Modern History of India

11. Which one of the following Indian cities was labelled as ‘Urbs Prima i

Which one of the following Indian cities was labelled as ‘Urbs Prima in Indis’ after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and its links with the world economy ?

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Bombay
Madras
Calcutta
Surat
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The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 drastically reduced the sea route distance between Europe and India, significantly boosting trade. Bombay (now Mumbai), located on the west coast, became the primary port city and commercial hub benefiting from this increased connectivity with Europe and the global economy. Its transformation and rapid growth led to it being labelled as ‘Urbs Prima in Indis’, meaning ‘First City in India’.
– The Suez Canal facilitated quicker and more direct trade routes between Britain and India.
– Bombay’s strategic location on the west coast made it the principal beneficiary of this trade boost.
– The city experienced rapid economic growth, urbanization, and became a major financial and commercial centre.
While Calcutta was the capital of British India for a long time and a significant port, the opening of the Suez Canal had a more profound and direct impact on Bombay’s rise as the premier trading port on the western coast, solidifying its commercial pre-eminence.

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12. Who among the following was the first Viceroy of India under British R

Who among the following was the first Viceroy of India under British Rule ?

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Lord Dalhousie
Lord Cornwallis
Viscount Canning
Earl of Mayo
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Viscount Canning (later Earl Canning) was the Governor-General of India during the Indian Mutiny of 1857. Following the Mutiny, the British Crown took over direct rule of India from the East India Company through the Government of India Act 1858. Under this Act, the office of Governor-General was replaced by the Viceroy of India, who was the direct representative of the British Crown. Lord Canning, being the incumbent Governor-General, became the first Viceroy of India.
– The title ‘Viceroy’ was introduced after the transfer of power from the East India Company to the British Crown in 1858.
– The Viceroy acted as the representative of the British monarch in India.
– Lord Canning served as Governor-General from 1856 to 1858 and as the first Viceroy from 1858 to 1862.
Lord Dalhousie was Governor-General before Canning (1848-1856) and is known for the Doctrine of Lapse. Lord Cornwallis served as Governor-General much earlier (1786-1793). Earl of Mayo was a later Viceroy (1869-1872).

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13. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List IList II
A. Total Revolution1. George Fernandes
B. Garibi Hatao2. Jaya Prakash Narayan
C. Shah Commission3. Indira Gandhi
D. Railway Strike4. Janata Party Government

Code :

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A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2
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The correct answer is B.
A. Total Revolution (Sampoorna Kranti) was a political movement initiated by Jaya Prakash Narayan against the Indira Gandhi government in the 1970s (A-2).
B. ‘Garibi Hatao’ (Remove Poverty) was the election slogan used by Indira Gandhi during the 1971 general election (B-3).
C. The Shah Commission of Inquiry was constituted by the Janata Party Government in 1977 to inquire into the excesses committed during the Emergency (C-4).
D. The 1974 All India Railway Strike was a major strike led by railway unions, with George Fernandes being a prominent leader of the striking workers (D-1).
This question tests knowledge of significant events and associated personalities/entities in modern Indian history and politics.
The Total Revolution movement called for a transformation of all aspects of society. The Shah Commission’s report highlighted abuses of power during the Emergency period (1975-1977). The 1974 railway strike was one of the largest industrial actions in India’s history.

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14. At the beginning of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905, who was the Secreta

At the beginning of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905, who was the Secretary of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad ?

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Rabindranath Tagore
Ramendrasundar Trivedi
Satish Chandra Mukherjee
Raja Subodh Mullick
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The correct answer is B) Ramendrasundar Trivedi. Ramendrasundar Trivedi (1864-1919) was a distinguished Bengali writer, scientist, and philosopher. He was actively involved with the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad and served as its secretary for several terms, including during the period of the Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908). He played a significant role in drafting the boycott resolution during the Partition of Bengal movement and promoting Swadeshi ideals through the Parishad’s platform.
– The Bangiya Sahitya Parishad is a premier Bengali literary institution.
– The Swadeshi Movement began in 1905 as a reaction to the Partition of Bengal.
– Ramendrasundar Trivedi was a key intellectual figure during the Swadeshi era.
While Rabindranath Tagore was a prominent member and supporter of the Parishad, Ramendrasundar Trivedi held the position of Secretary during crucial periods, including around 1905, and was deeply involved in its activities and the broader nationalist movement of the time.

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15. ‘Provincial Autonomy’ was the most redeeming feature of which one of t

‘Provincial Autonomy’ was the most redeeming feature of which one of the following Acts?

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The Government of India Act, 1919
The Government of India Act, 1935
The Rowlatt Act, 1919
The Indian Councils Act, 1892
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The correct answer is B) The Government of India Act, 1935. This Act is most known for introducing ‘Provincial Autonomy’. Under this system, provinces were granted autonomous status within their defined sphere, with elected provincial governments having authority over provincial subjects, largely free from the direct control of the central government. Diarchy, which was introduced in provinces by the 1919 Act, was abolished at the provincial level under the 1935 Act.
– The Government of India Act, 1935, divided subjects into three lists: Federal, Provincial, and Concurrent.
– Provincial autonomy meant that provincial governments were responsible to the provincial legislatures.
– The Act provided for the formation of ministries by popular representatives in the provinces.
While the Government of India Act, 1919, introduced a form of responsible government (Diarchy) in provinces, true provincial autonomy was granted by the 1935 Act. The Act also proposed the establishment of an All India Federation and Diarchy at the Centre, although these central provisions were not fully implemented.

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16. The first Indian Factories Act was passed in :

The first Indian Factories Act was passed in :

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1858
1861
1881
1905
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The correct answer is C) 1881. The first Indian Factories Act was passed in 1881 during the tenure of Lord Ripon. This Act was a limited measure primarily aimed at regulating the working conditions of child labourers (below 12 years old) in factories employing 100 or more workers.
– The Act was influenced by British textile manufacturers’ pressure to prevent Indian mills from having a cost advantage due to lower labour standards, as well as humanitarian concerns.
– It prohibited the employment of children below 7 years, limited working hours for children between 7 and 12, and mandated a few holidays.
The Act of 1881 was criticized for its limited scope and loopholes. Subsequent Acts (like in 1891, 1911, etc.) were passed to address more aspects of factory work, including the working hours of women and adult men, and safety conditions.

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17. Who did not accompany Gandhiji during his visit to the NWFP in October

Who did not accompany Gandhiji during his visit to the NWFP in October, 1938 ?

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Sushila Nayar
Amtus Salam
Jawaharlal Nehru
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
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The correct answer is C) Jawaharlal Nehru. During his visit to the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) in October 1938, Gandhiji was primarily hosted by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the leader of the Khudai Khidmatgar movement in that region, who certainly accompanied him during his tours there. Sushila Nayar was Gandhiji’s personal physician and often travelled with him, as was Amtus Salam, a close associate. While Jawaharlal Nehru was a national leader and close to Gandhi, historical accounts of this specific visit primarily mention Gandhi, K.A.G. Khan, and members of Gandhi’s immediate entourage like secretaries and physicians, but not Nehru as part of the accompanying group from outside NWFP.
– Gandhiji’s visit to NWFP in 1938 was significant as it was a stronghold of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan’s non-violent movement.
– He toured the province to assess the political situation and the work of the Khudai Khidmatgars.
– Sushila Nayar served as Gandhi’s physician and close companion during many of his travels.
– Amtus Salam was a dedicated follower who lived in Gandhi’s ashrams and often accompanied him.
Leaders like Nehru frequently met Gandhi and visited different parts of the country for political work, but they were not always part of Gandhi’s personal touring party on every occasion. The question specifically asks who *did not accompany* him, implying who was not part of his travelling group for this visit.

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18. Gandhiji’s first major public appearance in India happened in which on

Gandhiji’s first major public appearance in India happened in which one of the following cities ?

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Bombay, 1908
Banaras, 1916
Surat, 1915
Delhi, 1915
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The correct answer is B) Banaras, 1916. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi returned to India in January 1915. On the advice of his political guru, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, he spent the initial year traveling across the country to understand the Indian situation. His first major public appearance and speech after his return took place at the inauguration ceremony of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in February 1916.
– Gandhiji returned to India on January 9, 1915, which is now celebrated as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
– His speech at BHU was notable for its frank criticism of the elite present, the prevalent poverty, and the lack of concern shown towards the masses.
While Gandhiji attended other events or met people earlier, the BHU inauguration is widely recognized as his first significant public platform in India where he addressed a large gathering on national issues, signaling his entry into the Indian political scene.

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19. Which one of the following Acts added a Law member to the Governor Gen

Which one of the following Acts added a Law member to the Governor General’s Council in India ?

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The Regulating Act of 1773
The Pitts India Act of 1784
The Charter Act of 1833
The Charter Act of 1813
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The correct answer is C) The Charter Act of 1833. This Act was a significant step in the constitutional history of British India. It centralized the administration and, importantly, added a fourth member to the Governor-General’s Council, who was to be a Law Member. Lord Macaulay was the first Law Member appointed under this Act. This member was initially only allowed to participate in legislative matters.
– The Charter Act of 1833 ended the commercial activities of the East India Company and made it a purely administrative body.
– It appointed a Law Commission to codify Indian laws.
– It led to the appointment of Lord Macaulay as the first Law Member.
Prior to 1833, the Governor-General’s Council consisted of three members. The addition of a Law Member was aimed at improving the quality of legislation in India. The Law Member became a full member of the Council with the right to vote on all matters in 1853.

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20. ‘Garam Hawa’, a movie that depicts the hardship and indecision of the

‘Garam Hawa’, a movie that depicts the hardship and indecision of the protagonist, is related to which one of the following events ?

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The Sepoy Mutiny
The Indigo Rebellion
The Partition of India
The Paika Rebellion
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‘Garam Hawa’ (released in 1973) is a critically acclaimed Indian film directed by M.S. Sathyu. It depicts the struggles and dilemmas faced by a Muslim family in Agra in the aftermath of the Partition of India in 1947, focusing on their decision to either migrate to Pakistan or stay in India.
– The film is considered one of the most poignant cinematic portrayals of the human cost of the Partition.
– It highlights the emotional and social upheaval caused by the division of the country.
‘Garam Hawa’ was the first feature film to directly address the trauma of the Partition from the perspective of Muslims in India. It was initially banned by the Censor Board but later released to critical acclaim.

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