Modern History- Solved Questions (2024-2025) | UPSC Topic Wise Previous Year Questions PDF Download

Ans: (a)
Statement I: Correct
At the Nagpur session in 1920, the Indian National Congress declared that its goal was to achieve 'Swaraj' (self-rule) through legitimate and peaceful means.
Statement II: Incorrect
The Non-Cooperation Movement was planned in phases, but the given conditions are not fully accurate. Gandhi promised Swaraj within a year if the movement was followed earnestly. While civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes were potential strategies, they were not strictly contingent on Swaraj not being achieved within a year or on government repression. Gandhi retained the authority to decide when to initiate civil disobedience.

Ans: (c)
The Non-Cooperation Movement sought to oppose British rule through boycott and self-reliance while adhering to non-violence and promoting alternative institutions.
Statement I: Correct

• The movement prominently featured boycotts of British law courts and foreign cloth as key strategies.

Statement II: Correct

• Gandhi emphasized strict adherence to non-violence throughout the movement.

Statement III: Incorrect

• The programme called for the surrender of British titles and honours, not their retention.

Statement IV: Correct

• Establishing Panchayats to resolve disputes locally was actively promoted.

Thus, the correct answer is: C (Only three statements are correct).

Ans: (a)
Mahatma Gandhi prioritized the upliftment of Harijans (the term he used for the Depressed Classes) after rejecting the British Communal Award's proposal for separate electorates for them. Following the Poona Pact of 1932, an agreement with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Gandhi escalated his campaign against untouchability by establishing the Harijan Sevak Sangh and launching the 'Harijan' journal to advocate for their rights and social integration.

Ans: (c)
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a reformer who valued Indian traditions while championing rational thought and social equality.
Statement I: Correct
He held traditional Eastern philosophies, such as Vedanta, in high regard but worked to reform them.
Statement II: Correct
He promoted rationalism, scientific thinking, and the equality of all individuals, regardless of gender.
Thus, the correct answer is: C (both statements are correct).

Ans: (a)
The Self-Respect Movement, started in 1925, aimed to dismantle caste hierarchies and promote social equality, especially for non-Brahmin communities in Tamil Nadu.
He founded the Self-Respect Movement to fight caste oppression and promote rationalism and equality.

Ans: (b)
Following the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, numerous individuals were arrested and faced harsh punishments, including death sentences. Legal intervention played a crucial role in mitigating these penalties.
Option B: Madan Mohan Malaviya and Krishna Kant – Correct
Madan Mohan Malaviya, along with his son Krishna Kant, provided legal defense for the accused, successfully securing significant sentence reductions and saving many from execution.

Ans: (b)
During the Salt Satyagraha, Mahatma Gandhi declared, "Sedition has become my religion," reflecting his bold, non-violent defiance of British authority.
Option B: Publicly violating Salt Law at Dandi – Correct
Gandhi made this striking statement during the Salt March of 1930, after deliberately breaking the Salt Law at Dandi.

Ans: (c)
Papaya, pineapple, and guava are fruits not native to India, originating in the Americas and introduced during European colonial expansion, primarily by the Portuguese.
Statement I: Papaya – Correct
Originating in Central America, papaya was brought to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century.
Statement II: Pineapple – Correct
Native to South America, pineapple was introduced to India by Portuguese explorers.
Statement III: Guava – Correct
Guava, originating from Central America, was introduced to India by the Portuguese in the 17th century.

Ans: (a)
Statement 1: Correct
The Government of India Act, 1935, envisioned an All India Federation uniting British Indian Provinces and Princely States, but it never fully took shape due to the unwillingness of many Princely States to participate.
Statement 2: Incorrect
The Act assigned critical areas like Defence and Foreign Affairs to the Governor General, acting for the British Crown, rather than the federal legislature, thereby preserving British authority over these vital domains.

Ans: (b)
Bharatiya Jana Sangh | Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee: Correct
Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), the precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and served as its first president.
Socialist Party | C. Rajagopalachari: Incorrect
C. Rajagopalachari established the Swatantra Party, which promoted free-market principles. The Socialist Party, founded in 1934, was led by figures like Acharya Narendra Dev, Jayaprakash Narayan, Yusuf Mehrali, Mino Masani, Acchut Patwardhan, and Ashok Mehta.
Congress for Democracy | Jagjivan Ram: Correct
Jagjivan Ram founded the Congress for Democracy (CFD) in 1977 after splitting from the Indian National Congress during the Emergency to oppose Indira Gandhi’s regime. The CFD was short-lived and later merged with the Janata Party.
Swatantra Party | Acharya Narendra Dev: Incorrect
The Swatantra Party was founded by C. Rajagopalachari in 1959 to advocate for free-market policies, opposing the Congress’s socialist agenda. Acharya Narendra Dev was a prominent leader of the Socialist Party, not the Swatantra Party.
Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched, making the answer B.

Ans: (b)
Statement 1: Incorrect
The Ryotwari System, introduced primarily in the Madras (now Tamil Nadu) and Bombay (now Mumbai) presidencies by Alexander Reed and Thomas Munro, aimed to establish direct relations with cultivators (ryots). However, it did not provide a blanket exemption from revenue payments during poor harvests or calamities. Although some provisions for remission existed, they were neither automatic nor guaranteed.
Statement 2: Correct
The Permanent Settlement, introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal, Bihar, and parts of Odisha, required zamindars to pay a fixed revenue amount to the British by a strict deadline. Failure to meet this obligation could lead to the auctioning of their zamindari to recover the dues.