Social Studies PYQs

The term Prathama-Kulika in the Gupta period stands for Chief Craftsman.

 Key Points

• "Prathama-Kulika" was used to refer to the head artisan or craftsman in a guild during the Gupta period.
• Craftsmen and artisans in ancient India were organized into guilds or associations known as "Shrenis," which were led by a head artisan or craftsman referred to as "Prathama-Kulika."
• These guilds regulated the production and distribution of goods and helped ensure fair working conditions for their members.
• Gupta kings adopted a number of steps to win the support of men who were powerful, either economically, or socially, or because of their political and military strength.
• These policies were reasonably effective, but sooner or later, some of these powerful men grew strong enough to set up independent kingdoms.

Thus we can conclude that the term Prathama-Kulika in the Gupta period stands for Chief Craftsman.

The birch bark on which hymns of the Rig Veda were written was found in Kashmir.

Key Points

• There are four vedas – the Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda and Atharvaveda.
• The oldest Veda is the Rigveda, composed about 3500 years ago.
• The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or “well-said”.
• These hymns are in praise of various gods and goddesses.
• The Rigveda was recited and heard rather than read.
• It was written down several centuries after it was first composed, and printed less than 200 years ago.
• The hymns of the Rigveda were written on palm leaf, or on the specially prepared bark of a tree known as the birch, which grows in the Himalayas.
• One such manuscript of the Rigveda, on birch bark, was found in Kashmir.
• About 150 years ago, it was used to prepare one of the earliest printed texts of the Rigveda, as well as an English translation.
• It is now preserved in a library in Pune, Maharashtra.

Therefore, the correct answer is Kashmir.

Periyapuranam informs us about the lives of ordinary men and women.

Key Points

• Its inscriptions what tell us about kings and powerful men, here is an excerpt from the Periyapuranam, a twelfth-century Tamil work, which informs us about the lives of ordinary men and women.
• It is a hagiography of the 63 Nayanars, the devotees of Lord Shiva who lived in Tamil Nadu between the 6^th and 8^th centuries CE.
• The Periyapuranam provides a vivid description of the lives of the Nayanars and the social and cultural milieu in which they lived, offering a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people during that period.
• Periyapuranam also contains vivid descriptions of the natural beauty of Tamil Nadu and the lives of ordinary people, including farmers, weavers, and traders.
• Through these descriptions, the Periyapuranam offers a unique window into the social and cultural life of Tamil Nadu during the medieval period.

So we can conclude that Periyapuranam informs us about the lives of ordinary men and women.

The pair of Mahabalipuram  -Cholas is not matched correctly.

Key Points

• Khajuraho - Chandellas:
• Khajuraho is a group of Hindu and Jain temples located in Madhya Pradesh, India.
• The temples were built by the Chandella dynasty between the 10^th and 12^th centuries CE.
• The temples are famous for their intricate carvings and sculptures, which depict various aspects of life during that time period.
• A​ihole - Chalukyas:
• Aihole is a village in Karnataka, India, which was the capital of the Chalukya dynasty in the 6^th century CE.
• The Chalukyas were known for their patronage of art and architecture, and Aihole has many temples and monuments that showcase their architectural style.
• Some of the notable monuments at Aihole include the Durga Temple, Lad Khan Temple, and Ravanaphadi Cave.
• Kanchipuram - Pallavas:
• Kanchipuram is a city in Tamil Nadu, India, which was an important center of the Pallava dynasty from the 3^rd to the 9^th century CE.
• The Pallavas were known for their patronage of art and architecture, and Kanchipuram has many temples and monuments that showcase their architectural style.
• Some of the notable monuments at Kanchipuram include the Kailasanatha Temple, Ekambareswarar Temple, and Varadharaja Perumal Temple.
• ​Mahabalipuram - Cholas:
• Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Tamil Nadu, India.
• The monuments at Mahabalipuram were built mainly by the Pallava dynasty, not the Chola dynasty.
• The Pallavas ruled the region from the 3^rd to the 9^th century CE and were known for their patronage of art and architecture.
• Some of the notable monuments at Mahabalipuram include the Shore Temple, Arjuna's Penance, and the Five Rathas.

Hence, we can conclude that the pair of Mahabalipuram  -Cholas is not matched correctly.

The correct answer is both (II) and (III)

Key Points

• Although inscriptions, coins and architecture provide a lot of information, especially valuable are “histories”, tarikh (singular)/tawarikh (plural), written in Persian, the language of administration under the Delhi Sultans.
• The authors of tawarikh were learned men: secretaries, administrators, poets and courtiers, who both recounted events and advised rulers on governance, emphasising the importance of just rule. Hence, statement I is not correct.
• The authors of tawarikh lived in cities (mainly Delhi) and hardly ever in villages. Therefore, statement II is correct.
• They often wrote their histories for Sultans in the hope of rich rewards. Thus, statement III is correct.
• These authors advised rulers on the need to preserve an “ideal” social order based on birthright and gender distinctions.
• Their ideas were not shared by everybody.

Based on the above discussion, we can conclude that among the given statements

(II) and (III) are correct.

Sahitya Ratna was not compiled by Surdas.

Key Points

• Surdas (1478-1581) was a renowned poet, saint, and musician of medieval India, who was known for his devotional compositions dedicated to Lord Krishna.
• He was born blind in a Brahmin family in Sihi village near Delhi, and his life was spent in devotion to God and the pursuit of spiritual knowledge.
• Surdas' compositions, which include the Sursagara, Surasaravali, and Sahitya Lahari, are considered to be among the finest examples of devotional poetry in the Hindi language.
• They are characterized by their simplicity, purity, and profound devotion to Lord Krishna, and are still widely sung and recited by devotees today.
• Surdas' poetry often focused on the love between Radha and Krishna, and he is particularly renowned for his vivid descriptions of the Krishna leela, or the playful pastimes of Lord Krishna.
• His works also contain many philosophical and spiritual insights, and are considered to be a valuable source of knowledge on Hinduism and the bhakti tradition.
• Surdas' life and works have had a profound influence on Indian culture and literature, and he is regarded as one of the greatest saints and poets of the bhakti movement.

Hence, we can conclude that Sahitya Ratna was not compiled by Surdas.

The correct answer is both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Key Points

• The Mughal Empire started facing a variety of crises towards the closing years of the seventeenth century.
• After the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb, the efficiency of the imperial administration broke down.
• It became increasingly difficult for the later Mughal emperors to keep a check on their powerful mansabdars.
• Nobles appointed as governors (subadars) often controlled the offices of revenue and military administration (diwani and faujdari) as well.
• This gave them extraordinary political, economic and military powers over vast regions of the Mughal Empire.
• As the governors consolidated their control over the provinces, the periodic remission of revenue to the capital declined.
• With the decline in the authority of the Mughal emperors, the governors of large provinces, subadars, and the great zamindars consolidated their authority in different parts of the subcontinent. Hence, statement (R) is true.
• Through the eighteenth century, the Mughal Empire gradually fragmented into a number of independent, regional states. Thus, statement (A) is true.
• Broadly speaking the states of the eighteenth century can be divided into three overlapping groups: 
• States that were old Mughal provinces like Awadh, Bengal and Hyderabad. Although extremely powerful and quite independent, the rulers of these states did not break their formal ties with the Mughal emperor.
• States that had enjoyed considerable independence under the Mughals as watan jagirs. These included several Rajput principalities.
• The last group included states under the control of Marathas, Sikhs and others like the Jats. These were of differing sizes and had seized their independence from the Mughals after a long-drawn armed struggle.

Based on the above discussion, we can conclude that both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

In the Tamil region, landowners were known as vellalars.

Key Points

• There were at least three different kinds of people living in most villages in the southern and northern parts of the subcontinent.
• In the Tamil region, large landowners were known as vellalar, ordinary ploughmen were known as uzhavar, and landless labourers, including slaves, were known as kadaisiyar and adimai.
• The term vellalar refers to a social group of landowners in the Tamil region of South India.
• They were traditionally involved in agriculture and were considered to be one of the dominant castes in the region.
• The word 'vellalar' is derived from the Tamil words 'vel', meaning spear, and 'alar', meaning cultivator.
• During ancient times, the vellalars were known for their military and administrative skills.
• They were also involved in the construction of temples and irrigation tanks.
• As landowners, they were responsible for managing the land and the people who worked on it.
• In medieval times, the vellalars continued to be important in the Tamil region.
• They played a key role in the establishment of the Chola, Pandya, and Vijayanagara empires.
• They were also known for their literary and artistic contributions, with many vellalars being poets and writers.

Therefore, the correct answer is Tamil region.

The correct option is both (A) & (B) are true.

Key Points

• Raja Rammohun Roy (1772–1833) founded a reform association known as the Brahmo Sabha (later known as the Brahmo Samaj) in Calcutta.
• People such as Rammohun Roy are described as reformers because they felt that changes were necessary in society, and unjust practices needed to be done away with.
• They thought that the best way to ensure such changes was by persuading people to give up old practices and adopt a new way of life.
• Rammohun Roy was keen to spread the knowledge of Western education in the country and bring about greater freedom and equality for women.
• He wrote about the way women were forced to bear the burden of domestic work, confined to the home and the kitchen, and not allowed to move out and become educated.

Hence we conclude that the correct option is both (A) & (B) are true.

Veda Samaj established in the erstwhile Madras (Chennai) was inspired by Brahmo Samaj.

Key Points

• The Veda Samaj was a reform movement in 19^th century South India, which aimed to reform Hinduism and promote monotheism, rationalism, and social reform.
• The movement was founded by a group of Tamil Brahmins led by Rammohan Roy and later led by Keshub Chandra Sen.
• Established in Madras (Chennai) in 1864, the Veda Samaj was inspired by the Brahmo Samaj.
• It worked to abolish caste distinctions and promote widow remarriage and women’s education.
• Its members believed in one God.
• They condemned the superstitions and rituals of orthodox Hinduism.

Hence, we can conclude that Veda Samaj established in the erstwhile Madras (Chennai) was inspired by Brahmo Samaj.

The correct answer is both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Key Points

• Periyar was an outspoken critic of Hindu scriptures, especially the Codes of Manu, the ancient lawgiver, and the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana.
• He said that these texts had been used to establish the authority of Brahmans over lower castes and the domination of men over women.
• He felt that all religious authorities saw social divisions and inequality as God-given.
• Untouchables had to free themselves, therefore, from all religions in order to achieve social equality.
• These assertions did not go unchallenged.
• The forceful speeches, writings and movements of lower-caste leaders did lead to rethinking and some self-criticism among upper-caste nationalists leaders.
• But orthodox Hindu society also reacted by founding Sanatan Dharma Sabhas and the Bharat Dharma Mahamandal in the north, and associations like the Brahman Sabha in Bengal.
• The object of these associations was to uphold caste distinctions as a cornerstone of Hinduism and show how this was sanctified by scriptures.
• Debates and struggles over caste continued beyond the colonial period and are still going on in our own times.

Hence we can conclude that the correct answer is both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Governor General Canning announced that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king.

Key Points

• In the 19^th century, the East India Company began to plan how to bring the Mughal dynasty to an end.
• The name of the Mughal king was removed from the coins minted by the Company.
• In 1849, Governor -General Dalhousie announced that after the death of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the family of the king would be shifted out of the Red Fort and given another place in Delhi to reside in.
• In 1856, Governor-General Canning decided that Bahadur Shah Zafar would be the last Mughal king and after his death none of his descendants would be recognised as kings – they would just be called princes.

Hence, the correct answer is Canning.

'Kesari' newspaper was published in Marathi language.

Key Points

• 'Kesari' was a Marathi language newspaper that was founded by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1881.
• The newspaper played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and was a platform for promoting nationalist ideas and the concept of swaraj (self-rule) in India.
• Tilak used the newspaper to highlight the social and political issues facing India at the time, including poverty, illiteracy, and the oppression of the Indian people under British rule.
• He also used the newspaper to criticize the policies of the British government and to promote the idea of Indian self-rule.
• 'Kesari' became one of the most influential newspapers in India and played a key role in mobilizing public opinion and creating a sense of national identity among the Indian people.
• The newspaper was banned by the British government on several occasions, but Tilak continued to publish it and use it as a tool for social and political reform.

Hence, the correct answer is Marathi.

The correct answer is 1935 Act.

Key Points

• The combined struggles of the Indian people bore fruit when the Government of India Act of 1935 prescribed provincial autonomy and the government announced elections to the provincial legislatures in 1937.
• A large number of provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, were adopted by the Indian Constitution.
• The Government of India Act, 1935, was a British law that provided for the establishment of a federal system of government in India, and granted some degree of autonomy to the provinces.
• The Indian Constitution, which was adopted in 1950, incorporated many of the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, including the federal system of government, the structure of the central and state governments, and many of the fundamental rights and duties of Indian citizens.
• However, the Indian Constitution also made significant departures from the Government of India Act, 1935, including the establishment of a parliamentary form of government, the adoption of a written constitution, and the inclusion of a number of additional fundamental rights and duties.

Hence, we can conclude that a large number of provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935, were adopted by the Indian Constitution.

The correct answer is B

NOTE: The correct answers are 2,3,4 according to official answer key.

Important Points

Mars:

• Mars has two moons, named Phobos and Deimos.
• They are small and irregularly shaped, and are thought to be captured asteroids.

Jupiter:

• Jupiter has the largest number of moons in the solar system, with 72 moons confirmed as of September 2021.
• After the discovery of 13 new moons of Jupiter, it accounts for a total of 95 natural satellites, which is the largest among all the planets.
• Some of its most famous moons include Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Uranus:

• Uranus has 28 known moons
• Some of its largest moons are Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon.

Neptune:

• Neptune has 16 known moons as of September 2021.
• Its largest moon, Triton, is notable for being the only large moon in the solar system to orbit in the opposite direction of its planet's rotation.

Overall, the number of moons for each planet is subject to change as more moons are discovered or confirmed.

Additional Information

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation for Assertion (A).

 Important Points

Assertion (A) : The areas lying between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole are very cold.

• The areas lying between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole are indeed very cold, with temperatures often dropping below freezing.
• This is because these areas receive very little direct sunlight, especially during the winter months, when the sun remains below the horizon for weeks or even months at a time.

Assertion (A) is true. 

Reason (R) : The sun rays are always slanting and provide less heat.​

• The sun's rays are always slanting in the polar regions, even during the summer months when the sun remains above the horizon for 24 hours a day.
• This means that the same amount of solar energy is spread over a larger area, resulting in lower temperatures.
• Additionally, the sunlight that does reach the ground is reflected back into the atmosphere by the ice and snow, further reducing the amount of heat absorbed by the surface.

Reason (R) is also true. 

Therefore, the Reason (R) provides a correct explanation for Assertion (A).

The Sun appears to rise in the east due to the rotation of the Earth on its axis from west to east.

Important Points

• As the Earth rotates towards the east, the part of the Earth facing the Sun is illuminated, causing it to be daytime.
• As the Earth continues to rotate, the part of the Earth facing away from the Sun is in shadow, causing it to be nighttime.
• This alternation of day and night is what gives the impression that the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

It's important to note that the direction of sunrise and sunset can vary slightly depending on one's location and the time of year due to the tilt of the Earth's axis and the changing seasons.

The correct answer is 08 : 37 a.m. and 09 : 23 a.m. respectively

Key PointsThe Earth is divided into 24 time zones, each representing 15 degrees of longitude (360 degrees / 24 time zones = 15 degrees per time zone). The reference point is the Prime Meridian (0 degrees longitude) at Greenwich, England. Since IST (Indian Standard Time) is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), it corresponds to 82.5 degrees East longitude (5.5 hours * 15 degrees per hour = 82.5 degrees).

Now, let's find the difference in longitude between the given locations and IST reference longitude:

1. Chandigarh location: 76°45′ East - 82°30' East (IST reference) = -5°45′
2. Kolkata location: 88°15′ East - 82°30' East (IST reference) = 5°45′

Now, we need to convert the difference in longitude to time.

Each degree of longitude corresponds to 4 minutes of time (1 hour / 15 degrees = 4 minutes per degree).

1. Chandigarh time difference: -5°45′ × 4 minutes/degree = -23 minutes
2. Kolkata time difference: 5°45′ × 4 minutes/degree = 23 minutes

Finally, adjust the opening time of 9:00 a.m. IST according to the calculated time differences:

1. Chandigarh local opening time: 9:00 a.m. IST - 23 minutes = 8:37 a.m.
2. Kolkata local opening time: 9:00 a.m. IST + 23 minutes = 9:23 a.m.

Thus, the correct answer is 08:37 a.m. and 09:23 a.m. respectively

The correct answer is Sahyadri

Important Points

The Deccan plateau is a large plateau located in southern India, covering an area of around 500,000 square kilometers.

• It is bounded by several mountain ranges, including the Satpura and Vindhya ranges to the north, the Eastern Ghats to the east, the Nilgiri hills to the south, and the Sahyadri ranges to the west.

The Sahyadri ranges

• Its also known as the Western Ghats, are a mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of India, stretching for around 1,600 km from Gujarat to Kerala.
• The range is home to several important rivers, including the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, which flow eastward towards the Bay of Bengal.
• The Western Ghats are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and are known for their rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems.

Additional Information

• To the north of the Deccan plateau lies the Satpura range, a series of hills and mountains that stretch for around 900 km across central India.
• The range is home to several important rivers, including the Narmada and Tapti, and is known for its rich wildlife and scenic beauty.
• The Vindhya range is another mountain range located to the north of the Deccan plateau, separating it from the Indo-Gangetic plain to the north.
• The range is relatively low in elevation, with the highest peak, Vindhyaachal, rising to only 600 meters.
• To the south of the Deccan plateau lies the Nilgiri hills, a range of mountains located in the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.
• The hills are known for their scenic beauty and rich biodiversity, and are home to several important wildlife reserves, including the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Overall, the Deccan plateau is bounded by several important mountain ranges, each with its own unique geography, ecosystems, and cultural significance

The correct answer is:

1. (a) - (iv), (b) - (i), (c) - (ii), (d) - (iii)

 

Important Points

• Marble is a type of metamorphic rock that is formed from limestone.
• Sandstone is a type of sedimentary rock that is composed of sand-sized grains of mineral, rock, or organic material.
• Coal is a type of fossil fuel that is formed from the remains of dead plants that have been buried and subjected to high pressure and temperature over millions of years.
• Granite is a type of igneous rock that is formed from the slow cooling and solidification of magma.