Modern India and the Freedom Struggle — UPSC Prelims PYQs (Set 1)

Q1. Which of the following factors contributed to the formation of the Forward Bloc by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939 ?
1. Bose failed to win the confidence of Mahatma Gandhi.
2. The Congress Left was disunited and failed to support Bose.
3. The Communists did not support Bose in his endeavours.
4. The supporters of M.N. Roy and socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan preferred Congress unity to supporting Bose.
Select the answer using the code given below : UPSC Prelims 2026

Question 1 optionsA1, 2 and 3B1, 2 and 4C1, 3 and 4D2 and 4 only
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after its annexation in 1856 :
1. The taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates but allowed to retain their arms and forts.
2. A Summary Revenue Settlement was made in 1856 assuming that the taluqdars were outsiders.
3. The British believed in taking revenue directly from the peasants by removing the taluqdars.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? UPSC Prelims 2026

Question 2 optionsA2 and 3 onlyB1 and 3 onlyC1, 2 and 3D2 only
Q3. Consider the following assertion : The genesis of political alliances based on community lay in the very nature of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919.
Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion ?
1. Reforms retained and extended the principle of separate electorates.
2. Separate electorates were supposed to counter Indian nationalism, which was growing stronger.
3. Deprived classes rallied around the favours inherent in separate electorates.
Select the answer using the code given below : UPSC Prelims 2026

Question 3 optionsA1 onlyB2 and 3 onlyC1 and 2 onlyD1, 2 and 3
Q4. The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following reasons ? UPSC Prelims 2026

Question 4 optionsAAiding the flow of remittances from India and maintaining India’s creditworthinessBProviding support to Indian importersCEncouraging export of cotton produce from IndiaDPreventing depreciation of the Rupee in terms of gold
Q5. Which one of the following statements about the Eka Movement and Bardoli Satyagraha is correct ? UPSC Prelims 2026

Question 5 optionsAThe Eka Movement was throughout supported and organized by the Congress while Bardoli Satyagraha was initially independent of Congress influence and was only in the last stages supported by the Congress.BThe Eka Movement was provided leadership by the taluqdars of Awadh, whereas the Bardoli Satyagraha was a movement of the landless labourers.CThe Bardoli Satyagraha was a campaign against the enhancement of land revenue, while the Eka Movement was a protest against excessive extraction of rents.DThe Eka Movement was located in the Varanasi and Mirzapur districts of the present-day U.P., while the Bardoli Satyagraha took place in Saurashtra.
Q6. 11. Consider the following statements about Raja Ram Mohan Roy :
I. He possessed great love and respect for the traditional philosophical systems of the East.
II. He desired his countrymen to accept the rational and scientific approach and the principle of human dignity and social equality of all men and women.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? UPSC Prelims 2025

Question 6 optionsAI onlyBII onlyCBoth I and IIDNeither I nor II
Q7. 12. Consider the following subjects with regard to Non-Cooperation Programme :
I. Boycott of law-courts and foreign cloth
II. Observance of strict non-violence
III. Retention of titles and honours without using them in public
IV. Establishment of Panchayats for settling disputes
How many of the above were parts of Non-Cooperation Programme? UPSC Prelims 2025

Question 7 optionsAOnly oneBOnly twoCOnly threeDAll the four
Q8. Consider the following statements in respect of the Non-Cooperation Movement :
I. The Congress declared the attainment of 'Swaraj' by all legitimate and peaceful means to be its objective.
II. It was to be implemented in stages with civil disobedience and non- payment of taxes for the next stage only if 'Swaraj' did not come within a year and the Government resorted to repression.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? UPSC Prelims 2025

Question 8 optionsAI onlyBII onlyCBoth I and IIDNeither I nor II
Q9. "Sedition has become my religion" was the famous statement given by Gandhiji at the time of UPSC Prelims 2025

Question 9 optionsAthe Champaran SatyagrahaBpublicly violating Salt Law at DandiCattending the Second Round Table Conference in LondonDthe launch of the Quit India Movement
Q10. Who provided legal defence to the people arrested in the aftermath of Chauri Chaura incident? UPSC Prelims 2025

Question 10 optionsAC. R. DasBMadan Mohan Malaviya and Krishna KantCDr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Khwaja Hasan NizamiDM. A. Jinnah
Q11. Subsequent to which one of the following events, Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decided to include the upliftment of 'Harijans' in his political and social programme? UPSC Prelims 2025

Question 11 optionsAThe Poona PactBThe Gandhi-Irwin Agreement (Delhi Pact)CArrest of Congress leadership at the time of the Quit India MovementDPromulgation of the Government of India Act, 1935
Q12. Who among the following was the founder of the ‘Self-Respect Movement’? UPSC Prelims 2025

Question 12 optionsA‘Periyar’ E. V. Ramaswamy NaickerBDr. B. R. AmbedkarCBhaskarrao JadhavDDinkarrao Javalkar
Q13. Consider the following pairs :
1.
2.
3.
4.
How many of the above are correctly matched ? UPSC Prelims 2024

Question 13 optionsAOnly oneBOnly twoCOnly threeDAll four
Q14. By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India? UPSC Prelims 2023

Question 14 optionsAThe Regulating ActBThe Pitt's India ActCThe Charter Act of 1793DThe Charter Act of 1833

0 of 14 answered

Modern India and the Freedom Struggle — UPSC Prelims PYQs (Set 1)

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