History · Civics Polity

Modern Indian History

8,125 Questions

Modern Indian History covers the colonial period, the freedom struggle, and key political movements. It includes questions on important leaders, the Indian National Congress, and social reforms. Mastering these questions is vital for clearing competitive government exams.

Indian freedom struggleIndian National CongressFamous historical leadersSocial reform movementsColonial administration

Modern Indian History Questions

Multiple choice

During the struggle for freedom the Ganesh festival was popularized by

  1. M.D. Ranade

  2. G.K. Gokhale

  3. B.G. Tilak

  4. V.D. Savarkar
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularized the Ganesh festival in 1893 to create a platform for political discussion and nationalist sentiment. The festival brought people together publicly, bypassing British restrictions on political gatherings. Gokhale was a moderate leader, Ranade was Tilak's mentor, and Savarkar was a revolutionary.

Multiple choice

Railways were introduced in India and Pakistan stood for

  1. Resolution of dispute relating to Rann of Kachch

  2. final resolution of Jammu and Kashmir problem

  3. abstaining from first use of nuclear weapons

  4. bilateral settlement of disputes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This question appears to have significant text corruption - the question stem mentions Railways and Pakistan but the options discuss the Shimla Agreement principles. The Shimla Pact of 1972 between Indira Gandhi and Z.A. Bhutto indeed emphasized bilateral settlement of disputes without third-party mediation, particularly regarding Kashmir. This matches option D, but the question text is clearly garbled with unrelated content about railways.

Multiple choice

'Theosophist, educationist and Indian nationalist leader'. This description fits :

  1. Madan Mohan Malviya

  2. Srinivasa Sastri

  3. Annie Besant

  4. Shyama Prasad Mookherjee
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Annie Besant perfectly fits all three descriptors mentioned. She was a prominent Theosophist who became President of the Theosophical Society, founded the Central Hindu College (Banaras Hindu University predecessor) promoting education, and led the Home Rule Movement becoming a major Indian nationalist leader. The other options were nationalists but not theosophists.

Multiple choice

What was the objective of the Vaikrom Satyagraha launched in Kerala?

  1. Force the temple authorities to appoint non-brahmins as priests

  2. Open the temples for the entry of the lower castes

  3. Ban the initiation of Devadasis for temple service

  4. Remove untouchability
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Vaikom Satyagraha (1924-25) was specifically led by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and others to open the roads around the Vaikom temple to all castes, particularly lower castes who were prohibited from approaching the temple precincts. It was the first organized temple-entry movement in Kerala and predated the more famous Guruvayur Satyagraha. The movement challenged untouchability by demanding access to public roads near temples.

Multiple choice

Match the following list List I List II A. Dadabhai Neoroji 1. Home Rule Movement in India B. Annie Besant 2. Servants of India Society C. Gopal Krishna Gokhale 3. Thrice President of Indian National D. Sri Aurobindo 4. Extremist turned spiritualist

  1. 3 1 2 4

  2. 1 2 4 3

  3. 4 3 1 2

  4. 2 4 3 1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The matching is: A-Dadabhai Naoroji (3) was Congress President thrice (1886, 1893, 1906); B-Annie Besant (1) led the Home Rule Movement; C-Gopal Krishna Gokhale (2) founded Servants of India Society; D-Sri Aurobindo (4) was an extremist who turned spiritualist in Pondicherry. The sequence A-B-C-D matches 3-1-2-4, making option A correct.

Multiple choice

The Shimla Pact between India and Pakistan stood for

  1. Resolution of dispute of dispute relating to Rann of Kachch

  2. final resolution of Jammu and Kashmir problem

  3. abstaining from first use of nuclear weapons

  4. bilateral settlement of disputes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Simla Agreement signed on July 2, 1972 between Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto after the 1971 war committed both countries to settle their disputes bilaterally without invoking third parties or international organizations. This was specifically about Kashmir and other outstanding issues, rejecting UN intervention. Option D correctly states this principle of bilateral settlement.

Multiple choice

What is the correct chronological order in which the following movements took place in India?

  1. Quit Movement
  2. Civil Disobedience Movement
  3. Swadeshi Movement
  4. Non-Cooperation Movement Select the correct answer using the codes gives below :

  1. 3, 4, 2, 1

  2. 4, 3, 2, 1

  3. 3, 4, 1, 2

  4. 4, 3, 1, 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The correct chronological order is: Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908) came first against Bengal Partition; Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) followed after Jallianwala Bagh; Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934) began with the Salt March; Quit India Movement (1942) was the final mass movement during WWII. This gives the sequence 3-4-2-1, matching option A.

Multiple choice

'Give me blood and I promise you freedom' was uttered by

  1. Bhagat Singh

  2. Chandra Sekhar Azad

  3. Sardar Petal

  4. Subhas Chandra Bose
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Subhas Chandra Bose delivered this famous speech in July 1944 in Burma (now Myanmar) to the Indian National Army (INA). The full phrase 'Give me blood, and I promise you freedom' reflects his revolutionary ideology and willingness to sacrifice for India's independence. This quote exemplifies his militant approach to achieving freedom, contrasting with Gandhi's non-violent movement.

Multiple choice

The upheaval of 1857 was first described as the war of independence by

  1. Jawaharlal Nehru

  2. Bal Gangadhar Tilak

  3. V.D. Savarkar

  4. Lala Lajpat Rai
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was the first to explicitly term the 1857 upheaval as the 'War of Indian Independence' in his 1909 book 'The History of the War of Indian Independence' written in London. This re-framing transformed the narrative from a 'sepoy mutiny' to a national freedom struggle. While Nehru, Tilak, and Lajpat Rai later recognized 1857's significance, Savarkar's work was pioneering in establishing this interpretation in nationalist historiography.

Multiple choice

Match the following list: List I List II A. Mahatma Gandhi 1. Dilli Chalo B. Tilak 2. Truth and Non-violence are my Gods C. Subhas Chandra Bose 3. Swaraj is my birth right D. Swami Vivekananda 4. Arise, Awake

  1. (a) 4 (b) 3 (c) 1 (d) 2

  2. (a) 2 (b) 3 (c) 1 (d) 4

  3. (a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 4

  4. (a) 3 (b) 4 (c) 2 (d) 1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The correct matching is: Mahatma Gandhi (b) 'Truth and Non-violence are my Gods'; Tilak (c) 'Swaraj is my birth right'; Subhas Chandra Bose (a) 'Dilli Chalo'; Swami Vivekananda (d) 'Arise, Awake'. This gives the sequence (a) 2, (b) 3, (c) 1, (d) 4, which is option B. These quotes represent core philosophies: Gandhi's satyagraha, Tilak's assertive nationalism, Bose's INA march to Delhi, and Vivekananda's call to spiritual awakening.

Multiple choice

Who aimed to achieve a 'Classless Society?'

  1. Hitler

  2. Marl Marx

  3. Churchill

  4. Mahatma Gandhi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Karl Marx (1818-1883), the German philosopher and economist, aimed to achieve a classless society through communism. His theory proposed eliminating class distinctions by abolishing private ownership of means of production. Hitler advocated fascism, Churchill for liberal democracy, and Gandhi for non-violent self-rule within a framework.

Multiple choice

Who gave the slogan 'Swarajya is my birth right'?

  1. Baba Amte

  2. Mother Terea

  3. Vinoda Bhave

  4. <span style="color:" rgb(34,="" 34,="" 34);="" font-family:="" arial,="" sans-serif;="" font-size:="" small;="" line-height:="" 16px;="">Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Bal Gangadhar Tilak, one of India's prominent freedom fighters, famously declared 'Swarajya is my birthright and I shall have it.' This slogan became a rallying cry for India's independence movement.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the question that follows.

Mahatma Gandhi's full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born on 2nd October, 1869. His father was an officer in-charge of a province in the British Empire. Gandhi ji got married in an early age while he was studying in high school. Later, he went to England to study law. There, he saw discrimination against the blacks and the Indians. He himself had had bitter experiences, so he vowed to throw the English out of his country. For this purpose, he returned to India and started a revolution against the Britishers by rousing the fire of self-respect in his countrymen. He followed the path of non-violence, truth, love and fraternity. He had developed such virtues in his childhood. Moreover, he practised what he preached. His dream came true when India won independence on August 15, 1947 from the cruel clutches of the British. Unfortunately, he was assassinated on 30th January, 1948 by Nathuram Godse when he was on his way to attend a prayer. It was a dark day in the history of India.

Gandhi ji's father was a/an

  1. labour

  2. officer

  3. rustic

  4. saint

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

It is given in the 2nd line of the passage.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the question that follows.

Mahatma Gandhi's full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born on 2nd October, 1869. His father was an officer in-charge of a province in the British Empire. Gandhi ji got married in an early age while he was studying in high school. Later, he went to England to study law. There, he saw discrimination against the blacks and the Indians. He himself had had bitter experiences, so he vowed to throw the English out of his country. For this purpose, he returned to India and started a revolution against the Britishers by rousing the fire of self-respect in his countrymen. He followed the path of non-violence, truth, love and fraternity. He had developed such virtues in his childhood. Moreover, he practised what he preached. His dream came true when India won independence on August 15, 1947 from the cruel clutches of the British. Unfortunately, he was assassinated on 30th January, 1948 by Nathuram Godse when he was on his way to attend a prayer. It was a dark day in the history of India.

Mahatma Gandhi was NOT a man of

  1. virtues

  2. truth

  3. discrimination

  4. dreams

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

It has not been mentioned in the passage that he discriminated against anyone.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the question that follows.

Mahatma Gandhi's full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born on 2nd October, 1869. His father was an officer in-charge of a province in the British Empire. Gandhi ji got married in an early age while he was studying in high school. Later, he went to England to study law. There, he saw discrimination against the blacks and the Indians. He himself had had bitter experiences, so he vowed to throw the English out of his country. For this purpose, he returned to India and started a revolution against the Britishers by rousing the fire of self-respect in his countrymen. He followed the path of non-violence, truth, love and fraternity. He had developed such virtues in his childhood. Moreover, he practised what he preached. His dream came true when India won independence on August 15, 1947 from the cruel clutches of the British. Unfortunately, he was assassinated on 30th January, 1948 by Nathuram Godse when he was on his way to attend a prayer. It was a dark day in the history of India.

What is the meaning of the word 'clutches' as used in the passage?

  1. Connection

  2. Grip

  3. Embrace

  4. Trap

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

It is correct as it means 'grip' here.