UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : History, Culture and Social Issues MCQs on Rajaji Formula, Saragarhi and more (Week 77)

1. They came at the end of the Vedic period.

2. They serve as foundational texts in many traditions of Hindu theology.

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

Explanation

— The Upanishads, also known as the Vedanta – as they signal the end of the total Veda – speculate about the ontological connection between humanity and the cosmos.

— Chronologically, the Upanishads came at the end of the Vedic period. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— They serve as foundational texts in many traditions of Hindu theology and have hence attracted far more attention than the Vedas themselves. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Upanishads were given particular importance in Hindu theology by eighth century Hindu scholar Adi Shankara, whose interpretations synthesised the Advaita Vedanta tradition.

— There are ten main (or principal) Upanishads: Esha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitareya, Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer

QUESTION 2

Consider the following statements:

1. She was a member of the Brahmo Samaj and the first woman to practice medicine in India about 140 years ago.

2. Her practice not only ensured immense progress in the arena of women’s health but also used her voice and position to drive political consciousness among her gender during the nationalist movement.

3. It is due to her efforts that India got its first Age of Consent Act in 1891.

The above mentioned statements refer to:

(a) Shasipada Banerji

(b) Sucharu Devi

(c) Savitribai Phule

(d) Kadambini Ganguly

Explanation

— Kadambini, who was the first woman to practice medicine in India about 140 years ago and a member of the Brahmo Samaj.

— Kadambini became a doctor during a time when medicine, both in India and in the West, was largely dominated by men. Kadambini’s practice not only resulted in significant progress in the field of women’s health, but she also used her voice and position as one of the few contemporary, educated women of her period to push political consciousness among her gender during the nationalist movement.

— It is due to her efforts that India got its first Age of Consent Act in 1891.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Saragarhi, consider the following statements:

1. The battle of Saragarhi was fought against Afridi and Orakzai tribal militants.

2. Saragarhi was the communication tower between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan.

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

Explanation

— September 12 marks the 127th anniversary of the Battle of Saragarhi. On this day in 1897, 21 soldiers were pitted against over 8,000 Afridi and Orakzai tribal militants and managed to hold down the fort for seven hours. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Saragarhi was the communication tower between Fort Lockhart and Fort Gulistan. The two forts in the rugged North West Frontier Province (NWFP), now in Pakistan. were built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh but renamed by the British. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Saragarhi helped to link up the two important forts which housed a large number of British troops in the rugged terrain of NWFP.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Consider the following events leading to the Indian Independence:

1. Lucknow Pact

2. Return of Subhash Chandra Bose

3. Cripps Mission

4. Naval Mutiny in Bombay

Select the chronological sequence of these events (earliest to latest) from the code given below: (UPSC-CDS (II) 2024)

(a) 4, 3, 2, 1

(b) 3, 4, 2, 1

(c) 1, 2, 3, 4

(d) 2, 1, 3, 4

Explanation

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Rajaji Formula, consider the following statements:

1. The formula suggested a post-war commission to demarcate Muslim-majority districts.

2. The formula was proposed by C. Rajagopalachari in 1942.

3. The proposal was rejected by Jinnah.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

— The process of partition in India was fundamentally driven by the deepening Hindu-Muslim divide, which became apparent during various negotiations leading up to the transfer of power.

— The Lahore Resolution, adopted by the All-India Muslim League in March 1940, marked a significant turning point, seeking to elevate the status of the Indian Muslims from a minority group to a separate nation.

— Throughout the 1940s, Congress tried multiple times to address Muslim issues through high-level negotiations. One significant attempt was C. Rajagopalachari’s Rajaji Formula, proposed in 1944. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The formula proposed a post-war commission to demarcate Muslim-majority regions, with a plebiscite based on adult suffrage for everyone, including non-Muslims, to determine if they wanted to join Pakistan. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— However, Jinnah rejected this plan, resulting in the breakdown of the Gandhi-Jinnah discussions in September 1944. The underlying conflict between Gandhi’s vision of a unified India with some degree of partnership and Jinnah’s demand for complete sovereignty resulted in a deadlock. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 77)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 76)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 76)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 76)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 76)

Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week.

Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.