British India & The Freedom Movement
· Pakistan Studies/Affairs
77 MCQs
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of 77 MCQs
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1
In which month and year did Lord Irwin take charge as the Viceroy of India, according to the provided historical records?
Answer:
April 1928
Lord Irwin served as the Viceroy and Governor-General of India during a highly volatile period of the independence struggle. His tenure was marked by the visit of the Simon Commission and the subsequent Round Table Conferences, as he attempted to navigate the demands of the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League.
2
When was the Simon Commission Report officially published, triggering widespread criticism across the Indian political spectrum?
Answer:
May 1930
The Simon Commission, which was tasking with reviewing the constitutional progress of India, published its final report in May 1930. Because the commission lacked any Indian members, its recommendations were largely rejected by major political parties, leading the British government to seek a new consensus through the Round Table Conferences.
3
Which annual session of the Indian National Congress authorized the Working Committee to launch the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer:
Lahore Session 1929
The 1929 Lahore Session of the Congress was a historic event where the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence) was adopted. Under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the party decided to boycott the Round Table Conferences and authorized Mahatma Gandhi to lead the Civil Disobedience Movement.
4
Following the government's decisions in 1930, what action did the Congress party take regarding the legislatures?
Answer:
They decided to withdraw from Central and Provincial Legislatures
As part of their protest against the British government and the publication of the Simon Commission report, the Congress Working Committee decided to withdraw all its members from the Central and Provincial Legislatures in 1930, further intensifying the Civil Disobedience Movement.
5
On which date did the Indian National Congress celebrate 'Independence Day' for the first time following the Lahore Session?
Answer:
January 26, 1930
After the declaration of Purna Swaraj in December 1929, the Congress called upon the people of India to celebrate January 26, 1930, as Independence Day. This date was chosen to mobilize the masses against British rule and was later selected as the date for India to become a Republic in 1950.
6
How many total delegates were invited by the British Government for the First Round Table Conference?
Answer:
89
The British Government invited 89 delegates to the First Round Table Conference to ensure representation from British political parties, the Princely States, and various Indian communities and interests, although the Indian National Congress was notably absent.
7
In which city and year did the First Round Table Conference begin?
Answer:
London, 1930
The First Round Table Conference was convened in London in November 1930. It was the first time that British and Indian leaders met as equals to discuss the future constitution of India, though the effectiveness of the session was limited by the absence of the Indian National Congress.
8
Who inaugurated the First Round Table Conference in London?
Answer:
King George V
King George V formally inaugurated the First Round Table Conference. The conference was chaired by the British Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald, and was attended by 89 delegates representing various Indian interests, princely states, and British political parties.
9
Which of the following Muslim leaders were representatives of their community at the First Round Table Conference?
Answer:
Agha Khan, Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar
The Muslim delegation at the First RTC was led by the Agha Khan and included prominent figures such as Sir Muhammad Shafi, Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. They successfully argued for a federal structure and safeguards for the Muslim minority.
10
When were Mahatma Gandhi and his colleagues released from jail to facilitate talks with the Viceroy?
Answer:
January 25, 1931
In an effort to bring the Congress into the constitutional process, the British Government released Mahatma Gandhi and other members of the Congress Working Committee from jail on January 25, 1931. This paved the way for the direct negotiations that led to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
11
On what date was the historic Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed, leading to the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Answer:
February 19, 1931
The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on February 19, 1931 (as per provided records). This agreement was significant as the British government recognized the Congress as a primary political force, and in return, Gandhi agreed to discontinue the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in the Second Round Table Conference.
12
As per the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, what specific activity was the Congress allowed to continue?
Answer:
Campaigning for the sale of Indian manufactured goods
A key term of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was that while the Congress would discontinue the Civil Disobedience Movement, they were allowed to continue peaceful campaigning and picketing to promote the sale of Indian-made (Swadeshi) goods.
13
What was the final outcome or agreement regarding the future structure of India at the conclusion of the First Round Table Conference?
Answer:
A Federal type of Government
Despite the absence of the Congress, the First RTC reached a consensus on several points, the most important being the agreement to establish a Federal type of government for India. This federation was intended to include both the provinces of British India and the Princely States.
14
Which prominent Muslim leader died during the period of the Round Table Conferences and was buried in Jerusalem?
Answer:
Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar
Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar, a fiery orator and leader of the Khilafat movement, participated in the First RTC despite his failing health. He passed away in London in January 1931 and was buried in Jerusalem, fulfilling his wish not to return to a slave India.
15
Who was the sole representative of the Indian National Congress in the Second Round Table Conference held in 1931?
Answer:
M.K. Gandhi
Following the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Mahatma Gandhi attended the Second RTC as the only representative of the Congress. However, the conference failed to resolve the communal issue as Gandhi refused to acknowledge the representative character of the other communal delegations.
16
The Second Round Table Conference in London lasted until which date?
Answer:
December 1, 1931
The Second Round Table Conference, which saw the participation of Mahatma Gandhi, opened on September 7, 1931, and concluded on December 1, 1931. The session ended without a consensus on the communal question, leading to the Prime Minister's subsequent intervention.
17
What was considered the most sensitive issue before the Second Round Table Conference?
Answer:
Hindu-Muslim Unity
Hindu-Muslim unity was the most critical and sensitive issue during the Second Round Table Conference. The failure of the Indian delegates to reach an agreement on the sharing of power and communal representation led to a deadlock that the British Prime Minister eventually resolved through the Communal Award.
18
During the conferences, which Muslim leader demanded that Jinnah's Fourteen Points should be inducted into the future constitution?
Answer:
Sir Muhammad Shafi
Sir Muhammad Shafi was a staunch advocate for Muslim rights during the conferences. He explicitly demanded that the 'Fourteen Points' formulated by Muhammad Ali Jinnah in 1929 should be made part of any future constitutional framework for India.
19
On what date did British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald announce the Communal Award?
Answer:
August 16, 1932
The Communal Award was announced on August 16, 1932, by Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald. It was issued because the Indian delegates could not reach a consensus on the representation of different communities, resulting in the British government imposing its own scheme.
20
According to the Communal Award, what was the seat quota for Muslims in the Bombay provincial legislature?
Answer:
30 out of 175 Seats
In the Bombay province, the Communal Award allocated a quota of 30 seats to the Muslim community out of a total house strength of 175 seats.
