UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : History, Culture and Social Issues MCQs on Simon Commission, Dandi March and more (Week 76)

1. It was formed to deliberate on social reforms in India.

2. The commission came to India in 1927.

3. The Muslim League supported the commission.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— In 1927, British Authorities appointed the Simon Commission – a seven-man, all-European team under Sir John Simon – to deliberate on political reforms in India. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The Simon Commission was met with the cry “Go back, Simon” upon its arrival in India in 1928. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Congress and the Muslim League were among the groups that took part in the protests. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The viceroy, Lord Irwin, made two announcements in October 1929 in an attempt to win them over a Round Table Conference to debate a future constitution and a vague offer of “dominion status” for India in an uncertain future. The Congress was not satisfied by this.

— Under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose, the radicals in the Congress started to speak out more. The liberals and moderates who advocated for a constitutional order within the confines of British rule began to wane.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ncert.nic.in)

QUESTION 2

With reference to the forts in India, consider the following pairs:

How many of the pairs given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: indianculture.gov.in)

QUESTION 3

The Cholas referred to the Andaman and Nicobar island as:

(a) Ma-Nakkavaram land

(b) Karikala

(c) Tondaimandalam

(d) Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Explanation

— Port Blair, the capital city of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will now be known as ‘Sri Vijaya Puram’.

— In December 1778, Blair left for his first surveying voyage to the Andamans from Calcutta, along with two ships, Elizabeth and Viper. The expedition, which lasted till April 1779, took him around the west coast of the island, thereby sailing north along the eastern coast he reached the natural harbour which he initially named Port Cornwallis. Later the island was renamed as Port Blair.

— Some historical records suggest that the Andaman Islands were used as a strategic naval base by the 11th century Chola emperor, Rajendra I to carry out an attack on Srivijaya, which is in present day Indonesia.

— As per an inscription found at Thanjavur dated to 1050 CE, the Cholas referred to the island as Ma-Nakkavaram land (great open/ naked land), which possibly led to the modern name of Nicobar under the British.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

She was an iconic revolutionary figure, who is widely remembered for her contributions to India’s freedom struggle. She was hailed as the heroine of the Quit India Movement, who dared to even defy the orders of Mahatma Gandhi to surrender in late 1946. In 1932, she was jailed for participating in the Civil Disobedience movement. After the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, all the political prisoners were to be released. But she, in spite of Gandhi’s directions, decided to stay.

The above mentioned statements refer to:

(a) Matangini Hazra

(b) Sucheta Kriplani

(c) Kanaklata Barua

(d) Aruna Asaf Ali

Explanation

— Aruna Asaf Ali is a historic revolutionary heroine who is well-known for her efforts to India’s freedom movement. She is remembered as the heroine of the Quit India Movement, having defied Mahatma Gandhi’s instructions to surrender in late 1946.

— Aruna was imprisoned in 1932 for her involvement in the civil disobedience campaign. Following the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, all political prisoners were to be released. Despite Gandhi’s instructions, Aruna chose to stay.

— She was protesting against the inhumane treatment of detainees in Tihar Jail. Her initiatives helped to improve the circumstances at Tihar Jail.

— Following 1932, Aruna spent the next ten years in solitary incarceration in Ambala. The British government was especially severe on female rebels.

— Aruna had the honour of unfurling the Tricolour during the Quit India Movement’s Gowalia Tank assembly in Bombay.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Mahatma Gandhi led the ‘Dandi march’ in 1930 which was a:

(a) movement to end the tinkathia system of indigo farmers.

(b) movement to solve disagreements between the textile workers and the mill owners.

(c) tax resistance campaign against the British salt monopoly.

(d) first Non-Cooperation movement.

Explanation

— The 24-day march from March 12 to April 5, 1930, was a tax resistance campaign against the British salt monopoly.

— Mahatma Gandhi recognised salt as a strong symbol capable of uniting the people. On January 31, 1930, he sent Viceroy Irwin a letter with eleven demands.

— The objective was to broaden the demands so that people from all walks of life in India could identify with them and join forces in a single effort. The most impassioned of them was the call to remove the salt charge.

— Salt was consumed by both the rich and the poor, and it was a necessary component of sustenance.

— Mahatma Gandhi claimed that the salt tax and the government’s monopoly on its manufacture exposed the most repressive aspect of British rule.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ncert.nic.in)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 76)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 75)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 75)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 75)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 75)

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