The Indian Freedom Struggle

What you'll learn

Learn the three phases of India's freedom struggle and the key movements, dates, and leaders most tested in UPSC Prelims.

This chapter has

The Indian Freedom Struggle — solved practice questions

8 UPSC Modern Indian History questions with step-by-step solutions. Attempt each, then reveal the answer.

1. Q1easy

   The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885. Who among the following was its first President?

   • AA.O. Hume
   • BDadabhai Naoroji
   • CW.C. Bonnerjee
   • DSurendranath Banerjee
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) W.C. Bonnerjee

   Womesh Chandra (W.C.) Bonnerjee presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress held in Bombay in December 1885. A.O. Hume was the general secretary and organiser, but not the president.

2. Q2medium

   The partition of Bengal, which triggered the Swadeshi Movement, came into effect in which year and under which Viceroy?

   • A1905, under Lord Curzon
   • B1911, under Lord Hardinge
   • C1909, under Lord Minto
   • D1907, under Lord Curzon
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (A) 1905, under Lord Curzon

   The Partition of Bengal was announced in 1905 under Lord Curzon and came into effect on 16 October 1905. The resulting agitation gave rise to the Swadeshi and Boycott movements; the partition was annulled in 1911.

3. Q3medium

   Consider the following statements regarding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre: 1. It took place on 13 April 1919 at Amritsar. 2. The firing was ordered by General Reginald Dyer. 3. It was a protest gathering against the Rowlatt Act. Which of the statements are correct?

   • A1 and 2 only
   • B2 and 3 only
   • C1 and 3 only
   • D1, 2 and 3
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3

   All three statements are correct. On 13 April 1919 (Baisakhi day), a crowd gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, partly to protest the Rowlatt Act and the arrest of leaders; General Dyer ordered troops to fire without warning, killing hundreds.

4. Q4medium

   The Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi was withdrawn in February 1922 following which incident?

   • AThe Kakori conspiracy
   • BThe Chauri Chaura incident
   • CThe Jallianwala Bagh massacre
   • DThe Moplah rebellion
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) The Chauri Chaura incident

   Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement after the Chauri Chaura incident (February 1922), where an agitated mob set fire to a police station killing policemen, prompting Gandhi to call off the movement citing the loss of non-violent discipline.

5. Q5medium

   At which session did the Indian National Congress formally adopt the resolution of 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) as its goal?

   • ACalcutta Session, 1928
   • BKarachi Session, 1931
   • CLahore Session, 1929
   • DNagpur Session, 1920
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) Lahore Session, 1929

   The Lahore Session of 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, adopted the Purna Swaraj resolution. As a result, 26 January 1930 was observed as the first Independence Day, later chosen as the date the Constitution came into force.

6. Q6easy

   The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi with which of the following acts?

   • ABurning of foreign cloth at Bombay
   • BBreaking the salt law at Dandi
   • CResignation from legislative councils
   • DStorming of the Chittagong armoury
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (B) Breaking the salt law at Dandi

   The Civil Disobedience Movement began with the Dandi March (Salt March) in 1930, when Gandhi and his followers walked from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi to make salt, defying the government's salt monopoly and salt tax.

7. Q7hard

   Consider the following pairs of revolutionaries and associated events: 1. Bhagat Singh — Assembly bomb case 2. Surya Sen — Chittagong armoury raid 3. Ram Prasad Bismil — Kakori conspiracy Which of the pairs are correctly matched?

   • A1 and 2 only
   • B1 and 3 only
   • C2 and 3 only
   • D1, 2 and 3
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3

   All three pairs are correct. Bhagat Singh and B.K. Dutt threw bombs in the Central Legislative Assembly (1929); Surya Sen led the Chittagong armoury raid (1930); Ram Prasad Bismil was a leader of the Kakori train robbery (1925).

8. Q8medium

   The 'Quit India' resolution was passed by the All India Congress Committee in August 1942 at which city?

   • ABombay
   • BWardha
   • CCalcutta
   • DAllahabad
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (A) Bombay

   The Quit India resolution was passed on 8 August 1942 at the Bombay session (Gowalia Tank) of the All India Congress Committee. Gandhi gave the famous call of 'Do or Die' during this movement.

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