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SSC CGL 2025: Modern History Masterclass 100 MCQs for GS

Modern History for SSC CGL: 100 Top-Level Questions

This master session covers 100 essential modern history questions frequently asked in SSC CGL and other competitive exams. Each question is designed to strengthen your understanding of key events, movements, and personalities. For a broader understanding of how to approach history for exams like SSC, you can also refer to SSC History & GS Strategy: Understanding History, Sources, and Time Periods.

Key Leaders and Their Contributions

Swami Sahajanand Saraswati and the Peasant Movement

  • Question: Who formed the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha in 1929?
  • Answer: Swami Sahajanand Saraswati. He also established the All India Kisan Sabha in 1936 and led the Bakasht Movement in Bihar (1937-1939) with the slogan "Jo Kheti Karega, Usi Ka Haq."

Dinbandhu Mitra and the Play Neel Darpan

  • Question: Who wrote the play "Neel Darpan"?
  • Answer: Dinbandhu Mitra. Published in 1860, the play exposed the exploitation of indigo farmers by British planters, fueling the Indigo Revolt in Bengal.

Surya Sen and the Chittagong Armoury Raid

  • Question: Under whose leadership was the Chittagong Armoury Raid carried out?
  • Answer: Surya Sen (also known as Master Da). The raid occurred on April 18, 1929, aiming to seize British weapons to accelerate the revolution. Key participants included Kalpana Dutta and Pritilata Waddedar.

Tara Nath Das and G.D. Kumar: United India House

  • Question: Who established the United India House in Seattle, USA, in 1910?
  • Answer: Taraknath Das and G.D. Kumar. This organization became a center for organizing overseas Indians against British rule and contributed to the Ghadar Movement.

Important Events and Dates

The First Delhi Durbar

  • Question: When was the first Delhi Durbar held?
  • Answer: 1877. It was held to proclaim Queen Victoria as the Empress of India. Subsequent durbars occurred in 1903 and 1911, the latter being unique as the British monarch visited India for the first time.

The Chauri Chaura Incident and Legal Defense

  • Question: Who defended the arrested individuals after the Chauri Chaura incident?
  • Answer: Madan Mohan Malaviya and his son Krishnakant Malaviya. The 1922 incident involved a violent clash between a mob and police, leading to several arrests and death sentences, which were later commuted due to their legal efforts.

The Woodhead Commission and the Bengal Famine

  • Question: For what purpose was the Woodhead Commission formed?
  • Answer: To investigate the devastating Bengal Famine of 1943. The commission, headed by Sir John Woodhead, highlighted the failure of British policies, with official estimates placing the death toll at approximately 1.5 million.

The Begum of Awadh and the 1857 Revolt

Constitutional and Administrative Acts

Government of India Act 1858

  • Question: Which act transferred the power to govern India from the East India Company to the British Crown?
  • Answer: Government of India Act 1858. This decision, following the 1857 Revolt, brought the administration directly under British government control.

Indian High Courts Act 1861

  • Question: In which year was the Indian High Courts Act passed?
  • Answer: 1861. This act established High Courts in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay, unifying the previously separate Supreme Courts and Sadar Adalats, and laying the foundation for the modern judiciary.

The Rowlatt Act 1919

  • Question: Which act allowed the government to imprison political prisoners without trial for up to two years?
  • Answer: Rowlatt Act 1919. This repressive act sparked widespread protests, culminating in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on April 13, 1919.

The Indian Councils Act 1892

  • Question: On which plan was the Indian Councils Act 1892 based?
  • Answer: Dufferin Plan. This act increased the number of representatives, permitted budget discussions, and introduced indirect nomination, marking an early step toward representation in India.

The 1857 Revolt: Leaders and Regions

A crucial topic for exams, remember the leadership of the 1857 Revolt across different regions:

| Region | Leader | Key Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Delhi | Bhakt Khan (real), Bahadur Shah Zafar (titular) | Last Mughal emperor | | Kanpur | Nana Saheb, Tatya Tope | Tatya Tope was the commander | | Lucknow | Begum Hazrat Mahal | Ruler of Awadh | | Jhansi | Rani Lakshmibai | Symbol of resistance | | Bihar (Jagdishpur) | Kunwar Singh | Led the revolt in Bihar | | Bareilly | Khan Bahadur Khan | Active in the Rohilkhand region | | Faizabad | Maulvi Ahmad | Led the revolt in Faizabad |

Gandhi's Satyagrahas and Movements

The Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

  • Question: Which location is associated with Gandhi's 1917 Satyagraha?
  • Answer: Champaran. This was Gandhi's first civil disobedience movement in India, addressing the forced indigo cultivation by British planters.

The Vaikom Satyagraha

  • Question: What was the Vaikom Satyagraha against, and did Gandhi participate?
  • Answer: It was against caste-based discrimination. Gandhi actively participated in this 1924-1925 movement in Travancore (modern Kerala), which aimed to allow lower-caste people to use public roads near the temple.

The Dandi March and the Famous Quote

  • Question: On which occasion did Gandhi say, "Sedition has become my religion"?
  • Answer: At Dandi, upon publicly breaking the salt law on April 6, 1930. This act marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

The Bardoli Satyagraha

  • Question: In which Satyagraha was Vallabhbhai Patel given the title "Sardar"?
  • Answer: Bardoli Satyagraha (1928). The title was bestowed by the women of the movement in recognition of his leadership against a 30% revenue hike.

The Partition and Independence

The Lahore Resolution (1940)

  • Question: In which year did the Muslim League pass a resolution demanding autonomy for Muslim-majority areas?
  • Answer: 1940. This resolution, passed at the Lahore Session and known as the Pakistan Resolution, was a key step toward the creation of Pakistan.

The Direct Action Day (1946)

  • Question: When was Direct Action Day observed by the Muslim League?
  • Answer: August 16, 1946. This day, intended as a general strike, escalated into widespread communal violence, particularly in Calcutta.

The Attlee Declaration (1947)

  • Question: By when did British PM Attlee declare British rule would end?
  • Answer: June 1948. However, Lord Mountbatten advanced the date to August 15, 1947, due to the worsening conditions.

The Congress Session on Partition

  • Question: Who was the president of the Congress session on June 14, 1947, that accepted the partition plan?
  • Answer: J.B. Kripalani. The session in Delhi approved the Mountbatten Plan as the least harmful option to prevent further violence.

Key Books and Their Authors

Memorizing authors of important books is a common exam question:

  • The Indian Struggle: Subhash Chandra Bose
  • From Plassey to Partition: Shekhar Bandopadhyay
  • Discovery of India: Jawaharlal Nehru
  • Hind Swaraj: Mahatma Gandhi
  • Gitanjali: Rabindranath Tagore
  • Why I am an Atheist: Bhagat Singh
  • Neel Darpan: Dinbandhu Mitra

Important Commissions and Committees

The Raleigh Commission

  • Question: On whose recommendation was the Indian Universities Act 1904 passed?
  • Answer: Raleigh Commission. Set up by Lord Curzon in 1902, this aimed to regulate higher education and limit university autonomy.

The Hilton Young Commission

  • Question: Which commission recommended the establishment of the Reserve Bank of India?
  • Answer: Hilton Young Commission (Royal Commission on Indian Currency and Finance, 1931). Based on its recommendations, the RBI was established via the RBI Act of 1934 and began operations on April 1, 1935.

The Durand Commission

  • Question: Under which Governor-General was the Durand Commission established?
  • Answer: Lord Lansdowne. Established in 1893, it demarcated the border between India and Afghanistan, creating the Durand Line.

Socio-Religious Reform Movements

Key Reformers and their Organizations

  • Question: Which of the following is NOT correctly matched?
  • Prarthana Samaj, Atmaram Pandurang (Correct)
  • Satyashodhak Samaj, Jyotiba Phule (Correct)
  • Radhaswami Satsang, Shivdayal Singh (Correct)
  • Tattvabodhini Sabha, Aurobindo Ghosh (Incorrect)
  • Answer: Tattvabodhini Sabha was founded by Devendranath Tagore in 1839.

The Dharma Sabha

  • Question: Who founded the Dharma Sabha?
  • Answer: Radhakanta Dev. Established in 1830 in Calcutta to protect orthodox Hindu interests against reform movements.

The Singh Sabha Movement

  • Question: Which Sikh reform movement was started in Amritsar in 1873?
  • Answer: Singh Sabha Movement. It aimed to preserve and strengthen Sikh identity, counter Christian missionary and Arya Samaj influences, and promote modern education.

Quick Facts and Keywords

  • First European Fort in India: Fort Emmanuel, built by the Portuguese in 1503 at Cochin.
  • First Printing Press in India: Established by the Portuguese at St. Paul's College, Goa, in 1556.
  • First Newspaper in India: Bengal Gazette, started by James Augustus Hicky in 1780.
  • First Indian Journalist Jailed: Surendranath Banerjee.
  • First Person to Hoist Indian Flag Abroad: Madam Bhikaji Cama, in Germany (Stuttgart) in 1907.
  • Last Mughal Emperor Exiled To: Rangoon, Burma.
  • India's First Surveyor General: James Rennell. For insights into how such factual knowledge builds a strong foundation, check out UPSC Preparation: The Importance of NCRT Books in Competitive Exams.

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