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IAS pre 2010

1. By a regulation in 1793, the District Collector was deprived of his judicial powers and made the collecting agent only. What was the reason for such regulation?

1. Lord Cornwallis felt that the District Collector’s efficiency of revenue collection would enormously increase without the burden of other work
2. Lord Cornwallis felt that judicial power should compulsorily be in the hands of Europeans while Indians can be given the job of revenue collection in the districts
3. Lord Cornwallis was alarmed at the extent of power concentrated in the District Collector and felt that such absolute power was undesirable in one person.
4. The judicial work demanded a deep knowledge of India and a good training in law and’ Lord Cornwallis felt that District Collector should be only a revenue collector

Obviously concentration of power in one hand wasn’t good

Learning – Reforms by Lord Cornwallis, Administrtative reform, Judicial reforms, commercial reforms, Cornwallis code

2. With reference to Simon Commission’s recommendations, which one of the following statements is correct?

1. It recommended the replacement of diarchy with responsible government in the provinces.
2. It proposed the setting up of interprovincial council under the Home Department.
3. It suggested the abolition of bicameral legislature at the Centre.
4. In recommended the creation of Indian Police Service with a provision for increased pay and allowances for British recruits as compared to Indian recruits.

• Simon commission came to investigate workings of govt of India act 1919 and Govt of India act 1935 was enacted on the recommendation of Simon commission
• GOI act 1935 abolished dyarchy in provinces and gave them autonomy
• Answer is clear

Learning – boycott of Simon commission, assassination of Saunders, Nehru report, RTCs  

3. Four resolutions were passed at the famous Calcutta session of Indian National Congress in 1906. The question of either retention OR of rejection of these four resolutions became the cause of a split in Congress at the next Congress session held in Surat in 1907. Which one of the following was not one of these resolutions?

1. Annulment of partition of Bengal.
2. Boycott.
3. National education
4. Swadeshi

• Repeat
• 4th resolution would obviously be on partition of Bengal not annulment

Learning – politics played by moderates in this session, immediate cause of split in congress, Delhi durbar and annulment of partition

4. After Quit India Movement, C. Rajagopalachari issued a pamphlet entitled “The Way Out”. Which one of the following was a proposal in this pamphlet?

1. The establishment of a “War Advisory Council” composed of representatives of British India and the Indian States.
2. Reconstitution of the Central Executive Council in such a way that all its members, except the Governor General and the Commander-in- Chief should be Indian leaders.
3. Fresh elections to the Central and Provincial Legislatures to be held at the end of 1945 and the Constitution making body to be convened as soon as possible.
4. A solution for the constitutional deadlock.

• Way out would be way out of deadlock i.e constitutional deadlock as congress and Muslims leagues did not agree to Cripps proposals,  also k/as rajgopalachari formula
• It was rejected by congress though Gandhi did talk to Jinnah based on this formula

Learning – points of contention on Cripps proposals and Wavell plan, Rajgopalachari formula / CR formula

5. Who among the following Governor Generals created the Covenanted Civil Service of India which later came to be known as the Indian Civil Service?

1. Warren Hastings
2. Wellesley
3. Cornwallis
4. William Bentinck

Cornwallis – father of civil services

Learning – Evolution of civil services, Macaulay committee

6.With reference to Pondicherry (now Puducherry), consider the following statements:

1. The first European power to occupy Pondicherry were the Portuguese.
2. The second European power to occupy Pondicherry were the French.
3. The English never occupied Pondicherry.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

3 is clearly wrong as Britain did occupy Pondicherry but returned it back, NCERT British – French conflict

Learning – Carnatic Wars and treaties,

7. For the Karachi session of Indian National Congress in 1931 presided over by Sardar Patel, who drafted the Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Programme?

1. Mahatma Gandhi
2. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
3. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
4. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar

• Repeat, covered in titbit
• In this, congress told in concrete terms what Swaraj would mean in real terms to people. Provinces based on language were also announced

Learning – imp points of this programme and differences with fundamental rights of independent India, Bombay Manifesto

8.Who among the following were official Congress negotiators with Cripps Mission?

1. Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel
2. Acharya J. B. Kripalani and C. Rajagopalachari
3. Pandit Nehru and Maulana Azad
4. Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai

• Gandhiji stopped negotiating after RTC. Obviously tallest leaders would be the negotiators in such important proposals.
• Others were Patel and Rajgopalachari
• Both Congress and leagure rejected the propsal

Learning – point of contention b/w league and congress over Cripps proposals, why did congress reject Cripps, Cripps offer an improvement over August offer

9. What was the immediate cause for the launch of the Swadeshi movement?

1. The partition of Bengal done by Lord Curzon
2. A sentence of 18 months rigorous imprisonment imposed on Lokmanya Tilak
3. The arrest and deportation of Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh; and passing of the Punjab Colonization Bill
4. Death sentence pronounced on the Chapekar brothers

Repeat, very imp.

Learning – Sequence of events in Swadeshi movement, Resolutions passed in Calcutta session, Politics played, Formation of Muslim League, Split in congress, annulment of partion, reunification

10..Consider the following statements:

1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad persuaded Mahatma Gandhi to come to Champaran to investigate the problem of peasants.
2. Acharya J. B. Kriplani was one of Mahatma Gandhi’s colleagues in his Champaran investigation.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• A farmer Rajkumar Shukla not Dr. Rajendra Prasad persuaded Gandhiji
• Gandhiji was accompanied by Babu Rajendra Prasad, J. B. Kripalani, Mahadev Desai Gandhijee

Learning – Gandhiji’s first three satyagrahas and associated leaders

11..Consider the following statements:

1. The “Bombay Manifesto” signed in 1936 openly opposed the preaching of socialist ideals.
2. It evoked support from a large section of business community from all across India.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Bombay plan and Bombay manifesto are different
• Bombay plan was during WW 2
• In Bomaby Manifesto, they actually opposed Nehru’s socialist ideas / cooperative ideas
• I am not sure about support from a large section but as it was proposed by leading Businessmen, might be true

Learning – Freedom movement and capitalist class, Bombay plan

Pre 2012

1. Consider the following statements :

The most effective contribution made by DadabhaiNaoroji to the cause of Indian National Movement was that he

1. exposed the economic exploitation of India by the British
2. interpreted the ancient Indian texts and restored the self-confidence of Indians
3. stressed the need for eradication of all the social evils before anything else

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

• Asked many times indirectly
• He was a moderate congress leader who presented economic critique of colonialism.
• He wasn’t a social reformer. You don’t read his name in social reform movement chapter obviously 2 and 3 are wrong

Learning – economic critique of colonialism, books written by Nairoji, ranade, R. C. Dutt

2. Which of the following parties were established by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar?

1. The Peasants and Workers Party of India
2. All India Scheduled Castes Federation
3. The Independent Labour Party

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

• The Peasants and Workers Party of India was founded in 1947. The party was founded in Maharashtra by Tulsidas Jadhav, Keshavrao Jedhe and others.
• Scheduled Castes Federation (SCF) was founded by Dr. Ambedkar in 1942 to fight for the rights of the Dalit community. SCF was the successor organization of the Independent Labour Party led by Ambedkar.

Learning – newspapers and other publication by Gandhiji in India and south Africa,  ashrams established by Gandhiji, parties established by Ambedkar

3. Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932, mainly because:

(a) Round Table Conference failed to satisfy Indian political aspirations

(b) Congress and Muslim League had differences of opinion

(c) Ramsay Macdonald announced the Communal Award

(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct in this context

Very famous incident. Gandhi took fast unto death on the announcement of communal award and Poona pact was signed after that with agreement of Gandhiji and Ambedkar

Leaning – evolution of separate electorate in British Raj,  three round table conferences, participation of Congress and outcome

4. Consider the following :

1. Assessment of land revenue on the basis of nature of the soil and the quality of crops
2. Use of mobile cannons in warfare
3. Cultivation of tobacco and red chillies

Which of the above was/were introduced into India by the English?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2

(c) 2 and 3

(d) None

• Tobaco was introduced by Portuguese. Everyone knows that
• 1 was done even by Raja Todermal

Learning – things introduced by British, Portuguese and Mughals

5. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding BrahmoSamaj?

1. It opposed idolatry.
2. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the religious texts.
3. It popularized the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

• 3 is wrong. That Vedas are infallible was propagated by Swami dayanand saraswati and Arya samaj
• 2 is common theme across socioreligious reform movement
• Exclude 3, include 2

Learning – brahmo samaj v/s arya samaj, split in brahmo samaj and Arya samaj, everything about Raja Ram Mohan Roy

6. The Rowlatt Act aimed at:

(a) compulsory economic support to war efforts

(b) imprisonment without trial and summary procedures for trial

(c) suppression of the Khilafat Movement

(d) imposition of restrictions on freedom of the press

• Repeat
• On the recommendations of sedition committee. Imprisonment without trial. For how many months?

Learning – Rowlatt satyagraha, revolutionary terrorism/ extremism, HSRA, Yugantar, Abhinav Bharat

7. The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress (1929) is very important in history, because

1. the Congress passed a resolution demanding complete independence
2. the rift between the extremists and moderates was resolved in that Session
3. a resolution was passed rejecting the two-nation theory in that Session

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I only

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 1 and 3

(d) None of the above

• Repeat. All options are repeat
• 1st is true poorna swaraj resolution
• 2 is wrong, it was done in Lucknow session in 1916
• 2 nations theory had not yet formed to merit passing a resolution rejecting the theory

Learning – Swaraj resolution, Poorna Swaraj resolution, Pakistan resolution

8. During Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?

(a) Different social reform groups or organizations of Bengal region united to form a single body to discuss the issues of larger interest and to prepare appropriate petitions/representations to the government.

(b) Indian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its deliberations and decided to form a separate body for such a purpose

(c) BehramjiMalabari and M. G. Ranade decided to bring together all the social reform groups of the country under one organization

(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct in this context

• was founded by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao. It was virtually the social reform cell of the Indian National Congress.
• The Conference met annually as a subsidiary convention of the Indian National Congress, at the same venue, and focused attention on social reform.
• The Conference advocated intercaste marriages and opposed kulinism and polygamy.
• Not very sure of the answer. B seems like the best option

Learning – Indian sociologist and societies for Indian freedom formed abroad, role of madam Bhikaji Kama and Shyamji Krishna Verma

Pre 2011

1. Which one of the following observations is not true about the Quit India Movement of 1942?

(a.) It was a non-violent movement

(b.) It was led by Mahatma Gandhi

(c.) It was a spontaneous movement

(d.) It did not attract the labour class in general

• Repeat
• It was clearly a very violent movement and was crushed very brutally

Learning – three phases of quit India movement, parallel govt formation

2. Which amongst the following provided a common factor for tribal insurrection in India in the 19th century?

(a.) Introduction of a new system of land revenue and taxation- of tribal products

(b.) Influence of foreign religious missionaries in tribal areas

(c.) Rise of a large number of money lenders, traders and revenue farmers as middlemen in tribal areas

(d.) The complete disruption of the old agrarian order of the tribal communities

• Taxation of tribal products seems like a bogus option
• Not every tribal area would have witnessed b and c
• D is sum of everything

Learning – major tribal and peasant movements, santhal and munda uprising, Eka, tebehaga, telangana movement, indigo revolt, Bardoli satyagraha

3. Mahatma Gandhi said that some of his deepest convictions were reflected in a book titled, “Unto this Last” and the book transformed his life. What was the message from the book that transformed Mahatma Gandhi?

(a.) Uplifting the oppressed and poor is the moral responsibility of an educated man

(b.) The good of individual is contained in the good of all

(c.) The life of celibacy and spiritual pursuit are essential for a noble life

(d.) All the statements (a), (b) and (c) are correct in this context

• Don’t lose sleep if you don’t know the answer
• You can read the book for essay and ethics

4. With reference to Indian freedom struggle, Usha Mehta is well-known for:

(a.) Running the secret Congress Radio in the wake of Quit India Movement

(b.) Participating in the Second Round Table Conference

(c.) Leading a contingent of Indian National Army

(d.) Assisting in the formation of Interim Government under Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

• B and d wouldn’t make anyone famous
• A is true. Last phase of quit India movement was an underground phase. Usha mehta ran secret radio from somewhere in India

Learning – stand of communists and congress socialists on word war 2 and quit India movement, working class participating in QIM v/s that in CDM

5. What was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi to organize a satyagraha on behalf of the peasants of Kheda?

1. The Administration did not suspend the land revenue collection in spite of a drought.
2. The Administration proposed to introduce Permanent Settlement in Gujarat.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a.) 1 only

(b.) 2 only

(c.) Both 1 and 2

(d.) Neither 1 nor 2

• Repeat, covered in titbit
• B is bogus option
• A is correct

Learning – Gandhiji’s first three satyagraha, other leaders involved in those satyagrahas

6. The tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following provisions?

(a.) Making Zamindar’s position stronger vis-a-vis the ryot

(b.)Making East India Company an overlord of Zamindars

(c.) Making judicial system more efficient

(d.)None of the (a), (b) and (c) above

• reason was that the Court Fee was removed and now every body could drag anybody to courts.
• The extension to right of appeal
• Court fees were abolished
  Learning – Cornwallis code, reforms of Cornwallis

7. With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, “Home Charges” formed an important part of drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted “Home Charges”?

1. Funds used to support the India Office in London.
2. Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British personnel engaged in India.
3. Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a.) 1 only

(b.) 1 and 2 only

(c.) 2 and 3 only

(d.) 1, 2 and 3

Home charges means money spent by Britain in Britain on behalf of India. They included

1. dividends on East India Stock
2. interest in Home debt
3. the salaries of the officer
4. establishments of the and building connected with the Home Department of Indian Government
5. furlough and retired pay to members of the Indian Military and Civil Services when at Home
6. Charges of all descriptions paid in this country connected with the British troops serving in India and
7. portion of the cost of transporting the British troops to and from India

I am not so sure about statement 3. Funds used for waging war outside India as when British fought in wars nor do I find direct mention of it in home charges. EIC donated money to them. IMO statemnt 3 is wrong

8. With reference to the period of Indian freedom struggle, which of the following was/were recommended by the Nehru report?

1. Complete Independence for India.
2. Joint electorates for reservation of seats for minorities.
3. Provision of fundamental rights for the people of India in the Constitution.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a.) 1 only

(b.) 2 and 3 only

(c.) 1 and 3 only

(d.) 1, 2 and 3

• Covered in titbit
• 1 is wrong. It demanded dominion status which was a point of disagreement b/W moderates v/s more radical young leaders like Nehru and Subhash

Learning – Nehru report, swaraj resolution, poorna swaraj resolution, dominon status offer, independence status offer

9. What was the purpose with which Sir William Wedderburn and W. S. Caine had set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee in 1893?

(a.) To agitate for Indian political reforms in the House of Commons

(b.) To campaign for. the entry of Indians into the Imperial Judiciary

(c.) To facilitate a discussion on India’s Independence in the British Parliament

(d.) To agitate for the entry of eminent Indians into the British Parliament

• D is bogus, who would demand such things
• C is bogus. Not even Indian leaders were demanding independence at that time
• B is also bogus. Anyone would first demand more Indians in higher Indian judiciary than imperial judiciary
• A makes sense. Indian political reform was the favour of day then. Congress was demanding that. They also demanded same thing but this time in British parliament/ house of commons

Leading – achievement of moderates

Pre 2014

1. The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until

1. the First World War when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended.
2. King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at the Royal Darbar in Delhi in 1911
3. Gandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience Movement
4. the Partition of India, in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan

• All other options are absolutely bogus options
• This was the 1st real victory of nationalist movement. British had to eat humble pie and annul the partition
• In 1911 King George V visited India and  A royal durbar was held @Delhi
• The capital of India is transferred from Calcutta to Delhi
• It was held three times, in 1877, 1903, and 1911 and only the last time the sovereign attended it.

Learning – When was Queen Victoria proclaimed as empress of India? 1st Darbar and Great famine of 1876 -78 and Lord Lytton, Annulment of partition and its role in reunification of Congress

2. The 1929 Session of Indian, National Congress is of significance in the history of the Freedom Movement because the

1. attainment of Self-Government was declared as the objective of the Congress
2. attainment of Poorna Swaraj Was adopted as the goal of the Congress
3. Non-Cooperation Movement was launched
4. decision to participate in the Round Table Conference in London was taken

• Repeat, covered in titbits
• Poorna swaraj goal
• NCM was in 1920
• Congress did not even participate in 1st RTC. This decision was taken after Gandhi- Irwin pact

Learning – Swaraj resolution, Poorna Swaraj resolution, Dominion status v/s Independent status

3. The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a

1. Revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco.
2. nationalist organization operating from Singapore
3. militant organization with headquarters at Berlin
4. communist movement for India’s freedom with head-quarters at Tashkent

• Simple question. On the east coast of USA, San Francisco. There was a newspaper/ pamphlet by similar name
• This is a very important topic for this year as PM of Canada apologised officially for the incident

Learning – komagata maru incident, Canadian PM apology, failure of ghadar movement, name of most prominent leaders of this movement

4. What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1858)?

1. To disclaim any intention to annex Indian States
2. To place the Indian administration under the British Crown
3. To regulate East India Company’s trade with India

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

• Regulation of trade had already been done. Now politically directly under crown
• The announcement reversed Lord Dalhousie’s pre-war policy of political unification through princely state annexation <doctrine of lapse>

Learning – act of 1773, 1813 and this proclamation very important, Doctrine of lapse, first state to fall under doctrine of lapse, doctrine of subsidiary alliance, first state to fall prey to doctrine of subsidiary alliance, Contribution of Lord Dalhousie to India 

5. The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to

1. solve the problem of minorities in India
2. give effect to the Independence Bill
3. delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan
4. enquire into the riots in East Bengal

Simple – Radcliffe was the jurist hence the boundary known by his name

Learning – how was the decision to go to Pakistan or stay with India taken? McMahon line and Shimla accord, LOC v/s LAC v/s AGPL, Durand line

Prelims 2013

1. With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were:

(a) directly elected by the people of those Provinces

(b) nominated by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League

(c) elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies

(d) selected by the Government for their expertise in constitutional matters

• Question repeated in CAPF 2016
• Indirect election it was <one of the criticism that members were not even elected by people. In fact even members of provincial assembly who elected them were themselves elected by jut 10% of the voting age population as the Franchise was very limited>

Learning – Imp. committees of constituent assembly, Cabinet mission plan and interim cabinet

2. The people of India agitated against the arrival of Simon Commission because

1. Indians never wanted the review of the working of the Act of 1919
2. Simon Commission recommended the abolition of  Dyarchy (Diarchy) in the Provinces
3. there was no Indian member in the Simon Commission
4. the Simon Commission suggested the partition of the country

Very simple, covered in titbit

Learning – Why did Simon commission even visited India, Recommendation of Simon commission, Nehru report in response to Simon commission, Controversy on Nehru Report, J.L. Nehru’s objection to Nehru report, Jinnah’s objection to Nehru report, Gandhi- Irwin pact

3. Quit India Movement was launched in response to

1. Cabinet Mission Plan
2. Cripps Proposals
3. Simon Commission Report
4. Wavell Plan

• Quit India movement was launched in aug 1942
• Cabinet mission in 1946 -wrong
• Wavell plan or Shimla conference – 1945 – wrong
• Simon Comission report – after 1928, before 1932
• Cripps mission – March 1942, answer is obvious

Learning – Cripps proposals, proposed dominion or independent status? Why did it fail? Why was Cripps even sent to India?, Post dated cheque on failing bank?, Failure of Wavell plan?, Learn sequence o events from 2nd world war carefully, august offer, Rajgoplachari plan, Mount Baton plan and all

4. The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for

1. the reduction of the share of the landlords from one-half of the crop to one-third
2. the grant of ownership of land to peasants as they were the actual cultivators of the land
3. the uprooting of Zamindari system and the end of serfdom
4. writing off all peasant debts

• Covered in titbit
• tebhaga means 3 parts
• in 1946 the sharecroppers of Bengal began to assert that they would no longer pay a half share of their crops to Jotedars but only 1/3rd and that before division
• the crop would be stored in their khamars (Godowns) and not that of the Jotedars

Learning – important peasant revolts, working class movements, Bardoli Satyagaraha, Eka movement, Indigo revolt

5. Annie Besant was

1. responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement
2. the founder of the Theosophical Society
3. Once the President of the Indian National Congress

Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

• Tilak started Home Rule league in April 1916 while Annie Besant launched her Home Rule league in September 1916
• Theosophical Society was founded by Madam Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott 1875.Annie Besant joined the team much later, in 1889
• She was in fact 1st woman president of INC. This fact has been asked many times

Learning – Theosophical society, contribution of Annie Besant

6. The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the

1. imposition restrictions the Indians of certain to carry arms by Indians
2. imposition of restrictions on newspapers and magazines published in Indian languages
3. removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans
4. removal of a duty on imported cotton cloth

• Earlier Indian judges could not try Europeans
• The Illbert Bill (1883) of lord Rippon sought to empower the Indian judges to try Europeans in criminal cases.

Learning – Lord Rippon v/s Lord Lytoon, Vernacular press act, arms act, first factory act, Anglo – Afghan war, reforms brought by lord Rippon, reforms brought by lord Mayo