Q131. In the context of British constitutional development, the shift from ‘Subordinate Isolation’ to ‘Subordinate Union’ primarily characterized the relationship between the British Crown and:
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 131–140 of 488 questions
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Q132. Identify the odd one out among the following laws/regulations aimed at suppressing political dissent:
Explanation
The Vernacular Press Act, the Rowlatt Act and Section 124A were tools of repression. The Ilbert Bill was about judicial equality for Indian magistrates, so it is the odd one out.
Q133. Select the correct hierarchical order of the colonial judicial courts established under the British system (from lowest to highest):
Explanation
From lowest to highest the courts were the Munsiff’s Court, the District Judge’s Court, the Sadar Diwani Adalat and the Privy Council.
Q134. Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding the racial discrimination inherent in the colonial judicial system?
Explanation
Europeans were often tried only by European judges and got lighter punishments, and the Ilbert Bill tried to let Indian magistrates try Europeans. European protests forced the bill to be amended, so it was not enacted in its original form.
Q135. The Statutory Civil Service, consisting of one-sixth of covenanted posts reserved for Indians of ‘high families’, was introduced in 1878-79 by:
Explanation
Lord Lytton introduced the Statutory Civil Service in 1878-79, reserving one-sixth of covenanted posts for Indians of high families.
Q136. Match List I with List II:
| British Official/Personality | Associated Policy/Event |
|---|---|
| A. Lord Curzon | i. Codification of Laws |
| B. Lord Ripon | ii. Partition of Bengal (1905) |
| C. Lord Macaulay | iii. Repeal of the Vernacular Press Act |
| D. Lord Morley | iv. Introduction of Communal Electorates |
Explanation
Curzon is linked to the Partition of Bengal, Ripon to the repeal of the Vernacular Press Act, Macaulay to the codification of laws and Morley to communal electorates. This gives A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv.
Q137. What was a primary reason for the failure of ‘Dyarchy’ implemented under the Government of India Act 1919?
Explanation
Dyarchy failed because ministers had no control over the Reserved departments, especially finance and police, which stayed with the Governor.
Q138. The 1905 partition policy generated widespread nationalist outrage. Which of the following most appropriately describes the administrative rationale publicly claimed by the colonial government?
Explanation
The government said the partition of 1905 was meant to ease Bengal’s administrative burden and promote the development of Assam and eastern Bengal.
Q139. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The establishment of colonial Cantonments led to a highly integrated urban landscape where European soldiers and native populations freely mixed.
Statement II: The architectural style of colonial bungalows in Civil Lines was specifically designed to assert racial superiority and ensure physical separation from the native environment.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Statement I: The establishment of colonial Cantonments led to a highly integrated urban landscape where European soldiers and native populations freely mixed.
Statement II: The architectural style of colonial bungalows in Civil Lines was specifically designed to assert racial superiority and ensure physical separation from the native environment.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Cantonments kept Europeans and Indians apart, so Statement I is false. The bungalows of Civil Lines were designed to show racial superiority and keep distance from native areas, so Statement II is true.
Q140. Consider the following statements regarding the Indian Councils Acts of 1861 and 1892:
I. The Act of 1861 initiated the process of legislative decentralization.
II. The Act of 1861 introduced the portfolio system into the executive council.
III. The Act of 1892 allowed members to ask supplementary questions in the council.
IV. The Act of 1892 permitted the discussion of the annual financial statement.
V. The Act of 1892 established a completely elected non-official majority in the central legislative council.
Which of the following combinations of statements is correct?
I. The Act of 1861 initiated the process of legislative decentralization.
II. The Act of 1861 introduced the portfolio system into the executive council.
III. The Act of 1892 allowed members to ask supplementary questions in the council.
IV. The Act of 1892 permitted the discussion of the annual financial statement.
V. The Act of 1892 established a completely elected non-official majority in the central legislative council.
Which of the following combinations of statements is correct?
Explanation
The Act of 1861 began legislative decentralisation and introduced the portfolio system. The Act of 1892 allowed discussion of the budget, but did not give supplementary questions in the way described or an elected non-official majority, so I, II and IV are correct.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 131 | (b) The Princely States |
| 132 | (c) The Ilbert Bill, 1883 |
| 133 | (a) Munsiff’s Court, District Judge’s Court, Sadar Diwani Adalat, Privy Council |
| 134 | (c) The fierce opposition to the Ilbert Bill by Europeans led to its immediate enactment in its original, unamended form. |
| 135 | (b) Lord Lytton |
| 136 | (d) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv |
| 137 | (a) Ministers lacked control over vital ‘Reserved’ departments, especially finance and police |
| 138 | (a) To relieve the Bengal government of its administrative burden and promote the development of Assam |
| 139 | (d) Statement I is false but Statement II is true. |
| 140 | (a) I, II and IV only |
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.