2012 GS Paper I, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I
Question 70: History and Culture
The Rowlatt Act aimed at
acompulsory economic support to war efforts
bimprisonment without trial and summary procedures for trial
csuppression of the Khilafat Movement
dimposition of restrictions on freedom of the press
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
The Rowlatt Act of 1919 (the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act) allowed the government to imprison suspects without trial and to try them in special courts with summary procedures and no appeal. It led to Gandhi's satyagraha against it and to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919. It was not about war funds, the Khilafat or press restrictions.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: the Act was not about economic support for war efforts.
- (b) Correct: imprisonment without trial and summary trial procedures.
- (c) Wrong: it was not aimed at suppressing the Khilafat Movement.
- (d) Wrong: press restrictions were the aim of laws such as the Vernacular Press Act.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.