Modern History of India MCQs with Answers and Explanations

Question #1

Share Report

Who among the following was the first Governor-General of Bengal?

A. Lord Wellesley

B. Warren Hastings

C. Lord Cornwallis

D. Robert Clive

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
The Regulating Act of 1773 designated the Governor of Bengal as the Governor-General of Bengal, and Warren Hastings became the first person to hold this post.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #2

Share Report

Through which of the following acts did the British Crown completely assume the direct administration of British India, bringing an end to the rule of the East India Company?

A. Government of India Act 1858

B. Regulating Act of 1773

C. Charter Act of 1833

D. Indian Councils Act 1861

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
Following the Revolt of 1857, the Government of India Act 1858 liquidated the East India Company and transferred the governance of India directly to the British Crown.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #3

Share Report

The Battle of Plassey was fought in which year?

A. 1748

B. 1757

C. 1764

D. 1761

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
The Battle of Plassey was fought on June 23, 1757, between the forces of Siraj-ud-Daulah (the Nawab of Bengal) and the British East India Company led by Robert Clive.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #4

Share Report

Which British Governor-General introduced the Subsidiary Alliance system in India to establish British supremacy?

A. Lord Wellesley

B. Lord Cornwallis

C. Lord Dalhousie

D. Lord William Bentinck

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
The Subsidiary Alliance system was framed by Lord Wellesley (Governor-General from 1798 to 1805) to eliminate French influence and expand British territory in India.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #5

Share Report

Who among the following founded the 'Atmiya Sabha' in 1815?

A. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

B. Raja Ram Mohan Roy

C. Swami Vivekananda

D. Debendranath Tagore

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Atmiya Sabha in Calcutta in 1815 to propagate monotheistic ideals and campaign against socio-religious evils.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #6

Share Report

The permanent settlement system of land revenue was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 primarily in which provinces?

A. Central Provinces and Berar

B. Bombay and Madras

C. Bengal and Bihar

D. Punjab and Awadh

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
The Permanent Settlement (Zamindari System) was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 in Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and northern districts of Madras.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #7

Share Report

Who was the Mughal Emperor when the East India Company was granted the Diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha in 1765?

A. Farrukhsiyar

B. Muhammad Shah

C. Bahadur Shah II

D. Shah Alam II

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
Following the Battle of Buxar, Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the Diwani rights (right to collect revenues) of Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha to the Company via the Treaty of Allahabad in 1765.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #8

Share Report

Which of the following treaties brought an end to the First Anglo-Maratha War?

A. Treaty of Purandar

B. Treaty of Surat

C. Treaty of Salbai

D. Treaty of Bassein

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
The First Anglo-Maratha War (1775–1782) ended with the Treaty of Salbai, signed in May 1782 between Warren Hastings and Mahadji Shinde.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #9

Share Report

The Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy extensively applied by which Governor-General?

A. Lord Curzon

B. Lord Hastings

C. Lord Auckland

D. Lord Dalhousie

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
Lord Dalhousie applied the Doctrine of Lapse to annex Indian princely states whose rulers died without a natural male heir. Satara, Sambalpur, Jhansi, and Nagpur were annexed under this policy.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #10

Share Report

The practice of Sati was officially declared illegal and punishable by law during the tenure of which Governor-General?

A. Lord Amherst

B. Lord Ellenborough

C. Lord William Bentinck

D. Lord Canning

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
The Bengal Sati Regulation was passed in 1829 by Governor-General Lord William Bentinck, largely due to the sustained social reform efforts of Raja Ram Mohan Roy.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #11

Share Report

Who was the leader of the Santhal Rebellion of 1855–56?

A. Tirutsing

B. Birsa Munda

C. Sidhu and Kanhu

D. Alluri Sitarama Raju

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
The Santhal rebellion against the oppressive zamindari system and British East India Company rule in Jharkhand/Bengal was led by two brothers, Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #12

Share Report

The historic Revolt of 1857 officially commenced from which of the following military stations?

A. Barrackpore

B. Delhi

C. Ambala

D. Meerut

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
While Mangal Pandey mutinied earlier at Barrackpore, the mutiny explicitly erupted as a large-scale rebellion on May 10, 1857, at the military station of Meerut.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #13

Share Report

Who was the British Governor-General during the Revolt of 1857?

A. Lord Lawrence

B. Lord Dalhousie

C. Lord Elgin

D. Lord Canning

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
Lord Canning served as the Governor-General of India during the rebellion of 1857, subsequently becoming India's first Viceroy under the 1858 Act.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #14

Share Report

Who led the anti-British rebel forces in Lucknow during the 1857 uprising?

A. Kunwar Singh

B. Khan Bahadur

C. Begum Hazrat Mahal

D. Rani Laxmibai

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
Begum Hazrat Mahal, wife of the deposed ruler Wajid Ali Shah, organized the rebellion and led the forces against the British at Lucknow.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #15

Share Report

Who among the following was the founder of the 'Satyashodhak Samaj' in Maharashtra?

A. Bal Gangadhar Tilak

B. Mahadev Govind Ranade

C. Jyotirao Phule

D. Atmaram Pandurang

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-seekers' Society) in Pune in 1873 to challenge Brahmanical hegemony and champion the rights of lower castes and women.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #16

Share Report

In which year was the Vernacular Press Act passed, severely curbing the freedom of Indian-language newspapers?

A. 1872

B. 1878

C. 1875

D. 1882

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option B

Explanation:
The Vernacular Press Act was enacted by Viceroy Lord Lytton in 1878 to suppress critical local press reporting, particularly targeted at the Amrita Bazar Patrika.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #17

Share Report

Who was the Viceroy of India when the Indian National Congress was founded in December 1885?

A. Lord Lytton

B. Lord Ripon

C. Lord Lansdowne

D. Lord Dufferin

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option D

Explanation:
Lord Dufferin served as the Viceroy of India from 1884 to 1888, which is the exact period during which the Indian National Congress was formed.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #18

Share Report

The first session of the Indian National Congress in 1885 was presided over by whom?

A. Dinshaw Wacha

B. Allan Octavian Hume

C. Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee

D. Dadabhai Naoroji

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option C

Explanation:
The inaugural session of the Indian National Congress was held at Bombay in December 1885 and was presided over by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee (W.C. Bonnerjee).

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #19

Share Report

Who propounded the 'Drain of Wealth' theory in his book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'?

A. Dadabhai Naoroji

B. M. G. Ranade

C. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

D. Romesh Chunder Dutt

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
Dadabhai Naoroji, known as the 'Grand Old Man of India', put forward the Drain of Wealth theory, arguing that Britain was systematically draining India's resources.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Question #20

Share Report

Which Viceroy of India was responsible for ordering the Partition of Bengal in 1905?

A. Lord Curzon

B. Lord Hardinge

C. Lord Minto

D. Lord Chelmsford

View Answer & Solution Discuss

Get Complete Subject PDF for History GK

Correct Answer: Option A

Explanation:
Lord Curzon issued the order for the partition of Bengal in July 1905, separating the Muslim-majority eastern areas from the Hindu-majority western areas, triggering the Swadeshi Movement.

This question belongs to: History GK Modern History of India

Modern History of India MCQs

Practice Questions

More History GK Topics