History

Modern Indian Historical Figures

1,804 Questions

Attempt questions covering prominent modern Indian historical figures, including freedom fighters, Maratha leaders, and key political personalities. This topic is a staple in the general studies section of civil services and state exams. Review these questions to strengthen your knowledge of India's colonial and postcolonial leaders.

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Modern Indian Historical Figures Questions

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers battle of plassey battle of plassey (1757) battle of plassey (1757) and battle of buxar (1764) introduction to social movements and its types social movements

Who was the Nawab of Bengal at the time of Battle of Plassey?

  1. Siraj-ud-daulah

  2. Jahagir

  3. Aurangzeb

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

East India Company defeated the Nawab at Plassey in 1757 and captured Calcutta. The battle was preceded by the attack on British-controlled Calcutta by Nawab Siraj-ud-daulah  and the Black Hole massacre. The Brirish sent reinforcements under Colonel Robert Clive and Admiral Charles Watson from Madras to Bengal and recaptured Calcutta.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers battle of plassey battle of plassey (1757) battle of plassey (1757) and battle of buxar (1764) introduction to social movements and its types social movements

Who of the following was for the first time designated as the Governor of India?

  1. Robert Clive

  2. Lord Cornwallis

  3. Lord William Bentinck

  4. Lord Wellesley
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Lord William Bentinck (1833) was the 1st Governor-General of British India. Regulating Act of 1773 designated the Governor-General of Bengal and created an Executive Council of four members to assist him. Governors of Bombay and Madras presidencies subordinate to the Governor-general of Bengal.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers battle of plassey battle of plassey (1757) battle of plassey (1757) and battle of buxar (1764) introduction to social movements and its types social movements

The British Governor General and Viceroy who served for the longest period in India was ______________.

  1. Lord Irwin

  2. Lord Dalhousie

  3. Warren Hastings

  4. Lord Linlithgow
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Lord Irwin - Viceroy from 1926-1931
Lord Dalhousie - Governor General from 1848-1856.
Warren Hastings - Governor-General from 1773 to 1785. (had the longest term)
Lord Linlithgow -  Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1944.
Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers battle of plassey battle of plassey (1757) battle of plassey (1757) and battle of buxar (1764) introduction to social movements and its types social movements

The Governor General ___________ made treaty of Benaras with Nawab of Oudh in 1773.

  1. Warren Hastings

  2. Robert Clive

  3. William Bentinck

  4. Lord Hastings
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Treaty of Benaras in 1773 was an agreement regulating relations between the British government of Bengal and the ruler of the Muslim state of Oudh. Warren Hastings, the British governor, ceded Allahabad and Kora to Shujaʿ and promised to support him against the menacing Afghan Rohillas in return for cash payments.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers battle of plassey battle of plassey (1757) battle of plassey (1757) and battle of buxar (1764) introduction to social movements and its types social movements

Who introduced the system of Dual Government in Bengal?

  1. Robert Clive

  2. Lord Curzon

  3. Lord Dalhousie

  4. Lord Canning
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The system of Dual Government was introduced in Bengal by Robert Clive of British East India Company. It lasted from 1765 to 1772. Under this system, the administration of Bengal was divided into Nizamat and Diwani. The Diwani was carried out by the company and the Nizamat by the Nizam. The system was abolished by Warren Hastings in 1772 and Bengal was brought under direct control of the British and the Nawabs remained as the mere pensioners of the East India Company.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers battle of plassey battle of plassey (1757) battle of plassey (1757) and battle of buxar (1764) introduction to social movements and its types social movements

The Dual system of Government was abolished by _________ in 1772 and Bengal was brought under direct control of the British.

  1. Warren Hastings

  2. Lord Canning

  3. Lord Curzon

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The system of Dual Government was introduced in Bengal by Robert Clive of British East India Company. It lasted from 1765 to 1772. Under this system, the administration of Bengal was divided into Nizamat and Diwani. The Diwani was carried out by the company and the Nizamat by the Nizam. The system was abolished by Warren Hastings in 1772 and Bengal was brought under direct control of the British and the Nawabs remained as the mere pensioners of the East India Company.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers battle of plassey battle of plassey (1757) battle of plassey (1757) and battle of buxar (1764) introduction to social movements and its types social movements

Who separated the judicial and police powers from the collector? 

  1. Lord Ripon

  2. Lord Wellesley

  3. Lord Cornwallis

  4. William Bentinck
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Cornwallis was appointed as Governor General of Bengal in 1786. He introduced permanent Land Revenue System in 1793. He separated the Judicial and police powers from the collector and also brought the district collector under the purview of judiciary.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers battle of plassey battle of plassey (1757) battle of plassey (1757) and battle of buxar (1764) introduction to social movements and its types social movements

Who signed the treaty of Amritsar with Ranjit Singh in 1809?

  1. Lord Irwin

  2. Lord Wellington

  3. Charles T. Metcalfe

  4. Lord Linlithgow
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The treaty of Amritsar was pact concluded between Charles T. Metcalfe, representing the British East India Company, and Ranjit Singh, head of the Sikh kingdom of Punjab in 1809. As per the treaty, Ranjit Singh was free to further consolidate his territorial gains north of the Sutlej river and was promised non-interference in his affairs.

Multiple choice history the national movement (1935-42) subhas chandra bose subhas chandra bose and ina subhash chandra bose and ina

The Indian National Army was founded by ________________.

  1. Subhas Chandra Bose

  2. Shah Nawaz Khan

  3. Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan

  4. Bhagat Singh
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Subhas Chandra Bose had escaped from India in 1941 and gone to Germany to work for India’s Independence. In 1943, he came to Singapore to lead the Indian Independence league and rebuild the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) which was initially formed by Rash Behari Bose, to make it an effective instrument for the freedom of India. The Azad Hind Fauj comprised of about 45,000 soldiers, among who were Indian prisoners of war as well as Indians who were settled in various countries of south-east Asia. Hence, Option A is correct.
Among the rest of the options, Shah Nawaz Khan was an Indian politician who served as an officer in the Indian National Army during World War II, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan led his non-violent Khudai Khidmatgar movement against the British Raj in the 1930s and 1940s, and Bhagat Singh was an Indian socialist revolutionary whose two acts of dramatic violence against the British in India and execution at age 23 made him a folk hero of the Indian independence movement. Hence, these options are incorrect. 
Multiple choice history the national movement (1935-42) subhas chandra bose subhas chandra bose and ina subhash chandra bose and ina

Who were the advocates appointed by the Indian National Congress to take up the case of the INA officers Shah Nawaz Khan, Gurbaksh Dhillon, and Prem Sahgal at the historic Red Fort at Delhi?

  1. Bhulabhai Desai, M.A. Jinnah and Jawaharlal Nehru

  2. Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru and Jawaharlal Nehru

  3. Jawaharlal Nehru, M.A. Jinnah and Sarat Chandra Bose

  4. C. Rajgopalachari, Sardar Patel and Feroz Gandhi.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The British government charged the officers of the Indian National Army with treason. The proceedings of their trial began before the military tribunal held in Red Fort of Delhi. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru and other distinguished jurists defended them. The military tribunal held them guilty and they were sentenced to life imprisonment. 

Multiple choice history the national movement (1935-42) subhas chandra bose subhas chandra bose and ina subhash chandra bose and ina

Who decided not to join British army and went to Japanese for help?

  1. Subhas chandra Bose

  2. Mohan Singh

  3. Bhagat Singh

  4. All Above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The idea of the Indian National Army was conceived in Malaya by Mohan Singh, an Indian officer in the British Indian Army. He decided not to join the retreating British army and instead went to Japanese for help.

Multiple choice history the national movement (1935-42) subhas chandra bose subhas chandra bose and ina subhash chandra bose and ina

Who were handed over by the Japanese to Mohan Singh?

  1. Political prisoners

  2. Indian Labourers

  3. Indian prisoners of war

  4. Directors of East India company
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Indian National Army was an armed force formed by Mohan Singh in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II with an aim to secure Indian independence from British rule. It was formed of Indian soldiers of the British regiment which were taken prisoners by Japan after it occupied Malaya. The first INA collapsed and was disbanded in December that year after differences between the INA leadership and the Japanese military over its role in Japan's war in Asia.

Multiple choice history the national movement (1935-42) subhas chandra bose subhas chandra bose and ina subhash chandra bose and ina

Who was appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the Indian National Army in Bangkok Conference?

  1. Subhas Chandra Bose

  2. Mohan Singh

  3. Rashbehari Bose

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In Bangkok conference a Council of Action to control and guide the whole movement was formed and Rashbehari Bose was elected as the president of the council. Mohan Singh appointed as the Commander-in-Chif of the Indian National Army in this conference.

Multiple choice history the national movement (1935-42) subhas chandra bose subhas chandra bose and ina subhash chandra bose and ina

When did Netaji took the charge of Indian National Army and became its Supreme Commander?

  1. August 1943

  2. July 1943

  3. May 1943

  4. November 1943
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In August 1943, Netaji took the charge of the Indian National Army and became its supreme commander. He set up the INA headquarters in Yangon and in Singapore and began to reorganise the INA.

Multiple choice history the national movement (1935-42) subhas chandra bose subhas chandra bose and ina subhash chandra bose and ina

Who was the leader of Rani Jhansi Regiment?

  1. Mohan Singh

  2. Netaji

  3. Dr. Laxmi Swaminathan

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A women's regiment called the Rani Jhansi Regiment and was led by Dr. Laxmi Swaminathan. Recruitment and training camps were opened in large numbers to cope with the rush of volunteers offering themselves for the INA.