Modern History of India

141. When was the first All India Census attempted?

When was the first All India Census attempted?

[amp_mcq option1=”1871″ option2=”1872″ option3=”1881″ option4=”1861″ correct=”option2″]

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The correct answer is B) 1872.
– The first attempt at a comprehensive, albeit non-synchronous, census covering various parts of British India was conducted in 1872.
– This census was not conducted simultaneously across the entire country but consolidated data collected at different times in different regions.
– The first *synchronous* all-India census, meaning it was conducted simultaneously across the country, was carried out in 1881.
– Since 1881, India has conducted a decennial census every 10 years without interruption until the 2021 census was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

142. Which one of the following cities on the banks of Ganges declined in i

Which one of the following cities on the banks of Ganges declined in importance when the railway link to Bombay started operating?

[amp_mcq option1=”Benaras” option2=”Kanpur” option3=”Mirzapur” option4=”Patna” correct=”option3″]

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The correct answer is C) Mirzapur.
– Mirzapur, located on the Ganges, was historically a significant trading hub, serving as a major river port and an inland trade centre, particularly connecting to Central India.
– With the development of railways linking key inland areas directly to the port of Bombay (now Mumbai), trade routes shifted. The reliance on riverine transport via cities like Mirzapur diminished, leading to a relative decline in its commercial importance compared to its peak period.
– Cities like Benaras (Varanasi), Kanpur, and Patna also have historical importance, but Mirzapur’s specific role as a riverine entrepôt whose significance was directly challenged by the rise of rail links to Bombay is a well-documented aspect of colonial economic history in India.

143. Who among the following is the author of the famous partition narrativ

Who among the following is the author of the famous partition narrative, The Other Side of Silence?

[amp_mcq option1=”Amrita Pritam” option2=”Urvashi Butalia” option3=”Saadat Hasan Manto” option4=”Manju Kapur” correct=”option2″]

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The correct answer is B) Urvashi Butalia.
– “The Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Partition of India” is a seminal work of oral history by Urvashi Butalia, first published in 1998.
– The book compiles personal narratives and testimonies of individuals, particularly women, who experienced the Partition of India in 1947, offering a perspective often excluded from mainstream historical accounts.
– Amrita Pritam was a Punjabi writer whose novel “Pinjar” is another powerful narrative on Partition.
– Saadat Hasan Manto was a famous Urdu short story writer whose stories like “Toba Tek Singh” vividly depict the horrors and absurdity of Partition.
– Manju Kapur is a contemporary Indian novelist known for works like “Difficult Daughters,” which also touches upon the Partition era, but she is not the author of “The Other Side of Silence”.

144. Which of the following pairs of years and historical events is correct

Which of the following pairs of years and historical events is correctly matched?

[amp_mcq option1=”1878 : Second Anglo-Afghan War” option2=”1885 : Ilbert Bill Controversy” option3=”1785 : Fox’s India Bill” option4=”1898 : Lord Curzon becomes the Viceroy” correct=”option1″]

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The correct option is A. The year 1878 correctly matches the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
– Option A: The Second Anglo-Afghan War began in November 1878 during the tenure of Viceroy Lord Lytton and concluded in 1880.
– Option B: The Ilbert Bill Controversy occurred in 1883-1884, during the time of Viceroy Lord Ripon (1880-1884). 1885 is notably the year the Indian National Congress was founded.
– Option C: Fox’s India Bill was introduced in the British Parliament in 1783 but did not pass. Pitt’s India Act was passed in 1784. 1785 is not specifically associated with these major India Bills.
– Option D: Lord Curzon became the Viceroy of India in 1899, not 1898. Lord Elgin II was Viceroy from 1894 to 1898.
– The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought due to British concerns over increasing Russian influence in Afghanistan.
– The Ilbert Bill sought to allow Indian judges to preside over cases involving British subjects, which caused significant controversy among the British community in India.
– The regulatory framework for British rule in India was significantly altered by legislation in the late 18th century, including Pitt’s India Act of 1784.
– Lord Curzon’s tenure (1899-1905) is known for various administrative reforms and controversial policies, including the Partition of Bengal.

145. Consider the following historical events in India carefully: 1. The

Consider the following historical events in India carefully:

  • 1. The Indian press failed to protest against the Vernacular Press Act of 1878.
  • 2. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was introduced by Viceroy Lytton against the counsel of his own Law Member.

Which of the above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option2″]

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The correct option is B. Only the second statement is correct.
– Statement 1 is incorrect. The Indian press did not fail to protest against the Vernacular Press Act of 1878; rather, it was met with strong protests from the nationalist press and the public. Many vernacular newspapers opposed the Act vehemently. Some, like ‘Amrita Bazar Patrika’, even changed their language overnight to English to escape the Act’s provisions.
– Statement 2 is correct. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was introduced by Viceroy Lord Lytton. Historical accounts indicate that Lord Lytton’s Law Member, Sir Arthur Hobhouse, had reservations about the severity of the proposed legislation or even opposed it, but it was pushed through.
– The Vernacular Press Act, also known as the ‘Gagging Act’, was passed to better control the vernacular press and prevent seditious writing. It allowed the government to confiscate printing presses and assets of newspapers publishing objectionable material.
– The Act was repealed by Viceroy Lord Ripon in 1882.
– The protest against the Act was a significant step in the development of nationalist consciousness and organization in India.

146. Which one of the following was `not` a feature of the art of painting

Which one of the following was `not` a feature of the art of painting in India in the 19th century?

[amp_mcq option1=”Art was being produced for the open market.” option2=”The artist (Shilpi) became distinct from the artisan (Karigar).” option3=”The technique of oil painting was developed.” option4=”The distinction between elite and popular art widened.” correct=”option3″]

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The 19th century in India saw significant changes in art, largely due to colonial influence, the decline of traditional patronage, and the introduction of new techniques and markets.
A) Art was being produced for the open market: True. With the decline of royal and aristocratic patronage, artists increasingly catered to a wider market, including British residents and the Indian middle class (e.g., Kalighat paintings in Calcutta).
B) The artist (Shilpi) became distinct from the artisan (Karigar): True, or at least the distinction became more pronounced and redefined. The introduction of Western art education emphasizing ‘fine art’ created a hierarchy that separated artists trained in academic styles from traditional craftspeople or artisans.
C) The technique of oil painting was developed: This is incorrect. The technique of oil painting was developed in Europe centuries before the 19th century. In the 19th century, this technique was *introduced* and *popularized* in India, notably by artists like Raja Ravi Varma, but it was not *developed* in India during this period.
D) The distinction between elite and popular art widened: True. The patronage of Western academic art by the elite, contrasting with popular forms like Kalighat paintings catering to a mass urban market, led to a clearer and perhaps wider distinction between elite and popular art.
The statement that was NOT a feature of the art of painting in India in the 19th century is that oil painting was developed there.
The 19th century marked a transition in Indian art under colonial rule, involving shifts in patronage, introduction of Western techniques (like oil painting and perspective), and the emergence of new art schools and markets.
Notable art movements and styles of the 19th century include Company School paintings (hybrid style patronized by the British), Kalighat paintings, and the works of artists like Raja Ravi Varma who blended Indian themes with European techniques.

147. Which one of the following statements about ‘Princely States’ in India

Which one of the following statements about ‘Princely States’ in India is not correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”The British Government declared that States were free to join either India or Pakistan or remain independent.” option2=”The decision to join India or Pakistan or remain independent was left not to the people of Princely States but to the Princely Rulers.” option3=”The Ruler of Travancore first decided to remain independent.” option4=”The State of Travancore finally joined India through a plebiscite.” correct=”option4″]

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Statement A is correct, as the Indian Independence Act of 1947 gave princely states the option to accede to India or Pakistan or remain independent. Statement B is correct; the decision legally rested with the ruler, although popular opinion and geographical location played significant roles. Statement C is correct; the Dewan of Travancore, C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, initially declared the state’s intention to remain independent. Statement D is incorrect; Travancore did not join India through a plebiscite. It acceded to India in July 1947 after negotiations, political pressure, and an assassination attempt on the Dewan. Plebiscites were used in states like Junagadh and a conditional plebiscite was proposed for Jammu and Kashmir, while Hyderabad was integrated through police action.
The integration of princely states into the Indian Union after independence was a complex process involving negotiation, diplomacy, and in some cases, military action or plebiscites. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and V. P. Menon played crucial roles in this process.
By August 15, 1947, most states had signed the Instrument of Accession, joining India. However, a few states, notably Junagadh, Hyderabad, and Jammu & Kashmir, posed significant challenges and their integration involved different methods. Travancore’s initial resistance and eventual accession are also notable events in this history.

148. Which of the following statements about ‘Agency Houses’ is/are correct

Which of the following statements about ‘Agency Houses’ is/are correct?

  • They were important commercial formations in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century India.
  • The operation of managing agencies remained confined to Calcutta.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option1″]

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Statement 1 is correct. Agency Houses were significant commercial entities in colonial India, playing a crucial role in trade, finance, and industry during the late 18th and 19th centuries. Statement 2 is incorrect. While Calcutta was a major hub for Agency Houses due to its importance as a port and administrative centre, their operations and activities extended to other major port cities like Bombay (Mumbai) and Madras (Chennai), and they controlled enterprises like plantations and mines in various parts of the country.
Agency Houses evolved into ‘Managing Agencies’ and became a dominant form of business organization in India under British rule, controlling diverse enterprises from finance and trade to textiles, tea, jute, and mining.
The Managing Agency system concentrated economic power in the hands of a few firms, often foreign-owned, who managed a large number of companies for a fee and commission. The system continued well into independent India and was eventually abolished by the government in the 1970s due to concerns about concentration of wealth and economic power.

149. When was the Kothari Commission appointed by the Government of India t

When was the Kothari Commission appointed by the Government of India to look into the education sector of India?

[amp_mcq option1=”1967″ option2=”1966″ option3=”1965″ option4=”1964″ correct=”option4″]

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The correct answer is D) 1964.
The Kothari Commission, officially known as the Education Commission, was appointed by the Government of India on July 14, 1964.
The commission was chaired by Dr. D. S. Kothari, then Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC). It was the fifth commission in India since independence and the first to deal with education in a comprehensive manner at all levels. The commission submitted its report in June 1966. Its recommendations significantly influenced India’s education policy for decades.

150. Which one of the following artworks was hailed by Sister Nivedita as t

Which one of the following artworks was hailed by Sister Nivedita as the ‘first masterpiece of Indian art’?

[amp_mcq option1=”Bharat mata by Abanindranath Tagore” option2=”Arjuna and Subhadra by Raja Ravi Varma” option3=”Sita in Captivity in Lanka by Abanindranath Tagore” option4=”Sati by Nandalal Bose” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A) Bharat mata by Abanindranath Tagore.
Sister Nivedita, a disciple of Swami Vivekananda and a keen observer and promoter of Indian art, highly praised Abanindranath Tagore’s painting ‘Bharat Mata’. She saw it as the embodiment of the national spirit and hailed it as the ‘first masterpiece of Indian art’.
Abanindranath Tagore painted ‘Bharat Mata’ in 1905 during the Swadeshi movement. The painting depicts a saffron-clad woman as Bharat Mata (Mother India), holding symbolic objects like a book, sheaves of paddy, a rosary, and a piece of white cloth, representing Shiksha (education), Anna (food), Diksha (spiritual knowledge), and Vastra (clothing), respectively. It became an iconic image of the nationalist movement. Raja Ravi Varma’s works, while popular, were influenced by Western techniques and themes. Nandalal Bose was another prominent artist of the Bengal School, but ‘Bharat Mata’ by Abanindranath is specifically associated with Sister Nivedita’s famous praise.
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