Welcome to “Set 16” of our “Indian History – UPSC MCQ Series”! This set is designed to test your in-depth understanding of crucial periods in Indian history, from the emergence of organized nationalism to the shaping of independent India. Delve into questions on the early political associations, the foundational years of the Indian National Congress, and the rise of revolutionary nationalism. Explore the transformative impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s early satyagrahas and the Non-Cooperation Movement. The series then shifts focus to the momentous events leading to independence, including key sessions of the INC, the contributions of towering figures like B.R. Ambedkar, and the intricate details of the partition plans. Finally, this set covers the crucial initial years of independent India, focusing on constitution-making, significant amendments, major socio-economic policies, and landmark legal judgments. Prepare to deepen your knowledge of India’s journey through its modern history.
Set 16
751. The first organized political expression of Indian nationalism came through:
A. Revolt of 1857
B. Formation of Indian Association
C. Establishment of Indian National Congress
D. Swadeshi Movement
Answer: B
Explanation: While the Revolt of 1857 was a major uprising, it lacked a unified nationalist political goal. The Indian Association, founded in Calcutta in 1876 by Surendranath Banerjee and Anandamohan Bose, was one of the earliest and most influential organized political bodies that aimed to create a strong public opinion, promote political education, and unify Indians on a common political program. It actively campaigned on issues like the Civil Service examinations and the Vernacular Press Act, providing an early organized political expression of Indian nationalism before the formation of the INC.
752. The first session of the Indian National Congress (1885) was attended by:
A. 72 delegates
B. 56 delegates
C. 104 delegates
D. 87 delegates
Answer: A
Explanation: The inaugural session of the Indian National Congress was held in Bombay from December 28 to 31, 1885, at the Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit Pathshala. It was attended by 72 delegates from various parts of India.
753. Who was called the “Grand Old Man of India”?
A. Surendranath Banerjee
B. Dadabhai Naoroji
C. Pherozeshah Mehta
D. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Answer: B
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917) was a prominent Parsi intellectual, educator, and politician, widely revered as the “Grand Old Man of India” for his significant contributions to the Indian nationalist movement, including his pioneering work on the “Drain of Wealth” theory.
754. The journal “Indian Sociologist” was published by:
A. Bhikaji Cama
B. Shyamji Krishna Verma
C. Savarkar
D. Aurobindo Ghosh
Answer: B
Explanation: The journal “Indian Sociologist” was founded and published by Shyamji Krishna Verma from London, starting in 1905. It served as a platform for radical nationalist views and was instrumental in advocating for India’s independence from British rule.
755. The famous revolutionary slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” was first used in:
A. Calcutta Session, 1906
B. Home Rule Movement
C. Surat Split
D. Lucknow Pact
Answer: B
Explanation: The iconic slogan, “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it!” was popularized by Bal Gangadhar Tilak during the Home Rule Movement (1916). He gave this slogan to rally support for self-rule (Swaraj) within the British Empire.
756. Ghadar Party was primarily active among Indians in:
A. Canada and USA
B. England and France
C. East Africa
D. Burma and Thailand
Answer: A
Explanation: The Ghadar Party was formed in 1913 by Indian expatriates, largely Punjabi immigrants, who were primarily based in Canada and the USA (especially San Francisco). Its aim was to overthrow British rule in India through armed revolution.
757. The Berlin Committee (Indian Independence Committee) was founded during:
A. Swadeshi Movement
B. Home Rule Movement
C. World War I
D. World War II
Answer: C
Explanation: The Berlin Committee (also known as the Indian Independence Committee) was founded in 1914-1915 in Berlin, Germany, during World War I. It was established by Indian revolutionaries like Virendranath Chattopadhyay, Lala Hardayal, and others, with support from the German government, to promote the cause of Indian independence.
758. The Kheda Satyagraha (1918) was related to:
A. Forest rights
B. Tax relief during famine
C. Indigo plantations
D. Land resettlement
Answer: B
Explanation: The Kheda Satyagraha (1918), led by Mahatma Gandhi in the Kheda district of Gujarat, was a peasant movement demanding tax relief during a famine. The peasants were facing crop failure due to drought but the government insisted on full land revenue collection.
759. Gandhiji’s first imprisonment in India occurred in:
A. Champaran
B. Kheda
C. Ahmedabad
D. South Africa
Answer: C
Explanation: While Mahatma Gandhi faced legal actions and was briefly ordered to leave during the Champaran Satyagraha (1917), his first significant and formal imprisonment in India resulting from a conviction for his political activities was in March 1922 in Ahmedabad. He was arrested on charges of sedition for articles published in ‘Young India’ and sentenced to six years’ imprisonment (though he was released earlier due to health reasons). His earlier arrest during the Rowlatt Satyagraha in 1919 was a brief detention near Palwal.
760. The Chauri Chaura incident (1922) resulted in:
A. The arrest of Gandhi
B. Gandhi going underground
C. Withdrawal of Non-Cooperation Movement
D. A split in Congress
Answer: C
Explanation: The Chauri Chaura incident, which occurred on February 4, 1922, near Gorakhpur, where a large group of protestors clashed with police, leading to the burning of a police station and the death of several policemen. This act of violence deeply disturbed Mahatma Gandhi, who believed in non-violence, and it directly led to his decision to immediately withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement.
761. The book “India Wins Freedom” was written by:
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Rajendra Prasad
C. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
D. Sardar Patel
Answer: C
Explanation: The autobiographical narrative “India Wins Freedom” was written by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, a prominent leader of the Indian National Congress and independent India’s first Minister of Education. The book provides an inside account of the Indian independence movement and the Partition.
762. The Congress boycotted the Simon Commission because:
A. It recommended partition
B. It had no Indian members
C. It was against civil liberties
D. It dissolved the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
Answer: B
Explanation: The Indian National Congress, along with other Indian political parties, decided to boycott the Simon Commission (1927) because it was an all-white commission, with no Indian members appointed to review the working of the Government of India Act of 1919 and recommend further constitutional reforms for India. Indians viewed this as a direct insult to their self-respect and capacity for self-governance.
763. The “Young India” and “Harijan” were newspapers started by:
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Annie Besant
C. Mahatma Gandhi
D. Sardar Patel
Answer: C
Explanation: Both “Young India” (an English weekly) and “Harijan” (a weekly published in English, Hindi, and Gujarati) were influential newspapers started by Mahatma Gandhi. He used these publications to propagate his views on non-violence, Swaraj, social reform, and other aspects of the freedom struggle.
764. The “Purna Swaraj” resolution was passed at which INC session?
A. Calcutta, 1928
B. Lahore, 1929
C. Karachi, 1931
D. Lucknow, 1916
Answer: B
Explanation: The historic “Purna Swaraj” (Complete Independence) resolution was passed at the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in 1929. Presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, this session declared complete independence as the ultimate goal of the Indian nationalist movement, and January 26 was designated as Independence Day.
765. The Salt March ended at:
A. Surat
B. Porbandar
C. Dandi
D. Bardoli
Answer: C
Explanation: The famous Salt March (Dandi March), which began on March 12, 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram, culminated on April 6, 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi reached the coastal village of Dandi and ceremonially broke the salt law, thus initiating the Civil Disobedience Movement.
766. The Dharasana Salt Raid was led by:
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Mahatma Gandhi
C. Abbas Tyabji
D. Sardar Patel
Answer: C
Explanation: After Mahatma Gandhi’s arrest during the Salt Satyagraha, the leadership of the planned raid on the Dharasana Salt Works was taken over by Abbas Tyabji, a veteran Gandhian. Following Tyabji’s arrest, Sarojini Naidu led the satyagrahis.
767. The Karachi Session (1931) is significant for:
A. Demanding complete independence
B. Declaration of Fundamental Rights
C. Gandhi-Irwin Pact
D. Boycott of Simon Commission
Answer: B
Explanation: The Karachi Session of the INC in 1931, presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is highly significant for adopting resolutions on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy. This was the first time the Congress laid down what Swaraj would mean for the masses, going beyond mere political freedom. It also endorsed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
768. B.R. Ambedkar led which political party during colonial India?
A. Scheduled Castes Federation
B. Depressed Classes League
C. Swaraj Party
D. Harijan Sabha
Answer: A
Explanation: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar founded and led several organizations to champion the rights of the depressed classes. In 1942, he founded the Scheduled Castes Federation (SCF) as an all-India political party, succeeding his earlier Independent Labour Party. The Depressed Classes League was formed by M.C. Rajah.
769. The Poona Pact (1932) was a compromise on:
A. Communal electorates
B. Separate electorate for Dalits
C. Provincial autonomy
D. Press freedom
Answer: B
Explanation: The Poona Pact, signed between Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar in 1932, was a compromise agreement regarding the separate electorates for Dalits (then called Depressed Classes). While Ambedkar had initially secured separate electorates in the Communal Award, Gandhi opposed it with a fast unto death. The pact ultimately replaced separate electorates with reserved seats for Dalits within the general electorate, providing more seats than initially offered by the Communal Award.
770. The Indian National Army (INA) trials were held at:
A. Delhi
B. Bombay
C. Calcutta
D. Madras
Answer: A
Explanation: The famous Indian National Army (INA) trials, also known as the Red Fort Trials, were held at the Red Fort in Delhi in 1945-1946. These trials involved several officers of the INA (formed by Subhas Chandra Bose), charged with treason by the British Indian government.
771. Who presided over the 1940 Ramgarh session of INC where Gandhi’s leadership was reaffirmed?
A. Abul Kalam Azad
B. Subhas Chandra Bose
C. Maulana Azad
D. Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: C
Explanation: The 1940 Ramgarh session of the Indian National Congress was presided over by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. It was during this session that the Congress reaffirmed its faith in Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership and decided to launch a Civil Disobedience Movement if their demands for a national government were not met. (Note: Abul Kalam Azad and Maulana Azad refer to the same person).
772. The term “Quit India” was coined by:
A. Gandhi
B. Yusuf Meherally
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: B
Explanation: While Mahatma Gandhi gave the call for the “Quit India Movement,” the actual slogan “Quit India” was coined by a relatively lesser-known socialist and trade union leader, Yusuf Meherally. He also coined the slogan “Simon Go Back.”
773. Cabinet Mission Plan recommended:
A. Partition of India
B. Grouping of provinces
C. Abolition of monarchy
D. Federal state under British Crown
Answer: B
Explanation: The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) aimed to preserve a united India and recommended a three-tiered federal structure with a weak center and grouping of provinces into three sections (A, B, and C) for administrative and legislative purposes. It explicitly rejected the demand for the partition of India.
774. The Mountbatten Plan was announced on:
A. 3 June 1947
B. 15 August 1947
C. 26 January 1947
D. 12 June 1947
Answer: A
Explanation: The Mountbatten Plan, which outlined the partition of British India into India and Pakistan and the transfer of power, was officially announced on June 3, 1947. It is also commonly referred to as the “June 3rd Plan.”
775. The last Viceroy of British India was:
A. Lord Linlithgow
B. Lord Mountbatten
C. Lord Wavell
D. Lord Irwin
Answer: B
Explanation: Lord Louis Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of British India, serving from March 1947 to August 1947. After India’s independence, he continued as the first Governor-General of independent India.
776. Who was President of the Constituent Assembly?
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
C. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D. B.R. Ambedkar
Answer: B
Explanation: While Dr. Sachchidananda Sinha was the temporary president for the first few days, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the permanent President of the Constituent Assembly on December 11, 1946. He guided the assembly through its monumental task of drafting the Indian Constitution.
777. The Objective Resolution in the Constituent Assembly was moved by:
A. Sardar Patel
B. B.R. Ambedkar
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. K.M. Munshi
Answer: C
Explanation: The historic Objective Resolution, outlining the guiding principles and philosophy for the Indian Constitution, was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly on December 13, 1946. It later formed the basis of the Preamble to the Constitution.
778. The Indian Constitution adopted the idea of Directive Principles from:
A. USA
B. UK
C. Ireland
D. Russia
Answer: C
Explanation: The concept of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) in the Indian Constitution (Part IV) was borrowed from the Constitution of Ireland (specifically, the Irish Constitution of 1937, which had borrowed them from the Spanish Constitution).
779. Article 370 gave special status to:
A. Jammu and Kashmir
B. Nagaland
C. Mizoram
D. Sikkim
Answer: A
Explanation: Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which has since been effectively abrogated/modified in 2019, granted a special autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir within the Indian Union.
780. The first law minister of independent India was:
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Sardar Patel
C. Rajendra Prasad
D. B.R. Ambedkar
Answer: D
Explanation: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, widely regarded as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, served as the first Law Minister of independent India in Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet.
781. The Indian Republic was formally established on:
A. 15 August 1947
B. 26 January 1949
C. 26 January 1950
D. 15 August 1950
Answer: C
Explanation: While India gained independence on August 15, 1947, it became a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic with the adoption and enforcement of its Constitution on January 26, 1950. This date is celebrated as Republic Day.
782. Who was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India?
A. Rajendra Prasad
B. B.R. Ambedkar
C. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D. Morarji Desai
Answer: C
Explanation: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, also known as the “Iron Man of India,” served as the first Deputy Prime Minister of India as well as the Minister of Home Affairs in Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet from 1947 until his death in 1950.
783. The first amendment to the Indian Constitution was made in:
A. 1951
B. 1952
C. 1953
D. 1954
Answer: A
Explanation: The First Amendment Act to the Indian Constitution was passed in 1951. It introduced significant changes, including adding the Ninth Schedule to protect land reform laws from judicial review, and placed reasonable restrictions on the fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression.
784. The 16th Amendment was related to:
A. Anti-defection
B. Curbing secessionist activities
C. Right to property
D. Panchayati Raj
Answer: B
Explanation: The 16th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1963, empowered the Parliament to impose reasonable restrictions on the fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression, assembly, and association, in the interests of the “sovereignty and integrity of India.” This was primarily aimed at curbing secessionist activities.
785. The Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog in:
A. 2013
B. 2014
C. 2015
D. 2016
Answer: C
Explanation: The Planning Commission, established in 1950, was replaced by NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) on January 1, 2015, by the Narendra Modi government.
786. The Emergency of 1975 was declared under:
A. Article 352
B. Article 356
C. Article 360
D. Article 365
Answer: A
Explanation: The National Emergency imposed in India on June 25, 1975, by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was declared under Article 352 of the Constitution, which provides for a proclamation of emergency due to “war, external aggression or armed rebellion” (originally “internal disturbance” before the 44th Amendment).
787. The 42nd Constitutional Amendment (1976) is also called the:
A. Gandhian Amendment
B. Mini-Constitution
C. Judicial Amendment
D. Political Reform Act
Answer: B
Explanation: The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, passed during the Emergency, made extensive changes to the Indian Constitution, affecting various parts including the Preamble, Fundamental Duties, and parliamentary powers. Due to its sweeping nature and the large number of changes it introduced, it is often referred to as the “Mini-Constitution.”
788. The slogan “Total Revolution” was given by:
A. Ram Manohar Lohia
B. Jayaprakash Narayan
C. Morarji Desai
D. Charan Singh
Answer: B
Explanation: The slogan “Total Revolution” (Sampoorna Kranti) was coined and propagated by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), a prominent socialist leader, during the Bihar Movement in the mid-1970s. It called for a comprehensive transformation of society, politics, and economy.
789. The first woman President of India was:
A. Indira Gandhi
B. Pratibha Patil
C. Sarojini Naidu
D. Meira Kumar
Answer: B
Explanation: Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil served as the 12th President of India from 2007 to 2012, making her the first woman to hold the highest constitutional office in India.
790. The Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) is related to:
A. Right to Education
B. Basic structure doctrine
C. Religious conversion
D. Reservation policy
Answer: B
Explanation: The Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala case (1973) is a landmark judgment by the Supreme Court of India. It established the “Basic Structure Doctrine” of the Indian Constitution, holding that Parliament has the power to amend any part of the Constitution, but it cannot alter its “basic structure” or fundamental features.
791. The Right to Property was removed from Fundamental Rights by:
A. 24th Amendment
B. 42nd Amendment
C. 44th Amendment
D. 52nd Amendment
Answer: C
Explanation: The Right to Property (Article 31 and 19(1)(f)) was removed from the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1978. It was made a legal right under Article 300A in Part XII of the Constitution.
792. The RTI Act (2005) is related to:
A. Article 19
B. Article 14
C. Article 21A
D. Article 25
Answer: A
Explanation: The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, is considered to be a practical realization of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression, guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. An informed citizenry is crucial for the effective exercise of this fundamental right.
793. Who gave the term “Unity in Diversity” about India?
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Sardar Patel
C. Indira Gandhi
D. Rajendra Prasad
Answer: A
Explanation: The evocative phrase “Unity in Diversity” to describe India’s unique cultural, linguistic, and religious tapestry was famously coined by Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, in his book “The Discovery of India.”
794. The Operation Flood movement was related to:
A. Drought relief
B. White Revolution
C. Irrigation reform
D. Poultry exports
Answer: B
Explanation: Operation Flood was a massive rural development program launched in 1970 that transformed India from a milk-deficient nation into the world’s largest milk producer. It is popularly known as the “White Revolution” and was spearheaded by Verghese Kurien.
795. The first nuclear test of India was conducted in:
A. 1971
B. 1974
C. 1998
D. 1999
Answer: B
Explanation: India conducted its first peaceful nuclear explosion (PNE), codenamed “Smiling Buddha,” on May 18, 1974, at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan. This marked India’s entry into the exclusive club of nuclear powers.
796. The Panchsheel Agreement (1954) was signed between:
A. India and Pakistan
B. India and USSR
C. India and China
D. India and Nepal
Answer: C
Explanation: The Panchsheel Agreement (Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence) was a treaty signed between India and China on April 29, 1954. The five principles were: mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
797. The term “Hindutva” was coined by:
A. Aurobindo
B. Dayananda
C. Savarkar
D. Tilak
Answer: C
Explanation: The term “Hindutva” (Hinduness) was coined and popularized by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in his 1923 book “Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?”. It articulates a political ideology based on the concept of a collective Hindu identity.
798. The first state to be bifurcated after 2000 was:
A. Uttarakhand
B. Jharkhand
C. Chhattisgarh
D. Telangana
Answer: B
Explanation: Three new states were created in November 2000 through the bifurcation of existing states: Chhattisgarh (from Madhya Pradesh on Nov 1, 2000), Uttarakhand (from Uttar Pradesh on Nov 9, 2000), and Jharkhand (from Bihar on Nov 15, 2000). Among the options listed, Jharkhand was one of the first states created in the early 2000s through bifurcation. (Note: While Chhattisgarh was formed earlier in November 2000, Jharkhand is often cited as a significant example of post-2000 state bifurcation).
799. The National Flag was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on:
A. 15 August 1947
B. 22 July 1947
C. 26 January 1950
D. 26 November 1949
Answer: B
Explanation: The present design of the National Flag of India (Tiranga) was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on July 22, 1947, just a few weeks before India’s independence.
800. The National Emblem of India is taken from:
A. Ashokan Pillar at Sanchi
B. Lion Capital at Sarnath
C. Bull Capital at Rampurva
D. Bharhut Stupa
Answer: B
Explanation: The National Emblem of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It features four Asiatic lions standing back to back, symbolizing power, courage, pride, and confidence, resting on an abacus with sculptures of a bull, a horse, an elephant, and a lion.