Important Historical Data MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Important Historical Data - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is 1922.

Key Points

• The Chauri Chaura incident took place in 1922.
• Chauri Chaura is a town in the Gorakhpur District of Uttar Pradesh.
• On 4 February 1922, a mob of peasants participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement clashed with police and set on fire a police station that killed 22 policemen and 3 civilians.
• Due to this incident, Mahatma Gandhi called off the Non-Cooperation Movement.

Additional Information

•  Non-Cooperation Movement was the first mass political movement under Gandhiji on 4 September 1920.
• The main goal of the Non-Cooperation Movement is to attain 'Swaraj' or Self Government.
• The 1901 Calcutta Session was the first time Mahatma Gandhi appeared on the Congress platform. Then a lawyer based in South Africa, Gandhi ji urged the Congress to support the struggle against racial discrimination and exploitation in the country.
• In 1924, Gandhiji was the President of the Congress Session in Belgaum.
• Subhash Chandra Bose addressed Gandhi as the 'Father of our Nation'.
• The title 'Mahatma' gave to Gandhi Ji by Rabindra Nath Tagore.

The correct answer is Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Additional Information

• ‘Bibi ka Maqbara’ is a tomb situated in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.
• The Bibi-Ka-Maqbara is a beautiful mausoleum of Rabia-ul-Daurani alias Dilras Banu Begum, the wife of the Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb (1658-1707 A.D.).
• This mausoleum is believed to be constructed by Prince Azam Shah in memory of his mother from 1651 to 1661 A.D. An inscription found on the main entrance door mentions.
• Source (Archeological Survey of India, Ministry of Culture)

The correct answer is Annie Besant.

Key Points

• Annie Besant was the first woman president of the Indian National Congress.
  • She presided the INC at the Calcutta session of 1917
• She was of Irish origin and was one of the few foreigners who played a significant role in the Indian freedom movement.
• She was a sociologist, theosophist, social reformer, and advocate of Indian self-rule.
• Besant first visited India in 1893 and later settled there, becoming involved in the Indian nationalist movement.
• In 1916 she established the Indian Home Rule League, of which she became president. 

Additional Information

• A total of 61 people have served as the president of the Indian National Congress since its formation.
• Sonia Gandhi is the longest-serving president of the party, having held office for over twenty years from 1998 to 2017 and since 2019.
• The President of the Indian National Congress is the highest command of the Indian National Congress (INC), a political party in India.

Confusion Points

Sarojini Naidu was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress Party in 1925, the first-ever Indian woman to assume that position.

Karachi Session.Key Points

• Context of the Karachi Session: This session took place amidst significant political developments:
  • Mahatma Gandhi's recent release from prison after the Salt Satyagraha.
  • The recent conclusion of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, which temporarily halted the Civil Disobedience Movement.
  • The recent execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev for the murder of Assistant Superintendent of Police, Saunders.
• Congress's Stance on Political Violence:
  • While disapproving of and disassociating itself from political violence, the Congress admired the "bravery" and "sacrifice" of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev.
  • Key Decisions and Resolutions:
  • The Delhi Pact (Gandhi-Irwin Pact) was officially endorsed.
  • The goal of "Purna Swaraj" (complete self-rule) was reaffirmed.
• Two significant resolutions were adopted:
  • Fundamental Rights
  • National Economic Program
  • Resolution on Fundamental Rights (Guaranteed Rights):
    • Freedom of Speech and Press.
    • Right to form associations.
    • Right to assemble.
    • Universal adult franchise (right to vote for all adults).
    • Equal legal rights for all, regardless of caste, creed, or sex.
    • State neutrality in religious matters.
    • Protection of the culture, language, and script of minorities and linguistic groups.
  • Resolution on National Economic Program (Key Provisions):
    • For Farmers & Peasants:
      • Substantial reduction in land revenue and rent.
      • Exemption from rent for uneconomic holdings for necessary periods.
      • Imposition of a progressive income tax on agricultural income above a fixed threshold.
      • Control of usury (excessive interest rates).
    • For Children:
      • Free primary education.
        • Prohibition against employment of school-going age children in factories.
      • For Workers:
        • Living wage for industrial workers.
        • Limited hours of work.
        • Healthy working conditions.
        • Protection against economic consequences of old age, sickness, and unemployment.
      • For Trade Unions:
        • Right of labor to form unions to protect their interests.
        • Suitable machinery for dispute settlement through arbitration.
      • For Women:
        • Protection of women workers.
        • Adequate provisions for leave during maternity.
      • For a Socialist Economy:
        • State control over key industries and mineral resources.
        • Regulation of exchange ratio to support Indian industries and benefit the masses.
        • Protection of indigenous cloth by excluding foreign cloth and yarn.
        • Provision for inheritance tax.
        • Reduced Government Expenditure:
        • Military expenditure to be reduced by half.
        • Expenditure and salaries of civil departments to be reduced.
      • Gandhian Influence:
        • Prohibition of intoxicating drinks and drugs.
        • No duty on salt.
• Significance of the Resolutions:
  • This marked the first instance where the Congress explicitly defined "swaraj" for the common people.
  • It emphasized that "to end the exploitation of masses, political freedom must include economic freedom of starving millions."
• Subsequent Developments:
  • The Second Round Table Conference (London, 1931) failed to yield results.
  • This led to MacDonald's announcement of two Muslim-majority provinces and a declaration of a Communal Award if Indians did not agree.
  • Gandhi returned to India and resumed the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).
  • During this second phase of CDM, business support for the movement declined, splitting the business community.
  • Despite efforts, Gandhi had to withdraw the movement in April 1934.
  • Gandhi established an All-India Untouchability League in 1932.
  • He started a weekly publication named Harijan in 1933.

The correct answer is Dr. ​Annie Besant.

Key Points

• The central Hindu school at Banaras in 1898 was established by Annie Besant.
• In 1916, the college was further developed into Banaras Hindu University by Madan Mohan Malaviya.
• Madan Mohan Malviya was an Indian independence activist.
• It is a public central university which is located in Uttar Pradesh.
• Rameshwar Singh, Madan Mohan Malviya and Sundar Singh had founded this University together.

Additional Information

• In Asia, this is the largest residential University.
• The six institutes are contained by the University.
• The University covers students from 48 countries.
• In 2015-16, the centenary year of BHU was celebrated.

The correct answer is Gopal Krishna Gokhale.

Key Points

The Correct answer is 1906, Calcutta.

• The word swaraj was first used by Dadabhai Naoroji in the congress session held at Calcutta in 1906.

Key Points

• Swarāj means self-governance or "self-rule".
• Swaraj warrants a stateless society.
• Word 'swaraj' was used synonymously with "home-rule" by Dayanand Saraswati.
• Dadabhai Navroji said that he had learnt the word swaraj from the Satyarth Prakash of Dayanand Saraswati.

Additional Information

Important INC Sessions

The correct answer is Mahatma Gandhi.

Key Points

Hind Swaraj

•   It was written by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi expressing his views on Swaraj and Modern civilisation in 1909.
• It is written in a dialogic form i.e., as a discussion between the Reader and the Editor of a journal/newspaper.
• Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule comprises 20 short chapters.
• Primarily Hind Swaraj deals with two issues: 
  • a critique of modern civilization, 
  • the nature and structure of Indian Swaraj and the means and methods to achieve it.
• This book was primarily written in the Gujarati language which was the native language of Mahatma Gandhi.
• It was written during the traveling phase of Gandhiji from London to  South Africa.

Additional Information

The correct answer is 1925, Kanpur.

Key Points

• Sarojini Naidu:
  • She became the president of the Indian National Congress in the Kanpur session in 1925.
  • She was given the title of "Nightingale of India" for her contributions in the field of poetry writing.
  • She was called 'Bharat Kokila'.
  • She is the first woman to hold the office of governor in the dominion of India.
  • She became the governor of the United Provinces in 1947.

Important Points

• Notable works of Sarojini Naidu are:
  • The golden threshold
  • The bird of time: Songs of life, death & spring
  • Muhammad Jinnah: An ambassador of unity
  • Palanquin bearers
  • The village song
  • In the bazaars of Hyderabad

Additional Information

• Chittaranjan Das​ became the president of the Indian National Congress in the Gaya session in 1922.
• Motilal Nehru became the president of the Indian National Congress in the Calcutta session in 1928.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel became the president of the Indian National Congress in the Karachi session in 1931.

The correct answer is 1938.

Key Points

• Subhash Chandra Bose became the President of the Congress Party in 1938.
• In 1919, Bose headed to London to give the Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination and he was selected. Bose, however, resigned from Civil Services as he believed he could not side with the British.
• In 1923, Bose was elected the President of the All India Youth Congress and also the Secretary of Bengal State Congress.
• He was succeeded by Rajendra Prasad in 1939 as the President of the Indian National Congress.

Additional Information

Some important sessions and their President of Indian National Congress:

The correct answer is Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

Key Points

• The quote If any government director ignores the elements, then it will surely have to be liable to the public for this was said by Dr B. R. Ambedkar.
• Other quotes by him:
  • Life should be great rather than long.
  • Cultivation of the mind should be the ultimate aim of human existence.
  • I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress that women have achieved.
  • A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be the servant of society.
  • Religion and slavery are incompatible.
  • Equality may be fiction but nonetheless one must accept it as a governing principle.

Additional Information

• Dr B. R. Ambedkar was born on 14 April 1891 in Mhow (now officially known as Dr. Ambedkar Nagar) in the Central Provinces i.e present Madhya Pradesh.
• Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was a great jurist, economist & social reformer.
• He was the leader of the depressed class and worked for the promotion of education among the depressed classes.
• He fought for the upliftment of Dalits & their rights in society along with equal rights for women.
• He founded the Scheduled Castes Federation in July 1942 & The Indian Labour Party.
• He stressed the reservations of Dalits in the civil services, government jobs.
• He was appointed as:
  • The chairman of the Drafting Committee.
  • India’s first Law Minister in the Interim government in 1947.
    • Opposed Article 370 which proposed special status to Jammu & Kashmir.
    • He supported the uniform civil code.
  • Served in the Governor-General's Executive Council from 1942-1946.

The correct answer is Allahabad.

Key Points

• George Yule became the President of INC in 1888 in the fourth session held at Allahabad.
• He was the first non - Indian to be the President of INC.
• He belonged to the business community. He was the chief of the well-known Andrew Yule and Co. in Calcutta.
• He had also been Sheriff of Calcutta and President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce.
• Yule was widely known in Indian circles for his breadth of outlook, liberal views, and marked sympathy for Indian aspirations.
• Surendranath Banerjee described him as "a hard-headed Scotsman who saw straight into the heart of things, and never hesitated to express himself with the bluntness in which a Scotsman never fails if he wants to show it."​

Important Points

• Important sessions of congress.
• First Session: 
  • Held at Bombay in 1885. President: W.C. Bannerjee.
  • Formation of Indian National Congress.
• Second Session:
  • ​Held at Calcutta in 1886. President: Dadabhai Naoroji.
• Third Session: 
  • Held at Madras in 1887. 
  • President: Syed Badruddin Tyabji, the first Muslim President.
• Fourth Session: 
  • Held at Allahabad in 1888.
  • President: George Yule, first English President.
• 1896: Calcutta Session.
  • ​President: Rahimtullah Sayani.
  • National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung for the first time by Rabindranath Tagore.
• 1905: Benaras.
  • President: Gopal Krishan Gokhale.
  • The formal proclamation of the Swadeshi movement against the government.
• 1906: Calcutta.
  • President: Dadabhai Naoroji.
  • Adopted four resolutions: Swaraj (Self Government), Boycott Movement, Swadeshi & National Education.
• 1907: Surat.
  • ​President: Rash Bihari Ghosh.
  • Split in Congress- Moderates & Extremist.
• 1916: Lucknow.
  • President: A.C. Majumdar.
  • Unity between two factions-Moderates and Extremists of Congress.
  • Lucknow Pact was signed between Congress and Muslim League to build political consensus.
• 1917: Calcutta.
  • President: Annie Besant, First Woman President of Congress.
• 1924: Belgaum. 
  • President: M.K. Gandhi.
  • Only Session was presided over by Mahatma Gandhi.
• 1925: Kanpur. 
  • President: Sarojini Naidu, First Indian Woman President.
• 1938: Haripura. 
  • President: Subhas Chandra Bose.
  • National Planning Committee set up under Jawahar Lal Nehru.

The correct answer is Dadabhai Naoroji.

Key Points

• Dadabhai Naoroji: 
  • He wrote the book 'Poverty and Un British Rule in India'. Hence, Option 4 is correct.
  • Dadabhai Naoroji was popularly known as the 'Grand Old Man of India'.
  • He is the first Indian to become a member of the British Parliament.
  • He helped found the London Indian Society and East India Association.
  • In 1885, Naoroji became a vice-president of the Bombay Presidency Association.
  • He was Congress president thrice, in 1886, 1893, and 1906.

Additional Information

• Major writings of Dada Bhai Naroji were as follows:
  • Poverty in India
  • The manners and customs of the Parsees
  • Condition of India
  • Admission of educated natives into the ICS
  • The wants and means of India 

The correct answer is J.B. Kripalani.

Key Points

• J.B. Kripalani was the president of the Indian National Congress in 1947.
• Before Kripalani, the President of INC was Jawaharlal Nehru in 1946.
• After Kripalani, Pattabhi Sitaraimayya was the president of INC in 1948 & 1949.
• In 1950, Purushottam Das Tandon was the president of INC and after that in 1951, Jawaharlal Nehru was the president of INC.

Important Points

• The Indian National Congress was founded in Bombay in December 1885.
• A.O. Hume was the founder of the Indian National Congress.

• Wyomesh Chandra Banerjee was the first President of INC in 1885.​
• Badruddin Tyabji was the First Muslim president of INC and overall third president of INC in 1887.
• Annie Besant became the first female president of INC.

The correct answer is 1916.

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak introduced the slogan Swaraj is my birthright in 1916.

Key Points

• Bal Gangadhar Tilak:
  • He launched two newspapers that are the Kesari in Marathi and the Maratha in English.
  • He also organised Ganpati Festival in 1893 AD and Shivaji Festival in 1895 AD.
  • He asserted ‘Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it in the year 1916.
  • He was awarded the title of Lokmanya.
  • He was a part of the trio of ‘Lal-Bal- Pal’ and the extremist group.
• He authored books The Arctic Home of Vedas and Gita Rahasya.