Congress Rule in Provinces FAQs

1. Who advised Congressmen to hold ministerial offices "lightly and not tightly"?

2. Gandhi described the ministerial offices accepted by Congressmen as what?

3. Congress ministries were formed in all of the following provinces EXCEPT:

4. Congress ministries were formed in NWFP and Assam at what stage relative to the other provinces?

5. Gandhi urged Congressmen to prove that the Congress could rule with least assistance from which institutions?

6. Consider the following statements about the basic limitations of Congress ministries: (I) They could not change the basic imperialist character of the system. (II) They could not introduce a radical era. (III) They abolished zamindari completely across all provinces. Which of the above is/are correct?

7. For how many months did Congress rule in the provinces last before the ministries resigned?

8. Which two illegal organisations had bans lifted by the Congress ministries?

9. Consider the following measures taken by Congress ministries regarding civil liberties: (I) Laws giving emergency powers were repealed. (II) Confiscated arms and arms licences were restored. (III) The CID was strengthened to shadow politicians more closely. Which of the above is/are correct?

10. In which province were lands confiscated during the Civil Disobedience Movement restored by the Congress ministry?

11. Which socialist was arrested by the Madras government for inflammatory speeches and later released?

12. Which socialist was arrested by the Madras government for a seditious speech and given a six months' sentence?

13. Who, as Bombay home minister, used the CID against communists and leftists?

14. Consider the following statements regarding constraints on agrarian reform faced by Congress ministries: (I) The ministries had inadequate financial resources as the Government of India appropriated the larger share. (II) The reactionary second chamber dominated by landlords and moneylenders had to be conciliated. (III) There was ample time available since no war clouds were on the horizon. Which of the above is/are correct?

15. Which of the following was NOT among the constraints limiting complete abolition of zamindari by Congress ministries?

16. Despite constraints on agrarian reform, which groups mainly benefited from the land reform laws passed by Congress ministries?

17. Consider the following statements about beneficiaries of Congress agrarian legislation: (I) Sub-tenants did not gain much from the reforms. (II) Agricultural labourers benefited significantly as they had been mobilised. (III) Statutory and occupancy tenants received most of the benefits. Which of the above is/are correct?

18. What was the basic approach of the Congress ministries towards labour?

19. Congress ministries advocated which measure prior to allowing strikes, using established conciliation machinery?

20. In which province was the ministries' approach of treating militant trade union protests as a law and order problem least successful?

21. Which section of law did the ministries generally resort to in order to arrest labour leaders during protests?

22. Who was unhappy about the repressive measures against labour but publicly supported the ministries to protect them from criticism?

23. Though against militant and violent labour methods, who stood for political education of the masses and appealed against frequent resort to colonial machinery?

24. Consider the following social welfare reforms undertaken by Congress ministries: (I) Prohibition imposed in certain areas. (II) Welfare measures for Harijans, including temple entry and use of public facilities. (III) Discouragement of khadi in favour of imported textiles. Which of the above is/are correct?

25. The National Planning Committee, set up in 1938 to develop planning, was established under which Congress president?

26. Which of the following was part of the extra-parliamentary mass activity of the Congress during this period?

27. Congress Grievance Committees performed which of the following functions?

28. In which month and year did the Congress ministries resign?

29. The Congress ministries resigned following the outbreak of which event?

30. The Bombay Traders Disputes Act of 1938 reflected what apparent shift in Congress attitudes?

31. The Congress leadership faced a dilemma over whether to support which movement for greater democracy in the princely states?

32. The All India Muslim League established which committee in 1938 to report on alleged atrocities by Congress ministries?

33. Consider the following charges made by the Pirpur Committee (1938) against Congress ministries: (I) Interference in religious rites. (II) Suppression of Urdu in favour of Hindi. (III) Complete disenfranchisement of Muslim voters. Which of the above is/are correct?

34. Consider the following as achievements attributed to the 28-month Congress rule: (I) It demonstrated that a movement could use state power without being co-opted. (II) The morale of the bureaucracy came down. (III) Council work helped neutralise many erstwhile hostile elements like landlords. Which of the above is/are correct?

35. The huge Congress victory in provincial elections aroused hopes among which class, leading to increased militancy and industrial unrest?

47. Congress Rule in Provinces