38 Objective Questions on Modern History Part-1 (Civil Service Examination)

1. In the interim government formed in 1946, the Vice-President of the Executive Council was: [1995]

(a) Jawaharlal Nehru

(b) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

ADVERTISEMENTS:

(d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad

2. Hooghly was used as a base for piracy in the Bay of Bengal by: [1995]

(a) the Portuguese (b) the French

ADVERTISEMENTS:

3. The ‘Modi script’ was employed in the documents of the: [1995]

(a) Wodeyars (b) Zamorins

5. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?

ADVERTISEMENTS:

(a) Battle ofBuxar-Mir Jafar vs. Clive [1995]

(b) Battle of Wandrwash-French vs. East India Company

(d) Battle of Kharda-Nizam vs. East India Company

ADVERTISEMENTS:

6. The word Adivasi was used for the first time to refer to the tribal people by: [1995]

(a) MahatmaGhandhi (b) ThakkarBappa

7. Which one of the following rivers thrice forks into two streams and reunites a few miles farther on, thus, forming the islands of Srirangappattanam, Sivasamudram and Srirangam? [1996]

ADVERTISEMENTS:

(a) Cauvery (b) Tungabhadra

8. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer

[1996]

ADVERTISEMENTS:

List I

(A) Governor-General of Presidency of Fort William in Bengal (Under Regulating Act, 1773)

(B) Governor-General of India (Under Charter Act, 1833)

(D) Governor-General and Crown Representative (Under Government of India Act, 1935)

List II

1. Archibald percival Wave 11, Viscount and Earl Wavell

2. James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, Earl and Marquess of Dalhousie

3. Charles Cornwallis 2nd Earl and first Marquess of Cornwallis

4. Gibert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmond, Earl of Minto

5. Louis Mountbatten, Earl Mountbatten of Burma

(a) A-3; B-2; C-4; D-1

(b) A-1; B-2; C-3; D-4

(d) A-2; B-4; C-5; D-3

9. His principle forte was social and religious reform. He relied upon legislation to do away with social ills and worked unceasingly for the eradication of child marriage, the purdah system.To encourage consideration of social problems on a national scale, he inaugurated the Indian National Social Conference, which for many years met for its annual sessions alongside the Indian National Congress. [1996]

The reference in this passage is to:

(a) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

(b) Behramji Merwanji Malabari

(d) B.R. Ambedkar

10. The following advertisement. [1996]

The Marvel of the Century the Wonder of the World Living Photographic Pictures

Life-Sized Reproductions

Messers Lumiere Brothers Cinematographie a Few Exhibitions Will Be Given

Watson’s Hotel

Tonight

Appeared in the Times of India dated 7th August:

(a) 1931 (b) 1929

11. Who among the following was the first European to initiate the policy of taking part in the quarrels of Indian princes with a view to acquire territories? [1996]

(a) Clive (b) Dupleix

12. Consider the following landmarks in Indian education:

1. Hindu College, Calcutta [1996]

2. University of Calcutta

3. Adam’s Report

4. Wood’s Despatch

The correct chronological order of these landmarks is:

(a) 1,3,4,2 (b) 1,4,3,2

13. Which one of the following is an important historical novel written during the latter half of the nineteenth century?

(a) RastGoftar (b) Durgesh Nandini [1996]

14. Who among the following was associated with supression of thugs? [1997]

(a) General Henry Prendergast

(b) Captain Sleeman

(d) Captain Robert Pemberton

15. What is the correct chronological sequence of the following?

1. Wood’s Education Despatch

2. Macauley’s minute on education

3. The Sargent Education Report

4. Indian Education (Hunter Commission)

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 2,1,4,3 (b) 2,1,3,4 [1997]

16. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [1997]

LIST I

A. Moplah revolt

B. Pabna revolt

C. Eka Movement

D. Birsa Munda revolt

LIST II

1. Kerala

2. Bihar

3. Bengal

4. Awadh

Codes:

(a) A-1; B-3; C-4; D-2

(b) A-2; B-3; C-4; D-1

(d) A-3; B-4; C-1; D-3

17. The educated middle class in India: [1998]

(a) opposed the revolt of 1857

(b) supported the revolt of 1857

(d) fought against native rulers

18. The paintings of Abanindranath Tagore are classified as:

(a) realistic (b) socialistic [1999]

19. There was no independent development of industries in India during British rule because of the: [1999]

(a) absence of heavy industries

(b) scarcity of foreign capital

(d) preference of the rich to invest in land

20. The first feature film (talkie) to be produced in India was:

(a) Hatimtai (b) AlamAra [1999]

21. The Governor-General who fol lowed a spirited “Forward” policy towards Afghanistan was: [1999]

(a) Minto (b) Dufferin

22. At a time when empires in Europe were crumbling before the might of Napoleon, which one of the following Governors- General kept the British flag flying high in India? [1999]

(a) Warren Hastings

(b) Lord Cornwallis

(d) Lord Hastings

23. Which one of the following statements is not correct? [1999]

(a) ‘Neel Darpan’ was play based on the exploitation of the indigo farmers

(b) The author of the play ‘Ghashiram Kotwal’s is Vijay Tendulkar

(d) Urdu theatre used to depend heavily on Parsi theatre

24. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists; [1999]

List I (Books)

A. The first Indian War of Independence

B. Anand math

C. Life Divine

D. Sadhana

List II (Authors)

1. Rabindranath Tagore

2. Sri Aurobindo

3. Bankim Chandra Chatterji

4. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar

Codes:

(a) A-4;B-3;C-2;D-1

(b) A-3;B-4;C-1;D-2

(d) A -3;B-4;C-1;D-1

25. Consider the following events:

1. Indigo Revolt 2. Santhal Rebellion

3. Deccan Riot 4. Mutiny of Sepoys

The correct chronological sequence of these events is:

(a) 4,2,1,3 (b) 4,2,3,1

26. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [1999]

List I (Year) List II (Event)

A. 1775 1. First Anglo-Burmese War

B. 1780 2. First Anglo-Afghan War

C. 1824 3. First Anglo-Maratha War

D. 1838 4. Second Anglo-Mysore War

Codes:

(a) A-4; B-3; C-2; D-1

(b) A-4; B-3; C-1; D-2

(d) A-3; B-4; C-2; D- 1

27. The last major extension of British Indian territory took place during the time of: [2000]

(a) Dufferin (b) Dalhousie

28. Which one of the following statements is incorrect? [2000]

(a) Goa attained full statehood in 1987

(b) Diu is an island in the Gulf of Khambhat

(d) Dadra and Nagar Haweli were under French colonial rule till 1954

29. Who among the following Indian rulers established embassies in foreign countries on modern lines? [2001]

(a) Haider Ali (b) MirQasim

30. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched? [2001]

(a) India’s first technicolour film -Jhansi Ki Rani

(b) India’s first 3-D film – My Dear Kuttichathan

(d) India’s first actress to win the Bharat Ratna-Meena Kumari

31. Under the Permanent Settlement, 1893, the Zamindars are required to issue pattas to the farmers which were not issued by many of the Zamindars. The reason was: [2001]

(a) the Zamindars were trusted by the farmers

(b) there was no officials check upon the Zamindars

(d) the farmers were not interested in getting pattas

32. Consider the following statements: [2001]

1. Arya Samaj was founded in 1835

2. Lala Lajpat Rai opposed the appeal of Arya Samaj to the authority of Vedas in support of its social reform programme

3. Under Keshab Chandra Sen, the Brahmo Samaj campaigned for women’s education

4. Vinoba Bhave founded the Sarvodya Samaj to work among refugees

Which of these statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3

33. Who amongst the following Englishmen first translated Bhagavad-Gita into English? [2001]

(a) William Jones

(b) Charles Wilkins

(d) John Marshall

34. Which one of the following submitted in 1875 a petition to the House of Commons demanding India’s direct representation in the British parliament? [2002]

(a) The Deccan Association

(b) The Indian Association

(d) The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha

35. With which one of the following mountain tribes did the British first come into contact with after the grant of Diwani in the year 1765? [2002]

(a) Garos (b) Khasis

36. Match List I (Acts of Colonial Government of India) with List II (Provisions) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [2002]

List I

(Acts of Colonial Government of India)

A. Charter Act, 1813

B. Regulating Act

C. Act of 1858

D. Pitt’s India Act

List II

(Provisions)

1. Set up a Board of Control in Britain to fully regulate the East India

2. Company’s trade monopoly in India was ended

3. The power to govern was transferred from the East India Company to the British Crown

4. The Company’s directors were asked to present to the British government all correspondence and documents pertaining to the administration of the company

Codes:

(a) A-2; B-4; C-3; D-1

(b) A-1; B-3; C-4; D-2

(d) A-1; B-4; C-3; D-2

37. Which one of the following Acts of British India strengthened the Viceroy’s authority over his executive council by substituting “portfolio” or departmental system for corporate functioning? [2002]

(a) Indian Councils Act, 1861

(b) Government of India Act, 1858

(d) Indian Councils Act, 1909

38. During the colonial period in India, what was the purpose of the Whitley Commission? [2003]

(a) To review the fitness of India for further political reforms

(b) To report on existing conditions of labour and to make recommendations 45,

(d) To develop a comprehensive scheme for Civil Services in India

39. With reference to the entry of European powers into India, which one of the following statements is not correct?

(a) The Portuguese captured Goa in 1499 [2003]

(b) The English opened their first factory in South India at Masulipatam

(d) Under the leadership of Dupleix, the French occupied Madras in 1746

Answers:

1. (a) C. Rajagopalachari was the Head of the Department of education and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the Head of the department of Food & agriculture in the executive council.

2. (a)

3. (d) It was mainly used in maintaining the revenue and administrative records.

5. (b) Battle of wandiwash in 1960 and French were finally defeated by English. Battle of Buxar (1764) – English under munro defeated Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-daula and Shah alam II

6. Adivasi means primitive people.

7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (c)

10. (d) This was the first advertisement of Indian Cinema in Times oflndia dated 7^th August 1896

11. (b)

12.(a) Hindu College, Calcutta -1817; University of Calcutta – 1858; Adam’s Report -1835-38; Wood’s Despatch -1854

13. (b) Durgesh nandini was written by Bankim Chandra chatterjee in 1862-1864 in Bangla language.

14. (b) Captain William Sleeman was appointed by Lord William Bentick (1828-35) to suppress the thugs.

15. (a) Wood’s dispatch (Magna carta of English education) – 1854; Maculay’s minute on education – 1835; Sargent education report – 1944; Hunter commission – 1882-83

16. (a) Moplah revolt in Malabar in kerala in 1921; Pabna revolt in east Bengal (now in Bangladesh) in 1873; Eka movement in 1921 -22 in districts ofUP; Birsa munda revolt in 1899 in Ranchi, Bihar (But now part of Jharkhand).

17. (c)

18. (c) Abanindranath Tagore is known as the leader of the Revivalist Movement in the field of Modern Indian Painting in Bengal,

19. (a) Jawahar lal Nehru emphasized on setting up of heavy industries in the second five year plan.

20. (b)

21. (d) Lord lytton( 1876-80)

22. (d) Lord hastings (1813-23)

23. (c) Ghashiram Kotwal is a Marathi play written by playwright Vijay Tendulkar in 1972. Nil Durpan, The Mirror of Indigo; translated as Nil Darpan; or, The Indigo Planting Mirror) is a Bengali play written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1858-1859. The play was essential to Nilbidraha, or Indigo Revolt.

24. (a) The Life Divine is Sri Aurobindo’s major philosophical opus. It combines a synthesis of western thought and eastern spirituality with Sri Aurobindo’s own original insights, covering topics such as the nature of the Divine (the Absolute, Brahman), how the creation came about, the evolution of consciousness and the cosmos, the spiritual path, and human evolutionary-spiritual destiny

25. (a) Indigo revolt-1860; Santhal rebellion -1855-56; Deccan riot-1875

26. (c) First Anglo-Burmese War – Burmese defeated, Treaty of Yandobo (1826); First Anglo-Afghan War – Afgan defeated, ; First Anglo-Maratha War – Britishers were defeated, Treaty of Salbai (1782); Second Anglo-Mysore War – Haider Ali died and succeeded by Tipu Sultan, Treaty of Mangalore.

27.(b) The last major extension of British Indian territory took place during the time of Dalhousie under his doctrine of lapse (Jhansi, Satara, Jaitpur, Sambalpur, Udaipur and Nagpur) and on the basis of misgovernance (Awadh).

28.(d) Dadra and Nagar Haveli was under Portuguese colonial rule till 1954, not French colonial rule.

29. (d) Tipu Sultan established embassies in France, Turkey and Egypt on modern lines.

30. (d)

31. (b)John Shore planned the permanent settlement and it was introduced in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis. In this zamnidars were the owners of the land and the British got a fixed share of 10/11 * of the revenue col lected by the zamindars.

32. (d) Arya Samaj was founded in 1875 (not 1835) at Bombay by Dayananda Saraswati. Though Lala laj pat rai was was follower of Arya Samaj but never opposed it.

33. (b) Charles Wilkins was the member of Asiatic Society of Bengal founded by William Jones and he translated Bhagwad Gita into English in 1794.

34. (b) The Indian Association of Calcutta was founded exactly

in year 1876 (Indian league was found in 1875) by young nationalists of Bengal led by S.N. Banerjea and Anand Mohan Bose.

35.(a)

36. (a)Regulating Act was passed in the year 1773. Pitts India Act was passed in the year 1784.

37. (a)

38.(b) Whitley chaired the Royal Commission on Labour in India, which reported in 1931.

39. (a) The Portuguese captured goa from rulers of Bijapur in 1510 and not in 1499.