UPSC Prelims 2013
Modern History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 6 solved UPSC Prelims 2013 Modern History questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for:
Detailed Explanation:
The Tebhaga movement (1946-47) was a peasant agitation in Bengal led by the Kisan Sabha.
The core demand was to reduce the landlord's share from one-half (50%) to one-third (33%) of the crop, allowing sharecroppers (bargadars) to retain two-thirds instead of half.
Quit India Movement was launched in response to:
Detailed Explanation:
The Quit India Movement was launched on 8 August 1942 in direct response to the failure of the Cripps Proposals (March 1942).
The Cripps Mission, led by Sir Stafford Cripps, offered dominion status after World War II and the right to frame a constitution, but rejected immediate independence and allowed provinces to opt out – both Congress and Muslim League rejected these inadequate proposals.
The Simon Commission (1928), Wavell Plan (1945), and Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) occurred in different time periods, making them irrelevant to the 1942 movement.
Annie Besant was:
- Responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement
- The founder of the Theosophical Society
- Once the President of the Indian National Congress
Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Annie Besant founded the Home Rule League in September 1916 in Madras, demanding self-government for India within the British Empire, alongside Tilak's Home Rule League (April 1916).
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Theosophical Society was founded in 1875 in New York by Madame H.P. Blavatsky and Colonel H.S. Olcott. Annie Besant became its President in 1907 but was not the founder.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Annie Besant was elected President of the Indian National Congress at the Calcutta Session in 1917, becoming the first woman to hold this position.
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With reference to Indian History, the Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were:
Detailed Explanation:
Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies using the single transferable vote system of proportional representation.
The Assembly was indirectly elected, not directly elected by the people, and members were not nominated by political parties or selected by the Government for expertise.
The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the:
Detailed Explanation:
The Ilbert Bill (1883) was introduced by Lord Ripon's government to remove the judicial disqualification that prevented Indian magistrates and sessions judges from trying European British subjects in criminal cases.
The bill aimed to eliminate racial discrimination in the judiciary, but faced massive opposition from the European community in India, leading to its withdrawal in a diluted form.
The people of India agitated against the arrival of Simon Commission because:
Detailed Explanation:
The Simon Commission (1927) was appointed to review the working of the Government of India Act, 1919.
The commission consisted of seven British Members of Parliament with no Indian members, leading to widespread protests with the slogan "Simon Go Back" as Indians viewed this all-white composition as an insult to their self-respect and demand for self-determination.
UPSC Prelims 2013 - Modern History Chapter-wise Distribution
Constitutional and Administrative Developments
3 Qs (50%)Tribal, Peasant and Civil Uprisings
1 Qs (16.7%)Revolutionary Nationalism
1 Qs (16.7%)Mass National Movements
1 Qs (16.7%)UPSC Prelims 2013 - Modern History Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Modern History questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2013?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Modern History in UPSC Prelims 2013?
- Constitutional and Administrative Developments: 3 questions (50%)
- Tribal, Peasant and Civil Uprisings: 1 questions (16.7%)
- Revolutionary Nationalism: 1 questions (16.7%)
- Mass National Movements: 1 questions (16.7%)