer Rebellion (1899-
1901) against foreign influence and Christianity in
China resonated with Indians fighting for independence.
The rebellion highlighted the consequences of foreign
108
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
dominance and sparked discussions about anti-
imperialism and self-determination.
• Revolutionary Movement in Ireland: The Irish struggle
against British colonialism, particularly during the
late 19th and early 20th centuries, inspired Indian
nationalists. The Irish movement’s tactics and challenges
were often compared to those faced by Indians, fostering
solidarity and shared understanding.
• Victory of Japan in the Russo-Japanese War: Japan’s
victory in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) showed
that an Asian nation could successfully challenge a
European power. This boosted the self-confidence of
Indians and led them to believe that they too could
confront British colonial rule.
40. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
• Bhikaiji Rustom Cama held a significant role in India’s
fight for independence. On August 22, 1907, she achieved
the historic feat of raising the Indian flag on foreign land
in Stuttgart, Germany.
• Abdul Hafiz Mohamed Barakatullah was an Indian
freedom fighter who felt aligned with the Pan-Islamic
movement.
• Varahaneri Venkatesa Subramaniam Aiyar, hailing
from Tamil Nadu, was an Indian patriot who actively
opposed the British rule in India. He shared his time with
fellow revolutionaries like Subramanya Bharathi and
V.O. Chidambaram Pillai, who advocated for a more
militant approach to resist the British presence.
• In the 20th century, Manabendra Nath Roy emerged
as an Indian revolutionary, radical campaigner, and
political theorist, alongside being a distinguished
philosopher. Roy played a pivotal role in establishing
both the Mexican Communist Party and the Communist
Party of India.
3.2. Other Examination Previous Years’
Questions
41. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
1. The Foundation of Ghadar Party- The Ghadar Party’s
establishment took place when the Pacific Coast
Hindustan Association, later known as the Ghadar Party,
was formed on July 15, 1913, in the United States.
3. Setup of the ‘Indian Independence Committee’
at Berlin- In 1915, the Berlin committee was set
up with the aim of achieving Indian Independence.
Notably, instrumental figures in its establishment were
Virendranath Chattopadhyay, Bhupendranath Dutta,
and Lala Hardayal.
4. Central Assembly Bomb Case- On April 8, 1929, Bhagat
Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt, revolutionaries, hurled
bombs at the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi,
leading to an event referred to as the Central Assembly
Bombing Case in modern Indian history.
109
2. Chittagong Armoury Raid- On April 18, 1930, a group
of 63 young individuals, many of them teenagers, under
the leadership of Surjya Sen, also known as Surya Sen
and Master-da, conducted a raid on the police and
auxiliary forces’ arsenal in the Chittagong district
of undivided Bengal. They successfully freed it from
British authority and raised the Indian flag.
42. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed Ansari was a doctor and received
his degree in medicine from Madras Medical College. The
Madras session of INC was presided over by M.A. Ansari in
the year 1927. He also served as the President of the Muslim
League in the year 1920. He was not associated with Kanpur
Conspiracy Case of 1924.
Important Tips
Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case:
• Kanpur Conspiracy Case of 1924was responsible for
actively introducing communism to the Indian masses.
• A series of prominent activists including Muzaffar
Ahmad, S. Chettiar,Nalini Gupta, Shaukat
Usmani,S.A. Dange, Ghulam Hussain among others
were arrested and charged with conspiring to separate
India from Britain through armed revolution.
• Ghulam Hussain turned a British informer and was
pardoned.
• Through these arrests and trials, the government hoped
to crush the Socialist movement in India entirely.
• The newspapers covered the matter exhaustively and
this was for the first time the people of India could
know the communist doctrine in details.
43. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lord Dufferin was the Governor-General of India from
1884 to 1888. He was a conservative who was skeptical of
the Indian National Congress. He ridiculed the Congress as
representing only a “microscopic minority” of people and
argued that it did not represent the views of the majority
of Indians. In a speech in 1888, Lord Dufferin said, “The
Congress is to my mind to a great extent a microscopic
minority, representing the views and wishes of a very small
section of the population.” He also said that the Congress
was “an artificial creation” and that it did not represent the
“true feelings of the people.”
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
• Lord Curzon: He was the Governor-General of India
from 1899 to 1905. Some of the major reforms done
by him includes:
 Relief to famine affected people,
 Education reforms (Indian Universities Act, 1904),
 Reduction in Salt tax Rate,
 Cooperative Credit Societies Act,
 Number of judges in Calcutta High Court
increased, and
 Improvement in railway infrastructure.
• Lord Minto: He was the Governor-General of India
from 1905 to 1910. He introduced the Morley-Minto
reforms, which gave Indians more representation in
the government and introduced the system of separate
electorate for the first time.
• Lord Lansdowne: He was the Governor-General of
India from 1888 to 1894. Some of the event happened
during his tenure:
 Factory Act (1891),
 Indian Councils Act (1892),
 Setting up of Durand Commission (1893).
44. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Asiatic Society of Bengal in Calcutta was founded by
the philologist William Jones in 1784 during the Company
rule in India. It aimed to promote “Oriental research” and
the study of India and surrounding regions. Renamed over
the years, it became “The Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal.”
The society’s headquarters is located in Kolkata (Calcutta),
housed in a building at Park Street.
45. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi established the All India Harijan Sevak
Sangh (AIHSS) in 1932 to work for the upliftment of the
untouchables, now known as Dalits. The AIHSS is a non-
profit organization that works to improve the social,
economic, and political status of Dalits through education,
health care, and other programs. The AIHSS has been active
in India for over 80 years and it has made significant progress
in improving the lives of Dalits. The organization has helped
to build schools and hospitals, provide scholarships, and
promote social awareness about the problems faced by
Dalits.
46. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is correct: On 23 December 1912, a Bomb was thrown
at the Viceroy Lord Hardinge when his procession was
moving from Chandni Chowk. The Viceroy wounded in the
attempt, but his Mahavat (driver and keeper of an elephant)
PYQ Workbook
was killed. It is said that the Delhi Conspiracy was hatched
by Ras Bihari Bose, but was never proved. In the trial of this
Delhi Conspiracy Case, Basant Kumar Biswas, Amir Chand
and Avadh Behari were convicted and executed. Delhi
Conspiracy Case is also known as Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy
Case or Hardinge Bomb Case.
Pair 2 is correct: The major revolutionaries involved in
the Kakori Conspiracy Caseof 1925 included Ram Prasad
Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, and others.
Pair 3 is correct: Many young revolutionaries including
Bhagat Singh, Jatin Das, Raj guru and Sukh Dev were charged
for involvement in the murder of police officer J P Saunders
in 1929, which is famously known as Lahore Conspiracy
Case. Jatin Das waspassed away after a sixty-three-day
hunger strike while he was imprisoned in the Lahore jail.
Pair 4 is incorrect: Rash Bihari Bose was not associated
with Nasik Conspiracy Case. Anant Laxman Kanhere, a
member ofAbhinav Bharat Society, shot A M T Jackson, a
magistrate at Nasik, on 21 December 1909 at a theater where
a drama was to stage in his honor on the eve of his transfer.
This sensational murder is known as Nasik Conspiracy
Case.
47. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Feroz Shah Mehta was one of the founders of the Bombay
Presidency Association in 1885. Along with K.T. Telang and
Badruddin Tyabji, he played a significant role in establishing
the association as a response to the policies of Lord Lytton
and the Ilbert Bill controversy. The association aimed to
represent the interests and concerns of the people of the
Bombay Presidency during the colonial period.
48. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In 1920, at a meeting of the Indian National Congress in
Nagpur, C. Vijay Raghav Chariar became the President.
This was the same event where people talked about and
agreed with Gandhiji’s idea of getting complete freedom
(Poorna Swaraj) using non-violence and non cooperation
with the British.
49. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Abul Kalam Azad was the President of the Indian National
Congress continuously for six years from 1940 to 1946. He
was the longest-serving President of the Congress.
110
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad:
• Born on November 11th, 1888, in Mecca, Saudi
Arabia.
• Authored weekly journals Al-Hilal and Al-Balagh.
• Gained the nickname “Congress Showboy.”
• Participated actively in movements like Non-
Cooperation and Quit India.
• Held the position of the first Education Minister.
• His birth anniversary, November 11th, is celebrated as
National Education Day.
• Posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992.
50. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Dadabhai Naoroji continuously championed “self-rule” for
India starting from 1904. Often referred to as the “Grand
Old Man of India,” he held a prominent role in politics and
writing. In the 1906 Calcutta session under his leadership, the
Congress embraced Swaraj as India’s aspiration. Resolutions
on Bengal’s partition, Swadeshi, national education, and
boycott were adopted during this session. His influential
work, “Poverty and Un-British Rule in India,” exposed the
economic exploitation of India by Britain, fueling the call for
self-rule within the Indian nationalist movement.
Important Tips
Prominent Moderate Leaders:
Surendranath Banerjea:
• Surendranath Banerjea, known as Rashtraguru,
founded the Indian National Association in 1876,
advocating political reforms. He initiated the concept
of India’s political unity through the association. As a
prominent speaker and educator, he stirred national
consciousness among students. Establishing the Indian
Association marked his second major contribution.
Banerjea’s leadership in the Indian National Congress,
including two presidencies, highlighted his role in
shaping India’s political landscape.
Pherozeshah Mehta:
• Pherozeshah Mehta, hailed as “Lion of Bombay,”
was a notable Indian leader. As President of the
Indian National Congress in 1890, he aimed to prevent
extremists from dominating. Mehta played a pivotal
role in establishing the modern Bombay Municipal
Corporation and co-founded the Bombay Presidency
Association. He founded the Bombay Chronicle,
an influential English newspaper, and received
knighthood for his contributions to governance and
journalism.
111
Dadabhai Naoroji:
• Dadabhai Naoroji, revered as India’s Grand Old
Man, was a founding member of the Indian National
Congress and served as its president thrice. He
coined the term “drain theory” in his book ‘Poverty
and Un-British Rule in India’ to expose British
exploitation. He was the first Indian MP in the British
House of Commons, advocating for Indian interests.
His extensive contributions spanned education,
nationalism, economic thought, social reform, and
more.
51. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a moderate nationalist leader.
He believed in the methods of persuasion and cooperation
with the British. He was a strong advocate for social reforms,
such as education and widow remarriage. Bipin Chandra Pal,
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Lala Lajpat Rai and Aurobindo
Ghose were the prominent extremist nationalist leaders.
They believed that the British could not be persuaded to
give India independence, and that they had to be forced to
do so. They advocated for a more militant approach to the
independence struggle, including swadeshi (self-reliance)
and swaraj (self-rule).
Important Tips
Prominent Extremist leaders, Lal-Bal-Pal Trio:
Lala Lajpat Rai:
• Lala Lajpat Rai, known as Punjab Kesari, was a
prominent freedom fighter and a key leader in
India’s struggle for independence. He studied law in
Lahore, influenced by Swami Dayananda Saraswati’s
Arya Samaj. Part of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio, he staunchly
opposed British policies, supported non-cooperation,
and founded the Home Rule League in the USA. Rai
championed social causes, founded institutions,
authored significant works, and co-founded Punjab
National Bank. His tragic death followed a lathi charge
during a protest against the Simon Commission in
Lahore.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak:
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak, known as Lokmanya Tilak,
was a freedom fighter, lawyer, and educationist born
on 23rd July 1856 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. He
co-founded Deccan Education Society and Fergusson
College. Advocating self-rule and swadeshi, he led the
Extremist faction during the Surat Split, striving for
complete independence. He initiated the Indian Home
Rule Movement and founded All India Home Rule
League. Tilak played a pivotal role in India’s struggle
for freedom, spending 6 years in Mandalay Prison
and contributing through newspapers, writings, and
political actions before passing away on 1st August
1920.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Bipin Chandra Pal:
• Bipin Chandra Pal, a secular orator, freedom fighter,
and social reformer, played a vital role in India’s
independence movement. A member of the Lal-
Bal-Pal trio, he advocated Swadeshi and boycotts to
combat poverty and nationalism. He opposed British
colonialism through strong nationalism, distinct from
Gandhi’s approach. As a journalist, he worked for
Bengal Public Opinion, New India, and The Tribune,
warning about geopolitical changes and India’s future
challenges.
Aurobindo Ghose:
• Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950), an Indian nationalist,
initially championed independence from British
rule and led extremist activities. Among the
extremist his approach was more radical and he had
ties with revolutionary groups like Anushilan Samiti
(Extremists and revolutionaries were different
groups with different strategies). He faced trial for
the Alipore Conspiracy but was only convicted for
anti-colonial articles. Mystical experiences in jail led
him to Pondicherry, where he embraced spiritual
transformation and founded Sri Aurobindo Ashram
with Integral Yoga, envisioning human evolution
into a divine existence. Notable works include “The
Life Divine,” “Synthesis of Yoga,” and the epic poem
“Savitri.”
52. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee was the first president of the
Indian National Congress. He was a lawyer and a social
reformer who was concerned about the lack of political
representation for Indians under British rule. He was elected
president of the Indian National Congress at its first session
in Bombay in 1885.
Important Tips
• Dadabhai Naoroji was the second president of the
Indian National Congress. The second Session was
held at Calcutta in 1886.
• Surendra Nath Bannerji was the ninth president of
the Indian National Congress. The ninth session was
held at Poona in 1895.
• Allan Octavian Hume was the founder of the Indian
National Congress. He never presided the Indian
National Congress Session.
• Madan Mohan Malviya served as the President of
Indian National Congress for highest number of
times before independence. He held the position of
the INC president in the years 1909, 1918, 1930, and
1932.
PYQ Workbook
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad became the President of
the Indian National Congress at the age of 35, making
him the youngest to hold this position. He held this
role continuously for six years, from 1940 to 1946.
He holds the record for being the Indian National
Congress’s longest-serving President before the
country gained independence.
• The list of Congress session Presidents featuring
foreign individuals comprises George Yule (1888),
William Weddenburn (1889, 1910), Alfred Webb
(1894), Henry Cotton (1904), and Annie Besant
(1917).
• The first female President of the Indian National
Congress was Annie Besant, who led the 1917
Calcutta session of the party, whereas the first Indian
female President of the Indian National Congress was
Sarojini Naidu at the Kanpur Session, 1925.
53. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Indian National Congress declared its policy
towards the Indian States for the first time at the Nagpur
session in 1920. The session was presided over by C.
Vijayaraghavachariar. The Congress declared that it would
work for the establishment of responsible government in
the Indian States. It also declared that it would support
the people of the Indian States in their struggle for self-
government.
54. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Jawaharlal Nehru spoke of socialism as the key to the
solution of India’s problems in his presidential address to
the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress in
1936. He said that socialism was “the only ideology which
can solve the problems of the world today” and that it was
“the only way to achieve real freedom and equality for the
people of India”.
55. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Pandit Jagat Narain Mulla was a prominent lawyer and
public prosecutor in the United Provinces during the British
Raj. He is noted for contesting the Kakori conspiracy case
on behalf of the British. He was a public prosecutor.He
was also a member of the Hunter Commission appointed
to inquire into the events in Punjab following the Jallianwala
Bagh massacre.
56. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Ghadar Party’s inaugural president and founder was
Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna. Lala Har Dayal held the
position of general secretary, while Pandit Kanshi Ram
Maroli undertook the role of treasurer.
112
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
57. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct match between List-I (Organizations) and List-
II (Founders) is:
A. Land Holders’ Society - 4. Dwarkanath Tagore
B. British India Society - 3. William Adams
C. Indian Society - 2. Anand Mohan Bose
D. Indian Association - 1. S.N. Banerji
58. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Amritsar Session of the Indian National Congress was
held in 1919. It was a historic session as it saw the passage
of the Non-Cooperation Resolution, which was a major
turning point in the Indian independence movement. The
session also passed a resolution to amend the Congress
Constitution. This amendment was to be drafted by Mahatma
Gandhi and two other members, N.C. Kelkar and I.B. Sen.
59. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak attended the Amritsar Session of
the Indian National Congress in 1919. He was arrested
by the British government shortly after the session and he
was imprisoned for two years. He died in 1920. Tilak was
a prominent Indian nationalist and freedom fighter who
was a leading figure in the Indian independence movement.
He was a strong advocate of Swaraj (self-rule) and he was a
critic of the British Raj.
60. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Ram Prasad Bismil was an Indian revolutionary who
participated in the Manipuri conspiracy of 1918, and the
Kakori conspiracy of 1925. He refused to drink the given
milk on the eve of his execution and said “Now, I shall take
my mother’s milk only”.
Important Tips
Ram Prasad Bismil:
• He was born on 11th June 1897 in a simple family in the
Shahjahanpur district of present-day Uttar Pradesh.
• He joined the Arya Samaj Youth Association and
began spreading the teachings of Swami Dayanand.
• He was a prolific writer and wrote patriotic poems in
Urdu and Hindi under various pen names: ‘Bismil’,
‘Ram’, and ‘Agyat’.
• He was involved in the Manipuri Conspiracy of
1918, wherein the police found a few young people,
including Bismil selling books that were banned by the
government.
• He was the mastermind behind the infamous Kakori
Conspiracy Case of 1925, where they looted a train
carrying government money, as they needed the funds
to support their activities.
113
• Bismil wrote his autobiography in Gorakhpur Central
Jail which apparently was taken out from jail by
Shiv Verma and later published by Ganesh Shankar
Vidyarthi.
• He was found guilty of waging war against the British
empire, given the death sentence and hanged on 19th
December 1927.
61. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
• Abhinav Bharat society was founded by Vinayak
Damodar Savarkar in 1904. It was one among several
such revolutionary societies functioning in Maharashtra
at that time, which believed in the overthrow of British
rule through armed rebellion.
• Mitra Mela was the precursor of Abhinav Bharat Society.
It was established by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his
brother Ganesh Damodar Savarkar at Nashik in the year
1899.
• Indian Republican Army was a short-lived revolutionary
army that was created by Surya Sen and the members of
the Anushilan Samiti in 1930. The army was created with
an aim of liberating the city of Chittagong and the Bengal
Presidency from British rule.
• Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) was a
revolutionary organization formed in 1924. It was
formed by Ram Prasad Bismil and Sachindra Nath
Sanyal. The main leaders of the Hindustan Republican
Association are Chandra Shekar Azad, Ram Prasad
Bismil, Ashfaq Ullah Khan, Thakur Roshan Singh
and Rajendra Lahiri. Sachindra Nath Sanyal wrote a
manifesto for the HRA entitled ‘Revolutionary’.
62. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
British authority managed to arrest the revolutionaries
involved in Kakori incident as there were some insiders, who
had betrayed them and provided information to the British
regime. As the case had generated tremendous interest
in the country, efforts were also launched to provide the
revolutionaries legal help and fight their case in the court.
A committee was formed under the chairmanship of freedom
fighter Motilal Nehru for this purpose. The Members in the
committee were Acharya Narendra Dev, Govind Ballabh
Pant, Chandra Bhai Gupta, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sriprakasha.
63. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Bhagat Singh said, “Merciless criticism and independent
thinking are the two necessary traits of revolutionary
thinking”. These constitute an integral part of his monumental
essay ‘Why I am an Atheist’, authored by him in prison a
mere five months before his execution.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Bhagat Singh:
• Bhagat Singh was born in the Rurhiwal village of
Amritsar district.
• In 1923, Bhagat Singh joined the National College,
Lahore which was founded and managed by Lala
Lajpat Rai and Bhai Parmanand.
• In 1924 in Kanpur, he became a member of the
Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), started
by Sachindranath Sanyal a year earlier. The main
organiser of the Association was Chandra Shekhar
Azad and Bhagat Singh became very close to him.
• In 1925, he and his colleagues started a militant youth
organisation called the Naujawan Bharat Sabha.
• To take revenge for the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat
Singh and his associates plotted the assassination of
James A. Scott, the Superintendent of Police. However,
the revolutionaries mistakenly killed J.P. Saunders.
The incident is famously known as Lahore Conspiracy
case (1929).
• His famous writings were - Why I Am an Atheist: An
Autobiographical Discourse and The Jail Notebook
and Other Writings.
• He was re-arrested for the murder of J.P. Saunders
and bomb manufacturing in the Lahore Conspiracy
case. He was found guilty in this case and was hanged
on 23 rd March, 1931 in Lahore along with Sukhdev and
Rajguru.
64. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Shyamji Krishna Verma founded India House in London
in 1905. India House was a hostel and meeting place for
Indian students and political activists in London. It was a
major center of Indian nationalist activity, and it played a
significant role in the Indian independence movement.
65. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Sir Andrew Fraser was the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal
from 1903 to 1908. It is said that the idea of partitioning
Bengal into two provinces in order to improve administrative
efficiency came actually from Andrew Fraser. Scholars also
believe that the partition of Bengal (1905) was not really
Curzon’s idea. However, official documents do indicate that
Curzon had great reliance on Fraser who had a number of
correspondences with him regarding the partition of Bengal
for the sake of better governance.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Sir Andrew Fraser
• Born on 14 November 1848, Andrew Henderson Fraser
was educated at Edinburgh Academy.
• He became a Barrister-at-Law from Middle Temple
and later joined the Indian Civil Service in 1871.
• Before he joined as Lieutenant Governor of Bengal,
Fraser held the position of Chief Commissioner of
Central Provinces (1899) and President of Police
Commission (1902).
• After the partition of Bengal, he continued to remain
Lieutenant Governor of the other part of Bengal, what
came to be known as Western Bengal (with Orissa and
Bihar)
• The Indian Police Commission of 1902-03, also
known as the Frazer Commission, was established by
the British government in India to reform the Indian
police system.
 It was headed by Sir Andrew Frazer and Lord
Curzon, and its main goal was to improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of the police force in
India.
 One of its key recommendations was the
establishment of a centralized police intelligence
system, which was considered to be a major success
in improving police intelligence gathering and
analysis.
 The Commission also recommended the separation
of the executive and judicial functions of the police,
and the creation of a police training school.
 Overall, the Frazer Commission’s recommendations
had a significant impact on the Indian police
system and many of its recommendations were
implemented.
66. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The British journalist H.W. Nevinson was associated with
Swadeshi Movement. The Swadeshi Movement, now known
as the ‘Make in India’ campaign was officially proclaimed
on 7 August 1905 at the Calcutta Town Hall, in Bengal.
The Boycott movement was also launched along with
the Swadeshi movement. The movements included using
goods produced in India and burning British-made goods.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak encouraged Swadeshi and Boycott
movement after the British government decided on the
partition of Bengal.
67. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on 13 April 1919.
Mahatma Gandhi was entrusted with the task of drafting
Congress Inquiry Committee report on the Jallianwala Bagh
Massacre.
114
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
68. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
A. Abul Kalam Azad - 4. Ramgarh, 1940.
Maulana Azad reflected on the course of the freedom struggle
after the end of the Second World War in the INC meeting.
B. Sarojini Naidu - 3. Kanpur, 1925.
The speech she delivered in the 1925 INC session sparked a
sense of patriotism among those who attended the session,
which was honored by prominent politicians such as Motilal
Nehru, Madan Mohan Malaviya, and M.R. Jayakar. Abdullah
Abdur Rehman, the leader of the Indian community in
South Africa, also participated in the session with the aim of
highlighting the plight of Indians living abroad
C. Motilal Nehru - 1. Amritsar, 1919.
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre was condemned strongly in 1919
INC session. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was a horrific
event that took place on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab.
The crowd had gathered at the bagh to protest the arrests
of two respected freedom struggle leaders, Dr. Saifuddin
Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal. British troops on the order of
General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering of unarmed
Indians, killing hundreds and injuring thousands.
D. Dr. Rajendra Prasad - 2. Bombay, 1934
Jawaharlal Nehru presented the resolution advocating the
establishment of a Constituent Assembly tasked with crafting
an appropriate Constitution for an independent India in
1934 session. Furthermore, during this session, decisions
were taken to reshape the structure of the Congress. The
number of Congress delegates was limited to 2000, effectively
reducing the strength of the All India Congress Committee
(AICC) by half.
Important Tips
About Sarojini Naidu:
• Known as Bharatiya Kokila (The Nightingale of India).
• Indian independence activist, poet, and politician.
• Born on February 13, 1879, in Hyderabad, India.
• Joined Indian national movement due to Bengal
partition in 1905.
• Received ‘Kaisar-i-Hind’ Medal for service during
plague epidemic.
Contribution to Indian Freedom Movement:
• First Indian Woman President of INC in 1925 (Kanpur
Session).
• Participated in Non-Cooperation Movement (1920).
• Led Salt Satyagraha in 1930 against British salt
monopoly.
• Arrested during “Quit India” movement in 1942, jailed
for 21 months.
• Traveled globally to raise awareness about India’s
struggle.
115
Political Contributions:
• Accompanied Gandhiji to second Round Table
Conference (1931).
• Became Governor of Uttar Pradesh post-independence.
• Poetry and Literary Works:
• Renowned poetess in English and Urdu.
• Famous works include “In the Bazaars of Hyderabad”,
“The Golden Threshold”, “The Bird of Time”, and “The
Broken Wing”.
Women’s Empowerment:
• Advocate for women’s rights and empowerment.
• Member of All-India Women’s Conference.
69. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Hussainiwala National Martyrs’Memorial in memory
of Indian freedom fighters Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev
and Rajguru is located near the village of Hussainiwal
in Ferozepur district of Punjab near the India-Pakistan
international border. This monument shows the place on the
banks of the river Sutlej where Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and
Rajguru were cremated on 23-03-1931.
70. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak earned the title of ‘Lokamanya’
during the Home Rule Movement.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak earned this title because of his
leadership and contribution to India’s freedom struggle.
“Lokamanya” mean “accepted by the people” in Marathi.
Important Tips
Books written by Bal Gangadhar Tilaka are:
• The Orion or Researches into the Antiquity of the
Vedas (1893)
• Arctic Home In The Vedas
• Gita Rahasya
• Vedic Chronology And Vedanga Jyotisha
71. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Chittaranjan Das appeared as a lawyer for Aurobindo
Ghosh in the Alipore conspiracy case. Chittaranjan Das is
popularly called ‘Deshbandhu’. The Alipore Bombay Case
Trial refers to an attempt to murder the district judge of
Muzaffarpur. The Alipore Bomb case conspiracy took place
in the year 1908. It is also known as the Manicktolla bomb
conspiracy or Muraripukar conspiracy. The case saw the
trial of a number of Indian nationalists of the Anushilan
Samiti in Calcutta, under charges of “Waging war against the
Government” of the British Raj.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Aurobindo Ghosh:
• Aurobindo Ghosh, born on 15 August 1872 in
Calcutta district (present-day Kolkata), West
Bengal, was an Indian nationalist, poet, philosopher,
and yogi.
• He played an active role in the Indian Freedom
Movement till 1910, after which he became a
spiritual reformer.
• Ravindra Nath Tagore painted him as the Messiah
of Indian Culture and Civilization and C R Das
hailed him as the ‘poet of patriotism, the prophet
of nationalism and the lover of humanity.’
• Aurobindo associated himself with journals and
periodicals like the Jugantar, Bande Mataram and
the Karmayogi, through which he criticised British
imperialism and preached a revolutionary concept
of nationalism.
• In 1908, he was arrested on the charge of the Alipore
Bomb Conspiracy Case and was acquitted in 1909
after a long trial.
• Some of his important writings are The Life Divine,
Savitri, Essay on the Gita, Defense of Indian
Culture, etc.
• He passed away on 5 December 1950.
Chittaranjan Das:
• He believed in extremist ideology and supported
the beliefs of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio.
• He also contributed to the English weekly ‘Bande
Mataram’ along with Aurobindo Ghosh.
• He championed the cause of Khadi and cottage
industries and gave up his own western clothes and
luxurious lifestyle.
• He, along with Motilal Nehru, established the
Swaraj Party in January 1923.
• He was a prolific writer and poet. He published
his collection of poems in two volumes titled
‘Malancha’ and ‘Mala’.
72. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
A provisional government of India was established in
Kabul, Afghanistan in December 1915 by a group of
Indian revolutionaries, led by Raja Mahendra Pratap. The
government was intended to be a government-in-exile that
would overthrow British rule in India. The provisional
government was not recognized by any other countries, but
it did receive some support from Germany and Turkey.
73. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
A. Dr. M.A. Ansari - 3. Madras
B. Purushottam Das Tandon - 4. Nasik
PYQ Workbook
C. Sarojini Naidu - 2. Kanpur
D. Subhash Chandra Bose - 1. Haripura
74. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi presided over only one session of the
Indian National Congress in 1924. The session was held
in Belgaum, Karnataka. During his presidential address,
Mahatma Gandhi discussed the importance of unity between
Hindus and Muslims, the boycott of foreign products,
the promotion of spinning and weaving Khadi, efforts to
eliminate untouchability, and various other matters.
75. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mitra Mela was a revolutionary organisation founded by
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar along with his brother Ganesh
Damodar Savarkar. They founded the Mitra Mela, a secret
organization of revolutionaries, in Nashik in 1899. In 1904,
it was renamed AbhinavBharat Society.
76. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Surendranath Banerjee and Krishna Kumar Mitra led the
agitation against the Bengal partition in 1905. The decision
to partition the state of Bengal was announced by Lord
Curzon, the then Viceroy of India in July 1905.
77. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Krishna Kumar Mitra was the first to suggest the boycott
of British goods in Bengal. The Swades Movement had its
genesis in the anti-partition movement which was started to
oppose the British decision to partition Bengal.
Important Tips
Krishna Kumar Mitra:
• Krishna Kumar Mitra (1852-1936) was one of the
leaders of the Brahma Samaj and the swadeshi
movement,
• In 1883, Krishna Kumar launched a nationalist Bengali
weekly, Savjibani, in cooperation with Kalishankar and
others. As editor, he endeavoured to raise the latent
nationalistic consciousness of the people
• He spread the Swadeshi idea through his paper,
‘Sanjeevani’. In one of his issues, he suggested that
people should pressurise the British government to
repeal the partition by boycotting British goods.
78. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Swadeshi movement started on 7 August 1905. It started
with the partition of Bengal by the Viceroy of India, Lord
Curzon in 1905 and continued up to 1911. It was the most
successful of the pre-Gandhian movement. It was led by
Syed Haider Raja in Delhi, Chidambaram Pillai in Madras,
116
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Lala lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh,
Lokmanya Tilak in Mumbai and Pune.
79. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Dadabhai Naoroji, positioned between moderates and
extremists, supported swadeshi in a distinct manner.
While not as radical as Tilak, Naoroji endorsed swaraj and
swadeshi in his 1906 Calcutta Congress speech. He shared
the end goal with extremists but differed on tactics. Although
criticized by both groups, his support for swaraj and the
swadeshi movement aligned with extremist sentiments. His
endorsement spurred them to pursue evolving ideas beyond
moderate strategies.
Important Tips
Leaders stand on swadeshi movement:
• While Aurobindo initially endorsed passive
resistance during the Swadeshi movement, he
believed in the ethical validity of armed struggle
if circumstances allowed. He criticized labeling all
violent methods as criminal, advocating strategic
choices. His focus was on achieving national
emancipation above all else, considering liberty
paramount. Aurobindo’s approach blended both
violence and non-violence as methods for freedom,
distancing himself from being an active proponent of
the Swadeshi movement’s principles.
• Pherozeshah Mehta, despite being associated
with the Liberal School of Indian politics, had
a more cautious approach towards the Swadeshi
movement. While he supported modernization and
education, Mehta was not as fervently aligned with
the radical aspects of the movement. His focus was
on constitutional means and administrative reform,
rather than the more assertive tactics like strikes and
boycotts. Mehta’s aversion to violent methods and his
desire for gradual, constructive change set him apart
from the more extremist proponents of Swadeshi
during his time.
• Subhas Chandra Bose, while appreciating the
Swadeshi Movement’s economic objectives, believed
in a more assertive and proactive approach. He
advocated for a direct confrontation with British
colonial rule through radical means, emphasizing
on aggressive mass mobilization, militant actions,
and organized resistance. Bose aimed for a swift and
forceful expulsion of the British rather than gradual
economic boycotts, emphasizing the need for more
active and assertive strategies to achieve India’s
independence.
80. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Jatin Mukherjee, better known as Bagha Jatin, was an Indian
independence activist who was born in 1879 in the division
of Bengal’s undivided Nadia district. He was the main
117
figurehead of the Yugantar party, the primary organization
of Bengal’s revolutionary independence activists. In 1903,
Jatin met Aurobindo Ghose and highly inspired by his
teachings. He accepted to join a project of organizing secret
society aimed at an armed uprising all over India. Bhagha
Jatin assumed leadership of Yugantar party in 1908.
Important Tips
Jugantar party:
• The Jugantar party was established by Barindra
Kumar Ghosh (Younger brother of Aurobindo Ghosh),
Bhupendranath Datta, Raja Subodh Mallik in April
1906. Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Bagha Jatin were the
main leaders.
• Yugantar was one of the two major secret revolutionary
movements of Anushilan Samiti fighting for Indian
independence in Bengal.
• During the First World War, the Jugantar party arranged
to import German arms and ammunition through
sympathizers and revolutionaries abroad. Bagha Jatin
asked Rashbehari Bose to take charge of Upper India,
aiming to bring about an all-India insurrection in
what has come to be called the ‘German Plot’ or the
‘Zimmerman Plan’.
81. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was never elected president of the
Indian National Congress. He was nominated for the
presidency several times, but he was always defeated by more
moderate leaders. This was because Tilak was seen as too
radical by many Congress members.
Important Tips
Significant Presidents of INC:
• Lala Lajpat Rai was elected president of the Special
Session of the Indian National Congress at Kolkata in
1920.
• Annie Besant was elected president of the Indian
National Congress in 1917 and 1933.
• Moti Lal Nehru was elected president of the Indian
National Congress in 1929.
82. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Haripura Session of the Indian National Congress was
presided over by Subhash Chandra Bose in 1938. National
Planning Committee was set up under the chairmanship of
Jawaharlal Nehru.
83. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Anushilan Samiti (Calcutta) was founded on 24 March 1902.
Pramathanath Mitra, known widely as P. Mitra, was a Bengali
Indian barrister and Indian nationalist who was among the
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
earliest founding members of the Indian revolutionary
organisation Anushilan Samiti. The people associated with
this samiti were Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, Chittaranjan Das,
Surendranath Tagore, Jatindranath Banerjee, Bagha Jatin,
Bhupendra Natha Datta, Barindra Kumar Ghosh etc.
84. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In 1915, Rash Behari Bose fled from India to avoid arrest
by the British government. He went to Japan and then
to Germany. In Germany, he established the Indian
Independence League in 1915. The league was committed
to promoting Indian independence through political and
diplomatic means. The Indian Independence League was
active in Europe and Asia during World War I. The league
also had branches in India.
Important Tips
• Captain Mohan Singh, an Indian soldier who fought
for the British, was captured and held as a prisoner
of war by the Japanese forces. While in captivity, a
Japanese army officer persuaded him to collaborate
with them for the cause of India’s independence. As
a result, he was appointed as the leader of the Indian
National Army.
• Subhash Chandra Bose joined the ranks of the Indian
National Army in 1943. One of his most renowned
pronouncements was, “Tum Mujhe khun do, main
tumhe Azadi doonga” (You give me blood, and I will
give you freedom). Under Subhash Bose’s guidance,
the INA played a pivotal role in the struggle for
independence
85. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Swami Shraddhanand was a great Arya Samajist, social
worker, educationalist, and freedom fighter of the country.
He started working with Congress for the liberation of
Bharat Mata. He strongly condemned the Jallianwala Bagh
Massacre of 13 April 1919 and joined the nationwide protest
against the Rowlatt Act in Delhi. He also suggested launching
a no tax campaign as a protest against the Rowlatt Act.
Shraddhanand led a procession at Chandni Chowk, Delhi,
against the oppressive Rowlatt Act.
Important Tips
Swami Shraddhanand
• He was born on 22 February 1856 at the village Talwan,
district Jalandhar of Punjab.
• Swami Shraddhanand’s childhood name was Brihaspati
but his father Lala Nanak Chand always called him
Munshi Ram.
• He began his career as a lawyer and then practiced at
Phillaur and Jalandhar.
• He met Swami Dayanand in September 1879 at Bareilly
where he visited the place for the promotion of Vedic
religion.
PYQ Workbook
• After hearing Dayanand’s views on Vedic religion,
Shraddhanand’s mind completely changed. He took up
the mission to propagate the principles of Arya Samaj
and Vedic ideas among the people.
• He also raised his voice for Hindu-Muslim unity.
86. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The organization formed by Surendranath Banerjee that
merged with the Indian National Congress in 1886 was
the Indian Association. The Indian Association played a
significant role in the early Indian nationalist movement,
advocating for Indian political rights. It initiated the idea
of an all-India conference, leading to the Indian National
Conference, and eventually merged with the Indian
National Congress in 1886 to work collectively for Indian
interests.
87. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent figure in India’s
freedom struggle, transformed the traditional Ganapati
festival into a national event with political significance.
Recognizing the power of unity, Tilak initiated public
celebrations in 1893 to foster a sense of togetherness. He
introduced large hoardings and immersion of massive
Ganesha statues on the tenth day, emphasizing collective
participation. This move played a crucial role in channeling
the festival’s spirit towards India’s independence movement.
88. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Shyamji Krishna Verma was an Indian freedom fighter and
social reformer who founded the Indian Home Rule Society
in London in 1905. The society was a radical organization
that advocated for complete independence from British rule.
89. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Abanindranath Tagore established the Indian society of
Oriental art along with his brother Gagendranath Tagore in
1907 in Calcutta to revive the ancient art traditions of India.
This Indian society of Oriental art sponsored by Europeans,
much popularized Tagore’s Bengal School.
Important Tips
Abanindranath Tagore (1871 -1951)
• He was the gifted landscape and portrait painter.
• His first painting was Radha Krishna series and his set
of paintings called Krishna Lila is the synthesis of the
Indian and European style.
• His Arabian Nights series is among his most renowned
work.
• Tagore best-known painting is Bharat Mata which
depicted Young women portrayed with 4arms in a
manner of Hindu tidy holding objects.
118
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• He was the principal of government school of art and a
great artist of modern India.
90. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Shankaran Nair became a member of the Viceroy’s Executive
Council in 1915. Jalianwala Bagh Massacre took place on
April 13,1919. About 20,000 protestors had assembled at
bagh to demonstrate against the Rowlatt act. General Dyer
open fired at peaceful demonstrators. About 379 people
were killed and more than 1000 were injured. Following the
Jalianwala Bagh Massacre Shankaran Nair resigned from
Viceroy’s Council in 1919 as a protest.
91. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
A. British Indian 3. Radha Kant Dev
Association
B. Bombay Presidency 2. K.T. Telang
Association
C. Central Mohammadan 4. Sayyid Amir Ali
National Association
D. Servants of India Society 1. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Important Tips
British Indian Association:
• The British Indian Association, established in
1851 in Kolkata, India, was a political organization
advocating for Indian welfare and rights. Radhakanta
Deb served as its first President, and it included
members like Peary Chand Mitra. The association
demanded Indian education, end to East India
Company’s monopoly, support for local industry, and
Indian civil service inclusion. Its demands influenced
the Indian National Congress. The association ceased
in 1954 with the end of the Zamindari system.
Central National Muhamedan Association:
• The Central National Muhamedan Association,
founded by Syed Ameer Ali in Calcutta in 1877,
aimed to uplift Muslims through lawful means,
promoting education, moral values, and political
consciousness. It countered Hindu-dominated
organizations, seeking Muslim welfare and loyalty to
the British government. With branches across India
and London, it played a role in modernizing Muslims
and addressing their issues.
Servants of India Society:
• The Servants of India Society, founded in Pune,
Maharashtra, in 1905 by Gopal Krishna Gokhale,
aimed to promote social and human development
while opposing British rule. It focused on
education, health care, sanitation, and social issues
like untouchability and women’s rights. Remaining
apolitical, it declined after Gokhale’s death, with
Gandhi’s movement gaining prominence. It continues
with limited activities today.
119
92. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Shiv Verma was the member of Hindustan Socialist
Republican Association (HSRA), which was founded in 1928.
He was not the member of HRA which was formed in 1924.
Ram Prasad Bismil was the founding member of HRA.In
1924 – 25, many young people joined the HRA including
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Chandrasekhar Azad.
93. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
In 1916, Bal Gangadhar Tilak voiced the phrase “Freedom
is my birthright and I shall obtain it!” in Lucknow. During
the same year and place, he also established the Home Rule
League in April 1916.
94. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
M.K Gandhi- He presided over the Belgaum Session of the
Indian National Congress in 1924.
Smt. Sarojini Naidu- She presided over the Kanpur Session
of the Indian National Congress in 1925.
Jawahar Lal Nehru- He presided over the Lahore Session
(1929), Lucknow Session (1937), Faizpur Session (1936),
Delhi Session (1951), Hyderabad Session (1953), and
Kalyani Session (1954).
Vallabh Bhai Patel- He presided over the Karachi Session of
the Indian National Congress in 1931.
95. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Option 1 is correct: Abhinav Bharat society was founded
by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in 1904. It was engaged
in revolutionary activities. It was one among several such
revolutionary societies functioning in Maharashtra at that
time, which believed in the overthrow of British rule through
armed rebellion. Vinayak Savarkar and Ganesh Savarkar
founded the revolutionary secret society Mitra Mela in
Nasik in 1899. Vinayak Savarkar renamed it Abhinav Bharat
in 1904.
Option 2 is correct: Anushilan Samiti was formed by Satish
Chandra Basu in 1902.He named it after Bankimchandra’s
play Anushilan-Tattva or theory of discipline and
Pramathanath Mitra was its main patron. The society’s goal
was to organise and train the youth to start a revolutionary
war against the British.
Option 3 is incorrect: New Nationalist Party was not
any such famous organisation which was engaged in
revolutionary activities.
Option 4 is incorrect: Indian Patriotic Association was
formed in 1888 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Raja Shiv Prasad
Singh of Benaras. The main objective of this association was
to create a platform for the Indian Muslims to express their
loyalty towards the British Raj and to promote the interest
of the Indian Muslims. It was not engaged in revolutionary
activities against British Raj.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
96. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Madan Lal Dhingra was a revolutionary who assassinated
Sir Curzon Wyllie, a British political figure, in London in
1909. He was sentenced to death and hanged.
Udham Singh was a revolutionary who assassinated Michael
O’Dwyer, a British official who was responsible for the
Jallianwala Bagh massacre, in London in 1940. He was also
sentenced to death and hanged.
Important Tips
• Rajguru and Sukhdev were revolutionary associated
with Bhagat Singh. They were hanged in India for
their involvement in the murder of John Saunders, a
British police officer.
• Khudiram Bose and Surya Sen were revolutionary
associated with the Anushilan Samiti. They
were hanged in India for their involvement in the
Muzaffarpur Conspiracy Case.
• Kartar Singh Sarabha and Ashfaqullah Khan were
revolutionary associated with the Ghadar Party. They
were hanged in India for their involvement in the
Lahore Conspiracy Case.
97. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Morley-Minto reforms introduced Reservation of seats and
separate electorates for the Muslims. Some constituencies
were earmarked for Muslims and only Muslims could vote
their representatives. This event sow the seeds of discard
which eventually caused to divide the country
98. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Bhikaiji Rustom Cama, acclaimed as the Mother of the Indian
Revolution, played a pivotal role in the overseas Indian
freedom struggle. On August 22, 1907, she accomplished a
historic feat by being the first to unfurl the Indian flag on
foreign soil in Stuttgart, Germany. Her powerful advocacy
for human rights, equality, and self-governance from
British rule resonated through her compelling descriptions
of the devastation wrought by a famine in the Indian
subcontinent. She eloquently proclaimed, ‘This is the flag
of independent India. I appeal to all gentlemen to stand
and salute the Flag.’ Collaborating with Shyamji Krishna
Varma, she designed the altered ‘Calcutta Flag,’ which she
raised. Additionally, from Paris, she authored, published,
and disseminated revolutionary materials. When the British
proscribed ‘Vande Mataram,’ she responded by composing
‘Bande Mataram.’ Her unyielding spirit extended to creating
‘Madan’s Talwar’ in response to the execution of Madan Lal
Dhingra.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Ramabai Ambedkar:
Ramabai Bhimrao Ambedkar (7 February 1898 – 27 May
1935) was the first spouse of B. R. Ambedkar, whose
unwavering support played a pivotal role in enabling
him to pursue advanced education and realize his full
potential. B. R. Ambedkar dedicated his 1941 publication,
‘Thoughts on Pakistan,’ to Ramabai. In the preface,
Ambedkar attributes to her his evolution from an ordinary
Bhiva or Bhima to Dr. Ambedkar.
Pandita Rama Bai:
Pandita Ramabai was born into an upper-caste Hindu
household, where her father worked as a skilled narrator
of Hindu epics and mythical tales. She wrote books
such as The High Caste Hindu Woman, published
in1887. A staunch promoter of women’s education and
empowerment, she went on to establish the Arya Mahila
Samaj, an institution committed to enhancing the status
of women in India. Ramabai’s deep understanding and
analyses of diverse Sanskrit texts led to her being honored
with the prestigious epithet ‘Saraswati,’ underscoring her
exceptional intellectual capabilities and mastery in the
field.
Annie Besant:
Dr. Annie Besant took the initiative to establish two
newspapers, namely Commonweal and New India. In the
era of the home rule movement, she founded the National
College in Madanapalle, with J.H. Cousins serving as the
principal in 1916. This institution is now recognized as
Besant Theosophical College. Notably, she attained the
distinction of becoming the first female president of the
Indian National Congress in 1917. Her contributions
extended to the founding of the Central Hindu College in
Benaras, which was later elevated to the status of Benaras
Hindu University by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in
1916.
Sarojini Naidu:
A trailblazer, she holds the honor of being the first Indian
woman to preside over the Indian National Congress. Her
elevation to this position transpired during the Kanpur
session in 1925. Acknowledged for her remarkable
prowess in poetry, she earned the title “Nightingale of
India” due to her substantial contributions in the realm
of poetry. She was often referred to as ‘Bharat Kokila’.
Pioneering yet again, she became the inaugural woman
to assume the role of governor in the dominion of India,
specifically taking up the position of governor of the
United Provinces in 1947
99. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
On 7th February 1856, Lord Dalhousie ordered to depose
Wajid Ali Shah on the account of alleged internal misrule.
Dar-o-Deewar par Hasrat Ki Nazar Karte Hain,Khush Raho
Ahle Watan hum to safar karte hein” was composed when
120
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Wajid Ali Shah was forced to leave Oudh. The mind of Wajid
Ali Shah was full of sorrow but still he felt that his country
and countrymen should be well and happy. Wajid Ali Shah
himself composed Ghazals under the pen name of ‘Akbtar
Piya’.
100. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
People were gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar to
protest against the arrest of Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal
on 13th April 1919. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre or the
Amritsar Massacre took place when many villagers gathered
in the park for the celebration of Baisakhi. The gatherers
wanted to also peacefully protest the arrest and deportation
of two national leaders, Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew.
Important Tips
Consequence of Jallianwala Bagh:
• On october 14, 1919, the Government of India
announced the formation of the Disorders Inquiry
Committee, famously known as Hunter Committee.
• The purpose of the commission was to investigate the
disturbance in Bombay, Delhi and Punjab.
101. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Lord Curzon was the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905.
He was a critic of the Indian National Congress and he
believed that it was a threat to British rule in India. He
made the statement about the Congress- “The Congress is
faltering to its fall and one of my great ambitions while
in India is to assist it to a peaceful demise.” Curzon’s
statement was made in a private letter to his friend, Lord
George Hamilton, the Secretary of State for India. The
letter was leaked to the press, and it caused a great deal of
anger and resentment among Indian nationalists. Curzon’s
statement was also a reflection of the British government’s
attitude towards the Indian National Congress at the time.
The British government was concerned about the growing
popularity of the Congress, and it was trying to find ways to
undermine its influence.
102. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The correct order is Permanent Settlement- Subsidiary
alliance - Annexation Policy - Partition of Bengal.
• The Partition of Bengal was a territorial reorganization
of the Bengal Presidency implemented by the authorities
of the British Raj in 1905.
• Annexation Policy was introduced by Lord Dalhousie
that remained effective from 1848 - 56
• Lord Wellesley introduced Subsidiary alliance from 1798
- 1805
• Lord Cornwallis introduced Permanent Settlement in
1793
121
103. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The massacre of the Jallianwala Bagh event was, characterized
by Montagu as ‘Preventive Murder’. According to him, it was
to save the public interest.
Important Tips
After the Incident of Jallianwala Bagh:
• The Bengali poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath
Tagore renounced the knighthood that he had received
in 1915.
• Gandhi soon began organizing his first large-scale and
sustained nonviolent protest (satyagraha) campaign,
the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22).
104. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
During the second session of the National Conference
in 1885, Surendranath Bannerjee was in Calcutta. The
inaugural session of the Indian National Congress, took place
in Bombay on December 28th, 1885, immediately following
the conclusion of the National Conference. Consequently, he
was unable to attend the inaugural session in Bombay.
Important Tips
About Surendranath Banerjee:
Basic Information:
• Surendranath Banerjee, known as Rashtraguru
• Founded Indian National Association in 1876 for
political reforms
• Established “The Bengalee” newspaper
• Passed Indian civil service exams in 1869 and 1871-
Disqualified in 1869 due to age dispute- Dismissed in
1871 due to racial discrimination.
• Advocated for civil disobedience movement
Background:
• Born on November 10, 1848, in Calcutta
• Graduated from Calcutta University in 1868
• Attempted Indian Civil Services competition in
England
• Became a Professor of English in 1875
Contributions & Achievements:
• Inspired Indian students, eloquent speaker
• Founded Indian Association on July 26, 1876,
promoting political unity
• Organized National Conference sessions, emphasizing
unity
• First Indian National Congress session held in Bombay
in 1885
• Played leading role, President of Congress in 1895 and
1902
• Peak in political career in 1906, followed by decline
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
105. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
After the Kakori setback, the younger revolutionaries,
inspired by socialist ideas, set out to reorganise Hindustan
Republic Association (HRA) at a historic meeting in
the ruins of Ferozshah Kotla in Delhi in September 1928.
The name of HRA was changed to Hindustan Socialist
Republican Association (HSRA) under the leadership of
Chandrashekhar Azad. The participants included Bhagat
Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, Bhagwati Charan Vohra, Bejoy
Kumar Sinha, Shiv Verma, and Jaidev Kapur The HSRA
decided to work under a collective leadership and adopted
socialism as its official goal.
106. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Jatin Das arrested for his involvement in Lahore Conspiracy
case of 1929. Many young revolutionaries including Bhagat
Singh, Jatin Das, Raj guru and Sukh Dev were charged for
involvement in the murder of police officer J P Saunders in
1929, which is famously known as Lahore Conspiracy Case.
Jatin Das passed away after a sixty-three-day hunger strike
while he was imprisoned in the Lahore jail.
107. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Udham Singh was a Indian revolutionary and freedom
fighter belonging to the Ghadar Party. He shot and killed
Michael O’ Dwyer on 13 March 1940 in Britain. Michael O’
Dyer was Lieutenant General of Punjab when Amritsar’s
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre happened on April 13, 1919.
108. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Home Rule Movement was the Indian response to the
First World War in a less charged but a more effective way.
Tilak started his efforts to spark a revolutionary shift by
establishing a Home rule league in Maharashtra (excluding
Bombay), Karnataka, and the central provinces in April
1916. Later that year, Annie Besant founded her Home Rule
movement in September 1916.
Important Tips
Some of the factors leading to the formation of the
Home Rule Movement were as follows:
• A section of the nationalists felt that popular
pressure was required to attain concessions from the
government.
• The Moderates were disillusioned with the Morley-
Minto reforms.
• People were feeling the burden of wartime miseries
caused by high taxation and a rise in prices, and were
ready to participate in any aggressive movement of
protest.
• The world war I exposed the myth of white superiority.
PYQ Workbook
• Tilak was ready to assume leadership after his release
in June 1914. He also admitted that the acts of violence
had only served to retard the pace of political progress
in India.
• Annie Besant, the Irish theosophist based in India
since 1896, had decided to enlarge the sphere of her
activities to include the building of a movement for
home rule on the lines of the Irish Home Rule Leagues.
109. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lord Chelmsford was the Viceory of India when the
Jallianwala Bagh massacre 1919 took place. Jallianwala Bagh
massacre took place in Amritsar when people congregated in
Jallianwala Bagh on the eve of Baisakhi day.
110. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was famously called the ‘Father of
Indian Unrest’ by Valentine Chirol of The Times (London).
He was arrested for 18 months for writing in his newspaper
criticising the measures adopted by the government to
tackle the bubonic plague epidemic. This title was used to
characterize his role in the Indian freedom movement and
his efforts in advocating for self-governance and challenging
British rule through his nationalist activities and writings.
111. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
On 8th April, 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Datta
threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly. The aim
was not to kill but “to make the deaf hear”, and to remind the
foreign government of its callous exploitation.
112. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
R. N. Tagore was critical of the developments during
the Swadeshi movement, considering them “xenophobic,
chauvinistic” Around 1908 he wrote to friend Aurobindo
Mohan Bose, saying, “Patriotism cannot be our final
spiritual center, I will never allow patriotism to triumph over
humanity.” Tagore’s 1925 essay, Cult of the Charkha, severely
criticised the Swadeshi movement and Gandhi’s idea of
‘charkha spinning’ was a means to achieve independence. “A
nation,” he wrote during this period, “ is that aspect which a
whole population assumes when organized for a mechanical
purpose”, a purpose often associated with a “selfishness” that
“can be a grandly magnified form” of personal selfishness.
Important Tips
Tagore’s View:
• The Swadeshi movement, which gained momentum as
a reaction to Lord Curzon’s decision to divide Bengal
along communal lines in 1905, saw Tagore as a leading
figure against the division.
122
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• In this phase of tumult, where Tagore envisioned
change would come with unity and education, he wrote
songs of patriotism such as Banglar Maati Banglar Jol
(Earth of Bengal, Water of Bengal) that bolstered the
movements and also epitomised Hindu-Muslim unity.
• During this time, the British faced pecuniary loss
and Indian industries got a chance to flourish in an
environment made favourable by nationalist zeal.
• Among those who benefitted are Prafulla Chandra
Ray’s Bengal Chemicals, J.N. Tata’s Iron and Steel
Company, the Bengal Luxmi Cotton Mills and the
Mohini Mill, etc.
113. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The East India Association was not based in Calcutta but
was a London-based organization. Similarly, the Indian
Association was not based in Bombay but was founded in
Bengal.
Important Tips
British India Society:
• The British India Society, established in 1839 in
London, aimed to promote ethical practices in
British India through collaboration between British
and American abolitionists, East India Company
members, and Bengal’s elite. Advocating against
slavery, EIC misrule, and for private enterprise, it was
founded by individuals like William Adam, George
Thompson, William Ednis, and Major General Briggs
after Adam’s visit to Raja Ram Mohan Roy in India.
East India Association:
• The East India Association (EIA), founded by
Dadabhai Naoroji in 1866, was a London-based
organization engaging with Indian matters. It
included Indian members and retired British officials.
A precursor to the Indian National Congress, the EIA
later merged with other groups, evolving into the
Britain, India, and Pakistan Association. It published
the Journal of the East India Association and the
Asiatic Quarterly Review.
National Indian Association:
• The National Indian Association (NIA), founded
in 1870 by Mary Carpenter with Keshub Chunder
Sen’s assistance, aimed to promote female education
and raise British awareness about Indian affairs.
Its London branch, established by Mrs. Manning and
Elizabeth Manning in 1871, later became headquarters.
The NIA facilitated social interaction between Indians
and the British, organizing events, lectures, and
publishing a journal.
123
Indian Association:
• The Indian Association, founded in 1876 by
Surendranath Banerjea and Ananda Mohan Bose,
emerged in Bengal as a nationalist political entity
advocating local self-governance. It replaced the
Indian League and competed with the British Indian
Association, mostly gaining support from Bengal’s
younger intelligentsia. Expanding nationwide while
retaining its Bengal identity, it found provincial
branches through expatriate Bengali communities.
114. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The correct match between List-I and List-II is:
A. Indian League - 1. Shishir Kumar Ghosh
B. Indian Association - 2. Anand Mohan Bose
C. India National Liberal Federation - 4. Surendranath
Bannerjee
D. United Indian Patriotic Association - 3. Syyad Ahmad
Khan
Important Tips
The Indian National Liberal Federation:
• The Indian National Liberal Federation (INLF),
founded in 1919, emerged from a schism within the
Indian National Congress. Led by Surendra Nath
Banerjea and prominent leaders like Tej Bahadur
Sapru and V. S. Srinivasa Sastri, it aimed to engage
in constitutional discussions with British officials.
The INLF played a role in advocating for India’s
constitutional representation, leading to initiatives like
the Nehru Report and participation in the Round Table
Conferences.
United Indian Patriotic Association:
• The United Indian Patriotic Association, founded in
1888 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Raja Shiv Prasad
Singh of Benaras, aimed to strengthen Muslim-British
ties and counter Indian National Congress influence.
Encouraged by British officials, it opposed Congress
propaganda and promoted their interests.
115. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
V. O. Chidambaram Pillai was popularly known as
Kappalottiya Tamilan (The Tamil Helmsman) and
Sekkizuththa Semmal (scholarly gentry who suffered at the
oil press). He entered politics in 1905 following the partition
of Bengal. Towards the end of 1905, he visited Madras and
was drawn closer to the Swadeshi Movement initiated by
Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai. He was leader of
Swadeshi movement in Madras.
116. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Ashfaque-ullah Khan was the first recorded Muslim
revolutionary who was hanged for Indian freedom. He was
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
involved in the Kakori incident of 1925. He met Ram Prasad
Bismil in the year 1920, and their friendship that blossomed
ended only with their death in 1927. Ashfaqullah and
Bismil worked together in the Non-Cooperation Movement,
campaigned for the Swaraj party, and carried out missions
for the HRA, which was founded in 1924. He wrote several
poems and couplets under the pen name of ‘hasrat’ and
‘warsi’. Along with his fellow comrades Ramprasad Bismil
and Thakur Roshan Singh, Ashfaqullah Khan was hanged on
19th December 1927 in Faizabad.
117. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct sequence is 2- 1 - 3
• On 10th April, 1919, two leaders of Punjab Dr. Saifuddin
Kitchlu and Dr. Satyapal were incarcerated (arrested)
and deported to an undisclosed place without any trial. It
created a turmoil situation in Punjab.
• Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place on 13 April 1919
(on Baisakhi) at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab
province. This gathering was organized to oppose the
“Rowlatt Act”. The British officer “General Dyer” opened
fire on the crowd present in the meeting, in which more
than 1000 people died as reported. Jallianwala Bagh
massacre happened during the tenure of governor-
general Lord Chelmsford
• Indian National Congress’s Amritsar session (34th
Session) was held from 27 December, 1919 till 1 January,
1920 in Amritsar, Punjab. The session was presided over
by Pandit Motilal Nehru. The session took place in the
aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 1919),
the air-bombing of Gujranwala and the imposition of
martial law in Punjab.
118. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak accused the Indian National
Congress of practising ‘politics of prayer, petition and
protest’. He believed that this method was not effective in
achieving independence for India. He advocated for a more
militant approach, which included swadeshi (self-reliance)
and swaraj (self-rule).
119. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Curzon came up with the idea to suppress the rising tide
of nationalism in Bengal. According to him the Bengali
intelligentsia was primarily responsible for the spread of
nationalism in different parts of India. Thus Curzon wanted
to ensure that the minority consciousness should be used
against the majority and that this would then break the
solidarity of Indian society, and in turn, break the solidarity
of the Indian National Movement as wells. The ‘Partition of
Bengal’ was at the core of his policies.
120. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
The Indian National Association, later known as the
Indian Association of Calcutta, was established in 1876
by Surendranath Banerjee and Anand Mohan Bose. This
nationalist organization aimed to promote legitimate means
for India’s political, intellectual, and material advancement.
It was a significant pre-Congress organization, advocating
for public opinion on political matters and uniting Indians
behind a common political agenda. The association
eventually merged with the Indian National Congress in
1886.
121. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Khudiram Bose, along with Prafulla Chaki, tried to
assassinate Kingsford in Muzaffarpur on the eve of 30 th April
1908 AD. Douglas H Kingsford was the Chief Presidency
Magistrate of Calcutta at the time. He was a target of the
revolutionaries as he was known for his harsh treatment and
vindictiveness towards the freedom fighters.
Important Tips
Khudiram Bose:
• Khudiram joined the Anushilan Samiti in 1908.
• Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Kumar Chaki were
appointed to carry out the mission of assassinating
Kingsford. But they failed and mistakenly assassinated
the wife and daughter of a barrister called Pringle
Kennedy.
• Young Khudiram, at the age of eighteen, was executed
on 11 August 1908, making him one of the youngest
revolutionaries in India to be hanged by the British.
• The Poet Pitambar Das made his sacrifice immortal
in the popular Bengali song Ek Baar Bidaye De Ma, a
song that resonates with the passion the young boy had
for his motherland.
122. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
‘The partition announcement fell like a bomb shell. We felt
that we had been insulted, humiliated, and tricked’. This
statement was said by Surendra Nath Banerjee.
Important Tips
Surendranath Banerjee:
• Surendranath Banerjee was the founder of the Indian
Liberation Federation (1919) and Indian National
Association.
• He was the co-founder of the Indian National Congress.
• He was born on 10th November 1848 in Bengal and
died on 6th August 1925 in Barrackpore Calcutta at the
age of 76 years.
• He was influenced by the writings of Mazzini
123. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
124
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
To express the viewpoint on the necessary social issues
with due consent of the educated class, was not one of the
objectives of the Indian National Congress as pointed out by
W.C. Banerjee in 1885. This is because the Indian National
Congress was initially formed as a moderate organization
that aimed to work within the existing British system.
The moderates believed that it was important to win the
consent of the British government before making any major
changes to the social and political structure of India. They
also believed that it was important to involve the educated
class in the freedom struggle, as they were seen as the
natural leaders of the Indian people. However, as the Indian
National Congress became more radical in the early 20th
century, it began to take a more active role in addressing
social issues. For example, the Congress played a major role
in the passage of the Hindu Code Bill in 1956, which gave
women equal rights in marriage, divorce, and inheritance.
Important Tips
The objectives of the Indian National Congress as
pointed out by W.C. Banerjee in 1885 were:
• To promote contact and friendship among the people
of all parts of India.
• To promote the feeling of nationalism among the
people of India.
• To remove all racial, religious and provincial prejudices
among the people of India.
• To present the views of the people of India to the
government.
• To work for the improvement of the social and
economic conditions of the people of India.
124. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Rahimtulla Mahomed Sayani was the second Muslim
president of the Indian National Congress. He was a
Khoja Muslim who was born in Bombay in 1847. He was
a lawyer and a social reformer who was active in the Indian
independence movement. Sayani was elected president of
the Indian National Congress in 1896. He was a moderate
leader who believed in working within the British system to
achieve self-rule for India. He was also a strong advocate for
social reform, and he worked to improve the condition of
the poor and the marginalized.
125. Solution: (e)
Exp) Option e is the correct answer.
Bismil Azimabadi is the author of the popular song,
Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai. He was an
Urdu poet from Patna, Bihar. Bismil wrote the Sarfaroshi ki
Tamanna after the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. The poem was
first recited in 1920 at the Congress session of Kolkata.
In 1921, it was published in the Urdu daily Sabah. It later
became a war cry for several other freedom fighters. In 1927,
Ram Prasad Bismil chanted this poem on the way to the
gallows before being hanged by the British force. Hence,
none of the above is the answer.
125
126. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
V.D. Savarkar founded the ‘Abhinav Bharat,’ a covert
association established by him and his sibling Ganesh
Damodar Savarkar in 1904. Initially known as Mitra Mela
and originating in Nasik, this society collaborated with
numerous revolutionaries and political advocates, extending
its presence to multiple locations in India as well as London.
Important Tips
V.D. Savarkar:
Born on May 28, 1883, in Bhagur, a village close to Nashik
in Maharashtra, V.D. Savarkar embarked on an influential
journey. He established the covert Abhinav Bharat Society
and ventured to the United Kingdom, affiliating with
groups like India House and the Free India Society. His
involvement extended to shaping the Hindu Mahasabha
and holding its presidency from 1937 to 1943. Notably,
Savarkar authored ‘The History of the War of Indian
Independence,’ which delved into the guerrilla tactics
employed during the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny. He also penned
‘Hindutva: Who is Hindu,’ contributing to significant
ideological discussions.
127. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Kakori Train Action involved the robbery of the
Number 8 down-train travelling from Shahjahanpur to
Lucknow on 9 August, 1925. The idea was to attack the
guard cabin that was carrying state money to be deposited
in Lucknow. A train was robbed at Kakori (near Lucknow)
by Bismil and other members of the Hindustan Socialist
Republican Army. The loot was to be used for purchasing
weapons for fighting the British. However, all the key people
involved in the robbery were arrested. Ramprasad Bismil,
Ashfaqulla Khan, Rajendranath Lahiri and Roshan Singh
were sentenced to death.
128. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi opposed Rowlatt’s act via non-violent
Satyagraha. He called a hartal on 6 April 1919. On 13th
April, Baisakhi day, a large crowd of people unaware of the
prohibitory orders in the Amritsar gathered in the Jallianwala
Bagh to Protest against the arrest of two congressmen Dr.
Saifuddin Kitchlu and Dr. Satyal by British Officials. The
troops surrounded the gathering under orders from General
Dyer and blocked the only exit point and opened fire on
the unarmed crowd killing more than 1000 unarmed men,
women, and children.
129. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Sachindra Nath Sanyal established a branch of Anushilan
Samiti at Patna in 1913. Bankimchandra Mitra of BN College
was given responsibilities to lead the organisation.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Anushilan Samiti:
• The society’s goal was to organise and train the youth
to start a revolutionary war against the British.
• It had two branches: the Jugantar Group in Kolkata
and the Dhaka Anushilan Samiti in Dhaka.
• The Samiti published “Bhavani Mandir” in 1905,
which included a thorough plan for constructing a
religious sanctuary as the focal point of revolutionary
operations in a remote location.
• In order to instill the required revolutionary mindset
among Indians, Aurobindo Ghosh and Bipin Chandra
Pal launched the Bengali nationalist weekly “Jugantar”
(New Era) and its English counterpart “Bande
Mataram” in March 1906. Both publications openly
preached armed revolt.
• Anushilan Samiti was a well-known covert
revolutionary organisation that operated out of Bengal
in the 20th century with the goal of removing colonial
authority and igniting India’s independence movement.
130. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Chittaranjan Das was the President of the Gaya Session
of the Indian National Congress held in 1922. He was a
prominent Indian nationalist and lawyer who was a close
associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a strong advocate of
the Non-Cooperation Movement and he played a key role
in its success.
Important Tips
The Gaya Session of the Indian National Congress
was a significant event in the history of the Indian
independence movement. It was at this session that the
Congress adopted the Swaraj Constitution, which was a
blueprint for self-government in India. The session also
saw the Congress declare its policy of non-violence and
its commitment to Hindu-Muslim unity.
131. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Swadeshi Movement was started in 1905 to oppose the British
decision of partitioning of Bengal. It involved boycotting
British products and the revival of domestic products and
production processes. The objective was to exert sufficient
pressure on the Government to prevent the unjust partition
of Bengal from being implemented. But still the government
went on with the decision and announced the partition in
July 1905.
Important Tips
Events and their occurrence years:
• Civil Disobedience Movement - March 12, 1930.
• Swadeshi Movement - August 7, 1905.
• Quit India Movement - August 8, 1942.
• Non-Cooperation Movement - August 1, 1920.
PYQ Workbook
132. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The protest method of the moderate leaders of the
Congress was constitutional agitation. They believed
that the best way to achieve self-rule for India was through
persuasion and cooperation with the British. They used
methods such as petitions, protests, and delegations to the
British government to voice their demands.
Important Tips
The Moderates, in pursuit of their objectives, employed
a range of methods:
• Demand for Reforms and Critique: They articulated
demands for reform and critiqued government policies,
aiming to improve Indian conditions.
• Preference for Non-Violence: Instead of violence,
they advocated patience and reconciliation, focusing
on peaceful means to achieve their goals.
• Constitutional and Peaceful Approaches: They relied
on constitutional methods and peaceful strategies,
seeking change through legal and established channels.
• Educational Initiatives: Their efforts centered on
educating and awakening public political awareness,
fostering informed opinions.
• Creating British Public Opinion: To garner support
in England, they organized lectures and published a
weekly journal named ‘India’ for British readership.
• Newspapers and Journals: They utilized newspapers
like the Bengali press, Bombay Chronicle, Hindustan
Times, Induprakash, Rast Goftar, and the weekly
journal ‘India’ to criticize government policies.
• Public Meetings and Discussions: They convened
meetings across locations like England, Mumbai,
Allahabad, Pune, and Calcutta, addressing social,
economic, and cultural issues.
• Memoranda and Petitions: The Moderates drafted
and submitted memoranda and petitions to both the
Indian and British officials, along with the British
Parliament. These documents aimed to enlighten the
British public and leaders about Indian conditions,
fostering understanding and support for change.
133. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Lala Lajpat Rai said “Congress Movement was neither
inspired by the people, nor devised or planned by them”
because he believed that the Congress Movement was
dominated by a small group of elite Indians who were out
of touch with the needs of the masses. He also believed that
the Congress Movement was too focused on achieving self-
rule through constitutional means and that it was not doing
enough to address the social and economic problems facing
India.
126
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
134. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Doctrine of Passive Resistance proposed by Aurobindo
Ghose (1872- 1950). It was an alternative to expelling the
colonial power from the country. He calls for organized
political resistance to achieve liberty for India. For this goal,
he proposes the concept of “Passive Resistance”, with the
connected ideas of self-development and self-help. According
to Aurobindo, through this concept, Indians could effectively
dispute every facet of colonial rule, without engaging in
armed rebellion. A four-tier program was suggested for this;
development of India as a self-governing country, evolving
the defense capability, driving out the foreign rule from
every sphere of society and establishing self-rule.
135. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The second session of the Indian National Congress was
held in Calcutta in 1886. It was attended by 150 delegates
from all over India. The session was presided over by
Dadabhai Naoroji.
136. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Aurobindo Ghosh, born in 1872, was a key figure in
the Extremist wing of the Indian National Congress.
Advocating for India’s freedom, he led revolutionary efforts
through youth clubs like Anushilan Samiti. As principal
of Kolkata’s National College, Ghosh championed radical
means for independence. His role in the 1907 Congress split
between Moderates and Extremists underscored his stance.
Arrested in the 1908 Alipore Bomb Case, Ghosh’s resolute
commitment to India’s liberation remains notable in the
nation’s history.
137. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Inquilab Zindabad, can be translated as “Long Live
Revolution” was coined by Moulana Hasrat Mohani in the
year 1921. It was one of the most famous slogans during the
Indian freedom struggle. It was popularized by Bhagat Singh
during the late 1920s through his speeches and writings. This
slogan was shouted by Bhagat Singh and his companion B.
K. Dutt after bombing the Central Legislative Assembly in
1929.
138. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The founder of the Indian National Congress was Allan
Octavian Hume, a retired British Indian Civil Service (ICS)
officer. He was a social reformer and a political activist who
was concerned about the lack of political representation for
Indians under British rule. He founded the Indian National
Congress in 1885 as a forum for educated Indians to discuss
political and social issues.
139. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
127
Most of the moderate leaders hailed from urban areas.
They were mostly educated in English and had a good
understanding of the British system. They believed that
the best way to achieve self-rule for India was through
persuasion and cooperation with the British. They believed
that the British could be persuaded to give India self-rule if
the Indian people were united and presented a strong case.
Some of the prominent moderate leaders included Dadabhai
Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Surendranath Banerjea,
and Pherozeshah Mehta. They were all from urban areas and
had a good education.
140. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Partition of Bengal was carried out by the British viceroy
in India, Lord Curzon on 16 October 1905. The Partition
of Bengal separated the largely Muslim eastern areas from
the largely Hindu western areas. Lord Curzon served as the
Governor General and Viceroy of India from 6 January 1899
to 18 November 1905.
141. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Home Rule Movement was symbol of starting a new phase of
freedom movement in India because it put a perfect project
for the self-Government before the nation. They put forth
demand of self-government or home rule for all of India
within the British commonwealth. They clearly mentioned
their ultimate objective.
Important Tips
Activities and programmes conducted during Home
Rule Movement:
• B.G. Tilak through Home Rule put his demands before
British government that included swarajya, formation
of linguistic states and education in the vernacular.
• The Movement attracted the hitherto ‘politically
backward’ regions of Gujarat and Sindh.
• Activities and programmes conducted during
movements were - promoting political education
and discussion through public meetings, organising
libraries and reading rooms containing books on
national politics, holding conferences, and organising
classes for students on politics.
• The Programmes also carried out propaganda through
newspapers, pamphlets, posters, illustrated post-cards,
plays, religious songs, etc.
• The activities also included collecting funds,
organising social work, and participating in local
government activities.
142. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The British introduced the Rowlatt Act in 1919 to curb
fundamental rights such as the freedom of expression
and strengthened police powers. It aims at limiting the
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
individual Liberty. This was the prime reason for the protest
by the Indian National Congress against the Bill.
143. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Swadeshi Movement 1905 had its roots in the anti-
partition movement which was started to oppose Lord
Curzon’s decision of dividing the province of Bengal. Its
chief architects were Aurobindo Ghosh, Lokmanya Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai,
O. Chidambaram Pillai, Babu Genu. Farmers and Muslims
were not involved much in the movement; thus they were
mainly unaffected by the Swadeshi movement. Womens and
the Intellectuals took active part in swadeshi movement.
144. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
T.S. Alcott was not associated with the Home Rule League
in India. Whereas, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Annie Besant,
S. Subrahmanyam Ayer, Joseph Baptista, and Muhammad
Ali Jinnah contributed to the Home Rule League. These
members got together and decided that it was necessary to
have a national alliance that would work throughout the year
(unlike the Congress which had annual sessions). The main
objective of the Home Rule League was demanding self-
government or home rule for all of India within the British
commonwealth.
145. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Komagata Maru was a Japanese steamship that was
chartered by Gurdit Singh, a Sikh businessman from
Punjab, India. Singh had organized the voyage to Canada
in order to transport Indian immigrants who were seeking
a better life. The Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver,
British Columbia, on May 23, 1914. The Canadian
government denied the immigrants entry, claiming that
they did not have the necessary paperwork. The immigrants
were forced to stay on board the ship for two months, while
the Canadian government debated their fate. On July 23,
1914, the Komagata Maru was forced to leave Vancouver
and return to India. The return journey was also difficult,
and the ship was attacked by a British warship. The incident
galvanized support for the Ghadar Party, a revolutionary
organization that was committed to overthrowing British
rule in India. The Ghadar Party launched a series of armed
uprisings in India in 1915, but they were all unsuccessful.
146. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lala Lajpat Rai was a Punjabi lawyer, politician, and freedom
fighter. He was also a critic of the moderate leadership
of the Congress, which he believed was too willing to
compromise with the British. In 1907, Rai described the
Congress Conference as the “Annual National Festival
of Educated Indians”. He argued that the Congress was
a gathering of the elite, and that it did not represent the
PYQ Workbook
interests of the masses. He also criticized the Congress for its
focus on constitutional methods, arguing that these methods
were not effective in achieving self-government.
147. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lord Dufferin was the Viceroy of India from 1884 to
1888. During his tenure, the Indian National Congress was
established in 1885. The Congress was founded by Allan
Octavian Hume, a retired British Indian Civil Service (ICS)
officer. The Congress was a forum for educated Indians to
discuss political and social issues. It eventually became the
leading organization in the Indian independence movement.
Important Tips
Establishment of Ramakrishna Mission- In 1897,Swami
Vivekananda started the Ramakrishna Mission near
Calcutta in a place called Belur.Lord Elgin II was the
viceroy at that time.
Establishment of Muslim League in Dhaka- It was
established in 1906 by Nawab Salimullah. Lord Minto II
was the Viceroy at that time.
Beginning of the First Census- The first census of India
was conducted in 1872.Lord Mayo was the Viceroy at that
time.
148. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Abul Kalam Azad was the youngest person to become the
President of the Indian National Congress. He was 35 years
old when he was elected President in 1923.
Important Tips
Abul Kalam Azad
Azad was a prominent Indian scholar, educationist,
and freedom fighter. He was a close associate of
Mahatma Gandhi and he was a leading figure in the Non-
Cooperation Movement and the Quit India Movement.
Azad was a firm believer in secularism and he worked
to promote religious harmony in India. He was also a
strong advocate of education and he played a key role in
the development of the Aligarh Muslim University.
149. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Forward Bloc party founded
by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on May 3, 1939. It is a
revolutionary party which accepts Scientific Socialism as
its objective. It believes in the theory of class. It aims at the
establishment of a Union of Socialist Republics in India
leading to classless society through socialist revolution.
Statement 2 is correct: Hindustan Socialist Republican
Association (HSRA) was a revolutionary organisation
established in 1928 at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi by
Chandrasekhar Azad, Ashfaqulla Khan, Bhagat Singh,
128
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Sukhdev Thapar and Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee. Bhagat
Singhwas one of the founders of HSRA.
150. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Separate electorate demand of Muslim League was formally
accepted by the Congress during the Lucknow session of
Congress in 1916. While the effort of the Congress and the
Muslim League to put up a united front was a far-sighted one,
but the acceptance of the principle of separate electorates by
the Congress implied that the Congress and the League had
become separate political entities to represent the voice
of Indians.
151. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Batukeshwar Dutt was not hanged for Lahore Conspiracy.
He was caught for throwing bomb in the Central
Legislative Assembly on April 8, 1929 and sentenced to life
imprisonment.
Important Tips
Batukeshwar Dutt:
• He graduated from Prithvinath College, Kanpur. In his
college days, he came in contact with Shahid Bhagat
Singh and was inspired by him to join the Hindustan
Socialist Republican Association.
• He was a member of the “Naujawan Bharat Sabha”
founded by Bhagat Singh in March 1926.
• After throwing the bombs in the Central Legislative
Assembly on April 8, 1929, the iconic duo was arrested
on the same day.
• He continued his fight for human rights even in
prison.
• He joined Bhagat Singh in one of the longest ever
hunger strikes, running up to 114 days, to support their
demand for a better living standard for the prisoners.
• He was sentenced to life imprisonment and was sent
to the Andaman Cellular Jail. Dutta was later shifted
to Hazaribag jail, Delhi jail and Patna jail.
• He was released from Patna jail in 1938. He was
suffering from several ailments including tuberculosis.
Despite his frail health, he joined Gandhiji in the
Quit India movement in 1942. He was again arrested
and imprisoned for another four years.
• He succumbed to cancer at AIIMS, Delhi on 20th July
1965.
• Honouring his last will, he was cremated at
Hussainiwala, where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and
Sukhdev were laid to rest.
152. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
• The Howrah-Sibpur Conspiracy case centres around the
apprehension and subsequent trials of 47 Bengali Indian
129
nationalists who were associated with the Anushilan
Samiti. These arrests followed the assassination of
Inspector Shamsul Alam on January 24, 1910, in
Calcutta. Among those found guilty and sentenced to
one-year imprisonment were Jatindranath Mukherjee
and Narendranath Bhattacharjee.
• In Lahore Conspiracy Case many young revolutionaries
including Bhagat Singh, Raj guru and Sukh Dev were
charged for involvement in the murder of police officer J
P Saunders in 1929.
• In Delhi Conspiracy Case, a Bomb was thrown at
the Viceroy Lord Hardinge when his procession was
moving from Chandni Chowk. The Viceroy wounded in
the attempt, but his Mahavat (driver and keeper of an
elephant) was killed. In the trial of this Delhi Conspiracy
Case, Basant Kumar Biswas, Amir Chand and Avadh
Behari were convicted and executed.
• The Alipore Bombay Case Trial refers to an attempt to
murder the district judge of Muzaffarpur. The Alipore
Bomb case conspiracy took place in the year 1908. It
is also known as the Manicktolla bomb conspiracy or
Muraripukar conspiracy. Aurobindo Ghosh, Barindra
Kumar Ghosh, and 35 accused were tried in the case.
153. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement A is correct- The Nagpur Session of the Indian
National Congress was held in 1920. The session was
presided over by C. Vijayaraghavachariar. One of the
important decisions taken at the session was to constitute the
Provincial Congress Committees on a linguistic basis. This
was done in order to make the Congress more representative
of the people of India.
Statement B is correct- In 1948, the Congress rejected the
demand of formation of provinces on linguistic basis. The
Congress was concerned that the formation of linguistic
provinces would lead to the break-up of India. The Congress’s
position was based on the following arguments:
• Linguistic provinces would lead to the dominance of
one language over other languages.
• Linguistic provinces would create problems for the
minorities.
• Linguistic provinces would make it difficult to maintain
national unity.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
SK Dhar Commission:
• In June 1948, Rajendra Prasad formed a group
called the Linguistic Provinces Commission (Dhar
Commission) to decide if states should be changed
based on the languages spoken there.
• The group included SK Dhar (a retired judge),
Jagat Narain Lal (a lawyer in the group that made
the Indian Constitution), and Panna Lal (a retired
government officer).
• In their report, the Commission suggested that making
states only about languages might not be the best idea
for India’s overall good.
154. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
V.D. Savarkar founded Abhinav Bharat - A revolutionary
organization in 1904, which was a new name of Mitra Mela.
He also authored “The Indian War of Independence - 1857”
which provides a nationalist view of the revolt of 1857. He
was the first person to call 1857 revolt India’s first war of
Independence. He founded the Free India Society, based on
the thoughts of the Italian nationalist Giuseppe Mazzini. He
had also written a biography of Mazzini in Marathi in order
to inspire Indian nationalist. He jumped into the sea from
the sailing ship in order to escape British captivity. Hence,
all the options are correct.
155. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Annie Besant was elected president of the Indian National
Congress in 1917 and 1933. She was a strong advocate for
Self-rule for India and she worked to unite the Hindu and
Muslim communities. She was also a supporter of the Home
Rule Movement.
Important Tips
Annie Besant was a British-born Indian Theosophist,
educationist, women’s rights activist, and political leader
who was the first female President of the Indian National
Congress. Besant was born in London in 1847. She was
a strong advocate for women’s rights, and she founded
the Women’s Indian Association in 1917. She was also a
Theosophist, and she founded the Theosophical Society
in India in 1879.
156. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Sir William Wedderburn, a retired British Indian Civil
Service (ICS) officer, strongly endorsed Indian self-
rule and founded the British Committee of the Indian
National Congress in 1889 to garner British support for the
Congress. This committee, composed of British individuals
concerned about Indian affairs, held regular meetings to
discuss Indian politics and promote awareness of the Indian
independence movement in Britain. Under Wedderburn’s
PYQ Workbook
leadership as president from 1889 to 1913, the committee
actively advocated for Indian self-rule through pamphlets,
articles, and awareness campaigns in Britain, significantly
contributing to the recognition of the Indian independence
movement.
157. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
When Lord Curzon, then Viceroy of India, announced the
partition of Bengal in July 1905, Indian National Congress,
initiated the Swadeshi movement in Bengal. Swadeshi
movement was launched as a protest movement which also
gave a lead to the Boycott movement in the country. It
also promoted National education among the masses. Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai are the
key people in the swadeshi movement.
Important Tips
Non-cooperation Movement:
• The non-cooperation movement by Gandhiji was
followed from September 1920 to February 1922.
• The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in Amritsar in 1919
was one of the major reasons for the start of the Non-
cooperation movement.
• The Chauri Chaura incident occurred at Chauri
Chaura in the Gorakhpur district (Uttar Pradesh) on
4 February 1922, when a large group of protesters,
participating in the Non-cooperation movement,
clashed with police, who opened fire.
• As the incident turned violent Mahatma Gandhi called
off the ‘Non-cooperation Movement’ on 12 February
1922, as a direct result of this incident.
158. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• Jatin Das arrested for his involvement in Lahore
Conspiracy case of 1929. He was passed away after a
sixty-three-day hunger strike while he was imprisoned
in the Lahore jail.
• Chandra Shekhar Azad, a revolutionary freedom fighter
was engaged in encounter with the British in Alfred
park in Prayagraj on 27 February 1931. He shot himself
dead because he had vowed he would never be arrested
by British Police.
• Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Hari Rajguru and Sukhdev
Thapar were hanged at the Lahore Central Jail in Lahore
on March 23, 1931. India observes 23 rd March as ‘Shaheed
Diwas’ to mark the death anniversary of these heros.
• Kalpana Dutt was a remarkable Indian revolutionary
who participated in the Chittagong Armory Raid led
by Surya Sen on 18 April 1930. Kalpana was given a life
sentence.
159. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
130
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Surya Senwas not associated with the Kakori incident of
1925. Other than him, Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan,
Rajendranath Lahiri and Roshan Singh were associated with
Kakori incident. They were hanged in 1927 in Gorakhpur
Central Jail.
Important Tips
Surya Sen
• He is more popularly known as Master Da.
• In 1916, buoyed by the spirit of nationalism and
inspired by his teacher in college, Sen joined the
Anushilan Samiti.
• Sen was also closely involved with the Non-
Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) and was arrested
for his anti-colonial activities in the late 1920s.
• Surya Sen headed the Indian Revolutionary Army
(IRA). The main aim of the IRA was to lead an
organised struggle against the British and to challenge
their authority. One of the most notable actions of the
IRA was the Chittagong Armoury Raid of 1930.
• The raid was quite successful. Sen hoisted the national
flag, took salute, and proclaimed a provisional
revolutionary government.
• On 12 January 1934, Sen was hanged along with his
associate, Tarakeswar Dastidar.
160. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Muzaffar Ahmad, S.A. Dange, Shaukat Usmani and Nalini
Gupta were jailed for Kanpur Bolshevik conspiracy case
of 1924. This case was responsible for actively introducing
communism to the Indian masses.
Important Tips
Communist Movement in India:
• The Communist Movement in India was established
following the 2nd World Congress of the Communist
International of 1920 by the M.N. Roy, Abani
Mukherji, and others.
• It was established in Tashkent in 1920 (now the capital
of Uzbekistan).
• The first chosen leader was M.N. Roy.
• The Communist Movement in India proclaimed that
socialism in India would be built through revolution.
• M.N. Roy established the Communist Party of India
(CPI) in December 1925 after the Indian Communist
Conference was convened in Kanpur that year.
• In the year 1929, the Government arrested 31 labour
union leaders and charged them with conspiracy to
establish communist international in India. This Case
is famously known as the Meerut Conspiracy Case.
• The Communist party was acknowledged by the
Communist International as the Indian branch in
1934.
131
161. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The first Political Organization established in India in 1838
was known as the Zamindari Association, later renamed
the Landholders’ Society. Founded by influential zamindars
like Bhabani Charan Bandyopadhyay and Dwarkanath
Tagore, it aimed to advocate for the implementation of
Permanent Settlement across India. It had ties with the
British India Society in London and worked to secure
concessions for tax exemptions. The association’s influence
was limited to Bengal, and it declined and closed by 1850,
eventually merging with the British Indian Association.
162. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
J.B. Kripalani was the President of the Indian National
Congress at the time of India’s independence in 1947. He
was a Gandhian socialist and a moderate leader of the
Congress. Kripalani was elected President of the Indian
National Congress in 1946. He was a moderate leader who
opposed the partition of India. He resigned as President in
1947 after the partition was announced.
163. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were sentenced to death
in Lahore conspiracy case. To avenge the killing of Lala
Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Raj guru, Jai Gopal and Sukh Dev
conspired to kill the police chief, Jams Scott but they shot the
DSP J. P. Saunders, who was killed on the spot. This case was
known as the Lahore Conspiracy Case.
164. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Owing to mass political protests, the Bengal partition was
annulled in 1911. King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at
the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911. East and West Bengal were
reunited while Bihar and Orissa became separate provinces.
A separate Assam province was created. The capital of British
India was moved to Delhi from Calcutta (now Kolkata).
165. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
During the Swadeshi Movement, “Vande Mataram”
became the theme song of Indian National Movement. The
Swadeshi movement began in 1905 with the Viceroy of India,
Lord Curzon, partitioning Bengal and continued until 1911.
This was the strongest in Bengal and was also recognized in
India as the Vande mataram Movement.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Swadeshi movement
• Among the movement’s various forms of struggle, it was
the boycott of foreign-made goods that encountered
the greatest visible success on the practical and popular
level.
• Boycott and public burning of foreign clothes, picketing
of shops selling foreign goods, all became common in
remote corners of Bengal as well as in many major
cities and towns across the country.
• Another form of mass mobilization widely used by
the Swadeshi movement was the corps of volunteers
(samitis).
• Ashwini Kumar Dutt, a school teacher, set up the
Swadesh Bandhab Samiti in Barisal which was the
best-known volunteer organization of all of them.
166. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi suggested the winding up of the Indian
National Congress after India attained independence. He
felt that the Congress had served its purpose and that it
was no longer needed. He wrote in a note dated January 27,
1948, three days before he was assassinated:
“The Congress has outlived its use. It has no reason to
exist. The atmosphere is charged with communal poison.
Congress is the only organization which can still command
the confidence of all communities. But if it tries to function,
it will only add fuel to the fire. Let it disband. Let all
Congressmen retire to their respective homes. Let them wait
until the atmosphere is cleared. Then they can come together
and reorganize the Congress, if they so desire.”
167. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect- The first session of the Indian
National Congress was held in Bombay in 1885 under the
presidency of Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee.
Statement 2 is correct- The second session of the Indian
National Congress was held in Calcutta in 1886 under the
presidency of Dadabhai Naoroji.
Statement 3 is correct- In December 1916, the Indian
National Congress and the Muslim League got together in
Lucknow and made a deal known as the Lucknow Pact.
This agreement was signed by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and
Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Because of this, Muslim League
leaders decided to join the Congress movement that aimed
for India’s freedom. The Lucknow Pact was seen as a hopeful
sign of Hindus and Muslims coming together.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Indian National Congress and Muslim League put
forward shared requests to the British government,
including:
• Increasing the elected seats on councils.
• Ensuring protection for minorities in the provinces.
• Granting autonomy to all provinces.
• Separating the executive and judiciary.
168. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The correct chronological order of the organizations is:
• Bombay Association (1852)
• Indian League (1875)
• Indian Association (1876)
• Madras Mahajan Sabha (1884)
Important Tips
Bombay Association:
• In 1852, Jagannath Shankarshet established the
Bombay Association with notable members like
Naoroji Fursungi, Vinayak Shankarshet, and
Dadabhai Naoroji. Sir Jamshedji Jejibhai served as the
first president. The association aimed to voice public
grievances against British policies and actions during
the colonial period.
Indian League:
• The Indian League was founded in 1875 by Sisir
Kumar Ghosh with the goal of “stimulating a sense
of nationalism among the people” and encouraging
political education. This organization was associated
with nationalist leaders such as Ananda Mohan Bose,
Durgamohan Das, Nabagopal Mitra, Surendranath
Banerjee, and others.
169. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Anushilan Samiti was a secret revolutionary organization
which was led by Barindra Ghosh, Pramathanath Mitra,
Aurobindo Ghosh and Jatindranath Bannerjee, etc.
Important Tips
Swadesh Bandhab Samiti was founded by Ashwini Kumar
Dutta during Swadeshi movement. It aimed to promote
the consumption of indigenous products and the boycott
of foreign goods.
Brahma Mohan Ghosh was the leader of the Brati Samiti
of Fariddpur (a district of Bangladesh). Later on, he
realized the decline of Brati Samiti which led him to join
Pulin Behari Das at Dacca in his Anushilan Samiti.
170. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
132
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Statement 1 is correct: The Swadeshi movement in 1905
witnessed massive demonstrations and protests across
Bengal. People came out in large numbers to voice their
opposition to the partition of Bengal and to support the
cause of Swadeshi (indigenous production) and Boycott
(boycott of foreign goods).
Statement 2 is correct:As part of the Swadeshi movement,
a hartal (general strike and closure of businesses) was
observed in Calcutta (now Kolkata) as a form of protest
against the partition of Bengal. It was an expression of unity
and solidarity among the people.
Statement 3 is correct: The Swadeshi movement was initially
initiated by the moderates within the Indian National
Congress, such as Surendranath Banerjee. However, it later
gained momentum and was embraced by more radical or
revolutionary nationalists like Aurobindo Ghosh and
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who advocated for more assertive
methods in the struggle for independence.
171. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: On April 13, 1919, British Indian
Army troops, under the command of Brigadier General
Reginald Dyer, opened fire on a large gathering of unarmed
civilians who had gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar.
The crowd had gathered for a peaceful protest against the
repressive Rowlatt Act imposed by the British colonial
authorities.
Statement 2 is correct:General Dyer was in command of
the troops deployed in Amritsar during the Jallianwala Bagh
massacre. He ordered the troops to open fire on the crowd
without issuing any warning or giving them an opportunity
to disperse.
Statement 3 is correct: Prior to opening fire, General Dyer
did not issue any warning or give the crowd an opportunity
to disperse peacefully. The sudden and brutal attack resulted
in the loss of hundreds of lives and caused widespread
outrage and condemnation.
172. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement I is correct: Dadabhai Naoroji did argue that
what was being drained out of India by the British was the
‘potential surplus’ that could generate more economic
development in India if invested in India. He proposed the
‘drain of wealth’ theory in 1867, in which he estimated the
net national profit of India and the effect of colonial rule
on it. He identified six factors that caused external drain
and criticized the British for exploiting India’s resources,
markets, and manpower.
Statement II is correct: Imperialists did believe that India
was brought into the large capitalist world market and
that was in itself a progress towards modernization.
They justified their colonial rule by claiming that they were
civilizing and modernizing India, which they considered
backward and stagnant. They also argued that India benefited
133
from the free trade and the infrastructure development
under British rule.
However, statement II is not the correct explanation of
statement I, because Naoroji’s argument was not based on
the imperialist view of India’s integration into the world
market, but on his own calculation of India’s national income
and expenditure. He did not accept the imperialist claim that
India was progressing under British rule, but rather exposed
the adverse effects of British exploitation on India’s economy
and society.
Important Tips
National Critique of colonial Economy:
• Dadabhai Naoroji wrote several books on this topic,
such as Poverty and Un-British Rule in India and The
Economic Condition of India.
• Ramesh Chandra Dutt wrote a comprehensive work
on the economic history of India, titled The Economic
History of India under Early British Rule.
• Rajani Palme Dutt wrote several books on the colonial
and imperialist aspects of British rule in India, such as
India Today and India: A Nation.
173. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Swadeshi Movement was a mass
movement that was marked by the organization of samitis,
or associations. These samitis were responsible for organizing
protests, boycotts, and other forms of civil disobedience.
Statement 2 is correct: The Swadeshi Movement witnessed
widespread labor strikes in various industries and sectors.
Workers actively participated in the movement, demanding
better working conditions and higher wages.
Statement 3 is correct: The Swadeshi Movement emphasized
the concept of ‘atmashakti,’ which means self-help or
self-reliance. It aimed to promote indigenous industries,
encourage economic self-sufficiency, and reduce dependency
on imported British goods.
Statement 4 is correct: In the sphere of education, national
schools were established. These schools were designed to
provide a nationalist education that would help to promote
Indian self-rule.
174. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Indian National Congress was
indeed founded in Bombay (now Mumbai) on December
28, 1885. The founding session of the Congress was attended
by 72 delegates representing various parts of India.
Statement 2 is correct: Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee,
commonly known as W.C. Banerjee, was elected as the first
President of the Indian National Congress.
175. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Champaran region had a long
history of anti-planter discontent and agitation. The indigo
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
planters had been exploiting the peasants for many years, and
the peasants had been protesting against this exploitation.
Statement 2 is correct: Mahatma Gandhi gave all India
publicity to the grievances of the Champaran cultivators.
He went to Champaran himself to investigate the situation,
and he wrote articles and gave speeches about the plight of
the peasants. This publicity helped to raise awareness of the
issue and to put pressure on the government to take action.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The main issue in Champaran
was the forced cultivation of indigo, not taxation on sugar.
176. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Boycott and picketing were not features of the Home
Rule Movement in India. These were features of the Non-
Cooperation Movement, which was launched by Mahatma
Gandhi in 1920.
Important Tips
The Home Rule Movement:
• The home rule movement was the Indian response to
the First World War in a less charged but in a more
effective way.
• With people already feeling the burden of war time
miseries caused by high taxation and a rise in
prices, Tilak and Annie Besant ready to assume the
leadership the movement started with great vigour.
• Two Indian Home Rule Leagues were organised on
the lines of the Irish Home Rule Leagues and they
represented the emergence of a new trend of aggressive
politics.
• The League campaign aimed to convey to the common
man the message of home rule as self-government.
• The movement used a variety of methods, including
setting up discussion groups and reading rooms,
selling and circulating pamphlets, and organizing
public meetings.
177. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Safety Valve Theory was first proposed by R. Palme
Dutt, a Marxist historian. Dutt argued that the British
government allowed the formation of the Congress in
order to channel the growing discontent of the Indian
people into a safe and non-violent outlet. This would help
to prevent the Indian people from resorting to more radical
methods of protest, such as violence.
178. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The headquarters of the Ghadar Party were located in San
Francisco, USA.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Ghadar Party:
• It was founded in 1913 by Sohan Singh Bhakna.
• It was initially called as Pacific Coast Hindustan
Association.
• It published newspaper called ‘The Ghadar’.
• The Yugantar Ashram was the its headquarters.
• The organization was dissolved in 1948.
179. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The demand for universal adult franchise was not a part
of the Congress moderates’ agenda during the early 20th
century. They primarily focused on political reforms,
repealing oppressive laws, extending the land revenue system,
and increasing employment opportunities for Indians in the
military.
180. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement I is true: Non-cooperation movement in Punjab
did begin with the student movement inspired by Lala
Lajpat Rai in January 1921.
Statement II is true: The central countryside of Punjab,
which had a Sikh majority population, was indeed stirred by
the powerful Akali upsurge.
However, Statement II does not provide a correct
explanation for Statement I. While both statements are
individually true, the Sikh-dominated central Punjab
countryside being stirred by the Akali upsurge is not directly
related to the student movement inspired by Lala Lajpat
Rai that initiated the non-cooperation movement. The
two statements represent different aspects of the overall
movement in Punjab.
181. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect- The Non-Cooperation Movement,
which took place in India from 1920 to 1922, aimed to resist
British colonial rule through nonviolent means. While
the movement garnered widespread support from various
sections of society, including students, urban middle class,
and some sections of the working class, the participation
of peasants from Karnataka was not particularly significant.
The Non-Cooperation Movement largely gained momentum
in regions where the impact of British rule was more visible
and oppressive, such as Punjab and Bengal.
Statement 2 is correct- The movement was marked by
the participation of non-Brahmin lower castes in Madras
and Maharashtra. In Madras, leaders like E.V. Ramasamy
(Periyar) mobilized non-Brahmin communities, emphasizing
the need to fight against caste-based discrimination and
social inequality. Similarly, in Maharashtra, leaders like
B.R. Ambedkar, who hailed from the Dalit (formerly
134
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
known as untouchable) community, actively advocated for
the rights and welfare of lower-caste individuals.
Statement 3 is incorrect- The Non-Cooperation Movement
did witness labor unrest in places like Assam, Bengal,
and Madras. While the movement primarily focused on
boycotting British goods and institutions, labor issues
were also part of the larger socio-economic grievances that
motivated people to join the movement.
Statement 4 is incorrect- The Non-Cooperation Movement
was indeed shaken by the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922.
After the incident, in which protesters attacked and killed
policemen, Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the
movement as he believed it had turned violent and lost its
non-violent character.
Important Tips
Some facts about the Non-Cooperation Movement:
• Mahatma Gandhi led the Non-Cooperation
Movement and announced its manifesto in 1920.
• C.R. Das presented the main resolution on non-
cooperation during the Congress session in Nagpur in
1920, and his subordinates played key roles in Hindu-
Muslim unity.
• Jawaharlal Nehru encouraged the formation of Kisan
Sabhas and disagreed with Gandhi’s decision to
withdraw the movement.
• Subhash Chandra Boseresigned from the civil
service and became the Principal of the National
College in Calcutta during the movement.
• The Ali brothers, Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali,
emphasized the religious unlawfulness of Muslims
serving in the British Army during the All India
Khilafat Conference.
182. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The first session of the Indian
National Congress was held in Bombay (now Mumbai) in
December 1885 under the presidency of WC Bannerjee.
Motilal Nehru became the president of the Congress in 1919.
135
Statement 2 is correct: The Safety Valve Theory was
proposed by Lala Lajpat Rai in his book The Story of My
Deportation (1908), based on a biography of AO Hume by
William Wedderburn, who was also a founding member of
the Congress.
The theory suggested that Hume founded the Congress to
provide a peaceful outlet for the discontent among educated
Indians and to prevent a violent uprising against British rule.
Statement 3 is incorrect: In an effort to reach all regions, it
was decided to rotate the Congress session among different
parts of the country. The President belonged to a region
other than where the Congress session was being held.
Statement 4 is correct: WC Bannerjee, a prominent lawyer
and public figure from Calcutta (now Kolkata), was elected
as the first president of the Indian National Congress at its
inaugural session in Bombay in 1885.
183. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The first session of the Indian
National Congress was held in Bombay (now Mumbai) in
1885. It took place from 28th to 31st December 1885.
Statement 2 is correct: Surendranath Banerjee, a
prominent leader, was unable to attend the first session
of the Indian National Congress due to his commitment to
the simultaneous session of the Indian National Conference.
184. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: BG Tilak was a prominent nationalist
leader who advocated for self-government or swaraj within
the British Empire for India. He founded the Indian Home
Rule League in April 1916 at Belgaum, Maharashtra, with
Joseph Baptista as the president and NC Kelkar as the
secretary.
Statement 2 is incorrect: NC Kelkar was a journalist and a
political activist who was closely associated with BG Tilak
and his Home Rule Movement. He was the secretary of the
Indian Home Rule League founded by Tilak and also edited
his newspapers Kesari and Mahratta.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

ERA OF MASS NATIONALISM [1919 - 1947]
This unit consist of questions from 1919 - 1947 CE of Indian National Freedom Movement.

4.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions 5. In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz
Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh
1. With reference to the proposals of Cripps Singh Dhillon are remembered as:
Mission, consider the following statements: [UPSC CSE Prelims 2021]
1. The Constituent Assembly would have (a) leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott
members nominated by the Provincial
Movement.
Assemblies as well as the Princely States.
(b) members of the Interim Government in
2. Any Province, which is not prepared to
1946.
accept the new Constitution would have
the right to sign a separate agreement (c) members of the Drafting Committee in
with Britain regarding its future status. the Constituent Assembly.
(d) officers of the Indian National Army.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2022] 6. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of
(a) 1 only the following? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2020]
(b) 2 only 1. Invitation to Congress to participate in
(c) Both 1 and 2 the Round Table Conference.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated
2. With reference to 8th August, 1942 in in connection with the Civil Disobedience
Indian history, which one of the following Movement.
statements is correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2021] 3. Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for
(a) The Quit India Resolution was adopted enquiry into police excesses.
by the AICC.
4. Release of only those prisoners who were
(b) The Viceroy’s Executive Council was
not charged with violence.
expanded to include more Indians.
(c) The Congress ministries resigned in Select the correct answer using the code given
seven provinces. below:
(d) Cripps proposed an Indian Union with (a) 1 only
full Dominion Status once the Second (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
World War was over. (c) 3 only
3. In India, the first major public appearance (d) 2, 3 and 4 only
of Mahatma Gandhi was in 7. Consider the following pairs:
[UPSC CSE Pre.2021]
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2019]
(a) Champaran (1917)
(b) Kheda (1918) Movement/
Leader
(c) Inauguration of Banaras Hindu University Organization
(1916) 1. All India Anti-
(d) Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919) Untouchability Mahatma Gandhi
League
4. Who among the following founded the Bhil
Seva Mandal in 1922? [UPSC CSE Pre.2021] 2. All India Kisan Swami Sahajanand
Sabha Saraswati
(a) Dayaram Gidumal
(b) Gurusaday Dutt 3. Self-Respect
(c) Dhondo Keshav Karve Movement E.V. Ramaswami
(d) Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar Naicker

PYQ Workbook 136

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly
matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
8. With reference to the British colonial rule
in India, consider the following statements:
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2019]
1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in
the abolition of the system of ‘indentured
labour’.
2. In Lord Chelmsford’s ‘War Conference’,
Mahatma Gandhi did not support the
resolution on recruiting Indians for
World War.
3. Consequent upon the breaking of
Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian
National Congress was declared illegal by
the colonial rulers.
Which of the statements given above are
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
9. In 1920, which of the following changed its
name to “Swarajya Sabha”?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2018]
(a) All India Home Rule League
(b) Hindu Mahasabha
(c) South Indian Liberal Federation
(d) The Servants of India Society
10. Which one of the following is a very
significant aspect of the Champaran
Satyagraha? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2018]
(a) Active all-India participation of lawyers,
students and women in the National
Movement.
(b) Active involvement of Dalit and Tribal
communities of India in the National
Movement.
(c) Joining of peasant unrest to India’s
National Movement.
(d) Drastic decrease in the cultivation of
plantation crops and commercial crops.
11. In the context of Indian history, the
principle of `Dyarchy (diarchy) ’ refers to
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2017]
(a) Division of the central legislature into
two houses.
(b) Introduction of double government i.e.,
Central and State governments.
137
(c) Having two sets of rulers; one in London
and another in Delhi.
(d) Division of the subjects delegated to the
provinces into two categories.
12. With reference to Indian freedom struggle,
consider the following events :
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2017]
1. Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy
2. Quit India Movement launched
3. Second Round Table Conference
What is the correct chronological sequence of
the above events ?
(a) 1-2-3
(b) 2-1-3
(c) 3-2-1
(d) 3-1-2
13. The objective of the Butler Committee of
1927 was to? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2017]
(a) Define the jurisdiction of the Central and
Provincial Governments.
(b) Define the powers of the Secretary of
State for India.
(c) Impose censorship on national press.
(d) Improve the relationship between the
Government of India and the Indian
States.
14. The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged
that after the Second World War
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2016]
(a) India should be granted complete
independence.
(b) India should be partitioned into two
before granting independence.
(c) India should be made a republic with
the condition that she will join the
Commonwealth.
(d) India should be given Dominion status.
15. With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha,
which of the following statements is/ are
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2015]
1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the
recommendations of the ‘Sedition
Committee’.
2. In Rowlatt Satyagraha, Gandhiji tried to
utilize the Home Rule League.
3. Demonstrations against the arrival of
Simon Commission coincided with
Rowlatt Satyagraha.
Select the correct answer using the code given
below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
16. With reference to Congress Socialist Party,
consider the following statements:
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2015]
1. It advocated the boycott of British goods
and evasion of taxes.
2. It wanted to establish the dictatorship of
proletariat.
3. It advocated separate electorate for mi-
norities and oppressed classes.
Which of the statements given above is / are
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None
17. Who of the following organized a march on
the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in
April 1930? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2015]
(a) V. O. Chidambaram Pillai
(b) C. Rajagopalachari
(c) K. Kamaraj
(d) Annie Besant
18. The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2014]
(a) solve the problem of minorities in India.
(b) give effect to the Independence Bill.
(c) delimit the boundaries between India and
Pakistan.
(d) enquire into the riots in East Bengal.
19. The 1929 Session of Indian National Con-
gress is of significance in the history of the
Freedom Movement because the
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2014]
(a) attainment of Self-Government was de-
clared as the objective of the Congress .
(b) attainment of Poorna Swaraj was adopted
as the goal of the Congress.
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement was
launched.
(d) decision to participate in the Round Ta-
ble Conference in London was taken.
20. The people of India agitated against the ar-
rival of Simon Commission because
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2013]
(a) Indians never wanted the review of the
working of the Act of 1919.
(b) Simon Commission recommended the
abolition of Dyarchy (Diarchy) in the
Provinces.
(c) there was no Indian member in the Si-
mon Commission.
(d) the Simon Commission suggested the
partition of the country.
PYQ Workbook
21. Quit India Movement was launched in
response to [UPSC CSE Pre. 2013]
(a) Cabinet Mission Plan
(b) Cripps Proposals
(c) Simon Commission Report
(d) Wavell Plan
22. The Congress ministries resigned in the
seven provinces in 1939, because
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2012]
(a) the Congress could not form ministries in
the other four provinces.
(b) emergence of a ‘left wing’ in the Congress
made the working of the ministries
impossible.
(c) there were widespread communal
disturbances in their provinces.
(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c)
given above is correct.
23. Which of the following parties were
established by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar?
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2012]
1. The Peasants and Workers Party of India.
2. All India Scheduled Castes Federation.
3. The Independent Labour Party.
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
24. Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto
death in 1932, mainly because
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2012]
(a) Round Table Conference failed to satisfy
Indian political aspirations.
(b) Congress and Muslim League had
differences of opinion.
(c) Ramsay Macdonald announced the
Communal Award.
(d) None of the statements (a) , (b) and (c)
given above is correct in this context.
25. The Lahore Session of the Indian National
Congress (1929) is very important in
history, because [UPSC CSE Pre. 2012]
1. the Congress passed a resolution
demanding complete independence.
2. the rift between the extremists and
moderates was resolved in that session.
3. a resolution was passed rejecting the two-
nation theory in that session.
138
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

Which of the statements given above is/are 30. After Quit India Movement, C.
correct? Rajagopalachari issued a pamphlet entitled
(a) 1 only ‘The Way Out’. Which one of the following
(b) 2 and 3 was a proposal in this pamphlet?
(c) 1 and 3 [UPSC CSE Pre 2010]
(d) None of the above (a) The establishment of a “War Advisory
26. The Rowlatt Act aimed at Council” composed of representatives of
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2012] British India and the Indian States.
(a) compulsory economic support to war (b) Reconstitution of the Central Executive
efforts. Council in such a way that all its
(b) imprisonment without trial and summary members, except the Governor General
procedures for trial. and the Commander-in-Chief, should be
(c) suppression of the Khilafat Movement. Indian leaders.
(d) imposition of restrictions on freedom of (c) Fresh elections to the Central and
the press. Provincial Legislatures to be held at the
end of 1945 and the Constitution-making
27. Which one of the following observation is body be convened as soon as possible.
not true about the Quit India Movement of (d) A solution to the Constitutional deadlock.
1942 ? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2011]
(a) It was a non-violent movement 31. Who among the following were official
(b) It was led by Mahatma Gandhi Congress negotiators with Cripps Mission?
(c) It was a spontaneous movements [UPSC CSE Pre 2010]
(d) It did not attract the labour class in (a) Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel.
general (b) Acharya J.B. Kripalani and C.
28. What was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi Rajgopalachari.
to organize a satyagraha on behalf of the (c) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana
peasants off Kheda ? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2011] Azad.
1. The administration did not suspend (d) Rajendra Prasad and Rafi Ahamad
the land revenue collection in spite of a Kidwai.
drought. 32. Who among the following drafted the
2. The administration proposed to introduce fundamental rights resolution for the
permanent settlement in Gujarat. Karachi Session of Congress in 1931?
Which of the statements given above is/are [UPSC CSE Pre 2010]
correct? (a) Mahatma Gandhi
(a) 1 only (b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) 2 only (c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
33. With reference to the Simon Commission’s
29. With reference to the period of Indian recommendations, which one of the
freedom struggle, which of the following following statements is correct?
was/were recommended by the Nehru [UPSC CSE Pre 2010]
report? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2011] (a) It recommended the replacement of
1. Complete Independence for India. diarchy with responsible Government in
2. Joint electorates for reservation of seats the provinces.
for minorities. (b) It proposed the setting up of inter-
3. Provision of fundamental rights for the provincial council under the Home
people of India in the Constitution. Department.
Select the correct answer using the codes (c) It suggested the abolition of bicameral
given below legislature at the centre.
(a) 1 Only (d) It recommended the creation of Indian
(b) 2 and 3 only Police Service with a provision for
(c) 1 and 3 only increased pay and allowances for British
(d) 1, 2 and 3 recruits as compared to Indian recruits.

139 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

34. Who of the following founded the Reason (R): The Congress did not accept the
Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association? decision of the Viceroy to declare war against
[UPSC CSE Pre 2009] Germany in the context of the Second World
(a) Mahatma Gandhi War.
(b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Code: [UPSC CSE Pre 2008]
(c) N.M. Joshi (a) (A) and (R) are individually true, and (R)
(d) J.B. Kriplani is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) (A) and (R) are individually true, but (R)
35. With which one of the following movements is not the correct explanation of (A).
is the slogan ‘Do or Die’ associated? (c) Both (A) and (R) are false.
[UPSC CSE Pre 2009] (d) (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(a) Swadeshi Movement
(b) Non-Cooperation Movement 41. Which one of the following suggested the
reconstitution of the Viceroy’s Executive
(c) Civil Disobedience Movement
Council in which all the portfolios including
(d) Quit India Movement
that of War Members were to be held by the
36. In the ‘Individual Satyagraha,’ Vinoba Indian leaders? [UPSC CSE Pre 2008]
Bhave was chosen as the first Satyagrahi. (a) Simon Commission, 1927
Who was the second? [UPSC CSE Pre 2009] (b) Shimla Conference, 1945
(a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (c) Cripps Mission, 1940
(b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (d) Cabinet Mission, 1946
(c) C. Rajagopalachari 42. Which Portfolio was held by Dr. Rajendra
(d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Prasad in the Interim Government formed
37. Consider the following statements: The in the year 1946? [UPSC CSE Pre 2006]
‘Cripps’ proposals include the provision (a) Defence
for: [UPSC CSE Pre 2009] (b) External Affairs and Commonwealth
1. Full independence for India. Relations
2. Creation of Constitution-making body. (c) Food and Agriculture
(d) None of the above
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
correct? 43. Who among the following was the President
(a) Only 1 of the Indian National Congress when the
(b) Only 2 resolution of ‘Purna Swaraj’ was passed?
(c) Both 1 and 2 [UPSC CSE Pre 2006]
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) Dadabhai Naoroji
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
38. Who of the following Prime Ministers sent
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai
Cripps Mission to India?
(d) Surendra Nath Banerjee
[UPSC CSE Pre 2009]
(a) James Ramsay MacDonald 44. Which of the following pairs are correctly
(b) Stanley Baldwin matched?
(c) Neville Chamberlain Movement/ Person Activity
(d) Winston Churchill Satyagraha Associated with
39. During the Indian Freedom Struggle, who 1. Champaran Rajendra Prasad
of the following raised an army called ‘Free 2. Ahmedabad Morarji Desai
Indian Legion’? [UPSC CSE Pre 2008] Mill Workers
(a) Lala Hardayal 3. Kheda Vallabhbhai Patel
(b) Ras Behari Bose Select the correct answer using the code given
(c) Subhash Chandra Bose below: [UPSC CSE Pre 2005]
(d) V.D. Savarkar
(a) 1 and 2
40. Consider the following statements: (b) 2 and 3
Assertion (A): The Congress Ministries in all (c) 1 and 3
the provinces resigned in the year 1939. (d) 1, 2 and 3

PYQ Workbook 140

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

45. Consider the following statements: 50. Consider the following statements-
1. Lord Mountbatten was the Viceroy when [UPSC CSE Pre 2005]
the Shimla Conference took place. On the eve of launch of Quit India Movement,
2. Indian Navy Revolt, 1946 took place when Mahatma Gandhi:
the Indian sailors in the Royal Indian 1. Asked Government servants to resign.
Navy at Bombay and Karachi rose against
the Government. 2. Asked the soldiers to leave their posts.
3. Asked the Princess of the Princely states
Which one of the statements given above is/
to accept the sovereignty of their people.
are correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2005]
(a) 1 only Which of the statements is/are correct?
(b) 2 only (a) 1 and 2
(c) Both 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
46. In October, 1920, who of the following
headed a group of Indians gathered at 51. Which party was founded by Subhash
Tashkent to set up a Communist Party of Chandra Bose in the Year 1939 after he
India? [UPSC CSE Pre 2005] broke away from the Congress?
(a) H.K. Sarkar [UPSC CSE Pre 2005]
(b) P.C. Joshi (a) Indian Freedom Party
(c) M.C. Chagla (b) Azad Hind Fauj
(d) M.N. Roy (c) Revolutionary Front
47. At which Congress Session was the (d) Forward Bloc
working committee authorized to launch a 52. Which one of the following statements is
programme of Civil Disobedience? correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2004]
[UPSC CSE Pre 2005] (a) The Constituent Assembly of India was
(a) Bombay elected by the Provincial Assemblies in
(b) Lahore the year 1946.
(c) Lucknow (b) Jawaharlal Nehru, M.A. Jinnah and
(d) Tripura
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel were members
48. Consider the following statements: of the Constituent Assembly of India.
1. In the First Round Table Conference, Dr. (c) The first session of the Constituent
Ambedkar demanded separate electorates Assembly of India was held in January
for the depressed classes. 1947.
2. In the Poona Pact, special provisions for (d) The Constitution of India was adopted on
representation of the depressed people in 26th January 1950.
the local bodies and civil services were
53. During the Indian Freedom Struggle,
made.
who among the following proposed that
3. The Indian National Congress did not
Swaraj should be defined as Complete
take part in the Third Round Table
Independence free from all foreign control?
Conference.
[UPSC CSE Pre 2004]
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2005] (a) Mazharul Haque
(b) Maulana Hasrat Mohani
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3 (c) Hakim Ajmal Khan
(c) 1 and 3 (d) Abul Kalam Azad
(d) 1, 2 and 3 54. When Congress leaders condemned the
49. In which one of the following provinces was Montagu-Chelmsford Report, many
the Congress ministry not formed under the moderates left the party to form the:
Act of 1935? [UPSC CSE Pre 2005] [UPSC CSE Pre 2003]
(a) Bihar (a) Swarajya Party
(b) Madras (b) Indian Freedom Party
(c) Orissa (c) Independence Federation of India
(d) Punjab (d) Indian Liberal Federation

141 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

55. An important aspect of the Cripps Mission 59. The last opportunity to avoid the partition
of 1942 was: [UPSC CSE Pre 2003] of India was lost with the rejection of:
(a) that all Indian States should join the [UPSC CSE Pre 2002]
Indian Union as a condition to consider (a) Cripps Mission
any degree of autonomy for India. (b) Rajagopalachari Formula
(b) the creation of an Indian Union with (c) Cabinet Mission
Dominion status after the Second World (d) Wavell Plan
War.
(c) the active participation and cooperation 60. The President of Indian National Congress
of the Indian People, communities and at the time of partition of India was–
political parties in the British war efforts [UPSC CSE Pre 2002]
as a condition for granting Independence (a) C. Rajagopalachari
with full Sovereign status to India after (b) J.B. Kriplani
the war. (c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) the framing of a constitution for the (d) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
entire Indian Union, with no separate 61. “In this instance, we could not play off the
constitution for any province, and a Mohammedans against the Hindus.” To
Union Constitution to be accepted by all which one of the following events did this
provinces. remark of Aitchison relate?
56. Who headed the Interim Cabinet formed in [UPSC CSE Pre 2000]
the year 1946? [UPSC CSE Pre 2003] (a) Revolt of 1857
(a) Rajendra Prasad (b) Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru (c) Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement
(c) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1919-22)
(d) Rajagopalachari (d) August Movement of 1942
57. With reference to Indian freedom struggle, 62. The Balkan Plan for fragmentation of India
which one of the following statements in was the brainchild of– [UPSC CSE Pre 2000]
not correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2003] (a) W. Churchill
(a) The Rowlatt Act aroused a wave of popular (b) M.A. Jinnah
indignation and led to the Jallianwala (c) Lord Mountbatten
Bagh massacre. (d) V.P. Menon
(b) Subhash Chandra Bose formed the
Forward Bloc. 63. As an alternative to the partition of India,
(c) Bhagat Singh was one of the founders Gandhiji suggested to Mountbatten that
of Hindustan Republican Socialist he– [UPSC CSE Pre 2000]
Association. (a) Postpone granting of independence.
(d) In 1931, the Congress Session at Karachi (b) Invite Jinnah to form the Government.
opposed Gandhi-Irwin Pact. (c) Invite Nehru and Jinnah to form the
Government together.
58. During the Indian freedom struggle, the
(d) Invite the army to take over for some
Khudai Khidmatgars, also known as Red
time.
Shirts called for: [UPSC CSE Pre 2002]
(a) The Union of Pakhtun tribal areas in 64. Which Indian nationalist leader looked
northwest with the Afghanistan. upon a war between Germany and Britain
(b) The adoption of terrorist tactics and as a Godsent opportunity which would
methods for terrorizing and finally enable Indians to exploit the situation to
ousting the colonial rulers. their advantage? [UPSC CSE Pre 1999]
(c) The adoption of communist revolutionist (a) C. Rajagopalachari
ideology for political and social reform. (b) M.A. Jinnah
(d) The Pathan regional nationalist unity and (c) Subhash Chandra Bose
a struggle against colonialism. (d) Jawaharlal Nehru

PYQ Workbook 142

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
65. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): Lord Linlithgow described the
August Movement of 1942 as the most serious
rebellion since Sepoy Mutiny.
Reason (R): There was a massive upsurge of
the peasantry in certain areas.
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre 1999]
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the
correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not a
correct explanation of A.
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
66. “It made its proposals in May. It still wanted
a united India. There was to be the Federal
Union composed of British provinces.” The
above quotation is related to:
[UPSC CSE Pre 1999]
(a) Simon Commission
(b) Gandhi-Irwin Pact
(c) Cripps Mission
(d) Cabinet Mission
67. When the Indian Muslim League was
inducted into the Interim Government in
1946, Liyaqat Ali Khan was assigned the
Portfolio of? [UPSC CSE Pre 1998]
(a) Foreign Affairs
(b) Home
(c) Finance
(d) Defence
68. Lord Mountbatten came to India as a
Viceroy along with specific instruction to–
[UPSC CSE Pre 1998]
(a) Balkanize the Indian sub-continent.
(b) Keep India United if possible.
(c) Accept Jinnah’s demand for Pakistan.
(d) Persuade the Congress to accept partition.
69. The Indian National Congress agreed in
1947 to the partition of the country mainly
because– [UPSC CSE Pre 1998]
(a) The principle of Two-nation Theory was
then acceptable to them.
(b) It was imposed by the British Government
and the Congress was helpless in this
regard.
(c) They wanted to avoid large-scale
communal riots.
(d) India would have otherwise lost the
opportunity to attain freedom.
143
70. What is the correct sequence of the
following events?
1. The August offer
2. The I.N.A. trial
3. The Quit India Movement
4. The Royal Indian Naval Ratings Revolt
Select the correct answer using the code given
below: [UPSC CSE Pre 1998]
(a) 1, 3, 2, 4
(b) 3, 1, 2, 4
(c) 1, 3, 4, 2
(d) 3, 1, 4, 2
71. Consider the following statements:
The Non-Cooperation Movement led to the:
1. Congress becoming a mass Movement for
the first time.
2. Growth of Hindu-Muslims unity.
3. Removal of fear of the British might from
the minds of the people.
4. British Government’s willingness to grant
political concessions to Indians.
Select the correct answer using the code given
below: [UPSC CSE Pre 1996]
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 are correct
(b) 1, 2 and 3 are correct
(c) 1 and 3 are correct
(d) 3 and 4 are correct
72. The meeting of Indian and British political
leaders during 1930-32 in London has
often been referred to as the First, Second
and Third Round Table Conferences. It
would be incorrect to refer to them as such
because: [UPSC CSE Pre 1996]
(a) The Indian National Congress did not
take part in two of them.
(b) Indian parties other than the Indian
National Congress participating in
the Conference represented sectional
interests and not the whole of India.
(c) The British Labour Party had withdrawn
from the Conference there making the
proceeding of the Conference partisan.
(d) It was an instance of a Conference held
in three sessions and not that of three
separate conferences.
73. Which one of the following is not correct
about the Cabinet Mission Plan?
[UPSC CSE Pre 1996]
(a) Provincial Grouping
(b) Interim Cabinet of Indians
(c) Acceptance of Pakistan
(d) Constitution Framing Right
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

74. Given below are two statements, one I. Poona Pact

labelled as Assertion (A) and the other II. Gandhi-Irwin Agreement
labelled as Reason (R).
III. Cripps Mission
Assertion (A): The British sovereignty
continued to exist in free India. IV. Civil Disobedience Movement
Codes: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
Reason (R): The British sovereign appointed
the last Governor-General of free India. (a) IV, II, III, I
(b) II, IV, I, III
In the context of the above two statements, (c) IV, II, I, III
which one of the following is correct? (d) III, I, IV, II
[UPSC CSE Pre 1996]
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the 79. Given below are two statements, one is
correct explanation of (A). labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not Reason (R). [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
the correct explanation of (A). Assertion (A): In 1946, the Muslim League
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false. withdrew its acceptance of the Cabinet
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true. Mission Plan.
75. The radical wing of the Congress Party with Reason (R): The Muslim League joined the
Jawaharlal Nehru as one of its main leaders interim government formed in 1946.
founded the independence for India League Select the correct answer from the codes
in opposition to- [UPSC CSE Pre 1995] given below.
(a) The Gandhi-Irwin Pact (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is the
(b) The Home Rule Movement correct explanation of (A).
(c) The Nehru Report (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not
(d) The Montford reforms the correct explanation of (A).
76. Which of the following were the main (c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
objectives of the Khilafat Movement? (d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[UPSC CSE Pre 1993] 80. Who among the following supported Swaraj
1. To rouse anti-British feelings among the Party in Central Legislative Assembly in
Muslim of India. pre-independent India?[UPPCS (Pre) 2017]
2. To reform the Muslim society. (a) M.A. Jinnah
3. To demand separate electorates and (b) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
preserve the Khilafat. (c) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
4. To save the Ottoman empire and preserve (d) Jawaharlal Nehru
the Khilafat.
81. Who among the following founded the All
Choose the correct answer from the codes India Harijan Sevak Sangh in 1932?
given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
(a) 1 and 2 (a) B.G. Gokhale
(b) 2 and 3 (b) M.K. Gandhi
(c) 3 and 4
(c) B.R. Ambedkar
(d) 1 and 4
(d) None of the above
4.2. Other Examination Previous Year
82. Which one of the following was NOT a
Question cause for starting the Non-Cooperation
77. The name of the foreign journalist who Movement? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
reported about Satyagraha at Dharasana (a) Question of Khilafat
salt works was- [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021] (b) Salt Law
(a) Francis Louis (c) Atrocities in Punjab
(b) Mark Tully (d) Rowlatt Act
(c) Web Miller 83. Which of the following trials attracted
(d) Philip Sprat worldwide publicity and drew sympathetic
78. Arrange the following events in comments from Albert Einstein. H.G.
chronological order and select the correct Wells, Harold Laski and Roosevelt in favour
answer from the codes given below: of the convicts? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

PYQ Workbook 144

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

(a) INA trial 91. Who of the following had regarded the
(b) Lahore conspiracy case Karachi Session of Indian National Congress
(c) Meerut conspiracy case (1931) as the ‘pinnacle of Mahatma Gandhi’s
(d) None of the above popularity ‘and prestige’?
84. In which of the following movements [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
women’s participation is considered to be (a) S.C. Bose
the maximum? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016] (b) Sitaramaiya
(a) Non-Cooperation Movement (c) Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
(b) Salt Satyagraha (d) Sardar Kishan Singh
(c) Bardoli March 92. Who among the following had seconded the
(d) Quit India Movement resolution on the partition in the meeting
85. What is the name of the party founded by of All India Congress Committee held in
Saumyendra Nath Tagore? New Delhi in 1947? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2015] (a) Govind Ballabh Pant
(a) Indian Bolshevik Party (b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(b) Revolutionary Communist Party (c) J.B. Kripalani
(c) Bolshevik Leninist Party (d) Abul Kalam Azad
(d) Radical Democratic Party 93. Who of the following took the passing of a
86. The ‘Cabinet-Mission’ of 1946 was led by: resolution on the partition in the meeting
[U.P.P.C.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2015] of the Congress Committee (1947) as a
(a) Sir Pethick-Lawrence “Surrender of Nationalism in favour of
(b) Lord Linlithgow Communalism”? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
(c) Lord Wavell (a) Dr. Kitchlew
(d) Sir John Simon (b) Purushottam Das Tandon
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
87. Who headed the Boundary Commission
(d) G.B. Pant
appointed in 1947 in the context of India’s
partition? `[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015] 94. Which one of the following statements
(a) Mountbatten is not correct about Non-Cooperation
(b) Radcliffe Movement? [U.P.P.C.S. (Main) 2013]
(c) James Bolt (a) The period of the Movement was from
(d) Richardson 1920 to 1921.
88. The ‘Deepavali Declaration’ issued in the (b) Attainment of Swaraj within a year was its
year 1929 was related to the: motto.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2015] (c) It comprised the programme of the
boycott.
(a) Communal problem
(d) M.A. Jinnah had supported this
(b) Dominion status
Movement.
(c) Labour leaders
(d) Untouchability 95. Who among the following had opposed the
89. Who one of the following had renounced burning of foreign clothes during the Non-
the title of Haziq-ul-Mulk during Khilafat Cooperation Movement?
agitation? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014] [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
(a) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (a) Rabindranath Tagore
(b) Mohammad Ali (b) Subhas Chandra Bose
(c) Shaukat Ali (c) Shaukat Ali
(d) Hakim Ajmal Khan (d) C.R. Das
90. The former name of Harijan Sevak Sangh 96. Who among the following members of
was? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014] Simon Commission belonged to the liberal
(a) All India Anti-Untouchability League party? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
(b) All India Depressed Classes Association (a) Sir John Simon
(c) Depressed Classes Association for Social (b) Major Attlee
Reforms (c) Stephen Walsh
(d) Association of Untouchables (d) Viscount Burnham

145 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

97. The statement: “I want world sympathy 103. After, the arrest of Gandhiji during salt
in this battle of Right against Might,” is Satyagraha, who took his place as the leader
associated with: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] of the movement?[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]
(a) Non-Cooperation Movement (a) Abbas Taiyabji
(b) Gandhi’s Dandi March (b) Abul Kalam Azad
(c) Individual Satyagraha (c) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(d) Quit India Movement (d) Sardar Patel
98. The Commander-in-Chief of the Indian 104. The Muslim League Annual Session which
Army during Quit India Movement was: gave effect to Jinnah’s Two Nation Theory
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] was held in: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]
(a) Lord Wavell (a) Lahore
(b) Lord Linlithgow (b) Karachi
(c) Lord Mountbatten (c) Bombay
(d) None of the above (d) Lucknow
99. Who among the following had demanded 105. Who of the following was the President of
first the dominion status for India? Indian National Congress for consecutive
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013] six years? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]
(a) Rajagopalachari and Sardar Patel (a) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(b) Pt. Motilal Nehru and Govind Ballabh (b) Dadabhai Naoroji
Pant (c) Abul Kalam Azad
(c) Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and Jaykar (d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru and Jagjeevanram 106. The National Leader who was elected
100. By whom the ‘Quit India’ resolution was President (Speaker) of the Central
moved in the Bombay Session of the Legislative Assembly in 1925 was:
Congress in the year 1942? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013] (a) Motilal Nehru
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru (b) C.R. Das
(b) Narendra Deo (c) Vallabhbhai Pate
(c) Rajendra Prasad (d) Vitthalbhai Patel
(d) J.B. Kripalani 107. After the Poona Pact of 1932, Harijan Sewak
101. Select the correct chronological order of Sangh was established. Its President was:
the following events connected with India’s [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
struggle for independence from the code (a) Jagjiwan Ram
given below: (b) Ghanshyam Das Birla
1. Second Round Table Conference (c) B.R. Ambedkar
2. Karachi Session of Indian National (d) Amrit Lal Thakkar
Congress
108. In which of the following session of Indian
3. Execution of Bhagat Singh National Congress, Subhash Chandra Bose
4. Gandhi-Irwin Pact was elected as President for the second
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] time? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4 (a) Haripura Session
(b) 2, 3, 1, 4 (b) Madras Session
(c) 4, 3, 2, 1 (c) Tripuri Session
(d) 3, 4, 2, 1 (d) Calcutta Session
102. Who among the following has pleaded 109. Who among the following had moved the
on the side of the Indian National Army Non-cooperation resolution in the Nagpur
officers in their Red Fort trial? session of the Indian National Congress in
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013] 1920? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
(a) C.R. Das (a) C.R. Das
(b) Motilal Nehru (b) Annie Besant
(c) M.A. Jinnah (c) B.C. Pal
(d) Sir T.B. Sapru (d) Madan Mohan Malviya

PYQ Workbook 146

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

110. Which one of the following had proposed a 116. Who represented the Indian National
three-tier polity for India? Congress in the Partition Council headed
[U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010] by Lord Mountbatten?
(a) Nehru Committee [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
(b) Simon Commission 1. Abul Kalam Azad
(c) Cripps Mission 2. Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Cabinet Mission 3. Sardar Patel
111. The Tenure of the Congress ministries 4. Rajendra Prasad
formed in the elections of 1937 after the Act Select the correct answer from the code given
of 1935 was: [U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2010] below:
(a) 20 Months (a) 1 and 2
(b) 22 Months (b) 2 and 3
(c) 24 Months (c) 3 and 4
(d) 28 Months (d) 1 and 4
112. Which one of the following is NOT true 117. The Poorna Swaraj Resolution adopted at
about the First Round Table Conference? the Lahore Session of the Indian National
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010] Congress was moved by:
(a) It was held in 1930 [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
(b) It was to discuss the Report of the Simon (a) B.G. Tilak
Commission (b) J.L. Nehru
(c) It was held in London (c) M.K. Gandhi
(d) It was attended by the Congress delegation (d) Sardar Patel
113. Consider the following statements: 118. Who among the following called Subhash
Assertion (A): The Congress boycotted the Chandra Bose as ‘Desh Nayak’?
Simon Commission. [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009]
Reason (R): The Simon Commission did not (a) Mahatma Gandhi
have a single Indian member. (b) Ram Manohar Lohia
Select the correct answer by using the code (c) Rabindranath Tagore
given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010] (d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the 119. During the freedom struggle, Aruna
correct explanation of (A). Asaf Ali was a major woman organizer of
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is not underground activities in:
the correct explanation of (A). [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009]
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false. (a) Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true. (b) Non-Co-operation Movement
114. Who of the following supported Non- (c) Quit India Movement
Cooperation Movement, but could not see (d) Swadeshi Movement
it’s result– [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010] 120. Who was the President of Indian National
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak Congress during the visit of Cabinet
(b) Lala Lajpat Rai Mission to India?[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]
(c) Motilal Nehru (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Chittaranjan Das (b) J.B. Kripalani
115. Where was Mahatma Gandhi when a raid (c) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
was carried out by Congress volunteers on (d) Sarojini Naidu
Dharsana Salt Depot? 121. Muslim League observed the ‘Direct Action
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010] Day’ on: [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008]
(a) In Yerawada Jail (a) 13 August, 1946
(b) In Sabarmati Jail (b) 14 August, 1946
(c) Agha Khan Palace Poona (c) 15 August, 1946
(d) In Ahmadnagar Fort Jail (d) 16 August, 1946

147 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

122. Jiatrang Movement started in: (c) 3 and 4

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008] (d) 2 and 4
(a) Nagaland 129. Which of the following institutions were
(b) Tripura founded during the Non-cooperation
(c) Manipur Movement (1920-22)?
(d) Mizoram 1. Kashi Vidyapeeth
123. Who among the following called the 2. Gujarat Vidyapeeth
Movements of Gandhiji as ‘Political 3. Jamia Millia
Blackmail’? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007] 4. Kashi Hindu Vishva Vidyalaya
(a) Lord Chelmsford Select the correct answer from the codes
(b) Lord Wavell given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
(c) Lord Linlithgow
(a) 1 and 2 only
(d) Lord Montague
(b) 2 and 3 only
124. The first Trade Union was founded in India (c) 1, 2, and 3 only
in the year 1918 by- (d) All of the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007] 130. Consider the following statements:
(a) N.M. Joshi
Assertion (A): The Poona Pact defeated the
(b) B.P. Wadia
purpose of Communal Award.
(c) V.V. Giri
(d) S.A. Dange Reason (R): It paved the way for reservation
of seats in the Parliament and the State
125. Who formed the Radical Democratic Party Assemblies for the SC and ST people.
in 1940? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
Select the correct answer from the code given
(a) Indrasen below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
(b) M.N. Roy
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the
(c) Somendranath Tagore
correct explanation of (A).
(d) Shachindranath Sanyal
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not a
126. Who became the President of the Indian correct explanation of (A).
National Congress after the resignation of (c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
Subhash Chandra Bose? (d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2007] 131. Which of the following statements are true
(a) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad about the Simon Commission?
(b) Pattabhi Sitaramaiya [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
(c) Rajendra Prasad
1. It was appointed to enquire into the
(d) Sardar Patel
working of the 1919 Act.
127. Who of the following presided over the 2. It was headed by Sir John Simon.
Haripura session of the Indian National 3. It recommended a Federal Form of
Congress? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006] Government.
(a) C.R. Das 4. It was opposed by the Indian leaders
(b) J.B. Kriplani
Select the correct answer using the code given
(c) S.C. Bose
below:
(d) J.L. Nehru
(a) 1 and 2 only
128. Who among the following decided to launch (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
the Independent Party on 16 December (c) 2, 3and 4 only
1922? (d) All the above
1. Lala Har Dayal
132. The main outcome of 1921-22 Non-
2. Madan Mohan Malviya Cooperation Movement was-
3. Mohammed Ali Jinnah [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
4. Moti Lal Nehru (a) Hindu-Muslim unity
Select the correct answer from the codes (b) More powers to provinces
given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006] (c) Increase in elected members to the
(a) 1 and 2 Central Legislative Assembly
(b) 2 and 3 (d) Division in the Indian National Congress

PYQ Workbook 148

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
133. Who among the following presided over
the Karachi Session of the Indian National
Congress? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
(a) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(b) J.M. Sengupta
(c) S.C. Bose
(d) Vallabhbhai Patel
134. Consider the following statements:
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
Assertion (A): The Quit India Movement
marked the culmination of Indian National
Movement.
Reason (R): After the Quit India Movement
it was a need of time to find a suitable
mechanism for transfer of power.
Select the correct answer from the code given
below:
(a) (A) and (R) are individually true, and (R)
is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) (A) and (R) are individually true, but (R)
is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
135. The first commander of “Azad Hind Fauj”
was– [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
(a) Mohan Singh
(b) Pritam Singh
(c) Subhash Chandra Bose
(d) Shahnawaz Khan
136. The soldiers of Garhwal Regiment refused
to fire on the revolutionaries in-
[UPPCS (Spl.) (Pre) 2004]
(a) Khilafat Movement
(b) Non-Cooperation Movement
(c) Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) Quit India Movement
137. Who among of the following was NOT a
member of the interim Cabinet?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004]
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Baldev Singh
(c) Ali Zaher
(d) B. R. Ambedkar
138. Which one of the following is correctly
matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]
(a) 1940 - Lahore Session of Indian National
Congress
(b) 1931 - Execution of Rajguru
(c) 1921 - Commencement of Non-
cooperation Movement
(d) 1920 - Rowlatt Satyagraha
149
139. Who among the following resigned from
the presidency of the Congress for making
Swaraj Party? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004]
(a) C.R. Das
(b) Motilal Nehru
(c) Vithalbhai Patel
(d) Pherozeshah Mehta
140. Lala Lajpat Rai was injured-
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl.) (Pre) 2004]
(a) In lathi charge in protest to Simon
Commission
(b) In lathi charge in protest to Rowlett Act
(c) In lathi charge in protest to Quit Indian
Movement
(d) In lathi charge in protest to Government
of India Act
141. Consider the following statements:
Assertion (A): The salt agitation was
launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930.
Reason (R): Mahatma Gandhi’s object was to
make salt available free to the poor.
In the context of the above statements which
of the following is correct:
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the
correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not
the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
142. Who warned Gandhiji not to encourage
fanaticism of Muslim religious leaders and
their followers: [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
(a) Agha Khan
(b) Ajmal Khan
(c) Hasan Imam
(d) Mohammad Ali Jinnah
143. Who tabled a vote of censure against
Gandhiji for calling off the Non-
Cooperation Movement at the meeting
of All India Congress Committee held on
February 24, 1922, at Delhi?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
(a) K.T. Shah
(b) Bipin Chandra Pal
(c) Subhash Chandra Bose
(d) Dr. Moonje
144. Given below is a list of places. Name
those where parallel Governments were
established during ‘Quit India Movement.’
Select your answer from the code given
below the list:
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

1. Balia 150. Which were not allocated separate electorate

2. Satara and reserved seats by Communal Award of
3. Hazaribagh MacDonald? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2001]
4. Meerut (a) Muslims
(b) Sikhs
5. Agra (c) Depressed Castes
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002] (d) Buddhists
(a) 1 and 2
151. The American publicist who was with
(b) 1, 2 and 3 Mahatma Gandhi during his ‘Quit India’
(c) 2, 3 and 5 movement was: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2001]
(d) 1, 3 and 4 (a) Louis Fischer
145. In the meeting of All India Committee on (b) William L. Shiver
June 14-15, 1947; who among voted against (c) Web Miller
the partition of India? (d) Negley Farson
[U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2002] 152. Consider the following statements:
(a) Abul Kalam Azad Assertion (A) : Britain made India free in
(b) Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan 1947.
(c) Sardar Patel Reason (R) : Britain had become weak during
(d) Gobind Vallabh Pant the second World War.
146. Which Indian revolutionary helped Subhash In the context of the above two statements,
Chandra Bose in the establishment of Azad which of the following is/are correct?
Hind Fauz? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2002] [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2001]
(a) Batukeshwar Dutt (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the
(b) Ras Bihari Bose correct explanation of (A).
(c) Ram Prasad Bismil (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not a
correct explanation of (A).
(d) Suryasen
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
147. Kanpur conspiracy case was against the (d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
leaders of: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2001] 153. The Congress supported the Khilafat
(a) Khilafat Movement Movement mainly for:
(b) Non-cooperation Movement 1. Reinstatement of Caliph
(c) Communist Movement 2. Removal of Caliph
(d) Revolutionary Movement 3. Getting the sympathy of the Muslims
148. Choose the correct sequence of the events 4. Marginalising Jinnah in the Congress
with the help of codes given below- Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]
1. Chauri-Chaura incident (a) 1 and 3
2. Suspension of Non-Cooperation (b) 2 and 4
Movement (c) 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 4
3. Bardoli Resolutions
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2001] 154. Which one of the following began with the
(a) 1, 2, 3 Dandi March? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]
(b) 2, 3, 1 (a) Home Rule Movement
(b) Non-Cooperation Movement
(c) 1, 3, 2
(c) Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) 2, 1, 3
(d) Quit India Movement
149. Who of the following persons called Irwin 155. Who represented Indian Christians in first
and Gandhi ‘The Two Mahatmas’? Round Table Conference held in London?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2001] [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]
(a) Mira Bahan (a) Rao Bahadur Srinivas
(b) Sarojini Naidu (b) Sir Akbar Haidari
(c) Madan Mohan Malviya (c) Sir A.P. Patro
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru (d) K.T. Paul

PYQ Workbook 150

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

156. ‘Depressed Classes League’ was established (c) Hindu-Muslim riots increased
by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000] (d) Hindus were suppressed
(a) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar 163. Who was the President of the Indian
(b) Babu Jagjiwan Ram National Congress when it passed the ‘Quit
(c) N.S. Kajrolkar India’ resolution? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996]
(d) Mahatma Jyotiba Phule
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
157. Who has moved a resolution for the creation (b) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
of Pakistan in the Muslim League Session of (c) Sardar Patel
1940: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000] (d) Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru
(a) M.A. Jinnah
164. The formula for transfer of sovereignty to
(b) Mohammed Iqbal
India in 1947 was known as–
(c) Rahmat Ali
(d) Khaliquzzaman [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]
(a) Durand Plan
158. Who among the following gave up his (b) Morley-Minto Reforms
legal practice during the Non-Cooperation (c) Mountbatten Plan
Movement? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999] (d) Wavell Plan
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) M.M. Malviya 165. Who was elected as President of the All-
(c) Tej Bahadur Sapru India Khilafat Conference in 1919?
(d) Chittaranjan Das [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]
159. Who among the following issued the (a) Mahatma Gandhi
‘Communal Award’? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999] (b) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
(c) Maulana Shaukat Ali
(a) Ramsay Macdonald
(b) Stanley Baldwin (d) Motilal Nehru
(c) Neville Chamberlain 166. Motilal Nehru was the leader of Swaraj
(d) Winston Churchill Party. Who of the following was NOT in the
160. Who among the following were associated Party? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]
with the formation of ‘Swaraj Party’? (a) Srinivas Iyer
1. Subhash Chandra Bose (b) Chittaranjan Das
2. C.R. Das (c) Vithalbhai Patel
(d) C. Rajagopalachari
3. Jawaharlal Nehru
4. Motilal Nehru 167. Among the following whose adjournment
Select the correct answer from the codes was proposed in Gandhi-Irwin Pact?
given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998] [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (a) Non-Cooperation Movement
(b) 1, 2 and 3 (b) Khilafat Movement
(c) 2 and 3 (c) Round Table Conference
(d) 2 and 4 (d) Civil Disobedience Movement
161. Who among the following ran ‘Congress 168. What was the policy of Indian National
Radio’ during the ‘Quit-India’ movement: Congress during 2nd World War?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997] [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993]
(a) Aruna Asaf Ali (a) Cooperation of Britain in the case of
(b) Jai Prakash Narayan assurance of Complete Independence
(b) Active collaboration of British (Britain)
(c) Usha Mehta
(c) Neutrality
(d) None of the above (d) None of the above
162. Which one of the following was the result of 169. Simon Commission in 1928 came to India
the Khilafat movement? with the purpose– [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996] (a) To consider administrative reform
(a) Hindu-Muslim differences were narrowed (b) To improve Education
down (c) To improve Agricultural sector
(b) Language problem became acute (d) To evaluate Military capacity

151 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

170. Who gave the slogan ‘Jai Hind’? (a) Nehru Report
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990] (b) Cripps Mission Plan
(a) J.L. Nehru (c) Beveridge Report
(b) S.C. Bose (d) Mountbatten Plan
(c) Bhagat Singh 176. Which one of the following statements
(d) B.G. Tilak about Cripps Mission is NOT correct?
171. Consider the following statements: [CAPF 2017]
1. The growth of socialist tendency in the (a) In March 1942, Cripps persuaded War
national movement led to the foundation Cabinet to agree to a draft declaration
of the Congress Socialist party in 1934 (b) Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel
under the leadership of Acharya Narendra represented Congress to negotiate with
Deva and Jayaprakash Narayan. the mission
2. In 1936, Jawaharlal Nehru urged the (c) The mission offered Domination status
Congress to accept socialism as its goal after the war
and to bring itself closer to the peasantry (d) The mission offered formation of
and the working class. Constitution making body after the war
Which of the statements given above is/are 177. Which among the following was not the
correct? [CAPF 2021] recommendation of the Nehru Report?
(a) 1 only [CAPF 2017]
(b) 2 only (a) Dominion Status
(c) Both 1 and 2 (b) Separate Electorate
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) Unitary and Democratic Centre
(d) Adult Suffrage
172. Which one of the following is NOT correct
about Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi Yatra or 178. Which of the following was/were the
Salt Match? [CAPF 2020] features of the Quit India Movement?
(a) It was the first national activity in which [CAPF 2016]
women participated in large numbers. 1. From the very beginning, it was a rural
(b) Gandhiji allowed the women’s revolt.
participation at the request of Kamaladevi 2. It was essentially a moderate movement.
Chattopadhyay. 3. It was marked by the unprecedented use
(c) The march was fully covered by the of violence.
Western press. 4. It was marked by acute state repression.
(d) The march began after the failure of the
First Round Table Conference in London. Select the correct answer using the code given
below.
173. Who among the following were jailed in the (a) 1 only
Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy case in 1924? (b) 1 and 2 only
[CAPF 2019] (c) 3 and 4 only
(a) Muzaffar Ahmad, SA Dange. Shaukat (d) 1, 3 and 4
Usmani, Nalini Gupta
179. Which of the following represents the main
(b) Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Usmani phases of the Quit India Movement?
(c) SA Dange and SV Ghate
(d) Muzaffar Ahmad and SS Mirajkar [CAPF 2015]
1. Strikes, boycotts and picketing in urban
174. Who among the following was NOT centres.
associated with the Kakori Conspiracy case? 2. Widespread attacks in rural areas on the
[CAPF 2019] many symbols and means of colonial rule
(a) Ramprasad Bismil and authority. e.g., railways, telegraph
(b) Rajendra Lahiri lines and Government buildings.
(c) Ashfaqulla Khan 3. Formation of Home Rule leagues.
(d) Surya Sen 4. The Karnataka method.
175. According to which one of the following Select the correct answer using the code given
plans/reports, the decision with regard to below.
the partition of Punjab and Bengal was to be (a) 1 and 2 only
taken on the basis of voting of the members (b) 2, 3 and 4
of the respective Legislative Assemblies? (c) 1, 2 and 4
[CAPF 2019] (d) 1 and 4 only

PYQ Workbook 152

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
180. Which of the following was/were NOT part/
parts of the RIN Mutiny? [CAPF 2015]
1. Indian National Army
2. HMIS Talwar
3. Hunger strike by naval ratings
4. Lord Irwin
Select the correct answer using the code given
below.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 4 only
181. The proposals of the Cabinet Mission did
NOT include [CAPF 2015]
1. a three-tier structure for the Union of
India, with both the Provinces and the
Princely States.
2. formation of a Constituent Assembly.
3. creation of a sovereign Pakistan with sit
Muslim-majority provinces.
Select the correct answer using the code giver
below.
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1 and 2
182. Which one of the following statements
concerning the Freedom and Partition of
India is NOT correct? [CAPF 2015]
(a) In February 1947, British Prime Minister
Attlee announced that the British were
not going to transfer power to Indians,
come what may.
(b) Lord Wavell advocated total withdrawal
of the British from India by 31 March,
1948.
(c) It was Lord Mountbatten who speeded up
the process of transfer of power.
(d) The Plan Balkan was abandoned on
account of Nehru’s opposition to it.
183. Which one of the following statements
about the Gandhi-Irwin Pact is NOT
correct? [CAPF 2015]
(a) Gandhi wrote a letter seeking an interview
with the Viceroy.
(b) Civil Disobedience movement was to be
discontinued.
(c) The imprisoned freedom fighters were to
be released.
(d) All the lands that had been confiscated
were be returned to the original owners.
153
184. Who among the following did NOT belong
to the group of ‘No-Changers’?
[CDS 2022 (I)]
(a) M.A. Ansari
(b) Vithalbhai Patel
(c) Chakravarti Rajagopalachari
(d) Kasturi Ranga Iyengar
185. Which one of the following statements
about the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931 is
correct? [CDS 2021 (I)]
(a) The Government would not release those
prisoners who had been non-violent.
(b) The Government would not release
those prisoners who had indulged in the
peaceful picketing of liquor and foreign
cloth shops.
(c) The Congress did not agree to the
suspension of the Civil Disobedience
Movement.
(d) The Congress agreed to take part in the
Second Round Table Conference.
186. On 31st December 1929 in which one
of the following Congress Sessions was
proclamation of Purna Swaraja made?
[CDS 2020 (I)]
(a) Ahmedabad,
(b) Calcutta
(c) Lahore
(d) Lucknow
187. Which one among the following was
demanded by the All-India Depressed
Classes Leaders’ Conference at Bombay in
1931? [CDS 2020 (I)]
(a) Universal adult suffrage
(b) Separate electorates for untouchables
(c) Reserved seats for the minorities
(d) A unitary state in India
188. Which political party formally accepted
the Cabinet Mission Plan on 6th June
1946, which had rejected the demand for a
sovereign Pakistan? [CDS 2018 (II)]
(a) The Hindu Mahasabha
(b) The Congress
(c) The Muslim League
(d) The Unionist Party
189. Match List I with List II and select the
correct answer using the code given below
the list.
List I (Act/Event) List II (Year)
A. Rowlatt Act 1922
B. Salt March 1931
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

C.Chauri Chaura 1930 (c) initiate discussions regarding anti-

Incident imperialism among workers.
(d) help the formation of a Trade Union
D.Second Round 1919
Movement in Punjab.
Table Conference
Codes [CDS 2017 (I)] 193. The Ghadar party, formed in the USA, was
A B C D determined to start a revolt in India. Which
(a) 4 3 1 2 among the following provinces did the
(b) 3 1 4 2 party choose to begin its armed revolt?
(c) 4 3 2 1 [CDS 2014 (II)]
(d) 3 4 2 1 (a) Punjab
(b) Bengal
190. Consider the following statements about
(c) United Provinces
the Salt March:
(d) Bihar
1. The Salt March was deliberately ignored
by the European media. 194. Which among the following was the reason
2. The Salt March was widely covered by the of the resignations of the Indian Ministers
American and European press. in all the provinces in the year 1939?
3. The Salt March was the first nationalist [CDS 2014 (I)]
activity in which women participated in (a) The Governors refused to act as
large numbers. constitutional heads.
4. The Salt March impressed upon the (b) The Centre did not provide the required
British the urgent need to devolve more financial help to provinces.
power to Indians. (c) The Governor-General converted Indian
Which of the statements given above are administration from federal to unitary
correct? [CDS 2017 (I)] one because of the beginning of the
(a) 1, 2 and 4 World War II.
(b) 2, 3 and 4 (d) India was declared a party to the World
(c) 3 and 4 only War II without the consent of the
(d) 2 and 3 only provincial government.
191. In the elections to the provincial legislatures 195. During the Quit India Movement, a girl
in 1937 in British India named Kanaklata Barua led a public
1. only about 10 to 12 per cent of the procession and defying the police, tried to
population had the right to vote. enter the police station but was shot dead.
2. the untouchables had no right to vote. This incident took place at–
3. the Congress won an absolute majority in [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre.) 2021]
five out of eleven provinces. (a) Sonitpur
4. the Muslim League won more than 80% (b) Midnapur
of the seats reserved for Muslims. (c) Korapur
Select the correct answer using the codes (d) Gohpur
given below: [CDS 2017 (I)] 196. Choose the correct chronological order of
(a) 1, 3 and 4 the following events:
(b) 1 and 4 only (i) Lucknow Pact
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 (ii) Formation of Swaraj Party
(iii) Jallianwala Massacre
192. Which would be the most appropriate
description concerning the Punjab (iv) Death of Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Naujawan Bharat Sabha? It aspired to Select the answer from the following code:
[CDS 2015 (I)] [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2018]
(a) do political work among youth, peasants (a) (i), (iv), (iii) & (ii)
and workers. (b) (iv), (iii), (i) & (ii)
(b) spread the philosophy of revolution (c) (i), (iii), (iv) & (ii)
among students. (d) (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)

PYQ Workbook 154

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

197. Consider the following events and select 203. Who among the following had primarily
their correct chronological order from the used the word ‘Pakistan’ for separate State
code given below: for Indian Muslims?
(i) Formation of Naujawan Bharat Sabha [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1996]
(a) Sir Mohammad Iqbal
(ii) Formation of Swaraj Party (b) Sir Aga Khan
(iii) The Dandi March (c) M. A. Jinnah
(iv) The Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy (d) Chaudhary Rehmat Ali and his friends
Code: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2013] 204. In 1937 elections, Congress secured a clear
(a) (iv), (iii), (ii), (i) majority in the State numbering:
(b) (ii), (i), (iv), (iii) [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1996]
(c) (ii), (iv), (iii), (i) (a) Three
(d) (iv), (ii), (i), (iii) (b) Four
(c) Five
198. Where did the Congress Working Committee (d) Six
meet to pass the ‘Quit India Resolution’ of 205. Before 1947, 26th January was called as-
14th July 1942? [R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2010]
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021]
(a) Bombay (a) Republic Day
(b) Wardha (b) Martyr’s Day
(c) Lucknow (c) Constitution Day
(d) Tripura (d) Poorna Swaraj Day
199. Who represented Congress in the Second 206. The “Pakistan Resolution” was drafted by-
Round Table Conference? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2008] (a) Rehmat Ali
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru (b) Sikandar Hayat Khan
(b) Moti Lal Nehru (c) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
(d) Fazlul Haque
(c) Abul Kalam Azad
(d) Mahatma Gandhi 207. Mountbatten Plan (June 1947) provided
for a referendum in which of the following
200. The whole dispute between Subhash province(s)? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
Chandra Bose and right-wing, after the (a) Sindh
Tripuri session of Congress, centred round (b) Baluchistan
to the question of- [R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2008] (c) North-West Frontier Province
(a) Formation of Congress Working (d) All of these
Committee 208. In which Session Indian National Congress
(b) Policy towards princely States passed Complete Independence Resolution?
(c) Attitude towards Central Government [67th BPSC (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2022]
(d) Double membership of Congress Socialist (a) 1920 AD Nagpur
Party members (b) 1924 AD Belgaon
201. In which province Muslim League formed (c) 1929 AD Lahore
(d) 1931 AD Karachi
their government after 1946 elections?
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2008] above
(a) Bengal
209. Who was the third Satyagrahi of Individual
(b) North-East province
Satyagraha launched by Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Punjab in 1940? [67th BPSC (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2022]
(d) Bihar
(a) Vinoba Bhave
202. Muslim League celebrated the day of (b) Jawaharlal Nehru
Deliverance in: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1999] (c) Rajendra Prasad
(a) 1939 (d) Brahma Dutt
(b) 1942 (e) None of the above/More than one of the
(c) 1946 above
(d) 1947 210. In which country was the honorific ‘Netaji’

155 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

applied to the name of Subhash Chandra 216. Who led cultivators in Bihar during the
Bose? [67th BPSC (Pre) 2022] Non-cooperation Movement?
(a) India [65th BPSC (Pre) 2019]
(b) Italy
(a) Swami Vidyanand
(c) Germany
(d) Japan (b) Raj Kumar Singh
(e) None of the above/More than one of the (c) Shri Krishna Singh
above (d) J.B. Sen
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
211. Subhas Chandra Bose renamed Nicobar
Island as:[67th BPSC (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2022] above
(a) Swaraj Island 217. Gandhiji’s Non-Cooperation Movement
(b) Shaheed Island urged people to avoid alcohol. This
(c) Balidan Island resulted in a serious loss of revenue for the
(d) Navodaya Island
government. The government of a province
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
above circulated a list of prominent individuals
who drank alcohol as a device to persuade
212. Who was allotted the Portfolio of the Labour people to start drinking again. Name the
Department in the Interim Government’s
province: [64th BPSC (Pre) 2018]
Cabinet of 1946 AD?
[67th BPSC (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2022] (a) Andhra Pradesh
(a) Jagjivan Ram (b) Bihar
(b) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (c) Bombay
(c) Dr. Anugraha Narayan Singh (d) Gujarat
(d) Syed Ali Zaheer (e) None of the above/More than one of the
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
above
218. Who was NOT the member of the Cabinet
213. Who was given the princely portfolio in the Mission? [63rd B.P.S.C (Pre.) 2017]
National Provisional Government?
(a) Pethick-Lawrence
[67th BPSC (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2021]
(b) Wavell
(a) V.P. Menon
(b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (c) Stafford Cripps
(c) Krishna Shahi (d) A.V. Alexander
(d) C. Rajgopalachari (e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
214. All India Azad Dasta at Bakri Ka Tapu was
organised during the Quit India Movement 219. What was the ultimate goal of Gandhiji’s
by: [66th B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020] Salt Satyagraha? [63rd B.P.S.C (Pre.) 2017]
(a) Ram Manohar Lohia (a) Repeal of Salt laws
(b) Usha Mehta (b) Curtailment of the government’s power
(c) Chittu Pandey
(d) Jayprakash Narayan (c) Economic relief to the common people
(e) None of the above/More than one of the (d) ‘Purna Swaraj’ for India
above (e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
215. The Congress Socialist Party was founded
in 1934 by: 220. Home department was establishment under
[66th B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020] whose presidentship?
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru and Vinoba Bhave [63rd BPSC (Pre) 2017]
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru and Jay Prakash (a) Mahatma Gandhi
Narayan
(b) J.L. Nehru
(c) Jayprakash Narayan and Acharya
Narendra Dev (c) J.B. Pant
(d) Ashok Mehta and Dr. Rajendra Prasad (d) Sardar Patel
(e) None of the above/More than one of the (e) None of the above/More than one of the
above above

PYQ Workbook 156

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

221. Who joined Subhas Chandra Bose to 227. Who played an important role in the signing
find All India Forward Bloc and actively of Gandhi-Irwin Pact?
associated with the INA movement? [47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]
[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016] (a) Motilal Nehru
(a) Jai Prakash Narayan (b) Madan Mohan Malviya
(b) Baikunth Shukla (c) Tej Bahadur Sapru
(c) Sheel Bhadra Yajee (d) Chintamani
(d) Ram Narain Prasad
(e) None of the above/More than one of the 228. The Prime Minister of England during Quit
above India Movement was-
[46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]
222. Who among the following participated in
the Salt Satyagraha of Gandhi? (a) Chamberlain
(b) Churchill
[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]
(c) Clement Attlee
(a) Sarojini Naidu (d) Macdonald
(b) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
(c) Kamla Devi Chattopadhyaya 229. Which Congress President negotiated with
(d) All of these both Cripps Mission and Lord Wavell?
223. Fill in the blanks: The Nehru Report was [47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]
drafted by a committee headed by ........ and (a) Abul Kalam Azad
the subject was ........ (b) Jawaharlal Nehru
[56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015] (c) J.B. Kriplani
(a) Motilal Nehru and Jawaharlal Nehru; (d) C. Rajagopalachari
India’s relationship with the British 230. Due to which of the event, Mahatma Gandhi
Empire halted the Non-Cooperation Movement?
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru; Local Self-Government [46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2004]
in India
(c) Motilal Nehru; Constitutional (a) Kakori Case
arrangements in India (b) Chauri-Chaura incident
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru; Constitutional (c) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
arrangements in India (d) Muzaffarpur case
224. Who was the first President of All India 231. The Second Round Table Conference in
Trade Union Congress? London was held in the backdrop of the:
[48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008] [46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2004]
(a) B.T. Ranade (a) Emerson-Gandhi Pact
(b) Satya Bhakta (b) Hailey-Gandhi Pact
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai (c) Irwin-Gandhi Pact
(d) N.M. Joshi (d) Gandhi-Simon Pact
225. The Revolutionary phase of the trade union 232. The word ‘Sarvodaya’ was primarily used
movement in India was: by: [46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2004]
[48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008] (a) Mahatma Gandhi
(a) 1939-45 (b) Pandit Nehru
(b) 1926-39 (c) Vinoba Bhave
(c) 1918-26 (d) Jai Prakash Narayan
(d) 1914-18 233. At the Congress Working Committee
226. Why did Mahatma Gandhi support the meeting at Allahabad (April-May, 1947),
Khilafat Movement? who of the following members was able to
[48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008] secure a majority for his plan of a Guerilla
(a) The Khalifa had given shelter to Indian War against the Japanese due to India’s
revolutionaries unequivocal stand against Nazism, Fascism
(b) Gandhiji wanted to win the support of the and imperialism?[46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2004]
Indian Muslims against the British (a) Subhash Chandra Bose
(c) The Khalifa supported Indian struggle (b) Sarojini Naidu
for freedom (c) Maulana Azad
(d) The Khalifa was a friend of Gandhiji (d) Jawaharlal Nehru

157 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
234. Where was Azad Hind Fauz set up in 1943?
[45th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2001]
(a) Japan
(b) Burma
(c) Singapore
(d) Malaya
235. Which of the following Indian leaders
attended the First Round Table Conference
in London? [44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]
(a) Maulana Mohammad Ali
(b) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
236. Who viewed Cripps’ proposal as a post-
dated cheque upon a crashing bank’?
[44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) J.B. Kriplani
(d) Jaiprakash Narayan
237. Moplah Rebellion in 1921 was an offshoot
of: [43rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1999]
(a) Khilafat Movement
(b) Mutiny of 1857
(c) Swadeshi Movement
(d) Non-Cooperation Movement
238. On 6th July 1942, at the Working Committee
of the Congress, Mahatma Gandhi discussed
for the first time his ‘Quit India Policy’. The
President of the Committee was:
[43rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1999]
(a) Rajagopalachari
(b) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
(c) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Dr. Annie Besant
239. The famous slogan ‘Swaraj should be for
common people not only for classes’ was
given by- [42nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]
(a) C.R. Das
(b) C. Rajagopalachari
(c) Motilal Nehru
(d) Gopi Nath Saha
240. Agitation against Chaukidari Tax in
Begusarai was a part of-
[42nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1997]
(a) Non-cooperation movement
(b) Civil disobedience movement
(c) Quit India movement
(d) Khilafat movement
241. During 1923-28, the repetition of
revolutionary activities in Indian politics
was due to: [41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]
PYQ Workbook
(a) Rising influence of leaders like Hardayal
and Lajpat Rai
(b) Postponement of non-cooperation
movement by Gandhiji
(c) Influences of foreign events
(d) Refusal of Indian demand by Britishers
242. After the failure of the Civil Disobedience
movement, Gandhiji gave importance to:
[41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]
(a) Constructive programmes
(b) Limited use of violence
(c) Negotiation with British
(d) None of the above
243. On which issue did the Second Round Table
Conference fail? [41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]
(a) Communal Delegations
(b) Granting Dominion Status
(c) The date of transfer of ruling power
(d) Postponement of Civil Disobedience
Movement
244. After passing the resolution of ‘Quit India
Movement’ Gandhiji was arrested–
[41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]
(a) in Yarawada Jail
(b) in Naini Jail
(c) in the fort of Ahmednagar
(d) in Aga Khan Palace
245. In which context did Jai Prakash Narayan
get the recognition of national leader?
[41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]
(a) Quit India Movement
(b) Establishment of Congress Socialist Party
(c) Bhoodan Movement
(d) Making the member of Congress
Executive Committee
246. Who was the first Indian to be the member
of Communist International?
[40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]
(a) M.N. Roy
(b) Muzaffar Ahmad
(c) S.S. Dange
(d) None of the above
247. In which city was the conference of Khilafat
Committee in 1920 held that requested
Gandhiji to assume the leadership of Non-
co-operation Movement?
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
(a) Lucknow
(b) Lahore
(c) Allahabad
(d) Karachi
158
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

248. In which working Committee did the 254. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose became the
Congress adopt the policy of abolishing President of India National Congress by
land ownership? [39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994] defeating which leader?
(a) Working Committee, 1937 [Chhattisgarh P.C.S (Pre) 2013]
(b) Working Committee, 1942 (a) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(c) Working Committee, 1945 (b) J.L. Nehru
(d) Working Committee, 1946 (c) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
(d) C. Rajagopalachari
249. The result of whose brain is I.N.A. and who (e) P. Sitaramaiya
founded it? [39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
255. During which movement the two brothers
(a) Subhash Chandra Bose
Gangaram and Kheemdev were martyred?
(b) Mohan Singh
[Uttarakhand PCS (Pre) 2021]
(c) Chandra Shekhar Azad
(d) Bhagat Singh (a) Salt Satyagraha Movement
(b) Dola-Palki Movement
250. Who among following led the movement (c) Kuli-Begar Movement
for the separate State Pakistan? (d) Quit India Movement
[38th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1992] 256. Which event occurred first?
(a) Aga Khan [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
(b) Nawab Salim Ullah (a) Dandi March
(c) Liaqat Ali Khan (b) Quit India Movement
(d) Md. Ali Jinnah (c) Arrival of Simon Commission
251. Which of the following were the main events (d) Gandhi-Irwin Pact
of the year 1945: 257. Who was selected as first Satyagrahi in
1. Wavell Plan Individual Satyagraha Movement by
2. Shimla Conference Mahatma Gandhi:
3. Naval Mutiny [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
4. INA Trial (a) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(b) Sardar Patel
Select the correct answer using the codes (c) Sarojini Naidu
given below: (d) Vinoba Bhave
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
258. The idea of a separate Nation for Muslims
(a) 1, 2, 3
was given by:
(b) 2, 3, 4
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
(c) 1, 2, 4
(d) 1, 3, 4 (a) Mohammad Ali Jinnah
(b) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
252. Who of the following was the President of (c) Sir Mohammad Iqbal
‘All Parties’ Conference held in February (d) Liaqat Ali Khan
1928? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
259. The draft of the “Quit India” resolution was
(a) Motilal Nehru prepared by:
(b) Dr. M.A. Ansari [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
(c) Subhash Chandra Bose (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) M.K. Gandhi (b) Mahatma Gandhi
(e) None of these (c) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
253. In which ground of Bombay the proposal (d) Sarojini Naidu
was passed for ‘Quit India Movement’? 260. On whose suggestions were the Indians kept
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2015] out of the Simon Commission?
(a) Marine drive ground [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]
(b) Kala Ghoda ground (a) Lord Reading
(c) Chembur ground (b) Lord Chelmsford
(d) Gowalia Tank (c) Sir John Simon
(e) None of the these (d) Lord Irwin

159 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

261. Consider the following reports connected (a) Hind Kesari

with Muslim grievances in the Congress (b) Kaiser-i-Hind
administered provinces: (c) Rai Bahadur
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013] (d) Rt. Honorable
1. Pirpur Report
267. Who hoisted the Indian flag at midnight of
2. Shareef Report
December 31, 1929?
3. Muslim sufferings under Congress rule
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
Select the correct chronological order of the
reports from the code given below: (a) Motilal Nehru
(a) 1, 2, 3 (b) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(b) 2, 1, 3 (c) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) 3, 1, 2 (d) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) 1, 3, 2 268. Which of the following parties did not
262. Which one of the following had supported support ‘Quit India Movement’?
the Quit India Resolution’ of 1942? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009] (a) The Hindu Mahasabha
(a) A.K. Azad (b) The Communist Party of India
(b) Rajendra Prasad (c) The Unionist Party of Punjab
(c) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (d) All of the above
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru
263. Who amongst the following made regular 269. Who among the following had NOT
broadcasted on Congress Radio operated advocated in INA Red Fort Trial in 1945?
during Quit India Movement? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008] (a) Bhaulabhai Desai
(a) Jay Prakash Narayan (b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Subhash Chandra Bose (c) Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
(c) Ram Manohar Lohia (d) Dr. Kailash Nath Katju
(d) Sucheta Kriplani
270. For which of the following reason/reasons,
264. Who amongst the following was responsible Swaraj party founded in India–
for the formation of the Independence of
1. Withdraw of non-cooperation movement
India League in 1928?
by Mahatma Gandhi.
1. Jawahar Lal Nehru
2. Subhash Chandra Bose 2. Entering in the council and resection the
3. Acharya Narendra Dev Government of India’s Act of 1919 by
don’t let them work.
4. Jaya Prakash Narayan
3. Repression by the British Government.
Select the correct answer using the code given
below: [U.P. Lower (Spl) (Pre) 2008] 4. It is believed by the Indian’s that
(a) 1, 2 and 3 they should feel the experience of
(b) 2, 3 and 4 administration.
(c) 1 and 2 Select the correct answer using the code given
(d) 3 and 4 below: [U.P Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998]
265. In the interim Government (1946) who held (a) only 1
the Railways Portfolio? (b) 1 and 2
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008] (c) 1, 2 and 3
(a) Baldev Singh (d) 1, 3 and 4
(b) T.T. Chundrigar
271. Which of the following leaders participated
(c) Asaf Ali
(d) Abdul Rab Nishtar in 2nd Round Table Conference-
1. Mahatma Gandhi
266. The title given by the British Government
to Mahatma Gandhi which he surrendered 2. Sarojini Naidu
during the Non-Cooperation Movement 3. Madan Mohan Malviya
was: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004] 4. Maulana Azad

PYQ Workbook 160

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

Select correct answer using code given below: (b) Pyarelal Nayyar
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998] (c) Madan Mohan Malaviya
(a) 1 and 2 (d) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) 1 and 3 275. The head office of ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ is
(c) 1, 2 and 3 situated at– [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]
(d) 1, 3 and 4 (a) Tokyo
272. From which ashrama did Mahatma Gandhi (b) Rangoon
start the ‘Dandi March’? (c) Berlin
[MPPCS (Pre) 2021] (d) Delhi
(a) Sabarmati 276. Who among the following officers of Azad
(b) Pavnar Hind Fauj did NOT face famous Red Fort
(c) Sewagram trials? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
(d) Ramanandiya (a) Gurdayal Singh
(b) Prem Sehgal
273. Who coined the slogan ‘Quit India’?
(c) Mohan Singh
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018] (d) Shahnawaz
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru 277. Who among the following held the Office
(c) Yousuf Meher Ali of Speaker in Central Legislative Assembly
(d) Aruna Asaf Ali of British era and the Parliament of free
India? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
274. Who among the following had NOT (a) Sir Abdur Rahim
participated in the Second Round Table (b) G.V. Mavlankar
Conference? [M.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2017] (c) Ananat Shayanam Ayanger
(a) Mahadev Desai (d) Vitthal Bhai Patel

161 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
SOLUTIONS
4.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions
1. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In March 1942, a mission headed by Stafford Cripps was sent
to India with constitutional proposals to seek Indian support
for the war.
The main proposals of the Cripps mission were as follows:
• An Indian Union with a dominion status would be
set up; it would be free to decide its relations with the
Commonwealth and free to participate in the United
Nations and other international bodies.
• After the end of the war, a constituent assembly would
be convened to frame a new constitution. Members of
this assembly would be partly elected by the provincial
assemblies through proportional representation and
partly nominated by the princes. (Hence, Statement 1 is
incorrect)
• The British government would accept the new constitution
subject to two conditions: (i) any province not willing to
join the Union could have a separate constitution and
form a separate Union, and (ii) the new constitution-
making body and the British government would negotiate
a treaty to effect the transfer of power and to safeguard
racial and religious minorities. (Hence, Statement 2 is
correct)
• In the meantime, defence of India would remain in
British hands and the governor-general’s powers would
remain intact.
2. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement a is correct. The Quit India resolution was
adopted in Bombay in August, 1942, by AICC (All India
Congress committee) at Gowalia Tank.
Statement b is incorrect. More Indians were added to
Viceroy’s executive council by Government of India Act
1919. First time, an Indian was added in this council by
Government of India act 1909.
Statement c is incorrect. Congress resigned from ministries
in 7 provinces in 1939 as they decided not to support war
as India could not be party to a war for democratic freedom
while that freedom was being denied to India.
Statement d is incorrect. Yes, Cripps proposed a dominion
status to India, but this was not related to 8 August 1942.
3. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s first major public
appearance was at the opening of the Banaras Hindu
University (BHU) in February 1916. He was invited by
PYQ Workbook
Malaviya on the Occasaion of opening Banaras Hindu
University. Among the invitees to this event were the princes
and philanthropists whose donations had contributed to the
founding of the BHU. Also present were important leaders of
the Congress, such as Annie Besant.
4. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar, popularly known as Thakkar
Bapa was an Indian social worker who worked for upliftment
of tribal people in Gujarat state in India. He became a
member of the Servants of India Society founded by Gopal
Krishna Gokhale in 1905. In 1922, he founded the Bhil
Seva Mandal. Later, he became the general secretary of the
Harijan Sevak Sangh founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932.
Important Tips
Dayaram Gidumal Shahani (30 June 1857 – 7 December
1927) or Rishi Dayaram, was a social reformer, judge,
poet, and scholar in British India. He helped establish the
D.J. Sindh College in Karachi and supported education for
women. He was a scholar of Arabic, Persian, and Sanskrit.
He founded the Seva Sadan along with Behramji Malabari.
He published numerous books including Sata saheliyun
and Chabak mana lai ain rihan (Lashes for the mind,
1923–29).
Gurusaday Dutt (1882–1941) was a civil servant,
folklorist, and writer. He was the founder of the Bratachari
Movement in the 1930s. In October 1925, he started
Bangalakshmi, a monthly magazine that is still published.
In 1929, he started a magazine called Gramer Daak that
dealt with agrarian and rural matters of concern.
Dhondo Keshav Karve (18 April 1858 – 9 November
1962), popularly known as Maharshi Karve, was a social
reformer in India in the field of women’s welfare. He
founded the first women’s university in India - SNDT
Women’s University.
5. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Prem Kumar Sehgal, Shah Nawaz Khan and Gurubaksh
Singh Dhillon were officers of Indian National Army whose
trial were held in 1945 at the Red Fort in Delhi. This was the
first trial of INA Prisoners of wars.
6. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct.
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed by Gandhiji on behalf of
the Congress and by Lord Irwin on behalf of the British India
Government. It placed the Congress on an equal footing with
the Government.
162
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
The terms of the agreement included the following:
• Immediate release of all political prisoners not
convicted for violence,
• withdrawal of emergency ordinances, which were
promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience
Movement
• the remission of all fines not yet collected,
• the return of confiscated lands not yet sold to third
parties,
• Lenient treatment for those government employees who
had resigned.
• The Government also conceded the right to make salt for
consumption to villages along the coast, as also the right
to peaceful and non-aggressive picketing.
• Invitation to Congress for participation in Second
Round Table Conference.
Statement 3 is incorrect. However, the Congress demand
for a public inquiry into police excesses was not accepted,
but Gandhiji’s insistent request for an inquiry was recorded in
the agreement. Gandhi’s demand of commutation of Bhagat
Singh and his comrades’ death sentence to life sentence
was also not accepted. The Congress, on its part, agreed to
discontinue the Civil Disobedience Movement.
7. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is correctly matched. The All-India Anti-
Untouchability League was established in 1932 by M.K.
Gandhi for elevating the social status of the lower and
backward classes. It was born out of the historic Poona Pact
between Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar.
It was set up as part of his efforts to eradicate the concept of
‘untouchability’ from India’s caste system. It was later came
to be known as the Harijan Sewak Sangh. He also started the
weekly Harijan in January 1933.
Pair 2 is correctly matched. Between 1920 and 1940 peasant
organisations arose. The first organisation to be founded was
the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (1929) and in 1936 the All
India Kisan Sabha.
All India Kisan Sabha was founded in Lucknow in April
1936 with Swami Sahjanand Saraswati as the president and
N.G. Ranga as the general secretary. A kisan manifesto was
issued and a periodical under Indulal Yagnik started. The
AIKS and the Congress held their sessions in Faizpur in 1936.
The Congress manifesto (especially the agrarian policy) for
the 1937 provincial elections was strongly influenced by the
AIKS agenda.
Pair 3 is correctly matched. E.V. Ramasami Naicker,
Known as Periyar (the respected) , was a strong supporter
of atheism; famous for his anticaste struggle and rediscovery
of Dravidian identity. Initially a worker of the Congress
party, he started the self-respect movement (1925) and led
the anti-Brahmin movement. He also worked for the Justice
party and later founded Dravidar Kazhagam; opposed to
Hindi and domination of north India; propounded the thesis
163
that north Indians and Brahmins are Aryans.
The Self-Respect Movement was aimed at nothing short of
a rejection of the brahminical religion and culture which
Naicker felt was the prime instrument of exploitation of
the lower castes. He sought to undermine the position of
brahmin priests by formalising weddings without brahmin
priests.
8. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. Indian immigration to South
Africa had begun in 1890 when the White settlers recruited
indentured Indian labour, mainly from South India, to work
on the sugar plantations. They faced racial discrimination in
South Africa
During the early 1900s, Gandhi was instrumental in
getting the indentured labour system abolished in the
British Empire through the use of the method of passive
resistance or civil disobedience, named Satyagraha.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Viceroy of India Lord
Chelmsford, invited various Indian leaders to attend a
War conference during World War I. Gandhi accepted the
invitation and went to Delhi. Gandhi was not happy that
leaders like Tilak or the Ali brothers had not been invited to
the conference, so he felt unwilling attended the conference.
After meeting the Viceroy, who was very keen that Gandhi
should support the resolution on recruiting, Gandhi
supported the government’s resolution on recruiting.
He believed that whole-hearted co-operation with the
government will bring India within sight of goal of Swaraj
as nothing else will.
Statement 3 is correct. Gandhiji began his salt march from
Ahmedabad to Dandi on 12 th March 1930. Gandhi and his
selected followers reached Dandi beach and broke the salt
law by picking up salt left on the shore by the sea.
He wanted the people to break the salt law openly and to
prepare themselves for non-violent resistance to police
action.
British government took many other leaders under custody.
In dealing with the breakers of the salt law, the police
resorted to their usual brutal methods and The Indian
National Congress was declared illegal.
9. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
When Gandhiji and his followers gained controlled of the
All India Home Rule League. They changed its name to
‘Swaraj Sabha’ (Hindi for Home Rule League) in 1920 .
At the same time they also changed its constitution to allow
it to serve as vehicle for Non-cooperation movement. This
enabled Gandhi to combine cadre of the Home Rule League
and Muslim league for the Non-cooperation movement.
10. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Champaran Satyagraha (1917) was the first peasant
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
movement to have garnered nationwide attention. It was first
Satyagraha movement led by Gandhi in India.
Gandhi played a critical role by opening a new phase in
the national movement by joining it to the great struggle
of the Indian peasantry by creating awareness among the
peasants against the European Planters. In the subsequent
years, Gandhi’s localised movements in Ahmedabad (for
mill workers) and Kheda (where he supported distressed
peasants) thus, creating grounds for the massive nationwide
protests.
11. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Dyarchy means ‘rule of two’-executive councillors and
popular ministers. The Government of India Act 1919
introduced dyarchy for the executive at provincial level. The
provincial subjects were further subdivided into transferred
and reserved.
12. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Event 3: The Second Round Table Conference, held in
London in 1931, was convened by the British to discuss
constitutional reforms in India. The INC, led by Gandhi,
participated in the conference. However, the conference
failed to resolve major differences between the Indian and
British delegations, particularly over the issue of separate
electorates for minority communities. This led to the
resumption of the Civil Disobedience Movement in India.
Event 2: On 8 August 1942, the All-India Congress
Committee (AICC) met at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in
Bombay (now Mumbai) to pass the Quit India Resolution,
demanding the immediate withdrawal of British rule from
India. The resolution was drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru and
moved by Yusuf Meherally. It was seconded by Vallabhbhai
Patel and passed unanimously.
Event 1: Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy began on 18
February 1946 in Bombay (now Mumbai) and quickly spread
to other parts of British India. The mutiny was eventually
suppressed by the British, but it had a significant impact on
the Indian independence movement.
13. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Butler Committee (1927) also known as the Indian
states committee was set up to examine the nature of
relationship between the princely states and government.
It recommended that:
1. Paramountcy must remain supreme and must fulfil its
obligations, adopting and defining itself according to the
shifting necessities of time and progressive development
of states.
2. States should not be handed over to an Indian Government
in British India, responsible to an Indian legislature,
without the consent of states.
3. It thus gave concession to Indian States in the form of
a promise that paramountcy would not be transferred
PYQ Workbook
without their consent to any democratically elected
government in British India; but at the same time,
it reaffirmed the supremacy of paramountcy with
unlimited power-even to suggest constitutional changes
in a particular state if there was widespread demand for
such reforms.
14. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
When the Second World War situation worsened, the British
Government wanted to seek the active cooperation of
Indians in the War. To secure this cooperation the British
Government sent to India in March 1942 a mission headed
by a Cabinet minister Stafford Cripps. Cripps announced
that the aim of British policy in India was ‘the earliest
possible realization of self- government in India’. The plan
unveiled by Cripps promised India Dominion Status and
a constitution-making body after the War whose members
would be elected by the provincial assemblies and nominated
by the rulers in case of the princely states.
15. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. The Rowlatt committee was a
‘Sedition Committee’ appointed in 1918 by the British
Indian Government and it was chaired by Justice Rowlatt.
The recommendation of the committee was the basis for
Rowlatt Act.
The Rowlatt Act authorized the authorities to imprison a
person suspected of terrorism for maximum of two years
without trial.
Statement 2 is correct. In 1919 Gandhiji gave a call for a
satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act that the British had just
passed. It was first attempt of Gandhiji for a nation-wide
movement. Under the leadership of Gandhi, the newly
established Home League was the leading force in this
satyagraha along with pan-islamists and Satyagraha Sabha
members.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Simon Commission was formed
to look into the of the constitutional system facilitated by the
1919 Act in India. It arrived in India in 1928 and was met
with huge protests as it did not have any Indian member.
Gandhi gave call for Rowlatt Satygraha in 1919. Thus, the
two demonstrations were separated by a period of almost
a decade.
16. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Within Congress, ‘Congress Socialist Party’ in 1934 was
founded J P Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev and Minoo
Masani. Its members were critical of tactics and strategy
of Gandhi as well as of Communists. They wanted to give
Congress a socialist direction by working from within the
congress and organising peasants and workers outside the
congress. The party mainly consisted of three ideologies –
Maxian Socialism, Fabianism and Gandhian Socialim. The
stood for abolition of Capitalism, Zamindari and princely
states.
164
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Statement 1 incorrect: As it is found post Civil Disobedience
Movement in 1934 they were silent on boycott of british
goods and evasion of taxes.
Statement 2 is incorrect: They want to establish government
with socialistic principles not dictatorship of proletariat like
communists.
Statement 3 is incorrect: It advocated demoractric socialism
not seprate electorate.
17. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In 1930, Gandhiji declared that he would lead a march
to break the salt law. According to this law, the state had
a monopoly on the manufacture and sale of salt. Mahatma
Gandhi along with other nationalists reasoned that it was
sinful to tax salt since it is such an essential item of our food.
The defiance of the salt laws occurred all over India. K.
Kelappan organised salt marches in Malabar, Gopalbandhu
Chaudhuri organised salt salt satyagraha in coastal regions
of Orrisa.
C. Rajagopalachari organized a march from Trichinopoly
to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law
in April 1930. It was modelled on the lines of Dandi March
which was led by Gandhi.
18. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Sir Cyril Radcliffe was the Chairman of the two Border for
demarcation border between India and Pakistan in Punjab
and Bengal.
The boundary demarcation line between India and Pakistan
known as the Radcliffe Line came into force on 17 August
1947. The Radcliffe Line was named after its architect, Sir
Cyril Radcliffe. Radcliffe divided India into three parts: West
Pakistan, East Pakistan and India.
19. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
It was in the Lahore Session (1929) that the Congress for
the first time adopted complete independence or Poorna
Swaraj as the goal of INC and it was declared that 26 January
1930, would be celebrated as the Independence Day. Such
demand was not raised from the Congress platform earlier.
The 1929 Session of Indian National Congress was presided
by the Jawaharlal Nehru.
20. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Indian Statutory Commission, also known as Simon
Commission was a seven member commission of British
parliamentarians formed to look into the of the constitutional
system facilitated by the 1919 Act in India and suggest
changes. Major reason behind its opposition was that – all
its members were white and there was no Indian member. In
1928, when the Simon Commission arrived in India, it was
greeted with black flags and the slogan ‘Go back Simon’. It
was boycotted by majority of political parties in India.
165
21. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In March 1942, Britain dispatched Sir Stafford Cripps, a
member of the War Cabinet, to India to discuss the British
Government’s Draft Declaration. The draft granted India
Dominion status after the war but otherwise conceded few
changes to the British Government Act of 1935. The draft
was unacceptable to the Congress Working Committee
who rejected it.
Thus, Cripps Mission failed to satisfy the demands of
Congress leaders. On 7 to 8 August 1942, the All India
Congress Committee met in Bombay and ratified the ‘Quit
India’ resolution. Gandhi ji called the Cripps Proposals a
‘post-dated’ cheque. Muslim league also rejected proposals
of Cripps Mission.
22. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The elections to the provincial assemblies were held in
February 1937 in eleven provinces and Congress ministries
were formed in Bombay, Madras, Central Provinces, Orissa,
United Provinces, Bihar and later in the NWFP and Assam
also.
The Congress ministries resigned in protest against
Viceroy Lord Linlithgow’s action of declaring India to be
a belligerent in the Second World War without consulting
the Indian people.
23. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Option 1 is incorrect. The Peasants and Workers Party of
India was founded in 1948 by Marxist leaders such as Keshav
Rao Jedhe, Nana Patil and others. Thus, it was not established
by Dr. B.R.Ambedkar.
Option 2 is correct. The second political party established
by Ambedkar was the All India Scheduled Castes Federation.
Founded in 1942, it was first all India political party
exclusively for Scheduled Castes.
Option 3 is correct. In 1936, Babasaheb Ambedkar founded
the Independent Labour Party, which contested the 1937
Bombay election to the Central Legislative Assembly for
the 13 reserved and 4 general seats, securing 11 and 3 seats
respectively.
24. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The British Premier Ramsay MacDonald, announced the
Communal Award which provided for separate electorates
for the ‘Depressed Classes’. Gandhi was in Yervada Jail,
protesting against the separate electorate, he commenced
his fast unto death. A solution was found to the communal
problem in form of Poona Pact.
25. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Statement 1 is correct. It was in the Lahore Session (1929)
that the Congress for the first time raised the demand for
complete independence. Such demand was not raised from
the Congress platform earlier. The Lahore Congress accepted
the new interpretation for Swaraj which was now to mean
complete independence.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The rift between the extremists
and moderates was resolved in Lucknow Session held in
1916.
Statement 3 is incorrect. Jinnah’s Two Nations Theory
came up in March 1940. It was not rejected in the Lahore
Session (1929) of the Indian National Congress.
26. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Rowlatt Act was introduced in 1919, indefinitely extending
‘emergency measures’ (of the Defence of India Regulations
Act, 1915) enacted during the First World War in order to
control public unrest and root out conspiracy. The Rowlatt
Act authorized the authority to imprison a person
suspected of terrorism for maximum of two years without
trial. It allowed the political actvists without jury or in
summary trials.
27. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
It was non-violent like earlier movements of Gandhi. The
Quit India movement was launched on August 8 1942. In
the yearly hours of August 9, 1942 in a single sweep of all
top leaders were arrested including Gandhi. This movement
was guided by leaders like Ram Manohar Lohia, Jai Prakesh
Narayan through underground activities.
28. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. Gandhi organized a Satyagraha
to support the peasants of the Kheda district of Gujarat.
Affected by crop failure due to drought in 1918 and a plague
epidemic, the peasants of Kheda could not pay the revenue,
and were demanding that revenue collection be relaxed.
Despite their difficulties, British government raised the
revenue.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Permanent Settlement System
introduced in 1793 was implemented in Bengal, Bihar, and
some part of UP. Government agreed to suspend the tax for
the year in question and next.
29. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The ‘Nehru Report’ was prepared by a committee of the
All-Parties Conference chaired by Motilal Nehru with
Jawaharlal Nehru acting as secretary. Its recommendations
included:
• It called for Dominion Status not complete
Independence.
• Unlike the eventual Government of India Act 1935 it
contained a Bill of Rights.
PYQ Workbook
• It did not provide for separate electorates for any
community or weightage for minorities.
• It advocated federal structure.
• Separation of state from religion
• A parliamentary form of Government
• Residual powers with federal/central government
• Adult franchise
• Redistribution of provincial boundaries on a linguistic
basis
30. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
C. Rajagopalachari, also known as Rajaji, was a prominent
leader of the Indian National Congress and a close associate
of Mahatma Gandhi. He issued a pamphlet entitled ‘The
Way Out’ in 1944, in which he proposed a solution to the
Constitutional deadlock that had arisen due to the British
government’s refusal to grant independence to India and the
Muslim League’s demand for a separate state of Pakistan for
the Muslims of India.
Important Tips
Rajaji’s proposal, which came to be known as the CR
Formula or the Rajaji Formula, was as follows:
The Muslim League should endorse the Indian demand for
independence and cooperate with the Congress in forming
a provisional interim government for a transitional period.
After the end of the Second World War, a commission
should be appointed to demarcate the districts having a
Muslim majority population in the north-west and eastern
zones of India.
The people of these districts should then decide by a
plebiscite whether they wanted to form a separate sovereign
state or remain with the Indian Union.
The terms of the treaty between the two states should
include clauses for safeguarding the rights and interests
of the minorities, ensuring free movement and trade, and
maintaining common defense and foreign affairs.
31. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad were official Congress
negotiators for Cripps Mission. On 11 March 1942, Churchill
announced that the British government has prepared a plan
to overcome India’s political deadlock and Sir Stafford Crips
would be sent to India. Sir Cripps was also a member of the
British Cabinet and actively supported the Indian National
Movement. The Cripps Mission provided for a separate
constitution for other provinces of India, whose hidden goal
was to divide India into pieces. This proposal was against the
principle of national unity of India.
32. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru drafted the fundamental rights
resolution and economic program for the Karachi Session
166
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
of the Indian National Congress in 1931. The resolution was
adopted by the Congress and became an important milestone
in the struggle for India’s independence. The resolution
outlined a number of fundamental rights that the Congress
believed should be guaranteed to all Indians.
Important Tips
These Fundamental Rights in the Karachi resolution
included:
• Freedom of speech and expression.
• Freedom of association and assembly
• Freedom of conscience and religion
• Equality of all citizens before the law
• The right to work, education, and a living wage
• The right to property
• The right to participate in the government.
33. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Simon Commission’s recommendations included the
suggestion to abolish the Provincial Dyarchy system that
was in place. The Dyarchy system involved the division of
powers and responsibilities between elected Indian ministers
and appointed British officials in the provincial governments.
The Commission recommended replacing this system
with responsible government in the provinces, where the
elected ministers would have greater authority and control
over the administration. This transition aimed to provide
more autonomy to the Indian provinces and move towards a
responsible and representative form of governance.
34. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
On 25th February, 1920, Ahmedabad Textile Labour
Association was established by Mahatma Gandhi along
with Anasuya Sarabhai, who was a pioneer of the women’s
labour movement in India.
Important Tips
Significant facts about Ahmedabad Mills Strike:
Mahadev Desai wrote a book “ The Righteous Struggle”
about Ahmedabad Mills Strike conducted by Mahatma
Gandhi in 1918 .
First President of Ahmedabad Textile Labor Association
was Anasuyabehn Patel with Mahatma Gandhi and Shri
Shankerlal Banker as the Advisers.
35. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The slogan ‘Do or Die’ is associated with the Quit India
Movement. This movement was launched by Mahatma
Gandhi on 9 August 1942 at the Bombay session of the All-
India Congress Committee. He gave a ‘do or die’ call to the
people of India in a final push to make the British quit2. The
movement was also known as August Kranti Movement or
Bharat Chodo Andolan.
167
Important Tips
Some of the leaders of the Quit India Movement were:
Aruna Asaf Ali: She was a prominent woman leader and
a member of the Congress Socialist Party. She hoisted
the Indian flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay
after Gandhi’s arrest. She went underground and led the
movement in Delhi
Ram Manohar Lohia: He was a socialist leader and a
follower of Gandhi. He organised underground activities
and published anti-British pamphlets. He was arrested
several times during the movement
Sucheta Kriplani: She was a Congress leader and a disciple
of Gandhi. She worked as a secretary for Gandhi and later
went underground to lead the movement in Uttar Pradesh.
She also edited a clandestine newspaper called ‘Quit India’
Biju Patnaik: He was an adventurous leader and a pilot.
He flew several secret missions to drop leaflets and carry
messages for the movement. He also helped some leaders
escape from British custody.
Kushal Konwar: He was a freedom fighter from Assam. He
was accused of derailing a train and killing a British officer.
He was hanged by the British on 15 June 1943, becoming
the only martyr to be executed during the movement.
36. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
Gandhi decided to initiate a limited satyagraha in 1940 on
an individual basis by a few selected individuals in every
locality. The demands of Satyagrahi would be freedom of
speech to preach against the participation against the war.
The Satyagrahi publicly declares it is wrong to help British
with men or money. They would beforehand inform the
district magistrate of the time and place where he or she
was going to make the anti-war speech. Gandhi chose the
Vinoba Bhave as the first Satyagrahi on 17 October 1940
and Jawahrlal Nehru the second.
37. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
Cripps Mission was sent in India by the British Government
in March 1942. It’s aimed to secure Indian cooperation
and support for British War Effort. Cripps Mission
recommended that ‘India would be a dominion associated
with the United Kingdom’. Cripps’s mission does not include
complete independence for India. Also, it recommended for
the creation of a Constituent Assembly to frame a new
constitution for the country
Important Tips
Cripps Mission:
• The Cripps Mission was a failed attempt in late March
1942 by the British government to secure full Indian
cooperation and support for their efforts in World War
II.
• Sir Stafford Cripps was sent by the British cabinet to
India to settle terms with Indian leaders who were
forthwith released.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Cripps proposed Dominion Status after the war but
his proposal was rejected by all the political leaders.
• As no party was agreed to accept these proposals, the
Cripps mission ended in failure.
• Gandhi said that Cripps’ offer of Dominion Status after
the war was a “post-dated cheque drawn on a failing
bank”.
38. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of England when
Cripps Mission arrived in India in the year 1942. Winston
Churchill was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from
1940 to 1945, during the Second World War, and again from
1951 to 1955.
39. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
During the Indian Freedom Struggle, Subhas Chandra
Bose raised an army called the ‘Free Indian Legion’. The
legion was intended to serve as a liberation force for British-
ruled India and was made up of Indian prisoners of war and
expatriates in Europe. Subhas Chandra Bose initiated the
formation of this legion as part of his efforts to win India’s
independence by seeking support from Axis powers during
World War II.
Important Tips
Free India Legion:
The Indian Legion, also known as the Free India Legion
or Azad Hind Legion, was a military unit raised during
World War II.
Formation and Purpose: The Indian Legion was formed
in 1941 by Subhas Chandra Bose, an Indian independence
leader, during World War II.
Origins: It originated in Berlin as part of Bose’s efforts to
gain support for India’s independence struggle by seeking
aid from Axis powers.
Composition: The legion comprised Indian prisoners of
war and expatriates in Europe, including volunteers from
Indian students in Germany and some prisoners of war
from North Africa.
Role: Initially intended as an assault group for a German-
Indian joint invasion of British India, its primary purpose
shifted over time.
Actions: A portion of the Indian Legion was transferred to
the Indian National Army in Southeast Asia, while others
served non-combat duties in the Netherlands and France.
Engagements: It saw action during the Allied advance
across France, primarily against the French Resistance,
and a company was sent to Italy in 1944.
Aftermath: After the surrender of Nazi Germany, legion
members attempted to march to neutral Switzerland but
were captured by Allied troops. They were eventually
shipped back to India to face charges of treason, though
many trials were not completed due to public outcry and
circumstances.
PYQ Workbook
40. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
The Congress Ministries in all the provinces resigned in the
year 1939 because Indian Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared
India against Germany in World War II and Congress decided
not to support the world war against Germany.
Important Tips
Second World War:
The Second World War took place between 1939 and 1945
and was the bloodiest conflict in human history.
It split the world’s nations into two opposing military
alliances.
The Allies, led by Britain and her Empire, the United
States, the Soviet Union and France, united against the
Axis Powers of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Imperial
Japan.
41. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Under Shimla Conference, 1945 also known as the
Wavell Plan, the Viceroy’s Executive Council was to be
reconstituted with different communities getting their due
share in the council and parity was reserved for caste-Hindus
and Muslims. All the portfolios, including that of War
Members, were to be held by the Indian leaders.
42. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is correct answer.
Rajendra Prasad was entrusted with the Food and
Agriculture Portfolio in the Interim Government of 1946.
He strongly believed in increasing crop production and
improving farmers’ lives, and he promoted the slogan “Grow
More Food.” He gave this slogan before Independence. With
his leadership, the Food and Agriculture Ministry started a
successful campaign to achieve this goal.
43. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution
was passed by the Indian National Congress in its Lahore
session in 1929. The session was presided over by Jawaharlal
Nehru. Nehru was a staunch advocate of independence, and
he played a major role in the drafting of the resolution. The
Purna Swaraj resolution was a major turning point in the
Indian independence struggle. It marked the end of the
gradual approach to independence that had been adopted by
the Congress in the past. The resolution declared that India
would not be satisfied with anything less than complete
independence.
44. Solution (c)
Option c is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is correctly matched: Champaran Satyagraha, 1917:
Gandhiji reached Champaran at the request of Rajkumar
Shukla, where he started an effort to free the farmers
168
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
suffering from the Tinkathia system. Other leaders involved
in champaran satyagraha were Rajendra Prasad, JB Kriplani
Mahadev Desai, Ramnavmi Prasad, Narahari Parekh,
Brajkishore Prasad, Mazhar-ul-Haq, Anugrah Narayan
Sinha, and Shambhusharan Varma.
Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Ahmedabad mill workers
strike in 1918: Gandhi was invited by Anasuya Ben Sarabai
and her brother Ambalal Sarabhai, leading mill-owner of
Ahmadabad towards the cause of the mill owners.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: Kheda satyagraha, 1918:
Mahatama Gandhi was assisted by the newly joined
Satyagrahi Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and other local lawyers
and advocates namely Indulal Yagnik, Shankarlal Banker,
Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parikh, Mohanlal Pandya and Ravi
Shankar Vyas. They toured the countryside, organised the
villagers and gave them political leadership and direction.
45. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Lord Wavell was the Viceroy of
India when the Shimla Conference took place in 1945.
The Shimla Conference was convened in order to agree on
the Wavell Plan for Indian self-government, which provided
for separate representations on communal lines. Both the
plan and the conference failed on account of the Muslim
League and the Indian National Congress not coming to an
agreement.
Statement 2 is correct: The Royal Indian Navy mutiny, also
known as the 1946 Naval Uprising, was a failed insurrection
of Indian naval ratings, soldiers, police personnel, and
civilians against the British government in India. It began
as a strike by naval ratings protesting poor living conditions
and food. The strike spread and gained support throughout
British India.
46. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
In October 1920, M. N. Roy headed a group of Indians
gathered at Tashkent to set up a Communist Party of India.
The other prominent persons include Abani Mukherjee and
Mohd. Ali Mohd. Shafiq.
Important Tips
Communist Party of India:
• The ground for the formation of Communist Party of
India was prepared by the Second World Congress of
the Communist Third International (1920).
• The First Congress of the Peoples of the East was
held at Baku in September 1920, specifically aimed at
fighting imperialism in Asia.
• This was followed by the formation of the Communist
Party of India on 17 October 1920 at Tashkent.
• The seven members were M. N. Roy, Evelyn Roy-Trent,
Abani Mukherjee, Rosa Fitingov, Mohammad Ali,
Mohamad Shafiq and Acharya.
169
47. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The working committee of the Indian National Congress
was authorized to launch a program of Civil Disobedience
at the Lahore Session of the Congress in December 1929.
The session was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru. The
resolution on Civil Disobedience was moved by Subhas
Chandra Bose and was passed by the Congress.
Important Tips
Resolution passed at Lahore Session in December 1929:
• Purna Swaraj- Complete Independence from British
Rule.
• The rejection of the two-nation theory, which was
the idea that India should be divided into two separate
countries, one for Hindus and one for Muslims.
• The adoption of the economic program of the Congress,
which called for land reform, industrialization, and the
development of cottage industries.
• The establishment of a National Planning Committee
to develop a plan for the economic development of
India.
48. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct- Ambedkar advocated for a separate
electorate for the Depressed Classes during the First Round
Table Conference due to their distinct identity within
Hindu society and their lack of integration, emphasizing
that they needed special political representation to counter
their historical marginalization and untouchability. He
believed that the existing political structure wouldn’t address
their unique challenges, and a separate political mechanism
was essential to empower them and secure their rightful
place in the constitutional reforms.
Statement 2 is correct- The pact reserved 10% of the seats
in the Central Public Service Commission and 7.5% of the
seats in the provincial Public Service Commissions for the
Depressed Classes. It also reserved seats for the Depressed
Classes in the local bodies, such as municipal councils and
district boards.
Statement 3 is correct- The Indian National Congress
participated only in the Second Round Table Conference
(September 1931 – December 1931). Mahatma Gandhi
represented the Indian National Congress.
49. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
After the result of the Punjab provincial election of 1937, the
Unionist party got majority in the assembly on its own. The
Unionist Party won 95 out of 175 seats, whereas Congress
won 18 seats. The Unionist Party leader Sikandar Hayat
Khan claimed the formation of Government in the State.
Sikandar Hayat Khan led a coalition government with the
support of Khalsa National Board, Hindu Election Board,
Akali, etc.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
50. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
On the eve of the launch of Quit India Movement, Mahatma
Gandhi did not ask government servants to resign or
soldiers to leave their posts. He only asked the princes of
the princely states to accept the sovereignty of their people
and join the movement.
Statement 1 is not correct: On the eve of the launch of the
Quit India movement, Gandhi Ji asked government servants
to openly declare their allegiance to the congress and not to
resign.
Statement 2 is not correct: Gandhi Ji asked the soldiers to
refuse to fire on their own people and not to leave their posts.
Statement 3 is correct: Gandhi Ji asked the princes of the
Princely states to accept the sovereignty of their own
people.
51. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Forward Bloc was founded by Subhas Chandra Bose in
the year 1939 after he broke away from the Indian National
Congress. This party was formed on May 3, 1939, in Makur
Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. Subhas Chandra Bose resigned from
the presidency of the Indian National Congress on April
29, 1939, after a disagreement with Mohandas Karamchand
Gandhi. The aim of the Forward Bloc was to rally all the
left wing sections within the Congress and develop an
alternative leadership inside the party. Bose became the
president of the Forward Bloc, and the party’s constitution
and program were approved at a conference in Bombay.
Subhas Chandra Bose traveled around the country to gather
support for his new political initiative and also started a
newspaper called “Forward Bloc.”
Important Tips
• The Indian Freedom Party was founded by C.
Rajagopalachari in 1942.
• The Revolutionary Front was a communist party
founded in 1938.
52. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The members of the Constituent
Assembly were elected by the provincial assemblies
by a single transferable-vote system of proportional
representation in 1946. There were a total of 389 members in
the constituent assembly.
Statement 2 is incorrect: M.A. Jinnah was not the member
of the Constituent Assembly. Even Mahatma Gandhi was
not the member of the Constituent Assembly constituted in
1946.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The first session of the Constituent
Assembly of India was held in 9 December, 1946 (not in
January 1947) in Delhi. Whereas the last session of the
constituent assembly was held on 24th January 1950.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The constitution was passed and
PYQ Workbook
adopted by the assembly on 26th November 1949 (not
on 26th January 1950). Whereas, the Constitution came
into force on 26 January 1950 and this day is celebrated as
Republic Day.
53. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Maulana Hasrat Mohani, also known as Syed Fazl-
ul-Hasan, proposed that Swaraj should be defined as
Complete Independence free from all foreign control. This
proposal was put forth during the Ahmedabad session of
the Congress in 1921, where a resolution to define Swaraj
in this manner was moved by Maulana Hasrat Mohani and
Swami Kumaranand. However, Mahatma Gandhi opposed
this demand, and the resolution was defeated.
Important Tips
Maulana Hasrat Mohani:
• Maulana Hasrat Mohani was born on 1 January 1875
in Qasba Mohan, Unnao district, Uttar Pradesh,
with the real name Syed Fazal-ul-Hasan. He later
became popularly known as Hasrat Mohani due to his
takhallus, which he used while writing poetry.
• In 1903, Hasrat Mohani started the magazine
‘Urdu-e-Mualla’ in Aligarh, which published articles
against imperialist oppression and policies, promoting
awareness about the freedom struggle.
• Due to his activism, he was imprisoned again in
1907, and his magazine was banned by the British
authorities. He was an active member of Congress
until 1907, closely associated with Bal Gangadhar
Tilak.
• He is credited by some historians with writing the
slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ in 1921, a slogan later
immortalized by Bhagat Singh.
• Maulana Hasrat Mohani’s poetry collection is famous
as ‘Kuliyat-e-Hasrat,’ in which he explored themes of
love, society, politics, and freedom.
54. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
When Congress leaders criticized the Montagu-
Chelmsford Report in 1918, many moderates were
dissatisfied. Consequently, some moderate leaders left
the party to form the “Indian Liberal Federation” in 1919.
Surendranath Banerjea, Tej Bahadur Sapru, V. S. Srinivasa
Sastri, and M. R. Jayakar were notable members. They aimed
to achieve constitutional reforms through dialogues and
cooperation. The Indian Liberal Federation played a role
in initiatives like the Nehru Report and the Round Table
Conferences for India’s constitutional advancement.
170
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Indian Freedom Party or Swatantra Party:
• The Swatantra Party, active from 1959 to 1974, was
founded by C. Rajagopalachari as a response to
the socialist and statist direction of the Jawaharlal
Nehru-led Indian National Congress.
• Its leadership included notable figures like Tanguturi
Prakasam Pantulu, Minoo Masani, N.G. Ranga, and
K.M. Munshi.
• Swatantra advocated a market-based economy and the
dismantling of the “Licence Raj,” opposing extreme
laissez-faire policies.
• Unlike religious-based parties, it focused on economic
principles and stood on the right side of India’s
political spectrum. Prime Minister Nehru criticized it
for its perceived association with feudalism.
55. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
In order to get the support of India in World War II, Cripps
Mission was sent to India in 1942. Few proposals of this
mission are:
• Setting up of an Indian dominion. This dominion
would have the freedom to remain with the British
Commonwealth or to secede from it. It would also be at
liberty to take part in international organisations.
• A Constituent Assembly would be formed to frame a
new constitution for the country. This Assembly would
have members elected by the provincial assemblies and
also nominated by the princes.
• Any province unwilling to join the Indian dominion
could form a separate union and have a separate
constitution.
• The transfer of power and the rights of minorities would
be safeguarded by negotiations between the Constituent
Assembly and the British government.
• In the meantime, until this new constitution came into
force, India’s defence would be controlled by the British
and the powers of the Governor-General would remain
unaltered.
56. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Jawaharlal Nehru was the head of the interim government
formed on 2nd September, 1946. He was the vice-president
of the Council of Ministers, and the powers of a prime
minister were bestowed on him. He held this position until
India gained independence on August 15, 1947.
Important Tips
The Interim Government, established in March 1946
under the Cabinet Mission Plan, had the following
functions:
• Negotiating with the British government on the terms
of independence.
171
• Formulating policies and programs for economic and
social development.
• Ensuring law and order in the country.
• Preparing for the elections to the Constituent
Assembly, which would draft India’s constitution.
57. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
In 1931, the Congress Session at Karachi did not oppose
the Gandhi-Irwin Pact; in fact, it endorsed the pact. The
Karachi Congress Session, held following the Gandhi-
Irwin Pact, supported the accord. The session also
discussed various resolutions related to fundamental rights
and the national economic program, with an emphasis on
achieving Swaraj and addressing economic issues.
Important Tips
Background of the Karachi Session in 1931:
The Karachi Congress Session in 1931 took place
following the Gandhi–Irwin Pact and shortly after the
execution of Bhagat Singh.
Demonstrations with black flags were organized by the
Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha along Gandhi’s route to
Karachi to protest his failure to secure the commutation
of the death sentence for Bhagat Singh and his comrades.
As per the accord, Congress agreed to call off “civil
disobedience” in exchange for the release of all satyagrahi
prisoners, the freedom to collect salt in coastal areas,
and the return of forfeited lands. This compromise was
endorsed in the Karachi session.
At the Second Round Table Conference in London,
Gandhi was to represent the Congress’s goal of Swaraj
(self-governance).
Bhagat Singh’s influence was significant at the Karachi
Congress, where he virtually shaped the agenda and
defined the draft resolution put together by Jawaharlal
Nehru, even after his execution by the British.
58. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Khudai Khidmatgars, also known as Red Shirts, were
a nonviolent Pashtun nationalist movement in the North-
West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) of
British India. They were led by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan,
also known as Badshah Khan. The Khudai Khidmatgars
called for the Pathan regional nationalist unity and a
struggle against colonialism. They opposed the British rule
in India and they also opposed the partition of India. They
were known for their nonviolent methods of protest, such as
boycotts, strikes, and civil disobedience.
Important Tips
Contribution of Khudai Khidmatgars in India’s freedom
struggle:
• In the 1930s, the Khudai Khidmatgars staged non-
violent protests against British salt monopolies,
garnering public support for independence.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• In 1932, their non-cooperation campaign caused
officials to resign and British goods to be boycotted.
• In 1937, they secured a majority in the Northwest
Frontier Province Legislative Assembly, advocating for
Pashtun rights.
• In 1947, they opposed India’s partition and boycotted
the referendum for the province’s fate.
59. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Cabinet Mission was a mission sent by the British
government to India in 1946 to try to find a solution to the
growing communal tensions between Hindus and Muslims.
The mission proposed a plan for a united India with a
weak central government and a number of autonomous
provinces. The Cabinet Mission Plan was rejected by both
the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. The
Congress felt that the plan did not give enough power to
the central government, while the Muslim League felt that
it did not give enough autonomy to the Muslim-majority
provinces.
Important Tips
Rajagopalachari Formula (1944)- The formula proposed
a three-tier federal system, with a central government,
provincial governments, and autonomous groupings of
provinces. The central government would have control
over defense, foreign affairs, and communications.
The provincial governments would have control over all
other matters. The autonomous groupings of provinces
would have control over certain specified matters, such as
education and agriculture.
Wavell Plan (1945)- It was proposed by Lord Wavell,
the Viceroy of India, in 1945 for the establishment of an
interim government in India. The was rejected by both
the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.
60. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Acharya J.B. Kriplani was the President of Indian National
Congress at the time of partition of India. He presided
the 54th session of the Indian National Congress held
at Meerut on November 23-24, 1946. Kripalani was an
environmentalist, mystic, and independence activist. He
was a follower of Gandhi’s socialist ideals for a long time,
but later in life, he shifted to the economically conservative
Swatantra Party.
61. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
In this instance we could not play off the Mohammedans
against the Hindus.” This remark of Aitchison relate to
Revolt of 1857. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 is also called
the Indian Mutiny or the Sepoy Mutiny. It began on 10 May
1857 at Meerut, as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East
India Company’s army. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 had
PYQ Workbook
diverse political, economic, military, religious and social
causes. A mutiny in several sepoy companies of the Bengal
army was sparked by the issue of new gunpowder cartridges
for the Enfield rifle February, 1857. A rumor was spread that
the cartridges were made from cow and pig fat.
62. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Plan Balkan aimed at fragmentation of India was the
brainchild of Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India.
Between March and May 1947, Mountbatten, realizing the
Cabinet Mission Plan wasn’t workable, came up with this
plan. This plan suggested transferring power to individual
provinces or a confederation, provided one was formed
before the transfer. Punjab and Bengal got to decide on
partition. The units and princely states, now independent
due to the end of paramountcy, could choose to join India,
Pakistan, or stay independent. However, Nehru strongly
opposed this plan, and it was abandoned.
63. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Gandhiji proposed to Mountbatten the idea of inviting
Jinnah to form a government as an alternative to India’s
partition. He thought that if Jinnah was given the
opportunity to lead, he might be able to convince the Muslim
League to agree to a united India. However, Mountbatten
declined Gandhi’s suggestion, as he believed it was too late
to prevent India’s partition. The communal tensions between
Hindus and Muslims had reached a critical point, posing a
substantial risk of civil war if partition was not agreed upon.
64. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Subhash Chandra Bose looked upon a war between Germany
and Britain as a godsent opportunity which would enable
Indians to exploit the situation to their advantage. Subhash
Chandra Bose and the socialists argued that the war was an
imperialist one since both sides were fighting for gaining
or defending colonial territories. Therefore the question
of supporting either of the two sides did not arise instead
advantage should be taken of the situation to win freedom by
immediately starting a Civil Disobedience Movement.
65. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation
of (A).
Assertion is correct: Lord Linlithgow, the viceroy of India
from 1936 to 1944, described the August Movement of
1942 as the most serious revolt after the Sepoy Mutiny of
1857. The August Movement, also known as the Quit India
Movement, was a civil disobedience movement launched by
Mahatma Gandhi on 9 August 1942, demanding an end to
British rule in India.
Reason is also correct and explains Assertion: The reason
why Lord Linlithgow considered the movement as such a
172
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
serious threat was that there was a massive upsurge of the
peasantry in certain areas, especially in Bihar, eastern
Uttar Pradesh, Midnapore district of Bengal, and parts of
Maharashtra. The peasants joined the movement in large
numbers and participated in various forms of resistance,
such as strikes, boycotts, sabotage, attacks on police stations
and government offices, cutting of telegraph wires and rail
tracks, and setting fire to government property.
66. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Cabinet Mission went to India in 1946 to discuss the transfer
of power from the British government to the Indian political
leadership with the aim of preserving India’s unity and
granting its independence. Formed at the initiative of British
Prime Minister Clement Attlee, the mission contained as
its members, Lord Pethick-Lawrence (Secretary of State
for India), Sir Stafford Cripps (President of the Board of
Trade), and A. V. Alexander (First Lord of the Admiralty).
The Cabinet Mission put forward its own proposals in May
1946, which included the idea of a Federal Union composed
of British provinces and princely states, with a common
center for defense, foreign affairs and communications.
The Cabinet Mission hoped that this plan would preserve
the unity of India and accommodate the demands of the
Muslim League for a separate homeland. However, the plan
was rejected by both the Congress and the Muslim League,
and eventually led to the partition of India in 1947.
67. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Liyaqat Ali Khan from the Muslim League Political Party was
assigned the Portfolio of Finance in the Interim Government
of 1946. Liaquat Ali Khan’s 1947 budget marked a significant
move towards social change. It included the creation of
the Commodity Prices Board, tasked with shaping a clear
pricing policy. However, conflicts between the Congress and
the Muslim League, particularly regarding industrial and
agricultural producers, hindered the board’s intended role.
Moreover, the budget introduced measures like an excess
profits tax, a wealth tax, and the idea of an Income Tax
Investigation Commission, indicating a commitment to
investigating financial misconduct by corporations.
68. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
During the Clement Attlee’s tenure as the Prime Minister
of England, he got Lord Mountbatten appointed by King
George VI as the final Viceroy of India and tasked him
with overseeing Britain’s withdrawal from India. Attlee’s
directive to Lord Mountbatten was to keep India united if
possible or to prevent it from descending into chaos. This
was because the British government was facing increasing
pressure from the Indian independence movement, especially
diminishing loyalty to the British crown within the ranks of
the Indian Army and Navy personnel, and they wanted to
avoid a bloody and chaotic partition of India.
69. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
173
The Indian National Congress agreed to the partition of the
country in 1947 mainly because they wanted to avoid large
scale communal riots between Hindus and Muslims. During
the fight for independence, tensions between these two
groups had grown, and many Muslims, led by Muhammad Ali
Jinnah and his Muslim League, were demanding a separate
Muslim state called Pakistan. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi
and Jawaharlal Nehru in the Congress were worried that
not agreeing some kind of partition would lead to a lot of
violence, like what happened during the Direct Action Day
in 1946. So, even though they did not wanted the division of
India into two countries- India and Pakistan, the Congress
leaders reluctantly agreed to the British plan for partition,
called the Mountbatten Plan.
70. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct sequence of the events is as follows:
Event 1: The August Offer (1940)
Event 3: The Quit India Movement (1942)
Event 2: The I.N.A. Trial (1945)
Event 4: The Royal Indian Naval Ratings Revolt (1946)
Important Tips
INA Trials (1945-46):
• The Indian National Army trials, also known as
the INA trials or Red Fort trials, occurred between
November 1945 and May 1946.
• They involved the court-martial of officers from the
Indian National Army (INA) on charges including
treason, torture, murder, and abetment to murder
during World War II.
• Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress party took
responsibility for the defense of the INA soldiers.
• The defense committee was formed by the Congress
Working Committee and included prominent figures
like Bhulabhai Desai, Asaf Ali, and Tej Bahadur
Sapru.
• Initially, over 7,600 INA members were set for trial,
but the number was significantly reduced due to
difficulties in proving their crimes.
• The first trial involved Colonel Prem Sahgal, Colonel
Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and Major-General Shah
Nawaz Khan, former officers of the British Indian
Army who had joined the INA.
• These three were charged with “waging war against
the King-Emperor,” murder, and abetment of murder,
while later defendants faced charges related to torture
and murder.
• The trials garnered significant public attention
and sympathy for the defendants, especially as they
occurred during the final stages of India’s independence
movement.
• Public outcry and unrest among troops prompted
Field Marshal Claude Auchinleck to commute the
sentences of the first trial’s three defendants.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
71. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Non-Cooperation Movement
marked a significant shift in the Indian National Congress
(INC) as it transitioned from being a relatively moderate
and elite-led organization to a mass movement involving a
broader section of society in the struggle for independence.
Statement 2 is correct: The Non-Cooperation Movement
brought Hindus and Muslims together in a common cause
against British rule. The Khilafat Movement, which was
linked to the Non-Cooperation Movement, aimed to support
the Ottoman Caliphate and garnered support from both
Hindu and Muslim communities.
Statement 3 is correct: The Non-Cooperation Movement
instilled a sense of courage and defiance among the Indian
people. The mass participation in protests, strikes, and
boycotts showed that the people were willing to challenge
British authority, leading to a shift in the perception of
British power.
Statement 4 is incorrect: While the Non-Cooperation
Movement did create pressure on the British government
and forced them to acknowledge the growing discontent, it
did not lead to significant political concessions. Instead, the
movement was called off after the Chauri Chaura incident,
and its immediate goals were not fully achieved.
72. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Round Table Conferences were a series of conferences
held in London between 1930 and 1932 to discuss the future
of India. There were three sessions of the Round Table
Conferences, held in 1930, 1931, and 1932. However, it is
incorrect to refer to them as the First, Second, and Third
Round Table Conferences because they were not three
separate conferences. Instead, they were three sessions of
the same conference.
73. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Cabinet Mission Plan did not accept the demand of the
Muslim League for a separate homeland for the Muslims
in India. Instead, it proposed a federal structure with three
groups of provinces, each having a high degree of autonomy.
The Muslim-majority provinces would form Group B and
Group C, while the Hindu-majority provinces would form
Group A.
The groups could decide their own internal affairs, but the
center would have control over defense, foreign affairs and
communications. The Muslim League initially accepted the
plan, hoping that it would pave the way for Pakistan in the
future, but later rejected it when it realized that the grouping
was not compulsory and that the provinces could opt out of
the groups after the first general election. The Congress also
rejected the plan, as it wanted a strong central government
and opposed the idea of grouping. Therefore, the Cabinet
Mission Plan failed to resolve the constitutional deadlock
and ultimately led to the partition of India in 1947.
PYQ Workbook
74. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Assertion (A) is false- The British sovereignty did not
continue to exist in free India. India became a dominion
on August 15, 1947 and it officially became a Sovereign,
Democratic, and Republic nation upon the adoption of its
Constitution on January 26, 1950.
Reason (R) is true- The British sovereign appointed the
last Governor-General of free India, Lord Mountbatten.
However, this does not mean that the British sovereignty
continued to exist in free India. The Governor-General was
a representative of the British monarch, but he was not the
ruler of India. The real power in India was vested in the
Indian government, which was elected by the Indian people.
75. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The radical wing of the Congress Party, led by figures like
Jawaharlal Nehru, established the “Independence for India
League” in opposition to the Nehru Report. The Nehru
Report, despite being a significant document advocating
constitutional reforms, was criticized by the more radical
elements within the Congress for not explicitly demanding
complete independence and for being willing to settle for
dominion status. The formation of the “Independence for
India League” represented a more assertive stance toward
achieving full independence for India.
76. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
The Khilafat movement was an agitation by Indian Muslims
allied with Indian nationalism in the years following World
War I. Its purpose was to pressure the British government
to preserve the authority of the Ottoman Sultan as Caliph
of Islam following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire at the
end of the war. In 1920, they published the Khilafat Manifesto,
which called upon the British to protect the caliphate and for
Indian Muslims to unite and hold the British accountable
for this purpose.
4.2. Other Examination Previous Year
Question
77. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Webb Miller was an American journalist who reported
about the Salt Satyagraha at Dharasana salt works. He was
the only foreign journalist present at the time of the raid.
His report was published in the New York Times and it helped
to bring international attention to the Salt Satyagraha.
Miller’s report was a moving account of the violence that
was meted out to the peaceful protesters. He described how
the volunteers were beaten with clubs and batons, and how
they were thrown to the ground and trampled on. He also
described how the women volunteers were treated even more
brutally than the men. Miller’s report shocked the world and
it helped to turn public opinion against British rule in
India.
174
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
78. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The correct chronological order of the events is:
Event 4:. Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-31)
Event 2:. Gandhi-Irwin Agreement (1931)
Event 1:. Poona Pact (1932)
Event 3:. Cripps Mission (1942)
Important Tips
Poona Pact of 1932:
• The Poona Pact of 1932 emerged as a solution to the
British Communal Award, which proposed separate
electorates for various Indian communities.
• Mahatma Gandhi opposed this, fearing division.
Initially, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar supported separate
electorates to uplift the Depressed Classes. However,
they reached a consensus known as the Poona Pact,
which reserved electoral seats for the Depressed
Classes within the general electorate.
• In the Central Legislature, the Depressed Classes’
representation followed joint electorates, with 18%
of seats allocated to the general electorate reserved
for them. In provincial legislatures, their reserved
seats increased from 71 to 147.
79. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Cabinet Mission Plan was a proposal by the British
government in 1946 to find a solution for the constitutional
deadlock and the transfer of power in India. The plan
suggested a federal structure with three groups of provinces,
each having a high degree of autonomy, and a common center
for defense, foreign affairs, and communications.
Assertion (A) is correct: The Muslim League initially
accepted the plan, hoping that it would pave the way for
Pakistan in the future, but later withdrew its acceptance
when it realized that the grouping was not compulsory and
that the provinces could opt out of the groups after the first
general election.
Reason (R) is correct, but it is not the correct explanation
of Assertion (A): The interim government was formed in
September 1946 as a provisional government to oversee the
transition of India from a British colony to an independent
republic. The interim government was composed of members
from the Constituent Assembly, which was elected in August
1946. The Congress had a majority in the assembly and also
in the interim government. The Muslim League boycotted
the interim government at first but later joined it in October
1946 after being persuaded by the Viceroy Lord Wavell.
The Muslim League joined the interim government not
because it had withdrawn its acceptance of the Cabinet
Mission Plan, but because it wanted to have a foothold to
fight for its demand for Pakistan.
80. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
175
M.A. Jinnah supported the Swaraj Party in the Central
Legislative Assembly in pre-independent India. He backed
the Swaraj Party’s initiatives because it sought to negotiate
with the British for constitutional reforms while demanding
self-governance within the framework of the British
Empire., Jinnah was a proponent of achieving constitutional
progress through collaborative means with the British, and
he recognized that effective participation in the legislative
council was imperative to realize these advancements.
This collaboration aimed to secure self-rule for India and
meaningful representation in the legislative decision-making
processes, aligning with Jinnah’s strategic approach during
that period.
81. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi founded the Harijan Sevak Sangh in 1932
as a part of his constructive program for the eradication
of untouchability. The organization emerged from the All
India Anti Untouchability League, which Gandhi had earlier
established on 30 September 1932, and was subsequently
renamed the Harijan Sevak Sangh. The Harijan Sevak Sangh
continues to exist as a non-governmental organization
dedicated to the well-being of Harijan or Dalit individuals
and the upliftment of the Depressed Class in India.
82. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The cause that was not a reason for starting the Non-
Cooperation Movement was Salt Law. The Salt Law (Salt
Satyagraha) was a pivotal aspect of Mahatma Gandhi’s
Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930 and not the Non-
Cooperation Movement of 1920. It involved the defiance of
the British monopoly on salt production and distribution.
Important Tips
Factors Leading to the Non-Cooperation Movement:
• Question of Khilafat: The Khilafat movement was
initiated to support the Ottoman Caliphate, whose
authority was under threat from the British following
World War I. Mahatma Gandhi allied with this cause
to garner Muslim support for the Indian freedom
movement.
83. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
Meerut conspiracy case was an extremely controversial case
that happened in British India in March 1929. Many were
arrested including 3 Englishmen for organizing the Indian
Railway strike. British Government convicted 27 leaders
under the false lawsuit. This trial saw the rising communist
movement as convicts used the courtroom as a public
platform to raise their voices. This trials attracted worldwide
publicity and drew sympathetic comments from Albert
Einstein. H.G. Wells, Harold Laski and Roosevelt in favour
of the convicts.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Lahore Conspiracy Case - 1915:
• The Lahore Conspiracy Case trial, also known as the
First Lahore Conspiracy Case for which the trials were
held in Lahore in the aftermath of the failed Ghadar
conspiracy in 1915.
• The trial was held by a Special tribunal constituted
under the Defence of India Act 1915.
• The principal charge against them was that they
waged war against the British Empire and wanted to
overthrow the British government in India.
84. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Salt Satyagraha was a mass protest against the British
salt monopoly that began in 1930. It was a major turning
point in the struggle for India’s independence. Women played
a significant role in the Salt Satyagraha. They participated in
protests, picketed shops that sold British goods, and even
went to jail. Some of the prominent women who participated
in the Salt Satyagraha include- Sarojini Naidu, Rajkumari
Amrit Kaur, Kamala Devi Chattopadhyaya, Aruna Asaf
Ali.
85. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
In the year 1934, the Revolutionary Communist Party of
India (RCPI) was founded by Saumyendranath Tagore. The
party was founded by breaking away from the Communist
Party of India (CPI). RCPI led armed uprisings after the
independence of India, but later shifted to parliamentary
politics. The party is active in the Kerala, West Bengal and
Assam.
Important Tips
• The Bolshevik Leninist Party of India
• Founders - Edmund Samarakkody, Leslie
Goonewardene, N.M. Perera, Colvin R. de Silva,
Philip Gunawardena.
• Founding Year- 1942
• Headquarters - Calcutta
• In India, Radical Democratic Party
• Founder - MN Roy
• Year-1940
• The Bolshevik Party of India
• Founder - N Dutta Mazumdar
• Year - 1939
• Headquater - Nagpur
86. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The ‘Cabinet Mission’ of 1946 was led by Sir Pethick-
Lawrence. It was an initiative formulated by Clement
Attlee, the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
PYQ Workbook
The Cabinet Mission was sent to India in February 1946.
The Cabinet Mission had three British cabinet members –
Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander.
The mission aimed to discuss the transfer of power from
the British government to the Indian political leadership
with the aim of preserving India’s unity and granting its
independence.
Important Tips
• Lord Linlithgow was the Viceroy of India from 1936 to
1943 and was not a part of the Cabinet Mission.
• Lord Wavell succeeded him as the Viceroy of India
from 1943 to 1947 and was involved in some of the
discussions of the Cabinet Mission, but was not a
member of it.
• Sir John Simon was a British politician who led the
Simon Commission in 1928 to review the constitutional
situation in India, but he had no role in the Cabinet
Mission.
87. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a British lawyer, became the chairman
of the Boundary Commission during India’s partition in
1947, despite having no prior experience in cartography.
Under his guidance, India was divided into three parts: West
Pakistan, East Pakistan, and India. The Radcliffe Line,
which he established, stretches from the Rann of Kutch in
Gujarat to the border in Jammu & Kashmir, marking the
division between India and Pakistan as separate nations.
Important Tips
Some other important boundary lines in the world:
Boundary Line Division between countries
Hindenburg Line Germany and Poland
Durand Line Pakistan and Afghanistan
McMohan Line India and China
17th Parallel North North Vietnam- South Vietnam
20th Parallel North Sudan- Libya.
31st Parallel Iraq and Iran
Mannerheim Line Russia-Finland.
88. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The ‘Deepavali Declaration,’ issued in 1929, was related
to the demand for Dominion status for India within the
British Empire. Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India at the time,
made this declaration to address the growing demands of
Indian nationalists. It clarified the British government’s
intention to work towards India achieving dominion
status in the future, although it did not specify a timeline.
This declaration marked a significant shift in India’s political
landscape, with Indian leaders now actively pursuing
dominion status and a new constitution.
176
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
89. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
Hakim Ajmal Khan had renounced the title of Haziq-ul-
Mulk during the Khilafat Agitation. He was honored with
this title in 1908 by the British Government.
Important Tips
Hakim Ajmal Khan:
• He was an eminent Indian Unani physician who was
a versatile genius, a great scholar, a social reformer, a
noted freedom fighter, an Unani medical educationist,
and a founder of scientific research in the Unani
System of Medicine.
• He was a trailblazer in educating women about medical
knowledge through his Tibbiya Medical School.
• During the years of Martial Law 1919-20, Hakimji
worked tirelessly with Swami Shraddhananda to keep
peace in Delhi, while also witnessing the blatancy of
state violence.
• With the arrests of Gandhi and C. R. Das, the
responsibility of steering the movement fell upon him
as he was unanimously made the Congress President.
• A spirited Gandhian and champion of non-violent
resistance, Hakim Ajmal Khan had dedicated himself
wholly to the service of the nation.
90. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The former name of Harijan Sevak Sangh was the All India
Anti-Untouchability League. It was founded by Mahatma
Gandhi in 1932 after the Poona Pact. The word “Harijan”
means “children of God” in Hindi. Gandhi used this word
to refer to the Depressed Classes, whom he believed were
discriminated against and treated unfairly. Ambedkar left the
Poona Pact because the word “untouchability” was removed.
The removal of the word “untouchability” was a symbolic
gesture that angered Ambedkar. He felt that it showed that
the upper caste Hindus were not serious about addressing
the issue of caste discrimination.
91. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The person who regarded the Karachi Session of the Indian
National Congress (1931) as the “pinnacle of Mahatma
Gandhi’s popularity and prestige” was S.C. Bose. The
Karachi Session, held from March 26 to 31 in 1931, was
a special gathering of the Indian National Congress in
Karachi, where Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel presided. This
session’s primary purpose was to endorse the Gandhi
Irwin Pact. Notably, Mahatma Gandhi was nominated to
represent the Indian National Congress at the Second Round
Table Conference. However, the backdrop of this session
was complex due to the recent execution of Bhagat Singh,
Sukhdev, and Rajguru by the British, which triggered
widespread anger among the masses for Gandhi’s perceived
failure to secure the commutation of their death sentences.
177
This sentiment was evident when Gandhi was met with black
flag demonstrations on his way to the session, protesting
why he hadn’t refused to sign the pact over the issue of
commutation for the trio. The protest was spearheaded
by the Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha. Despite these
complexities, S.C. Bose perceived this session as a high point
in Gandhi’s popularity and reputation.
92. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The All-India Congress Committee meeting was held in
New Delhi on June 14, 1947, to discuss the Mountbatten
Plan for the partition of India. The resolution on the
partition was moved by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and it was
seconded by Abul Kalam Azad.
Important Tips
Contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to the India’s
freedom struggle:
• He believed in Hindu-Muslim unity and opposed the
idea of Partition.
• Azad supported the Non-Cooperation Movement led
by Gandhiji in 1920 and joined the Indian National
Congress.
• In 1923, he became the President of the Indian
National Congress, making him the youngest person
to hold this position at the age of 35.
• In 1930, Azad was arrested for breaking salt laws as
part of Gandhiji’s Salt Satyagraha. He was imprisoned
in Meerut for a year and a half.
• He was an advocate of universal and humanitarian
education, and aimed to harmonize Eastern and
Western ideals, blending spiritual excellence with
worldly achievements.
• He co-founded Jamia Millia Islamia University in
1920.
• Notable works- Basic Concept of Quran, Ghubar-
eKhatir, Dars-e-Wafa, and India Wins Freedom.
• Journal- Al-Hilal and Al-Balagh
93. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Dr Kitchlew took the passing of a resolution on partition in
the meeting of the Congress Committee (1947) meeting as
a “Surrender of Nationalism in favour of Communalism”.
He was a strong opponent of the India’s partition along
the religious lines. He believed that it was a betrayal of the
ideals of the Indian National Congress and that it would
lead to communal violence. Kitchlew argued that British
imperialism was India’s main adversary, emphasizing the
need for collective action to defeat it.
Important Tips
More information about Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew:
• Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew was a prominent freedom
fighter and barrister known for advocating Hindu-
Muslim unity.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• He gained recognition for leading protests against the
Rowlatt Act, which was passed by the British in 1919.
• He also made significant contributions to the
establishment of Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia
University.
• He played a crucial role in the Naujawan Bharat
Sabha, an organization founded by Sardar Bhagat
Singh in 1926.
• His commitment to revolutionary ideals began during
his days at Cambridge, where he participated actively
in the majlis, a society formed by Indian students to
discuss India’s colonial challenges.
• It was through these gatherings that he crossed paths
with India’s future Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
94. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah did not support the Non-
Cooperation Movement. Despite the movement’s promises,
Jinnah considered the launch of the movement futile and
without any meaningful outcome. He believed in power-
sharing through electoral politics rather than engaging in
mass protests. While Mahatma Gandhi, along with other
leaders, aimed for Swaraj (self-governance) within a year, He
also believed that NCM might negatively impact the Muslim
community’s interests. As a result, he did not endorse or
support the Non-Cooperation Movement.
95. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
During the Non-Cooperation Movement, Rabindranath
Tagore opposed the burning of foreign clothes. He
expressed his viewpoint in an article, “The Call of
Truth,” highlighting his refusal to obey orders blindly.
He expressed that blindly obeying orders was not the way to
fight, and he believed in using clothes to help those in need
rather than destroy them. He emphasized the importance of
battling the tyranny of blind obedience and illusion, aligning
with Mahatma Gandhi’s larger fight against oppression.
96. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Simon Commission, officially known as the Indian
Statutory Commission, was appointed in 1927 to study
constitutional reform in British India. Sir John Simon
belonged to the Liberal Party among the members of the
Simon Commission. He was the chairman of the commission
and a prominent British politician.
Important Tips
Members of the Commission:
• Sir John Simon, MP for Spen Valley (Liberal,
chairman)
• Clement Attlee,
• Harry Levy-Lawson,
• Edward Cadogan,
PYQ Workbook
• Vernon Hartshorn,
• George Lane-Fox
• Donald Howard,
97. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The statement is associated with the Mahatma Gandhi.
In 1930, Gandhi carried out a remarkable act of civil
disobedience against a British colonial law that prohibited
Indians from having salt not bought from the government.
Defying British rule, he led thousands on a 240-mile march
to the sea, where he collected a pinch of salt. This ignited a
mass movement across the nation, with people gathering to
make their own salt. Despite Gandhi’s arrest, his followers
marched to take control of the government salt works. The
marchers were met with violence from colonial troops, yet
they adhered to Gandhi’s non-violence principle, enduring
the attacks without retaliation. Then Gandhi stated, “I want
world sympathy in this battle of Right against Might.”
98. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lord Wavell was the commander-in-chief of the Indian
Army during the Quit India Movement, which was launched
by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942 in Bombay. The
movement demanded an immediate end to British rule in
India and sanctioned a civil disobedience movement against
British authority. The British responded by arresting tens
of thousands of leaders and activists, including Gandhi,
and unleashing violence on the masses. The movement
ended in 1945 with the release of the jailed freedom fighters
and the realization by the British that India was no longer
governable by them.
Important Tips
• Lord Wavell: He was a British field marshal and colonial
administrator who served as the penultimate Viceroy
of India from 1943 to 1947. He was responsible for
organizing the Simla Conference in 1945, which
aimed to reach a consensus among the Indian political
parties on the constitutional reforms. He also proposed
the Wavell Plan, which envisaged the formation of an
executive council with equal representation of Hindus
and Muslims, and a balanced representation of other
minorities.
• Lord Mountbatten: He was a British statesman, naval
officer, and cousin of King George VI. He served as
the last Viceroy of India and the first Governor-
General of independent India from 1947 to 1948.
He was tasked with overseeing the British withdrawal
from India and ensuring a smooth transition to power.
However, he also presided over the partition of India
into India and Pakistan, which resulted in widespread
violence and displacement of millions of people. He
was also involved in the negotiations for the accession
of princely states to either India or Pakistan. He
resigned as Governor-General in 1948 and returned
to Britain, where he continued his naval career and
became the Chief of Defence Staff.
178
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
99. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The demand for dominion status for India was initially put
forth by Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and M. R. Jayakar. These
two prominent figures were members of the Liberal party
and played an integral role in advocating for constitutional
reforms through peaceful dialogue and cooperation.
Operating within the framework of the Indian Liberal
Federation, they actively participated in significant
initiatives like the Nehru Report and the Round Table
Conferences, both aimed at advancing India’s constitutional
progress. As skilled mediators, they were instrumental in
proposing the concept of dominion status for India as part
of their efforts to achieve greater autonomy within the
British Commonwealth.
Important Tips
• Mukund Ramrao Jayakar (1873-1959) was the first
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Poona, a lawyer,
politician, and leader of the Swarajist Party. He served
in various capacities, including as a member of the
Bombay Legislative Council and Central Legislative
Assembly. Jayakar was a key figure in the Sapru
Committee, contributed to constitutional discussions,
and authored his autobiography, “The Story of my
Life.”
100. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Jawaharlal Nehru was the one who moved the ‘Quit India’
resolution in the Bombay Session of the Congress in the
year 1942. He was the president of the All-India Congress
Committee at that time, and he presented the resolution
on behalf of Mahatma Gandhi, who had drafted it. The
resolution called for an immediate end to British rule in
India and authorized Gandhi to lead a non-violent mass
movement.
101. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Event 4: Gandhi- Irwin Pact- It was signed on 5th March,
1931.
Event 3: Execution of Bhagat Singh- Execution of Bhagat
Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev took place on 23rd March,
1931.
Event 2: Karachi Session of Indian National Congress-
It took place on 29th March, 1931 and it was presided by
Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
Event 1: Second Round Table Conference- It took place
in 17th September, 1931 and Mahatma Gandhi was the
representative of the Indian National Congress.
102. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Red Fort trials, also known as the INA trials, involved
court-martial proceedings against officers of the Indian
179
National Army (INA) who were charged with various
offenses including treason, torture, murder, and abetment
to murder during World War II. The first trial took place
between November and December 1945. In this trial, which
included defendants Shah Nawaz Khan, Gurubaksh Singh
Dhillon, and Prem Sahgal, the defense was led by Sir Tej
Bahadur Sapru (Sir T.B. Sapru) along with Lt. Col. Horilal
Varma, who represented the accused officers.
Important Tips
Sir T.B. Sapru:
• Tej Bahadur Sapru (1875 -1949) was an Indian
freedom fighter, lawyer, and politician. He was a key
figure in India’s struggle for independence, helping
draft the Indian Constitution. He was the leader of the
Liberal party in British-ruled India.
• He was knighted in 1922 and after receiving knighthood
he was known as sir Tej Bahadur Sapru.
• He held positions in various legislative councils,
including the Legislative Council of the United
Provinces and the Imperial Legislative Council, where
he served as the law member of the Viceroy’s Council.
• Sapru mediated between different factions, playing
a key role in facilitating the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and
resolving the dispute between Mahatma Gandhi and
Dr. Ambedkar regarding separate electorates for the
Depressed Classes, leading to the Poona Pact.
• He became a member of the Privy Council in 1934
and represented the Liberal Party in the Round Table
Conferences in London.
• Sapru supported India’s participation in the Second
World War without prior consultation with Indians,
a stance that differed from most Indian political
activists at the time.
• As a lawyer, he handled significant cases such as the
Meerut Conspiracy Case and defended rebel soldiers
of the Indian National Army.
• Sapru’s contributions extended to the Nehru
Committee Report of 1928, and although his health
prevented him from serving in the Constituent
Assembly after independence, his legal expertise
continued to influence constitutional reforms.
• He established the Indian Council of World Affairs
in 1943 and served as its president until 1949.
103. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
In May 1930, Mahatma Gandhi chose Tyabji, who was
seventy-six years old, to take over as the leader of the Salt
Satyagraha following Gandhi’s own arrest. Shortly after
assuming leadership, Tyabji was also arrested and detained
by the British Indian Government. With admiration, Gandhi
and his colleagues affectionately referred to Tyabji as the
“Grand Old Man of Gujarat.”
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
104. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Lahore Resolution was passed by the All India Muslim
League at its annual session in Lahore on March 24, 1940.
The resolution called for the creation of a separate Muslim
state in the north-west and north-east of India. It was
presented by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who was the leader
of the All India Muslim League. The Lahore Session of the
Muslim League was held in 1940, and it was the first time
that the Two-Nation Theory was put forward. The theory
was based on the idea that Hindus and Muslims were two
separate nations, and that they could not live together in a
united India.
105. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the president of the Indian
National Congress for six consecutive years from 1940
to 1946. He was also the youngest person to become the
president of the Indian National Congress at the age of 35 in
1923. He was a prominent leader of the Indian independence
movement and a scholar of Islam. He also served as the first
Minister of Education in independent India.
He was the first Minister of Education in the Indian
government and established the University Grants
Commission (UGC) in 1953. He was also awarded the Bharat
Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, posthumously in 1992.
106. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Vithalbhai Patel, an Indian legislator and political leader,
was elected as the President (Speaker) of the Central
Legislative Assembly in 1925. He co-founded the Swaraj
Party with leaders like Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru.
Vithalbhai Patel played an influential role in the Indian
freedom struggle. He was known for his witty speeches and
efforts to challenge British rule through legislative means.
He introduced bills and amendments on various issues,
including education and medical practice. As the President
of the Assembly, he established important practices and
procedures for its functioning.
107. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Anti Untouchability League founded by Mahatma Gandhi
on 30 September 1932 was later renamed Harijan Sevak
Sangh. The aim of the Harijan Sevak Sangh was to uplift
the status of the Depressed Classes, also known as the
Scheduled Castes. The first president of the Harijan Sevak
Sangh was Ghanshyam Das Birla, a prominent industrialist
and philanthropist. Amritlal Takkar was its first secretary.
108. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In the 1939, Tripuri (near Jabalpur in present Madhya
Pradesh) Session, Subhash Chandra Bose was elected as
President of Indian National Congress for the second time.
He defeated Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
PYQ Workbook
109. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Non-Cooperation resolution was moved by
Chittaranjan Das (C.R. Das) during the Nagpur session of
the Indian National Congress in 1920. This session marked
a significant shift in the Congress’s approach to the freedom
struggle, as it decided to pursue Swaraj (self-government)
through non-cooperation with the British authorities,
boycotting foreign goods, schools, and institutions. This
approach was intended to be a peaceful and legitimate means
of achieving independence.
Important Tips
1920 INC Annual Session:
The Indian National Congress (INC) held its annual
session in December 1920 in Nagpur, Maharashtra,
with C. Vijayaraghavachariar presiding. This pivotal
session saw the adoption of the main resolution on Non-
Cooperation, which advocated for:
• Boycott of Foreign Goods, Schools, and Courts: The
resolution urged Indians to boycott British goods,
institutions, and the legal system.
• Surrender of Titles: Indians were encouraged to give
up honorary titles bestowed by the British government
as a sign of non-cooperation.
• Harmony Between Muslims and Hindus: The session
emphasized promoting unity and understanding
between the two major communities.
• Congress Working Committee: The formation of
a 15-member committee to guide the Congress’s
activities was a significant outcome.
• Shift in Approach: The session marked a shift from
constitutional means to achieving Swaraj (self-
government) to a peaceful, non-cooperative mass
struggle.
This session’s reforms elevated the INC’s political standing,
shaping a new era in the freedom struggle’s history. The
Congress’s commitment to non-cooperation and its
emphasis on unity set the stage for transformative
actions in India’s fight for independence.
110. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Cabinet Mission was a group of three British ministers
who came to India in 1946 to propose a plan for the transfer
of power from the British to the Indian leaders. The Cabinet
Mission proposed a three-tier polity for India, consisting
of a federal union of India, provincial groupings of
states, and provincial governments. The federal union
would have limited powers over defence, foreign affairs,
and communications, while the provincial groupings and
governments would have autonomy over other subjects.
180
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
• Nehru Committee: The Nehru Committee was a
committee of Indian leaders appointed in 1928 to
draft a constitution for India. The Nehru Committee
proposed a dominion status for India within the British
Commonwealth, with a federal system of government
and a bill of rights.
111. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
On the 22nd of October 1939, all the Congress ministries
applied their resignations after 28 months of rule in the
provinces. The elections under the Government of India
Act, 1935 were held in 1936-37 which led to the formation
of Congress ministries. On the ‘ issue of World War II’,
Congress decided to quit the government.
Important Tips
Work Done Under Congress Ministries:
• Eased curbs on civil liberties
• Restrictions on press lifted
• Political prisoners and revolutionaries released
• Lifted ban from several illegal organisations, books,
and journals
• Restoration of pensions of officials associated with the
Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM)
• Controlled communal riots
• Encouragement given to indigenous enterprises
• Measures for welfare of Harijans taken—temple entry,
use of public facilities, scholarships, an increase in
their numbers in government service and police, etc
• Police powers were curbed
112. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The First Round Table Conference was held in London from
November 12, 1930 to January 19, 1931. The conference
was to discuss the Report of the Simon Commission, but the
Indian National Congress boycotted the conference. The
Congress attended the second Round Table Conference,
which took place from 7 September 1931 to 1 December
1931 in London. Mahatma Gandhi represented Indian
National Congress in the Second Round Table Conference.
113. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Simon Commission’s lack of Indian representation
directly led to the Congress’s decision to boycott it. The
absence of Indian members in the commission highlighted
the insensitivity of the British government towards involving
Indians in shaping their own constitutional future. This fact
was a significant factor in the Congress’s decision to protest
the commission and its work.
181
114. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a prominent Indian nationalist
and freedom fighter. He was one of the leaders of the Indian
independence movement, and he supported the Non-
Cooperation Movement. However, he died in 1920, before
the movement could achieve its goals.
115. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Sarojini Naidu, Imam Sahib, and Manilal assumed the
responsibility of leading a raid on Dharasana salt works on
21 May 1930. This event took place while Mahatma Gandhi
was confined in Yerwada Jail.
Important Tips
Dharasana Salt Works in Gujarat:
In May 1930, the Dharasana Salt Works in Gujarat, India,
became a symbol of resistance in the Indian independence
struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National
Congress. A peaceful protest against the British salt
monopoly took place there, with around 2,500 nonviolent
protesters marching to the facility. Faced with brutal
beatings by 400 British Indian police officers armed with
batons, the satyagrahis did not retaliate, highlighting the
cruelty of British rule. This event garnered global support
for Indian independence and prompted negotiations
between the British government and the Indian National
Congress, advancing the cause of independence.
116. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Among the given options, Sardar Patel and Rajendra Prasad
represented Indian National Congress in the Partition Council
headed by Lord Mountbatten. Before the establishment of
the Partition Council, a Partition Committee was formed.
Its members included prominent figures like Vallabh Bhai
Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Liaqat Ali Khan, and Abdur
Rab Nishtar. This committee was later succeeded by the
Partition Council, where the Indian National Congress was
represented by Sardar Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and
C. Rajgopalachari as an alternate member. The Muslim
League had Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Liaqat Ali Khan, and
Abdur Rab Nishtar as alternate members. Following India’s
independence on August 15, 1947, the composition of the
partition council evolved to include two members from each
domain, and during this transitional period, Patel and Dr.
Prasad continued to represent the Indian Domain.
117. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Poorna Swaraj Resolution adopted at the Lahore Session
of the Indian National Congress was moved by Jawaharlal
Nehru. The resolution, a short 750-word document, called
for severing ties with the British and asserting complete
independence. It highlighted the economic, political, and
cultural injustices caused by British rule in India. Nehru’s
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
leadership in this historic declaration marked a significant
step towards India’s struggle for independence and the
subsequent civil disobedience movement.
118. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Rabindranath Tagore, the renowned poet and philosopher,
referred to Subhas Chandra Bose as ‘Desh Nayak’, which
translates to “National Hero” or “Hero of the Nation”. He
even wrote a poem in his honor, titled “Desh Nayak”. The
poem praises Bose as a “true son of India” and a “hero of
the nation”. The term reflects the high esteem and respect
with which Bose was regarded for his efforts in seeking
India’s independence from British rule.
119. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Aruna Asaf Ali was a major woman organizer of
underground activity during the Quit India Movement.
The Quit India Movement, also known as the August
Movement, was a mass civil disobedience movement
launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942, demanding an end to
British colonial rule in India.
She is widely remembered for hoisting the Indian National
flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan in Bombay on 9 August
1942, after most of the Congress leaders were arrested by the
British. She also worked alongside other leaders and activists
to coordinate strikes, sabotage, and attacks on government
offices and police stations.
She remained underground for several months, evading
arrest and inspiring many people to join the movement.
She also edited an underground newspaper called
Inquilab (Revolution), which reported on the activities
and achievements of the movement. She was awarded the
International Lenin Peace Prize in 1964 and the Bharat
Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 1997 for her
contribution to the freedom struggle.
120. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Cabinet Mission was a delegation sent by the British
government to India in 1946 to discuss the transfer of
power from the British government to the Indian political
leadership with the aim of preserving India’s unity and
granting its independence. It was headed by three British
cabinet members: Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and
A.V. Alexander. The Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell, also
participated in some of the discussions. President of Indian
National Congress during the visit of Cabinet Mission to
India was Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He was the president
of the Congress from 1940 to 1946, and he advocated for a
united India with provincial autonomy.
121. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Muslim League observed the ‘Direct Action Day’ on 16th
August, 1946. It was the decision to call for ‘direct action’
PYQ Workbook
to seek a separate Muslim homeland as the British prepared
to leave India. This day is also known as the 1946 Calcutta
Killings/1946 Calcutta Riots, characterized by nationwide
communal violence for four days. It resulted in 5,000 to
10,000 dead, and some 15,000 wounded.
122. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In Manipur, the Jiatarang movement began in 1930 with
Naga Woman Rani Gaidinliu as its leader. This movement
eventually transformed into a political effort aimed at
removing the British from both Manipur and the nearby
Naga regions.
Important Tips
Rani Gaidinliu ( “The Daughter of Hills”):
• Rani Gaidinliu was a spiritual leader among the Naga
people.
• She belonged to the Rongmei clan of the Zeliangrong
tribe in Manipur’s Tamenglong district.
• Born on January 26, 1915.
• At the age of 13, she joined the efforts of freedom
fighter and religious leader, Haipou Jadonang, and
became a key figure in his social, religious, and
political movement.
• Jadonang, who was also from the Rongmei tribe,
initiated the ‘Heraka movement,’ based on traditional
Naga beliefs, with a vision of an independent Naga
kingdom (Naga-Raja).
• After Jadonang’s execution, Rani Gaidinliu continued
his work, leading the movement which gradually
shifted from religious to political focus.
• Rani launched a significant rebellion against the
British colonial rule, leading to her imprisonment for
life. She was eventually released after 14 years, in 1947.
123. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
The British case against Gandhi was based on the Western
interpretation of pragmatic justice. To the British, Gandhi
was guilty of calling for a civil-disobedience campaign under
Quit India Movement in 1942 which set off a mass outburst.
Lord Linlithgow held Gandhi legally responsible for the
deaths that had occurred, the damage done. In the Viceroy’s
words, Gandhi’s fast was “political blackmail”; as such
it was Gandhi’s “sole responsibility.” This was the official
British view.
Important Tips
• Lord Chelmsford served as Viceroy and Governor
General of India from 1916 to 1921. He succeeded
Lord Hardinge as Viceroy of India in 1916. His time
in India began in the aftermath of the British army’s
defeat in Mesopotamia, and Indian discontent grew as
the First World War progressed.
182
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Edwin Montagu was appointed the Secretary of State
for India in 1917 and remained in that office till
1922. On 20th August 1917, Montagu presented the
historic Montagu Declaration (August Declaration) in
the British Parliament. This declaration proposed the
increased participation of Indians in the administration
and the development of self-governing institutions in
India.
124. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
India’s first labour union on modern lines was started
when workers of Buckingham and Carnatic Mills formed
the Madras Labour Union in April 1918. In 1918, the first
Registered Organized Trade Union was the “Madras Labour
Union” founded by BP Wadia and V. Kalyanasundaram
Mudaliar. This landmark event is documented meticulously
by D. Veeraraghavan in his seminal book ‘Making of the
Madras Working Class’.
Important Tips
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in the year
1920:
• The founding leaders were Lala Lajpat Rai, N M
Joshi & Joseph Baptista.
• Other leaders who participated were Netaji Subhash
Chandra Bose, V. V. Giri, Sarojini Naidu, C.R. Das,
Jawarharlal Nehru, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Annie
Besant, V.J. Patel, B.P. Wadia, Joseph Baptista,
Lalubhai Samaldas, Jamnadas, Dwarka Das, B W
Wadia, R R Karandikar, Col. J.C. Wedgwood.
• The AITUC was formed to secure a nominating
body for representing Indian Labour at the
International Labour Conference.
125. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
In the year 1940, the Radical Democratic Party was
founded by Manendra Nath Roy. It was developed from the
League of Radical Congressmen which was founded in 1939
by M.N. Roy. Its main objective was to support the allies in
World War II. In the year 1948, it was dissolved.
126. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Rajendra Prasad appointed as the president of INC, soon
after Subash Chandra Bose resigned in 1939 in Tripuri
Session. Subhas Chandra Bose was elected the President of
Tripuri Session. But Gandhi was not happy with S.C. Bose’s
candidature. At the end S.C. Bose had to resign due to
getting lack of support even from leftists.
127. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Haripura session (in Gujarat) of Indian National
Congress (INC) held in the year 1938. It was presided over by
183
Subhash Chandra Bose. It was the 51st session of the INC.
Haripura session adopted a resolution that the Congress
would give moral support to those who were agitating against
the governance in the princely states.
Important Tips
Subhash Chandra Bose:
• In 1919, he had cleared the Indian Civil Services (ICS)
examination. Bose, however, resigned later.
• He was highly influenced by Vivekananda’s teachings
and considered him as his spiritual Guru. His political
mentor was Chittaranjan Das.
• Netaji was the editor-in-chief of the newspaper named
‘Forward’.
• He even managed to open his own newspaper called
‘Swaraj’.
• He established the National Planning Committee in
October 1938. Its main objective was to focus on the
development of industries in India.
• S.C. Bose and his followers formed the Forward Bloc in
1939 as a new party within the Congress.
• He reached Japanese-controlled Singapore from
Germany in July 1943, issued from there his famous
call, ‘Delhi Chalo’, and announced the formation of
the Azad Hind Government and the Indian National
Army on 21st October 1943.
• His Jayanti is celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’ on 23rd
January.
128. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Madan Mohan Malviya and Motilal Nehru made the
decision to launch the Independent Party, also known
as the Congress-Khilafat Swaraj Party, on 16 December
1922. This decision stemmed from disagreements that arose
following the suspension of the non-cooperation movement
in 1922. The party’s objective was to engage in electoral
politics and secure representation in legislative bodies to
effectively challenge the policies of the British government.
Inspired by the concept of Swaraj, which signifies
“independence” or “self-rule,” the Swaraj Party aimed to
attain greater self-governance and political freedom for the
Indian people under British rule.
129. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Kashi Hindu Vishva Vidyalaya was formed in 1916. During
the Non-cooperation Movement (1920-22), the institutions
founded were:
• Kashi Vidyapith in 1921
• Gujarat Vidyapith in 1920
• Jamia Millia Islamia in 1920
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Kashi Vidyapith:
• Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta and Bhagwan Das established
Kashi Vidyapith in Varanasi, on 10 February 1921,
during the non-cooperation movement of the
freedom struggle. Originally named Kashi Vidyapith,
the university was renamed Mahatma Gandhi Kashi
Vidyapith in 1995. It was inaugurated by Mahatma
Gandhi. Inspired by Gandhi’s principles, it was a hub of
the Indian National Movement, fostering self-reliance
and attracting notable nationalist scholars.
Gujarat Vidyapith:
• Gujarat Vidyapith, a deemed university in
Ahmedabad, India, was founded by Mahatma
Gandhi in 1920 to establish Indian-run educational
institutions free from British control. It became
a deemed university in 1963. While modernized, it
upholds Gandhian principles, emphasizing human
studies, social service, and development work. It
played a pivotal role in promoting Indian education
during the struggle for independence.
Jamia Millia Islamia:
• Jamia Millia Islamia, established in 1920 in Aligarh
during British rule, is now a central university in
New Delhi. Founded by notable figures like Mahmud
Hasan Deobandi, Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Hakim Ajmal
Khan, and others, its foundation stone was laid by
Mahmud Hasan Deobandi. It gained central university
status in 1988, and its current location is Okhla.
Kashi Hindu Vishva Vidyalaya:
• Banaras Hindu University (BHU), also known as
kāśhī hindū viśvavidyālaya, established in 1916 in
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, is a collegiate, central,
and research university. It was formed by incorporating
the Central Hindu College founded by Annie Besant in
1898. Madan Mohan Malaviya established BHU with
financial support from Maharaja Rameshwar Singh
of Dharbhanga, Maharaja Prabhu Narayan Singh of
Benares, and lawyer Sunder Lal.
130. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Assertion (A) is true- The Poona Pact, established in
1932, marked an accord between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr.
Babasaheb Ambedkar, representing the Dalits, depressed
classes, and upper caste Hindu leaders. This pact revolved
around the reservation of electoral seats for the depressed
classes within the British India legislature. It defeated the
purpose of Communal Award which intended the separate
electorates and reserved seats for minorities and depressed
classes.
Reason (R) is true and (R) is the correct explanation
of (A)- The Poona Pact paved the way in facilitating the
participation of Dalits in the political arena and contributed
to diminishing the inequalities they encountered. It
PYQ Workbook
discarded separate electorates for the Depressed Classes
and instead provided for a system of joint electorates with
reserved seats. The pact increased the number of reserved
seats for the depressed classes (SC and ST) in the Parliament
and legislature to 147.
131. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Simon Commission, formally
known as the Indian Statutory Commission, was indeed
appointed to review and enquire into the working of the
Government of India Act of 1919. The purpose was to
assess the reforms that had been implemented and to make
recommendations for potential further reforms.
Statement 2 is correct: It was chaired by Sir John Simon. He
was a British politician and lawyer who led the commission
during its study of the constitutional framework in India.
Statement 3 is correct: Simon Commission advocated for a
Federation-style structure at the centre, with a ‘Council of
Greater India’ representing the interests of both British India
and the princely states.
Statement 4 is correct: Yes, the Simon Commission faced
significant opposition from Indian leaders and political
parties. The main reasons for opposition included the fact
that the commission did not have any Indian members and
its recommendations were seen as inadequate in addressing
Indian demands for self-governance and representation.
Important Tips
Recommendations of Simon Commission:
• Abolish Provincial Dyarchy: Expand ministers’
responsibilities to provincial legislatures, eliminating
the system of dual control.
• Governor’s Special Powers: Grant the Governor
special powers to protect minorities and safeguard
provinces.
• Representation based on Population: Advocate
representation in the Federal Assembly based on
population.
• Burma’s Dominion Status: Grant Burma Dominion
Status and its own Constitution.
• Council of State Representation: Propose indirect
election of Council of State members through
Provincial Councils, akin to modern Proportional
Representation.
• Federation-style Structure: Suggest a ‘Council of
Greater India’ to represent British India and princely
states.
• Reservations for Poorest Classes: Recommend
reserved seats for the economically disadvantaged.
• Discretionary Powers for Communal Harmony:
Empower Governors with discretionary powers to
prevent communal tensions.
184
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Increase in Legislative Council Members: Propose
an increase in the number of members in Legislative
Councils.
• Local Representation for Frontier Provinces:
Establish local legislatures and representation rights
for northwestern frontier provinces and Balochistan.
• Administrative Divisions: Divide Sindh from Bombay
and Burma from India.
• Indianization of Army: Call for the Indianization of
the Indian army.
• Incorporation into Government of India Act 1935:
Integrate the Commission’s recommendations into the
1935 Act.
• Government Control over High Courts: Advocate full
governmental control over High Courts.
132. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The main outcome of the 1921-22 Non-Cooperation
Movement was the strengthening of Hindu-Muslim
unity. The 1921-22 Non-Cooperation Movement, led by
Gandhi, aimed to unite Indians against British rule through
nonviolence. The Khilafat Issue enhanced Hindu-Muslim
unity as Indian Muslims empathized with the Ottoman
Caliphate’s fate. Shared aspirations, leaders like Gandhi
and Nehru, mass participation, joint demonstrations, and
interfaith symbols bridged divides.
133. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress
was held in March 1931. Vallabhbhai Patel presided over
the session. The session adopted the Karachi Resolution,
which outlined the economic and social goals of the Indian
National Congress. The resolution called for a number of
reforms, including the abolition of untouchability, the
introduction of a system of universal adult franchise, and
the nationalization of key industries.
134. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
(A) and (R) are individually true, and (R) is the correct
explanation of (A).
Assertion is correct: The Quit India Movement of 1942
was one of the final and most intense phases of the
Indian freedom struggle against British colonial rule. It
represented a significant turning point in the struggle for
independence. The movement was the most widespread
and intense phase of the freedom struggle, as it mobilized
millions of people from all sections of society and regions
of the country. It also challenged the British authority and
legitimacy like never before, as it witnessed various forms
of resistance, such as strikes, boycotts, sabotage, attacks on
government offices and police stations, and formation of
parallel governments.
185
Reason is also correct and explains Assertions correctly:
The Quit India Movement, with its mass protests and civil
disobedience, led to a severe crackdown by the British
authorities. It resulted in the arrest of many Indian leaders,
including Mahatma Gandhi. The movement, coupled with
the changing dynamics of World War II, prompted the
British government to reconsider its stance on India. This
eventually led to discussions and negotiations regarding the
transfer of power, culminating in India’s independence in
1947.
135. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The first commander of the “Azad Hind Fauj” or Indian
National Army (INA) was Mohan Singh. The INA was
founded on September 1, 1942, in Southeast Asia during
World War II. It was initially formed by Indian prisoners
of war (PoWs) of the British Indian Army captured by
Japan in the Malayan campaign and at Singapore, under the
leadership of Mohan Singh. Later, Subhas Chandra Bose took
over its leadership and revived the INA after his arrival in
Southeast Asia in 1943.
136. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Garhwal Regiment was a unit of the British Indian
Army. The soldiers of the Garhwal Regiment were deployed
in Peshawar on 23rd April 1930, which was a hotbed of the
Civil Disobedience Movement. The soldiers were ordered
to fire on the revolutionaries, but they refused to do so.
Chandra Singh Garhwali was one such soldier who refused
to open fire preventing another Jallianwala Bagh Massacre.
137. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Dr. B.R Ambedkar was not the member of the Interim
Cabinet but he later joined the Constituent Assembly.
Subsequently, he served as India’s first Law Minister in
Jawaharlal Nehru’s Cabinet. As a Law Minister, he led the
Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution. He is also
known as the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution.’
Important Tips
The Drafting Committee was set up on August 29, 1947.
Drafting Committee consisted of seven members. They
were:
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (Chairman)
• N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar
• Alladi Krishnaswamy Ayyar
• Dr. K.M. Munshi
• Syed Mohammad Saadullah
• N. Madhava Rau (He replaced B.L. Mitter who resigned
due to ill-health)
• T.T. Krishnamachari (He replaced D.P. Khaitan who
died in 1948)
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
138. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Shivaram Hari Rajguru (1908–1931), an Indian revolutionary
from Maharashtra, was a key figure in the Hindustan
Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). Notably, he took
part in the assassination of British police officer John
Saunders. On March 23, 1931, he was executed by the
British government, alongside Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev
Thapar, for their anti-colonial activities.
Important Tips
The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress
in 1929 marked a turning point in India’s fight for
freedom. The session, under President Jawaharlal Nehru,
declared complete independence (Purna Swaraj) as the
goal. It rejected the Simon Commission, authorized civil
disobedience and tax non-payment, and fixed January 26,
1930, as the first Independence Day.
The Non-cooperation Movement was launched on 5th
September 1920 by the Indian National Congress (INC)
under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. In September
1920, in Congress session in Calcutta, the party introduced
the Non-Cooperation programme.
The Rowlatt Satyagraha, led by Gandhi on April 6, 1919,
protested against the repressive Rowlatt Act passed by
the British government. This Act allowed arrests without
trial, indefinite detention, and curbed civil liberties. The
protest involved a nationwide hartal (strike), but violent
clashes occurred, particularly in Punjab. The infamous
Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred during these protests,
leading to a heavy loss of life. The Act and other laws were
repealed in March 1922.
139. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Chittaranjan Das, also known as C.R. Das, left his post as
the Indian National Congress president to establish the
Swaraj Party. A prominent leader from Bengal, he actively
participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement (1919-1922),
advocating non-violence and constitutional means for India’s
freedom. Differing with Gandhi on “No Council Entry,”
he resigned during the 1922 Gaya session. Forming the
Congress-Khilafat Swaraj Party with figures like Motilal
Nehru and Narasimha Chintaman Kelkar, they sought to
engage in legislative councils for self-governance, offering
an alternative approach within the broader independence
movement.
140. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
In October 1928, Lala Lajpat Rai led a demonstration
against the Simon Commission in Lahore. The police,
under the command of James A. Scott, subjected the
protesters to a brutal lathi charge. Lala Lajpat Rai was
injured in the police action, and he did not fully recover
from his injuries, eventually passing away on November
17, 1928. This incident further fueled the resentment
PYQ Workbook
against British policies and contributed to the growing
agitation for India’s independence. The event also played a
role in motivating Bhagat Singh and his associates to seek
retribution against the British officers, which eventually led
to the tragic killing of J.P. Saunders in a case of mistaken
identity.
141. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Assertion (A) is true- The salt agitation was launched by
Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 to protest against the British salt
monopoly. The British had a monopoly on the production
and sale of salt, and they taxed it heavily. This made salt very
expensive for the poor.
Reason (R) is false- Mahatma Gandhi’s object was not to
make salt available free to the poor. His object was to break
the British salt monopoly and to show that the Indian
people were not willing to be ruled by the British.
142. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
According to KM Munshi, “Mohammad Ali Jinnah had
warned Gandhi not to encourage fanaticism of Muslim
religious leaders and their followers.
Important Tips
Mohammad Ali Jinnah:
• In 1916, he was elected as the president of the Muslim
league.
• In 1920, when the Indian National Congress launched
a movement of non-cooperation, Jinnah opposed this
policy and resigned from the congress.
• His continuous efforts and negotiations with the
British government resulted in the partition of India
and the formation of the state of Pakistan on 14 August
1947.
143. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Dr. B. S. Moonje tabled a vote of censure against Mahatma
Gandhi for calling off the Non-Cooperation Movement
at the meeting of All India Congress Committee held
on February 24, 1922, in Delhi. Moonje was associated
with the Hindu Mahasabha and held differing views from
Gandhi, especially regarding his principles of non-violence
and secularism. Moonje was critical of Gandhi’s decision to
halt the movement. He was an advocate of a more militant
approach and was influenced by fascist ideologies.
144. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Parallel governments were established in Balia and Satara
during the Quit India Movement. The Quit India Movement,
also known as the August Movement, was a mass civil
disobedience campaign launched by Mahatma Gandhi and
the Indian National Congress in 1942, demanding an end to
British colonial rule in India.
186
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Important Tips
Parrallel Governments in 1942:
• Four major parallel governments were established
in Balliya (Uttar Pradesh), Tamluk (Bengal), Satara
(Maharashtra) and Talcher (Orissa).
• In Balia, a district in Uttar Pradesh, a parallel
government was formed on 19 August 1942 by Chittu
Pandey, a freedom fighter and a Congress leader. He
declared Balia as independent and appointed his own
cabinet of ministers. He also issued his own currency
and stamps, collected taxes, ran courts, and maintained
law and order. He also organized a volunteer army to
resist the British forces. The parallel government lasted
for about a month, until the British army recaptured
Balia on 23 September 1942.
• In Satara, a district in Maharashtra, a parallel
government was formed on 10 September 1942 by
Nana Patil, another freedom fighter and a Congress
leader. He was inspired by the example of Balia and
decided to replicate it in Satara. He declared Satara
as independent and appointed his own cabinet of
ministers.
• In Tamluk in Midnapur district, parallel government,
known as Jatiya Sarkar, was established on December
17, 1942. It lasted until September 1944.
• In Talcher in Orissa, parallel government was
established in 1943 by some local Congress workers.
They took control of the police station and declared
independence from British rule.
145. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In the meetings of All India Committee on June 14-15, 1947,
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan voted against the partititon
of India. He aligned himself with the pro-unity stance of
the Indian National Congress and All-India Azad Muslim
Conference, rather than the pro-partition All-India Muslim
League. However, his trust in the Indian National Congress
was shattered when they reluctantly accepted the partition
plan without consulting the Khudai Khidmatgar leaders,
leading him to express his disappointment by stating, “you
have thrown us to the wolves.” In June 1947, Khan, along
with other Khudai Khidmatgar leaders, formally presented
the Bannu Resolution to the British authorities, demanding
the creation of an independent state of Pashtunistan
encompassing all Pashtun territories of British India,
separate from the emerging state of Pakistan. Unfortunately,
the British government openly rejected the resolution’s
demands, and Khan’s vision of Pashtunistan as a separate,
independent entity was not realized.
146. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Ras Bihari Bose, an Indian revolutionary, played a
significant role in assisting Subhas Chandra Bose in the
establishment of the Azad Hind Fauz (Indian National
187
Army). Bose arrived in Singapore in 1943 and was invited
by Ras Bihari Bose to take over the leadership of the Indian
Independence League in East Asia. Ras Bihari Bose’s
efforts and connections were instrumental in providing the
foundation and support for the formation of the Azad Hind
Fauz, which aimed to fight for India’s independence from
British rule.
Important Tips
Some other Indian revolutionaries who helped Subhas
Chandra Bose in the establishment of the Azad Hind
Fauj:
• Mohan Singh: Mohan Singh was the first commander
of the Azad Hind Fauj. He was captured by the British
in 1942 and was imprisoned for several years.
• Captain Lakshmi Sahgal: Lakshmi Sahgal was a
doctor who joined the Azad Hind Fauj in 1943. She
was known as the “Joan of Arc of India” for her bravery
and leadership.
• Captain Shah Nawaz Khan: Shah Nawaz Khan was
a Muslim officer who joined the Azad Hind Fauj in
1943. He was captured by the British and was tried for
treason. He was acquitted of all charges in 1946.
147. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
The Kanpur Bolshevik conspiracy case was a controversial
court case initiated in British India in 1924. Kanpur
Conspiracy Case was also against the communists which
were abhorred by the British Government. Some newly
turned communists named M N Roy, Muzaffar Ahamed,
S A Dange, Shaukat Usmani, Nalini Gupta, Singaravelu
Chettiar, Ghulam Hussain were caught by the Government
and were trailed for conspiring against the Government. The
Charge on them was “to deprive the King-Emperor of his
sovereignty of British India, by complete separation of India
from imperialistic Britain by a violent revolution.”
148. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct sequence of events is:
• Chauri-Chaura incident (February 5, 1922)
• Suspension of Non-Cooperation Movement (February
12, 1922)
• Bardoli Resolutions (1928):
Important Tips
Chauri-Chaura incident (February 5, 1922): The Chauri
Chaura incident was a violent protest that took place in
the town of Chauri Chaura in Uttar Pradesh. A group
of protesters clashed with police and set fire to a police
station, killing 22 policemen.
Suspension of Non-Cooperation Movement (February
12, 1922): The Chauri Chaura incident hocked Mahatma
Gandhi, who felt that the Non cooperation movement had
become violent and that it was no longer following the
principles of non-violence. He called off the movement on
February 12, 1922.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Bardoli Resolutions (1928): The Bardoli Resolution,
drafted in 1928, was a pivotal document during the
Bardoli Satyagraha. It demanded the withdrawal of unfair
tax hikes and fair treatment for farmers. The resolution’s
impact extended to Saran, Bihar, inspiring locals to
challenge oppressive British policies. Its courage and
ideals continued to influence Saran’s involvement in the
struggle for freedom and justice.
149. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Sarojini Naidu referred to Mahatma Gandhi and Lord
Irwin as “the two Mahatmas” due to their central roles in the
events leading up to the Second Round Table Conference in
1931 and the Salt Satyagraha of 1930. Gandhi’s leadership
of the Indian National Congress prompted the influential
Salt Satyagraha against the unjust salt law, resulting in his
imprisonment and global attention. Lord Irwin, the Viceroy,
sought negotiations and released Gandhi, leading to a series
of eight meetings that culminated in the Gandhi-Irwin
Pact. This recognition by Naidu highlights their significance
in striving for India’s independence through non-violent
means and peaceful dialogue amid British imperialism.
150. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Communal Award gave separate electorates and
reserved seats to Muslims, Sikhs, and Depressed Castes.
However, it did not give separate electorates or reserved
seats to Buddhists. The reason for this was that the number
of Buddhists in British India was relatively small. In
addition, the Buddhists were not seen as a distinct religious
community by the British.
151. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Louis Fischer was an American journalist and author who
wrote extensively about world politics and history. He
was a close friend and admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, and
he accompanied him during the Quit India Movement of
1942. He also wrote a biography of Gandhi, titled The Life
of Mahatma Gandhi, which was published in 1950 and later
adapted into the Oscar-winning film Gandhi in 1982.
Important Tips
• William L. Shirer: He was an American journalist and
historian who reported on the rise of Nazi Germany
and World War II. He is best known for his book
The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, which is a
comprehensive history of Nazi Germany based on his
personal observations and documents.
• Web Miller: He was an American reporter who covered
several major events in the 20th century, such as the
Mexican Revolution, the Irish War of Independence,
the Spanish Civil War, and World War II. He also
interviewed several prominent figures, such as Adolf
Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and
Jawaharlal Nehru.
PYQ Workbook
• Negley Farson: He was an American adventurer,
journalist, and author who traveled extensively around
the world and wrote about his experiences. He covered
various conflicts and revolutions, such as the Russian
Revolution, the Chinese Civil War, the Spanish Civil
War, and World War II. He also met several influential
leaders, such as Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, Mao
Zedong, and Chiang Kai-shek.
152. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Assertion (A) is true- On August 14-15, 1947, India
achieved its independence from the United Kingdom of
Great Britain. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 shifted
sovereign authority over British India from the British
Parliament to the Constituent Assembly of India. Under the
same Act, India underwent partition into Muslim majority
Pakistan and the democratic and secular India.
Reason (R) is true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)-
Britain suffered heavy losses in the Second World War. They
lost many soldiers, and they also had to pay a high financial
cost for the war. This weakened Britain economically and
militarily, and it made it difficult for them to maintain their
rule in India.
153. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
The Congress supported the Khilafat Movement mainly for
the Reinstatement of Caliph and getting the sympathy of the
Muslims in the upcoming struggle against the British.
154. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Civil Disobedience Movement started with well-
known Dandi March. The Dandi March was a 241-mile
(385 km) protest march undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi
and his followers in 1930 to protest against the British
salt monopoly. The march began on March 12, 1930, from
Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and
ended on April 6, 1930, at Dandi, Gujarat, where Gandhi
broke the salt law by making salt from seawater.
Important Tips
Mahatma Gandhi led the way in starting civil disobedience.
This began after celebrating Independence Day in 1930.
The civil disobedience movement started with a well-
known march to Dandi, when Gandhi, along with 78
Ashram members, walked from Sabarmati Ashram in
Ahmedabad on 12 March 1930. At Dandi, Gandhi broke
the salt law, even though it was against the rules for
anyone other than the government to make salt. This act of
disobedience spread the idea of civil disobedience across
India. This event became a symbol of people standing up
against government rules.
155. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
188
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
K. T. Paul was a prominent leader of the Indian Christian
community and the General Secretary of the All India
Conference of Indian Christians. He represented Indian
Christians in the First Round Table Conference in London
in 1930.
156. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Depressed Classes League was established in
1935 by Babu Jagjiwan Ram, a prominent leader of the
Depressed Classes. The league was formed to demand more
representation for the Depressed Classes in the government
and in society. The league aimed to achieve equality for
Dalits.
Important Tips
Babu Jagjivan Ram:
• Babu Jagjivan Ram, popularly known as Babuji, was
a national leader, freedom fighter, and advocate for
social justice.
• He championed the cause of depressed classes and
played a crucial role in the All India Depressed Classes
League.
• In Calcutta (Kolkata), he organized Ravidas Sammelans
and celebrated Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
• In 1934, he established the Akhil Bhartiya Ravidas
Mahasabha in Calcutta.
• He appeared before the Hammond Commission in
1935, advocating for voting rights for Dalits.
• Inspired by Gandhiji, Babuji courted arrest in 1940
and actively participated in the Civil Disobedience
Movement and Quit India Movement.
• Babu Jagjivan Ram also served as the Deputy Prime
Minister of India.
157. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Lahore Conference Session took place from March
22 to 24, 1940, at Iqbal Park, Lahore, where the welcome
speech was given by Sir Shah Nawaz Khan of Mamdot, who
chaired the local reception committee. The Special Working
Committee of the All India Muslim League discussed different
versions of the final resolution text. The resolution, which
gained unanimous approval from the Subject Committee,
endorsed the idea of a united homeland for Muslims and
proposed the formation of an independent Muslim state.
During the general session, A. K. Fazlul Huq, the chief
minister of undivided Bengal, introduced the resolution,
supported by leaders like Chaudhry Khaliquzzaman from
the United Provinces, Zafar Ali Khan from Punjab, Sardar
Aurangzeb Khan from North-West Frontier Province, and
Sir Abdullah Haroon from Sindh. Qazi Muhammad Essa
from Balochistan and other leaders also expressed their
support.
158. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
189
During the Non-Cooperation Movement, Chittaranjan
Das (also known as Deshbandhu) gave up his legal
practice. He was a prominent Indian freedom fighter,
political activist, and lawyer who played a vital role in the
Indian Independence Movement. He suspended his legal
practice to actively participate in the movement against
British colonial rule. Chittaranjan Das was a key figure in
advocating for non-cooperation with the British government
and promoting the use of indigenous goods, including Khadi
clothing.
159. Solution: (a)
Exp) option a is the correct answer.
The Communal Award was a plan for the political
representation of different religious communities in British
India. It was announced by the British Prime Minister
Ramsay Macdonald on August 16, 1932. The Communal
Award was based on the principle of separate electorates,
which meant that different religious communities would
have their own electorates to elect their representatives to
the legislature. This was done to protect the interests of
minority communities, such as Muslims and Sikhs.
160. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Swaraj Party, also known as the Congress-Khilafat
Swaraj Party, was formed by Chittaranjan Das and Motilal
Nehru after the Gaya annual conference of the Indian
National Congress in December 1922. Its primary goal was
to advocate for greater self-governance and political freedom
from British rule. Subhash Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal
Nehru were not directly associated with the formation of
the Swaraj Party.
Important Tips
Background of formation of Swaraj Party:
The suspension of the non-cooperation movement in
1922 brought forth significant disagreements within the
Congress Party’s leadership. A divide emerged among the
pioneers, with some advocating for the continuation of
non-cooperation while others aimed to conclude the
boycott of legislatures and engage in electoral contests.
The two factions were termed “no-changers” and “pro-
changers.” The former group championed the persistence
of non-cooperation, while the latter sought to transition
towards participating in elections and legislative bodies.
During the Gaya session of the Congress in 1922, C R Das,
who was presiding over the session, proposed the idea of
entering the legislatures. However, this proposition was
defeated, revealing the contrasting viewpoints within the
party.
Consequently, C R Das and fellow leaders who supported
participation in legislatures opted to break away from
the Congress. They established the Congress-Khilafat
Swarajaya Party, naming Das as its president and
enlisting Nehru as one of the secretaries.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
161. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Usha Mehta was a freedom fighter who was known for her
role in setting up the Congress Radio, an underground
radio station that operated for about three months during
the Quit India Movement of 1942. Congress Radio was the
broadcasting mouthpiece of the Indian National Congress
and functioned from different locations in Bombay, present-
day Mumbai, and briefly from Nashik.
Congress Radio was organized by Usha Mehta, then a
22-year-old student activist, with the help of amateur radio
operators. The radio station broadcast messages related to
the Indian independence movement and recorded speeches
from some of the prominent leaders of the movement.
The radio station broadcast from 27 August through 12
November 1942 before being shut down by the authorities,
with the operators being arrested.
Important Tips
• Jai Prakash Narayan: He led the opposition against
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the mid-1970s, and
he called for a “total revolution” to overthrow her.
He was also involved in the Quit India Movement in
1942, and he escaped from the Hazaribagh Central Jail
along with some other freedom fighters.
162. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
The Khilafat Movement had important consequences
for India. The Khilafat Movement united Hindus and
Muslims. Before this movement, Hindus and Muslims did
not cooperate much with each other. Hindus supported the
Muslims in this movement. This helped reduce communal
tensions for some time.
163. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the president of the Indian
National Congress when it passed the Quit India resolution
on 8 August 1942 in Bombay. He was also one of the senior
leaders who were arrested by the British authorities on the
night of 9 August 1942. He remained in prison until 1945.
164. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Mountbatten Plan was a plan for the transfer of power
from British rule to Indian rule in 1947. It was announced
by Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, on June 3,
1947. The plan called for the partition of British India into
two dominions, a Hindu-majority India and a Muslim-
majority Pakistan. The Mountbatten Plan was accepted by
the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, and it
was approved by the British Parliament. The plan came into
effect on August 15, 1947, when India and Pakistan became
independent dominions.
Important Tips
The Mountbatten Plan’s Provisions were as follows:
PYQ Workbook
• British India would be divided into two dominions:
India and Pakistan.
• The constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly
would not be applicable to Muslim-majority areas, as
they would become part of Pakistan.
• According to the plan, the legislative assemblies of
Bengal and Punjab convened and voted in favor of
partition.
• The legislative assembly of Sind would make the choice
of joining the Indian constituent assembly or not. It
opted to join Pakistan.
• A referendum was scheduled for NWFP (North-
Western Frontier Province) to determine its dominion
affiliation. NWFP chose to join Pakistan, although
Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan boycotted and rejected the
referendum.
• The transfer of power was set for August 15, 1947.
• To delineate the international boundaries between
the two nations, the Boundary Commission was
established, with Sir Cyril Radcliffe serving as
its chairperson. The commission was tasked with
demarcating Bengal and Punjab into the two new
countries.
165. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
Mahatma Gandhi was elected as President of the India
Khilafat Conference (23rd November 1919). Khilafat
Committee was formed in Bombay On 20 March 1919. An
all-India Khilafat Conference was organized in Delhi on 23
November 1919. Mahatma Gandhi saw it as an opportunity
to bring together Hindus and Muslims on a common
platform for the nationalist movement. For the upcoming
Non-cooperation Movement, the leaders of the Khilafat
Movement joined hands with Indian National Congress.
166. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, commonly known as C.R.
Rajaji, was not a member of the Swaraj Party. He was
member of the Indian National Congress and later founded
the Swatantra Party in 1959. Rajagopalachari played a
prominent role in the Indian freedom movement, serving as
a leader of the Congress, Premier of the Madras Presidency,
Governor-General of India, and Chief Minister of Madras
state. Srinivas Iyer, Chittaranjan Das, and Vithalbhai Patel
were all members of the Swaraj Party.
Important Tips
• Srinivasa Iyengar (1874–1941) was an Indian lawyer,
freedom fighter, and politician linked with the Indian
National Congress. He served as Advocate-General of
Madras, was a law member of the Governor’s executive
council, and broke away with leaders like Motilal
Nehru and Chittaranjan Das to form the Swarajya
Party in 1923. He mentored prominent leaders like
K. Kamaraj. His book “Mayne’s Hindu Laws” is well-
regarded. Despite his accomplishments, he faced
criticism for the Congress’s Brahmin-dominated image
during his leadership.
190
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Chittaranjan Das (1870–1925), known as
Deshbandhu, was an Indian freedom fighter,
political leader, and lawyer in the Indian
Independence Movement. He founded the Swaraj
Party in undivided Bengal and mentored Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose. He defended Aurobindo Ghosh in the
Alipore bomb case. He played a key role in the Non-
Cooperation Movement, promoted Hindu-Muslim
unity, and advocated national education. He founded
the Congress-Khilafat Swaraj Party and was the first
mayor of Calcutta.
• Vithalbhai Patel (1873–1933), co-founder of the
Swaraj Party and elder brother of Sardar Patel, was an
influential Indian legislator. He joined the Congress
but differed from Gandhi’s leadership. He played a
key role in the Swaraj Party, aiming to sabotage the
government through councils. As President of India’s
Central Legislative Assembly, he established procedural
practices and neutrality conventions in debates.
167. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was an agreement between
Mahatma Gandhi and the British Viceroy, Lord Irwin, to
end the Civil Disobedience Movement. The pact was signed
on 5 March 1931. The Pact proposed the adjournment
of the Civil Disobedience Movement in exchange for
the British government’s agreement to release political
prisoners, withdraw ordinances, and allow the Indian
National Congress to participate in the Second Round Table
Conference.
Important Tips
Features of Gandhi-Irwin Pact:
• The Indian National Congress (INC) decided to join
the Round Table Conference.
• The INC pledged to halt the civil disobedience
movement.
• The withdrawal of all laws that restricted the Congress’
activities.
• Discontinuation of legal actions except for those
related to violent offenses.
• Liberation of individuals imprisoned for participating
in civil disobedience.
• Elimination of the tax on salt.
Outcomes of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact:
• The INC actively participated in the Second Round
Table Conference held between September and
December of 1931.
• The government committed to repealing all enacted
ordinances.
• It agreed to release political detainees except those
involved in violent acts.
• Peaceful picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops
was permitted.
191
• The prohibition on the INC’s activities was lifted.
• The properties confiscated from Satyagrahis were
returned.
• People living near coastal areas were allowed to gather
salt.
• Outstanding fines were waived.
• Government employees who had resigned during the
civil disobedience movement were treated leniently.
168. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
The policy of Indian National Congress during 2nd World
War was that the country was prepared to cooperate with
the British for World War II, but on the condition that
there be an immediate declaration by Britain, granting India
complete independence. It also demanded the establishment
of a national government. Indian National Congress (INC)
initially decided to support the British war effort in World
War II for a number of reasons.
The INC was concerned about the threat posed by Nazi
Germany and its allies.
The INC also believed that it was in India’s strategic interest
to support the British war effort. The INC argued that if the
British were defeated, India would be vulnerable to attack
from Japan.
The INC was also hoping that by supporting the British war
effort, it would be able to pressure the British government to
grant India independence after the war.
169. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Simon Commission, formally known as the Indian
Statutory Commission, was sent to India in 1928. Its
primary purpose was to study and recommend potential
administrative reforms for the British possession in
India. The commission was chaired by Sir John Simon and
consisted of seven members from the British Parliament.
Although it aimed to assess constitutional reform, it faced
significant criticism for its lack of Indian representation and
led to increased demands for Indian self-governance.
170. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The slogan “Jai Hind” was given by Subhas Chandra Bose.
“Jai Hind” became the rallying cry for the INA and a symbol
of patriotic fervor. It was used to inspire and motivate the
soldiers of the INA as well as the general Indian population
to unite against British rule. The slogan encapsulated the
spirit of India’s struggle for freedom and conveyed a strong
sense of nationalism and pride.
171. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct- The growth of socialist tendency in
the national movement led to the foundation of the Congress
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Socialist Party in 1934 under the leadership of Acharya
Narendra Dev, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Jayaprakash
Narayan. The party was formed by a group of Congressmen
who were dissatisfied with the party’s moderate policies.
They wanted the Congress to adopt a more radical approach
to social and economic reform.
Statement 2 is correct- In 1936, Jawaharlal Nehru, who
was the leader of the Congress Socialist Party, urged the
Congress to accept socialism as its goal and to bring itself
closer to the peasantry and the working class. Nehru’s speech
was a major turning point in the history of the Congress. It
marked the beginning of the Congress’s shift towards a more
socialist ideology.
172. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Option a is correct- Women were an integral part of the Salt
March from the very beginning. Some of the women who
participated in the Salt March are- Sarojini Naidu, Kamala
Chattopadhyay, Kasturba Gandhi, Aruna Asaf Ali, and
Mahadevi Verma.
Option b is correct- Gandhiji initially did not want women
to participate in the Salt March, as he felt that it was too
dangerous for them. However, he was eventually persuaded
by the request of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, a leading
Indian independence activist and social reformer.
Option c is correct- The march was a major news story, and
it was reported in newspapers and magazines all over the
world. The Western press was fascinated by the nonviolent
methods of protest used by Gandhi and his followers, and
they saw the Salt March as a symbol of India’s struggle for
independence. Some of the press where it was published
includes- New York Times, The Times of London, The
Guardian, and The Washington Post.
Option d is incorrect- The First Round Table Conference
took place from November 1930 to January 1931, while
the Dandi March, initiated by Mahatma Gandhi and his
followers, occurred prior to this conference. The Dandi
March lasted from March 12, 1930, to April 6, 1930, and
was a direct action against the campaign of tax resistance
and non-violent protest aimed at challenging the British
salt monopoly. It was a significant event in India’s struggle
for independence, symbolizing civil disobedience and
drawing international attention to the movement.
173. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy case was a court case initiated
by the British government in 1924 against some communist
activists who were accused of seeking to overthrow the
British rule by a violent revolution.
The accused included Muzaffar Ahmad, SA Dange, Shaukat
Usmani, Nalini Gupta, Singaravelu Chettiar, Ghulam
Hussain and MN Roy. MN Roy was charged in absentia,
Ghulam Hussain turned an informer and was pardoned, and
the rest were sentenced to four years of imprisonment.
PYQ Workbook
The case attracted public attention to the communist
ideology and its aims in India.
174. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Surya Sen was not associated with the Kakori Conspiracy
case. The Kakori Conspiracy case, also known as the Kakori
Train Robbery, was a famous incident that took place in 1925
in Kakori, near Lucknow, India. The case involved a group
of revolutionaries who attempted to rob a train carrying
government funds.
Surya Sen was a revolutionary leader who led the
Chittagong armoury raid in 1930 in Bengal.
175. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
According to the Mountbatten Plan, the decision regarding
the partition of Punjab and Bengal was to be taken based
on the voting of the members of the respective Legislative
Assemblies. The Mountbatten Plan, also known as the
June 3rd Plan, was proposed by Lord Mountbatten, the last
Viceroy of India, in 1947. The plan outlined the steps for the
partition of British India into two separate dominions, India
and Pakistan.
176. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel did not represent
Congress to negotiate with the mission. The correct
representatives of Congress were Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
and C. Rajagopalachari.
177. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Separate electorate was not proposed by the Nehru Report.
In fact, the report rejected the idea of separate electorate for
any community, as it believed that it would harm the national
unity and solidarity. The report favored joint electorate
with reservation of seats for minorities in proportion to
their population.
Important Tips
The Nehru report had the following recommendations:
• Dominion status for India within the British
Commonwealth, as an interim arrangement until
complete independence was achieved.
• A federal form of government with a strong unitary
and democratic centre, and provincial autonomy for
the states.
• A bicameral legislature at the centre, with equal
representation for the states in the upper house and
proportional representation for the population in the
lower house.
• A responsible executive at the centre and the
provinces, accountable to the legislature.
192
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Adult suffrage for men and women above 21 years of
age, subject to certain qualifications.
• A bill of rights that guaranteed fundamental rights
and freedoms to all citizens, such as freedom of speech,
expression, assembly, association, religion, etc.
• No state religion and no discrimination on grounds
of religion, caste, creed, sex or race.
• A common civil code for all citizens.
• A Supreme Court as the highest judicial authority in
India.
• A Governor-General as the constitutional head of
India, appointed by the British monarch on the advice
of Indian ministers
178. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
Statement 1 is incorrect: Quit India Movement was not a
rural revolt. It was a mass movement that involved people
from all walks of life, including urban workers, students,
and professionals.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Quit India Movement was a
radical movement that called for the end of British rule.
Statement 3 is correct: The Quit India Movement was the
first major movement in the Indian independence movement
to be marked by widespread violence. This violence was
largely spontaneous, and was caused by the frustration of the
Indian people with British rule.
Statement 4 is correct: The British government responded
to the Quit India Movement with a wave of repression.
Thousands of Indians were arrested, and many were tortured
and killed.
179. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
Statement 1 is correct: As part of the movement, there
were widespread strikes, boycotts of British goods, and
picketing of government institutions in urban areas.
Statement 2 is correct: In rural areas, there were widespread
attacks on symbols and means of colonial rule and authority,
such as destroying railways, telegraph lines, and government
buildings.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The formation of Home Rule
leagues is not associated with the Quit India Movement.
Home Rule leagues were formed earlier in 1916 and were
primarily focused on demanding self-government within the
British Empire.
Statement 4 is correct: The “Karnataka Method” was a
system that saw many citizens of the state become part-
time peasant squads, tending farms throughout the day and
carrying out sabotage operations at night.
180. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
The Rin mutiny was primarily a revolt by the Indian naval
ratings and did not involve the INA.
193
HMIS Talwar was one of the ships where the mutiny started,
and the revolt spread to other naval establishments as well.
Naval ratings engaged in hunger strikes as a form of protest
against the oppressive conditions and discriminatory
treatment they faced.
Lord Irwin, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1926
to 1931, was not directly involved in the RIN Mutiny, 1946.
181. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
Statement 1 was part of Cabinet mission Plan: The mission
proposed a complicated system for India with three tiers:
the provinces, provincial groupings and the centre.
The centre’s power was to be confined to foreign affairs,
defence, currency and communications. The provinces
would keep all other powers and could establish three
provincial groups. These provincial groups constituted of
combinations of provinces and princely states. Two groups
would be constituted by the mainly-Muslim western and
eastern provinces. The third group would comprise the
mostly-Hindu areas in the south and the centre.
Statement 2 was part of Cabinet mission Plan: The
proposals of the Cabinet Mission did include the formation
of a Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly
was meant to be a body responsible for drafting a new
constitution for India.
Statement 3 was not part of Cabinet mission Plan:
Proposals of the Cabinet Mission did not include the creation
of a sovereign Pakistan with Muslim-majority provinces. The
Cabinet Mission aimed to provide a framework for a united
India with provisions for autonomy and representation for
various regions and communities.
182. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
In February 1947, British Prime Minister Attlee announced
that the British would transfer power to India by June
1948, While other statements are correct.
• Lord Wavell advocated total withdrawal of the British
from India by 31 March, 1948.
• It was Lord Mountbatten who speeded up the process of
transfer of power.
• The Plan Balkan was abandoned on account of Nehru’s
opposition to it.
183. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
Gandhi-Irwin Pact included the return of lands not yet
sold to third parties, but it did not guarantee the return of
all confiscated lands to their original owners.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact:
Irwin on behalf of the government agreed on:
• immediate release of all political prisoners not
convicted of violence, remission of all fines not yet
collected, return of all lands not yet sold to third parties
• lenient treatment to those government servants who
had resigned;
• right to make salt in coastal villages for personal
consumption (not for sale); right to peaceful and non-
aggressive picketing; and withdrawal of emergency
ordinances
The viceroy, however, turned down two of Gandhi’s
demands:
• public inquiry into police excesses, and
• Commutation of Bhagat Singh and his comrades’ death
sentence to life sentence.
Gandhi on behalf of the Congress agreed:
• to suspend the civil disobedience movement, and to
participate in the next Round Table Conference
184. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Vithalbhai Patel did not belong to the group of No-
Changers but was a Swarajist who advocated for council
entry and obstruction of the government from within.
He was elected as the president of the Central Legislative
Assembly in 1925
Important Tips
Stance of No-changers:
• The ‘No-changers’ opposed council entry
• They advocated concentration on constructive work,
and continuation of boycott and non-cooperation.
• They also advocated quiet preparation for resumption
of the suspended civil disobedience programme.
• This school of thought led by Vallabhbhai Patel,
Rajendra Prasad, C. Rajagopalachari & M.A. Ansari
came to be known as the ‘No-changers’.
185. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931 was an agreement between
Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India.
The pact led to the suspension of the Civil Disobedience
Movement and the Congress agreed to take part in the
Second Round Table Conference.
186. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
On the final day of the Lahore session, 31st December
1929, the Indian National Congress, under the leadership
of Jawaharlal Nehru, passed a historic resolution declaring
Purna Swaraj as the goal of the Indian independence
PYQ Workbook
movement. The resolution stated that 26th January 1930
would be celebrated as Independence Day.
187. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
The All-India Depressed Classes Leaders’ Conference at
Bombay in 1931, led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, demanded
separate electorates for untouchables to ensure their
political representation, as they believed they would be
outnumbered by caste Hindus in the general electorate.
188. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
The Muslim League formally accepted the Cabinet Mission
Plan on 6 June 1946. The plan had rejected the demand for
a sovereign Pakistan, but it did propose the creation of a
number of Muslim-majority provinces that could have opted
to join a separate Pakistan if they so desired. The Muslim
League accepted the plan because it believed that it would
give Muslims a greater degree of self-determination within
a united India.
Important Tips
Proposals of Cabinet Mission Plan:
1. The Dominion of India would be granted
independence, without any partition. The provinces
would be divided into three groups/sections:
• Group A: Madras, Central Provinces, UP, Bihar,
Bombay and Orissa
• Group B: Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Baluchistan
• Group C: Bengal and Assam
2. The Muslim-majority provinces were grouped into
two groups and the remaining Hindu-majority in
one of the groups.
3. The central government at Delhi would have powers
over the defence, foreign affairs, communications
and currency. The rest of the powers would be vested
with the provinces.
4. A constituent assembly would be set up for writing a
new constitution for the country.
5. An interim government would be established until
a new government was formed on the basis of the
constitution written by the constituent assembly.
189. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Rowlatt Act: It was passed in 1919. It granted the British
government in India extensive powers to suppress political
activities and arrest individuals without trial.
Salt March: Also known as the Dandi March, it took place in
1930. It was a nonviolent protest led by Mahatma Gandhi
against the British salt monopoly. Gandhi and his followers
marched to the coastal village of Dandi and produced salt
from seawater, defying the salt tax imposed by the British.
Chauri Chaura Incident: It occurred in 1922. During a
194
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
protest against the British colonial rule in the town of Chauri
Chaura, Uttar Pradesh, a violent clash broke out between
the protesters and the police. As a result, a police station
was set on fire, resulting in the deaths of several police
officers. This event led Mahatma Gandhi to call off the Non-
Cooperation Movement.
Second Round Table Conference: It was held in 1931. It was
a series of discussions between the British government and
various Indian political leaders to discuss constitutional
reforms and the future of India. The conference aimed to
find a common ground between the demands of the Indian
National Congress and the British government.
190. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect- The Salt March, also known as the
Dandi March, received significant international attention.
The Salt March, led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930, was a
nonviolent protest against British salt laws. Participants
walked 240 miles to produce salt from seawater, symbolizing
resistance and inspiring India’s struggle for independence.
Statement 2 is correct- The Salt March was widely covered
by the American and European press. The progress of
the walk was closely monitored by media outlets like The
New York Times, which quoted Gandhi as he criticized
the oppressive salt tax and called out the British for their
reluctance to arrest him.
Statement 3 is correct- The Salt March was one of the first
nationalist activities in which women participated in large
numbers. Women played a crucial role in the Salt March,
defying societal norms and actively participating in the civil
disobedience movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. Women
like Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay participated in the Salt
March. She was trying to sell contraband Salt to Bombay
Stock Exchange and later arrested.
Statement 4 is correct- The Salt March, along with other
civil disobedience actions, had a significant impact on the
British government and impressed upon them the urgency to
devolve more power to Indians. Gandhi was released from
prison in January 1931 and Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed.
It demonstrated the unity and determination of the Indian
people in their demand for self-rule.
191. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct- In the elections to the provincial
legislatures in 1937, only about 10 to 12 per cent of the
population had the right to vote. The right to vote was
limited and not universal.
Statement 2 is incorrect- The untouchables (Dalits) did
have the right to vote in the elections. The Government of
India Act of 1935, which regulated the elections, provided
voting rights to all adult males and a limited number of adult
females, irrespective of caste or social status.
Statement 3 is correct- The Congress party won an absolute
majority in five out of eleven provinces in the 1937
195
elections. The Congress emerged as a dominant political
force in several provinces, including Madras, Bombay,
Central Provinces, Bihar, and Orissa.
Statement 4 is incorrect- The 1937 elections to the provincial
legislatures in British India had significant implications
for various political parties. The All-India Muslim League,
despite being the second-ranking party, experienced a
setback by winning only 106 seats, which accounted for
6.7% of the total. Surprisingly, the League’s performance
was not strong even in provinces with a predominantly
Muslim population.
192. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha, founded in 1926,
was a revolutionary organization that aimed to engage and
mobilize the youth, peasants, and workers of Punjab in
political activities.
Important Tips
Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha:
• It was founded by Bhagat Singh and his comrades in
March 1926 and had its headquarters in Amritsar.
• The Sabha organized lectures, meetings,
demonstrations and protests to spread its ideology and
challenge the colonial policies.
• The Sabha was banned by the British government in
1929 after its involvement in the Lahore Conspiracy
Case and the hunger strike of Bhagat Singh and his
fellow prisoners.
193. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Ghadar party was a revolutionary organization formed
by Indian expatriates in the United States in 1913. It aimed
to overthrow British colonial rule in India and establish an
independent and democratic country. The Ghadar party,
formed in the USA, chose Punjab to begin its armed revolt
in India.
Important Tips
Punjab was strategically significant for the Ghadar
party due to various reasons:
• Punjab had a long history of nationalist movements
and resistance against British rule
• Punjab had a significant population of Punjabi soldiers
who served in the British Indian Army. The Ghadar
party aimed to incite rebellion among these soldiers
and use their military training and resources to launch
an armed revolt.
• Punjab had a strong sense of nationalism and a
tradition of militancy among its people.
194. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
The reason for the resignations of the Indian Ministers in
all the provinces in the year 1939 was India was declared a
party to World War II without the consent of the provincial
government.
In 1939, World War II broke out, and the British government,
without consulting the elected Indian representatives or
provincial governments, declared India as a party to the war.
This decision was seen as a violation of the principles of self-
governance and consent.
195. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Kanaklata Barua was a girl who led a public procession
and defied the police, tried to enter the police station but
was shot dead during the Quit India Movement. She was
born on 22 December 1924 in Barangabari village of Gohpur
subdivision in Assam. She was inspired by the freedom
struggle and joined the Mrityu Bahini (Death Squad), a
group of young volunteers who were ready to sacrifice their
lives for the cause of independence.
On 20 September 1942, she led a group of about 500 people,
mostly women and children, who marched towards the
Gohpur police station with the intention of hoisting
the Indian National flag there. When they reached near
the police station, they were stopped by a British officer
named R.S. Linton, who ordered them to disperse. He also
threatened to shoot them if they did not obey. Kanaklata
refused to turn back and continued to move forward with the
flag in her hand. She said, “We are not afraid of death. We are
ready to die for our country.” Linton then opened fire at the
unarmed crowd, killing Kanaklata and another volunteer
named Mukunda Kakoti on the spot.
196. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The correct chronological order of the events is (i), (iii), (iv),
and (ii).
Event 1: The Lucknow Pact was signed on December 29,
1916, between the Indian National Congress and the All
India Muslim League.
Event 3: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place on April
13, 1919.
Event 4: Bal Gangadhar Tilak died on August 1, 1920.
Event 2: The Swaraj Party was formed on January 1, 1923, by
Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das.
197. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The correct chronological order of the events is:
Event 4: Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy (1919)
Event 2: Formation of Swaraj Party (1923)
Event 1: Formation of Naujawan Bharat Sabha (1926)
Event 3: The Dandi March (1930)
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Naujawan Bharat Sabha (NBS):
• Naujawan Bharat Sabha (NBS) was founded in
March 1926 by Bhagat Singh as a left-wing Indian
association.
• It aimed to foment revolution against British colonial
rule by mobilizing worker and peasant youths and
promoting Marxist ideas.
• NBS was closely associated with the Hindustan
Republican Association and merged with the All-
India Youth Federation (AIYF) of the Communist
Party of India later.
• The organization had members from Hindu, Muslim,
and Sikh communities and conducted lectures, public
meetings, and protests.
• Despite its diverse membership, NBS faced limited
support due to its radical stance on religion and
agrarian reform.
• Its popularity increased after the killing of John P.
Saunders in 1928 during a protest against the Simon
Commission.
• NBS was banned in July 1929 under Section 144
during Bhagat Singh’s hunger strike campaign.
• Sohan Singh Josh, an NBS activist, was imprisoned
for his involvement in the Meerut Conspiracy Case.
• NBS, Kirti Kisan Party, and the Communist Party
of India were the main left-wing groups in Punjab,
attempting alliances.
• These groups faced legal restrictions under the
Criminal Law Amendment Act (1908) in September
1934, leading to their prohibition.
198. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Quit India Resolution was passed by the Congress
Working Committee on 8 August 1942 in Bombay, but it was
first discussed and formulated in Wardha on 14 July 1942.
The resolution stated the provisions of the movement as:
• An immediate end to British rule over India.
• Declaration of the commitment of free India to defend
itself against all kinds of imperialism and fascism.
• Formation of a provisional government of India after
British withdrawal.
• Sanctioning of a civil disobedience movement against
British authority.
• The resolution was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s call to
Do or Die in his speech delivered in Bombay on 9 August
1942 at the Gowalia Tank Maidan.
199. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi was the sole official representative of
the Indian National Congress at the Second Round Table
196
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Conference. He was invited from India accompanied
by Sarojini Naidu and also Madan Mohan Malaviya,
Ghanshyam Das Birla, Muhammad Iqbal, Sir Mirza Ismail
(Diwan of Mysore), S.K. Dutta and Sir Syed Ali Imam.
200. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The whole dispute between Subhash Chandra Bose and
right-wing after the Tripuri session of Congress centered
around the question of formation of Congress Working
Committee. Actually the Congress working committee had
been an elected body, but S.C. Bose nominated the members
of this body during the Tripuri Session. This step was not
taken positively by many members of Congress. Differences
between S.C. Bose and others propped up. He had accused
the working committee leaders of being supportive of the
government on the matter of federation. Leaders of working
committee felt they could not work with a president who
had publicly cast doubts on their nationalistic principles
and resigned from the working committee. Bose refused
to nominate a new working committee. Bose wanted an
immediate struggle led by Gandhi, whereas Gandhi was firm
in his belief that the time was not ripe for struggle. Hence,
formation of Congress Working Committee was one of the
disputable issue during and after the Tripuri session.
201. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Muslim League representing mostly Muslims formed
their government in Bengal and Sindh after 1946 elections.
In contrast, Congress representing the majority the
country’s population, was to go on to form governments in
the provinces of Madras, Bombay, United Provinces, Bihar,
Orissa, Central Provinces and Berar and NWFP.
Important Tips
Announcement of 1946 Election:
On September 19, 1945, following negotiations between
Indian leaders and members of the 1946 Cabinet
Mission from the United Kingdom, Viceroy Lord Wavell
announced that elections for provincial and central
legislatures would take place from December 1945
to January 1946. It was also revealed that an executive
council would be established, and a constitution-making
body would convene after these elections.
Summary of 1946 Election:
• Central Assembly- In the December 1945 elections
for the central assembly, Congress secured 57 seats,
the League obtained 30, Independents secured 5,
Akalis won 2, and Europeans captured 8.
• Provincial Assembly- Out of 1585 total seats,
Congress won 923 seats (58.23%) whereas All-India
Muslim League secured 425 seats (26.81% of the
total), becoming the second-largest party.
202. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
197
The Muslim League observed ‘Day of Deliverance’ on 22
December 1939 when the Congress Party members who were
part of the Central and provincial governments, resigned
in mass protesting the Viceroy Linlithgow’s decision to
make India a party to the Second World War without duly
consulting Indians.
The celebration was intended to rejoice the resignation of
all members of the rival Congress party from provincial
and central offices. It was led by Muslim League president
Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It was a step towards achieving their
goal of a separate Muslim state, which would later become
Pakistan.
203. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Chaudhary Rehmat Ali and his friends were the ones who
coined the word “Pakistan” in 1933. They published a
pamphlet titled “Now or Never” in which they proposed the
creation of a separate Muslim state in the north-western
part of India. The word “Pakistan” is derived from the
names of the five provinces of the proposed state: Punjab,
Afghania, Kashmir, Sindh, and Baluchistan.
Important Tips
Muhammad Iqbal- He is renowned for his renowned
poem ‘Sare Jahan Se Acha,’ which remains one of the most
notable patriotic poems in the Urdu language. This poem
is often used as a marching composition during various
national events.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan- He established the United India
Patriotic Association in Aligarh in 1888.
Md. Ali Jinnah- He became a part of the Indian National
Congress in 1906. Initially, he steered clear of the All India
Muslim League due to its perceived orthodoxy. However,
in 1913, he eventually joined the Muslim League and
assumed the presidency during the Lucknow session in
1916.
204. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The elections of 1937 were held under the Government of
India Act 1935, which introduced a limited form of self-
government to India. The INC contested the elections on
a platform of Purna Swaraj (complete independence). In
elections, Congress secured a clear majority in the five
provinces out of eleven provinces. The Congress won 716
out of 1,161 seats it contested. It got a clear majority in 1.
Bihar (98/152); 2. Central Provinces (70/112); 3. Madras
(159/215); 4. Orissa (36/60); 5. United Provinces (113/228).
Congress was able to form its government in two more
provinces with support of other parties in Bombay and
Northwest Frontier Provinces.
205. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Before 1947, 26th January was celebrated as ‘Poorna Swaraj
Day.’ On 19 December 1929, during the Lahore session
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
of the Indian National Congress, a historic resolution
for ‘Purna Swaraj’ or total independence was passed.
This resolution led to the declaration of 26 January 1930
as Independence Day, urging Indians to celebrate and
protest British rule nationwide. The Poorna Swaraj Day
was celebrated with great enthusiasm all over India. People
took part in rallies and demonstrations, and they hoisted
the Indian flag. The day was a symbol of the Indian people’s
desire for independence. After India gained independence in
1947, 26th January became Republic Day.
Important Tips
Martyrs Day:
• January 30 is recognised nationally as Martyrs’ Day
in India, to mark the assassination of Mahatma
Gandhi in 1948.
• A number of states and regions recognise other days as
Martyrs’ Days locally.
Constitution Day:
• Constitution Day (Samvidhāna Divasa) is celebrated
in India on 26 November annually, marking the
adoption of the Constitution of India in 1949.
• It became effective on 26 January 1950. Declared as
Constitution Day in 2015, it honors B. R. Ambedkar,
key in drafting the constitution. Previously known
as Law Day, this day emphasizes the constitution’s
significance and Ambedkar’s ideas.
206. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The first name for the resolution was the Lahore resolution,
but later it became known as the Pakistan Resolution. It
was shared on March 24, 1940. Sikandar Hayat Khan wrote
down this resolution, and on March 23, 1940, Fazlul Haque
talked about it. This statement was created by 25 people who
were part of the working group of the All Indian Muslim
League. They wrote it between March 22 and March 24,
1940. Quaid-e-Azam (Muhammad Ali Jinnah) presented it.
The main point of the statement was that Muslims wanted
their own place where they could follow their religion
without any problems. This place was named the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan.
207. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In February 1947, Prime Minister Clement Atlee announced
in the House of Commons that the British Government
intended to transfer power to India by June 1948. To
facilitate this transition, Lord Mountbatten was appointed
as India’s Viceroy on March 24, 1947, with extensive
powers. Recognizing the likelihood of India’s partition and
the creation of Pakistan, Lord Mountbatten proposed the
partition plan on June 3, 1947, known as the Mountbatten
Plan. According to this plan, Punjab and Bengal Legislative
Assemblies would vote on partition in separate groups,
allowing Hindus and Muslims to make their choices. Sindh
PYQ Workbook
would make its own decision, while a referendum in the
North-West Frontier Province (now known as Khyber
Pakhtunwa) and Sylhet district of Assam was scheduled to
resolve their status. NWFP chose to join Pakistan, although
Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan boycotted the referendum. The
possibility of independence for Princely States was ruled out;
they could either join India or Pakistan. Independence for
Bengal was also excluded from the plan.
208. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Indian National Congress passed the Complete
Independence Resolution at its Lahore session in 1929.
This historic resolution, also known as the ‘Purna
Swaraj’ resolution, declared the goal of achieving total
independence for India. It was a response to the breakdown
of negotiations with the British over dominion status.
The Lahore session led by Jawaharlal Nehru marked a
turning point in the freedom movement, advocating civil
disobedience and celebrating January 26, 1930, as the first
Independence Day.
Important Tips
Nagpur Congess Session-1920:
The Indian National Congress held its annual session
in December 1920 in Nagpur, presided over by C.
Vijayaraghavachariar. It marked a turning point as
the INC adopted the Non-Cooperation Resolution,
advocating boycott of foreign goods, schools, and
courts, and promoting Hindu-Muslim harmony. The
session established a 15-member Congress Working
Committee, shifting focus from constitutional means to
extraconstitutional peaceful struggle for Swaraj.
Belgaon Congess Session-1924:
The 39th session of the Indian National Congress held at
Belgaum in 1924 was the only Congress session presided
over by Mahatma Gandhi. Theater performances like
“Pavitra Khadi,” promoting Gandhian ideals, were staged,
fostering nationalist sentiment. Plays on figures like Kittur
Channamma and Sangolli Rayanna kindled anti-British
fervor, motivating more to join the Congress and creating
an environment conducive to the nationalist movement.
Karachi Congess Session-1931:
The Karachi Session of Congress in 1931, held from
March 26-31, marked significant developments. The
Gandhi-Irwin Pact was endorsed, despite public anger
due to recent executions. Gandhi faced black flags on his
way to the session. Congress dissociated from political
violence, admired martyrs’ bravery, endorsed the Pact, and
reiterated the goal of “Poorna Swaraj.” The session’s key
resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy,
drafted by Nehru, defined Swaraj’s meaning for common
people. It included civil rights, universal adult franchise,
education, workers’ rights, women’s protection, and
state control of industries.
209. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
198
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Individual Satyagraha was initiated by Mahatma Gandhi
to affirm the right to free speech. Mahatma Gandhi had
chosen Acharya Vinoba Bhave as the first Satyagrahi to start
Individual Satyagraha and Jawaharlal Nehru as the second
and Brahma Datt as the third. Datta was one of the inmates
of Gandhi’s Ashram.
Important Tips
Individual satyagraha’s consequence/output:
• It helped to keep the Indian independence movement
alive during a time when the British were hoping that
the war would divert Indian attention away from their
demands for self-rule.
• It helped to build national unity and solidarity among
Indians, as people from all walks of life came together
to participate in the movement.
• It put pressure on the British government to make
concessions to the Indian people, such as the release of
political prisoners and the lifting of censorship.
• It helped to prepare the Indian people for the Quit
India Movement of 1942, which was a more widespread
and intense form of protest.
210. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The honorific “Netaji” (meaning “respected leader”) was
first applied to Subhas Chandra Bose in Germany in early
1942. It was used by the Indian soldiers of the Indische
Legion and by the German and Indian officials in the Special
Bureau for India in Berlin. The honorific quickly spread to
other parts of the world, and is now used throughout India.
211. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Nicobar Island was renamed Swaraj Island by Subhas
Chandra Bose. The term “Swaraj” means self-rule or self-
governance in Hindi, and it encapsulates the essence of India’s
struggle for freedom from colonial rule. This renaming
of Nicobar Island as Swaraj Island was a symbolic act that
represented Bose’s commitment to India’s sovereignty and
his efforts to create a sense of national identity and unity
among the people.
Important Tips
Renaming of Islands:
Keeping in mind the historic significance of the Andaman
& Nicobar Islands and to honour the memory of Netaji
Subhas Chandra Bose, Ross Islands was renamed as
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Dweep by the Prime
Minister during his visit to the Island in 2018. Neil
Island and Havelock Island were also renamed as Shaheed
Dweep and Swaraj Dweep.
Additional information on these Islands:
Swaraj Dweep, earlier known as Havelock Island, is one
of the largest islands in Ritchie’s Archipelago, to the east
of Great Andaman within the Andaman Islands.
199
Shaheed Dweep, earlier known as Neil Island is an
island of the Andaman Islands, located in Ritchie’s
Archipelago.
Balidan Vedi is the State Martyr’s Memorial at
Humphrey Gunj in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It
stands as a memorial to honor the sacrifice of 44 Indian
Independence League (IIL) members who were killed by
Japanese forces during World War II and buried them in
an “L” shaped mass grave.
212. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Jagjivan Ram was assigned the Portfolio of the Labour
Department in the Interim Government’s Cabinet of 1946.
In his role as a labor minister in post-independence, he
introduced numerous significant labor reforms such as the
Minimum Wages Act (1948), Employees Provident Fund
Act (1952), Employees Insurance Act (1948), and various
other pro-worker measures. He introduced these labor
reforms during the early years of independent India.
213. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was entrusted with the princely
portfolio in the National Provisional Government. There
were more than 550 princely states in India when it gained
independence, which were not officially under British
rule. These princely states covered 48% of the land in pre-
independent India. Out of the 552 princely states in India,
549 decided to become a part of India. The other 3 states,
Hyderabad, Junagarh, and Kashmir, initially didn’t want
to join India. But eventually, they became a part of India:
Hyderabad through police action, Junagarh through a
referendum, and Kashmir through the Instrument of
Accession.
Important Tips
Interim Government:
The National Provisional Government is also called
Interim Government which was formed on 2nd
September, 1946 under the Cabinet Mission Plan.
The 14-member interim government had the following
composition:
• President of the Executive Council (Viceroy and
Governor-General of India): Viscount Wavell (until
February 1947), Lord Mountbatten (from February
1947)
• Commander-in-Chief: Sir Claude Auchinleck
• Vice President, Also in charge of External Affairs
and Commonwealth Relations: Jawaharlal Nehru
(INC)
• Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting: Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel (INC)
• Agriculture and Food: Rajendra Prasad (INC)
• Commerce: Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar (ML)
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Defence: Baldev Singh (INC)
• Finance: Liaquat Ali Khan (ML)
• Education and Arts: C Rajagopalachari (INC)
• Health: Ghazanfar Ali Khan (ML)
• Labour: Jagjivan Ram (INC)
• Law: Jogendra Nath Mandal (ML)
• Railways and Communications, Post and Air: Asaf
Ali (INC).
• Works, Mines, and Power: C H Bhabha (INC).
• Note- INC stands for Indian National Congress and
ML stands for Muslim League.
214. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Jayprakash Narayan was the founder of the Azad Dasta,
a revolutionary organization that operated during the Quit
India Movement of 1942. He formed the Azad Dasta with the
help of some amateur radio operators and Congress leaders,
and trained them in guerrilla warfare. The Azad Dasta
carried out several attacks on British targets and disrupted
their communication and transportation systems. One of the
places where the Azad Dasta operated was Bakri Ka Tapu, an
island in the Gandak river in Bihar.
Important Tips
Chittu Pandey:
• He was a peasant leader who led a rebellion against the
British in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh during the
Quit India Movement.
• He declared Ballia as an independent republic and
hoisted the Indian flag there on 19 August 1942.
215. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Jai Prakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Acharya
Narendra Dev founded the Congress Socialist Party in
1934. The Congress Socialist Party emerged as a socialist
faction within the Congress Party. Born out of differences
in ideology with Mahatma Gandhi, its objectives centered on
achieving both independence and socialism. Ram Manohar
Lohia played a role in disseminating its ideas through the
publication of the ‘Congress Socialist’ journal. However, the
party eventually dissolved in 1948.
216. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
In Bihar, Swami Vidyanand led cultivators during the Non-
Cooperation Movement. He had agitated against zamindars
and rallied peasants in support of the movement, aligning
their struggles with the principles of non-cooperation. He
played a significant role in advocating for and mobilizing
farmers in Bihar for the movement.
217. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
During the Non-Cooperation Movement, Mahatma Gandhi
urged people to avoid alcohol to boycott British goods and
institutions. This resulted in a serious loss of revenue for the
government, which was heavily dependent on liquor taxes. To
persuade people to start drinking again, the government of
Bihar circulated a list of prominent individuals who drank
alcohol. The list included many Indian leaders and officials
who were seen as supporting the British Raj. The intention
was to utilize social pressure as a means of compelling
individuals to discontinue their boycott and revert to their
previous drinking practices.
218. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Lord Wavell was not a member of the Cabinet Mission.
The Cabinet Mission of 1946 was an initiative formulated
by Clement Attlee, the then Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom. The Cabinet Mission had three British cabinet
members – Pethick Lawrence, Stafford Cripps, and A.V.
Alexander. The mission aimed to discuss the transfer of
power from the British government to the Indian political
leadership with the aim of preserving India’s unity and
granting its independence.
219. Solution: (e)
Exp) Option e is the correct answer.
Gandhiji’s Salt Satyagraha aimed at securing full
independence for India from British rule. While the
Satyagraha had additional purposes, like Repeal of salt laws
thereby ensuring economic relief to the common people
and limiting government authority, these served as steps
toward the primary objective rather than the main aim. The
Satyagraha served as a potent instrument within the broader
movement for Indian independence, ultimately contributing
to the realization of that aspiration.
Important Tips
On January 31, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi conveyed 11
demands to British Viceroy Lord Irwin, marking a
prelude to the Civil Disobedience Movement. These
demands included:
• Removal of the salt tax, symbolizing British oppression
and adversely affecting the poor.
• Abolition of the liquor monopoly, seen as a regressive
tax and a social injustice.
• Reduction of land revenue, which was considered
excessive and unfair to the peasantry.
• Prohibition of forced labor, addressing exploitation.
• Abolition of communal electorates, seen as divisive
and promoting communal violence.
• Amnesty for political prisoners, particularly those held
without trial.
• Withdrawal of restrictive ordinances limiting freedom
of speech and assembly.
• Restoration of pre-1919 press freedom, ending press
censorship.
200
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Release of confiscated property belonging to those
involved in the independence movement.
• Permission for peaceful picketing of liquor and foreign
cloth shops as a legitimate form of protest.
• Recognition of the right of Indians to control their
own affairs and a call for dominion status for India,
granting more self-government.
220. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was given the Home Department
in the Interim Government of 1946. As the Home Affairs
Minister, he worked to restore peace in a country torn by
unprecedented communal conflicts. He did this with the
strong and efficient leadership of a skilled administrator.
Apart from the home department, he was also in charge of
Information and Broadcasting department.
221. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Sheel Bhadra Yajee, an activist from Bihar, actively
associated with both the All-India Forward Bloc and the
Indian National Army (INA) movement. In 1939, Yajee
joined Subhas Chandra Bose to find the All-India Forward
Bloc. He also became associated with the INA movement.
Yajee was a supporter of social transformation and believed in
the active participation of peasants, workers, and the middle
classes in the struggle for change. He played a significant
role in the freedom movement and was a member of the
Rajya Sabha. He authored several works and was honored
with a commemorative stamp by the Government of India.
Important Tips
Baikuntha Shukla (15 May 1907 – 14 May 1934) was
an Indian nationalist and revolutionary. He executed
Phanindra Nath Ghosh, a government approver responsible
for Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru’s hanging. Born in
Jalalpur, he taught at Mathurapur before joining HSRA.
Shukla was hanged at 27 in Gaya Central Jail on May 14,
1934.
Jayaprakash Narayan, a disciple of Gandhi, was a key
figure in India’s independence movement. He advocated
“saintly politics,” led Quit India movement, and post-
independence, co-founded the Praja Socialist Party. He
called for “Total Revolution” in 1974, uniting people
against corruption and advocating change in political,
social, economic, and cultural systems. His leadership
influenced the formation of the Janata Party and shaped
a new direction in Indian politics, emphasizing youth-
driven change and democratic participation. In 1999,
he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s
highest civilian award, in recognition of his social service.
222. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Salt Satyagraha, also known as the Salt March or
Dandi March, represented a form of peaceful protest during
201
colonial India. Guided by Gandhiji, this march aimed to
create salt by processing seawater in the coastal village of
Dandi. The march included notable freedom fighters like
Sarojini Naidu, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, and Kamaladevi
Chattopadhyay.
Important Tips
Spread of Civil Disobedience Movement:
Satyagraha at different places and with their leaders:
• Malabar- K.Kelappan
• Orissa- Gopalbandhu Chaudhari
• Tamil Nadu- C. Rajagopalachari
• Assam- Strike against the Cunningham Circular.
223. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Nehru Report was prepared by a committee headed
by Motilal Nehru. The subject of the Nehru Report was
“Constitutional arrangements in India.” J.L. Nehru
was acting as a secretary. There were 9 members in this
committee. The final report was signed by M.L. Nehru and
J.L. Nehru, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Ali Imam, Madhav Shrihari
Aney, Shuaib Qureshi, Mangal Singh, Subhas Chandra
Bose, and G. R. Pradhan. It was a significant document that
outlined the proposed constitutional framework for India’s
future governance and sought a dominion status for India
within the British Commonwealth. The report addressed
various aspects of governance, representation, and rights,
and played a pivotal role in shaping discussions on India’s
constitutional reforms.
Important Tips
Recommendations of Nehru Report:
Dominion Status and Parliamentary Government:
Suggested granting India Dominion Status, featuring
a parliamentary system of government. The legislature
should be bicameral, consisting of a Senate and a House
of Representatives.
Responsible Government: Advocated responsible
government at both the central and provincial levels. The
Governor-General and Governors should act on the advice
of the executive councils, which would be collectively
responsible to the legislature.
Federal Structure: Proposed a federal form of government,
with residual powers vested in the central authority.
Provincial Councils: Suggested provincial councils with a
5-year term, headed by Governors who would act based on
the advice of the provincial executive councils.
Joint Electorates: Recommended doing away with
separate electorates for minorities, replacing them with
joint electorates to discourage communal sentiments.
Fundamental Rights: Advocated nineteen fundamental
rights, encompassing equality for women, the right to
form unions, and universal adult suffrage.
Religious Protections: Emphasized safeguarding Muslims’
cultural and religious interests.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Secular State: Urged the complete separation of the state
from religion, ensuring a secular character.
224. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) is the oldest
trade union federations in India. It was established on
October 31, 1920 at Bombay Presidency, British India. The
first President of the All Indian Trade Union Congress
(AITUC) was Lala Lajpat Rai. It is associated with the
Communist Party of India.
Important Tips
All Indian Trade Union Congress (AITUC):
The first session, the founding conference began on
October 31, 1920, in Empire Theatre Bombay with Lala
Lajpat Rai as the founding President in which 101 delegates
from 64 unions with a membership of 1,40,854 from all
over India participated with the presence of political
leaders of various shades of opinions such as Motilal
Nehru, M.A. Jinnah, Annie Besant, V.J. Patel, B.P. Wadia,
Joseph Baptista, Lalubhai Samaldas, Jamnadas, Dwarka
Das, B W Wadia, R R Karandikar, Col. J.C. Wedgwood.
225. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
There are various phases of growth of labour unions in India
Pre-1918: The genesis of the labour movement in India
1918-1925: The early trade union phase
1926-1939: Revolutionary phase of the trade union
1939-1946: Period of labour activism
1947-present: Post-independence trade unionism
1926-1939: This era was marked by increasing militancy
and a revolutionary approach. It also saw multiple split-ups
in the movement. AITUC split up multiple times paving
way for the formation of organisations like National Trade
Union Federation (NTUF) and All India Red Trade Union
Congress(AIRTUC). However, the need for unity was felt
and they all merged with theAITUC in the next phase. The
government was also receptive to the trade union movement.
Legislations like the Trade Unions Act, 1926 and the Trade
Disputes Act, 1929 gave a fillip to its growth. It bestowed
many rights to the unions in return for certain obligations.
This period was marked by the dominance of the left.
226. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
Mahatma Gandhi supported the Khilafat movement as he saw
it as an opportunity to bring together Hindus and Muslims
on a common platform for the nationalist movement and to
unite against the British empire.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
The Khilafat Movement, which began in 1919, brought
the Muslims and the Hindus on a common platform
against British rule, was the most important cause of the
Non - Cooperation Movement.
The Khilafat movement was initiated under the leadership
of Ali brothers namely Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali.
The movement was started to support the Sultan of Turkey
whom The Muslim population in India considered their
religious head.
227. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Tej Bahadur Sapru was an eminent lawyer, political leader,
and social reformer in India during the British Raj. He was a
member of the Indian National Congress and the All India
Liberal Federation. He was also a member of the Round
Table Conferences. Sapru played an important role in the
signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. He was the mediator
between Gandhi and the British Viceroy, Lord Irwin.
Important Tips
Chintamani:
Sir Chintamani was an Indian editor, journalist, and
progressive politician.
Born on the Telugu New Year’s Day (Ugadi) in Andhra
Pradesh.
He served as the Chief Editor of The Leader from 1909 to
1934.
Chintamani was appointed as the Education Minister of
the United Provinces of British India under the Dyarchy
system of the Government of India Act 1919.
228. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of Britain
when the Quit India Movement started in India in 1942.
He was a staunch opponent of Indian independence and
refused to negotiate with the Indian National Congress or
Mahatma Gandhi. He also ordered a harsh crackdown on the
movement, arresting thousands of leaders and activists and
suppressing the protests with force.
Important Tips
Chamberlain: He was the Prime Minister of Britain
from 1937 to 1940. He is best known for his policy of
appeasement towards Nazi Germany, which failed to
prevent the outbreak of World War II. He did not have
much involvement in the Quit India Movement, as he
resigned in May 1940 and was succeeded by Winston
Churchill.
Clement Attlee: He was the Prime Minister of Britain
from 1945 to 1951. He was the leader of the Labour Party,
which won a landslide victory in the 1945 general election.
He is credited with granting independence to India and
Pakistan in 1947, after realizing that the British could not
afford to maintain their empire after the war.
202
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Macdonald: He was the Prime Minister of Britain from
1924 to 1929 and from 1931 to 1935. He was the first
Labour Party leader to become Prime Minister, but he also
formed a coalition government with the Conservatives
during the Great Depression.
229. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Congress President who negotiated with both Cripps
Mission and Lord Wavell was Abul Kalam Azad. He was
the president of the Congress from 1940 to 1946, and he
advocated for a united India with provincial autonomy. He
also tried to persuade Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of
the Muslim League, to accept the Cripps Mission’s proposals
and the Wavell Plan, but failed.
230. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi
was halted due to the Chauri-Chaura incident. The Chauri
Chaura incident was a violent protest that took place
on February 4, 1922, in the town of Chauri Chaura in
Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh. A group of protesters
clashed with police and set fire to a police station, killing 22
policemen. This incident shocked Mahatma Gandhi, who felt
that the movement had become violent and that it was no
longer following the principles of non-violence. He called
off the movement on February 12, 1922.
Important Tips
Kakori Case:
The Kakori Train Action occurred on 9 August 1925 near
Lucknow during the Indian independence movement.
Organized by Hindustan Republican Association (HRA)
members like Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqullah Khan,
it aimed to fund anti-British activities. The train was
stopped, British funds were looted, and one passenger
was unintentionally killed. The event brought attention to
HRA’s cause.
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre:
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on 13 April 1919
in Amritsar, British India. General Dyer surrounded a
peaceful crowd protesting the Rowlatt Act and ordered his
troops to open fire, killing at least 379 and injuring over
1,200. The brutal event sparked outrage, eroding Indian
trust in British intentions and fueling the non-cooperation
movement.
The Muzaffarpur Conspiracy Case:
The Muzaffarpur Conspiracy Case (1908) revolved
around the bomb attack on Chief Magistrate Douglas
Kingsford’s carriage by Khudiram Bose and Prafulla
Chaki in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Bose was arrested while
Chaki committed suicide. The trial began on 21 May
1908 with Khudiram, Mrityunjay Chakraborty, and
Kishorimohan Bandopadhyay. Despite his defense,
Khudiram was sentenced to death at the age of 18 and
faced the sentence with a smile.
203
231. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Second Round Table Conference in London was held
in the backdrop of the Irwin-Gandhi Pact, which was signed
on 5 March 1931. The pact was an agreement between
Mahatma Gandhi and the British Viceroy, Lord Irwin, to
end the Civil Disobedience Movement and to allow the
Indian National Congress to participate in the Second Round
Table Conference.
Important Tips
Organisations and their representatives in the Second
Round Table Conference:
Indian National Congress- Mahatma Gandhi, Rangaswami
Iyengar, Madan Mohan Malaviya
Muslims League – Md. Ali Jinnah, Aga Khan III,
Muhammad Iqbal
Hindus – M R Jayakar
Depressed classes – Dr. B R Ambedkar
Female Representatives- Radhabai Subbarayan and
Sarojini Naidu
The First Round Table Conference occurred in London
from November 12, 1930, to January 19, 1931. The
Third Round Table Conference was held in London from
November 17, 1932, to December 24, 1932.
232. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
The term Sarvodaya was the title of Gandhi’s 1908
translation of John Ruskin’s book, Unto This Last. Later
into his life, the concept of Sarvodaya became a central part
of his political philosophy. He understood Sarvodaya as “the
welfare of all” and applied it practically into ideas such as the
dignity of labour, equitable distribution of wealth, communal
self-sufficiency and individual freedom.
233. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
At the Congress Working Committee meeting in Allahabad
in April-May 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru was able to secure a
majority for his plan of a Guerilla War against the Japanese.
Nehru argued that the guerrilla war would be a way for
India to contribute to the Allied war effort and to weaken
the Japanese. Nehru argued that the guerrilla war would be a
way for India to assert its independence and to show the world
that it was not willing to be subjugated by any foreign power.
His proposal gained support due to India’s unequivocal
stand against Nazism, Fascism, and imperialism during
World War II. Nehru’s leadership, vision, and commitment
to India’s independence and resistance against oppressive
forces were influential in garnering support for his plan
among the committee members.
234. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In 1943, the Azad Hind Fauz (Indian National Army)
was set up in Singapore. Subhas Chandra Bose arrived in
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Singapore on July 2, 1943, at the invitation of Rash Bihari
Bose, a revolutionary freedom fighter. He took over as the
leader of the Indian Independence League in East Asia
and was appointed President of the league. On October 21,
1943, Bose proclaimed the formation of the Provisional
Government of Free India at Cathay Cinema Hall in
Singapore. He reorganized and revitalized the Azad Hind
Fauz with the assistance of the Japanese. Bose actively worked
to raise funds and recruit soldiers for the Azad Hind Fauz in
Malaya and other parts of Southeast Asia. He capitalized on
the discontent among Indian army personnel in Malaya due
to the way British officers had abandoned them during their
retreat from Singapore. Many British Indian troops joined
the Azad Hind Fauz under his leadership.
Important Tips
Japan: The Azad Hind Fauj was never set up in Japan.
Burma: The Azad Hind Fauj was set up in Burma in 1944,
but it was originally set up in Singapore in 1943.
Malaya: The Azad Hind Fauj did not have a significant
presence in Malaya.
235. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Maulana Mohammad Ali was a prominent leader of the All-
India Muslim League and a staunch advocate of Muslim
separatism. He attended the First Round Table Conference
in London as a representative of the Muslim League. The
Indian National Congress only attended the Second
Round Table conference out of all the three Round Table
Conference.
Important Tips
Organisations and their representatives in the First
Round Table Conference:
Muslim League: Muhammad Zafarullah Khan,
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Abdul Halim Ghuznavi,
Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Raja Sher Muhammad
Khan of Domeli, Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah, Aga
Khan III (leader of British-Indian delegation), Muhammad
Shafi, AK Fazlul Huq, Dr. Shafa’at Ahmad Khan.
Depressed Classes: Rettamalai Srinivasan, B. R. Ambedkar
Sikhs: Sardar Sampuran Singh, Sardar Ujjal Singh
Liberals: Tej Bahadur Sapru, V. S. Srinivasa Sastri, J. N.
Basu, Chimanlal Harilal Setalvad, C. Y. Chintamani
Europeans: T. F. Gavin Jones, Sir Oscar de Glanville
(Burma), Sir Hubert Carr, C. E. Wood (Madras)
Parsis: Homi Mody, Cowasji Jehangir, Phiroze Sethna
Anglo-Indians: Henry Gidney
Justice Party: Bhaskarrao Vithojirao Jadhav, Sir A. P.
Patro, Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar
Indian Christians: K. T. Paul (All India Conference of
Indian Christians)
Women: Radhabai Subbarayan, Begum Jahanara
Shahnawaz
PYQ Workbook
236. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
The Cripps’ Mission declared that entire India was to be a
Dominion and after the war its constitution was to be framed
by an elected body which was to be accepted by the British
Government. Mahatma Gandhi called Cripps Mission ‘A
post-dated cheque drawn on a failing bank’ due to the
Cripps offer of Dominion Status after the war.
237. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
Malabar Rebellion or Moplah Uprising or Mapillah Revolt
(1921) was an offshoot of Khilafat agitation movement.
The anti-British sentiment fuelled by these agitations
affected the Muslim Mapillahs (also known as Moplahs) of
south Malabar region of Kerala.
Important Tips
Malabar Rebellion or Moplah Uprising:
• After the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799 in the Fourth
Anglo-Mysore War, Malabar had come under British
authority as part of the Madras Presidency.
• The British had introduced new tenancy laws that
tremendously favoured the landlords known as Janmis
and instituted a far more exploitative system for
peasants than before.
• The new laws deprived the peasants of all guaranteed
rights to the land, share in the produce they earlier got
and in effect rendered them landless.
• Most of the landlords were Namboodiri Brahmins
while most of the tenants were Mapillah Muslims.
• Fuelled by the fiery speeches by Muslim religious
leaders and anti-british sentiments, the Mopillahs
launched a violent rebellion. Numerous actions of
violence were reported, and series of persecutions
were committed both against the British and the Hindu
landlords.
• By the end of 1921, the rebellion was crushed by the
British who had raised a special battalion, the Malabar
Special Force for the riot.
• In November 1921, 67 Moplah prisoners were killed
when they were being transported in a closed freight
wagon from Tirur to the Central Prison in Podanur.
They died of suffocation. This event is called the
Wagon Tragedy.
238. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was the president of the
Congress Working Committee in 1942, when Mahatma
Gandhi discussed his Quit India Policy at the Bombay session
of the All-India Congress Committee on 9 August 1942.
204
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: He joined the Indian National
Congress in 1920 and became a close associate of Mahatma
Gandhi. He participated in the Khilafat Movement, the
Non-Cooperation Movement, the Dharasana Satyagraha,
and the Quit India Movement. He was elected as the
president of the Indian National Congress twice, in 1923
and 1940. He was the youngest person to hold the post at
the age of 35.
239. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The slogan “Swaraj should be for common people not only
for classes” was coined by Chittaranjan Das, commonly
known as C.R. Das. He championed a more active approach
to achieving Swaraj (self-rule) during the 37th Indian
National Congress session in 1922. This slogan reflected his
belief that independence should benefit the masses and not
just specific classes. Das’s stance led to the formation of the
“Pro-Change” faction, advocating for more direct tactics and
participation in government Councils. His slogan signified
the evolving dynamics and ideologies within the Indian
nationalist movement during that period.
240. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The agitation against the Chaukidari Tax in Begusarai was a
significant component of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
As Bihar lacked access to the sea, the Salt Satyagraha, a
prominent aspect of the movement, was not feasible here.
Instead, the local residents initiated a campaign by refusing
to pay the Chowkidari Tax, which was a levy imposed on
farmers in 1907 to support village watchmen. This tax
disproportionately burdened poorer farmers, prompting a
revolt in 1930 as part of the civil disobedience movement,
led by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, a Hindu monk and
social reformer. The movement achieved success in areas like
Bhagalpur, Munger, and Saran, resulting in the dismissal of
chowkidars and panchayat members responsible for their
appointments. However, the British responded with a harsh
crackdown, arresting and imprisoning many movement
leaders, including Saraswati himself, who endured several
years of incarceration.
241. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The postponement of the Non-Cooperation Movement
led to a sense of disappointment and frustration among
many Indian people. This led to a revival of revolutionary
activities. Many young people felt that the only way to
achieve independence was through violence. They formed
secret societies and carried out acts of sabotage and terrorism.
Some of the most prominent revolutionary groups during
this period included the Hindustan Socialist Republican
Association (HSRA) and the Ghadar Party. The HSRA was
founded in 1928 by Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh,
and Sukhdev Thapar. The Ghadar Party was founded in
205
1913 by Lala Hardayal.
242. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Civil Disobedience Movement was put on hold in 1934
when the Congress ended the mass satyagraha. Following
the setback of the Civil Disobedience movement, the decision
was made to shift attention towards constructive endeavors.
This new approach encompassed various activities such as
khadi work, advocating temple entry, fostering communal
unity, and combating untouchability.
Important Tips
The constructive programs included:
Khadi: The promotion of khadi, or hand-spun and hand-
woven cloth, as a symbol of self-reliance and economic
independence.
Village uplift: The improvement of rural areas through
education, health care, and sanitation.
Hindu-Muslim unity: The promotion of Hindu-Muslim
unity in order to counter the communalism that was being
fanned by the British.
Removal of untouchability: The campaign to end the
practice of untouchability, which discriminated against
millions of Indians.
243. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Second Round Table Conference failed to reach an
agreement on the issue of communal representation.
The Indian National Congress wanted a system of joint
electorates, where all Indians would vote for all seats,
regardless of their religion. The Muslim League wanted a
system of separate electorates, where Muslims would vote
for Muslim seats and Hindus would vote for Hindu seats.
The British government tried to mediate between the two
sides, but they were unable to reach a compromise. The
conference ended without any agreement being reached on
the issue of communal representation. Other than Communal
delegation, the princes were also not too enthusiastic about a
federation, especially after the possibility of the formation of
a Congress government at the center had receded following
the suspension of the civil disobedience movement.
244. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Gandhiji was arrested on 9 August 1942, the day after he
launched the Quit India Movement at the Bombay session
of the All-India Congress Committee. He was detained in
Aga Khan Palace Jail in Pune, along with his wife Kasturba
Gandhi, his secretary Mahadev Desai, and other Congress
leaders such as Sarojini Naidu and Acharya Kripalani.
Gandhiji was in the prison at Poona (Aga Khan Palace) for
almost two years, until May 1944. He suffered endless agony
for the activities that the British did to crush the Quit India
Movement. The British Government charged Gandhi that he
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
and his congress party were responsible for all violence and
disorder in the country.
Important Tips
Gandhiji faced personal tragedies during his
imprisonment prison at Poona (Aga Khan Palace):
• His secretary Mahadev Desai died of a heart attack on
15 August 1942, six days after their arrest.
• His wife Kasturba Gandhi died of pneumonia on 22
February 1944, after being ill for several months.
• Gandhiji himself suffered from malaria and was
released on medical grounds on 6 May 1944.
245. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Jai Prakash Narayan got the recognition of national leader
in the context of the Quit India Movement, which was a
mass civil disobedience campaign launched by Mahatma
Gandhi and the Indian National Congress in August 1942,
demanding an end to British rule in India.
He was arrested by the British authorities on 9 August 1942,
along with other Congress leaders, but he managed to escape
from the Hazaribagh jail in Bihar on 9 November 1942. He
then went underground and tried to organize a guerrilla
resistance against the British government. He formed an
underground Azad Dasta (Free Force) and established
contacts with other revolutionaries and groups across the
country. He also issued a manifesto titled The Last Battle of
Freedom, in which he called for a total revolution against the
British and their collaborators.
246. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
The Communist International was an international
communist organization that advocated world communism.
Manabendra Nath Roy was a delegate to the congress of
the Communist International. He was first Indian to be the
member of Communist International.
Important Tips
M.N. Roy:
• Manabendra Nath Roy was born on 21 March 1887 in
West Bengal.
• He was founding member of the Communist Party of
India.
• He established the Communist Party in 1917 in Mexico.
• At 14, Roy joined the underground revolutionary
organisation Anushilan Samiti. After it was banned,
he helped to organise the Jugantar Group under the
leadership of Jatin Mukherjee.
• He was sentenced to six years imprisonment in 1931 for
his involvement in 1924 Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy
case.
247. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
PYQ Workbook
On 9 June, 1920 the Khilafat Committee at Allahabad
unanimously accepted the suggestion of non-cooperation
and asked Gandhiji to lead the movement. Subsequently,
the Khilafat Movement merged with the Non-Cooperation
Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920.
248. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Under the leadership of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Congress adopted a significant
policy aimed at abolishing landownership and land grants in
India. Finally in 1945, the Congress Working Committee
adopted the policy of abolishing land ownership and land
grants to the tiller. The resolution on abolishing landlordism
was moved by Acharya Narendra Dev.
Important Tips
Congress Working Committee (CWC):
• The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is the
executive committee of the Indian National Congress.
It was formed in December 1920 at Nagpur session of
INC which was headed by C. Vijayaraghavachariar.
• It is composed of senior party leaders and is
responsible for taking decisions on important policy
and organizational matters, as well as guiding and
directing the party’s activities and campaigns at the
national level.
• At Nagpur session of 1920 of the Indian National
Congress, some important organisational changes were
made:
• A congress working committee (CWC) of 15 members
was set up to lead the Congress from now onwards;
• Provincial congress committees on linguistic basis
were organised;
• Ward committees were organised; and the entry fee
was reduced to four annas.
249. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Indian National Army (INA) was the result of Mohan
Singh’s efforts, who played a pivotal role in its foundation.
He was convinced by Fujiwara, a Japanese official, to
unite with the Japanese mission for the purpose of Indian
independence. Mohan Singh initially helped Fujiwara take
control of the situation in Alor Star, and after meetings
with Japanese officials, he was convinced of the feasibility
of raising an armed Indian unit. This led to the formation
of the nucleus of what became the Ajad Hind Fauj (Indian
National Army) in 1942. Mohan Singh played a crucial
role in recruiting Indian prisoners of war and volunteers
to fight for India’s independence from British rule. While
initially playing a significant role, leadership was later taken
over by Subhash Chandra Bose.
206
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Formation of INA:
• During World War II, Indian revolutionary Rashbehari
Bose, who had been living in Japan since 1915 to evade
British authorities, saw an opportunity to mobilize
Indians for armed resistance against British rule.
• With numerous Indian soldiers serving the British,
the Japanese, after defeating the British in Southeast
Asia, convinced Captain Mohan Singh to collaborate
with them for India’s freedom.
• A conference in Tokyo in 1942 led to the formation
of the Indian Independence League. Subsequently, in
Bangkok (June 1942), Rashbehari Bose was elected
its president, and the decision to establish the Indian
National Army (INA) was made. Captain Mohan
Singh became its commander with around 40,000
Indian soldiers.
• Bose, who had earlier escaped to Berlin in 1941, was
invited to lead the movement. In June 1943, Bose
arrived in Tokyo and joined the INA in Singapore.
Rashbehari Bose handed leadership to Subhas Bose,
resulting in the formation of the Azad Hind Sarkar.
• The Japanese later announced their plan to transfer
administration of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
to the INA in November 1943. This marked the
commencement of the INA’s valiant struggle for India’s
independence.
250. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Pakistan Movement, which took place in the first half
of the 20th century, was a movement that wanted to create
a new country called Pakistan. This country would be made
from parts of British India where most people were Muslims.
The movement happened because Muslims under British
rule wanted to have their own say in things. Muhammad
Ali Jinnah, who was a lawyer and a politician, led this
movement after the All-India Muslim League passed a
important decision known as the Lahore Resolution on 23
March 1940. Another person named Ashraf Ali Thanwi,
who was a religious scholar, also supported this idea. People
like Shabbir Ahmad Usmani and Zafar Ahmad Usmani,
who were students of Thanwi, played a big role in supporting
the creation of Pakistan based on religion.
251. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Wavell Plan, May 1945: The Wavell Plan proposed a
restructured Viceroy’s Executive Council with a balanced
representation of Indian communities, excluding Viceroy
and Commander-in-Chief, and transfer of foreign affairs
portfolio to an Indian member. It aimed to encourage wider
Indian participation in governance while retaining a power-
sharing arrangement.
Shimla Conference, June 1945: The Shimla Conference
invited Indian leaders, including Gandhi and Jinnah, to
207
discuss the Wavell Plan. Differences emerged as Jinnah
insisted on exclusive Muslim League representation and veto
power. The conference failed, leading to dissolution and the
approach of Indian independence.
INA Trials, Nov 1945: INA Trials were held against Indian
National Army (INA) officers who had fought against
the British during World War II. The trials were highly
controversial, and they ultimately led to the release of the
INA officers.
Naval Mutiny, Feb 1946: This was a mutiny of Indian sailors
in the Royal Indian Navy. The mutiny was triggered by a
number of grievances, including low pay and poor living
conditions. The mutiny was suppressed by the British, but it
had a major impact on Indian politics.
252. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Dr. M.A. Ansari was the President of the ‘All Parties’
Conference held in February 1928. The conference was
significant in Indian political history as it brought together
various political parties, including the Indian National
Congress, All-India Muslim League, All-India Hindu
Mahasabha, and others, to discuss and deliberate on
important constitutional matters, leading to the adoption
of the Nehru Report.
253. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
In August Kranti Maidan, the Quit India Movement was
launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942. It is also known
as Gowalia Tank Maidan and located in Central Mumbai.
On 8 August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi delivered the Quit
India speech decreeing that the British must quit India
immediately or else there would be mass agitations. He called
for resolute yet passive resistance which meant the certainty
that Gandhi foresaw the revolution, best represented by
his call to do or die. Gandhi made the speech to help India
become independent.
254. Solution: (e)
Exp) Option e is the correct answer.
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose became the President of
India National Congress by defeating P. Sitaramaiya in
Tripuri Session of 1939. He was also the President of Indian
National Congress during Haripura Session of 1938 but he
was unanimously elected in that session.
Important Tips
Pattabhi Sitaramayya:
• He served as a member of the Constituent Assembly
and later became the first governor of Madhya
Pradesh in 1956.
• In his book, History of the Indian National Congress,
he provides a comprehensive account of Congress
party. Because of Dr. Pattabhi SItaramayya’s efforts to
document history of the Indian National Congress, he
is often referred to as ‘historian of the Congress’.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• In 1919, he started Nationalist English Weekly
‘Janambhumi’. Through this, he propagated the ideas of
non-violence, satyagraha, a boycott of foreign goods,
advantages of the cooperative movement, etc.
• He has also authored ‘Gandhi and Gandhism’;
‘Gandhism and Socialism’; ‘Feathers and Stones’
along with several others.
• He strongly recommended National Banking and
Insurance Companies to stop the flow of the Indian
wealth to Britain. Keeping this in mind he established
Andhra Bank in 1923 and ‘Hindustan Insurance
Company’ in 1935.
• He was elected as the President of All India Congress at
Jaipur in 1948 and in 1952.
255. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The two brothers Gangaram and Kheemdev were martyred
in the Quit India Movement, which was a mass civil
disobedience campaign launched by Mahatma Gandhi and
the Indian National Congress in August 1942, demanding an
end to British rule in India.
Important Tips
Gangaram and Kheemdev:
• The two brothers Gangaram and Kheemdev were from
the Salt region of Uttarakhand, which was also known
as Kumaon ka Bardoli, a reference to the famous
peasant movement led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in
Gujarat in 1928.
• The Salt region was known for its active participation
in the freedom struggle and its resistance to the British
oppression
• On September 5, 1942, at a place called Khumad, which
was the headquarters of the Salt Congress, a local
branch of the Indian National Congress, the British
army opened fire on the public who were protesting
against the arrest of their leaders and the suppression
of their movement.
• Gangaram and Kheemdev were among the 21 freedom
fighters of Uttarakhand who were martyred in this
incident
256. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Simon Commission was a British commission appointed
in 1927 to investigate the political situation in India and
to make recommendations for constitutional reforms.
The commission arrived in India in 1928 and was met with
widespread protests because there were no Indian members
in the Commission. The Commission submitted its report
in 1930 and ignored the demands of Dominion Status for
India. It was seen as a British attempt to deny Indians self-
government.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Events and their occurance:
• Dandi March Event- 12 March, 1930.
• Quit India Movement Event- 8th August, 1942.
• Gandhi-Irwin Pact Event- 5th March, 1931.
257. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
The centerpiece of Individual Satyagraha was Non-
violence. The first Satyagrahi selected by Mahatma
Gandhi for this Satyagraha was Vinoba Bhave. He was
followed nearly by 25,000 individual satyagrahis. It was
launched to protest against the British government’s
decision to participate in World War II without consulting
the Indian people. The movement called on individuals to
violate certain laws of the British Raj, such as the Defense
of India Act, as a form of nonviolent protest. In December
1940, Gandhi suspended the movement and the campaign
started again in January 1941. The aim of the movement was
to show that nationalist patience was not due to weakness. It
also aims to express the feeling that people are not interested
in war and they made no distinction between nazism and the
double autocracy that ruled India. Another opportunity for
the government to accept Congress’ demands.
Important Tips
Vinobha Bhave:
• He started the Sarvodaya Movement which meant
‘Progress for all’.
• In 1951, Bhave started the Bhoodan Movement in
Pochampally, Telangana.
• He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for
Community Leadership in 1958.
• In 1983, he received the Bharat Ratna posthumously.
258. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The basic concept behind the Two-Nation Theory was that
Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations with their
own distinct cultures, histories, and religious beliefs. This
theory was first proposed by Sir Mohammad Iqbal in 1930,
who argued that Muslims would never be able to achieve
equality in a united India. He believed that Muslims needed
to have their own separate state in order to protect their
culture and identity.
259. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi drafted a resolution in April of 1942
with the help of Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul
Kalam Azad calling upon the British to Quit India. The
movement demanded an end to British rule in India and
included boycott of the British government and rejection
of transactions involving the government. Various violent
incidents took place around the country against the British
208
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
regime. The movement ended in 1945 with the release of
jailed freedom fighters.
260. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Indians were excluded from the Simon Commission on
the suggestion of Lord Irwin. He argued that no Indian
member would be able to approach the task of impartially
reviewing the workings of the Government of India
Act 1919, as they would inevitably be biased or self-
interested. This decision to have an all-British commission
led to widespread protests and demands for greater Indian
representation, as Indians felt that their perspectives were
not being considered in matters that directly concerned their
governance.
261. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Option 1 is correct: The All India Muslim League which
was annoyed with the Congress for not sharing power with
them established the Pirpur Committee in 1938 to prepare
a detailed report on the atrocities supposedly committed
by the Congress ministries on Muslims. In its report, the
committee charged the Congress with interference in the
religious rites, suppression of Urdu in favour of Hindi, denial
of proper representation and of the oppression of Muslims in
the economic sphere.
Option 2 is correct: As per the findings of Sharif Report
of 1938, congress was alleged to be pro-Hindu and anti-
Muslim.
Option 3 is correct: A. K. Fazlul Haq’s “Muslim Sufferings
Under Congress Rule” published in 1939 concluded that
Congress was representing Hindus voice and voice of
eminent British personalities.
262. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Quit India Resolution was a movement launched by
Mahatma Gandhi on 9 August 1942, during World War II,
demanding an end to British rule in India. The resolution
was passed by the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) in
Bombay (present-day Mumbai), Maharashtra, after Gandhi
made a call to Do or Die in his Quit India speech. On
August 8, 1942 in the meeting of AICC, Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru presented Quit India Resolution and Sardar Patel
supported it.
263. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Ram Manohar Lohia was one of the prominent leaders of
the Indian independence movement who made regular
broadcasts on Congress Radio during the Quit India
Movement. He was arrested several times for his anti-
British speeches and activities, especially during the Quit
India Movement of 1942. He left the Congress in 1948 and
formed his own Socialist Party in 1955. He advocated for
various social reforms, such as the abolition of caste system,
209
the promotion of Hindi as the national language, and the
protection of civil liberties.
264. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In 1928, Jawaharlal Nehru, along with Srinivasa Iyengar
and Subhash Chandra Bose, founded the Independence
for India League. Srinivasa Iyengar served as its first
president. This league was established by the radical wing of
the Congress Party, led by Nehru, as a response to the Nehru
Report. The Nehru Report, despite advocating constitutional
reforms, was criticized by Congress radicals for not explicitly
demanding full independence and settling for dominion
status. The “Independence for India League” reflected a
more assertive approach in seeking complete independence.
265. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Asaf Ali held the Railways Portfolio in the Interim
Government of 1946. As the railway minister, he made
an early move to end the practice of providing separate
drinking water on railway platforms, previously labeled as
Hindu Pani and Muslim Pani. In his personal and political
life, Ali actively worked to bridge religious differences and
promote unity.
266. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The title “Kaiser-i-Hind” means “Emperor of India” in
Urdu. It was a high honor bestowed upon individuals who
had rendered exceptional services to the British Empire in
India. Mahatma Gandhi was awarded the title in 1915 for
his work in South Africa during the Boer War. However, he
surrendered the title in 1920 during the Non-Cooperation
Movement as a gesture of his opposition to British rule in
India.
267. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
On the historic day of 31st December 1929, Jawaharlal
Nehru unfurled the flag of India on the banks of the Ravi
River. This symbolic act of hoisting the flag embodied
the spirit of the Indian people’s aspiration for complete
independence. The Indian National Congress (INC)
adopted the resolution of ‘Poorna Swaraj’ on 19th
December 1929 in Lahore. This resolution signified the
Congress’s unwavering dedication to attaining full self-
governance and liberating the nation from British rule.
268. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Hindu Mahasabha, The Communist Party of India, and
The Unionist Party of Punjab did not support Quit India
Movement. These parties had different reasons for opposing
the movement, such as:
• The Muslim League opposed the movement, fearing
that if the British left India at that time, the minorities
would be oppressed by the Hindus.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• The Communists did not join the movement; in the
wake of Russia (where the communists were in power)
being attacked by Nazi Germany, the communists began
to support the British war against Germany and the
‘Imperialist War’ became the ‘People’s War’.
• The Hindu Mahasabha openly opposed the call for the
Quit India Movement and boycotted officially under the
apprehension that the movement would create internal
disorder and would endanger internal security during
the war.
269. Solution (c)
• Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was not one of the advocates who
defended the INA officers in the Red Fort trials. The INA
Defence Committee was established by the Indian National
Congress with the purpose of providing legal defense and
support to the officers of the Indian National Army (INA)
who were facing charges during the INA Red fort trials. This
committee comprised a group of prominent leaders who were
dedicated to the cause. The notable individuals included
Jawaharlal Nehru, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Bhulabhai Desai,
R.B. Badri Das, Asaf Ali, Kanwar Sir Dalip Singh, Kailash
Nath Katju, Bakshi Sir Tek Chand, P.N. Sen, Inder Deo Dua,
Shiv Kumar Shastri, Ranbeer Chand Soni, Rajinder Narayan,
Sultan Yar Khan, Narayan Andley, and J.K. Khanna.
270. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Non-Cooperation Movement
led by Mahatma Gandhi gained significant momentum but
was abruptly withdrawn after the Chauri Chaura incident
in 1922. Many leaders and activists felt demoralized by the
withdrawal and believed that political engagement within the
legislative councils was necessary to continue the struggle
for self-rule.
Statement 2 is correct: The Government of India Act of
1919 introduced limited self-government in India through
the formation of legislative councils. The Swaraj Party
decided to enter these councils and use them as platforms
to oppose repressive laws, inadequate representation, and to
demand more powers for Indians in governance. While they
participated, they also resisted and criticized the functioning
of these councils.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While repression by the British
Government might have played a role in shaping the
context of political decisions, it is not a direct reason for
the founding of the Swaraj Party. The party was formed to
engage in legislative councils strategically rather than as a
direct response to repression.
Statement 4 is incorrect: While there might have been
some sentiment among Indians to gain experience in
administration, it was not a primary reason for the founding
of the Swaraj Party. The main focus was on utilizing the
legislative councils as a platform to push for self-governance
and political rights.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Works and Achievements of Swaraj Party:
• Electoral Success: The Swarajists emerged as the
largest party in the Central Assembly, Bombay, and
Bengal Councils in 1923, with a notable presence in
the U.P. Council.
• Preserving Anti-British Sentiment: During a period
with limited mass political activities, the Swarajists
played a crucial role in maintaining the spirit of anti-
British protest.
• Obstruction of British Policies: The Swarajists
obstructed British policies and proposals in legislatures,
making it challenging for the British to gain approval
for their measures.
• Defeat of Repressive Bills: Notably, in 1928, they
defeated a bill that would have empowered the
government to expel foreign supporters of India’s
freedom struggle.
• Exposing Reforms’ Weaknesses: They highlighted
the shortcomings of the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms
through fiery speeches in the Assembly, emphasizing
self-rule and civil liberties.
• Legislative Impact: The years 1924-25 saw numerous
Swarajist victories in the Legislative Assembly.
They managed to reject the Budget, compelling the
government to rely on certification powers.
• Questioning and Adjournment Motions: Swarajists
effectively employed adjournment motions and
probing questions to unveil the wrongdoings of the
colonial government, exposing its misdeeds.
271. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, and Madan Mohan
Malviya all participated in the Second Round Table
Conference. Maulana Azad did not participate in the
Second Round Table Conference. Maulana Azad was a
prominent leader of the Indian National Congress, but he
did not participate in the Second Round Table Conference
because he was not in favor of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. He
believed that the pact gave too many concessions to the
British government.
272. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi started the Dandi March from his
Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on March
12, 1930. The march was a protest against the British salt
monopoly. Gandhi and his followers marched for 241 miles
(385 km) to Dandi, Gujarat, where he broke the salt law by
making salt from seawater.
Important Tips
Various Ashram of Gandhi:
Pavnar Ashram was founded by Vinoba Bhave in 1934.
210
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Sewagram Ashram (Village of Service) was founded by
Gandhi in 1936 in his village shegaon.
Ramanandiya Ashram was founded by Ramananda in the
15th century.
273. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The slogan ‘Quit India’ was coined by Yousuf Meher Ali. The
iconic ‘Quit India’ slogan was coined by socialist Congress
leader and lesser-known hero of the Indian National
movement Yusuf Meher Ali in 1942. He was the founder of
National Militia, Bombay youth League, and the Congress
Socialist Party.
Important Tips
Famous slogans during Indian freedom struggle:
• Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe azaadi doonga. -
Subhash Chandra Bose.
• Inqalab Zindabad. - Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
• Karo ya maro (Do or die) – Mahatma Gandhi.
• Satyameva Jayate. - Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.
• Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil me hai–
Ramprasad Bismil
274. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The November 1931 Second Round Table Conference saw
the participation of 31 delegates, among them Pyarelal
Nayyar, Sarojini Naidu, Annie Besant, Mahadan Mohan
Malviya, Mahadev Desai, and B.R Ambedkar. However,
Jawaharlal Nehru chose not to take part in this conference.
Important Tips
Mahadev Desai:
• Close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and key figure in
Indian independence movement.
• Proficient scholar in Gujarati and Hindi.
• Played a crucial role in the Salt March and other
independence movement events.
• Tragically died in 1942 during a hunger strike in
support of the Quit India Movement.
Pyarelal Nayyar:
• Prominent in India’s independence movement, close to
Gandhi.
• Proficient in Gujarati and Hindi, translated Gandhi’s
works.
• Actively involved in events like the Salt March.
• Trusted friend who was with Gandhi during his passing
in 1948.
275. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In August 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose assumed
leadership of the Indian National Army (INA), becoming
211
its supreme commander. He established the INA
headquarters in Rangoon and initiated a process to
reorganize and strengthen the INA. The headquarters in
Rangoon, a strategic location during World War II, served
as a significant operational center for the INA’s activities in
Southeast Asia. The INA’s efforts were geared towards freeing
India from British colonial rule through military means.
276. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Indian National Army trials, also known as the Red Fort
trials, were a series of court-martial proceedings conducted
by the British Indian authorities between November 1945
and May 1946. These trials involved officers of the Indian
National Army (INA) who fought for India’s independence
alongside the Japanese during World War II. Colonel Prem
Sahgal, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and Major-
General Shah Nawaz Khan faced charges of “waging war
against the King-Emperor,” murder, and abetment of
murder.
Mohan Singh did not face these trials. Mohan Singh
was initially the leader of the INA, but in June 1943 he
was replaced due to disagreements between him and the
Japanese, over both the intended size and the specific
role of the INA. Due to this leadership change and his
subsequent lack of involvement with the INA’s actions
under Bose’s leadership, he did not face the Red Fort trials.
Important Tips
Key Highlights of Red Fort Trials:
• Initiated by British Indian authorities to prosecute INA
officers.
• Congress, led by Jawaharlal Nehru, accepted
responsibility for the trials. A defense committee,
including Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur
Sapru and others, was formed to support INA
soldiers.
• Over 7,600 INA members initially faced trial, but the
number was reduced due to evidentiary challenges.
• About ten court-martials were conducted, with the first
involving Prem Sahgal, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and
Shah Nawaz Khan. These officers had served in the
British Indian Army and joined INA, facing charges
of waging war against the King-Emperor, murder, and
abetment.
• Trials encompassed legal arguments in military,
constitutional, and international law, becoming a
notable anticolonial critique.
• Lt. Col. Horilal Varma and Tej Bahadur Sapru
defended the accused.
• Public outcry and growing unrest led Field Marshal
Claude Auchinleck to commute the sentences of the
first trial’s defendants, symbolizing the trials’ impact
on India’s independence movement.
277. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

Ganesh Vasudev Mavlankar (G.V. Mavlankar) held the Parliament (1947-52). In 1952, he was elected the Speaker of
Office of Speaker in Central Legislative Assembly of British the first Lok Sabha. He was also known as ‘Dada Saheb’. He
era and the Parliament of free India. He was the Speaker of was referred to as the ‘Father of the Lok Sabha’ by Jawaharlal
the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) and the Provisional Nehru.

PYQ Workbook 212

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

GOVERNANCE AND OTHER ASPECTS
*This unit consists of questions form Constitutional, Administrative and Judicial Developments, the
Development of press and the Development of Education under the British Rule.

5.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions (a) Fundamental Rights

(b) Directive Principles of State Policy
1. By which one of the following Acts was the (c) Extent of Executive Power of State
Governor General of Bengal designated as (d) Conduct of Business of the Government
the Governor General of India? of India
[UPSC CSE Pre 2023]
5. By a Regulation in 1793, the District
(a) The Regulating Act
(b) The Pitt’s India Act Collector was deprived of his judicial
(c) The Charter Act of 1793 powers and made the collecting agent only.
(d) The Charter Act of 1833 What was the reason for such regulation?
[UPSC CSE Pre 2010]
2. In the Government of India Act 1919, the
(a) Lord Cornwallis felt that the District
functions of Provincial Government were
divided into “Reserved” and “Transferred” Collector’s efficiency of revenue
subjects. Which of the following were collection would enormously increase
treated as “Reserved” subjects? without the burden of other work.
1. Administration of Justice (b) Lord Cornwallis felt that judicial power
2. Local Self-Government should compulsorily be in the hands of
Europeans, while Indians can be given the
3. Land Revenue
job of revenue collection in the districts.
4. Police
(c) Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the extent
Select the correct answer using the code given of power concentrated in the District
below: [UPSC CSE Pre 2022] Collector and felt that such absolute
(a) 2, 3 and 4 power was undesirable in one person.
(b) 1, 2 and 3 (d) The judicial work demanded a deep
(c) 1, 3 and 4 knowledge of India and a good training in
(d) 1, 2 and 4 law and Lord Cornwallis felt that District
3. Consider the following statements: Collector should be only a revenue
1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of collector.
1919 recommended granting voting
6. In collaboration with David Hare and
rights to all the women above the age of
Alexander Duff, who of the following
21.
established Hindu College at Calcutta?
2. The Government of India Act of 1935
gave women reserved seats in legislature. [UPSC CSE Pre 2009]
(a) Henry Louis Vivian Derozio
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2021] (b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(c) Keshab Chandra Sen
(a) 1 only
(d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 7. Which one of the following was a journal
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 brought out by Abul Kalam Azad?
4. The ‘Instrumentation of Instructions” [UPSC CSE Pre 2008]
contained in the Government of India (a) Al-Hilal
Act, 1935 have been incorporated in the (b) Comrade
Constitution of India in the year 1950 as: (c) The Indian Sociologist
[UPSC CSE Pre 2010] (d) Zamindar

213 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

8. Who among the following started the (c) Lord Curzon

newspaper ‘Som Prakash’? (d) Lord Minto
[UPSC CSE Pre 2007] 13. Consider the following statements:
(a) Dayanand Saraswati
Some of the main features of the Government
(b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
of India Act, 1935 were the:
(c) Raja Rammohan Roy
(d) Surendranath Banerjee 1. Abolition of diarchy in the Governor’s
provinces.
9. Consider the following statements: 2. The power of the Governors to veto
1. The Charter Act, 1853 abolished East legislative action and to legislate on their
India Company monopoly of Indian own.
trade. 3. Abolition of the principle of communal
2. Under the Government of India Act, 1858 representation.
the British Parliament abolished the East Which of the statements given above is/are
India Company altogether and undertook correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2004]
the responsibility of ruling India directly.
(a) 1 only
Which of the statements given above is/are (b) 1 and 2
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2006] (c) 2 and 3
(a) 1 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 14. During the colonial period in India,
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 what was the purpose of the Whitley
Commission? [UPSC CSE Pre 2003]
10. Consider the following statements: (a) To review the fitness of India for further
1. Warren Hastings was the first Governor- political reforms
General who established a regular police (b) To report on existing conditions of labour
force in India on the British pattern. and to make recommendations
2. A Supreme Court was established at (c) To draw up a plan for financial reforms
Calcutta by the Regulating Act, 1773. for India
3. The Indian Penal Code came into effect (d) To develop a comprehensive scheme for
in the year 1860. Civil Services in India
Which of the statements given above are 15. Which one of the following provisions was
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2005] not made in the Charter Act of 1833?
(a) 1 and 2 [UPSC CSE Pre 2003]
(b) 2 and 3 (a) The trading activities of the East India
(c) 1 and 3 Company were to be abolished.
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (b) The designation of the supreme authority
11. Consider the following statements: was to be changed as the Governor
Government of India Act, 1935 provided for– General of India-in-Council.
(c) All law-making powers to be conferred
1. provincial autonomy.
on Governor-General-in-council.
2. The establishment of the Federal Court. (d) An Indian was to be appointed as a Law
3. All India Federation at the Centre. Member of the Governor-General’s
Which of the following statements given Council.
above are correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2005]
16. Which one of the following Acts of British
(a) 1 and 2 India strengthened the Viceroy’s authority
(b) 2 and 3 over his executive council by substituting
(c) 1 and 3 “portfolio” or departmental system for
(d) 1, 2 and 3 corporate functioning?
12. Who among the following repealed the [UPSC CSE Pre 2002]
Vernacular Press Act of 1878? (a) Indian Councils Act, 1861
[UPSC CSE Pre 2005] (b) Government of India Act, 1858
(a) Lord Ripon (c) Indian Councils Act, 1892
(b) Lord Lytton (d) Indian Councils Act, 1909

PYQ Workbook 214

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

17. Match list-I with list-II and select the the farmer which were not issued by many
correct answer using the codes given below of the Zamindars. The reason was:
the lists: [UPSC CSE Pre 2001]
List-I List-II (a) the Zamindars were trusted by the
farmers
(Acts of Colonial (Provisions)
(b) there was no officials check upon the
Government of
Zamindars
India)
(c) it was the responsibility of the British
A. Charter Act, 1. Set up a Board of government
1813 Control in Britain (d) the farmers were not interested in getting
to fully regulate the pattas
East India Company.
20. Who amongst the following Englishmen,
B. Regulating 2. Company’s trade
first translated Bhagavad-Gita into English?
Act, 1773 monopoly in India
was ended. [UPSC CSE Pre 2001]
(a) William Jones
C. Act of 1858 3. The power to govern
(b) Charles Wilkins
was transferred
(c) Alexander Cunningham
from the East India
(d) John Marshall
Company to the
British Crown. 21. Which one of the following is not a feature
D. Pitt’s India 4. The Company’s of the Government of India Act of 1935?
Act, 1784 directors were asked [UPSC CSE Pre 2000]
to present to the (a) Dyarchy at the Centre as well as in the
British Government provinces
all correspondence (b) A bicameral Legislature
and documents (c) Provincial Autonomy
pertaining to the (d) An All-India Federation
administration of 22. The term “imperial preference” was applied
the company. to the: [UPSC CSE Pre 1999]
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre 2002] (a) Special privileges on British imports in
A B C D India
(a) 2 4 3 1 (b) Racial discrimination by the Britishers
(b) 1 3 4 2 (c) Subordination of Indian interest to that
(c) 2 3 4 1 of the British
(d) 1 4 3 2 (d) Preference was given to British political
18. The real intention of the British to include agents over Indian Princes
the Princely States in the Federal Union 23. There was no independent development
proposed by the India Act of 1935 was to: of industries in India during British rule
[UPSC CSE Pre 2002] because of the: [UPSC CSE Pre 1999]
(a) Exercise more and direct political and (a) Absence of heavy industries
administrative. (b) Scarcity of foreign capital
(b) Involve the princes actively in the (c) Scarcity of natural resources
administration of the colony.
(d) Preference of the rich to invest in land
(c) Finally effect the complete political
and administrative take-over of all the 24. The most short-lived of all of Britain’s
princely States by the British. constitutional experiments in India was:
(d) Use the princes to counterbalance [UPSC CSE Pre 1999]
the anti-imperialist doctrines of the (a) The Indian Council Act of 1861
nationalist leaders. (b) Indian Council Act of 1892
19. Under the Permanent Settlement, 1793, the (c) Indian Council Act of 1909
Zamindars were required to issue pattas to (d) Government of India Act of 1919

215 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

25. Match List-I with List-II and select the 28. The foundation of the modern educational
correct answer using the codes given below system in India was laid by:
the lists: [UPSC CSE Pre 1993]
(a) The Charter Act of 1813
List-I List-II
(b) Macaulay’s Minutes of 1835
A. Butler 1. Jallianwala Bagh (c) The Hunter Commission of 1882
Committee massacre (d) Woods Dispatch of 1854
Report
B. Hartog 2. Relationship 5.2. Other Examination Previous Years’
Committee between the Indian Questions
Report State and Paramount 29. “Can you show me one free country where
Power there are separate electorates? ..... The
C. Hunter 3. Working of Dyarchy British element is gone, but they have left
Inquiry as laid down in mischief behind”. Who among the following
Committee the Montague- said the above-mentioned statement in the
Report Chelmsford Reforms Constituent Assembly debates?
D. Muddiman 4. The growth of [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021]
Committee education in (a) Somnath Lahiri
Report British India and (b) Jawaharlal Nehru
potentialities of its (c) Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
further progress (d) N.G. Ranga
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre 1997] 30. Given below are two statements, one is
A B C D labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as
Reason (R):
(a) 3 2 1 4
(b) 1 4 2 3 Assertion (A): The British Government
(c) 2 1 3 4 introduced different land revenue system in
different part of India.
(d) 2 4 1 3
Reason (R): It led to create different classes
26. Who among the following leaders did not in India peasantry.
believe in the drain theory of Dadabhai Select the correct answer from the codes
Naoroji? [UPSC CSE Pre 1996] given below. [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
(a) B.G. Tilak (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the
(b) R.C. Dutt correct explanation of (A).
(c) M.G. Ranade (b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not
(d) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
27. Which one of the following statements
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.
correctly defines the term ‘Drain Theory’
as propounded by Dadabhai Naoroji? 31. Match list-I with list-II and select the
[UPSC CSE Pre 1993] correct answer using the codes given below
the lists:
(a) That the resources of the country were
being utilized in the interest of Britain. List-I List-II
(b) That a part of Indians national wealth or A. Jajmani 1. North India
total annual product was being exported B. Bara Balute 2. Karnataka
to Britain for which India got no material
returns. C. Mirasi 3. Maharashtra
(c) That the British industrialists were being D. Adabe 4. Tamil Nadu
given an opportunity to invest in India Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
under the protection of the imperial A B C D
power. (a) 1 2 3 4
(d) That the British goods was being imported (b) 1 3 2 4
to the country making it miserable day by (c) 1 4 2 3
day. (d) 1 3 4 2

PYQ Workbook 216

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

32. Given below are two statements, one D. Somaprakash 4. Shivrama Madhav
labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Paranjape
Reason (R). Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
Assertion (A): The Asiatic Society of Bengal
A B C D
was established in the period of Warren
Hastings, and he modestly declined the offer (a) 4 1 2 3
of Presidentship of that learned body in (b) 4 1 3 2
favour of Sir William Jones. (c) 3 1 4 2
(d) 3 1 2 4
Reason (R): Warren Hastings was himself a
great scholar and an ardent orientalist who 36. Arrange the following events
used to encourage the study of Sanskrit, chronologically:
Persian and Arabic. 1. Vernacular Press Act
Select the correct answer from the codes 2. Rowlatt Act
given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019] 3. Ban on Sati
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the 4. Woods Despatch
correct explanation of (A). Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not (a) 1, 2, 3, 4
the correct explanation of (A).
(b) 3, 1, 2, 4
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(c) 3, 4, 1, 2
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
(d) 3, 1, 4, 2
33. Arrange the following events in their
37. Consider the following statements and
chronological order and select the correct
answer from the codes given below: select the correct answer from the code
given below the statements:
A. Hunter Commission
Assertion (A): Generally, India had a
B. Sadlar Commission favourable balance of trade during the British
C. Wood’s Despatch rule.
D. Sargeant Plan Reason (R): The drain of wealth took the
Codes: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018] form of unrequired exports.
(a) A B D C Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]
(b) C B A D (a) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the
(c) A B C D correct explanation of (A).
(d) C A B D (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not
34. With which of the following Newspaper/ the correct explanation of (A).
Magazine, Mahatma Gandhi was not (c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
associated? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017] (d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.
(a) Indian Opinion 38. Match list-I with list-II and select the
(b) Young India correct answer using the codes given below
(c) Nav Jeevan the lists:
(d) Yugantar
List-I List-II
35. Match list-I with list-II and select the
correct answer using the codes given below (Commission) (Chairman)
the lists: A. Railway Commission 1. Anthony Mac
(1901) Donnel
List-I List-II
B. Famine Commission 2. Colin Scott
(Newspapers) (Editors)
(1899)
A. Kaal 1. Surendra Nath
C. Irrigation 3. Andrew
Banerjee
Commission (1901) Frazer
B. Bengalee 2. Gopal Krishna
D. Police Reform 4. Thomas
Gokhale
Commission (1902) Robertson
C. Sudharak 3. Dwarkanath Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]

217 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

A B C D 44. Arrange the following in their chronological

(a) 3 1 4 2 order and select the correct answer with the
(b) 3 2 1 4 help of code given below:
(c) 4 1 2 3 A. Dramatic performances Act
(d) 4 2 1 3 B. Vernacular Press Act
39. With reference to ‘deindustrialization’ C. North-Western Provinces and Oudh Act
which of the following statements is/are D. Bengal Tenancy Act
correct? Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]
1. This process started in 1813. (a) A B D C
2. Abolition of monopoly trade rights of East (b) D B A C
India Company aggravated the process. (c) A B C D
Select the correct answer from the codes (d) B C D A
given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
45. In Indian context, the attitude of
(a) 1 only ‘Paternalism in Governance’ is associated
(b) 2 only with: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]
(c) Both 1 and 2
(a) Thomas Munro
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) Charles Grant
40. Which of the following is one of the reasons (c) Holt Mackenzie
for considering the Charter Act of 1813 (d) Macaulay
important for India? 46. Who has said it: ‘I don’t have to beg pardon
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016] in connection with the allegation that in
(a) It banned propaganda by Christian the draft of the Constitution, a major part
Missionaries in India. of the Government of India Act, 1935, has
(b) It emphasized industrialization in India. again been reproduced’?
(c) It made a financial allocation for the [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]
education of Indian people. (a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(d) It approved the development of a railway (b) Sardar Patel
system in India. (c) Jawaharlal Nehru
41. The first Hindi Newspaper ‘Udant Martand’ (d) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
(30th May 1826) was published from- 47. The Indian Famine Code, 1883 was prepared
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016] by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]
(a) Kolkata (a) Hunter Commission
(b) Patna (b) Hartog Commission
(c) Allahabad (c) Strachey Commission
(d) Lucknow (d) Indigo Commission
42. Which of the following Acts for the first 48. British East India Company lost the
time created a functioning Legislature monopoly of Tea trade by:
Council in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016] (a) The Charter Act of 1793
(a) Charter Act of 1793 (b) The Charter Act of 1813
(b) Charter Act of 1813 (c) The Charter Act of 1833
(c) Charter Act of 1853 (d) The Charter Act of 1853
(d) Charter Act of 1833
49. In which of the following years the British
43. By which of the following Acts, the British Government finally agreed to hold the
for the first time introduced the system of Indian Civil Services (I.C.S.) examination
indirect elections in India? simultaneously in India and England?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016] [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]
(a) 1909 (a) 1922
(b) 1861 (b) 1923
(c) 1867 (c) 1924
(d) 1892 (d) 1925

PYQ Workbook 218

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

50. Match list-I with list-II and select the (a) Mahatma Gandhi
correct answer using the codes given below (b) C.R. Das
the lists: (c) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(d) Motilal Nehru
List-I List-II
(Newspapers) (Launcher/ 56. Match list-I with list-II and select the
Publisher) correct answer using the codes given below
the lists
A. Leader 1. Madan Mohan
Malviya List-I List-II
B. Bombay 2. Firozshah Mehta (News Paper) (Language)
Chronicle A. Bharat Mitra 1. Bengali
C. Independent 3. T.M. Nair B. Rastra Mata 2. Gujarati
D. Justice 4. Motilal Nehru C. Prajamitra 3. Hindi
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]
D. Nayak 4. Marathi
A B C D Code: [ U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]
(a) 1 2 4 3
A B C D
(b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 3 2 1 4 (a) 1 2 4 3
(d) 4 1 2 3 (b) 2 3 1 4
(c) 3 4 2 1
51. The first editor of the journal ‘Indian (d) 4 1 3 2
Opinion’ was: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
57. Which of the following was established
(a) M.K. Gandhi
first? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]
(b) Albert West
(a) Hindu College, Calcutta
(c) Mahadev Desai
(b) Delhi College
(d) Mansukhal Nazar
(c) Mayo College
52. Who among the following had launched the (d) Muslim-Anglo Oriental College
paper ‘Qaumi Awaz’?
58. Which one of the following was the first to
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] be declared as Central University?
(a) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(a) Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh
(c) Shaukat Ali
(b) Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar University,
(d) Khaliquzzaman
Lucknow
53. In which of the following Acts for the first- (c) Banaras Hindu University of Varanasi
time provision was made for the post of (d) University of Allahabad
Governor-General of Bengal?
59. Which one of the popular magazines of
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] the revolutionary period criticized the
(a) Regulating Act, 1773 Congress for various reasons?
(b) Pitt’s Indian Act, 1784 [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
(c) Charter Act of 1813
(a) Bangawasi
(d) Act of 1833
(b) Kaal
54. Who was associated with the formation of (c) Kesari
the Deccan Educational Society? (d) All of the above
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013] 60. In whose reign was English Education
(a) Justice Ranade introduced in India
(b) Firoz Shah Mehta [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011]
(c) B.G. Tilak
(a) Lord William Cavendish Bentinck
(d) Dayananda Saraswati
(b) Lord Hardinge
55. The English Newspaper ‘Independent’ was (c) Lord Minto
associated to- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012] (d) Lord Dalhousie

219 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

61. Match list-I with list-II and select the 67. Who among the following introduced the
correct answer using the codes given below Vernacular Press Act?
the lists: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
List-I List-II (a) Lord Lytton
(b) Lord Ripon
(Newspaper) (Founder) (c) Lord Curzon
A. Dainik Aaj 1. George Allen (d) Lord Hastings
B. The Leader 2. Jawaharlal Nehru 68. Where was the first Madarsa set up by
C. The National 3. Madan Mohan British in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]
Herald Malviya (a) Madras
(b) Bombay
D. The Pioneer 4. Shiv Prasad Gupta
(c) Aligarh
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010] (d) Calcutta
A B C D
69. The ‘Swadesh Vahini’ was edited by–
(a) 4 3 2 1
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
(b) 4 1 3 2
(c) 2 3 4 1 (a) C.V. Raman Pillai
(b) C.N. Mudaliar
(d) 1 4 2 3
(c) K. Ram Krishna Pillai
62. The Permanent Settlement was introduced (d) C.R. Reddy
by- [U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]
70. Who one of the following had vigorously
(a) Lord Hastings advocated for religious education in the
(b) Lord Cornwallis Indian Universities
(c) Lord Curzon [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
(d) Loa William Bentinck (a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
63. Which Act of British Government granted (b) Swami Vivekanand
Rs. One lakh for education in India for the (c) Mahatma Gandhi
first time? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009] (d) Madan Mohan Malviya
(a) Wood’s Dispatch, 1854 71. Match list-I with list-II and select the
(b) Charter Act, 1813 correct answer using the codes given below
(c) Charter Act, 1853 the lists:
(d) Indian Council Act, 1892
List-I List-II
64. Who among the following was offered (Newspapers) (Person who started it)
membership of the Royal Asiatic Society of
Paris? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007] A. Bombay 1. Annie Besant
Chronicle
(a) Dadabhai Naoroji
(b) Michael Madhusudan Dutta B. Common 2. Madan Mohan
(c) Raja Rammohan Roy Weal Malviya
(d) Vivekanand C. Leader 3. Feroz Shah Mehta
65. From where the ‘Indian Mirror’ newspaper D. Search Light4. Sachchidanand
was published in 1880? Sinha
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007] Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
(a) Bombay A B C D
(b) Calcutta (a) 1 4 3 2
(c) Madras (b) 2 3 4 1
(d) Pondicherry (c) 3 1 2 4
66. In which one of the following languages (d) 4 2 1 3
was the first issue of the Journal Gadar 72. The first newspaper in India was:
published? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007] [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
(a) Urdu (a) Bengal Gazette
(b) Hindi (b) Hindustan Times
(c) English (c) Pioneer
(d) Marathi (d) Sambad Kaumadi

PYQ Workbook 220

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

73. The Marathi fortnightly ‘Bahishkrit Bharat’ (a) Permanent Settlement

was started by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004] (b) Mahalwari Settlement
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak (c) Ryotwari Settlement
(b) B.R. Ambedkar (d) None of the above
(c) V.D. Savarkar 80. Persian Weekly ‘Mirat-ul Akhbar’ was
(d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale Published by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]
74. In the Hunter Commission report, special (a) Lala Lajpat Rai
emphasis was laid on the development of: (b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004] (c) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
(a) Girls’ education (d) Maulana Shibli Nomani
(b) Higher education 81. The Supreme Court was set up for the first
(c) Primary education time in India under the:
(d) Technical education [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]
75. Who authored the book “Poverty and the (a) Regulating Act, 1773
Unbritish Rule in India”? (b) Charter Act, 1853
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004] (c) Government of India Act, 1935
(d) Indian Constitution Act, 1950
(a) Amartya Kumar Sen
(b) Ramesh Chandra Dutt 82. Who was the first Indian to go to jail in
(c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale performance of his duty as a journalist:
(d) Dadabhai Naoroji [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]
76. Which of the following were the two (a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
newspapers published by Annie Besant? (b) Dadabhai Nauroji
Select the correct answer using the code (c) Motilal Ghosh
given below: (d) Surendra Nath Banerjee
1. Commonweal 83. Which one of the following Acts empowered
2. New India the Governor-General of India to issue
3. New Hindu Ordinances? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]
4. The Aryans (a) Charter Act of 1833
(b) Indian Councils Act of 1861
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
(c) Indian Councils Act of 1892
(a) 1 and 2 (d) Indian Councils Act of 1909
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 4 84. Who affiliated himself with the English
(d) 3 and 4 Journal ‘Vande Matram’?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996]
77. The establishment of the first Women’s
(a) Arbind Ghosh
University in Mumbai was the result of the
(b) M. G. Ranade
effort of- [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
(c) S. C. Bose
(a) Dayaram Gindumal (d) Lokmanya Tilak
(b) D.K. Karve
(c) M.G. Ranade 85. The Indian Council Act of 1909 was
(d) Ramabai provided for: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996]
(a) Dyarchy
78. Who among the following had primarily (b) Communal representation
implemented Press Censorship? (c) Federation
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2001] (d) Provincial autonomy
(a) Wellesley
(b) Hastings 86. Why is the Government of India Act, 1935
important? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]
(c) John Adams
(d) Dalhousie (a) It is the main source of the Indian
Constitution
79. Sir Thomas Munro is associated with the (b) By this India got freedom
land revenue settlement: (c) Division of India is described in it
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000] (d) End of the Princely States by this

221 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

87. Sadler Commission was related to: (c) 2 3 1 4

[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2010] (d) 3 2 1 4
(a) Judiciary 92. Which of the following election/s of the
(b) Revenue Administration Central Legislative Assembly was/were held
(c) Education under the Government of India Act, 1919?
(d) Police Administration
(A) 1926
88. Match list-I with list-II and select the (B) 1937
correct answer using the codes given below
the lists: (C) 1945
Select the correct answer using code given
List-I List-II
below: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2018]
A. Abul Kalam Azad 1. Bombay (a) A only
Chronicle (b) B and C
B. Feroz Shah Mehta 2. Al-Hilal (c) A and C
C. Annie Besant 3. Young India (d) A, B and C
D. Mahatma Gandhi 4. New India 93. Identify the incorrect statement about
Code: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008] Government of India Act 1919:
A B C D [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2016]
(a) 2 1 4 3 (a) This Act is also known as Morley-Minto
(b) 1 2 3 4 Reforms Act.
(c) 2 1 3 4 (b) This Act separated the Central and
(d) 3 2 1 4 Provincial subjects.
(c) The Government of India Act 1919 came
89. Which Urdu newspaper was started by
into force in 1921.
Lajpat Rai from Lahore in 1920?
(d) Montague was the Secretary of State
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008] for India and Lord Chelmsford was the
(a) Vande Matram Viceroy of India.
(b) People
(c) Tribune 94. Match list-I with list-II and select the
(d) Vir Arjun correct answer using the codes given below
the lists:
90. The ‘Young India’ was started as a weekly
by: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2003] List-I List-II
(a) The Home Rule Party (Editors) (Papers/Magazines)
(b) The Extremist Party
A. S.A. Dange 1. Navyug
(c) Gadar Party
(d) Swaraj Party B. Muzaffar Ahmad 2. Inqilab
91. Match list-I with list-II and select the C. Ghulam Husain 3. Labour Kisan
correct answer using the codes given below Gazette
the lists: D. M. Singarvelu 4. The Socialist
List-I List-II Codes: [R.A.S./RTS (Pre) 2013]
(Newspapers) (Editors) A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4
A. Hindu 1. Dadabhai Nauroji
(b) 4 1 2 3
B. Sudharak 2. Gopal Krishna (c) 2 3 1 4
Gokhle (d) 3 4 2 1
C. Voice of India 3. G. Subramaniya Iyer 95. During India’s colonial period, the theory
D. Bengalee 4. Surendra Nath of downward filtration was related to:
Banerjee [R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2013]
Code: [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2003 & 2002] (a) Railways
A B C D (b) Education
(a) 1 2 3 4 (c) Irrigation
(b) 1 3 2 4 (d) Poverty alleviation

PYQ Workbook 222

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

96. The first three universities in India (a) Sir Arthur Cotton
(Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay) were (b) Col. Baird Smith
established in which year? (c) Lt. Blaine
[R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2010] (d) Col. Robert Smith
(a) 1857 102. The first Chief Justice of Supreme Court
(b) 1881 established by the East India Company was:
(c) 1885 [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]
(d) 1905 (a) Elijah Impey
97. Through which newspaper published from (b) Courtney Ilbert
Kanpur, Vijay Singh Pathik made the (c) Phillip Francis
(d) None of the above
Bijoliya movement the subject of discussion
in India: [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1996] 103. Which newspaper was started by Lokmanya
(a) Kesari Bal Gangadhar Tilak to serve the cause of
(b) Pratap India’s freedom struggle?
(c) Maratha [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
(d) Majusha (a) Gadar
(b) Kesari
98. Which of the following Act provided for (c) Free Hindustan
communal representation in British India? (d) Swadesh Mitra
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
104. Who founded the First Sanskrit
(a) Indian Councils Act, 1892
Mahavidyalaya at Varanasi?
(b) Minto-Morley Reforms, 1909
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006]
(c) Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919
(d) Government of India Act, 1935 (a) Jonathan Duncan
(b) Warren Hastings
99. Which of the following Acts introduced the (c) Lorel Macaulay
‘Principle of Constitutional Autocracy’? (d) Bankim Chandra
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017] 105. The main reason for the British Government
(a) The Indian Councils Act of 1909 to spread modern education in India during
(b) The Government of India Act of 1919 the pre-independence period was–
(c) The Government of India Act of 1935 [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
(d) The Indian Independence Act of 1947 (a) The need for educated Indians in minor
100. Match list-I with list-II and select the administrative posts
correct answer using the codes given below (b) To promote Indian culture
the lists: (c) To modernize the Indian people so
that they could share their political
List-I List-II responsibilities
A. Bipin Chandra Pal 1. New India (d) None of the above
B. Arvind Ghosh 2. Comrade 106. Permanent Settlement and Ryotwari System
C. Brahmobandhab 3. Vande of land revenue introduced respectively in:
Upadhyay Mataram [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021]
D. Mohammad Ali 4. Sandhya (a) Bengal and Madras
Code: [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008] (b) Madras and Punjab
(c) Madras and Bengal
A B C D (d) Punjab and Bengal
(a) 1 3 4 2
(b) 2 1 3 4 107. Who have appointed First Indian Education
Commission and in which year
(c) 2 1 4 3
(d) 1 3 2 4 [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021]
(a) Lord Ripon in 1882
101. Who is regarded as the Pioneer of irrigation (b) Lord William Wedderburn in 1885
works in South India (c) Lord Curzon in 1905
[Uttarakhand PCS (Pre) 2016] (d) Lord Lytton in 1880

223 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

108. What was the name of the newspaper 115. In 1911, who among the following
published by Mahatma Gandhi in South introduced a bill in the Imperial Legislative
Africa? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2018] Council for introduction of compulsory
(a) The Indian Opinion and free primary education in India?
(b) National Herald [CDS 2021 (I)]
(c) Leader (a) Dadabhai Naoroji
(d) The Pioneer (b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
109. At the time of the National Movement who (c) Sir Harcourt Butler
started ‘Dash Roja’ periodical? (d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2018] 116. Which one of the following statements
(a) Mohammad Ali Jinnah about the Act V of 1843 relating to Slavery
(b) Abdul Gaffar Khan in India is correct? [CDS 2021 (I)]
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai (a) It gave the masters the right to willfully
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak keep their slaves tied to their estates.
(b) It denied the masters the use of Courts to
110. The declaration of reforms on August 20,
assert their claims on slaves.
1917, is known as:
(c) The Law Courts and masters worked
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2011] jointy in resolving the cases of desertion.
(a) Montagu Declaration (d) The slaves became the owners of The
(b) Morely Declaration land.
(c) Minto Declaration
(d) Chelmsford Declaration 117. Which one of the following acts reserved
seats for women in Legislatures in
111. Which one of the following Viceroys was the accordance with the allocation of seats for
first to officially shift his Council to Simla different communities? [CDS 2020 (I)]
in summer season? [CDS 2023 (I)] (a) The Government of India Act, 1858
(a) John Lawrence (b) The Indian Councils Act, 1909
(b) Lord Dalhousie (c) The Government of India Act, 1919
(c) Lord Mayo (d) The Government of India Act, 1935
(d) William Bentinck
118. The creation of a Federal Court in India
112. Which one of the following pairs of was advocated by which of the following
Newspaper and Editor is not correctly Acts/Commissions? [CDS 2020 (I)]
matched? [CDS 2022 (I)] (a) The Government of India Act, 1919
(b) The Lee Commission, 1923
Newspaper Editor
(c) The Government of India Act, 1935
(a) Navjivan Mahatma Gandhi (d) The Indian Councils Act, 1909
(b) Mahratta Bal Gangadhar Tilak 119. The Hunter Commission (1882) appointed
(c) Bengalee Surendranath Banerjea to survey the State of education in India
(d) Voice of India Gopal Krishna Gokhale [CDS 2020 (I)]
(a) deprecated University education
114. Which one of the following was not included
(b) overruled the Despatch on 1854
in the terms and conditions of Subsidiary
(c) endorsed the Despatch of 1854 with
Alliance System of Lord Wellesley?
greater emphasis on primary education
[CDS 2022 (I)] (d) criticised the grants-in-aid system of
(a) The British would protect their ally. schooling
(b) The ally was free to enter into agreements
with other rulers or engage in warfare. 120. Who among the following started the Indian
(c) In the territory of the ally, a British armed Agriculture Service? [CDS 2019 (II)]
contingent would be stationed. (a) Lord Curzon
(d) The ally would have to provide resources (b) William Bentinck
for the maintenance of the British armed (c) Lord Minto
contingent. (d) Lord Rippon

PYQ Workbook 224

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
121. The Deccan Agriculturalists’ Relief Act of
1879 was enacted with which one of the
following objectives? [CDS 2019 (I)]
(a) Restore lands to the dispossessed peasants
(b) Ensure financial assistance to peasants
during social and religious occasions
(c) Restrict the sale of land for indebtedness
to outsiders
(d) Give legal aid to insolvent peasants
122. The Limitation Law, which was passed by
the British in 1859, addressed which one of
the following issues? [CDS 2019 (I)]
(a) Loan bonds would not have any legal
validity
(b) Loan bonds signed between moneylender
and ryots would have validity only for
three years
(c) Land bonds could not be executed by
moneylenders
(d) Loan bonds would have validity for ten
years
123. The Summary Settlement of 1856 was based
on which one of the following assumptions?
[CDS 2019 (I)]
(a) The Talukdars were the rightful owners of
the land
(b) The Talukdars were interlopers with no
permanent stakes in the land
(c) The Talukdars could evict the peasants
from the lands
(d) The Talukdars would take a portion of
the revenue which flowed to the State
124. Who was the founder of Mahakali Pathshala
in Calcutta? [CDS 2019 (I)]
(a) Her Holiness Mataji Maharani Tapaswini
(b) Sister Nivedita
(c) Madame Blavatsky
(d) Sarojini Naidu
125. Who was the editor of the journal Indian
Social Reformer that was started in 1890?
[CDS 2017 (II)]
(a) KT Telang
(b) Veeresalingam
(c) NG Chandavarkar
(d) KN Natarajan
126. Consider the following statements:
1. The province of Assam was created in the
year 1911.
2. Eleven districts comprising Assam
were separated from the Lieutenant
Governorship of Bengal and established
as an independent administration under
a Chief Commissioner in the year 1874.
225
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are
correct? [CDS 2016 (I)]
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
127. Which of the following statement(s) about
the Hastings Plan of 1772 is/are correct?
1. Each district was to have a civil and a
criminal court.
2. The Judges were helped by native
assessors who were skilled in Hindu and
Islamic laws.
3. The Sadar Diwani Adalat was mainly
meant to settle mercantile cases exceeding
10000 in value.
4. These courts did not put into place any
procedural improvements.
Select the correct answer using the codes
given below [CDS 2015 (II)]
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 4
(d) Only 2
128. Which of the following sets of newspapers
reflected the concerns of educated Indian
Muslims during the Khilafat Movement?
[CDS 2015 (I)]
(a) Comrade and Hamdard
(b) Comrade and Hindustan Times
(c) Zamindar and Muslim Voice
(d) Comrade, Hamdard, Zamindar and Al
Hilal
129. Consider the following historical events in
India carefully:
1. The Indian press failed to protest against
the Vernacular Press Act of 1878.
2. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was
introduced by Viceroy Lytton against the
counsel of his own Law Member.
Which of the above is/are correct?
[CAPF 2022]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
130. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly
matched?
1. Permanent Settlement: Lord Cornwallis
2. Ryotwari Settlement: Thomas Munro
3. Mahalwari Settlement: Holt Mackenzie
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

Select the correct answer using the codes
given below. [CAPF 2021]
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
131. Who among the following was the first non-
official member to be elected as Speaker of
the Central Legislative Assembly on 24-8-
1925? [CAPF 2020]
(a) Vithalbhai J Patel
(b) Muhammad Yakub
(c) G.V. Mavalankar
(d) Sardar Hukum Singh
132. The British Committee of the Indian
National Congress was founded in
[CAPF 2020]
(a) 1889
(b) 1892
(c) 1898
(d) 1901
133. Why did the early nationalists oppose the
Council Act of 1892 ? [CAPF 2019]
(a) The number of members of the Imperial
Legislative Council was increased.
(b) The number of members of Provincial
Councils was increased.
(c) The Councils were given the right to
discuss the annual budgets.
(d) The Act did not give the Indians control
over the public funds.
134. Examine these two statements carefully and
select the correct answer using the codes
given below.
Statement I The Permanent Settlement was
rarely extended to any region beyond Bengal.
Statement II After 1810, the agricultural
prices declined affecting adversely the income
of the Bengal Zamindars.
Codes: [CAPF 2018]
(a) Both the statements are individually
true and Statements II is the correct
explanation of Statement I
(b) Both the statements are individually
true but Statement II is not the correct
explanation of Statement I
(c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false
(d) Statement I is false but Statement II is
true
135. Which one of the following statements
about the English Education Act of 1835 is
not correct? [CAPF 2017]
(a) It was proposed by Governor General
William Bentinck on the advice of
Macaulay.
(b) It made English the language of
instruction in Indian education system
(c) With the formal institutionalization of
English as the language of instruction,
the stage was set for a new direction of
Indian education.
(d) To the existing Oriental Institutions
fresh awards of stipends to students and
the publication of classical texts were to
continue.
136. Which one of the following statements
about the colonial economy is not correct?
[CAPF 2017]
(a) The British presence inhibited indigenous
capitalism.
(b) Laissez-faire actively promoted
indigenous capitalism.
(c) The ‘white collective monopoly’ came
earliest and remained most pronounced
in Eastern India.
(d) The Bombay hinterland was difficult
to penetrate before the construction of
railways
137. Which one of the following has created the
office of the Secretary of State for India?
[CAPF 2017]
(a) The Councils Act 1861
(b) The Government of India Act 1858
(c) The Morley Minto Reforms
(d) Montague Chelmsford reforms
138. Which one of the following statements
about land tenure system is not correct?
[CAPF 2017]
(a) During the British rule in India three
categories of land tenure system, viz.
Zamindari, Mahalwari and Ryotwari were
introduced.
(b) Under Zamindari system, land was held
by one person or at the most by a few
joint owners who were responsible for the
payment of land revenue.
(c) Under the Mahalwari system, the
agricultural lands belonged to the
government.
(d) Under Ryotwari system, the individual
holders had the permanent rights over
land and were directly responsible for
payment of land revenue.

PYQ Workbook 226

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
139. Which of the following is/are
characteristic(s) of the debate between
‘Anglicists’ and ‘Orientalists’ in the 1830s?
1. The Anglicists wanted to cut the money
being spent on printing Sanskrit and
Arabic texts.
2. The Anglicists wanted to cut the money
spent on printing Sanskrit texts but
wished to continue to print in Persian.
3. The Orientalists wanted a stipend for the
students of Arabic and Sanskrit.
4. The Orientalists started a new Sanskrit
College in Delhi.
Select the correct answer using the code given
below. [CAPF 2016]
(a) 1 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4
140. Which of the following is NOT a
characteristic of the Permanent Settlement?
[CAPF 2016]
(a) The Permanent Settlement vested land
ownership rights in the Zamindar
(b) The Permanent Settlement continued to
pay attention to the customary occupancy
rights of peasants
(c) The burden of the high revenue
assessment was shifted to the peasants
under the Permanent Settlement
(d) The condition of the actual cultivators
of the land declined under Permanent
Settlement
141. Consider the following statements about
the Morley-Minto reforms of 1909.
1. They were named after the British
Parliamentarians, Minto and Morley.
2. They provided for limited self-
government by increasing the number
of elected Indians in the Legislative
Councils.
3. They contained provisions that ensured
that British officials retained their
majority in the Imperial Legislative
Council.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? [CAPF 2016]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
227
142. Which of the following statements about the
ideology of Utilitarianism in the context of
British India is/are correct? [CAPF 2016]
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,
‘Utilitarians and the Raj’.
3. Utilitarians differed from the liberals in
significant ways.
4. Utilitarianism had distinct authoritarian
tendencies.
Select the correct answer using the code given
below.
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4
143. The following item consists of two
Statements I and II. Examine these two
statements carefully and select the correct
answer using the code given below.
Statement I
India’s share of world manufacturing output
steadily declined during the 19th and the
20th centuries.
Statement II
There was no absolute decline in production
in India during the colonial rule.
Codes: [CAPF 2015]
(a) Both the statements are individually true
and Statement II is the correct explanation
of Statement I
(b) Both the statements are individually
true but Statement II is not the correct
explanation of Statement I
(c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false
(d) Statement I is false but Statement II is
true
144. Which of the following statements with
regard to construction of railways in
colonial India by the British companies is/
are NOT true?
1. The companies were guaranteed a return
of 5% on their investment by Government
of India.
2. The railways were to be managed mainly
by the Government.
3. There was no system of preferential
freight charges.
4. The companies were to get the land free
from the Government.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Select the correct answer using the code given
below. [CAPF 2015]
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4
145. Which one among the following was not a
provision of the Regulating Act of 1773?
[CAPF 2014]
(a) It introduced parliamentary supervision
over the East India Company
(b) The Government of Bengal was vested in
a Governor General and the Council of
four members
(c) It changed the power of vote in the Court
of Proprietors by removing all restrictions
on qualifications
(d) The Governor-General was vested with a
casting vote
146. The Deccan Riots Commission was
concerned with [CAPF 2014]
(a) indebtedness of the peasant
(b) lack of law and order in the Deccan
(c) problems with the Ryotwari system
(d) communal riots in the Deccan
147. In 1902, Lord Curzon appointed the
University Commission including two
Indian members. Who were they?
[66th B.P.S.C. Re-Exam (Pre) 2020]
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Surendranath
Banerjee
(b) Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Rashbehari
Bose
(c) Syed Hussain Bilgrami and Surendranath
banerjee
(d) Syed Hussain Bilgrami & Justice Gurudas
Banerjee
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
148. About which Act, Jawaharlal Nehru had
said, “We were provided with a car with all
brakes and no engine”?
[66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020]
(a) Act of 1858
(b) Act of 1909
(c) Act of 1919
(d) Act of 1935
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
149. The system under which the peasant
himself owns the land and is responsible for
payment of land revenue to the Government
is known as: [65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]
PYQ Workbook
(a) Zamindari System
(b) Ryotwari System
(c) Mahalwari Sysem
(d) Dahsala System
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
150. From the options given below, find the
correct combination of the names of editors
of the nationalist newspapers The Hindu,
Kesari, Bengalee, Hindustani, Sudharak:
[64th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2018]
(a) Surendra nath Benerjee, G, Subramania
Iyer, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Ganga Prasad
Verma, Gopal krishna Gokhale
(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak, G. Subramania Iyer,
Surendra nath Banerjee, Ganga Prasad
Verma, Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(c) G. Subramania Iyer, Bal Gangadhar tilak,
Ganga Prasad Verma, Gopal Krishna
Gokhale, Surendra nath banerjee
(d) G. Subramania Iyer, Bal Gangadhar Tilak,
Surendra Nath Banerjee, Ganga Prasad
Verma, Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
151. The post of the Indian High Commission
was created by which Act?
[63rd B.P.S.C (Pre.) 2017]
(a) The Indian Councils Act, 1909
(b) The Government of India Act, 1919
(c) The Government of India Act, 1935
(d) The Indian Independence Act, 1947
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
152. Who is known as the father of Dyarchy?
[B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]
(a) Lord Clive
(b) Hector Munaro
(c) Lord Macaulay
(d) Sir Leoni Cartis
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
153. First Indian elected to the British House
of Commons was Dadabhai Naoroji who
contested on the ticket of:
[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]
(a) Liberal Party
(b) Labour Party
(c) Conservative Party
(d) Communist Party
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
228
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

154. Which journal was not associated with (a) Girish Chandra Ghosh
revolutionary activities? (b) Harish Chandra Mukherjee
[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016] (c) S.N. Banerjee
(a) Sandhya (d) Shishir Kumar Ghose
(b) Yugantar
(c) Gadar 157. Which of the following papers was
(d) Young India essentially the mouthpiece of the policies of
(e) None of the above/More than one of the liberals? [47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]
above (a) New India
155. The Montagu-Chelmsford Report formed (b) Leader
the basis of: (c) Young India
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2011, 53rd to 55th (d) Free Press Journal
B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]
(a) the Indian Councils Act, 1909 158. Who in America started to issue newspaper
(b) the Government of India Act, 1919 ‘Free India’? [39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
(c) the Government of India Act, 1935 (a) Ram Nath Puri
(d) the Indian Independence Act, 1947 (b) G.D. Kumar
156. Who founded the ‘Amrit Bazar Patrika’? (c) Lala Hardayal
[47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005] (d) Tarak Nath Das

229 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
SOLUTIONS
5.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions
1. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Charter Act of 1833 addressed the internal challenges
in India and the political situation in England. It renamed
the position of the Governor-General of Bengal as the
Governor-General of India and vested in him all civil and
military power. Lord William Bentinck became the first
governor-general of India.
2. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Under the Government of India Act 1919, Subjects were
divided into two lists: ‘reserved’ which included subjects
such as law and order, finance, land revenue, irrigation, etc.,
and ‘transferred’ subjects such as education, health, local
government, industry, agriculture, excise, etc.
The reserved subjects were to be administered by the
governor through his executive council of bureaucrats,
and the transferred subjects were to be administered by
ministers nominated from among the elected members of
the legislative council.
Option 1 is correct: Law and order was a reserved subject
under the Government of India Act, 1919
Option 2 is incorrect: local government was a transferred
subject under the Government of India Act, 1919.
Option 3 is correct: Land Revenue was a reserved subject
under the Government of India Act, 1919
Option 4 is correct: Police was a reserved subject under the
Government of India Act, 1919.
3. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Montague Chelmsford reforms
of 1919 did not recommend granting voting rights to all
women above the age of 21. Although it recommended the
voting rights to women in limited numbers to be extended
on the basis of property, tax or education.
Statement 2 is correct. The Government of India Act
1935, under part XII section 308 and under schedule I part
I, specifically mentions about reservation for women in
legislature.
4. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The ‘Instrumentation of Instructions” contained in the
Government of India Act, 1935 have been incorporated
in the Constitution of India in the year 1950 as Directive
Principles of State Policy. In the words of Dr. B. R.
Ambedkar, the Directive Principles are like the instrument
of instructions, which were issued to the Governor-General
PYQ Workbook
and to the Governors by the British Government under the
Government of India Act of 1935. The only difference is that
now they are instructions to the legislature and the executive.
5. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The reason for such regulation was Lord Cornwallis was
alarmed at the extent of power concentrated in the District
Collector and felt that such absolute power was undesirable
in one person. The revenue administration was separated
from the judiciary functions by the Charter Act of 1793.
Important Tips
The features of Charter Act, 1793:
• It gave the Governor-General more powers and control
over the governments of the subordinate Presidencies
of Bombay and Madras.
• It extended the trade monopoly of the Company in
India for another period of twenty years.
• It stated that the Commander-in-Chief was not to be
a member of the Governor-General’s council, unless
he was so appointed.
• The Home Government members were to be paid out
of Indian revenues, which continued up to 1919.
• The Company, after paying the necessary expenses,
interest, dividends, salaries, etc., from the Indian
revenues, was to pay 5 lakh pounds annually to the
British government.
• The royal approval was mandated for the appointment
of the Governor General, the Governors, and the
Commander-in-Chief.
• Senior officials of the Company were debarred from
leaving India without permission. Doing so was
treated as resignation.
6. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy collaborated with David Hare and
Alexander Duff to establish Hindu College in Calcutta in
1817. This initiative marked a significant step in introducing
English language education and promoting liberal education
among Hindus in Bengal. The college’s foundation laid the
groundwork for modern education in the region and played
a pivotal role in shaping educational reforms.
7. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Al-Hilal (The Crescent) was an Urdu newspaper started
by Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad in 1912. The newspaper’s
first edition was published in Kolkata. The main aim of the
newspaper was to create a national consciousness among the
masses, and to encourage them to join the freedom struggle in
230
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
large numbers. Al-Hilal advocated for communal harmony
and asserted that Independence for India could only be
achieved if all communities set aside their petty differences
and launch a combined struggle against colonialism.
8. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Som Prakash newspaper was started by Ishwar Chandra
Vidyasagar in 1859 under the editorship of Dwarakanath
Vidyabhushan. It was a weekly paper coming from the
Sanskrit Press. It is famous for its contribution to the Indigo
Movement.
9. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Charter Act of 1813 (not
the Charter Act of 1853) abolished East India Company
monopoly of Indian trade except trade in tea and trade with
China. Whereas Charter Act of 1833 ended the activities
of the East India Company as a commercial body and made
company a purely administrative body.
Statement 2 is correct: Under the Government of India
Act of 1858, the British Parliament abolished the East India
Company altogether and undertook the responsibility of
ruling India directly. This act transferred the powers to the
British Crown.
10. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The credit for establishing the
modern police system in India goes to Lord Cornwallis. Lord
Cornwallis established a permanent police force to maintain
peace and order by resurrecting and modernizing the old
Indian system of thanas (circles) in each district, each led
by a daroga (an Indian) and a superintendent of police (SP).
Statement 2 is correct: Section 13 of the Regulating Act
1773 made a detailed provision for the establishment of a
Supreme Court of judicature at Fort William, in Calcutta.
This Supreme Court consisted of a chief justice and three
other judges of higher rank but inferior to the chief justice.
The British King appointed the judges.
Statement 3 is correct: The Indian Penal Code (IPC) was
drafted by Thomas Babington Macaulay in 1860.
Note: Indian Penal Code came to effect in 1862.
11. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Government of India Act, 1935
abolished dyarchy in the provinces and introduced
‘provincial autonomy’ in its place. The provinces were
allowed to act as autonomous units of administration in their
defined spheres. Moreover, the Act introduced responsible
Governments in provinces, that is, the Governor was
required to act with the advice of ministers responsible to
the provincial legislature.
231
Statement 2 is correct: Government of India Act, 1935
provided for the establishment of a Federal Court, which
was set up in 1937.
Statement 3 is correct: Government of India Act, 1935
provided for the establishment of an All-India Federation
consisting of provinces and princely states as units. The Act
divided the powers between the Centre and units in terms of
three lists–Federal List, Provincial List, and Concurrent List.
Residuary powers were given to the Viceroy. However, the
federation never came into being as the princely states did
not join it.
12. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
In 1882, Lord Rippon repealed the Vernacular Press Act of
1878. The Vernacular Press Act (1878) was enacted to curtail
the freedom of the Indian press (non-English newspaper) and
prevent the expression of criticism toward British policies.
13. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Government of India Act, 1935
abolished dyarchy in the Governor’s provinces and
introduced ‘provincial autonomy’ in its place. The Act
introduced responsible Governments in provinces, that is,
the Governor was required to act with the advice of ministers
responsible to the provincial legislature. This came into
effect in 1937 and was discontinued in 1939.
Statement 2 is correct: Government of India Act, 1935
provides power to the Governors to veto legislative action
and to legislate on their own. The governor could refuse
assent to a bill; promulgate ordinances; and enact governor’s
Acts.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Government of India Act, 1935
did not abolish the principle of communal representation.
Contrary, it further extended the principle of communal
representation by providing separate electorates for
depressed classes (Scheduled Castes), women and labour
(workers).
14. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
During the colonial period in India, the purpose of the
Whitley Commission, officially known as the Royal
Commission on Labour, was to investigate and report
on the existing conditions of labor in India and make
recommendations for improvements. The commission,
chaired by John Henry Whitley, submitted its report in 1931.
The report highlighted the role of poverty in India’s social
and industrial problems and criticized British employers for
perpetuating these issues. It also emphasized the need for
systematic collection of labor statistics and recommended
suitable legislation for this purpose.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

Important Tips
Important Commissions and committees during British rule in India:

Committees/Commission Year Governor Subjects of the committees

General/Viceroy

Scott-Moncrieff Commission 1901 Lord Curzon Irrigation

Fraser Commission 1902 Lord Curzon Police Reforms
Hunter Committee Report 1919 Lord Chelmsford Punjab Disturbances
Muddiman Committee 1924 Lord Reading To examine the working of Diarchy of the Montague-
Chelmsford reforms
Butler Commission 1927 Lord Irwin Indian State’s relation with the British Crown
Whitley Commission 1929 Lord Irwin Labour
Simon Commission 1928 Lord Irwin To investigate the progress of the governance scheme
and suggest new steps for reforms.
Sapru Commission 1935 Lord Linlithgow Unemployment
Chatfield Commission 1939 Lord Linlithgow Army
FIoud Commission 1940 Lord Linlithgow Tenancy in Bengal

15. Solution: (d) 17. Solution: (a)

Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Under Indian Councils Act of 1909 (not the Charter Act
of 1833), an Indian was to be appointed as a Law Member
of the Governor-General’s Council. Satyendra Sinha was
appointed as a law member of viceroy’s executive council in
1909. At central government level, an Indian member was
taken for the first time in the Executive Council.
Important Tips
The features of Charter Act, 1833:
• It made the Governor-General of Bengal as the
Governor General of India. Lord William Bentick
was the first Governor-General of India.
• Governor General of India was vested with all civil
and military powers. All law-making powers to be
conferred on Governor-General-in-council.
• The trading activities of the East India Company
were to be abolished. It ended the activities of the
East India Company as a commercial body. It became a
purely administrative body.
• It deprived the Governor of Bombay and Madras of
their legislative powers.
16. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Indian Councils Act, 1861 of British India strengthened the
Viceroy’s authority over his executive council by substituting
“portfolio” or departmental system for corporate
functioning. Under this system, a member of the Viceroy’s
council was made in-charge of one or more departments of
the Government and was authorised to issue final orders on
behalf of the council on matters of his departments.
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
• According to Charter Act of 1813, Company’s trade
monopoly in India was ended. It means the Indian trade
was thrown open to all British merchants. However, it
continued the monopoly of the company over trade in tea
and trade with China.
• According to Regulating Act of 1773, the Company’s
directors were asked to present to the British Government
all correspondence and documents pertaining to the
administration of the company. It strengthened the
control of the British Government over the Company by
requiring the Court of Directors to report on its revenue,
civil, and military affairs in India.
• According to Government of India Act of 1858, the
power to govern was transferred from the East India
Company to the British Crown. The Company lost all
its administrative powers following the Government of
India Act of 1858, and its Indian possessions and armed
forces were taken over by the Crown.
• Pitt’s India Act of 1784 set up a Board of Control in
Britain to fully regulate the East India to manage the
political affairs. It empowered the Board of Control to
supervise and direct all operations of the civil and military
government or revenues of the British possessions in
India.
18. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Government of India Act of 1935 provided for the
establishment of an All-India Federation consisting of
British provinces and princely states as units. The real
intention of the British to include the Princely States in

PYQ Workbook 232

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
the Federal Union proposed by the India Act of 1935 was
to use the princes to counterbalance the anti-imperialist
doctrines of the nationalist leaders. As the British Provinces
were in favour of bringing some democratic change while
Princely states were not in favour of any democratic changes
that can affect their authority.
19. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The zamindars were required to issue pattas to the farmers
under the Permanent Settlement of 1793. However, many
zamindars did not issue pattas to the farmers. The reason
for this was that there was no official check upon the
zamindars. The British government did not have the
resources to monitor the zamindars effectively. As a result,
the zamindars were able to exploit the farmers without
fear of reprisal. The pattas were important for the farmers
because they gave them a legal right to the land they were
cultivating. Without pattas, the farmers were vulnerable to
eviction by the zamindars. The zamindars often used the
threat of eviction to extract more rent from the farmers.
Important Tips
Challenges of the Zamindari System:
• Impact on Cultivators:
• High Rents: Cultivators faced oppression and
exploitation due to exorbitant rents charged by
zamindars.
• Land Insecurity: The uncertainty of land ownership
under the system added to their woes.
• Indebtedness: Many cultivators had to borrow
money to pay rents, leading to cycles of debt.
• Eviction Threat: Failure to pay rents resulted in
eviction from the land, worsening their situation.
• Struggles for Zamindars:
• High Revenue: The fixed revenue demand was
often challenging for zamindars to meet.
• Risk of Loss: Zamindars failing to pay revenue
risked losing their zamindari rights.
• Lack of Incentive: Zamindars were more
interested in collecting rents than investing in land
improvement.
• Limitations for the Company:
• Growing Cultivation: Increased cultivation and
rising prices benefited zamindars but not the
colonial company.
• Revenue Constraint: The company couldn’t adjust
the permanent revenue demand despite changing
economic conditions.
• Stagnant Income: The company’s income remained
stagnant, even as agrarian activities expanded.
20. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
233
Sir Charles Wilkins (1749 – 1836) was the first Englishman
to translate the Bhagavad Gita into English. He was an
Orientalist and a founding member of The Asiatic Society.
His translation of the Gita, titled ‘Bhagvat-geeta’ or
Dialogues of Krishna and Arjun, was published in 1785.
Wilkins’ work was significant not only for its translation but
also for introducing the term “Hinduism” to refer to various
mythologies and cultures existing in India. His translation
had a profound influence on European perceptions of Hindu
philosophy and Romantic literature.
21. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Government of India Act of
1935 abolished dyarchy in the provinces. But it provided
for the adoption of dyarchy at the Centre. Consequently,
the federal subjects were divided into reserved subjects and
transferred subjects. However, this provision of the Act did
not come into operation at all.
Statement 2 is correct: It introduced bicameralism in six
out of eleven provinces. Thus, the legislatures of Bengal,
Bombay, Madras, Bihar, Assam and the United Provinces
were made bicameral consisting of a legislative council
(upper house) and a legislative assembly (lower house).
Statement 3 is correct: It introduced ‘provincial autonomy’
in place of dyarchy in the provinces. The provinces were
allowed to act as autonomous units of administration in their
defined spheres. Hence, the Act introduced responsible
Governments in provinces, that is, the Governor was
required to act with the advice of ministers responsible to
the provincial legislature.
Statement 4 is correct: Government of India Act of 1935
provided for the establishment of an All-India Federation
consisting of provinces and princely states as units.
22. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The term “imperial preference” referred to the granting
of special privileges to British imports in India during
the colonial period. This practice involved minimal or
no charges on British goods brought into India, while
Indian exports to Britain faced significant duties. This
unequal practice aimed to benefit Britain’s economy, stifling
Indian industries by flooding markets with British goods
and inhibiting local value addition. ‘Imperial preference’
showcased colonial economic exploitation, suppressing
India’s development and autonomy through skewed trade
policies, deepening economic inequality.
23. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The British colonial government did not encourage the
development of industries in India. They preferred to keep
India as a market for British goods. The British also imposed
high tariffs on Indian goods, making it difficult for Indian
industries to compete with British industries. In addition,
the British government encouraged the rich Indians to
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
invest in land rather than in industries. This was because
land was seen as a safe investment and it gave the rich
Indians a social status. As a result of these policies, there
was no independent development of industries in India
during British rule. The Indian economy remained largely
agricultural and backward.
24. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The most short-lived of all of Britain’s constitutional
experiments in India was Indian Council Act of 1909. The
Indian Councils Act of 1909 is also called Morley-Minto
Reforms. It lasted only for 10 years until Government of
India Act of 1919 was introduced.
Important Tips
The features of Indian Council Act, 1909:
• It considerably increased the size of the legislative
councils, both Central and provincial. The number
of members in the Central legislative council was
raised from 16 to 60. The number of members in the
provincial legislative councils was not uniform.
• The Act of 1909 created non-official majority of
members in all the Provincial Legislative Councils,
but maintained official majority of members in the
Central Legislative Council.
• It enlarged the deliberative functions of the legislative
councils at both levels. For example, members were
allowed to ask supplementary questions, move
resolutions on the budget and so on.
• For the first time, it provided for the association of
Indians with the executive councils of the Viceroy and
Governors. Satyendra Prasad Sinha became the first
Indian to join the Viceroy’s executive council. He was
appointed as the Law Member.
• It also provided for the separate representation of
presidency corporations, chambers of commerce,
universities and zamindars.
25. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Harcourt Butler Committee, chaired by Sir Harcourt
Butler in 1923, clarified British paramountcy over princely
states in India. It reaffirmed the doctrine of paramountcy,
provided guidelines for its application, and emphasized fair
financial dealings. Princely states wouldn’t be transferred
without their consent to Indian government control.
The Hartog Committee, formed in 1929 by the Simon
Commission in British India and led by Philip Hartog, aimed
to address issues in education. It prioritized mass education,
identified problems in primary schools like wastage and
stagnation, and recommended government oversight. It also
suggested curriculum reforms for secondary and higher
education, advocated for women’s education, and highlighted
the need for improved facilities.
PYQ Workbook
The Hunter Commission was established after the Jallianwala
Bagh massacre in 1919. Led by Lord William Hunter, it found
General Dyer’s actions unjustified, but justified martial law
in Punjab. The majority report reprimanded Dyer for his
duty concept, while the minority report questioned martial
law’s necessity and disturbance severity. Compensation was
provided to the victims’ dependents.
The Muddiman Committee, led by Sir Alexander Muddiman
in 1924, addressed Indian leaders’ demands regarding the
diarchy issue in the 1921 Indian Council Act. It produced
majority and minority reports, with the majority suggesting
minor changes, while the minority called for a permanent
Constitution. Lord Birkenhead favored the majority report.
26. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was a Muslim scholar and reformer
who did not believe in the drain theory of Dadabhai
Naoroji. He argued that the British rule had a positive
impact on the Indian economy and that the drain of wealth
was not as severe as Naoroji had claimed.
27. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Drain Theory as propounded by Dadabhai Naoroji refers
to the concept that a part of India’s national wealth or
total annual product was being drained or exported to
Britain without commensurate material returns to India.
He calculated that India was losing about £150 million every
year to Britain.
The drain theory was based on the following factors:
• The excess of exports over imports, which meant that
India was sending more goods to Britain than it was
receiving from Britain.
• The high salaries paid to British officials in India, which
were then sent back to Britain.
• The profits made by British companies in India, which
were also sent back to Britain.
• The cost of the British military in India, which was paid
for by the Indian government.
Important Tips
Impacts of Wealth Drain from India:
• Reduced Local Circulation of Money: Money sent
abroad hindered local economic circulation, impacting
trade, industries, and agriculture. This deprived local
businesses and individuals of the benefits of circulating
capital within India.
• Stifled Economic Growth: The drain impeded the
growth of vital sectors like trades, industries, and
agriculture that relied on circulating capital. Capital
outflow to England led to a shortage of funds, hindering
substantial industrial development.
234
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Impoverishment of Peasantry: Draining land revenue,
a key capital source, led to rural impoverishment. The
peasantry was disproportionately affected, denying
them potential economic growth opportunities.
• Capital Shortage and Industrial Stagnation: Loss of
productive capital hindered India’s industrial growth,
preventing robust manufacturing development. Capital
scarcity impeded India’s own industrial revolution.
• Inhibited Capital Formation: Drainage disrupted
capital formation necessary for long-term economic
growth, curtailing India’s potential for domestic
development.
• Skewed Socioeconomic Structure: The drain
worsened wealth inequality, hindering middle-class
formation and marginalizing socioeconomic progress.
• Undermined Self-Reliance: Wealth drainage weakened
India’s internal resource generation, heightening
dependence on foreign capital.
28. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The foundation of the modern educational system in
India was established by Macaulay’s Minutes of 1835.
In this historic document, Thomas Babington Macaulay
emphasized the importance of providing English education
to Indians. He believed that this approach would create
a class of Indians who shared British values and interests.
This marked a significant shift in educational policy,
promoting Western sciences and literature in English as
the primary focus of education in India. This approach
aimed to produce individuals who were “Indian in blood and
color, but English in taste, opinions, morals, and intellect.”
Important Tips
The Macaulay Minute of 1835:
Objectives:
• Exclusivity of Western Education: The famous Lord
Macaulay’s Minute settled the dispute in favor of
Anglicists—the limited government resources were to
be devoted solely to the teaching of Western sciences
and literature in English, excluding other forms of
education.
• University Closure: He advocated for the closure
of universities offering courses solely in eastern
philosophy.
• Downward Filtration Theory: Macaulay suggested a
limited number of Indians should receive government
education, who would then disseminate knowledge
to the broader population, known as the “downward
filtration” approach.
• Indian-British Identity: His vision aimed to cultivate
Indians who could align with British interests—being
“Indian by blood and colour, but English by likes,
beliefs, morality, and intellect.”
235
Features:
• Promotion of European Education: Macaulay stressed
the importance of emphasizing European science and
literature for Indians, suggesting that resources be
allocated primarily to English education.
• Stipends and Education: New students entering
institutions under the committee would not receive
stipends. However, existing professors and students
would continue to be stipend recipients.
• Oriental Works Funding: Government funds would
no longer support the publication of oriental works.
• Future Allocation: Macaulay’s proposal directed
future government expenditures exclusively to English
literature and science education for Indians.
5.2. Other Examination Previous Years’
Questions
29. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
When debate on the inclusion of separate electorate in
Indian Constitution was conducted, Sardar Vallabh Bhai
Patel said in constituent assembly, “Can you show me one
free country where there are separate electorates? ..... The
British element is gone, but they have left mischief behind”.
Patel said that there was unanimity of opinion “on the point
that there should be no more separate electorates and we
should have joint electorates hereafter”. Patel iterated his
uncompromising opposition to the principle of separate
electorates. He said, the introduction of the system of
communal electorates was a poison which had entered into
the body politic of the country.
30. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Assertion (A) is true: The British Government did introduce
different land revenue systems in various parts of India
based on local conditions, historical practices, and economic
considerations. For instance, the Permanent Settlement,
Ryotwari System, and Mahalwari System were implemented
in different regions.
Reason (R) is true: The introduction of varied land revenue
systems did lead to the emergence of different classes among
the peasantry, depending on how the systems operated and
the rights granted to landholders. The systems affected
landownership, tenancy, and economic relationships
differently across regions.
Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct
explanation of (A): While it’s true that the introduction of
different land revenue systems resulted in the creation of
different classes within the Indian peasantry, the connection
between the two statements is not as straightforward as cause
and effect. The creation of different classes was not the
purpose of introducing different revenue systems; rather,
it was a consequence of a complex set of factors including
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
administrative policies, economic considerations, and
social dynamics.
31. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The correct matching of List-I with List-II is as follows:
A. Jajmani -1. North India
B. Bara Balute -3. Maharashtra
C. Mirasi - 4. Tamil Nadu
D. Adabe - 2. Karnataka
Important Tips
• The jajmani system, prevalent mainly in North India,
was an economic arrangement where lower castes
provided specific services to upper castes in return
for goods, maintaining a patron-client relationship.
Services were hereditary, exchanged within families,
fostering self-sufficient village economies.
• The Bara Balutedar system in Maharashtra comprised
twelve hereditary trades with roles like priests,
barbers, blacksmiths, and more. They received village
produce for services under a barter system. Balutedars
held privileges at ceremonies and received payments in
cash or kind. This system, akin to the jajmani system,
was agriculturally linked and had hereditary rights. It
was abolished by law in 1958.
• In pre-colonial South India, land was intertwined with
social relationships, forming a ‘share distribution
system.’ Village produce was divided into shares,
sustaining those in production roles, a concept known
as “kudavolai” in Tamil. The mirasi system, analogous
to inherited rights, prevailed, fostering flexibility by
linking shares to roles, accommodating mobility.
Temples and Brahmins also received dues. This
indigenous, enduring mirasi system played a pivotal
role in Tamil Nadu’s history.
32. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Assertion (A) is true: The Asiatic Society of Bengal was
established on January 15, 1784, by Sir William Jones, a
British lawyer and orientalist. Warren Hastings was the
governor-general of Bengal at the time, and he was a great
supporter of the society. He even declined the offer of
presidency of the society in favor of Jones, who was a more
qualified scholar.
Reason (R) is true: Warren Hastings was a prominent
scholar and orientalist. He supported and encouraged the
study of languages like Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic, which
were crucial for understanding the cultural and historical
heritage of India and other Asian regions.
(R) is the correct explanation of (A): Reason (R) supports
Assertion (A) by explaining that Warren Hastings, who was
a knowledgeable scholar and orientalist, actively promoted
the study of languages like Sanskrit, Persian, and Arabic.
PYQ Workbook
This explains his association with the establishment of The
Asiatic Society of Bengal and his choice to nominate Sir
William Jones as the president, showcasing his commitment
to scholarly pursuits.
33. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The correct chronological order of the events is as follows:
• Wood’s Despatch (1854): Charles Wood, President of
the Board of Control of the East India Company, sent the
influential Wood’s Despatch in 1854 to Lord Dalhousie,
promoting English education in India with vernacular
languages in primary schools and English as the medium
in colleges, shaping Indian education significantly.
• Hunter Commission (1882): The Hunter Commission
of 1882 made several key recommendations for the
education system in British India, including: prioritizing
literate candidates for government jobs, expanding
primary schools in underdeveloped areas, entrusting
local self-government bodies with primary education
management, encouraging private secondary schools
with government funds, revising the secondary school
curriculum, discouraging missionary schools, and
promoting the education of girls and women.
• Sadler Commission (1917): The Sadler Commission of
1917, also known as the Calcutta University Commission,
was established to address issues in Calcutta University
and Indian education. It recommended improvements
in teacher training, university autonomy, separation
of secondary and university education, and the
establishment of boards for secondary and intermediate
education. It also emphasized the need for women’s
education and the expansion of educational institutions
in towns.
• Sargeant Plan (1944): The Sergeant Plan of Education,
outlined in the 1944 Sargent Report, proposed a
comprehensive educational system with pre-primary
education for 3-6-year-olds, universal primary education
for ages 6-11 and 11-14, middle schools with diverse
courses, and high schools divided into academic
and technical streams. It emphasized mother tongue
instruction, teacher training, physical education, and
equal opportunities for students.
34. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
• Yugantar was founded by Barindra Kumar Ghosh (not
by Mahatma Gandhi). Barindra Kumar Ghosh aas an
Indian revolutionary, journalist and a younger brother of
Sri Aurobindo Ghosh. The first editor of the Jugantar was
Bhupendranath Dutta. He played a significant role in
the revolutionary activities of the Indian independence
movement, particularly in Bengal.
• Indian Opinion was started in 1903, Young India and
Navjivan in 1919 by Gandhi.
236
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
35. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
• Kaal: Shivram Mahadev Paranjape was the founding
father and editor of the weekly newspaper Kaal. It was
founded in 1897 in Pune.
• Bangalee: It was edited by several notable figures,
including Girish Chandra Ghose and Surendranath
Banerjee. It was one of the highest circulated weekly
newspaper in the late 19 th and early 20 th century.
• Sudharak: Gopal Krishna Gokhale established the
Servants of India Society in 1905 and edited “Sudharak”,
a quarterly Journal of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha. He
also started Hitavada newspaper in 1911.
• Shom Prakash: It was started by Ishwar Chandra
Vidyasagar in 1859 under the editorship of Dwarakanath
Vidyabhushan. It was a weekly paper coming from the
Sanskrit Press. It is remembered for its contribution to
the Indigo Movement.
36. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The correct chronological order of the events is:
• Ban on Sati (1829)
• Woods Despatch (1854)
• Rowlatt Act (1919)
• Vernacular Press Act (1878)
37. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Assertion (A) is true: India did generally have a favorable
balance of trade during British rule. It implies that the value
of its exports exceeded the value of its imports, resulting
in a surplus. This was due to the significant export of raw
materials, agricultural products, and handicrafts from India
to Britain.
Reason (R) is true: The drain of wealth from India took
the form of unrequired exports, where valuable resources
and goods were exported to Britain without receiving
proportionate benefits in return. This economic exploitation
led to a significant outflow of wealth from India, contributing
to its economic subjugation.
(R) is the correct explanation of (A): The drain of wealth,
characterized by unrequired exports, played a crucial role in
maintaining the favorable balance of trade for Britain. India’s
surplus exports contributed to Britain’s economic prosperity
while hindering India’s own development. Thus, the drain of
wealth was the underlying reason behind India’s favorable
trade balance during British rule.
38. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In 1901, Thomas Robertson became the special
commissioner to assess the Railway’s functioning. The
Robertson commission proposed the establishment of a
Railway Board with a chairman, 2 members, and 1 secretary,
237
which was implemented in 1905, making it subordinate to
the Government.
Following the famine of 1899-1900, Lord Curzon appointed
a famine commission led by Anthony MacDonnell. In its
report in 1901, it summarized principles of relief suggesting
variations wherever necessary.
Following the devastating famine of 1896-1900, a focus
on internal administrative reforms was heightened. An
Irrigation Commission under Sir Colin Scott-Moncrieff,
appointed by Lord Curzon, outlined plans for constructing
irrigation works, with Punjab’s 2714-mile main canal being
a crucial element.
The Indian Police Commission of 1902-03, led by Sir
Andrew Frazer and Lord Curzon, aimed to reform India’s
police system. It proposed centralizing police intelligence,
separating executive and judicial roles, and establishing a
police training school, contributing to lasting improvements
in policing.
39. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Deindustrialization in India
commenced with the Charter Act of 1813, which terminated
the East India Company’s trade monopoly. The Act enabled
British merchants to engage in unrestricted trade, causing
an influx of inexpensive British goods. The ensuing one-
sided free trade policy disadvantaged Indian industries,
precipitating their decline.
Statement 2 is correct: The abolition of the monopoly trade
rights of the East India Company aggravated the process
of deindustrialization in India. This is because it led to
increased competition for Indian industries from British
industries. Indian industries were not able to compete with
British industries, which were more efficient and had access
to cheaper raw materials. This led to the further decline of
Indian industries.
40. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
One of the reasons for considering the Charter Act of 1813
important for India is it made a financial allocation for
the education of Indian people. It provided for the spread
of western education among the inhabitants of the British
territories in India. A sum of one lakh rupees was to be
set aside for the revival, promotion, and encouragement of
literature, learning, and science among the natives of India,
every year.
Important Tips
The features of Charter Act, 1813:
• It abolished the trade monopoly of the company in India
i.e., the Indian trade was thrown open to all British
merchants. However, it continued the monopoly of the
company over trade in tea and trade with China.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• It allowed the Christian missionaries to come to India
for the purpose of enlightening the people.
• It authorised the Local Governments in India to
impose taxes on persons. They could also punish the
people for not paying taxes.
• The regulations made by the Councils of Madras,
Bombay, and Calcutta were now required to be laid
before the British Parliament. The constitutional
position of the British territories in India was thus
explicitly defined for the first time.
41. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The first Hindi language newspaper, ‘Udant Martand’ (The
Rising Sun), was launched in India on May 30, 1826. Pt.
Jugal Kishore Shukla produced the weekly newspaper from
Kolkata every Tuesday.
42. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Charter Act of 1853 for the first time created a functioning
Legislature Council in India. It separated, for the first time,
the legislative and executive functions of the Governor-
General’s council. It established a separate Governor-
General’s legislative council which came to be known as the
Indian (Central) Legislative Council. This legislative wing
of the council functioned as a mini-Parliament, adopting
the same procedures as the British Parliament. Thus, for the
first-time legislation was treated as a special function of the
government.
Important Tips
The features of Charter Act, 1853:
• It introduced an open competition system of selection
and recruitment of civil servants. The covenanted civil
service was, thus, thrown open to the Indians also.
• It introduced, for the first time, local representation
in the Indian (Central) Legislative Council. Of the
six new legislative members of the Governor General’s
council, four members were appointed by the local
(provincial) governments of Madras, Bombay, Bengal
and Agra.
• The Charter Act of 1853 stated that the Company
would be responsible for paying the salaries of the
Board of Control members, its secretary, and other
officers.
• The Court of Directors, by the Act, also could alter the
boundaries of the existing states and incorporate the
newly acquired state.
• Power was given to the Court of Directors to
constitute a new Presidency.
• The Act empowered the British Crown to appoint a
Law Commission in England to examine the drafts.
43. Solution: (d)
PYQ Workbook
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Under Indian Councils Act of 1892, the British for the first
time introduced the system of indirect elections in India. The
act brought the provision of bringing additional members
into the Legislative Council through the indirect election.
For the first time, the element of an election was introduced
into the Indian political system.
Important Tips
The features of Indian Councils Act, 1892:
• It increased the number of additional (non-official)
members in the Central and provincial legislative
councils but maintained the official majority in them.
• It increased the functions of legislative councils and
gave them the power of discussing the budget and
addressing questions to the executive.
• The act made a limited and indirect provision for the
use of election in filling up some of the non-official
seats both in the Central and provincial legislative
councils. The word “election” was, however, not used
in the Act.
44. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Chronological order:
• Dramatic performances Act (1876): The British
Government introduced the Dramatic Performances Act
in 1876 to regulate and control seditious Indian theatre
used as a form of protest against colonial rule.
• Vernacular Press Act (1878): The Vernacular Press Act
of 1878 in British India aimed to control the indigenous
press, restricting criticism of British policies. Proposed
by Viceroy Lytton and unanimously passed, it enabled
government censorship, monitoring of Vernacular
newspapers, and warnings for seditious content,
excluding English-language publications.
• Bengal Tenancy Act (1885): The Bengal Tenancy Act
of 1885 was introduced by the Bengal government in
response to the Pabna Agrarian Uprisings, addressing the
rights of zamindars and tenants amid widespread peasant
protests.
• North-Western Provinces and Oudh Act (1890): The
North-Western Provinces and Oudh Act, 1890, aimed
to enhance the administration of these territories under
the Lieutenant Governor of the North-Western Provinces
and the Chief Commissioner of Oudh by amending
relevant enactments.
45. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Paternalism in Governance in the Indian context is
associated with Thomas Munro. He was a Scottish soldier
and British colonial administrator who served as the governor
of Madras Presidency. Munro introduced the ryotwari system
of land revenue and initiated reforms in the judicial and
police systems during his tenure. Munro’s approach aimed to
238
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
address social and administrative issues while respecting
local customs. His governance approach aimed to protect
and guide the people, reflecting a paternalistic attitude.
46. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar said, ‘I don’t have to beg pardon in
connection with the allegation that in the draft of the
Constitution, a major part of the Government of India Act,
1935, has again been reproduced’. Actually, many critics
called the Constitution as a “Carbon Copy of the 1935
Act” or an “Amended Version of the 1935 Act”. Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar answered the above criticism in the Constituent
Assembly and said that I make no apologies. There is nothing
to be ashamed of in borrowing. It involves no plagiarism.
Nobody holds any patent rights in the fundamental ideas of
a constitution.
47. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Indian Famine Code of 1883 was prepared by the
Strachey Commission. This commission, led by Richard
Strachey, was appointed in 1880 by Lord Lytton, the then
Viceroy of India, to formulate general principles and
suggest measures for dealing with famines in India. The
code recommended various measures, including adjusting
wages for laborers, providing gratuitous relief to the poor,
and suspensions/remissions of land revenue and rents
during famine situations. It also laid the foundation for the
provincial famine codes.
Important Tips
Other Famine Commission:
• Campbell Commission, 1866:
• Famine in Odisha, Bengal, Bihar, and Madras in
1865-66.
• 20 lakhs lives lost, with Odisha alone witnessing 10
lakhs casualties.
• Committee led by Sir George Campbell.
• Blamed government machinery for the tragedy.
• Viceroy Sir John Lawrence in office.
• Lyall Commission, 1896:
• Famine of 1896-97 affecting nearly every province,
impacting 34 million people.
• Sir James Lyall chaired the commission.
• Recommended flexibility to existing principles.
• Advocated the development of irrigation
facilities.
• Lord Elgin II was the Viceroy.
• McDonnell Commission, 1900:
• Led by MacDonnell.
• Stressed moral strategy, early distribution of
advances for agriculture, and sinking temporary
wells.
239
• Recommended the appointment of a famine
commissioner in provinces expecting extensive
relief operations.
• Emphasized non-official assistance, improved
transport, agricultural banks, irrigation, and
agricultural methods.
• Many recommendations accepted, but some
measures implemented half-heartedly under Lord
Curzon’s administration.
48. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The commercial monopoly of British East India Company in
tea trade was ended by the Charter Act of 1833. Whereas
Charter act of 1813 ended the monopoly of the East India
Company in India but the company›s monopoly in trade
with China and trade in tea remained intact.
49. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
In 1922, the British Government finally agreed to hold the
Indian Civil Services (I.C.S.) examination simultaneously
in India and England. Initially, the examinations for the
Indian Civil Service were conducted only in London. From
1922 onwards, the Indian Civil Service Examination began
to be held in India also.
50. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
• The Leader: It was one of the most influential English-
language newspapers in India during British Raj. It was
founded by Madan Mohan Malviya. It was published in
Allahabad.
• Bombay Chronicle: It was an English-language
newspaper founded by Sir Pherozeshah Mehta. He was
a prominent lawyer who later became president of the
Indians National Congress in 1890, and member of the
Legislative Council of Bombay in 1893.
• The Independent: It was an Allahabad based newspaper
begun by Motilal Nehru in 1919. The paper closed down
under British repression two years later. The Independent
was started on 5 February 1919 with the primary aim of
countering the moderate political line adopted by the
then leading Allahabad daily The Leader.
• Justice: The newspaper Justice began publication from
1917. Dr. T.M. Nair was the Chief Editor until his death
in 1919. In his newspaper, Dr. Nair attacked his opponents
in the Indian National Movement and supporters of the
Home Rule Movement.
51. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
• Natal Indian Congress Secretary Mansukhlal Hiralal
Nazar served as the first editor of the newspaper.
Manilal Gandhi was editor of Indian Opinion for the
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
next 36 years, making him the longest serving editor.
He did this for no salary as his father M.K. Gandhi.
• The initial tone of the newspaper was moderate. It
reiterated Indians as ‘loyal subjects of the King Emperor’
and reiterated faith in the British system.
52. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Qaumi Awaz is an Urdu language newspaper started by
Jawaharlal Nehru in 1937. It is puplished by Associated
Journals Limited. It had temporarily suspended its
publication in 2008.
53. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Regulating Act, 1773 made provision for the first time and
designated the Governor of Bengal as the ‘Governor General
of Bengal’. It also created an Executive Council of four
members to assist him. The first such Governor General was
Lord Warren Hastings.
Important Tips
The features of Regulating Act, 1773:
• It made the Governors of Bombay and Madras
presidencies subordinate to the Governor-General
of Bengal, unlike earlier, when the three presidencies
were independent of one another.
• It provided for the establishment of a Supreme Court
at Calcutta (1774) comprising one chief justice and
three other judges.
• It prohibited the servants of the Company from
engaging in any private trade or accepting presents or
bribes from the ‘natives’.
• It strengthened the control of the British Government
over the Company by requiring the Court of Directors
(governing body of the Company) to report on its
revenue, civil, and military affairs in India.
54. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The formation of the Deccan Educational Society was
associated with B.G. Tilak. In 1884, Lokmanya Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, along with Vishnushastri Chiplunkar
and Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, established the Deccan
Educational Society. The society played a significant role in
promoting education in Pune and beyond, and it established
institutions like Fergusson College and various schools to
provide education in Western subjects.
55. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Independent was an Allahabad based newspaper
begun by Motilal Nehru in 1919. The paper closed down
under British repression two years later. The Independent
was started on 5 February 1919 with the primary aim of
PYQ Workbook
countering the moderate political line adopted by the then
leading Allahabad daily The Leader.
56. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
• Bharat Mitra was a Hindi newspaper first published in
1877 in Kolkata, as a fortnightly. Harmukund Shastri
was its first editor and later Balmukund Gupta was later
appointed as the editor.
• Rashtra Mata Newspaper was started by Ganpat
Sakharam Patil in April 1888. It was published in the
Marathi language.
• Chandrakant Keni started the newspaper Prajamitra. It
was published in the Gujarati language.
• Nayak newspaper, published from Kolkata, was among
the foremost vernacular nationalist newspapers in
Bengali. This newspaper extensively cover the the second
phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement in Bengal.
57. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Among the options provided, Delhi College was
established first. It was founded in 1696 and is the oldest
existing educational institution in India. It has played a
significant role in shaping modern education, Urdu, and
Islamic learning in the country. Delhi College is now known
as Zakir Husain Delhi College and is affiliated with the
University of Delhi.
Important Tips
• Hindu College, Calcutta, was established first among
the given options. It was founded in 1899 by Krishan
Dassji Gurwale and Pandit Deen Dayal Sharma as a
response to the nationalist struggle against British
rule. Originally located in Kinari Bazar, Chandni
Chowk, it was affiliated with Punjab University until
the University of Delhi was established in 1922. The
college played a significant role in India’s freedom
struggle, hosting debates and discussions with
prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal
Nehru, and Subhash Chandra Bose.
• Mayo College, founded in 1875 by the 6th Earl of
Mayo, Richard Bourke, is a prestigious boys-only
boarding school in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India. It was
conceived to be an “Indian Eton,” providing education
to young rulers and nobles. Colonel Sir Oliver St John
became the first principal. It’s considered one of the
world’s renowned boarding schools.
• Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College was founded
in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, initially as a
primary school, with the intention of turning it
to a college level institution. It was inspired by the
Cambridge education system. It started operations on
Queen Victoria’s 56th birthday, 24 May 1875.
240
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
58. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is a central university
established in 1916 in Varanasi, UP. It was Centralised
in 1916 through the Banaras Hindu University Act.
Banaras Hindu University is India’s first central university.
It emerged from Central Hindu College founded by Annie
Besant. Spread across 1,370 acres, BHU is Asia’s largest
residential university with 30,000+ students. It’s an Institute
of Eminence and boasts 6 institutes, 14 faculties, and 140+
departments.
Important Tips
• Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), originally
established as Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College
in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, became a central
university in 1920 through the Aligarh Muslim
University Act.
• Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) is
a Central University in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The
university was established on 10 January 1996. The
university has a satellite campus at Amethi too, which
was established in 2016.
• The University of Allahabad in Prayagraj, UP, is a
central collegiate university of national importance,
founded on 23 Sept 1887. Originating from Muir
Central College, it’s among India’s oldest universities,
known as the “Oxford of the East.” Its Central University
status was re-established through the University of
Allahabad Act 2005 by the Parliament of India.
59. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
• All the three magazines - Bangawasi, Kaal and Kesari
criticized Congress for its liberal.
• The Bangabasi College Magazine was first published in
1903. It was published by the Bangabasi College Students
Union.
• Shivram Mahadev Paranjape was the founding father of
the weekly newspaper Kaal in 1898. Kaal had ushered in
a new era of satirical and incisive writing. It was known
for its radical and revolutionary views and actively
advocated for revolutionary terrorism.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak in his newpaper Kesari also
condemned the policies of congress under moderates.
60. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
English education was introduced in India in the reign of
Lord William Cavendish Bentinck, who was the Governor-
General of India from 1828 to 1835. Bentinck was a strong
advocate of Western education, and he believed that it was
essential for the modernization of India. In 1835, he passed
the English Education Act, which made English the medium
of instruction in all government schools. This act marked the
beginning of the spread of English education in India.
241
Important Tips
Feature of The English Education Act of 1835:
• Legislative Implementation: Enacted by the Council
of India, the Act enforced a decision by Lord William
Bentinck to reallocate funds as mandated by the British
Parliament for education and literature in India.
• Shift in Support: Formerly, limited backing was given
to traditional Muslim and Hindu education as well as
literature in Sanskrit and Persian. The Act redirected
support towards institutions teaching a Western
curriculum with English as the medium of instruction.
• Impact on Language: Alongside other measures
promoting English in administration and law courts,
the Act contributed to English becoming one of
India’s languages, transcending its status as merely
the language of foreign rulers.
• Macaulay’s Memorandum: Thomas Babington
Macaulay’s influential Memorandum on (Indian)
Education, a catalyst for the Act, emphasized Western
superiority and proposed English-medium higher
education to produce individuals “Indian in blood
and colour, but English in taste, opinions, morals, and
intellect.”
• Hybrid Approach: While Macaulay’s memorandum
advocated reduced support for traditional education,
the Act exhibited a more balanced stance and led to
subsequent funding provisions for both traditional
and Western education.
• Vernacular Language: Vernacular language education
received limited funding under the Act, despite
historical underrepresentation.
61. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
• Dainik Aaj: In the present-day Varanasi district, a daily
newspaper called Aaj (Today) was established in 1920 by
philanthropist Shiv Prasad Gupta. Inspired by Japan he
decided to start a nationalist newspaper in Hindi along
the lines of the London Times. The newspaper provided
support to the Indian freedom struggle, and popularized
Hindi readership.
• The Leader: It was one of the most influential English-
language newspapers in India during British Raj. It was
founded by Madan Mohan Malviya. It was published in
Allahabad.
• National Herald: It was established in Lucknow on 9
September 1938 by Jawaharlal Nehru as a tool to win
independence. It was banned by British government in
1942 during the Quit India movement. In 1938, K. Rama
Rao was appointed the paper’s first editor.
• The Pioneer: It was started by Sir George Allen in
Allahabad in 1865, who was the ‘sole manager, editor-in-
chief and distributer of the paper’. It was the first British-
owned and British-edited newspaper in northern India.
It is the only newspaper in India, which had two Nobel
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
laureates on its staff. The two Nobel laureates were-
Rudyard Kipling and Sir Winston Churchill.
62. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Permanent Settlement was introduced by Lord
Cornwallis in 1793. It was a system of land revenue settlement
in Bengal and Bihar. Under the Permanent Settlement,
the zamindars were given the right to collect land revenue
from the peasants in return for a fixed annual payment to
the British government. The Permanent Settlement was
intended to create a stable and reliable source of revenue for
the British government and to encourage the zamindars to
invest in agriculture.
Important Tips
The Permanent Settlement Agreement:
• The Permanent Settlement Agreement established the
Zamindars as permanent landowners.
• Under this arrangement, Zamindars were obligated
to remit 89% of the annual revenue to the state while
retaining 11% as their portion.
• This settlement also granted Zamindars autonomy
over the internal affairs within their districts.
63. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The East India Company Act 1813, also known as the
Charter Act 1813, granted Rs. One lakh for education in
India for the first time. This act renewed the charter of the
British East India Company and brought about changes in its
governance, including allowing funds for the promotion of
literary and scientific knowledge, and permitting Christian
missionaries to propagate their religion and teach in
Company territories.
64. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Michael Madhusudan Dutta was a renowned Bengali
poet and playwright. He is known for his efforts to blend
Western literary styles with Bengali literature. Due to his
contributions to literature and his unique approach, he
was recognized internationally. The Royal Asiatic Society
of Paris, appreciating his literary endeavors, offered him
membership. This recognition highlights his significance in
the literary world and his ability to bridge cultural influences
in his work.
65. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
In 1861, Indian mirror was published in Calcutta, West
Bengal. The newspaper was published in English. It was first
Indian daily paper in English. It was edited and published
by Manmohan Ghosh and Devendranath Tagore of Calcutta.
PYQ Workbook
66. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
On November 1, 1913, the Gadar party put out a weekly paper
called Gadar, meaning revolt. The Newspaper “Ghadar” was
published first in Urdu later in Gurumukhi script. It was
published from San Francisco in USA.
Important Tips
Gadar Party:
• The Ghadar Party was a revolutionary association
founded by Punjabi Indians in the United States and
Canada with the aim to gaining India’s independence
from British rule.
• Its aim was to get rid of the colonial superpower by
means of an armed struggle and to set up a national
democratic government on the sub-continent.
• Gadar Party was founded in 1913 with its headquarter
at San Francisco.
• In 1912–1913, the Pacific Coast Hindustan
Association was formed by Indian immigrants under
the leadership of Lala Dayal, with Sohan Singh Bhakna
as its president, which later came to be called the
Ghadar Party.
• Key members included Lala Har Dayal, Sohan Singh
Bhakna, Kartar Singh and Rashbehari Bose.
67. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lord Lytton introduced the Vernacular Press Act to
prevent newspapers from printing ‘seditious material’. The
European press used to publish content in favour of the
British government whereas the vernacular press was critical
of the government. The Vernacular Press Act (VPA) of
1878 was designed to ‘better control’ the vernacular press
and effectively punish and repress “seditious writing” in
publications in oriental languages (Indian languages). The
act came to be nicknamed “the gagging Act”.
Important Tips
The provisions of the Vernacular Press Act, 1878:
• The district magistrate was empowered to call upon
the printer and publisher of any vernacular newspaper
to enter into a bond with the government.
• The printer and publisher could also be required to
deposit security, which could be forefeited if the
regulations were contravened, and press equipment
could be seized if the offence re-occurred.
• The magistrate’s action was final and no appeal could
be made in a court of law.
• A vernacular newspaper could get exemption from
the operation of the act by submitting proofs to a
government censor.
The worst features of this act were:
• Discrimination between English and vernacular press.
• No right of appeal.
242
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
68. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The first Madrasa set up by the British in India was the
Calcutta Madrasa. It was established in Calcutta (now
Kolkata) in October 1780 by Governor General Warren
Hastings. The purpose of this educational institution was
to provide training in Persian, Arabic, and Muslim Law to
produce individuals qualified for lower posts in government
offices and courts.
69. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Vakkom Moulavi founded the weekly Swadesh Vahini
or Swadeshabhimani (The Patriot) Travancore. K. Ram
krishna Pillai took over as the editor in January 1906. He
edited Swadeshabhimani, the newspaper which became
a potent weapon against the rule of the British and the
erstwhile princely state of Travancore (Kerala) and a tool for
social transformation.
70. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Madan Mohan Malviya was a great educationist and a
nationalist leader. He was the founder of Banaras Hindu
University (BHU), which was established in 1916. He was
also a strong advocate of religious education in Indian
universities. He believed that religious education was
essential for the moral and spiritual development of the
students.
71. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
• Bombay Chronicle: It was an English-language
newspaper founded by Sir Pherozeshah Mehta. He was
a prominent lawyer who later became president of the
Indians National Congress in 1890, and member of the
Legislative Council of Bombay in 1893.
• Commonweal: Annie Besant launched the Home
Rule League in 1916 to campaign for dominion status.
She published New India and Commonweal. The
Commonweal was a weekly dealing with issues of national
reform and New India was a daily newspaper which for
fifteen years was a powerful instrument promoting Home
Rule and revolutionizing Indian journalism.
• The Leader: It was one of the most influential English-
language newspapers in India during British Raj. It was
founded by Madan Mohan Malviya. It was published in
Allahabad.
• Searchlight: Sachchidananda Sinha started the
Searchlight in 1918, in Patna. It was an English biweekly,
which became a tri-weekly in 1920 and a daily in 1930.
72. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Bengal Gazette was the title of the first newspaper in
India, published on January 29, 1780, by James Augustus
Hicky during the British Raj. People just refer to it as “Hicky’s
243
Gazette” even though it was also known as “Calcutta General
Advertiser.”
Important Tips
Other Newspapers:
• Hindustan Times: Hindustan Times was founded in
1924 in Delhi by Sunder Singh Lyallpuri, founder-
father of the Akali movement and the Shiromani Akali
Dal. The Mahatma Gandhi inaugurated the Hindustan
Times press in 1924.
• Pioneer: The Pioneer was founded in Allahabad in
1865, by George Allen, an Englishman. It was brought
out three times a week from 1865 to 1869 and daily
thereafter. It is the second oldest English language
newspaper in India still in circulation after The Times
of India. In 2010, The Pioneer launched its Hindi
version in Lucknow.
• Sambad Kaumudi: It was a Bengali weekly newspaper
published from Kolkata in the first half of the 19th
century by Ram Mohan Roy. It was first published
in 1821. It attempted to avoid the effects of the
missionaries’ propaganda and actively campaigned for
the abolition of the Sati Pratha.
73. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
On 3 April 1927, Ambedkar launched the Marathi
fortnightly ‘Bahishkrit Bharat’ to address the cause of the
depressed classes. In 1920, Ambedkar entered into the world
of newspapers. He started his first newspaper, Mooknayak,
on January 31, 1920. It ran for three years before being
closed. Later, he went on to found three more newspapers
– Bahishkrut Bharat (1927-1929), Janata (1930-56), and
Prabuddha Bharat (1956).
74. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In the Hunter Commission report of 1882, special
emphasis was placed on the development of primary
education in India. The commission, chaired by W.W.
Hunter, reviewed the educational progress in the country
and recommended measures to improve primary education.
The commission’s focus was on assessing the state of primary
education and making recommendations for its extension
and enhancement. The commission argued that primary
education was essential for the overall development of the
country and that it would help to improve the lives of the
people.
Important Tips
The Hunter Commission of 1882 made significant
recommendations that led to key changes in British India’s
education system:
• Mother Tongue as Medium: Primary education should
use the mother tongue as the medium of instruction.
• Enhanced Teacher Training: Increased establishment
of training schools for the proper training of primary
teachers.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Model Government High School: Creation of a model
government high school was suggested.
• Practical and Localized Curriculum: The school
curriculum should prioritize practical aspects and
cater to local needs.
• Local Self-Government Involvement: Primary
education management was entrusted to district and
municipal boards under the Local Self Government
Act. Separate funds were allocated for rural and urban
areas to ensure proper allocation.
• Promotion of Indian Participation: Missionary
schools were discouraged, encouraging Indian
engagement in private schools.
• Addressing Female Education: Recognizing
inadequate female education outside major cities,
the commission urged the expansion of facilities for
women’s education and put forth recommendations for
its improvement.
• Private Secondary Schools: Private entities were
encouraged to establish secondary schools with
government funding. Government-operated model
schools in each district were suggested to guide these
private institutions.
75. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Dadabhai Naoroji, authored the book “Poverty and Un-
British Rule in India” in 1901. The book presented his
theory of wealth drainage, revealing how resources were
systematically transferred from India to Britain. Naoroji
emphasized economic exploitation by detailing mechanisms
like excessive exports, over-employment of British officials,
and interest payments. His work fueled nationalist sentiment
and the demand for self-governance.
Important Tips
Indian leaders provided varying estimates of the drain’s
magnitude, subject to individual and yearly fluctuations:
• R.C. Dutt: Around £20 million, half of India’s net
revenue, was drained out annually in the early 20th
century.
• M.G. Ranade: More than one-third of India’s national
income was taken by the government through various
means.
• Dadabhai Naoroji: Roughly one-fourth of India’s
raised funds, approximately $12 million annually,
flowed to England.
• William Digby: His calculations suggested an annual
drainage of £30 million.
76. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Annie Besant launched the Home Rule League in 1916 to
campaign for dominion status. She published New India
and Commonweal. The Commonweal was a weekly dealing
PYQ Workbook
with issues of national reform and New India was a daily
newspaper which was a powerful instrument promoting
Home Rule and revolutionizing Indian journalism.
Important Tips
Arayan: Dr. Velukkutty Arayan completed his medicine
course in both Ayurveda and Allopathy (English medicine)
from Madras. In 1925, under the leadership of Velukkutty
Arayan, a Savarna Jatha (procession) was organized
supporting Vaikom Satyagraha. He started a newspaper
called ‘Arayan’ and strongly criticized the anti-Indian
policies of the government. His editorials in the newspaper
were a serious criticism of the government.
Aryan Path: It was a monthly periodical published from
Bombay and edited first by B. P. Wadia and later by
Sophia Wadia. The journal started in January 1930 and
was published at least until 1978.
77. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Dhondo Keshav Karve, also known as Maharshi Karve,
was the driving force behind the establishment of the
first Women’s University in Mumbai. He was a prominent
social reformer in India, advocating for women’s education
and welfare. In 1916, he founded the Shreemati Nathibai
Damodar Thackersey Women’s University, making it
the first women’s university in India. Karve’s efforts
were instrumental in advancing women’s education and
empowerment in the country. He was awarded the Bharat
Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1958 for his
significant contributions to society.
78. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The first to impose censorship on the press in India was Lord
Wellesley. Lord Wellesley served as Governor-General of
Bengal from 1798 to 1805. He introduced the Censorship
of Press Act in 1799, which required all newspapers and
periodicals to obtain a license from the British government
in order to publish. Under Lord Hastings, who held
progressive views, these limitations were loosened, and pre-
censorship was abolished in 1818.
Important Tips
• Governor-General John Adam passed an ordinance
in December 1823 which required that all matters
to be printed in a press or to be published should
be printed and published under a licence from the
Governor-General in Council.
• John Adam was a British administrator in India,
served as the acting Governor-General of the British
East India Company in 1823.
79. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Sir Thomas Munro is linked to the land revenue settlement
known as the Ryotwari Settlement. This system was
244
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
established in British territories of southern India, where
farmers directly paid land revenue to the state. Munro, along
with Captain Alexander Read, devised this approach in the
late 18th century, and Munro implemented it during his
governorship of Madras Presidency from 1819 to 1826.
Important Tips
• The Ryotwari System in British Southern India marked
a departure from the Permanent Settlement. Conceived
by Captain Alexander Read and implemented by Sir
Thomas Munro (1819–26), it enabled direct land
revenue payment from farmers to the state.
• Named after individual cultivators called “ryots,” it
granted them complete land rights, including sale
and lease. Ryots, ensuring rent payment, couldn’t be
evicted.
• Extending from Madras to regions like Bombay,
Berar, and Assam, this system curbed middlemen
exploitation, benefiting villagers.
80. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Raja Rammohun Roy started India’s first Persian newspaper
the Mirat-ul-Akhbar. The newspaper was first published in
1822. It was published on a weekly basis on Fridays. The
newspaper Mirat-ul-Akhbar means ‘Mirror of News’. Persian
was chosen because it was still recognised in courts, and
was seen as a means to reach the intelligentsia, the top
policymakers of the country.
Important Tips
Raja Rammohan Rai:
Journals and Magazines written by Raja Rammohan Rai:
• The Brahmanical Magazine (1821)
• The Bengali weekly
• Samvad Kaumudi (1821)
• Mirat-ul-Akbar
• The Persian weekly
Books:
• Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin (1804)
• Appeal To The Christian Public
• Vedanta Gantha (1815)
• A Defence of Hindu Theism (1820)
• History of Indian Philosophy (1829)
81. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Supreme Court was set up for the first time in India
under the Regulating Act, 1773 at Fort William in Calcutta.
It became the British India’s highest court from 1774 until
1862, when the High Court of Calcutta was established by
the Indian High Courts Act 1861. It replaced the Mayor’s
Court of Calcutta.
245
82. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Surendra Nath Banerjee was the first Indian to go to
jail in performance of his duty as a journalist. In 1883,
Banerjee was arrested for publishing remarks in his paper,
in contempt of court. He became the first Indian journalist
to be imprisoned.
83. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Indian Councils Act of 1861 empowered the Governor-
General of India or Viceroy to issue Ordinances. This
act empowered the Viceroy to issue ordinances during
an emergency, without the concurrence of the legislative
council. The life of such an ordinance was six months.
Important Tips
The features of Indian Councils Act, 1861:
• It initiated the process of decentralization by
restoring the legislative powers to the Bombay and
Madras Presidencies.
• It also provided for the establishment of new
legislative councils for Bengal, North-Western
Provinces and Punjab, which were established in 1862,
1886 and 1897, respectively.
• It empowered the Viceroy to make rules and orders
for the more convenient transaction of business in
the council. It also gave recognition to the ‘portfolio’
system, which was introduced by Lord Canning in
1859.
84. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Sri Aurobindo was affiliated with the English journal
Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram, a nationalist journal
started by Bipan Chandra Pal in 1905. The Newspaper
was influential in disseminating revolutionary ideals in
Calcutta. Aurobindo Ghosh took over the editorship of
Vande Mataram later and turned it into a mouthpiece for
his political and revolutionary ideologies.
85. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Indian Councils Act of 1909 introduced a system of
communal representation for Muslims by accepting the
concept of ‘separate electorate’. Under this, the Muslim
members were to be elected only by Muslim voters.
Important Tips
Provisions of the Morley-Minto reforms
• The legislative councils at the Centre and the provinces
increased in size.
• The legislative councils at the Centre and the provinces
were to have four categories of members as follows:
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Ex officio members: Governor-General and
members of the executive council.
• Nominated official members: Government officials
who were nominated by the Governor-General.
• Nominated non-official members: nominated by
the Governor-General but were not government
officials.
• Elected members: elected by different categories
of Indians. The elected members were elected
indirectly. The elected members were from the
local bodies, the chambers of commerce, landlords,
universities, traders’ communities and Muslims.
• In the provincial councils, non-official members were
in the majority. However, since some of the non-
official members were nominated, in total, a non-
elected majority was there.
• Indians were given membership to the Imperial
Legislative Council for the first time.
• The members could discuss the budget and move
resolutions. They could also discuss matters of public
interest.
• They could also ask supplementary questions.
• No discussions on foreign policy or on relations with
the princely states were permitted.
86. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Government of India Act, 1935 is the main source
of the Indian Constitution. The structural part of the
Indian Constitution is, to a large extent, derived from the
Government of India Act of 1935. About 250 provisions of
the 1935 Act have been included in the Indian Constitution.
Important Tips
The features of Government of India Act, 1935:
• It provided for the establishment of an All-India
Federation consisting of provinces and princely states
as units.
• It abolished dyarchy in the provinces and introduced
‘provincial autonomy’ in its place.
• It provided for the adoption of dyarchy at the Centre.
Consequently, the federal subjects were divided into
reserved subjects and transferred subjects.
• It introduced bicameralism in six out of eleven
provinces
• It further extended the principle of communal
representation by providing separate electorates for
depressed classes (Scheduled Castes), women and
labour (workers).
• It abolished the Council of India, established by the
Government of India Act of 1858. The secretary of
state for India was provided with a team of advisors.
PYQ Workbook
• It extended franchise. About 10 per cent of the total
population got the voting right.
• It provided for the establishment of a Reserve Bank of
India to control the currency and credit of the country.
• It provided for the establishment of not only a Federal
Public Service Commission, but also a Provincial
Public Service Commission and Joint Public Service
Commission for two or more provinces.
• It provided for the establishment of a Federal Court,
which was set up in 1937.
87. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Sadler Commission, also known as the Calcutta
University Commission, was related to education. It was
established in 1917 under the chairmanship of M.E. Sadler,
the vice-chancellor of Leeds University. The commission
was formed to inspect and address the challenges faced by
Calcutta University, but its findings and recommendations
had a significant impact on the overall education system
in India. The commission highlighted issues related
to university, secondary, and collegiate education and
provided recommendations for improvement.
Important Tips
The 1917 Saddler Commission presented the following
recommendations:
• Teacher Training: Emphasis on teacher training and
provision of adequate facilities for this purpose.
• University Autonomy: Universities should function
independently without external government control.
• Intermediate Colleges: A distinction between
secondary courses and university education was
established. The government gained authority to
establish Intermediate colleges.
• Separate Boards: Different boards were formed for
Intermediate and Secondary education.
• Residential Teaching College: A separate residential
teaching college was suggested in Dacca.
• Vice-Chancellor Appointment: A full-time, paid
Vice-Chancellor was to be appointed for administrative
purposes.
• Streamlined Curriculum: Intermediate Colleges
should offer varied streams like Arts, Engineering,
Science, and Industrial education.
• Entry Criteria: Only students passing the intermediate
examination, not just the Matriculation Examination,
should be eligible for university admission.
• Course Differentiation: Differentiation between Pass
and Honours courses in university education.
246
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Board Establishment: A Board of Secondary and
Intermediate Education with representation from
schools, government, universities, and Intermediate
Colleges should be established.
• Flexibility in Rules: Universities should have flexibility
in framing rules and regulations.
• Women’s Education: Establishment of a Board of
Women Education at Calcutta University to promote
women’s education.
88. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad: Al-Hilal (The Crescent)
was an Urdu newspaper started by Maulana Abdul Kalam
Azad in 1912. The newspaper’s first edition was published
in Kolkata. The main aim of the newspaper was to create a
national consciousness among the masses, and to encourage
them to join the freedom struggle in large numbers.
Pherozeshah Mehta: Bombay Chronicle was an English-
language newspaper founded by Sir Pherozeshah Mehta.
He was a prominent lawyer who later became president of
the Indians National Congress in 1890, and member of the
Legislative Council of Bombay in 1893.
Annie Besant: New India was started by Annie Besant in
1914 as daily newspaper to highlight issues related to the
Indian freedom struggle.
Mahatma Gandhi: The Young India, a weekly journal, was
published by Mahatma Gandhi from 1919 to 1931, and used
by him to spread his ideology of non-violence and resistance
against the British.
89. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lala Lajpat Rai published the Urdu daily newspaper named
‘Vande Mataram’ from Lahore in 1920. He also published an
English daily newspaper called ‘People’.
Important Tips
Other Newspaper:
• People: It was English daily newspaper started by Lala
Lajpat Rai.
• Tribune: The Tribune started publication on February
2, 1881, in Lahore. It was started by Sardar Dyal
Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist. The
Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune
(in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi). Now, it is
published from Chandigarh.
90. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The ‘Young India’ was started as a weekly by the New-York
based India Home Rule League of America (IHRLA). The
IHRLA was founded by Lala Lajpat Rai, who resided in the
United States from 1914-1919.
247
91. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
• The Hindu: It was founded in the year 1878 by G.
Subramania Iyer in Madas. The Hindu started as a
weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889 and from
then on has been steadily growing.
• Sudharak: It was a weekly newspaper started by Ganesh
Agarkar in 1888. It was edited by Gopal Krishna Gokhle.
It was published both in English as well as Marathi
languages. It was published in the city of Pune.
• The Voice of India: In the year 1883, Dadabhai Naoroji
started publishing the newspaper “The Voice of India”
from Bombay. It aims at providing an ideological
defense of Hindu society and culture through a series of
publications. Dadabhai Naoroji also started Rast Goftar
(“The Truth Teller”) in 1854, which was an Anglo-
Gujarati paper operating in Bombay.
• Bengalee: It was an English-language newspaper. It
was published in Kolkata from 1862 to 1931. It started
as a daily newspaper and later transitioned into a
weekly publication. The Bengalee was edited by several
notable figures, including Girish Chandra Ghose and
Surendranath Banerjee.
92. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The elections of the Central Legislative Assembly were held
under the Government of India Act, 1919 in the years 1926
and 1945, whereas the provincial elections of 1937 were
held in India under the Government of India Act of 1935.
There were not any elections held for Central Legislative
Assembly in 1937.
Important Tips
General elections of 1926:
• They were held in British India between 28 October and
late November 1926 to elect members of the Imperial
Legislative Council and the Provincial Legislative
Councils.
• The Swaraj Party was victorious in Provincial Council
elections in Bengal and Madras, and also made gains in
Bihar and Orissa.
Provincial elections of 1937:
• Provincial elections were held in British India in the
winter of 1936-37 as mandated by the Government of
India Act 1935.
• Elections were held in eleven provinces – Madras,
Central Provinces, Bihar, Orissa, United Provinces,
Bombay Presidency, Assam, NWFP, Bengal, Punjab
and Sindh.
• Except for Bengal, Punjab, and Sindh, the Congress
had fared well in other regions.
• In Bengal, NWFP, Assam and Bombay, Congress
emerged as the single largest party.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• The performance of Congress in reserved constituencies
was not at all satisfactory except in the labour seats.
General elections of 1945:
• General elections were held in British India in
December 1945 to elect members of the Central
Legislative Assembly and the Council of State.
• The Indian National Congress emerged as the largest
party, winning 57 of the 102 elected seats.
93. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Indian Councils Act, 1909 (not Government of India
Act 1919) is also known as Morley-Minto Reforms Act.
Government of India Act, 1919 is known as Montagu-
Chelmsford Reforms. Government of India Act 1919
separated the Central and Provincial subjects. The
Government of India Act 1919 came into force in 1921.
Montague was the Secretary of State for India and Lord
Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India during Government of
India Act 1919.
Important Tips
The features of Government of India Act, 1919:
• It relaxed the central control over the provinces
by demarcating and separating the central and
provincial subjects.
• It further divided the provincial subjects into two
parts– transferred and reserved. The transferred
subjects were to be administered by the Governor
with the aid of Ministers responsible to the legislative
council. The reserved subjects, on the other hand, were
to be administered by the Governor and his executive
council without being responsible to the legislative
council. This dual scheme of governance was known
as ‘dyarchy’.
• It introduced, for the first time, bicameralism and
direct elections in the country. Thus, the Indian
legislative council was replaced by a bicameral
legislature consisting of an Upper House (Council of
State) and a Lower House (Legislative Assembly). The
majority of members of both the Houses were chosen
by direct election.
• It required that the three of the six members of
the Viceroy’s executive Council (other than the
Commander-in-Chief ) were to be Indian.
• It extended the principle of communal representation
by providing separate electorates for Sikhs, Indian
Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans.
• It granted franchise to a limited number of people on
the basis of property, tax or education.
• It provided for the establishment of a public
service commission. Hence, a Central Public Service
Commission was set up in 1926 to recruit civil servants.
PYQ Workbook
• It separated, for the first time, provincial budgets
from the Central budget and authorised the provincial
legislatures to enact their budgets.
94. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• S.A. Dange: In 1922, Shripad Amrit Dange started the
first socialist journal of India called the Socialist. It
was the first Indian Marxist journal. He also played an
important role in the formation of Maharashtra state.
• Muzaffar Ahmad: He was a young man who did not
participate in the non-cooperation movement but
published nationalist journal in Bengali named Navyug
(New Age) in 1920 together with the firebrand Bengali
poet Nazrul Islam.
• Ghulam Hussain: He was the editor of Inquilab in
1923 which was published from Lahore. He worked as a
lecturer in a government college in Peshawar. He was also
the secretary of the North-Western Railway Workers’
Union.
• M Singaravelu Chettiar: In December 1923, M
Singaravelu started a fortnightly journal called the
Labour Kisan Gazette. He also founded Labour Kisan
Party of Hindustan on 1 May 1923 in Madras.
95. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The theory of downward filtration, relevant during India’s
colonial era, pertained to Education. The Downward
Filtration Theory, as proposed by Lord Macaulay in his
1835 Macaulay’s Minutes, aimed to address challenges
in implementing the new education strategy. The theory
suggested educating a select group of individuals
who would then disseminate knowledge to the wider
population. This approach was intended to efficiently
spread education throughout society. Macaulay’s
recommendations in his historic report sought to resolve the
Oriental-Occidental Controversy, a conflict that hindered
the effective implementation of modern education in India
during the colonial period.
96. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The first three universities in India, namely Calcutta,
Madras, and Bombay, were established in the year 1857.
This development was a response to the Sir Charles
Wood’s Dispatch of 1854. These universities were founded
to implement educational reforms and provide higher
education in India.
Important Tips
Wood’s Despatch, 1854 recommendations:
• Provincial Departments: The Despatch suggested
creating Department of Public Instruction in Bengal’s
provinces: Bombay, Madras, Punjab, and North-
Western provinces.
248
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Mass Education Expansion: Addressing limited
opportunities, the Despatch stressed increasing
primary, middle, and high schools for wider access to
education.
• University Establishment: It proposed universities
in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras, modeled after
London University, encompassing subjects like Arabic,
Sanskrit, Persian, law, and civil engineering.
• Grant-in-Aid System: Advocating financial aid, the
Despatch supported a grant-in-aid system for Indian
education.
• Language Emphasis: The Despatch emphasized
teaching English while recognizing the significance of
teaching Indian languages.
• Women’s Education: It recommended government
support for women’s education.
• Teacher Training: Teacher training schools were
suggested in each province, with specialized schools
for engineering, medicine, and law instructors.
• Graded School Network: The Despatch advocated
establishing a nation-wide network of graded schools.
97. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Vijay Singh Pathik, with the help of Ganesh Shankar
Vidhyarthi, popularise Bijolian Peasant Movement in India
through Pratap newspaper published from Kanpur. He
was a legendary freedom fighter, joined the movement in
1916 and started leading it. He wrote several articles in the
famous newsletter Pratap at that time. British authorities
were compelled to form an enquiry commission headed by
Justice Bindu Lal Bhattacharya.
Important Tips
Bijolia Peasant Movement (1897-1941):
• The Bijolia Peasant Movement was a peasant revolt
in present-day Rajasthan’s Mewar region over the
excessive collecting of land revenue.
• The movement started in 1897, led by Sadhu Sitaram.
• Rao Krishna Singh was the chieftain of Bijolia and
Maharana Fateh Singh the ruler of Mewar.
• Krishna Singh imposed many taxes on the farmers,
even one on the marriage of their daughters. The
common men tried to raise their voice in the royal
court of Mewar but it went in vain.
• Farmers were paying 84 different types of taxes at that
time.
• When Vijay Singh Pathik was forbidden from entering
the area. Then leaders like Seth Jamuna Lal, Haribhau
Upadhyaya and Manik Lal Verma took over the
movement in their control.
• The farmers could get rid of the unjustified taxes only
in 1941, after a continuous struggle of 44 years.
249
• Bijolia is famous for its association with the 23rd Jain
Tirthankara or Lord Parshwanath.
98. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Minto-Morley Reforms, 1909 (which is the name of Indian
Council Act of 1909) provided for communal representation
in British India by accepting the concept of ‘separate
electorate’. Under this, the Muslim members were to be
elected only by Muslim voters. Thus, the Act ‘legalized
communalism’ and Lord Minto came to be known as the
Father of Communal Electorate.
99. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Government of India Act of 1935 introduced the
‘Principle of Constitutional Autocracy’ as the act provided
absolute power over all provinces to the Governors and
Governors-General, who worked on behalf of the crown.
Both Governors and Governors-General enjoy veto power
over any legislation passed by the legislatures, but it has been
provided in the constitution or act itself.
100. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Bipin Chandra Pal: He started the New India Newspaper.
New India had two publications. The Weekly was started by
Bipin Chandra Pal, while Annie Basant started New India
(Daily. The newspaper spread patriotic feelings among
Indians.
Aurobindo Ghosh: Vande Mataram, a nationalist journal,
started by Bipan Chandra Pal in 1905. The Newspaper was
influential in disseminating revolutionary ideals in Calcutta.
Aurobindo Ghosh took over the editorship of Vande
Mataram later and turned it into a mouthpiece for his
political and revolutionary ideologies.
Brahmabandhab Upadhyay: He started an extremist daily
Sandhya in 1904. The newspaper condemned the British
government’s action in extremely strong words.
Mohammad Ali: The Comrade was a weekly English-
language newspaper that was published and edited by
Mohammad Ali between 1911 and 1914. Mohammad Ali
was a good orator and writer, writtten articles to various
newspapers.
101. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
General Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton is regarded as the
pioneer of irrigation works in South India. He dedicated his
life to constructing irrigation and navigation canals across
British India. Notable projects include the Dowleswaram
Barrage, Prakasam Barrage, and the Kurnool Cuddappah
Canal. His contributions are honored in Andhra Pradesh and
Tamil Nadu, where the Sir Arthur Cotton Museum stands as
a testament to his efforts.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
102. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The first Chief Justice of Supreme Court which was
established by the East India Company under Regulating
Act of 1773 was Sir Elijah Impey. For the effective working
of judiciary, he made rules containing 133 articles. After
which, it was recognized as the Civil procedure of court.
103. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Kesari is a Marathi newspaper which was founded on 4
January 1881 by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. The
newspaper threw light on the burning issues of the Indian
Freedom Movement. It was used as a mouthpiece for the
freedom struggle. The paper today is still one of the leading
dailies of Maharashtra.
104. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The First Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya at Varanasi was founded
by Jonathan Duncan in 1791. He proposed the establishment
of a Sanskrit college to promote the development and
preservation of Sanskrit language and literature. This
initiative was supported by the governor general, Lord
Cornwallis. The first principal of the institution was John
Muir, and the college played a significant role in preserving
and advancing Sanskrit studies in India. The institution
eventually evolved and changed its status over time,
becoming Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in 1974.
105. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The British Government’s primary motive behind
promoting modern education in India was to address
the challenge of staffing minor administrative positions.
Given the logistical and financial difficulties of importing
a sufficient number of English officials, they opted to train
Indians in modern education to fill these administrative
roles.
Important Tips
Other significant reasons for the British Government’s
push for modern education:
• Cultural Influence: The promotion of Western culture
and values through education aimed to reshape Indian
society according to British ideals, fostering a more
interconnected colonial relationship.
• Loyalty to British Rule: By educating a class of Indians
in modern subjects, the British sought to create a
segment of the population that was more aligned with
and loyal to the British Raj, further solidifying their
control over India.
• Economic Development: The British anticipated
that providing modern education to Indians would
contribute to the development of the Indian economy
by equipping individuals with skills relevant to
emerging industries and trades.
PYQ Workbook
While these secondary reasons played a role, the
fundamental objective of addressing the shortage of
educated personnel for administrative roles remained
the primary driver for the widespread promotion of
modern education by the British Government in India.
106. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Permanent settlement was most prevalent in West Bengal,
Bihar, Odisha, UP, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
whereas Ryotwari System was prevalent in most of southern
India, first introduced in Madras and was later extended to
Maharashtra, Berar, East Punjab, Coorg and Assam.
107. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The First Indian Education Commission, known as the
Hunter Commission, was appointed by Viceroy Lord
Ripon in 1882. The commission, led by Sir William Wilson
Hunter, was tasked with assessing the state of elementary
education in British territories and proposing measures to
extend and enhance it.
108. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
On 4 th June 1903, Mahatma Gandhi released his newspaper
‘Indian Opinion’ in South Africa to fight against racial
discrimination and demand civil rights for Indians in that
country. It was a weekly newspaper and was published in
English, Hindi, Tamil and Gujarati.
109. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
‘Dash Roja’ periodical was started by Abdul Ghaffar Khan
during National movement. He also known as Bacha Khan
or Badshah Khan, and honourably addressed as Fakhr-
e-Afghan. He was a Pashtun independence activist, and
founder of the Khudai Khidmatgar resistance movement
against British colonial rule in India.
Important Tips
Abdul Ghaffar Khan:
• He was nicknamed “Frontier Gandhi” by his close
associate Amir Chand Bombwal.
• Ghaffar Khan met Gandhi and entered politics in
1919 during agitation over the Rowlatt Acts.
• In 1987, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna Prize, the
highest Indian honour that can be given to civilians.
He was the first non-Indian to receive this honour.
Khudai Khidmatgar resistance movement:
• It was a non-violent movement against British
occupation of the Indian subcontinent led by Abdul
Ghaffar Khan in the North-West Frontier Province.
250
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Following the arrest of Khan and other leaders in 1929,
the movement formally joined the Indian National
Congress after they failed to receive support from the
All-India Muslim League.
• Members of the Khudai Khidmatgar were organised
and the men wore bright red shirts as uniforms, while
the women wore black garments.
• The Khudai Khidtmatgar opposed Partition as the
movement not being in favour of the creation of the
independent nation of Pakistan.
110. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
On August 20, 1917, the British Government declared, for
the first time, that its objective was the gradual introduction
of responsible Government in India. The said declaration
was presented in the British Parliament by Edwin Samuel
Montagu (Secretary of State for India), popularly called
Montagu Declaration. This declaration proposed the
increased participation of Indians in the administration and
the development of self-governing institutions in India.
111. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
In 1863, the Viceroy of India, John Lawrence, decided to
shift the summer capital of the British Raj to Shimla.
Simla, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, provided
relief from the intense summer heat experienced in the
plains of India. Recognizing the benefits of the cool
climate in Simla, Lord Lawrence decided to move his
Council to Simla during the summer months.
112. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Voice of India newspaper was edited by Dadabhai
Naoroji, not Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
Important Tips
• Navjivan was a newspaper founded by Mahatma
Gandhi in 1919, and he served as its editor.
• The Mahratta was a prominent newspaper established
by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1881.
• The Bengalee was a prominent English-language
newspaper founded by Surendranath Banerjea in 1879.
113. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Subsidiary Alliance System restricted the ally’s freedom to
enter into independent agreements or engage in warfare
with other rulers. The system aimed to establish British
dominance and control over the Indian princely states by
ensuring their dependence on the British for security and
administration.
251
Important Tips
• The Subsidiary Alliance was a system introduced by
Lord Wellesley, the Governor-General of British India
from 1798 to 1805.
• It was a policy designed to expand and consolidate
British control over the Indian princely states.
• Some Provisions were:
• The British East India Company would guarantee
protection to the ally against external threats.
• The British would station a contingent of their
armed forces within the territory of the ally to
ensure control and maintain stability.
• The ally would be responsible for providing
resources, including financial support, provisions,
and supplies, to sustain the British armed contingent
stationed in their territory.
114. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
In 1911, Gopal Krishna Gokhale introduced a bill in
the Imperial Legislative Council for the introduction of
compulsory and free primary education in India. The
bill was not passed, but it helped to raise awareness of the
issue and paved the way for the introduction of compulsory
primary education in India in later years.
115. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
The Act V of 1843 relating to Slavery in India denied the
masters the use of Courts to assert their claims on slaves.
This meant that slaves could no longer be forced to stay
with their masters, and they were free to leave and seek
employment elsewhere. The Act also made it illegal to sell
or transfer slaves, and it provided for the punishment of
those who violated the law.
116. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
The Government of India Act, 1935, reserved seats for
women in legislatures in accordance with the allocation of
seats for different communities.
117. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
The Government of India Act, 1935, provided for the creation
of a Federal Court, which would have original jurisdiction in
disputes between the federal government and the provinces,
and appellate jurisdiction in appeals from the High Courts.
The Federal Court was inaugurated on October 1, 1937,
and it functioned until the establishment of the Supreme
Court of India in 1950.
118. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
The Hunter Commission was appointed by the Viceroy of
India, Lord Ripon, in 1882 to survey the state of education
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
in India. The Commission’s report, which was published
in 1883, endorsed the Despatch of 1854, and also
recommended that greater emphasis be placed on primary
education.
Important Tips
Major recommendations by the Hunter Commission of
1882 resulted in the following changes in the education
system of British India:
• Preference was given to literate candidates for
government jobs in the lower levels, along with
expansion of primary schools in backward districts.
• District and municipal boards were entrusted with
the management of primary education under the
Local Self Government Act. The funds were separated
for rural and urban areas to avoid funds earmarked for
rural schools being misappropriated by urban schools.
• Secondary schools were to be established by private
parties with funds provided by the government.
Model schools fully run by the government were to be
opened in each district to guide such private schools.
• Secondary school curriculum was also revised with
academic and vocational courses diversified into
different branches.
• Missionary schools were discouraged, and Indian
participation in the private school system was
solicited by the raj. Special care was supposed to be
taken in advancing the education of girls and women.
119. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
One of Lord Curzon’s notable contributions was the
establishment of the Imperial Agricultural Department in
1901. Under Lord Curzon’s initiative, the Indian Agriculture
Service was created to focus on improving agricultural
practices, increasing agricultural production, and addressing
agricultural issues in India.
120. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
The Deccan Agriculturalists’ Relief Act of 1879 was
enacted with the objective of restricting the sale of land for
indebtedness to outsiders. The act aimed to provide relief
and protection to agriculturalists in the Deccan region of
India, who were often burdened with debt and faced the
risk of losing their land due to the inability to repay loans.
121. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
The Limitation Law of 1859 was passed by the British
government to address the issue of usury, or excessive interest
rates, charged by moneylenders to ryots, or peasants. The Act
stipulated that loan bonds signed between moneylenders
and ryots would have validity only for three years. This
meant that if a moneylender did not recover his loan within
three years, he would lose the right to collect the debt.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
• The Limitation Law of 1859 was a significant step in the
protection of ryots from exploitation by moneylenders.
However, the Act was not perfect. It was difficult to
enforce, and it did not address the underlying causes
of usury, such as poverty and lack of access to credit.
• The Limitation Law of 1859 was repealed in 1963 and
replaced by the Limitation Act of 1963.
• The new Act has a number of provisions that are
designed to protect ryots from exploitation by
moneylenders. For example, the Act stipulates that
the maximum rate of interest that can be charged on
a loan is 18%.
• The Act also provides for a number of debt relief
schemes that can be used by ryots to escape from the
clutches of moneylenders.
122. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
The Summary Settlement of 1856 was a land revenue
settlement that was implemented in Awadh, India. The
settlement was based on the assumption that the Talukdars,
or landlords, were interlopers with no permanent stakes in
the land.
Important Tips
• The British government believed that the Talukdars
had acquired their land through force and fraud, and
that they did not have the legitimate right to collect
revenue from the peasants.
• The Summary Settlement of 1856 removed the
Talukdars from power and replaced them with
a system of direct revenue collection from the
peasants.
• The settlement was a major blow to the Talukdars, and
it led to a great deal of resentment among them. The
resentment eventually boiled over in the form of the
1857 Indian Rebellion.
• The Summary Settlement of 1856 was a controversial
decision, but it had a significant impact on the history
of Awadh. The settlement led to the downfall of the
Talukdars, and it paved the way for the development
of a more equitable system of land revenue collection.
123. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
Maharani Tapaswini was a social reformer and educationist
who founded the Mahakali Pathshala in Calcutta in 1893.
The school was one of the first schools in India to provide
education for girls and women. Maharani Tapaswini was a
strong advocate for women’s education, and she believed that
education was the key to women’s empowerment.
124. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
K.N. Natarajan was the editor of the journal Indian Social
Reformer, which was started in 1890. The journal aim was
to grow a small rural society into modern Indian society.
252
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
125. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The province of Assam was created
in the year 1911. Prior to 1911, Assam was a part of the
larger Bengal Presidency. However, in 1911, the British
colonial administration decided to separate Assam from
Bengal and establish it as a separate province.
Statement 2 is correct: Eleven districts comprising Assam
were separated from the Lieutenant Governorship of
Bengal and established as an independent administration
under a Chief Commissioner in the year 1874. This
administrative reorganization was carried out to give Assam
a more distinct and separate administrative identity.
126. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Under the Hastings Plan of 1772,
it was indeed proposed that each district would have
both a civil court and a criminal court. This was done to
establish a more organized judicial system and ensure proper
administration of justice at the district level.
Statement 2 is correct: Judges appointed under the Hastings
Plan were assisted by native assessors who had knowledge
of Hindu and Islamic laws. These assessors played a role
in providing guidance and expertise in matters related to
religious and personal laws.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Sadar Diwani Adalat was
not meant to settle mercantile cases, but to hear appeals
from the civil courts of the districts. It was established at
Calcutta and presided over by the Governor and his council.
There was no limit on the value of the cases that could be
appealed to this court.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Hastings Plan of 1772
did introduce some procedural improvements in the
administration of justice, such as abolishing unreasonable
fines, restricting the raising of rent, doing away with the
judicial powers of the zamindars, and establishing a regular
system of reporting and record-keeping.
127. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Comrade, Hamdard, Zamindar and Al Hilal were some of the
newspapers that reflected the concerns of educated Indian
Muslims during the Khilafat Movement.
Important Tips
• The Comrade and Hamdard were published by
Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, a prominent leader
of the movement.
• The Zamindar was published by Maulana Zafar Ali
Khan, another leader and journalist who supported
the Khilafat cause.
• The Al Hilal was published by Abul Kalam Azad, a
prominent scholar and activist who also joined the
movement
253
128. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect- The Indian press did protest
against the Vernacular Press Act of 1878. The Vernacular
Press Act was a law enacted in British India in 1878 to
curtail the freedom of the Indian-language (i.e., non-
English) press. The act was proposed by Lord Lytton, the
Viceroy of India at the time, and was unanimously passed.
The protests were led by the Indian National Congress. The
protests were successful in forcing the government to repeal
the Act in 1882 by the Lord Rippon.
Statement 2 is correct- The Vernacular Press Act of 1878
was introduced by Viceroy Lytton against the counsel of
his own Law Member, Sir Henry Maine. The Act gave the
government the power to censor vernacular (i.e., non-
English) newspapers and periodicals. The Act was met with
widespread protests from the Indian press and public.
129. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct- The Permanent Settlement was
introduced by Lord Cornwallis during his tenure as the
Governor-General of Bengal. It was implemented in 1793
and aimed to fix the land revenue demand in perpetuity
for zamindars (landlords) in certain parts of British India,
particularly in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.
Statement 2 is correct- The Ryotwari Settlement was
introduced by Thomas Munro, who served as a British
administrator in India during the 19th century. The
Ryotwari system involved direct settlement of land revenue
with individual peasants (ryots) who were recognized as
the cultivators and became the owners of their land. It was
implemented in areas such as Madras Presidency, Bombay
Presidency and some parts of Central Provinces.
Statement 3 is correct- The Mahalwari Settlement was
introduced by Holt Mackenzie, a British administrator who
served as the Governor of the North-Western Provinces
during the early 19th century. The Mahalwari system
involved the settlement of land revenue with village
communities (mahals) collectively, where the village was
treated as the unit of revenue assessment and collection. It
was implemented in areas such as Punjab, North-Western
Provinces, parts of Bihar, and some parts of Central
Provinces.
130. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Vithalbhai Patel was a Gujarati lawyer and politician
who was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian
independence movement. He was elected as the first non-
official member to be Speaker of the Central Legislative
Assembly on 24 August 1925. He was also a member of the
Indian National Congress, and he served as the President of
the Congress in 1930 and 1931.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
131. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The British Committee of the Indian National Congress
was established in 1889 in Britain by the Indian National
Congress. Its primary objective was to bring attention
to Indian issues among the British public, as the British
government was responsible for governing India. Major
leaders involved in the committee included WC Banerjee,
Dadabhai Naroji, and Charles Bradlaugh. The first
chairman of the committee was William Wedderburn, and
the secretary was William Digby.
132. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The early nationalists opposed the Council Act of 1892
because:
The act did not give the Indians control over the public
funds. The members could only ask questions on the budget,
but not vote on it or propose amendments to it.
The act did not give adequate representation to the Indians.
The official majority was maintained in both central and
provincial councils, and the non-official members were
mostly nominated by the governor-general or governors.
The principle of indirect election was also unsatisfactory,
as it excluded a large section of the Indian population from
participating in the electoral process.
133. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement I is correct: The Permanent Settlement was rarely
extended to any region beyond Bengal. The Permanent
Settlement was an agreement between the East India
Company and the Bengali landlords or zamindars to fix the
land revenue in 1793. It was introduced by Lord Cornwallis
in Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. It granted the zamindars the
hereditary rights of ownership of land and made them
responsible for paying a fixed amount of revenue to the
Company.
Statement II is not correct: After 1810, agricultural
prices rose, increasing the value of harvest produce, and
enlarging the income of the Bengal zamindars. Since the
revenue demand was fixed under the Permanent Settlement,
the colonial state could not claim any share of this enhanced
income. The zamindars benefited from this situation and
accumulated wealth and power. They also invested in trade,
commerce, banking and urban development.
134. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
English Education Act of 1835 was based on the
recommendations of Thomas Babington Macaulay, who
argued that Western learning was superior and that English
should be the medium of instruction. The Act stated that
the existing Oriental Institutions would receive no further
support from the Company. Thus, there was no provision
of fresh awards of stipends to students of existing Oriental
Institutions.
PYQ Workbook
135. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The colonial economy had the following effects on the
Indian economy:
Option a is correct: The British presence inhibited
indigenous capitalism by imposing monopolies, tariffs, and
restrictions on Indian industries and trade.
Option b is not correct: Laissez-faire did not actively
promote indigenous capitalism, but rather served the
interests of British capitalists and traders at the expense of
Indian producers and consumers.
Option c is correct: The ‘white collective monopoly’ came
earliest and remained most pronounced in Eastern India,
where the British East India Company established its first
foothold and exploited the resources and markets of Bengal,
Bihar, and Orissa.
Option d is correct: The Bombay hinterland was difficult
to penetrate before the construction of railways, because
of the rugged terrain, the resistance of local rulers, and the
competition from other European powers
136. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The office of the Secretary of State for India was created by
The Government of India Act 1858.
• This act transferred the power and territories of the
British East India Company to the British Crown after
the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
• The Secretary of State for India was the British Cabinet
minister and the political head of the India Office
responsible for the governance of British India, Aden,
and Burma.
• He was assisted by a council of 15 members and reported
to the Parliament of India.
137. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Under the Mahalwari system, the agricultural lands did not
belong to the government, but rather to a group of village
landlords or village communities. The Mahalwari system
was introduced in 1833. It was prevalent in Central Province,
North-West Frontier, Agra, Punjab and Gangetic Valley. The
mahals or estates were assessed as a whole and the revenue
was distributed among the landlords or villagers according
to their shares.
138. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Anglicists, who advocated for
the promotion of English education and western knowledge,
sought to reduce the expenditure on printing Sanskrit
and Arabic texts. They believed that resources should
be allocated towards promoting English education and
modern sciences instead.
254
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Anglicists did aim to reduce
the funding for printing Sanskrit texts, as mentioned in
Statement 1, but they did not express a desire to continue
printing in Persian. Their focus was on emphasizing
English education and reducing resources allocated to
classical Indian languages.
Statement 3 is correct: The Orientalists believed that
Sanskrit and Arabic were important cultural and intellectual
traditions, and that they should be preserved and studied.
They argued that the stipends for students of Arabic and
Sanskrit were a good investment.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The Orientalists started a new
Sanskrit College in Banaras not Delhi. The Banaras Sanskrit
College was created by Jonathan Duncan in 1791.
139. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Permanent Settlement did not pay attention to the
customary occupancy rights of the peasants. These rights
gave the peasants the right to cultivate a particular piece
of land, even if they did not own it. Under the Permanent
Settlement, these rights were often ignored, and the
zamindars were free to evict peasants from their land.
140. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Morley-Minto reforms of 1909
were named after the Secretary of State for India, John Morley
(British parliamentarian), and the Viceroy of India, Gilbert
Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, also known as Lord Minto.
The Viceroy of India was not a British parliamentarian.
Statement 2 is Correct: The Morley-Minto reforms
introduced a limited form of self-government by increasing
the number of elected Indians in the Legislative Councils at
both the central and provincial levels.
Statement 3 is Correct: The Morley-Minto reforms
maintained the principle of communal representation,
which allowed separate electorates for different religious
communities. This provision ensured that British officials
retained their majority in the Imperial Legislative Council
and prevented the emergence of a united Indian political
front.
141. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Utilitarianism is a philosophy that
advocates that actions are right if they promote happiness
and wrong if they promote unhappiness. The rule of law
is necessary for societal betterment because it ensures that
everyone is treated equally under the law and that no one is
above the law.
Statement 2 is incorrect: James Mill wrote a book called
“Utilitarianism” in 1861 in which he outlined the principles
of Utilitarianism and argued that they should be applied to
society. Principles of Utilitarianism were not written in the
book ‘Utilitarians and the Raj’.
255
Statement 3 is correct: Utilitarians believed that the
happiness of the majority was more important than the
rights of the individual. Liberals, on the other hand, believed
that the rights of the individual were paramount.
Statement 4 is correct: Utilitarianism had distinct
authoritarian tendencies because Utilitarians believed that
the government should intervene in society to promote the
greatest good for the greatest number of people. This could
lead to the government restricting the rights of individuals
in the name of the greater good.
142. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement I is true: India’s share of world manufacturing
output did steadily decline during the 19th and 20th
centuries. In 1750, India accounted for about 22.6% of
world manufacturing output. By 1947, this share had
declined to just 2.4%.
Statement II is False: The British policies favored the
export of raw materials from India to Britain, while Indian
industries faced restrictions and unfair competition
from British goods. This resulted in the decline and even
destruction of many traditional Indian industries, leading to
a decrease in production.
143. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is true: The guarantee of a 5% return on
investment was an incentive for private companies to invest
in railways.
Statement 2 is not true: The railways were not to be
managed mainly by the Government. The railways were built
and managed by private companies.
Statement 3 is not true: There was a system of preferential
freight charges. The railways charged lower freight rates for
goods that were considered to be of strategic importance to
the British, such as military supplies and raw materials.
Statement 4 is true: The companies were to get the land
free from the Government as an added incentive for private
companies.
144. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Court of Proprietors was the governing body of the East
India Company, and it was made up of shareholders of the
Company. The Act did not change the qualifications for
voting in the Court of Proprietors, which remained the
same as they had been before the Act was passed.
Important Tips
Regulating Act, 1773 Act - Key Provisions
• Governor-General of Bengal: The post of “Governor
of Bengal” was changed to “Governor-General of
Bengal” and he was also given the responsibility to
oversee the presidencies of Madras and Bombay.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Four Board of Administrators: Four Board of
Administrators members were selected by the
Governor-General in Bengal (Philip Francis, Clavering,
Monson, and Barwell).
• High Court Inauguration: The High Court was
inaugurated in Calcutta. There were four judges in
total, including the Chief Justice.
• Primary & Appellate Jurisdiction: Primary and
appellate jurisdiction was assigned to the Supreme
Court.
• Prohibited from Bribes & Gifts: Military and civilian
officers under the Company were prohibited from
accepting any gifts, donations, or prizes from private
businesses and Indians, according to this Act.
• Civil & Military Affairs: India’s civil and military
affairs as well as its revenues were required to be
disclosed to the British Crown.
• Pay Rise: The company’s officers and staff were given
a pay raise.
145. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Deccan Riots Commission was a commission set
up by the British government in 1875 to investigate the
causes of the Deccan Riots, a series of peasant uprisings
that took place in the Deccan region of India in 1875. The
commission found that the main cause of the riots was the
indebtedness of the peasantry.
146. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The University Commission appointed in 1902 by Lord
Curzon aimed to recommend reforms in university
education in India. The commission, led by Law member
Thomas Raleigh, included two Indian members: Syed
Hussain Bilgrami and Justice Gurudas Banerjee. Their
recommendations covered a wide range of topics, including
reformation of University Senates, greater representation
of affiliated colleges, stricter monitoring of affiliated
institutions, curricular reforms, education and examinations,
research, student welfare, and state scholarships. These
recommendations led to the enactment of the Indian
Universities Act 1904, despite strong opposition from
certain quarters in India.
Important Tips
The Indian Universities Act of 1904;
• Autonomy and Activities: Universities gained the
authority to conduct private teaching and other
activities. They were responsible for teaching
and examination supervision. Focus on research
was emphasized, leading to the establishment of
laboratories across disciplines.
PYQ Workbook
• Staff and Resources: Universities were empowered
to hire new staff, recruit professionals, and establish
libraries. This aimed to enrich students’ knowledge
and learning experience.
• Fellowships: The Act reduced the number of fellows
from 100 to 50. Universities with more than 50 fellows
faced greater accountability. Fellowships were limited
to a six-month term instead of a lifetime.
• Senate Election: Senate elections were introduced, with
20 elected fellows for Madras, Bombay, and Calcutta
universities, and 15 for others. The government could
intervene if the senate failed to formulate rules.
• Syndicates and Representation: The Act recognized
Syndicates in the education system. All university
teachers gained representation in the university Senate.
• Affiliation: Colleges needed affiliation with a specific
university, which might not be within the local area’s
jurisdiction. This aimed to strengthen the connection
between colleges and universities.
• Research Grants: INR 5 lakhs were allocated over five
years to fellows for further studies and research.
• Governor-General Council: The Act empowered the
Governor-General Council to handle jurisdictional
matters related to universities and their territories.
Impact:
• Criticism: The Sadler Commission (1917) criticized
the Act for increasing governmental control over
universities.
• Nationalist Reaction: Nationalists saw the Act as
reinforcing imperialism and suppressing nationalist
sentiments. Gopal Krishna Gokhale labeled it a
“retrograde measure.”
• Primary Education: Lord Curzon used the Act’s
reforms to enhance primary education, allocating
substantial financial aid to schools between 1905 and
1912.
147. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
About the Government of India Act of 1935, Jawaharlal
Nehru had said, “We were provided with a car with all brakes
and no engine”. He said this because the act failed to meet
certain expectations of nationalists. The act was silent over
the ‘dominion status’ or ‘swaraj’. It provided the system of
dyarchy at the Centre, which made the Governor General’s
control over reserved subjects absolute and over transferred
subjects very effective.
148. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Ryotwari system was a system of land revenue collection
introduced in the Madras Presidency of British India in
1802 by Thomas Munro. Under the Ryotwari system, the
peasants were given the right to own the land they were
256
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
cultivating and to pay land revenue directly to the British
government. The Ryotwari system was intended to give the
peasants more incentive to improve their land and to make
them more prosperous.
149. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
• The Hindu: It was founded in the year 1878 by G.
Subramania Iyer in Madras. The Hindu started as a
weekly in 1878 and became a daily in 1889 and from
then on has been steadily growing.
• Kesari: It is a Marathi newspaper which was founded
on 4 January 1881 by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
The newspaper threw light on the burning issues of the
Indian Freedom Movement.
• Bengalee: It was an English-language newspaper. The
Bengalee was edited by several notable figures, including
Girish Chandra Ghose and Surendranath Banerjee.
• Hindustani: Gangaprasad Verma was a town planner
under British rule. He also printed a newspaper named
Hindustani, which was later managed by Pandit
Kishanprasad Kaul.
• Sudharak: Gopal Krishna Gokhale established the
Servants of India Society in 1905 and edited “Sudharak”,
a quarterly Journal of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha. He
also started Hitavada newspaper in 1911.
150. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Government of India Act, 1919 created a new office
of the High Commissioner for India in London and
transferred to him some of the functions hitherto performed
by the Secretary of State for India.
151. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Sir Lionel Curtis is known as the father of the Dyarchy.
Dyarchy was a system of double government introduced by
the Government of India Act (1919) for the provinces of
British India.
[Note: The option d mentions the name as Sir Leoni Cartis but
the father of dyarchy is Sir Lionel Curtis. The Government
of India Act (1919) established the British Indian provinces’
double-government arrangement known as Dyarchy. Lionel
George Curtis (1872-1955), a British diplomat and novelist,
wrote works that affected the creation of the Commonwealth
of Nations.]
152. Solution: (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The first Indian elected to the British House of Commons
was Dadabhai Naoroji, who contested as a member of the
Liberal Party. Known as the “Grand Old Man of India,”
Naoroji served as President of the Indian National Congress
and played a pivotal role in advocating for Indian interests in
257
the British Parliament. He was a prominent scholar, writer,
and advocate for Indian rights.
153. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Young India, a weekly journal, was published by
Mahatma Gandhi from 1919 to 1931, and used by him to
spread his ideology of non-violence and resistance against
the British. Hence, it was not associated with revolutionary
activities. Whereas Sandhya, Yugantar and Gadar were
associated with promoting the revolutionary activities.
154. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Montagu-Chelmsford Report formed the basis of
the Government of India Act, 1919. This Act is known as
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms. Montagu was the Secretary
of State for India and Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of
India. The Government of India Act of 1919 came into force
in 1921.
155. Solution: (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Amrit Bazar Patrika was founded by Sisir Kumar Ghosh and
Motilal Ghosh. It was started on 20th February, 1868 in the
village of Amrita Bazar as a Bengali weekly newspaper. Sisir
Kumar Ghosh had declared that the primary objective of his
paper was “to awaken the people and infuse in them the noble
spirit of patriotism”. Bal Gangadhar Tilak had acknowledged
Sisir Kumar Ghosh as his Guru, and in his newspaper Kesari,
he attempted to follow him.
156. Solution: (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Leader was seen as a liberal party newspaper but it was
not merely a mouthpiece organ. The newspaper criticized
the British Raj, but also Congress leaders and even liberal
colleagues. For instance, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a liberal,
was not spared for his support to the Press Act of 1910. The
Leader was one of the most influential English-language
newspapers in India during British Raj. It was founded
by Madan Mohan Malviya, the paper was published in
Allahabad. Under C. Y. Chintamani, a dynamic editor from
1909 to 1934, it acquired a large readership in North India.
Important Tips
Other Newspapers:
• New India: It was started by Annie Besant in 1914
as daily newspaper to highlight issues related to the
Indian freedom struggle.
• Young India: Lala Lajpat Rai published the Young
India journal in 1916. It was started as a weekly
magazine in English but the journal was immediately
banned from circulation in India and Britain by the
Colonial Government on the grounds of ‘seditious’
content. The magazine was later published by Gandhi
from 1919 to 1931 to spread his message of swaraj and
non-violence.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

• Free Press Journal: It is an Indian English-language 157. Solution: (d)

daily newspaper that was established in 1928 by
Swaminathan Sadanand. It was a supporter of the
Independence movement. It is the first Indian-owned
English daily newspaper published from Mumbai.
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Tarak Nath Das started a monthly magazine in 1908 called
“Free Hindusthan” to condemn policies of the British Indian
government and encourage resistance. He was a professor
of political science at Columbia University and a visiting
faculty in several other universities.

PYQ Workbook 258

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

MISCELLANEOUS
*This unit consists of questions from the Princely States, the Famous Personalities during the freedom
struggle, Post-Independence India and Other miscellaneous aspects from 1600 to 1947 CE.

6.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions 5. With reference to Indian National
Movement, consider the following pairs:
1. Who among the following is associated with
‘Songs from Prison’, a translation of ancient Person Position held
Indian religious lyrics in English? 1. Sir Tej Bahadur President, All India
[UPSC CSE Pre 2021] Sapru Liberal Federation
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak Member, The
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru 2. K.C. Neogy
Constituent Assembly
(c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(d) Sarojini Naidu General Secretary,
3. P.C. Joshi Communist Party of
2. With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra India
Pradesh, which one of the following
statements is correct? Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2021] matched? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2019]
(a) Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour (a) 1 only
Indian National Flag here. (b) 1 and 2 only
(b) Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India (c) 3 only
Movement of Andhra region from here. (d) 1, 2 and 3
(c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the
National Anthem from Bengali to English 6. Who among the following were the founders
here. of the “Hind Mazdoor Sabha” established in
(d) Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set 1948? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2018]
up headquarters of Theosophical Society (a) B. Krishna Pillai, E.M.S. Namboodiripad
first here. and K.C. George
3. The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly (b) Jayaprakash Narayan, Deen Dayal
journal to have the untouchable people as Upadhyay and M.N. Roy
its target audience was published by: (c) C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, K. Kamaraj and
[UPSC CSE Pre 2020] Veeresalingam Pantulu
(a) Gopal Baba Walangkar (d) Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujam and G.G.
(b) Jyotiba Phule Mehta
(c) Mohandas Karamchand Ghandhi 7. Consider the following events:
(d) Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar 1. The first democratically elected
4. With reference to the book “Desher Katha” communist party government formed in
written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar a State in India.
during the freedom struggle, consider the 2. India’s then largest bank, ‘Imperial Bank
following statements: of India’, was renamed ‘State Bank of
1. It warned against the Colonial State’s India’.
hypnotic conquest of the mind. 3. Air India was nationalised and became
2. It inspired the performance of swadeshi the national carrier.
street plays and folk songs.
4. Goa became a part of independent India.
3. The use of ‘desh’ by Deuskar was in the
specific context of the region of Bengal. Which of the following is the correct
Which of the statements given above are chronological sequence of the above events?
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2020] [UPSC CSE Pre. 2018]
(a) 1 and 2 only (a) 4 - 1 - 2 - 3
(b) 2 and 3 only (b) 3 - 2 - 1 - 4
(c) 1 and 3 only (c) 4 - 2 - 1 - 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 3 - 1 - 2 – 4

259 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

8. He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, 2. Acharya J.B. Kripalani was one of

Shivaji and Shrikrishna; stayed in America Mahatma Gandhi’s colleagues in his
for some time; and was also elected to the Champaran investigation.
Central Assembly. He was Which of the statements given above is/are
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2018] correct?
(a) Aurobindo Ghosh (a) 1 only
(b) Bipin Chandra Pal (b) 2 only
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Motilal Nehru (d) Neither 1 nor 2
9. Annie Besant was [UPSC CSE Pre. 2013] 13. Four resolutions were passed at the famous
1. responsible for starting the Home Rule Calcutta Session of Indian National
Movement Congress in 1906. The question of either
2. the founder of the Theosophical Society retention or rejection of these four
3. once the President of the Indian National resolutions became the cause of a split in
Congress Congress at the next Congress Session held
in Surat in 1907. Which one of the following
Select the correct statement/statements using was not one of those resolutions?
the codes given below:
[UPSC CSE Pre 2010]
(a) 1 only
(a) Annulment of the partition of Bengal
(b) 2 and 3 only
(b) Boycott
(c) 1 and 3 only
(c) National education
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(d) Swadeshi
10. Mahatma Gandhi said that some of his
14. Who among the following Governor-
deepest convictions were reflected in a
Generals created the Covenanted Civil
book titled, “Unto this Last’’ and the book
Service of India which later came to be
transformed his life. What was the message
known as the Indian Civil Service?
from the book that transformed Mahatma
Gandhi ? [UPSC CSE Pre. 2011] [UPSC CSE Pre 2010]
(a) Uplifting the oppressed and poor is the (a) Warren Hastings
moral responsibility of an educated man (b) Wellesley
(b) The good of individual is contained in the (c) Cornwallis
good of all (d) William Bentinck
(c) The life of celibacy and spiritual pursuit 15. Who of the following is the author of
are essential for a noble life a collection of poems called ‘Golden
(d) All the statements (a), (b) and (c) are Threshold’? [UPSC CSE Pre 2009]
correct in this context (a) Aruna Asaf Ali
11. With reference to Indian freedom struggle, (b) Annie Besant
Usha Mehta is well-known for? (c) Sarojini Naidu
(d) Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
[UPSC CSE Pre. 2011]
(a) running the secret congress radio in the 16. Who among the following Gandhian
wake of quit India movement followers was a teacher by profession?
(b) participating in the second round table [UPSC CSE Pre 2008]
conference (a) A. N. Sinha
(c) leading a contingent of Indian national (b) Braj Kishore Prasad
army (c) J.B. Kripalani
(d) assisting in the formation of Interim (d) Rajendra Prasad
Government under Pandit Jawaharlal
17. Who among the following translated the
Nehru
autobiography of Madam Curie in Hindi?
12. Consider the following statements: [UPSC CSE Pre 2008]
[UPSC CSE Pre 2010] (a) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad persuaded Mahatma (b) Lal Bahadur Shastri
Gandhi to come to Champaran to (c) Choudhary Charan Singh
investigate the problem of peasants. (d) Gobind Ballabh Pant

PYQ Workbook 260

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

18. Who among the following wrote the poem 24. Consider the following statements:
“Subh-e Azadi”? [UPSC CSE Pre 2008] [UPSC CSE Pre 2007]
(a) Sahir Ludhiyanvi 1. Robert Clive was the first Governor-
(b) Faiz Ahmed Faiz General of Bengal.
(c) Muhammad Iqbal 2. William Bentinck was the first Governor-
(d) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad General of India.
19. Elizabeth Hawley is well-known for her Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
writings relating to which one of the
following? [UPSC CSE Pre 2008] (a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(a) Historical monuments in India (c) Both 1 and 2
(b) Regional dances in India (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) Himalayan expeditions
(d) Wildlife in India 25. Who has written the book named ‘Gita
Rahasya’? [UPSC CSE Pre 2005]
20. Who, among the following, wrote the book (a) Mahatma Gandhi
‘Bahubivah’? [UPSC CSE Pre 2007] (b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(a) Raja Rammohan Roy (c) Vinoba Bhave
(b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(c) Pandit Ramabai 26. Who among the following was a proponent
(d) Rabindranath Tagore of Fabianism as a movement?
21. The song ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ written during [UPSC CSE Pre 2005]
the Swadeshi Movement of India inspired (a) Annie Besant
the liberation struggle of Bangladesh and (b) A.O Hume
was adopted as the National Anthem of (c) Michael Madhusudan Dutt
Bangladesh. Who wrote this song? (d) D. R. Palme Dot
[UPSC CSE Pre 2007] 27. Consider the following Viceroys of India
(a) Rajni Kanta Sen during the British rule:
(b) Dwijendralal Roy [UPSC CSE Pre 2004]
(c) Mukunda Das 1. Lord Curzon
(d) Rabindranath Tagore 2. Lord Hardinge
3. Lord Chelmsford
22. Consider the following statements:
4. Lord Irwin
1. Jawaharlal Nehru was in his fourth term
as the Prime Minister of India at the time Which one of the following is the correct
of his death. chronological order of their tenure?
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4
2. Jawaharlal Nehru represented Rae Bareilly
(b) 2, 4, 1, 3
constituency as a Member of Parliament. (c) 1, 4, 2, 3
3. The first non-Congress Prime Minister of (d) 2, 3, 1, 4
India assumed the office in the year 1977.
28. Which one of the following pairs is not
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly matched? [UPSC CSE Pre 2004]
correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2007] (a) Pitt’s India Act: Warren Hastings
(a) 1 and 2 (b) Doctrine of Lapse: Dalhousie
(b) 3 only (c) Vernacular Press Act: Curzon
(c) 1 only (d) Ilbert Bill: Ripon
(d) 1 and 3
29. Consider the following Princely States of
23. Who wrote the book “The Story of The the British rule in India:
Integration of the Indian States”? 1. Jhansi
[UPSC CSE Pre 2007] 2. Sambalpur
(a) B.N. Rao 3. Satara
(b) C. Rajagopalachari The correct chronological order in which
(c) Krishna Menon they were annexed by the British is:
(d) V.P. Menon [UPSC CSE Pre 2004]

261 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

(a) 1, 2, 3 33. Who among the following was the President

(b) 1, 3, 2 of the All-India States Peoples Conference
(c) 3, 2, 1 in 1939? [UPSC CSE Pre 2001]
(d) 3, 1, 2 (a) Jaya Prakash Narayan
30. Which one of the following statements is (b) Jawaharlal Nehru
not correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 2003] (c) Sheikh Abdullah
(a) The National Song Vande Mataram was (d) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterji 34. A London branch of the All-India Muslim
originally in Bengali. League was published in 1908 under the
(b) The National Calendar of India based presidency of: [UPSC CSE Pre 2001]
on Saka era has its 1st Chaitra on 22nd (a) Aga Khan
March Normally & 21st March in a leap (b) Ameer Ali
year. (c) Liaquat Ali Khan
(c) The design of the National Flag of India (d) M.A. Jinnah
was adopted by the Constituent Assembly
on 22nd July 1947. 35. At the time of Partition of India, which one
(d) The song Jana-Gana-Mana, composed of the following provinces of British India
originally in Bengali by Rabindranath came forward with a plan for a United and
Tagore was adopted in its Hindi version Independent existence?
by the Constituent Assembly on 24 [UPSC CSE Pre 2000]
January 1950 as the national anthem. (a) Punjab
31. Match list-I with list-II and select the (b) Assam
correct answer using the codes given below (c) Bengal
the lists: (d) Bihar

List-I (Person) List-II (Events) 36. The native State of Tripura became involved
in the Freedom movement early in the 20th
A. Macdonald 1. Doctrine of Lapse century because: [UPSC CSE Pre 2000]
B. Linlithgow 2. Communal Award (a) The kings of Tripura were always anti-
C. Dalhousie 3. August Offer British
(b) The Bengal revolutionaries took shelter
D. Chelmsford 4. Dyarchy
in Tripura
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre 2002] (c) The tribes of the state were fiercely
A B C D freedom loving
(a) 3 2 1 4 (d) There were already some groups fighting
(b) 3 2 4 1 against the kingship and its protector, the
(c) 2 3 1 4 British
(d) 2 3 4 1
37. The last major extension of British Indian
32. With reference to the Indian freedom territory took place during the time of:
struggle, which one of the following [UPSC CSE Pre 2000]
statements is not correct? (a) Dufferin
[UPSC CSE Pre 2002] (b) Dalhousie
(a) Hakim Ajmal Khan was one of the leaders (c) Lytton
to start a nationalist and militant Ahrar (d) Curzon
movement.
(b) When the Indian National Congress was 38. Which one of the following statements is
formed, Sayyid Ahmad Khan opposed it. not correct? [UPSC CSE Pre 1999]
(c) The All-India Muslim League which was (a) ‘Neel Darpan’ was a play based on the
formed in 1906 vehemently opposed exploitation of the indigo farmers
the partition of Bengal and separate (b) The author of the play ‘Ghashiram
electorates . Kotwal’s is Vijay Tendulkar
(d) Maulana Barkat Ullah and Maulana (c) The play ‘’Navanna’ by Nabin Chandra
Obeidullah Sindhi were among those Das was based on the famine of Bengal
who formed a Provisional Government of (d) Urdu theatre used to depend heavily on
India in Kabul. Parsi theatre

PYQ Workbook 262

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

39. Match list-I with list-II and select the 2. Ilbert Bill: Ripon
correct answer using the codes given below 3. Ferozshah Mehta: Indian National
the lists: Congress
List-I (Books) List-II (Authors) 4. Badruddin Tayabji : Muslims League
A. The first 1. Rabindranath Select the correct answer using the codes
Indian War of Tagore given below:
Independence (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
B. Anand Math 2. Sri Aurobindo (b) 2 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
C. Life Divine 3. Bankim Chandra
Chatterjee (d) 1, 2 and 3
D. Sadhana 4. Vinayak Damodar 44. Match list-I with list-II and select the
Savarkar correct answer using the codes given below
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre 1999] the lists:
A B C D List-I List-II
(a) 4 3 2 1 A. Surat Split 1. 1929
(b) 3 4 1 2
B. Communal Award 2. 1928
(c) 4 3 1 2
(d) 3 4 2 1 C. All Party Convention 3. 1932
40. At a time when empires in Europe were D. Poorna Swaraj Resolution 4. 1907
crumbling before the might of Napoleon, 5. 1905
which one of the following Governors- Code: [UPSC CSE Pre 1997]
General kept the British flag flying high in A B C D
India? [UPSC CSE Pre 1999] (a) 4 3 1 4
(a) Lord Dalhousie (b) 4 3 2 1
(b) Lord Cornwallis (c) 2 5 4 1
(c) Lord Wellesley (d) 1 4 2 3
(d) Lord Hastings
45. “A graduate at 18, professor and associate
41. The Governor-General who followed editor of the Sudharak at 20, Secretary of
a spirited “Forward” policy towards the Sarvajanik Sabha and of the Provincial
Afghanistan was: [UPSC CSE Pre 1999]
Conference at 25, Secretary of the National
(a) Minto Congress at 29, leading witness before
(b) Dufferin an important Royal Commission at 31,
(c) Elgin Provincial legislator at 34, Imperial
(d) Lytton legislator at 36, President of the Indian
42. What is the correct sequence of the following National Congress at 39. a patriot whom
events? Mahatma Gandhi himself regarded as his
1. Tilak’s Home Rule League master”. This is how a biographer describes:
2. Kamagatamaru Incident [UPSC CSE Pre 1997]
3. Mahatma Gandhi’s arrival in India (a) Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya
Select the correct answer using the codes (b) Mahadev Govind Ranade
given below: [UPSC CSE Pre 1998] (c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(a) 1, 2, 3 (d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) 3, 2, 1 46. Who among the following was associated
(c) 2, 1, 3 with suppression of thugs?
(d) 2, 3, 1 [UPSC CSE Pre 1997]
43. Which of the following pairs are correctly (a) General Henry Prendergast
matched? [UPSC CSE Pre 1998] (b) Captain Sleeman
1. Theodore Beck: Mohammadan Anglo- (c) Alexander Burres
Oriental College, Aligarh (d) Captain Robert Pemberton

263 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

47. Match list-I with list-II and select the 50. Which one of the following pairs is not
correct answer using the codes given below correctly matched? [UPSC CSE Pre 1995]
the lists: (a) Jamnalal Bajaj - Satyagraha Ashram at
List-I List-II (Event) Wardha
(Period) (b) Dadabhai Naoroji - Bombay Association
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai - National School at
A. 1883 1. Announcement of Communal
Lahore
Award from Whitehall
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Satya Shodhak
B. 1906 2. Formation of the All-India Sabha
State People Conference
51. Which one of the following was an emigre
C. 1927 3. Foundation of Muslim League Communist journal of M.N. Roy?
at Dhaka
[UPSC CSE Pre 1995]
D. 1932 4. First session of National (a) Kisan Sabha
Conference at Kolkata (b) The Worker
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre 1996] (c) Vanguard
A B C D (d) Anushilan
(a) 4 3 1 2
(b) 3 4 1 2 52. What is the correct chronological sequence
(c) 4 3 2 1 of the following events in the political life
(d) 3 4 2 1 of Mahatma Gandhi?
1. Champaran Satyagrah
48. Match list-I with list-II and select the
correct answer using the codes given below 2. Ahmedabad Mill strike
the lists: 3. Kheda Satyagrah
4. Non-cooperation Movement
List-I List-II
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre 1993]
A. Surendranath 1. Hind Swaraj (a) 2, 4, 3, 1
Banerjee (b) 1, 2, 3, 4
B. M.K. Gandhi 2. The Indian (c) 4, 3, 2, 1
Struggle (d) 3, 4, 2, 1
C. Subhash 3. Autobiographical 53. “Indian cotton merchant, banker;
Chandra Bose Writings Congressman and a close associate of
D. Lajpat Rai 4. A Nation in Mahatma Gandhi.” The description fits
Making with: [UPSC CSE Pre 1993]
Code: [UPSC CSE Pre 1996] (a) G. D. Birla
A B C D (b) M. R. Jayakar
(a) 4 1 3 2 (c) Jamnalal Bajaj
(b) 1 4 3 2 (d) V. S. Shrinivas Sastri
(c) 1 4 2 3 54. At the time of India’s Independence,
(d) 4 1 2 3 Mahatma Gandhi was:
49. Consider the following statements about [UPSC CSE Pre 1993]
Jawaharlal Nehru: (a) A member of Congress Working
1. He was the president of the Congress Committee
Party in 1947. (b) Not a member of the Congress
2. He presided over the Constituent (c) The President of the Congress
Assembly. (d) The General Secretary of the Congress
3. He formed the first Congress Ministry
in United Province before India’s 55. The founder of Boy Scouts and Civil Guides
Independence. movement in India was:
Of these statements: [UPSC CSE Pre 1996] [UPSC CSE Pre 1993]
(a) 1, 2 and 3 are correct (a) Charles Andrews
(b) 1 and 3 are correct (b) Robert Montgomery
(c) 1 and 2 are correct (c) Richard Temple
(d) None is correct (d) Baden-Powell

PYQ Workbook 264

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

56. The first Factory Act for restricting the 60. Who had merged Sikkim in India?
working hours of women and children, [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020]
and authorizing local government to make (a) Lord Hastings
necessary rules was adopted during whose (b) Lord William Bentinck
time? (c) Lord Dalhousie
(a) Lord Lytton (d) Lord Auckland
(b) Lord Bentinck 61. “The Rise and Growth of Economic
(c) Lord Ripon Nationalism in India” was written by:
(d) Lord Canning [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
6.2. Other Examination Previous Years’ (a) Partha Sarthi Gupta
(b) S. Gopal
Questions
(c) B.R. Nanda
57. In the contexts of Indian history, which (d) Bipin Chandra
of the following statement is/are correct 62. With reference to the Civil Administration
regarding Vaikom Satyagraha? in 1905, which of the statements is/are
1. It was a satyagraha againsts untouchability correct?
and caste discrimination. 1. Lord Curzon decided to rearrange the
2. Mahatma Gandhi participated in this provincial boundaries.
Satyagraha. 2. A new province was constituted, called
Select the correct answer using the codes East Bengal and Assam.
given below. [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre.) 2021] Select the correct answer using the codes
(a) 1 only given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
(b) 2 only (a) 1 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (b) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) 2 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
58. Who of the following was sent as
representative of labourers by Indian 63. With reference to revolts in British India,
Government in the Washington Summit of people known as ‘Kallar’ belonged to which
I.L.O. in the year 1919? of the following region?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020] [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
(a) V.P. Wadia (a) Kolhapur
(b) N.M. Joshi (b) Midnapore
(c) Madurai
(c) C.F. Andrews
(d) Rangpur
(d) Joseph Baptista
64. Which of the following events occurred
59. Match list-I with list-II and select the first? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]
correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) Lord Lytton’s Delhi Darbar
List-I (Book) List-II (Writer) (b) Santhal Revolt
A. The Story of My 1. Surendranath (c) First Anglo-Sikh War
Deportation Banerjee (d) Ilbert Bill Controversy
B. Gita Rahasya 2. Maulana Abul 65. Who among the following is known as
Kalam Azad ‘Bombay Trimurti’? [UPPCS (Mains) 2017]
(a) Tilak, Gokhale, Naoroji
C. Nation in Making 3. Lala Lajpat Rai
(b) Mehta, Tilak, Tyabji
D. India Wins 4. Bal Gangadhar (c) Mehta, Telang, Tyabji
Freedom Tilak (d) Naoroji, Telang, Deshmukh
Code: [UPPCS (Pre) 2020]
66. Who is the author of “Annihilation of
A B C D Caste”? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]
(a) 3 4 1 2 (a) Jyotirao Phule
(b) 4 2 1 3 (b) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(c) 2 4 1 3 (c) Kanshi Ram
(d) 4 3 2 1 (d) Ram Mohan Roy

265 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

67. In August 1947, who of the following (a) Aga Khan

leaders did not participate anywhere in (b) M.A. Jinnah
Independence Day celebrations? (c) Faiz Hussain
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016] (d) Karim Jalal
(a) Jawaharlal Lal Nehru 74. In which of the following books did
(b) Mahatma Gandhi Mahatma Gandhi called British Parliament
(c) Vallabh Bhai Patel as sterile and prostitute?
(d) Rajendra Prasad [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
(a) Sarvodaya or Universal dawn
68. Who among the following used to say,
(b) An Autobiography or the Story of My
“Wrong means never take us to right ends”?
Experiments with Truth
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015] (c) Hind Swaraj
(a) Sardar Patel (d) The Story of a Satyagrahi
(b) M.K. Gandhi
75. Which one of the following is not correctly
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai
matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru
(a) Bhagat Singh : The Indian Sociologist
69. Who among the following was the strong (b) Sachindranath Sanyal : Bandi Jivan
supporter of the principle that “Which is (c) Lala Ramsaran Das : Dreamland
morally wrong, can never be politically (d) Bhagwati Charan Vohra : The Philosophy
right”? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015] of Bomb
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru 76. Who one of the following is the biographer
(b) Sardar Patel of Jawahar Lal Nehru?
(c) M. K. Gandhi [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]
(d) C. Rajagopalachari (a) Frank Moraes
70. Who among the following is the author of (b) Dom Moraes
(c) Louis Fischer
the book ‘The Problems of the Far East’?
(d) Webb Miller
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
(a) Lawrence 77. Who of the following had written, “India’s
(b) Curzon salvation will not be achieved under the
leadership of Mahatma Gandhi”?
(c) Churchill
(d) Lytton [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]
(a) M.A. Jinnah
71. Which one of the following is not correctly (b) Clement Richard Attlee
matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015] (c) Winston Churchill
(a) Motilal Nehru - Nehru Report (d) Subhash Chandra Bose
(b) M. K. Gandhi - Champaran Movement 78. Who among the following was the first
(c) S.C. Bose - Forward Bloc Governor-General of free India? [U.P.P.C.S.
(d) M.A. Jinnah - Khilafat Movement (Mains) 2014]
72. Who addressed Gandhiji as ‘one-man (a) Lord Mountbatten
boundary force’? (b) Sir Stafford Cripps
[U.P.P.C.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2015] (c) C. Rajagopalachari
(d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(a) Churchill
(b) Attlee 79. Who one of the following had commanded
(c) Mountbatten Mahatma Gandhi to spend the first year
(d) Simon in India ‘with his ears open but his mouth
shut’? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]
73. Who amongst the following presided over (a) Dadabhai Naoroji
the All-Parties Muslim Conference held at (b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Delhi on 31st December 1928? (c) Pherozeshah Mehta
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015] (d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

PYQ Workbook 266

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

80. Which one of the following statements is (c) Mahadev Desai

not correct about Dadabhai Naoroji? (d) Manubehn
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2014] 86. Which one of the following statements is
(a) He was the first Indian to be appointed as not correct about Rabindranath Tagore?
Professor of Mathematics and Physics at [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
Elphinstone College, Bombay.
(a) He sang the glories of ancient India and
(b) He was elected as the member of British
its culture.
Parliament in 1892.
(b) He considered Shivaji and Guru Govind
(c) He started a Gujarati Journal, ‘Rast
Singh as nation builders.
Goftar’.
(c) Many of his songs refute the heroism of
(d) For four times he had presided over the
Marathas.
Indian National Congress.
(d) He favoured some aspects of the Swadeshi
81. Which of the following is not correctly Movement.
matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014]
87. Match list-I with list-II and select the
(a) Lord Cornwallis: Permanent Settlement correct answer using the codes given below
(b) Lord Wellesley: Subsidiary Alliance
the lists:
System
(c) Sir John Shore: Anglo-Nepal War List-I List-II
(d) Lord Hastings: Third Anglo-Maratha War A. Subhash 1. Throwing of the
82. Consider the following which concluded Chandra Bose bomb in Central
the subsidiary alliances with Lord Wellesley Assembly
and finds the correct chronological order of B. Vallabhbhai 2. Haripura Session
their treaties from the code given below: Patel of Indian National
1. Hyderabad Congress
2. Mysore C. Iqbal 3. Operation Polo
3. Oudh D. Batukeshwar 4. Allahabad Session
4. Sindhia Dutt of Muslim League,
Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014] 1930
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4 Code: [UPPCS (Mains) 2013]
(b) 1, 3, 4, 2 A B C D
(c) 4, 3, 2, 1 (a) 2 3 4 1
(d) 3, 2, 1, 4 (b) 1 2 3 4
83. The Lucknow Session of Indian National (c) 4 3 2 1
Congress that took place in 1916 was (d) 3 4 2 1
presided over by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] 88. Which one of the following is correctly
(a) Annie Besant matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
(b) Lala Lajpat Rai (a) Lord Ellenborough - Annexation of
(c) Motilal Nehru Awadh
(d) A.C. Majumdar (b) Lord Dalhousie - Annexation of Sindh
84. Which one of the following is correctly (c) Lord Wellesley - Fourth Anglo-Mysore
matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] War
(a) Bhagat Singh - An Introduction to the (d) Sir John Shore - Third Anglo-Maratha
Dreamland War
(b) Subhas Chandra Bose - Bandi Jivan 89. Who among the following Governor
(c) Sachindranath Sanyal - Indian Struggle Generals of Bengal was associated with
(d) Bhagwati Charan Vohra - Why I am an Third Anglo-Mysore War?
Atheist? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]
85. The memoirs entitled ‘Bapu: My Mother’ (a) Warren Hastings
was written by: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013] (b) Lord Cornwallis
(a) B.R. Nanda (c) Sir John Shore
(b) Rajkumari Amrita Kaur (d) Lord William Cavendish Bentinck

267 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

90. Tinkathia System in Champaran meant: 97. The statement “I am a socialist and a
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013] republican and I do not believe in Kings
(a) Cultivation of Indigo on the 3/20 area of and Princes” is associated with:
land [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
(b) Cultivation of Indigo on 3/19 area of land (a) Narendra Dev
(c) Cultivation of Indigo on 3/18 area of land (b) Achyut Patwardhan
(d) None of the above (c) Jai Prakash Narayan
(d) Jawahar Lal Nehru
91. Who among the following was the first Law
Minister of India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012] 98. Who was responsible for encouraging the
local self Govt. in India?
(a) M. C. Sitalwad
(b) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar [U.P.P.C.S (Pre) 2010]
(c) Kailash Nath Katju (a) Lord Mayo
(d) Rafi Ahmad Kidwai (b) Lord Lytton
(c) Lord Canning
92. Who compared Curzon’s administration in (d) Lord Ripon
India to that of Aurangzeb?
99. Anglo-Nepal War took place during the
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012] reign of– [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
(a) B.G. Tilak (a) Lord Cornwallis
(b) G.K. Gokhale (b) Lord Hastings
(c) Dadabhai Naoroji (c) Lord Wellesley
(d) Annie Besant (d) Warren Hastings
93. Where did the Indian Congress got divided 100. The first communist Government of India
into two wings moderates and extremists? was established in the province of:
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012] [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
(a) Surat Session, 1907 (a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Lahore Session, 1909 (b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Calcutta Session, 1911 (c) Kerala
(d) Karachi Session, 1913 (d) West Bengal
94. The conquest of Sindh by British was 101. Who among of the following had told:
completed during the period of– “destruction is the best method of dealing
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012] with the foreign clothes”?
(a) Lord Ellenborough [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
(b) Lord Hardinge (a) Rabindranath Tagore
(c) Lord Aukland (b) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Lord Amherst (c) Chitranjan Das
(d) Subhas Chandra Bose
95. Which one of the following pairs is correctly
102. Who sang ‘Hindustan Hamara’ of Iqbal and
matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
‘Jan-gan-man’ in the Central Assembly at
(a) Durga Das : The Life of Mahatma Gandhi midnight of 14/15 August 1947? [U.P.P.C.S.
(b) Louis Fischer : India From Curzon to (Pre) 2010]
Nehru and After (a) Rameshwari Nehru
(c) Frank Moraes : Jawaharlal Nehru - A (b) Meera Ben
Biography (c) Sucheta Kriplani
(d) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad : India (d) M.S. Subbulakshmi
Divided
103. Who of the following called Gandhiji
96. The book ‘Springing Tiger’ was written by: ‘Mahatma’ for the first time?
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2011] [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]
(a) Hugh Toye (a) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(b) Louis Fisher (b) Madan Mohan Malviya
(c) Webb Miller (c) Rabindra Nath Tagore
(d) None of the above (d) Subhash Chandra Bose

PYQ Workbook 268

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

104. Which of the following is not correctly (c) C. Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad, S.
matched? [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2010] Radhakrishnan, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad
(a) Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre - (d) Rajendra Prasad, S. Radhakrishnan, Zakir
Freedom at Midnight Hussain, V. V. Giri
(b) Durga Das - India from Curzon to Nehru 109. Who had the longest tenure as the Viceroy
and After of India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
(c) K.K. Aziz - The Man Who Divided India (a) Lord Curzon
(d) Maulana Abul Kalam - India Wins (b) Lord Dufferin
Freedom (c) Lord Hardinge
(d) Lord Mayo
105. The Archaeological Survey of India was
established during the period of- 110. Which of the following is not correctly
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010] matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
(a) Lord Curzon (a) Unhappy India - Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Lord Wellesley (b) Durgesh Nandini - Bankim Chandra
Chatterjee
(c) Lord William Bentinck
(c) India Wins Freedom - Abul Kalam Azad
(d) Warren Hastings (d) Poverty and Un-British Rule in India -
106. Match list-I with list-II and select the Dadabhai Naoroji
correct answer using the codes given below 111. The book “Mountbatten and the Partition
the lists: of India” was written by:
List-I (Authors) List-II (Works) [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
(a) Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre
A. Bankim Chandra 1. Anand Math
(b) M.N. Das
Chatterjee (c) Louis Fischer
B. Michael 2. Captive Lady (d) None of the above
Madhusudan Dutt
112. Queen Victoria’s Proclamation was read out
C. Rabindranath 3. Gora by Lord Canning on 1st November 1858 at–
Tagore [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]
D. Sarojini Naidu 4. The Broken (a) Allahabad
Wing (b) Calcutta
Code: [UPPCS (Pre) 2010] (c) Bombay
(d) Madras
A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4 113. Who was the first person to call Mahatma
(b) 2 3 4 1 Gandhi, ‘Father of Nation’?
(c) 1 4 2 3 [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2008]
(d) 4 1 3 2 (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Vallabhbhai Patel
107. In which of the following movements did (c) C. Raj Gopalachari
Mahatma Gandhi make the first use of (d) Subhash Chandra Bose
hunger strike as a weapon?
114. Who among the following was the founder
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
of All India Muslim League?
(a) Non-Cooperation Movement [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2007]
(b) Rowlatt Satyagraha
(a) Sir Saiyed Ahmad Khan
(c) Ahmedabad Strike (b) Sir Mohammad Iqbal
(d) Bardoli Satyagraha (c) Agha Khan
108. Which one of the following is the correct (d) Nawab Salimullah Khan
sequence of persons who occupied the 115. Who had opposed the Champaran
office of the President of India right from Satyagraha of Mahatma Gandhi?
the beginning? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009] [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]
(a) C. Rajagopalachari, Rajendra Prasad, (a) Rabindranath Tagore
Zakir Hussain, V. V. Giri (b) N.G Ranga
(b) Rajendra Prasad, S. Radhakrishnan, V. V. (c) Rajkumar Shukla
Giri, Zakir Hussain (d) Rajendra Prasad

269 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

116. The Book ‘Mother India’ was written by: Code: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006] (a) 1, 2 and 3
(a) Catherine Mayo (b) 2, 3 and 4
(b) Lala Lajpat Rai (c) 1, 3 and 4
(c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak (d) 1, 2 and 4
(d) Bipin Chandra Pal 123. During the tenure of which Governor-
117. The policy of ‘Security cell’ is related with- General was the ‘Ancient Monuments
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006] Preservation Act’ passed-
(a) Warren Hastings [U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]
(b) Lord Dalhousie (a) Lord Minto
(c) Henry Lawrence (b) Lord Linlithgow
(d) Lord Hastings (c) Lord Curzon
(d) Lord Canning
118. “Everything else can wait, but not
agriculture.” The above statement is 124. Who among the following said that “the
attributed to: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006] most notable achievement of the British
(a) Jagjivan Ram Rule was the unification of India”?
(b) Jawahar Lal Nehru [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
(c) Mahatma Gandhi (a) K.M. Panikkar
(d) Sardar Patel (b) M.N. Srinivas
119. Which one of the following was favored by (c) Rajni Kothari
Nehru but not favored by Gandhi? (d) Yogendra Singh
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006] 125. Which one of the following sessions of
(a) Truth Indian National Congress was for the first
(b) Non-violence time attended by M.K. Gandhi:
(c) Untouchability [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004]
(d) Heavy industrialization (a) Lucknow Session, 1916
120. Which one of the following books is (b) Calcutta Session, 1901
associated with the rise of the national (c) Amritsar Session, 1919
movement in India? (d) Nagpur Session, 1920
[U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005] 126. On the basis of alleged maladministration
(a) Gitanjali which Governor-General had taken the
(b) Anandmath administration of Mysore state?
(c) Satyarth Prakash [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
(d) Gita Rahasya (a) Lord Wellesley
121. Which one of the following Satyagrahas was (b) Lord Hastings
not lead by Mahatma Gandhi? (c) Lord William Bentinck
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005] (d) Lord Harding
(a) Quit India Movement 127. Who wrote the famous song ‘Saare Jahan Se
(b) Civil Disobedience Achcha Hindustan Hamara’?
(c) Bardoli [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]
(d) Kheda (a) Sahir Ludhianvi
122. Which of the following statements regarding (b) Sir Sayyad Ahmed Khan
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is correct? (c) Sir Muhammad Iqbal
1. He founded Siddharth College. (d) Bahadur Shah Zafar
2. He started his journal Mook Nayak in 128. Who said, “Political Freedom is the life-
1920. breath of a nation”?
3. He founded the Depressed Class Institute [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2004]
in 1922. (a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
4. He was the first Defense Minister of India. (b) Aurobindo Ghosh
Select the correct answer from the code given (c) Bipin Chandra Pal
below the statements: (d) Mahatma Gandhi

PYQ Workbook 270

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

129. Which one of the following Viceroy of India 135. Match list-I with list-II and select the
was murdered by a convict in Andaman and correct answer using the codes given below
Nicobar Island while he was on tour? the lists:
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004] List-I (Party) List-II (Founder)
(a) Lord Curzon
(b) Lord Ripon A. Azad Muslim 1. Abdul Gaffar
(c) Lord Mayo Conference Khan
(d) Lord Minto B. Khaksar Party 2. Allah Baksh
130. Which one of the following pairs is correctly C. Khudai 3. Allama Mashriqui
matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004] Khidmatgar
(a) Abul Kalam Azad - Hind Swaraj D. Krishak Praja 4. Fazlul Haq
(b) Annie Besant - New India Party
(c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Commonweal 5. Sikandar Hayat
(d) Mahatma Gandhi - India Wins Freedom Khan
131. Who among the following was the chief Code: [UPPCS (Mains) 2002]
architect or reconciliation between the A B C D
Extremists and the Moderates? (a) 1 3 4 5
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004] (b) 2 3 4 5
(a) Annie Besant (c) 2 3 1 4
(b) M.A. Jinnah (d) 3 2 1 5
(c) Madam Cama 136. Name of the magazine published by
(d) Feroz Shah Mehta Mahatma Gandhi during his stay in South
132. The right to adopt heir in place of own son Africa, was: [U.P P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
was re-established by– (a) Navjeevan
(b) India Gazette
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2004] (c) Africaner
(a) Government of India Act of 1858 (d) Indian Opinion
(b) Lord Canning
(c) Release of Charter in 1860 137. Match list-I with list-II and select the
correct answer using the codes given below
(d) Queen’s announcement of 1858 the lists:
133. The author of the book ‘Towards Struggle’
was: [U.P.P.CS. (Mains) 2003] List-I (Authors) List-II (Works)
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru A. Mahatma Gandhi 1. India Divided
(b) Ram Manohar Lohiya B. Ram Manohar 2. India Wins
(c) Jai Prakash Narayan Lohia Freedom
(d) J.B. Kriplani
C. Dr. Rajendra 3. Hind Swaraj
134. Match list-I with list-II and select the Prasad
correct answer using the codes given below D. Abul Kalam 4. The Wheel of
the lists: Azad History
List-I List-II Code: [UPPCS (Pre) 2001]
A. Amritlal Nagar 1. Devdas A B C D
(a) 1 3 4 2
B. Sumitra Nandan 2. Geet Govind (b) 4 3 2 1
Pant (c) 3 4 1 2
C. Sharat Chandra 3. Amrit aur Vish (d) 2 3 4 1
Chatterjee 138. The prefix ‘Mahatma’ was added with the
D. Jaidev 4. Chidambara name of Gandhi: [U.P.P.C.S.(Pre) 2001]
Code: [UPPCS (Mains) 2003] (a) During Champaran Satyagraha
(b) During the Satyagraha against Rowlatt
A B C D Act
(a) 3 4 1 2 (c) In the Amritsar Session of the Indian
(b) 4 3 1 2 National Congress, 1919
(c) 4 3 2 1 (d) At the beginning of the Khilafat
(d) 3 4 2 1 Movement

271 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

139. Which one of the following is correctly (a) Abolishment of untouchability and
matched? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000] temperance
(a) Ailan-i-Haq - Bipin Chandra Pal (b) Truth and non-violence
(b) Al-Helal - Dr. Zapir Hussain (c) Khadi and Spinning wheel
(c) Tahzib-ul-Akhlaq - Sir Syed Ahmad (d) Right means and right ends
(d) Yugantar - Aurobindo Ghosh 147. Who established the judicial organization
140. Who presided over the Benaras Session of in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]
the Indian National Congress in 1905? (a) Lord Mayo
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999] (b) Lord Cornwallis
(c) Lord Attlee
(a) Surendranath Bannerji (d) Lord Curzon
(b) Feroz Shah Mehta
(c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale 148. The transfer of capital of British India from
(d) Dinshaw Wacha Calcutta to Delhi was affected during the
period of– [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]
141. Those who joined Mahatma Gandhi during (a) Lord Mayo
the Champaran Satyagraha included: (b) Lord Lawrence
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999] (c) Lord Minto
(a) Vallabh Bhai Patel and Vinoba Bhave (d) Lord Hardinge
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajendra Prasad 149. Which of the following pairs is correct?
(c) Rajendra Prasad and Anugraha Narain
[66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020]
Sinha
(d) Mahadev Desai and Maniben Patel (a) Vinoba Bhave - Second Individual
Satyagrahi
142. Which three Indian States delayed accession (b) C.R. Das - Deshbandhu
to India even after other princely states had (c) William Wedderburn - Congress
joined India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998] President in 1907
(a) Junagarh, Mysore, Jammu and Kashmir (d) Shyamji Krishna Verma- Founder of
(b) Junagarh, Hyderabad, Jammu and India House in Paris
Kashmir (e) None of the above/More than one of the
(c) Udaipur, Kapurthala, Jammu and above
Kashmir 150. Which of the following was Gandhiji’s first
(d) Hyderabad, Udaipur, Travancore Satyagraha Movement in India in which he
used Civil Disobedience?
143. Which one of the following native States
was a party to the ‘Stand-Still’ Agreement: [66th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2020]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997] (a) Champaran
(b) Kheda
(a) Hyderabad (c) Ahmedabad
(b) Jammu and Kashmir (d) Rowlatt Satyagraha
(c) Junagarh (e) None of the above/More than one of the
(d) Mysore above
144. Who among the following is associated with 151. The Sarabandi Campaign of 1922 was led
the policy of ‘Masterly Inactivity’: by: [65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997] (a) Chittaranjan Das
(a) William Bentinck (b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(b) Lord Canning (c) Rajendra Prasad
(c) Lord Mayo (d) Lala Lajpat Rai
(d) John Lawrence (e) None of the above/More than one of the
above
145. The author of ‘Malgudi Days’ is:
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1993] 152. Who wrote the book, Desher Katha?
(a) K. Abbas [65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]
(b) R.K. Narayan (a) Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar
(c) Laxman Seth (b) Rajendra Prasad
(d) Mulkraj Anand (c) Nivaran Chandra
(d) Murali Mohan Prasad
146. The twin principles of Mahatma Gandhi’s (e) None of the above/More than one of the
Ram Rajya were? [U.P P.C.S. (Pre) 1993] above

PYQ Workbook 272

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

153. Whom did Rajendra Prasad consider as the (d) H.N. Brailsford
father of Pakistan? (e) None of the above/More than one of the
[63rd B.P.S.C (Pre.) 2017] above
(a) Md. Jinnah 159. What was the common relationship between
(b) Lord Mountbatten Katherine Mayo, Aldous Huxley, Charles
(c) Lord Minto Andrews and William Digby?
(d) Liaquat Ali Khan
(e) None of the above/More than one of the [56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]
above (a) They wrote commentaries on the
condition of India during the British rule
154. Who established the Imperial Cadet Corps? (b) They were supporters of the Indian
[63rd B.P.S.C (Pre.) 2017] National Movement
(a) Lord Minto (c) They were opponents of the Indian
(b) Lord Curzon National Movement
(c) Lord Lytton (d) They were friends of Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Lord Ripon
(e) None of the above/More than one of the 160. Who raised the demand of ‘Complete
above Independence’ for the first time in 1921?
[56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]
155. Which of the following Princely States was
(a) Maulana Muhammad Ali
not annexed by the British?
(b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
[63rd B.P.S.C (Pre.) 2017] (c) Mahatma Gandhi
(a) Sind (d) Maulana Hasrat Mohani
(b) Gwalior
(c) Awadh 161. ‘New Lamps for Old’ was a series of articles
(d) Satara (1893-94) that criticized the Congress for
(e) None of the above/More than one of the being out of touch with the ‘proletariat’.
above Who was the author of these articles?
156. “In my belief, Congress is to tottering to its [56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]
fall and one of my great ambitions while in (a) Aurobindo Ghose
India is to assist it to a peaceful demise.” (b) A. O. Hume
Who wrote it? (c) G.K. Gokhale
[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016] (d) B.G. Tilak
(a) Lord Lytton 162. Who wrote the book ‘India for Indians’?
(b) Lord Dufferin [65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011]
(c) Lord Curzon (a) C. R. Das
(d) Lord Minto (b) M.G. Ranade
(e) None of the above/More than one of the
(c) V. D. Savarkar
above
(d) S.N. Banerjee
157. Which among the following viceroy’s (e) None of the above/More than one of the
period the title of ‘Rai Bahadur’ and ‘Khan above
Bahadur’ began to confer to Indian?
163. The first railway in India was laid down
[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]
during the period of-
(a) Lord Ripon
(b) Lord Lytton [48th to 52nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]
(c) Lord Mayo (a) Lord Dalhousie
(d) Lord Dufferin (b) Lord Curzon
(e) None of the above/More than one of the (c) Lord Wellesley
above (d) Lord Lytton
158. “The Muslims, if contented and satisfied, 164. Name the Deoband scholar who played a
would become the greatest bulwark of significant role in the freedom movement.
British power in India.” Who wrote it? [47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]
[60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016] (a) Abul Kalam Azad
(a) Herbert Risley (b) Mohammad Ali Jinnah
(b) Lord Lytton (c) Badruddin Tyabji
(c) W.W. Hunter (d) Chirag Ali

273 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
165. Who among the following capitalists served
as an AICC treasurer for many years and
went to jail in 1930?
[47th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005]
(a) G. D. Birla
(b) Jamnalal Bajaj
(c) J. R. D. Tata
(d) Balchand Hirachand
166. Mahatma Gandhi’s close English compatriot
during the freedom movement was:
[46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2004]
(a) Thomas Moore
(b) A. O. Hume
(c) Charles Andrews
(d) William Wavell
167. Who is known as “Loknayak”?
[46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2004]
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Subhash Chandra Bose
(c) Jayprakash Narayan
(d) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
168. The purpose of the Butler Committee, 1927:
[46th B.P.C.S. (Pre) 2004]
(a) Modernization of Indian Army
(b) Innovative modernization of Indian
Agriculture
(c) Implementation of Sensor over National
Newspapers
(d) Improvement of relationships between
Indian Provinces and the Crown
169. The Muslim deputation met Minto in 1906
at Shimla and pleaded for–
[46th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2004]
(a) Separate electorate for Muslims
(b) A composite electorate
(c) Higher representation to the Hindus
(d) Special representation to Muslim by
nomination
170. Bihar became a separate state during the
British rule in the year:
[44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]
(a) 1905
(b) 1912
(c) 1936
(d) 1946
171. Which of the following leaders presided
over the Congress Session at Calcutta in
1906? [44th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2000]
(a) B.G. Tilak
(b) G.K. Gokhale
(c) Aurobindo Ghosh
(d) Dadabhai Naoroji
PYQ Workbook
172. Who was the secretary of Mahatma Gandhi
during Noakhali? [41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]
(a) Nirmal Kumar Bose
(b) Mahadeo Desai
(c) Pyare Lal
(d) Ballabh Bhai Patel
173. Who among the following abolished ‘Dual
Government’ system in Bengal?
[41st B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]
(a) Robert Clive
(b) Lord Cornwallis
(c) Warren Hastings
(d) None of the above
174. Who gives the Slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’?
[38th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1992]
(a) Lal Bahadur Sashtri
(b) Subhash Chandra Bose
(c) Devi Lal
(d) Morariji Desai
175. Which one of the following statements
about Princely States in India is not correct?
[CAPF 2022]
(a) The British Government declared that
States were free to join either India or
Pakistan or remain independent.
(b) The decision to join either India or
Pakistan or remain independent was left
not to the people of Princely States but to
the Princely Rulers.
(c) The Ruler of Travancore first decided to
remain independent.
(d) The State of Travancore finally joined
India through a plebiscite.
176. Which of the following pairs of years and
historical events is correctly matched?
[CAPF 2022]
(a) 1878 – Second Anglo-Afghan War
(b) 1885 – Ilbert Bill Controversy
(c) 1785 – Fox’s India Bill
(d) 1898 – Lord Curzon becomes the Viceroy
177. When was the first All India Census
attempted? [CAPF 2022]
(a) 1871
(b) 1872
(c) 1881
(d) 1861
178. Initially, what was the purpose of setting
up of the hill stations during the colonial
period in India? [CAPF 2021]
(a) To serve as winter capitals for the British
(b) To serve the needs of the British army
(c) To source timber from forests
(d) To set up sanatoria
274
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

179. Which among the following statements Select the correct answer using the code given
about Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha is/are below:
correct? [CAPF 2019] (a) 1 and 3
1. It was during the course of his campaign (b) 2 and 3
against racialism in South Africa that (c) Only 2
Gandhiji first applied Satyagraha. (d) Only 3
2. The two vital ingredients of Satyagraha 183. Which of the following statements about
are ‘truth’ and ‘non-violence’. Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar is/are not
3. The Satyagrahi resists evil by inflicting correct?
suffering on himself and not by inflicting 1. Vidyasagar’s writings significantly helped
suffering on the opponent. to develop the Bengali language.
4. In India, Satyagraha was first tried by 2. He received the title ‘Vidyasagar’ from
Gandhiji in Champaran. Presidency Sanskrit College, Calcutta.
Select the correct answer using the code given 3. He was enthusiastic about the spread of
below: women’s education.
(a) 1 and 4 4. Vidyasagar defended widow marriage
(b) Only 2 without being convinced about scriptural
(c) Only 4 support.
(d) All of these Select the correct answer using the code given
180. Which one of the following pairs of below: [CAPF 2019]
organization and their founders is not (a) 2 and 4
correctly matched? [CAPF 2019] (b) 1 and 2
(c) Only 4
(a) National Tej Bahadur Sapru (d) Only 3
Liberation and MR Jayakar
Federation 184. Which of the following statements about
India’s Independence is/are correct?
(b) Jamiat-ul Maulana Mehmood
Ulama-i Hasan Shaikh-ul- [CAPF 2018]
Hind 1. The formal transfer of power on
15th August 1947 heralding India’s
(c) Congress Bal Gangadhar Tilak Independence was announced by Lord
Democratic Mountbatten.
Party
2. Mahatma Gandhi was not present at the
(d) Congress MN Roy festivities in the capital on 15th August
Socialist Party 1947.
181. Why was Vasudeo Balwant Phadke known Select the correct answer using the codes
in history? [CAPF 2019] given below.
(a) He led a violent struggle against the (a) 1 only
British during the Revolt of 1857. (b) 2 only
(b) He was a critic of Gandhian struggle. (c) Both 1 and 2
(c) He led an armed uprising against the (d) Neither 1 nor 2
British in the 1870s. 185. Who among the following in Congress
(d) He was a radical leader of the Indian represented the socialist view? [CAPF 2018]
National Congress. (a) Rajendra Prasad
182. Which of the following statements about (b) Narendra Dev
Bhagat Singh is/are not true? [CAPF 2019] (c) Maulana Azad
1. Bhagat Singh was influenced by socialist (d) Sardar Patel
ideas 186. Who among the following has not written
2. He was a member’ of the Hindustan about partition in his works? [CAPF 2018]
Socialist Republican Association (a) Saadat Hasan Manto
3. Bhagat Singh threw a bomb in the Central (b) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Legislative Assembly in 1929 with the (c) Bhisham Sahni
objective to kill as many people as possible (d) Narendranath Mitra

275 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

187. Examine these two statements carefully and (c) Bahishti Zewar
select the correct answer using the code (d) City of Djinns
given below.
192. Identify from the following the novel
1. Statement I Nationalism in India, which written by Charles Dickens that critiqued
was assigned a privileged position by its the adverse impact of industrialisation on
western educated political leadership, the poor. [CAPF 2016]
was ‘different’, but a ‘derivative discourse’
from the West. (a) The Day Before America
(b) Hard Times
2. Statement II Indian nationalism as a
(c) Creating a Nation
response to western imperialism was ‘like
(d) The Courtier
all such responses, shaped by what it was
responding to’. 193. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was associated with
Code: [CAPF 2017] [CAPF 2015]
(a) Both the statements are individually true 1. Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
and statement II is the correct explanation 2. The Age of Consent Bill
of statement I. 3. Gaurakshini Sabha
(b) Both the statements are individually 4. Atmiya Sabha
true, but statement II is not the correct
explanation of statement I. Select the correct answer using the code
(c) Statement I is true, but statement II is given below.
false. (a) 1 and 2 only
(d) Statement I is false, but statements II is (b) 1, 2 and 4
true. (c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 2 and 4 only
188. Who among the following British
ethnographers launched the Survey of India 194. Where and when did Mahatma Gandhi first
project in the 1860s? [CAPF 2016] use his method of hunger-strike to achieve
(a) Hunter a desired goal? [CAPF 2015]
(b) Dufferin (a) At Natal in South Africa in the year 1906
(c) Risley (b) At Champaran in the year 1917
(d) Thurston (c) At Ahmedabad in the year 1918
(d) At Cape Town in South Africa in the year
189. Which of the following statements about
1906
‘Barnaparichay’, a mid 19th century Bengali
text is/are correct? [CAPF 2016] 195. Which of the following were the main
1. It was written by Raja Rammohan Roy. influences on Vasudeo Balvant Phadke?
2. It was the most widely used Bengali [CAPF 2015]
primer of the time. 1. Experience of the Deccan famine of 1876-
Select correct answer using the code given 77
below. 2. Hindu revivalism
(a) Only 1 3. Theory of Drain of Wealth
(b) Only 2 4. Reformist idea of Phule
(c) Both 1 and 2 Select the correct answer using the code
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 given below.
190. Which one among the following is the oldest (a) 1, 2 and 3
Regiment of Indian Army? [CAPF 2016] (b) 2, 3 and 4
(a) Sikh Regiment (c) 1 and 3 only
(b) Kumaon Regiment (d) 2 and 4 only
(c) Punjab Regiment 196. Who among the following was NOT a
(d) Madras Regiment Communist leader in colonial India?
191. Which one of the following is the famous [CAPF 2015]
novel written in 1869 by Nazir Ahmad? (a) PC Roy
[CAPF 2016] (b) SA Dange
(a) Twilight in Delhi (c) Muzaffar Ahmad
(b) Mirat-ul-urus (d) Singaravelu

PYQ Workbook 276

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

197. Match List I with List II and select the 201. Between the 15th of August 1947 and the
correct answer using the code given below 26th of January 1950 when India became free
the lists. and when she declared herself a democratic
sovereign republic, Government of India
List I (Person) List II (Political functioned under the provisions of :
Party)
[CAPF 2014]
A. BR Ambedkar Pakistan Muslim (a) The Government of India Act, 1935
League (b) The Indian Independence Act, 1947
B. Sikander Hayat Krishak Praja Party (c) The Indian (Provisional Constitution)
Khan Order, 1947
C. Fazlul Huq Unionist Party (d) None of the above
D. Khaliquzzaman Independent Labour 202. Which member of the Servants of India
Party Society founded the Seva Samiti at
Code: [CAPF 2015] Allahabad in 1914? [CDS 2023 (I)]
A B C D (a) Shri Ram Bajpai
(a) 4 2 3 1 (b) Hriday Nath Kunzru
(b) 4 3 2 1 (c) S. G. Vaze
(c) 1 2 3 4 (d) Srinivas Shastri
(d) 1 3 2 4 203. Who among the following was not a woman
labour leader who organised workers in the
198. The Assam Company, consisting of strikes in the 1920s? [CDS 2022 (II)]
European tea planters, remained the virtual (a) Sarala Devi Chaudhurani
proprietor of the tea industry till 1850. (b) Ushabai Dange
In the 1850s who among the following (c) Prabhabati Devi
established two small proprietary tea (d) Anasuya Behn
gardens of his own, which were confiscated
by the state after his execution for treason 204. Who among the following founded the Bhil
Seva Mandal in 1922 [CDS 2021 (I)]
in 1858? [CAPF 2014]
(a) Dayaram Gidumal
(a) Anandaram Dhekial Phukan (b) Gurusaday Dutt
(b) Gunabhiram Barua (c) Dhondo Keshav Karve
(c) Lakhinath Bezbarua (d) Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar
(d) Maniram Dewan
205. Which one of the following statements
199. Dinabandhu Mitra published a play in about the British Indian Medical Service
Bengali titled Neel Darpan (Blue Mirror), (IMS) is not correct? [CDS 2021 (I)]
which depicted the atrocities on the indigo (a) IMS began in 1764.
planters. The play was translated into (b) It recruited health professionals by means
English by [CAPF 2014] of a competitive examination.
(a) Reverend James Long (c) Indians were never admitted to IMS.
(b) Dwarkanath Tagore (d) The IMS was at first meant to look after
the troops.
(c) Michael Madhusudan Dutta
(d) Rabindranath Tagore 206. Who among the following was one of the
founders of the Indian Society of Oriental
200. William James, Henry Colebrooke and Art? [CDS 2020 (I)]
Nathaniel Halhed had which of the (a) Rabindranath Tagore
following common among them? (b) Abanindranath Tagore
[CAPF 2014] (c) Dwarkanath Tagore
(a) They were critics of Indian culture and (d) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya
civilization 207. Who believed that the Russian designs
(b) They were judges at the courts of the East were ‘an imminent peril to the security and
Indian Company tranquility’ of the Indian Empire in 1836?
(c) They were professors teaching history [CDS 2020 (I)]
and society of South Asia (a) Lord Auckland
(d) They were linguists who tried to interpret (b) Lord Palmerston
the culture of South Asia to the East India (c) Lord Canning
Company (d) Alexander Burnes

277 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

208. The creation of a Federal Court in India was (c) Theodore Beck
advocated by which of the following Acts/ (d) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
Commissions? [CDS 2020 (I)]
215. After the First World War, the Triveni Sangh
(a) The Government of India Act, 1919 was formed by [CDS 2020 (II)]
(b) The Lee Commission, 1923
(a) the Jats and Gujjars
(c) The Government of India Act, 1935
(d) The Indian Councils Act, 1909 (b) the Rajputs and Yadavs
(c) the Jats and Yadavs
209. Who among the following gave evidence (d) the Ahirs and Kurmis
before the Joint Select Committee on the
Government of India Bill, 1919 in favour of 216. Who among the following was the first to
female franchise? [CDS 2020 (II)] accept a ministerial position in the Central
Provinces in October 1925? [CDS 2020 (II)]
1. Mrs. Annie Besant
(a) BS Moonje
2. Mrs. Sarojini Naidu
(b) MR Jayakar
3. Mrs. Hirabai Tata (c) SB Tambe
Code: (d) BN Sasmal
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2 217. Who among the following formed the
(c) 2 and 3 National Liberation Federation (Liberal
(d) 1, 2 and 3 Party)? [CDS 2020 (II)]
(a) Motilal Nehru and CR Das
210. With whom did Subhas Chandra Bose (b) Muhammad Ali and CR Das
form an alliance to destroy the Holwell (c) TB Sapru and MR Jaykar
Monument in Culcutta during 1939-40? (d) MR Jayakar and CR Das
[CDS 2020 (II)]
(a) The Communist Party of India 218. Who among the following wrote The
(b) The Muslim League Philosophy of the Bomb? [CDS 2020 (II)]
(c) The Hindu Mahasabha (a) Sukhdev
(d) The Unionist Party (b) Chandrashekhar Azad
(c) Bhagwati Charan Vohra
211. Who among the following created the first (d) Bhagal Singh
All India Trade Union [CDS 2020 (II)]
(a) BP Wadia 219. At which one of the following Sessions
(b) SA Dange of the Indian National Congress was the
(c) NM Joshi resolution on Fundamental Rights and
(d) BT Ranadive Economic Policy passed? [CDS 2020 (II)]
(a) Tripuri Session
212. Which one among the following was India’s (b) Lahore Session
first trade union in the proper sense of the (c) Lucknow Session
term? [CDS 2020 (II)] (d) Karachi Session
(a) Bombay Labour Union
(b) Ahmedabad Labour Union 220. What was the Dutt-Bradley Thesis?
(c) Madras Labour Union [CDS 2019 (II)]
(d) Allahabad Labour Union (a) The Working Committee of the Indian
213. During the 19th century, who among the National Congress decided that Congress
following wrote Satapatra Series? should play a crucial role in realising the
[CDS 2020 (II)] independence of India.
(b) The Socialist Party decided to play
(a) MG Ranade
foremost part in anti-imperialist struggle.
(b) BG Tilak
(c) Revolutionary socialist Batukeshwar Dutt
(c) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
put forth a ten-point plan to work for the
(d) GH Deshmukh
success of anti-imperialist front.
214. Who among the following founded the (d) It was a Communist Party document,
Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental Defense according to which the National Congress
Association (1893)? [CDS 2020 (II)] could play a great part and a foremost part
(a) Auckland Colvin in realising the anti-imperialist people’s
(b) Badruddin Tyabji front.

PYQ Workbook 278

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

221. The Khuntkatti tenure was prevalent in A B C D

which one of the following regions of India (a) 2 4 1 3
during the British Colonial Rule? (b) 2 1 4 3
[CDS 2019 (II)] (c) 3 1 4 2
(d) 3 4 1 2
(a) Bundelkhand
(b) Karnataka 226. Subhas Chandra Bose started the ‘Azad
(c) Chota Nagpur Hind Radio’ in which of the following
countries? [CDS 2018 (II)]
(d) Madras Presidency
(a) Japan
222. Which European ruler had observed, “Bear (b) Austria
in mind that the commerce of India is (c) Germany
the commerce of the world....he who can (d) Malaysia
exclusively command it is the dictator of 227. Who took over the ‘Eka Movement’ started
Europe”? [CDS 2019 (I)] by the Congress in Awadh during 1921-
(a) Queen Victoria 1922? [CDS 2018 (II)]
(b) Peter the Great of Russia (a) Bhagwan Ahir
(c) Napoleon Bonaparte (b) Madari Pasi
(c) Baba Ramchandra
(d) Gustav Adolf
(d) Shah Naeem Ata
223. In 1921, during which one of the following 228. Which organization was started at the
tours, Gandhiji shaved his head and began Haridwar Kumbh Mela in 1915?
wearing loincloth in order to identify with [CDS 2018 (II)]
the poor? [CDS 2019 (I)] (a) Sanatan Dharma Sabha
(a) Ahmedabad (b) Dev Samaj
(b) Champaran (c) Brahmin Sabha
(c) Chauri Chaura (d) Hindu Mahasabha
(d) South India 229. Which of the following statements about
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan is/are correct?
224. Simla was founded as a hill station to use
[CDS 2018 (I)]
as strategic place for billeting troops,
1. He argued that India was a federation of
guarding frontier and launching campaign ethnic communities based on common
during the course of [CDS 2019 (I)] descent.
(a) Anglo-Maralha War 2. His philosophy was very similar to that of
(b) Anglo-Burmese War the Indian National Congress.
(c) Anglo-Gurkha War 3. He imagined India as a Nation State based
(d) Anglo-Afghan War on individual citizen’s rights.
4. The curriculum at the Mohammedan
225. Match List I with List II and select the Anglo-Oriental College blended Muslim
correct answer using the codes given below. theology and European empiricism.
List I (Author) List II (Book) Select the correct answer using the codes
A. Sekhar 1. Jawaharlal Nehru : given below.
Bandyopadhyay A Biography, Vol-1, (a) Only 1
1889-1947 (b) 2 and 3
(c) Only 3
B. Sarvepalli 2. From Plassey to (d) 1 and 4
Gopal Partition: A History
of Modern India 230. Consider the following statement: “A sound
body means one which bends itself to the
C. David 3. The Ascendancy spirit and is always a ready instrument at
Hardiman of the Congress in its service.” [CDS 2018 (I)]
Uttar Pradesh, 1926-
1934 The above statement is attributed to
(a) Sardar Patel
D. Gyanendra 4. Gandhi in His Time (b) Winston Churchill
Pandey and Ours (c) Mahatma Gandhi
Codes [CDS 2019 (I)] (d) Baden-Powell

279 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

231. Who among the following was the founder 235. Which of the following statements with
of Phoenix Settlement? [CDS 2018 (I)] regard to the speech of Mahatma Gandhi
(a) Mahatma Gandhi at the opening of the Banaras Hindu
(b) BR Ambedkar University are correct? [CDS 2017 (I)]
(c) Rabindranath Tagore 1. He charged the Indian elite with a lack of
(d) Swami Vivekananda concern for the labouring poor.
2. He asserted that our salvation can come
232. Which of the following was/were founded only through the farmers.
by Raja Ram Mohan Roy? [CDS 2017 (II)] 3. He highlighted the plight of the
1. Atmiya Sabha untouchables.
2. Brahmo Samaj 4. He promised to take up the cause of the
3. Prarthana Samaj mill owners of Ahmedabad.
4. Arya Samaj Select the correct answer using the code
given below
Select the correct answer using the codes (a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
given below (b) 1 and 2 only
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only (d) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 2 only 236. Match the following. [CDS 2016 (II)]
(d) 1, 3 and 4
List I (Historians) List II
233. Consider the following statements about
the different meanings of ‘Swaraj’ as (Books)
articulated by Mahatma Gandhi: A. Sumit Sarkar 1. The Rise and
[CDS 2017 (I)] Growth of
1. Swaraj is intimately linked with Economic
Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha Nationalism in
(adherence to truth). India.
2. Swaraj has two senses-one political and B. Shahid Amin 2. A Rule of
one beyond the realm of politics. Property for
3. Swaraj is something that requires time Bengal
and patience to acquire. C. Ranajit Guha 3. The Swadeshi
4. With determination, Swaraj could be Movement in
obtained easily and quickly. -- Bengal, 1903-
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are 1908
correct? D. Bipan Chandra 4. Event, Metaphor,
(a) 1 only Memory-Chauri
(b) 1 and 2 only Chaura, 1922-
(c) 3 and 4 1992.
(d) 1, 2 and 3 Codes
234. What was/were the formative influence(s) A B C D
on the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi? (a) 3 4 2 1
1. Gandhiji was influenced by the 18th (b) 3 2 4 1
Century Pranami sect that advocated the (c) 1 2 4 3
(d) 1 4 2 3
unity of faiths.
2. Gandhiji was influenced by the 237. Which of the following statement(s)
theosophists. about Mahatma Gandhi’s South African
experiences (1893-1914) is/are true?
3. Gandhiji was an admirer of the writings
[CDS 2015 (I)]
of Romantics like Wordsworth
1. Muslim merchants were actively involved
Select the correct answer using the codes in Gandhian political movements in
given below. [CDS 2017 (I)] South Africa.
(a) 1 and 2 2. In 1906, Gandhi led a campaign in
(b) 2 and 3 Cape Town against the ordinance on
(c) 1, 2 and 3 compulsory registration and passes for
(d) 1 only Indians.

PYQ Workbook 280

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

3. Gandhi began his political career with 242. Consider the following statements and
struggles against the imposition of choose the correct option:
excessive taxes on Indians in Cape Town. [CGPSC (Pre) 2020]
Select the correct answer using the codes 1. J.B. Kripalani formed the Kisan Mazdoor
given below: Praja Party in July, 1952.
(a) Only 1 2. P.C. Ghosh and T. Prakasam were
(b) Only 3 associated with the Kisan Mazdoor Praja
Party.
(c) 1 and 2
Code:
(d) All of the above
(a) 1 is true, but 2 is false
238. Which of the following statement(s) is/are (b) 1 is false, but 2 is true
correct? [CDS 2015 (I)] (c) 1 and 2 both are true
1. The Marxist theory repudiates the idea of (d) 1 and 2 both are false
the atomised and alienated individual. 243. Which revolutionary made this statement:
2. Marxism upholds the idea of the natural “Avenge the blood of Indian Martyrs. Use
rights of men and individuals. your sword to liberate your motherland.
Select the correct answer using the codes Stand up against the entire Anglo-American
given below: enemy.” [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
(a) Ras Behari Bose
(a) Only 1 (b) Subhash Chandra Bose
(b) Only 2 (c) Captain Mohan Singh
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Khudiram Bose
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
244. The revolt of Vellore occur during the
239. Which of the following was/were connected regime of which Governor?
primarily to the communist ideology? [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
1. Kirti Kisan Party (a) Wellesley
2. Labour Swaraj Party (b) Lord Minto
Select the correct answer using the codes (c) Lord Cornwallis
(d) Sir George Barlow
given below: [CDS 2015 (I)]
(e) None of these
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2 245. The famous book “Foundation of Indian
(c) Both 1 and 2 Culture” is authored by:
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
(a) Rabindranath Tagore
240. Which of the following statements about (b) Shri Aurobindo
the social reformer, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, (c) Radhakrishnan
is false? [CDS 2015 (I)] (d) Bhagwan Das
(a) Ram Mohan Roy belonged to the gentry (e) None of these
class whose power has been diminished 246. Who was the first President of the Muslim
because of the imposition of the League: [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]
Permanent Settlement (a) Agha Khan
(b) He studied both Vedantic Monism and (b) Hamid Khan
Christian Unitarianism (c) Hasan Khan
(c) He translated the Upanishads into Bengali (d) M.A. Jinnah
(d) His first organisation was the Atmiya
247. Matching the following pairs (in the context
Sabha, founded in Calcutta in 1815 of Gandhi):
241. The social ideals of Mahatma Gandhi were List-I List-II
first put forth in [CDS 2014 (I)]
A. Gandhiji took to 1. For endorsing
(a) Hind Swaraj
Yerwada prison Delhi Pact
(b) An Authobiography-The Story of My
Experiments with Truth B. He undertook 2. The civil
(c) History of the Satyagraha in South Africa fast unto death disobedience
(d) The Bhagavad Geeta According to Gandhi movement

281 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

C. He was 3. Congress crisis of 253. The export of slaves from Bengal was
confronted with 1939 banned in which year?
black flags on [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]
way to Karachi (a) 1764
D. He called the 4. Against (b) 1789
defeat more Communal Award (c) 1858
mine than theirs (d) 1868
Code: [Chhattisgarh PCS (Pre) 2013] 254. Public Works Department was organized in
A B C D 1845-1855 by–
(a) 2 4 1 3 [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]
(b) 1 2 3 4 (a) Lord Dalhousie
(c) 1 4 2 3 (b) Lord Cornwallis
(d) 2 4 3 1 (c) George Auckland
(e) 3 4 1 2 (d) Warren Hastings
248. Which company started the First Railway 255. Who was the first Indian selected as a
Service in India? member of the British Parliament?
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2011] [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]
(a) Eastern Railway (a) R.C. Dutt
(b) Great Indian Peninsula Railway
(b) Dadabhai Naoroji
(c) Madras Railway
(c) Rammohan Roy
(d) Awadh-Tirhut Railway
(d) Meghnad Desai
249. The book “Guilty Man of India’s Partition”
256. January 26,1950 was chosen for the
was authored by:
enforcement of the Constitution because:
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2011]
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (a) This was an auspicious day.
(c) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (b) ‘Quit India Movement’ was begun on this
(d) Sarojini Naidu date in 1942.
(c) Congress had celebrated 26 January 1930
250. Mahatma Gandhi set up an Ashram on the as the first Independence Day.
banks of Sabarmati near Ahmedabad is (d) None of the above.
known as:
[Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2003] 257. Who had proposed “Party Less Democracy’
(a) Sabarmati Ashram in India? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]
(b) Harijan Ashram (a) S. A. Dange
(c) Satyagraha Ashram (b) Ram Manohar Lohiya
(d) Swaraj Ashram (c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Jay Prakash Narayan
251. The British Monarch at the time of Indian
Independence was- 258. Who authored the book “Planned Economy
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016] for India”? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]
(a) George V (a) M. Visvesvaraya
(b) George VI (b) J.R.D. Tata
(c) King Edward VII (c) G.D. Birla
(d) None of these (d) Pattabhi Sitaramayya
252. ‘Hill Assembly Plan’ was set up for the 259. Who was the last Governor-General of
development of Adivasis by- Independent India?
[Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016] [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
(a) T. Wilkinson (a) C. Rajagopalachari
(b) Cleveland (b) Rajendra Prasad
(c) Lord William Bentinck (c) Lord Mountbatten
(d) Lord Macaulay (d) Lord Canning

PYQ Workbook 282

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

260. Which of the following assumed sovereign 266. What idea is given by Gandhiji for family
power at midnight of 14/15 August, 1947 planning? [M.P.P.C.S (Pre) 1990]
provisionally? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010] (a) Self-control
(a) Central Legislative Assembly (b) Sterilization
(b) Constituent Assembly (c) Restrain
(c) Interim Government (d) Loop
(d) Chamber of Princes 267. Who wrote the book ‘Prison Diary’?
261. Which part of India remained under [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]
Portuguese control after 15th August 1947? (a) Jai Prakash Narayan
(b) Munshi Premchand
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
(c) Morarji Desai
(a) Goa (d) Atal Bihari Vajpayee
(b) Sikkim
(c) Pondicherry 268. Name the revolutionary woman, who
(d) Andaman & Nicobar participated in the Peasant Movement
of Bijoliya and was arrested. She also
262. Which of the following Governor-General participated in the 1930 Satyragrah and
used the system of Separate electoral college 1932 Civil Disobedience Movement and
to conquer Muslims and make them against was sentenced to jail:
Congress? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997] [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre.) 2021]
(a) Lord Curzon (a) Rama Devi
(b) Lord Dufferin (b) Ratan Shashtri
(c) Lord Hardinge (c) Anjana Devi Chaudhary
(d) Lord Minto (d) Kishori Devi
263. Match the following female Rulers with 269. Who among the following negotiated
their State/Capital: [MPPCS (Pre) 1994] Subordinate Alliances of 1817-18 with the
Princely States of Rajputana?
List-I List-II [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2018]
A. Rani Durgavati 1. Jhansi (a) David Ochterlony
B. Maharani Ahilya Bai 2. Holkar State (b) Charles Metcalf
(c) Arthur Wellesley
C. Maharani Lakshmi Bai 3. Gara Mandal
(d) John George
D. Begum Razia Sultan 4. Delhi
270. The revolutionary, who was not involved in
Code: Hardinge Bomb incident?
A B C D [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2018]
(a) 3 2 1 4 (a) Master Amir Chand
(b) 1 4 2 3 (b) Bhagwati Charan Vohara
(c) 2 3 4 1 (c) Bhai Balmukund
(d) 3 4 2 1 (d) Avadh Bihari
264. The author of the novel ‘Chandrakanta’ is: 271. Who has authored ‘Gandhian Constitution
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994] for Free India’? [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2018]
(a) Bharatendu Harishchandra (a) Aruna Asaf Ali
(b) Achyut Patwardhan
(b) Premchand
(c) Shriman Narayan Agarwal
(c) Ravindra Nath Tagore (d) Humayun Kabir
(d) Devkinandan Khatri
272. Who was the first historian who wrote
265. Which Governor- General was prosecuted about ‘Feudalism’ in Rajasthan during the
for impeachment? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992] 19th Century? [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2010]
(a) Warren Hastings (a) Col. James Tod
(b) Lord Clive (b) Dr. L.P. Tessitori
(c) Lord Cornwallis (c) George Grearson
(d) Lord Wellesley (d) John Thomas

283 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
273. The main aim of East India Company to
make a subsidiary alliance in Rajput states
was- [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1992]
(a) Receiving military support against
enemies
(b) Protecting these states from Maratha-
Pindari invasion
(c) To receive funds in the form of Khiraj
(d) To establish the sovereignty of the British
274. Which one of the following Jails was named
as ‘Mandir’ by Gandhiji?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2015]
(a) Naini
(b) Yarvada
(c) Cellular (Port Blair)
(d) Aghakhan Palace
275. What does ‘Gandhian Innovation’ mean?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2015]
(a) To produce more
(b) To produce in domestic economy
(c) To produce for consumption
(d) To produce more from less input for more
people
276. The writer of ‘Indian National Movement:
The Long-Term Dynamics’ is:
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]
(a) Satish Chandra
(b) Bipan Chandra
(c) Tarachand
(d) Sumit Sarkar
277. According to Gandhiji, the Cruelest form of
violence is-
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2015]
(a) Persistence of poverty
(b) Killing of cows
(c) Killing of human beings
(d) Torture of women and children
278. Where did Gandhiji adopt ‘Seva Dharma’?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2015]
(a) Mumbai
(b) Shantiniketan
(c) South Africa
(d) Pune
279. Which one of the following pairs is not
correctly matched?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]
(a) Lord Dalhousie - Annexation of Awadh
(b) Lord Dufferin - Establishment of Indian
National Congress
(c) Lord William Bentinck - Passing of the
Charter Act, 1833
(d) Lord Lytton - Beginning of first Anglo-
Afghan War
PYQ Workbook
280. Which one of the following was the last step
in the Gandhian strategy of Satyagraha?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]
(a) Boycott
(b) Picket
(c) Fast
(d) Strike
281. Which of the following statements is not
true as per Gandhian Principle?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]
(a) The aim of Satyagrahi is to defeat the
enemy
(b) The weapon of Satyagraha is Ahimsa
(c) Satyagrahi should be firm in his belief
(d) Satyagrahi should have no ill feeling
towards his enemies
282. As per Mahatma Gandhi politics meant–
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]
(a) Religionless politics
(b) Activity for public welfare
(c) Truthless politics
(d) None of the above
283. Which of the following is not a feature of
politics of the Gandhian model?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]
(a) Ethics
(b) Religion
(c) Humanity
(d) Authority
284. Gandhi’s boycott of British made products
was effective because the British considered
India, a major:
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]
(a) Shipping centre
(b) Industrial centre
(c) Market for manufactured goods
(d) Source of mineral resources
285. Whose work has influenced the Gandhian
concept? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]
(a) Ruskin
(b) Thoreau
(c) Tolstoy
(d) All the above
286. Which of the following statements is/are
correct regarding Gandhi?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]
(a) Fought hard to improve the status of
casteless untouchables
(b) Launched the Non-Cooperation
Movement
(c) Began the Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) All the above
284
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
287. Which one of the following statements is
not correct about Gandhian economy?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]
(a) He laid emphasis on the economy based
on non-violence.
(b) Centralization led to exploitation and
inequality; hence centralization is
opponent of formation of non-violent
society
(c) He was not in favour of mechanization in
India
(d) He did not favour mechanization in
U.S.A.
288. According to M.K. Gandhi socio-economic
improvement of untouchables can be
brought about:
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]
(a) By their temple entry
(b) By providing grant-in-aid
(c) By earmarking funds for their socio-
economic development
(d) By establishing cottage industry for them
289. Consider the following statements:
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]
1. The Arya Samaj was founded in 1875.
2. ‘Al Hilal’ was published by Maulana Abul
Kalam Azad.
3. Lala Lajpat Rai was not associated with
the paper ‘The People’.
4. The famous Presidency College
(former Hindu College) of Calcutta was
established by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Of these statements:
(a) Only 1 and 2 are correct.
(b) Only 2 and 3 are correct.
(c) Only 1, 2 and 4 are correct.
(d) Only 1, 2 and 3 are correct.
290. Consider the following statements:
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]
1. Asaf Ali looked after the work of Railway
Ministry in the interim Government
(1946)
2. ‘Ancient Monuments Preservation Act’
was passed when Lord Curzon was
Governor-General.
3. The Haripura Session of the Indian
National Congress was presided over by
C.R. Das.
4. Swami Shraddhanand suggested a no-tax
campaign as a protest against the Rowlatt
Act.
Of these statements:
285
(a) Only 1 and 2 are correct.
(b) Only 2 and 3 are correct.
(c) Only 1, 2 and 4 are correct.
(d) Only 1, 2 and 3 are correct.
291. Which one of the following statements is
not correct? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2013]
(a) Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography
was originally written in the Gujarati
Language.
(b) Saddler Commission is associated with
Education.
(c) Hindu College Calcutta is the first
institution to help in spreading English
Education in India.
(d) Lala Lajpat Rai was never elected as
President of Indian National Congress.
292. Who wrote the book “Gokhale- my political
guru”? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Mains) 2013]
(a) M.A. Jinnah
(b) M.K. Gandhi
(c) Shaukat Ali
(d) C.R. Das
293. M.K. Gandhi was a supporter of–
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]
(a) Marxist socialism
(b) Category socialism
(c) Idealism
(d) Philosophical anarchism
294. Which one of the following statements is
not correct about Dadabhai Naoroji?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2008]
(a) He wrote a book ‘Poverty and Un-British
Rule in India’
(b) He worked as a Professor of Gujarati in
the University College, London
(c) He laid the foundation of woman’s
education in Bombay
(d) He was elected as a member of
British Parliament on the ticket of the
Conservative Party
295. Aurobindo Ghosh wrote:
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2008]
(a) Extremist Movement
(b) Moderate Movement
(c) Kesari
(d) The Life Divine
296. Who made the agreement between Muslim
League and Congress in 1916?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004]
(a) B. G. Tilak
(b) Gokhle
(c) Annie Besant
(d) J. L. Nehru
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

297. Who is the author of flag song (Jhanda 304. James Andrew Ramsay was the real name of
Geet) of India? which Governor-General of India?
[U.P Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2004] [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]
(a) Rabindranath Tagore (a) Lord Dalhousie
(b) Ramdhari Singh Dinkar (b) Lord Canning
(c) Shyamlal Parshad Gupta (c) Lord North
(d) Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi (d) Lord Curzon
298. In whose rule the Widow Remarriage Act 305. Which one of the following Ashrams related
was implemented– to Mahatma Gandhi, is the oldest?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2003] [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2012]
(a) Lord Dalhousie (a) Sabarmati
(b) Lord Canning (b) Phoenix
(c) Sir Henry Harding (c) Wardha
(d) Lord Lawrence (d) Sadaqat
299. Which one of the following is correctly 306. Who wrote the book “A Passage to India”?
matched? [UP Lower Sub. (Pre) 2003] [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
Writer Books (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Minoo Masani
A. Valentine Chirol 1. Indian Struggle (c) E.M. Forster
B. Rafiq Zakaria 2. The Man Who (d) None of them
Divided India 307. Soj-e-Vatan is the book written by:
C. Subhash 3. Indian Unrest [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
Chandra Bose (a) Mahadevi Verma
D. V.D. Savarkar 4. Unhappy India (b) Premchand
(c) Sumitra Nandan Pant
300. Which of the following Movement is not (d) Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’
related to Gandhiji?
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998] 308. Who wrote the book ‘Geographical Factors
in Indian History’?
(a) Swadeshi Movement
(b) Khilafat Movement [Uttarakhand Lower (Sub) (Pre) 2010]
(c) Individual Satyagraha (a) K.M. Panikkar
(d) Quit India Movement (b) Toynbee
(c) M.N. Srinivas
301. In which language the famous work of Raja (d) Jamna Das
Rammohan Roy ‘A Gift to Monotheists’ was
written? [Uttarakhand PCS (Pre) 2021] 309. Match the following:
(a) Persian [Uttarakhand PCS (Pre) 2010]
(b) English List-I List-II
(c) Arabic
(d) Bengali A. Mahatma Gandhi 1. Dandi March
302. In 1929 at which place Mahatma Gandhi B. Jawaharlal Nehru 2. Red Shirt
completed his translation of Anasakti Yoga? Movement
[Uttarakhand PCS (Pre) 2021] C, Khan Abdul 3. Bardoli
(a) Kausani Gaffar Khan Satyagraha
(b) Almora D. Vallabhbhai Patel 4. Demand for
(c) Nainital Complete
(d) Ranikhet Independence in
303. Who introduced ‘Financial Lahore Session
Decentralization’ in India? Code:
[Uttarakhand PCS (Pre) 2021] A B C D
(a) Lord Rippon (a) 4 1 3 2
(b) Lord Dalhousie (b) 4 3 2 1
(c) Charles Metcaff (c) 2 1 4 3
(d) Lord Mayo (d) 1 4 2 3

PYQ Workbook 286

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA

310. Who wrote the play “Andher Nagari A B C D

Chaupat Raja”? (a) 3 4 1 2
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006] (b) 4 3 2 1
(a) Govardhan Ram M. Tripathi (c) 1 2 3 4
(b) Munshi Premchand (d) 2 1 4 3
(c) Fakir Mohan Senapati
(d) Bhartendu Harishchandra 314. Swaraj as a national demand was first made
by: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
311. Which of the following statements is not (a) B.G.Tilak
true for Jawaharlal Nehru (b) C.R.Das
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006] (c) Dadabhai Naoroji
(a) He was influenced by Socialism. (d) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) He was influenced by British liberalism.
(c) He was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. 315. Surat split was led by–
(d) He was influenced by German [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
Nationalism. (a) Hume
312. Who was the person to conduct Census in (b) Dufferin
India for the first time? (c) Tilak
[Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2006] (d) Gandhiji
(a) Ripon 316. Integration of States was done under the
(b) Lytton leadership of:
(c) Dufferin [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
(d) Lord Mayo (a) Maulana Azad
313. Match list-I with list-II and select the (b) Govind Ballabh Pant
correct answer using the codes given below (c) B. R. Ambedkar
the lists: (d) Sardar Patel
List-I List-II 317. Who among the following was the author of
A. Madan Mohan 1. Founder of the official history of Congress?
Malviya Home Rule [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]
League (a) C. Rajagopalachari
B. Motilal Nehru 2. Launched (b) J.B. Kripalani
Servants of (c) Pattabhi Sitaramayya
India Society (d) Sardar Patel
C. Mrs. Annie Besant 3. Founder of 318. The famous work of Bharatendu
Banaras Hindu Harishchandra is:
University [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]
D. Gopal Krishna 4. Established (a) Mayanka Manjari
Gokhale Swaraj Party (b) Bharat Durdasha
with others (c) Nutan Brahmachari
Code: [Uttarakhand PCS (Pre) 2003] (d) Chandra Kanta Santati

287 PYQ Workbook

 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
SOLUTIONS
6.1. UPSC CSE Previous Years’ Questions
1. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi was associated with “Songs from
Prison”, a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics
from Upnishads and other religious scripture, during his
imprisionment in Yarvada Jail in 1930s.
2. Solution: (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The National anthem was first sung outside the Calcutta
by the Rabndranath Tagore himself during a session at the
Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle, Andhra
Pradesh, on 28th Feb 1919, when Tagore went to college and
sang the song. Then deputy director of the university (also
an expert in European music and wife of the Irish poet James
Cousins), asked Tagore to create an English translation of
the song and establish the musical notation. Tagore then
translated the Bengali song to English and the tune was
composed by Margaret with the girls in the college singing
the chorus.
3. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The first monthly journal aimed at untouchable people,
titled “Vital-Vidhvansak” (Destroyer of Brahmanical
or Ceremonial Pollution), was published by Gopal Baba
Walangkar in 1888. His work aimed to raise awareness
about the injustices faced by untouchables and to challenge
the caste system’s position in society, primarily through
appealing to the elites and encouraging change. Walangkar’s
writings marked an early intellectual rebellion against the
caste system. He also wrote articles for Marathi-language
newspapers such as Sudharak and Deenbandhu, as well as
composing couplets in Marathi that were intended to inspire
the people.
4. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: “Desher Katha” by Sakharam Ganesh
Deuskar warned against the colonial state’s influence on the
minds of the people. It highlighted how the colonial state was
trying to control and manipulate the thoughts and beliefs of
the Indian population.
Statement 2 is correct: The book “Desher Katha” had a
significant impact in Bengal and inspired the performance of
swadeshi (indigenous) street plays and folk songs. It played
a crucial role in preparing the ground for the Swadeshi
movement.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar used
the term ‘desh’ to refer to the nation, not specifically the
region of Bengal. His book had a broader perspective on the
exploitation of India as a whole by the colonial state.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
“Desher Katha” by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar:
Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar, a Marathi Brahmin who settled
in Bengal, was born in Deoghar.
He published the book “Desher Katha” in 1904, which
provided an exhaustive account of British commercial
and industrial exploitation in India.
“Desher Katha” sold ten thousand copies in its first year
and reached its fifth edition by 1905.
The Bengal government banned the book in 1910 and
confiscated all copies.
Deuskar popularized the ideas of Dadabhai Naoroji and
M.G. Ranade, promoting Swadeshi in a popular format.
His book warned against the colonial state’s manipulation
of Indian minds, termed as its ‘hypnotic conquest.’
Despite the growth of regional and national consciousness,
Bengali lacked a specific word for ‘nation.’
Deuskar used ‘desh’ to refer to the nation, infusing a
broader perspective beyond Bengal.
5. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is correctly matched. Tej Bahadur Sapru was the
President of All India Liberal Federation and was a
prominent member of Liberal Party of India.
Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru played a pivotal role in the development
of modern India’s constitutional and political life. He was a
member of the All India Congress Committee, the General
Secretary of the Congress party and also the President of the
UP Congress Committee. He was also a member of the UP
Legislative Council, and thereafter of the Imperial Legislative
Council. He became one of the founding members of a
party that eventually came to be called The National Liberal
Federation of India. He left the Congress in 1919-20, when
the Congress took a turn towards mass politics.
Pair 2 is correctly matched. K.C. Neogy was a member of
the Constituent Assembly of India, and the member of the
first Cabinet of independent India. Neogy was a member of
the Indian National Congress and was elected as a member
of the Central Legislative Assembly in 1920 representing
Bengal. He was the second Finance Minister of free India.
The First Finance Commission was constituted under the
chairmanship of KC Neogy for the period 1952-57 in the
year 1952.
Pair 3 is correctly matched. P.C. Joshi was the first General
Secretary of the Communist Party of India. He was one of
the leading figures of the communist movement in India.
Born in Almora in 1907, Joshi joined the Communist Party
in 1929, and rose to prominence thereafter. He was arrested
in connection with the Meerut Conspiracy Case.
288
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
6. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Till independence, there was only one central trade union
organisation, the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
which was formed in 1920 and created lot of industrial strife.
The Congress Party therefore took the initiative in forming a
trade union centre (INTUC) . The socialists in INTUC were
dissatisfied with the functioning of INTUC and founded
Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) in Howrah as a National Trade
Union Centre in India. Its founders included Basawan Singh
(Sinha) , Ashok Mehta, R.S. Ruikar, Mani Benkara, Shibnath
Benerajee, T.S. Ramanujam, VS. Mathur, G.G. Mehta. Mr.
R.S. Ruikar was elected president and Ashok Mehta as its
General Secretary. It acted as a balancing force between the
INTUC and AITUC.
7. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
01-08-1953: Air India was nationalised under the Air
Corporations Act, 1953 and becomes India’s national flight.
01-07-1955: India’s largest bank Imperial Bank of India
renamed as State Bank of India.
05-04-1957: First democratically elected Communist Party
government outside Europe gets to power in Kerala with CPI
leader EMS Namboodiripad as the Chief Minister.
19-12-1961: 19 th December is observed as the Goa Liberation
Day. Portuguese rule was ended on this day.
8. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lala Lajpat Rai was prolific writer and authored several works
like – “Unhappy India”, “Young India: An Interpretation”,
“History of Arya Samaj”, “England’s Debt to India”. He also
wrote several biographies of Mazzini (Life of Mazzini) ,
Garibaldi, Shivaji (Chatrapati Shivaji) and Hindu god Shri
Krishna (Yogiraj Shrikrishna) . His purpose in selecting
Mazzini and Garibladi was to infuse patriotic sentiment in
the youth of Punjab, who had no access to books in English.
Important Tips
Facts related to Lala Lajpat Rai:
In 1917, Lala Lajpat Rai moved to the United States
during the First World War and founded the Indian
Home Rule League of America in New York. He stayed
in the United States from 1917 to 1920. Rai returned to
India in 1920 and in the following year led the special
session of the Indian Congress Party that launched the
non-co-operation movement. He joined Swaraj Party in
1926 and was elected as its Deputy Leader in the Central
Legislative Assembly.
9. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct. Annie Besant along with Bal
Gangadhar Tilak had formed and led the Home Rule
Movement (1916-1918) . It was based on the lines of Irish
289
Home Rule League aimed at achieving self-government and
dominion status within British Empire.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Theosophical Society was founded
in New York by Madam Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott
and was later shifted to Adyar Chennai. The founders of this
organization were inspired by Indian thought and culture.
Statement 3 is correct. She became the first woman president
of Indian National Congress when she presisded over the
1917 Calcutta Session.
10. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mohandas Gandhi translated Unto This Last into Gujarati in
1908 under the title of Sarvodaya (Well Being of All).
He summarised Unto This Last’s teachings in these three
points:
1. That the good of the individual is contained in the
good of all.
2. That a lawyer’s work has the same value as the barber’s,
in as much as all have the same right of earning their
livelihood from their work.
3. That a life of labour, i.e., the life of the tiller of the soil
and the handicraftsman, is the life worth living.
11. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Usha Mehta was an active supporter of the Quit India
Movement. She started an underground radio in Bombay.
She was an important member of a small group which ran
the Congress Radio.
During Quit India, many nationalists went underground
and took to subversive activities. The main personalities
taking up underground activity were Rammanohar Lohia,
Jayaprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali, Usha Mehta, Biju
Patnaik, Chhotubhai Puranik, Achyut Patwardhan, Sucheta
Kripalani and R.P. Goenka. Underground activities were
meant to keep up popular morale by continuing to provide
a line of command and guidance to distribute arms and
ammunition.
12. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: It was not Dr. Rajendra Prasad
who persuaded Mahatma Gandhi to come to Champaran,
but Raj Kumar Shukla, a farmer from Champaran who was
suffering from the exploitation of the European indigo
planters.
Statement 2 is correct: Acharya J.B. Kripalani was one
of Mahatma Gandhi’s colleagues in his Champaran
investigation. Kripalani was a prominent educator, social
activist and politician who was a close associate of Gandhi
and a longtime supporter of his ideology. He joined Gandhi
in Champaran along with other eminent lawyers and helped
him mobilize the peasants for the Champaran Satyagraha,
which was Gandhi’s first civil disobedience movement in
India.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
13. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
In 1906, the session at Calcutta was presided by Dada
Bhai Naoroji. The moderates choose Dada Bhai Naoroji to
preside over the Congress. But, in this session, the congress
was compelled by the extremists to adopt the following
resolutions which were accepted by the moderates with half
heart.
• Resolution on National Education.
• Resolution of Self Government (Swaraj).
• Resolution on Swadeshi.
• Resolution on Boycott
In this resolutions, the boycott of British goods was put
forward and an impassioned plea was made for cultivation of
the nationalist ideals.
King George V at his Coronation Durbar in Delhi in
December 1911 announced the revocation of the Partition of
Bengal. Hence Annulment was done in 1911 and not in 1907.
Hence, Option 1 is not one of those resolutions.
Important Tips
Dada Bhai Naoroji presided over the INC session at
Calcutta in 1906 in which a resolution supporting the
program of swadeshi, boycott, and national education was
passed.
Ras Behari Ghosh presided over the Surat session in 1907
in which congress was split into moderates and extremists.
14. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Cornwallis was the Governor-General of India from 1786
to 1793, and he created the Covenanted Civil Service of
India as part of his administrative reforms. He introduced
a system of merit-based recruitment and promotion for
the civil servants, who were required to sign a covenant of
good behavior and loyalty to the Company. He also raised
their salaries and prohibited them from engaging in private
trade or accepting gifts from the Indians. He aimed to create
a professional and efficient civil service that would serve the
interests of the Company and the British Empire.
15. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
“The Golden Threshold” is a collection of poems by
Sarojini Naidu, who was often referred to as “Bharatiya
Kokila” or “The Nightingale of India.” She was a prominent
Indian poet, freedom fighter, and child prodigy. Notably,
Naidu was the first Indian woman to serve as the President of
the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become
a governor of an Indian state. Her poetry, known for its
lyrical beauty, was published in this collection in 1905.
PYQ Workbook
Important Tips
Notable works of Sarojini Naidu:
The Golden Threshold (1905): Naidu’s debut collection of
poems that introduced her poetic talent to the world.
The Bird of Time: Songs of Life, Death & the Spring
(1915): Another collection of Naidu’s poetry, exploring
themes of life, death, and the changing seasons.
The Broken Wing: Songs of Love, Death, and the Spring
(1917): A poetic work delving into themes of love, loss,
and the renewal of life in spring.
The Song of the Palanquin Bearers (1919): Naidu’s lyrics
set to music by Martin Shaw, reflecting the cultural and
musical influences of her time.
The Sceptred Flute: Songs of India (1948): A collection
of poems showcasing Naidu’s deep connection to Indian
culture and her poetic prowess.
16. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
J.B. Kripalani was a teacher by profession among the
Gandhian followers. He was a professor of English and
History at Fergusson College in Pune before joining the
freedom movement following Gandhi’s return from South
Africa. He came in contact with Gandhi in 1917 during
Champaran Satyagraha and became one of his loyal
supporters.
Important Tips
A. N. Sinha: He was an Indian politician and a leader
of the Indian National Congress. He was also a lawyer,
journalist, and social reformer who fought for the rights
of the peasants and workers in Bihar. He was known as the
“Bihar Kesari” or the Lion of Bihar. He was a member of
the Constituent Assembly of India and served as the first
Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.
Braj Kishore Prasad: He was an Indian lawyer and a leader
of the Indian National Congress. He was also a freedom
fighter who participated in various movements such as
the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Civil Disobedience
Movement, and the Quit India Movement. He was a close
associate of Rajendra Prasad and served as the President
of the Bihar Provincial Congress Committee. He was also
a member of the Constituent Assembly of India.
17. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Lal Bahadur Shastri, who served as the second Prime
Minister of India, translated the autobiography of Madam
Curie into Hindi. Madam Curie was a pioneering physicist
and chemist known for her groundbreaking research on
radioactivity, and her autobiography provides insights into
her life and scientific contributions. Lal Bahadur Shastri’s
translation made this work accessible to Hindi-speaking
readers, contributing to the dissemination of scientific
knowledge in India.
290
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
18. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The poem “Subh-e Azadi” (Dawn of Freedom) was written
by the renowned Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz in August
1947. This Urdu poem reflects the poet’s sentiments about the
partition of India and Pakistan, expressing disappointment,
anguish, and a critical atmosphere surrounding the events.
Faiz’s poem sympathizes with those who migrated during
the partition and addresses the pain and sadness associated
with the cost of sovereignty. It has been both praised and
criticized for its views and ideological style regarding the
partition.
Important Tips
Faiz Ahmed Faiz:
Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a prominent poet of the 20th century,
crafted verses that transcend time. His poems are a blend
of emotions, weaving themes of love, resistance, and social
justice.
Some of his notable poems:
“Aaj Bazaar Mein Pa-Ba Joulaan Chalo” exemplifies his
metaphoric brilliance in depicting the struggle against
oppression.
“Aaj Ik Harf Ko Phir” portrays his fiery desire to express.
“Bahaar Aayi” explores love tinged with sorrow.
“Bol” champions raising voices against injustice.
“Kab Yaad Mein Tera Saath Nahin” and “Mujhse Pehli Si
Muhabbat Mehboob Na Maang” delve into lost love.
19. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Elizabeth Hawley is renowned for her meticulous
chronicling of Himalayan expeditions. Although she never
climbed mountains herself, her Himalayan Database serves
as a comprehensive and trusted record of climbs in the
Nepalese Himalaya. She was respected for her accuracy and
investigative skills, earning her the nickname “The Sherlock
Holmes of the Mountaineering World.” Hawley’s work was
crucial for climbers, establishing success and fatality rates
and settling disputes over summit claims.
20. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The book “Bahubivah” was written by Ishwar Chandra
Vidyasagar in 1871. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a
renowned social reformer and educator in 19th-century
India. He advocated for various social reforms, including
widow remarriage and women’s education. “Bahubivah”
was one of his works that aimed to address the issue of
polygamy, particularly among the Hindu community, and
promote social change to improve women’s rights and status.
Important Tips
Some of the literary works of Ishwar Chandra
Vidyasagar:
Betaal Panchavinsati (1847): A collection of folktales
Banglar Itihaas (1848): A history of Bengal
291
Jivancharita (1849): A biography of Raja Rammohan
Roy
Bodhadoy (1851): A book on ethics
Upakramanika (1851): A book on Sanskrit grammar
Rijupath (1851-52): A book on logic
Byakaran Kaumudi (1853): A book on Bengali grammar
Borno Parichoy (1854): A book on Bengali phonetics
Shakuntala (1854): A translation of the Sanskrit play
Shakuntala
Mahabharata (1860): A translation of the Sanskrit epic
Mahabharata
Seetar Vanavas (1860): A translation of the Sanskrit epic
Ramayana
Ratnopariksha (1886): A book on philosophy
Bidhobabivah (1855), concerning the rights of widows
to remarry.
Bahubivah (1871) against polygamy.
Balyabivah (1871) against child marriage.
21. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The song “Amar Sonar Bangla” was written by Rabindranath
Tagore in 1905 during the first partition of Bengal, which
occurred under British rule. The song served as an ode to
Mother Bengal and was intended to rekindle the spirit of
unity in Bengal amidst communal divisions. In 1971, during
the liberation war of Bangladesh, the first ten lines of this
song were adopted as the national anthem of Bangladesh,
symbolizing its struggle for independence and the nation’s
identity.
Important Tips
Rabindranath Tagore Literary works:
His poetic journey encompasses several remarkable
collections, including “Manasi” (1890), known as “The
Ideal One,” and “Sonar Tari” (1894), translated as “The
Golden Boat.” However, it was “Gitanjali” (1910), or
“Song Offerings,” that catapulted him to international
acclaim, earning him the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Tagore continued to enchant readers with “Gitimalya”
(1914) and “Balaka” (1916), commonly referred to as
“The Flight of Cranes.”
Tagore’s literary legacy extends into the realm of drama,
with notable plays like “Raja” (1910), exploring themes
of love and darkness, and “Dakghar” (1912), which
poignantly captures the imagination of a young boy
confined to his home. “Achalayatan” (1912) delves into
the human spirit’s quest for freedom, while “Muktadhara”
(1922) addresses societal reform. “Raktakaravi” (1926),
or “Red Oleanders,” confronts themes of oppression and
rebellion.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
In addition to his dramatic works, Tagore ventured into
prose and novels. “Gora” (1910) grapples with identity,
social reform, and nationalism, while “Ghare-Baire”
(1916), known as “The Home and the World,” delves
into the complexities of love, politics, and personal ideals.
“Yogayog” (1929), or “Crosscurrents,” explores the clash
between tradition and modernity.
Beyond fiction, Tagore crafted an extensive body of
work, including short stories, essays, travel diaries, and
autobiographies. His creative talents extended to musical
and dance dramas, and he was an accomplished artist,
creating drawings and paintings.
22. Solution (d)
Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Jawaharlal Nehru served as the
Prime Minister of India from August 15, 1947, when India
gained independence, until his death on May 27, 1964. He
was in his 4 th term when he died, (1947-51, 1952-57, 1957-
1962, 1962-64)
Statement 2 is incorrect: Jawaharlal Nehru represented the
Phulpur constituency in the Lok Sabha (lower house of
Parliament).
Statement 3 is correct: The first non-Congress Prime
Minister of India was Morarji Desai, who assumed office
in 1977 after Janata alliance won the general elections. This
marked a significant political shift in India as the Indian
National Congress had been in power since independence
in 1947.
23. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The book, “The Story of the Integration of the Indi-
an States,” is authored by V.P Menon. It recounts the
complex process of integrating princely states into
India after independence, highlighting the collective
efforts and challenges faced during the period of
1947-1951. The author provides an objective account
of historical events, emphasizing the role of unsung
heroes in this significant consolidation of the nation.
The book also sheds light on the background of the
princely states and the intricacies of this monumen-
tal task.
24. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The first Governor-General of
Bengal was Warren Hastings, who served from 1773 to
1785.
Robert Clive was not the first Governor-General of Bengal.
Robert Clive served as Governor of Bengal twice, from 1757
to 1760 and from 1764 to 1767. However, he was not the first
Governor-General of Bengal, which was a higher position
created by the Regulating Act of 1773 to oversee the affairs
of the East India Company in India.
PYQ Workbook
Statement 2 is correct: William Bentinck was the first
Governor-General of India, which was a title given to him
by the Charter Act of 1833 that abolished the East India
Company’s monopoly on trade and gave more power to the
British Crown in India. He served as Governor-General
of India from 1834 to 1835, after being Governor-General
of the Presidency of Fort William (Bengal) from 1828 to
1834. He is credited with reforms in educational, social and
judicial spheres during his tenure as Governor-General of
British India.
25. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The book ‘Gita Rahasya’ was written by Bal Gangadhar
Tilak, an Indian social reformer and independence
activist. This Marathi language book, written while Tilak
was in prison in Mandalay, Burma, in 1915, analyzes Karma
yoga as found in the Bhagavad Gita. Tilak emphasized the
message of Nishkam Karmayoga (selfless action) from the
Gita. The book comprises philosophical exposition, the Gita,
its translation, and commentary.
Important Tips
Literary works of Bal Gangadhar Tilak:
Tilak founded two influential newspapers, Kesari in
Marathi and Mahratta in English in 1880–1881. Kesari
later became a daily newspaper and is still published today.
In 1903, Tilak authored “The Arctic Home in the Vedas,”
positing that the Vedas originated in the Arctic region and
were brought south by Aryan bards post the last ice age. In
“The Orion,” he attempted to date the Vedas by studying
the positions of Nakshatras.
26. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Annie Besant was a proponent of Fabianism as a movement.
Annie Besant was a prominent member of the Fabian Society
and actively promoted the ideas of Fabianism in her writings
and political activities.
Important Tips
Fabianism:
It was founded in 1884, is a form of socialism that advances
the principles of democratic framework to achieve gradual
conversion to socialism rather than by revolutionary
overthrow.
It is a type of socialism through peaceful and constitutional
method with the help of middle class.
They believe in the authority of State. State is an important
agent to bring socialism.
Eg. Labour party in Britain is one of outcome of ideology
of Fabianism.
After Independence, Nehru was the supporter of
Fabianism.
292
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
27. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct chronological order of the tenure of the four
Viceroys of India during the British rule is:
1. Lord Curzon was the Viceroy of India from 1899 to
1905. He was known for his imperialist and controversial
policies, such as the partition of Bengal, the Indian
Universities Act, the Curzon-Kitchener controversy, and
the Delhi Durbar.
2. Lord Hardinge was the Viceroy of India from 1910 to
1916. He reversed the partition of Bengal in 1911. He
also shifted the capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi in
1911. He faced the challenge of the First World War and
its impact on India.
3. Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India from 1916
to 1921. He introduced the Montagu-Chelmsford
Reforms in 1919, which granted more autonomy and
representation to Indians in provincial legislatures. He
also faced the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
in 1919, which sparked widespread protests and violence
across India.
4. Lord Irwin was the Viceroy of India from 1926 to 1931.
He initiated the Simon Commission in 1927, which
was boycotted by all Indian political parties. He signed
the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931, which ended the civil
disobedience movement and agreed to send a delegation
to the Second Round Table Conference in London.
28. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Vernacular Press Act: Curzon is not correctly matched,
because the Vernacular Press Act was passed by Lord
Lytton, not Lord Curzon. The Vernacular Press Act was a law
enacted in 1878 to regulate the publication of newspapers
and books in Indian languages. The Act gave the British
government the power to censor and suppress any content
that was deemed seditious or offensive to the British rule.
The Act was widely criticized by the Indian nationalists and
journalists, who saw it as a violation of their freedom of
expression and a sign of racial discrimination.
Important Tips
• Pitt’s India Act was passed in 1784 during the tenure of
Warren Hastings as the Governor-General of Bengal.
The Act was intended to address the shortcomings of
the Regulating Act of 1773 by bringing the East India
Company’s rule in India under the control of the
British government.
• Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy followed
by Lord Dalhousie when he was the Governor-General
of India from 1848 to 1856. According to this policy,
any princely state under the direct or indirect control
of the East India Company where the ruler did not have
a legal male heir would be annexed by the Company.
293
• Ilbert Bill was a proposed law introduced by Lord Ripon
when he was the Viceroy of India from 1880 to 1884.
The Bill aimed to remove the racial discrimination
in the judicial system by allowing Indian judges and
magistrates to try cases involving British subjects in
India. The Bill was eventually modified and passed in
1884, but it failed to satisfy either the Indians or the
British.
29. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Satara was the first princely state to be annexed by the
British in 1848 using the Doctrine of Lapse, followed by
Sambalpur in 1849 and Jhansi in 1853. The Doctrine of
Lapse was a policy devised by Lord Dalhousie, the governor-
general of India from 1848 to 1856, which stated that if a
ruler of a dependent state died without a natural heir, the
state would be annexed by the British. This policy was
widely resented by the Indian princes and contributed to the
outbreak of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
30. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Vande Mataram is a poem written in Sanskrit and
Sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in
the 1870s. The first two verses of the poem were adopted
as the National Song of India in October 1937 by the
Congress. The poem was first published in 1882 as part
of Chatterjee’s Bengali novel Anandmath. It is an ode to
the motherland, personified as the “mother goddess” in later
verses, of the people.
Important Tips
• The National Calendar of India, following the Saka
era, marks its first day of Chaitra on March 22 in
regular years and on March 21 in leap years. This
system was officially adopted on March 22, 1957,
alongside the Gregorian calendar, for official
purposes including Gazette publications, All India
Radio broadcasts, Government-issued calendars,
and public communications.
• The national flag of India is a horizontal rectangular
tricolour flag, the colours being of India saffron, white
and India green; with the Ashoka Chakra, a 24-spoke
wheel, in navy blue at its centre. It was adopted in its
present form during a meeting of the Constituent
Assembly held on 22 July 1947, and it became the
official flag of the Union of India on 15 August 1947.
The National Flag of India was designed by Pingali
Venkayya in 1921.
• “Jana Gana Mana” is the national anthem of the
Republic of India. It was originally composed as
Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata in Bengali by Rabindranath
Tagore on 11 December 1911. The first stanza of
the song Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata was adopted by
the Constituent Assembly of India as the National
Anthem on 24 January 1950. A formal rendition of
the national anthem takes approximately 52 seconds.
It was first publicly sung on 27 December 1911 at the
Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
31. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: The
Communal Award was created by the British prime
minister Ramsay MacDonald on 16 August 1932. Also
known as the MacDonald Award, it was announced after
the Round Table Conference (1930–32) and extended the
separate electorate to depressed Classes (now known as the
Scheduled Caste) and other minorities.
Option B in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: The August
Offer was an offer made by Viceroy Linlithgow in 1940
promising the expansion of the Executive Council of the
Viceroy of India to include more Indians, the establishment
of an advisory war council, giving full weight to minority
opinion, and the recognition of Indians’ right to frame their
own constitution.
Option C in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: The
Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by Lord Dalhousie.
According to this doctrine, if any Indian ruler dies without
leaving a male heir, his kingdom will automatically pass over
to the British.
Option D in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: Dyarchy
was introduced as a constitutional reform by Edwin
Samuel Montagu (secretary of state for India, 1917–22)
and Lord Chelmsford (viceroy of India, 1916–21). The
principle of dyarchy was a division of the executive branch of
each provincial government into authoritarian and popularly
responsible sections. The first was composed of executive
Councilors, appointed, as before, by the crown. The second
was composed of ministers who were chosen by the governor
from the elected members of the provincial legislature. These
latter ministers were Indians.
32. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Sir syed Ahmed Khan felt that the Indian National Congress
did not work towards the uplifment of the Indian Muslim
community. Therefore, he opposed the Indian National
Congress. Hence Statement b is correct.
A group of Muslim landlords and nawabs formed the All India
Muslim League at Dacca in 1906. The League supported
the partition of Bengal. It desired separate electorates for
Muslims, a demand conceded by the government in 1909.
Hence Statement c is not correct.
The Ahrar Movement was founded in 1910 under the
leadership of Maulana Muhammad Ali Mohamed and
Hakim Ajmal Khan. Other leaders of the movement were
Iqbal, CR Das, Sir Mian Muhammad Shafi etc. These leaders
were strictly against the Lucknow pact, which favoured
the representation of religious minorities in provincial
legislatures. This weightage formula of the Lucknow pact
paved the way for the Muslim majority by the late 1920s.
Hence Statement a is correct.
The first Provisional Government of India was established in
Kabul during First World War in December 1915. It was the
government-in-exile of Free Hindustan with Raja Mahendra
PYQ Workbook
Pratap as president, Maulana Barkatullah, Prime Minister,
Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi, Home Minister. Hence
Statement d is correct.
33. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
The 1939 Session of All India States People’s Conference was
held at Ludhiana, Punjab under the leadership of Jawaharlal
Nehru. Jawaharlal Nehru continued to hold this position
till 1946. In his presidential speech to the Conference,
titled “Freedom is Indivisible”, he denounced the political
backwardness and oppression inflicted on the people. He also
asserted the INC’s commitment to a united and free India,
and criticized those who dreamt of political independence
for their states separate from India. The Ludhiana Session
of the All India States Peoples’ Conference was a milestone
in the growth of the freedom movement, and signaled the
unification of the different strands of nationalism that had
developed
Important Tips
The All India States Peoples’ Conference (AISPC) was
the association of the Praja Mandals in the princely states
under the British Raj. These Praja Mandals, established
all over the country sought to introduce responsible
government.
The first session of AISPC was held in Bombay in 1927
which brought together representatives from various
Indian princely states.
In 1939, The Indian National Congress amended its policy
to lend support to the AISPC.
34. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
The London branch of the All India Muslim League was
established in 1908 under the presidency of “Syed Ameer Ali”
to put pressure on British Government for Muslims cause.
35. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
Only Punjab in British India proposed a united and
independent existence during partition, led by Sikh
leader Master Tara Singh. Congress sought Punjab’s unity
with India, while the Muslim League aimed for a separate
Muslim-majority state. Ultimately, Punjab was religiously
partitioned. Other provinces, like Assam, Bengal, and Bihar,
joined India without such plans.
36. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The native State of Tripura became involved in the
Freedom movement early in the 20th century because there
were already some groups fighting against the kingship
and its protector, the British. Raja Bir Bikram Manikya’s
government was under British influence, and the oppression
and exploitation faced by tribes, like the Reangs, led to
uprisings against both the local rulers and the British. This
294
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
involvement reflected a broader discontent with colonial
rule and its collaborators.
37. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India from
1848 to 1856, and he was responsible for the last major
extension of British Indian territory. He annexed many
Indian states using the Doctrine of Lapse, which stated
that if a ruler of a dependent state died without a natural
heir, the state would be annexed by the British. Some of the
states that were annexed by this policy were Jhansi, Satara,
Jaitpur, Sambalpur, Udaipur, and Nagpur. He also annexed
Awadh on the basis of misgovernance, accusing the Nawab
of neglecting his subjects and failing to pay his debts to the
British.
Lord Dalhousie’s aggressive expansionism and interference
in the affairs of the Indian princes provoked resentment
and resistance among the Indians, and contributed to the
outbreak of the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which was also
known as the First War of Independence or the Sepoy Mutiny.
38. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement a is correct: “Neel Darpan” was a 19th-century
Bengali play by Dinabandhu Mitra, addressing the ruthless
exploitation of indigo farmers by British indigo planters in
colonial India. The play highlighted the oppressive ‘Neel’
(indigo) system, shedding light on the harsh conditions and
exploitation faced by these impoverished farmers.
Statement b is correct: “Ghashiram Kotwal,” a 1972
Marathi play by Vijay Tendulkar, serves as a political
satire and historical drama. It critiques the manipulation of
power and ideologies, using the lives of Nana Phadnavis and
Ghashiram Kotwal to illustrate how those in authority create
and discard ideologies for their benefit.
Statement c is incorrect: The play “Navanna,” written by
Bijon Bhattacharya in 1944 and staged by IPTA, explores
the devastating Bengal famine of 1943, where over 2
million people perished from hunger and disease. It follows
Pradhan Samaddar, a peasant, depicting the harrowing
realities and profound suffering during this tragic period,
raising awareness and funds for famine relief.
Statement d is correct: Parsi theatre was the first professional
theatre in India and it was very popular among the urban
middle class. Urdu theatre borrowed many elements from
Parsi theatre, such as the use of music, dance, and spectacle.
Urdu playwrights also adapted many Parsi plays into Urdu.
39. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct match between the books (List-I) and their
respective authors (List-II) is as follows:
The first Indian War of Independence - Vinayak Damodar
Savarkar
Anand Math - Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
Life Divine - Sri Aurobindo
Sadhana - Rabindranath Tagore
295
Important Tips
“The Indian War of Independence” is an Indian
nationalist history of the 1857 revolt by Vinayak
Damodar Savarkar, first published in 1909. The book was
banned in British India due to its inflammatory content
but was printed in the Netherlands in 1909. It describes
the 1857 rebellion as a unified Indian uprising against
British rule and emphasizes Hindu-Muslim unity.
Savarkar justifies Indian acts of vengeance as reactions to
British oppression.
“Sadhana: The Realization of Life” is a collection of
spiritual discourses by Rabindranath Tagore. It delves
into profound questions about existence, God, and the
purpose of life. Tagore’s lucid explanations draw from
Upanishads, Lord Jesus, and Buddha’s teachings, making
it a valuable spiritual guide.
40. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lord Wellesley was the Governor-General of India from 1798
to 1805, and he kept the British flag flying high in India at
a time when empires in Europe were crumbling before the
might of Napoleon. He pursued an aggressive policy of
expansion and consolidation of British power in India,
which earned him the nickname of “the Indian Napoleon”.
He implemented the system of subsidiary alliances, by which
he forced the Indian rulers to accept British protection and
supremacy in exchange for their autonomy and sovereignty.
He also fought several wars against the enemies of the British,
such as the Marathas, the Mysoreans, and the French. He
also promoted the cultural and educational development of
India, by founding the Fort William College and supporting
the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
41. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The ‘Forward’ policy of Lord Lytton towards Afghanistan
was a misguided attempt to counter the perceived
Russian threat in Central Asia. The policy was based on
the assumption that the British should pursue an aggressive
policy towards Afghanistan in order to prevent the Russians
from gaining influence or territory there. The policy involved
imposing a British resident and troops in Kabul, demanding
concessions from the Afghan ruler, and provoking a war
when the Afghans resisted. The policy resulted in the Second
Anglo-Afghan War in 1878, which ended in a stalemate and
a costly retreat for the British. The policy also alienated
the Afghan people, who saw the British as invaders and
oppressors.
Important Tips
• Minto was the Governor-General of India from 1807 to
1813, and he followed a policy of non-intervention and
conciliation towards Afghanistan.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• He signed a treaty with Shah Shuja, the exiled
Afghan ruler, in 1809, which recognized his claim
to the throne and promised him British support in
case of foreign aggression.
• Dufferin was the Viceroy of India from 1884 to 1888,
and he followed a policy of masterly inactivity towards
Afghanistan.
• He respected the autonomy and sovereignty of
Afghanistan and maintained friendly relations with
its ruler, Abdur Rahman Khan.
• He also settled the boundary dispute between
Afghanistan and Russia through diplomatic
negotiations.
• Elgin was the Viceroy of India from 1894 to 1899, and
he followed a policy of cautious engagement towards
Afghanistan.
• He supported the reforms and modernization
efforts of Abdur Rahman Khan and his successor,
Habibullah Khan.
• He also tried to balance the interests of Britain and
Russia in Central Asia through mutual agreements.
42. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The correct sequence of events is:
Kamagatamaru Incident (1914): The Komagata Maru
incident in 1914 involved the Japanese steamship carrying
376 passengers, primarily Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus from
British India, attempting to immigrate to Canada. Most were
denied entry, leading to a riot and police firing in Calcutta,
resulting in 22 deaths.
Mahatma Gandhi’s arrival in India (1915): On 9 January
1915, M K Gandhi reached Bombay sailing from South
Africa, having lived there for more than two decades. This
date was chosen in 2003 to be observed as Pravasi Bharatiya
Divas (Non-Resident Indian Day).
Tilak’s Home Rule League (1916): In 1916, Tilak established
the Indian Home Rule League with headquarters in Poona,
primarily active in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Central
Provinces, and Berar. Demands included swarajya, linguistic
states, and vernacular education.
Important Tips
The Komagata Maru incident of 1914:
The Komagata Maru incident of 1914 involved the
Komagata Maru, a passenger ship converted from a coal-
transport steamship by businessman Gurdit Singh in Hong
Kong. It arrived in Vancouver with 376 passengers, mostly
Sikhs, after setting sail from Hong Kong.
Canada’s stringent immigration policies required
immigrants to arrive via a continuous journey from
their country of birth or citizenship. This aimed to
restrict Indian immigration, as many sought works in
Canada after traveling through other countries.
PYQ Workbook
To advocate for passengers’ rights, a Shore Committee
formed in Vancouver, led by figures like Hussain Rahim,
Sohan Lal Pathak, and Balwant Singh. In the USA, a
campaign led by Barkatullah, Bhagwan Singh, Ram
Chandra, and Sohan Singh Bhakna supported the cause.
Despite these efforts, the ship was denied entry and forced
out of Canadian waters.
After a two-month standoff, the ship was escorted back
to India and arrived at Budge Budge, Calcutta. British
authorities viewed passengers as lawbreakers and political
agitators.
Upon arrival, British forces stopped the ship, leading to
a clash resulting in the deaths of 18 passengers and the
imprisonment of others. This fueled discontent in Punjab
and led to political dacoities in districts like Jalandhar,
Amritsar, and Ludhiana.
The incident exposed disparities in Canadian
immigration laws and galvanized support for the Ghadar
Party’s revolutionary aims. Ghadarites like Barkatullah
and Tarak Nath Das used it to rally members for the
Ghadar movement and plan uprisings in India. Human
rights violations highlighted the true face of British rule.
43. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is correctly matched: Theodore Beck was a Quaker
and British educationalist working for the British Raj in
India. From 1883 until his death in 1899 he was Principal
of Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, which later
became Aligarh Muslim University.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Ilbert Bill was a legislative
act introduced in 1883 during the tenure of Viceroy
Ripon and written by Sir Courtenay Pergine Ilbert. The act
stipulated that Indian judges could try Europeans.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: Sir Pherozeshah Merwanjee
Mehta was an Indian politician and lawyer from Bombay.
Mehta was one of the founding members and President
of the Indian National Congress in 1890 held at Calcutta.
He was knighted by the British Government in India for his
service to the law. He became the Municipal commissioner
of Bombay Municipality in 1873 and its president four times
– 1884, 1885, 1905 and 1911.
Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Badruddin Tyabji was an
Indian lawyer, activist, and politician during the British
Raj. Tyabji was the first Indian to practice as a barrister
of the High Court of Bombay who served as the third
President of the Indian National Congress. He was one of
the founding members and first Muslim president of Indian
National Congress. He founded the Anjuman-i-Islam College
in Bombay in 1874.
44. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: The Surat
Split of 1907 divided the Indian National Congress (INC)
into Moderates and Radicals. It resulted from differing
296
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
approaches to dealing with British rule, with Moderates
favoring peaceful negotiations and Radicals advocating
more aggressive methods. This division deepened tensions
between the two groups and led to significant political
developments in India’s struggle for independence.
Option B in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: The
Communal Award, instituted by British Prime Minister
Ramsay MacDonald in August 1932, extended separate
electorates to depressed classes (Scheduled Castes) and other
minorities, building upon the existing system introduced in
1909 and 1919.
Option C in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: The All-
Parties Conference was a group of Indian political parties
known for organizing a committee in May 1928 to author the
Constitution of India after independence was actualized. It
was chaired by Dr. M. A. Ansari.
Option D in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: The
Indian National Congress, on 19 December 1929, passed the
historic ‘Purna Swaraj’ – (total independence) resolution –
at its Lahore session. A public declaration was made on 26
January 1930 – a day which the Congress Party urged Indians
to celebrate as ‘Independence Day’.
45. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
Born on 9 May, 1866, in Maharashtra, Gopal Krishna
Gokhale was an Indian liberal political leader and a social
reformer during the Indian Independence Movement.
He was the political master of Mahatma Gandhi. He was
graduate at the age of 18, He became professor and associate
editor of the Sudharak at the age 20, He became Secretary of
the Sarvajanik Sabha and of the Provincial Conference at the
age of 25, He was Secretary of the National Congress at the
age of 29, He was leading witness before an important Royal
Commission at the age of 31, He was Provincial legislator
at the age of 34 and Imperial legislator at age of36, He was
President of the Indian National Congress at age of 39.
Important Tips
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
He was the president of INC in 1905 and gave the slogan
of “Swadeshi”.
He founded the”Servants of India Society” in 1905 with
the help of Mahadev Govind Ranade.
In addition to learning English, he was exposed to Western
political thought and became a great admirer of theorists
such as John Stuart Mill and Edmund Burke.
He had a great influence of the social works of Justice
Mahadev Govind Ranade on his life. He was named as the
Protege Son’ i.e. Manas Putra of Justice Mahadev Govind
Ranade.
Gokhale’s deposition before the Welby Commission on the
financial condition of India won him accolades.
He played a leading role in bringing about Morley-Minto
Reforms in India.
297
46. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Captain Sleeman was the British officer who was mainly
responsible for the suppression of the Thugs, a notorious
gang of robbers and murderers who operated in various
parts of India. He was appointed as the superintendent of the
Thuggee and Dacoity Department in 1835 by Lord William
Bentinck, the Governor-General of India. He conducted
a systematic campaign to eradicate the Thugs, by using
informers, spies, and confessions to identify and arrest them.
He also introduced a system of rewards and incentives for the
Thugs who turned into witnesses and provided information
about their fellow gang members. He captured and convicted
more than 1400 Thugs, who were either hanged or imprisoned
for life. He also established a special prison for the Thugs at
Jabalpur, where they were reformed and rehabilitated.
47. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: The first
Indian National Union session was held in Kolkata at Albert
Hall from 28 to 30 December 1883. It was prompted by the
Introduction of the Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill
(1883-1884) or Ilbert Bill.
Option B in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: The All-
India Muslim League (AIML) was a political party established
in Dhaka in 1906 when some well-known Muslim politicians
met the Viceroy of British India, Lord Minto, with the goal of
securing Muslim interests on the Indian subcontinent.
Option C in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: The All-India
States Peoples’ Conference (AISPC) was a conglomeration of
political movements in the princely states of the British Raj,
which were variously called Praja Mandals or Lok Parishads.
The first session of the organisation was held in Bombay in
December 1927.
Option D in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: British Prime
Minister Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal
Award on August 16, 1932, following the recommendations
of the Indian Franchise Committee (Lothian Committee). It
aimed to establish separate electorates in British India for
various religious and social groups, including Forward Caste,
Lower Caste, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Indian Christians,
Anglo-Indians, Europeans, and Untouchables (now known
as the Dalits).
Important Tips
Key Highlights of Indian Franchise Committee (Lothian
Committee):
• Primary Aim: To establish a suitable foundation for
a system of responsible government by framing a new
franchise.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Electoral Expansion: Proposed an expanded
electorate, with 29,382,000 men and 6,620,000 women
eligible to choose provincial legislature members,
compared to the current figures of 6,792,281 men and
315,651 women.
• Federal Assembly Electorate: Recommended a federal
assembly electorate consisting of 6,864,899 men and
1,578,151 women, a significant increase from the
existing combined total of 1,142,948.
• Reserved Seats for Women: Suggested that between
2 percent and 5 percent of seats in both provincial
legislatures and the assembly should be temporarily
reserved for women.
• Educational and Property Qualifications: Proposed
the introduction of educational and property
qualifications for voters, with special provisions to
ensure the enfranchisement of women, untouchables,
and labor or other minority groups.
• Exclusivity to British India: The report dealt
exclusively with British India, and the princes of the
various states were left to decide on the method
of election of their representatives to the federal
assembly.
48. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The correct match for the books and their respective
writers is as follows:
Surendranath Banerjee - A Nation in Making
M.K. Gandhi - Hind Swaraj
Subhash Chandra Bose - The Indian Struggle
Lajpat Rai - Autobiographical Writings
Important Tips
Lajpat Rai’s “Autobiographical Writings” is a collection
of autobiographical works by Lala Lajpat Rai, providing
insights into his life and involvement in the Indian
independence movement.
49. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Acharya J.B Kriplani was the
President of Indian National Congress at the time of partition
of India in 1947. He also served in the interim government
of India (1946–1947) and the Constituent Assembly of India.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Dr Sachchidananda Sinha, the
oldest member, was elected as the temporary President of the
Assembly, following the French practice. Later, on December
11, 1946, Dr Rajendra Prasad and H C Mukherjee were
elected as the President and Vice-President of the Assembly
respectively.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The first Congress Ministry in
United Province was formed in july 1937 and was headed by
Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant.
PYQ Workbook
50. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is correctly matched: Jamnalal Bajaj was closely
associated with the Satyagraha Ashram in Wardha. Inspired
by Mahatma Gandhi’s principles, he brought his family to live
in the Ashram and played a significant role in its activities,
including serving as the president of Gandhi Seva Sangha and
supporting constructive work during the freedom struggle.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: In the year 1852, Jagannath
Shankarshet founded the Bombay Association. Naoroji
Fursungi, Sir Jamshedji Jejibhai,Vinayak Shankarshet and
Dadabhai Naoroji were among its notable members. The
organization’s first president was Sir Jamshedji Jejibhai. It
was founded to vent public concerns against the British.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: Lala Lajpat Rai established the
National School in Lahore during the Swadeshi movement,
fostering the concept of national education. This institution
later evolved into the National College, where Bhagat
Singh, the prominent Indian freedom fighter, received his
education.
Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Satyashodhak Samaj,
founded by Jyotiba Phule in 1873, aimed to liberate
Shudra and untouchable caste people from socio-cultural
oppression. It sought to eliminate the need for priests,
promote education among marginalized communities, and
challenge religious and caste-based discrimination. Inspired
by an incident of caste discrimination, Phule initiated this
society to search for truth and challenge traditional beliefs
perpetuating inequality.
51. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Vanguard, an emigre Communist journal, was established
by M.N. Roy. In the early 1920s, it served as a platform for
disseminating communist ideology and revolutionary ideas.
This influential journal played a pivotal role in shaping the
early Indian communist movement and was widely read
among intellectuals and revolutionaries.
52. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The correct chronological sequence of the following events
in the political life of Mahatma Gandhi is
• Champaran Satyagraha: This was the first Satyagraha
movement led by Gandhi in India in 1917. It was
a farmer’s uprising in Bihar against the oppressive
Tinkathiya system imposed by the British planters, who
forced them to grow indigo and sell it at a low price.
• Ahmedabad Mill Strike: This was a labour strike led by
Gandhi in 1918 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It was a protest
against the mill owners who refused to increase the wages
of the workers after the plague epidemic. Gandhi used
the method of hunger strike to support the workers’
demand for a 35% increase.
• Kheda Satyagraha: This was a peasant movement led
by Gandhi in 1918 in Kheda district, Gujarat. It was a
298
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
resistance against the British government’s decision to
collect full land revenue despite the failure of crops due
to drought and famine. Gandhi mobilized the peasants
to withhold their payments and demand a suspension of
revenue collection.
• Non-cooperation Movement: This was a mass movement
launched by Gandhi in 1920, which lasted till 1922. It
was a response to the Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwala Bagh
massacre, and the Khilafat issue. It involved boycotting
foreign goods, institutions, titles, and honours, and
promoting swadeshi, education, and self-governance.
53. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Jamnalal Bajaj was an Indian cotton merchant, banker,
Congressman and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.
He founded the Bajaj Group of companies in the 1920s, and
the group now has 24 companies, including six that are listed
on the bourses. He was also a philanthropist who supported
various social causes such as education, health, and rural
development.
Important Tips
• M. R. Jayakar: He was an Indian lawyer and politician
who served as the Vice-Chancellor of Bombay
University and Pune University. He was also a leader
of the Indian National Congress and a member of
the Constituent Assembly of India. He was involved
in various constitutional negotiations such as the
Round Table Conferences, the Cripps Mission, and
the Cabinet Mission.
• V. S. Shrinivas Sastri: He was an Indian scholar,
educator, and diplomat who served as the Minister
of Education in Madras Presidency and the Agent-
General of India in South Africa. He was also a leader
of the Indian National Congress and a member of the
Imperial Legislative Council. He was known for his
eloquence and mastery of English language.
54. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi was not a member of the Indian National
Congress at the time of India’s independence in 1947. He had
resigned from the Congress Working Committee in 1934 and
had no formal position in the party thereafter. He remained,
however, the most influential leader of the Congress and
the freedom movement, and guided the party’s policies and
strategies through his moral authority.
Important Tips
• Mahatma Gandhi joined the Congress in 1915 after
returning from South Africa, where he had fought for
the rights of Indians using nonviolent resistance or
satyagraha
• Mahatma Gandhi served as the president of the
Indian National Congress only once, in 1924-1925. He
presided over the Belgaum session of the Congress,
which was the 39th session of the party
299
• Here he tried to resolve the differences between the
moderates and the extremists within the party.
55. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The founder of the Boy Scouts and Civil Guides movement
in India was Lord Baden-Powell. Scouting was officially
introduced in British India in 1909 and began to expand
with native Indian members in 1913, thanks to the efforts
of various individuals, including Annie Besant, George
Arundale, and others. Lord Baden-Powell’s visit to India
in 1921 played a significant role in uniting various Scout
organizations in India under the umbrella of The Boy
Scouts Association in India. This marked a crucial step in
the development of Scouting in the country. The movement
aimed to instill values of leadership, outdoor skills, and
community service among Indian youth.
56. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lord Ripon was the Viceroy of India from 1880 to 1884,
and he passed the first Factory Act in India in 1881. This
Act was based on the terms of the Factory Act of Great
Britain, which was enacted in 1837. The first Factory Act in
India was a landmark legislation that aimed to regulate the
working conditions of women and children in factories.
The Act restricted the working hours of women and
children to nine hours per day and 48 hours per week. It
also authorized the local governments to make rules for the
health, safety, and welfare of the workers, such as providing
ventilation, lighting, drinking water, latrines, and first-aid
facilities.
6.2. Other UPSC CSE Previous Years’
Questions
57. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The Vaikom Satyagraha was a
nonviolent agitation for access to the prohibited public
environs of the Vaikom Temple in the Kingdom of
Travancore, which was known for its rigid and oppressive
caste system. It was a movement against untouchability and
caste discrimination, as the lower castes (avarnas) were not
allowed to enter or even walk on the roads near the temple.
Statement 2 is correct: Mahatma Gandhi participated in
this Satyagraha and visited Vaikom in March, 1925. He also
supported the cause of temple entry for all Hindus and
negotiated with the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bai
of Travancore. This eventually opened the north, south
and west public roads leading to the temple to all castes.
Important Tips
The Vaikom Satyagraha was conceived by T. K.
Madhavan, an Ezhava leader and a follower of Sri
Narayana Guru, who first raised the question of temple
entry of lower castes in an editorial in Deshabhimani
newspaper in December 1917.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
The movement gained prominence and support from
different communities and activists across India, such
as the Akalis of Punjab, Christian and Muslim leaders,
Chatampi Swamikal and Sree Narayana Guru.
The movement ended on 23rd November 1925 with a
compromise between Gandhi and the Regent Maharani,
who released all those arrested and opened three public
roads to all castes, but kept the eastern road and the temple
closed to the lower castes.
Only in 1936, after the Temple Entry Proclamation by
Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, was access
to the eastern road and entry into the temple allowed to
the lower castes.
58. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Narayan Malhar Joshi, also known as Nana Saheb
Joshi, represented laborers as a representative of the
Indian Government at the Washington Summit of the
International Labour Organization (ILO) in the year
1919. Joshi’s representation at the summit marked India’s
early engagement with international labor organizations and
issues. He was a prominent social and political figure, co-
founder of the All-India Trade Union Congress, and played
a significant role in labor and political movements in India
during that time.
59. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct match for the books and their respective writers
is as follows:
• The Story of My Deportation - Lala Lajpat Rai
• Gita Rahasya - Bal Gangadhar Tilak
• Nation in Making - Surendranath Banerjee
• India Wins Freedom - Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Important Tips
“The Story of My Deportation” is Lala Lajpat Rai’s
personal account of his exile in Mandalay. Beyond his
experiences, the book delves into the reasons behind
Punjab’s growing discontent in 1907 and reflects on
significant events during his time in Mandalay.
“A Nation in Making” is Surendranath Banerjee’s
autobiography, chronicling his life and political
involvement up to 1924. It highlights key events like the
Swadeshi movement, anti-partition protests of Bengal,
and his role as editor of ‘The Bengalee.’ The book also
recognizes the contributions of other leaders in Bengal’s
early nationalist movement.
60. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India from
1848 to 1856, and he was responsible for the annexation of
Sikkim into the British Empire in 1850. He also annexed
many other Indian states using the Doctrine of Lapse, which
PYQ Workbook
stated that if a ruler of a dependent state died without a
natural heir, the state would be annexed by the British.
This policy was widely resented by the Indian princes and
contributed to the outbreak of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Important Tips
Sikkim did not merge with India until 1975, after a
referendum in which the majority of the people voted for
joining the Indian Union and abolishing the monarchy.
The last Chogyal (king) of Sikkim was Palden Thondup
Namgyal, who had ascended to the throne in 1963.
He faced opposition from pro-democracy movements
led by Kazi Lhendup Dorjee, who became the first Chief
Minister of Sikkim in 1974.
The merger of Sikkim with India was a result of political
and social changes in the region, as well as the strategic
interests of India.
61. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
“The Rise and Growth of Economic Nationalism in India”
was written by Bipin Chandra. This book provides insights
into the economic policies of Indian national leadership
and their role in shaping the Indian economy during
the period of economic nationalism. It offers a critical
perspective on the Indian economy and highlights the
contributions of early nationalists in its development. The
book is a valuable resource for understanding the economic
aspects of India’s struggle for independence and its
consequences.
62. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Lord Curzon was the Viceroy of India
from 1899 to 1905. The partition of the Bengal province
came into force during his viceroyalty on 16th October
1905. According to Curzon, after the partition, the two
provinces would be Bengal (including modern West Bengal,
Odisha, and Bihar) and Eastern Bengal and Assam.
Statement 2 is correct: The new province of Eastern Bengal
and Assam was created with its capital at Dacca (now
Dhaka). It had a Muslim majority population of about 31
million, and an area of about 106,000 square miles. It also
included the hill districts of Assam, Chittagong, and Sylhet.
63. Solution (c)
Option c is the correct answer.
The Kallar people, primarily associated with the Madurai
region, were known for their involvement in various
revolts against British India. They were historically known
as warriors and peasants and controlled chieftaincies in the
region. British sources often referred to them as “soldiers
out of work.” Kallar chieftaincies-controlled areas north
and west of Madurai, and they were considered sovereign
and independent. Despite attempts by the British East India
Company to pacify them, Kallar raiding parties continued
to pose a significant threat, leading to revolts against
300
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
British control in 1801. The Kallars were also known
for working as watchmen in villages, but their practices
and abuses led to tensions and movements against their
authority, resulting in their classification as a “Criminal
Tribe” in 1918.
64. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The correct chronological order of the events is:
1. First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46): The First Anglo-Sikh
War of 1845-46 saw the Sikh Empire’s partial subjugation,
cession of Jammu & Kashmir to British suzerainty. The
war resulted from the Sikh Empire’s internal turmoil
and British military buildup near Punjab, culminating in
battles like Ferozeshah and Sobraon. Treaty terms led to
British control over the Sikh Empire’s government.
2. Santhal Revolt (1855): The Santhal Rebellion, also
known as Santhal Hool, was a revolt by the Santhal
tribal people against the British East India Company’s
oppressive zamindari system in Bengal Presidency. The
rebellion took place on 30 June 1855 and was led by four
Murmu Brothers – Sidhu, Kanhu, Chand, and Bhairav.
3. Lord Lytton’s Delhi Darbar (1877): In 1876, Queen
Victoria in addition to her title of ‘Queen of Great Britain
and Ireland’ assumed the title of ‘Empress of India’. The
Viceroy, Lord Lytton was asked to proclaim this on her
behalf throughout India. He decided to hold an Imperial
Assemblage at Delhi on 1st January 1877 for this purpose.
4. Ilbert Bill Controversy (1883): The Ilbert Bill of 1883
aimed to allow Indian judges to preside over trials
of British and European subjects in session courts.
The controversy arose from racial prejudices, with
Europeans vehemently opposing the idea of being tried
by Indian judges. A compromise was reached requiring
at least half the jury to be European, deepening British-
Indian tensions and paving the way for the Indian
National Congress and the freedom struggle.
Important Tips
Delhi Durbar:
The Delhi Durbar was a grand assembly organized by
the British in Delhi, inspired by Mughal terminology, to
commemorate the succession of an Emperor or Empress
of India.
Occurring thrice during British colonial rule, it took
place in 1877, 1903, and 1911 when the British Empire
was at its zenith.
Each Durbar marked a significant coronation event: the
first proclaimed Queen Victoria as the Empress of India
with the title “Kaisar-i-Hind.”
The second confirmed King Edward VII as the Emperor
of India, while the third celebrated King George V’s
ascension.
King George V was the sole monarch to personally
attend a Durbar.
301
Despite Calcutta being the capital of British India,
Lord Lytton, the Governor-General in 1877, selected
a location just outside old Delhi for the first Durbar,
emphasizing the cultural significance of the former
Mughal capital to Indians.
65. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The term ‘Bombay Trimurti’ refers to the trio of prominent
leaders in Bombay during the late 19th and early 20th
centuries who played significant roles in the Indian political
and social landscape. The members of the ‘Bombay
Trimurti’ were Sir Pherozshah Mehta, K. T. Telang, and
Badruddin Tyabji. They were instrumental in advocating
for Indian rights and reforms in the British colonial era, and
their efforts contributed to the formation of the Bombay
Presidency Association and later, the Indian National
Congress’s provincial committees.
66. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
“Annihilation of Caste” is a powerful essay written by
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in 1936. It was originally intended as
a speech for a conference organized by the Jat-Pat Todak
Mandal, a Hindu reformist group, but the organizers
objected to its content, hence it was later self-published by
Dr. Ambedkar. In this essay, he critiques the Hindu caste
system, its religious texts, and the need to eradicate the
religious beliefs that sustain caste divisions.
Important Tips
Some of the Books Written by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar:
• Castes in India: Their Mechanism, Genesis and
Development, 1916
• The Problem of the Rupee: its origin and its solution,
1923
• Bahishkrut Bharat (India Ostracized), 1927
• Janta (weekly), 1930
• The Annihilation of Caste, 1936
• Federation versus Freedom, 1939
• Thoughts on Pakistan, 1940
• Ranade, Gandhi and Jinnah, 1943
• Mr. Gandhi and Emancipation of Untouchables, 1945
• Pakistan or Partition of India, 1945
• State and Minorities, 1947
• Who were the Shudras, 1948
• The Untouchables, 1948
• Buddha or Karl Max, 1956
• The Buddha and his Dhamma, 1957
• What Congress and Gandhi have done to the
Untouchables,1945
67. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
On August 15, 1947, Mahatma Gandhi didn’t join the
Independence Day celebrations. Instead, he was in Kolkata,
where violent clashes between Hindus and Muslims had torn
apart the city. Gandhi was deeply saddened by the communal
violence and disheartened that the principles of non-
violence (ahimsa) and peaceful resistance (satyagraha),
which he had dedicated his life to, seemed to have failed
in bringing people together during these turbulent times.
However, Gandhi worked tirelessly to persuade both Hindus
and Muslims to abandon violence. His presence in Kolkata
played a crucial role in improving the situation, and as a
result, the coming of independence was celebrated with
joyous communal harmony and dancing in the streets.
68. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
M.K. Gandhi led the freedom movement against British
colonial rule using nonviolent methods. He used to say that
“Wrong means never take us to right ends”. He believed
that the means and ends are inseparable and that immoral
means cannot achieve moral ends.
Mahatma Gandhi used to say that “means and ends are two
sides of a coin. They cannot be separated. Immoral means
cannot be used to achieve moral ends. If used, they will
vitiate the end itself. Wrong means never take us to right
ends”. He believed that if we take care of our means, the end
will be taken care of itself. He also said that “the cruelest
form of violence is persistence of poverty”.
69. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi was a strong supporter of the principle
that “What is morally wrong can never be politically right.”
This reflects his unwavering commitment to nonviolence,
truth, and ethical conduct in both personal and political
spheres. Gandhi believed that political actions and decisions
should be guided by moral values and that compromising on
morality for political gain was unacceptable. This principle
was central to his philosophy of satyagraha (nonviolent
resistance) and his approach to social and political change.
70. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The book “The Problems of the Far East” was written
by George Nathaniel Curzon. Published in 1894, the
book delves into the political, social, and economic
conditions of Japan, Korea, and China within the changing
international landscape of the time. Curzon, later the
Viceroy of India, was intrigued by the cultural heritage of
the Far East but remained a supporter of British imperialism.
The book aimed to provide a deeper understanding of these
regions rather than a typical travel narrative. It also explored
the future prospects of the entire region.
71. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Pair a is correctly matched: The Nehru Report of 1928 was
a memorandum of All Parties Conference in British India
PYQ Workbook
to appeal for a new dominion status and a federal set-up of
government for the constitution of India. It also proposed for
the Joint Electorates with reservation of seats for minorities
in the legislatures. It was prepared by a committee chaired
by Motilal Nehru, with Jawaharlal Nehru acting as the
secretary.
Pair b is correctly matched: The Champaran Satyagraha
of 1917, led by Mahatma Gandhi, was a significant farmer’s
uprising in Bihar, India, against the oppressive indigo
planters. It marked the beginning of popular satyagraha
and influenced India’s freedom struggle, bridging the gap
between moderates and radicals in the fight against British
colonial rule.
Pair c is correctly matched: The Forward Bloc, a political
party formed by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939, aimed
to unite left-wing sections within the Indian National
Congress. It emphasized an alternative leadership within the
Congress and involved prominent leaders like S.S. Kavishar,
Lal Shankarlal, and Vishwambhar Dayalu Tripathi. Bose’s
efforts included publishing the newspaper “Forward Bloc”
and nationwide rallies.
Pair d is incorrectly matched: The Khilafat movement
(1919–22) was a political campaign in British India led by
leaders like Shaukat Ali, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar,
Hakim Ajmal Khan, and Abul Kalam Azad, with Mahatma
Gandhi’s support. It protested British policies regarding
Turkey and sought to redress Turkey’s grievances. This
movement also aimed to foster Hindu-Muslim unity and
ended in 1922 alongside the non-cooperation movement.
M.A Jinnah opposed the Khilafat movement.
72. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of British India and
the first Governor-General of independent India. He sent a
letter to Gandhi on August 26, 1947, in which he praised
him as a “One-man Boundary Force” for his efforts to stop
the communal violence in Bengal.
He wrote:
“My dear Gandhiji, in the Punjab we have 55 thousand
soldiers and large-scale rioting on our hands. In Bengal
our forces consist of one man, and there is no rioting. As a
serving officer, as well as an administrator, may I be allowed
to pay my tribute to the One-man Boundary Force”.
73. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The All-Parties Muslim Conference held at Delhi on 31st
December 1928, was presided over by Sir Sultan Mohamed
Shah, also known as Aga Khan III with Fazal Rahimtoola
being its secretary. He played a prominent role in the
conference, which brought together representatives from
various parts of India to discuss Muslim political issues and
demands.
74. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
302
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
In “Hind Swaraj,” Mahatma Gandhi referred to the British
Parliament as “sterile and prostitute.” He criticized the
Parliament for its ineffectiveness and lack of genuine
concern for the well-being of the people. Gandhi believed
that the Parliament was controlled by ministers and subject
to frequent changes in leadership, making it incapable of
meaningful action without external pressure. He used strong
language to convey his disappointment with the British
political system.
75. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Bhagat Singh is not associated with “The Indian
Sociologist.” “The Indian Sociologist” was an influential
Indian nationalist journal in the early 20th century,
edited by Shyamji Krishna Verma. It advocated for Indian
independence from British rule, criticized injustice and
brutality, and was influenced by Herbert Spencer’s ideas. The
journal became more radical over time and faced bans and
legal actions.
Important Tips
Published in early January 1930, ‘The Philosophy of
the Bomb’ by Bhagwati Charan Vohra was a polemic
addressing debates within nationalist circles regarding
violence’s role in India’s anti-colonial struggle, defending
its significance.
“Dreamland” is a book in verse written by Lala Ram
Saran Das during his imprisonment in the early 20th
century. It explores themes like revolution, God, religion,
violence, non-violence, spiritualism, literature, and poetry.
Introduction of this book was written by Bhagat Singh.
76. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The biographer of Jawaharlal Nehru is Frank Moraes.
Frank Moraes was an accomplished journalist and writer
who had a notable career with The Times of India and other
publications. In addition to his journalistic work, he also
wrote a biography of Jawaharlal Nehru, providing insights
into the life and career of India’s first Prime Minister.
77. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
In a speech given in 1942, Subhash Chandra Bose said,
“India’s salvation will not be achieved under the leadership
of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi’s methods are outdated and
ineffective. We need to adopt a more radical approach if we
want to achieve our goal of independence.” Bose criticized
Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership and non-violent methods,
suggesting that they were no longer effective in achieving
India’s independence. He advocated for a more radical and
assertive approach, eventually leading to his formation of
the Indian National Army (INA) and collaboration with Axis
powers during World War II to pursue India’s liberation.
78. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
303
Lord Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten
was the first Governor-General of free India. He was
appointed by King George VI on the recommendation of
British Prime Minister Clement Attlee. He was in charge of
ending the British rule in India and he put forward the plan
of Partition on June 3, 1947.
Important Tips
First Governor of Bengal- Robert Clive (1757-1760 and
1765-1767)
First Governer- General of Bengal- Warren Hasting
(1773-1785)
First Governor-General of India- Lord William Bentick
(1828-1835)
First Viceroy of India- Lord Canning (1856-1862)
Last Governor-General of India- Lord Mountbatten
(1947-1948)
First and Last Indian Governor-General of Independent
India- C. Rajagopalachari (1948-1950)
79. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was an Indian political leader and
social reformer who mentored Mahatma Gandhi during his
early years in India. He had commanded Gandhi to spend
the first year in India ‘with his ears open but his mouth
shut’ when Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915. He
wanted Gandhi to observe and understand the conditions
and problems of the Indian people before launching any
political campaigns.
80. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
Dadabhai Naoroji was the first Indian to be appointed as a
professor of Mathematics and Physics at Elphinstone College,
Bombay. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
In 1886, Naoroji campaigned as a Liberal Party candidate for
the strongly Conservative seat of Holborn. In 1888, referring
to Naoroji’s defeat, the Conservative Party Prime Minister,
Lord Salisbury, remarked that an English constituency was
not ready to elect a ‘Blackman’, drawing greater notoriety to
Naoroji. In 1892, he contested the seat of Central Finsbury,
campaigning on Gladstone’s platform of Liberalism, and was
successfully elected. Hence, statement 2 is correct
Dadabhai Naroji had also been founder-editor of the journal
Rast Goftar in Bombay in 1851. Hence, statement 3 is
correct.
Dadabhai Naroji presided over Congress three times. He was
the Congress president during 1886, 1893, and 1906 sessions.
Hence, statement 4 is not correct.
Important Tips
Dadabhai Naroji founded the London Zoroastrian
Association in 1861.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
He was also a founding member of the East India
Association and London Indian Society and became vocal
in promoting Indian rights in regard to the ICS and trade.
He was an economist and proponent of the drain theory,
building up a detailed economic critique of British
imperialism in India.
He also established links with Irish MPs and was one of
the founders of the Indian National Congress in 1885 in
Bombay.
In 1906, Dadabhai Naoroji stood as a candidate at Lambeth
North but was again unsuccessful.
In 1907, Dadabhai Naoroji left England to retire at Versova
in Bombay, where he died in 1917.
81. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Sir John Shore was the Governor-General of Bengal from
1793 to 1798, and he was an expert in the Bengal revenue
system. However, he was not involved in the Anglo-Nepal
War, which was fought between the Kingdom of Nepal and
the British East India Company from 1814 to 1816. The
Anglo-Nepal War was initiated by Lord Hastings, who was
the Governor-General of India from 1813 to 1823. Lord
Hastings was also responsible for the Third Anglo-Maratha
War, which ended the Maratha Confederacy as a major
power in India.
Important Tips
Some major wars and related governor general of British
India:
• Third Mysore War (1790-92) and Treaty of
Seringapatam (1792): Lord Cornwallis (1786-1793)
• First Burmese War (1824-1826): Lord Amherst (1823-
1828)
• First Afghan War (1838-42): Lord Auckland (1836-
1842)
• First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-46): Lord Hardinge I
(1844-1848)
• Bhutan War (1865): Lord John Lawrence (1864-1869)
82. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct chronological order of their treaties are as
follows:
Hyderabad: In 1798, it broke the Nizam’s ties with the
French and made it illegal for the Nizam to form alliances
with the Maratha without British permission. The Nizam of
Hyderabad became the first to sign the Subsidiary Alliance.
Mysore: After 1799, a small state of Mysore was created
by Wellesley consisting of Mysore, Srirangapatna and the
surrounding areas. It was given to Krishnaraja Wadiyar III
and the rest was annexed to British India. For doing this, the
Wadiyar dynasty had to sign the Subsidiary Alliance.
Oudh: The Nawab of Oudh entered into a subsidiary alliance
PYQ Workbook
with Lord Wellesley in 1801. He agreed to surrender half
of his territory, including Rohilkhand, Gorakhpur, and
the Doab, to the British, and to pay a huge subsidy for
maintaining a British force in his state.
Sindhia: The Maratha chief Sindhia signed a subsidiary
alliance with Lord Wellesley in 1803. He agreed to cede
some of his territories, such as Delhi, Agra, and parts of
Bundelkhand, to the British, and to pay a large indemnity for
the expenses of the war.
83. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Lucknow session of 1916 was presided by Ambika
Charan Majumdar. He was an Indian Bengali politician who
served as the Indian National Congress president.
Important Tips
Features of Lucknow Pact:
The Lucknow Pact was an agreement between the Indian
National Congress and the Muslim League.
The Lucknow Pact of 1916 was signed between Bal
Gangadhar Tilak and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
The League agreed to present joint constitutional
demands with the Congress to the government.
The Congress accepted the Muslim League’s position on
separate electorates.
They made some joint demands that were:
Government should declare that it would confer self-
government on Indians at an early date.
The representative assemblies at the central as well as
provincial level should be further expanded with an
elected majority and more powers given to them.
The term of the legislative council should be five years.
The salaries of the Secretary of State for India should be
paid by the British treasury and not drawn from Indian
funds.
Half the members of the viceroy’s and provincial
governors’ executive councils should be Indians.
84. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Pair a is correctly matched: The book “Introduction to
the Dreamland” authored by Bhagat Singh discusses his
thoughts on revolution, religion, and war. It emphasizes
the importance of criticism and independent thinking for
revolutionaries, criticizes religion for siding with tyrannical
forces, and discusses the role of war in achieving social
change. Bhagat Singh believed that capturing power was
necessary to establish a revolutionary government focused
on mass education and constructive work.
Pair b is incorrectly matched: “Bandi Jivan,” an
autobiographical account by Sachindranath Sanyal,
portrays his life of captivity and his role in India’s freedom
struggle. It highlights revolutionary activities, imprisonment,
and the groundwork by patriots during the First World War,
304
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
inspiring generations.
Pair c is incorrectly matched: “The Indian Struggle, 1920–
1942” is a two-part book by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose,
covering the Indian independence movement from 1920 to
1942. Published in 1935 and 1942, it analyzes key events and
Bose’s vision for an independent India, including his critical
views on Gandhi’s approach.
Pair d is incorrectly matched: “Why I Am an Atheist” is
an essay written by Bhagat Singh in 1930 in response to
his religious friends’ beliefs that his atheism stemmed from
vanity. In the essay, he explains his journey to atheism and
questions the existence of God and the suffering in the world.
85. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The memoirs titled ‘Bapu: My Mother’ were written by
Manubehn, Gandhi’s grandniece. The book recounts
various incidents with Mahatma Gandhi, shedding light
on his character and activities. Manu, as she is known,
was Gandhiji’s constant companion during his last mission
for Hindu-Muslim Peace in Noakhali, East Bengal, from
September 1946 until his assassination on January 30, 1948.
86. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Rabindranath Tagore, a celebrated poet and philosopher,
did not create songs or works that refute the heroism of
the Marathas. In fact, he composed a poem titled “Shivaji
Utsav” in 1904, which celebrated the valiant Maratha
warrior-king, Chhatrapati Shivaji. This poem highlighted
Shivaji’s efforts to unify India and resist foreign occupation,
particularly the Mughals. Tagore used Shivaji’s bravery and
determination as a source of inspiration for the freedom
struggle against British colonial rule. Tagore’s literary
contributions consistently emphasized heroism and the
collective effort needed to combat oppression, including
British colonial rule in India.
Important Tips
Rabindranath Tagore’s political views:
Rabindranath Tagore’s political views were characterized
by a complex and ambivalent stance, reflecting the
nuanced political landscape of his time:
Critique of Swadeshi Movement: He shunned the Swadeshi
movement, criticizing it in his 1925 essay “The Cult of
the Charkha,” aligning this with elements of Gandhism
and the Non-Cooperation Movement. In response to
the British proposal to partition Bengal in 1904, Tagore
proposed an alternative solution in his lecture “Swadeshi
Samaj,” advocating a self-help-based reorganization
of rural Bengal. However, he was supportive of some
economic aspects of the Swadeshi movement, such as the
promotion of indigenous industries, but he advocated
for a holistic, long-term development approach rather
than endorsing short-term methods like boycotting
foreign goods and burning foreign clothes.
305
Denunciation of Nationalism: Tagore strongly denounced
nationalism as one of humanity’s greatest problems.
He viewed it as a mechanical and selfish endeavor,
emphasizing the need for purposeful education over blind
revolution.
Vision of East-West Unity: During his extensive travels,
Tagore developed a vision of East-West unity, striving for a
harmonious coexistence of cultures and nations.
Support for Indian Independence: Despite his
reservations, Tagore wrote songs in support of the Indian
independence movement and renounced his knighthood
in protest against the Amritsar massacre in 1919.
Conflict Resolution: He played a pivotal role in resolving
disputes within the Indian independence movement,
including the issue of separate electorates for untouchables,
mediating between Gandhi and Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar.
Educational Reforms: Tagore criticized the rote-oriented
educational system introduced by the British Raj in
India. His experimental school at Santiniketan focused
on holistic education and became a magnet for scholars,
artists, and musicians.
87. Solution (a)
Option a is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: The
51st session of the Indian National Congress was held
in Haripura village, Gujarat, in 1938, presided over by
Subhash Chandra Bose. The Congress aimed to peacefully
resist the undemocratic Federal Scheme of the Government
of India Act, 1935, and demanded complete independence
for India, including princely states, along with civil liberties
and political prisoners’ release. Bose won the election for the
next Congress session’s president.
Option B in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel played a crucial role in Operation Polo, the
military action to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad
into India. Despite opposition from Nehru and Rajaji, Patel’s
determination and pressure led to the successful operation
in September 1948, ending Nizam’s rule and ensuring
Hyderabad’s accession to India.
Option C in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: Muhammad
Iqbal delivered his most popular inaugural speech, known
as the Allahabad Address, during the 25th Session of the
All-India Muslim League in Allahabad in 1930. In this,
he campaigned for the establishment of a Muslim state in
north-western India.
Option D in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: On April
8, 1929, revolutionaries Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar
Dutt threw non-lethal bombs in the Central Assembly in
Delhi. They aimed to protest British imperialism and raise
awareness about the freedom struggle. Both willingly courted
arrest and were later sentenced to transportation for life.
88. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Lord Wellesley was the Governor-General of India from
1798 to 1805, and he expanded the British influence and
territory in India through the Subsidiary Alliance System,
which required Indian rulers to accept a British resident
and troops in their states and surrender their foreign policy
to the British. He also initiated the Fourth Anglo-Mysore
War in 1799, which resulted in the defeat and death of Tipu
Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, and the annexation of most of his
kingdom by the British.
Important Tips
• Lord Ellenborough was the Governor-General of
India from 1842 to 1844, and he was responsible for
the annexation of Sindh in 1843.
• Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India
from 1848 to 1856, and he was responsible for the
annexation of Awadh in 1856. He also introduced the
Doctrine of Lapse, which allowed the British to annex
any Indian state whose ruler died without a natural
heir.
• Sir John Shore was the Governor-General of Bengal
from 1793 to 1798. The Third Anglo-Maratha War,
was fought between 1817 and 1819. The Third Anglo-
Maratha War was initiated by Lord Hastings, who was
the Governor-General of India from 1813 to 1823.
89. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Lord Cornwallis was the Governor-General of Bengal
from 1786 to 1793, and he was associated with the Third
Anglo-Mysore War, which took place from 1790 to 1792.
He declared war on Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, after
Tipu attacked the British ally of Travancore in 1789. He also
formed a coalition with the Maratha Empire and the Nizam
of Hyderabad to oppose Tipu’s expansionist ambitions. He
led the British forces in several battles against Tipu, such as
the Siege of Bangalore, the Battle of Arakere, and the Battle
of Seringapatam. He eventually forced Tipu to sue for peace
and sign the Treaty of Seringapatam in 1792, which resulted
in the loss of half of Mysore’s territory and a large war
indemnity to the British and their allies.
90. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Tinkathia System was an economic policy enforced by the
East India Company in India, especially in Bihar, where the
peasants had to grow indigo on three out of every twenty
parts of their land for the landlords. This system was
challenged by the Champaran Satyagraha led by Mahatma
Gandhi in 1917, which was the first Satyagraha movement in
India and a milestone in the Indian independence movement.
Important Tips
• British introduced the Indigo plantation in Bengal
(Bihar was part of it ) in the 1820s.
PYQ Workbook
• Under this system, those farmers who had 1 bigha land
(1bigha=20 kattha) had to plant Indigo over 3 kattha.
If you have 2 bigha land you must have to plant Indigo
over 6 kattha land.
• The price of Indigo initially was high in the market
but planters who were European usually paid very low
prices to farmers.
• Moreover, the seed and initial cost used to be provided
by European only. It means farmers had to pay more in
return they get less.
• They were all debt-ridden with less fertile land. This
gave birth to several revolts and movements. Indigo
revolt(1859) and Champaran Satyagraha(1917) are the
famous ones.
91. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, also known as Baba Saheb, was the
first Law Minister of independent India. He was an Indian
scholar, economist, politician, and social reformer. He was
the chairman of the drafting committee and widely regarded
as the father of Indian Constitution. Apart From that, he
is the first Indian to get a doctorate degree in Economics
from abroad. In recognition of his contributions, he was
posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1990.
Important Tips
Portfolio held in the first cabinet of Independent India:
Jawaharlal Nehru: Prime Minister; External Affairs and
Commonwealth Relations; Scientific Research.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: Home; Information and
Broadcasting; States.
Dr Rajendra Prasad: Food and agriculture.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: Education.
Dr John Matthai: Railways and Transport.
Sardar baldev Singh: Defence.
Shri Jagjivan Ram: Labour.
Mr C.H. Bhabha: Commerce.
Mr Rafi Ahmad Kidwai: Communications.
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur: Health.
Dr B.R Ambedkar: Law.
Shri R.K. Shanmukham Chetty: Finance.
Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerji: Industries and Supplies.
Shri N. V. Gadgit: Works, Mines and Power.
92. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
G.K. Gokhale was a prominent Indian nationalist leader
and a moderate member of the Indian National Congress.
He compared Lord Curzon’s administration in India to that
of Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor who was known for his
oppressive and intolerant policies towards the non-Muslims.
Gokhale’s comparison was meant to highlight the similarities
306
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
between Curzon’s administration and Aurangzeb’s reign
in terms of their tyranny, intolerance, exploitation, and
alienation of the Indian people. He also wanted to warn
the British government that such policies would lead to
discontentment, rebellion, and eventual downfall of their
empire in India.
93. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Indian National Congress, which was established in
1885. It was divided into two groups in 1907 mainly by
extremists and moderates at the Surat session of Congress.
Moderates were people who wanted to resolve issues with
the government through deliberations whereas Extremists
believed in strikes, agitation, and boycott to force their
demands. The session was held on the bank of the Tapti river
in Surat in 1907
Important Tips
INC Session Chairman Year
Surat Session Rash Bihari Ghosh 1907
Calcutta Session Shri Dadabhai Naoroji 1906
Benares Session Gopal Krishn Gokhale 1905
Madras Session Rash Bihari Ghosh 1908
94. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The conquest of Sindh by the British was completed
during the period of Lord Ellenborough, who was the
Governor-General of India from 1842 to 1844. He was a
strong advocate of British expansionism and imperialism in
India and pursued an aggressive policy against the rulers of
Sindh, the Talpur dynasty.
Important Tips
• Lord Ellenborough ordered Sir Charles Napier to lead
a military campaign against the Amirs of Sindh in
1843, which resulted in two major battles: the Battle of
Miani and the Battle of Hyderabad.
• The British forces defeated the Sindhi forces in both
battles and annexed Sindh into the British Raj.
• Lord Ellenborough celebrated this victory by sending
back to England the gates of Somnath temple, which
had been looted by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026.
• This act was seen as a symbol of British triumph over
Muslim invaders and a restoration of Hindu pride.
95. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Pair a is incorrectly matched: “The Life of Mahatma
Gandhi” authored by Louis Fischer, provides a balanced
and insightful exploration of Gandhi’s life, beliefs, and
impact. It dispels myths, highlights Gandhi’s spiritual
growth, and emphasizes his profound influence on social
and political change. Fischer’s work is a crucial starting point
for understanding Gandhi and his philosophy.
307
Pair b is incorrectly matched: India from Curzon to Nehru
and After is a book by Durga Das, first published in 1969.
It is a comprehensive history of India from the late 19th
century to the early 1960s, covering the period from the
viceroyalty of Lord Curzon to the premiership of Jawaharlal
Nehru.
Pair c is correctly matched: Frank Moraes’s Jawaharlal
Nehru: A Biography is a comprehensive and well-
researched account of the life and times of India’s first
Prime Minister. The book was first published in 1956.
Moraes had known Nehru personally for many years and
had access to a wide range of sources, including Nehru’s own
papers and interviews with his family and friends. The book
is based on this extensive research and provides a detailed
account of Nehru’s life, from his childhood to his death.
Pair d is incorrectly matched: “India Divided” by Rajendra
Prasad is a significant work that examines the issues
surrounding the partition of India in 1947. Prasad, a
prominent figure in the Indian independence movement,
offers insights into the historical events and complexities
of this crucial period, shedding light on the challenges and
consequences of partition.
96. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
“The Springing Tiger” is a historical account of the
Indian National Army written by Colonel Hugh Toye and
published in 1959. This book provides one of the early
sympathetic Western perspectives on the INA. Toye, who
worked as an intelligence officer in Burma during World War
II, interrogated INA soldiers. The book covers the formation
of the INA, its role in key battles, and the alleged death of
Subhas Chandra Bose. It is a valuable historical resource on
this aspect of India’s struggle for independence.
97. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
In a historic address at the AICC Session in Lahore on
December 29, 1929, Jawaharlal Nehru made the statement,
“I am a socialist and a republican, and I do not believe in
Kings and Princes.” This statement reflected his ideological
stance as a socialist and his opposition to monarchy and
feudalism. Nehru emphasized the need for India to adopt
a socialist philosophy to address poverty, inequality, and
labor rights. He also advocated for land reform and the
empowerment of the peasantry. This address laid the
foundation for Nehru’s vision of a democratic and socialist
India.
98. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Lord Ripon is considered as the father of local self-
government in India, as he was the first British ruler to
recognize the importance of empowering the local people
to manage their own affairs. He believed that local self-
government would foster a sense of responsibility and loyalty
among the Indians, and would also reduce the burden on the
central administration.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
• Lord Ripon enacted several laws and regulations to
promote local self-government, such as the Municipal
Act of 1882, which gave more powers and functions
to the municipal corporations and councils, and
increased the representation of Indians in them.
• He encouraged the formation of district boards, taluk
boards, and village panchayats, which were responsible
for local development works such as roads, schools,
hospitals, sanitation, etc.
• He supported the participation of Indians in legislative
councils and civil services.
99. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Anglo-Nepal War took place during the reign of Lord
Hastings. He was the Governor-General of the East India
Company from 1813 to 1823. He declared war on Nepal in
April 1814, after a series of border disputes and territorial
encroachments by the Nepalese Gurkhas. The war lasted for
two years and ended with the Treaty of Sugauli in March
1816, which forced Nepal to cede some of its lands to the
British.
100. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The first communist government in India was established
in the province of Kerala. E. M. S. Namboodiripad became
the first communist leader in India to head a popularly
elected government following the elections for the Kerala
Legislative Assembly in 1957.
101. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi had told, “Destruction is the best
method of dealing with the foreign clothes.” He said this
in the context of his campaign for swadeshi or self-reliance,
which involved boycotting foreign goods and promoting
indigenous industries. He encouraged people to burn or
discard their foreign clothes and wear khadi or hand-spun
cloth instead. He believed that this would not only weaken
the economic and political hold of the British over India, but
also foster a sense of national pride and dignity among the
Indians.
102. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
M.S. Subbulakshmi sang ‘Hindustan Hamara’ of Iqbal
and ‘Jan-gan-man’ in the Central Assembly at midnight
of 14/15 August 1947. “Hindustan Hamara” is a poem
written by Muhammad Iqbal, a prominent Muslim poet and
philosopher expressing the love of India and its people
whereas “Jan-gan-man” is the national anthem of India. It
was composed by Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel laureate
poet and philosopher. The anthem expresses the hopes and
aspirations of the people of India.
PYQ Workbook
103. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Rabindra Nath Tagore was a poet and Nobel laureate
who bestowed the title of “Mahatma” to Gandhi in 1915
while writing his autobiography. The word “Mahatma”
means a great soul or venerable in Sanskrit and is now used
throughout the world to refer to Gandhi.
Important Tips
Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat
and died on 30 January 1948 in New Delhi by assassination
He adopted the short dhoti woven with hand-spun yarn as
a mark of identification with India’s rural poor and lived
in a self-sufficient residential community.
He was the president of the Indian National Congress in
1924-1925 and was named Time Person of the Year in
1930.
104. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The book “The Man Who Divided India” was authored by
Rafiq Zakaria. It discusses the political career of Muhammad
Ali Jinnah, who played a key role in the partition of India.
It explores how Jinnah began as a messenger of Hindu-
Muslim unity but later adopted a communalist approach
to divide India on religious lines. The book critiques the
failure of Congress leaders like Nehru and Patel to counter
communalism effectively.
Important Tips
“Freedom at Midnight” by Larry Collins and Dominique
Lapierre is a non-fiction book that chronicles the events
surrounding the Indian independence movement and
partition during the last year of the British Raj, from
1947 to 1948. It delves into various aspects, including
the reactions of princely states, the partition itself,
the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, and the lives of
prominent leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammad
Ali Jinnah.
“India from Curzon to Nehru and After” by Durga Das
offers a dynamic account of politics and international
affairs, featuring insightful portraits of influential
leaders like Gandhi, Jinnah, Nehru, Desai, and Patel. It
emphasizes that politics is fundamentally about people
and is a valuable resource for those interested in India,
British imperialism history, or contemporary Asia.
105. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lord Curzon was the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905, and
he established the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
as a separate department in 1902. He also appointed John
Marshall as the first Director-General of ASI, who reformed
and modernized the archaeological practices in India.
106. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
308
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Matching the authors with their respective works:
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee - Anand Math
Michael Madhusudan Dutt - Captive Lady
Rabindranath Tagore - Gora
Sarojini Naidu - The Broken Wing
Important Tips
Anand Math (1882): “Anandamath” by Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhyay is a historical Bengali novel set during
the 1770 Bengal famine and sanyasi rebellion. It follows
the journey of a couple, Mahendra and Kalyani, who get
involved with rebel monks fighting against British rule.
The novel introduces the iconic song “Vande Mataram,”
a symbol of India’s struggle for freedom.
Captive Lady (1849): “Captive Lady” by Michael
Madhusudan Dutt is an English poem that narrates the
love story of Prithviraj and a princess confined by King
Jayachandra. It marks Dutt’s early foray into Bengali
literature.
Gora (1910): “Gora” by Rabindranath Tagore is a novel
set in 1880s Calcutta during the British Raj. It delves into
themes of politics, religion, liberation, caste, nationalism,
and love through the intertwined stories of two couples,
Gora and Sucharita, and Binoy and Lolita.
The Broken Wing (1917): Sarojini Naidu’s poem “The
Broken Wing” symbolically portrays her unwavering
commitment to India’s independence despite personal
health issues and the communal strife of the time. It
reflects her resolute spirit and patriotism.
107. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi made the first use of hunger strike as a
weapon in the Ahmedabad Strike of 1918. He fasted for
three days to support the workers of a textile mill who were
on strike for higher wages. This was the first time Gandhi
used fasting as a form of protest in India.
Important Tips
The Ahmedabad Strike was triggered by the mill owners’
decision to withdraw the plague bonus that was given
to the workers during the epidemic of 1917. The workers
demanded a 50% increase in wages to cope with the
wartime inflation, but the mill owners were only willing to
offer a 20% increase.
Gandhi advised the workers to go on a peaceful strike
and demand a 35% increase in wages, which he considered
reasonable and fair.
The strike lasted for 21 days, during which Gandhi
tried to negotiate with the mill owners, but they refused
to budge. He then decided to go on a fast unto death to
strengthen the workers’ resolve and to put moral pressure
on the mill owners.
309
Gandhi’s fast had a profound impact on both the workers
and the mill owners. The workers remained united and
disciplined, while the mill owners felt guilty and ashamed.
On the fourth day of his fast, the mill owners agreed
to refer the matter to a tribunal, which awarded a 35%
increase in wages to the workers.
108. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The correct sequence is- Rajendra Prasad (1950-1962), S.
Radhakrishnan (1962-1967), Zakir Hussain (1967-1969), V.
V. Giri (1969-1974).
Rajendra Prasad was India’s first President and initially
served as the Minister of Food and Agriculture. He took
office on January 26, 1950.
Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan was the first Vice President and
the second President of India. Teachers’ Day, celebrated
on September 5th, honors his birthday. He assumed the
presidency on May 13, 1962.
Zakir Husain, an economist and co-founder of Jamia Millia
Islamia, was India’s third President and previously the
second Vice President. He assumed the presidency on May
13, 1967.
V.V. Giri was an Indian politician who served as the fourth
President of India. Before his presidency, he held important
positions in the Indian government, including serving as the
Vice President of India. He assumed office as President on
August 24, 1969.
109. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Among the following option, Lord Curzon was the Viceroy
of India from 1899 to 1905 with his six years tenure.
However, the longest serving viceroy of India was Lord
Linlithgow, who served from 1936 to 1943 for seven years.
Lord Dufferin was viceroy of India from 1884 to 1888, Lord
Hardinge was governor-general of India from 1844 to 1848
and Lord Mayo was the viceroy of India from 1869 to 1872.
Important Tips
Curzon-Kitchener controversy:
• It was a major conflict between the Viceroy of India,
Lord Curzon, and the Commander-in-Chief of the
British Indian Army, Lord Kitchener, in the early 20th
century.
• The Curzon-Kitchener controversy arose from a
disagreement over the status and role of the military
member of the Viceroy’s executive council, who was
responsible for advising the Viceroy on military
matters and controlling the army supply and logistics.
• Lord Kitchener wanted to abolish this office and bring
all the military affairs under his own authority, while
Lord Curzon opposed this idea and defended the
existing system of dual control.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• The controversy ended with the resignation of Lord
Curzon in August 1905, after he failed to secure the
support of the home government for his position. Lord
Kitchener emerged as the victor of the conflict, and
he succeeded in abolishing the office of the military
member and reorganizing the army department
according to his wishes.
110. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
“Unhappy India” authored by Lala Lajpat Rai, not Bal
Gangadhar Tilak, written in response to Katherine Mayo’s
“Mother India,” was a powerful critique of colonial rule.
Rai dismantled Mayo’s White Supremacist arguments,
highlighting how British imperialism was the root cause of
India’s socio-economic issues. His book played a vital role in
countering Mayo’s narrative and bolstering India’s demand
for self-rule.
Important Tips
“Durgeshnandini” is a Bengali historical romance novel
authored by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1865.
It is the first major Bengali novel in the history of Bengali
literature, depicting a love triangle against the backdrop
of Pathan-Mughal conflicts during Akbar’s reign in the
south-western region of modern-day West Bengal. The
story was inspired by local legends of the Arambag region.
111. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The book “Mountbatten and the Partition of India” was
written by Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collins. It is a
compilation of interviews, personal reports, and documents
related to Lord Mountbatten’s role in the partition of India. It
sheds light on the challenges and decisions that Mountbatten
faced, making it a valuable resource for understanding the
complex process of India’s partition and its far-reaching
consequences.
112. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Queen Victoria’s Proclamation was read out by Lord
Canning, the first Viceroy of India, on November 1, 1858,
at Allahabad. The proclamation announced the transfer of
power from the East India Company to the British Crown
after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The proclamation also
promised to respect the rights and dignity of the Indian
princes and people, and to refrain from interfering in their
religious beliefs and practices. The proclamation was seen
as a gesture of conciliation and goodwill by the British
government, but it also asserted the supremacy of the British
crown over India
113. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Subhash Chandra Bose was the first person to call Mahatma
Gandhi as the ‘Father of the Nation’ in his radio broadcast
from Singapore on July 6, 1944. He said, “India’s last war of
PYQ Workbook
independence has begun…Father of our Nation! In this holy
war of India’s liberation, we ask for your blessings and good
wishes.”
He did not agree with Gandhi’s emphasis on non-violence
and swadeshi. He said, “We cannot sit still in a state of
passive waiting for someone else to bring us deliverance.”
Despite their differences, Bose respected Gandhi and
acknowledged his influence on the Indian people. He also
sought his blessings and guidance on various occasions. He
addressed him as the Father of the Nation, not only to honor
his role in the freedom struggle, but also to appeal to his
moral authority and to unite the nation under a common
cause.
114. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
The founders of the Muslim League were: Khwaja Salimullah
khan, Vikar-ul-Mulk, Syed Amir Ali, Syed Nabiullah, Khan
Bahadur Ghulam and Mustafa Chowdhury.
Important Tips
All India Muslim League was formed in Dhaka in
Bangladesh.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the founder of the Aligarh Muslim
University was of the belief that Muslims constituted as a
separate nation. The party followed this philosophy.
It was India’s first Muslim party
The party was dissolved on 14th August, 1947.
115. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
N.G Ranga was an Indian freedom fighter, parliamentarian,
and a leader of the peasant movement. He was also a critic of
Mahatma Gandhi and his methods of non-violence and civil
disobedience. He opposed the Champaran Satyagraha of
Mahatma Gandhi, which was a peaceful protest against the
exploitation of the peasants by the European indigo planters
in Bihar in 1917. He argued that Gandhi’s approach was too
passive and ineffective, and that the peasants needed more
radical and militant action to achieve their rights.
116. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The book “Mother India” was written by American
historian Katherine Mayo in 1927. This polemical book
was critical of various aspects of Indian society, including
its treatment of women, untouchables, animals, and its
nationalistic politicians. It was written in opposition to
the Indian independence movement and sparked outrage
in India. The book was considered a scurrilous libel against
Hindus and Hinduism, leading to widespread protests and
the burning of the book.
117. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The policy of ‘Security cell’ or the policy of siege was a
strategy adopted by Warren Hastings and Wellesley to
310
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
create a buffer zone around the British territories in India
by making alliances with or subjugating the neighbouring
Indian states. The policy aimed to protect the British
interests from the threats of the Afghans and the Marathas,
as well as to expand their influence and revenue.
Important Tips
The policy of ‘Security cell’ was one of the British policies
towards Indian states that were implemented during
different periods of colonial rule. The other policies were:
• Subordinate separation policy (1813-1857 AD): This
policy aimed to reduce the power and influence of the
Indian states by annexing them through various means,
such as the doctrine of lapse, subsidiary alliance, or
alleged misrule. Some examples of this policy were
the annexation of Sindh, Punjab, Nagpur, Jhansi, and
Awadh
• Subordinate union policy (1858-1935 AD): This
policy sought to appease and co-opt the Indian states
by granting them some privileges and recognising their
rights and titles. Some examples of this policy were the
Queen’s Proclamation of 1858, the Chamber of Princes
in 1921, and the Indian States Agency in 1936
• The policy of equal union (1935-1947 AD): This
policy envisaged a federal structure for India,
where the Indian states would have equal status
and representation with the provinces in a central
legislature and executive. However, this policy was
never fully implemented due to various reasons, such
as the outbreak of World War II, the rise of nationalism,
and the demand for independence
118. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The statement “Everything else can wait, but not
agriculture” is attributed to Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first
Prime Minister. This quote reflects Nehru’s recognition of
the critical importance of agriculture in the development
and food security of India. He made this statement during a
time of food shortages in the aftermath of India’s partition
in 1947. Nehru emphasized the need to prioritize agricultural
development to address the pressing issue of food scarcity
and ensure the well-being of the Indian population.
119. Solution (d)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Nehru favored heavy industrialization as a means to
modernize India and believed in the importance of building
a strong industrial base for economic development. In
contrast, Gandhi was critical of heavy industrialization,
emphasizing self-reliance, cottage industries, and rural
development. Gandhi’s focus was on rural empowerment
and sustainability, while Nehru advocated for rapid
industrial growth and urbanization to propel India forward
as an industrialized nation.
311
Important Tips
Differences in Viewpoints between Gandhi and Nehru:
Approach to Non-violence:
Gandhi: Embraced non-violence (Ahimsa) as a core
principle, considering it the ultimate weapon for achieving
social and political change.
Nehru: While appreciating non-violence’s moral aspects,
he didn’t view it as a practical method in all situations
and believed in the need for coercive authority to maintain
law and order.
Economic Vision:
Gandhi: Advocated for small-scale and cottage industries
like Khadi to address poverty and unemployment,
emphasizing self-sufficiency and rural development.
Nehru: Supported heavy industrialization and large-
scale industries, aiming for rapid modernization and
technological advancement, even if it meant embracing
Western science and technology.
Role of Religion:
Gandhi: Integrated religion and morality into politics,
emphasizing truth (Satya) and non-violence (Ahimsa) as
the foundation of life. He sought moral regeneration.
Nehru: Promoted secularism and scientific thinking,
separating religion from politics. He believed the Congress
should focus on political and economic spheres.
Freedom and Equality:
Gandhi: Focused on liberty and envisioned a stateless
society with unrestricted individual freedom and minimal
state interference.
Nehru: Emphasized equality, advocating for the
rationing of freedom to ensure equitable distribution
among all members of society. He believed in a strong state
to achieve socialist goals.
Western Influence:
Gandhi: Opposed Western civilization, seeking to banish
it from India while retaining Britishers as friends in
service of the country.
Nehru: Wanted to drive out British colonial rule but
appreciated Western culture and civilization.
Role of State:
Gandhi: Preferred a passive role for the state in his
vision of autonomous village republics.
Nehru: Advocated for state intervention and control,
especially in economic planning, to achieve socialist
objectives.
120. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The book “Anandmath,” written by Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhyay, is associated with the rise of the national
movement in India. It was also known as the “Bible of
Bengali Patriotism.” This novel, published in 1882, played
a significant role in inspiring and mobilizing Indians during
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
the struggle for independence. It introduced the iconic
song “Vande Mataram,” which later became a rallying
cry for freedom fighters and was adopted as the national
song of India after independence. “Anandmath” depicted
the Sannyasi Rebellion against the British East India
Company in the late 18th century and celebrated the spirit
of patriotism and sacrifice. Its English version is titled “The
Abbey of Bliss.”
121. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Bardoli Satyagraha was not led by Mahatma Gandhi,
but by his close associate Vallabhbhai Patel, who later
became the first deputy prime minister of India. The Bardoli
Satyagraha was a peasant movement that took place in 1928
in Bardoli taluka of Gujarat. It was a protest against the
British government’s decision to increase the land revenue
by 30% despite the failure of crops due to floods and famine.
Patel mobilized the peasants to withhold their payments and
demand a reduction of the revenue. He also organized mass
meetings, petitions, and boycotts to resist the government’s
attempts to seize their lands and properties. The movement
lasted for six months and ended with the victory of the
peasants. The government agreed to cancel the revenue hike
and return all the confiscated lands and properties.
Important Tips
Quit India Movement: This was a movement launched by
Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 to demand an immediate end of
the British rule in India and to prepare for a mass struggle
for freedom. The movement involved various forms of
civil disobedience, strikes, boycotts, and sabotage by the
Indian people.
Civil Disobedience: This was a movement initiated by
Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 with the famous Dandi March
or Salt Satyagraha, in which he defied the British salt
monopoly by making salt from seawater.
Kheda Satyagraha: This was a peasant movement led by
Mahatma Gandhi in 1918 in Kheda district of Gujarat. It
was a resistance against the British government’s decision
to collect full land revenue despite the failure of crops due
to drought and famine.
122. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Siddharth College of Law was founded
in Mumbai in 1956. It is run by the People’s Education
Society which was formed by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on
8 July 1945.
Statement 2 is correct: Mooknayak (The Chief of the
Voiceless) was a fortnightly Marathi newspaper published
on alternate Saturdays from Bombay that began in 1920 by
Babasaheb Ambedkar. It was his first endeavor as a journalist.
The newspaper aimed to reveal the pain and rebellion of
society. The first issue of Mooknayak was published on 31
January 1920.
Statement 3 is correct: In order to bring about a new socio-
political awareness among the untouchables, the Depressed
PYQ Workbook
Classes Welfare Institute (or Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha)
was launched by Dr. B.R Ambedkar in 1922.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The first defense minister of
independent India was Baldev Singh Chokkar, who served in
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet during 1947–52.
Note: As per Official Key, answer is A but only statement
1 and 2 is correct and Statement 3 and 4 are incorrect.
Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar established “Bahishkrit
Hitkarini Sabaha (Depressed Class Institute) “ on 20 July
1924 at Bombay, not in 1922.
Important Tips
Facts related to B.R Ambedkar:
• He represented the depressed classes at the First Round
Table Conference in London in 1930.
• In 1936, he established the Independent Labour
Party (ILP), which won 13 out of 15 reserved seats in
Bombay’s provincial elections.
• The ILP transformed into the All India Scheduled
Castes Federation in 1942 but faced defeat in the 1946
general elections.
• Ambedkar opposed civil servants’ strikes, viewing
them as breaches of service contracts.
• He served as a member of the Viceroy’s Executive
Council as a Labour member from 1942 to 1946.
• Ambedkar initiated the weekly newspaper ‘Mooknayak’
in January 1920 to advocate for the rights of the
depressed classes.
• Some of his famous books include-The Untouchable:
Who are They and Why They Have Become
Untouchables; Buddha and His Dhamma; ‘The Rise and
Fall of Hindu Women’, ‘Emancipation of Untouchables’,
‘The Evolution of Provincial Finance in British India’;
‘Pakistan or Partition of India‘, ‘Thoughts on Linguistic
States’, etc.
• Ambedkar became the first Law Minister of Independent
India but resigned in 1951 due to disagreements over
the Hindu Code Bill with Nehru.
• He chaired the Constituent Assembly’s Drafting
Committee and is regarded as the “father of the Indian
Constitution.”
• Despite a defeat in the 1952 Lok Sabha election, he
became a member of the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra.
• On October 14, 1956, he converted to Buddhism, and
he passed away on December 6, 1956, in Delhi. His
followers renamed the Scheduled Caste Federation as
the Republican Party of India in 1957.
123. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lord Curzon was the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905,
and he passed the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act
in 1904. This Act was a landmark legislation that aimed
to regulate the preservation and protection of ancient
monuments and objects of archaeological, historical, or
312
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
artistic interest in India. He initiated several projects to
repair and renovate some of the famous monuments, such as
the Taj Mahal, the Qutub Minar, and the Ajanta Caves.
Important Tips
Ancient Monuments Preservation Act:
• The Act defined an ancient monument as any structure,
erection, or monument, or any tumulus or place of
interment, or any cave, rock-sculpture, inscription
or monolith, which is of historical, archaeological or
artistic interest, or any remains thereof.
• The Act gave the British government the power
to declare any ancient monument as a protected
monument, and to acquire rights in or guardianship of
such monument from its owner or custodian.
• The Act also provided for the preservation of ancient
monuments by agreement with their owners, and for
the compulsory purchase of ancient monuments in
certain cases.
• The Act also authorized the government to control
the traffic in antiquities and the moving of sculptures,
carvings or like objects.
• The Act also empowered the government to notify
areas as protected for archaeological excavation, and
to make rules for regulating such excavation1
124. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Kavalam Madhava Panikkar, popularly known as Sardar
K. M. Panikkar, said “the most notable achievement of
the British Rule was the unification of India”. He wrote
it in his book “India and the Indian Ocean”. Panikkar
argued that before the British came, India was a fragmented
land of many kingdoms and princely states. The British
brought these different regions together under one rule,
and they also introduced modern ideas of administration
and governance. This helped to create a sense of national
identity among Indians, which was essential for the
country’s independence movement.
125. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi attended the Calcutta session of Indian
National Congress in the year 1901 for the first time. He
was then a young lawyer who had recently returned from
South Africa. He was impressed by the speeches of Gopal
Krishna Gokhale, Dadabhai Naoroji, and others at the
session. He also met some of the prominent leaders of the
Congress, such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal,
and Lala Lajpat Rai. He later wrote in his autobiography,
“The Congress session in Calcutta left a deep impression on
my mind and enhanced my estimation of the Congress.” The
Calcutta session of 1901 was presided by Dinshaw E. Wacha,
a Parsi leader and a close associate of Dadabhai Naoroji.
313
Important Tips
Lucknow Session, 1916: This was the session where
the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim
League reached an agreement known as the Lucknow
Pact, which aimed to secure constitutional reforms and
communal harmony. The session also marked the reunion
of the moderate and extremist factions of the Congress.
The session was presided by Ambica Charan Mazumdar.
Amritsar Session, 1919: This was the session where the
Indian National Congress condemned the Jallianwala
Bagh massacre and the martial law imposed in Punjab
by the British. The session also rejected the Montague-
Chelmsford Reforms as inadequate and disappointing,
and endorsed the non-cooperation movement initiated
by Mahatma Gandhi. The session was presided by Motilal
Nehru.
Nagpur Session, 1920: This was the session where the
Indian National Congress adopted some important
organizational changes, such as setting up a Congress
Working Committee, forming provincial committees
on linguistic basis, and reducing the entry fee. The
session also confirmed the non-cooperation movement
as its main programme and changed its goal from self-
government to swaraj. The session was presided by C.
Vijayaraghavachariar
126. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lord William Bentinck was the Governor-General of India
from 1828 to 1835, and he took over the administration
of Mysore state in 1831 on the basis of alleged
maladministration by the ruler, Maharaja Krishnaraja
III. He claimed that the Maharaja had failed to protect his
subjects from the oppression and extortion of his officials,
and that he had neglected the public works and education in
his state. He also accused him of being hostile to the British
and of conspiring with their enemies, such as the Marathas
and the Pindaris. He therefore deposed the Maharaja and
placed him under British supervision in a palace in Mysore
city. He also appointed a British commissioner to manage
the affairs of the state, and introduced several reforms in the
administration, revenue, judiciary, and education sectors.
127. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The renowned poet Sir Muhammad Iqbal wrote the
famous song “Saare Jahan Se Achcha Hindustan Hamara”
in 1905. This song, often referred to as “Tarana-e-Hindi,” is
a patriotic ghazal in Urdu. It played a significant role as a
symbol of resistance against British rule during the Indian
independence movement. This anthem celebrates India and
advocates for unity among people from diverse communities.
It remains a popular patriotic song in India and is informally
regarded as the nation’s anthem.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Muhammad Iqbal, often referred to as the “Poet of
the East,” made significant contributions to literature in
multiple languages, primarily Persian, Urdu, and English.
literary works of Muhammad Iqbal:
Persian Works:
“Asrar-i-Khudi” (Secrets of the Self ) in 1915, focused
on the concept of “Khudi” or “Self ” from a religious
perspective.
“Rumuz-i-Bekhudi” (Hints of Selflessness) in 1917
emphasized the Islamic way of life and self-sacrifice for
the nation.
“Payam-e-Mashriq” (The Message of the East) in 1924,
inspired by Goethe, highlighted the importance of
spirituality and morality in the face of materialism.
Urdu Works:
“Bang-e-Dara” (The Call of the Marching Bell) in 1924
contained patriotic and nature-themed poems.
“Bal-e-Jibril” (Wings of Gabriel) in 1935, inspired by
Spain, conveyed strong religious passion.
“Zarb-i-Kalim” (The Rod of Moses) in 1936, serving as his
political manifesto, critiqued materialism and injustice.
English Works:
“The Development of Metaphysics in Persia” in 1908
explored Persian ideology and Islamic Sufism.
“The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam” in
1930 addressed philosophy, spirituality, and political and
social problems.
Punjabi Works:
Wrote poems like “Piyaara Jedi” and “Baba Bakri Wala”
in Punjabi.
128. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The quote, “Political freedom is the life-breath of a nation.
To attempt social reform, educational reform, industrial
expansion, the moral improvement of the race without
aiming first and foremost at political freedom, is the very
height of ignorance and futility,” is attributed to Aurobindo
Ghosh. This quote underscores the fundamental importance
of political freedom as the foundation upon which other
reforms and improvements in society, education, industry,
and morality can be built. Ghosh’s belief in the primacy of
political freedom was a central tenet of his philosophy and
his commitment to India’s struggle for independence.
Important Tips
Aurobindo Ghose:
• Aurobindo Ghose, born in Calcutta on August 15, 1872,
was a multifaceted figure: yogi, seer, philosopher,
poet, and Indian nationalist.
• From 1902 to 1910 he partook in the struggle to free
India from the British. As a result of his political
activities, he was imprisoned in 1908 (Alipore Bomb
case).
PYQ Workbook
• Two years later he fled British India and found refuge
in the French colony of Pondichéry (Puducherry),
where he devoted himself for the rest of his life to the
development of his “integral” yoga with an aim of a
fulfilled and spiritually transformed life on earth.
• He established the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in
Pondichéry in 1926.
• He believed that the basic principles of matter, life,
and mind would be succeeded through terrestrial
evolution by the principle of supermind as an
intermediate power between the two spheres of the
infinite and the finite.
• He authored various literary works, including “Bande
Mataram,” “Bhagavad Gita and Its Message,” “The
Future Evolution of Man,” “Rebirth and Karma,” and
“Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol.”
129. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lord Mayo was the Viceroy of India from 1869 to 1872,
and he was murdered by a convict named Sher Ali Afridi
on 8 February 1872, when he was visiting the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
Important Tips
• Sher Ali Afridi had served in the colonial army and
police, and had killed one of his enemies in Peshawar in
1867. He was sentenced to death, but later commuted
to life imprisonment and deported to the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
• He worked as a barber at Port Blair, and waited for an
opportunity to kill a white official as a revenge for his
sentence.
• He chose Lord Mayo as his target, and attacked him
when he was returning to his boat after inspecting the
prison facilities. Lord Mayo died shortly after from his
wounds.
• Sher Ali Afridi was immediately arrested and confessed
to his crime. He was hanged on 11 March 1872
130. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Pair a is incorrectly matched: “Hind Swaraj or Indian
Home Rule,” authored by Mohandas K. Gandhi in 1909,
explores his perspectives on Swaraj, modern civilization,
mechanization, and more. Gandhi rejects European
civilization while upholding moral empire ideals. The
British government banned the book in 1910 for sedition.
Pair b is correctly matched: “New India” was a newspaper
founded by the Indian freedom fighter Dr. Annie Besant in
June 1914 to spread socialists’ views among common people.
Pair c is incorrectly matched: In January 1914, Annie
Besant established the weekly newspaper Commonweal
with the aim of promoting and disseminating her ideas of
constitutional agitation, with the goal of compelling the
British to grant Home Rule to the Indian population.
314
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Pair d is incorrectly matched: “India Wins Freedom” by
Maulana Azad offers an insightful account of the partition,
blending personal experiences with Indian independence.
The book emphasizes politics over religion as the cause of
partition and laments India’s post-independence missed
opportunities.
131. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Moderate and Extremist split in Surat Session 1907 and
reunited in Lucknow Session in 1916 due to efforts of
Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Annie Besant was
a prominent British socialist, Theosophist, women’s rights
activist. She also started Home Rule Movement in India in
1916. These two factions formally reconciled during the
Lucknow session, 1916.
Important Tips
Various factors facilitated reunion of Extremists and the
Moderates:
Old controversies had become meaningless after end of
Swadeshi Movement.
Both the Moderates and the Extremists realised that the
split had led to political inactivity.
To allay Moderate suspicions, Tilak had declared that he
supported a reform of administration and not an overthrow
of the government. He also denounced acts of violence.
The death of Pherozeshah Mehta, who had led the
Moderate opposition to the Extremists, facilitated the
reunion.
132. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The right to adopt heir in place of own son was re-
established by the Queen’s announcement of 1858. This
announcement was made after the Indian Rebellion of 1857,
which resulted in the dissolution of the East India Company
and the transfer of power to the British Crown. The Queen’s
announcement declared that the British government would
respect the rights, dignity, and religious beliefs of all Indians,
and that no native of India would be disqualified from
holding any office or place of trust by reason of his religion,
descent, or colour.
The announcement also stated that “all acts and proceedings
in courts of justice within our said territories and possessions
shall be done in our name” and that “all treaties made by
the said Company shall be binding upon us as fully and
effectually as if they had been made by us”
133. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The book “Towards Struggle” was written by Jai Prakash
Narayan (JP). This book contains a selection of his
manifestos, speeches, and other writings, providing insights
into his ideas and program of work. It was published on
August 9th, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of the
315
Quit India Movement, during which JP played a significant
role, despite being in prison at the time. JP was a prominent
political leader and activist in India known for his
contributions to the independence movement and his role in
various socio-political movements in the country.
134. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The correct matching of authors with their works is as
follows:
Amritlal Nagar - Amrit aur Vish
Sumitra Nandan Pant - Chidambara
Sharat Chandra Chatterjee - Devdas
Jaidev - Geet Govind
Important Tips
Amrit Aur Vish is a novel by Amritlal Nagar, first
published in 1966. It is one of Nagar’s most famous
works and won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1967.
The novel depicts the life of a village, spanning from the
late 19th century to the mid-20th century. It shows the
changing shape of rural society and the transformations
taking place within it.
‘Chidambara’ is Sumitranandan Pant’s poetry collection
that earned him the Jnanpith Award in 1968. It reflects his
poetic evolution from ‘Yugvani’ to ‘Atima,’ encompassing
diverse compositions representing the physical and
spiritual aspects of his era. Pant aimed to create a holistic
humanity by harmonizing different philosophies and life
elements in his poetry.
“Devdas” is a Bengali romance novel by Sarat Chandra
Chattopadhyay, revolving around a tragic love triangle
between Devdas, his childhood love Paro, and the reformed
courtesan Chandramukhi.
The Gita Govinda is a 12th-century work by Hindu poet
Jayadeva, portraying the love between Krishna, Radha,
and gopis in Vrindavan. It consists of twelve chapters with
twenty-four divisions called prabandhas, featuring eight-
couplet ashtapadis. These verses have influenced Indian
classical dances and are sung nightly in the Jagannatha
temple.
135. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: The All-
India Azad Muslim Conference, founded in 1929 by Allah
Bakhsh Soomro, aimed to promote composite nationalism
and a united India, opposing the partition and two-nation
theory advocated by the All-India Muslim League.
Option B in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: The
Khaksar movement, a social movement based in Lahore,
Punjab, British India, founded by Inayatullah Khan Mashriqi
(Allama Mashriqi) in 1931, aimed to free India from British
rule, opposed partition, and advocated for a united, inclusive
India, welcoming members regardless of religion, race, caste,
or social status, emphasizing the brotherhood of mankind.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Option C in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: The Khudai
Khidmatgar, led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan, was a Pashtun
nonviolent resistance movement against British rule, focusing
on social reform and later becoming political. It joined
the Congress Party, played a role in India’s independence
movement, but faced opposition from the Muslim League.
They opposed partition and demanded Pashtunistan’s
independence but faced resistance.
Option D in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: The Krishak
Sramik Party, formed in 1929, formerly known as Nikhil
Banga Praja Samiti and Krishak Praja Party, was a significant
anti-feudal political party in British Bengal and later in
East Bengal and East Pakistan. Led by A. K. Fazlul Huq, it
represented tenant farmers and played a key role in Bengali
Muslim political awareness and Hindu support. It produced
notable leaders like Abdus Sattar and Abu Hussain Sarkar.
136. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The name of the magazine published by Mahatma Gandhi
during his stay in South Africa was Indian Opinion. He
launched the newspaper in 1903 to educate the European
community in South Africa about the plight of Indian
immigrants and to fight against racial discrimination and
injustice.
Important Tips
Navjeevan: This is a Hindi newspaper published by The
Associated Journals Ltd, which also publishes National
Herald and Qaumi Awaz. The newspaper was founded in
1947 by Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru to promote
the principles of the Indian independence movement and
modern India.
India Gazette: This was an English language weekly
newspaper published in Calcutta, then the capital of
British India. It was the second newspaper printed in
India, after the Bengal Gazette. It was founded in 1780
by Peter Reed, a former editor of the Bengal Gazette, and
continued until 1834
137. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The correct match for the books and their respective writers
is as follows:
Mahatma Gandhi - Hind Swaraj
Ram Manohar Lohia - The Wheel of History
Dr. Rajendra Prasad - India Divided
Abul Kalam Azad - India Wins Freedom
Important Tips
“Wheel of History” by Rammanohar Lohia compiles a
collection of insightful lectures. Lohia’s unique style delves
into topics such as purpose, materialist interpretation of
history, class, caste, continental shifts, and the essence
of modern civilization, providing readers with thought-
provoking perspectives.
PYQ Workbook
“India Divided” by Rajendra Prasad is a significant work
written in 1946, addressing the pressing issue of India’s
partition. Prasad argues against the idea of Hindus and
Muslims being two separate nations, advocating instead for
a secular state with cultural autonomy for diverse groups.
He critiques various partition schemes, emphasizing their
impracticality and offering an alternative solution to the
Hindu-Muslim question.
138. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The prefix ‘Mahatma’ was added with the name of Gandhi
by Rabindranath Tagore, a Nobel laureate poet and a friend
of Gandhi, during the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917. The
Champaran Satyagraha was the first Satyagraha movement
led by Gandhi in India. It was a farmer’s uprising in Bihar
against the oppressive Tinkathiya system imposed by the
British planters, who forced them to grow indigo and sell it
at a low price.
139. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Pair a is incorrectly matched: “Ailan-i-Haq” or “Anal Haq”
authored by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer tells the story of
Sufi Mansur Al-Hallaj, who faced execution for proclaiming
“Anā al-Ḥaqq” (I am the Truth). Despite condemnation, he
faced death with unwavering conviction, emphasizing his
spiritual union with the divine.
Pair b is incorrectly matched: Al-Hilal, an Urdu
newspaper by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1912-1914),
criticized British rule, urged Muslim participation in India’s
independence movement, and emphasized Hindu-Muslim
unity. Its impact led to greater Muslim engagement in the
independence struggle, influencing leaders like Gandhi
and Nehru, though it was eventually shut down by British
authorities in 1914.
Pair c is correctly matched: Tehzeeb-ul-Ikhlaq is a journal
established by the Muslim reformer Sir Syed Ahmad
Khan in 1871. The journal published alternative Muslim
perspectives, written in plain language. It gave voice to the
publisher’s religious, social, and reforming opinions, and is
credited with establishing him as one of the fathers of Urdu
fiction.
Pair d is incorrectly matched: Jugantar Patrika,
founded in 1906 in Calcutta by Barindra Kumar Ghosh,
Abhinash Bhattacharya, and Bhupendranath Dutt, was
a revolutionary Bengali newspaper associated with the
Anushilan Samiti. It advocated violent resistance against
British rule, criticized the Indian National Congress, and
had a significant readership before shutting down in 1908
due to legal challenges.
140. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Banaras Session of Indian National Congress, 1905 was
presided by Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Formal Proclamation
316
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
of Swadeshi Movement against the British Government was
done in this session. The Indian National Congress decided
to take up the Swadeshi Call in its Benaras Session in 1905.
141. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi was joined by several leaders in his
Champaran Satyagraha, which was his first civil disobedience
movement in India against the exploitation of the peasants
by the European indigo planters. Some of the prominent
leaders who participated in the Champaran Satyagraha with
Gandhi were:
• Rajendra Prasad, who later became the first president
of India. He played a key role in inviting Gandhi to
Champaran and mobilizing the local people for the
movement.
• Anugraha Narain Sinha, who was a lawyer, politician
and freedom fighter. He accompanied Gandhi in his
investigations and negotiations with the authorities and
the planters.
• Brajkishore Prasad, who was another reputed lawyer
who fought cases for the tenants. He was one of the first
persons to contact Gandhi and persuade him to visit
Champaran.
• J.B. Kripalani, who was a prominent educator, social
activist and politician. He was a close associate of Gandhi
and a longtime supporter of his ideology. He joined
Gandhi in Champaran along with other eminent lawyers
and helped him mobilize the peasants for the Satyagraha.
• Raj Kumar Shukla, who was a farmer from Champaran
who was suffering from the oppression of the indigo
planters. He met Gandhi at the Lucknow session of the
Indian National Congress in 1916 and persuaded him
to visit Champaran and see the plight of the indigo
cultivators
Therefore, out of the given options, only Rajendra Prasad
and Anugraha Narain Sinha were among those who joined
Mahatma Gandhi during the Champaran Satyagraha.
142. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer
By 15 August 1947 almost all princely states had acceded to
India except for the three state of Junagarh, Hyderabad and
Jammu and Kashmir.
1. Junagarh The Muslim Nawab wanted to join Pakistan but
a Hindu majority population wanted to join the Indian
Union. In the face of repressive attitude of the nawab,
there was a plebiscite which decided in favour of India.
2. Hyderabad Hyderabad wanted a sovereign status. It
signed a Standstill Agreement with India in November
1947. The violence by razakkars and supply of foreign
arms prompted Indian troops to move in 1948—
described as “a police action to restore law and order”.
Hyderabad acceded in November 1949.
3. Kashmir The state of Jammu and Kashmir had a Hindu
prince and a Muslim majority population. The prince
317
envisaged a sovereign status for the state and was
reluctant to accede to either of the dominions. As he
procrastinated, the newly established state of Pakistan
sent its forces behind a front of tribal militia and moved
menacingly towards Srinagar. It was now that the prince
was forced to sign an Instrument of Accession (October
1947) with the Indian Union.
143. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer
Nizam’s Dominion, Hyderabad, chose not to become a part
of free India. With the departure of the British from India,
the special relationship of paramountcy the British had with
Hyderabad also had to end. Governor-General Lord Louis
Mountbatten signed a Standstill Agreement with the Nizam
on November 29, 1947. It was agreed that the arrangements
relating to external affairs, defence and communications
will be handled by India in the same way as by the British
Crown. The Nizam was allowed to appoint agent-generals
in Delhi and London. The Standstill Agreement was to
maintain the status quo till a permanent solution to the
future of Hyderabad was found. The relations between India
and Hyderabad soured and Hyderabad was integrated with
the Union of India barely a year of the Standstill Agreement.
Important Tips
Two key documents designed to be attractive to the
rulers of princely states were. The first was the standstill
Agreement and the second was the Instrument of
Accession.
The Standstill Agreement which confirmed that the
practices and agreements that existed as between the
princely states and British India would be now continued
by independent India.
The Instrument of Accession by which the ruler of the
princely states agreed to the accession of his kingdom to
independent India.
144. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
John Lawrence was the Governor-General of India from
1864 to 1869, and he initiated the policy of Masterly
Inactivity. This policy meant that the British should not
interfere in the internal affairs of Afghanistan and other
neighboring countries, and that there was no need to keep
a British representative at their courts. He believed that
this would avoid unnecessary conflicts and expenses, and
that the British should focus on consolidating their power
and developing their territories in India. He also adopted
a cautious and conciliatory approach towards the Indian
princes, and respected their rights and dignity.
145. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
“Malgudi Days” is a collection of short stories written by
R. K. Narayan and published in 1943 by Indian Thought
Publications. The book includes 32 stories, all set in the
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
fictional town of Malgudi, located in South India. Each of
the stories portrays a facet of life in Malgudi. R. K. Narayan’s
writing in this collection is known for its insightful and
humorous depiction of everyday life in India, making it a
classic in Indian literature. The stories cover a wide range
of themes and characters, offering readers a glimpse into
the complexities of human nature and society.
146. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The twin principles of Mahatma Gandhi’s Ram Rajya were
truth and non-violence. This is consistent with Gandhi’s
philosophy of satyagraha, which means holding on to truth
or the force of truth. Gandhi believed that truth and non-
violence are the highest values and the foundation of an
ideal society. He said, “Truth is God and non-violence is the
means of realizing Him”. He also said, “Non-violence is the
law of our species as violence is the law of the brute”. Gandhi
practiced and preached truth and non-violence throughout
his life, and inspired millions of people to follow his path.
Important Tips
Ram Rajya of Gandhi is the name given to the ideal form
of governance that Mahatma Gandhi envisioned for India.
Gandhi’s Ram Rajya implied a radical transformation of
the social, economic, and political structures of India.
He advocated for a decentralized and democratic system
of self-governance, where the people would have equal
rights and opportunities, and where the state would be
minimal and non-coercive.
He also envisioned a society where there would be
no exploitation, oppression, or violence, and where
everyone would live in harmony with nature and each
other.
He said, “Ramarajya of my dream ensures equal rights
alike of prince and pauper.”
147. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Lord Cornwallis is credited with establishing the judicial
organization in India. He introduced significant reforms in
the Indian judicial system during his tenure as Governor-
General of India from 1786 to 1793. These reforms were
aimed at making the judicial system more efficient, impartial,
and accessible to the people.
Important Tips
Lord Cornwallis introduced the following changes in
the judicial system:
• He separated the executive and the judiciary functions
of the district collectors, who were previously
responsible for both revenue collection and civil
justice.
• He created a new hierarchy of civil courts, with the
district judge at the bottom, four provincial courts of
appeal in the middle, and the Sadar Diwani Adalat (the
Supreme Court of Bengal) at the top.
PYQ Workbook
• He appointed Indian judges, known as munsifs
and amins, to preside over the district courts, while
European judges were appointed to the higher courts.
• He introduced a uniform code of laws for civil cases,
based on Hindu and Muslim laws, and compiled by a
committee of pandits and qazis.
• He also reformed the criminal justice system by
establishing six circuit courts, each headed by a British
judge and assisted by an Indian law officer, to try
serious criminal cases.
• He abolished the judicial powers of the zamindars
(landlords) and transferred them to the Company’s
courts
148. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Calcutta was the capital of British India from 1772 to 1911.
On 12 December 1911, King George V proclaimed the
transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi at the climax of
the 1911 Imperial Durbar. The decision was taken during the
Reign of Lord Harding, who was the Viceroy of India.
149. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Jawaharlal Nehru was the
second Individual Satyagrahi on the call of Mahatma
Gandhi. In reaction to the August Offer, Gandhiji called for
a limited ‘Individual Satyagraha’. It was a protest against the
British government and their inability to accommodate the
demands of Indians. Also, Indians wanted to demonstrate
that though they are taking part in the war, the participation
was not voluntary. Vinoba Bhave was the first individual
Satayagrahi.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: Chittaranjan Das was called
Deshabandhu (Friend of the Nation) because of his selfless
service to the nation and his dedication to the cause of
Indian independence. He was a lawyer, politician, and
social reformer who played a leading role in the Indian
independence movement.
Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: The 1907 Surat Session of
the Indian National Congress witnessed a significant split
between Moderates and Extremists. Dr. Rash Bihari Ghosh’s
election as President, contrary to Extremists’ preference
for Lala Lajpat Rai, led to Extremists leaving the Congress,
marking a crucial ideological divide.
Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: The Paris Indian Society
(India House in Paris) was an Indian nationalist organisation
founded in 1905 at Paris under the patronage of Madam
Bhikaji Rustom Cama, Munchershah Burjorji Godrej and
S. R. Rana. The organisation was opened as a branch of the
Indian Home Rule Society founded that same year in London
under the patronage of Shyamji Krishna Varma.
150. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Champaran Satyagraha was the first Satyagraha
movement in 1917 led by MK Gandhi. It was a farmer’s
318
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
uprising in Bihar during the British colonial period. An
Ashram was also established in Champaran by MK Gandhi
Gandhi was persuaded by Raj Kumar Shukla, a peasant
leader from Champaran, to visit the region and see the plight
of the farmers. He arrived in Champaran in April 1917 and
started an investigation into the grievances of the farmers.
He was supported by other leaders such as Rajendra Prasad,
Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Brajkishore Prasad, and Mahadev
Desai. He faced resistance from the British authorities,
who tried to arrest him and prevent him from meeting the
farmers. He defied their orders and continued his work.
He also organized mass meetings, petitions, and protests to
demand justice for the farmers.
151. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Sarabandi Campaign of 1922 was led by Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel. This campaign aimed to boycott the
payment of unfair taxes that burdened the poor farmers
and peasants, particularly in the Bardoli Taluka, which
had seen civil disobedience efforts led by Mahatma Gandhi
in 1921. Patel’s non-violent protest garnered significant
support from the Indian population, as it aimed to relieve
the burden of oppressive taxes on poor farmers and peasants.
152. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The book “Desher Katha” was written by Sakharam Ganesh
Deuskar (1869–1912), a close associate of Sri Aurobindo.
This book extensively detailed the British commercial and
industrial exploitation of India.
153. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
Lord Minto was part of the Minto-Morley reforms in 1909.
It introduced a system of communal representation for
Muslims based on the concept of a ‘separate electorate’ in
India. Under this system, the Muslim members were to
be elected only by Muslim voters. Therefore, Rajendra
Prasad considered Lord Minto as the father of Pakistan.
Lord Minto also came to be renowned as the Father of
Communal Electorate.
154. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Lord Curzon was the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905,
and he established the Imperial Cadet Corps in 1901. The
Imperial Cadet Corps was a cadet corps or military school
that was founded exclusively to give officer training to the
princes and gentlemen of British India. It was founded in
November 1901 under the direct surveillance of Lord Curzon
at Meerut and Dehradun. Major D. H. Cameroon was made
its first commandant and Maharaja Pratap Singh of Idar was
made its Honorary commandant. The youths between 17 and
20 years were selected and admitted as Imperial Cadets and
their education was to be at any one of the Chief ’s colleges at
Rajkot, Indore, Lahore, Ajmer or Raipur. The selected cadets
had to join the corps at Meerut or Dehradun.
319
155. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The princely state of Gwalior was not annexed by the
British, but remained under their indirect rule until 1947.
The other princely states mentioned in the options
were annexed by the British under various policies and
circumstances:
Sind: It was annexed by the British in 1843 after the Anglo-
Sind War, in which the British defeated the Talpur dynasty
that ruled Sind.
Awadh: It was annexed by the British in 1856 under the
Doctrine of Lapse, which allowed the British to take over
a princely state if it had no male heir or if its ruler was
incompetent or misgoverned. The annexation of Awadh was
one of the causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
Satara: It was annexed by the British in 1848 under the
Doctrine of Lapse, after the death of its last ruler, Pratap
Singh, who had no biological son to succeed him.
156. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Lord Curzon was the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905,
and he wrote this statement in a letter to Secretary of State
Hamilton on November 18, 1900. He expressed his disdain
and contempt for the Indian National Congress, which was
founded as a platform for the educated Indians to voice their
demands and grievances to the British government.
Important Tips
Events during the tenure of Lord Curzon:
• The partition of Bengal in 1905, which divided the
province into two parts: Eastern Bengal and Assam,
with a Muslim majority, and Western Bengal, with a
Hindu majority. The official reason for this partition
was to improve the administration and development
of the region, but the real motive was to create a divide
and rule policy among the Hindus and Muslims,
• The Indian Universities Act in 1904, which reduced
the autonomy and representation of Indians in the
universities, and increased the control and interference
of the government in academic matters.
• The Curzon-Kitchener controversy in 1905, which
was a power struggle between Lord Curzon and Lord
Kitchener, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the
British Indian Army.
• The Delhi Durbar in 1903, which was a grand
ceremony held in Delhi to celebrate the coronation of
King Edward VII as the Emperor of India.
157. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Lord Lytton was the Viceroy of India from 1876 to 1880,
and he began to confer the titles of Rai Bahadur and Khan
Bahadur to Indian subjects for their loyal and meritorious
services to the British Empire.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
• The titles of Rai Bahadur and Khan Bahadur were
formal titles of honour and respect, which were
bestowed on Hindu and Muslim (and other non-
Hindu) natives of British India respectively.
• Translated, Rao means “prince”, and Bahadur means
“brave” or “most honorable”.
• The titles were accompanied by a medal called a Title
Badge and a citation (or sanad).
• The recipients were entitled to prefix the title to their
name and were presented with a special Title Badge
and a citation (or sanad).
• It was conferred on behalf of the Government of British
India by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.
158. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
Sir William Wilson Hunter was a multitalented Scottish
historian, statistician, compile and member of the Indian
Civil Service. He was of the belief that “The Muslims, if
contented and satisfied, would become the greatest bulwark
of British power in India.”
Important Tips
William Wilson Hunter is most known for The Imperial
Gazetteer of India on which he started performing in
1869, and which was eventually published in nine volumes
in 1881.
He reached Bengal Presidency in November 1862.
Later, he was made assistant magistrate and collector of
Birbhum, in the lower provinces of Bengal, where he began
collecting local traditions and records, which formed the
materials for his publication.
He also compiled A Comparative Dictionary of the Non-
Aryan Languages of India, a glossary of dialects based
mainly upon the collections of Brian Houghton Hodgson.
159. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Katherine Mayo, Aldous Huxley, Charles Andrews, and
William Digby all wrote commentaries or works related to
the condition of India during the British colonial period.
Mayo’s “Mother India” was a critical examination of Indian
society, Huxley’s writings included reflections on Indian
philosophy and society, Andrews was an advocate for Indian
independence and wrote about Indian issues, and Digby
wrote about the Great Famine in India and later worked on
Indian political reform.
Important Tips
Katherine Mayo (1867-1940) was an American historian
and nativist known for her advocacy of American
nativism, opposition to non-white and Catholic
immigration, and promotion of racist stereotypes. She
also authored “Mother India” (1927), a highly critical book
on Indian society, criticized as Indophobic by Mahatma
Gandhi and others.
PYQ Workbook
• Aldous Huxley (1894-1963) was an English writer
and philosopher, known for his extensive bibliography
encompassing novels, non-fiction, essays, and poems.
He explored philosophical mysticism, universalism,
and authored works like “The Perennial Philosophy,”
highlighting Western and Eastern mysticism
commonalities. He also penned “Brave New World”
(dystopia) and “Island” (utopia), envisioning alternate
societies.
• Charles Freer Andrews (1871-1940) was an
Anglican priest, missionary, and advocate for
Indian independence. He forged close bonds with
Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi, convincing
Gandhi to return to India from South Africa. Gandhi
affectionately called him “Christ’s Faithful Apostle”
(C.F.A) and his students named him “Deenabandhu”
(Friend of the Poor). Charles Freer Andrews, engaged
in the Christian Social Union, sought to harmonize
Gospel principles with justice. He joined the Cambridge
Mission to Delhi in 1904, opposing British racism and
supporting Indian political causes. Andrews aided in
resolving the 1913 cotton workers’ strike in Madras.
• William Digby, a British author and humanitarian,
worked in India during the Great Famine of 1876–78,
advocating for relief and criticizing British policies.
He engaged in liberal politics, pushing for Indian
reform and even ran for office. Later, he established
the Indian Political and General Agency in London to
raise awareness of Indian issues. His private lobbying
for the Maharaja of Kashmir led to his disconnection
from the Indian National Congress.
160. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The demand for ‘Complete Independence’ was raised for
the first time in 1921 by Maulana Hasrat Mohani. He
along with Swami Kumaranand, presented the demand
for complete independence for India at the Ahmedabad
Session of Congress in 1921. This marked an important
milestone in India’s struggle for freedom from British
colonial rule. Maulana Hasrat Mohani is also known for
coining the famous slogan “Inquilab Zindabad” (Long live
the revolution!).
161. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Aurobindo Ghosh authored the series of articles titled
‘New Lamps for Old’ (1893-94), which criticized the
Congress for being out of touch with the ‘proletariat.’ In
these articles, he discussed various aspects of the political
situation, initially critiquing the moderate methods of the
Congress and later delving into philosophical and historical
themes related to politics. His writings played a significant
role in enlightening the masses and contributing to the
freedom struggle.
162. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
320
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
“India For Indians” is a collection of speeches by Chitta
Ranjan Das, addressing a meeting in Calcutta where Hindus
and Muslims came together to unite for their country’s cause
in 1905 during swadeshi movement. He expresses optimism
about their collaboration, reminiscing about the Swadeshi
movement and foreseeing a joint struggle for independence.
163. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India from
1848 to 1856, and he was responsible for the introduction
of railways in India. He envisioned a network of railways that
would connect the different regions of India and facilitate
trade, commerce, communication, and military operations.
He also believed that railways would help in the spread of
Western civilization and culture among the Indians.
Important Tips
• Lord Dalhousie appointed a committee under Sir
Macdonald Stephenson to survey and plan the railway
routes in India.
• The first railway in India was laid down between
Bombay and Thane, covering a distance of 34
kilometers. The first train ran on this route on 16 April
1853, carrying 400 passengers in 14 coaches.
• The train was flagged off by Lord Dalhousie himself,
along with other dignitaries and officials.
• The first railway in India marked the beginning of a
new era of transportation and development in the
country
164. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, originally named Muhiyuddin
Ahmad, was a prominent Deoband scholar who played a
significant role in the freedom movement of India. He was
a versatile figure, serving as a journalist, freedom fighter,
politician, and educationist. Azad was known for his efforts
to promote Hindu-Muslim unity and his opposition to the
partition of India. He started influential publications like Al-
Hilal and Al-Balagh, which propagated Indian nationalism
and unity. Azad supported the Non-Cooperation Movement
and served as the president of the Indian National Congress
multiple times. After independence, he became India’s first
Education Minister and made significant contributions to
the country’s educational system. He was posthumously
awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in
1992.
165. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Jamnalal Bajaj was a capitalist and a leader of the Indian
National Congress. He served as an All-India Congress
Committee treasurer for many years and went to jail in
1930. He was also a close associate and follower of Mahatma
Gandhi and supported his causes of swadeshi, khadi, and
harijan welfare.
321
Important Tips
G. D. Birla: He was an Indian industrialist and
philanthropist who founded the Birla Group of companies.
He was a supporter of Mahatma Gandhi. He participated
in the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Quit India
Movement and was imprisoned several times by the
British.
J. R. D. Tata: He was an Indian aviator and businessman
who founded Tata Airlines, which later became Air India.
He was also the chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Group,
and expanded the business into various sectors such as
steel, chemicals, automobiles, hotels, and more.
Balchand Hirachand: He was an Indian entrepreneur
and railway contractor who founded the Scindia Steam
Navigation Company in 1919. He was also involved in
the establishment of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited,
Hindustan Shipyard Limited, and Walchandnagar
Industries Limited.
166. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Charles Andrews was an English missionary and educator
who became a close friend and associate of Mahatma
Gandhi during the freedom movement. He met Gandhi
in South Africa in 1914 and helped him negotiate with the
British government on various issues. He also supported
Gandhi’s campaigns in India, such as the Champaran
Satyagraha, the Kheda Satyagraha, and the Non-Cooperation
Movement. He was affectionately called “Deenabandhu” or
“Friend of the Poor” by Gandhi and the Indian people.
Important Tips
• A. O. Hume: He was a Scottish civil servant,
ornithologist, and botanist who worked in India for 32
years. He was also a political reformer who founded
the Indian National Congress in 1885 and served as its
first general secretary.
• William Wavell: He was a British army officer and
commander-in-chief of the Middle East during World
War II. He later became the Viceroy of India from
1943 to 1947 and oversaw the negotiations for India’s
independence and partition.
167. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Jayaprakash Narayan is famously referred to as JP or Lok
Nayak. He stood as an Indian freedom fighter, theorist,
socialist, and political figure. He’s recognized as the “Hero
of Quit India Movement.”
Important Tips
JP Narayan gained prominence for his opposition to the
former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a move believed
to have curbed her authority during the “JP movement.”
This movement coined the iconic slogan “Sinhaasan
khaali karo ki janta aati hai.”
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
He was born on 11 October 1902 in Sitabadiyara, Bihar.
In 1948, he took the helm of the Socialist Party within the
Congress and later established the Samajwadi Socialist
Party in collaboration with the Gandhian Party.
168. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Butler Committee (1927) was set up to examine the
nature of relationship between the princely states and
government. It gave the following recommendations—
1. Paramountcy must remain supreme and must fulfil its
obligations, adopting and defining itself according to the
shifting necessities of time and progressive development of
states.
2. States should not be handed over to an Indian Government
in British India, responsible to an Indian legislature, without
the consent of states.
Thus, “paramountcy” was left undefined and this hydra-
headed creature was left to feed on usage, Crown’s
prerogative and the princes’ implied consent.
169. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Simla deputation of 1906 was led by Aga Khan III. The
Shimla Deputation took place on 1st October, 1906. Here
Lord Minto met with a deputation of 35 Muslim leaders led
by Aga Khan. They demanded for both separate electoral
constituencies for Muslims in the provincial council and
imperial legislative council for them. The Muslim community
should be given preference while nominating the members
to the Viceroy’s council.
Important Tips
• Aga Khan III (1877 – 1957) was the leader of the Nizari
Ismaili sect in British India from 1885.
• He took interest in promoting the interests of the
Muslims in British India.
• Aga Khan took a Muslim delegation to meet British
Viceroy Lord Minto in 1906.
170. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
On 22 March 1912 ‘Bihar and Orissa’ carved out as separate
province through The Bengal, Bihar and Orissa and Assam
Laws Act, 1912. March 22 is celebrated as Foundation Day
of Bihar.
Important Tips
On 1 April 1936 Bihar and Orissa became separate
provinces from the Government of India Act, 1935.
On 1 April 1936, Sir James David Sifton appointed the
first governor of Bihar whereas Muhammad Yunus was
declared the first Prime Minister of state.
In 2000, Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar.
171. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
The Calcutta session of 1906 was presided by Dadabhai
Naoroji. In this session Congress adopted Swaraj as the Goal
of Indian people. This session of INC passed the famous 4
resolutions, namely - swaraj, swadeshi, Boycott, and National
Educations.
172. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Pyare Lal was the secretary of Mahatma Gandhi during
the Noakhali period. He accompanied Gandhi on his peace
mission to Noakhali and later wrote a book titled Mahatma
Gandhi: The Last Phase, which chronicles Gandhi’s life from
1946 to 1948.
173. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of Bengal
from 1772 to 1785, and he abolished the dual government
system in 1772. He replaced it with a system of direct
administration by the Company, which was more efficient
and less corrupt. He also introduced several reforms in the
judicial, revenue, and military sectors.
Important Tips
About Warren Hastings:
• He was the first Governor-General of Bengal from
1772 to 1785, and he established a system of direct
administration by the Company
• He introduced several reforms in the judicial, revenue,
and military sectors, such as the establishment of the
Supreme Court of Calcutta, the abolition of the dastaks
(tax-free passes), and the reorganization of the army
• He founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal and the
Calcutta Madrasa, which promoted the study of Indian
culture, languages, and literature
• He was accused of corruption, oppression, and
tyranny by his political enemies, such as Philip
Francis and Edmund Burke. He was impeached by the
British Parliament in 1787 on charges of misrule and
misconduct in India
174. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Jai Jawan Jai Kisan (English: “Hail the Soldier, Hail the
Farmer”) was a slogan coined by Lal Bahadur Shastri, the
second Prime Minister of India. He introduced this slogan
in 1965 during a public gathering in Uruwa, Prayagraj.
Shastri used this slogan to inspire both the soldiers to defend
India and the farmers to increase food grain production,
addressing the challenges of a war with Pakistan and a
shortage of food grains in the country.
Important Tips
• Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan: Following the
Pokhran nuclear tests in 1998, Prime Minister Atal
Bihari Vajpayee extended the iconic slogan “Jai
Jawaan, Jai Kisan” by introducing “Jai Vigyan” (Hail
Science).
322
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Anusandhan:
In his speech at the 106th Indian Science Congress
in Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi expanded the well-known
slogan to “Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai
Anusandhan,” emphasizing the crucial role of research
in national development and progress.
• Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan, Jai Vidwan: Dr.
Kailash Chandra Mishra, the Director of the Lal
Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, Delhi,
introduced the adaptation “Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisan, Jai
Vigyan, Jai Vidwan” during his speech at the acceptance
ceremony of the 10th Lal Bahadur Shastri National
Award to Sunil Bharti Mittal.
175. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is correct answer.
Option a is correct- Through Indian Independence Act
1947, India became a sovereign and independent states.
This act granted authority to the princely states to join either
of the dominions or remain independent.
Option b is correct- The decision to join either India or
Pakistan or remain independent was left not to the people
of the princely states but to the princely rulers. This was
because the princely states were not considered to be part
of British India, and so they were not subject to the same
democratic principles as British India.
Option c is correct- The ruler of Travancore, Maharaja
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, initially decided to
remain independent. He questioned the Congress leadership
and remained steadfast in his stance until July 1947.
However, he ultimately chose to join India after surviving
an assassination attempt by a member of the Kerala Socialist
Party.
Option d is incorrect- The State of Travancore did not join
India through a plebiscite. Instead, the Ruler of Travancore,
Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, decided to accede to
India on 25th July 1947, before the formal partition of India
and the creation of Pakistan.
176. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The Second Anglo-Afghan War occurred from 1878 to 1880
and was a conflict between the British Empire (represented
by Lord Lytton) and Afghanistan. The war was driven by
British concerns over Russian influence in the region and
the desire to maintain control over Afghanistan’s foreign
policy. The British launched a military expedition into
Afghanistan, deposing Sher Ali Khan and installing Yakub
Khan as a more British-friendly leader. The war lasted for
two years and involved several battles and skirmishes.
Important Tips
Ilbert Bill- It was proposed in 1883, aimed to allow Indian
magistrates to preside over cases involving British
subjects in India. The bill was named after its sponsor,
Sir Courtenay Peregrine Ilbert, the legal member of the
Viceroy’s Council. Lord Rippon was associated with the
Bill.
323
Charles James Fox’s India Bill- In November 1783,
Charles James Fox, a prominent British Whig statesman,
introduced a bill on India which sought to abolish
the Court of Directors and the Court of Proprietors,
transferring their powers to nominated commissioners.
Lord Curzon’s Appointment- In January 1899, Lord
Curzon was appointed as the Viceroy of India which
received a peerage of Ireland and was created Baron
Curzon of Kedleston, in the County of Derby, upon his
appointment.
177. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The decennial Census of India, which has been conducted
15 times as of 2011, began in 1872 and the first complete
census took place in 1881. It was conducted during the reign
of Lord Mayo. Since 1951, all censuses were conducted
under the 1948 Census of India Act.
178. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Hill stations were initially set up during the colonial period
in India primarily to serve the needs of the British army. The
British army was particularly susceptible to diseases such as
malaria and cholera, which were common in the plains.
The hill stations provided a respite from these diseases and
helped to improve the health of the British army.
Important Tips
Hill Stations established by British in India:
Shimla - Established in 1819
Darjeeling - Established in 1835
Mussoorie - Established in 1823
Ooty (Udhagamandalam) - Established in the early 19th
century
Nainital - Established in 1841
Mount Abu - Established in the 19th century
Munnar - Established in the late 19th century
Dalhousie - Established in 1854
Kodaikanal - Established in the 1840s
Mahabaleshwar - Established in the 1820s
179. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Mahatma Gandhi developed and
employed the concept of Satyagraha during his years in
South Africa while leading the Indian community in their
struggle against racial discrimination and injustice.
Statement 2 is correct: Gandhiji emphasized that Satyagraha
is based on the principles of truth (Satya) and non-
violence (Ahimsa). These two principles were considered
fundamental to the philosophy and practice of Satyagraha.
Statement 3 is correct: In Satyagraha, the emphasis is on
self-suffering and self-restraint rather than causing harm
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
or suffering to the opponent. The Satyagrahi willingly
undergoes suffering, such as imprisonment, fasting, or other
forms of self-denial, to demonstrate their commitment to
truth and non-violence.
Statement 4 is correct: One of the early instances of
Gandhiji’s application of Satyagraha in India was during
the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917. It was a movement
against the oppressive indigo plantation system in Bihar’s
Champaran district.
180. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Congress Socialist Party was founded by a group of
socialists such as Jaya Prakash Narayan, Achyut Patwardhan,
NG Gore, Ashok Mehta, SM Joshi, ML Dantwala in 1934.
MN Roy was the founder of the Communist Party of India
in 1925.
The pairs of organization and their founders are correctly
matched:
• National Liberation Federation: Tej Bahadur Sapru and
MR Jayakar
• Jamiat-ul Ulama-i-Hind:Maulana Mehmood Hasan
Shaikh-ul-Hind
• Congress Democratic Party: Bal Gangadhar Tilak
181. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Vasudeo Balwant Phadke is known in history for leading an
armed uprising against the British in the 1870s. He was a
revolutionary and freedom fighter who organized a group of
rebels with the aim of overthrowing British colonial rule in
India. Phadke’s uprising, known as the Phadke Conspiracy or
the Indi Rebellion of 1879, involved attacks on British targets
and attempts to incite a larger rebellion. However, his efforts
were ultimately unsuccessful, and Phadke was arrested and
sentenced to transportation for life.
182. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Bhagat Singh did not threw a bomb in the Central Legislative
Assembly in 1929 with the objective to kill as many people
as possible. Bhagat Singh and his associate Batukeshwar
Dutt threw a bomb in the assembly on April 8, 1929, not to
kill anyone but to make a loud noise to protest against the
passage of two repressive bills. The bomb was thrown away
from the crowded area and only a few people were injured.
Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt also threw leaflets in the
assembly hall that read “It takes a loud voice to make the
deaf hear” and “Long Live Revolution” before surrendering
themselves to the police.
183. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Vidyasagar’s writings significantly
helped to develop the Bengali language. He simplified
and modernized Bengali prose and introduced punctuation
PYQ Workbook
marks in Bengali literature. He also wrote several books for
children, such as Barnaparichay, which taught the Bengali
alphabet and grammar.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
received the title ‘Vidyasagar’ (meaning ‘Ocean of Learning’)
from Sanskrit College, Calcutta, where he studied from 1828
to 1839 and excelled in Sanskrit and philosophy. He later
became the principal of Sanskrit College in 1851.
Statement 3 is correct: He was enthusiastic about the spread
of women’s education. He established several schools for
girls in Calcutta and other places and advocated for female
literacy and empowerment. He also supported the cause of
widow remarriage and campaigned for the Hindu Widows’
Remarriage Act of 1856.
Statement 4 is incorrect: Vidyasagar defended widow
marriage by citing scriptural evidence from Hindu
texts such as Vedas, Upanishads, Smritis, Puranas, etc.,
to counter the orthodox opposition that claimed widow
remarriage was against Hindu religion. He also wrote a
book called Bidhaba Bibaha Bishayak Prabandha (Treatise
on Widow Remarriage) in 1855, where he presented his
arguments based on scriptures and logic in favour of widow
remarriage.
184. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: The formal transfer of power on
15th August 1947 heralding India’s Independence was
announced by Lord Mountbatten. Lord Mountbatten was
the last Viceroy of India appointed by the British government.
He was also the first Governor-General of independent India.
He played a crucial role in negotiating the partition of India
and Pakistan and overseeing the transfer of power from the
British to the Indian and Pakistani governments
Statement 2 is correct: Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the
Indian independence movement and the advocate of non-
violence, was not a part of the celebrations in New Delhi
on 15th August 1947. He was in Calcutta, where he was
trying to prevent communal violence between Hindus and
Muslims that had erupted after the partition. He spent the
day fasting, praying and meeting with refugees and victims
of riots. He did not rejoice over India’s independence, as he
was deeply saddened by the partition and the bloodshed that
accompanied it.
185. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Narendra Dev was the president of the Congress Socialist
Party (CSP), which was the socialist wing of the Congress.
He joined the Indian National Congress in 1916 and became
one of the founders of the Congress Socialist Party in 1934.
He advocated for democratic socialism, satyagraha, and
secularism as the principles of the independence movement
and the future of India. He was also active in the peasant
movement and served as the president of the All-India Kisan
Congress.
324
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Congress Socialist Party:
• The Congress Socialist Party (CSP) was a socialist
group within the Indian National Congress (INC) that
was founded in 1934 by socialists such as Jayaprakash
Narayan and Acharya Narendra Dev.
• They rejected the sectarian attitude of the Communist
Party of India towards the Congress.
• They believed in Marxist ideas, Gandhism, liberal
and social democracy of the west, nationalism and
independence as their goal, abolition of capitalism,
zamindari system and princely states.
• Some of their prominent leaders were Ram Manohar
Lohia, Minoo Masani, Asoka Mehta, S.M. Joshi, and
others
186. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was a Bengali novelist,
poet and journalist who wrote before the partition of India.
He is best known for his historical and nationalist novels such
as Anandamath, which contains the song Vande Mataram,
considered as the national song of India. He died in 1894,
long before the Partition happened.
Important Tips
• Saadat Hasan Manto: He was a Pakistani writer of
Kashmiri origin who wrote in Urdu. He is regarded
as one of the greatest writers of short stories in South
Asian history. He wrote extensively about partition
and its aftermath, depicting the violence, trauma,
displacement and madness that it caused. Some of his
famous stories on partition are Toba Tek Singh, Khol
Do, Thanda Gosht, etc.
• Bhisham Sahni: He was an Indian writer, playwright
and actor who wrote in Hindi. He was a witness to the
partition and its horrors. He wrote several novels and
stories based on his experiences of partition, such as
Tamas, Pali, Basanti, etc.
• Narendranath Mitra: He was an Indian writer who
wrote in Bengali. He was also a witness to the partition
and its impact on Bengal. He wrote many stories on
partition, such as Rajani Gandha, Abhimanyu, etc.
187. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement I is correct: The statement is based on the argument
of Partha Chatterjee, a prominent postcolonial scholar. He
claimed that nationalism in India was a ‘derivative discourse’
from the West, but also ‘different’ in its content and form.
He argued that Indian nationalists adopted the political
and ideological framework of western nationalism, but
also modified it to suit their own cultural and historical
context. The Indian nationalists drew inspiration from the
ancient and medieval history of India, as well as from the
contemporary movements of nationalism and democracy in
325
Europe and America. They also adapted and modified these
ideas to suit the Indian context and culture
Statement II is correct: Statement II explains that Indian
nationalism was shaped by its response to Western
imperialism, which is a common phenomenon when
nations respond to external pressures. Many Indian leaders,
including Gandhi and Nehru, were educated in the West and
were exposed to Western political and philosophical ideas,
such as democracy, freedom, and self-determination.
Taken together, statement II provides an explanation for
statement I by highlighting the connection between Indian
nationalism and its response to Western imperialism.
188. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
William Wilson Hunter, a British ethnographer and
administrator, initiated the Survey of India project in
1870, as per Lord Mayo’s request. The survey, completed
in 1881, provided valuable information on India’s geography,
history, and culture.
189. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Barnaparichay was written by
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, not Raja Rammohan Roy.
Statement 2 is correct: Barnaparichay was a highly influential
textbook that played a significant role in promoting basic
education and literacy in the Bengali language during the
mid-19th century.
Important Tips
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891):
• Born in West Bengal, he earned the title ‘Vidyasagar’
for his Sanskrit and philosophy mastery.
• Joined Fort William College as Sanskrit department
head at 21.
• Supported Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan
Dutta’s education and return to India.
• Promoted universal education and opened Sanskrit
College to lower castes.
• Established 20 model schools, revised exam patterns,
introduced English and Western Sciences.
• Simplified Bengali alphabet, authored ‘Borno
Porichoy’ for learning Bengali.
• Key figure in Bengal Renaissance, wrote numerous
books on Bengal’s history and literature.
• Social reformer, instrumental in passing the Widow
Remarriage Act (1856).
• Advocated women’s education, fought against child
marriage and Kulin Brahmin polygamy.
• Authored works on social reforms including
‘Bidhobabivah,’ ‘Bahubivah,’ and ‘Balyabivah.’
190. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
The Madras Regiment is the oldest infantry regiment of
the Indian Army, originating in the 1750s as a unit of the
British East India Company. The regiment took part in
numerous campaigns with the British Indian Army and the
post-independence Indian Army.
191. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mirat-ul-Urus is a famous novel written by Nazir Ahmad
in 1869. It is considered one of the first novels in the Urdu
language. The title translates to “The Bride’s Mirror”
in English. The novel explores the lives and experiences
of women in 19th-century Muslim society, focusing on
the themes of marriage, family dynamics, and societal
expectations.
192. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Hard Times is a novel by Charles Dickens that was
published in 1854. The novel explores the social and
economic problems caused by industrialization. Dickens
shows how the factory system dehumanizes workers and
leads to poverty and despair. Hard Times is a powerful
critique of the Industrial Revolution and its impact on the
poor.
193. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a member of the Poona
Sarvajanik Sabha.
• He opposed the Age of Consent Bill, introduced in
1891, arguing against its interference in Hindu religious
practices.
• Tilak was not associated with the Gaurakshini Sabha,
which focused on cow protection.
• He was not associated with the Atmiya Sabha, a
philosophical discussion circle started by Ram Mohan
Roy in 1815.
Important Tips
The Age of Consent Act, 1891:
• The Age of Consent Act, 1891, raised the age of
consent for sexual intercourse for all girls, whether
married or unmarried, from ten to twelve years,
making violation subject to criminal prosecution as
rape.
• The act was introduced as a bill on January 9, 1891, by
Sir Andrew Scoble in the Legislative Council of the
Governor-General of India in Calcutta.
• It was prompted by the case of an eleven-year-old
Bengali girl, Phulmoni Dasi, who died due to forceful
intercourse by her 35-year-old husband in 1889.
• It received support from Indian reformers such as
Behramji Malabari and women social organisations.
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak opposed the bill, rejecting
government interference in social customs, even if
well-intentioned.
PYQ Workbook
194. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi employed a hunger strike as
a political weapon for the first time during a strike by
mill workers in Ahmedabad. After 5 days of fasting, the
mill owners conceded to the workers’ demands, making it a
successful tactic for Gandhi.
Important Tips
Ahmedabad Mill strike, 1918
• During the dispute between Ahmedabad mill owners
and workers, the workers demanded a 50% wage
increase due to wartime inflation.
• The mill owners offered only a 20% raise, leading to a
strike. Relations worsened, with dismissals and hiring
of replacement workers.
• Anusuya Sarabhai supported the workers, and Gandhi
joined the cause. He advocated for a 35% wage
increase and went on a fast unto death, pressuring
the mill owners to refer the matter to a tribunal.
• The strike ended, and the tribunal awarded a 35%
wage increase to the workers.
195. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Influence 1 is correct: The deccan famine of 1876-77 was
characterized by widespread starvation and suffering and
it led to Vasudev Balvant Phadke realization of the socio-
economic issues prevalent in colonial India and the plight of
the common people.
Influence 2 is correct: Hindu revivalism, which sought to
revive and promote Hindu culture, traditions, and values,
had an influence on Phadke.
Influence 3 is correct: The theory of Drain of Wealth,
popularized by Dadabhai Naoroji had a significant influence
on Phadke, shaping his understanding of the exploitative
nature of British colonialism and motivating his nationalist
and anti-colonial activities.
Influence 4 is incorrect: Phadke was a revolutionary who
believed in armed struggle against British rule. Phule was
a social reformer who believed in peaceful change.
196. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
P.C. Roy was not communisis leader. Sir Acharya Prafulla
Chandra Ray was an Indian chemist, educationist,
historian, industrialist and philanthropist. He established
the first modern Indian research school in chemistry
(post classical age) and is regarded as the Father of Indian
Chemistry.
Important Tips
• SA Dange was a Marathi communist leader who was
one of the founders of the Communist Party of India.
In 1921, Dange published a pamphlet titled Gandhi Vs.
Lenin, a comparative study of approaches of both the
leaders.
326
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• Muzaffar Ahmad was a Bengali communist leader
who was one of the founders of the Communist Party
of India. Muzaffar Ahmad was a prolific writer, and
he wrote extensively on a variety of topics, including
communism, socialism, Indian independence, and the
history of the Communist Party of India.
• Singaravelu was a Tamil communist leader who
was one of the founders of the Communist Party
of India. Some of his most notable writings include:
The Plight of the Indian Peasantry (1933), The Indian
National Congress and the Working Class (1935), The
Communist Party of India and the Indian Revolution
(1
197. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
• BR Ambedkar was the founder of the Independent
Labour Party in 1936.
• Sikander Hayat Khan was the leader of the Unionist
Party in the Punjab.
• Fazlul Huq was the leader of the Krishak Praja Party
in Bengal.
• Khaliquzzaman was the founder of the Pakistan
Muslim League in 1940.
198. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Maniram Dewan was an Assamese nobleman who was one
of the first Indians to establish tea gardens in Assam. He
established two small proprietary tea gardens of his own
in the 1850s. However, he was executed for treason in
1858, and his tea gardens were confiscated by the state.
199. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Nil Darpan is a play written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1858.
It depicts the atrocities committed by indigo planters on the
peasantry in Bengal. The play was translated into English
by Michael Madhusudan Dutta, a Bengali poet and
playwright.
200. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
William James, Henry Colebrooke, and Nathaniel Halhed
were all linguists who tried to interpret the culture of South
Asia to the East India Company. They were all members of
the Asiatic Society of Bengal, which was founded in 1784
by Sir William Jones. The Asiatic Society was dedicated to
the study of Asian languages, cultures, and religions.
201. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
After India’s independence on the 15th of August 1947,
the Government of India Act, 1935 remained in force
as the working constitution until the adoption of a new
constitution on the 26th of January 1950. During this
327
period, the Act provided the legal and administrative
framework for the functioning of the Indian government.
202. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Hriday Nath Kunzru, a prominent member of the Servants
of India Society, established the Seva Samiti at Allahabad
in 1914. The Seva Samiti was a social service organization
aimed at addressing various social issues and promoting
welfare activities in the local community.
203. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Sarala Devi Chaudhurani was a prominent figure in the
Indian independence movement and a feminist activist, but
she was not known for organizing workers in strikes in the
1920s.
Ushabai Dange, Prabhabati Devi, and Anasuya Behn, were all
women labor leaders who played active roles in organizing
workers and strikes during that period.
Important Tips
• Sarala Devi Chaudhurani: She was a prominent
nationalist and social reformer who founded the
Bharat Stree Mahamandal, one of the first women’s
organisations in India.
• Ushabai Dange: She was a communist leader and trade
unionist who led several strikes of textile workers and
mill workers in Bombay.
• Prabhabati Devi: She was a socialist leader and trade
unionist who led the scavengers’ strike in 1928 and
then the jute general strike of 1929. She worked closely
with socialists and communists in this period.
• Anasuya Behn: She was a Gandhian leader and trade
unionist who founded India’s oldest union of textile
workers, the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association
(Majadoor Mahajan Sangh) in 1920
204. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Amritlal Vithaldas Thakkar was a social worker and
educationist who worked for the upliftment of tribal
people in Gujarat. He founded the Bhil Seva Mandal in
1922 to promote education, health care, and economic
development among the Bhil tribal community.
205. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The British Indian Medical Service (IMS) was established in
1764 by the East India Company. The IMS was at first meant
to look after the troops, and it recruited health professionals
by means of a competitive examination. Indians were
admitted to the IMS in 1835, and the first Indian to be
admitted was Pundit Madhusudan Gupta.
206. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Abanindranath Tagore was one of the founders of the
Indian Society of Oriental Art. The society was established
in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) in 1907 with the aim of
promoting and preserving traditional Indian art forms
and reviving the spirit of Indian art.
207. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Lord Palmerston was the Prime Minister of the United
Kingdom from 1830 to 1834 and again from 1841 to 1846.
He was a strong supporter of British imperialism, and he
believed that the Russian Empire was a threat to British
interests in India. In 1836, he wrote a letter to the British
Foreign Secretary, Lord Aberdeen, in which he warned that
the Russian designs in Central Asia were “an imminent peril
to the security and tranquility” of the Indian Empire.
208. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Government of India Act, 1935, provided for the creation
of a Federal Court, which would have original jurisdiction in
disputes between the federal government and the provinces,
and appellate jurisdiction in appeals from the High Courts.
The Federal Court was inaugurated on October 1, 1937,
and it functioned until the establishment of the Supreme
Court of India in 1950.
209. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
All three women, Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu and Hirabai
Tata, gave evidence before the Joint Select Committee on
the Government of India Bill, 1919 in favour of female
franchise.
210. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Subhas Chandra Bose formed an alliance with the Muslim
League to destroy the Holwell Monument in Calcutta during
1939-40.
Important Tips
• The Holwell Monument was a memorial erected
in memory of John Zephaniah Holwell and other
British prisoners who were tortured and killed by the
Nawab of Bengal in 1756.
• Bose and the Muslim League argued that the
monument was a symbol of British oppression and
should be destroyed.
• In 1940, a mob of Muslims and Hindus attacked the
Holwell Monument and destroyed it. The incident
sparked a wave of communal violence in Calcutta.
• The alliance between Bose and the Muslim League was
short-lived. However, it showed that Bose was willing
to work with other political parties in order to achieve
his goal of independence for India.
211. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
Narayan Malhar Joshi, was a prominent Indian socialist
and trade union leader. He is credited with creating the
first All India Trade Union congress in 1920 along with
Lala Lajpat Rai.
Important Tips
• The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was
established on 31st October 1920 in Bombay (now
Mumbai) under the leadership of NM Joshi.
• It was the first central trade union organization
formed in India, representing the interests of workers
from various industries and sectors across the country.
• Nearly eight years before the Indian National Congress,
which served as the platform for the freedom fight,
approved a similar resolution in 1929, the AITUC
supported a resolution of Swaraj (total independence
from British rule) during its second session in Jharia
in 1921.
• In the years following World War II, the AITUC
played a crucial role in the creation of the World
Federation of Trade Unions (WTFU).
212. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Madras Labour Union was founded in 1918 by B.P.
Wadia and V. K Mudaliar. It was the first trade union in
India that was formed on modern lines. The union had
a clear set of objectives, including improving the working
conditions of the workers, raising their wages, and providing
them with social security benefits.
213. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Gopal Hari Deshmukh, also known as Lokhitawadi, was a
Marathi social reformer, writer, and journalist. He wrote a
series of articles under the pen name Lokhitawadi, which
were published in the weekly Prabhakar. These articles
were later compiled into a book called Satapatra Series.
Important Tips
• The Satapatra Series was a collection of essays on
social reform, education, and economic development.
• Deshmukh argued that India needed to undergo a
period of social reform in order to achieve progress.
• He advocated for the abolition of child marriage, the
promotion of widow remarriage, and the education
of women.
• He also argued that India needed to develop its own
industries in order to become self-sufficient.
• The Satapatra Series was a significant contribution
to the social reform movement in India. It helped to
raise awareness of the need for social reform and it
inspired others to work for change.
214. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
328
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, a prominent Muslim reformer,
was the founder of the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental
Defense Association (MAODA) in 1893. He founded
the organization to address the educational and political
concerns of the Muslim community in India and played a
pivotal role in advocating for their rights and promoting
modern education among Muslims.
Important Tips
• Auckland Colvin was a British administrator who
served as Governor of the North-Western Provinces
from 1876 to 1880.
• Badruddin Tyabji was a Muslim lawyer and politician
who was one of the founders of the Indian National
Congress.
• Theodore Beck was a British educator who was
appointed Principal of the Mohammedan Anglo-
Oriental College (later Aligarh Muslim University)
in 1877.
215. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Triveni Sangh was a political organization that was
formed in Bihar after the First World War. It was formed
by the Ahirs and Kurmis, two prominent backward castes
in Bihar. The leaders associated with the formation of this
front were Yadunandan Prasad Mehta, Shivpujan Singh
and Jagdev Singh Yadav. The Triveni Sangh’s goal was to
improve the social and economic conditions of the Ahirs and
Kurmis. It also advocated for their political representation.
216. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Shripad Balwant Tambe was the first to accept a ministerial
position in the Central Provinces in October 1925. He
was a member of the Swaraj Party and the President of the
Central Provinces Legislative Council. He was designated as
the member of the Government of Central Provinces after
Moropant Vishvanath Joshi’s tenure ended in the year
1925.
Important Tips
• BS Moonje was a Hindu Mahasabha leader who was
elected to the Central Provinces Legislative Council
in 1923. He was a strong opponent of the Swaraj Party
and he refused to accept a ministerial position in the
government.
• MR Jayakar was a member of the Liberal Party who
was elected to the Central Provinces Legislative
Council in 1923. He was a supporter of the Swaraj
Party and he was considered as a possible candidate for
a ministerial position. However, he ultimately declined
the offer.
• BN Sasmal was a member of the Swaraj Party who
was elected to the Central Provinces Legislative
Council in 1923. He was a close associate of Motilal
Nehru and he was considered as a possible candidate
for a ministerial position. However, he ultimately
declined the offer.
329
217. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The National Liberation Federation (Liberal Party) was
founded in 1919 by moderate Indian politicians such as
Tej Bahadur Sapru and M.R. Jayakar who were dissatisfied
with the direction of the Indian National Congress. The
party advocated for gradual constitutional reforms and
held a pro-British stance, arguing that the British Raj was
necessary for India’s progress and that the country was not
yet ready for self-government.
218. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Bhagwati Charan Vohra was a revolutionary who was a
member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association
(HSRA). He was the author of the famous article titled
“The Philosophy of the Bomb”, which was published in
1930. Vohra argued that the British Raj was a brutal and
oppressive regime, and that violence was the only way to
overthrow it.
219. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Karachi Resolution on Fundamental Rights and
Economic Policy was passed by the Indian National
Congress at its Karachi session in 1931. The session was
presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Important Tips
• Two resolutions were adopted, one on Fundamental
Rights and the other on National Economic
Programme, which made the Karachi session
particularly memorable.
• The Resolution on Fundamental Rights guaranteed:
• free speech and free press
• right to form associations
• right to assemble
• universal adult franchise
• equal legal rights irrespective of caste, creed and
sex
• neutrality of state in religious matters
• free and compulsory primary education
• protection to culture, language, script of minorities
and linguistic groups
• The Resolution on National Economic Programme
included:
• substantial reduction in rent and revenue in the
case of landholders and peasants
• exemption from rent for uneconomic holdings
• relief from agricultural indebtedness
• control of usury
• better conditions of work including a living wage,
limited hours of work and protection of women
workers in the industrial sector
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• right to workers and peasants to form unions
• state ownership and control of key industries,
mines and means of transport
220. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Dutt-Bradley Thesis was a document written by Rajni
Palme Dutt and Ben Bradley, two leaders of the Communist
Party. The thesis argued that the Indian National Congress
could play a great part in realizing the anti-imperialist
people’s front.
Important Tips
• The Dutt-Bradley Thesis was published in
International Press Correspondence (INPRECOR),
the journal of Communist International, on
February 29, 1936.
• It was also called the thesis for Anti-imperialist People’s
Front in India.
• The Dutt-Bradley Theses primarily tried to answer the
following crucial questions:
• How to transform the (then existing) situation?
• How can we unite and mobilise a powerful
movement of resistance to British imperialism
and for the needs of the masses?
• What shall be the policy of the national
representatives who are elected?
• What shall be the future line of direction of the
national struggles to defeat imperialism?
221. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Khuntkatti tenure was a system of land tenure prevalent
among the Munda tribes of Chota Nagpur region during
the British colonial rule. Under this system, the land was
owned by the entire clan or killi, and not by individuals. The
clan members had the right to cultivate the land, and the
produce was shared among them.
222. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Peter the Great was a 17th-century Russian emperor who
was known for his modernization efforts. He was also a
keen observer of world affairs, and he was aware of the
importance of India’s economy. In a famous quote, he said,
“Bear in mind that the commerce of India is the commerce
of the world ... he who can exclusively command it is the
dictator of Europe.”
223. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
In 1921, during his tour of South India, Gandhiji shaved
his head and began wearing a loincloth in order to identify
with the poor. He also gave up his Western-style clothing
and adopted the simple dress of the Indian peasant. This was
PYQ Workbook
a symbolic gesture of his commitment to the cause of non-
violence and his identification with the poor and oppressed.
224. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Simla was founded as a hill station during the course of
the Anglo-Gurkha War (1814-16). The British were looking
for a strategic location to billet troops and guard the frontier
against the Gurkhas. They found Simla to be an ideal
location, as it was located at a high altitude and it had a
cool climate.
225. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
A. Sekhar Bandyopadhyay - 2. From Plassey to Partition: A
History of Modern India
B. Sarvepalli Gopal - 1. Jawaharlal Nehru: A Biography, Vol-
1, 1889-1947
C. David Hardiman - 4. Gandhi in His Time and Ours
D. Gyanendra Pandey - 3. The Ascendancy of the Congress
in Uttar Pradesh, 1926-1934
226. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Subhas Chandra Bose started the Azad Hind Radio in
Berlin, Germany in 1942. The radio station was a tool of
propaganda against the British government, and it broadcast
news and messages to Indians living in India and abroad.
227. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Madari Pasi was a peasant leader who took over the Eka
Movement in Awadh during 1921-1922. The movement
was originally started by the Congress, but it took on a more
radical character under Pasi’s leadership.
Important Tips
• The Eka Movement, a peasant movement that began
in Hardoi, Bahraich, and Sitapur in late 1921, was
driven by high rents exceeding 50% of recorded rent,
oppression by rent collectors (thekedars), and the
practice of share rent.
• Eka meetings involved religious rituals and vows by
peasants to pay recorded rent on time, refuse forced
labor, abide by Panchayat decisions, and remain
united.
• Following a shift in leadership to Madari Pasi, the Eka
Movement took a more violent turn, causing a rift with
the nationalist class. The movement ended in March
1922 due to severe repression.
228. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The Hindu Mahasabha was founded at the Haridwar
Kumbh Mela in 1915 by Madan Mohan Malaviya and other
Hindu leaders. The Mahasabha was a Hindu nationalist
330
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
organization that aimed to protect the rights of Hindus in
British India.
229. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan advocated the
idea that India was a composite nation consisting of various
ethnic communities with a shared historical and cultural
heritage.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Indian National Congress was
a secular organization that wanted to achieve independence
for India through political means. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, on
the other hand, was a Muslim leader who wanted to achieve
progress for Muslims through education and social reform.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s vision did
not align with imagining India as a Nation State based solely
on individual citizen’s rights. He believed that India should
be a united country with a strong central government. He
also believed that Muslims should have a separate political
identity within India.
The statement 4 is correct: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
established the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (later
Aligarh Muslim University), which aimed to provide a
modern education to Muslim students. The curriculum at
the college combined Islamic studies and teachings with
a focus on Western science, philosophy, and empiricism.
230. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
“A sound body means one which bends itself to the spirit
and is always a ready instrument at its service.” This quote
is attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. He wrote this quote in
a letter to a Tamil colleague in South Africa, in 1915. The
quote reflects Gandhi’s belief in the importance of physical
fitness and spiritual development. He believed that a healthy
body was essential for a healthy mind, and that both were
necessary for spiritual growth.
231. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Phoenix Settlement was founded by Mahatma Gandhi
in 1904 in Durban, South Africa. It was a self-sufficient
community that was based on the principles of Gandhi’s
philosophy of non-violence and social reform. The
settlement was home to a number of Gandhi’s followers,
and it was also a place where Gandhi could experiment
with his ideas about communal living and social justice.
232. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Option 1 is correct- Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a prominent
social reformer of the 19th century, founded Atmiya Sabha.
Atmiya Sabha was established in 1814 as a socio-cultural
society that aimed to promote education, social reforms,
and the exchange of ideas.
Option 2 is correct- Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a prominent
social reformer of the 19th century, founded Brahmo Samaj.
331
Brahmo Samaj, founded in 1828, was a religious and social
reform movement that sought to challenge orthodox Hindu
practices and promote monotheism and social equality.
Option 3 is incorrect- The Prarthana Samaj was founded by
Atmaram Pandurang and his brother Dadoba Pandurang
in 1867.
Option 4 is incorrect- Arya Samaj was founded by Swami
Dayananda Saraswati in 1875.
233. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct- Gandhi believed that swaraj was
intimately linked with ahimsa and satyagraha. He said that
“swaraj could not be attained through violence” and that
“it could only be attained through truth and non-violence.”
Statement 2 is correct- Mahatma Gandhi believed that
swaraj, or self-rule, was not just about political independence
from British rule. He also believed that it was about personal
and spiritual independence. He said that swaraj was “the
ability to rule oneself ” and that it was “the highest form
of freedom.”
Statement 3 is correct- Gandhi believed that swaraj was
something that required time and patience to acquire. He
said that “swaraj could not be obtained overnight” and that
“it would take years of hard work and sacrifice.”
Statement 4 is incorrect- Gandhi did not believe that
Swaraj could be easily or quickly obtained. He recognized
that it required sustained effort, perseverance, and the
participation of the masses.
234. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct- Gandhi’s exposure to various
religions at a young age, particularly the teachings of the
Pranami sect, which emphasized the unity of faiths, had a
significant influence on his philosophy of nonviolence and
religious tolerance.
Statement 2 is correct- Gandhi’s philosophy was also
influenced by theosophy, which stressed spiritual
development and social reform, aligning with his belief in
the interconnectedness of all life.
Statement 3 is incorrect- Gandhi’s philosophy was shaped
by diverse sources such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible,
and the writings of Leo Tolstoy and Henry David Thoreau,
which contributed to his unique philosophy of nonviolence
and social change.
235. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct- Mahatma Gandhi charged the
Indian elite with a lack of concern for the laboring poor.
In his speech, he criticized the privileged class for their
detachment from the struggles and hardships faced by the
common working people. Gandhi believed that the elite
should actively work towards uplifting the marginalized
and advocating for their rights.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Statement 2 is correct- Gandhi asserted that the salvation
of India can come only through the farmers. He recognized
the pivotal role of agriculture and the farmers in the
country’s progress. Gandhi believed that the well-being and
empowerment of the farming community were essential for
the overall development and prosperity of the nation.
Statement 3 is incorrect- Gandhi did not mention the
untouchables in his speech. Gandhi was a strong advocate
for the rights of the untouchables, and he spoke out against
the caste system on many occasions. However, he did not
mention the untouchables in his speech at the opening of the
Banaras Hindu University.
Statement 4 is incorrect- Gandhi did not promise to take
up the cause of mill owners of Ahmedabad in his speech at
the Banaras Hindu University. The focus of his speech was
primarily on social and educational issues rather than
specific economic concerns.
236. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Sumit Sarkar: He is a historian known for his work on the
social and political history of modern India, particularly his
book “The Swadeshi Movement in - Bengal, 1903-1908”
which delves into the Swadeshi movement as a form of anti-
colonial resistance in Bengal.
Shahid Amin: His book “Event, Metaphor, Memory-Chauri
Chaura, 1922-1992” explores examines the Chauri Chaura
incident and its enduring impact on Indian nationalism.
Ranajit Guha: He was an influential historian known for his
contribution to the Subaltern Studies project. His book “A
Rule of Property for Bengal” examines the dynamics of land
ownership in Bengal during the colonial period.
Bipan Chandra: He was a prominent Indian historian who
specialized in modern Indian history. He wrote the book
“The Rise and Growth of Economic Nationalism in India”.
237. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Muslim merchants were actively
involved in Gandhian political movements in South
Africa. Gandhi had a close relationship with many Muslim
merchants who supported his campaigns against racial
discrimination and unjust laws.
Statement 2 is correct: Mahatma Gandhi played a key
role in leading a campaign against the Transvaal Asiatic
Registration Act of 1906, which required Indians in South
Africa to carry identification passes. This campaign was a
significant moment in Gandhi’s activism and marked a shift
towards nonviolent civil disobedience.
Statement 3 is correct: One of Gandhi’s earliest political
struggles in South Africa was against the imposition of
discriminatory taxes and fees on the Indian community in
Cape Town. This marked his initial foray into activism and
fighting for the rights of the Indian community.
238. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
PYQ Workbook
Statement 1 is correct: Marxist theory also rejects the idea
of the individual as an isolated and self-interested agent,
and instead emphasizes the social and historical nature of
human existence and the role of class struggle in shaping
history.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Marxist theory challenges the
liberal notion of individual rights as being opposed to
collective rights or social obligations, and instead advocates
for a socialist society where individual freedom is realized
through social equality and solidarity.
239. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Both Kirti Kisan Party and Labour Swaraj Party were
connected primarily to the communist ideology.
Important Tips
• Kirti Kisan Party:
• It was a political party in India, which worked
within the Indian National Congress in 1925–1929.
• It became an important front organisation for the
Communist Party of India and an influential force
in the Bombay labour movement
• Labour Swaraj Party:
• It was founded in Bengal on 1 November 1925, as
the Labour Swaraj Party of the Indian National
Congress.
• The founding leaders of the party were Kazi Nazrul
Islam, Hemanta Kumar Sarkar, Qutubuddin Ahmad
and Shamsuddin Hussain.
240. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy did not belong to the gentry class
whose power was diminished due to the imposition of the
Permanent Settlement. In fact, he came from a privileged
and influential family of Bengal. His father, Ramkanta Roy,
was a wealthy landowner and revenue collector. Ram Mohan
Roy himself had a comfortable upbringing and had exposure
to education and intellectual pursuits from an early age.
Option b is correct: He played a significant role in bridging
Eastern and Western philosophies and studied different
religious and philosophical traditions, including Vedantic
Monism and Christian Unitarianism.
Option c is correct: Raja Ram Mohan Roy was also involved
in the translation of ancient Indian texts into vernacular
languages. He translated the Upanishads into Bengali to
make them more accessible to the common people.
Option d is correct: His first organization was the Atmiya
Sabha, which he founded in Calcutta in 1815. The Atmiya
Sabha was a socio-cultural association that aimed to promote
social reforms and intellectual discussions.
241. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
332
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
“Hind Swaraj” is a book written by Mahatma Gandhi in
1909. It is a dialogue between the Reader and the Editor,
where Gandhi expresses his views on various social, political,
and economic issues.
In this book, Gandhi outlines his vision of Swaraj (self-
rule) for India and presents his ideas on nonviolence,
passive resistance, decentralization, and the importance of
moral values in society.
242. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is False: J.B. Kripalani established the Kisan
Mazdoor Praja Party (KMPP) in June 1951. The party
was formed by Indian National Congress dissidents and
contested the 1951–52 Indian general election, winning ten
seats across several states. In September 1952, it merged with
the Socialist Party to create the Praja Socialist Party.
Statement 2 is True: Both Prafulla Chandra Ghosh and
Tanguturi Prakasam were associated with the Kisan Mazdoor
Praja Party, and they had been chief ministers of West Bengal
and Madras, respectively.
243. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Rash Behari Bose, the revolutionary, made the statement:
“Avenge the blood of Indian Martyrs. Use your sword to
liberate your motherland. Stand up against the entire
Anglo-American enemy.” This statement reflected his
strong commitment to the cause of Indian independence and
his call for armed resistance against British colonial rule. He
played a significant role in organizing the Azad Hind Fauj
(Indian National Army) and mobilizing Indian soldiers and
citizens in the fight for freedom.
Important Tips
Rash Behari Bose:
Born on May 25, 1886, in Subaldaha, Bengal, Rash Behari
Bose was orphaned at a young age, raised by his maternal
aunt.
Rash Behari’s patriotism blossomed after reading
revolutionary literature, including Bankim Chandra
Chatterjee’s “Ananda Math” and Navin Sen’s “Plasir Yudha.”
Influenced by teacher Charu Chand in Chandernagore, he
embraced revolutionary ideals.
The 1905 partition of Bengal triggered Rash Behari’s
entry into revolutionary activities, led by Jatin Banerjee.
He played a crucial role in the 1912 bomb attack on Lord
Hardinge, Viceroy of India.
Rash Behari was instrumental in organizing the Ghadar
Revolution, mobilizing thousands of Indians, including
those from the Ghadar Party in America, Canada, and the
Far East
Rash Behari escaped to Japan in 1915, living under the
identity of Raja P.N.T. Tagore.
333
He became a Japanese citizen, married, learned Japanese,
and engaged in cultural activities while promoting India’s
perspective.
Rash Behari, along with Captain Mohan Singh and
Sardar Pritam Singh, played a key role in establishing the
Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) on September
1, 1942, with the support of the Japanese.
Rash Behari Bose passed away on January 21, 1945,
in Tokyo, and the Japanese government posthumously
honored him with the Second Order of Merit of the Rising
Sun.
244. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Sir George Barlow was the acting Governor-General of India
from 1805 to 1807, and he was in charge when the Vellore
mutiny took place on 10 July 1806. He was blamed for his
negligence and indifference towards the grievances of the
Indian sepoys, which led to the revolt. He was also criticized
for his harsh and arbitrary measures to suppress the mutiny,
such as dismissing the entire Madras army and abolishing
the local courts. He was eventually recalled to England in
1807 and replaced by Lord Minto.
245. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The famous book “The Foundations of Indian Culture”
is authored by Sri Aurobindo. This book is a collection of
articles that originally appeared in the monthly review Arya
from December 1918 to January 1921. Sri Aurobindo’s work
in this book represents a synthesis of the teachings of both
the West and the East, emphasizing the concept of a Divine
Life on Earth and the cultural foundations of India.
246. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Aga Khan was elected as life-long President of All India
Muslim League in March 1908. He was one of the founders
and the first president of the All-India Muslim League. He
was nominated to represent India to the League of Nations
in 1932 and served as the President of the League of Nations
from 1937-38.
247. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: Mahatma
Gandhi, after returning from the Second Round Table
Conference in London in 1931, relaunched the Civil
Disobedience Movement. Many congress leaders were
arrested as a result of this. In January 1932, Mahatma Gandhi
and Sardar Patel were also imprisoned and sent to Yerwada
Jail.
Option B in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: Gandhiji
went on a hunger strike in Yerwada prison in 1932 to protest
against the Communal Award, which he believed was
discriminatory against Hindus.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Option C in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: Throughout
Gandhi’s route to Karachi, he was greeted with black flag
demonstrations by the Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha, in
protest for endorsing Delhi pact and against his failure to
secure commutation of the death sentence for Bhagat and
his comrades.
Option D in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: In 1939
Subhas Chandra Bose won the presidency against the wishes
of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi considered the defeat of his
preferred candidate, Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, a personal
blow. He expressed that since he had persuaded Sitaramayya
not to withdraw his name, the defeat felt more like his own.
Gandhi acknowledged Bose’s capabilities and suggested
that he should form his own working committee and lead
Congress independently. This internal division ultimately led
to Subhas Chandra Bose’s resignation from the Congress and
his pursuit of an alternative path for India’s independence.
248. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR) was the first
railway company in India that started the first railway
service in India on 16 April 1853. The first train ran from
Bombay (now Mumbai) to Thane, covering a distance of 34
kilometers with 14 coaches and 400 passengers. The train
was flagged off by Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of
India at that time. The GIPR was incorporated in England in
1845 and was one of the largest and oldest railway networks
in Asia. It later became part of the Central Railway zone of
Indian Railways.
249. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
“Guilty Men of India’s Partition” is a book authored by Dr.
Ram Manohar Lohia. In this insightful work, Lohia discusses
the painful days leading up to the partition of India,
identifying the leaders and circumstances responsible for
this significant event. He shares his experiences of being
sidelined and ignored by influential leaders, shedding light
on the complex decision-making process that led to the
partition of India.
250. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The Satyagraha Ashram was founded on May 25, 1915 in
Ahmedabad at Kochrab, when Gandhi returned from South
Africa, with 25 inmates. The Ashram was shifted on the
bank of river Sabarmati on 17 June, 1917. It was one of the
main centres of the Indian freedom struggle and Gandhi’s
residence until 1930 It was from here that Gandhi led the
famous Dandi March or the Salt Satyagraha in 1930.
251. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
George VI was the British monarch at the time of India’s
independence in 1947. He succeeded his brother, Edward
VIII, who abdicated the throne in 1936. He played a
significant role in the transition of power from Britain
to India. He appointed Lord Mountbatten on the advice
PYQ Workbook
of Britain Prime Minister Clement Atlee. He served as the
King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the
British Commonwealth from December 11, 1936, until his
death. He held the position of the last Emperor of India and
was also the first Head of the Commonwealth.
252. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Cleveland was the district collector of Bhagalpur in
Bihar and he introduced the ‘Hill Assembly Plan’ for the
development of Adivasis in 1784. He placed the entire
range of hills inhabited by Pahariyas under a uniform
administration of Hill assembly under hereditary hill chiefs,
called sardars. The assembly met twice a year and had wide
powers including that of inflicting or rescinding capital
punishment. Sardars were entrusted the duty of reporting
all crimes and law and order problems in the villages under
their control to the authorities. Cleveland also established
a regular market for Adivasis to sell forest produces and
provided arms to Paharia archers like regular police. He was
regarded as the ‘Father of the Pahariyas’ by them and his
death in 1784 was mourned by them.
253. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Governor-General of Bengal declared a proclamation on
July 22, 1789, banning the export of slaves from the Bengal
Presidency. Slavery was a prevalent social institution in
Bengal in the 18th century, and many slaves were exported
to other regions by Dutch, Burmese, and Portuguese traders
and pirates. The proclamation of 1789 was one of the first
attempts to curb the slave trade in India. Slavery was finally
abolished in British India by the Indian Slavery Act of 1843.
254. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India from
1848 to 1856, and he founded the Public Works Department
(PWD) as a separate branch of the Government of India
in 1854. He established a central agency for execution of
public works and set up Ajmer Provincial Division. He also
appointed a committee under Sir Macdonald Stephenson to
survey and plan the railway routes in India.
The PWD was responsible for the construction and
maintenance of roads, railways, bridges, irrigation, and other
public utility works in India. Lord Dalhousie’s initiative was
aimed at improving the infrastructure and development
of the country, as well as facilitating trade, commerce,
communication, and military operations.
255. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Dadabhai Naoroji was the first Indian selected as a member
of the British Parliament. He was elected as the Member of
Parliament (MP) for Finsbury Central as a candidate of
the Liberal Party in the 1892 general election. Notably, he
refused to take the oath on the Bible due to his Zoroastrian
faith and instead took the oath on his copy of the Khordeh
Avesta. During his time in Parliament, he worked to improve
334
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
the situation in India and advocated for Indian issues,
making him a significant figure in the Indian independence
movement.
Important Tips
Other Indian origin leaders who were members of
British Parliament:
• Mancherjee Merwanjee Bhownaggree KCIE (1851-
1933) was a British Conservative Party politician
with Indian Parsi ancestry. He served as a Member
of Parliament (MP) representing the Bethnal Green
Northeast constituency in the United Kingdom’s
Parliament (1895-1906). Notably, he was the third
British MP of Indian descent, following in the
footsteps of David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre and his
fellow Parsi compatriot Dadabhai Naoroji.
• David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre (1808–1851), also
known as D. O. Dyce Sombre and David Dyce Sombre,
was an Anglo-Indian held to be the first person of
Asian descent to be elected to the British Parliament.
He was elected to represent the Sudbury constituency
in July 1841, but was removed in April 1842 due to
bribery in the election.
256. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
On January 26, 1930, during the Lahore session of the
Congress under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, it
was declared as the “Purna Swaraj day” or first/complete
independence day. So, to align with that significant day, the
new constitution was enacted on January 26, 1950, marking
the 20th anniversary of the Purna Swaraj day.
257. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Jayaprakash Narayan advocated for a “Party Less
Democracy” in India. He believed that while parties,
elections, and the constitution were crucial for democracy,
true democracy would only flourish when moral values and
spiritual qualities were ingrained in the public. He argued
that the party system often led to a disconnect between
people and their representatives, emphasizing the need for a
more direct and morally grounded democratic process.
Important Tips
Jayaprakash Narayan proposed four key suggestions for
implementing a partyless democracy:
Abolish Political Parties: Narayan recommended the
elimination of political parties from the democratic system.
Instead, he advocated for direct elections of candidates
at all levels, from villages to the central government.
Each gram sabha would elect two representatives to the
electoral council for their constituency, where candidates
for state legislatures or the central parliament would be
proposed and supported in open meetings, ensuring
public participation. Candidates with over 30% of the vote
would become representatives.
335
Free Sarvodaya Society from Party Politics: Narayan
emphasized the need to separate the Sarvodaya society
from party politics, allowing it to operate independently.
Invite All Parties to Participate in Sarvodaya Work: He
suggested inviting all political parties to participate in
Sarvodaya activities, fostering cooperation and ending the
divisive spirit of political parties.
Candidates to Break from Parties After Election:
Narayan proposed that elected candidates should
dissociate themselves from their respective parties after
winning elections. This would allow them to represent the
people independently and avoid the constraints of party
ideologies and discipline.
258. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
M. Visvesvaraya was a noted Indian engineer, scholar,
statesman, and the Diwan of Mysore from 1912 to 1918.
He was a recipient of the Indian Republic’s highest honor,
the Bharat Ratna, in 1955. Visvesvaraya was also the first
to write about the economic planning of the country in
a book titled ‘Planned Economy for India’ published in
1934. The book proposed a ten-year plan with the aim of
doubling the income of the country. His main emphasis
was on industrialization so as to reduce the population
dependent on agriculture and to increase the population
employed in the industry.
259. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Popularly known as Rajaji, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari
was the first and last Indian Governor-General of
Independent India from 1948 to 1950 and he was also first
Indian Governor of Madras from 1952 to 1954. He was the
supporter of Gandhi and participated in Non-Cooperation
Movement in 1920. He also edited Gandhi’s newspaper
‘Young India’. He also authored book “Environmentalism:
A Global History”.
260. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Constituent Assembly provisionally assumed sovereign
power at midnight on August 14/15, 1947. In a special
session held in New Delhi, where Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s
first Prime Minister, delivered a historic speech at midnight
on August 14, 1947, in the Constituent Assembly. His speech
was brimming with inspiring ideas as the nation embarked
on a new journey to draft a Constitution, leading to India
becoming a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, and
Republic nation.
261. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
After August 15, 1947, the part of India that remained
under Portuguese control was Goa. Goa was a Portuguese
colony and continued to be under Portuguese rule until
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
it was annexed by India in December 1961. Portugal
recognized Indian control over Goa in a treaty signed on
December 31, 1974, following the Carnation Revolution
and the fall of the Estado Novo regime in Portugal.
Important Tips
Timeline of Goa’s Integration into the Indian Union:
• Post-Independence Relations (1947-1949): After
India gained independence in 1947, diplomatic
relations were established with Portugal in 1949.
• Deterioration of Relations (1950): Relations between
India and Portugal deteriorated due to Portugal’s
refusal to surrender its enclaves on India’s west coast,
including Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar
Haveli.
• Recognition as Overseas Province (1951): In 1951,
Portugal changed its constitution, recognizing Goa as
an overseas province rather than a colonial possession.
This move was seen as an attempt to invoke NATO’s
collective security clause in case of an Indian attack.
• Diplomatic Break (1955): By 1955, diplomatic
relations between India and Portugal had been severed,
leading to a crisis.
• Liberation of Goa (1961): In 1961, India launched
Operation Vijay on December 19th, leading to the
annexation of Daman and Diu, as well as Goa, and the
end of Portuguese rule over these enclaves.
• Operation Vijay involved air, sea and land strikes for
over 36 hours, and was a decisive victory for India,
ending 451 years of rule by Portugal over its remaining
exclaves in India. The engagement lasted two days, and
twenty-two Indians and thirty Portuguese were killed
in the fighting.
262. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Lord Minto was the Governor-General of India from 1905
to 1910, and he used the system of separate electorates to
win the support of the Muslims and to create a rift between
them and the Congress. He implemented the Morley-
Minto Reforms in 1909, which granted separate electorates
to Muslims for the election of members of provincial and
imperial legislative councils. This meant that Muslims could
vote only for Muslim candidates, and not for candidates from
other communities. The reforms also increased the number
of elected Indian members in the councils, but gave them
limited powers and functions.
263. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: Rani
Durgavati was the ruling Queen of Garha Kingdom, also
called Garha Mandla or Garha Katanga from 1550 until 1564.
She was married to Dalpat Shah, the son of king Sangram
Shah of the Garha Kingdom. She is chiefly remembered for
defending her kingdom against the Mughal Empire.
PYQ Workbook
Option B in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: Ahilya Bai
Holkar was the hereditary noble queen of the Maratha
Empire, in early-modern India. She established Maheshwar
(in Madhya Pradesh) as the seat of Holkar Dynasty. She
defended Malwa from invaders, led armies alongside her
military commander Tukoji Rao Holkar, and is renowned for
constructing numerous Hindu temples and Dharmashalas
across India.
Option C in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: Rani
Lakshmibai of Jhansi, a prominent figure in the Indian
Rebellion of 1857, valiantly resisted British rule. After her
husband’s death and the British annexation of Jhansi, she led
the rebellion, defending Jhansi successfully but ultimately
falling in battle at Gwalior in 1858.
Option D in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: Razia
Sultana, the daughter of Iltutmish, made history as the first
female Muslim ruler of Delhi. Her ascension faced challenges
from nobles, leading to her deposition in 1240 after a brief
rule of less than four years. She made a failed attempt to
regain power and was ultimately killed.
264. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
“Chandrakanta” is an epic fantasy Hindi novel written
by Devaki Nandan Khatri in 1888. It is the first modern
Hindi novel and played a significant role in popularizing the
Hindi language. The story revolves around the love between
Princess Chandrakanta of Vijaygarh and Prince Virendra
Singh of Naugarh, set against the backdrop of rival kingdoms
and magical tilisms (enchantments). The novel has inspired
adaptations, including a popular TV series, and has several
sequels exploring further adventures in magical realms.
265. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Warren Hastings was the first governor-general of
Bengal from 1772 to 1785, and he was impeached by the
British Parliament in 1787 on charges of misconduct and
corruption during his time in Calcutta. The trial lasted for
seven years and involved 22 charges against Hastings, such
as the Rohilla War, the case of Nanda Kumar, the treatment
of Raja Chait Singh of Benares, and the pressures on the
Begums of Oudh. Hastings defended himself vigorously and
was eventually acquitted in 1795, but his reputation and
fortune were damaged by the ordeal.
266. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The idea given by Gandhiji for family planning was self-
control. He believed that self-control was the best and the
most natural way of regulating the size of the family and
preventing unwanted pregnancies. He said, “Self-control is
the surest and the only method of regulating the birth-rate.
Birth-control by contraceptives is race-suicide.” He also said,
“The use of contraceptives is likely to produce evils of which
we have no conception.
336
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Gandhiji was opposed to any artificial or mechanical methods
of family planning, such as sterilization, restrain, or loop. He
considered them as immoral, unnatural, and harmful to the
health and dignity of the individuals and the society.
267. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The book “Prison Diary” was written by Jai Prakash
Narayan (JP). It is a collection of JP’s writings and reflections
during his imprisonment during the Emergency period in
India, which lasted from June 1975 to March 1977. In the
book, JP shares his thoughts, experiences, and observations
about the political environment of the time, as well as his
personal struggles and loneliness while in prison. The diary
provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by
political prisoners during that period.
268. Solution (a)
Option a is the correct answer.
Ramadevi Choudhury, also known as Rama Devi, was
a revolutionary woman who played a significant role in
India’s independence movement. She actively participated
in various movements, including the Peasant Movement
of Bijoliya, the 1930 Satyagraha, and the 1932 Civil
Disobedience Movement. Due to her dedication to the
cause, she was arrested multiple times and sentenced to jail.
Rama Devi was highly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and
worked tirelessly to mobilize women and promote the ideals
of the independence struggle.
269. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Charles Metcalf was the British Resident at Delhi who
negotiated Subordinate Alliances of 1817-18 with the
princely states of Rajputana. These alliances brought the
Rajputana states under the complete subordination of the
British.
Important Tips
• Charles Metcalf was a British colonial administrator
who served as the Governor-General of India from
1835 to 1836.
• He also played a key role in suppressing the Pindari
raids and the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
• He was known for his liberal and reformist policies,
such as abolishing censorship of the press and granting
equal rights to Indians.
• He was also a scholar of Indian languages and culture,
and wrote several books and essays on Indian history
and society
270. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Bhagwati Charan Vohra was not involved in the Hardinge
Bomb incident. He was an Indian revolutionary, associated
with Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He along
337
with Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev studied on the model of
the Russian Socialist Revolution. In 1929, he planned bomb
blast under the train of Viceroy Lord Irwin on the DelhiAgra
railway line. The viceroy escaped unhurt. Mahatma Gandhi
condemned the revolutionary act through his article The
Cult of Bomb.
Important Tips
Delhi Conspiracy Case:
The Delhi-Lahore conspiracy is known for the bombing of
incident Viceroy of India Lord Hardinge.
The event took place when he was travelling to Delhi on
the occasion of the relocation of the capital from Calcutta
to New Delhi.
Rasbihari Bose is considered the pioneer of this conspiracy.
Other important revolutionaries who were involved in this
act were:
Basant Kumar Vishwas,
Bal Mukund,
Awadh Bihari and
Master Amir Chand
They were hanged on the charges of this crime.
Rasbihari Bose escaped arrest and escaped to Japan.
271. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The book “Gandhian Constitution for Free India” was
authored by Shriman Narayan Agarwal. Published in 1946,
it focuses on Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of non-violence,
harmony, and his concepts on education, trade, and
property. Agarwal’s work seeks to synthesize these Gandhian
principles into a document that could inspire the direction
taken by independent India. The book analyzes Gandhian
philosophy to outline insights into framing a constitution
for a free India, emphasizing the importance of combining
fundamental rights with the duties of the people. Mahatma
Gandhi himself found the ideas in the book consistent with
his own beliefs.
272. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The first historian to write about ‘Feudalism’ in Rajasthan
during the 19th century was Col. James Tod. He documented
the contemporary geography and history of Rajputana
and Central India, along with the history of the Rajput
clans ruling the region at that time, in his work “Annals
and Antiquities of Rajasthan.” His writing, published in
two volumes in 1829 and 1832, included illustrations and
engravings by notable artists and significantly influenced the
popular and academic understanding of Rajasthan’s history
and heroes.
273. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The main aim of the East India Company to make a subsidiary
alliance in Rajput states was to extend its political and
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
economic control over them and to prevent any possible
challenge from them or other powers. The subsidiary
alliance was a system devised by Lord Wellesley, the
Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805, by which the
Indian rulers had to accept the presence and maintenance of
a British force in their territory and surrender their foreign
policy to the British. In return, the British promised to
protect them from any external or internal threats.
Important Tips
• The Rajput states were among the last to enter into
the subsidiary alliance with the British, as they had
resisted their domination for a long time.
• They were also reluctant to give up their autonomy and
sovereignty to the foreign power. However, they were
eventually forced or persuaded to sign the treaty after
the Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-1818), which
resulted in the defeat of the Maratha Confederacy and
the annexation of most of its territories by the British.
• The Rajput states that signed the subsidiary alliance
with the British were: Jaipur (1818), Jodhpur (1818),
Udaipur (1818), Kota (1818), Bundi (1818), Bikaner
(1818), Alwar (1818), Bharatpur (1826).
274. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Yarvada Central Jail is the largest jail in the state of
Maharashtra. Mahatma Gandhi spent several years during
India’s struggle for freedom. He named Yarvada Jail as
Mandir. He wrote ‘Yerwada Mandir’ (Ashrama Observance)
first published in 1932, translated from Gujarati, by Valji
Govind Desai.
Important Tips
• Naini: Naini Central Prison is a jail located in
Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. It was built by the British in
1860 and was used to imprison many freedom fighters
and revolutionaries such as Chandra Shekhar Azad,
Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, and Roshan
Singh.
• Cellular (Port Blair): Cellular Jail is a colonial prison
located in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
It was built by the British between 1896 and 1906 and
was used to exile political prisoners and activists who
opposed the British rule in India. It was also known
as “Kala Pani” or “Black Water” because of the harsh
conditions and torture faced by the inmates.
• Aghakhan Palace: Aghakhan Palace is a historical
building located in Pune, Maharashtra. It was built by
Sultan Muhammed Shah Aga Khan III in 1892 and was
donated to India by his son Aga Khan IV in 1969. It
was used as a prison by the British during the Quit
India Movement in 1942 and housed Mahatma Gandhi,
Kasturba Gandhi, Mahadev Desai, Sarojini Naidu, and
others.
PYQ Workbook
275. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Gandhian Innovation means to produce more from less
input for more people. It is a term coined by Prof. C.K.
Prahalad and Dr. R.A. Mashelkar to describe a type of
innovation that aims to serve the needs of the poor and the
marginalized by creating affordable and sustainable products
and services with fewer resources.
One of the examples of Gandhian Innovation is the Jaipur
Foot, which is a prosthetic limb that can be fitted in less than
an hour and costs only $30, compared to $8,000 for a similar
product in the West.
276. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The book “Indian National Movement: The Long-Term
Dynamics” is written by Bipan Chandra. This book is a
significant contribution to the study of India’s freedom
struggle and explores various aspects of the movement,
including its ideology, program, the role of non-violence,
the relationship between leaders and the masses, and the
movement’s capacity for ideological transformation.
277. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Gandhi said that poverty is the worst form of violence
because it deprives people of their basic human needs and
dignity. He said, “Poverty is the cruelest form of violence. It
strikes not only at the individual, but at his family and his
future generations as well.” He also said, “There is enough
for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.”
Gandhi was deeply concerned about the plight of the
poor and the oppressed in India and elsewhere. He fought
against the British colonial rule and the exploitation of
the Indian masses by the landlords and the capitalists. He
also campaigned for social reforms such as abolition of
untouchability, emancipation of women, and promotion of
education and health. He advocated for a simple and self-
reliant lifestyle based on the principles of truth, non-violence,
and service. He said, “The best way to find yourself is to
lose yourself in the service of others.”
278. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi adopted the concept of ‘Seva Dharma’ or
the duty of service during his stay in South Africa, where
he rendered his services as an attendant to the helpless poor
patients in the charity hospitals of Rustumji. He also served
there the wounded soldiers of the Boer War. He said, “The
best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of
others.”
‘Seva Dharma’ was one of the key principles of Gandhi’s
philosophy and practice. He believed that service to humanity
is service to God, and that everyone should dedicate their
lives to the welfare of others. He said, “Service without
humility is selfishness and egotism.” He also said, “Service
338
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor
the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into
nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of
joy.”
279. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Lord Lytton was the Viceroy of India from 1876 to 1880,
and he was responsible for initiating the Second Anglo-
Afghan War in 1878, not the first one. The First Anglo-
Afghan War was fought from 1839 to 1842, during the
reign of Lord Auckland as the Governor-General of India.
The British invaded Afghanistan to replace the emir Dost
Mohammad Khan, who was seen as pro-Russian, with the
exiled Shah Shuja, who was more favorable to Britain.
Important Tips
• Lord Dalhousie was the Governor-General of India
from 1848 to 1856, and he annexed Awadh in 1856
under the Doctrine of Lapse, which allowed the British
to take over any Indian state whose ruler died without
a natural heir.
• Lord Dufferin was the Viceroy of India from 1884
to 1888, and he favoured the formation of the Indian
National Congress in 1885 as a platform for the
educated Indians to express their grievances to the
British.
• Lord William Bentinck was the Governor-General
of Bengal from 1828 to 1834 and the first Governor-
General of India from 1834 to 1835. The Charter Act of
1833 was passed during the reign of William Bentick,
which ended the commercial activities of the East
India Company and made it a purely administrative
body. The Act also gave exclusive legislative powers to
the Governor-General in Council and stated that no
native of India should be disabled from holding any
office by reason of his religion.
280. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The strike was the last step in the Gandhian strategy of
satyagraha, while fasting was the first step. Gandhi termed
fasting as ‘Fire Arrow’. He used strike as a means of exerting
pressure on the authorities and demonstrating the strength
and unity of the people. He also used boycott, picket, and
civil disobedience as other methods of satyagraha in India.
Important Tips
Satyagraha was a nonviolent resistance to evil based on the
principles of truth and moral courage.
Gandhi coined the term in 1908 to distinguish it from
passive resistance, which he felt was inadequate and
foreign.
He derived the concept from the ancient Indian ideal
of ahimsa (non-injury), as well as from the writings of
Leo Tolstoy, Henry David Thoreau, the Bible, and the
Bhagavadgita.
339
281. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The statement that is not true as per Gandhian Principle
is- The aim of Satyagrahi is to defeat the enemy. This is
because Gandhi did not consider his opponents as enemies,
but as friends who were misguided or ignorant of the
truth. He said, “I do not believe in short-victories over an
opponent. I do not want to end his wickedness by destroying
him. I want to convert him.” He also said, “The real victory
is when your opponent realizes the truth and changes his
mind.” Therefore, the aim of Satyagrahi was not to defeat the
enemy, but to win him over by appealing to his conscience
and reason.
282. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi believed that politics meant the service of
the people and the nation. He said, “Politics divorced from
religion has absolutely no meaning for me.” He also said,
“Politics should be sacred and not a game of parties.
Gandhi’s politics was based on the principles of truth, non-
violence, and self-rule. He fought for India’s independence
from the British colonial rule and for the upliftment of
the oppressed and exploited sections of the society. He
also advocated for social reforms such as abolition of
untouchability, emancipation of women, promotion of
education and health, and protection of environment.
283. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Gandhi did not believe in the legitimacy or necessity of
any form of centralized authority or state. He said, “I
look upon an increase in the power of the State with the
greatest fear because, although while apparently doing good
by minimizing exploitation, it does the greatest harm to
mankind by destroying individuality which lies at the root of
all progress.” He also said, “The State represents violence in a
concentrated and organized form. The individual has a soul,
but as the State is a soulless machine, it can never be weaned
from violence to which it owes its very existence.”
284. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi’s boycott of British made products was
effective because the British considered India as a major
market for their goods. They exported various items such
as textiles, machinery, iron, steel, and salt to India and made
huge profits from them. They also imposed high tariffs and
taxes on Indian goods and discouraged the development of
indigenous industries. This resulted in the exploitation and
impoverishment of the Indian people.
Gandhi launched the swadeshi or self-reliance movement in
1905, which involved boycotting foreign goods and promoting
Indian goods. He encouraged people to burn or discard their
foreign clothes and wear khadi or hand-spun cloth instead.
He also supported the growth of cottage industries, such as
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
spinning, weaving, pottery, and leatherwork. He believed
that this would not only weaken the economic and political
hold of the British over India, but also foster a sense of
national pride and dignity among the Indians.
285. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi’s concept was influenced by the works of
Ruskin, Thoreau, and Tolstoy, who were all secular writers
and thinkers. They shared some common themes and values,
such as simplicity, truth, non-violence, and social justice.
Gandhi read their books and essays and applied their ideas
to his own philosophy and practice.
Important Tips
Some of the works that influenced Gandhi’s concept are:
Unto This Last by John Ruskin: This was a book that
Gandhi read in 1904, when he was in South Africa. It was
a critique of the capitalist system and a plea for a moral
economy based on the dignity of labour and the well-being
of all.
Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: This was
an essay that Gandhi read in 1907, when he was facing a
legal crisis in South Africa. It was a defense of the right and
duty of the individual to resist unjust laws and authority.
The Kingdom of God is Within You by Leo Tolstoy: This
was a book that Gandhi read in 1908, when he was in
prison in South Africa. It was a religious and philosophical
treatise that advocated for a life of love, peace, and non-
violence based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.
286. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
All the statements are correct regarding Gandhi and his
political life. He fought hard to improve the status of
casteless untouchables, whom he called Harijans or the
children of God. He launched the Non-Cooperation
Movement in 1920, which involved boycotting foreign
goods, institutions, titles, and honours, and promoting
swadeshi, education, and self-governance. He began the
Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930 with the famous
Dandi March or Salt Satyagraha, in which he defied the
British salt monopoly by making salt from seawater. He also
led other movements and campaigns based on the principles
of truth, non-violence, and self-rule.
287. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Gandhi was not opposed to mechanization in general, but
only to the extent that it harmed human dignity, morality
and well-being. He believed that machines should be used
as a means to serve humanity, not to exploit or enslave it. He
also recognized that different countries had different levels
of development and needs, and that what was suitable for
India might not be suitable for other nations.
Therefore, Gandhi did not object to mechanization in
U.S.A. or other advanced countries, as long as it did not
PYQ Workbook
violate the principles of non-violence, truth and justice.
He wrote: “I do not want my house to be walled in on all
sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all
lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I
refuse to be blown off my feet by any.”
288. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
According to M.K. Gandhi, socio-economic improvement
of untouchables can be brought about by establishing
cottage industry for them. He believed that cottage
industry, especially spinning and weaving, would provide
employment, income and dignity to the untouchables,
who were often denied access to other occupations by the
caste system. He also thought that cottage industry would
promote self-reliance, simplicity and swadeshi among the
untouchables and the rest of the society. He considered
untouchability as a sin and a blot on Hinduism, and fought
against it throughout his life.
289. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Arya Samaj is considered a
monotheistic Indian Hindu reform movement that promotes
values and practices based on the belief in the infallible
authority of the Vedas. The samaj was founded by Dayanand
Saraswati in 1875.
Statement 2 is correct: The Al-Hilal was an Urdu language
newspaper founded by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The
newspaper’s first edition was published in Kolkata in 1912. It
was used as a tool for opposing the British Raj in India. The
newspaper also supported the Indian freedom movement’s
cause and encouraged Indian Muslims to join the movement.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Along with founding ‘Arya Gazette’
as its editor, Lala Lajpat Rai regularly contributed to several
major Hindi, Punjabi, English and Urdu newspapers and
magazines. He took out a Weekly newspaper “People” from
Lahore. He himself was the editor of this paper.
Statement 4 is correct: Hindu College was established on
January 20, 1817, in Calcutta. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, the
great social reformer, headed its foundation committee.
290. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
Statement 1 is correct: Asaf Ali was an Indian independence
activist and noted lawyer. He looked after the work of
Railway Ministry in the interim Government (1946).
Statement 2 is correct: The Ancient Monuments Preservation
Act, 1904, enacted during Lord Curzon’s British India
tenure, aimed to safeguard historic monuments, regulate
antiquities traffic and excavations, and protect and acquire
valuable archaeological, historical, or artistic artifacts and
sites through the Archaeological Survey of India.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Indian National Congress
held its fifty-first session in Haripura in the Surat district
in Gujarat. It was held on 19th February 1938 and presided
over by Subhash Chandra Bose.
340
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Statement 4 is correct: The British Colonial Government
passed the “Rowlatt Act” which gave power to the police
to arrest any person without any reason. The purpose of
the Act was to curb the growing nationalist upsurge in the
country. Mahatma Gandhi called upon the people to perform
satyagraha against the act. Swami Sharaddhanand suggested
no tax campaign (non-payment of Lagaan/Rent) in protest
against Rowlatt Act.
Important Tips
Haripura Congress Session, 1938:
The 51st session of the Indian National Congress took
place in Haripura, Gujarat, in 1938, under the leadership
of Subhash Chandra Bose.
Bose emphasized the need to peacefully resist the
colonial government’s Federal Scheme, which was seen
as undemocratic and favoring British capitalism.
There was a heated debate during the session about the
princely states, with Congress ultimately declaring its
goal of complete independence for all of India, including
the princely states.
The Congress session demanded a responsible government
and the protection of civil liberties within the states.
Support for the release of political prisoners was also
expressed.
Recognizing the growing peasant movements,
Congress affirmed the right of Kisan Sabhas (farmers’
organizations) to form unions but specified that
activities conflicting with Congress principles would
not be supported.
Bose called for increased cooperation between Congress,
Trade Union Congress, and peasant organizations.
The session concluded with the election of Subhash
Chandra Bose as the next Congress session’s president,
solidifying Congress’s commitment to India’s independence
struggle.
291. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Lala Lajpat Rai was elected as President of Indian National
Congress in 1920. Congress held a special session in
Calcutta in September 1920 under the presidentship of
Lala Lajpat Rai. It met to pass the resolution of the Non-
Cooperation Movement. Fueled by British actions and the
Jallianwala Bagh massacre, it urged Indians to boycott British
institutions and adopt Swadeshi goods, aiming for Swaraj.
Important Tips
• “My Experiments with Truth” stands as the
autobiographical account of Mohandas K. Gandhi,
chronicling his life from early childhood to his initial
endeavors in the pursuit of freedom. It was originally
written in the Gujarati language and was published
in weekly instalments in his journal Navjivan from
1925 to 1929.
341
• The Sadler Commission, chaired by Dr. Michael E.
Sadler, was appointed by the Government of India
in 1917. It aimed to study and proposed reforms
for Calcutta University and the broader education
system. The commission recommended a 12-year
school course, separating secondary and intermediate
education, and emphasized the need for universities to
focus on higher education.
• English higher education in India can be said to have
begun with the establishment of Hindu College in
Calcutta in 1817, the first ‘Europanized’ institution
of higher learning in Asia. The first three universities
of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras, established in 1857
were modeled on London.
292. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
“Gokhale: My Political Guru” is a book written by
Mahatma Gandhi. In this book, Gandhi reflects on his
relationship with Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a prominent
leader and political mentor. He discusses the deep influence
Gokhale had on him and his political philosophy. Gandhi
emphasizes Gokhale’s commitment to bringing a spiritual
and ethical dimension to politics, which greatly impacted his
own approach to leadership and social change.
Important Tips
Popular books written by M.K.Gandhi:
An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments
with Truth: This autobiography is a detailed account of
Gandhi’s life, his experiments with truth, spirituality, and
his journey towards becoming the Mahatma.
Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule: In this influential
work, Gandhi presents his vision of self-rule for India,
emphasizing the importance of traditional Indian values
and nonviolent resistance.
Truth is God: This book delves into Gandhi’s beliefs,
focusing on truth and spirituality, rather than religious
dogma.
India of My Dreams: Gandhi’s vision for an independent
India is outlined in this collection of writings and
speeches, covering various aspects of socio-political and
economic life.
The Bhagavad Gita: Gandhi found inspiration in this
revered Hindu scripture, which guided his principles of
nonviolence and truth.
The Law and The Lawyers: In this thought-provoking
book, Gandhi critiques the legal system and the role of
lawyers, advocating for truth and service above all.
Gokhale - My Political Guru: Gandhi pays tribute to his
mentor, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, sharing his experiences
and learnings from this great leader.
Diet and Diet Reform: Gandhi’s experiments with diet
and his pursuit of a balanced and healthy lifestyle are
documented in this work.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Satyagraha in South Africa: This book provides insights
into Gandhi’s experiences with Satyagraha, his nonviolent
resistance movement, during his time in South Africa.
Ashram Observances in Action: Gandhi explains the
observances followed in his ashram, addressing themes
like poverty, work, love, and truth, offering guidance for
a purposeful life.
293. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
M.K. Gandhi was a supporter of philosophical anarchism.
He believed in the principle of swaraj or self-rule, which
meant not only political independence from British
colonialism, but also individual and collective autonomy
from any form of centralized authority. He advocated for
a decentralized and nonviolent society based on the values
of truth, nonviolence, and compassion. He rejected the idea
of a state or a government as a necessary evil, and instead
envisioned a network of self-reliant villages and communities
that would cooperate with each other without coercion or
domination.
Important Tips
Philosophical anarchism is a political philosophy that
advocates for a society without any form of state or
government, and instead relies on the voluntary cooperation
and mutual aid of individuals and communities.
Some of the most influential philosophical anarchists in
history are William Godwin, Henry David Thoreau, Leo
Tolstoy, Emma Goldman, and Mahatma Gandhi.
294. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
Dadabhai Naoroji wrote the book called “Poverty and Un-
British Rule in India” where he criticised the economic
impact of the British rule. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
In March 1856 Dadabhai Naoroji was appointed as professor
of Gujarati at University College in London. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
In October 1849, Dadabhai Naoroji and twelve other
Maharashtrian and Parsi Elphinstonians opened six
schools under the auspices of the Students’ Literary and
Scientific Society, three for Parsi girls and three for Hindu
Maharashtrian girls. Hence Statement 3 is correct.
First Indian elected to the British House of Commons,
Dadabhai Naoroji contested on the ticket of Liberal Party.
Hence statement d is incorrect.
295. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Aurobindo Ghosh authored “The Life Divine,” a
comprehensive work that blends Western thought and
Eastern spirituality, offering original insights. It explores
themes such as human aspiration, the emergence of life
from a Divine Source, evolution from matter to spirit,
human consciousness, and the spiritual destiny of life
PYQ Workbook
on Earth. It was first published serially in the Arya from
1914 to 1919 and later in book form in 1939 and 1940, with
subsequent editions.
Important Tips
Some of the well-known works by Sri Aurobindo:
Savitri: A Legend and A Symbol (poetry)
The Life Divine
The Renaissance in India with A Defense of Indian Culture
Hymns to the Mystic Fire
The Secret of the Veda
Essays on The Gita
The Synthesis of Yoga
Vedic and Philological Studies
296. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
B. G. Tilak made the agreement between Muslim League and
Congress possible during Lucknow session, popularly called
Lucknow pact of 1916. The Lucknow Pact of 1916 is signed
between Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Tilak represented the Congress while framing the deal.
All-India Muslim League was led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
It was adopted by the Congress at its Lucknow session on
December 29 and by the Muslim league on Dec. 31, 1916.
297. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The author of the flag song (Jhanda Geet) of India is
Shyamlal Parshad Gupta. This patriotic song, originally
composed with seven stanzas, was later modified by the
Congress, recognizing three stanzas as the “Dhwajgeet” or
flag song. It was officially accepted in the Congress session
of 1938. Shyamlal Gupta ‘Parshad’ was a prominent poet and
patriot known for his strong expressions of nationalism. His
song played a significant role in inspiring many to sacrifice
for the country’s freedom struggle.
298. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The Widow Remarriage Act was passed on 16 July 1856,
during the rule of Lord Canning, who was the Governor-
General of India at that time. The act legalized the remarriage
of Hindu widows in all jurisdictions of India under East
India Company rule.
Important Tips
• The Widow Remarriage Act was drafted by Lord
Dalhousie, who was the previous Governor-General,
and passed during Lord Canning before the Indian
Rebellion of 1857.
• The act was enacted due to the efforts of social
reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, who advocated
for the rights and dignity of Hindu widows.
342
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
• The act provided legal safeguards against loss of
certain forms of inheritance for remarrying a Hindu
widow, though, under the Act, the widow forsook any
inheritance due her from her deceased husband.
• The act was a major step towards the empowerment of
women and the abolition of harmful customs in Hindu
society.
299. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
Pair a is incorrectly matched: “The Indian Struggle”
authored by Subhash Chandra Bose, is a two-part book
that chronicles India’s independence movement from 1920
to 1942, spanning key events and movements. Banned by the
British, it was published in India in 1948 after independence.
Pair b is correctly matched: Rafiq Zakaria authored the
book “The Man Who Divided India,” which provides a
critical biography of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and explores
his role in the partition of India. This book analyzes Jinnah’s
leadership and its aftermath, shedding light on the factors
that contributed to the division of India into India and
Pakistan. It offers insights into the complexities of the
partition and its consequences
Pair c is incorrectly matched: “Indian Unrest” authored by
Valentine Sir Chirol, is a significant collection of articles
addressing the complex issue of Indian unrest during the
British Empire. It offers valuable insights and comprehensive
analysis akin to a formal investigative report on the root
causes and state of affairs leading to unrest in India.
Pair d is incorrectly matched: “Unhappy India” was
authored by Lala Lajpat Rai. This book was a response to
Katherine Mayo’s “Mother India” and aimed to counter her
arguments about India and its people, highlighting the
socio-economic problems caused by British colonial rule.
300. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi was not related to the Swadeshi
Movement, which was started to protest against the partition
of Bengal in 1905 and continued up to 1911. During this
period, Gandhi was residing in South Africa and fighting
against racial discrimination and oppression there.
301. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Raja Rammohan Roy’s famous work “A Gift to Monotheists”
(Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin) was written in the Persian
language, with an introduction in Arabic. This work is
notable as it marks one of his early intellectual endeavors
and is recognized as the first known theological statement
by him before he gained fame and notoriety as a Vedantin.
During that time, Bengali had not yet become the language
of intellectual discourse, and Raja Rammohan Roy’s writings
were primarily in Persian and Arabic. The work was later
translated into English by Maulavi Obaidullah EI Obaid
and published by the Adi Brahmo Samaj in 1884.
343
Important Tips
Raja Ram Mohan Roy – Literary Work
Literary Work Year
Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin 1804
Vedanta Gantha 1815
Kenopanishads, Translation of an abridgment 1816
of the Vedanta Sara, Ishopanishad
The Precepts of Jesus- The Guide to Peace and 1820
Happiness , A Defence of Hindu Theism
Bengali Grammar 1826
History of Indian Philosophy , The Universal 1829
Religion
Gaudiya Vyakaran 1833
302. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
Mahatma Gandhi completed his translation of “Anasakti
Yoga” in Kausani in 1929. This translation is a part of his
commentary on the Bhagavad Gita, where he emphasized
the importance of renunciation of the fruits of action
and selfless devotion as central teachings for attaining
self-realization and ultimate peace. His interpretation
underscores the significance of these principles in everyday
life and worldly pursuits.
303. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Lord Mayo’s Resolution of 1870 on Financial
Decentralization visualized the development of local
self-government institutions. Its resolution pertained to
financial decentralization which was a legislative devolution
inaugurated by the Indian Council Act of 1861. Apart
from the annual grant from the imperial government, the
provincial governments were authorized to resort to local
taxation to balance their budgets.
Important Tips
• Lord Mayo served as the 4th Viceroy of India from 12
January 1869 to 8 February 1872.
• He followed the policy of non-intervention.
• India’s census began during his tenure.
• He was assassinated at the penal settlement of Port
Blair in the Andaman Islands.
304. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
James Andrew Ramsay was the real name of the 1st
Marquess of Dalhousie, who served as the Governor-
General of India from 1848 to 1856. He was also known as the
Earl of Dalhousie between 1838 and 1849. He was a Scottish
statesman and colonial administrator who is credited with
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
creating the map of modern India through his conquests and
annexations of independent provinces. He also introduced
many reforms in India, such as railways, telegraph, postal
service, public works, education, and administration. He is
also infamous for his policy of the Doctrine of Lapse, which
allowed the British to annex any Indian state whose ruler
died without a natural heir. This policy was widely resented
by the Indian princes and contributed to the outbreak of the
Indian Rebellion of 1857, one year after his retirement.
Important Tips
• The Doctrine of Lapse was a policy of annexation that
was applied by the British East India Company in India
until 1858.
• It stated that any princely state under the control of the
Company would be annexed if the ruler died without a
male heir or was incompetent.
• The policy was devised by the Court of Directors of
the Company in 1834, but it was widely used by Lord
Dalhousie, who was the Governor-General of India
from 1848 to 1856.
• He annexed several states under this policy, such as
Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur, and Tanjore.
• The policy was seen as illegitimate and disrespectful
by many Indians, and it was one of the causes of the
Indian Rebellion of 1857.
305. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
The oldest ashram related to Mahatma Gandhi is the
Phoenix Ashram in South Africa. He established this ashram
in 1904, after being inspired by the writings of Leo Tolstoy
and John Ruskin. He named the ashram after a magazine
called The Phoenix, which he published from there. The
ashram was a place where Gandhi and his followers practiced
the principles of truth, non-violence, and self-reliance.
Important Tips
Wardha Ashram: This ashram was established by
Gandhi in 1936 in a village called Segaon near Wardha in
Maharashtra. It was later renamed as Sevagram Ashram,
which means the village of service.
Sadaqat Ashram: This ashram was established by Gandhi
in 1947 in Patna in Bihar. It was also known as the Bihar
Vidyapeeth or the Bihar University. It was a center for
education and research on Gandhian philosophy and rural
development.
306. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The book “A Passage to India” was written by E. M. Forster.
This novel, published in 1924, is set against the backdrop of
the British Raj and the Indian independence movement
in the 1920s. It explores the complexities of colonialism,
racial tensions, and personal relationships in British
India. The story follows four main characters and delves
into their experiences and interactions during a trip to the
PYQ Workbook
Marabar Caves, which leads to a significant incident and its
aftermath.
307. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
“Soz-e-Vatan” is a story collection written by Nawabrai,
who later became well-known as Munshi Premchand. It
was published in 1908 and consisted of five stories in Urdu.
The title “Soz-e-Vatan” translates to “mourning of the
country” and the stories in this collection include “The
Most Precious Jewel of the World,” “Sheikh Makhmur,”
“This is My Country,” “The Reward of Mourning,” and
“Worldly Love.” The British government considered this
collection seditious and confiscated and destroyed all its
copies, leading Nawabrai to adopt the pen name Munshi
Premchand.
Important Tips
Notable works of Premchand:
Karmabhoomi (1932): Set in 1930, it explores the unity
of Hindus and Muslims against British exploitation,
foreshadowing India’s eventual partition.
Kafan: A poignant short story depicting the irresponsibility
and shamelessness of Ghisu and Madhav, who squander
borrowed money meant for a shroud on drinks and food.
Gaban (1931): This story delves into the insatiable greed
for jewels, revealing the moral and social corruption it
leads to.
Godan (1936): A realistic portrayal of rural India,
addressing issues like casteism, women’s exploitation, and
the oppression of peasant classes.
Poos Ki Raat: Depicts a farmer’s struggle to survive the
harsh winter without proper clothing due to debts to
moneylenders.
Nirmala (1928): An early critique of dowry practices
through the suffering of an adolescent girl married to an
elderly man.
Thakur Ka Kuan: Focuses on caste-based discrimination
and the denial of clean drinking water to Dalits,
highlighting societal prejudice.
Eidgah: A heartwarming tale of a young boy’s selfless
sacrifice on Eid, choosing a gift for his grandmother over
sweets and toys.
Namak Ka Daroga: Tells the story of an honest salt
inspector, Vanshidhar, who remains steadfast in his
integrity despite the temptations of bribery.
308. Solution (a)
Exp) Option a is the correct answer.
The book “Geographical Factors in Indian History” was
written by K.M. Panikkar. It delves into the significant role
that geography plays in shaping the historical evolution
of a nation, influencing both internal and external
relations. The book is divided into chapters covering
various aspects of geography’s impact on India, including its
geographical position, the role of the Himalayas, and routes
344
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
of invasion. Panikkar’s work emphasizes the importance of
understanding India’s geographical context in the broader
historical narrative.
309. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: The Dandi
March, led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930, was a 24-day act
of nonviolent civil disobedience against the British salt
monopoly and a symbol of resistance to colonial rule. It
covered 387 kilometers from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi,
inspiring millions of Indians to join.
Option B in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: In December
1929, under the Presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore
Congress formalised the demand of ‘Purna Swaraj’ or full
independence for India.
Option C in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: The Red
Shirt movement, also known as Khudai Khidmatgar or Surkh
Posh, was a Pashtun nonviolent resistance movement against
British colonial rule in India’s North-West Frontier Province.
Led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan, it originally focused on social
reform, education, and ending blood feuds.
Option D in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: The Bardoli
Satyagraha, 1928 was a movement in the independence
struggle led by Sardar Vallabhai Patel for the farmers of
Bardoli against the unjust raising of taxes.
310. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
The play “Andher Nagari Chaupat Raja” was written by
the renowned Hindi litterateur Bhartendu Harishchandra.
This satirical play, consisting of six acts, serves as a scathing
critique of irrational and autocratic governance systems.
It portrays how such systems eventually self-destruct due
to their own actions. Bhartendu composed this play in a
single day for the Hindu National Theater of Banaras. The
play highlights issues like greed, corruption, and the
consequences of irrational rule.
311. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
Nehru was not influenced by German Nationalism.
German nationalism was a political ideology that emerged
in Germany in the 19th century. It was based on the belief
that the German people were a superior race and that they
had a right to rule over other peoples. Nehru was a staunch
opponent of all forms of racism and discrimination, and
he outrightly rejected German nationalism. Nehru was
influenced by socialism, British liberalism, and Gandhian
philosophy. Socialism is an economic and political system
that advocates for the common ownership of the means of
production. British liberalism is a political ideology that
emphasizes individual liberty and limited government.
Gandhian philosophy advocated for non-violence and social
reform.
312. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer.
345
Lord Mayo was the Viceroy of India from 1869 to 1872,
and he conducted the first census of India in 1872. This
census was the first complete and systematic enumeration
of the population of British India, covering an area of 239
million acres and a population of 254 million people. The
census collected data on age, sex, caste, religion, occupation,
education, infirmities, and marital status. The census also
recorded the number of houses, their construction, and their
amenities. The census was conducted by local officials under
the supervision of provincial superintendents, who were
mostly British officers.
313. Solution (a)
Option a is the correct answer.
Option A in List-I matches Option 3 in List-II: Madan
Mohan Malaviya was an Indian scholar, educational
reformer and politician notable for his role in the Indian
independence movement. He was president of the Indian
National Congress four times and the founder of Akhil
Bharat Hindu Mahasabha. Malaviya strove to promote
modern education among Indians and co-founded the
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) at Varanasi in 1916,
which was created under the 1915 BHU Act.
Option B in List-I matches Option 4 in List-II: On 1
January 1923 C. R. Das along with Motilal Nehru formed the
“Swaraj Party” and became its leader in Bengal Assembly. C.
R. Das was its president and Motilal Nehru was its secretary.
The main purpose was to oppose British policies within the
councils, argue for reform and also demonstrate that these
councils were not truly democratic.
Option C in List-I matches Option 1 in List-II: Between
the years 1916 and 1918, the Indian independence movement
witnessed the growth and spread of the home rule movement
spearheaded by leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and
Annie Besant. The aim of the home rule movement was the
attainment of home rule or a dominion status for India under
the British Empire along the lines of countries like Canada
and Australia. This movement was carried out through the
two home rule leagues. Tilak launched the Indian Home Rule
League in April 1916 at Belgaum and Annie Besant launched
the Home Rule League in September 1916 at Madras.
Option D in List-I matches Option 2 in List-II: Gopal
Krishna Gokhale was a senior leader of the Indian National
Congress and the founder of the Servants of India Society
in 1905. The Society organized many campaigns to promote
education, sanitation, health care, and fight the social evils
of untouchability and discrimination, alcoholism, poverty,
oppression of women and for protection of women from
domestic abuse.
314. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
Dadabhai Naoroji, also known as the ‘Grand Old Man of
India’ was born on 4th September 1825. He was the founder
and a member of the Indian National Congress in 1885 along
with A. O. Hume and Dinshaw Wacha. Dadabhai Naoroji
demanded Swaraj as national demand for the first time at
the Calcutta session of Congress in 1906.
PYQ Workbook
 HISTORY OF MODERN INDIA
Important Tips
Dadabhai Naoroji became the president of the Congress
party in 1886, 1893, and 1906.
Dadabhai Naoroji was one of the first Indian political
activists and mentors of Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar
Tilak, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
In 1909, Mahatma Gandhi gave a wider interpretation of
Swaraj in his book Hind Swaraj.
315. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer
Surat Split of the Indian National Congress resulted in the
party’s division into two groups, i.e., the Moderates and the
Extremists. The Moderates were in favor of Rash Bihari
Ghosh, while the Extremists supported Bal Gangadhar
Tilak to be the president of India. Eventually, Rash Bihari
Ghosh became the President of INC. This angered the
Extremist like Tilak and eventually Surat split happened.
Thus, the Surat split was led by Tilak by his extremist views
and policies. Later the Extremist were expelled from the INC.
Important Tips
After effects of Surat Session :
Following the Surat Separation, Rabindranath Tagore
made vain attempts to bring the Moderates and Extremists
back together.
Additionally, the 1908 Allahabad convention’s adoption of
resolutions to forever disqualify the Congress’s Extremist
section made matters worse.
The moderate-dominated Congress fell dormant after
leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak was imprisoned, Lala
Lajpat Rai went to USA, Bipin Chandra Pal retired from
active politics and, Aurobindo ghosh went nderground till
Alipore conspiracy and later was tried for it, after which
he also retired from active policts and went to Puducherry.
PYQ Workbook
316. Solution (d)
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
Sardar Patel, who was in charge of the states’ ministry in
the interim cabinet, helped by V.P. Menon, the secretary in
the ministry, was responsible for the integration of Princely
States into Indian Union. There were several states that were
adamant to not join India. Some of them thought this to be
the best moment to acquire independent statehood, while
there were others who wanted to become a part of Pakistan.
But under the able leadership of Patel all the princely states
were successfully integrated with India.
317. Solution (c)
Exp) Option c is the correct answer.
The author of the official history of the Indian National
Congress was Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya. His book, titled
“History of the Indian National Congress,” provides a
comprehensive account of the Congress party’s formation,
development, and organization from its inception in 1885
until 1935. This two-volume work offers insights into the
INC sessions, debates, pacts, internal developments, and
challenges faced by the party during its early years. Dr.
Pattabhi Sitaramayya’s efforts to document the Congress’s
history earned him the title of the “historian of the
Congress.”
318. Solution (b)
Exp) Option b is the correct answer.
“Bharat Durdasha” is a significant work written by
Bharatendu Harishchandra in 1875. In this Hindi play,
Bharatendu portrays the plight of India during his time. He
uses symbols and metaphors to shed light on the challenges
faced by the country. The play addresses issues such as
British colonial rule, internal discord, vices, economic
exploitation, and more. Bharatendu’s work serves as both a
reflection of the problems of his era and a call to action for
Indians to work towards positive change.
346