THEME- Constitutional developments

STATEMENT 3 IS INCORRECT. proposing a partition of both the Punjab and Bengal as a bargaining tool with the Muslim League to deter from pursuing its agenda of a separate Muslim-majority homeland on religious grounds.

EXPLANATION-

o The Breakdown Plan was prepared by Lord Wavell and his closest circle of advisors to deal with the fast evolving political situation in India. Two main political tendencies had crystallized in post-War India: Keeping India as one geographic entity; the second one was diametrically opposed to it espoused by the Muslims who wanted an independent Muslim-majority state.

o Wavell‘s breakdown plan was formulated with two main goals in mind: Firstly a safe withdrawal of the British from India; secondly to avoid a partition of India by attempting to maintain it as one geographic entity.

o For the first goal Wavell suggested a phased withdrawal‘ from India which would be initiated from the Hindu-majority provinces of the south.

o The second goal was to be achieved by proposing a partition of both the Punjab and Bengal as a bargaining tool with the Muslim League to deter from pursuing its agenda of a separate Muslim-majority homeland on religious grounds.

o Although Wavell‘s overall plan was rejected in London parts of it were however incorporated in the final withdrawal plan laid down by Mountbatten Wavell‘s successor in his June 3 Plan. This included the partitioning of both the Bengal and the Punjab thus dealing a blow to Muslim interests in both those provinces.

THEME-EMINENT PERSONALITIES

ALL STATEMENTS ARE CORRCT.

EXPLANATION-Some of his Publications are as follows:Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidinor A Gift to Monotheists (1805)Vedanta (1815) Ishopanishad (1816)Kathopanishad (1817) Moonduk Upanishad (1819)The Precepts of Jesus – Guide to Peace and Happiness (1820)Sambad Kaumudi – a Bengali newspaper (1821)Mirat-ul-Akbar – Persian journal (1822)Gaudiya Byakaran (1826)Brahmapasona (1828) and Brahmasangeet (1829) andThe Universal Religion (1829).MORE ON RAJA RAM MOHAN ROYHe established Atmiya Sabha in 1815 which is seen as
precursor for socio-religious reforms in Bengal and thereby in India. Through
Atmiya Sabha he campaigned for the rights of women; he started opposing Sati System and Polygamy in Hindus demanded property inheritance rights for Women.In 1817 he founded Maha Patshala which came be to known as Hindu
College at Calcutta. This was re-named as Presidency College in 1855. He paved the way to revolutionizing education system in India in this college along with David Hare which later went on to become one of the best educational institutions in the country producing some of the best minds in India.In 1821 he established Sambad Kaumudi through which he
advocated for freedom of Press induction of Indians into High ranks and
separation of executive and judiciary. He also published a Persian news
Magazine the following year named Mirat-ul-AkbarHis efforts to combine true to the roots theological doctrines along with modern rational lessons saw him establish the Anglo-Vedic School in 1822 followed by the Vedanta College in 1826.In 1828 he established Brahmo Sabha along with Dwarkanath Tagore which later became Brahmo Samaj and was influential in bringing various
social reforms in India; with the efforts of this Sabha in 1829 Lord William
Bentinck abolished Sati through Regulation XVII. By this time he became a
well-known figure in India.

THEME-GHADAR MOVEMENTSIMILAR QUESTION HAS BEEN SKED IN PRELIMS.STATEMENT 3 IS INCORRECT.The founding president of Ghadar
Party was Sohan Singh Bhakna and Lala Hardayal was the co-founder of this
party.EXPLANATION-The Ghadar movement was attempt by the revolutionary leaders
of Ghadar party to launch a violent attack on British India. Outbreak of First
World War and the Komagata Maru incident served as the catalyst for the launch
of Ghadar movement. February 21 1915 was fixed as the date for armed revolt
across multiple locations in India.Original name of Ghadar Party was Pacific Coast Hindustan
Association. The founding president of Ghadar Party was Sohan Singh Bhakna and
Lala Hardayal was the co-founder of this party. Headquarters of the movement
were set up at Yugantar Ashram in San Francisco

THEME-CIVIL SERVICE IN INDIA

EXPLANATION-

Statement 1 is not correct: Lord Cornwallis is considered as the „Father of Indian Civil Services‟. He was the first to bring into existence and organise the civil services. In 1800 Wellesley setup the Fort William College for training of new recruits. In 1806 college was disapproved by the Court of Directors and instead the East India College was set up at Haileybury in England to impart two years‟ training to the recruit.

Statement 2 is correct: Lord Lytton reduced the age limit to 19 (1878) but on other hand he introduced Statutory Civil Service consisting of one sixth of covenanted posts to be filled by Indians of high families through nominations by local governments subject to approval by the secretary and the viceroy but the system failed and was abolished.

Aitchison Commission was setup in 1886 under the chairmanship of Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison so that Indians can get employment in public service.It gave some recommendations :-

Max age of entry = 23 yrs old

3 tier classification :- Imperial Provincial and Subordinate civil Services.

Abolishment of Statuary Civil Services.

Certain seats in Imperial to be filled from Provincial.

The statuary Civil Service was abolished in 1892.

Islington Commission was established in 1912 which was Royal Commission on Public Services in India.It gave following recommendations in 1915 :-

Services under Govt of India to be classified into Class1 and Class 2.

25 % of superior posts to be filled by Indians.

Probationary period of 2 yrs for direct recruits.

Recruitment to superior posts should be made partly in India and partly in England.

The Montagu-Chelmsford Report accepted in principle the demand for Indianisation of the higher civil services and accordingly a provision for this was made in the Government of India Act 1919.

From 1922 Onwards ICS exam began to be held in India.

The Royal Commission of the Superior Civil Service in India under the Chairmanship of Lord Lee in its 1924 Report recommended setting up of Public Service Commission of India. The Public Service Commission of India was set up on 1st October 1926 under the Chairmanship of Sir Ross Barker.

THEME-WAVELL PLANSIMILAR QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED IN PRELIMS.STATEMENT 1 AND 3 ARE INCORRECT. EXPLANATION-· STATEMENT 1 IS INCORRECT- As per the the Wavell’s
plan the Indian representation in the Viceroy’s executive council was not just
half. It proposed that except for governor general and commander in chief all
the members of executive council to be Indians.· STATEMENT 2 IS CORRECT-Hindus and Muslims to have
equal representation and the league demanded that all the Muslim
representatives to be its nominees.· STATEMENT 3 IS INCORRECT-It did not propose for
immediate setting up of constituent assembly. It proposed for new constitution
once the war is won.

THEME-STUDENT MOVEMENT IN INDIASTATEMENT 1 IS INCORRECT.The student’s scientific and
historic society was founded by Dadabhai Naoroji in 1848 as a discussion forum.
This forum is considered as the beginning student movement in India.EXPLANATION-1. The student’s scientific and historic society was founded
by Dadabhai Naoroji in 1848 as a discussion forum. This forum is considered as
the beginning student movement in India.2. The student strike at King Edward Medical College Lahore
was the first student strike regarding academic discrimination between the
English people and Indians.3. The realm of student movement increases between 1906 and
1918 when 184 persons out of 68 were students are convicted in Bengal in
connection with revolutionary activities.4. Swadesi Movement (1905): This movement organised the
student movement in India and gave a revolutionary outlook such as boycott
colleges as well as British Goods Student clubs.5. In 1912 All India College students Conference of
Ahmedabad nailed the student commitment to work for the freedom of the India
and gives moto of ‘Charka Swaraj first and education after”.6. Student Christian Movement of India (SCM) was started in
1912 against western colonialism with an aim to orient the students with
Christian Faith through social realities.

THEME-EMINENT PERSONALITIESSTATEMENT 3 IS INCORRECT. In 1919 he led the first peasant
protest against the landlords and by 1920 had organised all the farmers
associations in Oudh forming the Oudh Kisan Sabha (Oudh Farmers’ Association).
He was arrested on a number of occasions for organising public protests.EXPLANATION-Baba Ram Chandra (born 1864) was an Indian trade unionist
who organised the farmers of Oudh India into forming a united front to fight
against the abuses of landlords in 1920s and 1930s. He was also an influential
figure in the history of Fiji and owed his inspiration to take up the cause of
the down-trodden to his 12 years as an indentured labourer in Fiji and to his
efforts to end the indenture system. He moved around the region with a copy of the Ramayana under
his arm blending readings from this popular Hindu epic with denunciations of
both the British Raj and the landlords and appealed to the peasants to act
together against their exploiters. Although he began by seeking to harmonise
tenant-landlord relations Ram Chandra soon considered this to be a wasted
effort and began to mobilise the peasants. He encouraged peasants to pay only
the required rent and refrain from customary donations. In 1919 he led the
first peasant protest against the landlords and by 1920 had organised all the
farmers associations in Oudh forming the Oudh Kisan Sabha (Oudh Farmers’
Association). He was arrested on a number of occasions for organising public
protests.He tried to get the support of Nehru and other Indian
National Congress leaders to fight for the rights of the farmers but was disappointed
to discover that the Congress with its urban-based leadership was concerned
only with independence and did not seem to understand the needs of the
peasants.

THEME-CAPITALSIT CLASS IN FREEDOM STRUGGLE.

BOTH STATEMENTS ARE INCORRECT. Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in 1927 with a large and rapidly increasing representation from all parts of India.

The FICCI was soon recognized by the British government as well as the Indian public in general as representing the dominant opinion as well as the overall consensus within the Indian capitalist class.

EXPLANATION-

Since the early 1920s efforts were being made by various capitalists like G.D. Birla and Purshottamdas Thakurdas to establish a national level organization of Indian commercial industrial and financial interests to be able to effectively lobby with the colonial government. This effort culminated in the formation of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in 1927 with a large and rapidly increasing representation from all parts of India.

The FICCI was soon recognized by the British government as well as the Indian public in general as representing the dominant opinion as well as the overall consensus within the Indian capitalist class.

The FICCI was however not to remain merely a sort of trade union organization of the capitalist class fighting for its own economic demands and those of the nation. The leaders of the capitalist class clearly saw the necessity of and felt strong enough for the class to effectively intervene in politics.

THEME- INC

STATEMENT 1 IS INCORRECT. Multiple aims of INC were declared during the first session including promotion of friendly relations between nationalist political workers throughout India development of feeling of national unity etc.

EXPLANATION-

Multiple aims of INC were declared during the first session.

The initial aims and objectives of the congress were

1. To flourish solidarity and friendship amongst the people of India.

2. To eradicate all the prevailing cast creed race or province related prejudices from the country.

3. To strengthen the feelings of National unity.

4. Consideration of the opinions of educated classes on the issues related to the problems of society.

5. To formulate guidelines for future plan of action in the public interest.

STATEMENT 2 IS CORRECT-Congress delegates were elected by different local organizations and groups.

STATEMENT 3 IS CORRECT-A British committee of the INC was founded in 1889 in Britain which started a journal called India in 1890. It followed the work of W.C. Bonnerjee and Dadabhoi Naoroji who raised India related issues in the British parliament through the support of radical MPs like Charles Bradlaugh. William Wedderburn served as the first chairmanship and William Digby as secretary.

Tikdam:

Statement 2 and 3 looks tough.However using logic we can solve this question easily without knowing the other 2 statements. Now the statement 1 looks very extreme.How can a Congress meeting have just 1 aim.Once we eliminate statement 1 we will automatically arrive at the correct answer.

THEME-EDUCATION DURING BRITISH RULEExplanation: Education during British India Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Orientalists opined that
western sciences and literature should be taught to prepare students to take up
jobs emphasis should be placed on expansion of traditional Indian learning. Statement 2 is correct: Even the Anglicists were divided
over the question of medium of instruction-one faction was for English language
as the medium while the other faction was for Indian languages (vernaculars)
for the purpose. Statement 3 is Incorrect: Hunter’s Commission strongly
recommended the promotion of both technical and women’s education in India. Statement 4 is Incorrect: Universities of Calcutta Madras
and Bombay were established on the recommendations of Wood’s Dispatch. Lord Macaulay’s Minute (1835) this famous minute settled the
row in favor of Anglicists- the limited government resources were to be devoted
to teaching of western sciences and literature through the medium of English
language alone. Lord Macaulay held the view that Indian learning was inferior
to European learning-which was true as far as physical and social sciences in
the contemporary stage were concerned. The Government soon made English as the medium of
instruction in its schools and colleges and opened a few English schools and
colleges instead of a large number of elementary schools thus neglecting mass
education.

THEME-LYTON

EXPLANATION-

· Lord Lytton the Viceroy of India from 1876-1880 is notoriously known for his Vernacular Press Act of 1878 and the Arms Act of 1878. He also undertook some reforms in administration such as:

· He introduced uniform salt tax throughout British India. Hence statement 1 is correct.

· He also abolished many import duties and supported the Free Trade Policy. This had seriously affected the Indian economic interest.

· In 1878 the Statutory Civil Service was established exclusively for Indians but this was abolished later. Hence statement 2 is correct.

· The system of decentralisation of finance that had begun in the time of Lord Mayo was continued during the time of Lord Lytton. The provincial governments were empowered with some control over the expenditure of all provincial matters like land-revenue excise stamps law and justice. Lytton wanted to encourage the provinces in collecting the revenue and thereby strengthen the financial power and position of the provinces. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

THEME-Swarajaya PartySTATEMENT 1 IS INCORRECT.The Swarajaya Party was a political
party formed in India in March 1923. The Gaya session of INC (December 1922)
rejected council entry and did not provide for setting up of Swarajya Party.EXPLANATION-o Its main objective was to enter the legislative council
with a view to obstructing their functioning. The important leaders were
Chittaranjan Das Motilal Nehru Vithalbhai Patel and Hakim Ajmal Khan. Hence
statement 2 is correct.Swaraj Party was formed by Motilal Nehru and Chittaranjandas
and was named as Congress-Khilafat Swarajaya Partyin 1922.It also claimed to be
an integral part of the Congress and professes its adherence to Non-Violence
& Non-Cooperation Movement and decided to boycott the legislatures.Aims of the Swaraj PartyAttaining dominion status.Obtaining the right to frame a constitution.Establishing control over the bureaucracy.Obtaining full provincial autonomy.Attaining Swarajya (self-rule).Getting people the right to control government machinery.Organising industrial and agricultural labour.Controlling the local and municipal bodies.Having an agency for propaganda outside the country.Establishing a federation of Asian countries to promote
trade and commerce.Engaging in the constructive programmes of the Congress.

THEME-EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN British IndiaEXPLANATION-o The Government of India Act 1935 introduced provincial
autonomy and popular ministries started functioning from 1937.The Indian
National Congress set at work to evolve a national scheme of education for the
country called the Wardha scheme of education.o The aim of the basic education was to develop the
qualities of the ideal citizenship and more aspect should be give to the Indian
culture than the literacy. Alsoo There was no place for English in the curriculum.o There was no place for religious education in this scheme.
Hence statement 1 is correct.o The scheme centred around ‘manual productive work’ which
might cover the remuneration of the teachers. It envisaged a seven year course
through the mother tongue of the students. This scheme was opposed by Muslim
League.o It focused on courses through mother tongue of students.
Hence statement 2 is correct.o Special Board for women education was recommended and
established at Calcutta University by Sadler commission 1917-19. Hence
statement 3 is not correct.

THEME- INDIAN PRESSSTATEMENT 2 IS INCORRECT. The English East India Company set
up their first printing press in BOMBAY (NOT CALCUTTA).EXPLANATION-o J. A. Hickey published the newspaper The first newspaper
in India was The Bengal Gazette.to criticise the malpractices and abuse of
private trading by the company’s servants.The Portuguese were the first European nation to bring a
printing press in India.The English East India Company set up their first printing
press in BOMBAY.The evolution of Indian Press is discussed below:Lord Wellesley enacted Censorship of Press Act 1799It was enacted by the Lord Wellesley anticipating French
invasion of India. It imposed almost wartime press restrictions including
pre-censorship which was later relaxed by the Lord hasting.Licensing Regulations 1823It was enacted by the John Adams. According to this
regulation press without licence was a penal offence. The restriction was
directed mainly to Indian language newspapers or those edited by the Indians.Press Act of 1835 or Metcalfe ActMetcalfe (Governor General – 1835 – 36) repealed the
obnoxious 1823 ordinance and was named “liberator of the Indian press”Licensing Act 1857This act imposed licensing restriction and the right to stop
publication and circulation of book newspaper or printed matter reserved with
the Government.Registration Act 1867This act relaxed the restrictions put by Metcalf‘s Act of
1835 and hence states that Government acts as regulatory not restrictive body.Vernacular Press Act 1878It was constituted for ‘better control’ of the vernacular
press and effectively punished and repressed seditious writing. The provisions
of the Act are given below:1. The district magistrate was empowered to call upon the
printer and publisher of any vernacular newspaper to enter into a bond with the
Government undertaking not to cause disaffection against the government or
antipathy between persons of different religions caste race through published
material; the printer and publisher could also be required to deposit security
which could be seized if the offences reoccurred.2. The magistrate’s action was final and no appeal could be
made in a court of law.3. A vernacular newspaper could get an exemption from the
operation of the Act by submitting proof to a government censor.Newspaper (Incitement to Offences) Act 1908This act empowered the magistrates to confiscate press
property which published objectionable material likely to cause incitement to
murder/acts of violence against the Extremist nationalist activity.Indian Press Act 1910This act was a revision of the Vernacular Act that empowered
the local government to demand a security at registration from the printer/publisher
and forfeit/deregister if it was an offending newspaper and the printer of a
newspaper was required to submit two copies of each issue to local government

THEME-Young Bengal

Statement 2 is incorrect

EXPLANATION-

Young Bengal posed an intellectual challenge to the religious and social orthodoxy of Hinduism. They stood for a number of social reforms such as the prohibition of caste taboos child marriagekulin polygamy or the prohibition on ban on widow remarriage.

The Derozians carried forward Roy’s tradition of public education on social economic and political questions. For instancethey demanded induction of Indians in higher grades of services protection of ryots from oppressive zamindars better treatment to Indian labour abroad in British colonies revision of the Company’s charter freedom of press and trial by jury.

THEME-DOL

STATEMENT 3 IS INCORRECT.The adopted son would also not be entitled to any pension that his father had been receiving or to any of his father’s titles.

EXPLANATION-

The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy followed widely by Lord Dalhousie when he was India’s Governor-General from 1848 to 1856.

Features of Doctrine of Lapse

• According to this any princely state under the direct or indirect (as a vassal) control of the East India Company where the ruler did not have a legal male heir would be annexed by the company.

• This was not introduced by Lord Dalhousie even though it was he who documented it and used it widely to acquire territories for the British.

• As per this any adopted son of the Indian ruler could not be proclaimed as heir to the kingdom. The adopted son would only inherit his foster father’s personal property and estates.

• The adopted son would also not be entitled to any pension that his father had been receiving or to any of his father’s titles.

• This challenged the Indian ruler’s long-held authority to appoint an heir of their choice.

States annexed by the Doctrine of Lapse

In 1824 before the time of Dalhousie the princely state of Kittur was acquired by the East India Company by this doctrine.

Other states were also annexed in 1830’s and 1840’s through this doctrine.

After Dalhousie became the Governor-General in 1848 Satara was acquired as per this doctrine.

Other major states annexed by the British as per the Doctrine of Lapse:

Jaipur – 1849

Sambhalpur – 1849

Udaipur – 1852

Jhansi – 1853

Nagpur – 1854

It was as per this policy that Nana Sahib the adopted son of the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II was denied his titles and pension.

THEME-MODERATES

EXPLANATION

o Statement 1 is correct: They urged the development of agricultural banks to save the peasant from the clutches of the moneylender. They wanted the government to undertake a large-scale programme of extension of irrigation for the development of agriculture and to save the country from famines.

o Statement 2 is correct: They also agitated for improvement in the working conditions of the plantation labourers. They declared high taxation to be one of the causes of India‟s poverty and demanded the abolition of the salt tax and the reduction of land revenue. They condemned the high military expenditure of the Government of India and demanded its reduction.

o Statement 3 is incorrect: Moderates never wanted abolition of Zamindari system.

Tikdam:

Now most of you must be aware with the fact that most of the early moderate leaders belonged to the landed class.They were conservative wrt to economic policies.Therefore it is not possible that they would have demanded abolition of zamindari which would have hurted there own interest.Once we will abolish statement 3 we will automatically arrive at the correct answer.

THEME- British Army in India

All the statements correct.

EXPLANATION-

o British Army in India fulfilled following important functions:

§ It was the instrument through which the Indian powers and territories were conquered. It handled peasant rebellions against high revenue demands.

§ It defended the British Empire in India from foreign rivals.

§ It protected the empire against real or imagined internal threats.

§ It was the chief instrument for extending and defending the British Empire in Asia and Africa.

§ It collected information about Indian society and economy.

THEME-PSSSTATEMENT 2 IS INCORRECT. He was inspired by the British
model of farming where feudal lords were permanent owners of land. However he
was criticised by other British administrators for not paying heed to Indian
tradition and experience.EXPLANATION-o Lord Cornwallis introduced Permanent Settlement in Bengal
that fixed land revenue which Cornwallis thought would encourage the
landholders to invest in modernisation of agriculture. He was inspired by the
British model of farming where feudal lords were permanent owners of land.
However he was criticised by other British administrators for not paying heed
to Indian tradition and experience.Zamindari System was introduced by Cornwallis in 1793
through Permanent Settlement Act.It was introduced in provinces of Bengal Bihar Orissa and
Varanasi.Also known as Permanent Settlement System.Zamindars were recognized as owner of the lands. Zamindars
were given the rights to collect the rent from the peasants.The realized amount would be divided into 11 parts. 1/11 of
the share belongs to Zamindars and 10/11 of the share belongs to East India
Company.

THEME-SWADESHI MOVEMENTSIMILAR QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED IN PRELIMS.ALL STATEMENTS ARE CORRECT.EXPLANATION-o During Swadeshi Movement the political ideas and
propagandas was spread through pamphlets and journals. The Hitabadi led by Dwijendernath Tagore Sanjibani led by Krishan Kumar Mitra (first to give the
idea of boycott) and Bengalee by Surenderanath Banerjee.o Other newspapers/journals were – Motilal Ghosh’s Amrit Bazar
Patrika; Brahm Bandhav Upadhyay’s Sandhya (it was the most outspoken
newspaper); Aurbindo Ghosh’s Vande Mataram 1907 (gave the concept of passive
resistance) .