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Nationalist Leaders, Parties & Organisations: 68 previous year questions

UPSC has asked 68 questions on Nationalist Leaders, Parties & Organisations between 1980 and 2025: CDS 27 · CSE 22 · CAPF 11 · EPFO (AO/EO) 3 · NDA 3 · CISF (LDCE) 1 · Geo-Scientist 1. 36 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 22 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.

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Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.

Consider the following statements : 1. The growth of socialist tendency in the national movement led to the foundation of the Congress Socialist Party in 1934 under the leadership of Acharya Narendra Deva and Jayaprakash Narayan. 2. In 1936, Jawaharlal Nehru urged the Congress to accept socialism as its goal and to bring itself closer to the peasantry and the working class. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Congress Socialist Party (1934) under Narendra Deva and Jayaprakash Narayan; Nehru (1936) urged socialism as the Congress goal

Which among the following statements about Mahatma Gandhi‟s Satyagraha is/are correct ? 1. It was during the course of his campaign against racialism in South Africa that Gandhiji first applied Satyagraha 2. The two vital ingredients of Satyagraha are ‗truth‘ and ‗non violence‘ 3. The Satyagrahi resists evil by inflicting suffering on himself and not by inflicting suffering on the opponent 4. In India, Satyagraha was first tried by Gandhiji in Champaran Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Satyagraha → first applied against racialism in South Africa; truth and non-violence; satyagrahi suffers himself; first tried in India at Champaran

What was the Dutt-Bradley thesis?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Dutt-Bradley thesis → Communist document: the Congress could play a foremost part in an anti-imperialist people's front

With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements : [2019] 1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of 'indentured labor'. 2. In Lord Chelmsford's War Conference', Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War. 3. Consequent upon the breaking of the Salt Law by the Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Gandhi instrumental in abolishing indentured labour; Congress declared illegal after the Salt Law breach | NOT: Gandhi opposed the War Conference recruitment resolution

Consider the following statements about the different meanings of 'Swaraj' as articulated by Mahatma Gandhi 1. Swaraj is intimately linked with Ahimsa (nonviolence) and Satyagraha (adherence to truth). 2. Swaraj has two senses-one ' political and one beyond the realm of politics. 3. Swaraj is something that requires time and patience to acquire. 4. With determination, Swaraj could be obtained easily and quickly. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Gandhi's Swaraj → linked with Ahimsa and Satyagraha; political and beyond politics; needs time and patience | NOT: obtained easily and quickly

What was /were the formative influence(s) on the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi? 1. Gandhiji was influenced by the 18th century Pranami sect that advocated the unity of faiths. 2. Gandhiji was influenced by the theosophists. 3. Gandhiji was an admirer of the writings of Romantics like Wordsworth. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Influences on Gandhi → Pranami sect's unity of faiths; theosophists | NOT: Romantics like Wordsworth

Consider the following Statements Statement I : The Communists left the All India Trade Union Congress in 1931. Statement II : By 1928, the Communists were no longer working with the mainstream national movement. Code :

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Communists left the AITUC in 1931 | By 1928 no longer with the mainstream national movement | II explains I

Match List-I and List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List-I(Historian) List-II (Book) A. Sumit Sarkar 1. The Rise and growth of economic nationalism in India B. Shahid Amin 2. A Rule of Property for Bengal C. Ranajit Guha 3. The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal D. Bipan Chandra 4. Event, Metaphor, Memory - Chauri Chaura

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Sumit Sarkar : The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal; Shahid Amin : Event, Metaphor, Memory - Chauri Chaura; Ranajit Guha : A Rule of Property for Bengal; Bipan Chandra : Rise and growth of economic nationalism

Which of the following statements about Mahatma Gandhi's South African experience (1893 - 1914) is/are true? 1. Muslim merchants were actively involved in Gandhian political movements in South Africa. 2. In 1906, Gandhi led a campaign in Cape Town against the ordinance of compulsory registration and passes for Indians. 3. Gandhi began his political career with struggles against the imposition excessive taxes on Indians in Cape Town. Select the correct answer using the code give below :

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Gandhi in South Africa → Muslim merchants active in his movements | NOT: 1906 registration campaign in Cape Town (Transvaal) | NOT: career began against taxes in Cape Town

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists : List 1 (Editor) List 2 (Journal/ Newspaper) A. S.A. Dange 1. Labour-Kisan Gazette B. Muzaffar Ahmed 2. Inquilab C. Ghulam Hussain 3. Navayug D. M. Singaravelu 4. The Socialist

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Answer A (official UPSC key)S.A. Dange : The Socialist; Muzaffar Ahmed : Navayug; Ghulam Hussain : Inquilab; M. Singaravelu : Labour-Kisan Gazette

With reference to Congress Socialist Party, consider the following statements: [2015] 1. It advocated the boycott of British goods and the evasion of taxes. 2. It wanted to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat. 3. It advocated a separate electorate for minorities and oppressed classes. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Congress Socialist Party → none correct | NOT: boycott and tax evasion; NOT: dictatorship of the proletariat; NOT: separate electorates

Mahatma Gandhi‟s severe criticism of the Congress leadership at the opening of the Benaras Hindu University was focused on

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Gandhi at the BHU opening criticised → Indian nationalism as an elite phenomenon

Match List-1 with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists List –I List - II A. Bhagat Singh 1. Congress B. Swami Sahajananda 2. Hindustan Socialist Republic Association C. G. K. Gokhale 3. All India Trade Union Congress D. S. A. Dange 4. All India Kisan Sabha Code ABCD

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Bhagat Singh : Hindustan Socialist Republic Association; Swami Sahajananda : All India Kisan Sabha; G. K. Gokhale : Congress; S. A. Dange : All India Trade Union Congress

Consider the following statement and identify the author of the statement using the codes given below I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country, in whose making they have an effective voice, an India in which there shall be no high class and low class of people, an India in which all communities shall live in perfect harmony. Identify the author of the statement

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Answer B (official UPSC key)'I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel it is their country' → Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi said that some of his deepest convictions were reflected in a book titled, ―Unto this Last‘‘ and the book transformed his life. What was the message from the book that transformed Mahatma Gandhi?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Message of 'Unto this Last' → the good of the individual is contained in the good of all

Which of the following statements regarding Mahatma Gandhi‘s philosophy of Satyagraha is/are correct? 1. Truth and non-violence are its two vital ingredients. 2. The follower of Satyagraha would resist evil but not hate the evil doer. 3. The Satyagrahi would, if necessary, inflict suffering on himself, and also the evil doer. Select the correct answer using the codes given below

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Satyagraha → truth and non-violence; resist evil, not hate the evil doer | NOT: inflict suffering on the evil doer

Consider the following statements about Dr Ram Manohar Lohia 1. He believed the Satyagraha without constructive work is like a sentence without a verb. 2. He wrote his PhD thesis paper on the topic of Salt Satyagraha, focusing on Mahatma Gandhi‘s socioeconomic theory. 3. He recognised that caste, more than class, was the huge stumbling block to India‘s progress. Which of the statements give above is/are correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Ram Manohar Lohia → Satyagraha without constructive work like a sentence without a verb; caste, more than class, the stumbling block | NOT: PhD on Salt Satyagraha focused on Gandhi's socioeconomic theory

Consider the following statements: [2010] 1. The ―Bombay Manifesto‖ signed in 1936 openly opposed the preaching of socialist ideals. 2. It evoked support from a large section of the business community from all across India. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Bombay Manifesto (1936) → openly opposed socialist ideals | NOT: wide business support across India

Consider the following statements : 1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad persuaded Mahatma Gandhi to come to Champaran to investigate the problem of the peasants. 2. Acharya J.B. Kriplani was one of Mahatma Gandhi's colleagues in his Champaran investigation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)J.B. Kripalani → Gandhi's colleague in the Champaran investigation | NOT: Rajendra Prasad brought Gandhi to Champaran (Rajkumar Shukla)

Match List I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: Person Associated in Formation of A. G. K. Gokhale 1. Servants of India Society B. M. M. Malaviya 2. Benaras Hindu University C. C. Rajagopalachari 3. Free India Society D. V. V. Savarkar 4. Swatantra Party

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Answer A (official UPSC key)G. K. Gokhale : Servants of India Society; M. M. Malaviya : Benaras Hindu University; C. Rajagopalachari : Swatantra Party; V. D. Savarkar : Free India Society

Consider the following statements about Jawaharlal Nehru: [1996] 1. He was the president of the Congress Party in 1947 2. He presided over the Constituent Assembly 3. He formed the first Congress ministry in United Province before India's independence Of these statements:

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Nehru → none correct | Congress President in 1947 → J.B. Kripalani

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists : [91] List I List II A. Communist Party of India 1. C. R. Das B. Socialist Party 2. Ram Manohar Lohia C. Swaraj Party 3. V. D. Savarkar D. The Hindu Maha Sabha 4. P C. Joshi Select the correct answer from the codes given below: A B C D

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Communist Party of India : P. C. Joshi; Socialist Party : Ram Manohar Lohia; Swaraj Party : C. R. Das; Hindu Maha Sabha : V. D. Savarkar

Consider the following Pairs 1. Rajendra Prasad = India Divided 2. Dilip Mukherjee = The Terrorists 3. S. N. Bannerjee = A nation in making 4. Mahatma Gandhi = My Experiments with Truth Select the correct answer from the codes given below

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Rajendra Prasad : India Divided; Dilip Mukherjee : The Terrorists; S. N. Bannerjee : A nation in making; Mahatma Gandhi : My Experiments with Truth → all correct

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