Modern History · Chapter 51 of 52

Magazines, Books and Their Authors: BPSC Prelims PYQs

44 previous-year questions on Magazines, Books and Their Authors, asked 1992–2025. Each one opens to its answer and explanation.

1. 1. 43rd BPSC Prelims 1999

   Choose the correct statement-

   1. AAryabhattiya is a mathematical text.
   2. BThe book named Lilavati was written by Brahmagupta.
   3. CPanchasiddhantika is a text of the seventh century.
   4. DZero has not been considered a number in Ganita Sara-Sangrah.
   Answer and explanation →

2. 2. 71st BPSC Prelims 2025

   Which of the following is NOT correctly matched? Person Associated with

   1. ADayanand Saraswati — Satyarth Prakash
   2. BJames Augustus Hicky — Calcutta Chronicle
   3. CRamaswami Naicker — Justice Party
   4. DJyotirao Phule — Satyashodhak Samaj
   Answer and explanation →

3. 3. 53rd–55th BPSC Prelims 2011 · BPSC CDPO Prelims 2005

   Which one of the following books was written by Tilak?

   1. AIndia in Transition
   2. BGita Rahasya
   3. CGokhale-My Political Guru
   4. DDiscovery of India
   Answer and explanation →

4. 4. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2018

   What was the name of the first book of Raja Ram Mohan Roy published in 1815?

   1. AVedanta Grantha
   2. BTuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin
   3. CBharathi Vilasa
   4. DShakuntalam
   5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

5. 5. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2018

   Who had translated the Bengali play, Nil Darpan into English?

   1. ADinabandhu Mitra
   2. BJames Long
   3. CAntonio Gramsci
   4. DMichael Madhusudan Dutt
   5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

6. 6. 47th BPSC Prelims 2005

   Who founded the ‘Amrita Bazar Patrika’?

   1. AHarish Chandra Mukherjee
   2. BS.N. Banerjee
   3. CGirish Chandra Ghosh
   4. DShishir Kumar Ghosh
   Answer and explanation →

7. 7. BPSC TRE-3 (Jul 2024)

   What was the purpose of Dadabhai Naoroji's book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India', published in 1901?

   1. ATo highlight the economic exploitation of India by British colonialism.
   2. BTo advocate for the abolition of the caste system.
   3. CTo promote the idea of separate electorates for Muslims.
   4. DMore than one of the above
   5. ENone of the above
   Answer and explanation →

8. 8. 70th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2024

   In 1901 who has published the book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'?

   1. ADadabhai Naoroji
   2. BS. N. Banerjee
   3. CR. C. Dutt
   4. DPherozeshah Mehta
   Answer and explanation →

9. 9. 64th BPSC Prelims 2018

   Who wrote the book, Poverty and Un-British Rule in India?

   1. AR.C. Dutt
   2. BDadabhai Naoroji
   3. CBipin Chandra Pal
   4. DLajpat Rai
   5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
   Answer and explanation →

10. 10. BPSC TRE-3 (Jul 2024)

    Which newspaper propagated strong nationalist views during India’s freedom struggle?

    1. APioneer
    2. BAmrita Bazar Patrika
    3. CStatesman
    4. DMore than one of the above
    5. ENone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

11. 11. 71st BPSC Prelims 2025

    The 'Young India', a Nationalist paper, was started by

    1. AMahatma Gandhi
    2. BAnnie Besant
    3. CBal Gangadhar Tilak
    4. DMaulana Abul Kalam Azad
    Answer and explanation →

12. 12. 60th–62nd BPSC Prelims 2016

    Which journal was not associated with revolutionary activities?

    1. ASandhya
    2. BYugantar
    3. CGhadar
    4. DYoung India
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

13. 13. 67th BPSC Prelims 2022

    Who started the journal 'Bahishkrit Bharat'?

    1. AJyotiba Phule
    2. BKarsandas Mulji
    3. CBal Gangadhar Tilak
    4. DBabasaheb Ambedkar
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

14. 14. 56th–59th BPSC Prelims 2014

    ‘New Lamps for Old’ was a series of articles (1893-94) that criticized the Congress for being out of touch with the ‘proletariat.’ Who was the author of these articles?

    1. AAurobindo Ghose
    2. BA. O. Hume
    3. CG.K. Gokhale
    4. DB.G. Tilak
    Answer and explanation →

15. 15. 70th BPSC Prelims 2024

    Who wrote "New Lamps For The Old"?

    1. ASurendranath
    2. BAurobindo Ghosh
    3. CMotilal Ghosh
    4. DMore than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

16. 16. 65th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2020

    Who was the editor of ‘Hindu Patriot’?

    1. AHarishchandra Mukherjee
    2. BDinabandhu Mitra
    3. CBabul Mani
    4. DNabinchandra Sen
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

17. 17. 65th BPSC Prelims 2019

    Who wrote the book 'India for Indians'?

    1. AC. R. Das
    2. BM.G. Ranade
    3. CV.D. Savarkar
    4. DS.N. Banerjee
    5. ENone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

18. 18. 67th BPSC Prelims 2022

    Who has written the book 'Unhappy India'?

    1. ABal Gangadhar Tilak
    2. BAnnie Besant
    3. CLala Lajpat Rai
    4. DA.O. Hume
    5. ENone of the above/ More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

19. 19. 68th BPSC Prelims 2023

    Which one of the following was a journal brought out by Abul Kalam Azad?

    1. AZamindar
    2. BThe Comrade
    3. CAl-Hilal
    4. DMore than one of the above
    5. ENone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

20. 20. 38th BPSC Prelims 1992

    The author of ‘India Wins Freedom’ is—

    1. AJawaharlal Nehru
    2. BAbul Kalam Azad
    3. CSarojini Naidu
    4. DNayantara Sahgal
    Answer and explanation →

21. 21. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2022

    Who wrote the book, 'India Divided'?

    1. ARajendra Prasad
    2. BMaulana Abul Kalam Azad
    3. CPenderel Moon
    4. DAmba Prasad
    5. ENone of the above / More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

22. 22. BPSC TRE-2 (Dec 2023)

    Who wrote the book 'India Divided'?

    1. AB.G. Tilak
    2. BRajendra Prasad
    3. CPenderel Moon
    4. DMore than one of the above
    5. ENone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

23. 23. BPSC TRE-3 (Jul 2024)

    Who founded the newspaper ‘‘The Hindu’’ in 1878, which became influential in shaping public opinion during the Indian national movement?

    1. AViraraghavachariar
    2. BG. Subramania Iyer
    3. CMahatma Gandhi
    4. DMore than one of the above
    5. ENone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

24. 24. 41st BPSC Prelims 1996

    Match the names mentioned in column I with the names mentioned in column II and select the right Column I Column II (Books) (Authors)

    • A. History of the Freedom Movement in India 1. Tara Chand
    • B. History of the Freedom Movement in Bihar 2. W.W. Hunter
    • C. Anand Math 3. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
    • D. Precepts of Jesus 4. Father Bulcke
    • E. Indian Musalmans 5. K.K. Dutta
    • 6. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

    answer using the codes given below:

    1. A1 4 6 3 2
    2. B2 4 3 2 1
    3. C1 5 6 3 2
    4. DNone of these
    Answer and explanation →

25. 25. 39th BPSC Prelims 1994

    Who was the author of ‘Indian Unrest’?

    1. ADadabhai Naoroji
    2. BAnnie Besant
    3. CLala Lajpat Rai
    4. DValentine Chirol
    Answer and explanation →

26. 26. 43rd BPSC Prelims 1999

    The novel ‘Durgesh Nandini’ is written by:

    1. ARabindranath Tagore
    2. BTaraknath Gangopadhyaya
    3. CSwarna Kumari
    4. DBankim Chandra Chatterjee
    Answer and explanation →

27. 27. 46th BPSC Prelims 2004

    Who wrote ‘Jhanda Geet’?

    1. ARabindranath Tagore
    2. BBankim Chandra Chatterjee
    3. CMaithili Sharan Gupta
    4. DShyamlal Parshad
    Answer and explanation →

28. 28. 38th BPSC Prelims 1992

    The composer of the song ‘Vande Mataram’ was—

    1. ABankim Chandra Chatterjee
    2. BSarojini Naidu
    3. CRabindranath Tagore
    4. DJaishankar Prasad
    Answer and explanation →

29. 29. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2005

    'Vande Mataram' was a part of which novel by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee that inspired millions of Indians to patriotism?

    1. ASwaraj
    2. BShakuntala
    3. CAnand Math
    4. DGita Rahasya
    Answer and explanation →

30. 30. 68th BPSC Prelims 2023

    Who was the author of Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar, Some Reminiscences?

    1. ADr. Rajendra Prasad
    2. BJ.P. Narayan
    3. CKarpuri Thakur
    4. DMore than one of the above
    5. ENone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

31. 31. 65th BPSC Prelims 2019

    Who is the author of the book 'A Gallery of Rascals'?

    1. AArundhati Roy
    2. BRuskin Bond
    3. CVikram Seth
    4. DToni Morrison
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

32. 32. 65th BPSC Prelims 2019

    Who wrote the book, Desher Katha?

    1. ASakharam Ganesh Deuskar
    2. BRajendra Prasad
    3. CNivaran Chandra
    4. DMurali Mohan Prasad
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

33. 33. 70th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2024

    Who is the author of the famous book 'Gulamgiri'?

    1. AJyotiba Phule
    2. BRamaswami Naicker Periyar
    3. CB. R. Ambedkar
    4. DMore than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

34. 34. 70th BPSC Prelims Re-exam 2024

    Match the List-I of authors with List-II of the books on

    List-I	List-II
    (A) V. D. Savarkar	(i) The First War of Independence
    (B) S. N. Sen	(ii) The Peasant and the Raj
    (C) Eric Stokes	(iii) Civil Rebellion in the Indian Mutinies
    (D) S.B. Chaudhuri	(iv) Eighteen Fifty-Seven

    1857 and choose answers from the code given below:

    1. Aiv ii i ii
    2. Bii iii i iv
    3. Ci iv ii iii
    4. DNone of the above
    Answer and explanation →

35. 35. 60th–62nd BPSC Prelims 2016

    The author of ‘Udwant Prakash’ is—

    1. AMauli Kavi
    2. BBodhraj
    3. CParmal
    4. DVidyapati
    5. ENone of the above / More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

36. 36. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2018

    Who is the author of the famous book, Indira: India's Most Powerful Prime Minister?

    1. ARajendra Saxena
    2. BNandan Nilekani
    3. CA.J. Finn
    4. DSagarika Ghose
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

37. 37. BPSC CDPO Prelims 2018

    Conflicts of Interest: My Journey Through India's Green Movement is written by whom?

    1. ASanjay Manjrekar
    2. BSunita Narain
    3. CRajiv Mehrishi
    4. DRajal Gupta
    5. ENone of the above/More than one of the above
    Answer and explanation →

38. 38. 48th–52nd BPSC Prelims 2008

    Who is the author of the book 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'?

    1. AR.K. Narayan
    2. BKhushwant Singh
    3. CGeorge Orwell
    4. DNone
    Answer and explanation →

39. 39. 38th BPSC Prelims 1992

    ‘The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian’ has been written by—

    1. ANirad C. Chaudhuri
    2. BKhushwant Singh
    3. CKamala Das
    4. DBalwant Gargi
    Answer and explanation →

40. 40. 45th BPSC Prelims 2001

    Who is Anita Roddick the author of?

    1. AThe Untold Story
    2. BBusiness as usual
    3. CBusiness as Unusual
    4. DTears and Smiles
    Answer and explanation →

41. 41. 38th BPSC Prelims 1992

    The author of the book 'Life Divine' is -

    1. AS. Radhakrishnan
    2. BMulk Raj Anand
    3. CAurobindo Ghosh
    4. DSwami Vivekananda
    Answer and explanation →

42. 42. 41st BPSC Prelims 1996

    The author of 'The Moor's Last Sigh' is-

    1. APeg Tyre
    2. BSalman Rushdie
    3. CP. G. Wodehouse
    4. DMary Higgins Clark
    Answer and explanation →

43. 43. 40th BPSC Prelims 1995

    Which of the following statements regarding the composition titled 'Triumph of the Spirit' is true?

    1. AIt is composed by Romi Dev.
    2. BIt contains details of Kapil Dev's sporting life.
    3. CIt was formally released by the famous painter M. F. Husain.
    4. DAll of the above.
    Answer and explanation →

44. 44. BPSC Assistant 2019

    Match List-I with List-II:

    List-I (Author)	List-II (Book)
    (A) Charles Dickens	(1) A Christmas Carol
    (B) Salman Rushdie	(2) Midnight's Children
    (C) Shashi Tharoor	(3) The Company of Women
    (D) Khushwant Singh	(4) The Great Indian Novel

    Choose the correct answer using the code given below.

    1. AA-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
    2. BA-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
    3. CA-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
    4. DA-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
    Answer and explanation →