Q. Match the following Acts with their main provisions:
1. Arms Act (1878)
2. Vernacular Press Act (1878)
3. Ilbert Bill (1883)
a. Imposed strict control on Indian-language newspapers
b. Sought to allow Indian judges to try European offenders
c. Prohibited Indians from possessing arms without licence
A). 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
B). 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
C). 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
D). 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
Answer: C). 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the First Session of the Indian National Congress (1885):
1. The first session was presided over by W.C. Bonnerjee.
2. The first session was held in Bombay.
3. The first session was attained by 72 delegates.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A). 1 only
B). 1 and 2 only
C). 2 and 3 only
D). 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D). 1, 2 and 3
Q. Who wrote Poverty and Un-British Rule in India?
A). Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B). Dadabhai Naoroji
C). Gopal Krishna Gokhale
D). Surendranath Banerjee
Answer: B). Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation: Poverty and Un-British Rule in India was written by Dadabhai Naoroji, in which he explained the Drain of Wealth theory and showed how British policies were impoverishing India.
Q. Which of the following were key demands of the Moderates in the early phase of the Indian National Congress?
A). Immediate complete independence
B). Expansion of legislative councils and greater participation of Indians
C). Armed revolution against British rule
D). Establishment of parallel Indian government
Answer: B). Expansion of legislative councils and greater participation of Indians
Explanation: Moderates demanded constitutional reforms, including expansion of legislative councils, more Indian representation, reduction of military expenditure, cut in land revenue, and protection of civil rights, but they did not demand complete independence or violent methods.
Q. Radicals criticized the Moderates mainly for their
A). Use of petitions and prayers only
B). Adoption of aggressive methods
C). Belief in mass struggle
D). Support for revolutionary violence
Answer: A). Use of petitions and prayers only
Explanation: Radicals argued that Moderates relied too much on constitutional methods like petitions, speeches, and appeals to the British, which they considered ineffective for achieving self-rule.
Q. Radical nationalists believed that political rights could be achieved through:
A). Requests to the British Crown
B). Pressure, mass agitation, and direct action
C). Silent prayer meetings
D). Exclusive work in legislative councils
Answer: B). Pressure, mass agitation, and direct action
Explanation: They trusted mass mobilisation and direct action, not petitions, as the path to freedom.
Q. Who was the Viceroy of India when Bengal was partitioned in 1905?
A). Lord Lytton
B). Lord Curzon
C). Lord Ripon
D). Lord Hardinge
Answer: B). Lord Curzon
Explanation: The partition of Bengal in 1905 was carried out under Viceroy Lord Curzon, who justified it on administrative grounds.
Q. What was the immediate response to the partition of Bengal in 1905?
A). Formation of the Muslim League
B). Launch of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
C). Demand for complete independence (Purna Swaraj)
D). Start of the Non-Cooperation Movement
Answer: B). Launch of the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
Explanation: The partition of Bengal triggered widespread protests, leading to the Swadeshi and Boycott Movement, where Indians promoted indigenous goods and boycotted British products.
Q. Who started the newspaper Kesari?
A). Gopal Krishna Gokhale
B). Bal Gangadhar Tilak
C). Dadabhai Naoroji
D). Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: B). Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: Kesari was founded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1881 in Marathi. It became a prominent nationalist newspaper, used to spread political awareness and radical ideas against British rule.
Q. Where was the All India Muslim League formed?
A). Delhi
B). Aligarh
C). Dhaka
D). Dacca
Answer: D). Dacca
Explanation: The All India Muslim League was formed in Dacca in 1906
Q. The Indian National Congress split into Moderates and Extremists in which year?
A). 1885
B). 1905
C). 1907
D). 1911
Answer: C). 1907
Explanation: The split occurred at the Surat session of the INC in 1907 due to differences and reunited in December 1915.
Q. The Lucknow Pact was signed in which year?
A). 1905
B). 1911
C). 1916
D). 1920
Answer: C). 1916
Explanation: The Lucknow Pact was signed in 1916 between the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League to present a united front to the British.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding Mahatma Gandhi’s:
1. He established the Natal Congress to fight against racial discrimination in South Africa.
2. Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in January 1915.
3. Upon arrival, he immediately joined the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A). 1 and 3 only
B). 1 and 2 only
C). 2 and 3 only
D). 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B). 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Mahatma Gandhi spent his first year in India travelling throughout the country.
Q. The Rowlatt Act led to widespread protests because:
A). It increased taxes
B). It curtailed civil liberties and allowed detention without trial
C). It abolished Indian legislatures
D). It forced Indians to join the army
Answer: B). It curtailed civil liberties and allowed detention without trial
Explanation: INC criticised the Act as “devilish” and tyrannical.
Q. Which of the following movements emerged in response to the Rowlatt Act?
A). Swadeshi Movement
B). Rowlatt Satyagraha
C). Quit India Movement
D). Civil Disobedience Movement
Answer: B). Rowlatt Satyagraha
Explanation: The Rowlatt Satyagraha became the first all-India Struggle against the British government.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre:
1. The massacre took place on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar.
2. General Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to fire on a peaceful gathering without warning.
3. The gathering was to protest against the Rowlatt Act and to celebrate Baisakhi festival.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A). 1 and 2 only
B). 2 and 3 only
C). 1 and 3 only
D). 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D). 1, 2 and 3
Q. Who renounced his knighthood in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre?
A). Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B). Rabindranath Tagore
C). Lala Lajpat Rai
D). Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Answer: B). Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation: Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in 1919 to protest the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre, expressing his condemnation of British atrocities in India.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement:
1. The Khilafat Movement was launched to protest the dismemberment of the Ottoman Caliphate after World War I.
2. Mahatma Gandhi merged the Khilafat Movement with the Non-Cooperation Movement to mobilize Indians against British rule.
3. The movement promoted non-violent resistance, boycott of British goods, and withdrawal from government services.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A). 1 and 2 only
B). 2 and 3 only
C). 1 and 3 only
D). 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D). 1, 2 and 3
Q. The Chauri Chaura incident (1922) led to which significant decision by Mahatma Gandhi?
A). Launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement
B). Suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement
C). Start of the Quit India Movement
D). Formation of the Swaraj Party
Answer: B). Suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement
Explanation: In Chauri Chaura (February 1922), protesters participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement turned violent and set a police station on fire, killing 22 policemen.
Q. Which Congress leaders urged Indians to fight elections of legislative councils after the Non-Cooperation Movement was suspended?
A). Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel
B). Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das
C). Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai
D). Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Dadabhai Naoroji
Answer: B). Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das
Explanation: After the Non-Cooperation Movement was suspended in 1922, leaders like Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das advocated “responsible participation” in elections to legislative councils, marking the beginning of the Swarajists’ strategy within the Congress.
Q. Who was the president of the Indian National Congress when Purna Swaraj was declared?
A). Mahatma Gandhi
B). Jawaharlal Nehru
C). Subhash Chandra Bose
D). Sardar Patel
Answer: B). Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the Lahore Session (1929), where the Purna Swaraj resolution was adopted.
Q. Who assassinated British officer Saunders in 1928?
A). Bhagat Singh
B). Chandrashekhar Azad
C). Rajguru and Bhagat Singh
D). Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: C). Rajguru and Bhagat Singh
Explanation: Bhagat Singh and Rajguru assassinated Saunders in Lahore in December 1928 to avenge the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, who had been fatally wounded by police during a protest against the Simon Commission.
Q. Who threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi in 1929?
A). Bhagat Singh and Rajguru
B). Chandrashekhar Azad
C). Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt
D). Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: C). Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt
Explanation: Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly on 8 April 1929 to protest against repressive laws. They did not intend to kill anyone but to make a political statement.
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha):
1. The Dandi March was led by Mahatma Gandhi in March 1930 to protest the British salt tax.
2. Gandhi marched from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, a distance of about 240 miles.
3. The Salt March directly triggered the Civil Disobedience Movement across India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A). 1 and 2 only
B). 2 and 3 only
C). 1 and 3 only
D). 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D). 1, 2 and 3
Q. Who persuaded Mahatma Gandhi to allow women to join the Civil Disobedience Movement?
A). Sarojini Naidu
B). Kasturba Gandhi
C). Annie Besant
D). Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
Answer: A). Sarojini Naidu
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu was the first women President of Indian National Congress in 1925.
Q. Provincial Autonomy was introduced by which Act?
A). Indian Councils Act, 1909
B). Government of India Act, 1919
C). Government of India Act, 1935
D). Indian Independence Act, 1947
Answer: C). Government of India Act, 1935
Explanation: Provincial Autonomy was introduced under the Government of India Act, 1935, giving elected provincial governments control over provincial subjects while the British Governor retained special powers.
Q. Why did the Indian National Congress support the British during Second World War?
A). To gain immediate independence after the war
B). To secure political concessions and reforms after the war
C). To oppose the Muslim League
D). To boycott British goods
Answer: A). To gain immediate independence after the war
Q. The slogan “Do or Die” is associated with which movement?
A). Non-Cooperation Movement
B). Quit India Movement
C). Civil Disobedience Movement
D). Khilafat Movement
Answer: B). Quit India Movement
Explanation: The slogan “Do or Die” was given by Mahatma Gandhi during the Quit India Movement (1942), urging Indians to fight British rule with full commitment to achieve independence.
Q. Which formed Azad Hind Fauz or the Indian National Army (INA)?
A). Vallabhbhai Patel
B). Mahatma Gandhi
C). Jawaharlal Nehru
D). Subash Chandra Bose
Answer: D). Subash Chandra Bose
Q. The main objective of sending the Cabinet Mission to India in 1946 was to:
A). Negotiate complete independence for India
B). Discuss the transfer of power from the British to Indian leadership
C). Implement the August Offer
D). Resolve the issue of princely state integration
Answer: B). Discuss the transfer of power from the British to Indian leadership
Explanation: The Cabinet Mission rejected the idea of immediate partition. Instead, it proposed a Union with limited central subjects and grouping of provinces.
Q. The Muslim League declared Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946 to:
A). Demand immediate British withdrawal from India
B). Press for the acceptance of the Cabinet Mission’s plan
C). Demonstrate its demand for a separate nation of Pakistan
D). Protest against the Constituent Assembly’s composition
Answer: C). Demonstrate its demand for a separate nation of Pakistan
Explanation: The Muslim League launched Direct Action Day to intensify its demand for Pakistan after rejecting the Cabinet Mission Plan and withdrawing its acceptance of constitutional negotiations.
Q. Who was the first Indian Governor-General of independent India?
A). Rajendra Prasad
B). C. Rajagopalachari
C). Jawaharlal Nehru
D). Vallabhbhai Patel
Answer: B). C. Rajagopalachari
Explanation: C. Rajagopalachari (also known as Rajaji), leader of salt satyagraha in the south, was the first and only Indian Governor-General.
Q. Who is regarded as the exponent of the concept of Wahadat-i-Deen (Unity of Religion)?
A). Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
B). Shah Waliullah
C). Maulana Azad
D). Muhammad Iqbal
Answer: C). Maulana Azad
Explanation: He was the supporter of Hindu- Muslim unity and he also opposed Jinnah’s two-nation theory.
Q. Who was the founder of the Khudai Khidmatgars movement?
A). Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
B). Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
C). Muhammad Ali Jinnah
D). Hasrat Mohani
Answer: B). Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Explanation: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Frontier Gandhi and Badshah Khan, founded the Khudai Khidmatgars in the North-West Frontier Province to promote non-violent resistance against British rule.