Skip to contentMCQ on Socio-Religious and Cultural Reforms in India
🟢 Easy (1–20)
- Who founded the Brahmo Samaj?
a) Dayanand Saraswati
b) Swami Vivekananda
c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy ✅
d) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Explanation: Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded Brahmo Samaj in 1828 to promote monotheism and social reform. - The Arya Samaj was founded in:
a) 1828
b) 1875 ✅
c) 1885
d) 1905
Explanation: Dayanand Saraswati founded Arya Samaj in 1875 to promote Vedic values and oppose caste discrimination. - Who started the Ramakrishna Mission?
a) Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
b) Swami Vivekananda ✅
c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
d) Keshab Chandra Sen
Explanation: Swami Vivekananda established the mission in 1897 to promote spiritual and social service. - Which reformer was associated with widow remarriage?
a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar ✅
c) Swami Dayanand
d) Ramakrishna
Explanation: Vidyasagar worked for the Widow Remarriage Act of 1856. - Who gave the slogan “Back to the Vedas”?
a) Swami Vivekananda
b) Dayanand Saraswati ✅
c) Ram Mohan Roy
d) Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation: Dayanand emphasized returning to Vedic teachings. - Which organization worked for the upliftment of untouchables?
a) Arya Samaj
b) Ramakrishna Mission
c) Depressed Classes Mission ✅
d) Aligarh Movement
Explanation: It was founded in 1906 to uplift Dalits and backward classes. - The Aligarh Movement was initiated by:
a) Syed Ahmed Khan ✅
b) Ameer Ali
c) Badruddin Tyabji
d) Maulana Azad
Explanation: Syed Ahmed Khan started the movement for Muslim education and reform. - Which act made Sati illegal?
a) Sati Abolition Act ✅
b) Widow Remarriage Act
c) Hindu Marriage Act
d) Religious Disabilities Act
Explanation: Sati was banned in 1829 due to Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s efforts. - Who was the founder of Prarthana Samaj?
a) M.G. Ranade ✅
b) Swami Dayanand
c) B.G. Tilak
d) Syed Ahmed Khan
Explanation: Prarthana Samaj aimed at reforming Hindu religious practices in western India. - Swami Vivekananda represented Hinduism at the 1893 Parliament of Religions in:
a) London
b) Boston
c) New York
d) Chicago ✅
Explanation: He gave a famous speech at the Parliament in Chicago. - Who propagated the idea of universal religion?
a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
b) Swami Vivekananda ✅
c) Keshab Chandra Sen
d) Dayanand Saraswati
Explanation: Vivekananda emphasized the unity of all religions. - Which reformer founded the Theosophical Society in India?
a) Annie Besant ✅
b) Swami Vivekananda
c) Dadabhai Naoroji
d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation: Annie Besant led the Indian section of this spiritual movement. - Which social reformer is known as the “Father of Indian Renaissance”?
a) Swami Vivekananda
b) Dayanand Saraswati
c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy ✅
d) Syed Ahmed Khan
Explanation: Ram Mohan Roy’s modern ideas earned him this title. - Which movement aimed to purify Hinduism by eliminating social evils?
a) Brahmo Samaj
b) Arya Samaj ✅
c) Aligarh Movement
d) Prarthana Samaj
Explanation: Arya Samaj advocated for reform based on Vedic texts. - Which leader worked for girl education in Maharashtra?
a) Swami Vivekananda
b) Jyotiba Phule ✅
c) Keshab Chandra Sen
d) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Explanation: Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule opened schools for girls. - The Widow Remarriage Act was passed in the year:
a) 1850
b) 1856 ✅
c) 1860
d) 1870
Explanation: Due to Vidyasagar’s efforts, it was passed in 1856. - Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was a priest at:
a) Kali Temple at Dakshineswar ✅
b) Vishwanath Temple
c) Jagannath Temple
d) Kamakhya Temple
Explanation: He was known for his devotion to goddess Kali. - Which movement opposed idol worship and ritualism?
a) Arya Samaj ✅
b) Ramakrishna Mission
c) Theosophical Society
d) Aligarh Movement
Explanation: Arya Samaj emphasized formless God. - Who is known as the “Prophet of Indian Nationalism”?
a) M.G. Ranade
b) Dayanand Saraswati
c) Swami Vivekananda ✅
d) Syed Ahmed Khan
Explanation: Vivekananda inspired youth with nationalism and spirituality. - Which reformer established the Satya Shodhak Samaj?
a) B.R. Ambedkar
b) Mahatma Gandhi
c) Jyotiba Phule ✅
d) Swami Vivekananda
Explanation: It aimed to uplift lower castes and oppose Brahminical dominance.
🟡 Moderate (21–40)
- The main focus of Aligarh Movement was:
a) Hindu unity
b) Dalit upliftment
c) Modern education for Muslims ✅
d) Women’s rights
Explanation: It focused on modern, western education for Indian Muslims. - Which religious reform movement was most associated with Maharashtra?
a) Arya Samaj
b) Prarthana Samaj ✅
c) Brahmo Samaj
d) Theosophical Society
Explanation: Prarthana Samaj was prominent in Bombay and Poona. - Which reformer translated the Vedas into Hindi?
a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
b) Dayanand Saraswati ✅
c) Swami Vivekananda
d) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Explanation: He wanted to make Vedic knowledge accessible to all. - Which movement is associated with Annie Besant?
a) Brahmo Samaj
b) Arya Samaj
c) Theosophical Movement ✅
d) Ramakrishna Mission
Explanation: She was a prominent leader of the Theosophical Society. - Keshab Chandra Sen was a prominent leader of:
a) Arya Samaj
b) Prarthana Samaj
c) Brahmo Samaj ✅
d) Satya Shodhak Samaj
Explanation: He led the Brahmo Samaj after Raja Ram Mohan Roy. - “Satyarth Prakash” was written by:
a) Swami Vivekananda
b) Dayanand Saraswati ✅
c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
d) Annie Besant
Explanation: It outlines Arya Samaj’s religious and social principles. - Which reform movement opposed child marriage strongly?
a) Arya Samaj ✅
b) Aligarh Movement
c) Ramakrishna Mission
d) Brahmo Samaj
Explanation: Arya Samaj opposed social evils like child marriage. - Who was the editor of the journal ‘Tattvabodhini Patrika’?
a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
b) Debendranath Tagore ✅
c) Dayanand Saraswati
d) Annie Besant
Explanation: It was a mouthpiece of the Brahmo Samaj. - Who was the first Indian woman to become president of the Indian National Congress?
a) Sarojini Naidu ✅
b) Annie Besant
c) Aruna Asaf Ali
d) Kadambini Ganguly
Explanation: Sarojini Naidu became president in 1925. - The Ramakrishna Mission emphasized:
a) Rituals and sacrifices
b) Social service and education ✅
c) Idol worship
d) Blind faith
Explanation: The mission was active in education and welfare work. - “Go back to the Vedas” was aimed at:
a) Encouraging idol worship
b) Embracing western education
c) Reconnecting with ancient knowledge ✅
d) Political propaganda
Explanation: Dayanand encouraged Vedic life principles. - Which of the following focused on the spiritual unity of all religions?
a) Arya Samaj
b) Brahmo Samaj
c) Theosophical Society ✅
d) Aligarh Movement
Explanation: Theosophical Society believed in unity of all faiths. - The Servants of India Society was founded by:
a) B.G. Tilak
b) Mahatma Gandhi
c) Gopal Krishna Gokhale ✅
d) Lala Lajpat Rai
Explanation: Gokhale aimed to promote social service and national awakening. - Who opposed caste system among Muslims?
a) Badruddin Tyabji
b) Maulana Azad
c) Syed Ahmed Khan
d) Sir Syed and Shah Waliullah ✅
Explanation: Both reformers criticized caste practices among Indian Muslims. - Which reformer founded Hindu Mahasabha in the 20th century?
a) B.S. Moonje ✅
b) Savarkar
c) Lala Lajpat Rai
d) Swami Vivekananda
Explanation: Moonje promoted cultural nationalism through the Mahasabha. - Who was known for promoting ‘Vedantic Monism’?
a) Swami Vivekananda ✅
b) Dayanand Saraswati
c) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
d) B.G. Tilak
Explanation: Vivekananda taught Advaita (non-duality) philosophy. - The Hindu College in Calcutta was founded in:
a) 1815
b) 1817 ✅
c) 1820
d) 1830
Explanation: It became a center of modern education and reform. - Who said, “Religion is not in books, but in being”?
a) Dayanand Saraswati
b) Swami Vivekananda ✅
c) Annie Besant
d) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation: Vivekananda emphasized practical spirituality. - Which reform movement was influenced by Christianity?
a) Arya Samaj
b) Brahmo Samaj ✅
c) Satya Shodhak Samaj
d) Prarthana Samaj
Explanation: Brahmo Samaj adopted some ideas from Christianity. - Which movement considered Vedas as infallible?
a) Brahmo Samaj
b) Prarthana Samaj
c) Arya Samaj ✅
d) Ramakrishna Mission
Explanation: Arya Samaj held Vedas as the only true scriptures.
🔴 Hard (41–50)
- Which reformer gave the title “Maharshi” to Karve?
a) Gandhi
b) Tagore
c) Tilak
d) Mahatma Gandhi ✅
Explanation: Gandhi admired Karve’s work for women’s education and widow remarriage. - Who is the author of “Essays on the Gita”?
a) Swami Vivekananda
b) Sri Aurobindo ✅
c) Rabindranath Tagore
d) Dayanand Saraswati
Explanation: Aurobindo analyzed Gita’s philosophical messages. - Who founded the ‘Indian Reform Association’?
a) Dayanand Saraswati
b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
c) Keshab Chandra Sen ✅
d) Debendranath Tagore
Explanation: It promoted social reforms in the 19th century. - Which movement worked to remove untouchability from Hindu society?
a) Arya Samaj
b) Temple Entry Movement ✅
c) Brahmo Samaj
d) Theosophical Society
Explanation: It aimed to ensure Dalit access to temples. - Which organization did Annie Besant use to start the Home Rule Movement?
a) Theosophical Society
b) Indian National Congress
c) All India Home Rule League ✅
d) Prarthana Samaj
Explanation: She founded the League in 1916. - Who among the following was NOT a member of the Brahmo Samaj?
a) Keshab Chandra Sen
b) Debendranath Tagore
c) Dayanand Saraswati ✅
d) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Explanation: Dayanand founded Arya Samaj, not Brahmo Samaj. - Which reformer used the press extensively for reforms?
a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy ✅
b) Syed Ahmed Khan
c) Dayanand Saraswati
d) M.G. Ranade
Explanation: Roy published journals in Persian, Hindi, Bengali, and English. - Which reformer promoted widow remarriage AND opposed polygamy?
a) Dayanand Saraswati
b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar ✅
c) M.G. Ranade
d) B.R. Ambedkar
Explanation: Vidyasagar’s reforms aimed at both. - What was the goal of Young Bengal Movement?
a) Rural upliftment
b) Revival of ancient culture
c) Radical rational reform ✅
d) Promotion of Vedas
Explanation: Led by Derozio, it advocated atheism, equality, and modernity. - Who was the first Indian woman to graduate and practice medicine?
a) Anandibai Joshi ✅
b) Sarojini Naidu
c) Kadambini Ganguly
d) Pandita Ramabai
Explanation: Anandibai graduated from a U.S. medical college in 1886.
