INSIGHTS REVISION TEST for Preliminary Exam 2018: Test – 29 (Ancient History and The National Movement)

Solution: c

Justification:

The Congress session in Madras (December 1927) meeting under the presidency of M.A. Ansari decided to boycott THE Simon commission “at every stage and in every form”. Meanwhile Nehru succeeded in getting a snap resolution passed at the session, declaring complete independence as the goal of the Congress. Those who decided to support the Congress call of boycott included the Liberals of the Hindu Mahasabha and the majority faction of the Muslim League under Jinnah. Some others, such as the Unionists in Punjab and the Justice Party in the south, decided not to boycott the commission.

(Hence statements 1 and 2 are correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: a

Justification:

In December 1927, a large number of Muslim leaders had met at Delhi at the Muslim League session and evolved four proposals for Muslim demands to be incorporated in the draft constitution. These proposals, which were accepted by the Madras session of the Congress (December 1927), came to be known as the ‘Delhi Proposals’. These were joint electorates in place of separate electorates with reserved seats for Muslims one-third representation to Muslims in Central Legislative Assembly; representation to Muslims in Punjab and Bengal in proportion to their population; formation of three new Muslim majority provinces— Sindh, Baluchistan and North-West Frontier Province.

(Hence option a  is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: a

Justification:

The Muslim League, the Hindu Mahasabha and the Sikh Communalists were unhappy about the Nehru Report, but the younger section of the Congress led by Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Bose were also angered. The younger section regarded the idea of dominion status in the report as a step backward, and the developments at the All Parties Conference strengthened their criticism of the dominion status idea. Nehru and Subhash Bose rejected the Congress’ modified goal and jointly set up the Independence for India League. J.L.Nehru and Bose were secretaries, Srinivas Ayangar was the president. (Hence statement 1 is correct and statement 2 incorrect.)

(Hence option a is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: d

Justification:

Jawaharlal Nehru, who had done more than anyone else to popularise the concept of purna swaraj, was nominated the president for the Lahore session of the Congress (December 1929) mainly due to Gandhi’s backing, (15 out of 18 Provincial Congress Committees had opposed Nehru).

The following major decisions were taken at the Lahore session-

• The RTC to be boycotted;
• Complete independence declared as the aim of the Congress;
• CWC authorized to launch a programme of civil disobedience including non-payment of taxes and all members of legislatures asked to resign their seats;
• January 26, 1930 fixed as the first Independence Day, to be celebrated everywhere.

(Hence option d is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: b

Justification:

Aitchison Committee on Public Services (1886) set up by Dufferin, recommended—

• Dropping of the terms ‘covenanted’ and ‘uncovenanted’;
• Classification of the civil service into Imperial Indian Civil Service (examination in England), Provincial Civil Service (examination in India) and Subordinate Civil Service (examination in India).
• Raising the age limit to 23.

In 1893, the House of Commons in England passed a resolution supporting holding of simultaneous examination in India and England; but the resolution was never implemented.

(Hence option b is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: b

Justification:

In Assam, a powerful agitation was organised against the infamous ‘Cunningham circular’ which forced parents, guardians and students to furnish assurances of good behavior. It was part of Civil Disobedience Movement.

(Hence option b is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: d

Justification:

All India Hindu Mahasabha was organized at Haridwar  (Hence statement 1  is incorrect.)

Punjab Hindu Sabha was founded by U. N. Mukherji ans Lal chand (Hence statement 2  is incorrect.)

(Hence option d is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: d

Justification:

Better conditions of work including living wage was a part of the resolution on National Economic Programme passed in the same session and not fundamental rights.

In March 1931, a special session of the Congress was held at Karachi to endorse the Gandhi-Irwin or Delhi Pact. Six days before the session (which was held on March 29) Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru had been executed. Throughout Gandhi’s route to Karachi, he was greeted with black flag demonstrations by the Punjab Naujawan Bharat Sabha, in protest against his failure to secure commutation of the death sentence for Bhagat and his comrades.

Congress Resolutions at Karachi

• While disapproving of and dissociating itself from political violence, the Congress admired the “bravery” and “sacrifice” of the three martyrs. The Delhi Pact was endorsed.
• The goal of Purna Swaraj was reiterated. Two resolutions were adopted—one on Fundamental Rights and the other on National Economic Programme— which made the session particularly memorable. The resolution on Fundamental Rights guaranteed
  • Free speech and free press.
  • Right to form associations
  • Right to assemble
  • Universal adult franchise
  • Equal legal rights irrespective of caste, creed and sex
  • Neutrality of state in religious matters
  • Free and compulsory primary education
  • Protection to culture, language, script of minorities and linguistic groups

The resolution on National Economic Programme included—

• Substantial reduction in rent and revenue
• Exemption from rent for uneconomic holdings
• Relief from agricultural indebtedness
• Control of usury
• Better conditions of work including a living wage, limited hours of work and protection of women workers
• Right to workers and peasants to form unions
• State ownership and control of key industries, mines and means of transport. This was the first time the Congress spelt out what swaraj would mean for the masses—”in order to end exploitation of masses, political freedom must include economic freedom of starving millions.” The Karachi Resolution was to remain, in essence, the basic political and economic programme of the Congress in ten years.

(Hence option d is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: (c)

Justification:

He believed that the removal of untouchability would have, a positive impact on communal and other questions since opposition to untouchability meant opposing the notion of highness and lowness. He was opposed to using compulsion against the orthodox Hindus whom he called Sanatanis. They were to be won over by persuasion, by appealing to “their reason and their hearts”. His fasts were aimed at inspiring friends and followers to redouble their anti-untouchability work. Gandhi’s Harijan campaign included a programme of internal reform by Harijans covering education, cleanliness, hygiene, giving up eating of beef and carrion and consumption of liquor, and removing untouchability among themselves. All-India Anti-Untouchability League was established in 1932 which was later renamed Harijan Sevak Sangh; the weekly Harijan was founded by Gandhi in 1933. He wanted abolition of untouchability and not caste system. (Hence statement 1 and 2 are correct.)

(Hence option c is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: (b)

Justification:

Tolstoy farm was resemble with Ashram System, while Phoenix Settlement was regular Indian settlement.

Phoenix Settlement (1904) was an area of outskirt Johannesburg. This region was known as Transvaal (North part of river val covering cities like Johannesburg).

This area was a settlement of indentured Indian Laborers, ex indentured laborers and Indian merchants. This type of settlements were always outside of white settlements due to racial discrimination.

During various movements against discrimination, Gandhiji helped people of various Indian settlers to wage legal fight against injustice and he himself lived with them whenever he visited Transvaal. It was here Gandhiji first used the three principles: Sarvodaya, Sathyagraha and Ahimsa. Sarvodaya was a concept borrowed from John Ruskin which was expounded in his book Unto His Last. (Hence option b is correct.)

(Hence option b is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: b

Justification:

JALLIANWALA BACH MASSACRE (APRIL 13, 1919)

On Baisakhi day, a large, crowd of people mostly from neighbouring villages, unaware of the prohibitory orders in the city, had gathered in this small park to protest against the arrest of their leaders, Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satya Pal. The Army surrounded the gathering and on the orders from General Dyer blocked the only exit point and opened fire on the unarmed crowd killing around1000. The incident was followed by uncivilized brutalities on the inhabitants of Amritsar. The entire nation was stunned. Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood in protest. Gandhi by atmosphere of violence and withdrew the movement on April 18, 1919.

(Hence option b is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution: c

Justification:

The revolutionary terrorist activity in the second phase was dominated by the Hindustan Republican Association/Army or HRA (later renamed Hindustan Socialist Republican Association or HSRA). The HRA was founded in October 1924 in Kanpur by Ramprasad Bismil, Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee and Sachin Sanyal, with an aim to organise an armed revolution to overthrow the colonial government and establish in its place a Federal Republic of United States of India whose basic principle would be adult franchise.( Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect)

Hindustan Republic Association at a historic meeting in the ruins of Ferozshah Kotla in Delhi (September 1928). The participants included Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Bhagwaticharan Vohra from Punjab and Bejoy Kumar Sinha, Shiv Verma and Jaidev Kapur from UP. The HSRA decided to work under a collective leadership and adopted socialism as its official goal.

(Hence, Option c is correct )

Source: Spectrum.

Solution: d

Justification:

PRE-CONGRESS CAMPAIGNS

These associations organized various campaigns before the first—all- India association—the Indian National Congress appeared on the scene.

These campaigns were

• For imposition of import duty on cotton (1875)
• For Indianisation of government service (1878-79)
• Against Lytton’s Afghan adventure
• Against Arms Act (1878)
• Against Vernacular Press Act (1878)
• For right to join volunteer corps
• Against plantation labour and against Inland Emigration Act
• In support of Ilbert Bill
• For an All India Fund for Political Agitation
• Campaign in Britain to vote for pro-India party

Hence Option d is correct.

Source: Spectrum.

Solution: (c)

Justification:

Solid ground had thus been prepared for the establishment of an all- India organization. The final shape to this idea was given by a retired English civil servant, A.O. Hume, who mobilized. Leading intellectuals of the time and with their cooperation organized the first session of the Indian National Congress at Bombay in December 1885. As a prelude to this, two sessions of the Indian National Conference had been held in 1883 and 1885, which had representatives drawn from all major towns of India. Surendranath Banerjee and Ananda Mohan Bose were the main architects of the Indian National Conference.

(Hence Statement 1 and 2 are correct.)

Source: Spectrum.

Solution: (d)

Justification:

Why did the Home Rule Agitation fade out?

• There was a lack of effective organization.
• Communal riots were witnessed during 1917-18.
• The Moderates who had joined the Congress after Besant’s arrest were pacified by talk of reforms (contained in Montagu’s statement of August 1917 which held self-government as the long-term goal of the British rule in India) and Besant’s release.
• Talk of passive resistance by the Extremists kept the Moderates off from activity from September 1918 onwards.
• Montagu-Chelmsford reforms which became known in July 1918 further divided the nationalist ranks.
• Tilak had to go abroad (September 1918) in connection with a case while Annie Besant vacillated over her response to the reforms and the techniques of passive resistance. With Besant unable to give a positive lead and Tilak away in England, the movement was left leaderless.

(Hence Option d is correct.)

Source: Spectrum

Solution:  (a)

Justification:

Revolutionaries Abroad

1905—Shyamji Krishnavarma, set up Indian Home Rule Society and India House and brought out journal The Sociologist in London.

1909—Madan Lal Dhingra murdered Curzon-Wyllie. Madame Bhikaji Cama operated from Paris and Geneva and brought out journal Bande. Mataram. Ajit Singh also active.

(Hence Option a  is correct)

Source: Spectrum.

Solution: (c)

Justification:

MONTAGU-CHELMSFORD REFORMS AND GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT, 1919 In line with the government policy contained in Montagu’s statement (August 1917), the Government announced further constitutional reforms in July 1918, known as MontaguChelmsford or Montford Reforms. Based on these, the Government of India Act, 1919 was enacted. The main features of the Montford Reforms were as follows.

Provincial Government-Introduction of Dyarchy:

Executive:

Dyarchy, i.e., rule of two—executive councilors and popular ministers was introduced. The governor was to be the executive head in the province. (Hence, Statement 1 is correct)

Subjects were divided into two lists: “reserved” which included subjects such as law and order, finance, land revenue, irrigation, etc., and “transferred” subjects such as education, health, local government, industry, agriculture, excise, etc. The “reserved” subjects were to be administered by the governor through his executive council of bureaucrats, and the “transferred” subjects were to be administered by ministers nominated from among the elected members of the legislative council. (Hence statement 2 is correct and 3 is incorrect)

The ministers were to be responsible to the legislature and had to resign if a no-confidence motion was passed against them by the legislature, while the executive councillors were not to be responsible to the legislature.

In case of failure of constitutional machinery in the province the governor could take over the administration of “transferred” subjects also.

The secretary of state and the governor-general could interfere in respect of “reserved” subjects while in respect of the “transferred” subjects, the scope for their interference was restricted.

Legislature

• Provincial Legislative Councils were further expanded-70% of the members were to be elected.
• The system of communal and class electorates was further
• Women were also given the right to vote.
• The Legislative Councils could initiate legislation but the governor’s assent was required. The governor could veto bills and issue ordinances.
• The Legislative Councils could reject the budget but the governor could restore it, if necessary.
• The legislators enjoyed freedom of speech.

Central Government—Still without responsible government

Executive

• The governor-general was to be the chief executive authority.
• There were to be two lists for administration—central and
• In the viceroy’s executive council of 8, three were to be Indians.
• The governor-general retained full control over the “reserved” subjects in the provinces.
• The governor-general could restore cuts in grants, certify bills rejected by the Central Legislature and issue

Legislature

• A bicameral arrangement was introduced. The lower house or Central Legislative Assembly would consist of 144 members (41 nominated and 103 elected-52 General, 30 Muslims, 2 Sikhs, 20 Special) and the upper house or Council of State would have 60 members (26 nominated and 34 elected- 20 General, 10 Muslims, 3 Europeans and 1 Sikh).
• The Council of State had a tenure of 5 years and had only male members, while the Central Legislative Assembly had a tenure of 3 years.
• The legislators could ask questions and supplementaries, pass adjournment motions and vote a part of the budget, but 75% of the budget was still not votable.
• Some Indians found their way into important committees including finance.

Hence Option c is correct

Solution: (b)

Justification:

Mahmud of Ghazni was not a mere raider and plunderer of wealth. He built a wide empire from the Punjab in the east to the Caspian Sea on the west and from Samarkand in the north to Gujarat in the south. The Ghaznavid Empire roughly included Persia, Trans-oxyana, Afghanistan and Punjab. His achievements were due to his leadership and restless activity. Mahmud was considered a hero of Islam by medieval historians. He also patronized art and literature. Firdausi was the poet-laureate in the court of Mahmud Ghazni. He was the author of Shah Namah. Alberuni stayed in Mahmud’s court and wrote the famous Kitab-i-Hind, an account on India. His conquest of Punjab and Multan completely changed the political situation in India.

(Hence Statement 1 is incorrect and statement 2 is correct)

Source: Tamil Nadu Class 11 Text book

Solution: (d)

Justification:

Iltutmish belonged to the Ilbari tribe and hence his dynasty was named as Ilbari dynasty.

His half-brothers sold him as a slave to Aibak, who made him his-son-in law by giving his daughter in marriage to him. Later Aibak appointed him as iqtadar of Gwalior. In 1211 Iltutmish defeated Aram Baksh and became Sultan. He shifted his capital from Lahore to Delhi. During the first ten years orivals. In the meantime, Temujin popularly known as Chengiz Khan, the leader of the Mongols, started invading Central Asia. He defeated Jalaluddin Mangabarni, the ruler of Kwarizam. Mangabarni crossed the river Indus and sought asylum from Iltutmish. Iltutmish refused to give him shelter in order to save his empire from the onslaught of the Mongols. Fortunately for Iltutmish, Chengiz Khan retuned home without entering into India.

He patronized many scholars and a number Sufi saints came to India during his reign. Minhaj-us-Siraj, Taj-ud-din., Nizam-ul-mulk Muhammad Janaidi, Malik Qutb-ud-din Hasan and Fakhrul-Mulk Isami were his contemporary scholars who added grandeur to his court. Apart from completing the construction of Qutb Minar at Delhi, the tallest stone tower in India (238 ft.), he built a magnificent mosque at Ajmir.

Iltutmish introduced the Arabic coinage into India and the silver tanka weighing 175 grams became a standard coin in medieval India. The silver tanka remained the basis of the modern rupee. Iltutmish had also created a new class of ruling elite of forty powerful military leaders, the Forty.

Balban introduced the Persian festival of Nauroz to impress the nobles and people with his wealth and power. (Hence Option d is correct)

Source: Tamil Nadu Class 11 Text book

Solution: (d)

Justification:

Alauddin Khalji maintained a large permanent standing army and paid them in cash from the royal treasury. According the Ferishta, he recruited 475000 cavalrymen. He introduced the system of dagh (branding of horses) and prepared huliya (descriptive list of soldiers). In order to ensure maximum efficiency, a strict review of army from time to time was carried out.

The introduction of paying salaries in cash to the soldiers led to price regulations popularly called as Market Reforms. Alauddin Khalji established four separate markets in Delhi, one for grain; another for cloth, sugar, dried fruits, butter and oil; a third for horses, slaves and cattle; and a fourth for miscellaneous commodities. Each market was under the control of a high officer called Shahna-i-Mandi. The supply of grain was ensured by holding stocks in government store-houses. Regulations were issued to fix the price of all commodities. A separate department called Diwani Riyasat was created under an officer called Naib-i-Riyasat. Every merchant was registered under the Market department. There were secret agents called munhiyans who sent reports to the Sultan regarding the functioning of these markets. The Sultan also sent slave boys to buy various commodities to check prices. Violation of regulations was severely punished. Harsh punishment was given if any shopkeeper charged a higher price, or tried to cheat by using false weights and measures. Even during the famine the same price was maintained.

We are not sure whether the market regulations in Delhi were also applied in the provincial capitals and towns.Apart from market reforms, Alauddin Khalji took important steps in the land revenue administration. He was the first Sultan of Delhi who ordered for the measurement of land.Although the Sultan was illiterate, he patronized poets like Amir Khusrau and Amir Hasan. He also built a famous gateway known as Alai Darwaza and constructed a new capital at Siri.

(Hence option d is correct.)

Source: Tamil Nadu Class 11 Text book

Solution: d)

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2017/12/23/insights-daily-current-affairs-23-december-2017/

The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has launched the Ganga Gram Project under the Namami Gange Programme, for holistic sanitation development in villages on the banks of River Ganga. These villages will set the benchmark of cleanliness and integrated effort of development. These will be converted into Ganga Grams by 31st December 2018.

Solution: b)

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2017/12/23/insights-daily-current-affairs-23-december-2017/

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has once again clarified that prompt correction action (PCA) is imposed to encourage banks to improve their financial health. The reiteration comes in the wake of rumours on social media that some of the banks that are under PCA could be closed down.

What is PCA?

PCA norms allow the regulator to place certain restrictions such as halting branch expansion and stopping dividend payment. It can even cap a bank’s lending limit to one entity or sector. Other corrective action that can be imposed on banks include special audit, restructuring operations and activation of recovery plan. Banks’ promoters can be asked to bring in new management, too. The RBI can also supersede the bank’s board, under PCA.

Solution: d)

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2017/12/23/insights-daily-current-affairs-23-december-2017/

Anti-smog gun is a device that sprays atomised water into the atmosphere to reduce air pollution. Connected to a water tank and mounted on a vehicle, the device could be taken across the city to spray water to settle dust and other suspended particles.

How it operates?

The fog cannon, also dubbed as the ‘anti-smog cannon’, comprises a cylindrical drum with a tank to store water and a high-velocity exhaust fan. The water is pumped from the tank to the exhaust fan which blows out water in the form of micro droplets. The theory is that the sprayed water will cling on to the pollutants — particularly particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 — and wash it down creating the effect of rain. The current trials will be used to find if the theory holds true.

Solution: c)

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2017/12/23/insights-daily-current-affairs-23-december-2017/

Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), which was in news is located in Ziro valley. Hence the question.

Solution: d)

http://www.insightsonindia.com/2017/12/25/insights-daily-current-affairs-25-december-2017/

The most powerful gravitational waves are created when objects move at very high speeds. Some examples of events that could cause a gravitational wave are:

• when a star explodes asymmetrically (called a supernova)
• when two big stars orbit each other
• when two black holes orbit each other and merge

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/gravitational-waves/en/