Modern History of India

1. Who among the following, first established the Modern Postal System in

Who among the following, first established the Modern Postal System in India during 1766?

Warren Hastings
Lord Clive
Sir John Macpherson
Lord Auckland
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The correct answer is Warren Hastings.
Warren Hastings, who served as the first Governor of Bengal from 1772 to 1785, established the first organized postal system in India in 1774, primarily for official use. While sources might vary slightly on the precise date of initial establishment attempts, Hastings is credited with setting up a more modern and regular system. The year 1766 is sometimes cited for earlier, less formalized postal efforts, but Warren Hastings significantly developed the structure.
Lord Clive was instrumental in establishing British power in Bengal after the Battle of Plassey (1757) and his tenure was earlier than the formal postal system setup credited to Hastings. Sir John Macpherson briefly served as acting Governor-General after Hastings. Lord Auckland was a Governor-General much later, in the 1830s.

2. ‘Ministry of Law and Justice’ being the oldest limb of the Government

‘Ministry of Law and Justice’ being the oldest limb of the Government of India, was the outcome of which Charter Act enacted by the British Parliament ?

The Charter Act, 1793
The Charter Act, 1813
The Charter Act, 1833
The Charter Act, 1853
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The Charter Act of 1833 was instrumental in laying the foundation for a structured legislative framework in British India and can be seen as giving rise to the need for a dedicated legal department or limb of the Government, preceding the modern Ministry of Law and Justice.
– The Charter Act of 1833 centralized the administration of British India.
– It appointed a Law Member (initially without the power to vote) to the Governor-General’s Council, tasked with advising on legislative matters and initiating the codification of Indian laws (leading to the First Law Commission chaired by Lord Macaulay).
– This established a distinct function and structure for dealing with legal and legislative affairs within the government, which evolved over time into the Ministry of Law and Justice, considered one of the oldest government departments.
Earlier acts like the Charter Acts of 1793 and 1813 dealt with aspects of administration and trade, but the 1833 Act significantly altered the governance structure and formally introduced a dedicated legislative expertise within the council, making it a pivotal point for the origin of the legislative and legal wing of the government in India.

3. Consider the following statements about the ‘Quit India’ Resolution of

Consider the following statements about the ‘Quit India’ Resolution of 1942 :

  • 1. Its text was carefully drafted to make it clear that it put India among the countries at war with the Axis Powers and fully aligned with the Allied Powers (United Nations).
  • 2. It called upon Britain to immediately hand over power to an Indian Provisional Government composed of representatives of all sections of the population.

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 incorrect, but statement 2 is correct.
The Quit India Resolution, passed in August 1942, was a decisive call by the Indian National Congress for immediate independence from British rule during World War II.
The Quit India Resolution (also known as the ‘Quit India’ or ‘Bharat Chhodo’ Resolution) demanded an immediate end to British rule in India. It called for the withdrawal of British power and the formation of a provisional government representing all sections of the Indian population. Far from aligning India with the Allied Powers under British control, the resolution essentially gave an ultimatum to the British, stating that India would not participate in the war effort under colonial subjugation. The resolution did not explicitly align India with the Allied Powers; rather, it emphasized that a free India would be able to defend itself better against fascism and imperialism.

4. Consider the following statements about the emergence of national cons

Consider the following statements about the emergence of national conscious-ness in India between the 18th and 19th centuries :

  • 1. The spread of printing press and education, and inflow of modern ideas helped Indian regeneration.
  • 2. The reform movements helped develop a sense of national unity among the people.

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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Both statement 1 and statement 2 are correct.
The emergence of national consciousness in India during the 18th and 19th centuries was a complex process influenced by various factors, including socio-religious reforms, the spread of modern education and ideas, and improvements in communication.
The printing press facilitated the dissemination of nationalist ideas and enabled communication among different regions. Education exposed Indians to Western political thought, including concepts like liberty, equality, and nationalism. The socio-religious reform movements, while primarily focused on social evils, also fostered a sense of pride in Indian heritage, challenged traditional divisions, and laid the groundwork for collective identity, contributing to national unity.

5. Who among the following was involved in the formation of the Bombay Pr

Who among the following was involved in the formation of the Bombay Presidency Association in 1885?

Pherozeshah Mehta
Dadabhai Naoroji
Allan Octavian Hume
M. G. Ranade
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Pherozeshah Mehta was one of the prominent figures involved in the formation of the Bombay Presidency Association in 1885.
The Bombay Presidency Association was founded in 1885 by leading intellectuals of Bombay such as Pherozeshah Mehta, K. T. Telang, and Badruddin Tyabji. It aimed to represent the interests of the people of the Bombay Presidency and was a significant regional political organization before the Indian National Congress was founded later the same year.
Dadabhai Naoroji was a key figure in the Indian national movement but was more associated with organizations like the East India Association and later the Indian National Congress. Allan Octavian Hume was the founder of the Indian National Congress (INC). M. G. Ranade was a prominent leader from Pune, closely associated with the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha. While all these individuals were national leaders, Pherozeshah Mehta was a direct founder of the Bombay Presidency Association.

6. Who among the following directed the film ‘Subarnarekha’ made on the p

Who among the following directed the film ‘Subarnarekha’ made on the partition of India ?

Satyajit Ray
Mrinal Sen
Bimal Roy
Ritwik Ghatak
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The film ‘Subarnarekha’ (1965) is a critically acclaimed Bengali film directed by Ritwik Ghatak. It is the third film in his trilogy dealing with the trauma of the Partition of India, following ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ (1960) and ‘Komal Gandhar’ (1961).
– Ritwik Ghatak was a prominent Indian filmmaker and scriptwriter, known for his socially relevant films often dealing with themes of Partition and displacement.
– ‘Subarnarekha’ is considered one of his masterpieces and a significant work in Indian cinema.
– The other directors listed (Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Bimal Roy) are also renowned figures in Indian cinema but are not the directors of ‘Subarnarekha’. Satyajit Ray directed the Apu Trilogy (‘Pather Panchali’, ‘Aparajito’, ‘Apur Sansar’), Mrinal Sen directed films like ‘Bhuvan Shome’ and ‘Akaler Sandhane’, and Bimal Roy directed films like ‘Do Bigha Zamin’ and ‘Devdas’.
The Partition of India had a profound impact on the social and cultural landscape, and it has been a recurring theme in Indian literature and cinema, explored by various artists including Ritwik Ghatak, who himself was a refugee.

7. Damin-i-Koh is essentially associated with which of the following trib

Damin-i-Koh is essentially associated with which of the following tribes of India ?

Lushai
Khasi
Toda
Santhal
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Damin-i-Koh is essentially associated with the Santhal tribe of India.
Damin-i-Koh (literally ‘skirt of the hills’) was a tract of land in the Rajmahal Hills area of present-day Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The British government demarcated this area in the early 19th century and encouraged the Santhals to settle there by offering land and other incentives. This was part of a policy to bring land under cultivation and control the turbulent Paharia tribes inhabiting the hills. However, exploitation by landlords, moneylenders, and officials led to the Santhal rebellion in 1855-56.

8. Who among the following headed the Indian States Committee formed in t

Who among the following headed the Indian States Committee formed in the year 1928 ?

Motilal Nehru
Sir Harcourt Butler
Ian Copland
M.A. Jinnah
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The Indian States Committee was appointed by the British government in 1927 to investigate the relationship between the Paramount Power (the British Crown) and the Princely States of India, and to suggest measures for their economic and financial relations. It was headed by Sir Harcourt Butler and is therefore famously known as the Butler Committee (1928 is the year it submitted its report, having been appointed in 1927).
– The committee’s main task was to clarify the complex relationship and obligations between the British Crown and the rulers of the Indian Princely States, who were not directly under British Indian administration.
– Its report was submitted in 1928.
– The committee emphasized that paramountcy must remain supreme and that the states should not be transferred without their agreement to a new government in British India responsible to an Indian legislature.
Motilal Nehru chaired the committee that produced the ‘Nehru Report’ in 1928, which drafted a dominion status constitution for India. M.A. Jinnah was a prominent leader of the Muslim League. Ian Copland is a modern historian who has written extensively on the princely states.

9. At the Second Round Table Conference, who among the following led the

At the Second Round Table Conference, who among the following led the FICCI delegation ?

J.R.D. Tata
Homi Mody
J.L. Bajaj
G.D. Birla and Thakurdas
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The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) was represented at the Second Round Table Conference held in London in 1931. Prominent Indian industrialists G.D. Birla and Sir Purshottamdas Thakurdas were the main delegates representing FICCI at this conference, advocating for Indian commercial interests.
– The Round Table Conferences were a series of conferences held by the British government and Indian political figures to discuss constitutional reforms in India.
– The Second Round Table Conference was attended by Mahatma Gandhi as the sole representative of the Indian National Congress, alongside delegates from various other Indian communities, princely states, and interests, including business.
– FICCI played a significant role in representing the views of Indian capitalists during the freedom struggle.
Ghanshyam Das Birla was a leading businessman and a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Sir Purshottamdas Thakurdas was also a prominent figure in the Indian business community and played a key role in FICCI.

10. Which one of the following was the main purpose of the Lottery Committ

Which one of the following was the main purpose of the Lottery Committee (1817) formed in Calcutta ?

Regulating Club Lotteries
Drawing lots for military recruitment
Organizing town planning
Checking street gambling
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The Lottery Committee was formed in Calcutta in 1817 with the specific purpose of raising funds through public lotteries to finance public works and urban development projects in the city. The funds collected were utilized for town planning activities, including laying roads, improving drainage, constructing public buildings, and enhancing civic amenities.
– The committee was established by the British authorities.
– Funds were generated through a lottery system patronized by both European and Indian residents.
– The resources were directed towards improving the infrastructure and layout of Calcutta.
Prominent citizens, including both Europeans and Indians, were part of the Lottery Committee. Its work contributed significantly to the beautification and modernization of Calcutta in the early 19th century.
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