✅ Answer: C) Greased cartridgesThe immediate cause of the 1857 Revolt was the introduction of greased cartridges for the new Enfield rifle. Sepoys had to bite the cartridge before loading — the grease was rumoured to contain cow fat (offensive to Hindus) and pig fat (offensive to Muslims). This united Hindu and Muslim sepoys against the British.

✅ Answer: C) A.O. HumeThe Indian National Congress was founded by A.O. Hume (Allan Octavian Hume), a retired British civil servant, in 1885. The first session was held in Bombay in December 1885 with W.C. Bonnerjee as the first president. Hume wanted INC to be a “safety valve” for Indian discontent. Dadabhai Naoroji was the first Indian president (1886).

✅ Answer: B) Lord CurzonThe Partition of Bengal was ordered by Lord Curzon on October 16, 1905. Bengal was divided into East Bengal (Muslim majority, capital Dhaka) and West Bengal (Hindu majority, capital Calcutta). The official reason was administrative convenience, but the real motive was to divide Hindus and Muslims (divide and rule). It was annulled in 1911 by Lord Hardinge.

✅ Answer: A) Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal“Lal-Bal-Pal” refers to Lala Lajpat Rai (Punjab), Bal Gangadhar Tilak (Maharashtra), and Bipin Chandra Pal (Bengal) — the three extremist leaders of the Indian National Movement. They advocated Swaraj (self-rule), Swadeshi (use of Indian goods), Boycott (of British goods), and National Education — the “four-fold programme.”

✅ Answer: B) Moderates and ExtremistsThe Surat Split (1907) divided the INC into Moderates (led by Gokhale) and Extremists (led by Tilak). The split occurred over the election of the Congress president and the methods of agitation. Moderates wanted constitutional methods; Extremists wanted aggressive agitation. The split weakened the nationalist movement until the Lucknow Pact (1916) reunited them.

✅ Answer: C) June 1858Rani Lakshmibai died fighting the British at Gwalior in June 1858. She is celebrated as a symbol of Indian resistance against British rule. British General Hugh Rose described her as “the most dangerous of all Indian leaders.” She is called “Mardani” (brave woman). Her statue is in Gwalior and her image is on Indian currency.

✅ Answer: B) Congress-Muslim League unityThe Lucknow Pact (1916) brought the Indian National Congress and Muslim League together. Tilak (Congress) and Jinnah (Muslim League) were key architects. Congress agreed to separate electorates for Muslims. This was a significant moment of Hindu-Muslim unity. The pact also demanded self-government for India within the British Empire.

✅ Answer: C) “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s famous slogan was “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.” He is called “Lokmanya” (respected by the people). He started the Ganesh Chaturthi festival (1893) and Shivaji festival (1895) to mobilise people. He published Kesari (Marathi) and Mahratta (English) newspapers. He was imprisoned twice by the British.

✅ Answer: C) 1911The Partition of Bengal was annulled in 1911 by Lord Hardinge during the Delhi Durbar (coronation of King George V). The massive protests, Swadeshi movement, and boycott of British goods forced the British to reverse the partition. However, Bengal was reorganised — Bihar and Orissa were separated from Bengal, and the capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi.

✅ Answer: B) Tilak and Annie Besant — two separate leaguesTwo Home Rule Leagues were founded in 1916: Tilak’s Home Rule League (Maharashtra, April 1916) and Annie Besant’s Home Rule League (Madras, September 1916). Both demanded self-government (Home Rule) within the British Empire — similar to Ireland’s demand. Annie Besant was arrested in 1917, which increased support for the movement.