Chapter 2 - Nationalism in India – Class 10 History Important MCQ's (CBSE)

🧠 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) - Chapter 2: Nationalism in India

Practice these 30 carefully selected MCQs covering all key concepts from the chapter. Includes standard, assertion-reasoning, and case-based questions as per latest CBSE pattern. Perfect for quick revision and self-assessment.

Standard MCQs (1 Mark Each)

Choose the single correct option for questions 1 to 15.

The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was passed during the viceroyalty of:

(a) Lord Curzon

(b) Lord Chelmsford

(c) Lord Ripon

(d) Lord Irwin

Answer: (b) Lord Chelmsford
Explanation: The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 when Lord Chelmsford was the Viceroy of India.
Which event prompted Mahatma Gandhi to launch the Non-Cooperation Movement?

(a) Simon Commission

(b) Partition of Bengal

(c) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

(d) Chauri Chaura incident

Answer: (c) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
Explanation: The horrifying Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919 led Gandhi to start the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920.
The famous slogan "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it" was given by:

(a) Bhagat Singh

(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

(c) Subhas Chandra Bose

(d) Lala Lajpat Rai

Answer: (b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Explanation: This famous slogan was coined by Bal Gangadhar Tilak during the Indian independence movement.
The Khilafat Movement was launched by Indian Muslims in support of:

(a) Mughal Emperor

(b) Sultan of Turkey (Ottoman Caliph)

(c) Afghan King

(d) Nawab of Hyderabad

Answer: (b) Sultan of Turkey (Ottoman Caliph)
Explanation: The Khilafat Movement was to support the Ottoman Caliph in Turkey after World War I.
Which incident led to the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement by Gandhi?

(a) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre

(b) Chauri Chaura incident

(c) Simon Commission

(d) Dandi March

Answer: (b) Chauri Chaura incident
Explanation: The violent Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, where protesters burned a police station killing 22 policemen, made Gandhi withdraw the movement.
Who among the following was NOT a member of the 'Lal-Bal-Pal' trio?

(a) Lala Lajpat Rai

(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

(c) Bipin Chandra Pal

(d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Answer: (d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation: Lal-Bal-Pal referred to Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal. Gokhale was a moderate leader.
The Simon Commission was boycotted by Indians because:

(a) It included only British members

(b) It recommended partition of India

(c) It was appointed without Indian consent

(d) Both (a) and (c)

Answer: (d) Both (a) and (c)
Explanation: The Simon Commission (1927) had no Indian members and was appointed without consulting Indian leaders, leading to widespread boycott.
The Poona Pact of 1932 was signed between:

(a) Gandhi and Jinnah

(b) Gandhi and Ambedkar

(c) Nehru and Patel

(d) British and Congress

Answer: (b) Gandhi and Ambedkar
Explanation: The Poona Pact was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar regarding political representation for depressed classes.
The Civil Disobedience Movement was started with:

(a) Boycott of foreign goods

(b) Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March)

(c) Non-payment of taxes

(d) Quit India Movement

Answer: (b) Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March)
Explanation: Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement on March 12, 1930, with the historic Dandi March to break the salt law.
The Government of India Act of 1919 is also known as:

(a) Morley-Minto Reforms

(b) Montague-Chelmsford Reforms

(c) Indian Councils Act

(d) Regulating Act

Answer: (b) Montague-Chelmsford Reforms
Explanation: The Government of India Act 1919 was based on the Montague-Chelmsford Report introducing diarchy in provinces.
Who was the political guru of Mahatma Gandhi?

(a) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

(b) Dadabhai Naoroji

(c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

(d) Rabindranath Tagore

Answer: (a) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation: Gandhi considered Gopal Krishna Gokhale as his political mentor and guide.
The slogan "Do or Die" was associated with:

(a) Non-Cooperation Movement

(b) Civil Disobedience Movement

(c) Quit India Movement

(d) Swadeshi Movement

Answer: (c) Quit India Movement
Explanation: "Do or Die" was Gandhi's famous slogan during the Quit India Movement launched in 1942.
The Indian National Congress was founded in:

(a) 1885

(b) 1905

(c) 1919

(d) 1920

Answer: (a) 1885
Explanation: The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume with 72 delegates in Bombay.
The All India Muslim League was formed in:

(a) 1905

(b) 1906

(c) 1916

(d) 1920

Answer: (b) 1906
Explanation: The All India Muslim League was established in 1906 in Dhaka to safeguard Muslim political interests.
The "Inquilab Zindabad" slogan was popularized by:

(a) Bhagat Singh

(b) Subhas Chandra Bose

(c) Chandrashekhar Azad

(d) All of the above

Answer: (a) Bhagat Singh
Explanation: "Inquilab Zindabad" (Long Live Revolution) was popularized by Bhagat Singh and became a rallying cry for revolutionaries.

Assertion-Reasoning Questions (1 Mark Each)

Directions: For questions 16 to 25, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Choose the correct option:

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A

(d) A is false but R is true

Assertion (A): The partition of Bengal in 1905 sparked widespread nationalist protests.
Reason (R): The partition was seen as a British strategy to divide and weaken the growing nationalist movement.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: The partition of Bengal did trigger massive protests as Indians saw it as a deliberate British "divide and rule" policy.
Assertion (A): Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement included boycotting legislative councils.
Reason (R): Gandhi believed that participation in British institutions would strengthen colonial rule.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Gandhi advocated complete non-cooperation, including boycotting councils, schools, courts, and foreign goods.
Assertion (A): The Rowlatt Act gave the British government emergency powers to suppress political activities.
Reason (R): This act allowed detention without trial and was called the "Black Act" by Indians.
Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
Explanation: While both statements are true, R describes the act's features rather than explaining why it gave emergency powers.
Assertion (A): The Khilafat Movement was supported by Mahatma Gandhi.
Reason (R): Gandhi wanted to unite Hindus and Muslims in a common struggle against British rule.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Gandhi supported the Khilafat Movement to forge Hindu-Muslim unity against colonialism.
Assertion (A): The Civil Disobedience Movement was suspended after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
Reason (R): The pact failed to meet any of Congress's demands regarding complete independence.
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
Explanation: The movement was suspended after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), but the pact did secure some concessions like releasing political prisoners.
Assertion (A): The Quit India Movement was the most violent of all Gandhian movements.
Reason (R): Gandhi gave the call for "Do or Die" encouraging violent resistance against the British.
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
Explanation: While Quit India saw significant violence, Gandhi's "Do or Die" meant determined non-violent resistance, not violent struggle.
Assertion (A): The Simon Commission recommendations led to the Government of India Act 1935.
Reason (R): The Simon Commission proposed federal structure and provincial autonomy for India.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: The 1935 Act was based largely on the Simon Commission's recommendations including federal structure.
Assertion (A): The Swaraj Party was formed by Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das.
Reason (R): They wanted to continue the boycott of legislative councils after Gandhi suspended the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true
Explanation: Actually, the Swaraj Party was formed to ENTER councils, not continue boycott. They believed in "responsive cooperation."
Assertion (A): The Poona Pact increased the number of seats reserved for depressed classes.
Reason (R): Ambedkar wanted separate electorates while Gandhi wanted joint electorates for depressed classes.
Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
Explanation: While both are true, the pact actually increased reserved seats but within joint electorates, not as separate electorates.
Assertion (A): The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 proposed a united India with a weak central government.
Reason (R): The plan was rejected by both Congress and Muslim League leading to direct partition.
Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Both statements are correct but R describes the consequence, not why the plan proposed a weak center.

Case-Based Questions (1 Mark Each)

For questions 26 to 30, read the case/source carefully and answer.

Case: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi
This quote reflects Gandhi's approach towards:

(a) Violent revolution

(b) Satyagraha and non-violent resistance

(c) Constitutional methods

(d) Armed struggle

Answer: (b) Satyagraha and non-violent resistance
Explanation: This famous quote encapsulates Gandhi's philosophy of Satyagraha - persistent non-violent resistance eventually leads to victory.

Case: Read the following table about major Indian nationalist movements:

Movement	Year	Key Feature
Non-Cooperation	1920-22	Boycott of schools, courts, councils
Civil Disobedience	1930-34	Breaking salt laws, non-payment of taxes
Quit India	1942	"Do or Die" call for immediate independence

What was common to all three movements led by Gandhi?

(a) They demanded complete independence

(b) They involved mass participation

(d) They were suspended after British negotiations

Answer: (b) They involved mass participation
Explanation: All three were mass movements involving millions of Indians across different regions and communities.

Case: "I am more determined than ever to die for the independence of my country. The only thing that matters is that I should die for my country." - Bhagat Singh (Statement at his trial)
Bhagat Singh represented which strand of the Indian freedom struggle?

(a) Moderate constitutionalism

(b) Revolutionary terrorism

(c) Non-violent Satyagraha

(d) Diplomatic negotiations

Answer: (b) Revolutionary terrorism
Explanation: Bhagat Singh was a revolutionary socialist who believed in armed struggle against colonial rule.
Case: In 1930, Gandhi wrote to Viceroy Irwin: "My ambition is no less than to convert the British people through non-violence and thus make them see the wrong they have done to India."
This statement reflects Gandhi's belief in:

(a) Military confrontation

(b) Moral persuasion and transformation

(c) Economic sanctions only

(d) International mediation

Answer: (b) Moral persuasion and transformation
Explanation: Gandhi believed in changing opponents through moral strength and making them realize their injustice.

Case: Study the following data about participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement:

Social Group	Participation	Main Demands
Rich Peasants	Active	Reduction in revenue
Poor Peasants	Limited	Removal of feudal dues
Business Classes	Supportive	Protection against foreign goods
Industrial Workers	Limited	Better wages and conditions

What does this data suggest about the Civil Disobedience Movement?

(a) It was supported equally by all social groups

(b) Different groups participated with different aspirations

(d) Workers were the most active participants

Answer: (b) Different groups participated with different aspirations
Explanation: The movement saw varied participation with different social groups joining for their specific economic and social interests.

📝 How to Use This Section Effectively

First attempt: Try all questions without looking at answers

Check answers: Compare your responses with provided answers

Review mistakes: For wrong answers, revisit the related concept in Smart Notes

Time yourself: Aim to complete 30 MCQs within 20-25 minutes

Revise regularly: Re-attempt questions you found difficult after 2-3 days

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