Quit India Movement & World War II Phase UPSC Previous Year Questions (PYQ) — Cripps Mission to August Kranti

All Quit India Movement & World War II Phase Previous Year Questions (1998–2025)

1. 1 2025

   "Sedition has become my religion" was the famous statement given by Gandhiji at the time of

   1. A the Champaran Satyagraha
   2. B publicly violating Salt Law at Dandi
   3. C attending the Second Round Table Conference in London
   4. D the launch of the Quit India Movement
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: B. publicly violating Salt Law at Dandi

   Explanation

   Gandhi made this statement while publicly defying the Salt Law and breaking it himself at Dandi in 1930.

2. 2 2021

   With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?

   1. A The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC,
   2. B The Viceroy’s Executive Council was expanded to include more Indians.
   3. C The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.
   4. D Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second World War was over.
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: A. The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC,

   Explanation

   On 8 August 1942, the All India Congress Committee, meeting in Bombay, adopted the Quit India Resolution, formally launching the movement.

3. 3 2017

   With reference to Indian freedom struggle, consider the following events:
   1. Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy
   2. Quit India Movement launched
   3. Second Round Table Conference What is the correct chronological sequence of the above events?

   1. A 1-2-3
   2. B 2-1-3
   3. C 3-2-1
   4. D 3-1-2
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: C. 3-2-1

   Explanation

   Chronologically: the Second Round Table Conference (1931) came first, followed by the launch of the Quit India Movement (1942), and then the RIN Mutiny (1946), giving the sequence 3, 2, 1.

4. 4 2013

   Quit India Movement was launched in response to

   1. A Cabinet Mission Plan
   2. B Cripps Proposals
   3. C Simon Commission Report
   4. D Wavell Plan
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: B. Cripps Proposals

   Explanation

   The Quit India Movement was launched largely in response to the failure and rejection of the 1942 Cripps Proposals, which fell short of Indian demands.

5. 5 2011

   Which one of the following observations is not true about the Quit India Movement of 1942 ?

   1. A It was a non-violent movement
   2. B It was led by Mahatma Gandhi
   3. C It was a spontaneous movement
   4. D It did not attract the labour class in general
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: B. It was led by Mahatma Gandhi

   Explanation

   Gandhi was arrested almost immediately after the Quit India call, so the movement that followed was largely spontaneous and locally led rather than directly commanded by him.

6. 6 2011

   With reference to Indian freedom struggle, Usha Mehta is well-known for

   1. A Running the secret Congress Radio in the wake of Quit India Movement
   2. B Participating in the Second Round Table Conference
   3. C Leading a contingent of Indian National Army
   4. D Assisting in the formation of Interim Government under Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: A. Running the secret Congress Radio in the wake of Quit India Movement

   Explanation

   Usha Mehta ran the underground 'Congress Radio,' broadcasting nationalist propaganda during the Quit India Movement.

7. 7 2009

   Which one of the following began with the Dandi March?

   1. A Home Rule Movement
   2. B Non-Cooperation Movement
   3. C Civil Disobedience Movement
   4. D Quit India Movement
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: C. Civil Disobedience Movement

   Explanation

   The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched with Gandhi's Dandi March and the Salt Satyagraha in 1930.

8. 8 2009

   With which one of the following movements is the slogan “Do or die” associated?

   1. A Swadeshi Movement
   2. B Non-Cooperation Movement
   3. C Civil Disobedience Movement
   4. D Quit India Movement
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: D. Quit India Movement

   Explanation

   'Do or Die' was Gandhi's famous call to the nation at the launch of the Quit India Movement in August 1942.

9. 9 2009

   In the ‘Individual Satyagraha’, Vinoba Bhave was chosen as the first Satyagrahi. Who was the second?

   1. A Dr. Rajendra Prasad
   2. B Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
   3. C C. Rajagopalachari
   4. D Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: B. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

   Explanation

   Jawaharlal Nehru was chosen as the second individual satyagrahi, following Vinoba Bhave, in the 1940-41 Individual Satyagraha campaign.

10. 10 2009

    During the freedom struggle, Aruna Asaf Ali was a major woman organizer of underground activity in

    1. A Civil Disobedience Movement
    2. B Non-Cooperation Movement
    3. C Quit India Movement
    4. D Swadeshi Movement
    Reveal answer

    ✓ Correct answer: C. Quit India Movement

    Explanation

    Aruna Asaf Ali organised underground resistance during Quit India, famously hoisting the Congress flag at Gowalia Tank in Bombay.

11. 11 2005

    Consider the following statements: On the eve of the launch of Quit India Movement, Mahatma Gandhi
    1. Asked the Government servants to resign.
    2. Asked the soldiers to leave their posts.
    3. Asked the Princes of the Princely States to accept the sovereignty of their own people.
    
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. A 1 and 2
    2. B 2 and 3
    3. C 3 only
    4. D 1, 2 and 3
    Reveal answer

    ✓ Correct answer: C. 3 only

    Explanation

    Ahead of Quit India, Gandhi's actual appeals were more measured than often assumed: he did not call on government servants to resign or soldiers to desert, since he wished to avoid anarchy, so among the given options only the statement matching his real position holds.

12. 12 2000

    Assertion (A): Lord Linlithgow described the August Movement of 1942 as the most serious revolt after the Sepoy mutiny. Reason (R): Peasants joined the movement in large number in some places.

    1. A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    2. B Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    3. C A is true, but R is false
    4. D A is false, but R is true
    Reveal answer

    ✓ Correct answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

    Explanation

    Both parts of this statement are accurate, and the reason correctly explains the assertion.

13. 13 1999

    Assertion (A): Lord Linlithgow described the August Movement of 1942 as the most serious rebellion since Sepoy Mutiny. Reason (R): There was massive upsurge of the peasantry in certain areas.

    1. A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
    2. B Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
    3. C A is true, but R is false
    4. D A is false, but R is true
    Reveal answer

    ✓ Correct answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

    Explanation

    This restates the same underlying facts about Gandhi's actual position and its reasoning, both of which hold true here as well.

14. 14 1998

    What is the correct sequence of the following events?
    I. The August Offer
    II. The I.N.A. trial
    III. The Quit India Movement
    IV. The Royal Indian Naval Ratings’ Revolt
    
    Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

    1. A I, III, II, IV
    2. B III, I, II, IV
    3. C I, III, IV, II
    4. D II, IV, I, III
    Reveal answer

    ✓ Correct answer: A. I, III, II, IV

    Explanation

    Chronologically: the August Offer (1940), the Quit India Movement (1942), the INA trials (1945), and the RIN Ratings' Revolt (1946) fall in the sequence I, III, II, IV.