Chapter 2: Nationalism in India

Important questions — the ones the board asked most (20)

1. Q1Map5 marksAsked: 2023, 2024, 2025

   (a) Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India (on page 23). Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them : A. The place where the session of Indian National Congress was held place in 1927. B. The place where Mahatma Gandhi broke the Salt Law. Note : The following questions are for the Visually Impaired Candidates only, in lieu of Q. No. 37 (a). (a) (i) Name the place where the session of Indian National Congress was held in 1927. (ii) Name the place where Mahatma Gandhi broke the Salt Law. (b) On the same political outline map of India, locate and label any three of the following with suitable symbols : (i) An international airport of West Bengal (ii) A software technology park of Karnataka (iii) A nuclear power plant located in Maharashtra (iv) A major sea port of Odisha Note : The following questions are for the Visually Impaired Candidates only, in lieu of Q. No. 37 (b). (b) Attempt any three questions. (i) Name the place where an international airport is located in West Bengal. (ii) Name the place where a software technology park is located in Karnataka. (iii) Name the place where a nuclear power plant is located in Maharashtra. (iv) Name the place where a major sea port is located in Odisha.

   

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   Model answer · Map work, nationalism, economic centres

   1. 1.(a) A. The place where the session of the Indian National Congress was held in 1927 is Madras (Chennai). It is marked and labelled on the line drawn near it on the east coast of Tamil Nadu. B. The place where Mahatma Gandhi broke the Salt Law is Dandi. It is a coastal village in Gujarat, where the Salt March ended and the Civil Disobedience Movement began. It is labelled on the line drawn near it.2 marks
   2. 2.(b) The following three places are located and labelled on the political outline map of India with suitable symbols: (i) An international airport of West Bengal: Kolkata (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport), marked with an aeroplane symbol in southern West Bengal. (ii) A software technology park of Karnataka: Bengaluru, marked with a dot and labelled in south-eastern Karnataka. (iii) A nuclear power plant located in Maharashtra: Tarapur, marked with the nuclear power plant symbol on the coast of Maharashtra, north of Mumbai. (iv) A major sea port of Odisha: Paradip, marked with an anchor symbol on the coast of Odisha. (Any three of these.) Answer for Visually Impaired Candidates: (a) (i) Madras (Chennai); (ii) Dandi. (b) (i) Kolkata; (ii) Bengaluru; (iii) Tarapur; (iv) Paradip (any three).3 marks

   Diagram: On the political outline map of India, write Madras (Chennai) on the line near A and Dandi on the line near B. Then mark and label any three of these with suitable symbols: Kolkata airport (aeroplane), Bengaluru software technology park (dot), Tarapur nuclear power plant (nuclear symbol), Paradip sea port (anchor).

   • Write the names "Madras (Chennai)" and "Dandi" on the lines drawn near A and B.
   • For part (b), draw a symbol at each place and also write its name beside it, for example an anchor for Paradip.
   • Do only three places in part (b), and put each one in the correct state.

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

2. Q2Long answer5 marksAsked: 2026

   (a) "Women played an important role during the Civil Disobedience Movement." Support the statement with appropriate arguments. OR (b) "The revival of Indian folklore strengthened nationalism in India." Support the statement with appropriate arguments.

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Model answer · women in Civil Disobedience Movement

   1. 1.(a) Thousands of women joined the salt march and protest marches, made salt, and picketed foreign cloth and liquor shops. OR (b) Folk performers went from village to village spreading the nationalist message through folk songs and tales.1 mark
   2. 2.Many women went to jail, a very bold step at that time. OR Natesa Sastri published a four-volume collection of Tamil folk tales, The Folklore of Southern India, to show the true national culture.1 mark
   3. 3.In towns they came from high-caste families and in villages from rich peasant households; moved by Gandhiji's call, they saw service to the nation as a sacred duty. OR Nationalists believed folk tales gave a true picture of traditional culture, which had to be saved from modern and Western influence.1 mark
   4. 4.Though Gandhiji saw women's duty mainly as looking after the home, many women still took an active part. OR Rabindranath Tagore and other Bengali intellectuals collected ballads, nursery rhymes and myths to build a national identity.1 mark
   5. 5.Their participation widened women's role in public life and made the national movement a mass movement. OR So the revival of folklore strengthened nationalism by giving people pride in their past and a sense of cultural unity.1 mark

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

3. Q3Long answer5 marksAsked: 2026

   (a) Explain the role of urban middle class in the 'Non-Cooperation Movement'. OR (b) How did reinterpretation of history play an important role in the development of nationalism in India ? Explain.

   

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   Model answer · Non-Cooperation, towns, middle class

   1. 1.The Non-Cooperation-Khilafat Movement, which began in January 1921, started with middle-class participation in the cities. Thousands of students left government-controlled schools and colleges, and headmasters and teachers resigned from their jobs. In this way they refused to cooperate with British-run education.1 mark
   2. 2.Lawyers gave up their legal practices. By leaving the British courts, they showed that Indians would no longer help run the colonial legal system.1 mark
   3. 3.The council elections were boycotted in most provinces. The only exception was Madras, where the Justice Party, the party of the non-Brahmans, contested the elections because it felt that entering the council was one way of gaining some power.1 mark
   4. 4.Foreign goods were boycotted, and foreign cloth was the main target. Foreign cloth was seen as the symbol of Western economic and cultural domination, so the middle class stopped buying and using it.1 mark
   5. 5.Liquor shops were picketed. Volunteers stood outside these shops to stop people from buying liquor. This was another peaceful protest against British rule.1 mark

   • For the students' point, also write that "headmasters and teachers resigned".
   • Write "lawyers gave up their legal practices" as a separate point of its own.
   • Write all five actions, ending with "Liquor shops were picketed".

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

4. Q4Long answer5 marksAsked: 2026

   (a) Explain the expansion of the ‘Non-Cooperation Movement’ in the countryside. OR (b) How did icons and symbols play an important role in the development of nationalism in India ? Explain.

   How the model answer begins

   1. In Awadh, the peasant movement was led by Baba Ramchandra, a sanyasi who had earlier been to Fiji as an indentured labourer. This movement was directed against talukdars and landlords who demanded from peasants…

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5. Q5Map5 marksAsked: 2025

   SECTION F (Map Skill-Based Questions) 37. (a) Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India (on page 27). Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them : A. The place where the session of Indian National Congress was held in December 1927. B. The place where Jallianwala Bagh incident took place. Note: The following questions are for the Visually Impaired Candidates only, in lieu of Q. No. 37 (a). (a) (i) Name the place where the session of Indian National Congress was held in December 1927. (ii) Name the place where Jallianwala Bagh incident took place. (b) On the same political outline map of India, locate and label any three of the following with suitable symbols : (i) Eastern terminal station of the East-West Corridor (ii) Leading state in coffee production (iii) Nuclear power plant located in Uttar Pradesh (iv) Major sea port located in Odisha Note: The following questions are for the Visually Impaired Candidates only, in lieu of Q. No. 37 (b). (b) Attempt any three questions. (i) Name the eastern terminal station of the East-West Corridor. (ii) Name the leading state in coffee production. (iii) Name the place where nuclear power plant is located in Uttar Pradesh. (iv) Name the place where a major sea port is located in Odisha.

6. Q6Map5 marksAsked: 2025

   Section - F (Map Skill Based Question) 37. (a) On the given political outline map of India, two places ‘A’ and ‘B’ have been marked. Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them : A. The place where the session of the Indian National Congress was held. B. The place where Mahatma Gandhi started the Satyagraha for the farmers who cultivated indigo. Note : The following questions are only for the Visually Impaired candidates in lieu of Q. No. 37(a). (a) (i) Name the place where the session of the Indian National Congress was held in December, 1920. (ii) Name the place where Mahatma Gandhi started the Satyagraha for the farmers who cultivated indigo. 37. (b) On the same outline map of India, locate and label any three of the following with appropriate symbols : (i) Leading state in rice production (ii) Coal mines located in Tamil Nadu (iii) A major sea port located in Karnataka (iv) Oil field located in Maharashtra

7. Q7Map5 marksAsked: 2025

   37. (a) Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India (on page 27). Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them : A. The place where the session of Indian National Congress was held in 1920. B. The place where Gandhiji started Dandi March. Note: The following questions are for the Visually Impaired Candidates only, in lieu of Q. No. 37 (a). (a) (i) Name the place where the session of Indian National Congress was held in 1920. (ii) Name the place where Gandhiji started Dandi March. (b) On the same political outline map of India, locate and label any three of the following with suitable symbols : (i) Leading state in production of Jute (ii) Atomic Power Plant located in Gujarat (iii) Iron and Steel Plant located in Jharkhand (iv) Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport Note: The following questions are for the Visually Impaired Candidates only, in lieu of Q. No. 37 (b). (b) Attempt any three questions. (i) Name the leading state in production of Jute. (ii) Name the place where an Atomic Power Plant is located in Gujarat. (iii) Name the place where an Iron and Steel Plant is located in Jharkhand. (iv) Name the place where Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport is located.

   How the model answer begins

   1. (a) A – Nagpur: the place in Maharashtra where the session of the Indian National Congress was held in 1920. On the map, the name "Nagpur" is written on the line drawn near A. B – Sabarmati: the place in Gujarat where…

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8. Q8Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025

   (A) Explain with examples the significance of the Non-cooperation Movement in the Indian national movement. OR (B) How did the Civil Disobedience Movement become a mass movement ? Explain with examples.

   How the model answer begins

   1. (A) The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) was the first mass movement under Gandhiji; joined with the Khilafat movement, it brought Hindus and Muslims together. OR (B) Gandhiji's Dandi March of 1930 and the breaking of…

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9. Q9Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025

   (A) Explain the role of Gandhiji in the Non-cooperation Movement with examples. OR (B) How did the Civil Disobedience Movement able to bring all communities together in India ? Explain with examples.

   How the model answer begins

   1. (A) Gandhiji persuaded the Congress to accept Non-Cooperation at its Calcutta session (September 1920), and it was adopted at Nagpur in December 1920. OR (B) Gandhiji began the Civil Disobedience Movement against the…

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10. Q10Long answer5 marksAsked: 2025

    (A) How did Gandhiji's Salt March mobilize people across different strata against British rule ? Explain with examples. OR (B) "History, fiction, folklore, songs, popular prints and symbols developed the sense of collective belonging in Indians during the 19th century." Explain the statement with examples.

    How the model answer begins

    1. (A) On 12 March 1930 Gandhiji set out from Sabarmati Ashram and on reaching Dandi broke the salt law — salt was used by rich and poor alike. OR (B) History and fiction blended to create the image of Bharat Mata, first…

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11. Q11Map5 marksAsked: 2025

    SECTION - F (MAP SKILL BASED QUESTION) 37. (a) Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India. Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them : A. The place where a session of the Indian National Congress was held. B. The place where Mahatma Gandhi started a Satyagraha for the farmers who cultivated indigo. Note : The following questions are only for the Visually Impaired candidates in lieu of question number 37(a) . 37. (a) (i) Name the place where a session of the Indian National Congress was held in December, 1920. (ii) Name the place where Mahatma Gandhi started a Satyagraha for the farmers who cultivated indigo. 37. (b) On the same outline map of India, locate and label any three of the following with appropriate symbols : (i) Leading state in rice production (ii) Coal mines located in Tamil Nadu (iii) A major sea port located in Karnataka (iv) Oil field located in Maharashtra Note : The following questions are only for the Visually Impaired candidates in lieu of question number 37(b) . Answer any three questions : 37. (b) (i) Write the name of the leading state in rice production. (ii) Write the name of the place where coal mines are located in Tamil Nadu. (iii) Write the name of the place where the major sea port is located in Karnataka. (iv) Write the name of the oil field located in Maharashtra.

    How the model answer begins

    1. (a) A. Calcutta (Kolkata): this is the place where the session of the Indian National Congress was held in December 1920. On the map of India, write "Calcutta (Kolkata)" on the line near A, in West Bengal. B. Champaran…

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12. Q12Map5 marksAsked: 2025

    (a) Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India. Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them : A. The place where the session of Indian National Congress took place in 1927. 1 B. The place where Mahatma Gandhi led the movement of cotton mill workers. 1 Note : The following questions are for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Question No. 37(a). (a) (i) Name the place where the session of Indian National Congress took place in 1927. 1 (ii) Name the place where Mahatma Gandhi led the movement of cotton mill workers. 1 (b) On the same outline map of India locate and label any three of the following with suitable symbols : (i) An International Airport located in Punjab. 1 (ii) A major Sea port located in Gujarat. 1 (iii) A major oil field of India located in Arabian Sea. 1 (iv) A Nuclear Power Plant located in Uttar Pradesh. 1 Note : The following questions are for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Question No. 37(b). Answer any three. (b) (i) Name the place where an International Airport is located in Punjab. 1 (ii) Name the place where a major Sea port is located in Gujarat. 1 (iii) Name the oil field of India located in Arabian Sea. 1 (iv) Name the place in Uttar Pradesh where a Nuclear Power Plant is located. 1

    How the model answer begins

    1. A is Madras (Chennai) in Tamil Nadu, where the Indian National Congress held its session in 1927.

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13. Q13Long answer5 marksAsked: 2024

    (a) "The Gandhian idea of Satyagraha, emphasized the power of truth and struggle against injustice." Explain the statement with examples. OR (b) How did people belonging to different communities, regions and language groups develop a sense of collective belonging in the late – nineteenth century India ? Explain with examples.

14. Q14Long answer5 marksAsked: 2024

    30. (a) "There were variety of cultural processes through which Indian Nationalism captured people's imagination." Explain the statement with examples. OR (b) How were the various social groups involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement ? Explain with examples.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Indian nationalism captured people's imagination through new symbols and icons, new songs and ideas that gave people a sense of belonging. With the growth of nationalism, the identity of India came to be associated with…

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15. Q15Map5 marksAsked: 2024

    (a) Two places 'A' and 'B' have been marked on the given political outline map of India (on page 27). Identify them with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them : A. The place where Gandhiji started Satyagraha for indigo peasants. (1) B. The place where Gandhiji broke the Salt Law. (1) (b) On the same political outline map of India, locate and label any three of the following with suitable symbols : (3x1=3) (i) Naharkatiya – Oil field (ii) Talcher – Major Coal Mines (iii) Narora – Atomic Power Plant (iv) Tuticorin – Major Sea Port Note : The following questions are for the Visually Impaired Candidates only, in lieu of Q. No. 37. Attempt any five questions. (5x1=5) (37.1) Name the place where Gandhiji started 'Satyagraha' for indigo peasants. (37.2) Name the place where Gandhiji broke the Salt Law. (37.3) In which state is Naharkatia oil field located ? (37.4) Name the state where Talcher major coal mines are located. (37.5) Name the state where Narora Nuclear Power Plant is located. (37.6) In which state is Tuticorin sea port located ?

    How the model answer begins

    1. A is Champaran in Bihar, where Gandhiji started the satyagraha for indigo peasants.

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16. Q16Long answer5 marksAsked: 2023

    (a) Analyse the implications of First World War on the economic and Political situation of India. OR (b) Analyse the role of folklore and symbols in the revival of nationalism in India during late 19th century.

17. Q17Long answer5 marksAsked: 2023

    (a) Analyse the role of the business classes in Civil Disobedience Movement. OR (b) Analyse the role of women in Civil Disobedience Movement.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Indian merchants and industrialists wanted to expand their business, so they reacted against colonial policies that restricted business activities and joined the Civil Disobedience Movement.

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18. Q18Long answer5 marksAsked: 2023

    (a) Why did Gandhiji decide to launch a nationwide Satyagraha against the proposed Rowlatt Act, 1919. Explain. OR (b) Why did the Non-Cooperation Movement spread to the countryside from the cities ? Explain.

    How the model answer begins

    1. Gandhiji opposed the Rowlatt Act (1919) first because of the unfair way it was made. The Act had been hurriedly passed through the Imperial Legislative Council despite the united opposition of the Indian members.

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19. Q19Long answer5 marksAsked: 2023

    (a) “Plantation workers had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of Swaraj.” Support the statement. OR (b) “Mahatma Gandhi found salt as a powerful symbol that could unite the nation.” Support the statement.

    How the model answer begins

    1. (a) Plantation workers in Assam had their own idea of freedom. For them, freedom meant the right to move freely in and out of the confined space in which they were enclosed, which was the tea gardens where they lived…

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20. Q20Long answer5 marksAsked: 2023

    (A) ''Gandhiji felt the Khilafat issue as an opportunity to bring Hindus and Muslims under the umbrella of a unified national movement.'' Explain the statement. OR (B) Explain the participation of women in the 'Civil Disobedience Movement'.

    How the model answer begins

    1. (A) After Ottoman Turkey's defeat in the First World War, rumours of a harsh treaty on the Khalifa, the spiritual head of the Islamic world, angered Muslims, and a Khilafat Committee was formed in Bombay in March 1919.…

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31 more questions of this chapter, each with its model answer, in the AskMedha app.

Objective questions with the board’s key (10)

1. 1. CBSE 2026

   Between which two leaders was the Poona Pact signed in 1932 ?

   • (A) Bhimrao Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi ✓
   • (B) Bhimrao Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru
   • (C) Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin
   • (D) Mahatma Gandhi and M.A. Jinnah

   Answer: (A)

2. 2. CBSE 2026

   Match Column I with Column II and choose the correct option : Column I (Role) a. The song Vande Mataram b. Picture of Bharat Mata with spiritual qualities c. Bardoli Satyagraha d. Poona Pact in 1932 Column II (Scholar) i. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel ii. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar iii. Abanindranath Tagore iv. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

   • (A) a-iv, b-iii, c-ii, d-i
   • (B) a-iv, b-iii, c-i, d-ii ✓
   • (C) a-iii, b-iv, c-ii, d-i
   • (D) a-iii, b-ii, c-iv, d-i

   Answer: (B)

3. 3. CBSE 2026

   Arrange the following events in chronological order and choose the correct option : I. Salt Satyagraha II. Kheda Satyagraha III. Rowlatt Satyagraha IV. Ahmedabad Mill Workers Satyagraha

   • (A) II, I, III, IV
   • (B) II, IV, III, I ✓
   • (C) III, II, IV, I
   • (D) II, I, IV, III

   Answer: (B)

4. 4. CBSE 2026

   Arrange the following in chronological order and choose the correct option : I. Gandhi-Irwin Pact II. Rowlatt Act III. Poona Pact IV. Khilafat Movement

   • (A) I, III, IV and II
   • (B) II, IV, III and I
   • (C) II, IV, I and III ✓
   • (D) I, III, II and IV

   Answer: (C)

5. 5. CBSE 2026

   Arrange the following events in chronological order and select the correct option : I. Second Round Table Conference II. Formation of Depressed Classes Association III. Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress IV. Formation of Awadh Kisan Sabha Options : (A) I, II, IV, III (B) I, II, III, IV (C) IV, III, II, I (D) IV, III, I, II

   • (A) I, II, IV, III
   • (B) I, II, III, IV
   • (C) IV, III, II, I ✓
   • (D) IV, III, I, II

   Answer: (C)

6. 6. CBSE 2025

   Which among the following newspapers is related to Bal Gangadhar Tilak ?

   • (A) Hindustan
   • (B) Bangla Patrika
   • (C) Veer Bhoomi
   • (D) Kesari ✓

   Answer: (D)

7. 7. CBSE 2025

   Arrange the following historical events in chronological order and choose the correct option : I. Bardoli Satyagraha II. Rowlatt Satyagraha III. Champaran Satyagraha IV. Kheda Satyagraha

   • (A) I, II, III, IV
   • (B) III, II, I, IV
   • (C) II, I, IV, III
   • (D) III, IV, II, I ✓

   Answer: (D)

8. 8. CBSE 2025

   Look at the given picture and identify the name of the painter of this painting from the following options : Note: The following question is for Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of question number 3. Who among the following formed the 'Depressed Classes Association' in 1930? (a) B.L. Yadav (b) C.R. Das (c) M.R. Jayakar (d) B.R. Ambedkar

   • (A) Rabindranath Tagore
   • (B) Abanindranath Tagore ✓
   • (C) Debendranath Tagore
   • (D) Satyendranath Tagore

   Answer: (B)

9. 9. CBSE 2025

   Note: The following question is for the Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Q. No. 18. Who amongst the following organised the 'Depressed Class Association' in 1930?

   • (A) B.L. Yadav
   • (B) C.R. Das
   • (C) M.R. Jayeker
   • (D) B.R. Ambedkar ✓

   Answer: (D)

10. 10. CBSE 2025

    Look at the given picture and identify the name of the painter of this painting from the following options : Note : The following question is for the Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Q. No. 8. Who amongst the following organised the 'Depressed Class Association' in 1930 ?

    • (A) Rabindranath Tagore / B.L. Yadav
    • (B) Abanindranath Tagore / C.R. Das ✓
    • (C) Debindranath Tagore / M.R. Jayeker
    • (D) Satyendranath Tagore / B.R. Ambedkar

    Answer: (B)

Questions parents and students ask

How many marks does "Nationalism in India" carry in CBSE Class 10 Social Science?

In the CBSE papers of 2023–2026, this chapter carried about 10 marks and about 3 questions a year; by marks it ranks 1 in Social Science.

Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "Nationalism in India"?

The 20 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 51 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the AskMedha app.

Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?

Yes. CBSE publishes its marking schemes; every model answer here is written point by point to the marks the board’s own scheme gives, and checked by a second, independent model.