UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims): Nationalist Movement (1905-1947) | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q.1. With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?     (2021)
(a) The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.
(b) The Viceroy’s Executive council was expanded to include more Indians.
(c) The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.
(d) Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second world War was over.

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Quit India Movement- launched on 8th August 1942 at Gowalia Tank Bombay

Q.2. Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?     (2021)
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(d) Sarojini Naidu

Correct Answer is Option (c)
written during his imprisonment in Yeravada Jail, Poona. translated hymns from the Upanishada and poems by Indian saint poets into English and that collection was published as Songs from the prison

• Not given in any reference books
  • Can be solved by elimination
  • Tilak in Jail wrote- Gita Rahsya, Arctic home of the Aryans
  • Sarojini Naidu wrote- the Bazars of Hyderabad

Q.3. In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as    (2021)
(a) leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
(b) members of the Interim Government in 1946
(c) members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly
(d) officers of the Indian National Army

Correct Answer is Option (d)

• Indian National Army – Azad Hind Fauj, was formed in 1942 by Captain Mohan Singh with the help of the Japanese, but due to differences it was disbanded.
• Again in July 1943, Netaji Subhash Chandrabose reorganised the Indian National Army along with Ras Behari Bose and Japanese help.
• The INA campaign was headed towards Kohima under the leadership of Capt. Shahnawaz Khan, which resulted into defeat.
• After the end of WW-2, the INA was had to surrender to the British Army and later on 3 officials were court-martialled by Lord Wavell at Red Fort
• Red Fort Trials - were defended by a series of lawerys, including KN Katju, Tejbahadur Sapru, JL Nehru- resulting into INA agitation across the country

Q.4. The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first-monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by     (2020-I)
(a) Gopal Baba Walangkar
(b) Jyotiba Phule
(c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(d) Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

Correct Answer is Option (a)

• Can be answered from elimination because BR Ambedkar & MK Gandhi worked in the 20th Century. And Jyotiba Phule wrote- Ghulam Giri (Book)
• Hence only (a) option is left, which is correct. 
• Gopal Baba Walangkar- leader of the Mahar Movement in 19th century. He was an ex-serviceman and demanded more jobs in the army and other government services. He was a contemporary of Jyotiba Phule. Gopal Baba published Vital- Vidhvanasak

Q.5. Consider the following pairs:   (2019-I)
Movement: Organization Leader 

1. All India Anti-Untouchability League: Mahatma Gandhi 
2. All India Kisan Sabha: Swami Sahajan ad Saraswati 
3. Self Respect Movement: E.V. Ramaswami Naicker

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

Correct Answer is Option (d)
While in jail, Gandhi set up the All India An untouchability  League in September 19323 All India Kisan Congress/Sabha: This sabha was founded in Lucknow in April 1936 with Swami Sahjanand Saraswati as the president and N.G. Ranga as the general secretary. During the 1920s in South India, the non-brahmins organized the Self-Respect Movement led by E.V. Ramaswamy  Naicker.
So, (d): all three are correct.

Q.6. Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley?    (2018-I)
(a) To maintain a large standing army at other's expense 
(b) To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger
(c) To secure a fixed income for the Company
(d) To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Point A, B and D were the salient features of Subsidiary Alliance, hence "C" doesn't apply.

Q.7. The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a       (2014 - I)
(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 head quarters at Tashkent

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The Ghadar Party was a revolution ary association founded by Punjabi Indians, in the United States and Canada with the aim to gaining India's independence from British rule. Key members included Lala Har Dayal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Kartar Singh Sarabha, and Rashbehari Bose.It had its headquarters at San Francisco.

Q.8. The  Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until      (2014 - I) 
(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

Correct Answer is Option (b)
In 1911 King George V visited India. A durbar was  held at Delhi and The capital of India was transferred from Calcutta to Delhi also Partition of Bengal was annulled.

Q.9. The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to      (2014 - I)
(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

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The Radcliffe Line is a boundary demarcation line between India and Pakistan upon the Partition of India. The Radcliffe Line was named after its architect, Sir Cyril Radcliffe.

Q.10. The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the (2013 - I)
(a) imposition of certain restrictions to carry arms by the Indians
(b) imposition of restrictions on newspapers and magazines published in Indian languages 
(c) removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans
(d) removal of a duty on imported cotton cloth

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Ilbert bill exempted British subjects from trial by Indian magistrates and in cases involving death or transportation they could only be tried by a high court. This proposal provoked furious protests by the Indians.

Q.11.  Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj?    (2012 - I) 

1. It opposed idolatry. 
2. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the religious texts. 
3. It popularized the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible. 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Statements 1 & 2 are correct.

Q.12. With reference to Ryotwari Settlement, consider the following statements:  (2012 - I) 

1. The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government. 
2. The Government gave Pattas to the Ryots. 
3. The lands were surveyed and assessed before being taxed. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 1, 2 and 3 
(d) None

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Ryotwari settlement, the rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government and the Government gave pattas to the Ryots.

Q.13. Who among the following was a proponent of Fabianism as a movement? (2005)
(a) Annie Besant
(b) A.O. Hume
(c) Michael Madhusudan Dutt
(d) R. Palme Dutt

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The Fabian Society is a British socialist intellectual movement best known for its initial ground-breaking work beginning in the late 19th century and then up to World War I. Fabianism focused on the advancement of socialist ideas through gradual influence and patiently insinuating socialist ideology into intellectual circles and groups with power.

Q.14. The word Adivasi was used for the first time to refer to the tribal people by: (1995)
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Thakkar Bappa
(c) Jyotiba Phule 
(d) B.R. Ambedkar

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Adivasi means primitive people