Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with answers on “The Socio-Religious Reform Movements of the 19th Century – Indian History”

1. Who was the founder of the Brahmo Samaj?

• A) Swami Vivekananda
• B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• C) Dayananda Saraswati
• D) Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
• Answer: B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy

2. Which movement aimed to promote Hindu reform by advocating for the return to the Vedic traditions?

• A) Brahmo Samaj
• B) Arya Samaj
• C) Theosophical Society
• D) Ramakrishna Mission
• Answer: B) Arya Samaj

3. Who was the founder of the Arya Samaj?

• A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• B) Swami Dayananda Saraswati
• C) Syed Ahmed Khan
• D) Vivekananda
• Answer: B) Swami Dayananda Saraswati

4. What was the primary aim of the Ramakrishna Mission founded by Swami Vivekananda?

• A) Promotion of Islamic reform
• B) Revival of Hindu orthodoxy
• C) Social service and spiritual education
• D) Political activism
• Answer: C) Social service and spiritual education

5. Which socio-religious reformer is known for his work in the upliftment of women and promotion of widow remarriage?

• A) Swami Vivekananda
• B) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar
• C) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• D) Dayananda Saraswati
• Answer: B) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar

6. Which movement sought to address the issues of untouchability and promote social equality in Hindu society?

• A) Brahmo Samaj
• B) Arya Samaj
• C) Depressed Classes Mission
• D) Theosophical Society
• Answer: C) Depressed Classes Mission

7. Who was the founder of the Theosophical Society in India?

• A) Annie Besant
• B) Swami Vivekananda
• C) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• D) Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
• Answer: A) Annie Besant

8. Which socio-religious reformer is associated with the reform of the traditional Indian education system and the establishment of modern schools?

• A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• B) Swami Dayananda Saraswati
• C) Syed Ahmed Khan
• D) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar
• Answer: C) Syed Ahmed Khan

9. What was the main focus of the Prarthana Samaj founded by Atmaram Pandurang?

• A) Revival of ancient Hindu practices
• B) Reform of Hindu religious practices and social conditions
• C) Promotion of Muslim reform
• D) Social service in rural areas
• Answer: B) Reform of Hindu religious practices and social conditions

10. Which movement focused on the reformation of Muslim society and promoted modern education among Muslims?

• A) Aligarh Movement
• B) Brahmo Samaj
• C) Arya Samaj
• D) Prarthana Samaj
• Answer: A) Aligarh Movement

11. Who was the leader of the Aligarh Movement?

• A) Syed Ahmed Khan
• B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• C) Swami Vivekananda
• D) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar
• Answer: A) Syed Ahmed Khan

12. Which socio-religious reformer emphasized the need for modern science and education to uplift Indian society?

• A) Swami Vivekananda
• B) Syed Ahmed Khan
• C) Dayananda Saraswati
• D) Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
• Answer: B) Syed Ahmed Khan

13. The movement founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, which advocated the revival of Vedic Hinduism and criticized idolatry, is known as:

• A) Brahmo Samaj
• B) Arya Samaj
• C) Prarthana Samaj
• D) Theosophical Society
• Answer: B) Arya Samaj

14. Which reformer’s efforts led to the establishment of schools and colleges for women in India during the 19th century?

• A) Swami Vivekananda
• B) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar
• C) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• D) Annie Besant
• Answer: B) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar

15. Which of the following was a significant achievement of the Brahmo Samaj?

• A) Abolition of Sati
• B) Promotion of widow remarriage
• C) Establishment of modern universities
• D) Reform of Hindu marriage customs
• Answer: A) Abolition of Sati

16. The socio-religious reform movement that aimed to combine aspects of Hinduism with Western ideas and science was:

• A) Brahmo Samaj
• B) Arya Samaj
• C) Theosophical Society
• D) Prarthana Samaj
• Answer: C) Theosophical Society

17. The Prarthana Samaj, founded in 1867, was primarily active in which part of India?

• A) Punjab
• B) Bengal
• C) Maharashtra
• D) Uttar Pradesh
• Answer: C) Maharashtra

18. Which movement is associated with the promotion of Hindi as a medium of education among the Muslim community?

• A) Aligarh Movement
• B) Arya Samaj
• C) Brahmo Samaj
• D) Ramakrishna Mission
• Answer: A) Aligarh Movement

19. Who was the prominent leader of the Brahmo Samaj who worked to promote social and religious reforms in Bengal?

• A) Swami Dayananda Saraswati
• B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• C) Syed Ahmed Khan
• D) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar
• Answer: B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy

20. The socio-religious reformer known for his role in the abolition of child marriage was:

• A) Swami Vivekananda
• B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• C) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar
• D) Dayananda Saraswati
• Answer: C) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar

21. Which reformer emphasized the importance of rational thinking and modern science in the development of society?

• A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• B) Swami Vivekananda
• C) Dayananda Saraswati
• D) Syed Ahmed Khan
• Answer: D) Syed Ahmed Khan

22. The socio-religious reform movement that addressed the issue of untouchability and sought to uplift the lower castes was:

• A) Brahmo Samaj
• B) Arya Samaj
• C) Depressed Classes Mission
• D) Ramakrishna Mission
• Answer: C) Depressed Classes Mission

23. The leader known for his efforts in modernizing the Hindu religious practices and advocating for the Vedic texts was:

• A) Swami Vivekananda
• B) Dayananda Saraswati
• C) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• D) Syed Ahmed Khan
• Answer: B) Dayananda Saraswati

24. Which of the following movements aimed to bridge the gap between Hindu and Muslim communities through social and educational reforms?

• A) Brahmo Samaj
• B) Arya Samaj
• C) Aligarh Movement
• D) Ramakrishna Mission
• Answer: C) Aligarh Movement

25. Which socio-religious reform movement promoted the idea of “back to the Vedas” and rejected idolatry and rituals?

• A) Prarthana Samaj
• B) Arya Samaj
• C) Brahmo Samaj
• D) Theosophical Society
• Answer: B) Arya Samaj

26. Who was a key figure in the movement to promote women’s education and the fight against child marriage?

• A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• B) Swami Vivekananda
• C) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar
• D) Syed Ahmed Khan
• Answer: C) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar

27. The socio-religious reformer who combined Eastern and Western philosophies to create a universal religion was:

• A) Swami Vivekananda
• B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• C) Dayananda Saraswati
• D) Syed Ahmed Khan
• Answer: A) Swami Vivekananda

28. Which of the following reform movements was characterized by the promotion of religious tolerance and the merging of Hindu and Western ideas?

• A) Brahmo Samaj
• B) Arya Samaj
• C) Theosophical Society
• D) Prarthana Samaj
• Answer: C) Theosophical Society

29. The leader known for his efforts in the promotion of Urdu and modern education among Muslims was:

• A) Syed Ahmed Khan
• B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
• C) Swami Dayananda Saraswati
• D) Iswarchandra Vidyasagar
• Answer: A) Syed Ahmed Khan

30. Which socio-religious reform movement advocated for the abolition of caste discrimination and the upliftment of the lower castes?

• A) Arya Samaj
• B) Brahmo Samaj
• C) Depressed Classes Mission
• D) Ramakrishna Mission
• Answer: C) Depressed Classes Mission

These questions cover various socio-religious reform movements of the 19th century in India, focusing on their leaders, goals, and impacts on society.