Emergence of Nationalism and the Early Congress: RAS Prelims MCQs

Explanation

The drain of wealth theory, propagated by Dadabhai Naoroji, highlighted how India’s resources were siphoned off to Britain without equivalent returns. This systematic exploitation led to widespread poverty and the deindustrialization of traditional crafts. Understanding these economic mechanisms fostered a unified national consciousness against colonial rule, serving as a primary catalyst for organized resistance.

Explanation

The Ilbert Bill aimed to allow Indian magistrates to try European subjects, promoting judicial equality. However, fierce opposition from the European community revealed deep-seated racial prejudices and a refusal to accept legal parity with Indians. This event demonstrated the necessity of organized political struggle and convinced Indian leaders that racial equality was impossible under British administration.

Explanation

Lord Lytton’s administration was marked by several controversial measures. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was designed to silence local criticism, while reducing the age limit for civil service exams effectively hindered Indian entry into administration. Although he introduced a statutory civil service, he did not abolish it to prevent Indians from serving; rather, he mismanaged it.

Explanation

British economic policies were characterized by the neglect and systematic destruction of Indian handicrafts rather than their protection. While administrative unification, the rediscovery of ancient history, and socio-religious reforms contributed significantly to a shared sense of identity, the colonial government’s fiscal measures favored British manufacturing. Consequently, the ruin of local industries actually fueled nationalist discontent.

Explanation

The introduction of railways and telegraphs unintentionally facilitated the national movement by connecting distant parts of the subcontinent. This infrastructure allowed leaders to travel widely and share political ideas rapidly across linguistic barriers. By ending geographic isolation, these modern tools enabled a sense of unified purpose and collective action, laying the groundwork for a broader national consciousness.

Explanation

The Vernacular Press Act was enacted in 1878 under the viceroyalty of Lord Lytton to stifle growing criticism in Indian-language newspapers. Known as the Gagging Act, it targeted only vernacular publications while exempting English ones. This discriminatory law sparked intense protests across the country, eventually contributing to the formation of organized political bodies like the Indian National Congress.

Explanation

Early nationalist leaders utilized the press primarily as a mission rather than a commercial venture. It served as a vital platform for critiquing colonial policies and spreading democratic ideals among the literate population. Despite reaching small towns, these publications influenced public opinion by articulating grievances, educating (1) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. (2) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A. (3) A is true but R is false. (4) A is false but R is true. (5) Question not attempted 1 36. How many delegates attended the first session of the Indian National Congress held in Bombay in 1885? (1) 52 (2) 72 (3) 92 (4) 112 (5) Question not attempted 2 37. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below: List I: (Pre-Congress Organization) A. British Indian Association B. Indian Association of Calcutta C. Madras Mahajana Sabha D. Bombay Presidency Association List II: (Key Founder/Leader) i. Surendranath Banerjee ii. M. Viraraghavachari iii. Pherozeshah Mehta iv. Radhakanta Deb (1) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii (2) A-i, B-iv, C-iii, D-ii (3) A-iv, B-ii, C-i, D-iii (4) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii (5) Question not attempted 1 38. Consider the following demands made by the Moderate phase of the Congress: I. Expansion and reform of the legislative councils. II. Separation of the judiciary from the executive. III. Holding of the ICS examination simultaneously in India and England. IV. Immediate end to the British paramountcy over Indian princely states. V. Reduction of heavy military expenditure. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? (1) I, II, III, and V only (2) I, III, IV, and V only (3) II, III, IV, and V only (4) I, II, III, IV, and V (5) Question not attempted 1 39. The political methodology of the Moderate leaders of the Congress is most accurately described by which of the following? (1) Organized armed struggle and the formation of secret societies (2) Mass strikes, economic boycotts, and organized civil disobedience (3) Seeking military intervention from anti- British foreign powers abroad (4) Constitutional agitation using prayers, petitions, and protests (5) Question not attempted 4 40. Which of the following legislative measures was passed by the British largely as a concession to the persistent constitutional demands made by the Moderate Congress? (1) The Charter Act of 1853 (2) The Indian Councils Act of 1892 (3) The Rowlatt Act of 1919 (4) The Government of India Act of 1935 (5) Question not attempted 2 41. Which of the following leaders does NOT belong to the Moderate phase of the Indian National Congress? (1) Dadabhai Naoroji (2) Pherozeshah Mehta (3) Aurobindo Ghosh (4) Dinshaw Wacha (5) Question not attempted 3 42. A significant achievement of the Moderates was the "Economic Critique of Colonialism". This involved propagating the idea that: (1) Poverty caused by the wealth drain and ruin of local industry (2) British rule was a divine dispensation essential for India’s economic growth (3) Poverty in India was a natural phenomenon unrelated to colonial policies (4) Rapid industrialization by British capitalists was the only solution for India (5) Question not attempted 1 43. Consider the following statements highlighting the differences between the Moderates and Extremists: I. Moderates believed the British rule List II: (Core ideology/Action) i. Advocated active passive resistance and spiritual nationalism ii. Emphasized the economic critique and labor movements iii. Focused on cultural revivalism through public festivals iv. Popularized the concept of complete autonomy free from British control in Bengal (1) A-iv, B-iii, C-ii, D-i (2) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv (3) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii (4) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii (5) Question not attempted 1 29. Bipin Chandra Pal’s concept of ‘National Education’ during the Swadeshi movement aimed primarily to: (1) Provide cheap clerical labor for British administrative offices (2) Replace all indigenous languages with English in rural schools (3) Awakening national spirit and preparing students for civic duties (4) Exclusive focus on religious scriptures excluding modern scientific study (5) Question not attempted 3 30. Which English weekly was started by Bipin Chandra Pal in 1901 to propagate his nationalist views? (1) Bande Mataram (2) Yugantar (3) The Bengalee (4) New India (5) Question not attempted 4 31. Among the following early nationalist leaders, who is the odd one out as they belonged to the Moderate faction rather than the Extremist faction? (1) Gopal Krishna Gokhale (2) Bipin Chandra Pal (3) Aurobindo Ghosh (4) Lala Lajpat Rai (5) Question not attempted 1 32. Select the correct sequence of the first four Presidents of the Indian National Congress in chronological order (1885, 1886, 1887, 1888): (1) W.C. Bonnerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, Badruddin Tyabji, George Yule (2) Dadabhai Naoroji, W.C. Bonnerjee, George Yule, Badruddin Tyabji (3) W.C. Bonnerjee, Badruddin Tyabji, Dadabhai Naoroji, George Yule (4) George Yule, W.C. Bonnerjee, Dadabhai Naoroji, Badruddin Tyabji (5) Question not attempted 1 33. Consider the following statements regarding the objectives of the Indian National Congress at the time of its foundation in 1885: I. Promotion of friendly relations among nationalist political workers from different parts of the country. II. Formulation of popular demands and their presentation before the government. III. Immediate demand for Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence). IV. Development and consolidation of a feeling of national unity. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? (1) I, II and III only (2) II, III and IV only (3) I, II and IV only (4) I, III and IV only (5) Question not attempted 3 34. The "Safety Valve Theory" regarding the foundation of the Indian National Congress was popularized predominantly by which leader in his writings? (1) Lala Lajpat Rai (2) W.C. Bonnerjee (3) Surendranath Banerjee (4) Badruddin Tyabji (5) Question not attempted 1 35. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): Lord Dufferin, who initially looked upon the INC favorably, later turned hostile and called it a representative of a "microscopic minority". Reason (R): The INC in its early years began to demand significant constitutional reforms, Indianization of civil services, and a reduction in military expenditure. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct? Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? (1) I, II and III only (2) I, II and IV only (3) II, III and IV only (4) I, III and IV only (5) Question not attempted 1 50. On which exact date did the Partition of Bengal officially come into effect, triggering widespread protests and the observance of a day of mourning? (1) July 19, 1905 (2) August 7, 1905 (3) October 16, 1905 (4) December 12, 1911 (5) Question not attempted 3 51. Consider the following statements regarding the role of Rabindranath Tagore during the Swadeshi Movement: I. He composed the patriotic song ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’ to inspire the protestors. II. He suggested the observance of ‘Raksha Bandhan’ between Hindus and Muslims to symbolize unity on the day of partition. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? (1) I only (2) II only (3) Both I and II (4) Neither I nor II (5) Question not attempted 3 52. Following the partition of Bengal in 1905, which of the following areas was NOT included in the newly created province of ‘Eastern Bengal and Assam’? (1) Dacca (Dhaka) (2) Chittagong (3) Rajshahi (4) Bihar (5) Question not attempted 4 53. The immediate cause and effect relationship in the context of the early 20th century Indian nationalism shows that the Partition of Bengal directly led to the genesis of which movement? (1) The Non-Cooperation Movement (2) The Civil Disobedience Movement (3) The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement (4) The Quit India Movement (5) Question not attempted 3 54. Consider the following statements about the impact of the Swadeshi and Boycott movement: I. It led to a significant decline in the import of foreign textiles and goods in Bengal. II. It stimulated the growth of indigenous industries, such as soap factories, match factories, and handlooms. III. It resulted in the establishment of parallel national educational institutions. IV. It successfully united the entire Muslim population of Bengal under the Congress umbrella. V. It marked a shift in the nationalist movement from petitioning to active mass participation. Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect? (1) I and II only (2) III and V only (3) IV only (4) II, IV and V only (5) Question not attempted 3 55. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below: List I: (Institution/Committee during Swadeshi) A. Swadesh Bandhab Samiti B. Bengal National College C. Anti-Circular Society D. Dawn Society List II: (Key Figure) i. Aurobindo Ghosh (as Principal) ii. Ashwini Kumar Dutta iii. Satish Chandra Mukherjee iv. Sachindra Prasad Bose (1) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii (2) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv (3) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii (4) A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-ii (5) Question not attempted 1 56. During the Swadeshi Movement, the concept of ‘Atmashakti’ (Self-reliance) was highly emphasized. In practice, this primarily meant: (1) National dignity through social reform and indigenous enterprises (2) Depending solely on the British for military defense (3) Boycotting government jobs and relying solely on begging (4) Engaging exclusively in the armed assassination of British officials (5) Question not attempted 1 57. Identify the correct statement regarding the participation of different social groups in the Boycott and Swadeshi movement. (1) Students were entirely apathetic and played no role in picketing shops selling foreign goods. (2) Women remained confined to their homes and did not participate in nationalist processions. (3) The movement saw widespread active participation of women and students in picketing and mobilizing masses. (4) The upper-class zamindars universally opposed the movement and actively aided the British police. (5) Question not attempted 3 58. Which of the following pairs of Swadeshi Movement leaders and their respective regions of operation is incorrectly matched? (1) Syed Haider Raza - Central Provinces (2) Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Bombay and Pune (3) Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh - Punjab (4) V.O. Chidambaram Pillai - Madras Presidency (5) Question not attempted 1 59. Consider the following issues that led to the Surat Split of 1907: I. The Extremists wanted to extend the Swadeshi and Boycott movement outside Bengal, which Moderates opposed. II. The Moderates wanted to drop the resolutions on Swaraj, Boycott, and National Education passed in 1906. III. The dispute over the selection of the President for the Surat session between Ras Behari Ghosh and Lala Lajpat Rai. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? (1) I and II only (2) II and III only (3) I and III only (4) I, II and III (5) Question not attempted 4 60. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): The Surat Session of the Indian National Congress in 1907 ended in a formal split between the Moderates and Extremists. Reason (R): The British government successfully mediated between the two factions, forcing the Extremists to voluntarily leave the Congress. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct? (1) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. (2) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A. (3) A is true but R is false. (4) A is false but R is true. (5) Question not attempted 3 61. Who presided over the controversial Surat Session of the Indian National Congress in 1907 where the split occurred? (1) Dadabhai Naoroji (2) Surendranath Banerjee (3) Ras Behari Ghosh (4) Pherozeshah Mehta (5) Question not attempted 3 62. Select the correct chronological sequence of the Indian National Congress sessions that trace the buildup to the split: (1) Benaras (1905), Calcutta (1906), Surat (1907) (2) Calcutta (1906), Benaras (1905), Surat (1907) (3) Surat (1907), Benaras (1905), Calcutta (1906) (4) Benaras (1905), Surat (1907), Calcutta (1906) (5) Question not attempted 1 63. Under the presidency of Dadabhai Naoroji at the Calcutta Session (1906), the Congress passed four compromise resolutions. Which of the following was NOT one of them? (1) Separate Electorates for Minorities (2) Swaraj (Self-government) (3) Boycott (4) National Education (5) Question not attempted 1 64. Consider the following statements comparing Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s and Annie Besant’s Home Rule Leagues: I. Tilak launched his league in April 1916, while Besant launched hers in September 1916. II. Tilak’s league was restricted to Maharashtra (excluding Bombay city), Karnataka, Central Provinces, and Berar. III. Besant’s league covered the rest of India not covered by Tilak’s league. IV. Because of ideological differences, the two leagues violently opposed each other and competed for the same members. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? (1) I, II and III only (2) II, III and IV only (3) I, III and IV only (4) I, II, III and IV (5) Question not attempted 1 65. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below: List I: (Key Associate) A. Joseph Baptista B. N.C. Kelkar C. George Arundale D. B.P. Wadia List II: (Role/Association in Home Rule Movement) i. Secretary of Tilak’s Home Rule League ii. President of Tilak’s Home Rule League iii. Active associate in Besant’s League and labor movement iv. Organizing Secretary of Besant’s Home Rule League (1) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii (2) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii (3) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii (4) A-iv, B-iii, C-ii, D-i (5) Question not attempted 1 66. Consider the following statements regarding the arrest of Annie Besant in 1917: I. Her arrest by the Madras government led to widespread national outrage and boosted the Home Rule movement. II. In protest against her arrest, Sir S. Subramaniya Iyer renounced his knighthood. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? (1) I only (2) II only (3) Both I and II (4) Neither I nor II (5) Question not attempted 3 67. The fundamental objective of the Home Rule League Movement in India was to: (1) Overthrow the British rule through an organized armed revolution (2) The immediate establishment of a socialist communist state (3) Self-government for India within the British Empire (4) Restore the pre-1857 princely states to their absolute powers (5) Question not attempted 3 68. Which of the following sections of Indian society largely opposed or remained aloof from the Home Rule League movement? (1) The western-educated urban middle class and intellectuals (2) The student community in Madras and Bombay (3) The prominent Indian industrialist class (4) Non-Brahmins of Madras and lower castes of Maharashtra (5) Question not attempted 4 69. Annie Besant propagated the ideas of the Home Rule Movement primarily through her two influential newspapers named: (1) Mahratta and Kesari (2) Yugantar and Sandhya (3) New India and Commonweal (4) Indian Opinion and Harijan (5) Question not attempted 3 70. Consider the following statements about the Lucknow Pact of 1916: I. It marked the readmission of the Extremists into the Indian National Congress. II. It established a historic political alliance between the Congress and the All India Muslim League. III. The Congress formally accepted the Muslim League’s demand for separate electorates. IV. Both organizations jointly demanded that India should be granted immediate dominion status. V. The pact permanently resolved the communal problem in India, ending all Hindu-Muslim friction. Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect? (1) I and II only (2) III and IV only possessed an innate sense of justice, whereas Extremists believed the British would yield only to pressure. II. Moderates confined their political activities to the educated classes, whereas Extremists emphasized mass political participation. III. Both Moderates and Extremists universally agreed on the immediate goal of absolute independence (Purna Swaraj) outside the British Empire before 1905. Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect? (1) I only (2) II only (3) III only (4) I and II only (5) Question not attempted 3 44. The influential series of articles titled "New Lamps for Old", which strongly criticized the Moderate politics of the Congress, was written by: (1) Bal Gangadhar Tilak (2) Aurobindo Ghosh (3) Bipin Chandra Pal (4) Lala Lajpat Rai (5) Question not attempted 2 45. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below: List I: (Author/Leader) A. Dadabhai Naoroji B. Aurobindo Ghosh C. Bal Gangadhar Tilak D. R.C. Dutt List II: (Work/Concept) i. Doctrine of Passive Resistance ii. Poverty and Un-British Rule in India iii. Economic History of India iv. Gita Rahasya (1) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii (2) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv (3) A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-i (4) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii (5) Question not attempted 1 46. Which of the following is considered the most appropriate reason for the rise of extremism within the Indian National Congress in the early 20th century? (1) Complete fulfillment of all moderate demands by the British government (2) The sudden influx of enormous wealth into the Indian agricultural sector (3) The decision of the British to voluntarily transfer administrative power (4) Disillusionment with moderate methods and Curzon’s reactionary policies (5) Question not attempted 4 47. Identify the odd one out regarding the core ideological beliefs of the Extremist leaders compared to the Moderates. (1) Belief in the providential nature of British rule (2) Deep faith in the capacity of the masses (3) Demand for Swaraj as a birthright (4) Advocacy of self-reliance and constructive work (Atmashakti) (5) Question not attempted 1 48. Arrange the following events associated with the Partition of Bengal in chronological sequence: I. Formal announcement of the Partition by the Government II. The partition comes into official effect (Day of Mourning) III. Passing of the Boycott Resolution at the Calcutta Town Hall IV. Annulment of the Partition Which of the following represents the correct chronological order? (1) I - III - II - IV (2) III - I - II - IV (3) I - II - III - IV (4) III - II - I - IV (5) Question not attempted 1 49. Consider the following statements regarding Lord Curzon’s motives for the partition of Bengal: I. The officially stated reason was that the province was too large to be administered efficiently. II. The real political motive was to divide the Bengali-speaking population and weaken the nationalist nerve center. III. The partition aimed to foster a divide between Hindus and Muslims by creating a Muslim-majority province in the East. IV. The partition was executed primarily to grant complete administrative autonomy to the local Indian leaders. (4) Individual heroic actions and political assassinations to terrorize rulers (5) Question not attempted 4 79. Among the following revolutionary actions, which is the odd one out as it does NOT belong to the early phase of revolutionary nationalism (prior to 1915)? (1) The Kakori Train Robbery (2) Assassination of Rand by Chapekar brothers (3) Attempt on the life of Kingsford at Muzaffarpur (4) Assassination of Curzon Wyllie by Madan Lal Dhingra (5) Question not attempted 1 80. In the context of early 20th-century Indian politics, the term ‘individual heroic action’ as a political strategy was predominantly characterized by: (1) Mass fasting by a single political leader to change government policy (2) Secret plotting to assassinate colonial officials and traitors (3) Single-handed establishment of educational institutions in rural areas (4) The publication of anonymous petitions in prominent British newspapers (5) Question not attempted 2 (3) V only (4) I, IV and V only (5) Question not attempted 3 71. Who was the President of the historic Lucknow Session of the Indian National Congress in 1916? (1) Annie Besant (2) Bal Gangadhar Tilak (3) Syed Nabiullah (4) Ambika Charan Majumdar (5) Question not attempted 4 72. Which of the following is considered by historians as the most significant long-term flaw or negative consequence of the Lucknow Pact (1916) for the national movement? (1) Legitimation of communal politics by accepting separate electorates (2) It alienated the British government completely, leading to immediate martial law. (3) The cause of a severe and lasting financial crisis in the Congress (4) It led to the expulsion of moderate leaders from the mainstream political arena. (5) Question not attempted 1 73. Identify the correct pair of leaders who were the chief architects and facilitators of the Congress- League unity at Lucknow in 1916. (1) Mahatma Gandhi and Aga Khan (2) Jawaharlal Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan (3) Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Muhammad Ali Jinnah (4) Annie Besant and Syed Ahmed Khan (5) Question not attempted 3 74. Which of the following international events contributed as a cause for the Muslim League moving closer to the Congress by 1916? (1) British hostility toward the Ottoman Empire in WWI (2) The successful Russian Revolution of 1917 (3) The formal signing of the Treaty of Versailles in Europe (4) The withdrawal of the Partition of Bengal by the Ottoman Caliph (5) Question not attempted 1 75. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below: List I: (Early Revolutionary Organization) A. Mitra Mela B. Anushilan Samiti (Calcutta) C. Abhinav Bharat D. Yugantar (journal & group) List II: (Founder/Key Leader) i. V.D. Savarkar ii. Pramatha Mitra iii. V.D. Savarkar (as a transformed secret society) iv. Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Bhupendranath Dutta (1) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv (2) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii (3) A-i, B-iv, C-iii, D-ii (4) A-iii, B-ii, C-i, D-iv (5) Question not attempted 1 76. The Alipore Bomb Conspiracy case (1908) was a major trial of early revolutionaries following the attempted assassination of: (1) Lord Hardinge (2) Douglas Kingsford (3) Curzon Wyllie (4) A.M.T. Jackson (5) Question not attempted 2 77. Consider the following statements regarding the Abhinav Bharat society: I. It was a secret society founded by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and his brother Ganesh Savarkar. II. It operated exclusively within the Bengal presidency to fight the partition. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct? (1) I only (2) II only (3) Both I and II (4) Neither I nor II (5) Question not attempted 1 78. Identify the correct statement regarding the core objective and methodology of the early phase of revolutionary nationalism (pre-1915). (1) They sought to negotiate constitutional reforms peacefully through the British parliament. (2) They strictly adhered to the Gandhian principles of non-violent civil disobedience. (3) Organizing large-scale industrial strikes within British factories citizens on constitutional rights, and fostering a shared sense of national identity.

Explanation

The British government passed the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 specifically to control the increasingly influential local language media. These newspapers were effectively mobilizing the masses and providing a sharp critique of imperial economic and administrative policies. The legislation aimed to silence this nationalist propaganda, making the government’s fear of public awakening the primary motivation for its enactment.

Explanation

To bypass the restrictive provisions of the Vernacular Press Act, which applied specifically to non-English publications, the Amrita Bazar Patrika changed its language from Bengali to English overnight. This clever tactical shift allowed the newspaper to continue its nationalist critique while remaining outside the legal reach of the new censorship laws, demonstrating the ingenuity of early journalists.

Explanation

Western education introduced Indian intellectuals to concepts like liberty and democracy, while the English language facilitated communication between different linguistic regions. This system created a professional middle class that spearheaded the national movement. However, the British did not intend to foster independence; their goal was to create a loyal class of subordinates to assist in colonial administrative duties.