10. Who was the first Governor-General of Bengal?
[MP Police Constable (2016)]
A) Warren Hastings
B) Lord Curzon
C) August Hickey
D) Sir Eyre Coote
Answer: A) Warren Hastings
Explanation: Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of Bengal under the Regulating Act of 1773. His title and jurisdiction differed from the later Governor-General of India office created in 1833, first held by Lord William Bentinck. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
9. First Indian elected to the British House of Commons, Dadabhai Naoroji won on which party ticket?
[BPSC Combined Competitive Examination (2016)]
A) Liberal Party
B) Labour Party
C) Conservative Party
D) Communist Party
Answer: A) Liberal Party
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji became the first Indian elected to the British House of Commons in 1892 as a Liberal Party member for Finsbury Central. He used his position to draw attention to Indian political and economic grievances under colonial administration. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
8. Who was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army?
[Punjab Police SI (2016)]
A) K. S. Thimayya
B) K. M. Cariappa
C) Sam Manekshaw
D) None of these
Answer: B) K. M. Cariappa
Explanation: K. M. Cariappa took over as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on 15 January 1949. India marks Army Day on that date. Sam Manekshaw later became the first Indian Army officer elevated to Field Marshal. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
7. Who was the first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress?
[Kerala Police SI (2015)]
A) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
B) Abul Kalam Azad
C) Badruddin Tyabji
D) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
Answer: C) Badruddin Tyabji
Explanation: Badruddin Tyabji presided over the third Indian National Congress session, held in Madras in 1887. He was the organisation’s first Muslim president. W. C. Bonnerjee had presided over the inaugural Bombay session in 1885. The important distinction is the inaugural achievement, not later national fame or service in a related position.
6. Which statement about Dadabhai Naoroji is NOT correct?
[UPPSC Civil Services (2014, Paper 1)]
A) He was first Indian mathematics and physics professor at Elphinstone College
B) He joined the British Parliament in 1892
C) He started the Gujarati journal Rast Goftar
D) He was Congress president four times
Answer: D) He was Congress president four times
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji became the first Indian elected to the British House of Commons in 1892 as a Liberal Party member for Finsbury Central. He used his position to draw attention to Indian political and economic grievances under colonial administration. The important distinction is the inaugural achievement, not later national fame or service in a related position.
5. Who was the first Indian to swim the English Channel?
[UPRVUNL Assistant Engineer EC (2014)]
A) Vijay Merchant
B) P. K. Banerjee
C) Mihir Sen
D) Arati Saha
Answer: C) Mihir Sen
Explanation: Mihir Sen became the first Indian man to swim across the English Channel in 1958. He subsequently completed several historic long-distance swims in 1966. Arati Saha later became the first Asian woman to swim the Channel, in 1959. The important distinction is the inaugural achievement, not later national fame or service in a related position.
4. Who was the first Education Minister of independent India?
[WB TET (2014)]
A) B. R. Ambedkar
B) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: B) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Explanation: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was independent India’s first Education Minister, holding the portfolio from 1947 to 1958. He promoted university education, scientific learning and major cultural institutions. National Education Day on 11 November commemorates his birth. The alternatives in this paper refer to different people, records or offices and do not displace this historical first.
3. Who was the first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress?
[IB ACIO Grade II (23 Sept 2012)]
A) Mohammad Ali Jinnah
B) Badruddin Tyabji
C) Abul Kalam Azad
D) Syed Ahmed Khan
Answer: B) Badruddin Tyabji
Explanation: Badruddin Tyabji presided over the third Indian National Congress session, held in Madras in 1887. He was the organisation’s first Muslim president. W. C. Bonnerjee had presided over the inaugural Bombay session in 1885. For chronology-based Static GK, the date and precise category of the distinction must both match the question.
2. Who was the first Chief Election Commissioner of India?
[APPSC Group IV General Studies (2012)]
A) T. Swaminathan
B) K. V. K. Sundaram
C) S. P. Sen Verma
D) Sukumar Sen
Answer: D) Sukumar Sen
Explanation: Sukumar Sen became independent India’s first Chief Election Commissioner in 1950. He oversaw the first two general elections, held in 1951–52 and 1957. The Election Commission’s constitutional foundation is Article 324, not the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The important distinction is the inaugural achievement, not later national fame or service in a related position.
1. Who was the first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress?
[AWES PGT History (2012)]
A) Badruddin Tyabji
B) M. A. Jinnah
C) Abul Kalam Azad
D) Rahimtulla Sayani
Answer: A) Badruddin Tyabji
Explanation: Badruddin Tyabji presided over the third Indian National Congress session, held in Madras in 1887. He was the organisation’s first Muslim president. W. C. Bonnerjee had presided over the inaugural Bombay session in 1885. This is why the particular institution, event or award mentioned in the stem matters when choosing the correct option.
