04 November 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding INC Nagpur session, 1920:

• The programme of non-cooperation was endorsed.
• Provincial congress committees on linguistic basis were organized.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Explanation:
• At the Nagpur session of the Indian National Congress, 1920, following decision were made:
• The programme of non-cooperation was endorsed.
• An important change was made in the Congress creed: now, instead of having the attainment of self-government through constitutional means as its goal, the Congress decided to have the attainment of swaraj through peaceful and legitimate means, thus committing itself to an extra constitutional mass struggle. (i
• Some important organisational changes were made: a congress working committee (CWC) of 15 members was set up to lead the Congress from now onwards; provincial congress committees on linguistic basis were organised; ward committees was organised; and entry fee was reduced to four annas.

Q2. Why was the Non-cooperation movement withdrawn after the Chauri-Chaura incident that happened in the United Provinces:

• The incident was against the ideals of non-violence of Gandhi.
• The incident was initiated by extremist leaders of India, which Gandhi did not want to include in the Non-cooperation movement
• The non-cooperation movement was not launched in the United Provinces and Gandhi feared that its inclusion might destabilize the movement.

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1 only
2. 1, 3
3. 1, 2
4. 2, 3

• Explanation:
• The Chauri Chaura incident occurred at Chauri Chaura in the Gorakhpur district of the United Province, (modern Uttar Pradesh) in British India in February 1922, when a large group of protesters, participating in the Noncooperation movement, clashed with police, who opened fire. In retaliation the demonstrators attacked and set fire to a police station, killing all of its occupants.
• The incident led to the deaths of three civilians and several policemen.
• Mahatma Gandhi who was strictly against violence halted the Non-cooperation Movement on the national level in February 1922 itself, as a direct result of this incident.

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding Swarajist activity in the legislatures:

• The Swarajists lacked any policy of coordinating their militant work in the legislatures with mass political work outside.
• Its activities inside legislatures helped the Congress to win many municipal elections during 1923- 1924.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 Only
2. 2 Only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Explanation:
• The Swarajist activity in the legislatures was spectacular by any standards.
• It inspired the politicized persons and kept their political interest alive.
• In 1923-24, Congressmen captured a large number of municipalities and other local bodies.
• The no-changers actively joined in these ventures since they believed that local bodies could be used to promote the constructive programme.
• But the Swarajists lacked any policy of coordinating their militant work in the legislatures with mass political work outside.
• In fact, they relied almost wholly on newspaper reporting.

Q4. One of the major achievements of the Swarajists was that they defeated the ‘Public Safety Bill’ in 1928. What was the bill about?

1. Empowering the government to deport undesirable and subversive foreigners
2. Empowering the government to shoot anti-social elements on sight who were propogating seditious ideas
3. Empowering the government to deploy heavy armed forces both in the interior and exterior of India, the funding of which was to come at the expense of Indian taxpayers
4. None of the above

• Explanation:
• A noteworthy achievement was the defeat of the Public Safety Bill in 1928 which was aimed at empowering the Government to deport undesirable and subversive foreigners.

Q5. The first ‘White Paper on Constitutional Reforms’ for India was prepared and submitted for the consideration of the Joint Select Committee of the British Parliament on the recommendations of the:

1. Hunter Commission
2. Radcliffe Commission
3. Butler Commissions
4. Simon Commission

• Explanation:
• Simon Commission In November 1927 itself (i.e., 2 years before the schedule), the British Government announced the appointment of a seven member statutory commission under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon to report on the condition of India under its new Constitution.
• All the members of the commission were British and hence, all the parties boycotted the commission.
• The commission submitted its report in 1930 and recommended the abolition of dyarchy, extension of responsible government in the provinces, establishment of a federation of British India and princely states, continuation of communal electorate and so on.
• To consider the proposals of the commission, the British Government convened three round conferences of the representatives of the British Government, British India and Indian princely states.
• On the basis of these discussions, a ‘White Paper on Constitutional Reforms’ was prepared and submitted for the consideration of the Joint Select Committee of the British Parliament.
• The recommendations of this committee were incorporated (with certain changes) in the next Government of Inida Act of 1935

Q6. Consider the following statements regarding Civil Disobedience movement (CDM):

• The movement was officially not approved by the congress before its launch.
• All the round table conferences between the British government and Indian leaders followed only after this movement.
• The movement was withdrawn because of violence.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1, 2
2. 2 only
3. 2, 3
4. None of the above

• Explanation:
• Mahatma Gandhi led the Civil Disobedience Movement that was launched in the Congress Session of December 1929.
• The aim of this movement was a complete disobedience of the orders of the British Government.
• During this movement it was decided that India would celebrate 26th January as Independence Day all over the country.
• On 26th January 1930, meetings were held all over the country and the Congress tricolour was hoisted.
• The British Government tried to repress the movement and resorted to brutal firing, killing hundreds of people.
• Thousands were arrested along with Gandhiji and Jawaharlal Nehru.
• But the movement spread to all the four corners of the country Following this, Round Table Conferences were arranged by the British and Gandhiji attended the second Round Table Conference at London.
• But nothing came out of the conference and the Civil Disobedience Movement was revived.
• During this time, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were arrested on the charges of throwing a bomb in the Central Assembly Hall (which is now Lok Sabha) in Delhi, to demonstrate against the autocratic alien rule. They were hanged to death on March 23, 1931.

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding Gandhi-Irwin Pact:

• Gandhi-Irwin Pact was a political agreement signed after the second Round Table Conference in London.
• It marked the end of a period of civil disobedience (satyagraha) in India against British rule that Gandhi and his followers had initiated with the Salt March.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Explanation:
• The ‘Gandhi – Irwin Pact’ was a political agreement signed by Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India, on 5 March 1931 before the second Round Table Conference in London.
• It marked the end of a period of civil disobedience (satyagraha) in India against British rule that Gandhi and his followers had initiated with the Salt March.

Q8. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included:

• Right to make salt in coastal villages for personal consumption and sale.
• Right to peaceful and non-aggressive picketing
• Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses
• Release of all political prisoners not convicted of violence

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1, 2, 3
2. 2, 4
3. 2, 3, 4
4. 1, 2, 4

• Explanation:
• Gandhi-Irwin Pact placed the Congress on an equal footing with the government.
• Irwin on behalf of the government agreed on:
• Immediate release of all political prisoners not convicted of violence
• Remission of all fines not yet collected
• Return of all lands not yet sold to third parties
• Lenient treatment to those government servants who had resigned; right to make salt in coastal villages for personal consumption (not for sale)
• Right to peaceful and non-aggressive picketing
• Withdrawal of emergency ordinances.
• The viceroy, however, turned down two of Gandhi’s demands:
• Public inquiry into police excesses
• Commutation of Bhagat Singh and his comrades’ death sentence to life sentence.
• Gandhi on behalf of the Congress agreed:
• To suspend the civil disobedience movement
• To participate in the next Round Table Conference

Q9. Poona Pact led to:

• Reservation of electoral seats for the depressed classes
• Gandhiji ending his fast in the Yeravada jail as a protest against separate electorates for the depressed classes

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Explanation:
• The Poona Pact was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Ambedkar on behalf of depressed classes and upper caste Hindu leaders on the reservation of electoral seats for the depressed classes in the legislature of British India government in 1930.
• It was made on 24 September 1932 at Yerwada Central Jail in Poona.
• It was signed by Ambedkar on behalf of the depressed classes and by Madan Mohan Malviya on behalf of the upper caste Hindus and Gandhi as a means to end the fast that Gandhi was undertaking in jail as a protest against the decision made by British prime minister Ramsay MacDonald to give separate electorates to depressed classes for the election of members of provincial legislative assemblies in British India.

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the proposals in the August Offer:

• Expansion of viceroy’s executive council which would have a majority of Indians.
• Making of the Constitution will be solely in Indian hands.
• Future Constitution to be adopted with the consent of minorities.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1, 2
2. 1, 3
3. 2, 3
4. 1 only

• Explanation:
• August Offer (August 1940) which proposed:
• Dominion status as the objective for India
• Expansion of viceroy’s executive council which would have a majority of Indians (who would be drawn from major political parties)
• Setting up of a constituent assembly after the war where mainly Indians would decide the constitution according to their social, economic and political conceptions, subject to fulfilment of the obligation of the government regarding defence, minority rights, treaties with States, all India services
• No future constitution to be adopted without the consent of minorities.