Civil Services Mains Examination History Of India & World - GS Paper I

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Modern Indian History (Significant Events, Personalities, Issues)

Question. Throw light on the significance of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi in the present times. (CSE 2018)

Question. The women’s questions arose in modern India as a part of the 19th century social reform movement. What are the major issues and debates concerning women in that period? (CSE 2017)

Question. Clarify how mid-eighteenth-century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity. (CSE 2017)

Question. Examine how the decline of traditional artisanal industry in colonial India crippled the rural economy. (CSE 2017)

Question. Highlight the importance of the new objectives that got added to the vision of Indian Independence since the twenties of the last century. (CSE 2017)

Question. Explain how the upraising of 1857 constitutes an important watershed in the evolution of British policies towards colonial India. (CSE 2016)

Question. Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, despite having divergent approaches and strategies, had a common goal of amelioration of the downtrodden. Elucidate. (CSE 2015)

Question. The Third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761. Why were so many empire-shaking battles fought at Panipat? (CSE 2014)

Question. Examine the various facets of economic policies of the British in India from mid-eighteenth century till independence. (CSE 2014)

Question. In what ways did naval mutiny prove to be the last nail in the coffin of British Colonial aspirations in India. (CSE 2014)

Question. What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated anti-colonial struggle in India? (CSE 2014)

Question. Defying the barriers of age, gender and religion, the Indian women became the torch bearer during the struggle for freedom in India. Discuss. (CSE 2013)

Question. Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and their success. (CSE 2013)

Question. In many ways, Lord Dalhousie was the foun-der of modern India. Elaborate. (CSE 2013)

Question. Write a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”. (CSE 2013)

Question. Discuss the contribution of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to pre-and post independent India. (CSE 2013)

Question. Analyse the circumstances that led to Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the agreement. (CSE 2013)

Question. Critically examine the compulsions which prompted India to play a decisive role in the emergence of Bangladesh. (CSE 2013)

Question. Evaluate the influence of the three important women’s organisations of the early 20th century in India on the country’s, society and politics. To what extent do you think were the social objectives of these organisations constrained by their political objectives? (CSE 2011)

Question. “Dalhousie’s predecessors had acted on the general principles of avoiding annexation, if these could be avoided. Dalhousie acted on the principles of annexation, if he could do so legitimately. His annexations were both of war and peace.” Analyse. (CSE 2010)

Question. Critically analyze any two of the following statements with reference to the context in which they were made. (CSE 2009)

1. “Many Englishmen honestly consider themselves the trustees for India and yet to what a condition they have reduced our country”.
2. “The Foreign power will be withdrawn but for me real freedom will come only when we free ourselves of the dominance of western education, western culture and western way of living which have been ingrained in us”.
3. “Satan cannot enter till he finds a flaw … A great ocean separate us educated few from the millions in our country”.

Question. “The emergence of new social classes in British India was the direct consequence of the establishment of new social economy, new state system, administrative machinery and Western education.” Discuss. (CSE 2008)

Question. “British vision of India had no single coherent set of ideas. On the contrary, the ideas were shot through with contradictions and inconsistencies.” Discuss. (CSE 2008)

Question. What are the salient features of the Government of India Acts of 1858 and 1909? (CSE 2007)

Question. What was the character of socio-religious reforms in the 19th Century and how did they contribute to the national awakening in India? (CSE 2007)

Question. Regardless of distance in time, there were lots of similarities between Lord Curzon and Jawaharlal Nehru. Discuss. (CSE 2006)

Question. How did the Government of India Act, 1935 mark a point of no return in the history of constitutional development in India? (CSE 2006)

Question. Characterise the main features of Indian Renaissance. (CSE 2006)

Question. What in your opinion were the positive steps taken by the British to modernise India? (CSE 2005)

Question. Examine the policy of subordinate Union towards Princely States. Account for the shift from the policy of Subordinate Isolation. (CSE 2005)

Question. Discuss the major regulations enacted by the British rulers to curb the freedom of Press in India. (CSE 2004)

Question. Write a note on the Theosophical Society. (CSE 2004)

Question. Discuss the main findings of the Hartog Committee (1929). (CSE 2004)

Question. “The reforms of 1909 introduced a cardinal problem and ground of controversy at every revision of the Indian electoral system”. Comment (CSE 2003)

Question. Discuss the character of major tribal uprisings in British India in the nineteenth Century. (CSE 2003)

Question. What was the Butler Committee report? Discuss the reaction on the report in India. (CSE 2002)

Question. What administrative changes were introduced in India after 1858? What were the objectives of these changes? (CSE 2001)

Question. Was Jawaharlal Nehru, Justified in adopting principle of non-alignment as the corner stone of India’s Foreign Policy? (CSE 2000)

Freedom Struggle (Various Stages, Important Contributors/Contributions)

Question. Why did the ‘Moderates’ failed to carry conviction with the nation about their proclaimed ideology and political goals by the end of the nineteenth century? (CSE 2017)

Question. Discuss the role of women in the freedom struggle especially during the Gandhian phase. (CSE 2016)

Question. Highlight the differences in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom. (CSE 2016)

Question. How different would have been the achievement of Indian independence without Mahatma Gandhi? Discuss. (CSE 2015)

Question. It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years but for the experience gained with the Government of India Act, 1935. Discuss. (CSE 2015)

Question. Several foreigners made India their homeland and participated in various movements. Analyze their role in the Indian struggle for freedom. (CSE 2013)

Question. “The Indian independence movement was a mass-based movement that encompassed various sections of society. It also underwent the process of constant ideological evolution.” Critically examine. (CSE 2012)

Question. The significance of Patharughat in the Indian freedom struggle. (CSE 2012)

Question. Trace the Salient sequence of the events in the popular revolt that took place in February 1946 in the then Royal Indian Navy and bring out its significance in the freedom struggle. Do you agree the view that the sailors who took part in this revolt were some of the unsung heroes of freedom struggle? (CSE 2011)

Question. In the context of freedom struggle write short note on Bharat Naujawan Sabha. (CSE 2011)

Question. In the context of the freedom struggle, write short notes ‘Benoy-Badal-Dinesh’ martyrdom. (CSE 2011)

Question. In the context of freedom struggle write short note on Babbar Akali Movement. (CSE 2011)

Question. Write brief note on contributions of Latika Ghosh to the freedom struggle (CSE 2010)

Question. Write brief note on Bhai Maharaj Singh as a freedom fighter (CSE 2010)

Question. “Non-Cooperation Movement gave new direction and energy to the National Movement.” Explain. (CSE 2008)

Question. The crisis of the colonial order during 1919 and 1939 was directly linked to the constitutional reforms, disillusionment and militant anti-colonial struggles. Elucidate. (CSE 2007)

Question. Do you think Mahatma Gandhi’s support to Khilafat Movement had diluted in secular credentials? Give your arguments based on the assessment of events. (CSE 2007)

Question. Evaluate the contribution of revolutionary terrorism represented by Bhagat Singh to the cause of India’s struggle for independence. (CSE 2007)

Question. What was the attitude of Indian Industrialists towards the Indian National congress in the pre-independent era? (CSE 2006)

Question. Critically assess Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru’s views on Indian Nationalism. (CSE 2006)

Question. Form a critical assessment of the Non Cooperation Movement. (CSE 2004)

Question. What led to the partition of Bengal in 1905? (CSE 2004)

Question. ‘The mainstay of Mahatma Gandhi’s movements was the rural India’. Elucidate. (CSE 2003)

Question. Bring out the ideological basis of the Moderate-Extremist divide in the Indian National Congress. (CSE 2003)

Question. Why did Jinnah reject the C.R. Formula? (CSE 2002)

Question. Trace the growth of the Indian Home Rule movement in Britain. (CSE 2002)

Question. Evaluate the attitudes of different political parties towards Quit India movement. (CSE 2002)

Question. Review the ‘Dickie Bird Plan’. (CSE 2002)

Question. Discuss the main objectives of the Indian national movement up to 1905. What were its basic weaknesses during this period? (CSE 2001)

Question. Discuss the aims and objects of the Khilafat Movement. To what extent was it successful? (CSE 2001)

Question. Why did Gandhi launch the Salt Satyagraha in 1930 and with what results? (CSE 2001)

Question. Trace the origin of the Swadeshi Movement. How did it involve the masses? (CSE 2000)

Question. What was Mountbatten Plan? Discuss the relations of Gandhi and Azad to the plan. (CSE 2000)

Post-independence Consolidation & Reorganization within the Country

Question. Discuss whether the formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of India. (CSE 2018)

Question. Has the formation of linguistic States strengthened the cause of Indian Unity? (CSE 2016)

Question. Discuss the problems that impeded the integration of the princely states into the Indian Union. How were these problems tackled? (CSE 2003)

History of the World (Industrial Revolution, World Wars, Redrawing of National Boundaries, Colonization, Decolonization, Political Philosophies Like Communism, Capitalism, Socialism etc. and their Forms and Effect on the Society)

Question. What problems are germane to the decolo-nization process in the Malay Peninsula? (CSE 2017)

Question. The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new elite of Western-educated Africans. Examine. (CSE 2016)

Question. To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically. (CSE 2015)

Question. Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present? (CSE 2015)

Question. What were the events that led to the Suez crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to a Britain’s self-image as a world power? (CSE 2014)

Question. The New economic policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate. (CSE 2014)

Question. What policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression? (CSE 2013)

Question. “Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what west had experienced. (CSE 2013)

Question. Africa was chopped into states artificially created by accident of European competition. Analyse (CSE 2013)

Question. American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. Substantiate. (CSE 2013)

Question. How did the terrorist movement gather strength in countries other than India? (CSE 2000)