Modern History: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan "Do or Die" during his speech at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay on August 8, 1942. The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement or August Kranti Movement, began on this day. Gandhi’s speech was a final push to force the British to leave India. He said, "We shall do or die. We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery".

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi chose the Satyagrahis for the Individual Satyagraha movement which is also known as ‘Delhi Chalo Movement’. The movement began on October 17, 1940. It was non-violent and symbolic in nature, and was meant to affirm the right to speech. The movement was a response to the August Offer made by the then Viceroy of India, Linlithgow. Following were the first few satyagrahis in Individual Satyagraha:

Satyagrahi Name 1 Vinoba Bhave 2 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru 3 Brahma Dutt

Explanation

The Cripps Proposals were introduced by Sir Stafford Cripps in March 1942 during World War II to secure Indian support for the Allied war effort. Cripps aimed to address India’s demand for self-rule by offering a post-war framework.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Cripps Proposals did not offer full independence to India. Instead, it offered the possibility of dominion status for India, which meant self-government within the British Commonwealth.

Statement 2 is correct: The Cripps Proposals included provisions for the creation of a Constitution-making body in India. This body, called the Constituent Assembly, would be responsible for drafting the new constitution. It would consist of representatives from various Indian provinces and political parties, with the authority to shape the country’s future governance

Explanation

Aruna Asaf Ali was an important figure in the Indian freedom struggle. She actively participated in various underground activities and played a significant role in the Quit India Movement. These activities included organizing secret meetings, distributing leaflets and pamphlets, and spreading awareness about the movement. One of the most iconic moments of Aruna Asaf Ali’s involvement in the Quit India Movement was when she hoisted the Indian National Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Explanation

In March 1942, the British government sent the Cripps Mission to gain full Indian cooperation in the war effort. The mission was led by Sir Stafford Cripps, a senior left-wing Labourite and a member of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s War Cabinet.

Explanation

The British introduced modern communication systems in colonial India to enhance administrative efficiency and control. They developed an extensive railway network, postal system, and telegraph lines to facilitate military movement, trade, and governance. These innovations unified diverse regions, boosted economic integration, and significantly influenced India’s modernization, despite serving colonial interests. Majority of developments happened under the rule of Governor General Dalhousie.

Statement 1 is correct: The first telegraph line in India was laid between Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) and Diamond Harbour in 1850. It became operational in 1851.

Statement 2 is correct: The first Export Processing Zone in India was set up in Kandla, Gujarat, in 1965. It was established to promote exports and boost foreign trade.

Explanation

The Hindu College in Calcutta, established in 1817, played a pivotal role in the advancement of modern education in India. This institution was founded through the collaborative efforts of Raja Rammohan Roy, David Hare, and Alexander Duff. This institution played a pivotal role in the Bengal Renaissance, fostering a generation of thinkers and reformers who significantly influenced Indian society.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct: The First Session of the Indian National Congress (INC) took place in Bombay (now Mumbai) in December 1885. It was chaired by Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee. Other Key Congress Sessions:

Year Place President Highlights 1886(2nd Session) Calcutta Dadabhai Naoroji merger of National Congress and National Conference 1887 Madras Syed Badruddin Tyabji first Muslim President 1888 Allahabad George Yule first British President 1905 Benaras Gopal Krishna Gokhale expressed resentment against the partition of Bengal 1906 Calcutta Dadabhai Naoroji the word ‘swaraj’ mentioned for the first time. 1907 Surat Rash Behari Ghosh split in the Congress into the Moderates and the Extremists.

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.

Explanation

In June 1945, Lord Wavell, the Viceroy of India, proposed the Wavell Plan at the Simla Conference to reconstitute the Viceroy’s Executive Council. The plan’s key features included: 1. All members of the Executive Council would be Indian except the governor general and commander-in-chief. 2. Equal representation for Caste Hindus and Muslims. 3. All portfolios, including that of War Members were to be held by the Indians. 4. The Viceroy/Governor-General would retain veto power, but its use would be minimal.