UGC NET Paper-2: History 20th June 2019 (Previous Year Paper)

Inadequacy of the relevant quantitative data is the major reason for the inconclusive character of the debate.

Key Points

• Inadequacy of the relevant quantitative data
• The primary issue is the lack of comprehensive and reliable quantitative data from the colonial period.
• Historical economic data, such as GDP figures, productivity rates, and other economic indicators, were either not systematically collected or inadequately recorded during British rule in India.
• This makes it challenging for historians and economists to draw definitive conclusions about the economic impact of British colonialism on India.
• Due to these gaps in data, various scholars have to rely on fragmented and often inconsistent data, leading to differing interpretations and conclusions about the economic state of colonial India.
• Therefore, the inadequacy of relevant quantitative data is a critical factor that contributes to the ongoing debate on whether the Indian economy under British rule experienced growth, stagnation, or impoverishment.

Additional Information

• Qualitative evidence
• While qualitative evidence can provide insights, it is often subject to interpretation, which can vary widely among different historians and scholars.
• Ideological preferences
• Scholars' ideological leanings can influence their interpretation of historical events and data, but this does not address the root issue of inadequate quantitative data.
• Colonial character of the Indian economy
• The colonial nature of the Indian economy under British rule certainly had significant impacts, but its exact characterization in terms of growth or impoverishment remains debated due to insufficient precise data.

Canning-Lawrence School Mill School and Mayo-Northbrook School were related with Implementation, continuation and extension of the Permanent Settlement controversy.

Key Points

Permanent Settlements 

• The Permanent Settlement was brought into effect by the East India Company headed by the Governor-General Lord Cornwallis in 1793.
• This system was also called the Zamindari System.
• This was basically an agreement between the company and the Zamindars to fix the land revenue.
• It was first enacted in Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, this was later followed in the northern Madras Presidency and the district of Varanasi.

​Features of the Permanent Settlement

• Landlords or Zamindars were referred to as the owners of the land.
• They got hereditary rights of succession of the lands under them.
• The Zamindars could sell or transfer the land as they wished.
• The Zamindars’ proprietorship would stay as long as he paid the fixed revenue at the said date to the government.
• If they did not pay, their rights would cease to exist and therefore the land would be auctioned off.
• The amount to be paid by the landlords was fixed.
• It was agreed that this would not increase in future (permanent).
• The fixed amount was 10/11th portion of the revenue for the government and 1/10th was for the Zamindar.
• This tax rate was way above the prevailing rates in England.
• The revenue rates were so high that a lot of Zamindars became defaulters.
• In time, this system proved to have disastrous effects.

Dramatic Performances Act, 1876 a repressive measure of the colonial government against Bangali creativity and public opinion.

Key Points

• The Dramatic Performances Act was enacted against the background of growing anti-British feelings among Indians which found expression through the medium of drama and theatre.
• The rise of the Western-educated middle classes in late nineteenth-century Bengal was not accompanied by the creation of new opportunities for them.
• The civil services were practically a monopoly for the white. The Anglo-Indian community-controlled trade, commerce and industries.
• Capitalist commercial cultivation of indigo, tea, tobacco etc was also in the hands of the Europeans.
• The merchants and planters were exploiting the toiling people, and the white magistrates were clearly in favour of the planters.
• The oppression and injustice of the indigo planters and magistrates were the themes of many dramatic works.
• On 29 February 1876, the Government of India proclaimed an ordinance empowering the government of Bengal to prohibit certain dramatic performances.
• The ordinance stated that whenever the Lt. Governor was of the opinion that any play, pantomime or other drama performed or about to be performed was
• (a) of a scandalous or defamatory nature or
• (b) likely to excite feelings of disaffection for the government or
• (c) likely to deprive and corrupt persons present at such performance or
• (d) otherwise prejudicial to the interests of the public, the government might by order prohibit such a performance.
• The ordinance further stipulated that not only producers, directors and actors defying such a prohibitory order but also spectators and owners or occupiers of the theatres would be punishable under the law.
• The Ordinance was duly enacted into law on 14 March 1876.
• The enactment of the law provoked a protest by many organisations and individuals.
• The nationalist organisations and personalities took it as a detestable black law.
• They tried to create effective public opinion against the law but failed to enlist the general support of the people.
• After the partition of India, the Act was declared ineffective by Madras High Court in 1954, by Allahabad High Court in 1956, and by the Punjab High Court in 1958.

The incorrect statement is the British garrison was moved outside of the walled city of Shahjahanabad in the aftermath of 1857.

Key Points

• The British garrison was not moved outside of the walled city of Shahjahanabad in the aftermath of 1857.
• In fact, the British army remained in Delhi and continued to occupy the Red Fort.
• The Indian army was extensively reorganized after the rebellion, but the British garrison remained in the city.
• The statement that the British garrison was moved outside of the walled city is incorrect because it contradicts historical records.
• There are no records of the British army moving out of Delhi after the rebellion.
• In fact, there are records of the British army continuing to occupy the Red Fort and other strategic locations in the city.
• The statement may have originated from a misunderstanding of the events that took place after the rebellion.
• The British army did take control of the walled city after the rebellion, but they did not move their garrison outside of the city.
• Instead, they reinforced their presence in the city and made it more difficult for rebels to attack.
• The incorrect statement may also have been influenced by the fact that the British army did eventually move out of Delhi in the early 20th century.
• However, this move was not in response to the 1857 rebellion.
• It was a strategic decision made by the British government to consolidate their military presence in other parts of India.​

G. W. F. Hegel called Indian society deaf and dumb and stagnant.

Key Points

• Hegel’s philosophy of history is perhaps the most fully developed philosophical theory of history that attempts to discover meaning or direction in history.
• Hegel regards history as an intelligible process moving towards a specific condition—the realization of human freedom.
• He was the first scholar who called Indian society deaf and dumb and stagnant.

Hence we conclude that G. W. F. Hegel called Indian society deaf and dumb and stagnant.

The incorrect pair is 4.

Key Points

• Sudharak was a newspaper founded by Gopal Ganesh Agarkar in 1888.
• The name of the newspaper means Reformer. It contained information about social reforms and also was filled with rich news.
• Sudharak was published both in English as well as Marathi languages.
• Agarkar was a staunch supporter of individualism.
• He also strongly voiced his opposition to unfair social practices like the Caste System (unequal treatment to people of lower castes), child marriage, making widows bald and Grantha-Dharma-Pramanya.
• In 1881, Agarkar and Tilak together started the English newspaper Maratha and the Marathi newspaper Kesari, with Agarkar as the editor of Kesari.
• Due to differences between him and Lokmanya Tilak, he resigned from the editorship of Kesari.
• Therefore, from then he started his own newspaper Sudharak.

Titu Mian was NOT associated with the Faraizi Movement.

Key Points

• The Faraizi Movement was a religious reform movement that originated in Bengal in the early 19th century.
• It was founded by Haji Shariatullah, who was a Muslim scholar who had traveled to Mecca and studied Islamic law.
• The movement's goal was to purify Islam and to bring it back to its original form.
• The Faraizis emphasized the importance of following the five pillars of Islam, and they also advocated for social reform.
• Haji Shariatullah's son, Dudu Mian, and grandson, Naya Mian, were both prominent leaders of the Faraizi Movement.
• They helped to spread the movement's message and to organize its followers.
• Titu Mian, on the other hand, was not associated with the Faraizi Movement.
• He was a peasant leader who led a revolt against the zamindars (landlords) in Bengal in the 1830s.
• Although Titu Mian's movement shared some similarities with the Faraizi Movement, it was ultimately a different movement with different goals.

Therefore we conclude that Titu Mian was NOT associated with the Faraizi Movement.

Maps and Surveys, Botany, Geology, Medicine were the main areas where systematic state initiative was visible in the 19th century.

Key Points

• The 19th century saw a great deal of state initiative in the areas of maps and surveys, botany, geology, and medicine.
• This was due in part to the growing importance of these fields in the colonial project, as well as the increasing desire to understand and control the natural world.
• Maps and surveys were essential for the British Empire to manage its vast territories.
• They were used to track the movement of troops and supplies, to identify potential resources, and to plan for future development.
• The Survey of India, founded in 1767, was one of the most important institutions in this regard.
• Botany was a field of growing interest in the 19th century, as scientists sought to understand the diversity of plant life in the British Empire.
• The East India Company sponsored a number of botanical expeditions, and the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew became a major center for botanical research.
• Geology was another field that saw significant state support in the 19th century.
• This was due in part to the discovery of coal and other mineral resources in India, which the British government was eager to exploit.
• The Geological Survey of India, founded in 1851, was one of the first government-funded geological surveys in the world.
• Medicine was also an area of growing state interest in the 19th century.
• This was due in part to the increasing incidence of diseases such as cholera and malaria in India.
• The Indian Medical Service, founded in 1835, was responsible for providing medical care to British troops and civilians in India.
• The systematic state initiative in these fields had a profound impact on the development of India.
• It helped to improve the understanding of the natural world, to facilitate communication and trade, and to improve the health of the population.
• It also laid the foundation for many of the scientific institutions that continue to operate in India today.

Therefore the correct answer is Maps and Surveys, Botany, Geology, Medicine.

Louis and Auguste Lumiere brought the concept of motion pictures to India.

Key Points

• The Lumière brothers, Louis and Auguste, were the pioneers of motion pictures.
• They invented the cinématographe, which was the first commercially viable motion picture camera and projector.
• In 1896, they brought their cinématographe to India and gave a series of screenings in Bombay (now Mumbai), Calcutta (now Kolkata), and Madras (now Chennai).
• These screenings were a huge success, and they helped to introduce the concept of motion pictures to India.
• The Lumière brothers' screenings in India included six films:
• ​Entry of Cinematographe
• The Sea Bath
• Arrival of a Train
• A Demolition
• Ladies and Soldiers on Wheels
• Leaving the Factory
• These films were short and simple, but they were nonetheless groundbreaking.
• They showed Indians for the first time what it was like to see moving images on a screen.
• The screenings were a sensation, and they helped to spark the growth of the Indian film industry.
• In 1899, an Indian photographer named H.S. Bhatavdekar made the first film ever to be shot by an Indian.
• The film, called The Wrestlers, depicted a wrestling match in Mumbai's Hanging Gardens.
• This film was a major milestone in the history of Indian cinema, and it helped to pave the way for the development of the Indian film industry in the 20th century.
• The Lumière brothers' introduction of motion pictures to India was a major event in the history of Indian cinema.
• It helped to spark the growth of the Indian film industry, and it had a profound impact on Indian culture.
• Today, Indian cinema is one of the largest and most vibrant film industries in the world.

​Therefore the correct answer is Louis and Auguste Lumiere.

The statement **"From its very beginning traces of agriculture have been found" is not TRUE.

Important Points

• Bagor site is situated in Rajasthan:
• Bagor site is an important archaeological site located in the southern part of Rajasthan, India.
• It is situated in the Bhilwara district, near the town of Mandalgarh.
• For its purely Mesolithic pre-pottery phase we have carbon dates in the range of 5365-3775 BC:
• The Bagor site has a pre-pottery phase that belongs to the Mesolithic period. Carbon dating of artifacts found at the site has shown that this phase dates back to the period between 5365-3775 BC.
• From its very beginning traces of agriculture have been found:
• This statement is not true.
• Although agriculture is present at the Bagor site, it was not present from the beginning.
• The earliest phase of the site belongs to the Mesolithic period, which is characterized by hunting, gathering, and fishing activities.
• It was only during the later stages of the Mesolithic period that agriculture began to develop in the region.
• Zbu, ox, sheep, goat and pig were domesticated right from c. 5000 BC:
• Domestication of animals like Zbu, ox, sheep, goat, and pig happened around c. 5000 BC during the later stages of the Mesolithic period, which was followed by the Neolithic period.
• The domestication of these animals was a crucial development that marked the beginning of the agricultural revolution in the Indian subcontinent.
• These animals were used for their meat, milk, and labor, and their domestication led to the development of settled communities and the rise of agriculture-based economies.

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

Key Points

​The correct answer is Burzahom (1700 BC).

Key Points

• Burzahom is a Neolithic site located in the district of Srinagar. This site does not have any evidence of horse remains.
• The site of Burzahom brings light to transitions in human habitation patterns from Neolithic to Megalithic.
• Major evidence of pit-dwelling comes from this site.

Hence, the site of Burzahom does not have any evidence of a horse.

Additional InformationSites where we find evidence of horse-

• Ghaligai -
• This site is situated in Swat Valley, N.W.F.P., Pakistan.
• This site has evidence of horse remains as skeletons of various animals are found here.
• Pirak-
• Located in Baluchistan, Pakistan, the earliest evidence of a horse comes from this site.
• Here, terracotta and clay figurines of horses are found.
• Also, the bones of horses were found on this site.
• Inamgoan-
• An archaeological site located in Maharashtra.
• Remains of the horse are found on this site.
• Since the domestication of animals was prevalent so horses and other animals were also used.

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

Key Points

The radiocarbon dating is applied in Archaeology.

 Key Points

• The radiocarbon dating is a very important tool in archaeology.
• It is used to determine the age of organic materials, such as wood, bone, and charcoal.
• This can help archaeologists to date archaeological sites, artefacts, and human remains.
• Radiocarbon dating is based on the principle that all living things contain a certain amount of carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon.
• When an organism dies, it stops absorbing carbon-14, and the amount of carbon-14 in the organism begins to decrease over time.
• By measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in an object, archaeologists can estimate how long ago the object died.
• Radiocarbon dating is not perfect, and there are some limitations to its use.
• For example, it can only be used to date objects that are less than 50,000 years old.
• Additionally, the results of radiocarbon dating can be affected by factors such as the environment in which the object was found.
• Despite its limitations, radiocarbon dating is a valuable tool for archaeologists.
• It has helped to revolutionize the field of archaeology, and it has allowed archaeologists to date many important archaeological sites and artefacts.
• Here are some examples of how radiocarbon dating has been used in archaeology:
• ​The Dead Sea Scrolls were dated using radiocarbon dating, and it was determined that they were written between 150 BC and 70 AD.
• The remains of Ötzi the Iceman were dated using radiocarbon dating, and it was determined that he died around 3300 BC.
• The ruins of Pompeii were dated using radiocarbon dating, and it was determined that they were buried by a volcanic eruption in 79 AD.
• Radiocarbon dating is a powerful tool that has helped archaeologists to learn more about the past.
• It is a valuable tool that will continue to be used by archaeologists for many years to come.

• Epigraphy-
• The study of the written matter recorded on hard or durable material.
• Manuscripts-
• It is handwritten records of the past.
• It has written on the soft surfaces of palm leaves, the bark of the birch tree, vellum, papyrus, parchment, etc.
• Archival materials- 
• Archival means something suitable for long-term contact with important objects, safe and stable to museum or library standards.
• Archival collections can be divided into three basic types: individual documents, books and photographic materials.

The incorrect statement about Bharatpur is it is situated in Rajasthan, from where the traces of bones of migratory birds were found.

 Key Points

• The Bharatpur Archaeological Site is located in the Burdwan district of West Bengal, India.
• It is not located in Rajasthan, and there is no evidence that the site contains the bones of migratory birds.
• The site is significant for its Neolithic and Chalcolithic remains, which suggest that it was a continuous site of habitation for thousands of years.
• Excavations at the site have also revealed stupas, which are mounds that are often associated with Buddhist religious practices.
• Statement 2 is contradictory to the first hence, the statement that it is situated in Rajasthan, from where the traces of bones of migratory birds were found is incorrect.
• Excavations in the 1970s have also revealed stupas which were present as mounds and the deeper layers are dated back to the stone ages.
• The excavations at lower levels have revealed the presence of microliths and bones of animals both domesticated and wild in large quantities, namely buffalo, goat, humped cattle
• This site is considered important to study the early agricultural communities that inhabited the region.
• Tamluk, Mahisdal, Haraipur, Tulshipur, and Nanoor are other related excavated sites in the region.

The incorrect statement about Mill's History of British India is It was not informed by the English utilitarian philosophy.

Key Points

• James Mill (1773–1836) was a Scottish-born writer and political philosopher, also known as the father of the philosopher.
• He studied at the University of Edinburgh, in 1802 Mill moved to London, where he began a career as a writer of pamphlets, articles, and eventually books.
• In 1806 he began his monumental The History of British India, which he published in 1817.
• Mill had never travelled to India and knew none of the Indian languages.
• The statement "It was not informed by the English utilitarian philosophy" is incorrect.
• James Mill was a prominent utilitarian philosopher, and his History of British India is heavily influenced by utilitarian ideas.
• For example, Mill argues that the British should rule India to promote the greatest happiness of the greatest number of Indians.
• He also argues that Indian society is backward and needs to be reformed according to utilitarian principles.

Additional Information

The three-volume work is organized into six books.

• Book one deals with the earliest British interactions with India, from the voyage to India by the merchant Robert Thorne in 1527 to the state of the East India Company in the early 1700s.
• Book two deals with the history, religion, literature, and culture of ancient India and the Hindu civilization in particular.
• Book three covers Islamic conquest and rule, beginning with incursions in the ninth century and concluding with the Mughal Empire.
• This book ends with a chapter entitled “A Comparison of the State of Civilization among the Mohamedan Conquerors of India with the State of Civilization among the Hindus.”
• Books four, five, and six cover the expansion and consolidation of British power in India and the rule of the East India Company.
• Utilitarianism:
• Utilitarianism is a theory in ethics holding action is the one that maximizes utility.
• Utility is defined in various ways, including pleasure, economic well-being and the lack of suffering.
• John Stuart Mill was the most influential Utilitarianism of the 19th century.
• He applied his utilitarianism and theory of progress to justify the British rule in India.
• Hence, the 4th statement -It was not informed by the English utilitarian philosophy is incorrect.

The incorrect statement is the Indians thus privileged 'Granthastha' over 'Kanthastha'.

Key Points

• The statement "The Indians thus privileged 'Granthastha' over 'Kanthastha'" is incorrect.
• **Bhartrihari'**s view was that speech is the foundation of all knowledge, but he did not privilege written knowledge over oral knowledge.
• In fact, he argued that the two are complementary and that both are necessary for complete understanding.
• The term "Granthastha" refers to someone who is learned in the scriptures, while the term "Kanthastha" refers to someone who is learned through oral tradition.
• Bhartrihari believed that both types of learning are important and that neither should be privileged over the other.
• The view of Latin grammarians in the ninth century was quite different.
• They believed that written knowledge was superior to oral knowledge and that the only true scholars were those who could read and write.
• This view was reflected in the term "literatus," which was used to describe a learned man.
• The contrast between the Indian and Latin views of knowledge reflects the different cultural values of the two regions.
• In India, oral tradition was highly valued, and it was believed that knowledge could be transmitted just as effectively through speech as through writing.
• In contrast, in Latin cultures, writing was seen as a more permanent and reliable form of knowledge, and it was therefore given greater importance.​

​The incorrect statement is Anuloma marriages were treated as more violative of the sacred law than Pratiloma.

Key Points

• The statement "Anuloma marriages were treated as more violative of the sacred law than Pratiloma" is incorrect.

• In fact, anuloma marriages were considered preferable to pratiloma marriages.

• Pratiloma marriages were very much discouraged and even condemned.

• Here is a table that summarizes the different positions ascribed to mixed castes by Manusmriti:

• | Type of marriage | Position of offspring | | --- | --- | | Anuloma (higher-caste man marries lower-caste woman) | Same as the higher-caste parent | | Pratiloma (lower-caste man marries higher-caste woman) | Lowest of the four varnas | | Asura (marriage between a Sudra man and a Kshatriya woman) | Sudra | | Gandharva (marriage between a Kshatriya man and a Vaishya woman) | Vaishya | | Paishacha (marriage between a Vaishya man and a Sudra woman) | Sudra |

• It is important to note that these are just the positions ascribed to mixed castes by Manusmriti.

• There were other schools of thought that had different views on this issue.

• However, Manusmriti was one of the most influential texts on Hindu law, and its views on mixed castes had a significant impact on Indian society.

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

Key Points

• Assertion (A) states that the Gupta period is often described as a classical age in the sphere of cultural development.
• This is true because the Gupta period saw a flowering of art, literature, and philosophy in India.
• Some of the most famous works of Indian art, such as the Ajanta Caves and the Sarnath Lion Capital, were created during this time.
• Reason (R) states that the Gupta period marks one of the several epochs that saw impressive developments in artistic activity.
• This is also true, but it does not explain why the Gupta period is specifically described as a classical age.
• There were other periods in Indian history, such as the Mauryan period, that also saw impressive developments in artistic activity.
• The reason why the Gupta period is specifically described as a classical age is because it represents a culmination of the artistic and cultural traditions of India.
• The Guptas were able to synthesize the different artistic traditions of India and create a new, unified style that was both beautiful and sophisticated.
• This new style was then adopted by other parts of Asia, and it had a profound influence on the development of Asian art.
• In conclusion, both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true statements.
• However, Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
• The Gupta period is specifically described as a classical age because it represents a culmination of the artistic and cultural traditions of India.

The incorrect statement is they do not refer to various Jatis.

 Key Points

• The Dharmashastra texts do refer to various Jatis or social groups.
• The four main Varnas (classes) of Hindu society are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
• However, there are also many Jatis within each Varna, and these Jatis are often associated with specific occupations or trades.
• For example, the Brahmin Varna includes Jatis such as priests, scholars, and teachers, while the Kshatriya Varna includes Jatis such as warriors, rulers, and administrators.
• The Dharmashastra texts discuss the duties and responsibilities of each Varna and Jati, and they also outline the rules of social interaction between different groups.
• For example, the Manusmriti, one of the most important Dharmashastra texts, states that Brahmins should be treated with respect and deference, while Shudras should be subservient to members of the higher Varnas.
• The Dharmashastra texts have had a significant impact on the development of Hindu society, and they continue to be influential today.
• However, it is important to note that the texts are not monolithic, and there is a great deal of variation in the way that they have been interpreted and applied over time.

​Therefore the correct answer is they do not refer to various Jatis..

The correct answer is Gandhara.

Key Points

• Gandhara was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas which existed in ancient India from the 6th to 4th century BCE.
• Gandhara, a historical region in what is now northwestern Pakistan, corresponds to the Vale of Peshawar and has extensions into the lower valleys of the Kābul and Swāt rivers.
• It supplied men and materials to the Persian army fighting against the Greeks.
• During the Achaemenid period and Hellenistic period, its capital city was Pushkalavati.
• Later the capital city was moved to Peshawar by the Kushan emperor Kanishka the Great in about 127 AD.
• Gandhara is mentioned in the Hindu epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, as a Western kingdom.

Kamboja

• The capital of Kamboj is Poonch.
• It is situated in present-day Kashmir and Hindukush.
• Several literary sources mention that Kamboja was a republic.

Magadha

• Magadha finds mention in the Atharva Veda which conveys that Magadha was semi-Brahmanical habitation.
• It was located in present-day Bihar close to Anga, divided by river Champa.
• Later, Magadha became a centre of Jainism and the first Buddhist Council was held in Rajagriha.

Vatsa

• Vatsa is also known as Vamsa, its capital being Kausambi.
• This Mahajanapada followed the monarchical form of governance.
• Vatsa was located around present-day Allahabad.

The correct answer is Rajasthan.

Key Points

• Kalibangan, the ancient site of the Indus Valley civilization is located in northern Rajasthan state, northwestern India.
• It was one of the main sites of the Indus Valley Civilization.
• The Kalibangan flourished for at least 450-600 years.
• The site contains both pre-Harappan and post-Harappan remains and therein can be seen the transition between the two cultures.
• Although the pre-Harappan culture worked copper and produced pottery, it had no writing system, and its ruins lack the orderly layout and use of baked brick that is found in the later Harappan sites.
• Kalibangan is also a site which has given evidence of the earliest recorded “Earthquake”.
• The earthquake is dated back to 2600 BC and is considered to have contributed to the end of this remarkable site of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Additional Information

Sindh-

• It is an old Harappan site, located in Pakistan.
• It has sites such as Amri, Kot Digi etc.

Punjab-

• Punjab is the oldest Harappan site.
• Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were located in present-day Pakistan's Punjab.
• Excavations reveal that some of the sites located in Punjab are  Ropar, Dera Ismail Khan, etc

Gujarat-

• The most important site in Gujarat is Dholavira.
• It means White Well. Other sites are Rangpur, Rozdi, etc.

Bramasphutasiddhanta is considered as the first surviving Indian text containing a systematic discussion of astronomical instruments.

 Key Points

• The Brahmasphutasiddhanta is a Sanskrit astronomical treatise written by the Indian mathematician and astronomer Brahmagupta in 628 CE.
• It is considered to be one of the most important texts in the history of Indian astronomy, and it is the first surviving Indian text to contain a systematic discussion of astronomical instruments.
• In the 22nd chapter of the Brahmasphutasiddhanta, called Yantradhyāya, Brahmagupta describes a wide variety of astronomical instruments, including the gnomon, the clepsydra, the sundial, the astrolabe, and the armillary sphere.
• He also provides instructions on how to construct and use these instruments.
• Brahmasphutasiddhanta's discussion of astronomical instruments was highly influential in later Indian astronomy.
• Many of the instruments described by Brahmagupta were adopted by other Indian astronomers, and they continued to be used for centuries.
• The Brahmasphutasiddhanta is also notable for its mathematical content.
• It contains a number of important mathematical innovations, including the first known use of zero as a placeholder in a numeral system, and the first known description of the Brahmagupta identity, a formula for calculating the sum of the cubes of the first n natural numbers.
• The Brahmasphutasiddhanta is a landmark text in the history of Indian astronomy and mathematics.
• It is a valuable source of information about the astronomical instruments and mathematical techniques used by Indian astronomers in the 7th century CE.
• It is also a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of Indian mathematicians and astronomers.​

Additional Information

• ​​Aryabhatiya:
• ​Aryabhatiya is a Sanskrit treatise on mathematics and astronomy written by Aryabhata in 499 AD.
• It is considered one of the most influential works in the history of mathematics and astronomy, and it had a profound impact on the development of these disciplines in India and the rest of the world.
• The Aryabhatiya contains four sections: Gītikāpāḍaṃ, Ganitapāḍaṃ, Kalakriyapāḍaṃ, and Golapadaṃ.
• The first section deals with music and timekeeping, the second with mathematics, the third with astronomy, and the fourth with spherical astronomy.
• ​Surya Siddhanta:
• ​Surya Siddhanta is an ancient Indian astronomical treatise that contains some of the earliest known discussions of trigonometric functions, spherical geometry, and the motion of the planets.
• It is considered one of the most important texts in the history of Indian astronomy, and it has had a profound impact on the development of astronomy in the Indian subcontinent and beyond.
• ​Khandakhadyaka:
• ​Khandakhadyaka is an astronomical treatise written by Brahmagupta in 665 AD.
• It is considered one of the most important works in the history of Indian astronomy, and it has had a profound impact on the development of astronomy in the Indian subcontinent and beyond.

The incorrect statements are (ii) and (iv) only.

 Key Points

• Taccavi or Taqavi loan was a short-term loan given to poor farmers to purchase seeds, fertilizers, equipment and for other agriculture purposes. Hence, statement 1st is correct.
• Statement 2nd -These were given to traders for trade purposes is contradictory to the first statement.
• This was introduced to enhance the productivity of crop cultivation and help poor farmers to increase their income.
• Taqavi was an important agricultural institution during Mughal times.
• When agriculture was affected by any natural calamities such as floods, drought, and epidemics the Mughal government used to suspend or minimise revenue collections and furthermore, made taqavi advance towards reviving the farming strength of the peasantry.
• Its distributing agents were the zamindars and talukdars who were advised to lend taqavi to raiyats and make necessary adjustments on account of public revenue.
• Such loan was always free from any surcharge like modern interest.
• These were advanced through the Chaudhuris and Muqaddams, who distributed them among the individual peasants. Hence, statement 3rd is correct.
• Statement that Chaudhuris and Muquaddams did not stand surety for their repayment is not true because there was no evidence of non-payment of these loans.

The correct answer is 1681.

Key Points

• Mir Jumla II invaded the Ahom kingdom in January 1662 and left it in January–February 1663.
• He was able to occupy Garhgaon, the Ahom capital, before the beginning of the rainy season, but he and his army were confined mostly to Garhgaon and Madhupur during that period.
• The Ahom king Sutamla had to take flight and hide in Namrup during Mir Jumla's occupation of the capital.
• The defection of Baduli Phukan, a high-ranking Ahom commander, precipitated the Treaty of Ghilajharighat in January 1663, with the Ahom king accepting tributary status.
• Mir Jumla died on his way back before he could reach Dhaka, his capital.
• Ahoms forced the Mughals in 1681 to give up Koch Hajo and accept the river Manas as the boundary.
• Ahom–Mughal conflicts refer to the period between the first Mughal attack on the Ahom kingdom in 1615 and the final Battle of Itakhuli in 1682.
• The intervening period saw the fluctuating fortunes of both powers and the end of the rule of Koch Hajo.
• It ended with the Ahom influence extended to the Manas river which remained the western boundary of the kingdom till the advent of the British in 1681.

Sher Shah was the ruler who built some 1700 such sarais.

Key Points

• The Sarai was one of the many night shelters similar to the rest houses of modern times, for the huge armies travelling en route from Lahore to Delhi and Agra.
• Emperor Sher Shah Suri is credited with the blueprint and creation of the Grand Truck Road during his brief but impressive rule.
• He also started the initiative of building Sarais at a large scale For ensuring safety on the roads and for extending comfort to travellers.
• He also issued laws for the protection of the road and is said to have commissioned as many as 1,700 sarais along the major routes.

Betel was NOT introduced in India by the Portuguese.

Key Points

• Portuguese introduced many crops in India and their cultivation becomes very popular, the main crops they introduced were Tobacco, Pineapple, Papaya, Cashew nuts and Chili.
• Tobacco is said to have been introduced into India at the beginning of the 17th century.
• Tobacco, as elsewhere in the world, has thrived in spite of considerable neglect and social disapproval in India.
• Tobacco cultivation in India was introduced by the Portuguese in 1605.
• Cashew is indigenous to South and Central America and was discovered by Portuguese missionaries in the 15th century.
• The Portuguese later brought this wonderful nut to India and East Africa. In India, it was first introduced in Goa.
• Pineapple is one of the commercially important fruit crops of India.
• Pineapple cultivation was introduced to India by the Portuguese in 1548 AD.

​

• Chilli is a fruit of the plant ‘Capsicum annuum and capsicum frutescent that come from the genus Capsicum belonging to the family of Solanaceae which also includes tomato and potato.
• The spread of Chili peppers to Asia was most likely a natural consequence of its introduction to Portuguese traders, who aware of its trade value would have likely promoted its commerce in the Asian spice trade routes then dominated by Portuguese and Arab traders.
• Portuguese and Spanish traders introduced the Chilli pepper in Africa, and India in Asia.

The earlier literacy reference to cotton carder's bow comes from Qawwa's Lexicon.

 Key Points

• Miftah ul Fuzala by Muhammad Daud Shadiabadi.
• The book contains useful sketches which help in understanding the development of technology during the Sultanate Period.
• Sirat-i-Firuzshahi is an anonymous work written in the reign of Sultan Firoz shah tughlaq in 772 AH/ 1370 AD.
• The Sirat-i-Firuzshahi gives a trustworthy account of the first twenty years of the reign of Firuz Shah Tughlaq.
• Apart from historical narratives, the Sirat throws flashes of light on almost all aspects of government, administration and the learning and culture of the age.
• It also gives an account of the sultan's removal of the two Ashokan pillars from Tobra and Mirat to his capital Firuzabad.
• Firoz Shah Tuglaq wrote his autobiography called Futuhat-e-firozshahi.

The correct answer is Sheikh Nuruddin.

Key Points

• The most dominant influence on the Kashmiri Muslims, in terms of their Kashmiriyat, is that of the Rishi order of Sufis.
• While the Sufi orders like the Suharwardi, Kubravi, Naqshbandi and Quadri, arrived in Kashmir from Persia, Central Asia, and Central and North India, the Rishi order evolved in the valley itself indigenously at the beginning of the fifteenth century.
• The term `Rishi' itself is clearly a derivation from Sanskrit and Indian traditions.
• Sheikh Nuruddin was the founder of the Rishi Silsilah in Kashmir.
• An important chronicler of this period, Abul Fazl, for instance, is all praise for them.
• He writes: "The most respected class of people in this country (Kashmir) are the Rishis.
• Although they have not abandoned the traditional and customary forms of worship (taqlid), they are true in their worship.
• They do not denounce men belonging to different faiths.
• They do not have the tongue of desire and do not seek to obtain worldly objects.
• They plant fruit-bearing trees in order that people may obtain benefits from these.
• They abstain from meat and do not marry."

The correct answer is the sultans of Delhi.

Key Points

• The Mahi Maratib was a gilded copper fish standard that was used as a symbol of the highest honour in the Mughal Empire.
• It was instituted by Shah Jahan in around 1632 and was only awarded to the most important and loyal vassals of the Mughal emperor.
• The Mahi Maratib was a highly prized honour, and those who received it were considered to be among the most powerful and respected figures in the Mughal Empire.
• The Mahi Maratib was a continuation of a tradition that had been established by the Sultans of Delhi.
• The Sultans of Delhi used to award a similar standard, known as the "Mahi Tarkash," to their most important vassals.
• The Mahi Tarkash was also a gilded copper fish standard, but it was smaller and less elaborate than the Mahi Maratib.
• The Mahi Maratib was a symbol of honour, bravery, and strength.
• It was also a symbol of the Mughal emperor's favour.
• Those who received the Mahi Maratib were considered to be among the most loyal and trusted vassals of the Mughal emperor.
• They were also given a number of privileges, such as the right to fly the Mahi Maratib standard and to wear a special robe of honour.
• The Mahi Maratib was a prestigious honour that was only awarded to a select few.
• It was a symbol of the Mughal emperor's favour and the recipient's loyalty and service to the empire.

Jahan Ara Begum built the Aahibabad Garden in Shahjahanabad which was used as a serai for the richest merchants.

 Key Points

• Jahanara Begum, the eldest daughter of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, built the Aahibabad Garden in Shahjahanabad in the 17th century.
• The garden was used as a serai, or caravanserai, for the richest merchants.
• It was a two-storeyed building with a large courtyard, and it had accommodations for both people and animals.
• The garden was also home to a number of fountains and water features, which provided a welcome respite from the heat of the day.
• The Aahibabad Garden was one of many buildings that Jahanara Begum commissioned in Shahjahanabad.
• She was a powerful and influential figure in the Mughal court, and she used her wealth and position to improve the lives of the people of the city.
• The Aahibabad Garden was a symbol of her generosity and her commitment to public service.
• The garden is no longer standing, but its ruins can still be seen in the Walled City of Delhi.
• It is a reminder of the legacy of Jahanara Begum, one of the most important women in Mughal history.
• Here are some additional details about the Aahibabad Garden:
• ​It was located in the Chandni Chowk area of Shahjahanabad.
• It was built in the Charbagh style, which is characterized by four symmetrical gardens arranged around a central water feature.
• The garden was decorated with fountains, water channels, and flowerbeds.
• It also had a number of pavilions and resting places.
• The Aahibabad Garden was a popular destination for merchants, travellers, and the general public.

The correct answer is Jahangir. 

Key Points

• Sufis were Muslim mystics.
• They rejected outward religiosity and emphasised love and devotion to God and compassion towards all fellow human beings.
• It also rejected idol worship and considerably simplified rituals of worship into collective prayers.
• They sought union with God much as a lover seeks his beloved with a disregard for the world.
• Sufis believed that the heart can be trained to look at the world in a different way.
• They developed elaborate methods of training using zikr (chanting of a name), contemplation, sama (singing), raqs (dancing), discussion of parables, breath control, etc. under the guidance of a master or pir.
• Thus, emerged the silsilas, a genealogy of Sufi teachers, each following a slightly different method of instruction and ritual practice.
• Jahangir identifies that "Sufism began to turn pantheistic only when the ideas of Ibn al-Arabi (d. 1240) began to exert their influences, first through the Persian poetry of Jalaluddhin Rumi (1207-73) and Abdur Rahman Jami (1414 - 92) and then through the endeavours within India of Ashraf Jahangir Semnani (early fifteenth century).
• About the same time that the pantheism of Shankaracharya School of Vedanta was attaining increasing influence within Brahmanical thought."

• The Chishti silsila was among the most influential orders. It had a long line of teachers like Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer, Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki of Delhi, Baba Farid of Punjab, Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi and Bandanawaz Gisudaraz of Gulbarga.
• Moinuddin Chishti(1142-1235)- 
• The earliest textual references to Khwaja Muinuddin’s dargah date to the fourteenth century.
• It was evidently popular because of the austerity and piety of its Shaikh, the greatness of its spiritual successors, and the patronage of royal visitors.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq (ruled, 1324-51) was the first Sultan to visit the shrine, but the earliest construction to house the tomb was funded in the late fifteenth century by Sultan Ghiyasuddin Khalji of Malwa.
• Akbar went there fourteen times, sometimes two or three times a year, to seek blessings for new conquests, the fulfilment of vows, and the birth of sons.
• Nizamuddin Auliya (1238-1325)- 
• Also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Mahbub-e-Ilahi (Beloved of God), he was a Sunni Muslim scholar and Sufi saint of the Chishti.
• He believed the love of God implied a love of humanity.
• Amir Khusrau, the great poet, the musician was the disciple of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya.
• Baba Farid made him his successor.
• Gesudaraz (1321-1422)- 
• Sufi mystic Khwaja Bande Nawaz Gesu Daraz belonged to the Chishti order of Sufism.
• He advocated understanding, tolerance and harmony among religions.
• He joined the circle of the disciples of Shaikh Nasiruddin and was later appointed as his successor.
• Salim Chishti (1478-1572)- 
• He is one of the most revered Sufi saints of the Mughal period in India.
• The khanqah, or hospice, was his original home and is located near the present-day World Heritage site of Fatehpur Sikri.
• Emperor Akbar believed the saint’s powers so great that he built an imperial palace complex next to the khanqah and relocated his court and courtiers to Fatehpur Sikri.
• It was in Shaikh Salim Chishti’s khanqah that the saint blessed Emperor Akbar, and where Emperor Jehangir was born.

The incorrect statement about Guru Nanak Ji is When Nanak was sixteen, his parents arranged his marriage, and later he became a merchant and a farmer.

 Key Points

• Guru Nanak Ji did not become a merchant or a farmer.
• He was married at the age of 18 to Bibi Sulakhani, and they had two sons, Sri Chand and Lakhmi Das.
• However, Guru Nanak Ji did not take up a profession as a merchant or a farmer.
• Instead, he dedicated his life to spiritual enlightenment and the spread of Sikhism.
• According to Sikh tradition, Guru Nanak Ji had a spiritual awakening at the age of 23.
• He had a vision of God, and he realized that his purpose in life was to teach others about the oneness of God and the importance of living a life of truth, compassion, and service.
• Guru Nanak Ji travelled extensively throughout India and Central Asia, spreading his message of Sikhism.
• He met with people of all faiths, and he taught them about the importance of living a life of love and brotherhood.
• Guru Nanak Ji's teachings are still relevant today, and they continue to inspire people all over the world.
• Here are some of the correct statements about Guru Nanak Ji:
• ​He was born in 1469 in Talwandi, which is now called Nankana Sahib in Pakistan.
• He was the first guru of the Sikh faith.
• He is considered to be one of the most important figures in Sikh history.
• His teachings are based on the principles of truth, compassion, and service.
• He travelled extensively throughout India and Central Asia, spreading his message of Sikhism.
• His teachings are still relevant today, and they continue to inspire people all over the world.

The correct code is 1, 2, 3, and 4.

 Key Points

• Statements (a) is correct in the context of Sikhism. During this period, the Sikh misals indeed gained power and were led by chiefs who organized professional troops.
• It accurately mentions in Statement (b) the tradition of the annual 'Sarbat Khalsa' at Chak Guru (Amritsar). It also acknowledges that, due to internal conflicts, individual chiefs often carved out their own territories.
• Statement (c) is correct. Ranjit Singh (1780-1839), he unified various misals and established the Sikh Empire, often recognized as being in the name of the Khalsa.
• He established the Sikh Empire, which lasted until 1849.
• Statement (d) is correct. The Gurus were all Khatris, but their principal lieutenants, the Masands, were mostly Jatts in the seventeenth century.
• It took place twice a year, not once.

Therefore, the correct answer is (a), (b),(c) and (d).

The correct answer is Indian Officials Secrets Amendment Act.

Key Points

• Lord Curzon, India’s Viceroy between 1899 and 1905, was one of the most controversial and consequential holders of that post.
• The partition of the undivided Bengal Presidency in 1905 was one of Curzon’s most criticised moves, which triggered widespread opposition not only in Bengal but across India, and gave impetus to the freedom movement.
• He introduced the Indian Universities Act in 1904.
• This act allowed the Government to appoint a majority of the fellows mates in a university.
• Calcutta Municipal Amendment Act of 1899 throws light on the interplay of bureaucratic and legislative procedures with informal political processes both of the Administration and the "Opposition".
• The act was intended to prevent the vernacular press from expressing criticism of British policies it excluded English-language publications.

​

• He formed a Police commission in 1902 under the leadership of Sir Andrew Fraser.
• It recommended a separate Training centre for officers and constables.
• It introduced provincial police service and also at the same time to make Indian Army a modern fighting force then Commander-in-chief Lord Kitchener made reform in the Indian Military.
• He passed the Calcutta Corporation Act in the year 1899.
• According to the act, it increased the number of official members and decreased the strength of elected official members.
• As official members were mostly British Subjects it caused resentment in the Indian public.
• He was the Viceroy who passed a law for protecting Ancient Indian monuments.
• He passed the law in 1904 that made the destruction of Ancient Monuments an offence and directed officials to collect and preserve ancient monuments.

Important Points

• The Official Secrets Act was first enacted in 1923 and was retained after Independence.
• The law, applicable to government servants and citizens, provides the framework for dealing with espionage, sedition, and other potential threats to the integrity of the nation.
• The law makes spying, sharing ‘secret’ information, unauthorised use of uniforms, withholding information, interference with the armed forces in prohibited/restricted areas, among others, punishable offences.

R. P. Dutt wrote that Congress was born through a conspiracy to forestall a popular uprising in India and the Bourgeois leaders were a party to it.

Key Points

• Rajani Palme Dutt, a leading journalist and theoretician in the Communist Party of Great Britain, wrote in his book India Today (1940) that the Indian National Congress was founded by a group of British officials and Indian bourgeois leaders in order to forestall a popular uprising against British rule.
• He argued that the Congress was a "safety valve" for the British government, and that it served to channel the discontent of the Indian people into constitutional channels.
• Dutt's thesis has been challenged by some historians, who argue that the Congress was not a deliberate conspiracy, but rather a genuine expression of Indian nationalism.
• However, Dutt's views remain influential among some sections of the Indian left.
• Here is a quote from Dutt's book that summarizes his views on the Congress:
• ​**"The Indian National Congress was born through a conspiracy to forestall a popular uprising in India. The British officials who sponsored it were convinced that the only way to avert a revolution was to create a constitutionalist movement which would absorb the energies of the Indian people and divert them into safe channels. The bourgeois leaders who joined the Congress were only too willing to play this role. They were not interested in a revolutionary overthrow of British rule. They wanted to share in the privileges of the ruling class. The Congress was their instrument for achieving this end."**
• ​Dutt's views on the Congress are controversial, but they provide an important perspective on the history of the Indian independence movement.

​Therefore the correct answer is R. P. Dutt.

During Anti Bengal Partition Movement several new techniques like passive resistance, boycott and other effective methods of mass protest were evolved and experimented.

Key Points

• The Swadeshi and Boycott Movement Began as a reaction to the partition of Bengal which became known in 1903, was formally announced in July 1905 and came into force in October 1905.
• The motive behind partition was to weaken Bengal which was the nerve centre of Indian nationalist Activity: the official reason given for the partition was that Bengal had become too big to administer—which was true to some extent.
• Initially, the prominent leaders were the moderate leaders like Surendranath Banerjea and Krishna Kumar Mitra were involved but later militant and revolutionary nationalists took over in the later stages.
• Moderate-led anti-partition movement (1903-05) was under Surendranath Banerjea, K.K. Mitra, Prithwishchandra Ray.
• Methods included public meetings, petitions, memoranda, led by Tilak, propaganda through newspapers and pamphlets.
• The movement under Extremists (1905-08) was Bipin Chandra Pal. Lajpat Rai, Aurobindo Ghosh.
• Methods included boycott of foreign cloth and other goods, public meetings and processions, forming corps of volunteers or samitis, use of traditional popular festivals and melas for propaganda, emphasis on self-reliance or Atma Shakti, launching a programme of swadeshi or national education, swadeshi or indigenous enterprises, initiating new trends In Indian painting, songs, poetry, pioneering research in science and later calling Hor boycott of schools, colleges, councils, government service.
• The extent of mass participation: students, women, certain sections of zamindari, labour, some lower-middle and middle classes in towns and cities participated for the first time while the Muslims generally kept away.
• ​In this movement, several new techniques like passive resistance, boycott and other effective methods of mass protest were evolved and experimented.

The correct answer is – The Justice Party

Key Points

• The Justice Party
• It pledged loyalty to the British government and cooperated in implementing the Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms (1919).
• The party supported diarchy and participated in provincial governance under British rule.
• It later merged with the Indian National Congress in the late 1930s, helping to broaden the social base of the national movement.

Additional Information

• Justice Party
• Founded in 1916 in the Madras Presidency.
• Represented the interests of non-Brahmin communities.
• Montagu–Chelmsford Act
• Introduced diarchy in provinces.
• Expanded limited Indian participation in administration.
• Other Options
• Dravida Kazhagam emerged later and opposed Congress politics.
• Non-Brahmin Association was an earlier social body, not directly involved in implementing the Act.

Labour Swaraj Party was set up by Muzzaffar Ahmad, in collaboration wit Kazi Nazrul Islam in 1925.

Key Points

• In 1925, Labour Swaraj Party of the congress was founded in Bengal by Muzzaffar Ahmad, Quazi nazrul Islam and Hemank Kumar Sarker.
• Its moving spirit was Nazrul, an ex-soldier of the British Indian army fighting in foreign lands during the first world war.
• Sarkar was a prominent left-swarajist and many others like him supported the Labour-Swaraj Party.
• The party’s “constitution” defined its object as “the attainment of swaraj in the sense of complete independence of India based on economic and social emancipation and political freedom of men and women”, with “non-violent mass action” as “the principle means of the attainment of the above object”.
• In early 1926 Muzaffar Ahmad associated himself with the magazine and the party, which was now renamed as Bengal Peasants’ And Workers’ Party.

 

Hence, the pair not correctly matched is 2nd.

The correct answer is 1933.

Key Points

• July 31, 1933, Mahatma Gandhi left the Sabarmati Ashram forever.
• He vowed that he would not return to the Ashram until India won independence.
• Although this was won on 15 August 1947, when India was declared a free nation, Gandhi was assassinated in January 1948 and never returned.
• Sabarmati Ashram, also known as Gandhi Ashram and Harijan Ashram, is located in the Sabarmati suburb of Gujarat's Ahmedabad.
• It was one of the many residences of Mahatma Gandhi who lived at Sabarmati and Sevagram in Wardha of Maharashtra when he was not travelling across India or was not in prison.
• Over the years, the Ashram became home to the ideology that set India free.
• It aided countless other nations and people in their own battles against oppressive forces.

• On his return from South Africa, Gandhi’s first Ashram in India was established in the Kochrab area of Ahmedabad on 25 May 1915.
• The Ashram was then shifted on 17 June 1917 to a piece of open land on the banks of the river Sabarmati.
• Reasons for this shift included: he wanted to do some experiments in living eg farming, animal husbandry, cow breeding, Khadi and related constructive activities, for which he was in search of this kind of barren land; mythologically, it was the ashram site of Dadhichi Rishi who had donated his bones for a righteous war; it is between a jail and a crematorium as he believed that a satyagrahi has to invariably go to either place.
• Originally called the Satyagraha Ashram, reflecting the movement toward passive resistance launched by the Mahatma, the Ashram became home to the ideology that set India free.
• Sabarmati Ashram named for the river on which it sits was created with a dual mission.
• To serve as an institution that would carry on a search for truth and a platform to bring together a group of workers committed to non-violence who would help secure freedom for India.
• By conceiving such a vision Gandhi and his followers hoped to foster a new social construct of truth and non-violence that would help to revolutionize the existing pattern of like.

From Singapore Subhash Chandra Bose issued his famous call, 'Delhi Chalo'.

Key Points

• On July 6, 1943, Subhash Chandra Bose gave his famous "Dilli Chalo" (March to Delhi) speech at the Padang, a large field in Singapore.
• The speech was a call to arms for the Indian National Army (INA), which Bose had formed with the help of the Japanese.
• The INA was made up of Indian prisoners of war who had been captured by the Japanese during World War II.
• In his speech, Bose urged the INA soldiers to march on Delhi and liberate India from British rule.
• He said, "Dilli Chalo! The road to Delhi is the road to freedom.
• Let us conquer every inch of Indian soil and drive the British out of our country."
• The "Dilli Chalo" speech was a powerful rallying cry for the INA soldiers.
• It gave them the determination and the motivation to continue fighting for India's independence.
• Although the INA was ultimately defeated by the British, the "Dilli Chalo" speech is still remembered as a symbol of India's struggle for freedom.
• The Padang, where Bose gave his speech, is now a national monument in Singapore.
• It is a reminder of the important role that Singapore played in the Indian independence movement.

​Therefore the correct answer is Singapore.

Mir Osman Ali was the Nizam of Hydrabad during 1946-47.

Key Points

• Hyderabad started as a vassal of the Mughal dynasty in 1713, and the ruler was known as Nizam.
• Though more than 85 percent of its population comprised of Hindus, the Muslims controlled police, army and the civil services.
• With the Indian Independence Act of 1947, the British left the princely states to decide whether they wanted to join India, Pakistan or remain independent.
• By 1948, most of the states had merged with India except Hyderabad.
• The Nizam’s ambitions, if realised, could have cut off north India from the south.
• This is because Hyderabad ran across the Deccan plateau in the centre of the Indian subcontinent, with an area of more than 80,000 square miles.
• Mir Osman Ali Khan (6 April 1886 – 24 February 1967), was the last Nizam of the Princely State of Hyderabad, the largest princely state in British India.
• He was styled as His Exalted Highness-(H.E.H.) the Nizam of Hyderabad and was one of the wealthiest individuals of all time.

With 395 Articles and 12 Schedules the Constitution of India was framed during December 1946 and December 1949.

Key Points

• Constitution Day is also known as ‘Samvidhan Divas’, is celebrated in our country on 26th November every year to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution of India.
• On 26th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect from 26th January 1950.
• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 19th November 2015 notified the decision of Government of India to celebrate the 26th day of November every year as ‘Constitution Day’ to promote Constitution values among citizens.
• The Constitution of India was framed by a Constituent Assembly set up under the Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946.
• The Assembly held its first meeting on December 9, 1946, and elected Dr Sachhidanand Sinha, the oldest member of the Assembly as the Provisional President.
• On December 11, 1946, the Assembly elected Dr Rajendra Prasad as its permanent Chairman.
• The Constituent Assembly set up 13 committees for framing the constitution including a Drafting Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
• On the basis of the reports of these committees, a draft of the Constitution was prepared by a seven-member Drafting Committee.
• Indian Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, and it came into effect on January 26, 1950.
• It is the longest written constitution in the world containing 395 Articles, 22 Parts and 12 Schedules.
• It is clear that with 395 Articles and 12 Schedules the Constitution of India was framed during December 1946 and December 1949.

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

Key Points

• Assertion (A) is true because the gradual industrialization of India did lead to the creation of an industrial working class.
• This working class was made up of people who had been displaced from their traditional rural livelihoods and were forced to find work in the new factories and industries that were being built.
• Reason (R) is also true, but it is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
• The fact that there was no random or open recruitment from among a proletarianized peasantry does not mean that the industrial working class was not created.
• In fact, it is likely that the lack of random recruitment actually made it more difficult for people to find work in the factories, which would have led to even greater hardship for the working class.
• The correct explanation of Assertion (A) is that the gradual industrialization of India led to the growth of a new economic system in which the means of production were owned by a small group of capitalists, while the working class was forced to sell their labor in order to survive.
• This new economic system created a new social class structure, with the capitalists at the top and the working class at the bottom.
• In conclusion, both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
• The correct explanation of Assertion (A) is that the gradual industrialization of India led to the growth of a new economic system that created a new social class structure.

Therefore the correct answer is both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

The correct answer is he was a court poet (c. 9th -10th century CE) of the Pratihara rulers Mahendrapala and Mahipala.

Key Points

• Rajasekhara was a court poet in the Pratihara dynasty.
• He also described himself as a teacher/guru of  Mahendrapala I in some of his works. Hence, statement 1st is incorrect.
• The origin of Gurjara Pratihara/Pratihara is still a matter of debate.
• According to a school of thought, the Gurjara was the name of a territory ruled by a clan named Pratihara.
• This dynasty came into prominence during the 9th-10th century CE.
• Its founder was Nagabhatta I.
• Rajasekhara wrote during the time of the rulers Mahendrapala and Mahipala.
• Rajasekhara wrote Kapurmanjari in Mahipala’s court which is written in Suraseni Prakrit.
• It is said that he wrote Kapurmanjari to please his wife.
• Kavyamimansa is also an important work by him.
• His other works include Balbharata, Balramayana, Viddasalabhanjika, etc.
• So to conclude, we can say that Rajasekhara was one of the known poets, teachers and gurus of the Pratihara dynasty.
• His works are found during the reign of Mahendrapala and Mahipala.
• Also, his work reflects women-centric aspects.

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

Key Points

• Assertion (A) is true because there is historical evidence to suggest that Ajatashatru murdered his father, Bimbisara, in order to become the ruler of Magadha.
• Reason (R) is also true because it provides a motive for Ajatashatru's actions.
• If Ajatashatru was impatient to become the ruler of Magadha, then he would have had a strong incentive to murder his father, who was the current ruler.
• In addition, Reason (R) does not provides a logical explanation for Assertion (A).
• If Ajatashatru was impatient to become the ruler of Magadha, then he would have also been motivated to annex Kosala, which was a neighbouring kingdom.
• By annexing Kosala, Ajatashatru would have increased the size and power of his kingdom, which would have made him even more secure in his position as ruler.

​Therefore, both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is not correct explanation of Assertion (A).

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

Key Points

• Assertion (A) states that the nationalist historical writing saw the bipolarity of the spiritual content of Indian culture and the materialist basis of Western culture as an essential and inherent difference.
• This is a correct statement, as this was a common view among nationalist historians in India.
• They saw Indian culture as being based on spirituality, while Western culture was based on materialism.
• They believed that this essential difference was the reason why India had been colonized by the West.
• Reason (R) states that this was in part a reaction to the view that religion was such a central factor in the traditional society of India that it obstructed progress.
• This is also a correct statement. In the 19th century, there was a growing view among Western thinkers that religion was a backward and superstitious force that was holding back progress.
• Indian nationalists reacted against this view by arguing that religion was actually a force for progress in India.
• They pointed to the fact that Indian culture had a long history of scientific and technological advancement, and they argued that this was due to the spiritual values that were embedded in Indian culture.

Conclusion: Both statements are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

​The correct answer is Achaemenids.

Key Points

• The practice of inscribing royal decrees and other important texts on rock faces and free-standing pillars was a common practice in the Achaemenid Empire.
• This practice was continued by Indian rulers, but they did so in a more limited way.
• For example, the Achaemenids would often inscribe their decrees in multiple languages, including Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian.
• Indian rulers, on the other hand, would typically only inscribe their decrees in one language, usually Sanskrit.
• Additionally, the Achaemenids would often inscribe their decrees in remote areas, such as mountain passes and desert oases.
• Indian rulers, on the other hand, would typically inscribe their decrees in more accessible areas, such as city gates and temples.
• There are a few possible reasons for these differences.
• One possibility is that Indian rulers were more concerned with reaching a local audience than with broadcasting their decrees to a wider audience.
• Another possibility is that Indian rulers were more interested in using these inscriptions to legitimize their rule than to celebrate their military conquests.
• Whatever the reason, the practice of inscribing royal decrees on rock faces and free-standing pillars continued in India for centuries after the fall of the Achaemenid Empire.
• These inscriptions provide valuable insights into the history and culture of ancient India.

The correct answer is Kashmiri style: It is purely a local style with no traces of any influences from the outside world.

Key Points

Temple architecture of ancient India can be divided into three broad categories on the basis of the architectural style employed to construct them. They are:

• Nagara – northern style
• Dravida – southern style and
• Vesara – mixed style

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Nagara style

• In the northern Nagara style, the shikhara takes the shape of a curvilinear beehive.
• The temple is a square with a number of graduated projections in the middle of each side, giving a cruciform shape with a number of re-entrant angles on each side. The projections in the plan are also carried upwards to the top of the shikhara, giving a strong emphasis on vertical lines in elevation.

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The Dravidian Style

• In the southern Dravidian style, the tower or gopuram consists of progressive smaller stories of pavilions.
• These temples were square in plan and pyramidal in shape; included porches (mandapams) and pillared halls and contained tanks or wells for water to be used for sacred purposes or the convenience of the priests.

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Vesara style

• In the mid-seventh century, a distinct style of temple architecture grew in the Karnataka region under the patronage of Chalukya rulers.
• The temples in this region follow a hybridised style which combines the features of both Nagara and Dravida styles.

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Kashmiri style

• The temples face either east or west. The temples have a straight-edged pyramidal roof in two tiers instead of the curvilinear superstructure of the southern temples.
• Kashmiri architecture is different from the rest of India as most temples are square or oblong in design.
• It is not only a local style but traces of influences have been from the outside world. Hence, this statement is incorrect.

According to the author-The term, 'early medieval' referred to here is indicated to have begun around 600 CE.

Key Points

• The passage describes the political, social, economic, and cultural developments of the early medieval period in India.
• The author indicates that the term "early medieval" refers to the period from around 600 to 1200 CE.
• The passage mentions several key developments that took place during this period.
• First, there was a proliferation of states and land grants. Land grants to Brahmans played a significant role in the legitimation of political power and had a significant impact on agrarian relations.
• Second, there was an agrarian expansion in various parts of the subcontinent and rural societies became increasingly stratified.
• Third, trade links between the subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia expanded significantly.
• Fourth, devotional worship was a marked feature of religious thought and practice.
• Temples functioned not only as sacred spaces but also as the core of urban centres and as political symbols.
• Fifth, significant development occurred in the cultural sphere, including a range of texts in Sanskrit and vernacular languages.
• There were an efflorescence and refinement of temple architecture and sculpture, and distinct regional styles became apparent.

​The passage concludes by stating that during this period, the developments at the political, social, economic, and cultural levels crystallized into distinct regional formations and patterns.

The correct answer is (i), (ii), (iii).

Key Points

• The passage states that land grants to Brahmans played a significant role in the legitimation of political power, led to the growth of agriculture, and caused the undifferentiated rural society to become further stratified.
• Option (iv) is incorrect because the passage does not state that the practice of endowing land grants to religious institutions and personages began from c. 600 CE.
• Here is a brief explanation of each of the consequences:
• They buttressed the position of rulers: 
• Land grants to Brahmans gave rulers the support of a powerful religious group.
• This helped to legitimize the ruler's authority and made it more difficult for rivals to challenge their power.
• They led to the growth of agriculture: 
• Land grants often included the right to collect taxes from the land.
• This gave the grantee an incentive to improve the land and increase agricultural production.
• The undifferentiated rural society got further stratified: 
• Land grants gave some people control over large tracts of land, while others had no land at all.
• This led to a more stratified society, with a small number of wealthy landowners and a large number of poor peasants.

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

Key Points

• Assertion (A) is true. The early medieval period in South India did possess some critical features of feudalism, such as the fragmentation of political power, the rise of landed intermediaries, and the development of a system of serfdom.
• However, it also differed significantly from European feudalism in a number of ways.
• For example, the early medieval South Indian state was more centralized than its European counterpart, and the relationship between the peasantry and the landed intermediaries was more complex.
• Reason (R) is also true. The early medieval South India was a period of urban growth, as evidenced by the flourishing crafts, trade, trade guilds, and urban centres.
• However, this urban growth does not necessarily explain the presence of some critical features of feudalism in the early medieval period.
• In conclusion, both (A) and (R) are true statements, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
• The presence of some critical features of feudalism in the early medieval period is due to a number of factors, including the fragmentation of political power, the rise of landed intermediaries, and the development of a system of serfdom.
• The urban growth that occurred during this period is a separate phenomenon that is not directly related to the presence of feudalism.

Hence, we can conclude that both the statement of assertion and reason are correct individually, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A). Because the growth in the economy of South India was not due of Feudalism, which was in fact considered a negative trait for the medieval time period.

French traveller Jean-Baptist Tavernier call the capital city of Golconda by Bhagnagar.

Key Points

• In the 1660s, a French traveller named Jean de Thevenot visited the kingdom of Golconda and wrote: “The capital city of this kingdom is called Bhagnagar; the Persians call it Hyderabad; it is 14 or 15 leagues from Bijapur.”
• He was a firangi in the literal sense – a French visitor to India.
• He kept coming back to Golconda, the kingdom in the Deccan ruled by the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
• Tavernier came to India when Mughal power was at its most magnificent, but also most fragile, in a manner of speaking; the reign of Shahjahan and, later, the troubled times when that Emperor’s sons were battling it out in one of the bloodiest dynastic wars of succession in India’s history.

So the correct answer is Bhagnagar.

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

The correct answer is "He also continued and encouraged the practice of farming of the land revenue."

Key Points

• The reign of Alauddin Khalji is known for its efforts of consolidating an empire militarily, administratively and economically.
• In order to economically stabilize the empire, Alauddin Khalji is known to have passed numerous agrarian and land revenue assessment laws which were stringent, yet effective to protect the empire in case of a famine or Mongol Invasion.
• Alauddin’s measures increased the demand of the state and reduce the interference of the intermediaries in revenue collection.
• He cancelled land assignments as a form of revenue generation for the state and revenue officers at the village level like the – khots, muqqadams, chaudharies had to pay taxes to the state.
• He inspected revenue records, bahi along with village accountants to check for any fraudulent appropriations by local-level officers.
• He also ordered a fresh survey of the land and fixed a standard rate of revenue which was half of the standing crop, along with this revenue was also fixed on pasture land and no other taxes were to be levied on the poor sections of the society.
• In contrast to this Ghiyassudin Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq Dynasty, who assumed the throne of the Sultanate was now faced with organizing a new system of revenue system for his empire.
• The approach taken by Tughlaq was to strike a balance between inefficient revenue collection and a too-stringent approach towards revenue collection.
• In order to relieve the peasantry of excessive taxation, he brought in the system of Hukum –i– Hasil, which was a method of measurement based on crop sharing; this allowed the cultivators to increase productivity and took into account natural calamities or accidents.
• Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq’s policy was that of gradually increasing the revenue collection, in proportion to increases in productivity.
• He also recognized the importance of local-level revenue officers and the importance of their service to the state and hence dealt with them in a lenient manner.
• The practice of revenue farming was discouraged, but not altogether eliminated, as the revenue remitted by governors to the treasury was a stipulated sum and did not account for actual production, the misappropriations here could not be actually checked.

Hence here option 4 is the correct answer because land revenue farming as a practice was not encouraged by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.

M. N. Srinivas propounded the theory of Sanskritization.

Key Points

• The concept ‘Of Sanskritization’ was first introduced by Prof. M.N. Srinivas the famous Indian sociologist.
• He explained the concept of Sanskritization in his book “Religion and Society among the Coorgs of South India” to describe the cultural mobility in the traditional caste structure of Indian society.
• In his study of the Coorgs of Mysore, he came to know that the lower castes were trying to raise their status in their caste hierarchy by adopting some cultural ideals of the Brahmins.
• As a result, they left some of their ideals which are considered to be impure by the Brahmins.
• To explain this process of mobility, Srinivas used the term ‘Brahminization’.
• Later on, he called it ‘Sanskritization’ in a broad sense.
• Defining Sanskritization Srinivas writes, “Sanskritization is a process by which a lower caste or tribe or any other group changes its customs, rituals, ideology and way of life in the direction of a higher or more often twice-born caste.”

The correct answer is Sultan of Golconda.

Key Points

• In 1632 AD, the English obtained the Golden Farman with the right to trade in the kingdom of  Golkanda for a fixed custom duty, from the Sultan of Golkanda.
• This firman allowed them to reopen their factory at Masulipatam and this improved the position of the company.
• This agreement is known as the 'Treaty of Masulipatnam' and was signed between the English East India Company and Abdullah Qutb Shah, the Sultan of Golconda, in 1632 AD.
• The treaty granted the English East India Company the right to establish factories and trade in the kingdom of Golconda on payment of a fixed customs duty of 5 per cent.
• This agreement allowed the English East India Company to establish a profitable trade in precious stones, textiles, and spices, which helped them to expand their trade and establish a strong presence in India.

Hence, we can conclude that the English obtained the right to trade in the Kingdom of Golconda with a fixed customs duty from the Sultan of Golconda.

Consultations were - All kinds of transactions of English East India Company in Bengal.

Key Points

• In the official records of the English East India Company, "consultations" refers to all kinds of transactions that the company made in Bengal.
• These transactions could include anything from trade deals to military campaigns.
• The consultations were a way for the company's directors in London to stay informed about what was happening in Bengal and to make decisions about how to proceed.
• The consultations were usually written in a very formal style and they often included long lists of detailed information.
• They could be quite lengthy, sometimes running to hundreds of pages.
• However, they were an important source of information for the company's directors and they provide us with a valuable record of the company's activities in Bengal.
• Here are some examples of the kinds of things that might be included in a consultation:
• ​Trade deals with Indian merchants
• Military campaigns against Indian rulers
• Construction of forts and trading posts
• Appointment of officials
• Taxation of the local population
• Relations with the British government
• The consultations were a vital part of the English East India Company's operations in Bengal.
• They helped the company to manage its affairs effectively and to make decisions that would benefit the company's shareholders.
• The consultations also provide us with a valuable record of the company's activities in Bengal, which is an important part of Indian history.

Treaty of Yandaboo was concluded after the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-26).

Key Points

• The Anglo-Burmese war halted after the Treaty of Yandabo was signed.
• Lord Amherst was the Governor-General of Bengal when the First Anglo-Burmese war (1824-1826).
• This treaty made Burma cede large tracts of land and accept a British Representative.
• The treaty was signed in February of 1826 that ended the two-year-long war.
• The British won the first war after the death of the Burmese General Bandula.
• The victory was also majorly because of the constant supplies from India that allowed the British to continue expedition for two seasons

The correct code is (a), (b) and (c) only.

Key Points

• Statement (a) is correct because the British East India Company gradually acquired control over large parts of India through a combination of military conquest, political maneuvering, and economic exploitation.
• By the mid-19th century, the company had become the de facto ruler of much of India.
• Statement (b) is correct because the British government recognized the East India Company as the sovereign ruler of India in the treaties of Paris (1763), Versailles (1783), and Vienna (1815).
• This recognition gave the company the legitimacy it needed to rule India in the eyes of the international community.
• Statement (c) is also correct because the East India Company was granted a royal charter by the British Crown in 1600.
• This charter gave the company the exclusive right to trade in India, and it also granted the company certain sovereign powers, such as the right to mint coins and raise an army.
• Statement (d) is incorrect because the Mughal Emperor did not transfer sovereignty to Britain after the suppression of the Revolt of 1857.
• In fact, the Mughal Empire had already ceased to exist by that time.
• The British Crown assumed direct control of India from the East India Company in 1858, and this marked the beginning of the British Raj.

​Therefore, the correct answer is (a), (b) and (c) only.

The correct answer is 'Madras Mail'.

Key Points

• Historical Context: Muthuswamy Iyer was one of the first Indian judges appointed to a British colonial high court in the late 19th century.
• Source of Opposition: The "Madras Mail" opposed his appointment.
• Main Ground of Opposition: The opposition was based on the belief that native officials should not draw the same rate of pay as European officials in similar positions.
• Underlying Reason: The resistance reflected racial biases and the desire to maintain the colonial hierarchy, which placed Europeans above natives.
• Significance: Despite the opposition, Muthuswamy Iyer's appointment marked a significant step toward greater representation and equality in the Indian judiciary during the British colonial period.

Additional Information

• Supportive Stance: "The Hindu" was known to support the appointment of Muthuswamy Iyer to the Madras High Court.
• Advocacy for Equality: The newspaper advocated for equal pay and treatment of Indian officials, emphasizing that qualifications and merits should determine pay and position, not race.
• Promotion of Indian Talent: "The Hindu" highlighted the capability and competence of Indian professionals like Muthuswamy Iyer, making a case for their inclusion in high judicial positions.
• Challenge to Racial Bias: The support from "The Hindu" was also a stance against the racial biases prevalent in the colonial administration.
• Public Opinion: By defending the appointment, "The Hindu" helped shape public opinion towards acceptance and support for Indian judges in the colonial judiciary.
• Contribution to Social Progress: The newspaper's support was part of its broader commitment to social and legal progress in India, promoting fairness and justice in colonial rule.

The correct answer is (a), (b), (c) and (d).

Key Points

• Agraharas were a category of land grants made to Brahmans in India, especially from the mid-first millennium CE onwards.
• These grants were usually in perpetuity, and the donees were given the right to organize production and collect revenue and other resources from the land.
• Statement (a) is correct because the term "agrahara" is a Sanskrit term that was used to designate a category of land grants made to Brahmans.
• Statement (b) is correct because these grants were made to Brahmans, who were the priestly class in India.
• Statement (c) is correct because these grants were usually in perpetuity, meaning that they were not subject to revocation.
• Statement (d) is correct because the donees were given the right to organize production and collect revenue and other resources from the land.
• This allowed them to support themselves and their families, and also to contribute to the economic development of the region.

Therefore, all of the statements are correct.

The correct code is (i), (ii), (iii).

Key Points

• Statement (i) is correct. The early medieval period in India saw a growth of sectarian religious groups, such as the Shaiva, Vaishnava, and Shakta cults.
• These cults emphasized devotional worship and their popularity led to the construction of many temples.
• Statement (ii) is also correct. Temples in early medieval India were not just places of worship, but also centres of political, social, cultural, and economic activity.
• They were often the location of royal courts, and they played an important role in the administration of the local community.
• Statement (iii) is correct. The urban centres of early medieval India can be divided into two categories: administrative towns and commercial towns.
• Administrative towns were the centres of political power, while commercial towns were the centres of trade and commerce.
• Statement (iv) is not correct. While temples did attract diversified social groups, they did not necessarily dent the narrative favouring exclusion.
• In fact, some temples were explicitly exclusive, only allowing certain groups of people to enter.

Therefore, the correct code is (i), (ii), and (iii).

The correct code is (i), (iii).

Key Points

• The proliferation of Sanskrit texts and  the refinement of architecture and art were not relevant for the emergence of regional formations during the period between c. 600-1200 CE.
• The growth of vernacular languages, and the emergence of distinct regional styles in art and architecture were all important factors in the emergence of regional formations during this period.
• The proliferation of Sanskrit texts was a sign of the cultural unity of India during the Gupta period.
• However, as the Gupta Empire declined, regional languages began to gain prominence.
• This was due in part to the growth of trade and commerce, which led to increased contact between different regions of India.
• Vernacular languages were also used to spread new religious ideas, such as bhakti and tantrism.
• Different regions developed their own distinct styles of architecture and art, which reflected their local cultures and traditions.
• This can be seen in the temples of the Chola dynasty in southern India, the forts of the Rajputs in northern India, and the mosques of the Delhi Sultanate.
• The emergence of distinct regional styles in art and architecture was a key factor in the formation of regional identities during the early medieval period.
• These regional identities were further strengthened by the growth of vernacular languages and the spread of new religious ideas.
• Therefore, the proliferation of Sanskrit texts is not relevant to the emergence of regional formations during the early medieval period.
• The growth of vernacular languages and the emergence of distinct regional styles in art and architecture are all relevant to the emergence of regional formations during this period.

In Braj dialect, Tuhfat-ul Hind, an 18th-century source, has provided a very extensive glossary.

 Key Points

• Tuhfat-ul Hind, also known as "The Gift of India," is an 18th-century source that provides a very extensive glossary of the Braj dialect.
• The glossary was compiled by the author, Muhammad Hashim Khafi Khan, who was a scholar and historian from the Mughal Empire.
• The glossary includes over 10,000 words and phrases, and it is a valuable resource for scholars of the Braj dialect.
• The Braj dialect is a Western Hindi dialect that is spoken in the Braj region of India.
• It is the dialect that was used by many of the great poets of the Hindi literary tradition, including Surdas, Tulsidas, and Mirabai.
• The Tuhfat-ul Hind glossary is a valuable resource for anyone who is interested in the Braj dialect, whether they are a scholar, a student, or a simply a lover of Hindi literature.
• Here are some of the benefits of using the Tuhfat-ul Hind glossary:
• ​It is a comprehensive resource that includes over 10,000 words and phrases.
• It is a reliable resource that was compiled by a scholar and historian.
• It is a valuable resource for scholars, students, and lovers of Hindi literature.

The correct answer is Shaikh Mubarak.

Key Points

• Alauddin Khilji was a very effective ruler who implemented a number of policies to improve the economy of the Delhi Sultanate.
• One of these policies was a system of price controls that helped to keep the cost of essential goods affordable for the people.
• However, after Alauddin's death in 1316, his price control measures collapsed and prices began to rise rapidly.
• This was due to a number of factors, including the lack of a strong ruler to enforce price controls, the increasing demand for goods, and the devaluation of the currency.
• Shaikh Mubarak, a chronicler and traveller who visited the Delhi Sultanate in the early 14th century, mentions the growing prices during Mubarak Khalij's reign.
• He writes that the prices of essential goods, such as food and clothing, had become so high that people were struggling to afford them.
• This led to widespread discontent and eventually contributed to the downfall of the Khalji dynasty.
• The rising prices during Mubarak Khalij's reign are a reminder of the importance of sound economic policies.
• When these policies are not in place, it can lead to economic instability and hardship for the people.

The correct answer is Nasir Khan Faruki.

Key Points

• Burhanpur was founded in 1399 by Naṣīr Khan, the first independent prince of the Fārūqī dynasty of Khandesh, and it was annexed by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1601.
• The city, with its wall and massive gates, served as the Deccan headquarters of the Mughals until Aurangzeb moved the capital to Aurangabad in 1636.
• Burhanpur was for many years the scene of conflicts between the Marathas and Mughals and was seized in 1803 by Major General Arthur Wellesley, later 1st Duke of Wellington.
• It was restored to the Sindhias in 1805 and ceded to the British in 1861.
• Burhanpur developed an extensive trade in muslin, gold and silver brocade, and lace, which declined during the 18th century, though such industries still continue on a small scale.

• Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah was the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golkonda and founded the city of Hyderabad, in South-central India and built its architectural centrepiece, the Charminar and Mecca Masjid.
• Ibrahim Adil Shah I (1534–1558) was a Sultan and later Shah of the Indian kingdom of Bijapur. He succeeded his elder brother, Mallu Adil Shah, through the machinations of the Afaqi faction at the court. He was the first Adil Shahi ruler to assume the royal title of Shah.
• Sultan Quli Qutb Shah, a Turkmen from Hamadan in Iran, was the founder of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, which ruled the Sultanate of Golconda in southern India from 1518 to 1687. He died in 1543.

The correct answer is Muhammad bin Tughluq.

Key Points

• Mongol Khan Tarmashirin, the son of Duwa Khan, was the ruler of Chaghatai Khanate from 1326 to 1334.
• Tarmashirin's invasion of India has been the subject of some controversy.
• Ferishta, who places the invasion at the beginning of the reign of Muhammad Tughlaq, portrays Muhammad Tughlaq as a coward.
• He says that Tarmashirin invaded Hindustan with a vast army.
• Sultan Muhammad, seeing he could not cope with the enemy in the field, began to sue for peace.
• He sent valuable presents in gold and jewels, to soften the Mongol chief, who at last consented, on receiving almost the price of the empire, to return to his own country, by the way of Gujarat and Sindh, which he plundered and carried off many of the inhabitants.
• The khan, therefore, marched from Delhi towards Gujarat and plundered Somnath and Surat, and returned thence in safety to his own country laden with spoil.
• According to Yahya and Badauni, this invasion occurred in 1328-29.
• Tarmashirin marched against Delhi with an enormous army; he captured several forts and put under confinement the people of Lahore, Samana and Indri to the borders of Budaun.
• The anonymous author of Sirat-i-Firuz Shahi mentions Tarmashirin while describing the transfer of the Topra Asoka pillar (Minara-i Zarin) by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
• He says that Tarmashirin had attempted to split the pillar by burning a huge fire around its base, but the pillar did not crack.

The correct answer is Akbar and Abdullah Khan Uzbek.

Key Points

• Hindu Kush, a great mountain system of Central Asia.
• Broadly defined, it is some 500 miles (800 km) long and as much as 150 miles (240 km) wide.
• The Hindu Kush Himalayan region spans Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• It traverses about 5 million square kilometres and hosts a large and culturally diverse population.
• It is considered the Third Pole (after the North and South Poles) and has significant implications for climate.
• It contains vast cryospheric(cold) zones and is also the world’s largest store of snow and ice outside the polar region.
• SIGNIFICANCE-
• The significance of the Hindu Kush mountain ranges has been recorded since the time of Darius I of Persia.
• Alexander the Great entered the Indian subcontinent through the Hindu Kush as his army moved past the Afghan Valleys in the spring of 329 BCE.
• He moved towards the Indus valley river region in the Indian subcontinent in 327 BCE, his armies building several towns in this region over the intervening two years.
• The subcontinent and valleys of the Hindu Kush remained unconquered by the Islamic armies until the 9th century, even though they had conquered the southern regions of the Indus River valley such as Sind.

 Jahangir and Abdullah Khan Uzbek

• Jahangir, the fourth Mughal ruler, was succeeded by the famous Akbar the Great.
• Also known as Nur-ud-din Mohammad Salim, Jahangir was known for his ambivalent stance on religion and his love for art.
• Like most Mughal rulers, Jahangir has given India a few of the most iconic structures that have lasted centuries without losing their glory.
• Abdullah Khan Uzbek, known as "The Old Khan", was an      Uzbek ruler of the Khanate of Bukhara.
• He was the last Shaybanid Dynasty Khan of Bukhara, from        1583 until his death.
• Abdullah Khan initiated a war with Persia which lasted from        1587 to 1598.

 Jahangir and Abdul Mumin Uzbek

• Abdul Mumin Uzbek was the son of Abdullah Khan II (c.1534–98)  the last Shaybanid ruler of Bukhara in Uzbekistan.
• During Abdul Momin's reign, the teachings of Islam were encouraged and he also sent some Ulama to the Holy City of Makkah.

 Shah Jahan and Imam Quli

• Shah Jahan (Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram) was one of the most successful emperors of the Mughal Empire.
• He was the fifth Mughal ruler after Babur, Humayun, Akbar and Jahangir.
• After winning the war of succession post the demise of his father Jahangir, Shah Jahan successfully ruled the empire for 30 years.
• During his reign, the Mughal Empire thrived, making his reign the golden era of the empire.
• He is best known for the construction of the Taj Mahal, which he built in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
• Imam-Quli Khan was the son of Allahverdi Khan the celebrated Georgian general in the service of Iran’s Safavid Dynasty.
• Imam-Quli Khan is first mentioned as governor of Lar in              Fars in 1610.
• He succeeded his father as governor-general (beglarbeg)          of Fars in 1615, but retained his position at Lar and was granted the rank of an amir of the divan by Shah Abbas I.

The incorrect statement about Balutedars is they were paid the remuneration always in kind.

 Key Points

• The statement that balutedars were paid the remuneration always in kind is incorrect.
• While they were often paid in kind, they could also be paid in cash, or a combination of both.
• The exact form of remuneration varied from village to village.
• Here are some additional details about the remuneration of balutedars:
• The main remuneration was called baluta remuneration.
• This could be given in cash or kind and was usually paid twice a year, at the time of the two harvests.
• In addition to the baluta remuneration, balutedars were also entitled to certain hakk (rights), lavajima (perquisites) or manpan (privileges).
• These were small additional payments, usually given in kind, and were often paid in the form of offerings to the village shrine.
• Balutedars who were absent from the village for a long time were not entitled to the baluta-remuneration.
• However, they were still entitled to the hakk, lavajima, or manpan.
• The remuneration of balutedars was an important part of the village economy.
• It helped to ensure that the balutedars had a steady income, and it also helped to maintain the social hierarchy of the village.

 So the incorrect statement about Balutedars is they were paid the remuneration always in kind.

Restoration of Mysore to its old ruling family was a unique thing in the history of British India by Marquess of Ripon.

Key Points

• The restoration of the Raja of Mysore was a unique event in the history of British India.
• The Raja of Mysore, Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, had been deposed by the British in 1868 after a series of rebellions.
• Lord Ripon, the Viceroy of India at the time, decided to restore the Raja to his throne in 1881.
• This was a significant gesture of goodwill on the part of the British, and it helped to improve relations between the British and the Indian people.
• There were several reasons why Lord Ripon decided to restore the Raja to his throne.
• First, he believed that it was the right thing to do.
• The Raja had been deposed without due process, and Ripon felt that it was only fair to give him a chance to rule again.
• Second, Ripon believed that it would be good for the stability of Mysore.
• The state had been through a period of turmoil after the Raja's deposition, and Ripon thought that restoring the Raja would help to restore order.
• Third, Ripon believed that it would be a popular move.
• The Indian people had long resented the British for deposing the Raja, and Ripon thought that restoring him would win the goodwill of the people.
• The restoration of the Raja of Mysore was a significant event in the history of British India.
• It was a sign of the changing times, as the British were beginning to realize that they could not rule India indefinitely without the consent of the Indian people.
• The restoration of the Raja also helped to improve relations between the British and the Indian people, and it set a precedent for future British policy in India.

​Therefore the correct answer is Marquess of Ripon.

Additional Information

Lord Canning:

• He served as Governor-General of India from 1856 to 1862.
• During his tenure, the Government of India Act, 1858 was passed which created the office of Viceroy to be held by the same person who was Governor-General of India.
• Thus, he also served as the first Viceroy of India.
• The important events during his tenure include:
• The Mutiny of 1857, which he was able to suppress successfully
• Withdrawal of “Doctrine of Lapse” which was one of the main reasons for the mutiny of 1858.
• Introduction of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Enactment of Indian High Courts Act.
• Indian Penal Code (1858)
• Bengal Rent Act (1859)
• Introduction of Income-tax on an experimental basis etc.

Lord Dufferin

• He was Viceroy of India from 1884 - 1888.
• Important events during his viceroyalty include:
• 3rd Burmese War, 1885 - In this war upper and lower Burma were annexed.
• Establishment of Indian National Congress in 1885.

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

Key Points

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

Key Points

• The period between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE is considered extremely important in early Indian history as it witnessed the emergence of massive Indian cities, which were built after the fall of the Indus Valley Civilization.
• These massive Indian cities were home to the 16 great kingdoms described in the ancient texts.
• In the modern era, the term ‘mahajanapadas’ is often used to refer to the 16 great kingdoms.

​The correct answer is Sangameshwara.

Key Points

• The Sangameshwara temple is one of the most important temples in the Mahakuta group of temples.
• It is a Shiva temple built in the Dravidian style in the 8th century CE.
• The temple is complete with an outer mandapa, a main sanctum, and a Nandhi pedestal outside.
• The temple has excellent stone windows but with semi-finished sculptures on the pillars.
• There are several small pedestals outside the temple as well.
• The Sangameshwara temple is one of the biggest in the complex and is said to be the earliest in the Pattadakal group of temples.
• The temple is dedicated to Sangameshwara, a form of Shiva. The name "Sangameshwara" means "Lord of the confluence," referring to the confluence of the Malaprabha and Tungabhadra rivers near Badami.
• The Sangameshwara temple is a well-preserved example of Dravidian architecture.
• The temple has a square plan with a pyramidal tower over the sanctum.
• The outer walls of the temple are decorated with sculptures of gods and goddesses, including Shiva, Vishnu, Parvati, and Lakshmi.
• The temple is also home to a number of inscriptions, including one from the 7th century CE that records the construction of the temple by the Chalukya king Vijayaditya Satyashraya.
• The Sangameshwara temple is a popular tourist destination and is one of the most visited temples in the Mahakuta group of temples.
• The temple is also an important pilgrimage site for Hindus.

​Therefore we can say that the correct answer is Sangameshwara.

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

Key Points

• Assertion (A) is true because there is evidence that certain aspects of the Indus Civilization, such as the use of seals, weights, and the Indus script, survived into the second and first-millennium cultures.
• For example, seals have been found at sites from the Vedic period, and the Indus script has been partially deciphered, revealing that it is related to the languages of the Vedic period.
• Reason (R) is also true because the earlier view that there was a hiatus between the Indus Civilization and the Vedic culture is no longer accepted.
• This is because archaeological evidence has shown that there was a continuous cultural development from the Indus Civilization to the Vedic period.
• However, Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
• The fact that there was continuous cultural development does not necessarily mean that certain facets of the Indus Civilization survived into the second and first-millennium cultures.
• It is possible that these facets were reintroduced from outside India, or that they developed independently.

​In conclusion, both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).

The correct answer is (A) is false but (R) is true.

 Key Points

• Assertion (A) is false because the eulogy of poets was indeed a basis of the legitimation of political power in early historical South India.
• Poets of the period were often employed by kings to write panegyrics or poems of praise, that celebrated the king's virtues and accomplishments.
• These poems were then used to disseminate the king's image as a wise and benevolent ruler and to justify his authority to his subjects.
• Reason (R) is true because poets of the period were dependent on kings for their material well-being.
• They were often paid in land, grants, or other forms of patronage.
• This meant that they had a vested interest in writing poems that would please the king and curry his favour.
• Therefore, while it is true that poets were dependent on kings for their material well-being, this does not mean that their eulogies were not a basis for the legitimation of political power.
• In fact, the poets' dependence on kings made them even more likely to write poems that would glorify the king and his authority.

​Thus (A) is false but (R) is true.

The correct answer is Mandapika.

Key Points

• A mandapika is a small market in a village or small town where nearby villagers would bring their products to be sold.
• It was an important place where internal trade took place, and it served as a link between the small periodic markets and the larger trade centres.
• The term mandapika is derived from the Sanskrit word "mandapa," which means "hall" or "assembly place."
• Mandapikas were often located in open spaces, such as in front of temples or other public buildings.
• They were typically surrounded by shops and stalls, and they would often be crowded with people on market days.
• Mandapikas played an important role in the economic and social life of the villages and towns where they were located.
• They provided a place for villagers to buy and sell goods, and they also served as a meeting place for people to socialize and exchange news.
• In the Chola period (9th-13th centuries), mandapikas became increasingly important as centres of trade and commerce.
• The Cholas built a network of mandapikas throughout their empire, and they used these markets to collect taxes and regulate trade.
• Mandapikas continued to be important in the later medieval period, but they began to decline in the early modern period.
• This was due to a number of factors, including the growth of large cities, the development of new transportation networks, and the rise of the colonial economy.
• Despite their decline, mandapikas still play an important role in the lives of many people in rural India.
• They provide a place for villagers to buy and sell goods, and they also serve as a meeting place for people to socialize and exchange news.

​Therefore Mandapika refers to a local centre of exchange, in between small periodic markets and large trade centres.

The correct code is (a), (c) and (d).

Key Points

• Sair-dam was a land revenue assessment that was based on the actual revenue generated by farming land.
• This allowed for a differential calculation of land revenue, which was seen as a way of granting free trade facilities and reducing taxes.
• Mapa was a term for measurement, and it was used to assess taxes on goods that were being transported.
• The abolition of the Rahdari tax, which was a tax that was collected at every highway point, also provided some relief from taxation.
• The Muqata tax was not a tax that fell into the category of granting free trade facilities and reduction in taxes.
• It was a tax that was collected on the basis of the number of ploughs that were used in a particular area.
• This tax was not seen as a way of reducing taxes, but rather as a way of ensuring that the government received a fair share of the revenue generated from agriculture.

​Therefore, the correct answer is (a), (c) and (d).

In 1667 AD Francois Caron establish First French Factory in India.

Key Points

• In 1667 AD, François Caron, a Dutch-born merchant who was working for the French East India Company, established the first French factory in India.
• The factory was located in Surat, a major port city in Gujarat.
• This was the beginning of French colonial expansion in India, which would eventually lead to the establishment of French India.
• The factory in Surat was a success, and it helped to pave the way for the establishment of other French factories in India.
• In 1669, another French factory was established in Masulipatnam, a port city in Andhra Pradesh.
• In 1673, the French East India Company established a trading post in Pondicherry, which would eventually become the capital of French India.
• The French East India Company was one of the three major European trading companies that competed for control of trade in India during the 17th and 18th centuries.
• The other two companies were the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company.
• The French company was never as successful as the British company, but it did manage to establish a number of colonies in India, including Pondicherry, Chandannagar, and Mahé.
• The French colonies in India were eventually annexed by the British during the 19th century.
• However, the French legacy can still be seen in India today, in the form of French-style architecture, French cuisine, and the French language.

Therefore the correct answer is 1667 AD.

The correct answer is Treaty of Paris.

Key Points

Third Anglo-French war 1757-63

• The conflict between France and England got renewed in 1756 in Europe, in the form of the Seven Years War, which is coterminous with the Third Anglo-French war.
• The Third Anglo-Carnatic war started primarily as a war between the French and the English back in Europe as a part of their Seven-years war.
• The Third Carnatic War put an end to the French ambitions to create a colonial empire in India.
• The British Forces were able to capture the French Settlements at Chandranagar in 1757.
• The French forces in the south were led by Comte De Lally.
• The Treaty of Paris put an end to the Third Anglo-Carnatic War (1758-1763).

Under Subsidiary alliance system the Indian States lost their right to foreign affairs and defense.

Key Points

Subsidiary alliance system​

• It was a policy of indirect rule, whereby the British East India Company (EIC) would gain control of Indian states without actually annexing them.
• It was introduced by Lord Wellesley who was the Governor-General from 1798 to 1805.
• It was a treaty between the British East India Company and therefor the Indian princely states, by virtue of which the Indian kingdoms lost their sovereignty to the English.
• It was Marquis Dupleix, the French Governor-General who actually used it for the first time.
• The Nawab of Awadh was the primary ruler to enter into the subsidiary alliance with the British after the Battle of Buxar.
• The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first who simply to accept a well-framed subsidiary alliance.
• An Indian ruler who was getting into Subsidiary Alliance with the British had to dissolve his own army and accept British forces in his territory.
• Indian ruler also had to pay for the British army’s maintenance.
• If he did not make the payment, a portion of his territory would be taken away and ceded to the British.
• In return, the British would protect the Indian state against any foreign attack or internal revolt.
• The Indian ruler, thus, lost all powers in respect of foreign affairs and therefor the military.
• India state virtually lost all his independence and became a British ‘protectorate.

Doctrine of lapse

• The Doctrine of Lapse was abandoned by the British Raj in 1859.
• The doctrine of lapse was an annexation policy introduced by the British East India Company in India.
• The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by Lord Dalhousie.
• According to this doctrine, if any Indian ruler dies without leaving a male heir, his kingdom would automatically pass over to the British government.
• Satara was the first princely state where the Doctrine of lapse applied.
• Important Princely states annexed under the Doctrine of lapse are of Satara (1848), Sambalpur (1849), Nagpur and Jhansi (1854), Tore, and Arcot (1855) and Udaipur (Chhattisgarh).
• The Doctrine of Lapse was officially withdrawn by Lord Canning.

Permanent settlement

• The Permanent Settlement was brought into effect by the East India Company headed by the Governor-General Lord Cornwallis in 1793.
• This system was also called the Zamindari System.
• It was first enacted in Bengal, Bihar and Odisha, this was later followed in northern Madras Presidency and the district of Varanasi.

​Features of the Permanent Settlement

• Landlords or Zamindars were referred to as the owners of the land. They got hereditary rights of succession of the lands under them.
• The Zamindars could sell or transfer the land as they wished.
• The Zamindars’ proprietorship would stay as long as he paid the fixed revenue at the said date to the government.
• If they did not pay, their rights would cease to exist and therefore the land would be auctioned off.
• The amount to be paid by the landlords was fixed.
• It was agreed that this would not increase in future (permanent).
• The fixed amount was 10/11th portion of the revenue for the government and 1/10th was for the Zamindar.
• This tax rate was way above than the prevailing rates in England.

Dyarchy system

• It was considered to be a substantial step towards the transfer of power to the Indians.
• The provincial subjects of administration were to be divided into two categories: Transferred and Reserved.
• The Transferred subjects were to be administered by the Governor with the aid of ministers responsible to the Legislative Council.
• The Governor and the Executive Council were to administer the reserved subjects without any responsibility to the legislature.

After the Government of India Act, 1858 the phrase proclaiming the Governor-General to be 'the servant of the emperor' was omitted from his official seal.

Key Points

• The Government of India Act, 1858 transferred the powers of the East India Company to the British Crown.
• As a result, the Governor-General of India was no longer considered to be the servant of the Emperor of India.
• The phrase "servant of the emperor" was therefore omitted from his official seal.
• The Government of India Act, 1858 was a landmark piece of legislation that had a profound impact on the history of India.
• It marked the end of the East India Company's rule in India and the beginning of direct rule by the British Crown.
• The Act also introduced a number of other reforms, including the establishment of a Secretary of State for India and a Council of India.
• The omission of the phrase "servant of the emperor" from the Governor-General's official seal was a symbolic gesture that reflected the changing political landscape in India.
• It signaled that the British Crown was now the supreme authority in India and that the Governor-General was its representative.

Irfan Habib opined that "Once the Ahar Iron is disposed of, all 14 C dates for the earliest iron levels in India appear to cluster around 1000 BC or a little earlier"

Key Points

• Irfan Habib was a renowned Indian historian who specialized in the economic history of India.
• He made this statement in his book, "The Vedic Age and the Coming of Iron," which was published in 1999.
• In the book, Habib argues that the earliest evidence of iron use in India comes from the Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture, which flourished in the Gangetic plains from around 1000 BC to 600 BC.
• He points out that the 14C dates for the earliest iron levels in India all cluster around this period, and that there is no evidence of iron use in India before this time.
• Habib's opinion has been influential in shaping the prevailing view of the chronology of the Iron Age in India.
• However, it is important to note that there is still some debate on this issue, and some scholars have argued for an earlier date for the introduction of iron into India.
• Ultimately, the question of when iron was first used in India is a complex one, and there is no single answer that is universally accepted.
• However, Habib's opinion is based on a careful analysis of the available evidence, and it is a view that is widely respected by historians.

​Therefore we can say that the correct answer is Irfan Habib.

The correct answer is Sheikh Mubarak and Faizi**.**

Key Points

• In September 1579, Sheikh Mubarak and faizi drafted and issued a Mahazar signed by leading Ulemas, Sadr-us-sad and other Muslim law experts declaring Jalalu din Muhammad Akbar as amir-ul-momin and an Imam I Adil over and above Mujtahids (Qazis and Imams).
• V. A. Smith called Mahzar and Faizi drafted by Sheikh Mubarak and issued in September 1579 as an Infallible Decree by Akbar.
• Mahazar is the document that made Emperor Akbar the sole judge of political and religious matters during his reign and the same was drafted singly by Sheikh Mubarak, a scholar who lived during the period of Akbar.
• The final draft of the document was prepared by Sheikh Mubarak, and his son Abul Fazl also contributed to the preparation.

The incorrect statement about music is Shah Jahan did not encourage music in his court and did not reward the musicians. He was interested in architectural works.

 Key Points

• Shah Jahan was a great patron of the arts, including music.
• He was himself an accomplished musician and singer, and he surrounded himself with talented musicians at his court.
• He rewarded them generously for their services, and he encouraged the development of new musical forms.​
• In fact, Shah Jahan's reign is considered to be a golden age of music in the Mughal Empire.
• Many of the most famous musicians of the period, such as Tansen, lived and worked at his court.
• Shah Jahan's patronage of music helped to spread Mughal musical styles throughout the Indian subcontinent, and it had a lasting impact on the development of Indian classical music.
• The statement that Shah Jahan was only interested in architectural works is also incorrect.
• He was indeed a great builder, and he commissioned many magnificent buildings, including the Taj Mahal.
• However, he was also a patron of other arts, such as painting, literature, and music.
• He was a cultured and sophisticated ruler who appreciated the beauty of all forms of art.

Therefore, the statement that Shah Jahan did not encourage music in his court and did not reward the musicians is incorrect.

Additional Information

• Statement A:
• The Lahjat-i Sikandari is a 16th-century treatise on classical music written by Nazim Ahmad under the patronage of Sultan Sikandar Lodi, the third ruler of the Lodi dynasty of Delhi.
• The book is a comprehensive overview of the music of the time, covering topics such as the different ragas, talas, and instruments, as well as the techniques of singing and playing.
• It is one of the earliest surviving texts on classical Indian music, and it provides valuable insights into the musical practices of the 16th century.
• The Lahjat-i Sikandari is divided into two parts.
• The first part is a theoretical treatise on the principles of music, while the second part is a practical guide to singing and playing.
• The book is written in Persian, and it is full of technical terms that can be difficult to understand.
• However, it is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of classical Indian music.
• The Lahjat-i Sikandari is a testament to Sultan Sikandar's love of music, and it is a valuable source of information on the musical practices of his time.
• Statement B:
• ​In the book Ain-i-Akbari, Abul Fazl, the official chronicler of Akbar's reign, lists 36 musicians who were patronized by the emperor.
• These musicians came from a variety of backgrounds, including Hindu, Muslim, and Persian.
• They played a variety of instruments, including the sitar, the sarod, the tabla, and the veena.​
• The most famous of Akbar's musicians was Tansen, a Hindu musician who was born in Gwalior in the early 16th century.
• Tansen was a master of the dhrupad style of vocal music, and he is credited with introducing many new ragas to the Hindustani classical music tradition.
• He was also a skilled instrumentalist, and he played the sitar and the tabla.
• Other notable musicians at Akbar's court included Baiju Bawra, a Muslim musician who was also a master of the dhrupad style; Swami Haridas, Tansen's guru; and Ramdas, a Hindu musician who was known for his compositions in the khayal style.
• ​Statement D:
• ​Aurangzeb was a trained Veena player and excelled at it.
• He was also a generous patron of music, and during the first ten years of his reign, he lavished praise and rewards on his musicians.
• He even composed some of his own music.
• However, around 1668, Aurangzeb's attitude towards music began to change.
• He became more devout in his Islamic faith, and he began to view music as a distraction from religious devotion.
• He eventually banned music from his court, and he ordered the destruction of all musical instruments.
• The reasons for Aurangzeb's change of heart are not entirely clear.
• Some historians believe that he was influenced by his Sufi teachers, who viewed music as a form of intoxication that could lead to spiritual intoxication.
• Others believe that he was simply trying to consolidate his power and authority, and he saw music as a threat to his rule.

The correct answer is Tuzuk - I Jahangiri.

Key Points

• Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri is the autobiographical account of the Mughal Emperor jahangir (1605-1627 AD).
• The Memoirs of the first twelve years, when completed, were bound and presented to imperial officers, the first person to get a copy was Prince Khurram, the emperor's son (later emperor shahjahan).
• In the 17th year of the reign, when the emperor became ill and was growing weaker, the task of writing the Memoirs was entrusted to Mutamad Khan, a senior imperial officer (the latter himself wrote a book, Iqbalnama-i-Jahangiri, comprising the history of the Mughal emperors until the accession of Shahjahan).
• Mutamad Khan continued the book and brought it down to the 19th year of Jahangir's reign.
• The Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri is the most important sourcebook for the reconstruction of the history of the Mughal empire in the reign of Jahangir.
• Jahangir twice mentions the tower, tank and Pavillion in Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri.
• Although Jahangir's father Akbar prepared the scheme for conquering Bengal, the Mughal conquest of Bengal was completed in the reign of Jahangir and the credit is given to Subahdar Islam Khan Chisti.
• So the Tuzuk is also a very important source for the history of the Mughal expansion in Bengal.

NOTE- The book name is not given in the paragraph, however, it can help you in eliminating your options.

Emperor Jahangir was also called Shaikhu Baba.

 Key Points

• The Mughal Emperor Jahangir was nicknamed Shaikhu Baba.
• As now known the city once constructed by Jahangir is known by the name of Shaikhupura given in the first para.
• Shaikhu Baba is a Persian nickname meaning "Little Sheikh."
• This nickname was given to him by his father, Akbar, who was fond of his son's scholarly and religious inclinations.
• Jahangir himself used the nickname on occasion, and it is still used today to refer to him.

​The correct answer is Sanskrit.

Key Points

• The names Jhangirpura and Jahangirabad both mean "City of Jahangir".
• The word "pura" is a Sanskrit word that means "city".
• Jahangir was the fourth Mughal emperor, who ruled from 1605 to 1627.
• He was the son of Akbar the Great and the grandson of Humayun.
• There are several places in India that are named Jhangirpura or Jahangirabad, including:
• ​Jhangirpura, a town in the Indian state of Rajasthan.
• Jahangirabad, a town in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
• Jahangirabad Fort, a fort in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
• The word "pura" is also found in the names of other cities in India, such as Jaipur, which means "City of Victory".

The correct answer is Malda.

Key Points

• Nimsarai Minar is a peculiar minar at Old Malda, quite similar to the one at Fathpur-Sikri (1568-85 AD).
• It stands on the west bank of the Mahananda River and is located immediately below the junction of the Kalindi.
• The Minar is called Nimsarai, because it is situated exactly halfway (nim) between Gaur-Lakhnauti and Pandua-Firuzabad, and because there was a Sarai there.

In Fatehpur Sikri Hiran Minar situated.

Key Points

• The Shaikhupura tower, also known as the Mansraj Minar, was built in 1606 by Emperor Jahangir in memory of his beloved pet antelope, Mansraj.
• The plan of the tower is similar to that of the Hiran Minar in Fatehpur Sikri, which was built by Akbar in the 16th century.
• Both towers are cylindrical and taper towards the top, and they have a series of holes around the perimeter that were likely used to display the severed heads of animal trophies.
• However, there are some key differences between the two towers.
• The Shaikhupura Tower is much smaller than the Hiran Minar in Fatehpur Sikri, and it is made of brick rather than stone.
• The Shaikhupura tower also lacks the elaborately carved decoration that is found on the Hiran Minar in Fatehpur Sikri.
• The similarity between the two towers suggests that Jahangir was inspired by the Hiran Minar in Fatehpur Sikri when he commissioned the construction of the Shaikhupura Tower.
• This is not surprising, as Jahangir was a great admirer of his father, Akbar, and he often sought to emulate his father's achievements.
• The Shaikhupura Tower is a valuable reminder of the close relationship between Jahangir and Akbar, and it is also a beautiful example of Mughal architecture.

The correct answer is the use of Sanskrit for political purposes.

 Key Points

• In his book The Language of Empire, Sheldon Pollock argues that the use of Sanskrit for political purposes by the Saka was a key factor in their success in dominating large parts of the Indian subcontinent.
• The Saka were a nomadic people from Central Asia who invaded India in the 2nd century BCE.
• They were not ethnically Indian, and their language was Iranian.
• However, they adopted Sanskrit as the language of their administration and government.
• This was a strategic decision, as Sanskrit was the language of the Hindu elite, and it gave the Saka a degree of legitimacy that they would not have had if they had used their own language.
• The use of Sanskrit also helped the Saka to consolidate their power.
• By using Sanskrit, they were able to communicate with the Hindu elite and co-opt them into their administration.
• This helped to undermine the traditional Hindu political order and to facilitate Saka's rule.
• The Saka's use of Sanskrit was a significant cultural innovation.
• It was a way of legitimizing their rule and of asserting their power over the Hindu elite.
• It also helped to spread Sanskrit and to make it the lingua franca of the Indian subcontinent.
• In the long term, Saka's use of Sanskrit had a profound impact on Indian culture.
• It helped to shape the development of Hinduism and to promote the spread of Sanskrit learning.
• It also helped to create a sense of cultural unity among the people of the Indian subcontinent.
• As Pollock writes, "The Sakas' use of Sanskrit was a cultural innovation that had far-reaching consequences. It helped to consolidate their power, to spread Sanskrit, and to create a sense of cultural unity among the people of the Indian subcontinent."

​Therefore the correct answer is the Use of Sanskrit for political purposes.

The correct answer is Auqaf.

Key Points 

• Grants by which the ruler alienated his right to collect the revenue and other taxes from a given area of land for the lifetime of the grantee or in perpetuity have an ancient history in India.
• References to the existence of such grants begin from as early as the first century A.D., though it seems that the importance of such grants increased mainly from the fourth century A.D., onwards.
• Revenue-free grants were known as brahmadeya, agrahara in those times.
• The ruling class continued the practice of the assignment of revenue-free land grants and other allowances during the Sultanate period.
• These grants were then known as milk, wazifa, in 'am and auqaf.
• During the Mughal period, certain changes were made in the terminology and nature of these grants.
• They were sometimes called milk and amlak and sometimes as suyurghal, a term brought by the Mughals from Central Asia.
• But the appellation usually employed both 'in official documents and other records was madad-i ma 'ash literally meaning 'aid for subsistence.
• Auqaf revenue grants were NOT granted to the religious intelligentsia.

The correct code is (a) and (b).

Key Points

• Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan scholar who widely travelled the medieval world. He arrived in Delhi under the rule of Muhammad-Bin-Tughlaq in 1333. Rihla was a book written by Ibn Battuta.
• Ibn Battuta spoke highly of the mangoes produced in India, and he mentions its production through the planting of the kernel.
• He does not mention the practice of mango grafting in his writings.
• Here are some quotes from Ibn Battuta's writings about mangoes:
• ​"The mango is about the size of a large damask prune, which when green and quite ripe, of those which happen to fall, they salt and thus preserve them just as a lemon is preserved with us."
• "The mangoes of India are the best in the world. They are of various kinds, some yellow, some red, and some white. They are very sweet and delicious."
• "The mango is a very important fruit in India. It is used in many dishes, and it is also made into pickles and chutneys."

The correct code is (iii) and (iv) only.

 Key Points

• Fatawa-i-Jahandari is a book on political theory and statecraft written by Ziauddin Barani.
• Mirat-i-Sikhandari is a Persian historical chronicle of the Mughal Empire written by Sikandar ibn Muḥammad Manjhū.
• Tariki-i-Tahiri is a Persian historical chronicle of the Tahril dynasty, which ruled Sindh from the 8th to the 10th centuries.
• Mazhar-i-Shahjahani is a Persian historical chronicle of the Sindh authored by Yūsuf Mīrak.

 So the correct answer is (iii) and (iv) only.

From Sufi dargahs, the concept of free kitchen (Langar) was adopted by the Sikhs.

Key Points 

• Langar, the practice and institution, was first started by Baba Farid, a Muslim of the Chishti Sufi order.
• The institution of the langar was already popular in the 12th and 13th centuries among Sufis (Muslim mystics) of the Indian subcontinent.
• Langar, or sacred food service from the Guru's free vegetarian kitchen, is an important concept in Sikhism which began when Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak ji fed hungry holy men.
• Second Guru Angad Dev's wife, Mata Khivi, became instrumental in the development of langar serving alongside the first five gurus in Gur ka Langar, the Guru's free kitchen.
• Third Guru Amar Das developed the concept of ​pangat sangat, meaning everyone regardless of rank sits and eats together as equals in the congregation.
• Langar provision, preparation, service and cleanup are voluntary and is today an integral part of every gurdwara and Sikh worship service.