Social Movements MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Social Movements - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is - 1 and 4 only

Key Points

• Common Agitation Methods of New Farmers’ Movements
  • Blocking roads and railways – Farmers disrupted transport routes to demand better prices and policies.
  • Non-repayment of loans – Farmers refused to pay debts as a protest against exploitative interest rates and poor agricultural policies.

Additional Information

• New Farmers’ Movements (1970s-1980s)
  • Originated in Punjab and Tamil Nadu, later spread to other regions.
  • Were non-party movements but had strong influence on policies.
  • Focused on price procurement, taxation, and input costs rather than land reforms.
• Key Characteristics
  • Anti-state and anti-urban stance due to government policies favoring urban consumers over rural producers.
  • Unlike earlier peasant movements, they were led by market-involved farmers rather than landless peasants.
  • Used innovative protest methods like mass demonstrations and transport blockades to gain media attention.

The correct answer is - Protest

Key Points

• Protest
  • Protests are the most visible form of collective action in social movements.
  • They involve large groups of people coming together in a public space to express their views on a particular issue.
  • Protests can take various forms such as marches, sit-ins, and rallies.
  • They are designed to attract public attention and media coverage, thereby increasing the visibility of the movement's goals.

Additional Information

• Types of Collective Action
  • Writing Books
    • Involves creating literature to spread awareness and educate the public about the social movement's issues.
    • While influential, it is less immediate and visible compared to protests.
  • Government Lobbying
    • Involves engaging with lawmakers to influence legislation and policy decisions.
    • This form of action is crucial but generally occurs behind the scenes and lacks immediate public visibility.
  • Court Petitions
    • Legal actions taken to address grievances through the judicial system.
    • Effective for achieving long-term change but not immediately visible to the public.
• Impact of Protests
  • Protests can lead to significant social and political changes by drawing attention to issues that might otherwise be overlooked.
  • Historical examples include the Civil Rights Movement, which used protests to achieve landmark changes in civil rights laws.
  • Modern movements such as climate change activism also rely heavily on protests to mobilize public support and influence policy.

The correct answer is - The Dharma Sabha opposing Raja Rammohun Roy's campaign against sati

Key Points

• The Dharma Sabha opposing Raja Rammohun Roy's campaign against sati
  • The Dharma Sabha was a conservative Hindu society formed in 1830.
  • It was established to counter the progressive social reforms initiated by Raja Rammohun Roy, particularly his campaign to abolish the practice of sati.
  • This opposition is a clear example of a counter-movement, which arises to resist social change and maintain traditional values.
  • The purpose of a counter-movement is to defend the status quo against the efforts of reform movements.

Additional Information

• Indian National Movement
  • This was a series of activities aimed at ending British rule in India.
  • It was primarily a reform movement, not a counter-movement.
• Civil Rights Movement in the USA
  • This movement sought to end racial discrimination and promote equal rights for African Americans.
  • It was a progressive reform movement aimed at social change.
• Movement for Women's Suffrage
  • This movement aimed to secure voting rights for women.
  • It was also a reform movement, not a counter-movement.

The correct answer is - Social movements have specific goals, while social change is broader and ongoing

Key Points

• Social movements
  • Involves a group of people with a common goal or set of goals.
  • Focused on bringing about specific changes within a society.
  • Examples include movements for civil rights, women's rights, and environmental protection.
• Social change
  • Refers to broader and ongoing transformations in the societal structure and norms over time.
  • It encompasses a wide range of changes in culture, behavior, social institutions, and relationships.
  • Examples include changes in technology, economic conditions, and demographics.

Additional Information

• Characteristics of social movements
  • They often arise from a collective desire to address specific grievances.
  • Social movements can be reformative (seeking to change specific laws or policies) or revolutionary (seeking to completely overhaul a society).
• Factors driving social change
  • Technological advancements can lead to significant shifts in how societies function.
  • Changes in economic conditions (e.g., industrialization, globalization) can transform social structures and relationships.
  • Shifts in cultural norms and values, often influenced by social movements, can drive broader social change.

The correct answer is - Spontaneous and disorganised protests

Key Points

• Spontaneous and disorganised protests
  • Unlike well-coordinated movements, spontaneous and disorganised protests do not exhibit a high level of organisation or leadership.
  • These types of protests often lack shared objectives and ideologies among participants, which are crucial for a social movement.
  • Without a structured approach, such protests fail to sustain long-term impact, a key characteristic of effective social movements.

Additional Information

• Organisation and leadership
  • Effective social movements rely on structured leadership to guide the direction and strategies of the movement.
  • Leadership provides a focal point for coordination and decision-making.
• Shared objectives and ideologies
  • Participants in social movements typically unite around common goals and ideologies.
  • This unity helps to maintain solidarity and motivation among members.
• A well-defined structure
  • Social movements often have a clear structure that defines roles, responsibilities, and communication channels.
  • This structure helps in effectively managing resources and achieving objectives.

The correct answer is Pandita Ramabai.

Key Points

• Pandita Ramabai (1858-1922)
  • Pandita Ramabai was born in the Canara district of the Madras Presidency (now in Karnataka) on April 23, 1858.
  • In order to better the lives of women, particularly child widows, Ramabai pushed girls' education and founded the Arya Mahila Samaj in Pune in 1881.
  • She founded the Mukti Mission, a refuge for young widows who had been abandoned and mistreated by their families, in Pune in 1889.
  • She also founded Sharda Sadan, which offered shelter, healthcare, education, and vocational training to widows, orphans, and those with visual impairments.
  • Because of her intellectual Sanskrit expertise, she is the first woman to be given the title Pandita.

Additional Information

• She died on 5 April 1922.
• In 1919, she receives the Kaisar-i-hind medal for her volunteer work in the community.
• Ramabai is honoured with a "feast day" on the Episcopal Church's liturgical calendar (USA).
• She also authored a number of books that depicted the difficult lives of women, including child widows and child brides.
• Ramabai had learned 18000 Puranas verses by the time she was 12 years old in addition to Sanskrit.
• She studied Bengali, Hindi, Kanarese, and Marathi.
• Her mother was Lakshmibai, and her father, Anant Shastri, was an educated Brahmin.

According to R. Wallis, the three broad categories: World-affirming, World-rejecting and World accommodating movements are associated with New Religious Movements.

Important Points

• Wallis argues that world-affirming movements, such as Scientology and the Human Potential Movement, seek to enhance the lives of their members and improve the world around them, without necessarily rejecting mainstream society or established religious traditions.
• World-rejecting movements, on the other hand, such as the Branch Davidians and the Peoples Temple, reject the values and norms of mainstream society and often see themselves as the only true path to salvation or enlightenment.
• World-accommodating movements, such as Transcendental Meditation and the Hare Krishna, seek to balance the demands of modern life with the pursuit of spiritual goals, and may be willing to work within mainstream society to achieve their aims.

Additional Information

• Value-oriented movements are social movements that seek to promote traditional values and beliefs, often in response to perceived threats from modernity.
• The New Age movement is a loosely-defined spiritual movement that emerged in the 1970s, characterized by a focus on personal growth and alternative forms of spirituality.
• New social movements are a diverse array of social movements that emerged in the latter half of the 20th century, often focused on issues of identity, such as feminism, environmentalism, and LGBTQ+ rights.

The correct answer is - 1 and 4 only

Key Points

• Common Agitation Methods of New Farmers’ Movements
  • Blocking roads and railways – Farmers disrupted transport routes to demand better prices and policies.
  • Non-repayment of loans – Farmers refused to pay debts as a protest against exploitative interest rates and poor agricultural policies.

Additional Information

• New Farmers’ Movements (1970s-1980s)
  • Originated in Punjab and Tamil Nadu, later spread to other regions.
  • Were non-party movements but had strong influence on policies.
  • Focused on price procurement, taxation, and input costs rather than land reforms.
• Key Characteristics
  • Anti-state and anti-urban stance due to government policies favoring urban consumers over rural producers.
  • Unlike earlier peasant movements, they were led by market-involved farmers rather than landless peasants.
  • Used innovative protest methods like mass demonstrations and transport blockades to gain media attention.

The correct answer is - A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

Key Points

• Caste Disabilities Removal Act (1850)
  • This act prohibited discrimination based on caste or religion and ensured that a person’s civil rights were not affected by conversion to another religion.
  • It was one of the earliest legal measures against caste-based discrimination.
• Constitution of India (1950) - Abolition of Untouchability
  • Article 17 of the Indian Constitution abolished untouchability and forbade its practice in any form.
  • It provided a legal framework to end caste-based discrimination.
• Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (1989)
  • Aimed to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
  • It provided for stringent punishment against those committing acts of violence and discrimination.
• Mandal Commission Report Implementation (1990)
  • The Mandal Commission report was implemented in 1990, granting 27% reservation to Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
  • This led to widespread political and social debates about affirmative action in India.

Additional Information

• Other Important Legal Reforms for Social Justice
  • The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 - Strengthened laws against untouchability and discrimination.
  • The 93rd Constitutional Amendment (2005) - Provided reservations for OBCs in higher education.
• Impact of Mandal Commission
  • Led to mass protests and debates on merit vs. reservations.
  • Further reforms included the creamy layer concept to exclude well-off OBC individuals from reservations.

The correct answer is - A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4

Key Points

• Anti-Sati Campaign → Raja Rammohun Roy
  • Raja Rammohun Roy led the first major social reform movement against the practice of Sati (widow burning) in Bengal.
  • His efforts led to the abolition of Sati in 1829 through a law enacted by the British Governor-General William Bentinck​:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.
• Widow Remarriage Movement → M.G. Ranade
  • M.G. Ranade advocated for widow remarriage and worked towards social reforms in Hindu society.
  • He argued using ancient Hindu scriptures to justify widow remarriage​:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
• Dalit Rights Movement → Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
  • Dr. Ambedkar was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and a leading figure in the movement for Dalit rights.
  • He founded organizations like the Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha and launched movements for Dalit temple entry and access to public resources​:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
• Women's Education Movement → Begum Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain
  • Begum Rokeya was a pioneer of women’s education in Bengal.
  • She established the Sakhawat Memorial Girls' School in Kolkata in 1911 and wrote extensively on gender equality​:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

Additional Information

• Other Major Social Reform Movements
  • Jyotiba Phule: Started the Satyashodhak Samaj to fight against caste and gender discrimination.
  • Sir Syed Ahmed Khan: Led the Aligarh Movement to promote modern education among Muslims.
  • Swami Dayanand Saraswati: Founded the Arya Samaj to promote Vedic teachings and oppose social evils like child marriage.
• Impact of Social Reform Movements
  • These movements led to significant legal reforms, including laws against sati, child marriage, and caste discrimination.
  • They played a crucial role in shaping modern Indian society and influencing the Indian Constitution.
  • Their legacy continues in contemporary women’s rights, Dalit activism, and education reforms.

The correct answer is - '1 - d, 2 - b, 3 - c, 4 - a'.

Key Points

• Chartist Movement - Voting rights for men
  • The Chartist Movement was a working-class movement for political reform in Britain that existed from 1838 to 1857.
  • Its aim was to achieve political rights and influence for the working classes.
  • The movement called for universal male suffrage, electoral reform, and other democratic rights.
• Suffragette Movement - Women's right to vote
  • The Suffragette Movement was a women's organization in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that fought for women's right to vote.
  • It encompassed a broad spectrum of suffrage advocacy, from peaceful protests to more militant tactics.
  • The movement was crucial in achieving women's suffrage in many Western countries.
• Indian National Movement - Independence from colonial rule
  • The Indian National Movement was a series of activities with the ultimate aim of ending British rule in India.
  • It spanned from the late 19th century to 1947, when India finally achieved independence.
  • The movement included various efforts such as non-violent protests, civil disobedience, and negotiations.
• Anti-Apartheid Movement - End of racial segregation in South Africa
  • The Anti-Apartheid Movement was an international campaign to end the system of apartheid in South Africa.
  • Apartheid was a policy of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the South African government from 1948 to 1994.
  • The movement involved boycotts, protests, and political pressure to dismantle the apartheid system.

The correct answer is Pandita Ramabai.

Key Points

• Pandita Ramabai (1858-1922)
  • Pandita Ramabai was born in the Canara district of the Madras Presidency (now in Karnataka) on April 23, 1858.
  • In order to better the lives of women, particularly child widows, Ramabai pushed girls' education and founded the Arya Mahila Samaj in Pune in 1881.
  • She founded the Mukti Mission, a refuge for young widows who had been abandoned and mistreated by their families, in Pune in 1889.
  • She also founded Sharda Sadan, which offered shelter, healthcare, education, and vocational training to widows, orphans, and those with visual impairments.
  • Because of her intellectual Sanskrit expertise, she is the first woman to be given the title Pandita.

Additional Information

• She died on 5 April 1922.
• In 1919, she receives the Kaisar-i-hind medal for her volunteer work in the community.
• Ramabai is honoured with a "feast day" on the Episcopal Church's liturgical calendar (USA).
• She also authored a number of books that depicted the difficult lives of women, including child widows and child brides.
• Ramabai had learned 18000 Puranas verses by the time she was 12 years old in addition to Sanskrit.
• She studied Bengali, Hindi, Kanarese, and Marathi.
• Her mother was Lakshmibai, and her father, Anant Shastri, was an educated Brahmin.

The correct answer is the Chipko movement.

Key Points

• The Chipko movement was a forest conservation movement in India.
• The movement originated in 1973 in Uttrakhand.
• It was one of the first environmental movements in India.
• It created a precedent for starting non-violent protests in India.
• The movement aimed at the protection and conservation of trees.
• The original chipko andolan dates back to the 18th century and was started by Rajasthan's Bishnoi community.

 Thus, we can say that the Chipko movement is recognised as one of the first environmental movements in the country.

Additional Information

• Narmada Bachao Andolan is an Indian social movement against a number of large dam projects across the Narmada river.

According to R. Wallis, the three broad categories: World-affirming, World-rejecting and World accommodating movements are associated with New Religious Movements.

Important Points

• Wallis argues that world-affirming movements, such as Scientology and the Human Potential Movement, seek to enhance the lives of their members and improve the world around them, without necessarily rejecting mainstream society or established religious traditions.
• World-rejecting movements, on the other hand, such as the Branch Davidians and the Peoples Temple, reject the values and norms of mainstream society and often see themselves as the only true path to salvation or enlightenment.
• World-accommodating movements, such as Transcendental Meditation and the Hare Krishna, seek to balance the demands of modern life with the pursuit of spiritual goals, and may be willing to work within mainstream society to achieve their aims.

Additional Information

• Value-oriented movements are social movements that seek to promote traditional values and beliefs, often in response to perceived threats from modernity.
• The New Age movement is a loosely-defined spiritual movement that emerged in the 1970s, characterized by a focus on personal growth and alternative forms of spirituality.
• New social movements are a diverse array of social movements that emerged in the latter half of the 20th century, often focused on issues of identity, such as feminism, environmentalism, and LGBTQ+ rights.

The correct answer is Pandita Ramabai.

Key Points

• Pandita Ramabai (1858-1922)
  • Pandita Ramabai was born in the Canara district of the Madras Presidency (now in Karnataka) on April 23, 1858.
  • In order to better the lives of women, particularly child widows, Ramabai pushed girls' education and founded the Arya Mahila Samaj in Pune in 1881.
  • She founded the Mukti Mission, a refuge for young widows who had been abandoned and mistreated by their families, in Pune in 1889.
  • She also founded Sharda Sadan, which offered shelter, healthcare, education, and vocational training to widows, orphans, and those with visual impairments.
  • Because of her intellectual Sanskrit expertise, she is the first woman to be given the title Pandita.

Additional Information

• She died on 5 April 1922.
• In 1919, she receives the Kaisar-i-hind medal for her volunteer work in the community.
• Ramabai is honoured with a "feast day" on the Episcopal Church's liturgical calendar (USA).
• She also authored a number of books that depicted the difficult lives of women, including child widows and child brides.
• Ramabai had learned 18000 Puranas verses by the time she was 12 years old in addition to Sanskrit.
• She studied Bengali, Hindi, Kanarese, and Marathi.
• Her mother was Lakshmibai, and her father, Anant Shastri, was an educated Brahmin.