1999 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 1999 · General Studies
Question 9: History and Culture
The first venture of Gandhi in all-India politics was the
aNon-cooperation Movement
bRowlatt Satyagraha
cChamparan Movement
dDandi March
AnswerThe answer is (b).
The Rowlatt Satyagraha of 1919, a country-wide protest against the Rowlatt Act that allowed detention without trial, was Gandhi's first venture in all-India politics. Before it, his work at Champaran (1917), Ahmedabad and Kheda (1918) was local. Non-cooperation (1920-22) and the Dandi March (1930) came later. Remember: Champaran was his first satyagraha in India; Rowlatt was his first all-India one.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. Non-cooperation began in 1920, after the Rowlatt agitation.
- (b) Right. In 1919 he called a country-wide satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act.
- (c) Wrong. Champaran in 1917 was a local agitation in Bihar.
- (d) Wrong. The Dandi March of 1930 was a later part of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1999, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.