Important Questions and Answers 2026–27 for Class 8 Social Science (Exploring Society: India and Beyond Part 2) Chapter 2 India’s Long Road to Independence

The Class 8 Social Science Chapter 2 important questions PDF covers key events from the Great Uprising of 1857 to India's independence in 1947. Students can practise questions on British policies, nationalist leaders, major freedom movements and Partition.

The Class 8 Social Science Chapter 2 important questions and answers PDF includes MCQs, very short, short and long answer questions based on India’s Long Road to Independence.

Class 8 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 2 Important Questions MCQ with Answers

1. Who took direct control of India after the Great Uprising of 1857?

A) The East India Company
B) The British Crown
C) The Indian National Congress
D) The British Parliament alone

Answer: B) The British Crown

2. Who founded the Arya Samaj in 1875?

A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
B) Swami Vivekananda
C) Swami Dayananda Saraswati
D) Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar

Answer: C) Swami Dayananda Saraswati

3. Who was the first president of the Indian National Congress in 1885?

A) Dadabhai Naoroji
B) Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee
C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D) Allan Octavian Hume

Answer: B) Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee

4. What was the main purpose of the Swadeshi Movement after the Partition of Bengal in 1905?

A) To increase the sale of British textiles
B) To promote Indian-made goods and reduce dependence on British products
C) To support the division of Bengal
D) To encourage Indians to join the British army

Answer: B) To promote Indian-made goods and reduce dependence on British products

5. Why did the Indian National Congress split at its Surat session in 1907?

A) Leaders disagreed over the use of Indian languages.
B) Moderates and Nationalists disagreed over political demands and methods.
C) Congress leaders wanted to support the Partition of Bengal.
D) The British government ordered Congress to divide.

Answer: B) Moderates and Nationalists disagreed over political demands and methods.

6. Why did Mahatma Gandhi withdraw from the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922?

A) The British granted India complete independence.
B) The Simon Commission accepted Indian demands.
C) Violence broke out at Chauri Chaura.
D) The British government abolished the salt tax.

Answer: C) Violence broke out at Chauri Chaura.

7. What was the main demand of the Quit India Movement launched in August 1942?

A) Separate electorates for Indians
B) Greater representation in British administration
C) Immediate withdrawal of British rule from India
D) Dominion status after the Second World War

Answer: C) Immediate withdrawal of British rule from India

Class 8 Social Science Chapter 2 Very Short Answer Questions

8. What was the Vernacular Press Act of 1878?

Answer: The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 allowed the British government to regulate and censor newspapers published in Indian languages.

9. Who was Birsa Munda, and what was Ulgulaan?

Answer: Birsa Munda was a tribal leader who fought against British exploitation and oppressive landlords. He led Ulgulaan, or the Great Tumult, in 1899–1900 to reclaim tribal land and rights.

10. What did the demand for Purna Swaraj mean?

Answer: Purna Swaraj meant complete independence from British rule. The Indian National Congress adopted this demand at its Lahore session in December 1929.

11. Why did Subhas Chandra Bose seek help from Britain's enemies during World War II?

Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose believed that armed struggle could help India gain independence. He sought support from Britain's enemies to build a force against British rule.

Class 8 Social Science Chapter 2 Short Answer Questions

12. What were the main promises of Queen Victoria's Proclamation of 1858? Were they followed?

Answer: Queen Victoria issued a proclamation in 1858 after the British Crown took direct control of India.

• It promised to respect the rights, dignity and honour of Indian princes.

• It promised to treat Indian subjects in the same manner as other subjects of the British Crown.

• It assured Indians that the British would not impose Christianity on them.

However, the British did not keep these promises. British officials interfered in princely states, Indians faced racial discrimination, and economic exploitation continued.

13. How did Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Swami Vivekananda inspire Indian nationalism?

Answer: Both leaders encouraged Indians to take pride in their country and culture.

• Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandamath, which included the song Vande Mataram. The song became a symbol of patriotism during the freedom struggle.

• Swami Vivekananda encouraged Indians to develop self-confidence and take pride in India's spiritual and cultural traditions.

• His speeches and teachings inspired many freedom fighters to work for India's progress.

14. Why did Lord Curzon partition Bengal in 1905, and how did Indians protest against it?

Answer: Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905. The British claimed that the partition would improve administration, but their actual aim was to divide Hindus and Muslims through the 'divide and rule' policy.

Indians protested in several ways:

• They organised public meetings, marches and rallies.

• They promoted Indian-made goods through the Swadeshi Movement.

• They boycotted British goods and institutions.

• People tied rakhis to one another as a symbol of unity.

The protests soon spread beyond Bengal.

15. What was the Rowlatt Act of 1919, and what happened at Jallianwala Bagh?

Answer: The Rowlatt Act of 1919 allowed the police to detain people without trial and restricted their civil liberties.

On 13 April 1919, thousands of people gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. Some came to celebrate Baisakhi, while others protested against British laws and the arrest of local leaders.

Brigadier-General Dyer and his troops blocked the main exit and opened fire on the unarmed crowd without warning. Many people died, and others were injured. The massacre increased anger against British rule.

16. Why did Mahatma Gandhi organise the Dandi March in 1930?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi organised the Dandi March to protest against British salt laws.

• He began the march in March 1930 and travelled about 380 km to Dandi in Gujarat.

• He collected salt at Dandi in April to break the British salt law.

• The march marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

• People across India joined protests against British laws.

The Salt March brought more people into the freedom struggle.

Class 8 Social Science Chapter 2 Long Answer Questions

17. Explain the different methods used by Moderates, Nationalists and Revolutionaries during India's freedom struggle.

Answer: Indian freedom fighters wanted to end British rule, but they followed different methods.

1. Moderates

• Leaders such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and Surendranath Banerjee initially sought reforms under British rule.

• They used petitions, resolutions and discussions to present their demands.

• They asked for greater Indian participation in government and protection of civil rights.

2. Nationalists

• Leaders such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Aurobindo Ghose demanded stronger action against British rule.

• They supported Swaraj, Swadeshi and the boycott of British goods and institutions.

• They encouraged Indians to become self-reliant and resist colonial policies.

3. Revolutionaries

• Groups such as the Anushilan Samiti and Abhinav Bharat challenged British rule through secret organisations and armed resistance.

• Revolutionaries such as Khudiram Bose and Prafulla Chaki took part in armed activities against British officials.

• They believed that armed resistance could help end British rule.

These groups followed different paths, but all worked towards India's freedom.

18. Explain Mahatma Gandhi's role in the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements.

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi encouraged Indians to oppose British rule through satyagraha and nonviolent resistance.

Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–1922)

1. Gandhi encouraged people to oppose British rule without using violence.

2. He asked Indians to boycott foreign goods, British schools and courts.

3. He promoted khadi and Indian-made products.

4. People from different parts of India joined the movement.

5. Gandhi withdrew the movement in 1922 after protesters killed policemen at Chauri Chaura.

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1934)

1. Gandhi launched the movement after Congress demanded Purna Swaraj.

2. He led the Salt March from March to April 1930.

3. He broke the British salt law by collecting salt at Dandi.

4. Thousands of Indians protested against British laws and faced arrest.

5. Gandhi signed the Gandhi–Irwin Pact in 1931 and attended the Round Table Conference in London.

6. He later resumed the movement but withdrew it in 1934.

Both movements brought large numbers of Indians into the freedom struggle.

19. Describe the roles of Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army in India's freedom struggle. How did the Quit India Movement challenge British rule?

Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi followed different methods to achieve India's independence.

Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army

1. Bose believed that armed struggle could help India gain freedom.

2. He escaped from house arrest in India in 1941 and sought support from Britain's enemies during World War II.

3. In 1943, Bose formed the Indian National Army (INA) in Singapore from Indian prisoners of war and volunteers.

4. He also declared the formation of the Azad Hind government.

5. The INA fought alongside Japanese forces in Burma and northeastern India, particularly Manipur and Nagaland.

6. The INA suffered military defeat and failed to establish a base in India, but Bose's efforts inspired many Indians.

Quit India Movement (1942)

1. Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement in August 1942 with the call 'Do or Die'.

2. The movement demanded that the British leave India immediately.

3. The British arrested most senior Congress leaders, but protests continued across the country.

4. Workers went on strike, students joined demonstrations, and people protested against British institutions.

5. Leaders such as Aruna Asaf Ali, Ram Manohar Lohia and Jayaprakash Narayan helped continue the resistance.

Both the INA and the Quit India Movement challenged British authority.

20. Explain the events that led to India's independence in 1947 and the effects of Partition.

Answer: India gained independence on 15 August 1947 after a long struggle against British rule. However, Partition caused widespread violence and forced millions of people to leave their homes.

Events leading to independence

1. World War II weakened Britain and increased pressure to end colonial rule.

2. Mutinies in the Royal Indian Air Force and Royal Indian Navy in 1946 challenged British authority.

3. The Cabinet Mission of 1946 tried to arrange a peaceful transfer of power, but disagreements between Congress and the Muslim League continued.

4. Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League called for Direct Action Day on 16 August 1946, which was followed by widespread communal violence.

5. The British announced the Partition plan. Cyril Radcliffe drew the boundary line that divided Punjab and Bengal.

6. India became independent on 15 August 1947, while Partition created India and Pakistan.

Effects of Partition

• Millions of people crossed the new borders to reach India or Pakistan.

• Communal violence caused widespread deaths, injuries and displacement.

• Many families lost their homes, property and livelihoods.

• Punjab and Bengal were divided between the two countries.

• Women faced severe violence, including abduction and assault.

Integration of princely states

After independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel worked to bring more than 560 princely states into India. He used persuasion and firmness, with military action as a last resort in a few cases. His efforts helped unite the country, earning him the title 'Iron Man of India'.

India's independence ended British rule, but Partition brought great suffering and created challenges for the new nation.

Key Topics for Class 8 Social Science Chapter 2:  India’s Long Road to Independence Important Questions 

India’s Long Road to Independence covers the political changes, reform movements and public resistance that shaped India’s freedom struggle. Students should focus on the major events, their causes, the leaders involved and their effects on British rule.

How Vedantu's Class 8 Social Science Chapter 2 Important Questions Help Students Prepare for Exams

Vedantu’s Class 8 Social Science Chapter 2 important questions and answers focus on the major developments in India’s freedom struggle. Students can use these questions to understand the sequence of events, connect leaders with their contributions and explain the impact of British policies.

• Understand Historical Events: Learn the causes and effects of the Partition of Bengal, Jallianwala Bagh massacre and major freedom movements.

• Remember Important Leaders: Identify the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Birsa Munda, Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

• Practise MCQs: Answer questions on important dates, organisations, leaders and political movements.

• Improve Written Answers: Learn to explain the differences between Moderates, Nationalists and Revolutionaries through structured points.

• Connect Historical Events: Understand how protests, political organisations and mass movements contributed to India's independence.

Class 8 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 2 (India’s Long Road to Independence) Study Materials

Students can use the following chapter-specific resources alongside the important questions and answers.

Class 8 Social Science Chapter-Wise Important Questions

Additional Study Materials for Class 8 Social Science