Q211. What was the primary effect of the Theosophical Society’s activities on the educated Indian middle class?
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 211–220 of 488 questions
Browse Modern Indian History chapters
Q212. Consider the following institutions established during the socio-religious reform era:
I. Central Hindu College, Varanasi
II. Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh
III. Ramakrishna Mission
Which of the following represents the correct chronological order of their establishment?
I. Central Hindu College, Varanasi
II. Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh
III. Ramakrishna Mission
Which of the following represents the correct chronological order of their establishment?
Explanation
The Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College was established in 1875 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. The Ramakrishna Mission was founded later in 1897 by Swami Vivekananda to focus on humanitarian work. Finally, Annie Besant founded the Central Hindu College in 1898. This progression illustrates the diverse educational and social initiatives that emerged across different communities during the late 19th century.
Q213. Which of the following is a correct statement regarding Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s views on religion?
Explanation
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was a proponent of rationalism in religious interpretation. He argued that the word of God in the Quran could not contradict the work of God in nature, thus advocating for a scientific and rational understanding of religious tenets. He encouraged Muslims to move beyond dogmatic traditions and embrace critical thinking to adapt to the modern world.
Q214. Consider the following statements regarding the Aligarh Movement:
I. It sought to reconcile Islamic faith with modern scientific thought.
II. It rejected the purdah system and was a pioneer in promoting the modern education of women in schools.
III. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan founded the United Indian Patriotic Association.
IV. The movement was hostile to British rule and aligned with the early Congress.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. It sought to reconcile Islamic faith with modern scientific thought.
II. It rejected the purdah system and was a pioneer in promoting the modern education of women in schools.
III. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan founded the United Indian Patriotic Association.
IV. The movement was hostile to British rule and aligned with the early Congress.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The Aligarh Movement did not prioritize women’s education in its early stages and remained somewhat conservative regarding the purdah system. Furthermore, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was generally loyal to the British government and advised Muslims to stay away from the Indian National Congress, fearing that political agitation would hinder the community’s educational progress and jeopardize its relationship with the rulers.
Q215. All of the following were central features of the Aligarh Movement EXCEPT:
Explanation
The Aligarh Movement was fundamentally reformist, not revivalist. It actively promoted English education and modern Western philosophical ideas through the MAO College. It also aimed to reform social abuses within the Muslim community and maintained a stance of loyalty to British rule. A rejection of Western ideas would have been contrary to its primary goal of modernization and intellectual advancement.
Q216. Find the odd one out among the following Islamic movements based on their primary ideological stance towards British education and culture:
Explanation
The Aligarh and Ahmadiyya movements, along with the efforts of Nawab Abdul Latif, generally favored modern education and sought some level of engagement with Western culture. The Deoband movement, however, was a revivalist school that focused on traditional Islamic studies. It was characterized by an anti-British stance and a desire to preserve the community’s religious identity through orthodox scholarly traditions.
Q217. Match List-I (Movement/Institution) with
List-II (Characteristic/Founder) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
List I: (Movement/Institution)
A. Aligarh Movement
B. Deoband Movement
C. Brahmo Samaj
D. Arya Samaj
List II: (Characteristic/Founder)
i. Traditional Islamic scholarship and anti- British stance
ii. Revivalist Hindu movement rejecting western influence
iii. Western scientific education and loyalty to British
iv. Synthesis of Eastern spirituality and Western rationalism
Codes:
List-II (Characteristic/Founder) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
List I: (Movement/Institution)
A. Aligarh Movement
B. Deoband Movement
C. Brahmo Samaj
D. Arya Samaj
List II: (Characteristic/Founder)
i. Traditional Islamic scholarship and anti- British stance
ii. Revivalist Hindu movement rejecting western influence
iii. Western scientific education and loyalty to British
iv. Synthesis of Eastern spirituality and Western rationalism
Codes:
Explanation
The Aligarh Movement focused on Western scientific education and loyalty to the British. The Deoband Movement emphasized traditional scholarship with an anti-British outlook. The Brahmo Samaj sought a synthesis of Eastern spirituality and Western rationalism. Meanwhile, the Arya Samaj was a revivalist movement that rejected Western influence in favor of a return to the original Vedic teachings of ancient India.
Q218. Consider the following statements about the differences between the Aligarh and Deoband movements:
I. Aligarh movement was reformist, while Deoband was revivalist.
II. Deoband welcomed the formation of the Indian National Congress, while Aligarh opposed it.
III. Aligarh emphasized English education, whereas Deoband focused on traditional Islamic studies.
IV. Both movements were founded in the same year.
V. Both movements agreed on adopting Western culture.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Aligarh movement was reformist, while Deoband was revivalist.
II. Deoband welcomed the formation of the Indian National Congress, while Aligarh opposed it.
III. Aligarh emphasized English education, whereas Deoband focused on traditional Islamic studies.
IV. Both movements were founded in the same year.
V. Both movements agreed on adopting Western culture.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Aligarh movement was reformist and pro-British, while Deoband was revivalist and anti-British. Consequently, Deoband leaders supported the Indian National Congress, whereas Aligarh leaders opposed it. They also differed sharply on education, with Aligarh promoting English and Deoband emphasizing traditional Islamic studies. They were founded at different times and held opposing views regarding the adoption of Western cultural values.
Q219. Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 primarily to:
Explanation
Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj to liberate the Shudra and Ati-Shudra communities from the social and religious dominance of the Brahmins. He aimed to expose the exploitative nature of orthodox scriptures and rituals. The organization promoted social equality and sought to build a society where individuals were valued for their character rather than their birth within a hierarchy.
Q220. Identify the incorrect statement regarding Jyotirao Phule’s social reform activities.
Explanation
Phule challenged Brahminical dominance, started a school for girls in Poona and campaigned against caste inequality. He did not support the early Indian National Congress, so A is incorrect.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 211 | (a) It helped them regain pride in their own ancient cultural and spiritual heritage. |
| 212 | (b) II, III, I |
| 213 | (a) He argued for interpreting religious tenets through the lens of modern rationalism and science. |
| 214 | (b) II and IV only |
| 215 | (d) Fostering a revivalist approach that rejected western philosophical ideas. |
| 216 | (c) Deoband Movement |
| 217 | (a) A-iii, B-i, C-iv, D-ii |
| 218 | (a) I, II, and III only |
| 219 | (c) Liberate lower castes from Brahminical suppression and the influence of orthodox scriptures. |
| 220 | (a) He provided active support to the Indian National Congress during its early anti- British phase. |
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.