Q11. Which of the following statements best describes the primary motive of the colonial administration in introducing English education in India?
Emergence of Nationalism and the Early Congress: RAS Prelims MCQs
26 RAS Prelims MCQs on the emergence of nationalism and the early Indian National Congress test the economic, political and social causes of the movement, the role of the press and the ideas of the Extremist leaders. The Ilbert Bill controversy, the Vernacular Press Act, Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and the Home Rule Movement come up repeatedly.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 11–20 of 26 questions
Q12. Which of the following educational institutions was NOT founded by Indian nationalists as part of the national awakening?
Explanation
Fort William College was established in 1800 by Lord Wellesley to train British civil servants in Indian languages and customs. In contrast, institutions like the Deccan Education Society and Bengal National College were founded by Indian nationalists to promote indigenous education and national spirit. D.A.V. College in Lahore was another prominent initiative aimed at merging modern and traditional knowledge.
Q13. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the educational policies of the British during the rise of nationalism.
Explanation
The Hunter Commission of 1882 actually emphasized the importance of primary and secondary education, recommending that the state should hand over higher education to private enterprise. While Wood’s Despatch is considered the foundational document of English education, and the Raleigh Commission focused on university reforms, the Hunter Commission is specifically noted for its focus on basic and vocational training.
Q14. The concept of the ‘downward filtration theory’ in early British educational policy meant that:
Explanation
The downward filtration theory assumed that by educating a small group of high-class Indians, modern Western ideas and culture would eventually trickle down to the broader population. The British used this concept to justify neglecting mass education due to limited funds. They believed that the elite would act as conduits for spreading European knowledge throughout the various social layers.
Q15. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Initiative/Publication | Year/Association related to B.G. Tilak |
|---|---|
| A. Ganapati Festival | i. English language |
| B. Shivaji Festival | ii. 1893 |
| C. Kesari | iii. 1895 |
| D. Mahratta | iv. Marathi language |
Explanation
Bal Gangadhar Tilak transformed traditional culture into political tools by initiating the Ganapati Festival in 1893 and the Shivaji Festival in 1895. He also used journalism effectively, editing the Marathi newspaper Kesari and the English publication Mahratta. These efforts were designed to mobilize the masses and foster a sense of national pride and resistance against the colonial government’s policies.
Q16. The famous slogan "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it" was coined by Bal Gangadhar Tilak during which prominent phase of the national movement?
Explanation
Tilak coined the slogan "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it" during the Home Rule Movement of 1916.
Q17. Consider the following statements about Bal Gangadhar Tilak:
I. He was an orthodox Hindu who opposed the Age of Consent Bill.
II. He started the practice of using traditional religious festivals to propagate nationalist ideas among the masses.
III. He firmly believed in the moderate methods of prayer and petition to achieve political goals.
IV. He was the first nationalist leader to face imprisonment multiple times for his writings in the press.
V. He presided over the Surat Session of the Indian National Congress in 1907.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. He was an orthodox Hindu who opposed the Age of Consent Bill.
II. He started the practice of using traditional religious festivals to propagate nationalist ideas among the masses.
III. He firmly believed in the moderate methods of prayer and petition to achieve political goals.
IV. He was the first nationalist leader to face imprisonment multiple times for his writings in the press.
V. He presided over the Surat Session of the Indian National Congress in 1907.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
Tilak opposed the Age of Consent Bill, used religious festivals to reach the masses and was jailed several times for his writings. He did not believe in prayer and petition, so III is wrong. He was a leading figure at the Surat session but did not preside over it, so V is wrong.
Q18. Given below are two statements, one labeled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Bal Gangadhar Tilak utilized traditional festivals like Ganapati and Shivaji to mobilize the masses.
Reason (R): Tilak wanted to restrict the nationalist movement strictly to the upper-caste elites and avoid mass participation. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Bal Gangadhar Tilak utilized traditional festivals like Ganapati and Shivaji to mobilize the masses.
Reason (R): Tilak wanted to restrict the nationalist movement strictly to the upper-caste elites and avoid mass participation. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
Tilak used the Ganapati and Shivaji festivals to mobilise the masses, so the assertion is true. He wanted mass participation and not an elite movement, so the reason is false.
Q19. Who among the following British authors characterized Bal Gangadhar Tilak as the "Father of Indian Unrest"?
Explanation
The British journalist Valentine Chirol called Tilak the Father of Indian Unrest.
Q20. Which of the following methods was NOT a core component of Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s political strategy for achieving Swaraj?
Explanation
Tilak’s strategy included boycott of foreign goods, national education and passive resistance. Subservience to the Crown’s economic policies was the opposite of his approach, so C is not part of it.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | (b) To create a class of Indians English in taste and intellect to assist rule |
| 12 | (c) Fort William College |
| 13 | (d) The Hunter Commission focused on university education while ignoring primary schooling. |
| 14 | (a) Modern ideas filtering from the educated elite down to the masses |
| 15 | (a) A-ii, B-iii, C-iv, D-i |
| 16 | (b) Home Rule Movement (1916) |
| 17 | (b) III and V only |
| 18 | (c) A is true but R is false. |
| 19 | (d) Valentine Chirol |
| 20 | (c) Subservience to the Crown’s economic and fiscal policies |
Key facts from Emergence of Nationalism and the Early Congress
- The drain of wealth and the destruction of indigenous industry were the main economic causes of nationalism.
- The Ilbert Bill controversy of 1883 exposed racial arrogance and European resistance to legal equality.
- The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was passed under Lytton; the Amrita Bazar Patrika became an English paper to escape it.
- Tilak coined "Swaraj is my birthright" during the Home Rule Movement of 1916; Valentine Chirol called him the Father of Indian Unrest.
- Lala Lajpat Rai, called Punjab Kesari, wrote Unhappy India in reply to Mother India.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Emergence of Nationalism and the Early Congress?
This page has 26 practice MCQs on Emergence of Nationalism and the Early Congress (Modern Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which newspaper turned English to escape the Vernacular Press Act?
The Amrita Bazar Patrika, a Bengali paper. After the Act of 1878, it changed overnight into an English weekly, since the Act applied only to papers in Indian languages.
What did the Ilbert Bill controversy show?
It showed racial arrogance and the resistance of Europeans to legal equality. The bill let Indian judges try Europeans, and the European protests that forced its dilution convinced educated Indians of the need for organised political action.
Who wrote Unhappy India?
Lala Lajpat Rai, as a reply to Katherine Mayo’s Mother India. The book defended Indian society and criticised British rule, and Lajpat Rai was known as Punjab Kesari for his leadership in Punjab.