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IAS Prelims : GS Modern Indi

1. Consider the following statements:
1. The French were the last to come to India in search of trade opportunities.
2. The Portuguese were the first European community to discover a direct sea route to India.
3. Queen Elizabeth I was a share holder of the British East India Company.

Which of the statements given above is/are are correct?

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. All of the above

Ans: d

Explanation: The Portuguese were the first European community to discover a direct sea route to India. The French were the last to come to India in search of trade opportunities. It is noteworthy that Queen Elizabeth I herself was a share holder of the British East India Company.

2. Which of the following statements is incorrect about “Drain of Wealth” theory in context of Indian freedom struggle?

a. The Drain of Wealth theory was systemically initiated by Dadabhai Naoroji.
b. Through this theory Naoroji sought to prove that Britain was draining money out of India.
c. Drain of Wealth included “Home Charges”.
d. All the statements are correct.

Ans: c

Explanation: The Drain of Wealth theory, primarily propounded by Dadabhai Naoroji, holds that a large part of India’s national wealth or total annual product was exported to England for which the Indians got no adequate returns. ‘Home Charges’ was one of the major components of the drain of wealth that included the administrative and military expenses of the Indian government in Britain.

3. Consider the following statements about Permanent Settlement System.

1. Permanent Settlement System was introduced by Lord Wellesley in 1793.
2. It was introduced on the recommendations of Sir John Shore.

Which of the statements given above is/are are correct?

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2 
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: b

Explanation: Permanent Settlement System was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 on the recommendation of Sir John Shore. Under the settlement, the zamindars were made hereditary owners of the land under their possession. The company’s share in the revenue was fixed permanently with the zamindars.

4. Consider the following statements about Lord William Bentinck.

1. Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India.
2. He was thought to be a reform oriented person.
3. He brought a law against Sati Pratha.

Which of the statements given above is/are are correct?

a. 1 and 2
b. 2 and 3
c.  3 only 
d. 1, 2 and 3

Ans: d

Explanation: Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India. Bentinck was a benevolent and reform oriented administrator. Bentinck took effective steps to root out social evils like Sati and infanticide. William Bentinck as the Governor General of India looked down the Sati cult and declared Sati illegal.

5. The play ‘Neel Darpan’ is associated with the Indigo Revolt (1858) of Bengal. Who wrote this play?

a. Ishwar Chandra Gupta.
b. Deen Bandhu Mitra
c. Bhanu Bandopadhyay.
d. Rajshekhar Basu

Ans: b

Explanation: Deen Bandhu Mitra's ''Neel Darpan'' is a play written  against the backdrop of the Indigo Revolt (1858) of Bengal. The play is based on the exploitation of indigo planters in Bengal by the money lenders, zamindars, and Britishers.

6. Who was the Governor General of India at the time of formation of the Indian National Congress?

a. Lord Lytton
b. Lord Dufferin
c. Lord Elgin
d. Lord Minto

Ans: b

Explanation:  Lord Dufferin was the Governor General of India at the time of formation of the Indian National Congress.

7. Who among the following is known as "The Father of the Indian Renaissance"?

a. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
b. Swami Vivekananda
c. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
d. Swami Dayanand Saraswati

Ans: c

Explanation: Raja Ram Mohan Roy is called the 'Father of Modern India' and "The Father of the Indian Renaissance" in recognition of his epoch-making/defining social, educational, and political reforms. He was the founder of the Brahmo Samaj. He wanted to combine the righteousness of Western and Indian culture. He was especially concerned about the practice of “Sati”.

8. Who is known as Father of Indian Unrest?

a. Bhagat Singh
b. Chandra Shekhar Azad
c. Mahatma Gandhi
d. Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Ans: d

Explanation: The British colonial authorities called Bal Gangadhar Tilak as "Father of the Indian Unrest”. He was the first to demand complete independence for India. He was the one who said, “Swaraj (total freedom) is my birthright and I shall have it”.

9. “Our system acts very much like a sponge, drawing up all the good things from the banks of the Ganges, and squeezing them down on the banks of the Thames”. Who said this?

a. John Sullivan
b. John Shore
c. Lord Minto
d. Lord Clive

Ans: a

Explanation: Highlighting the suppressive and colonial nature of British rule in India, John Sullivan, President of the Board of Revenue, Madras had said, “Our system acts very much like a sponge, drawing up all the good things from the banks of the Ganges, and squeezing them down on the banks of the Thames”.

10. Which of the following Indian province was annexed on account of alleged misgovernance?

a. Awadh
b. Satara
c. Jhansi
d. Mysore

Ans: a

Explanation: The kingdom of Awadh was annexed by the British on account of ‘misgovernance’. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Awadh was accused by the British of having misgoverned his state. His state was therefore annexed in 1856 by Lord Dalhousie. Awadh was the only Indian state whose ruler Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was dispossessed on the ground of “misgovernnance”.