ICSE Class 10 · Chapter 9

Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism ICSE Class 10: Notes and Answers

Updated 14 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Indian nationalism grew in the late nineteenth century because of economic exploitation, repressive colonial policies such as Lord Lytton's, socio-religious reform movements and the Press. ICSE Class 10 tests these factors, two contributions each of four reformers, and the founding of the Indian National Congress in 1885: its founder, first two sessions, Presidents and immediate objectives.

What Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism is about

After 1858 India was ruled directly by the British Crown. Over the next three decades, a feeling grew among Indians that they were one people with common interests opposed to those of their foreign rulers. This feeling, nationalism, led to the founding of the Indian National Congress in 1885.

The syllabus names the factors precisely: economic exploitation; repressive colonial policies (Lord Lytton's measures and the Ilbert Bill controversy are the standard examples); socio-religious reform movements, with any two contributions of Raja Rammohan Roy, Jyotiba Phule, Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda; and the role of the Press. It then asks for the year of formation and founder of the Congress, its immediate objectives, and the first two sessions with their Presidents.

In recent board papers this chapter has produced MCQs on the Ilbert Bill, the Grand Delhi Durbar and the reformers (often with a picture), and Part II questions on Lytton's repressive policies and the role of the Press. CISCE examiners have flagged students who list the Ilbert Bill among Lytton's policies (it came under Lord Ripon) and who confuse Jyotiba Phule with Raja Rammohan Roy.

Weightage: CISCE publishes no chapter weightage. History is tested in Part I (compulsory 1- and 2-mark items) and in Part II Section B, where you answer three of five 10-mark History questions, each split 3 + 3 + 4.Source: CISCE ICSE 2027 Specimen Question Paper 501, History & Civics (H.C.G. Paper 1)

Key concepts

Economic exploitation

British economic policies made educated Indians realise that colonial rule was impoverishing the country.
1. Drain of wealth: a large share of India's wealth went to Britain every year as salaries and pensions of British officials, interest on loans, profits of British companies and the cost of the India Office. Dadabhai Naoroji explained this in his book 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'.
2. Ruin of handicrafts: free entry of machine-made British goods destroyed Indian cottage industries; artisans were pushed into agriculture.
3. Exploitation of peasants: heavy land revenue, debt to moneylenders, and repeated famines in which millions died.
4. Discouragement of Indian industry: tariff policies favoured British manufacturers; for example, import duties on British cotton cloth were removed.
5. Indians were kept out of the higher, well-paid posts.
All classes of Indians were affected, so they began to see British rule as the common cause of their poverty.

Worked example

(3 marks) How did economic exploitation lead to the growth of nationalism? Give three points.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The drain of wealth to Britain impoverished India, as shown by Dadabhai Naoroji - 1 mark.
British machine-made goods ruined Indian handicrafts and unemployed artisans - 1 mark.
Peasants suffered from heavy land revenue and famines, so all classes saw British rule as the cause of their poverty and began to unite - 1 mark.

Answer: (1) The drain of India's wealth to Britain impoverished the country. (2) Free import of British goods ruined Indian handicrafts. (3) Heavy land revenue and famines crushed peasants. Since every class suffered, Indians came to see British rule as their common enemy, which strengthened nationalism.

Repressive policies of Lord Lytton (Viceroy, 1876-1880)

1. Grand Delhi Durbar (1877): a lavish ceremony to proclaim Queen Victoria Empress of India (Kaiser-i-Hind), held while a terrible famine was killing people in south and west India. Indians saw it as callous waste.
2. Vernacular Press Act (1878): placed restrictions on newspapers in Indian languages, allowing the government to confiscate their presses if they published 'seditious' matter; English newspapers were exempt, so it was discriminatory. It was called the 'Gagging Act'.
3. Arms Act (1878): made it a criminal offence for Indians to carry arms without a licence; Europeans and Anglo-Indians were exempt.
4. Reduction of the maximum age for the Indian Civil Service examination from 21 to 19, which made it even harder for Indians, who had to travel to London to sit it.
5. Removal of import duties on British cotton goods, which helped Lancashire mills and hurt Indian industry.
These measures angered Indians and showed them that the government would put British interests first.

Worked example

(3 marks) The repressive policies of Lord Lytton became a catalyst for the growth of nationalism. Mention any three of his repressive policies.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The Vernacular Press Act, 1878, which restricted Indian-language newspapers but not English ones - 1 mark.
The Arms Act, 1878, which barred Indians from carrying arms without a licence while exempting Europeans - 1 mark.
Reduction of the maximum age for the ICS examination from 21 to 19 (or the Grand Delhi Durbar held during a famine) - 1 mark.

Answer: (1) The Vernacular Press Act gagged Indian-language newspapers. (2) The Arms Act stopped Indians, but not Europeans, from carrying arms without a licence. (3) Lowering the ICS age limit to 19 shut Indians out of the civil service; the costly Delhi Durbar during a famine added to the anger.

The Ilbert Bill controversy (1883)

Under Lord Ripon (Viceroy after Lytton), the Law Member Sir Courtenay Ilbert introduced a bill to allow Indian judges and magistrates to try Europeans in criminal cases, removing a racial distinction in the courts.

Europeans in India organised a fierce agitation against the bill, and the government gave way: the amended version allowed a European accused to demand a jury of which at least half were Europeans.

The controversy taught Indians two lessons: that the British would not accept Indians as equals, and that organised agitation could force the government to change its policy. It pushed educated Indians towards forming an all-India organisation.

Note: the Ilbert Bill was a reform attempted under Ripon, not a repressive policy of Lytton.

Worked example

(2 marks) What was the Ilbert Bill? Why did it help the growth of nationalism?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The Ilbert Bill (1883) sought to let Indian judges try Europeans in criminal cases, removing racial discrimination in the courts - 1 mark.
European protests forced it to be diluted; Indians saw that they were not treated as equals and learned the value of organised agitation - 1 mark.

Answer: The Ilbert Bill of 1883 proposed that Indian judges could try Europeans. Organised European opposition forced its dilution, which showed Indians the racial prejudice of their rulers and taught them the power of organised protest.

Raja Rammohan Roy and Jyotiba Phule

Raja Rammohan Roy (1772-1833), often called the father of the Indian Renaissance:

Founded the Brahmo Samaj (1828), which opposed idol worship and meaningless rituals and preached belief in one God.
Led the campaign against sati; it was banned by Lord William Bentinck in 1829.
Supported Western (English) education and science, women's rights such as property rights, and freedom of the press; he published newspapers in Bengali and Persian.

Jyotiba Phule (1827-1890):

With his wife Savitribai Phule, opened a school for girls in Pune in 1848, and schools for children of the lower castes.
Founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) to fight caste discrimination and secure equal rights for the lower castes.
Wrote 'Gulamgiri' (Slavery), attacking the caste system; supported widow remarriage and opened a home for widows and their children.

Worked example

(2 marks) Mention any two contributions of Jyotiba Phule.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

He opened a school for girls in Pune (1848) with Savitribai Phule, and schools for lower-caste children - 1 mark.
He founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (1873) to oppose caste discrimination and wrote 'Gulamgiri' - 1 mark.

Answer: Jyotiba Phule started schools for girls and for lower-caste children in Pune, and founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 to fight caste oppression; he also wrote 'Gulamgiri'.

Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda

Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1824-1883):

Founded the Arya Samaj in 1875 in Bombay, with the call 'Go back to the Vedas'.
Opposed idol worship, rigid caste rules, untouchability and child marriage; supported widow remarriage and education of women.
Wrote 'Satyarth Prakash'; the Arya Samaj started the Shuddhi movement to re-admit converts, and his followers set up Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) schools and colleges.
Taught self-respect and pride in India's past, which encouraged a spirit of self-reliance.

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902):

Disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahansa; founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 for social service, education and relief work.
His speech at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago (1893) won worldwide respect for Indian culture and gave Indians self-confidence.
Condemned caste discrimination and untouchability and taught that service to the poor is service to God.
Urged the youth to be fearless and strong ('Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached').

Worked example

(2 marks) State any two contributions of Swami Vivekananda.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

He founded the Ramakrishna Mission (1897), devoted to social service, education and relief - 1 mark.
His speech at the Chicago Parliament of Religions (1893) earned respect for Indian culture and gave Indians self-confidence - 1 mark.

Answer: Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 for social service, and his speech at the Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1893 raised the prestige of Indian culture and filled Indians with self-confidence. He also condemned caste discrimination.

Role of the Press

Newspapers such as The Hindu, Amrita Bazar Patrika, The Bengalee, Kesari and Maratha, and the Indian Mirror helped nationalism grow:
1. They criticised the government's unjust policies and exposed economic exploitation and racial discrimination.
2. They spread ideas of liberty, democracy, self-government and patriotism.
3. They connected Indians in different regions, so that people in one province knew of events and grievances in another; this created a sense of unity.
4. They carried news of freedom movements in other countries, which inspired Indians.
5. They built public opinion and helped organise political campaigns, publicising the work of nationalist leaders and organisations.
6. They could be read aloud to people who could not read, spreading ideas to villages.

Worked example

(3 marks) Mention any three ways in which the Press promoted nationalism.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Criticised and exposed the unjust policies of the British government - 1 mark.
Spread ideas of liberty, democracy and self-government - 1 mark.
Linked Indians of different regions by sharing news and grievances, creating unity and public opinion - 1 mark.

Answer: The Press (1) exposed and criticised unjust British policies, (2) spread ideas of freedom, democracy and self-rule, and (3) brought Indians of different regions together by sharing news, building a national public opinion.

Foundation and objectives of the Indian National Congress

Founded in 1885 by Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, with the support of Indian leaders.

First session: Bombay, December 1885, presided over by Womesh Chandra (W. C.) Bonnerjee; 72 delegates attended.
Second session: Calcutta, 1886, presided over by Dadabhai Naoroji.

Immediate objectives:
1. To promote friendly relations among nationalist workers from different parts of the country.
2. To develop and consolidate a feeling of national unity, irrespective of caste, religion or province.
3. To formulate popular demands and present them to the government through petitions and resolutions.
4. To train and organise public opinion in the country.

Worked example

(3 marks) Who founded the Indian National Congress and when? Name the Presidents of its first two sessions.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Founded in 1885 by A. O. Hume - 1 mark.
First session at Bombay (1885), President W. C. Bonnerjee - 1 mark.
Second session at Calcutta (1886), President Dadabhai Naoroji - 1 mark.

Answer: A. O. Hume founded the Indian National Congress in 1885. Its first session at Bombay in 1885 was presided over by W. C. Bonnerjee, and its second at Calcutta in 1886 by Dadabhai Naoroji.

Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Role of the Press

Suppose a regional news website reports that farmers in one district are being forced to sell crops below cost, and within a day people in other states are discussing it and organising support.

Which role played by nineteenth-century newspapers does this resemble? Give two parallels.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Newspapers exposed injustice by reporting grievances the government ignored.
They spread news from one region to another, building a shared sense of a common cause.
That shared knowledge helped organise public opinion and campaigns.

Answer: It resembles the Press's role in building nationalism: (1) exposing injustice and criticising unfair policies, and (2) linking people across regions so that a local grievance became a shared, national concern and public opinion was organised.

Memory hook: News that travels, unites.

Vernacular Press Act

Imagine a law that allows the government to seize the printing press of any newspaper written in an Indian language for criticising officials, while English newspapers saying the same things are left alone.

Which nineteenth-century law does this resemble, and why would it increase anger against the government?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The Vernacular Press Act of 1878, under Lord Lytton, restricted Indian-language newspapers.
English papers, read mainly by Europeans and the elite, were exempt, so it was discriminatory.
It silenced the papers read by ordinary Indians, who saw it as an attack on free expression and as racial discrimination.

Answer: It resembles Lord Lytton's Vernacular Press Act, 1878. Because it targeted only Indian-language papers, it was seen as discriminatory and as an attempt to gag Indian opinion, which increased resentment and nationalism.

Memory hook: Gag the language of the people, and the people speak louder.

Social reform and nationalism

Suppose a student group in your town runs evening classes for girls from poor families and campaigns against caste-based seating in a local temple.

Which reformer's work does this resemble most, and how did such work help nationalism?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Jyotiba Phule opened schools for girls and lower-caste children and fought caste discrimination through the Satyashodhak Samaj.
Such reform weakened divisions of caste and gender.
A less divided society found it easier to see itself as one nation.

Answer: It resembles Jyotiba Phule's work. By spreading education and attacking caste divisions, reformers helped Indians see each other as equals, which made national unity possible.

Memory hook: Reform the society, and the nation can unite.

Topics in this chapter

Growth of Nationalism: Reformers, the Press and the Indian National Congress

Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism: key facts

Lord Lytton: Viceroy 1876-1880: Delhi Durbar 1877; Vernacular Press Act 1878; Arms Act 1878; ICS age cut to 19; Repressive policies.
Ilbert Bill: 1883, under Lord Ripon; Indian judges to try Europeans; diluted after European protests.
Brahmo Samaj: Raja Rammohan Roy, 1828; Sati banned 1829.
Satyashodhak Samaj: Jyotiba Phule, 1873; Girls' school in Pune, 1848.
Arya Samaj: Swami Dayananda Saraswati, 1875; 'Go back to the Vedas'; Satyarth Prakash.
Ramakrishna Mission: Swami Vivekananda, 1897; Chicago speech 1893.
Indian National Congress: 1885, A. O. Hume; 1st: Bombay 1885, W. C. Bonnerjee; 2nd: Calcutta 1886, Dadabhai Naoroji.

How the board asks Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Question type	How it is asked	Method
Fill-in or identify the measure (Part I MCQ)	'The ___ aimed to introduce equality between British and Indian judges.' or 'Who organised the Grand Delhi Durbar?'	Ilbert Bill = equality in courts (Ripon); Gagging Act = Vernacular Press Act (Lytton); Durbar = Lytton.
Reformer from a picture or situation (Part I MCQ)	A picture of a girls' school, or a speech on sati; choose the reformer.	Sati = Rammohan Roy; girls' school in Pune = Jyotiba Phule; Vedas = Dayananda; Chicago and service = Vivekananda.
Policies or contributions (Part II, 3 marks)	Three repressive policies of Lytton; two contributions of a reformer.	Name the measure and add how it hurt Indians, in one line each.
Role of the Press / objectives of Congress (Part II, 3 or 4 marks)	Three ways the Press promoted nationalism; objectives of the Congress.	Use action verbs: exposed, spread, linked, organised.

Tricks to remember Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

Lytton's DVAIC
Durbar, Vernacular Press Act, Arms Act, ICS age, Cotton duties removed.
Use it when: Listing Lytton's measures.
Ripon is Right
Ripon tried to do right (Ilbert Bill); Lytton did wrong (repression).
Use it when: Avoiding the Ilbert Bill trap.
Reformers by one word
Roy = Sati; Phule = Schools; Dayananda = Vedas; Vivekananda = Chicago.
Use it when: Picture and situation MCQs.
Hume, Bombay, Bonnerjee; Calcutta, Naoroji
1885 B-B (Bombay, Bonnerjee); 1886 C-N (Calcutta, Naoroji).
Use it when: Congress sessions.

Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism: board-level solved questions

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Example 1: Ilbert Bill · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

The ________ aimed to introduce equality between British and Indian judges.
(a) Vernacular Press Act
(b) Gagging Act
(c) Indian Universities Act
(d) Ilbert Bill

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The Gagging Act is another name for the Vernacular Press Act; both restricted the press.
The Ilbert Bill proposed that Indian judges could try Europeans.

Answer: (d) Ilbert Bill.

Example 2: Reformer from a situation · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

A student is preparing a speech on the abolition of sati. Whose contribution must she mention?
(a) Jyotiba Phule
(b) Raja Rammohan Roy
(c) W. C. Bonnerjee
(d) Swami Vivekananda

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Rammohan Roy led the campaign against sati, which was banned in 1829.

Answer: (b) Raja Rammohan Roy.

Example 3: Assertion and reason: Lytton · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

Assertion (A): The Ilbert Bill was one of the repressive measures of Lord Lytton.
Reason (R): The Ilbert Bill sought to remove racial discrimination in criminal trials.
(a) Both A and R are true and R explains A
(b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A
(c) A is false but R is true
(d) A is true but R is false

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The Ilbert Bill came in 1883 under Lord Ripon and was a reform, not a repressive measure: A is false.
It sought to let Indian judges try Europeans, removing a racial distinction: R is true.

Answer: (c) A is false but R is true.

Example 4: Two contributions of Dayananda · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

Mention any two contributions of Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Founded the Arya Samaj (1875) with the call 'Go back to the Vedas'.
Opposed idol worship, caste rigidity and child marriage, and supported widow remarriage and women's education (or wrote 'Satyarth Prakash').

Answer: He founded the Arya Samaj in 1875, urging Indians to go back to the Vedas, and he opposed idol worship, child marriage and caste rigidity while supporting widow remarriage and women's education.

Example 5: Delhi Durbar · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder board level

Why did the Grand Delhi Durbar of 1877 anger Indians?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

It was a lavish show organised by Lord Lytton to proclaim Queen Victoria Empress of India.
It was held when a severe famine was killing large numbers in south and west India, so the expense seemed heartless.

Answer: Lord Lytton spent huge sums on a grand ceremony to proclaim Queen Victoria Empress of India while millions were suffering in a famine; Indians saw it as insensitive and a sign that the government did not care for them.

Example 6: Objectives of the Congress · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

State any three immediate objectives of the Indian National Congress.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

To promote friendly relations among nationalists from different parts of India.
To develop a feeling of national unity irrespective of caste, religion or province.
To formulate popular demands and present them to the government (also: to train and organise public opinion).

Answer: (1) To promote friendship among nationalist workers from all parts of India. (2) To build national unity across caste, religion and region. (3) To frame popular demands and present them to the government, while training public opinion.

Example 7: Reform and nationalism · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

How did the socio-religious reform movements contribute to the growth of nationalism? Answer with reference to any two reformers.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Reformers attacked caste, untouchability and the ill-treatment of women, reducing social divisions and creating a sense of equality.
Example 1: Jyotiba Phule's schools for girls and lower castes and his Satyashodhak Samaj fought caste oppression.
Example 2: Vivekananda's Chicago speech and Ramakrishna Mission restored pride in Indian culture and self-confidence.
Pride in their own culture and a more united society made Indians assert their rights against foreign rule.

Answer: Reform movements weakened caste and gender divisions and restored pride in India's heritage. Jyotiba Phule's schools for girls and lower castes and his Satyashodhak Samaj fought caste oppression, while Vivekananda's Chicago speech and Ramakrishna Mission gave Indians self-confidence and a spirit of service. A more united and self-confident people began to demand their rights from the British.

Case-study practice (Section B style)

Read the situation, then answer every part. In the board paper this is a 10-mark question split into 3 + 3 + 4 marks.

The 1870s and 1880s

Read the extract and answer the questions.

'In the late 1870s, Indian-language newspapers found their presses at risk, Indians needed licences to keep arms, and the gates of the civil service seemed to close further. A few years later, when a proposal to let Indian judges try Europeans was defeated by an organised campaign of Europeans, educated Indians drew their own lesson.'

(i) · 3 marks
Identify the three measures referred to in the first sentence and the Viceroy responsible.
Answer
Answer: The Vernacular Press Act (1878), the Arms Act (1878) and the reduction of the maximum age for the ICS examination to 19. They were measures of Lord Lytton.
1 mark for each measure; Viceroy named.
(ii) · 3 marks
Name the proposal in the second sentence and the Viceroy under whom it was introduced. What lesson did educated Indians draw?
Answer
Answer: The Ilbert Bill (1883), introduced under Lord Ripon. Indians learned that the British would not treat them as equals and that organised agitation could influence the government, so they too needed an all-India organisation.
1 mark each for the bill, the Viceroy and the lesson.
(iii) · 4 marks
When and by whom was that all-India organisation founded? Give the place and President of its first two sessions.
Answer
Answer: The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by A. O. Hume. First session: Bombay, 1885, W. C. Bonnerjee. Second session: Calcutta, 1886, Dadabhai Naoroji.
1 mark for founder and year; 1 mark for the places of the two sessions; 1 mark for each of the two Presidents.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is split into step marks. Show every step: a right final answer alone rarely earns full marks.

Two contributions of Jyotiba Phule. (2 marks) (2 marks)

Step	Marks
Schools for girls and lower castes.	1
Satyashodhak Samaj / Gulamgiri.	1

Three repressive policies of Lytton. (3 marks) (3 marks)

Step	Marks
Vernacular Press Act, 1878.	1
Arms Act, 1878.	1
ICS age reduced / Delhi Durbar.	1

Role of the Press: four points. (4 marks) (4 marks)

Step	Marks
Exposed policies.	1
Spread ideas.	1
Linked regions.	1
Built public opinion.	1

Where students lose marks in Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Listing the Ilbert Bill as Lytton's policy
CISCE examiners' comments, 2025: candidates included the Ilbert Bill as a policy of Lord Lytton.
Wrong working
Lytton's policies: Vernacular Press Act, Arms Act, Ilbert Bill.
Right working
Lytton's policies: Vernacular Press Act, Arms Act, ICS age limit, Delhi Durbar. The Ilbert Bill was under Ripon.
Do this: 'Ripon is Right' - the Ilbert Bill was a reform.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: Confusing the Gagging Act with the Ilbert Bill
CISCE examiners' comments, 2024: candidates chose Gagging Act instead of Ilbert Bill.
Do this: Gagging Act = press; Ilbert Bill = courts.
Usually costs: The full mark.
Mistake: Not knowing who organised the Delhi Durbar
CISCE examiners' comments, 2024: many were unsure which Viceroy organised the Durbar.
Do this: Durbar of 1877 = Lytton, during a famine.
Usually costs: The full mark.
Mistake: Confusing Phule and Rammohan Roy
CISCE examiners' comments, 2024 and 2025: candidates chose Phule for sati and were unclear about Phule's work for girls' education.
Do this: Roy = sati and Brahmo Samaj (Bengal); Phule = girls' schools and Satyashodhak Samaj (Pune).
Usually costs: The full mark.

Practice questions on Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
Who organised the Grand Delhi Durbar of 1877?
(a) Lord Curzon
(b) Lord Canning
(c) Lord Lytton
(d) Lord Dalhousie
Hint
The same Viceroy as the Vernacular Press Act.
Answer
(c) Lord Lytton.
Q2 · 1 mark · MCQHarder board level
A picture shows a woman teaching girls in a small school in Pune in the 1840s. With whom is the picture MOST associated?
(a) Jyotiba Phule
(b) Raja Rammohan Roy
(c) Swami Dayananda Saraswati
(d) Aurobindo Ghosh
Hint
Savitribai's husband.
Answer
(a) Jyotiba Phule.
Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerHarder board level
Who presided over the second session of the Indian National Congress, and where was it held?
Hint
The Grand Old Man.
Answer
Dadabhai Naoroji, at Calcutta (1886).
Q4 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder board level
Why was the Vernacular Press Act called discriminatory?
Hint
Which newspapers did it exempt?
Answer
It restricted only newspapers in Indian languages, while English newspapers, which were often just as critical, were exempt. It targeted the papers read by ordinary Indians.
Q5 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level
Mention any two contributions of Raja Rammohan Roy.
Hint
Brahmo Samaj; sati.
Answer
He founded the Brahmo Samaj (1828), which opposed idol worship and rituals, and he led the campaign against sati, which was abolished in 1829 (also: supported English education and women's rights).
Q6 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Explain how the drain of wealth contributed to nationalism.
Hint
Dadabhai Naoroji.
Answer
A large part of India's wealth flowed to Britain each year as salaries, pensions, profits and interest. Dadabhai Naoroji showed in 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India' that this caused India's poverty. Educated Indians realised that colonial rule was the root of their economic misery, which turned them against it.
Q7 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency
'The Ilbert Bill controversy did more for Indian nationalism than many speeches.' Discuss with three points.
Hint
Racial prejudice and methods of agitation.
Answer
(1) It exposed the racial arrogance of the Europeans, who refused to be tried by Indian judges. (2) The government's surrender to European pressure showed Indians that they could not expect equal treatment. (3) The success of the Europeans' organised campaign taught Indians to organise themselves, leading to the Congress two years later.
Q8 · 4 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Mention four ways in which the Press helped the growth of nationalism.
Hint
Expose, spread, link, organise.
Answer
(1) Exposed and criticised unjust government policies. (2) Spread ideas of liberty, democracy and self-rule. (3) Linked people of different regions through shared news, creating unity. (4) Built public opinion and publicised nationalist activities and freedom struggles abroad.
Q9 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Compare the contributions of Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Swami Vivekananda to national self-respect.
Hint
Vedas versus Chicago.
Answer
Dayananda: through the Arya Samaj and the call 'Go back to the Vedas' he taught pride in India's ancient heritage, attacked social evils and promoted education through DAV institutions. Vivekananda: his Chicago speech won world respect for Indian culture, and through the Ramakrishna Mission he urged fearlessness and service to the poor. Both gave Indians self-respect and confidence to face foreign rule.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Who founded the Arya Samaj and when?Show answer
Swami Dayananda Saraswati, 1875.
2.What was the Arms Act of 1878?Show answer
It required Indians to have a licence to carry arms; Europeans were exempt.
3.What was the first session of the Congress and who presided?Show answer
Bombay, December 1885; W. C. Bonnerjee.
4.Which book explained the drain of wealth?Show answer
Dadabhai Naoroji's 'Poverty and Un-British Rule in India'.
5.When was the Ramakrishna Mission founded?Show answer
1897.
6.Under which Viceroy was the Ilbert Bill introduced?Show answer
Lord Ripon (1883).

Best order to study it

Economic exploitation: drain, handicrafts, peasants.
Lytton's policies, then the Ilbert Bill separately.
Four reformers with two contributions each.
Role of the Press.
Founding of the Congress: founder, year, sessions, objectives.

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

Economic: drain of wealth (Naoroji), ruin of handicrafts, peasant misery, famines.
Lytton: Durbar 1877, Vernacular Press Act 1878, Arms Act 1878, ICS age 19, cotton duties removed.
Ilbert Bill 1883 (Ripon): Indian judges to try Europeans; diluted.
Roy: Brahmo Samaj, sati. Phule: girls' schools, Satyashodhak Samaj.
Dayananda: Arya Samaj, Vedas. Vivekananda: Chicago 1893, Ramakrishna Mission 1897.
Press: exposed, spread, linked, organised.
INC 1885 by A. O. Hume; Bombay (Bonnerjee), Calcutta 1886 (Naoroji).
Objectives: friendship, national unity, demands to government, public opinion.

Factors Leading to the Growth of Nationalism: frequently asked questions

Are the Indian National Association and the East India Association in the 2027 syllabus?

No. They were in earlier syllabuses as forerunners of the Congress, but CISCE has removed them for 2027.

Why was a British official the founder of the Congress?

A. O. Hume, a retired civil servant, believed Indian discontent needed a peaceful outlet, and Indian leaders accepted his help so that the government would not suppress the new body. Indians soon led it.

How many contributions of each reformer should I learn?

The syllabus asks for any two of each. Learn three to be safe.

Based on: CISCE ICSE 2027 History & Civics syllabus (H.C.G. Paper 1); CISCE ICSE 2027 Specimen Question Paper and Marking Scheme, History & Civics (501)