UPSC Prelims 2026
Modern History Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

The Bardoli Satyagraha (1928), led by Vallabhbhai Patel, was launched against a 22% increase in land revenue imposed by the British government in Gujarat.

The Eka Movement (1921–22), led by Madari Pasi, was a peasant protest in Awadh against excessive rents, illegal cesses, and exploitation by landlords and contractors.

Therefore, Option C is correct.

Detailed Explanation:

The Hilton-Young Commission (1926) recommended fixing the rupee-sterling exchange rate at an artificially high level of 1s 6d per rupee.

The British government adopted this rate mainly to facilitate the payment of Home Charges (administrative expenses, pensions, debt payments, etc.) to Britain and to maintain India's financial credibility in London.

Therefore, Option A is correct.

Detailed Explanation:

All three statements support the assertion. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) retained and expanded separate electorates to several communities, encouraging politics based on communal identities.

The British used this system as a divide-and-rule strategy to weaken the growing nationalist movement. It also encouraged various communities and deprived groups to organize politically to secure representation and benefits.

Therefore, Option D (1, 2 and 3) is correct.

Detailed Explanation:

Statement 1 — Incorrect. Prior to annexation, Awadh's taluqdars maintained private armies and forts. After the British takeover in 1856, they were not merely dispossessed — they were also disarmed and their forts completely destroyed. The statement wrongly claims they were "allowed to retain their arms and forts."

Statement 2 — Correct. The first British land revenue settlement in Awadh was the Summary Settlement of 1856, explicitly based on the assumption that taluqdars were "interlopers" (outsiders/intruders) who had no permanent or hereditary stakes in the land — allegedly having seized control through force and fraud.

Statement 3 — Correct. The primary objective of the Summary Settlement was to bypass the taluqdars entirely and settle land revenue directly with the actual cultivators (peasants/ryots). British land revenue officers believed this would:

• Reduce peasant exploitation
• Increase state revenue streams

Key Connection: The dispossession and humiliation of taluqdars under this policy was one of the major causes of the 1857 Revolt — they joined the rebellion en masse to reclaim their lost estates and honour.

Detailed Explanation:

Statement 1 — Correct. After Bose's re-election as INC President in 1939, Gandhi declared the defeat of his candidate Pattabhi Sitaramayya as his own personal defeat — clearly indicating his lack of confidence in Bose. This irreconcilable difference made Bose's continuation within the mainstream Congress untenable.

Statement 2 — Correct. The Congress Left was deeply fragmented during the Tripuri Crisis. The Congress Socialist Party, Communists, and Royists failed to present a united front behind Bose — leaving him politically isolated despite being the elected President.

Statement 3 — Incorrect. While Communists did not actively support Bose's radical approach, this was not a direct factor in the formation of the Forward Bloc. Their stance was primarily about maintaining Congress unity under Gandhi rather than directly opposing Bose's endeavours.

Statement 4 — Correct. Supporters of M.N. Roy and socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan chose Congress unity over supporting Bose. They abstained from voting on the Govind Ballabh Pant resolution — effectively withdrawing support from Bose to prevent a split in the Congress.

Key Takeaway: The Forward Bloc (1939) was born out of Bose's political isolation — abandoned by Gandhi, the Congress Left, and socialist groups who all prioritised organisational unity over ideological alignment with Bose.