18 extra multiple-choice questions for Rise of Nationalism in India (12th Standard History, Samacheer Kalvi), beyond the ones printed in the textbook — each with the correct option highlighted and a clear, worked explanation. Free to read in English and Tamil.
Q1
The Indigo revolt of 1859-60, in which peasants forced the planters to withdraw from northern Bengal, took place in which region?
- A. BengalCorrect
- B. Madras Presidency
- C. Orissa
- D. Bombay Presidency
Explanation. The Indigo revolt of 1859-60 in Bengal was a response of Indian farmers forced to grow indigo for mostly European planters under unfair contracts and meagre advances.
Q2
Which viceroy followed a hands-off approach during the Madras Presidency famine of 1876-78, in which an estimated 3.5 million people died?
- A. Ripon
- B. LyttonCorrect
- C. Elphinstone
- D. Macaulay
Explanation. Two failed monsoons caused a severe famine in the Madras Presidency in 1876-78. Viceroy Lytton adopted a hands-off approach like that followed in Orissa, and about 3.5 million died.
Q3
What were the agents called whom the colonial state allowed to trick or kidnap landless labourers for indentured labour?
- A. Zamindars
- B. KanganisCorrect
- C. Planters
- D. Babus
Explanation. Under the indenture system the colonial state allowed agents called kanganis to trick or kidnap indigent landless labourers, who then suffered terribly on long sea voyages.
Q4
Under the indenture contract system, for how long were labourers hired?
- A. Two years
- B. Three years
- C. Five yearsCorrect
- D. Ten years
Explanation. Under this penal contract system, labourers were hired for a period of five years and could return home with passage paid at the end; in practice it proved worse than slave labour.
Q5
In which year were universities established in Bombay, Madras and Calcutta?
- A. 1835
- B. 1853
- C. 1857Correct
- D. 1885
Explanation. After the English Education Act of 1835 the colonial government started schools and colleges, and universities were established in Bombay, Madras and Calcutta in 1857.
Q6
Consider the following statements about the General Committee of Public Instruction.
1. It was formed in 1823 to guide the East India Company on education and the medium of instruction.
2. The Orientalist group in it advocated Western education in English.
3. Macaulay supported the Anglicist group.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 onlyCorrect
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation. The Committee was formed in 1823 and split into two groups. The Orientalists wanted vernacular languages, the Anglicists wanted English. Macaulay sided with the Anglicists, so statement 2 is wrong.
Q7
Match the reform movement with its founder or leader.
(A) Brahmo Samaj - 1. Syed Ahmad Khan
(B) Prarthana Samaj - 2. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(C) Aligarh Movement - 3. Jyotiba Phule
(D) Social movement in Pune - 4. Dr Atmaram Pandurang
- A. 2, 4, 1, 3Correct
- B. 4, 2, 3, 1
- C. 2, 1, 4, 3
- D. 3, 4, 1, 2
Explanation. The Brahmo Samaj was founded by Ram Mohan Roy, the Prarthana Samaj by Dr Atmaram Pandurang, the Aligarh Movement was represented by Syed Ahmad Khan and Jyotiba Phule led a social movement in Pune.
Q8
To debar Indians from the civil services, the British reduced the age limit for the civil service examination from twenty one to
- A. eighteen
- B. nineteenCorrect
- C. twenty
- D. seventeen
Explanation. The age limit was first fixed at twenty one. When Indians began to succeed, it was reduced to nineteen, and the demand to hold the examination simultaneously in India was refused.
Q9
Consider the following statements about British measures that evoked protest.
1. Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (1870) punished attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government.
2. The Vernacular Press Act (1878) censored the press.
3. The Ilbert Bill, introduced under Ripon, was passed without any change despite European resistance.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A. 1 and 2 onlyCorrect
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation. Section 124A (1870) and the Vernacular Press Act (1878) are described correctly. The Ilbert Bill, which empowered Indian judges to try Europeans, was amended to suit European interests, so statement 3 is wrong.
Q10
Raja Rammohan Roy's Sambad Kaumudi (1821), which played a progressive role in educating people, was published in which language?
- A. Persian
- B. BengaliCorrect
- C. English
- D. Sanskrit
Explanation. Raja Rammohan Roy's Sambad Kaumudi (1821) was in Bengali, while his Mirat-Ul-Akbar (1822) was in Persian. Both educated people on issues of public importance.
Q11
The Madras Native Association, formed on 26 February 1852, was inspired by which prominent Madras businessman?
- A. G. Subramaniam
- B. Gajula LakshminarasuCorrect
- C. Salem Ramaswamy
- D. Ananda Charlu
Explanation. Gajula Lakshminarasu, a prominent businessman of Madras city, inspired the foundation of the MNA. It was an association of the landed and business classes of the Madras Presidency.
Q12
Who, as Chairman of the Indian Reform Society, came to Madras in October 1853 and visited Guntur, Cuddalore, Tiruchirappalli, Salem and Tirunelveli?
- A. H.D. SeymourCorrect
- B. William Digby
- C. A.O. Hume
- D. John Lawrence
Explanation. After the MNA petition was discussed in Parliament in March 1853, H.D. Seymour, Chairman of the Indian Reform Society, came to Madras in October 1853 and toured these places.
Q13
Assertion (A): The Indian National Congress demanded the complete separation of the Executive and the Judiciary.
Reason (R): English judges treated Indian political activists partially.
- A. Both A and R are true and R explains A.Correct
- B. Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
- C. A is true but R is false.
- D. A is false but R is true.
Explanation. Among its judicial demands, the INC asked for complete separation of the Executive and the Judiciary because of the partial treatment of Indian political activists by English judges. R is the reason for A.
Q14
Arrange the following in chronological order.
(i) Agitation in favour of the Ilbert Bill
(ii) Founding of the Indian National Congress
(iii) Protests against the Vernacular Press Act
(iv) Organisation of the Madras Mahajana Sabha
- A. iii, i, iv, iiCorrect
- B. i, iii, iv, ii
- C. iii, iv, i, ii
- D. iv, iii, i, ii
Explanation. The Vernacular Press Act protests came in 1878, the Ilbert Bill agitation in 1883, the Madras Mahajana Sabha in May 1884 and the INC on 28 December 1885.
Q15
According to Dadabhai Naoroji, the items that went in the name of Home Charges made up a loss of how much to India every year?
- A. 13 million pounds
- B. 30 million poundsCorrect
- C. 200 million pounds
- D. 3.5 million pounds
Explanation. Naoroji said profits to shareholders, railway interest, pensions and war loan interest, paid as Home Charges, made up a loss of 30 million pounds a year. 13 million pounds was the average yearly export of goods from 1835 to 1872.
Q16
On 27 July 1897, Bal Gangadhar Tilak was arrested and charged under
- A. the Vernacular Press Act
- B. the Ilbert Bill
- C. Section 124A of the Indian Penal CodeCorrect
- D. the Charter Act of 1853
Explanation. Tilak used his newspapers to call for national resistance against British rule. On 27 July 1897 he was arrested and charged under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code.
Q17
When the Indian National Congress was founded in 1885, what proportion of its members were journalists?
- A. One-half
- B. One-thirdCorrect
- C. One-fourth
- D. Two-thirds
Explanation. When the INC was founded in 1885, one-third of its members were journalists. Leaders such as Naoroji, Banerjea and Tilak used the press to spread nationalist ideas.
Q18
Which newspaper was edited by Surendranath Banerjea?
- A. Rast Goftar
- B. Kesari
- C. BengaleeCorrect
- D. Mahratta
Explanation. Surendranath Banerjea edited the Bengalee. Dadabhai Naoroji founded Voice of India and Rast Goftar, and Bal Gangadhar Tilak edited Kesari and Mahratta.
