History – GK Questions

Answer: True

The Indian National Congress was founded in December 1885 in Bombay by A.O. Hume, with W.C. Banerjee as its first president. It initially sought reforms within the British framework. [[1]]

Answer: Dadabhai Naoroji

Dadabhai Naoroji was elected as a Liberal Party MP from Finsbury Central (London) in 1892. He used this platform to highlight India's economic exploitation under British rule. [[30]]

Answer: True

Though there were earlier tribal and peasant uprisings, the Revolt of 1857 was the first large-scale, coordinated armed resistance involving sepoys, peasants, and rulers across North and Central India. [[1]]

Answer: Bahadur Shah Zafar

Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, was proclaimed the symbolic leader of the revolt in Delhi. After the British recaptured Delhi, he was exiled to Rangoon where he died in 1862. [[30]]

Answer: Jhansi

Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi led her forces against the British during the 1857 Revolt. She became a symbol of resistance and patriotism, famously declaring 'Main apni Jhansi nahi doongi' (I will not give up my Jhansi). [[1]]

Answer: True

Mangal Pandey, a sepoy of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, attacked British officers in Barrackpore on March 29, 1857, protesting the new cartridges. He was hanged on April 8, 1857, becoming a martyr of the revolt. [[30]]

Answer: Meerut

The Revolt of 1857 began in Meerut on May 10, 1857, when Indian sepoys refused to use the new Enfield rifle cartridges. It quickly spread to Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, and other parts of North India. [[1]]

Answer: True

While railways facilitated movement of people and goods, their primary purpose was to transport raw materials to ports for export to Britain and move troops quickly to suppress rebellions. [[30]]

Answer: Famine Commission

The Famine Commission (1880) under Richard Strachey was appointed after the devastating famines of 1876-78. It recommended measures for famine relief and prevention, though implementation was inadequate. [[1]]

Answer: Bombay

The first successful cotton textile mill in India was established by Kawasji Davar in Bombay in 1854. It marked the beginning of modern industrialization in India under British rule. [[30]]

Answer: True

British policies favored import of manufactured goods from Britain and export of raw materials from India. This led to the decline of India's renowned textile and handicraft industries, causing unemployment and poverty. [[1]]

Answer: Dadabhai Naoroji

Dadabhai Naoroji propounded the 'Drain of Wealth' theory in his book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' (1901), arguing that Britain systematically drained India's resources, causing poverty. [[30]]

Answer: True

The Child Marriage Restraint Act (Sarda Act) of 1929 set the minimum age of marriage at 14 for girls and 18 for boys. It was a significant step against child marriage in colonial India. [[1]]

Answer: Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 to propagate Vedanta philosophy and engage in social service. It was inspired by his guru, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. [[30]]

Answer: William Bentinck

Lord William Bentinck, with support from Raja Ram Mohan Roy, abolished Sati through Regulation XVII of 1829, prohibiting the immolation of widows on their husbands' funeral pyres. [[1]]

Answer: True

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar campaigned vigorously for widow remarriage. His efforts led to the Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act, 1856, which legalized remarriage of Hindu widows. [[30]]

Answer: Dayanand Saraswati

Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj in Bombay in 1875. It promoted Vedic values, opposed idol worship, caste discrimination, and advocated for women's education and widow remarriage. [[1]]

Answer: True

Unlike the Permanent Settlement, the Ryotwari System allowed the government to revise revenue rates every 20-30 years based on land productivity, giving the state more flexibility but creating uncertainty for peasants. [[30]]

Answer: Permanent Settlement

The Permanent Settlement created a class of zamindars who often lived in cities and collected rent from peasants without investing in agriculture, leading to rural impoverishment and absentee landlordism. [[1]]

Answer: Mahalwari

The Mahalwari System, introduced by Holt Mackenzie and modified by William Bentinck, collected revenue from village communities (mahals) in North-Western Provinces, Punjab, and parts of Central India. [[30]]