MCQs: Nationalism in India
Practice these 30 multiple‑choice questions to test your understanding. Each question carries 1 mark. Answers with explanations are provided in highlighted boxes.
๐ PART A: STANDARD MCQs (15 Questions)
-
Q1. In which year did Mahatma Gandhi return to India from South Africa?
(a) 1914
(b) 1915
(c) 1916
(d) 1917Ans1. ✅ Answer: (b) 1915
Explanation: Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915. He had come from South Africa where he had successfully fought the racist regime with satyagraha. -
Q2. Where did Gandhi organize his first satyagraha movement in India in 1917?
(a) Ahmedabad
(b) Kheda
(c) Champaran
(d) BardoliAns2. ✅ Answer: (c) Champaran
Explanation: In 1917, Gandhi travelled to Champaran in Bihar to inspire peasants to struggle against the oppressive plantation system. This was his first satyagraha movement in India. -
Q3. The Rowlatt Act was passed in which year?
(a) 1917
(b) 1918
(c) 1919
(d) 1920Ans3. ✅ Answer: (c) 1919
Explanation: The Rowlatt Act was passed in 1919 despite united opposition of Indian members. It allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. -
Q4. On which date did the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre take place?
(a) 6 April 1919
(b) 10 April 1919
(c) 13 April 1919
(d) 18 April 1919Ans4. ✅ Answer: (c) 13 April 1919
Explanation: On 13 April 1919, General Dyer entered Jallianwalla Bagh, blocked exit points, and opened fire on a large crowd gathered to protest and attend the Baisakhi fair. -
Q5. Who led the peasant movement in Awadh against talukdars and landlords?
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Vallabhbhai Patel
(c) Baba Ramchandra
(d) Alluri Sitarama RajuAns5. ✅ Answer: (c) Baba Ramchandra
Explanation: Baba Ramchandra, a sanyasi who had earlier been to Fiji as indentured labourer, led the peasant movement in Awadh against talukdars and landlords. -
Q6. The Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in which year?
(a) 1918
(b) 1919
(c) 1920
(d) 1921Ans6. ✅ Answer: (b) 1919
Explanation: To defend the Khalifa's temporal powers, a Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919. -
Q7. At which Congress session was the Non-Cooperation programme adopted?
(a) Calcutta (1920)
(b) Nagpur (1920)
(c) Lahore (1929)
(d) Karachi (1931)Ans7. ✅ Answer: (b) Nagpur (1920)
Explanation: At the Congress session at Nagpur in December 1920, a compromise was worked out and the Non-Cooperation programme was adopted. -
Q8. The value of foreign cloth imports dropped from Rs 102 crore to Rs 57 crore between which years?
(a) 1919-1920
(b) 1920-1921
(c) 1921-1922
(d) 1922-1923Ans8. ✅ Answer: (c) 1921-1922
Explanation: The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922, its value dropping from Rs 102 crore to Rs 57 crore due to the boycott movement. -
Q9. The Chauri Chaura incident took place in which district?
(a) Gorakhpur
(b) Lucknow
(c) Varanasi
(d) KanpurAns9. ✅ Answer: (a) Gorakhpur
Explanation: At Chauri Chaura in Gorakhpur, a peaceful demonstration turned violent – protesters attacked and burnt a police station, killing 22 policemen in February 1922. -
Q10. Who formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress?
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose
(b) C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru
(c) Sardar Patel and Rajendra Prasad
(d) Maulana Azad and Hakim Ajmal KhanAns10. ✅ Answer: (b) C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru
Explanation: C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to argue for a return to council politics after the Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn. -
Q11. The Simon Commission arrived in India in which year?
(a) 1927
(b) 1928
(c) 1929
(d) 1930Ans11. ✅ Answer: (b) 1928
Explanation: When the Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan 'Go back Simon'. All parties, including Congress and Muslim League, participated in demonstrations. -
Q12. At which Congress session was the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' formalised?
(a) Calcutta (1928)
(b) Lahore (1929)
(c) Karachi (1931)
(d) Lucknow (1936)Ans12. ✅ Answer: (b) Lahore (1929)
Explanation: In December 1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore Congress formalised the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' or full independence for India. -
Q13. The famous Salt March from Sabarmati to Dandi covered how many miles?
(a) 200 miles
(b) 240 miles
(c) 280 miles
(d) 320 milesAns13. ✅ Answer: (b) 240 miles
Explanation: The march was over 240 miles, from Gandhi's ashram in Sabarmati to the Gujarati coastal town of Dandi. The volunteers walked for 24 days, about 10 miles a day. -
Q14. On which date did Mahatma Gandhi ceremonially violate the salt law at Dandi?
(a) 12 March 1930
(b) 6 April 1930
(c) 5 May 1930
(d) 31 January 1930Ans14. ✅ Answer: (b) 6 April 1930
Explanation: On 6 April 1930, Gandhi reached Dandi and ceremonially violated the law by manufacturing salt from sea water, marking the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. -
Q15. The Poona Pact (1932) was signed between:
(a) Gandhi and Jinnah
(b) Gandhi and Ambedkar
(c) Nehru and Ambedkar
(d) Patel and JinnahAns15. ✅ Answer: (b) Gandhi and Ambedkar
Explanation: When the British government conceded Ambedkar's demand for separate electorates for dalits, Gandhi began a fast unto death. Ambedkar ultimately accepted Gandhi's position, resulting in the Poona Pact of September 1932.
๐ Quick Access to Other Class 10 SST Chapters:
๐ PART B: ASSERTION‑REASONING QUESTIONS (10 Questions)
Directions: In each of the following questions, two statements are given – Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose the correct option:
(a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R does NOT explain A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
-
Q1. Assertion (A): Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915. Reason (R): He had come from South Africa where he had successfully fought the racist regime with satyagraha.
Ans1. ✅ Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
Explanation: Gandhi returned from South Africa where he had developed and successfully used satyagraha – this experience shaped his approach in India. -
Q2. Assertion (A): The Rowlatt Act (1919) gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities. Reason (R): It allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
Ans2. ✅ Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
Explanation: The Act's provision for detention without trial was precisely what gave the government its enormous repressive powers. -
Q3. Assertion (A): General Dyer opened fire on the crowd at Jallianwalla Bagh. Reason (R): His object was to produce a moral effect – to create in the minds of satyagrahis a feeling of terror and awe.
Ans3. ✅ Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
Explanation: Dyer himself declared that his intention was not just to disperse the crowd but to produce a "moral effect" through terror. -
Q4. Assertion (A): The Non-Cooperation Movement began in January 1921. Reason (R): The Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919.
Ans4. ✅ Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R does NOT explain A.
Explanation: While both statements are true, the formation of Khilafat Committee (1919) was an earlier event that contributed to the movement's launch, but it doesn't directly explain why the movement began in January 1921. -
Q5. Assertion (A): The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922. Reason (R): People began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones, and production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up.
Ans5. ✅ Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
Explanation: The boycott of foreign goods directly led to reduced imports and increased Indian production. -
Q6. Assertion (A): Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922. Reason (R): The Chauri Chaura incident turned violent with protesters killing 22 policemen.
Ans6. ✅ Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
Explanation: Gandhi withdrew the movement because he felt it was turning violent and satyagrahis needed proper training – the Chauri Chaura violence was the immediate trigger. -
Q7. Assertion (A): The Simon Commission was greeted with the slogan 'Go back Simon'. Reason (R): The commission did not have a single Indian member – they were all British.
Ans7. ✅ Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
Explanation: The absence of any Indian member was seen as an insult to Indian self‑respect, leading to widespread protests and the 'Go back Simon' slogan. -
Q8. Assertion (A): In December 1929, the Lahore Congress formalised the demand for 'Purna Swaraj'. Reason (R): 26 January 1930 was celebrated as Independence Day when people took a pledge to struggle for complete independence.
Ans8. ✅ Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R does NOT explain A.
Explanation: The pledge on 26 January 1930 was a consequence of the Lahore Congress decision, not its cause. Both are true but R follows A. -
Q9. Assertion (A): Mahatma Gandhi chose salt as the symbol for the Civil Disobedience Movement. Reason (R): Salt was consumed by the rich and the poor alike, and the tax on salt revealed the most oppressive face of British rule.
Ans9. ✅ Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
Explanation: Gandhi chose salt precisely because of its universal consumption and the unjust tax – it could unite all classes against British oppression. -
Q10. Assertion (A): Dr B.R. Ambedkar demanded separate electorates for dalits. Reason (R): He believed political empowerment would resolve the problems of social disabilities.
Ans10. ✅ Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
Explanation: Ambedkar's demand for separate electorates was based on his belief that political power would help dalits overcome social discrimination.
๐ Continue Your Journey: Explore Chapter 3 – The Making of a Global World – to understand how global connections shaped modern history.
๐ PART C: CASE‑BASED QUESTIONS (5 Questions)
Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Source: "We believe that it is the inalienable right of the Indian people, as of any other people, to have freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil and have the necessities of life, so that they may have full opportunities of growth. We believe also that if any government deprives a people of these rights and oppresses them, the people have a further right to alter it or to abolish it. The British Government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally, and spiritually. We believe, therefore, that India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence."
– Independence Day Pledge, 26 January 1930
-
Q1. According to the pledge, what is the inalienable right of the Indian people?
(a) Right to vote
(b) Freedom and to enjoy fruits of their toil
(c) Right to property
(d) Right to educationAns1. ✅ Answer: (b) Freedom and to enjoy fruits of their toil
Explanation: The source explicitly states: "the inalienable right of the Indian people... to have freedom and to enjoy the fruits of their toil." -
Q2. What right do people have if a government deprives them of their rights and oppresses them?
(a) Right to protest peacefully
(b) Right to alter or abolish it
(c) Right to form a political party
(d) Right to foreign interventionAns2. ✅ Answer: (b) Right to alter or abolish it
Explanation: The source states: "the people have a further right to alter it or to abolish it." -
Q3. According to the pledge, on what basis has the British Government in India been established?
(a) Democracy and justice
(b) Exploitation of the masses
(c) Religious tolerance
(d) Economic developmentAns3. ✅ Answer: (b) Exploitation of the masses
Explanation: The source clearly states that British rule "has based itself on the exploitation of the masses." -
Q4. In which spheres does the pledge claim British rule has ruined India?
(a) Only politically
(b) Economically and politically only
(c) Economically, politically, culturally, and spiritually
(d) Culturally and spiritually onlyAns4. ✅ Answer: (c) Economically, politically, culturally, and spiritually
Explanation: The source mentions British rule "has ruined India economically, politically, culturally, and spiritually." -
Q5. What does the pledge demand as the solution?
(a) Dominion Status
(b) Constitutional reforms
(c) Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence
(d) More Indian representation in councilsAns5. ✅ Answer: (c) Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence
Explanation: The source concludes: "India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj or Complete Independence."
Practice these MCQs repeatedly. Assertion‑reason questions require understanding cause‑effect relationships – don't just memorise, analyse why the reason explains (or doesn't explain) the assertion.
