06 November 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to The Salt March and choose the correct ones:

1. It was this event that first brought Mahatma Gandhi to world attention.
2. It was the first nationalist activity in which women participated in large numbers.
3. It was the Salt March which forced upon the British the realisation that their Raj would not last forever.

Select the correct answer using the code below?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. All of the above

• Explanation:

The Salt March was notable for at least three reasons. First, it was this event that first brought Mahatma Gandhi to world attention. The march was widely covered by the European and American press. Second, it was the first nationalist activity in which women participated in large numbers. The socialist activist Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay had persuaded Gandhiji not to restrict the protests to men alone. Kamaladevi was herself one of numerous women who courted arrest by breaking the salt or liquor laws. Third, and perhaps most significant, it was the Salt March which forced upon the British the realisation that their Raj would not last forever, and that they would have to devolve some power to the Indians.

Q2. Consider the following statements about Dandi March and the further Civil Disobedience movement:

1. The violation of the salt law was seen as a symbol of the Indian disobedience to foreign rule.
2. There was active focus on non-payment of revenue from the initial stages of the movement.
3. Picketing of only those shops which sell foreign goods.

Select the incorrect statements using the codes below:

1. 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. All of the above

• Explanation:

The historic march, marking, the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement, began on March 12, and Gandhi broke the salt law by picking up a handful of salt at Dandi on April 6. The violation of the law was seen as a symbol of the Indian people’s resolve not to live under British made laws and therefore under British rule.

Gandhi declared initially- We can refuse to pay taxes if we have the requisite strength. After Gandhi’s arrest, the CWC sanctioned: non-payment of revenue in Ryotwari areas; no chowkidara tax campaign in zamindari areaGandhi had specially asked women to play a leading part in the movement. Soon, they became a familiar sight, picketing outside liquor shops, opium dens and shops selling foreign cloth

Q3. In Assam, a powerful agitation rose against the ‘Cunningham Circular’ during the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). What was the objective of the circular?

1. Ban on commercial collection of forest products by the locals.
2. Suspension of government employees who participated in the the CDM.
3. Forced parents, guardians and students to furnish assurances of good behaviour.
4. None of the above.

• Explanation:

In Assam, A powerful agitation was organised against the infamous ‘Cunningham circular’ which forced parents, guardians and students to furnish assurances of good behaviour.

Q4. Who among the following represented a strong leftist trend within the Congress post the Civil Disobedience movement?

1. M.N. Roy
2. M.A. Ansari
3. J.L. Nehru
4. S.C. Bose

• Explanation:

After the Civil Disobedience Movement, a strong leftist trend within the Congress represented by Nehru was critical of both constructive work and council entry in place of the suspended civil disobedience movement as that would sidetrack political mass action and divert attention from the main issue of struggle against colonialism. Instead, this section favoured resumption and continuation of non-constitutionalist mass struggle, because the situation was still revolutionary owing to continued economic crisis and the readiness of the masses to fight.

Q5. Which among the following statements were part of Gandhi’s demands before Civil Disobedience Movement?

1. To introduce total prohibition.
2. Allowing popular control of issue of firearms licences.
3. Revoke the Textile protection.

Select the correct answer using the codes below:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. All of the above

• Explanation:

To carry forward the mandate given by the Lahore Congress, Gandhi presented eleven demands to the Government and gave an ultimatum of January 31, 1930 to accept or reject these demands. The demands were as follows.

Issues of General Interest

1. Reduce expenditure on Army and civil services by 50 per cent.
2. Introduce total prohibition.
3. Carry out reforms in Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
4. Change Arms Act allowing popular control of issue of firearms licences.
5. Release political prisoners.
6. Accept Postal Reservation Bill.

Specific Bourgeois Demands

7. Reduce rupee-sterling exchange ratio.
8. Introduce textile protection.
9. Reserve coastal shipping for Indians.

Specific Peasant Demands

10. Reduce land revenue by 50 per cent.
11. Abolish salt tax and government’s salt monopoly.

Q6. Consider the following statements with respect to main proposals of Cripps Mission:

1. An Indian Union with a dominion status would be set up.
2. Any province not willing to join the Union could have a separate constitution and form a separate Union.
3. A constituent assembly would be convened to frame a new constitution.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

1. 3 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. All of the above

• Explanation:

The main proposals of the mission were as follows.

1. An Indian Union with a dominion status would be set up; it would be free to decide its relations with the Commonwealth and free to participate in the United Nations and other international bodies.
2. After the end of the war, a constituent assembly would be convened to frame a new constitution. Members of this assembly would be partly elected by the provincial assemblies through proportional representation and partly nominated by the princes.

3.The British Government would accept the new constitution subject to two conditions: (i) any province not willing to join the Union could have a separate constitution and form a separate Union, and (ii) the new constitution-making body and the British Government would negotiate a treaty to affect the transfer of power and to safeguard racial and religious minorities.

4. In the meantime, defence of India would remain in British hands and the governor-general’s powers would remain intact.

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding Wavell Plan of 1945:

1. With the exception of the Governor General, all members of the executive council were to be Indians
2. The reconstructed council was to function as an interim government within the framework of the 1935 Act
3. The League claimed some kind of veto in the council with decisions opposed’ to Muslims needing a two-thirds majority for approval
4. The Congress objected to the plan as an attempt to reduce the Congress to the status of a purely caste Hindu party

Select the correct answer using the codes below:

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

• Explanation:

With the exception of the governor-general and commander-in-chief, all members of the executive council were to be Indians.

Q8. Match the following with respect to parallel governments of Quit India movement:

Place                                                  Parallel Government

1. Ballia                                           1. Chittu Pandey
2. Tamluk                                        2. Chasi-maulia Raj
3. Satara                                          3. Y.B. Chavan
4. Talcher                                        4. BidyutBahinis

A             B             C             D

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

• Explanation:

Parallel governments were established at many places:

Ballia (in August 1942 for a week)—under Chittu Pandey. He got many Congress leaders released.Tamluk (Midna pore, from December 1942 to September 1944)—which undertook cyclone relief work, sanctioned grants to schools, supplied paddy from the rich to the poor, organised BidyutBahinis etc.Satara (mid-1943 to 1945)—named “Prati Sarkar”, was organised under leaders like Y.B. Chavan, Nana Patil, etc.Talcher in Odisha also had parallel government for a short time called Chasi-maulia raj.

Q9. Who among the following ran an underground Congress radio during Quit India Movement?

1. Usha Mehta
2. SumatiMorarjee
3. Kamladevi Chattopadhyay
4. AchyutPatwardhan

• Explanation:

Usha Mehta actively supported the Quit India movement and was an important member of a small group which ran the Congress Radio.

Q10. Consider the following statements and choose the correct ones:

1. The Cabinet Mission suggested against the partition, a single union.
2. It suggested a loose confederation with some autonomy for Muslim-majority areas.
3. The Muslim League announced Direct Action Day after the failure of the Cabinet Mission.

Select the correct answer using the code below?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. All of the above

• Explanation:

The Cabinet Mission suggested against the partition, a single union. It suggested a loose confederation with some autonomy for Muslim-majority areas. The Muslim League announced Direct Action Day after the failure of the Cabinet Mission.