Nationalism in India — Class 10 Social Science NCERT Solutions (Free)
Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 10 Social Science chapter "Nationalism in India" — 6 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE board exam preparation.
TL;DR: Free step-by-step NCERT solutions for Class 10 Social Science chapter "Nationalism in India" — 6 important questions with detailed answers for CBSE bo…
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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science — Nationalism in India. Step-by-step answers to all 6 textbook questions from this chapter, written for CBSE board preparation and free to use.
Nationalism in India — All 6 Questions Solved
Q1. When did the Indian nationalist movement begin and what were its early forms?
The Indian nationalist movement began in the late 19th century. Early forms included social reform movements addressing practices like sati and caste discrimination. Organizations like the Indian National Congress (founded in 1885) provided a platform for nationalist thought. These early movements combined Western liberal ideas with Indian tradition and values.
Q2. What roles did Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai play in Indian nationalism?
Tilak and Lajpat Rai were militant nationalists who believed in more aggressive opposition to British rule than the moderates. Tilak promoted Swadeshi (boycott of foreign goods) and supported armed resistance. Lajpat Rai worked to mobilize the masses and fought against the partition of Bengal. Both inspired revolutionary sentiment and challenged British authority directly.
Q3. How did Mahatma Gandhi transform the nationalist movement?
Gandhi introduced the concept of Satyagraha (non-violent resistance) and Ahimsa (non-violence), which became the core of India's freedom struggle. He mobilized millions of Indians through Civil Disobedience movements. His method proved effective in exposing the brutality of British rule and won international sympathy. Gandhi united different sections of Indian society under the banner of nationalism.
Q4. What was the Salt March and its significance?
The Salt March (1930) was a non-violent protest against British monopoly on salt production. Gandhi walked to the Arabian Sea to collect salt, defying British law. The march inspired millions to join the movement and produced pickled salt illegally. It was a turning point that brought the independence movement to the masses and demonstrated the power of non-violent resistance.
Q5. How did Indian nationalism address communal tensions and religious diversity?
Indian nationalism tried to unite people across religious, caste, and linguistic lines under a common national identity. Early nationalists emphasized shared history and culture. However, communal tensions remained, and groups like the Muslim League emerged with separate political agendas. The partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 reflected these unresolved communal divisions.
Q6. What was the role of women in the Indian independence movement?
Women played significant roles in India's freedom struggle. They participated in the Civil Disobedience movement, boycotted foreign goods, and led movements for social reform. Leaders like Sarojini Naidu and Kasturba Gandhi mobilized women across the country. Their participation expanded the scope of nationalism and brought about discussions on women's rights and equality.
Nationalism in India — Practice MCQs with Answers
Attempt these 20 multiple-choice questions after working through the solutions above. Each carries the correct option and the reasoning behind it, so a wrong answer tells you which idea to revisit.
MCQ 1. When did Mahatma Gandhi return to India from South Africa?
- A. January 1915
- B. March 1916
- C. April 1919
- D. December 1920
Answer: A. January 1915 — Mahatma Gandhi returned to India on January 9, 1915, after two decades in South Africa, marking a new phase in the Indian freedom struggle.
MCQ 2. Which of the following was NOT one of the initial Satyagraha movements organized by Mahatma Gandhi in India?
- A. Champaran Satyagraha
- B. Kheda Satyagraha
- C. Ahmedabad Mill Workers' Strike
- D. Rowlatt Satyagraha
Answer: D. Rowlatt Satyagraha — The Rowlatt Satyagraha was a nationwide protest against the Rowlatt Act, launched in 1919, after the localized movements in Champaran, Kheda, and Ahmedabad.
MCQ 3. On which day did the Jallianwala Bagh massacre take place?
- A. 13 April 1919
- B. 10 March 1919
- C. 6 April 1919
- D. 15 August 1919
Answer: A. 13 April 1919 — The tragic Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on Baisakhi day, April 13, 1919, when General Dyer ordered his troops to fire on a peaceful gathering in Amritsar.
MCQ 4. The Khilafat Movement was started by which two brothers?
- A. Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel
- B. Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan
- C. Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali
- D. Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: C. Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali — The Khilafat Movement was initiated by the Ali brothers, Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali, to support the Ottoman Caliph against British policies.
MCQ 5. At which session of the Indian National Congress was the Non-Cooperation programme adopted?
- A. Calcutta Session, September 1920
- B. Nagpur Session, December 1920
- C. Madras Session, 1927
- D. Lahore Session, 1929
Answer: B. Nagpur Session, December 1920 — Though the idea was discussed in the Calcutta Session, the Non-Cooperation programme was formally adopted at the Nagpur Session of the Congress in December 1920.
MCQ 6. Who among the following formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to argue for a return to Council Politics?
- A. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru
- B. Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das
- C. Sardar Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose
- D. Muhammad Ali and Shaukat Ali
Answer: B. Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das — Motilal Nehru and C.R. Das formed the Swaraj Party in 1923, advocating for council entry and obstructionist politics after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
MCQ 7. Why was the Simon Commission boycotted in India?
- A. It proposed the partition of India
- B. It did not have any Indian members
- C. It advocated for complete independence
- D. It supported the Khilafat Movement
Answer: B. It did not have any Indian members — The Simon Commission was boycotted because it was an all-white commission without any Indian representation, yet it was tasked with deciding India's constitutional future.
MCQ 8. At which Congress session was the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) formally adopted?
- A. Calcutta Session, 1928
- B. Lahore Session, 1929
- C. Karachi Session, 1931
- D. Haripura Session, 1938
Answer: B. Lahore Session, 1929 — The demand for 'Purna Swaraj' was formally adopted at the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1929, with Jawaharlal Nehru as its president.
MCQ 9. What was the main objective of Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi March?
- A. To protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
- B. To demand Hindu-Muslim unity
- C. To break the salt law
- D. To initiate the Quit India Movement
Answer: C. To break the salt law — The Dandi March was undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi to openly defy the oppressive British salt law, which monopolized salt production and heavily taxed it.
MCQ 10. Which of the following groups largely did NOT participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement enthusiastically, especially in the later stages?
- A. Rich peasants
- B. Industrial workers
- C. Business classes
- D. Women
Answer: B. Industrial workers — Industrial workers, especially in large numbers, did not participate enthusiastically in the Civil Disobedience Movement due to the Congress's reluctance to include their specific demands for better working conditions against industrialists.
MCQ 11. What was Mahatma Gandhi's primary objection to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's demand for separate electorates for Dalits?
- A. He believed it would slow down the freedom struggle
- B. He feared it would permanently separate Dalits from mainstream society
- C. He thought it was unconstitutional
- D. He wanted Dalits to join the Hindu Mahasabha instead
Answer: B. He feared it would permanently separate Dalits from mainstream society — Mahatma Gandhi strongly opposed separate electorates for Dalits, fearing that it would perpetuate their segregation from the rest of society, leading to a fast unto death in protest.
MCQ 12. The Poona Pact (1932) was signed between whom?
- A. Mahatma Gandhi and Muhammad Ali Jinnah
- B. Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
- C. Lord Irwin and Mahatma Gandhi
- D. Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: B. Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar — The Poona Pact was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1932 to resolve the issue of separate electorates for Dalits, leading to reserved seats in general constituencies.
MCQ 13. Who composed the song 'Vande Mataram'?
- A. Rabindranath Tagore
- B. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
- C. Abanindranath Tagore
- D. Subramania Bharati
Answer: B. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay — The iconic national song 'Vande Mataram' was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in his novel Anandamath and became a powerful symbol of Indian nationalism.
MCQ 14. Who first created the iconic image of 'Bharat Mata'?
- A. Rabindranath Tagore
- B. Abanindranath Tagore
- C. Raja Ravi Varma
- D. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Answer: B. Abanindranath Tagore — The renowned painter Abanindranath Tagore first painted the iconic image of 'Bharat Mata', depicting her as an ascetic figure distributing learning, food, and clothing, a powerful symbol of nationalism.
MCQ 15. In Bengal, who began collecting ballads, nursery rhymes, and myths, and led the movement for folk revival to promote nationalism?
- A. Rabindranath Tagore
- B. Natesa Sastri
- C. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
- D. Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: A. Rabindranath Tagore — In Bengal, Rabindranath Tagore actively began collecting and compiling folk tales, ballads, and myths as part of a folk revival movement to promote national identity and pride.
MCQ 16. Alluri Sitaram Raju led the tribal peasants in the Gudem Hills of Andhra Pradesh. What was his belief regarding Mahatma Gandhi?
- A. He opposed Gandhi's non-violent methods completely
- B. He supported Gandhi's idea of Swaraj through armed struggle
- C. He was inspired by Gandhi but believed in the necessity of force
- D. He wanted to establish a separate tribal state
Answer: C. He was inspired by Gandhi but believed in the necessity of force — Alluri Sitaram Raju was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement, even promoting Khadi, but believed that India could be liberated only by the use of force, not non-violence.
MCQ 17. What was a key demand of the peasant movement in Awadh, led by Baba Ramchandra?
- A. Reduction of war expenses
- B. Abolition of the 'begar' system
- C. Demand for separate electorates
- D. Full control over land ownership
Answer: B. Abolition of the 'begar' system — The peasant movement in Awadh, led by Baba Ramchandra, primarily demanded reduction of revenue, abolition of 'begar' (forced labour), and social boycott of oppressive landlords.
MCQ 18. During the Non-Cooperation Movement, what was the impact of boycotting foreign goods?
- A. It led to a decline in Indian textile production
- B. It resulted in an increase in the import of British goods
- C. It led to a significant increase in the production of Indian textiles and handlooms
- D. It had no noticeable impact on the economy
Answer: C. It led to a significant increase in the production of Indian textiles and handlooms — The boycott of foreign goods during the Non-Cooperation Movement led to a significant increase in the demand for Indian textiles and handlooms, boosting their production and sale.
MCQ 19. Why did Mahatma Gandhi call off the Non-Cooperation Movement?
- A. The British government agreed to his demands
- B. He decided to start the Civil Disobedience Movement
- C. The Chauri Chaura incident turned violent
- D. The Khilafat Movement ended
Answer: C. The Chauri Chaura incident turned violent — Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 after the violent Chauri Chaura incident, as he believed the satyagrahis were not yet ready for a non-violent mass struggle.
MCQ 20. For the plantation workers in Assam, what did the term 'Swaraj' mean during the Non-Cooperation Movement?
- A. Complete independence from British rule
- B. The right to move freely in and out of their confined spaces
- C. Reduction in land revenue
- D. The abolition of the 'begar' system
Answer: B. The right to move freely in and out of their confined spaces — For plantation workers, 'Swaraj' meant the right to move freely in and out of the confined tea gardens and retain a link with their native villages, which was restricted by the Inland Emigration Act.
How to Use These Solutions
Attempt each question yourself first and only then compare with the worked answer. Marks in the CBSE board exam are awarded for the METHOD as much as the final result, so reproduce the steps rather than memorising the last line. Where a solution states a law, a formula or a definition, learn that wording — examiners look for it.
Related practice for this chapter: chapter MCQs, previous-year questions, revision notes and sample papers.