Modern History: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

The quotation refers to the Cabinet Mission of 1946. It proposed a Federal Union for India, which included both British provinces and the princely states. The mission, which visited India in 1946, aimed at resolving the political deadlock between the British government and Indian leaders and laid out plans for a united India with a federal structure while also suggesting a provision for autonomy for Muslim-majority areas. It did not propose partition, which was later carried out in 1947. The Simon Commission (1927) was tasked with reviewing constitutional reforms in India but faced widespread protests as it lacked Indian representation. It had no proposals for a federal union. Gandhi-Irwin Pact was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin in 1931 to end the Civil Disobedience Movement. It focused on specific concessions rather than constitutional proposals. The Cripps Mission (1942) proposed dominion status for India with the option for provinces to secede. However, it did not advocate a federal union like the Cabinet Mission.

Explanation

Subhash Chandra Bose saw World War II as an opportunity for India to leverage Britain’s vulnerability. He believed the war could be exploited to push for India’s independence, leading to his efforts to collaborate with Axis powers like Germany and Japan to form the Indian National Army (INA).

Explanation

Sardar Patel was one of the prominent Congress leaders who supported the Cabinet Mission Plan. He saw it as a pragmatic approach to achieving independence while preserving India’s unity, even though it meant compromises like grouping provinces. Mahatma Gandhi was skeptical of the Cabinet Mission Plan as he felt it complicated India’s unity by endorsing groupings and did not adequately ensure safeguards for weaker sections. Jawaharlal Nehru initially supported the plan but later expressed reservations, particularly about the grouping of provinces, which he felt could weaken a strong central authority. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad supported the Cabinet Mission Plan but was more cautious about its implementation, especially due to the communal tensions it could exacerbate.

Explanation

The Quit India Movement (1942), also called the August Movement, saw widespread participation from peasants, students, and workers, making it a mass struggle. A is true: The Quit India Movement (1942 saw unprecedented participation from all sections of society, and its intensity led Lord Linlithgow to compare it to the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. R is true: Peasantry participation was significant in regions like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Bengal, as the movement mobilized rural masses. R the correct explanation of A: The scale of peasantry uprising during August Movement made it clear that independence was imminent, and rebellion against British rule was very serious.

Explanation

The Forward policy was a set of foreign policies that aimed to extend British control and influence in the region, especially towards Afghanistan and Central Asia. It was adopted during Viceroyalty of Lord Lytton (1876-1880) in India. The policy involved securing control of targeted territories through invasion, annexation, or by creating compliant buffer states. Other notable events that took place during his tenure as Viceroy include Great Indian Famine, Second Anglo-Afghan War, Arms Act, Vernacular Press Act.

Explanation

Lord Wellesley ensured British dominance in India.

Serving as Governor-General from 1798 to 1805, Wellesley was known for his aggressive expansionist policies. He implemented the Doctrine of Subsidiary Alliance, signed treaties with Indian states, and pursued territorial acquisition, greatly expanding British control over India amidst European turmoil. Lord Wellesley’s Subsidiary alliance system was applied for taking over the administration of Tanjore and Carnatic. He also concluded the Treaty of Bassein (1802) with the Peshwas.

Explanation

The British colonial economic model transformed India into a supplier of raw materials like cotton, indigo, and iron ore, which were sent to Britain for processing. India was forced to sell these materials at low prices and buy British-made goods at higher prices. Industrial development in India was discouraged to prevent competition with British industries, keeping India dependent on Britain for finished goods and limiting its own industrial growth. The lack of heavy industries discouraged independent industrial development.

Explanation

Imperial Preference was a British colonial trade policy that granted preferential treatment to British goods in its colonies, including India. British goods were sold at lower tariffs or duty-free, while colonies like India were required to sell raw materials to Britain at favorable prices. This system subordinated the economic interests of colonies, prevented the development of Indian industries, and ensured Britain’s economic dominance. It also reinforced political control, making colonies dependent on Britain for both manufactured goods and trade.

Explanation

Surendranath Banerji was among the earliest Indians to join the Indian Civil Service (ICS). He successfully passed the ICS exam in 1869 in England and was appointed as an assistant magistrate. Later he was dismissed by the British government on the pretext of a minor procedural issue related to his handling of a case. Many believed that racial discrimination was the real reason behind his dismissal, as British officers were uncomfortable with Indians holding powerful administrative positions. This injustice fueled Banerji’s nationalist spirit, and he dedicated himself to the cause of Indian self-rule. He became a key political leader and co-founded the Indian National Association in 1876 which later merged with the Indian National Congress (INC).

Explanation

The statement in Option (c) is incorrect. Navanna is a play written by Nabin Chandra Das, but it is not based on the famine of Bengal. It is a social drama that depicts the conflict between tradition and modernity in Bengali society. Statements in Options (a), (b) and (d) are correct:

Neel Darpan was a play based on the exploitation of Indigo farmers in Bengal by the British planters, written by Dinbandhu Mitra. Ghashiram Kotwal was a famous Marathi play, written by Vijay Tendulkar, which deals with the issues of corruption and power in the context of the Maratha empire. The Parsi theatre influenced the development of Urdu theatre, which gained prominence in the 19th and early 20th centuries.