CAPF AC 2022 Q102: Modern History – Modern India

CAPF AC 2022, Paper I (General Ability and Intelligence) · Modern History

1. (a) 1878 : Second Anglo-Afghan War
2. (b) 1885 : Ilbert Bill Controversy
3. (c) 1785 : Fox’s India Bill
4. (d) 1898 : Lord Curzon becomes the Viceroy

Answer: (a) 1878 : Second Anglo-Afghan War

Explanation

Matching years with events

How to think: each wrong option is off by a year or two.

Check the exact year of each event.

Notes on each: the Second Afghan War began under Lytton; the Treaty of Gandamak was signed in 1879.

The Ilbert Bill (under Ripon) would have let Indian judges try Europeans.

Fox's India Bill failed in the House of Lords; Pitt's India Act followed in 1784.

Curzon was Viceroy from 1899 to 1905.

Answer: (a) 1878 : Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Why each option is right or wrong

• (a) CORRECT. The Second Anglo-Afghan War began in 1878.
• (b) Incorrect. The Ilbert Bill controversy was in 1883; 1885 is the year the Congress was founded.
• (c) Incorrect. Fox's India Bill was of 1783, not 1785.
• (d) Incorrect. Curzon became Viceroy in January 1899.

Key point

Afghan Wars: first 1839-42, second 1878-80, third 1919. Fox's India Bill 1783 → Pitt's India Act 1784. Ilbert Bill 1883 (Ripon). Curzon 1899-1905: partition of Bengal 1905.

Remember

1878: Lytton, Second Afghan War, Vernacular Press Act.

Common mistakes

• Confusing 1883 (Ilbert Bill) with 1885 (founding of the Congress).
• Mixing up Fox's India Bill (1783) with Pitt's India Act (1784).
• Placing Curzon's arrival a year early, in 1898.

Exam tip

Educated guess: 1878 is a year you already know from Lytton: the Vernacular Press Act, the Arms Act and the Afghan war all belong to it.

Sources

• Bipan Chandra, History of Modern India — Relations with Neighbouring Countries; Administrative Changes after 1858
• NCERT Class VIII History — Our Pasts III (From Trade to Territory)

Practise CAPF AC PYQsTake a timed mock