Explanations PTS Code - 001 History

1. Ans: B subcontinent), and introduced the ghazal style of song. Exp: The settlement is divided into two sections, one smaller but higher and the other much larger 6. Ans: B but lower. Archaeologists designate these as the Citadel and the Lower Town respectively. The Exp: The salient features are: Citadel owes its height to the fact that buildings 1. school of art there was dominance were constructed on mud brick platforms. It of lively statues of Gautama Buddha. His was walled, which meant that it was physically existence was shown only by symbols such as separated from the Lower Town. The Lower Town foot-prints, the Bodhi-tree, a vacant seat or was also walled. the umbrella. There is no system of strait drainage at Kalibangan. 2. In this school a great care was taken to Doorways and windows rarely opened out into show the physical features, muscles and the main street, but faced side lanes. moustaches, etc. of a figure in as natural a way as was possible. 2. Ans: D 3. A great importance was attached to refineness Exp: An Aryan chief who empowered a ‘dasyu’ and polish in the Gandhara School of Art. was called Trasadasyu. The Aryan chief was soft 4. The technique and forms applied were Greek towards the dasas, but strongly hostile to the in nature but the ideas, inspirations and dasyus. The term dasyuhatya, slaughter of the subjects were all Indians. dasyus, is repeatedly mentioned in the Rigveda. 5. The Gandhara art was mostly used to make The dasyus possibly worshipped the phallus and statues and images of Lord Buddha. But from did not keep cattle for dairy products. a study of certain specimens of this school that are now placed in Lahore, Calcutta 3. Ans: C and Peshawar museums, we can say that 4. Ans: B sometimes this art was used to depict certain scenes from Buddha’s life and also to make Exp: Mahmud Shah Tughlaq was the last sultan statues of the Kushan rulers. of the Tughlaq dynasty to rule the Islamic Delhi 6. Most of the specimens of this school were Sultanate. During his reign in 1398, Amir Timur the executed in stone but the discovery of a Chagtai ruler invaded . He carried away with large number of images in stucco, cement, him a large booty from Delhi and the surrounding terracotta and clay, show that along with area. Soon after the invasion, the Tughlaq dynasty stone, sometimes stucco, cement, terracotta came to an end. and clay were also used for making statues, 5. Ans: C images and sculptures concerning the www.uniqueshiksha.inBuddhist faith Ibrahim AdIl Shah II composed Kitab-i-Nauras in 7. The chief centre of the Gandharva School which songs were set to various musical modes of Art was no doubt Gandhara itself but or ragas. The songs were in praise of Hindu deities the discovery of Gandhara specimens from and Muslim saints. He freely invoked in his songs and Taxila goes to prove that the goddess of music and learning, Saraswati. He this Indo-Greek art flourished over a vast accorded patronage to all including Hindu saints region. and temples. 8 . T h e main material: Metal such as the gold Khusrow is regarded as the “father of qawwali” used in the Kanishka reliquary from Shahji ki (a devotional music form of the Sufis in the Indian

082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha 1 Dheri. Stone wherever used is usually blue or Trunk Road in . Sher Shah was a secular ruler grey schist and slate. Stucco, especially busts who practised tolerance and welfare. of Greek and Roman deities and princes. Interestingly these were painted, with red 13. Ans: C colour being used for the lips and black for Exp: Muhammad Bin Tughlaq started distributing the eyes and hair. daily food to the people of Delhi. He also established a loan system to the peasants. He 7. Ans: D created a department of Agriculture named as “Diwan-i-Kohi“. He established a “Famine Code” 8. Ans: B to relive the victims of Famine. Exp: The Bahmani kingdom was founded by Under Iqta System, the land of the empire was Alauddin Hasan in 1347. After his coronation, he divided into several large and small tracts called assumed the title of Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah Iqta and assigned these Iqtas to his soldiers, (1347-58), it is from this title that the kingdom was officers and nobles. In the beginning, an Iqta called the Bahmani kingdom. The most important was based upon salary. Later, under Firoz Shah step taken by him was the induction of Hindus in Tughlaq it became hereditary. the administration on a large scale. 14. Ans: C Vijayanagar military employeed both Muslims and Hindus. Exp: An amalaka, is a segmented or notched stone disk, usually with ridges on the rim, that sits on the top of a Hindu temple’s shikhara or 9. Ans: C main tower. According to one interpretation, the Exp. Lal Darwaza Masjid of Jaunpur, was built in amalaka represents a lotus, and thus the symbolic 1447 by Queen Rajye Bibi and dedicated to Sayyid seat for the deity below. Another interpretation is Ali Dawood Qutubbudin a saint. that it symbolizes the sun, and is thus the gateway to the heavenly world. 10. Ans: A 15. Ans: D Exp. Sakhi Kandhei (Also sakhi kundhei, sakhi Exp: In the early 18th century, Maharaja Jai Singh nata) is a string puppetry show popular in , II of Jaipur constructed five Jantar Mantars in especially in the Kendrapara district. Wooden total, in New Delhi, Jaipur, , and dolls are tied to strings which are controlled Varanasi; they were completed between 1724 by pulling and releasing the strings. Different and 1735. expression by pulling the strings narrate tales The jantars have like Samrat Yantra, Jai Prakash, from the Puranas and modern social life. A group Ram Yantra and Niyati Chakra; each of which are of artists perform music and give background used to for various astronomical calculations. voice for the narration of stories. The primary purpose of the observatory was to compile astronomical tables, and to predict the times and movements of the sun, moon and 11. Ans.: B planets. Exp. Dalai Lama is also considered to be the 16. Ans: B successor in a line of tulkus who are believed to be incarnations of Avalokiteśvara, a Exp. Ikat is a dyeing technique used to pattern of Compassion. The name is a combination of the textiles that employs resist dyeing on the yarns Mongolic word dalai meaning «ocean» or «big» prior to dyeing and weaving the fabric. Single Ikat is a process in which either the warp yarns or the and the Tibetan word (bla-ma) meaning “master, www.uniqueshiksha.inweft are dyed. The second procedure of combined guru”. Ikat has both warp yarns and the weft being used 12. Ans: B together in different parts of the fabric. Exp: Dagh and Chehra System was introduced by 17. Ans: A Alauddin Khilji. Exp. Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Sher Shah was a good general and administrator. Gundecha, known as the Gundecha Brothers, He introduced a new currency, a silver coin known are leading Dagarvani dhrupad singers. They as ‘Rupia’. He reduced custom duties and built an always sing together. So together they have been excellent connection of roads, including Grand awarded Padmashree for 2012 in the field of Art-

2 2 082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha PTS Code - 001 Indian Classical Music - Vocal - . India (now ) from approximately 475 to approximately 776 CE from their capital at 18. Ans: A . With the sole exception of Dharapatta Exp: Increasing pride of birth, characteristic (the fifth king in the dynasty), who followed of feudal society, and the accompanying self- the Mithraic mysteries, they were followers of sufficient village economy, which prevented . both spatial and occupational mobility, gave rise Maitrakas set up a Vallabhi University which to thousands of castes in India during the early came to be known far and wide for its scholastic medieval Period. pursuits and was compared with the Nalanda Endogamy is the practice of marrying within University. They came under the rule of a specific social group, caste or ethnic group, of Vardhana dynasty in the mid-seventh century, rejecting those from others as unsuitable for but retained local autonomy, and regained marriage or other close personal relationships. their independence after Harsha›s death. After Violation of varna endogamous rules occurred. repeated attacks by Arabs from the sea, the Gotra exogamous rules were not violated. kingdom had weakened considerably. The dynasty ended by 783 CE. Apart from legendary 19. Ans: A accounts which connect fall of Vallabi with the Tajjika (Arab) invasions, no historical source Exp: The ruled western mention how the dynasty ended.

GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF THE MAITRAKAS OF VALABHI (1) Bhatarka

(2) Dharasena 1 (3) Dronasimha (4) Dhruvasena 1 (5) Dharapatta (6) Guhasena (7) Dharasena II

(8) Siladitya 1, Dharmaditya (9) Kharagraha I

(10) Dharasena III (11) Dharasena II, Baladitya Derabhatta (12) Dharasena IV

Siladitya* (14) Kharagraha II, (13) Dhruvasena III Dharmaditya (15) Siladitya–II

(16) Siladitya–III * The numbering of Siladitya differs when SIladitya, (17) Siladitya–IV the elder son of Derabhatta, is mentioned as Siladiya II. Subsequent rulers follows like Siladitya II becomes III. (18) Siladitya–V www.uniqueshiksha.in(19) Siladitya–VI, Dharubhata to teach Vedas and perform religious ceremonies. Brahmins are important because they teach and 20. Ans: D give spiritual guidance. Exp: A Brahmin is a member of the Highest caste The Vaishyas are the third class in the Caste or ‘status’ in the Indian caste system. Priests system. They were made up of mainly merchants. and scholars are classified as Brahmins and are The Indian society relied heavily on their money. believed to be twice born. All Brahmins are The Vaishyas paid the heaviest tax of all the exempt from taxes and could not be sentenced to classes. death or tortured. A Brahmins main role in life is Buddhists were against the animal sacrifices.

082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha 3 21. Ans: C Mahayana view that the Buddha’s last incarnation was a «display» or «performance» given for the 22. Ans: A benefit of the beings in this world. Exp: organised the Sangha to spread his 25. Ans: C teachings. He admitted both men and women in the Sangha, which consisted of both monks and Exp. Pietre dure , called parchin kari or parchinkari lay followers. The first Jain Council was convened in the , is a term for the inlay at Pataliputra by Sthulabahu, the leader of the technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished Digambaras, in the beginning of the 3rd century colored stones to create images. It is considered BC. The second Jain Council was held at Vallabhi a decorative art. The stonework, after the work in 5th century AD. The final compilation of Jain is assembled loosely, is glued stone-by-stone to literature called twelve was completed in a substrate after having previously been «sliced this council. and cut in different shape sections; and then Mahavira organized the Sangha to spread his assembled together so precisely that the contact teachings. He admitted both men and women between each section was practically invisible». in to Sangha, which consisted of both monks Stability was achieved by grooving the undersides and lay followers. The spread of was of the stones so that they interlocked, rather like a due to the dedicated work of the members of jigsaw puzzle, with everything held tautly in place the Sangha. The Jain Sangha remained united by an encircling ‹frame›. Many different colored for approximately two centuries after Mahavir’s stones, particularly marbles, were used, along death. But it could not maintain its unity for a with semiprecious, and even precious stones. longer period. It split during Mauryan age and . It was introduced for the first time during the two sects came into existence. Bhadrabahu, period of Jahangir. . It was used in the tomb of the greatest ever exponent of Jain philosophy, Itmad-Ud-Daula for the first time. composed Kalpasutra which is the most authentic treatise on the rise and development of Jainism 26. Ans: B from its origin to his time. He left for In general, women of the were Mysore. About 300 BCE Sthulabhadra called Exp: the first Jain council in which the Jain canons viewed as inferior to the men. However, they were compiled. When Bhadrababhu returned were still respected and were viewed as equals to to Magadha, he refused to acknowledge the the female gods such as Saraswati. leadership of Sthulabhadra. The Jain Sangha was • Women could be educated in the arts then divided into two parts – Digambara and (primarily in music and poetry). They were Svetambara. The followers of Bhadrabahu who not, however, allowed to be educated in religious practices or read any sacred texts. remained naked and did not wear clothes came to be known as Digambaras, while the followers • Over the duration of the Gupta Empire, there was a decline of the status of women, of Sthulabhadra had adopted white dress came to primarily because of the rise of a new, non- be known as Svetambaras. agricultural middle class. • Women were not allowed to own property, 23. Ans: C and anything that she did own could be Exp. Ajanta Paintings consists of Mural and considered the property of her husband and fresco paintings both. Miniature paintings were father. introducedwww.uniqueshiksha.in by foreign invaders and rulers which • At any given point in her life, a woman was shows Persian influence. always subject to the will of a man. • Women were married at 6 or 7 years old to 24. Ans: A ensure virginity and chastity. Since she lived with her husband, he could raise her to be Exp. Lalitavistara Sūtra is a Mahayana Buddhist the kind of wife he wanted. sutra that tells the story of Gautama Buddha • There were exceptions to this social from the time of his descent from Tushita until system. Some women were even a part of his first sermon in the Deer Park near Varanasi. government. The term Lalitavistara has been translated «The Play in Full» or «Extensive Play,» referring to the 27. Ans: C

4 4 082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha PTS Code - 001 28. Ans: A some evidence it may have survived until the 7th century in the remote way stations of Khotanand Exp: Du-aspah sih-aspah system: The term du- Niya. aspah sihaspah literally means trooper with two or three horses. Under this system, selected The Bakhshali manuscript is a mathematical text nobles could be allowed to maintain a large quota written on birch bark that was found in 1881 in of soldiers, without making any change in their Jat the village of Bakhshali, Mardan(near Peshawar in rank. It implied that a mansabdar or noble holding present-day ). It is notable for being “the du-aspah sih-aspah rank had to maintain double oldest extant manuscript in Indian mathematics”, the quota of troopers indicated by his sawar rank. with portions having been carbon-dated to AD They were paid accordingly. It was introduced by 224–383 while other portions have been carbon- Jahangir. dated to as late as AD 885–993. It contains the earliest known Indian use of a zero symbol. It is 29. Ans: B written in with significant influence of local dialects. Exp. Hindu temple is a Panchayatana one when the main shrine is surrounded by four subsidiary 32. Ans: D shrines. The origin of the name are the Sanskrit words Pancha(five) et ayatana (containing). Exp. Padmasambhava also known as Guru Rinpoche, was an 8th-century Indian Buddhist Examples of Panchayatana temples master. Although there was a historical • Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in Khajuraho Padmasambhava, little is known of him apart • Brahmeswara Temple in Bhubaneswar from helping the construction of the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet at Samye, at the behest of • Jagdish Temple in Udaipur Trisong Detsen. A number of legends have grown • Lakshmana Temple in Khajuraho around Padmasambhava’s life and deeds, and • Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar he is widely venerated as a “second Buddha” by adherents of Tibetan in Tibet, Nepal, Generally, the Hindu temple are built along a Bhutan, the Himalayan states of India. west-east axis. So the four subsidiary shrines are at the north-east, south-east, south-west 33. Ans: D Dashavatara Temple is an early 6th century Exp. In Vitarka mudra, the circle formed by the Hindu temple located at Deogarh, index finger and thumb symbolizes the flow of in the Betwa Rivervalley in north-central India. information and energy. This mudra is most It has a simple, one cell square plan and is one often associated with the Buddha, representing of the earliest Hindu stone temples still surviving the transmission of his wisdom and used when today Built in the Gupta Period, the Dashavatara explaining his teachings. Temple at Deogarh shows the ornate Gupta style Varadamudra is a mudra, and it indicates a gesture architecture. by the hand and symbolizes dispensing of boons. 30. Ans: C Uttarabodhi mudra is a yogic hand gesture of enlightenment. 31. Ans: C Karana mudra is a yogic hand gesture that helps to dispel negativity, anxiety, fear and depression Exp: The Kharosthi script (also known as ‹Indo- Bactrian› script)www.uniqueshiksha.in was a writing system originally as well as enhance feelings of happiness. developed in present-day northern Pakistan, 34. Ans: A sometime between the 4th and 3rd century BCE. Kharosthi was employed to represent a Exp. Martand is a Kashmiri Hindu form of Prakrit (Middle Indic), an Indo-Aryan temple dedicated to and built during the language. It had a wide but irregular distribution 8th century CE. Martand is another Sanskrit name along northern Pakistan, eastern Afghanistan, for the Hindu Sun-god. The temple is located five northwest India, and Central Asia. miles from Anantnag in and . It was also in use in Bactria, the , was built by the third ruler Sogdiaand along the Silk Road, where there is of the Karkota Dynasty, Lalitaditya Muktapida, in the 8th century CE.

082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha 5 Surya Temple is situated inside the the Surya Pahar is an ancient sun worship thick deodars forest of Kumaon hills near . center and the complex has several rock-cut Surya temple of Katarmal is an monument of Shivalingas,sculpture of twelve-armed Vishnu and national importance and noted for its magnificent remains of the Ganesha and Hari Hara. The Sun carved pillars and wooden doors. Temple is located near Goalpara town and one of the least known archaeological site in Assam. 35. Ans: C Exp: Central Department Function Diwan-i-Risalat Department of appeals Diwan-i-arz Department of Military Diwan-i-Bandagan Department of slaves Diwan-i-Qaza-i-Mamalik Department of justice Diwan-i-Ishtiaq Department of pensions Diwan-i-Mustakhraj Department of arrears Diwan-i-Khairat Department of charity Diwan-i-kohi Department of agriculture Diwan-i-insha Department of correspondence 36. Ans: C 5. The salary due to the soldiers was added to the personal salary of the mansabdar. 37. Ans: C Sometimes for paying the salaries to the soldier, a jagir was given to the mansabdar. Exp. Avalokiteśvara or Padmapani is a bodhisattva But the revenue was realised by officers and who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. necessary adjustments made. This bodhisattva is variably depicted, described 6. In addition to meeting his personal expenses, and portrayed in different cultures as either male the mansabdar had to maintain out of his” or femaleIn Tibet, he is known as Chenrezik, “. In salary a stipulated quota of horses, elephants, camels and mules and carts. Chinese Buddhism, Avalokiteśvara has evolved into the somewhat different female figure 40. Ans: C Guanyin. In Japan this figure is known as Kanzeon or Kannon. 41. Ans: B 38. Ans: A Exp: Muhammad Ghori is known to have adopted the seated goddess Lakshmi type of the coins of Exp: Rana Sanga & Daulat Khan Lodhi invited Gahadavalas for circulation in the Gahadavala Babur to India to first againt Ibrahim Lodi. territories. He got stamped the figure of Goddess Lakshmi on his coins and had his name inscribed 39. Ans: B in Nagari Characters. Exp: Main Features of the Mansabdari System: 1. The king himself appointed the mansabdars. 42. Ans: B He could enhance the mansab, lower down it or removewww.uniqueshiksha.in it. Exp: South Korea and Indian temple town Ayodhya has two millennia-old ties which 2. A mansabdar could be asked to perform any civil or military service. were discovered in last decade. South Koreans discovered that a Princess or Queen of Ayodhya 3. There were 33 categories of the Mansabdars. (Suriratna) was married to Korean King Suro in The lowest mansabdar commanded 10 soldiers and the highest 10,000 soldiers. the first century CE. Suro was the King of Kimhay Only the princes of the royal family and most kingdom or the present Korea. The Princess was important Rajput rulers were given a mansab married to the Korean King at the age of 16. of 10,000. The Koreans believe that the Princess was the 4. A mansabdar was paid his salary in cash. mother of the descendants who unified various

6 6 082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha PTS Code - 001 Korean kingdoms in the 7th century CE. Since movement’s major achievement was its abolition the first century CE her descendants prospered of idol worship. and became the largest clan in Korea, known The leader of the bhakti movement focusing on as the Karak, whose members had been highly the Lord as Rama was Ramananda. distinguished people. Sri Ramanuja Acharya was an Indian philosopher 43. Ans: D and is recognized as the most important saint of Sri . Ramananda brought to North Exp: Virupaksha temple, built by Queen India what Ramanuja did in South India. He Lokamahadevi, was originally called Lokeshwara. This temple is built in the southern Dravida style raised his voice against the increasing formalism and is the largest in the enclosure. It has a massive of the orthodox cult and founded a new school gateway and several inscriptions. Virupaksha of Vaishnavism based on the gospel of love and temple also served as a model for the Rashtrakuta devotion. His most outstanding contribution is ruler to carve out the great Kailasa at Ellora. the abolition of distinctions of caste among his followers. The Basilica of Bom Jesus is renowned throughout the Catholic world, this cathedral is India’s first 45. Ans: D Minor Basilica, and is considered as one of the best examples of baroque architecture in India. Exp: The Mehrauli Iron Pillar was originally placed The layout follows simple Renaissance norms on a hill near the Beas and was brought to Delhi by while the detailing and decoration is unabashed a King of Delhi. This pillar credits Chandragupta Baroque. with conquest of the Vanga Countries by his The Bara Imambara, Lucknow was built by Nawab battling alone against the confederacy of the Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784 and the structure shows the enemies united against him. It also credits him mixture of Rajput and Mughal architectures with for conquest of Vakatakas in a fight that ran Gothic influences. The hall is one of the largest of across seven mouths of Sindhu. This pillar was its kind in the world without any external support established by Chandragupta-II of Gupta dynasty of wood, iron, or stone beams. The roof has been as Vishnupada in the honor of Lord Vishnu. put together with interlocking bricks without Hiuen Tsang, the Chinese pilgrim, visited India using a beam or a girder. Hence, it is viewed as a during the reign of Harshavardhana. unique achievement of architecture. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi: It is said that 46. Ans: B once Lord came in the dream of Rani Ahalya Exp. Pallavi is the thematic line of a song in carnatic Bai Holkar of Indore. She, being a devotee of Lord music. It is usually one cycle long and repeated Shiva, got the current temple built in 1777. twice in order to give the percussionist the idea of the chosen taalam. Sometimes it is repeated 44. Ans: C a few more times using different phrases of the Exp: An important landmark in the cultural Rāgam to which the song is set. history of was the silent revolution Tillana or thillana is a rhythmic piece in Carnatic in society brought about by a galaxy of socio- music that is generally performed at the end of a religious reformers, a revolution known as concert and widely used in classical indian dance the Bhakti Movement. This movement was performances. A Tillana uses tala-like phrases responsible for many rites and rituals associated with the www.uniqueshiksha.in worship of God by Hindus, Muslims in the pallavi and anupallavi, and lyrics in the and Sikhs of Indian subcontinent. For example, charanam. Kirtan at a Hindu Temple, Qawaali at a Dargah (by Muslims), and singing of Gurbani at a Gurdwara 47. Ans: B are all derived from the Bhakti movement of Exp: Megasthenes states that there were no medieval India (800-1700). The leader of this slaves in India, but the Arthashastra attests to Hindu revivalist movement was Shankaracharya, the existence of slavery in contemporary India, a great thinker and a distinguished philosopher. mainly in agricultural operations. And this movement was propounded by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Namadeva, Tukaram, Jayadeva. The 48. Ans: B

082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha 7 49. Ans: C wrote commentaries to the basic scriptural texts, and placed the living advaita tradition on a firm Exp: Shuddadvaita is the “purely non-dual” footing. Before Sankaracharya time, the tradition philosophy propounded by Vallabhacharya (1479- was passed down mainly through oral instruction. 1531 CE), the founding philosopher and guru of the Vallabhā sampradāya (“tradition of Vallabha”) Advaita is the way of searching god within you or Puśtimārg (“The path of grace”), a Hindu and everybody else and try to achieve bliss by Vaishnava tradition focused on the worship of knowing that god. This was mainly preached by Krishna. Shankara Dvaita Vedanta is a sub-school in the Vedanta 50. Ans: C tradition of Hindu philosophy. Alternatively Exp: The Mudrarakshasa is a Sanskrit-language known as Bhedavāda, Tattvavāda and play by Vishakhadatta that narrates the ascent of Bimbapratibimbavāda, Dvaita Vedanta sub- the king Chandragupta Maurya to power in India. school was founded by the 13th-century scholar Madhvacharya. The Dvaita Vedanta 51. Ans: B school believes that God (Vishnu, supreme soul) and the individual souls (jīvātman) exist Exp. Usina is top knot of hair, urna is mole. They as independent realities, and these are distinct along with elongated ears were indigenous. Head Vishisthadvaita is very similar to advaita though it like Greek God and heavy folds of the robe are looks for more than the vedic knowledge to reach werstern style. that god within you. Essentially, in this form, it is Vishnu, the preserver believed to be in you. It was 52. Ans: A preached by Ramanuja. Exp. Mathura art refers to a particular school of Buddhist art, which centered on the city of 55. Ans: C Mathura, in central northern India, during the Exp. Thevaram denotes the first seven volumes period in which Buddhism flourished in India. of the Tirumurai, the twelve-volume collection It uses red sandstone. The figures do not have of Śaiva devotional poetry. All seven volumes moustaches and beards (it was in Gandhara Art). are dedicated to the works of the three most The initial images of the Buddha and the prominent Tamil poets of the 7th century, the Bodhisattva are happy and fleshy figures with Nayanars - Sambandar, Tirunavukkarasar and little spirituality about them. The Mathura School Sundarar.The singing of Tevaram is continued as of arts prided themselves on creating images of a hereditary practise in many Shiva temples in Buddha and they also made statues of many gods . and goddesses such as Jain Tirthankaras. 56. Ans: C 53. Ans. B Exp. Guru Nanak (29 November 1469 – 10 Exp. Important features of Nagara style temple October 1539) was the founder of Sikhism and the which is prevalent in North India are:- first of the ten Sikh Gurus. His birth is celebrated 1. Sikhara above sanctum. worldwide as Guru Nanak Gurpurab on Kartik 2. Curvilinear centred over the sanctum, also Pooranmashi, the full-moon day in the month of straight-edged pyramidal. Katak, 3. Sacred pools, fewer pillared mandapas in Kabir (1440-1518) was a 15th-century Indian templewww.uniqueshiksha.in grounds (separate dharmashala), mystic poet and saint, whose writings, according prakara walls rare (e.g. Odisha after 14th to some scholars, influenced Hinduism’s Bhakti century), single or multiple entrances into movement. temple. 4. In elevation, Shikhara gradually inclines Dadu Dayal (1544–1603) was a sant from Gujarat, inwards in a convex curve. India. “Dadu” means brother, and “Dayal” means “the compassionate one”. 54. Ans: D He was reputedly found by an affluent business Exp. Adi Sankaracharya is venerated as the most man floating on the river Sabarmati. He later important teacher of Advaita VedAnta, as he moved to Naraina (city), near Jaipur Rajasthan,

8 8 082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha PTS Code - 001 where he gathered around himself a group of It was a feudal state, all land was owned by the followers, forming a sect that became known as King. the Dadupanth. Tukaram, was a 17th-century Hindu poet and 60. Ans: D sant of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra. Exp: Baba Farid Ganjshakar (1175-1265), Sheikh He was part of the egalitarian, personalized Nizamuddin Aulia also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin Varkari devotionalism tradition. Tukaram is best (1238 – 3 April 1325), Sheikh Nasiruddin Chirage known for his devotional poetry called Abhanga (1274-1356), Syed Muhammad Gesudaraz (july and community-oriented worship with spiritual 13, 1321 -November 1, 1422). songs known as kirtans. His poetry was devoted to Vitthala or Vithoba, an avatar of Hindu god 61. Ans: D Vishnu. Exp. Pushyamitra was originally a Senapati Adi Shankara was an early 8th century Indian «General» of the . In 185 BCE philosopher and theologian who consolidated the he assassinated the last Mauryan Emperor, doctrine of Advaita Vedanta He is credited with Brihadratha Maurya, during an army review, unifying and establishing the main currents of and proclaimed himself King. Inscriptions of the thought in Hinduism. Shungas have been found as far as the Ayodhya (the Dhanadeva-Ayodhya inscription). 57. Ans: C Devabhuti (r. 83 – 73 BCE) also known as Exp: The Delhi Sultanate was a Muslim sultanate Devbhomi, was the last king of the Shunga based mostly in Delhithat stretched over large Empire in ancient India. He was assassinated by parts of the Indian subcontinent for 320 years his minister Vasudeva Kanva and is said to have (1206–1526). Five dynasties ruled over the Delhi been overfond of the company of women. Sultanate sequentially: the Mamluk dynasty Susharman was the last king of the . (1206–1290), the Khalji dynasty (1290–1320), the Who was killed by Simuk. The defeat of the Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1414), the Sayyid dynasty Kanva dynasty by the was a (1414–1451), and the Lodi dynasty (1451–1526). localized event in Central India. Qutb al-Din Aibak, a former Turkic Mamluk slave of Muhammad Ghori, was the first sultan of 62. Ans. C Delhi. The death of Ibrahim Lodi ended the Delhi Exp. Ghazal is a form of amatory poem or ode, Sultanate, and the Mughal Empire replaced it. originating in Arabic poetry. A Ghazal may be Delhi Sultanate never reduced Hindu chiefs to understood as a poetic expression of both the unarmed impotence or established an exclusive pain of loss or separation and the beauty of love claim to allegiance. The sultan was served by a in spite of that pain.Ghazal is one of the most heterogeneouselite of Turks, Afghans, Khaljīs, widespread and popular poetic forms, especially and Hindu converts; he readily accepted Hindu across the Middle East and South Asia. Readings officials and Hindu vassals. or musical renditions of Ghazals are well attended in these countries, even by the laity. In a similar 58. Ans: D manner to Haiku, the Ghazal is gaining popularity among western poetry readers.Ghazal originated 59. Ans: D in Iran in 10th century CE. Exp: The Sultans of Delhi were not head of a www.uniqueshiksha.in63. Ans: D religion but only head of their state. But their primary duty was the observance of the laws Exp. Charkha could provide the poor with of Shariat or Islamic laws in matters of state. supplemented income and make them self Therefore, the policy of the rulers of the Delhi reliant. Sultanate was largely influenced by their religion viz., Islam. 64. Ans: B The state was a military state and the Sultan Exp. Pre-Romanesque art and architecture of himself was the supreme commander of his the Iberian Peninsula refers to the art of Spain forces. and Portugal after the Classical Age and before

082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha 9 Romanesque art and architecture; hence the Kharosthi script, also spelled Kharoshthi or term Pre-Romanesque. Kharoṣṭhī, was an ancient Indian script used in ancient Gandhara(now Pakistan and eastern 65. Ans: C Afghanistan a Mahajanapada of ancient India, Exp. Nataraja is a depiction of the Tamil to write Gandhari Prakrit and Sanskrit. It was mythology Shaiva Siddhanta as the cosmic popular in Central Asia as well. An abugida, it ecstatic dancer. His dance is called Tandavam or was introduced at least by the middle of the 3rd Nadanta, depending on the context of the dance. century BCE, possibly during the 4th century upper right hand holds a small drum shaped like BCE, and remained in use until it died out in its an hourglass that is called a ḍamaru in Sanskrit. homeland around the 3rd century CE.[It was also upper left hand contains Agni or fire, which in use in Bactria, the Kushan Empire, Sogdia and signifies forces of creation and destruction. lower along the Silk Road, where there is some evidence left hand is bent downwards at the wrist with it may have survived until the 7th century in the the palm facing inward (away from the viewer) remote way stations of Khotan and Niya. and points towards the raised left foot so that it Mitanni also called Hanigalbat in Assyrian or is diametrically opposite to the lower right arm Naharin in Egyptian texts, was a Hurrian-speaking (Abhaya mudra). A cobra uncoils from his lower state in northern Syria and southeast Anatolia right forearm, while his palm shows the Abhaya from c. 1500 to 1300 BC. Mitanni came to be mudra. a regional power after the Hittite destruction 66. Ans: D of Amorite Babylon and a series of ineffectual Assyrian kings created a power vacuum in Exp. Barabar Hill Caves are the oldest surviving Mesopotamia. rock-cut caves in India, mostly dating from the Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE), some with 69. Ans: B Ashokan inscriptions located in the Bihar. sculptured surround to the entrance to the Lomas Exp. Mauryans used punch marked coins to trade. Rishi Cave is the earliest survival of the ogee Pillars were made of single piece of buff colored shaped chaitra arch. Barabar Hill contains four sandstone. They introduced burnt bricks and ring caves: Karan Chaupar, Lomas Rishi, Sudama and well,above all rise of town in North Eastern region Visvakarma. The Barabar caves greatly influenced for the first time. the tradition of rock-cut architecture. The caves were used by asceties from the Ajivika sect. 70. Ans: C Exp. Tholkāppiyam is a work on the grammar of 67. Ans. B the Tamil languageand the earliest extant work of Exp. Menander I Soter was an Indo-Greek King of Tamil literature and linguistics. It is written in the the Indo-Greek Kingdom (165/155–130 BC) who form of noorpaa or short formulaic compositions administered a large empire in the Northwestern and comprises three books – the Ezhuttadikaram, regions of the Indian Subcontinent from his the Solladikaram and the Poruladikaram. capital at Sagala. Menander is noted for having become a patron of Buddhism. 71. Ans: B Menander was initially a king of Bactria. Exp: Ghari was tax on Houses. It was introduced by Allauddin Khilji. 68. Ans: D www.uniqueshiksha.inZakat was religious tax levied on Muslims. This Exp. Hittites were an Anatolian people who was kept in the special treasury of Diwan-i-Rasalat played an important role in establishing an headed by Dabir-i-Mulk. empire centered on Hattusa in north-central Jizya was tax levied on non Muslims and non Anatolia around 1600 BC. This empire reached followers of Islam. its height during the mid-14th century BC under Suppiluliuma I, when it encompassed an area that Kharaz was tax levied on gross production of lands included most of Anatolia as well as parts of the belonged to non - Muslims. It was introduced by northern Levant and Upper Mesopotamia. Firoj Shah Tuglaq.

10 10 082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha PTS Code - 001 72. Ans: C 77. Ans: D Exp. India is ranked 10th in the world with 24.4% 73. Ans: C land area under forest cover. Exp: Fire Altar - Kalibangan and Lothal Chhattisgarh—55547 sq.km, Arunachal—66964 Bangle Factory – Chanhudaro sq.km,MP—77414 sq.km. Report 2017 revealed that mangrove cover has 74. Ans: D increased by 181 sq.km. Exp. Fatwa-i-Jahandari has been written by 78. Ans: A Ziauddin Barani.Tughlaq Nama is written by Amir Exp. Gaia is a space observatory of the European Khushrow. Space Agency (ESA) designed for astrometry: Yahya bin Ahmad Sirhindi was a 15th century measuring the positions and distances of stars Indian chronicler who wrote Tarikh-i-Mubarak with unprecedented precision. The mission aims Shahi, a Persian language chronicle of the to construct by far the largest and most precise Delhi Sultanate. Written during the reign of 3D space catalog ever made. Mubarak Shah, his work is an important source of information for the Sayyid dynasty. He wrote 79. Ans: B Tarikh-i-Mubarakshahi. Exp. International Energy Agency is a Paris- based autonomous intergovernmental 75. Ans: B organization established in the framework of Exp. Descent of the Ganges is a monument at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation Mamallapuram, on the Coromandel Coast of and Development (OECD) in 1974 in the wake the Bay of Bengal, in the Kancheepuram,Tamil of the 1973 oil crisis. Nadu. The legend depicted in the relief is the India, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Morocco, story of the descent of the sacred river Ganges Singapore are the associate members. to earth from the heavens led by Bhagiratha. The waters of the Ganges are believed to possess 80. Ans: B supernatural powers. The descent of the Ganges Exp. The Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Arjuna’s Penance are portrayed in stone at (ISPR) is an emergency fuel store of total 5.33 the Pallava heritage site.The relief is more of MMT (million metric tons) of strategic crude a canvas of Indian rock cut sculpture at its best oilenough to provide 10 days of consumption not seen anywhere in India.It is one of the Group which are maintained by the Indian Strategic of Monuments at Mamallapuram that were Petroleum Reserves Limited. Strategic crude oil designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site storages are at three underground locations in since 1984. Mangalore, Visakhapatnam and Padur.

76. Ans: B 81. Ans: C Exp. India slipped two points on the World Exp. Hyper-velocity Asteroid Mitigation Mission Press Freedom Index ranking compiled by for Emergency Response (HAMMER) is a concept Reporters Without Borders (RWB), 2018 World study by NASA on a spacecraft capable of Press Freedom Index reflects growing bitterness detonating a nuclear bomb to deflect an asteroid, towards journalists..www.uniqueshiksha.in RSF publishes the World if it was on a collision course to Earth. The study Press Freedom Index each year since 2002 and is a collaboration between the National Nuclear it measures the level of media freedom in 180 Security Administration, NASA, and two Energy countries. India is ranked 138 in the 2018 World Department weapons labs. Press Freedom Index, down two places from 82. Ans: D 2017, in the latest annual report. Exp. All the three countries surrounds Lake Sri Lank--131,Maldives--120,Bhutan--94. Victoria.

082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha 11 83. Ans: A A&N Islands i.e. Smith, Ross, Long, Avis and five in Lakshadweep i.e. Minicoy, Bangaram, Thinnakara, Exp. Why in News? The Union Cabinet has Cheriyam, Suheli). For these Islands, Final Site approved setting up of a new All India Institute of Suitability Reports have been prepared, Carrying Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Deoghar, Jharkhand Capacity determined and Environmental zoning under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana. carried out to ensure sustainable development. Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims at correcting regional imbalances 86. Ans: D in the availability of affordable/reliable tertiary Exp. Why in News? India has urged the Asian healthcare services and also to augment facilities Development Bank (ADB) to invest in health and for quality medical education in the country. It fintech startups in the country, to help improve envisages setting up of AIIMS-like institutes and the quality of life in Asia while sharpening focus on upgradation of existing Government Medical infrastructure lending by ensuring loan disbursals Colleges/ Institutions in various parts of the within a year of request. country. Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional 84. Ans: C development bank established on 19 December 1966, which is headquartered in the Ortigas Exp. Spratly Islands are a disputed group of Center located in the city of , Philippines. ADB islands, isletswww.uniqueshiksha.in and cays and more than 100 reefs, was modeled closely on the World Bank, and has sometimes grouped in submerged old atolls, in a similar weighted voting system where votes are the South China Sea. distributed in proportion with members’ capital subscriptions. It was established in 1966. 85. Ans: D 87. Ans: C Exp. Union Home Minister chairs the third meeting of the Island Development Agency Exp. Why in News? Border Roads Organisation (IDA) . The Island Development Agency reviewed (BRO) celebrated its 58th Raising Day on 7 May the progress made towards preparation of 2018. BRO is leading government organisation Development Plans for identified Islands (four in in arena of infrastructural development in the

12 12 082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha PTS Code - 001 border areas of the country. Critically Endangered; Irrawaddy Dolphin – Border Roads Organisation (BRO) develops and Endangered maintains road networks in India’s border areas 90. Ans: D and friendly neighbouring countries. It is staffed by officers and troops drawn from the Indian Army’s Exp. New Development Bank (NDB), formerly Corps of Engineers, Electrical and Mechanical referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a Engineers, Army Service Corps, Military Police and multilateral development bank established by the army personnel on extra regimental employment. BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Officers from the Border Roads Engineering Africa). According to the Agreement on the NDB, Service and personnel from the General Reserve “the Bank shall support public or private projects Engineer Force (GREF) form the parent cadre of through loans, guarantees, equity participation the Border Roads Organization .It works under and other financial instruments. Defence ministry. The bank is headquartered in Shanghai, China. The first regional office of the NDB is in 88. Ans: C Johannesburg. Exp. Indus river dolphin is now found only in the Each member state has equal voting rights in main channel of the Indus River in Pakistan and NDB. active channels connected to it between the Jinnah and Kotri barrages. It is endangered in 91. Ans: D IUCN Red List. Exp. Nepal is land locked between India and China. 89. Ans: D Lesotho and Estawini are land locked countries in South Africa, a BRICS nation. Exp. Black Panther – Vulnerable, Bugun Liocichla–

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082873 60360 www.uniqueshiksha.com [email protected] /UniqueShiksha 13 92. Ans: B in its 275th report has recommended to bring BCCI under RTI act. Exp. India has ranked fourth out of 25 nations in the Asia-Pacific region on an index that measures Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is their overall power, with the country being the national governing body for cricket in India. pegged as a “giant of the future” but trails behind The board was formed in December 1928 as in indicators of defence networks and economic a society, registered under the Tamil Nadu relationships. Societies Registration Act 1975.Its headquarter is in Mumbai. The Lowy Institute Asia Power Index measures power across 25 countries and territories in Lodha committee recommended for bringing the Asia-Pacific region, reaching as far west as BCCI under RTI. Pakistan, as far north as Russia, and as far into the Pacific as Australia, New Zealand and the US.A 97. Ans: B country’s overall power is its weighted average Exp. Advocate General is appointed by the across eight measures of power—economic Governor of respective state. As per civil resources, military capability, resilience, Procedure code, High courts have original future trends, diplomatic influence, economic appellate, writ and supervisory jurisdiction at the relationships, defence networks and cultural state level. influence. 98. Ans: C 93. Ans: C Exp. Why in News? A recent study has found Exp. POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition that destruction of the ozone layer may have Mission - NNM) set up by Government on contributed to the largest mass extinction in November, 2017 aims to reduce the level of the history of Earth, known as the End-Permian stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and low birth Extinction. weight babies. India signed a loan agreement Ozone is the product of UV rays acting on O2 with World bank recently for the implementation. molecules. UV rays splits molecular oxygen in to This falls under Ministry of Women and Child free oxygen atoms. These atoms combine with Development. the molecular oxygen to form ozone. Ozone is thermodynamically unstable and decomposes 94. Ans: B to molecular oxygen, main reason for the ozone Exp. Exercise Shanghai Cooperation Organization depletion is believed to be release of freons or (SCO) Peace Mission 2018, was conducted in CFCs. Chebarkul, Russia with military contingents of the all eight SCO member nations participating in this 99. Ans: A exercise. Exp. Sangrai dance is a traditional Indian dance performed by the Mog tribal community on the 95. Ans: A occasion of Sangrai festival during the month of Exp. Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation has Chaitra (in April). It originated in Tripura,. Mogs launched the GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio- are Buddhist and have the close affinity with Agro Resources) - DHAN scheme. The scheme is Burmese Buddhism. On 26th January, 2018, being implemented as part of the Swachh Bharat on India’s Republic day, Rajpath witnessed for Abhiyan.www.uniqueshiksha.in scheme aims to positively impact village the first time a traditional dance of the Mog cleanliness and generate wealth and energy from tribe of Tripura, the land of plentiful myths and cattle and organic waste. The scheme also aims legends. at creating new rural livelihood opportunities and enhancing income for farmers and other rural 100. Ans: D people. Exp. National Mission for Clean Ganga asks Delhi Development authority to expedite Asita which is 96. Ans: C Yamuna River Frontt project to restore revive and Exp. Why in News? Law Commission of India (LCI) rejuvenate Yamuna flood plain.

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