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Indian HistoryMediumAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2016, GS Paper I

What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?

  1. A.Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto
  2. B.Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government
  3. C.Foundation of Muslim League
  4. D.Aurobindo Ghosh's inability to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress

Correct answer

B. Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government

Explanation

The correct answer is B, Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government. The Surat split of December 1907 came from a basic difference in method. Moderates such as Pherozeshah Mehta and Gopal Krishna Gokhale believed in petitions, prayers and constitutional pressure, while Extremists led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal wanted swadeshi, boycott and national education taken across the country after the partition of Bengal. The Extremists had no faith that moderate methods would win anything from the British. They wanted the session moved to Nagpur and Lala Lajpat Rai or Tilak as president; the Moderates held it at Surat with Rash Behari Ghosh as president, and the session broke up in chaos. Option A is wrong because communal electorates came only with the Morley–Minto Reforms of 1909. Option C is wrong because the Muslim League, founded in Dhaka in 1906, was not the cause of the Congress split. Option D is wrong because Aurobindo Ghosh was not a candidate for president. Exam tip: Surat 1907 = split, president Rash Behari Ghosh; Lucknow 1916 = reunion of Moderates and Extremists.

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Q1.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2021, GKMedium

The call for 'renunciation of (all) voluntary associations with the (British) Government' was given during

  1. A.Non-Cooperation Movement.
  2. B.Civil Disobedience Movement.
  3. C.Quit India Movement.
  4. D.Protest against partition of Bengal.
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Non-Cooperation Movement.

The Congress resolution on non-cooperation, passed at the special Calcutta session of September 1920 and confirmed at Nagpur in December 1920, called for the renunciation of all voluntary association with the British Government.

Q2.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2024, GKMedium

Consider the following events leading to the Indian Independence : 1. Lucknow Pact 2. Return of Subhash Chandra Bose to India 3. Cripps Mission 4. Naval Mutiny in Bombay Select the chronological sequence of these events (earliest to latest) from the code given below:

  1. A.4, 3, 2, 1
  2. B.3, 4, 2, 1
  3. C.1, 2, 3, 4
  4. D.2, 1, 3, 4
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1, 2, 3, 4

The events run from the Lucknow Pact of 1916, through Subhas Chandra Bose's return to India in the 1920s and 1930s, to the Cripps Mission of 1942 and the Naval Mutiny of 1946.

Q3.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2026, GKEasy

During the period 100 BCE - 200 CE, valuable evidence of India's maritime trade links has been identified from which of the following sites on the Coromandel Coast ?

  1. A.Arikamedu
  2. B.Tamralipti
  3. C.Bharukachcha
  4. D.Muchiri
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Arikamedu

Arikamedu, near Puducherry on the Coromandel Coast, has yielded clear evidence of trade with the Roman world between about the first century BCE and the second century CE.

Q4.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2019, GKHard

Who was the founder of Mahakali Pathshala in Calcutta?

  1. A.Her Holiness Mataji Maharani Tapaswini
  2. B.Sister Nivedita
  3. C.Madame Blavatsky
  4. D.Sarojini Naidu
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Her Holiness Mataji Maharani Tapaswini

Mataji Tapaswini founded the Mahakali Pathshala in Calcutta in 1893 to give girls an education rooted in Indian tradition. Tapaswini was a woman ascetic from Maharashtra who settled in Calcutta and won the support of leading Bengali families for her school.