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UPSC Previous Year Questions on Modern History
Collection of Modern History Previous Year Questions of Previous UPSC Prelims Examinations with detailed explanation.
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1. In the interim government formed in 1946, the Vice-President of the Executive Council was: (UPSC – 1995)
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
(c) C. Rajagopalachari
(d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Correct Answer – (a) Jawaharlal NehruÂ
- On 2nd September 1946, the Interim Government of India was formed from the Constituent Assembly to oversee the transition of India from a British colony to an independent republic.
- In these elections, the Indian National Congress (INC) won around 69% of the seats and had a majority.Â
- The Congress Party won 208 seats and the Muslim League won 73 seats.
- Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became its Vice President.
- C. Rajagopalachari was the Head of the Department of Education and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the Head of the Department of Food & Agriculture in the Executive Council.
2. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? (UPSC – 1995)
(a) Battle of Buxar → Mir Jafar vs. Clive
(b) Battle of Wandiwash → French vs. East India Company
(c) Battle of Chillianwala → Dalhousie vs. Marathas
(d) Battle of Kharda → Nizam vs. East India Company
Correct Answer – (b) Battle of Wandiwash → French vs. East India Company
- The Battle of Wandiwash(1760) → French were finally defeated by English.
- Battle of Buxar (1764) – English under Munro defeated Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-daula and Shah Alam II
- The Battle of Chillianwala(1849) → Fought during Second Anglo-Sikh war
- Battle of Kharda(1795) → Took place between the Nizamate of Hyderabad and the Maratha Confederacy.
3. The word Adivasi was used for the first time to refer to the tribal people by: (UPSC – 1995)
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Thakkar Bappa
(c) Jyotiba Phule
(d) B.R. Ambedkar
Correct Answer – (b) Thakkar Bappa
- The word Adivasi was used for the first time to refer to the tribal people by Thakkar Bappa in the 1930s.
- He was instrumental in the upliftment of India’s Adivasi communities.
4. His principal forte was social and religious reform. He relied upon legislation to do away with social ills and work unceasingly for the eradication of child marriage and the purdah system. To encourage consideration of social problems on a national scale, he inaugurated the Indian National Social Conference, which for many years met for its annual session alongside the Indian National Congress. The reference in this passage is to: (UPSC – 1996)
(a) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(b) Behramji Merwanji Malabari
(c) Mahadev Govind Ranade
(d) B.R. Ambedkar
Correct Answer – (c) Mahadev Govind Ranade
- Mahadev Govind Ranade was a scholar, social reformer and author.
- He worked for social reform in the areas of child marriage, widow remarriage, and women’s rights.Â
- He was one of the founding members of the Indian National Congress.
5. Who among the following was the first European to initiate the policy of taking part in the quarrels of Indian princes with a view to acquire territories? (UPSC – 1996)
(a) Clive
(b) Dupleix
(c) Albuquerque
(d) Warren Hastings
Correct Answer – (b) Dupleix
- Dupleix was an ambitious governor of French east India company.Â
- His ambition was to acquire vast territories in India, and for this purpose he entered into relations with the native princes.
- His goal was to establish a French empire in India.
6. Consider the following landmarks in Indian education: (UPSC – 1996)
1. Hindu College, Calcutta
2. University of Calcutta
3. Adam’s Report
4. Wood’s Despatch
The correct chronological order of these landmarks is:
(a) 1, 3, 4, 2
(b) 1, 4, 3, 2
(c) 3, 1,4, 2
(d) 3, 2, 4, 1
Correct Answer – (a) 1, 3, 4, 2Â
- Hindu College, Calcutta → 1817
- Adam’s Report → 1835-38
- Wood’s Despatch → 1854
- University of Calcutta → 1858
7. Who among the following was associated with suppression of thugs? (UPSC – 1997)
(a) General Henry Prendergast
(b) Captain Sleeman
(c) Alexander Burres
(d) Captain Robert Pemberton
Correct Answer – (b) Captain Sleeman
- Captain William Sleeman was appointed by Lord William Bentick (1828-35) to suppress the thugs during the 1830s.
8. The educated middle class in India: (UPSC – 1998)
(a) Opposed the revolt of 1857
(b) Supported the revolt of 1857
(c) Remained neutral to the revolt of 1857
(d) Fought against native rulers
Correct Answer – (c) Remained neutral to the revolt of 1857
- The educated middle class of India remained neutral to the revolt of 1857.
- The revolt did not spread to all parts of the country as South and West India remained largely unaffected by the revolt.Â
- Many Indian rulers even helped the British in suppressing the revolt.
9. What is the correct chronological sequence of the following ?
1. Wood’s Education Despatch
2. Macaulay’s minutes on education
3. The Sargent Education Report
4. Hunter Commission on education
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (UPSC – 1997)
(a) 2, 1, 4, 3
(b) 2, 1, 3, 4
(c) 1, 2, 4, 3
(d) 4, 3, 1, 3
Correct Answer – (a) 2, 1, 4, 3Â
- Macaulay’s Minute on Education → 1835
- Wood’s Despatch also known as the Magna Carta of English education → 1854
- Hunter Commission also known as Indian Education Commission → 1883
- Sargent Education Report → 1944
10. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: (UPSC – 1997)
List-IÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â List-II
A. Moplah revolt      1. Kerala
B. Pabna revolt       2. Bihar
C. Eka movement     3. Bengal
D. Birsa Munda revolt 4. Awadh
Codes:
(a) A – 1; B – 3; C – 4; D – 2
(b) A – 2; B – 3; C – 4; D – 1
(c) A – 1; B – 2; C – 3; D – 4
(d) A – 3; B – 4; C – 1; D – 2
Correct Answer – (a) A – 1; B – 3; C – 4; D – 2
- Pabna revolt happened in East Bengal in 1873.
- Birsa Munda revolted in 1899 in Ranchi, Bihar (But now part of Jharkhand).
- Moplah revolt happened in Malabar in Kerala in 1921.
- The Eka movement happened in 1921-22 in UP.
11. The paintings of Abanindranath Tagore are classified as: (UPSC – 1999)
(a) Realistic
(b) Socialistic
(c) Revivalistic
(d) Impressionistic
Correct Answer – (c) RevivalisticÂ
- Abanindranath Tagore was a nephew of Rabindranath Tagore.
- He is considered as the leader of the Revivalist Movement in the field of modern Indian painting in Bengal.
- He is known for his famous painting of Bharat Mata.
12. There was no independent development of industries in India during British rule because of the: (UPSC – 1999)
(a) Absence of heavy industries
(b) Scarcity of foreign capital
(c) Scarcity of natural resources
(d) Preference of the rich to invest in land
Correct Answer – (a) Absence of heavy industries
- During British rule, the Britishers sourced the raw materials from India which were exported to England for its industries to consume.Â
- India would then be used also as a market to sell off finished goods.Â
- Hence, There was no independent development of industries in India.
13. The first feature film (talkie) to be produced in India was: (UPSC – 1999)
(a) Hatimtai
(b) Alam Ara
(c) Pundalik
(d) Raja Harishchandra
Correct Answer – (b) Alam Ara
- Alam Ara was the first Indian sound film produced in India.
- It was directed by Ardeshir Irani.
14. The Governor-General who followed a spirited “Forward” policy towards Afghanistan was: (UPSC – 1999)
(a) Minto
(b) Dufferin
(c) Elgin
(d) Lytton
Correct Answer – (d) Lytton
- Lord Lytton was the Governor-General of India who followed a forward policy towards Afghanistan.
- He served as the Viceroy of India from 1876 to 1880.
15. At a time when empires in Europe were crumbling before the might of Napoleon, which one of the following Governors-General kept the British flag flying high in India ? (UPSC – 1999)
(a) Warren Hastings
(b) Lord Cornwallis
(c) Lord Wellesley
(d) Lord Hastings
Correct Answer – (d) Lord Hastings
- It was Lord Hastings who kept the British flag flying high in India when empires in Europe were crumbling before the might of Napoleon.
- He served as the Governor General of India from 1813 to 1823.
16.
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists : (UPSC – 1999)
List-I (Books)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â List-II (Authors)
A. The First Indian War of Independence   1. Rabindranath Tagore
B. Anand Math                          2. Sri Aurobindo
C. Life Divine                            3. Bankim Chandra Chatterji
D. Sadhana                              4. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Codes:
(a) A – 4; B – 3; C – 2; D – 1
(b) A – 3; B – 4; C – 1; D – 2
(c) A – 4; B – 3; C – 1; D – 2
(d) A – 3; B – 4; C – 2; D – 1
Correct Answer – (a) A – 4; B – 3; C – 2; D – 1
- The Life Divine → Sri Aurobindo
- Sadhana → Collection of essays by Rabindranath Tagore
- The First Indian War of Independence → Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
- Anand Math → Bankim Chandra Chatterji
17. Consider the following events: (UPSC – 1999)
1. Indigo Revolt
2. Santhal Rebellion
3. Deccan Riot
4. Mutiny of the Sepoys
The correct chronological sequence of these events is:
(a) 4, 2, 1, 3
(b) 4, 2, 3, 1
(c) 2, 4, 3, 1
(d) 2, 4, 1, 3
Correct Answer – (d) 2, 4, 1, 3
- Santhal rebellion → 1856
- Mutiny of the Sepoys → 1857
- Indigo revolt → 1860
- Deccan riot → 1875
18. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: (UPSC – 1999)
List-I (Year)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â List-II (Event)
A. 1775Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1. First Anglo-Burmese War
B. 1780Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2. First Anglo-Afghan War
C. 1824Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 3. First Anglo-Maratha War
D. 1838Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 4. Second Anglo-Mysore War
Codes:
(a) A – 4; B – 3; C – 2; D – 1
(b) A – 4; B – 3; C – 1; D – 2
(c) A – 3; B – 4; C – 1; D – 2
(d) A – 3; B – 4; C – 2; D – 1
Correct Answer – (c) A – 3; B – 4; C – 1; D – 2
- First Anglo-Burmese War → 1826 (Ended with Treaty of Yandabo)
- First Anglo-Afghan War → 1838Â
- First Anglo-Maratha War – 1782 (Ended with Treaty of Salbai)
- Second Anglo-Mysore → 1780 to 1784 (Ended with Treaty of Mangalore)
19. The last major extension of British Indian territory took place during the time of : (UPSC – 2000)
(a) Dufferin
(b) Dalhousie
(c) Lytton
(d) Curzon
Correct Answer – (b) Dalhousie
- The last major extension of British Indian Territory took place during the time of Lord Dalhousie.
- He used the infamous Doctrine of Lapse to annex many princely states such as Jhansi, Satara, Jaitpur, Sambalpur, Udaipur and Nagpur to the British empire.
20. Who among the following Indian rulers established embassies in foreign countries on modern lines? (UPSC – 2001)
(a) Haider Ali
(b) Mir Qasim
(c) Shah Alam II
(d) Tipu Sultan
Correct Answer – (d) Tipu Sultan
- Tipu Sultan was Haidar Ali’s son and a great warrior.
- He organized his army on the European model.
- He adopted the western military methods like artillery and rockets alongside traditional Indian weapons including war elephants to defeat his opponents.
- Tipu Sultan established embassies in France, Turkey and Egypt on modern lines.
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