UPSC Prelims 2020 Analysis

Explanation

The book "Desher Katha" written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar was a significant contribution to the Indian freedom struggle.

Statement 1 is correct. The book indeed warned against the Colonial State's hypnotic conquest of the mind. Deuskar was a staunch nationalist and vehemently opposed the colonial rule in India. His book was a critique against the colonial rule.

Statement 2 is also correct. Deuskar's work inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs. His writings were influential in promoting the Swadeshi movement.

Statement 3, however, is incorrect. The use of 'desh' by Deuskar was not in the specific context of the region of Bengal. Deuskar, though of Marathi origin, was brought up in a Bengali set-up and acted as a bridge between Maharashtra and Bengal's renaissance. His use of 'desh' was more in the context of the nation as a whole, rather than specifically Bengal.

Therefore, the correct answer is that statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Explanation

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact, also known as the Delhi Pact, was a significant agreement reached between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, in March 1931.

As part of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, the British government agreed to invite the Indian National Congress to participate in the Second Round Table Conference held in London.

Another key aspect of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was the agreement to withdraw repressive ordinances that had been promulgated by the British government in response to the Civil Disobedience Movement led by Gandhi. This withdrawal was seen as a gesture of goodwill towards the Indian National Congress.

While issues of police excesses were discussed during negotiations, there was no explicit agreement in the pact regarding such an inquiry.

One of the conditions of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was the release of political prisoners who had been arrested during the Civil Disobedience Movement, provided they had not been charged with violence.

Therefore, the correct statements are 1, 2 and 4.

Explanation

Indigo, also known as "Blue Gold", was a highly profitable commodity in the European market during the 19th century. However, by the beginning of the 20th century, its cultivation in India declined significantly.

The main reason for the decline in indigo cultivation was its unprofitability in the world market due to new inventions. Synthetic dyes were invented in the late 19th century, which were cheaper and easier to produce than natural indigo. This led to a drop in the demand for natural indigo, making its cultivation unprofitable.

Therefore, the correct answer is B.

Explanation

In 1885, Bhikaji filed a petition for "restitution of conjugal rights" after 12 years of marriage.

Rukhmabai, who was married as a child, refused to live with her husband. Justice Pinhey ruled that Rukhmabai could not be forced into marriage against her will. In 1887, Rukhmabai chose to go to jail instead of living with her husband.

Queen Victoria dissolved the marriage in 1888 after Rukhmabai wrote a letter to her. Dadaji accepted monetary compensation to dissolve the marriage.

This case influenced the Age of Consent Act of 1891.

Explanation

Statement A is correct. Deindustrialisation of Indian traditional cottage and handicraft industry was a direct consequence of the industrial revolution in England along with colonization of India.

Statement B is incorrect. Machines were not introduced in the Indian textile industry in large numbers in the first half of the 19th century. Rather, the modern textile mills with imported machinery started taking baby steps in the 1850s in Bombay, Ahmedabad, and Calcutta. It was only after the first world war that Indian industrialization started taking fast steps.

Statement C is incorrect. The first railway line in India was laid between Bombay and Thane in 1853. Railway expansion was relatively slow even till mid-1860. It was only in the latter half of the 19th century that Railway expansion gathered pace in India.

Statement D is incorrect. Heavy duties were not imposed on the imports of British manufactures. In fact, the British goods were given duty-free trade permits, which further disadvantaged the Indian industries.

Explanation

The term "Ulgulan" or "the Great Tumult" refers to a significant tribal uprising in the history of India.

The rebellion (ulgulan) of the Munda tribesmen, led by Birsa Munda, occurred during 1899-1900. For over thirty years the Munda sardars had been struggling against the destruction of their system of common land holdings by the intrusion of jagirdar, thikadar (revenue farmers) and merchant moneylenders. Birsa Munda led the Munda tribe in a rebellion against the British colonial rule and the feudal system imposed by them.

Explanation

In 1888, Walangkar began publishing the monthly journal titled Vital-Vidhvansak (Destroyer of Brahmanical or Ceremonial Pollution), which was the first to have the untouchable people as its target audience.

He also wrote articles for Marathi-language newspapers such as Sudharak and Deenbandhu, as well as composed couplets in Marathi that were intended to inspire the people. Having read Hindu religious texts, Walangkar concluded that caste was contrived by the Aryan invaders to control the Anaryans (indigenous people).

In 1889, he published Vital Viduvansan (Annihilation of Ceremonial Pollution), which protested the position of untouchables in society and raised consciousness regarding what those people should expect. He addressed this pamphlet, which was crafted as a collection of 26 questions, to the elites of Maharashtrian society.

T. N. Valunjkar says that Walangkar "can be regarded as the first intellectual rebel from the Dalit community to have launched a scathing criticism of the caste system and the position of dalits in it."

Explanation

Lord Richard Wellesley, the Governor-General of India from 1798 to 1805, established the Fort William College at Calcutta. The purpose of this institution was to educate European administrators about the Oriental culture, tradition, law, and administration to better coordinate in the governance of India.

So, the primary purpose of establishing the Fort William College was to train British civilians for administrative purposes in India.This was part of Wellesley's broader strategy to strengthen the administrative capabilities of the British in India.

Explanation

Pair 1 is not correct. Aurang was a Persian term for a warehouse, a place where goods are collected before being sold; also refers to a workshop.

Pair 2 is correct. Banians (banias) were agents of the company. A Banyan is a personby whom the English gentlemen in general conduct all their business. He is interpreter, head book-keeper, head secretary, head broker, the supplier of cash and cash-keeper, and in general also secretkeeper.They might appear to have become their masters? servants, merely managing their trade for them; but the reality was often less that of master and servant than of trading partners. The banian brought his skill and his capital to the partnership; the European contributed his privileges.

Pair 3 is correct. Mirasdar in Urdu means hereditary landowner, co-proprietor. In Persian, miras is inheritance, estate. He was also a revenue payer to the state.