All (68)Unattempted (68)Skipped (0)Correct (0)Wrong (0)
Q.1
WBCS Prelims 2023
The first Satyagrahi selected by Mahatma Gandhi to launch the Individual Satyagraha in October 1940, was
A.C. Rajagopalachari
B.Vallabhbhai Patel
C.Dr. Rajendra Prasad
D.J. B. Kripalani
Explanation
Why Correct: Vinoba Bhave was the first Individual Satyagrahi selected by Mahatma Gandhi in October 1940. Distractor Analysis: C. Rajagopalachari was a prominent Congress leader but not the first Satyagrahi. Vallabhbhai Patel was a key Congress organizer. Dr. Rajendra Prasad later became India's first President. J.B. Kripalani was a Congress socialist leader. Takeaway: The Individual Satyagraha movement (1940-41) was a symbolic protest where selected individuals courted arrest one by one, with Jawaharlal Nehru being the second Satyagrahi after Vinoba Bhave.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.2
WBCS Prelims 2022
Who among the following was associated with the Bardoli Satyagraha (1928)?
A.Rajendra Prasad
B.Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
C.Jawaharlal Nehru
D.Subhas Chandra Bose
Explanation
Why Correct: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel led the Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928 against increased land revenue assessments by the British government in Gujarat's Bardoli taluka. Distractor Analysis: Rajendra Prasad became India's first President, Jawaharlal Nehru was India's first Prime Minister, and Subhas Chandra Bose led the Indian National Army during World War II. Takeaway: The successful Bardoli Satyagraha earned Patel the title 'Sardar' (leader) from the women of Bardoli, which became his permanent honorific.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.3
WBCS Prelims 2022
Who ridiculed Gandhi as ‘seditious fakir’?
A.Lord Curzon
B.Lord Irwin
C.Winston Churchill
D.Lord Mountbatten
Explanation
Why Correct: Winston Churchill, then a British Conservative MP, disparaged Mahatma Gandhi with the phrase 'seditious fakir' during a 1931 parliamentary debate, reflecting his opposition to Indian independence. Distractor Analysis: Lord Curzon served as Viceroy from 1899 to 1905 and partitioned Bengal in 1905. Lord Irwin was Viceroy during the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931 and did not use such derogatory language publicly. Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy who oversaw India's partition and independence in 1947. Takeaway: Churchill's hostility toward Gandhi and Indian self-rule continued throughout his career, contrasting with his wartime leadership against fascism.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.4
WBCS Prelims 2022
Who wrote the book ‘Hind Swaraj’?
A.Jawaharlal Nehru
B.Lal Bahadur Shastri
C.Mahatma Gandhi
D.Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi wrote Hind Swaraj in 1909 aboard the ship Kildonan Castle while returning from London to South Africa, articulating his critique of modern civilization and vision for Indian self-rule. Distractor Analysis: Jawaharlal Nehru authored The Discovery of India and Glimpses of World History. Lal Bahadur Shastri did not author any major political treatise. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad wrote India Wins Freedom and was a prominent Islamic scholar and Congress leader. Takeaway: Gandhi originally wrote Hind Swaraj in Gujarati; the English translation appeared in 1910. The British government in India banned the book for its seditious content.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.5
WBCS Prelims 2021
Gandhiji was influenced by
A.Tolstoy
B.Dickens
C.Marx
D.Lincon
Explanation
Why Correct: Leo Tolstoy's book 'The Kingdom of God Is Within You' profoundly influenced Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence and civil disobedience, directly shaping his development of satyagraha as a political tool. Distractor Analysis: Charles Dickens was a Victorian novelist known for social critique through works like 'Oliver Twist' but not a documented philosophical influence on Gandhi. Karl Marx developed communist theory focusing on class struggle and revolution, which Gandhi explicitly rejected in favor of nonviolent means. Abraham Lincoln was the U.S. president during the Civil War, known for emancipation, but Gandhi's documented influences were primarily from religious and philosophical texts, not American political figures. Takeaway: Gandhi also drew significant inspiration from Henry David Thoreau's essay 'Civil Disobedience' and the Bhagavad Gita, which he considered his spiritual dictionary and read daily.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.6
WBCS Prelims 2021
What was the major symbol of Mahatma Gandhi during his non-violent freedom struggle ?
A.His looking glasses
B.His charka (spinning wheel)
C.His walking stick
D.His cap
Explanation
Why Correct: The charkha or spinning wheel symbolized Gandhi's Swadeshi movement, economic self-reliance through khadi production, and rejection of British manufactured goods. Distractor Analysis: Round spectacles became a recognizable personal accessory but not a political symbol. The walking stick served practical mobility needs. The simple white cap evolved into the Gandhi cap later associated with Congress workers. Takeaway: Gandhi made spinning and wearing khadi compulsory for Congress members in 1920, turning the charkha into a powerful symbol of economic resistance and national identity.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.7
WBCS Prelims 2021
Who said, “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind” ?
A.Martin Luther King
B.M. K. Gandhi
C.Nelson Mandela
D.Karl Marx
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi used this phrase to explain his philosophy of non-violence (ahimsa) and the futility of revenge cycles. Distractor Analysis: Martin Luther King Jr. was influenced by Gandhi's philosophy but did not originate this specific quote. Nelson Mandela advocated reconciliation but did not coin this exact phrase. Karl Marx focused on class struggle and dialectical materialism, not non-violent aphorisms. Takeaway: Gandhi's other famous quotes include "Be the change you wish to see in the world" and "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.8
WBCS Prelims 2020
Who founded the Khuda-i-Khidmatgar party?
A.Abbas Taybji
B.Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan
C.Maulana Azad
D.Dr. Aman
Explanation
Why Correct: Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan founded the Khuda-i-Khidmatgar (Servants of God) party in 1929, organizing Pathans in the North-West Frontier Province for non-violent resistance against British rule. Distractor Analysis: Abbas Taybji was a Bombay High Court judge and Congress leader who presided over the 1928 All Parties Conference. Maulana Azad was a senior Congress leader, India's first Education Minister, and prominent Muslim voice in the independence movement. Dr. Aman was a fictional character in the 1970 Bollywood film "Purab aur Paschim," not a historical political figure. Takeaway: Khuda-i-Khidmatgar allied with the Indian National Congress in 1931 and its members wore red shirts, earning them the nickname "Red Shirts."
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.9
WBCS Prelims 2020
Who led the Bardoli Movement?
A.Vallabhbhai Patel
B.Mahatma Gandhi
C.Chamanlal
D.Raja Gopalachari
Explanation
Why Correct: Vallabhbhai Patel organized and led the Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928, mobilizing peasants against a 22% land revenue increase imposed by the British government in Gujarat's Bardoli taluka. Distractor Analysis: Mahatma Gandhi supported the movement but did not lead it directly. Chamanlal was a journalist who reported on the movement for The Bombay Chronicle. C. Rajagopalachari (Raja Gopalachari) was a Congress leader from Tamil Nadu who was not involved in the Bardoli movement. Takeaway: The Bardoli Satyagraha's success earned Vallabhbhai Patel the title "Sardar" (leader) from Gandhi. It became a model for later peasant movements and demonstrated the effectiveness of non-violent resistance against unjust colonial taxation.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.10
WBCS Prelims 2020
Why did Rabindranath Tagore refuse Knighthood?
A.Due to partition of Bengal
B.In protest of Jallianwalabagh massacre
C.Withdrawal of non-cooperation movement
D.In protest of Alipur conspiracy case
Explanation
Why Correct: Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood on May 30, 1919, specifically protesting the Jallianwala Bagh massacre where British troops killed hundreds of unarmed Indian civilians in Amritsar on April 13, 1919. Distractor Analysis: The partition of Bengal occurred in 1905 and was reversed in 1911, years before Tagore's knighthood refusal. The non-cooperation movement began in 1920 under Gandhi, after Tagore's protest. The Alipur conspiracy case involved revolutionary nationalists in 1908-1909, unrelated to Tagore's knighthood decision. Takeaway: Tagore received the knighthood in 1915 and was the first Asian Nobel laureate in Literature (1913). His protest letter to Lord Chelmsford condemned the Jallianwala Bagh killings as "without parallel in the history of civilized governments."
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.11
WBCS Prelims 2019
Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred in
A.Amritsar
B.Delhi
C.Jallandhar
D.Lahore
Explanation
Why Correct: British troops under General Reginald Dyer fired on an unarmed gathering at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, Punjab, killing hundreds during the Baisakhi festival on April 13, 1919. Distractor Analysis: Delhi was the capital where the Rowlatt Act was passed, triggering protests. Jalandhar is another Punjab city but not the massacre site. Lahore was where the Hunter Commission investigated the massacre but not where it occurred. Takeaway: The massacre led to the formation of the Hunter Commission of Inquiry and became a turning point in the Indian independence movement, hardening anti-British sentiment nationwide.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.12
WBCS Prelims 2019
The first mass movement started by Mahatma Gandhi was
A.Non-cooperation movement
B.Quit India movement
C.Indigo movement
D.Salt movement
Explanation
Why Correct: The Champaran Satyagraha (1917) was Gandhi's first mass movement in India, addressing indigo planters' exploitation of peasants in Bihar. Distractor Analysis: The Non-cooperation movement began in 1920, the Quit India movement in 1942, and the Salt movement (Dandi March) occurred in 1930. Takeaway: Gandhi's first three major Indian campaigns were Champaran (1917), Kheda (1918), and Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918), establishing his satyagraha methodology.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.13
WBCS Prelims 2008WBCS Prelims 2019
The Rowlatt Act was passed in the year
A.1917
B.1919
C.1921
D.1923
Asked 2 times in WBCS. High priority question.
Explanation
Why Correct: The Rowlatt Act, officially the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, received assent on March 18, 1919, extending wartime emergency powers to suppress political dissent. Distractor Analysis: 1917 marks the Montagu Declaration promising gradual self-government. 1921 saw the Moplah Rebellion and Non-Cooperation Movement. 1923 brought the Swaraj Party's formation and the Delhi Pact. Takeaway: The Rowlatt Act's passage directly triggered Gandhi's first nationwide satyagraha in April 1919, which culminated in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.14
WBCS Prelims 2019
Which act was known as ‘Black-Bill’ ?
A.Rowlatt Act
B.Pitt’s India Act
C.The Regulating Act
D.Indian Council Act
Explanation
Why Correct: The Rowlatt Act of 1919 authorized detention without trial and was nicknamed 'Black-Bill' due to its repressive nature. Distractor Analysis: Pitt's India Act of 1784 established British government control over East India Company affairs. The Regulating Act of 1773 was the first step toward parliamentary control over the Company. Indian Council Act refers to multiple acts expanding legislative councils in 1861, 1892, and 1909. Takeaway: The Rowlatt Act led to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919, which prompted Gandhi to launch the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.15
WBCS Prelims 2019
Which important event immediately preceded the Jallianwala Bagh massacre ?
A.Communal Award
B.Arrival of Simon Commission
C.Non-cooperation movement
D.Rowlatt Act enactment
Explanation
Why Correct: The Rowlatt Act passed on 18 March 1919, granting the British government emergency powers to suppress sedition, directly led to protests that culminated in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on 13 April 1919. Distractor Analysis: The Communal Award announced separate electorates for different religious communities in 1932. The Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928 to review constitutional reforms. The Non-cooperation movement began in 1920 as a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience. Takeaway: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred during the annual Baisakhi festival when General Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed gathering, killing hundreds and marking a turning point in India's independence struggle.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.16
WBCS Prelims 2019
Who commented that Cripps Mission was a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank ?
A.Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
B.Mahatma Gandhi
C.Subhas Chandra Bose
D.Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi famously described the Cripps Mission proposals as "a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank" in March 1942, criticizing their vague promises of post-war dominion status while Britain faced military setbacks in World War II. Distractor Analysis: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel opposed the mission but did not coin this specific phrase. Subhas Chandra Bose had already escaped India and was leading the Indian National Army against the British. Jawaharlal Nehru participated in negotiations but ultimately rejected the mission along with Congress. Takeaway: The Cripps Mission failed primarily because it offered dominion status only after the war, refused immediate transfer of power, and allowed provinces to opt out of the Indian Union.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.17
WBCS Prelims 2019
Who founded the 'All India Harijan Samaj' in 1932 ?
A.C. R.Das
B.Subhas Chandra Bose
C.Jawahar Lal Nehru
D.M. K. Gandhi
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi founded the All India Harijan Samaj on 30 October 1932 in Bombay to work for the eradication of untouchability and upliftment of Dalits. Distractor Analysis: C. R. Das was a prominent lawyer and co-founder of the Swaraj Party. Subhas Chandra Bose led the Indian National Army and served as Congress president. Jawaharlal Nehru became India's first Prime Minister and was a key Congress leader. Takeaway: Gandhi also started the Harijan newspaper in 1933 and undertook fasts against untouchability, including the 1932 fast that led to the Poona Pact.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.18
WBCS Prelims 2019
who said – ‘The Simon Commission Report should be thrown on a heap of rubbish’ ?
A.M. K. Gandhi
B.Shivaswami Ayyar
C.Mahammad Ali Jinnah
D.Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation
Why Correct: Jawaharlal Nehru declared the Simon Commission Report 'worthy only to be thrown on a heap of rubbish' at the 1928 Indian National Congress session in Calcutta. Distractor Analysis: M.K. Gandhi organized mass protests against the commission but did not coin this phrase. Shivaswami Ayyar contributed to the Nehru Report as a legal expert. Muhammad Ali Jinnah represented the Muslim League in constitutional negotiations. Takeaway: The all-British Simon Commission (1927) triggered nationwide boycotts and spurred the Nehru Report, which demanded dominion status for India.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.19
WBCS Prelims 2019
The main leaders of the Swaraj Party were
A.Vitthalbhai J. Patel and Dr. Ansari
B.M. N. Roy and Muzaffar Ahmed
C.Motilal Nehru and C. R. Das
D.B. R. Ambedkar and P. C. Joshi
Explanation
Why Correct: Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das founded the Swaraj Party on January 1, 1923, after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement, to contest elections and enter legislative councils. Distractor Analysis: Vitthalbhai Patel was the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly and later supported the Swaraj Party but was not a founder. M. N. Roy and Muzaffar Ahmed were communist leaders who founded the Communist Party of India in 1925. B. R. Ambedkar led the Scheduled Castes Federation and P. C. Joshi was a communist leader, both unrelated to the Swaraj Party. Takeaway: The Swaraj Party's objective was 'Swaraj within the empire' through constitutional means, and it became the largest party in the Central Legislative Assembly after the 1923 elections.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.20
WBCS Prelims 2017
When and where did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place?
A.1906, Amritsar
B.1906, Lahore
C.1919, Karachi
D.1919, Amritsar
Explanation
Why Correct: General Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed gathering at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, during the Rowlatt Satyagraha. Distractor Analysis: 1906 saw the founding of the Muslim League in Dhaka. Lahore was a major center for the independence movement but not the site of this massacre. Karachi is a port city in Sindh, not associated with this event. Takeaway: The Hunter Commission investigated the massacre, and the brutality galvanized Indian nationalism, leading directly to the Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Gandhi in 1920.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.21
WBCS Prelims 2017
Who considered the proposal of the Cripps’ Mission as a ‘post-dated cheque‘?
A.Abdul Kalam Azad
B.Sardar Ballabhbhai Patel
C.Mahatma Gandhi
D.B. R Ambedkar
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi famously dismissed the Cripps Mission proposals of 1942 as a "post-dated cheque on a failing bank" because they offered Dominion status after World War II, not immediate independence. Distractor Analysis: Abdul Kalam Azad was Congress President during the Cripps Mission negotiations. Sardar Patel was a key Congress leader who opposed the proposals. B.R. Ambedkar focused on Dalit rights and constitutional matters, not primarily on the Cripps Mission. Takeaway: The Cripps Mission failed because Congress wanted immediate transfer of power and control over defence, while the Muslim League wanted explicit Pakistan recognition.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.22
WBCS Prelims 2017
Who was the founder of the Harijan Sevak Sangha ?
A.BG Tilak
B.N M Lokhandy
C.M K Gandhi
D.B R Ambedkar
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi founded the Harijan Sevak Sangh on October 30, 1932 in Bombay to eradicate untouchability and improve the social status of Dalits. Distractor Analysis: BG Tilak was a prominent nationalist leader during the early freedom movement. N M Lokhandy was a pioneer of the Indian labor movement who founded the Bombay Mill Hands Association. BR Ambedkar led the Dalit movement and served as India's first Law Minister. Takeaway: Gandhi started publishing 'Harijan' newspaper in 1933 and undertook the Harijan Tour from 1933-34 to promote temple entry and social equality.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.23
WBCS Prelims 2016
‘Swaraj Party’ took part in the election in –
A.1923, 1926
B.1919, 1923
C.1920, 1926
D.1919, 1920
Explanation
Why Correct: The Swaraj Party, founded in January 1923, participated in and secured significant seats in the Central Legislative Assembly elections of 1923 and 1926. Distractor Analysis: The 1919 elections preceded the party's establishment, while the 1920 elections were boycotted by the Indian National Congress as part of the Non-Cooperation Movement. Takeaway: Under leaders Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjan Das, the Swarajists pursued a strategy of council entry to disrupt British administration from within legislatures, representing the pro-changers faction after the suspension of Non-Cooperation.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.24
WBCS Prelims 2016
“Hind Swaraj” (Indian Home Rule) was written by Gandhi while
A.Travelling from England to India by ship
B.In Sabarmati Ashram
C.Travelling from England to South Africa by ship
D.During Champaran Satyagraha
Explanation
Why Correct: Gandhi wrote Hind Swaraj in 1909 aboard the SS Kildonan Castle while traveling from England to South Africa. Distractor Analysis: Sabarmati Ashram was established in 1917, years after Hind Swaraj. The Champaran Satyagraha occurred in 1917. Gandhi traveled from England to India in 1915. Takeaway: Hind Swaraj was first published in Gujarati in 1909 and translated to English in 1910, outlining Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent self-rule.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.25
WBCS Prelims 2016
Stafford Cripps was a member of the —
A.Conservative Party
B.Labour Party
C.Liberal Party
D.Official Party
Explanation
Why Correct: Stafford Cripps was a prominent Labour Party politician who served as a Labour MP and held cabinet positions in Labour governments. Distractor Analysis: The Conservative Party was Winston Churchill's party, but Cripps was never a Conservative. The Liberal Party was a separate political party that Cripps never joined. 'Official Party' is not a recognized political party in British parliamentary history. Takeaway: The Cripps Mission offered India Dominion status after World War II with the right to secede, which both Congress and Muslim League rejected.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.26
WBCS Prelims 2015
Gandhiji’s famous comment ‘A post-dated cheque on a crashing bank’ was delivered during the visit of
A.The Simmon Commision
B.The Cabinet Mission
C.The Cripps Mission
D.The Wavell Plan
Explanation
Why Correct: Gandhi criticized the Cripps Mission proposals in March 1942 as 'a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank,' highlighting their inadequacy and delayed nature. Distractor Analysis: The Simon Commission visited India in 1928 to review constitutional reforms. The Cabinet Mission arrived in 1946 to discuss transfer of power. The Wavell Plan was proposed in 1945 for interim government formation. Takeaway: Gandhi's criticism reflected widespread Indian nationalist disappointment with British promises during World War II.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.27
WBCS Prelims 2015
In the Tripuri session who did Subhas Bose defeat to become the Congress President ?
A.Pattabhi Sitaramayya
B.Rajendra Prasad
C.Maulana Azad
D.Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation
Why Correct: Subhas Chandra Bose defeated Pattabhi Sitaramayya in the 1939 Tripuri Congress presidential election, winning 1580 votes to Sitaramayya's 1377. Distractor Analysis: Rajendra Prasad served as Congress President in 1934 and 1939 (after Bose's resignation). Maulana Azad was Congress President in 1940-1946. Jawaharlal Nehru served as Congress President in 1929, 1936, 1937, and 1946. Takeaway: Bose's victory despite Gandhi's support for Sitaramayya led to his resignation and formation of the Forward Bloc in May 1939.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.28
WBCS Prelims 2009WBCS Prelims 2015
When did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place ?
A.13th April, 1919
B.15th August, 1921
C.21st April, 1922
D.25th September, 1925
Asked 2 times in WBCS. High priority question.
Explanation
Why Correct: General Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed gathering at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on 13th April 1919, killing hundreds during Baisakhi. Distractor Analysis: 15th August 1921 is when the Moplah Rebellion began in Malabar. 21st April 1922 is not associated with any major historical event in the Indian independence movement. 25th September 1925 marks the formation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Takeaway: The Hunter Commission was appointed to investigate the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.29
WBCS Prelims 2015
Who was referred to by Lord Mountbatten as the 'one man frontier army'?
A.Abdul Ghaffar Khan
B.Subhas Chandra Bose
C.Sarat Bose
D.M. K. Gandhi
Explanation
Why Correct: Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, called Abdul Ghaffar Khan the 'one man frontier army' for his leadership of the Pashtun non-violent resistance movement along the North-West Frontier. Distractor Analysis: Subhas Chandra Bose led the Indian National Army against British rule. Sarat Bose was a prominent Indian barrister and elder brother of Subhas Chandra Bose. Mahatma Gandhi led the nationwide non-violent independence movement. Takeaway: Abdul Ghaffar Khan was also known as 'Frontier Gandhi' and founded the Khudai Khidmatgar ('Servants of God') movement.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.30
WBCS Prelims 2015
Who was the first President of the Swarajya Party ?
A.Motilal Nehru
B.C. R. Das
C.Rajendra Prasad
D.Rajagopalachari
Explanation
Why Correct: Chittaranjan Das (C. R. Das) founded the Swarajya Party within the Indian National Congress in January 1923 and served as its first President until his death in 1925. Distractor Analysis: Motilal Nehru succeeded C. R. Das as President of the Swarajya Party. Rajendra Prasad became the first President of independent India in 1950. C. Rajagopalachari served as the last Governor-General of India and was a senior Congress leader. Takeaway: The Swarajya Party advocated for entering legislative councils to obstruct British governance from within, a strategy known as 'Council Entry' or 'Pro-Changers,' opposing the 'No-Changers' who favored continued boycott.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.31
WBCS Prelims 2014
In the Nehru Report Committee (1928) the Liberal Federation was represented by
A.M. R. Jayakar
B.Tej Bahadur Sapru
C.V. S. Srinivasa Sastri
D.M. S. Aney
Explanation
Why Correct: Tej Bahadur Sapru represented the Liberal Federation on the Nehru Report Committee, which drafted India's first constitution in 1928. Distractor Analysis: M. R. Jayakar was a prominent lawyer and member of the Swaraj Party. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri was a Liberal Party leader but not the Federation's representative on this committee. M. S. Aney was a Congress leader and later served as Governor of Bihar. Takeaway: The Nehru Report proposed Dominion Status for India and rejected separate electorates, becoming a key document in India's constitutional development.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.32
WBCS Prelims 2014
The Congress President who conducted negotiation with Cripps in 1942 and Wavell at the Shimla conference was
A.Abul Kalam Azad
B.Jawaharlal Nehru
C.J. B. Kripalani
D.C. Rajagopalachari
Explanation
Why Correct: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad served as Congress President from 1940 to 1946, leading negotiations with the Cripps Mission in 1942 and the Simla Conference in 1945. Distractor Analysis: Jawaharlal Nehru became Congress President in 1946 after Azad. J. B. Kripalani served as Congress President from 1946 to 1947. C. Rajagopalachari was not Congress President during these negotiations, though he participated in later talks. Takeaway: Azad's presidency saw the Quit India Movement launch in August 1942, immediately after the Cripps Mission failure.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.33
WBCS Prelims 2014
Who among the following was the founder of Khudai Khidmatgar Organisation ?
A.Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan
B.Abdul Rab Nishtar
C.Shaukatullah Ansari
D.Khan Abdul Quayumkhan
Explanation
Why Correct: Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan (Frontier Gandhi) founded the Khudai Khidmatgar (Servants of God) in 1930 as a nonviolent movement among Pashtuns in the North-West Frontier Province. Distractor Analysis: Abdul Rab Nishtar was a Muslim League leader who served as Pakistan's Communications Minister and Governor of Punjab. Shaukatullah Ansari was a Muslim League politician from Bihar who advocated for Pakistan. Khan Abdul Quayumkhan was the first Chief Minister of West Pakistan after independence and a prominent Muslim League figure. Takeaway: The Khudai Khidmatgar wore red shirts, allied with the Indian National Congress, and advocated for Pashtun rights within a united India, opposing the partition.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.34
WBCS Prelims 2013
In which year the resolution to fight for ‘Purna Swaraj’ was taken by the Congress ?
A.1928
B.1929
C.1930
D.1931
Explanation
Why Correct: The Indian National Congress passed the Purna Swaraj (complete independence) resolution on December 19, 1929, during its Lahore session under President Jawaharlal Nehru. Distractor Analysis: 1928 saw the Nehru Report which proposed dominion status, not complete independence. 1930 was the year Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement with the Dandi March, following the Purna Swaraj declaration. 1931 was the year of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and the Second Round Table Conference. Takeaway: The Congress publicly hoisted the tricolor flag on December 31, 1929, and declared January 26, 1930, as the first Independence Day, which later became Republic Day after the Constitution came into effect in 1950.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.35
WBCS Prelims 2012
At which place did Mahatma Gandhi had the first experience of mass movement of India ?
A.Bardoli
B.Dandi
C.Chaurichaura
D.Champaran
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi launched his first mass movement in India at Champaran, Bihar, in April 1917 to address the exploitation of indigo farmers under the oppressive tinkathia system imposed by British planters. Distractor Analysis: Bardoli in Gujarat was the site of the 1928 Bardoli Satyagraha led by Sardar Patel against increased land revenue. Dandi in Gujarat was the destination of the 1930 Salt March, where Gandhi broke the salt law. Chaurichaura in Uttar Pradesh witnessed the 1922 violence where protesters killed policemen, leading Gandhi to suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement. Takeaway: The Champaran Satyagraha established Gandhi's method of nonviolent resistance in India and resulted in the Champaran Agrarian Act of 1918, which abolished the tinkathia system.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.36
WBCS Prelims 2012
Who was the leader of the Khuda-i-Khidmagar ?
A.M.A Jinnah
B.Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan
C.A. K. Azad
D.Muhammad Ali
Explanation
Why Correct: Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan founded and led the Khuda-i-Khidmatgar (Servants of God) movement in 1929, organizing Pashtun non-violent resistance against British rule in the North-West Frontier Province. Distractor Analysis: M.A. Jinnah led the All-India Muslim League and became Pakistan's first Governor-General. A.K. Azad (Abul Kalam Azad) served as President of the Indian National Congress and India's first Education Minister. Muhammad Ali (Muhammad Ali Jauhar) was a prominent Khilafat Movement leader and co-founder of Jamia Millia Islamia. Takeaway: The Khuda-i-Khidmatgar, also called Red Shirts due to their uniform color, maintained close ties with the Indian National Congress and practiced strict non-violence under Gaffar Khan's leadership, earning him the title Frontier Gandhi.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.37
WBCS Prelims 2011
At which place Gandhiji had the first experience of mass-movement in India ?
A.Bardoli
B.Dandi
C.Chauri Chaura
D.Champaran
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi launched his first mass movement in India at Champaran in 1917, addressing the exploitation of indigo farmers under the tinkathia system. Distractor Analysis: Bardoli was the site of a major peasant satyagraha led by Sardar Patel in 1928. Dandi was the destination of Gandhi's 1930 Salt March against the salt tax. Chauri Chaura was where violence during the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922 led Gandhi to suspend the campaign. Takeaway: Gandhi's first three major Indian movements were Champaran (1917, indigo farmers), Ahmedabad mill workers (1918), and Kheda (1918, peasants), establishing his method of satyagraha.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.38
WBCS Prelims 2011
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place in the year
A.1914
B.1916
C.1919
D.1929
Explanation
Why Correct: General Dyer ordered troops to fire on an unarmed gathering in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, killing hundreds during the Rowlatt Act protests. Distractor Analysis: 1914 marks World War I's outbreak in Europe. 1916 saw the Lucknow Pact between Congress and Muslim League. 1929 witnessed the Lahore Session where Congress demanded Purna Swaraj. Takeaway: The Hunter Commission investigated the massacre but faced criticism for being lenient toward Dyer, while Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.39
WBCS Prelims 2010
About whom the British Prime Minister said – “Half naked Fakir from India” ?
A.Taj Bahadur Sapru
B.Gandhiji
C.Muhammad Ali
D.B. R. Ambedkar
Explanation
Why Correct: Winston Churchill used the derogatory phrase "half-naked fakir" to describe Mahatma Gandhi, criticizing his simple lifestyle and political influence during India's independence movement. Distractor Analysis: Taj Bahadur Sapru was a liberal lawyer and constitutional expert who participated in the Round Table Conferences. Muhammad Ali was a prominent leader of the Khilafat Movement and Indian independence struggle. B. R. Ambedkar was the principal architect of India's Constitution and a Dalit rights leader. Takeaway: Churchill's quote reflects British colonial contempt for Gandhi's asceticism and mass appeal, often cited in discussions about colonial attitudes toward Indian nationalism.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.40
WBCS Prelims 2010
In which year did Jalianwalabagh massacre happen ?
A.1908
B.1909
C.1918
D.1919
Explanation
Why Correct: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, when British troops under General Dyer fired on an unarmed gathering in Amritsar, killing hundreds. Distractor Analysis: 1908 saw the Alipore Bomb Case and execution of Khudiram Bose. 1909 marked the Morley-Minto Reforms introducing separate electorates. 1918 was the year of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms and the end of World War I. Takeaway: The massacre directly led to the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) and the Hunter Commission inquiry, with Rabindranath Tagore renouncing his knighthood in protest.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.41
WBCS Prelims 2010
Who was the founder-President of the Swaraj Party ?
A.Motilal Nehru
B.C. R. Das
C.Rajendra Prasad
D.Rajagopalachari
Explanation
Why Correct: C. R. Das founded and served as the first President of the Swaraj Party in 1923 after the Gaya session of the Indian National Congress. Distractor Analysis: Motilal Nehru was a prominent leader and served as President of the Swaraj Party but not as its founder-President. Rajendra Prasad later became India's first President. Rajagopalachari served as India's last Governor-General and was a Congress leader but not involved with the Swaraj Party's founding. Takeaway: The Swaraj Party was formed by C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru to contest elections and enter legislative councils under the Government of India Act 1919.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.42
WBCS Prelims 2009
In which year was the Swarajya Party established ?
A.1922
B.1925
C.1930
D.1941
Explanation
Why Correct: The Swarajya Party was founded on January 9, 1923, by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru after the Gaya session of the Indian National Congress in December 1922. Distractor Analysis: 1925 marks the death of C.R. Das and the subsequent decline of the Swarajya Party. 1930 is the year Mahatma Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement with the Dandi March. 1941 falls during World War II, long after the Swarajya Party had dissolved following the mid-1920s. Takeaway: The Swarajya Party aimed to enter legislative councils to obstruct British governance from within, following the 'Council Entry' program adopted after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.43
WBCS Prelims 2009
Name one of the Leaders of the Swarajya Party
A.Mahatma Gandhi
B.Chittaranjan Das
C.Anandamohan Bose
D.Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation
Why Correct: Chittaranjan Das co-founded the Swarajya Party in 1923 with Motilal Nehru after the Gaya session of the Indian National Congress. Distractor Analysis: Mahatma Gandhi opposed the Swarajya Party's entry into legislative councils. Anandamohan Bose was a 19th-century moderate leader and co-founder of the Indian National Association. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a moderate leader who died in 1915, before the Swarajya Party's formation. Takeaway: Motilal Nehru was the other key founder; the party aimed to enter legislative councils to obstruct British governance from within.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.44
WBCS Prelims 2009
Who was known as the Frontier Gandhi?
A.Abdul Gaffur Khan
B.Mahatma Gandhi
C.Shaukat Ali
D.Mohammad Ali Jinnah
Explanation
Why Correct: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as Badshah Khan, led the nonviolent Khudai Khidmatgar movement among Pashtuns in the North-West Frontier Province, earning him the title Frontier Gandhi for his adherence to Gandhian principles. Distractor Analysis: Mahatma Gandhi was the primary leader of India's independence movement. Shaukat Ali co-led the Khilafat Movement with his brother Mohammad Ali. Mohammad Ali Jinnah founded Pakistan and served as its first Governor-General. Takeaway: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan's Khudai Khidmatgar organization mobilized over 100,000 Pashtun volunteers for nonviolent resistance against British rule.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.45
WBCS Prelims 2008
In which year did Indian National Congress pass resolution for Poorna Swaraj ?
A.1930
B.1929
C.1921
D.1916
Explanation
Why Correct: The Indian National Congress passed the Poorna Swaraj resolution at its Lahore Session in December 1929, declaring complete independence as its goal. Distractor Analysis: 1930 marks the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement following the resolution. 1921 saw the Non-Cooperation Movement begin. 1916 featured the Lucknow Pact between Congress and the Muslim League. Takeaway: The Lahore Session also saw Jawaharlal Nehru elected as Congress President for the first time.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.46
WBCS Prelims 2008
The Indian National Congress adopted the resolution of ‘Poorna Swaraj’ in its session at
A.Ahmedabad
B.Haripura
C.Lahore
D.Lucknow
Explanation
Why Correct: The Indian National Congress passed the Poorna Swaraj resolution at its Lahore session on December 31, 1929, under President Jawaharlal Nehru. Distractor Analysis: Ahmedabad hosted the 1921 session where Gandhi launched the non-cooperation movement. Haripura hosted the 1938 session where Subhas Chandra Bose was elected president. Lucknow hosted the 1916 session that produced the Lucknow Pact between Congress and the Muslim League. Takeaway: Following the Lahore resolution, January 26, 1930, was celebrated as the first Independence Day, which later became Republic Day after the Constitution came into effect in 1950.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.47
WBCS Prelims 2008
Who is called “Frontier Gandhi”?
A.Abdul Kalam Azad
B.Abdul Gaffar Khan
C.Md. Ali Jinnah
D.Md. Iqbai
Explanation
Why Correct: Abdul Gaffar Khan founded the Khudai Khidmatgar movement in the North-West Frontier Province, promoting nonviolent resistance against British colonial rule, which earned him the nickname Frontier Gandhi. Distractor Analysis: Abul Kalam Azad served as India's first Education Minister and was a senior leader in the Indian National Congress. Muhammad Ali Jinnah led the Muslim League and became Pakistan's first Governor-General. Muhammad Iqbal was a poet and philosopher who proposed the idea of a separate Muslim state. Takeaway: The Khudai Khidmatgars, also known as the Red Shirts, organized mass civil disobedience and faced severe repression from British authorities.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.48
WBCS Prelims 2007
Aim of the Swarajya Party was to
A.Agitate for total freedom
B.Boycott the Congress moves
C.Enter the legislature and wreck the Government from within
D.Resort to extremism
Explanation
Why Correct: The Swarajya Party, formed in 1923 by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru, aimed to enter legislative councils to obstruct British administration from inside and expose its limitations. Distractor Analysis: Agitating for total freedom characterized revolutionary nationalists and later Congress under Gandhi. Boycotting Congress moves contradicts their strategy of working within colonial institutions. Resorting to extremism describes pre-Gandhian militant nationalism, not the Swarajya Party's constitutional approach. Takeaway: The party emerged after Gandhi suspended the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922, creating a divide between 'pro-changers' favoring council entry and 'no-changers' opposing it.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.49
WBCS Prelims 2007
Gandhiji’s Champaran Movement was of
A.The security of rights of Harijans
B.Civil Disobedience Movement
C.Maintaining the unity of Hindu Society
D.Solving the problem of indigo workers
Explanation
Why Correct: The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 focused on addressing the exploitation of indigo cultivators in Bihar under the oppressive tinkathia system, which forced peasants to dedicate 3/20th of their land to indigo cultivation for British planters. Distractor Analysis: Harijan rights became a central issue during the 1930s, particularly with the Poona Pact of 1932 and temple entry movements. Civil Disobedience Movement was a nationwide campaign initiated in 1930 with the Salt March. Hindu unity was promoted through various social and religious reform efforts, not specifically through Champaran. Takeaway: Champaran was Gandhi's first major satyagraha in India, leading to the Champaran Agrarian Act of 1918 that abolished the tinkathia system and established his method of non-violent resistance in Indian politics.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.50
WBCS Prelims 2007
Non-violence, according to Gandhiji, was
A.a means to achieve an end
B.an end in itself
C.a means to embarrass an opponent
D.passive resistance
Explanation
Why Correct: Gandhi considered non-violence (ahimsa) as the supreme moral principle and ultimate goal of human conduct, not merely a tactical instrument. Distractor Analysis: Using non-violence as a means to achieve an end describes its instrumental application in satyagraha campaigns. Embarrassing an opponent contradicts Gandhi's emphasis on converting opponents through love and truth. Passive resistance refers to a Western concept of non-cooperation without the spiritual commitment that Gandhi's ahimsa required. Takeaway: Gandhi distinguished his "satyagraha" (truth-force) from passive resistance by its active, principled nature rooted in self-suffering and love for the opponent.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.51
WBCS Prelims 2005
Which Indian leader did British Prime Minister Winston Churchill describe as a 'half naked fakir from India'?
A.Mahatma Gandhi
B.Tej Bahadur Sapru
C.B. R. Ambedkar
D.Muhammad Ali
Explanation
Why Correct: Winston Churchill used the derogatory phrase 'half naked fakir from India' to describe Mahatma Gandhi, reflecting British disdain for Gandhi's simple lifestyle and non-violent resistance. Distractor Analysis: Tej Bahadur Sapru was a liberal lawyer and constitutional expert. B. R. Ambedkar was the principal architect of India's Constitution. Muhammad Ali was a prominent leader of the Khilafat Movement. Takeaway: Churchill made this remark during the 1931 Round Table Conference, where Gandhi represented the Indian National Congress in London.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.52
WBCS Prelims 2005
Who was the founder President of the Swarajya Party?
A.Motilal Nehru
B.C. R. Das
C.Rajendra Prasad
D.Rajagopalachari
Explanation
Why Correct: Chittaranjan Das (C. R. Das) served as the first President of the Swarajya Party when it was founded in January 1923. Distractor Analysis: Motilal Nehru was a key co-founder and served as the party's Secretary. Rajendra Prasad later became India's first President. C. Rajagopalachari was a Congress leader who became India's last Governor-General. Takeaway: The Swarajya Party was formed by Congress dissidents who wanted to contest elections and enter legislative councils to obstruct British governance from within, following the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.53
WBCS Prelims 2004
Where did Gandhiji first launch the Satyagraha Movement?
A.Kheda
B.Ahmedabad
C.Champaran
D.Chauri Chaura
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi first launched the Satyagraha Movement in Champaran, Bihar in 1917 to support indigo farmers against oppressive plantation systems. Distractor Analysis: Kheda (1918) was Gandhi's second Satyagraha for tax relief during famine. Ahmedabad (1918) involved a mill workers' strike where Gandhi used Satyagraha. Chauri Chaura (1922) was where violent incidents led Gandhi to suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement, not a Satyagraha launch site. Takeaway: Gandhi's three early Satyagrahas are tested in chronological order: Champaran (1917), Kheda (1918), and Ahmedabad (1918).
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.54
WBCS Prelims 2004
Which movement started in India after the failure of the Cripps Mission?
A.Khilafat
B.Non-Co-operation
C.Civil Disobedience
D.Quit India
Explanation
Why Correct: The Quit India Movement launched on August 8, 1942, immediately following the failure of the Cripps Mission in March-April 1942, which offered India dominion status after World War II. Distractor Analysis: The Khilafat Movement (1919-1924) protested the dismantling of the Ottoman Caliphate. The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) followed the Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934) began with the Salt March after the Lahore Congress. Takeaway: The Cripps Mission failed because Congress demanded immediate full independence and a constituent assembly, while the Muslim League wanted separate Pakistan guarantees.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.55
WBCS Prelims 2003
Frontier Gandhi was the name of
A.Abul Kalam Azad
B.Humayun Kabir
C.Abdul Gaffar Khan
D.Dr. Abdul Hafiz
Explanation
Why Correct: Abdul Ghaffar Khan founded the Khudai Khidmatgar movement and promoted non-violent resistance in the North-West Frontier Province, earning the nickname Frontier Gandhi. Distractor Analysis: Abul Kalam Azad was a senior Congress leader and India's first Education Minister. Humayun Kabir was a poet, educationist, and politician who served as Education Minister. Dr. Abdul Hafiz was a physician and politician from Bihar who served as a minister in the state government. Takeaway: Abdul Ghaffar Khan's Khudai Khidmatgar (Servants of God) movement was also called the Red Shirts due to their uniform color.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.56
WBCS Prelims 2003
Gandhi was arrested in charge of sedition and was given six years sentence in
A.1920
B.1922
C.1923
D.1924
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi was arrested on March 10, 1922, charged with sedition for his articles in Young India, and sentenced to six years imprisonment by Justice Broomfield. Distractor Analysis: 1920 marks the start of the Non-Cooperation Movement. 1923 was when Gandhi was released early from prison due to health issues. 1924 saw Gandhi focusing on constructive work and Hindu-Muslim unity after his release. Takeaway: Gandhi served only two years of his six-year sentence before being released in February 1924.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.57
WBCS Prelims 2003
Haripura Session of Congress elected as President
A.Maulana Azad
B.J.L. Nehru
C.Subhas Chandra Bose
D.Sitaramiyah
Explanation
Why Correct: Subhas Chandra Bose was elected President of the Indian National Congress at the Haripura Session in 1938, defeating Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Distractor Analysis: Maulana Azad served as Congress President in 1923 and 1940-46. Jawaharlal Nehru was Congress President in 1929, 1936, 1937, and 1946. Sitaramayya was the candidate defeated by Bose in the 1938 presidential election. Takeaway: The 1939 Tripuri Session saw Bose re-elected but resign due to Gandhi's opposition, leading to Rajendra Prasad replacing him.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.58
WBCS Prelims 2003
Jalianwalabag massacre did occur in
A.1914
B.1916
C.1918
D.1919
Explanation
Why Correct: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, when British troops under General Reginald Dyer fired on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar. Distractor Analysis: 1914 marks the beginning of World War I. 1916 saw the Lucknow Pact between the Indian National Congress and Muslim League. 1918 was the year of the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms. Takeaway: The massacre killed hundreds and became a major turning point in India's independence movement, leading to widespread outrage and strengthening anti-colonial sentiment.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.59
WBCS Prelims 2003
The Congress decided to observe the 26th’Jan as Independence day in the meeting held at
A.Calcutta
B.Bombay
C.Lahore
D.Madras
Explanation
Why Correct: The Indian National Congress adopted the Purna Swaraj (complete independence) resolution at its Lahore Session in December 1929, declaring January 26, 1930 as Independence Day. Distractor Analysis: Calcutta hosted the 1928 Congress session where the Nehru Report proposed Dominion Status. Bombay hosted the 1885 inaugural Congress session under W.C. Bonnerjee. Madras hosted the 1927 Congress session where the Congress decided to boycott the Simon Commission. Takeaway: The Lahore Session was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, who first hoisted the tricolor flag on the banks of the Ravi River, marking the Congress's formal demand for complete independence from British rule.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.60
WBCS Prelims 2002
After the Chaurichauria incident ____ movement was withdrawn.
A.Quit India
B.Civil Disobedience
C.Peasams
D.None-Cooperation
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 after the violent Chauri Chaura incident where protesters burned a police station, killing 22 policemen. Distractor Analysis: Quit India Movement started in 1942, two decades after Chauri Chaura. Civil Disobedience Movement began in 1930 with the Salt March. Peasants' movements occurred throughout British rule but were not a single named movement withdrawn after Chauri Chaura. Takeaway: The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) was Gandhi's first nationwide mass movement, involving boycotts of British goods, courts, and educational institutions.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.61
WBCS Prelims 2002
The Prime-Minister of Great Britain during the First Round table Conference, 1930 was
A.Baldwin
B.Ramsay MacDonald
C.Neville Chamberlain
D.Winston Churchill
Explanation
Why Correct: Ramsay MacDonald served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from June 1929 to June 1935, presiding over the First Round Table Conference held in London from November 1930 to January 1931. Distractor Analysis: Stanley Baldwin was Prime Minister earlier (1924-1929) and later (1935-1937). Neville Chamberlain became Prime Minister in 1937, leading during the Second World War period. Winston Churchill served as Prime Minister during 1940-1945 and 1951-1955. Takeaway: The First Round Table Conference was the only one attended by the Indian National Congress, which boycotted subsequent conferences until 1932.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.62
WBCS Prelims 2001
Gandhiji returned Kaisher-i-Hind medal after
A.Jalianwalabag Massacre
B.Rowlatt Act
C.Chouri Choura incident
D.British refusal to do justice to Turkey
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi returned his Kaiser-i-Hind medal in 1920 as a protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 13, 1919, and the British government's subsequent handling of the incident. Distractor Analysis: The Rowlatt Act of 1919 led Gandhi to launch the first nationwide satyagraha, but he did not return his medal specifically for this. The Chauri Chaura incident of 1922 caused Gandhi to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement, but this occurred after he had already returned his medal. The British refusal to do justice to Turkey refers to the Khilafat Movement issues, which Gandhi supported, but the medal return was directly linked to Jallianwala Bagh. Takeaway: Gandhi had received the Kaiser-i-Hind medal in 1915 for his humanitarian work during the Boer War, making his return of the honor a powerful symbolic protest against British brutality.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.63
WBCS Prelims 2001
Who described the Cripp’s proposals as “a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank”?
A.Gandhiji
B.Jawaharlal Nehru
C.Subhas Chandra Bose
D.Ballavbhai Patel
Explanation
Why Correct: Mahatma Gandhi coined this metaphor in 1942 to reject the Cripps Mission proposals, arguing that Britain's promise of post-war Dominion Status was worthless given its weakening wartime position. Distractor Analysis: Jawaharlal Nehru initially engaged with the proposals but ultimately rejected them as inadequate. Subhas Chandra Bose had already left India in 1941 to seek Axis support for Indian independence. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (correct spelling) supported Gandhi's stance against the proposals. Takeaway: The Cripps Mission failed because it refused immediate power transfer or a national government during World War II, leading to the Quit India Movement.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.64
WBCS Prelims 2001
Who raised the national flag first in Nagaland?
A.Pritilata Wahdeddar
B.Bina Dasgupta
C.Rani Guidinliu
D.Sarojini Naidu
Explanation
Why Correct: Rani Gaidinliu, a Naga spiritual and political leader, first raised the Indian national flag in Nagaland in 1947 after India's independence. Distractor Analysis: Pritilata Waddedar was a Bengali revolutionary who led an attack on the Pahartali European Club in Chittagong in 1932. Bina Das was a Bengali revolutionary who attempted to assassinate the Bengal Governor Stanley Jackson in 1932. Sarojini Naidu was a poet, politician, and the first woman Governor of Uttar Pradesh, known as the 'Nightingale of India'. Takeaway: Rani Gaidinliu was arrested at age 16 for leading a rebellion against British rule in 1932 and was released only after India's independence in 1947.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.65
WBCS Prelims 2000
Who, among the following was never a leader of the Swarajya Party?
A.C.R. Das
B.Motilal Nehru
C.Lala Lajpat Rai
D.C. Rajagopalachari
Explanation
Why Correct: C. Rajagopalachari was not a leader of the Swarajya Party; he was a prominent Congress leader who later became India's first Indian Governor-General and founded the Swatantra Party. Distractor Analysis: C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru were co-founders and key leaders of the Swarajya Party, formed in 1923 after the Gaya session of the Indian National Congress. Lala Lajpat Rai was also a prominent leader of the Swarajya Party, though he was more associated with the extremist faction earlier. Takeaway: The Swarajya Party advocated for entering legislative councils to obstruct British governance from within, following the failure of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.66
WBCS Prelims 2000
The Congress President who conducted negotiation with Cripps in 1942 and Wavell at the Simla Conference was
A.Jawaharlal Nehru
B.Abul Kalam Azad
C.J.B. Kripalani
D.C. Rajagopalachari
Explanation
Why Correct: Abul Kalam Azad served as Congress President from 1940 to 1946 and led negotiations with the Cripps Mission in 1942 and the Simla Conference in 1945 under Viceroy Wavell. Distractor Analysis: Jawaharlal Nehru was Congress President in 1929, 1936, 1937, and 1946, but not during the Cripps Mission negotiations. J.B. Kripalani became Congress President in 1947, after independence. C. Rajagopalachari was not Congress President during this period; he served as Premier of Madras and later as Governor-General. Takeaway: The Cripps Mission offered Dominion status after World War II, which Congress rejected, leading to the Quit India Movement. The Simla Conference aimed to form an interim government but failed due to Muslim League demands.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.67
WBCS Prelims 2000
On which date was the first Tri-colour flag hoisted?
A.31st January, 1928
B.31st December, 1929
C.26th January, 1950
D.15th August, 1947
Explanation
Why Correct: The first version of what became India's national flag was hoisted on 31st January, 1928 during the Indian National Congress session in Calcutta. Distractor Analysis: 31st December, 1929 marks the Lahore Session where the Congress adopted the Purna Swaraj resolution demanding complete independence. 26th January, 1950 is Republic Day when India's Constitution came into force. 15th August, 1947 is Independence Day when British rule ended and the Dominion of India was established. Takeaway: The 1928 flag was designed by Pingali Venkayya and featured saffron, white, and green horizontal stripes with a spinning wheel (charkha) in the center.
Answer or skip previous question to unlock.
Q.68
WBCS Prelims 2000
Rani Gaidinliu, a rebel leader against the British was from
A.Manipur
B.Tripura
C.Nagaland
D.Assam
Explanation
Why Correct: Rani Gaidinliu was a Naga spiritual and political leader from the present-day state of Nagaland who led the Heraka religious movement against British rule. Distractor Analysis: Manipur had leaders like Rani Gaidinliu's contemporary, Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh. Tripura's resistance included leaders like Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya. Assam's anti-colonial movements featured figures like Kanaklata Barua and Kushal Konwar. Takeaway: Jawaharlal Nehru called her the "Rani of the Nagas," and she was imprisoned for 14 years (1933-1947) by the British.
Sign in to save progress
Sign in to Papersetters
Save your progress, unlock Smart Review, and track your performance.