Q81. Which of the following pairs is incorrectly matched regarding the ruler whose death triggered the Doctrine of Lapse?
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 81–90 of 488 questions
Browse Modern Indian History chapters
Q82. Which of the following British policies was the primary political grievance that alienated numerous Indian princes leading up to the Revolt of 1857?
Explanation
The primary political grievance among Indian princes was the Doctrine of Lapse, which allowed the British to annex states if a ruler died without a direct natural heir. This policy invalidated the traditional right of adoption. States like Jhansi, Nagpur, and Satara were seized, creating deep-seated resentment and fear among ruling families throughout the subcontinent.
Q83. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the economic causes of the Revolt of 1857.
Explanation
British economic policies focused on turning India into a supplier of raw materials and a consumer of finished goods. Heavy duties were imposed on Indian textile exports to Britain, while British manufactured products entered India with minimal tariffs. This imbalance destroyed indigenous handicraft industries and traditional livelihoods, causing widespread poverty and unemployment among artisans and the rural peasantry.
Q84. Read the following statements and select the correct option.
Statement I: The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 caused great resentment among the high-caste Hindu sepoys.
Statement II: The Act mandated that all future recruits to the Bengal Army had to serve anywhere the British government required, including overseas.
Statement I: The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 caused great resentment among the high-caste Hindu sepoys.
Statement II: The Act mandated that all future recruits to the Bengal Army had to serve anywhere the British government required, including overseas.
Explanation
The General Service Enlistment Act mandated that all new recruits must serve wherever the government required, including overseas. High-caste Hindu sepoys viewed crossing the ocean as a violation of religious taboos, leading to the loss of their caste. This legislative change created significant fear and anger within the Bengal Army, contributing to the eventual military rebellion.
Q85. In the context of religious causes, what was the primary impact of the Religious Disabilities Act (Lex Loci Act) of 1850?
Explanation
The Religious Disabilities Act allowed Hindu converts to Christianity to inherit their ancestral property, which was previously prohibited by traditional customs. This law was perceived as a direct British attempt to facilitate religious conversions by removing legal and financial barriers. It deeply offended orthodox sentiments and fueled fears that the British intended to dismantle the existing social and religious order.
Q86. Consider the following statements regarding the military grievances before the Revolt of 1857:
I. Indian sepoys were denied the foreign service allowance (bhatta) when serving in newly annexed territories like Sindh.
II. The Post Office Act of 1854 withdrew the privilege of free postage previously enjoyed by the sepoys.
III. Indian sepoys were eligible for promotion up to the rank of Brigadier General.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Indian sepoys were denied the foreign service allowance (bhatta) when serving in newly annexed territories like Sindh.
II. The Post Office Act of 1854 withdrew the privilege of free postage previously enjoyed by the sepoys.
III. Indian sepoys were eligible for promotion up to the rank of Brigadier General.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Indian sepoys faced several military grievances, including the withdrawal of the foreign service allowance or bhatta when serving in newly conquered territories like Sindh. Additionally, the Post Office Act ended the privilege of free postage. While they held significant responsibilities, sepoys were systematically denied higher promotions, which were reserved exclusively for British officers, causing deep professional resentment.
Q87. Consider the following statements regarding the siege of Lucknow:
I. The British Resident, Sir Henry Lawrence, was killed during the siege of the Residency.
II. Begum Hazrat Mahal declared her minor son Birjis Qadir as the Nawab.
III. The Gurkha regiments under Jung Bahadur refused to assist the British in recapturing Lucknow.
IV. General Havelock and Sir James Outram successfully evacuated all British citizens without a fight in June 1857.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. The British Resident, Sir Henry Lawrence, was killed during the siege of the Residency.
II. Begum Hazrat Mahal declared her minor son Birjis Qadir as the Nawab.
III. The Gurkha regiments under Jung Bahadur refused to assist the British in recapturing Lucknow.
IV. General Havelock and Sir James Outram successfully evacuated all British citizens without a fight in June 1857.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The defense of the Lucknow Residency was a critical event where Sir Henry Lawrence lost his life. During the siege, the local population and sepoys proclaimed Birjis Qadir as the Nawab. Contrary to some reports, Jung Bahadur of Nepal actively assisted the British with Gurkha troops, and the initial relief efforts by Havelock and Outram involved heavy fighting.
Q88. The annexation of Jhansi, which fueled Rani Lakshmibai’s resentment, occurred under the Doctrine of Lapse in which year?
Explanation
The state of Jhansi was annexed in 1853 following the death of Gangadhar Rao. Lord Dalhousie applied the Doctrine of Lapse to seize the territory, arguing that the adopted heir could not legally inherit the princely throne. This act of annexation turned Rani Lakshmibai into a fierce opponent of British rule, eventually leading her to lead the rebellion.
Q89. What was the most appropriate reason for Rani Lakshmibai joining the revolt against the British?
Explanation
Rani Lakshmibai’s primary motivation for joining the uprising was the British refusal to recognize her adopted son, Damodar Rao, as the rightful successor to the Jhansi throne. The application of the Doctrine of Lapse resulted in the annexation of her kingdom and the loss of her sovereign status. She fought primarily to regain her territory and defend her rights.
Q90. Select the correct chronological sequence of the outbreak of the 1857 revolt at the following centres:
Explanation
The initial spark of the revolt occurred at Barrackpore in March 1857 with Mangal Pandey’s defiance. This was followed by the large-scale outbreak at Meerut on May 10. The Meerut mutineers then captured Delhi on May 11, declaring the Mughal Emperor as their leader. The movement subsequently spread to other major centers, including Lucknow, by late May and June.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 81 | (d) Wajid Ali Shah - Sambalpur |
| 82 | (b) Doctrine of Lapse |
| 83 | (a) The British tariff policy severely restricted the import of British manufactured goods into India. |
| 84 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I. |
| 85 | (d) It allowed Christian converts to inherit ancestral property despite existing customs. |
| 86 | (a) I and II only |
| 87 | (b) III and IV only |
| 88 | (c) 1853 |
| 89 | (b) British refusal to recognize her adopted son as the legitimate heir to Jhansi. |
| 90 | (a) Barrackpore, Meerut, Delhi, Lucknow |
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.