68th BPSC Prelims 2023
Modern History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 16 solved 68th BPSC Prelims 2023 Modern History questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
The Cabinet Mission was sent to India for which of the following?
- To establish a national government
- To work out a constitutional arrangement for the transfer of power
- To work out the details of Jinnah demand for Pakistan
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Cabinet Mission 1946 aimed to keep India united, not establish a national government.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The mission's primary objective was to work out a constitutional mechanism for transfer of power from British to Indian hands.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The mission rejected the Pakistan demand and instead proposed a three-tier federal structure to accommodate Muslim concerns while maintaining unity.
The Congress took a critical stand over the Montford Reforms in 1918, which led to break up with the old moderate remnants (Sapru, Jayakar, and Chintamani) who formed the
Detailed Explanation:
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919), not 1918, created a rift in the Indian National Congress when moderates like Tej Bahadur Sapru, M.R. Jayakar, and C.Y. Chintamani supported the reforms while the Congress adopted a more critical stance.
These moderates broke away and formed the Indian National Liberal Federation (1918-1919) to work within the constitutional framework provided by the reforms.
The Servants of India Society (1905) was founded earlier by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and the Swaraj Party (1923) was formed later by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru after the Non-Cooperation Movement.
In 1940, Vinoba Bhave started individual Satyagraha from
Detailed Explanation:
Vinoba Bhave launched the Individual Satyagraha on 17 October 1940 from Pavnar, Maharashtra, becoming the first individual satyagrahi selected by Mahatma Gandhi.
Punnapra-Vayalar refers to a 1946 communist uprising in Kerala, while Nadiad, Gujarat was associated with the Kheda Satyagraha (1918), not the Individual Satyagraha of 1940.
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Who introduced the system of Mahalwari Settlement in Bengal?
Detailed Explanation:
The Mahalwari Settlement was introduced by Holt Mackenzie in 1822 in the North-Western Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh), not in Bengal.
Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement (1793) in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, while Lord Hastings was Governor-General during the initial experiments with Mahalwari system, but Holt Mackenzie as the Secretary to the Board of Revenue was the actual architect of the Mahalwari system.
Who among the following headed the two Boundary Commissions set up to delineate the international frontiers between India and Pakistan in 1947?
Detailed Explanation:
Cyril Radcliffe, a British lawyer with no prior experience in India, headed both the Boundary Commissions established in 1947 to demarcate the borders between India and Pakistan in Punjab and Bengal.
The Radcliffe Line, announced on August 17, 1947 (two days after independence), divided the two provinces and became the international boundary, affecting millions through partition.
On February 20, 1947, Prime Minister Attlee announced the British Government's decision to withdraw from India latest by
Detailed Explanation:
On February 20, 1947, Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced in the British Parliament that the British Government would transfer power to Indian hands by June 1948.
This announcement was part of the Attlee Declaration, which formally set a definite deadline for British withdrawal from India, though the actual transfer occurred earlier on August 15, 1947 under the Indian Independence Act 1947.
Who was the founder of All India Harijan Sangh in 1932?
Detailed Explanation:
Mahatma Gandhi founded the All India Harijan Sangh in 1932 to work for the upliftment of Dalits (whom he called Harijans).
The organization focused on removing untouchability, promoting temple entry, and improving the social and economic conditions of the depressed classes through education and employment opportunities.
"A Sanyasi who came to that district after a spell as an indentured labourer in Fiji carrying a copy of Tulsidas Ramayana on his back from which he would recite verses to rural audience." The peasant leader referred to here is
Detailed Explanation:
Baba Ram Chandra was a peasant leader in Awadh (Oudh) who worked as an indentured labourer in Fiji before returning to India.
He used to recite verses from the Tulsidas Ramayana to rural audiences and played a key role in organizing the Awadh Kisan Sabha movement (1920-21) against landlords (talukdars).
Which of the following statements are not correct regarding the Non-Cooperation Movement in the towns?
- Only the upper caste and the rich took part in the movement.
- The council elections were boycotted even by the Justice Party of Madras.
- Thousands of students left government-controlled schools, headmasters and teachers resigned and lawyers gave up their practice.
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Non-Cooperation Movement in towns witnessed participation from diverse social groups including middle class, workers, students, and traders – not just upper caste and rich.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Justice Party of Madras (representing non-Brahmins) did not boycott the council elections; they participated to protect their interests against Brahmin dominance.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Thousands of students, teachers, headmasters and lawyers boycotted government institutions and legal practice as part of the movement in 1920-1922.
Answer: Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect, hence Option 1 is correct.
How did the study of history help in creating a feeling of nationalism in India towards the end of the 19th century?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Nationalist historians like R.C. Dutt analyzed the economic exploitation under British rule, documenting the drain of wealth and poverty, which inspired people to struggle against colonial oppression.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Historians refuted the colonial narrative of Indian backwardness by highlighting ancient Indian achievements in science, mathematics, art, and governance, proving Indians' capability for self-rule.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Scholars like Romesh Chunder Dutt and Jadunath Sarkar wrote about India's glorious past (ancient empires, cultural achievements), fostering national pride and self-confidence among Indians.
Which one of the following was a journal brought out by Abul Kalam Azad?
Detailed Explanation:
Al-Hilal was an Urdu weekly journal founded and edited by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in 1912 from Calcutta.
Zamindar was published by Zafar Ali Khan from Lahore, and The Comrade was started by Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar in 1911.
Which of the following statements regarding the Indian freedom struggle is not correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Mahatma Gandhi was arrested on 10 March 1922, not in 1921, following the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Chauri Chaura incident (5 February 1922) led Gandhi to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement due to violence.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Gandhi's first major public speech was at the opening of Banaras Hindu University in February 1916, where he criticized Indian elites.
During the freedom struggle, a parallel movement launched in the Indian States (in the States ruled by the Indian rulers such as Kashmir, Nizam's Hyderabad, Travancore, etc.) was
Detailed Explanation:
Praja Mandal Movement was the parallel movement launched in princely states (Kashmir, Hyderabad, Travancore, etc.) during the freedom struggle, demanding responsible government and civil liberties from Indian rulers.
The movement was similar to the Indian National Congress activities in British India but focused on political rights within princely states, with the All India States People's Conference (1927) coordinating these efforts across different states.
At the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress (INC) held in 1906, the Flag of Swaraj for India was unfurled by
Detailed Explanation:
The Flag of Swaraj was unfurled by Dadabhai Naoroji at the Calcutta Session of INC in 1906.
This session is also significant as it marked the emergence of the extremist faction in the Congress and the famous four resolutions on Swaraj, Swadeshi, Boycott, and National Education were passed.
The Swadeshi and Boycott were adopted as the methods of struggle for the first time during the
Detailed Explanation:
Swadeshi and Boycott movements were first adopted as methods of struggle during the Partition of Bengal (1905).
The anti-partition agitation led by moderates like Surendranath Banerjee and extremists like Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularized these methods—Swadeshi promoted indigenous goods while Boycott targeted British products and institutions, making them defining features of the Bengal partition protest.
Who saved the life of Gandhiji in Bihar during Champaran Satyagraha?
Detailed Explanation:
Batak Mian, a local resident of Champaran, saved Mahatma Gandhi's life during the Champaran Satyagraha (1917) when he helped him escape from an angry mob that had gathered outside the courthouse.
Batak Mian provided shelter and protected Gandhi from potential violence, demonstrating the crucial role of local support in the success of the Champaran movement against indigo planters in Bihar.
68th BPSC Prelims 2023 - Modern History Chapter-wise Distribution
Mass National Movements
3 Qs (18.8%)Constitutional and Administrative Developments
2 Qs (12.5%)Indian National Congress and Early Nationalists
2 Qs (12.5%)Rise of Indian Nationalism
2 Qs (12.5%)Towards Independence and Partition
2 Qs (12.5%)Economic Impact of British Rule
1 Qs (6.3%)Gandhian Era
1 Qs (6.3%)Education, Press and Cultural Awakening
1 Qs (6.3%)Tribal, Peasant and Civil Uprisings
1 Qs (6.3%)Socio-Religious Reform Movements
1 Qs (6.3%)68th BPSC Prelims 2023 - Modern History Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Modern History questions were asked in 68th BPSC Prelims 2023?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Modern History in 68th BPSC Prelims 2023?
- Mass National Movements: 3 questions (18.8%)
- Constitutional and Administrative Developments: 2 questions (12.5%)
- Indian National Congress and Early Nationalists: 2 questions (12.5%)
- Rise of Indian Nationalism: 2 questions (12.5%)
- Towards Independence and Partition: 2 questions (12.5%)
- Economic Impact of British Rule: 1 questions (6.3%)
- Gandhian Era: 1 questions (6.3%)
- Education, Press and Cultural Awakening: 1 questions (6.3%)
- Tribal, Peasant and Civil Uprisings: 1 questions (6.3%)
- Socio-Religious Reform Movements: 1 questions (6.3%)