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 371–380 of 488 questions
Browse Modern Indian History chapters
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Revolutionary and Regional Movements and Partition
Q371. Select the correct chronological order of the following events related to the final phase of India’s partition: A. Announcement of the Mountbatten Plan B. Arrival of Lord Mountbatten as Viceroy C. Passage of the Indian Independence Act in the British Parliament D. Publication of the Radcliffe Line Award
Explanation
The final steps toward independence began with the arrival of Lord Mountbatten as Viceroy in early 1947. He soon announced his plan for partition in June, which was followed by the British Parliament passing the Indian Independence Act in July. The process concluded with the publication of the Radcliffe Line Award in August, which defined the borders for the two new nations.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Revolutionary and Regional Movements and Partition
Q372. Which of the following communities was NOT geographically bisected by the Radcliffe Line, leading to massive displacement on both sides?
Explanation
The Radcliffe Line was drawn to divide India and Pakistan based on religious majorities, directly bisecting the homes of several communities. Millions of Sikhs, Punjabi Muslims, and Bengali Hindus found themselves on the wrong side of new borders, leading to mass migration. However, the Parsi community, being smaller and more concentrated, was not subject to such geographic bisection.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Revolutionary and Regional Movements and Partition
Q373. Which of the following pairs regarding revolutionary ideologies/publications is incorrectly matched?
Explanation
Indian revolutionary history is filled with influential writings and journals.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Revolutionary and Regional Movements and Partition
Q374. Which of the following statements correctly describes Chandrashekhar Azad’s role after the Kakori conspiracy?
Explanation
After the Kakori conspiracy, most revolutionaries were arrested, but Chandrashekhar Azad managed to evade the British police. He took on the responsibility of reorganizing the remnants of the Hindustan Republican Association into the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. Azad remained a committed underground leader, coordinating various revolutionary activities until his final standoff with the police in Allahabad in 1931.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Revolutionary and Regional Movements and Partition
Q375. Consider the following statements about the Bengal revolutionaries: I. The Anushilan Samiti functioned primarily as a network of fitness clubs disguised to promote revolutionary activities. II. Surya Sen led the famous Chittagong Armoury Raid in 1930. III. Bengal revolutionaries strictly excluded women from active participation in armed actions. Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
Bengal’s revolutionary movement was highly organized, with the Anushilan Samiti using fitness clubs as a front for militant training. Figures like Surya Sen carried out bold actions like the Chittagong Armoury Raid. It is a misconception that women were excluded from these activities; in fact, activists like Pritilata Waddedar and Kalpana Datta played active and courageous roles in the struggle.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Revolutionary and Regional Movements and Partition
Q376. Subhas Chandra Bose defeated which candidate, backed by Mahatma Gandhi, to win the Indian National Congress presidency at the Tripuri session in 1939?
Explanation
The 1939 Tripuri session of the Indian National Congress witnessed a significant ideological contest between Subhas Chandra Bose and the Gandhian faction. Despite Mahatma Gandhi’s personal support for Pattabhi Sitaramayya, Bose won the presidency with a clear mandate. Gandhi famously declared Sitaramayya’s defeat as his own, which eventually led to Bose’s resignation and the formation of the Forward Bloc within the party.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Revolutionary and Regional Movements and Partition
Q377. The headquarters of the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) set up by Subhas Chandra Bose were located in:
Explanation
Subhas Chandra Bose established the Provisional Government of Free India, also known as Azad Hind, in October 1943. Initially based in Singapore, the government later moved its headquarters to Rangoon as the Indian National Army advanced toward the Indian frontier. This government-in-exile was recognized by several Axis powers and served as the political wing of the INA’s military campaign.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Revolutionary and Regional Movements and Partition
Q378. Match the renowned literary works on the Partition of India in List I with their authors in List II: List I: (Literary Work) A. Train to Pakistan B. Tamas C. Toba Tek Singh D. Ice-Candy-Man List II: (Author) i. Saadat Hasan Manto ii. Khushwant Singh iii. Bapsi Sidhwa iv. Bhisham Sahni Which of the following is the correct matching?
Explanation
The trauma of the 1947 partition has been captured in several classic literary works. Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan and Bhisham Sahni’s Tamas are iconic novels on the subject. Saadat Hasan Manto’s short story Toba Tek Singh provides a poignant look at the madness of the era, while Bapsi Sidhwa’s Ice- Candy-Man offers a perspective from the Parsi community in Lahore.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Gandhian Era: Mass Movements and Major Events
Q379. What was the immediate strategic purpose of presenting these specific demands?
Explanation
Gandhi put his eleven demands to Lord Irwin in January 1930 as a last offer of an honourable settlement. When Irwin did not accept them, Gandhi went ahead with the Civil Disobedience Movement.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Post-Independence: State Reorganisation and Nehruvian Institutions
Q380. Which of the following bodies was established under the chairmanship of Lord Mountbatten to oversee the division of assets and liabilities between India and Pakistan?
Explanation
The Partition Council was the body established to oversee the division of assets and liabilities between India and Pakistan during the partition of 1947. Chaired by Lord Mountbatten, it included representatives from both dominions to manage the complex administrative and financial aspects of the split. This council played a critical role in the peaceful transition of state property.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
371
(a) B, A, C, D
372
(d) The Parsis
373
(c) The Indian Sociologist - Vasudev Balwant Phadke
374
(b) He successfully evaded capture and reorganized the scattered revolutionaries under the HSRA.
375
(d) III only
376
(a) Pattabhi Sitaramayya
377
(c) Singapore and Rangoon
378
(a) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii
379
(d) To offer a final chance for an honorable settlement before launching the Civil Disobedience Movement
380
(b) Partition Council
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.
