Q. Direct Action Day refers to
a) The day ear-marked by the Muslim League for taking direct action to assert their political demand for a separate homeland for Muslims
b) The day ear-marked by the Indian nationalists to oust the British from India
c) The day ear-marked by the Scheduled Castes Federation to protest against social injustice
d) All the above
Question from Odisha OCS Paper 1 2024
The correct answer is: Option A: The day ear-marked by the Muslim League for taking direct action to assert their political demand for a separate homeland for Muslims.
Explanation: Direct Action Day, observed on August 16, 1946, was a significant event in Indian history. It was called by the All-India Muslim League under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The purpose of this day was to demonstrate the League’s demand for the creation of Pakistan, a separate homeland for Muslims, as they felt their interests would not be safeguarded in a united India. This day led to widespread communal violence, particularly in Calcutta (now Kolkata), and marked a turning point in the struggle for India’s independence and partition.
