Daily Prelims MCQs — History & Culture — 19th July 2025
- TPP
- Jul 19
- 8 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: Indian freedom fighter, Second World War, “Quit India” and “Simon Go Back”, Diet and Diet Reform, The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism, and Key to Health, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Indian National Army (INA), “Dancing Girl” from the IVC and more...
Click Here to read the Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP).
QUESTION 1
Consider the following statements regarding the Indian freedom fighter Gopal Ganesh Agarkar:
He launched the publication Sudharak (meaning The Reformer), where he strongly opposed caste-based discrimination and untouchability.
He co-founded the Deccan Educational Society in Pune alongside Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
He passed away during the movement opposing the Partition of Bengal.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (b)
Explanation:
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was a prominent social reformer who established the newspaper Sudharak, through which he boldly criticized social evils such as untouchability and casteism.
Contrary to what is stated in Statement 2, Agarkar co-founded the Deccan Educational Society with Bal Gangadhar Tilak—not Gopal Krishna Gokhale. As for Statement 3, Agarkar died in 1895, which was a full decade before the Partition of Bengal was announced in 1905 by Lord Curzon.
QUESTION 2
With reference to events during the Second World War, consider the following statements:
In March 1942, Sir Stafford Cripps led a British mission to India to negotiate with the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. Though the proposal mentioned “the earliest possible realisation of self-government,” it only extended an offer of dominion status and not full independence.
Prime Minister Winston Churchill was persuaded to initiate talks with Indian political leaders regarding their participation in the war, due to mounting pressure from U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek, and key figures from Britain’s Labour Party.
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 (c)
Explanation:
The geopolitical situation changed dramatically after December 1941, when Japan launched a series of rapid military offensives across Asia, capturing British colonies such as Burma, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, and parts of present-day Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. These losses brought the war to India's doorstep, especially in the Northeast.
Amidst this crisis, global leaders including U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Chinese President Chiang Kai-shek, and prominent members of Britain's Labour Party exerted significant diplomatic pressure on British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to secure Indian support for the Allied war effort.
In response, the British government dispatched Sir Stafford Cripps to India in March 1942. The Cripps Mission proposed granting India dominion status after the war, meaning India would become a self-governing entity within the British Commonwealth. However, the proposal fell short of the Indian demand for complete independence and included a contentious clause that allowed provinces to opt out of a future Indian union — a move the Congress vehemently opposed. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru rejected the offer, leading to the mission’s failure.
QUESTION 3
Who was responsible for coining the popular slogans “Quit India” and “Simon Go Back”?
(a) Louis Fischer
(b) Hasrat Mohani
(c) Ramkinkar Baij
(d) Yusuf Meherally
Answer (d)
Explanation:
Although Mahatma Gandhi issued the historic call for the British to "Quit India" during the 1942 movement, the actual phrase was originally coined by Yusuf Meherally, a noted socialist leader, trade unionist, and the former Mayor of Bombay.
His contribution to India’s freedom struggle also includes the earlier slogan “Simon Go Back”, which was coined in 1928 in protest against the Simon Commission—a body with no Indian representation. These slogans became rallying cries during key phases of India’s independence movement.
QUESTION 4
Which Indian freedom fighter authored books such as Diet and Diet Reform, The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism, and Key to Health?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Sarojini Naidu
(c) Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy
(d) Dr. M.A. Ansari
Answer (a)
Explanation:
Mahatma Gandhi was deeply engaged in experimenting with food and health throughout his life. His dietary philosophy was not only a personal pursuit but also reflected his ethical and spiritual beliefs. Among his numerous writings, he authored important works like Diet and Diet Reform, The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism, and Key to Health, where he discussed nutrition, vegetarianism, and the moral connection between food and well-being.
Gandhi even gave dietary advice to others — including political opponents. In 1936, he prepared a personalized diet chart for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, advising, among other things:
Leafy greens are best consumed raw as salads
Starchy foods like potatoes and tubers should be limited
Raw garlic and onion are beneficial; Gandhi used raw garlic regularly to manage blood pressure
Raisins are more easily digested than dates
He regarded tea and coffee as non-essential for health
These views reflected Gandhi’s belief that health and simplicity were integral to personal discipline and national service.
QUESTION 5
This monumental place of worship is one of only ten Baha’i Houses of Worship across the globe. Designed by Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba, it was completed in 1986 and takes inspiration for its iconic form from motifs found in the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. Which landmark is being described here?
(a) Banaji Limji Agiary, Mumbai
(b) Baha’i House of Worship, Bihar Sharif
(c) The Lotus Temple, Delhi
(d) None of the above
Answer (c)
Explanation:
The Baha’i community, which has had a continuous presence in India since the late 1800s, found a powerful symbol in the Lotus Temple located in New Delhi. Often referred to as the Mother Temple of the Indian Subcontinent, this architectural marvel reflects the Baha’i principles of unity, peace, and inclusivity.
Designed by Fariborz Sahba, an architect from Iran, the temple was completed in 1986. Its distinctive lotus-shaped design was inspired by carvings and aesthetics observed in the Ajanta and Ellora Caves, two of India’s most revered ancient heritage sites. The temple is composed of 27 marble-clad petals arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides, symbolizing the unity of all major world religions.
Some key highlights:
The Lotus Temple can hold approximately 2,500 people at a time.
The white marble used in construction was sourced from Pentelikon, Greece, the same material used for the Parthenon in Athens.
It is one of the ten official Baha’i Houses of Worship worldwide, with others located in cities such as Wilmette (USA), Sydney (Australia), and Kampala (Uganda).
The temple has received global acclaim, including the GlobArt Academy Award (2000) for excellence in architecture.
Though the 2011 Indian Census recorded only 4,572 Baha’is, estimates by 2015 placed the number of adherents in India at over 2 million.
Recently, a second temple site has been announced in Bihar Sharif, highlighting the growing presence and acceptance of the Baha’i faith in India.
QUESTION 6
With reference to Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, consider the following statements:
He devoted his life to uplifting the Pukhtun community through social reform and continues to be held in high regard among them globally.
He is best remembered for his alliance with Mahatma Gandhi and for leading the Khudai Khidmatgar (Servants of God) movement between 1930 and 1947 — a remarkable example of sustained non-violent resistance inspired by Gandhian philosophy.
Ghubar-e-Khatir (translated as The Dust of Memories) is a compilation of letters authored by him.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer (a)
Explanation:
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also affectionately known as Frontier Gandhi, played a pivotal role in mobilizing the Pukhtun (Pashtun) population towards education, social reform, and non-violence. His lifelong dedication to their upliftment earned him deep admiration, which endures to this day.
He was a close confidant of Mahatma Gandhi and shared his commitment to non-violence. From 1930 to 1947, Khan led the Khudai Khidmatgar movement, which stands out in history as one of the most prolonged and effective non-violent civil resistance campaigns, grounded in Gandhian ideals.
However, the third statement is incorrect. The literary work Ghubar-e-Khatir is not attributed to Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. It is, in fact, a well-known collection of reflective letters penned by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, written during his imprisonment.
QUESTION 7
Consider the following statements:
The famous line “Give me blood and I promise you freedom” was spoken by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1944 in Burma, addressing soldiers of the Indian National Army.
Mahatma Gandhi delivered his speech beginning with “The light has gone out of our lives” following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
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 (a)
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Subhas Chandra Bose, a key figure in India’s freedom struggle, was renowned for his electrifying oratory. In 1944, during his efforts to rally support for the Indian National Army (INA) in Burma, he delivered the stirring call:
“Give me blood, and I will give you freedom.”
This slogan remains one of the most iconic expressions of revolutionary zeal in Indian history.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The words “The light has gone out of our lives” were not spoken by Mahatma Gandhi, but by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in a moving radio address to the nation following Gandhi’s assassination on January 30, 1948. The emotional speech, delivered on All India Radio, expressed the grief of a mourning nation and highlighted Gandhi’s enduring spiritual legacy. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which occurred in 1919, was a different event altogether and not linked to this quote.
QUESTION 8
The famous bronze figurine known as the “Dancing Girl” from the Indus Valley Civilization was first unearthed by which archaeologist?
(a) Rafique Mughal
(b) R.D. Banerji
(c) Ernest McKay
(d) Sir Mortimer Wheeler
Answer (c)
Explanation:
The Indus Valley Civilization, also called the Harappa-Mohenjodaro Civilization, thrived between 3300 BCE and 1300 BCE, with its mature phase from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. While references to ancient ruins in the region existed from the early 19th century, it wasn’t until 1924 that it was formally recognized as one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations—on par with ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Following this realization, intensive excavations were carried out at key sites like Harappa and Mohenjodaro. In 1926, the iconic “Dancing Girl”, a small bronze statue that reflects the high level of craftsmanship in metallurgy and art, was discovered in Mohenjodaro by British archaeologist Ernest J.H. McKay. The figurine was found inside a structure in the so-called “ninth lane” of the HR area on the citadel mound.
The “Dancing Girl” remains one of the most celebrated artifacts from the Indus Valley Civilization, symbolizing both the cultural sophistication and the artistic excellence of this ancient urban society.
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