General

Question 1

Earliest discovery of microliths and other mesolithic tools was made in

Answer 1

Mirzapur of up

Question 2

Mode of burial in jorwe culture

Answer 2

Their dead were typically buried with the feet cut off, in urns which were placed under house floors or courtyards

Question 3

Harappans borrowed writing from mesopotamia

Answer 3

Fals e

Question 4

Only port town of ivc

Answer 4

Lothal

Question 5

Mauryan administration possessed a more elaborate administrative machinery than Gupta

Answer 5

True
Bcoz for Gupta most of the administration was by feudatories

Question 6

Beginning of muslim calender

Answer 6

622 ad

Question 7

Consider the following statements regarding Harappan Civilisation.
1. Large-scale irrigation with dams aided surplus agriculture production

Answer 7

The irrigation was carried out on a small scale by drawing water from wells or diverting river water into channels, or constructing wells. So, statement 1 is not correct

Question 8

1. Ahar culture - A. Chambal
2. Kayatha culture - B. Udaipur
3. Malwa culture - C. Inamgaon
4. Jorwe culture - D. Navdatoli

Answer 8

) 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C

Question 9

order of chalcolithic cultures

Answer 9

Banas culture (2600BC–1900 BC) in south-east Rajasthan, with Ahar near Udaipur and Gilund as its key sites; Kayatha culture (2100BC–2000 BC) with Kayatha in Chambal as its chief site in Madhya Pradesh; Malwa Culture (1700BC–1400BC) with Navdatoli in Western Madhya Pradesh as an important site, and Jorwe culture (1400BC– 700BC) with Inamgaon and Chandoli near Pune in Maharashtra

Question 10

With respect to Ochre colored Pottery (OCP) culture, consider the following statements.
1. Ochre-colored pottery sites are generally located in hilly areas along dense forests.
2. The larger-sized sites and higher mounds indicate a relatively larger duration of these
settlements.
3. Ochre-colored pottery gradually paved the way for Painted grey ware culture in many parts
of India

Answer 10

The Ochre Coloured Pottery culture (OCP) is a Bronze Age culture of the Indo-Gangetic Plain “generally dated 2000–1500 BCE,”[1][2] extending from eastern Punjab to northeastern Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh.

(a) 3 only

OCP sites are generally located along river banks.
➢ OCP sites are small in size, and mounds have low height and thus indicate a short duration of
their settlements.
➢ The material remains of OCP culture are mostly in the form of pottery. These consist of jars
(including storage jars), bowls, ring-footed bowls, flasks, handled pots, miniature pots, basins
spouts, etc

Question 11

1. Painted Grey ware (PGW) was the characteristic pottery of the Early Vedic period.
2. The territorial extent of the Painted Grey ware (PGW) sites ranges from Ganga-Yamuna Doab
   in the upper Ganga plains till West Bengal in the lower Ganga plains.

Answer 11

both wrong
Painted Grey ware is associated with the iron using people of the Later Vedic period and was used by the affluent section of society

Their distribution extends from the dry beds of the river Ghaggar in Bahawalpur and
northern Rajasthan to the watershed of the Indus and Ganges and the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. The eastern limits of this ware are restricted to the northern plains of the Ganges, as the site of Sravasti indicates. Despite its widespread influence, Painted Grey ware is still limited to the upper Ganga valley

Question 12

Consider the following statements regarding the Stone Age in Ancient Indian history.
1. Modern human beings, i.e., Homo sapiens, first appeared in the Upper Palaeolithic age.
2. Northern spurs of the Vindhyas in the Belan valley witnessed all the phases of the
Palaeolithic, followed by the Mesolithic and the Neolithic phase.
3. Paleolithic sites are found in all parts of the country.

Answer 12

b) 1 and 2 only

Palaeolithic sites are found in practically all parts of the country except the alluvial plains of the Indus and the Gangs. Therefore, Palaeolithic sites are not found in all parts of the country

Question 13

The Harappans widely used camel for the transport of goods.

Answer 13

There is evidence of the domestication of the cat, the dog, and perhaps the elephant. The data about the camel and horse are less conclusive

no evidence of cow has been found on any
seal.

Question 14

The Indus people acquired the art of cultivation of cotton from Egypt

Answer 14

the most remarkable agricultural
achievement was the cultivation of cotton. Even Egypt did not produce it until several centuries after it was grown in the Indus valley

Question 15

The terms Vrihi, Tandula, and Sali, referred to in the Ancient period, denoted which of the
following

Answer 15

rice

Question 16

Consider the following statements about Lothal, a Harappan settlement.
1. Lothal was discovered immediately after excavating other major settlements such as Harappa
and Mohenjodaro.
2. Lothal is IVC’a only major port town discovered so far.
3. Twin burial, i.e., the burial of two individuals together, is the unique method found here.
4. Like Harappa and Mohenjodaro, Lothal also witnessed the division of the town into upper and
lower towns.

Answer 16

2,3,4

Sites like Lothal, Dholavira, Kalibangan and Rakhigarhi were discovered during this intense phase of post-Independence archaeology. Mohenjodaro and Harappa were discovered by Sir John Marshall in the 1920s

Question 17

It is called the provincial capital of the Harappan
Civilisation,

Answer 17

Rakhigarhi

Question 18

Consider the following statements regarding Chalcolithic culture.
1. Domestication of animals and cultivation of food grains are remarkable features of the
chalcolithic age.
2. Pork is one of the most widely used food items of the times, mainly to tackle malnutrition.
3. Chalcolithic people were not well acquainted with burnt bricks.
4. They cultivated crops like cotton, rice, pulses, lentils etc

Answer 18

1,3 and 4 only

The Chalcolithic people were generally not acquainted with burnt bricks, which were rarely used. Occasionally their houses were made of mud bricks, but mostly these were constructed with wattle and daub and seemed to have been thatched houses

Fish and rice were important diet food for the people of Chalcolithic culture. In chalcolithic culture, people ate beef but did not take Pork on a considerable scale

Question 19

With respect to the prehistoric age, consider the following statements.
1. Chalcolithic cultures are devoid of any administrative organization.
2. The Chalcolithic social organisation was characterised by egalitarianism devoid of hierarchy.
3. Many Chalcolithic settlements had been simultaneous to that of Harappa.
4. Ramparts, granaries, canals etc., have been found at various Chalcolithic sites.

Answer 19

3,4

In the chalcolithic culture regions, a study of the distribution pattern of the sites seems to suggest
that these sites were of two types, one type representing regional centers and the other type
representing village settlements. This difference, or hierarchy, has been taken to suggest that some
form of administrative organization was present in the chalcolithic cultures

Question 20

Pit dwelling and placing of domestic dogs in graves is the characteristic feature of Neolithic
sites throughout India.

Answer 20

Pit dwelling and the placing of domestic dogs in the graves of the masters do not seem to be the practice of
Neolithic people in other parts of India.
The Burzahom is the only site where the Domestic dogs were buried along with their masters in their graves.

Question 21

With respect to Iron Age, consider the following statements.
1. The Megalithic people used granite for their graves.
2. The excavations from the Megalithic sites yielded Roman coins
3. Megalithic people live in one area for a very short time.
4. They were proficient in manufacturing a variety of iron objects.

Answer 21

all correct

The archaeological details of the iron age of south India’s subsistence economy are given below
- The settlements found near the megalithic complexes have very thin debris of occupation. This would indicate that these people were living in one area for a very short time.
- The use of iron tools enabled them to use granite stones for their graves. It is these agro-pastoral
groups that enter the historical phase in the early centuries of the Christian era. They have been
mentioned in the Sangam literature.
➢ Some of the graves have yielded Roman coins, suggesting their entry into history and participation in trade networks spread over a large area.

Question 22

) Consider the following statements about Harappan Civilisation.
1. The evidence of fire pits, as Harappa and Mohenjodaro point out the practice of fire worship.
2. At Mohenjodaro, a series of raised brick platforms with pits containing ash and animal bones have been discovered

Answer 22

) Neither 1 nor 2

Evidence of fire worship has been found at some sites, such as Kalibangan and Lothal. There is no evidence of fire-pits at Harappa or Mohenjodaro. So, statement 1 is not correct.
At Kalibangan, a series of raised brick platforms with pits containing ash and animal bones have been discovered. So, statement 2 is not correct.

Question 23

The unique feature of chalcolithic culture in India is the homogeneity of pottery and
implements used.

Answer 23

false
The Chalcolithic Culture has a unique feature in India, where the People in the Chalcolithic age were the first to use painted pottery. The Chalcolithic Culture used wheel-made pottery, mostly of red and orange colour. They used Black-and-Red ware pottery was quite common, and also used Ochre-Coloured Pottery

Question 24

) Consider the following statements regarding the Early Vedic period.
1. The term ‘dasas’ is referred to dark, full-lipped worshippers of the phallus.
2. There are no references to beggars, wage earners or wages in Rig Veda.
3. The chariot makers occupied a special social position.
4. The presence of different economic categories, such as weavers, smiths, carpenters etc.,
shows the economic stratification of society.

Answer 24

1, 2, 3, and 4

The Dasas are described as dark, full-lipped, snub-nosed worshippers of the phallus and of hostile speech. They were rich in cattle and lived in fortified strongholds.

The Various occupational groups during the Early Vedic period, such as those of weavers, smiths,
carpenters, leather workers, chariot makers, priests etc., are also mentioned. There are no references to beggars, wage-earners or wages in the Rigveda

Question 25

With regard to Chalcolithic culture, consider the following statements.
1. Chalcolithic people preferred large families and built larger houses to accommodate them.
2. Some Chalcolithic settlements are even fortified and surrounded by a moat.
3. They used separate cemeteries for cremating the dead.

Answer 25

a) 1 and 2 only
Some settlements, such as the Inamgaon site in Maharashtra, western India. And those at Fran and Kayatha in central and western Madhya Pradesh were fortified and surrounded by a moat

In the chalcolithic culture in Maharashtra, the burial practices and religious cults of people buried their dead in urns under the floor of their houses in the north-to-south position. They did not use separatecemeteries for cremating the dead, unlike Harappans, who used separate cemeteries for burial purposes

Question 26

Lancashire of the Indus Valley civilization.

Answer 26

chanhudharo

Question 27

Consider the following statements regarding Chalcolithic culture.
1. People of the chalcolithic age experienced high longevity due to greater food diversity.
2. Chalcolithic people founded the first villages in India, and thus they were predominantly rural

Answer 27

2 only

Limited longevity is one of the limitations of the chalcolithic age. Despite being a food-producing economy, infant mortality was very high, probably due to malnutrition, epidemic outbreaks etc

With the end of the Neolithic Age, several cultures started using metal, mostly copper and low-grade bronze.

Question 28

Pandu Rajar Dhibi

Answer 28

It was the first Chalcolithic site discovered in West Bengal.

Question 29

Consider the following statements.
1. Practicing Agriculture
2. Village life
3. Domestication of animals
4. Pottery

Answer 29

The Chalcolithic age is a transition period between the Neolithic and Bronze Age. The Chalcolithic people founded the first villages in India.

Question 30

Consider the following statements during the Later Vedic period.
1. Agriculture became labour-intensive due to the wet rice cultivation in the Later Vedic
period.
2. Circular huts made of wattle and wood paved the way for more substantial houses with
earth walls.
3. Mixed farming led to the rise of sedentary settlements and lifestyles

Answer 30

Agricultural activities in this phase were not labour intensive. The sites from where rice remains are found in the excavations are located on the elevated areas of the Doab. It was not labour-intensive Wet rice cultivation was not found during this period.

2 and 3 only

Question 31

With respect to Neolithic settlements, consider the following statements.
1. Neolithic people could settle down only in hilly river valleys.
2. They couldn’t produce more than they needed for bare subsistence.

Answer 31

both true

The Neolithic people did not live far away from the hilly areas. They habited mainly the hilly river valleys, rock shelters, and the slopes of the hills since they were entirely dependent on weapons and tools made from stone

Further, even with great effort, they could not produce more than what they needed for their bare subsistence. Hence, Statements 1 and 2 are correct

Question 32

With respect to the Mesolithic phase, consider the following statements.
1. The Mesolithic age marked the beginning of settled agricultural communities.
2. There is a shift in the hunting pattern from small to big animals with the help of stone
tools.
3. They are well acquainted with sheep, pigs, dogs and fish

Answer 32

3 only
settled agricultural communities.- neolithic

The Mesolithic people subsisted on hunting and gathering, and there was a shift in the pattern of
hunting from the big animals in the Palaeolithic period to the smaller animals which could be
attacked with the help of bows and arrows.

Question 33

standing army was established for the first time during the period of

Answer 33

The cattle raids of the preceding period were replaced by organised campaigns in which territory was annexed, and agriculturists and traders were forced to pay taxes. Thus, in the period of mahajanapadhas, the standing army was established for the first time.

Question 34

Mahajanapadhas bear the name of the dominant Kshatriya lineage in most cases.

Answer 34

In most cases, the Mahajanapadas did not bear the name of the dominant Kshatriya lineage. For example, Kosala, Magadha, Avanti and Vatsa were not named after any Kshatriya lineages. So, Statement 4 is not correct.

Question 35

Concerning ancient Indian History, consider the following statements.
1. Jivaka was the private physician of Ajatasatru.
2. Jivaka was the contemporary of both Bimbisara and Buddha.
3. Ajatasatru used to send Jivaka to look after Buddha

Answer 35

Jivaka was the personal physician of the Buddha and the Indian King Bimbisara. He lived in Rājagṛha, present-day Rajgir, in the 5th century BCE. Sometimes described as the “Medicine King,” he figures prominently in legendary accounts in Asia as a model healer and is honoured by traditional healers in several Asian countries. Therefore, Jivaka was the contemporary of both Bimbisara and Buddha.
In Rajagriha, Bimbisara was impressed with the skill of jivaka, and he used to send him to look after the Buddha. Thus Jivaka came in contact with the Buddha. He gave lots of gifts to the Buddhist monks.

Question 36

) Consider the following statements regarding the period of Mahajanapadhas.
1. Join ownership of land was the common feature under the command and control of
Gahapati.

Answer 36

The important change in Mahajanapadhas was the emergence of new categories and groups of people in Society. Out of these groups emerged the Gahapati (the master of an individual household that owned land), who signified the disintegration of joint ownership and the emergence of big individual landowners.

Question 37

Pataliputra was called Girivraja, an impregnable city protected by five hills

Answer 37

Rajagriha, the Prakrit name for present-day Rajgir in Bihar, was the capital of Magadha and was also
called Girivraja. The old name means “house of the king.” Rajagriha was a fortified settlement located amongst hills popularly known as impregnable. Pataliputra was located near the River Ganga, Patna, Bihar

Question 38

Minor Rock Edict at Maski was the only inscription that mentions the name, Ashoka

Answer 38

The Minor rock edicts of Ashoka are found on 15 rocks across the country and also in Afghanistan. Ashoka uses his name over the inscriptions in four of these places, namely: Maski (Karnataka),
Brahmagiri (Karnataka), Gujjara (Madhya Pradesh) and Nettur (Andhra Pradesh).

Question 39

s. The four scripts used by Ashoka
in his Edicts

Answer 39

Brahmi (top left), Kharoshthi (top right), Greek (bottom left) and Aramaic (bottom right).

Question 40

It is the earliest of the rock-cut caves of the Mauryan period. The cave consists of two chambers which contain an inscription dated to the 12th regnal year of Ashoka and is also dedicated to the Ajivika sect.

Answer 40

Barabar Cave

Question 41

With reference to the features of Chaityas and Vihara, Consider the following statements
1. Chaityas have long a rectangular hall whereas Viharas have a square hall at their center
2. Unlike Chaityas, viharas were internally divided into a nave, an apse, and two side aisles
3. Both Chaityas and Viharas have horseshoe shaped Window

Answer 41

1 only

Viharas have a square or oblong hall in the center, which is preceded in front by a pillared veranda. Chaityas are rectangular prayer halls with a stupa in the center. The two rows of pillars
separated the central part of the hall from the two aisles

The chaityas had polished inside walls, and semicircular roofs, where they had horse-shoe-shaped windows. And Viharas do not have those features

Question 42

Mauryan Architecture was contemporary to the Great wall of China

Answer 42

yes

Question 43

lauriya nandangarh pillar vs lauriya araraj pillar

Answer 43

lion
vs
Lauriya Araraj is known for the presence of one of the Pillars of Ashoka. The pillar capital is missing, but the pillar bears six Edicts of Ashok

Question 44

Seal-making workshops of IVC

Answer 44

Seal-making workshops are known from Harappa and Lothal. Various animals like a short-horned bull, buffalo, bull, rhinoceros, tiger, and crocodile are depicted on the seals.
We also have mythical animals like the unicorn, horned tiger, horned elephant, and others depicted on the seals

Question 45

Which among the following structure discovered in the citadel mound of Mohenjodaro
1. Great Bath
2. Granary storage
3. Residence of a very high official
4. An Assembly Hall

Answer 45

ALL

Question 46

1) Which among the following is/are the Historical narrative reliefs available at Bharhut
1. Buddha’s visit to Kapilavastu
2. Queen Mayadevi’s dream
3. Depiction of Ruru Jataka

Answer 46

2 and 3 only

Question 47

Rani Gumpha “Cave of the Queen” Rani Gumpha is the largest and most popular cave among the caves of ? SPECIALITY

Answer 47

Udayagiri and Khandagiri

double-storied

Question 48

longest cave in India

Answer 48

Krem Liat Prah is the longest cave in India. Krem Liat Prah is located in the Shnongrim Ridge of Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district. In the local dialect, Krem means cave. Krem Liat Prah is an ongoing cave project, and the experts are still mapping the length of the cave. As of now, it is an impressive 34 km long cave with its star attraction and the massive trunk passage
called the Aircraft Hangar

Question 49

Gandhara School of Art existed from the first century BC to 2nd Century AD

Answer 49

Gandhara art style of Buddhist visual art developed in northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan between the 1st century BCE and the 7th century CE. This school of art evolved a distinct type of Buddha statue and was rich in relief sculptures depicting Buddhist myth and legend. So, Statement
3 is not correct

Question 50

tallest and the largest Buddhist stupa in the world

Answer 50

Kesaria Buddha stupa in the east Champaran district of Bihar is said to be the tallest and the largest
Buddhist stupa in the world. It is located in Kesariya, at a distance of 110 kilometers from Patna, in the East Champaran district of Bihar

Question 51

King Mahinda and Sanghmitra, children of Askoka were initially schooled in Sanchi Stupa before they moved to Sri Lanka.

Answer 51

Prince Mahinda and Sanghmitra, children of Askoka, were initially schooled here before they moved to Sri Lanka. The two siblings later went to Sri Lanka to spread the teachings of Buddha at the request of King Devanampiya Tissa (250 BC – 210 BC), a contemporary of Ashoka. Ashoka was initially reluctant to send his daughter on an overseas mission. However, because of the insistence of Sangamitra herself, he finally agreed. So, Statement 2 is correct

Question 52

. Yakshas and Yakshis were considered the deities of peace and non-violence

Answer 52

Yakshas and Yakshis were believed to be spirits that inhabited trees, mountains, rock mounds, rivers, and oceans. Their prevalence in sculpture, usually associated with natural elements, is considered a sign of widespread nature worship in the early historic period (6th–3rd century BCE). So, Statement
2 is not correct.

Question 53

With reference to Ancient Indian History, “Kankali Tila” is related to

Answer 53

Kankali Tila is located near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. Here, there was the discovery of a type of votive tablet known as Ayagapata, used for donation and worship under Jainism in the early centuries. These tablets are decorated with objects and design central to Jain worship, such as the stupa, dharmacakra
and Triratna. They present simultaneous trends or images and symbol worship. The practice of donating these tablets is documented from the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE Thus, Kankali Tila is related to the Temple of Jainism. S

Question 54

Both Ajanta and Ellora caves are located in

Answer 54

Maharashtra’s Aurangabad district

Question 55

2) With reference to Ajantha Caves, Consider the following statements
1. The activities in the early phase of Ajantha were made through donations made by upāsakas or
laity, monks, traders, and ordinary people
2. The second phase of activity in Ajantha was made through individual donations from wealthy
patrons connected to the Vakataka kings

Answer 55

BOTH TRUE

Question 56

largest geoglyph in India

Answer 56

The largest rock engraving or geoglyph in India is at
Kasheli in the Ratnagiri district, which has a large figure of an elephant with dimensions of 18X13 meters.

Question 57

All the Nagara Style of temples were geographically distributed from the foothills of the Himalayas to the
central plateau of the Deccan.

Answer 57

TRUE

Question 58

For the first in south India, the goddesses Ganga and Yamuna, along with their vehicles or Vahanas were represented at the entrances of the gopurams during this period

Answer 58

Vijayanagara temples

Question 59

Arka khetra, Padma khetra

Answer 59

e Konark temple

Question 60

KONARK TEMPLE
1. Built by
2. Chief Architect
3. Materials used

Answer 60

King Narasimhadeva I of the Eastern Ganga dynasty

Bishu Maharana

Chlorite, Laterite and Khondalite rocks

Question 61

Which among the following events are part of the Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
1. Krishna lifting the Govardhan Mountain
2. Ravana Shaking Mount Kailash
3. The great battle between the goddess Durga and the buffalo demon.
4. Vishnu rescued Mother Earth from the depths of the cosmic ocean

Answer 61

1,3 and 4 only

A wall in the Adivaraha cave has a depiction of Vishnu in his Varaha avatar. He is holding up Mother Earth, whom he has rescued from the depths of the cosmic ocean

Inside the Mahishasuramardini cave, there is a relief depicting the great battle between the goddess Durga and the buffalo demon.

In the Krishna Mandapa, next to Arjuna’s Penance, a relief shows Krishna lifting the Govardhan mountain with one hand

Question 62

With reference to Qutub-Minar, consider the following statements
1. It was a 10-story building built based on Indo- the Turkish style
2. It was built using Red and white sandstones only

Answer 62

Qutub-ud-din Aibek could get only its first storey constructed during his reign-1206 from 1210 AD; afterward, King Iltumish completed the 2nd,3rd and 4th storeys. But in the end, the 5th
story was constructed by emperor Firoz shah Tughuluk. So, Statement 1 is not correct.

Red and white sandstones in the construction of the Qutub Minar, and on the top floor, marble stones were used. Stucco lime mixture has been used as a morter for cementing its construction
work. S

Question 63

Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was built by Akbar in 1575 AD. This prayer hall was open to who
among the following?
1. Hindus
2. Christians
3. Jains
4. Atheists
5. Zoroastrians

Answer 63

it is a prayer or meeting hall where Akbar discusses religions with the ulama, Brahmanas, Jesuit
priests who were Roman Catholics, and Zoroastrians. There were also interfaith debates between
learned Muslims, Hindus, Jainas, Parsis, Christians, and atheists.

Question 64

Consider the following statements :
1. He was deeply interested in music and wrote a book named “Kitab-i-Nauras.”
2. He followed a liberal and tolerant religious policy by patronizing all religious people.
3. He was popularly called Jagat guru, abla baba, a friend of the poor.
4. He built a new capital Nauraspur.

Answer 64

Ibrahim Adil Shah II

Question 65

Consider the following statements with reference to Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
1. He was a great patron of literature and architecture.
2. He was the first sultan who introduced secular aspects in poetry.
3. He was a contemporary of Shah Jahan.
4. His successors, in due course, adopted Telugu as a literary language.

Answer 65

He was a contemporary of Akbar.
➢ He was very fond of literature and architecture.
➢ He was not only a great patron of art and literature but was a poet of no mean order.
➢ He wrote in Dakshin Urdu, Persian and Telugu and has left an extensive diwan or collection.
➢ He was the first to introduce a secular note in poetry

The Successors of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah and many other poets and writers of the time adopted Urdu as a literary language

Question 66

With reference to Qandahar, consider the following statements
1. It is located at the junction between Kabul and Herat, dominating Afghanistan.
2. During Mughal’s reign, this was economically important, known for the movement of goods
between India and Central Asia

Answer 66

both true

Question 67

What were the reforms brought by Akbar during his reign?
1. Widow remarriage was promoted.
2. He banned forcible Sati.
3. Age of marriage for both boys and girls was raised.
4. His educational reforms laid more emphasis on vocational education rather than mathematics
and science.

Answer 67

) 1, 2 and 3 only

Question 68

After St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, it is the second largest dome ever built in size

Answer 68

Gol Gumbaz

Another attraction at the Gol Gumbaz is the Whispering Gallery, where even minute sounds can
be heard 37 metres away

Question 69

Consider the following statements
1. Khudkasht were peasants who owned the land they tilled.
2. The territorial zenith of the Mughal empire was reached by the end of the sixteenth century.
3. The village society of the Mughal empire was quite equal as there were no untouchable class people
ahead of those times

Answer 69

The Mughal empire reached its territorial zenith by the end of the seventeenth century. During this period, it had to face many administrative and political problems.
Khudkasht, who claimed to be the village’s original settlers, often belonged to a single dominant caste or castes. These castes not only dominated the village society but also exploited the weaker sections of the society

Question 70

Consider the following statements regarding the Ain-i-Akbari
1. Written by Abul Fazl, this book contains three parts, of which the first two describe the historical
narrative of Akbar’s rule.
2. The religious and cultural traditions of the people of India and the auspicious sayings of Akbar
were also compiled in this book.
3. Data for the compilation of the books were collected uniformly in all the provinces of the Mughal
empire.

Answer 70

2 only

Akbar Nama, written by Abul Fazl, comprises three books and the first two talk about the historical narrative of Akbar’s rule. The third book is the Ain-i-Akbari, organized as a compendium of imperial
regulations and a gazetteer of the empire.

For the data compilation of the books, the data were not collected uniformly from all provinces of the Mughal empire. For many provinces (subas), detailed information was compiled about the caste composition of the zamindars but was not available for Orissa and Bengal. So, statement 3 is not correct.

Question 71

Which of the following forms of salutation was practiced in the Mughal empire?
1. Kornish
2. Sijda
3. Shab-i-barat
4. Chahar taslim
5. Zaminbos

Answer 71

The highest form of submission was Sijda or complete prostration. Under Shah Jahan, these rituals were replaced by Chahar Taslim and Zaminbos

Shab-I barat is the full moon night on the 14 Shaban, the eighth month of the Hijri calendar (Muslim calendar) and is celebrated with prayers and fireworks in the subcontinent

Question 72

The battle of Samugarh was fought between

Answer 72

1658, the Battle of Samugarh was fought between Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb for the succession of the Mughal throne after Shah Jahan. Aurangzeb won the
battle as his troops were well-led. It was basically a battle of good generalship.

Question 73

Saltpetre exported from India during the medieval Indian history period?

Answer 73

yes

Question 74

Tobacco, maize, potato and red chillies are not the native crops of India.

Answer 74

yes

Question 75

With reference to medieval Indian history, consider the following statements
1. Fatehpur Sikri Agra was bigger than London in the 16th century.
2. Jahangir and Shah Jahan were interested in gun manufacturing.
3. All three, the French, the Dutch and the English, came to India solely for trade.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer 75

1 and 3 only
Akbar and Aurangzeb were deeply interested in manufacturing all types of guns, including mobile guns and took steps to increase their producti

Question 76

Consider the following statements about Nauroz.
1. Nauroz was a festival of Zoroastrians, which Iranian rulers of medieval history favoured.
2. It continued throughout the Mughal era from Akbar to Aurangzeb.

Answer 76

1 only

This practice continued throughout the Mughal Era from Akbar to Shah Jahan. Aurangzeb discontinued the festival of Nauroz as it was considered a Zoroastrian practice favoured by the Safavid rulers of Iran

Question 77

Daswant and Basawan were two of the famous
painters of

Answer 77

Akbar’s court

Question 78

. Pinjore garden

Answer 78

Pinjore Gardens, now called Yadavindra, one of the Mughal gardens, were started in the 17th century. It was designed by Nawab Fidal Khan, brother-in-law of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Question 79

Nishat Bagh

Answer 79

Nishat Bagh is a terraced Mughal garden built on the eastern side of the Dal Lake, close to Srinagar in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is the second-largest Mughal garden in the Kashmir Valley. The largest in size is the Shalimar Bagh, also located on the bank of the Dal Lake. The Bagh was designed and built in 1633 by Asif Khan, elder brother of Nur Jehan.

Question 80

Dinpanah was a city in medieval India founded by

Answer 80

The Mughal ruler Humayun built Dinpanah on the mound of ancient Indraprastha as a new city at Delhi on the banks of the Yamuna River. The building of Dinpanah was meant to impress friends and foes alike. It could also serve as a second capital if Agra was threatened by Bahadur Shah, who had conquered Ajmer and overrun eastern Rajasthan. In 1540 Humayun was defeated by Sher shah and destroyed the Dinpanah completely, and built his new capital, known as Purana Qila fort, in southeastern Delh

Question 81

Which of the following works was/were done during the reign of Sher Shah?
1. Purana Quila
2. Padmavat
3. Sasaram tomb
Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Answer 81

1, 2 and 3

Sher Shah built a new city on the bank of the Yamuna near Delhi. The only survivor of this is the Old Fort (Purana Qila) and the fine mosque within it.
➢ In 1542 CE, a prominent structure of the Purana Qila was the Qila-e-Kuhna mosque built by Sher Shah in 1542 CE. This mosque is an aesthetic structure that reflects a transitional stage between
the architecture of the Lodhis and the Mughals

Question 82

Mewar was the only state which refused to accept Mughal suzerainty.

Answer 82

After the conquest of Chittor by Akbar, most of the leading Rajput rulers accepted Akbar’s suzerainty and paid personal homage to him. Many Rajput rulers had accepted the suzerainty (under control) of the Mughals. As an example, the rulers of Jaisalmer and Bikaner had also entered into matrimonial relations with Akbar. The Mewar was the only state which had steadfastly refused to accept Mughal suzerainty. So, Statement 2 is correct.

Question 83

Which crops of medieval India are known as jins-i-Kamil?

Answer 83

The term jins-i-Kamil; literally means the perfect crops. Crops such as cotton and sugarcane were the best crops grown as jins-i-Kamil

The Mughal state encouraged peasants to cultivate such crops as they resulted in more revenue.

Question 84

Consider the following statements about women in the agrarian society of medieval India.
1. There was a gender disparity between men and women though household labour was the basis of
production in those days.
2. In the Bengal region, menstruating women were not allowed to enter betel-leave-grown regions.
3. Women had the right to inherit property.
4. Remarriage was considered illegitimate among widowed and divorced women.

Answer 84

2 and 3 only

With the growth of nucleated villages and expansion in individuated peasant farming, which characterized medieval Indian agriculture, the basis of production was the labor and resources of the entire household. Naturally, there was no gendered segregation between women and men. But biases related to women’s biological functions did continue. In the Bengal region, menstruating women, for instance, were not allowed to touch the plough or the potter’s wheel in western India or enter the groves where betel leaves (paan) were grown

It is expressed from the instances from Punjab show that
women, who inherited property, including the widows, actively participated in the rural land market as sellers of property. The Hindu and Muslim women inherited zamindaris which they were free to sell or mortgage. Women zamindars were known in eighteenth-century Bengal.

Marriages in many rural communities required the payment of bride price rather than dowry to the bride’s family. And remarriage was considered legitimate both among divorced and widowed women. According to established social norms, the household was headed by a male and the women were kept
under strict control by the male members of the family and the community.

Question 85

Consider the following statements :
1. The Lohanis were a tribal group in Kashmir of medieval India that exchanged trade between India
and Pakistan.
2. The wild elephants captured were considered a royal monopoly of the Ahom kings.
3. The Sufi saints were major influencers among agricultural communities of medieval India to turn
to Islam in newly colonised places.

Answer 85

The Lohanis were the tribes in the region of Punjab, from where they engaged in overland trade between India and Afghanistan and in the town to country trade is in Punjab itself. So, statement
1 is not correct.

Question 86

With reference to lands of medieval India, consider the following statements :
1. Milkiyats were good cultivable lands which peasants tilled for large-scale production.
2. The zamindars cannot sell or mortgage these lands without the permission of the state.

Answer 86

Neither 1 nor 2

The term milkiyat, meaning property, was the personal land held by the zamindars. And for the private use of zamindars, the Milkiyat lands were cultivated, often with the help of hired or servile labor. The zamindars could sell, bequeath or mortgage these lands at will.

Question 87

Jai Singh and Jaswant Singh were given the title Mirza Raja by Akbar.

Answer 87

The Mughal ruler, Aurangzeb, accorded the title Mirza Raja to his two highest-ranking nobles: Jai Singh and Jaswant Singh.

Question 88

Consider the following statements
1. In the Mughal household, there was equality among the wives of the rulers, irrespective of their
background.
2. The titles, ranks and official postings of all officers were personally reviewed by the Mughal
emperor

Answer 88

a distinction was maintained between wives who came from royal families (begams) and other wives (aghas) who were not of noble birth.

emperorpersonally reviewed changes in rank, titles and official postings for all except the lowest-ranked
officers.

Question 89

Akbar’s principle of governance, called sulh-i-kul, was not followed by his successors

Answer 89

that was universally applicable. This
principle of governance was followed by Jahangir and Shah Jahan

Question 90

Strictly laid down principles govern the Sattriya dance tradition

Answer 90

true

Question 91

Ojapali

Answer 91

it is believed to be one of the oldest dance forms of Assam.

varieties of Ojapali dances are still prevalent in Assam, i.e., Sukananni or Maroi Goa Ojah and Vyah Goa
Ojah

Question 92

The formal repertoire of Odissi opens with Mangalacharan and concludes with Moksha.

Answer 92

true

Question 93

Manipuri dance incorporates the tandava and lasya

Answer 93

true

Question 94

The earliest reference to the art of puppetry is found in

Answer 94

Tamil classic ‘Silappadikaara

Question 95

Consider the following statements:
1. Tamasha is a traditional folk theatre form of Maharashtra.
2. The female actress is the chief exponent of dance movements in the play.

Answer 95

Both 1 and 2

Question 96

Consider the following statements about the Bhand Pather:
1. It is the traditional theatre form of Kashmir.
2. It is a unique combination of dance, Music and acting.
3. The actors are mainly from the musician community

Answer 96

1 and 2 only

The actors of Bhand Pather are mainly from the farming community, not from the musician community, and the impact of their way of living, ideals and sensitivity is discernible.

Question 97

) Consider the following statements:
1. The term Carnatic and Hindustani are found for the first time in Haripala’s Sangeeta
Sudhakara, written in the 14th century A.D.
2. The Musical Trinity were contemporaries among themselves.

Answer 97

both correct

The Trinity was not only contemporaries among themselves but also contemporaries of great composers of Western Music, such as Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner and Haydn. It was the ‘Golden Age’
of Music throughout the world

Question 98

1. Nanniah, who lives in the court of a Chalukyan King, completed the Telugu version of the
   Mahabharata.
2. Nusrat Shah of Bengal had the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana translated into Bengali.

Answer 98

Nanniah translated some portions of Mahabharata into Telugu (i.e., only the first two and a half books of the Mahābhārata). The
Mahabharata Telugu version was later completed by poet Tikkanna in the thirteenth century.

2 correct

Question 99

Consider the following statements regarding Puranas:
1. The Puranas were written to illustrate and expound the truth of the Vedas.
2. The Matsya Purana authorizes the husband to beat his erring wife with rope or split bamboo.
Which of the above statement is/are correct?

Answer 99

both

Question 100

Al-Biruni’s sanskrit work

Answer 100

Conversely, he translated Euclid’s (Greek Mathematician)
works into Sanskrit

Question 101

three types of Chhau dance? without mask

Answer 101

Purulia district of West Bengal, Seraikela district of Jharkhand and Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.

The former two perform with masks, the latter
without them.

Question 102

The Raja Prabha festival, a unique three-day festival celebrating the onset of monsoon and the
beginning of earth’s womanhood, belongs to which of the following states?

Answer 102

odisha

Question 103

The chola empire officials were generally paid in cash

Answer 103

They were frequently paid with land assignments (jivitas) appropriate for their status.

Question 104

The Jahangir nama or Tuzuk-i Jahangiri

Answer 104

important Persian text written by Jahangir in the seventeenth century composed in the memoir genre that deals with the compilation of personal memories much similar in style to diary writing. Emperor Jahangir (1569-1627) wrote this autobiography following
the literary tradition laid down by his great-grandfather Babur who composed the Baburnama or Tuzuki Baburi.

Question 105

Which of the following made the post of Peshwa hereditary?
(a) Shivaji
(b) Balaji Vishwanath
(c) Baji Rao I
(d) King Shahu

Answer 105

Balaji Vishwanath Bhatt belonged to the Bhatt family of Shri Vardhan in the Konkan region. He was the Peshwa during the period 1713 CE to 1719 CE. He is known in history for making the post of the Peshwa hereditary. Balaji Viswanath assisted the Maratha emperor Shahu

Question 106

The State under Shershah remained an Afghan institution based on race and tribe, and Shershah was a statusquoist at the core rather than an innovator or a pro charger.

Answer 106

true

Question 107

Consider the following statements regarding the policies of the Mughal ruler Aurangazeb:
1. The celebration of Muharran was stopped during his rule.
2. He was devoted to his religion and strictly observed the Ramzan fasting.
3. The barrier between the Mughals and the Marathas was removed during his regime.

Answer 107

He was also not tolerant of other Muslim sects. The celebration of Muharram was stopped. His invasions against the Deccan sultanates were partly due
to his hatred of the Shia faith.

1, 2 and 3

Question 108

Consider the following statement about the Mughal School of arts (1560-1800 AD):
1. The foundation of the Mughal painting was laid down by Humayun.
2. This style is marked by supple naturalism based on close observation of nature and fine and
delicate drawings.
3. European painting was introduced at the Mughal court during the rule of Jahangir.

Answer 108

1 and 2 only

Mir Sayyed Ali and Abdul Samad Khan, who his father, Humayun, originally employed.

European paintings were introduced in the court of Akbar

Question 109

With reference to Early Vedic Society, Consider the following statements
1. The society was completely egalitarian, with no visible differentiation based on birth and race
2. The women were married at the proper age and enjoyed the choice of choosing their husband
3. The people neither constructed the temple nor were involved in the worship of the statue

Answer 109

Varna, or colour, was the basis of the initial differentiation between the Vedic and non-Vedic people
2 and 3 only

Question 110

With reference to Mauryan Empire, consider the following statements
1. The regions under Mauryan Empire were directly administered by the state in a uniform method
2. The trade routes in the Mauryan state were more secure and safe

Answer 110

While the state directly administered the core and the metropolis, the periphery region was given more autonomy as more importance was given to collecting taxes and tributes from these regions.

Statement 2 is correct.

Question 111

Zia Nakshabi wrote Tuti Nama in the time of

Answer 111

Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Question 112

megalithic ware

Answer 112

brp

Question 113

head of Nalanda University during the visit of Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang.

Answer 113

Shailabhadra or Silabhadra

Question 114

Jataka, which consists of stories of the previous births of the Buddha, is part of Abhidhamma Pitaka

Answer 114

The Jatakas dealing with the stories of the previous births of the Buddha are part of the ‘Sutta Pitaka.’

Question 115

The Martand Temple was built by

Answer 115

The Martand Temple was built by the Karkota dynasty king Lalitaditya Muktapida, who ruled Kashmir from 725 AD to 753 AD

“Dedicated to Vishnu-Surya, the Martand Temple has three distinct chambers—the mandapa, the garbhagriha, and the antralaya—probably the only three-chambered temple in Kashmir. This points to the position it enjoyed. The temple is built in a unique Kashmiri style, though it has definite Gandhar influences.”

Question 116

Sahitya lahiri was the composition of

Answer 116

Surdas in brachbhasha

Question 117

Ajanta is the only surviving example of a painting of the first century BCE and the fifth century CE.

Answer 117

true

Question 118

The term Khojaki in medieval India refers to

Answer 118

is a script used formerly and almost exclusively by the Khoja community of parts of the Indian subcontinent, including Sindh, Gujarat, and Punjab

Question 119

Consider the following statements about Vijayanagara architecture
1. Dravidian architecture under the Vijayanagara Empire is characterized by its massive dimensions, cloistered enclosures, and lofty towers encased by decorated pillars.
2. A unique feature of temples at Hampi is the wide Chariot streets flanked by rows of Pillared
Mandapas, introduced when chariot festivals became an integral part of the rituals.
3. The Raya Gopura, introduced first in the temples attributed to Raja Krishna Deva Raya, is a
landmark all over South India

Answer 119

1, 2 and 3 only

Question 120

Which crops and fruits were introduced in the Indian subcontinent in the seventeenth century?
1. Maize
2. Potatoes
3. Papaya
4. Tomato
5. Chillies
6. Pineapple

Answer 120

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Question 121

Vallabhi university was built by

Answer 121

Bhattarka, maitreya king

Major hinayana center

Question 122

Only place of coffin burials in Ivc

Answer 122

Harappa

Question 123

Bronze sculpture of dog chasing deer was found in

Answer 123

Harappa

Question 124

Temple by kdr

Answer 124

Vittalaswamy and hazara ramaswamy temples at vijaynagar

Question 125

Hindustani is older than carnatic

Answer 125

True

Question 126

anurag sagar

Answer 126

Book. By Kabir

Question 127

Records of buddhist kingdom vs records of western world

Answer 127

Buddhist— fahien

Western world — hiuen tsang

Question 128

Jaina caves at ellora belong to

Answer 128

Digambar sect

Question 129

These mural paintings during the Vijayanagara period show a complete absence of

Answer 129

primary colours, especially blue.

Question 130

basavvana was a minister under the

Answer 130

kaluchiris