Modern History of India Archives

81. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following? 1. Invitation

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following?

1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference
2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement
3. Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses
4. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

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UPSC IAS – 2020

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The correct answer is B) 1, 2 and 4 only.

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was a political agreement signed by Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, on March 5, 1931. It marked the end of the Civil Disobedience Movement and paved the way for Congress participation in the Second Round Table Conference.
Statement 1 is correct: A key term of the pact was the British government’s agreement to invite the Indian National Congress to participate in the upcoming Second Round Table Conference.
Statement 2 is correct: The government agreed to withdraw all ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement that were not essential for normal administration.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Gandhiji’s demand for a public inquiry into police excesses during the movement was explicitly refused by Lord Irwin and was not included in the pact.
Statement 4 is correct: The government agreed to release all political prisoners not convicted for violence. Prisoners charged with violence or inciting violence were not to be released under the pact.

Other terms of the pact included the return of confiscated property not yet sold to third parties, permitting coastal villages to make salt for consumption (not for sale), and allowing peaceful picketing of liquor, opium, and foreign cloth shops. However, the demand for Bhagat Singh and his comrades’ release was not met, which led to criticism of the pact.

82. With reference to the book “Desher Katha” written by Sakharam Ganesh D

With reference to the book “Desher Katha” written by Sakharam Ganesh Deushkar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements:

1. It warned against the Colonial State’s hypnotic conquest of the mind.
2. It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs.
3. The use of ‘desh’ by Deushkar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal.

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=”option1″]

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The correct answer is A) 1 and 2 only.

Sakharam Ganesh Deushkar’s book “Desher Katha” (meaning “The Story of the Country”) was a highly influential work during the Swadeshi movement. It was originally written in Bengali and published in 1904.
Statement 1 is correct: The book critically analyzed the economic exploitation by the British colonial rule and warned how foreign rule impacted the Indian mind and culture, advocating for a mental liberation from colonial influence.
Statement 2 is correct: “Desher Katha” significantly inspired the Swadeshi movement, influencing various forms of nationalist expression, including street plays, songs, and other cultural performances aimed at spreading the message of self-reliance and patriotism.
Statement 3 is incorrect: While Deushkar wrote in Bengali and the book was particularly influential in Bengal, the term ‘desh’ referred to the entire Indian motherland, not specifically or solely the region of Bengal. The book’s message resonated throughout India as a call for national awakening and swadeshi.

Sakharam Ganesh Deushkar (1869-1912) was a close associate of Sri Aurobindo and Bipin Chandra Pal. His book went through multiple editions and was widely read by nationalists. It was eventually banned by the British government in 1910 due to its revolutionary potential and nationalist message.

83. Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of Ind

Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Indian handicrafts were ruined.” option2=”Machines were introduced in the Indian textile industry in large numbers.” option3=”Railway lines were laid in many parts of the country.” option4=”Heavy duties were imposed on the imports of British manufactures.” correct=”option1″]

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During the first half of the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution in Britain had a devastating impact on Indian handicrafts. British manufactured goods, especially textiles produced efficiently by machines, were imported into India and sold at cheaper prices than traditionally made Indian goods. This unequal competition, combined with policies favoring British imports and disadvantaging Indian exports, led to the decline and ruin of indigenous industries, particularly the cotton textile industry, causing widespread unemployment among Indian artisans.

The influx of cheaper, machine-made British goods led to the destruction of traditional Indian handicrafts during the early period of British rule influenced by the Industrial Revolution.

Options B and C describe developments that occurred later in the 19th century, particularly after the 1850s. Option D is incorrect; British policy was generally aimed at facilitating the entry of British manufactures into India with low tariffs, while often imposing high tariffs on Indian goods entering Britain.

84. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :

1. Aurang	—	In-charge of treasury of the State
2. Banian	—	Indian agent of the East India Company
3. Mirasidar	—	Designated revenue payer to the State

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

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

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UPSC IAS – 2020

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Pair 1 is incorrect. ‘Aurang’ in the context of Mughal and post-Mughal India, particularly concerning European trade, referred to a factory or depot, especially related to the collection and processing of goods like textiles, where weavers or producers delivered their output. It was not typically the in-charge of the State treasury, which was managed by officers like Diwan or Bakshi depending on the specific treasury (revenue, military payments, etc.). Pair 2 is correct. ‘Banian’ was a term used, especially by the British, for Indian merchants, brokers, or agents who assisted European traders in conducting business in India by acting as intermediaries. Pair 3 is correct. ‘Mirasidar’ (or Mirazdar) in South India referred to a holder of ‘miras’, a hereditary right to land or a share in village produce. Mirasidars were often the recognized landholders and were responsible for paying land revenue to the state.

‘Banian’ and ‘Mirasidar’ are correctly defined in the context of historical Indian economic and land systems.

The ‘Aurang’ system, particularly for indigo and cotton, was a significant part of the economic interaction between European companies and Indian producers. Mirasidars held a privileged position in the agrarian structure, often belonging to the dominant castes and having hereditary rights to cultivate land and collect dues.

85. With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult

With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?

[amp_mcq option1=”The Revolt of 1857″ option2=”The Mappila Rebellion of 1921″ option3=”The Indigo Revolt of 1859 – 60″ option4=”Birsa Munda’s Revolt of 1899 – 1900″ correct=”option4″]

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“Ulgulan,” meaning “Great Tumult” or “Great Commotion,” is the term used to describe the Munda Rebellion led by Birsa Munda against the British Raj and the exploitation by zamindars and moneylenders (‘Dikus’) in the Chota Nagpur region of present-day Jharkhand. The revolt took place primarily between 1899 and 1900.

“Ulgulan” is synonymous with the Munda Rebellion led by tribal leader Birsa Munda.

The Revolt of 1857 (A) is known by various names like Sepoy Mutiny or First War of Independence. The Mappila Rebellion of 1921 (B) was an uprising in Malabar, Kerala. The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 (C) was a peasant uprising against indigo planters in Bengal. “Ulgulan” specifically refers to the widespread rebellion led by Birsa Munda, focusing on tribal rights, land issues, and resistance against colonial rule and outsiders.

86. Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because

Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because

[amp_mcq option1=”he was asked by the Board of Directors at London to do so” option2=”he wanted to revive interest in oriental learning in India” option3=”he wanted to provide William Carey and his associates with employment” option4=”he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purpose in India” correct=”option4″]

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Lord Wellesley established Fort William College in 1800 in Calcutta with the primary objective of training young British civil servants (often referred to as ‘writers’) who were newly arriving in India. He believed they lacked sufficient knowledge of Indian languages, laws, history, and customs necessary for effective administration of the growing British territories. The college was intended to provide them with the necessary education to perform their duties efficiently and with greater cultural understanding.

The main purpose of Fort William College was to impart training to British administrative recruits stationed in India.

While the college did employ oriental scholars and contributed to the study of oriental languages (related to B and C, as William Carey taught there), its establishment was driven by the practical need for trained administrators, not primarily the revival of oriental learning for its own sake or providing employment to specific individuals. Option A is incorrect as the Board of Directors in London were not enthusiastic about the college and ordered its closure a few years later, although it continued in a reduced form.

87. Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th cent

Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

[amp_mcq option1=”peasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of planters” option2=”its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions” option3=”national leaders’ opposition to the cultivation of indigo” option4=”Government control over the planters” correct=”option2″]

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The primary reason for the decline of indigo cultivation in India by the beginning of the 20th century was the invention and mass production of synthetic indigo dye in Germany in the late 19th century (especially from the 1890s onwards). This synthetic dye was cheaper to produce and of more consistent quality than natural indigo.

The advent of synthetic dyes made natural indigo cultivation economically unviable in the world market, leading to its decline.

Peasant resistance (A), such as the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60, did highlight the exploitative nature of indigo cultivation and led to some reforms, but it did not eliminate cultivation entirely; it continued under modified conditions. National leaders’ opposition (C), particularly Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha (1917), addressed the grievances of indigo cultivators but occurred later than the *beginning* of the decline caused by synthetic dyes. Government control (D) aimed at regulating the system rather than ending cultivation. The fundamental economic factor of unprofitability due to synthetic substitutes was the decisive cause for the decline by the early 1900s.

89. With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pai

With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs :

Person	Position held
1. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru	: President, All India Liberal Federation
2. K. C. Neogy	: Member, The Constituent Assembly
3. P. C. Joshi	: General Secretary, Communist Party of India

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

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

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UPSC IAS – 2019

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All three pairs are correctly matched. Pair 1: Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was a prominent leader of the Liberal Party and served as the President of the All India Liberal Federation. Pair 2: K. C. Neogy was a distinguished Indian politician who served as a member of the Constituent Assembly and later as a Union Minister. Pair 3: P. C. Joshi (Puran Chand Joshi) was a key figure in the early history of the Communist Party of India and served as its first General Secretary from 1935 to 1947.

Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru – Liberal leader; K. C. Neogy – Constituent Assembly member; P. C. Joshi – CPI General Secretary. All are correctly matched.

Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was an important moderate voice in Indian politics and participated in the Round Table Conferences. K. C. Neogy was part of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution and served in independent India’s first cabinet. P. C. Joshi played a crucial role in organizing and leading the CPI during a critical period before India’s independence.

90. With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the fol

With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements :

Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of ‘indentured labour’.
In Lord Chelmsford’s ‘War Conference’, Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.
Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

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UPSC IAS – 2019

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Statement 1 is correct. Mahatma Gandhi was deeply involved in the campaign against the indentured labour system, having witnessed its harsh realities firsthand with Indian labourers in South Africa. His efforts contributed significantly to its abolition by the British government in 1917. Statement 2 is incorrect. In the Delhi War Conference of 1918, Mahatma Gandhi actually supported the resolution to recruit Indians for World War I, hoping that this cooperation would lead to political concessions from the British. Statement 3 is correct. Following the Dandi March and the breaking of the Salt Law in 1930, which marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement, the Indian National Congress was declared an illegal organization by the colonial authorities. Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct.

Gandhi opposed indentured labour, supported WWI recruitment initially, and INC was banned after the Salt Satyagraha.

The indentured labour system, often called the ‘new system of slavery’, saw Indian labourers transported to various British colonies (like Fiji, Mauritius, Caribbean) under coercive contracts. Gandhi’s support for WWI recruitment was a strategic move based on the principle of “cooperation to secure cooperation,” a strategy he later abandoned as British promises of self-rule proved elusive. The declaration of INC as illegal led to widespread arrests of leaders and members during the Civil Disobedience Movement.