41. Which of the following pairs of reform movements and respective personalities is/are matched correctly?
Movement – Personalities
- Sakshara Keralam – P.N.Panicker
- Swadhyaya Movement – Pandurang Shastri Athavale
- Kalaram Temple entry movement – B. K. Gaikwad
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
Shri P.N. Panicker popularized the ‘Sakshara Keralam’ movement with the message “Vayichu Valaruka” (Read and Grow). The Swadhyaya Movement, founded by Pandurang Shastri Athavale in mid-20th century India, focuses on self-study, selfless devotion, and the application of Hindu scriptures for liberation. The Kalaram Temple entry movement, led by B.K. Gaikwad and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on March 2, 1930, was crucial in the Dalit movement, advocating for equal rights and access to the temple for Dalits.
42. Which of the following tribal freedom fighters and their region of operation is/are matched correctly?
- Rani Gaidinliu – Manipur
- Laxman Naik – Odisha
- Birsa Munda – Jharkhand
- Komaram Bheem – Maharashtra
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1, 2 & 3
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
Birsa Munda was a tribal freedom fighter from the Munda tribe, leading a movement in Jharkhand in the late 19th century. Rani Gaidinliu was a Naga leader involved in a political movement in Manipur, recognized with the Padma Bhushan. Laxman Naik, from the Bhumia tribe of Odisha, organized resistance against British officials. Komaram Bheem, a rebel leader of the Gond tribe, fought against the British Raj in Telangana.
43. Which of the following events happened before 1857 revolt?
- Revolt of Jungle Mahal
- Sambalpur Revolt
- Hareka movement
- Kuka Namdhari movement
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 2
[B] Only 1 & 2
[C] Only 2, 3 & 4
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 1 & 2]
Notes:
- ‘Saga of Freedom: Known & Lesser-known Struggle’, an exhibition was organized by the National Archives of India. This exhibition provides a glimpse into a number of revolutionary movements and struggles in various parts of the country including:
- Revolt of Jungle Mahal, or Chuar Uprising (1771- 1809) (West Bengal),
- Sambalpur Revolt, Odisha (1827-62),
- Great uprising (1857),
- Kuka Namdhari Movement, Punjab (1871),
- Kirti Kisan Movement, 1927,
- Hareka movement (Rani Gaidinliu 1930).
44. With respect to Dominique Lapierre, consider the following statements:
- He wrote Five Part Midnight in Bhopal, Freedom at Midnight.
- He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.
- He was a Portuguese author.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 1 & 3
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1]
Notes:
- Dominique Lapierre, French author wrote
- City of Joy was based on the slums near Howrah in West Bengal.
- Five Past Midnight in Bhopal: The Epic Story of the World’s Deadliest Industrial Disaster, traced the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy and the role of Union Carbide in it.
- Freedom at Midnight is the story of India’s struggle for independence and the great humanitarian tragedy of the Partition.
- Lapierre was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, in 2008.
45. Consider the following:
- Nadir Shah’s invasion of Delhi
- Ahmad Shah Abdali’s invasions
- Maratha protection agreement
- Fall of the Mughal Empire
Which of the following is the correct chronological order of the events listed above?
[A] 1 2 3 4
[B] 2 1 3 4
[C] 1 3 2 4
[D] 4 3 2 1
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1 3 2 4]
Notes:
Nadir Shah invaded Delhi in 1739, marking a decline in Mughal power. Following this, the Marathas entered into a protective agreement with the Mughal Emperor in 1752 to counter external threats, specifically from Ahmad Shah Abdali. Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded India multiple times, with notable invasions occurring in 1747 and 1756, further weakening Mughal authority. These events collectively contributed to the eventual fall of the Mughal Empire, as the power dynamics shifted in the region. Thus, the correct order is 1 3 2 4.
46. In the context of the historical figures in Indian history, consider the following statements:
- Rani Lakshmibai, queen of Jhansi, played a pivotal role in the 1857 uprising against British rule.
- Bhagat Singh was executed at the age of 23 for the assassination of a British police officer.
- C.R. Das wrote Poverty and Un-British Rule in India on wealth drain.
- Annie Besant first hoisted the Indian flag abroad in Stuttgart, Germany.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] Only three
[D] All four
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only two]
Notes:
- Rani Lakshmibai and the 1857 Uprising –Correct: Rani Lakshmibai, the queen of Jhansi, played a key role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against British rule. She fought bravely and became a symbol of resistance.
- Bhagat Singh’s Execution –Correct: Bhagat Singh was executed at the age of 23, but for his role in the killing of John Saunders, a British police officer, not James Scott, whom they originally targeted in retaliation for Lala Lajpat Rai’s death.
- C.R. Das and Poverty and Un-British Rule in India –Incorrect: This book was written by Dadabhai Naoroji, not Chittaranjan Das. It exposed British economic exploitation of India.
- Annie Besant and Hoisting the Indian Flag Abroad –Incorrect: The first person to hoist the Indian flag on foreign soil was Madam Bhikaji Cama in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1907, not Annie Besant.
47. Consider the following agri-related items:
- Apple
- Cherry
- Whisky
- Rice
Which of these has the US requested India to allow at concessional or zero duty under the Bilateral Trade Agreement?
[A] 1, 2 and 4 only
[B] 1, 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 4 only
[D] 2, 3 and 4 only
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1, 2 and 3 only]
Notes:
The US has pushed for concessional duty access from India for items listed as 1, 2 and 3 – apple, cherry, and whisky. Rice is not among the items requested, hence option 1, 3 and 4 are incorrect.
48. Consider the following statements regarding Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese viceroy in India:
- The Portuguese fort at Cannanore, commissioned by Dom Francisco de Almeida, was one of the earliest European forts in India.
- Dom Francisco de Almeida established his administrative seat at Goa, which later became the capital of Portuguese India.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] Only 2
[B] Both 1 and 2
[C] Neither 1 nor 2
[D] Only 1
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Only 1]
Notes:
The Portuguese fort at Cannanore, built under Dom Francisco de Almeida, was among the earliest European forts in India. However, his administrative seat was established at Cochin, not at Goa. Goa became the capital of Portuguese India only later, under subsequent viceroys. Therefore, only the first statement is correct.
49. Consider the following statements regarding certain terms associated with the Indian Rebellion of 1857:
- Silladar system involved cavalrymen providing their own horses and equipment.
- Mansabdari system was a Mughal administrative and military ranking system.
- Ghazi banners symbolized Islamic volunteer fighters participating in a religious cause.
Which of the above statements is / are correct?
[A] Only 1 and 2
[B] All are correct
[C] Only 2 and 3
[D] Only 1 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [All are correct]
Notes:
The Silladar system comprised cavalrymen who supplied their own horses and equipment, crucial during the Mughal and later armies. The Mansabdari system was an administrative and military ranking structure under the Mughals. Ghazi banners, green in color, were emblems of Islamic volunteer fighters during the 1857 revolt, symbolizing religious motivation and zeal.
50. Consider the following leaders and their association with peasant or tribal movements in colonial India:
- Dudu Miyan led the Faraizi Movement in Bengal and urged peasants to deny revenue to zamindars.
- Tilka Manjhi, a Santhal leader, led a rebellion against the British in 1784.
- Birsa Munda spread the Birsait religion and organized a tribal uprising in the late 19th century.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All three
[D] None
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [All three]
Notes:
All three statements are correct: Dudu Miyan led the Faraizi Movement urging raiyats not to pay revenue. Tilka Manjhi was a Santhal leader who led a rebellion against the British in 1784. Birsa Munda propagated the Birsait faith and led a tribal revolt (Ulgulan) against colonial authorities in the late 19th century.
