23. The Girnar rock inscription states that repair of Sudarshana lake was undertaken by the rulers of various dynasties of ancient India. The kings of which among the following dynasties were associated with Girnar rock inscriptions?
1. Mauryan Empire
2. Saka Empire
3. Gupta Empire
4. Kushana Dynasty
Codes:
(A) 1, 2 and 3
(B) 2, 3 and 4
(C) 1, 2 and 4
(D) All of these
Answer: (A) (Hint: Kushana Dynasty was associated with the Rabatak inscription, not Girnar.)
24. Who among the following dynasties were the first to transfer all sources of revenue to the Brahmins?
(A) Guptas
(B) Vakatakas
(C) Chalukyas
(D) Pallavas
Answer: (B)
25. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given ahead the list:
List-I (Events):
(a) Local Self-government
(b) Act of 1802
(c) Foundation of the Indian National Congress
(d) Simla Deputation
List-II (Viceroys):
1. Lord Dufferin
2. Lord Minto
3. Lord Rippon
4. Lord Mayo
5. Lord Lansdowne
Codes: (a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 1 2 3 4
(B) 3 5 1 2
(C) 2 3 4 1
(D) 3 4 1 2
Answer: (D)
27. Consider the following statements about Krishnadevaraya:
1. Vijayanagara Empire was ruled by Krishnadevaraya from 1519 to 1539 AD.
2. Kannada poet Thimmanna completed the Kannada Mahabharata at the request of
3. Krishnadevaraya, which was originally started by Kannaya.
4. He also established a suburb, named after his mother, near Vijayanagara.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) Only 1, 2 and 3
(B) Only 2 and 3
(C) Only 1 and 2
(D) None of the above
Answer: (B) (Hint: Statement 1 is incorrect; Krishnadevaraya ruled from 1509 to 1529 AD.)
28. Consider the following statements regarding Tebhaga Movement:
1. It was a peasant resistance that began in Bengal in 1946-47 under the leadership of the Bangiya Pradeshiya Kisan Sabha (BPKS).
2. It demanded increasing the share of jotedars (landowners) in harvesting the crop from half to two-thirds.
3. About 40% of tenant farmers received Tebhaga rights (two-thirds shares) voluntarily given by the landholders, unjust and illegal extortions were abolished or reduced.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) Only 1, 2 and 3
(B) Only 2 and 3
(C) Only 1 and 3
(D) None of the above
Answer: (C) (Hint: Statement 2 is incorrect; the movement demanded reducing the jotedars’ share to one-third.)
29. With reference to the Kumbh Mela, consider the following statements:
1. Kumbh Mela is celebrated 3 times in 12 years.
2. Ardh Kumbh Mela was organized every sixth year in Ujjain and Prayagraj.
3. Maha Kumbh Mela was celebrated in Prayag after 180 years (after 15 ‘Purna Kumbh Melas’).
Which of the above statements are correct?
(A) Only 1, 2 and 3
(B) Only 2 and 3
(C) Only 1 and 3
(D) None of the above
Answer: (D) (Hint: Statement 1 is incorrect, Kumbh Mela is celebrated 4 times in 12 years; Statement 3 is incorrect, Maha Kumbh occurs every 144 years after 12 Purna Kumbhs.)
30. Which ruler of the Magadha state first used the weapons called ‘Rath Musal’ (a chariot to which a mace-like weapon was attached) & ‘Mahashilakantaka’ (a stone-throwing war machine) against the Vajji Sangha?
(A) Ajatashatru
(B) Chandragupta Maurya
(C) Kalashok
(D) Udayin
Answer: (A)
31. Consider the following statements regarding the French in India:
1. The first French factory in India was established in Surat by Francois Caron in the year 1668, after which the factory was established in Masulipatnam by Markara in the year 1669.
2. On 1 November, 1955, the French territories in India were officially incorporated into the Indian Union, and Puducherry became a Union Territory.
3. Puducherry officially became an integral part of India only after the French Parliament in Paris ratified the treaty with India in 1963.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) Only 1, 2 and 3
(B) Only 2 and 3
(C) Only 1 and 3
(D) None of the above
Answer: (C) (Hint: Statement 2 is incorrect; French territories were incorporated on November 1, 1954.)
32. Match List-I with List-II:
List-I (Dates):
(a) 31 December, 1802
(b) 17 December, 1803
(c) 30 December, 1803
(d) 25 December, 1805
List-II (Treaties):
1. Treaty of Bassein
2. Treaty of Deogaon
3. Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon
4. Treaty of Rajpurghata
Codes: (a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 4 3 2 1
(B) 1 3 4 2
(C) 4 1 3 2
(D) 1 2 3 4
Answer: (D)
33. Consider the following statements regarding the factors for the rise of Bhakti movement:
1. The Turkish conquest of India weakened Brahminical power by eliminating temple wealth and state patronage. The decline in Brahmin influence paved the way for non-conformist movements such as the Nathpanthi and Bhakti movements.
2. Due to social and cultural contact between Hindu and Muslim people, a feeling of harmony, sympathy and cooperation developed between them.
3. Due to the exploitative caste system of the then Indian society, the condition of the lower castes was extremely pathetic. The message of social harmony and harmony given by the Bhakti saints influenced the people.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) All 1, 2 and 3
(B) Only 2 and 3
(C) Only 1 and 2
(D) None of the above
Answer: (A)
34. Consider the following statements about the Santhal Hul of 1855:
1. The Santhal Hul of 1855 was a revolt against British colonial rule in India led by four brothers – Sidho, Kanho, Chand and Bhairav Murmu along with sisters Phoolo and Jhano, that began on 30 June, 1855.
2. The aim of this rebellion was to protect the economic, cultural and religious rights of the Santhal community.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (C)
35. Consider the following statements regarding Puducherry:
1. Modern Puducherry was established in 1673 by the French East India Company through a decree from the fort commander of Valikondapuram under the Sultan of Bijapur.
2. Excavations at Arikamedu indicate that the Romans arrived in modern Puducherry in the 1st century AD.
3. Puducherry became a Union Territory on 1 November, 1950.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(A) Only 1, 2 and 3
(B) Only 2 and 3
(C) Only 1 and 2
(D) None of the above
Answer: (C) (Hint: Statement 3 is incorrect; Puducherry became a Union Territory on November 1, 1954.)
36. Consider the following pairs:
1. Settlement site – Chirand
2. Burial site – Porkalam
3. Settlement and burial site – Piklihal
Which of these pairs are correctly matched?
Codes:
(A) Only 1 and 2
(B) Only 1 and 3
(C) Only 2 and 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D)
37. Chachnama, originally an Arabic work, was translated into Persian by whom among the following?
(A) Ibn-ul-Asir
(B) Muhammad Ali bin Abu Bakr Kufi
(C) Ziauddin Barani
(D) Hamdullah Mastouti Qazvini
Answer: (B)
38. There are two statements in this question. One is labelled as ‘Statement A’ and the other as ‘Reason R’. Examine these statements carefully and select the answer to this question using the code given below:
Assertion (A): The Siliguri Corridor is geopolitically sensitive as it is located near the Chumbi Valley.
Reason (R): Control over the Chumbi Valley could affect India’s north-eastern access to States.
Codes:
(A) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is correct, but (R) is wrong
(D) (A) is wrong, but (R) is correct
Answer: (A)
39. Match the List-I with List-II and choose the correct answer from the given options:
List-I:
(a) Kabir
(b) Raidas
(c) Sena
(d) Dhanna
List-II:
1. Jat
2. Weaver
3. Shoemaker
4. Barber
Codes: (a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 1 2 3 4
(B) 2 3 4 1
(C) 3) 3 4 1 2
(D) 3 2 1 4
Answer: (B)
40. Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?
1. Avanti
2. Gandhara
3. Kosala
4. Magadha
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(A) Only 1, 2 and 3
(B) Only 2 and 4
(C) Only 3 and 4
(D) Only 1, 3 and 4
Answer: (C)
41. in the context of Indian history, the principle of ‘Dyarchy (diarchy)’ refers to:
(A) Division of the central legislature into two houses
(B) Introductions of double government i.e., Central and State governments
(C) Having two sets of rulers; one in London and another in Delhi
(D) Division of the subjects into two categories—Reserved and Transferred
Answer: (D) (Hint: Dyarchy, introduced by the Government of India Act 1919, divided subjects into Reserved (handled by Governors with councillors) and Transferred (handled by ministers responsible to the legislature).)
42. Consider the following statement about Asokan edict:
1. Asoka was the first ruler to speak directly to his people through the inscriptions.
2. They are found only in India.
3. The inscription was written in Brahmi script, Kharosthi script and Greek script.
Choose the correct answer from the following code:
(A) Only 1 and 2
(B) Only 2 and 3
(C) All 1, 2 and 3
(D) Only 1 and 3
Answer: (D) (Hint: Statement 2 is incorrect; Ashokan inscriptions are found in India, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.)
43. Consider the following statements regarding Harappan Cities:
1. The part of the city to the west was higher. It was used by the administrators. The ruins of a big building, probably an assembly hall, were discovered here.
2. The part of the city to the east was lower and was inhabited by the common people. The ruins of many buildings that might smuggling have been available houses were unearthed here.
3. The urban folk depended on the villages for food and work. The villages were the major market for the urban products.
Which of the above sentence(s) is/are true?
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2 and 3
(C) Only 3
(D) All 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D)
44. During which among the following movements, Mahatma Gandhi remarked: “on bended knees I asked for bread and received stone instead”?
(A) Khilafat Movement
(B) Non-Cooperation Movement
(C) Dandi March
(D) Quit India Movement
Answer: (C) (Hint: Gandhi made this remark during the Dandi Salt March, 1930.)
45. In the Federation established by the Government of India Act of 1935, residuary powers were given to the:
(A) Federal Legislature
(B) Governor General
(C) Provincial Legislatures
(D) Provincial Governors
Answer: (B) (Hint: Section 105 of the Act gave residuary powers to the Governor-General.)