Social Studies PYQs

The correct answer is Mehrgarh.

Key Points

• ​Option 3, Mehrgarh, is the correct answer, as the earliest evidence of villages have been found at this site.
• It is located in the Balochistan province of Pakistan.
• Excavations at this site have revealed evidence of the earliest farming communities in South Asia.
• The site has yielded evidence of domesticated animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats, as well as evidence of wheat and barley cultivation.
• The earliest evidence of pottery making in South Asia has also been found at this site.

Additional Information

• Hallur: This site is located in Karnataka, India, and has yielded evidence of Neolithic cultures.
• Chiraud: This site is located in Madhya Pradesh, India, and has yielded evidence of Paleolithic and Mesolithic cultures.
• Burzahom: This site is located in Jammu and Kashmir, India, and has yielded evidence of Neolithic cultures.

The correct answer is (a) - (iii), (b) - (iv), (c) - (i), (d) - (ii).

Key Points

• Nigel Wordon is the author of "The chains that bind us: A History of Slavery at the Cape."
• K. S. Singh is the author of "Birsa Munda and His Movement"
• Cohn, Clarke and Haswell are the authors of the book "The economy of subsistence agriculture"
• Verrier Elwin and Shamrao Hivale are the authors of "Birsa Songs of the Maikal."

The correct answer is Charles Weld.

Key Points

• Option 1: Michael Faraday was a British scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry.
• He was not a geologist and did not travel to Chhattisgarh in search of iron ore deposits.
• Option 2: Charles Weld was an American geologist who travelled to Chhattisgarh in search of iron ore deposits.
• He is the correct answer to the question.
• He was part of a team of geologists sent by the United States government to India in the late 19^th century.
• Weld's work in India contributed to the development of the iron and steel industry in the United States.
• He also worked on geological surveys in other parts of the world, including Mexico and South America.
• Option 3: Nathaniel Halhed was a British linguist and orientalist who worked in India during the late 18^th century.
• He was not a geologist and did not travel to Chhattisgarh in search of iron ore deposits.
• Option 4: Richard Westmacott was a British sculptor who lived during the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries.
• He was not a geologist and did not travel to Chhattisgarh in search of iron ore deposits.

Additional Information

• Michael Faraday is known for his work on electromagnetic induction and the laws of electrolysis.
• Nathaniel Halhed is known for his work on the grammar of the Bengali language.
• Richard Westmacott is known for his sculptures, including the statue of Achilles in Hyde Park, London.

The correct answer is A central hall surrounded by eight rooms.

Key Points

• The correct explanation of 'hasht-bihisht' is a central hall surrounded by eight rooms.
• The term 'hasht-bihisht' is derived from Persian language, which means "eight paradises".
• It is a style of architecture that was popularized during the Mughal era in India.
• The central hall represents the paradise, while the eight surrounding rooms represent the eight heavens.
• Option 1, 2, and 3 are incorrect as they mention a different number of surrounding rooms.

Additional Information

• Option 1: This style of architecture is known as the "Chahar Bagh" style, which means "four gardens".
• Option 2: This style of architecture is known as the "Shabistan" style, which means "night garden".
• Option 3: This style of architecture is known as the "Dalaan" style, which means "corridor".

The correct answer is China, Korea, Japan.

Key Points

• Option 1 is incorrect as Cambodia was not one of the earliest countries to adopt Buddhism.
• Option 2 is also incorrect as Vietnam was not one of the earliest countries to adopt Buddhism.
• Option 3 is the correct answer as China was one of the earliest countries to adopt Buddhism from India, followed by Korea and then Japan.
• Buddhism first spread to China in the 1^st century CE, through the Silk Road trade routes.
• From China, Buddhism spread to Korea in the 4^th century CE.
• Japan adopted Buddhism from China in the 6^th century CE. ​
• Option 4 is incorrect as Japan adopted Buddhism after China.

Additional Information

• Cambodia adopted Buddhism in the 13^th century CE, much later than China, Korea, and Japan.
• Vietnam adopted Buddhism in the 3^rd century CE, after it had already spread to China.

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

Key Points

• The correct answer is option 1 - Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• Henry Thomas Colebrook and Nathaniel Halhed were indeed busy in discovering ancient Indian texts.
• They were Orientalists, which means they were scholars who studied the languages, cultures, and societies of the East, especially Asia.
• Orientalists were interested in understanding and interpreting ancient texts from India, China, Japan, and other countries in the region.
• The reason for their interest in ancient Indian texts was to gain insights into the history, philosophy, religion, and literature of India, which they believed would help them understand the culture and society of the country better.
• Option 2 is incorrect because both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is indeed the correct explanation of (A).
• Option 3 is incorrect because (A) is true, but (R) is also true.
• Option 4 is incorrect because (R) is true, but (A) is false.

Additional Information

• Option 2 is a common mistake that students make while attempting such questions.
• It is crucial to read the options carefully and evaluate each statement independently before choosing the correct answer.
• Option 3 is a classic example of a statement that is partially true but does not provide the correct explanation for (A).
• Option 4 is incorrect because the reason (R) is true, but the assertion (A) is false, which means that the statement cannot be correct.
• It is essential to understand the meaning of the terms used in the question, such as Orientalists, ancient Indian texts, etc., to answer the question correctly.

The correct answer is (a) - (i), (b) - (iii), (c) - (iv), (d) - (ii)

Key Points

• The question is related to the different types of lands in the Chola Empire.
• match.
• Pallichchhandam refers to the Land donated to Jaina Institutions
• Shalabhoga refers to land for the maintenance of  school.
• Devadana refers to Land gifted to temples
• Vellanvagai refers to land of non-Brahamana peasant proprietors.

Additional Information

• One of the four main Tamil dynasties was the Chola dynasty.
• The Chola empire was founded by Vijayalaya.
• When the Cholas overthrew the Pallavas to take control in the ninth century, their rule officially began.
• The Chola Dynasty came to an end in the year 1279 CE.
• Rajendra Chola III, the final Chola ruler, was overthrown by Maravarman Kulasekara Pandyan I.

The correct answer is A term used for shifting cultivation.

Key Points

• "Bewar" is a term used in central India to refer to a type of shifting cultivation, where the land is cleared by cutting and burning the vegetation, and then left fallow for a few years before being cultivated again.
• This practice is also known as "jhum" or "slash-and-burn" agriculture.
• Option 1, "A field uncultivated for a while," is related to the concept of fallow land, which is land that is left uncultivated for a period of time to allow it to recover its fertility.
• However, "bewar" specifically refers to a type of fallow land that is used for shifting cultivation.
• Option 3, "A unit of measurement of land," is not related to the concept of "bewar" specifically.
• However, various units of land measurement are used in India, depending on the region and the type of land use.
• Option 4, "The waste left when a metal is smelted," is not related to the concept of "bewar" or to agriculture in general.
• This refers to the slag or residue that is left behind after metal ores are heated and separated from the metal.

Additional Information

• Shifting cultivation is a traditional agricultural practice that has been used in many parts of the world, especially in tropical and subtropical regions.
• It is often associated with indigenous or tribal communities who depend on the forest for their livelihoods.
• Shifting cultivation has been criticized for its negative environmental impacts, such as deforestation, soil degradation, and loss of biodiversity.
• However, proponents argue that it can be a sustainable and resilient form of agriculture if practiced properly.
• In India, shifting cultivation is mainly practiced in the northeastern states, as well as in parts of central India, such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha.
• Other terms used for shifting cultivation in India include "penda" in Maharashtra, "kumri" in Madhya Pradesh, and "dahi" in Jharkhand.

The correct answer is Veera Salingam Pantulu.

Key Points

• Option 1 - Ishwarchand Vidyasagar was a social reformer who worked towards the abolition of Sati and promoted women's education.
• However, he was associated with Bengal and not Madras Presidency.
• Option 2 - Swami Dayanand Saraswati was a Hindu reformer who founded the Arya Samaj.
• He advocated for the abolition of caste system and promoted Vedic teachings.
• However, he did not work specifically towards widow remarriage in Madras Presidency.
• Option 3 - Veera Salingam Pantulu was a social reformer who founded the Widow Remarriage Association in Madras Presidency in 1893.
• He worked towards promoting the rights of widows and advocated for their remarriage.
• He also worked towards promoting women's education and fought against child marriage.
• His efforts towards social reform were recognized by the British government and he was awarded the title of Rao Bahadur in 1903.
• Option 3 is the correct answer.
• Option 4 - Ram Mohan Roy was a social reformer who worked towards the abolition of Sati and promoted women's education.
• However, he was associated with Bengal and not Madras Presidency.

The correct answer is Shri Narayana Guru.

Key Points

• The statement, "oru jatti, oru matam, oru daivam manushyanu" means one caste, one religion, one God for human kind.
• The statement was given by Shri Narayana Guru.
• Shri Narayana Guru was a social reformer, philosopher, and spiritual leader from Kerala, India.
• He advocated for social equality and rejected the caste system.
• Sri Aurobindo was a philosopher, poet, and nationalist from India who believed in spiritual evolution.
• Swami Dayanand Saraswati was a Hindu religious leader who founded the Arya Samaj and advocated for the revival of Vedic traditions.
• Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar was a social reformer and writer who played a key role in the women's education movement in India.

Additional Information

• Sri Aurobindo's philosophy was centered around the idea of Integral Yoga, which aimed to unite the individual consciousness with the divine.
• Swami Dayanand Saraswati believed in the concept of karma and reincarnation and rejected idol worship.
• Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar was a supporter of widow remarriage and advocated for the rights of widows in Indian society.

The correct option is Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Key Points

• The assertion (A) states that the works of the Bhakti saints became immensely popular.
• The reason (R) provided for this assertion is that most of their works were composed in regional languages and could be sung.
• Both (A) and (R) are true as the works of the Bhakti saints did become popular and they were indeed composed in regional languages that could be sung.
• Reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion (A) as the popularity of the works was due to the fact that they were composed in regional languages that could be easily understood and sung by the masses.
• Option 2 is incorrect as both (A) and (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explanation of assertion (A).
• Option 3 is incorrect as assertion (A) is true.
• Option 4 is incorrect as both (A) and (R) are true.

The correct answer is Raja Ravi Varma.

Key Points

• Raja Ravi Varma was one of the first painters to create a style that was both modern and national.
• Raja Ravi Varma is considered one of the most important painters in the history of Indian art.
• He was known for his unique style that combined Indian traditions with European techniques, which he learned during his travels to Europe.
• Raja Ravi Varma is particularly famous for his paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses, which he brought to life with his use of color and light.

Additional Information

• Abanindranath Tagore was also an important painter in the history of Indian art.
• He was known for his use of Indian imagery and symbolism in his paintings, which he believed could help create a sense of national identity.
• Nandlal Bose was a prominent artist and teacher in the Bengal School of Art.
• He was known for his use of bold colors and simplified forms, which he believed could convey emotion and spirituality.
• Mohan Das is not a known painter in the history of Indian art.

The correct answer is (a) - (iv), (b) - (iii), (c) - (ii), (d) - (i).

Key Points

• Amrit Bazaar Patrika was founded by Shishir Kumar Ghosh and Motilal Ghosh.
• It was a Bengali newspaper founded in 1868.
• The Indian Mirror was founded by Devendra Nath Tagore.
• It was an English newspaper founded in 1862.
• Mirat-Ul Akhbar was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
• It was a Persian newspaper founded in 1822.
• Sudharak was founded by Gopal Ganesh Agarkar.
• It was a Marathi newspaper founded in 1878.

Additional Information

• Option 1: (a) - (ii), (b) - (iv), (c) - (iii), (d) - (i) is incorrect as it mismatches the founders of Amrit Bazaar Patrika and Mirat-Ul Akhbar.
• Option 3: (a) - (iii), (b) - (iv), (c) - (i), (d) - (ii) is incorrect as it mismatches the founders of The Indian Mirror and Sudharak. -
• Option 4: (a) - (i), (b) - (iii), (c) - (ii), (d) - (iv) is incorrect as it mismatches the founders of Amrit Bazaar Patrika and Sudharak.

The correct answer is (C), (D), (B), (A).

Key Points

• The setting up of the Planning Commission took place in 1950, and it was tasked with creating a plan for the country's economic development.
• This event was the first in the sequence.
• The first general elections were held in 1951-52, and they marked the beginning of India's democratic system.
• This event followed the setting up of the Planning Commission.
• The formation of the state of Andhra Pradesh on linguistic basis took place in 1953, and it was one of the first states to be formed on the basis of language.
• This event followed the first general elections.
• The first conference of non-aligned countries at Bandung took place in 1955, and it marked the beginning of India's foreign policy of non-alignment.
• This event followed the formation of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Additional Information

• Option 1: The correct sequence of events is not followed in this option.
• The Bandung Conference took place after the formation of the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• Option 3: This option places the formation of the state of Andhra Pradesh before the first general elections, which is incorrect.
• Option 4: This option places the formation of the state of Andhra Pradesh before the setting up of the Planning Commission, which is incorrect.

The correct answer is Africa.

Key Points

• The correct answer is Option 4 in Africa, which is the correct answer because it is the only continent bound by oceans and seas on all sides, and the Tropic of Cancer, Equator, and Tropic of Capricorn all pass through it.
• African Countries on the Tropic of Cancer - Western Sahara, Niger, Algeria, Mauritania, Egypt, Libya, and Mali.
• African countries on the Equator - Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Sao Tome and Principe, and Somalia
• African Countries on the Tropic of Capricorn - Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, and Madagascar

Additional Information

• Asia is the largest continent in terms of land area and population.
• Australia is the smallest continent in terms of land area and is also the world's smallest continent in terms of population.
• South America is the fourth largest continent in terms of land area and the fifth most populous continent in the world.

The correct answer is 08∶39 a.m. and 09∶24 a.m., respectively.

 Key Points

• The question is asking for the local opening time of Central Government offices located at two different longitudes.
• The given time is in IST (Indian Standard Time).
• The difference between the longitudes of Bhopal and Gangtok is 11°15'.We need to multiply the longitude difference by 4 minutes to calculate the time difference.
• The longitude difference between Bhopal and IST is 5°15', which is 21 minutes.
• The longitude difference between Gangtok and IST is 7°30', which is 30 minutes.
• Adding the time differences to the opening time of 9:00 a.m. IST, we get 8:39 a.m. and 9:24 a.m. for Bhopal and Gangtok, respectively.
• Therefore, Option 3 is the correct answer.

The correct answer is to Gain half a day - 12 hours.

Key Points

• The longitude of Saskatchewan is given as 97°30'W, which means it is 9.5 hours behind Indian Standard Time (IST).
• The question asks to ignore the time required to reach the city, which means we can assume that the time zone difference is the only factor affecting the time difference.
• Gain half day - 12 hours
• This option is correct because traveling from IST to Saskatchewan means we are traveling westward across multiple time zones, which results in a time difference of 9.5 hours. Since half a day equals 12 hours, we can say that we are gaining half a day.
• Traveling from IST to Saskatchewan means traveling westward across multiple time zones.
• Saskatchewan is 9.5 hours behind IST. - Half a day is equal to 12 hours.
• Therefore, we gain half a day or 12 hours when traveling from an Indian city to Saskatchewan.

The correct answer is Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Key Points

• The correct answer is option 2.
• Explanation:
• Both assertion (A) and reason (R) are true. The reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the assertion (A).
• The areas bounded by the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle have moderate temperatures because of various factors such as ocean currents, prevailing winds, and altitude.
• The mid-day sun never shines overhead on any latitude beyond the Tropic of Capricorn is true, but it is not the only reason for moderate temperatures in the areas bounded by the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle.

The correct answer is Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is a correct explanation of (A).

Key Points

• The correct answer is option 1, i.e. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is a correct explanation of (A).
• Explanation: -
• Statement (A) asserts that the greatest damage during an earthquake is usually closest to the epicenter, which is the point on the Earth's surface vertically above the hypocentre or focus, where the earthquake originates.
• The statement (R) provides a reason for (A) by stating that the strength or intensity of the earthquake decreases as the distance from the epicenter increases.
• This is because the energy released by the earthquake is dispersed or attenuated as it travels through the Earth's crust.

Additional Information

• Earthquakes can cause damage and destruction due to various factors such as ground shaking, liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, and fire.
• The magnitude and depth of an earthquake also affect its impact on the surface and the population.
• The Richter scale is commonly used to measure the magnitude or size of an earthquake, while the Mercalli scale is used to measure its intensity or effects.
• Earthquakes can occur anywhere in the world, but some regions are more prone to them due to their location on tectonic plates or fault zones, such as the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Mediterranean, and the Himalayas.

The correct answer is (a) - (iv), (b) - (iii), (c) - (i), (d) -  (ii).

Key Points

Additional Information

• Campos is a type of Brazilian grassland that is characterized by low and sparse vegetation.
• Pampas is a fertile South American grassland that is mostly used for grazing livestock.
• Down is a type of Australian grassland that is characterized by tall and dense vegetation.
• Llanos is a tropical grassland that is mostly found in Venezuela and Colombia. It is used for cattle ranching and farming.