Q221. Which iconic book was written by Jyotirao Phule in 1873 and dedicated to the people of the United States who fought to end slavery?
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 221–230 of 488 questions
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Q222. Identify the correct pair regarding reformers and their specific contribution to lower caste upliftment:
Explanation
E.V. Ramaswami Naicker founded the Self-Respect Movement in South India to empower the non- Brahmin communities. While Sri Narayana Guru was associated with the Aravippuram Movement, Phule founded Satyashodhak Samaj, and Ambedkar established the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha. Periyar’s movement specifically focused on rejecting religious dominance and promoting a sense of dignity among the oppressed castes through rationalist thought.
Q223. In the context of education and social reform in Maharashtra, consider the following statements, where one is labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Jyotirao Phule opened schools for girls and lower castes despite severe opposition from conservative society.
Reason (R): He strongly believed that education was the most potent weapon to emancipate the oppressed classes from ignorance and exploitation.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Assertion (A): Jyotirao Phule opened schools for girls and lower castes despite severe opposition from conservative society.
Reason (R): He strongly believed that education was the most potent weapon to emancipate the oppressed classes from ignorance and exploitation.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Explanation
Jyotirao Phule’s pioneering efforts in establishing schools for girls and lower castes were driven by his firm conviction that education is the key to liberation. Despite facing severe social boycotts and hostility from conservative elements, he and his wife persisted. He believed that knowledge would empower the oppressed to understand and eventually dismantle the systems of their exploitation.
Q224. The concept of ‘Dalit assertion’ in the 20th century under Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was distinct from earlier reform movements because it:
Explanation
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s approach to Dalit assertion shifted the focus from purely social reform to the acquisition of political power. Unlike earlier reformers who sought gradual change or cultural assimilation, he demanded constitutional safeguards, reserved seats, and separate electorates. He believed that legal rights and political representation were the only permanent solutions to end the age-old oppression of the untouchables.
Q225. Which of the following defines the main objective of the Mahad Satyagraha led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1927?
Explanation
The Mahad Satyagraha of 1927 was a landmark event in the struggle for civil rights in India. Led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, it focused on securing the right of the untouchables to use the water from the public Chavdar tank in Mahad. This act was a direct challenge to the practice of untouchability and the social exclusion of the Depressed Classes.
Q226. In the context of the contributions of B.R. Ambedkar, match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Codes:
| Organization/Journal | Year |
|---|---|
| A. Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha | i. 1920 |
| B. Mooknayak | ii. 1924 |
| C. Independent Labour Party | iii. 1936 |
| D. Scheduled Castes Federation | iv. 1942 |
Explanation
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar founded the journal Mooknayak in 1920 to voice the grievances of the oppressed. He established the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha in 1924 for social welfare. Later, he formed the Independent Labour Party in 1936 to contest elections and the Scheduled Castes Federation in 1942 to organize the community politically on a broader national scale.
Q227. In the context of the struggle against the caste system in India, consider the following statements:
Statement I: Ambedkar believed that the caste system was a minor social aberration that could be fixed through inter-dining.
Statement II: In ‘Annihilation of Caste’, he argued that the real method of breaking up the caste system was inter-marriage and destroying the religious notions on which caste is founded.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Statement I: Ambedkar believed that the caste system was a minor social aberration that could be fixed through inter-dining.
Statement II: In ‘Annihilation of Caste’, he argued that the real method of breaking up the caste system was inter-marriage and destroying the religious notions on which caste is founded.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Ambedkar viewed the caste system as a fundamental structural evil rather than a minor aberration. He argued that superficial reforms like inter-dining were insufficient to dismantle it. In his seminal work, ‘Annihilation of Caste’, he asserted that the system could only be destroyed by promoting inter-marriage and by eradicating the very religious notions and scriptures that provide the foundation.
Q228. Consider the following statements regarding the Poona Pact of 1932:
I. It was signed between B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
II. It provided separate electorates for the Depressed Classes.
III. It abandoned the idea of separate electorates in favor of reserved seats in the provincial legislatures.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It was signed between B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi.
II. It provided separate electorates for the Depressed Classes.
III. It abandoned the idea of separate electorates in favor of reserved seats in the provincial legislatures.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Poona Pact was a crucial agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar. It was signed to resolve the impasse created by the Communal Award. The Pact resulted in the abandonment of the demand for separate electorates for the Depressed Classes in exchange for an increased number of reserved seats within the general provincial and central legislatures during the colonial period.
Q229. What was the profound effect of B.R. Ambedkar burning the Manusmriti during the Mahad Satyagraha?
Explanation
The burning of the Manusmriti by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar during the Mahad Satyagraha was a powerful symbolic act. It represented a radical and total rejection of the traditional legal and religious codes that sanctioned social inequality and the practice of untouchability. This event signaled that the movement for Dalit rights would no longer seek reform within the orthodox framework.
Q230. Which of the following represents the correct chronological sequence of movements/events led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar?
Explanation
The Mahad Satyagraha occurred in 1927, followed by the Kalaram Temple Entry Movement in 1930. The Poona Pact was signed in 1932 after the Communal Award. Much later, towards the end of his life in 1956, Ambedkar led a mass conversion to Buddhism. This sequence tracks his evolution from civil rights activism to political negotiations and final religious transition.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 221 | (d) Gulamgiri |
| 222 | (b) E.V. Ramaswami Naicker - Self-Respect Movement |
| 223 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 224 | (d) Demanded political empowerment, separate electorates, and comprehensive constitutional safeguards. |
| 225 | (a) To secure the right of untouchables to draw water from the public Chavdar tank. |
| 226 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iii, D-iv |
| 227 | (d) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct. |
| 228 | (c) I and III only |
| 229 | (c) It symbolized a radical rejection of orthodox scriptures that provided a basis for untouchability. |
| 230 | (a) Mahad Satyagraha, Kalaram Temple Entry Movement, Poona Pact, Conversion to Buddhism |
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.