Post Independence History (Prelims PYQs)
Explore Previous Year Questions (PYQs) on Post Independence History for UPSC Prelims from 1995–2024
2024 Prelims PYQs
1] Consider the following pairs: [2024]
Party Its Leader
1. Bharatiya Jana Sangh Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee
2. Socialist Party C. Rajagopalachari
3. Congress for Democracy Jagiivan Ram
4. Swatantra Party Acharya Narendra Dev
How many of the above are correctly matched?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) Only three
d) All four
Ans: b) Only two
2018 Prelims PYQs
1] Consider the following events: [2018]
1. The first democratically elected communist party government formed in a State in India.
2. India’s then largest bank, “Imperial Bank of India” was renamed “State Bank of India”.
3. Air India was nationalised and became the national carrier.
4. Goa became a part of independent India.
Which of the following is the correct chronological sequence of the above events?
a) 4-1-2-3
b) 3-2-1-4
c) 4-2-1-3
d) 3-1-2-4
Ans: b) 3-2-1-4
2008-1995 Prelims PYQs
1] Which was the Capital of Andhra state when it was made a separate State in the year 1953? [2008]
a) Guntur
b) Kurnool
c) Nellore
d) Warangal
Ans: b) Kurnool
2] For which one of the following reforms was a Commission set up under the Chairmanship of Veerappa Moily by the Government of India? [2008]
a) Police Reforms
b) Tax Reforms
c) Reforms in Technical Education
d) Administrative Reforms
Ans: d) Administrative Reforms
3] Who wrote the book-‘the story of the Integration of the Indian States’? [2007]
a) B. N. Rao
b) C. Rajagopalachari
c) Krishna Menon
d) V. P. Menon
Ans: d) V. P. Menon
4] Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the formation as full States of the Indian Union? [2007]
a) Sikkim – Arunachal Pradesh – Nagaland – Haryana
b) Nagaland – Haryana – Sikkim – Arunachal Pradesh
c) Sikkim – Haryana – Nagaland – Arunachal Pradesh
d) Nagaland – Arunachal Pradesh – Sikkim – Haryana
Ans: b) Nagaland – Haryana – Sikkim – Arunachal Pradesh
5] Which one of the following places was associated with Acharya Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Movement at the beginning of the movement? [2007]
a) Udaygiri
b) Rapur
c) Pochampalli
d) Venkatagiri
Ans: c) Pochampalli
6] Who among the following wrote the book- Ayodhya: 6 December 1992? [2007]
a) Chandra Shekhar
b) P. V. Narasimha Rao
c) Jaswant Singh
d) Arun Shourie
Ans: d) Arun Shourie
7] Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? [2006]
a) States Reorganisation Act: Andhra Pradesh
b) Treaty of Yandabu: Assam
c) State of Bilaspur: Himachal Pradesh
d) Year 1966: Gujarat becomes a State
Ans: d) Year 1966: Gujarat becomes a State
8] Which is the correct chronological sequence of the major events given below? [2006]
1. SLV 3 Launch
2. Formation of Bangladesh
3. Sikkim becomes 22nd State of the Indian Union
4. Pokharan I test.
a) 2, 4, 3, 1
b) 3, 1, 2, 4
c) 2, 1, 3, 4
d) 3, 4, 2, 1
Ans: a) 2, 4, 3, 1
9] Which one of the following was probed by the Liberhan Commission? [2005]
a) Test Cricket match fixing
b) Best Bakery Case
c) Tehelka Tapes Case
d) Demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya
Ans: d) Demolition of the disputed structure at Ayodhya
10] Consider the following events: [2004]
1. Fourth general elections in India
2. Formation of Haryana State
3. Mysore named as Karnataka State
4. Meghalaya and Tripura become full States
a) 2 1 4 3
b) 4 3 2 1
c) 2 3 4 1
d) 4 1 2 3
Ans: a) 2 1 4 3
11] Match List I (Commission) with List II (Matter of Enquiry) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [2002]
List I List II
A. Wadhwa Commission 1. The assistance of Rajiv Gandhi
B. Liberhan Commission 2. Killing of Graham Staines
C. Sri Krishan Commission 3. Demolition of a religious structural at Ayodhya
D. Jain Commission 4. Riots in Mumbai In 1993
a) 3 2 4 1
b) 2 3 4 1
c) 3 2 1 4
d) 2 3 1 4
Ans: b) 2 3 4 1
12] While delivering the presidential address, the Congress President who advocated the introduction of Roman script for Hindi language was: [2000]
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Abul Kalam Azad
d) Subhas Chandra Bose
Ans: d) Subhas Chandra Bose
13] Which one of the following statements is incorrect? [2000]
a) Goa attained full statehood in 1987
b) Diu is an island in the Gulf of Khambhat
c) Daman and Diu were separated from Goa by the 56th Amendment of the Constitution of India
d) Dadra and Nagar Haveli were under French colonial rule till 1954
Ans: d) Dadra and Nagar Haveli were under French colonial rule till 1954
14] Which one of the following statements is correct? [1999]
a) Kacchativu and Tin Bigha were territories acquired by the Indian Republic from the French
b) Kacchativu and Tin Bigha are territories handed over to Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi sovereignty respectively by the Government of India
c) Kacchativu and Tin Bigha are areas that were annexed by the Chinese in the 1962 Sino-Indian War
d) Kacchativu and Tin Bigha are enclaves which were transferred to India by lease arrangements with Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively
Ans: b) Kacchativu and Tin Bigha are territories handed over to Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi sovereignty respectively by the Government of India
15] Which of the following Parties were not a part of the United Front which was in power during ‘96 97’? [1998]
I. Bahujan Samaj Party
II. Samata Party
III. Haryana Vikas Party
IV. Asom Gana Parishad
a) I, II, III and IV
b) I, II and III
c) III and IV
d) I and II
Ans: b) I, II and III
16] The Dinesh Goswami Committee was concerned with: [1995]
a) De nationalisation of banks
b) Electoral reforms
c) Steps to put down insurgency in the North East
d) The problem of the Chakmas
Ans: b) Electoral reforms
PYQ Analysis for Post Independence History (UPSC Prelims 1995–2024)
The Previous Year Questions (PYQs) on Post Independence History for UPSC Prelims from 1995 to 2024 reveal key trends and focus areas for aspirants. This section provides an in-depth analysis to help optimize your preparation.
Key Trends and Observations
1. Frequency of Questions: Post Independence History is a recurring topic in UPSC Prelims, with at least 1–2 questions appearing almost every year. The 16 questions provided from 1995 to 2024 indicate consistent coverage, particularly in the 2000s, with a slight dip in recent years (e.g., only one question each in 2018 and 2024).
2. Sub-Themes Covered: The PYQs span several sub-themes within Post Independence History, including:
- State Reorganization and Integration: Questions on the formation of states (e.g., Andhra Pradesh in 1953, Nagaland, Haryana, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh) and territorial changes (e.g., Kacchativu, Tin Bigha, Goa) are frequent (2000, 2006, 2007, 2008).
- Political Developments: Questions focus on political parties (e.g., Bharatiya Jana Sangh, United Front in 1998, 2024) and leadership (e.g., Subhas Chandra Bose’s Roman script proposal in 2000).
- Commissions and Reports: Several questions test knowledge of commissions like Liberhan (Ayodhya demolition, 2002, 2005), Wadhwa, Jain, Sri Krishan, and Veerappa Moily (2008).
- Chronological Events: Chronology-based questions are common, requiring candidates to sequence events like nationalization of Air India, Bangladesh formation, or Pokharan I (2004, 2006, 2018).
- Social and Reform Movements: Questions on movements like Bhoodan (2007) and books related to historical events (e.g., Ayodhya: 6 December 1992, Integration of Indian States in 2007) are notable.
3. Question Types: The majority of questions are multiple-choice with a focus on:
- Matching pairs (e.g., parties and leaders in 2024, commissions in 2002).
- Chronological order (2004, 2006, 2007, 2018).
- Factual recall (e.g., capitals, books, or commissions in 2005, 2007, 2008).
- Identifying incorrect statements (2000, 2006).
4. Difficulty Level: Most questions are moderate, testing factual knowledge and conceptual clarity. Chronology and matching questions require precise recall, while commission-related questions demand awareness of specific historical events.
5. Recent Trends (2018–2024): Recent years show a decline in question frequency, with only one question each in 2018 and 2024. This suggests a shift toward other history sub-topics, but Post Independence History remains relevant due to its connection to polity and governance.
Preparation Tips for Post Independence History
1. Focus on Key Sub-Themes: Prioritize state reorganization, major political events, commissions, and social movements. Use timelines to memorize chronological sequences.
2. Standard Sources: Refer to NCERT’s Politics in India Since Independence, Bipan Chandra’s India Since Independence, and UPSC-specific resources like Arihant or Spectrum’s Modern India for detailed coverage.
3. Practice PYQs: Solve PYQs to understand question patterns and improve accuracy in matching and chronology-based questions.
4. Stay Updated: Recent questions (e.g., 2024) focus on political parties and leaders, so keep track of historical political developments.
5. Mock Tests: Regularly attempt mock tests to simulate exam conditions and refine time management. Check out our UPSC Prelims Mock Test for practice.
Why Post Independence History Matters
Post Independence History is integral to understanding India’s political, social, and administrative evolution, which overlaps with Indian Polity and Governance. Mastery of this topic enhances performance in both Prelims and Mains, as it provides context for constitutional developments and current affairs.
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