110. Which of these historical events occurred earliest?
[UPSC CAPF AC Paper I (19 July 2026)]
A. Dandi March
B. Chauri Chaura incident
C. Partition of Bengal
D. Champaran Satyagraha
Answer: C. Partition of Bengal
Explanation: The Partition of Bengal occurred in 1905, before Champaran in 1917, Chauri Chaura in 1922, and Gandhi’s Dandi March in 1930.
109. Why was the Salt Satyagraha of 1930 strategically effective?
[OTET Social Studies (5 July 2026)]
A. It united social classes around an everyday necessity
B. It focused exclusively on city elites
C. It permanently ended salt imports
D. It directly attacked Britain’s armed forces
Answer: A. It united social classes around an everyday necessity
Explanation: Salt was essential to the rich and poor alike, making the tax an accessible grievance that could unite widely different social groups. Since salt was consumed by all communities, the protest linked national sovereignty with daily economic hardship.
108. Which agreement brought about the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1931?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I (15 June 2026, Shift 1)]
A. Poona Pact
B. Lahore Pact
C. Gandhi–Irwin Pact
D. Lucknow Pact
Answer: C. Gandhi–Irwin Pact
Explanation: Signed on 5 March 1931, the Gandhi–Irwin Pact suspended the first phase of civil disobedience and allowed Congress participation in constitutional negotiations. The government made concessions concerning nonviolent prisoners, confiscated property and limited salt production. The agreement was nevertheless criticized for leaving major demands unresolved.
107. The Dandi March of 1930 marked the beginning of which major freedom movement?
[DSSSB Court/Room Attendant (1 June 2026, memory-based paper)]
A. Non-Cooperation Movement
B. Quit India Movement
C. Civil Disobedience Movement
D. Swadeshi Movement
Answer: C. Civil Disobedience Movement
Explanation: Gandhi’s public breach of the salt law at Dandi transformed a symbolic march into a nationwide campaign deliberately violating unjust colonial laws. The broader campaign included boycotts, refusal of certain taxes and breaches of restrictive colonial regulations. Its political aim was considerably broader than the particular law challenged.
106. At which Congress session was the goal of Purna Swaraj adopted?
[UPSSSC Lekhpal Mains (21 May 2026)]
A. Karachi, 1931
B. Lahore, 1929
C. Lucknow, 1916
D. Surat, 1907
Answer: B. Lahore, 1929
Explanation: The Lahore Congress under Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed complete independence as its aim, providing the political backdrop for the 1930 campaign. The Congress marked 26 January 1930 as Independence Day before launching the Salt Satyagraha. It preceded the nationwide Salt Satyagraha launched early the following year.
105. Which salt satyagraha was led by Sarojini Naidu following Gandhi’s arrest?
[DSSSB MTS (12 May 2026, Shift 2)]
A. Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha
B. Dharasana Salt Works Satyagraha
C. Payyanur Salt Satyagraha
D. Nagpur Salt Satyagraha
Answer: B. Dharasana Salt Works Satyagraha
Explanation: At Dharasana in Gujarat, Sarojini Naidu helped lead nonviolent protesters after Gandhi’s detention, exposing severe colonial police repression. The initial march involved disciplined volunteers and later inspired demonstrations in several other Indian regions. It remains one of the clearest examples of symbolic nonviolent resistance.
104. Why did Indian nationalists criticize the British Salt Law?
[SSC GD Constable (8 May 2026, Shift 1)]
A. It monopolized salt production and imposed heavy taxes
B. It encouraged private salt factories
C. It granted unrestricted access to salt pans
D. It abolished traditional salt production
Answer: A. It monopolized salt production and imposed heavy taxes
Explanation: The colonial state controlled salt manufacture and trade while taxing a basic necessity, making resistance appealing beyond regional and class divisions. The government salt monopoly made producing ordinary salt a politically significant act of nonviolent defiance. Regional leaders reproduced the method in other parts of the country.
103. Who led the Vedaranyam Salt March during the 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement?
[DSSSB MTS (3 May 2026, Shift 1)]
A. Rajendra Prasad
B. Subhas Chandra Bose
C. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D. C. Rajagopalachari
Answer: D. C. Rajagopalachari
Explanation: Rajagopalachari organized a parallel salt march in the Madras Presidency, showing how Gandhi’s protest model spread to other regions. The campaign drew considerable public attention and involved local leaders well beyond Gandhi’s original route. It remains one of the clearest examples of symbolic nonviolent resistance.
102. Which colonial law did Gandhi defy during the Dandi March?
[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard (3 May 2026, Shift 3)]
A. Salt Law
B. Arms Act
C. Press Act
D. Rationing Law
Answer: A. Salt Law
Explanation: At Dandi on 6 April 1930, Gandhi collected salt in breach of the government monopoly, making defiance of an everyday law a nationalist statement. By targeting an essential commodity, nationalist activists made colonial economic policies understandable to ordinary people.
101. Which movement began with the Dandi March of 1930?
[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard (2 May 2026, Shift 3)]
A. Non-Cooperation Movement
B. Khilafat Movement
C. Civil Disobedience Movement
D. Quit India Movement
Answer: C. Civil Disobedience Movement
Explanation: The march started on 12 March 1930 and culminated in deliberate violation of the salt law, inaugurating mass civil disobedience. Unlike simple non-cooperation, civil disobedience deliberately violated specified laws while emphasizing nonviolence. The protest was suspended, revived, and finally ended before independence.
100. Which decision was adopted at the Lahore Congress session in December 1929?
[DSSSB MTS (23 April 2026, Shift 3)]
A. The Quit India resolution
B. Acceptance of Cripps Mission
C. Launch of Non-Cooperation
D. The demand for Purna Swaraj
Answer: D. The demand for Purna Swaraj
Explanation: Congress adopted complete independence as its declared objective under Nehru’s presidency, preparing the ground for the forthcoming campaign against British rule. The shift to complete independence followed dissatisfaction with dominion-status formulas offered by the British. The declaration rejected a lesser constitutional settlement as insufficient.
99. In what year was the Gandhi–Irwin Pact signed?
[DSSSB MTS (23 April 2026, Shift 3)]
A. 1931
B. 1927
C. 1928
D. 1936
Answer: A. 1931
Explanation: The agreement of 5 March 1931 followed negotiations between Gandhi and Viceroy Irwin, linking suspension of the movement to Congress attendance at the next Round Table Conference. One major outcome was Congress participation in the Second Round Table Conference in London in 1931.
98. Who led the Civil Disobedience Movement launched in 1930?
[DSSSB MTS (23 April 2026, Shift 1)]
A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. Madam Bhikaji Cama
C. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D. C. Rajagopalachari
Answer: A. Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Gandhi initiated the Salt March and made nonviolent lawbreaking the movement’s central method; other Congress leaders organized similar actions regionally. Participation varied across regions and social groups, a limitation relevant when assessing the movement’s reach. Its political aim was considerably broader than the particular law challenged.
97. Which Odisha location became a leading centre of the 1930 Salt Satyagraha?
[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard (21 April 2026, Shift 3)]
A. Astaranga
B. Gopalpur
C. Paradip
D. Inchudi
Answer: D. Inchudi
Explanation: Inchudi in Balasore district emerged as an important regional centre of salt-law defiance, involving volunteers and local communities. The march began in March and the symbolic lawbreaking at Dandi occurred on 6 April 1930. Regional leaders reproduced the method in other parts of the country.
96. In which year did Ramsay MacDonald announce the Communal Award?
[OSSSC Forester/Forest Guard (18 April 2026, Shift 2)]
A. 1935
B. 1932
C. 1930
D. 1928
Answer: B. 1932
Explanation: The British prime minister announced the award on 16 August 1932, extending communal representation arrangements, including separate electorates for the Depressed Classes. The separate-electorate issue for Depressed Classes triggered Gandhi’s fast and the subsequent Poona Pact. Disagreements over these safeguards shaped constitutional politics during the 1930s.
95. What goal did the Lahore Congress session under Jawaharlal Nehru adopt in 1929?
[DSSSB MTS (11 April 2026, Shift 3)]
A. Complete independence (Purna Swaraj)
B. Separate electorates
C. Immediate provincial autonomy alone
D. Dominion Status
Answer: A. Complete independence (Purna Swaraj)
Explanation: The Lahore resolution rejected dominion status as sufficient and called for full independence, while 26 January 1930 was observed as Independence Day. Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the historic Lahore meeting at the end of December 1929. It preceded the nationwide Salt Satyagraha launched early the following year.
94. Which of the following event–year pairs is wrongly matched?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I (27 March 2026, Shift 2)]
A. Champaran Satyagraha—1917
B. Kheda Satyagraha—1918
C. Bardoli Satyagraha—1928
D. Gandhi–Irwin Pact—1929
Answer: D. Gandhi–Irwin Pact—1929
Explanation: The Gandhi–Irwin Pact belongs to 1931, not 1929; the preceding agrarian satyagrahas are correctly matched with their dates. The truce did not concede complete independence, which remained the Congress’s wider political objective. It represented a negotiated pause rather than the achievement of independence.
93. In which year did Gandhi break the Salt Act at Dandi?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I (25 March 2026, Shift 1)]
A. 1929
B. 1931
C. 1928
D. 1930
Answer: D. 1930
Explanation: After walking from Sabarmati Ashram, Gandhi broke the salt law at Dandi on 6 April 1930, signalling the launch of mass civil disobedience. Since salt was consumed by all communities, the protest linked national sovereignty with daily economic hardship.
92. Which movement did Congress agree to suspend under the Gandhi–Irwin Pact?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I (18 March 2026, Shift 2)]
A. Non-Cooperation Movement
B. Quit India Movement
C. Swadeshi Movement
D. Civil Disobedience Movement
Answer: D. Civil Disobedience Movement
Explanation: Congress suspended the active 1930 campaign in return for concessions such as release of nonviolent political prisoners and participation in negotiations. The Salt Satyagraha had already brought international attention to the nationalist campaign before the agreement. The agreement was nevertheless criticized for leaving major demands unresolved.
91. Which immediate demand was central to Gandhi’s 1930 Civil Disobedience campaign?
[DSSSB MTS (27 February 2026, Shift 1)]
A. Abolition of the salt tax
B. Abolition of untouchability
C. Reduction of land revenue only
D. Complete independence only
Answer: A. Abolition of the salt tax
Explanation: Although Purna Swaraj was the wider political goal, the salt monopoly was chosen as the immediate practical issue for mass protest. The initial march involved disciplined volunteers and later inspired demonstrations in several other Indian regions. It remains one of the clearest examples of symbolic nonviolent resistance.
90. Which statements about Tej Bahadur Sapru are correct:
I. Associated with Central Hindu College;
II. Entered politics in the Home Rule period;
III. Participated in the Round Table Conferences?
[RRB JE CBT-I (25 February 2026, Shift 2)]
A. Only I
B. I, II and III
C. Only II
D. Only II and III
Answer: B. I, II and III
Explanation: Sapru was an influential liberal constitutionalist who participated in British–Indian constitutional discussions and advocated negotiation rather than a complete boycott of talks. The meetings addressed the constitutional future of British India, including federal arrangements and communal representation. The minority-representation question proved especially difficult to settle.
89. Which statement about the 1932 Poona Pact is NOT true?
[RRB JE CBT-I (19 February 2026, Shift 1)]
A. Ambedkar refused to sign it
B. The British government accepted it
C. It increased reserved seats for Depressed Classes
D. It replaced separate electorates with joint electorates
Answer: A. Ambedkar refused to sign it
Explanation: Ambedkar did sign the agreement. It retained political representation through reserved seats but abandoned separate electorates for the Depressed Classes. The agreement was finalized in September 1932 after the British Communal Award became intensely contested. Its implications for political representation continued to attract debate.
88. How many chosen volunteers accompanied Gandhi at the start of the Salt March?
[SSC MTS (11 February 2026, Shift 2; 2025 cycle)]
A. 52
B. 62
C. 78
D. 112
Answer: C. 78
Explanation: Gandhi set out from Sabarmati Ashram on 12 March 1930 with 78 carefully chosen companions on the route to Dandi. The government salt monopoly made producing ordinary salt a politically significant act of nonviolent defiance. Regional leaders reproduced the method in other parts of the country.
87. In which year did Gandhi travel to London for the Second Round Table Conference?
[SSC MTS (9 February 2026, Shift 2; 2025 cycle)]
A. 1930
B. 1931
C. 1932
D. 1933
Answer: B. 1931
Explanation: Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference in 1931 as Congress’s principal representative after the Gandhi–Irwin settlement. Disagreement about minority safeguards remained a central obstacle to achieving consensus at the London meetings. Congress participation varied between the three London conferences.
86. The Salt Satyagraha opposed which British policy?
[SSC CGL Tier-II (19 January 2026; 2025 cycle)]
A. High land-revenue taxation
B. Monopoly over manufacture and sale of salt
C. Restrictions on public meetings
D. Separate electorates
Answer: B. Monopoly over manufacture and sale of salt
Explanation: The 1930 protest challenged the colonial state’s control over salt, a daily essential. Gandhi deliberately chose an issue affecting every section of Indian society. The campaign drew considerable public attention and involved local leaders well beyond Gandhi’s original route.
85. Which Round Table Conference did Gandhi attend on behalf of the Indian National Congress?
[Delhi Police Constable (2 January 2026, Shift 1)]
A. First
B. Second
C. Third
D. Fourth
Answer: B. Second
Explanation: Congress boycotted the first conference, but the 1931 Gandhi–Irwin Pact enabled Gandhi’s attendance at the second; he did not attend the third. The first conference met in 1930, the second in 1931 and the third in 1932. The minority-representation question proved especially difficult to settle.
84. Which British prime minister announced the Communal Award in 1932?
[DSSSB TGT Social Science (8 November 2025, Shift 2)]
A. Winston Churchill
B. Neville Chamberlain
C. David Lloyd George
D. Ramsay MacDonald
Answer: D. Ramsay MacDonald
Explanation: MacDonald issued the August 1932 scheme for minority representation, provoking Gandhi’s fast over separate electorates for the Depressed Classes. Representation for religious minorities had already been structured through separate electorates in earlier reforms. Different communities contested the proposed electoral arrangements.
83. Where in Odisha did civil disobedience associated with salt-making become prominent in 1930?
[OSSSC CRE Prelims (28 October 2025, Shift 1)]
A. Cuttack
B. Inchudi
C. Sambalpur
D. Puri
Answer: B. Inchudi
Explanation: Inchudi became a leading Odisha centre of the Salt Satyagraha, illustrating that the campaign extended well beyond Gandhi’s Gujarat route. By targeting an essential commodity, nationalist activists made colonial economic policies understandable to ordinary people. It remains one of the clearest examples of symbolic nonviolent resistance.
82. In what year did Gandhi conclude an agreement with Irwin to suspend the satyagraha campaign?
[OSSSC CRE Prelims (20 October 2025, Shift 3)]
A. 1935
B. 1928
C. 1931
D. 1922
Answer: C. 1931
Explanation: The March 1931 settlement provided the basis for Congress joining constitutional talks in London while temporarily suspending civil disobedience. Congress later ratified the pact at the Karachi session, presided over by Vallabhbhai Patel. It represented a negotiated pause rather than the achievement of independence.
81. Arrange these events: 1. Poona Pact; 2. Final withdrawal of Civil Disobedience; 3. Gandhi–Irwin Pact; 4. Second Round Table Conference.
[UPPSC PCS Prelims (12 October 2025)]
A. 3, 4, 1, 2
B. 4, 3, 2, 1
C. 4, 3, 1, 2
D. 3, 4, 2, 1
Answer: A. 3, 4, 1, 2
Explanation: The Gandhi–Irwin settlement and second conference both occurred in 1931, followed by the Poona Pact in 1932 and final withdrawal in 1934. The constitutional negotiations of 1931–32 followed the initial nationwide salt-law protests of 1930. These dates connect constitutional developments with major phases of public mobilization.
80. Arrange: 1. Muslim League Pakistan resolution; 2. Gandhi–Irwin Pact; 3. Dandi March; 4. Second Round Table Conference.
[UPSC CDS-II General Knowledge (14 September 2025)]
A. 2, 3, 1, 4
B. 3, 2, 4, 1
C. 3, 4, 2, 1
D. 2, 3, 4, 1
Answer: B. 3, 2, 4, 1
Explanation: The chronological sequence is Dandi March in 1930, Gandhi–Irwin Pact in March 1931, second London conference in late 1931, and Lahore Resolution in 1940. Different campaigns sometimes overlap in historical surveys, so the event years are essential for a reliable sequence.
79. Who represented the Indian National Congress at the Second Round Table Conference?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I (8 September 2025)]
A. B. R. Ambedkar
B. C. R. Das
C. Mahatma Gandhi
D. Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: C. Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Gandhi participated in the 1931 conference as the Congress representative. Ambedkar attended independently to argue for Depressed Classes’ rights. Congress boycotted the first conference during civil disobedience and returned to the second after the truce. Congress participation varied between the three London conferences.
78. Following the Gandhi–Irwin Pact, which Round Table Conference did Gandhi agree to attend?
[DSSSB ASO (22 August 2025, Shift 1)]
A. Third
B. Fourth
C. First
D. Second
Answer: D. Second
Explanation: The agreement of March 1931 committed the Congress to the second conference in London, unlike the first meeting which it had boycotted. The conferences fed into later constitutional proposals, although they did not grant India immediate independence. The minority-representation question proved especially difficult to settle.
77. According to the Dandi March passage, why was the march undertaken?
[SSC Stenographer (8 August 2025, Shift 2; comprehension PYQ)]
A. To promote education
B. To protest the salt tax
C. To celebrate independence
D. To wage war
Answer: B. To protest the salt tax
Explanation: Salt taxation symbolized colonial injustice. The march dramatized the right of ordinary Indians to produce an essential commodity without oppressive monopoly restrictions. The march began in March and the symbolic lawbreaking at Dandi occurred on 6 April 1930.
76. Assess: (a) Dandi March went roughly 240 miles from Sabarmati; (b) It led to the Poona Pact.
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I (24 June 2025, Shift 3)]
A. Only (a)
B. Only (b)
C. Neither (a) nor (b)
D. Both (a) and (b)
Answer: A. Only (a)
Explanation: The march covered approximately 240 miles in 1930. The Poona Pact concerned electoral representation and was concluded separately in 1932. Dandi was a deliberately public breach of law, unlike the earlier phase focused on withdrawing cooperation. The sequence also helps distinguish protest phases from later political settlements.
75. Assess: (a) Round Table Conferences discussed constitutional reforms; (b) Gandhi attended only the second conference.
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I (23 June 2025)]
A. Only (a)
B. Neither (a) nor (b)
C. Only (b)
D. Both (a) and (b)
Answer: D. Both (a) and (b)
Explanation: All three London conferences concerned India’s constitutional future; Gandhi took part only in the second, held in 1931. B. R. Ambedkar participated in negotiations regarding political protection for the Depressed Classes. Congress participation varied between the three London conferences.
74. Who signed the Poona Pact for caste-Hindu representatives?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I (12 June 2025)]
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Vallabhbhai Patel
C. Rajendra Prasad
D. Madan Mohan Malaviya
Answer: D. Madan Mohan Malaviya
Explanation: Madan Mohan Malaviya signed on the caste-Hindu side and B. R. Ambedkar represented the Depressed Classes, under the pressure of Gandhi’s fast. Reserved seats were retained, but the Depressed Classes would vote within joint rather than separate electorates.
73. Which was NOT a Gandhi-side undertaking under the Gandhi–Irwin Pact?
[MPPSC Assistant Professor, Political Science (1 June 2025)]
A. Suspend civil disobedience
B. Not demand inquiry into police excesses
C. Participate in the British Indian government
D. Attend the Round Table Conference
Answer: C. Participate in the British Indian government
Explanation: The settlement did not place Congress in the colonial government. It concerned suspending the campaign, attending constitutional talks and certain limited governmental concessions. Release provisions excluded people convicted of violence, which formed part of contemporary criticism of the settlement.
72. The 1932 Poona Pact was associated with which pair of leaders?
[SSC GD Constable (19 February 2025, Shift 2)]
A. Nehru and Jinnah
B. Nehru and Ambedkar
C. Gandhi and Ambedkar
D. Gandhi and Jinnah
Answer: C. Gandhi and Ambedkar
Explanation: Gandhi opposed separate electorates for the Depressed Classes, while Ambedkar emphasized effective political safeguards; the resulting pact adopted reserved seats within joint electorates. The pact reflected a difficult compromise between Gandhi and Ambedkar over electoral safeguards and social unity.
71. Who led the 1930 Salt March to Dandi?
[SSC GD Constable (11 February 2025, Shift 3)]
A. Rajendra Prasad
B. Mahatma Gandhi
C. Vallabhbhai Patel
D. Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: B. Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Gandhi marched from Sabarmati toward Dandi to challenge the salt laws, turning a familiar household necessity into a national political issue. Since salt was consumed by all communities, the protest linked national sovereignty with daily economic hardship. Regional leaders reproduced the method in other parts of the country.
70. Who signed the Poona Pact on behalf of the Depressed Classes?
[RPF Sub-Inspector (9 December 2024)]
A. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Mahatma Gandhi
D. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Answer: A. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Explanation: Ambedkar negotiated and signed the agreement securing reserved legislative seats in exchange for relinquishing separate electorates. The award had offered separate electorates, while the compromise expanded reserved representation in provincial legislatures. The number and structure of reserved constituencies were central issues.
69. The Jungle Satyagraha in Madhya Pradesh was inspired by which wider movement?
[MPPSC Assistant Professor General Studies (17 November 2024)]
A. Home Rule Movement
B. Non-Cooperation Movement
C. Civil Disobedience Movement
D. Quit India Movement
Answer: C. Civil Disobedience Movement
Explanation: Forest-law defiance reflected the broader 1930s civil disobedience tactic of publicly breaking restrictions considered unjust to local communities. Its early mass phase paused in 1931; protest resumed before the movement was finally withdrawn in 1934. The protest was suspended, revived, and finally ended before independence.
68. Which agreement enabled Gandhi to attend the Second Round Table Conference?
[SSC MTS (13 November 2024, Shift 1)]
A. Gandhi–Irwin Pact
B. Poona Pact
C. Lucknow Pact
D. Treaty of Paris
Answer: A. Gandhi–Irwin Pact
Explanation: The 1931 pact tied a temporary suspension of the civil disobedience campaign to Congress’s participation in the next constitutional conference. The government made concessions concerning nonviolent prisoners, confiscated property and limited salt production. The agreement was nevertheless criticized for leaving major demands unresolved.
67. At the Second Round Table Conference, Gandhi represented which organization?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (17 September 2024)]
A. Communist Party of India
B. Indian National Congress
C. Forward Bloc
D. All-India Muslim League
Answer: B. Indian National Congress
Explanation: Gandhi went to London as the Congress representative following the March 1931 truce, while several other Indian political interests participated separately. The meetings addressed the constitutional future of British India, including federal arrangements and communal representation. The minority-representation question proved especially difficult to settle.
66. In which year was the Gandhi–Irwin Pact signed?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (13 September 2024, Shift 3)]
A. 1935
B. 1929
C. 1931
D. 1941
Answer: C. 1931
Explanation: The pact was reached on 5 March 1931, between the 1930 Salt Satyagraha and the second Round Table Conference later that year. One major outcome was Congress participation in the Second Round Table Conference in London in 1931.
65. How many Muslim-reserved seats did Congress win in the 1937 provincial elections, according to the exam key?
[RPSC Assistant Professor (12 September 2024)]
A. 10
B. 26
C. 39
D. 41
Answer: B. 26
Explanation: Congress was dominant in numerous general constituencies but secured relatively few Muslim-reserved seats, demonstrating the electoral importance of communal constituencies. The Government of India Act, 1935 introduced provincial autonomy, providing the setting for these elections. Regional political coalitions made provincial outcomes far from uniform.
64. Rajagopalachari’s 1930 salt march proceeded from Trichinopoly to which destination?
[UPSC NDA-II General Ability (1 September 2024)]
A. Tuticorin
B. Nagapattinam
C. Vedaranyam
D. Karaikal
Answer: C. Vedaranyam
Explanation: Rajagopalachari led the Tamil Nadu counterpart of Gandhi’s march, reaching Vedaranyam to defy the colonial salt law. The initial march involved disciplined volunteers and later inspired demonstrations in several other Indian regions. It remains one of the clearest examples of symbolic nonviolent resistance.
63. Who attended the First Round Table Conference and pressed for a separate Odisha province?
[OSSC CGLRE Mains (1 September 2024)]
A. Madhusudan Das
B. Gopabandhu Das
C. Maharaja K. C. Gajapati Deo
D. Rama Devi
Answer: C. Maharaja K. C. Gajapati Deo
Explanation: Maharaja Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deo supported Odisha’s separate provincial status in constitutional discussions; Orissa became a province in 1936. Disagreement about minority safeguards remained a central obstacle to achieving consensus at the London meetings. Congress participation varied between the three London conferences.
62. Which claim about the Poona Pact is NOT correct?
[WBCS Mains History, 2023 cycle (18 August 2024)]
A. It involved Gandhi and Ambedkar
B. It was concluded in 1932
C. It was negotiated at Poona
D. It accepted separate Hindu–Muslim electorates as its core provision
Answer: D. It accepted separate Hindu–Muslim electorates as its core provision
Explanation: The pact addressed representation of the Depressed Classes, replacing separate electorates with reserved seats under a joint electoral system. The debate concerned the political voice of historically excluded communities in colonial legislative institutions. Its implications for political representation continued to attract debate.
61. The Gandhi–Irwin Pact was signed in which year?
[WBCS Mains History, 2023 cycle (18 August 2024)]
A. 1931
B. 1930
C. 1915
D. 1919
Answer: A. 1931
Explanation: Gandhi’s accord with the viceroy came on 5 March 1931, shortly before the Karachi Congress ratified the arrangement. The truce did not concede complete independence, which remained the Congress’s wider political objective. It represented a negotiated pause rather than the achievement of independence.
60. Which two leaders are associated with the agreement reached after the 1932 Communal Award?
[SSC Selection Post (26 June 2024)]
A. Gandhi and Ambedkar
B. Gandhi and Jinnah
C. Jinnah and Nehru
D. Ambedkar and C. R. Das
Answer: A. Gandhi and Ambedkar
Explanation: The Poona Pact, negotiated after the Communal Award, altered the system proposed for the Depressed Classes while preserving legislative reservations. Madan Mohan Malaviya was a signatory for caste-Hindu interests and Ambedkar signed for the Depressed Classes. The number and structure of reserved constituencies were central issues.
59. From where did Gandhi begin the historical Salt March?
[SSC Selection Post (25 June 2024, Shift 1)]
A. Sabarmati Ashram
B. Dandi
C. Kheda
D. Gandhinagar
Answer: A. Sabarmati Ashram
Explanation: The Salt March began near Ahmedabad at Sabarmati Ashram on 12 March 1930 and proceeded toward the Gujarat coast. The government salt monopoly made producing ordinary salt a politically significant act of nonviolent defiance. Regional leaders reproduced the method in other parts of the country.
58. Which event inaugurated the Civil Disobedience Movement in India?
[DSSSB Jail Warder (15 June 2024)]
A. First Round Table Conference
B. Poona Pact
C. Dandi March
D. Quit India Movement
Answer: C. Dandi March
Explanation: The Salt March was the opening symbolic campaign of civil disobedience, culminating in deliberate violation of the salt law in April 1930. The 1929 Purna Swaraj resolution supplied the movement’s political goal of complete independence. Its political aim was considerably broader than the particular law challenged.
57. Who signed the Poona Pact on behalf of the Depressed Classes?
[DSSSB Jail Warder (11 June 2024)]
A. Lord Irwin
B. Annie Besant
C. Mahatma Gandhi
D. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Answer: D. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Explanation: Ambedkar bargained for stronger safeguards and reserved seats, accepting joint electorates after negotiating with caste-Hindu leaders. The agreement was finalized in September 1932 after the British Communal Award became intensely contested. Its implications for political representation continued to attract debate.
56. On what date was the Gandhi–Irwin Pact signed?
[OSSSC Forest Guard (29 April 2024, Shift 1)]
A. 5 March 1935
B. 5 March 1931
C. 5 March 1930
D. 5 March 1937
Answer: B. 5 March 1931
Explanation: 5 March 1931 is the accepted date of the accord that temporarily halted civil disobedience and enabled political talks. The Salt Satyagraha had already brought international attention to the nationalist campaign before the agreement. The agreement was nevertheless criticized for leaving major demands unresolved.
55. The Gandhi–Irwin Pact is directly associated with which movement?
[Chandigarh JBT (28 April 2024)]
A. Jallianwala Bagh protest
B. Chauri Chaura
C. Simon Commission report
D. Civil Disobedience Movement
Answer: D. Civil Disobedience Movement
Explanation: The 1931 truce dealt with the 1930 movement’s suspension and the status of many participants arrested in the campaign. Congress later ratified the pact at the Karachi session, presided over by Vallabhbhai Patel. It represented a negotiated pause rather than the achievement of independence.
54. Which statement regarding Gandhi’s political activities is incorrect?
[WBPSC Food Sub-Inspector (17 March 2024)]
A. He supported separate electorates for the Depressed Classes
B. He led the Dandi March
C. He launched Non-Cooperation
D. He attended a Round Table Conference
Answer: A. He supported separate electorates for the Depressed Classes
Explanation: Gandhi opposed the separate-electorate provision for the Depressed Classes, which became a point of disagreement with Ambedkar in 1932. Reserved seats were retained, but the Depressed Classes would vote within joint rather than separate electorates. The number and structure of reserved constituencies were central issues.
53. Which option places these events in the correct sequence?
[CGPSC State Services Prelims General Studies (11 February 2024)]
A. Morley–Minto Reforms, Gandhi–Irwin Pact, August Offer, Jallianwala Bagh
B. August Offer, Morley–Minto Reforms, Jallianwala Bagh, Gandhi–Irwin Pact
C. Morley–Minto Reforms, Jallianwala Bagh, Gandhi–Irwin Pact, August Offer
D. Jallianwala Bagh, Gandhi–Irwin Pact, August Offer, Morley–Minto Reforms
Answer: C. Morley–Minto Reforms, Jallianwala Bagh, Gandhi–Irwin Pact, August Offer
Explanation: The dates are 1909 for the Morley–Minto reforms, 1919 for Jallianwala Bagh, 1931 for the Gandhi–Irwin agreement and 1940 for the August Offer. Political agreements and nationalist movements had distinct purposes, even when their dates lie close together.
52. Which statements about the Gandhi–Irwin Pact are correct? 1. Another Round Table Conference was envisaged; 2. Congress would suspend civil disobedience; 3. Boycott of British goods was withdrawn; 4. All salt-law violations remained forbidden without exception.
[IB ACIO (18 January 2024)]
A. 1, 2 and 3
B. 2, 3 and 4
C. 1 only
D. 3 and 4
Answer: A. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: The agreement provided for Congress participation in talks and a pause in civil disobedience, alongside limited concessions relating to salt and peaceful protest. Release provisions excluded people convicted of violence, which formed part of contemporary criticism of the settlement.
51. The 1932 Communal Award followed political disputes arising from which conference?
[UPSSSC PET (29 October 2023, Shift 2)]
A. Second Round Table Conference
B. First Round Table Conference
C. Government of India Act, 1919
D. Poona Pact
Answer: A. Second Round Table Conference
Explanation: Disagreement over representation at the second conference was followed by MacDonald’s 1932 award; the Poona Pact came afterward. The award followed debates that had failed to reach a satisfactory minority settlement in London. Disagreements over these safeguards shaped constitutional politics during the 1930s.
50. In which year did Congress provincial ministries resign in protest against British war policy?
[UPSSSC PET (29 October 2023)]
A. 1938
B. 1939
C. 1941
D. 1940
Answer: B. 1939
Explanation: The elected Congress ministries resigned in 1939 after India was drawn into World War II without consulting Indian political leaders. Congress ultimately formed ministries in eight provinces, while Bengal, Punjab and Sind followed other arrangements. The elections were conducted under the colonial constitutional framework.
49. Which movement began with Gandhi’s march to Dandi?
[SSC MTS (8 September 2023)]
A. Civil Disobedience Movement
B. Non-Cooperation Movement
C. Quit India Movement
D. Kheda Satyagraha
Answer: A. Civil Disobedience Movement
Explanation: The march introduced a new phase of nonviolent resistance in which participants deliberately broke unjust laws rather than merely withdrawing cooperation. Women, students, peasants and sections of the commercial classes joined to varying degrees across India. The protest was suspended, revived, and finally ended before independence.
48. On what date did the Muslim League observe the Day of Deliverance after Congress ministries resigned?
[Bihar Secondary Teacher (26 August 2023)]
A. 22 December 1939
B. 17 October 1939
C. 22 December 1940
D. More than one answer
Answer: A. 22 December 1939
Explanation: Jinnah called for the Day of Deliverance on 22 December 1939 after Congress ministers left office amid the World War II dispute. Franchise remained limited, so these elections were not conducted on the principle of universal adult voting.
47. Which leader is associated with the Poona Pact alongside Gandhi?
[SSC CGL (20 July 2023)]
A. Ali brothers
B. C. R. Das
C. Jyotiba Phule
D. B. R. Ambedkar
Answer: D. B. R. Ambedkar
Explanation: Ambedkar secured reservations for the Depressed Classes through negotiations that replaced separate electorates with joint electorates. The pact reflected a difficult compromise between Gandhi and Ambedkar over electoral safeguards and social unity. Its implications for political representation continued to attract debate.
46. In which year was the Gandhi–Irwin Pact signed?
[SSC MTS (14 June 2023)]
A. 1928
B. 1935
C. 1931
D. 1929
Answer: C. 1931
Explanation: The 1931 agreement between Gandhi and the viceroy followed the major public protests of the preceding year. The government made concessions concerning nonviolent prisoners, confiscated property and limited salt production. The agreement was nevertheless criticized for leaving major demands unresolved.
45. In the 1937 provincial elections, Congress failed to emerge as the largest party in which pair of provinces?
[UPSC CDS-I GK (16 April 2023)]
A. Punjab and Sind
B. Assam and NWFP
C. Punjab and Assam
D. Assam and Madras
Answer: A. Punjab and Sind
Explanation: Congress secured power in several provinces, but complex local alignments prevented it from leading Punjab and Sind after the 1937 polls. The ministers’ resignations in 1939 were linked to Britain’s unilateral wartime decision regarding India. Regional political coalitions made provincial outcomes far from uniform.
44. In which year did Gandhi and Irwin sign their pact?
[SSC GD Constable (11 January 2023)]
A. 1931
B. 1929
C. 1935
D. 1932
Answer: A. 1931
Explanation: The 1931 settlement ended the first active phase of civil disobedience and provided a route back to constitutional discussions. One major outcome was Congress participation in the Second Round Table Conference in London in 1931. It represented a negotiated pause rather than the achievement of independence.
43. Which event–year combination is incorrectly matched?
[RRB Group D CBT (11 October 2022)]
A. Non-Cooperation Movement—1920
B. Quit India Movement—1942
C. Khilafat Movement—1919
D. Dandi March—1910
Answer: D. Dandi March—1910
Explanation: Dandi March took place in 1930, not 1910. Gandhi broke the salt law on reaching the coast, initiating civil disobedience. Chronological PYQs test whether candidates distinguish early Congress phases from the later mass satyagraha period. These dates connect constitutional developments with major phases of public mobilization.
42. Which movement was also called the Salt Satyagraha?
[RRB Group D CBT (29 August 2022)]
A. Non-Cooperation Movement
B. Quit India Movement
C. Indian Self-Rule Movement
D. Civil Disobedience Movement
Answer: D. Civil Disobedience Movement
Explanation: The Salt Satyagraha was the opening campaign of the 1930 Civil Disobedience Movement, named for deliberate violation of colonial salt restrictions. The broader campaign included boycotts, refusal of certain taxes and breaches of restrictive colonial regulations. Its political aim was considerably broader than the particular law challenged.
41. Which protest specifically challenged Britain’s monopoly over salt?
[RRB Group D CBT (17 August 2022)]
A. Kheda Satyagraha
B. Civil Disobedience policy
C. Dandi March
D. Khilafat Movement
Answer: C. Dandi March
Explanation: The Dandi March focused attention on the Salt Act and the burden of taxes on an essential everyday commodity. The campaign drew considerable public attention and involved local leaders well beyond Gandhi’s original route. It remains one of the clearest examples of symbolic nonviolent resistance.
40. Which agreement replaced separate electorates for Depressed Classes with reserved seats in joint electorates?
[RRB NTPC CBT-II (17 June 2022)]
A. Lucknow Pact
B. Gandhi–Irwin Pact
C. Cripps proposals
D. Poona Pact
Answer: D. Poona Pact
Explanation: The 1932 Poona Pact modified the Communal Award arrangement while reserving legislative representation for the Depressed Classes. The award had offered separate electorates, while the compromise expanded reserved representation in provincial legislatures. The number and structure of reserved constituencies were central issues.
39. With whom did Gandhi negotiate the Poona Pact?
[SSC CGL (18 April 2022)]
A. Lord Irwin
B. B. R. Ambedkar
C. Sri Aurobindo
D. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Answer: B. B. R. Ambedkar
Explanation: Ambedkar and Gandhi differed over separate electorates, but their 1932 settlement provided seats reserved for the Depressed Classes. The debate concerned the political voice of historically excluded communities in colonial legislative institutions. Its implications for political representation continued to attract debate.
38. In which year did the Civil Disobedience Movement finally end?
[SSC CGL (12 April 2022)]
A. 1917
B. 1934
C. 1923
D. 1943
Answer: B. 1934
Explanation: After its initial 1931 suspension and subsequent resumption, the movement was ultimately withdrawn in 1934 without securing independence. Unlike simple non-cooperation, civil disobedience deliberately violated specified laws while emphasizing nonviolence. The protest was suspended, revived, and finally ended before independence.
37. Under which reform were separate electorates for Muslims originally introduced?
[UPSC CDS-I GK (10 April 2022)]
A. Morley–Minto Reforms, 1909
B. Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms, 1919
C. Communal Award, 1932
D. Government of India Act, 1935
Answer: A. Morley–Minto Reforms, 1909
Explanation: Separate Muslim electorates predated MacDonald’s Communal Award. The 1909 reforms introduced them, whereas the 1932 award expanded communal representation categories. The Poona Pact altered the scheme for the Depressed Classes without abolishing other communal electorates. Different communities contested the proposed electoral arrangements.
36. When was Dr. Radhabai arrested for leading a procession during the second phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
[CGPSC State Services Prelims, 2021 cycle (13 February 2022)]
A. 12 February 1932
B. 16 March 1932
C. 19 April 1932
D. 13 June 1932
Answer: D. 13 June 1932
Explanation: Dr. Radhabai was arrested on 13 June 1932 for participating in civil disobedience. She also campaigned in Chhattisgarh for social reform, women’s participation and temperance. Participation varied across regions and social groups, a limitation relevant when assessing the movement’s reach.
35. Which demands appeared in Gandhi’s eleven-point programme before civil disobedience:
(i) land-revenue reduction;
(ii) ending salt tax;
(iii) military-spending reduction?
[Allahabad High Court Review Officer (10 December 2021, Shift 2)]
A. (i) and (ii) only
B. (ii) only
C. (ii) and (iii) only
D. (i), (ii) and (iii)
Answer: D. (i), (ii) and (iii)
Explanation: Gandhi’s January 1930 eleven demands combined fiscal relief, economic concerns and civil liberties; non-acceptance helped precipitate the salt campaign. Its early mass phase paused in 1931; protest resumed before the movement was finally withdrawn in 1934. Its political aim was considerably broader than the particular law challenged.
34. Which woman participated in the Bijolia peasant agitation and also took part in the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930–32?
[RPSC RAS Prelims (27 October 2021)]
A. Rama Devi
B. Ratan Shastri
C. Anjana Devi Chaudhary
D. Kishori Devi
Answer: A. Rama Devi
Explanation: Rama Devi was associated with the Bijolia movement in Rajasthan and joined nationalist satyagraha during 1930–32, for which she faced imprisonment. The 1929 Purna Swaraj resolution supplied the movement’s political goal of complete independence. The protest was suspended, revived, and finally ended before independence.
33. Put these in chronological order: Simon Commission appointed; Nehru Report; Child Marriage Restraint Act; Dandi March.
[UPPSC PCS Prelims (24 October 2021)]
A. Simon Commission, Nehru Report, Act, Dandi March
B. Nehru Report, Simon Commission, Dandi, Act
C. Act, Simon Commission, Nehru Report, Dandi
D. Dandi, Nehru Report, Simon Commission, Act
Answer: A. Simon Commission, Nehru Report, Act, Dandi March
Explanation: The dates are 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930 respectively; the Salt March followed intensifying constitutional and nationalist debates. The constitutional negotiations of 1931–32 followed the initial nationwide salt-law protests of 1930. The sequence also helps distinguish protest phases from later political settlements.
32. The Poona Pact was reached between which two national leaders?
[DSSSB TGT Hindi (18 September 2021, Shift 2)]
A. Congress and Muslim League leaders
B. Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar
C. Moderates and Extremists
D. Nehru and Subhas Bose
Answer: B. Mahatma Gandhi and B. R. Ambedkar
Explanation: The agreement arose from the dispute over political representation for the Depressed Classes in the British Communal Award. Madan Mohan Malaviya was a signatory for caste-Hindu interests and Ambedkar signed for the Depressed Classes. The number and structure of reserved constituencies were central issues.
31. Who was the viceroy during the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement?
[WBCS Prelims (22 August 2021)]
A. Lord Hardinge
B. Lord Minto
C. Lord Linlithgow
D. Lord Irwin
Answer: D. Lord Irwin
Explanation: Lord Irwin served as viceroy from 1926 to 1931 and later concluded the March 1931 agreement with Gandhi. Women, students, peasants and sections of the commercial classes joined to varying degrees across India. Its political aim was considerably broader than the particular law challenged.
30. The Dandi March formally inaugurated which movement?
[WBCS Prelims (22 August 2021)]
A. Swadeshi Movement
B. Non-Cooperation Movement
C. Civil Disobedience Movement
D. Quit India Movement
Answer: C. Civil Disobedience Movement
Explanation: Gandhi’s 1930 salt-law protest broadened into campaigns of open noncompliance against colonial authority. The broader campaign included boycotts, refusal of certain taxes and breaches of restrictive colonial regulations. The protest was suspended, revived, and finally ended before independence.
29. When did the Second Round Table Conference take place?
[SSC CGL (13 August 2021)]
A. 1931
B. 1941
C. 1939
D. 1925
Answer: A. 1931
Explanation: The second conference met in London during 1931, when Gandhi represented Congress and contentious minority representation issues remained unresolved. The first conference met in 1930, the second in 1931 and the third in 1932. The minority-representation question proved especially difficult to settle.
28. Which statement about the Dandi March is false?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (23 July 2021, Shift 2)]
A. It lasted about 24 days
B. Gandhi led it
C. Marchers walked 25 miles daily
D. It began with 78 volunteers
Answer: C. Marchers walked 25 miles daily
Explanation: The roughly 240-mile march was undertaken over about 24 days, nowhere near the claimed average of 25 miles daily. By targeting an essential commodity, nationalist activists made colonial economic policies understandable to ordinary people. Regional leaders reproduced the method in other parts of the country.
27. In which country did the Second Round Table Conference occur in 1931?
[SSC CHSL (13 April 2021, Shift 1; 2020 cycle)]
A. South Africa
B. United States
C. United Kingdom
D. Italy
Answer: C. United Kingdom
Explanation: British-sponsored constitutional talks were held in London. Gandhi joined the second session after the Congress truce with the viceroy. Congress boycotted the first conference during civil disobedience and returned to the second after the truce. Congress participation varied between the three London conferences.
26. Which political party formed the government in Punjab after the 1937 elections?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (8 April 2021)]
A. Unionist Party
B. Muslim League
C. Krishak Praja Party
D. Indian National Congress
Answer: A. Unionist Party
Explanation: The cross-community Unionist Party dominated Punjab politics after the provincial poll, unlike provinces in which Congress ministries assumed office. The results exposed regional variation, communal electoral arrangements and differing provincial political coalitions. The elections were conducted under the colonial constitutional framework.
25. Which Indian woman accompanied Gandhi in the delegation to the Second Round Table Conference?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (11 March 2021)]
A. Annie Besant
B. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
C. Sarojini Naidu
D. Sister Nivedita
Answer: C. Sarojini Naidu
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu was among Indian participants at the 1931 conference and remained a prominent leader of the nationalist movement. The conferences fed into later constitutional proposals, although they did not grant India immediate independence. The minority-representation question proved especially difficult to settle.
24. In which month and year did the First Round Table Conference open?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I (11 January 2021)]
A. August 1932
B. October 1929
C. September 1931
D. November 1930
Answer: D. November 1930
Explanation: The first London meeting began on 12 November 1930 while Congress leaders were engaged in civil disobedience and remained absent. B. R. Ambedkar participated in negotiations regarding political protection for the Depressed Classes. Congress participation varied between the three London conferences.
23. Which movement did Gandhi initiate in 1930?
[SSC CHSL (20 October 2020)]
A. Khilafat Movement
B. Quit India Movement
C. Civil Disobedience Movement
D. Non-Cooperation Movement
Answer: C. Civil Disobedience Movement
Explanation: The 1930 launch began with the Dandi March, converting protest against the salt tax into nationwide lawbreaking. Unlike simple non-cooperation, civil disobedience deliberately violated specified laws while emphasizing nonviolence. Its political aim was considerably broader than the particular law challenged.
22. In which year was the First Round Table Conference held in London?
[SSC CGL (9 March 2020)]
A. 1907
B. 1919
C. 1923
D. 1930
Answer: D. 1930
Explanation: The first constitutional meeting opened in November 1930 and was boycotted by Congress during the Civil Disobedience Movement. The meetings addressed the constitutional future of British India, including federal arrangements and communal representation. The minority-representation question proved especially difficult to settle.
21. In which year did the Third Round Table Conference take place?
[SSC CGL (7 March 2020)]
A. 1929
B. 1932
C. 1928
D. 1930
Answer: B. 1932
Explanation: The final London meeting occurred in 1932, without Gandhi or the Congress, as discussions moved toward constitutional legislation. Disagreement about minority safeguards remained a central obstacle to achieving consensus at the London meetings. Congress participation varied between the three London conferences.
20. Which statement about the 1931 Karachi session of Congress is correct?
[SSC CGL (6 March 2020, Shift 2)]
A. Gandhi presided over it
B. It ratified the Gandhi–Irwin Pact
C. It adopted Quit India
D. It launched the Khilafat Movement
Answer: B. It ratified the Gandhi–Irwin Pact
Explanation: The Karachi session under Vallabhbhai Patel endorsed the March 1931 settlement and adopted resolutions on fundamental rights and economic policy. The truce did not concede complete independence, which remained the Congress’s wider political objective. The agreement was nevertheless criticized for leaving major demands unresolved.
19. Which order correctly places Champaran, Kheda, Rowlatt Satyagraha and Dandi March?
[SSC MTS (22 August 2019)]
A. Dandi, Rowlatt, Champaran, Kheda
B. Dandi, Champaran, Rowlatt, Kheda
C. Champaran, Kheda, Rowlatt, Dandi
D. Champaran, Kheda, Dandi, Rowlatt
Answer: C. Champaran, Kheda, Rowlatt, Dandi
Explanation: Their dates are 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1930, demonstrating Gandhi’s transition from localized campaigns to nationwide resistance. Different campaigns sometimes overlap in historical surveys, so the event years are essential for a reliable sequence. These dates connect constitutional developments with major phases of public mobilization.
18. In what year was the Poona Pact signed?
[SSC MTS (5 August 2019, Shift 2)]
A. 1923
B. 1933
C. 1922
D. 1932
Answer: D. 1932
Explanation: The pact was signed on 24 September 1932 during Gandhi’s fast and concerned representation of the Depressed Classes. The agreement was finalized in September 1932 after the British Communal Award became intensely contested. Its implications for political representation continued to attract debate.
17. Which was NOT a condition of the Gandhi–Irwin Pact?
[SSC CGL (6 June 2019)]
A. Withdrawal of a supposed special tax on khadi
B. Limited salt-making concessions
C. Congress suspension of civil disobedience
D. Congress participation in Round Table talks
Answer: A. Withdrawal of a supposed special tax on khadi
Explanation: The pact did not involve any special khadi tax removal. It addressed protest suspension, constitutional talks and certain limited concessions. The Salt Satyagraha had already brought international attention to the nationalist campaign before the agreement. It represented a negotiated pause rather than the achievement of independence.
16. Which was NOT among Gandhi’s demands connected with the negotiations with Irwin?
[RPSC Second Grade Teacher Social Science (17 February 2019)]
A. Restore confiscated property where possible
B. Remove curbs on Congress activity
C. Abolish the salt tax in full
D. Complete internal autonomy immediately
Answer: D. Complete internal autonomy immediately
Explanation: The 1931 agreement did not concede full internal autonomy. Gandhi’s wider constitutional aims went beyond the terms of this truce. Congress later ratified the pact at the Karachi session, presided over by Vallabhbhai Patel. The agreement was nevertheless criticized for leaving major demands unresolved.
15. At what place did Gandhi’s 1930 Salt March conclude?
[RPF Constable (16 February 2019)]
A. Dandi
B. Bombay
C. Wardha
D. Lahore
Answer: A. Dandi
Explanation: The march reached Dandi on Gujarat’s coast; Gandhi broke the colonial salt law there on 6 April 1930. The march began in March and the symbolic lawbreaking at Dandi occurred on 6 April 1930. It remains one of the clearest examples of symbolic nonviolent resistance.
14. Which 1932 announcement extended separate-electorate arrangements to several communities?
[RPF Constable (12 February 2019)]
A. Communal Award
B. Regulating Act
C. Indian Councils Act, 1909
D. Pitt’s India Act
Answer: A. Communal Award
Explanation: MacDonald’s Communal Award provided for communal representation and controversially proposed separate electorates for the Depressed Classes. Its main constitutional significance lies in the controversy over minority and Depressed Classes representation. Disagreements over these safeguards shaped constitutional politics during the 1930s.
13. Who led the civil-disobedience salt campaign in Tamil Nadu?
[RPF Constable (18 January 2019)]
A. C. Rajagopalachari
B. Motilal Nehru
C. M. A. Chidambaram
D. Sarojini Naidu
Answer: A. C. Rajagopalachari
Explanation: Rajagopalachari’s Vedaranyam March was the Madras Presidency’s counterpart to the Gujarat Salt March. Since salt was consumed by all communities, the protest linked national sovereignty with daily economic hardship. Regional leaders reproduced the method in other parts of the country.
12. In which province did Congress NOT form a ministry following the 1937 elections?
[DSSSB Primary Teacher (11 November 2018)]
A. Odisha
B. Madras
C. Bengal
D. Central Provinces
Answer: C. Bengal
Explanation: Congress headed ministries in Madras, Orissa and the Central Provinces but did not govern Bengal after the elections. Provincial autonomy permitted a measure of elected administration but governors retained substantial reserve powers. Regional political coalitions made provincial outcomes far from uniform.
11. Who led the Salt March of 1930?
[SSC CHSL (23 March 2018)]
A. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
B. Mahatma Gandhi
C. Avantikabai Gokhale
D. Kasturba Gandhi
Answer: B. Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Gandhi walked with selected volunteers from Sabarmati to Dandi to challenge the British Salt Act and mobilize civil disobedience. The initial march involved disciplined volunteers and later inspired demonstrations in several other Indian regions. It remains one of the clearest examples of symbolic nonviolent resistance.
10. With which leader was Gandhi associated in negotiating the Poona Pact?
[SSC CGL (16 August 2017)]
A. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
B. Lord Irwin
C. Subhas Bose
D. B. R. Ambedkar
Answer: D. B. R. Ambedkar
Explanation: The dispute over Depressed Classes’ separate electorates led Gandhi and Ambedkar to the September 1932 settlement. Reserved seats were retained, but the Depressed Classes would vote within joint rather than separate electorates. The number and structure of reserved constituencies were central issues.
9. Select the chronological order of the Poona Pact, Quit India, Shimla Conference and Cabinet Mission.
[SSC CGL (9 August 2017)]
A. Quit India, Cabinet Mission, Poona Pact, Shimla
B. Shimla, Cabinet Mission, Quit India, Poona Pact
C. Poona Pact, Quit India, Shimla, Cabinet Mission
D. Cabinet Mission, Quit India, Poona Pact, Shimla
Answer: C. Poona Pact, Quit India, Shimla, Cabinet Mission
Explanation: The four events fall in 1932, 1942, 1945 and 1946 respectively, placing the Poona Pact first. Dandi was a deliberately public breach of law, unlike the earlier phase focused on withdrawing cooperation. The sequence also helps distinguish protest phases from later political settlements.
8. Regarding 1937 provincial elections, which are correct?
1. Franchise covered a small minority;
2. All Depressed Classes were barred;
3. Congress ministries formed in several provinces;
4. Muslim League won about 80% of Muslim seats.
[UPSC CDS-I General Knowledge (5 February 2017)]
A. 1, 3 and 4
B. 1 and 4 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 2, 3 and 4
Answer: C. 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Voting rights were restricted, Congress formed multiple provincial ministries, and the Muslim League did not win four-fifths of Muslim constituencies. The absolute ban claim is incorrect. The Government of India Act, 1935 introduced provincial autonomy, providing the setting for these elections.
7. Which statements about participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement are correct:
1. Business interests participated;
2. Peasants participated;
3. Some students and lawyers participated?
[UPSC NDA-II General Ability (18 September 2016)]
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Participation differed by class and locality, but peasants, some business groups and sections of professionals joined the 1930–34 campaign. Participation varied across regions and social groups, a limitation relevant when assessing the movement’s reach. The protest was suspended, revived, and finally ended before independence.
6. Who announced the Communal Award?
[WBCS Prelims 2016 (year confirmed; exact date not checked)]
A. Muhammad Ali Jinnah
B. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
C. Ramsay MacDonald
D. Lord Curzon
Answer: C. Ramsay MacDonald
Explanation: The British prime minister introduced the award in August 1932 to specify representation arrangements for various communities. Ramsay MacDonald issued the measure as British prime minister on 16 August 1932. Different communities contested the proposed electoral arrangements.
5. Where was there no Congress ministry after the 1937 provincial elections?
[WBCS Prelims 2016 (year confirmed; exact date not checked)]
A. Bihar
B. Madras
C. Orissa
D. Punjab
Answer: D. Punjab
Explanation: The Unionist Party rather than Congress dominated Punjab’s provincial ministry following the 1937 polls. Congress ultimately formed ministries in eight provinces, while Bengal, Punjab and Sind followed other arrangements. The elections were conducted under the colonial constitutional framework.
4. When was the Poona Pact signed?
[BSSC CGL (16 February 2015)]
A. 1919
B. 1932
C. 1937
D. 1935
Answer: B. 1932
Explanation: The 24 September 1932 pact reshaped reserved representation for the Depressed Classes after opposition to the Communal Award. The pact reflected a difficult compromise between Gandhi and Ambedkar over electoral safeguards and social unity. Its implications for political representation continued to attract debate.
3. How long did Congress provincial ministries broadly remain in office after the 1937 elections?
[UPPSC Civil Services Prelims 2013 (year confirmed)]
A. About 28 months
B. About 29 months
C. About 30 months
D. About 31 months
Answer: A. About 28 months
Explanation: Congress ministries took office during 1937 and resigned in 1939 after Britain’s unilateral decision to involve India in World War II. Franchise remained limited, so these elections were not conducted on the principle of universal adult voting. Regional political coalitions made provincial outcomes far from uniform.
2. Why did Congress ministries resign in seven provinces in 1939?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2012 (year confirmed)]
A. Congress could not organize governments in four remaining provinces
B. The Congress left wing demanded resignation
C. Communal riots compelled immediate resignation
D. None of the above
Answer: D. None of the above
Explanation: Resignations followed the British declaration of India’s participation in World War II without consulting elected Indian representatives, a reason absent from the listed options. The ministers’ resignations in 1939 were linked to Britain’s unilateral wartime decision regarding India.
1. Gandhi began a fast on 20 September 1932 against what political measure?
[AWES PGT History 2012 (year confirmed)]
A. General British repression
B. Breach of Gandhi–Irwin Pact
C. Communal Award
D. Calcutta communal riots
Answer: C. Communal Award
Explanation: The fast targeted the separate-electorate arrangement for Depressed Classes in the Communal Award, preceding the Poona Pact. The award had offered separate electorates, while the compromise expanded reserved representation in provincial legislatures. The number and structure of reserved constituencies were central issues.