History – GK Questions

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]]

Indira Gandhi became the first woman to receive the Bharat Ratna in 1971 for her leadership during the Bangladesh War. She later served as Prime Minister and remains a pivotal figure in Indian politics. [[1]]

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]]

Mother Teresa (1910-1997) received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work with the poor in Kolkata. She founded the Missionaries of Charity and became an Indian citizen. [[1]]

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]]

The 86th Amendment (2002) made education a Fundamental Right (Article 21A). The Right to Education Act came into force on April 1, 2010, ensuring free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14. [[1]]

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 Constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950. November 26 is celebrated as Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas). [[1]]

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]]

The Indian National Army was first formed in 1942 under Mohan Singh with Japanese support. Subhash Chandra Bose reorganized it in 1943 as the Azad Hind Fauj to fight for India's independence. [[1]]

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 42nd Amendment Act (1976) added 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the Preamble during the Emergency. These additions reflected the commitment to social justice and national unity. [[1]]

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]]

Part III of the Indian Constitution (Fundamental Rights) was inspired by the US Bill of Rights. However, the Indian version includes socioeconomic rights and allows reasonable restrictions for public order. [[1]]

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 Sivaraman Committee (1979) recommended establishing NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) to coordinate rural credit. NABARD was set up in 1982. [[30]]

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 First Five-Year Plan (1951-56) prioritized agriculture, irrigation, and power to address food shortages and stabilize the economy. It was based on the Harrod-Domar growth model. [[30]]

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]]