NDA Examination History and Freedom Movement (General Ability Test) Syllabus

What was the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and when did it occur?

On 13 April 1919 in Amritsar, General Dyer ordered firing on an unarmed crowd, killing hundreds; it intensified the freedom struggle.

Which three major mass movements did Mahatma Gandhi lead, and in which years?

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22), Civil Disobedience Movement / Dandi Salt March (1930), and Quit India Movement (1942).

What was the significance of the Dandi March of 1930?

Gandhi's 240-mile march to make salt defied the British salt law, launching the Civil Disobedience Movement and mass non-violent defiance.

Who founded the Indian National Army (INA) and what was its slogan?

Subhas Chandra Bose revived and led the INA (Azad Hind Fauj); its slogan was 'Dilli Chalo' and the greeting 'Jai Hind'.

Which 1947 plan provided for the partition of India, and who proposed it?

The Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947), proposed by Viceroy Lord Mountbatten, leading to the Indian Independence Act 1947.

On what dates did Pakistan and India gain independence, and who became India's first PM?

Pakistan on 14 August 1947 and India on 15 August 1947; Jawaharlal Nehru became India's first Prime Minister.

What was the Renaissance and in which country and century did it begin?

The Renaissance was a 14th–17th century revival of art, learning, and humanism; it began in Italy (Florence) in the 14th century.

What was the Protestant Reformation and who initiated it?

A 16th-century religious movement challenging the Roman Catholic Church; initiated by Martin Luther with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517.

When did the American War of Independence take place and what document declared independence?

It lasted 1775–1783; the Declaration of Independence (drafted by Thomas Jefferson) was adopted on 4 July 1776.

What were the famous slogans/ideals of the French Revolution (1789)?

'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity'; it overthrew the monarchy and feudal privileges, beginning with the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789.

What event is regarded as the immediate trigger of the French Revolution in 1789?

The storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789, symbolizing the fall of royal despotism.

What was the Industrial Revolution and where did it begin?

The transition (c. 1760–1840) from hand production to machine manufacturing; it began in Britain, driven by textiles, coal, iron, and the steam engine.

Who invented the steam engine that powered the Industrial Revolution?

James Watt greatly improved the steam engine (1769); earlier versions were by Thomas Newcomen.

What were the durations of the First and Second World Wars?

World War I: 1914–1918; World War II: 1939–1945.

What event triggered World War I and what alliances opposed each other?

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand (1914); the Allied Powers fought the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire).

What treaty ended World War I and what organization did it establish?

The Treaty of Versailles (1919) ended WWI and established the League of Nations.

When did the Russian Revolution occur and who led the Bolsheviks?

The Bolshevik (October) Revolution of 1917 was led by Vladimir Lenin, establishing the world's first communist state (USSR).

What organization was created after World War II to maintain international peace, and in what year?

The United Nations (UN), established on 24 October 1945.

What is decolonization and during which period did it peak?

Decolonization is the process by which colonies gained independence from European powers, peaking in the period 1945–1965 after World War II.

What is meant by the rise of nationalism in 19th-century Europe? Give an example.

The growth of national consciousness leading to unification or independence movements; examples include the Unification of Italy (1861) and Germany (1871).

Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee.

When was the Indian Constitution adopted and when did it come into force?

Adopted on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950 (celebrated as Republic Day).

How long did the Constituent Assembly take to frame the Indian Constitution?

About 2 years, 11 months, and 18 days; its president was Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

From which countries did the Indian Constitution borrow Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles?

Fundamental Rights from the USA (Bill of Rights); Directive Principles of State Policy from Ireland.

How many Fundamental Rights are currently guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, and name them?

Six: Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, and Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32).

Which right did Dr. Ambedkar call the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution, and why?

The Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32), because it allows citizens to approach the Supreme Court to enforce Fundamental Rights.

In which part and article were Fundamental Duties added, and by which amendment?

Part IV-A, Article 51-A, added by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 (originally 10, now 11 duties).

Who is the constitutional head of the Union Government and who exercises real executive power?

The President is the constitutional (nominal) head; real executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.

What are the two Houses of the Indian Parliament and which is the upper house?

The Lok Sabha (House of the People, lower house) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States, upper house).

At the state level, who is the constitutional head and who heads the real executive?

The Governor is the constitutional head of a state; the Chief Minister heads the real executive (Council of Ministers).

What were India's Five-Year Plans modeled on and what are the Panchsheel principles?

Five-Year Plans (begun 1951) were modeled on Soviet planning for economic development; Panchsheel (1954) are the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence agreed between India and China, emphasizing mutual respect, non-aggression, non-interference, equality, and peaceful coexistence.