Who among the following was called by Gandhiji as his Rajya Guru in May, 1915?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Gandhiji's Rajya Guru (May 1915) → Gopal Krishna Gokhale
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Early Nationalism, Political Associations & Moderates: 73 previous year questions
UPSC has asked 73 questions on Early Nationalism, Political Associations & Moderates between 1979 and 2026: CSE 40 · CDS 16 · CAPF 7 · CISF (LDCE) 4 · EPFO (AO/EO) 3 · Geo-Scientist 2 · EPFO (APFC) 1. 28 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 40 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.
Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.
Chronologically arrange the formation of the following political associations, beginning from the earliest: 1. Poona 2. Indian Association 3. Madras Mahajan Sabha 4. Bombay Presidency Association Select the answer using the code given below :
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Answer A (official UPSC key)In order → Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1870) → Indian Association (1876) → Madras Mahajan Sabha (1884) → Bombay Presidency Association (1885)
Match List-I with List-II and select the answer using the code given below the Lists : List-I (Journal/Newspaper/Pamphlet) List-II (Founder/Editor/Author) A. Kudi Arasu 1. Aurobindo Ghosh B. Kisan Bulletin 2. Pherozeshah Mehta C. Bombay Chronicle 3. Indulal Yagnik D. Bhawani Mandir 4. E.V. Ramaswami Naicker Code ABCD
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Kudi Arasu : E.V. Ramaswami Naicker; Kisan Bulletin : Indulal Yagnik; Bombay Chronicle : Pherozeshah Mehta; Bhawani Mandir : Aurobindo Ghosh
Which one among the following pairs of organizations and their founders is not correctly matched?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)NOT correctly matched → Bombay Association : Sucheta Kripalani (founded by Dadabhai Naoroji and others)
Consider the following statements about the early phase of the National Movement in India : 1. Ferozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji and others formed the Bombay Presidency Association. 2. Surendranath Banerjee and his group planned an Indian National Conference at Calcutta. 3. Allan Octavian Hume decided to create an all-India body as a rival to the above organisations to give vent to the grievances of the poor and marginalised Indians. How many of the above statements is/are correct?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Correct → Ferozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji: Bombay Presidency Association; Surendranath Banerjee: Indian National Conference | NOT: Hume's body a rival for the poor and marginalised
Who among the following was involved in the formation of the Bombay Presidency Association in 1885?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Formed the Bombay Presidency Association (1885) → Pherozeshah Mehta
Consider the following statements about the emergence of national consciousness in India between the 18th and 19th centuries : 1. The spread of printing press and education, and inflow of modem ideas helped Indian regeneration. 2. The reform movements helped develop a sense of national unity among the people. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)National consciousness (18th-19th centuries) → printing press, education, modern ideas; reform movements built unity
Match List I with List II and select the correctanswer using the code given below the Lists : List I (Congress Session) List II (President) A. Lahore Session, 1909 1. Madan Mohan Malaviya B. Calcutta Session, 1911 2. Raghunath Narasinha Mudholkar C. Bankipore Session, 1912 3. Bishan Narayan Dar D. Madras Session, 1914 4. Bhupendra Nath Bose Code : A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4 A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4 A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1 A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Lahore Session, 1909 : Madan Mohan Malaviya; Calcutta Session, 1911 : Bishan Narayan Dar; Bankipore Session, 1912 : Raghunath Narasinha Mudholkar; Madras Session, 1914 : Bhupendra Nath Bose
Who among the following founded the Marathi newspaper ‗Kesari‘ ?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Founded 'Kesari' → Lokmanya Tilak
Which one of the following is not a political method of the moderates in the National Movement ?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Not a moderate political method → overthrow of alien rule
In which one of the following years was the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha established ?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Poona Sarvajanik Sabha established → 1870
The first session of the Indian National Congress was presided over by
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Answer B (official UPSC key)First Congress session presided over by → W.C. Bonnerjee
Who among the following did not represent the militant nationalist school of thought in India ?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Not a militant nationalist → Krishna Kumar Mitra
The British Committee of the Indian National Congress was founded in
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Answer A (official UPSC key)British Committee of the Indian National Congress → 1889
Which one of the following was not a demand made by the Congress moderates?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Not a moderate demand → universal adult franchise
On whose advice did Gandhiji spend a year travelling around India in 1915 - 16 ?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Advised Gandhiji's year of travel (1915-16) → G.K. Gokhale
In which one of the following years did Indian National Congress include in its goal the independence of the Princely States?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Congress included independence of the Princely States → 1938
Arrange the establishment of the following in a chronological order (starting with the earliest): 1. The East India Association 2. The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha 3. The Madras Mahajan Sabha 4. The Bombay Presidency Association Select the correct answer using the code given below :
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Answer A (official UPSC key)In order → East India Association (1866) → Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1867) → Madras Mahajan Sabha (1884) → Bombay Presidency Association (1885)
With reference to Indian National Movement, consider the following pairs: [2019-I] 1. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru: President, All India Liberal Federation 2. K.C. Neogy: Member, The Constituent Assembly 3. P.C. Joshi: General Secretary, Communist Party of India Which of the pairs given above is/ are correctly matched?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Tej Bahadur Sapru : President, All India Liberal Federation; K.C. Neogy : Constituent Assembly member; P.C. Joshi : General Secretary, CPI → all correct
He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji, and Shrikrishna; stayed in America for some time, and was also elected to the Central Assembly. He was [2018]
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji, Shrikrishna; lived in America; Central Assembly → Lala Lajpat Rai
Consider the following Statements Statement I : Nationalism in India, which was assigned a privileged position by its western educated political leadership, was a ‗different‘, but a ‗derivative discourse‘ from the west Statement II : Indian nationalism as a response to western imperialism was ‗like all such responses, shaped by what it was responding to‘ Codes
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Indian nationalism → a 'different' but 'derivative discourse' from the West | Shaped by what it was responding to | II explains I
Who among the following is considered to be the first Indian to go to jail in performance of his duty as a journalist?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)First Indian jailed for his duty as a journalist → Surendranath Banerjee
Consider the following pairs: 1. Radhakanta Deb: First President of the British Indian Association 2. Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty: Founder of the Madras Mahajana Sabha 3. Surendra Nath Banerjee: Founder of the Indian Association Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Radhakanta Deb : first President, British Indian Association; Surendra Nath Banerjee : founder, Indian Association | NOT: Gazulu Lakshminarasu Chetty founded the Madras Mahajana Sabha
Which of the following statements about the founding of the Indian National Congress (INC) is / are correct ? 1. The INC was formed in Bombay in 1885 2. The first president of the INC was W.C. Bonnerjee Select the correct answer using the code given below:
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Indian National Congress → formed in Bombay in 1885; first president W.C. Bonnerjee
What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Main reason for the Surat split (1907) → extremists lost faith in the moderates' capacity to negotiate
Which of the following statements about the formation of the Indian National Congress are true? 1. The Indian National Congress was formed at a national convention held in Calcutta in December 1885 under the Presidency of Motilal Nehru. 2. The Safety Valve Theory regarding the formation of the Indian National Congress emerged from a biography of A. O. Hume written by William Wedderbrn. 3. An early decision was that the President would be from the same region where the session was to be held. 4. W. C. Banerjee was the first President of the Indian National Congress. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Congress formation → Safety Valve Theory from Wedderburn's biography of Hume; W. C. Banerjee first President | NOT: Calcutta convention under Motilal Nehru | NOT: President from the host region
Consider the following statements 1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu. 2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)First Muslim Congress President → Badruddin Tyabji | NOT: first woman President Sarojini Naidu
Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Movement behind the moderate–extremist split → Swadeshi Movement
Which one among the following explains the meaning of the „Safety Valve Theory‟ in the context of Indian National Movement ?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Safety Valve Theory → Congress formed as a safe outlet for discontented educated Indians
Consider the following statements about the First Session of the Indian National Congress 1. It was held in Bombay in 1885. 2. Surendranath Banerji could not attend the session due to the simultaneous session of the Indian National Conference. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)First Congress session → Bombay, 1885; Surendranath Banerji absent due to the Indian National Conference
Which one among the following thinkers argued that Maratha rule in general and Shivaji in particular represented early nationalist consciousness in India?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Maratha rule and Shivaji as early nationalist consciousness → Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Who among the following first used the word ‗Swarajya‘ in its political sense and accepted Hindi as the national language of India?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)First used 'Swarajya' politically, accepted Hindi as national language → Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Which one among the following statements regarding Bal Gangadhar Tilak is not correct?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT correct about Tilak → supported the Age of Consent Bill | Arctic Home of the Aryans; Anti-Cow Killing Society; Home Rule League at Poona
Which of the following pairs are correctly matched ? 1. Jamnalal Bajaj Satyagraha Ashram 2. Dadabhai Naoroji Bombay Association 3. Syed Ahmed Khan MAO College 4. Lala Lajpat Rai Anusilan Samiti Select the correct answer using the code given below :
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Jamnalal Bajaj : Satyagraha Ashram; Dadabhai Naoroji : Bombay Association; Syed Ahmed Khan : MAO College | NOT: Lala Lajpat Rai – Anusilan Samiti
What was the purpose with which Sir William Wedderburn and W.S. Caine had set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee in 1893 ?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Indian Parliamentary Committee (1893) of Wedderburn and Caine → to agitate for Indian political reforms in the House of Commons
Which one of the following statements about the moderate leaders of the Indian National Congress is not correct ?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)NOT correct about the moderates → ignored zamindari exploitation of rural people
Consider the following statements and identify the person referred to therein with the help of the codes given below During his stay in England, he endeavoured to educate the British people about their responsibilities as rulers of India. He delivered speeches and published articles to support his opposition to the unjust and oppressive regime of the British Raj. In 1867, he helped to establish the East India Association of which he became the Honorary Secretary Codes
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Answer C (official UPSC key)In England, Hon. Secretary of the East India Association (1867) → Dadabhai Naoroji
Consider the following statements Statement I : Bal Gangadhar Tilak sought to diffuse the spirit of nationalism among the masses. Statement II : Tilak organised a corps of volunteers to help the famine stricken people in the Deccan. Codes:
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Tilak → spread nationalism among the masses; volunteer corps for Deccan famine relief | II not the explanation of I
Who among the following was thrice elected President of the Indian National Congress?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Thrice elected Congress President → Dadabhai Naoroji
Where was the First Session of the Indian National Congress held in December 1885? [2008]
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Answer B (official UPSC key)First Congress session, December 1885 → Bombay
Who gave a systematic critique of the moderate politics of the Indian National Congress in a series of articles entitled New Lamps for Old? [2008]
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Answer A (official UPSC key)'New Lamps for Old' critique of moderate politics → Aurobindo Ghosh
Who among the following rejected the title of Knighthood and refused to accept a position in the Council of the Secretary of State for India? [2008]
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Rejected knighthood and a seat on the Secretary of State's Council → G K Gokhale
Who among the following introduced the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi and Shivaji Festivals to bring the Indian society together and inspire patriotic feelings among the people?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Introduced Ganesh Chaturthi and Shivaji festivals → Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Consider the following statements: [2004] 1. The First Session of the Indian National Congress was held in Calcutta 2. The Second Session of the Indian National Congress was held under the presidentship of Dadabhai Naoroji 3. Both Indian National Congress and Muslim League held their sessions at Lucknow in 1916 and concluded the Lucknow Pact Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Second Congress session → presided by Dadabhai Naoroji | NOT: first session in Calcutta (Bombay)
Assertion (A): The effect of labor participation in the Indian nationalist upsurge of the early 1930s was weak. Reason (R): The labor leaders considered the ideology of the Indian National Congress as bourgeois and reactionary.
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Labour participation in the early 1930s upsurge → weak | Labour leaders saw the Congress as bourgeois and reactionary | R explains A
Which one of the following submitted in 1875 a petition to the House of Commons demanding India's direct representation in the British parliament? [2002]
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Answer D (official UPSC key)1875 petition to the House of Commons for direct Indian representation → Poona Sarvajanik Sabha
Consider the following statements about the Indian National Congress: [2000] 1. Sarojini Naidu was the first woman to be the President of Congress 2. C.R. Das was in prison when he functioned as the President of Congress 3. The first Britisher to become the President of the Congress was Alan Octavian Hume 4. Alfred Webb was the President of the Congress in 1894. Which of these statements are correct?
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Answer B (official UPSC key)C.R. Das presided over the Congress while in prison; Alfred Webb President in 1894 | NOT: Sarojini Naidu first woman President (Annie Besant) | NOT: Hume first Britisher President (George Yule)
Assertion (A): The basic weakness of the early nationalist movement lay in its narrow social base Reason (R): It fighting for the narrow interests of the social groups which joined it.
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Early nationalist movement's weakness → narrow social base | NOT: fought for narrow interests of its social groups
The Congress policy of pray and petition ultimately came to an end under the guidance of [1999]
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Ended the Congress policy of pray and petition → Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Which one of the following Indian leaders was dismissed by the British from the Indian Civil Service? [1999]
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Dismissed from the Indian Civil Service → Surendranath Banerji
Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? [1998] 1. Theodore Beck: Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh. 2. Ilbert Bill: Ripon 3. Pherozeshah Mehta: Indian National Congress 4. Badruddin Tyabji: Muslims League Select the correct answer using the codes given below: Codes:
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Theodore Beck : MAO College, Aligarh; Ilbert Bill : Ripon; Pherozeshah Mehta : Indian National Congress | NOT: Badruddin Tyabji – Muslim League
Which one of the following defines extremist ideology during the early phase of the Indian freedom movement? [1998]
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Extremist ideology → self-government by aggressive means instead of petitions and constitutional ways
The Indian Muslims, in general, were not attracted to the Extremist movement because of : [1998]
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Muslims not drawn to the Extremists → extremists harped on the Hindu aspect
"A graduate at 18, professor and associate editor of the Sudharak at 20, Secretary of the Sarvajanik Sabha and of the Provincial Conference at 25, Secretary of the National Congress at 29, leading witness before an important Royal Commission at 31, Provincial legislator at 34, Imperial legislator at 36, President of the Indian National Congress at 39, a patriot whom Mahatma Gandhi himself regarded as his master": [1997] This is how a biographer describes :
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Graduate at 18, Sudharak editor, Congress President at 39, Gandhi's master → Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I List II A. Surat Split 1. 1929 B. Communal Award 2. 1928 C. All Party Convention 3. 1932 D. Poorna Swaraj Resolution 4. 1907 5. 1905 Codes:
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Surat Split : 1907; Communal Award : 1932; All Party Convention : 1928; Poorna Swaraj Resolution : 1929
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer: [1996] List I List II A. Surendranath Banerjee 1. Hind Swaraj B. M.K. Gandhi 2. The Indian Struggle C. Subhash Chandra Bose 3. Autobiographical D. Lajpat Rai 4. A Nation in Making Codes:
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Surendranath Banerjee : A Nation in Making; M.K. Gandhi : Hind Swaraj; Subhash Chandra Bose : The Indian Struggle; Lajpat Rai : Autobiographical
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? [1995]
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Answer D (official UPSC key)NOT correctly matched → Bal Gangadhar Tilak – Satya Shodhak Sabha | Satya Shodhak → Jyotiba Phule
Which of the following international events influenced the course of the national movement in India before the advent of Mahatma Gandhi? [94] 1. Italian-Abyssinian War, 1898 2. Boxer Movement in China 3. Revolutionary Movement in Ireland 4. Victory of Japan in the Russo-Japanese War Choose the correct answer from the code given below:
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Influenced the national movement before Gandhi → Italian-Abyssinian War; Boxer Movement; Irish revolutionary movement; Japan's victory over Russia
Who out of the following was not a moderate? [92]
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Not a moderate → Bal Gangadhar Tilak
In 1921 the Session of the Indian National Congress was held when its President was in prison and with some other leader acting as President. Who was the Congress President in prison?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Congress President in prison, 1921 session → C.R. Das (Hakim Ajmal Khan acting)
The first political organisation established in India in 1838 was known as
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Answer D (official UPSC key)First political organisation (1838) → Zamindari Association
Consider the following sessions of the Indian National Congress : 1. The Muslim League and the Indian National Congress met jointly. 2. The Indian National Congress divided into two groups. 3. The resolution for "Complete Independence" was passed. 4. The Non-cooperation resolution was passed. The correct chronological sequence of these sessions is
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Answer B (official UPSC key)In order → Congress divided (Surat, 1907) → joint session with the Muslim League (1916) → Non-cooperation resolution (1920) → Complete Independence resolution
Swaraj as a national demand was first made by
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Swaraj first made a national demand by → Dadabhai Naoroji
Moderates and extremists of the Indian National Congress differed mainly on the issue of [89]
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Moderates and extremists differed mainly on → Swaraj
Gokaldas Tejpal Sanskrit Pathshala was the place where
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Gokaldas Tejpal Sanskrit Pathshala → first session of the Indian National Congress
Assertion (A): Lal, Bal and Pal formed extremist group in the Indian National Congress. Reason (R): They were revolutionary leaders
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Lal, Bal and Pal → extremist group in the Congress | They were revolutionary leaders (per key) | R explains A
Indian National Congress was founded by
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Answer B (official UPSC key)Indian National Congress founded by → A. O. Hume
Who among the following was not a moderate?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Not a moderate → B. G. Tilak
Whom did Gandhiji consider his political Guru?
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Answer C (official UPSC key)Gandhiji's political Guru → Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Who was the founder of the Servants of India Society?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Founder of the Servants of India Society → G. K. Gokhale
Who said first : "Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it".
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Answer A (official UPSC key)First said 'Swaraj is my birth right and I shall have it' → Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Who led the extremists before the arrival of Gandhiji on the political scene for freedom struggle?
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Answer A (official UPSC key)Led the extremists before Gandhiji → Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Who evolved the national consciousness as a formal concept?
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Answer D (official UPSC key)Evolved national consciousness as a formal concept → Surendranath Bannerjee
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