Ans: B

Exp:

Mahatma Gandhi argued that colonial education created a sense of inferiority in the minds of Indians. It made them see Western civilisation as superior and destroyed the pride they had in their own culture. There was poison in this education, said Mahatma Gandhi, it was sinful, it enslaved Indians, it cast an evil spell on them. Charmed by the West, and appreciating everything that came from the West, Indians educated in these institutions began admiring British rule.

Mahatma Gandhi wanted an education that could help Indians recover their sense of dignity and self-respect. During the national movement, he urged students to leave educational institutions in order to show to the British that Indians were no longer willing to be enslaved.

Ans: D

Exp:

Statement I is incorrect: The famous Macaulay’s Minute settled the Orientalist-Anglicist row in favour of Anglicists. It was decided that the limited government resources were to be devoted to the teaching of Western sciences and literature through the medium of English language alone. The British planned to educate a small section of the upper and middle classes, thus creating a class Indian in blood and colour but English in tastes, opinions, morals, and intellect. This was called the ‘downward filtration theory’.

Statement II is correct: Macaulay held the view that Indian learning was inferior to European learning, which was true as far as physical and social sciences in the contemporary stage were concerned. He declared that a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia.

Ans: A

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct: The British government appointed the Boundary Commission under the chairmanship of Sir Cyril Radcliffe. The Boundary Commission consisted of two Muslims and two non-Muslim judges in each case, and worked under serious constraints.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Radcliffe, with very limited knowledge of India, and with the use of out-of-date maps and census materials, was required to draw the boundaries and decide disputed points within a period of six weeks.

Ans: A

Exp:

India gained independence with the division of the country into two dominions, India and Pakistan, with princely states free to join any of them. By August 15, 1947, 136 states had joined the Indian Union, although several remained on the verge of joining.

1. Hyderabad: Hyderabad wanted sovereign status. The Nizam wanted an outlet to the sea (Goa). The violence and supply of foreign arms prompted Indian troops to move in again in 1948— described as “a police action to restore law and order”. Hyderabad was acceded in November 1949. Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect.
2. Junagarh: The Muslim Nawab desired to join Pakistan, but the Hindu majority populace desired to join India. In response to the nawab’s restrictive attitude, a plebiscite was held in Junagarh, and  people voted in favour of joining India, and Junagarh was acceded to India. Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect.
3. Kashmir: Jammu and Kashmir was ruled by a Hindu monarch and had a Muslim majority population. The Maharaja Hari Singh envisioned the state as sovereign and was hesitant to submit to either India or Pakistan. While he was delaying, the newly formed state of Pakistan put its forces behind a front of tribal militia and pushed menacingly towards Srinagar. The King was obliged to sign an Instrument of Accession (October 1947) with the Indian Union, which was supported by popular leader Sheikh Abdullah. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Ans: D

Exp:

The Cabinet Mission visited India in 1946 and advocated the formation of (a) the Constituent Assembly and (b) an interim administration.

The Constituent Assembly had done the following:

• The Constituent Assembly elected Dr Rajendra Prasad as the first President of India on January 24, 1950. Hence, Statement 1 is not correct.
• The Constituent Assembly, besides drafting the Constitution of India, adopted the National Flag on July 22, 1947, and adopted the National Anthem and National Song on January 24, 1950—the last day of its session. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.
• The Indian Independence Act, 1947 declared the Constituent Assembly of India to be a fully sovereign body, and on the midnight of August 14–15, 1947, the Assembly assumed full powers of the governance of the country. Hence, Statement 3 is not correct.