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.