1

What was the immediate reason for Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade India and fight the Third Battle of Panipat?

A

He wanted to avenge the expulsion by Marathas of his Viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore

B

The frustrated Governor of Jullundhar Adina Beg Khan invited him to invade Punjab

C

He wanted to punish Mughal administration for non-payment of the revenues of the Chahar Mahal (Gujarat, Aurangabad, Sialkot and Pasrur)

D

He wanted to annex all the fertile plains of Punjab upto the borders of Delhi to his kingdom

E

Answer

(A)

Instruction

Solution

The immediate reason for Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade India and fight the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 was to avenge the expulsion by Marathas of his Viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore. In March 1758, Raghunath Rao, the Maratha leader, crossed into the Punjab and drove away prince Timur, who was Ahmad Shah Abdali's son and agent, out of the Punjab. The Maratha conquest of the Punjab from the Afghans was a direct challenge to Abdali and the latter decided to accept it.

2

Among the following, who was not a proponent of bhakti cult?

A

Nagarjuna

B

Tukaram

C

Tyagaraja

D

Vallabhacharya

E

Answer

(c)

Instruction

Solution

Tyagaraja (May 4, 1767-January 6, 1847) was one of the greatest composers of Carnatic music or classical South Indian music. He, along with his contemporaries Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Shastri, forms the Trinity of Carnatic music. He composed thousands of devotional compositions, most of them in praise of Lord Rama.

3

With reference to Simon Commission's recommendations, which one of the following statements is correct?

A

It recommended the replacement of diarchy with responsible government in the provinces

B

It proposed the setting up of inter-provincial council under the Home Department.

C

It suggested the abolition of bicameral legislature at the centre

D

It recommended the creation of Indian Police Service with a provision for increased pay and allowances for British recruits as compared to Indian recruits

E

Answer

(a)

Instruction

Solution

The Simon Commission was to enquire into the working of the system of government and report as to whether it is desirable to establish the principle of responsible government or to extend, modify or restrict the degree of responsible government then existing.

4

Four resolutions were passed at the famous Calcutta Session of Indian National Congress in 1906. The question of either retention or of rejection of these four resolutions became the cause of a split in Congress at the next Congress Session held in Surat in 1907. Which one of the following was not one of those resolutions?

A

Annulment of partition of Bengal

B

Boycott

C

National Education

D

Swadeshi

E

Answer

(a)

Instruction

Solution

Four compromise resolutions on Swadeshi, Boycott, National Education and Self-Government demands were passed. Throughout 1907, the two sides (Moderates and Extremists) fought over differing interpretations of the four resolutions.

5

After Quit India Movement, C. Rajagopalachari issued a pamphlet entitled "The Way Out". Which one of the following was a proposal in this pamphlet?

A

The establishment of a "War Advisory Council" composed of representatives of British India and the Indian States

B

Reconstitution of the Central Executive Council in such a way that all its members, except the Governor-General and the Commander-in-Chief should be Indian leaders

C

Fresh elections to the Central and Provincial Legislatures to be held at the end of 1945 and the Constitution making body to be convened as soon as possible

D

A solution for the constitutional deadlock

E

Answer

(d)

Instruction

Solution

In March 1944, C. Rajagopalachari evolved a formula with the "Full" approval of Gandhiji to solve the constitutional deadlock. The scheme included provisions for the League to endorse the demand for independence and cooperate in forming a provisional government, and a plebiscite in Muslim-majority areas after the war.

6

For the Karachi Session of Indian National Congress in 1931 presided over by Sardar Patel, who drafted the Resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Programme?

A

Mahatma Gandhi

B

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

C

Dr. Rajendra Prasad

D

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

E

Answer

(b)

Instruction

Solution

Fundamental Rights and Economic Plan Programme were formulated by Jawaharlal Nehru and adopted in the session.

7

Who among the following were official Congress negotiators with Cripps Mission?

A

Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel

B

Acharya J. B. Kripalani and C. Rajagopalachari

C

Pandit Nehru and Maulana Azad

D

Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Rafi Ahmed Kidwai

E

Answer

(c)

Instruction

Solution

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad were official Congress negotiators with the Cripps Mission.

8

With reference to Pondicherry (now Puducherry), consider the following statements:

1. The first European power to occupy Pondicherry were the Portuguese.

2.The second European power to occupy Pondicherry were the French.

3.The English never occupied Pondicherry.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A

1 only

B

2 and 3

C

3 only

D

1, 2 and 3

E

Answer

(a)

Instruction

Solution

The first European power to occupy Pondicherry were the Portuguese. The first Europeans to exert power in India were the Portuguese who sailed round Southern Africa in search of trade goods.

9

Who among the following Governor-Generals created the Covenanted Civil Service of India which later came to be known as the Indian Civil Service?

A

Warren Hastings

B

Wellesley

C

Cornwallis

D

William Bentinck

E

Answer

(c)

Instruction

Solution

The Civil Services was brought into existence by Lord Cornwallis. He realized that the Company's servants would not give honest service unless given adequate salaries, so he enforced rules against private trade and raised salaries.

10

What was the immediate cause for the launch of the Swadeshi Movement?

A

The partition of Bengal done by Lord Curzon

B

A sentence of 18 months rigorous imprisonment imposed on Lokmanya Tilak

C

The arrest and deportation of Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh; and passing of the Punjab Colonization Bill

D

Death sentence pronounced on the Chapekar brothers

E

Answer

(a)

Instruction

Solution

The Swadeshi Movement had its genesis in the anti-partition movement which was started to oppose the British decision to partition Bengal.