1. Which of the following is/are the features of Swadeshi movement?

1)Emphasis on self-reliance
2)Extensive participation of the peasantry
3)Cultural revivalism
Select the correct answer code:

a) 3 only
b) 2, 3
c) 1, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

Solution: c)

Among the several forms of struggle thrown up by the movement were

• Boycott of foreign goods: This included boycott and public burning of foreign cloth, boycott of foreign made salt or sugar, refusal by washermen to wash foreign clothes.
• Public meetings and processions: These emerged as major methods of mass mobilisation.
• Corps of volunteers or ‘samitis: Samitis such as the Swadesh Bandhab Samiti of Ashwini Kumar Dutta emerged as a very popular .
• Imaginative use of traditional popular festivals and, melas: As a means of reaching out to the masses and spreading political messages. For instance, Tilak’s Ganapati and Shivaji festivals
• Emphasis given to self-reliance or ‘atma shakti: This implied reassertion of national dignity, honour and confidence and social and economic regeneration of the villages
• There was limited participation of peasantry.

2. Consider the following statements regarding Quit India Movement.

1)The Quit India movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942.
2)The Congress was declared an unlawful association.
3)The entire movement was violentwith raids and setting fire at post offices, government buildings and railway stations.
Which of the above statement was incorrect?

a) 1, 3
b) 2, 3
c) 3 only
d) none of the above

Solution: c)

• It was in 1942 when the world was going through the havoc caused by World War II. India too was facing the heat and after the Cripps Mission had failed, and on 8 August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi made a Do or Die callthrough the Quit India movement.
• The Congress was declared an unlawful association, leaders were arrested and its offices all over the country were raided and their funds were frozen.
• The first half of the movement was peaceful with demonstrations and processions.
• The second half of the movement was violent with raids and setting fire at post offices, government buildings and railway stations. Lord Linlithgow adopted the policy of violence.

3. Consider the following events.

1)Munda Rebellion
2)Bodo Movement
3)Santhal rebellion
4)Kuki Uprising
Arrange the above in the chronological order and select the correct answer codes:

a) 2-4-1-3
b) 4-2-1-3
c) 3-1-2-4
d) 3-1-4-2

Solution: d)

• The Santhal rebellion (June 30, 1855 to January 3, 1856): Also known as the Santhal Hool, it was a native rebellion in eastern India against both the British colonial authority and zamindari system by the Santhal people.
• The Munda Rebellion: Birsa Munda led the movement in the region south of Ranchi in 1899-1900, seeking the establishment of Munda Raj and independence after the system of khuntkattidar was corroded by the jagirdars and thikadars who came as moneylenders and as traders.
• 1917-1919 Kuki Uprising in Manipur against British colonialism under the leadership of their chieftains called haosa.
• The Bodo Movement: The official movement of the Bodos for an independent state of Bodoland started under the leadership of Upendranath Brahma of All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) on March 2, 1987.

4. Kuka Revolt of Punjab is aimed at

a) Achieve justice for the martyrs of Punjab in the 1857 Revolt
b) Freeing the Gurdwaras (Sikh temples) from the control of ignorant and corrupt Mahants
c) Making Sikh land independent from British control
d) Reforming the Sikh religion by removing all the abuses, superstitions and ill-practices

Solution: d)

The Kuka Movement was founded in 1840 by Bhagat Jawahar Mal (also called Sian Saheb) in western Punjab.

A major leader of the movement after him was Baba Ram Singh. (He founded the Namdhari Sikh sect.)

After the British took Punjab, the movement got transformed from a religious purification campaign to a political campaign.

5. Consider the following statements regarding Buddhism.

1) The membership for Sangha was open to all persons without any caste restrictions.
2) Buddhism made rapid progress in North India only after the death of Buddha.
3)Ashok spread Buddhism into West Asia and Ceylon.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2
b) 1, 3
c) 2, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

Solution: b)

• Buddha had two kinds of disciples – monks (bhikshus) and lay worshippers (upasikas).
• The monks were organized into the Sangha for the purpose of spreading his teachings.
• The membership was open to all persons, male or female and without any caste restrictions.
• Owing to the organised efforts made by the Sangha, Buddhism made rapid progress in North India even during Buddha’s life time.
• The Mauryan Emperor Asoka embraced Buddhism. Through his missionary effort Asoka spread Buddhism into West Asia and Ceylon.

6.The term ‘Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT)’ is often seen in news in association with India and

a) Bangladesh
b) Myanmar
c) Nepal
d) Bhutan

Solution (a)

An Inland water transit and trade protocol exists between India and Bangladesh under which inland vessels of one country can transit through the specified routes of the other country.

7. Consider the following statements with respect to ‘ICEDASH’

1)It is launched by Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
2)It was launched for improved monitoring and pace of Customs clearance of imported goods and facilitating arriving international passenger by electronic filing of Customs baggage and currency declarations.
Select the correct statements

a) 1 Only
b) 2 Only
c) Both
d) None

Solution (b)

• Ministry of Finance unveiled two new IT initiatives – ICEDASH and ATITHI – for improved monitoring and pace of Customs clearance of imported goods and facilitating arriving international passengers by electronic filing of Customs baggage and currency declarations.
• ICEDASH is an Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) monitoring dashboard of the Indian Customs helping public see the daily Customs clearance times of import cargo at various ports and airports.  This dashboard has been developed by CBIC in collaboration with NIC.
• With ATITHI, CBIC has introduced an easy to use mobile app for international travelers to file the Customs declaration in advance.

8. The ‘Global Microscope on Financial Inclusion report’ is published by

a) World Economic Forum (WEF)
b) Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)
c) World Bank (WB)
d) International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Solution (b)

• The 2019 edition of ‘Global Microscope: The enabling environment for Financial Inclusion’ report was released by Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU).
• India was ranked among top countries with most promising environment for financial inclusion in terms of: effective financial consumer, allowing non-banks to issue e-money and proportionate customer due diligence.
• Only four countries namely India, Colombia, Jamaica and Uruguay scored perfectly across all four parameters.

9.‘Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) – 2019’ is joint naval exercise between

a) India and Bangladesh
b) USA and Bangladesh
c) Vietnam and India
d) Taiwan and Cambodia

Solution (b)

The CARAT is a yearly exercise conducted between the navies of Bangladesh and United States in the Bay of Bengal.

10.Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Land Ports Authority of India’

1)It is under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
2)It was created through the Land Ports Authority of India Act.
Select the correct statements

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution (c)

• The Land Ports Authority of India or LPAI is a statutory body (created through the Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010) working under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing border infrastructure in India.
• It manages several Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) all across borders of India.