Upsc Questions)

HISTORY (UPSC QUESTIONS)

1. The Jain philosophy holds that the world is cre- conditions and culture of India at that time. In ated and maintained by this context, which of the following statements (a) Universal Law is/are correct? 1. The roads and river-routes were completely (b) Universal Truth immune from robbery. (c) Universal Faith 2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals (d) Universal Soul by fire, water and poison were the instru- ments for determining the innocence or guilt 2. The "dharma" and "rita" depict a central idea of a person. of ancient Vedic civilization of India, In this 3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries context, consider the following statements: and barrier stations. 1. Dharma was a conception of obligations and of the discharge of one's duties to Select the correct answer using the codes given oneself and to others. below. 2. Rita was the fundamental moral law gov- (a) 1 only erning the functioning of the universe and (b) 2 and 3 only all it contained. (c) 1 and 3 only Which of the statements given above is/are cor- (d) 1, 2 and 3 rect? (a) 1 only 5. Some Buddhist rock-cut caves are called (b) 2 only Chaityas, while the others are called Viharas. What is the difference between the two? (c) Both 1 and 2 (a) Vihara is a place of worship, while Chaitya (d) Neither 1 nor 2 is the dwelling place of the monks (b) Chaitya is a place of worship, while Vihara 3. With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut is the dwelling place of the monks architecture, consider the following statements: 1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviv- (c) Chaitya is the stupa at the far end of the ing rock-cut caves in India. cave, while Vihara is the hall axial to it 2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally (d) There is no material difference between the made for Ajivikas by Emperor two Chandragupta Maurya. 6. Which one of the following describes best the 3. At Ellora, caves were made for different concept of Nirvana in Buddhism? faiths. (a) The extinction of the flame of desire Which of the statements given above is/are cor- (b) The complete annihilation of self rect? (c) A state of bliss and rest (a) 1 only (d) A mental stage beyond all comprehension (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only 7. Which of the following characterizes/ charac- terize the people of Indus Civilization? (d) 1, 2 and 3 1. They possessed great palaces and temples. 4. The Chinese traveller Yuan Chwang (Hiuen 2. They worshipped both male and female Tsang) who visited India recorded the general deities.

©ChronicleHistory IAS Academy 1 3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in (c) 1, 2 and 3 warfare. (d) None Select the correct statement/ statements using 11. With reference to the history of philosophical the codes given below. thought in India, consider the following state- (a) 1 and 2 only ments regarding Sankhya school: (b) 2 only 1. Sankhya does not accept the theory of re- birth or transrmigration of soul. (c) 1, 2 and 3 2. Sankhya holds that it is the self-knowledge (d) None of the statements given above is cor- that leads to liberation and not any exte- rect rior influence or agent. 8. Which of the following statements is/are appli- Which of the statements given above is /are cable to Jain doctrine? correct? 1. The surest way of annihilating Karma is to (a) 1 only practice penance. (b) 2 only 2. Every object, even the smallest particle has a soul. (c) Both 1 and 2 3. Karma is the bane of the soul and must be (d) Neither 1 nor 2 ended. 12. In the context of cultural history of India, a Select the correct answer using the codes given pose in dance and dramatics called 'Tribhanga' below. has been a favourite of Indian artists from an- (a) 1 only cient times till today. Which one of the following statements best describes this pose? (b) 2 and 3 only (a) One leg is bent and the body is slightly but (c) 1 and 3 only oppositely curved at waist and neck (d) 1, 2 and 3 (b) Facial expressions, hand gestures and make- up are combined to symbolize certain epic 9. Consider the following Bhakti Saints: or historic characters 1. Dadu Dayal (c) Movements of body, face and hands are 2. Guru Nanak used to express oneself or to tell a story 3. Tyagaraja (d) A little smile, slightly curved waist and certain hand gestures are emphasized to Who among the above was/were preaching express the feelings of love or eroticism when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over? 13. With reference to the guilds (Shreni) of ancient (a) 1 and 3 India that played a very important role in the (b) 2 only country's economy, which of the following statements is/are correct? (c) 2 and 3 1. Every guild was registered with the central (d) 1 and 2 authority of the State and the king was the chief administrative authority on them. 10. Consider the following historical places: 2. The wages, rules of work, standards and 1. Ajanta Caves prices were fixed by the guild. 2. Lepakshi Temple CHRONICLE3. The guild had judicial powers over its own 3. Sanchi Stupa members.

Which of the above places is / are also known Select the correct answer using the codes given for mural paintings? below: (a) 1 only (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 2 IAS ACADEMYHistory 14. With reference to the scientific progress of an- 2. Dhrupad is primarily a devotional and cient India, which of the statements given be- spiritual music. low are correct? 3. Dhrupad Alap uses Sanskrit syllables from 1. Different kinds of specialized surgical in- Mantras. struments were in common use by 1st century AD. Select the correct answer using the codes given 2. Transplant of internal organs in the hu- below: man body had begun by the beginning of (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only 3rd century AD. (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None of the above 3. The concept of sine of an angle was known is correct in 5th century AD. 4. The concept of cyclic quadrilaterals was 18. With reference to the religious history of medi- known in 7th century AD. eval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices? Select the correct answer using the codes given 1. Meditation and control of breath below: 2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 and 4 only 3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 ecstasy in their audience

15. With reference to the history of ancient India, Select the correct answer using the codes given which of the following was/were common to below: both Buddhism and Jainism? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only 1. Avoidance of extremities of penance and (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 enjoyment 2. Indifference to the authority of the Vedas 19. Lord Buddha's image is sometimes shown with 3. Denial of efficacy of rituals the hand gesture called 'Bhumisparsha Mudra'. It symbolizes: Select the correct answer using the codes given (a) Buddha's calling of the Earth to watch over below: Mara and to prevent Mara from disturbing (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only his meditation (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 (b) Buddha's calling of the Earth to witness his purity and chastity despite the temptations of Mara 16. The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the (c) Buddha's reminder to his followers that they (a) Three main racial groups of the Indian all arise from the Earth and finally dissolve subcontinent into the Earth, and thus this life is transi- tory (b) Three main linguistic divisions into which the language of India can be classified (d) Both the statements (a) and (b) are correct in this context (c) Three main styles of Indian temple architecture 20. The religion of early Vedic Aryans was prima- (d) Three main musical Gharanas prevalent in rily of India (a) Bhakti (b) image worship and Yajnas 17. With reference to Dhrupad, one of the Major traditions of India that has been kept alive for (c) worship of nature and Yajnas centuries, which of the following statements are (d) worship of nature and Bhakti correct? 1. Dhrupad originated and developed in the 21. What was the immediate reason for Ahmad Rajput kingdoms during the Mughal pe- Shah Abdali to invade India and fight the Third riod. Battle of Panipat ?

History 3 (a) He wanted to avenge the expulsion by (c) 2 and 3 only Marathas of his viceroy Timur Shah from (d) 1, 2 and 3 Lahore (b) The frustrated governor of Jullundhar 23. Among the following, who was not a propo- Adina Beg Khan invited him to invade nent of bhakti cult ? Punjab (a) Vallabhacharya (c) He wanted to punish Mughal administra- (b) Tyagaraja tion for non-payment of the revenues of the Chahar Mahal (Gujarat, Aurangabad, (c) Tukaram Sialkot and Pasrur) (d) Nagarjuna (d) He wanted to annex all the fertile plains of Punjab up to the borders of Delhi to his 24. There are only two known examples of cave kingdom paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India. One of these is paintings of Ajanta caves. Where 22. Why did Buddhism start declining in India in is the other surviving example of Gupta paint- the early medieval times ? ings ? 1. Buddha was by that time considered as one (a) Bagh caves of the incarnations of Vishnu and thus be- (b) Ellora caves came a part of Vaishnavism. (c) Lomas Rishi cave 2. The invading tribes from Central Asia till (d) Nasik caves the time of last Gupta king adopted Hin- duism and persecuted Buddhists. 25. Mahamastakabhisheka, a great religious event 3. The Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly is associated with and done for who of the opposed to Buddhism. following? (a) Bahubali Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? (b) Buddha (a) 1 only (c) Mahavir (b) 1 and 3 only (d) Natraja

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