Q261. Which of the following methods was NOT a core component of Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s political strategy for achieving Swaraj?
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 261–270 of 488 questions
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Q262. Arrange the following events related to the life of Lala Lajpat Rai in chronological order:
I. Deportation to Mandalay without trial
II. Foundation of the National School at Lahore
III. Presidency of the special session of INC at Calcutta
IV. Severe lathi charge while protesting the Simon Commission
Which of the following represents the correct chronological order?
I. Deportation to Mandalay without trial
II. Foundation of the National School at Lahore
III. Presidency of the special session of INC at Calcutta
IV. Severe lathi charge while protesting the Simon Commission
Which of the following represents the correct chronological order?
Explanation
Lajpat Rai was deported to Mandalay in 1907, presided over the Calcutta special session of the Congress in 1920, started the National School at Lahore and was injured by lathi charge at the Simon Commission protest in 1928. The correct order is I, III, II, IV.
Q263. The influential book "Unhappy India", which heavily criticized British colonial rule and countered Katherine Mayo’s ‘Mother India’, was written by:
Explanation
Lala Lajpat Rai wrote Unhappy India in reply to Katherine Mayo’s Mother India.
Q264. Consider the following statements regarding Lala Lajpat Rai:
I. He was actively associated with the Arya Samaj movement in Punjab.
II. He strongly opposed the Swadeshi movement, considering it economically unviable.
III. He became the first President of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. He was actively associated with the Arya Samaj movement in Punjab.
II. He strongly opposed the Swadeshi movement, considering it economically unviable.
III. He became the first President of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Lajpat Rai was associated with the Arya Samaj in Punjab and was the first President of the AITUC in 1920. He supported the Swadeshi movement, so II is wrong.
Q265. Which of the following pairs of nationalist leader and their associated publication is incorrectly matched?
Explanation
Lajpat Rai edited The Punjabi, Bipin Chandra Pal edited New India and Tilak the Mahratta. Aurobindo Ghosh is linked with Bande Mataram, not Voice of India, so C is incorrect.
Q266. Lala Lajpat Rai earned the popular title "Punjab Kesari" primarily because of his:
Explanation
Lajpat Rai is called Punjab Kesari (Lion of Punjab) for his strong leadership and mobilisation of people in Punjab.
Q267. Identify the correct statement regarding the political trajectory of Bipin Chandra Pal.
Explanation
Bipin Chandra Pal initially participated in the moderate politics of the early Congress but eventually became a leading voice of the extremist faction. Along with Tilak and Lajpat Rai, he formed the famous "Lal-Bal-Pal" trio. He advocated for complete autonomy and passive resistance, representing a significant shift from the earlier methods of petitioning and constitutional agitation to more assertive nationalist demands.
Q268. Mahatma Gandhi’s first major use of Satyagraha (civil disobedience) in South Africa was organized primarily to protest against which of the following?
Explanation
Gandhi launched his first Satyagraha in 1906 against the Transvaal government’s Asiatic Registration Act. This law required Indians to register and carry certificates at all times. Participants chose jail over registration, forcing the government to negotiate. It established the principles of non-violent resistance that would later define his political career in India and globally during the freedom struggle.
Q269. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Codes:
| Journal/Newspaper | Primary Language/Format |
|---|---|
| A. Indian Opinion | i. English (Early phase in India) |
| B. Navajivan | ii. English (Focus on untouchability) |
| C. Harijan | iii. Gujarati (Focus on domestic issues) |
| D. Young India | iv. Multilingual including Gujarati, English, Tamil, and Hindi |
Explanation
Indian Opinion was published in South Africa in English, Gujarati, Tamil, and Hindi. Navajivan focused on domestic issues and was primarily published in Gujarati. Harijan addressed social evils like untouchability and was published in English and Gujarati. Young India was his early English journal in India, serving as a platform to spread ideas of non-cooperation and Swaraj during the national movement.
Q270. Consider the following statements regarding Mahatma Gandhi’s early settlements in South Africa:
I. The Phoenix Settlement was established in 1904 near Durban.
II. The Tolstoy Farm was established with the financial assistance of his friend Hermann Kallenbach.
III. Both settlements served as training grounds to prepare volunteers for peaceful Satyagraha.
Which of the above statements are correct?
I. The Phoenix Settlement was established in 1904 near Durban.
II. The Tolstoy Farm was established with the financial assistance of his friend Hermann Kallenbach.
III. Both settlements served as training grounds to prepare volunteers for peaceful Satyagraha.
Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
Phoenix Settlement and Tolstoy Farm were crucial foundations for Gandhi’s social experiments in South Africa. Phoenix was established near Durban in 1904, while Tolstoy Farm was created in 1910 with Hermann Kallenbach’s support. Both served as laboratories for communal living and rigorous training centers for Satyagrahis, preparing them for the physical and mental discipline required during the struggle against racial laws.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 261 | (c) Subservience to the Crown’s economic and fiscal policies |
| 262 | (d) I - III - II - IV |
| 263 | (d) Lala Lajpat Rai |
| 264 | (c) I and III only |
| 265 | (c) Aurobindo Ghosh - Voice of India |
| 266 | (a) Leadership and indomitable mobilization in the Punjab region |
| 267 | (d) Transition from moderate constitutionalism to prominent extremist leadership. |
| 268 | (b) The Asiatic Registration Act (Black Act) |
| 269 | (a) A-iv, B-iii, C-ii, D-i |
| 270 | (d) I, II and III |
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.