BPSC-68 (Prelims) History
■ History Questions & Answers
Q 1. The Swadeshi and Boycott were adopted as the methods of struggle for the first time during the
(A) visit of the Simon Commission to India
(B) Partition of Bengal
(C) Home Rule Movement
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 2. At the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress (INC) held in 1906, the Flag of Swaraj for India was unfurled by
(A) A.O. Hume
(B) Dadabhai Naoroji
(C) G.K. Gokhale
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 3. During the freedom struggle, a parallel movement launched in the Indian States (in the States ruled by the Indian rulers such as Kashmir, Nizam's Hyderabad, Travancore, etc.) was
(A) State People's Movement
(B) Praja Mandal Movement
(C) Swaraj Movement
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
The term states Peoples Movements Refers to a general situation where different movements were organised in the princely states. These were variously referred to as States Peoples conference (NOT MOVEMENT), praja mandals and lok parishads option 'B' mentions PRAJA MANDAL which is the correct answer since other nomenclatures are not mentioned among the options. Hence answer 'B' is correct.
Q 4.Which of the following statements regarding the Indian freedom struggle is not correct?
(A) Gandhiji withdrew from the Non-Cooperation Movement due to the Chauri-Chaura Incident.
(B) Gandhiji gave his first major public speech at Banaras Hindu University.
(C) Mahatma Gandhi was arrested in the year 1921.
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Only option 'C' is not correct, while A and B are correct. Hence, answer is 'C'.
Q5. Which one of the following was a journal brought out by Abul Kalam Azad?
(A) The Comrade
(B) Al-Hilal
(C) Zamindar
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 6. How did the study of history help in creating a feeling of nationalism in India towards the end of the 19th century?
(A) By reinterpreting history and refuting the British portrayal of Indians as backward, primitive and incapable of governing themselves
(B) By writing about India's glorious past and urging people to take pride in their achievements
(C) By urging people to struggle and change the miserable conditions of life under the British rule
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 7. Which of the following are not correct regarding the Non-Cooperation Movement in the towns?
1. Only the upper caste and the rich took part in the movement.
2. The council elections were boycotted even by the Justice Party of Madras.
3. Thousands of students left government-controlled schools, headmasters and teachers resigned and lawyers gave up their practice.
(A) 1 and 3 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1 and 2 only
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 8. "A Sanyasi who came to that district after a spell as an indentured labourer in Fiji, carrying a copy of Tulsidas Ramayana on his back from which he would recite verses to rural audience." The peasant leader referred to here is
(A) Jhinguri Singh
(B) Yadunandan Sharma
(C) Baba Ram Chandra
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 9.Who was the founder of All India Harijan Sangh in 1932?
(A) Jagivan Ram
(B) Mahatma Gandhi
(C) Dr B. R. Ambedkar
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Harijan Sevak Sangh was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 to eradicate untouchability in India. Omission of word 'Sevak' in the question does not materially alter it. Correct answer is 'B'.
Q 10. On February 20, 1947, Prime Minister Attlee announced the British Government's decision to withdraw from India latest by
(A) August 1947
(B) January 1948
(C) June 1948
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 11. Who established Swaraj Dal in Bihar?
(A) Shri Krishna Singh
(B) Ramlal Shah
(C) Bankim Chandra Mitra
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 12.During the Salt Satyagraha in Bihar, in addition to making salt, the people chose to oppose the government by opposing which tax?
(A) Haathi
(B) Development
(C) Malba
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 13. The elected Government of Bihar formed by Shri Krishna Singh resigned in February 1938 for which reason?
(A) Participation in the Freedom Struggle of India
(B) For the release of political prisoners
(C) Satyagraha against the British at the call of Gandhiji
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q14. Who saved the life of Gandhiji in Bihar during Champaran Satyagraha?
(A) Batak Mian
(B) Hamid Ansari
(C) Ravindra Pathak
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 15. Who led cultivators in Bihar during the Non-Cooperation Movement
(A) Swami Vidyanand
(B) Raj Kumar Shukla
(C) Shri Krishna Singh
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
In Bihar, the pressure for the launching of the Non Cooperation movement has been building up much before it was officially decided by the Congress party at Nagpur Session in December 1920. Hence answer 'A' is correct.
Q 16. In ancient times, the area to the south of Ganga was known as
(A) Takshashila
(B) Chola
(C) Anarta
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
In ancient times the area along these rivers to the south of the Ganga was known as Magadha. Takshashila was situated between Indus and Jhelum river. Chola was situated in the south of Godavari river. Anarta is a Vedic period kingdom of ancient India described in the Mahabharata, roughly forming the northern Gujarat state of India. So the only correct answer is Magadh which is not given in the answer options. Hence 'E' answer is correct.
Q 17. When did the use of iron begin in Indian subcontinent?
(A) Around 12000 years ago
(B) Around 6000 years ago
(C) Around 9000 years ago
(C) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
The earliest reference to the use of Iron (from the present) in Indian subcontinent does not go back beyond 3000 years. This period is not given in any of the option A, B and C. So the answer is 'E'.
Q 18. According to the rock inscription in Sanskrit, composed around second century CE, Sudarshan Lake, an artificial reservoir, was repaired by
(A) Kanishka
(B) Rudradaman
(C) Harsha
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 19. The temple of Deogarh near Jhansi and the sculptures in the temple of Garhwa near Allahabad are the important remains of the
(A) Gupta art
(B) Rashtrakuta art
(C) Maurya art
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 20.In which of the following battles are the main opponents not correctly stated?
(A) First Battle of Panipat —— Babur and Ibrahim Lodi
(B) Second Battle of Panipat —— Tipu Sultan and Marathas
(C) Battle of Haldighati —— Maharana Pratap and Akbar
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q21. During the Delhi Sultanate, the designation 'Muqaddam or Chaudhari' was used for
(A) revenue officials
(B) village accountant
(C) village headman
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Muqaddam or Choudhary was a village headman and in this capacity only was the highest revenue authority in the village and not just any revenue official or village accountant. Even today, village headmen are often called Choudhary in that region.
Q 22. Tabaqat-i-Akbari, which has been sometimes considered more reliable than Abul Fazl's Akbarnama, was written by
(A) Nizamuddin Ahmad
(B) Abdul Hamid Lahori
(C) Gulbadan Begum
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q23. Who among the following famous rulers founded a suburban township of Nagalapuram, near Vijayanagara, after his mother's name?
(A) Harihara
(B) Bukka
(C) Krishnadevaraya
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q24. In 1940, Patna Women's College was founded by which of the following societies?
(A) Society of Jesus
(B) Irish Christian Brothers
(C) Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q25. Who among the following headed the two Boundary Commissions set up to delineate the international frontiers between India and Pakistan in 1947?
(A) A.P. Moon
(B) A.V. Alexander
(C) Cyril Radcliffe
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q26. Who introduced the system of Mahalwari Settlement in Bengal?
(A) Lord Cornwallis
(B) Holt Mackenzie
(C) Lord Hastings
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Permanent settlement was introduced in Bengal in 1793 by Lord Cornwallis. In it, zamindars were made the owners of land and authorised to collect rent from the peasants. They were required to pay a fixed amount to the Company every year. This amount could not be increased later, however if the zamindars failed to pay, the Company could sell their land via public auction. Later in 1822, Mahalwari system was introduced by Holt Mackenzie in India which had elements both from zamindari as well as ryotwari system. In this system, land owners - peasants/zamindars as the case may be - were required to pay revenue in cash which was not fixed and could be increased. This added to the miseries of the peasants who were compelled to go for cash crop (resulting in food shortage) and also had to borrow from money lenders resulting in imminent default, forfeiture of their land and emergence of bonded labour etc. Sir William Bentinck then Governor General of Bengal (1822-28) initiated reforms in this Mahalwari regulation of 1822 and later when he was Governor General of India (1828-33), introduced these reforms in 1833. The recommendations of Holt Makenzie an officer in the Bengal Presidency regarding revenue settlement were incorporated in a Regulation of 1822 that formed the basis of the introduction of Mahalwari settlement in parts of north and central provinces that were subject to administration of Bengal Presidency. Hence the answer option 'B' is correct.
Q 27. In 1940, Vinoba Bhave started individual Satyagraha from
(A) Nadiad in Kheda district, Gujarat
(B) Pavnar, Maharashtra
(C) Punnapra-Vayalar, Kerala
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q 28. The Congress took a critical stand over the Montford Reforms in 1918, which led to break up with the old moderate remnants (Sapru, Jayakar and Chintamnai) who formed the
(A) Servants of India Society
(B) Swaraj Party
(C) Indian National Liberal Federation
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Following the criticism of the Montford Reforms scheme by the congress, the group of old Moderates setup a new organization 'The Indian National Liberal Federation'. Sapru, Jayakar, .... where among its founders. Hence the correct answer is 'C'.
Q 29. The Cabinet Mission was sent to India for which of the following?
1. To establish a national government
2. To work out a constitutional arrangement for the transfer of power
3. To work out the details of Jinnah's demand for Pakistan
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 3 only
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Cabinet Mission was sent to work out a constitutional arrangement for transfer of power. It was neither sent to establish the Govt. nor to work out details of Jinnah's demand for Pakistan.
Q30. Who among the following made an offer to Humayun that he would surrender Bihar and pay an annual tribute of 10 Lakh dinars if he was allowed to retain Bengal?
(A) Sher Khan
(B) Bairam Khan
(C) Bahadur Shah
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q31. The Vikramshila University was established by
(A) Dharmapala
(B) Devapala
(C) Gopala
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q32. Who among the following was the first Governor of Bihar?
(A) Sir James David Sifton
(B) Sir Hugh Dow
(C) Sir Maurice Garnier Hallett
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Sir James David Sifton was the Governor of Bihar and Orissa from 7 April 1932 to 31 March 1936 and then Governor of Bihar from 1 April 1936 to 10 March 1937. He was the first Governor of Bihar after division of province from Orissa.
Q33. Who was the author of Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar, Some Reminiscences?
(A) J.P. Narayan
(B) Karpoori Thakur
(C) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q34. Which is the oldest church in Bihar?
(A) Luke's Church
(B) Stephen's Church
(C) Padri Ki Haveli
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
Q35. The late actor Kumudlal Ganguly, also known by his stage name Ashok Kumar, was born in which of the following cities of Bihar?
(A) Munger
(B) Bhagalpur
(C) Patna
(D) More than one of the above
(E) None of the above
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