SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY TEST-12 - ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL HISTORY - EXPLANATION KEY 1. Ans (c) Explanation: Sudras were termed as cultivators during this period and compared with post mauryan period there was an improvement. Sati system, First evidence was from Eran Inscription of Bhanugupta 510 AD. 2. Ans (b) 3. Ans (d) Explanation: Valabhi council is considered as second Jain council held in 510 AD. 4. Ans (b) Explanation: Dudhsagar falls • Dudhsagar Falls (literally Sea of Milk ) is a four-tiered waterfall located on the Mandovi River in the border of the Indian state of Karnataka. It is 60 km from Panaji by road and is located on the Madgaon-Belgaum rail route about 46 km east of Madgaon and 80 km south of Belgaum. Dudhsagar Falls is amongst India's tallest waterfalls with a height of 310 m (1017 feet) and an average width of 30 metres (100 feet). • The falls is located in the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park among the Western Ghats. The waterfall forms the border between Karnataka and Goa states. The area is surrounded by a deciduous forests with a rich biodiversity. The falls are not particularly spectacular during the dry season but during the monsoon season however, the falls are fed by rains and form a huge force of water. 5. Ans (c) Explanation: The Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process was launched in 2011 and the participating countries include Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and the UAE. 6. Ans (a) Explanation: Nibbana can be attained only through the path shown by Buddha and Gods have no role. Nibbana means dying out of desire or extinction of desire .But it is not associated with death and parinibbana is termed with death. 7. Ans (c) Explanation: The book was called Milindapanho and it was written by Nagasena. 8. Ans (b) Explanation: Educational Institutions • The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) is one of 37 constituent laboratories of the CSIR - Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, an autonomous research organization in India. The institute has its headquarters in the coastal state of Goa, and regional centres in Kochi, Mumbai and Vizag. • The National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) is an Indian research and development institution, situated in Vasco, Goa. It is an autonomous Institution of the Department of Ocean Development (DOD), Government of India which is responsible for administering the Indian Antarctic Program and maintains the Indian government's Antarctic research station, Maitri. • The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) was established in November 1993 as an autonomous society under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India. NIOT is managed by a Governing Council and the Director is the head of the Institute. The institute is based in Chennai. 9. Ans (d) Explanation: 1st Sanskrit inscription was Junagarh inscription of Rudradaman. SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY 10. Ans (a) Explanation: Goa Goa is a state in India within the coastal region known as the Konkan in western India. Bounded by Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. 11. Ans (a) Explanation: Kantahka-Budhha’s horse, Alara Kalama – Buddha’s teacher, Channa – Buddha’s Charioteer. Makhaliputra Goshala- Founder of Ajivika sect and friend of Mahavira. 12. Ans (d) 13. Ans (b) Explanation: UNESCO sites in Goa • Old Goa or Velha Goa (Velha means "old" in Portuguese) is a historical city in North Goa district in the Indian state of Goa. The city was constructed by the Bijapur Sultanate in the 15th century, and served as capital of Portuguese India from the 16th century until its abandonment in the 18th century due to a plague. Under the Portuguese, it is said to have once been a city of nearly 200,000 where from, before the plague, the Portuguese traded across continents. The remains of the city are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old Goa is approximately 10 kilometres east of the state capital Panaji. • Goa is one of the few states which has maximum area under legal protection. Goa has as many as six Wildlife Sanctuaries. They are 1. The Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, Sanguem 2. The Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Canacona 3. The Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Mollem 4. The Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, Valpoi 5. The Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Sanguem 6. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Chorao There is no Bio sphere reserves in Goa. 14. Ans (c) Explanation: Bhimbetka provides earliest evidence for the aesthetic skills of early man.It gives details about the social life of Mesolithic period. 15. Ans (d) Explanation: • The Sangam period is the period in the history of ancient southern India (known as the Tamilakam) spanning from c. 300 BCE to 300 CE • The available literature from this period was categorized and compiled in the 10th century into two categories based roughly on chronology. The categories are Patinenmelkanakku ("the Major Eighteen Anthology Series") comprising Ettuthohai ("the Eight Anthologies") and the Pattupattu ("ten Idylls") and Patinenkelkanakku ("the Minor Eighteen Anthology Series"). • Akananuru, a classical Tamil poetic work, is the seventh book in the anthology of Sangam literature, namely Ettuthokai. • Paripaadal, a classical Tamil poetic work, is the fifth book in the Ettuthohai, a Sangam literature anthology. 16. Ans (a) Explanation: River disputes • The dispute over the sharing of the water of the Mahadayi or Mandovi river between the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa is over 30 years old. • The Mahadayi/Mandovi River also known as Mahadayi' or Mhadei river, is described as the lifeline of the Indian state of Goa. The river has a length of 77 kilometres (48 miles), 29 kilometres (18 miles) in Karnataka and 52 kilometres (32 miles) in Goa. It originates from a cluster of 30 springs at SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in the Belgaum district of Karnataka. The river has a 2,032 km2 catchment area in Karnataka and a 1,580 km2 catchment area in Goa. With its cerulean waters, Dudhsagar Falls and Varapoha Falls, it is also known as the Gomati in a few places. • The Zuari River is the largest river in the state of Goa, India. It is a tidal river. The Zuari originates at Hemad-Barshem in the Western Ghats. The Zuari is also referred to as the Aghanashani in the interior regions. The Zuari and Mandovi Rivers form an estuarine system. They are the backbone of Goa's agricultural industry. The waters of the Mandovi and Zuari both flush out into the Arabian Sea at Cabo Aguada, a common point forming the Mormugao harbour. The port city of (Vasco da Gama, Goa) lies on the mouth of the Zuari River. 17. Ans (d) 18. Ans (c) 19. Ans (d) Explanation: Saka Calender • The Indian national calendar, sometimes called the Saka calendar, is the official civil calendar. It is used, alongside the Gregorian calendar, by The Gazette of India, in news broadcasts by All India Radio and in calendars and communications issued by the Government of India. Usage started officially at Chaitra 1, 1879, Saka Era, or March 22, 1957, Dionysian Era. • Years are counted in the Saka Era, which starts its year 0 in the year 78 of the Common Era. To determine leap years, add 78 to the Saka year - if the result is a leap year in the Gregorian calendar, then the Saka year is a leap year as well. Its structure is like the Persian calendar. • The Saka calendar is also used in Java and Bali among Indonesian Hindus. Nyepi, the "Day of Silence", is a celebration of the Saka new year in Bali. Nepal's Nepal Sambat evolved from the Saka calendar. • A previously more common view was that the beginning of the Saka era corresponds to the ascension of Kanishka I in 78 CE. 20. Ans (b) 21. Ans (c) Explanation: Amaravati was patronised by Satavahanas and Ikshvakas. Ajanta paintings were patronised by Vakatakas. 22. Ans (b) Explanation: Ashok Chakra • The Ashoka Chakra is a depiction of the dharmachakra; represented with 24 spokes. It is so called because it appears on a number of edicts of Ashoka, most prominent among which is the Lion Capital of Ashoka. The most visible use of the Ashoka Chakra today is at the centre of the Flag of India (adopted on 22 July 1947), where it is rendered in a navy blue colour on a white background, replacing the symbol of charkha (spinning wheel) of the pre-independence versions of the flag.India's highest peacetime military decoration awarded for valour, courageous action or self- sacrifice away from the battlefield is also called Ashoka Chakra. • The dharmachakra, is one of the Ashtamangala of Indian religions such as Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. It has represented the Buddhist dharma, Gautama Buddha's teaching of the path to Nirvana, since the time of early Buddhism.It is also connected to the Noble Eightfold Path. 23. Ans (b) Explanation: • In the remnant of the civilization, there is evidence of building of big dimensions which perhaps were public buildings, administrative or business centres, pillared halls and courtyards. There is no evidence of temples. • The people of IVC were not accustomed to the usage of horses. Horses were domesticated by the Aryans. SHANKAR IAS ACADEMY 24. Ans (d) Explanation: Gold was not used in earliest coins. Gold coins were introduced only during post- Mauryan period by Indo-Greeks. 25. Ans (b) Explanation: Dinanath Bhargava He was an Indian painter of international fame. He was one of the favorite disciples of Shantiniketan art guru Nandalal Bose.