India - People, history and current affairs

Question 1

Narendra Damodardas Modi

Answer 1

• Current prime minister of India (2014 until today; recently reelected in 2024)
• Member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)

Question 2

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

Answer 2

• One of the two main parties in India
• Socially conservative/right-wing, liberal economic policy
• Hindu-nationalist, connected to the RSS

Question 3

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)

Answer 3

• Indian far-right, Hindu-nationalist volunteer paramilitary organisation
• Founded in 1925
• The worlds largest far-right organization by membership
• Worked with British Raj during colonial times

Question 4

British Raj

Answer 4

• Rule of the British crown in India (1858-1947)
• Implemented after the Indian rebellion of 1857 (power transfer from East India Company to the British crown)

Question 5

East India Company

Answer 5

• British trading company founded in the 1600 originally to trade with the East Indies
• Started with trading posts, eventually seized control of large parts of India, even exercising military power
• Was nationalized and had to give control to Britain in the Government of India Act 1885

Question 6

Indian National Congress (INC)

Answer 6

• One of the two main parties in India
• Party of Mahatma Ghandi; involved in Indian Independence movement
• Generally considered a centrist party, also stands for secularism