Q26. The rulers of which dynasty started the practice of granting tax-free villages to Brahmanas and Buddhist Monks?
(a) Satavahanas
(b) Mauryas
(c) Guptas
(d) Cholas
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Satavahanas was the successor of Mauryas in Deccan India. Satvahana dynasty ruled in parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. They were patrons of Buddhism. They started the practice of granting tax-free villages to Brahmanas and Buddhist monks.
Q27. Consider the following statements regarding the description of Megasthenese.
Megasthenese describes the seven castes in India
Megasthenese describes the slavery system as not found in India
There is no famine in India
Writing skill was not developed in India.
Which of the above statements is correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2, 3, and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Megasthenes described the seven classes that he found in Indian society: sophists, farmers, herdsmen, artisans and shopkeepers, overseers, and deliberators. He described the sophists to be the grandest in reputation and helping in sacrifices. The farmers, according to him, were numerous and paid taxes to the king. The herdsmen pastured sheep and cattle did not reside in the cities or villages, and were nomads. The artisans and shopkeepers performed public duties and paid taxes. The soldiers were devoted to military events. The overseers had the responsibility to supervise events and activities happening in the country and to report them to the king. The seventh class constituted those who discussed public affairs with the king, and as Megasthenes described, it was from this class that the rulers, treasures, and admirals were selected. Megasthenes visited India in the 4th century BC and recorded the slavery system to be missing in India. This hypothesis is not believed to be correct by the Indian authors. His theory about the absence of famines is also not taken literally, since one famine happened soon after the Greeks left India. He also argued for the absence of any writing system in India during the time of his visit.
Q28. Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?
(a) Brahmi
(b) Nandnagari
(c) Sharada
(d) Kharosthi
Answer: (d) Kharosthi
Explanation: Kharosthi script was deciphered by James Prinsep (1799–1840), using the bilingual coins of the Indo-Greek period. This in turn led to the reading of the Edicts of Ashoka, some of which, from the northwest of the Asian subcontinent, were written in the Kharosthi script.
Q29. Some of the following place (s) has/have revealed archaeological evidence regarding pit-dwellings:
Dholavira
Burzahom
Gufkral
Shortugai
Which are those sites?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Burzahom and Gufkral (both located in Kashmir) have revealed the existence of pit dwellings. These dwelling pits are circular or oval. Some of the pit chambers are square to rectangular in shape. Both the pits and the pit chambers have been dug into the natural soil. Some of the deeper pits have also been provided with landing steps. These steps, however, do not lead down to the bottom, which indicates that a ladder may have been used for further descent. The filling in some of the pits also consists of charcoal and ash, which indicates human occupation.
Q30. Vikramshila Mahavihar was founded by
(a) Harsha
(b) Gopal
(c) Kumarpal
(d) Dharmapal
Answer: (d)
Explanation: In the 8th century, King Dharampal of the Pal dynasty formed the world-famous Vikramshila Mahavihar in Antichak village, Kahalgaon.
Q31. Harshvardhana was defeated by-
(a) Prabhakaravardhana
(b) Pulakesin II
(c) Narshimvarman
(d) Sasanka
Answer: (b)
Explanation: In 618 AD Harshavardhana invaded Deccan which was then ruled by Pulakesin II (Chalukyan King of Vatapi). He defeated Harsha in the battle which was fought on the bank of Narmada and after his victory, he assumed the title of ‘Parameshwara’.
Q32. The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the:
(a) Chhandogyopanishad
(b) Mundakopanishad
(c) Kathopanishad
(d) Kenopanishad
Answer:(c) Kathopanishad
Explanation: Kathopanishad is the conversation between Nachiketa and Yamraj (God of death). Nachiketa was a seeker, and Yamraj was a Guru (knower of secrets).
Q33. Which part of Rigveda gives an account of the origin of the Universe?
(a) Second Mandala
(b) Fourth Mandala
(c) Ninth Mandala
(d) Tenth Mandala
Answer: (d)
Explanation: In the tenth book (Tenth Mandala) of Rig-Veda, the 129th hymn (Suktam) deals with the origin of the universe and creation.
Q34. In ancient India, the ‘Yaudheyas’ were
(a) a sect of Buddhism
(b) a sect of the Jainism
(c) a republican tribe
(d) Vassals of the Cholas
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Yaudheyas were related to Johiya Kshatriyas residing near Multan (Presently in Pakistan).
Q35. The caste system of India was created for:
(a) Immobility of labour
(b) Recognization of the dignity of labour
(c) Economic uplift
(d) Occupational division of labour
Answer: (d)
Explanation: The caste system in the Vedic period was an occupational division of labour but in the post-Vedic on the behalf of the birth.
Q36. In Mahayana Buddhism, the BodhisatyaAvalokitesvara was also known as:
(a) Vajrapani
(b) Manjusri
(c) Padmapani
(d) Maitreya
Answer:(c) Padmapani
Explanation: Avalokiteśvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He is one of the more widely revered bodhisattvas in mainstream Mahayana Buddhism. In Sanskrit, Avalokitesvara is also referred to as Padmapāni (“Holder of the Lotus”) or Lokeśvara (“Lord of the World”).
Q37. Which was the capital of Kanishka?
(a) Kuldalvan
(b) Pataliputra
(c) Purushapura
(d) Gandhar
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Kanishka was the king of the Kushan dynasty that ruled over the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and possibly regions north of Kashmir in Central Asia. His territory was administered from two capitals Purushapura (now Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan) and Mathura, in northern India.
Q38. Match List-I and List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below the lists:
List-I
List-II
A. Time is taken by the Earth to orbit the sun
1. Aryabhatta
B. Calculation of the value of π (pi)
2. Bhaskaracharya
C. Invention of the digit Zero
3. Budhayana
D. The game of snakes & ladders
4. Gyanadev
Codes: A B C D
(a) 2 4 1 3
(b) 1 3 2 4
(c) 2 3 1 4
(d) 1 4 2 3
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The correct match list is:
Aryabhatta — Invention of the digit zero.
Bhaskaracharya — Time is taken by the earth to orbit the sun.
Budhayana — Calculation of the value of π (Pi)
Gyandeva — The game of snakes and ladders
Q39. The silver coins issued by the Guptas were called:
(a) Rupaka
(b) Karshapana
(c) Dinara
(d) Pana
Answer:(a) Rupaka
Explanation: Rupaka was a silver coin of the Gupta period. 16 Rupaka was equal to 1 gold coin.
Q40. Alexander and Porus fought a battle at
(a) Hydaspes
(b) Jhelum
(c) Panipat
(d) Train
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Alexander and Porus fought a battle on the bank of river Hydaspes which is known as the Battle of Hydaspes. River Jhelum was called Hydaspes at that time, hence this battle is known as the Battle of Hydaspes.
Q41. Who was the founder of the Satvahana Empire?
(a) Kanha
(b) Simuka
(c) Hala
(d) Gautamiputra
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Satvahana Dynasty succeeded Mauryas in Deccan and Central India. The Satvahana empire was founded by Simuka after overthrowing the last Kanava King Sugarman. The most prominent king of this Dynasty was Gautami Putra Satkarni.
Q42. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Author)
List-II (Text)
A. Varahamihira
1. PrabandhaChintamani
B. Vishakhadatta
2. Mrichchha-Katikam
C. Sudraka
3. Brihat-Samhita
D. Bilhana
4. Devi-Chandraguptam
5. Vikramankadeva-Charita
Codes:
(a) A – 3; B – 4; C – 5; D – 2
(b) A – 3; B – 4; C – 2; D – 5
(c) A – 5; B – 3; C – 4; D – 1
(d) A – 1; B – 3; C – 5; D – 2
Answer:(b)
Explanation: Varahamihira also wrote Panchasiddhantika; Vishakhadatta also wrote Mudra Rakshasa.
Q43. The ethnic composition of the armies of Ghaznavids did not include the
(a) Arabs
(b) Indians
(c) Tajiks
(d) Greeks
Answer: (d)
Explanation: The ethnic composition of the armies of Ghaznavids did not value the Greeks. The eastern part of the later Roman empire, dating from AD 330 when Constantine I rebuilt Byzantium and made it his capital. Its extent varied greatly over the centuries, but its core remained the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor. The empire collapsed when Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.
Q44. The first sermon of Buddha made at Saranath is called
(a) Dharmachakra Parivartan
(b) Dharma Sansthan
(c) Dharma Sabha
(d) Maha Parinirvan
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Dharmachakra Parivartan is said to be the first teaching given by the Buddha after he attained enlightenment. It is taught that the Buddha attained enlightenment while sitting under the Bodhi tree by the river Niranjana, in Bodhgaya.
Q45. Assertion (A): Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire.
Reason (R): Kalinga controlled the land and sea routes to South India.
(a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Ashoka annexed Kalinga to the Mauryan Empire in 261 BC. Though Ashoka abandoned the policy of physical occupation in favour of the policy of cultural conquest after the Kalinga War, he retained Kalinga after its conquest and incorporated it into his empire. Thus R explains A.
Q46. The famous rock-cut temple of Kailash is at
(a) Ajanta
(b) Badami
(c) Mahabalipuram
(d) Ellora
Answer:(d)
Explanation: Kailash Temple is part of groups of Ellora caves, Aurangabad, Maharashtra. It symbolizes the abode of Lord Shiva-Mount Kailash.
Q47. The practice of military governorship was first introduced in India by the:
(a) Greeks
(b) Shakas
(c) Parthians
(d) Mughals
Answer:(a) Greeks
Explanation: Greeks first introduced military governorship in India. They appointed their Governors called strategists.
Q48. Which one among the following Indus cities was known for water management
(a) Lothal
(b) Mohenjodaro
(c) Harappa
(d) Dholavira
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Dholavira was known for water management.
Q49. Hoysala monuments are found in:
(a) Hampi and Hosper
(b) Halebid and Belur
(c) Mysore and Bangalore
(d) Sringeri and Dharwar
Answer:(b) Halebid and Belur
Explanation: The capital of the Hoysala was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebid.
Q50. Name the Muslim Invader who destroyed Nalanda University?
(a) Allaudin Khilji
(b) Muhammad Bin Tuglaq
(c) Muhammad Bin Bakhtiyar
(d) Muhammad Bin Qasim
Answer:(c)
Explanation: Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji was the military general of Qutb-ud-Din Aibak. He burned Nalanda University and Vikramshila University in 1193.
