Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1. Who was elected as the permanent President of the Muslim League in 1908 ?
(A) Nawab Salimullah
(B) Syed Ahmad Khan
(C) Aga Khan
(D) Syed Amir Ali
Ans : (C)
3. Which of the following statements are not true of the Home Rule Movement ?
I. The demand was for selfgovernment and not complete independence.
II. The movement included promoting political education to build a base for selfgovernment
III. It did not achieve much impact or popularity.
IV. The movement was the part of the Congress activity.
(A) I and II
(B) II and III
(C) III and IV
(D) IV and I
Ans : (C)
4. The two Home Leagues were founded in 1916. Their founders were—
I. Annie Besant
II. B. G. Tilak
III. Motilal Nehru
IV. Sardar Patel
(A) I and II
(B) II and III
(C) III and IV
(D) IV and I
Ans : (A)
9. Who had said on the death of Tilak ‘my strongest bulkwar is gone’ ?
(A) Shaukat Ali
(B) Muhammad Ali
(C) Lala Lajpat Rai
(D) Mahatma Gandhi
Ans : (D)
10. Rabindra Nath Tagore renounced his knighthood for which reason ?
(A) Jallianwalla Bagh Tragedy
(B) Cruel suppression of Civil Disobedience Movement
(C) Bhagat Singh was hanged
(D) Chauri-Chaura incident
Ans : (A)
11. Which among the following pair accused for killing English officers in England was hanged ?
(A) Raj Guru and Sukhdev
(B) Khudi Ram Bose and Suryasen
(C) Madan Lal Dhingra and Udham Singh
(D) Kartar Singh Sarabhai and Ashfaqullah Khan
Ans : (C)
13. In 1908 an attempt was made on the life of Kingsford, the unpopular judge at Muzzafarpur by—
1. Satyen Bose
2. Barindra Ghosh
3. Prafulla Chaki
4. Khudiram Bose
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 3 and 4
(C) 1 and 4
(D) 2 and 3
Ans : (B)
14. Which of the following were involved in throwing a bomb at the procession of Lord Hardinge through
Chandni Chowk (Delhi) in 1912 ?
1. Pulin Das
2. Bal Mukund
3 Avadh Behari
4. Amir Chand
(A) 1, 2, 3
(B) 2, 3, 4
(C) 2 and 3
(D) None of these
Ans : (B)
16. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was given the epithet of ‘Lokmanya’ during—
(A) Home Rule Movement
(B) Surat Split
(C) Swadeshi Movement
(D) His imprisonment in 1908
Ans : (A)
17. The only Indian prince who actively participated in the Revolutionary Movement within and outside
India was—
(A) Raja Aridaman Singh
(B) Raja Hari Singh
(C) Raja Kumar Singh
(D) Raja Mahendra Pratap
Ans : (D)
18. Curzon Wyllie, who was murdered by Modan Lal Dhingra in London, was—
(A) Secretary of State for India
(B) Adviser to the Secretary of State for India
(C) Law Member
(D) Governor of Bengal
Ans : (B)
20. Who said the following ‘‘the only lesson required in India at present is to learn how to die and the only
way to teach is by dying ourselves. Therefore, I die and glory in my martyrdom’’ ?
(A) Aurbindo Ghosh
(B) Khudiram Bose
(C) Chandra Shekhar Azad
(D) Madan Lal Dhingra
Ans : (D).
2. Which one of the following had supported Mahatma Gandhi on the Non-
cooperation resolution at the Special Calcutta Session, 1920 ?
(A) C. R. Das
(B) B. C. Pal
(C) Annie Besant
(D) Motilal Nehru
Ans : (D)
3. Which one of the following books is the official History of Revolt of 1857 ?
(A) Eighteen Fifty Seven
(B) Theories of Indian Mutiny
(C) The Sepoy Mutiny and the Revolt of 1857
(D) None of the above
Ans : (A)
4. Which one of the following had for the first time accepted that British
victory at Plassey was the victory of breach of faith ?
(A) Lord Clive
(B) Vansittort
(C) Hector Munro
(D) None of the above
Ans : (D)
5. Which one of the following Bengali drama was directed against Polygamy ?
(A) Bhanumati Chittavikas
(B) Kulin Kulasarvasva
(C) Vidhva Vivaha
(D) Nava Natak
Ans : (B)
6. The statement, “on bended knees I asked for bread and received stone
instead” is associated with—
(A) Khilafat Movement
(B) Non-Cooperation Movement
(C) Dandi March
(D) Quit India Movement
Ans : (C)
8. Which one of the following had drafted the fundamental rights resolution at
the Karachi Session, 1931 ?
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru
(B) Acharya Narendra Deo
(C) Subhash Chandra Bose
(D) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Ans : (A)
9. Which one of the following Bengali writers was the first to suggest the
adoption of Hindi as India’s National Language ?
(A) Bhudeva Mukherjee
(B) Dinbandhu Mitra
(C) Madhusudan Datta
(D) Kali Prasanna Sinha
Ans : (A)
11. Which one of the following had drafted the ‘Quit India Resolution’ ?
(A) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(B) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(C) Mahatma Gandhi
(D) Acharya Narendra Deo
Ans : (B)
12. In which of the following places Hindu Mahasabha was for the first time
organised in 1915 ?
(A) Haridwar
(B) Allahabad
(C) Varanasi
(D) None of the above
Ans : (A)
13. Who among the following had read the English version of Presidential
address in the Tripuri Session of Indian National Congress, 1939 ?
(A) Acharya Narendra Deo
(B) Sarat Chandra Bose
(C) Subhash Chandra Bose
(D) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Ans : (C)
14. The party which observed the ‘Black Day’ on July 3, 1947 against Partition
of India was—
(A) Indian National Congress
(B) Forward Bloc
(C) Hindu Mahasabha
(D) Communist Party of India
Ans : (C)
16. Who said, “Like summer gale revolt of Meerut was unprecedented and
short-lived” ?
(A) S. N. Sen
(B) R. C. Majumdar
(C) S. B. Chaudhuri
(D) V. D. Savarkar
Ans : (A)
17. Which one of the following had drafted the Hindu Widows Remarriage
Act ?
(A) Lord Canning
(B) Lord Dalhousie
(C) Lord Hardinge
(D) None of the above
Ans : (B)
22. Which young woman leader was symbol of defiance and resistance during
Quit India Movement ?
(A) Sarojini Naidu
(B) Kalpana Dutt Joshi
(C) Sucheta Kriplani
(D) Aruna Asaf Ali
Ans : (D)
23. Who hailed Gandhi’s call for ‘Quit India’ as an ‘Epic Movement’ ?
(A) Ram Manohar Lohia
(B) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(C) Subhash Chandra Bose
(D) Jai Prakash Narayan
Ans : (B)
24. In which year English was made the medium of instruction in India ?
(A) 1844 A.D.
(B) 1835 A.D.
(C) 1833 A.D.
(D) 1813 A.D.
Ans : (B)
26. Which one of the following leaders was not a part of Noncooperation
movement ?
(A) M. A. Ansari
(B) M. A. Zinnah
(C) Abul Kalam Azad
(D) Hakim Ajmal Khan
Ans : (B)
27. Between which stations was the first railway line opened in India ?
(A) Calcutta to Raniganj
(B) Bombay to Pune
(C) Calcutta to Jamshedpur
(D) Bombay to Thane
Ans : (D)
29. Who said over the radio on 30th January 1948 “The Father of Nation is no
more” ?
(A) Sardar Patel
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Rajendra Prasad
(D) Rajgopalachari
Ans : (B)
31. Which one of the following books is associated with rise of National
Movement in India ?
(A) Gitanjali
(B) Anand Math
(C) Satyagrah Prakash
(D) Gita Rahasya
Ans : (B)
36. Which of the following Harappan towns is divided into three parts ?
(A) Kalibanga
(B) Lothal
(C) Chanhudaro
(D) Dholavira
Ans : (D)
37. Which of the following is the most common motif of the Indus Seals ?
(A) Unicorn
(B) Bull
(C) Rhinoceros
(D) Elephant
Ans : (A)
38. Robert Bruce Foote, who discovered first Palaeolithic tool in India, was
originally a—
(A) Palaeobotanist
(B) Geologist
(C) Archaeologist
(D) Historian
Ans : (B)
42. King Ashvapati of the Upanishadic Age was the ruler of—
(A) Kekaya
(B) Matsya
(C) Panchala
(D) Sursena
Ans : (A)
43. Who of the following propounded the theory of the Arctic region as the
home land of the Aryan speaking people ?
(A) Max Muller
(B) Edward Meyer
(C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(D) Herzefeld
Ans : (C)
44. Who was the priest of the Bharatas in the battle of Ten Kings ?
(A) Visvamitra
(B) Vasishtha
(C) Atri
(D) Bhrigu
Ans : (B)
46. Who among the following teachers were visited by Siddhartha Gautama
in the quest of knowledge before his enlightenment ?
1. Alara Kalama
2. Udraka Ramaputra
3. Makkhali Gosala
4. Nigantha Nataputta
Indicate your answer from the codes given below—
(A) 1 and 4
(B) 4 and 2
(C) 2 and 3
(D) 1 and 2
Ans : (D)
49. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes
given below the lists—
List-I (Jain Tirthankaras)
(a) Santinatha
(b) Mallinatha
(c) Parsvanatha
(d) Mahavira
List-II (Cognizance)
1. Antelope
2. Lion
3. Serpent
4. Water jar
Codes :
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 1 2 4 3
(B) 4 1 3 2
(C) 2 3 1 4
(D) 1 4 3 2
Ans : (D)
50. Who among the following laid down punishment for a person becoming
mendicant without making adequate provision for dependent wife and
children ?
(A) Manu
(B) Yajnavalkya
(C) Kautilya
(D) Narada
Ans : (C)
51. Consider the following statements and select the correct answer from the
codes given below—
Assertion (A) : In the maximum number of Varsavasas Gautama Buddha
stayed at Sravasti.
Reason (R) : Prasenjit, the ruler of Sravasti was of the same age as
Gautama Buddha.
Codes :
(A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(D) (A) is false, but (R) is true
Ans : (B)
55. Rulers of which of the following dynasties bore the title Devaputra ?
(A) Maurya
(B) Sunga
(C) Kushana
(D) Saka-Kshatrapa
Ans : (C)
58. Who were the beneficiaries of Asoka’s donations in the region of Barabar
Hill ?
(A) Buddhists
(B) Ajivikas
(C) Svetambar Jains
(D) Digambar Jains
Ans : (B)
61. Who among the following was the ruler of Kanchi during the time of
Samudragupta ?
(A) Hastivarman
(B) Mantaraja
(C) Nilaraja
(D) Vishnugopa
Ans : (D)
62. Which one of the following places was a mint centre of the Yaudheyas ?
(A) Bayana
(B) Rohtak
(C) Bareilly
(D) Mathura
Ans : (B)
63. Which of the following parts were situated on the west coast of South
India ?
1. Kaveripattanam
2. Korkai
3. Musiri
4. Tondi
Indicate the correct answer from the codes given below—
(A) 1, 2
(B) 2, 3
(C) 3, 4
(D) 2, 3, 4
Ans : (C)
64. Who among the following was the first Satavahana King to introduce the
ruler’s head on the coins ?
(A) Satakarni I
(B) Gautamiputra Satakarni
(C) Vasishthiputra Pulumavi
(D) Yajna Satakarni
Ans : (A)
65. The largest of the Pallava Rathas is—
(A) Arjuna
(B) Bhima
(C) Dharmaraja
(D) Draupadi
Ans : (C)
66. Who of the following adopted ‘Garuda’ as dynastic emblem after the
imperial Guptas ?
(A) Rashtrakutas
(B) Western Chalukyas
(C) Shilaharas
(D) Chedis
Ans : (A)
72. The North Indian Dynasties that confronted the Rashtrakutas were—
(A) The Pratiharas and the Paramaras
(B) The Palas and the Chandelas
(C) The Pratiharas and the Palas
(D) The Chalukyas and the Chahamanas
Ans : (C)
79. Who are the four Rajput clans described in Prithviraja-Raso of Chanda
Bardai, who are said to have emerged from fire-pit of Mount Abu ?
(A) Pratiharas, Chahamanas, Gahadavalas, Kalachuris
(B) Paramaras, Chandelas, Chahamanas, Chalukyas
(C) Chahamanas, Kalachuris, Chandelas, Pratiharas
(D) Pratiharas, Chahamanas, Chalukyas, Parmaras
Ans : (D)
81. Which one of the following temples does not belong to the Cholas ?
(A) Brihadishwara
(B) Koranganatha
(C) Kailashanatha
(D) Airavateshwar
Ans : (C)
83. During the time of Alauddin’s invasion Warangal was ruled by—
(A) Chalukya Dynasty
(B) Chola Dynasty
(C) Kakatiya Dynasty
(D) Yadava Dynasty
Ans : (C)
84. Who of the following Rajput rulers gave donation for the reconstruction of
a mosque ?
(A) Mihir Bhoja
(B) Bhoja Parmar
(C) Prithviraj III
(D) Jai Singh Siddharaj
Ans : (D)
86. Which one of the following was not constructed by Qutubuddin Aibak ?
(A) Kubbat-ul-Islam mosque
(B) Qutub Minar
(C) Adhai din Ka Jhopada
(D) Alai Darwaja
Ans : (D)
87. Vijayanagar empire was founded during the reign period of—
(A) Firoz Tughlaq
(B) Sikandar Lodi
(C) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
(D) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
Ans : (D)
88. The historian Sewell has written a book entitled ‘A Forgotten Empire’.
What was the name of empire ?
(A) Mughal Empire
(B) Vijayanagar Empire
(C) Maratha Empire
(D) Mauryan Empire
Ans : (B)
91. Which new department was started by Muhammad-bin- Tughlaq for the
development of agriculture ?
(A) Diwan-i-Risalat
(B) Diwan-i-Ashraf
(C) Diwan-i-Kohi
(D) Diwan-i-Mustkharaz
Ans : (C)
93. Who was Qazi Fazilat during the reign of Sher Shah ?
(A) The Qazi of Bengal
(B) The Chief Qazi of the Afghan Empire
(C) The Governor of Bengal
(D) None of the above
Ans : (C)
94. Which one of the following officers was the superintendent of port under
the Mughals ?
(A) Mutsaddi
(B) Mir-i-Bahar
(C) Tahvildar
(D) Mushrif
Ans : (B)
95. Which one of the following was not a reason for Balban abandoning the
policy of conquest and adopting the policy of consolidation ?
(A) Threat of external invasion
(B) Internal revolts
(C) Indian Kings willing to throw off the Turkish rule
(D) His weak nature
Ans : (D)
96. Which one of the following Sultans, was not an off spring of Iltutmish, but
was the last successor of his dynasty ?
(A) Rukn-ud-din Firoz
(B) Razia
(C) Muizuddin Bahram Shah
(D) Nasiruddin Mahmud
Ans : (D)
97. Which one of the following sons of Alauddin Khalji was born of his wife
Jhatyapali, the daughter of Raja Ramchandra Dev of Devagiri ?
(A) Shihabuddin Umar
(B) Khizr Khan
(C) Qutbuddin Mubarak
(D) Sadi Khan
Ans : (A)
101. Who among the foreign travellers describes how the ‘Ganges water’ was
carried in copper vessels for Mughal Emperors to drink ?
(A) Thomas Coryat
(B) Edward Terry
(C) Ralph Fitch
(D) Sir Thomas Roe
Ans : (B)
102. Who was the member of Ulema, who issued the ‘Fatwa’ against Akbar
from Jaunpur ?
(A) Mullayazdi
(B) Mirza Hakim
(C) Abdun Nabi
(D) Abdullah Sultanpuri
Ans : (C)
104. Who among the following was the lowest in rank in the Maratha
infantry ?
(A) Nayak
(B) Hawaldar
(C) Zumladar
(D) Hazari
Ans : (B)
112. Which Maratha State was the last to accept the Subsidiary Alliance of
the British ?
(A) Gaikwad
(B) Sindhia
(C) Holkar
(D) Bhonsle
Ans : (B)
113. During the Mughal period, what was ‘Narnal’ or light artillery ?
(A) One carried on elephantback
(B) One carried on camel-back
(C) One carried by man
(D) None of the above
Ans : (C)
114. What do the terms ‘Elchi’ or ‘Safir’ denote in the sixteenth century
Mughal administrative vocabulary ?
(A) Ambassadors
(B) Rebels
(C) Spies
(D) Governors
Ans : (A)
115. Which year of Akbar’s reign has been regarded by the historian, Vincent
A. Smith as ‘the most critical time’ ?
(A) 1556 A.D.
(B) 1561 A.D.
(C) 1571 A.D.
(D) 1581 A.D.
Ans : (D)
116. Who of the following was the first Indian to write English verse ?
(A) Kashi Prasad Ghosh
(B) Ramchandra Vidyavagish
(C) Krishna Mohan Banerjee
(D) Hariharanand
Ans : (A)
117. Which one of the following statements is not correct about Bahadur
Shah Zafar ?
(A) He was an emperor without empire
(B) He was a warrior without any war experience
(C) Hassan Askari was his spiritual guide
(D) He succeeded to the throne in 1845 A.D.
Ans : (D)
118. During whose tenure did the incident of ‘Black Hole’ take place ?
(A) Mir Zafar
(B) Mir Qasim
(C) Alivardi Khan
(D) Sirajuddaula
Ans : (D)
119. Which one of the following had bestowed the title of ‘Jagat Seth’ to
Fatehchand ?
(A) Alivardi Khan
(B) Sirajuddaula
(C) Mir Zafar
(D) Muhammad Shah
Ans : (D)
120. In which of the following languages the book entitled ‘Hind Swaraj’ was
written ?
(A) Hindi
(B) Urdu
(C) Gujarati
(D) English
Ans : (C)
● The script of Indus civilization was pictorial in which there were more than 600 picture-letters and 60
original letters.
● The excavations of Chanhudaro were carried out in 1925 under the leadership of Earnest M’ckay. This
town had no fort.
● Naal, Daburkot, Rakhi Garhi, Banawali, Rangpur, Lothal, Des Morasi, Kulli, Rana Ghundai, Anjira,
Gumla, Amri, Ghundai, Mundigak, Diplabaga, Sahar-i-Sokhta, Bampur and Queta etc. are famous
historical sites where the remains of Indus civilization and pre Indus civilization have been excavated.
● Daburkot, Periano, Ghundai, Kulli, Mehi, Chanhudaro, Amri, Lohumjodaro, Alimurad, Ropar, Rangpur,
Sutkegender are the prominent (spots) places of Indus Valley civilization.
● The excavations of Kalibangan, a historical place in Rajasthan began in 1961 under the direction of B.
K. Thapar and B. B. Lal. From the lower layer of the excavation, the remains of pre Indus civilization and
from the upper layer of the Indus civilization are discernible. The fortress and the city both were
surrounded with walls.
● The excavations at Rangpur—an Indus site in Gujarat were carried out in 1953-54 under the leadership
of Rangnath Rao. Forts of raw bricks, drainage, terrecota utensils, weights and slabs of stone have been
found but the idol of mother Goddess (Matridevi) and coins have not been found.
● Lothal was situated at that time near the ocean. In excavations the remains of a dockyard have been
found which testify to the trade relations of Indus people with western Asia.
● In the district of Kutchh in Gujarat state, 12 kms north-east of Adesar is situated Surkotda which was
explored and excavated in 1964 under the guidance of Jagatpati Joshi.
● In the excavation of Indus civilization, a very big building has been explored. It is 242 ft long and 112 ft
broad. The walls are 5 ft thick.
● Some figurines on tables have been found in Indus civilization in the centre of which is a round shaped
Sun and around it are the pictures of 6 gods arranged in a way that they appear as if they are the Sun
beams. This testifies to the worship of Sun in the period.
● The proof of the existence of a Man-like being are 1 crore to 20 lacs years old.
● In the Indian population, there are four basic racial sub-difference. These are Negrito, Astro Australians,
Kakeshisi and Mongoloids.
● In India, skeletons (human body in bones-kankal) have been found in Sarai Nahar Rai near Allahabad,
Bataikhor and Lekhania. High in length, flat nose and broad mouth are their characteristics. These belong
to Mesolithic age.
● The pre stone civiliation came to be knwon in the region of river Sohan a subsidiary of Sindhu. Hence it
is called Sohan civilization. The Vatikapoom in the form of (Gandasa) axe and Khandak were its main
implements.
● In Harappan culture, the worship of Earth as goddess was in vogue. This is indicated by the idol of a
woman with a plant growing out of her womb.
● Along with the Elephants, Rhinoceros, Buffalos, Lions and Deers, the picture of Yogi engraved on a
seal (Muhar) suggests the worship of Shiva in Harappan civilization. This god had three heads and he sat
with crossed legs.
● The Talismans obtained in large numbers indicate that the people of Harappan culture believed in
witchcraft or the dead souls. These talismans were made of bronze and copper in the form of plate.
● In Harappan culture the weight (for measuring) were 16 or of its multiplied numbers.
● The dogs and cats were the domesticated animals and their foot prints confirm this fact.
● The remains of the horses have been found at Surkotda. The existence of the horse is not known from
the upper layer of Mohanjodaro excavation. The terrecota small figurines provide knowledge about it.
● The people of Lothal used rice in 1800 B.C.
● As Sindh was one of the oldest region for cultivating cotton, the Greeks named it as Sedon.
● In Harappan culture, silver was obtained from Afghanistan, Iran, South India, Arabia and Baluchistan.
Gold was imported from Afghanistan and Persia.
● The stone Lajward was brought from Badakshan, Feroza was brought from Iran. Jayumani was brought
from Maharashtra, Moonga and redstone were brought from Saurashtra and Western India and the
precious greenstone (Panna) was brought from Central Asia.
● The Ahar culture (Rajasthan) belonged to the Copper age. The houses were built of stone and a
mixture of lime and soil. Paddy was cultivated and Metal Work in Bronze were in vogue. All these were
the characteristics of this culture which existed about 2000 B.C.
● The remains of Malwa stone and Bronze culture have been found in Navdatoli where the houses were
built of mud, bamboo and dry grass in a square and round shape. The terrecota utensils and agricultural
products of wheat, oil seeds, pulses (Masur) and green and black gram are the characteristics of this
culture.
● The Rishis (Sages) like Gritsamad, Vishwamitra, Bhardwaj, Atri and Vashishta composed the Suktas or
the Vedic Mantras.
● The prominent female sages were Lopamudra, Ghosa, Shachi and Poulomi.
● Sam Ved is divided into three branches—(1) Kouthum, (2) Ranayaniya, (3) Jaminiya.
● Prominent among the Ayurvedacharyas were Acharya Ashwini Kumar, Dhanvantari, Banabhatt,
Sushrut, Madhav, Jeevan and Lolimbaraja etc.
● Ayur Ved is an ‘Upaved’ of Rig Ved, Dhanur Ved is ‘Upaved’ of Yajur Ved, Gandharva Ved is the
‘Upaved’ of Sam Ved and Shilpa Ved is the ‘Upaved’ of Atharva Ved.
● Rig Ved has two Brahmans—(1) Aitereya, (2) Kaushitaki.
● Krishna Yajur Ved has the Brahman—Taitteriya and Shukla Yajur Ved has the Shatpath Brahman.
● The Brahmans of Sam Ved are Tandav, Panchvish, Sadvish and Chhandogya.
● The Aranyakas deal with life, death and other serious themes. These are written and studied in
loneliness of the forests.
● Aitereya and Kaushitaki are the Aranyakas of Rig Ved. The author of Aitereya was Mahidas Aitereya.
● Taitteriya Aranyaka belongs to Krishna Yajur Veda.
● Sam Ved and Atharav Ved have no Aranyakas.
● Prominent among the Upanishads are Ish, Ken, Kath, Prashn, Mundak, Mandukya, Taitteriya, Aitereya,
Chhandogya, Vrihadaranyak, Shwetashwara, Kaushitaki and Mahanarayana.
● During the Rigvedic period Nishk was an ornament for the neck; Karnashobhan was an ornament for
the ear and Kumbh was the ornament for the head.
● In the Rigvedic age, the Aryans domesticated the cow, the buffalo, goat (ajaa), horse, elephant and
camel etc.
● Bheeshaj was the person who treated the sick people.
● The Rigvedic Aryans worshipped the Sun as Savita, Mitra, Pooshan and Vishnu. Sun was called the
‘Eye of Gods’; and Agni the ‘Mouth of Gods’. Agni was considered to be the Purohit of the Aryans. They
thought that the offering of the Yajna reaches to the gods through Agni. Varun was worshipped as a
spatial god.
● In Rig Veda, Usha, Sita, Prithvi, Aranyani, Ratri, Vak are worshipped as goddesses.
● Besides Rig Ved, the reference of Sita as the goddess of agriculture is made in Gomil Grihya Sutra and
Paraskar Grihya Sutra.
● The ancient idols of Ganesh show his main weapons as Paash and Ankush.
● In the Rigvedic age the traders were called ‘Pani’. They stole away the cattle of the Aryans.
● Das’ or Dasyas were more hated than the ‘Pani’. They have been referred as black complexioned
inauspicious and opposed to Yajnas. They were the worshippers of Phallus (Shishnadev).
● In the Rigvedic age, the cow was the backbone of economy. It was called ‘Aghanya’—not to be killed,
war has been referred as Gavisthi, the guest as Mohan and the daughter as Duhiti. One Rik refers to the
domestication of sheep.
● Vashishtha who replaced Vishwamitra as Purohit of King Sudas, has been mentioned as adopted son
of Urvashi, and born of the ‘Virya’ of Mitra and Varun on an earthen pot.
● Ballabh and Tarukshadas were chieftains who lavishly donated to the Purohits and through their grace
obtained respect and high place in the Aryan society.
● Savitri is referred in the famous Gayatri Mantra. In Rig Ved the maximum reference is made of Indra.
After him Varun is referred to. In the earlier Richas Varun and Marut have been mentioned as ‘Gan’.
Twasta also was a Vedic God.
● Prajapati has been referred as the Adi Purush—the first human (male). The gods were his children.
● In Rig Ved, the king has been mentioned as the Protector of the clan or the Gopta Janasya. The
reference to Sabha, Samiti, Gan, Vidath is made as the Tribal Councils.
● No bureaucracy developed in Rigvedic age. Yet the officer of Gochar land were called Vrajpati, the
officer of the village was called Gramani. He was the commander. The chief of the family is referred as
‘Kulap’.
● The words like Vrat, Gan, Gram and Shardh have also been used for indicating the group of Soldiers.
● In Rig Ved Jan is used 275 times, Vish is used 170 times. Sangram is the word which indicates war
between the villages.
● The God of Vegetation. It was also an intoxicating drink and the method of its preparation is referred in
the Rig Ved.
● The later Vedic literature was written during 1100 to 600 B.C. The painted grey ware—bowls and plates
were used and the tools which they used were made of iron.
● The main crop of the later Vedic age was wheat and paddy instead of barley.
● In the later Vedic age, the Vidath were extinct but the Sabha and the Samiti existed.
● In this period, the King performed the rites of Rajsuya Yajna with a desire to obtain divine power,
Ashwamedha Yajna to expand the empire and the Vajpeya Yajna for chariot racing with friends and
relatives of his Gotra.
● The Gotra system began in the later Vedic age. The custom of marrying outside the Gotra also started.
● In the literature of later Vedic age, the first three Ashrams are mentioned—(1) Brahmcharya, (2)
Grihastha, (3) Banprastha. The Sanyas Ashram is not mentioned.
● In later Vedic period the plant Som could not be obtained easily. As such other drinks were also used.
● Gold and Silver were mainly used for making ornaments and utensils. Other metals were used for
making many other implements in the later Vedic era.
● In later Vedic period, the commercial classes (Traders) organized themselves in ‘Sangh’. The Aryans
conducted sea trade. Nisk, Satman and Krishal were usded as coins for trade purposes.
● In comparison to the religion of Rigvedic period, the later Vedic religion had become very complex.
Purohits, Yajna and sacrifice were considered important. Many types of Yajnas were performed.
● The Shatpath Brahman refers to the various steps in progress of cultivation—Jutai (ploughing), Buwai
)planting), Lawani (weaning), Mandai (cutting) are the various processes mentioned in it.
● Sangam literature is compiled in 8 books. They are—(1) Narune, (2) Kuruntoge, (3) Aigunuru, (4)
Padirupyuttu, (5) Paripadal, (6) Karlittorga, (7) Nedultoge, (8) Purnanuru.
● In the Sangam age, the Tamil Grammar was written in a detailed book, ‘Tolakappiyam’.
● With the songs of the musicians, the dancers known as Panar and Widelier used to dance.
● Pedinekilkanku is a famous composition of Sangam literature.
● Sangam is a Sanskrit word meaning a Congregation and a Council.
● The main theme of the Sangam literature is ‘Romance’ (Shringar) and heroism (Veergatha). Shringar is
called as ‘Aham’ and Veergatha has been called as ‘Puram’.
● The first Sangam was organized at Madurai under the chairmanship of Rishi Agastya.
● The second Sangam was organized at Kapatpuram again under the chairmanship of Rishi Agastya.
● The third Sangam was organized at Madurai and it was chaired by ‘Nakkirar’.
● Avey was the family of Sangam age which meant Sabha (assembly).
● Panchvaram was the assembly of the advisors of the King of Sangam age.
● Ur was the institution which looked after the city administration.
● The excavation of Arikmedu, provide enough evidence to prove that once opon a time, the
cantonements of the Roman traders resided there.
● The teachers in the Sangam age were called as Kanakkaters.
● The students in the Sangam age were called Bhanwan or Pillai.
● Parshvanath arranged for fourfold vows (Chaturvrata) for the Bhikshus (monks)—(1) I shall not kill the
living beings, (2) I shall always speak the truth, (3) I shall not steal, (4) I shall not keep any property.
● Mahavir Swami has been called Nigashtha, Naatputra and Nirgranth Saatputra.
● Mahavir Swami left his mortal frame and attained Nirvana at Pawapuri near Patna in Bihar.
● The Triratna in Jainism are described as Samyak Shraddha (veneration), Samyak Gyan (knowledge)
and Samyak Acharana (conduct).
● According to Jainism, Nirvana (redemption) to free the soul from the physical bondage.
● Mahavir Swami has described five vows for the common people which are called as Panchmaha-vrat.
These are—Truth, Non-violence, No stealing, No collection of wealth or anything and celibacy (Satya,
Ahimsa, Astey, Aparigrah and Brahamacharya). To these was later added, ‘Not to eat at Night’.
● Buddha was born in the Lumbini forest, 14 km beyond Kapilvastu in Nepal Tarai.
● Gautam obtained knowledge at Gaya. Hence the place is called Bodh Gaya.
● The followers of Buddha were divided into four sections—(1) Bhikshu or the monks, (2) Bhik-shuni or
lady monks, (3) Upasaks or devotees, (4) Upasikas or lady devotees.
● After delivering his teachings for constant 45 years, Mahatma Buddha attained Mahaparinirvan at the
age of 80 at Kushinara (Kushinagar).
● Vinay Pitak is divided into 3 sections—(1) Sutta Vibhag, (2) Khandhak, (3) Pariwar.
● Suttpitak contains—Diggh Nikay, Majjhim Nikay, Anguttar Nikay and Khuddak Nikay.
● There are seven treatises of Abhidhamma Pitak —(1) Dhamma Sangeeti, (2) Vibhang, (3) Dhatu Katha,
(4) Puggal Panjati, (5) Katha Vastu, (6) Yamak, (7) Patthan.
● The eightfold paths are—(1) Right belief, (2) Right thought, (3) Right speech, (4) Right action, (5) Right
means of livelihood, (6) Right execution, (7) Right remembrance, (8) Right meditation.
● In Buddhism, the Astangikmarg (eight fold path) is classified as—(1) Praja Skandh, (2) Sheel Skandh,
(3) Samadhi Skandh.
● Under Praja Skandh come—Samyak Drishti, Samyak Sankalp and Samyak Vani (speech).
● Under Samadhi Skandh come—Samyak Vyayam, Samyak Smriti and Samyak Samadhi.
● Mahatma Buddha was silent on the existence of God or otherwise but he did not believe in the
existence of soul.
● The first Buddhist Council was convened after a few years of Buddha’s death under the chairmanship of
Mahakassap in Saptparna caves near Rajgrih.
● The third Buddhist Council was convened at Patliputra during the regime of Asoka.
● The fourth Buddhist Council was convened at Kashmir during the regime of Kanishka.
● Bhagwatism is mentioned for the first time in the Bhishm Parva of Mahabarat.
● A Brahman named Kautilya or Chanakya played a significant role in the establishment of the Mauryan
empire.
● In the Mudra Rakshas written by Vishakhdutt, Chandra Gupta Maurya is called Chandragiri
Chandrashree.
● In Buddhist literature, Mahavansh Tika is the book which throws ample light on the life of Chandra
Gupta Maurya.
● After being defeated in war with Chandra Gupta, Selukose offered him Gadrosia (Baluchistan), Acrosia
(Kandahar), Aria (Herat) and a part of Hindukush.
● Sudarshan Lake at Junagarh was built by Chandra Gupta Maurya.
● The Mahasthan inscription points out Chandra Gupta’s ascendancy over Bengal.
● The Rudradaman inscription of Girnar testifies to the suzerainty of Chandra Gupta over Saurashtra.
● According to Jain Texts, Chandra Gupta in the last years of his life, accepted Jainism and went to
Mysore with the Jain monk Bhadrabahu.
● The empire of Chandra Gupta spread from Himalaya in the north to Mysore in the south; and from
Bengal in the east to Baluchistan in the west. It covered Punjab, Sindh, Kashmir, Doab of Ganga and
Yamuna, Magadh, Bengal, Malwa, Saurashtra and the region of Mysore.
● The administrative system of Chandra Gupta Maurya was Monarchy. In order to administer well,
Chandra Gupta Maurya appointed a Council of Ministers.
● In the Mauryan age, the officer who collected the trade taxes was called Shulkadhyaksha.
● The Chairman of the Government services was known as Sutradhyaksha in the Mauryan age.
● The officer-in-charge of Weight and Measures was known as Peetadhyaksha in the Mauryan age.
● In Mauryan age, the officer who controlled the manufacture of wine, its sale and purchase and its
consumption was Suradhyaksha.
● The chairman of the agricultural department was called Seetadhyaksha in Mauryan age.
● There were many officers such as Ganikadhyaksha,` Mudradhyaksha, Navadhyaksha, Ashwadhyaksha
and Devtadhyaksha etc. in the Mauryan Age.
● The officer who kept the details of total income and expenditure of the State and decided the economic
policy was called Sannidhata. Under him, worked officers like Treasurer and Shulkadhyaksha.
● In Mauryan age, the minister of factories and mines was called Karmantirak. His main task was to
excavate different metals from the mines and look after the factories.
● In Mauryan age the Amatya of Fauzdari (Criminal) Court was called Pradeshta.
● The Amatya of the Civil Court was known as Vyavaharik.
● The Greek scholars have described the Amatyas as the seventh caste.
● The successor of Chandra Gupta Maurya is called name Bindusara in majority of the Puranas.
Ceylonese works, Buddhist textsand in Deepvansh and Mahavansh. In Vayu Puran, his name is given as
Bhadrasaar. In some of the Purans he is called as Varisaar. In the Chinese text—Fa-Uen-Chu-Lin, he is
called as Bindupal. In another book Rajabalikatha, the successor and son of Chandra Gupta is called as
Sinhasen.
● Ptolemy, the ruler of Egypt sent Dioniyas as his ambassador to the Court of Bindusaar.
● In Chandra Gupta Maurya’s time, the chief of the city was called Nagaradhyaksha who worked like the
modern District Magistrate.
● The smallest unit of the administration was the village. Its chief officer was called Gramik or Gramani.
● Gramani was elected by the people of the village.
● In every village, there was an officer who was called Gram Bhojak.
● In the administration of Chandra Gupta Maurya the department of espionage was well organized.
According to Kautilya, there were two sections of the secret service—(1) Sansthan, (2) Sancharan.
● In the inscriptions, Asoka is called Devanampriya and Priyadarshi.
● The Ceylonese sources and Deepvansh, call him, Priyadarshan and Priyadarshi. Scholars think that
these were his titles.
● Asoka appointed an officer called Mahamatras in every city and district.
● In the 13th year of his reign, he appointed Dharma Mahamatra and Dharmayukta for the first time for
the happiness and peace of his people.
● Upagupta was a Bauddhist monk of Mathura under his influence, Asoka changed his religion and
accepted Buddhism.
● Asoka sent his daughter Sanghmitra and son Mahendra to spread Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
● In the mini edicts Asoka calls himself a Buddha Shakya.
● Asoka sent Majjhantik to propogate Buddhism in Kashmir.
● In 1750, it was Teffenthaler who first explored the Asokan pillars.
● Asoka’s last edict was found by Beadon in 1915 at Maski.
● The small edicts of Asoka are of two types. According to Smith, they were written in 259-232 B.C.
● The first kind of Asokan small pillar edicts are available at Roopnath in Jabalpur district, Sahasaram in
Shahabad district of Bihar, Maski, in Raichoor district, and Vairat in Rajasthan.
● The second type of Asokan edicts have been found at Siddhpur (Chitralahug, Mysore) Jatig,
Rameshwar and Brahmagiri.
● The Bhabru edict was found at Bairath near Jaipur in Rajasthan. In this edict seven precepts of
Buddhism have been given which Asoka liked most and he desired that the people should read them and
make their conduct accordingly. This edict is preserved in Kolkata Museum.
● Two edicts about Kalinga have been found at Dhauli and Jaugarh. In these, the principles of behaviour
with he people of Kalinga and with the frontier people have been outlined.
● The Erangudi edict was found in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh at a place known as Erangudi.
● The Maski small edict was found from Maski village of Raichoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It contains
the name of Asoka.
● The Rajul Mandgiri edict was found on a mound 20 miles beyond Erangudi in Kurnool district of Andhra
Pradesh.
● The Gurjara edict has been found from a village named Gurjara in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh. It
also mentions the name of Asoka.
● Ahraura edict was found from a hill of the village Ahraura in Mirzapur district of U.P.
● The Sannati inscription (edict) has been found in the village Sannati in the district of Gulbarga of
Karnatic State.
● The cave inscription are three in number which have been found in the Barabar hills of Gaya city in
Bihar. These refer to the charity performed by the King to the Ajivaks.
● The language of the Kandahar edict is Greek and Aramaic.
● The Topara pillar edict has been found from a village named Topara in Haryana. In the course of time
Firoz Tughlaq brought it to Delhi where it is kept at Feroz Shah Kotla ground.
● Rumindei small pillar edict was found from the Tarai of Nepal.
1. Which one of the following regions did not constitute a separate suba (province) under Akbar ?
(A) Orissa
(B) Bengal
(C) Bihar
(D) Awadh
Ans : (D)
2. Which of the following statements about Bukka I of the Vijayanagar empire is not correct ?
(A) He instilled new vigour into Hindu Society
(B) He renovated temples
(C) Under his fostering care Sayana wrote commentaries on Vedas
(D) He adopted measures to uplift the Shudras
Ans : (D)
4. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below—
List-I
(a) Accession of Aurangzeb
(b) Promulgation of Mahzar
(c) Battle of Khanva
(d) Accession of Akbar
List-II
1. 1527 A.D.
2. 1556 A.D.
3. 1579 A.D.
4. 1659 A.D.
Codes :
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 1 2 3 4
(B) 4 3 1 2
(C) 3 1 4 2
(D) 2 1 3 4
Ans : (B)
8. Which one of the following Sufi orders laid great stress on practicing mystic music ?
(A) Chisti
(B) Suharawardi
(C) Qadiri
(D) Naqshbandi
Ans : (A)
9. Who among the following Hindu Painters was sent by Jehangir to make a portrait of Shah Abbas I of
Persia ?
(A) Basawan
(B) Bishan Das
(C) Dasrath
(D) Manohar
Ans : (B)
11. In which year was the decree called ‘Mahzar’ issued during Akbar’s reign ?
(A) 1560 A.D.
(B) 1572 A.D.
(C) 1576 A.D.
(D) 1579 A.D.
Ans : (D)
12. The ‘Razmanama’ which was compiled by several Persian scholars was a translation of—
(A) Panchatantra
(B) Ramayana
(C) Mahabharata
(D) Rigveda
Ans : (C)
15. Which was the chief or main region of copper mines in Mughal period ?
(A) Bengal
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Agra
(D) Bihar
Ans : (B)
17. Which one of the following was not included in the ‘Asta Pradhan’ of Shivaji ?
(A) Sumant
(B) Majmudar
(C) Vakiyanavis
(D) Vakeel
Ans : (D)
18. What was the rate of land revenue in the administration of Shivaji ?
(A) 2/5 portion of the yield
(B) 1/2 portion of the yield
(C) 1/3 portion of the yield
(D) 1/4 portion of the yield
Ans : (A)
21. When was Bombay transferred to the East India Company by Charles II ?
(A) 1662 A.D.
(B) 1664 A.D.
(C) 1666 A.D.
(D) 1668 A.D.
Ans : (D)
22. Who of the following had said that Victory of Plassey was a victory of betrayal ?
(A) Orme
(B) H. H. Dodwell
(C) Lord Clive
(D) P. E. Roberts
Ans : (B)
23. Name the English man who tried to obtain from Akbar a Firman for trade in Gujarat ?
(A) Ralph Fitch
(B) John Mildenhall
(C) Sir Thomas Roe
(D) Thomas Stephens
Ans : (B)
25. Who is credited with the following statement regarding the outbreak of the Revolt of 1857
“The Meerut outbreak was sudden and short-lived like a summer gale” ?
(A) S. N. Sen
(B) S. B. Chaudhari
(C) V. D. Savarkar
(D) R. C. Majumdar
Ans : (A)
26. When did the Marathas capture Salsette and Bassein from the Portuguese ?
(A) 1695 A.D.
(B) 1713 A.D.
(C) 1720 A.D.
(D) 1739 A.D.
Ans : (D)
27. The Diwani right of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa was obtained by the English East India Company under
the treaty of—
(A) Alinagar
(B) Faizabad
(C) Allahabad
(D) Benaras
Ans : (C)
28. Find out the correct chronological order of the following events from the code given below—
1. Treaty of Amritsar
2. Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
3. Treaty of Lahore
4. East India Company’s alliance with Mewar.
Codes :
(A) 4, 1, 3, 2
(B) 2, 1, 4, 3
(C) 1, 2, 3, 4
(D) 3, 4, 2, 1
Ans : (B)
29. By which of the following treaties did the Peshwa accept the Subsidiary Alliance with the British ?
(A) Treaty of Purandhar
(B) Treaty of Bassein
(C) Treaty of Salbai
(D) Treaty of Surji Arjungaon
Ans : (B)
30. Which of the following native states was first to conclude Subsidiary Alliance with East India Company
?
(A) Avadh
(B) Mewar
(C) Mysore
(D) Hyderabad
Ans : (D)
31. Who among the following historians has remarked that the Government of Bengal between the period
1765–1772 was a robber state ?
(A) G. W. Forrest
(B) Lord Macaulay
(C) K. M. Panikkar
(D) Nand Lal Chatterji
Ans : (C)
33. Nearly one third of soldiers of the famous Bengal Army had their homes in—
(A) Punjab
(B) Avadh
(C) Bengal
(D) Maharashtra
Ans : (D)
34. Which one of the following native states was annexed by the British on the basis of the Doctrine of
Lapse ?
(A) Avadh
(B) Punjab
(C) Jhansi
(D) Mysore
Ans : (C)
35. Match List-I with List-II and find out the correct answer from the codes given below—
List-I
(a) Theosophical Society
(b) Prarthana Samaj
(c) Brahmo Samaj
(d) Ram Krishna Mission
List-II
1. Swami Vivekanand
2. Mrs. Annie Besant
3. M. G. Ranade
4. Ram Mohan Roy
Codes :
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 2 3 4 1
(B) 1 2 3 4
(C) 4 3 2 1
(D) 3 2 4 1
Ans : (A)
37. By the enactment of British Parliament when did the East India Company cease to be a trading
Company ?
(A) 1784 A.D.
(B) 1833 A.D.
(C) 1813 A.D.
(D) 1773 A.D.
Ans : (B)
38. What is the correct chronological order of setting up of the following Commissions ?
1. Macdonell Commission
2. First Industrial Commission
3. First Fiscal Commission
Select the correct answer from the code given below—
(A) 1, 2, 3
(B) 2, 3, 1
(C) 2, 1, 3
(D) 1, 3, 2
Ans : (A)
39. In which of the following regions Mahalwari System of Revenue Settlement was introduced ?
(A) Bengal
(B) Bombay
(C) Madras
(D) North Western Provinces
Ans : (D)
41. Which part of India was most affected by the Revolution of 1857 ?
(A) Punjab
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Avadh
(D) Madras
Ans : (C)
42. Which of the following pairs connected with the Revolution of 1857 is correctly matched ?
Place of Revolt : Leader of Revolt
(A) Kanpur : Rani Lakshmibai
(B) Jhansi : Nana Saheb
(C) Lucknow : Begum Hazrat Mahal
(D) Delhi : Tantiya Tope
Ans : (C)
43. Who among the following is remembered for the annulment of the Partition of Bengal ?
(A) Lord Curzon
(B) Lord Minto
(C) Lord Hardinge
(D) Lord Chelmsford
Ans : (C)
44. When did Babu Kunwar Singh fight his last battle against the British ?
(A) September 1857
(B) November 1857
(C) February 1858
(D) April 1858
Ans : (D)
46. In which of the following Sessions of the Indian National Congress the ‘drain theory’ was formally
accepted ?
(A) Benaras session, 1905
(B) Calcutta session, 1906
(C) Surat session, 1907
(D) None of the above
Ans : (D)
47. Who among the following was the President of All India Trade Union Congress held at Nagpur ?
(A) Chaman Lal
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Krishna Menon
(D) N. M. Joshi
Ans : (D)
48. During which of the following period the Congress had best of relationship with the Muslim League ?
(A) 1906 – 1916
(B) 1916 – 1922
(C) 1922 – 1928
(D) 1928 – 1934
Ans : (B)
49. Who was the first Indian woman to preside over the Indian National Congress ?
(A) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
(B) Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit
(C) Aruna Asaf Ali
(D) Sarojini Naidu
Ans : (D)
50. Which of the following American Journalists had criticized the state of women in British India and
advanced the logic that so long as cruelties on women continue, the Indian males have no right to take
and manage the governance of India in their hands ?
(A) Louis Fischer
(B) Webb Miller
(C) Catherine Mayo
(D) None of the above
Ans : (C)
53. The venue of holding this Second Round Table Conference at London was—
(A) St. James Palace
(B) Kingsley Palace
(C) Buckingham Palace
(D) 10, Downing Street
Ans : (A)
54. Lord Mountbatten as a Viceroy had conversed with following Indian leaders regarding the transfer of
power—
1. Jawahar Lal Nehru
2. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
3. Mohammad Ali Jinnah
4. Mahatma Gandhi
Indicate the correct sequence of their conversation from the code given below—
Codes :
(A) 1, 4, 2, 3
(B) 2, 3, 4, 1
(C) 3, 2, 1, 4
(D) 4, 3, 2, 1
Ans : (A)
55. All the hymns related to one of the following Gods are in one separate mandala or book of the
Rigveda. Who is the God ?
(A) Agni
(B) Varuna
(C) Indra
(D) Soma
Ans : (D)
56. Match List-I with List-II and indicate the correct answer from the code given below—
List-I
(a) Mohenjodaro
(b) Lothal
(c) Surkotda
(d) Harappa
List-II
1. Pillared Hall
2. Bones of Horse
3. Cemetery R-37
4. Double Burial
Codes :
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 3 4 1 2
(B) 4 3 2 1
(C) 1 4 2 3
(D) 2 1 3 4
Ans : (C)
57. The Harappan site, where the citadel and the lower town, both are fortified separately is—
(A) Harappa
(B) Mohenjodaro
(C) Kalibanga
(D) None of the above
Ans : (C)
58. From which country of the Asian Continent was Bogazkui inscription discovered ?
(A) India
(B) Iran
(C) Syria
(D) Turkey
Ans : (D)
60. With which of the following vedic sacrifices was the drink of Sura associated ?
(A) Agnistoma
(B) Rajasuya
(C) Sautramani
(D) Vajapeya
Ans : (C)
62. In the Pasupata religion Siva is said to be Lord of Pasu. Which one among the following stands for
Pasu ?
(A) Lion
(B) Bull
(C) Parvati
(D) Jiva
Ans : (D)
63. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below—
List-I (Dhyani Buddhas)
(a) Aksobhya
(b) Vairochana
(c) Ratnasambhava
(d) Amoghasiddhi
List-II (Vehicles)
1. Elephant
2. Snake
3. Horse
4. Garuda
Codes :
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 1 2 3 4
(B) 2 3 4 1
(C) 3 4 1 2
(D) 4 1 2 3
Ans : (A)
67. In which of the following periods did ring wells come into prevalence for the first time ?
(A) Mauryan
(B) Sunga
(C) Kushan
(D) Gupta
Ans : (D)
68. Towards which of the following sects did Dasaratha had a leaning ?
(A) Buddhism
(B) Jainism
(C) Ajivakas
(D) Lokayata
Ans : (C)
69. Who among the following classical writers said that Chandragupta Maurya overran the whole of India
with an army of six lac soldiers ?
(A) Herodotus
(B) Pliny
(C) Plutarch
(D) Ptolemy
Ans : (C)
70. Who among the following Mauryan rulers was killed by his Commander-in-Chief ?
(A) Dasaratha
(B) Kun-ala
(C) Samprati
(D) Brihadratha
Ans : (D)
71. Who of the following was responsible for the collection of taxes at the intermediate level of
administration between the district and the village ?
(A) Gopa
(B) Pulisa
(C) Sthanika
(D) Prativedaka
Ans : (A)
74. Who had expressed the view that the cotton cloth worn by Indians had a brighter white colour than
any cotton found elsewhere ?
(A) Alexander
(B) Megasthenese
(C) Nearchus
(D) Pliny
Ans : (B)
75. Which of the following ports were situated on the eastern coast of South India ?
1. Kaveripatnam
2. Korkai
3. Musiri
4. Tondi
Indicate the correct answer from the code given below—
Codes :
(A) 1, 2
(B) 1, 2, 3
(C) 2, 3, 4
(D) 3, 4
Ans : (B)
77. Who among the following Dharmasastra writers disapproved the custom of Sati declaring it as an act
of suicide ?
(A) Angiras
(B) Medhatithi
(C) Usana
(D) Visnu
Ans : (B)
78. The rulers of which of the following dynasties were characterized by their metronymics ?
(A) Maurya
(B) Sunga
(C) Kanva
(D) Satavahana
Ans : (D)
79. According to Manu, a Brahamana was to be awarded higher punishment than the persons of other
varnas for the offence of—
(A) The use of abusive language for the persons of other varnas
(B) Murder
(C) Theft
(D) Treason
Ans : (C)
80. In which of the following ancient texts has it been said that the king was the ruler of all except Br-a
hamanas ?
(A) Manu-Smriti
(B) Yajnavalkya-Smriti
(C) Vishnu Smriti
(D) Gautama-dharmasutra
Ans : (D)
81. Which one of the following statements is not correct about the social and cultural conditions in the
post-Gupta period ?
(A) The number of land-grants increased
(B) The number of castes increased
(C) The Central control increased
(D) The tantric activities increased
Ans : (C)
82. The transformation of the ancient Indian Society into Medieval society was brought about mainly by—
(A) the system of land-grants
(B) the decline in the position of upper caste
(C) the increase in the religious activities
(D) the decrease in surplus food production
Ans : (A)
83. Which of the following towns were seen by Hiuen Tsang as almost deserted ?
1. Kapilvastu
2. Kusinagar
3. Sravasti
4. Tamralipti
Indicate the correct answer from the code given below—
Codes :
(A) 1, 4
(B) 3, 4
(C) 2, 3
(D) 1, 2, 3
Ans : (D)
84. Which one of the following statements is not correct about the members of the various bodies
responsible for Chola local selfgovernment ?
(A) They were elected by voting
(B) They were chosen by lot
(C) They must fulfil certain conditions to become members
(D) No person convicted for theft could become a member
Ans : (A)
85. Which one of the following assemblies protected the interests of traders under the Chola
administration ?
(A) Mahasabha
(B) Perunguri
(C) Kuri
(D) Nagaram
Ans : (D)
86. Who among the following authors is known for his satires exposing the evils of contemporary
society ?
(A) Ksemendra
(B) Pravarsena
(C) Sriharsa
(D) Visakhadutta
Ans : (A)
87. Which Chola king is credited with the first conquest of Maldives ?
(A) Rajaraja
(B) Rajendra I
(C) Rajadhiraja
(D) Rajendra II
Ans : (A)
88. Which of the following Indian Kings defeated Mohammad Ghori first ?
(A) Prithviraja Chauhan
(B) Jayachandra
(C) Vidyadhara Chandella
(D) Bhima II
Ans : (D)
89. The origin of which of the following ruling families has been described in the bardic literature from
Vasisthas sacrificial pit at mountain Abu ?
1. Chahamana
2. Chaulukya
3. Paramara
4. Pratihara
Indicate the correct answer from the code given below—
Codes :
(A) 1, 2
(B) 2, 3, 4
(C) 3, 4
(D) 1, 2, 3, 4
Ans : (D)
90. The coins with the figure of Laksmi were issued by—
(A) Mohammad Ghori
(B) Iltutmish
(C) Mohammad Tughlaq
(D) None of the above
Ans : (A)
92. Which of the following texts lays down rules for reconversion into Hindu fold of the Hindus forcibly
converted into Islam ?
(A) Devala Smriti
(B) Narada Smriti
(C) Visnu Smriti
(D) Yajnavalkya Smriti
Ans : (A)
93. Consider the following statements regarding the history of Kashmir in the tenth century—
1. There were two rival groups in the court.
2. Queen Sugandha was deposed in 914 A.D.
3. Queen Didda did not curb the powers of the feudal land owners.
Indicate the correct statements from the code given below—
Codes :
(A) 1, 2
(B) 2, 3
(C) 1, 3
(D) 1, 2, 3
Ans : (A)
94. Who among the following dharmasastra writers was a minister of the Gahadvala King
Govindachandra ?
(A) Apararka
(B) Chandesvara
(C) Lakshmidhara
(D) Vijnanesvara
Ans : (C)
96. What was the maximum permissible rate of land revenue collection according to Shariat in early
medieval India ?
(A) 20% of the produce
(B) 25% of the produce
(C) 33% of the produce
(D) 50% of the produce
Ans : (D)
97. Who was the commander of Alauddin Khilji’s forces during his Deccan Campaigns ?
(A) Malik Kafur
(B) Ainul Mulk Multani
(C) Nusrat Khan
(D) Ulugh Khan
Ans : (A)
98. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the code given below—
List-I
(a) Zia-uddin Barni
(b) Ibn Batuta
(c) Abul Fazal
(d) Nizamuddin Ahmad
List-II
1. Tabqat-i-Akbari
2. Akbarnama
3. Tarikh-i-Firozshahi
4. Rehla
Codes :
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 1 2 3 4
(B) 4 3 2 1
(C) 3 4 2 1
(D) 2 1 3 4
Ans : (C)
100. Which Delhi Sultan levied the irrigation tax on the farmers for the first time ?
(A) Alauddin Khilji
(B) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
(C) Mohammad Tughlaq
(D) Firoz Tughlaq
Ans : (D)
3. Who among the following has not quoted from the Indica of Megasthenese ?
(A) Pliny
(B) Strabo
(C) Diodorus
(D) Arrian
Ans : (C)
4. Who was the first to decipher the inscriptions of Ashoka and the Brahmi script ?
(A) Alexander Cunningham
(B) James Princep
(C) Max Muller
(D) Mortimer Wheeler
Ans : (B)
5. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below the lists—
List-I
(a) Stuart Piggot
(b) Subbarao
(c) B. and R. Alchin
(d) H. D. Sankalia
List-II
1. Personality of India
2. The Birth of Indian Civilization
3. Prehistoric India
4. Prehistory and Protohistory of India and Pakistan
Codes :
(a) (b) (c) (d)
(A) 1 2 4 3
(B) 3 1 2 4
(C) 1 2 3 4
(D) 3 1 4 2
Ans : (B)
6. Select the correct statement about the Nanaghat Inscription of the Satavahanas—
(A) It speaks about Shaka-Satavahana conflict
(B) It refers to the place of origin of Satavahanas
(C) It speaks about the navy of the Satavahanas
(D) It refers to one of the mother-queens of the Satavahanas
Ans : (B)
8. In which one of the following regions the earliest evidence of rice cultivation has come ?
(A) Central Ganga Valley
(B) Belan Valley
(C) Gomal Valley
(D) Bolan Valley
Ans : (B)
11. At which place among these the rows of distinctive fire altars with provision of ritual bathing have been
found ?
(A) Mohen-jo-daro
(B) Harappa
(C) Kalibangan
(D) Lothal
Ans : (C)
13. The Rigvedic king did not maintain an administrative machinery because—
(A) The king did not wish to have so
(B) The Rigvedic economy was not suitable to it
(C) The social structure was not in accordance
(D) The kingship was not hereditary
Ans : (B)
14. Which of the following statements regarding Vedic woman is not correct ?
(A) Woman attended assemblies
(B) Woman participated in sacrifices
(C) Woman was allowed to have Vedic education
(D) The family was matriarchal
Ans : (D)
15. For what reason the ganasamgha areas have been indicated as ‘mlechchhadesha’ in the post-Vedic
period ?
(A) Absence of ranking based on varna
(B) Rejection of Vedic rituals
(C) Killing of cows
(D) Speaking alien languages
Ans : (B)
16. With what name the Jainism referred to before the coming of Mahavir ?
(A) Jina
(B) Kevalin
(C) Nirgranthas
(D) Tirthankaras
Ans : (D)
17. Which tradition has most importance for deciding the dates of birth and death of lord Buddha ?
(A) Ceylones Tradition–Mahavansa and Deepavansa
(B) Chinese Tradition–Canton
(C) Indian Buddhist literature–Avadana literature
(D) Tibetan Tradition–Historian Taranath
Ans : (A)
18. Which one of the following ancient cities is not related to the life of Gautam Buddha ?
(A) Champa
(B) Saketa
(C) Pataliputra
(D) Kosambi
Ans : (C)
20. Which one of the statements is controversial in the context of the treaty of 303 B.C. between
Chandragupta and Seleucus ?
(A) Seleucus surrendered his large territories to Chandragupta
(B) Chandragupta made a gift of 500 elephants to Seleucus
(C) Megasthenes was sent as a Greek envoy to the court of Chandragupta
(D) Seleucus gave his daughter in marriage to Chandragupta
Ans : (D)
21. In which year of Asoka’s coronation did the Kalinga war take place ?
(A) First
(B) Fifth
(C) Eighth
(D) Thirteenth
Ans : (C)
28. Who among these is credited with the construction of ‘Pagodas’ at Mahabalipuram ?
(A) Cholas
(B) Chalukyas of Kalyani
(C) Pallavas
(D) Pandyas
Ans : (C)
30. Which of the statements about the trade regulation in the Mauryan period is not correct ?
(A) The state exercised control over the trade process and profits
(B) A levy of 1/10th was fixed on merchandise
(C) The state kept strict vigil on the sale of merchandise
(D) The state employed a few of the artisans directly
Ans : (B)
31. Which one among the following statements about the land-system of post-Mauryan period is not
true ?
(A) The private individuals had absolute right over their land
(B) The private individuals had limited right to alienation of land
(C) There is no record to transfer of land non-religious purposes
(D) The person who brought the land under cultivation was the owner
Ans : (B)
32. Who among the following constituted the local town administration council during the Guptas ?
(A) Purupala, Sarthavaha, Pratham Kulika, Pratham Kayastha
(B) Purupala, Sarthavaha, Dvarapala, Karnika
(C) Sarthavaha, Pratham Kulika, Pratham Kayastha
(D) Purupala, Pratham Kulika, Pratham Kayastha
Ans : (C)
33. Who lamented upon the drain of gold from Rome to India ?
(A) Ptolemy
(B) Nero
(C) Strabo
(D) Pliny
Ans : (D)
34. Which of the following statements about the agrahara land grant is not correct ?
(A) The king could offer it to any one
(B) It was a village granted taxfree to Brahmanas
(C) The king could confiscate it on being displeased by the grantee
(D) It underlined the privileges of the Brahmanas
Ans : (A)
35. Debasement of the coins and gradual disappearance of goldcoins during the post-Gupta period
indicates—
(A) Cheapness of commodities, no need of gold-coins
(B) Non-availability of gold
(C) Decline of money economy
(D) Decline of Trade
Ans : (D)
36. Which new route was added for foreign trade during Gupta period ?
(A) Overseas route to South Africa
(B) Overseas route to Alexandria
(C) Overland route to China
(D) Overland route to North Russia
Ans : (C)
37. The most famous bronze image of the Chola period belongs to—
(A) Murugan
(B) Nataraja
(C) Venkateshwar
(D) Vishnu
Ans : (B)
39. The most important feature of the Dravida style of temple architecture is—
(A) Shikhara
(B) Gopuram
(C) Vimana
(D) Mandapa
Ans : (C)
42. Which of these books was authored by Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq himself ?
(A) Fautuhat-i-Ferozshahi
(B) Fatawa-i-Jahandari
(C) Tarikh-i-Ferozshahi
(D) Tughlaqnama
Ans : (A)
44. Who among the following kings formed a confederacy of Hindu kings against Mahmud of Ghazni ?
(A) Jaipala
(B) Anandapala
(C) Both Jaipala and Anandpala
(D) Anangapala
Ans : (C)
46. Name the Arab astronomer who studied Sanskrit and astronomy for a decade at Varanasi ?
(A) Alberuni
(B) Amir Khusrau
(C) Al’bidari
(D) Al’Masher
Ans : (A)
47. Who among the following foreign travellers did not visit Vijayanagar during the time of Krishnadeo
Raya ?
(A) Nicolo Conti
(B) Fernao Nuniz
(C) Domingo Paes
(D) Duarte Barbosa
Ans : (A)
48. Which of these features of Indian art was adopted in the construction of Mosques in India ?
(A) Turned Lotus
(B) Kalash on the domes
(C) Ornamentation
(D) All of these
Ans : (D)
49. Who said, “God knows man’s virtues and inquires not his caste; in the next world there is no caste” ?
(A) Kabir
(B) Guru Nanak
(C) Chaitanya
(D) Ramananda
Ans : (A)
52. The Sufi concept of Anal Haq was inspired by the following concept of Vedanta—
(A) Tat Twam Asi (that thou art)
(B) Ekam Advaitam (one without the second)
(C) Aham Brahmasmi (I am the supreme spirit)
(D) All of the above
Ans : (C)
53. Which Muslim poet of Hindi literature in medieval period wrote poetry essentially on Hindu
mythological heroes ?
(A) Qutban
(B) Rasakhan
(C) Mulla Daud
(D) Amir Khusrau
Ans : (B)
54. Which of the following musical instruments is not composite or Indo-Islamic in origin ?
(A) Sitar
(B) Shehnai
(C) Tabla
(D) Sarangi
Ans : (B)
55. Which among the following wars Muhammad Ghori did not participate himself in India ?
(A) Battle of Tarain in 1191
(B) Battle against Kannauj in 1194
(C) Against Chalukyas of Anhilawada in 1197-98
(D) Against Khokharas in 1205
Ans : (C)
56. Who was the Turkish commander who conquered Bihar and Bengal ?
(A) Mohammad of Ghur
(B) Kutub ud-Din Aibak
(C) Ikhtiyar ud-Din-Muhammad
(D) Bakhtiyar Khalji
Ans : (D)
57. Where did Kutub ud-Din Aibak lay the foundation of ‘seven cities’ in medieval Delhi ?
(A) Siri
(B) Tughlaqabad
(C) Mehrauli
(D) Hauz Khas
Ans : (B)
58. Which Sultan called himself ‘Naib-i-Khudai’ ?
(A) Iltutmish
(B) Balban
(C) Alauddin Khalji
(D) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
Ans : (B)
59. Which sultan of Delhi refused to read ‘Khutba’ in the name of Khalifa for the first time ?
(A) Alauddin Khalji
(B) Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq
(C) Sikandar Lodi
(D) Ibrahim Lodi
Ans : (A)
60. Which Delhi Sultan styled himself Sikandar-i-sani (the second Alexander) ?
(A) Balban
(B) Alauddin Khalji
(C) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
(D) Sikandar Lodi
Ans : (B)
61. The dynasty founded by Khizr Khan is known as Sayyid dynasty because—
(A) He and his successors adopted the title Sayyid
(B) Khizr Khan belonged to the Sayyid tribe of eastern Turkistan
(C) Khizr Khan was the descendant of the prophet Muhammad
(D) He was a scholar of Islamic theology
Ans : (C)
63. Who among the following officers held highest stature in the central government of the Sultanate ?
(A) Qazi-ul-Mulk
(B) Naib-i-Mulk
(C) Head of the Majlis-i-Khalawat
(D) Wazir
Ans : (B)
64. Who among the following did not act as a tax farmer ?
(A) Village headman
(B) Patwari
(C) Governor
(D) Tributary chief
Ans : (D)
65. In Early Medieval India “Dosi Hatt” was—
(A) Animal Market
(B) Meena Bazar
(C) Kapaas (Cotton) Market
(D) Slave Bazar
Ans : (C)
67. The single biggest item of import to the Vijayanagar empire was—
(A) Precious stones
(B) Horses
(C) Luxury goods
(D) Raw Silk
Ans : (B)
68. Which contemporary Mughal historian of the age of Akbar had prepared a list of charges calling him
an enemy of Islam ?
(A) Badauni
(B) Niamtullah
(C) Abbas Khan Sarwani
(D) Nizamuddin Ahmad
Ans : (A)
70. Which famous painter among the following did not remain in the court of Akbar ?
(A) Farrukh Beg
(B) Dasawanth
(C) Aga Reza
(D) Basawan
Ans : (A)
71. Who among the following Mughal princess produced a ‘diwan’ (collection of poems) with the name
‘Makhi’ ?
(A) Humayun’s sister Gulbadan Begum
(B) Shah Jahan’s daughter Jahanara
(C) Shah Jahan’s daughter Roshanara
(D) Aurangzeb’s daughter Zibunnisa
Ans : (D)
72. Which jeweller foreign traveller of the Mughal period has left a detailed account of Takht-i-Taus
(Peacock throne) ?
(A) Travernier
(B) Geronimo Verroneo
(C) ‘Omrah’ Danishmand Khan
(D) Austin of Bordeaux
Ans : (A)
73. Whom did Sher Shah appoint to provide bed and food to Hindu travellers staying at ‘Sarais’ (rest
houses) ?
(A) Afghan Muslims
(B) Muslims
(C) Brahmanas
(D) Low caste Hindus
Ans : (D)
74. Which one among the following statements is not correct about the agrarian policy of Sher Shah ?
(A) Sher Shah insisted upon measurement of the sown land
(B) Sher Shah drew up schedule of rates for state’s share of the different types of crops
(C) The amount each peasant had to pay was to be written down on a paper called ‘patta’
(D) The measuring part was allowed to fix fee at their will
Ans : (D)
75. When did Aurangzeb arrive in Deccan finally to quell the revolt of Marathas ?
(A) 1681
(B) 1682
(C) 1689
(D) 1700
Ans : (C)
76. Which among the following is the most important source of information about the agrarian conditions
during Mughals ?
(A) Ain-i-Akbari
(B) Akbarnama
(C) Muntakhab-ul-Lubab
(D) Tarikh-i-Ferishta
Ans : (B)
77. What portion of actual produce was fixed as the demand of the state under the ‘Zabit’ system ?
(A) One-half
(B) One-third
(C) One-fourth
(D) One-fifth
Ans : (B)
78. Which Maratha saint is most importantly known for social reform, national regeneration and the rise of
Maratha power ?
(A) Eknath
(B) Tukaram
(C) Samartha Ramdas
(D) Vaman Pandit
Ans : (C)
79. The chief gain to Shivaji from his raids of Surat in 1664 and 1670 was—
(A) Immense increase in his prestige
(B) Demoralisation of the Mughal forces
(C) Capture of the English factory
(D) A lot of booty
Ans : (D)
81. How did Portuguese firstly affect Indian trade and industry ?
(A) By forcing Gujarat and Calicut to abandon construction of ships or even armed rowing boats
(B) By monopolising port-toport trade on the Malabar coast and the trade from Indian to Persian coast
(C) In both (A) and (B) ways above
(D) By dictating the prices of horses imported by native Indian powers after ousting Arabs
Ans : (B)
82. What was the occasion of handing over of Mumbai (Bombay) to Britishers by the Portuguese ?
(A) Freedom of Portuguese from the control of Spain
(B) Marriage of Charles II with the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza
(C) Crushing of Spanish Armada by British in 1588
(D) The Treaty of Madrid in 1630
Ans : (B)
83. What made Jahangir to issue a farman in 1613 A.D. to the English to establish a factory at Surat ?
(A) Reconciliation between the English and Portuguese
(B) A secret offer of naval help to the Mughal emperor to oust the Portuguese
(C) A heavy dose of bribe to Nur Jahan
(D) The defeat of Portuguese naval squadrons by the English
Ans : (D)
84. The Indian port(s) utilized by Dutch for their trade in India was/were—
(A) Pulicat
(B) Masulipattam
(C) Nagapattam
(D) All of these
Ans : (D)
85. The founder of French East India Company for trade in India was—
(A) Colbert
(B) Francois Martin
(C) Francois Caron
(D) De La Haye
Ans : (A)
86. Where was the first Presidency of English East India Company in India ?
(A) Chennai (Madras)
(B) Masulipattam
(C) Surat
(D) Hugli
Ans : (C)
87. Aurangzeb ordered the arrest of all Englishmen and the seizure of all English factories throughout his
dominion, because—
(A) The English had refused to pay local duties in Bengal
(B) The English had attacked the Mughal ships on the western coast
(C) The English were fortifying their trading stations
(D) All of the above
Ans : (D)
89. The immediate cause of Siraj-uddaula’s campaign against the English in 1757 was—
(A) The refusal of the English to pay taxes on their goods
(B) The levying of heavy duties by the English on Indian goods entering Kolkata (Calcutta)
(C) Additional fortification of Kolkata (Calcutta) without the permission or even the knowledge of the
nawab
(D) The English taking up the cause of Shaukut Jang, a rival of Siraj-ud-daula
Ans : (A)
91. The first serious blow inflicted by the English on India’s handloom industry was—
(A) Duty imposed on the looms
(B) Compulsion of weavers to sell their goods on dictated prices
(C) Shortage of cotton due to export of raw-cotton
(D) Infiltration of cash crops like indigo and opium in the cottongrowing area
Ans : (B)
92. Which of the following statements is not applicable to the Mahalwari settlement ?
(A) It was a permanant measure introduced as an improvement on the other two measures
(B) It was applied to each village and the estate separately
(C) The government instead of coming in contract with the cultivator made settlement with the village
community as a whole
(D) It was introduced in the Gangetic valley, the Punjab and the parts of Central India
Ans : (A)
93. Which of the following statements about the new landlords is not correct ?
(A) They were town dwelling merchants and moneyed classes with no roots in the village
(B) They were free to harass the cultivators
(C) They were mere rent collecting absentee businessmen
(D) They had converted the peasants to mere cultivators by taking away their traditional rights over their
land
Ans : (C)
94. Which of the following reasons is not correct with regard to the decline of economy of India during
English rule ?
(A) Lack of qualification and technical skill in the Indians
(B) Failure to get overseas market due to lack sea power
(C) Unprotected indigenous industry due to weak guild organizations
(D) Lack of the class of industrial enterprizers in India
Ans : (A)
95. Who first expounded the theory of ‘economic drain’ of India during the British rule ?
(A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(B) Ramesh Chanda Dutt
(C) Dadabhai Naoroji
(D) Surendra Nath Banerjee
Ans : (C)
96. What among the following factors was not applicable to the conditions of abject poverty in India during
the British rule ?
(A) Decay of Agricultural production and indigenuous industries
(B) Investment of foreign capital in India
(C) Insufficient growth of modern industries
(D) High taxation
Ans : (B)
97. Who among these was not a part of triple alliance on the eve of first Anglo-Mysore war of 1767-69 ?
(A) The English
(B) Nizam of Hyderabad
(C) The Marathas
(D) Raja of Travancore
Ans : (D)
98. Tipu Sultan was ahead of his contemporaries in many respect because—
(A) He understood the threat posed by English to the Indian powers
(B) He understood the importance of strong economic base for the military power
(C) He understood the importance of modern trade and industry
(D) All of the above
Ans : (D)
99. Who among the following Maratha chiefs was the last to enter into a subsidiary alliance with the
English ?
(A) The Peshwas
(B) Holkar
(C) Bhonsle
(D) Scindia
Ans : (B)
101. From whom did the English secure the rights of duty free trade after Bengal ?
(A) Nawab of Awadh
(B) Raja of Banaras
(C) The Nizam of Hyderabad
(D) The Jats of Bharatpur
Ans : (A)
102. With whom did Raja Ranjit Singh conclude the treaty of Lahore in 1806 which gave him freedom to
expand north of Sutlej ?
(A) Peshwa Bajirao II
(B) Holkar of Indore
(C) Scindia of Gwalior
(D) East India Company
Ans : (D)
103. Who among the following did not become a prey of Dalhousie’s policy of absorption ?
(A) Satara
(B) Nagpur
(C) Scindia
(D) Mysore
Ans : (D)
104. Why did Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras) not join the revolt of 1857 along with northern
provinces ?
(A) They failed to find necessary leadership due to ryotwari settlement
(B) They had remained comparatively free from annexations and confiscations
(C) They had more tolerant and enlightened administrators
(D) They were at a great distance from Kolkata (Calcutta), the seat of British administration
Ans : (D)
105. What was the grieviest cause of discontent among soldiers before the revolt of 1857 ?
(A) Question of promotion and pay
(B) Non-observance of caste distinctions
(C) Frequent campaigns in distant lands
(D) Absence of a proper and equitable procedure for discipline and control
Ans : (A)
107. Who among the following said, “One religion, one caste and one God for mankind” ?
(A) Jyotiba Phule
(B) Vivekananda
(C) Sri Narayan Guru
(D) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Ans : (C)
108. Which is called the ‘magna carta’ of western education system in India ?
(A) The report of the Committee of Public Instruction, 1823
(B) The Charter Act of 1833
(C) Report of the Hunter Commission, 1862
(D) Despatch of Sir Charles Wood, Secretary of State, 1854
Ans : (D)
109. Which of the following organizations did Raja Ram Mohan Roy conceive of ahead of his times ?
(A) World Court of Justice
(B) Economic Community
(C) League of Nations
(D) Common Market
Ans : (C)
111. Which of the following books does not match with its author ?
(A) Dadabhai Naoroji—‘Poverty and Un-British Rule in India’
(B) R. C. Dutt—‘Economic History of India’
(C) Mahatma Gandhi—‘Hind Swaraj’
(D) D. R. Gadgil—‘Indian Industry, Today and Tomorrow’
Ans : (D)
112. In 1922 “Bhil Seva Mandal” was established by—
(A) Narain Malhar Joshi
(B) Amritlal Vitthaldas Thakkar
(C) Jyotiba Phule
(D) Baba Amte
Ans : (B)
113. On what ground the second split in Congress took place in 1918 ?
(A) Lucknow Pact
(B) Montague Declaration
(C) Election of Mrs. Annie Besant as the President of the Congress in 1917
(D) Both (B) and (C) above
Ans : (B)
114. By which Act the Public Service Commission was first established in India ?
(A) The Indian Council Act, 1892
(B) The Act of 1909
(C) The Government of India Act, 1919
(D) The Government of India Act, 1935
Ans : (C)
115. Who was the mastermind of bomb attack on Lord Hardinge at Chandani Chowk, Delhi in 1912 ?
(A) Rasbehari Bose
(B) Bhai Paramanand
(C) Sachindranath Sanyal
(D) Sohan Lal Pathak
Ans : (A)
116. Who was selected as the first satyagrahi by Mahatma Gandhi to begin the individual satyagraha in
1940 ?
(A) C. Rajagopalachari
(B) Vallabhbhai Patel
(C) J.B. Kripalani
(D) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Ans : (B)
117. Who was the founder president of Harijan Sevak Samgha founded by Mahatma Gandhi ?
(A) Mahadev Desai
(B) G. D. Birla
(C) Amrit Lal Thakkar
(D) B. R. Ambedkar
Ans : (C)
118. What was the provocation behind the damand of separate electorate etc. under fourteen points of
Jinnah ?
(A) Fear of the majority rule
(B) Communal politics of Hindu Mahasabha and Sikh League
(C) Disagreement with the proposals contained in the Nehru report
(D) The challenge of the British government for drawing up an agreed Constitution of India
Ans : (C)
119. What was the reason for the rejection of the Government of India Act, 1935 by the Congress ?
(A) The Indians were not consulted
(B) It was stalling the establishment of people’s government
(C) The provisions made in the name provincial autonomy were violative of democratic rights
(D) All of the above
Ans : (D)
120. When did Gandhiji go to fast unto death for the first time ?
(A) At the time of Communal award
(B) At the time of riots in Kolkatta (Calcutta)
(C) At the time of riots in Delhi
(D) At the time of Jallianwala Bagh tragedy
Ans : (D)
2. Mahatma Gandhi used for the first time hunger strike as a weapon during—
(A) Kheda Satyagraha
(B) Ahmedabad Strike
(C) Bardoli Satyagraha
(D) Champaran Satyagraha
Ans : (B)
4. Which one of the following leaders did not support the ‘Khilafat Movement’ ?
(A) Swami Shraddhanand
(B) Madan Mohan Malviya
(C) Mohammad Ali Jinnah
(D) Jawahar Lal Nehru
Ans : (C)
7. At which place was the All India Khilafat Conference held in 1919 ?
(A) Lucknow
(B) Delhi
(C) Aligarh
(D) Porbandar
Ans : (B)
8. Who organized the Satyagraha Sabha whose members took a pledge to disobey the Rowlatt Acts ?
(A) Saifuddin Kitchlew
(B) Motilal Nehru
(C) Maulana Shaukat Ali
(D) Mahatma Gandhi
Ans : (D)
9. What prompted the British Government to arrest Gandhi and get him convicted after the suspension of
the Non-cooperation movement ?
(A) It wanted to create terror in the hearts of other nationalists
(B) It wanted to ensure that there was no resurgence of the movement
(C) It wanted to save Gandhi from public disgrace for suspending the movement
(D) It took advantage of the division among the nationalist forces caused by the suspension of the Non-
cooperation Movement.
Ans : (D)
13. In which district is Dandi associated with the March of Gandhi, is located ?
(A) Mehsana
(B) Bhuj
(C) Nausari
(D) Dwarka
Ans : (C)
14. Which one of the following is not correct about Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March ?
(A) It was a pedestrian March
(B) It began with 8 Satyagrahis comprising Hindus, Muslims and Christians
(C) Its motive was to violate salt law
(D) Reaching the sea-shore Mahatma Gandhi did not manufacture the salt
Ans : (D)
16. With which event did the Civil Disobedience Movement started ?
(A) Prohibition of wine
(B) Breaking salt law
(C) Protesting high land Revenue
(D) Boycotting foreign clothes
Ans : (B)
19. The main reason for criticizing the Gandhi-Irwin pact was—
(A) Communal electorate
(B) Banning of peaceful processions
(C) Lacked the provision of saving the hangings of freedom fighters
(D) Amnesty to the political prisoners
Ans : (C)
20. What was the immediate reaction of the government to the Salt Satyagraha and the Dandi March ?
(A) The government resorted to repressive measures
(B) It took measures to prevent the mischief from spreading
(C) It did not take it seriously
(D) The Congress was banned
Ans : (C)
1. Aurbindo Ghosh was defended in the Alipur conspiracy case by—
(A) Tej Bahadur Sapru
(B) Motilal Nehru
(C) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(D) Chitranjan Das
Ans : (D)
2. Who among the following founded the Hindustan Republican Army (or Association) in 1924 ?
(A) Surya Sen
(B) V. D. Savarkar
(C) Sachindra Nath Sanyal
(D) Batukeshwar Dutta
Ans : (C)
3. Who gave the title of Rani to the Naga woman leader Gaidinliu ?
(A) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(B) Sardar Patel
(C) Mahatma Gandhi
(D) C. R. Das
Ans : (A)
4. Name the great Indian revolutionary who was a professor of Sanskrit and Philosophy and died as a
Sanyasi in Philadelphia ?
(A) Lala Hardayal
(B) Bhai Parmanand
(C) Madan Lal Dhingra
(D) Shyamji Krishna Varma
Ans : (A)
5. In which place February 21, 1915 was fixed as the date for an armed revolt by the Ghadarites ?
(A) Bombay
(B) Madras
(C) Punjab
(D) Bengal
Ans : (C)
7. Name the woman revolutionary who shot the Governor of Bengal while receiving her degree at the
convocation of the university of Calcutta ?
(A) Lila Datta
(B) Preeti Lata Wadekar
(C) Kalpana Ganguly
(D) Bina Das
Ans : (D)
8. The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association Movement ended with the death of—
(A) Ramprasad Bismil
(B) Chandra Shekhar Azad
(C) Surya Sen
(D) Bhagat Singh
Ans : (B)
9. Which revolutionary said the following, ‘‘We shall be born again, shall meet again and shall jointly fight
once again for the cause of the motherland as comrades-in-arms’’ ?
(A) Chandra Shekhar Azad
(B) Ramprasad Bismil
(C) Rajendra Lahiri
(D) Ashfaquallah Khan
Ans : (B)
11. Which of the following was not hanged in connection with the Kakori Conspiracy Case ?
(A) Bhagat Singh
(B) Ashfaqullah Khan
(C) Rajendra Lahiri
(D) Roshan Singh
Ans : (A)
12. The first tribal leader who was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and his ideology was—
(A) Alluri Sitaram Raju
(B) Jadonang
(C) Jhabkar Bapa
(D) Rani Gaidinliu
Ans : (B)
13. Which among the following was sentenced to death in the Hardinge Bomb Case ?
(A) Sohan Singh Bhakna
(B) Asutosh Choudhary
(C) Bhai Bal Mukund
(D) Ras Behari Bose
Ans : (C)
14. Who among the following was awarded the China Medal for taking part in China war of 1900 ?
(A) Maharaja Ganga Singh
(B) Maharaja Sumer Singh
(C) Maharaja Fateh Singh
(D) Maharaja Jai Singh
Ans : (A)
15. Mr. Philip Sprat, an English man was tried under which conspiracy case ?
(A) Lahore conspiracy case
(B) Kanpur conspiracy case
(C) Meerut conspiracy case
(D) Chittagong conspiracy case
Ans : (C)
17. The differences between the Moderates and the Extremists led to a split in Congress at its session
held in 1907 at—
(A) Surat
(B) Calcutta
(C) Nagpur
(D) Madras
Ans : (A)
18. Who among the following was known as the Grand Old Man of Indian politics ?
(A) Bipin Chandra Pal
(B) Dadabhai Nauroji
(C) Surendra Nath Bannerjee
(D) Rasbehari Bose
Ans : (B)
1. Who said the following ‘‘the British empire is rotten to the core, corrupt in every direction and tyrannical
and mean’’ ?
(A) Mrs. Annie Besant
(B) W. Digby
(C) Sister Nivedita
(D) William Wedderburn
Ans : (C)
6. Who among the following never became President of the Indian National Congress ?
(A) B. G. Tilak
(B) S.C. Bose
(C) G.K. Gokhale
(D) Annie Besant
Ans : (C)
7. Which of the following may be considered drawbacks of the early phase of the Congress activities ?
I. Preservation of caste and communal considerations presenting mass involvement.
II. It was confined to the educated middle class.
III. No proper understanding of the exploitative nature of British economic policies.
IV. Misplaced faith in the benevolence and fairmindedness of the British rulers.
(A) I and IV
(B) II and III
(C) I and II
(D) III and IV
Ans : (C)
10. The number of delegates who attended the first session of the Indian National Congress, was—
(A) 750
(B) 75
(C) 720
(D) 72
Ans : (D)
12. Who attended the imperial durbar of 1877 dressed in hand-spun khadi ?
(A) M.G. Ranade
(B) Rabindra Nath Tagore
(C) Ganesh Vasudev Joshi
(D) Hakim Ajmal Khan
Ans : (C)
13. Who was the President of Indian National Congress at the time of independence ?
(A) J. B. Kripalani
(B) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
(C) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(D) Jawahar Lal Nehru
Ans : (A)
14. In which of the following session of Indian National Congress the resolution of Swadeshi was
adopted ?
(A) Madras session of 1903
(B) Bombay session of 1904
(C) Benaras session of 1905
(D) Calcutta session of 1906
Ans : (D)
15. Arrange the following events in chronological order on the basis of codes given below :
1. The Surat Congress
2. March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi.
3. Rowlatt Act
4. Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
Code :
(A) 3, 2, 1, 4
(B) 1, 3, 2, 4
(C) 2, 1, 3, 4
(D) 1, 2, 4, 3
Ans : (B)
16. When did the British pass a law making it an offence to preach nationalism ?
(A) 1892
(B) 1898
(C) 1900
(D) 1904
Ans : (B)
17. Mahatma Gandhi was the President of Indian National Congress only once at—
(A) Allahabad
(B) Guwahati
(C) Belgaun
(D) Kakinada
Ans : (C)
18. Which of the following events was the last in chronological order?
(A) Home Rule Movement
(B) Khilafat Movement
(C) Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre
(D) Mopala Revolt
Ans : (D)
19. Which of the following Muslim Leaders was not one of the founding fathers of the All India Muslim
League ?
(A) Nawab Moshin-ul-Mulk
(B) Maulana Abul KalamAzad
(C) Aga Khan
(D) Nawab Salimullah of Dacca
Ans : (B)
20. The first President of Muslim League was—
(A) Salimullah Khan
(B) Aga Khan
(C) Mustaq Hussain
(D) Sir Syed Ahmad Khan
Ans : (A)
3. Which of the following Socioreligious Movements raised the slogan : ‘India for Indians’ ?
(A) Prarthana Samaj
(B) Brahmo Samaj
(C) Arya Samaj
(D) Satya Shodhak Samaj
Ans : (C)
4. Who was the first President of the Indian Home Rule League established in April 1916 ?
(A) Joseph Bapista
(B) Annie Besant
(C) N.C. Kelkar
(D) B.G. Tilak
Ans : (A)
5. Which of the following did not contribute in a major way to the growth of a nationalist consciousness in
India ?
(A) Impact of western education
(B) Consistent economic exploitation of India by the British
(C) Revivalist Movements of the 19th century
(D) World public opinion
Ans : (D)
8. An important reason for social and religious reforms in nineteenth century was—
(A) Scientific inventions
(B) Industrial revolution
(C) Western education and awakening
(D) Influence of Newspapers
Ans : (C)
9. Which famous social reformer wrote the books ‘Jnana Yoga’, ‘Karma Yoga’ and ‘Raj Yoga’ ?
(A) M. G. Ranade
(B) Swami Vivekanand
(C) Ramkrishna Paramhansa
(D) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Ans : (B)
10. Who was the Governor General of India when the Indian National Congress was formed ?
(A) Lord Chelmsford
(B) Lord Dalhousie
(C) Lord Dufferin
(D) None of these
Ans : (C)
11. Which of the following did not influence the growth of nationalist sentiments against the British rule in
the first few years of the twentieth century ?
(A) British reverses in the Boer War
(B) Italy’s defeat by Ethopia
(C) The establishment of the Kerensky Government in Russia
(D) Japanese defeat of Russia
Ans : (C)
12. Which of the following cannot be considered a cause for the rise of Extremism ?
(A) The reactionary policies of Lord Lytton
(B) The failure of the moderates to achieve anything significant through their methods
(C) Serious problem of unemployment among the educated Indians
(D) None of the above
Ans : (A)
13. Who said, ‘‘The Congress is in reality a civil war without arms’’?
(A) W. Wedderburn
(B) W. Digby
(C) D.W. Bethune
(D) Lord Dufferin
Ans : (B)
14. Which of the following was not a method adopted by the Extremists ?
(A) Promoting the use of Swadeshi
(B) Boycott of schools, courts and government service
(C) Burning down shops and godowns storing foreign clothes
(D) Launching national education schemes and building the national spirit
Ans : (C)
15. October 16, 1905, the date of partition of Bengal, was celebrated on the suggestion of Rabindra Nath
Tagore, as—
(A) Rakhi Bandhan Day
(B) Brotherhood Day
(C) Solidarity Day
(D) Black Day
Ans : (A)
18. Who was instrumental in bringing the Extremists and the Moderates together at Lucknow ?
(A) Gokhale
(B) Tilak
(C) Annie Besant
(D) None of these
Ans : (C)
19. In the beginning the political activities of the Muslim League were directed against—
(A) The liberal socio-religious reformers
(B) The Hindus and the Indian National Congress
(C) The British Government
(D) The landlords and the zamindars
Ans : (B)
20. The Red Crescent Society was concerned with—
(A) Communists
(B) Getting a separate state for Muslims even through blood shed
(C) Revolutionary activities in Punjab
(D) Providing medical help to the Turkish troops in the Balkan War
Ans : (D)
4. Who called the 1857 revolt ‘‘a planned war of National Independence’’ ?
(A) Benjamin Disraeli
(B) Sir John Seeley
(C) V.D. Savarkar
(D) S.N. Sen
Ans : (C)
10. The tribal leader who was regarded as an incarnation of God and father of the world was—
(A) Nanak Bhil
(B) Jagia Bhagat
(C) Birsa Munda
(D) Siddhu Santha
Ans : (C)
11. According to which famous political leader of Britain the revolt of 1857 is described as a ‘National
Rising’ ?
(A) Canning
(B) Gladstone
(C) Palmerstone
(D) Disraeli
Ans : (D)
13. Who among the following is known as the ‘father of renaissance’ of Western India?
(A) B.M. Malabari
(B) M.G. Ranade
(C) R. G. Bhandarkar
(D) K.T. Telang
Ans : (B)
14. Who is known as the Hindu Luther of Northern India during 19th century was ?
(A) Dayanand Saraswati
(B) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(C) Radhakant Dev
(D) Keshav Chandra Sen
Ans : (B)
15. Who inspired the young Bengal Movement in the 19th century ?
(A) Ram Tanu Lahiri
(B) Henry Vivian Dorozev
(C) Rasik Kumar Malik
(D) Piyare Chand Mitra
Ans : (B)
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(B) Kharvela
(C) Amoghavarsha
(D) Chamundaraya
Ans : (D)
2. ‘Live well, as long as you live. Live well even by borrowings, for once cremated,
there is no return’. The rejection of after life is an aphorism of the—
(C) Ajivikas
(D) Charvakas
Ans : (D)
(A) Dharma-Artha-Kama-Moksha
(B) Brahmana-Kshatriya-Vaishya-Shudra
(C) Brahmacharya-Grihasthashrama-Vanaprastha-Sanyasa
(D) Indra-Surya-Rudra-Marut
Ans : (C)
(A) Amritsar
(B) Patiala
(C) Lahore
(D) Kapurthala
Ans : (C)
5. In the Gandhara sculptures the preaching mudra associated with the Buddha's
First Sermon at Sarnath is—
(A) Abhaya
(B) Dhyana
(C) Dharmachakra
(D) Bhumisparsa
Ans : (C)
Ans : (B)
7. Zero was invented by—
(A) Aryabhatta
(B) Varahamihira
(C) Bhaskara I
Ans : (D)
8. Which one of the following important trade centres of ancient India was on the
trade route connecting Kalyana with Vengi ?
(A) Tagara
(B) Sripura
(C) Tripuri
(D) Tamralipti
Ans : (A)
9. The first Indian ruler who joined the subsidiary Alliance was—
Ans : (B)
(A) Brahmana
(B) Kshatriya
(C) Vaishya
(D) Shudra
Ans : (A)
(A) Scythians
(B) Hunas
(C) Yue-chis
(D) Sakas
Ans : (B)
12. Who among the following is said to have witnessed the reigns of eight Delhi
Sultans ?
(C) Minhaj-us-siraj
Ans : (D)
13. The first Indian ruler to organize Haj pilgrimage at the expense of the state was
—
(C) Akbar
(D) Aurangzeb
Ans : (C)
14. Who among the following ladies wrote a historical account during the Mughal
period ?
Ans : (A)
15. The first to start a joint stock company to trade with India were the—
(A) Portuguese
(B) Dutch
(C) French
(D) Danish
Ans : (B)
(A) Buddhist
Ans : (D)
17. The significance of the Bengal Regulation of 1793 lies in the fact that—
18. The Mansabdari system introduced by Akbar was borrowed from the system
followed in—
(A) Afghanistan
(B) Turkey
(C) Mongolia
(D) Persia
Ans : (C)
19. Which one of the following monuments has a dome which is said to be one of
the largest in the world ?
Ans : (D)
Ans : (D)
(C) Jainism
Ans : (C)
22. Which one of the following territories was not affected by the revolt of 1857 ?
(A) Jhansi
(B) Jagdishpur
(C) Lucknow
(D) Chittor
Ans : (D)
Ans : (B)
24. The word ‘Hindu’ as reference to the people of Hind (India) was first used by—
Ans : (A)
25. Hughly was used as a base for piracy in the Bay of Bengal by—
Ans : (A)
1. The term ‘nishka’ which meant an ornament in the Vedic period was used in later times to denote a/an
—
(A) Weapon
(B) Agricultural implement
(C) Script
(D) Coin
Ans : (D)
2. Which one of the following pairs of kings of ancient and medieval periods of Indian history and the
works authored by them is correctly matched ?
(A) Krishnadevaraya : Samaranganasutradhra
(B) Mehendravarman : Mattavilasaprahasana
(C) Bhojadeva : Manasollasa
(D) Somesvara : Amuktamalyada
Ans : (B)
8. Who among the following is NOT associated with medicine in ancient India ?
(A) Dhanvantri
(B) Bhaskaracharya
(C) Charaka
(D) Susruta
Ans : (B)
9. In Mughal paintings one notices the adoption of the principles of foreshortening whereby near and
distant people and things could be placed in perspective. This was due to the influence of the—
(A) British
(B) Dutch
(C) Portuguese
(D) Danish
Ans : (C)
11. Among the four works mentioned below which one is encyclopaedic in nature ?
(A) Amarakosa
(B) Siddhantasiromani
(C) Brhat Samhita
(D) Ashtangahrdaya
Ans : (A)
13. The first political organisation established in India in 1838 was known as—
(A) British India Society
(B) Bengal British India Society
(C) Settlers Association
(D) Zamindary Association
Ans : (D)
14. The foundation of modern education system in India was laid by—
(A) The Charter Act of 1813
(B) Macaulay's Minutes of 1835
(C) The Hunter Commission of 1882
(D) Wood's Despatch of 1854
Ans : (B)
15. Uplift of the backward classes was the main programme of the—
(A) Prarthana Samaj
(B) Satya Shodhak Samaj
(C) Arya Samaj
(D) Ramakrishna Mission
Ans : (B)
17. The Buddhist Sect Mahayana formally came into existence during the reign of—
(A) Ajatashatru
(B) Ashoka
(C) Dharmapala
(D) Kanishka
Ans : (D)
19. The earliest rock cut caves in western India are those at—
(A) Nasik, Ellora and Ajanta
(B) Junnar, Kalyan and Pitalkhora
(C) Ajanta, Bhaja and Kondane
(D) Bhaja, Pitalkhora and Kondane
Ans : (A)
20. The name by which Ashoka is generally referred to in his inscriptions is—
(A) Chakravarti
(B) Dharmadeva
(C) Dharmakirti
(D) Priyadarsi
Ans : (D)
22. Which among the following cities is considered as one of the oldest surviving cities in the world ?
(A) Mathura
(B) Varanasi
(C) Hardwar
(D) Ayodhya
Ans : (A)
24. Which one of the following is a language of Baluchistan but linguistically Dravidian ?
(A) Brahui
(B) Kui
(C) Parji
(D) Pengo
Ans : (A)
25. Which one of the following is the most fundamental difference between Mahayana Buddhism and
Hinayana Buddhism ?
(A) Emphasis on ahimsa
(B) Casteless society
(C) Worship of gods and goddesses
(D) Worship of stupa
Ans : (C)
QUESTION ↕ ANSWER ↕
Who was the first President of India? Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Who built the Grand Trunk Road? Sher Shah Suri
Who built the Agra Fort? Akbar
Who built the Red Fort in Delhi? Shah Jahan
Who built the Qutub Minar? Qutb-ud-din Aibak
In whose memory was the Taj Mahal built? Mumtaz Mahal
Name the Rajput princess whom Akbar married. Jodha Bai
Who was the last ruler of the Mughal dynasty? Bahadur Shah Zafar
Who defeated Sultan Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526? Babur
Name the famous battle that Rana Pratap fought against Akbar's forces. Haldighat
Who was the founder of Sikhism? Guru Nanak
Who was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism? Vardhamana Mahavir
Name the holy book of the Parsis. Zend Avesta
Which religion has 24 great teachers called Tirthankaras? Jainism
Who built the famous Sanchi stupa? Ashoka
Where is the Deer Park where Buddha first preached his religion? Sarnath
Name the place where Buddha was born. Lumbini
Name the capital of King Vikramaditya. Ujjain
What was Patna known as in ancient times? Pataliputra
Which king had Chanakya as his minister? Chandragupta Maurya
Name Maharana Pratap's famous horse. Chetak
Who was the first Viceroy of India? Lord Canning
Who was the last Viceroy of India? Lord Mountbatten
Which of Akbar's uncles served as his guardian and won the Delhi throne
Bairam Khan
for Akbar?
In which century was Lord Buddha born? 6th century B.C.
When did Gandhiji launch the Quit India movement? 9th August 1942
When did Jawaharlal Nehru die? 27th May 1964
How many days did the battle of Mahabharata last? 18
How many times did Mahmud of Gazni invade India? 17
Indian Prehistory
• The fossils of the early human being have not been found in India. A hint of the
earliest human presence in India is indicated by stone tools of about 250,000 BC obtained
from the deposits.
However, recent reported artifacts from Bori in Maharashtra suggest the appearance of
human beings in India around 1.4 million years ago.
• From their first appearance to around 3000 BC humans used only stone tools for
different purposes.
This period is, therefore, known as the Stone Age, which has been divided into Paleolithic
(early or Old Stone) Age, Mesolithic (Middle Stone) Age, and Neolithic (New Stone) Age.
• The Paleolithic sites are spread in practically all parts of India except the
alluvial plains of Indus and Ganga.
• The people of this age were food gathering people who lived on hunting and
gathering wild fruits and vegetables.
• Man during this period used tools of unpolished, undressed rough stones and
lived in cave and rock shelters. They had no knowledge of agriculture, fire or
pottery of any material.
• They mainly used hand axes, cleavers, choppers, blades, scrapers and burin.
Their tools were made of hard rock called 'quartzite'. Hence Paleolithic men
are also called 'Quartzite Men'.
• The Paleolithic Age in India has been divided into three phases according to
the nature of stone tools used by the people and also according to the nature
of change in the climate - Early or lower Paleolithic, Middle Paleolithic and
Upper Paleolithic.
• The Early Paleolithic Age covers the greater part of the Ice Age. Its
characteristic tools are hand axes, cleavers and choppers. Such tools have
been found in Soan and Sohan river valley (now in Pakistan) and in the Belan
Valley in the Mirzapur district of UP In this period climate became less humid.
• In the Upper Paleolithic Phase, the climate became warm and less humid.
This stage is marked by burins and scrapers. Such tools have been found in
AP Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bhopal and Chhota Nagpur plateau.
• In this age, climate became warm and dry. Climate changes brought about
changes in fauna and flora and made it possible for human beings to move to
new areas. Since then, there haven't been major changes in the climate.
• The people lived on hunting, fishing and food gathering; at a later stage they
also domesticated animals.
• The last phase of this age saw the beginning of plane cultivation.
• Various Mesolithic sites are found in the Chhotanagpur region, Central India
and also south of the Krishna River.
• In the Belan valley of Vindhyas, all the three phases of the Paleolithic
followed by the Mesolithic and then by the Neolithic have been found in
sequence. Similar is the case with the middle part of the Narmada valley.
• In India Neolithic Age is not earlier than 6000 BC and at some places in South
and Eastern India; it is as late as 1000 BC.
• During this phase people were again depending on stone implements. But
now they used stones other than quartzite for making tools, which were more
lethal, more finished and more polished.
• Neolithic men cultivated land and grew fruits and corn like ragi and horse
gram. They domesticated cattle, sheep and goat.
• They knew about making fire and making pottery, first by hand and then by
potters wheel. They also painted and decorated their pottery.
• They lived in caves and decorated their walls with hunting and dancing
scenes. They also knew the art of making boats. They could also weave
cotton and wool to make cloth.
• In the later phase of Neolithic phase people led a more settled life and lived
in circular and rectangular houses made of mud and reed.
• Important sites of this age are Burzahom and Gufkral in J&K (famous for pit
dwelling, stone tools and graveyard in house), Maski, Brahmagiri,
Tekkalakota in Karnataka, Paiyampatti in Tamil Nadu, Piklihal and Hallur in
AP, Garo hils in Meghalaya, Chirand and Senuwar in Bihar (known for
remarkable bone tools), Amri, Kotdiji, etc.
• Koldihawa in UP revealed a three fold cultural sequence: Neolithic,
Chalcolithic and Iron Age.
Chalcolithic Period :
• The end of the Neolithic Period saw the use of metals of which copper was
the first. A culture based on the use of stone and copper arrived. Such a
culture is called Chalcolithic which means the stone-copper phase.
• Apart from stone tools, hand axes and other objects made of copperware also
used.
• The Chalcolithic people used different types of pottery of which black and red
pottery was most popular. It was wheel made and painted with white line
design.
• These people were not acquainted with burnt bricks. They generally lived in
thatched houses. It was a village economy.
• The Indus Valley Civilization was an ancient civilization thriving along the Indus River
and the Ghaggar-Hakra River in what is now Pakistan and north-western India. Among other
names for this civilization is the Harappan Civilization, in reference to its first excavated city
of Harappa.
• An alternative term for the culture is Saraswati-Sindhu Civilization, based on the fact
that most of the Indus Valley sites have been found at the Halkra-Ghaggar River.
• R.B. Dayaram Sahni first discovered Harappa (on Ravi) in 1921. R.D. Banerjee
discovered Mohenjodaro or 'Mound of the Dead' (on Indus) in 1922. Sir John Marshal played a
crucial role in both these.
• Harappan Civilization forms part of the proto history of India and belongs to the
Bronze Age.
• Mediterranean, Proto-Australoid, Mongoloids and Alpines formed the bulk of the population,
though the first two were more numerous.
• More than 100 sites belonging to this civilization have been excavated.
• According to radio-carbon dating, it spread from the year 2500 - 1750 BC.
Geographical Extent :
• Covered parts of Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, Gujarat, Rajasthan and some parts of Western
UP. It extended from Manda in Jammu in the north to Daimabad in the south and from
Alamgirpur in W. UP to Sutkagendor in Baluchistan in the west.
• Major sites in Pakistan are Harappa (on Ravi in W Punjab), Mohenjodaro (on Indus), Chanhu-
Daro (Sindh), etc. In India, major sites are Lothal, Rangpur and Surkotda (Gujarat),
Kalibangan (Rajasthan), Banwali (Hissar), and Alamgirpur (Western UP).
• Largest and the latest site in India is Dholavira in Gujarat. Dr. J.R Joshi and Dr. R.S. Bisht
were involved in it.
• Elaborate town-planning. It followed the Grid System. Roads were well cut, dividing the town
into large rectangular or square blocks. Lamp posts at intervals indicate the existence of street
lightning. Flanking the streets, lanes and by-lanes were well-planned houses.
• Used burnt bricks of good quality as the building material. Elsewhere in the contemporary
world, mud-bricks were used.
• Houses, often of two or more storey, varied in size, but were quite monotonous a square
courtyard, around which were a number of rooms. No window faced the streets. The houses
had tiled bathrooms.
• Good drainage system. Drains were made of mortar, lime and gypsum and covered with large
brick slabs for easy cleaning. Shows developed sense of health and sanitation.
• The towns were divided into 2 parts: Upper part or Citadel and Lower Part. The Citadel was an
oblong artificial platform some 30-50 feet high and about 400-200 yards in area It was
enclosed by a thick (13 m at Harappa) crenelated mud-brick wall. In Citadel public buildings,
granaries, important workshops and religious buildings were there. In lower part people used
to live.
• In Mohanjodaro, a big public bath (Great Bath) measuring 12 m by 7 m and 2.4 m deep, has
been found. Steps led from either end to the surface, with changing rooms alongside. It was
probably used for ritual bathing.
• The Indus people sowed seeds in the flood plains in November, when the flood water receded,
and reaped their harvests of wheat and barley in Apr, before the advent of the next flood.
• Grew wheat, barley, rai, peas, sesamum, mustard, rice (in Lothal), cotton, dates, melon, etc.
The Indus people were the first to produce cotton.
• Domesticated animals on large scale. Besides the cattle, cats and dogs were domesticated.
Horse wasn't in regular use but elephant was. Remains of horse at Surkotda and dogs with
men in grave at Ropar have been discovered.
• Well-knit external and internal trade. There was no metallic money in circulation and trade
was carried through Barter System.
• Weights and measures of accuracy existed in Harappan culture (found at Lothal). The weights
were made of limestone, steatite, etc and were generally cubical in shape.
• Flint tool-work, shell-work, bangle making, pottery making, etc were practiced. Raw material
for these came from different sources: gold from N.Karnataka, silver and lapis lazuli from
Afghanistan and Iran, copper from Khetri and Baluchistan, etc.
• Bead making factory existed in Chanhudaro and Lothal. They were items of export.
• A dockyard has been discovered at Lothal. Rangpur, Somnath and Balakot functioned as
seaports. Sutkagendor and Sutkakoh functioned as outlets.
• The inland transport was done with bullock carts.
• Every merchant or mercantile family probably had a seal bearing an emblem, often of a
religious character, and a name or brief description, on one side. The standard Harappa seal
was a square or oblong plaque made of steatite stone. The primary purpose of the seal was
probably to mark the ownership of property, but they may have also served as amulets.
• The Mesopotamian records from about 2350 BC onwards refer to trade relations with Meluha,
the ancient name of the Indus region. Harappan seals and other material has been found at
Mesopotamia. Also traded with Sumer.
• Bronze was made by mixing tin and copper. Tools were mostly made of copper and bronze.
For making bronze, copper was obtained from Khetri in Rajasthan and from Baluchistan, and
tin from Afghanistan.
• Very fond of ornaments (of gold, silver, ivory, copper, bronze, precious stones) and dressing
up. Ornaments were worn by both men and women. Women wore heavy bangles in profusion,
large necklaces, ear-rings, bracelets, fingure-rings, girdles, nose studs and anklets. The
Harappans were also an expert bead makers.
• Potter's wheel was in use. Their pottery was red or black pottery. Played dice games. Their
favourite pastime was Gambling.
• The Harappans most notable artistic achievement was their seal gravings, esp. those of
animals. The red sandstone torso of a man is particularly impressive for its realism. However,
the most impressive of the figurines is perhaps the bronze image of the famous dancing girl
(identified as devadasi), found at Mohenjodaro.
• For their children, they made cattle-toys with movable heads, model monkeys which could
slide down a string, little toy-carts, and whistles shaped like birds, all of terracotta.
• Main object of worship was the Mother Goddess. But the upper classes preferred a god, nude
with two horns, much similar to Pasupati Siva. Represented on the seal is a figure with three
horned heads in a yogic posture. He is surrounded by an elephant, a tiger and a rhinoceros,
and below his throne is a buffalo. Near his feet are two deer. Pashupatinath represented male
deity.
• Many trees (pipal), animals (bull), birds (dove, pigeon) and stones were worshipped. Unicorn
was also worshipped. However, no temple has been found, though idolatry was practiced.
• Although no definite proof is available with regard to the disposal of the dead, a broad view is
that probably there were three methods of disposing the dead - complete burial, burial after
exposure of the body to birds and beasts, and cremation followed by burial of the ashes.
The discovery of cinerary urns and jars, goblets or vessels with ashes, bones and charcoal
may, however, suggest that during the flourishing period of the Indus Valley culture the third
method was generally practiced. In Harappa, there is one place where evidence of coffin burial
is there. The people probably believed in ghosts and evil spirits, as amulets were worn.
• The script is not alphabetical but pictographic (about 600 undeciphered pictographs).
• The script has not been deciphered so far, but overlaps of letters show that it was written from
right to left in the first line and left to right in the second line. This style is called
'Boustrophedon'.
• There is no clear idea of the political organization of the Indus Valley people. Perhaps they
were more concerned with commerce and they were possibly ruled by a class of merchants.
• Also, there was an organization like a municipal corporation to look after the civic amenities of
the people.
• Many historians have given various theories regarding the original place of
the Aryans.
However, the Central Asian theory, given by Max Muller, is the most accepted one.
It states that the Aryans were semi-nomadic pastoral people and originated from
area around the Caspian Sea in Central Asia.
• Entered India probably through the Khyber Pass (in Hindukush Mountains)
around 1500 BC.
• The holy book of Iran 'Zend Avesta' indicates entry of Aryans to India via Iran.
Political Organisation :
Social Life :
• The term varna was used for color, the Aryans being
fair, the dasas dark.
• The Aryans loved music, and played the flute, lute and
harp. There are references to singing and dancing, and
to dancing girls. People also delighted in gambling. They
enjoyed chariot racing. Both men and women wore
ornaments.
Rivers in Rigveda :
Indus Sindhu
Jhelum Vitasta
Chenab Asikni
Ravi Purushni
Beas Vipasa
Sutlei Sutudri
Gomati Gumal
Kurram Krumu
Ghaggar Drisshadvati
The Mahajanpadas
3. Belief in Nirvana :
Note:
Buddist Literature :
• In Pali language.
Note:
Growth of Buddhism :
• Founded by Rishabhanath.
• There were 24 tirthankaras (Prophetsor Gurus), all
Kshatriyas.First was Rishabhanath (Emblem: Bull). His reference is
also 4n Rigveda. But there is no historical basis for the first 22
Tirthankaras. Only the last two Tirthankaras are historical
personalities.
Teachings of Mahavira :
Other Points: