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1. When did Mahatma Gandhi return to India from South Africa?
A. January 1915
B. March 1919
C. April 1917
D. December 1920
Answer: A. January 1915
Explanation: Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915 after successfully fighting the racist regime in South Africa with Satyagraha.
2. Where was Mahatma Gandhi's first Satyagraha movement in India organized?
A. Champaran (Bihar)
B. Kheda (Gujarat)
C. Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
D. Dandi (Gujarat)
Answer: A. Champaran (Bihar)
Explanation: In 1917, Gandhiji travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire peasants to struggle against the oppressive indigo plantation system.
3. What was the Rowlatt Act of 1919?
A. Act allowing detention of political prisoners without trial for two years
B. Act banning all public meetings permanently
C. Act imposing tax on salt manufacturing
D. Act restricting movement of plantation workers
Answer: A. Act allowing detention of political prisoners without trial for two years
Explanation: The Rowlatt Act gave the British government enormous powers to repress political activities and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for up to two years.
4. On which date did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place?
A. 13 April 1919
B. 10 April 1919
C. 6 April 1919
D. 15 August 1919
Answer: A. 13 April 1919
Explanation: On 13 April 1919, the infamous Jallianwala Bagh incident took place in Amritsar on Baisakhi day under General Dyer's orders.
5. Who were the leaders of the Khilafat Committee formed in Bombay in March 1919?
A. Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
B. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Abul Kalam Azad
D. Subhash Chandra Bose and CR Das
Answer: A. Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
Explanation: A Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919 by young Muslim brothers Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali.
6. Who wrote the famous book 'Hind Swaraj' published in 1909?
A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D. Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: A. Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: In his famous book 'Hind Swaraj' (1909), Mahatma Gandhi declared that British rule was established in India with the cooperation of Indians.
7. At which Congress session was the Non-Cooperation programme adopted in December 1920?
A. Nagpur Congress Session
B. Calcutta Congress Session
C. Lahore Congress Session
D. Madras Congress Session
Answer: A. Nagpur Congress Session
Explanation: At the Congress session at Nagpur in December 1920, a compromise was worked out and the Non-Cooperation programme was adopted.
8. What led to the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement by Mahatma Gandhi in February 1922?
A. Chauri Chaura incident
B. Jallianwala Bagh massacre
C. Arrest of Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Failure of the Khilafat Movement
Answer: A. Chauri Chaura incident
Explanation: In February 1922, Mahatma Gandhi decided to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement due to violent clashes at Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur.
9. Who formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to argue for a return to council politics?
A. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru
B. Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose
C. Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel
D. Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal
Answer: A. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru
Explanation: C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party to contest elections to the provincial councils.
10. Why was the Simon Commission greeted with the slogan 'Go Back Simon' upon arriving in India in 1928?
A. It did not have a single Indian member
B. It favored the Muslim League over Congress
C. It recommended partition of India
D. It supported high taxes on farmers
Answer: A. It did not have a single Indian member
Explanation: The Simon Commission was composed entirely of British members with no Indian representation, causing widespread protests.
11. Under whose presidency did the Lahore Congress formalize the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' in December 1929?
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Mahatma Gandhi
C. Subhash Chandra Bose
D. Vallabhbhai Patel
Answer: A. Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: In December 1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore Congress formalized the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' or full independence.
12. From where to where did Mahatma Gandhi lead the famous Salt March (Dandi March)?
A. Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi
B. Ahmedabad to Surat
C. Bardoli to Dandi
D. Champaran to Sabarmati
Answer: A. Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi
Explanation: Gandhiji started his famous salt march accompanied by 78 trusted volunteers from Sabarmati Ashram to coastal town of Dandi.
13. How many miles was the Salt March, and how many days did it take to cover?
A. 240 miles in 24 days
B. 100 miles in 10 days
C. 500 miles in 30 days
D. 180 miles in 15 days
Answer: A. 240 miles in 24 days
Explanation: The march was over 240 miles long, walking about 10 miles a day for 24 days from Sabarmati to Dandi.
14. When did Mahatma Gandhi break the salt law at Dandi, marking the start of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
A. 6 April 1930
B. 12 March 1930
C. 26 January 1930
D. 5 March 1931
Answer: A. 6 April 1930
Explanation: On 6 April 1930, Gandhiji reached Dandi and ceremonially violated the law, manufacturing salt by boiling sea water.
15. What pact was signed on 5 March 1931 leading to the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
A. Gandhi-Irwin Pact
B. Poona Pact
C. Lucknow Pact
D. Delhi Pact
Answer: A. Gandhi-Irwin Pact
Explanation: On 5 March 1931, Mahatma Gandhi entered into the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, agreeing to participate in the Second Round Table Conference.
16. The Poona Pact of September 1932 was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and whom?
A. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
B. Lord Irwin
C. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
D. Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: A. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Explanation: The Poona Pact gave Depressed Classes reserved seats in provincial and central legislative councils, signed between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi's supporters.
17. Who led the militant peasant movement in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh during the 1920s?
A. Alluri Sitarama Raju
B. Baba Ramchandra
C. Birsa Munda
D. Siddhu and Kanhu
Answer: A. Alluri Sitarama Raju
Explanation: Alluri Sitarama Raju led the tribal peasants in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh using guerrilla warfare techniques.
18. Who led the peasant movement in Awadh against talukdars and landlords?
A. Baba Ramchandra
B. Alluri Sitarama Raju
C. Swami Vivekanand
D. Acharya Vinoba Bhave
Answer: A. Baba Ramchandra
Explanation: In Awadh, peasants were led by Baba Ramchandra—a sanyasi who had earlier been to Fiji as an indentured labourer.
19. What did 'Swaraj' mean for plantation workers in Assam under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859?
A. Right to move freely in and out of tea gardens
B. Reduction in land revenue
C. Redistribution of land
D. Abolition of salt tax
Answer: A. Right to move freely in and out of tea gardens
Explanation: For plantation workers in Assam, freedom meant the right to move freely in and out of confined spaces where they were enclosed without permission.
20. Who created the first image of Bharat Mata in the late 19th century?
A. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
B. Abanindranath Tagore
C. Rabindranath Tagore
D. Raja Ravi Varma
Answer: A. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Explanation: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay first created the image of Bharat Mata and wrote 'Vande Mataram' in his novel Anandamath.
21. Who painted the famous ascetic representation of Bharat Mata in 1905?
A. Abanindranath Tagore
B. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
C. Nandalal Bose
D. Jamini Roy
Answer: A. Abanindranath Tagore
Explanation: Abanindranath Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat Mata, portraying her as an ascetic figure calm, composed, divine, and spiritual.
22. What was the tricolour flag designed during the Swadeshi movement in Bengal composed of?
A. Red, Green, and Yellow with 8 lotuses
B. Red, White, and Green with spinning wheel
C. Saffron, White, and Green with Chakra
D. Blue, Yellow, and Red with Crescent Moon
Answer: A. Red, Green, and Yellow with 8 lotuses
Explanation: During the Swadeshi movement in Bengal, a tricolour flag (red, green, yellow) was designed having eight lotuses representing eight provinces of British India.
23. In 1921, Mahatma Gandhi designed the Swaraj flag which featured what symbol at its centre?
A. Spinning wheel (Charkha)
B. Lotus flower
C. Crescent moon
D. Rising sun
Answer: A. Spinning wheel (Charkha)
Explanation: Gandhiji designed the Swaraj flag (red, green, white) with a spinning wheel in the centre representing self-help.
24. Who was the publisher of a massive four-volume collection of Tamil folk tales titled 'The Folklore of Southern India'?
A. Natesa Sastri
B. Rabindranath Tagore
C. Subramania Bharati
D. Periyar E.V. Ramasamy
Answer: A. Natesa Sastri
Explanation: In Madras, Natesa Sastri published 'The Folklore of Southern India', believing folk literature was national literature.
25. What organization was founded by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1930 to uplift Dalits?
A. Depressed Classes Association
B. Harijan Sevak Sangh
C. Bahujan Samaj Party
D. Scheduled Castes Federation
Answer: A. Depressed Classes Association
Explanation: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar organized the Dalits into the Depressed Classes Association in 1930.
26. What business organization was formed in 1927 by Indian industrialist leaders like Purshottamdas Thakurdas and G.D. Birla?
A. FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries)
B. ASSOCHAM
C. Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress
D. Confederation of Indian Industry
Answer: A. FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries)
Explanation: Industrialists led by Purshottamdas Thakurdas and G. D. Birla formed FICCI in 1927 to protect business interests against colonial policies.
27. Which resolution passed in 1942 called for an immediate end to British rule in India under the slogan 'Do or Die'?
A. Quit India Resolution
B. Non-Cooperation Resolution
C. Civil Disobedience Resolution
D. Khilafat Resolution
Answer: A. Quit India Resolution
Explanation: The Congress Working Committee in Wardha passed the Quit India Resolution in July 1942, launching the movement with Gandhiji's slogan 'Do or Die'.
28. Why did rich peasant communities like the Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of Uttar Pradesh actively join the Civil Disobedience Movement?
A. Due to trade depression and falling crop prices making land revenue unbearable
B. To get free land from the government
C. To support industrial expansion
D. To protest against council elections
Answer: A. Due to trade depression and falling crop prices making land revenue unbearable
Explanation: Being producers of commercial crops, they were hit hard by trade depression and falling prices, making it impossible to pay the high government revenue demand.
29. Who led the 'Frontier Gandhi' movement (Khudai Khidmatgars) in the North-West Frontier Province?
A. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
B. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
C. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
D. Saifuddin Kitchlew
Answer: A. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Explanation: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, a devout disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, led protests in Peshawar in April 1930.
30. What was the main limitation of the Civil Disobedience Movement in terms of social participation?
A. Limited participation of Dalits and Muslim political organizations
B. Complete absence of women
C. Lack of support from rich peasants
D. Non-participation of students
Answer: A. Limited participation of Dalits and Muslim political organizations
Explanation: Not all social groups were moved by the abstract concept of Swaraj; Dalit participation was limited and Muslim response was lukewarm due to growing communal distance.
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