A look back at India

In 1909, Jamsetji Tata (founder of the Tata group) was instrumental in establishing this prestigious institution.

• Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru

• Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

• Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

• University of Calcutta

Answer explanation

IISc boasts of several distinguished staff and alumni including Dr. C. V. Raman, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, Dr. Homi Bhabha, Prof Satish Dhawan and more.

​ (a)   (the Father of Indian cinema) released the first full-length Indian feature film in 1913 called Raja Harishchandra.

• Dadasaheb Phalke
• Shubhash Ghai
• K. Asif
• V. Shantaram

Answer explanation

Phalke completed filming in six months and 27 days using imported equipments. The movie became a commercial success and laid the foundations for the Indian film industry.

In 1928, this scientist revolutionised our understanding of the scattering of light. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics in 1930.

• Satish Dhawan

• Sir C. V. Raman

• Homi Bhabha

• Vivekanand

Answer explanation

Raman spectroscopy is still widely used to this day. NASA’s Perseverance rover uses it to analyse the composition of Martian rocks and soil.

In 1931, New Delhi was inaugurated as the new capital of British India. The main complex was built on a place named after the village that existed there. What is this place called?

• Janpath

• Lal Qila

• Dilli Haat

• Raisina Hill

Answer explanation

The All-India War Memorial Arch, now known as India Gate, was also inaugurated in 1931 in memory of the soldiers who died in the First World War (1914-1918) and the Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919).

In 1943, a devastating famine in Bengal led to the deaths of an estimated ​ (a)   people, highlighting the dire consequences of wartime policies and food shortages.

• 2-3 million
• 80-100 thousand
• 500-600 thousand

Answer explanation

During World War II, food and other resources were diverted to support the Allied war effort, leaving the local population with insufficient supplies. The government’s focus on supporting military operations over civilian needs contributed significantly to the famine.

Chronologically order these events related to Indian Independence:

• Lahore Resolution

• Independence of India

• Quit India Movement

• Adoption of Indian Constitution

• Partition of India

Answer explanation

The Quit India Movement (1942) called for the end of British rule in India. Almost the entire leadership of the Indian National Congress was imprisoned without trial within hours of Gandhi's speech.

Most of them, along with tens of thousands of freedom fighters spent the rest of the war in prison and out of contact with the masses.

Can you recognise these notable Indians? Match them with their achievements.

• 3 Olympic Gold Medals in Hockey

• M.S. Swaminathan

• Operation Flood for dairy development

• Vijay Lakshmi Pandit

• Father of the Indian Space Program

• Dhyan Chand

• First female President, UN Gen. Assembly

• Verghese Kurien

• Father of the Green Revolution

• Vikram Sarabhai

Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency across India between June 25, 1975 to March 21, 1977.

Can you mark all the true statements below?

• Elections were postponed indefinitely

• Congress won the next election

• 100,000+ were jailed without trial

• Fundamental rights were suspended

• The army took control of the govt.

Answer explanation

The government imposed a media blackout on the night of June 25, 1975, when the Emergency was declared. All major newspapers were raided, and their electricity was cut off to prevent them from publishing the next day’s edition. The blackout was so severe that many Indians did not know about the Emergency until days later.

​ In 1991, the Indian Finance Minister ​ ​ (a)   laid out the framework for the liberalisation of the Indian economy in his budget speech. This plan is credited with saving India from economic collapse.

• Narasimha Rao
• Yashwant Sinha
• P. Chidambaram
• Manmohan Singh

Answer explanation

The economic reforms took India's GDP growth from around 3.5% in the 70s and 80s, to 6-7% in the 90s and 7-8% in the 2000s. Companies like Infosys, Airtel, HDFC Bank and Reliance could exist and thrive due to these reforms.

Startups play an important role in India's economy, directly contributing 3-4% to its GDP. Can you guess the GDP contribution in these other countries?

• 2%

• Brazil

• 5%

• Israel

• 0.1%

• China

• 0.3%

• Japan

• 3%

• USA

Answer explanation

Startups' contribution to Indian GDP is expected to grow to 4-5% in 2025.