UPSC Prelims 2012 Analysis

Explanation

Raja Todarmal had introduced the assessment of land revenue on the basis of nature of the soil and the quality of crops, as Akbar?s able minister.

Akbar?s grandfather Babur had already done conquest Delhi through his brilliant use of mobile light canon, centuries before British.

Red chillies and tobacco were grown in India before the arrival of the British.

Explanation

Indian National Congress did not want to include social reforms in its deliberations and decided to form a separate body for such a purpose. National Social Conference was founded by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao. It was virtually the social reform cell of the Indian National Congress.

The Conference met annually as a subsidiary convention of the Indian National Congress, at the same venue, and focused attention on social reform.

The Conference advocated inter-caste marriages and opposed kulinism and polygamy .

Explanation

Brahmo Samaj was a socio-religious reform movement in India, which aimed at purifying Hinduism and promoting monotheism. It was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

Statement 1 is correct. Brahmo Samaj opposed idolatry and promoted monotheism, believing in a single, formless, and infinite God.

Statement 2 is also correct. Brahmo Samaj denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting religious texts. It advocated for the individual interpretation of religious texts, emphasizing personal understanding over ritualistic observance.

However, statement 3 is incorrect. Brahmo Samaj did not popularize the doctrine that the Vedas are infallible. In fact, it believed in the infallibility of reason and conscience, not of any particular religious text.

Therefore, the correct answer is (B) 1 and 2 only.

Explanation

The 1929 Lahore session under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru holds special significance as in this session Purna Swaraj (complete independence) was declared as the goal of the INC. 26 January 1930 was declared as Purna Swaraj Diwas . Therefore, statement 1 is correct.

Other mentioned events did not occur during the Lahore Session of 1929. Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.

Explanation

The Ryotwari System was a land revenue system implemented by the British in India.

Under this system, the rent was indeed paid directly by the peasants to the government, which validates statement 1. The government also gave pattas or legal documents to the ryots (peasants) as a form of land ownership, which makes statement 2 correct. Lastly, the lands under this system were surveyed and assessed before being taxed, which confirms the accuracy of statement 3.

Therefore, all the three statements are correct.

Explanation

The Peasants and Workers Party of India was founded in 1947. The party was founded in Maharashtra by Tulsidas Jadhav, Keshavrao Jedhe, and others.

All India Scheduled Castes Federation was founded by Dr. Ambedkar in 1942 to fight for the rights of the Dalit community . It was the successor organization of the Independent Labour Party led by Ambedkar.

Explanation

Dadabhai Naoroji was credited with doing an economic analysis of British rule, which is considered as the biggest contribution of Moderates . He put forward the drain of wealth theory in which he stated that Britain was completely draining India. He mentioned this theory in his book ?Poverty and Un-British Rule in India?.

While Naoroji was a scholar, he is not particularly known for interpreting ancient Indian texts to restore the self-confidence of Indians. While Naoroji did advocate for social reform, he did not stress the need for eradication of all the social evils before anything else.

Explanation

The Rowlatt Act, officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, was a legislative measure passed by the British government in India. The primary aim of this act was to curb the rising nationalist sentiment in the country by implementing stringent measures.

One of the key features of this act was that it authorized the government to imprison any person suspected of terrorist activities without a trial. This provision allowed for indefinite detention and imprisonment without any need for a trial or conviction in a court of law.

Therefore, the Rowlatt Act primarily aimed at imprisonment without trial and summary procedures for trial.

Explanation

The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939 as a protest against Viceroy Lord Linlithgow's action of declaring India to be a belligerent in the Second World War without consulting the Indian people. This was a pivotal event that fueled India's push for autonomy and marked a turning point in the nationalist struggle. The reasons given in options (a), (b), and (c) are not the correct reasons for the resignation of the Congress ministries in 1939.

Explanation

In September 1932, Mahatma Gandhi began a fast unto death to protest British support of a new Indian Constitution that would incorporate the Communal Award .

The Communal Award was made by the British prime minister Ramsay MacDonald on 16 August 1932, granting separate electorates in India for the Forward Caste, Scheduled Caste, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs, Indian Christians, Anglo-Indians, Europeans, and Depressed Classes (now known as the Scheduled Caste) etc.

After just six days, the British accepted an alternate proposal (Poona Pact) and he was able to break the fast.

Explanation

The Government of India Act, 1919 had several key features. One of these was the introduction of dyarchy in the executive government of the provinces, which meant that certain areas of government were controlled by elected Indian ministers, while others remained under the control of appointed British officials. This is represented in statement 1.

Another feature was the devolution of legislative authority by the centre to the provinces, which is represented in statement 3.

However, the introduction of separate communal electorates for Muslims, which is represented in statement 2, was not a feature of the Government of India Act, 1919. This was actually introduced in the Government of India Act, 1909.

Therefore, the correct answer is (C) 1 and 3 only.