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Home / IAS Preparation / Modern History PYQ UPSC Prelims (2020 - 2024)

Modern History PYQ UPSC Prelims (2020 - 2024) - Modern History Questions in UPSC Prelims

Last Updated on Apr 18, 2025
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Modern History forms a vital segment of General Studies Paper I in the UPSC Preliminary Examination. Analyzing modern history UPSC prelims questions reveals that they test factual recall, chronological understanding, and the interpretation of historical movements. Topics generally span from the decline of the Mughal Empire, advent of Europeans, British expansion, social and religious reform movements, freedom struggle, to post-1857 developments. A close study of modern history PYQ UPSC shows recurring emphasis on revolutionary activities, important congress sessions, moderate-extremist debates, and personalities of the Indian national movement. Solving modern history previous year questions UPSC prelims equips aspirants with a sense of the examiner's perspective and helps identify high-weightage areas. Therefore, consistent practice of modern history UPSC prelims questions is essential to strengthen core knowledge and improve elimination techniques in the exam.

Download Free UPSC Modern History Previous Year Question Papers with Answers PDF!

Modern History Previous Year Questions in UPSC Prelims
Q1: Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?

Options:

  • (a) Annie Besant
     
  • (b) Debendranath Tagore
     
  • (c) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
     
  • (d) Sarojini Naidu
     

Answer: (c) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Explanation: He was closely associated with promoting women's education and played a major role in the development of the Hindu Female School.

Check out the article on Annie Besant for your UPSC Preparation!

Q2: With reference to the Indian freedom struggle, consider the following events:
  1. Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy
     
  2. Quit India Movement launched
     
  3. Second Round Table Conference
     

What is the correct chronological sequence of the above events?

Options:

  • (a) 1-2-3
     
  • (b) 2-1-3
     
  • (c) 3-2-1
     
  • (d) 3-1-2
     

Answer: (c) 3-2-1
Explanation: Second Round Table Conference (1931), Quit India Movement (1942), Royal Indian Navy Mutiny (1946).

Check out article on the topic List of National Movements in India

Q3: Who among the following was not associated with the foundation of the Indian National Congress?

Options:

  • (a) Allan Octavian Hume
     
  • (b) Dadabhai Naoroji
     
  • (c) Surendranath Banerjee
     
  • (d) Dinshaw Wacha
     

Answer: (c) Surendranath Banerjee
Explanation: Though a prominent nationalist, he was not present at the founding session in 1885.

Q4. With reference to Indian history, the Members of the Constituent Assembly from the Provinces were:

Options:

  • (a) Elected directly by the people
     
  • (b) Nominated by the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League
     
  • (c) Elected by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies
     
  • (d) Selected by the Government for their expertise in constitutional matters
     

Answer: (c) Elected by the members of the Provincial Legislative Assemblies
Explanation: Members were indirectly elected by Provincial Assemblies.

Check out article on the topic Making of the Indian Constitution!

Q5: Which one of the following statements about the Gandhi-Irwin Pact is correct?

Options:

  • (a) It resulted in the release of all prisoners
     
  • (b) It resulted in the participation of Gandhi in the Second Round Table Conference
     
  • (c) It allowed the launching of the Civil Disobedience Movement
     
  • (d) It declared complete independence as the goal of the Indian National Congress
     

Answer: (b) It resulted in the participation of Gandhi in the Second Round Table Conference
Explanation: Gandhi agreed to attend the Second Round Table Conference as part of the pact.

Check out article on the Gandhi Irwin Pact!

Q6: The objective of the Butler Committee of 1927 was to:

Options:

  • (a) Define the jurisdiction of the Central and Provincial Governments
     
  • (b) Define the powers of the Secretary of State for India
     
  • (c) Impose censorship on national press
     
  • (d) Improve relations between the British government and the Indian Princely States
     

Answer: (d) Improve relations between the British government and the Indian Princely States
Explanation: The committee addressed the position of Indian states in the reformed scheme of government.

Q7: The term “Pahiyas” in the context of the Revolt of 1857 refers to:

Options:

  • (a) A tribal rebellion in Assam
     
  • (b) Village headmen who collected revenue
     
  • (c) Land revenue settlements
     
  • (d) Peasant associations during the revolt
     

Answer: (b) Village headmen who collected revenue
Explanation: Pahiyas played an intermediary role in rural revenue administration.

Q8: During Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?

Options:

  • (a) Different social reform groups formed a common platform
     
  • (b) Indian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its agenda
     
  • (c) Behramji Malabari and M.G. Ranade wanted to create an exclusive platform for social reform
     
  • (d) To raise issues like widow remarriage, child marriage, and women education
     

Answer: (b) Indian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its agenda
Explanation: The NSC was held in parallel with INC sessions to address social reform separately.

Q9: Consider the following statements:
  1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms recommended granting voting rights to all women above the age of 21.
     
  2. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in legislature.
     

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Options:

  • (a) 1 only
     
  • (b) 2 only
     
  • (c) Both 1 and 2
     
  • (d) Neither 1 nor 2
     

Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation: Universal suffrage was not granted in 1919; 1935 Act provided reserved seats.

Q10: Consider the following pairs:

Movements — Leaders

  1. All India Anti-Untouchability League — Mahatma Gandhi
     
  2. Self-Respect Movement — E.V. Ramasamy Naicker
     
  3. United Indian Patriotic Association — Syed Ahmed Khan
     

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

Options:

  • (a) 1 and 2 only
     
  • (b) 2 and 3 only
     
  • (c) 1 and 3 only
     
  • (d) 1, 2 and 3
     

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: All three are correct matches of leaders and movements they founded or led.

More Articles for IAS Preparation

Modern History PYQ UPSC Prelims FAQs

Modern history PYQ UPSC prelims questions are past UPSC prelims history questions that test key concepts from modern Indian history UPSC, including freedom struggle, reforms, and British policies.

Modern history previous year questions UPSC prelims help analyze question trends, improve accuracy in modern history MCQ UPSC formats, and boost confidence in tackling history UPSC prelims questions.

Usually, 7–10 modern history UPSC prelims questions appear, focusing on modern India UPSC prelims topics like INC sessions, movements, and acts under British colonial rule.

Topic-wise modern history prelims questions can be found in compilations of UPSC history previous year questions, ideal for focused revision of modern history UPSC and modern India UPSC content.

Modern history UPSC mains questions enhance understanding of themes that frequently appear as modern history PYQ UPSC prelims MCQs, such as constitutional developments and social reform movements.

Yes, UPSC history questions, including modern history questions UPSC, are often rephrased or repeated, making PYQs and history prelims questions vital for strategic revision.

To master history questions for UPSC, study NCERTs, reference modern Indian history UPSC books like Spectrum, and solve modern history PYQ UPSC prelims for consistent practice.
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