Indian National Movement III (1930-1947): UPSC Previous Year Questions (Modern History)
4 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 1–4 of 4 questions
UPSC 2002Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q1. The real intention of the British for including the princely states in the Federal Union proposed by the India Act of 1935 was to:
Explanation
Ever since the 1857 revolt, to secure princely states as a safeguard against potential political instability and to reward their loyalty the policy of annexation was discontinued. The Government of India Act of 1935 proposed a federal union (that never came to existence) that included both British India and the princely states, which were ruled by Indian monarchs but under British control. The 1935 Act did not aim for direct political control over the princely states. It allowed them autonomy while including them in the federal structure. The British sought to manage relations, not control them completely. The real intention behind including princely states into the proposed federal union, through Government of India Act, 1935, was to ensure that these states would act as a balance against the anti-imperialist nationalist movement.
UPSC 2002Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q2. The President of Indian National Congress at the time of partition of India was:
Explanation
Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani ascended to a prominent position within the Congress Party. He was elected President of the Indian National Congress in November 1946 and steered the organisation through the critical days of the transfer of power and the partition of India in 1947.
UPSC 2002Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q3. Assertion (A): The effect of labour participation in the Indian nationalist upsurge of the early 1930s was weak. Reason (R): The labour leaders considered the ideology of Indian National Congress as bourgeois and reactionary.
Explanation
In the early 1930s, the Indian National Congress (INC) led India’s nationalist movement, while the labour movement grew with workers protesting for better conditions. Despite this, the labour movement had limited involvement in the broader nationalist struggle. They felt the Congress was not adequately addressing the issues important to workers, like social and economic reforms. Assertion (A) is true: The labour movement in the early 1930s was growing, but its participation in the larger Indian nationalist movement was weak. Workers were more focused on their immediate economic struggles, like better wages and working conditions, rather than the broader nationalist cause. Reason (R) is true: Some labour leaders criticised the Indian National Congress (INC) for representing the interests of the middle class and the bourgeoisie rather than the working class. Due to this the effect of labour participation in nationalist upsurge was weak. Thus, Reason (R) explains Assertion (A).
UPSC 2002Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q4. The last opportunity to avoid the partition of India was lost with the rejection of:
Explanation
The Cabinet Mission reached Delhi on March 24, 1946. The Mission engaged in extensive discussions with Indian leaders from all parties and groups on the following issues: the formation of an interim government, and the principles and processes for drafting a new constitution that would grant India independence. The Cabinet Mission (1946) proposed a federal union for India, with autonomy for provinces and safeguards for minorities. The Cabinet Mission Plan was initially accepted in principle by both the Congress and the Muslim League but disagreements soon emerged, particularly over the grouping of provinces. The Muslim League eventually rejected the plan, and Jinnah called for "Direct Action." This failure to agree on the plan is widely regarded as the last major chance to prevent the partition of India.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2002
(d) use the princes to counterbalance the anti-imperialist doctrines of the nationalist leaders
2
2002
(b) J. B. Kripalani
3
2002
(a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation ofA
4
2002
(c) Cabinet Mission
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)?
This page covers 4 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.
