UPSC Static Quiz, 24 June 2023

Correct Answer: C
● Option C is correct.
● Behramji Merwanji Malabari (18 May 1853 – 12 July 1912) was an Indian poet, publicist, author, and social reformer best known for his ardent advocacy for the protection of the rights of women and for his activities against child marriage.
● In 1885, a girl named Rukhmabai was ordered by a Judge Pinhey to return to her husband or be jailed. Malabari’s editorials of the Rukhmabai case gave the issue a popular focus, and it was his efforts that brought about the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1885, and the Age of Consent Act (which regulated the age of consent for females in Britain and India) in 1891.

Correct Answer: B
● Option B is correct.
● Who Were the Shudras? is a book written by BR Ambedkar. Ambedkar theorizes they were once ruling members of the Kshatriya class who oppressed Brahmin priests. In retaliation the Brahmins refused privileges, such as sacrament and sacrifice. Through religious ostracization, Shudras became socially degraded and became a fourth Varna. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.
● Ishara is written by Jyotirao Phule. Hence, pair 2 is incorrectly matched.
● My Path to Atheism is one of the most well-known works of this notable British writer and women’s rights activist Annie Beasant. In this collection of essays written over a five-year period, Besant traces her path to atheism while simultaneously outlining her theosophist philosophies. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.

Correct Answer: C
● Option C is correct.
● Some important organisational changes were made:
1. A Congress working committee (CWC) of 15 members was set up to lead the Congress from now onwards;(Hence, statement 1 is correct)
2. Provincial congress committees on linguistic basis were organised;(Hence, statement 3 is correct)
3. Ward committees was organised
4. Entry fee was reduced to four annas
● An important change was made in the Congress: now, instead of having the attainment of self- government through constitutional means as its goal, the Congress decided to have the attainment of swaraj through peaceful and legitimate means, thus committing itself to an extraconstitutional mass struggle. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
● Gandhi started his famous Non-Cooperation Movement on 1st August 1920. Indian National Congress passed the idea of Non-Cooperation Movement in a session held in December, the same year. It was held in Nagpur and was presided by Salem Vijayaraghavachariar. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

Correct Answer: C
● Option C is correct.
● The Second World War had caused many socio-economic problems in the British Empire, especially when it came to maintaining their overseas colonies. Thus, the British Government saw it fit to grant India the freedom it had been demanding for so long. In addition, the Quit India Movement and an increase in revolutionary activity only made the British position in India tenuous at best.
● Lord Wavell, who became the Viceroy in 1943, was charged with presenting a formula for the future government of India that would be acceptable to both the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League, allowing for a smooth transition of power. Lord Wavell was considered an apt person for this task as he had been the head of the Indian Army and thus had a better understanding of the Indian situation.
● The main proposals of the Wavell Plan were as follows:
1. With the exception of the governor-general and the commander-in-chief, all members of the executive council were to be Indians. (Hence, statement 1 is incorrect)
2. Caste Hindus and Muslims were to have equal representation. (Hence, statement 3 is correct)
3. The reconstructed council was to function as an interim government within the framework of the 1935 Act (i.e., not responsible to the Central Assembly).
4. The foreign affairs portfolio would be transferred from the Governor-General to an Indian member. The defence would be handled by a British general until the full transfer of power was made. The defence would be handled by a British general until the full transfer of power was made. Hence, statement-2 is incorrect.
5. The governor-general was to exercise his veto on the advice of ministers.
6. Representatives of different parties were to submit a joint list to the viceroy for nominations to the executive council. If a joint list was not possible, then separate lists were to be submitted.
7. Possibilities were to be kept open for negotiations on a new constitution once the war was finally won.
● The conference was a failure because the League and the Congress could not settle their differences. Jinnah insisted that only League members could be the Muslim representatives in the Council, and opposed to the Congress nominating Muslim members. This was because Jinnah wanted the League to be the sole representative of Muslims in India. Congress would never agree to this demand. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Correct Answer: D
● Option D is correct.
● The chief secretary of Bengal, Carlyle issued a declaration known as Carlyle circulation, on 22 October 1905. According to the circular ‘If any college violates the government order and the student quits the educational institution then no assistance will be provided by the government to the institute’.