History – Medium Level – GK Questions

Abhinav Bindra won India's first individual Olympic gold medal in the 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His achievement inspired a new generation of Indian athletes. [[1]]

India won its first Olympic gold medal in hockey at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, defeating Netherlands 3-0. This began India's dominance in Olympic hockey with six consecutive golds (1928-1956). [[1]]

The Jnanpith Award, instituted in 1961, is India's highest literary honor for outstanding contribution to Indian literature in any scheduled language. It includes a cash prize and a citation. [[30]]

The Bharat Ratna was instituted on January 2, 1954, to recognize exceptional service in any field. The first recipients were C. Rajagopalachari, S. Radhakrishnan, and C.V. Raman. [[30]]

Amartya Sen won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1998 for his work on welfare economics, poverty, and famine. He is known for the capability approach and human development theory. [[30]]

National Emergency was proclaimed thrice: 1962 (China war), 1971 (Pakistan war), and 1975 (internal disturbance). The 44th Amendment (1978) made emergency provisions more stringent to prevent misuse. [[30]]

The Poona Pact was signed on September 24, 1932, between Gandhi and Ambedkar. It ensured reserved seats for Depressed Classes within joint electorates, replacing separate electorates proposed in the Communal Award. [[30]]

Judicial Review, the power to examine constitutionality of laws, is inherent in the Indian Constitution (Articles 13, 32, 226). It was reinforced by the Basic Structure Doctrine in Kesavananda Bharati case (1973). [[30]]

The Concurrent List (List III in Seventh Schedule) allowing both center and states to legislate on certain subjects was borrowed from the Australian Constitution. It facilitates cooperative federalism. [[30]]

The Government of India Act 1935 provided the structural framework for India's federal system, including the division of powers between center and states, though the Constitution made it more flexible and democratic. [[30]]

The 1991 economic reforms, known as LPG (Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization), dismantled the License Raj, opened India to foreign investment, and integrated the economy with global markets. [[1]]

The Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61), based on the Mahalanobis Model, emphasized heavy and capital goods industries to achieve rapid industrialization. It laid foundations for India's public sector. [[1]]

The Bombay Plan (1944) was drafted by leading Indian industrialists including J.R.D. Tata and G.D. Birla. It proposed state-led industrialization and planning, influencing post-independence economic policy. [[1]]

India was a founding member of the WTO established on January 1, 1995, succeeding GATT. India has actively participated in WTO negotiations, advocating for developing countries' interests in trade. [[30]]

The Gujral Doctrine (1996), articulated by PM I.K. Gujral, emphasized non-reciprocal generosity towards smaller South Asian neighbors to build trust and regional cooperation, particularly with Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. [[30]]

The Look East Policy was initiated by PM P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1991 to strengthen economic and strategic ties with Southeast Asia. It was later upgraded to 'Act East Policy' under PM Narendra Modi. [[30]]

Annie Besant established the Home Rule League in Madras in September 1916, demanding self-government for India. It complemented Tilak's league and mobilized mass support for Home Rule. [[1]]

The Berlin Committee (1915) was formed by Indian revolutionaries in Germany during WWI, seeking German support for India's independence. It coordinated with the Ghadar Party for anti-British activities. [[1]]

After escaping India in 1941, Subhash Chandra Bose reached Germany via Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. He sought Axis support for India's independence before moving to Southeast Asia in 1943. [[1]]

Subramania Bharati (1882-1921) was a Tamil poet, journalist, and freedom fighter. His poetry advocated social reform, women's emancipation, and Indian nationalism, influencing Tamil literature profoundly. [[30]]