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 161–170 of 488 questions
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RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · British Economic Policies and Their Impact
Q161. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:
Land Revenue System
Region/Associated Person
A. Permanent Settlement
i. Holt Mackenzie
B. Ryotwari System
ii. Central Provinces
C. Mahalwari System
iii. Thomas Munro
D. Malguzari System
iv. Bengal and Bihar
Explanation
Different land revenue systems were implemented across colonial India. The Permanent Settlement began in Bengal and Bihar under Lord Cornwallis. Thomas Munro introduced the Ryotwari system in Madras to deal directly with peasants. Holt Mackenzie formulated the Mahalwari system for northern regions, while the Malguzari system was specifically applied in the Central Provinces to manage agrarian tax collections.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · British Economic Policies and Their Impact
Q162. Based on the given assertion and reason, select the correct option: Assertion (A): The introduction of railways in India by the British was primarily aimed at fostering the internal economic development of the country. Reason (R): Railways facilitated the rapid movement of raw materials from the hinterland to the ports for export to Britain.
Explanation
The assertion that British railways focused on internal economic development is incorrect. Instead, the railway network was strategically designed to benefit imperial interests. By linking raw material hubs to major ports, the system ensured the rapid export of primary goods to Britain. This infrastructure also allowed the British to transport troops quickly to maintain control over the territory.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · British Economic Policies and Their Impact
Q163. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:
Term related to financial exploitation
Description
A. Guaranteed Interest
i. Lower import duties for British goods entering India
B. Imperial Preference
ii. Early trading firms managing foreign capital in India
C. Home Charges
iii. Expenses of the Secretary of State’s office in London
D. Agency Houses
iv. Fixed minimum return provided to British railway investors
Explanation
Guaranteed interest was the fixed minimum return given to British railway investors, Imperial Preference was lower import duties for British goods, Home Charges were the expenses in London and Agency Houses were early trading firms. This gives A-iv, B-i, C-iii, D-ii.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · British Economic Policies and Their Impact
Q164. Identify the correct statement regarding the early Indian nationalist economic critique.
Explanation
Early nationalist economists argued that British rule drained India and that the state must protect and develop Indian industry. They did not accept free trade or blame cultural backwardness.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · British Economic Policies and Their Impact
Q165. Consider the following events related to the economic drain and nationalist response. Which of the following represents the correct chronological order? I. Publication of ‘Poverty and Un-British Rule in India’ II. Formation of the Welby Commission on Indian Expenditure III. First public articulation of the Drain Theory by Naoroji IV. Adoption of the Swadeshi resolution by the Indian National Congress Which of the following orders is correct?
Explanation
Naoroji first stated the Drain Theory in 1867, the Welby Commission was formed in 1895, his Poverty and Un-British Rule in India came out in 1901 and the Congress adopted the Swadeshi resolution in 1905. The order is III, II, I, IV.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · British Economic Policies and Their Impact
Q166. De-urbanisation was a visible consequence of de-industrialisation. Which of the following traditional manufacturing centres faced severe decline during this period?
Explanation
De-industrialisation hit traditional manufacturing centres such as Murshidabad and Dhaka, which declined sharply as cheap British goods came in.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · British Economic Policies and Their Impact
Q167. Consider the following statements about the features of the Drain of Wealth: I. The drain was essentially the unilateral transfer of social surplus from India to Britain. II. It included both an official administrative drain and a private commercial drain. III. It facilitated an equal transfer of modern technology and management practices to India. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The drain was a one-way transfer of surplus from India to Britain, and it included an official drain and a private commercial drain. It did not bring an equal transfer of technology, so III is wrong.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · British Economic Policies and Their Impact
Q168. The Ryotwari settlement was originally intended to create a class of independent peasant proprietors. However, it largely failed to eliminate landlordism because:
Explanation
The Ryotwari settlement failed to remove landlordism because high revenue demands and debt pushed peasants to give up land to moneylenders.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · British Economic Policies and Their Impact
Q169. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:
Class/Term in Agrarian Structure
Role/Description
A. Zamindar
i. Rich peasant or middleman with substantial landholdings
B. Ryot
ii. Moneylender who provided rural credit
C. Jotedar
iii. Proprietor responsible for collecting revenue for the state
D. Mahajan
iv. Actual cultivator or peasant
Explanation
A Zamindar was the proprietor who collected revenue for the state, a Ryot was the actual cultivator, a Jotedar was a rich peasant or middleman and a Mahajan was a moneylender. This gives A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · British Economic Policies and Their Impact
Q170. Which of the following statements regarding the railway freight rates policy during British rule is incorrect?
Explanation
Railway freight rates favoured the export of raw materials and cheap imports into the interior, and acted like an indirect tariff against Indian manufacturers. They did not favour inland trade to help domestic industry, so D is incorrect.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
161
(a) A-iv, B-iii, C-i, D-ii
162
(d) A is false but R is true.
163
(a) A-iv, B-i, C-iii, D-ii
164
(d) It demanded the active use of state power to protect and develop Indian industries.
165
(b) III, II, I, IV
166
(b) Murshidabad and Dhaka
167
(a) I and II only
168
(a) High revenue demands and debt caused land to pass into the hands of moneylenders.
169
(a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
170
(d) Preferential rates were given to inland trade to support domestic industry.
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.
