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Q.1 – Consider the following pairs :
Site of Ashoka’s major rock edicts Location in the State of
1. Dhauli — Odisha
2. Erragudi— Andhra Pradesh
3. Jaugada— Madhya Pradesh
4. Kalsi — Karnataka
How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only: three pairs
(d) All four pairs
Option (b) is correct:
● Pair 1 is correctly matched: Dhauli is located in Odisha.
● Pair 2 is correctly matched: Erragudi or Yerragudi is located in Andhra Pradesh
● Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Jaugada is located in Odisha.
● Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Kalsi is located in Uttarakhand.
Q.2 – Consider the following pairs :
King Dynasty
1. Nannuka — Chandela
2. Jayashakti — Paramara
3. Nagabhata II — Gurjara-Pratihara
4. Bhoja — Rashtrakuta
How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
Option (b) is correct: Pair 1 is correct: Nanuka was the founder of Chandela Dynasty.
Pair 2 is incorrect: Jayashakti was also a Chandela Ruler.
Pair 3 is correct: As Nagbhata II belonged to Gurjara Pratihara Dynasty.
Pair 4 is incorrect: As Bhoja was a Parmara.
Q.3 – Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct ?
(a) Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture.
(b) The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
(c) Sangam poems have no reference to warrior ethic.
(d) Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational.
Option (b) is correct: Sangam Literature has references to material culture and war tactics and ethics. Hence statements a and c are incorrect.
Statement d is incorrect because Sangam literature doesn’t refers to magical forces as irrational.
Aṇaṅku is a phenomenon of sacred power described in ancient Tamil literature such as the sangam literature. This sacred magical forces were supposed to inhabit various objects, which eventually determined there association with the society.
Statement b is correct because, The varna system was not practiced but it was known. (Tolkappiyam refers to 4 castes)
Q.4 – “Yogavasistha” was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of:
(a) Akbar
(b) Humayun
(c) Shahjahan
(d) Aurangzeb
Option (a) is correct : YogaVasistha was translated into Persian multiple times throughout the Mughal Dynasty, as commanded by Akbar, Jahangir, and Darah Shikuh. Nizam al-Din Panipati completed one of these translations, known as the Jug-Basisht, in the late sixteenth century AD.
Q.5 The world’s second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja ?
(a) The best means of salvation was devotion.
(b) Vedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative.
(c) Logical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss.
(d) Salvation was to be obtained through meditation.
Option (a) is correct : Ramanuja tried to assimilate bhakti to the tradition of Vedas. He argued that in order attain salvation grace of god was more important than knowledge about him. He emphasised that path of prapatti or total reliance or surrender to God was open to all, irrespective of caste.
Q. 6 – The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple ?
1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Option (a) is correct :
Statement 1 is correct: Somnath Temple at Somnath, Gujrat is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus and is believed to be first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva.
Statement 2 is correct: A description of the temple by Al-Biruni, an Arab traveller, was so glowing that it prompted a visit in 1024 by a most unwelcome tourist – the legendary looter Mahmud of Ghazni from Afghanistan.
Statement 3 is Incorrect: Then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, did the Pran-Pratistha at the existing temple on 11 May 1951.
Q.7 – In the Government of India Act 1919, the functions of Provincial Government were divided into “Reserved” and “Transferred” subjects. Which of the following were treated as “Reserved” subjects ?
1. Administration of Justice
2. Local Self-Government
3. Land Revenue
4. Police
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 4
Option (c) is correct: Justice, the police, land revenue, and irrigation were among the reserved subjects under the category of law and order. Local self-government, education, public health, public works, agriculture, forests, and fisheries were among the transferred topics (i.e., those under the control of Indian ministers).
Q.8 – In medieval India, the term “Fanam” referred to:
(a) Clothing
(b) Coins
(c) Ornaments
(d) Weapons
Option (b) is correct: During the Vijaynagar Empire, Fanams were coins which were used in day to day life. Fanam was usually a small fraction of the main currency (Pagoda or Varaha).
The Travancore Fanam was a form of money issued by the State of Travancore in South India, which is today mostly a part of Kerala. Fanams (sometimes spelled Fanoms) and Chuckrams (or Chakrams) were renowned to be among the world’s tiniest coins. Fanam appears to be an Anglo-Germanic sound shift from Panam, which in Dravidian languages denotes money. The Fanam and Chuckram coins were the standard unit of currency in mediaeval Travancore, and they appear to have been widely utilised for trade in the South Indian region. In Kerala’s original language, Malayalam, the words Fanam and Panam literally mean money and are still used as synonyms for riches.
Q.9 – Consider the following freedom fighters :
1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh
2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee
3. Rash Behari Bose
Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party ?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Option (d) is correct:
BARINDRA KUMAR GHOSH: ANUSHILAN SAMITI
JOGESH CHANDRA CHATTERJEE-: ANUSHILAN SAMITI
RASH BEHARI BOSE: GHADR PARTY
Q.10 – With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements :
1. The Constituent Assembly would have members nominated by the Provincial Assemblies as well as the Princely States.
2. Any Province, which is not prepared to accept the new Constitution would have the right to sign a separate agreement with Britain regarding its future status.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct ?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Option (b) is correct:
Statement 1 is incorrect: A Constituent Assembly was to be founded to frame a new Constitution. Members of this assembly were to be partly elected by the provincial assemblies and partly nominated by the Princely states.
Statement 2 is correct: Any province not willing to join the Union could have a separate Constitution and would be eligible to sign an agreement with British regarding its future status.
Q.11 – With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts :
1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana
Which of the above are Jaina texts ?
(a) 1,2 and 3
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1,3 and 4
(d) 2,3 and 4
Option (d) is correct:
Option 1 is incorrect: The Nettipakaraa is a legendary Buddhist scripture that is occasionally included in Theravada Buddhism’s Pali Canon’s Khuddaka Nikaya.
The Parishishtaparvan, also known as the Sthaviravalicharitra, is a Sanskrit mahakavya written by Hemachandra in the 12th century that describes the lives of the first Jain instructors.
Option 3 is incorrect: The Avadanashataka, or “Century of Noble Deeds,” is a Sanskrit collection of one hundred Buddhist stories, roughly contemporaneous with the Ashokavadana.
Trishashthilkshana or Mahapurana Mahapurana is a famous Jain scripture mostly produced by “In the 9th century CE, his pupil Gunabhadra completed the work begun by Acharya” Jinasena during the reign of Rashtrakuta monarch Amoghavarsha.
Q.12 – With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs :
Historical person Known as
1. Aryadeva — Jaina scholar
2. Dignaga — Buddhist scholar
3. Nathamuni — Vaishnava scholar
How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?
(a) None of the pairs
(b) Only one pair
(c) Only two pairs
(d) All three pairs
Option (c) is correct:
Pair 1 is incorrect: ARYADEVA- BUDDHIST SCHOLAR
Aryadeva was born as a king’s son on the island of Sinhala (Sri Lanka), but renounced his throne, became a monk, and travelled to South India to study with Ngrjuna. The Four Hundred Verses (Catuhsataka) is Aryadeva’s greatest book, and it offers the route to buddhahood as built around these two requisites of merit and knowledge (jna).
Pair 2 is correct: Dignāga (c. 480 – c. 540 CE) was an Indian Buddhist scholar and one of the Buddhist founders of Indian logic (hetu vidyā).
Pair 3 is correct: Sri Ranganathamuni, popularly known as Sriman Nathamuni (823 CE–951 CE), was a Vaishnava theologian who collected and compiled the Nalayira Divya Prabandham.
Q.13 – With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements :
1. The first Mongol invasion of India happened during the reign of Jalal-ud-din Khalji.
2. During the reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji, one Mongol assault marched up to Delhi and besieged the city.
3. Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq temporarily lost portions of north-west of his kingdom to Mongols.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Option (b) is correct:
Statement 1 is incorrect: First Mongol invasion took place during the reign of Alauddin Khilji.
Statement 2 is correct: The Mongols besieged the city during the reign of Alauddin Khilji.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Mongols did not annexe North-West part of kingdom of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
Q.14 – With reference to Indian history, who of the following were known as “Kulah-Daran”?
(a) Arab merchants
(b) Qalandars
(c) Persian calligraphists
(d) Sayyids
Option (d) is correct: The Sayyids claim descent from the Prophet through his daughter Fatima. The Sayyid put on a special pointed cap (Kulah) and they were known as Kulah-Daran.
Q. 15 – With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements :
1. The Dutch established their factories/warehouses on the east coast on lands granted to them by Gajapati rulers.
2. Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate.
3. The English East India Company established a factory at Madras on a plot of land leased from a representative of the Vijayanagara empire.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Option (b) is correct:
Statement 1 is incorrect: First factory established by Dutch was in Masulipatnam in 1605, whereas Gajapati rule lasted till middle of 16th century.
Statement 2 is correct: Albuquerque acquired Goa from Sultan of Bijapur in 1510.
Statement 3 is correct. The rulers of Vijayanagara appointed chieftains called Nayaks to rule independently in their areas. Darmala Venkatadri Nayaka was incharge of what is Chennai today. He gave land to British on which they established settlement of British factory workers and merchants.
Q.16 According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, which of the following are correct ?
1. A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
3. If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master’s son.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Option (b) is correct: In Chapter 13 of Kautilya’s Arthashastra.
Statement 1 is correct: According to the Kautilya’s Arthashastra, aperson can be enslaved for fines of court decree which Kautilya’s Arthashastra defined as “Dandapranita”.
Statement 2 is correct: According to the Kautilya’s Arthashastra, children born to slave and master when a slave gives borth to a child, both the mother and child shall be recognised as free and were no longer considered to be slaves.
Statement 3 is correct: If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master’s son.
