1. The Young Bengal Movement, started by Henry Vivian Derozio:
1. took up the peasant’s cause
2. advocated women’s rights
3. attacked old and decadent customs
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer & Explanation
c) 2 and 3 only. The Young Bengal Movement did not fought for peasant’s cause. The Young Bengal movement was a group of radical Bengali free thinkers emerging from Hindu College, Calcutta. They were also known as Derozians, after their firebrand teacher at Hindu College, Henry Louis Vivian Derozio. The Young Bengals were inspired and excited by the spirit of free thought and revolt against the existing social and religious structure of Hindu society. They advocated women’s rights such as right to education.
2. The Tanjore paintings are called ‘panel paintings’. This means that Tanjore paintings are
a) made on cloths
b) made on solid wood planks
c) made on plastered walls
d) none of the above
Answer & Explanation
b) made on solid wood planks. Tanjore paintings are panel paintings (done on solid wood planks ) and hence were also referred to as ‘palagai padam'( palagai – wooden plank ; padam- picture) in local parlance. Tanjore Paintings are known for their surface richness, vivid colours and compact composition. Essentially serving as devotional icons, the themes of most of these paintings are Hindu gods and goddesses, and saints as well.
3. Which of the following elements were used during the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)?
1. Copper
2. Bronze
3. Iron
4. Silver
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1 ,3 and 4 only
c) 2 ,3 and 4 only
d) 1 ,2, and 4 only
Answer & Explanation
d) 1 ,2, and 4 only. There is no evidence of use of Iron during the IVC. Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels. Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels.
4. Harijan Sevak Sangh for the emancipation of lower caste was founded by
a) B.R. Ambedkar
b) Jyotiba Phule
c) E.V.R.Naicker
d) M.K.Gandhi
Answer & Explanation
d) M.K.Gandhi. Harijan Sevak Sangh for the emancipation of lower caste was founded by M.K.Gandhi. Harijan Sevak Sangh is an non-profit organisation founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 to eradicate untouchability in India, working for Harijan or Dalit people and upliftment of Scheduled castes of India. It is still active.
5. Congress Socialist Party was started in 1934 by
1. J.L.Nehru
2. A.N.Dev
3. J.P.Naryan
4. S.C.Bose
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1 ,3 and 4 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1 ,2, and 4 only
Answer & Explanation
c) 2 and 3 only. The Congress Socialist Party (CSP) was founded in 1934 as a socialist caucus within the Indian National Congress. Its members rejected what they saw as the anti-rational mysticism of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi as well as the sectarian attitude of the Communist Party of India towards the Congress Party. Influenced by Fabianism as well as Marxism-Leninism, the CSP included advocates of armed struggle or sabotage (such as Jai Prakash Narayan and Basawon Singh (Sinha) as well as those who insisted upon ahimsa or nonviolent resistance (such as Acharya Narendra Deva).
6. The Brahma Samaj , started by Raja Ram Mohan Roy
1. laid emphasis on human dignity
2. opposed monotheism
3. was against idolatory
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer & Explanation
b) 1 and 3 only. Brahma Samaj, started by Raja Ram Mohan Roy supported monotheism. It laid emphasis on human dignity and was against idolatory and meaningless rituals. The Brahmo Samaj literally denotes community of men who worship Brahman the highest reality.
7. Simon Commission was appointed to
a) report on the working of the GOI,1919 Act
b) provide dominion status to India
c) end the hostility between INC and Muslin League
d) both (a) and (c)
Answer & Explanation
a) report on the working of the GOI,1919 Act. Simon Commission was appointed in November 1927 by the British Conservative government under Stanley Baldwin to report on the working of the Indian constitution established by the Government of India Act of 1919.
8. Which of the following statements about Theosophical society is/are correct?
1. It advocated the revival of ancient religions.
2. It was founded by Annie Beasant.
3. It accepted the doctrine of transmigration of soul.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 3 only
Answer & Explanation
c) 1 and 3 only. The Theosophical Society was formed in New York City, United States, in November 1875 by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge and others. Annie Beasant was not its founder. It advocated the revival of ancient religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism. It accepted the doctrine of transmigration of soul.
9. Which among these did not participated in the Home rule league movement?
1. Muslims
2. Non-Brahmins Hindus
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer & Explanation
c) Both 1 and 2. Most of the Muslims and non-brahmins from South, did not join the agitation as they felt Home Rule would mean rule of the Hindu majority, mainly the high caste.
10. With reference to the Arya samaj, consider the following statements :
1. It regarded Vedas as infallible.
2. It tried to prevent the conversion of Hindus to other religion.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer & Explanation
c) Both 1 and 2. Arya Samaj believed in Infallible Authority of Vedas and thus gave the slogan ‘go back to the Vedas’. It also propagated the shuddi movement which tried to prevent the conversion of Hindus to other religion.
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3. Applying logic in UPSC General Studies Prelims
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