Regional Aspirations PYQs
Previous Year Questions with Answers and Explanations
From June 17 Shift 3. 2023
Question : In Madras State (now Tamil Nadu) which of the following regional parties came to power by securing a clear majority in 1967 state assembly elections?
(1) DMK
(2) Communist Party of India (M-L)
(3) BJP
(4) Socialist Party
Answer: (1) DMK
Explanation: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a prominent regional party, won the 1967 Madras State assembly elections. This was a significant event in the history of Dravidian politics.
Question: In which year was the state of Nagaland created?
(1) 1963
(2) 1972
(3) 1987
(4) 1989
Answer: (1) 1963
Explanation: The state of Nagaland, carved out of Assam, was officially formed on December 1, 1963.
From June 19 Shift 3. 2023
Question : Who formed the Mizo National Front group?
(1) Angami Zapu Fizo
(2) Kazi Lhendup Dorji
(3) Laldenga
(4) P.A. Sangma
Answer: (3) Laldenga
Explanation: The Mizo National Front (MNF) was founded by Laldenga in 1961 to protest against the famine in the Mizo hills and to demand a separate state for the Mizo people.
Question : The Dravidian movement led to the formation of Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) under the leadership of which social reformer?
(1) A.K. Gopalan
(2) C. Rajagopalachari
(3) Jaya Ramdas Daulat Ram
(4) E.V. Ramasami ‘Periyar’
Answer: (4) E.V. Ramasami ‘Periyar’
Explanation: E.V. Ramasamy, also known as ‘Periyar’, was a prominent social reformer and the leader of the Dravidian movement. He founded the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) in 1944.
Question: A Prominent Punjabi poet and fiction writer Amrita Pritam was the editor of which Punjabi monthly magazine?
(1) Grah Shobha
(2) Grah Laxmi
(3) Nagmani
(4) Nagpanchmi
Answer: (3) Nagmani
Explanation: Amrita Pritam, an eminent Punjabi writer, edited the literary magazine ‘Nagmani’ for many years.
From July 2 Shift 3. 2023
Question : Match List I with List II
LIST I
(A) State reorganisation Act passed
(B) Meghalaya curved out of Assam
(C) Chattisgarh, Uttrakhand and Jharkhand created
(D) Maharashtra and Gujrat were created
LIST II
(1) 1972
(II) 2000
(III) 1960
(IV) 1956
Choose the corect answer from the options given below:
1. A-I, B-II, C-III, D-IV
2. A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III
3. A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
4. A-III, B-I, C-II, D-IV
Answer: (2) A-IV, B-I, C-II, D-III
Explanation:
● (A) The States Reorganisation Act was passed in 1956.
● (B) Meghalaya was carved out of Assam in 1972.
● (C) Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand were created in 2000.
● (D) Maharashtra and Gujarat were created in 1960.
From CUET UG 2024
Question: Which of the following political parties led the movement for the formation of Punjabi Suba ?
(1) Congress
(2) Lok Dal
(3) Akali Dal
(4) CP16
Answer: (3) Akali Dal
Explanation: The Shiromani Akali Dal led the movement for a separate Punjabi-speaking state, or ‘Punjabi Suba’.
Question : Who among the following led the Anti Brahmin movement, worked for the Justice Party and also founded Dravidar Kazhagam ?
(1) A.K. Gopalan
(2) E.V. Ramasami Naicker
(3) K. Kamaraj
(4) Potti Sriramulu
Answer: (2) E.V. Ramasami Naicker
Explanation: E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (Periyar) was the leader of the Self-Respect Movement and the anti-Brahmin movement and founded the Dravidar Kazhagam.
Question : Which of the following countries does the North-East region share its boundaries with?
(1) China, Nepal and Bangladesh
(2) China, Bhutan and Bangladesh
(3) China, Myanmar and Bangladesh
(4) China, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh
Answer: (3) China, Myanmar and Bangladesh
Explanation: The North-East region of India shares international borders with China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
Question : Khasi tribes, an ethnic group, are the inhabitants of which of the following States ?
(1) Manipur
(2) Mizoram
(3) Nagaland
(4) Meghalaya
Answer: (4) Meghalaya
Explanation: The Khasi people are an indigenous ethnic group of Meghalaya.
Question : The North-East serves as a gateway to which of the regions mentioned below?
(1) South-East Asia
(2) South Asia
(3) West Asia
(4) Europe
Answer: (1) South-East Asia
Explanation: Due to its geographical location, India’s North-East is considered a strategic gateway to South-East Asia.
From CUET UG 2022
Question: Arrange the following events related to creation of new states in chronological order:
(A) Demarcation of boundaries of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh
(B) Formation of Andhra on linguistic lines
(C) Creation of Himachal Pradesh on the basis of geographical zones
(D) Formation of Maharashtra and Gujrat
(E) Formation of Meghalaya
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
(1) (B), (D), (C), (E), (A)
(2) (B), (C), (D), (A), (E)
(3) (A), (D), (C), (E), (B)
(4) (C), (B), (D), (E), (A)
Answer: (1) (B), (D), (C), (E), (Α)
Explanation:
● (B) Formation of Andhra Pradesh on linguistic lines (1953)
● (D) Formation of Maharashtra and Gujarat (1960)
● (C) Creation of Himachal Pradesh as a state (1971)
● (E) Formation of Meghalaya (1972)
● (A) Demarcation of boundaries of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh (2000)
Multiple Choice Questions for practice purpose
1. Which decade is noted for significant disputes and agreements across different parts of the country?
a) 1960s
b) 1970s
c) 1980s
d) 1990s
2. What is a core idea of India’s method of handling cultural diversity, as discussed in the chapter?
a) Refusing regional communities the right to preserve their cultural identity.
b) Viewing cultural differences as a danger to national unity.
c) Ensuring that various regions and language groups are allowed to maintain their distinct cultures..
3. Which state first witnessed strong movements demanding separation from India soon after Independence, according to the text?
a) Mizoram
b) Assam
c) Nagaland
d) Tamil Nadu
4. In which year were the States of Punjab and Haryana created?
a) 1956
b) 1960
c) 1966
d) 1972
5. What was the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under the Indian Constitution before its abolition?
a) Article 360
b) Article 370
c) Article 371
d) Article 356
6. Which region of Jammu and Kashmir is predominantly inhabited by Hindus?
a) Kashmir Valley
b) Ladakh
c) Jammu
d) Both Kashmir Valley and Ladakh
7. Who was the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir before 1947?
a) Sheikh Abdullah
b) Maharaja Hari Singh
c) Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq
d) Farooq Abdullah
8. What is ‘Kashmiriyat’ as described in the chapter?
a) The desire to merge with Pakistan.
b) The idea that Kashmir region belonged to India.
c) The issue of regional aspiration where people thought of themselves as Kashmiris above all.
d) A movement led by Pakistani leaders.
9. Who led the popular movement in Jammu and Kashmir that neither wanted Maharaja but not joining Pakistan?
a) Maharaja Hari Singh
b) E.V. Ramasami ‘Periyar’
c) Sheikh Abdullah
d) Mufti Mohammed Sayeed
10. In which year did Pakistan send tribal infiltrators to capture Kashmir, leading the Maharaja to ask for Indian military help?
a) 1946
b) 1947
c) 1948
d) 1949
11. What was the ‘Instrument of Accession’ that Maharaja Hari Singh signed with the Government of India?
a) A trade agreement.
b) A cultural exchange program.
c) A legal document to merge Jammu and Kashmir with India.
d) A peace treaty with Pakistan.
12. Which UN resolution recommended a three-step process to resolve the Kashmir issue?
a) Resolution 242 (1967)
b) Resolution 47 (1948)
c) Resolution 181 (1947)
d) Resolution 338 (1973)
13. When was Sheikh Abdullah dismissed as Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and kept in detention?
a) 1947
b) 1953
c) 1965
d) 1974
14. In which year was the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir designated as Chief Minister of the state?
a) 1953
b) 1965
c) 1974
d) 1987
15. Who became the first Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir?
a) Sheikh Abdullah
b) Farooq Abdullah
c) Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq
d) Mufti Mohammed Sayeed
16. What was the widely believed outcome of the 1987 Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir?
a) A free and fair election.
b) A massive victory for opposition parties.
c) The results did not reflect popular choice and the election process was rigged.
d) Increased confidence in democratic processes.
17. When did Jammu and Kashmir experience extraordinary violence at the hands of insurgents and through army action?
a) 1970s
b) Since 1990
c) Since 2002
d) Before 1947
18. Who became the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir?
a) Indira Gandhi
b) Mahbooba Mufti
c) Roja
d) Sonia Gandhi
19. When was Article 370 abolished by the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act?
a) June 2018
b) August 2019
c) April 2016
d) November 2008
20. Which political wing of the Sikhs led the movement for the formation of a ‘Punjabi suba’?
a) Congress
b) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
c) Akali Dal
d) Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC)
21. In which year did the Akalis first come to power after the reorganisation of Punjab?
a) 1966
b) 1967
c) 1973
d) 1980
22. What was the main purpose of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution passed in 1973?
a) To demand a separate Sikh nation.
b) To assert regional autonomy and redefine centre-state relationship.
c) To resolve the water dispute between Punjab and its neighbors.
d) To promote communal harmony in Punjab.
23. What was the code name for the army action in the Golden Temple in June 1984?
a) Operation Black Thunder
b) Operation Blue Star
c) Operation Vijay
d) Operation Cactus
24. When was Prime Minister Indira Gandhi assassinated?
a) June 1984
b) October 31, 1984
c) July 1985
d) January 1985
25. How many Sikhs were killed in the national capital during the violence that broke out after Indira Gandhi’s assassination?
a) Hundreds
b) More than two thousand
c) Around five hundred
d) Less than one thousand
26. What was the agreement reached between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Harchand Singh Longowal in July 1985 known as?
a) The Shimla Accord
b) The Assam Accord
c) The Punjab Accord
d) The Chandigarh Agreement
27. What was a key provision of the Punjab Accord regarding Chandigarh?
a) Chandigarh would remain a Union Territory.
b) Chandigarh would be jointly administered by Punjab and Haryana.
c) Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab.
d) Chandigarh would become the capital of Haryana only.
28. Who was known as ‘Periyar’ and was a strong supporter of atheism and famous for his anti-caste struggle?
a) C. Annadurai
b) E.V. Ramasami Naicker
c) M. Karunanidhi
d) M.G. Ramachandran
29. What was the popular slogan of the Dravidian movement mentioned in the chapter?
a) ‘Jai Hind’
b) ‘Inquilab Zindabad’
c) ‘Vadakku Vaazhgiradhu; Therkku Thaeikiradhu’
d) ‘Do or Die’
30. Which three-pronged agitation did the DMK make its entry into politics with in 1953-54?
a) Demand for a separate Dravida nation, opposition to Brahmins, and promotion of Tamil language.
b) Restoration of Kallakudi railway station’s original name, importance to Tamil cultural history in school curricula, and opposition to craft education scheme/Hindi.
c) Opposition to Article 370, demand for plebiscite, and anti-insurgency operations.
d) Creation of Punjabi suba, distribution of water, and demand for Sikh identity.
Answer Key and Explanations
1. c) 1980s
○ Explanation: The chapter explicitly states that the 1980s will be remembered for major conflicts and accords in regions like Assam, Punjab, Mizoram, and Jammu and Kashmir.
2. c) The Indian nation shall not deny the rights of different regions and linguistic groups to retain their own culture.
○ Explanation: The text explicitly states this as a basic principle of the Indian approach to diversity, emphasizing respect for regional rights and cultures.
3. c) Nagaland
○ Explanation: The text states that “First Nagaland and then Mizoram witnessed strong movements demanding separation from India.”
4. c) 1966
○ Explanation: The text explicitly states that Punjab and Haryana were created in 1966 after the demand for a Punjabi-speaking state was accepted.
5. b) Article 370
○ Explanation: Jammu and Kashmir had a special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which was later abolished.
6. c) Jammu
○ Explanation: The Jammu region is predominantly inhabited by Hindus, with other communities also residing there, according to the demographic description in the chapter.
7. b) Maharaja Hari Singh
○ Explanation: Maharaja Hari Singh was the hereditary ruler of Jammu and Kashmir before its accession to India in 1947.
8. c) The issue of regional aspiration where people thought of themselves as Kashmiris above all.
○ Explanation: Kashmiriyat is defined in the chapter as the regional aspiration where people identified primarily as Kashmiris, transcending religious or ethnic divisions.
9. c) Sheikh Abdullah
○ Explanation: Sheikh Abdullah of the National Conference led a popular movement that aimed to end the Maharaja’s rule but was against joining Pakistan. He was a close friend of Nehru and led a secular organization.
10. b) 1947
○ Explanation: The text states that Pakistan sent tribal infiltrators in October 1947, which led to the Maharaja seeking Indian military help and signing the Instrument of Accession.
11. c) A legal document to merge Jammu and Kashmir with India.
○ Explanation: The Instrument of Accession was the legal document signed by the Maharaja to integrate Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian Union, in exchange for military assistance.
12. b) Resolution 47 (1948)
○ Explanation: The UN resolution dated 21 April 1948 recommended a three-step process to resolve the Kashmir issue, including a ceasefire, withdrawal of Pakistani nationals and tribesmen, and a plebiscite.
13. b) 1953
○ Explanation: Sheikh Abdullah was dismissed as Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 1953 and remained in detention for a considerable period.
14. b) 1965
○ Explanation: A change in the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir in 1965 designated the Prime Minister of the state as Chief Minister.
15. c) Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq
○ Explanation: Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq became the first Chief Minister of the state after the designation change in 1965.
16. c) The results did not reflect popular choice and the election process was rigged.
○ Explanation: It was widely believed that the 1987 Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir was rigged, leading to widespread discontent and fueling insurgency.
17. b) Since 1990
○ Explanation: The text states, “Throughout the period from 1990, Jammu and Kashmir experienced extraordinary violence…” due to insurgency and army action.
18. b) Mahbooba Mufti
○ Explanation: After her father Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s death, Mahbooba Mufti became the first woman Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir in April 2016.
19. b) August 2019
○ Explanation: On 5 August 2019, Article 370 was abolished by the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, converting the state into two Union Territories.
20. c) Akali Dal
○ Explanation: The Akali Dal was the political wing of the Sikhs that led the movement for the creation of a ‘Punjabi suba’ (Punjabi-speaking state).
21. b) 1967
○ Explanation: After the reorganization of Punjab in 1966, the Akalis first came to power in 1967 and then again in 1977.
22. b) To assert regional autonomy and redefine centre-state relationship.
○ Explanation: The Anandpur Sahib Resolution, passed in 1973, was primarily aimed at asserting regional autonomy for Punjab and redefining the relationship between the state and the central government.
23. b) Operation Blue Star
○ Explanation: The army action at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in June 1984, which aimed to flush out militants, was codenamed ‘Operation Blue Star’.
24. b) October 31, 1984
○ Explanation: Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards, in retaliation for Operation Blue Star.
25. b) More than two thousand
○ Explanation: The text states that more than two thousand Sikhs were killed in the national capital, Delhi, during the anti-Sikh violence that followed Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
26. c) The Punjab Accord
○ Explanation: The agreement reached between Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Akali Dal President Harchand Singh Longowal in July 1985 is known as the Rajiv Gandhi – Longowal Accord or simply the Punjab Accord.
27. c) Chandigarh would be transferred to Punjab.
○ Explanation: A key provision of the Punjab Accord was that Chandigarh, the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, would be transferred to Punjab.
28. b) E.V. Ramasami Naicker
○ Explanation: E.V. Ramasami Naicker, popularly known as ‘Periyar’, was a leading figure of the Dravidian movement, known for his anti-caste struggle and support for atheism.
29. c) ‘Vadakku Vaazhgiradhu; Therkku Thaeikiradhu’
○ Explanation: This Tamil slogan, meaning ‘The north thrives even as the south decays,’ summed up the sentiments of the Dravidian movement regarding the perceived exploitation of the South by the North.
30. b) Restoration of Kallakudi railway station’s original name, importance to Tamil cultural history in school curricula, and opposition to craft education scheme/Hindi.
Explanation: The DMK made its entry into politics with a three-pronged agitation in 1953-54, focusing on these specific issues.
