Revolutionary Movements MCQs for UPSC Prelims

38 practice questions on Revolutionary Movements from the Modern History section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus. 38 come with a written explanation and 3 are actual previous year questions. Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.

4 Easy 17 Medium 17 Hard 3 from past papers

Sample questions

Q1
Previous year question easy

In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as

  1. A leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
  2. B members of the Interim Government in 1946
  3. C members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly
  4. D officers of the Indian National Army
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - officers of the Indian National Army

Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were the three Indian National Army officers tried together by the British at the famous Red Fort trials of 1945-46, which makes 'officers of the Indian National Army' the correct description. They were not associated with the Swadeshi and Boycott agitation of 1905, nor were they members of the 1946 Interim Government or of the Constitution's Drafting Committee, so the other three options do not fit them.

Q2
Previous year question medium

What was the Ghadr (Ghadar) ?

  1. A A revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco
  2. B A nationalist organization operating from Singapore
  3. C A militant organization with headquarters at Berlin
  4. D A communist movement for India's freedom with headquarters at Tashkent
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - A revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco

The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a revolutionary association of Indians, largely Punjabi emigrants, founded in 1913 with its headquarters at San Francisco, which aimed to overthrow British rule through armed revolt, so option (a) is correct. It was not based in Singapore, Berlin or Tashkent, and it was not a communist movement, so the other options are wrong.

Q3
Previous year question medium

Consider the following freedom fighters: 1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh 2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee 3. Rash Behari Bose Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

  1. A 1 and 2
  2. B 2 only
  3. C 1 and 3
  4. D 3 only
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D - 3 only

Rash Behari Bose coordinated with Ghadar revolutionaries returning from North America and helped plan the abortive February 1915 pan-India mutiny before escaping to Japan, so he was actively associated with the Ghadar movement. Barindra Kumar Ghosh was a leader of the Anushilan and Jugantar stream of Bengal revolutionaries linked to the Alipore bomb case, not the Ghadar Party. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee is remembered for founding the Hindustan Republican Association and his role in the Kakori case. Hence only the third name fits, making 3 only the answer.

Q4
hard

The 'Alipore Bomb Case' (1908) arose from a botched assassination attempt at Muzaffarpur. Who was the defence counsel whose closing argument famously secured the acquittal of Aurobindo Ghosh?

  1. A Chittaranjan Das
  2. B Bhupendranath Datta
  3. C Motilal Nehru
  4. D Tej Bahadur Sapru
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Chittaranjan Das

In the Alipore (Manicktolla) Bomb Conspiracy Case, Chittaranjan Das defended Aurobindo Ghosh and won his acquittal, a landmark in his legal and political career. The case followed Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki's attempt to kill magistrate Kingsford at Muzaffarpur.

Q5
medium

The Ghadar Party, formed by Indian immigrants abroad, is associated with which of the following?

  1. A It was established on the west coast of North America and published the paper 'Ghadar' to promote armed revolution against British rule
  2. B It was founded in London by Shyamji Krishna Varma as the India House
  3. C It was a moderate organisation seeking dominion status through constitutional petitions
  4. D It was established in Berlin to negotiate with the British during the First World War
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - It was established on the west coast of North America and published the paper 'Ghadar' to promote armed revolution against British rule

The Ghadar Party was formed in 1913 on the North American Pacific coast (San Francisco), led by figures like Sohan Singh Bhakna and Lala Hardayal, and published the paper Ghadar advocating armed revolt. Option 2 confuses it with India House in London (Shyamji Krishna Varma). Option 3 is wrong because the Ghadar Party was revolutionary, not moderate or petition-based. Option 4 refers to the Berlin Committee/Indian Independence Committee, a separate body, so it is wrong.

Q6
medium

Consider the following pairs of revolutionary organisations and their region of principal activity: 1. Anushilan Samiti : Bengal 2. Hindustan Socialist Republican Association : North India 3. India House : London How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. A All three
  2. B Only two
  3. C Only one
  4. D None
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - All three

All three pairs are correct. The Anushilan Samiti was a revolutionary society based primarily in Bengal. The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), reorganised in 1928, operated mainly in north India (Punjab and the United Provinces) and was associated with Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and others. India House was the revolutionary hub set up by Shyamji Krishna Varma in London, associated with V. D. Savarkar and Madanlal Dhingra.

Q7
easy

The 'Komagata Maru' incident of 1914, which radicalised many Indians abroad, involved a ship carrying mostly Punjabi passengers that was turned away from which port?

  1. A Vancouver, Canada
  2. B San Francisco, United States
  3. C Yokohama, Japan
  4. D Singapore
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Vancouver, Canada

The Komagata Maru, chartered by Gurdit Singh, carried about 376 mostly Sikh and Punjabi passengers to Vancouver, where Canadian authorities, invoking the 'continuous journey' immigration regulation, refused them entry. The ship was forced back, and on its return to Budge Budge near Calcutta, a clash with police killed several passengers, fuelling support for the Ghadar movement.

Q8
medium

The 'Chittagong Armoury Raid' of 1930 was masterminded by a revolutionary group known as the Indian Republican Army. Who led this raid?

  1. A Surya Sen
  2. B Sachindra Nath Sanyal
  3. C Rashbehari Bose
  4. D Jatin Das
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: A - Surya Sen

Surya Sen (Masterda), a schoolteacher, led the Chittagong Armoury Raid in April 1930, in which his band seized arms and proclaimed a provisional revolutionary government. Associates included Pritilata Waddedar and Kalpana Datta. Sanyal and Rashbehari Bose were associated with earlier conspiracies (Hindustan Republican Association, Ghadar/Lahore).

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More Modern History topics

Economic Impact of Colonial Rule 64 Gandhian Mass Movements 57 Peasant & Tribal Movements 52 Socio-Religious Reform Movements 51 Press, Education & Institutions 48 Constitutional Developments & Acts 47 Rise of Nationalism & Early Congress 39 Working Class & Left Movements 34 British Expansion & Conquests 33 Moderates & Extremists 31 Revolt of 1857 30 Advent of Europeans 29