Associations, Journals, Books and Plays: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)
This page lists 3 previous year UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (General Studies Paper-I) questions on Associations, Journals, Books and Plays (Modern History). Choose an option to see the correct answer and the full explanation on the same page.
Explanations state facts as they stood in the year each question was asked, so words like “recently” or “currently” refer to that year, not today. For the present position, check the latest Current Affairs.
Showing 1–3 of 3 questions
UPSC 2008Modern History · Associations, Journals, Books and Plays
Q1. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
List-I (Author)
List-II (Work)
A. Bankimchandra
1. Shatranj ke Khilari
B. Dinabandhu Mitra
2. Debi Chaudhurani
C. Premchand
3. Nil-Darpan
4. Chandrakanta
Explanation
A is correctly matched with 2: Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay is known for writing the novel Debi Chaudhurani, which depicts the story of a woman’s empowerment and resistance. B is correctly matched with 3: Nil-Darpan is a famous play written by Dinabandhu Mitra, which highlights the plight of indigo farmers in Bengal under British rule. C is correctly matched with 1: Shatranj ke Khilari (The Chess Players) is a story written by Premchand that critiques the indifference of Indian rulers during the British colonial period.
UPSC 2008Modern History · Associations, Journals, Books and Plays
Q2. Which one of the following was a journal brought out by Abul Kalam Azad?
Explanation
Abul Kalam Azad, a prominent freedom fighter and scholar, brought out the journal Al-Hilal in 1912. It was a weekly published in Urdu, aimed at promoting political consciousness among Muslims and opposing British colonial rule. Other works of Abul Kalam Azad were Al-Balagh, Gubhar-e-Khatir, and India wins Freedom.
Option (b),(c) and (d) are incorrect:
Muhammad Ali Jauhar published and edited the weekly English-language newspaper "The Comrade." The newspaper was banned in 1914 under the Press Act. Shyamji Krishna Verma served as the editor of "The Indian Sociologist" journal. The Zamindar newspaper was edited by Zafar Ali Khan but started by his father, Maulvi Sirajuddin Ahmad, in Sialkot as a farmer’s paper.
UPSC 2008Modern History · Associations, Journals, Books and Plays
Q3. Who among the following wrote the poem, Subh-e Azadi?
Explanation
Faiz Ahmed Faiz (1911-1984) was one of the most celebrated Urdu poets of the 20th century. He was a prominent figure in progressive literature and a vocal advocate for social justice, human rights, and anti-imperialism. The poem "Subh-e-Azadi" (Dawn of Freedom) was written by Faiz in 1947 which reflects on the partition of India and the bittersweet nature of independence. The poem captures the disillusionment and pain of partition, juxtaposing the joy of freedom with the tragedy of communal violence and displacement. The opening lines of the poem, "Ye daagh daagh ujala, ye shab-gazida sahar" (This stained light, this night-bitten dawn), are iconic and encapsulate the mixed emotions of the time.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2008
(c) A-2; B-3; C-1
2
2008
(a) Al-Hilal
3
2008
(b) Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Associations, Journals, Books and Plays?
This page covers 3 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Associations, Journals, Books and Plays (Modern History), asked between 1996 to 2008. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Associations, Journals, Books and Plays?
Questions on Associations, Journals, Books and Plays (Modern History) are available for 9 years, from 1996 to 2008. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
