Modern History: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Statement A is false: Maulana Mohammad Ali and Abul Kalam Azad did not resign from the Legislative Council in 1916. They resigned in 1919 during the Khilafat Movement.

Statement R is true: The Rowlatt Act, known for its repressive provisions, was passed despite unanimous opposition from Indian members of the Legislative Council. The Rowlatt Act provoked nationwide protests across India, with people from all walks of life, including students, workers, and political leaders, expressing their anger.

Explanation

The Congress Session at Karachi (1931), under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, did not oppose the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. It supported the pact, which was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin (the Viceroy), aimed at ending the Civil Disobedience Movement in exchange for certain concessions, including the release of political prisoners and the right to make salt for personal use. Statements (a), (b) and (c) are correct:

The Rowlatt Act (1919) led to widespread protests, which culminated in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in April 1919. Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Forward Bloc in 1939 to unite all like minded left-wing factions of the Indian National Congress. Bhagat Singh was one of the key members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). Its members became symbols of sacrifice and resistance.

Explanation

When the Congress leaders condemned the Montagu-Chelmsford Report (1918) for not granting enough self-governance to India, many moderate leaders led by Surendra Nath Banerjee who were dissatisfied with Congress’s position left the party and formed the Indian Liberal Federation. This organization aimed to support gradual constitutional reforms and believed in constitutional methods for achieving Indian self-rule.

Explanation

The Interim Cabinet was formed in September 1946 as part of the transition to India’s independence. It was established under the Cabinet Mission Plan and acted as the provisional government of India. It included leaders from the Indian National Congress and later some members from the Muslim League.

Option (b) is correct: Jawaharlal Nehru was the head of the Interim Cabinet, which was formed in September 1946. He held the position of Vice President of the Executive Council (equivalent to Prime Minister). Other Interim Cabinet Members Important Positions C.H. Baba Works, Mine and Power. John Mathai Industries and Supplies. Asaf Ali Railways and Transport. Baldev Singh Defence. Jagjivan Ram Labour. Liaquat Ali Khan Finance (Muslim League). I.I. Chundrigar Commerce (Muslim League).

Explanation

The Bardoli Satyagraha was a significant peasant movement in Bardoli, Gujarat in 1928, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It was sparked by the British government’s decision to increase land revenue by 22%, which severely affected the farmers. He organized the farmers to refuse to pay the increased taxes, leading to a successful non-violent protest that resulted in the reversal of the tax hike. His leadership earned him the title "Sardar" (leader) from the women of Bardoli for his success in forcing the British to roll back the revenue hike.

Explanation

The Cripps Mission was sent to India in March 1942 by the British government to secure Indian support for the British war effort during World War II. The mission, led by Sir Stafford Cripps, aimed to offer India greater autonomy in return for cooperation. The Cripps Mission proposed the creation of an Indian Union with Dominion status after the war, which would grant India a degree of self-governance but still leave it under British sovereignty. The Cripps Mission was a failure because it did not meet the expectations of Indian political leaders and both Indian National Congress and Muslim League rejected the proposals.

Explanation

The Ilbert Bill was introduced in 1883 by Sir Courtenay Ilbert, the then Law Member of the Viceroy’s Council, to amend the criminal procedure code in British India. The bill sought to allow Indian judges, including the district magistrates, to try British offenders in criminal cases. At the time, only British judges had the authority to try European offenders. The proposal faced strong opposition from the European community in India, leading to protests. The British government eventually modified the bill, allowing Indian judges to try Europeans only if they consented. The controversy highlighted racial discrimination in colonial India.

Explanation

The Whitley Commission (1929), also known as the Royal Commission on Labour in India, was established by the British colonial government to investigate labour conditions in India. Chaired by Sir William Whitley, its purpose was to examine issues like wages, working hours, and living conditions of industrial workers. It recommended improving labour welfare, establishing labour unions, and creating welfare funds, along with measures for industrial peace, better working conditions, and health and safety improvements for workers.

Explanation

The Oudh Commercial Bank, founded in 1881 in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, was the first Indian-managed bank to be established as a limited liability company. It was created by local businessmen and marked a significant shift in India’s banking sector, which had previously been dominated by the British. The bank’s establishment highlighted the increasing involvement of Indians in economic activities, especially in banking, and it aimed to provide financial services to local industries and trade, representing a milestone in Indian-controlled commercial banking.

Explanation

The Wood’s Despatch of 1854, often called the "Magna Carta of English Education in India," laid the foundation for modern educational policies in colonial India. Its primary focus was to establish a comprehensive system of education, emphasizing scientific learning and rational thinking over traditional religious teachings. The dispatch included support for education for girls and encouragement for private and missionary involvement. It provided government grants to qualifying schools. In it’s three tier educational hierarchy of Education, vernacular languages for basic education, English and Indian languages at the secondary level and English at the Higher level i.e. at University level (Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras).