Daily Static Quiz (Modern India) December 10, 2025

Daily Static Quiz (Modern India) December 10, 2025

1. Consider the following statements regarding the Vernacular Press Act, 1878:

(a) It was repealed immediately after assuming office by Lord Ripon as he advocated press freedom
(b) It was passed during the viceroyalty of Lord Lytton to suppress nationalist sentiment in Indian-language publications
(c) It specifically exempted English-language newspapers from its stringent provisions
(d) The Act was instrumental in strengthening the unity between Indian and English-language press

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 and 3 only
(C) 1, 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 4 only

2. The Ilbert Bill controversy of 1883 was primarily significant because it:

(a) Attempted to equalize the judicial authority of Indian and European judges in certain criminal cases
(b) Triggered a strong backlash from the European community who feared losing their privileged legal status
(c) Led to the resignation of Lord Ripon, the architect of the bill
(d) Successfully established the principle of equal justice for all subjects in British India

Which of the above statements is/are NOT correct?

(A) Only (c) and (d)
(B) Only (d)
(C) Only (c)
(D) (a), (c) and (d)

3. With reference to the Brahmo Samaj movement, which of the following statements is/are correct?

(1) It originated in Bengal and sought to reform Hinduism through rationalism and monotheism
(2) Raja Ram Mohan Roy established the Atmiya Sabha as the precursor to the formal Brahmo Samaj
(3) The movement fundamentally rejected the concept of modern education and Western values
(4) It later split into different factions, with the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj emerging as a more liberal wing

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(A) 1, 2 and 4 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) All of the above

4. The Surat Split of 1907 was essentially a consequence of:

(a) Disagreement over the adoption of non-violent methods versus militant nationalism
(b) The differential approach to Swadeshi movement and boycott strategy between moderates and extremists
(c) Tension between Tilak’s authoritarian leadership and democratic principles upheld by Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(d) British policy of encouraging divisions within the Congress to weaken nationalist movements

Which of the above statements represent the actual historical causes of the split?

(A) (a), (b) and (c) only
(B) (b) and (d) only
(C) (a) and (c) only
(D) (a), (b) and (d) only

5. With reference to the Home Rule Movement (1916-1918), consider the following statements:

(1) Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak launched separate but contemporary Home Rule campaigns
(2) The movement’s primary objective was to secure dominion status within the British Commonwealth
(3) The arrests of both Tilak and Annie Besant galvanized public opinion and strengthened the movement
(4) The movement was significantly weakened following the implementation of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(A) 1, 2 and 3 only
(B) 1, 3 and 4 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1 and 4 only

6. The Khilafat Movement (1919-1924) is historically important because:

(a) It marked the first major Hindu-Muslim unity in the post-WWI nationalist struggle
(b) It facilitated Gandhi’s emergence as an all-India leader transcending regional and caste boundaries
(c) It sought to preserve the Ottoman Caliphate after its decline in the aftermath of World War I
(d) It demonstrated the successful implementation of non-violent resistance at a mass scale

Which of these statements are accurate characterizations of the movement’s significance?

(A) (a), (b), (c) and (d)
(B) (b), (c) and (d) only
(C) (a), (b) and (d) only
(D) (c) and (d) only

7. The Civil Disobedience Movement launched in 1930 differed from the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) in that it:

(a) Specifically targeted the British monopoly on salt production as a symbol of colonial exploitation
(b) Involved mass participation across urban and rural areas with greater emphasis on civil disobedience
(c) Focused primarily on resignation from government positions rather than constructive actions
(d) Met with comparatively harsher official repression and mass arrests by the British administration

Which of the above statements correctly identify key differences between these movements?

(A) (a), (b) and (d) only
(B) (b) and (c) only
(C) (a), (b), (c) and (d)
(D) (c) and (d) only

8. With reference to the Cripps Mission (1942), which of the following statements is/are correct?

(1) The mission proposed a federation of Indian provinces with dominion status after the war
(2) It offered Indians significant control over the defense portfolio immediately
(3) The rejection of the Cripps proposals by Indian nationalists contributed to the launch of the Quit India Movement
(4) The mission was headed by Sir Stafford Cripps and was supported by elements within the Labour Party

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(A) 1, 2 and 3 only
(B) 1, 3 and 4 only
(C) 2 and 4 only
(D) 1 and 4 only

9. The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny of 1946 was significant for the Indian independence movement because:

(a) It demonstrated the erosion of loyalty within the military, previously considered a pillar of British rule
(b) It occurred during the final negotiations for independence, amplifying demands for immediate withdrawal
(c) It was exclusively led by naval officers with no participation from lower-rank sailors
(d) It proved that armed rebellion, rather than non-violent methods, was the decisive factor in securing independence

Which statements accurately characterize the historical significance of this event?

(A) (a) and (b) only
(B) (a), (b) and (c) only
(C) (b), (c) and (d) only
(D) (c) and (d) only

10. With reference to the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946, which of the following statements is/are correct?

(1) It recommended a three-tier federal structure with British India, Indian princely states, and groups of provinces
(2) It provided for the establishment of a Constituent Assembly to draft India’s constitution
(3) The plan’s failure was primarily due to disagreements between Congress and Muslim League over provincial autonomy and center’s powers
(4) It explicitly rejected the two-nation theory and advocated for a unified India

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 1, 2 and 3 only
(C) 2, 3 and 4 only
(D) All of the above

ANSWERS AND EXPLANATIONS

ANSWER 1: (B) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is INCORRECT: The Vernacular Press Act was indeed repealed by Lord Ripon, but not immediately. Ripon did advocate for press freedom and repealed the Act in 1882, but this occurred about four years after its implementation in 1878 under Lord Lytton. So while the statement is partially accurate, the word “immediately” makes it misleading.

Statement 2 is CORRECT: The Vernacular Press Act was passed in 1878 during Lord Lytton’s tenure with the explicit purpose of suppressing nationalist sentiment in Indian-language publications. The Act gave the government extensive powers to confiscate presses and newspapers that were deemed seditious. It was a direct response to growing nationalist consciousness in India and aimed to control the narrative in Indian-language newspapers that the British could not easily monitor or understand.

Statement 3 is CORRECT: The Vernacular Press Act specifically targeted Indian-language publications while deliberately exempting English-language newspapers. This discriminatory approach highlighted the double standards of the colonial administration and provoked significant criticism among Indian intellectuals. The exemption of English-language press demonstrated the colonial government’s confidence in controlling elite discourse while fearing mass mobilization through vernacular media.

Statement 4 is INCORRECT: The Vernacular Press Act actually created a rift between Indian-language and English-language press rather than strengthening unity. English-language newspapers, run largely by European and Anglophone Indians, often supported the British perspective, while vernacular press became increasingly nationalist. This division persisted throughout the pre-independence period.

ANSWER 2: (B) Only (d)

Explanation:

Statement (a) is CORRECT: The Ilbert Bill of 1883 was introduced during Lord Ripon’s viceroyalty and attempted to equalize the judicial authority of Indian judges and European judges in certain criminal cases. Specifically, it aimed to allow Indian judges to try European British subjects in criminal cases, removing the racial privilege that had hitherto allowed only European judges to try Europeans.

Statement (b) is CORRECT: The bill triggered an intense backlash from the European community in India, who saw it as a threat to their privileged legal status. European colonists organized mass protests and petitions against the measure, demonstrating their entrenched resistance to any meaningful equality in the judicial system. The controversy revealed the racial hierarchies embedded in colonial governance.

Statement (c) is INCORRECT: Lord Ripon did not resign due to the Ilbert Bill controversy. While facing intense opposition from the European community, Ripon continued his tenure as Viceroy until 1884. However, the controversy did contribute to the broader criticism of his liberal policies, and he eventually left India, but not immediately or solely due to the Ilbert Bill.

Statement (d) is INCORRECT: The bill did NOT successfully establish the principle of equal justice for all. Although the bill was modified to include safeguards for European subjects, it faced such severe opposition that it was substantially weakened before passage. The principle of equal justice remained elusive throughout the colonial period, and the Bill’s modified version represented a compromise that still preserved significant racial distinctions in the judiciary.

ANSWER 3: (A) 1, 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is CORRECT: The Brahmo Samaj was indeed founded in Bengal and sought to reform Hinduism through rationalism and monotheism. It represented a syncretic movement that attempted to blend Hindu philosophical traditions with rational, Western-influenced thought. The movement rejected practices like idol worship and caste discrimination while promoting monotheism and social reform.

Statement 2 is CORRECT: Raja Ram Mohan Roy established the Atmiya Sabha in 1814 as a philosophical discussion circle in Calcutta. This organization served as the intellectual precursor to the formal establishment of the Brahmo Samaj in 1828. The Atmiya Sabha focused on debating social and religious issues and created the ideological foundation upon which the more formal Brahmo Samaj was built.

Statement 3 is INCORRECT: The Brahmo Samaj did NOT reject modern education and Western values. In fact, the movement was characterized by its openness to Western rationalism, scientific thinking, and modern education. Reformers like Ram Mohan Roy actively promoted English education as a tool for social progress and intellectual advancement. The movement’s strength lay in its synthesis of traditional Hindu values with modern, rational thinking.

Statement 4 is CORRECT: The Brahmo Samaj did undergo significant splits and schisms. Most notably, the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj (established in 1878) emerged as a more liberal and socially progressive wing compared to the earlier Adi Brahmo Samaj. The Sadharan Brahmo Samaj was more radical in its approach to social reform and democratic principles, while the original organization became more conservative over time.

ANSWER 4: (A) (a), (b) and (c) only

Explanation:

Statement (a) is CORRECT: The fundamental ideological divide between Moderates and Extremists centered on methods of struggle. Moderates like Gopal Krishna Gokhale believed in constitutional, non-violent methods and constitutional reforms, while Extremists like Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai advocated for more militant nationalism and sacrifice. This disagreement over violent versus non-violent approaches was the core issue leading to the Surat Split.

Statement (b) is CORRECT: There was also significant disagreement over the Swadeshi movement and economic boycott of British goods. Extremists promoted these strategies as immediate and practical tools for independence, while Moderates were skeptical of their effectiveness and worried about disrupting the political negotiations they were engaged in with the British. This tactical difference exacerbated the split.

Statement (c) is CORRECT: Tilak’s style of leadership was more authoritarian and personality-driven, contrasting with Gopal Krishna Gokhale’s emphasis on democratic deliberation and consensus. This personality and style conflict also contributed to tensions, though it was not the primary cause of the split.

Statement (d) is INCORRECT: While the British certainly benefited from the Congress split and pursued divisive policies, this was not the actual cause of the Surat Split. The split emerged primarily from internal ideological and tactical disagreements among Indian nationalists. To attribute it primarily to British intrigue would be an oversimplification that ignores the genuine Indian nationalist debates of the period.

ANSWER 5: (B) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is CORRECT: Both Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak launched separate Home Rule campaigns during 1916-1918, though at slightly different times and with different organizational structures. Tilak founded the Home Rule League in April 1916, while Besant’s Home Rule League was established in September 1916. Despite their differences, they worked toward similar objectives and represented a convergence of Moderate and Extremist elements in the nationalist movement.

Statement 2 is INCORRECT: The primary objective of the Home Rule Movement was not to secure dominion status specifically. Rather, the movement sought “Home Rule” in the sense of self-governance and political autonomy, which could take various forms. While some articulations might have mentioned dominion status as an intermediate goal, the broader and more flexible aspiration was for self-governance, which left room for evolution toward full independence.

Statement 3 is CORRECT: Both Tilak and Annie Besant were arrested during the Home Rule movement—Tilak in 1916 and Besant in 1917. Their arrests actually galvanized public opinion and strengthened support for the movement. The imprisonment of these high-profile nationalist figures demonstrated the repressive nature of colonial rule and made them martyrs in the eyes of the Indian public, thereby amplifying the movement’s impact and appeal.

Statement 4 is CORRECT: The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) offered limited constitutional reforms that appeared to address some demands for representation and self-governance. Once these reforms were implemented—promising greater Indian participation in governance—the urgency and relevance of the Home Rule Movement diminished. The movement essentially achieved its immediate objective, and attention shifted to responses to the actual implementation of the reforms and the continuation of the broader independence struggle.

ANSWER 6: (B) (b), (c) and (d) only

Explanation:

Statement (a) is INCORRECT: While the Khilafat Movement did initially attract both Hindu and Muslim participation and represented an effort at Hindu-Muslim unity, it was not the “first major Hindu-Muslim unity in the post-WWI nationalist struggle.” Earlier instances like the swadeshi movement and boycott campaigns had seen Hindu-Muslim cooperation. Moreover, the unity during the Khilafat Movement, while significant, was more limited and issue-specific (related to the Caliphate) rather than a comprehensive political unity. The movement began fragmented and eventually saw communal tensions resurface.

Statement (b) is CORRECT: The Khilafat Movement was historically significant because it provided Gandhi with a platform to emerge as an all-India leader. His active involvement in the movement, his association with the Khilafat activists, and his ability to rally both Hindu and Muslim masses around this issue elevated his status from a South African activist to a national leader. This movement essentially marked Gandhi’s arrival as a figure who could command pan-Indian, multi-community support.

Statement (c) is CORRECT: The Khilafat Movement was specifically designed to preserve the Ottoman Caliphate, which represented the spiritual and political leadership of Islam. After Ottoman Turkey’s defeat in World War I and the dismantling of the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Sèvres (1920), Indian Muslims launched the Khilafat Movement to mobilize international opinion and pressure the British government to preserve the Caliphate. This was a direct response to the perceived threat to Islamic institutions.

Statement (d) is CORRECT: The Khilafat Movement demonstrated mass-scale non-violent resistance. Millions of Indian Muslims, and significant Hindu participation as well, engaged in peaceful protests, hartals, and boycotts. This mass mobilization through non-violent means was a crucial demonstration of the potential of satyagraha and non-cooperation as effective tools for political change, reinforcing Gandhi’s philosophy and strategy.

ANSWER 7: (A) (a), (b) and (d) only

Explanation:

Statement (a) is CORRECT: A key distinguishing feature of the Civil Disobedience Movement was the focus on salt production as a specific target. The Salt March and Dandi Salt Manufacturing directly challenged the British monopoly on salt production, which was a symbol of colonial economic exploitation. The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-1922) was broader in its approach, targeting all aspects of cooperation with British rule, including educational institutions, law courts, and government positions, without focusing on a specific commodity.

Statement (b) is CORRECT: The Civil Disobedience Movement involved much broader mass participation across both urban and rural areas compared to the Non-Cooperation Movement. While the Non-Cooperation Movement had significant participation, the Civil Disobedience Movement demonstrated greater penetration into rural India and more active civil disobedience (breaking laws) as opposed to passive non-cooperation. The Civil Disobedience Movement was more confrontational and legally provocative.

Statement (c) is INCORRECT: Both movements emphasized constructive action alongside their negative aspects. The Non-Cooperation Movement explicitly promoted constructive work like khadi production, indigenous education, and social uplift. Similarly, the Civil Disobedience Movement combined civil disobedience with positive programs. While resignation from government positions was part of non-cooperation, it was not its exclusive or defining feature.

Statement (d) is CORRECT: The Civil Disobedience Movement did encounter comparatively harsher repression. Because it involved more direct violation of British laws (manufacturing salt, for instance), the government’s response was more severe. Mass arrests were on a larger scale, and the movement faced more intense physical repression. The Government of India Act of 1935, implemented while the movement was ongoing, was partly a response to the threat posed by it.

ANSWER 8: (B) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is CORRECT: The Cripps Mission proposed a federation of Indian provinces with dominion status to be granted after World War II. This was the constitutional framework that Cripps and his team offered as a solution to India’s independence question. The proposal envisioned a united Indian federation within the Commonwealth.

Statement 2 is INCORRECT: The Cripps Mission did NOT offer Indians significant control over the defense portfolio immediately. Defense was to remain under British control during the war and for a substantial period thereafter. This was one of the major criticisms of the proposal by Indian nationalists—the limitation on Indian control over defense matters was seen as perpetuating colonial dependence in crucial areas.

Statement 3 is CORRECT: The rejection of the Cripps proposals by the Indian National Congress and other nationalist organizations was a direct cause of the Quit India Movement launched in August 1942. The failure of the Cripps Mission to address Indian demands for immediate independence and control over defense led to the conclusion that constitutional negotiation was fruitless, prompting Gandhi to launch the “Quit India” campaign.

Statement 4 is CORRECT: The Cripps Mission was indeed headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, a Labour politician and member of the British War Cabinet. He had strong personal connections within Labour Party circles and was sympathetic to Indian independence, though constrained by wartime exigencies and the British government’s refusal to grant immediate independence.

ANSWER 9: (A) (a) and (b) only

Explanation:

Statement (a) is CORRECT: The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny of 1946 was highly significant because it demonstrated the erosion of loyalty within one of the pillars of British colonial rule—the military. For nearly 200 years, the Indian military had been considered fundamentally reliable by the British. The mutiny showed that even this supposedly loyal institution was influenced by the independence movement, signifying that the British could no longer rely on traditional instruments of control.

Statement (b) is CORRECT: The mutiny occurred in February 1946, at a critical juncture when the Cabinet Mission was negotiating India’s independence and the transfer of power. The mutiny amplified nationalist demands and demonstrated that the Indian people, including sections of the military, were impatient for independence. It strengthened the argument that India must be immediately released from colonial control, as even the armed forces were becoming unreliable for maintaining imperial order.

Statement (c) is INCORRECT: The mutiny was not exclusively led by naval officers. It was a genuine mutiny involving sailors and lower-rank personnel. The mutiny began with lower-deck ratings and spread because of grievances about working conditions, pay, and the broader political situation. The mutiny demonstrated mass participation from the lower ranks, not just officer-level discontent.

Statement (d) is INCORRECT: This statement contains a problematic implication. While the mutiny was significant, it would be historically inaccurate to claim that armed rebellion was the decisive factor in securing independence. Independence came through a combination of factors: the non-violent independence movement’s moral power, economic strain on Britain after World War II, the changing international environment, negotiations, and the demonstration that colonial rule had become untenable. The Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience movements, though non-violent, had perhaps a greater structural impact on the eventual transfer of power.

ANSWER 10: (B) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is CORRECT: The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 did recommend a three-tier federal structure. The plan proposed: (a) British India would be organized into groups of provinces; (b) the Indian princely states would retain their autonomy but participate in the federal structure; and (c) there would be a central federal authority. This multi-layered federal structure was designed to accommodate the diversity of India while maintaining some form of unity.

Statement 2 is CORRECT: The Cabinet Mission Plan explicitly provided for the establishment of a Constituent Assembly that would draft India’s constitution. This was a crucial recommendation because it addressed the question of how a constitution for independent India would be framed. The Constituent Assembly would be composed of representatives from British India and the princely states and would have the authority to draft India’s constitutional framework.

Statement 3 is CORRECT: The failure of the Cabinet Mission Plan was primarily due to disagreements between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League, particularly regarding provincial autonomy and the distribution of powers between the central government and the provinces. The Muslim League’s interpretation of “autonomy” for the groups envisioned a much looser federation where Muslim-majority groups would have near-sovereign status, while Congress wanted a strong center. These irreconcilable differences on the structure of governance led to the plan’s failure.

Statement 4 is INCORRECT: While the Cabinet Mission Plan was designed to preserve a united India, it did not explicitly reject the two-nation theory in its language or reasoning. The plan attempted to accommodate both the Congress vision of a united India and Muslim League’s desire for Muslim-majority autonomy through the federal structure. Moreover, the plan’s failure and subsequent events—including the partition that followed—suggest that the two-nation theory was implicitly recognized as a reality that had to be negotiated, even if not explicitly articulated in the plan’s documents.

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