UPSC Static Quiz – History : 21 March 2026

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct:The First Carnatic War (1746–48) was triggered by the War of Austrian Succession in Europe.
• Statement 2 is incorrect:The Battle of Wandiwash (1760) was the decisive battle of the Third Carnatic War, not the Second. In this battle, General Eyre Coote defeated the French forces under Count de Lally.
• Statement 3 is correct:The Treaty of Paris (1763), which ended the Seven Years’ War (and the Third Carnatic War), returned Pondicherry and Chandernagore to the French but as mere trading posts. They were banned from maintaining armies or fortifications, effectively ending French political power in India.

Solution: C

• Statement I is correct:The Battle of Plassey was largely decided by the betrayal of Mir Jafar (the Commander-in-Chief), who, along with Rai Durlabh, did not join the fighting. Robert Clive had conspired with them. The actual fighting was brief, making it a victory of diplomacy and treachery rather than military might.
• Statement II is incorrect:The Diwani rights (right to collect revenue) were granted after the Battle of Buxar (1764) via the Treaty of Allahabad (1765). After Plassey, the British only gained the Zamindari of the 24 Parganas and political influence over the Nawab, but not the formal Diwani rights.

Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct because the Treaty of Bassein was signed by Baji Rao II, who accepted the Subsidiary Alliance. This allowed the British to station troops and control his external affairs, effectively reducing the Peshwa to a dependent ally. This treaty became the immediate cause of the war, as other Maratha chiefs viewed it as a betrayal.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because the Treaty of Deogaon was signed with Raghuji II Bhonsle, not the Holkars. The Holkars remained outside these early settlements and continued resistance, making them distinct from Scindia and Bhonsle.
• Statement 3 is correct since the Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon, signed with Daulat Rao Scindia, compelled him to cede key territories including the Ganga–Yamuna Doab, Delhi, and Agra. This significantly weakened Maratha influence in North India and strengthened British political control.

Solution: A

• Statement-I is correct. The Dandi March, or Salt March, was the inaugural event of the Civil Disobedience Movement and was a masterstroke of political symbolism. The 240-mile trek from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi captured the imagination of the nation and the world. It was not just a protest but a powerful piece of political theatre. It drew enormous crowds along its route and inspired parallel salt marches and acts of defiance across the country. The movement saw unprecedented participation from women, peasants, and people from all social strata, effectively transforming the abstract idea of freedom into a tangible, participatory struggle.
• Statement-II is correct. Mahatma Gandhi’s choice of salt as the central issue was a strategic masterstroke. Unlike complex constitutional or political demands, the salt tax was a grievance that was easily understood and deeply felt by everyone, from the poorest peasant to the urban intellectual. Salt was an essential item of consumption, and the state monopoly and tax on it were seen as a clear symbol of the injustice and exploitative nature of British rule. It was a “common man’s issue” that cut across class, regional, and religious divides, providing a unifying cause that could resonate with the entire population and serve as a catalyst for a nationwide movement.
• Statement-II provides the correct and fundamental explanation for the success described in Statement-I.

Solution: C

• Provision 1 is correct. A key feature of the Act was the proposal for an All-India Federation. This federation was to be composed of the Governor’s Provinces of British India and the Princely States that chose to accede. However, this federal structure never came into being because the requisite number of Princely States did not agree to join, as they were unwilling to surrender their sovereignty.
• Provision 2 is correct. The Act abolished the unpopular system of dyarchy at the provincial level, which had been introduced by the Act of 1919. In its place, it introduced ‘provincial autonomy’, where the entire provincial administration was placed under ministers responsible to the legislature. Simultaneously, the Act proposed the introduction of dyarchy at the federal (Central) level, dividing federal subjects into ‘Reserved’ and ‘Transferred’ categories. This part also never came into effect due to the failure of the federation to materialize.
• Provision 3 is incorrect. The Act of 1935 extended the franchise, but it did not grant universal adult suffrage. The right to vote was still based on property and educational qualifications. It enfranchised approximately 14% of the population of British India, which was a significant increase from before but fell far short of universal suffrage. The age of 18 is also incorrect; the age criterion was generally 21 for those who met the other qualifications.
• Provision 4 is correct. The Act provided for the establishment of a Federal Bank, and in pursuance of this, the Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935. Its primary role was to regulate the issue of bank notes and keep reserves to secure monetary stability in India, and generally to operate the currency and credit system of the country to its advantage.