Expansion of British Rule MCQ: Independence, Tribal Rebellions & Social Reform Movements

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.The 'Mountbatten Plan' became the basis for which of the following?

   • A.Partition of India
   • B.Transfer of Power
   • C.Both 1 and 2
   • D.None of the above✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: The Mountbatten Plan (June 3 Plan) of 1947 provided the basis for the partition of India and the transfer of power to the two dominions.

2. Q2.When did the Indian Independence Act receive Royal Assent?

   • A.4 July 1947
   • B.18 July 1947
   • C.15 August 1947✓ Correct Answer
   • D.26 January 1950

   Explanation: The Indian Independence Act was passed by the British Parliament and received Royal Assent on 18 July 1947.

3. Q3.Who described the Cripps Mission proposals as a 'post-dated cheque'?

   • A.Jawaharlal Nehru
   • B.Mahatma Gandhi
   • C.Subhash Chandra Bose✓ Correct Answer
   • D.M.A. Jinnah

   Explanation: Mahatma Gandhi described the proposals of the Cripps Mission (1942) as a 'post-dated cheque on a crashing bank'.

4. Q4.Which operation was conducted to annex Hyderabad into the Indian Union?

   • A.Operation Blue Star
   • B.Operation Polo
   • C.Operation Vijay✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Operation Cactus

   Explanation: The police action taken by the Indian government in 1948 to merge Hyderabad into India was named 'Operation Polo'.

5. Q5.Which famous novel is set in the backdrop of the Sanyasi Rebellion?

   • A.Anandamath
   • B.Durgeshnandini✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Gora
   • D.Godan

   Explanation: Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's novel 'Anandamath' is based on the Sanyasi Rebellion (1763-1800) in Bengal.

6. Q6.Who was the leader of the 'Paika Rebellion' of 1817?

   • A.Bakshi Jagabandhu
   • B.Titir Singh✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Sidhu and Kanhu
   • D.Birsa Munda

   Explanation: The Paika Rebellion of Orissa (1817) was led by Bakshi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar against the British.

7. Q7.The 'Kuka Movement' was organized by whom in Punjab?

   • A.Guru Ram Singh
   • B.Guru Nanak✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Guru Gobind Singh
   • D.Ranjeet Singh

   Explanation: The Kuka Movement in Punjab was organized by Guru Ram Singh to reform the Sikh religion and oppose British rule.

8. Q8.Who were the leaders of the Santhal Rebellion (1855-56)?

   • A.Sidhu and Kanhu
   • B.Birsa Munda✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Tantia Tope
   • D.Mangal Pandey

   Explanation: The Santhal Rebellion was led by two brothers, Sidhu and Kanhu, against the Zamindars and British administration.

9. Q9.Who is the author of the play 'Neel Darpan' which depicted the plight of indigo planters?

   • A.Dinabandhu Mitra
   • B.Bankim Chandra Chatterjee✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Rabindranath Tagore
   • D.Michael Madhusudan Dutt

   Explanation: 'Neel Darpan' was written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1860, highlighting the oppression of indigo farmers by British planters.

10. Q10.The 'Wood's Despatch' of 1854 is related to which field?

    • A.Education
    • B.Judiciary✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Press
    • D.Police Reforms

    Explanation: Charles Wood's Despatch (1854) is often called the 'Magna Carta of English Education in India'.

11. Q11.Which commission was appointed in 1882 to review the progress of education?

    • A.Hunter Commission
    • B.Sadler Commission✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Raleigh Commission
    • D.Hartog Committee

    Explanation: Lord Ripon appointed the Hunter Commission in 1882 to review the progress of education, emphasizing primary education.

12. Q12.Which commission is associated with the University Act of 1904?

    • A.Raleigh Commission
    • B.Hunter Commission✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Sadler Commission
    • D.Wood's Despatch

    Explanation: The Indian Universities Act, 1904 was passed based on the recommendations of the Raleigh Commission (1902) appointed by Lord Curzon.

13. Q13.Who introduced the policy of 'Financial Decentralization' in India?

    • A.Lord Mayo
    • B.Lord Ripon✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Lord Lytton
    • D.Lord Curzon

    Explanation: Lord Mayo (1869-72) initiated the process of financial decentralization in India to give more powers to provinces.

14. Q14.During whose tenure was the First Factory Act passed in 1881?

    • A.Lord Ripon
    • B.Lord Lytton✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Lord Dufferin
    • D.Lord Canning

    Explanation: The First Factory Act was passed in 1881 during the viceroyalty of Lord Ripon to improve the condition of child laborers.

15. Q15.Who founded the 'Public Works Department' (PWD) in India?

    • A.Lord Dalhousie
    • B.Lord Cornwallis✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Lord Wellesley
    • D.Lord William Bentinck

    Explanation: Lord Dalhousie setup a separate Public Works Department (PWD) for the construction of roads and canals.

16. Q16.Who reduced the maximum age for Civil Services examination from 21 to 19 years?

    • A.Lord Lytton
    • B.Lord Ripon✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Lord Curzon
    • D.Lord Dufferin

    Explanation: Lord Lytton reduced the maximum age limit for the Indian Civil Services examination from 21 years to 19 years.

17. Q17.Who is known as the 'Father of Indian Renaissance'?

    • A.Raja Ram Mohan Roy
    • B.Swami Vivekananda✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Dayanand Saraswati
    • D.Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

    Explanation: Raja Ram Mohan Roy is considered the 'Father of Indian Renaissance' and the maker of Modern India.

18. Q18.Who established the 'Satyashodhak Samaj' in 1873?

    • A.Jyotiba Phule
    • B.B.R. Ambedkar✓ Correct Answer
    • C.E.V. Ramasamy
    • D.Narayan Guru

    Explanation: Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers' Society) in 1873 in Maharashtra to secure social justice for weaker sections.

19. Q19.Who gave the slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it'?

    • A.Bal Gangadhar Tilak
    • B.Lala Lajpat Rai✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Bipin Chandra Pal
    • D.Aurobindo Ghosh

    Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak gave the famous slogan 'Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it' at the Lucknow Session (1916).

20. Q20.Who wrote the book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'?

    • A.Dadabhai Naoroji
    • B.R.C. Dutt✓ Correct Answer
    • C.M.G. Ranade
    • D.G.K. Gokhale

    Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji wrote 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' (1901), in which he explained the 'Drain of Wealth' theory.