History · Civics Polity

Modern Indian History

7,703 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.

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Modern Indian History Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct in reference to the Indian history?

  1. Gandhiji withdrew from the Civil Disobedience Movement to focus on Harijan welfare.
  2. Gandhiji began a fast unto death in Yervada Jail in 1934 for abolition of separate electorates for untouchables.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

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

Statement 1 is correct: Gandhiji withdrew from the Civil Disobedience Movement to focus on Harijan welfare. Statement 2 is incorrect: Gandhiji began a fast unto death in 1932 for abolition of separate electorates for untouchables. Moreover, his fast unto death in Yervada Jail was for the cause of the depressed class, not for that of the untouchables especially.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. Jwaharlal Nehru presided over the Lahore Session of the Congress in 1929.
  2. In this session, J.L. Nehru along with Subhash Chandra Bose moved a resolution to replace the Congress goal of 'dominion status' by 'complete independence'.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Jwaharlal Nehru presided over the Lahore Session of the Congress in December 1929. Statement 2 is incorrect: J.L. Nehru along with Subhash Chandra Bose moved a resolution to replace the Congress goal of 'dominion status' by 'complete independence' at the Calcutta Session of 1928. It was in 1929 (Lahore Session) that the Congress adopted 'complete independence' as its goal.

Multiple choice

Which of the following proposals was/were put forward in the August Offer, 1940?

  1. A post-war body to enact the Constitution.
  2. Dominion Status just after the Second World War.
  3. Expansion of Governor General's Council with representation of the Indians.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 1 and 2

  3. Only 1 and 3

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Proposal number 1 and 3 were put forward in the August Offer that was introduced by Lord Linglithgow in 1940. However, Proposal 2 is incorrect. Instead, the British Government promised 'dominion status' but on an unspecified future date.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct in relation to 'Individual Satyagraha'?

  1. The very reason for confining the movement to individual participation was that the Indian masses, especially the youth, were annoyed by the sudden and illogical withdrawal of Civil Disobedience Movement by Mahatma Gandhi.
  2. In October 1940, Jwaharlal Nehru was chosen as the first Individual Satyagrahi by Gandhiji himself.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. The very reason for confining the movement to individual participation was that neither Gandhiji nor the Congress wished to hamper the War effort of the British government. Statement 2 is incorrect. In October 1940, Vinoba Bhave was chosen as the first Individual Satyagrahi by Gandhiji. Nehru was the IInd satyagrahi.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are true in relation to the Poona Pact?

  1. It was promised that a certain percentage of the seats, which were hitherto reserved for Muslims, would be now allotted to the depressed classes.
  2. The Congress also accepted that adequate representation would be given to the depressed classes in the Civil Services.
  3. The depressed classes represented by Dr. Ambedkar accepted the principle of joint electorates.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2 and 3

  3. Only 1 and 3

  4. Only 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: It was promised that a certain percentage of the seats, which were hitherto reserved for Non-Muslims, would be now allotted to the depressed classes.

  1. The Congress also accepted that adequate representation would be given to the depressed classes in the Civil Services.
  2. The depressed classes represented by Dr. Ambedkar accepted the principle of joint electorates.
Multiple choice

Arrange the following events in the correct chronological order:

  1. Launch of Individual Satyagraha
  2. August Declaration
  3. Cripps Mission
  4. Rajaji Formula

  1. 1 2 3 4

  2. 2 1 3 4

  3. 1 2 4 3

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

The correct chronological order is

  1. August Declaration - 1917
  2. Launch of Individual Satyagraha - 1934
  3. Cripps Mission - 1942
  4. Rajaji Formula - 1944 It should be noted that there is a difference between August Declaration (1917) and August Declaration (1940). 
Multiple choice

Who among the following supported the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat?

  1. Jats
  2. Rohillas of the Doab
  3. Shuja-ud-Daulah
  4. Rajputs

  1. Only 1 and 4

  2. Only 4

  3. Only 2, 3 and 4

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

The Third Battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between the forces of the Maratha Empire on one side and a coalition of the King of Afghanistan, Ahmad Shah Durrani with two Indian Muslim allies—the Rohilla Afghans of the Doab, and Shuja-ud-Daula, the Nawab of Awadh on the other. The Marathas fought under the command of Sadashivrao Bhau. The Jats and Rajputs did not support the Marathas. Their withdrawal from the ensuing battle played a crucial role in its result.

Multiple choice

'Convention of Wadgaon' was signed after the

  1. First Anglo-Maratha War

  2. Second Anglo-Maratha War

  3. Third Anglo-Maratha War

  4. Second Battle of Panipat
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Favouring the cause of Raghunath Rao for Peshwaship after the third battle of Panipat, the English (under Lord Warren Hastings) came in conflict with the Marathas. On being defeated, the British had to sign the humiliating 'Convemtion of Wadgaon'.

Multiple choice

The Battle of Palkhed was fought between

  1. Shahu and Tarabai

  2. Rajaram and Shambhaji

  3. Baji Rao I and Nizam of Hyderabad

  4. Shambhaji and Aurangzeb
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Battle of Palkhed was a land battle that took place on February 28, 1728 at the village of Palkhed, near the city of Nashik, Maharashtra, India between Baji Rao I and the Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad. The Marathas defeated the Nizam. The battle is considered an example of brilliant execution of military strategy.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are true?

  1. Raghunath Rao, also known as Raghoba and Ragho Bharari, was the son of Nana Saheb.
  2. He was Peshwa of the Maratha Empire from 1773 to 1774.
  3. He was instrumental in the downfall of the Peshwa clan.
  4. After the defeat of the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, Raghunathrao seized the Peshwa throne for himself.

  1. Only 1 and 2

  2. Only 1 and 4

  3. Only 2 and 3

  4. Only 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is wrong: Raghunath Rao was the younger brother, not the son, of Nana Saheb. Statement 2 is correct: Raghunath Rao (b. 18 Aug.1734 - d. 11 Dec.1783) was Peshwa of the Maratha Empire from 1773 to 1774. Statement 3 is correct: He was instrumental in the downfall of the Peshwa clan. Statement 4 is wrong: After the defeat of the Marathas in the Third Battle of Panipat and his brother's death in 1761, Raghunath Rao had decided to seize the Peshwa throne for himself, but instead the throne was passed on to Madhavrao Peshwa, Son of Nanasaheb. He was appointed as a regent to the young Peshwa, but tried to interfere with the administration. He soon fell out of favour with the Peshwa, and even tried to conspire against him by joining the Nizam of Hyderabad against the Peshwa.

Multiple choice

The Battle of Vasai was fought between

  1. the Marathas and the Portuguese

  2. the Marathas and the Brtish

  3. the Marathas and the Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad

  4. the Marathas and the Afghans
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Battle of Vasai was fought between the Marathas and the Portuguese rulers of Vasai, a village lying near Mumbai in the present-day state of Maharashtra, India. The Marathas were led by Chimaji Appa, a brother of Peshwa Baji Rao I. Maratha victory in this war was a major achievement of Baji Rao I reign.

Multiple choice

The Battle of Gajendragad was fought between

  1. the Marathas and the British

  2. the Marathas and the Mughals

  3. the Marathas and the Mysore rulers

  4. the Marathas and the Afghans
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Battle of Gajendragad was fought between the Marathas under the command of Tukojirao Holkar (the adopted son of Malharrao Holkar) and Tipu Sultan from March 1786 to March 1787 in which Tipu Sultan was defeated by the Marathas. By the victory in this battle, the border of the Maratha territory extended till Tungabhadra river.