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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In October 1943, Subhash Chandra Bose set up a provisional government of free India which was recognized by how many countries including Japan?
Detailed Explanation:
Subhash Chandra Bose established the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind Government) on 21 October 1943 in Singapore.
This government was recognized by 9 countries: Japan, Germany, Italy, Burma (Myanmar), Thailand, Philippines, Manchukuo, Croatia, and the Wang Jingwei regime (China).
Under the Royal Titles Act, Queen Victoria became the Empress of India in which year?
Detailed Explanation:
Royal Titles Act 1876 was passed by British Parliament authorizing Queen Victoria to assume the title Empress of India.
The formal proclamation occurred at the Delhi Durbar on 1 January 1877, making 1877 the year she officially became Empress, not 1876 when the Act was passed.
Who was the founder of the Farazi Movement?
Detailed Explanation:
Haji Shariatullah founded the Farazi Movement in 1818 in Bengal to revive pure Islamic practices by emphasizing Faraiz (obligatory duties) and opposing un-Islamic customs and landlord exploitation.
After his death, his son Dudhu Mian (Dudu Miyan) led and expanded the movement among peasants, but the founder was Haji Shariatullah, not Sayyid Ahmad (who led the Wahabi Movement).
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Who wrote "New Lamps For The Old"?
Detailed Explanation:
Aurobindo Ghosh wrote "New Lamps for Old" as a series of articles in the newspaper Indu Prakash starting in 1893.
The articles strongly criticized the Indian National Congress's moderate methods and advocated for a more aggressive and direct approach towards achieving independence, marking his early shift towards revolutionary nationalism.
Who was the President of the Indian National Congress at the Patna Session held in 1912?
Detailed Explanation:
The 27th session of the Indian National Congress was held in Patna, Bihar in December 1912.
Rao Bahadur Raghunath Narasinha Mudholkar (also spelled R. N. Madhulkar) presided over this session as a prominent moderate leader and lawyer from Nagpur.
He emphasized constitutional methods for achieving self-governance and advocated for cooperation with the British while demanding greater Indian representation in government.
Ramkrishna Mission was founded by
Detailed Explanation:
Ramakrishna Mission was founded by Swami Vivekananda on 1 May 1897 at Belur Math, West Bengal.
The mission was established to carry forward the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and engage in social service, education, and healthcare based on Vedantic principles.
When did the Britishers shift the capital to Delhi?
Detailed Explanation:
King George V announced the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi at the Delhi Durbar on December 12, 1911.
The actual administrative shift and relocation of government offices occurred in 1912, though the construction of New Delhi continued until its formal inauguration in 1931.
Who gave the slogan "DO OR DIE" and when?
Detailed Explanation:
Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan "Do or Die" on 8 August 1942 at Gowalia Tank Maidan (now August Kranti Maidan), Bombay during the launch of the Quit India Movement.
Subhash Chandra Bose is known for "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom", while Jawaharlal Nehru delivered the famous "Tryst with Destiny" speech.
Match the List I with List II and choose the correct answer:
| List - I Organization | List - II Headquarter |
| I. Swadeshi Sevak Home | a. Vancouver |
| II. United India House | b. Seattle |
| III. Yugantar Ashram | c. San Francisco |
| IV. INA or Azad Hind Fauj | d. Rangoon |
Detailed Explanation:
I. Swadeshi Sevak Home – Vancouver (a): Founded by Balwant Singh in 1907 to support Indian immigrants in Canada and promote nationalist activities.
II. United India House – Seattle (b): Established as a center for Indian revolutionary activities and to unite Indians in the Pacific Northwest region.
III. Yugantar Ashram – San Francisco (c): Founded by Har Dayal in 1913, served as the headquarters of the Ghadar Party and published the revolutionary newspaper Ghadar.
IV. INA (Azad Hind Fauj) – Rangoon (d): The Indian National Army under Subhas Chandra Bose had its headquarters in Rangoon (now Yangon) during World War II (1942-1945).
Correct matching: I–a, II–b, III–c, IV–d
When did Muslim League observe "Direct Action Day"?
Detailed Explanation:
Direct Action Day was observed by the Muslim League on 16 August 1946, called by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to demand Pakistan after rejecting the Cabinet Mission Plan.
The day led to violent communal riots in Calcutta (Kolkata), known as the Great Calcutta Killings, resulting in thousands of deaths and intensifying the demand for Partition of India in 1947.
Match the following and choose the correct answer:
| Newspaper | Editor |
| I. Free Hindustan | a. Mahatma Gandhi |
| II. Indian Opinion | b. Dadabhai Naoroji |
| III. Voice of India | c. Surendranath Banerjee |
| IV. Bengalee | d. Taraknath Das |
Detailed Explanation:
I. Free Hindustan – Taraknath Das (d): Revolutionary newspaper published from Vancouver, Canada (1907–1910) advocating Indian independence.
II. Indian Opinion – Mahatma Gandhi (a): Started in South Africa (1903) to voice concerns of the Indian community and propagate Satyagraha.
III. Voice of India – Dadabhai Naoroji (b): Published from London to highlight Indian grievances and the Drain of Wealth theory.
IV. Bengalee – Surendranath Banerjee (c): Founded in 1879 in Calcutta, became a leading voice for moderate nationalism and Indian National Congress activities.
Correct Match: I – d, II – a, III – b, IV – c
Match the following and choose the correct answer:
| Political Organisation | Founder |
| I. Khaksars | a. Subhash Chandra Bose |
| II. Socialist Party | b. Inayatullah Mashriqui |
| III. Independent Labour Party | c. Jayaprakash Narayan |
| IV. Forward Bloc | d. B. R. Ambedkar |
Detailed Explanation:
I. Khaksars were founded by Inayatullah Mashriqui in 1931 as a socio-political movement with a paramilitary character.
II. Socialist Party was founded by Jayaprakash Narayan along with Acharya Narendra Dev in 1934 within the Congress Socialist Party framework.
III. Independent Labour Party was founded by B. R. Ambedkar in 1936 to represent the interests of the labour class and depressed communities.
IV. Forward Bloc was founded by Subhash Chandra Bose in 1939 as a left-wing faction within the Indian National Congress.
Correct matching: I-b, II-c, III-d, IV-a
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.
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.
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.