UPSC Prelims 2019
Modern History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3

All three pairs are correctly matched, linking important social and agrarian movements of colonial India with their respective leaders.

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: The All India Anti-Untouchability League was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 and later renamed as Harijan Sewak Sangh to work for the upliftment of Dalits.

✅ Pair 2 – Correct: The All India Kisan Sabha was founded by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati at the Lucknow session in 1936 to organize peasants and address agrarian issues.

✅ Pair 3 – Correct: The Self-Respect Movement was founded by E.V. Ramaswami Naicker (Periyar) in 1925 in Tamil Nadu as an anti-caste, anti-Brahmanical social reform movement.

📝 Short Notes: Social and Agrarian Movements in Colonial India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2 only

The Charter Act of 1813 was a landmark legislation that ended the East India Company's trade monopoly in India (except for tea and China trade) and explicitly asserted British Crown sovereignty over Indian territories. However, direct parliamentary control over Indian revenues was not established by this Act.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Act abolished the Company's trade monopoly in India, opening trade to all British merchants, but retained the monopoly over tea and trade with China for another 20 years.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Act explicitly asserted the sovereignty of the British Crown over the Indian territories held by the Company, marking a constitutional milestone in British-India relations.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The Act required separate accounts for commercial and territorial revenues, but direct parliamentary control over Indian revenues was only established through the Government of India Act 1858 after the Company's rule ended.

📝 Short Notes: Charter Acts and Company Rule

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3

All three pairs are correctly matched. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was a prominent liberal leader who served as President of the All India Liberal Federation. K.C. Neogy was indeed a member of the Constituent Assembly representing West Bengal. P.C. Joshi was the first General Secretary of the Communist Party of India from 1935 to 1947.

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru was President of the All India Liberal Federation and a distinguished liberal leader.
✅ Pair 2 – Correct: K.C. Neogy was a member of the Constituent Assembly from West Bengal.
✅ Pair 3 – Correct: P.C. Joshi served as the first General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (1935-1947).

📝 Short Notes: Key Personalities of Indian National Movement

• All India Liberal Federation: Formed in 1918 by moderate leaders who believed in constitutional methods and cooperation with British reforms.
• Constituent Assembly: Established in 1946 to frame India's Constitution; had 299 members representing different provinces and princely states.
• Communist Party of India: Founded in 1925, played significant role in trade union movements and peasant struggles during the freedom movement.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Both 1 and 2

The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1911) aimed at promoting indigenous industries and self-reliance by boycotting foreign goods. Both statements correctly capture key aspects of this movement.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Swadeshi Movement led to the revival of indigenous artisan crafts and industries, including handloom weaving, silk industry, and cottage industries, with new cotton mills and textile units being established.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The National Council of Education was founded in Bengal in 1906 as part of the Swadeshi Movement to provide nationalist education and promote science, technology, and industrial education independent of British control.

📝 Short Notes: Swadeshi Movement (1905-1911)

• Background: Launched in response to the Partition of Bengal (1905) by Lord Curzon, aimed at dividing Bengal along communal lines.
• Economic Aspects: Boycott of British goods, promotion of indigenous industries, revival of handloom and cottage industries, establishment of Swadeshi stores and banks.
• Educational Initiatives: National Council of Education (1906), Bengal National College established with Aurobindo as Principal, promotion of technical and industrial education.
• Cultural Revival: Encouragement of Indian art, literature, music; use of indigenous products in daily life; celebration of national festivals.
• Key Leaders: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bipin Chandra Pal (Lal-Bal-Pal), Aurobindo Ghosh, Rabindranath Tagore (initially).
• Impact: Strengthened nationalist sentiment, laid foundation for mass politics, promoted self-reliance and economic nationalism.
• Limitations: Limited mass appeal beyond Bengal, did not significantly involve peasants and workers, gradually declined after 1908.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 1 and 3 only

This question tests knowledge of Mahatma Gandhi's role in various colonial-era issues and British responses to Indian nationalist movements. Statement 2 is incorrect as Gandhi actually supported the recruitment resolution at the War Conference, while statements 1 and 3 accurately reflect historical facts.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Mahatma Gandhi actively campaigned against the exploitative system of indentured labour, which was finally abolished in 1920 following his persistent efforts and advocacy for labourers' rights both in South Africa and India.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: At Lord Chelmsford's War Conference in 1918, Gandhi actually supported the British war effort and the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War I, believing that Indian loyalty would earn political concessions and dominion status.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Following the Salt Satyagraha launched by Gandhi on March 12, 1930, and the subsequent mass breaking of salt laws, the British government declared the Indian National Congress illegal and arrested thousands of Congress leaders and activists.

📝 Short Notes: Gandhi's Political Movements and British Responses