Class 10 Social Science: Nationalism in India important questions

Nationalism in India is a chapter of Class 10 Social Science for the CBSE. These 13 questions are marked Very Important, Important or Practice, and each answer has been checked by our team. Use them to revise, not as a prediction of what will come in the exam.

1. Practice · 1 marks

   1. Which one among the following pairs is correctly matched? LIST I LIST II A. Bharatiya Janata Party National Democratic Alliance B. Congress Party Left front C. Communist Party of India Regional Party D. Mizo National Front United Progressive Alliance

   A. Bharatiya Janta Party – National Democratic Alliance

2. Important · 3 marks

   2. How was the social and political situation of India affected by the First World War? Explain. OR How did the Indian merchants and industrialists relate themselves to the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain.

   i. The war created a new economic and political situation. ii. It led to a huge increase in defence expenditure which was financed by war loans and increasing taxes: customs duties were raised and income tax introduced. iii. Through the war years prices increased – doubling between 1913 and 1918 –leading to extreme hardship for the common people. iv. Villages were called upon to supply soldiers, and the forced recruitment in rural areas caused widespread anger. v. Crops failed in many parts of India, resulting in acute shortages of food. vi. This was accompanied by an influenza epidemic. Million people perished as a result of famines and the epidemic. vii. Any other relevant point (ANY THREE POINTS) OR How did the Indian merchants and industrialists relate themselves to the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain. ANS. i. Indian merchants and industrialists were keen on expanding their business, and reacted against colonial policies that restricted business activities. ii. They wanted protection against imports of foreign goods, and a rupee-sterling foreign exchange ratio that would discourage imports. iii. To organise business interests, they formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress in 1920 and the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in 1927. iv. Led by prominent industrialists like Purshottamdas Thakurdas and G. D. Birla, the industrialists attacked colonial control over the Indian economy, and supported the Civil Disobedience Movement v. They gave financial assistance and refused to buy or sell imported goods. vi. Most businessmen wanted to flourish trade without constraints. vi. Any other relevant point (ANY THREE POINTS)

3. Practice · 1 marks

   3. Arrange the following statements in sequential order based on the events that shaped the Non-cooperation movement. i. General Dyer opened fire at the large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh. ii. “Forced recruitment” carried out by the British government and the economic hardships faced by the people during the first world war. iii. The defeat of the Ottoman Emperor of Turkey led to the formation of the Khilafat movement. iv. Gandhiji launched a nationwide satyagraha against the Rowlatt act. Options: a. iv, iii, ii, i b. ii, i, iv,iii c. i, iv, iii, ii d. i, ii, iii, iv

   ; b. ii, i, iv ,iii

4. Important

   4. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow: It is said of “passive resistance” that it is the weapon of the weak, but the power which is the subject of this article can be used only by the strong. This power is notpassive resistance; indeed, it calls for intense activity. The movement in South Africawas not passive but active … 'Satyagraha is not physical force. A satyagrahi does not inflict pain on the adversary; he does not seek his destruction … In the use of satyagraha, there is no ill will whatever. 'Satyagraha is pure soul force. Truth is the very substance of the soul. That is why this force is called satyagraha. The soul is informed with knowledge. Init burns the flame of love. … Nonviolence is the supreme dharma …' It is certain thatIndia cannot rival Britain or Europe in force of arms. The British worship the war godand they can all of them become, as they are becoming, bearers of arms. The hundreds of millions in India can never carry arms. They have made the religion of non-violence their own … In his famous book Hind Swaraj (1909) Mahatma Gandhi declared that British rule was established in India, with the cooperation of Indians, and had survived only because of this cooperation. If Indians refused to cooperate, British rule will collapse within a year. 1. Why did Gandhiji say that passive resistance is not the weapon of the weak? 2. “Satyagraha is pure soul-force.” Substantiate this statement in 20 words. 3. What according to Mahatma Gandhi is the best weapon to use to collapse British rule in India?

   Gandhiji said” passive resistance is not the weapon of the weak because it calls for intense activity with a lot of inner strength 2. “Satyagraha is pure soul-force” substantiate this statement in 20 words. Ans: Truth is the very substance of the soul that is informed with knowledge and thus this force is called satyagraha. 3. What according to Mahatma Gandhi is the best weapon to use to collapse British rule in India? Ans: Mahatma Gandhi in his book Hind Swaraj declared that through non- cooperation (Satyagraha) only British rule could be collapsed in India as they could build their empire only with the cooperation of Indians.

5. Very Important · 4 marks

   5. Answer the following: a. i. Name the place where the Indian National Congress session was held in September 1920. ii. Name the place where Mahatma Gandhi broke the salt law. b. i. Name the coal mine located in Tamil Nadu. ii. Name the dam built on the river Chenab.

   a. i. Calcutta (Kolkata). ii. Dandi (Gujarat). b. i. Neyveli. ii. Salal Dam (Jammu and Kashmir).

6. Practice · 1 marks

   6. Arrange the following events in the correct chronological order leading up to the Civil Disobedience Movement: 1. Boycott of the Simon Commission 2. Poorna Swaraj resolution passed 3. Letter with 11 demands sent to Viceroy Irwin 4. Salt March Options: (A) 4, 3, 2, 1 (B) 2, 1, 3, 4 (C) 1, 4, 3, 2 (D) 1, 2, 3, 4

   (D) 1, 2, 3, 4

7. Practice · 1 marks

   7. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow: 1+2+ Emboldened with this success, Gandhi ji in 1919 decided to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919). This Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of the Indian members. It gave the government enormous powers to repress political activities, and allowed detention of political prisoners without trial for two years. Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws, which would start with a hartal on 6 April. i. Why did the British introduce the Rowlatt Act? ii. Examine the effect of this Act on Indians. iii. How did Mahatma Gandhi respond to the Rowlatt Act? Provide one reason for his reaction.

   One of the primary reasons for the Rowlatt Act was to suppress the growing nationalist movements and unrest in India. The Rowlatt Act gave the colonial authorities all powers to arrest and detain individuals without trial, making it easier to suppress political opposition and prevent further nationalist agitation. 2. Ans--The Act gave the authorities the power to prohibit public gatherings and censor the press. i This curbed the freedom of speech and assembly, as Indians were no longer free to express their political views, hold public meetings, or publish materials critical of British rule without risking arrest and prosecution. ii Random arrests and detention powers under the Rowlatt Act led to widespread misuse of power. Many political leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens were arrested on suspicion of being involved in anti-British activities. This resulted in a climate of fear, where people were afraid to voice their opinions against British oppression. 8 Social Science-MS-X-2024-25 3. Ans--Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience against such unjust laws, which would start with a hartal on 6 April. Gandhiji in 1919 decided to launch a nationwide satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act (1919).

8. Important · 2 marks

   8. Name the places: A. The place where the Peasant Satyagraha of 1917 took place in Gujarat. B. The place where the Indian National Congress session was held in September 1920.

   A. Kheda (Gujarat). B. Calcutta (Kolkata).

9. Practice · 1 marks

   9. Q. No. 2 Which one option from the following is the appropriate reason for the formation of the Swaraj party? A. To ask for Poorna Swaraj for Indians. B. To return to Council Politics. C. To ask Dominion State for India. D. To oppose Simon Commission.

   B- Bal Gangadhar Tilak

10. Important · 3 marks

    10. A. ‘A variety of cultural processes played an important role in developing a sense of nationalism in India’. Support the statement with suitable examples. OR 6 B. Salt March 'became an effective tool of resistance against colonialism.’ Analyse the statement with suitable reasons.

    1. Figure or Image – The identity of India came to be visually associated with the image of Bharat Mata. This image was created by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Rabindranath Tagore painted his famous image of Bharat Mata. In this painting, Bharat Mata is portrayed as an ascetic figure; she is calm, composed, divine and spiritual. 2. Songs – Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote ‘VandeMataram’ as a hymn to the motherland. It was included in his novel Anandmath and widely sung during the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal. 3. Folklore – Indian folklore was revived. In late-nineteenth-century India, nationalists began recording folk tales sung by bards and they toured villages to gather folk songs and legends. These tales gave a true picture of traditional culture. It helped to restore a sense of pride in our past. In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore himself began collecting ballads, nursery rhymes and myths, and led the movement for folk revival. In Madras, Natesa Sastri published a massive four-volume collection of Tamil folk tales, The Folklore of Southern India. 4.– Flag (A). During the Swadeshi movement in Bengal, a tricolour flag (red, green and yellow) was designed. It had eight lotuses representing eight provinces of British India, and a crescent moon, representing Hindus and Muslims. (B). By 1921, Gandhiji had designed the Swaraj flag. It was again a tricolour (red, green and white) and had a spinning wheel in the centre, representing the Gandhian ideal of self-help. Carrying the flag, holding it aloft, during marches became a symbol of defiance. 5. Re – interpretation of History – Indians began looking into the past to discover India’s great achievements. They wrote about art and architecture, Science and Maths, religion and culture, law, philosophy etc. Indians were asked to take pride in India’s great achievements in the past and struggle to change the miserable conditions of life under British rule. (Any three points to be considered) OR 6B. 1. Salt became an effective tool of resistance against colonialism because of the following reasons: Gandhiji found in salt a powerful bond that would unite the nations as it – was consumed by all rich and poor alike. 2. Gandhiji’s letter to Viceroy Irwin stated eleven demands. Most of them were of general interest but the most stirring was to abolish the salt tax imposed by the colonial government. 3. Irwin’s unwillingness to negotiate forced Gandhiji to start his salt March which was joined by thousands. It developed the feeling of nationalism. 4. People in different parts of the country broke salt law and manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories. 5. People unitedly followed Gandhiji’s words. They refused to pay taxes, revenues, picketed liquor shops, boycotted foreign clothes, resigned from government jobs and violated forest laws. (Any three points to be considered)]

11. Important · 2 marks

    11. Name the places: A) The place where the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched. B) The place where the Indian National Congress session was held in September 1920.

    A) Dandi (Gujarat), where Gandhiji broke the salt law in 1930. B) Calcutta (Kolkata), where the special session of September 1920 accepted the Non-Cooperation programme.

12. Practice · 1 marks

    12. Who among the following people established the 'Swaraj Party’? A. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Bipin Chandra Pal B. Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai C. Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose D. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru

    D.Quit India Movement D. C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru ( FOR VISUALLY IMPARED)

13. Very Important · 5 marks

    13. Evaluate the economic consequences of the Non-Cooperation Movement for colonial rule in India. OR 7B Analyse how Indian merchants and industrialists associated themselves with the Civil Disobedience Movement, highlighting the forms of support they extended and the reasons for their participation.

    1.The effects of non-cooperation on the economic front were more dramatic. Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor shops picketed, and foreign cloth burnt in huge bonfires. 2. The import of foreign cloth halved between 1921 and 1922, its value dropping from Rs 102 crore to Rs 57 crore. 3. In many places merchants and traders refused to trade in foreign goods or finance foreign trade. 4. As the boycott movement spread, people began discarding imported clothes and wearing only Indian ones 5. Production of Indian textile mills and handlooms went up and making and wearing of Khadi became very popular OR 7B 1.During the First World War, Indian merchants and industrialists had made huge profits and become powerful.Keen on expanding their business, they now reacted against colonial policies that restricted business activities. 2.They wanted protection against imports of foreign goods, and a rupee-sterling foreign exchange ratio that would discourage imports. 3.To organise business interests, they formed the Indian Industrial and Commercial Congress in 1920 and the Federation of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) in 1927. Led by prominent industrialists like Purshottamdas Thakurdas and G. D. Birla, the industrialists attacked colonial control over the Indian economy, and supported the Civil Disobedience Movement when it was first launched. 4.They gave financial assistance and refused to buy or sell imported goods. Most businessmen came to see swaraj as a time when colonial restrictions on business would no longer exist and trade and industry would flourish without constraints. 5. But after the failure of the Round Table Conference, business groups were no longer uniformly enthusiastic. They were apprehensive of the spread of militant activities, and worried about prolonged disruption of business, as well as of the growing influence of socialism amongst the younger members of the Congress.