CBSE Important Questions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2, Download PDF

CBSE Important Questions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Nationalism in India is a crucial chapter under the Class 10 Social Science syllabus which covers a variety of topics. Students must prepare this chapter with the right strategy and effective planning to maximize their chance of success in the exam. 

CBSE Important Questions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2 Overview

The feeling of Nationalism in India rose during the Indian independence movement, primarily as a response to British colonial rule. It was characterized by a desire for self-governance and a unified national identity despite diverse ethnic, linguistic, and religious backgrounds. Covering this chapter is crucial which covers a significant weightage in the examination.

We have shared the key questions covering all the sub-topics to enhance the preparation level of aspirants. Practice these questions to improve your performance in the forthcoming exam. 

CBSE Important Questions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2 PDF

The important questions for Class 10 Social Science History serve as the most useful resource for students to prepare in an effective manner. We have compiled the key questions on all the topics from this chapter to excel in the preparation of candidates. The questions are included in analyzing the previous year's trends to level up the candidates readiness. Click on the direct link available here to access the questions PDF.

CBSE Important Questions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2 PDF

CBSE Important Questions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2 - Nationalism in India

Section 2 covers a wide range of topics from national movements, key takeaways, Mahatma Gandhi, and other leader's contributions. The chapter is classified into five different sections covering the key questions as follows:

Section A

1. Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in ________.

(A) January 1916

(B) January 1915

(C) March 1921

(D) April 1917

Ans. (B)

2. Who organized the Dalits into the Depressed Classes Association?

(A) B.R. Ambedkar
(B) Mahatma Gandhi
(C) Subhash Chandra Bose
(D) Jawaharlal Nehru

Ans. (A)

3. Which of the following statements is true about the Rowlatt Act?

(A) It did not give the government powers to repress political activities.
(B) It did not allow the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
(C) It allowed the detention of political prisoners without trial for two years.
(D) Gandhiji decided to launch nationwide Satyagraha against the Rowlatt Act in 1920.

Ans. (C)

4. What was one of the main reasons behind Mahatma Gandhi’s decision to take up the Khilafat Issue?

(A) To bring more unity among Hindus and
Muslims.
(B) To bring more unity among Hindus and
Christians.
(C) To bring more unity among Christians and
Muslims.
(D) None of the above.

Ans. (A)

5. Who is the author of the book Hind Swaraj (1909)?

(A) Bhagat Singh
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Subash Chandra Bose
(D) Mahatma Gandhi

Ans. (D)

6. At the Congress session at ________ in December 1920, a compromise was worked out, and the Non-Cooperation programme was adopted.

(A) Allahabad
(B) Calcutta
(C) Nagpur
(D) Bombay

Ans. (C)

7. The tribal people revolted against the British due to which of the following reasons?

(A) The tribal people were prevented from entering the forests to graze their cattle.
(B) The tribal people were prevented from collecting fuelwood and fruits.
(C) The traditional rights of tribal people were denied.
(D) All of the above.

Ans. (D)

8. Swaraj Party was formed by_____.

(A) Motilal Nehru and Jawaharlal Nehru.
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru and C.R. Das
(C) C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru
(D) Jawaharlal Nehru and Gandhi

Ans. (C)

9. Under the Inland Emigration Act of 1859, the peasants were not permitted to

(A) Leave the tea gardens without permission
(B) Leave their village
(C) Settle in the city
(D) Allow the women to leave farmlands without permission

Ans. (A)

10. Under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Lahore Congress formalized the demand of ‘Purna Swaraj’ or full independence for India in ___________.

(A) January 1929
(B) December 1929
(C) December 1930
(D) December 1928

Ans. (B)

Section B

11. What were the effects of non-cooperation on the economic front?

Sol. Foreign goods were boycotted, Liquor shops picketed and foreign cloth was burnt in huge bonfires many traders refused to import foreign cloth. The import of foreign cloth reached half between 1921 and 1922, its value dropping from Rs 102 crore to Rs 57 crore.

12. What were the causes for the gradual slowing down of the Non-cooperation movement in the cities?

Sol. Non-cooperation movement slowed down in the cities for the following reasons:

(i) Khadi cloth was more expensive than mass-produced mill cloth and people could not afford to buy it.

(ii) The boycott of British institutions posed a problem as there were no alternative Indian institutions to replace the British ones.

13. Name two main ‘Satyagraha’ movements organized by Mahatma Gandhi successfully in favour of peasants in 1916 and 1917.

Sol. Two main ‘Satyagraha’ movements organized by Mahatma Gandhi successfully in favour of peasants in 1916 and 1917:

(a) Indigo Planters Movement in Champaran, Bihar in 1917.

(b) Peasants Satyagraha Movement was organized in Kheda district in Gujarat in 1917 to support peasants in the demand for relaxation of revenue collection.

14. What did freedom mean to Plantation workers in Assam?
Sol. for plantation workers freedom meant:
• Right to move freely in and out of their
enclosures.
• Retaining link with their villages from which
they had come.

Section C

15. Why did Mahatma Gandhi decide to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922? Explain the reasons.
Sol. 1. Gandhiji withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 because of the following reasons:
• Gandhiji felt the movement was turning violent at many places and the satyagrahis needed to be properly trained before they would be ready for the mass struggle.

• Within the Congress some leaders were by now tired of mass struggles and wanted to participate in the elections to the provincial councils set up after by the Government of India Act 1919.

• The final blow however came after the violent incident in Chauri Chaura in 1922 when a violent mob burnt a police station killing many policemen. Immediately after that, Gandhiji called off the Non-Cooperation Movement.

16. How did Salt March become an effective tool of resistance against colonialism? Explain.

Sol. Salt became an effective tool of resistance against colonialism because of the following reasons:
• Gandhiji found in salt a powerful bond that would unite the nations as it – was consumed by all rich and poor alike.
• Gandhiji’s letter to Viceroy Irwin stated eleven demands. Most of them were of general interest but the most stirring was to abolish the salt tax imposed by the colonial government.
• Irwin’s unwillingness to negotiate forced Gandhiji to start his Salt March which was joined by thousands. It developed the feeling of nationalism. People in different parts of the country broke salt law and manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories. They refused to pay taxes, revenues, picketed liquor shops, boycotted foreign clothes, and resigned from government jobs violating forest laws.

17. How could non-cooperation become a movement? Give your opinion.

Sol. Non-cooperation became a movement in the following ways:
• The idea of non-cooperation was first introduced by Gandhiji in his book Hind Swaraj, where he declared that since the British had established their rule in India with the cooperation of the Indians, it would collapse only when the cooperation was withdrawn.
• Initially non-cooperation was to start in stages with the surrender of British honours and titles, boycott of British offices, institutions and foreign goods followed by a civil disobedience campaign. Finally, at the Nagpur session of Congress in 1920, the programme of Non-cooperation was adopted.

In case the government used repressive methods, a full scale Civil Disobedience campaign would then be launched.
• At the same time Gandhiji and Shaukat Ali began touring and mobilising support for the movement.

18. How did women participate in the Civil Disobedience Movement? Explain.

Sol. One of the most important features of the Civil Disobedience Movement was the large-scale participation of women. They participated in the movement in the following ways:
• During Gandhiji’s salt satyagraha, thousands of women came out of their homes and engaged themselves in various activities.
• They participated in protest marches, manufactured salt and picketed shops selling foreign goods, liquor, etc. Many of them were arrested and went to jail.
• In urban areas, women from high-caste families whereas in rural areas women from the rich peasant households, inspired by Gandhiji’s call, regarded service to the nation as a sacred duty.

19. Explain any three facts about the new economic situation created in India by the First World War.

Sol. The First World War created a dramatically new economic situation in India:

(i) Manchester imports into India declined as the British mills were busy with war production to meet the needs of the army, paving the way for the Indian mills to supply for the huge home market.
(ii) As the war prolonged, Indian factories were called upon to supply war needs. As a result, new factories were set up, new workers were employed and everyone was made to work longer hours.

(iii) Cotton production collapsed and exports of cotton cloth from Britain fell dramatically after the war, as it was unable to modernize and compete with the US, Germany, Japan. Hence within colonies like India, local industrialists gradually consolidated their position capturing the home market.

Section D

20. How did a variety of cultural processes play an important role in making Nationalism in India? Explain with examples.

Sol. Describe the incident and impact of the Jallianwalla Bagh.
• Bharat Mata as identity of the nation: In the twentieth century, various images of Bharat Mata, came to light. It represented India. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, who had written Vande Mataram as a hymn dedicated to the motherland, created the first image of Bharat Mata.
• Folklore to restore a sense of pride: Rabindranath Tagore revived folk songs, folk tales, hymns, legends, and stories. In Madras, Natesa Sastri published a collection of Tamil folktales the Folklore of southern India.
• Flags as identity of the Nation: During the Swadeshi Movement flags were carried to create a sense of national belonging. Carrying the flag and holding it aloft during marches became a symbol of defiance.
• Reinterpretation of History: Another means of creating a feeling of nationalism was through reinterpretation of history. Many Indians wrote about the glorious developments in ancient times, when art and architecture, mathematics and science flourished. They urged the readers to take pride in their glorious past.

21. How had the Non-Cooperation Movement spread to the countryside? Explain.

Sol. The Non-Cooperation Movement began in December 1920. It spread to the countryside in the following ways:
• The movement started with the participation of the middle class in the cities. Thousands of students left the government-controlled schools and colleges, teachers resigned and lawyers gave up their practice. It was to be a nonviolent movement.
• In Awadh, peasants were led by Baba Ramchandra. Here, the movement was against talukdars, who charged high rents and peasants had to beggar.
• The peasant movement demanded a reduction of revenue and the abolition of beggars. By the end of 1920, Jawaharlal Nehru, Baba Ramchandra and others had formed the Oudh Kisan Sabha. So after the beginning of the Non-cooperation. Movement, Congress wanted to integrate the Awadh peasants struggle into a wider struggle.
• Tribal peasants interpreted the message of Gandhiji and the idea of swaraj in their own way. In Gudem Hills in Andhra Pradesh, a militant guerrilla movement was organized against colonial oppression under the leadership of Alluri Sitaram Raju. He was inspired by the
Non-Cooperation Movement.
• The Gudem rebels attacked police stations, attempted to kill British officials and carried on guerrilla warfare for achieving swaraj. The movement also spread among the plantation workers in Assam. They were not permitted to leave the tea gardens without permission.

22. Describe the incident and impact of the Jallianwalla Bagh.

Sol. On 13 April, a crowd of villagers gathered in an enclosed ground of Jallianwalla Bagh near Amritsar. These people came there to attend a fair and were unaware of the current political situation or about the martial law imposed by the military governor General Dyer.

Dyer entered the ground, blocked the exit points and opened fire on the innocent crowd, killing hundreds. This incident is referred to as the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre.

General Dyer declared that his main aim was to produce a moral effect and to create a feeling of terror and awe in the mind of the satyagrahis. This incident proved to be a turning point in the Indian national movement. As the news of the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre spread, crowds took to the streets in many towns in North India.

There were strikes and clashes with police and attacks on government buildings. The government responded with brutal repression. Innocent people were humiliated and terrorised. People were flogged and villages were burnt for no reason.

The national leaders were shocked at this inhumane treatment with fellow Indians and pledged to protest. Mahatma Gandhi now felt the need to launch a more broad-based movement in India. Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movements were started after a few months. The main aim of these movements was to protest against the Jallianwalla Bagh incident and demand swaraj.

Section E

23. Case Based:

Mahatma Gandhi’s thoughts on Satyagraha ‘It is said of “passive resistance” that it is the weapon of the weak, but the power which is the subject of this article can be used only by the strong. This power is not passive resistance; indeed it calls for intense activity. The movement in South Africa was not passive but active.

‘Satyagraha is not a physical force. A satyagrahi does not inflict pain on the adversary; he does not seek his destruction ... In the use of satyagraha, there is no ill-will whatever.’ Satyagraha is pure soul-force. Truth is the very substance of the soul.

That is why this force is called satyagraha. The soul is informed with knowledge. In it burns the flame of love. Non-violence is the supreme dharma ...’ ‘It is certain that India cannot rival Britain or Europe in force of arms. The British worship the war-god and they can all of them become, as they are becoming, bearers of arms. The hundreds of millions in India can never carry arms. They have made the religion of nonviolence their own.

(i) What type of movement Gandhiji organised in South Africa?
Sol. Gandhiji successfully fought against the racist regime with a novel method of mass agitation, which he called satyagraha.

(ii) Why is satyagraha considered as pure soul-force?
Sol. Satyagraha is considered as a pure soul-force because the idea of satyagraha emphasised the power of truth and the need to search for truth. Truth is the very substance of the soul. That is why this force is called satyagraha. The soul is informed with knowledge.

(iii) How has Gandhiji described passive resistance?
Sol. Satyagraha is said of “passive resistance”, that is it is the weapon of the weak, but the power which is the subject of this article can be used only by the strong.

This power is not passive resistance; indeed, it calls for intense activity. Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, a satyagrahi could win the battle through non-violence. This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor.

Benefits of Solving CBSE Important Questions for Class 10 Social Science History Chapter 2

Students can utilize the important questions to gear up their preparation for the Class 10 CBSE exam. Here are the key benefits of solving these questions:

• Enhance Conceptual Understanding - Solving the important question from the Chapter 2 "Nationalism In India" provide conceptual knowledge to students. One can get a deeper understanding about the difficulty level of the questions from specific topics.
• Familiarity with Exam Pattern - These questions help aspirants to understand the exam pattern deeply. Students can gain insights into the types of questions, allocation of marks, etc. aids to develop the effective preparation strategy.
• Improve Time Management Skills - Students can develop the time management skills by practicing these questions to master the Chapter 2. Solving the important questions in timed conditions allows candidates to attempt the exam effectively.
• Boosts Confidence - Attempting the most important questions from Chapter 2 helps to optimize the exam preparation. It boosts the confidence level and reduces exam anxiety.