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Polity · Constitution: basics

Historical Background: 34 previous year questions

UPSC has asked 34 questions on Historical Background between 1979 and 2025: CDS 10 · CSE 8 · NDA 6 · CAPF 5 · EPFO (AO/EO) 3 · CISF (LDCE) 2. 25 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 8 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.

Practise these 34, one at a timeRead the questions

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

CAPF2025Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

Match List-I with List-II and select the answer using the Lists : List-I (Act of the British Parliament) List-II (Key Provision) List-I: A. The Pitt's India Act, 1784 B. The Charter Act, 1813 C. The Charter Act, 1833 D. The Charter Act, 1853 List-II: 1. Enlargement of the Governor-General's Legislative Council 2. Discrimination against Indians removed in matters of employment and higher service 3. Board set up by the Crown to control affairs of India 4. Termination of monopoly of East India Company

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Pitt's India Act 1784 → Board set up by the Crown to control affairs of India | Charter Act 1813 → EIC monopoly terminated | Charter Act 1833 → discrimination against Indians in employment and higher service removed | Charter Act 1853 → Governor-General's Legislative Council enlarged
CAPF2025Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

Consider the following statements regarding the Government of India Act, 1919 : 1. It divided the subjects of administration in two categories— central and provincial 2. The central subjects were divided into ‗reserved‘ and ‗transferred‘ subjects. 3. Provincial Governments were granted the power to make their own budgets and levy taxes. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)GoI Act 1919 → subjects of administration divided into central and provincial | Provincial Governments could make own budgets and levy taxes | NOT: central subjects divided into reserved and transferred
CSE2024Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

With reference to the Government of India Act, 1935, consider the following statements: 1. It provided for the establishment of an All India Federation based on the union of the British Indian Provinces and Princely States. 2. Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under the control of the federal legislature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)GoI Act 1935 → All-India Federation of British Indian Provinces and Princely States | NOT: Defence and Foreign Affairs under the federal legislature
EPFO (AO/EO)2023Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

Which one of the following was not provided in the Regulating Act of 1773 ?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Regulating Act 1773 → NOT: Governor-General-in-Council authorised to appoint successors to the Bombay and Madras Presidencies
NDA2021 · 2Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

Which of the following statements about the Indian Councils Act of 1861 is/are correct ? 1. It enlarged the Governor General‘s Council for the purpose of making laws. 2. The Governor General was not authorised to increase the number of members. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Indian Councils Act 1861 → enlarged the Governor-General's Council for law-making | Governor-General CAN increase members (6–12 nominated Additional Members)
CSE2018Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India? 1. Charter Act of 1813 2. General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823 3. Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy Select the correct answer using the code given below

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Introduction of English education in India → Charter Act 1813 + General Committee of Public Instruction 1823 + Orientalist-Anglicist controversy (all three)
CDS2017 · 1Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

In the elections to the provincial legislatures in 1937 in British India 1. Only about 10 to 12 percent of the population had the right to vote 2. the untouchables had no right to vote 3. the Congress won an absolute majority in five out of eleven provinces 4. the Muslim League won more than 80 percent of the seats reserved for Muslims Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer C (official UPSC key)1937 provincial elections → only ~10–12% of the population had the vote | Congress won an absolute majority in 5 of 11 provinces | NOT: untouchables had no right to vote | NOT: Muslim League won >80% of Muslim-reserved seats
CDS2016 · 2Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

Which among the following Acts were repealed by Article 395 of the Constitution of India? 1. The Government of India Act, 1935 2. The Indian Independence Act, 1947 3. The Abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act, 1949 4. The Government of India Act, 1919 Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Art 395 repealed → GoI Act 1935 + Indian Independence Act 1947 | NOT: Abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act 1949 | NOT: GoI Act 1919
CDS2016 · 2Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·2

Which of the following statements regarding the Constituent Assembly of India is/are correct? 1. The Assembly was elected indirectly by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies. 2. The elections were held on the basis of Universal Adult Franchise. 3. The scheme of election was laid down by the Cabinet Delegation. 4. The distribution of seats was done on the basis of the Mountbatten Plan. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Constituent Assembly → elected indirectly by members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies | scheme of election laid down by the Cabinet Delegation | NOT: universal adult franchise | NOT: seats distributed per the Mountbatten Plan
CDS2015 · 2Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

Which of the following laws have been repealed by the Constitution of India? 1. The Government of India Act, 1935 2. The Indian Independence Act, 1947 3. The Abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act, 1949 4. The Preventive Detention Act, 1950 Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Repealed by the Constitution → GoI Act 1935 + Indian Independence Act 1947 | NOT: Abolition of Privy Council Jurisdiction Act 1949 | NOT: Preventive Detention Act 1950
CAPF2014Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

Which one among the following was not a provision of the Regulating Act of 1773 ?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Regulating Act 1773 → NOT: removed all restrictions on vote qualification in the Court of Proprietors
CDS2014 · 1Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·2

Which one among the following was not a proposal of the Cabinet Mission, 1946?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Cabinet Mission 1946 → NOT: British Government to supervise the affairs of the Constituent Assembly
CDS2012 · 2Historical Background

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists List-I (Act) List-II (Feature)

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Verified fact to follow.
CDS2010 · 2Historical BackgroundOn card POL 1·1

Which among the following statements regarding Lord Ripon's plan for local self- government in India is/are correct? [2011-1] 1. The district should be the maximum area served by one Committee or Local Board. 2. The Local Boards should consist of a large majority of nominated official members and be presided over by an official member as Chairman. Select the correct answer using the codes given below

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Lord Ripon's plan → district = maximum area served by one Committee/Local Board | NOT: Local Boards with a large majority of nominated officials and an official Chairman
CSE2004Historical BackgroundOn card POL 2·2

Consider the following events: [2004] 1. Fourth general elections in India 2. Formation of Haryana state 3. Mysore named as Karnataka state 4. Meghalaya and Tripura become full states Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the above?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Chronology → formation of Haryana → 4th general elections → Meghalaya & Tripura full states → Mysore named Karnataka
CSE1980Historical BackgroundOn card POL 2·4

The trouble in Assam in 1980 was caused

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Assam trouble, 1980 → caused by inclusion of foreigners in the State's electoral rolls
CSE1979Historical Background

The Constitution 44th Amendment (renumbered as 43rd Amendment)

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Answer D (official UPSC key)44th Amendment Bill (enacted as the 43rd Amendment, 1977) → restored to the High Courts and Supreme Court their jurisdiction to consider the validity of any Central or State law

Related topics

Making of the Constitution · 34Preamble · 18Salient Features / Basic Structure · 39