UPSC Prelims 2022
Modern History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 4 solved UPSC Prelims 2022 Modern History questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
Consider the following freedom fighters:
- Barindra Kumar Ghosh
- Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee
- Rash Behari Bose
Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — 3 only
Among the given freedom fighters, only Rash Behari Bose was actively associated with the Ghadar Party. He played a crucial role in coordinating the Ghadar movement in India and later fled to Japan to continue his revolutionary activities.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Barindra Kumar Ghosh was associated with the Jugantar revolutionary group in Bengal and the Alipore Bomb Case, not with the Ghadar Party.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee was a revolutionary from Bengal but had no documented association with the Ghadar Party.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Rash Behari Bose was a key figure in the Ghadar movement, coordinating revolutionary activities in India and later becoming a prominent leader in Japan.
📝 Short Notes: Ghadar Party and Revolutionary Movements
| Revolutionary Movement | Key Personalities | Region/Base | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghadar Party (1913) | Lala Hardayal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Rash Behari Bose | USA, Canada (overseas Indians) | Aimed to overthrow British rule through armed rebellion; Ghadar Mutiny (1915) |
| Jugantar (1906) | Barindra Kumar Ghosh, Bagha Jatin, Aurobindo Ghosh | Bengal | Revolutionary activities, Alipore Bomb Case (1908) |
| Anushilan Samiti | Pramathanath Mitra, Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee | Bengal | Revolutionary training, armed resistance |
- Rash Behari Bose: Mastermind of Delhi-Lahore Conspiracy (1912), attempted assassination of Lord Hardinge; coordinated Ghadar movement in Punjab and Bengal; later fled to Japan and helped form the Indian National Army.
- Barindra Kumar Ghosh: Younger brother of Aurobindo Ghosh; founder of Jugantar weekly; involved in Alipore Bomb Case; later turned spiritual.
- Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee: Member of Anushilan Samiti; involved in Bengal revolutionary activities; no direct connection to Ghadar Party.
With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements:
- The Constituent Assembly would have members nominated by the Provincial Assemblies as well as the Princely States.
- Any Province, which is not prepared to accept the new Constitution, would have the right to sign a separate agreement with Britain regarding its future status.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 only
The Cripps Mission (1942) proposed constitutional arrangements that included provisions for provinces unwilling to accept the new constitution. Statement 2 is correct as it accurately reflects this proposal, while Statement 1 contains a subtle but critical error regarding the composition of the Constituent Assembly.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Cripps Mission proposed that Constituent Assembly members would be elected by Provincial Assemblies, but nominated by the rulers in case of Princely States. The statement uses "nominated by" for both, which is factually incorrect for Provincial Assemblies.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The mission explicitly allowed provinces that did not accept the new constitution to have the right to sign separate agreements with Britain regarding their future status, giving them an opt-out provision.
📝 Short Notes: Cripps Mission (1942)
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Background | Sent by British PM Winston Churchill in March 1942, led by Sir Stafford Cripps, to secure Indian cooperation during World War II |
| Main Proposals | • Dominion status for India after the war • Constitution-making body with members elected by Provincial Assemblies and nominated by Princely State rulers • Provinces could opt out and form separate unions • British control over defense during the war |
| Why Rejected | • Congress wanted immediate transfer of power, not post-war promises • Muslim League objected to grouping formula • No real transfer of power during the war • Provision for partition implicit in opt-out clause |
| Gandhi's Remark | Called it a "post-dated cheque on a crashing bank" |
| Significance | First British acceptance of India's right to independence; recognized Princely States' importance; accepted principle of partition |
In the Government of India Act 1919, the functions of Provincial Government were divided into “Reserved” and “Transferred” subjects. Which of the following were treated as “Reserved” subjects?
- Administration of Justice
- Local Self-Government
- Land Revenue
- Police
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 1, 3 and 4
The Government of India Act 1919 introduced the system of Dyarchy in the provinces, dividing subjects into 'Reserved' (controlled by the Governor and Executive Council) and 'Transferred' (administered by Indian ministers). Reserved subjects were considered more crucial and included Administration of Justice, Land Revenue, and Police, while Local Self-Government was a Transferred subject.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Administration of Justice was a Reserved subject under the control of the Governor.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Local Self-Government was a Transferred subject, administered by Indian ministers.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Land Revenue was a Reserved subject, being a critical financial matter.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Police was a Reserved subject, dealing with law and order.
📝 Short Notes: Dyarchy under Government of India Act 1919
| Category | Reserved Subjects | Transferred Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Governor with Executive Council (British bureaucrats) | Governor with Indian Ministers (elected) |
| Nature | Crucial/sensitive matters | Less critical/nation-building activities |
| Examples | Law and order, Police, Justice, Land Revenue, Irrigation, Finance | Education, Public Health, Local Self-Government, Public Works, Agriculture, Excise |
| Ministers' Responsibility | Executive Council not responsible to legislature | Indian ministers responsible to provincial legislature |
| Purpose | Retain British control over key areas | Gradual Indian participation in governance |
- Dyarchy literally means 'dual government' - introduced as part of Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919)
- System criticized by Indian leaders as it created division of authority and was unworkable in practice
- Abolished by the Government of India Act 1935, which introduced provincial autonomy
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With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements:
- The Dutch established their factories/werehouses on the east coast on lands granted to them by Gajapati rulers.
- Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate.
- The English East India Company established a factory at Madras on a plot of land leased from a representative of the Vijayanagara empire.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 3 only
This question tests knowledge of European trading companies' establishment in India during the medieval and early modern period. Statements 2 and 3 are historically accurate, while Statement 1 contains a chronological impossibility.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was formed in 1602, while the Gajapati dynasty of Odisha had already declined by 1541. The Dutch acquired land grants from other rulers like the Golconda Sultanate and local Nayakas, not from Gajapati rulers.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa in 1510 from Yusuf Adil Shah of the Bijapur Sultanate, establishing Portuguese dominance in the region for over 450 years.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: In 1639, Francis Day obtained a lease for land in Madras (Madraspatnam) from Damarla Venkatapathy Nayaka of Chandragiri, who was a representative of the declining Vijayanagara Empire. Fort St. George was subsequently built here.
📝 Short Notes: European Trading Companies in India
| Company/Power | Year of Establishment | Key Settlements | Grants/Territory From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese | First to arrive (1498) | Goa (1510), Daman, Diu | Goa captured from Bijapur Sultanate |
| Dutch (VOC) | 1602 | Pulicat, Nagapattinam, Cochin | Golconda Sultanate, local Nayakas |
| English (EIC) | 1600 | Madras (1639), Bombay (1668), Calcutta (1690) | Chandragiri Nayaka, Portuguese, Bengal Nawab |
| French | 1664 | Pondicherry (1674), Chandannagar | Bijapur, Bengal rulers |
| Danish | 1616 | Tranquebar (1620), Serampore | Nayaka of Thanjavur |
- Gajapati Dynasty: Ruled Odisha and parts of Andhra Pradesh; declined by mid-16th century (last ruler Kakharua Deva, 1541).
- Vijayanagara Empire: After the Battle of Talikota (1565), fragmented into Nayaka kingdoms including Chandragiri, Madurai, and Thanjavur.
- Alfonso de Albuquerque: Portuguese Governor in India (1509-1515); strategic mastermind who captured Goa, Malacca, and Hormuz.
UPSC Prelims 2022 - Modern History Chapter-wise Distribution
Constitutional and Administrative Developments
2 Qs (50%)Advent of Europeans in India
1 Qs (25%)Revolutionary Nationalism
1 Qs (25%)UPSC Prelims 2022 - Modern History Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Modern History questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2022?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Modern History in UPSC Prelims 2022?
- Constitutional and Administrative Developments: 2 questions (50%)
- Advent of Europeans in India: 1 questions (25%)
- Revolutionary Nationalism: 1 questions (25%)