Q191. Which of the following was an exception to the reformist agenda of Debendranath Tagore’s Tattvabodhini Sabha?
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.
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Q192. Which of the following statements correctly highlights the ideological difference that led to the first split in the Brahmo Samaj in 1866?
Explanation
The split in the Brahmo Samaj in 1866 resulted from ideological differences regarding the pace and nature of social reform. Keshab Chandra Sen advocated for radical changes, including the total rejection of caste distinctions and support for inter-caste marriages. Debendranath Tagore, however, preferred a more cautious approach that remained closer to Hindu traditions, leading to the institutional division.
Q193. Consider the following statements regarding the split of the Brahmo Samaj:
I. The Brahmo Samaj of India was formed by Debendranath Tagore.
II. The Adi Brahmo Samaj remained under the leadership of Keshab Chandra Sen.
III. The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj was founded by the followers of Keshab Chandra Sen who opposed the marriage of his minor daughter.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The Brahmo Samaj of India was formed by Debendranath Tagore.
II. The Adi Brahmo Samaj remained under the leadership of Keshab Chandra Sen.
III. The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj was founded by the followers of Keshab Chandra Sen who opposed the marriage of his minor daughter.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Brahmo Samaj underwent multiple divisions due to internal disagreements. After the first split, Keshab Chandra Sen founded the Brahmo Samaj of India, while Debendranath Tagore’s group became the Adi Brahmo Samaj. Later, in 1878, the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj was formed by Sen’s followers who were disillusioned by his decision to marry his minor daughter in a traditional ceremony.
Q194. Find the odd one out among the following socio-religious organizations based on their geographic region of origin:
Explanation
The Brahmo Samaj, Tattvabodhini Sabha, and Sadharan Brahmo Samaj all originated in the Bengal region, specifically Calcutta, and were central to the Bengal Renaissance. In contrast, the Prarthana Samaj was established in Bombay, Maharashtra. While it shared similar monotheistic and reformist goals with the Brahmo movements, its geographic origin and local social focus set it apart from them.
Q195. Which of the following represents the correct chronological sequence of the establishment of these socio-religious organizations?
Explanation
The Atmiya Sabha was founded in 1814, followed by the establishment of the Brahmo Samaj in 1828. Debendranath Tagore started the Tattvabodhini Sabha in 1839 to propagate systematic studies of Indian heritage. Finally, the Prarthana Samaj was established in 1867 in Bombay. This sequence reflects the gradual expansion and institutionalization of socio-religious reform across different regions of India.
Q196. In the context of social reforms in Maharashtra, consider the following statements:
Statement I: The Prarthana Samaj adopted a gradualist approach to social reform rather than breaking completely with Hindu traditions.
Statement II: M.G. Ranade and R.G. Bhandarkar were among its most prominent leaders.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Statement I: The Prarthana Samaj adopted a gradualist approach to social reform rather than breaking completely with Hindu traditions.
Statement II: M.G. Ranade and R.G. Bhandarkar were among its most prominent leaders.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Prarthana Samaj in Maharashtra was known for its gradualist approach, emphasizing persuasion and education rather than radical breaks with Hindu traditions. Prominent leaders like M.G. Ranade and R.G. Bhandarkar spearheaded its activities, focusing on issues like widow remarriage and the education of women. They sought to reform Hindu society from within while maintaining a link to its cultural roots.
Q197. Consider the following statements about the social reform activities in Maharashtra:
I. Prarthana Samaj focused strictly on religious reforms and avoided social issues like widow remarriage.
II. The Deccan Education Society was closely associated with the reformist zeal in Maharashtra.
III. M.G. Ranade founded the Indian National Social Conference.
IV. Prarthana Samaj members worked actively for the upliftment of the depressed classes.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. Prarthana Samaj focused strictly on religious reforms and avoided social issues like widow remarriage.
II. The Deccan Education Society was closely associated with the reformist zeal in Maharashtra.
III. M.G. Ranade founded the Indian National Social Conference.
IV. Prarthana Samaj members worked actively for the upliftment of the depressed classes.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The Prarthana Samaj did not limit itself to religious matters; instead, it actively engaged with pressing social issues such as widow remarriage and female education. Its members were instrumental in founding the Deccan Education Society and the Indian National Social Conference. Additionally, they worked for the upliftment of depressed classes, making social welfare a core component of their reformist agenda.
Q198. Identify the incorrectly matched pair regarding reformers and their primary focus area in the Prarthana Samaj tradition:
Explanation
R.G. Bhandarkar was a renowned scholar and a dedicated social reformer associated with the Prarthana Samaj, not an advocate for armed rebellion. His work focused on educational and social improvements through constitutional and rationalist means. In contrast, D.K. Karve worked for women, M.G. Ranade led social conferences, and N.M. Joshi was a pioneer in labor welfare and trade unionism.
Q199. The term "Back to the Vedas" was coined by which of the following social reformers to emphasize the infallible authority of the original Vedic texts?
Explanation
Swami Dayananda Saraswati coined the slogan "Back to the Vedas" to advocate for a return to the pure teachings of the original Vedic texts. He believed that later additions, such as the Puranas and the caste system based on birth, had corrupted Hinduism. His movement, the Arya Samaj, sought to revitalize society by emphasizing Vedic monotheism and rationalism.
Q200. Match List-I (Reform Movement/Idea) with
List-II (Key Figure) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
List I: (Movement/Idea)
A. Shuddhi Movement
B. Neo-Vedanta
C. Dalit Assertion (Mahad Satyagraha)
D. Satyashodhak Samaj
List II: (Key Figure)
i. Swami Vivekananda
ii. B.R. Ambedkar
iii. Dayananda Saraswati
iv. Jyotirao Phule
Codes:
List-II (Key Figure) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
List I: (Movement/Idea)
A. Shuddhi Movement
B. Neo-Vedanta
C. Dalit Assertion (Mahad Satyagraha)
D. Satyashodhak Samaj
List II: (Key Figure)
i. Swami Vivekananda
ii. B.R. Ambedkar
iii. Dayananda Saraswati
iv. Jyotirao Phule
Codes:
Explanation
The Shuddhi movement is linked with Dayananda Saraswati, Neo-Vedanta with Vivekananda, the Mahad Satyagraha with Ambedkar and the Satyashodhak Samaj with Jyotirao Phule. This gives A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 191 | (d) Encouraging the complete westernization of Bengali literature |
| 192 | (c) Sen’s advocacy for radical social reforms like inter-caste marriage was rejected by the conservative Tagore. |
| 193 | (c) III only |
| 194 | (d) Prarthana Samaj |
| 195 | (a) Atmiya Sabha, Brahmo Samaj, Tattvabodhini Sabha, Prarthana Samaj |
| 196 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct. |
| 197 | (a) I only |
| 198 | (b) R.G. Bhandarkar - Armed rebellion against British rule |
| 199 | (b) Dayananda Saraswati |
| 200 | (a) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv |
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.