66th Prelims 2020

Explanation:

Robert Clive enforced the 'dual system of governance' in Bengal. He joined the British army after resigning from a clerk’s post and played an instrumental role in laying the foundations of British power in India. He was made the 'Governor of Bengal' twice, from 1757-60 and then from 1765-67. He is considered the 'Founder of British Empire in India'. Upon his return to England, he committed suicide in 1774. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

Swami Vivekananda [1862-1902] participated in the Parliament of Religions held at Chicago in 1893. The keynote of his opening address at the Parliament was the need for a healthy balance between spiritualism and materialism. He made several lectures on Vedanta in the USA and in London before returning to India in 1897. His original name was 'Narendranath Datta'. He established 'Ramakrishna Mission' in 1897 to spread Ramakrishna’s message and reconcile it to the needs of contemporary Indian society. He emerged as the preacher of neo-Hinduism. He subscribed to Vedanta, which he considered a fully rational system with a superior approach. Swami Vivekananda’s views emphasized dignity of humanity and equality of all classes. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

The Swaraj Party was established by C.R Das and Motilal Nehru in 1923. Both believed in the ideology that Congress should participate in government and continue struggle within legislative assemblies. The majority of Congressmen rejected this ideology, which ultimately led to the formation of the Swaraj Party. C.R Das became the president of the party and Motilal Nehru became its general secretary. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

'Neel Darpan' is a Bengali-language play written by Dinbandhu Mitra in 1858-59. It portrays the Indigo revolt (Nil Vidroha) which took place in February-March 1859, during which farmers refused to sow indigo to protest exploitative working conditions under the Company rule. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

Battle of Wandiwash [22nd January 1760] was the decisive battle of the Third Carnatic War [1758-63] at Wandiwash, Tamil Nadu. British forces under Eyre Coote defeated the French army under Count Thomas Arthur de Lally. Chronology: Battle of Plassey (1757) → Battle of Bidara (1759) → Battle of Wandiwash (1760) → Battle of Buxar (1764). [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

The Indian Council Act, 1909 introduced separate electorate system in India, also known as Morley-Minto Reforms. John Morley was Secretary of State and Lord Minto [1905-10] was the Viceroy of India. In 1906, the Shimla Deputation led by Agha Khan demanded separate electorates for Muslims. The Act recognized elective principle for non-official membership of councils, allowing participation of Indians in elections based on class and community. The number of elected members increased and non-official majority was introduced in provincial councils. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

The Kols, along with other tribes, inhabit Chhotanagpur (Ranchi, Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Palamau, and western Manbhum). The revolt of 1831 occurred due to land transfers from Kol headmen to oppressive outsiders, coupled with British judicial and revenue policies affecting traditional social conditions. Under Budhu Bhagat’s leadership, the Kols killed about a thousand outsiders. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

Mahatma Gandhi studied at Samaldas Arts College, Bhavnagar, the only institution offering a degree at that time. He later dropped out to return home and then joined University College London, completing his law degree after three years. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

Nana Saheb, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Maulvi Ahmadullah, and others actively participated in the revolt of 1857. Hence, 'More than one of the above' is correct. Key leaders and locations include: Delhi - Bakht Khan; Kanpur - Nana Sahib and Tantiya Tope; Lucknow - Begum Hazrat Mahal; Jhansi - Rani Lakshmi Bai; Allahabad - Liyaqat Ali; Jagdishpur (Bihar) - Kunwar Singh and Amar Singh. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

The Dandi March lasted for 24 days. It marked the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement beginning on March 12. Gandhi, with 78 members of Sabarmati Ashram, marched 240 km through Gujarat villages. Upon reaching the coast at Dandi, the salt law was violated by collecting salt on April 6. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

None of the given options is correct. The song 'Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai' was written by Bismil Azimabadi, born in 1901 in Patna, Bihar. He wrote the poem after the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. The song was first recited in 1920 at the Congress session in Kolkata. Ram Prasad Bismil, a freedom fighter, later recited it on his way to the gallows. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

The Swadeshi and Boycott movement [1905-08] began as a reaction to the British decision to partition Bengal. The partition was announced on 20th July 1905 and came into force on 16th October 1905, observed as 'Day of Mourning'. Discussions at Calcutta Town Hall on 7th August 1905 led to the start of the Swadeshi Movement. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

Bhulabhai Desai appeared for the INA trials at Delhi in 1945-46. Defence of INA prisoners was organised by Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Kailash Nath Katju, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Asaf Ali. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

Madam Bhikaji Cama unfurled India’s tricolour flag at Stuttgart, Germany, during an International Socialist Conference on 21st August 1907. She was a Parsi revolutionary operating from Paris and Geneva and published the journal 'Bande Mataram'. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

The sobriquet 'Deshbandhu' is used for Chittranjan Das. 'Acharya Vinoba Bhave' was the first Individual Satyagrahi; Jawaharlal Nehru was the second, and Brahma Dutt the third. Sir William Wedderburn presided over INC sessions in Bombay (1889) and Allahabad (1910). Shyamji Krishna Varma started 'India House' in London, not Paris. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]

Explanation:

26th January, 1930 was declared 'Purna Swaraj Day' by the Indian National Congress during the Lahore session presided by Jawaharlal Nehru. The proposal for 'Complete Independence' was passed, and 26th January was chosen to celebrate 'Complete Independence Day' annually from 1930. [66TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2020]