BPSC CCE Prelims
Modern History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Solved Previous Year Questions (PYQs) for Modern History in BPSC CCE Prelims in English & Hindi Medium.
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The Tribal Movement-Santhal hool (Rebellion) took place in
Detailed Explanation:
The Santhal Hool (Rebellion) was a major tribal uprising led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu against British rule and the exploitative zamindari system.
The rebellion occurred in 1855–56 in present-day Jharkhand and parts of Bengal (Purulia, Birbhum, Bankura), triggered by the Permanent Land Settlement of 1793 which dispossessed Santhals of their ancestral land.
The Santhals declared independence, formed their own armies, used guerrilla tactics, and disrupted railway and postal lines before being crushed by the British presidency armies.
In 1901 who has published the book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'?
Detailed Explanation:
Dadabhai Naoroji published 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' in 1901, exposing the drain of wealth theory and how British policies impoverished India.
S. N. Banerjee wrote 'A Nation in Making', R. C. Dutt authored 'The Economic History of India', and Phirozshah Mehta was a nationalist leader but not the author of this book.
Who led the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917 ?
Detailed Explanation:
Mahatma Gandhi led the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917 in Bihar, his first major movement in India using non-violent resistance against the exploitative Tinkathia system.
Farmers were forced to grow indigo on 3/20th of their land; Gandhi's intervention led to the abolition of this oppressive practice and marked his entry into India's mass movements.
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Where did the revolt of Birsa Munda take place?
Detailed Explanation:
Birsa Munda's revolt (Ulgulan) took place in the Chotanagpur plateau region around Ranchi (present-day Jharkhand) during 1899–1900.
Champaran is associated with Gandhi's Indigo Satyagraha (1917), and Ballia with the Quit India Movement (1942).
Who became the President of Indian National Congress when Subhash Chandra Bose resigned in 1939 ?
Detailed Explanation:
Subhash Chandra Bose resigned as Congress President in April 1939 after conflicts with the Congress Working Committee and Mahatma Gandhi.
Rajendra Prasad was elected as President of the Indian National Congress to fill the vacancy left by Bose's resignation, serving from 1939 to 1940.
Prasad had previously served as Congress President in 1934 and was a trusted associate of Gandhi, having led the Champaran Satyagraha (1917) and participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Who was the first Muslim President of Indian National Congress ?
Detailed Explanation:
Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim president of the Indian National Congress, presiding over the third session in Madras (1887).
Hasrat Mohani never served as INC president; Maulana Azad became president much later (1940–1946).
Match List - I of leaders with List- I of their territory and select answer from the code given below:
| List – I | List - II |
| a. Kunwar Singh | i. Faizabad |
| b. Hazrat Mahal | ii. Bareilly |
| c. Khan Bahadur | iii. Jagdishpur |
| d. Maulvi Ahmadullah | iv. Lucknow |
Code:
Detailed Explanation:
Kunwar Singh led the revolt from Jagdishpur (Bihar), establishing a strong peasant base against the British.
Hazrat Mahal, the Begum of Awadh, led the rebellion from Lucknow after her son was declared Nawab.
Khan Bahadur Khan, the Nawab of Bareilly, commanded the revolt in Bareilly (Rohilkhand region).
Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah, a religious leader, led the uprising in Faizabad and surrounding areas.
Correct matching: a-iii, b-iv, c-ii, d-i.
Which Commission accentuated the discontent in all the political groups and parties for not associating any Indian member in it?
Detailed Explanation:
Simon Commission (1928) was an all-British seven-member body with no Indian representation, sent to review constitutional reforms.
Its exclusion of Indians sparked nationwide boycotts and the famous "Simon Go Back" protests, uniting Congress, Muslim League and other parties in opposition.
Cripps Mission (1942) consulted Indian leaders; Welby Commission (1895) examined military expenditure; Cabinet Mission (1946) included Indian participation in discussions.
Who assumed the command of the Indian National Army and gave famous battle cry, 'Chalo Delhi'?
Detailed Explanation:
Subhash Chandra Bose assumed command of the Indian National Army (INA) in 1943 in Singapore after Rash Behari Bose handed over leadership to him.
He gave the famous battle cry "Chalo Delhi" (March to Delhi) to rally INA soldiers to march towards India and overthrow British rule; Mohan Singh had initially formed the INA in 1942, and Shah Nawaz Khan served as a senior officer under Bose.
"We shall either free India or die in the attempt ..." who said it?
Detailed Explanation:
Mahatma Gandhi spoke these words on 8 August 1942 at the launch of the Quit India Movement in Bombay.
The phrase "Do or Die" encapsulated his call for decisive action to achieve complete independence from British rule through non-violent mass struggle.
Who raised the cry "Divide and Quit"?
Detailed Explanation:
M.A. Jinnah, leader of the All-India Muslim League, raised the slogan "Divide and Quit" in 1942 as a counter to Gandhi's "Quit India" movement.
The slogan demanded that British must first partition India to create Pakistan before leaving, reflecting the Muslim League's insistence on a separate nation for Muslims before independence.
Which portfolio did Dr. Rajendra Prasad hold during the interim government of 1946 ?
Detailed Explanation:
Dr. Rajendra Prasad held the Food and Agriculture portfolio in the Interim Government of 1946 formed on 2 September 1946 under Jawaharlal Nehru.
He focused on addressing food shortages and promoting agricultural self-sufficiency during the critical pre-independence period.
Which Act provided for the partition of India into two new dominions - India and Pakistan?
Detailed Explanation:
Indian Independence Act, 1947 was passed by the British Parliament on 18 July 1947 and came into effect on 15 August 1947.
It legally ended British rule and partitioned British India into two independent dominions: India and Pakistan, each with its own Governor-General and Constituent Assembly.
The Government of India Act, 1919 introduced dyarchy in provinces, while the Government of India Act, 1935 provided for provincial autonomy and an All-India Federation – neither provided for partition.
Which Congress leader visited Bihar in 1918 in order to strengthen the activities of Home Rule League?
Detailed Explanation:
Annie Besant visited Bihar in 1918 to strengthen the Home Rule League activities, expanding the movement beyond her southern India base (started 1916).
B.G. Tilak led the Home Rule League in Maharashtra, not Bihar; Mahatma Gandhi was in Champaran in 1917 for agrarian issues, not the Home Rule League in 1918; M.A. Ansari was not associated with this specific visit.
Champaran Agrarian Committee was appointed in agreement between:
Detailed Explanation:
Champaran Agrarian Committee (1917) was appointed through an agreement between the Indian Government and Mahatma Gandhi after his successful Satyagraha against the exploitative Tinkathia system.
Gandhi was made a member of the committee, marking official recognition of his role in the movement. Raj Kumar Shukla invited Gandhi to Champaran, while Rajendra Prasad and Anugraha Narayan Singh assisted but were not party to the government agreement.