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 2011: 7 questions
All years →- Q4 · 1857 & early resistance movementsWhich amongst the following provided a common factor for tribal insurrection in India in the 19th century?…
- Q5 · The Gandhian era, 1917–1947What was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi to organise a satyagraha on behalf of the peasants of Kheda? The Administration did not suspend the land revenue collection in spite of a drought. The Administra…
- Q6 · Constitutional development & the transfer of powerWith reference to the period of Indian freedom struggle, which of the following was/were recommended by the Nehru report? Complete Independence for India. Joint electorates for reservation of seats fo…
- Q7 · The Gandhian era, 1917–1947Which one of the following observations is not true about the Quit India Movement of 1942?…
- Q8 · The Gandhian era, 1917–1947With reference to Indian freedom struggle, Usha Mehta is well-known for:…
- Q9 · Rise of nationalism, 1885–1917What was the purpose for which Sir William Wedderburn and W.S. Caine had set up the Indian Parliamentary Committee in 1893?…
- Q10 · British administration, land revenue & economyThe tendency for increased litigation was visible after the introduction of the land settlement system of Lord Cornwallis in 1793. The reason for this is normally traced to which of the following prov…
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 & economyThe artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following …
- 2026 · Q9 · The Gandhian era, 1917–1947Which one of the following statements about the Eka Movement and Bardoli Satyagraha is correct?…
- 2026 · Q16 · The Gandhian era, 1917–1947Which of the following factors contributed to the formation of the Forward Bloc by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939?…
- 2026 · Q17 · 1857 & early resistance movementsConsider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after its annexation in 1856:…
- 2026 · Q18 · Constitutional development & the transfer of powerConsider the following assertion: The genesis of political alliances based on community lay in the very nature of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919. Which of the foll…
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.
