Q181. The Santhal Rebellion (1855-56) was a prominent tribal-peasant uprising. What was its primary economic cause?
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 181–190 of 488 questions
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Q182. How did the growth of the plantation economy and commercial forestry directly impact the tribal and marginalized communities?
Explanation
The expansion of plantations and commercial forestry severely impacted marginalized communities. The British classified vast forest areas as state property and restricted traditional activities like grazing and collecting produce. This enclosure movement deprived tribals of their primary livelihoods and displaced them from their lands. Many were forced to work as low-paid, often indentured, labourers on the very plantations that had replaced their ancestral forests.
Q183. Identify the correct statement regarding the play ‘Neel Darpan’.
Explanation
Neel Darpan, written by Dinabandhu Mitra, was a powerful piece of social and political literature. It provided a vivid and realistic account of the systemic cruelty and exploitation faced by indigo cultivators at the hands of European planters. The play played a crucial role in raising awareness and generating public sympathy, which helped build the momentum for the Indigo Revolt and the subsequent government inquiry.
Q184. The strict adherence to laissez-faire economics by colonial administrators during famines meant that:
Explanation
Under the doctrine of laissez-faire, colonial administrators were reluctant to regulate food prices or stop grain exports, even during severe scarcities. They believed that market forces would eventually solve shortages and that state intervention would be harmful to trade. This approach often allowed merchants to hoard grain for higher profits while the poor could not afford food, leading to millions of preventable deaths.
Q185. Which of the following early modern industries in India was almost exclusively owned and managed by Indians from its inception?
Explanation
While the jute and tea industries were dominated by British capital, the cotton textile industry was a notable exception. Indian entrepreneurs in Bombay and Ahmedabad founded and managed the early cotton mills, using capital accumulated through trade. This sector became a stronghold of the Indian capitalist class and played a vital role in the national movement, especially during the Swadeshi and non-cooperation agitations.
Q186. Which of the following best describes the primary impact of Western education on the Indian elite during the 19th century?
Explanation
Western education introduced the Indian elite to modern rationalism and liberal philosophies. This encounter created a critical awareness of social and religious stagnation within their own society. Instead of total assimilation, the elite used these ideas to critique and reform existing institutions like the caste system and superstitious practices, eventually sparking the significant 19th-century socio-religious reform movements.
Q187. In the context of the history of modern India, consider the following statements regarding the background of socio-religious reform movements:
Statement I: The introduction of the printing press facilitated the spread of reformist ideas and public debates in regional languages.
Statement II: The early reform movements were completely isolated from global intellectual currents such as the Enlightenment.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Statement I: The introduction of the printing press facilitated the spread of reformist ideas and public debates in regional languages.
Statement II: The early reform movements were completely isolated from global intellectual currents such as the Enlightenment.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The introduction of the printing press was a pivotal factor in the 19th-century Indian renaissance. It enabled the mass production of books and journals in regional languages, facilitating public debate. Early reform movements were not isolated but were deeply influenced by global intellectual currents like the Enlightenment, rationalism, and universalism, which shaped their ideological framework and strategies.
Q188. Raja Ram Mohan Roy established which of the following organizations in 1814 to propagate the monotheistic ideals of the Vedanta?
Explanation
Raja Ram Mohan Roy established the Atmiya Sabha in 1814 to initiate discussions on monotheism and the philosophy of the Vedanta. This organization served as a precursor to his later institutional efforts. Its primary goal was to propagate the worship of one God and to challenge prevalent polytheistic practices and religious rituals within the contemporary Hindu society.
Q189. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the ideology of the Brahmo Samaj under Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Explanation
The Brahmo Samaj was characterized by a rationalist and monotheistic approach to religion. While it advocated for the worship of one formless God and opposed idol worship and priestcraft, it did not uphold the doctrines of karma and soul transmigration as fundamental tenets. It maintained a flexible stance on religious scriptures, refusing to accept any religious text as infallible.
Q190. In the context of socio-religious reform movements in India, consider the following statements, where one is labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Raja Ram Mohan Roy extensively quoted from ancient Hindu scriptures in his campaign against the practice of Sati.
Reason (R): He wanted to prove to the orthodox elements that Sati was not mandated by the authentic core of the Hindu religion.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Assertion (A): Raja Ram Mohan Roy extensively quoted from ancient Hindu scriptures in his campaign against the practice of Sati.
Reason (R): He wanted to prove to the orthodox elements that Sati was not mandated by the authentic core of the Hindu religion.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Explanation
Raja Ram Mohan Roy strategically used ancient Hindu scriptures to demonstrate that the practice of Sati lacked genuine religious sanction. By citing authoritative texts, he aimed to convince the orthodox segments of society that this inhuman custom was a later distortion. This intellectual strategy provided a theological basis for the legal abolition of Sati in British India.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 181 | (d) Oppression and dispossession by zamindars and moneylenders. |
| 182 | (a) Forest enclosure and restriction of customary rights, causing loss of livelihood. |
| 183 | (c) It realistically portrayed the oppression of indigo farmers. |
| 184 | (a) Refusal to interfere with private trade of grains, even during hoarding. |
| 185 | (d) The Cotton Textile Industry in Bombay and Ahmedabad |
| 186 | (b) It fostered a rationalist critique prompting reform of socio-religious institutions. |
| 187 | (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect. |
| 188 | (c) Atmiya Sabha |
| 189 | (d) It upheld doctrines of karma and soul transmigration as fundamental religious tenets. |
| 190 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
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.