Modern History (Part-II)

Total Questions: 50

41. The Government of India Act of 1919 clearly defined [2015-1]

Correct Answer: (b) the jurisdiction of the central and provincial governments
Solution:The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms which became the Government of India Act in 1919 clearly defined the jurisdiction of the central and provincial governments.

The Government of India Act 1919 was a legislative framework designed to reform British India’s governance. It was based on the Montagu-Chelmsford Report, which was drafted by Edwin Montagu, Secretary of State for India, and Lord Chelmsford, Viceroy of India at the time.

The primary goal of the Act was to introduce a more responsible form of government in India by increasing Indian participation in the administrative machinery while retaining ultimate authority with the British Crown. The Act established a dual governance structure (dyarchy) at the provincial level and a more inclusive legislative framework, but with some limitations.

42. Satya ShodhakSamaj organized [2016-1]

Correct Answer: (c) an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra
Solution:

Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj to promote harmony, equality, happiness, and human welfare through simple religious practices. There was no restriction on who could join. The first president and administrator of the organization was Mahatma Phule. The Satyashodhak Samaj of 1876 comprised 316 individuals. He denounced caste hierarchy and religion’s orthodox character and opposed untouchability and casteism as social norms. He thought the Samaj could improve underprivileged neighborhoods with coordinated activity and group effort.

  • The first step in doing this was educating the members of the lower castes on the transgressions committed by the Brahmins. The Movement's key goals were social services and the expansion of education among women and members of lower castes.
  • The Samaj drew people from all castes, faiths, and occupations, including Muslims, Brahmins, peasants, landlords, agricultural workers, attorneys, merchants, Rajputs, untouchables, and public officials.
  • The Satyashodhak Movement highlighted the equality a heavenly creator had placed upon all men.
  • In addition, Satyashodhak Samaj promoted social reforms, including less expensive weddings, inter-caste unions, the prohibition of child marriage, and the ability of widows to remarry.
  • The Samaj also highlighted the value of English education, emphasizing how it was crucial for developing occupational skills and provided the foundation for the intellectual liberation of underprivileged people. Phule also thought a degree in English might lead to work prospects with the British government.
  • Samaj’s perspective on the colonial administration at the time was in opposition to that of nationalist organizations.

43. The Montague-Chelmsford Proposals were related to : [2016-1]

Correct Answer: (d) constitutional reforms
Solution:

The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms were reforms introduced by the British Government in India to introduce self-governing institutions gradually to India.
The reforms were outlined in the Montagu-Chelmsford Report prepared in 1918 and formed the basis of the Government of India Act 1919. They're related to Constitutional reforms.
The MCR would go on to become the basis for the Government of India Act, 1935, and, ultimately, the Constitution.
The key principles of responsible government, self-governance and federal structure grew out of these reforms. Montagu-Chelmsford Report on Indian constitutional reforms is a watershed in India’s constitutional history.
The MCR on Indian constitutional reforms along with the Montagu Declaration are, thus, worthy claim.

44. Consider the following: [2016-1]

1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee

2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation

3. Indian Reform Association

Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Solution:

In 1881, Keshab Chandra Sen established NabaBidhan (New Dispensation) meaning new universalist religion after having differences within BrahmoSamaj. He was also part of Indian reform association to legalize Brahmo marriage and to fix minimum age of marriage.

Calcutta Unitarian Committee was formed by Raja Rammohan Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore and William Adam, hence irrelevant to the question. Hence Answer (b) only 2 and 3.

45. What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907? [2016-1]

Correct Answer: (b) Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
Solution:

Extremists and moderates both seemed to be locking horns. The Extremists thought that the people had been encouraged and the battle for freedom had begun.

They felt the time had come for the big push to drive the British out and considered the Moderates to be a stumbling block to the movement.

So, Surat split occurred because extremists were dissatisfied with Moderates capacity to negotiate with the British.

46. The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War [2016-1]

Correct Answer: (d) India should be given Dominion status
Solution:

The falling of Singapore and Rangoon in the Second World War compelled Winston Churchill and the British war cabinet to send a high-powered mission to India under the supervision of Stafford Cripps. Churchill was against his own stance while signing the Atlantic Charter, 1941, proposed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the then-American President. The aim of the Mission was to win the cooperation of India with Britain vis-a-vis the War. The Mission was formulated on 30 March 1942 with the offer of ‘Dominion Status’ for India.
The Mission was a complete failure, which angered the Indian nationalists, leading to the establishment of the Quit India Movement.

47. With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements: [2016-1]

1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishn(a)

2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.

3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.

4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwar(a)

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) 2 and 4 only
Solution:Annamacharya belonged to 15th century. So, Annamacharya and Tyagaraja (born in 1767) can't be be contemporaries. By elimination we get B: 2 and 4 only.

Tyagaraja Aradhana

  • The aradhana is held every year on the anniversary of the demise of the saint.
  • The music festival is observed in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, primarily in Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district of Tamilnadu, the place where Tyagaraja attained Samadhi.
  • The aradhana is observed on Pushya Bahula Panchami day when the saint attains samadhi, where the musicians will render the saint’s Pancharatna Kritis.

48. The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were [2016-1]

Correct Answer: (d) Cotton, silk, saltpetre and opium
Solution:

''The fine qualities of cotton and silk produced in India had a big market in Europe.... The competition among the European companies inevitably pushed up the prices at which these goods could be purchase(d)"

''....By the end of the nineteenth century, half the imports and exports of India passed through Bombay. One important item of this trade was opium that the East India Company exported to Chin(a)"

"Indigo and saltpetre were the other major imports from India, and the fact that both products were produced in the eastern Gangetic plain, especially in Bihar, stimulated British efforts to establish factories on the east coast as well as the west coast of the Indian subcontinent."

So Saltpetre was indeed exported otherwise British wouldn't have made efforts to setup factories on East coast.

49. Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley? [2018-1]

Correct Answer: (c) To secure a fixed income for the Company
Solution:Point A, B and D were the salient features of Subsidiary Alliance, hence "C" doesn't apply.
Lord Wellesley, Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805, primarily implemented the Subsidiary Alliance as a strategic policy to establish British dominance over the Indian subcontinent. This policy was critical in the British East India Company’s expansionist strategies, transforming India’s political landscape.
By forcing Indian princely states to accept British military protection and submit to British control, the alliance allowed the British to exercise indirect rule over much of India. The Subsidiary Alliance was a significant step towards consolidating British power, paving the way for the establishment of the British raj.

50. Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the [2018-1]

Correct Answer: (c) commercialization of Indian agriculture
Solution:Commercialization of Indian agriculture was among the major impacts of British rule on Indian economy.
British policies shifted farming from subsistence to market-oriented production of cash crops like cotton, indigo, and tea to benefit British industries. This change disrupted traditional farming, reduced food production, led to increased farmer indebtedness and landlessness, and made Indian agriculture vulnerable to global price fluctuations, contributing to widespread famines.