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 31–35 of 35 questions
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UPSC 1998Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q31. Assertion (A): Gandhi stopped the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922. Reason (R): Violence at Chauri-Chaura led him to stop the movement.
Explanation
The Non-Cooperation Movement, launched in 1920, aimed to achieve Swaraj through non-violent means. However, the Chauri-Chaura incident in February 1922, where protesters clashed with police and set a police station on fire, killing 22 policemen. A is true: Gandhi did stop the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922 believing that the movement had strayed from its non-violent principles. R is true: The violence at Chauri-Chaura was the pivotal reason for Gandhi’s decision. R is the correct explanation of A: The abandonment of non-violence conflicted with Gandhi’s philosophy, making the incident a decisive factor in halting the movement.
UPSC 1997Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q32. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I
List-II
A. Morley Minto
1. Country-wise agitation
B. Simon Commission
2. Withdrawal of a movement
C. Chauri-Chaura
3. Communal electorates incident
D. Dandi March
4. Communal outbreaks
5. Illegal manufactures of salt
Explanation
The events of the 20th century were marked by major political reforms, protests, and movements that significantly shaped India’s struggle for independence. Morley-Minto Reforms (1909) introduced separate electorates for Muslims and increased Indian representation in the legislature under British rule. Simon Commission (1927) was appointed to review the Government of India Act, 1919, which was met with widespread protests in India due to its all-white composition. Chauri-Chaura Incident (1922) was a violent clash between protesters and police during the Non-Cooperation Movement, leading to the death of 22 policemen, which caused Gandhi to suspend the movement. Dandi March (1930) led by Mahatma Gandhi to defy the British salt monopoly, marking a pivotal moment in the Civil Disobedience Movement.Gandhi and his followers illegally produced salt by collecting seawater and evaporating it, symbolizing defiance of British law.
UPSC 1997Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q33. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I
List-II
A. Chittagong Armoury raid
1. Lala Hardayal
B. Kakori Conspiracy
2. Jatin Das
C. Lahore Conspiracy
3. Surya Sen
D. Ghadar Party
4. Ram Prasad Bismil
Explanation
The Chittagong Armoury Raid took place in April, 1930, in Chittagong was led by Surya Sen. The aim was to establish an armed struggle and ignite a rebellion against the British government. The Kakori Conspiracy (1925) is associated with looting a train carrying government funds by the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), and Ram Prasad Bismil was one of its chief organizers. The Lahore Conspiracy refers to the Central Assembly Bombing which took place in 1929. The bombing was an attempt to protest against the repressive laws of the British government. Jatin Das was accused of making a bomb that was thrown in the Assembly Hall during a regular session by Bhagat Singh and Batukeswar Dutt. The Ghadar Party was an important revolutionary organization founded in 1913 in the United States by Lala Hardayal and other expatriates. Its goal was to liberate India from British colonial rule through armed struggle.
UPSC 1996Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q34. The Sarabandi (no tax) campaign of 1922 was led by:
Explanation
The Sarabandi Campaign was led by Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat. It was a non-violent protest where farmers refused to pay taxes, highlighting the oppressive tax policies of the British. This campaign strengthened Patel’s leadership role in the independence movement. It showcased the growing unity and defiance among Indians against British exploitation, setting the stage for future movements like the Civil Disobedience Movement.
UPSC 1996Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q35. The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crime Act (1919) was popularly known as the:
Explanation
The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crime Act of 1919 was a draconian law enacted by the British government to curb revolutionary activities in India. It became infamous for its oppressive measures and the widespread protests it provoked. It was famously called the Rowlatt Act, which was passed in 1919, and it allowed the British government to imprison individuals without trial for up to 2 years and suppress civil liberties under the pretext of curbing revolutionary activities.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
31
1998
(a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A.
32
1997
(d) A-3; B-1; C-2; D-5
33
1997
(c) A-3; B-4; C-2; D-1
34
1996
(d) Vallabhbhai Patel
35
1996
(a) Rowlatt Act
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.
