Q51. Identify the incorrect statement regarding the split in the Arya Samaj in 1893.
Socio-Religious Reform Movements: RAS Prelims MCQs
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 51–56 of 56 questions
Q52. Swami Vivekananda’s historic address at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, which introduced Hinduism as a major world religion, took place in which year?
Explanation
Swami Vivekananda’s historic participation in the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago took place in 1893. His opening address, which began with the famous greeting "Sisters and Brothers of America," earned him instant acclaim. This event was pivotal in establishing Hinduism as a significant world religion and introducing Indian spiritual and philosophical traditions to the Western world on a stage.
Q53. Match List-I (Theosophical Society Leader) with List-II (Specific Activity/Contribution) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Codes:
| Leader | Contribution |
|---|---|
| A. H.P. Blavatsky | i. Initiated the Home Rule League in India |
| B. H.S. Olcott | ii. Co-founded the Society in New York in 1875 |
| C. Annie Besant | iii. Shifted the headquarters to Adyar, Madras |
| D. Allan Octavian Hume | iv. Supported the Society but primarily known for founding the INC |
Explanation
Madame Blavatsky co-founded the Theosophical Society in New York, while Colonel Olcott was instrumental in moving the headquarters to Adyar. Annie Besant is best known for her leadership in the Indian Home Rule League. A.O. Hume, while interested in theosophy, is primarily recognized for his role in the founding of the Indian National Congress as a political platform.
Q54. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan launched a journal to propagate modern ideas and scientific reasoning among Muslims. Which of the following was NOT associated with his reformist publications?
Explanation
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan published Tahdhib-ul- Akhlaq to modernize Muslim social thoughts and wrote commentaries to bridge the gap between Islamic and Christian scriptures. He also authored ‘The Loyal Muhammadans of India’. Al- Hilal, however, was an Urdu newspaper started by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in the early 20th century to criticize British policies and promote the cause of nationalism.
Q55. Consider the following statements regarding the founders of the Deoband Movement:
I. It was founded by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi.
II. It was founded in the year 1866 in the Saharanpur district.
III. It aimed to support Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s MAO College initiatives.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. It was founded by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi.
II. It was founded in the year 1866 in the Saharanpur district.
III. It aimed to support Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s MAO College initiatives.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The Deoband Movement was founded by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi in 1866. Its objective was strictly revivalist, aiming to preserve traditional Islamic education and values. It was actually ideologically opposed to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’s Aligarh Movement, as it rejected Western influences and the pro-British stance associated with the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College and its modernist educational initiatives.
Q56. Which of the following statements correctly identifies the social base of Jyotirao Phule’s Satyashodhak Samaj?
Explanation
The Satyashodhak Samaj was unique because its social base consisted primarily of the depressed and intermediate castes of Maharashtra, such as the Malis, Telis, Kunbis, and Dhangars. Jyotirao Phule deliberately reached out to these rural and working-class groups to build a grassroots movement against Brahminical dominance. This distinguished his organization from many other contemporary reform movements restricted to the elite.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 51 | (a) The Gurukul Party advocated for Western English education combined with Vedic values. |
| 52 | (b) 1893 |
| 53 | (a) A-ii, B-iii, C-i, D-iv |
| 54 | (c) Al-Hilal |
| 55 | (b) III only |
| 56 | (d) It was a movement comprising depressed classes like the Malis, Telis, Kunbis, and Dhangars. |
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.