UPSC CSE Prelims
Socio-Religious Reform Movements Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Socio-Religious Reform Movements
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Who among the following was the founder of the 'Self-Respect Movement'?
Detailed Explanation:
The Self-Respect Movement was founded by 'Periyar' E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker in 1925 in Tamil Nadu.
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Periyar launched the movement to fight caste discrimination, social inequality, and Brahminical dominance.
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The movement promoted self-respect, rationalism, women's rights, and equality.
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Therefore, Option A is the correct answer.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect
| Option | Why Incorrect |
|---|---|
| Dr. B. R. Ambedkar | Led movements against untouchability and for Dalit rights, but did not found the Self-Respect Movement. |
| Bhaskarrao Jadhav | Associated with the Non-Brahmin Movement in Maharashtra, not the Self-Respect Movement. |
| Dinkarrao Javalkar | A social reformer from Maharashtra, but not the founder of the movement. |
📝 Short Notes: Self-Respect Movement
What was the Self-Respect Movement?
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Started in 1925 by E. V. Ramasamy.
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Sought to create a society based on equality, rationalism, and social justice.
Major Objectives
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End caste-based discrimination.
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Oppose untouchability and social hierarchy.
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Promote women's rights and self-respect marriages.
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Encourage scientific thinking and rationalism.
Important Fact
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The movement became the ideological foundation of the Dravidian Movement in South India and influenced later political parties in Tamil Nadu.
Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar served as Secretary of the Hindu Female School (established in 1849), which was later renamed Bethune Female School in honor of its founder J.E.D. Bethune. Vidyasagar played a crucial role in promoting women's education in Bengal and was instrumental in the administration and development of this pioneering institution for female higher education in India.
📝 Short Notes: Social Reformers and Women's Education
| Reformer | Key Contributions to Women's Education & Social Reform |
|---|---|
| Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar | • Secretary of Hindu Female School (later Bethune Female School, 1849) • Advocated widow remarriage leading to Hindu Widow Remarriage Act, 1856 • Promoted girls' education and opened schools for women • Opposed Kulin polygamy and child marriage |
| Annie Besant | • Founded Central Hindu College, Benares (1898), foundation for BHU • Established Central Hindu School for Girls, Varanasi • First woman President of INC (1917, Calcutta session) • Founded All-India Home Rule League with Tilak (1916) |
| Debendranath Tagore | • Founded Tattvabodhini Sabha (1839) • Led Adi Brahmo Samaj • Promoted rationalism and social reform through Brahmo movement |
| Sarojini Naidu | • First Indian woman President of INC (1925, Kanpur session) • Led Salt Satyagraha (1930) chosen by Gandhi • Accompanied Gandhi to Second Round Table Conference (1931) • Awarded Kaisar-i-Hind Medal for plague epidemic service |
In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of (1884) revolved around?
- women’s right to gain education
- age of consent
- restitution of conjugal rights
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 3 only
The Rakhmabai case (1884) was a landmark litigation concerning a child marriage where Rakhmabai refused to live with her husband Dadaji Bhikaji, who then filed a suit for restitution of conjugal rights. The case sparked nationwide debate on child marriage and age of consent, ultimately contributing to the Age of Consent Act, 1891.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The case did not revolve around women's right to education; though Rakhmabai was educated and later became a doctor, the legal dispute concerned her marital obligations.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The case generated significant public discourse on child marriage and directly influenced the passage of the Age of Consent Act, 1891, which raised the age of consent from 10 to 12 years.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: The litigation was initiated by her husband seeking restitution of conjugal rights after Rakhmabai refused to cohabit with him following their child marriage when she was 11 years old.
📝 Short Notes: Rakhmabai Case and Social Reforms
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Year | 1884-1888 |
| Parties | Dadaji Bhikaji (husband) vs Rakhmabai (wife) |
| Core Issue | Restitution of conjugal rights in a child marriage |
| Marriage Age | Rakhmabai was married at age 11; refused to cohabit as an adult |
| Court Decision | Initially ruled in favor of husband; later Rakhmabai was allowed to avoid cohabitation by paying compensation |
| Social Impact | Sparked national debate on child marriage, women's rights, and consent |
| Legislative Outcome | Age of Consent Act, 1891 - raised age of consent from 10 to 12 years |
| Rakhmabai's Later Life | Became one of India's first practicing female doctors; studied medicine in London |
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Consider the following pairs:
| Movement/Organization | Leader |
|---|---|
| 1. All India Anti-Untouchability League | Mahatma Gandhi |
| 2. All India Kisan Sabha | Swami Sahajanand Saraswati |
| 3. Self-Respect Movement | E.V. Ramaswami Naicker |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
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
| Movement/Organization | Year | Leader | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| All India Anti-Untouchability League (Harijan Sewak Sangh) | 1932 | Mahatma Gandhi | Eradication of untouchability and upliftment of Dalits |
| All India Kisan Sabha | 1936 | Swami Sahajanand Saraswati | Organization of peasants, agrarian reforms, land rights |
| Self-Respect Movement | 1925 | E.V. Ramaswami Naicker (Periyar) | Anti-caste, anti-Brahminism, rationalism, social equality |
| All India Depressed Classes Association | 1920s | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar | Rights and representation of depressed classes |
| Satya Shodhak Samaj | 1873 | Jyotirao Phule | Social equality, education for lower castes |
Which among the following events happened earliest?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan.
Among the given events, Dinabandhu Mitra's play Neeldarpan (The Indigo Mirror) was written in 1858-59, making it the earliest event. The play dramatically portrayed the brutal exploitation of indigo farmers by British planters in Bengal and played a significant role in raising awareness about their plight.
📝 Short Notes: Chronology of 19th Century Socio-Cultural Events
| Event | Year | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Neeldarpan by Dinabandhu Mitra | 1858-59 | Bengali play exposing the oppression of indigo cultivators by British planters; led to widespread sympathy for the farmers |
| Satyendranath Tagore clears ICS | 1863 | First Indian to succeed in the Indian Civil Service examination, breaking British monopoly |
| Arya Samaj by Swami Dayanand Saraswati | 1875 | Founded in Bombay; Vedic reform movement emphasizing "Back to the Vedas" and opposing idol worship |
| Anandmath by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay | 1882 | Famous Bengali novel set during Sannyasi Rebellion; contains the patriotic song "Vande Mataram" |
Satya Shodhak Samaj organized -
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra
Satya Shodhak Samaj (Society of Truth Seekers) was founded by Jyotirao Phule in Pune, Maharashtra, on 24 September 1873. Its primary objective was to liberate the lower castes—Shudras, Dalits, and women—from Brahmanical domination and social exploitation. Phule challenged the caste system through his writings, notably 'Gulamgiri' (Slavery), and established institutions for the education of women and depressed classes. His wife Savitribai Phule led the women's section of the Samaj. The movement was distinctly an anti-caste reform initiative in Maharashtra, not related to tribal upliftment in Bihar, temple-entry in Gujarat, or peasant movements in Punjab.
Consider the following:
- Calcutta Unitarian Committee
- Tabernacle of New Dispensation
- Indian Reforms Association
Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 3 only
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Calcutta Unitarian Committee was founded by William Adam and Raja Rammohun Roy in 1821, not by Keshab Chandra Sen.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Keshab Chandra Sen established the Tabernacle of New Dispensation on 24th January 1868 as his mandir, marking the first Brahmo street procession in Calcutta.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Indian Reforms Association was established by Keshab Chandra Sen in 1870 upon his return from Europe to promote social reforms including education, women's rights, and temperance.
Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj?
- It opposed idolatry.
- It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the religious texts.
- It popularized the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Brahmo Samaj opposed idolatry and promoted worship of a formless, monotheistic God.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: It rejected the need for a priestly class and advocated individual interpretation of religious texts based on reason and conscience.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Brahmo Samaj did not uphold the doctrine of Vedic infallibility; it believed in the supremacy of reason and rationality over scriptural dogma.
During the Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?
Detailed Explanation:
National Social Conference was founded in 1887 by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao because the Indian National Congress decided to focus on political issues and not include social reforms in its deliberations.
The Conference met annually as a subsidiary convention of INC at the same venue, advocated inter-caste marriages, and opposed kulinism and polygamy.