2010 Archives

21. Which one of the following was the cause of the Battle of Plassey ?

Which one of the following was the cause of the Battle of Plassey ?

The English levied heavy duties on the goods entering Calcutta

Siraj-ud-Daulah suspected that the English favoured his rivals

The English began to fortify Calcutta

Siraj-ud-Daulah was instigated by the French

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One of the major immediate causes for the conflict between Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, and the British East India Company leading to the Battle of Plassey was the English fortifying their factory in Calcutta (Fort William) without the Nawab’s permission. This act was seen by the Nawab as a blatant disregard for his authority and a threat to his sovereignty. He ordered the fortifications to be demolished, which the English refused, escalating tensions.

– Causes for Plassey included the British misuse of trade privileges (farman), lack of respect for the Nawab’s authority, and competition with the French.
– The fortification of Calcutta without permission was a direct provocation that led Siraj-ud-Daulah to attack and capture Calcutta in 1756.
– The recapture of Calcutta by Clive and the subsequent conspiracy and battle at Plassey followed this event.

Other factors included the shelter given to the political fugitive Krishnadas by the English, and disputes over trade duties, but the fortification issue was a significant immediate trigger for the Nawab’s military action against Calcutta.

22. Which one among the following vaishnava saints was the author of Kirta

Which one among the following vaishnava saints was the author of Kirtana-Ghosha ?

Madhav Kandali

Srimanta Sankardeva

Madhabdeva

Damodardeva

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Kirtana-Ghosha is a major compilation of devotional songs and narratives composed by Srimanta Sankardeva (1449-1568), the founder of the Ekasarana Dharma (Mahapurushiya Dharma) movement in Assam. It is considered a cornerstone of Assamese literature and Vaishnava philosophy in the region.

– Srimanta Sankardeva was a prominent 15th-16th century Assamese saint, scholar, poet, playwright, dancer, musician, actor, and social-religious reformer.
– He propagated devotional Vaishnavism centred around the worship of Krishna.
– His literary works, including Kirtana-Ghosha, contributed significantly to Assamese language and culture.

Madhabdeva (1489-1596) was a principal disciple and successor of Srimanta Sankardeva. While a great poet and saint in his own right, authoring works like Nama Ghosha, Kirtana-Ghosha is primarily attributed to Sankardeva. Madhav Kandali translated the Ramayana into Assamese in the 14th century, preceding Sankardeva. Damodardeva was another Assamese Vaishnava saint and a contemporary of Sankardeva and Madhabdeva.

23. The cow was an important form of wealth in :

The cow was an important form of wealth in :

the Rigvedic age.

the later-Vedic age.

the post-Vedic age.

the Epic age.

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In the Rigvedic age (circa 1500-1000 BCE), society was predominantly pastoral. Cattle, especially cows, were the most important form of wealth. They were a measure of status, used in exchanges, and often the object of raids and conflicts (Gavishti). Land was not as crucial as pastoral wealth and was likely communally owned or less defined in terms of individual property rights compared to later periods.

– Rigvedic economy was primarily pastoral.
– Cattle were the main form of wealth and medium of exchange.
– Terms like ‘Gopati’ (lord of cattle) signified importance, and ‘Gavishti’ (search for cows) referred to conflict.

The Later Vedic period saw a shift towards agriculture and settled life, making land increasingly important, although cattle remained valuable. By the post-Vedic and Epic ages, agriculture and trade were well-established, leading to a more diversified understanding of wealth.

24. Which among the following statements is/are correct ? 1. The Battle

Which among the following statements is/are correct ?

1. The Battle of Plassey was won by the British more by their diplomatic skill than by their strength of arms.
2. The Battle of Buxar was culminated with the Treaty of Allahabad and settlement with the Nawab of Awadh.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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UPSC CAPF – 2010

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Statement 1 is correct. The Battle of Plassey (1757) was not a significant military confrontation in terms of scale or duration. Robert Clive’s victory was largely secured by his secret pact with Mir Jafar, the commander of Siraj-ud-Daulah’s army, and other influential figures like Jagat Seth. Mir Jafar’s troops stood by and did not participate in the battle, ensuring the Nawab’s defeat.
Statement 2 is correct. The Battle of Buxar (1764) was a decisive military victory for the British against the combined forces of Mir Qasim (Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Awadh), and Emperor Shah Alam II. This battle culminated in the Treaty of Allahabad, signed in 1765, which formalized the British control over Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa through the grant of Diwani rights and established relations with the Nawab of Awadh and the Mughal Emperor.

– Battle of Plassey (1757): Marked the beginning of British political influence in India; outcome heavily influenced by conspiracy.
– Battle of Buxar (1764): Decisive military victory; led to the Treaty of Allahabad (1765).
– Treaty of Allahabad: Secured Diwani rights for the EIC in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa; settled relationships with Awadh and the Mughal Emperor.

While Plassey established the British as a dominant force, Buxar solidified their power and laid the administrative foundation for their rule in eastern India.

25. Which one among the following was not a programme adopted by the Con

Which one among the following was *not* a programme adopted by the Congress while launching the non-cooperation movement ?

Surrender of titles and honorary offices, resignation from nominated seats in local bodies, boycott of the official and semi official functions

Withdrawal of children from government schools and colleges

Boycott of elections, foreign goods and government courts

Refusal to pay the revenues to the government

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The refusal to pay revenues to the government was not a core programme of the Non-Cooperation Movement launched in 1920. While localized no-tax campaigns might have occurred, the main thrust of Non-Cooperation involved passive resistance through boycotts and withdrawal from government institutions and structures. Refusal to pay land revenue was a more prominent feature of the later Civil Disobedience Movement, particularly in campaigns like the No-Tax Campaign in Bardoli (1928) and the salt satyagraha followed by revenue boycotts during the main movement (1930-1934).

– The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) aimed at non-violent non-cooperation with the British government.
– Key programs included surrender of titles, boycott of legislative councils, government schools and colleges, courts, and foreign goods.
– Promotion of Swadeshi, Khadi, national education, and Hindu-Muslim unity were constructive aspects.

The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in response to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the Rowlatt Act, and the Khilafat issue. It was withdrawn by Gandhi after the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922.

26. Consider the following statements about the Deccan Riots (1875) : It

Consider the following statements about the Deccan Riots (1875) :

It was a peasant revolt but *not* a movement of the poor tribals or landless peasants.
It was led by the relatively better-off sections of the peasantry who were called Kunvi peasants in Maharashtra.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Statement 1 is correct. The Deccan Riots were primarily a revolt of the Kunvi peasants, who were relatively better off but were heavily indebted to moneylenders. The poorest sections, including landless labourers and tribal groups, were not the main participants or leaders of this specific revolt.
Statement 2 is also correct. The revolt was indeed led by the relatively better-off sections of the peasantry, specifically the Kunvi peasants in Maharashtra, who felt the burden of debt and the rigidity of the revenue system most acutely among the cultivating class.

– The Deccan Riots (1875) were directed against moneylenders, primarily Marwaris and Gujaratis.
– The main participants were substantial cultivating peasants (Kunvis) who used the revolts to burn debt bonds and deeds.
– The Deccan Agriculturists’ Relief Act of 1879 was a direct result of these riots, aimed at protecting peasants from moneylenders.

The riots were triggered by the economic distress caused by falling cotton prices after the American Civil War boom ended, combined with high land revenue demands and the practices of moneylenders.

27. Which among the following was the primary aim of the Swarajya Party ?

Which among the following was the primary aim of the Swarajya Party ?

To cooperate with the government in implementing the reforms of 1919

To gain experience of the functioning of representative government

To wreck the scheme of the reform of 1919 by a policy of uniform, continuous and consistent obstruction

To exhibit displeasure over the failure of non-cooperation movement

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The Swarajya Party was formed by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru in 1923 following disagreements within the Congress over the strategy after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement. While the ‘No-Changers’ bloc advocated for continuing the boycott of legislative councils, the Swarajists (or ‘Pro-Changers’) believed in entering the councils to use them as a platform to challenge the government and obstruct the working of the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms from within. Their primary aim was not cooperation or mere participation, but a policy of consistent obstruction to demonstrate the futility of the reforms and pressure the government for further concessions.

The Swarajists contested elections and achieved significant success in some provinces. Inside the councils, they attempted to move resolutions, vote down government proposals, and expose the flaws of the 1919 Act, fulfilling their aim of obstruction.

The formation of the Swarajya Party represented a split within the Congress, though temporary. While their council entry policy was debated, it did provide a platform for nationalist leaders to engage in political debate and keep the pressure on the colonial administration during a period when mass movements were suspended.

28. Which of the following statements about the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms

Which of the following statements about the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms is/are correct ?

It was approved by King George V.
It made the Central Legislature bicameral.
The Act explicitly mentioned the appointment of three Indian members to the Council.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1, 2 and 3

1 and 2 only

2 only

1 and 3 only

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Statement 1 is correct: The Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) was passed by the British Parliament and received Royal Assent, meaning it was approved by the King George V.
Statement 2 is correct: The Act made the Central Legislature bicameral, consisting of the Council of State (Upper House) and the Indian Legislative Assembly (Lower House).
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Act did increase Indian representation in the Viceroy’s Executive Council and other bodies, but it did not explicitly mandate the appointment of a fixed number like ‘three’ Indian members to *the* Council (referring to a specific council). While Indians were appointed, the Act’s main structural changes were related to diarchy in provinces and the composition of the central legislature, not a specific number of Indians in a particular council.
Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms introduced Diarchy in the provinces, dividing subjects into ‘transferred’ and ‘reserved’. At the centre, it introduced a bicameral legislature but retained significant powers with the Viceroy and his Executive Council, who were not responsible to the legislature.

The Act was based on the recommendations of Edwin Montagu, the Secretary of State for India, and Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy. It was seen as a step towards responsible government, but its provisions were criticized by Indian nationalists as inadequate.

29. Consider the following passage : It urged people to resign from govern

Consider the following passage :
It urged people to resign from government offices, shun the British law-courts, withdraw from schools and colleges and boycott the elections. On the other hand, there was a campaign for using indigenous goods, especially khadi or homespun cloth.
Which movement does the above passage relate to ?

Swadeshi

Non-cooperation

Civil Disobedience

Quit India

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The passage describes key features of the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922), which was launched by Mahatma Gandhi. The program included the surrender of titles and honorary offices, boycott of government schools and colleges, boycott of law courts, boycott of foreign goods (promoting Swadeshi and Khadi), and boycott of elections to the legislative councils. The movement aimed at non-violent resistance to British rule by withdrawing cooperation from the government.

The Non-Cooperation Movement was a major phase of the Indian independence movement. It was a mass movement that saw participation from various sections of society and significantly escalated the struggle against British rule beyond constitutional means.

The Swadeshi movement focused primarily on economic boycott and self-reliance, though it had political undertones. The Civil Disobedience Movement involved breaking specific laws and non-payment of taxes. The Quit India Movement was a call for immediate British withdrawal during World War II. The actions listed in the passage are most specifically aligned with the non-cooperation program of 1920-22.

30. Which one of the following statements about the moderate leaders of th

Which one of the following statements about the moderate leaders of the Indian National Congress is *not* correct ?

They criticized the British for drain of wealth from India

They advocated boycott of foreign goods

They ignored the issue of exploitation of Indian rural people by the zamindars

They comprehended the vital role played by India in the imperial economy of Britain

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UPSC CAPF – 2010

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The moderate leaders of the Indian National Congress (1885-1905) primarily believed in constitutional methods like petitions, prayers, and protests within the framework of British rule. They focused on administrative reforms and representation. Advocating for a boycott of foreign goods was a strategy that gained prominence during the Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908), which was led by the Extremist faction of the Congress, not the early Moderates.

Moderates like Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee, and Gopal Krishna Gokhale, while critical of British policies, trusted in British justice and sought reforms through dialogue and gradual steps. Their main contributions included exposing the economic exploitation of India (drain theory) and demanding increased Indian participation in administration and legislative councils.

The Swadeshi and Boycott movements were characterized by a more assertive and mass-based approach, advocating for self-reliance and active resistance against British economic dominance through the boycott of foreign goods and promotion of indigenous products. This marked a significant shift from the methods of the early Moderates.