Q101. Select the correct chronological sequence of the following landmarks in the development of the colonial civil services in India:
Modern Indian History: RAS Prelims MCQs
488 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on modern Indian history are on this page, in 12 chapters. They cover British expansion and early resistance, the Anglo-Sikh wars, the Revolt of 1857, colonial policies, reform movements, the rise of nationalism, the Gandhian era, revolutionary movements and Partition, and nation-building up to 2000. Each question has an answer and an explanation, in the formats the exam uses.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 101–110 of 488 questions
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Q102. What was the underlying political motive of Lord Curzon behind the controversial partition policy implemented in 1905, which was officially justified on the grounds of administrative convenience?
Explanation
Curzon’s partition of Bengal in 1905 was officially for administrative convenience, but the real aim was to weaken Indian nationalism by dividing the politically conscious Bengali population.
Q103. Match List I with List II:
| Term related to British Policy | Act that introduced/solidified it |
|---|---|
| A. Dyarchy in Provinces | i. Government of India Act 1935 |
| B. Provincial Autonomy | ii. Indian Councils Act 1861 |
| C. Portfolio System | iii. Morley-Minto Reforms 1909 |
| D. Communal Electorate | iv. Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms 1919 |
Explanation
Dyarchy in the provinces came with the 1919 Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, provincial autonomy with the 1935 Act, the portfolio system with the Councils Act of 1861 and communal electorates with the 1909 Morley-Minto Reforms. This gives A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii.
Q104. Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding colonial urban planning and racial segregation in British India?
Explanation
Civil Lines, Cantonments and White and Black Towns kept the British apart from Indians, and European areas had wide avenues and better sanitation. Hill stations were also used for residence and administration, so C is incorrect.
Q105. Consider the following statements regarding the role of the Census in colonial administration:
I. The first synchronous and comprehensive census of India was conducted in 1881.
II. Census operations were purely statistical and played no role in solidifying caste or religious identities.
III. The colonial government used census data to classify martial and non-martial races, aiding their divide and rule policy.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
I. The first synchronous and comprehensive census of India was conducted in 1881.
II. Census operations were purely statistical and played no role in solidifying caste or religious identities.
III. The colonial government used census data to classify martial and non-martial races, aiding their divide and rule policy.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
Explanation
The first synchronous census of India was in 1881, and the colonial government used census data to classify castes and martial races for divide and rule. Census operations did shape caste and religious identities, so II is wrong.
Q106. Which of the following best describes the core mechanism of the British policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ in India during the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
Explanation
Divide and Rule meant favouring one community to prevent a united opposition to British rule.
Q107. Which of the following pairs of judicial milestones and their primary features is incorrectly matched?
Explanation
The Regulating Act of 1773 set up the Supreme Court at Calcutta, the Indian High Courts Act of 1861 abolished the Supreme Courts and Sadar Adalats and Macaulay’s Law Commission drafted the Indian Penal Code. The Government of India Act 1935 set up the Federal Court, not the Privy Council, so B is the incorrect pair.
Q108. The Government of India Act 1858 replaced the Board of Control and the Court of Directors with a new entity to oversee Indian administration. What was this new entity?
Explanation
The Government of India Act 1858 replaced the Board of Control and Court of Directors with the Secretary of State for India, advised by the India Council.
Q109. Which of the following was NOT a feature of the Indian Councils Act of 1861?
Explanation
The Indian Councils Act of 1861 allowed the nomination of non-officials, gave the Viceroy power to issue ordinances and recognised the portfolio system. It did not introduce direct election, so A is not a feature.
Q110. Match List I with List II:
| British Official | Police/Administrative Reform |
|---|---|
| A. Lord Cornwallis | i. Abolished the office of SP and transferred duties to Collector |
| B. Lord Curzon | ii. Appointed the Frazer Police Commission |
| C. Lord William Bentinck | iii. Enacted the Indian Police Act of 1861 |
| D. Lord Canning | iv. Created the Thana and Daroga system |
Explanation
Cornwallis created the Thana and Daroga system, Curzon appointed the Frazer Police Commission, Bentinck abolished the office of the SP and gave its duties to the Collector, and Canning enacted the Police Act of 1861. This gives A-iv, B-ii, C-i, D-iii.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 101 | (b) Foundation of Fort William College, Macaulay Committee Report, Islington Commission, Introduction of simultaneous exams in India |
| 102 | (b) To weaken Indian nationalism by dividing the politically conscious population of Bengal |
| 103 | (a) A-iv, B-i, C-ii, D-iii |
| 104 | (c) Hill stations were established primarily as strategic military outposts and never had any residential or administrative functions. |
| 105 | (c) I and III only |
| 106 | (c) Systematically favoring one community to prevent unified opposition against British colonial rule |
| 107 | (b) Government of India Act 1935 - Establishment of the Privy Council in London |
| 108 | (d) The Secretary of State for India and his advisory body, the India Council |
| 109 | (a) It formally introduced the principle of direct election for provincial councils. |
| 110 | (c) A-iv, B-ii, C-i, D-iii |
Key facts from Modern Indian History
- The RPSC syllabus covers the period from the early 19th century to 2000: British imperialism, the Revolt of 1857, colonial policies, reform movements, nationalism, the freedom struggle, Partition and nation-building.
- Questions on colonial rule often turn on a single Act or reform and its year, such as the Government of India Act 1858 or the Indian Councils Act 1861.
- Freedom-struggle questions pair a movement with its leader, place and date, for example Champaran in 1917 and the Dandi March in 1930.
- Statement and chronology questions are common in the freedom struggle chapters, so learn events in order.
- The post-independence chapters cover state reorganisation, planning, bank nationalisation and the growth of science and technology.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Modern Indian History?
This page has 488 practice MCQs on Modern Indian History. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the modern Indian history set cover?
Twelve chapters: British imperialism and early resistance, Anglo-Sikh wars and the Doctrine of Lapse, the Revolt of 1857, political and administrative policies, economic policies, socio-religious reform movements, early nationalism, the Gandhian era, revolutionary and regional movements and Partition, state reorganisation, planning and reforms, and science and technology.
Which period does RAS Prelims modern history cover?
RPSC lists the modern period from the early 19th century to 2000, including British imperialism and resistance, the Revolt of 1857, British policies, nationalism, the freedom struggle, Partition and post-independence nation-building.
How should I prepare modern history for RAS Prelims?
Build a timeline of Acts, movements and leaders first. Then attempt each chapter, read the explanation for every miss and note the leader, place and year. Chronology questions are common, so revise the order of events a few times.