Social Science: Modern Indian History Flashcards

The policy of 'Doctrine of Lapse', which allowed the British to annex any Indian state if the ruler died without a natural male heir, is most famously associated with which Governor-General?

Answer: Lord Dalhousie

Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856, aggressively applied the 'Doctrine of Lapse' to annex several Indian states, including Satara, Jhansi, and Nagpur. This policy was a major cause of resentment that contributed to the Revolt of 1857.

Which of the following was the immediate and primary cause for the launch of the Swadeshi Movement in 1905?

Answer: The Partition of Bengal by Lord Curzon

The Swadeshi Movement was launched as a direct response to the British decision to partition Bengal in 1905. This act was seen by Indian nationalists as a 'divide and rule' policy to weaken the nationalist movement, leading to calls for boycotting British goods and promoting indigenous products.

A historian is studying the 'Permanent Settlement', a land revenue system introduced by the British. Which of the following statements accurately describes a key feature of this system?

Answer: Landlords (Zamindars) were made owners of the land and had to pay a fixed revenue to the British.

The Permanent Settlement, introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha, recognized Zamindars as the permanent owners of the land. In return, they had to pay a fixed amount of land revenue to the British government. The revenue was fixed permanently and not subject to change.

Mahatma Gandhi gave the famous call of 'Do or Die' ('Karo ya Maro') to the Indian people during which major freedom movement?

Answer: Quit India Movement (1942)

The 'Do or Die' slogan was given by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, at the start of the Quit India Movement. It was a powerful call for the Indian people to make a final, determined push to end British rule.

Who among the following social reformers founded the 'Brahmo Samaj' in Calcutta in 1828, a movement that advocated monotheism and campaigned against social evils like Sati and the caste system?

Answer: Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Raja Ram Mohan Roy, often called the 'Father of the Indian Renaissance', founded the Brahmo Sabha in 1828, which later became the Brahmo Samaj. The movement was influential in opposing practices like Sati, polygamy, and idol worship, and it promoted modern education.

The first session of the Indian National Congress (INC) was held in December 1885 in Bombay. Who was elected as its first President?

Answer: Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee

While A.O. Hume, a retired British civil servant, was instrumental in founding the Indian National Congress, the first session held in Bombay in 1885 was presided over by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee, a prominent barrister from Calcutta.