Civil Disobedience Movement & Round Table Conferences UPSC Previous Year Questions (PYQ) — Dandi March to Poona Pact

All Civil Disobedience Movement & Round Table Conferences Previous Year Questions (1995–2020)

1. 1 2020

   Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following?
   1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference
   2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement
   3. Acceptance of Gandhiji’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses
   4. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence
   
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   1. A 1 only
   2. B 1, 2 and 4 only
   3. C 3 only
   4. D 2, 3 and 4 only Answer: (x)
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: B. 1, 2 and 4 only

   Explanation

   The Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931) secured Congress's participation in the Round Table Conference, withdrawal of repressive ordinances, and release of prisoners not charged with violence — but Gandhi's demand for an inquiry into police excesses was not accepted, so only statements 1, 2 and 4 hold.

2. 2 2019

   With reference to the British colonial rule in India, consider the following statements:
   1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in the abolition of the system of ‘indentured labour’.
   2. In Lord Chelmsford’s ‘War Conference’, Mahatma Gandhi did not support the resolution on recruiting Indians for World War.
   3. Consequent upon the breaking of Salt Law by Indian people, the Indian National Congress was declared illegal by the colonial rulers.
   
   Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

   ✓ Correct answer: B. 1 and 3 only

   Explanation

   Gandhi did help end the indentured labour system and Congress was indeed declared illegal in 1932 following the salt-law civil disobedience, both true; however, at the 1918 War Conference Gandhi actually supported recruiting Indians for the war effort, so that statement is false — leaving only statements 1 and 3 correct.

3. 3 2015

   Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?

   1. A V. O. Chidambaram Pillai
   2. B C. Rajagopalachari
   3. C K. Kamaraj
   4. D Annie Besant
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: B. C. Rajagopalachari

   Explanation

   C. Rajagopalachari led a salt march to Vedaranyam on the Tanjore coast in Tamil Nadu in April 1930, breaking the Salt Law there.

4. 4 2014

   The 1929 Session of Indian National Congress is of significance in the history of the Freedom Movement because the

   1. A attainment of Self-Government was declared as the objective of the Congress
   2. B attainment of Poorna Swaraj was adopted as the goal of the Congress
   3. C Non-Cooperation Movement was launched
   4. D decision to participate in the Round Table Conference in London was taken
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: B. attainment of Poorna Swaraj was adopted as the goal of the Congress

   Explanation

   At its Lahore Session in December 1929, Congress adopted the Purna Swaraj (complete independence) resolution and observed 26 January 1930 as the first Independence Day.

5. 5 2012

   Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932, mainly because

   1. A Round Table Conference failed to satisfy Indian political aspirations
   2. B Congress and Muslim League had differences of opinion
   3. C Ramsay Macdonald announced the Communal Award
   4. D None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct in this context
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: C. Ramsay Macdonald announced the Communal Award

   Explanation

   Gandhi's 1932 fast unto death was directed against Ramsay MacDonald's Communal Award, which created separate electorates for the Depressed Classes.

6. 6 2005

   At which Congress Session was the Working Committee authorized to launch a programme of Civil Disobedience?

   1. A Bombay
   2. B Lahore
   3. C Lucknow
   4. D Tripuri
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: B. Lahore

   Explanation

   At the 1929 Lahore Session, the Congress Working Committee was authorised to launch a full civil disobedience programme whenever it judged the moment right.

7. 7 2004

   Consider the following events during India’s freedom struggle:
   1. Chauri-Chaura Outrage
   2. Minto-Morley Reforms
   3. Dandi March
   4. Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the events above?

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

   ✓ Correct answer: B. 2 ‑ 4 ‑ 1 ‑ 3

   Explanation

   Chronologically: the Minto-Morley Reforms (1909), the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919), the Chauri-Chaura incident (1922), and the Dandi March (1930) fall in the sequence 2, 4, 1, 3.

8. 8 2003

   With reference to Indian freedom struggle, which one of the following statements is NOT correct?

   1. A The Rowlatt Act aroused a wave of popular indignation and led to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
   2. B Subhash Chandra Bose formed the Forward Bloc
   3. C Bhagat Singh was one of the founders of Hindustan Republican Socialist Association
   4. D In 1931, the Congress Session at Karachi opposed Gandhi-Irwin Pact
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: D. In 1931, the Congress Session at Karachi opposed Gandhi-Irwin Pact

   Explanation

   Options (a)-(c) here are all broadly accurate historical facts; the Karachi Session (1931), held under Sardar Patel just after Bhagat Singh's execution, actually ratified the Gandhi-Irwin Pact despite deep unease, rather than opposing it — making this the incorrect statement the question asks for.

9. 9 2000

   After returning from South Africa, Gandhiji launched his first successful Satyagraha in

   1. A Chauri-Chaura
   2. B Dandi
   3. C Champaran
   4. D Bardoli
   Reveal answer

   ✓ Correct answer: C. Champaran

   Explanation

   Gandhi launched his first successful Satyagraha in India at Champaran, soon after returning from South Africa.

10. 10 1999

    The first venture of Gandhi in all-India politics was the

    1. A Non-cooperation Movement
    2. B Rowlatt Satyagraha
    3. C Champaran Movement
    4. D Dandi March
    Reveal answer

    ✓ Correct answer: B. Rowlatt Satyagraha

    Explanation

    The Rowlatt Satyagraha (1919) is generally regarded as Gandhi's first venture into genuinely all-India political mobilisation.

11. 11 1997

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists:
    
    List I (Events)
    I. Morley Minto Reforms
    II. Simon Commission
    III. The Chauri-Chaura incident
    IV. The Dandi March
    
    List II (Results)
    A) Country-wide agitation
    B) Withdrawal of a movement
    C) Communal Electorates
    D) Communal outbreaks E) Illegal manufacture of salt Codes:

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

    ✓ Correct answer: D. I-C, II-A, III-B, IV-E

    Explanation

    Matching the movements to their results: Minto-Morley Reforms led to separate communal electorates (I-C), the Simon Commission triggered nationwide protest (II-A), the Chauri-Chaura incident led to the withdrawal of Non-Cooperation (III-B), and the Dandi March led to illegal salt manufacture spreading across India (IV-E).

12. 12 1997

    The Poona Pact which was signed between the British Government and Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 provided for

    1. A the creation of dominion status for India
    2. B separate electorates for the Muslims
    3. C separate electorate for the Harijans
    4. D joint electorate with reservation for Harijans
    Reveal answer

    ✓ Correct answer: D. joint electorate with reservation for Harijans

    Explanation

    The 1932 Poona Pact between Gandhi and Ambedkar replaced separate electorates for the Depressed Classes with a joint electorate that reserved a larger number of seats for them within general constituencies.

13. 13 1997

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the Lists:
    
    List I
    I. Surat Split
    II. Communal Award
    III. All-Party Convention
    IV. Poorna Swaraj Resolution
    
    List II
    A) 1929
    B) 1928
    C) 1932
    D) 1907 E) 1905 Codes:

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

    ✓ Correct answer: B. I–D, II–C, III–B, IV–A

    Explanation

    Matching events to years: the Surat Split occurred in 1907, the Communal Award was announced in 1932, the All-Parties Convention that rejected the Nehru Report met in 1928, and the Purna Swaraj Resolution was passed in 1929 — giving I-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A.

14. 14 1996

    Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists:
    
    List I (Period) I. 1883 II. 1906 III. 1927 IV. 1932
    
    List II (Event)
    A) Announcement of Communal Award from Whitehall
    B) Formation of the All-India State Peoples Conference
    C) Foundation of Muslim League at Dacca
    D) First session of National Conference at Calcutta Codes:

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

    ✓ Correct answer: C. I – D, II – C, III – B, IV – A

    Explanation

    Matching events to years: the first session of the National Conference met at Calcutta in 1883, the Muslim League was founded at Dacca in 1906, the All-India States' Peoples' Conference formed in 1927, and the Communal Award was announced in 1932 — giving I-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A.

15. 15 1995

    98. In 1930 Mahatma Gandhi started Civil Disobedience Movement from

    1. A Sevagram
    2. B Dandi
    3. C Sabarmati
    4. D Wardha
    Reveal answer

    ✓ Correct answer: C. Sabarmati

    Explanation

    Gandhi launched the Civil Disobedience Movement by starting his Salt March from his Sabarmati Ashram in March 1930.