Indian History & Freedom Movement – Modern Indian History
Assam Public Service Commission (APSC)
Combined Competitive Examination (CCE)
Preliminary Examination – General Studies Paper I (Objective, 200 Marks)
Topic: Indian History & Freedom Movement
Sub Topic: Modern Indian History
Modern Indian History – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers & Explanations
Q1. Modern Indian History is generally considered to begin with:
A. Battle of Buxar (1764)
B. Battle of Plassey (1757)
C. Regulating Act (1773)
D. Charter Act (1813)
Answer: B
Explanation: The Battle of Plassey (1757) marked the beginning of British political dominance in India.
Q2. The Battle of Plassey was fought between:
A. British and Marathas
B. British and French
C. British and Siraj-ud-Daulah
D. British and Tipu Sultan
Answer: C
Explanation: The British East India Company defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, leading to Company rule in Bengal.
Q3. The Dual Government of Bengal was introduced by:
A. Warren Hastings
B. Robert Clive
C. Lord Cornwallis
D. Lord Wellesley
Answer: B
Explanation: Robert Clive introduced Dual Government (1765), separating revenue and administration.
Q4. The Permanent Settlement was introduced by:
A. Lord Wellesley
B. Lord Cornwallis
C. Warren Hastings
D. Lord Dalhousie
Answer: B
Explanation: Lord Cornwallis introduced Permanent Settlement (1793).
Q5. Which land revenue system fixed revenue permanently with zamindars?
A. Ryotwari
B. Mahalwari
C. Permanent Settlement
D. Temporary Settlement
Answer: C
Q6. The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by:
A. Lord Curzon
B. Lord Dalhousie
C. Lord Canning
D. Lord Hastings
Answer: B
Explanation: Lord Dalhousie annexed states without natural heirs.
Q7. Which of the following states was annexed under Doctrine of Lapse?
A. Mysore
B. Jhansi
C. Hyderabad
D. Kashmir
Answer: B
Q8. The Revolt of 1857 started from:
A. Delhi
B. Kanpur
C. Meerut
D. Lucknow
Answer: C
Q9. Who was the Mughal emperor during the Revolt of 1857?
A. Akbar II
B. Shah Alam II
C. Bahadur Shah Zafar
D. Aurangzeb II
Answer: C
Explanation: Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared the symbolic leader.
Q10. The immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857 was:
A. Doctrine of Lapse
B. Subsidiary Alliance
C. Greased cartridges
D. Heavy taxation
Answer: C
Q11. After 1857, India came under the control of:
A. British Parliament
B. British Crown
C. East India Company
D. Governor-General
Answer: B
Q12. The Indian National Congress was founded in:
A. 1883
B. 1885
C. 1905
D. 1915
Answer: B
Q13. The founder of the Indian National Congress was:
A. Dadabhai Naoroji
B. A.O. Hume
C. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
D. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Answer: B
Explanation: A. O. Hume founded the INC in 1885.
Q14. The partition of Bengal (1905) was carried out by:
A. Lord Curzon
B. Lord Minto
C. Lord Hardinge
D. Lord Irwin
Answer: A
Q15. The Swadeshi Movement began in response to:
A. Rowlatt Act
B. Simon Commission
C. Partition of Bengal
D. Jallianwala Bagh
Answer: C
Q16. The slogan “Swaraj is my birthright” was given by:
A. Lala Lajpat Rai
B. Bipin Chandra Pal
C. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D. Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: C
Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularized militant nationalism.
Q17. The Home Rule Movement in India was started in:
A. 1905
B. 1914
C. 1916
D. 1919
Answer: C
Q18. Who introduced Non-Cooperation Movement?
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Subhas Chandra Bose
C. Mahatma Gandhi
D. C.R. Das
Answer: C
Explanation: Mahatma Gandhi launched it in 1920.
Q19. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred in:
A. 1917
B. 1918
C. 1919
D. 1920
Answer: C
Q20. The Simon Commission was opposed because:
A. It proposed partition
B. It had no Indian member
C. It imposed new taxes
D. It rejected dominion status
Answer: B
Q21. The Lahore Session (1929) of INC declared:
A. Dominion Status
B. Complete Independence
C. Non-Violence
D. Boycott of Councils
Answer: B
Q22. The Civil Disobedience Movement began with:
A. Dandi March
B. Chauri Chaura
C. Quit India Resolution
D. Bardoli Satyagraha
Answer: A
Q23. The Dandi March was led by:
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Vallabhbhai Patel
C. Mahatma Gandhi
D. Rajendra Prasad
Answer: C
Q24. The Government of India Act, 1935 introduced:
A. Complete independence
B. Provincial autonomy
C. Responsible government at centre
D. Universal adult franchise
Answer: B
Q25. The Quit India Movement was launched in:
A. 1940
B. 1941
C. 1942
D. 1945
Answer: C
Q26. The Quit India Movement resolution was adopted at:
A. Lahore
B. Karachi
C. Bombay
D. Calcutta
Answer: C
Q27. Who gave the call “Do or Die”?
A. Subhas Chandra Bose
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Mahatma Gandhi
D. Sardar Patel
Answer: C
Q28. The Indian Independence Act was passed in:
A. 1945
B. 1946
C. 1947
D. 1950
Answer: C
Q29. India became independent on:
A. 26 January 1947
B. 15 August 1947
C. 26 November 1949
D. 26 January 1950
Answer: B
Q30. Modern Indian history sources mainly include:
A. Archaeology only
B. Official records, newspapers, memoirs
C. Religious texts only
D. Oral traditions alone
Answer: B
Explanation: Modern history relies on official documents, press, and personal accounts.
✅ APSC Prelims Value
✔ Strong focus on Company rule, movements, acts, and personalities
✔ Concept-based explanations for elimination technique
✔ Ideal for static + dynamic history questions
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