Daily Prelims MCQs - History & Culture - 16th August 2025
- TPP
- Aug 16
- 9 min read
Welcome to today’s handpicked set of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) from the History & Culture — crafted specially for the UPSC Prelims! These questions aren’t just a quiz — they’re a smart way to see how current affairs connect with core concepts, just like UPSC asks in the exam.
Each question is based on recent news and backed by clear explanations to help you build strong links between dynamic events and static knowledge.
Today’s topics include: idea of boycotting British products, India's national movement and literary contributions by freedom fighters, Simla Conference of 1945, significance of Ahmednagar Fort and more...
Click Here to read the Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP).
QUESTION 1
Who made the following remark regarding the Indian National Congress and its activities in Bengal?
“Calcutta is the centre from which the Congress party is manipulated throughout the whole of Bengal and indeed the whole of India.”
(a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Lord Canning
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai
(d) Lord Curzon
Answer (d)
Explanation:
The above statement was made by Lord Curzon, who served as the Viceroy of India from 1899 to 1905.
On July 19, 1905, Lord Curzon announced the Partition of Bengal, a move that divided the province into two parts:
Eastern Bengal and Assam – a region with a Muslim majority
Western Bengal – primarily Hindu-dominated
Purpose of the Partition (as per British claim):
The British administration, under Curzon, claimed the partition was intended for administrative efficiency. Bengal, at the time, was a large and densely populated province, and dividing it would supposedly help govern it more effectively.
Hidden Political Motive:
Indian nationalist leaders strongly opposed this move, arguing that it was not just about administration. They saw it as a "divide and rule" strategy, intended to:
Foment communal divisions between Hindus and Muslims
Weaken the Indian nationalist movement, particularly the influence of the Indian National Congress, which had been gaining strength in Bengal
The city of Calcutta (now Kolkata) was a hub of political activity, particularly for the Congress Party, which played a central role in organizing and mobilizing nationalist sentiments.
Lord Curzon's quote reflects his view that:
Calcutta was a nerve center of anti-colonial agitation
Weakening its political influence would help suppress the nationalist challenge to British rule
QUESTION 2
During the Indian freedom movement, where was the concept of boycotting British goods first publicly introduced?
(a) Weekly Sanjivani
(b) Bipin Chandra Pal’s New India
(c) British House of Commons 1907
(d) Public meeting in Calcutta Town Hall in 1905
Answer (a)
Explanation:
The idea of boycotting British products — a key tool in India's nationalist strategy — was first proposed in the weekly journal Sanjivani, edited by Krishnakumar Mitra, on July 13, 1905.
This proposal emerged in the backdrop of growing dissatisfaction with the moderate nationalist approach, often referred to as “mendicant policies”, which relied on:
Submitting petitions,
Passing resolutions,
Appealing to the British government with hopes of reform.
These methods were increasingly seen as ineffective, particularly in challenging harsh measures like Lord Curzon’s Partition of Bengal in 1905.
Rise of a New Method: Economic Boycott
Frustration with the British led to calls for direct action, and the boycott of British goods became one such method. The idea, after appearing in Sanjivani, gained wider public and political support and was formally adopted at a mass meeting held at Calcutta Town Hall on August 7, 1905.
This marked the beginning of the Swadeshi Movement, where:
Indians were encouraged to reject British-made goods,
Indigenous (Swadeshi) industries were promoted.
QUESTION 3
Match the following prominent Indian nationalists with the publications they were associated with during the freedom movement:
Person | Publication(s) |
1. Brahmobandhab Upadhyay | Sandhya and Yugantar |
2. Aurobindo Ghosh | Bande Mataram |
3. Bipin Chandra Pal | New India |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 0nly
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (d)
Explanation:
During the Swadeshi Movement (launched in 1905 in reaction to the Partition of Bengal), the vernacular and nationalist press played a powerful role in mobilizing public sentiment and spreading political awareness.
Correct Pairings:
Brahmobandhab Upadhyay:
He was a radical thinker and early Christian convert who became a strong voice for nationalism. He edited and published two influential journals — Sandhya and Yugantar — both of which advocated revolutionary ideas and direct action against British rule.
Aurobindo Ghosh:
A major figure in the extremist wing of the nationalist movement, he used the English-language journal Bande Mataram to articulate his vision of Purna Swaraj (complete independence) and to criticize moderate politics. The paper became a powerful platform for his revolutionary message.
Bipin Chandra Pal:
An assertive nationalist and part of the Lal-Bal-Pal trio, he founded and edited New India. Through this journal, he spread the message of Swadeshi, boycott of British goods, and national self-respect.
QUESTION 4
Arrange the following historical events in the correct chronological sequence, beginning with the earliest:
1. Formation of the Muslim League
2. Morley-Minto Reforms
3. Surat Split between Moderates and Extremists in the Indian National Congress
What is the correct chronological order of events, starting with what happened first?
(a) 1 – 2 – 3
(b) 1 – 3 – 2
(c) 3 – 1 – 2
(d) 3 – 2 – 1
Answer (b)
Explanation:
To correctly place these events in historical order, we need to look at their respective dates:
Formation of the Muslim League: 1906
Surat Session (Congress Split): 1907
Morley-Minto Reforms: 1909
So, the chronological order is:→ Muslim League (1906)→ Congress Split at Surat (1907)→ Morley-Minto Reforms (1909)
Understanding the Events:
1. Muslim League Formation (1906):
Founded in Dacca (now Dhaka), the All India Muslim League was created with the aim of promoting the interests of Muslims in India.
It was encouraged by the British, who sought to divide Indian nationalism by fostering communal representation.
This move laid the groundwork for separate political identities, particularly after the rise of Hindu symbolism in the nationalist discourse.
2. Surat Split (1907):
Took place at the Surat session of the Indian National Congress, where internal conflicts between:
Moderates (e.g., Gopal Krishna Gokhale) and
Extremists (e.g., Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai)
led to a formal split.
The core disagreement was over methods of political agitation: petition and reform vs. direct action and mass mobilization.
3. Morley-Minto Reforms (1909):
Also known as the Indian Councils Act of 1909.
Introduced separate electorates for Muslims, meaning Muslims could vote only for Muslim candidates in certain constituencies.
This reform was instrumental in formalizing communal representation in politics, deepening communal divisions.
Named after:
Lord Morley (Secretary of State for India)
Lord Minto (Viceroy of India)
QUESTION 5
Examine the following statements related to India's national movement and literary contributions by freedom fighters:
1. The slogan ‘Quit India’ was originally coined by Mahatma Gandhi.
2. India Wins Freedom (1959) is an autobiography of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
3. The Urdu work Ghubaar-e-Khaatir, which includes the patriotic song Taraana-e-Hind, was authored by Allama Iqbal.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Answer (b)
Explanation:
Statement 2 is Correct:
India Wins Freedom is indeed an autobiographical account written by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, published in 1959.
Azad, a senior leader in the Indian freedom struggle, served as the President of the Indian National Congress and was Independent India’s first Education Minister.
In this book, Azad gives a first-hand account of political developments, internal Congress dynamics, and insights into the Quit India Movement and Partition.
Statement 1 is Incorrect:
The slogan "Quit India" was not coined by Mahatma Gandhi, though he played the central role in the movement.
It was actually coined by Yusuf Meherally, a socialist leader and then Mayor of Bombay (now Mumbai).
The Quit India Movement officially launched on 8 August 1942, following the passing of the Quit India Resolution by the Congress Working Committee on 14 July 1942.
Gandhi’s famous rallying cry was: "Do or Die" during this movement.
Statement 3 is Incorrect:
The Urdu literary work Ghubaar-e-Khaatir was written by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, not Allama Iqbal.
It’s a collection of 56 letters written by Azad while imprisoned in Ahmednagar Fort, reflecting on philosophy, religion, culture, and personal thoughts.
The song Taraana-e-Hind (also known by its first line "Saare Jahan Se Achha") was composed by Allama Iqbal, but it is not included in Ghubaar-e-Khaatir.
QUESTION 6
Who made the following statement in the context of India's prospective involvement in the Second World War?
“I wanted India to take an eager and active part in the mighty conflict, for I felt that high principles would be at stake, and out of this conflict would come great and revolutionary changes in India and the world.”
(a) Lord Linlithgow
(b) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer (c)
Explanation:
The above quote reflects the nuanced position of Jawaharlal Nehru during the early years of World War II (1939–1945). While many Indian nationalists were deeply suspicious of British imperial motives, Nehru saw the war as a potential turning point in global and Indian history.
In his seminal work, The Discovery of India (written during his imprisonment in 1944), Nehru wrote this line to explain his desire for India to contribute meaningfully to the global struggle against fascism, provided that such involvement was accompanied by real steps toward Indian self-governance.
Historical Context:
At the start of World War II in 1939, Lord Linlithgow, the then Viceroy of India, unilaterally declared India’s entry into the war on behalf of the British Empire without consulting Indian leaders or the Congress Party.
This unilateral decision led to deep resentment among Indian nationalists, who felt excluded from decisions affecting their own country.
Many leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, were ideologically opposed to fascism (represented by the Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan) and were sympathetic to the Allies. However, they insisted that Indian cooperation in the war should be contingent upon a clear British commitment to Indian independence.
Subhas Chandra Bose, in contrast, took a radical approach by aligning with Axis powers through the formation of the Indian National Army (INA).
QUESTION 7
Consider the following statements regarding the Simla Conference of 1945:
In June 1945, Viceroy Lord Linlithgow announced a conference at Simla to discuss including Indian leaders in the Viceroy’s Executive Council, thereby paving the way for interim self-governance.
The Simla Conference did not succeed, primarily because the Muslim League demanded exclusive authority to nominate Muslim members to the Executive Council.
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
Answer (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is Incorrect:
The Simla Conference was indeed held in June 1945, but it was convened by Lord Archibald Wavell, not Lord Linlithgow.
Lord Linlithgow had already stepped down as Viceroy in 1943, and Wavell succeeded him.
The main agenda of the conference was to reconstitute the Viceroy’s Executive Council by including more Indian leaders and forming the basis for an interim government, which would be a step towards full self-rule.
Statement 2 is Correct:
The Simla Conference failed because of a major political disagreement between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.
The Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, insisted that only the League had the right to nominate Muslim representatives to the Executive Council.
The Congress, on the other hand, claimed to represent all communities, including Muslims, and therefore refused to accept this exclusive claim.
This deadlock resulted in the collapse of the conference.
QUESTION 8
Regarding the historical significance of Ahmednagar Fort during the Indian freedom struggle, consider the following statements:
The Quit India Movement led to mass arrests, and senior leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad were detained in Ahmednagar Fort Prison.
Jawaharlal Nehru wrote his influential book The Discovery of India during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar Fort, which lasted from 1942 to 1945, following the launch of the Quit India Movement.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer (b)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is Incorrect:
After the launch of the Quit India Movement on 8 August 1942, the British government responded swiftly with widespread arrests of senior Congress leaders.
Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad, Sardar Patel, J.B. Kripalani, and others were imprisoned at Ahmednagar Fort.
However, Mahatma Gandhi was not imprisoned at Ahmednagar Fort — he was detained separately at the Aga Khan Palace in Poona (now Pune) due to concerns over his health and security.
Statement 2 is Correct:
Jawaharlal Nehru was imprisoned at Ahmednagar Fort from August 1942 to mid-1945.
During this time, he wrote his landmark work The Discovery of India — an exploration of India’s civilizational past, colonial present, and political future.
The book was completed in 1944 and provides insights into Nehru’s philosophical and political thinking, shaped under colonial repression.
The final chapter, titled “Ahmednagar Fort Again”, is dated 13 August 1944, marking two years of incarceration.
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