Modern History: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)
289 previous year UPSC Prelims Modern History questions are on this page, from 1996 to 2025, in 16 chapters. The Indian National Movement is split into three phases and holds the most questions, with Indian National Movement III (1930-1947) the largest. Prominent Personalities, Administrative Changes, Economic Policies and Associations and Journals follow. Filter by chapter to revise one phase at a time.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 51–60 of 289 questions
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UPSC 2017Modern History · Economic Policies of the British
Q51. Consider the following statements: 1. The Factories Act, 1881 was passed with a view to fix the wages of industrial workers and to allow the workers to form trade unions. 2. N. M. Lokhande was a pioneer in organizing the labor movement in British India. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Factory Act of 1881, passed during Lord Ripon’s tenure, aimed to improve working conditions in factories using mechanical power and employing at least 100 workers. It prohibited the employment of children under 7, limited children aged 7-12 to 9-hour workdays, and required dangerous machinery to be properly fenced. However, it did not address the formation of trade unions.
Statement 2 is correct: Narayan Meghaji Lokhande (1848-1897) is regarded as the father of the trade union movement in India. He worked to improve the conditions of textile mill workers and took courageous stands on caste and communal issues. He played a key role in reducing daily working hours from 16 to 10 hours in mills.
UPSC 2017Modern History · Prominent Personalities in Modern History
Q52. Consider the following pairs: 1. Radhakanta Deb-first President of the British Indian Association 2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty-founder of the Madras Mahajan Sabha 3. Surendranath Banerjee-Founder of the Indian Association Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
Pair 1 is correctly matched: Raja Radhakanta Deb was the first President of the British Indian Association while Debendranath Tagore was its secretary. The British Indian Association was one of the earliest political organizations in India, formed by merging the Landholders’ Society and the Bengal British India Society.
Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty (1806-1868) was a merchant, social reformer, and political leader from Madras. However, he did not found the Madras Mahajan Sabha. The Madras Mahajan Sabha (1884) was founded by M. Veeraraghavachari, P. Rangaiah Naidu, G. Subramania Iyer and others.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: Surendranath Banerjee (1848-1925) was a nationalist leader and one of the early political activists in India. He founded the Indian Association in 1876 in Calcutta. The Indian Association played a crucial role in mobilizing Indians against British policies and was a precursor to the Indian National Congress.
UPSC 2016Modern History · Socio-Religious Movements
Q53. Satya Shodhak Samaj organized:
Explanation
On 24 September 1873, Jotirao Govindrao Phule formed Satyashodhak Samaj to focus on the rights of depressed groups such as women, the Shudra, and the Dalit in Maharashtra. The Satyashodhak Samaj opposed idolatry and the caste system, advocating for reason and equality. It rejected the need for priests and promoted simple religious practices for all. The group’s viewpoints were voiced through the Deenbandhu newspaper. Members included Muslims, Brahmins, and government officials, with financial support primarily from Phule’s Mali caste.
UPSC 2016Modern History · Socio-Religious Movements
Q54. Consider the following: 1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee 2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation 3. Indian Reform Association Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?
Explanation
Option (1) is incorrect: The Calcutta Unitarian Committee (1823) was founded by Rammohan Roy, Dwarkanath Tagore, and William Adam to promote Unitarian beliefs and social reforms, but Keshab Chandra Sen was not involved in its formation.
Option (2) is correct: The Tabernacle of New Dispensation (1881) was established by Keshab Chandra Sen as part of his Nava Vidhan (New Dispensation) movement, which aimed to integrate the teachings of Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and other religions into a universal faith. It reflected his belief in religious harmony and spiritual unity
Option (3) is correct: Indian Reform Association (1870), focusing on social reforms such as women’s rights, education, widow remarriage, and temperance (restrictions on alcohol consumption). The association played a crucial role in advocating progressive changes in Indian society.
UPSC 2016Modern History · Indian National Movement I (1905-1918)
Q55. What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?
Explanation
Option (a) is incorrect: Morley-Minto Reforms, 1909 introduced separate electorates on the basis of religion, thus introducing a system of communal representation. This was not the reason for the Congress split in 1907.
Option (b) is correct: There were ideological differences between the Moderates and Extremists over the method of achieving self-rule, leadership struggles, and the evolving political climate under British rule. The Surat split was caused because of Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government’.
Option (c) is incorrect: Formation of Muslim League in 1906 at Dhaka was not the reason for Congress split in 1907.
Option (d) is incorrect: Aurobindo Ghosh’s inability to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress was not a reason for the Surat Split.
UPSC 2016Modern History · Indian National Movement I (1905-1918)
Q56. The ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’ were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the:
Explanation
The ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’ was a reaction to the British decision to partition Bengal, calling for the boycott of British goods and the promotion of indigenous industries. It played a significant role in uniting Indians against colonial rule and sparked a broader nationalistic awakening.
UPSC 2016Modern History · Administrative Changes after 1857
Q57. The Montague-Chelmsford Proposals were related to:
Explanation
Montague-Chelmsford Proposals had the scheme of constitutional reforms, known as the Montagu-Chelmsford (or Mont-Ford) Reforms, which led to the enactment of the Government of India Act of 1919. It introduced diarchy (rule of two individuals/parties) at the provincial government level. The diarchy was implemented in eight provinces: Assam, Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, Central Provinces, United Provinces, Bombay, Madras and Punjab.
UPSC 2015Modern History · Indian National Movement I (1905-1918)
Q58. Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’?
Explanation
The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908) was a key turning point in the history of the Indian National Congress that later led to a split between the moderates and extremists in the party. The movement, which was sparked by the partition of Bengal by the British in 1905, saw the rise of extremist leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who advocated for more radical measures to achieve self-rule, while the moderates, led by figures like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Dadabhai Naoroji, supported gradual reforms within the British system. The differences over the approach to achieving independence eventually led to the split at the Surat Session of 1907.
UPSC 2015Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q59. With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of the ‘Sedition Committee’. 2. In Rowlatt Satyagraha, Gandhiji tried to utilise the Home Rule League. 3. Demonstrations against the arrival of the Simon Commission coincided with Rowlatt Satyagraha. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Rowlatt Act was passed on the recommendations of the Sedition Committee chaired by Sir Sidney Rowlatt.
Statement 2 is correct: In organising his satyagraha, Gandhiji tried to utilise three types of political networks: The Home Rule Leagues; Certain Pan-Islamist groups and Satyagraha Sabha.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The two time periods are not the same. The incident of Rowlatt Satyagraha took place in 1919 and the Demonstrations against the arrival of Simon Commission took place in 1928, thus the two events cannot coincide.
UPSC 2015Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q60. With reference to the Cabinet Mission, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It recommended a federal government. 2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts. 3. It provided for more Indians in the ICS. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
A high-powered mission of three British Cabinet members-Lord Pethick-Lawrence (the Secretary of State for India), Sir Stafford Cripps(President of the Board of Trade) and A. V. Alexander(the First Lord of the Admiralty) reached Delhi on 24th March 1946.
Statement 1 is correct: The Cabinet Mission proposed a Three-tier executive and legislature at provincial, section and union levels which essentially means a federal government. All subjects other than Union subjects and residuary power would vest in the provinces of British India. Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect: The plan did not include the enlargement of the powers of the Indian Court nor provided for more Indians in the ICS.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
51
2017
(b) 2 only
52
2017
(b) 1 and 3 only
53
2016
(c) an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra
54
2016
(b) 2 and 3 only
55
2016
(b) Extremists’ lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
56
2016
(a) Agitation against the Partition of Bengal
57
2016
(d) constitutional reforms
58
2015
(a) Swadeshi Movement
59
2015
(b) 1 and 2 only
60
2015
(a) 1 only
What UPSC has tested in Modern History
Acts and reforms are tested by their features: the 1858 Proclamation, Charter Acts, Acts of 1909, 1919 and 1935.
Movements are tested through causes, leaders, sessions and sequence, such as the Champaran, Rowlatt, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and Quit India movements.
Social reform and economic critique questions focus on named reformers, societies and the drain theory.
Recent 2025 questions covered Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Non-Cooperation, the Poona Pact, Periyar and Portuguese introductions.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Modern History?
This page covers 289 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Modern History, asked from 1996 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Which Modern History chapter has the most questions?
Indian National Movement III (1930-1947) has the most, with 64 questions. The other two phases, 1905-1918 and 1918-1929, add 23 and 35, so the freedom struggle accounts for well over a third of this subject.
How can I revise Modern History by phase?
Use the chapter filter to open each phase, such as Indian National Movement II (1918-1929), then read the key facts and answer key on its page. The chapters follow the order of events, from the Revolt of 1857 to Independence.
Are the 2025 Modern History questions included?
Yes. The 2025 paper’s eight Modern History questions are filed under their chapters: Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Periyar, Non-Cooperation, Gandhi’s sedition statement, Chauri Chaura, the Poona Pact and Portuguese introductions.
