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Assam ASSEB HSLC Class 10 Social Science study materials
Assam ASSEB HSLC Class 10 Social Science study resources

Assam ASSEB HSLC Class 10 Social Science practice questions

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Question 1History

Which event is widely taken as the starting point of the Indian national movement in 1885?

  1. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre
  2. The founding of the Indian National Congress Correct answer.
  3. The partition of Bengal
  4. The launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement

Explanation

The Indian National Congress was established in December 1885 in Bombay, with W.C. Bonnerjee as its first president. Historians treat its founding as the organised beginning of the Indian national movement, though earlier regional associations existed. The other events occurred later and belong to different phases of the struggle.

Question 2History

The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was strongly opposed because it allowed the government to do which of the following?

  1. Abolish the zamindari system in Bengal
  2. Grant separate electorates to factory workers
  3. Detain political prisoners without trial for up to two years Correct answer.
  4. Impose a tax on all imported cloth

Explanation

The Rowlatt Act empowered the colonial government to imprison people suspected of sedition without a formal trial. This suspension of normal legal safeguards provoked nationwide protest, including Gandhi's call for a hartal. The Act is therefore remembered as a symbol of repression rather than any economic or social reform.

Question 3History

In the context of the Indian national movement, what did Gandhi mean by 'Satyagraha'?

  1. Armed resistance against colonial troops
  2. Insistence on truth through non-violent resistance Correct answer.
  3. Boycott of all English-language schools
  4. Petitioning the British Parliament for reforms

Explanation

Satyagraha literally means 'holding fast to truth', and Gandhi built it on non-violence and willing self-suffering. The method aimed to convert the opponent through moral pressure rather than to defeat him by force. It became the organising principle of movements from Champaran to the Salt March.

Question 4History

Which of the following was a direct consequence of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 13 April 1919?

  1. The permanent closure of the Indian National Congress
  2. The withdrawal of the Rowlatt Act by the government
  3. A sharp turn of nationalist opinion against British rule Correct answer.
  4. The immediate granting of dominion status to India

Explanation

The killing of hundreds of unarmed people at Amritsar, ordered by General Dyer, shocked the country and eroded faith in British justice. Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest, and Gandhi returned the Kaisar-i-Hind medal. The massacre thus deepened nationalist alienation rather than producing constitutional concessions.

Question 5History

The Non-Cooperation Movement was formally launched by the Indian National Congress in which year?

  1. 1930
  2. 1919
  3. 1927
  4. 1920 Correct answer.

Explanation

At the Nagpur session in December 1920 the Congress adopted the programme of non-cooperation, following Gandhi's call earlier that year. It combined surrender of titles, boycott of law courts and schools, and promotion of khadi. The movement was withdrawn in February 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident.

Question 6History

Why did Gandhi withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922?

  1. Violence broke out at Chauri Chaura during a protest Correct answer.
  2. The movement had failed to attract peasant participation
  3. The British government offered complete independence
  4. The Congress had achieved all its stated demands

Explanation

At Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur district a crowd set fire to a police station, killing policemen. Gandhi, committed to non-violence as a condition of the struggle, called off the movement rather than allow it to turn violent. This decision was criticised by many leaders, including Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose.

Question 7History

The Simon Commission, appointed in 1927, was boycotted by Indian nationalists mainly because

  1. it proposed to abolish the princely states
  2. it recommended the immediate partition of Bengal
  3. it raised the age of voting to thirty
  4. it had no Indian member on it Correct answer.

Explanation

The seven-member commission set up to review the 1919 reforms consisted entirely of British politicians. Indians saw this as an insult to their right to shape their own constitution, and the Congress and other parties united in boycotting it. Protests greeted the commission with the slogan 'Simon Go Back'.

Question 8History

At which session did the Indian National Congress adopt the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' or complete independence?

  1. Karachi session, 1931
  2. Lahore session, 1929 Correct answer.
  3. Surat session, 1907
  4. Calcutta session, 1917

Explanation

At the Lahore session in December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress declared complete independence its goal. The tricolour was hoisted on the banks of the Ravi, and 26 January 1930 was fixed as the first Independence Day. This set the stage for the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Question 9History

The Dandi March of 1930 was undertaken by Gandhi to protest against which specific measure?

  1. The export of Indian cotton to Britain
  2. The introduction of the Rowlatt Act
  3. The salt tax imposed by the colonial government Correct answer.
  4. The partition of Bengal

Explanation

Gandhi marched from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi and made salt from sea water, openly defying the government's monopoly and tax on salt. Salt was chosen because it affected every household, making the protest easy to understand and join. The march inaugurated the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Question 10History

What was the main outcome of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931?

  1. The Congress joined the provincial governments as a coalition partner
  2. The British granted India dominion status immediately
  3. The government released political prisoners and the Congress suspended civil disobedience Correct answer.
  4. The Congress agreed to abandon the demand for independence

Explanation

Under the pact the government agreed to release prisoners arrested in the movement and to permit salt manufacture in coastal areas. In return the Congress agreed to attend the Second Round Table Conference and to suspend civil disobedience. It did not settle the constitutional question, which is why the truce proved short-lived.

Question 11History

Which of the following best describes the 'Quit India' resolution of August 1942?

  1. A demand for partition of the country into two states
  2. A proposal to boycott the 1946 elections
  3. A request for dominion status within the Commonwealth
  4. A demand for immediate British withdrawal from India Correct answer.

Explanation

The All India Congress Committee, meeting in Bombay on 8 August 1942, demanded an immediate end to British rule in India. Gandhi gave the slogan 'Do or Die', and the government responded by arresting the entire Congress leadership. The movement that followed was the most widespread challenge to colonial authority since 1857.

Question 12History

The Lahore Resolution of 1940, passed by the All India Muslim League, demanded

  1. immediate transfer of power to the princely states
  2. independent states in the north-western and eastern zones of India Correct answer.
  3. abolition of separate electorates
  4. a united India with a strong central government

Explanation

The resolution, moved by A.K. Fazlul Huq in March 1940, called for independent states in the Muslim-majority regions of the north-west and east. It later became the basis of the demand for Pakistan. The resolution did not specify a single unified state at that stage.

Question 13History

Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress in 1885?

  1. Dadabhai Naoroji
  2. Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee Correct answer.
  3. Surendranath Banerjee
  4. Badruddin Tyabji

Explanation

W.C. Bonnerjee presided over the first session held in Bombay in December 1885. Dadabhai Naoroji, though a leading figure of the early Congress, presided later, in 1886 among other sessions. The founding session brought together delegates from different provinces and communities.

Question 14History

The main argument of Dadabhai Naoroji's 'drain theory' was that

  1. land revenue should be replaced by an income tax
  2. British rule transferred India's wealth to Britain without adequate return Correct answer.
  3. railway construction had no economic value
  4. Indian industry was being over-protected by tariffs

Explanation

Naoroji argued in 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' that a large part of India's produce was drained away as home charges, salaries and profits, impoverishing the country. The theory gave the moderate nationalists an economic critique of colonialism. It was later extended by R.C. Dutt and others.

Question 15History

Which of the following pairs correctly matches a movement with its leader?

  1. Champaran Satyagraha - Vallabhbhai Patel
  2. Bardoli Satyagraha - Vallabhbhai Patel Correct answer.
  3. Ahmedabad mill strike - B.R. Ambedkar
  4. Kheda Satyagraha - Rajendra Prasad

Explanation

Vallabhbhai Patel led the Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 against an increase in land revenue, and the success earned him the title 'Sardar'. Champaran and Kheda were led by Gandhi himself, with local co-workers. The Ahmedabad mill strike of 1918 was also a Gandhian campaign.

Question 16History

The Swadeshi Movement that followed the partition of Bengal in 1905 emphasised

  1. participation in the Morley-Minto reforms
  2. boycott of British goods and promotion of Indian industry Correct answer.
  3. immediate armed revolution across India
  4. cooperation with the British in local administration

Explanation

The movement combined boycott of foreign cloth with the promotion of indigenous industry, education and culture. It saw the rise of national schools, the use of the song 'Vande Mataram', and the spread of the movement beyond Bengal. Its methods created a lasting divide between moderates and extremists.

Question 17History

What was the significance of the Lucknow Pact of 1916?

  1. It created the office of the Governor-General
  2. It granted women the right to vote in provincial elections
  3. It brought the Congress and the Muslim League to a joint constitutional scheme Correct answer.
  4. It ended the partition of Bengal

Explanation

The Lucknow Pact saw the Congress and the Muslim League agree on a common set of demands, including separate electorates for Muslims and a larger share of seats in Muslim-minority provinces. It marked a brief period of Hindu-Muslim political cooperation. The pact also coincided with the reunion of the Congress moderates and extremists.

Question 18History

Which statement about the Government of India Act 1935 is accurate?

  1. It introduced provincial autonomy and a federal structure that was never fully implemented Correct answer.
  2. It granted India complete independence within the Commonwealth
  3. It transferred defence to Indian ministers
  4. It abolished the system of separate electorates

Explanation

The Act of 1935 provided for provincial autonomy and a federation of provinces and princely states, but the princes never joined, so the federal part remained inoperative. Provincial elections were held in 1937 under its provisions. Defence and foreign affairs stayed firmly with the Governor-General.

Question 19History

The Cripps Mission of 1942 is best remembered for

  1. offering dominion status after the war in exchange for wartime cooperation Correct answer.
  2. setting up a constituent assembly elected by universal adult franchise
  3. promising immediate independence to India
  4. proposing the partition of Punjab and Bengal

Explanation

Sir Stafford Cripps proposed dominion status after the war, with a constituent assembly to frame the constitution and an option for provinces to stay out. The Congress and the Muslim League both rejected the offer, and the failure contributed to the Quit India Movement. The mission did not concede immediate independence.

Question 20History

Who founded the Ghadar Party in 1913 in San Francisco?

  1. Bhagat Singh
  2. V.D. Savarkar
  3. Lala Har Dayal Correct answer.
  4. Subhas Chandra Bose

Explanation

The Ghadar Party was founded by Punjabi emigrants in North America, with Lala Har Dayal as a leading figure, and published the paper 'Ghadar'. It planned an armed uprising in India during the First World War. The party drew support mainly from Indian workers and ex-soldiers on the Pacific coast.

Question 21History

The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association is associated with which of the following actions?

  1. The Kakori train robbery and the Lahore Conspiracy Case Correct answer.
  2. The Bardoli no-tax campaign
  3. The Dandi salt march
  4. The Chauri Chaura incident

Explanation

The HSRA, formed by revolutionaries including Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Sukhdev, carried out the Kakori action in 1925 and later the Saunders killing and the Assembly bomb case. The Lahore Conspiracy Case led to the execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev in 1931. These were individual acts of revolutionary violence, distinct from mass movements.

Question 22History

The Cabinet Mission of 1946 proposed which arrangement for independent India?

  1. A unitary state with a single province
  2. Immediate partition into India and Pakistan
  3. Continuation of British rule for another decade
  4. A loose three-tier federation with grouping of provinces Correct answer.

Explanation

The Cabinet Mission proposed a union of provinces and princely states with a weak centre handling only foreign affairs, defence and communications, and provinces grouped into three sections. Both major parties initially wavered and then disagreed over the grouping scheme. The plan failed to produce agreement, and partition followed in 1947.

Question 23History

Which of the following was a feature of the moderates' method in the early Congress?

  1. Petitions, resolutions and constitutional agitation Correct answer.
  2. Mass civil disobedience and boycott of British goods
  3. Complete withdrawal from legislative councils
  4. Armed insurrection against the colonial state

Explanation

The moderates, including Naoroji, Gokhale and Banerjee, relied on reasoned petitions, public meetings and gradual constitutional pressure. They believed in educating British opinion rather than confronting the state directly. Their approach was criticised by the extremists after the partition of Bengal.

Question 24History

What was the main reason for the split in the Congress at Surat in 1907?

  1. A dispute over the extent of the Swadeshi boycott and the goal of self-government Correct answer.
  2. A disagreement over the choice of the capital city
  3. A conflict over the admission of women delegates
  4. A dispute over the language of Congress proceedings

Explanation

The extremists, led by Tilak, wanted the boycott and swadeshi programme extended and self-government pursued more forcefully, while the moderates wanted to keep to constitutional methods. The clash at Surat led to a formal split that lasted until the Lucknow reunion of 1916. Personal and regional rivalries also played a part.

Question 25History

Which of the following statements about the Indian National Army (INA) is correct?

  1. It was formed in 1942 and reorganised under Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943 Correct answer.
  2. It fought alongside the British in the Second World War
  3. It was disbanded before the Second World War began
  4. It was created by the Congress Working Committee in 1939

Explanation

The INA was first raised among Indian prisoners of war in Southeast Asia and was reorganised and expanded by Subhas Chandra Bose after he took charge in 1943. Its 'Delhi Chalo' campaign advanced into Manipur and Nagaland before being halted. The INA trials at the Red Fort in 1945-46 aroused widespread public sympathy.

Question 26History

The Permanent Settlement of 1793, introduced by Lord Cornwallis in Bengal, was mainly designed to

  1. grant ownership rights directly to the actual cultivators of the soil
  2. fix the land revenue demand permanently with zamindars as the collecting class Correct answer.
  3. abolish the zamindari system and replace it with peasant proprietorship
  4. introduce a ryotwari system of revenue collection by the colonial state

Explanation

The Permanent Settlement fixed the revenue that zamindars had to pay to the Company in perpetuity, in return recognising them as hereditary owners of the land. The Company gained a stable and predictable income while the zamindars became a loyal landed class. The cultivators were left to negotiate with the zamindars, and their position often worsened.

Question 27History

The Revolt of 1857 first broke out among Indian soldiers at which cantonment?

  1. Kanpur
  2. Meerut Correct answer.
  3. Jhansi
  4. Barrackpore

Explanation

The sepoys at Meerut rose in open revolt in May 1857 after their comrades were punished for refusing to use the new cartridges, and from there the rebellion spread to Delhi and beyond. Barrackpore had seen Mangal Pandey's earlier act of defiance, but the general uprising began at Meerut. This makes Meerut the conventional starting point of the revolt.

Question 28History

Which of the following was the immediate cause of the outbreak of the First World War in 1914?

  1. the German invasion of Poland in September 1939
  2. the sinking of the British liner Lusitania by a German submarine
  3. the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo Correct answer.
  4. the withdrawal of Russia from the Triple Entente

Explanation

The murder of the Austrian heir Archduke Franz Ferdinand at Sarajevo in June 1914 set off the chain of ultimatums and mobilisations that turned a Balkan crisis into a European war. Behind this immediate trigger lay deeper causes such as rival alliances, imperialism and militarism. The other events listed belong to different contexts or dates.

Question 29History

The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was opposed by Indian nationalists because it

  1. raised the age of voting for elections to provincial councils
  2. allowed detention of political suspects without trial for long periods Correct answer.
  3. imposed a tax on all printed newspapers and journals
  4. transferred the capital of British India from Calcutta to Delhi

Explanation

The Rowlatt Act empowered the government to arrest and detain persons suspected of sedition without ordinary trial, and to try such cases without juries. Nationalists saw it as a denial of civil liberties and called it the 'black law'. Gandhi responded with a countrywide hartal, which led to events such as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Question 30History

Which of the following was a major consequence of the Battle of Plassey in 1757?

  1. The Mughal emperor formally abolished the office of the subahdar of Bengal
  2. The French East India Company replaced the English in Bengal
  3. The English East India Company gained effective political control over Bengal Correct answer.
  4. The Marathas were expelled from northern India by the English

Explanation

Robert Clive's victory over Siraj-ud-Daulah at Plassey placed a pliant ruler, Mir Jafar, on the throne of Bengal and gave the Company decisive influence over its revenues and administration. This is generally treated as the beginning of British territorial power in India. The formal grant of the diwani of Bengal came later, in 1765, after Buxar.

Question 31History

The Poona Pact of 1932 between Gandhi and Ambedkar dealt with which issue?

  1. the abolition of the zamindari system in Bengal
  2. the terms of the Gandhi-Irwin settlement
  3. the share of Muslims in the central legislature
  4. the representation of the depressed classes in provincial legislatures Correct answer.

Explanation

The Poona Pact revised the Communal Award by replacing separate electorates for the depressed classes with reserved seats within the general electorate. Gandhi had opposed separate electorates on the ground that they would divide Hindu society. The agreement was signed in 1932 by Gandhi and Ambedkar.

Question 32History

Which of the following correctly describes the principle of 'Satyagraha' as developed by Gandhi?

  1. boycotting foreign goods while accepting British rule as legitimate
  2. overthrowing the state through armed insurrection by secret societies
  3. petitioning the government through constitutional memorials and prayers
  4. resisting injustice through non-violent truth-force and willingness to suffer Correct answer.

Explanation

Gandhi's Satyagraha rested on the power of truth and non-violence, and on the willingness of the satyagrahi to accept suffering rather than inflict it. It aimed at converting the opponent through moral pressure rather than defeating him. It differs from both armed revolution and pure constitutional petitioning.

Question 33History

The main objective of the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was to

  1. secure separate electorates for the depressed classes
  2. relieve indigo cultivators of the oppressive tinkathia system Correct answer.
  3. demand the release of political prisoners of the First World War
  4. prevent the partition of Bengal

Explanation

In Champaran, Bihar, peasants were forced under the tinkathia system to grow indigo on a fixed portion of their land for European planters on unfair terms. Gandhi's inquiry and agitation led to the appointment of a committee and the eventual relaxation of the system. Champaran was his first major satyagraha in India.

Question 34History

Which of the following statements about the Ryotwari system of land revenue is correct?

  1. Revenue was collected through zamindars who held the land permanently
  2. The state took a fixed share of the harvest in kind instead of cash
  3. Revenue was settled directly with the individual cultivator, who was recognised as the owner of the land Correct answer.
  4. The system was first introduced in Bengal by Lord Cornwallis

Explanation

Under the ryotwari system, associated with Thomas Munro in Madras and later extended to Bombay, the state dealt directly with the ryot or cultivator. The cultivator was recognised as the proprietor of the land as long as he paid the assessed revenue. The assessment, however, was often very heavy and was revised periodically.

Question 35History

The Ilbert Bill controversy of 1883 was significant because it

  1. introduced the system of competitive examinations for the civil service
  2. settled the question of Indian representation in the central legislature
  3. abolished the practice of indigo cultivation in Bengal
  4. revealed the racial arrogance of Europeans and stimulated Indian political organisation Correct answer.

Explanation

The Ilbert Bill sought to allow Indian magistrates to try European offenders in the mofussil, and the fierce opposition of the European community forced the government to water it down. The episode exposed racial discrimination and encouraged educated Indians to organise politically. It is often seen as a precursor to the founding of the Indian National Congress in 1885.

Question 36History

Which of the following best explains why the British government reversed the partition of Bengal in 1911?

  1. The Congress had agreed to abandon the boycott in exchange for reunion
  2. The Swadeshi and boycott agitation had made the partition politically costly and unworkable Correct answer.
  3. The Muslims of eastern Bengal demanded reunion with western Bengal
  4. The partition had failed to produce any revenue for the government

Explanation

The partition of 1905 provoked a powerful Swadeshi movement, boycott of British goods and widespread unrest, which the government could not suppress without heavy cost. The annulment at the Delhi Durbar of 1911 was an acknowledgement that the administrative gains did not justify the political price. The capital was shifted to Delhi at the same time.

Question 37History

The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 is often blamed for creating conditions that led to the Second World War mainly because it

  1. granted independence to the German colonies in Africa and Asia
  2. established the League of Nations without the membership of any major power
  3. imposed harsh reparations and territorial losses on Germany, breeding resentment Correct answer.
  4. required Germany to join the Soviet Union in a military alliance

Explanation

The treaty forced Germany to accept responsibility for the war, pay heavy reparations and surrender territory and colonies. These terms humiliated Germany and created deep resentment, which extremist politics later exploited. The economic burden also destabilised the Weimar Republic.

Question 38History

Which of the following correctly pairs a newspaper with the leader who founded or edited it during the national movement?

  1. Harijan - Lala Lajpat Rai
  2. Amrita Bazar Patrika - Dadabhai Naoroji
  3. Young India - Bipin Chandra Pal
  4. Kesari - Bal Gangadhar Tilak Correct answer.

Explanation

Tilak used his Marathi newspaper Kesari and the English Mahratta to spread nationalist ideas and to mobilise public opinion, which led to his prosecution for sedition. The other pairings are historically inaccurate. Matching a paper with its founder is a common way of testing knowledge of nationalist journalism.

Question 39History

The Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 was directed against which measure?

  1. the recruitment of Indian soldiers for service overseas
  2. an enhancement of land revenue assessment by the Bombay government Correct answer.
  3. the introduction of separate electorates in Bombay
  4. the imposition of a tax on salt production

Explanation

The peasants of Bardoli in Gujarat resisted a steep revision of land revenue, and Vallabhbhai Patel led the agitation that forced the government to order an inquiry and reduce the enhancement. Its success earned Patel the title 'Sardar'. The campaign is a landmark in the history of peasant mobilisation under Congress leadership.

Question 40History

Which of the following was a consequence of the Santhal Rebellion of 1855-56?

  1. The creation of the separate Santhal Parganas district to administer the region Correct answer.
  2. The immediate grant of provincial autonomy to Bengal
  3. The transfer of tribal areas to the princely states
  4. The permanent abolition of all tribal land laws in eastern India

Explanation

The Santhal uprising under leaders such as Sidhu and Kanhu was a response to exploitation by moneylenders, zamindars and revenue officials. After it was suppressed, the government created the Santhal Parganas as a separate administrative unit. The aim was to regulate the entry of outsiders and to pacify the region.

Question 41History

The Moplah Rebellion of 1921 took place mainly in which region?

  1. Bundelkhand in central India
  2. Kutch in Gujarat
  3. Champaran in Bihar
  4. Malabar in Kerala Correct answer.

Explanation

The Moplah rebellion was an uprising of Muslim peasants in the Malabar region of Kerala against landlords and the colonial administration. It occurred at a time when the Khilafat and non-cooperation movements had raised political expectations. The revolt was suppressed with considerable force.

Question 42History

Which of the following statements about the Indigo Revolt of Bengal in 1859-60 is correct?

  1. It resulted in the immediate independence of Bengal from British rule
  2. It was a peasant movement against forced cultivation of indigo for European planters Correct answer.
  3. It aimed at securing separate electorates for the peasantry
  4. It was led by zamindars seeking to reduce their own revenue payments

Explanation

The indigo peasants of Bengal, supported by local figures such as Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas, refused to grow indigo on unfair terms and resisted the planters' coercion. The government appointed the Indigo Commission, which criticised the planters' methods. The revolt is an early example of organised peasant resistance in modern India.

Question 43History

The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was designed mainly to

  1. promote the growth of English-language journalism in India
  2. require all newspapers to be published only in English
  3. provide government subsidies to Indian-language newspapers
  4. curb criticism of the government in Indian-language newspapers Correct answer.

Explanation

The Act, associated with Lord Lytton, allowed the government to demand security and to confiscate the presses of vernacular newspapers that published material considered seditious. English-language papers were left largely untouched, which nationalists criticised as discriminatory. It was repealed by Ripon in 1882.

Question 44History

Which of the following best describes the significance of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931 in the context of the civil disobedience movement?

  1. It marked a temporary truce in which the government released prisoners and Gandhi agreed to attend the Second Round Table Conference Correct answer.
  2. It granted India complete independence within a year of signing
  3. It formally withdrew the salt tax and the salt monopoly
  4. It committed the Congress to abandoning the goal of complete independence

Explanation

Under the Pact, the government released civil disobedience prisoners and Gandhi suspended the movement, while the Congress agreed to participate in the Second Round Table Conference. The salt tax was not abolished, and the conference failed to produce a settlement. The Pact thus represented a pause rather than a solution.

Question 45History

Which of the following was the main feature of the Morley-Minto Reforms of 1909?

  1. The establishment of provincial autonomy in the provinces
  2. The abolition of the Indian Councils and the creation of a parliament
  3. The transfer of law and order to Indian ministers in the provinces
  4. The introduction of separate electorates for Muslims in provincial and imperial councils Correct answer.

Explanation

The Indian Councils Act of 1909 enlarged the legislative councils and introduced separate electorates for Muslims, a concession to the Muslim League's demand. It also allowed Indians to be associated with the executive councils. It did not introduce dyarchy or provincial autonomy, which came with later reforms.

Question 46History

Which of the following best explains the failure of the Cripps Mission of 1942?

  1. The British government refused to discuss the question of the princely states
  2. The Congress rejected the offer because it fell short of immediate and complete independence Correct answer.
  3. The mission was withdrawn because of the outbreak of the Quit India Movement
  4. The Muslim League accepted the offer and the Congress followed suit

Explanation

The Cripps proposals offered dominion status after the war and an option for provinces to stay out of a union, which the Congress regarded as inadequate and as a concession to the League's demand for Pakistan. The League, for its part, found the offer unsatisfactory because it did not concede Pakistan outright. The mission's failure paved the way for the Quit India resolution.

Question 47History

Which of the following statements about the Wavell Plan of 1945 is accurate?

  1. It proposed the transfer of all defence and foreign affairs to Indian control before the war ended
  2. It proposed the abolition of the princely states and their merger into the provinces
  3. It proposed an executive council with equal representation of caste Hindus and Muslims, with a British viceroy retaining special powers Correct answer.
  4. It proposed the immediate partition of India into two sovereign states

Explanation

The Wavell Plan sought to reconstitute the viceroy's executive council with Indian leaders, giving caste Hindus and Muslims equal representation and allowing the viceroy to retain a veto over certain matters. The Simla Conference of 1945 failed over the Congress's refusal to accept the League's claim to nominate all Muslim members. The plan did not propose partition.

Question 48History

Which of the following best explains why the Cabinet Mission of 1946 rejected the demand for a separate sovereign Pakistan?

  1. It wanted to retain British rule indefinitely and refused all constitutional change
  2. It held that a partition would weaken the defence and economy of the subcontinent and that a federal union with grouped provinces could accommodate Muslim interests Correct answer.
  3. It accepted the principle of Pakistan but disagreed on the boundaries of the new state
  4. It believed that the Muslim League had no popular support among Muslims

Explanation

The Cabinet Mission argued that a separate Pakistan would leave the remaining Indian union weak in defence and would divide the subcontinent's economy, and it proposed instead a three-tier federal structure with provinces grouped in sections. The Muslim League initially accepted the plan but later rejected it over the grouping and representation issues. The mission did not deny the League's support among Muslims.

Question 49History

Which of the following statements about the role of the press in the Indian national movement is most accurate?

  1. It was confined to English-language papers read only by officials
  2. It helped spread nationalist ideas across regions and languages and exposed the government's repressive measures Correct answer.
  3. It was free of any legal restrictions throughout the colonial period
  4. It remained largely loyal to the government and avoided political commentary

Explanation

Nationalist newspapers in English, Bengali, Marathi, Hindi and other languages carried news of agitations, trials and government actions to a wide readership and helped build a shared political consciousness. The government repeatedly tried to control them through laws such as the Vernacular Press Act and the Press Act of 1910. Their role in mobilisation is therefore central to the history of the movement.

Question 50History

Which of the following best explains the significance of the All India Trade Union Congress, founded in 1920?

  1. It was created by the colonial government to regulate factory conditions
  2. It confined itself to the demands of European workers in India
  3. It replaced the Indian National Congress as the main political party
  4. It gave organised labour a national platform and linked workers' demands to the broader anti-colonial struggle Correct answer.

Explanation

The AITUC was founded with leaders such as N. M. Joshi and Lala Lajpat Rai and brought trade unions from different industries onto a common platform. It connected workers' economic demands with the national movement and contributed to the growth of labour legislation and strikes. It did not replace the Congress or serve as a government body.