56 RAS Prelims MCQs on the socio-religious reform movements cover the Brahmo Samaj, Prarthana Samaj, Arya Samaj, Ramakrishna Mission, the lower caste movements and the reform of women’s status. Reformers, founders, years, books and Acts are asked as facts, match tables and sequences, so learn each movement with its founder, its place and its main demand.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 11–20 of 56 questions
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Q11. In the context of social reforms in Maharashtra, consider the following statements: Statement I: The Prarthana Samaj adopted a gradualist approach to social reform rather than breaking completely with Hindu traditions. Statement II: M.G. Ranade and R.G. Bhandarkar were among its most prominent leaders. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Prarthana Samaj in Maharashtra was known for its gradualist approach, emphasizing persuasion and education rather than radical breaks with Hindu traditions. Prominent leaders like M.G. Ranade and R.G. Bhandarkar spearheaded its activities, focusing on issues like widow remarriage and the education of women. They sought to reform Hindu society from within while maintaining a link to its cultural roots.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Q12. Consider the following statements about the social reform activities in Maharashtra: I. Prarthana Samaj focused strictly on religious reforms and avoided social issues like widow remarriage. II. The Deccan Education Society was closely associated with the reformist zeal in Maharashtra. III. M.G. Ranade founded the Indian National Social Conference. IV. Prarthana Samaj members worked actively for the upliftment of the depressed classes. Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The Prarthana Samaj did not limit itself to religious matters; instead, it actively engaged with pressing social issues such as widow remarriage and female education. Its members were instrumental in founding the Deccan Education Society and the Indian National Social Conference. Additionally, they worked for the upliftment of depressed classes, making social welfare a core component of their reformist agenda.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Q13. Identify the incorrectly matched pair regarding reformers and their primary focus area in the Prarthana Samaj tradition:
Explanation
R.G. Bhandarkar was a renowned scholar and a dedicated social reformer associated with the Prarthana Samaj, not an advocate for armed rebellion. His work focused on educational and social improvements through constitutional and rationalist means. In contrast, D.K. Karve worked for women, M.G. Ranade led social conferences, and N.M. Joshi was a pioneer in labor welfare and trade unionism.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Q14. The term "Back to the Vedas" was coined by which of the following social reformers to emphasize the infallible authority of the original Vedic texts?
Explanation
Swami Dayananda Saraswati coined the slogan "Back to the Vedas" to advocate for a return to the pure teachings of the original Vedic texts. He believed that later additions, such as the Puranas and the caste system based on birth, had corrupted Hinduism. His movement, the Arya Samaj, sought to revitalize society by emphasizing Vedic monotheism and rationalism.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Q15. Match List-I (Reform Movement/Idea) with List-II (Key Figure) and select the correct answer using the codes given below: List I: (Movement/Idea) A. Shuddhi Movement B. Neo-Vedanta C. Dalit Assertion (Mahad Satyagraha) D. Satyashodhak Samaj List II: (Key Figure) i. Swami Vivekananda ii. B.R. Ambedkar iii. Dayananda Saraswati iv. Jyotirao Phule Codes:
Explanation
The Shuddhi movement is linked with Dayananda Saraswati, Neo-Vedanta with Vivekananda, the Mahad Satyagraha with Ambedkar and the Satyashodhak Samaj with Jyotirao Phule. This gives A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Q16. The Arya Samaj was officially founded in the year 1875 in which of the following cities?
Explanation
The Arya Samaj was founded by Dayananda Saraswati in 1875 at Bombay.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Q17. Which of the following best exemplifies the application of the ‘Shuddhi’ movement launched by the Arya Samaj?
Explanation
The Shuddhi movement of the Arya Samaj brought back to Hinduism people who had converted to Islam or Christianity.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Q18. All of the following were educational initiatives associated with the Arya Samaj split, EXCEPT:
Explanation
The DAV College, Gurukul Kangri and the College Party’s English-with-Vedic-values education came out of the Arya Samaj split. The Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College was founded by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and has no link to it.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Q19. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa primarily emphasized which of the following paths to realize God?
Explanation
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa stressed devotion, universalism and the basic unity of all religions as the path to God.
RAS PrelimsModern Indian History · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Q20. Which is the most appropriate description of Swami Vivekananda’s ‘Neo-Vedanta’?
Explanation
Vivekananda’s Neo-Vedanta joined Vedantic spirituality with social service and humanism, taking religion to serve people.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
11
(a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct.
12
(a) I only
13
(b) R.G. Bhandarkar - Armed rebellion against British rule
14
(b) Dayananda Saraswati
15
(a) A-iii, B-i, C-ii, D-iv
16
(c) Bombay
17
(c) Reconverting individuals who had previously left Hinduism for Islamic or Christian faiths.
18
(b) The establishment of the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College.
19
(d) Spiritual devotion, universalism, and the inherent unity of all major religious truths.
20
(a) It combined the spiritual teachings of Vedanta with practical social service and humanism.
Key facts from Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Dayananda Saraswati gave the call Back to the Vedas and founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 at Bombay; its Shuddhi movement reconverted people to Hinduism.
The sequence of founding is Atmiya Sabha, Brahmo Samaj, Tattvabodhini Sabha and Prarthana Samaj.
Vivekananda addressed the Parliament of Religions in 1893 and founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.
Jyotirao Phule wrote Gulamgiri in 1873; Ambedkar led the Mahad Satyagraha in 1927 for the right to draw water from the Chavdar tank.
E. V. Ramaswami Naicker led the Self-Respect Movement.
The Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act was passed in 1856 through Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Socio-Religious Reform Movements?
This page has 56 practice MCQs on Socio-Religious Reform Movements (Modern Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
When and where was the Arya Samaj founded?
In 1875 at Bombay, by Dayananda Saraswati. It stressed the authority of the Vedas, opposed idol worship and caste by birth, and ran the Shuddhi movement and the DAV schools.
What was the Mahad Satyagraha?
A satyagraha led by B. R. Ambedkar in 1927 to assert the right of untouchables to draw water from the public Chavdar tank at Mahad. It is regarded as a landmark of the Dalit assertion movement.
Which Act legalised widow remarriage?
The Hindu Widows’ Remarriage Act of 1856, passed largely through the efforts of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. It removed the legal bar on the remarriage of Hindu widows, though social acceptance came slowly.
