Q331. While returning to India and beginning his work, Gandhi was bestowed with the title of "Mahatma" (Great Soul). Who is widely recognized for conferring this title upon him?
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 331–340 of 488 questions
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Q332. Who among the following is widely regarded as the ‘Father of the Armed Struggle’ for India’s independence, having organized the Ramosi Peasant Force in Maharashtra?
Explanation
Vasudev Balwant Phadke stands as a pioneering figure in the Indian independence movement, often hailed as the father of armed rebellion against British rule. He organized the Ramosi Peasant Force, a militant group composed of local tribes in Maharashtra, to launch an insurgency. His goal was to establish an independent Indian republic through a coordinated armed uprising.
Q333. Match the revolutionary figures in List I with their associated actions or organizations in List II:
Which of the following is the correct matching?
| Revolutionary Figure | Action/Organization |
|---|---|
| A. Vasudev Balwant Phadke | i. Abhinav Bharat Society |
| B. Chaphekar Brothers | ii. Assassination of W.C. Rand |
| C. Barindra Kumar Ghosh | iii. Ramosi Peasant Force |
| D. V.D. Savarkar | iv. Anushilan Samiti |
Explanation
Revolutionary history involves key figures linked to specific militant organizations and actions. Vasudev Balwant Phadke established the Ramosi Peasant Force in Maharashtra to resist British oppression. The Chaphekar brothers were responsible for assassinating the plague commissioner W.C. Rand. Barindra Kumar Ghosh was instrumental in the Anushilan Samiti, while V.D. Savarkar founded the influential Abhinav Bharat Society.
Q334. Which of the following statements about the Chaphekar brothers is incorrect?
Explanation
The Chaphekar brothers, Damodar and Balkrishna, were deeply moved by the British administration’s harsh handling of the plague in Pune. They formed a secret society and eventually assassinated W.C. Rand in 1897. Far from escaping to Europe, they were caught, tried, and subsequently executed by the colonial authorities for their involvement in the revolutionary conspiracy against the British.
Q335. Consider the following statements regarding the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA):
I. It was founded in 1928 at Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi.
II. The manifesto of the HSRA, titled ‘The Philosophy of the Bomb’, was written by Bhagat Singh.
III. It aimed to establish a Federal Republic of the United States of India based on socialist principles.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It was founded in 1928 at Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi.
II. The manifesto of the HSRA, titled ‘The Philosophy of the Bomb’, was written by Bhagat Singh.
III. It aimed to establish a Federal Republic of the United States of India based on socialist principles.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association was established in 1928 at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, marking a significant shift toward socialist ideologies. While the organization aimed to create a Federal Republic based on socialist principles, its famous manifesto, The Philosophy of the Bomb, was authored by Bhagwati Charan Vohra rather than Bhagat Singh, making certain claims about authorship historically inaccurate.
Q336. The revolutionary journal ‘Yugantar’, which played a critical role in inspiring the youth of Bengal, was founded in 1906 by:
Explanation
The revolutionary journal Yugantar was a vital publication that galvanized the youth of Bengal against British colonial rule. Founded in 1906, it was the mouthpiece of the radical Yugantar group within the broader Anushilan Samiti. Leaders like Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Bhupendranath Datta utilized this platform to preach the message of open revolt and the necessity of armed struggle.
Q337. What was the major catalyst for Aurobindo Ghosh’s transition from active revolutionary politics to spiritualism?
Explanation
Aurobindo Ghosh’s departure from active revolutionary politics was primarily driven by his intense spiritual experiences during his imprisonment in Alipore Jail. He claimed to have received divine messages and visions of Swami Vivekananda, which redirected his life’s purpose toward spiritualism. This profound internal shift led him to renounce his previous political activities and move to Pondicherry to establish an ashram.
Q338. Consider the following statements regarding Subhas Chandra Bose and the Forward Bloc:
I. Bose resigned from the presidency of the Indian National Congress at the Tripuri session in 1939.
II. The Forward Bloc was established as a left-wing faction within the Congress party.
III. Bose aimed to rally all radical and anti-imperialist elements under the Forward Bloc.
IV. The Forward Bloc strictly adhered to Gandhian principles of non-violence.
V. Bose escaped from house arrest in Calcutta in 1941 to seek international support for India’s freedom.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Bose resigned from the presidency of the Indian National Congress at the Tripuri session in 1939.
II. The Forward Bloc was established as a left-wing faction within the Congress party.
III. Bose aimed to rally all radical and anti-imperialist elements under the Forward Bloc.
IV. The Forward Bloc strictly adhered to Gandhian principles of non-violence.
V. Bose escaped from house arrest in Calcutta in 1941 to seek international support for India’s freedom.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
After resigning from the Congress presidency in 1939 due to ideological rifts, Subhas Chandra Bose founded the Forward Bloc. This faction was designed as a radical, left-wing group within the Congress to mobilize anti-imperialist forces. Bose eventually fled India in 1941 to seek foreign military aid, as the Forward Bloc did not strictly limit its strategies to Gandhian principles of non-violence.
Q339. In which country did Subhas Chandra Bose form the ‘Free India Centre’ and first earn the title ‘Netaji’?
Explanation
During his time in Germany, Subhas Chandra Bose established the Free India Centre to organize the Indian community and prisoners of war for the liberation struggle. It was in this European setting that he was first greeted with the prestigious title of Netaji by his followers. This period marked a significant phase in his efforts to secure international support against British rule.
Q340. Match the units of the Indian National Army (INA) in List I with their key commanders or significance in List II:
Which of the following is the correct matching?
| INA Unit | Commander/Significance |
|---|---|
| A. Subhas Brigade | i. Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan |
| B. Rani of Jhansi Regiment | ii. Shah Nawaz Khan |
| C. Azad Brigade | iii. Mohan Singh |
| D. First INA (1942) | iv. Inayat Kiani |
Explanation
The Indian National Army consisted of several distinct units, each led by dedicated commanders. The Subhas Brigade was commanded by Shah Nawaz Khan, while the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, a pioneering women’s unit, was led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan. The Azad Brigade was under Inayat Kiani, and the first iteration of the INA was originally organized by Captain Mohan Singh in 1942.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 331 | (d) Rabindranath Tagore |
| 332 | (b) Vasudev Balwant Phadke |
| 333 | (a) A-iii, B-ii, C-iv, D-i |
| 334 | (c) They successfully escaped to Europe and continued their revolutionary activities from London. |
| 335 | (d) I and III only |
| 336 | (c) Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Bhupendranath Datta |
| 337 | (c) His profound spiritual experiences and visions of Swami Vivekananda while incarcerated in Alipore Jail. |
| 338 | (d) I, II, III and V |
| 339 | (a) Germany |
| 340 | (a) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-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.