Social Religious Movement Archives

54. Which of the following statements about Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is/are cor

Which of the following statements about Sir Syed Ahmad Khan is/are correct?

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He argued that India was a federation of ethnic communities based on common descent.
His philosophy was very similar to that of the Indian National Congress.
He imagined India as a Nation State based on individual citizen’s rights.
The curriculum at the Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College blended Muslim theology and European empiricism.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

2 and 3

3 only

1 and 4

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2018

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Statement 1: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan increasingly viewed India as consisting of two distinct communities, Hindus and Muslims, whose interests might diverge. While “federation of ethnic communities based on common descent” is an unusual phrasing, it reflects his idea of India as a collection of distinct communities rather than a unified nation-state based on individual rights, especially as he moved towards the “Two-Nation Theory” concept.
Statement 2: Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was critical of the Indian National Congress, particularly its call for representative government based on election, which he feared would lead to Hindu majority rule. His philosophy was distinctly different and often opposed to that of Congress.
Statement 3: This statement contradicts his view of distinct communities. He emphasized the separate political identity and rights for Muslims based on their communal identity, not primarily individual rights within a secular nation-state framework.
Statement 4: The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (MAO College), founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, aimed to provide modern Western education (European empiricism) alongside traditional Islamic religious instruction (Muslim theology). This statement is correct.
Given the options, statements 1 and 4 are considered correct in this context.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan held views on India as a composite of distinct communities and promoted a blend of modern and religious education at MAO College.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was a key figure in 19th-century Indian Muslim society. He advocated for modern education among Muslims and played a significant role in the Aligarh Movement. His political views evolved, becoming more separatist, particularly after the formation of the Indian National Congress.

56. Which of the following statements about the Shiromani Gurudwara Praban

Which of the following statements about the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) are correct?

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1. It began as the political wing of the Singh Sabhas in the late 19th century.
2. It was formed in 1920 as part of the upcoming Akali movement.
3. It was founded to reclaim control of the Sikh shrines from the government manipulated loyalist committees.
4. It formed the Akali Dal to coordinate groups (Jathas) to reclaim control of the shrines.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1, 3 and 4

2, 3 and 4

2 and 4 only

2 and 3 only

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2017

Download PDF Attempt Online

Statements 2 and 3 are correct regarding the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). Statement 2 is correct; the SGPC was formed in November 1920 as a key part of the Gurdwara Reform Movement, which evolved into the Akali movement. Statement 3 is correct; its primary purpose was to take control of the historical Sikh shrines (Gurdwaras) from the hands of corrupt hereditary caretakers (Mahants) who were often seen as loyalist and manipulated by the British government. Statement 1 is incorrect; the SGPC emerged much later than the Singh Sabhas and was a religious management body, not a political wing of the Singh Sabhas. Statement 4 is incorrect; the Akali Dal was formed by the Akalis shortly after the SGPC (in December 1920) specifically to organize and lead the agitations (Jathas) for Gurdwara reform, not the other way around. The SGPC was the body established to manage the Gurdwaras once control was secured.

– SGPC was formed in 1920 as part of the Gurdwara Reform/Akali movement.
– Its main objective was to gain control of Sikh Gurdwaras from Mahants.
– The Akali Dal was formed to lead the agitations for this cause.

The Gurdwara Reform Movement aimed at purifying Sikh religious institutions and asserting Sikh identity and self-governance. The SGPC is the elected body that manages Gurdwaras in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh under the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925.