2008 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2008 · General Studies
Question 58: History and Culture
During the Indian Freedom Struggle, who of the following raised an army called ‘Free Indian Legion’?
aLala Hardayal
bRashbehari Bose
cSubhas Chandra Bose
dV. D. Savarkar
AnswerThe answer is (c).
The Free Indian Legion (Legion Freies Indien) was raised in Germany in 1941-42 by Subhas Chandra Bose from Indian prisoners of war captured by the Axis in North Africa. Bose had reached Germany in 1941 and set up the Free India Centre in Berlin. In 1943 he travelled by submarine to South-East Asia to lead the Indian National Army.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Lala Har Dayal helped found the Ghadar movement in North America.
- (b) Rashbehari Bose founded the Indian Independence League and handed the INA to Subhas Bose in 1943.
- (c) Subhas Chandra Bose raised the Free Indian Legion in Germany.
- (d) V. D. Savarkar later led the Hindu Mahasabha and is not linked with the Legion.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2008, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.