Indian National Movement II (1918-1929): UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)
35 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on the national movement from 1918 to 1929 appear here, from 1996 to 2025. The topics are the Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh, the Non-Cooperation and Khilafat movements, Chauri Chaura, the Simon Commission and the Lahore session of 1929. The explanations give causes, leaders and consequences.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 11–20 of 35 questions
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UPSC 2009Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q11. During the Indian Freedom Struggle, why did the Rowlatt Act arouse popular indignation?
Explanation
The Rowlatt Act was officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919. Popular indignation arose because it allowed the government to detain individuals suspected of anti-government activities without trial for up to two years, violating basic civil rights. The Rowlatt Act (1919) was unrelated to religion. Its primary focus was on curbing political activities, particularly revolutionary movements against British rule. The Act did not address education in any form. Its provisions targeted political dissent and civil liberties rather than cultural or educational systems. The Act was not specifically aimed at trade unions. Its focus was on political repression, targeting freedom fighters and those involved in revolutionary activities.
UPSC 2009Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q12. Who founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association?
Explanation
Mahatma Gandhi founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labour Association in 1920 to improve the working and living conditions of textile workers in Ahmedabad. The association emphasized non-violent methods and arbitration to resolve labour disputes, aligning with Gandhian principles. N.M. Joshi was labour leader and founder of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920 but unrelated to this association.
UPSC 2008Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q13. Who was the Viceroy of India when the Rowlatt Act was passed?
Explanation
The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 during the viceroyalty of Lord Chelmsford (1916-1921). Officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919, it aimed to curb revolutionary activities by allowing imprisonment without trial for up to two years, essentially denying people their basic civil rights.
UPSC 2007Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q14. Which one of the following aroused a wave of popular indignation that led to the massacre by the British at Jallianwala Bagh?
Explanation
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 13, 1919) was a tragic event where British General Reginald Dyer ordered his troops to fire on a peaceful gathering of unarmed Indians, killing hundreds, in protest associated with the repressive Rowlatt Act. The Act allowed the British government to imprison people without trial, which infringed upon basic civil liberties.
UPSC 2006Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q15. Under whose presidency was the Lahore session of the Indian Congress held in the year 1929, wherein a resolution was adopted to gain complete independence from the British?
Explanation
The Lahore session of the Indian National Congress was held in 1929 under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru. During this session, the Congress adopted the historic resolution to demand Purna Swaraj (complete independence) from British rule. It was also decided to celebrate 26th January 1930 as Independence Day, marking the declaration of India’s resolve for full sovereignty. This session marked a significant shift in the freedom struggle, moving away from dominion status demands to the goal of complete independence.
UPSC 2005Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q16. Where were the Ghadar revolutionaries, who became active during the outbreak of World War I based?
Explanation
The Ghadar revolutionaries were primarily based in North America, particularly in regions like California, USA, and British Columbia, Canada. They established the Ghadar Party in 1913 to organize revolutionary activities against British colonial rule in India specifically in cities like San Francisco and Vancouver. The party played a significant role in spreading revolutionary ideas and organizing uprisings, particularly during World War I, aiming to incite mutiny in the British Indian Army and disrupt British operations in India. Central America, West America, and South America regions did not serve as significant bases for the Ghadar revolutionaries.
UPSC 2005Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q17. Who drafted the resolution on fundamental rights for the Karachi session of Congress in 1931?
Explanation
The resolution on Fundamental Rights and the National Economic Program was drafted by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for the Karachi session of the Indian National Congress in 1931. The Resolution on Fundamental Rights guaranteed free speech and free press, the right to form associations, the right to assemble, universal adult franchise, equal legal rights irrespective of caste, creed and sex, free and compulsory primary education, protection to culture, language, the script of minorities and linguistic groups
UPSC 2005Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q18. In October 1920, who headed a group of Indians gathered at Tashkent to set up a communist party of India?
Explanation
In October 1920, M.N. Roy (Manabendra Nath Roy) headed a group of Indians in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to establish the Communist Party of India (CPI). This marked the formal introduction of communism in India. The party was founded with the support of the Comintern (Communist International), reflecting global efforts to spread Marxist ideologies. This group, influenced by the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia, sought to establish a Marxist-oriented political organization in India.
UPSC 2005Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q19. Who among the following was not associated with the formation of U.P. Kisan Sabha in February 1918?
Explanation
The U.P. Kisan Sabha was formed in February 1918 to address the grievances of peasants in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). It was initiated by Madan Mohan Malviya, Gauri Shankar Misra, and Indra Narain Dwivedi, who worked together to mobilize the peasantry against oppressive taxes, such as high rents, land revenue, and exploitation by landlords. Jawaharlal Nehru was not directly associated with the formation of U.P. Kisan Sabha.
UPSC 2005Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q20. Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? Movement/ Satyagraha Person Actively Associated with A. Champaran Rajendra Prasad B. Ahmedabad Mill Workers: Morarji Desai C. Kheda: Vallabhai Patel Select the correct answer using the code given below: Codes:
Explanation
Pair (1) is correctly matched: Rajendra Prasad actively participated in Champaran Satyagraha under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership to address the grievances of indigo farmers against oppressive plantation laws.
Pair (2) is incorrectly matched: Ahmedabad Mill Workers Strike was led by Mahatma Gandhi to secure fair wages and better working conditions for mill workers in Ahmedabad in 1918. Morarji Desai was not involved in this movement.
Pair (3) is correctly matched: Vallabhbhai Patel, under Gandhi’s guidance, led the movement in 1918 to demand tax remission for peasants affected by famine in the Kheda district of Gujarat.
Additional insight:
Morarji Desai actively participated in the Indian freedom struggle, resigning from the civil services in 1930 to join Mahatma Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Movement. He was deeply influenced by Gandhian principles and became a committed Congress leader. During the Quit India Movement of 1942, he was arrested and imprisoned for three years by the British government. Throughout the struggle, he remained dedicated to non-violence and self-reliance, aligning himself with the Congress Socialist Party. His contributions to the nationalist movement helped shape his later political career, ultimately leading him to become India’s Prime Minister (1977-1979) after the Emergency period.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
11
2009
(c) It authorized the government to imprison people without trial
12
2009
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
13
2008
(c) Lord Chelmsford
14
2007
(c) The Rowlatt Act
15
2006
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
16
2005
(b) North America
17
2005
(b) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
18
2005
(d) M.N. Roy
19
2005
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
20
2005
(c) 1 and 3
What UPSC has tested in Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
The Rowlatt Act (the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919) allowed imprisonment without trial; Lord Chelmsford was Viceroy.
Gandhi suspended the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922 after violence at Chauri Chaura.
The Simon Commission of 1927 was boycotted because it had no Indian member.
The Lahore session of 1929 under Jawaharlal Nehru adopted the goal of complete independence.
Moderates left the Congress after the Montagu-Chelmsford Report and formed the Indian Liberal Federation.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)?
This page covers 35 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Indian National Movement II (1918-1929) (Modern History), asked from 1996 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
What was the Rowlatt Act?
The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919 allowed the British to imprison suspects without trial and try political cases without juries. Popular anger against it led to the Rowlatt Satyagraha and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April 1919.
Why was the Simon Commission boycotted?
Because the statutory commission of 1927 had no Indian member, even though it was to recommend constitutional reforms for India. The Congress and the Muslim League decided to boycott it, and protesters carried “Simon Go Back” banners.
Under whose presidency did the Congress adopt Purna Swaraj at Lahore?
Jawaharlal Nehru, at the Lahore session in December 1929. The Congress declared complete independence as its goal and decided to launch civil disobedience, with 26 January 1930 observed as Independence Day.
