MCQ on Socio-Religious and Cultural Reforms in India

🟢 Easy (1–20)

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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)

21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. 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.
25. 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.
26. “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.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. 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.
31. “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.
32. 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.
33. 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.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. 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.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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)

41. 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.
42. 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.
43. 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.
44. 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.
45. 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.
46. 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.
47. 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.
48. 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.
49. 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.
50. 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.