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Test -5
Ancient Indian History,
Art and Culture and Medieval India:
Ancient History Medieval India:
-

▪ Prehistoric period ▪ Early Medieval Period

▪ Harappan / Indus Valley Civilization ▪ North India
▪ Vedic Age ▪ South India
▪ Mahajanapadas ▪ Sultanate Period
▪ Religious Reforms ▪ The Delhi Sultanate
▪ Mauryan Age & Post Mauryan Age ▪ Vijayanagar & other Kingdoms
▪ Sangam Age ▪ Religiou s Movements
▪ Guptas Age & Post Guptas Age ▪ Bhakti Movement
Art & Culture ▪ Sufi Movement
▪ Architecture and Sculptures ▪ Mughal Period
▪ Religion and Philosophy ▪ Maratha Confederacy
▪ Indian paintings + Current Affairs
▪ Indian Music ▪ Old NCERT: Ancient India
▪ Indian Dances ▪ Old NCERT: Medieval India
▪ Indian Theatres ▪ Class XI NCERT – Introduction to India
▪ Indian cinema Art (Part 1)
▪ Indian Language & Literature ▪ Class XIIth New NCERT Themes in
-

▪ Arts & Crafts Indian History Part 1 and Part 2

-

▪ Science and Technology in Ancient India ▪ CCRT website:

▪ Indo Islamic Culture http://ccrtindia.gov.in/index.php

PT - 2022
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Test Booklet Series

TEST BOOKLET

GENERAL STUDIES (P) 2022 – Test–3474

C
Time Allowed: Two Hours Maximum Marks: 200

INSTRUCTIONS

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THE ANSWER SHEET.

3. You have to enter your Roll Number on the Test Booklet in the Box
provided alongside. Do NOT write anything else on the Test Booklet.

4. This Test Booklet contains 100 items (Questions). Each item is printed in English. Each item comprises four
responses (answers). You will select the response which you want to mark on the Answer Sheet. In case you
feel that there is more than one correct response with you consider the best. In any case, choose ONLY ONE
response for each item.

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answers sheet.

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fill in some particulars in the answer sheets as per instruction sent to you with your Admission Certificate.

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1. Consider the following statements with 4. Arrange the following components of temple
respect to pre-historic rock paintings: architecture in the correct sequence while
1. In India, the earliest paintings have been entering a Nagara Style temple.
reported from the Lower Paleolithic 1. Garbhagriha
Stage. 2. Mandapa
2. During the Upper Paleolithic period the 3. Antarala
themes were multiple but the paintings Select the correct answer using the code
were smaller in size with predominantly given below.
hunting scenes.
(a) 1-2-3
3. The paintings of the Mesolithic phase
(b) 2-3-1
were linear representations of huge
(c) 1-3-2
animals and stick-like human figures.
(d) 3-2-1
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
5. In the context of the raw materials procured
(a) 1, 2 and 3
for craft production from various places
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only during the Harappan period, consider the
(d) None following pairs:
Raw Material Place
2. Consider the following statements regarding 1. Copper : Gujarat
trade and economy during the Gupta period: 2. Lapis Lazuli : Afghanistan
1. The Guptas issued the largest number of 3. Steatite : Iran
gold coins in ancient India. 4. Carnelian : Gujarat
2. Gupta period saw an increase in long- Which of the pairs given above are correctly
distance trade. matched?
3. This period witnessed the emergence of (a) 1 and 3 only
a class of priestly landlords. (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
Which of the statements given above is/are (c) 2 and 4 only
correct? (d) 1 and 4 only
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only 6. With reference to the Bhakti movement in
(c) 1 and 3 only
South India, consider the following
(d) 1, 2 and 3
statements
1. Nayanars were leaders who were
3. Consider the following pairs:
devotees of Shiva.
Rulers Origin
2. Nalayira Divyaprabandham was one of
1. Cheras : Tamilakam
the major anthologies of compositions
2. Shakas : Central Asia
by the Alvars.
3. Kushana : Western India
Which of the pairs given above are correctly Which of the statements given above is/are
matched? correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only (a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

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7. With reference to the Cholas, consider the 10. Which of the following factors were
following statements: responsible for Magadha to emerge as the
1. Vijayalaya was the founder of the Chola most powerful of the sixteen
empire. mahajanapadas?
2. Chola kings were famous for their naval 1. Presence of iron mines which provided
power. resources for tools and weapons.
Which of the statements given above is/are 2. Elephants were an important component
correct? of the Magadhan army.
(a) 1 only 3. Ambitious kings and ministers such as
(b) 2 only Bimbisara, Ajatasatru, and Mahapadma
(c) Both 1 and 2 Nanda.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 Select the correct answer using the code
given below.
8. Which of the following statements is/are (a) 1, 2 and 3
correct with reference to the agricultural (b) 2 and 3 only
practices of Indus valley civilization? (c) 1 and 2 only
1. The Indus people harvested wheat, (d) 1 and 3 only
barley, rai, peas, rice and mustard.
2. Bronze tools were used to plough fields 11. Consider the following statements:
and as sickles to harvest the crops. 1. The caves at Barabar hills were
3. Cotton was also produced during this patronized by Chandragupta Maurya for
phase. the Ajivika sect.
4. Ragi was grown extensively in
2. The facade of the caves at Barabar hills
Daulatpur and Mitthal in Haryana and
is decorated with the semicircular
Hulas in Uttar Pradesh.
chaitya arch as the entrance.
Select the correct answer using the code
Which of the statements given above is/are
given below.
correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(a) 1 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) 1 and 3 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

9. With reference to the development of

12. Which of the statements is not correct
Chaityas and Viharas, consider the following
regarding the Chalcolithic period?
statements:
(a) Copper and stone objects were prevalent
1. Chaitya and vihara were part of both the
during this period.
Buddhist and Jaina monastic complexes.
(b) Beads of semi-precious stones such as
2. Rock-cut Chaitya and Viharas originated
steatite, quartz crystal and carnelian
under Mauryas.
were manufactured during this period.
Which of the statements given above is/are
(c) The people of the Chalcolithic period
correct?
were well acquainted with the
(a) 1 only
manufacture of cloth.
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Painted Grey Ware pottery was the most
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 commonly used type of pottery.

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13. With reference to medieval Sultans in India, 16. With reference to the history of India,
consider the following statements: Lopamudra, Maitreyi, and Apala were:
1. Balban introduced the system of (a) Women rulers of ancient India.

branding horses in his military. (b) Female deities of Rig Vedic period.

2. Alauddin Khalji introduced the system (c) Women poets and writers.
(d) Buddhist female nuns.
of ‘chehra’ or facial recognition in his
military.
17. Consider the following pairs:
3. Firoz Tughlaq set up a separate
Sacrifice Meaning
department of slaves.
1. Rajasuya : Supposed to confer
Which of the statements given above is/are
supreme power on
correct?
King
(a) 1 and 2 only 2. Vajapeya : Unquestioned control
(b) 1, 2 and 3 over area on which
(c) 1 and 3 only royal horse ran
(d) 2 and 3 only uninterrupted
3. Ashvamedha : Chariot race in which
14. In the context of Ancient India, royal chariot was made
'Kumaramatyas' and 'Ayuktas' were to win the race against

(a) administrative officials in the Mauryan his kinsmen

court. Which of the pairs is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only
(b) provincial units in the Gupta Empire.
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) provincial administrators appointed in
(c) 1 and 3 only
the Gupta empire.
(d) 2 only
(d) officers in-charge of revenue
administration in the Chola Period.
18. Recently seen in news RAMP (Reserve
Advisory and Management Partnership)
15. Which of the following statements is not Program is related to:
correct in the context of social and (a) It is an initiative of Ministry of Finance,
educational reforms introduced by the Government of India to support Micro
Mughal emperor Akbar? Finance Institutions.
(a) Akbar issued a blanket ban on Sati. (b) It is an initiative of the WHO to globally
(b) He legalised widow remarriages. counter pandemics.
(c) He raised the age of marriage to 14 for (c) It is a UNDP initiative designed for

girls and 16 for boys. African and Sub Saharan nations for

(d) He revised the educational syllabus financing Ebola crisis.

(d) It is a World Bank initiative to support
laying emphasis on secular subjects like
the MSME sector in India.
mathematics and moral sciences.
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19. Consider the following statements with 22. It is a classical solo dance form ideally

respect to Sangam literature: suited for performance by women. It is

1. Sangam texts were predominantly characterized by graceful, swaying body

secular in nature. movements with no abrupt jerks which are

borrowed from various folk dances like
2. Sangam poems describe the military
Kaikottikali.
exploits of the kings and chiefs.
Which of the following dance forms is being
3. Sangam literature provides information
described in the above passage?
about trade with Yavanas (foreigners).
(a) Kuchipudi
Which of the statements given above are
(b) Mohiniyattam
correct?
(c) Kathakali
(a) 1 and 2 only (d) Bharatnatyam
(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only 23. CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell)

(d) 1, 2 and 3 therapy, sometimes seen in the news, is a:
(a) therapy applied in China for genetic

20. The terms akam and puram refer to types of modification of animals.

(a) taxes levied in the Vijayanagara (b) scientific advancement used for mRNA

kingdom. based vaccines.

(c) therapy to treat acute lymphocytic
(b) fertile land during the Gupta period.
leukemia.
(c) poems in the Tamil language.
(d) therapy against formation of black
(d) celestial forces described by Aryabhatta.
fungus in CoVid-19 recovered patients.

21. Recently seen in the news, E-100 project is

24. Consider the following statements regarding
related to:
the Jataka stories of Buddhism:
(a) production and distribution of ethanol 1. Events from previous lives of Buddha
across India. are depicted in these stories.
(b) production of electric vehicles by 2. They are depicted on the railings and
DRDO. torana of the stupas.

(c) European Union's proposal to provide Which of the statements given above is/are

COVID-19 vaccines to one hundred correct?

nations. (a) 1 only

(b) 2 only
(d) project of the Ministry of New and
(c) Both 1 and 2
Renewable Energy for recycling of e-
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
waste.
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25. Which of the following factors contributed 28. PRANA, SVASTA, VaU, recently seen in the
to the rise and growth of the Gupta Empire? news, are:

1. Strong army with excellent use of (a) vaccine aid from India to African

horses. nations.

2. Fertile and iron-rich hinterland (b) missions of Indian Airforce to manage

oxygen supply.
3. Proximity to areas of the silk trade
(c) air pollution control initiatives of Central
Select the correct answer using the code
Pollution Control Board.
given below.
(d) ventilator models developed by Vikram
(a) 1 and 2 only
Sarabhai Space Centre.
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
29. Which of the following types of villages
(d) 1, 2 and 3
were found during the ancient period in
South India?
26. 'Pung Choloms' and 'Kartal Choloms' are the 1. Ur
essential musical instruments used in which 2. Sabha
of the following performing arts? 3. Nagaram
(a) Odissi Select the correct answer using the code
(b) Bhavai given below.

(c) Manipuri Sankirtana (a) 1, 2 and 3

(d) Kuchipudi (b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
27. With reference to the recently launched
SAGE portal, consider the following
30. Consider the following statements regarding
statements:
the Vaiseshika school of philosophy:
1. It aims to provide one-stop access to
1. It is based on the atomic theory.
elderly care products and services by
2. It held that soul was wholly different
credible startups.
from the cosmos.
2. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Small
3. It is in general agreement with the entire
and Medium Enterprises. metaphysical position of the Samkhya.
Which of the statements given above is/are Which of the statements given above are
correct? correct?
(a) 1 only (a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (c) 1 and 3 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) 1, 2 and 3

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31. Which of the following musical forms are 34. With reference to Kathak dance, consider the
associated with Carnatic Music? following statements:
1. Tillana 1. It was introduced by Sankaradeva as a
2. Tappa
medium for the propagation of the
3. Tanam
Vaishnava faith.
Select the correct answer using the code
2. It is the only form of classical dance
given below.
associated with Hindustani music.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only Which of the statements given above is/are

(c) 1 and 3 only correct?

(d) 1, 2 and 3 (a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
32. Which of the following temples forms the (c) Both 1 and 2
part of the temple complex at
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Mahabalipuram?
1. Shore temple
35. Which of the following rulers assumed the
2. Ganesh Rath temple
3. Lad Khan temple title of Vatapikonda?

Select the correct answer using the code (a) Simhavarman

given below. (b) Mayurasharman

(a) 1 and 2 only (c) Narasimhavarman I
(b) 2 and 3 only (d) Vikramaditya II
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
36. He defeated king Harshavardhan on the
banks of Narmada. He patronized several
33. In the context of the history of India,
scholars, including Ravikirtti, who
consider the following pairs:
Term Description composed his Aihole inscription. He

1. Muvendavelan : a peasant serving subjugated the Kadamba capital at Banavasi

three kings and compelled the Gangas of Mysore to
2. Mahattara : village headman acknowledge his suzerainty.
3. Antahpur : the royal household Which of the following rulers is being
Which of the pairs given above is/are
described in the above passage?
correctly matched?
(a) Chandragupta II
(a) 2 only
(b) Kharavela
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) Pulakeshin II
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (d) Kirtivarman II

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37. With reference to the Chishti order of Sufi 40. Consider the following statements regarding
saints in India, consider the following the economic conditions in India during the
statements:
Early Medieval Period:
1. Despite preaching austerity, Chishti
tradition was not isolated from political 1. Trade with South-East Asia and China
power. declined during this period.
2. Auqaf were charitable trusts set up by
2. There was an increase in the circulation
Sultans as endowments for hospices.
3. The Chishtis accepted donations in cash of gold and silver coins.
and kind. 3. There was a steady decline in the towns
Which of the statements given above are
during this period.
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only Which of the statements given above is/are
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only correct?
(c) 1 and 3 only
(a) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only

38. Consider the following pairs: (c) 3 only

Theatre Form State (d) 1, 2 and 3
1. Bhavai : Gujarat
2. Maach : Madhya Pradesh
3. Krishnattam : Uttar Pradesh 41. With reference to the Pallavas, consider the
Which of the pairs given above is/are following statements:
correctly matched?
1. Pallavas established their kingdom in
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only southern India with Kanchipuram as the
(c) 3 only capital.
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2. Kadambas and Chalukyas of Badami

39. With reference to the La Perouse naval were contemporaries of the Pallavas.

exercise, consider the following statements: 3. All charter of land grants given by the
1. The naval exercise was hosted by France
Pallavas to the Brahmanas were
in the Bay of Bengal.
recorded on copper plates in Sanskrit.
2. In 2021, all members of the
Quadrilateral Security Dialogue were Which of the statements given above is/are
participants in the exercise. correct?
Which of the statements given above is/are
(a) 1 only
correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only (c) 1 and 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
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42. To help out horticulturists who face crop 44. Consider the following statements regarding
damage due to hailstorms, the Himachal crafts during the Post-Mauryan age (200
B.C.- 300 A.D):
Pradesh government is testing the use of
1. Shataka was a special type of cloth
indigenously developed ‘anti-hail guns’. In manufactured in Mathura.
this context, which of the following 2. Coin-minting was an important craft and
statements is correct regarding Anti-Hail minting of fake Roman coins was also
prevalent.
Guns?
3. Terracotta manufacturing was prevalent
(a) They release shock waves to stop water in the Kushan and Satavahana sites.
droplets in clouds from turning into Which of the statements given above is/are
hailstones. correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) They convert the water droplets in the
(b) 2 only
clouds into small snowflakes. (c) 1 and 3 only
(c) They deploy a technique of cloud (d) 1, 2 and 3
seeding to prevent the formation water
45. With reference to the Maratha revenue
droplets in the clouds.
assessment system, consider the following
(d) They are fired once in 24 hours during a statements:
thunderstorm to prevent the formation of 1. Chauth was a tax nominally levied at
clouds. one-fourth of total revenue.
2. Sardeshmukhi was an additional levy of
ten percent on those lands which the
43. With reference to Virshaiva tradition in Marathas claimed hereditary rights.
Karnataka, consider the following 3. Both taxes were collected in the Maratha
statements: Kingdom only.
Which of the statements given above is/are
1. The followers of this tradition wear a
correct?
small linga (symbolic of Shiva) in a (a) 1 and 2 only
silver case on a loop strung over the left (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
shoulder. (c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2 and 3 only
2. They believe that on death the devotee is
united with Shiva and does not return to 46. With reference to Jainism philosophy,
this world. consider the following statements:
3. They do not practice funerary rites such 1. While Jainism recognizes the existence
of gods, it places them lower than Jina.
as cremation but instead ceremonially
2. Right knowledge, action, and faith are
bury their dead. considered to be the three gems or ratnas
Which of the statements given above is/are of Jainism.
correct? Which of the statements given above is/are
not correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(a) 1 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) 2 and 3 only (d) Neither 1 and 2

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47. With reference to folk traditions of India, 50. With reference to the Vijayanagar empire,
consider the following pairs: consider the following statements:
Folk Music State
1. The empire consisted of seven lines of
1. Chhakri : Punjab
forts which encircled not only the city
2. Burrakatha : Andhra Pradesh
3. Daskathia : Karnataka but also its agricultural hinterland and
Which of the pairs given above is/are forests.
correctly matched?
2. No mortar or cementing agent was
(a) 1 and 2 only
employed anywhere in the construction
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only of walls.

(d) None 3. Water tanks and canals were a striking

feature of the empire.

48. Consider the following statements regarding
Which of the statements given above is/are
Kathputli, the puppetry prevalent in
correct?
Rajasthan:
1. Round faces, small eyes, and thin lips (a) 1 and 2 only
are some of the distinct facial features of (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
Kathputli puppets.
(c) 1 and 3 only
2. Kathputli puppets wear long trailing
(d) 2 and 3 only
skirts and do not have legs.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? 51. Which of the following countries are
(a) 1 only
signatories to the Treaty on Open Skies?
(b) 2 only
1. United States of America
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. India

3. Canada
49. Recently seen in the news, Operation Pangea 4. Germany
XIV is related to:
5. Russia
(a) Study of Indian drift from
Select the correct answer using the code
Gondowanaland.
(b) Initiative of INTERPOL against sale of given below.

fake medicines. (a) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

(c) WHOs initiative for global supply of
(b) 2 and 5 only
Covid vaccines.
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) Initiative of FATF to curb the menace of
terror funding. (d) 3, 4 and 5 only

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52. Which of the following statements are 55. What is a "Lynetteholmen", a term recently
correct with respect to the Paleolithic Age? seen in the news?
1. The Paleolithic culture of India (a) It is a technology used in Tesla electric
developed in the Pleistocene period of cars for effective vehicle charging.
the Ice Age. (b) It is an artificial Island to protect

2. The characteristic tools of the Paleolithic Copenhagen's harbour waters from

rising sea levels.
Age were flakes and microliths.
(c) It is an initiative of European Union to
3. The Paleolithic sites are found in hilly
legalise cryptocurrency.
slopes and river valleys of the country
(d) It is a species of a green lizard recently
and are absent in the alluvial plains of
discovered in Assam.
the Indus and the Ganga.
Select the correct answer using the code
56. Which of the following Harappan cities are
given below. located in India?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 1. Rangpur
(b) 1 and 3 only 2. Rojdi
(c) 1 and 2 only 3. Chanhudaro
(d) 2 and 3 only 4. Surkotada
5. Sutkagendor
53. With reference to chronicles commissioned Select the correct answer using the code
by Mughal Emperors, consider the following given below.
statements: (a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
1. Razmnama was the Persian version of (b) 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
Mahabharata.
(d) 2, 3 and 5 only
2. The center of manuscript production was
known as ‘Kitab khana'.
57. Consider the following passage:
3. All books in Mughal India were
This shadow puppetry uses puppets that are
handwritten.
large in size and have a jointed waist,
Which of the statements given above is/are
shoulders, elbows, and knees. The puppets
correct? are coloured on both sides as a result of
(a) 1 and 2 only which they cast coloured shadows on the
(b) 1, 2 and 3 screen. The music is mainly classical music
(c) 1 and 3 only and the themes of the puppet plays are
(d) 2 and 3 only drawn from epics like Ramayana. It is
mainly prevalent in the states of Andhra
54. With reference to Indus valley civilzation, Pradesh and Telangana.
the lost wax technique was prominently used Which of the following forms of puppetry is
in being described in the passage given above?
(a) Paintings (a) Bommalattam
(b) Tholu Bommalata
(b) Sculptures
(c) Yampuri
(c) Ornaments
(d) Pavakoothu
(d) Pottery
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58. Which of the following schools does not 62. They are long, horizontal, cloth scrolls
belong to the orthodox philosophical schools painted to honour folk deities of pastoral
of India? communities inhabiting the region around
(a) Yoga Bhilwara in Rajasthan. They have
(b) Nyaya traditionally been painted by a caste called
(c) Vaiseshika ‘Joshis’ who have been painters in the courts
(d) Ajivika of the kings of Rajasthan.
Which of the following paint art is being
59. Which of the following statements is/are described in the above passage?
(a) Phad paintings
correct regarding the social conditions
(b) Basohli painting
during the Gupta period?
(c) Puri Patas
1. The caste system became rigid during
(d) Pithoro painting
the Gupta period.
2. Women and Shudras were allowed to
63. With reference to administrative setup
listen to religious texts.
during the Sultanate period, consider the
3. Women of upper varna were free to earn
following statements:
their livelihood.
1. Ariz-i-mamalik was the head of the
Select the correct answer using the code military department and the commander-
given below. in-chief of the army.
(a) 1 and 2 only 2. Diwan-i-Insha dealt with all
(b) 2 and 3 only correspondence –formal or confidential -
(c) 3 only of the state.
(d) 1, 2 and 3 3. The main responsibility of Barid was to
gather intelligence for the rulers.
60. In the context of the Mauryan period, Which of the statements given above is/are
Pativedakas were correct?
(a) officers in charge of propagation of (a) 1 and 2 only
Ashoka's Dhamma. (b) 1, 2 and 3
(b) officers for the interpretations of laws. (c) 1 and 3 only
(c) court poets of Ashoka. (d) 2 and 3 only
(d) officers responsible to report about the
affairs of the people. 64. Consider the following passage:
This traditional theatre art has evolved from
61. It is a prominent Jain shrine housing the folk forms such as Gondhal, Jagran, and
Kirtan. In this female actress known as
world’s tallest monolithic free-standing
Murki is the chief exponent of dance
structure. It was commissioned by
movements in the play. Emotions are
Chamundaraya, the General-in-Chief and
displayed through dance with a combination
Prime Minister of the Ganga Kings of
of classical music, nimble footwork, and
Mysore.
lucid gestures.
Which of the following religious site is
Which of the following theatre art is being
being described in the above passage?
described in the passage given above?
(a) Dilwara
(a) Bhaona
(b) Pavapuri (b) Tamasha
(c) Sravana Belagola (c) Dashavatar
(d) Khajuraho (d) Therukoothu
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65. With reference to Greek and Roman 68. By the Twelfth century, A.D. Buddhism
accounts of the first and second century became practically extinct in India. Which of
A.D., consider the following statements:
the following are the reasons behind its
1. Ptolemy's Geography, written in Greek
decline?
gives valuable data on India's geography
1. It embraced the ways of Brahmanism
and commerce.
2. Pliny's Naturalis Historia, written in against which it had fought in the
Latin gives valuable data on trade beginning.
between India and Italy. 2. Monks gave up the Pali language and
Which of the statements given above is/are
adopted Sanskrit, the language of
correct?
intellectuals.
(a) 1 only
3. The enormous wealth of the monasteries
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 with women living in them led to
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 degeneration.
Select the correct answer using the code
66. These are miniature paintings belonging to
given below.
the first half of the 16th century. They
(a) 1 and 2 only
include illustrations of the
(b) 2 and 3 only
'Chaurapanchasika' - "Fifty Verses of the
Thief by Bilhan. The style of the painting is (c) 1 and 3 only
purely indigenous derived from the earlier (d) 1, 2 and 3
tradition of the Westen Indian art and does
not show any influence of either the Persian 69. Consider the following statements with
or the Mughal style of painting.
respect to the Harappan seals:
Which of the following paintings is being
1. The Harappan Seals were mostly made
described in the above passage?
(a) Guler portraits of Steatite.

(b) Kulhadar Group 2. The most frequent animals used on seals

(c) Pala miniatures were a one-horned bull, the buffalo, the
(d) Rasamanjari miniatures tiger, the rhinoceros.
3. Every seal is engraved in a pictographic
67. AmbiTag recently seen in the news is:
script.
(a) Tag used on commercial vehicles for toll
fee on National Highways. Which of the statements given above is/are

(b) Tag used by FSSAI to mark organic correct?

products. (a) 1, 2 and 3
(c) India's first indigenous temperature data (b) 1 and 2 only
logger for cold chain management.
(c) 1 only
(d) Tag given by credit rating agencies to
(d) 3 only
debt instruments.
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70. With reference to Sufi tradition in India, 73. The World Migration Report is published
consider the following pairs: by:
(a) United Nations Development
Terminology Meaning
Programme
1. Ziyarat : Pilgrimage to tomb-shrine (b) International Organization for Migration
of master (c) Global Migration Group
2. Murid : Disciples of shaikh (d) Overseas Development Institute
3. Khanqa : Community hospice
74. Which of the following are the contributions
Which of the pairs given above are correctly
of ancient Indians in the field of
matched? mathematics and astronomy?
(a) 1 and 2 only 1. Adoption of Indian numeral system by
(b) 1, 2 and 3 the Arabs.
2. First use of decimal system by Indians.
(c) 1 and 3 only
3. Discovery of cause of solar and lunar
(d) 2 and 3 only eclipse.
Select the correct answer from the code
71. With reference to the Vijaynagar empire, given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
consider the following pairs:
(b) 2 and 3 only
Terminology Meaning
(c) 1 and 3 only
1. Kudirai Chetti : Horse merchants (d) 1, 2 and 3
2. Amar Nayaka : Military commanders
who were given 75. With reference to the medieval history of
India, the terms 'Dahsala', 'Batai' and
territories to govern
'Nasaq' are related to:
3. Raya : Title adopted by (a) branding of horses with imperial marks.
rulers of the (b) rituals conducted during coronation of a
Vijaynagar Empire new king.
(c) administrative posts during rule of
Which of the pairs given above is/are
Tughlaq dynasty.
correctly matched?
(d) land revenue systems during Akbar's
(a) 1 and 2 only reign.
(b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only 76. Consider the following sites:
1. Kandhar
(d) 2 and 3 only
2. Manshera
3. Kalsi
72. In the context of medieval history of India, 4. Meerut
the term Kornish is a: Which of the places above were the sites
where major rock edicts of the Ashokan
(a) form of ceremonial salutation.
period are found?
(b) robe of honour. (a) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) building plan of architects. (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) form of headgear used by Mughal (c) 2 and 4 only
emperors. (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

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77. Consider the following statements regarding 80. In the context of cultural history of India,
the Western Ganga rulers: consider the following pairs:
1. They were contemporary of Text Author
1. Meghaduta : Banbhatta
Satavahanas.
2. Abhijnanashakuntlam : Kalidasa
2. They ruled in the Southern Karnataka
3. Amarakosa : Amarashimha
region. Which of the pairs given above are correctly
3. They made land grants mostly to the matched?
Jainas. (a) 1 and 2 only
Which of the statements given above is/are (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
correct?
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only 81. With reference to the Tamil Sangam age, the
(c) 1 and 3 only term 'Puranaruru' refers to
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (a) Land grants to priests
(b) Anthology of poems
78. Which of the following strategies were used (c) Irrigation Canals
(d) burials of the ancestors
in the post-Mauryan period to increase
agricultural production?
82. Consider the following statements in the
1. Shift to plough agriculture context of BITCOIN:
2. Introduction of paddy transplantation 1. BITCOIN is the world's largest
3. Use of irrigation through wells and tanks cryptocurrency by market value.
Select the correct answer using the code 2. United States of America is the first
country to approve BITCOIN as a legal
given below.
tender.
(a) 1 and 2 only
Which of the statements given above is/are
(b) 1 and 3 only correct?
(c) 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
79. With reference to Guru Nanak, consider the (d) Neither 1 nor 2

following statements:
83. Consider the following statements regarding
1. He advocated a form of nirguna bhakti.
the Battle of Tarain (1191-1192):
2. He rejected the ritualistic practices of 1. It was fought between Muhammad
both Hindus and Muslims. Ghori and a confederacy under Prithviraj
3. He was a contemporary of Babur and Chauhan.
Ibrahim Lodhi. 2. It led to the establishment of Turkish
rule in India.
Which of the statements given above are
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (a) 1 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) 2 and 3 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2
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84. Who among the following were regarded as 87. He established authority in north-western
'king makers' in the Mughal politics of 18th India and in Bengal. He adopted the title of
century? Vikramaditya. His court was adorned by
1. Hussain Khan numerous scholars including Kalidasa.
2. Abdullah Khan Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hsien visited India
3. Sayyid Ahmad Khan during his reign.
Select the correct answer using the code The above passage best describes which of
given below. the following rulers?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (a) Chandragupta I
(b) 2 and 3 only (b) Chandragupta II
(c) 1 and 3 only (c) Samudragupta
(d) 1 and 2 only (d) Skandagupta

85. “This Moroccan traveler was born in Tangier 88. Which of the following Mughal emperors
and traveled to India in the fourteenth was responsible for establishing an entire
century. The then Sultan, Muhammad bin department of paintings for the first time?
Tughlaq, appointed him as qazi of Delhi. His (a) Humayun
account is often compared with that of (b) Akbar
Marco Polo, as both visited China. He also (c) Jahangir
wrote a book of travels in Arabic called (d) Shahjahan
‘Rihla’. “
Which of the following travelers is being 89. Consider the following statements regarding
described in the above passage? Koodiyaattam:
(a) Ibn Battuta 1. It is solely based on Tamil theatre
(b) Al-Baruni traditions.
(c) Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi 2. Unique feature of this theatre form is its
(d) Nicolo Conti
emphasis on hand gestures and eye
movements during dance.
86. Consider the following:
Which of the statements given above is/are
1. Chimta
correct?
2. Manjeeras
(a) 1 only
3. Kirla
(b) 2 only
4. Been
(c) Both 1 and 2
5. Veena
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Which of the above-mentioned musical
instruments are classified as percussion
90. Navroz festival related to:
instruments?
(a) Islam
(a) 1, 2 and 5 only
(b) Zoroastrianism
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) Christianity
(c) 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) Jainism
(d) 1, 2 and 3 only
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91. Which of the following statements are 94. Consider the following statements with
correct in the context of ancient Indian reference to the Neolithic age:
languages and scripts? 1. The people of this age used tools and
1. The Kharoshthi script was written from implements of polished stone.
right to left. 2. They were the earliest farming
2. The Brahmi script was deciphered by communities.
James Prinsep. 3. They domesticated cattle, sheep and
3. Brahmi was the main script till the end goats.

of Gupta times. Which of the statements given above are

Select the correct answer using the code correct?

given below. (a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 and 3 only
(a) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
95. Which of the following statements is correct
in the context of the CEO Water Mandate?
92. Recently seen in the news, "SWASTIIK"
(a) NTPC Ltd is the first Indian signatory to
Technology, is related to:
the initiative.
(a) disinfection of water using natural oils
(b) It is an initiative of the UN Global
and plants extracts.
Compact in partnership with the Pacific
(b) ayurvedic based treatment for SARS-
Institute.
CoV-2.
(c) The entities who have signed the
(c) technology used for fortification of rice.
mandate can never be de-listed from the
(d) technology used by ISRO for
initiative.
development of cryogenic engines. (d) Only lawfully established public
enterprises can endorse the CEO Water
93. Which of the following architectural Mandate.
characteristics was/were commonly found in
small and large cities of Indus valley 96. Which of the following are the important
civilization? dynasties that emerged as a result of the
1. Well developed drainage system decline of the Gupta empire?
2. Grid settlements 1. Maukharies
3. Use of bricks 2. Pushyabhutis
4. Great Bath 3. Maitrakas
Select the correct answer using the code Select the correct answer using the code
given below. given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only (c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 3
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97. Which among the following foreign 100. Which of the following were the features of
travellers did not visit the Vijayanagara the sixteen mahajanpadas?
empire? 1. Each Mahajanpada had a capital city.
(a) Niccolo di Conti 2. All the mahajanapadas were monarchies
(b) Abd al-Razzaq and ruled by kings.
(c) Fernao nuniz 3. Some Mahajanpadas acquired standing
(d) Megasthenes armies and maintained regular
bureaucracies.
98. Krishna III invaded North India in 963 AD Select the correct answer using the code
and defeated the Pratihara ruler. To which of given below.
the following dynasties did Krishna III (a) 1 and 3 only
belong? (b) 1 and 2 only
(a) Pala (c) 2 and 3 only
(b) Rashtrakuta (d) 3 only
(c) Pallava
(d) Chola

99. Consider the following statements with

respect to the Rig Vedic polity:
1. The king’s post became hereditary and
he exercised unlimited power over the
tribal assembly.
2. Women were allowed to attend tribal
assemblies of sabha and vidatha.
3. The most important functionary in day-
to-day administration was purohita who
was responsible for the collection of
taxes.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

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VISIONIAS
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ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS
GENERAL STUDIES (P) TEST – 3474 (2022)

Q 1.D
 The Paleolithic Period or Old Stone Age is the earliest period of human development, which lasted until
approx 8000 BC. It is divided into two eras: the Lower Paleolithic (to 40,000 BC) and the Upper
Paleolithic (40,000–8000 BC). During the Paleolithic period, man was a hunter and food gatherer. The
human being used to use simple chipped and chopped type stone tools for hunting and other purposes.
 In India, the earliest paintings have been reported from the Upper Palaeolithic times. Hence, statement
1 is not correct.
 The paintings of the Upper Palaeolithic phase are linear representations, in green and dark red, of huge
animal figures, such as bison, elephants, tigers, rhinos, and boars besides stick-like human figures. A few
are wash paintings but mostly they are filled with geometric patterns. The green paintings are of dancers
and the red ones of hunters. For example, the rock shelters on banks of the River Suyal at Lakhudiyar,
about twenty kilometers on the Almora– Barechina road, bear these prehistoric paintings. Lakhudiyar
literally means one lakh caves. The paintings here can be divided into three categories: man, animal, and
geometric patterns in white, black, and red ochre. Humans are represented in stick-like forms. A long-
snouted animal, a fox, and a multiple-legged lizard are the main animal motifs. Wavy lines, rectangle-
filled geometric designs, and groups of dots can also be seen here. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
 During the Mesolithic period, the themes were multiple but the paintings are smaller in size. Hunting
scenes predominate. The hunting scenes depict people hunting in groups, armed with barbed spears,
pointed sticks, arrows and bows. In some paintings, these primitive men are shown with traps and snares
probably to catch animals. The hunters are shown wearing simple clothes and ornaments. Sometimes, men
have been adorned with elaborate head-dresses, and sometimes painted with masks also. Elephant, bison,
tiger, boar, deer, antelope, leopard, panther, rhinoceros, fish, frog, lizard, squirrel, and at times birds are
also depicted. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Q 2.C
 The Gupta Empire existed from the mid-to-late 3rd century CE to 543 CE. This period is considered the
Golden Age of India by historians.
 It was founded by Sri Gupta and some of the notable rulers of the dynasty were Chandragupta I,
Samudragupta, and Chandragupta II alias Vikramaditya.
 We get some idea of the economic life of the people of Gupta times from the accounts of Fa-Hsien, who
visited different parts of the Gupta empire.
 Statement 1 is correct: In ancient India, the Guptas issued the largest number of gold coins, which
were called dinaras in their inscriptions. They vividly portray Gupta kings, indicating laters love for war
and art.
 Statement 2 is not correct: Compared to the earlier period we notice a decline in long-distance
trade. Till 550 AD India carried on some trade with the Eastern Roman Empire to which it exported silk.
Around 550 AD the people of the Eastern Roman Empire learned from the Chinese the art of growing
silk, which adversely affected the export trade of India.
 Statement 3 is correct: The striking development of the Gupta period was the emergence of priestly
landlords at the cost of local peasants. Land grants made to priests brought many virgin lands under
cultivation. But these beneficiaries were imposed from above on the tribal peasants.

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Q 3.C
 Some of the new kingdoms that emerged in the Deccan and further south, including the chiefdoms of
the Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas in Tamilakam (the name of the ancient Tamil country, which included
parts of present-day Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, in addition to Tamil Nadu), proved to be stable and
prosperous.
o The Cheras ruled over large parts of modern-day Kerala with their capital at Vanji. Hence pair 1 is
correctly matched.
 Shakas were people of Central Asian origin who established kingdoms in the north-western and western
parts of the subcontinent, derived revenues from long-distance trade. Hence pair 2 is correctly matched.
 Kushanas ruled over a vast kingdom extending from Central Asia to northwest India. They are
considered to be one of the five branches of the Yuezhi tribe who lived in the Chinese frontier or central
Asia. Kanishka is considered as the greatest Kushana king and also a great king of ancient India. Hence
pair 3 is not correctly matched.

Q 4.B
 Three main styles of temple architecture are the Nagara or the Northern style, the Dravida or the Southern
style and the Vesara or Mixed style.
 Some features of Nagara Style are:
o It is common here to build an entire temple on a stone platform with steps leading up to it.
o It doesn‘t usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways.
o Earliest temples had only one shikhara (tower), but in the later periods, multiple shikharas came.
o The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.
 The basic elements that comprise a Nagara Temple are given below:
o Jagati: This is common in north Indian temples and is a raised platform where devotees can sit and
pray.
o Mandapa: The entrance to the temple or a hall where worshippers stand.
o Antarala: It is a vestibule between the Garbhagriha and the Mandapa.
o Garbhagriha: Literally means womb-house. It is a cave-like sanctum which houses the main icon of
the temple. In earlier times, it was a small cubicle with one entrance. In later periods, it grew into a
larger chamber.
o Shikhara/Vimana: Noticed from the 5th century CE. It is a mountain-like spire on top. In north
India, it is called Shikhara and is curving in shape. In the south, it is like a pyramidal tower and is
called Vimana.
o Amalaka: Stone-like disc seen at the top of the temple. Mostly in north Indian temples.
o Kalasha: It is the topmost part of the temple. Mainly seen in north Indian styles.
o Vahana: It is the vehicle of the main deity which along with the standard pillar or Dhvaj which are
placed axially.
o The sequence of parts of the temple is depicted below as one starts moving inside the temple.

 Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

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Q 5.C
 The Harappans procured materials for craft production in various ways. For instance, they established
settlements such as Nageshwar and Balakot in areas where shell was available.
 Other such sites were Shortughai, in far-off Afghanistan, near the best source of lapis lazuli, a blue
stone that was apparently very highly valued, and Lothal which was near sources of carnelian (from
Bharuch in Gujarat), steatite (from south Rajasthan and north Gujarat) and metal (from
Rajasthan).
 Another strategy for procuring raw materials may have been to send expeditions to areas such as
the Khetri region of Rajasthan (for copper) and south India (for gold).
 These expeditions established communication with local communities. Occasional finds of Harappan
artefacts such as steatite micro beads in these areas are indications of such contact.
 There is evidence in the Khetri area for what archaeologists call the Ganeshwar-Jodhpura culture, with its
distinctive non-Harappan pottery and an unusual wealth of copper objects. It is possible that the
inhabitants of this region supplied copper to the Harappans.
 Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q 6.C
 Some of the earliest bhakti movements (c. sixth century) were led by the Alvars (literally, those who are
―immersed‖ in devotion to Vishnu) and Nayanars (literally, leaders who were devotees of
Shiva). Hence statement 1 is correct.
 They traveled from place to place singing hymns in Tamil in praise of their gods.
 During their travels, the Alvars and Nayanars identified certain shrines as abodes of their chosen deities.
Very often large temples were later built at these sacred places. These developed as centers of pilgrimage.
 The importance of the traditions of the Alvars and Nayanars was sometimes indicated by the claim that
their compositions were as important as the Vedas. For instance, one of the major anthologies of
compositions by the Alvars, the Nalayira Divyaprabandham, was frequently described as the Tamil
Veda, thus claiming that the text was as significant as the four Vedas in Sanskrit that was cherished
by the Brahmanas. Hence statement 2 is correct.

Q 7.C
 The founder of the Chola Empire was Vijayalaya, who was at first a feudatory of the Pallavas. He
captured Tanjore in 850 AD. By the end of the 9th century, the Cholas had defeated both the Pallavas of
Kanchi and weakened the Pandyas, bringing the Southern Tamil country (Tondamandala) under their
control. But the Cholas were hard put to defend their position against Rashtrakutas. Hence statement 1 is
correct.
 The Cholas rulers built a network of royal roads that were useful for trade as well as for the movement
of the army. Trade and commerce flourished in the Chola empire, and there were some gigantic trade
guilds that traded with Java and Sumatra.
 The Cholas also paid attention to irrigation. The river Kaveri and other rivers were used for this purpose
and many tanks for irrigation were built and a tank committee that looked after the distribution of water
to the fields was formed.
 The Cholas also had a strong navy, as we have seen, which dominated the Malabar and Coromandal
coast and for some time, the entire Bay of Bengal. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Q 8.D
 The Indus people sowed seed in the flood plains in November, when the floodwater receded, and reaped
their harvest of wheat and barley in April, before the advent of the next flood. They produced wheat,
barley, rice, peas, sesame, mustard and rice. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
 Foodgrains were stored in huge granaries in both Mohenjodaro and Harappa. Probably, cereals were
received as taxes from peasants and stored in granaries for the payment of wages as well as use during
emergencies.
 No hoe or ploughshare has been discovered, but the furrows discovered in the pre-Harappan phase at
kalibangan show that the fields were ploughed in Rajasthan in the Harappan period. The Harappans
probably used the wooden ploughshare. We do not know whether the plough was drawn by men or oxen.
Stone sickles may have been used for harvesting the crops. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
 The Indus people were the earliest people to produce cotton. Because cotton was first produced in this
area the Greeks called it ―sindon‖, which is derived from Sindh. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
 Ragi or finger millet is not known so far to any of the Harappan sites in north India. Hence, statement 4
is not correct.
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Q 9.C
 There are mainly two types of distinct architecture related to the caves, i.e. Chaitya and Viharas.
 Stupa, vihara and chaitya are part of Buddhist and Jaina monastic complexes but the largest number
belong to the Buddhist religion. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
o Chaitya: It is a rectangular prayer hall with a stupa placed in the centre. The Chaitya was divided into
three parts, and had an apsidal ending, that is, a semicircular rear end, The central part of the hall (also
called the nave) was separated from the two aisles by two rows of pillars, The chaityas also had
polished interior walls, semicircular roofs and horse-shoe shaped windows called the Chaitya
windows.
o Viharas: They were dwelling place of monks. Pali texts indicate the structure of the viharas. The
earlier structures were made of wood & soon developed from the primitive thatched huts into large
sangharamas. In course of time the sangharamas developed into educational institutions & centres of
Buddhist learning, such as those at Nalanda, Vikramasila, Somapura.
 Origin of Chaitya and Viharas
o Both early Chaityas and Viharas were made by woods and later stone-cut Chaityas and Viharas were
made.
o The practice of making rock-cut caves was started during the Mauryan period and reached its zenith
during the 2nd century AD under the Satavahana rule. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
o Ashoka constructed eight rock-cut halls in the Barabar & Nagarjuni hills and the one near Rajgir
dedicated to Jaina monks. The Lomas Rishi, the Sudama (both in the Barabar hills) and the
Sitamarhi (Nagarjuni hills) caves are fine examples of the Chaityas which resembled the wooden
buildings of the period.
o The final form of rock-cut architecture that developed from these early forms can be seen all over
India in Andhra Pradesh, Kathiawar in Gujarat and in Ajanta & Ellora.

Q 10.A
 The Mahājanapadas were sixteen kingdoms or oligarchic republics that existed in Northern ancient India
from the sixth to fourth centuries BCE.
 Magadha (in present-day Bihar) became the most powerful mahajanapada. Various factors responsible
were:
o Magadha was a region where agriculture was especially productive.
o Besides, iron mines (in present-day Jharkhand) were accessible and provided resources for tools
and weapons. Hence statement 1 is correct.
o Elephants, an important component of the army, were found in forests in the region. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
o Also, the Ganga and its tributaries provided a means of cheap and convenient communication.
o Advancement in education and growth of revolutionary ideas like Buddhism and Jainism.
 However, early Buddhist and Jaina writers who wrote about Magadha attributed its power to the
policies of individuals: ruthlessly ambitious kings of whom Bimbisara, Ajatasatru, and Mahapadma
Nanda are the best known, and their ministers, who helped implement their policies. Hence,
statement 3 is correct.
 Initially, Rajagaha was the capital of Magadha. Interestingly, the old name means ―house of the king‖.
Rajagaha was a fortified settlement, located amongst hills. Later, in the fourth century BCE, the capital
was shifted to Pataliputra, present-day Patna, commanding routes of communication along the Ganga.

Q 11.B
 Ajivika is one of the nāstika or "heterodox" schools of Indian philosophy. Makkhali Gosala is considered
as its founder in 5th century BCE. Several rock-cut caves belonging to Ajivika are dated to the times of
the Mauryan emperor Ashoka who patronized the Ajivika sect. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
 The rock-cut cave carved at Barabar hills near Gaya in Bihar is known as the Lomas Rishi cave. The
facade of the cave is decorated with the semicircular chaitya arch as the entrance. Hence statement
2 is correct.
 The elephant frieze carved in high relief on the chaitya arch shows considerable movement. The interior
hall of this cave is rectangular with a circular chamber at the back.

Q 12.D
 The end of the Neolithic period saw the use of metals. The metals to be used first was copper and several
cultures were based on the use of stone and copper implements. The Chalcolithic people mostly used
copper and stone objects but they also occasionally used low-grade bronze. Hence option (a) is correct.
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 These people were expert coppersmiths and also good workers in stone. We have tools, weapons, and
bangles of copper of this age. They manufactured beads of steatite, carnelian, and quartz crystal. Hence,
option (b) is correct.
 People knew the art of spinning and weaving because spindle whorls have been discovered in Malwa.
Cotton, flax, and silk threads made of cotton silk of semal/silk have been found in Maharashtra. This
shows that these people were well acquainted with the manufacture of cloth. Hence, option (c) is
correct.
 The people of the chalcolithic phase used different types of pottery: black and red were the most
prevalent, others were black-on-red (found in Jorwe) and ochre-colored pottery (OCP) which roughly
covered the period between 2000 B.C and 1500 B.C. The OCP people were junior contemporaries of the
Harappans and the area in which they lived was not far removed from that of the Harappans. Hence
option (d) is not correct.

Q 13.D
 The Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic empire based in Delhi that stretched over large parts of the Indian
subcontinent for 320 years. Five dynasties ruled over the Delhi Sultanate sequentially: the Mamluk
dynasty, the Khalji dynasty, the Tughlaq dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty, and the Lodi dynasty
 The Dagh and Chehra system was introduced by Alauddin Khilji (1296–1316) and consisted of two
practices: Ala-ud-din introduced a system of chehra, an identity card system for every soldier, and dagh to
brand horses to be used specifically for wars. Hence statement 1 is not correct and statement 2 is
correct.
 Ghiasuddin Balban introduced a separate military department (Diwan-i-Ariz) and appointed Kotwal.
 Firoz Tughlaq made iqta system hereditary and introduced a separate department of slaves called
diwan-i-bandagan. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q 14.C
 Gupta Administration
o The king was assisted in his administration by a council consisting of a chief minister, a Senapati or
commander-in-chief of the army, and other important officials. A high official called Sandivigraha
was mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions, most probably minister for foreign affairs.
o The king maintained close contact with the provincial administration through a class of officials
called Kumaramatyasand Ayuktas. They were important officers in the Gupta administration
and were appointed by the king. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
o Provinces in the Gupta Empire were known as Bhuktis and provincial governors as Uparikas. They
were mostly chosen from among the princes.
o Bhuktis were subdivided into Vishyas or districts. They were governed by Vishyapatis. Nagara
Sreshtis were the officers looking after the city administration. The villages in the district were under
the control of Gramikas.

Q 15.A
 Akbar introduced a number of Social and Educational Reforms:
o He stopped sati-unless, she herself, of her free will persistently desire for it. This led to a restriction on
sati, not a blanket ban. Hence option (a) is not correct.
o Widow marriages were legalized. Hence option (b) is correct.
o The age of marriage was raised to 14 for girls and 16 for boys. Hence option (c) is correct.
o The sale of wines and spirits was restricted.
o Akbar, was also against having more than one wife unless the first wife was barren.
o He revised the education syllabus, laying more emphasis on Moral education and mathematics and on
secular subjects. Hence option (d) is correct.

Q 16.C
 The contribution of women writers in different languages deserves special attention.
 Women writers like Ghosha, Lopamudra, Gargi, Maitreyi, Apala, Romasha Brahmavadini, etc.,
right from the days of the Vedas, focused on the image of women in mainstream Sanskrit literature.
 The songs of Buddhist nuns (6th century B.C.) like Mutta and Ubbiri and Mettika in Pali express the
torment of feelings for the life left behind.
 The Alwar women poets (6th century A.D.), like Andal and others, gave expression to their love for
the divine.

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 Lal Ded (1320-1384), the Muslim poetess from Kashmir Lalded & Habba Khatun, represented the
Sant tradition of bhakti and wrote Vakhs (maxims), which are peerless gems of spiritual experience.
 Meera Bai, in Gujarati, Rajasthani and Hindi (she wrote in three languages),
 Avvayyar, in Tamil, and Akkamahadevi in Kannada, are well known for their sheer lyrical intensity
and concentrated emotional appeal.
 Their writings speak to us about the social conditions prevailing at that time, and the position of woman at
home and in society.
 They all wrote small lyrics or poems of devotional fervour, metaphysical depth, and with a spirit of
dedication and utmost sincerity. Behind their mysticism and metaphysics is a divine sadness. They turned
every wound inflicted by life into a poem.
 Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

Q 17.A
 During the Vedic age, the king‘s influence was strengthened by various rituals, such as
o Rajasuya Sacrifice: Supposed to confer supreme power on him. It is a king‘s inaugural sacrifice.
After conquering the kings of several other kingdoms and collecting tribute from the conquered land,
the vanquished kings are invited to attend the Rajasuya yajna. All the vanquished kings would
consider the performer of this yajna as their Emperor (King of kings). Hence, pair 1 is correctly
matched.
o Vajapeya Sacrifice: Chariot race which a royal chariot was made to win the race against his
kinsmen. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched.
o Ashvamedha Sacrifice: Unquestioned control over the area on which the royal horse ran
uninterrupted. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
o Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q 18.D
 The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a $500 million program to support
India's nationwide initiative to revitalize the MSME sector. The $500 million Raising and
Accelerating Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Performance (RAMP) Program is the
World Bank's second intervention in this sector, the first being the $750 million MSME Emergency
Response Program, approved in July 2020 to address the immediate liquidity and credit needs of millions
of viable MSMEs severely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
 The RAMP program will provide better access to finance and working capital for MSMEs by
strengthening the receivable financing markets, and scale up online dispute resolution mechanisms
to address the problem of delayed payments. Such efforts are expected to improve the cost-
effectiveness, quality, accessibility, impact, and outreach of such schemes. The $500 million loans from
the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), has a maturity of 18.5 years
including a 5.5-year grace period.
 Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 19.D
 Sangam literature is the compilation of the earliest available Tamil literature. The word ‗Sangam‘ literally
means association. It implies an association of Tamil poets that flourished in ancient southern India. The
three chief Tamil kingdoms of this period were the Cheras, the Cholas, and the Pandyas. The Sangam
period roughly extends between 300 BC and 300 AD, although most of the work is believed to have been
composed between 100 CE and 250 CE.
 The Sangam texts are different from the Vedic texts, particularly the Rig Vedic texts. They do not
constitute religious literature. The short and long poems were composed by numerous poets in praise of
numerous heroes and heroines. Thus they are secular in nature. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
 They are not primitive songs, but they show a high quality of literature. Many poems mention a warrior or
a chief or a king by name and describe his military exploits in detail. The gifts made by him to bards and
warriors are celebrated. These poems may have been recited in the courts. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
 The Sangam texts refer to many settlements including Kaveripattanam whose flourishing existence is now
attested archaeologically. They also speak of the Yavanas (foreigners) coming in theri own vessels
purchasing pepper with gold and supplying wine and women slaves to the natives. This trade is not known
only from Latin and Greek writings but also from archaeological records. The Sangam literature is a very
major source of our information for the social, economic and political life of the people living in deltaic
Tamil Nadu in the early Christian centuries. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

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Q 20.C
 The earliest literature of South India is represented by a group of texts in old Tamil, often
collectively referred to as Sangam literature.
 The Sangam corpus includes six of the eight anthologies of poems included in the Ettutokai (The Eight
Collections), and nine of the ten pattus (songs) of the Pattuppattu (The Ten Songs). The earliest parts of
the first two books of the Tolkappiyam can also be included in Sangam literature. The Tolkappiyam is
essentially a work on grammar, but it also includes a discussion of phonology, semantics, syntax, and
literary conventions.
 The style and certain historical references in the poems suggest that they were composed between the 3rd
century BCE and the 3rd century AD.
 The poems are of two types—akam (love poems) and puram (heroic poems).
 The poets had diverse social backgrounds and their poems, modelled on the songs of the humble bards
and drummers of earlier times, are a rich and evocative source for the society of Tamilakam (the Tamil
land) between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century AD.

Q 21.A
 Recently on the occasion of World Environment Day, the Prime Minister of Indi launched the E-100
project. The ambitious project aims to set up a network for the production and distribution of
ethanol across the nation. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.
 Ethanol extracted from sugarcane as well as damaged food grains such as wheat and broken rice and
agriculture waste is less polluting and its use also provides farmers with an alternate source of income.
 The Prime Minister also released the 'Report of the Expert Committee on Road Map for ethanol
blending in India 2020-2025', in line with the theme for World Environment Day this year -
promotion of biofuels for a better environment. The government has resolved to meet the target of 20
percent ethanol blending in petrol by 2025. Earlier the resolve was to achieve the target by 2030 which is
now preponed by 5 years.

Q 22.B
 Mohiniyattam Dance:
o It is one of the classical dances from the state of Kerala.
o It gets its name from the word Mohini – a historical enchantress avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, who
helps the good prevail over evil by developing her feminine powers.
o It traces its roots from the Natya Shastra – the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text on performance arts.
o It follows the Lasya style described in Natya Shastra, that is a dance which is delicate, eros-filled and
feminine. It is traditionally a solo dance performed by women after extensive training.
o The repertoire of Mohiniyattam includes music in the Carnatic style, singing and acting a play
through the dance, where the recitation may be either by a separate vocalist or the dancer herself.
o It was structured into the present-day classical format by the Travancore Kings, Maharaja
KartikaTirunal and his successor Maharaja Swati Tirunal (18th -19th century C.E.).
 Salient Features of Mohiniyattam Dance:
o Mohiniyattam is characterized by graceful, swaying body movements with no abrupt jerks or
sudden leaps. It belongs to the lasya style which is feminine, tender and graceful.
o The movements are emphasized by the glides and the up and down movement on toes, like the waves
of the sea and the swaying of the coconut, palm trees and the paddy fields.
o The foot work is not terse and is rendered softly. Importance is given to the hand gestures and
Mukhabhinaya with subtle facial expressions.
o Movements have been borrowed from Nangiar Koothu and female folk dances Kaikottikali and
the Tiruvatirakali.
o The hand gestures, 24 in number, are mainly adopted from Hastalakshana Deepika, a text followed by
Kathakali. Few are also borrowed from NatyaShastra, AbhinayaDarpana and Balarambharatam.

Q 23.C
 Recently, the country's first CAR-T cell therapy was done at the Bone Marrow Transplant unit at
ACTREC, Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai. The CAR-T cells were designed and manufactured at
the Bioscience and Bioengineering (BSBE) department of IIT, Bombay.
 The Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has emerged as a breakthrough in cancer
treatment. Clinical trials conducted globally have shown promising results in end-stage
patients, especially in patients suffering from acute lymphocytic leukemia. Hence option (c) is the
correct answer.
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 The development of the CAR-T cell technology for diseases including acute lymphocytic leukemia,
multiple myeloma, glioblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and type-2 diabetes is supported through
DBT.
 Chimeric antigen receptor T cells are T cells that have been genetically engineered to produce an
artificial T-cell receptor for use in immunotherapy. Chimeric antigen receptors are receptor proteins
that have been engineered to give T cells the new ability to target a specific protein. Chimeric antigen
receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a way to get immune cells called T cells (a type of white blood cell) to
fight cancer by changing them in the lab so they can find and destroy cancer cells. CAR T-cell therapy is
also sometimes talked about as a type of cell-based gene therapy because it involves altering the genes
inside T cells to help them attack cancer.
 Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow — the spongy
tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. The word "acute" in acute lymphocytic leukemia comes
from the fact that the disease progresses rapidly and creates immature blood cells, rather than mature ones.
The word "lymphocytic" in acute lymphocytic leukemia refers to the white blood cells called
lymphocytes. Acute lymphocytic leukemia is also known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Q 24.C
 The Jataka stories are a voluminous body of literature concerning the previous births of Buddha in
both human and animal form. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 Among the Jataka stories that are frequently depicted are Chhadanta Jataka, Vidurpundita Jataka, Ruru
Jataka, Sibi Jataka, Vessantara Jataka and Shama Jataka.
 Jataka stories were depicted on the railings and torans of the stupas. Hence statement 2 is correct.
 Mainly synoptic narrative, continuous narrative and episodic narrative are used in the pictorial tradition.
While events from the life of the Buddha became an important theme in all the Buddhist monuments, the
Jataka stories also became equally important for sculptural decorations. The main events associated with
the Buddha‘s life which were frequently depicted were events related to the birth, renunciation,
enlightenment, dhammachakra- pravartana, and mahaparinibbana (death).

Q 25.D
 On the ruins of the Kushan empire arose a new empire, which established its sway over a good part of the
former dominions of both the Kushans and Satavahanas. This was the empire of the Guptas.
 Although the Gupta empire was not as large as the Maurya empire, it kept north India politically united
for more than a century from AD. 335 to 455. The Guptas were possibly the feudatories of the Kushans in
Uttar Pradesh, and seem to have succeeded them without any wide time-lag.
 Factors that led to the rise and growth of the Gupta Empire:
o In the Kushan scheme of things, horse-chariots and elephants had ceased to be important. Horsemen
played the main part in the case with the Guptas. Although some Gupta kings are described as
excellent and unrivaled chariot warriors, their basic strength lay In the use of horses. All these gave
them mobility and made them excellent horsemen. Hence option 1 is correct.
o The Guptas enjoyed certain material advantages. The center of their operations lay in the fertile
land of Madhyadesha covering Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. They could exploit the iron ores of central
India and south Bihar. Hence option 2 is correct.
o Further, they took advantage of their proximity to the areas in north India which carried on silk
trade with the Eastern Roman empire. also known as the Byzantine empire. Hence option 3 is
correct.

Q 26.C
 Manipuri is one of the main styles of Indian Art or Classical Dances that originated in the state of
Manipur.
 The dance in Manipur is associated with rituals and traditional festivals, there are legendary references to
the dances of Shiva and Parvati and other gods and goddesses who created the universe.
 Lai Haraoba is one of the main festivals still performed in Manipur which has its roots in the pre-
Vaishnavite period. Lai Haraoba is the earliest form of dance which forms the basis of all stylized dances
in Manipur.
 Manipur dance has a large repertoire, however, the most popular forms are the Ras, the Sankirtana
and the Thang-Ta. There are five principal Ras dances of which four are linked with specific seasons,
while the fifth can be presented at any time of the year. In Manipuri Ras, the main characters are Radha,
Krishna and the gopis.

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 The Kirtan form of congregational singing accompanies the dance which is known as Sankirtana in
Manipur.
o The male dancers play the Pung and Kartal while dancing. The masculine aspect of dance - the
Choloms are a part of the Sankirtana tradition. The Pung and Kartal choloms are performed at all
social and religious festivals.
 Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q 27.A
 The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launched the SAGE (Seniorcare Aging Growth
Engine) initiative and SAGE portal for elderly persons. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
 The SAGE portal will be a ―one-stop access‖ of elderly care products and services by credible start-
ups. The start-ups will be selected on the basis of innovative products and services, which they should be
able to provide across sectors such as health, housing, care centers, apart from technological access linked
to finances, food and wealth management, and legal guidance. Hence statement 1 is correct
 SAGE program and SAGE portal have been launched with a view to help such persons who are interested
in entrepreneurship in the field of providing services for elderly care. The Ministry has designed the
SAGE program as per the suggestions of the Empowered Committee on start-ups for the elderly to solicit
the involvement of youth and their innovative ideas for elderly care. This will help to make the programs
for elderly care a national movement than just a government program.
 An allocation of Rs 25 crores has been made for the SAGE project in the current financial year i.e 2021-
22. The start-ups will be selected by an independent screening committee of experts. A fund of up to Rs.1
crore as one-time equity will be granted to each selected start-up.
 The SAGE project aims to identify, evaluate, verify, aggregate, and deliver products, solutions, and
services directly to the stakeholders. The Ministry will act as a facilitator, enabling the elderly to access
the products through these identified start-ups.

Q 28.D
 The Indian Space Research Organisation‘s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in
Thiruvananthapuram, has developed three different types of ventilators and an oxygen
concentrator at a time when a shortage of this critical medical equipment resulted in the deaths of many
Covid-19 patients across the country. PRANA, SVASTA, and VaU (read as Vayu) are the names of the
models.
 The design of 'PRANA' - standing for ‗Programmable Respiratory Assistance for the Needy Aid‘ - is
based on an Ambu bag (a commercial manual respirator bag) PRANA delivers oxygen-rich air to the
patient by automated compression of the Ambu bag using an actuator.
 Short for Space Ventilator Aided System for Trauma Assistance (SVASTA) is designed to work without
electric power. The system operates on compressed air and achieves different modes of ventilation
through mechanical settings alone.
 VaU, a pneumatic circuit-based system expanded as a Ventilation assist Unit is a more ambitious project
that eyes a low-cost, state-of-the-art ventilator that can match the high-end, expensive ones in the market.
VaU is a dual-mode ventilator that can work with either medical oxygen from the hospital or with ambient
air.
 Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 29.A
 Rural expansion: In South India, during the ancient period we come across three types of villages; ur,
sabha, and nagaram.
o Ur was the usual type of village inhabited by peasant castes, who perhaps held that in common; it
was the responsibility of the village headman to collect and pay taxes on their behalf. These villages
were mainly found in Southern Tamil Nadu.
o The sabha type of village consisted of brahamadeya villages or those granted to the Brahmanas, and
of agrahara villages. The brahmana owners enjoyed individual rights in the land but carried on their
activities collectively.
o The nagaram type of village consisted of the village settled and dominated by combinations of
traders and merchants.
 Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

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Q 30.A
 The Vaiseshika school was based on a theory of the atom, explaining the cosmic process in which the soul
was involved. Atomism is a theoretical approach that regards something as interpretable through analysis
into distinct, separable, and independent elementary components. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 The Vaiseshika, like the Sankhyas, held that the soul was wholly different from the cosmos and that its
salvation lay in fully realizing this difference. Hence statement 2 is correct.
 The Yoga, which is in general agreement with the entire metaphysical position of the Sankhya, thinks that
the elements leading to a positive misconception or misidentification of the Purusha as being of the same
nature as the guna complexes are responsible for the possibility of the nisus and the resulting
experience. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Q 31.C
 Indian classical music is categorized based on two traditions, the Carnatic music prevalent in South India
and the Hindustani classical music in North India.
 Carnatic Music is composed of a system of Ragam (Raga) and Thalam (Tala). There are various musical
forms in both styles:
 Musical form of Carnatic Music:
o Gitam: It is the simplest type of composition with an easy and melodious flow of raga.
o Tanam: It is raga alapana in Madhyamakala or medium speed. There is perceptible rhythm in this.
The rhythmical flow of music, flowing in fascinating patterns, makes tanam singing the most
captivating part of raga exposition. Hence option 3 is correct.
o Tilanna: It is mainly a dance form, but on account of its brisk and attractive music, it sometimes finds
a place in music concerts as a conclusion piece. It usually begins with jatis. The music is of
comparatively slow tempo in Tillanas meant for dance purposes. Hence option 1 is correct.
o Suladi: The Suladi is a talamalika, the sections being in different talas.
o Svarajati: It consists of three sections, called Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam. The theme is either
devotional, heroic or amorous.
o Jatisavaram: It is noted for the use of rhythmical excellence and the Jati pattern.
o Varnam: It is the only form which does not find a counterpart in Hindustani music. This form is called
a Varnam because many of the Svara group patterns called ‗Varnas‘ in ancient music are interwoven
in its texture.
o Kirtanam: It is valued for the devotional content or Bhakti Bhava of the Sahitya.
o Kriti: It developed from the Kirtanam. It is a highly evolved musical form.
o Pallavi: This is the most important branch of creative music. It allows improvisation.
 The major vocal forms or styles associated with Hindustani classical music are dhrupad, khyal, and
tarana. Light classical forms include dhamar, trivat, chaiti, kajari, tappa, tap-khyal, ashtapadis, thumri,
dadra, ghazal and bhajan; these do not adhere to the rigorous rules of classical music. Hence option 2 is
not correct.
o Tappa consists of the song uttered in fast note patterns. It is a difficult composition and needs much
practice. Both the Thumri and Tappa require special training as do the Dhrupad and Khyal forms of
singing. Ragas in which Tappa compositions are set remain same as in Thumri style.

Q 32.A
 The Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram is a collection of 7th- and 8th-century CE religious
monuments in Tamil Nadu. The monuments were built during the Pallava dynasty. The group contains
several categories of monuments:
 Ratha temples
o They are with monolithic temples carved in the shape of chariots.
o The best-known are the five monolithic structures known as the Five Rathas or the Pandava Rathas:
Dharmaraja Ratha, Bhima Ratha, Arjuna Ratha, Nakula-Sahadeva Ratha and Draupadi Rathas.
o Other ratha monuments at Mahabalipuram include the late-7th-century Ganesha Ratha. It is three--
storeyed and of better workmanship, it resembles the Bhima-ratha in roof form. Hence option 2 is
correct.
 Structural temples
o The structural (free-standing) temples at Mamallapuram have been built with cut stones as building
blocks. Some of the major temples are:
 Shore Temple: It consists of a large temple, two smaller temples and many minor shrines, open
halls, gateways, and other elements, much of which is buried by sand. Hence option 1 is correct.

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 Olakkanesvara temple: It was built in the early 8th century from grey granite by King Rajasimha.
The walls of the temple depict the Ravananugraha legend from the Ramayana and a relief of
Dakshinamurti (Shiva as a yoga teacher).
 Mukundanayanar temple: It has ratha-like architecture.
 Rock reliefs
o The best-known rock relief is the Descent of the Ganges also known as Arjuna's Penance or
Bhagiratha's Penance.
o It has two primary interpretations: the effort needed to bring the Ganges from the heavens to earth,
and the Kirātārjunīya legend and the chapter from the Mahabharata about Arjuna's efforts to gain the
weapon he needed to help good triumph over evil.
 Cave temples:
o Varaha cave
o Kotikal cave
o Dharmaraja cave
o Ramanuja Cave
 Lad Khan temple (or Chalukya Shiva Temple ), dedicated to Shiva, is one of the oldest Hindu temples
and is located in the group of monuments at Aihole in the state of Karnataka. Hence, option 3 is not
correct.

Q 33.C
 The Administration of the Chola Empire
o Settlements of peasants, known as ur, became prosperous with the spread of irrigation agriculture.
Groups of such villages formed larger units called Nadu. The village council and the Nadu performed
several administrative functions including dispensing justice and collecting taxes. Rich peasants of the
Vellala caste exercised considerable control over the affairs of the Nadu under the supervision of the
central Chola government. The Chola kings gave some rich landowners titles like muvendavelan (a
velan or peasant serving three kings), araiyar (chief), etc. as markers of respect, and entrusted
them with important offices of the state at the center.
 Northern India: Age of the Three Empire
o Political Ideas and organization:
o The village was the basic unit of administration. The village administration was carried on by the
village headman and village accountant whose posts were generally hereditary. They were paid by
grants of rent-free lands. The headman was often helped in his duties by the elder called grama-
mahajana or grama-mahattara.
o During this period we also hear of officials of the royal household which were called antahpur.
o Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

Q 34.B
 Kathak Dance: It is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance.
 Its origin is traditionally attributed to the traveling bards in the North of Ancient India known as
Kathakars or storytellers.
o Sankaradeva was the Vaishnava saint and reformer of Assam who introduced Sattriya dance as a
powerful medium for the propagation of the Vaishnava faith. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
 Kathak evolved during the Bhakti movement, particularly by incorporating the childhood and stories of
the Hindu god Krishna, as well as independently in the courts of north Indian kingdoms.
 Kathak is found in three distinct forms, called "gharanas", named after the cities where the Kathak dance
tradition evolved – Jaipur, Banaras and Lucknow.
 Features:
o It emphasizes rhythmic foot movements, adorned with small bells (Ghungroo) and the movement
harmonized to the music.
o The legs and torso are generally straight, and the story is told through a developed vocabulary based
on the gestures of arms and upper body movement, facial expressions, neck movements, eyes and
eyebrow movement, stage movements, bends and turns.
 It is the only classical dance of India having links with Muslim culture. It represents a unique
synthesis of Hindu and Muslim genius in art.
 Kathak is the only form of classical dance wedded to Hindustani or North Indian music. Both of
them have had a parallel growth, each feeding and sustaining the other. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

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Q 35.C
 Narasimhavarman I:
o Narasimhavarman I, surnamed Mahamalla (630-668 A.D.), was the son and successor of
Mahendravarma I and considered as the greatest of the Pallava rulers. He is credited with repelling
the second invasion of Pulakesin II, killing him and capturing the Chalukyan capital Vatapi and
won thereby the title of Vatapikonda (conqueror of Vatapi). Hence option (c) is the correct
answer.
o It was possibly in his struggle with Pulakesin II that he received aid from the Sinhalese Prince
Mana-Vamma whom he afterward assisted in securing the crown of Ceylon. Hiuen Tsang visited
Kanchi about the year 642 A.D. during the reign of Narasimhavarman I. He is also said to have
defeated the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas, and the Kalabhras.
o He was an ardent lover of art and consecrated cave temples at different places such as Trichinopoly
and Pudukkotai. His name is, however, best known in connection with the so-called Rathas of
Mahabalipuram. The original name of the place, Mahamallapura commemorates its royal founder,
Mahamalla, i.e., Narasimhavarman I.

Q 36.C
 Pulakeshin II (609–642 CE) was the most famous Chalukya king. He is known to us from his eulogy
written by the court poet Ravikirti in the Aihole inscription. This inscription is an example of poetic
excellence reached in Sanskrit, and in spite of its exaggeration is a valuable source for the biography of
Pulakeshin. He subjugated the Kadamba capital at Banavasi and compelled the Gangas of Mysore to
acknowledge his suzerainty. In his conflict with the Pallavas, he almost reached the Pallava capital, but
Pallavas purchased peace by ceding their northern provinces to Pulakeshin II.
 The most notable military achievement of Pulakeshin was his victory over the powerful northern
emperor Harsha-Vardhan, whose failure to conquer the Chalukya kingdom is attested by the Chinese
pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited his kingdom.
 About King Harsha - Harshavardhana belonged to the Pushyabhuti dynasty, founded by Naravardhana
close of the 5th or beginning of the 6th century A.D. It was only under the king of Thaneswar
Prabhakarvardhana (father of Harshavardhana), the Pushyabhuti dynasty flourished and he assumed the
title of Maharajadhiraja. Harshavardhana succeeded the throne in 606 A.D. at the age of sixteen after his
elder brother Rajyavardhana was killed by Sasanka while going to suppress the kings of Gauda and
Malwa.
 Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

Q 37.B
 A major feature of the Chishti tradition was austerity, including maintaining a distance from worldly
power. However, this was by no means a situation of absolute isolation from political
power. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 The sufis accepted unsolicited grants and donations from the political elites. The Sultans in turn set
up charitable trusts (auqaf ) as endowments for hospices and granted tax-free land (inam).
Hence statement 2 is correct.
 The Chishtis accepted donations in cash and kind. Rather than accumulate donations, they preferred to
use these fully on immediate requirements such as food, clothes, living quarters and ritual necessities
(such as sama). Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q 38.B
 Bhavai is a popular folk theatre form in Gujarat with a 700-year old history. The word Bhavai
derives its meaning from a combination of two words—bhav meaning emotion, and Vahini meaning
carrier—thus it is named as an art form which is a carrier of emotions. Hence pair 1 is correctly
matched.
o The centers of this form are Kutch and Kathiawar.
o The instruments used in Bhavai are bhungal, tabla, flute, pakhaawaj, rabaab, sarangi, manjeera, etc.
o In Bhavai, there is a rare synthesis of devotional and romantic sentiments.
 Maach is a prominent folk theatre form of Madhya Pradesh. Gopalji Guru of Bhagsipura, Ujjain, is
touted to be the one who introduced maach in Madhya Pradesh; he eventually authored many
maach plays himself. Hence pair 2 is correctly matched.
o Traditionally, maach is performed around the Indian festival of Holi and it is also believed that maach
originated to entertain the local communities as there was no other mode of entertainment available in
those times.
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o The term maach is a Malwi translation of the Hindi word manch (stage). Essentially, the term maach
signifies two meanings, the stage itself and the play/performance.
o Maach is basically a musical play where a group of performers sing and dance along with dramatic
representation of many mythological, religious and historical stories.
o Maach is mainly performed by men who also perform the roles of the female characters.
o Maach, through its stories, discusses the ideas of power, splendour, injustice, violence and social
issues with the audience, which largely comprises farmers, with the help of relatable historical figures,
and mythical and religious characters
o In maach, dialogues are called bol, rhyme in the narrative structure is known as vanag and the
melodies of this folk theatre are called rangat. Being a musical theatre form, songs take precedence
over dialogues.
 Krishnattam is a folk theatre art of Kerala which came into existence in the middle of 17th century
A.D. under the patronage of King Manavada of Calicut. Hence pair 3 is not correctly matched.
o Krishnattam is a cycle of eight plays performed for eight consecutive days. The plays are Avataram,
Kaliamandana, Rasa krida, kamasavadha, Swayamvaram, Bana Yudham, Vivida Vadham, and
Swargarohana.
o The episodes are based on the theme of Lord Krishna - his birth, childhood pranks, and various deeds
depicting the victory of good over evil.
o The most unique and distinguishing feature of Krishnattam is the use of masks for some of the
characters. The masks are larger than life, with the features exaggerated, some even deformed.
o The instruments that are used in the Krishnattam stage are ‗Maddalam‘, ‗Chengalam‘, ‗Elatalam‘,
Conch, and ‗Edakka‘.

Q 39.C
 The Indian Navy participated for the first time in the French naval exercise La Perouse in the Bay
of Bengal. The participating nations also include the other Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad)
member countries -- Australia, Japan, and the United States of America (USA).
 This is the first time that the Indian Navy was of the France-led war game ‗La Perouse‘. Until now, India
was not invited to the French naval exercise. Exercise La Pérouse witnessed complex and advanced naval
operations including surface warfare, anti-air warfare, and air defense exercises, weapon firing exercises,
cross deck flying operations, tactical maneuvers, and seamanship evolutions such as replenishment at sea.
The exercise showcased high levels of synergy, coordination, and interoperability between the friendly
navies. Participation by the Indian Navy in the exercise demonstrated the shared values with friendly
navies ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based
international order.
 Indian Navy Ships INS Satpura (with an integral helicopter embarked) and INS Kiltan along with P8I
Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft participated in the exercise.
 The Quad, officially the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a group of four countries: the United States,
Australia, India, and Japan. Maritime cooperation among them began after the Indian Ocean tsunami of
2004.
 Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

Q 40.C
 The entire period from 800 to 1200 (early medieval) may be regarded as one for the purpose of studying
economic, social, and religious aspects.
 In north India, this period is often considered a period of stagnation and even of decline. This is seen in
the steady decline of towns. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
 Also, there was the absence of gold and silver coins between the 7th and 10th centuries. The absence
of gold and silver coins is sometimes traced to the collapse in the west of the Roman empire with which
India had a flourishing and profitable trade. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
 While India's trade with the western areas declined, trade with south-east Asia and China grew
steadily. The lead in this trade was taken by south India. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Q 41.C
 States of the Deccan and South India:
o The Ikshvakus were supplanted by the Pallavas.
o The term Pallava means creeper and is a Sanskrit version of the Tamil word tondai, which also
carries the same meaning. The Pallavas were possibly a local tribe who established their authority in

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the Tondainadu or the land of creepers. But it took them some time to be completely civilized and
acceptable because in Tamil the word Pallava is also a synonym of the robber.
o The authority of Pallvas extended over both southern Andhra and northern Tamil Nadu. They set up
their capital at Kanchipuram. The early Pallavas came into conflict with the Kadambas, who had
founded their rule in northern Karnataka and Konkan in the fourth century A.D. Hence, statement 1
is correct.
o Pallavas granted numerous villages free of taxes largely to the Brahmanas. We have as many as 16
land charters of the early Pallavas. A few, which seem to be earlier, are written on stone in
Prakrit. But most of them were recorded on copper plates in Sanskrit. Hence, statement 3 is not
correct.
o The Pallavas, the Kadambas, the Chalukyas of Badami, and their other contemporaries were
great champions of Vedic sacrifices. They performed Ashvamedha and Vajapeya sacrifices. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.

Q 42.A
 To help out horticulturists who face crop damage due to hailstorms, the Himachal Pradesh
government will be testing the use of indigenously developed ‗anti-hail guns‘. In 2010, the state
government had imported three anti-hail guns from the United States and installed them in three separate
villages in the apple-growing belt of Shimla, where hailstorms in summer cause severe damage to the fruit
every year.
 An anti-hail gun is a machine that generates shock waves to disrupt the growth of hailstones in
clouds. It comprises a tall, fixed structure somewhat resembling an inverted tower, several meters high,
with a long and narrow cone opening towards the sky. The gun is ―fired‖ by feeding an explosive
mixture of acetylene gas and air into its lower chamber, which releases a shock wave (waves that
travel faster than the speed of sound, such as those produced by supersonic aircraft). These shock waves
supposedly stop water droplets in clouds from turning into hailstones, so that they fall simply as
raindrops. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.
 It is this hail formation process that the shock waves from anti-hail guns try to disrupt in a radius of 500
meters, so that the water droplets fall down before they can be lifted by the updrafts. The machine is
repeatedly fired every few seconds during an approaching thunderstorm.

Q 43.B
 The twelfth century witnessed the emergence of a new movement in Karnataka, led by a Brahmana named
Basavanna (1106-68) who was a minister in the court of a Kalachuri ruler. His followers were known as
Virashaivas (heroes of Shiva) or Lingayats (wearers of the linga).
 Lingayats continue to be an important community in the region to date. They worship Shiva in his
manifestation as a linga, and men usually wear a small linga in a silver case on a loop strung over the left
shoulder. Those who are revered include the jangama or wandering monks.Hence statements 1 is
correct.
 Lingayats believe that on death the devotee will be united with Shiva and will not return to this
world. Therefore they do not practise funerary rites such as cremation, prescribed in the Dharmashastras.
Instead, they ceremonially bury their dead. Hence statements 2 and 3 is correct.
 The Lingayats challenged the idea of caste and the ―pollution‖ attributed to certain groups by Brahmanas.

Q 44.D
 The age of the Shakas, Kushans, Satavahanas (200 B.C.- A.D. 300) and the first Tamil states was the
most flourishing period in the history of crafts and commerce in ancient India.
 The Digha Nikaya which belongs to pre-Mauryan times, mentions nearly 2 dozen occupations, but the
Mahavastu, which belongs to this period, catalogues 36 kinds of workers living in the town of Rajgir.
 Cloth-making, silk-weaving and the making of arms and luxury articles also made progress.
o Mathura was a great centre for the manufacture of a special type of cloth which was
called shataka. Hence statement 1 is correct.
o Dyeing was a thriving craft in south Indian towns.
o A brick-built dyeing vat has been unearthed from Uraiyur in Tamilnadu and Arikamedu.
 Shell industry was in a very thriving state.
 Numerous beads and bangles made of shell were found.
 Coin minting was an important craft, and the period is noted for numerous types of coins made of
gold, silver, copper, bronze, lead and potin.
o The craftsmen also made fake Roman coins. Hence statement 2 is correct.
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o Various coin moulds belonging to the period have been found both in north India and in the Deccan.
 The urban handicrafts were supplemented by the manufacture of beautiful pieces of terracotta,
which were found in profuse quantities.
o They have been found in almost all Kushan and Satavahana sites, but special mention may be made
of Yelleshwaram in Nalgonda district, where we find the largest number of terracottas and the moulds
in which they were manufactured. Hence statement 3 is correct.
 Artisans were organised into guilds which were called shrenis.

Q 45.A
 Chauth (from Sanskrit meaning one-fourth) was a tax or tribute imposed, from the early eighteenth
century, by the Maratha Empire in India. It was nominally levied at 25% on revenue or produce,
hence the name. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 The right to assess and collect this tax was asserted first by Shivaji in the later seventeenth century, on
spurious grounds that his family was hereditary tax collectors in Maharashtra. The sardeshmukhi was an
additional 10% levy on top of the chauth on those lands which the Marathas claimed hereditary
rights. Hence statement 2 is correct.
 Chauth and sardeshmukhi were the taxes collected not in the Maratha kingdom but in the neighboring
territories of the Mughal Empire or Deccan sultanates. Hence statement 3 is not correct.
Q 46.D
 Jainism recognized the existence of the gods but placed them lower than Jina. Jina, in Jainism, means a
great teacher who has attained liberation from karma. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 It did not condemn the varna system, as Buddhism did. According to Mahavira, a person is born in a high
or in lower varna in consequence of the sins or the virtues acquired by him in the previous birth, Mahavira
looks for human values even in a chandala. In his opinion through pure and meritorious life members of
the lower casts can attain liberation. Jainism mainly aims at the attainment of freedom from worldly
bonds.it is not necessary to use any ritual for acquiring such liberation. It can be attained through full
knowledge and action. Full knowledge, action, and liberation are considered to be the three gems or ratnas
of Jainism. Hence statement 2 is correct.

Q 47.B
 Folk music is music that is played or sung by ordinary people (not professional musicians). It is traditional
music that people generally learn by listening to other people playing it and then copying them.
 Indian folk music is diverse because of India's vast cultural diversity. It is sung in various languages and
dialects throughout the length and breath of this vast nation and exported to different parts of the world
owing to migration. Some of the prominent folk music are listed below.
 Chhakri, Kashmir
o Chhakri is a group song which is the most popular form of Kashmir‘s folk music.
o It is sung to the accompaniment of the noot (earthen pot) rababs, sarangi and tumbaknari (an earthen
pot with high neck). Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched.
 Burrakatha, Andhra Pradesh
o Burrakatha is a highly dramatic form of ballad.
o A bottle shaped drum (tambura) is played by the main performer while reciting a story.
o The ballad singers, like stage actor, wear make up and a highly stylised costume. Hence, pair 2 is
correctly matched.
 Daskathia, Odisha
o Daskathia is a form of ballad singing prevalent in Odisha.
o Daskathia is a name derived from a unique musical instrument called ―Kathi‖ or ― Ram Tali‖, wooden
clappers used during the presentation.
o The performance is a form of worship and offering on behalf of the ―Das‖, the devotee. Hence, pair 3
is not correctly matched.

Q 48.B
 The traditional marionettes or string puppets of Rajasthan are known as Kathputli puppets.
 Carved from a single piece of wood, these puppets are like large dolls that are colourfully dressed. Their
costumes and headgears are designed in the medieval Rajasthani style of dress, which is prevalent even
today.
 The Kathputli play is accompanied by a highly dramatized version of regional music.
 Oval faces, large eyes, arched eyebrows, and large lips are some of the distinct facial features of
these string puppets. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
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 These puppets wear long trailing skirts and do not have legs. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
 Puppeteers manipulate puppets with two to five strings which are normally tied to their fingers.
 In Kathputli's play, the puppeteer narrates the stories through soulful ballads. Kathputli features puppet
plays based on popular legends being performed by skillful puppeteers.
 Music or ballads form an integral part of Kathputli as the entire performance is based on the ballad.
 Sometimes, the puppeteer accompanies the ballads with various sound effects to give the show a greater
impact. Kathputli features historic anecdotes, tales of love, and includes a lot of screeching and high-
pitched sounds as the puppets twist and bend to the tunes of the puppeteer at the time of performance.

Q 49.B
 Recently, a record number of fake online pharmacies have been shut down under Operation Pangea
XIV targeting the sale of counterfeit and illicit medicines and medical products. The operation
Pangea XIV coordinated by INTERPOL involved police, customs, and health regulatory authorities
from 92 countries. It resulted in 113,020 web links including websites and online marketplaces being
closed down or removed, the highest number since the first Operation Pangea in 2008. Hence option (b)
is the correct answer.
 Indian agencies including the CBI also participated in the operation. It showed that criminals were
continuing to cash in on the huge demand for personal protection and hygiene products due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of all the medical devices seized during the operation from May 18
to 25 were fake and unauthorized COVID-19 test kits.

Q 50.B
 Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador sent by the ruler of Persia to Calicut (present-day Kozhikode) in the
fifteenth century and mentioned seven lines of forts. These encircled not only the city but also its
agricultural hinterland and forests. The outermost wall linked the hills surrounding the city. Hence
statement 1 is correct.
 The massive masonry construction was slightly tapered. No mortar or cementing agent was
employed anywhere in the construction. The stone blocks were wedge-shaped, which held them in
place, and the inner portion of the walls was of earth packed with rubble. Square or rectangular bastions
projected outwards. Hence statement 2 is correct.
 Due to the surrounding areas being arid, elaborate arrangements had to be made to store rainwater
and conduct it to the city. The most important such tank was built in the early years of the fifteenth
century and is now called the Kamalapuram tank.
o One of the most prominent waterworks to be seen among the ruins is the Hiriya canal. This canal
drew water from a dam across the Tungabhadra and irrigated the cultivated valley. Hence statement
3 is correct.
Q 51.C
 The Treaty on Open Skies was set up after the Cold War to build confidence between Russia and NATO
members by allowing signatory states to conduct unarmed aerial surveillance missions over each other's
territory. The information gathered during surveillance, such as on troop movements, military exercises,
and missile deployments, has to be shared with all member States.
 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is an international alliance that consists of 30 member states
from North America and Europe. It was established at the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April
1949. Canada is the founding member of NATO and Germany became a member of the Alliance in 1955.
 Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law the country's departure from the Open
Skies treaty, following in the footsteps of the former and current US presidential administrations
who withdrew from the treaty in November 2020 itself. Hence both the USA and Russia have left
the Treaty on Open Skies now.
 India is not a signatory to the Treaty on Open Skies.
 The failure of the Open Skies Treaty follows the demise of another significant arms control accord, the
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, after both the US and Russia left it in 2019. This treaty
aimed at eliminating their stocks of intermediate-range and shorter-range (or ―medium-range‖) land-based
missiles which could carry nuclear warheads.
 Hence option (c) is the correct answer

Q 52.B
 The old stone age or the Palaeolithic culture of India developed in the Pleistocene period of the Ice Age.
The Pleistocene is the geological epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning
the world's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
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 People from the Paleolithic period were hunters and food gatherers. The Puranas speak of these people
who lived on roots and fruits, some of these people have been living in the hills and caves till modern
times. Domestication of animals only started in the Mesolithic period. The Mesolithic people lived on
hunting, fishing, and food gathering and at a later stage they also domesticated animals.
 The Middle Palaeolithic industries were mainly based upon flakes. These flakes were found in different
parts of India and show regional variations. The principal tools were varieties of blades, points, borers,
and scrapers made of flakes. The microlithic industry developed during the Mesolithic phase. Hence,
statement 2 is not correct.
 The Upper Paleolithic phase was less humid. It coincided with the last phase of the ice age when the
climate became comparatively warm. The Paleolithic sites are found in hilly slopes and river valleys of
the country and are absent in the alluvial plains of the Indus and the Ganga. Hence, statement 3 is
correct.

Q 53.B
 Translations of Sanskrit texts such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana into Persian were commissioned
by the Mughal emperors. The Mahabharata was translated as the Razmnama (Book of Wars).
 Akbar commissioned translation and illustration of revered Sanskrit texts into Persian. The Persian
translation and illustrated version of the Hindu epic Mahabharata did this period came to be known as
RazmNama. This was completed in 1589 under the supervision of master artist Daswant. This manuscript
was scribed in ornate calligraphy and contained 169 paintings. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 All books in Mughal India were manuscripts, that is, they were handwritten. The centre of
manuscript production was the imperial kitabkhana.
o Although kitabkhana can be translated as library, it was a scriptorium, that is, a place where
the emperor‘s collection of manuscripts was kept and new manuscripts were produced.
Hence statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Q 54.B
 The art of bronze-casting was practised on a wide scale by the Harappans. Their bronze statues were
made using the ‗lost wax‘ technique in which:
o the wax figures were first covered with a coating of clay and allowed to dry;
o then the wax was heated and the molten wax was drained out through a tiny hole made in the clay
cover.
o The hollow mould thus created was filled with molten metal which took the original shape of the
object.
o Once the metal cooled, the clay cover was completely removed.
 Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Q 55.B
 Recently, Denmark's parliament has given the go-ahead to build Lynetteholmen, a giant artificial
island that will protect Copenhagen's harbour waters from rising sea levels at the same time as providing
homes for 35,000 people. Hence option (b) is the correct answer.
 It is being claimed that Lynetteholmen is an ambitious vision for a new and sustainable district, which will
also form part of the necessary climate protection for the city. of Copenhagen. The artificial island will
house at least 35,000 people who will be connected to the downtown by a harbor tunnel and a subway
line.
 The artificial island will be built north of the trendy Refshale Island which is a former industrial area. The
plan has been facing backlash for not having investigated enough to go through the environmental
consequences that will take place because of its construction, among other issues.

Q 56.C
 Nearly 1500 Harappan sites are known so far in the Indian subcontinent. Most of them are late-Harappan,
post-urban sites.
 These including Bhagwanpura, generally lie on the banks of the Hakra-Ghaggar channel. They belong to
early, mature and late phases of the Harappan culture. But the number of sites belonging to the mature
phase is limited, and of them only a few can be regarded as cities.
 Of these, the two most important cities were Harappa in Punjab and Mohenjodaro in Sindh (both in
Pakistan). A third city lay at Chanhudaro about 130 km south of Mohenjodaro in Sindh and fourth in
Lothal in Gujarat at the head of the Gulf of Cambay. A fifth city lay at Kalibangan in Rajasthan. Sixth
called Banawali is situated in Hissa, Haryana.
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 Mature phase is also found in coastal cities of Sutkagendor (Makran coast near Gwadar,
Pakistan) and Surkotada (Kutch, Gujarat), each one of which is marked by a citadel.
 The later Harappan phase is found in Rangpur and Rojdi in the Kathiawar peninsula in Gujarat. In
addition to these, Dholavira lying in Kutch, Gujarat shows Harappan fortification and the three phases of
the Harappan culture. These phase also appear in Rakhigarhi (Haryana).
 Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q 57.B
 The shadow puppet art form that is being described in the passage is Tholu bommalata. It literally means
the dance of the leather puppets. Tholu bommalata is the shadow puppetry tradition of Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana.
 Tholu bommalata puppets are the most peculiar for their large sizes. The heights of these puppets
range from 120 to 180 centimetres and at times almost two meters as well.
 These puppets have joints along the arms, legs, waist, head, and neck and the different segments are
held together with strings; a central stick supporting the torso allows the puppeteer to firmly hold
the puppet while performing. The head is generally supported by a separate stick that allows rapid
movements and twists.
 Puppets are coloured on both sides. Hence, these puppets throw coloured shadows on the screen.
 Music plays a crucial role in Tholu Bommalata performances—the scenic sounds are obtained through the
use of wood planks and anklets of bells. The performances are accompanied by live music and songs.
 The musical instruments used are tablas, mridangam, muddala (percussions), harmonium, cymbals,
shanka (conch), and mukhaveena (wind instrument).
 Music in Tholu Bommalata helps in rendering the dramatization of the scenes. Entrances, dialogues,
fights: every part of the performance is enlivened by appropriate music and songs and the type of music is
a mix of classical and folk traditions
 The themes of the puppet plays are drawn from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas.
 Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.
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Q 58.D
 By the beginning of the Christian era, six philosophical schools or systems have emerged in Hinduism.
Though differing vary widely, they were all looked on as orthodox, since they all accepted the inspiration
of the Vedas and the claim of the brahmans to ritual supremacy. They were linked together in pairs, as
complementing one another or otherwise showing close relations. The six orthodox schools are:
o Sankhya
o Yoga
o Nyaya
o Vaiseshika
o Mimamsa
o Vedanta or Uttara-Mimamsa.
 About the time of the rise of Buddhism, there was a sect of religious mendicants, the Ajivikas (heterodox
school), who held unorthodox views. In the strict sense, this name is applied to the followers of
one Makkhali Gosala, but in a wide sense, it is also applied to those who taught many different shades of
heretical teachings.
 Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 59.A
 Statement 1 is correct: The structure of the society was undergoing a change in the Gupta period
and the caste system became rigid as the supremacy of the Brahmanas was increasing and they
occupied the top ladder of the society. They were getting large-scale land grants not only from the rulers
but from other people also. The land was given along with administrative rights and tax exemptions. Thus,
a new class of brahmana landlords was created.
 Statement 2 is correct: The position of Shudras improved somewhat during the Gupta period. They were
allowed to listen to religious texts like Ramayana and Mahabharata and the Puranas. They could
also perform some domestic rituals that were earlier prohibited for them. In the seventh century, Hsuan
Tsang calls Shudras as agriculturists and the vaishyas as traders. Like shudras, women were allowed to
listen to religious texts.
 Statement 3 is not correct: The position of women had also become miserable during the Gupta period.
The subjection of women to men was thoroughly regularized. But it was insisted that they should be
protected and generously treated by men. Women of higher-order did not have access to independent
sources of livelihood in Gupta times. Women of lower varna were free to earn their livelihood gave
them considerable freedom which was denied to women of upper varnas.

Q 60.D
 During the rule of Ashoka, arrangements were made for disposing of affairs of the people and to receive
regular reports about them.
 Pativedakas were appointed to report about the affairs of the people at all times to the Ashoka.
 Epigraphists have translated the term Pativedaka as a reporter.
 Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 61.C
 Sravana Belagola is a prominent Jain site in the state of Karnataka which has a rich heritage of
Jain shrines.
o It houses the famous statue of Gomateshwara.
o It is a granite statue of lord Bahubali (the son of lord Rishabhanatha who was the first of the 24 Jain
Tirthankaras) which stands eighteen metres or 57 feet high, is the world‘s tallest monolithic free-
standing structure.
o It is located on Vindhyagiri Hill.
o It was commissioned by Chamundaraya, the general-in-Chief and Prime Minister of the Ganga
Kings of Mysore.
o The base of the statue has an inscription in Prakrit, dating from 981 AD.
o The inscription praises the king who funded the effort and his general, Chavundaraya, who erected the
statue for his mother.
o Every twelve years, thousands of devotees congregate here to perform the Mahamastakabhisheka, a
spectacular ceremony in which the statue is anointed with Water, Turmeric, Rice flour, Sugar cane
juice, Sandalwood paste, saffron, and gold and silver flowers.Chandragupta Maurya is said to have
died here in 298 BCE after he became a Jain monk and assumed an ascetic lifestyle.
o Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
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Q 62.A
 Phad Paintings:
o They are long, horizontal, cloth scrolls painted to honour folk deities of pastoral communities
inhabiting the region around Bhilwara in Rajasthan.
o For such communities, safeguarding their livestock is the foremost concern. Such concerns purposely
reflect in their myths, legends and worship patterns.
o Among their gods are defied cattle heroes, who are brave men who sacrificed their lives while
protecting the community‘s cattle from robbers.
o Designated by the broad term bhomia, these heroes are honoured, worshiped and remembered for
their acts of martyrdom.
 Bhomias, such as Gogaji, Jejaji, Dev Narayan, Ramdevji and Pabhuji, have inspired widespread
cult following among the communities of Rabaris, Gujjars, Meghwals, Regars and others.
o Illustrating the valorous tales of these bhomias, the phads, are carried by bhopas, the itinerant bards,
who travel the territory, displayingthem whilenarrating tales and singing devotional songs associated
with these hero-deities in night-long storytelling performances. A lamp is held against the phad to
illuminate images that are being spoken about.
o The bhopa (singing priests) and his companion perform to the accompaniment of musical instruments,
such as ravanahattha and veena,and employ the Khyal style of singing.
o Through the phadsand phad banchan, the community remembers the hero as a martyr and keeps his
story alive.Phads, however, are not painted by the bhopas.
o They have traditionally been painted by a caste called ‗Joshis‘ who have been painters in the
courts of the kings of Rajasthan. These painters specialised in court patronised miniature paintings.
Hence, the association of skilled practitioners, bard musicians and court artists place phads higher
than other similar cultural traditions. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.
 Puri patas or paintings evidently acquire their claim to recognition from the temple city of Puri in
Odisha. It largely comprises the pata (initially, done on palm leaf and cloth but now done on paper as
well). A range of themes are painted, such as the daily and festival veshas(attires) of Jagannath,
Balabhadra and Subhadra.
 Pithoro painting is done by Rathva Bhils of the Panchmahal region in Gujarat and Jhabua in the
neighbouring State of Madhya Pradesh, these paintings are done on the walls of houses to mark special or
thanksgiving occasions. These are large wall paintings, representing rows of numerous and magnificently
coloured deities depicted as horse riders.
 Basohli painting is school of Pahari miniature painting that flourished in the Indian hill states during the
late 17th and the 18th centuries, known for its bold vitality of colour and line. The colours are always
brilliant, with ochre yellow, brown, and green grounds predominating. A distinctive technique is the
depiction of jewellery by thick, raised drops of white paint, with particles of green beetles‘ wings used to
represent emeralds.

Q 63.D
 The establishment and expansion of the Delhi Sultanate led to the evolution of a powerful and efficient
administrative system. The Sultan was assisted by a number of departments and officials in his
administration. The post of Naib was the most powerful one. The Naib practically enjoyed all the powers
of the Sultan and exercised general control over all the departments. Next to him was the Wazir who was
heading the finance department called Diwani Wizarat.
 The military department was called diwan-i-arz and was headed by Arz-i-mamalik. He was
responsible for recruiting, equipping and paying the army. But the commander-in-chief of the army was
Sultan himself. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
 Diwan-i-insha was the department that dealt with all state correspondence-formal and confidential-
between ruler and sovereign of other states, with subordinate officials, etc. Hence statement 2 is correct.
 Barids were intelligence agents who reported to the rulers about the occurrences in the different parts
of the empire. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q 64.B
 The theatre art form that is being described in the above passage is Tamaasha. It is a traditional Marathi
folk theatre art form of Maharashtra.
o It has evolved from the folk forms such as Gondhal, Jagran and Kirtan.
o Unlike other theatre forms, in Tamaasha the female actress is the chief exponent of dance
movements in the play. She is known as Murki.

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o Classical music, footwork at lightning speed, and vivid gestures make it possible to portray all
the emotions through dance.
o It is a women-dominated art form. Women are dressed in traditional saree in bright red or green worn
in Maharashtrian style called 'Kachi', hair tied like a juda with flowers covering it, wearing lots of
bangles and tying ghoongaroos (heavy anklets).
o History reveals that this art form perhaps existed or came to be known during reign of Adil Shahi and
this art from was also known as Tamashagir.
 Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Q 65.C
 Greek and Roman accounts of the first and second century A.D. mention many Indian ports and
enumerate items of trade between India and the Roman empire.
 The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea and Ptolemy's Geography both written in Greek, provide valuable
data for the study of Indian geography and commerce.
 Pliny's Naturalis Historia, which belongs to 1st century A.D., written in Latin tells us about trade
between India and Italy.
 Hence both the statements are correct.

Q 66.B
 Kulhadar Painting
o This miniature painting originated in 16th Century A.D. and is completely indigenous i.e. it has
no tinge of either Persian or Mughal style of painting.
o The style of these miniatures is marked by the use of brilliant contrasting colours, vigorous and
angular drawing, transparent drapery and the appearance of conical caps 'Kulha' on which turbans are
worn by the male figures.
o This group of painting includes illustrations of the 'Chaurapanchasika' – ‗Fifty Verses of the Thief
by Bilhan, the Gita Govinda, the Bhagavata Purana and Ragamala.
o An example of the Chaurapanchasika miniature shows Champavati standing near a lotus pond.
 Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Q 67.C
 Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar (IIT Ropar) in Punjab has developed a first-of-its-kind IoT
device – AmbiTag that records real-time ambient temperature during the transportation of perishable
products, vaccines, and even body organs and blood. That recorded temperature further helps to know
whether that particular item transported from anywhere in the world is still usable or perished because of
temperature variation. This information is particularly critical for vaccines including the Covid-19
vaccine, organs, and blood transportation.
 Shaped like a USB device, AmbiTag continuously records the temperature of its immediate surroundings
from -40 to +80 degrees in any time zone for a full 90 days on a single charge. Most of the similar devices
available in the international market record data only for a duration of 30- 60 days.
 The device has been developed under Technology Innovation Hub – AWaDH (Agriculture and Water
Technology Development Hub) and its Startup ScratchNest. AWaDH is a Govt of India project. Besides
perishable items including vegetables, meat, and dairy products it can also monitor the temperature of
animal semen during transit. AmbiTAG is India's first indigenous temperature data logger for cold
chain management.
 Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

Q 68.D
 By the twelfth century A.D., Buddhism practically extinct in India. It continued to exist in a changed form
in Bengal and Bihar till the twelfth century, but after that, this religion almost completed vanished from
the country. what were its causes? We find that in the beginning every religion is inspired by the spirit of
reform, but eventually, it succumbs to rituals and ceremonies it originally denounced. Buddhism
underwent a similar metamorphosis. It became a victim to the evil of Brahmanism against which it had
fought in the beginning. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 To meet the Buddhist challenge the brahmans reformed their religion. They stressed the need for
preserving the cattle wealth and assured women and Sudras of admission to heaven Buddhism, on the
other hand, changed for the worse. Gradually the Buddhist monks were cut off from the mainstream of
people's life; they gave up Pali, the language of the people, and took to Sanskrit, the language of
intellectuals. Hence statement 2 is correct.
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 From the first century A.D., they practiced idol worshipped on a large scale received numerous offerings
from devotees. The rich offerings supplemented by generous royal grants to the Buddhist monasteries
made the life of monks easy. Some of the monasteries such as Nalanda collected revenue from as many as
200 villages. By the seventh century A.D., the Buddhist monasteries had come to be dominated by ease-
loving people and became centers of corrupt practices which Gautama Buddha had strictly prohibited. The
new form of Buddhism was known as Vajrayana. The enormous wealth of the monasteries with women
living in them led to further degeneration. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q 69.A
 Archaeologists have discovered thousands of seals, mostly made of steatite, and occasionally of agate,
chert, copper, faience, and terracotta, with beautiful figures of animals, such as unicorn bull, rhinoceros,
tiger, elephant, bison, goat, buffalo, etc. Some seals have also been found in ivory. Hence, statements 1
and 2 are correct.
 The realistic rendering of these animals in various moods is remarkable. The purpose of producing seals
was mainly commercial.
 It appears that the seals were also used as amulets, carried on the persons of their owners, perhaps as
modern-day identity cards.
 The standard Harappan seal was a square plaque 2×2 square inches and rectangular made from steatite.
 Every seal is engraved in a pictographic script which is yet to be deciphered. Hence, statement 3 is
correct.

Q 70.B
 Institutionally, the Sufis began to organize communities around the hospice or khanqah(Persian)
controlled by a teaching master known as shaikh (in Arabic), pir, or murshid (in Persian). Hence
pair 3 is correctly matched.
 He enrolled disciples (murids) and appointed a successor (khalifa). He established rules for spiritual
conduct and interaction between inmates as well as between laypersons and the master. Hence pair 2 is
correctly matched.
 When the shaikh died, his tomb shrine (dargah, a Persian term meaning court) became the center of
devotion for his followers. This encouraged the practice of pilgrimage or ziyarat to his grave,
particularly on his death anniversary or urs (marriage, signifying the union of his soul with God). Hence
pair 1 is correctly matched.

Q 71.B
 As warfare during these times depended upon effective cavalry, the import of horses from Arabia and
Central Asia was very important for rival kingdoms. This trade was initially controlled by Arab
traders. Local communities of merchants known as ―Kudirai Chettis‖ or horse merchants also
participated in these exchanges. Hence pair 1 is correctly matched.
 The amara-nayakas were military commanders who were given territories to govern by the raya.
They collected taxes and other dues from peasants, craftspersons, and traders in the area. They retained
part of the revenue for personal use and for maintaining a stipulated contingent of horses and elephants.
These contingents provided the Vijayanagara kings with an effective fighting force with which they
brought the entire southern peninsula under their control. Hence pair 2 is correctly matched.
 The rulers of Vijayanagara called themselves ‗rayas‘. Hence pair 3 is correctly matched.

Q 72.A
 Kornish was a form of ceremonial salutation in which the courtier placed the palm of his right hand
against his forehead and bent his head. It suggested that the subject placed his head – the seat of the
senses and the mind – into the hand of humility, presenting it to the royal assembly.
 Mughal emperors frequently gave awards such as robe of honour (khilat), a garment once worn by
the emperor and imbued with his benediction. One gift, the sarapa (―head to foot‖), consisted of a
tunic, a turban and a sash (patka). Jewelled ornaments like the lotus blossom set with jewels (padma
murassa) were given on special occasions.
 Building plan of architects were called ‗Mimars‘ and sometimes viewed by the emperor himself.
 Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

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Q 73.B
 Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental
organization in the field of migration and is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration
benefits migrants and society. IOM is part of the United Nations system, as a related organization. The
Organization is guided by the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including
upholding human rights for all. Respect for the rights, dignity, and well-being of migrants remains
paramount.
 The International Organization for Migration‘s (IOM) flagship publication " World Migration
Report" has launched a dynamic new webpage that connects fact-based narratives on migration with
interactive data visualizations on some of the latest global migration data and information. It is the first
microsite of its kind since the World Migration Report (WMR) series began more than two decades
ago. Hence option (b) is the correct answer

Q 74.D
 In the field of mathematics, Indians made distinct contributions:
o The notational/numeral system - The Indian notational system was adopted by the Arabs who
spread it in the western world. The Indian numerals were called Arabic in English, but the Arabs
themselves called their numerals as hindsa. We cannot establish that Indians were the first ones to use
humeral system.
o The decimal system - The Indians were the first to use the decimal system. The earliest epigraphic
evidence of the use of decimal system could be traced to the beginning of 5th C A.D. Aryabhatta was
acquainted with it
o The great mathematician and astronomer of the Gupta period, Aryabhatta, is credited with: discovery
of earth‘s rotation on its axis; discovery of the cause of eclipses; approximation for the value of pie
(π).
 Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 75.D
All three terms are related to land revenue system during the Mughal empire.
 In 1580, Akbar instituted a new land revenue system called dahsala. Under this system, the average
produce of different crops as well as average prices prevailing over the last ten (dah) years were
calculated. One-third of the average share was state's share.
 Akbar also followed the old batai or ghalla-bakshi system. In this system, the produce was divided
between peasants and the state in a fixed proportion. The crop was divided after it has been thrashed, or
when it has been cut and tied in stacks, or while it was standing in the field.
 A third system used under Akbar's reign was nasaq. It meant a rough calculation of the amount payable
by the peasant on the basis of what he has been paying in the past.
 Dagh system, by Allauddin Khilji, was used for branding of horse with imperial marks.

Q 76.B
 King Asoka, the third ruler of the Indian Mauryan dynasty, has come to be regarded as one of the most
exemplary rulers in Indian history.
 In 1837, James Prinsep succeeded in deciphering an ancient inscription on a large stone pillar
in Delhi belonging to Ashokan rule. Several other pillars and rock edicts (major and minor) with similar
inscriptions had been found scattered in more than thirty places throughout India, Nepal, Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
 There are about 14 major rock edicts providing information about Ashokan policy and his dhamma.
These 14 major Rock edicts are found in ancient sites of Kandahar (Kandhar), Manshera,
Shahbazgarhi, Kalsi, Girnar, Sopara, Sannati, Jaugada, Shishupalgarh, etc.
 The Meerut pillar (not rock edict) is now situated in Delhi. It was shifted from Meerut to Delhi by Feruz
Shah and erected at a location in the northern ridge of Delhi.
 Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

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Q 77.B
 Western Ganga Dynasty:
o The Ganga dynasty came into being in about 340 A.D. and they continued to rule the southern part of
Karnataka, till about 1025 A.D. The Gangas were another important contemporary of the
Pallavas.
o They set up their rule in southern Karnataka around the fourth century. Their kingdom lay between
that of the Pallavas in the east and of the Kadambas in the west. They are called Western Gangas or
Gangas of Mysore in order to demarcate them from the Eastern Gangas who ruled in the
Kalinga from the fifth century onwards. For most of the time, the Western Gangas were the
feudatories of the Pallavas. Hence statement 2 is correct.
o Their earliest capital was located at Kolar, which may have helped the rise of this dynasty because
of its gold mines.
o The Western Gangas made land grants mostly to the Jainas; the Kadambas also made grants to the
Jainas, but they favored the Brahmanas more. Pallavas also granted numerous villages free of taxes
largely to the Brahmanas. Hence statement 3 is correct.
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o NOTE :
 Satavahanas: After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, the history of the Andhras, as a continuous
account of political and cultural events, commences with the rise of the Satavahanas as a political
power. According to Matsya Purana, there were 29 rulers of this dynasty. They ruled over the
Andhradesa including Deccan for about 400 years from the 2nd century B.C. to beyond the
2nd century A.D. Satavahanas were also called Salivahanas and Satakarnis. In the 3rd
century B.C., Simukha, the founder of the Satavahana dynasty, unified the various Andhra
principalities into one kingdom and became its ruler (271 B.C. – 248 B.C.). Dharanikota near
Amaravati in Guntur district was the first capital of Simukha, but later he shifted his capital to
Pratishtana (Paithan in Aurangabad district). Thus the Satavahanas were not the
contemporaries of the Western Gangas. Hence statement 1 is not correct.

Q 78.D
 Kings in the post-Mauryan period frequently tried to fill their coffers by demanding high taxes, and
peasants particularly found such demands oppressive.
 Escaping into the forest remained an option, as reflected in the Jataka story. Meanwhile, other strategies
aimed at increasing production to meet the growing demand for taxes also came to be adopted.
 One such strategy was the shift to plough agriculture, which spread in fertile alluvial river valleys such
as those of the Ganga and the Kaveri from c. sixth century BCE. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 While the iron ploughshare led to a growth in agricultural productivity, its use was restricted to certain
parts of the subcontinent – cultivators in areas that were semi-arid, such as parts of Punjab and
Rajasthan did not adopt it till the twentieth century.
 Moreover, in some parts of the Ganga valley, the production of paddy was dramatically increased by
the introduction of transplantation. Hence statement 2 is correct.
 Another strategy adopted to increase agricultural production was the use of irrigation, through wells and
tanks, and less commonly, canals. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q 79.B
 Guru Nanak (1469-1539) was born in a Hindu merchant family in a village called Nankana Sahib near the
river Ravi in the predominantly Muslim Punjab.
 The message of Guru Nanak is spelled out in his hymns and teachings. These suggest that he
advocated a form of nirguna bhakti. For Baba Guru Nanak, the Absolute or ―rab‖ had no gender or
form. He proposed a simple way to connect to the Divine by remembering and repeating the Divine
Name, expressing his ideas through hymns called ―shabad ‖ in Punjabi. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 He firmly repudiated the external practices of the religions he saw around him. He rejected sacrifices,
ritual baths, image worship, austerities and the scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims. Hence
statement 2 is correct.
 Guru Nanak was a contemporary of rulers like Bahlol Lodhi, Sikander Lodhi, Ibrahim Lodhi, Babur
and Humayun – first three were Sultanate rulers and the latter two were Mughal emperors. Hence
statement 3 is correct.

Q 80.B
 The Gupta Empire existed from the mid-to-late 3rd century CE to 543 CE.
 The ruling dynasty of the empire was founded by the king Sri Gupta; the most notable rulers of the
dynasty were Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, and Chandragupta II alias Vikramaditya.
 This period is considered the Golden Age of India by historians for the development of science,
astronomy, architecture, literature etc.
 Literature of Gupta Period:
o The literature was produced in prose, poetry, drama, and grammar.
o Kalidas composed the finest works such as Meghaduta, Raghuvamsa, Kumarasambhava,
Abhijnashakuntalam, Vikramorvasiyam, Malavikagnimitram, Ritusamhara.
 Meghaduta means a messenger of Clouds. It‘s a poem woven around a Yaksha, who is subject of
Lord Kubera. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched.
 Abhijnashakuntalam is a sanskrit play which depicts the story of Dushyanta, king of Hastinapur,
and Shakuntala, daughter of the sage Vishwamitra and the apsara Menaka. Hence, pair 2 is
correctly matched.
o Mrichchakatika, written by Sudraka, is a play about the love of a Brahman with the beautiful daughter
of a courtesan.

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o Vishakhadatta had written two plays, namely Mudrarakshasa (it narrates the ascent of Chandragupta
Maurya to throne) and Devichandraguptam.
o Dandin had written Kavyadarshana and Dasakumarcharita (The Tale of the Ten Princes).
o Uttararama-charita and Malati-Madhava were written by Bhavabhuti.
o Panchatantra was written by Vishnu Sharma. It has been translated into Persian, Arabic and many
European languages. The popular work Hitopadesa is based on the Panchatantra.
o Harshacharita is the biography of Harsha written by Banabhatta.
o Bhāravi is best known for Kiratarjuniya, written around 550 CE. Kirat is Shiva who speaks to arjuna
in for form of a mountain dwelling hunter.
o The compilation of the Amarakosha by Amarasimha is memorable work of this period. He was one
of the Navaratnas ("nine gems") at the court of Vikramaditya. It is a vocabulary of Sanskrit roots, in
three books, and hence sometimes called Trikanda or the "Tripartite". It is also known as
"Namalinganushasana". Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.
o ‗Prakritaprakasha‘ written by Vararuchi and ‗Prakritalakshana‘ written by Chanda are the well-known
grammar works on Prakrit and Pali language.
Q 81.B
 The term Puranaruru refers to one of the anthologies of poems of the Tamil Sangam literature.
o Puranaruru contains 400 poems of varying lengths. It is composed of more than 150 poets.
o Puranaruru is an important source of information on the political and social history of pre-historic
Tamil Nadu as it is mainly concerned with life outside family - kings, wars, greatness, generosity,
ethics, and philosophy.
o It is traditionally called the last of the Eight Anthologies (Ettuthokai) in Sangam literature.
o The Purananuru poems use words, phrases, and metaphors that suggest the ancient Tamil society
interacted with other parts of the Indian subcontinent.
 Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Q 82.A
 El Salvador passed a new law recently that would make the small Central American country
the world‘s first to deem bitcoin legal tender, a move that analysts say risks putting its economy at the
mercy of the digital currency‘s sharp swings. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
 The designation allows bitcoin, the world‘s largest cryptocurrency by market value, to be used to buy
goods and pay taxes and bank loans. Businesses would be required to accept bitcoin for payment, with the
bitcoin-dollar exchange rate set by the market. Hence statement 1 is correct
 Bitcoin (₿) is a decentralized digital currency, without a central bank or single administrator, that can be
sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for intermediaries.
Transactions are verified by network nodes through cryptography and recorded in a public distributed
ledger called a blockchain.

Q 83.C
 The Battle of Tarain (1191-1192)
o The Hindu princes of north India formed a confederacy under the command of Prithiviraj
Chauhan defeated Ghori in the battle of Tarain near Delhi in 1191 A.D.
o The second battle of Tarain was a decisive battle. In the ensuing Second Battle of Tarain in 1192,
Muhammad Ghori thoroughly routed the army of Prithiviraj.
o The first Muslim kingdom was thus firmly established in India at Ajmer and a new era in the history
of India began. After his brilliant victory over Prithiviraj at Tarain, Muhammad Ghori returned to
Ghazni leaving behind his favorite general Qutbuddin Aibak to make further conquests in India.
o The Battle of Tarain and Chandawar contributed to the establishment of Turkish rule in India.
o Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

Q 84.D
 The later phase of Mughal politics i.e. after the death of Aurangzeb in 1707 saw the rise of powerful
nobles who played the role of 'King makers'. Wars of succession were fought even in the heydays of the
Mughal Empire but then the royal princes were the principal contestants supported by powerful
mansabdars.
 The Sayyid Brothers, Abdullah Khan and Hussain Khan became highly influential in the Mughal
Court after Aurangzeb's death and became king makers during the anarchy following the death of
emperor Aurangzeb in 1707. They created and dethroned Mughal Emperors at their will during the
1710s. Hence options 1 and 2 are correct.
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 Aurangzeb's son Bahadur Shah I defeated his brothers to capture the throne with the help of
Sayyid Brothers and Chin Quilich Khan (Nizam-ul-Mulk), another influential administrator in the
Mughal court.
 Bahadur Shah I died in 1712, and his successor Jahandar Shah was assassinated on the orders of the
Sayyid Brothers.
 In 1713, Jahandar's nephew Farrukhsiyar (1713–1719) became the emperor with the Sayyid brothers'
help. His reign marked the ascendancy of the brothers, who monopolised state power and reduced the
Emperor to a figurehead. The brothers conspired to send Nizam-ul-Mulk to Deccan, away from the
Mughal Court, to reduce his influence. In 1719, the Brothers blinded, deposed and murdered Farrukhsiyar.
 The most important movement for the spread of modern education and social reform among Muslims
was started by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898). He joined the services of the East India Company as
a judicial officer and remained loyal to them during the revolt of 1857, whereas the British rulers regarded
the Muslims as their ‗real enemies and most dangerous rivals‘ and followed a policy of discrimination
against them. In 1864, he founded the Translation Society which was later renamed ‘The Scientific
Society’. The society was located at Aligarh. It published Urdu translations of English books on science
and other subjects, and an English-Urdu journal for spreading liberal ideas on social reforms. He
advocated the removal of many social prejudices that kept the community backward.
His greatest achievement was the establishment of the Mohammedan Anglo Oriental College(Also
known as Aligarh Muslim University) at Aligarh in 1875. In course of time, this college became the
most important educational institution of Indian Muslims. It provided for education in humanities and
science throughout English medium and many of its staff members came from England. The college
received support from leading Muslims throughout India and the British showed much interest, both
officially and otherwise in its development. Hence option 3 is not correct.
Q 85.A
 Ibn Battuta was born in Tangier into one of the most respectable and educated families known for
their expertise in Islamic religious law or shari‗a. True to the tradition of his family, Ibn Battuta
received literary and scholastic education when he was quite young.
 Ibn Battuta‘s book of travels, called Rihla, written in Arabic, provides extremely rich and interesting
details about the social and cultural life in the subcontinent in the fourteenth century.
 Traveling overland through Central Asia, Ibn Battuta reached Sind in 1333. He had heard about
Muhammad bin Tughlaq, the Sultan of Delhi, and lured by his reputation as a generous patron of arts
and letters, set off for Delhi, passing through Multan and Uch. The Sultan was impressed by his
scholarship, and appointed him the qazi or judge of Delhi.
 He traveled extensively in China, going as far as Beijing, but did not stay for long, deciding to return
home in 1347. His account is often compared with that of Marco Polo, who visited China (and also
India). Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

Q 86.D
 Music is an important component of the performing arts like dance and drama, and of rituals. Each
community has its own style of music and tradition of songs.
 There are essentially two ways to make music: with the human voice and with an instrument.
 The musical instruments are classified on the basis of the scientific principle used to create the
sound they make.
 Percussion instruments are struck to produce sound. Often these are used to produce the taal or beat and
do not produce all the musical notes. Some of the famous percussion instruments are:
o Chikka is an instrument unique to Punjab. Similar to the cane snake available in many parts of the
country, the chikha is made up of 14 wooden sticks joint together as a lattice.
o Chimta has small metal discs loosely attached to it which strike against each other when the arms of
the chimta are struck.
o Mashak is made of leather bag and is usually played by the Dholis of Rajasthan as an
accompaniment to popular folk melodies.
o Kirla is a stick with a carved squirrel or fish at the top. A cord fixed to the top jerks the galad up
with a sharp click, while bells fixed to the bottom of the kirla jingle.
o Khadtaal is made of two similar pieces of wood with brass fittings. One piece of it has space for a
thumb, the other for four fingers, these are struck together to produce a simple percussive beat.
o Manjeeras are a pair of flat metallic disks that are beaten together to produce a rhythmic metallic
sound. Hence options 1, 2, and 3 are correct.
 Been and veena are reed wind instruments. Been is made out of a kaddu (gourd), that has been dried and
hollowed out. Hence options 4 and 5 are not correct
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Q 87.B
 The reign of Chandragupta II saw the high watermark of the Gupta empire. He extended the limits of
the empire by marriage alliance and conquests.
 Chandragupta exercised indirect control over the Vakataka kingdom in central India. Chandragupta II
conquered western Malwa and Gujarat, which gave Chandragupta the western sea coast famous for trade
and commerce.
 Chandragupta II adopted the title of Vikramaditya. The court of Chandragupta II was adorned by
numerous scholars including Kalidasa and Amarasimha.
 It was in Chandragupta's time that the Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hsien (399-414) visited India and wrote an
elaborate account of the life of its people.
 Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q 88.B
 When Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, returned from his exile, he brought along with him
two eminent Persian artists – Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd al-Samad. Based on Humayun‘s instructions,
these Persian artists created many famous paintings, including the ‗Khamsa of Nizami.
o These paintings deviated from the traditional style of Persian art and hence a new style of the art
form called ‗Mughal Painting‘ was born. Mughal paintings were further developed by subsequent
Mughal emperors.
 Akbar
o He established an entire department devoted to paintings and scribing of his documents. He also
established a formal artistic studio, Tasvir Khana where artists were hired on salary to develop their
own styles. Hence option (b) is the correct answer.
o He had employed more than a hundred painters from different parts of the country and lavishly
conferred honors on works of great excellence. He had a special admiration for the work of Hindu
artists, notably Daswanth and Basawan.
o Several noteworthy works were completed during Akbar's period, which includes the illustrated
stories of Hamza nama; illustrated Mahabharata called Razm-Nama and the illustrated
Ramayana and Timur nama, Babur nama, and Akbar-Nama.
 Jahangir
o During Jahangir‘s time, the art of painting reached its climax. He was a naturalist and preferred
the paintings of flora and fauna. He was himself a good artist and had his own private workshop
although no major work by him survives.
o Jahangir promoted calligraphy which was considered to be the foremost artist in the Islamic world.
Portrait painting also came into vogue during this period.
o Mansur, Abdul Hasan, and Bishandas were the great painters in the court of Jahangir. Jahangir has
bestowed the title of Nadir-ulAsr on Mansur. During this period, the influence of Western/European
painting on the Mughal painters became more pronounced.
 Shahjahan
o Painting achieved a new delicacy and romantic flavor during the reign of Shah Jahan. Love, romance,
portraits, and durban scenes became the common themes.
o The artists portrayed the romances of Laila-Majnu, Shirin-Farhad, Kamrup- Kamlata, and Baz
Bahadur-Rupmati.
o The chief artists of Shah Jahan's period were Muhammad Faqirullah Khan, Mir Hashim,
Muhammad Nadir, Bichitr, Chitarman, Anupchchatar, Manohar, and Honhar.
 Aurangzeb
o Aurangazeb's indifference to painting compelled mainly a great artist to shift their bases to other
kingdoms in Punjab, Rajasthan, and other parts of the country, precipitating a decline in the
Mughal painting.
 Other Mughal emperors
o Bahadur Shah, I (1707-1712 AD) tried to restore the court patronage of painting. The magnificent
work of painting, Shahjahan-nama, was produced during his period.
o Farruksiyar (1713- 1718 AD) continued the royal patronage of painting and so did Muhammad Shah
Rangila (1719-1748 AD). With the invasion of Nadir Shah in 1739 AD, the en masse exodus of
artists from Delhi began and the Mughal painting gradually went into oblivion.
Q 89.B
 Koodiyaattam is one of the oldest traditional theatre forms of Kerala. Evidence shows that this dance form
was in vogue in all major temples from the ninth century, and it became a full-fledged dramatic
presentation before the fifteenth century.
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 Koodiyaattam is Kerala‘s distinctive stage interpretation of the very early Sanskrit drama as dance
drama. It is thus based on Sanskrit theatre traditions. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
 The word Koodiyaattam literally means "acting together".
 The characters of this theatre form are Chakyaar or actor, Naambiyaar, the instrumentalists, and
Naangyaar, those taking on women's roles.
 The Sutradhar or narrator and the Vidushak or jesters are the protagonists. It is the Vidushak alone who
delivers the dialogues.
 A typical Koodiyattam performance involves elaborate and lengthy acting sequences using hand
gestures and distinctive modes of acting like Ilakiyaattom, Pakarnnaatttom, and Irunnaattom.
 Emphasis is laid on hand gestures and eye movements which makes this theatre form unique.
Hence, statement 2 is correct.
 It is usually performed only in temple theatres known as Koothambalam by members of the Chakyar and
Nambiar castes till the first half of the 20th century. Only through rigorous training lasting many years,
one can aspire to master the craft of Kutiyattam.
 Recently UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) honoured
Koodiyattam by declaring the art form as one among the "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible
Heritage of Humanity", which should be protected and preserved.

Q 90.B
 Navroz is the Iranian New Year, which is widely known as the Persian New Year is celebrated
worldwide.
 The festival is celebrated on the first of Farvardin - Zoroastrian calendar‘s first month and the onset of
spring.
 Listed in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of India, the festival is also known as
Nowrouz, Navruz, Nauroz, Novruz, Nevruz, and Nooruz.
 The festival commences at the vernal equinox stroke, the time when the sun passes through the equator.
Although the date of Navroz Festival falls in March worldwide, India celebrates it in August as well.
 The second date of Navroz Festival is calculated according to the Shahen Shahi calendar, which is 17th
August. It is celebrated in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan,
Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
 In India, it is mostly celebrated in Gujarat and Maharashtra.The tradition began some 3000 years ago and
is baptized after the Persian King, Jamshed who introduced the Parsi calendar. Thus, the name - Jamshed-
i-Nouroz.
 All over the world, the Parsi community and various sects of Muslims (Sunni and Shia, both) celebrate
Navroz.
 The Mughal kings celebrated three major festivals a year: the solar and lunar birthdays of the monarch
and Nauroz.
 Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Q 91.D
 The Brahmi script is the earliest writing system developed in India after the Indus script.
o Most scripts used to write modern Indian Languages are derived from Brahmi, the script used in most
Ashokan Inscriptions.
 The Harappan inscriptions await decipherment, seem to have been written in a pictographic script
in which ideas and objects were expressed in the form of pictures.
o James Prinsep deciphered the Ashokan Brahmi in 1838. Hence statement 2 is correct.
o Brahmi scripts prevailed in the whole country except for the north-western part. Greek and Aramaic
scripts were employed in writing Ashokan Inscriptions in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
o Brahmi continued to be the main script till the end of the Gupta period. Hence statement 3 is
correct.
o Brahmi was written from left to right.
 The Kharosthi script (also known as 'Indo-Bactrian' script) was a writing system originally
developed in present-day northern Pakistan, sometime between the 4th and 3rd century BCE.
o It was employed to represent a form of Prakrit, an Indo-Aryan language.
o It was written from right to left. Hence statement 1 is correct.

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Q 92.A
 Recently, Scientists at CSIR-NCL Pune, with support from the Water Technology Initiative of the
Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has developed the novel hybrid
technology called SWASTIIK‘ that involves boiling of a liquid as a result of pressure reduction
(cavitation) and also uses natural oils having antimicrobial properties. This technology can eliminate
harmful bacteria, including antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, economically. It not only integrates Indian
traditional knowledge of Ayurveda for complete disinfection of water but also may offer possible
health benefits of natural oils.
 The technique used; hydrodynamic cavitation combines chemistry, biology, and chemical engineering
along with natural resources in the form of natural oils and plant extracts. The process, which draws
inspiration from Indian traditional knowledge, has resulted in increased efficiency and reduced cost of
water treatment. The team achieved complete elimination for gram-negative E. coli and gram-positive S.
aureus bacteria and even AMR bacteria/ difficult opportunistic pathogenic bacteria typically in 5-10
minutes. It was observed that increased rates of disinfection using oil can drastically reduce the time of
operation and consequently reduce cost as compared to other advanced treatment processes.
 Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

Q 93.A
 Harappan civilization is one of the most ancient civilizations of the world. It was believed to be a hub of
art and culture and architecture. The discoveries made at these architectural sights give us great insight
into their lives and lifestyles.
 A typical Harappan city was divided into two sections, each fortified separately.
o Citadel: It was located on an artificially raised mound (sometimes called acropolis). It housed the
important buildings of the city, like the assembly halls, religious structures, granaries and in the great
bath in case of Mohenjo-Daro.
o Lower Town: The lower section of the city was where the housing for the inhabitants was located. it
was well connected with broad roads about 30 meters long which met at right angles. The houses
were located in the rectangular squares thus formed.
 Salient Features of Indus Valley Town Planning which were commonly found in most of the large
and small cities.
 City Walls
o Each city was surrounded by massive walls and gateways. It was built to control trade and also to stop
the flooding of city.
o Each part of the city was made up of walled sections. Each section included different buildings such
as: Public buildings, houses, markets, craft workshops, etc.
 Grid Pattern: Hence option 2 is correct.
o Most of the settlements were laid out on a grid pattern where roads were laid down at right angles.
o Streets were oriented east to west.
 Drainage system: Hence option 1 is correct.
o It was carefully planned with drains laid out first and then houses built along them.
o If domestic wastewater had to flow into the street drains, every house needed to have at least one wall
along a street.
o Drains were covered at most of the places highlighting the hygiene etiquettes of Harappa people.
 Residential Buildings
o They were mainly made up of brick and consisted of an open terrace flanked by rooms. Hence
option 3 is correct.
o Standardized baked bricks, as well as sun-dried bricks, were used.
o Some houses even had multiple stories and paved floors.
o Most of the houses had their own wells, drains and bathrooms.
 Some of the architectural features unique to Large cities like Harappa and Mohenjodaro
 Granaries
o It is the largest building used to store grains. It reflects a highly developed agricultural system.
o It was well ventilated and it was possible to fill grain in from outside.
o Great Granary was found at Mohen-jo Daro, while six small granaries were found at Harappa.
 Great Bath: Hence option 4 is not correct.
o The Great Bath is part of a large citadel complex that was found in the 1920s during excavations of
Mohenjo-daro, one of the main centres of the Indus civilization.
o It was probably used for religious or ritualistic purposes.
o It was connected to an elaborate water supply and sewer system.
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Q 94.D
 Neolithic Age, which means New Stone Age, was the last and third part of the Stone Age.
 The Neolithic Age saw a man turning into a food producer from a food gatherer. It also witnessed the use
of pottery for the first time. People used microlithic blades in addition to tools made of polished stone.
The use of metal was unknown. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
 The Neolithic settlers were the earliest farming communities. They broke the ground with stone hoes and
digging sticks at the end of which ring stones weighing one to half a kilogram were fixed. The people of
the Neolithic Age cultivated ragi, horse gram, cotton, rice, wheat, and barley and hence were termed as
food producers. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
 They led a settled life. The people of the Neolithic Age lived in rectangular or circular houses which were
made of mud and reed. The people of Mehrgarh lived in mud-brick houses while pit-dwelling is reported
from Burzahom, the Neolithic site found in Kashmir.
 They domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats. For example, the Neolithic settlers in Piklihal were cattle-
herders. They set up seasonal camps surrounded by Cowpens made with posts and stakes. In these
enclosures, they accumulated dung. Then the entire camping ground was put to fire and cleared for
camping the next session. But it is interesting that in Burzahom, domestic dogs were buried with their
masters in their graves. Hence, statement 3 correct.

Q 95.B
 The CEO Water Mandate is a UN Global Compact initiative to demonstrate the commitment and
efforts of companies to better their water and sanitation agendas as part of long-term Sustainable
Development Goals. The CEO Water Mandate is designed to assist companies in the development,
implementation, and disclosure of comprehensive water strategies and policies. It also provides a platform
for companies to partner with like-minded businesses, UN agencies, public authorities, civil society
organizations, and other key stakeholders. Hence option (b) is the correct answer.
 The CEO Water Mandate is a unique public-private initiative that mobilizes business leaders for water
stewardship. Established by the UN Global Compact in 2007, the Mandate was created out of the
acknowledgment that global water challenges create risk for a wide range of industry sectors, the public
sector, local communities, and ecosystems alike. The CEO Water Mandate is rooted in the belief that
cross-sectoral collaboration on shared water goals is the most effective path to more sustainable water
management and that the private sector can be a critical partner in this effort.
 Recently NTPC Ltd, India‘s largest power utility Under the Ministry of Power has become a
signatory to the prestigious UN Global Compact‘s CEO Water Mandate. With NTPC joining the
coveted league of companies that focus on efficient water management, it's Chairman and Managing
Director Shri Gurdeep Singh has joined a select group of business leaders who recognize the ever-
growing importance of water stewardship and have been working to conserve this precious natural
resource. NTPC Ltd has joined a list of businesses that have already committed to the CEO WATER
MANDATE such as Hindustan Zinc Ltd, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited
(APSEZ), etc.
 The UN Global Compact has and will continue to de-list endorsing companies if they fail to fulfill their
UN Global Compact obligations or meet the Mandate‘s annual Communication on Progress — Water
reporting requirements. Pursuant to the Transparency Policy of the CEO Water Mandate the Secretariat
shall decide on companies deemed to be ―non-communicating‖ or those that should be de-listed.
 Endorsers of the CEO Water Mandate must be lawfully established business enterprises, either
public or private, committed to implementing the Mandate elements.

Q 96.D
 The decline of the Gupta empire resulted in the emergence of numerous ruling dynasties in different parts
of northern India. The prominent among them were the Pushyabhutis of Thanesar, Maukharies of
Kanauj, and the Maitrakas of Valabhi.
 Maitrakas
o The Maitrakas were tributary chiefs of the Guptas, who established an independent kingdom in
western India. Dhruvasena II was the most important ruler of the Maitrakas. He was a contemporary
of Harshavardhana. Ruling over Saurashtra in Gujarat, the Maitrakas developed Valabhi as their
capital. This city became an important center of learning.
 Maukharies
o The Maukharies ruled over Kanauj, a city in western Uttar Pradesh, which gradually replaced
Pataliputra as a political center of north India. Maukharies were also the subordinate rulers of the
Guptas and used the title of samanta.
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 Pushyabhutis
o An important ruling family to gain prominence after the fall of the Gupta was that of
the Pushyabhutis who had their capital at Thanesar (Thanesvara in Kurukshetra). The dynasty
became influential with the accession of Prabhakarvardhana, who was able to defeat the Hunas and
strengthen his position in the regions of Punjab and Haryana
 Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 97.D
 Vijayanagara empire was founded in 1336 and Vijayanagara literally mean ‗city of victory‘, which
attracted a number of international travellers such as the Italian, Niccolo di Conti, the Portuguese
Domingo Paes, Fernao Nuniz and Duarte Barbosa and the Afghan Abd al-Razzaq, who have left
vivid accounts of the city. In addition, various Sanskrit and Telugu works document the vibrant literary
tradition of this kingdom. Architecturally, Vijayanagara synthesises the centuries-old dravida temple
architecture with Islamic styles demonstrated by the neighbouring sultanates.
 Megasthenes, (born c. 350 bc—died c. 290), ancient Greek historian and diplomat, author of an account
of India, the Indica, in four books. An Ionian, he was sent by the Hellenistic king Seleucus I on embassies
to the Mauryan emperor Chandragupta maurya. Hence option (d) is answer.

Q 98.B
 The Partiharas:
o The Pratiharas are also called Gurjara- Pratiharas probably because they originated from Gurjarata
or south-western Rajasthan. They were, at first probably local officials but were able to carve out a
series of principalities in central and eastern Rajasthan. The real founder of the Pratihara
empire and the greatest ruler of the dynasty was Bhoja. He rebuilt the empire and by about 863 he
had recovered Kanauj which remained the capital of the empire for almost a century.
o Between 915 and 918, the Rashtrakuta king Indra III attacked Kanauj and devastated the
city. This weakened the Pratihara empire, and Gujarat probably passed into the hands of the
Rashtrakutas, for al-Masudi tells us that the Pratihara empire had no access to the sea.
o Another Rashtrakutas ruler, Krishna III (939 – 967 AD), invaded North India in about
963 and defeated the Pratihara ruler. This was followed by the rapid dissolution of the Pratihara
empire. Krishna III was the last great warrior and capable ruler of the Rashtrakuta Dynasty of
Manyakheta. He was a wise manager and adroit military campaigner. He pursued numerous wars to
bring back the wonderfulness of the Rashtrakutas and assumed an essential part in revamping the
Rashtrakuta realm. At his top, he ruled an inconceivable realm extending from the Narmada stream in
the north to the Kaveri waterway delta in the south.
o Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Q 99.B
 The administrative machinery of the Aryans in the Rig Vedic period worked with the tribal chief in the
center, because of his successful leadership in war. He was called Rajan. It seems that in the Rig Vedic
period the king‘s post had become hereditary. However, the Rajan was a kind of chief and he did not
exercise unlimited power, for he had to reckon with the tribal assembly called the Samiti. Hence,
statement 1 is not correct.
 There were various tribal assemblies such as sabha, Samiti, vidatha, and gana are mentioned in the Rig
Veda. They exercised deliberative, military, and religious functions. Even women attended sabha and
vidatha in Rig Vedic times. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
 But the two most important assemblies were the sabha and the Samiti. These two were so important that
the chiefs or the kings showed eagerness to win their support.
 In the day-to-day administration, the king was assisted by a few functionaries. The most important
functionary seems to have been the purohita. The two priests who played a major part in the time of Rig
Veda are Vasishtha and Vishvamitra. Vishvamitra composed the Gayatri mantra to widen the Aryan
world. The priests inspired the tribal chiefs to action and lauded their exploits in return for handsome
rewards in cows and women slaves. The next important functionary seems to be the senani, who used
spears, axes, swords, etc. We do not come across any off officer concerned with the collection of
taxes. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

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Q 100.A
 The sixth century BCE is often regarded as a major turning point in early Indian history. It is an era
associated with early states, cities, the growing use of iron, the development of coinage, etc.
 It also witnessed the growth of diverse systems of thought, including Buddhism and Jainism. Early
Buddhist and Jaina texts mention, amongst other things, sixteen states known as mahajanapadas.
 Although the lists vary, some names such as Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara, and
Avanti occur frequently. Clearly, these were amongst the most important mahajanapadas. While most
mahajanapadas were ruled by kings, some, known as ganas or sanghas, were oligarchies, where power
was shared by a number of men, often collectively called rajas. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
 Both Mahavira and the Buddha belonged to such ganas. In some instances, as in the case of the Vajji
sangha, the rajas probably controlled resources such as land collectively. Although their histories are often
difficult to reconstruct due to the lack of sources, some of these states lasted for nearly a thousand years.
 Each mahajanapada had a capital city, which was often fortified. Maintaining these fortified cities as
well as providing for incipient armies and bureaucracies required resources. Brahmanas began composing
Sanskrit texts known as the Dharmasutras. These laid down norms for rulers (as well as for other social
categories), who were ideally expected to be Kshatriyas. Rulers were advised to collect taxes and tribute
from cultivators, traders, and artisans. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
 Raids in neighboring states were recognized as a legitimate means of acquiring wealth. Gradually,
some states acquired standing armies and maintained regular bureaucracies. Others continued to
depend on the militia, recruited, more often than not, from the peasantry. Hence, statement 3 is
correct.

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