Post Independence

Question 3

Who founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and served as the first Minister of Commerce and Industry in independent India?

Answer 3

Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukharjee.

Question 4

The Socialist Party, which merged into the Janata Party in 1977, was an independent incarnation of which earlier party formed in 1934?

Answer 4

Congress Socialist Party (CSP).

Question 5

Who were the founders of the Congress Socialist Party (CSP)?

Answer 5

Jaiprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia.

Question 6

Who founded the Congress for Democracy (CFD) party in 1977?

Answer 6

Jagjivan Ram.

Question 7

Who founded the Swatantra Party in 1959?

Answer 7

Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (Rajaji).

Question 8

In the context of the Age of Exploration, what regions does the ‘Old World’ refer to?

Answer 8

Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Question 9

In the context of the Age of Exploration, what regions does the ‘New World’ refer to?

Answer 9

North America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Question 10

What is the transfer of crops between the New World and the Old World known as?

Answer 10

The Columbian Exchange.

Question 11

Name some crops domesticated first in the ‘New World’ (Americas) before the Columbian Exchange.

Answer 11

Maize, sunflower, rubber, tobacco, cocoa, cashew, papaya, pineapple, guava.

Question 12

Name some crops already found in the ‘Old World’ before the Columbian Exchange.

Answer 12

Cotton, sugarcane, wheat.

Question 13

When and where was the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) trade union founded?

Answer 13

1948, at a conference in Calcutta.

Question 14

Name some founders of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS).

Answer 14

Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujam, G.G. Mehta, Basawon Singh (Sinha), R.S. Ruikar, Maniben Kara etc.

Question 15

When was the first Lok Sabha election held?

Answer 15

1951-52.

Question 16

Which party won the first Lok Sabha election, and which party emerged as the principal opposition?

Answer 16

Winner: Indian National Congress (INC); Principal Opposition: Communist Party of India (CPI).

Question 17

When was the position of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha first officially recognised, and when did it get statutory recognition?

Answer 17

Recognised: 1969; Statutory Recognition: 1977.

Question 18

According to the Mavalankar Rules, what percentage of total Lok Sabha strength must a party have to designate its leader as LoP?

Answer 18

At least 10% (55 seats or more).

Question 19

Under which Act were nine airlines nationalised in 1953 and replaced by Indian Airlines and Air India International?

Answer 19

Air Corporations Act of 1953.

Question 20

Which bank was nationalised in 1955 and renamed the State Bank of India (SBI)?

Answer 20

Imperial Bank of India.

Question 21

Which institution took over central banking functions from the Imperial Bank in 1935?

Answer 21

Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Question 22

In which state was the world’s first democratically elected communist government formed in 1957?

Answer 22

Kerala (Communist Party of India - CPI).

Question 23

When did Goa become a part of independent India?

Answer 23

December 18, 1961.

Question 24

Who was the seventh President of India (1982-1987) and the first Sikh to hold the post?

Answer 24

Giani Zail Singh.

Question 25

Giani Zail Singh's presidency was marked by which three major events?

Answer 25

Operation Blue Star, assassination of Indira Gandhi, 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Question 26

The Yom Kippur War (1973), also known as the Ramadan War, was fought between Israel and a coalition led by which two Arab states?

Answer 26

Egypt and Syria.

Question 27

The Yom Kippur War followed Israel's capture of which territories in the 1967 Six-Day War?

Answer 27

Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights.

Question 28

On what date were the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra formed from the Bombay State?

Answer 28

May 1, 1960.

Question 29

Under which Indian Prime Minister were diplomatic ties between India and Israel formally established in 1992?

Answer 29

P.V. Narasimha Rao.

Question 30

Who was the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit India (2003)?

Answer 30

Ariel Sharon.

Question 31

Which country was one of the first self-governing nations to grant all women the right to vote (1893)?

Answer 31

New Zealand.

Question 32

Arrange these financial institutions by their establishment year (earliest first): NABARD, IFCI, IDBI, ICICI.

Answer 32

1. IFCI (1948) -> 2. ICICI (1955) -> 3. IDBI (1964) -> 4. NABARD (1982).

Question 33

Which institution was set up in 1948 to provide medium and long-term finance to industry?

Answer 33

IFCI Ltd (Industrial Finance Corporation of India).

Question 34

Which institution was formed in 1955 at the initiative of the World Bank, GoI, and Indian industry?

Answer 34

ICICI.

Question 35

Which institution was constituted under its own Act in 1964 as a Development Financial Institution (DFI)?

Answer 35

IDBI (Industrial Development Bank of India).

Question 36

Which institution came into existence in 1982, taking over agricultural credit functions from RBI?

Answer 36

NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).