Modern History (Part-I)

Total Questions: 50

1. In the interim government formed in 1946, the Vice-President of the Executive Council was: [1995]

(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
(c) C. Rajagopalachari
(d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Correct Answer: (a) Jawaharlal Nehru

Solution: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. Hooghly was used as a base for piracy in the Bay of Bengal by: [1995]

(a) the Portuguese
(b) the French
(c) the Danish
(d) the British

Correct Answer: (a) the Portuguese

Solution:The Portuguese used Hooghly as a base for piracy in the Bay of Bengal. In 163132, Qasim Khan, who was the governor of Bengal during Shah Jahan reigns finally subdued them.

3. The 'Modi script' was employed in the documents of the: [1995]

(a) Wodeyars
(b) Zamorins
(c) Hoysalas
(d) Marathas

Correct Answer: (d) Marathas

Solution:It was mainly used in maintaining the revenue and administrative records.

4. Examine the map given below: [1995]

The places marked 1, 2, 3 and 4 were respectively the seats of powers of the:

(a) Scindias, Holkars, Gaekwads and Bhonsles
(b) Holkars, Scindias, Gaekwads and Bhonsles
(c) Gaekwads, Bhonsles, Scindias and Holkars
(d) Scindias, Holkars, Bhonsles and Gaekwads

Correct Answer: (a) Scindias, Holkars, Gaekwads and Bhonsles

Solution:Scindias of Gwalior; Holkars of Indore; Gaekwads of Baroda; Bhonsles of Nagpur.

5. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? [1995]

(a) Battle of Buxar-Mir Jafar vs. Clive
(b) Battle of Wandiwash-French vs. East India Company
(c) Battle of Chilianwala-Dalhousie vs. Marathas
(d) Battle of Kharda-Nizam vs. East India Company

Correct Answer: (b) Battle of Wandiwash-French vs. East India Company

Solution:Battle of Wandiwash in 1960 and French were finally defeated by English. Battle of Buxar (1764) - English under Munro defeated Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-daula and Shah Alam II.

6. The word Adivasi was used for the first time to refer to the tribal people by: [1995]

(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Thakkar Bappa
(c) Jyotiba Phule
(d) B.R. Ambedkar

Correct Answer: (b) Thakkar Bappa

Solution:Adivasi means primitive people.

7. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer [1996]

List-I	List-II
(A) Governor-General of Presidency of Fort William in Bengal (under Regulating Act, 1773)	1. Archibald Percival Wavell, Viscount and Earl Wavell
(B) Governor-General of India (under Charter Act, 1833)	2. James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, Earl and Marquess of Dalhousie
(C) Governor-General and Viceroy of India (under Indian Council Act, 1858)	3. Charles Cornwallis 2nd Earl and first Marquess of Cornwallis
(D) Governor-General and Crown Representative (under Government of India Act, 1935)	4. Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, Earl of Minto 5. Louis Mountbatten, Earl Mountbatten of Burma

Codes:

	A	B	C	D
(a)	3	2	4	1
(b)	1	2	3	4
(c)	2	5	3	1
(d)	2	4	5	3

Correct Answer: (a)

Solution:The Earl Cornwallis took office on 12 September 1786 and left office on 28 October 1793. The Marquess Cornwallis took office on 30 July 1805 and left office on 5 October 1805. James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, Ist Marquess of Dalhousie served as Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India (1947) and the first Governor-General of the independent Dominion of India (1947-48). The Viscount Wavell tenure is 1 October 1943-21 February 1947.

8. 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. [1996]

The reference in this passage is to:

(a) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(b) Behramji Merwanji Malabari
(c) Mahadev Govind Ranade
(d) B.R. Ambedkar

Correct Answer: (c) Mahadev Govind Ranade

Solution:Ranade worked for social reform in the areas of child marriage, widow remarriage, and women's rights. He was a distinguished Indian scholar, social reformer and author.

9. The following advertisement. [1996]

THE MARVEL OF THE CENTURY

THE WONDER OF THE WORLD

LIVING PHOTOGRAPHIC PICTURES

LIFE-SIZED REPRODUCTIONS

MESSERS LUMIERE BROTHERS CINEMATOGRAPHIE

A FEW EXHIBITIONS WILL BE GIVEN

WATSON'S HOTEL

TONIGHT

Appeared in the Times of India dated 7th August:

(a) 1931
(b) 1929
(c) 1921
(d) 1896

Correct Answer: (d) 1896

Solution:This was the first advertisement of Indian cinema in Times of India dated 7th August, 1896.

10. 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? [1996]

(a) Clive
(b) Dupleix
(c) Albuquerque
(d) Warren Hastings

Correct Answer: (b) Dupleix

Solution:Dupleix succeeded Dumas as the French governor of Pondicherry. His ambition now was to acquire for France vast territories in India, and for this purpose he entered into relations with the native princes, and adopted a style of oriental splendour in his dress and surroundings.

Dupleix built an army of native troops, called sepoys, who were trained as infantrymen men in his service also included the famous Hyder Ali of Mysore. Colonial administrator and governor-general of the French territories in India, who nearly realized his dream of establishing a French empire in India.

12 3 4 5 Next »