Prelims GS I · 107 questions · 2011–2026
Modern India & the freedom struggle: every Prelims question, by topic
UPSC syllabus: “History of India and Indian National Movement.” Below, the topics inside it — most asked first — and how often each came up year by year.
Modern India & the freedom struggle in Prelims 2012: 9 questions
All years →- Q5 · Social & religious reform movementsDuring the Indian freedom struggle, the National Social Conference was formed. What was the reason for its formation?…
- Q6 · Social & religious reform movementsWhich of the following statements is/are correct regarding Brahmo Samaj? It opposed idolatry. It denied the need for a priestly class for interpreting the religious texts. It popularized the doctrine …
- Q7 · The Gandhian era, 1917–1947The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress (1929) is very important in history, because: The Congress passed a resolution demanding complete independence. The rift between the extremists and m…
- Q8 · The Gandhian era, 1917–1947The Congress ministries resigned in the seven provinces in 1939, because:…
- Q9 · Constitutional development & the transfer of powerWhich of the following is/are the principal feature(s) of the Government of India Act, 1919? Introduction of diarchy in the executive government of the provinces. Introduction of separate communal ele…
- Q11 · British administration, land revenue & economyWith reference to Ryotwari Settlement, consider the following statements: The rent was paid directly by the peasants to the Government. The government gave Pattas to the Ryots. The lands were surveyed…
- Q12 · Rise of nationalism, 1885–1917Consider the following statements: The most effective contribution made by Dadabhai Naoroji to the cause of Indian National Movement was that he- Exposed the economic exploitation of India by the Brit…
- Q14 · The Gandhian era, 1917–1947Which of the following parties were established by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar? The Peasants and Workers Party of India All India Scheduled Castes Federation The Independent Labour Party…
- Q15 · The Gandhian era, 1917–1947Mahatma Gandhi undertook fast unto death in 1932, mainly because:…
Modern India & the freedom struggle in UPSC Prelims at a glance
UPSC has asked 107 questions on Modern India & the freedom struggle in GS Paper I from 2011 to 2026 — about 7 a year, the most in 2018 (14). The most-asked topic is The Gandhian era, 1917–1947 (32 questions).
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault, each question under its main subject · updated 8 Nov 2026.
- The Gandhian era, 1917–194732 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
- Rise of nationalism, 1885–191718 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
- Constitutional development & the transfer of power17 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
- British administration, land revenue & economy15 questions · asked in 7 of 16 years
- Social & religious reform movements10 questions · asked in 6 of 16 years
- Europeans & the East India Company7 questions · asked in 5 of 16 years
- 1857 & early resistance movements4 questions · asked in 4 of 16 years
- Post-independence India4 questions · asked in 3 of 16 years
Latest questions
- 2026 · Q2 · British administration, land revenue & economyहिल्टन-यंग कमीशन (1926) द्वारा कृत्रिम रूप से निर्धारित की गई रुपए-स्टर्लिंग विनिमय दर को ब्रिटिश सरकार द्वारा निम्नलिखित में से किस कारण से अंगीकार किया गया था ?…
- 2026 · Q9 · The Gandhian era, 1917–1947एका आंदोलन और बारदोली सत्याग्रह के बारे में निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा कथन सही है ?…
- 2026 · Q16 · The Gandhian era, 1917–19471939 में, सुभाष चन्द्र बोस द्वारा फॉरवर्ड ब्लॉक के गठन के लिए निम्नलिखित में से कौन-से कारकों का योगदान रहा ?…
- 2026 · Q17 · 1857 & early resistance movements1856 में अवध के समामेलन (annexation) के तत्काल बाद अवध में ब्रिटिश नीति के संबंध में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :…
- 2026 · Q18 · Constitutional development & the transfer of powerनिम्नलिखित अभिकथन पर विचार कीजिए : समुदाय पर आधारित राजनैतिक गठबंधनों की उत्पत्ति, 1919 के मोंटेग्यू-चेम्सफोर्ड सुधारों के मूल स्वरूप में निहित थी । निम्नलिखित में से कौन…
The same ground in Mains
These official Mains syllabus lines cover Modern India & the freedom struggle. Prelims facts become Mains arguments.
Modern India & the freedom struggle PYQs as a PDF — free
All 48 PDFs →Every Modern India & the freedom struggle question from 2011 to 2026, topic-wise, with answers and explanations — 57 pages. Free; sign up once.
Modern India & the freedom struggle PYQs: quick answers
How many Modern India & the freedom struggle questions has UPSC asked in Prelims from 2011 to 2026?
107 questions in GS Paper I — about 7 a year, the most in 2018 (14). Every one is on this page, under its topic, with UPSC's answer and an explanation.
Which Modern India & the freedom struggle topic does UPSC ask most in Prelims?
The Gandhian era, 1917–1947: 32 questions between 2011 and 2026, asked in 13 of 16 years. The topics are listed above, most asked first, each with its year-by-year trend.
Are the answers UPSC's official answer keys?
From 2016, yes: every answer is from UPSC's final answer key (2016–2025); for 2011–2015, where UPSC published no key online, each answer is worked out from official sources and reviewed independently; for 2026 UPSC has so far published a provisional key, and those answers are labelled. Explanations cite official sources — NCERT and government pages first.
Can I download the Modern India & the freedom struggle PYQs as a PDF?
Yes — a print-ready PDF of every Modern India & the freedom struggle question with answers and explanations (57 pages, 1.3 MB), free after a one-time sign-up, from the Vault's downloads page.
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault; answers are UPSC's keys.
