Q151. Which of the following pairs regarding colonial Census operations is correctly matched?
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 151–160 of 488 questions
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Q152. Colonial urban planning frequently used the pretext of ‘sanitation’ and ‘public health’ to:
Explanation
Colonial authorities often used sanitation and public health as a reason to demolish native dwellings and enforce racial segregation.
Q153. Consider the following statements regarding the features of colonial policing in India:
I. The police force was structured hierarchically with Europeans dominating the higher ranks.
II. The Daroga system was notoriously corrupt and oppressive towards the peasantry.
III. The Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 was used by the police to brand entire communities as habitual offenders.
IV. The police were largely sympathetic to the nationalist movement and frequently refused orders to lathi-charge protesters.
V. The CID (Criminal Investigation Department) was established following the recommendations of the Frazer Commission.
Which of the given statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The police force was structured hierarchically with Europeans dominating the higher ranks.
II. The Daroga system was notoriously corrupt and oppressive towards the peasantry.
III. The Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 was used by the police to brand entire communities as habitual offenders.
IV. The police were largely sympathetic to the nationalist movement and frequently refused orders to lathi-charge protesters.
V. The CID (Criminal Investigation Department) was established following the recommendations of the Frazer Commission.
Which of the given statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Colonial police had Europeans in the top ranks, the Daroga system was corrupt, the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 branded communities as habitual offenders and the CID followed the Frazer Commission. The police were not generally sympathetic to nationalists, so IV is incorrect.
Q154. Which of the following acts was NOT utilized by the British colonial government as a tool for political repression and censorship?
Explanation
The Official Secrets Act of 1904, the Press (Emergency Powers) Act of 1931 and the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1908 were repressive laws. The Ilbert Bill of 1883 was about trying Europeans before Indian judges, so it is not one.
Q155. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The creation of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) in 1901 by carving out territories from Punjab was purely driven by linguistic considerations.
Statement II: British territorial reorganization frequently aimed to break the solidarity of linguistically and culturally unified communities.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Statement I: The creation of the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) in 1901 by carving out territories from Punjab was purely driven by linguistic considerations.
Statement II: British territorial reorganization frequently aimed to break the solidarity of linguistically and culturally unified communities.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The North-West Frontier Province was created in 1901 for strategic and administrative reasons, not linguistic ones, so Statement I is false. British reorganisation often aimed to break the solidarity of linguistic and cultural groups, so Statement II is true.
Q156. What was the impact of the codification of personal and civil laws by the British on traditional Indian legal systems?
Explanation
The introduction of a formalized, Western-style legal system and its codification led to an increase in complex and expensive litigation. This system often disadvantaged the rural poor, who found it difficult to navigate the new rules and pay for legal assistance. It also undermined the traditional authority of local panchayats, as cases were increasingly moved to the new centralized courts established by the British.
Q157. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the constitutional transition triggered by the Revolt of 1857?
Explanation
The Government of India Act 1858 marked the formal end of East India Company rule. The British Crown assumed direct responsibility for the administration of India, and the Company’s territories and powers were transferred to the monarch. While the Governor-General remained as the executive head, he now acted as the Viceroy, representing the Crown, ensuring a more centralized and direct imperial control.
Q158. Which of the following best describes the process of de-industrialisation in India under British rule?
Explanation
During British rule, the process of de-industrialisation referred to the decline of traditional manufacturing. This occurred as local artisans could not compete with cheap machine-made textiles imported from Britain. The colonial government imposed high duties on Indian exports while facilitating duty-free British imports, leading to the economic displacement of millions of skilled Indian craftspeople across the subcontinent.
Q159. Consider the following statements regarding the Drain of Wealth theory:
I. It was first systematically formulated by Dadabhai Naoroji in his book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India.
II. A major component of the drain was the Home Charges paid to the British government.
III. The drain facilitated capital formation and industrialisation within India.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It was first systematically formulated by Dadabhai Naoroji in his book Poverty and Un-British Rule in India.
II. A major component of the drain was the Home Charges paid to the British government.
III. The drain facilitated capital formation and industrialisation within India.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Drain of Wealth theory highlights how India’s surplus was transferred to Britain without equivalent returns. Dadabhai Naoroji pioneered this concept, identifying components like salaries of British officials and Home Charges. While the theory explains the capital extraction from India, it correctly identifies that this process hindered rather than facilitated domestic industrialisation by depleting the country’s essential financial resources.
Q160. The Permanent Settlement of land revenue was introduced in Bengal in the year 1793 by which Governor-General?
Explanation
The Permanent Settlement of land revenue was introduced in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis to create a stable revenue source for the East India Company. This system granted zamindars permanent hereditary ownership rights over land, provided they paid a fixed revenue to the state. It aimed to establish a loyal class of supporters while ensuring a predictable financial income.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 151 | (c) 1901 - Census that utilized anthropometric measurements and caste rankings |
| 152 | (a) Justify the demolition of native dwellings and enforce racial segregation |
| 153 | (a) I, II, III and V only |
| 154 | (b) The Ilbert Bill, 1883 |
| 155 | (d) Statement I is false but Statement II is true. |
| 156 | (a) It created a complex litigation process that disadvantaged the rural poor |
| 157 | (b) The British Crown formally assumed direct responsibility for the administration of India, ending the era of Company rule. |
| 158 | (b) The systematic destruction of traditional Indian handicrafts and artisan industries |
| 159 | (a) I and II only |
| 160 | (c) Lord Cornwallis |
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.