1. Who was the first Prime Minister of independent India?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Indira Gandhi
c) Lal Bahadur Shastri
d) Rajendra Prasad
Answer: a) Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister of independent India, serving from 1947 to 1964.
2. What was the main objective behind the adoption of the Constitution of India in 1950?
a) To make India a republic
b) To ensure equal rights for all citizens
c) To eliminate poverty
d) To introduce a uniform civil code
Answer: b) To ensure equal rights for all citizens
Explanation: The Constitution of India was adopted to ensure fundamental rights and equality for all citizens of the country.
3. The first general elections in India were held in which year?
a) 1951-52
b) 1950
c) 1955
d) 1947
Answer: a) 1951-52
Explanation: The first general elections in India were held between October 1951 and February 1952, and they were the largest election in the world at that time.
4. Which economic policy was followed by the Government of India after independence?
a) Mixed Economy
b) Capitalism
c) Socialism
d) Laissez-faire
Answer: a) Mixed Economy
Explanation: India adopted a mixed economy, combining elements of both socialism and capitalism, to address its socio-economic needs.
5. The Indian Independence Act of 1947 was passed by which British institution?
a) The British Parliament
b) The House of Lords
c) The British Prime Minister’s Office
d) The British Cabinet
Answer: a) The British Parliament
Explanation: The Indian Independence Act of 1947 was passed by the British Parliament, which marked the legal end of British rule in India.
6. Which partition led to the creation of Pakistan?
a) The Lahore Partition
b) The Bengal Partition
c) The Partition of Punjab and Bengal
d) The Gujarat Partition
Answer: c) The Partition of Punjab and Bengal
Explanation: The Partition of India in 1947 resulted in the division of Punjab and Bengal into India and Pakistan, leading to the creation of Pakistan.
7. Who was the first President of independent India?
a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
b) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
c) Dr. Zakir Husain
d) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Explanation: Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of India, serving from 1950 to 1962.
8. What was the major challenge faced by India in its early years after independence?
a) Natural calamities
b) Partition and refugee rehabilitation
c) Global economic recession
d) Lack of diplomatic recognition
Answer: b) Partition and refugee rehabilitation
Explanation: The partition of India in 1947 led to mass migration, communal violence, and the rehabilitation of millions of refugees, a major challenge faced by the newly independent nation.
9. What was the significance of the Green Revolution in India?
a) It led to industrial growth
b) It transformed India’s agricultural sector
c) It introduced new social policies
d) It focused on space research
Answer: b) It transformed India’s agricultural sector
Explanation: The Green Revolution, initiated in the 1960s, introduced high-yielding varieties of crops, irrigation, and better farming techniques, transforming India into a self-sufficient country in food production.
10. In which year did India become a republic?
a) 1947
b) 1948
c) 1950
d) 1952
Answer: c) 1950
Explanation: India officially became a republic on January 26, 1950, when the Constitution of India came into effect.
11. Who was the first woman Prime Minister of India?
a) Sarojini Naidu
b) Indira Gandhi
c) Vijayalakshmi Pandit
d) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
Answer: b) Indira Gandhi
Explanation: Indira Gandhi became the first woman Prime Minister of India, serving from 1966 to 1977 and then again from 1980 to 1984.
12. What was the first major war fought by India after independence?
a) 1962 India-China War
b) 1948 Kashmir War
c) 1965 India-Pakistan War
d) 1971 India-Pakistan War
Answer: b) 1948 Kashmir War
Explanation: The first major war India fought after independence was in 1948 against Pakistan over the Kashmir issue, shortly after the partition.
13. What is the significance of the National Emergency declared in 1975?
a) It was a response to floods and droughts
b) It was a result of external aggression
c) It was declared during a period of political unrest
d) It was declared to fight inflation
Answer: c) It was declared during a period of political unrest
Explanation: The National Emergency was declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975, citing internal disturbances, which allowed for the suspension of civil liberties and curtailing of political opposition.
14. The “Quit India Movement” was launched in which year?
a) 1942
b) 1945
c) 1930
d) 1921
Answer: a) 1942
Explanation: The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942, demanding an immediate end to British rule in India.
15. Which of the following was a major economic achievement of India after independence?
a) Reduction in unemployment
b) Abolition of feudal systems
c) Attainment of food self-sufficiency
d) Creation of a monopoly on cotton production
Answer: c) Attainment of food self-sufficiency
Explanation: Through efforts like the Green Revolution, India achieved food self-sufficiency by the 1970s and became one of the largest producers of food grains.
16. Which event was a turning point in India’s foreign policy after independence?
a) India’s non-alignment policy
b) India’s entry into the UN
c) India’s nuclear tests in 1974
d) Signing of the Panchsheel Agreement
Answer: a) India’s non-alignment policy
Explanation: India’s policy of non-alignment was a defining aspect of its foreign policy after independence, wherein it did not align itself with any of the major power blocs during the Cold War.
17. Who was the first woman to be awarded the Bharat Ratna?
a) Sarojini Naidu
b) Indira Gandhi
c) Mother Teresa
d) Kasturba Gandhi
Answer: c) Mother Teresa
Explanation: Mother Teresa was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1980 for her work with the poor and sick, particularly in Kolkata.
18. In which year was the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) founded?
a) 1948
b) 1969
c) 1957
d) 1952
Answer: b) 1969
Explanation: ISRO was founded in 1969 under the leadership of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, aiming to harness space technology for India’s development.
19. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 resulted in the creation of which country?
a) Bangladesh
b) Sri Lanka
c) Pakistan
d) Nepal
Answer: a) Bangladesh
Explanation: The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 resulted in the defeat of Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh as an independent country.
20. Who was the first woman President of India?
a) Sarojini Naidu
b) Indira Gandhi
c) Pratibha Patil
d) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
Answer: c) Pratibha Patil
Explanation: Pratibha Patil became the first woman President of India, serving from 2007 to 2012.
21. The Green Revolution in India focused primarily on which aspect?
a) Industrial growth
b) Agricultural productivity
c) Scientific research
d) Space technology
Answer: b) Agricultural productivity
Explanation: The Green Revolution focused on increasing agricultural productivity through the introduction of high-yielding varieties, fertilizers, and irrigation.
22. What was the major reason for the adoption of the policy of planned development in India?
a) To promote industrial growth
b) To enhance the agricultural sector
c) To reduce poverty and unemployment
d) To boost the economy through imports
Answer: c) To reduce poverty and unemployment
Explanation: The policy of planned development was aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment while fostering balanced economic growth.
23. When did India test its first nuclear bomb?
a) 1974
b) 1982
c) 1991
d) 2000
Answer: a) 1974
Explanation: India conducted its first successful nuclear test, codenamed “Smiling Buddha,” in 1974 at Pokhran in Rajasthan.
24. Who was the architect of India’s economic reforms in the 1990s?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Indira Gandhi
c) P. V. Narasimha Rao
d) Manmohan Singh
Answer: d) Manmohan Singh
Explanation: Manmohan Singh, as Finance Minister under Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, played a key role in implementing the economic reforms of 1991.
25. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Unity Day is celebrated on which date?
a) October 31
b) November 14
c) December 25
d) January 26
Answer: a) October 31
Explanation: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Unity Day is celebrated on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, to honor his contribution to unifying India.
26. Which significant law was passed by India’s Parliament in 1955?
a) Hindu Marriage Act
b) Indian Constitution
c) Right to Information Act
d) Wildlife Protection Act
Answer: a) Hindu Marriage Act
Explanation: The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 was passed to regulate the legal aspects of marriage within the Hindu community in India.
27. Which was the first state in India to be formed on linguistic lines?
a) Tamil Nadu
b) Andhra Pradesh
c) Maharashtra
d) Kerala
Answer: b) Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: Andhra Pradesh was the first state formed in India based on linguistic lines in 1953, following the demand for a separate Telugu-speaking state.
28. The success of which movement was a significant step toward ending untouchability in India?
a) Khilafat Movement
b) Non-Cooperation Movement
c) Bhoodan Movement
d) Harijan Movement
Answer: d) Harijan Movement
Explanation: The Harijan Movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi, aimed at eradicating untouchability and improving the social and economic status of Dalits (Harijans).
29. The “Operation Blue Star” was an operation to remove militants from which place?
a) Kashmir
b) Punjab
c) Assam
d) Kerala
Answer: b) Punjab
Explanation: Operation Blue Star, carried out in 1984, was aimed at removing militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab.
30. In which year was India’s first railway line inaugurated?
a) 1853
b) 1860
c) 1875
d) 1895
Answer: a) 1853
Explanation: India’s first railway line was inaugurated on April 16, 1853, between Mumbai and Thane, marking the beginning of India’s railway network.
These questions cover a wide range of topics related to the challenges and achievements of India after independence.
