Social Studies PYQs

Mesolithic period is marked by the development of grasslands.

Key Points

• The period when we find environmental changes, beginning about 12,000 years ago till about 10,000 years ago is called the Mesolithic (middle stone).
• In Mesolithic period, there were major changes in the climate of the world, with a shift to relatively warm conditions.
• In many areas, this led to the development of grasslands.
• This in turn led to an increase in the number of deer, antelope, goat, sheep and cattle, i.e. animals that survived on grass.
• Those who hunted these animals now followed them, learning about their food habits and their breeding seasons.
• It is likely that this helped people to start thinking about herding and rearing these animals themselves.
• Fishing also became important.
• Stone tools found during this period are generally tiny, and are called microliths.

Hence, we can conclude that Mesolithic period is marked by the development of grasslands.

Availability of good quality stones could be a valid reason for choosing a particular site to live by hunter-gatherers.

Key Points

• Sites are places where the remains of things (tools, pots, buildings etc.) were found.
• These were made, used and left behind by people.
• These may be found on the surface of the earth, buried under the earth, or sometimes even under water.
• Many sites were located near sources of water, such as rivers and lakes.
• Hunter-gatherers lived in many places.
• As stone tools were important, people tried to find places where good quality stone was easily available.
• Stones were essential resources for early human societies, serving a variety of purposes such as tool-making, weapons, and construction.

Therefore, we can conclude that availability of good quality stones could be a valid reason for choosing a particular site to live by hunter-gatherers.

The correct answer is Puhar.

Key Points

• The evidence of trade on the East Coast mentioned in Sangam poems is found in Puhar.
• Puhar, also known as Poompuhar or Kaveripattinam, was an ancient port city located on the eastern coast of Tamil Nadu.
• It flourished during the Sangam period, which was an era of rich Tamil literature and culture that spanned from 300 BCE to 300 CE.
• The Sangam poems, a collection of ancient Tamil literary works, provide valuable insights into the life and activities of the people during that period.
• The Sangam poems frequently mention Puhar as a bustling port city engaged in extensive trade and maritime activities.
• Puhar served as a significant center of commerce, connecting the Tamil people with traders from various regions.
• The city's strategic location on the East Coast made it an ideal hub for maritime trade.
• The Sangam literature describes the arrival and departure of ships, the bustling markets, and the diverse merchandise that was traded in Puhar.
• Goods such as spices, precious stones, textiles, pearls, and various other commodities were exchanged through this port.
• The poems also mention the interactions and cultural exchanges that took place between the Tamil people and foreign merchants.

Therefore, the correct answer is Puhar.

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

Key Points

• Citadel - Mohenjodaro:
• Mohenjodaro, an ancient city in the Indus Valley Civilization, featured a citadel, which was a raised platform or mound housing important structures like public buildings and possibly the ruling elite.
• The citadel was the highest point of the city and served as a strategic and administrative center.
• Fire Altar - Kalibangan:
• Kalibangan, another city of the Indus Valley Civilization, contained fire altars, which were platforms used for religious or ritualistic purposes.
• These altars were associated with fire worship and possibly played a role in various ceremonial activities.
• Store houses - Harappa:
• Harappa, a prominent city of the Indus Valley Civilization, had storehouses or granaries that were used to store surplus food grains.
• These large structures had thick walls and were likely an essential part of the city's centralized storage and distribution system.
• Dockyard - Lothal:
• Lothal, an ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilization, possessed a dockyard that was connected to a navigable channel leading to the Arabian Sea.
• This dockyard served as a crucial maritime hub for trade and facilitated the movement of goods and ships between the city and other regions.

Hence, the correct matching is:

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

Key Points

• Both Mahavira and Buddha emphasized the abandonment of homes in order to attain spiritual attainment.
• This assertion (A) is correct as both Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, and Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, emphasized the importance of renunciation and leaving behind worldly attachments as part of their teachings.
• Reason (R) provides an explanation for Assertion (A), stating that they believed only those who left their homes to stay at the Sangha could gain true knowledge.
• The Sangha refers to the monastic community where individuals dedicated themselves to a life of spiritual practice and discipline.
• Both Mahavira and Buddha taught that by renouncing worldly life and joining the Sangha, individuals could detach themselves from desires, distractions, and attachments, thus creating the necessary conditions for spiritual growth and the attainment of true knowledge.

​Therefore, both the assertion and the reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion.

The correct answer is Both I and II.

Key Points

• The term kathak is derived from katha, a word used in Sanskrit and other languages for story.
• The kathaks were originally a caste of story-tellers in temples of north India, who embellished their performances with gestures and songs.
• Kathak began evolving into a distinct mode of dance in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries with the spread of the bhakti movement. Hence, statement I is correct.
• The legends of Radha-Krishna were enacted in folk plays called rasa lila, which combined folk dance with the basic gestures of the kathak story-tellers.
• Under the Mughal emperors and their nobles, Kathak was performed in the court, where it acquired its present features and developed into a form of dance with a distinctive style. Therefore, statement II is correct.
• Subsequently, it developed in two traditions or gharanas: one in the courts of Rajasthan (Jaipur) and the other in Lucknow.
• Kathak, like several other cultural practices**, was viewed with disfavour by most British administrators in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries**. Thus,  statement III is not correct.
• However, it survived and continued to be performed by courtesans, and was recognised as one of six “classical” forms of dance in the country after independence.

Based on the above discussion, we can conclude that the correct answer is Both I and II.

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

Key Points

• Shankara, one of the most influential philosophers of India, was born in Kerala in the eighth century.
• He was an advocate of Advaita or the doctrine of the oneness of the individual soul and the Supreme God which is the Ultimate Reality. Hence, statement (A) is true.
• He taught that Brahman, the only or Ultimate Reality, was formless and without any attributes.

 

(R): He considered the world around us to be an illusion (Maya), and preached renunciation of the world to attain salvation.

• ​This is also true. According to Advaita Vedanta, the perceived differentiation between the individual self or soul and the external world is considered to be Maya, or illusion. This school of thought endorses the renunciation of worldly desires as a path toward the realization of the self’s oneness with Brahman.
• Given this, Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Under a system called rakhi, Sikhs offered protection to cultivators on the payment of a tax of 20% of the produce.

Key Points

• Under a number of able leaders in the eighteenth century, the Sikhs organized themselves into a number of bands called jathas, and later on misls.
• Their combined forces were known as the grand army (dal khalsa).
• The entire body used to meet at Amritsar at the time of Baisakhi and Diwali to take collective decisions known as “resolutions of the Guru (gurmatas)”.
• A system called rakhi was introduced, offering protection to cultivators on the payment of a tax of 20 per cent of the produce.

Hence the correct answer is Rakhi.

Additional Information

• Chauth was 25 per cent of the land revenue claimed by zamindars.
• In the Deccan this was collected by the Marathas.

​Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar used the ancient texts to suggest that widows could remarry.

Key Points

• The strategy adopted by Rammohun Roy was used by later reformers as well.
• Whenever they wished to challenge a practice that seemed harmful, they tried to find a verse or sentence in the ancient sacred texts that supported their point of view.
• They then suggested that the practice as it existed at present was against early tradition.
• For instance, one of the most famous reformers, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, used the ancient texts to suggest that widows could remarry.
• His suggestion was adopted by British officials, and a law was passed in 1856 permitting widow remarriage.
• Those who were against the remarriage of widows opposed Vidyasagar, and even boycotted him.

hence, the correct answer is ​Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar.

The correct answer is Only (C) was true.

Key Points

• During the 1820s in some schools of Bombay Presidency (which was a British administrative division in India at that time), there existed a practice of segregating young students belonging to certain castes.
• These students were allowed to sit only in the veranda outside the classroom while listening to the lessons being taught inside.
• The reason behind this segregation was rooted in the discriminatory caste system that prevailed in Indian society during that period.
• The caste system divided society into different hierarchical groups, with higher castes considered superior and lower castes considered inferior.
• There were strict rules and customs associated with caste, including restrictions on intermingling and social interactions between different castes.
• In the context of the schools, it was believed by those enforcing this practice that allowing students from lower castes to enter the classroom would be considered polluting.
• They believed that the presence of lower-caste students in the same classroom as higher-caste students would contaminate the learning environment and negatively impact the higher-caste students' purity or social status.
• This discriminatory practice reflected the prevailing social attitudes and beliefs of the time, where caste-based segregation was considered acceptable and even necessary to maintain social order and uphold the existing social hierarchy.
• It is important to note that this practice was unjust and based on unfounded notions of caste superiority and inferiority.
• Over time, efforts and movements for social reform, such as those led by social reformers like Jyotirao Phule and B.R. Ambedkar, aimed to challenge and eradicate such discriminatory practices and promote equality and social justice.

Based on the above discussion, we can conclude that Only (C) was true.

The purpose of Parmahans Mandali founded in Bombay in 1840 was 'Abolition of Caste'.

Key Points

• Paramhans Mandali was a socio-religious group founded in Bombay in 1840 by Durgaram Mehtaji, Dadoba Pandurang, and a group of their friends.
• The Paramahansa Mandali was founded to promote social reform in Maharashtra, particularly in the areas of abolition of caste, widow remarriage, and women's education.
• The members of the Paramahansa Mandali believed in one God and rejected the caste system.
• The Paramahansa Mandali was active for about a decade, and it played an important role in the social reform movement in Maharashtra.
• The Mandali's activities helped to raise awareness of the need for social reform, and its members made significant contributions to the cause of social justice.

hence, the correct answer is 'Abolition of Caste'.

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

Key Points

• Krishna Sandhan by Raja Ravi Varma:
• Krishna Sandhan is a painting by Raja Ravi Varma, a renowned Indian artist.
• It depicts Lord Krishna engaging in a dance form known as Raas Leela, symbolizing divine love and devotion.
• Raja Ravi Varma is known for his contributions to Indian art, blending traditional Indian aesthetics with Western techniques.
• ​Jatugriha Daha by Nandlal Bose:
• Jatugriha Daha is a painting by Nandlal Bose, a prominent Indian artist associated with the Bengal School of Art.
• It portrays the scene from the Mahabharata where the house of lac, known as Jatugriha, is set on fire.
• Nandlal Bose's art often explored mythological and historical themes, and his style incorporated elements of traditional Indian art forms.
• ​My Mother by Abanindranath Tagore:
• My Mother is a painting by Abanindranath Tagore, a prominent figure in the Bengal Renaissance and a key member of the Bengal School of Art.
• It depicts a mother figure with a serene expression, symbolizing the nurturing and caring nature of a mother.
• Abanindranath Tagore's art often portrayed Indian cultural and mythological themes, and he emphasized the revival of traditional Indian art forms.
• ​The Ideals of the East by Okakura Kakuzo:
• The Ideals of the East is a book written by Okakura Kakuzo, a Japanese scholar and art critic.
• It explores the philosophical and aesthetic principles of Eastern cultures, including those of India, China, and Japan.
• Okakura Kakuzo's work highlights the importance of preserving and appreciating the unique cultural values and artistic traditions of the East.

Therefore, the correct matching is:

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

Key Points

• The final wave of annexations by the Britishers occurred under Lord Dalhousie who was the Governor-General from 1848 to 1856.
• He devised a policy that came to be known as the Doctrine of Lapse.
• The doctrine declared that if an Indian ruler died without a male heir his kingdom would “lapse”, that is, become part of Company territory.
• One kingdom after another was annexed simply by applying this doctrine.
• Various territories annexed by the East India Company using the Doctrine of Lapse are:
• Satara - 1848
• Sambalpur - 1849
• Udaipur - 1852
• Nagpur -1854
• Jhansi - 1853

Hence, the correct matching is:

The correct answer is Both I and II.

Key Points

• Back in the 1920s, the Indian National Congress – the main party of the freedom struggle – had promised that once the country won independence, each major linguistic group would have its own province.
• However, after independence the Congress did not take any steps to honour this promise.
• Both Prime Minister Nehru and Deputy Prime Minister Vallabhbhai Patel were against the creation of linguistic states. Hence, statement I is correct.
• In October 1952, a veteran Gandhian named Potti Sriramulu went on a hunger strike demanding the formation of Andhra state to protect the interests of Telugu speakers.
• As the fast went on, it attracted much support.
• Hartals and bandhs were observed in many towns.
• On 15 December 1952, fifty-eight days into his fast, Potti Sriramulu died.
• Due to this, the protests became widespread and intense that the central government was forced to give in to the demand.
• Thus, on 1 October 1953, the new state of Andhra came into being, which subsequently became Andhra Pradesh.
• It was the first state based on Linguistic ideas. Therefore, statement II is correct.
• After the creation of Andhra, other linguistic communities also demanded their own separate states.
• A States Reorganisation Commission was set up in 1953. Thus, statement III is not correct.
• It submitted its report in 1956, recommending the redrawing of district and provincial boundaries to form compact provinces of Assamese, Bengali, Oriya, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu speakers respectively.

Hence, the correct answer is Both I and II.

The correct answer is Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus.

Important PointsThese three planets in our Solar System are known to have ring systems.

Jupiter is the largest planet of the solar system.

• It is so large that about 1300 earths can be placed inside this giant planet. However, the mass of Jupiter is about 318 times that of our Earth.
• It rotates very rapidly on its axis. Jupiter has a large number of satellites.
• It also has faint rings around it.
• Jupiter can be easily recognised as it appears quite bright in the sky.
• If you observe it with the help of a telescope, you can also see four of its large moons.

Saturn is the most famous for its prominent ring system that is composed primarily of ice particles with a smaller amount of rocky debris and dust.

• These rings are made mostly from chunks of ice, ranging in size from tiny grains to massive chunks several meters in diameter.
• There are thousands of individual rings, although they are usually grouped into larger ring structures like the A, B, and C rings.
• Saturn's rings are also the brightest of all the planets, reflecting a lot of sunlight due to their icy composition.

Uranus also has a complex ring system.

• The rings of Uranus are distinctly different from those at Saturn, being darker and more sparse.
• Uranus has 13 known rings, which are named simply by the order of their discovery.
• The rings are made up of very dark material - scientists think this might be organic compounds processed by radiation, similar to the makeup of some asteroids.

Note*- According to the official answer key Saturn, Uranus and Neptune has rings around them.

The correct answer is Longitude of 180°

Important PointsThe International Date Line, in most places, coincides with the:

Longitude of 180°

• This imaginary line runs from the North Pole to the South Pole through the Pacific Ocean, approximately along the 180° line of longitude, opposite the Prime Meridian (0°). However, the line deviates at several points to avoid dividing certain countries and territories.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 1) Longitude of 180°.

Additional Information

• The International Date Line (IDL) is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface, running from the North Pole to the South Pole, that demarcates the change of one calendar day to the next.
• It passes through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, roughly following the 180° longitude but deviating to pass around some territories and island groups.

The correct answer is Only (C) and (D) are correct.

Important PointsOn December 22, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, which is why it's summer there.

• This is the date of the December solstice, the point where the Sun reaches its most southerly declination of -23.5 degrees.
• In other words, when the North Pole is tilted farthest away from the Sun.

(A) The Tropic of Cancer does not receive direct rays of the Sun on December 22.

• Instead, it is the Tropic of Capricorn (in the Southern Hemisphere) that receives the direct rays of the Sun.

(B) Similarly, Sun rays do not fall vertically on the Tropic of Cancer on December 22.

• The Sun's rays fall vertically over the Tropic of Capricorn.

(C) Because it's the Southern Hemisphere's summer, a larger portion of the Southern Hemisphere does indeed get light.

• This means that sunlight is spread over a smaller surface area, causing the heat that arrives to be more concentrated and leading to the warmer temperatures that we associate with summer.
• So, a large portion of the Southern Hemisphere does indeed get light on this day.

(D) As already stated, it is indeed summer season in the Southern Hemisphere on December 22.

• This results in longer daylight hours, higher sun angles, and therefore warmer temperatures - it's summer season in the Southern Hemisphere.

The correct answer is Villages and town localities.

Important Points

Large scale maps show a relatively small area with a great amount of detail. They are typically used in topographic, cadastral, city planning, and detailed engineering surveys. Therefore, among the options provided:

1. Villages and town localities are typically shown in large scale maps, as these maps can display detailed features of a small area.

The other options:

1. States and countries
2. Continents and oceans
3. Climatic regions of the world

are typically shown in small scale maps, which cover a large area with less detail.

So, the correct answer is:

1. Villages and town localitie

The correct answer is (A) and (B) only.

Key PointsAn ecosystem encompasses both the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components in a specific area, and the relationships and interactions among them.

(A) The relation between living organisms:

• This refers to interactions among different species within an area. It includes predator-prey dynamics, symbiosis, competition, and a multitude of other relationships that species can have with each other.
• For example, bees pollinate flowers, while some plants provide shelter or food for certain animals.

(B) The relation between organisms and surroundings:

• This means the relationship between living organisms and their physical environment.
• The "surroundings" can include things like climate, soil, water sources, and other non-living elements that can affect the life of organisms.
• For instance, cacti have adapted to survive in the arid desert environment.

Therefore, an ecosystem is composed of these two aspects. They contribute to a balance, where organisms adapt to the conditions of their environment, and at the same time, contribute to the modification and shaping of the same environment. This dynamic interaction and adaptation lead to the high diversity of life on Earth.

Additional Information

• Note that (C) Relation between elements of nature, while a bit vague, may refer to relationships among abiotic factors themselves, such as the water cycle or the interaction between sunlight and soil.
• While these processes are crucial in an ecosystem, they alone don't constitute an ecosystem without the interaction and involvement of living organisms.
• Therefore, (A) and (B) together provide a more accurate definition of an ecosystem.

The correct answer is Only three.

Important Points

Here is the justification for each:

Mississippi:

• The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in North America, flowing through ten U.S. states, from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.

Amazon:

• The Amazon River is in South America, primarily flowing through Brazil and Peru.
• It's the second longest river in the world and has the largest drainage basin on the planet, not to mention its crucial role in the Amazon Rainforest's ecosystem.

Orange:

• The Orange River, contrary to what's listed in the table, is not in Asia.
• It's actually the longest river in South Africa and forms part of the border between South Africa and Namibia.

Darling:

• The Darling River is the third longest river in Australia, running through New South Wales.
• It is part of the Murray-Darling river system, which is the longest river system in Australia.