Q10. The Lucknow Pact (1916) was made between whom?
[RRB JE (27 May 2019, Shift 2)]
- Indian National Congress and All-India Muslim League
- Moderates and extremists alone
- British Government and All-India Muslim League
- Indian National Congress and British Government
Answer: (A) Indian National Congress and All-India Muslim League
Explanation: The Lucknow Pact was negotiated between Congress and the Muslim League and approved in December 1916. Although Congress moderates and extremists reconciled around the same session, the pact’s two organisational parties were specifically Congress and the League.
Q9. Who is the author of the book New India?
[RRB Group D (17 December 2018, Shift 2)]
- Mother Teresa
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Annie Besant
- Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: (C) Annie Besant
Explanation: Annie Besant used New India both as a political newspaper title and in her writings on Indian affairs. Her journalism helped communicate Home Rule arguments to educated readers and contributed to her reputation as a prominent nationalist publicist.
Q8. The Theosophical Society was led by whom?
[UPSC NDA General Ability Test (9 September 2018)]
- A. O. Hume
- Arthur Griffith
- Annie Besant
- Lord Dufferin
Answer: (C) Annie Besant
Explanation: The Society was founded in New York in 1875 by H. P. Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott. Annie Besant joined in 1889 and assumed its presidency in 1907. She later became an important organiser of Indian Home Rule.
Q7. In 1920, which organisation changed its name to Swarajya Sabha?
[UPSC Civil Services Prelims (2018)]
- All India Home Rule League
- Hindu Mahasabha
- South Indian Liberal Federation
- Servants of India Society
Answer: (A) All India Home Rule League
Explanation: The All India Home Rule League adopted the name Swarajya Sabha in 1920 as Indian politics moved towards new forms of mass participation. Its earlier campaigns, led prominently by Annie Besant and Tilak, had popularised the constitutional demand for self-government.
Q6. Arrange chronologically:
(i) Lucknow Pact,
(ii) formation of Swaraj Party,
(iii) Jallianwala Bagh massacre,
(iv) death of Tilak.
[RPSC RAS Prelims (2018)]
- i, iv, iii, ii
- iv, iii, i, ii
- i, iii, iv, ii
- i, ii, iii, iv
Answer: (C) i, iii, iv, ii
Explanation: The Lucknow Pact took place in 1916, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919, Tilak died in August 1920, and the Swaraj Party formed in 1923. These dates establish the order i–iii–iv–ii.
Q5. Tilak formed his Home Rule League in 1916 at which place?
[WBCS Prelims (2018)]
- Satara
- Pune
- Belgaon
- Berar
Answer: (C) Belgaon
Explanation: Tilak formally began his Home Rule campaign in the context of the Belgaum provincial conference in April 1916. The league’s administrative centre was Pune. That distinction explains why Belgaon is the expected answer to a question about where it was formed.
Q4. With reference to Rowlatt Satyagraha, which statements are correct?
1. Rowlatt Act drew on the Sedition Committee.
2. Gandhi tried using the Home Rule League.
3. Simon Commission protests coincided with it.
[UPSC Civil Services Prelims (23 August 2015)]
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: The Rowlatt legislation followed recommendations of a Sedition Committee. Gandhi drew on networks associated with the Home Rule Leagues for mobilisation in 1919. Simon Commission protests occurred nearly a decade later, in 1928, making the third statement incorrect.
Q3. Consider:
1. Sarojini Naidu was the first woman Congress president.
2. Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim Congress president.
Which is correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Prelims (23 August 2015)]
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (B) 2 only
Explanation: Annie Besant became the first woman to preside over Congress in 1917. Sarojini Naidu was the first Indian woman president in 1925. Badruddin Tyabji presided at Madras in 1887 and was the first Muslim president of Congress.
Q2. The Lucknow Pact of 1916 was signed by which organisations?
[WBCS Prelims (2015)]
- Home Rule League and Muslim League
- Swarajya Dal and Indian National Congress
- Muslim League and Indian Association
- Indian National Congress and Muslim League
Answer: (D) Indian National Congress and Muslim League
Explanation: The Congress and All-India Muslim League agreed on political reforms at Lucknow in December 1916. The arrangement included joint demands and concessions regarding minority electoral representation. It was not an agreement between the Home Rule League and Muslim League.
Q1. Annie Besant was:
1. Responsible for starting the Home Rule Movement;
2. Founder of the Theosophical Society;
3. Once president of the Indian National Congress.
[UPSC Civil Services Prelims (2013)]
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Besant founded an Indian Home Rule League in 1916 and became Congress president in 1917. She did not found the Theosophical Society: H. P. Blavatsky and H. S. Olcott founded it in 1875, before she joined.
