History – GK Questions

The First Buddhist Council was held at Rajagriha (modern Rajgir) under King Ajatashatru's patronage, presided by Mahakasyapa, to compile Buddha's teachings. [[30]]

Panini's Ashtadhyayi (c. 4th century BCE) is a comprehensive treatise on Sanskrit grammar with nearly 4,000 rules. It is considered one of the greatest intellectual achievements of ancient India. [[1]]

Nalanda University (5th-12th century CE) in Bihar was a premier center for Buddhist learning, attracting scholars from China, Korea, and Central Asia. It was destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193. [[30]]

The French Revolution began in 1789 with the storming of the Bastille. It overthrew the monarchy, established a republic, and promoted ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. [[1]]

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published 'The Communist Manifesto' in 1848. It outlined class struggle and called for proletarian revolution, influencing global socialist movements. [[30]]

The Treaty of Versailles (June 28, 1919) formally ended World War I. It imposed heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany, contributing to the rise of Nazism and WWII. [[1]]

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain around 1760 with mechanization of textiles, steam power, and the factory system. It transformed economies and societies globally. [[30]]

The Renaissance originated in 14th-century Italy (Florence), marking a revival of art, literature, science, and humanism. It later spread across Europe, influencing global culture. [[1]]

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected President of the Constituent Assembly on December 11, 1946. He later became the first President of independent India (1950-1962). [[30]]

The original Constitution (1950) had 8 schedules. Currently, there are 12 schedules after amendments. Schedules deal with administrative details like states, languages, and tribal areas. [[1]]

The 42nd Amendment added the words 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the Preamble. It also emphasized the unity and integrity of the nation during the Emergency period. [[30]]

The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950, making India a sovereign democratic republic. This date was chosen to commemorate the 1930 Purna Swaraj declaration. [[1]]

Lord Mountbatten served as the first Governor-General of independent India (August 1947 – June 1948). C. Rajagopalachari was the first and last Indian Governor-General (1948-1950). [[30]]

The Government of India Act 1935 established a Federal Court at Delhi (inaugurated in 1937) to adjudicate disputes between provinces and federal units. It was the precursor to the Supreme Court of India. [[1]]

The Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) introduced dyarchy, dividing provincial subjects into 'Reserved' (controlled by Governor) and 'Transferred' (controlled by ministers). [[30]]

Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, Article 51A) were added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, inspired by the USSR Constitution. They emphasize citizens' responsibilities towards the nation. [[1]]

The Constituent Assembly first met on December 9, 1946. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, and enforced on January 26, 1950 – totaling 2 years, 11 months, 18 days. [[30]]

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950. [[1]]

Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905 on administrative grounds, but it was widely seen as a 'divide and rule' policy. It sparked the Swadeshi Movement and was annulled in 1911. [[30]]

Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, founded the Indian National Congress in December 1885 in Bombay. W.C. Banerjee was its first president. [[1]]