Second World War

1. Consider the following statements: [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1992]

Statement (S): Indian National Congress had collaborated/assisted British in II World War.
Reason (R): Because they were expecting to complete independence.

(a) (S) and (R) are individually true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (S).
(b) Both (S) and (R) are false.
(c) (S) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (R) is true, but (S) is false.

Correct Answer: (b) Both (S) and (R) are false.

Solution:During the Second World War, the proposal approved by Indian National Congress criticized Nazism, Fascism, and the Nazi invasion of Poland. It was declared under the proposal that India could not take part in any such war which is being fought to protect democratic liberty while India itself was deprived of liberty. Therefore, both the statement and the reason are incorrect.

2. What was the policy of Indian National Congress during II World War? [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1953]

(a) Cooperation of Britain in the case of assurance of Complete Independence.
(b) Active collaboration of British (Britain)
(c) Neutrality
(d) None of the above.

Correct Answer: (a) Cooperation of Britain in the case of assurance of Complete Independence.

Solution:When World War II broke out in 1939, Britain made India belligerent without consulting Indian elected councils and also declared the Emergency. That action angered Indian officials and prompted the Congress Party to declare that India would not support the War until it had been granted Complete Independence.

3. The Congress Ministries in all the provinces resigned in the year 1939, because: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2012]

(a) Congress was unable to make a cabinet in four other provinces.
(b) (b) The rise of the left-wing of Congress made it impossible to work for the cabinet.
(c) There was too much communal turbulence in the provinces.
(d) None of the above is true from the given statement (a), (b), (c).

Correct Answer: (d) None of the above is true from the given statement (a), (b), (c).

Solution:After 28 months of tenure, the cabinets of Congress resigned in 1939 because the British Government had declared India as a war-torn country without the consent of Indians. Thus, option (d) is true.

4. When did the II-World War end? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1995]

(a) 1937
(b) 1918
(c) 1946
(d) 1945

Correct Answer: (d) 1945

Solution:The Second World War commenced on September 1, 1939, with the invasion of Germany over Poland, which ended after six years in 1945.

5. Who was the British Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War? [38th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1992]

(a) Clement Attlee
(b) Anthony Eden
(c) Winston Churchill
(d) Harold Wilson

Correct Answer: (c) Winston Churchill

Solution:Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of Britain during the Second World War. His tenure was from 1940-45 and 1951-55.

6. Consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2008]

Assertion (A): The Congress Ministries in all the provinces resigned in the year 1939.
Reason (R): The Congress did not accept the decision of the Viceroy to declare war against Germany in the context of the Second World War.

(a) (A) and (R) are individually true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) (A) and (R) are individually true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) Both (A) and (R) are false.
(d) (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Correct Answer: (a) (A) and (R) are individually true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Solution:On October 17, 1939 Lord Linlithgow declared India in the war against Germany. Congress cabinets had resigned from all the provinces for declaring war without the consent of the Congress Minister. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.