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Q1History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2020
With reference to 'Desher Katha' written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar, consider the following statements:
1. Desher Katha was banned by the British colonial government.
2. It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs.
3. The use of 'desh' by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Desher Katha attacked colonial economic exploitation and was banned by the British. It helped energize Swadeshi propaganda and performance traditions including street plays and folk songs.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Statement 2 is correct but statement 3 is wrong. Deuskar used 'desh' in a wider anti-colonial sense, not merely for the Bengal region alone.
- Option C
Statement 1 is correct but statement 3 is wrong. The text used 'desh' in a broader nationalist sense beyond just Bengal.
- Option D
Statement 3 is incorrect. Deuskar's use of 'desh' was not limited to Bengal but referred to the country as a whole in an anti-colonial context.
Q2History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2019
With reference to Swadeshi Movement, consider the following statements:
1. It contributed to the revival of the indigenous artisan crafts and industries.
2. The National Council of Education was established as a part of Swadeshi Movement.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. The Swadeshi Movement was both an economic boycott and a constructive programme that encouraged indigenous enterprise, revived artisan crafts, and promoted national education including the National Council of Education established in Bengal in 1906.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is correct but statement 2 is also correct. The National Council of Education was indeed established as part of the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal in 1906.
- Option B
Statement 2 is correct but statement 1 is also correct. The Swadeshi Movement significantly boosted indigenous crafts and cottage industries.
- Option D
Both statements are historically accurate. The Swadeshi Movement revived indigenous industries and established the National Council of Education.
Q3History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2018
He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna; stayed in America for some time; and was also elected to the Central Assembly. He was:
- AAurobindo Ghosh
- BBipin Chandra Pal
- CLala Lajpat RaiCorrect
- DMotilal Nehru
Explanation
Correct. Lala Lajpat Rai wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna. He spent time in the United States (1914-1920) and was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Aurobindo Ghosh was known for his writings on nationalism and spirituality but did not write biographies of Mazzini and Garibaldi, nor did he stay in America or serve in the Central Assembly.
- Option B
Bipin Chandra Pal was a journalist and orator but is not associated with biographies of Mazzini and Garibaldi or a stay in America.
- Option D
Motilal Nehru was a prominent lawyer and Congress leader but did not write these biographies or stay in America.
Q4History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2018
In 1920, which of the following changed its name to 'Swarajya Sabha'?
- AAll India Home Rule LeagueCorrect
- BHindu Mahasabha
- CSouth Indian Liberal Federation
- DThe Servants of India Society
Explanation
Correct. Annie Besant's All India Home Rule League was renamed the Swarajya Sabha in 1920 as the nationalist movement shifted toward the demand for complete self-rule.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
The Hindu Mahasabha was a separate organization founded in 1915 and did not change its name to Swarajya Sabha.
- Option C
The South Indian Liberal Federation (Justice Party) retained its identity and did not become the Swarajya Sabha.
- Option D
The Servants of India Society, founded by Gokhale in 1905, continued as an independent social service organization and was not renamed.
Q5History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2017
Consider the following pairs:
1. Radhakanta Deb: Founder of the British Indian Association
2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty: Founder of the Madras Mahajana Sabha
3. Surendranath Banerjee: Founder of the Indian Association
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- A1 only
- B1 and 3 onlyCorrect
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Radhakanta Deb was associated with founding the British Indian Association (1851), and Surendranath Banerjee co-founded the Indian Association (1876). Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty was not the founder of the Madras Mahajana Sabha — it was founded by M. Veeraraghavachariar, P. Ananda Charlu and others in 1884.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Pair 1 is correct but pair 3 is also correct. Surendranath Banerjee co-founded the Indian Association in 1876.
- Option C
Pair 3 is correct but pair 2 is wrong. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty did not found the Madras Mahajana Sabha.
- Option D
Pair 2 is incorrectly matched. The Madras Mahajana Sabha was not founded by Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty.
Q6History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2016
The 'Swadeshi' and 'Boycott' were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the:
- AAgitation against the Partition of BengalCorrect
- BHome Rule Movement
- CNon-Cooperation Movement
- DVisit of the Simon Commission to India
Explanation
Correct. Swadeshi and boycott were first systematically used as methods of political struggle during the anti-partition agitation of Bengal in 1905, making them powerful tools of mass mobilization.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
The Home Rule Movement (1916-1918) focused on demand for self-governance and did not originate the swadeshi and boycott methods.
- Option C
The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) used boycott extensively but these methods had already been pioneered during the anti-partition agitation of 1905.
- Option D
The Simon Commission visited India in 1928, well after swadeshi and boycott had been established as political tools during the 1905 agitation.
Q7History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2016
What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?
- AIntroduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto
- BExtremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British GovernmentCorrect
- CFoundation of Muslim League
- DAurobindo Ghosh's inability to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress
Explanation
Correct. The Surat split reflected a deep strategic divide — extremists like Tilak had lost faith in the moderates' methods of petitions and prayers and wanted more aggressive action including boycott and swadeshi.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
While Lord Minto did introduce separate electorates, this was not the main reason for the Congress split at Surat. The split was primarily an internal ideological divide.
- Option C
The Muslim League was founded in 1906, but its formation was not the cause of the Congress split. The split was over methods and leadership within the Congress itself.
- Option D
The dispute at Surat was not about Aurobindo's candidacy for Congress presidency. It was a fundamental disagreement over moderate versus extremist methods.
Q8History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2015
Which one of the following movements contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'?
- ASwadeshi MovementCorrect
- BQuit India Movement
- CNon-Cooperation Movement
- DCivil Disobedience Movement
Explanation
Correct. The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908) sharpened differences over strategy and pace of agitation, culminating in the Surat split between moderates and extremists in 1907.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
The Quit India Movement (1942) occurred long after the moderate-extremist split and was led by a unified Congress under Gandhi.
- Option C
The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) was launched after the moderates and extremists had already reunited at the Lucknow session of 1916.
- Option D
The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34) took place much later and did not cause the moderate-extremist divide.
Q9History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2015
Consider the following statements:
1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu.
2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 onlyCorrect
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Badruddin Tyabji presided over the third session of the INC in 1887, making him the first Muslim President. Annie Besant, not Sarojini Naidu, was the first woman President of the INC in 1917.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is incorrect. The first woman President of the INC was Annie Besant (1917). Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman to hold that post (1925).
- Option C
Statement 1 is incorrect. Annie Besant was the first woman President of the INC in 1917, not Sarojini Naidu.
- Option D
Statement 2 is correct. Badruddin Tyabji was indeed the first Muslim President of the INC (1887).
Q10History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2015
Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of colonialism in India?
1. Dadabhai Naoroji
2. Subramania Iyer
3. R.C. Dutt
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 only
- B1 and 2 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. Dadabhai Naoroji (Drain Theory, 'Poverty and Un-British Rule'), Subramania Iyer (editor and economic commentator), and R.C. Dutt ('Economic History of India') all systematically criticized colonial exploitation, fiscal injustice, and agrarian distress.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Dadabhai Naoroji was indeed an economic critic, but he was not the only one. Subramania Iyer and R.C. Dutt also criticized colonial economic exploitation.
- Option B
Both Naoroji and Subramania Iyer were economic critics, but R.C. Dutt also made significant contributions through his 'Economic History of India.'
- Option C
Both Iyer and Dutt were economic critics, but Dadabhai Naoroji's 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' was the foundational economic critique of colonialism.
Q11History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2014
The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until:
- AThe First World War when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended
- BKing George V abrogated Curzon's Act at the Royal Darbar in Delhi in 1911Correct
- CGandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience Movement
- DThe Partition of India in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan
Explanation
Correct. The anti-partition agitation succeeded when the British annulled Curzon's partition at the Delhi Durbar in 1911 under King George V.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
The partition was not revoked because of the First World War. It was annulled in 1911 at the Delhi Durbar, before WWI began in 1914.
- Option C
Gandhi's Civil Disobedience Movement began in 1930, nearly two decades after the Bengal partition was already revoked in 1911.
- Option D
The 1905 partition was annulled in 1911. The 1947 partition of India into India and Pakistan was a completely different event.
Q12History & Culture·Indian Nationalism (1885-1919)PYQ 2013
Consider the following statements about Annie Besant:
1. She founded the Home Rule League.
2. She was the founder of the Theosophical Society.
3. She was once the President of the Indian National Congress.
Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.
- A1 only
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 onlyCorrect
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Annie Besant started the Home Rule League in India in 1916 and became Congress President at the Calcutta session in 1917. She did not found the Theosophical Society — it was founded by Blavatsky and Olcott.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is correct but statement 3 is also correct. Annie Besant became Congress President in 1917.
- Option B
Statement 3 is correct but statement 2 is wrong. The Theosophical Society was founded by Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott in 1875, not by Annie Besant.
- Option D
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Theosophical Society was founded by Helena Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott in New York in 1875. Annie Besant joined it later and became its President.