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Multiple Choice Questions - Test your understanding with these MCQs. Click "Show Answer" to reveal the correct answer.

Question 1Who founded the Indian Home Rule League in April 1916?

Correct Answer: Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Question 2What was the main objective of the Home Rule Movement?

Correct Answer: Self-government within the British Empire

Question 3Why did the leaders of the Home Rule Movement choose the term 'Home Rule' instead of 'Swaraj'?

Correct Answer: Swaraj was considered seditious and dangerous by the British

Question 4Which two factions of Congress were reunited by the Lucknow Pact of 1916?

Correct Answer: Early Nationalists and Assertive Nationalists

Question 5In the Lucknow Pact, what major compromise did the Congress make regarding its secular character?

Correct Answer: Accepted the scheme of separate electorates for Muslims

Question 6Where was Mahatma Gandhi born?

Correct Answer: Porbandar

Question 7What event in South Africa motivated Gandhiji to lead the struggle for justice?

Correct Answer: He was forcibly thrown out of a first-class train compartment

Question 8What was the 'Tinkathia system' in Champaran?

Correct Answer: Forced cultivation of indigo on 3/20th of land

Question 9Why did Gandhiji lead a strike in Ahmedabad in 1918?

Correct Answer: To support mill-workers' demand for higher wages

Question 10The Kheda Satyagraha was organized because:

Correct Answer: Crops failed and peasants could not pay revenue

Question 11What power did the Rowlatt Act give to the British government?

Correct Answer: To arrest and imprison anyone without trial

Question 12On what date did the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy occur?

Correct Answer: April 13, 1919

Question 13Who ordered the troops to open fire on the unarmed crowd at Jallianwala Bagh?

Correct Answer: General Dyer

Question 14The Khilafat Movement was started to support the Sultan of which country?

Correct Answer: Turkey

Question 15Which brothers were the primary leaders of the Khilafat Movement in India?

Correct Answer: The Ali brothers (Mohammed and Shaukat)

Question 16What slogan did the Home Rule League raise?

Correct Answer: Swadeshi, National Education and Home Rule

Question 17Why did Gandhiji withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922?

Correct Answer: The Chauri Chaura incident involving violence

Question 18How many policemen were killed in the Chauri Chaura incident?

Correct Answer: 22

Question 19What title did Gandhiji renounce during the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Correct Answer: Kaiser-i-Hind

Question 20Why was the Simon Commission boycotted by Indians?

Correct Answer: It had no Indian members

Question 21Which leader died as a result of a lathi charge while protesting the Simon Commission?

Correct Answer: Lala Lajpat Rai

Question 22At which session did the Congress declare 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) as its objective?

Correct Answer: Lahore Session 1929

Question 23Who presided over the historic Lahore Session of 1929?

Correct Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru

Question 24When was the first 'Independence Day' observed before 1947?

Correct Answer: January 26, 1930

Question 25The Dandi March marked the beginning of which movement?

Correct Answer: Civil Disobedience Movement

Question 26Why did Gandhiji choose to break the Salt Law specifically?

Correct Answer: The salt-tax affected the poor and all sections of society

Question 27What was the 'Eleven Point Ultimatum'?

Correct Answer: A list of demands Gandhiji served to the British before the Dandi March

Question 28During World War II, who described the Cripps proposals as a 'post-dated cheque on a failing bank'?

Correct Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

Question 29What slogan did Gandhiji give during the Quit India Movement?

Correct Answer: Do or Die

Question 30Subhas Chandra Bose resigned from the Congress in 1939 to form which party?

Correct Answer: Forward Bloc

Question 31Who first conceived the idea of the Indian National Army (INA)?

Correct Answer: Mohan Singh

Question 32Where did Subhas Chandra Bose set up the Provisional Government of Free India in 1943?

Correct Answer: Singapore

Question 33What were the battle-cries of Subhas Chandra Bose?

Correct Answer: Delhi Chalo and Jai Hind

Question 34The Cabinet Mission was sent to India to:

Correct Answer: Prepare a Constitution and transfer power

Question 35According to the Mountbatten Plan, when was India to be partitioned?

Correct Answer: August 15, 1947

Question 36Who was the first President of the Indian Republic?

Correct Answer: Dr. Rajendra Prasad

Question 37Who was the first Governor-General of Pakistan?

Correct Answer: Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Question 38The 'Tryst with Destiny' speech was delivered by whom?

Correct Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru

Question 39When did India become a Republic?

Correct Answer: January 26, 1950

Question 40Which Japanese-occupied islands were handed over to the INA and renamed Shaheed and Swaraj?

Correct Answer: Andaman and Nicobar

Question 41The movement that transformed the National Movement into a 'people's movement' for the first time was:

Correct Answer: Home Rule Movement

Question 42Which Secretary of State announced the policy of developing self-governing institutions in India in 1917?

Correct Answer: Edwin Montague

Question 43In which city did both Congress and Muslim League hold sessions in 1915 and 1916?

Correct Answer: Bombay and Lucknow

Question 44The 'Natal Indian Congress' was formed by Gandhiji in which country?

Correct Answer: South Africa

Question 45The technique of non-violent resistance used by Gandhiji is known as:

Correct Answer: Satyagraha

Question 46What percentage of wage increase did Ahmedabad mill-owners finally agree to?

Correct Answer: 35%

Question 47Who were the leaders whose arrest led to the Jallianwala Bagh protest?

Correct Answer: Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew

Question 48What was General Dyer's stated motive for the firing at Jallianwala Bagh?

Correct Answer: To strike terror into the whole of Punjab

Question 49The word 'Satyagraha' is based on which two principles?

Correct Answer: Truth and Non-violence

Question 50Which movement was merged with the Non-Cooperation Movement to foster Hindu-Muslim unity?

Correct Answer: Khilafat
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True or False Questions - Determine whether each statement is true or false. Click "Show Answer" to reveal the correct answer.

Statement 1Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant started the Home Rule League in 1916.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 2The Home Rule Movement aimed for complete independence from the British Empire immediately.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 3The British considered the word 'Swaraj' to be seditious and dangerous.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 4Annie Besant started her Home Rule League five months before Tilak started his.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 5The Home Rule Movement helped transform the national struggle into a people's movement.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 6The Lucknow Pact was an agreement between the Congress and the British Government.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 7The Lucknow Pact brought unity between the Early Nationalists and the Assertive Nationalists.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 8In the Lucknow Pact, the Congress accepted separate electorates for Muslims.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 9The Muslim League accepted the principles of election and majority rule in the Lucknow Pact.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 10The Gandhian Era in Indian history is generally considered to be from 1917 to 1947.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 11Mahatma Gandhi was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 12Gandhiji practiced law in South Africa before returning to India.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 13The Natal Indian Congress was formed by Mahatma Gandhi in India.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 14Satyagraha is a non-violent resistance technique based on truth and non-violence.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 15Gandhiji's first experiment with Satyagraha in India was in Champaran, Bihar.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 16The 'tinkathia' system required peasants to grow indigo on 5/20th of their land.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 17The Ahmedabad Satyagraha was a strike led by mill-workers against mill-owners.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 18The Kheda Satyagraha was organized because of a plague epidemic.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 19The Rowlatt Act allowed the British to arrest people without trial.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 20The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on April 13, 1919.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 21General Dyer ordered the troops to fire on the crowd after giving them a 10-minute warning.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 22The Jallianwala Bagh had multiple exits that were blocked by the British.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 23The Khilafat Movement was led by the Ali Brothers.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 24The Sultan of Turkey was looked upon by many Muslims as their religious head, the Caliph.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 25Gandhiji opposed the Khilafat movement because it was a religious issue.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 26October 17, 1919, was observed as 'Khilafat Day' on an all-India scale.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 27The Non-Cooperation Movement sought to remedy the 'Punjab wrong'.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 28Boycott of foreign goods was a major program of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 29Motilal Nehru gave up his legal practice to join the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 30Gandhiji held the title of 'Kaiser-i-Hind' and renounced it in 1920.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 31The Chauri Chaura incident occurred in Bihar.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 32The Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn because it became violent.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 3322 policemen were killed in the Chauri Chaura incident.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 34The Simon Commission was appointed in 1927.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 35The Simon Commission included three Indian members of Parliament.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 36Lala Lajpat Rai died due to lathi blows during a protest against the Simon Commission.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 37The Lahore Session of 1929 declared 'Purna Swaraj' as the goal of the Congress.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 38Jawaharlal Nehru was the President of the 1929 Lahore Session.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 39The tricolour flag was hoisted on the banks of the river Ganges in 1929.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 40January 26, 1930, was observed as the first Independence Day.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 41The Dandi March started from Sabarmati Ashram.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 42The Dandi March began on March 12, 1930.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 43The Civil Disobedience Movement started by violating the Forest Laws.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 44Gandhiji chose salt to protest because the tax on it affected the poor.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 45Prabhat Pheris were morning processions used as a method of propaganda.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 46The Cripps Mission was sent to India during the First World War.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 47The Cripps Mission proposed immediate full independence for India.

Correct Answer: False

Statement 48Gandhiji described the Cripps proposals as a 'post-dated cheque'.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 49The Quit India Movement was launched in 1942.

Correct Answer: True

Statement 50The slogan 'Do or Die' was given by Subhas Chandra Bose.

Correct Answer: False
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Fill in the Blanks - Complete the sentences by filling in the missing words. Click "Show Answer" to check your response.

Question 1During the First World War, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and ______ infused a new life in the national movement.

Correct Answer: Annie Besant

Question 2Tilak founded the Indian Home Rule League in April ______.

Correct Answer: 1916

Question 3The Home Rule League raised the slogan of Swadeshi, ______, and Home Rule for India.

Correct Answer: National Education

Question 4The ______ of 1916 brought about unity between the Early Nationalists and the Assertive Nationalists.

Correct Answer: Lucknow Pact

Question 5In 1917, the Secretary of State, ______, announced the policy of developing self-governing institutions in India.

Correct Answer: Edwin Montague

Question 6The period from 1917 to 1947 in Indian history is popularly known as the ______.

Correct Answer: Gandhian Era

Question 7Mahatma Gandhi was born in 1869 at ______ in Gujarat.

Correct Answer: Porbandar

Question 8In South Africa, Gandhiji formed the ______ Indian Congress to struggle against racial injustice.

Correct Answer: Natal

Question 9Gandhiji's technique of non-violent resistance based on truth and non-violence is called ______.

Correct Answer: Satyagraha

Question 10The indigo cultivators of ______ in Bihar were the subject of Gandhiji's first Satyagraha in India.

Correct Answer: Champaran

Question 11The ______ system required Champaran peasants to grow indigo on 3/20th of their land.

Correct Answer: tinkathia

Question 12In 1918, Gandhiji led the mill-workers of ______ in a strike for higher wages.

Correct Answer: Ahmedabad

Question 13The mill-owners of Ahmedabad eventually agreed to a ______ per cent wage increase.

Correct Answer: 35

Question 14The ______ Satyagraha was organized because crops failed and peasants could not pay land revenue.

Correct Answer: Kheda

Question 15The ______ Act authorized the British government to arrest and imprison anyone without trial.

Correct Answer: Rowlatt

Question 16The Jallianwala Bagh tragedy took place on April 13, ______.

Correct Answer: 1919

Question 17The people of Punjab gathered at Jallianwala Bagh to protest the arrest of Dr. Satyapal and ______.

Correct Answer: Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew

Question 18General ______ ordered his troops to open fire on the unarmed crowd at Jallianwala Bagh.

Correct Answer: Dyer

Question 19The ______ Movement was started by Indian Muslims to support the Sultan of Turkey.

Correct Answer: Khilafat

Question 20The Khilafat Movement was led by the ______ brothers, Mohammed Ali and Shaukat Ali.

Correct Answer: Ali

Question 21Mahatma Gandhi was elected as President of the All-India ______ Conference in November 1919.

Correct Answer: Khilafat

Question 22The Non-Cooperation Movement aimed to remedy the '______ wrong' and the 'Khilafat wrong'.

Correct Answer: Punjab

Question 23Gandhiji renounced the title of ______ during the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Correct Answer: Kaiser-i-Hind

Question 24The Chauri Chaura incident occurred on February 5, ______.

Correct Answer: 1922

Question 25In the Chauri Chaura incident, ______ policemen were killed when a police station was set on fire.

Correct Answer: 22

Question 26The Chauri Chaura village is located in the state of ______.

Correct Answer: Uttar Pradesh

Question 27The ______ Commission was appointed in 1927 to investigate the need for constitutional reforms.

Correct Answer: Simon

Question 28The Simon Commission was boycotted because it had no ______ member.

Correct Answer: Indian

Question 29The slogan used against the Simon Commission was '______'.

Correct Answer: Simon Go Back

Question 30______ lost his life as a result of lathi blows received during a protest against the Simon Commission.

Correct Answer: Lala Lajpat Rai

Question 31The historic ______ Session of 1929 passed the resolution for Purna Swaraj.

Correct Answer: Lahore

Question 32______ was the President of the Congress during the Lahore Session of 1929.

Correct Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru

Question 33Purna Swaraj means ______.

Correct Answer: complete independence

Question 34The Congress decided to observe January 26 as ______ Day every year.

Correct Answer: Independence

Question 35The ______ March started on March 12, 1930, to violate the Salt Laws.

Correct Answer: Dandi

Question 36Gandhiji started the Dandi March from the ______ Ashram.

Correct Answer: Sabarmati

Question 37The breaking of the Salt Laws marked the beginning of the ______ Movement.

Correct Answer: Civil Disobedience

Question 38New methods of propaganda during the Civil Disobedience Movement included ______ and pamphlets.

Correct Answer: Prabhat Pheris

Question 39The ______ Mission, headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, was sent to India in March 1942.

Correct Answer: Cripps

Question 40Gandhiji described the Cripps proposals as a '______ on a failing bank'.

Correct Answer: post-dated cheque

Question 41The ______ Movement was launched by Gandhiji in August 1942.

Correct Answer: Quit India

Question 42The famous slogan given by Gandhiji during the Quit India Movement was '______'.

Correct Answer: Do or Die

Question 43During the Quit India Movement, parallel governments were set up in Ballia, Tamluk, and ______.

Correct Answer: Satara

Question 44Subhas Chandra Bose formed a new party called the ______ in 1939.

Correct Answer: Forward Bloc

Question 45The idea of the Indian National Army (INA) was first conceived in Malaya by ______.

Correct Answer: Mohan Singh

Question 46Subhas Chandra Bose took charge of the INA in July ______.

Correct Answer: 1943

Question 47The women's regiment of the INA was called the ______ Regiment.

Correct Answer: Rani Jhansi

Question 48The Rani Jhansi Regiment was commanded by Captain ______.

Correct Answer: Laxmi Sehgal

Question 49Subhas Chandra Bose set up the Provisional Government of Free India in ______.

Correct Answer: Singapore

Question 50Bose renamed the Andaman and Nicobar islands as ______ and Swaraj Islands.

Correct Answer: Shaheed
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Short Answer Questions - Practice concise answers to these questions. Click "Show Answer" to reveal the response.
Question 1

Who founded the Indian Home Rule League in April 1916?

Answer:
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Question 2

In which month and year did Annie Besant start her Home Rule League?

Answer:
September 1916
Question 3

What was the main objective of the Home Rule Movement?

Answer:
Self-government
Question 4

Which term did Tilak and Besant use instead of the 'seditious' word Swaraj?

Answer:
Home Rule
Question 5

In which city did the Congress and Muslim League hold simultaneous sessions in 1916?

Answer:
Lucknow
Question 6

What is the 1916 agreement between the Congress and the Muslim League called?

Answer:
Lucknow Pact
Question 7

Which British Secretary of State announced a policy of gradual self-governing institutions in 1917?

Answer:
Edwin Montague
Question 8

What did the Lucknow Pact achieve between the two wings of the Congress?

Answer:
Unity
Question 9

What period of Indian history is known as the Gandhian Era?

Answer:
1917-1947
Question 10

In which year was Mahatma Gandhi born?

Answer:
1869
Question 11

Where was Mahatma Gandhi born?

Answer:
Porbandar
Question 12

Which organization did Gandhiji form in South Africa to fight racial injustice?

Answer:
Natal Indian Congress
Question 13

What is the term for Gandhiji's technique of non-violent resistance?

Answer:
Satyagraha
Question 14

Where did Gandhiji first experiment with Satyagraha in India?

Answer:
Champaran
Question 15

What crop were the peasants of Champaran forced to grow?

Answer:
Indigo
Question 16

What was the name of the exploitative indigo system in Champaran?

Answer:
Tinkathia system
Question 17

In 1918, Gandhiji led a strike for mill-workers in which city?

Answer:
Ahmedabad
Question 18

What wage increase percentage did the Ahmedabad mill-workers receive?

Answer:
35 per cent
Question 19

In which Gujarat district did Gandhiji organize a Satyagraha against land revenue in 1918?

Answer:
Kheda
Question 20

Which act allowed the British to imprison Indians without trial after WWI?

Answer:
Rowlatt Act
Question 21

On what date did the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy occur?

Answer:
April 13, 1919
Question 22

In which city is Jallianwala Bagh located?

Answer:
Amritsar
Question 23

Who was the British General responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh firing?

Answer:
General Dyer
Question 24

Which movement was started to support the Caliph of Turkey?

Answer:
Khilafat Movement
Question 25

Who were the primary leaders of the Khilafat Movement?

Answer:
Ali Brothers
Question 26

When was Khilafat Day observed in India?

Answer:
October 17, 1919
Question 27

Who was elected President of the All-India Khilafat Conference in 1919?

Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi
Question 28

What was the primary goal of the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Answer:
Self government
Question 29

Which title did Gandhiji surrender during the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Answer:
Kaiser-i-Hind
Question 30

Who renounced his knighthood after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre?

Answer:
Rabindranath Tagore
Question 31

On what date did the Chauri Chaura incident happen?

Answer:
February 5, 1922
Question 32

How many policemen died in the Chauri Chaura incident?

Answer:
22
Question 33

Why did Gandhiji withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922?

Answer:
Violence
Question 34

In which state is Chauri Chaura located?

Answer:
Uttar Pradesh
Question 35

In which year was the Simon Commission appointed?

Answer:
1927
Question 36

Why did Indians boycott the Simon Commission?

Answer:
No Indian members
Question 37

Who was the Chairman of the Simon Commission?

Answer:
Sir John Simon
Question 38

Which leader died after being injured in a protest against the Simon Commission?

Answer:
Lala Lajpat Rai
Question 39

Who was the President of the 1929 Lahore Session of Congress?

Answer:
Jawaharlal Nehru
Question 40

What objective was declared at the 1929 Lahore Session?

Answer:
Purna Swaraj
Question 41

On which day was the first Independence Day celebrated by Congress?

Answer:
January 26, 1930
Question 42

On the banks of which river was the tricolour flag hoisted in 1929?

Answer:
Ravi
Question 43

What movement did Gandhiji start with the Dandi March?

Answer:
Civil Disobedience Movement
Question 44

From which ashram did the Dandi March begin?

Answer:
Sabarmati Ashram
Question 45

What was the specific target of the 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement?

Answer:
Salt Laws
Question 46

What were the morning processions during the Civil Disobedience Movement called?

Answer:
Prabhat Pheris
Question 47

Who headed the mission sent to India in March 1942?

Answer:
Sir Stafford Cripps
Question 48

What status did the Cripps Mission offer India after the war?

Answer:
Dominion Status
Question 49

What movement was launched after the failure of the Cripps Mission?

Answer:
Quit India Movement
Question 50

What was the slogan of the Quit India Movement?

Answer:
Do or Die
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Long Answer Questions - Practice detailed answers to these comprehensive questions. Click "Show Answer" to reveal the response.
Question 1

What were the main objectives of the Home Rule Movement led by Tilak and Annie Besant?

Answer:
The main objectives of the Home Rule Movement were: 1. To attain self-government within the British Empire by constitutional means. 2. To establish a government by Councils, whose members would be elected by the people. 3. To ensure the Council would pass the country's budget and make ministers responsible to the legislature. 4. To organize and mobilize public opinion in favor of self-rule.
Question 2

Discuss the impact of the Home Rule Movement on the history of the National Movement in India.

Answer:
The Home Rule Movement was significant because: 1. It infused new life into the national movement during World War I. 2. It transformed the struggle into a people's movement by involving more participants. 3. It created organizational links between towns and villages. 4. It produced a generation of zealous nationalists who formed the backbone of the future struggle. 5. It forced the British government to announce a policy of gradual development of self-governing institutions in August 1917.
Question 3

State the main clauses of the Lucknow Pact of 1916.

Answer:
The main clauses of the Lucknow Pact were: 1. Abolition of the India Council. 2. Enlargement of the Provincial and Central Legislative Councils. 3. Provision of separate electorates for Muslims. 4. Half of the members of the Viceroy’s Executive Council to be Indians. 5. Separation of the judiciary from the executive. 6. Granting autonomy to the Provinces and placing limitations on the powers of the Imperial Legislature.
Question 4

Explain the significance of the Lucknow Pact in the context of the freedom struggle.

Answer:
The Lucknow Pact was significant because: 1. It brought about unity between the Early Nationalists and Assertive Nationalists after a nine-year gap. 2. it established cooperation between the Congress and the Muslim League. 3. Both parties agreed to a joint scheme of reforms, strengthening the overall movement. 4. It forced the British government to take the Indian demand for reforms seriously.
Question 5

Describe Gandhiji's early experiment with Satyagraha in Champaran.

Answer:
In Champaran (1917), Gandhiji took up the cause of indigo cultivators who were exploited under the 'tinkathia' system. They were legally bound to grow indigo on 3/20th of their land and sell it at fixed low prices to British planters. Gandhiji offered Satyagraha against the district authorities' ban on his entry. As a result, an inquiry was conducted, leading to relief for the exploited peasants.
Question 6

What led to the Ahmedabad Satyagraha and what was its outcome?

Answer:
The Ahmedabad Satyagraha (1918) was led by Gandhiji to support mill-workers striking against owners who refused to pay higher wages. Gandhiji undertook a fast to support the workers' demands. Fearing the consequences, the mill-owners agreed on the fourth day of the fast to grant a 35 percent wage increase.
Question 7

Explain the causes and result of the Kheda Satyagraha.

Answer:
In Kheda (1918), crops failed and peasants were unable to pay land revenue. The government refused to remit the tax, prompting Gandhiji to organize the peasants to offer Satyagraha. They refused to pay revenue until the government was eventually forced to arrive at a settlement with the peasants.
Question 8

What was the Rowlatt Act and why was it termed as a 'sudden blow' to Indians?

Answer:
The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 after WWI. It authorized the government to arrest and imprison anyone without a trial in a court of law and banned Indians from keeping weapons. It was a 'sudden blow' because Indians were expecting self-governance as a reward for their support during the war, but instead received repressive legislation.
Question 9

Describe the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy and the measures taken by General Dyer.

Answer:
On April 13, 1919, a crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar to protest the arrest of Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew. General Dyer entered the area, closed the only exit, and ordered troops to fire on the unarmed crowd without warning. Firing continued until ammunition was exhausted, killing about 1,000 people and wounding thousands more to 'strike terror' into Punjab.
Question 10

What were the main demands of the Khilafatists?

Answer:
The Khilafatists demanded: 1. The Ottoman Caliph (Sultan of Turkey) should retain his empire. 2. The Caliph must be left with sufficient territory to defend the Islamic faith. 3. Arab lands such as Arabia, Syria, Iraq, and Palestine must remain under Muslim rule.
Question 11

State the three most important causes that led to the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Answer:
The three causes were: 1. The Rowlatt Act, which allowed imprisonment without trial. 2. The Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy and the subsequent 'Punjab wrongs'. 3. The 'Khilafat wrong', where the Sultan of Turkey was deprived of authority after WWI.
Question 12

Detail the constructive programs included in the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Answer:
The constructive programs included: 1. Popularization of Swadeshi and Charkha (spinning cloth). 2. Establishment of national schools and colleges. 3. Removal of untouchability and welfare of Harijans. 4. Emancipation and upliftment of women. 5. Promotion of Hindu-Muslim unity.
Question 13

What was the Chauri Chaura incident and how did it affect the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Answer:
On February 5, 1922, a procession of peasants at Chauri Chaura was fired upon by the police. The infuriated mob set the police station on fire, killing 22 policemen. Gandhiji, a staunch believer in non-violence (Ahimsa), was shocked by this violence and withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement on February 12, 1922.
Question 14

Analyze the long-term gains of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Answer:
Although it didn't achieve immediate goals, its gains were: 1. It made the National Movement a mass movement. 2. It instilled new confidence in the people. 3. It transformed Congress into a moral fighting force. 4. It fostered Hindu-Muslim unity. 5. It shattered the myth that British rule was for the betterment of Indians.
Question 15

Why did the Congress decide to boycott the Simon Commission?

Answer:
The Simon Commission (1927) was appointed to investigate constitutional reforms but consisted of seven British members and no Indians. Indians saw this as a violation of the principle of self-determination and a deliberate insult to their self-respect, leading to the decision to boycott it 'at every stage and in every form'.
Question 16

Describe the events of the historic Lahore Session of the Congress in 1929.

Answer:
Under the Presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore Session passed a resolution declaring 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) as the objective of the Congress. On December 31, 1929, Nehru hoisted the tricolour flag on the banks of river Ravi. It was decided to observe January 26 as Independence Day every year.
Question 17

What was the 'Eleven Point Ultimatum' served by Gandhiji in 1930?

Answer:
Before starting the Civil Disobedience Movement, Gandhiji served the British government an 'Eleven Point Ultimatum' containing key demands for reform. He waited for a response, but when the government failed to respond, he launched the Dandi March to begin the movement.
Question 18

Explain the significance of the Dandi March and the Salt Laws.

Answer:
Gandhiji marched from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi to pick up salt from the coast, violating Salt Laws. He attacked these laws because the salt tax affected all sections of society, especially the poor. This act of defiance marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Question 19

What was the impact of the Civil Disobedience Movement?

Answer:
The impacts included: 1. Mass strikes and the setting up of parallel governments in several places. 2. Shattering of people's faith in the British government. 3. Revival of the will to fight elections. 4. Deepening of the social roots of the freedom struggle. 5. Popularization of new propaganda methods like Prabhat Pheris and pamphlets.
Question 20

Explain the Cripps Mission's proposal and why Gandhiji rejected it.

Answer:
The Cripps Mission (1942) proposed that India be given 'Dominion Status' after the end of WWII. Gandhiji rejected it, describing it as a 'post-dated cheque on a failing bank' because the Congress wanted the immediate formation of a national government with full responsibility.
Question 21

Discuss the reasons that led Gandhiji to launch the Quit India Movement.

Answer:
The reasons were: 1. The failure of the Cripps Mission. 2. The growing threat of Japanese aggression; Gandhiji believed the British presence invited Japan to invade India. 3. The realization that the British would not transfer power unless forced by a mass struggle. He asked the British to quit India and gave the slogan 'Do or Die'.
Question 22

How did the British government respond to the Quit India Movement?

Answer:
The British suppressed the movement with ruthless brutality. Gandhiji and all important leaders were arrested immediately. The Congress was declared illegal. Processions were lathi-charged and fired upon, though people retaliated by attacking symbols of British authority like police stations and post offices.
Question 23

What were the objectives of the Forward Bloc founded by Subhas Chandra Bose?

Answer:
The immediate objective of the Forward Bloc (formed in 1939) was the liberation of India with the support of workers, peasants, youth, and other organizations. Bose believed in action and agitation rather than the non-violent methods of Gandhiji.
Question 24

Describe the formation and composition of the Indian National Army (INA).

Answer:
The idea was conceived by Mohan Singh in Malaya. It was organized using Indian prisoners of war (POWs) left behind by the British and Indian civilians residing in Southeast Asia. Subhas Chandra Bose took charge in 1943, becoming its supreme commander and setting up headquarters in Yangon and Singapore.
Question 25

What were the main objectives of the INA under Subhas Chandra Bose?

Answer:
The objectives were: 1. To organize an armed revolution to fight the British with modern arms. 2. To utilize the support of Indians living abroad, especially in East Asia, since a revolution from within India was difficult. 3. To establish a Provisional Government of Free India.
Question 26

Explain the significance of the Rani Jhansi Regiment.

Answer:
The Rani Jhansi Regiment was a women's regiment of the INA formed under the command of Captain Laxmi Sehgal. It demonstrated the involvement of women in the armed struggle for independence and the inclusive nature of the INA's fight.
Question 27

Discuss the proposals of the Cabinet Mission Plan 1946.

Answer:
The proposals were: 1. A federal union of British Provinces and Princely States. 2. Union Government to control Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Communications. 3. Provinces to enjoy full autonomy for other subjects. 4. Division of Provinces into three groups (A, B, C) based on religion. 5. Formation of a Constituent Assembly and an Interim Government of 14 members.
Question 28

Why did the Congress and the League react differently to the Cabinet Mission Plan?

Answer:
The Congress accepted it with reservations, focusing only on the Constitution-making part. The Muslim League accepted it because they felt the grouping of Muslim-majority provinces was a stepping stone toward the formation of Pakistan.
Question 29

Outline the main provisions of the Mountbatten Plan.

Answer:
The Mountbatten Plan provided for: 1. The partition of India into two independent sovereign states, India and Pakistan, on August 15, 1947. 2. Partition of Punjab and Bengal. 3. The choice for Princely States to join either India or Pakistan. 4. Transfer of power without further delay.
Question 30

List the main provisions of the Indian Independence Act of 1947.

Answer:
Provisions included: 1. Creation of two Dominions (India and Pakistan). 2. Division of Bengal and Punjab. 3. Plebiscites in NWFP and Sylhet. 4. Appointment of a Governor-General for each dominion. 5. Constituent Assemblies to act as Central Legislatures. 6. Termination of British suzerainty over Princely States and end of British Parliament's jurisdiction.
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Quick Review Flashcards - Click to flip and test your knowledge!
Question
What non-violent resistance technique, based on truth and non-violence, did Gandhiji introduce in the Indian situation?
Answer
Satyagraha.
Question
In which three places in India did Gandhiji first experiment with the technique of Satyagraha?
Answer
Champaran (Bihar), Ahmedabad (Gujarat), and Kheda (Gujarat).
Question
What was the system that forced Indigo cultivators in Champaran to grow indigo on 3/20th of their land?
Answer
The tinkathia system.
Question
In the Champaran Satyagraha, Gandhiji's inquiry into the conditions of the Indigo planters helped them to achieve _____.
Answer
some relief.
Question
What was the primary issue that led Gandhiji to lead the mill-workers of Ahmedabad in a satyagraha?
Answer
The mill-owners had refused to pay them higher wages.
Question
What was the specific demand of the mill-workers during the Ahmedabad Satyagraha, which was ultimately met?
Answer
A 35 per cent wage increase.
Question
Why did the peasants in Kheda, Gujarat, refuse to pay land revenue, leading to the Kheda Satyagraha?
Answer
Their crops had failed.
Question
What was the outcome of the Kheda Satyagraha?
Answer
The government was forced to arrive at a settlement with the peasants.
Question
Gandhiji said, "Non-Cooperation with _____ is as much a duty as is cooperation with good."
Answer
evil
Question
What was the name of the Act passed by the British government after World War I that allowed for the arrest and imprisonment of anyone without trial?
Answer
The Rowlatt Act.
Question
The Rowlatt Act was seen as a sudden blow to the Indians who were expecting _____ after the First World War.
Answer
self-governance.
Question
In protest of what British policy did a large crowd gather at Jallianwala Bagh on April 13, 1919?
Answer
The arrest of their leaders, Dr. Satyapal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew.
Question
Who ordered his troops to open fire on the unarmed crowd at Jallianwala Bagh?
Answer
General Dyer.
Question
What was the date of the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy?
Answer
April 13, 1919.
Question
List the three main causes that led to the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer
The Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwala Bagh Tragedy, and the Khilafat issue.
Question
What incident on February 5, 1922, involved a procession of peasants setting fire to a police station, killing 22 policemen?
Answer
The Chauri Chaura Incident.
Question
Where did the Chauri Chaura incident take place?
Answer
Chauri Chaura village in Uttar Pradesh.
Question
Why did Gandhiji withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement on February 12, 1922?
Answer
He was greatly shocked at the violence of the Chauri Chaura incident, which went against his principle of 'Ahimsa'.
Question
What was a major impact of the Non-Cooperation Movement on the national movement itself?
Answer
It became a mass movement.
Question
The Non-Cooperation Movement shattered the myth that the _____ was for the betterment of the Indians.
Answer
British rule
Question
In what year was the Simon Commission appointed by the British Government?
Answer
November 1927.
Question
What was the official purpose of the Simon Commission?
Answer
To investigate the need for further constitutional reforms.
Question
Why did the Indian National Congress decide to boycott the Simon Commission at every stage?
Answer
It was composed of seven British Members of Parliament and had no Indian members.
Question
What slogan was used by protestors against the Simon Commission?
Answer
'Simon Go Back'.
Question
Which prominent Indian leader was beaten and later died from his injuries during a protest against the Simon Commission?
Answer
Lala Lajpat Rai.
Question
Who founded the Forward Bloc after resigning from the Presidentship of the Congress?
Answer
Subhas Chandra Bose.
Question
What was the immediate objective of the Forward Bloc?
Answer
The liberation of India with the support of workers, peasants, youth, and other organisations.
Question
The idea of the Indian National Army (INA) was first conceived by whom?
Answer
Mohan Singh, an Indian officer in the British Army.
Question
Where did Subhas Chandra Bose arrive in July 1943 to take charge of the Indian Independence League and the INA?
Answer
Singapore.
Question
The women's regiment of the INA was named the Rani Jhansi Regiment and was commanded by whom?
Answer
Captain Lakshmi Sehgal.
Question
When and where did Subhas Chandra Bose set up the Provisional Government of Free India?
Answer
On October 21, 1943, in Singapore.
Question
What new names did Subhas Chandra Bose give to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Answer
Shaheed and Swaraj islands, respectively.
Question
What famous call to his soldiers did Subhas Chandra Bose give, meaning 'March to Delhi'?
Answer
'Delhi Chalo'.
Question
What was Subhas Chandra Bose's famous slogan to inspire his soldiers to fight for freedom?
Answer
'Give me blood and I shall give you freedom'.
Question
What event on August 15, 1945, led to the end of the INA's victories?
Answer
The surrender of Japan in the Second World War.
Question
What was the objective of the Cabinet Mission sent to India after the Second World War?
Answer
To help India achieve her independence and to set up a Constituent Assembly to prepare a Constitution.
Question
Who were the three members of the Cabinet Mission?
Answer
Pethick Lawrence, Sir Stafford Cripps, and A.V. Alexander.
Question
The Cabinet Mission proposed a federal union where the Union Government would control which three subjects?
Answer
Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Communications.
Question
How did the Cabinet Mission Plan propose to group the British Provinces?
Answer
Into three groups—Group A, Group B, and Group C on the basis of religion.
Question
Why did the Muslim League accept the Cabinet Mission Plan?
Answer
It felt that the grouping of Muslim majority provinces in a way meant the formation of Pakistan.
Question
Who came to India in March 1947 as the new viceroy, convinced that partition was inevitable?
Answer
Lord Mountbatten.
Question
What was the name of the plan proposed by Lord Mountbatten to effect the transfer of power?
Answer
The 'Mountbatten Plan'.
Question
What was the primary provision of the Mountbatten Plan?
Answer
India was to be partitioned and two independent and sovereign states, India and Pakistan, were to be formed.
Question
According to the Mountbatten Plan, which two provinces were to be partitioned if so desired by the people?
Answer
Punjab and Bengal.
Question
The Indian Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament on what date?
Answer
July 1, 1947.
Question
According to the Indian Independence Act of 1947, India would be partitioned into what two independent Dominions?
Answer
India and Pakistan.
Question
On what date did the Dominions of India and Pakistan come into existence?
Answer
August 15, 1947.
Question
Who was appointed as the Governor-General for the Dominion of India?
Answer
Lord Mountbatten.
Question
Who became the Governor-General of the Dominion of Pakistan?
Answer
Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Question
What freedom were the Princely States given under the Indian Independence Act?
Answer
To be free to associate themselves with either Dominion or to remain independent.
Question
On the eve of India's Independence, Jawaharlal Nehru made a memorable speech in the Constituent Assembly known as the _____ speech.
Answer
'Tryst with Destiny'
Question
On what date did India become a Republic?
Answer
January 26, 1950.
Question
Who took over as the first President of the Indian Republic?
Answer
Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
Question
Who started the Home Rule League movement in 1916 to attain self-government within the British Empire?
Answer
Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant.
Question
What 1916 agreement represented a joint scheme of political reforms agreed to by both the Congress and the Muslim League?
Answer
The Lucknow Pact.
Question
The period of the Indian independence struggle dominated by Mahatma Gandhi is known as the _____.
Answer
Gandhian Era.
Question
What movement was launched to press for the redressal of the Punjab wrongs, the Khilafat issue, and the attainment of Swaraj?
Answer
The Non-Cooperation Movement.
Question
What resolution did the British government's failure to accept the Nehru Report lead the Congress to pass at its Lahore session?
Answer
The Purna Swaraj (complete independence) resolution.
Question
The Civil Disobedience Movement was started by Gandhiji on March 12, 1930 with the famous _____.
Answer
Dandi March.
Question
What movement did Gandhiji believe was an invitation to Japan to invade India if the British were present?
Answer
The Quit India Movement.