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.
Chapter Breakdown: Scroll →
In which year famous Gandhi-Irwin pact took place?
Detailed Explanation:
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on March 5, 1931, between Mahatma Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin. This agreement suspended the Civil Disobedience Movement, released political prisoners, and allowed Congress participation in the Second Round Table Conference.
Therefore, the pact took place in 1931 AD, making Option 2 the correct answer.
In which Session Indian National Congress passed Complete Independence Resolution?
Detailed Explanation:
The Indian National Congress passed the Poorna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution at its 1929 Lahore session under Jawaharlal Nehru's presidency. This session declared complete independence as the goal, fixed 26 January 1930 as the first Independence Day, and authorized civil disobedience.
The 1924 Belgaon session focused on Hindu-Muslim unity, 1931 Karachi outlined fundamental rights, and 1920 Nagpur adopted non-cooperation—none passed the Complete Independence resolution.
Therefore, 1929 AD Lahore is the correct answer, making Option 2 correct.
Subhas Chandra Bose renamed Nicobar Island as
Detailed Explanation:
Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the Indian flag at Port Blair on 30 December 1943 after gaining control of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He renamed Andaman Island as Shaheed Island (in honor of martyrs) and Nicobar Island as Swaraj Island (symbolizing self-rule).
These symbolic renamings marked India's first liberated territories during the freedom struggle under the Azad Hind Government.
Therefore, Nicobar was renamed Swaraj Island, making Option 4 the correct answer.
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In which state is 'Chauri Chaura’, where in February 1922 AD a police station was set on fire?
Detailed Explanation:
The Chauri Chaura incident occurred on 4 February 1922 in Gorakhpur district, part of the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). During a protest linked to Gandhi's Non-cooperation Movement, demonstrators clashed with police and set fire to the police station, killing 22 policemen.
Gandhi, deeply disturbed by this violence, suspended the entire Non-cooperation Movement on 12 February 1922, emphasizing his commitment to non-violence.
Therefore, Chauri Chaura is located in Uttar Pradesh, making Option 3 the correct answer.
In which place Khudiram Bose tried to kill Kingsford?
Detailed Explanation:
Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki attempted to assassinate Magistrate Kingsford in Muzaffarpur, Bihar on 30 April 1908. They threw a bomb at a carriage they believed carried Kingsford, but it mistakenly killed barrister Kennedy's wife and daughter.
Khudiram was caught, tried, and hanged on 11 August 1908 at age 18. The jail where he was executed was later renamed Khudiram Bose Memorial Central Jail in his honour.
Therefore, Muzaffarpur is the correct location, making Option 2 the correct answer.
Who was allotted the Portfolio of the Labour Department in the Interim Government's Cabinet of 1946 AD?
Detailed Explanation:
The Interim Government of 1946 was formed on 2nd September 1946 under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru as Vice President of the Executive Council. Jagjivan Ram was allotted the Labour portfolio.
Other key portfolios included Rajendra Prasad (Food & Agriculture), Vallabhbhai Patel (Home Affairs), and Syed Ali Zaheer (Law). Jagjivan Ram, a prominent Dalit leader from Bihar, played a crucial role in labor welfare during this period.
Therefore, Jagjivan Ram held the Labour portfolio, making Option 4 the correct answer.
Who is known as 'Frontier Gandhi'?
Detailed Explanation:
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Bacha Khan, was a Pashtun independence activist from the Peshawar Valley who founded the Khudai Khidmatgar (Red Shirts) movement in 1929, advocating non-violent resistance against British rule.
His unwavering commitment to peace and close association with Mahatma Gandhi earned him the title 'Frontier Gandhi'. He opposed both colonial rule and the partition of India, remaining steadfast in non-violence despite severe repression.
Therefore, Abdul Gaffar Khan is known as 'Frontier Gandhi', making Option 3 the correct answer.
Where was Jhansi Ki Rani Laxmibai died?
Detailed Explanation:
Rani Laxmibai, the queen of Jhansi, died fighting the British on 18 June 1858 near Gwalior during the 1857 Revolt. Her memorial (samadhi) is located in the Phool Bagh area of Gwalior.
After the British annexed Jhansi using the Doctrine of Lapse, she led her forces alongside Tantya Tope and other rebels, ultimately falling in battle at Gwalior—not at Kanpur, Jhansi, or Lucknow.
Therefore, Gwalior is where she died, making Option 2 the correct answer.
Who has said about Bengal Partition, “The partition announcement fell like a bomb shell”?
Detailed Explanation:
Surendra Nath Banerjee, a prominent nationalist leader, famously described the 1905 Bengal Partition announcement by stating "The partition announcement fell like a bomb shell", capturing the shock and outrage felt across Bengal.
Announced on 20 July 1905 under Viceroy Lord Curzon and implemented on 16 October 1905, the partition was seen as a British divide-and-rule tactic that triggered the Swadeshi and Boycott movements. It was eventually reversed in 1911.
Therefore, Surendra Nath Bannerjee made this famous statement, making Option 4 the correct answer.
Sardar Udham Singh killed whom?
Detailed Explanation:
Sardar Udham Singh assassinated Michael O'Dwyer on 13 March 1940 in London to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919. O'Dwyer was the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab during the massacre and was held responsible by Udham Singh for sanctioning the brutal crackdown.
Curzon Wyllie was killed by Madan Lal Dhingra (1909), Saunders by Bhagat Singh (1928), and General Dyer (the actual executor at Jallianwala Bagh) died naturally in 1927.
Therefore, Michael O'Dwyer was assassinated by Sardar Udham Singh, making Option 2 the correct answer.
In which year was the first sitting of the Bihar Legislative Council convened?
Detailed Explanation:
The Bihar Legislative Council was established under the Government of India Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms), which introduced separate provincial legislatures. Bihar was carved out as a separate province from Bengal in 1912, and its first Legislative Council convened in 1913.
The year 1911 marks Bihar's announcement as a separate province, 1914 is post-establishment, and 1919 relates to the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms—none match the actual first sitting.
Therefore, the first sitting was held in 1913, making Option 2 the correct answer.
During the time of which Mughal Emperor did Sir Thomas Roe come to India?
Detailed Explanation:
Sir Thomas Roe arrived in India in 1615 as the ambassador of King James I of England and secured an audience with Mughal Emperor Jahangir at his court in Ajmer. His mission was to obtain trading rights and establish a permanent English factory, which laid the foundation for the East India Company's expansion in India.
Babur (1526–1530) and Akbar (1556–1605) ruled before the English arrival, while Shah Jahan (1628–1658) succeeded Jahangir.
Therefore, Sir Thomas Roe came during Jahangir's reign, making Option 3 the correct answer.
The Ryotwari system was first implemented in
Detailed Explanation:
The Ryotwari system was first implemented in Madras Presidency (1820) by Thomas Munro and later extended to Bombay Presidency (1835) under Elphinstone. Under this system, individual cultivators (ryots) had direct settlement with the government, with no intermediaries.
Since the system was introduced in both Madras and Bombay, more than one option is correct, making the answer "More than one of the above."
Therefore, Option 5 is the correct answer.
The Uprising of 1857 was described as the ‘First Indian War of Independence’ by
Detailed Explanation:
V. D. Savarkar first described the Uprising of 1857 as the 'First Indian War of Independence' in his seminal 1909 book The Indian War of Independence, 1857, written while in exile in London.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak called it a national revolt but not specifically the 'First War of Independence.' R. C. Majumdar rejected the independence war theory, viewing it as primarily a sepoy mutiny with limited national character. Dadabhai Naoroji did not use this specific terminology.
Therefore, Savarkar's pioneering nationalist interpretation makes Option 1 the correct answer.
The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was
Detailed Explanation:
Annie Besant became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1917 at the Calcutta session, leading during a critical phase of India's freedom struggle.
Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman President (1925), Kasturba Gandhi was a freedom fighter but never held the position, and Aruna Asaf Ali was famous for hoisting the flag during Quit India Movement but was not Congress President.
Therefore, Annie Besant was the first woman President, making Option 2 the correct answer.