Answer Key & Exp for GS Prelim Test-4 held on 9th Dec’ 2018 1. Consider the following pairs: Indian Founders States 1 Hyderabad : Nizam-ul-Mulk 2 Bengal : Saadat Ali Khan 3 Awadh : Murshid Quli Khan Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) None of the above Answer: (a) Explanation: Pair 1 is correctly matched - Regional States came into existence due to weakening of the power of successive Mughal emperors after Aurangzeb. So, a large number of independent and semi-independent powers emerged like Hyderabad, Bengal and Awadh etc. Nizam-ul-Mulk founded the State of Hyderabad in 1724 when he got disgusted with the inefficient Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah (1719-1748). Pair 2 is incorrectly matched - At Bengal, it was Murshid Quli Khan who made Bengal virtually independent from the Mughal empire. Initially, Murshid Quli Khan was made the Governor or Subahdar in 1717 and since then he took gradual steps to make Bengal an independent State. Pair 2 is incorrectly matched - Awadh was founded by Sadaat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk who was appointed the Governor of Awadh in 1722. Source: Vajiram and Ravi Modern Indian History book, Chapter 1, Pages 8, 9 and 10. 2. In the context of Medieval Indian history, which of the following reason/reasons can be attributed to the downfall of Mughal empire? (1) Agrarian Crisis (2) Jagirdari Crisis (3) Rise of new power centres Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (d) Explanation: Prelim IAS Test Series (2019) – GS Test 3 (9.12.2018) History, Economy and Current Affairs (June 2018) 1 Statement 1 is correct - Downfall or disintegration of the Mughal empire was the process which was set in during the final years of reign of Aurangzeb (1658-1707). Many reasons are put forward by historians for the downfall. According to Dr. Irfan Habib, the Agrarian Crisis contributed to the downfall of the empire. According to him the revolts and rebellions during Aurangzeb's reign like the Jat and Satnami revolts were an outcome of the Agrarian Crisis. According to another historian, Kafi Khan, famines in the later half of the 17th Century damaged agriculture worsening the Agrarian Crisis. Statement 2 is correct - The Agrarian Crisis also resulted in the Jagirdari Crisis which meant inadequate availability of good jagirs. Jagirs were the piece of land given to Mansabdars in lieu of salary. Due to Jagirdari Crisis the Mughal court became a battle ground to influence the emperor to grant good Jagir resulting in decreasing attention to military needs of the empire. Statement 3 is correct - According to the Revisionist Theory, disintegration of Mughal empire was the result of rise of new centres of power like semi-independent and independent States. Prominent among these were the States like Bengal, Hyderabad and Awadh. Weak centre at Delhi due to inefficient rulers made rise of such centres a rather easier process. Source: Vajiram and Ravi Modern Indian History book, Chapter 1, Pages 5, 6 and 7. 3. With reference to Raja Ranjit Singh of Punjab, consider the following statements: (1) He belonged to the Sukerchakia Misl. (2) His army was regarded as the second-most powerful army in Asia at that time. (3) Modern foundries for canon manufacturing were set up at Lahore. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: (d) Explanation: Statement 1 is correct - Ranjit Singh was the ruler of Punjab who came to power at the end of 18th century. The Misls were confederacies of Sikhs and there were 12 such Misls. Ranjit Singh belonged to the Sukerchakia Misl. Statement 2 is correct - Ranjit Singh built a powerful, disciplined and well equipped army along the European lines. His army was considered to be the second strongest army in Asia after the British army in India. Ranjit Singh maintained the diversity in his army by recruiting soldiers of other religions like Islam and also soldiers from diverse regions such as present day Odisha and Nepal. Statement 3 is correct - Modern foundries were set up at Lahore to manufacture cannon. Source 1: Vajiram and Ravi Modern Indian History book, Chapter 1, Page number 14 2: Modern India NCERT, Page number 20 4. Which of the following statements does not apply to the impact of the Portuguese on India in the 15th and 16th century? (a) Introduction of new crops like tobacco and cashew nuts Prelim IAS Test Series (2019) – GS Test 3 (9.12.2018) History, Economy and Current Affairs (June 2018) 2 (b) Popularising printing in India (c) Made India familiar with European art (d) Introduction of naval force in India Answer: (d) Explanation: Statements (a) and (c) are correct - Growing trade between India and Europe by the Portuguese led to popularisation of Indian goods in Europe and also led to infusion of European culture into India. The Portuguese introduced new crops like tobacco and cashew nuts. Statement (b) is correct - With the coming of Missionaries to spread Christianity along with the Portuguese traders there began the use of printing to propagate values and teachings of Christianity. The printing machine was thus introduced in India at Goa by these Missionaries around the middle of 16th century. Statement (d) is incorrect - Even before the advent of the Portuguese, India had a history of the use of naval force. The most prominent example is that of the Cholas who with their mighty Navy had conquered Sri Lanka, Maldives and also some South East Asian countries. Source: Spectrum’s Modern India, Chapter 3. 5. With reference to the Dutch East India Company, which among the following best describes the ‘Redistributive Trade’? (a) Trade carried out with India and Europe (b) Promotion of Slave trade by the Dutch (c) Trade between India, East Asia and Europe by the Dutch East India Company. (d) Trade carried by the Dutch East India Company between India and China dealing with tea and opium. Answer: (c) Explanation: Option (c) is correct - Redistributive or carrying trade was carried out by European trading companies like the Dutch East India Company. This involved buying goods from one country and using these goods to purchase items from another country. The Dutch Company would buy Indigo from Indonesia and would sell Indian textiles to Indonesians. The Indigo was then exported to Europe. This was an intra Asian and Euro-Asian trade. Value addition: The Dutch made Batavia in Indonesia as their main trading post and carried out redistributive trade or the Batavian trade. Source: Spectrum’s Modern India, Chapter 3. 6. Which of the following factors can be attributed towards success of the English East India Company (EIC) compared to the other European companies in gaining control over India? (1) Naval superiority (2) Industrial Revolution in Britain (3) Stable Government in Britain Prelim IAS Test Series (2019) – GS Test 3 (9.12.2018) History, Economy and Current Affairs (June 2018) 3 (4) Accountability and Professionalism in the working of the English EIC Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Answer: (d) Explanation: The English East India Company gained decisive victories over other European companies owing to factors like naval superiority, Industrial Revolution, Stable Government in Britain and Accountability and Professionalism in working of English company. Statement 1 is correct - The Royal Navy of Britain was the largest and the most advanced at that time which made the English quite powerful overseas. This helped the English defeat the Portuguese and the French in India. Statement 2 is correct - Industrial Revolution which first took place in England also contributed to the success of the English. Industrial Revolution made England the dominant country in trade and commerce and also allowed England to earn revenue by supplying cheaper factory made goods over costlier handicrafts in Asia particularly in India. Statement 3 is correct - A stable government in England compared with political instability in other European nations like France made the English Company sustain for longer period than other Companies. Strong Government support, both militarily and financially, allowed the English company to gradually become masters of India. Statement 4 is correct - The English Company was controlled by a Board of Directors and there was least government interference. Trading Companies like the French were largely owned by the State reducing the required autonomy for the Company format of doing business and dealing with political situations. Professionalism imbibed in the English Company also made them gain success over their rivals. Source: Spectrum’s Modern India, Chapter 3, page number 58 and 59. 7. The Barrackpore Mutiny was a rising of the native Indian sepoys against their British officers in Barrackpore. This incident occurred during which war? (a) The First Anglo - Burmese war (b) The Second Anglo - Burmese war (c) The Third Anglo - Burmese war (d) The Anglo - Nepal war Answer: (a) Explanation: First option is correct - Barrackpore Mutiny was an incident during the First Anglo- Burmese War (1824–26), and is generally regarded as a dress rehearsal for the Indian Mutiny of 1857 because of its similar combination of Indian grievances against the British, caste feeling, and the ineptitude of its handling. Prelim IAS Test Series (2019) – GS Test 3 (9.12.2018) History, Economy and Current Affairs (June 2018) 4 The First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–26) began primarily over the control of north- eastern India, and ended in a decisive British victory, and through the Treaty of Yandaboo in December 1824 gave the British total control of Assam, Manipur, Cachar and Jaintia as well as Arakan province and Tenasserim.