History MCQs for UPSC Prelims — May 2026

Q1. Following the Luce–Celler Act of 1946, the annual immigration quota granted to the Philippines was raised to how many persons?

• A. 100
• B. 50
• C. 150
• D. 2,000

Q2. The 'national-origins system' that governed United States immigration between 1924 and 1965 is best described as:

• A. A scheme allocating annual immigration quotas to each nationality in proportion to that group's existing share of the United States population
• B. A points-based scheme awarding visas according to applicants' skills, education and occupation
• C. A first-come, first-served scheme with a uniform per-country ceiling applied equally to all nations
• D. A scheme granting entry strictly on the basis of family reunification with US citizens

Q3. In the context of the 1926 relief granted to alien World War I veterans, the term 'non-quota immigrant' most precisely means:

• A. An immigrant admitted outside the numerical national-origins ceilings, whose entry is not counted against any country's annual quota
• B. An immigrant who is permanently and irrevocably barred from ever acquiring United States citizenship
• C. An immigrant admitted only after every quota slot for the year has already been exhausted
• D. An immigrant whose annual quota is fixed at exactly zero under the 1890 census formula

Q4. Under the Immigration Act of 1924 (Johnson–Reed Act), each nationality's annual immigration ceiling was fixed at 2 per cent of that group's population as recorded in which United States census?

• A. The census of 1890
• B. The census of 1910
• C. The census of 1920
• D. The census of 1900

Q5. With reference to the history and status of the Indian postal system, which of the following are correctly identified?

1. The Department of Posts traces its establishment to the year 1854.
2. India Post today operates the world's largest postal network by number of post offices.
3. The world's first official airmail flight took place in India in 1911.
4. India Post is a statutory corporation created by a dedicated Act of Parliament.

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 1 and 4 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. In 1952 the Congress was reduced to a minority in the Madras Legislative Assembly by a coalition, which is why Rajagopalachari's chief ministership is described as a compromise. That anti-Congress coalition in Madras was led by which party?

• A. Communist Party of India
• B. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
• C. Swatantra Party
• D. Justice Party

Q7. In the 1967 general elections, widely regarded as the watershed that ended Congress dominance, the Congress lost its majority in several major States. With reference to the States that then came under non-Congress ministries in 1967, consider the following. Which one of the above is NOT correctly identified as a State where the Congress lost its majority in 1967?

1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Bihar
3. Kerala
4. Andhra Pradesh

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 3 only
• C. 4 only
• D. 2 and 4

Q8. The first synchronous Census in India — regarded as the start of the uninterrupted decennial census tradition — was conducted in which year?

• A. 1872
• B. 1881
• C. 1891
• D. 1931

Q9. In the context of India's contribution to the Korean War, which one of the following best describes the 'Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission' (NNRC), of which General K.S. Thimayya — commemorated at the Indo-Korean Friendship Park, Delhi — was the Chairman?

• A. A UN Security Council subsidiary body that supervised the ceasefire line along the 38th parallel after the 1953 Armistice
• B. A body chaired by India to take custody of and decide the fate of prisoners of war who refused repatriation after the Korean Armistice
• C. A joint India–Sweden–Switzerland mission that investigated alleged use of biological weapons during the Korean War
• D. A standing committee of non-aligned nations that mediated the negotiation of the Korean Armistice Agreement of 1953

Q10. At the Indo-Korean Friendship Park inaugurated at Delhi Cantonment in March 2021, how many pillars stand in the backdrop of the statue of General K.S. Thimayya, embossed with details of operations carried out by the 60 Parachute Field Ambulance during the Korean War?

• A. Three
• B. Five
• C. Seven
• D. Eleven

Q11. With reference to the Korean War Armistice of 1953, consider the following statements:

1. The Armistice Agreement was signed at Panmunjom on 27 July 1953.
2. The Republic of Korea (South Korea) was a signatory to the Armistice Agreement.
3. India was a member of the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission set up under the Armistice.
4. General Mark W. Clark signed the Armistice on behalf of the United Nations Command.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. With reference to India's role in the aftermath of the Korean War (1950–53), consider the following statements: 1. The Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) was set up under the Korean Armistice Agreement of 1953 to handle prisoners of war who refused repatriation. 2. Unlike the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC), the NNRC included India as a member and was chaired by an Indian general. 3. The Custodian Force of India (CFI), which held the unrepatriated prisoners of war, functioned as a contingent of the United Nations Command. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) was set up under the Korean Armistice Agreement of 1953 to handle prisoners of war who refused repatriation.
2. Unlike the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC), the NNRC included India as a member and was chaired by an Indian general.
3. The Custodian Force of India (CFI), which held the unrepatriated prisoners of war, functioned as a contingent of the United Nations Command.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q13. Who chaired the Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission (NNRC) constituted under the Korean Armistice Agreement of 1953?

• A. Lt Gen K.S. Thimayya
• B. Lt Gen S.P. Thorat
• C. Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa
• D. Maj Gen A.A. Rudra

Q14. With reference to the 60 Para Field Ambulance of the Indian Army during the Korean War, consider the following statements:

1. It was commanded by Lt Col (Dr) A. G. Rangaraj, who was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for his service in the Korean operations.
2. It was deployed in Korea under the United Nations Command established following the outbreak of the Korean War.
3. It was conferred the title of 'Maroon Angels' by wounded soldiers and civilians of the Republic of Korea in recognition of its humanitarian medical service.
4. It constituted independent India's first combatant infantry deployment abroad in the Korean War.

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q15. During the Korean War (1950-53), the 60 Para Field Ambulance of the Indian Army was deployed in Korea under which one of the following international command authorities?

• A. United Nations Command
• B. NATO Joint Command
• C. Commonwealth Forces Korea Command
• D. South-East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO) Force

Q16. With reference to the 1926 Cape Town protests against the Colour Bar Bill, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. Crowds held all-night prayer and hymn vigils.
2. Deputations were sent to Premier Hertzog.
3. Hertzog defended the Bill as needed to keep South Africa 'safe for white men'.
4. The protesting crowds petitioned the League of Nations to intervene.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 2 and 4
• C. 1 and 4
• D. 3 only

Q17. The term 'apartheid', adopted by the National Party after 1948, is an Afrikaans word most precisely meaning which of the following?

• A. 'Apartness' / 'separateness'
• B. 'White supremacy'
• C. 'Homeland' or 'reserve'
• D. 'Pass' or 'permit'

Q18. The Population Registration Act, 1950 initially classified South Africans into how many racial categories (before the Asian category was added)?

• A. Two
• B. Three
• C. Four
• D. Five

Q19. Hertzog's aim of removing Cape African voters from the common voters' roll was finally realized under which Act?

• A. Representation of Natives Act, 1936
• B. Native (Urban Areas) Act, 1923
• C. Natives Land Act, 1913
• D. Population Registration Act, 1950

Q20. Hertzog became Prime Minister in 1924 as leader of the senior partner in the 'Pact' coalition government. Which party did he lead?

• A. National Party
• B. Labour Party
• C. South African Party
• D. Afrikaner Bond

Q21. Under the 1926 colour-bar mechanism, the withholding of skilled-trade certificates of competency from non-white workers was operationalised chiefly through which body?

• A. Advisory/examining committees dominated by white trade unions
• B. The Chamber of Mines board of directors
• C. The Native Affairs Department commissioners
• D. The provincial mining inspectorate

Q22. The job 'colour bar' in South African mining was first given statutory form under which of the following?

• A. Mines and Works Act, 1911
• B. Mines and Works Amendment Act, 1926
• C. Native (Urban Areas) Act, 1923
• D. Industrial Conciliation Act, 1924

Q23. With reference to the Mines and Works Amendment Act, 1926 ('Colour Bar Act'), consider the following statements. Which of the above is NOT correct?

1. It withheld certificates of competency for skilled trades from Black workers.
2. It bracketed Coloured people with whites in the privileged category.
3. It was administered through advisory committees dominated by white trade unions.
4. It removed Cape African voters from the common voters' roll.

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 4 only
• D. 3 and 4

Q24. The Mines and Works Amendment Act, 1926 (the 'Colour Bar Act') was enacted by a joint sitting of how many houses of the South African Parliament?

• A. One
• B. Two
• C. Three
• D. Four

Q25. With reference to the history of the Bhojshala complex, consider the following: 1. Dhar served as a capital of the Paramara dynasty. 2. Raja Bhoja is believed to have installed the Vagdevi (Saraswati) statue there in 1034 AD. 3. Hindu groups hold that the Vagdevi statue was taken to London in 1875. 4. The complex was originally constructed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. Dhar served as a capital of the Paramara dynasty.
2. Raja Bhoja is believed to have installed the Vagdevi (Saraswati) statue there in 1034 AD.
3. Hindu groups hold that the Vagdevi statue was taken to London in 1875.
4. The complex was originally constructed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 1 and 4 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 3 and 4

Q26. With reference to the historical evolution of the Census of India, consider the following statements: 1. The first population census of India was conducted in 1872 during the Viceroyalty of Lord Mayo. 2. The first synchronous census of India was carried out in 1881. 3. The Census of India 2021 was the first instance in the unbroken decennial series since 1872 in which the census was postponed. 4. Census 2027 will be conducted under the Census Act, 1950. Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. The first population census of India was conducted in 1872 during the Viceroyalty of Lord Mayo.
2. The first synchronous census of India was carried out in 1881.
3. The Census of India 2021 was the first instance in the unbroken decennial series since 1872 in which the census was postponed.
4. Census 2027 will be conducted under the Census Act, 1950.

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Q27. The first synchronous decennial census of India was conducted during the Viceroyalty of which one of the following?

• A. Lord Mayo
• B. Lord Lytton
• C. Lord Ripon
• D. Lord Dufferin

Q28. Consider the following statements about the Paramara dynasty: 1. They were a Rajput clan who ruled parts of the Malwa region. 2. Dhar served as a capital of the dynasty. 3. King Bhoja belonged to the Paramara dynasty. 4. The Paramaras rose to power as feudatories of the Chola empire. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. They were a Rajput clan who ruled parts of the Malwa region.
2. Dhar served as a capital of the dynasty.
3. King Bhoja belonged to the Paramara dynasty.
4. The Paramaras rose to power as feudatories of the Chola empire.

• A. 1 and 2
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 4 only
• D. 3 and 4

Q29. Bhojshala's association with a Saraswati temple and a centre of learning in 11th-century Dhar is attributed to which Paramara ruler?

• A. Raja Bhoja
• B. Munja
• C. Siyaka II
• D. Udayaditya

Q30. In which year was the NAACP founded?

• A. 1905
• B. 1909
• C. 1910
• D. 1939