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TEST BOOKLET

G.S. PRE. (2025) MINI TEST – 5517

C
Time Allowed: One Hour Maximum Marks: 100

INSTRUCTIONS

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response for each item.

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1. He defeated king Harshavardhan on the 4. In the context of ancient cities/ports, which
banks of Narmada. He patronized several of the following pairs is/are correctly
scholars, including Ravikirtti, who matched?
composed his Aihole inscription. He Cities Famous for
subjugated the Kadamba capital at Banavasi 1. Korkai : Pearl
and compelled the Gangas of Mysore to 2. Puhar : Cotton cloth
acknowledge his suzerainty. 3. Madurai : Ivory making
Which of the following rulers is being Select the correct answer using the code
described in the above passage? given below.
(a) Chandragupta II (a) 3 only
(b) Kharavela (b) 2 only
(c) Pulakeshin II (c) 2 and 3 only
(d) Kirtivarman II (d) 1, 2 and 3

2. Consider the following statements about 5. Consider the following statements regarding
ganas, during the period of Mahajanapadas: the Rig Vedic society:
1. Those Mahajanapadas which were 1. Women attended assemblies and
oligarchies were called ganas. performed rituals of sacrifice.
2. Mahavira and the Buddha belonged to 2. Widow remarriage was strictly
ganas. prohibited.
3. Magadha, the most powerful 3. Child marriage was widely prevalent
mahajanapada, was an oligarchy. during the Rigvedic period.
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 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3

3. Consider the following statements with 6. With reference to the economy of Harappan
respect to Central Asian contacts during the civilization, which of the following
ancient period and their results: statements is/are correct?
1. The King Milinda depicted in Milinda 1. Harrapan economy was characterized as
Panho belongs to the Saka dynasty. a closed economy.
2. The first-ever inscription in chaste 2. The barter system was the medium of
Sanskrit was issued by Kanishka. exchange.
3. Influenced by Buddhism, Kushanas 3. Lothal was one of the significant centers
discontinued the practice of belief in of the bead making industry of Harrapan
divine origin in Kingship. civilization.
Which of the statements given above is/are Select the correct answer using the code
not correct? given below.
(a) 2 only (a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only (b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2 and 3 only
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7. Consider the following statements 10. With reference to the religious practices of
regarding 'Battle of Ten Kings' mentioned in the Indus Valley civilization, consider the
Rigveda: following statements:
1. It was fought on the river Askini
1. One of the major features was the
presently known as Chenab.
worship of the female goddess
2. It led to the victory of Purus and
associated with fertility.
established their supremacy.
Which of the statements given above is /are 2. Several big temple constructions have
correct? been excavated from the ruins of
(a) 1 only Harappa and Mahenjo-daro.
(b) 2 only 3. Animal worship was generally not
(c) Both 1 and 2 practised at the time and emerged later
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
in the Vedic period.
Which of the statements given above is/are
8. Consider the following statements regarding
the Later Vedic Period: correct?
1. The later Vedic communities had (a) 1 only
developed an extensive taxation system. (b) 1 and 3 only
2. The nobles and warriors could not grant (c) 2 and 3 only
land without the consent of the (d) 1 and 2 only
peasantry.
3. In the religious domain, sacrifices during
11. Mauryan state had to maintain a vast
the later Vedic times could be performed
bureaucracy and no other period of ancient
by the kings only.
Which of the statements given above is/are history had so many officers as in Maurya
correct? times. In this context which of the following
(a) 1 and 2 only pairs are correctly matched?
(b) 1 and 3 only Officers Duty
(c) 2 only 1. Rajukas : Administration of
(d) 1, 2 and 3 Justice in the empire
2. Sannidhata : Highest officer in
9. Consider the following statements regarding
charge of the
the state of Indian agriculture in sixth
century BC: assessment of tax
1. In parts of the Ganga valley, the 3. Samaharta : Chief custodian of the
introduction of the transplantation state treasury and store-
technique added to the increase in house
paddy production. 4. Amatyas : Civil servants who look
2. The use of iron-tipped ploughshare led after the day-to-day
to a growth in agricultural productivity
administration
in the entire subcontinent.
Select the correct answer using the code
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? given below.
(a) 1 only (a) 1 and 4 only
(b) 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (c) 4 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
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12. Which of the following reforms were 15. Consider the following statements in the
taken by king Ashoka after the Kalinga war? context of Kushana coins:
1. Steps for the welfare of people in foreign 1. Kanishka was the first to introduce gold
lands. coins in India.
2. Prohibition on the slaughter of animals 2. Kushana's coins bore the images of both
in sacrifices. Buddha and Shiva.
3. Renunciation of policy of conquest and 3. The purity of gold coins of kushana's
aggression. period is lesser than that of Guptas.
Select the correct answer using the code Which of the statements given above is/are
given below. correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only (a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 3 only

13. Which of the following features characterize 16. The spread of Jainism in Karnataka is
the pre-Mauryan (6th century B.C to 4th attributed to him. He renounced all worldly
century B.C) period in north India? pleasures, gave up his throne and became a
1. Punch marked coins monk as per the tradition of Jainism. He
2. Guild system traveled far into the south of India before
3. Paddy transplantation technique settling down in Shravanabelagola and spent
Select the correct answer using the code the last years as a Jaina ascetic.
given below. The above passage best describes which of
(a) 1 and 2 only the following rulers?
(b) 2 and 3 only (a) Samudragupta
(c) 1 and 3 only (b) Ashoka
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (c) Bindusara
(d) Chandragupta Maurya
14. With reference to Mauryan administration,
consider the following statements: 17. Consider the following:
1. King was the only authority to deal with Term Meaning
judicial matters. 1. Gahapati : Master or Head of
2. They developed vast machinery for household
assessment of taxes. 2. Agrahara : Land granted to
3. There existed a well-established Brahmana
espionage system in the Mauryan 3. Gomat : War in Rigvedic period
empire. for cows
Which of the statements given above is/are Which of the pairs given above is/are
correct? correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only (a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only (c) 1 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 2 only
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18. Which of the following observations were 21. Arrange the following Chalcolithic culture
made by Fa-Hien in his account on the from north to south.
Gupta administration? 1. Ahar
1. People enjoyed a large degree of 2. Kayath
personal freedom and there was no state 3. Jorwe
interference in the individual’s life.
Select the correct answer using the code
2. There was an extensive spy system to
given below.
reduce corruption and theft which were
(a) 1-2-3
widely prevalent.
(b) 2-1-3
3. Punishments for disobedience were
severe and capital punishments very (c) 2-3-1
common. (d) 3-2-1
Select the correct answer using the code
given below. 22. Consider the following statements with
(a) 1 only reference to the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty:
(b) 2 and 3 only 1. They were one of the four patrilineal
(c) 1 and 2 only clans of the caste group referred to as
(d) 1 and 3 only Rajputs.
2. Their style of administration was based
19. Which of the following
statements is not correct regarding the on the teachings of Kautilya’s
development of literature during the Gupta Arthashastra.
age? 3. In order to expand their kingdom, the
(a) During this period secular literature Gurjara-Pratihara kingdom was involved
works were produced. in the tripartite struggle for Kanauj.
(b) The primary themes of literature during Which of the statements given above are
this period were poetry and romantic correct?
comedies. (a) 1 and 2 only
(c) Abhijnashakuntalam work of Kalidas (b) 2 and 3 only
was written during this period. (c) 1 and 3 only
(d) No puranic literature developed during
(d) 1, 2 and 3
this period.

20. Consider the following statements with 23. Consider the following statements in the
respect to the social life during the Rig context of Samudragupta's reign :
Vedic period: 1. Vishnusena eulogised the military
1. Child marriage and the practice of Sati expeditions of Samudragupta on a pillar
were widely prevalent during the Rig at Allahabad.
Vedic period. 2. Chinese traveller Fa-hein visited the
2. The sacrifices were performed in court of Samudragupta
temples.
3. Samudragupta adopted the famous title
3. The caste divisions were rigid in the
'Vikramaditya'.
society.
Which of the statements given above is/are
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct ?
correct?
(a) 1 only (a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (c) 1 and 2 only
(d) None (d) None
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24. Consider the following statements in the 27. Consider the following statements about the
context of the rule of Nandas: Harappan script:
1. Alexander invaded North-Western India 1. The Harappan script was mainly
during their reign. alphabetical.
2. Chandragupta Maurya overthrew 2. The script was written from right to left
Dhanananda to establish Mauryan rule. and from left to right in alternate lines.

3. Pliny, a Roman writer estimated the 3. The Harappans produced long and
detailed inscriptions.
army of Nanda dynasty.
Which of the statements given above is/are
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3

28. Arrange the following 'Mahajanapadas' from

25. Consider the following statements with north to south.
respect to Town planning of Harappan cities: 1. Ashmak
1. The houses built in Harappan cities were 2. Kuru
of uniform size representing Harappan 3. Koshal
society's egalitarian character. 4. Chedi
2. The structures of both Great Bath and Select the correct answer using the code
dockyard can be found at Mohenjodaro. given below.
3. The sacrificial constructions were not (a) 3-2-4-1
found in Harappan cities. (b) 2-4-3-1
Which of the statements given above is/are (c) 2-3-4-1

correct? (d) 4-2-3-1

(a) 1 only
29. Consider the following statements regarding
(b) 2 and 3 only
Harsha:
(c) 1 and 3 only
1. Administration at the time of Harsha
(d) None
was well centralized and law order was
well maintained as it was during the
26. Of the second Sangam, it is the only
Maurya administration.
surviving work. It is a work on Tamil
2. He convened an assembly at Kannauj to
grammar but it also provides information on widely publicize the theravada form of
the political and socio-economic conditions Buddhism.
of the Sangam period. Which work is being Which of the statements given above
described in the above-given paragraph? is/are correct?
(a) Ettutogai (a) 1 only
(b) Tolkappiyam (b) 2 only
(c) Pathinenkilkanakku (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Silappathikaram (d) Neither 1 nor 2
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30. Consider the following pairs: 33. Which of the following statements regarding
Indus Valley sites Location the Gupta period is not correct?

1. Banawali : Haryana (a) The position of women became

2. Kalibangan : Punjab miserable.

(b) Caste system became rigid.
3. Dholavira : Gujarat
(c) Scientific fervor underwent a drastic
4. Shortughai : Rajasthan
reduction under the Guptas.
Which of the pairs given above is/are
(d) There was less or no state interference in
correctly matched?
the individual’s life.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only 34. Consider the following statements regarding
(c) 1 and 3 only pottery of Indus Valley Civilization:
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 1. There is no evidence of Wheel-made
pottery in Indus Valley Civilization.
31. Which of the following artifacts were found 2. The Plain pottery is more common than

in Indus Valley Civilization? painted ware and it was generally made

1. Gold necklace up of red clay.

3. The miniature pots of faience (glaze) are
2. Spindle whorls
found in all the settlements of Indus
3. Copper bracelets
Valley Civilization.
4. Plain pottery
Which of the statements given above is/are
Select the correct answer using the code
correct?
given below. (a) 2 only
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
35. With reference to prehistorical sites in India,

32. Which of the following is not correct with consider the following pairs:
Site Period
reference to the status of women in the
1. Gufkral : Mesolithic
Sangam age (3rd-century B.C.- 3rd century
2. Bagor : Megalithic
A.D.)?
3. Burzahom : Neolithic
(a) Women were allowed to choose their
Which of the pairs given above is/are
life partners.
correctly matched?
(b) The practice of sati was prevalent in the (a) 1 only
higher strata of society. (b) 1 and 2 only
(c) Widow remarriage was prevalent. (c) 3 only
(d) Women excelled in education and arts. (d) 1, 2 and 3
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36. Recent excavations at a site near Nagpur 39. Consider the following statements with
have provided fresh evidence about the reference to the Neolithic period (or the New
Vakataka dynasty, which ruled during Stone Age) in India:
the mid-third century CE. In this context, 1. Neolithic settlements of south India are
which of the following statements is not generally older than the ones in northern
correct with reference to the Vakataka India.
dynasty? 2. People were largely dependent on
(a) They ruled around the central deccan hunting, fishing and gathering as
region from Malwa in Gujarat to cultivation had not yet begun.
Tungabhadra in south. 3. Neolithic people used foot wheels to
(b) It is the only dynasty to have been make pots.
founded by a female ruler. Which of the statements given above is/are
(c) The rulers of the dynasty are believed to correct?
have been Shaivites. (a) 2 only
(d) The dynasty had matrimonial alliances (b) 3 only
with the contemporary Gupta dynasty. (c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
37. Which of the following statements about the
social conditions during the Gupta period 40. With reference to trade and commerce in the
is/are correct? Indus Valley civilization, consider the
1. Kshatriya occupied the top position in following statements:
the society as the supremacy of 1. The Indus valley people used metal
Brahmans began to decline. money to carry out trade.
2. Shudras were allowed to listen to 2. The use of wheeled transport for trade
religious texts. was not known to them.
3. Position of upper-caste women 3. They had commercial links with the
improved as they were allowed to inherit people in Central Asia and
landed property. Mesopotamia.
Select the correct answer using the code Which of the statements given above is/are
given below. correct?
(a) 1 only (a) 1 only
(b) 3 only (b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 (c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2 only (d) 1 and 2 only

38. Consider the following statements about 41. Consider the following statements regarding
Mauryan King Ashoka: the Pala empire:
1. Ashoka Dhamma’s primary objective 1. It was founded by Gopala.
was to attract and convert people to the 2. Nalanda and Vikramshila Universities
Buddhist religion. were established by Pala rulers.
2. King Ashoka appointed the special 3. The trade during the Pala empire was
officials for the peaceful functioning of exclusively within the Indian
the principles of Dhamma. subcontinent.
Which of the statements given above is/are Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? correct?
(a) 1 only (a) 1 only
(b) 2 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) 1, 2 and 3
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42. Consider the following statements with 45. Which of the following functions were
reference to Harshavardhana: performed by the village assembly, i.e Sabha
1. Harsha patronised both Shaivism and during the later Cholas?
Buddhism. 1. Raise loans for the village
2. He prohibited the use of animal food in 2. Levy taxes
his kingdom and punished those who kill 3. Maintenance of charitable institutions
any living being. 4. Exercise ownership rights over land
3. He convened the Kanauj assembly to Select the correct answer using the code
honor the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang. given below.
Which of the statements given above is/are (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
correct? (b) 2 and 3 only
(a) 1 only (c) 1 and 4 only
(b) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 46. In ancient India, which factors led to the rise
of the Magadha Empire?
43. Consider the following pairs in the context 1. Its capital at Pataliputra was a true
of mahajanapadas of ancient India and the water-fort.
famous rulers associated with them: 2. Its location in Gangetic plains enabled
Mahajanapada Ruler the peasants to produce a surplus of
1. Magadha : Vasudeva grains and store for tough times.
2. Kosala : Prasenjit 3. It was benefitted by the rise of towns
3. Avanti : Pradyota and the use of metal money.
Which of the pairs given above is/are Select the correct answer using the code
correctly matched? given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only (a) 1 only
(b) 3 only (b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only
(d) 1 only (d) 2 and 3 only

44. Consider the following statements regarding 47. With reference to the Tripartite struggle of
crafts during the Post-Mauryan age (200 medieval history, consider the following
B.C.- 300 A.D): statements:
1. Shataka was a special type of cloth 1. It was fought between Pratihara,
manufactured in Mathura. Rashstrakuta and Pala dynasty.
2. Coin-minting was an important craft and 2. The three kingdoms fought for control of
minting of fake Roman coins was also the Malwa region which had plenty of
prevalent. resources and was seen as a symbol of
3. Terracotta manufacturing was prevalent prestige and power during the early
in the Kushan and Satavahana sites. medieval period.
Which of the statements given above is/are Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only
(b) 2 only (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (c) Both 1 and 2
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (d) Neither 1 and 2
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48. Which of the following Kingdoms were
contemporary of the Kanva kingdom?
(a) Satvahanas
(b) Gupta
(c) Shunga
(d) Nanda

49. Consider the following statements about

Bimbisara:
1. He was a contemporary of both Buddha
and Mahavira.
2. He pursued a three-pronged policy,
namely, matrimonial alliances,
friendship with strong rulers and
conquest of weak neighbours to expand
the empire.
3. He made Patliputra as his capital.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 3 only

50. Which of the following strategies were used

in the post-Mauryan period to increase
agricultural production?
1. Shift to plough agriculture
2. Introduction of paddy transplantation
3. Use of irrigation through wells and tanks
Select the correct answer using the code
given below.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

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 VISIONIAS
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ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS
G.S. PRE. (2025) MINI TEST – 5517

Q 1.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 2.A
 Statement 1 and 2 are correct: 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
. 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.
 Statement 3 is not correct: Between the sixth and the fourth centuries BCE , Magadha (in present-day
Bihar) became the most powerful mahajanapada. It was not an oligarchy as Buddhist and Jaina writers
who wrote about Magadha attributed its power to the policies of individuals: ruthlessly ambitious kings of
whom Bimbisara, Ajatasattu and Mahapadma Nanda are the best known, and their ministers, who helped
implement their policies.

Q 3.D
 A series of invasions took place from about 200 B.C. The successors of Asoka were too weak to stem the
tide of foreign invasions. The first to invade were called Indo-Greeks or Bactrian Greeks. The most
famous Indo-Greek ruler was Menander, also known as Milinda. He was converted to Buddhism by
Nagasena, also known as Nagarjuna. Menander asked Nagaesna many question relating to Buddhism.
These questions and Nagasena's answers were recorded in the form of a book known as Milinda Panho.
Hence statement 1 is not correct.
 The Greeks were followed by the Sakas. The most famous Saka ruler in India was Rudraman I. Repairs
to improve Sudarsan Lake in Kathiawar was taken during his reign. Rudraman was a great lover of
Sanskrit. He issued the first ever long inscription of chaste Sanskrit. All the earlier longer inscriptions
were composed in Pali. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
 The Parthinas were followed by the Kushanas, who are also called Yeuchis. The best known of the
Kushana kings was Kanishka, who is thought to have ruled from 78 CE till 101 or 102 CE. Kanishka was
an ardent follower of Buddhism and hosted the fourth Buddhist mahasangha or council. Kushanas and
Sakas strengthened the idea of the divine origin of Kingship. The Kushana kings were called sons of
God. Hence statement 3 is not correct.
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Q 4.D
The most important feature of the Sangam economy was flourishing trade with the Roman world. It is
confirmed by the recovery of a large number of Roman gold coins in south India. The discovery of monsoons
and the use of direct sea route between Indian coasts and the western world was the main reason for the
growth of this trade. It led to rise of important towns and craft centres in the Tamil region. Ports have served
the cause of overseas trade since Sangam age in South India. The port with harbour facilities and roads
leading to important towns were gradually widened in South India through the centuries.
 Vanji, identified with the present day Karur in Tamil Nadu, was the capital of the Cheras and also an
important centre of trade and craft. Muzris, i.e., Cranganore on the south-west coast, was the foremost
port of the Cheras.
 Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas, is described in the Sangam poems as a large city enclosed by a wall.
It was an important centre of fine textile and ivory working.
 Korkai, in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, was an important Pandya port. It was famous for its pearls.
 Uraiyur (Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu), the capital of the Cholas, was a grand city with magnificent
buildings. Kaveripattinam or Puhar was the main Chola port. It was the great centre of trade and
commerce (mainly centre of cotton cloth)and excavations show that it had a large dock.
 Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 5.A
 Women could attend assemblies and offer sacrifices along with their husbands. We have an instance
of five women who composed hymns, although the later texts mention twenty such women. Evidently the
hymns were composed orally, and nothing written relates to that period.
 The practice of levirate (levirate marriage is a type of marriage in which the brother of a deceased
man is obliged to marry his brother's widow) and widow remarriage existed in the Rig Vedic
period. There are no examples of child marriage, and the marriageable age in the Rig Veda seems to
have been 16 to 17.
 Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Q 6.D
About the economy of Harappan civilization:
 The Indus Valley people had one of the largest trading areas, ranging anywhere from Mesopotamia
to China. We know Indus Valley traders went to Mesopotamia as well as other countries because Indus
seals have been found in there. Also, the Mesopotamians wrote about importing goods from the Indus
people which further support the idea of a trading partnership between the two civilizations. Indus Valley
traders crossed mountains and forests to trade. They followed rivers walking along the river bank and
used boats to cross rivers when needed.
 Note: A closed economy is one that has no trade activity with outside economies. A closed economy is
self-sufficient, which means no imports come into the country and no exports leave the country.
 Cotton was one of the most important products of the Indus Valley trade. Their wealth was based on a
subsistence economy of wheat and barley. The Indus civilization had a broad trade network, but their
currency was traded goods. Instead of money, there was a swapping and bartering system. The Indus
Valley Civilization had what was called soapstone seals and this is what they might have used for money
later on in the civilization.
 Trade goods included terracotta pots, beads, gold and silver, colored gemstones such as turquoise and
lapis lazuli, metals, flints (for making stone tools), seashells and pearls. Minerals came from Iran and
Afghanistan. Lead and copper came from India. Jade came from China and cedar tree wood was floated
down the rivers from Kashmir and the Himalayas.
 Lothal was originally the site for the lustrous Red Ware culture, associated with the post-Rigvedic Vedic
civilization, and named for its mica-related pottery.The people of Lothal worshipped a fire god, that could
be the horned deity depicted on ancient seals.The city that developed as the most important port and a
center of the bead industry, gems and valuable ornaments that flourished until 1900 BC.

Q 7.D
 The country Bharatavarsha was eventually named after the tribe Bharata, which is first mentioned in
the Rig Veda. The Bharata ruling clan was opposed by a host of ten chiefs, five of whom were heads of
Aryan tribes and the remaining five of the non-Aryan people. The battle that the Bharatas fought with the
host of ten chiefs is known as the Battle of Ten Kings.
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  It was fought on the river Parushni, coterminous with the river Ravi, and it gave victory to Sudas and
established the supremacy of the Bharatas. Of the defeated tribes, the most important was that of
the Purus.
 Hence statements 1 and 2 are not correct.

Q 8.C
 The period that followed Rig Vedic Age is known as the Later Vedic Age. It spanned from c. 1000 – c.
600 BCE.
 Statement 1 is not correct: The Vedic communities had developed neither a taxation system nor a
professional army. There did not exist collectors of taxes apart from the kinsmen of the prince.
 Statement 2 is correct: The peasantry in the later Vedic times was called bala (force). The army to
protect the asvamedha horse comprised both the kshatriyas and the vis. Although the nobles and warriors
ruled over heir peasant kinsmen, they had to depend upon peasant militia for fighting against
enemies and they could not grant land without the consent of the peasantry. All this placed them in a
difficult position and could not sharpen the distinctions between the rulers and the ruled.
 Statement 3 is not correct: The mode of worship changed considerably in the Later Vedic period.
Prayers were recited, but they ceased to be the dominant mode of
worship. Instead, sacrifices became far more important. They had both a public and a private
character. Public sacrifices involved the king and the whole of the community while private
sacrifices were performed by individuals in their houses because in this period the people led a settled life
and maintained well-established households. Sacrifices involved the killing of animals on a large scale
and especially the destruction of cattle wealth.
 During the later Vedic period, the emergence of Rajan as the wielder of supreme political power involved
his distancing himself from those closest to him – his kinsmen. This distancing was emphasized in
ritualized contests such as the chariot race in the vajpeya sacrifice (meant to re-establish a king’s
supremacy over his people), and the cattle raid and game of dicing in the rajasuya sacrifice.
 Other important Vedic rituals:
o Asvamedha: Horse sacrifice meant to establish a king‟s supremacy over other kings.
o Semontonnayam: A ceremony to ensure the safety of the child in the womb.
o Jatkarma: A birth ceremony performed before the cutting of the umbilical cord.
o Upanayana: An initiation ceremony to confer status to boys of the higher varnas in their eighth year.

Q 9.A
 Statement 1 is correct: In sixth century BCE plough Agriculture was spread in fertile alluvial river
valleys like the Ganga and the Kaveri. The iron-tipped ploughshare was used to turn the alluvial soil in
areas which had high rainfall. In some parts of the Ganga valley, production of paddy was dramatically
increased by the introduction of transplantation.
 Statement 2 is not correct: Use of iron ploughshare led to a growth in agricultural productivity, its use
was restricted to certain parts of the subcontinent – cultivators in areas which were semi-arid, such as
parts of Punjab and Rajasthan did not adopt it till the twentieth century, and those living in hilly tracts in
the north-eastern and central parts of the subcontinent practised hoe agriculture.

Q 10.A
 In Harappa numerous terracotta figurines of women have been found. In one figurine, a plant is shown
growing out of the embryo of a woman. The image probably represents the goddess of earth, and was
intimately connected with the origin and growth of plants. The Harappans, therefore, looked upon the
earth as a fertility goddess and worshipped her in the same way as the Egyptians worshipped the
Nile goddess Isis.
 The people of the Indus region also worshipped trees. The depiction of a deity is represented on a seal
amidst branches of the pipal. This tree continues to be worshipped to this day. Animals were also
worshipped in Harappan times, and many of them are represented on seals. The most important of them
is the one-horned animal unicorn which may be identified with the rhinoceros. Next in importance is
the humped bull. Similarly, the animals surrounding „Pashupati Mahadeva‟ indicate that these were
worshipped.
 Evidently, therefore, the inhabitants of the Indus region worshipped gods in the form of trees, animals and
human beings, but the gods were not placed in temples, a practice that was common in ancient Egypt and
Mesopotamia. No temple has been discovered from the ruins of Harappa and Mahenjo-daro.
 Hence, only statement 1 is correct.
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Q 11.A
 In order to control all spheres of life, the Mauryan state had to maintain a vast bureaucracy. In no other
period of ancient history we hear of so many officers as in Maurya times. The administrative mechanism
was backed by an elaborate system of espionage. Various types of spies collected intelligence about
foreign enemies and kept an eye on numerous officers. They also helped the collection of money from
credulous people through deliberate resort to superstitious practices.
 Important functionaries were called tirthas. It seems that most functionaries were paid in cash. The
highest functionaries were minister (mantrin), the high priest (purohita), commander-in-chief (Senapati)
and crown-prince (yuvaraja).
 Important offices of Mauryan administration include:
o Ashoka appointed rajukas for the administration of justice in his empire. They were vested with the
authority of not only rewarding people but also punishing them, wherever necessary. Hence, pair 1 is
correctly matched.
o The Maurya period constitutes a landmark in the system of taxation in ancient India. Kautilya names
many taxes to be collected from peasants, artisans and traders. This required strong and efficient
machinery for assessment, collection and storage. The samaharta was the highest officer in charge of
the assessment of taxes. He was also the chief of the Revenue Department, was in charge of the
collection of all revenues of the empire. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
o The sannidhata was the chief custodian of the state treasury and store-house. Hence, pair 2 is not
correctly matched.
o There were civil servants called Amatyas to look after the day-to-day administration. These officers
were similar to the IAS officers of independent India. The method of selection of Amatyas was
elaborately given by Kautilya. Hence, pair 4 is correctly matched.
o The Mauryan army was well organized and it was under the control of Senapati. According to Greek
author Pliny, the Mauryan army consisted of infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots. In addition to
these four wings, there were the Navy and Transport and Supply wings. Each wing was under the
control of Adyakshas or Superintendents.

Q 12.D
 Ashoka led a huge army against Kalinga, following the footsteps of his forefathers to expand his empire.
Kalinga war took place in 261 B.C. Kalinga offered stiff resistance to the Mauryan army. The whole of
Kalinga turned into a battle arena. However, the limited forces of Kalinga were no match for the
overwhelming Magadha army. Contrary to Ashoka's expectations, the people of Kalinga fought with such
great valour that on a number of occasions they came very close to a victory. The soldiers of Kalinga
perished in the battlefield fighting till their last breath for their independence. The victory ultimately
rested with Ashoka.
 The war took a tremendous toll on life and property. The 13th rock edict of Ashoka throws light on this
war. Ashoka appealed ideologically to the tribal people and the frontier kingdoms. The subjects of the
independent states in Kalinga were asked to obey the king as their father and to repose confidence in him.
The officials appointed by Ashoka were instructed to propagate this idea among all sections of his
subjects. The tribal peoples were similarly asked to follow the principles of dhamma (dharma). He no
longer treated foreign dominions as legitimate areas for military conquest. He took steps for the welfare
of men and animals in foreign lands, which was a new thing considering the conditions in those
times. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 Ashoka disapproved of rituals, especially those observed by women. He forbade killing certain birds and
animals, prohibited the slaughter of animals in the royal kitchen, and forbade the slaughter of animals in
sacrifices. Hence statement 2 is correct.
 Ashoka is important in history for his policy of peace, nonaggression, and cultural conquest. Although
Kautilya advised the king to be always intent on physical conquest, Ashoka followed quite the reverse
policy. He asked his successors to give up the policy of conquest and aggression, followed by the
Magadhan princes till the Kalinga war, and counselled them to adopt a policy of peace sorely needed
after a period of aggressive wars lasting for two centuries. He consistently adhered to his policy, for
though he possessed sufficient resources and maintained a huge army, he did not wage any war after the
conquest of Kalinga. Hence statement 3 is correct.

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Q 13.D
 Although terms like Nishka and sathamana found in vedic texts are taken to be names of coins ,but coins
actually found are not earlier than the 6th century B.C.
 Coins made of metal first appear in the age of Buddha (Buddha was born in the 6th century B.C.,
or possibly as early as 624 B.C., according to some scholars. Other researchers believe he was born
later, even as late as 448 B.C. And some Buddhists believe Gautama Buddha lived from 563 B.C. to
483 B.C). They are called Punch-marked because pieces of these metals were punched with certain
marks such as hills, trees, fish etc., The pali texts indicate plentiful use of these coins that wages , prices
and taxes were paid in it.
 The discovery of many hoards of punch-marked coins suggest that the payment of taxes was made both
in cash and kind. Artisans and Traders also had to pay taxes. Separate officers
called Sulkadhyaksha were appointed to collect these tolls.
 Although no rural settlements of pre-mauryan times were excavated , it is obvious that without
strong rural base, one cannot think of beginning of crafts, commerce adn urbanisation in the middle
gangetic basin. Specialized craftsmen tended to form guilds because it facilitated carriage of raw
materials and the distribution of finished articles. At least 18 guilds or srenis of artisans were known
and functional.
 However, the guild was not the highly developed mercantile system that it was to become later. Each
guild inhabited a particular section of the town.
 The use of the term for transplantation is found in Pali and sanskrit texts of the period indicating large
scale use of this technique during the times of Buddha. It enormously added to the yield.
 Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 14.B
 Within the empire, the king appointed rajukas for the administration of justice in his empire, who
were vested with the authority not only to reward people but also to punish them when
necessary. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
 The Maurya period constitutes a landmark in the system of taxation in ancient India. Kautilya
names many taxes which were collected from peasants, artisans, and traders. This required strong and
efficient machinery for assessment, collection, and storage. The Mauryas attached greater importance
to assessment than to storage and deposit. The samaharta was the highest officer in charge of
assessment and collection, and the sannidhata was the chief custodian of the state treasury and
storehouse. The assessor-cum-collector was far more important than the chief treasurer. The damage
inflicted on the state by the first was thought to be more serious than any inflicted by the second.
 In fact, a piece of elaborate machinery for assessment was first set up during the Maurya period. The
list of taxes mentioned in the Arthashastra is impressive, and, if these were really collected, very little
would have been left to the people to live on. Hence statement 2 is correct.
 The secret service or the spy system may be described as the mainstay of the Mauryan government,
next to the army. The king employed hosts of spies or detectives, masquerading in disguises of all
kinds, who were controlled by an espionage bureau. Cipher writing was used and the services of carrier
pigeons were enlisted. Hence statement 3 is correct.
 The Mauryan administration was conducted by a highly skilled Superintendents or Adhyakshas who
looked after various departments. Kautilya in the second book of his Arthasastra, Adhyakshaprachara,
gives an account of the working of nearly 27 adhyaksas.
 Some of the important officials are mentioned below :
o The Akshapataladhyaksha was the Accountant-General who was in charge of the two offices of
currency and accounts.
o The Sitadhyaksha was the superintendent of the agriculture of crown lands or government
agricultural farms.
o Navadhyaksha was the Superintendent of Ports who controlled traffic and transit by waterways.
o The Panyadhyaksha was the controller of commerce who was in the charge of the control of supply,
purchase and sale of commodities.
o The Sulkadhyaksa was the collector of customs and tolls.
o The Suradhyaksha was the Superintendent of Excise who controlled the manufacture and sale of
liquor.
o Pautavadhyaksha was the superintendent of weights and measures. The Lakshanadhyaksha was the
superintendent of the mint, etc.
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Q 15.B
 The Parthians were followed by the Kushans, who are also called Yuechis or Tocharians.
 Kushanas were of nomadic origins living near the steppes of north-central Asia near China.
 Due to the great wall, these were driven towards the Hindukush region.
 The Kushanas were credited with the defeat of the last king of the Greeks in Kabul.
 Their Empire extended from the Oxus to the Ganga, from Khorasan in Central Asia to Varanasi in Uttar
Pradesh. Kushans had two successive dynasties.
 The first dynasty was founded by a house of chiefs who were called Kadphises and who ruled for 28
years.
 The first was Kujula Kadphises or Kadphises-I and the second king was Wima Kadphises or Kadphises
II. He issued a large number of gold coins with high-sounding titles like the „Lord of the Whole
World‟. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
 The Indo-Greeks were the first rulers in India to issue coins which can definitely be attributed to
the kings. They were the first to issue gold coins in India.
 The early Kushan kings issued numerous gold coins with a higher degree of metallic purity than is
found in the Gupta gold coins. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
 Kushan coins, inscriptions, constructions and pieces of sculpture found in Mathura show that it was
their second capital in India, the first being Purushapura or Peshawar.
 Kanishka was the most famous Kushan ruler. He started an era in A.D. 78, which is now known as
the Shaka era and is used by the Government of India.
 secondly, Kanishka extended his wholehearted patronage to Buddhism. He held a Buddhist council
in Kashmir, where the doctrines of the Mahayana form of Buddhism were finalized. Kanishka was
also a great patron of art and Sanskrit literature.
 The Kushan rulers worshipped both Shiva and the Buddha, and the images of these two gods appeared
on the Kushan coins. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
 Several later Kushan rulers were worshippers of Vishnu. Some of them bore typical Indian names such
as Vasudeva.

Q 16.D
 The spread of Jainism in Karnataka is attributed to Chandragupta Maurya (322– 298 BC). The
emperor became a Jaina, gave up his throne, and spent the last years of his life in Karnataka as a Jaina
ascetic.
 When Bindusara became an adult, Chandragupta Maurya decided to pass on the baton to his only son
Bindusara. After making him the new emperor, he requested Chanakya to continue his services as the
chief advisor of the Maurya dynasty and left Patliputra. He renounced all worldly pleasures and
became a monk as per the tradition of Jainism. He traveled far into the south of India before
settling down in Shravanabelagola .
 Around 297 BC, under the guidance of his spiritual guru Saint Bhadrabahu, Chandragupta
Maurya decided to give up his mortal body through Sallekhana. Hence he started fasting and on one fine
day inside a cave at Shravanabelagola, he breathed his last, ending his days of self-starvation.

Q 17.A
 Gahapati was the owner or master of head of household, who exercised control over women, children,
slaves and workers who shared common residence. He was also the owner of resources that belonged to
the household.
 An agrahara was land granted to a Brahmana, who was usually exempted from paying land revenue and
other dues to the king, and was often given the right to collect these dues from the local people.
 During Rig vedic period, cattle were considered synonymous with wealth and the wealthy person was
called gomat.
 Rigvedic people are mainly pastoral, most of their war were fought for the sake of cows. The term for war
is gavisthi or search for cows.
 Hence correct answer is option (a).

Q 18.A
 Fa-Hien's account on the Gupta administration provides useful information. He characterises the Gupta
administration as mild and benevolent. There were no restrictions on people‟s movements and they
enjoyed a large degree of personal freedom. There was no state interference in the individual‟s
life. Hence statement 1 is correct.
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  Punishments were not severe. Imposing a fine was a common punishment. Hence statement 3 is not
correct.
 There was no spy system. The administration was so efficient that the roads were kept safe for travelers,
and there was no fear of thieves. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
 He mentioned that people were generally prosperous and the crimes were negligible.
 Fa-Hien had also appreciated the efficiency of the Gupta administration as he was able to travel without
any fear throughout the Gangetic valley.
 On the whole, the administration was more liberal than that of the Mauryas.

Q 19.D
 The Gupta period was considered one of the finest period for the growth and development of literature.
This period saw remarkable growth in the production of secular as well as religious literature. On the
secular side, this period saw the production of several plays and poems written by famous authors
including Bhasa, Shudraka, and Kalidasa. The themes of literature during this period were poetry,
drama, and romantic comedies.
o The Mrichchhakatika or the little clay cart, which was written by Shudraka, deals with the love affair
of poor brahmana with the beautiful daughter of a courtesan and is considered as one of the best work
in ancient drama.
o Kalidas has written the best works in poetry, drama as well as in prose. His kavyas such
as Meghaduta, Raghuvamsa, and Kumarasambhava, and dramas such as Abhijnashakuntalam are
the best literary works of this time. These works have been translated into many languages.
 This period also noticed an increase in the production of religious literature. The two great epics the
Ramayana and the Mahabharata were almost completed by the fourth century AD. The earlier one
Puranas were also compiled during this period. The Markandeya Purana was popular during
this era. Along with this, this period also saw the compilation of various Smritis or law books in
which social and religious norms were written in verse. The phases of written commentaries on
Smritis began after the Gupta's period. Hence statement (d) is not correct.
 This period also saw the development of Sanskrit grammar based on Panini and Patanjali. The
important work complied during this period was Amarakosha by Amarasimha. It developed an ornate
style of Sanskrit which was different from the old simple Sanskrit. From this period onwards we find
a greater emphasis on verses than on prose.

Q 20.D
 The period between 1500 B.C and 600 B.C may be divided into the Early Vedic Period or Rig Vedic
Period (1500 B.C -1000 B.C) and the Later Vedic Period (1000B.C - 600 B.C).
 Social life during Rig Vedic period: The Rig Vedic society was patriarchal. The basic unit of society
was family or graham. The head of the family was known as grahapathi.
 Statement 1 is not correct: Even though society was patriarchal, women also had important positions in
it. Women were given equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development. They
were educated and they had access to the assemblies. They had a right to choose their partners and
could marry late. There was no child marriage and practice of sati was absent.
 Statement 2 is not correct: The Rig Vedic Aryans worshiped the natural forces like earth, fire, wind,
rain and thunder. They personified these natural forces into many gods and worshipped them. There
were no temples and no idol worship during the early Vedic period. The Vedic religion was sacrificial.
Sacrifices or yajnas were performed to invoke the gods, in order to grant boons for victory in battles or for
acquisition of cattle, sons etc.
 Statement 3 is not correct: The Early Vedic Society was a tribal society, in which social relations based
on kinship ties were predominant. The society was not divided according to caste lines, and even the
rajas (kings), the purohitas (priests), the artisans etc. were parts of the clan networks. The social divisions
were not rigid during the Rig Vedic period as it was in the later Vedic period.

Q 21.A
 Some of the Chalcolithic cultures are:
o 2100–1500: Ahar Chalcolithic culture (Banas valley, Rajasthan). Their distinctive pottery feature is
black and red ware.
o 2000–1800: Kayatha Chalcolithic culture (MP). The sturdy red slipped ware with chocolate designs is
the main feature.
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 o 1400-750: Jorwe culture (Maharashtra). Jorwe ware is painted black-on-red and has a matt surface
treated with a red wash.
 Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

Q 22.C
 Recently, Natesa, a 9th century‟s rare sandstone idol of Rajasthan temple smuggled out of country
in 1998 returned to India. Natesa is a rare sandstone idol from the Pratihara Style of architecture in
Rajasthan.
 It is originally from the Ghateswar Temple at Baroli, Rajasthan. The sandstone Natesa figure stands tall at
almost 4 ft in a rare and brilliant depiction of Shiva.
 Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty ruled much of Northern India from the mid-8th to the 11th century.
They were one of the first four patrilineal clans of the caste group referred to as the Rajputs. Hence
statement 1 is correct.
 The expansion of the Gurjara-Pratihara kingdom involved constant conflicts with other contemporary
powers such as the Palas and the Rashtrakutas known as the tripartite struggle for Kanauj. Hence
statement 3 is correct.
 They retained terms of administration, on line of the Gupta Empire's and Harshvardhana‟s ideas.
Hence statement 2 is not correct.
 Some areas were administered directly by the centre and some were divided into provinces (bhukti) and
districts (mandala or vishaya), respectively, governed by a governor (uparika) and a district head
(vishayapati).
 Governor and district heads were tasked with collecting land revenue and maintaining law and order with
the help of the army units stationed in their areas.

Q 23.D
 Gupta dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta. The first important king of the Gupta dynasty
was Chandragupta I. He can be regarded as a ruler of considerable importance because he started
the Gupta era in A.D. 319-20, which marked the date of his accession.
 Chandragupta I's court poet Harishena wrote a glowing account of the military exploits of his
patron.The inscription is engraved at Allahabad on the same pillar as carries an inscription of the
peace-loving Asoka.The Allahabad Pillar inscription contains a long list of states, kings and tribes which
were conquered and brought under various degrees of subjugation. Hence, statement 1 is not
correct. The pillar inscription also mentions him as "Kaviraja".
o He issued gold and silver coins with the legend „restorer of the asvamedha‟.
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 o He granted permission to Buddhist king of Ceylon, Meghavarman to build a monastry at Bodh
Gaya; so, he was called „Anukampavav‟.
 Chandragupta-II : The reign of Chandragupta II saw the high watermark of the Gupta empire.
o The greatest of the military achievements of Chandragupta II was his war against the Saka ruler
Rudrasimha-III and this victory gave him the title "Sakari" - the destroyer of sakas.
o He also took the title of Vikramaditya. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
o The exploits of a king called Chandra are glorified in an iron pillar inscription fixed near Qutb Minar
in Delhi. If Chandra is considered to be identical with Chandragupta II, it appears that he established
Gupta authority in north-western India and in a good portion of Bengal.
o The famous chinese piligrim and traveller, Fa-hien visited India during the reign of
Chandragupta-II. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Q 24.D
 Nanda dynasty (344 BC-322 BC): This was the first non-Kshatriya dynasty.
 The first ruler was Mahapadma Nanda who usurped the throne of Kalasoka.
 Mahapadma Nanda :
o He is called the “first historical emperor of India.”
o He murdered Kalasoka to become the king.
o His reign lasted for twenty eight years from 367 BC to 338 BC.
o He is also called “Sarva Kashtriyantaka” (destroyer of all the kshatriyas) and “Ekrat”.
o The empire grew under his reign. It ran from the Kuru country in the north to the Godavari Valley
in the south and from Magadha in the east to Narmada on the west.He conquered many kingdoms
including Kalinga.
 Dhana Nanda :
o He was the last Nanda ruler.
o He is referred to as Agrammes or Xandrames in Greek texts.
o Alexander invaded North-Western India during his reign; but he could not proceed towards the
Gangetic plains because of his army‟s refusal. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
o He inherited a huge empire from his father. According to Pliny, Roman writer, he possessed a
standing army of 200,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, 3000 elephants and 2000 chariots. He became
a powerful ruler because of this. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
o He is said to be one of the 8 or 9 sons of Mahapadma Nanda.
o He became unpopular with his subjects owing to an oppressive way of extorting taxes. Also, his
Sudra origins and an anti-kshatriya policy led to a large number of enemies.
o Finally he was overthrown by Chandragupta Maurya along with Chanakya, which led to the
foundations of the Maurya Empire in Magadha. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Q 25.D
 The houses of common people differed in size from a single-room house to bigger structures. The
houses were largely built of burnt bricks. The bigger houses had many rooms surrounding a square
courtyard. These houses were provided with private wells, kitchens and bathing platforms. The difference
in the size of the houses suggests that the rich lived in the larger houses whereas the one-room buildings
or barracks might have been intended for the poorer section of the society. Hence statement 1 is not
correct.
 At Mohenjodaro, the „Great Bath‟ is the most important structure. It is surrounded by corridors on all
sides and is approached at either end by steps in north and south. A thin layer of bitumen was applied to
the bed of the Bath to ensure that water did not seep in. Water was supplied by a large well in an adjacent
room. There was a drain for the outlet of the water. The bath was surrounded by sets of rooms on sides for
changing cloth. Scholars believe that the „Great Bath‟ was used for ritual bathing. The dominant sight
at Lothal is the massive tank. Scholars believe that this tank may have been a dockyard, where boats
and ships came in from the sea and through the river channel. Goods were probably loaded and unloaded
here. So, archaeological sources found Great Bath in Mohenjodaro and dockyard in Lothal. Hence
statement 2 is not correct.
 Though there is no evidence of temples in Harappan cities, fire altars at Kalibangan and Lothal
suggest that sacrifices may have been performed at these altars. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

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Q 26.B
 The second Sangam was held at Kapadapuram but the all the literary works had perished except
Tolkappiyam.
 Tolkappiyam authored by Tolkappiyar is the earliest of the Tamil literature. It is a work on Tamil
grammar but it provides information on the political and socio-economic conditions of the Sangam period.
 The compositions of the third Sangam are classified into eight anthologies known
as Ettuttokoi/Ettuthokai and ten idylls known as Pattuppattu
 Silappadikaram Composed by Ilango Adigal.The story revolves around an anklet. The name literally
means the tale of an anklet. A chief character is Kannagi, who seeks revenge on the Pandya kingdom for
her husband who was wrongly put to death. The poem gives a lot of insight into contemporary Tamil
society, polity, values and social life of the people.
 Pathinenkilkanakku contains eighteen works about ethics and morals. The most important among
these works is Tirukkural authored by Thiruvalluvar, the tamil great poet and philosopher.
 Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Q 27.B
 The Harappan inscriptions were written in a pictographic script where ideas and objects were
expressed in the form of pictures. Although the script remains undeciphered to date, it was evidently
not alphabetical (where each sign stands for a vowel ora consonant) as it has just too many signs –
somewhere between 375 and 400. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
 Distinct symbols have been identified, and the direction of writing is thought to be right to left, and
sometimes also called as Boustrophedon (written from right to left and from left to right in alternate
lines). Hence statement 2 is correct.
 Unlike the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, the Harappans did not write long inscriptions. Most
inscriptions are short, the longest containing about 26 signs. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Q 28.C
 Kuru basically belonged to the Puru-Bharata family. These were the people who originated
from Kurukshetra (Northern India ). They are believed to have shifted to the republic form of
government in the fifth of the sixth century BCE.
 Koshala embraced the area occupied by eastern UP and had its capital at Shravasti, which is
coterminous with Sahet–Mahet on the borders of Gonda and Bahraich districts of UP.Koshala had
an important city called Ayodhya which is associated with the story in the Ramayana.
 Chedi people existed on the southern part of the Yamuna River. The capital of Chedis was Suktimati
and the Rigveda gives details of this Mahajanapada. It was ruled by Sisupala and it was this city where
the Pandavas (from Mahabharata) chose to spend the thirteenth year of their exile.
 Assaka or Ashmaka, was a region of ancient India around and between the river Godavari. It was one
of the shodasa mahajanapadas in the 6th century BCE, mentioned in the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya.
The capital is variously called Potali, or Podana, which now lies in the Nandura Tehsil of Maharastra.

10 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

Q 29.D
 Harshvardhana (606–647) established his kingdom in north India at the beginning of the seventh century
A.D. The chief sources for tracing the history of Harsha and his times are the Harshacharita written by
Bana who was the court poet of Harsha and the travel accounts of Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese traveler who
visited India in the seventh century A.D.
 Statement 1 is not correct: The administration of Harsha was organized on the same lines as the Guptas
did. But during his time administration became more decentralized and the number of feudatories grew
further. In Harsha‟s time, the officers and the religious persons were paid mainly inland. It encouraged the
system of feudalism which grew much more in the post- Harsha period.
 In the empire of Harsha law and order were not so well maintained. Hsuan Tsang was twice robbed of all
his belongings during his travels in India. Cruel punishments of the Mauryan period continued in the
times of Harsha.
 Taxation was light and forced labor was also rare. One-sixth of the produce was collected as land tax. The
maintenance of public records was the salient feature of Harsha‟s administration. The archive of the
Harsha period was known as nilopitu and it was under the control of special officers.
 Statement 2 is not correct: Harsha convened a grand assembly at Kannauj to widely publicize the
doctrines of the Mahayana form of Buddhism. He invited representatives of all religious sects. It was
attended by 20 kings, 1000 scholars from the Nalanda University, 3000 Hinayanists and Mahayanists,
3000 Brahmins and Jains. Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang also attended the assembly.

Q 30.C
 The Indus Valley Civilization was an ancient civilization located in what is Pakistan and northwest India
today, on the fertile flood plain of the Indus River and its vicinity.
 Some of the important India Valley sites can be traced as:
 Banawali - It is an archaeological site belonging to Indus Valley Civilization period in Haryana. Also
referred to as Vanavali, it is on the left banks of dried up Sarasvati River. Hence pair 1 is correctly
matched.
o The excavations have yielded a three-fold culture sequence:
 Pre-Harappan (Early-Harappan)
 Represented by the existence of well-planned houses and a fortification wall made of molded
bricks.
 In the pottery of this period, pre-Harappan painted motifs tended to become simpler sparse
and use of white pigment becomes progressively less popular.
 Harappan
 marked by the presence of a well-planned fortified township laid in a radial pattern.
 The sophisticated red ware decorated with animal and floral designs comprises dish-on-stand,
'S'-shaped jar, perforated jar, vase, cooking handis, beaker, basin and goblet etc.
 A terracotta plough model is important as it is a complete specimen found so far in Harappan
Culture.
 Other remarkable finds are beads and bangles of semi-precious stones, terracotta and shell,
chert blades, weights and sportsmen of ivory and bone, beads and foil in gold, charred barley
grains etc.
 Bara (post-Harappan)
 It is represented by the most distinguished pottery, which is sturdy and heavy, made of fine
clay, baked carefully and dressed with deep-toned oily gloss.
 Kalibangan - It is an ancient town located on the banks of the Ghaggar river in Rajasthan. It literally
means 'black bangles' which it derives from the dense distribution of the fragments of black bangles which
were found at the surface of its mounds. Hence pair 2 is not correctly matched.
o It has relics of both
 Pre-Harappan settlements from the 3500 BC – 2500 BC
 Harappan settlements from the 2500 BC – 1750 BC, but also the
o The excavation of this site proves that a well - established lifestyle existed before the Harappan
civilization in India.
o It was also discovered that for the ceramic industry, Rajasthan was a significant center.
o The pottery of this place has similar designs with those of the Harappan civilization.
o The excavations at Kalibangan revealed Harappan seals, human skeletons, unknown scripts, stamps,
copper bangles, beads etc.
o This was also the site of discovering the most primitive ploughed field that dated back to 2800 BC.
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 o In 2600 BC, the first archaeologically recorded earthquake took place at this site, which marked the
end of the Pre-Harappan Civilisation
 Dholavira - It is an archaeological site in Kutch District of Gujarat. Hence pair 3 is correctly matched.
o The city of Dholavira was found to be very well-planned, divided into three stages to form a layered
city with a lower town, a quadrangular middle town and a citadel.
o It was famous for water conservation techniques such as rock-cut wells and is possibly the earliest
example of rock-cut wells.
o One of the unique features of Dholavira is that, unlike other Harappan cities like Harappa and
Mohenjodaro, the city is built almost exclusively of stones instead of bricks.
 Shortughai - It is located in the Amu Darya (Oxus River) valley, in northern Afghanistan. There the
remains of a small Harappan colony, presumably sited so as to provide control of the lapis lazuli export
trade originating in the neighboring city of Badakhshan. Hence pair 4 is not correctly matched.

Q 31.D
 The arts of the Indus Valley Civilisation emerged during the second half of the third millennium
BCE. The forms of art found from various sites of the civilization include sculptures, seals, pottery,
jewellery, terracotta figures, etc.
 Plain pottery is more common than painted ware. Plain pottery is generally of red clay, with or without a
fine red or grey slip. It includes knobbed ware, ornamented with rows of knobs.
 The Harappan men and women decorated themselves with a large variety of ornaments produced from
every conceivable material ranging from precious metals and gemstones to bone and baked clay.
 While necklaces, fillets, armlets, and finger-rings were commonly worn by both sexes, women wore
girdles, earrings, and anklets. Hoards of jewelry found at Mohenjodaro and Lothal include necklaces
of gold and semi-precious stones, copper bracelets and beads, gold earrings and head ornaments,
faience pendants and buttons, and beads of steatite and gemstones.
 It is evident from the discovery of a large number of spindles and spindle whorls in the houses of the
Indus Valley that the spinning of cotton and wool was very common.
 Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 32.C
 Position of Women during Sangam Age:
 There is plenty of information in the Sangam literature to trace the position of women during the Sangam
age.
 Women poets like Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar, and Kakkaipadiniyar flourished in this period and
contributed to Tamil literature.
 The courage of women was also appreciated in many poems. Karpu or chaste life was considered the
highest virtue of women.
 Love marriage was a common practice.
 Women were allowed to choose their life partners.
 The life of widows was miserable and widow remarriage was not a common practice. Hence option (c) is
the correct answer.
 The practise of Sati was also prevalent in the higher strata of society. The class of dancers was patronized
by the kings and nobles.
 Women in the Sangam period excelled in education and arts. This is testified by many poems
contributed by women poets to the corpus of Sangam literature.
o Women poets like Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar and Kakkaipadiniyar flourished in this period and
contributed to Tamil literature.
 Women were engaged in various economic activities such as paddy cultivation, cattle rearing, basket
making, spinning, etc.

Q 33.C
 During the Gupta period, the caste system became rigid. The Brahmins occupied the top ladder of
society. They were given enormous gifts by the rulers as well as other wealthy people. The practise of
untouchability had slowly begun during this period.
 The position of women had also become miserable during the Gupta period. They were prohibited
from studying religious texts like the Puranas. The subjection of women to men was thoroughly
regularized. But it was insisted that they should be protected and generously treated by men. The practice
of Swyamvara was given up and the Manusmriti suggested the early marriage for girls.
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  There were no restrictions on people‟s movements and they enjoyed a large degree of personal
freedom. There was no state interference in the individual‟s life.
 The Gupta period witnessed a brilliant activity in the sphere of mathematics, astronomy, astrology
and medicine. Aryabhatta was a great mathematician and astronomer. He wrote the book Aryabhatiya in
499 A.D. Varahamihira composed Pancha Siddhantika, the five astronomical systems. He was also a
great authority on astrology. His work Brihadsamhita is a great work in Sanskrit literature. In the field of
medicine, Vagbhata lived during this period. He was the last of the great medical trio of ancient India.
The other two scholars Charaka and Susruta lived before the Gupta age. Hence option (c) is the correct
answer.

Q 34.A
 The pottery of various design motifs in different shapes and styles evolved in the Indus Valley region. The
Harappans produced their own characteristic pottery, which was made glossy and shining. The pots were
mostly used for storage, cooking and drinking, etc.
 In the Indus Valley, the potters wheel was in full swing and the pottery consists chiefly of very fine
wheel-made wares, very few being hand-made. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
 The Plain pottery is more common than painted ware and it was generally made up of red clay, with or
without a fine red or grey slip. It includes knobbed ware, ornamented with rows of knobs. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
 The black painted ware has a fine coating of red slip-on in which geometric and animal designs are
executed in glossy black paint.
 Polychrome pottery is rare and mainly comprises small vases decorated with geometric patterns in red,
black and green, rarely white and yellow.
 The little pots of faience (a material made of ground sand or silica mixed with colour and a gum and
then fired) were probably considered precious, perhaps used as perfume bottles, are found mostly in
Mohenjodaro and Harappa, and none have been found till date from other settlements like
Kalibangan. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Q 35.C
 Burzahom
o The Neolithic Site of Burzahom, in the district of Srinagar, India brings to light transitions in
human habitation patterns from Neolithic Period to the Megalithic period to the Early Historic
period. From transition in architecture to development in tool-making techniques to introduction and
diffusion of lentil in north-western India, the site of Burzahom is a unique comprehensive story teller
of life between 3000 BCE to 1000 BCE. Hence pair 3 is correctly matched.
o The remains of the site document the gradual change in the nature of dwelling spaces among early
societies. From subterranean dwelling pits, the evidence in the site shows the emergence of mud
structures, thereon mud-bricks constructions on level ground. The range of tools recovered from the
site shows the evolution in tool making Neolithic men skilled hunters and their knowledge in applying
the implements for cultivation.
 Bagor
o It is a large village on the left bank of the Kothari river, a tributary of river Banas, situated 25
kilometres to the west of the town Bhilwara (Rajasthan). Bagor is the largest Mesolithic site (and
not megalithic) discovered in India and it is the only one to have been excavated horizontally which
expose extensive living floors. The site gives insight into the process of acculturation arising out of
coming in contact with full-fledged farming cultures. Hence pair 2 is not correctly matched.
 Gufkral (Kashmir)
o It is an aceramic neolithic site in the Kashmir Valley. Gufkral (literally guf-cave, kral-potter)-a site
inhabited by potters who utilize the caves cut into the karewa-was excavated by the Prehistory Branch
of the Archaeological Survey of India from 18 August to 20 October 1981. On the slopes of the 35 m
high mound, there are a number of caves, both single and multichambered with pillars. Some,
particularly on the southeastern side, are occupied by Krals both for residential and storage
purposes. Hence pair 1 is not correctly matched.
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Q 36.B
 Recent archaeological excavations at Nagardhan in Ramtek taluka, near Nagpur, have provided
concrete evidence on the life, religious affiliations and trade practices of the Vakataka dynasty
(Shaivite rulers) that ruled parts of Central and South India between the third and fifth centuries. Their
state is believed to have extended from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujarat in the north to
the Tungabhadra River in the south as well as from the Arabian Sea in the west to the edges
of Chhattisgarh in the east. Hence options (a) and (c) are correct.
 It is the first time clay sealings have been excavated from Nagardhan. The oval-shaped sealing belongs to
the period when Prabhavatigupta was the queen of the Vakataka dynasty. It bears her name in the Brahmi
script, along with the depiction of a conch.
 The copperplate issued by Queen Prabhavatigupta (the daughter of the Gupta ruler Chandragupta II
and the queen of the Vakataka ruler Rudrasena II) starts with a genealogy of the Guptas, mentioning
the Queen‟s grandfather Samudragupta and her father Chandragupta II. These are strong indicators of
Vaishnava signatures on the royal seals of the Vakatakas, reiterate that Queen Prabhavatigupta was indeed
a powerful woman ruler. Hence option (d) is correct.
 The Vakataka dynasty is believed to have been founded by a Brahmin chieftain named Vindhyashakti
(male) about whom not much is know. Hence option (b) is not correct.

Q 37.D
 Statement 1 is not 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 the 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.
 A distinction was also made between Shudras and untouchables, the latter being treated lower in status
than the Shudras. The untouchables are referred to as chandalas. They lived outside the village and dealt
in unclean jobs such as scavenging or butchery. The Chinese traveler Fa-Hien tells us that whenever they
entered the towns or market places they would strike a piece of wood to announce their arrival so that the
others might not touch them and get polluted.
 Statement 3 is not correct: The status of women continued to decline in the Gupta period. The main
reason for the subordination of women was their complete dependence on men for their livelihood. The
women were not entitled to inherit property. The practice of Swyamvara was given up and the Manusmriti
suggested early marriage for girls.

Q 38.B
 Statement 1 is not correct: Ashoka is considered as one of the greatest kings in Indian history. He is
praised so much for his policy of Dhamma. According to some of scholars Ashoka was a follower of
Buddhism and through Dhamma he tried to propagate the principles of Buddhism. But this does not seem
to be true as Dhamma had nothing to do with the propagation of Buddhism.
o It was a code of conduct or ideal social behaviour common to all religions of the world, which he
appealed to his subjects to follow. Although Ashoka himself believed in Buddhism, he never
discriminated against other faiths or religions.
o Ashokan edicts illustrates that basic attributes of Dhamma included compassion (daya), charity
(dana), truthfulness, purity and gentleness. Pillar EdictIII asks subjects to control violence, cruelty,
anger and envy. Rock edict I call for a ban on animal sacrifice and social gatherings like samaj.
o The Rock Edict II declares measures to be taken for the construction of hospitals, roads, inns, wells
and planting of shade giving trees. Third, Fourth and Twelfth rock edicts ask people to respect
parents, relatives, brahmanas and shramanas (monks).
o Twelfth rock edict is specially important since it says “ the king Piyadassi, the beloved of the
gods, respected all sects whether ascetics or householders, and he honours them with gifts and
honours of various kinds…let an alien sect also be respected on every occasion.” It shows clearly
that neither Dhamma was Buddhism nor Ashoka was trying to convert people to Buddhism.
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  Statement 2 is correct: He appointed a special type of officials called dhamma mahamatras. Their main
function was to over see and supervise the peaceful function of the principles of Dhamma. He appointed
Rajukas for the administration of justice in empire.

Q 39.B
 In the world context the Neolithic age or the new stone age began in 9000 BC. The only known Neolithic
settlement in the Indian subcontinent, attributed to 7000 BC, is in Mehrgarh, which is situated in
Baluchistan, a province of Pakistan. The settlement lay on the edge of the Indus plains. It is called one of
the largest Neolithic settlements between the Indus and the Mediterranean.
 Some Neolithic sites found on the northern spurs of the Vindhyas are considered as old as 5000 BC
but generally Neolithic settlements found in south India are not older than 2500 BC; in some parts
of southern and eastern India they are as late as 1000 BC.
 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. Besides
polished tools of stone, they used microlith blades. The Neolithic people led a settled life and produced
ragi and horse gram (kulathi), and even rice. The Neolithic people of Mehrgarh were more advanced.
They produced wheat and barley and lived in mud-brick houses. People no longer depended on hunting,
fishing and gathering, with cultivation and cattle husbandry providing them food. With new means
of food and shelter, they were on the threshold of civilization/
 During the Neolithic phase, several settlements became acquainted with the cultivation of cereals and the
domestication of animals. So they needed pots in which they could store their food grains, and also pots
for cooking, eating, and drinking. In the early stage they made handmade pottery, later, the Neolithic
people used foot wheels to make pots. It sees that the potter‟s wheel came to Baluchistan from western
Asia and from there it spread across the subcontinent. The Neolithic pottery included black-burnished
ware, grey ware, and mat-impressed ware. Hence, only statement 3 is correct.

Q 40.B
 The importance of trade in the life of the Indus people is supported not only by granaries found at
Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, and Lothal but also by finds of numerous seals, a uniform script, and regulated
weights and measures covering a wide area. The Harappans carried on a considerable trade in stone,
metal, shell, etc. within the Indus cultural zone. However, their cities did not have the necessary raw
material for the commodities they produced.
 The Harappans had no money economy. Like all people in the ancient world, the Harappans too
traded through barter or exchange of goods. Hence they did not use metal money and in all
probability carried exchanges through a barter system. In return for finished goods and possibly food
grains, they procured metals from the neighbouring areas by boats (they navigated the coast of the
Arabian Sea) and bullock-carts. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
 They were aware of the use of the wheel, and carts with solid wheels were in use in Harappa. It
appears that the Harappans used a form of the modern ekka (one-horse carriage) but not with the spoked
wheel. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
 The Harappans had commercial links with Rajasthan, and also with Afghanistan and Iran. They set up a
trading colony in northern Afghanistan which evidently facilitated trade with Central Asia. Their cities
also had commercial links with the people of the Tigris and the Euphrates basins. Many Harappan seals
have been discovered in Mesopotamia, and it appears that the Harappans imitated some cosmetics used
by the urban people of Mesopotamia. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q 41.A
 Statement 1 is correct: The Pala empire dominated eastern India till the middle of the ninth century. It
was founded by Gopala, probably in 750 A.D when he was elected King by the notable men of the area to
end the anarchy prevailing there. He was succeeded by Dharmapala.
 Statement 2 is not correct: Pala rulers were great patrons of Buddhist learning and religion. The Nalanda
University which had been famous all over the eastern world was revived by Dharmapala and 200 villages
were set apart for meeting its expenses. He also founded Vikramsila University which became second
only to Nalanda in fame. It was located on the top of a hill, on the banks of the Ganga in Magadha amidst
pleasant surroundings. The Nalanda University was founded by Gupta emperor Kumargupta I.
 Statement 3 is not correct: The Palas had close trade contacts and cultural links with South-East Asia.
The trade with South-East Asia was very profitable and added greatly to the prosperity of the Pala empire.
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Q 42.D
 Harshavardhana succeeded in establishing a larger kingdom in north India in the beginning of the seventh
century A.D. The regions comprising of modern Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa were
under his direct control. But his sphere of influence was much more extensive. The peripheral states such
as Kashmir, Sind, Valabhi and Kamarupa acknowledged his sovereignty
 Harsha represented this kind of liberal spirit of his time. His ancestors were Saivites, his father was a
devotee of the sun, and his brother was a Buddhist. Harsha became a devotee of all the three, Siva, Surya,
and Buddha. In the later part of his reign, however, later he became an ardent Hinayana Buddhist.
Hiuen Tsang converted him to Mahayana Buddhism. Harsha became an exponent of the Mahayana
form of Buddhism. It is suggested that his strong liking for Mahayanism was due to his close association
with Hiuen Tsang. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
 Harsha represented a kind of liberal spirit of his time. Harsha prohibited the use of animal food in
his kingdom and punished those who kill any living being. He erected thousands of stupas and
established travellers‟ rests all over his kingdom. He also erected monasteries at the sacred places of
Buddhists. Once in five years he convened a gathering of representatives of all religions and honoured
them with gifts and costly presents. He brought the Buddhist monks together frequently to discuss and
examine the Buddhist doctrine. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
 Harsha organized a religious assembly at Kanauj (Kanauj Assembly) to honour the Chinese pilgrim
Hiuen Tsang towards the close of his reign. He invited representatives of all religious sects. Hiuen Tsang
explained the values of Mahayana doctrine and established its superiority over others. Hence statement 3
is correct.
 Hiuen Tsang mentions in his account about the conference held at Allahabad, known as Prayag. It was the
one among the conferences routinely convened by Harsha once in five years. Harsha gave away his
enormous wealth as gifts to the members of all religious sects.

Q 43.C
 Angutara Nikaya, a Buddhist scripture mentions 16 great kingdoms or Mahajanapadas at the
beginning of the 6th century BCE in India. They emerged during the Vedic Age.
 Bimbisara was the first king of Magadha to have standing army and contemporary to the Buddha.
 He was the first who started matrimonial alliances to strengthen its position as a king after defeating
Brahamadutta , the king of Anga.
 He married to the Mahakosaladevi , the princess of Koshala and sister of the Kosala prince Prasanjit,
Licchhavi princes Chellana and Khema ,princess of Madra clan of Punjab. Hence, pair 2 is correctly
matched.
 Mahajanapada of Avanti with its capital at Ujjain under the king Chanda Pradyota Mahasena was a
serious rival of Magadha. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.
 But, both of them ultimately thought it is wise to become friends and Bimbisara even sent his physician
Jivaka to cure Pradyota of Jaundice.
 Vasudeva I was a Kushan emperor, last of the "Great Kushans." His name, Vasudeva, is that of the
father of Krishna, the popular Hindu God, and he was the first Kushan king to be named after the Indian
God. He converted to Hinduism during his reign. His name reinforces the notion that his center of power
was in Mathura. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched

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.D
 Chola dynasty was one of the longest-ruling in South India apart from Chera and Pandya. It continued to
govern over varying territory until the 13th century CE.
 Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I, Kulothunga Chola I, etc were some of the notable rulers.
 Administrative Setup
o The administrative unit was the village and they enjoyed a significant degree of autonomy.
o It was based more or less on democratic principles and most of the business was carried on by the
popular assemblies. Among others, there were two major important assemblies:
 Ur: It was the general assembly of the village where local residents discussed their matters
without any formal rule or procedure.
 Sabha or Mahasabha: It was the most popular assembly where only the adult from brahmana
village (called agraharas) took part.
 The scope of functioning of the Gram Sabha was too extensive.
 It held the ownership of public land.
 It could levy and collect taxes, make payments, maintained charitable institutions and
performed works of public utility.
 It could raise loans for the benefit of the village.
 It was empowered to assess and collect land revenue for maintenance of law and order,
justice etc.
 Nagaram: It was the local merchant guilds in towns. They promoted trade and commerce in addition to
determine taxes on mercantile groups, commercial formats and industrial activities.
 Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 46.B
 During the Mahajanapada period various factors lead to the rise of Magadha Empire:
o Enterprising and ambitious rulers such as Bimbisara, Ajatashatru and Mahapadma Nanda,
employed all means, fair and foul, at their disposal to enlarge their kingdoms and strengthen their
states.
o Magadha enjoyed an advantageous geographical position in the age of iron, the richest iron
deposits were situated not far away from Rajgir, the earliest capital of Magadha. This helped them
equip with effective weapons.
o The earlier capital Rajgir was surrounded by a group of five hills, and so it was rendered
impregnable in those days when there was no easy means of storming citadels such as cannons which
came to invented much later.
o Patliputra was situated at the confluence of the Ganga, the Gandak and the Son, and a fourth river
called the Ghaghra joined the Ganga not far from Pataliputra. Pataliputra therefore was a true
water-fort (jaladurga). Hence, statement 1 is correct.
o Magadha lay at the centre of the middle Gangetic plain, this naturally enabled the peasants to
produce considerable surplus, which could be mopped up by the rulers in the form of taxes. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
o Also, it was the first state to use elephants on large scale in its wars against its neighbours, that
helped in storming fortresses and in marching over marshy areas lacking roads.
o They were also benefitted by the rise of towns and the use of metal money. On account of trade and
commerce in north-east India, the princes could levy tolls on the sale of commodities and accumulate
wealth to pay and maintain their army. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
17 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
Q 47.A
 The political developments after Harshavardhan, can be best understood if we divide the period from AD
750 to AD 1200 into two parts (a) AD 750–AD 1000; (b) AD 1000–AD 1200. The first phase was marked
by the growth of three important political powers in India. These were Gurjara Pratiharas in north
India, Palas in eastern India, and Rashtrakutas in South India. In the second phase, we notice the
break-up of these powers. It resulted in the rise of many smaller kingdoms all over the country. Hence
statement 1 is correct.
 These powers were constantly fighting with each other to set up their control of Kannauj of the Gangetic
region in northern India. The struggle for control over Kannauj among these three dynasties is known as
the tripartite struggle in Indian history. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
o Control of Kanauj also implied control of the upper Gangetic valley and its rich resources in trade and
agriculture.
 The Pratiharas who first had their capital at Bhinmal gained prominence under Nagabhatta I who offered
stout resistance to the Arab rulers of Sind who were trying to encroach on Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, etc.
However, the real founder of the Pratihara empire and the greatest ruler of the dynasty was Bhoja. He
rebuilt the empire, and by about 836 he had recovered Kanauj which remained the capital of the
Pratiharaempire for almost a century
 In the south, Dantidurga was the founder of the dynasty called, the Rashtrakuta dynasty (8th AD).
The capital of the Rashtrakutas was Manyakheta or Malkhed near Sholapur. It was under the king
Dhruva that the Rashtrakutas turned towards north India in a bid to control Kannauj, then the
imperial city.
o Soon, the Rashtrakuta king Dhruva from south India jumped into the fight. And thus began what is
known as „Tripartite Struggle‟ i.e struggle among three powers.
 The Pala empire was founded by Gopala, probably in AD 750 when he was elected king by the notable
men of the area to end the anarchy prevailing there. Gopala was succeeded in AD 770by his son,
Dharmapala, who ruled till AD 810. His reign was marked by a tripartite struggle between the Palas, the
Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas for the control of Kanauj and north India.

Q 48.A
 The Kanva dynasty overthrew the Shunga dynasty in parts of eastern and central India and ruled from 75
BCE to 30 BCE. Vasudeva Kanva was the founder of the Kanva dynasty. The Kanva dynasty ruled for 45
years. After the fall of the Kanvas, the history of Magatha was blank until the establishment of the Gupta
dynasty.
 About a hundred years after Ajatashatru‟s demise, the Nandas became the emperors of Magadha in 362
BCE. Nandas rule reigned from 345BC to 322 BC. The first Nanda ruler was Mahapadma. An
inscription found in the famous Hathigumpha of Kharavela refers to the conquest of Kalinga by a ruler of
the Nanda dynasty (probably Mahapadma Nanda). In 326 BC when Alexander invaded India the last of
the Nandas, Dhana Nanda was ruling Magadha.
 In the Deccan, the Satavahanas established their independent rule after the decline of the Mauryas in
the first century CE (100 BC).
The term “Satvahana” originated from the Prakrit which means ” driven by seven” which is an implication
of the Sun God‟s chariot that is driven by seven horses as per Hindu mythology. The first king of the
Satavahana dynasty was Simuka. Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest of the Satavahana kings. The
inscription of his mother Gautami Balashri at Nashik mentions him as the conqueror of the Shakas,
Pahlavas, and Yavanas. Their rule lasted for about 450 years. The Satavahana Empire declined around the
3rd century CE and was replaced by the Ikshvakus.
The Gupta Empire existed from the mid-to-late 3rd century CE to 543 CE. The ruling dynasty of the
empire was founded by king Sri Gupta. The most notable rulers of the dynasty were Chandragupta I,
Samudragupta, and Chandragupta IIalias Vikramaditya. The empire eventually died out mainly due to
invasion by the Huna peoples from Central Asia in the 6th century CE.
 Hence option (a) is the correct answer.
18 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
Q 49.B
 One of the earliest important rulers of Magadh was the king Bimbisara, who ruled for 52 years from 544
BC to 492 BC. He established the Haryanka dynasty laid the foundations of Magadha by fortification of a
village, which later became the city of Pataliputra. Bimbisara's made Girivraja (Rajgir) as the capital
whereas his son Ajatashatru founded the city of Pataliputra in the 5th century BCE. It was, Udaya
(Udayin), the son of Ajatashatru, who made it the capital of Magadha, which it remained until the
1st century BCE. Hence statement 3 is not correct.
 He pursued a three-pronged policy, namely, matrimonial alliances, friendship with strong rulers
and conquest of weak neighbours to expand the empire. Hence statement 2 is correct.
 Under the policy of matrimonial alliances, he married the sister of Prasenjit, the king of Kosala. She
brought in dowry the territory of Kashi, which yielded a revenue of 1,00,000 coins. The control over Kasi
and friendship with Prasenajit allowed Magadh to concentrate on other areas. His other wives were
daughters of the chiefs of Lichchavi and Madra (middle Punjab) respectively. He also conquered Anga by
defeating its ruler Brahmadatta. Anga and especially its capital Champa were important for the inland and
maritime trade. Thus, Kashi and conquest of Anga became the launching pad for the expansion of
Magadh.
 Bimbisara was contemporary of both Mahavira and Buddha. The Jain texts mention that he was a
disciple of Lord Mahavira. The Buddhist texts mention that he met Buddha before enlightenment. Buddha
promised him to visit his capital after he gets enlightenment. He was a patron of Buddha. Hence
statement 1 is correct.

Q 50.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.

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1 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
1. In the context of Medieval India, Kornish, 4. "During his reign, the Cholas expanded
Chahar taslim and Zaminbos were: beyond South India with their domains
stretching from Sri Lanka in the south to
(a) Forms of salutations
Kalinga in the north. The texts of the Tamil
(b) Types of educational institutes poets Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar were
(c) Architectural designs collected and edited into one compilation
(d) Forms of slavery system called Thirumurai. Chudamani Vihara, a
Buddhist monastery at Nagapattinam was
built by a Srivijiyan king during his time."
2. Consider the following statements with The above passage best describes which of
reference to ‘Ain-i-Dahsala System’: the following Chola rulers?
(a) Rajadhiraja Chola
1. The system was introduced by Sher
(b) Vijayalaya Chola
Shah Suri as part of reforms related to
(c) Raja Raja I
land. (d) Rajendra I
2. The system decided a fixed crop rate
5. Consider the following statements about the
only on the basis of current productivity
taxation system in the Vijayanagara Empire:
of the land. 1. There was a complete absence of taxes
Which of the statements given above is/are on any industry.
not correct? 2. Merchant guilds and craft guilds had the
right to levy taxes on common people.
(a) 1 only
3. Taxes were the same for both the rich
(b) 2 only and poor farmers.
(c) Both 1 and 2 4. No tax was levied on foreign traders to
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 encourage foreign trade and commerce.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
3. Which of the following initiatives was/were (a) 1 and 3 only
taken by Sultan Muhammed Bin Tughlaq (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
during his reign? (c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
1. Under his reign State facilitated
agricultural loans to the peasants called 6. Consider the following statements, with
"sondhar". reference to “Mansabdari System”:
2. He was the first person in the Asia to 1. This system was introduced by Akbar in
order to maintain a strong army.
start a token currency.
2. The salary of the soldiers was paid by
3. He also established a new department assigning them jagirs and not in cash.
called "Diwan-i- bandagan" for slaves. 3. Mansabdars maintained horses,
Select the correct answer using the code elephants, camels and carts under the
expenditure of the state.
given below.
Which of the statements given above is/are
(a) 1 only correct?
(b) 1 and 2 only (a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3
2 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
7. Which of the following is correct 11. With reference to the politico-administrative
regarding Tauhid-i-ilahi, a new faith situation during the Vijaynagara rule, which
promulgated by Akbar? of the following statements is/are correct?
(a) It believed in the supremacy of religious 1. The ruler of Vijayanagara was aided and
scriptures. assisted by a council of ministers.
(b) Only those approved by Akbar were 2. The Palegars or military chiefs had
allowed to join as a member. become so powerful that sometimes it
(c) It was used as a tool to assert became difficult for the Vijaynagara
political authority of ruler over the rulers to control them.
subjects. 3. Following the Mughal terminology, the
(d) The members were paid one time rulers of Vijayanagara divided their
monetary incentive to join the order. kingdom into subas and further into
sarkars.
8. Which one of the following foreign Select the correct answer using the code
travellers was an Italian doctor who never given below.
returned to Europe and settled down in (a) 1 only
India? (b) 1 and 2 only
(a) Niccolao Manucci (c) 1, 2 and 3
(b) Duarte Barbosa (d) 3 only
(c) Francois Bernier
(d) Marco Polo 12. Which of the following reasons led to the
defeat of Rajputs by the Turks in the early
9. Which of the following European travellers
medieval period?
came in India during Akbar's reign?
1. Turks had superior weapons.
1. Ralph Fitch
2. Turks had the advantage of possessing
2. Peter Mundy
elephants.
3. Manucci
3. Iqta and Khalisa system enabled the
Select the correct answer using the code
Turks to maintain a large standing army.
given below.
Select the correct answer using the code
(a) 1 and 2 only
given below.
(b) 2 and 3 only
(a) 1 only
(c) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 3 only
10. Consider the following statements regarding (d) 2 and 3 only
Rajendra Chola I:
1. The Cholas undertook military 13. 'A contemporary of Babur, he established his
expeditions to Sri Lanka and Sri Vijaya empire with its capital in Sasaram in
during his reign. modern-day Bihar. He is known for the
2. Pallippadai was a Vaishnava monastic reintroduction of the branding system (dagh)
establishment built by him. of the horses and descriptive rolls (chehra).
3. Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was a The notable hindi work, Padmavat was
contemporary of Rajendra I. compiled during his reign'.
Which of the statements given above is/are Who among the following is being described
correct? in the above passage?
(a) 1 and 2 only (a) Bahlul Lodhi
(b) 2 only (b) Sher Shah Suri
(c) 3 only (c) Islam Shah
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (d) Krishna Deva Raya
3 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
14. With reference to the administrative system 17. Consider the following pairs:
under Delhi Sultanate, consider the Medieval Port Region
following statements: 1. Tamralipti : Maharastra
1. In Delhi Sultanate, Sultan was the 2. Chaul : Bengal
commander-in-chief of the army. 3. Masulipatnam : Andhra Pradesh
2. Agriculture department named Diwan-i- Which of the pairs given above is/are
Kohi was established by Mohammed- correctly matched?
Bin-Tughlaq. (a) 1 and 2 only
3. Diwan-i-Risalat was established to look
(b) 2 and 3 only
after industrial development.
(c) 3 only
Which of the statements given above are
(d) 1, 2 and 3
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
18. Consider the following passage:
(b) 1 and 3 only
“It is an account of a foreign traveller who
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 visited India during the tenth-eleventh
century. Written in Arabic, this text has
15. With reference to the slave trade in medieval content on subjects such as religion and
India, consider the following statements: philosophy, festivals, astronomy, laws etc.
1. Deccan sultanates were systematically Each chapter begins with a question,
recruiting slaves from ethnic followed by a description based on
communities of Abyssinian highlands. Sanskritic traditions, and concluding with a
2. Ibn Battuta called them ‘guarantors of comparison with other cultures.”
safety’ for ships traveling in the Indian Which of the following text is being referred
Ocean. to in the above passage?
3. The present city of Aurangabad was (a) Rihla
founded by an African slave. (b) Kitab-ul-Hind
Which of the statements given above is/are (c) Al-Tafhim
correct? (d) Kashful-Mahjub
(a) 2 only
(b) 1 and 2 only 19. Consider the following statements
(c) 1 and 3 only
regarding 'amara-nayakas' in Vijaynagar
(d) 1, 2 and 3
empire:
1. They were military commanders.
16. In the context of medieval India, consider
2. They collected taxes from the peasants
the following statements regarding the Iqta
for both personal use and for
system:
maintaining a stipulated contingent of
1. In India, iqta system was introduced by
Mahmud of Ghazni horses and elephants.
2. Iqtas were granted only for 3. They were given fixed territories and
administrative and revenue purposes. were never transferred to another place .
Which of the statements given above is/are Which of the statements given above is/are
correct? correct?
(a) 1 only (a) 1 only
(b) 2 only (b) 1 and 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (c) 2 and 3 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) 1, 2 and 3
4 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
20. With reference to the administrative units 23. With reference to events which occurred
under Delhi Sultanate, consider the during the reign of Shahjahan, which of the
following statements: following statements is not correct?
1. 'Iqta' was the highest unit of (a) The capital of the mughal empire was
administration which was headed by shifted from Agra to Delhi.
Amils. (b) Monthly scale was introduced in
2. 'Parganas' were a group of villages Mansabdari system.
which was headed by the Muqtis or (c) Foreign traveler Bernier visited the
Walis.
Mughal court.
3. The 'Muqaddams' were associated with
(d) Jats and Satnamis raised the banner of
village administration.
rebellion.
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
24. With reference to medieval Indian history,
(a) 1 only
what is Din Panah?
(b) 1 and 2 only
(a) A religious faith started by Sher Shah
(c) 3 only
Suri
(d) 2 and 3 only
(b) A city established by Humayun on the

21. In the context of medieval India, 'Chola lake' bank of Yamuna river.
refers to the: (c) A form of charity done by rulers of
(a) Kallanai dam, which was built across the Vijayanagar.
river Cauvery to divert water for (d) Group of Sufi saints who migrated to
irrigation. South East Asia.
(b) Coromandal coast to suggest the strong
trade links of Chola empire with South- 25. Ibn Battuta, a Moroccan scholar visited India
East Asia. during Medieval period and recorded the
(c) Sivaganga tank, which was a rain water general conditions and culture at that time.
harvesting system to collect water for In this context consider the following
the Brihadiswara temple at Tanjore. statements.
(d) Bay of Bengal to suggest the strong 1. He visited Vijayanagara empire during
presence of Chola navy. the reign of King Krishnadevaraya.
2. The Uluq and Dawa systems of
22. Consider the following statements regarding
communication were clearly described
zamindars during the Mughal period:
in his writings.
1. The ownership of land held by
3. He found cities in Indian subcontinent
zamindars was hereditary.
sparsely populated due to decline in
2. They were the owners of all the land
employment opportunities.
comprising their zamindari.
Which of the statements given above is/are
Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
correct?
(a) 2 only
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only (b) 1 and 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2 (c) 1 and 3 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (d) 1, 2 and 3
5 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
26. Consider the following statements: 29. Which of the following statements is/are
1. Battle of Bannihatti was fought between correct about the reign of Firoz Tughlaq?
Sultanates of Deccan and Vijayanagar 1. He established firm control over Bengal.
Kingdom in 1565. 2. He disregarded the advice of the ulemas.
2. The battle led to the fall of Vijayanagar 3. He abolished slavery.
Select the correct answer using the code
kingdom and consolidation of Bahmani
given below.
kingdom in Deccan.
(a) 3 only
Which of the statements given above is/are
(b) 1, 2 and 3
correct?
(c) 1 and 2 only
(a) 1 only (d) None
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 30. Which of the following events in Indian
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 history happened earliest?
(a) Emergence of the Sultanate of Golconda
27. Arrange the following administrative units (b) Conquest of Goa by the Portuguese
during the time of Delhi Sultanate from the (c) Establishment of the Bahmani kingdom
smallest to the largest unit of administration: (d) Establishment of the Mughal Empire by
1. Iqtas Babur
2. Shiqs
31. With reference to the Vijayanagara empire,
3. Pargana
arrange the following dynasties in the
Select the correct answer using the code
chronological order:
given below.
1. Sangama
(a) 1-2-3
2. Saluvas
(b) 2-1-3 3. Tuluvas
(c) 3-2-1 4. Aravidu
(d) 1-3-2 Select the correct answer using the code
given below.
28. Consider the following statements regarding (a) 1-2-3-4
the Vijayanagara Empire: (b) 1-3-4-2
1. Vijayanagara kings claimed to rule on (c) 2-3-1-4
behalf of the god Virupaksha. (d) 4-3-2-1
2. A distinctive feature of Brahmans in the
empire was that they manned political 32. Consider the following cities and the
corresponding dynasties under which they
posts and served as military commanders
were founded:
apart from their ritual role.
City Founded by
3. The rule of primogeniture was well-
1. Jaunpur : Khalji Dynasty
established during the Vijayanagara
2. Agra : Lodhi Dynasty
empire. 3. Hisar : Tughlaq Dynasty
Which of the statements given above Which of the pairs given above are correctly
is/are correct? matched?
(a) 1 only (a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
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33. Consider the following statements with 36. With reference to Babur’s conquest of India,
reference to the administration by Sher Shah which of the following statements is/are
Suri: correct?
1. He reformed the central administrative 1. Control over Kabul and Qandahar gave a
machinery to promote decentralization
boost to India's foreign trade.
of power.
2. Cultural development received impetus
2. He made the local village headmen and
zamindars responsible for loss suffered with the amalgamation of Persian and
by a merchant on account of the robbery. Indian themes.
3. To promote the growth of trade and 3. Use of gun-powder in India for the first
commerce he allowed local revenue time.
collectors to levy customs at roads, Select the correct answer using the code
ferries, towns or anywhere else. given below.
Which of the statements given above is/are
(a) 1 and 2 only
correct?
(b) 3 only
(a) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
37. Which one of the following foreign
34. Consider the following terms prevalent travellers was a physician and wrote
during the Mughal period: extensively on Mughal Empire?
Terms Meaning/Duty (a) Francois Bernier
1. Amil : Person who looked
(b) Marco Polo
after law and order
(c) Ibn Battuta
2. Muqaddam : Local village headmen
(d) Abdur Razzaq
3. Shiqdar : Looked after collection
of Land Revenue
4. Barid : Intelligence Officer 38. With reference to Chola rulers, consider the
Which of the pairs given above are not following statements:
correctly matched? 1. Raja Raja Chola assumed the title of
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Gangaikondachola (‘the Chola who
(b) 1 and 3 only conquered the Ganga’).
(c) 2 and 4 only
2. Rajendra Chola I destroyed the Chera
(d) None of the above
navy at Trivandrum, and later captured

35. Consider the following pairs: Madurai, the capital of Pandyas.

Deccan Sultanates Dynasty 3. The Chola rulers marked their victories
1. Ahmadnagar : Nizam Shahi by erecting temples and having
2. Bijapur : Adil Shahi inscriptions written on the walls of these
3. Golkonda : Qutb Shahi temples.
4. Berar : Farooqi Which of the statements given above is/are
How many pairs given above are correctly
correct?
matched?
(a) 3 only
(a) Only one pair
(b) 2 and 3 only
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs (c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) All four pairs (d) 1 and 2 only
7 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
39. With reference to Alauddin Khalji's Deccan 42. Which of the following statements is not
campaigns, which of the following correct about Mir Bakshi?
statements is/are correct? (a) He was head of the military department
1. The aim of these invasions was to annex under the Akbar administartion.
the Southern Kingdoms so as to increase (b) He made recommendations for
the territorial reach of the Delhi appointment of mansabdars to the
Sultanate. Emperor.
2. The Deccan policy led to huge financial (c) He was responsible for all charitable and
drains for the Delhi Sultanate owing to religious endowments.

the need for maintenance of huge army. (d) He collected reports of intelligence and

Select the correct answer using the code information agency of the empire and
presented them to the Emperor at the
given below.
court.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
43. Consider the following pairs, with reference
(c) Both 1 and 2
to the classification of land during the
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Mughal period:
Land Meaning
40. Which of the following statements is not
1. Parati : Land fallow for two-three
correct regarding 'Jizya'?
years
(a) Jizya was a poll tax accepted and
2. Chachar : Uncultivated land for more
mandatory under sharia.
than 5 years
(b) The tax was first introduced during the
3. Polaj : Under cultivation every
reign of Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
year
(c) The tax was forcefully collected from
Which of the pairs given above is/are
non-muslim communities. correctly matched?
(d) Aurangzeb, reimposed jaziya with no (a) 3 only
exemptions for any sections of citizens. (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
41. Consider the following passage : (d) 1, 2 and 3 only
He was a great builder of cave temples at
places like Mandagapattu, etc. He authored 44. Consider the following passage:
the Sanskrit work Mattavilasa Prahasanam. "It was a suburban township near
For his talent in paintings, he is given the Vijayanagara. It was founded by
title Chitrakarapuli. He was also an expert Krishnadeva Raya who named it after his
in music. mother."
Who among the following is being described Which of the following is being referred to
in the above passage? in the above passage?
(a) Mahendravarman I (a) Hampi
(b) Narasimhavarman I (b) Talikota
(c) Rajasimha (c) Penukonda
(d) Pulakesin II (d) Nagalapuram
8 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
45. With reference to Karkhanas in medieval 48. Which of the following statements is not
India, consider the following statements: correct regarding Iltutmish?
1. Goods manufactured in the Karkhanas
were primarily meant for exports. (a) He was the first ruler to have issued
2. Apart from royal capitals, karkhanas purely Arabic coinage in India.
were also established in provincial (b) He introduced the Iqtadari system in
capitals.
India.
3. During the Mughal era, Karkhanas were
headed by officers called Mir Saman. (c) He followed a policy of aggression
Which of the statements given above are against the Mongols.
correct?
(d) He organised an elite corp of Turkish
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only slaves referred to as turkan-i-chihalgan.
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
49. Consider the following pairs:

46. With reference to the medieval history of Old Name Modern Name
India, the terms 'Dahsala', 'Batai' and 1. Quilon : Kollam
'Nasaq' are related to:
2. Waltair : Vishakhapatnam
(a) branding of horses with imperial marks.
(b) rituals conducted during coronation of a 3. Pragjyotishpur : Prayagraj
new king. Which of the pairs given above is/are
(c) administrative posts during rule of correctly matched?
Tughlaq dynasty.
(d) land revenue systems during Akbar's (a) 1 only
reign. (b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
47. Consider the following statements regarding
(d) 1, 2 and 3
the social system during the period of the
Delhi Sultanate:
1. The practice of Sati was negligible or 50. In the context of the economic history of
completely absent during this period.
India, the terms
2. The different ethnic and racial groups
within the Muslim society mixed freely 'Manya', Amara', 'Bhandaravada' refer to
and practiced intermarriages among (a) important trading centres during
them.
Rashtrakuta period.
3. The practice of Slavery flourished with
the establishment of slave markets for (b) land tenure systems during Vijayanagar
both men and women. empire.
Which of the statements given above is/are
(c) banker's guilds existing during the Gupta
correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only period.
(b) 2 and 3 only (d) types of road networks built during Sher
(c) 3 only
Shah dynasty.
(d) 1, 2 and 3

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 VISIONIAS
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ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS
G.S. PRE. (2025) MINI TEST – 5518

Q 1.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.
 Chahar taslim is a mode of salutation which begins with placing the back of the right hand on the
ground, and raising it gently till the person stands erect, then he puts the palm of his hand upon the crown
of his head. It is done four (chahar) times. Taslim literally means submission.
 The forms of salutation to the ruler indicated the person‟s status in the hierarchy: deeper prostration
represented higher status. The highest form of submission was sijda or complete prostration. Under Shah
Jahan these rituals were replaced with chahar taslim and zaminbos (kissing the ground).

Q 2.C
 Statement 1 is not correct: Akbar adopted Sher Shah‘s administrative system. However, he did not find
it that much beneficial hence he had started his own administrative system. So in 1580, Akbar instituted a
new system called the dahsala, which formed part of his Land revenue administration.
 Statement 2 is not correct: Under this system, the average produce of different crops along with the
average prices prevailing over the last ten (dah) years was calculated.
 However, the state demand was stated in cash. One-third of the average produce was demand of state.
This was done by converting the state share into money on the basis of a schedule of average prices over
the past ten years.
 Akbar also introduced a new land measurement system (known as the zabti system) covering from
Lahore to Allahabad, including Malwa and Gujarat.
 Under the zabti system, the shown area was measured by means of the bamboos attached with iron
rings.
 The zabti system, originally, is associated with Raja Todar Mal (one of the nobles of Akbar), therefore,
sometimes, it is called as Todar Mal's bandobast. Todar Mal was a brilliant revenue officer of his time.
He first served on Sher Shah‘s court, but later joined Akbar.
 Besides zabti system, a number of other systems of assessment were also introduced by Akbar. The most
common and, perhaps the oldest one was „batai‟ or „ghalla-bakshi'.

Q 3.A
About Sultan Muhammed bin Tughlaq :
 Muhammad was a man of great contrasts. He was an energetic and innovative administrator, a fine
military leader, had a keen sense of justice and morality, and was very generous. He was also learned in a
variety of subjects and literature. His tenure of twenty-six years as Sultan of Dehli is a fascinating but
tragic story of schemes and projects which were correctly conceived, badly executed and disastrously
abandoned. He introduced new economic and administrative measures to lessen the tax burden, to develop
agriculture, improve the administration of justice and other things.
 His three main experiments which failed are as follows for which he is known by some modern historians
as a mad king. (i) Capital Transfer from Dehli to Deogiri (Daulatabad ). (ii) The Khurasan and
Karachil expeditions. (iii) The introduction of token currency.
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  The experiment in token currency was not new in Asia. Under Qublai Khan (1260-94) of China and
Kaikhatu Khan of Iran (1293) similar attempts at introducing a token currency had been made. The token
currency made of paper introduced by Qublai Khan was known as chan which had lasted throughout his
reign till his death in 1294. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
 Along with it Sultan Muhammed bin Tughlaq also facilitated agricultural loan called sondhar. Hence
statement 1 is correct.
 "Diwan-i-bandagaan" was a department concerned with the slaves, established by Sultan Ferozshah
Tughlaq. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Q 4.C
 Rajaraja Chola I - During his reign, the Cholas expanded beyond South India with their domains
stretching from Sri Lanka in the south to Kalinga in the north. Raja Raja Chola also launched several
naval campaigns that resulted in the capture of the Malabar Coast as well as the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Raja Raja built the Brihadeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. During his reign, the texts of the Tamil poets
Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar were collected and edited into one compilation called
Thirumurai. Chudamani Vihara was a Buddhist vihara monastery in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu,
India. Chudamani Vihara was constructed in 1006 CE by the Srivijayan king Sri Vijaya
Soolamanivarman with the patronage of Rajaraja Chola. Hence option (c) is the correct answer.
 Rajadhiraja Chola - He maintained the Chola authority over most of Lanka, Vengi, Kalinga, etc. He
performed the horse sacrifice and earned the title Jayamkonda Cholan (The Victorious Cholan). He was
also known as Vijaya Rajendra Cholan (the victorious Rajendra Chola). He also assumed the title
Jayangonda Chola.
 Vijayalaya Chola - A minor chiefly family known as the Muttaraiyar held power in the Kaveri delta. They
were subordinate to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. Vijayalaya, who belonged to the ancient chiefly
family of the Cholas from Uraiyur, captured the delta from the Muttaraiyar in the middle of the ninth
century. He built the town of Thanjavur and a temple for goddess Nishumbhasudini there.
 Rajendra I: is considered as the greatest Chola ruler. He completed the conquest of Sri Lanka in 1017
AD and captured the whole of Sri Lanka and made it a part of Chola empire. He suppressed the rebellions
of a captured portion of the Krishna Tungabhadra doab. He maintained friendly relations with Chalukyas
of Vengi. He launched an expedition to Orissa and maintained matrimonial relations with the Ganga
dynasty of Orissa. He then reached Bengal and defeated the Pala ruler of Bengal, Mahipala. Rajendra I
then assumed the title of Gangaikonda and founded a capital by the name Gangaikondacholapuram. His
expedition to Bengal along the east coast was undertaken to establish Chola domination over the Bay of
Bengal that it was called the Chola Lake. He had a well organized naval fleet with which he launched a
100 years naval war with Sailendra rulers of Sumatra. He sent two embassies to China for promoting trade
and commerce.

Q 5.C
 Statement 1 is not correct: There was a defined system of taxation on industries in the Vijayanagara
Kingdom. Several industries were monopolized, while several others were left open for all. The
industries were levied taxes according to the production and demand for the goods. One of the best
available examples is the tax on oil pressing industries. The oil crushing industry was subjected to a
number of taxes levied by the state. Epigraphs of the period refer to the taxes levied on oil-mill known as
Ganasidhaya. It was also a practice that each oil mill was required to bear an official stamp and for
offering this stamp the government collected a tax.
 Statement 2 is correct: As in ancient Karnataka even during the period of Vijayanagara guilds continued
to play an important role in the commercial life of the people and towns. They were nothing but the
assemblies of merchants of the town. It was a free and voluntary association of individuals. During the
Vijayanagara period, there were guilds of various professions such as goldsmiths guild, weavers guild,
cloth dyers guild, oil millers guild, potters guild, cobblers guild, barbers guild and washermen guild etc. It
appears that there were at least eighteen such guilds in the empire. The craftsmen, as well as the
mercantile groups in medieval South India, were organized in corporations. Economically they were very
sound. They used to give loans on interest to their respective members. These guilds played an important
role in the commercial life of the Capital City. As they had close contact with different people they played
an important role in the administration of the local area. They derived income from different sources such
as contributions from the members, profit from the banking operations, participation in the tax forming
system and income from the corporate property. These different guilds were representative in character
and safeguarded the interests of the local people. Even the officials of the state never interfered with the
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 rights of these guild assemblies. The prosperity of the guilds encouraged them to make liberal grants to
temples and they also constructed tanks. The Pattanasvami was the head of the mercantile community
of a town. He levied and collected the revenues at the time of fairs. And during the market days, he
collected taxes from different shops and from merchants. The guilds enjoyed certain powers to levy
local taxes and they spent the collected taxes for some good purpose.
 Statement 3 is not correct:: The system of progressive taxation perhaps owes its origin to emperor
Krishnadevraya of Vijayanagar who maintained that taxes should not be levied at flat rates and the
amount of tax levied must depend on on the income of the farmer. The taxation system was quite
progressive. On the goods which were not luxury and equally used by all communities the tax levied was
the same, while for luxury goods, the taxes were greater for rich classes but lower for poor classes.
 Statement 4 is not correct: The Vijayanagara empire for the first time in medieval times developed good
contacts with foreign merchants like Portuguese and Arab. Barbosa in his account has made a good
narration of the foreign trade how it passed from the hands of Muslims to the Portuguese. With the
coming of Portuguese towards the close of the 15th century, this monopoly of the Muslim traders was
broken. Even during the time of Praudhadevaraya till about the commencement of the sixteenth century,
the horse trade was largely in the hands of Muslim traders. Bhatkal, Honnavara, Mangalore and Goa were
the important harbours or ports at that time. The Ormuz ships were coming to Bhatkal with horses and
pearls. Other imports were elephants, copper, coral, mercury, vermilion, china silk, and velvet. Elephants
were imported from Ceylon and silk from China. Taxes were collected from foreign merchants, which
was also a source of income to the state. Articles like cloth, rice, iron, saltpeter, sugar and spices were
exported to Portugal. Some of the important port towns were Ankola, Calicut, Basrur, Barakur and
Mangalore. Foodgrains were exported to Maldives Islands, Ormuz and Aden. Iron ore was purchased by
the Portuguese. Sugar was exported to Ormuz. Ships came from Mecca to Bhatkal for spices. Foreign
trade was also there with Malacca, Pegu and Sumatra. Thus, foreign trade attracted a large number of
merchants, both Indian and foreign merchants to purchase their required materials from the Vijayanagara
market. Foreign trade greatly enriched the Vijayanagara City.

Q 6.A
 Statement 1 is correct: Akbar organized and strengthened his army and encouraged the mansabdari
system. ―Mansab‖ is an Arabic word, which means „rank‟ or „position'.
 Under the mansabdari system, every officer was assigned a rank (mansab). The lowest rank was 10, and
the highest was 5,000 for the nobles; however, towards the end of the reign, it was raised to 7,000. Princes
of the blood received higher mansabs.
 The mansabs (ranks) were categorized as Zat and Sawar.
 The word „zat‘ means personal. It fixed the personal status of a person, and also his salary.
 The ‗sawar‘ rank indicated the number of cavalrymen (sawars) a person was required to maintain.
 Statement 2 is not correct: The Mughal mansabdars were paid very handsomely; in fact, their salaries
were probably the highest in the world at the time.
 A mansabdar, holding the rank of −
- 100 zat, received a monthly salary of Rs. 500/month.
- 1,000 zat received Rs. 4,400/month.
- 5,000 zat received Rs. 30,000/month.
 Mansabdars were also paid by assigning them jagirs.
 Statement 3 is not correct; Out of his personal pay, the mansabdar was expected to maintain a corps
of elephants, camels, mules, and carts, which were necessary for the transport of the army.

Q 7.B
 Tauhid-i-Ilahi
o It was a new Sufi type order initiated by Akbar in 1582.
o Many times it‘s written as Din-i-Ilahi. But the original word is Tauhid and not Din. Din means Faith.
Din was applied to it 80 years later.
o He wished to propagate his ideas among those who cared to listen to them. Akbar wished to build up a
devoted band of people around him, acting as their spiritual guide. Thus tauhid-i-ilahi had nothing to
do with Akbar's religious or political policy. Hence option (c) is not correct.
 Philosophy
o The religious doctrine of Akbar recognized no prophets.
o It favored peace and tolerance.
o It prohibited human vices such as slander, pride, sensuality and lust.
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 o The celibacy was respected while the slaughter of animals was forbidden in the new religion.
o The sect had no sacred book or scripture, no priestly hierarchy, no sacred place of worship and no
rituals or ceremonies except that of initiation. Hence option (a) is not correct.
 A member had to give a written promise of having accepted the four grades of entire devotion, viz
the sacrifice of property, life, honor, and religion
 Membership
o It was voluntary and only those, who were approved by Akbar were allowed to join the order. Hence
option (b) is correct.
o Neither force nor money was employed to enlist disciples. Hence option (d) is not correct.
o Many leading nobles except Birbal declined to join.
o It was entirely a personal matter, not between the Emperor and the subjects, but between Akbar and
those who chose to regard him as their pir or guru.

Q 8.A
 Niccolao Manucci was an Italian doctor, writer and traveller. He wrote a memoir about the Indian
subcontinent during the Mughal era. His records have been a source of history about Shah
Jahan, Aurangzeb, Shivaji Maharaj, Dara Shikoh, Shah Alam, Raja Jai Singh and Kirat Singh.
 He is famous for his work "Storia do Mogor", an account of Mughal history and life. Manucci had first-
hand knowledge of the Mughal court, and the book is considered to be the most detailed account of the
Mughal court. It is an important account of the time of the later reign of Shah Jahan and of the reign
of Aurangzeb.
 He spent almost all his adult life in India and breathed his last in Chennai. He arrived in Surat as a
17-year-old in 1656 and never went back.
 Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
 Duarte Barbosa
o He was a Portuguese trading agent at Cannanore and Cochin in between 1503 and 1517 and had left
behind an interesting account on trade and political events of the southeast including Bengal.
 Francois Bernier
o François Bernier was a French physician and traveller. He was briefly personal physician to Mughal
prince Dara Shikoh , the eldest son of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, and after Dara Shikoh's
demise, was attached to the court of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
o He wrote Travels in the Mughal Empire, which is mainly about the reigns of Dara Shikoh and
Aurangzeb. It is based on his own extensive journeys and observations, and on information from
eminent Mughal courtiers who had witnessed the events at first hand.
 Marco Polo
o Marco Polo was an Italian merchant, explorer, and writer, born in the Republic of Venice. He
travelled to India while returning home to Venice from China. He arrived on the Coromandel Coast of
India in a typical merchant ship with over sixty cabins and up to 300 crewmen. He marveled at the
Indian culture and wealth.

Q 9.C
 Ralph Fitch, who has left an eyewitness account of the social life and economic condition of the Mughal
India, was a European traveller and trader. He was one of the first Englishmen to visit India. During the
course of his journey which he undertook in the ship named Tiger he was arrested at Hormuz from where
he was taken to Goa then under the control of the Portuguese. After being released on bail he left Goa
and reached the Mughal court of Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri, the new capital built by the emperor
near Agra.
 Peter Mundy was an English merchant-traveller, visited India during Shah Jahan's reign in about
1630 - 1632.
 Manucci was an Italian doctor who never returned to Europe, and settled down in India. He witnessed
the reign of five Mughal emperors from Shah Jahan to Farrukhsiyar (1658-1717). He served in the
army of Dara Shikoh and Raja Jai Singh.

Q 10.C
 Rajendra Chola I, often referred to as Rajendra the Great, and also known as Gangaikonda Chola,
and Kadaram Kondan was a Chola Emperor who reigned between 1014 and 1044 CE
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  The Cholas undertook a military expedition to Sri Lanka (during the time of Rajaraja I) and Sri
Vijaya (during the time of Rajendra I). This shows the military strength of the Chola state. It seems that
the cavalrymen (kudiraiccevagar), Anaiyatkal (those who fought on elephants), and archers (villigal,
anukkar) were the names of the categories constituting the military force. Valangai (right hand)
Velaikkarar were the soldiers recruited from among the peasants. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
 Under the Cholas Pallippadai (present Ramanatha Koyil) built by Rajendra Chola I emerged as centre
of the Pasupata sect of Shaivism. During the Vijayanagara-Nayaka period, the Sri Vaishnava monastic
establishments also emerged prominent – the Sankaracharya matha (thirteenth century) and the Vira
Shaiva matha. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
 Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was a contemporary of Rajendra I. During his campaigns in the
subcontinent, he also attacked the temples of defeated kings and looted their wealth and idols. Sultan
Mahmud was not a very important ruler at that time. But by destroying temples – especially the one at
Somnath – he tried to win credit as a great hero of Islam. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Q 11.B
 Vijayanagara Kingdom was established in 1336 AD by Harihara and Bukka Raya. The kingdom at its
zenith extended from the river Krishna in the north to River Cauvery in the south; the Arabian Sea in the
west to Bay of Bengal in the east. The decline of the empire started was heavily marked with Battle of
Rakshaha-Tangadii, also called as Battle of Tallikota in 1565, fought against the combined armies of
Golconda and Ahmednagar sultanates.
 Some of the reasons stated as the cause of the empire's decline are as follows:
o The rule of primogeniture was not established in the empire leading to civil wars among various
contenders.
o Traces of the origin of the Palegari system or ‗Palegar‘ can be forced in the Vijayanagara
administrative system. In the Empire itself, there were many areas that were under the control of
subordinate rulers. These chieftains had been once defeated in the wars against the Vijayanagara
rulers, but their Kingdoms had been restored to them on condition of paying tributes and acceptance
of homageSystems such as the Palegar system in which the palegars or nayakas were granted amrams
(territories)with fixed revenues. This section had grown so powerful that sometimes it was difficult
for the government to control them. Hence statement 2 is correct.
 In the Vijayanagara kingdom, the king was aided and advised by a council of ministers. Hence statement
1 is correct.
 The Vijaynagara kingdom was divided into Mandalams or Rajyas (Provinces) below which were nadus
(district),sthala( sub-district) and grama (village), while the Mughal empire was divided into "Subas"
which were further subdivided into "Sarkar","Pargana", and "Gram". Hence statement 3 is not correct.
 The Chola tradition of village self-government was considerably weakened due to the growth of
nayakships which tended to be hereditary.
 The provincial governors had a large measure of autonomy and they held their own courts, appointed their
own officers, maintained own armies and even allowed to issue their own coins(though of small
denomination only) and they had the right to impose new taxes and remit the old ones. However, there
was no regular term for these governors.thus, some historians opine Vijayanagara empire was more a
confederacy than a centralized empire.

Q 12.C
 Statement 1 is not correct: Turkish troops did not have superior weapons as compared to
Indians. Turkish bows could shoot arrows to a longer distance, but the Indian bows were supposed to be
more accurate and more deadly, the arrowheads being generally dipped in poison. In hand to hand
combat, the Indian swords were considered to be the best in the world.
 Statement 2 is not correct: The Indians had the advantage of elephants. However, Turks had horses
which were swifter and more sturdy than the horses imported into India.
 Statement 3 is correct: The Turks were more socially and organisationally superior. The growth of
feudalism, that is rise of local landed elements and chiefs weakened the administrative structure and
military organisation of the Indian states. The rulers had to depend more on the various chiefs who rarely
acted in coordination and quickly dispersed to their areas after the battle. On the other hand, the tribal
structure of the Turks and the growth of iqta and khalisa system enabled the Turks to maintain
large standing army which could be kept in the field for a long time.
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  The Indians were not effective to move as an organised body of horseman which covered long distances
and fight. Rajputs put up prolonged resistance to the incursions of Arab and Turks but they never tried to
be offensive and try to push the Arabs or Turks from the strategic lands like Afghanistan, Punjab that they
had occupied. That is to say, Rajputs lacked a strategic vision.

Q 13.B
 Sher Shah Suri (1486 – 1545)
o He was the founder of the Suri Empire in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its capital
in Sasaram in modern-day Bihar.
o He became a commander in the Mughal army under Babur (1483 – 1530 ) and then the governor of
Bihar.
o In 1537, when Babur's son Humayun was elsewhere on an expedition, Sher Shah overran the state of
Bengal and established the Suri dynasty in 1538.
o Sher Shah faced Humayun at the Battle of Chausa in June 1539. Sher Shah defeated the Mughal
Emperor and assumed the royal title of Farid al-Din Sher Shah. The confrontations between Sher
Shah and Humayun continued as Humayun retried to capture lost territories and the two fought in
Kannuaj in 1540.
o Sher Shah was once again successful in defeating Humayun who was forced to flee India. By 1540,
Sher Shah had managed to drive out all his enemies from Bengal, Bihar, and Punjab. He took control
of the Mughal Empire and founded the Sur Empire in North India, with its capital at Delhi. He then
went on to conquer Malwa in 1542; Raisin, Multan, and Sindh in 1543; and Marwar and Mewar in
1544.
o His reorganization of the empire laid the foundations for the later Mughal emperors, notably Akbar,
son of Humayun
 The Suri period was too brief to produce any remarkable work of literature, the only exception being the
Hindu Work Padmavat written in 1540 by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi. It was a story about the
Delhi Sultan Alauddin Khalji's desire for Padmavati, the Queen of Chittor.
 Dagh (Mark) & Chehra (Face)
o This system was introduced by Alauddin Khilji (1296–1316) and consisted of two practices:
 Dagh was a mark made on each cavalry horse identifying it as a royal or approved horse. This
was the check the malpractice of changing royal / approved horses with those of low quality.
 Chehra was a system in which a description of the soldier was recorded by a royal clerk. This was
to prevent the system of deploying substitute soldiers
 However, under Mughals, this system fell into disarray because large powers were left into the hands of
ministers who were corrupt.
 To curb this and improving the army administration, he reintroduced the practice of Dagh (Mark) &
Chehra (Face)

Q 14.A
 Statement 1 is correct: In Delhi Sultanate, Sultan was the commander-in-chief of the army. Diwan-I-
Ariz was established by Balban to assist the Sultan in Military administration.
 Statement 2 is correct: Diwan-i-Kohi was the Agriculture department established by Mohammed-
Bin-Tughlaq as a part of Agricultural reforms.The main object of the department was to increase the
land under cultivation, and to distribute loans to the peasants. He established a ―Famine Code‖ to relieve
the victims of Famine.
 Statement 3 is not correct: Diwan-i-Risalat was for dealing with religious affairs and was also in charge
of the grant of stipends to scholars and pious men. However, among historians there is one more view that
he was minister for foreign affairs and was in charge of diplomatic correspondence. There was no specific
department for industrial development.
 Important departments in Delhi Sultanate
o Diwan-i-Waziarat – Prime Minister and Finance Minister
o Diwani-i-Risalat – Religious Affairs Department
o Sadr-us-Suddar – Department of Islamic Law
o Diwan-i-lnsha – Correspondence Department
o Diwan-I-Ariz – Military administration
o Qazi-ul-quzar – Department of law/Justice.
o Diwan-i-Bandgan - affairs of the slaves(by Feroz Shah Tughlaq)
o Diwan-i- Mustakhara- Department of revenue
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Q 15.D
 Deccan sultanates were systematically recruiting the Habshis as slaves in the 16th century. Habshis
was a term used to refer to members of various ethnic communities from the Abyssinian highlands.
Hence statement 1 is correct.
 They were highly valued for their physical strength and loyalty and were frequently put to military
service.
 The 14th-century Medieval Moroccan scholar and traveler Ibn Battuta in his writings mention that the
Habshis were ―guarantors of safety” for ships traveling in the Indian Ocean. Hence statement 2 is
correct.
 He notes that the slaves had such a reputation that even if one was on board, the ship would be avoided by
pirates.
 In Deccan society, the slaves did not have a permanent status. Upon the death of their masters, they
were usually ―set free” and served as per their free will in service of powerful commanders in the Empire.
 Malik Ambar
 He was an African slave turned warrior who founded the city „Aurangabad‘. Hence statement 3 is
correct.
 Born in 1548 in southern Ethiopia‘s Khambata region, Ambar is believed to have been associated with the
oromo tribe. Ambar was amongst one of a thousand other ‗Habshi‘ (a term used to refer to members of
various ethnic communities from the Abyssinian highlands) purchased by Chengiz Khan when fate
brought him to the Deccan.

Q 16.D
 The institution of the Iqta had been in force in the early Islamic world as a form of reward for services to
the state. In the caliphate administration, it was used to pay civil and military officers. After the
establishment of the Sultanate in India, iqta system was introduced by the Sultans. To begin with,
the army commanders and nobles were given territories to administer and collect the revenue. The
territories thus assigned were called iqta and their holders as iqtadar or muqti. Hence statement 1 is not
correct.
 In essence, this was a system of payment to the officers and maintenance of army by them. From the 14th
century, we hear of Walis or muqtis who are commanders of military and administrative tracts called Iqta.
The duty of the muqtis was to lead military campaigns and maintain law and order in their iqtas. In
exchange for their military services, the muqtis collected the revenues of their assignments as salary. They
also paid their soldiers from these revenues.
 The iqtas were of varying sizes and were given also to the nobles for purposes other than military and
administrative. Iqtas were granted for the maintenance of religious houses, tombs of saints and Sultans,
mosques and also to persons for their livelihood who were devoted to religious or literary pursuits. Hence
statement 2 is not correct.
 Control over muqtis was most effective if their office was not inheritable and if they were assigned iqtas
for a short period of time before being shifted. These harsh conditions of service were rigorously imposed
during the reigns of Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad Tughluq. Accountants were appointed by the state
to check the amount of revenue collected by the muqtis. Care was taken that the muqti collected only the
taxes prescribed by the state and that he kept the required number of soldiers.
 During the reign of Muhmmad-bin-Thughlaq, a number of governors were appointed on revenue sharing
terms where they were to give a fixed sum to the state. During the time of Feroze Shah Tughlaq, the
control of the state over iqta was diluted when iqtas became hereditary.

Q 17.C
 Chaul and Dabhol were the major ports of the Bahmani kingdom in the Maharashtra region. It attracted
trading ships from the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea and poured in luxury goods from all parts of the
world. The earliest mention of Chaul is in the inscriptions at the Buddhist caves of Kanheri near
Mumbai. In the early years of the 14th century CE, Chaul fell to the invading army of Alauddin Khilji,
and after the fall of Deogiri, became a part of the Khilji Sultanate. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly
matched.
 Tamralipti or Tamralipta was a port city in the Bengal region, located on the Bay of Bengal in
Midnapore district of modern-day India in West Bengal. Tamralipta port has been an important port since
ancient times including the Chola period for traveling to Srilanka, Java, Sumatra, and Mayanmar through
different trade routes. Tamralipta port emerged as an important center of trade and commerce. However,
its importance declined with the loss of navigability of the Rupnarayan River. Hence, pair 1 is not
correctly matched.
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  The town of Masulipatnam or Machlipatnam lay on the delta of the Krishna on Andhra coast. By the
late 15th century, Masulipatnam and its surrounding region became a battleground between the Bahamani
empire, the Vijayanagara empire and the kings of Odisha. A new and golden phase of Machilipatnam‘s
history would begin under Sultan Quli Qutub Shah of Golconda (r. 1512-1543), who captured and then
developed the port. It emerged as the hub of the international diamond trade. Hence, pair 3 is correctly
matched.

Q 18.B
 Al-Biruni from Uzbekistan visited India during the tenth-eleventh century. His book Kitab-ul-Hind,
written in Arabic, is simple and lucid. It is a voluminous text, divided into 80 chapters on subjects such
as religion and philosophy, festivals, astronomy, alchemy, manners and customs, social life, weights and
measures, iconography, laws and metrology.
 Generally (though not always), Al-Biruni adopted a distinctive structure in each chapter, beginning
with a question, following this up with a description based on Sanskritic traditions, and
concluding with a comparison with other cultures. Some present-day scholars have argued that this
almost geometric structure, remarkable for its precision and predictability, owed much to his
mathematical orientation. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.
 Rihla
o It is an account of travels of Ibn Battuta who visited India during the fourteenth century. It is written
in Arabic, and provides extremely rich and interesting details about the social and cultural life in the
subcontinent in the fourteenth century.
 Al-Tafhim
o It is a Persian language work by the renowned Al-Biruni containing questions and answers in a format
easily understandable by new learners in sciences. This is the oldest Persian text on Mathematics and
Astrology and was composed simultaneously in Persian and Arabic by Al-Biruni himself.
 Kashful-Mahjub
o It was a book written in Persian by Abu‘l Hasan al Hujwiri, who was a sufi saint and settled in
Lahore. The book aims to explain the meaning of Sufism.

Q 19.B
 The Amara-nayaka system was a major political innovation of the Vijaynagar empire. The Amarnayakas
were military commanders who were given territories to govern by the Raya. They collected taxes and
other dues from peasants, crafts persons and traders in the area. They retained part of the revenue for
personal use and for maintaining a stipulated contingent of horses and elephants . Hence statements 1
and 2 are correct.
 The Amaranayakas sent tribute to the king annually and personally appeared in the royal court with gifts
to express their loyality. Kings occasionally asserted their control over them by transferring them from
one place to another. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Q 20.C
 The initial Turkish conquests in India in the early 13th century displaced many local chiefs. In order to
consolidate, the Turkish rulers made revenue assignments (iqta), in lieu of cash, to their nobles. So,
Iqtas were provinces or spheres of influence that were put under the charge of officers called
'Iqtadars' (governors), also known as Muqtis or Walis. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
o lqta is an Arabic word and the institution had been in force in the early lslamic world as a form of
reward for services to the state. It was used in the Caliphate administration as a way of financing
operations and paying civil and military officers. It was not an ancient indigenous institution.
o The grant of iqta did not imply a right to the land nor was it hereditary. Though the holders of
iqta tended to acquire hereditary rights in Feroz Tughluq's reign. These revenue assignments were
transferable, the iqta-holder being transferred from one region to another every three or four years.
 Iqtas later became provinces or Subas. Initially, Muqtis were almost independent and were expected to
maintain law and order and collect the land revenue in their tracts. However, as Central Government
became stronger it began to control the Muqtis more closely and the salaries of Muqtis were fixed in cash.
The Muqtis were required to remit to the center the balance of the income after meeting the expenditure.
Their accounts were audited with harshness.
 Below the provinces, there were 'Shiqs' and below them, the 'Paragnas' and below them were the villages.
 Shiq was like the districts in the current era.
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  The villages were grouped into units of 100 or 84 which formed the Parganas. The important officials of
a pargana were the amil, the mushrif also known as amin or munsif the treasurer, the qanungo and
two karkuns (clerks). The pargana was an important administrative unit because it was there that
the government came into direct contact with the peasants. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
 The smallest unit of administration was the village which was administered by local hereditary officers
and the panchayat of the village. The Chaudhri, the Patwari, the Khut, the Muqaddam and the
Chaukidar were the hereditary officers of the village who helped the government in collection of the
revenue and enjoyed certain privileges except during the reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji. The Panchayat
of the village looked after education, sanitation, etc. and acted as a judicial body as well concerning
disputes in the village. Khuts were small landowners in villages. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q 21.D
 The Cholas possessed a large army consisting of soldiers, cavalry, archers, and elephants. They had a very
powerful and well-organised military force. They were one of the earliest kingdoms to have a navy.
 The navy reached to its heights under the Cholas. They took under them the Malabar and Coromandal
coasts. With the expansion of Navy and overseas conquest, the Chola Navy became the strongest force in
the region. It also monopolized the trade and commerce in Bay of Bengal and parts of Indian ocean. Thus,
the Bay of Bengal for sometime became a 'Chola lake'.
 Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q 22.A
 The right of ownership of Zamindars regarding the land depended mainly on succession. Hence
statement 1 is correct.
 The people who settle a new village or who brought wastelands under cultivation, belong to the respective
villages. These villagers became the owners of these lands.
 The considerable section of the zamindars had the hereditary right of collecting land revenue from their
respective villages. This was called his ‗talluqa‘ or his ‗zamindari.‘
 For collecting the land revenue, the zamindars received a share of the land revenue which could go up to
25 percent.
 Zamindars held enormous tracts of land and control over their peasants, from whom they reserved
the right to collect tax on behalf of imperial courts or for military purposes.
 The zamindars, not necessarily “owner” of all the lands over which he collected the land revenue.
Hence statement 2 is not correct.
 The peasants who actually cultivated the land could not be dispossessed as long as they paid the land
revenue. Thus the zamindars and the peasants, both had their own hereditary rights in land.

Q 23.D
 Jehangir was succeeded by his second son Shah Jahan in 1628. The Mughal Empire was at its zenith
during Shah Jahan's rule.
 In 1639, he shifted his capital from Agra to Delhi and called the new capital as Shahjahanabad. It
was a planned city.At the centre of this settlement was Qila-i-Mubarak, the palace-fortress. The city
was encircled with a wall with 14 gates, from where Shahjahanabad gets its sobriquet of Walled
City.
 Monthly scale (Month-ratio or Month-scale system) was introduced in Mansabdari system by
Shahjahan.
 It was a new scaling device under which the salaries of mansabdars were put on a month scale: ten
months, eight months, six months or even less.
 The obligations of the mansabdars for maintaining a quota of sawars were brought down accordingly.
 The month-scale system was applied to both jagirs and those who were paid in cash.
 Francois Bernier was closely associated with the Mughal court, as a physician to Prince Dara Shukoh,
the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan, and later as an intellectual and scientist, with Danishmand Khan,
an Armenian noble at the Mughal court. He was witness to the fierce war of succession among the sons of
Shah Jahan.
 Jats and Satnamis raised the banner of rebellion during the reign of Aurangzeb.
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Q 24.B
 Babur, the first Mughal ruler, arrived in 1526 and made his base at Agra to the southeast (in what is now
the state of Uttar Pradesh). His son Humayun ascended the throne in 1530 and in 1533 founded a new
city, Din Panah, on the bank of the Yamuna River. Shēr Shah, who overthrew Humāyūn in 1540, razed
Din Panah to the ground and built his new capital, the Sher Shahi, now known as Purana Qila fort, in
southeastern Delhi.

Q 25.A
 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.
 Statement 1 is not correct: Ibn Battuta visited Vijayanagara kingdom in 14th century whereas
Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire reigned from 1509–1529.
 Statement 2 is correct: Ibn Battuta was amazed by the efficiency of the postal system which allowed
merchants to not only send information and remit credit across long distances but also to dispatch goods
required at short notice. This is how Ibn Battuta describes the postal system: In India the postal system is
of two kinds. The horse-post, called uluq, is run by royal horses stationed at a distance of every four
miles. The foot-post has three stations per mile; it is called dawa, that is one-third of a mile.
 Statement 3 is not correct: Ibn Battuta found cities in the subcontinent full of exciting opportunities
for those who had the necessary drive, resources and skills. They were densely populated and
prosperous, except for the occasional disruptions caused by wars and invasions.

Q 26.A
 Statement 1 is correct; After the break-up of the Bahmani kingdom, three powerful
states, Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda emerged as the independent states. In 1565, all these three
states united to crush Vijayanagara Empire at the battle of Bannihatti, near Tallikota (also known as
battle of Talikota/Rakshasa Tangadi).
 At the time of Battle of Talikota, Sadasiva Raya was the ruler of Vijaynagar kingdom. But he was a
puppet ruler. The real power was exercised by his minister Rama Raya. He tried to crush the power of
Deccan sultanates by creating difference amongst them.
 However, the Deccan sultanates got a hint of his plan and formed an alliance against Vijayanagar
kingdom. Soon, they attacked the kingdom and looted and destroyed everything after entering the capital.
 Statement 2 is not correct: The glory of last Hindu empire i.e., Vijayanagar Kingdom came to an end
and this gave impetus to Mughals to extend their rule in Deccan and not the Bahmani Kingdom.
 The Kingdom of Mysore, Nayakas of Vellore, Nayakas of Keladi in Shimoga declared their
independence from Vijayanagar.
 The Muslim Sultanates of Deccan could not gain much out of this victory because they soon engaged
themselves in fighting among themselves and fell easy prey to the Mughals.

Q 27.C
 The provinces under the Delhi Sultanate were called iqtas. They were initially under the control of the
nobles. But the governors of the provinces were called the muqtis or walis. They were to maintain law and
order and collect the land revenue. The provinces were further divided into shiqs, which was under the
control of the shiqdar, and the next division was pargana, comprising a number of villages and was
headed by the amil. The village remained the basic unit of the administration. The village headman was
known as muqaddam or chaudhri.
 Thus, the arrangement of administrative units during the time of Delhi Sultanate from the smallest
to the largest unit of administration is pargana-shiqs-iqtas. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q 28.B
 The Vijayanagara Empire was based in the Deccan Plateau region in South India. The empire is named
after its capital city of Vijayanagara, whose ruins surround the present-day Hampi, now a World Heritage
Site in Karnataka, India. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I.
 In its heyday, it stretched from river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the Deccan
peninsula. The Vijayanagara kings claimed to rule on behalf of the god Virupaksha. All royal orders
were signed ―Shri Virupaksha‖, usually in the Kannada script. Hence statement 1 is correct.
 A distinct feature of the Vijayanagara state was the importance of the Brahmans as political and
secular personnel rather than ritual leaders. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
o Most of the durga dannaiks (in-charge of forts) were Brahmans.
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 o During this period, the majority of educated Brahmans desired to become government servants as
administrators and accountants which offered them good career prospects. The Imperial Secretariat
was totally manned by the Brahmans. These Brahmans were different from the other Brahmans: they
belonged to a subcaste called the Telugu niyogis. They were not very orthodox in performing
religious rites.
o They also worked as potential legitimizers. The Brahman Vidyaranya and his kinsmen were the
ministers of the Sangarna brothers : they provided legitimacy to their rule by accepting them back into
the Hindu fold.
o The Brahmans also played an important role as military commanders in the Vijaynagar army. For
example, under Krishnadeva Raya , a Brahman named Timma received economic support as he was
an integral part of the political system.
 The rule of primogeniture (the right of succession belonging to the first-born child) was not well
established during the Vijayanagara empire. This led to serious confusion after the death of Deva Raya
II and consequently led to a series of civil wars among the contenders. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Q 29.D
 After the death of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq in 1351, Firoz Tughlaq had the unique distinction of being
chosen as sultan by the nobles. He appointed Khan-i-Jahan Maqbal, a Telugu Brahmin convert as Wazir
(prime minister). The wazir helped the Sultan in his administration and maintained the prestige of the
Sultanate during this period.
 After his accession, Firoz had to face the problem of preventing the disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate.
He tried to safeguard his authority over north India instead of reasserting his authority over the Deccan
and south India. He led two expeditions to Bengal but they were not successful. Bengal became free
from the control of the Delhi Sultanate. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
 The reign of Firoz Tughlaq was more notable for his administration. He strictly followed the advice of
the ulemas (theologians) in running the administration. As he was guided by the ulemas, he was
intolerant towards Shia Muslims and Sufis. He treated Hindus as second-grade citizens and imposed
Jiziya. In this respect, he was the precursor of Sikandar Lodi and Aurangazeb. Hence, statement 2 is not
correct.
 He increased the number of slaves by capturing the defeated soldiers and young persons. In his
regime, the number of slaves increased to one lakh eighty thousand. When Firoz died in 1388 the struggle
for power between the Sultan and the nobles started once again. His successors had to face the rebellion of
the slaves created by Firoz Tughlaq. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Q 30.C
 Some major political developments of medieval India are:
o c .1200-1300: Establishment of the Delhi Sultanate (1206)
o c .1300-1400: Establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire;
o Establishment of the Bahmani kingdom (1347); Sultanates in Jaunpur, Kashmir and Madura
o c .1400-1500: Establishment of the Gajapati kingdom of Orissa (1435); Establishment of the
Sultanates of Gujarat and Malwa; Emergence of the Sultanates of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur and Berar
(1490)
o c .1500-1600: Conquest of Goa by the Portuguese (1510); Collapse of the Bahmani
kingdom, Emergence of the Sultanate of Golconda (1518); Establishment of the Mughal empire
by Babur (1526)
 The Bahmani kingdom was a Muslim state (1347–1518) in the Deccan in India. The sultanate was
founded in 1347 by Alā al-Dīn Bahman Shah, who was supported by other military leaders in rebellion
against the sultan of Delhi, Muḥammad bin Tughluq. The Bahmani capital was Aḥsanabad (now
Gulbarga) between 1347 and 1425 and Muḥammadabad (now Bidar) thereafter. Bahmani attained the
peak of its power during the vizierate (1466–81) of Maḥmud Gawan.
 The first part of India to fall to European colonial rule was Goa in 1510. Its conquest was the work of
Portuguese viceroy Afonso de Albuquerque, who recognized that the port-city would make a perfect
permanent base for Portugal‘s navy and commerce in the Indian Ocean. Goa was destined to remain under
colonial rule until 1961; it was the last—as well as the first—European possession in India.
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  Quṭb Shahi dynasty, (1518–1687), were Muslim rulers of the kingdom of Golconda in the southeastern
Deccan of India, one of the five successor states of the Bahmanī kingdom. The founder was Quli Quṭb
Shah, a Turkish governor of the Bahmani eastern region, which largely coincided with the preceding
Hindu state of Warangal. Quṭb Shah declared his independence in 1518 and moved his capital to
Golconda. Toward the end of the century, Muḥammad Quli Quṭb Shah built a new capital at Hyderabad, a
few miles away. Golconda took part in the overthrow of Vijayanagar (1565) and thereafter was mainly
concerned with expansion along the coastal Carnatic (Karnakata). In 1687 the Mughal emperor
Aurangzeb annexed the kingdom.
 The first Battle of Panipat was a decisive battle in history as it laid the foundation of Mughal Empire for
coming centuries. This battle was fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi on April 21,1526 on the
plains of Panipat. Babur defeated Lodhi, who was killed in the battle.

Q 31.A
 The Vijayanagara Empire was based in the Deccan Plateau region in South India. The empire is named
after its capital city of Vijayanagara, whose ruins surround present day Hampi, now a World Heritage Site
in Karnataka, India. It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of Sangama
Dynasty.
 The first dynasty, the Sangama, lasted until about 1485, when at a time of pressure from the Bahmanī
sultan and the raja of Orissa, Narasimha of the Saluva dynasty usurped power.
 By 1503 the Saluva dynasty had been supplanted by the Tuluva dynasty. The outstanding Tuluva
king was Krishna Deva Raya. During his reign (1509–29) the land between the Tungabhadra and Krishna
rivers (the Raichur doab) was acquired (1512), the Orissa Hindus were subdued by the capture of
Udayagiri (1514) and other towns, and severe defeats were inflicted on the Bijapur sultan (1520).
 Krishna Deva‘s successors, however, allowed their enemies to unite against them. In 1565 Rama Raya,
the chief minister of Vijayanagar, led the empire into the fatal battle at Talikota, in which its army was
routed by the combined forces of the Muslim states of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, and Golconda and the city of
Vijayanagar was destroyed.
 Tirumala, brother of Rama Raya, then seized control of the empire and founded the Aravidu
dynasty, which established a new capital at Penukonda and kept the empire intact for a time.
 Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q 32.C
 Jaunpur
o It was established by Firoz Shah Tughlaq (Tughlaq dynasty) in memory of his cousin Jauna and
continued as an independent principality till Sikander Lodi annexed it to the Delhi sultanate. Hence,
pair 1 is not correctly matched.
 Agra
o Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodhi (Lodhi dynasty) in the 16th century. Babar (founder of the
Mughal dynasty) also stayed for sometime in Agra and introduced the concept of square Persian-
styled gardens here. Emperor Akbar built the Agra fort and Fatehpur Sikri near Agra. Fatehpur Sikri
remained his capital for around fifteen years after which the city was left isolated in mysterious
circumstances. Jahangir beautified Agra with palaces and gardens despite spending most of his time in
Kashmir with which he was passionately attached. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.
 Hisar
o The city of Hisar was founded by Firoz Shah Tughlaq (Tughlaq dynasty) in 1354 A.D. It is an
Arabic word which means ‗Fort‘. The city, which is referred today as ‗Hisar‘, was originally called
‗Hisar Firoza' or in other words the ‗Fort of Firoz‘. However, with time the very word ‗Firoza‘ was
dropped from its original name. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.

Q 33.B
 The Sur empire may be considered in many ways as a continuation and culmination of the Delhi
Sultanate. Sher Shah re-established law and order across the length and breadth of his empire. He dealt
sternly with robbers and dacoits, and with zamindars who refused to pay land revenue or disobeyed the
orders of the government.
 Sher Shah paid great attention to the fostering of trade and commerce and the improvement of
communications in his kingdom. Sher Shah restored the old imperial road called the Grand Trunk Road,
from the river Indus in the west to Sonargaon in Bengal.
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  Sher Shah also introduced other reforms to promote the growth of trade and commerce. In his entire
empire, customs duty for goods was paid only at two places: goods produced in Bengal or imported from
outside paid customs duty at the border of Bengal and Bihar at Sikrigali, and goods coming from West
and Central Asia paid customs duty at the Indus. No one was allowed to levy customs at roads, ferries or
towns anywhere else. The duty was paid a second time at the time of sale of goods. Hence, statement 3 is
not correct.
 Sher Shah directed his governors and tax collectors to treat merchants and travelers well in every way, and
not to harm them at all. If a merchant died, they were not to seize his goods as if they were unowned. Sher
Shah enjoined upon them the dictum of Shaikh Nizami: ‗If a merchant should die in your country it is
perfidy to lay hands on his property.‘ Sher Shah made the local village headmen (muqaddams) and
zamindars responsible for any loss that a merchant suffered on the roads. If the goods were stolen, the
muqaddams and the zamindars had to produce them, or point out the haunts of the thieves or highway
robbers, failing which they had to undergo the punishment meant for thieves and robbers. Hence,
statement 2 is correct.
 Sher Shah apparently continued the central machinery of administration which had been developed during
the Sultanat period. However, we do not have much information about it. Sher Shah did not favour
leaving too much authority in the hands of ministers. Sher Shah‘s excessive centralisation of authority in
his hands was a source of weakness, and its harmful effects became apparent when a masterful sovereign
like him ceased to sit on the throne. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Q 34.B
 Amil or munsif, a term which was used for a person who looked after collection of land revenue.
 Muqaddams were local village headmen.
 A number of villages known as Parganas were under the charge of Shiqdar who looked after the law
and order and general administration of the village.
 Barids were Intelligence Officers and Intelligence department was called as "Diwan-i-Barid".
 All these terms were common during medieval India, especially during the Mughal era.

Q 35.C
 By the year 1526, the Bahmani kingdom had disintegrated into five independent sultanates. They were
Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, Berar, Golkonda and Bidar and were known as Deccan Sultanates by the region
within which they emerged.
 From 1490 to 1633, the Nizam Shahi dynasty ruled the kingdom of Ahmadnagar in India's Deccan.The
founder was Malik Aḥmad, who in 1490 fixed his capital on a new site called Ahmadnagar after himself.
o The kingdom lay in the northwestern Deccan, between the states of Gujarat and Bijapur. It secured the
great fortress of Daulatabad in 1499 and added Berar in 1574. Hence pair 1 is correctly matched.
 The Adil Shahi dynasty (1489–1686) was the ruling family of the kingdom of Bijapur, one of the two
principal successor states to the Muslim sultanate of Bahmani in the Deccan. It was named after its
founder, Yusuf Adil Shah, one of the provincial governors under the Bahmani kingdom and a protege of
Mahmud Gavan.
o The dynasty strongly resisted the Mughal advance southward in the 17th century until it was
extinguished by the Indian emperor Aurangzeb with the capture of Bijapur in 1686. Hence pair 2 is
correctly matched.
 The Qutb Shahi dynasty (1518–1687), rulers of the kingdom of Golconda in the southeastern Deccan of
India, was one of the five successor states of the Bahmani kingdom. The founder was Quli Qutb Shah, a
Turkish governor of the Bahmani eastern region, which largely coincided with the preceding Hindu state
of Warangal.
o Qutb Shah declared his independence in 1518 and moved his capital to Golconda. Toward the end of
the century, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah built a new capital at Hyderabad, a few miles away. Hence
pair 3 is correctly matched.
 The Imad Shahi Sultanate of Berar (1490-1572), in Maharashtra, was one of the five Deccan Sultanates.
The Imad Shahi dynasty was established by Fathullah Imad Shah (1490–1504), with its capital at
Ellichpur.
 The Farooqi dynasty was the ruling dynasty of the Khandesh Sultanate from its inception in 1382 until
its annexation by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1601. The founder of the dynasty, Malik Ahmad (also
known as Malik Raja), participated in a rebellion against the Bahmani ruler Muhmmad Shah I in his early
years. Hence pair 4 is not correctly matched.
13 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
Q 36.A
 Statement 1 is correct: Kabul and Qandhar had always acted as staging places for an invasion in India,
Babur‘s advent made Kabul and Qandahar the integral parts of an empire comprising north India.
 Babur and his successors strengthen India's security from an external invasion, which were persistent
from the last 200 years.
 Geographically Kabul and Qandhar positioned in the trade route; therefore, the control of these two
regions strengthened India's foreign trade.
 Statement 2 is correct: Babur introduced a new concept of the state.
o The strength and prestige of the Crown.
o The absence of religious and sectarian bigotry.
o The careful fostering of culture and the fine arts with the amalgamation of Persian and Indian
themes.
o Char bagh style of architecture came into existence.
 Statement 3 is not correct: Gunpowder was known in India before Babur. Gunpowder is the first
discovery of explosive material. It is said to arrive in India in mid of 14th century. It was used in the
second half of the 14th-century war by Bahmani kingdom as well as Delhi Sultanate. Babur used it in
Battle of Panipat in 1526.

Q 37.A
 François Bernier, a Frenchman, was a doctor, political philosopher and historian. Like many others,
he came to the Mughal Empire in search of opportunities. He was in India for twelve years, from 1656 to
1668, and was closely associated with the Mughal court, as a physician to Prince Dara Shukoh, the
eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan, and later as an intellectual and scientist, with Danishmand Khan, an
Armenian noble at the Mughal court.
 Ibn Battuta who came from Morocco, in northwestern Africa (fourteenth century). His book of travels,
called Rihla, written in Arabic, provides extremely rich and interestingdetails about the social and cultural
life in the subcontinent in the fourteenth century. He was a part of Mohammad Bin Tughlaq‘s court. Ibn
Battutah calls Delhi the largest city in the eastern part of the Islamic world. He says that Daulatabad
equaled Delhi in size, an index of the growth of trade between north and south.
 Marco Polo (1254-1324 AD) - Visited the Kakatiya state under Rudrmadevi. His accounts refers to the
polygamy of the kings, the prevalence of Sati, merchants of Gujarat, economic conditions in South India
etc.
 Abdur Razzaq (1442-1445 AD). He was an ambassador of Shahrukh of Timrud Dynasty. He came during
the rule of Devaraya II of Vijaynagar empire. He is well-known for his description of Vijayanagar empire.

Q 38.A
 The greatest Chola rulers were Rajaraja (985–1014) and his son Rajendra I (1014–1044).
 Rajaraja destroyed the Chera navy at Trivandrum and attacked Quilon. He then conquered Madurai
and captured the Pandyan king. He also invaded Sri Lanka and annexed its northern part to his
empire. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
o These moves were partly motivated by his desire to bring the trade with the Southeast Asian countries
under his control. The Coromandel coast and Malabar were the centres for India‘s trade with the
countries of Southeast Asia. One of his naval exploits was the conquest of the Maldives. Rajaraja
annexed the northwestern parts of the Ganga kingdom in Karnataka and overran Vengi.
 Rajendra had been appointed heir apparent in his father‘s life-time, and had considerable experience in
administration and warfare before his accession to the throne. He carried forward the annexationist policy
of Rajaraja by completely overrunning the Pandya and Chera countries and including them in his empire.
 The conquest of Sri Lanka was also completed, with the crown and royal insignia of the king and the
queen of Sri Lanka being captured in a battle. Sri Lanka was not able to free herself from Chola control
for another 50 years. Rajaraja and Rajendra I marked their victories by erecting a number of Siva
and Vishnu temples at various places.
o The most famous of these was the Brihadishwara temple at Tanjore which was completed in
1010. The Chola rulers adopted the practice of having inscriptions written on the walls of these
temples, giving a historical narrative of their victories. That is why we know a great deal more
about the Cholas that their predecessors. Hence statement 3 is correct.
14 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
  One of the most remarkable exploits in the reign of Rajendra I was the march across Kalinga to
Bengal in which the Chola armies crossed the river Ganga, and defeated two local kings. This
expedition, which was led by a Chola general, took place in 1022 and followed in reverse the same route
which the great conqueror Samudragupta had followed.
o To commemorate this occasion, Rajendra I assumed the title of Gangaikondachola („the Chola
who conquered the Ganga‟). He built a new capital near the mouth of the Kaveri river and
called it Gangaikondacholapuram (‗the city of the Chola who conquered the Ganga‘). Hence
statement 1 is not correct.

Q 39.D
 After consolidating their hold over North India by the end of the thirteenth century, the Delhi Sultans
turned their attention towards the South from the first half of the 14th century. The main features of the
expansionist policy of the Delhi Sultans and its impacton the Deccan polity can be divided into two
phases -:Sultanate in two phases:
o During Alauddin Khalji's reign, and
o After Alauddin's death to the end of Muhammad Tughluq's reign.
 First Phase - Alauddin Khalji's Invasion of South
o After the accession of Alauddin Khalji, a definite policy to subjugate South was planned. From 1306
to 1312, in a series of campaigns, all fhe four kingdoms of south were subjugated:
 Devagiri
 Alauddin deputed his trusted commander Malik Kafur to invade South in 1306-07 since the
Yadava king had ceased to pay tribute. Malik Kafur defeated Raja Ram Chandra.
 After collecting a large booty, he returned to Delhi with the Raja as captive. The Raja was
later reinstated as king on the promise of paying regular tribute to the Sultan.
 Warangal
 In 1309, Malik Kafur invaded the Kakatiya kingdom. The purpose of the campaign was just
to subjugate the king. The ruler sent his treasures to Delhi and promised a regular tribute.
 Dwarsamudra
 The next target of attack was Dwarsamudra, the Hoysala kingdom. The ruler Ballala Deva
submitted without much resistance and arrangement was made on the lines of the two other
southern kingdoms.
 Madura
 A conflict between two brothers - Vir Pandya and Sundar Pandya - who were claimants to the
Pandya kingdom provided an opportunity to Malik Kafur to invade it. Vir Pandya after
capturing the throne had expelled Sundar Pandya. The latter sought the help of Alauddin
Khalji. After devastating the Hoysala kingdom, Malik Kafur marched to Madura and inflicted
a defeat on Vir Pandya and collected heavy booty.
o The characteristic features of Alauddin's Deccan policy include-:
 Almost the whole of south was conquered without much resistance.
 Alauddin was not in favour of annexing the Southern kingdoms because it was difficult to
administer it from distant Delhi. Consequently, after their defeat, the Southern Kingdoms were
not annexed but asked to accept the suzerainty of the Delhi Sultan and to pay regular
tribute. The ruling dynasties were not replaced. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
 The won over southern territories by Alauddin were not annexed, there was no need
for stationing any permanent army. In addition, these territories had to accept the suzerainty of
the Delhi Sultan and pay regular tribute. Thus, the Delhi Sultanate gained immensely from the
southern campaigns. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

Q 40.D
 Jizya or jizyah is a per capita yearly tax historically levied on non-Muslim subjects, called the dhimma,
permanently residing in Muslim lands governed by Islamic law. The Quran and hadiths mention jizya
without specifying its rate or amount.
 The tax was first introduced in India under the rule of Qutb-ud-din Aibak.
 Aurangzeb again introduced the jizyah (or the poll tax) (it was abolished by Akbar). According to
the sharia, in a Muslim state, the payment of jizyah was obligatory, for the non-Muslims. Later, the tax
was again abolished by Jahandar Shah.
 Aurangzeb, in fact, did not try to change the nature of the state, but reasserted its fundamentally Islamic
character. Aurangzeb's religious beliefs cannot be considered as the basis of his political policies.
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  The incidence of jiziya was very minimal; also, women, children, the disabled and the indigent, that is
those whose income was less than subsistence were exempted, as were those in government
services. Hence option (d) is not correct.

Q 41.A
 The personality that is being described in the passage is King Mahendravarman I. He was a Pallava
king who ruled from 600 A.D to 630 A.D.
 He was a great builder of cave temples. The Mandagappattu inscription hails him as Vichitrachitta who
constructed a temple for Brahma, Vishnu and Siva without the use of bricks, timber, metal and mortar.
 He built rock-cut temples in a number of places like Vallam, Mahendravadi, Dalavanur, Pallavaram,
Mandagappattu and Tiruchirappalli.
 Mahendravarman I was also a great scholar in the Sanskrit language. He wrote the satirical drama
Mattavilasa Prahasanam in Sanskrit.
 His title Chitrakarapuli reveals his talents in painting.
 He was an expert in playing Veena known as Parivathini. The music inscription at Kudumianmalai is
ascribed to him.
 Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q 42.C
In Akbar administration, the military department was headed by Mir Bakshi which looked after all matters
pertaining to the military administration. He was also considered as the head of nobility. Hence, option (a) is
correct. He performed the following functions:
 He made a recommendation for appointment to mansab or for promotion etc. to the Emperor. Once the
emperor had accepted a recommendation it was sent to the Diwan for confirmation and assigning the jagir
to the appointee. Hence, option (b) is correct.
 He kept strict watch over proper maintenance of sanctioned size of armed contingents and was equipped
by the mansabdars.
 Mir Bakshi also headed the intelligence and information agencies of the empire. Intelligence officers
(braids) and a news reporter (waqia-navis) were posted to all parts of the empire. Their reports were
presented to the emperor at the court through him. Hence, option (d) is correct.
 However, Chief Sadr's primary duty was to protect the laws of the Shariat. The office of Sadr used to
distribute allowances and stipend to the eligible persons and religious institutions. It was also responsible
for all charitable and religious endowments. Hence, option (c) is not correct.

Q 43.A
 Pair 1 is not correctly matched: When the land left uncultivated for one year, it was
called „parati‟ (fallow). Cess on Parati land was at the full (polaj) rate when it was cultivated.
 Pair 2 is not correctly matched: The land which had been fallow for two to three years was called
‗chachar‘, and if longer than that, it was known as ‗banjar‘.
 Pair 3 is correctly matched: The land which remained under cultivation almost every year was
called ‗polaj‟.
 The land was also classified as good, middling, and bad. Though one-third of the average produce was
the state demand, it varied according to the productivity of the land, the method of assessment, etc.
 Akbar was deeply interested in the development and extension of cultivation; therefore, he
offered taccavi (loans) to the peasants for seeds, equipment, animals, etc. Akbar made policy to recover
the loans in easy installments.

Q 44.D
 Krishnadeva Raya‘s rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation. This was the time when the
land between the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers (the Raichur doab) was acquired (1512), the rulers of
Orissa were subdued (1514) and severe defeats were inflicted on the Sultan of Bijapur (1520).
 Although the kingdom remained in a constant state of military preparedness, it flourished under
conditions of unparalleled peace and prosperity. Krishnadeva Raya is credited with building some fine
temples and adding impressive gopurams to many important south Indian temples.
 He also founded a suburban township near Vijayanagara called Nagalapuram after his mother,
Nagala Devi. This town is home to Vedanarayana Temple, where the presiding deity Vishnu is in the
form of Matsya, the first incarnation of Dasavatara. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

16 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

Q 45.B
 Karkhana a manufacturing centre under state supervision during the Sultanate and Mughal periods and
now a common term for a place of manufacture or assembling. In view of the rural setting and subsistence
economy of India, the Muslim rulers, who came from a different background of production and
marketing, felt the need for maintaining state-sponsored and state-controlled karkhanas to supply the
royal household and departments of government with provisions, stores and equipment. Muhammad
bin Tughlaq is said to have established many such karkhanas. His successor Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq
turned these karkhanas into centres of vocational training as well. Many of the war captives, who were
turned slaves, were distributed among these karkhanas to be trained in manufacturing, arts and
crafts. Hence, statement 1 is not correct
 The Mughal emperors took special interest in the Karkhanas and saw to it that state maintained Karkhanas
were set up not only in the capital but also in the provincial headquarters as well as in other important
industrial towns. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
 At the time of Akbar karkhanas formed a regular department under Mir Saman (Khan-i-Saman). During
his time, greater attention was given to the training of apprentices in these karkhanas. These young
apprentices were placed under an Ustad (master craftsman) to learn the art and become experts themselves
in course of time. Hence, statement 3 is correct

Q 46.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 47.C
 Social System during the Sultanate period
o The period of Delhi Sultanate witnessed little change in the structure of the Hindu society during this
period. Traditional caste system with the Brahmins on the upper strata of the society was prevalent.
The subservient position of women also continued and the practice of Sati was widely prevalent. Ibn
Batuta had mentioned with horror the scene of a woman burning herself in the funeral pyre of her
husband with great beating of drums. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
o During the Delhi Sultanate period, the Muslim society remained divided into several ethnic and racial
groups. The Turks, Iranians, Afghans and Indian Muslims developed as exclusive groups and there
were no intermarriages between them. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
o Even though slavery had existed in India since ancient times, it flourished during the Sultanate period.
There were slave markets for men and women were hired for varied jobs ranging from household
chores to skilled professions. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Q 48.C
 The real consolidator of Turkish rule in India was lltutmish (died in 1236). He belonged to the Ilbari tribe
and hence his dynasty was referred to as the Ilbari dynasty. After becoming Sultan, he shifted his capital
from Lahore to Delhi. To his credit, he was the first Sultan of India who was recognized by the Khalifa.
 He was successful in keeping the throne of Delhi safe from the danger of Mongol invasion. He broke up
the Rajput powers in the north and established his supremacy over them.
 He made his rule hereditary, issued coins in his name and made Delhi a beautiful capital.
 Following were his major achievements:
o He prevented the Mongol attack suing diplomatic skills (by not providing refuge to the enemies
of the Mongol) and saved India from the wrath of Chengiz Khan. Thus, he followed a policy of
aloofness towards Mongols. Hence option (c) is not correct.
o He introduced the Iqtadari system in India. He divided his empire into Iqtas (assignment of land in
lieu of salary). Every Iqtadars had to maintain law and order and collect revenue. After deducting own

17 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS

 salary and expenses, they had to send the surplus to the central government. As a matter of fact,
the Iqtadars were transferable. Hence option (b) is correct.
o He organized an elite corp of Turkish slaves referred to as turkan-i-chihalgan who enjoyed the
position of power and authority during this period. They advised and helped the Sultan in
administering the Sultanate. After the death of Iltumish, this group assumed great power in its
hands. Hence, option (d) is correct.
o He issued purely Arabic coinage of silver tanka (first to do so) and copper Jital in India. Hence,
option (a) is correct.

Q 49.B
 Quilon or Kollam is situated in modern-day Kerela. It was attacked and destroyed by Chola king
Rajaraja.
 Vishakhapatnam‟s (Vizag) history can be traced back to the 6th century BC. It was historically a part of
the Kalinga region and then eventually ruled by the Vengi kingdom, Pallava and Ganga dynasty. It is the
largest city of Andhra Pradesh both in terms of area and population. It went from being called Waltair
during British rule to Vizagpatnam after independence and later became Vishakhapatnam in 1987.
 Pragjyotishpur is the name for modern-day Assam. It was ruled by Pala king in medieval times.

Q 50.B
About the Vijayanagar Kingdom :
 We find references to three major categories of land tenure: " amara ", "bhandaravada" and
"Manya" during the Vijaynagar empire.. These indicate the way in which the village income was
distributed.
o The bhandarvada was a crown village comprising the smallest category. A part of its income was
utilised to maintain the Vijaynagar forts.
o Income from the manya (tax-free) villages was used to maintain the Brahmans, temples, and maths.
o The largest category was of the amara villages given by the Vijaynagar rulers to the amaranayakas.
Their holders did not possess proprietary rights in land but enjoyed privileges over its income only.

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