History – GK Questions

Answer: January 26, 1950

The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950, making India a sovereign democratic republic. This date was chosen to commemorate the 1930 Purna Swaraj declaration. [[1]]

Answer: Lord Mountbatten

Lord Mountbatten served as the first Governor-General of independent India (August 1947 – June 1948). C. Rajagopalachari was the first and last Indian Governor-General (1948-1950). [[30]]

Answer: True

The Government of India Act 1935 established a Federal Court at Delhi (inaugurated in 1937) to adjudicate disputes between provinces and federal units. It was the precursor to the Supreme Court of India. [[1]]

Answer: Government of India Act 1919

The Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) introduced dyarchy, dividing provincial subjects into 'Reserved' (controlled by Governor) and 'Transferred' (controlled by ministers). [[30]]

Answer: Soviet (USSR)

Fundamental Duties (Part IVA, Article 51A) were added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, inspired by the USSR Constitution. They emphasize citizens' responsibilities towards the nation. [[1]]

Answer: True

The Constituent Assembly first met on December 9, 1946. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, and enforced on January 26, 1950 – totaling 2 years, 11 months, 18 days. [[30]]

Answer: B.R. Ambedkar

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee. The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, and came into force on January 26, 1950. [[1]]

Answer: True

Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905 on administrative grounds, but it was widely seen as a 'divide and rule' policy. It sparked the Swadeshi Movement and was annulled in 1911. [[30]]

Answer: A.O. Hume

Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, founded the Indian National Congress in December 1885 in Bombay. W.C. Banerjee was its first president. [[1]]

Answer: 1919

The Rowlatt Act (1919) allowed detention without trial for up to two years. Gandhi launched the Rowlatt Satyagraha against it, which led to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. [[30]]

Answer: True

Rash Behari Bose initially organized the INA in 1942. Subhash Chandra Bose later took command in 1943, reorganized it, and proclaimed the Provisional Government of Free India. [[1]]

Answer: Dadabhai Naoroji

Dadabhai Naoroji was elected as a Liberal Party MP from Finsbury Central (London) in 1892. He was known as the 'Grand Old Man of India' and authored 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'. [[30]]

Answer: True

Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement on August 8, 1942, with the slogan 'Do or Die'. Most Congress leaders were arrested immediately, but the movement continued through underground activities. [[1]]

Answer: Lord Chelmsford

Lord Chelmsford was Viceroy during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (April 13, 1919). General Dyer ordered troops to fire on unarmed civilians in Amritsar, killing hundreds. [[30]]

Answer: Lahore

Under Jawaharlal Nehru's presidency, the Congress passed the Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) resolution at the Lahore Session on December 31, 1929. January 26, 1930 was celebrated as Independence Day. [[1]]

Answer: True

Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920 to protest the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and Rowlatt Act. It was withdrawn in 1922 after the Chauri Chaura incident. [[30]]

Answer: Bal Gangadhar Tilak

Bal Gangadhar Tilak popularized the slogan during the Home Rule Movement. He advocated for self-rule and mobilized masses through newspapers like Kesari and Maratha. [[1]]

Answer: True

Lord Wellesley (1798-1805) introduced the Subsidiary Alliance, requiring Indian rulers to accept British troops and pay for their maintenance, effectively making them British protectorates. [[1]]

Answer: Treaty of Seringapatam

Treaty of Seringapatam (1792) ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Tipu Sultan ceded half his territory to the British and their allies and paid a large indemnity. [[30]]

Answer: Government of India

After the 1857 Revolt, the Government of India Act 1858 ended Company rule. Queen Victoria became sovereign, and a Secretary of State for India was appointed in London. [[1]]