Indian National Movement III (1930-1947): UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)
7 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Indian National Movement III (1930-1947) (Modern History). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–7 of 7 questions
UPSC 2000Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q1. Which one of the following is not a feature of the Government of India Act of 1935?
Explanation
The Government of India Act of 1935 was a landmark legislation that introduced significant constitutional reforms in British India. It aimed to establish a federal structure, provide provincial autonomy, and extend self-government. The Act also created a bicameral central legislature and granted limited political participation, though it fell short of full independence.
Option (a) is correct: As per the Government of India Act of 1935, dyarchy which was provided for the Federal Executive. Dyarchy in the provinces was abolished. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect: As the act did provide for:
The Act provided for a bicameral legislature at the centre, consisting of the Council of States (Upper House) and the Legislative Assembly (Lower House). Provincial Autonomy i.e., the distinction between Reserved and Transferred Subjects was abolished and full responsible government was established Establishment of an All-India Federation (proposed, but not implemented)
UPSC 2000Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q2. The Indian National Army (I.N.A.) came into existence in 1943 in:
Explanation
The Indian National Army (INA) was formed during World War II with the objective of fighting against British rule in India. The idea of INA was first conceived in Malaya by Captain Mohan Singh in 1942. The Indian National Army was officially formed in Singapore in 1943. It was led by Subhas Chandra Bose, who sought support from the Axis powers (primarily Japan) to organize an army that could help achieve Indian independence. Bose gave the INA the slogan "Chalo Delhi" to inspire the troops to march towards Delhi to overthrow British rule.
UPSC 2000Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q3. As an alternative to the partition of India, Gandhiji suggested to Mountbatten that he:
Explanation
As the partition of India became imminent in 1947, Mahatma Gandhi opposed the idea of dividing the country along communal lines. Gandhi proposed that Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim League, be invited to form the central government of India as a last-ditch effort to avoid partition. Gandhi believed this move would address Jinnah’s demand for Muslim representation and avert the division of the country. However, this suggestion was not accepted by either the Congress or the Muslim League.
UPSC 2000Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q4. The native state of Tripura became involved in the freedom movement early in the 20th century because:
Explanation
The native state of Tripura, a princely state during British rule, became involved in the freedom movement due to its geographical proximity to Bengal and the political dynamics of the early 20th century. The native state of Tripura became part of the freedom movement early in the 20th century because some groups in the state were against the king’s rule and his support from the British. They wanted to challenge the king’s power and reduce British influence in the region. These efforts were linked to the larger fight for India’s independence, inspired by the freedom movement in nearby Bengal and other areas.
UPSC 2000Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q5. DIRECTION: The following items consist of two statements, one labelled as ‘Assertion A’ and the other labelled as ‘Reason R’, You are to examine these two statements carefully and decide if the Assertion ‘A’ and the Reason ‘R’ are individually true and if so, whether the Reason is a correct explanation of the Assertion. Select your answers to these items using the codes given below and mark your answer sheet accordingly. Assertion (A): Lord Linlithgow described the August Movement of 1942 as the most serious revolt after the Sepoy mutiny. Reason (R): Peasants joined the movement in large number in some places. Codes:
Explanation
The Quit India Movement (August Movement) of 1942 was a significant phase in India’s struggle for independence. The movement saw widespread participation from various sections of society, including students, workers, and peasants. Assertion (A) is true: Lord Linlithgow considered the Quit India Movement a significant challenge, as it led to widespread uprisings, destruction of infrastructure, and disruption of administration. Reason (R) is true: In regions like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, and Maharashtra, peasants actively participated, leading to violent clashes with British authorities, giving the movement a mass character. Reason (R) correctly explains the Assertion (A).
UPSC 2000Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q6. At the time of partition of India, which one of the following provinces of British India came forward with a plan for a united and independent existence?
Explanation
During the time of India’s partition in 1947, as the Indian subcontinent was divided into India and Pakistan, there were various political movements and regional aspirations for different parts of British India. Some groups in Punjab, including the Akali Dal, proposed that the province should remain united and independent instead of being split between India and Pakistan. They were worried about the division of the region. However, this idea was not accepted, and Punjab was divided between India and Pakistan.
UPSC 2000Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q7. The Balkan Plan for fragmentation of India was the brainchild of:
Explanation
The Balkan Plan refers to a proposal that aimed at dividing India which was one of the strategies considered to address the political situation leading to the partition of India in 1947. The idea was inspired by the division of Balkan States in Europe. Balkan Plan (1947) was the brainchild of Lord Mountbatten. He proposed dividing India into smaller regions along religious lines and transferring power to separate provinces with Punjab and Bengal given the option to vote for partition of their provinces.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2000
(a) Diarchy at the Centre as well as in the provinces
2
2000
(c) Singapore
3
2000
(b) invited Jinnah to form the government
4
2000
(d) there were already some groups fighting against the kingship and its protector, the British
5
2000
(a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
6
2000
(a) Punjab
7
2000
(c) Lord Mountbatten
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)?
This page covers 7 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Indian National Movement III (1930-1947) (Modern History), asked from 1996 to 2025. 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 Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)?
Questions on Indian National Movement III (1930-1947) (Modern History) are available for 24 years, from 1996 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
