Ans 1: B

Explanation: Right after the revolt of 1857, Lord Canning passed an act, making it mandatory for
newspaper publishers to obtain licences and submit material for vetting prior to publication. The Act
also held that no licensed press should publish printed material impugning the motives of the British
Raj, tending to bring it hatred and contempt and exciting unlawful resistance to its orders. When the
British Government found that the Act was not potent enough to repress all Nationalist sentiments, it
went on to create a more forcible law, which came as the Vernacular Press Act of 1878. It was passed
under the Governor Generalship of Lord Lytton, for ‘better control” of Indian language newspapers. The
purpose of the Act was to control the printing and circulation of seditious material, calculated to
produce disaffection against the British Government in India in the minds of the ignorant, uneducated
and largely illiterate masses.

The act came to be nicknamed "Gagging Act". The community of editors and printers unanimously
outraged the Act. All the prominent leaders condemned the Act as unwarranted and unjustified, and
demanded for its immediate withdrawal. It was repealed on December 7, 1881, when Lord Ripon was
Governor General and Viceroy of India.

Ans 2: C

Ans 3: D

Explanation: The English Education Act was a legislative Act of the Council of India in 1835 giving
effect to a decision in 1835 by William Bentinck, the Governor-General of British India to reallocate
funds the East India Company was required by the British Parliament to spend on education and
literature in India. In the same year, British Government designated English as the medium of education
for schools and universities.

Ans 4: B

Ans 5: D

Explanation: Sido Murmu and Kanhu Murmu were the leader of the Santhal rebellion (1855–1856),
the native rebellion in present-day Jharkhand in eastern India against both the British colonial
authority and the corrupt upper caste zamindari system.

Ans 6: D

Ans 7: B

Explanation: The Permanent Settlement (also Premanent Settlement of Bengal) was introduced by Lord
Cornwallis in 1793. It was an agreement between the British East India Company and the Landlords of
Bengal to settle the Land Revenue to be raised. Lord Cornwallis came to India as the Governor General.

The Permanent Settlement was one of the most famous measures of Lord Cornwallis. It was agreed that
the landlords would have perpetual and hereditary rights over the land, so long as they pay the fixed
revenue to the British Government. The landlords were also given the right to transfer their land. Since,
the tax burden on land was fixed, investment in land became an attraction for zamindars and landlords.

Ans 8: B

Ans 9: A

Explanation: The Singh Sabha Movement was a Sikh movement begun in the late 19th century in
reaction to the proselytising activities of Brahmo Samajis and Christians. The movement's aims were
the revival of the Sikh Gurus' teachings, the production of religious literature in the Punjabi language
using the Gurmukhi script, and a campaign to increase literacy.

Ans 10: D

Explanation: In 1875, Olcott, Blavatsky, and othersformed the Theosophical Society in New York City,
USA. Olcott financially supported the earliest years of the Theosophical Society and was acting President
while Blavatsky served as the Society's Secretary.

Ans 11. A

Explanations – MH – Part 1 + Geo NCERTs 9980837187

Ans 12. C

Ans 13. C

Explanation: To protest against the decision of viceroy lord Curzon to divide Bengal, the congress
decided to adopt swadeshi and boycotting of foreign goods. This was highly successful leading to a steep
fall in England’s imports to India. Scores of people including lawyers, government servants and students
participated in the movement paralyzing the British rule in India. Due to this in 1911, king George 5
annulled the decision of partition. Hence 12 th December 1911 is called as “royal boon”.

Ans 14. B

Explanation: Abhinav Bharat is a secret society founded by V.D.Savarkar in 1903 in Nasik.

Ans 15. C

Explanation: Gandhi undertook peasant satyagraha in Kheda and undertook hunger strike in
Ahemadabad.

Ans 16. B

Explanation: The Battle of Wandiwash fought on January 22,1760 resulted in the defeat of the French
Count de Lally by the English General Eyre Coote and ended French commercial influence in India.

Ans 17. C

Ans 18. B

Explanation: Theosophical society was founded by H.P.Blavatsky and colonel Olcott and not by Annie
Besant. B.G. Tilak founded his own home rule league in 1916.

Ans 19. D

Ans 20. D

Ans 21. B

Ans 22. C

Ans 23. D

Explanation: Only Muslims were Given communal representation. Sikhs and Anglo Indians were given
communal representation in 1919.

Ans 24. C

Ans 25. B

Explanation: Multiple aims of INC were declared during the first session, including promotion of
friendly relations between nationalist political workers throughout India, development of feeling of
national unity etc. Around 400 delegates to the congress were elected in 1886. A British committee of
the INC was founded in 1889 in Britain, which started a journal called India in 1890.

Ans 26. D

Ans 27. A

Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji organized the East India Association in London in 1886 to discuss the
Indian question and to influence the British public officials to promote Indian welfare. Surendranath
Banerjee and Ananda Mohan Bose founded the Indian Association in 1876 with an aim to create strong
public opinion on political questions in the country and to unify Indians under a common political
programme.

Poona sarvajanik sabha was organized in 1870 by Justice Ranade, S.H Chiplunkar and others which
started with the aim of working as a mediating body between the government and people of India.

Bombay Presidency Association was formed in 1885 by Pherozshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji and
others.

Explanations – MH – Part 1 + Geo NCERTs 9980837187

Ans 28. B

Ans 29. C

Explanation: Raja Ram Mohun Roy condemned the oppressive practices of Zamindars of Bengal and
demanded an amendment to the Permanent Settlements Act of 1793, to benefit peasants. He protested
against various Government policies likewise. For instance, he demanded the abolition of company’s
trading rights.

Ans 30. B

Ans 31. B

Explanation: Rash Behari Ghosh presided over the Surat session of INC in 1907. Rash Behari Bose was
one of the key organisers of the Ghadar Revolution and later, the Indian National Army. Extremists
were not able to effectively organize their party as the Government immediately launched a massive
attack on the Extremists and Tilak, their main leader, was sent to Mandalay jail for six years.

Ans 32. C

Ans 33. C

Explanation: The order to partition Bengal was issued on 20th July 1905 which came into effect on
16th October 1905 while way back in December 1903, the partition proposals became publicly known
followed by immediate and spontaneous protests. The formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement
was made on 7th August 1905, in a meeting held at the Calcutta town hall.

Ans 34. D

Explanation: In 1906, the Indian National Congress at its Calcutta Session, presided over by Dadabhai
Naoroji, took a major step forward. Naoroji in his presidential address declared that the goal of the
Indian National Congress was ‘self-government or Swaraj’ like that of the United Kingdom or the
Colonies.

Ans 35. C

Explanation: The annulment of the decision to partition Bengal was taken by Lord Curzon in 1911
because of political protests. The government did not step back immediately after the Swadeshi
movement.

Ans 36. D

Ans 37. A

Explanation: Annie was a supporter of Irish and Indian self-rule. Along with her theosophical activities,
Besant continued to actively participate in political matters and joined the Congress. She started the
Home-Rule movement with Tilak in 1916.

Ans 38. B

Ans 39. A

Ans 40. C

Explanation: Early nationalists wanted to build up a strong public opinion in India and to persuade
British government. But Justice Ranade, in 1891 replied to Gokhale the real aim of their works
(resolutions, petitions and memorials) is to educate people and that they were just nominally addressed
to the Government.

Ans 41. D

Explanation: The Brahma Sabha founded by Raja Ram Mohun Roy in 1828, which later came to be
known as Brahmo samaj, made an effort to reform Hindu religion and society. Arya Samaj was founded
by Swami Dayanand in 1875 to reform Hinduism which later contributed in the growth of communalism
because one of its agendas was to stop conversions of Hindus which led it to start a crusade against
other religions. Prarthana Samaj was started in Maharashtra to reform Hindu religious thought and

Explanations – MH – Part 1 + Geo NCERTs 9980837187

practice in the light of modern knowledge. Two of its great leaders were R.G Bhandarkar and M.G
Ranade.

Sir Syyed Ahmad was the most important reformer amongst Muslims. He founded the Aligarh Muslim
University to spread Western sciences and culture. He interpreted the Quran in the light of
contemporary rationalism and science.

Ans 42. C

Ans 43. C

Ans 44. D

Ans 45. B

Ans 46. A

Ans 47. C

Ans 48. A

Ans 49. C

Explanation: Khilafat movement was started by The Muslim league in 1912. Aga Khan had resigned
from Muslim league.

Ans 50. B

Explanation: Muslim league was established in 1906, and its leaders actively supported partition of
Bengal. When the British announced annulment of partition, it was a rude shock to the leaders.

Ans 51. D

Explanation: It is the declaration signed by world leadersin 1992 at the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED), which took place at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It aims at achieving
global sustainable development. It is an agenda to combat environmental damage, poverty, disease
through global co-operation on common interests, mutual needs and shared responsibilities. One major
objective of the Agenda 21 is that every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21.

Ans 52. C

Explanation: According to their age alluvial soils can be classified as old alluvial (Bangar) and new
alluvial (Khadar). The bangar soil has a higher concentration of kanker nodules than the Khadar. It has
more fine particles and is more fertile than the bangar.

Ans 53. B

Explanation: Prior to the 20th century, cheetahs were widely distributed throughout Africa and
Asia.Today, the Asian cheetah is nearly extinct due to a decline of available habitat and prey. The
species was declared extinct in India long back in 1952.

Ans 54. A

Explanation: The Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallachiana) is a medicinal plant found in various parts of
Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. A chemical compound called ‘taxol’ is extracted from the
bark, needles, twigs and roots of this tree, and it has been successfully used to treat some cancers –
the drug is now the biggest selling anti-cancer drug in the world.

Ans 55. B

Explanation: Sardar Sarovar Dam being built across the Narmada river in Gujarat.

Ans 56. A

Explanation: ‘Guls’ or ‘kuls’ of the Western Himalayas. the ‘khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in other
parts of Rajasthan.

Ans 57. C

Explanations – MH – Part 1 + Geo NCERTs 9980837187

Explanation: Tamil Nadu is the first and the only state in India which has made roof top rainwater
harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state. There are legal provisions to punish
the defaulters.

Ans 58. C

Explanation: The ‘slash and burn’ agriculture is known as ‘Milpa’ in Mexico and Central America,
‘Conuco’ in Venzuela, ‘Roca’ in Brazil, ‘Masole’ in Central Africa, ‘Ladang’ in Indonesia, ‘Ray’ in Vietnam.

Ans 59. D

Explanation: Jowar, bajra and ragi are the important millets grown in India.

Ans 60. D

Explanation: Bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil. Rajasthan is the largest producer
of bajra followed by Uttar Pradesh. Ragi is a crop of dry regions and grows well on red, black, sandy,
loamy and shallow black soils. Karnataka is the largest producer of ragi followed by Tamil Nadu.

Ans 61. A

Explanation: Coal mining in Jowai and Cherapunjee is done by family member in the form of a long
narrow tunnel, known as ‘Rat hole’ mining.

Ans 62. C

Explanation: Kandla in Kuchchh was the first port developed soon after Independence to ease the
volume of trade on the Mumbai port, in the wake of loss of Karachi port to Pakistan after the Partition.
Kandla is a tidal port.

Ans 63. A

Explanation: India is the largest producer of raw jute and jute goods and stands at second place as an
exporter after Bangladesh.

Ans 64. B

Explanation: Gondwanaland is the southern part of the ancient super continent Pangea. The
Gondwanaland included India, Australia, South Africa and South America as one single land mass.

Ans 65. C

Explanation: The Sundarban Delta derived its name from the Sundari tree which grows well in
Marshland. It is the world’s largest and fastest growing delta.It is also the home of Royal Bengal tiger.

Ans 67. B

Explanation: Sarpagandha : Used to treat blood pressure; it is found only in India.

Jamun : The juice from ripe fruit is used to prepare vinegar which is carminative and diuretic, and has
digestive properties. The powder of the seed is used for conntrolling diabetes.

Arjun : The fresh juice of leaves is a cure for earache. It is also used to regulate blood pressure.

Babool : Leaves are used as a cure for eye sores. Its gum is used as a tonic

Ans 68. C

Explanation: India is the only country in the world that has both tigers and lions.The natural habitat
of the Indian lion is the Gir forest in Gujarat. Tigers are found in the forests of Madhya Pradesh, the
Sundarbans of West Bengal and the Himalayan region.

Ans 69.D

Explanation: Rangana Thittu is a bird sanctuary in Karnataka.

Ans 70. C

Explanation: Birth rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in an year.

Explanations – MH – Part 1 + Geo NCERTs 9980837187

Ans 71. B

Explanation: The population density of India in the year 2001 was 324 persons per sq km. Densities
vary from 904 persons per sq km in West Bengal to only 13 persons per sq km in Arunachal Pradesh.
(according to 2011 census WestBengall and Arunchal Pradesh stands for the states with highest and
lowest densities)

Ans 72. A

Explanation: El Nino, a warm ocean current that flows past the Peruvian Coast, in place of the cold
Peruvian current, every 2 to 5 years. The changes in pressure conditions are connected to the El Nino

Ans 73. B

Explanation: ‘Loo’. These are strong, gusty, hot, dry winds blowing during the day over the north and
northwestern India. Sometimes they even continue until late in the evening. Direct exposure to these
winds may even prove to be fatal. Dust storms are very common during the month of May in northern
India. These storms bring temporary relief as they lower the temperature and May bring light rain and
cool breeze.

Ans 74. D

Explanation: The months of October-November form a period of transition from hot rainy season to dry
winter conditions. The retreat of the monsoon is marked by clear skies and rise in temperature. While
day temperatures are high, nights are cool and pleasant. The land is still moist. Owing to the conditions
of high temperature and humidity, the weather becomes rather oppressive during the day. This is
commonly known as ‘October heat’.

Ans 75. D

Explanation: These forests are restricted to heavy rainfall areas of the Western Ghats and the island
groups of Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar, upper parts of Assam and Tamil Nadu coast.

Ans 77. A

Explanation: Unlike Latitudes, Longitudes are not parallel to each other and converge at the poles.
Torrid Zone is located between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn.

Ans 78. D

Explanation: On 21st June, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. The rays of the sun fall
directly on the Tropic of Cancer. As a result, these areas receive more heat. Since a large portion of the
northern hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator. The
longest day and the shortest night at these places occur on 21st June. This position of the earth is
called the summer solstice.

Ans 79. B

Explanation: Maps which focus on specific information; such as roads, rainfall, maps showing
distribution of forests, industries etc. are known as Thematic maps.

Ans 80. C

Explanation: Isthmus is a narrow strip of land with sea on either side, forming a link between two
larger areas of land. Ex: Isthmus of East Falkland, Isthmus of Panama

Ans 81. D

Explanation: Himadri is located in Arctic and rest 3 are in Antarctica.

Ans 82. D

Explanation: All Straits are correctly matched with their location

Ans 83. C

Explanation: 1. Sunderbans delta is formed by both Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers

Explanations – MH – Part 1 + Geo NCERTs 9980837187

2. West coastal plains are narrow and East coastal plains are broader.

3. The Aravalli range is the oldest fold mountains in India.

Ans 84. B

Explanation: Ox-Bow lakes are formed in river plains. As the river enters the plain it twists and turns
forming large bends known as meanders. Due to continuous erosion and deposition along the sides of
the meander, the ends of the meander loop come closer and closer. In due course of time the meander
loop cuts off from the river and forms a cut-off lake, also called an ox-bow lake.

Ans 85. C

Explanation: Levees: At times the river overflows its banks. This leads to the flooding of the neighboring
areas. As it floods, it deposits layers of fine soil and other material called sediments along its banks.
This leads to the formation of a flat fertile floodplain. The raised banks are called levees. Moraines:
Glaciers erode the landscape by bulldozing soil and stones to expose the solid rock below. Glaciers carve
out deep hollows. As the ice melts they get filled up with water and become beautiful lakes in the
mountains. The material carried by the glacier such as rocks big and small, sand and silt gets deposited.
These deposits form glacial moraines. Mushroom Rocks: An active agent of erosion and deposition in
the deserts is wind. In deserts you can see rocks in the shape of a mushroom, commonly called
mushroom rocks. Winds erode the lower section of the rock more than the upper part. Therefore, such
rocks have narrower base and wider top.

Ans 86. D

Explanation: Although it’s true that igneous rocks are formed due to cooling and solidification of
magma, this, however does not lead to it being called primary rocks. Igneous rocks were the first rock
to originate during formation of earth`s crust. All other rocks are subsequently formed from igneous
rock.

Ans 87. C

Explanation: Insolation is the incoming solar energy intercepted by the earth. The amount of insolation
decreases from the equator towards the poles. As we go up the layers of atmosphere, the pressure falls
rapidly. The air pressure is highest at sea level and decreases with height. Horizontally the distribution
of air pressure is influenced by temperature of air at a given place. In areas where temperature is high
the air gets heated and rises. This creates a low-pressure area. Low pressure is associated with cloudy
skies and wet weather.

Ans 88. A

Explanation: Latitude is the angular distance of a point on earth’s surface measured from the centre
of earth. It specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth’s surface. Latitude is an angle
which ranges from 0° at the Equator to 90° (North or South) at the poles.

Ans 89. B

Explanation: 1. Permanent winds – The trade winds, westerlies and easterlies are the permanent winds.
These blow constantly throughout the year in a particular direction.

2. Seasonal winds – These winds change their direction in different seasons. For example, monsoons in
India.

3. Local winds – These blow only during a particular period of the day or year in a small area. For
example, land and sea breeze, the hot and dry local wind of northern plains of India. It is called loo.

Ans 90. D

Explanation: Tropical cyclone does not form over the equator because the Coriolis force is zero at the
equator. Even though equator is a zone of wind convergence, it has nothing to do with tropical cyclone
as such. Temperature is highest north and south of the equator and not exactly at the equator. Fronts
are required for formation of temperate cyclone and not tropical ones. So even though statement 3 is
correct it is not a reason.

Ans 91. D

Explanations – MH – Part 1 + Geo NCERTs 9980837187

Explanation: The highest proportion of fresh water is found in Ice-Caps.

Ans 92. C

Explanation: The features described are characteristic of Mediterranean climate and vegetation.

Ans 93. D

Explanation: The use of land is determined by physical factors such as topography, soil, climate,
minerals and availability of water. Human factors such as population and technology are also important
determinants of land use pattern.

Ans 94. D

Explanation: NDMA guidelines for mitigation of Landslides and the associated disaster risk – Hazard
mapping locate areas prone to landslides. Hence, such areas can be avoided for building settlements.
Construction of retention wall to stop land from slipping. Increase in the vegetation cover is an effective
way to arrest landslide. The surface drainage control works are implemented to control the movement
of landslide along with rain water and spring flows.

Ans 95. D

Explanation: In India Jaisalmer, Krishna-Godavari delta, Tripura and some areas off shore in Mumbai
have natural gas resources.

Ans 96. C

Explanation: Digboi in Assam holds petroleum reserves.

Ans 97. D

Explanation: Some Principles of Sustainable Development –

 Respect and care for all forms of life

 Improve the quality of human life
 Conserve the earth’s vitality and diversity
 Minimize the depletion of natural resources
 Change personal attitude and practices toward the environment
 Enable communities to care for their own environment.

Ans 98. C

Explanation: Some methods of soil conservation are -

Mulching: The bare ground between plants is covered with a layer of organic matter like straw. It helps
to retain soil moisture. Contour barriers: Stones, grass, soil are used to build barriers along contours.
Trenches are made in front of the barriers to collect water. Rock dam: Rocks are piled up to slow down
the flow of water. This prevents gullies and further soil loss. Terrace farming: These are made on the
steep slopes so that flat surfaces are available to grow crops. They can reduce surface run-off and soil
erosion. Intercropping: Different crops are grown in alternate rows and are sown at different times to
protect the soil from rain wash. Contour ploughing: Ploughing parallel to the contours of a hill slope
to form a natural barrier for water to flow down the slope. Shelter belts: In the coastal and dry regions,
rows of trees are planted to check the wind movement to protect soil cover.

Ans 99. C

Explanation: CITES is an international treaty drawn up in 1973 to protect wildlife against over-
exploitation. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora) is an international agreement between governments. It aims to ensure that international trade in
specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Ans 100. A

Explanation: Minerals that lie at shallow depths are taken out by removing the surface layer; this is
known as open-cast mining.

Explanations – MH – Part 1 + Geo NCERTs 9980837187