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 301–310 of 488 questions
Browse Modern Indian History chapters
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q301. Arrange the following critical events leading up to the partition of India in their correct chronological order: I. Arrival of the Cabinet Mission II. Observation of Direct Action Day by the Muslim League III. Prime Minister Clement Attlee’s declaration setting a deadline for British withdrawal IV. Announcement of the Mountbatten Plan Select the correct order from the options given below:
Explanation
The final steps toward independence began with the Cabinet Mission’s arrival in March 1946. Tensions rose after the Muslim League’s Direct Action Day in August 1946. In February 1947, Prime Minister Attlee announced the deadline for the British departure. Finally, the Mountbatten Plan of June 3, 1947, outlined the procedure for the partition of British India into two sovereign nations.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q302. The following question consists of two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the codes given below: Assertion (A): The Poona Pact (1932) abandoned the idea of separate electorates for the Depressed Classes. Reason (R): B.R. Ambedkar was convinced by the British government to accept joint electorates in exchange for a position in the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
Explanation
The Poona Pact of 1932 resulted in the abandonment of separate electorates for the Depressed Classes in favor of reserved seats within joint electorates. This agreement was reached after Gandhi’s fast unto death highlighted the potential for a permanent split within Hindu society. Ambedkar agreed to the pact to save Gandhi’s life, securing more reserved seats than was originally proposed.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q303. Rajkumar Shukla, a local cultivator, persuaded Mahatma Gandhi to visit Champaran and investigate the plight of indigo farmers. In which session of the Indian National Congress did Shukla meet Gandhi for this purpose?
Explanation
Rajkumar Shukla, a persistent peasant from Bihar, met Gandhi at the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress in 1916. He traveled there specifically to bring Gandhi’s attention to the systematic exploitation of indigo farmers by European planters in Champaran. His persistence eventually succeeded, leading Gandhi to visit the region in 1917 and launch his first successful Satyagraha campaign.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q304. Consider the following statements regarding the Ahmedabad Mill Strike of 1918: I. The central dispute was between the mill owners and the workers over the withdrawal of the ‘plague bonus’. II. Mahatma Gandhi advised the workers to go on strike and demand a 35 percent wage hike. III. The mill owners initially offered a 50 percent hike before Gandhi’s intervention, which the workers rejected. Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
The Ahmedabad Mill Strike of 1918 centered on the workers’ demand for a thirty-five percent wage increase to compensate for inflation.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q305. Which of the following prominent leaders from Rajputana strictly adhered to Gandhian principles, established the Charkha Sangh in Ajmer, and famously surrendered his title of ‘Rai Bahadur’ during the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Explanation
Jamnalal Bajaj, a close follower of Gandhi, set up the Charkha Sangh and gave up his title of Rai Bahadur during the Non-Cooperation Movement.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q306. Consider the following political developments following the withdrawal of the Non- Cooperation Movement: Statement I: The Swaraj Party was formed by leaders who wanted to contest council elections and disrupt the working of the British legislative councils from within. Statement II: These leaders, known as the ‘No- Changers’, included prominent figures like C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru. Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
The Swaraj Party was formed to contest council elections and disrupt the councils from within, so Statement I is correct. Its leaders, Das and Motilal Nehru, were the Pro-Changers, not the No-Changers, so Statement II is incorrect.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q307. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
British Commission/Committee
Primary Purpose/Issue Addressed
A. Hunter Commission (1919)
i. Investigating the working of Dyarchy established by the 1919 Act
B. Muddiman Committee (1924)
ii. Inquiring into the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
C. Simon Commission (1927)
iii. Examining the relationship between the Paramount Power and the Princely States
D. Butler Committee (1927)
iv. Reviewing the constitutional framework for further reforms in India
Codes:
Explanation
The Hunter Commission looked into Jallianwala Bagh, the Muddiman Committee at Dyarchy, the Simon Commission at further constitutional reform and the Butler Committee at the relations between the Paramount Power and the princely states. This gives A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q308. Which of the following was NOT an integral component of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Constructive Programme’ launched alongside mass movements?
Explanation
The Constructive Programme included khadi, Hindu-Muslim unity and removal of untouchability. Rapid heavy industrialisation was not a part of it, so B is the exception.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q309. Consider the following statements regarding the participation of various social groups in the Non-Cooperation Movement: I. Women actively participated in large numbers, often picketing liquor shops and foreign cloth stores. II. Students left government-controlled educational institutions to join newly established national schools and colleges. III. The Indian business class completely opposed the movement from the beginning due to the fear of financial loss. IV. Peasants in various regions linked their local agrarian grievances with the national struggle for Swaraj. Which of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
In the Non-Cooperation Movement women picketed liquor and cloth shops, students left government institutions and peasants linked local grievances to Swaraj. The business class did not oppose it fully, so III is wrong.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q310. The following question consists of two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the codes given below: Assertion (A): The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) explicitly rejected the Muslim League’s demand for a separate, sovereign state of Pakistan. Reason (R): The Mission concluded that a separate Pakistan would not solve the communal minority problem and would be administratively and economically unviable.
Explanation
The Cabinet Mission of 1946 rejected the demand for a sovereign Pakistan, as it concluded that Pakistan would not solve the minority problem and would be unworkable. R explains A.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
301
(a) I, II, III, IV
302
(c) A is true but R is false.
303
(d) Lucknow Session, 1916
304
(a) I and II only
305
(c) Jamnalal Bajaj
306
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
307
(a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii
308
(b) Promotion of rapid heavy industrialization
309
(b) I, II and IV
310
(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.
