History of India and Indian National Movement

9 practice questions on History of India and Indian National Movement for UPSC Prelims, with answers

Shishya's practice questions, written with AI. Each answer was checked by an automated second pass, not by a person.

1. 1.Which of the following statements about the Indus Valley Civilisation is/are correct? 1. The Great Bath was discovered at Mohenjo-daro. 2. Evidence of horse remains has been found extensively at Harappan sites. 3. The script of the Indus Valley Civilisation remains undeciphered. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   • (A)1 and 2 only
   • (B)1 and 3 only
   • (C)2 and 3 only
   • (D)1, 2 and 3
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: (B) 1 and 3 only

   Solution: Statement 1 is correct. The Great Bath is one of the most famous structures of the Indus Valley Civilisation, discovered at Mohenjo-daro. It measures approximately 12 metres by 7 metres and was likely used for ritual bathing. Statement 2 is incorrect. Evidence of horse remains is very rare or absent at Harappan sites. This is significant because the horse became prominent only in the later Vedic period. The absence of the horse is one of the distinguishing features between the Harappan and Vedic cultures. Statement 3 is correct. Despite numerous attempts by scholars, the Indus script remains undeciphered. The script appears on seals and other objects, but without a bilingual inscription or Rosetta Stone equivalent, its meaning remains unknown. Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct, making option B the right answer.

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2. 2.With reference to the Quit India Movement of 1942, which of the following statements is correct?

   • (A)It was launched immediately after the failure of the Simon Commission.
   • (B)The Congress Working Committee passed the Quit India Resolution in Bombay.
   • (C)The Muslim League actively participated alongside the Congress.
   • (D)The movement witnessed no instances of underground resistance.
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   Answer: (B) The Congress Working Committee passed the Quit India Resolution in Bombay.

   Solution: The Quit India Resolution was passed by the All-India Congress Committee in Bombay on 8 August 1942, leading to the famous 'Do or Die' call by Mahatma Gandhi. The movement saw widespread underground resistance, and the Muslim League did not join the movement.

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3. 3.Which of the following was NOT a consequence of the Quit India Movement of 1942?

   • (A)Mass arrests of Congress leaders including Gandhi and Nehru
   • (B)Widespread violence and destruction of government property
   • (C)Immediate independence granted by the British government
   • (D)Growth of underground resistance movements
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   Answer: (C) Immediate independence granted by the British government

   Solution: The Quit India Movement did not result in immediate independence. India achieved independence in 1947, five years after the movement. The other options correctly describe consequences of the movement.

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4. 4.The Kakori Conspiracy Case (1925) involved revolutionaries looting government money from a train. Who among the following was NOT associated with this case?

   • (A)Ram Prasad Bismil
   • (B)Ashfaqulla Khan
   • (C)Chandrashekhar Azad
   • (D)Bhagat Singh
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   Answer: (D) Bhagat Singh

   Solution: The Kakori Conspiracy (1925) involved members of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) who looted a train carrying government treasury near Kakori, Lucknow. Ram Prasad Bismil was the mastermind and leader. Ashfaqulla Khan was a key participant. Chandrashekhar Azad also participated in the conspiracy. Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Roshan Singh and Rajendra Lahiri were hanged. Bhagat Singh was NOT associated with the Kakori case. He became active later and was associated with the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), the reorganized version of HRA. Bhagat Singh is known for the Assembly bombing (1929) and the Lahore Conspiracy Case.

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5. 5.Consider the following statements about the Vijayanagara Empire: 1. Krishna Deva Raya was the most famous ruler of the Tuluva dynasty. 2. The empire practiced a feudatory system where local chiefs (nayakas) were given autonomy in exchange for tribute and military support. 3. The Battle of Talikota in 1565 led to the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   • (A)1 and 2 only
   • (B)2 and 3 only
   • (C)1 and 3 only
   • (D)1, 2 and 3
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3

   Solution: Statement 1 is correct. Krishna Deva Raya (ruled 1509-1529) was the greatest ruler of the Tuluva dynasty, which was the third dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire. He was a great military commander, administrator, and patron of arts and literature. His court was adorned by the Ashtadiggajas (eight great poets) in Telugu literature. Statement 2 is correct. The Vijayanagara Empire used the nayankara system, which was similar to feudalism. Local chiefs called nayakas were granted territories and had considerable autonomy. In return, they paid tribute to the central authority and provided military support when required. This system helped the empire control vast territories but also contained seeds of weakness as nayakas could become too powerful. Statement 3 is correct. The Battle of Talikota (also called Battle of Rakshasa-Tangadi) was fought in January 1565 between the Vijayanagara Empire and the combined forces of the Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bidar). The defeat of Vijayanagara led to the sacking of the capital city Hampi and marked the beginning of the empire's decline, though some successor states continued for several decades. All three statements are correct. Therefore, option D is the right answer.

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6. 6.With reference to the land revenue systems introduced by the British in India, consider the following pairs: System : Feature 1. Permanent Settlement : Zamindars became owners of land 2. Ryotwari System : Government dealt directly with cultivators 3. Mahalwari System : Revenue settlement was made village by village Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

   • (A)1 only
   • (B)1 and 2 only
   • (C)2 and 3 only
   • (D)1, 2 and 3
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   Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3

   Solution: Pair 1 is correctly matched. The Permanent Settlement was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and parts of Madras. Under this system, zamindars were recognized as owners of land. They collected revenue from peasants and paid a fixed amount to the British government. The amount was 'permanent' and was not to be increased in future. Pair 2 is correctly matched. The Ryotwari System was introduced by Thomas Munro in Madras and later extended to Bombay and Assam. Under this system, the government dealt directly with the cultivator (ryot). The ryot was recognized as the owner of land as long as he paid the revenue. There was no intermediary like the zamindar. Revenue rates were revised periodically. Pair 3 is correctly matched. The Mahalwari System was introduced in the North-Western Provinces, parts of Central India and Punjab. Under this system, revenue settlement was made with the village (mahal) as a whole or with a group of villages. The village community was collectively responsible for paying revenue. Village headmen (lambardars) collected revenue from individual cultivators. All three pairs are correctly matched. Therefore, option D is correct.

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7. 7.The Cripps Mission of 1942 proposed certain constitutional arrangements for India. Which of the following was a feature of the Cripps proposals?

   • (A)Immediate grant of complete independence to India
   • (B)Formation of a Constituent Assembly after the war to frame a constitution, with provinces having the right to opt out
   • (C)Retention of the communal electorate system with increased weightage for minorities
   • (D)Appointment of an Indian as the Governor-General with full executive powers
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   Answer: (B) Formation of a Constituent Assembly after the war to frame a constitution, with provinces having the right to opt out

   Solution: The Cripps Mission (March 1942) was sent by the British government to secure Indian cooperation in World War II. The main proposals were: (1) Dominion status after the war, not immediate independence (so A is wrong); (2) A Constituent Assembly would be formed after the war to frame a new constitution; (3) Provinces unwilling to join could form separate unions (right to opt out) — this provision was particularly controversial as it seemed to accept the idea of partition (so B is correct); (4) During the war, defence would remain with the British, and the executive council would continue with limited Indian participation (so D is wrong). The proposals were rejected by both Congress (who wanted immediate independence and complete transfer of power) and the Muslim League (who found the opt-out provision inadequate for Pakistan). Option C was not specifically part of the Cripps proposals. Therefore, B is the correct answer.

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8. 8.The Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942. Which of the following statements about the movement is NOT correct?

   • (A)The slogan 'Do or Die' was given by Mahatma Gandhi at the AICC session in Bombay.
   • (B)The movement saw widespread participation with parallel governments being set up in Satara, Midnapore and Ballia.
   • (C)The Muslim League extended its full support to the movement and participated actively in protests across the country.
   • (D)Usha Mehta ran an underground Congress Radio that continued broadcasting nationalist messages during the movement.
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   Answer: (C) The Muslim League extended its full support to the movement and participated actively in protests across the country.

   Solution: The Quit India Movement was launched on August 8, 1942, after the AICC passed the Quit India Resolution at Bombay. Key facts: (1) Gandhi gave the famous 'Do or Die' slogan at the session; (2) All major Congress leaders were arrested immediately, but the movement continued as a spontaneous mass uprising; (3) Parallel governments (Prati Sarkars) were established in several places — Satara (Maharashtra) under Y.B. Chavan and Nana Patil, Midnapore (Bengal) under Ajoy Mukherjee, and Ballia (UP) under Chittu Pandey for brief periods; (4) Usha Mehta, a young freedom fighter, operated the underground Congress Radio from Bombay that broadcasted nationalist messages. However, the Muslim League did NOT support the Quit India Movement. In fact, the League stayed away from the movement and opposed it. Jinnah and the Muslim League saw this as an opportunity to strengthen their position and consolidate their demand for Pakistan. They maintained their support to the British war effort. Therefore, statement C is incorrect and is the answer.

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9. 9.Consider the following pairs of medieval saints and their associated religious traditions: 1. Kabir - Nirguna Bhakti 2. Tulsidas - Saguna Bhakti 3. Guru Nanak - Sufism 4. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu - Vaishnavism Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

   • (A)1, 2 and 3 only
   • (B)1, 2 and 4 only
   • (C)2, 3 and 4 only
   • (D)1, 3 and 4 only
   Show the answer and solution

   Answer: (B) 1, 2 and 4 only

   Solution: Let us examine each pair: Pair 1 - Kabir (15th century) was indeed a prominent proponent of Nirguna Bhakti (devotion to formless God). He rejected idol worship, rituals and caste distinctions. He synthesized Hindu and Islamic ideas. This is CORRECT. Pair 2 - Tulsidas (16th century) was a devotee of Lord Rama and wrote the Ramcharitmanas. He belonged to the Saguna Bhakti tradition (devotion to God with form and attributes). This is CORRECT. Pair 3 - Guru Nanak (15th-16th century) was the founder of Sikhism, not associated with Sufism. Though he was influenced by both Bhakti and Sufi traditions, he founded a distinct religion emphasizing 'Ik Onkar' (one God), equality and rejection of caste. This is INCORRECT. Pair 4 - Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (15th-16th century) was a great Vaishnava saint from Bengal who popularized Krishna Bhakti through sankirtan (congregational singing). He is considered a major figure in Vaishnavism. This is CORRECT. Therefore, pairs 1, 2 and 4 are correctly matched. The answer is B.

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