Modern History of India

71. In the Government of India Act 1919, the functions of Provincial Gover

In the Government of India Act 1919, the functions of Provincial Government were divided into “Reserved” and “Transferred” subjects. Which of the following were treated as “Reserved” subjects ?

  • 1. Administration of Justice
  • 2. Local Self-Government
  • 3. Land Revenue
  • 4. Police

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 3″ option2=”2, 3 and 4″ option3=”1, 3 and 4″ option4=”1, 2 and 4″ correct=”option3″]

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Under the Government of India Act 1919, Administration of Justice, Land Revenue, and Police were treated as “Reserved” subjects. Local Self-Government was a “Transferred” subject.
– The Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) introduced ‘Dyarchy’ in the provinces, dividing provincial subjects into two lists: Reserved and Transferred.
– Reserved subjects were administered by the Governor with his Executive Council, and they were not responsible to the provincial legislature. These included important areas like Finance, Land Revenue, Law and Order (Justice, Police, Prisons), Irrigation, etc.
– Transferred subjects were administered by the Governor with the help of ministers who were responsible to the provincial legislature. These included less crucial areas like Local Self-Government, Education, Public Health, Agriculture, etc.
– Based on this classification:
1. Administration of Justice: Reserved
2. Local Self-Government: Transferred
3. Land Revenue: Reserved
4. Police: Reserved
Dyarchy was a constitutional experiment aimed at introducing a limited form of self-government in the provinces. However, it proved to be complex and ultimately unsuccessful due to division of authority and lack of resources for transferred subjects. It was abolished by the Government of India Act 1935.

72. Consider the following statements : 1. St. Francis Xavier was one o

Consider the following statements :

  • 1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
  • 2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
  • 3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option3″]

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Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Statement 1 is correct: St. Francis Xavier was indeed one of the original six companions of Ignatius of Loyola who co-founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit Order) in 1540.
Statement 2 is incorrect: St. Francis Xavier died on Shangchuan Island, off the coast of mainland China, on December 3, 1552. His body was later moved and is enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, but he did not die in Goa.
Statement 3 is correct: The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is a major religious festival celebrated annually in Goa on December 3rd, commemorating his death anniversary.
St. Francis Xavier was a pioneering Christian missionary, particularly in Asia. Goa holds his relics and is a significant pilgrimage site.

73. In the first quarter of seventeenth century, in which of the following

In the first quarter of seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located?

  • 1. Broach
  • 2. Chicacole
  • 3. Trichinopoly

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 2″ option3=”3 only” option4=”2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

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The first quarter of the seventeenth century refers to the period from 1600 to 1625.
– The English East India Company established its first temporary factory in Masulipatnam on the East Coast in 1611.
– On the West Coast, after initial difficulties, the English gained permission from the Mughal Emperor Jahangir through Sir Thomas Roe to establish factories. The factory at Surat was established around 1613.
– Broach (Bharuch), located north of Surat in Gujarat, was another important trading post. The English established a factory at Broach in 1616. This falls within the first quarter of the 17th century.
– Chicacole (Srikakulam) is in Andhra Pradesh, on the East Coast. While the English were present on the East Coast from 1611 (Masulipatnam), Chicacole became a significant factory much later, towards the end of the 17th century or later.
– Trichinopoly (Tiruchirappalli) is in Tamil Nadu. English presence and factories in this southern region came much later, primarily in the late 17th and 18th centuries, often in relation to their conflicts with other European powers and local rulers.
Therefore, only Broach among the options had an English factory established within the first quarter of the 17th century.
– First quarter of 17th century = 1600-1625.
– English EIC established factories at Surat (c. 1613) and Broach (1616) on the West Coast during this period.
– Their presence on the East Coast started with Masulipatnam (1611), but Chicacole and Trichinopoly were established much later.
The early years of the English East India Company in India were focused on establishing trading posts (factories) primarily on the west coast, seeking trade permission from the Mughal Empire. Surat became their main port in this initial period. Presence on the east coast and further south developed gradually.

74. With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is

With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  • 1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State.
  • 2. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire.
  • 3. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2″ option2=”2 only” option3=”2 and 3″ option4=”3 only” correct=”option1″]

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Statement 1 is correct. The Nizamat of Arcot (Carnatic) was initially a dependency of the Nizam of Hyderabad. The Nawab of Arcot was originally appointed by the Mughal Emperor but came under the authority of the Nizam as the Mughal Empire declined. The Nawabs gradually asserted their independence from Hyderabad while still nominally acknowledging Mughal authority, and later became entangled with the British and French East India Companies.
Statement 2 is correct. The Mysore Kingdom, under the Wodeyar dynasty, emerged as a significant power in South India after the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Wodeyars were initially feudatories of Vijayanagara and declared independence after the empire’s disintegration following the Battle of Talikota in 1565.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed in the early 18th century by Rohilla Pashtuns who migrated from Afghanistan and carved out a territory in the fertile Gangetic plain from the declining Mughal Empire. While Ahmad Shah Durrani (Abdali) did invade India and fight in the region in the mid-18th century, the formation of Rohilkhand predates his major invasions and was not a result of occupying territories previously held by him. The Rohillas were independent rulers fighting against both the Mughals and other regional powers, sometimes aligning with or opposing Durrani depending on the circumstances.
– The Nizamat of Arcot emerged from the Hyderabad State’s authority.
– The Mysore Kingdom emerged from the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire.
– The Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed by Afghan Rohillas in the early 18th century out of Mughal territories, not territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.
The 18th century in India was characterized by the fragmentation of the Mughal Empire and the rise of various regional states like Hyderabad, Mysore, Bengal, Awadh, Maratha confederacy, Sikh states, and Rohilkhand. These states constantly vied for power, leading to a period of political instability which was exploited by European trading companies, particularly the British and French.

75. In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal a

In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as

[amp_mcq option1=”leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement” option2=”members of the Interim Government in 1946″ option3=”members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly” option4=”officers of the Indian National Army” correct=”option4″]

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Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were officers of the Indian National Army (INA), which was formed during World War II in Southeast Asia with the support of the Japanese. These three officers were put on trial by the British government in 1945 at the Red Fort in Delhi, famously known as the INA Trials. Their trial and subsequent public outcry played a significant role in galvanizing nationalist sentiment just before India’s independence.
– Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were prominent officers of the Indian National Army (INA).
– They were put on trial by the British in the famous Red Fort trials of 1945.
– The INA was established during World War II with Indian prisoners of war and expatriates.
The INA trials became a major political issue in British India, leading to widespread protests and demonstrations. The Indian National Congress and other political parties defended the officers. Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, and Tej Bahadur Sapru were among the lawyers who argued for their defense. While initially sentenced, the officers were later cashiered from service due to immense public pressure.

76. Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female

Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?

[amp_mcq option1=”Annie Besant” option2=”Debendranath Tagore” option3=”Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar” option4=”Sarojini Naidu” correct=”option3″]

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The Hindu Female School, founded in Calcutta in 1849 by J.E.D. Bethune, was a pioneering institution for women’s education in India. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was deeply involved with Bethune in the establishment of this school and became its first Indian secretary. After Bethune’s death in 1851, Vidyasagar took on the responsibility of running the school, often funding it from his own pocket, demonstrating his strong commitment to the cause of female education. The school was renamed Bethune Female School in honour of its founder and later evolved into Bethune College.
– Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a key associate and the first Indian secretary of the Hindu Female School (later Bethune Female School).
– He played a crucial role in its management and sustenance after Bethune’s demise.
– The school was founded by J.E.D. Bethune in 1849.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a renowned Bengali polymath and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance. He was a social reformer who championed widow remarriage, opposed child marriage, and advocated for women’s education. His efforts were instrumental in opening up educational opportunities for girls in India during the 19th century. Annie Besant was associated with later educational movements, Debendranath Tagore was a prominent figure in the Brahmo Samaj and Indian philosophy, and Sarojini Naidu was a nationalist leader and poet in the 20th century.

77. Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, a tran

Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?

[amp_mcq option1=”Bal Gangadhar Tilak” option2=”Jawaharlal Nehru” option3=”Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi” option4=”Sarojini Naidu” correct=”option3″]

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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, which is a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics into English.
‘Songs from Prison: Translations of Indian Lyrics made in Jail’ is a book containing English translations of devotional poems and hymns by Mahatma Gandhi. These translations were made while he was imprisoned in Yerwada Jail, Poona (now Pune), primarily in 1930 and 1932. The collection includes translations of verses from various Indian languages and religious traditions.
The book was compiled and published after Gandhi’s release from prison. It reflects Gandhi’s deep religious and spiritual inclinations and his practice of translating texts as a form of meditation and study during his incarceration. The other options, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sarojini Naidu, were also prominent figures involved in the freedom struggle, with significant literary contributions or interests, but ‘Songs from Prison’ is specifically linked to Gandhi.

78. With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the

With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.” option2=”The Viceroy’s Executive Council was expanded to include more Indians.” option3=”The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.” option4=”Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second World War was over.” correct=”option1″]

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On 8th August, 1942, the Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.
The historic Quit India Resolution, also known as the ‘Bharat Chhodo Andolan’, was passed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) at its meeting in Bombay on August 8, 1942. The resolution called for an end to British rule in India. Following the adoption of the resolution, Mahatma Gandhi gave his famous ‘Do or Die’ speech. The leadership of the Congress was arrested the next day, triggering spontaneous mass protests across the country.
The expansion of the Viceroy’s Executive Council occurred earlier in the context of the August Offer (1940). The resignation of Congress ministries in seven provinces took place in October/November 1939 after the Viceroy declared India a belligerent in World War II without consulting Indian leaders. The Cripps Mission, which proposed Dominion Status, visited India in March 1942, several months before the Quit India Movement was launched.

79. Consider the following statements: 1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21.
  • 2. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in legislature.

Which of the statements given 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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Only statement 2 is correct.
1. **Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919:** These reforms extended the franchise but did not grant voting rights to *all* women above 21. Franchise was limited based on property, income, and education. The Act *allowed* provincial legislatures to enfranchise women on these limited criteria, and Madras was the first province to do so in 1921. Universal adult suffrage, let alone for all women above 21, was not a feature of these reforms. Thus, statement 1 is incorrect.
2. **Government of India Act of 1935:** This Act further expanded the electorate and made provisions for women voters. It not only increased the number of women voters but also provided for *reserved seats* for women in some provincial legislatures and the federal legislature. Thus, statement 2 is correct.
The grant of voting rights to women in British India was a gradual process, starting with limited franchise in some municipalities and then provincially under the 1919 Act, extended significantly under the 1935 Act, but still based on qualifications, not universal adult suffrage, which was introduced with the Constitution of independent India. The system of reserved seats for women under the 1935 Act was distinct from general seats and was intended to ensure their representation.

80. The Vittal-Vidhwansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchab

The Vittal-Vidhwansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by

[amp_mcq option1=”Gopal Baba Walangkar” option2=”Jyotiba Phule” option3=”Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi” option4=”Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar” correct=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A) Gopal Baba Walangkar.
Gopal Baba Walangkar (1840-1900), also known as Gopal Krishna, was a pioneering figure in the Dalit movement in Maharashtra. He is considered the first journalist from the untouchable community.
“Vittal-Vidhwansak” (meaning “Destroyer of Pollution”) was the first monthly journal specifically aimed at raising awareness and addressing the issues faced by the untouchable community. It was published by Gopal Baba Walangkar starting around 1888.
Jyotiba Phule was a prominent social reformer who worked for the upliftment of backward classes and women, influencing Walangkar, but “Vittal-Vidhwansak” was published by Walangkar. Gandhi and Ambedkar were later figures in the broader struggle against untouchability, with Ambedkar becoming the foremost leader of the Dalit movement in the 20th century.
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