Q471. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, before heading the IGMDP under DRDO, made a historic contribution to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by serving as the Project Director for which of the following missions?
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 471–480 of 488 questions
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Q472. Identify the correct pair regarding the premier scientific research institutes and their locations in India.
Explanation
India has numerous specialized research institutes under the CSIR. The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology is based in Hyderabad, and the Central Drug Research Institute is located in Lucknow. Similarly, the National Brain Research Centre is situated in Manesar. However, the National Botanical Research Institute is actually located in Lucknow, rather than Pune, making that specific geographic pair incorrect in the list.
Q473. The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, one of the highest multidisciplinary science awards in India, is awarded annually by the CSIR. Which of the following is the most appropriate eligibility criterion for this award?
Explanation
The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize is a prestigious award honoring excellence in various scientific disciplines in India. It is specifically designed to recognize and encourage young scientists who have made outstanding contributions to their respective fields. To be eligible for this award, a researcher must be an Indian citizen or an Overseas Citizen of India under the age of forty-five years.
Q474. Which of the following options represents the correct chronological order of the first successful flight tests of India’s indigenous missile systems?
Explanation
The development of India’s missile systems followed a distinct timeline. Prithvi-I, a short-range ballistic missile, was first tested in 1988. This was followed by the Agni-I technology demonstrator in 1989. Much later, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully tested in 2001. Finally, the Agni-V, an intercontinental-range ballistic missile, conducted its first successful flight test in 2012, marking advanced strategic capability.
Q475. Four of the following terms belong to the category of Indian space launch vehicles. Identify the odd one out.
Explanation
India’s space programme utilizes various launch vehicles to place payloads into different orbits. ASLV, PSLV, and GSLV are all categories of rockets designed to carry satellites into space. In contrast, INSAT refers to the Indian National Satellite System, which is a series of multi-purpose geostationary satellites used for telecommunications and meteorology. Thus, INSAT is a satellite series, not a launch vehicle.
Q476. Which of the following statements correctly describes the capability of the Agni-V missile developed by DRDO?
Explanation
The Agni-V is a critical component of India’s strategic nuclear deterrence. It is a three-stage, solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile developed indigenously by DRDO. With a designated strike range exceeding 5,000 kilometers, it allows the country to reach targets across vast distances. This capability places India among an elite group of nations possessing advanced long-range missile technology for national defense.
Q477. Consider the following statements regarding the PARAM 8000 supercomputer:
Statement I: It was designed using a distributed memory parallel architecture.
Statement II: It relied entirely on imported microprocessors designed by the Soviet Union to bypass American sanctions.
Identify the correct statement from the options below.
Statement I: It was designed using a distributed memory parallel architecture.
Statement II: It relied entirely on imported microprocessors designed by the Soviet Union to bypass American sanctions.
Identify the correct statement from the options below.
Explanation
The PARAM 8000 supercomputer utilized a distributed memory parallel architecture, which allowed it to process multiple tasks simultaneously for high efficiency. Contrary to relying on Soviet technology, the project aimed to overcome Western sanctions through indigenous innovation. It used commercially available microprocessors integrated with custom-designed hardware and software, rather than specific Soviet-designed chips, to build a powerful domestic computing system.
Q478. What was the primary institutional cause for the establishment of Antrix Corporation Limited in 1992?
Explanation
Antrix Corporation Limited was established in 1992 as a wholly government-owned company. Its primary role is to function as the commercial and marketing arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation. By offering satellite launch services, providing satellite data, and marketing space-related technical consultancy, Antrix enables India to compete in the global space market and generate revenue from its indigenous capabilities.
Q479. Match the major Science and Technology policies of the Government of India in List I with their respective years of adoption in List II.
| Policy | Year |
|---|---|
| A. Scientific Policy Resolution | i. 1958 |
| B. Technology Policy Statement | ii. 1983 |
| C. Science and Technology Policy | iii. 2003 |
| D. Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) | iv. 2013 |
Explanation
The Government of India has periodically updated its science and technology framework through various policy documents. The foundational Scientific Policy Resolution was adopted in 1958. This was followed by the Technology Policy Statement in 1983. Later, the Science and Technology Policy was introduced in 2003. Finally, the more recent Science, Technology and Innovation Policy was adopted in 2013 to integrate innovation strategies.
Q480. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was formally established as an autonomous body in September 1942. Its foundation day is annually celebrated in India on which date?
Explanation
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research was formally established in 1942 as an autonomous society. Since then, it has grown into one of the world’s largest public-funded research organizations. To commemorate its establishment, CSIR celebrates its Foundation Day annually on September 26 across its network of national laboratories. This day serves to recognize scientific achievements and promote a research culture.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 471 | (a) Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3) |
| 472 | (c) National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) - Pune |
| 473 | (d) For outstanding contributions to science by researchers under the age of 45 |
| 474 | (a) Prithvi-I, Agni-I technology demonstrator, BrahMos, Agni-V |
| 475 | (c) INSAT |
| 476 | (d) An Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range over 5,000 km |
| 477 | (a) Statement I is correct and Statement II is incorrect |
| 478 | (b) To act as ISRO’s commercial arm to market space products and launch services globally |
| 479 | (a) A-i, B-ii, C-iii, D-iv |
| 480 | (a) September 26 |
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.