Table of Contents
100 Indian Freedom Movement MCQs with Answers and Explanations
These 100 multiple-choice questions on the Indian Freedom Movement are designed for UPSC, SSC, Railway, Banking, State PSC, teaching examinations, and other competitive exams. Each question includes four options, the correct answer, and an analytical explanation for better understanding and revision.
Section 1: Early Resistance and Revolt of 1857 (1–15)
1. In which year did the Revolt of 1857 begin?
A) 1757 B) 1857 C) 1885 D) 1905
Correct Answer: B) 1857
Explanation: The Revolt of 1857 began at Meerut on 10 May 1857. Indian soldiers rebelled against British authority, and the uprising spread to several regions of northern and central India.
2. Who was declared the symbolic emperor of India during the Revolt of 1857?
A) Nana Sahib B) Bahadur Shah II C) Rani Lakshmibai D) Kunwar Singh
Correct Answer: B) Bahadur Shah II
Explanation: Bahadur Shah II, also known as Bahadur Shah Zafar, was the last Mughal emperor. The rebels proclaimed him their leader to give the uprising a common political symbol.
3. Who led the revolt in Jhansi in 1857?
A) Begum Hazrat Mahal B) Rani Lakshmibai C) Sarojini Naidu D) Annie Besant
Correct Answer: B) Rani Lakshmibai
Explanation: Rani Lakshmibai became one of the most celebrated leaders of the uprising. She fought against British forces and died in battle near Gwalior in June 1858.
4. Who led the Revolt of 1857 in Kanpur?
A) Nana Sahib B) Kunwar Singh C) Khan Bahadur Khan D) Tantia Tope
Correct Answer: A) Nana Sahib
Explanation: Nana Sahib emerged as a prominent leader at Kanpur. Tantia Tope was one of his important military associates during the uprising.
5. Who led the revolt in Bihar in 1857?
A) Mangal Pandey B) Kunwar Singh C) Bakht Khan D) Lala Lajpat Rai
Correct Answer: B) Kunwar Singh
Explanation: Kunwar Singh was a zamindar from Jagdishpur in Bihar. Despite his advanced age, he played a significant role in resisting British forces.
6. Who was associated with the outbreak at Barrackpore before the Revolt of 1857?
A) Mangal Pandey B) Bhagat Singh C) Chandrashekhar Azad D) Ram Prasad Bismil
Correct Answer: A) Mangal Pandey
Explanation: Mangal Pandey, a sepoy in the Bengal Army, attacked British officers at Barrackpore on 29 March 1857. His actions became an important symbol of the growing military discontent.
7. Which Governor-General introduced the Doctrine of Lapse?
A) Lord Curzon B) Lord Dalhousie C) Lord Canning D) Lord Ripon
Correct Answer: B) Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: Lord Dalhousie used the Doctrine of Lapse to annex princely states when their rulers died without a natural male heir recognized under the policy. The annexations contributed to resentment against British rule.
8. Which event directly triggered widespread anger among sepoys in 1857?
A) Partition of Bengal B) Introduction of greased cartridges C) Rowlatt Act D) Simon Commission
Correct Answer: B) Introduction of greased cartridges
Explanation: The new Enfield rifle cartridges were believed to be greased with cow and pig fat. This offended Hindu and Muslim religious sentiments and intensified existing grievances.
9. Who was the Governor-General of India during the Revolt of 1857?
A) Lord Canning B) Lord Wellesley C) Lord Curzon D) Lord Mountbatten
Correct Answer: A) Lord Canning
Explanation: Lord Canning was Governor-General during the uprising. He later became the first Viceroy of India after the transfer of power from the East India Company to the British Crown.
10. Which act ended the rule of the East India Company in India?
A) Regulating Act, 1773 B) Government of India Act, 1858 C) Indian Councils Act, 1909 D) Government of India Act, 1935
Correct Answer: B) Government of India Act, 1858
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1858 transferred the administration of India from the East India Company to the British Crown following the Revolt of 1857.
11. Who led the revolt in Lucknow?
A) Begum Hazrat Mahal B) Rani Chennamma C) Aruna Asaf Ali D) Madam Bhikaji Cama
Correct Answer: A) Begum Hazrat Mahal
Explanation: Begum Hazrat Mahal played a major role in the uprising in Awadh and resisted British rule after the annexation of the kingdom.
12. The Santhal Rebellion took place in which period?
A) 1824–1825 B) 1855–1856 C) 1875–1876 D) 1905–1906
Correct Answer: B) 1855–1856
Explanation: The Santhal Rebellion was led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, along with other leaders, against exploitation by moneylenders, landlords, and colonial authorities.
13. Who led the Paika Rebellion of 1817 in Odisha?
A) Veer Surendra Sai B) Bakshi Jagabandhu C) Gopabandhu Das D) Madhusudan Das
Correct Answer: B) Bakshi Jagabandhu
Explanation: Bakshi Jagabandhu led the Paikas, traditional militia of Khurda, in their rebellion against British authority in 1817. The uprising is an important episode in Odisha’s resistance to colonial rule.
14. Who was the leader of the Kol Uprising of 1831–1832?
A) Buddhu Bhagat B) Birsa Munda C) Sidhu Murmu D) Alluri Sitarama Raju
Correct Answer: A) Buddhu Bhagat
Explanation: Buddhu Bhagat was an important leader associated with the Kol uprising in the Chotanagpur region. The rebellion arose from grievances over land alienation and exploitation.
15. Who led the Ulgulan, or Munda Rebellion, in the late nineteenth century?
A) Tantia Tope B) Birsa Munda C) Kunwar Singh D) Lala Hardayal
Correct Answer: B) Birsa Munda
Explanation: Birsa Munda led the Munda uprising, known as Ulgulan, during 1899–1900. It challenged colonial authority and exploitative land arrangements in the Chotanagpur region.
Section 2: Formation of the Indian National Congress (16–30)
16. In which year was the Indian National Congress founded?
A) 1875 B) 1885 C) 1905 D) 1919
Correct Answer: B) 1885
Explanation: The Indian National Congress was founded in December 1885. It became a major platform for organizing the Indian national movement.
17. Who was the first president of the Indian National Congress?
A) Dadabhai Naoroji B) Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee C) Surendranath Banerjee D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Correct Answer: B) Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee
Explanation: Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee presided over the first Congress session, held in Bombay in December 1885.
18. Who is commonly known as the founder of the Indian National Congress?
A) A.O. Hume B) Mahatma Gandhi C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak D) Jawaharlal Nehru
Correct Answer: A) A.O. Hume
Explanation: Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, played a leading role in organizing the Congress’s first session, alongside Indian political leaders.
19. Who was known as the Grand Old Man of India?
A) Dadabhai Naoroji B) C. Rajagopalachari C) Motilal Nehru D) Vallabhbhai Patel
Correct Answer: A) Dadabhai Naoroji
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji earned this title through his long public career and contributions to Indian nationalism. He also developed the influential Drain of Wealth theory.
20. Who wrote Poverty and Un-British Rule in India?
A) M.G. Ranade B) Dadabhai Naoroji C) R.C. Dutt D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Correct Answer: B) Dadabhai Naoroji
Explanation: Published in 1901, the book explained how British economic policies transferred wealth from India to Britain and contributed to Indian poverty.
21. Which group of leaders was associated with the Moderate phase of Congress politics?
A) Tilak, Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal B) Gandhi, Nehru and Patel C) Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta and Gopal Krishna Gokhale D) Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev
Correct Answer: C) Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta and Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation: The Moderates generally favored constitutional methods, petitions, public debate, and gradual political reform during the early Congress period.
22. Who popularized the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”?
A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak B) Mahatma Gandhi C) Subhas Chandra Bose D) Bhagat Singh
Correct Answer: A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: Tilak helped popularize the demand for Swaraj, or self-rule, and became a leading figure in the assertive nationalist movement.
23. Who were known as the Lal-Bal-Pal trio?
A) Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal B) Lala Hardayal, Baldev Singh and Patel C) Lajpat Rai, Bose and Patel D) Lal Bahadur Shastri, Tilak and Pal
Correct Answer: A) Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal
Explanation: These three leaders advocated assertive nationalism and helped popularize Swadeshi, boycott, and national education during the early twentieth century.
24. In which year was Bengal partitioned by the British?
A) 1885 B) 1905 C) 1911 D) 1920
Correct Answer: B) 1905
Explanation: Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905. The decision triggered widespread protests and strengthened the Swadeshi and boycott movements.
25. Who was the Viceroy of India during the Partition of Bengal in 1905?
A) Lord Ripon B) Lord Curzon C) Lord Irwin D) Lord Chelmsford
Correct Answer: B) Lord Curzon
Explanation: Lord Curzon announced the partition, officially implemented on 16 October 1905. Nationalists regarded the measure as an attempt to weaken political unity.
26. In which year was the Partition of Bengal annulled?
A) 1909 B) 1911 C) 1916 D) 1919
Correct Answer: B) 1911
Explanation: The British government announced the annulment in 1911. In the same year, the imperial capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.
27. Where was the Muslim League founded in 1906?
A) Lahore B) Dhaka C) Karachi D) Aligarh
Correct Answer: B) Dhaka
Explanation: The All-India Muslim League was founded in Dhaka in December 1906. Its political role evolved considerably over the following decades.
28. Which Congress session is associated with the formal split between Moderates and Extremists?
A) Surat, 1907 B) Lucknow, 1916 C) Lahore, 1929 D) Karachi, 1931
Correct Answer: A) Surat, 1907
Explanation: Disagreements over leadership and political methods led to a split at the Surat session in 1907 between the Moderates and the Extremists.
29. Who presided over the 1906 Calcutta session of the Congress?
A) Dadabhai Naoroji B) Gopal Krishna Gokhale C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak D) Annie Besant
Correct Answer: A) Dadabhai Naoroji
Explanation: At the Calcutta session, Dadabhai Naoroji presided while the Congress discussed Swaraj, Swadeshi, boycott, and national education.
30. Who became the first woman president of the Indian National Congress?
A) Sarojini Naidu B) Annie Besant C) Vijayalakshmi Pandit D) Sucheta Kripalani
Correct Answer: B) Annie Besant
Explanation: Annie Besant presided over the Congress session at Calcutta in 1917. Sarojini Naidu later became the first Indian woman to preside over the Congress, in 1925.
Section 3: Swadeshi, Revolutionary Nationalism and Home Rule (31–45)
31. What was the main objective of the Swadeshi Movement?
A) Support British industries B) Promote Indian goods and boycott foreign goods C) Demand separate electorates D) Support the Doctrine of Lapse
Correct Answer: B) Promote Indian goods and boycott foreign goods
Explanation: The Swadeshi Movement encouraged the use of Indian-made products and the boycott of foreign goods, especially after the Partition of Bengal in 1905.
32. Who composed the song “Vande Mataram”?
A) Rabindranath Tagore B) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay C) Sarojini Naidu D) Sri Aurobindo
Correct Answer: B) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Explanation: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote “Vande Mataram” in his novel Anandamath. The song became an important symbol of Indian nationalism.
33. Who founded the Indian Home Rule League in April 1916 in western India?
A) Annie Besant B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak C) Mahatma Gandhi D) Jawaharlal Nehru
Correct Answer: B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: Tilak established his Home Rule League in April 1916, primarily working in Maharashtra and other designated areas. Annie Besant launched a separate Home Rule League later that year.
34. Who established the other major Home Rule League in 1916?
A) Annie Besant B) Bhagat Singh C) Lala Lajpat Rai D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Correct Answer: A) Annie Besant
Explanation: Annie Besant launched her Home Rule League in September 1916. Both leagues sought self-government for India within the British Empire.
35. Which agreement was concluded between the Congress and the Muslim League in 1916?
A) Gandhi-Irwin Pact B) Lucknow Pact C) Poona Pact D) Delhi Pact
Correct Answer: B) Lucknow Pact
Explanation: The Lucknow Pact brought the Congress and the Muslim League together on constitutional demands. The Congress accepted separate electorates for Muslims as part of the agreement.
36. Who founded the Ghadar Party in 1913?
A) Lala Hardayal and other Indian expatriate revolutionaries B) Mahatma Gandhi C) Motilal Nehru D) Vallabhbhai Patel
Correct Answer: A) Lala Hardayal and other Indian expatriate revolutionaries
Explanation: The Ghadar Party emerged among Indian expatriates, especially in North America. It sought to overthrow British rule through revolutionary action.
37. Where was the Ghadar Party established?
A) London B) San Francisco C) Tokyo D) Berlin
Correct Answer: B) San Francisco
Explanation: The party was organized in the United States, with San Francisco becoming a major centre of its activities and its newspaper, Ghadar.
38. Who was the principal founder of the Abhinav Bharat revolutionary organization?
A) V.D. Savarkar B) Gopal Krishna Gokhale C) Dadabhai Naoroji D) C.R. Das
Correct Answer: A) V.D. Savarkar
Explanation: V.D. Savarkar and his associates developed Abhinav Bharat from an earlier revolutionary organization founded in 1904. It promoted revolutionary resistance to colonial rule.
39. The Alipore Bomb Case of 1908 was associated with which revolutionary?
A) Sri Aurobindo B) Mahatma Gandhi C) Rajendra Prasad D) B.R. Ambedkar
Correct Answer: A) Sri Aurobindo
Explanation: Sri Aurobindo was arrested in connection with the Alipore Bomb Case. He was acquitted in 1909; the case involved revolutionary activities in Bengal.
40. Who threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly in 1929 along with Batukeshwar Dutt?
A) Chandrashekhar Azad B) Bhagat Singh C) Ram Prasad Bismil D) Ashfaqulla Khan
Correct Answer: B) Bhagat Singh
Explanation: Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly on 8 April 1929 to protest repressive legislation. They intended to make a political statement and were arrested.
41. Which organization was associated with Bhagat Singh and his revolutionary associates after its reorganization in 1928?
A) Hindustan Socialist Republican Association B) Indian National Army C) Servants of India Society D) Forward Bloc
Correct Answer: A) Hindustan Socialist Republican Association
Explanation: The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) pursued revolutionary action against British rule and advocated a socialist political vision.
42. Who was popularly known as the “Nightingale of India”?
A) Sarojini Naidu B) Annie Besant C) Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay D) Kasturba Gandhi
Correct Answer: A) Sarojini Naidu
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu was a poet, nationalist, and political leader. Her literary achievements earned her the title “Nightingale of India.”
43. Who founded the Servants of India Society in 1905?
A) Gopal Krishna Gokhale B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak C) Dadabhai Naoroji D) Lala Lajpat Rai
Correct Answer: A) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation: Gokhale established the society to train Indians for public service, social reform, and the advancement of the country.
44. Who was associated with the revolutionary organization Anushilan Samiti?
A) Aurobindo Ghosh and other Bengal revolutionaries B) Lord Curzon C) Lord Ripon D) W.C. Bonnerjee
Correct Answer: A) Aurobindo Ghosh and other Bengal revolutionaries
Explanation: Anushilan Samiti was a revolutionary network in Bengal that promoted physical training and, among some members, armed resistance to British rule.
45. Which Indian revolutionary was executed in the Kakori Conspiracy Case in 1927?
A) Ram Prasad Bismil B) Mahatma Gandhi C) Jawaharlal Nehru D) C. Rajagopalachari
Correct Answer: A) Ram Prasad Bismil
Explanation: Ram Prasad Bismil was one of the principal revolutionaries involved in the Kakori train action of 1925. He was executed on 19 December 1927, along with Ashfaqulla Khan and other revolutionaries.
Section 4: Gandhi and the Early Mass Movements (46–60)
46. In which year did Mahatma Gandhi return to India from South Africa?
A) 1905 B) 1915 C) 1919 D) 1922
Correct Answer: B) 1915
Explanation: Gandhi returned to India on 9 January 1915 after years of political activism in South Africa. He later adapted his methods of satyagraha to India’s freedom struggle.
47. Which was Gandhi’s first major satyagraha in India?
A) Champaran Satyagraha B) Salt Satyagraha C) Quit India Movement D) Bardoli Satyagraha
Correct Answer: A) Champaran Satyagraha
Explanation: Gandhi led the Champaran Satyagraha in Bihar in 1917 to address the grievances of indigo cultivators who faced exploitative plantation arrangements.
48. The Champaran Satyagraha took place in which state today?
A) Gujarat B) Bihar C) Maharashtra D) Punjab
Correct Answer: B) Bihar
Explanation: Champaran is in present-day Bihar. The movement helped establish Gandhi as a prominent leader of India’s emerging mass nationalist politics.
49. Which movement was launched by Gandhi in Ahmedabad in 1918 to support textile workers?
A) Ahmedabad Mill Strike B) Khilafat Movement C) Quit India Movement D) Bardoli Movement
Correct Answer: A) Ahmedabad Mill Strike
Explanation: Gandhi supported textile workers in Ahmedabad during a wage dispute in 1918. He used fasting and nonviolent methods to press for a fair settlement.
50. The Kheda Satyagraha of 1918 took place in which state?
A) Bihar B) Gujarat C) Bengal D) Odisha
Correct Answer: B) Gujarat
Explanation: In Kheda, Gujarat, Gandhi and local leaders supported peasants seeking suspension of land revenue because crop failure had left them unable to pay.
51. Which act was popularly known as the Black Act of 1919?
A) Rowlatt Act B) Vernacular Press Act C) Arms Act D) Regulating Act
Correct Answer: A) Rowlatt Act
Explanation: The Rowlatt Act extended extraordinary powers of detention and trial without the usual safeguards. It triggered widespread protests across India.
52. Where did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place?
A) Delhi B) Amritsar C) Lucknow D) Lahore
Correct Answer: B) Amritsar
Explanation: On 13 April 1919, troops under Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer fired on a gathering at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, killing and injuring many people.
53. Who ordered the firing at Jallianwala Bagh?
A) Lord Curzon B) General Reginald Dyer C) Lord Mountbatten D) Lord Wavell
Correct Answer: B) General Reginald Dyer
Explanation: Dyer ordered troops to fire on the gathering. The massacre intensified Indian opposition to British rule and damaged the legitimacy of colonial governance.
54. In which year did the Non-Cooperation Movement begin?
A) 1915 B) 1920 C) 1930 D) 1942
Correct Answer: B) 1920
Explanation: Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920. It encouraged Indians to withdraw cooperation from British institutions and reject colonial honours and goods.
55. Which event led Gandhi to suspend the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922?
A) Chauri Chaura incident B) Kakori incident C) Dandi March D) Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Correct Answer: A) Chauri Chaura incident
Explanation: On 4 February 1922, a crowd at Chauri Chaura in present-day Uttar Pradesh set fire to a police station, killing policemen. Gandhi suspended the movement because the violence contradicted his commitment to nonviolence.
56. The Khilafat Movement was primarily concerned with the position of which institution?
A) Mughal Empire B) Ottoman Caliphate C) East India Company D) Maratha Confederacy
Correct Answer: B) Ottoman Caliphate
Explanation: The Khilafat Movement sought to protect the Ottoman Caliph’s position after the First World War. Gandhi supported it, helping create a period of cooperation between Khilafat leaders and the Congress.
57. Who were the prominent Ali brothers associated with the Khilafat Movement?
A) Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali B) Motilal Nehru and Jawaharlal Nehru C) Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqulla Khan D) Lala Lajpat Rai and Ajit Singh
Correct Answer: A) Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
Explanation: The Ali brothers were important leaders of the Khilafat Movement and worked with other nationalists during the Non-Cooperation period.
58. Who was the principal leader of the Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928?
A) Vallabhbhai Patel B) Jawaharlal Nehru C) Subhas Chandra Bose D) Rajendra Prasad
Correct Answer: A) Vallabhbhai Patel
Explanation: Patel led the peasants of Bardoli, Gujarat, in resisting an increased land revenue assessment. His leadership earned him the title “Sardar.”
59. Which title was popularly given to Vallabhbhai Patel after the Bardoli Satyagraha?
A) Netaji B) Sardar C) Lokmanya D) Deshbandhu
Correct Answer: B) Sardar
Explanation: Women participants in the Bardoli movement are widely credited with popularizing the title “Sardar” for Vallabhbhai Patel in recognition of his leadership.
60. Who founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 along with Motilal Nehru?
A) C.R. Das B) Mahatma Gandhi C) Bhagat Singh D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Correct Answer: A) C.R. Das
Explanation: Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru founded the Swaraj Party to enter legislative councils and obstruct colonial policies from within the system.
Section 5: Civil Disobedience, Purna Swaraj and Constitutional Developments (61–75)
61. In which year did the Simon Commission arrive in India?
A) 1919 B) 1927 C) 1928 D) 1935
Correct Answer: C) 1928
Explanation: The Simon Commission arrived in India in February 1928 to examine constitutional reforms. Its members were all British, with no Indian representative, leading to widespread protests.
62. What slogan did Indian protesters use against the Simon Commission?
A) Jai Jawan Jai Kisan B) Simon Go Back C) Do or Die D) Delhi Chalo
Correct Answer: B) Simon Go Back
Explanation: Nationalists used “Simon Go Back” to reject a constitutional commission that excluded Indians from its membership.
63. Who was injured during a police lathi charge against Simon Commission protesters in Lahore and later died?
A) Lala Lajpat Rai B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak C) Bipin Chandra Pal D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Correct Answer: A) Lala Lajpat Rai
Explanation: Lala Lajpat Rai was injured during a protest against the Simon Commission in Lahore in October 1928. He died in November 1928, and revolutionary nationalists later cited his death as a reason for retaliatory action.
64. Who chaired the committee that prepared the Nehru Report of 1928?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru B) Motilal Nehru C) Mahatma Gandhi D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Correct Answer: B) Motilal Nehru
Explanation: The Nehru Report was prepared under Motilal Nehru’s chairmanship. It proposed constitutional reforms and dominion status for India.
65. At which Congress session was the demand for Purna Swaraj adopted?
A) Surat, 1907 B) Lucknow, 1916 C) Lahore, 1929 D) Karachi, 1931
Correct Answer: C) Lahore, 1929
Explanation: The Lahore session of the Congress, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, adopted complete independence as its goal in December 1929.
66. Who presided over the Lahore Congress session of 1929?
A) Motilal Nehru B) Jawaharlal Nehru C) Mahatma Gandhi D) Sardar Patel
Correct Answer: B) Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the session that declared Purna Swaraj, or complete independence, as the Congress objective.
67. On which date was the first Independence Day observed by nationalists after the Purna Swaraj declaration?
A) 15 August 1947 B) 26 January 1930 C) 2 October 1930 D) 9 August 1942
Correct Answer: B) 26 January 1930
Explanation: The Congress called upon Indians to observe 26 January 1930 as Independence Day. This historical date later influenced the choice of 26 January for the commencement of the Constitution in 1950.
68. Which event marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930?
A) Dandi March B) Chauri Chaura incident C) Kakori train action D) Quit India resolution
Correct Answer: A) Dandi March
Explanation: Gandhi began the Salt March from Sabarmati Ashram on 12 March 1930 and reached Dandi on 6 April, where he broke the salt law.
69. The Dandi March was organized to protest against which British policy?
A) Salt tax and salt monopoly B) Partition of Bengal C) Doctrine of Lapse D) Vernacular Press Act
Correct Answer: A) Salt tax and salt monopoly
Explanation: The British controlled salt production and imposed a tax on salt. Gandhi selected salt as a symbol because it was an essential commodity used by people across social classes.
70. Who signed the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931 on behalf of the British government?
A) Lord Irwin B) Lord Curzon C) Lord Wavell D) Lord Mountbatten
Correct Answer: A) Lord Irwin
Explanation: Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin signed the pact in March 1931. It provided for the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement and the Congress’s participation in the Second Round Table Conference.
71. Where were the Round Table Conferences held?
A) Delhi B) London C) Bombay D) Calcutta
Correct Answer: B) London
Explanation: The three Round Table Conferences were held in London between 1930 and 1932 to discuss constitutional reforms for British India.
72. Who attended the Second Round Table Conference as the principal representative of the Indian National Congress?
A) Mahatma Gandhi B) Subhas Chandra Bose C) Bhagat Singh D) Sardar Patel
Correct Answer: A) Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference in 1931 as the Congress representative. The conference failed to produce an agreement on India’s constitutional future.
73. Who announced the Communal Award in 1932?
A) Ramsay MacDonald B) Winston Churchill C) Clement Attlee D) Lord Mountbatten
Correct Answer: A) Ramsay MacDonald
Explanation: British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal Award in 1932. It provided separate electorates for several communities, including the Depressed Classes.
74. The Poona Pact of 1932 was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and whom?
A) Muhammad Ali Jinnah B) B.R. Ambedkar C) Subhas Chandra Bose D) C.R. Das
Correct Answer: B) B.R. Ambedkar
Explanation: The Poona Pact was reached between representatives of Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar in September 1932. It replaced separate electorates for the Depressed Classes with reserved seats in joint electorates.
75. Which major constitutional law introduced provincial autonomy in British India?
A) Government of India Act, 1858 B) Indian Councils Act, 1909 C) Government of India Act, 1919 D) Government of India Act, 1935
Correct Answer: D) Government of India Act, 1935
Explanation: The Government of India Act, 1935 introduced provincial autonomy and proposed an all-India federation that never fully came into operation. Provincial autonomy was implemented in 1937.
Section 6: Revolutionary Leaders and the Indian National Army (76–85)
76. Who was popularly known as Netaji?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru B) Subhas Chandra Bose C) Bhagat Singh D) Rajendra Prasad
Correct Answer: B) Subhas Chandra Bose
Explanation: Subhas Chandra Bose became widely known as Netaji. He advocated a more forceful struggle against British rule and later led the Indian National Army.
77. In which year did Subhas Chandra Bose first become Congress president?
A) 1929 B) 1938 C) 1942 D) 1946
Correct Answer: B) 1938
Explanation: Bose presided over the Haripura session of the Congress in 1938. He was re-elected in 1939 but resigned after disagreements with the Congress leadership.
78. Who founded the Forward Bloc in 1939?
A) Subhas Chandra Bose B) Mahatma Gandhi C) Jawaharlal Nehru D) Rajendra Prasad
Correct Answer: A) Subhas Chandra Bose
Explanation: Bose established the Forward Bloc in 1939 after resigning as Congress president. The organization sought to unite radical and left-wing nationalist forces.
79. Who played a key role in the early formation of the Indian National Army (INA) in Southeast Asia?
A) Mohan Singh B) Sardar Patel C) C. Rajagopalachari D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Correct Answer: A) Mohan Singh
Explanation: Captain Mohan Singh helped establish the first INA in 1942 with Indian prisoners of war and expatriates in Southeast Asia. Subhas Chandra Bose later reorganized and led it.
80. What was the slogan associated with the INA that called Indians to unite and act?
A) Jai Hind B) Inquilab Zindabad C) Vande Mataram D) Simon Go Back
Correct Answer: A) Jai Hind
Explanation: “Jai Hind” became a prominent patriotic greeting associated with the INA and Subhas Chandra Bose. It subsequently gained widespread national use.
81. Which slogan is strongly associated with Subhas Chandra Bose’s call for sacrifice?
A) Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom B) Do or Die C) Swaraj is my birthright D) Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna
Correct Answer: A) Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom
Explanation: Bose used this famous appeal to encourage Indians to make sacrifices for independence and support the armed struggle.
82. Who led the Rani of Jhansi Regiment of the Indian National Army?
A) Lakshmi Sahgal B) Sarojini Naidu C) Aruna Asaf Ali D) Sucheta Kripalani
Correct Answer: A) Lakshmi Sahgal
Explanation: Captain Lakshmi Sahgal led the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, a women’s unit of the INA that challenged traditional restrictions on women’s participation in military service.
83. Where did the INA conduct important military operations during the Second World War?
A) Imphal and Kohima region B) Delhi and Agra C) Bombay and Pune D) Calcutta and Patna
Correct Answer: A) Imphal and Kohima region
Explanation: INA forces fought alongside Japanese forces in the campaign toward northeastern India, including operations associated with Imphal. The campaign ultimately failed.
84. Which court trials after the Second World War became a major focus of Indian nationalist protests?
A) INA trials at the Red Fort B) Alipore Bomb Case only C) Kakori trials only D) Meerut Conspiracy Case only
Correct Answer: A) INA trials at the Red Fort
Explanation: The trials of INA officers, including Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sahgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, triggered widespread public sympathy and nationalist demonstrations.
85. Who was the revolutionary associated with the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad,” which became popular during the freedom struggle?
A) Bhagat Singh B) Lord Curzon C) Lord Irwin D) Lord Canning
Correct Answer: A) Bhagat Singh
Explanation: “Inquilab Zindabad,” meaning “Long live the revolution,” was coined by Hasrat Mohani and later popularized by revolutionaries including Bhagat Singh and his associates.
Section 7: Quit India Movement, Independence and Partition (86–100)
86. In which year was the Quit India Movement launched?
A) 1920 B) 1930 C) 1942 D) 1946
Correct Answer: C) 1942
Explanation: The Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942 during the Second World War. The Congress demanded an immediate end to British rule in India.
87. Who gave the slogan “Do or Die” during the Quit India Movement?
A) Subhas Chandra Bose B) Mahatma Gandhi C) Jawaharlal Nehru D) Sardar Patel
Correct Answer: B) Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Gandhi gave the “Do or Die” call during his speech at the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee on 8 August 1942.
88. Where was the Quit India resolution adopted?
A) Lahore B) Bombay C) Calcutta D) Madras
Correct Answer: B) Bombay
Explanation: The resolution was adopted at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay, now Mumbai, on 8 August 1942. The site is now known as August Kranti Maidan.
89. Who hoisted the Congress flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan during the Quit India Movement?
A) Aruna Asaf Ali B) Annie Besant C) Kasturba Gandhi D) Vijaya Raje Scindia
Correct Answer: A) Aruna Asaf Ali
Explanation: Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the national flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan on 9 August 1942 after many senior Congress leaders had been arrested.
90. Who founded the Azad Hind Government in 1943?
A) Mahatma Gandhi B) Subhas Chandra Bose C) Jawaharlal Nehru D) Vallabhbhai Patel
Correct Answer: B) Subhas Chandra Bose
Explanation: Bose proclaimed the Provisional Government of Free India, or Azad Hind Government, in Singapore on 21 October 1943. It sought to advance India’s independence through the INA and international support.
91. Who was the last Viceroy of British India?
A) Lord Wavell B) Lord Irwin C) Lord Mountbatten D) Lord Canning
Correct Answer: C) Lord Mountbatten
Explanation: Lord Mountbatten became Viceroy in March 1947. He oversaw the transfer of power and the partition of British India in August 1947.
92. Which plan proposed the partition of British India into India and Pakistan in 1947?
A) Cripps Mission B) Cabinet Mission Plan C) Mountbatten Plan D) Wavell Plan
Correct Answer: C) Mountbatten Plan
Explanation: Announced on 3 June 1947, the Mountbatten Plan proposed the partition of British India and the transfer of power to two independent dominions.
93. Which Act provided the legal basis for the independence and partition of British India in 1947?
A) Government of India Act, 1935 B) Indian Independence Act, 1947 C) Regulating Act, 1773 D) Indian Councils Act, 1909
Correct Answer: B) Indian Independence Act, 1947
Explanation: The British Parliament passed the Indian Independence Act in July 1947. It provided for the establishment of India and Pakistan as independent dominions from August 1947.
94. On which date did India become independent?
A) 26 January 1930 B) 15 August 1947 C) 26 January 1950 D) 9 August 1942
Correct Answer: B) 15 August 1947
Explanation: India became independent on 15 August 1947, ending British colonial rule. Partition accompanied independence and caused extensive displacement and violence.
95. Who was the first Prime Minister of independent India?
A) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel B) Jawaharlal Nehru C) Rajendra Prasad D) Lal Bahadur Shastri
Correct Answer: B) Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru became India’s first Prime Minister in August 1947. His independence-night address, known as “Tryst with Destiny,” remains a landmark speech.
96. Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress to become independent India’s first President?
A) Dr. Rajendra Prasad B) B.R. Ambedkar C) C. Rajagopalachari D) S. Radhakrishnan
Correct Answer: A) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Explanation: Dr. Rajendra Prasad was India’s first President, taking office on 26 January 1950. He had also served as Congress president, but his presidency of the republic began after independence.
97. Who was the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru B) B.R. Ambedkar C) Sardar Patel D) Rajendra Prasad
Correct Answer: B) B.R. Ambedkar
Explanation: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee, established on 29 August 1947. The Constitution came into effect on 26 January 1950.
98. Which mission came to India in 1946 to discuss the transfer of power?
A) Simon Commission B) Cabinet Mission C) Cripps Mission D) Hunter Commission
Correct Answer: B) Cabinet Mission
Explanation: The Cabinet Mission arrived in 1946 to propose a constitutional framework and arrangements for transferring power. Its proposals included a Constituent Assembly and a grouping plan for provinces.
99. Which naval uprising in February 1946 challenged British authority in India?
A) Royal Indian Navy Mutiny B) Revolt of 1857 C) Santhal Rebellion D) Paika Rebellion
Correct Answer: A) Royal Indian Navy Mutiny
Explanation: The Royal Indian Navy uprising began in Bombay in February 1946 and spread to other naval establishments. It reflected widespread dissatisfaction among naval ratings and added to the pressures on British rule.
100. Who was the first Indian Governor-General of independent India?
A) Lord Mountbatten B) C. Rajagopalachari C) Jawaharlal Nehru D) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Correct Answer: B) C. Rajagopalachari
Explanation: C. Rajagopalachari became Governor-General in June 1948, succeeding Lord Mountbatten. He was the only Indian to hold the office, which ended when India became a republic in January 1950.
Quick Revision: Important Dates of the Indian Freedom Movement
| Year | Important event |
| 1857 | Revolt of 1857 |
| 1885 | Formation of the Indian National Congress |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal; Swadeshi Movement |
| 1906 | Formation of the All-India Muslim League |
| 1907 | Surat Split |
| 1915 | Gandhi returned to India |
| 1916 | Lucknow Pact and Home Rule Leagues |
| 1917 | Champaran Satyagraha |
| 1919 | Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh massacre |
| 1920 | Non-Cooperation Movement |
| 1922 | Chauri Chaura incident |
| 1928 | Simon Commission arrived in India |
| 1929 | Purna Swaraj adopted at Lahore |
| 1930 | Dandi March and Civil Disobedience Movement |
| 1931 | Gandhi-Irwin Pact |
| 1932 | Poona Pact |
| 1935 | Government of India Act |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement |
| 1943 | Azad Hind Government proclaimed |
| 1946 | Cabinet Mission and Royal Indian Navy uprising |
| 1947 | Indian independence and Partition |
| 1950 | Constitution came into effect |
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