Indian History and World Events

E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, also known as Periyar, launched the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu after breaking away from Gandhi. This radical movement challenged caste oppression and advocated for social equality.

Yavanika (meaning 'curtain' in Sanskrit) was indeed introduced to Indian theatre during the Indo-Greek period. The Greeks are credited with introducing the curtain concept to Sanskrit theatre, and the term Yavanika derives from 'Yavana' (Greek). The Shakas, Parthians, and Kushanas came later and had different cultural influences.

Sarojini Naidu led the Salt Satyagraha in Dharsana after Gandhi's arrest, becoming one of the most prominent women leaders in the civil disobedience movement. Annie Besant was active earlier in the Home Rule movement. Mridula Sarabhai and Muthu Lakshmi were social reformers but not the Salt March leaders.

Mahatma Gandhi first used the hunger strike as a political weapon during the Ahmedabad mill workers' strike in 1918, where he fasted to support the workers' demands. This was earlier than the Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919) and Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22). The Bardoli Satyagraha was in 1928.

Jyotiba Phule's Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers' Society) was founded in 1873 primarily to attack the caste system and Brahminical dominance. While it did save lower castes from what Phule saw as hypocritical Brahmanical practices, the movement's core objective was caste annihilation. Option B best captures this primary aim.

D-Day refers specifically to June 6, 1944, when the Allied forces launched Operation Overlord and landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, during World War II. It marked a crucial turning point in the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) introduced diarchy and a limited representative element through the franchise for legislative councils. The earlier Councils Acts (1861, 1892, 1909) had limited or no popular representation. The 1919 Act was the first significant attempt at representative governance.

Article 1 of the Indian Constitution declares India as a 'Union of States,' emphasizing that the states have no right to secede from the Union. This wording was deliberately chosen by the framers to contrast with the federal structure of the United States and to emphasize India's indestructible unity.

The Ashok Mehta Committee (1977) was appointed to review the working of the Panchayati Raj institutions and recommend reforms. This committee suggested constitutional status for Panchayati Raj and emphasized greater participation of weaker sections. The earlier Balwant Rai Mehta Committee (1957) had first recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj system.

Kanishka, the Kushana ruler, started the Saka Era in 78 AD, which is still used by the Government of India for official purposes like the Gazette of India and calendars. The Saka Era began when Kanishka ascended to the throne, though some historians debate whether this marked his coronation or the founding of a new epoch.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's social contract theory and ideas about popular sovereignty deeply influenced the French Revolution. His concept that political authority rests with the people and his critique of absolute monarchy resonated strongly with revolutionary leaders. While Locke influenced earlier revolutions, Rousseau's emphasis on equality and the general will was particularly relevant to 1789 France.

Article 50 of the Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) explicitly directs the State to take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the State. This provision was included to ensure judicial independence and prevent executive interference in the judicial process, though implementation varies across states.

The Government of India Act 1935 provided the basic framework for the Indian Constitution, including the federal structure, provincial autonomy, and emergency provisions. The Indian Constituent Assembly extensively borrowed from this Act while adapting it to Indian needs and incorporating democratic principles. While other constitutions influenced specific provisions, the 1935 Act was the foundational document.