Modern History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2026

Modern History Questions in UPSC Prelims 2026: Modern History is an important part of the UPSC CSE Prelims exam. Every year, several questions are asked from this section in the General Studies Paper 1. It includes the topics related to the time when foreign companies came to India, the rules made by the British government, and how Indian freedom fighters worked together to win independence. UPSC Prelims exam organised on May 24 carried around 4 to 5 UPSC Modern History questions in the exam. Deep reading and clear-cut memory are needed to solve the questions. 

UPSC Modern History Questions and Answers

Candidates can check the UPSC Modern History Questions and Answers asked in the paper to know the level and the type of questions for practice

Q: Which of the following factors contributed to the formation of the Forward Bloc by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939?

1. Bose failed to win the confidence of Mahatma Gandhi.

2. The Congress Left was disunited and failed to support Bose.

3. The Communists did not support Bose in his endeavours.

4. The supporters of M.N. Roy and socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan preferred Congress unity to supporting Bose.

Select the answer using the code given below: (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1, 2 and 4 (c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 2 and 4 only

Answer: B

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the British policy in Awadh immediately after its annexation in 1856:

1. The taluqdars were dispossessed of their estates but allowed to retain their arms and forts.

2. A Summary Revenue Settlement was made in 1856, assuming that the taluqdars were outsiders.

3. The British believed in taking revenue directly from the peasants by removing the taluqdars.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2 only

Answer: A

Q: Consider the following assertion:

The genesis of political alliances based on community lay in the very nature of the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919.

Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?

1. Reforms retained and extended the principle of separate electorates.

2. Separate electorates were supposed to counter Indian nationalism, which was growing stronger.

3. Deprived classes rallied around the favours inherent in separate electorates.

Select the answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only, (b) 2 and 3 only, (c) 1 and 2 only, (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: D

Q: The artificially fixed rupee-sterling exchange rate prescribed by the Hilton-Young Commission (1926) was adopted by the British Government for which one of the following reasons?

(a) Aiding the flow of remittances from India and maintaining India's creditworthiness

(b) Providing support to Indian importers

 (c) Encouraging the export of cotton produce from India

(d) Preventing depreciation of the Rupee in terms of gold

Answer: A

Q: Which one of the following statements about the Eka Movement and Bardoli Satyagraha is correct? 

(a) The Eka Movement was throughout supported and organised by the Congress, while the Bardoli Satyagraha was initially independent of Congress influence and was only in the last stages supported by the Congress. 

(b) The Eka Movement was provided leadership by the taluqdars of Awadh, whereas the Bardoli Satyagraha was a movement of the landless labourers. 

(c) The Bardoli Satyagraha was a campaign against the enhancement of land revenue, while the Eka Movement was a protest against excessive extraction of rents. 

(d) The Eka Movement was located in the Varanasi and Mirzapur districts of the present-day U.P., while the Bardoli Satyagraha took place in Saurashtra.

Answer: C

Importance of Modern History Question For UPSC Prelims Preparation

Modern History is a very important part of the UPSC Prelims exam for several reasons:

• High Number of Questions: Every year, the General Studies Paper 1 includes a large number of history questions, and a major portion of these come from the Modern History section.

• Consistent Mark Booster: Unlike some subjects where the topics change completely based on current affairs, the facts of history stay the same. This makes it a reliable section to score high marks.

• Helpful for Elimination: Many history questions use multi-statement formats. Knowing basic historical events helps candidates easily eliminate wrong options and find the correct answer.

• Useful for the Main Exam: The topics studied for the Prelims exam, like the freedom struggle and social reforms, are also a major part of the UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 syllabus.

• Understanding Current Issues: Learning about old British laws and policies helps candidates understand how India's modern laws, police systems, and government offices were formed.

How To Start Preparation For UPSC Prelims Modern History?

• Follow NCERT Textbooks: Read the school history books from Class 8 and Class 12 first. These books tell the history of India like a story, which makes it very easy to understand the basic facts.

• Make a Timeline Chart: Draw a long timeline on paper and write down important years and events in the order they happened. This helps in remembering the exact sequence of historical battles, treaties, and movements without getting confused.

• Revise Short Notes Regularly: Write down short pointers about main topics, important freedom fighters, and old British laws in a notebook. Read these short notes multiple times so that the facts stay fresh in memory.

• Solve Old Exam Questions: Practice solving history questions from previous years' exam papers. Doing this helps in understanding how questions are twisted and teaches how to find the right answer using elimination.

• Focus on Repeating Topics: Spend more time on important areas that are asked almost every year, such as the social reform movements, the major works of Mahatma Gandhi, and the acts passed by the British government.