Chapter 8: Press Culture and Nationalism

VVI questions — the ones the board asked most (3)

1. Q1Long answer4 marksAsked: 2021

   Discuss the role and effects of press in Indian National Movement.

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 125 s

   Model answer · role of press, national movement

   1. 1.The press played a vital role in giving a new direction to the country's national movement and nation building. The papers worked as a means to convey the ideologies of national leaders to the common people. The papers of Indian languages, making emotional relations with the common masses, prepared them in favour of national movement, intensifying the process of national movement and nation building, tying all India into one thread, bridging the gap among different communities and making public opinion against exploitation.1 mark
   2. 2.Many newspapers were founded and edited by national leaders to strongly criticise British policies and organize the masses. Raja Rammohan Roy's 'Sambad Kaumudi', Harish Chandra Mukherjee's 'Hindu Patriot', Surendranath Banerjee's 'Bengalee' and Bal Gangadhar Tilak's 'Kesari' and 'Maratha' were important among such papers.1 mark
   3. 3.The press by reviewing the policies of the government and forming public opinion exposed the exploitative policies of British rule, paving the way to oppose the government in a democratic way. It raised voice against the economic exploitation carried out in the country by the Britishers, giving incisive description of the economic plight caused by heavy taxes, and 'Bharat Mitra' opposed the export of rice from India. With regard to removing social evils and maintaining political and cultural unity, work was done among the people, and the press provided a platform for social reform and cultural renaissance, favouring the Ganga-Jamuni culture (the composite culture) of India.1 mark
   4. 4.Fearing the growing power of the press, the British government imposed repressive laws like the Vernacular Press Act of Litton in 1878 to curb it. This ban over newspapers stirred the national movement and the masses instead of suppressing them. Despite such repression, the Indian press continued to influence and strengthen the national movement.1 mark

   • State 1878 clearly with the Vernacular Press Act of Litton.
   • Name the newspapers with their editors: Sambad Kaumudi, Hindu Patriot, Bengalee, Kesari and Maratha.
   • Write the awakening/unity role and the exposing of exploitative policies as two separate points, not combined.

   Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not Bihar Board’s official scheme

2. Q2Long answer4 marksAsked: 2024

   How did print revolution assist the growth of Nationalism in India ?

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 90 s

   Model answer · print revolution and nationalism

   1. 1.The printing revolution helped the growth of nationalism in India by making books, newspapers and journals available cheaply in large numbers to the people. This led to rapid spread of ideas and disseminated nationalist ideas and news to the general public across the country.1 mark
   2. 2.Indian newspapers and magazines criticised the repressive policies of colonial rule and British rule and exposed the exploitation carried out by the Britishers. National leaders like Firoz Shah Mehta, Tilak, Annie Besant and Gandhi used newspapers to create awareness among the people and carried the ideas of nationalist leaders to the masses, thus fostering national consciousness.1 mark
   3. 3.Books and magazines were printed in various languages of India and were read by people across different regions. Papers of Indian languages made emotional relations with the common masses and connected the people of different regions through a shared national identity, tying all India into one thread and strengthening national unity.1 mark
   4. 4.Printed material such as pamphlets and other literature widely propagated the ideas and struggles of freedom fighters along with the demand for Swaraj. Through plain and simple essays and regional journalism, the common masses got support to associate with the movement, and this gave momentum and strength to mass movements and the freedom movement.1 mark

   • Write the phrase "nationalist ideas" while describing spread of books, newspapers and journals.
   • Name the newspapers and leaders while using the word "newspapers" to show how awareness was created.
   • Use the exact phrase "shared national identity" and "mass movement" to cover points 3 and 4.

   Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not Bihar Board’s official scheme

3. Q3Short answer2 marksAsked: 2026

   What is manuscript? What is its utility?

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Hear it from Medha Ma’am · 25 s

   Model answer · manuscript, meaning and utility

   1. 1.A manuscript is a handwritten composition written on paper, palm leaf, birch bark etc. using ink or some other medium.1 mark
   2. 2.The utility of a manuscript is that it is an important source of history writing, as it provides information about contemporary social, religious, economic and political life.1 mark

   • Begin the first paragraph with the words 'handwritten composition' and name the materials paper, palm leaf, birch bark.
   • In the second paragraph write 'important source of history writing' and mention it gives information about contemporary social, religious, economic and political life.
   • Do not mix the two points into one paragraph; keep meaning and utility separate.

   Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not Bihar Board’s official scheme

Objective questions with the board’s key (10)

1. 1. Bihar Board 2026

   Which of the following newspapers was a full supporter of the British Government ?

   • (A) The Pioneer ✓
   • (B) Indian Mirror
   • (C) Amrit Bazar Patrika
   • (D) Mirat-ul-akhbar

   Answer: (A)

2. 2. Bihar Board 2026

   Which country is credited with the invention of the art of printing ?

   • (A) China ✓
   • (B) Germany
   • (C) Britain
   • (D) South Korea

   Answer: (A)

3. 3. Bihar Board 2026

   Who is known as the liberator of Indian newspapers ?

   • (A) Charles Metcalfe ✓
   • (B) Lord Macaulay
   • (C) Lord Lytton
   • (D) Lord Ripon

   Answer: (A)

4. 4. Bihar Board 2026

   Who started the publication of Bombay Chronicle ?

   • (A) M. G. Ranade
   • (B) Pherozeshah Mehta ✓
   • (C) Bharatendu Harishchandra
   • (D) Motilal Ghosh

   Answer: (B)

5. 5. Bihar Board 2026

   Vernacular Press Act was passed during the tenure of which Viceroy ?

   • (A) Lord Lytton ✓
   • (B) Lord Ripon
   • (C) Lord Curzon
   • (D) Lord Dalhousie

   Answer: (A)

6. 6. Bihar Board 2025

   Amrit Bazar Patrika was the newspaper of which language ?

   • (A) Hindi
   • (B) Bengali ✓
   • (C) Marathi
   • (D) Gujarati

   Answer: (B)

7. 7. Bihar Board 2025

   Who started Miraat-ul-Akhbar?

   • (A) Badruddin Tyabji
   • (B) Pheroze Mehta
   • (C) Dadabhai Naoroji
   • (D) Raja Rammohan Roy ✓

   Answer: (D)

8. 8. Bihar Board 2025

   Who said, 'Printing is the greatest gift given by God'?

   • (A) Martin Luther ✓
   • (B) Gutenberg
   • (C) Mahatma Gandhi
   • (D) Karl Marx

   Answer: (A)

9. 9. Bihar Board 2024

   In which language was 'Samvad Kaumudi' published ?

   • (A) Bangla ✓
   • (B) Hindi
   • (C) Marathi
   • (D) English

   Answer: (A)

10. 10. Bihar Board 2023

    Who started the 'New India' newspaper ?

    • (A) Mahatma Gandhi
    • (B) Annie Besant ✓
    • (C) Raja Rammohan Roy
    • (D) Manmohan Ghosh

    Answer: (B)

Questions parents and students ask

How many marks does "Press Culture and Nationalism" carry in Bihar Board Class 10 Social Science?

In the Bihar Board papers of 2021–2026, this chapter carried about 2 marks and about 2 questions a year; by marks it ranks 21 in Social Science.

Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "Press Culture and Nationalism"?

The 3 questions above are from the board’s real papers, each with the years it was asked; the most-asked come first with their full model answers. All 3 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the AskMedha app.

Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?

BSEB does not publish a marking scheme. Each answer is written point by point on a structure derived from past papers and checked by a second, independent model; it is never called the board’s official scheme.