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 71–80 of 289 questions
Browse Modern History chaptersBrowse by year
UPSC 2013Modern History · Constitutional Development
Q71. With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were:
Explanation
The idea of a constituent assembly was put forward for the first time by M N Roy. The Indian National Congress (INC) first formally requested a constituent assembly to draft an Indian constitution in 1935. Representatives of each community were to be elected by members of that community in the provincial legislative assembly and voting was to be by the method of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote. In case of princely states, the heads of princely states were supposed to nominate the representatives.
Exam tip:
Constituent Assembly must reflect political representation, not just appointed experts. So (d) is technocratic, not democratic eliminate. For (b), A constitution can’t be framed only by party nominees -- it needs at least a structured electoral legitimacy, especially in a transition to independence, hence likely false. For (a), British would not allow direct elections across India --too democratic and complex for colonial preferences In 1946, hence likely false too.
UPSC 2013Modern History · Administrative Changes after 1857
Q72. The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the:
Explanation
The Ilbert Bill Controversy (1883) arose from Lord Ripon’s attempt to reform India’s legal system. Under the existing laws, a European could be tried only by a European judge or magistrate, which was seen as discriminatory against Indian judges. To end this injustice, C.P. Ilbert proposed a bill in 1883 that would allow Indian judges to try Europeans. The proposal faced strong opposition from the European community in India. The Ilbert Bill controversy made educated Indians aware of the need of an all Indian organisation, resulting in the formation of Indian National Congress in 1885.
UPSC 2013Modern History · Prominent Personalities in Modern History
Q73. Annie Besant was: 1. Responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement 2. The founder of the Theosophical Society 3. Once the President of the Indian National Congress Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.
Explanation
Annie Besant (1847-1933) made her first visit to India as a member of the Theosophical Society. She had embraced Theosophy after meeting Helena Blavatsky in 1889. Following her arrival, the society relocated its headquarters to Adyar, near Madras (now Chennai). Besant went on to serve as the society’s president from 1907 until her passing in 1933. In Benares, she established the Central Hindu College (CHC) and later founded the newspapers New India and Commonweal to promote her ideas and advocacy.
Statement 1 is correct: Annie Besant was instrumental in initiating the Home Rule Movement in India. In 1916 she established the All India Home Rule League which advocated for self-governance and dominion status for India within the British Empire. This movement sought to promote political awareness and mobilize Indian citizens towards the cause of self-rule.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 in New York by Helena Blavatsky, Henry Olcott, and William Judge. Annie Besant joined in 1889 after meeting Blavatsky and later became its president in 1907 andserving until her death in 1933. However, she was not its founder.
Statement 3 is correct: Annie Besant achieved the distinction of being the first woman to preside over the Indian National Congress. She was elected as the President in 1917 reflecting her significant influence and commitment to India’s independence movement.
UPSC 2012Modern History · Socio-Religious Movements
Q74. During the Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?
Explanation
Indian Social Conference (1887) was formed by M. G.
Ranade and Raghunath Rao in Madras. It was a separate social reform organ of the Indian National Congress as they did not want to include social reforms in their deliberations. It advocated inter-caste marriage, opposed polygamy and kulinism and launched "Pledge Movement to pledge against Child Marriage"
UPSC 2012Modern History · Socio-Religious Movements
Q75. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj? 1. It opposed idolatry. 2. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the religious texts. 3. It popularized the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
The Brahmo Samaj, founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828, was a reformist movement aimed at promoting monotheism, social equality, and the abolition of social evils like Sati and child marriage. It sought to reform Hinduism by advocating for reason, rationality, and rejection of idol worship and caste discrimination.
Statement 1 is correct: Brahmo Samaj vehemently opposed idolatry or idol worship.
Statement 2 is correct: The chief aim of Brahmo Samaj was the worship of the eternal God. It was against priesthood, rituals and sacrifices.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Brahmo Samaj spread the religious treasure and teachings of Vedas but never claimed that Vedas are infallible.
Exam tip:
S1 and S2 both show rationalist, reformist, anti-ritualistic tendencies(Group 1). S3 implies scriptural orthodoxy(Group 2). Therefore, Group 2 logically contradicts Group 1, This eliminates option A and D. Since Brahmo Samaj is historically known (even without exact recall) as a liberal, reformist movement, S3 cannot logically align with its ideology.
UPSC 2012Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q76. The Rowlatt Act aimed at:
Explanation
Option (b) is correct: Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act/ Rowlatt act gives the notorious power to imprison activists without trial for up to two years, even possession of seditious newspapers is adequate evidence of guilt. Options (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect:
The drain on the Indian economy in the form of cash, kind and loans to the British government came to about 367 million pounds during the WW-I. Rowlatt Act has no direct relation with draining Indian money or economic support to war efforts. The Khilafat Movement (1919-20) was a movement to express Muslim support for the Caliph of Turkey and protect the institution of the Khalifa in Turkey against the allied powers, particularly Britain. The Rowlatt Act was not explicitly aimed at suppressing the Khilafat Movement. Vernacular Press Act, The Newspaper Act and The Indian Press Act were passed in order to impose restrictions on freedom of press. It has no relation with the Rowlatt Act.
UPSC 2012Modern History · Indian National Movement II (1918-1929)
Q77. The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress (1929) is very important in history, because: 1. The Congress passed a resolution demanding complete independence. 2. The rift between the extremists and moderates was resolved in that Session. 3. A resolution was passed rejecting the two-nation theory in that Session Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: In the Lahore Session of Indian National Congress (1929), the resolution on ‘Poorna Swaraj’ or complete independence was passed. The Congress also decided to boycott the First Round Table Conference because the British refused to include Indian demands for a Constituent Assembly and full self-rule.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The rift between the extremists and moderates took place in the Surat Session(1907) and the split was resolved in the Lucknow Session 1916.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Two-Nation Theory, proposed by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and later championed by the Muslim League, argued that Hindus and Muslims in India were two distinct nations with separate religious, cultural, and social identities. But it is not associated with the Lahore Session of Indian National Congress.
UPSC 2012Modern History · Indian National Movement III (1930-1947)
Q78. The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939, because:
Explanation
In 1937, after the Government of India Act, 1935, which allowed for provincial autonomy, the Indian National Congress (INC) formed ministries in eight out of eleven provinces in India. Lord Linlithgow, the Viceroy of India, declared India’s involvement in World War II on behalf of the British government. As a result of this unilateral declaration Congress ministries resigned as a protest against the British government’s failure to consult Indian leaders regarding India’s participation in the war.
UPSC 2012Modern History · Administrative Changes after 1857
Q79. Which of the following is/are the principal feature(s) of the Government of India Act, 1919? 1. Introduction of diarchy in the executive government of the provinces. 2. Introduction of separate communal electorates for Muslims. 3. Devolution of legislative authority by the center to the provinces. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
Statements 1 and 3 are correct: GoI Act 1919 introduced the dual scheme of governance known as ‘dyarchy’ in the executive government of the provinces. By demarcating and separating the central and provincial subjects, it relaxed the central control over the provinces. It introduced bicameralism and direct elections in the country. The devolution of legislative authority by the center to the provinces was done in the Government of India Act, 1919.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Indian Council Act, 1909 or the Morley-Minto Reforms introduced separate communal electorates for Muslims. It was put into place to appease the moderates (in Congress) and introduces separate electorates based on religion. Lord Minto came to be known as "Father of the Communal Electorate in India".
UPSC 2012Modern History · Administrative Changes after 1857
Q80. The distribution of powers between the Centre and the States in the Indian Constitution is based on the scheme provided in the:
Explanation
The Government of India Act, 1935 divided powers between the Centre and provinces into three lists: Federal (59 items), Provincial (54 items), and Concurrent (36 items). It abolished dyarchy in provinces, replacing it with provincial autonomy, while retaining it at the Centre. The Act introduced bicameralism in six provinces and extended communal representation to Scheduled Castes, women, and labor. It also abolished the Council of India created by GoI Act 1858.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
71
2013
(c) elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies
72
2013
(c) Removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans
73
2013
(c) 1 and 3 only
74
2012
(b) Indian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its deliberations and decided to form a separate body for such a purpose.
75
2012
(b) 1 and 2 only
76
2012
(b) Imprisonment without trial and summary procedures for trial.
77
2012
(a) 1 only
78
2012
(d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct
79
2012
(c) 1 and 3 only
80
2012
(c) Government of India Act, 1935
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.
