Medium Level – GK Questions

Thiruvalluvar composed Thirukkural, a classic Tamil text of 1,330 couplets on ethics, politics, and love. It is revered across religious and linguistic boundaries in South India. [[1]]

Jayadeva composed 'Gita Govinda' in 12th-century Bengal, a Sanskrit lyrical poem celebrating the divine love of Krishna and Radha. It remains influential in Indian classical music and dance. [[1]]

Charvaka (Lokayata) was a materialistic school that rejected Vedas, afterlife, and supernatural entities. It emphasized perception as the only source of knowledge and advocated hedonistic ethics. [[30]]

'Ahimsa Paramo Dharma' (non-violence is the supreme duty) is a core principle of Jainism. Jains practice strict non-violence towards all living beings, influencing Indian culture and Gandhi's philosophy. [[30]]

Samkhya, one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, is attributed to Sage Kapila. It is dualistic, distinguishing between Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter), and influenced Yoga philosophy. [[30]]

The Green Revolution was initiated under Lal Bahadur Shastri (1964-66) with support from agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan. It introduced high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, transforming Indian agriculture. [[30]]

The States Reorganisation Commission (Fazl Ali Commission, 1953) recommended reorganizing states primarily on linguistic lines. The States Reorganisation Act 1956 implemented most recommendations, creating 14 states and 6 UTs. [[30]]

Direct Action Day (August 16, 1946) called by the Muslim League led to massive communal riots in Calcutta, killing thousands. It marked the point of no return toward Partition. [[1]]

The All India Muslim League was founded in Dhaka in 1906 to safeguard Muslim political interests. Initially loyalist, it later demanded separate electorates and eventually Pakistan. [[1]]

The Moplah Rebellion (1921) occurred in Malabar district, Kerala, among Muslim tenant farmers against Hindu landlords and British authorities. It began as part of the Khilafat-Non-Cooperation Movement but turned communal. [[30]]

AITUC was founded in Bombay in 1920 under the presidency of Lala Lajpat Rai. It was the first central trade union organization in India, advocating workers' rights and linking labor movement with nationalism. [[30]]

The Berlin Committee (1915) was formed by Indian revolutionaries in Germany during WWI, with support from the German government. It aimed to secure German aid for India's independence struggle. [[1]]

The Ghadar Party was founded in 1913 in San Francisco, USA, by Lala Har Dayal and other Indian expatriates. It aimed to overthrow British rule through armed revolution and published the 'Ghadar' newspaper. [[1]]

During Quit India (1942), parallel governments (Prati Sarkar) were established in Ballia (UP), Tamluk (Bengal), and Satara (Maharashtra), demonstrating people's capacity for self-governance. [[30]]

Gandhi's Constructive Programme emphasized khadi spinning, village industries, Hindu-Muslim unity, removal of untouchability, prohibition, and basic education (Nai Talim) as means of social transformation. [[30]]

The 'No Tax' campaign was particularly successful in Gujarat during the Civil Disobedience Movement. Peasants refused to pay land revenue, and the movement gained strong support from Patidars and other communities. [[30]]

The Surat Session (1907) witnessed a split between Moderates and Extremists over methods and goals. The division weakened the Congress until the Lucknow Pact (1916) reunited the factions. [[30]]

The Indian National Congress was founded in December 1885 at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay. W.C. Banerjee was its first president, and 72 delegates attended the inaugural session. [[30]]

Moderate leaders like Gokhale and Banerjee believed in constitutional methods: Prayer (appeals to British justice), Petition (submitting memoranda), and Protest (peaceful agitation) to achieve reforms. [[30]]

The Government of India Act 1935 abolished dyarchy in provinces and introduced provincial autonomy, allowing elected ministers to control provincial subjects. However, governors retained special powers. [[30]]