UPSC Prelims Modern History
Prelims
Previous
Year
Question Trend Analysis
Pre 2014
1. The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905
lasted until
1. the First World War when Indian troops were needed by
the British and the partition was ended.
2. King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at the Royal Darbar
in Delhi in 1911
3. Gandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience Movement
4. the Partition of India, in 1947 when East Bengal became
East Pakistan
All other options are absolutely bogus options
This was the 1st real victory of nationalist movement.
British had to eat humble pie and annul the partition
In 1911 King George V visited India and A royal durbar
was held @Delhi
The capital of India is transferred from Calcutta to
Delhi
It was held three times, in 1877, 1903, and 1911 and
only the last time the sovereign attended it.
Learning – When was Queen Victoria proclaimed as empress of
India? 1st Darbar and Great famine of 1876 -78 and Lord
Lytton, Annulment of partition and its role in reunification
of Congress
2. The 1929 Session of Indian, National Congress is of
significance in the history of the Freedom Movement
because the
1. attainment of Self-Government was declared as the
objective of the Congress
2. attainment of Poorna Swaraj Was adopted as the goal of
the Congress
3. Non-Cooperation Movement was launched
4. decision to participate in the Round Table Conference in
London was taken
Repeat, covered in titbits
Poorna swaraj goal
NCM was in 1920
Congress did not even participate in 1st RTC. This
decision was taken after Gandhi- Irwin pact
Learning – Swaraj resolution, Poorna Swaraj resolution,
Dominion status v/s Independent status
3. The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a
1. Revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters
at San Francisco.
2. nationalist organization operating from Singapore
3. militant organization with headquarters at Berlin
4. communist movement for India’s freedom with headquarters at Tashkent
Simple question. On the east coast of USA, San
Francisco. There was a newspaper/ pamphlet by similar
name
This is a very important topic for this year as PM of
Canada apologised officially for the incident
Learning – komagata maru incident, Canadian PM apology,
failure of ghadar movement, name of most prominent leaders of
this movement
4. What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victoria’s
Proclamation (1858)?
1. To disclaim any intention to annex Indian States
2. To place the Indian administration under the British
Crown
3. To regulate East India Company’s trade with India
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
1 and 2 only
2 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Regulation of trade had already been done. Now
politically directly under crown
The announcement reversed Lord Dalhousie’s pre-war
policy of political unification through princely state
annexation <doctrine of lapse>
Learning – act of 1773, 1813 and this proclamation very
important, Doctrine of lapse, first state to fall under
doctrine of lapse, doctrine of subsidiary alliance, first
state to fall prey to doctrine of subsidiary alliance,
Contribution of Lord Dalhousie to India
5. The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to
1.
2.
3.
4.
solve the problem of minorities in India
give effect to the Independence Bill
delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan
enquire into the riots in East Bengal
Simple – Radcliffe was the jurist hence the boundary known by
his name
Learning – how was the decision to go to Pakistan or stay with
India taken? McMahon line and Shimla accord, LOC v/s LAC v/s
AGPL, Durand line
Prelims 2013
1. With reference to Indian History, the Members of the
Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were:
(a) directly elected by the people of those Provinces
(b) nominated by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim
League
(c) elected by the Provincial Legislative Assemblies
(d) selected by the Government for their expertise in
constitutional matters
Question repeated in CAPF 2016
Indirect election it was <one of the criticism that
members were not even elected by people. In fact even
members of provincial assembly who elected them were
themselves elected by jut 10% of the voting age
population as the Franchise was very limited>
Learning – Imp. committees of constituent assembly, Cabinet
mission plan and interim cabinet
2. The people of India agitated against the arrival of
Simon Commission because
1. Indians never wanted the review of the working of the
Act of 1919
2. Simon Commission recommended the abolition of
(Diarchy) in the Provinces
Dyarchy
3. there was no Indian member in the Simon Commission
4. the Simon Commission suggested the partition of the
country
Very simple, covered in titbit
Learning – Why did Simon commission
Recommendation of Simon commission,
to Simon commission, Controversy on
objection to Nehru report, Jinnah’s
Gandhi- Irwin pact
even visited India,
Nehru report in response
Nehru Report, J.L. Nehru’s
objection to Nehru report,
3. Quit India Movement was launched in response to
1.
2.
3.
4.
Cabinet Mission Plan
Cripps Proposals
Simon Commission Report
Wavell Plan
Quit India movement was launched in aug 1942
Cabinet mission in 1946 -wrong
Wavell plan or Shimla conference – 1945 – wrong
Simon Comission report – after 1928, before 1932
Cripps mission – March 1942, answer is obvious
Learning – Cripps proposals, proposed dominion or independent
status? Why did it fail? Why was Cripps even sent to India?,
Post dated cheque on failing bank?, Failure of Wavell plan?,
Learn sequence o events from 2nd world war carefully, august
offer, Rajgoplachari plan, Mount Baton plan and all
4. The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal
was for
1. the reduction of the share of the landlords from onehalf of the crop to one-third
2. the grant of ownership of land to peasants as they were
the actual cultivators of the land
3. the uprooting of Zamindari system and the end of serfdom
4. writing off all peasant debts
Covered in titbit
tebhaga means 3 parts
in 1946 the sharecroppers of Bengal began to assert that
they would no longer pay a half share of their crops to
Jotedars but only 1/3rd and that before division
the crop would be stored in their khamars (Godowns) and
not that of the Jotedars
Learning – important peasant revolts, working class movements,
Bardoli Satyagaraha, Eka movement, Indigo revolt
5. Annie Besant was
1. responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement
2. the founder of the Theosophical Society
3. Once the President of the Indian National Congress
Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given
below.
1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Tilak started Home Rule league in April 1916 while Annie
Besant launched her Home Rule league in September 1916
Theosophical Society was founded by Madam Blavatsky and
Colonel Olcott 1875.Annie Besant joined the team much
later, in 1889
She was in fact 1st woman president of INC. This fact
has been asked many times
Learning – Theosophical society, contribution of Annie Besant
6. The Ilbert Bill controversy was related to the
1. imposition restrictions the Indians of certain to carry
arms by Indians
2. imposition of restrictions on newspapers and magazines
published in Indian languages
3. removal of disqualifications imposed on the Indian
magistrates with regard to the trial of the Europeans
4. removal of a duty on imported cotton cloth
Earlier Indian judges could not try Europeans
The Illbert Bill (1883) of lord Rippon sought to empower
the Indian judges to try Europeans in criminal cases.
Learning – Lord Rippon v/s Lord Lytoon, Vernacular press act,
arms act, first factory act, Anglo – Afghan war, reforms
brought by lord Rippon, reforms brought by lord Mayo
Modern Indian History has a very vast syllabus and now days
not more than 7 – 8 <avg. 7 questions in last 5 years>
questions are asked from that portion.
Weightage given since 2009
2015
2014
2013
2012
–
–
–
–
8
5
6
8
2011 – 9
2010 – 11
2009 – 12
Most of the questions are very easy questions from oft –
repeated topics. Our target should be not to do PhD on every
topic but to get easy questions right. It’s important that
reading should be purposeful not cover to cover reading of
history books.
In this series, I shall discuss questions and explanations of
last 7 years (2015 to 2009) prelims modern history section.
Attempt has been made to solve the questions as one would do
in exam hall i.e using elimination method, pausing and
thinking at red flags (all, none, only, weird statements),
applying some tikdams where necessary.
After every question, I have mentioned some learning
objectives – things which are the most important from exam
point of view, things which have been asked again and again.
You have to learn them all without any exception.
Key insights from the analysis
There are almost 30-40 Questions get repeated each ear in IAS
Prelims , same is expected in IAS Prelims 2016
As The cutoff last year was 54 , clearing Prelims wont be an
issue if you cover previous year questions .
1. Average number of questions asked in last 5 years is 7
and almost every question is solvable with decent
knowledge and logic
2. Lots of questions and statements are repeated year after
year<solve past 23 year history without fail>
3. More than questions, topics are repeated year after year
4. Even when you don’t know all the options, often answer
wallh option is clearly visible <importance of reading
all the options>
5. UPSC doesn’t ask questions which need remembering very
intricate yet very useless details <for instance, it
wound’t ask number of members in Viceroy’s executive
council or legislative council but broad details and
trends should be known – number increasing or
decreasing>
Most important topics
1. Cabinet Mission plan, Cripss mission, GOI act 195, GOI
act 1919, GOI act 1909, Victoria proclamation 1858,
charter act of 1813, regulating act of 1773
2. Quit India movement, Civil Disobedience movement, Non
cooperation movement, Rowlatt Satyagraha, Swadeshi
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
movement
Gandhi’s first three movements
Imp. sessions of congress <covered in titbits>
Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu, Raja Ram Mohan Roy and
Arya Samaj
Economic critque of colonialism
Reforms of Lord Cornwallis
Land revenue system – Zamindari, Ryoywari and Mahalwari
Munda and Santhal revolt, Bardoi Satyagraha, Tebhagha
and Telangana movement, Eka movement, Indigo movement
Summary of all the chapters of Modern India book by Spectrum
Publication is must. You must learn every point written there
by heart.
Once you have done that1. Learn about imp. things about all governor generals
<spectrum ready reckoners>
2. Arrival of Portuguese, French, Dutch and British <OLD
NCERT modern India 1st 2 chapters would do>
3. Peasant, Tribal and Working class revolts, Lower class
movement <Periyar, Vaikom Satyagraha, Narayan Guru,
Satyashidha Samaj, Ambedkar>
4. Socio – religious reform movement <go through the
summary plus all the facts about Ram Mohan Roy, Dayanand
Saraswati >
In this series we would be covering past 7 years papers <59
questions>. History being history does not change with time.
So, you would be best served if you could at least solve the
history portion of prelims from 1993 onward. There would be
some 150 questions and they would serve you better than any
prelims test series of this world.
Without taking any more time, let’s look at modern history
portion of prelims 2015
1. With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which of the
following statements is/are correct?
1. The Rowlatt Act was based on the recommendations of
the ‘Sedition Committee’
2. In Rowlatt Satyagraha Gandhiji tried to use the Home
Rule League
3. Demonstrations against the Simon Commission coincided
with the Rowlatt Satyagraha
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Rowlatt act is asked time and time again
You know Rowlatt act protests happened in 1919 (jalliah
wallah bagh) while Simon commission came to see the
workings of GOI Act, 1919 in 1928 so 3rd is wrong.
Eliminate 3rd
Now look at 2, home rule league movement started in 1916
and Gandhiji did use volunteers of home rule league
Learning – Rowlatt act, Jalliah Wallah bagh massacres,
Himalayan blunder
2. Who of the following was/were economic critic/critics of
colonialism in India?
1. Dadabhai Naoroji
2. Subramania Iyer
3. C. Dutt
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Again multiple times it has been asked. Naoroji and Dutt
you all know.
1 and 3 only in 1 option
This question was asked in CAPF 2016 also <indirect
repeat, books written were asked>
Learning – books written by Nairoji and Dutt
3. With reference to Congress Socialist Party, consider the
following statements:
1. It advocated the boycott of British goods and evasion
of taxes.
2. It wanted to establish the dictatorship of
proletariat.
3. It advocated separate electorate for minorities and
oppressed classes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None
Separate electorate were demanded only by Muslim league
and Ambedkar
No party would advice evasion of taxes. As a protest, it
can ask you not to pay taxes or not to pay illegal due
but not to evade that is hide and not pay taxes
CSP is not communistic but socialist so no question of
dictatorship
Learning – Formation of Congress socialist party, formation of
Swarajya party, formation of liberal party , their leaders,
point of differences with main congress party
4. The Government of India Act of 1919 clearly defined
(a) the separation of power between the judiciary and the
legislature
(b)the jurisdiction of the central and provincial governments
(c)the powers of the Secretary of State for India and the
Viceroy
(d)None of the above
A and c are bogus options
It introduced dyarchy in states. So among provincial
subject, some transferred to popularly elected ministers
in state. As there was a provincial list, it defined
jurisdiction of central and provincial govt
Covered in titbit
Learning – GOI act 1909, 1919 and 1935
5. Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore
coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
V.O Chidambaram Pillai
C. Rajagopalachari
K. Kamaraj
Annie Besant
You have to remember the name, Dandi march is way too
important
BTW, V.O.C.P had differences with Gandhi and had
withdrawn from congress in 1920, more of a labor leader
later
6. Consider the following statements :
1. The first woman President of the Indian National
Congress was Sarojini Naidu.
2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National
Congress was Badruddin Tyabji
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Repeat question.
In 2014, question about Annie besant was asked and one
of the statement was that she was the 1st woman
president which is true
2nd statement is true
Both covered in titbit
Learning – Give special focus to contribution of women
7. With reference to cabinet mission, which of the following
statements is/are correct?
1. It recommended a federal government.
2. It enlarged the powers of the Indian courts.
3. It provided for more Indians in the ICS
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) None
B and c are bogus options
More or less Indians in ICS, these were the battles
fought before Gandhi came on the scene.
There was already federal govt under GOI act, 1935. It
also provided for federal govt with very weak centre to
assuage concerns of League
Cabinet mision plan is asked again and again
Learning – 5 pointers on cabinet mission and Cripps mission
and differences
8. Which one of the following movements has contributed to a
split in the Indian National Congress resulting in emergence
of ‘moderates’ and ‘extremists’?
(a) Swadeshi Movement
(b) Quit India Movement
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement
(d) Civil Disobedient Movement
Repeat
Swadeshi movement led to Surat split in 1907
What were the main issues of conflict in swadeshi b/W
moderates and extremist
What led to reunification of Congress
Why did liberal party separate from Congress
Learning – Swadeshi – boycott movement, 1906 Calcutta session
and 4 resolutions, Politics played by moderates there,
Formation of Muslim League, Split in congress, annulment of
Partition in 1911
There are almost 30-40 Questions get repeated each ear in IAS
Prelims , same is expected in IAS Prelims 2016
As The cutoff last year was 54 , clearing Prelims wont be an
issue if you cover previous year questions .
Source : Civils Daily
Source: xaam.in