Nationalism in India — Notes, MCQs & NCERT Solutions
Revise the growth of Indian nationalism through Gandhi's early Satyagrahas, the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements, participation of different social groups and the development of a sense of collective belonging.
Nationalism in India — Class 10 History revision
Chapter focus: Nationalism in India is studied through the impact of colonial rule, the First World War, Satyagraha, the Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements, Civil Disobedience, participation of different social groups and the growth of collective belonging.
Complete Chapter Hub →Notes, questions and chapter-wise revision path
Full MCQ Practice →Continue with the dedicated current MCQ set
Notes PDF →Open the dedicated Nationalism in India notes resource
Quick Chapter Revision
Use these four areas as a fast revision framework before attempting the questions.
01First World War, Khilafat & Non-CooperationWar-time hardship, the Khilafat issue and the launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement.
02Early SatyagrahaChamparan, Kheda, Ahmedabad and the development of Gandhi's method of Satyagraha.
03Civil DisobedienceSimon Commission, Lahore Congress, Purna Swaraj, Salt March and the Civil Disobedience Movement.
04Participation & Collective BelongingPeasants, workers, women, tribals, symbols, folklore, Bharat Mata and the limits of the movement.
Nationalism in India Class 10 MCQs
33 chapter-based multiple choice questions covering Gandhi, Satyagraha, the Rowlatt Act, Khilafat, Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and symbols of nationalism.
Q1
By whom was the Swaraj Party formed?
Q2
By whom was the first image of Bharatmata painted?
Q3
Why did the Indians oppose the Rowlatt Act?
Q4
By what name were the dalits referred by Gandhiji?
Q5
Why did Gandhiji organise a Satyagraha in Ahmedabad Mill in 1918?
Q6
Why was the Round Table Conference held in England?
Q7
What does the term Khalifa refer?
Q8
What kind of movement was launched by the tribal peasants of Gudem Hills in Andhra Pradesh?
Q9
What is the title of Mahatma Gandhi's 1909 book?
Q10
Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859 the peasants were not permitted to
Q11
Which among the following was the prime factor in the emergence of modern nationalism in India?
Q12
In which month and year did Gandhiji return to India from South Africa?
Q13
Satyagraha was
Q14
Champaran Satyagraha (1916) was launched by Gandhiji against
Q15
Which among the following was the reason for Indian opposition to the Rowlatt Act (1919)?
Q16
In which city did the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy take place?
Q17
Who formed the Khilafat Committee in Bombay in 1919?
Q18
The famous book of Gandhiji is
Q19
19Q. When did Mahatma Gandhi return to India from South Africa?
Q20
20Q. What did the Rowlatt Act, 1919 presume?
Q21
21Q. What did Mahatma Gandhi in his book, Hind Swaraj, declare?
Q22
22Q. What did the term 'picket' refer to?
Q23
23Q. Who led the peasants in Awadh?
Q24
24Q. What did the term 'begar' mean?
Q25
25Q. What was the effect of the Non-cooperation movement on the plantation workers in Assam?
Q26
26Q. What was the main problem with the Simon Commission?
Q27
27Q. Where was Gandhi's ashram located?
Q28
28Q. What led to the Civil Disobedience Movement?
Q29
29Q. Who were the 'Sanatanis'?
Q30
30Q. Who organised the dalits into the Depressed Classes Association?
Q31
31Q. What moved Abanindranath Tagore to paint the famous image of Bharat Mata?
Q32
Who wrote 'Vande Mataram'?
Q33
33Q. Who was Sir Mohammad Iqbal?
Answer Key: 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-C, 5-B, 6-A, 7-B, 8-B, 9-B, 10-C, 11-D, 12-A, 13-A, 14-B, 15-D, 16-A, 17-B, 18-B, 19-C, 20-A, 21-B, 22-C, 23-C, 24-C, 25-A, 26-A, 27-B, 28-C, 29-C, 30-D, 31-B, 32-A, 33-B.
Nationalism in India Class 10 Short Questions & Answers
Quick-revision questions covering the early national movement, Gandhi's Satyagrahas, Congress leaders, Jallianwala Bagh, Khilafat and key developments.
Name the two early Satyagraha movements organised by Mahatma Gandhi in India in 1917 and 1918.
Answer: Champaran Satyagraha was organised in Bihar in 1917 against the oppressive plantation system. In 1918, Gandhi supported peasants in Kheda, Gujarat, who were seeking relaxation in revenue collection.
02. What was the period of the:
Answer: (a) 1920 to 1922
What did Swaraj mean for plantation workers in Assam?
Answer: For plantation workers in Assam, Swaraj meant the freedom to move freely and retain links with the villages from which they had come.
Where, when and why did Gandhiji organise his first Satyagraha movement in India?
Answer: Gandhiji organised the Champaran Satyagraha in Bihar in 1917 to support peasants who were struggling against the oppressive indigo plantation system.
Where, when and why did Gandhiji organise a Satyagraha in Gujarat?
Answer: Gandhiji organised the Kheda Satyagraha in Gujarat in 1918 to support peasants affected by crop failure and the resulting difficulty in paying land revenue.
06. When and for whom did Gandhiji organise a movement in Ahmadabad?
Answer: Gandhiji organised a Satyagraha Movement for Cotton mill workers in 1918, in Ahmadabad.
07. When was the Indian National Congress founded?
Answer: The Indian National Congress was formed in 1885.
08. Name three leaders of the early phase of the Congress (Moderate leaders).
Answer: (1) Dadabhai Naroji.
09. What is meant by Bal, Pal, Lal?
Answer: Bal, Pal, Lal are the short forms for the three extremist leaders Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai.
Who emerged as the central leader of the national movement in the new phase?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi emerged as the central leader of the national movement, while leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru also became prominent.
11. What was the greatest achievement of Gandhiji in the social field?
Answer: The greatest achievement of Gandhiji among others in the Social field was to start a campaign against the inhuman practice of untouchability.
When and where did the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy take place? Who was responsible for the firing?
Answer: The Jallianwala Bagh tragedy took place at Amritsar on 13 April 1919, the day of Baisakhi. General Dyer ordered the firing on the assembled crowd.
13. Next to Gandhi who was the central figure in the new phase of nationalism?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru.
14. From where and when did Mahatma Gandhi return to India?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in January 1915.
Why was Gandhi's strategy in South Africa called Satyagraha?
Answer: Satyagraha was a method of mass agitation based on the power of truth and non-violence. Gandhi used it to resist injustice without relying on physical force.
16. What is the characteristic feature of the idea of satyagraha?
Answer: The characteristic feature of the idea of satyagraha is, it emphasized the power of truth and the need to search for truth. It was dharma of non-violence.
17. Why did Gandhi support the Khilafat issue?
Answer: Gandhiji supported the Khilafat issue because in it he saw an opportunity to bring Muslims under the Umbrella of a unified national movement.
Which two young leaders advocated socialist ideas in the national movement?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose.
19. When were the elections of the Provincial Legislative Councils held after this passage of the Government of India Act of 1935?
Answer: In 1937.
When was the Muslim League founded?
Answer: The All-India Muslim League was founded in 1906.
Nationalism in India — key themes and movements
Selected NCERT Exercise Solutions
Use these answers for understanding and answer-writing practice. Read the question first, then compare your response with the key points.
Why did the growth of nationalism in the colonies become linked to anti-colonial movements?
Answer: Colonial rule created a shared experience of oppression. Different groups experienced colonialism differently, but opposition to colonial rule became a common bond that helped create a wider sense of national unity.
How did the First World War help in the growth of the National Movement in India?
Answer: The war increased defence expenditure, taxes and prices, while forced recruitment, crop failures, food shortages and the influenza epidemic caused widespread hardship. These conditions increased resentment against colonial rule and strengthened the national movement.
Why were Indians outraged by the Rowlatt Act?
Answer: The Rowlatt Act gave the colonial government extensive powers to repress political activity and allowed political prisoners to be detained without trial. Indians opposed the Act because it curtailed civil liberties and was passed despite strong Indian opposition.
Why did Gandhiji decide to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Answer: Gandhiji withdrew the movement after the Chauri Chaura incident in February 1922, where protesters turned violent and killed policemen. He believed the movement had to remain non-violent and that the country was not yet ready for mass civil disobedience on that scale.
What is meant by the idea of Satyagraha?
Answer: Satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and non-violence. Gandhi believed that a just cause could be pursued by resisting injustice without physical force and by appealing to the conscience of the opponent.
Discuss the Salt March and explain why salt became an effective symbol of resistance against colonialism.
Answer: Salt was used by rich and poor alike, and the colonial salt tax affected everyone. Gandhi's Salt March to Dandi turned a simple everyday necessity into a powerful symbol of resistance and helped bring the Civil Disobedience Movement into the public sphere.
Why did political leaders differ sharply over the question of separate electorates?
Answer: Dr B.R. Ambedkar supported separate electorates for Dalits as a means of political empowerment, while Gandhi feared that separate electorates would slow their integration into society. Muslim leaders also sought political safeguards for Muslims. These differences led to intense debate over representation and ultimately to the Poona Pact of 1932.
CBSE Map Work: Nationalism in India
Revise the prescribed History map locations associated with the Nationalism in India chapter.
Congress Sessions: Calcutta (1920), Nagpur (1920), Madras (1927)
Satyagraha Centres: Kheda, Champaran, Ahmedabad mill workers
Jallianwala Bagh: Amritsar, Punjab
Dandi March: Dandi, Gujarat