There were 19 Questions from History in 2021, out of which
- 3 questions were from Ancient India
- 6 question were from Medieval India
- 7 questions were asked from Modern India and
- 3 questions were asked from Art & Culture.
Overall, the level of the questions was Moderate to Tough.
Previous Year UPSC History Questions (PYQs) With Explanation 2021
Q1. Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelling water into connected reservoirs? [Ancient India]
(a) Dholavira
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Rakhigarhi
(d) Ropar
Answer: a
Explanation:
Kalibangan
- Kalinbangan (black bangles) gets its name from clusters of black bangles lying all over the surface of its mounds. The Bangle making was an important craft.
- This site lies on the banks of the dry bed of the Ghaggar river, in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan.
- It is noted for a series of mud-bricks platforms with a row of seven clay-plastered pits. The Pits have been interpreted as Fire altars, i.e., sacrificial pits in which offerings were made into the Fire.
- Some circular pits with grave goods (pottery, bronze mirrors etc) but no Human remains.
- Corbelled drains made of bricks have been found on the citadel mound.
- Street drains of the Mohenjodaro type were absent in the lower town at Kalibangan.The sewage from houses was discharged into troughs or large jars embedded in the ground outside.
Rakhigarhi
Rakhigarhi (Hissar district, Haryana) the citadel mound, surrounded by a mud-brick fortification wall, had platforms, a brick well, fire altars, some streets and drains of various sizes.
Dholavira
- Dholavira is located on Kadir island in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.
- The site is flanked by two streams – The Manhar and Mandsar.
- An important stopping point on busy maritime route.
- The city had an impressive and unique water harvesting and management system.
- An Interesting feature is a large open area (‘called the stadium’), which may have been used for special ceremonial occasions.
- The fortified acropolis , with gateways in the centre of its four walls.
- In one of the side rooms of the Northern gateway of Dholavira lay what seems to be a fallen Signboard with an inscription made with white gypsum paste inlaid into a wooden board.
Hence, option a is correct.
Q2. In the first quarter of the seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located? [Modern India]
1. Broach
2. Chicacole
3. Trichinopoly
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 1 Only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 only
(d) 2 and 3
Answer: a
Explanation:
Captain Hawkins (1609-1611)
- Captain Hawkins reached Surat in 1609 met Mughal Empire Jahangir.
- English company was given permission to open factories on the West Coast.
In 1612 at the Battle of Swally Hole, British had defeated the Portuguese and portuguese reputation as naval power was shrunk, after this victory it became easy for British to get firman to establish factory in Surat and areas around Gulf of Cambay
Accordingly, first factory on west coast was opened in 1613 at Surat.
Thomas Roe ( 1615-19)
Sir Thomas Roe secured imperial farman from the Jahangir for establishing factories in all parts of Mughal empire.
By 1623 it had established Factories (trading posts) at Surat, Broach, Ahmedabad, Agra, and Masulipatam.
Masulipatam
In 1611 The English opened their first factory in the South at Masulipatam , the chief port of Golkonda under QutubShahis.
Madras, the lease of Madras was granted toBritish by the local Raja (successor of Vijaynagar empire) in 1639.
This fortified factory developed into the Fort of St. George which in 1641 became the head quarters of the English on the Coromondal Coast and in 1652 became the seat of the Eastern presidency.
In 1633 factories were established in Orissa at Harepur and Balasore, and
In 1650-51 in Bengal a settlement was established at Hugli and factories were thrown up at Patna and Qasim Bazar in the interior.
Bombay
The island of Bombay was acquired by East India company from the British government in 1688 ( the island was part of the dowry of British King Charles for marrying portuguese princess Catherine Braganza ) who in turn handed over Bombay to the company in 1688.
Hence, option a is correct.
Q3. From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India?
[Ancient India]
1. The Guptas of Magadha
2. The Paramaras of Malwa
3. The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
4. The Maukharis of Kanauj
5. The Yadavas of Devagiri
6. The Maitrakas of Valabhi
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) 1, 2, and 5
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 5 and 6
Answer: b
Explanation:
The Gupta empire began to disintegrate after the death of Skandagupta in 168 A.D.
From the down fall of the Gupta Empire to the rise odf Harshavardhana in 607 A.D., India was broken up into a number of small states. – The Hunas , Yashodharman of Malwa, The Maitrakas of Valabhi, Later Guptas of Magadha and Malwa, The Mukharis kingdom of kanauj, Pushyabhutis of Thaneswar.
Hunas The successors of Skanda Gupta could not hold Huna attacks from west By 466-67 A.D. the Hunas conquered a portion of the Gupta empire.
Tormana, (466-510) the Huna-chief set up his kingdom in the north-western portion of the Gupta empire. His Kingdom extended over the Punjab, Rajputana and some parts of Central India.
Tormana was succeeded by his son, Mihiragula who ruled 510-530 A.D.
Mihiragula was defeated by Yasodharman of Malwa later Mihiragula went to Kashmir where he gained the throne of Kashmir .
Yashodharman of Malwa
According to Mandsor inscription Yashodharman ruled from 532A.D.
The Mandsor inscription says that Yashodharman was the emperor of a vast territory from the Himalayas to Mahendra (Eastern Ghats) in the South, and from the Brahmaputra to the Western sea his capital was Mandasor.
The Maitrakas of Valabhi
The Dynasty of the Maitrakas was founded by Bhattaraka, the chief Senapati of the Guptas. According to a few copper plates, the origin of this dynasty is dated about the end of the 5th century A.D.
Hiuen Tsang (Yuan Chwang ) visited their capital Valabhi In Saurashtra ( Wala, near Bhavnagar) in 7th Century
The later Guptas of Magadha and Malwa
These Guptas have absolutely no relation with their imperial Guptas, except that both of them have same names ending in ‘Guptas’ and taht they ruled over ‘Magadha’.
Krishnagupta was the founder of the later Guptas of Magadha and Malwa.
The Maukharis of Kanauj
Harivarman was the founder of Maukharis dynasty.
Other kings were Adityavarman, Ishvaravarman, Isanavarman, Avantivarman, Grahavarman.
Grahavarman married Rajyashri (sister of Harshavardhana ) of the Thaneshvar family.
After the death of Grahavarman the kingdom of Kanauj was combined with that of Thaneshvar and thus was developed into an Empire by Harshavardhana.
Pushyabhutis of Thaneswar
The Kingdom of Thaneshwar had humble beginnings around Thaneshwar beginning in early 6th century was extended to an empire covering the whole of North India and ushering in an era of unity, glory and prosperity.
At the beginning Thaneshwar comprised of portions of punjab and its rulers tried to check the attack of Hunas
Naravardhana (500-525 A.D )is described as the founder of this kingdom
Other kings were Rajyavardhana and Adityavardhana, Prabhakarvardhana.
Prabhakarvardhana had two sons Rajyavardhana and Harshavardhana (606-647) .
Q4. According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in the Vijayanagar Empire were experts in which of the following areas? [Medieval India]
1. Wrestling
2. Astrology
3. Accounting
4. Soothsaying
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2, and 3 only
(b) 1, 3, and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: d
Explanation:
According to Portuguese writer Nuniz – there were a large number of Palanquin bearers who were women. Achyutaraya had 4,000 women in his service, consisting of dancers, wrestlers, Palanquin-bearers, soothsayers, astrologers, accountants etc.
Hence, option d is correct.
Q5. With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct? [Modern India]
(a) Pingali Venkaya designed the tricolour Indian National Flag here.
(b) Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India Movement of the Andhra region from here.
(c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.
(d) Madam Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set up headquarters of Theosophical Society first here.
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Jan gana mana, India’s national anthem, was written by Rabindranath Tagore around 1911 and was sung by Sarala Devi Chowdhurani for the first time at the annual session of the Indian National Congress on 27 December 1911.
- During Rabindranath Tagore’s South India tour in 1919, Tagore stayed briefly at the Besant Theosophical College. During his stay there, between 25th February 1919 to 2nd March 1919, Tagore participated in the ‘Sing Song fun session’, an informal college gathering held every Wednesday night, and sang his Bengali song Jana gana mana, which he later translated into English known as “Morning Song of India.”
Hence, option c is correct.
Q6. Consider the following pairs: [Ancient India]
Historical Place Well-known for
1. Burzahom : Rock-cut shrines
2. Chandra-Ketugarh : Terracotta art
3. Ganeshwar : Copper artifacts
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 only
(d) 2 and 3
Answer: d
Explanation:
Chandraketugarh
- Chandraketugarh, is located in the Ganga delta in 24 Parganas district of West Bengal
- In early historic times, Chandraketugarh was connected to the Ganga by the Vidyadhari river and must have been an important centre of trade, and possibly also a political centre.
- Chandraketugarh major centre of terracotta craft during 200-300 C.E.
Hence, 2nd pair is correctly matched.
The Ganeshwar–Jodhpura culture
The Ganeshwar–Jodhpura culture was located in the north-eastern part of Rajasthan.
Jodhpura, on the banks of the Sahibi river, is the first site where evidence of the Ganeshwar–Jodhpura culture was identified.
The typical pottery here is wheel-made, orange to red in colour, with incised designs. Shapes include dishon-stand with a thick slip
Pottery similar to that found at Jodhpura was later discovered at Ganeshwar, near Nim-ka-Thana
There are three cultural phases at Ganeshwar. The dates for
- Period I are from c. 3800 BCE onwards,
- Period II from c. 2800 BCE, and
- Period III from c. 2000 BCE.
Period I reflects a hunting-gathering community using microliths made of chert and quartz. Charred bones, almost all belonging to wild animals, were found.
Period II was marked by the beginning of metallurgy. A few copper objects were found—five arrowheads, three fishhooks, one spearhead, and one awl.
People lived in circular huts with floors paved with pebbles and rock fragments.
Both handmade and wheel-made pottery was found.
There was a profusion of Ganeshwar– Jodhpura ware, a poorly fired pottery made of micaceous clay, with a bright red slip
Period III had a wide range of pots. Hundreds of copper objects of different types— arrowheads, spearheads, celts, chisels, rings, bangles, balls, etc were found. This shows that Ganeshwar was a major centre for the manufacture of copper artefacts .
Hence, 3rd pair is correctly matched.
Burzahom
- During the Pleistocene era, the Kashmir valley was a gigantic lake and the neolithic sites are located on the remnants of the ancient lake beds known as karewas.
- In the Kashmir valley, there are several neolithic sites , these include Burzahom, Gufkral, Hariparigom, Jayadeviudar, Olchibag, Pampur, Panzgom, Sombur, Thajiwor, Begagund, Waztal, Gurhoma Sangri, and Damodara.
- Burzahom, is located on a terrace of karewa clay above the flood plain of the Jhelum river, northeast of Srinagar.
- The site was discovered in 1935 by de Terra and Paterson
- Burzahom is a Kashmiri word meaning ‘place of birch’, burnt birch trees were excavated , indicates that birch trees grew in the area in neolithic times
- There are four periods of occupation at Burzahom. The first two are neolithic, the third megalithic, and the fourth early historical.
- A distinguishing feature Burzahom is the presence of mudplastered pit dwellings
- Other finds included ill-fired, handmade, coarse pottery in grey, red, brown, and buff colours.
- Burzahom had a well-developed bone tool industry
- At Burzahom neolithic humans were sometimes buried along with wild animals such as deer, wolf, ibex, nilgai, snow leopard, and pig, and domesticated animals such as cattle, buffalo, dog, sheep, and goat . The joint burials of humans and animals at Burzahom reflect a close relationship between people and the animals concerned.
- Hunting and fishing were important parts of the lives of the neolithic people of Burzahom.
Hence, 1st pair is incorrectly matched.
Hence, option d is correct.
Q7. Consider the following statements: [Medieval India]
1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince.
2. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus.
3. It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 Only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 Only
(d) 2 and 3
Answer: a
Explanation:
The First Mongol invasion of India took place in the reign of Illtutmish. The Mongols appeared on the bank of the river Indus in 1221 under the command Changiz khan (1162-1227). Changiz khan came in hot pursuit of Jalal-ud-Din Mangbarni up to the Indus.
Jalal-ud-Din Mangbarni , the last Shah of Khwarism of Khiva, sought shelter from the Mongols in the Doab between the Indus and the Jhelum.
Hence, 1st statement is correct.
during the reign of Muhammad Tughluq. In 1328-29, Tarmashirin khan, the Chaghatai chief of Transoxiana, invaded India. He Revaged the country from Multan and Lahore to the Outskirts of Delhi.
There is a difference of opinion among writers regarding the outcome of the Invasion. Yahiya-bin-Ahmad and Badauni tell us that Muhammad Tughluq defeated the Mongols and drove them out of the country. However Ferishta says that Muhammad Tughlaq bribed the invaders and they retired.
Timur’s invaded India in 1398 during the reign of tughluq king Nasiruddin Mohammed Shah , Timur crossed the Indus, the Chenab, and the Ravi and occupied Multan.
Hence, 2nd statement is incorrect.
During the reign of Narasa Nayaka, the famous Portuguese navigator Vasco de Gama rounded the Cape of Good Hope with a fleet of three ships and arrived at Calicut in August 1498.
Hence, 3rd statement is incorrect.
Q8. Consider the following statements: [Medieval India]
1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
3. The Feast of the St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1,2 and 3 only
Answer: c
Explanation:
St. Francis Xavier
- born April 7, 1506, Navarre [Spain]
- died December 3, 1552, Sancian [now Shangchuan] Island, China;
Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
St. Francis Xavier was the greatest Roman Catholic missionary of modern times who was instrumental in the establishment of Christianity in India, the Malay Archipelago, and Japan.
In Paris in 1534 he pronounced vows as one of the first seven members of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, under the leadership of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Feast of St Francis Xavier or Goinchea Saibache Fest, (Lord of Goa Festival), is the biggest of all the Christian festivals in Goa. This feast is celebrated every year in Old Goa on 3rd December at the Basilica of Bom Jesus
Hence, statement 3 is correct.
9. With reference to the History of Ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct? [Medieval India]
1. Mitakshara was the civil law for upper caste and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
2. In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
3. The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Answer: b
Explanation:
Vijnaneshvara (11th–12th centuries) wrote commentary on the Yajnavalkya Smriti.
titled the Mitakshara, became an authority on various aspects of Hindu law.
Jimutavahana wrote a work on procedural law called the
Vyavaharamatrika and a digest of laws on inheritance called the Dayabhaga,
In Bengal and Assam the Dayabagha School was established and in the entire of India apart from in Bengal and Assam Mitakshara School is followed.
In the Mitakshara School, the allocation of inherited property was based on the law of possession by birth and a man could leave his self-acquired property to which he willed. The joint family property went to the group known as coparceners, i.e. those who belonged to next three generations and also the joint family property by partition could be, at any time, converted into separate property . Therefore in Mitakshara School, Sons had an exclusive right by birth in joint family property.
The property is inherited in the Dayabhaga School after the death of the person who was in possession of it.
Q10. With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla, and Kshemeshvara were famous: [Art & Culture]
(a) Jain monks
(b) Playwrights
(c) Temple architects
(d) Philosophers
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Bhavabhuti – mentioned by Kalhana in his Rajatarnagini as a poet in the court of King Yasovaraman of Kanyakubja(8th Century A.D). The drama mahaviracarita,Malatimadhava and Uttararamacarita are ascribe to Bhavabhuti.
- Hastimalla, He lived in the 9th century AD. He wrote many poems, such as Adipurana, Purucarita, and Uddayanarajakavya. He also wrote several dramas, such as Arjunaraja, Bharataraja, Meghesvaran, Maithiliparinaya, Subhadsaharana, Anjanapavanajaya, and Vikrantikaurava.
- Kshemendra belongs to the eleventh century A.D. – he wrote the later version of Brihat-katha by Gunadhya. His version is known as Kshemendra’s Brihat-kathamanjari. The other version of Brihat-katha is Somadeva’s Katha-Saritsagara.
Hence, option b is correct.
Q11. Consider the following statements: [Modern India]
1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21.
2. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in the legislature.
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
Answer: b
Explanation:
The Government of India Act, 1919 set up a bicameral legislature at the centre in place of the Imperial Council consisting of one House. The names of the two Houses were the Central Legislative Assembly and the Council of States.
Franchise for both Houses of the Central Legislature was very much restricted. The voting rights were restricted to the income tax payers & the municipal tax payers of certain amount, the rent receivers and the land revenue payers of a certain amount.
Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
The Government of India Act, 1935 did not set up provincial legislatures of a uniform pattern. The six provinces of Assam, Bengal, Bihar, U.P, Madras and Bombay were given two Chambers each while the legislatures of the Punjab, Sind, North-Wetsern Frontier Province, Orissa and C.P had only one Chamber.
The Houses were named as the Provincial Legislative Assembly and the Provincial Legislative Council.
The seats in the various provinces were distributed according to the Communal Award as amended by the Poona Pact. Some seats were known as general seats out of which some were reserved for the Scheduled Castes. Separate representation on communal lines was given to the Muslims, Sikhs, Anglo-Indians, Europeans and the Christians. Some seats were reserved for commerce, industry, mining and planting, landholders, labours and universities. Out of seats exclusively reserved for women, some were given to the Hindus and the others to the Muslims, Sikhs, Anglo-Indians and Indian Christians.
Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Q 12: With reference to 8th August 1942 in Indian History, which one of the following statements is correct? [Modern India]
(a) The Quit India Resolution was adopted by AICC
(b) The viceroy’s Executive Council was expected to include more Indians.
(c) The congress ministeries resigned in seven provinces.
(d) Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion status once the Second War was over.
Answer: a
Explanation:
On 8th August 1942, the famous “Quit India” resolution was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru and passed by an overwhelming majority. It was declared in that resolution that the immediate ending of the British rule in India was an urgent necessity. Mahatma Gandhi gave the Mantra: “Do or die. We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery”.
Hence, option a is correct.
Q13. Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English? [Modern India]
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(d) Sarojini Naidu
Answer: c
Explanation:
Famous books written by Mahatma Gandhi:
- The story of my experiment with truth
- Satyagraha
- Songs from Prison
- Hind Swaraj
Hence, option c is correct.
Q 14: With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequences is ascending order in terms of size? [Medieval India]
(a) Pargana–Sarkar–Suba
(b) Sarkar–Pargana–Suba
(c) Suba–Sarkar–Pargana
(d) Paragana–Suba–Sarkar
Answer: a
Explanation:
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE UNDER THE MUGHALS
The Mughals retained many features of the administrative systems of the Sultanate and Shershah.
Sher Shah Sur was the founder of the local system of government, including the districts (sarkars) and tehsils (parganas).
For administrative convenience, the Mughal empire was divided into provinces called subahs.
Under Akbar there were fifteen provinces, seventeen provinces under Jahangir, twenty-two under Shah Jahan and twenty-one under Aurangzeb.
Each province was headed by a governor called the Nazim, subedar or sipahsalar.
A Mughal subah or province was divided into a number of Sarkars or Districts. A district was governed by Faujdar.
Each sarkar or district consisted of a few Parganas or Tehsils, administered by Shikdar and assisted by Amil, Fotdar and Qanungo.
Hence, option a is correct.
Q 15: Who among the following was associated as Secretary with the Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School? [Modern India]
(a) Annie Besant
(b) Debendranatha Tagore
(c) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(d) Sarojini Naidu
Answer: c
Explanation:
J.E.D Bethune
John Elliot Drinkwater Bethune (J.E.D Bethune) arrived in India in 1848, as the Law member of the Governor General’s Council and by virtue of his position, Bethune became the President of the Council of Education.
He considered education as the only means for the rapid improvement of women and took a keen interest in spreading education of women as well as in eradication of social evils.
J.E.D Bethune established Calcutta Female School, the first school for girls in Calcutta with the help of Raja Dakshinaranjan Mukhopadhyay, Ramgopal Ghosh, and Pandit Madan Mohan Tarkalankar in 1849, with 21 girls on its roll.
The school established by Bethune was maintained from the private funds of its founder until his death in August, 1851. In later days this school came to be known as Bethune School. Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar was the first Secretary of Bethune School.
Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
- A great scholar and reformer dedicated his entire life to the cause of social reform.
- A sanskrit scholar and served as Principal of Sanskrit college.
- He waged a long struggle in favour of widow remarriage. The agitation was successful and Widow remarriage act was enacted by Lord canning in 1856
- Vidyasagar protested against child marriage. All his life he campaigned against polygamy.
- As secretary to the Bethune school, he was one of the pioneers of higher education for women.
Q 16: In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as: [Modern India]
(a) Leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
(b) Members of the Interim Government in 1946
(c) Members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituency Assembly
(d) Officers of the Indian National Army
Answer: d
Explanation:
After the End of the Second World War, the British authorities decided to try Col. Shah Nawaz, Captain Sehgal and Dhillion and other members of the Indian National Army for the crime of waging war against the King-Emperor before a Court-Martial.
- The trail started on 5 November 1945 in the Red Fort of Delhi and lasted up to 31 December. The decision was announced on 3 January 1946, and Shah Nawaz, Sehgal and Dhillon were found guilty and sentenced to transportation for life.
- There were mass Demonstrations throughout the country for their release. On certain occasions, Police resorted to firing and many Indians lost their lives.
- The result was that Field Marshal Auchin-leck, Commander-in-Chief of India, granted clemency to Shah Nawaz, Sehgal and Dhillon.
- On 6 February 1946, the Government of India announced its decision not to proceed any further with the trials and Consequently, cases against the rest of the I.N.A men were withdrawn.
Hence, option d is correct.
Q17. With reference to Indian History, which of the following statements is/are correct?
[Medieval India]
1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State
2. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of the Vijayanagara Empire
3. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only
Answer: b
Explanation:
Mughal successor states
The Nizamat of Arcot/Nawayat dynasty
The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of the large Mughal suba [province] of the Carnatic and like its counterparts in the north, was a successor state operating under the carapace of Mughal sovereignty. The founders of its Nawayat dynasty were Daud Khan Panni and Sa’adatullah Khan.
Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
Mysore
Mysore originated as a vice-royalty under the Vijayanagara Empire in the sixteenth century, Mysore was transformed into an autonomous state by the Wodeyar chieftaincy in the seventeenth century.
The new principality afforded opportunities for the rise of dynamic military commanders like Haider Ali to assume political power by eliminating the prime minister of the Wodeyar state and thereafter reducing the Wodeyar ruler to a titular head.
Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Rohilkhand
“Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.” The aftermath of Persian and Afghan invasions , Afghan soldiers circulated in the military market of north India and enabled some of them to carve out principalities that became important urban centres as well.
The Rohilla mercenaries defeated local rajput lineages and subsequently converted them into muslim Qasba towns . This kingdom was referred to as Muslim conquest state .
Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
Q18. Which one of the following statements is correct? [Art & Culture]
(a) Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of Waghora River.
(b) Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of Chambal River.
(c) Pandu-Lena Cave Shrines lie in the gorge of Narmada River.
(d) Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of Godavari River
Answer: a
Explanation:
The most prominent examples of rock-cut architecture are found at Ajanta and Bagh. The spectacular Buddhist site of Ajanta consists of several caves nested in a curving section of Sahyadri hills overlooking the Waghora River.
Hence, option a is correct.
Q 19. With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements: [Art & Culture]
1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
2. It is the only circular temple built in India
3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region
4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2,3 and 4
Answer: c
Explanation:
Chausath Yogini Temple, Monera, Madhya Pradesh
The Chausath Yogini Temple, Mitaoli, also known as Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple, is an 11th-century temple in Morena district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
According to an inscription, the temple was constructed by Maharaja Devapala of the Kacchapagata dynasty, dated VS 1380 (1323 CE).
Hence, statement 1 is correct.
This temple is situated on top of a small hill and has a circular plan. The small cells that form 64 subsidiary shrines have a shallow mandapa in front, While a circular main shrine facing east stands in the middle of the courtyard.
But this is not the only circular temple in India; there are many other circular yogini temples in India, such as
- Chausath Yogini Temple, Hirapur, Odisha
- Ranipur-Jharial, Balangir, Odisha temple
Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect.
The Chausath Yogini Temple, Morena, also known as Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple. This temple is so named because of the presence of multitude of Shivalingas inside its cells. This is a yogini temple dedicated to sixty-four yoginis. Hence, it belongs to the Shiavism cult.
Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
The uniqueness of this Yogini temple is its circular shape, which is popularly believed to have inspired the design of the Indian Parliament. The circular shape is likely to have represented a Sri-Yantra in which the Yoginis reside, with the Supreme Yogini or Maha Sakti residing in the centre (represented by the circular central main shrine).
Hence, statement 4 is correct.