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

Which of the following statements is incorrect about White Revolution?

  1. It is also known as Operation Flood.

  2. The Father of White Revolution is Verghese Kurien.

  3. It has increased the per capita availability to about 253 grams a day.

  4. It was started in 1980s with setting of dairy development programme.

  5. AMUL is a cooperative company started in Gujarat with the initiative of White Revolution.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This statement is incorrect.  

Multiple choice

Mahatma Gandhi proved that only leadership by example can

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

1. Max Weber laid the foundation for my belief that decent and hard-working people with high aspirations make great nations, no matter what the odds are. This was the first piece of the development puzzle for me. Mahatma Gandhi opened my eyes to the importance of good leadership in raising the aspirations of people, making them accept sacrifices to achieve a grand vision, and most importantly, in converting that vision into reality. He unleashed the most powerful instrument for gaining trust - leadership by example. He ate,dressed, travelled and lived like the poor. Walking the talk was extremely important to the Mahatma who understood the pulse of our people like no other Indian leader. The biggest lesson for me from Gandhi's book and life is the importance of leading by example. I realized fairly early that this was the second piece of the development puzzle.

2. Frantz Fanon's book on the colonizer mindset of elites in a post-colonial society opened my eyes to the role of the bureaucracy and the elite in decelerating the progress of the poor and the disenfranchised. The colonial mindset of the 'dark elite in white masks" in a post-colonial society - the mindset that the ruled and the rulers have different sets of rights and responsibilities with a huge asymmetry in favour of the rulers - was indeed the third piece of the development puzzle. I see this attitude of the Indian elite every day in how they send their children to English medium schools while forcing the children of the poor into vernacular schools, extol the virtues of poverty while living in luxury, and glorify the rural life while they sit comfortably in cities.

Source: A Better India, A Better World'

- N.R. Narayana Murthy (Adapted)

  1. gain the trust of the people so that they are willing to make sacrifices for a larger cause

  2. inspire people to eat, dress, travel and live like the poor

  3. mobilise the people of a country against colonial rule

  4. fully and properly understand the pulse of the people of a country
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

According to the passage, Gandhi's leadership by example was 'the most powerful instrument for gaining trust' - trust that enabled people to 'accept sacrifices to achieve a grand vision.' Option B incorrectly focuses on copying Gandhi's lifestyle rather than understanding its purpose. Option C brings in anti-colonial struggle not mentioned in this context. Option D confounds understanding people with gaining their trust for sacrifice.

Multiple choice

Under whose leadership 'Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan' was strengthened?

  1. A.K. Banerjee

  2. Sunder Lal Bahuguna

  3. Amrita Devi Bishnoi

  4. Medha Patkar

  5. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Sunderlal Bahuguna is a noted Garhwali environmentalist, Chipko movement leader and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of Non-violence and Satyagraha. This idea of chipko movement was of his wife and the action was taken by him.

Multiple choice

In the light of events that occurred in the Karachi Session (1931) of Indian National Congress, find the incorrect statement.

  1. The resolutions on Fundamental Rights and National Economic Policy, which were drafted by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, were passed.

  2. Gandhi-Irwin Pact was endorsed by the Congress.

  3. The session was presided over by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

  4. The goal of Poorna Swaraj was reiterated.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The congress adopted a resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy which represented the Party’s Social, Economic and Political programmes. It was later known as Karachi Resolution. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was endorsed by the Congress in the Karachi Session of 1931, that was held from March 26-31. Option (3) is incorrect: The Karachi Session was presided over by Sardar Patel. In the same line, the Congress endorsed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and reiterated the goal of "Poorna Swaraj".

 

Multiple choice

Which one of the following activities was common to both Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and Madan Mohan Malviya?

  1. Opposition to the principles of rule of majority

  2. Supporting the continuance of the British rule in India

  3. Opposition to the policies of Indian National Congress

  4. Establishing education institutions for higher education
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A real turning point in the education came due to the efforts of educationists like Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, who championed the cause of modern learning and supported British efforts to spread it.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Swadeshi Movement of 1905 was retaliation to the partition of Bengal.
  2. Syed Haider Raza carried the movement to the western parts of India.

Which of the above is/are incorrect?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Swadeshi Movement began as a retaliation to the partition of Bengal in 1905 (statement 1 is correct) and continued up to 1908. It was the most successful of the pre-Gandhian movements. Its chief architects were Aurobindo Ghosh, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai. Mass meetings were held all over Bengal where Swadeshi or the use of Indian goods and the boycott of British goods were proclaimed and pledged. In many places, public burning of foreign cloth was organized and shops selling foreign cloth were picketed. Soon the movement spread to other parts of the country - in Poona and Bombay under Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh, in Delhi under Syed Haider Raza (statement 2 is incorrect) and in Madras under Chidambaram Pillai.

Multiple choice

In the context of the events at Bardoli, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. Mahatma Gandhi gave the title of ‘Sardar’ to Vallabhbhai Patel during Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928.
  2. The resolution of suspension of non-cooperation movement was passed at Bardoli.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Under the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel in 1928, the Bardoli Kisan Satyagraha proved to be the best example of the practice of Gandhian principle of non-violence as well as a milestone of the way of India’s freedom movement.  Statement 1. It is incorrect because the women of Bardoli called him Sardar for the first time, which in Gujarati which means Chief or Leader.  Statement 2. It is correct because in 1920, the Indian National Congress under Gandhi's leadership launched the non-cooperation movement. Millions of Indians revolted against the British, boycotting the courts, government services, schools and disavowing titles, pensions and British clothes and goods. In 1922, however, a mob of protestors killed some policemen in Chauri Chaura. Fearing a slide into violence and anarchy, Gandhi called for the struggle to be suspended from Bardoli, from where he had planned to launch the Civil Disobedience Movement if this incident had not occurred.

Multiple choice

From where did Gandhiji develop the technique of Satyagraha?

  1. South Africa

  2. Chauri Chaura

  3. Bardoli

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

Gandhiji first developed and experimented with Satyagraha (nonviolent resistance) in South Africa during 1893-1914 while fighting racial discrimination against Indians. He later perfected and applied this technique in India's independence movement. Chauri Chaura, Bardoli, and Sabarmati were all in India and came later.

Multiple choice

Who among the following estimated Indian National Income and criticised the constant drain of wealth from India to England?

  1. Gandhiji

  2. Gokhale

  3. Dadabhai Naoroji

  4. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Dadabhai Naoroji, known as the 'Grand Old Man of India', was the first to systematically calculate India's national income and expose the 'Drain Theory' in his work 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'. He proved how Britain was systematically draining wealth from India.

Multiple choice

In the session held at which place did the Indian National Congress declare 'Complete Independence' as its goal?

  1. Madras in 1927

  2. Calcutta in 1928

  3. Lahore in 1929

  4. Allahabad in 1930
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Indian National Congress declared 'Complete Independence' (Purna Swaraj) as its official goal at the Lahore session in December 1929 under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru. This marked a decisive shift from the earlier demand of Dominion Status to complete independence from British rule. The resolution was adopted on December 31, 1929, and January 26, 1930 was declared as Independence Day, leading to the Civil Disobedience Movement under Gandhi's leadership.