Practice Test Paper of History: November 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009

History makers

422. Match the following.
A. Moplah 1. Lord
Rebellion Willingdon
B. Communal 2. Lord
Award Chelmsford
C. Jallianwala 3. Lord Minto II
Bagh
Massacre
D. Demand for 4. Lord Reading
Pakistan
5. Lord
Linlithgow
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (b) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-5 (c) A-4, B-3, C-5, D-2 (d) A-2, B-4, C-5, D-3
423. Which of the following .laid the foundation of the British civil service in India?
(a) Warren Hastings (b) Lord Cornwallis (c) Lord Wellesley (d) Lord Canning
424. The system of open competitions
through examination for entering
the civil service was introduced in
(a) 1813 (b) 1833
(c) 1853 (d) 1858
425. Economic exploitation was most
seriously effected by
(a) exploitation of Indian re
sources for purposes of con
quest and wars
(b) preferential duties
(c) employment of British nation
als in Indian administration
(d) manipulation of the exchange
rate
426. The most important reason for the
decline of urban handicrafts was
(a) competition from cheaper
machine-made goods, im
ported duty-free from Britain.
(b) the railways which helped the dealers to distribute machinemade goods at the expense of handicrafts.
(c) monetisation of the Indian
economy.
(d) growth of modern industries
in India.
427. With regard to the ruin of Indian
industries, which of the following
are true?
I. Imposition of heavy duties on
goods imported into England
from India.
II. Disappearance of native
rulers.
III. Poor craftsmanship of
Indians.
IV. The export of raw materials
from India to Britain.
(a) I, II and IV (b) I and II (b) III and IV (d) II, III and IV
428. Which of the following was a feature of the Aligarh Movement? (a) Anglo-Muslim alliance for the
security of the Muslims in India
(b) Socio-religious reforms in the
Muslim community
(c) To counter the missionary
activities of Christianity
(d) It was opposed to western
education and culture
429. Which of the following promi
nently fought for and got widow
remarriage legalised?
(a) M.G. Ranade
(b) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (c) Raja Rammohan Roy
(d) Annie Besant
430. The maximum work in
popularising female education in the nineteenth century was done by
(a) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (b) J.E.D. Bethune
(c) D.K. Karve
(d) the British Government
431. The Sarda Act of 1930 provided
for
I. penalisation for bigamy
II. civil marriages
III. penalisation of parties to a
marriage in which the girl was below 14 years and the boy was below 18 years of age
IV. legalisation of inter-caste
marriage
(a) I and II (b) II and III
(c) 1, III and IV (d) III only
432. Peasants lost their rights over the land cultivated by them due to (a) the Mahalwari Settlement (b) the Permanent Settlement (c) the Ryotwari Settlement
(d) none of the above
433. Which of the following helped to
develop close ties between the
government and the masses?
(a) Mahalwari Settlement
(b) Ryotwari Settlement
(c) Permanent Settlement
(d) All of the above
434. The growth of landlordism was marked by the rise of
(a) moneylenders
(b) capitalism
(c) sub-infeudation
(d) zamindars
435. Which of the following are true
with regard to Brahmo Samaj?
I. It was against idol worship. II. It put emphasis on human
dignity.
III. It was opposed to various
social evils.
IV. It was a synthesis of various
religions.
(a) I and II
(b) I and III
(c) II and IV
(d) All of the above
436. The Brahmo Samaj split for a second time in 1878 because of (a) the marriage of Keshab's
daughter though she was underage.
(b) Keshab's founding of the Veda Samaj in Madras and the Prarthana Samaj in Maharashtra.
(c) Keshab's attempt to bring
about an alliance of Christian and Hindu ideas.
(d) all of the above.
437. Where was the Arya Samaj set up for the first time in 1875?
(a) Lahore (b) Amritsar
(c) Bombay (d) Delhi
438. The Ramakrishna Mission was founded by
(a) Dayananda Saraswati
(b) Vivekananda
(c) Keshab Chandra
(d) Hans Raj
439. Which of the following statements are correct with regard to Swami Vivekananda?
I. He was a disciple of Ramakrishna Pararnhansa.
II. He attended the 'World Parliament of Religions' at Chicago.
III. He rejected the supremacy of the Vedas.
IV. He believed in the service of men in order to realise God.
(a) I and II (b) I, II and IV
(c) I and III (d) II and IV
440. Which of the following statements are true with regard to Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan?
I. He founded the Anglo-Oriental College at Aligarh in 1875.
II. He made efforts to uplift the upper class among the Muslim community.
III. He founded the Ahmadiya Movement in Punjab.
IV. In the later part of his life, he began to talk of Hindu domination.
(a) I and II (b) II and IV
(c) 1, II and IV (d) I and III

Questions and Answers of History

405. Which of the following are true
with regard to the significance of
the Battle of Buxar?
I. It formally abolished the
Mughal empire.
II. It firmly established the Brit
ish as masters of Bengal, Bihar
and Orissa.
III. It placed A vadh at the mercy
of the English.
TV. It demonstrated the superior
ity of the English arms over
the combined army of two of the major Indian powers.
(a) 1, III and IV (b) II and III (c) 1, II and IV (d) III and IV
406. Which of the following are true
with regard to Haider Ali?
I. Haider Ali was constantly at
war with his neighbours.
II. Haider Ali who was origi
nally an adventurer estab
lished his rule in Mysore by overthrowing Nanjaraj.
III. Haider Ali was a religious
fanatic.
IV. Haider Ali fought the first
and second Mysore Wars with
the English.
(a) I and II (b) I, II and IV
(c) II, III and IV (d) III and IV
407. Which of the following Anglo
Mysore wars came to
an end by the Treaty of
Seringapatam?
(a) First Anglo-Mysore War (b) Second Anglo-Mysore War (c) Third Anglo-Mysore War (d) Fourth Anglo-Mysore War
408. Which of the following are true
with regard to Tipu Sultan?
I. Welcomed some foreign ex
perts and sent emissaries to
France, Turkey and Pegu to develop foreign trade
II. Founded Jacobians club and
planted the Tree of Liberty at
Seringapatnam
III. Attempted to build a navy and for this he established dockyards
IV. Led a life of idle debauchery
(a) 1, II and III (b) I and II
(c) III and IV (d) I, II and IV
409. Which of the following was not an innovation by Tipu Sultan?
(a) New scales of weights and
measures
(b) A new method of survey and
settlement
(c) A new system of coinage (d) A new calendar
410. What is the importance of the Treaty of Salbai signed between the English and Marathas?
(a) It secured peace between the
two rivals for 20 years
(b) The Marathas were totally
wiped out and they never
recovered after this
(c) The Marathas accepted the
subsidiary alliance
(d) It made the Marathas pay
more attention towards
Mysore
411. Which of the following organised a Maratha confederacy against the
English leading to the Third
Anglo-Maratha War?
(a) Scindhia (b) Holkar
(c) The Peshwa (d) Bhonsle
412. Which of the following states was not annexed by the Doctrine of Lapse? .
(a) Satara (b) Jhansi
(c) Nagpur (d) Travancore
413. With which of the following Governor-Generals do we associate the subsidiary alliance?
(a) Lord Wellesley
(b) Lord Minto I
(c) Lord Cornwallis
(d) Lord Dalhousie
414. The subsidiary alliance was aimed at
I.
protecting the country from Napoleon.
II. increasing British revenue. III. increasing British control over
the Indian states.
IV. taking away the powers of
local rulers.
(a) III and IV
(b) I, II and III
(c) II, III and IV
(d) I, III and IV
415. By the Doctrine of Lapse, the
British
I. became a paramount power.
II. rejected the Hindu law of succession.
III. refused adopted heirs the right of acceding to the throne on the death of the ruler of a protected state.
(a) I only (b) I, II and III
(c) II and III (d) III only
416. Jhansi was made a part of the British Empire through
(a) Subsidiary Alliance
(b) Treaty of Jhansi History of India 189
(c) Doctrine of Lapse
(d) victory in war against Rani Lakshmibai
417. Match the following.
A. Pitt's India 1. Robert Clive
Act, 1784
B. Charter
Act, 1833
C. Regulating
Act, 1935
D. Government 4. Warren
of India Hastings
Act, 1935
2. William
Bentinck
3. Wellesley
5. Willingdon
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (b) A-4, B-2, C-4, D-5 (c) A-5, 13-4, C-3, D-l (d) A-3, 13-5, C-4, D-l
418. Who was the only Governor-General/Viceroy to be assassinated in India?
(a) Lord Minto I (b) Lord Mountbatten (c) Lord Mayo
(d) Lord Cornwallis
419. Under the dual government in Bengal, the administration was carried on by
(a) the East India Company and the British government.
(b) the English Company and the Mughal emperor of India.
(c) the British government and the Indian government.
(d) the East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal.
420. Which of the following are associated with Lord Lytton?
I. The title Kaiser-i-Hil1d was conferred on Queen Victoria
II. Censorship was imposed on Vernacular Press
III. The Factory Act was passed
IV. Quetta was occupied by the British
(a) I, II and IV (b) II and III
(c) I and IV (d) III and IV

Test Papers

383. Who was the Peshwa when the Third Battle of Panipat (1761 AD.) was fought between the Marathas and the Afghans?
(a) Balaji Baji Rao
(b) Baji Rao
(c) Narayan Rao
(d) Madho Rao
384. Nana Saheb was a title associated with
(a) Balaji Viswanath
(b) Baji Rao I
(c) Baji Rao II
(d) Madho Rao
385. Match the following.
A Bhonsle 1. Indore
B. Gaekwar 2. Berar
C. Holkar 3. Poona
D. Scindhia 4. Baroda
5. Gwalior
(a) A-2, B-4, C-l, D-5 (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-4, B-5, C-3, D-2 (d) A-I, B-4, C-3, D-2
386. (A): Shivaji failed to establish an
enduring Maratha state.
(R): The condition of the Maratha society in the sixteenth century was such that it could be reformed only by a long, patient al1d sustained effort.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are correct
and (R) explains (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are correct
but (R) does not explain (A)
(c) (A) is correct but (R) is incor
rect
(d) (A) is incorrect but (R) is
correct
387. (A): The foundation of the Maratha confederacy was laid during the first half of the eighteenth century.
(R): The object of the Maratha confederacy was to get rid of the Peshwa.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are correct
and (R) explains (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are correct
but (R) does not explain (A)
(c) (A) is correct but (R) is incor
rect
(d) (A) is incorrect but (R) is
correct
388. The Maratha confederacy was virtually dissolved after the
(a) death of Baji Rao I
(b) Third Battle of Panipat
(c) death of Balaji Baji Rao
(d) death of Madho Rao 1
389. Who said the following lines: "Let us strike at the trunk of the withering tree. and the branches will fall by themselves"?
(a) Baji Rao I
(b) Shivaji
(c) Balaji Viswanath (d) Nana Phadnavis
390. Shivaji created a (a) Hindu State
(b) theocracy
(c) secular state (d) democratic state
391. The European country that was the first to establish trade relations with India in modern times was
(a) Portugal (b) Denmark
(c) Austria (d) France
392. From whom was Goa acquired by Albuquerque?
(a) Bidar
(b) Bijapur
(c) Golconda
(d) Ahmadnagar
393. Which of the following statements is false with regard to the Dutch interest and activities in India?
I. They did not get involved in
politics or cultural contacts.
II. They became the carriers of
trade between India and the
islands of the Far East.
III. Many attempts were made by them to monopolise the channels of trade between India
and the west. .
IV. They treated the local inhabitants badly and exploited
them.
(a) I and II (b) I, II and IV
(c) I and IV (d) III and IV
394. The battle of 'Swally Hole' was fought between which
of the following countries?
I. Portugal II. Netherlands
III. France IV. Britain
(a) I and II (b) II and III (c) I and IV (d) III and IV
395. Calicoes stood for Indian
(a) indigo (b) cotton
(c) spices (d) textile
396. The term 'Interlopers' was used by
.the
(a) Dutch (b) Danish
(c) French (d) English
397. Who was the founder of the French East India Company?
(a) Dumas (b) Colbert
(c) Dupleix (d) De La Haye

398. Which of the following statements is false?
(a) The Portuguese power was
not organised on commercial' lines.
(b) The 'Blue Water' policy is associated with Alfonso de Albuquerque.
(c) The Zamorin was the King of
Cali cut.
(d) The lease of Madras in 1639
was obtained by the English
from the ruler of Chandragiri.
399. Match the following.
A Pondicherry 1. Danish
B. Goa 2 Dutch
C. Tranquebar 3. English D. Nagapattinam 4. Portuguese
5. French
(a) A-5, B-4, C-l, D-2 (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-l (d) A-3, B-4, C-l, D-2
400. Which of the following decisive battles was fought during the Third Carnatic War between the English and the French?
(a) Wandiwash
(b) Pondicherry
(c) Chandranagore
(d) Arcot
401. With which of the following do we associate the First Carnatic War?
(a) The Seven Years' War
(b) The War of Roses
(c) The Austro-Prussian War (d) The Austrian War of Succes
sion
402. The Third Carnatic War ended with the Treaty of
(a) Paris
(b) Bassein
(c) Aix-Ia-Chapelle
(d) Surat
403. Which of the following are the causes of the Battle of Plassey?
I. The English were hatching a plot to overthrow the Nawab of Bengal
II. The fortification of Fort William by the English
III. The 'Black Hole' episode in which many people died
IV. Dispute over the trade policy of the English
(a) I and II (b) I, II and III
(c) I and IV (d) I and III

History and Questions

364. Match the following. Asaadat Khan 1. Hyderabad
B. Nizam-ul- 2. Rohilkhand
Mulk
C. Muhammad 3. Avadh
Khan
D. Murshid Kuli 4. Bengal
Khan
(a) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4 (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-3, B-2, C-l, D-4 (d) A-4, B-2, C-3, D-l
365. Match the following.
Emperors Tombs
A Babur 1. Delhi
B. Humayun 2. Kabul
C. Jahangir 3. Lahore
D. Bahadur Shah II 4. Rangoon
(a) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4 (b) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-l (c) A-2, B-3, C-l, D-4 (d) A-I, B-4, C-3, D-2
366. Who was known as the 'Plato of
the Jat tribe'?
(a) Gokul
(b) Suraj Mal (c) Badan Singh (d) Kapur Singh
367. Match the following.
A Ulema and 1. Jahangiri
writers
B. Warrior
class
C. Conquest
of new
territories
D. Consolidation 4. Ahl-i-Qalam
of conquered
territories
(a) A-4, B-3, C-l, D-2 (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-l (d) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-l
2. Jahandari
3. Ahl-i-Saif
368. Put in order of their annexation by the Mughal empire.
I. Golconda II. Berar
III. Ahmadnagar IV. Bijapur
(a) I, II, III, IV (b) II, III, IV, I (c) II, III, I, IV (d) I, III, II, IV
369. Which of the following works and writers is/are wrongly matched? 1. Iqbalnama-i-Jahangiri-Jahangir
2. Chahar Chaman-Chandra
Bhan Brahman
3. Alamgirnama-Aurangzeb
4. Nuspha-i-Dilkusha-Bhimsen
Burhampur
(a) 1 and 2
(c) 1 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 (d) 2 and 4
370. Why is Shah Jahan's reign considered the climax of the Mughal period?
I. Export trade flourished
II. There was no external threat
to India
III. The territorial expansion was
at its height.
IV. Financially the state was com
fortable
(a) I, III and IV (b) II and III
(c) II, III and IV (d) I, II and IV
371. I. The battle of Khanua was of
greater significance than that
of Panipat.
II. It destroyed the Afghan resis
tance to Mughal rule.
(a) I and II are wrong
(b) I and II are correct and II
explains I
(c) I is correct but II is incorrect
(d) I is wrong but II is correct
372. The Sarak-i-Azam which ran from
the Indus to Sonargaon (in
Bangladesh) was built by
(a) Akbar
(b) Sher Shah
(c) Shah Jahan
(d) none of these
373. Sher Shah is well-known for his administrative skill, especially his (a) market control steps
(b) land revenue system
(c) mansabdari system
(d) law and order
374. Which of the following was/were steps taken by Sher Shah to promote trade and commerce?
1. Making travel safe for traders 2. Building a new highway be
tween Delhi and Warangal
3. Abolishing internal duties and
levying taxes only at the points
of import and sale
4. Building sera is along roadways
(a) 1, 2 and 3
. (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
375. During Shivaji's childhood, who among the following exercised the maximum influence on his character?
I. Jija Bai, his mother
II. Dadaji Kondadev, his tutor III. Shahji Bhonsle, his father
(a) I only (b) I and III
(c) I, II and III (d) I and II
376. With whom of the following did Shivaji sign the Treaty of Purandhar in 1665 AD.?
History of India 187
(a) Shaista Khan
(b) Afzal Khan
(c) Jai Singh
(d) Prince Muazzam
377. Who among the following was killed by Shivaji?
(a) Shaista Khan
(b) Vyankoji
(c) Jai Singh
(d) Afzal Khan
378. A fort not associated with Shivaji is that of
(a) Lohagarh (b) Raigarh
(c) Torna (d) Javli
379. Match the following.
A Amatya 1. The Chronicler B Pandit Rao 2. The Foreign
Secretary
3. The Chief Jus
tice 4. The Auditor 5. The Ecclesiasti
cal Head
(a) A-4, B-5, C-2, D-l (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, 0-4 (c) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2 (d) A-3, B-2, C-l, 0-5
C. Sumant
D. Mantri
380. Which uniform unit of measurement was introduced by Shivaji for the assessment of land revenue?
(a) Gaz (b) Acre
(c) Kathi (d) Tanab
381. Which of the following statements is false?
(a) Kurza-Patti was a levy equal.
to one year's income of the tax-payer realised in time of financial difficulties.
(b) Chauth was one-fourth of the land revenue realised by Shivaji from the neighbouring states.
(c) Sardeshmukhi was an additional tax of 10 per cent imposed by Shivaji on
neighbouring states as hereditary sardeshmukhi of the area.
(d) Shivaji continued the practice of farming out of the revenue.
382. What was Shivaji's objective in imposing chauth and sardesh11lukhi?
(a) He wanted to supplement his financial resources.
(b) He aimed to create spheres of influence.
(c) It was to maintain an army for the protection of his kingdom.
(d) All of the above.

Some UPSC Questions of History

343. The "Deccan ulcer ruined Aurangzeb". This statement is valid because of the stubborn fight put up by the
(a) State of Golconda
(b) Marathas
(c) State of Ahmadnagar
(d) State of Bijapur
344. Which of the following statements are true about the Mughal administration?
I. It was mainly military in char
acter
II. It was highly centralized III. It was carried on strictly ac
cording to Islamic laws
IV. The emperor was assisted by
a number of ministers (a) I, II and IV (b) I and IV
(c) I and III (d) II and IV
345. The word Mansab stood for
(a) a piece of land
(b) a rank
(c) an office
(d) a grade of pay
346. Which of the following system is associated with Todar Mal?
(a) Zabti (b) Nasaq
(c) Kankut (d) Dahsala
347. Tobacco was introduced for cultivation during the reign of
(a) Akbar
(b) Sher Shah Suri
(c) Jahangir
(d) Aurangzeb
348. Which of the following are true with regard to the buildings of Akbar?
I. They were based on accurate
systems and were highly decorative
II. Mostly made of red sandstone
III. The pillars' shafts are gener
ally many-sided and have
bracketed-capitals
IV. The walls were artistically
painted and the ceilings were
in gold or in colours
(a) II and III
(b) II, III and IV
(c) I, II, III and IV
(d) I and IV
349. What is meant by 'pietra dura'?
(a) A fusion of Persian and In
dian features
(b) Construction of buildings with
glazed tiles and marble
(c) Decorated ceilings with min
iature paintings
(d) Decorating walls with floral
designs made of semi-precious
stones
350. Which of the following buildings is not situated at Fatehpur Sikri? (a) The Panch Mahal
(b) Moti' Masjid
(c) Tomb of Salim Chishti
(d) The Mariam Palace
351. Which of the following is false?
(a) "A romance in stone" -Jami
Masjid
(b) "A frozen tear drop "-Taj
Mahal
(c) "If on earth be an Eden of
bliss it is this"-Diwan-i-Khas
in Agra
(d) A poem written by Abul
Fazal-inscribed on .the Tomb
of Salim Chishti
352. Which of the following was a
novelty in Shah Jahan's build
ings?
(a) Bulbous dome
(b) Makrana marble
(c) Tapering pillars
(d) Gardens
353. "If there were similar portraits finished by several artists, I could point out the painter of each." Who said this?
(a) Akbar (b) Sher Shah
(c) Jahangir (d) .Shah Jahan
354. Match the following
A. Akbar-namah 1. Ishwar Das B. Muntakhab- 2. Inayat Khan
u/-/ubab
C. Shahjahan- 3. KhaifiKhan
namah
D. Fatuhat-i
A/amgiri
(a) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-l (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-4, B-3, C-1. D-2 (d) A-3, B-4, C-l, D-2
4. Abul Fazl
355. The court language of the Great Mughals was ...
(a) Arabic (b) Persian
(c) Urdu (d) Turki
356. Which of the following statements are true?
I. Aurangzeb was a scholar of
Muslim theology and jurisprudence.
II. Aurangzeb gave the title of Zarrinqa/am to his court poet Mohammad Hussain.
III. Aurangzeb was an accom
plished Veena player.
IV. Aurangzeb patronised the art
of calligraphy.
(a) I and '~II (b) I, II and IV
(c) I, III and IV (d) II and IV
357. Which of the following are true?
I. Tansen's original name was Tanna Mishra which was changed by Raja Vikramjit of Gwalior.
II. The three ragas, Miyan Ki Todi, Darbari Kmwda and Miyan Ki Ma/har were created by Tansen.
III. Tansen was challenged by Baiju Bawra in a competition of Jugalbandi which Tansen won.
IV. Tansen wrote three famous books on music, namely Sri Ganesh Stotra, Sangeet Sar and
Raagma/a.
(a) I; II and IV
(b) II, III and IV
(c) I and II
(d) III and IV
358. Who succeeded Aurangzeb after his death in 1707 A.D.?
(a) Bahadur Shah I
(b) Prince Kambaksh
(c) Prince Azam
(d) Akbar II
359. Nadir Shah's invasion of India took place during the reign of (a) Jahan Shah
(b) Farrukhsiyar
(c) Muhammad Shah
(d) Alamgir II
360. Arrange the following Mughal rulers chronologically.
I. Bahadur Shah I
II. Bahadur Shah II
III. Farrukhsiyar
IV. Muhammad Shah
V. Shah Alam II
(a) I, III, IV, V, II (b) 1, II, III, IV, V (c) V, IV, III, II, I (d) III, II, V, IV, I
361. Who stabbed Guru Govind Singh to death?
(a) Mahesh Das
(b) Gul Khan
(c) Mir Jafar
(d) Zulfikar Khan
362. Ranjit Singh was the chief of the
mis/.
(a) Sukarchakya
(b) Nakai
(c) Ahluwalia
(d) Ramgarhia
363. The fort of Lohagarh was built by (a) Banda Bahadur
(b) Guru Govind Singh
(c) Ranjit Singh
(d) none of the above

UPSC Question Papers

321. During the reign of Muhammad Shah III, a foreign traveller who visited the Bahmani kingdom was (a) Marco Polo
(b) Athanasi\ls Nikitin (c) Abdur Razzaq (d) Domingos Paes
322. Which of the following are true with regard to the Deccani party and the foreign party in the Bahmani reign?
I. The foreign party were Shias
whereas the Deccani party were Sunnis.
II. The foreign party were more enterprising than the Deccani party.
III. The foreign party were in favour of persecution of the Hindu population whereas the Deccanis were opposed to such a policy.
IV. The foreign party's greater influence in the political affairs antagonised the Deccanis.
(a) I and II (b) I, II and IV
(c) I and IV (d) III and IV
323. Which of the following took the lead in asserting its independence following the break-up of the Bahmani empire?
(a) Berar (b) Bidar
(c) Golconda (d) Bijapur
324. On the ruins of which Hindu kingdom ,was the kingdom of Golconda founded?
(a) Yadavas (b) Hoysalas (c) Kakatiyas (d) Kalyani
325. The famous queen Chand Bibi who fought gallantly against Akbar belonged to
(a) Berar
(b) Ahmadnagar
(c) Bijapur
(d) Golconda
326. Match the following.
A. Adil Shahi 1. Berar
B. Imad Shahi 2. Bidar
C. Qutb Shahi 3. Ahmadnagar D. Nizam Shahi 4. Golconda
E. Barid Shahi 5. Bijapur (a) A-5, B-1, C-4, D-3, E-2 (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4, E-5 (c) A-5, B-4, C-3, D-2, E-l (d) A-3, B-2, C-5, D-4, E-l
327. Who was known as 'Andhra Bhoja'?
(a) Deva Raya II
(b) Bukka
(c) Krishnadeva Raya
(d) Quli Qutb Shah
328. Which of the following justifies the high position of women during the Vijayanagar empire?
(a) Women were engaged in vari
ous types of professions (b) Polygamy was not in vogue
(c) There was no sati system (d) The practice of child marriage
was absent
329. During the rule of which monarch did the Virupaksha deity give way to that of Venkateshwara at Tirupati?
(a) Harihara
(b) Venkata II
(c) Venkatadri
(d) Krishnadeva Raya
330. Match the following.
A. Hindola 1. Vijayanagar
Mahal
B. Hazara
Temple
C. Kadam Rasul 3. Bengal
Mosque
D. Atala Mosque 4. Malwa
5. Khandesh
(a) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2 (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-l (d) A-3, B-4, C-l, D-2
331. Krishnadeva Raya wrote a famous work, namely Amuktamalyada, in (a) Telugu (b) Kannada
(c) Tamil (d) Malayalam
332. Which of the following was not an independent kingdom in the fifteenth century?
(a) Bahmani kingdom
Gulbarga and Bidar
(b) Madura Sultanate ,(c) Qutb Shahi kingdom of
Golconda
(d) Vijayanagar empire
333. The main source of revenue for the Bahmanis was
(a) trade (b) land
(c) exports (d) all of these
334. Which of the following is wrongly
matched?
(a) Athanasius Nikitin-Bahmani
kingdom
(b) Nicolo Conti-Deva Raya I (c) Abdur Razzaq-Deva Raya II (d) None of the above is wrongly
matched
2. Jaunpur
History of India 185
of
335. Who were the 'ashtadiggas'? (a) Scholars
(b) Bodyguards
(c) Viceroys
(d) Sp~es
336. Hampi is situated on the northern
bank of
(a) Tungabhadra (b) Godavari (c) Cauvery (d) Krishna
337. The Vijayanagar rulers
(a) discouraged sea trade
(b) ignored sea trade
(c) left sea trade to the care of a
few selected traders
(d) were religious bigots
338. The temple of Konark was built by Narasimha of the
(a) Hoysalas
(b) Kakatiyas
(c) Eastern Ganges
(d) Chalukyas
339. Who were the Mughals?
(a) Afghans
(b) Arabs
(c) Mongols
(d) Chaghtai Turks
340. To which of the following Mughal emperors do the following words refer: "". tumbled through life and tumbled out of it".
(a) Babur (b) Humayun
(c) Jahangir (d) Shah Jahan
341. Match the following.
A. Battle of 1. Babur
Haldighati
B. Battle of
Bilgram
C. Second Battle 3, Humayun
of Panipat
D. Battle of
Khanua
(a) A-2, B-3, C-2, D-l (b) A-I, B-3, C-2, D-l (c) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-2 (d) A-2, B-2, C-l, D-3
342. Which of the following are true with regard to Akbar?
I. He abolished jaziya and Pil
grim Tax in 1564 and 1563 A.D. respectively.
II. He erected the 'Ibadat Khana' for holding religious discussions.
III. His Din-i-Ilalzi was a code of
social conduct.
IV. He got the Khutba to be read
in his name, in 1574 A.D. (a) I and II
(b) I, II and III
(c) I, II, III and IV
(d) I and IV
2. Akbar
4. Jahangir

UPSC Practice Question Paper of History

282. Which of the following is incor
rect?
(a) Fatwa-a legal decision ac
cording to the Islamic law
(b) Maj/is-meeting place or coun
cil
(c) Dar-u/-harab-land of infidels
(d) Madad-i-mash-pension to
scholars and saints by the
Sultans
283. In which order did the following
dynasties rule Delhi?
I. Slave II. Khalji
Ill. Lodi IV. Sayyid
V. Tughlaq
(a) I, II, V, IV, III (b) I, II, III, IV, V (c) II, III, IV, V, I (d) IV, V, III, II, I
284. The official language of the Delhi sultanate was
(a) Urdu (b) Arabic
(c) Persian (d) Hindi
285. Who was the general who helped Ala-ud-din Khalji to consolidate his power in Devagiri?
(a) Nusrat Khan (b) Malik Kafur (c) Alp Khan (d) Ulugh Khan
286. Which of the following statements
is false?
(a) First to adopt the title of
Sultan-Balban
(b) Tried to make monarchy he
reditary-Iltutmish
(c) First Sultan to be born of a
Hindu mother-Nasir-ud-din
Khusrau
(d) First Sultan to invade south
India-Ala-ud-din Khalji
287. The Sultanate coins-fita/,
Shashgani and Tanka-were respec
tively made of
(a) copper, silver, silver
(b) gold, copper, lead
(c) silver, gold, copper
(d) silver, gold, silver
288. Who was the first monarch in the
Delhi Sultanate to start direct
..
relations with the cultivators to know the actual amount they paid as land revenue?
(a) Balban
(b) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq (c) Ala-ud-din Khalji
(d) Sikandar Lodi
289. Which of the contemporary historians was appointed as the chief qazi of Delhi by Sultan Muhammad-bin- Tughlaq?
(a) Thn Batutah
(b) Zia-ud-din Barani (c) Shams-i-siraj Afif (d) None of them
290. Muhammad-bin- Tughlaq is said to have shifted his capital to the Deccan in 1327. What was the name of this place?
(a) Gulbarga (b) Daulatabad (c) Lakhnauti (d) Kana
291. In spite of being fully independent sovereigns, the Sultans of Delhi looked to the Calipha as the source of political authority in order to
(a) give legitimacy to their rule. (b) secure respectability in the
Islamic world.
(c) satisfy the conscience of their
Muslim subjects.
(d) enhance their status and au
thority.
292. Which one of the following statements about the impact and fusion of the Hindu and Muslim cultures during the Sultanate period is false?
(a) There were major changes in
the social institutions.
(b) The hold of the caste system
on the society did not loosen
in any way.
(c) The concept of a separate community or nationality of Hindus and Muslims was absent.
(d) A mingling of the two cultures took place although not at every level.
293. Which one of the following architectural features was not brought by the Turkish conquerors?
(a) The dome
(b) The vault
(c) The arch
(d) Decorative figures
History of India 183
294. Match the following.
A. Decorative 1. Lodi dynilsty
enamelled
tiles
B. Appearance
of true arch
C. Solemn and
severe
character
D. Decorative 4. Slave dynasty
devices
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (b) A-I, B-4, C-2, D-3 (c) A-I, B-4, C-3, D-2 (d) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-l
2. Tughlaq
dynilsty
3. Khalji
dynasty
295. Which of the following is not correct?
(a) Alai Darwaza-Ala-ud-din
Khalji
(b) Jamait Khana Masjid-Balban (c) Qutb Minar-lltutmish
(d) Hissar-Firuz Shah Tughlaq
296. I. Jahanpanah
II. Mubarakabad
III. Khizrabad
IV. Siri
V. Qila-i-Rai Pithora
VI. Tughlaqabad
VII. Firuzabad
Which of the following gives the seven cities of Delhi in the chronological order of their construction?
(a) I, II, III. IV, V, VI. VII (b) V, IV, VI, I, VII, II, III (c) I, III, IV, V, VI, VII, I
(d) III, IV, V, II, I, VII, VI
297. Match the following.
A. Dinapanah 1. Slave Dynasty B. Khizrabad 2. Khalji dynasty
C. Siri 3. Tughlaq Dy
nasty
4. Sayyid Dy
nasty
D. Qila-i-Rai
Pithora
E. Jahanpanah
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-2, E-4 (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-3, E-4 (c) A-I, B-4, C-2, D-I, E-3 (d) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-l, E-l
298. Which of the following acquired the double dome for the first time? (a) Tomb of Sikandar Lodi
(b) Tomb of Khizr Khan
(c) Tomb of Ala-ud-din Khalji (d) Tomb of Balban
299. The Persian style of Sabaq-i-Hindi was adopted by
(a) Amir Khusrau
(b) Zia-ud-din Barani
(c) Shaikh Jamali Kambo
(d) Malik Muhammad Jaisi

History for UPSC

Some Famous Questions from History

263. Which of the following is/ are incorrectly matched?
I. Gahadavalas-Kanauj
II. Chahamanas-Ajmer
III. Chandellas-Dhivika
IV. Guhilas-Mewar
(a) I and IV (b) IV only
(c) III only (d) II, III and IV
264. Which dynasty's founder was an
elected king?
(a) Gahadavala (b) Chandella
(c) Pala (d)Chahamana
265. The temples of Khajuraho pertain to
I. Jainism
III. Shaivism
(a) I only (b) I and II
(c) I, II and III (d) I and III
266. The rare work on architecture,
Samarangana Sutradhara was written by
(a) Jayasimha Siddharaja (b) Bhoja Paramara
(c) Mihirabhoja
(d) Peddana
267. Which of the following was the most important factor in transforming ancient Indian society into feudal society?
(a) Decline of trade
(b) Practice of land grants (c) Proliferation of castes (d) None of the above
II.
Buddhism
268. India's earliest contact with Islam came through
(a) Arab invasion of Sind in 7th
century
(b) Turkish invasions in 11th cen
tury
(c) Sufi saints
(d) Arab merchants on Malabar
coast
269. The causes for the defeat of the
Rajputs by the Turks was/were
I. Isolation and insularity of their
society
II. The iniquitous caste system
III. Backward science and tech
nology
IV. Non-violent and pacifist
policy of Indians
(a) I and II
(b) I, III and IV
(c) I, II and III
(d) II and III
270. Which of the following was not
patronised by Mahmud of Ghazni?
(a) Ansari
(b) Hasan Dehlvi
(c) Al-beruni
(d) Firdausi
271. Which of the following statements is not correct?
(a) Mahmud of Ghazni invaded
India mainly to plunder its wealth.
(b) Muhammad of Ghur's aim in invading India was to spread Islam.
(c) Jayapala burnt himself to death following his defeat by Mahmud of Ghazni.
(d) The first recorded Arab expedition in the seventh century was a naval expedition to
plunder the western coast of India.
272. (A); Mahmud of Ghazni targeted his attacks on temples and temple towns.
(R): His main motive was 'to establish the superiority of Islam.
(a) A and R are both correct and
R explains A
(b) A and R are correct but R
does not explain A (c) A is correct but R is incorrect (d) Both A and R are incorrect
273. Why is the term 'Slave Dynasty' regarded a misnomer?
(a) Except for Qutb-ud-din Aibak,
no other ruler was a slave
(b) Only three rulers of this dynasty were slaves and even they were manumitted by their masters
(c) Technically only Qutb-ud-din Aibak and his immediate descendants were slaves
(d) All the rulers of this dynasty
did not belong to one family
274. Why was Balban so keen on in
creasing the prestige of his crown?
(a) In order to impress his sub
jects
(b) In order to curb any tendency
to revolt
(c) In order to satisy the Calipha
(d) In order to establish the di
vine rule
275. Which of the following statements are true with regard to Ala-uddin Khalji?
I. He restructured the agrarian
system to maintain his army and to stabilise his political
power.
II. He forbade his nobles from
taking wine.
III. All pensions and endowments
were appropriated to the state.
IV. He declared that he would J the king of the Hindus in tl same way as he was of tl
Muslims.
(a) I and II (b) I, II and
(c) II and IV (d) I, II and
276. What was the main purpose
Ala-ud-din Khalji's market reg lations?
(a) To maintain the efficiency
his army
(b) To control the peasant a
baniyas
(c) To ensure that the peasant
well as the merchant get a f
deal
(d) To strengthen his army a
his control over intermedi
ies
277. What does the word iqta sta
for?
(a) Law of primogeniture (b) Crown lands donated to ar
officers
(c) State's share of one-third
the spoils of war
(d) The grant of revenue fror
territory in lieu of salary
278. Which of the following is not t
.of iqta?
(a) The iqta remained non-hen
tary under the Sultanate.
(b ) The larger iqtas carried
ministrative responsibiliti<
(c) The assignee had to supp
contingent to the Sultan
times of need.
(d) The iqtadar was respons
for maintaining law and
der in his territory.
279. Ala-ud-din Khalji's revenue
tern was directed towards
I. controlling ambitious Mu:
nobles
II. curbing the wealth and po
of Hindu landowning cIa
III. increasing the State's inCt
(a) I and II (b) III onl
(c) I, II and III (d) IV onI)
280. Match the following.
A. Land tax paid by Hindu B. State's share of 1/5th of
spoils of war
C. Land tax paid by MusliJ D. A religious tax levied
Muslims only
1. Kham 2. Kharaj
3. Ushraf 4. Zakat
(a) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4 (b) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-l (c) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (d) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-l

Question Paper Set of History

224. Which of the following Rashtrakuta kings founded the capital city of Manyakheta?
(a) Amoghavarsha
(b) Indra III
(c) Dantidurga
(d) Krishna II
225. The Rashtrakutas were patrons of
(a) Jainism (b) Buddhism
(c) Vaishnavism (d) Shaivism
226. Which of the following statements is false?
(a) Rashtrakuta king who never
invaded north IndiaAmoghavarsha
(b) Rashtrakuta king who constructed the Kailasha Temple-Krishna I
(c) Rashtrakuta king who defeated the Pratihara ruler, Nagabhatta-Govinda III
(d) Kavirajamarga, poetic work in Kannada, was written by Indra III
227. During the rule of which Ganga king was the image of Gomateshwar at Sravanabelagola erected?
(a) Durvinita
(b) Rajamalla IV
(c) Didiga
(d) Sivamara
228. Which of the following 'dynasties styled themselves as Yadavakulatilaka?
(a) Hoysalas (b) Yadavas
(c) Rashtrakutas (d) Chalukyas
229. Which of the following statements are true with regard to the Kakatiyas?
I. The Kakatiyas were at first
the feudatories of the Later Chalukyas.
II. The Kakatiya dynasty had a woman sovereign by ~he name of Rudradeva Maharaja.
III. The kingdom was annexed by the Bahmani Sultan, Ahmad Shah in about 1424-25.
IV. Prolaraja was the mightiest
monarch of this dynasty.
(a) I and II
(b) I and III
(c) I, II and III
(d) II, III and IV
230. Which Kadamba ruler shifted his capital to Halsi?
(a) Ravivarman
(b) Mayurasarman
(c) Kakusthavarman
(d) Nandivarman
231. Match the following:
A. Eastern 1. Warrangal
Chalukyas
B. Yadavas 2. Vengi
C. Kakatiyas 3. Dwarasamudra D. Hoysalas 4. Devagiri
5. Talkad
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (b) A-5, B-3, C-l, D-2 (c) A-2, B-4, C-l, D-3 (d) A-2, B-5, C-l, D-4
232. Match the following:
A. Mayura- 1. Ganga dynasty
sarman
B. Didiga
2. Hoysala d y
nasty
C. Dantidurga 3. Kadamba dy
nasty
D. Sala 4. Rashtrakutas
(a) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2 (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-4, B-2, C-3, D-l (d) A-3, B-2, C-l, D-4
233. Pampa I and Ponna were two great Kannada poets and authors. "Which of the following two works were written by them respectively?
I. Adipurana
II. Santipurana
III. Mitakshara
IV. Manasollasa
(a) I and II (b) III and IV
(c) II and III (d) I and IV
234. Match the following:
A. Ravikirti 1. Kakatiya
B. Harisena 2. Rashtrakuta
C. Mahesvara 3. Chalukya D. Sakalya 4. Yadava
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4
(b) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-l (c) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2 (d) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-l
235. Who authored the SiddhantaSiromani?
(a) Mahesvara
(b) Bhaskaracharya
(c) Harisena
(d) Ponna
236. Match the following.
A. Silappadikaram 1. Work on
prosody
2, An epic of
human
interest
3. Work on
grammar
D. Pannirupadalmn 4. Deals with
na ture
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4
(b) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
(c) A-2, B-4, C-3, D-l
(d) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-l
B. Pattuppattu
C. Tolkappiyam
237. Who authored the Tamil el
'Silappadikaram'?
(a) Tiruvalluvar
(b) Ilango
(c) Saint Agattiyar
(d) Sattanar
238. Manimekalai is looked upon as t ... of Tamil,
(a) Odyssey (b) Mahabharat,
(c) Bible (d) Ramnyana
239. Padirrupnttu (Ten Tens) de, mostly with the history of (a) the Pallavas
(b) the Cholas
(c) the Cheras
(d) the Pandyas
240. Which of the following statemer are true with regard to the Sang, Age?
I. A group of learned scholc
produced valuable Tamil ] erature under the patrona of Pandyas-Cheras-Cholas.
II. It was the height of Ch(
power.
III. People worshipped the lo(
god Murugan, later known
Subramaniam.
IV. The peasants occupied a Ie
social status.
(a) I and II
(b) I, III and IV
(c) I and IV
(d) II, III and IV
241. During the Sangam Age which the following dynasties was n in power?
(a) Pandyas (b) Cheras
(c) Cholas (d) Pallavas
242. In the battle of 'Venni' whi Chola king defeated the Pand and Chera kings?
(a) Nedunjeliyan (b) Vijaya
(c) Pallava (d) Chola
243. Nedunjeliyan was a
(a) Chera (b) Pandya
(c) Karikala (d) Rajaraja

History is a mistery

205. The Poona copper plate inscription belongs to
(a) Kuinaradevi
(b) Prabhavati
(c) Dhruvadevi
(d) Devichandraguptam
206. In Aryavarta, Samudra Gupta
defeated all but .
(a) Rudradeva, Achyutta, Nandin (b) Balvarman, Chandravarman (c) Ganpati Naga, Chauraman (d) Nagasena, Partyanta
207. The term 'Sarvadvipavasia' on the
Allahabad pillar refers to
(a) Hindu colonies in South-East
Asia
(b) Hindus in Maldives and
Andaman-Nicobar
(c) Buddhist monks and monas
teries in Afghanistan and cen
tral Asia
(d) close relations of foreign colo
nies with India
208. Who of the following Gupta rulers defeated the Huna ruler, Mihirakula?
(a) Skanda Gupta
(b) Buddha Gupta
(c) Narasimha Gupta
(d) Yasoqharman
209. Which of the following statements is not true about the Gupta rule? (a) The Guptas introduced the
divine origin of kingship in India.
(b) Horse archery became promi
nent in military tactics.
(c) Land taxes increased in num
ber.
(d) For the first time civil and
criminal law were clearly
defined and demarcated.
210. Which was not one of the three obligations of the vassals of the
Guptas who lived on the fringe of
the empire?
(a) They offered homage to the
sovereign by personal atten
dance at his court.
(b) They paid tribute to him. (c) They presented to him daugh
ters in marriage.
(d) They obtained charters for
ruling in their areas.
211. Which of the following statements is not true regarding the Gupta society?
(a) The brahmanas claimed many
privileges.
(b) There was a decline in the
number of untouchables as
compared to earlier periods.
(c) The tribal chiefs were given a
respectable origin.
(d) The position of the shudras
improved.
212. That Samudra Gupta was a musician is testified by
(a) Fa-Hsien
(b) certain coins
(c) Kalidasa
(d) Prayag Prasasti
213. From which of the following ports did north India trade with SouthEast Asia?
I. Ghantashala
II. Kadara
III. Kaveripattinam
IV. Tamralipti
(a) I, II and III
(b) I, III and IV
(c) I, II and IV
(d) I and IV
214. Which of the following is/ are dramas by Kalidasa?
I. Meghaduta
II. Ritusamhara
III. Vikramorvasi
IV. Raghuvamsa
(a) I and III (b) III only (c) I, II and IV (d) III and IV
215. Which of the following is incorrectly matched?
(a) Maitkaras-Valabhi
(b) Maukharis-Kanauj
(c) Sasanka-Vatapi
(d) Pushyabhuti-Thaneshwar
216. What was/were Hsuan-Tsang's aims in coming to India?
I. Study at Nalanda
II. Ambassadorial mission from
the Tang emperor Tai Tsung of China
III. Collect Buddhist texts from
India
IV. Study the political system in
India
(a) I and II (b) I, II and III
(c) II and IV (d) I and III
217. Which of the following statements
are true with regard to
Harshavardhana?
I. He defeated the Gauda ruler,
Sasanka.
History of India 179
II. He ruled Kanauj without tak
ing up any. royal insignia.
III. Harsha was defeated by the
Chalukyan ruler Pulakesin II.
IV. He did not maintain any for
eign relations.
(a) I, II and III (b) I and II
(c) I and IV (d) II, III, IV
218. Which of the following is false
with regard to the administration
of Harsha?
(a) There was a council of min
isters.
(b) The state was divided into provinces (bhukti). which were again divided into districts (vishaya),
(c) Taxation was very high.
(d) The criminal law was severe.
219. Which of the following was not written by Harsha?
(a) Kadambari
(b) Ratnavali
(c) Nagananda
(d) Priyadarshika
220. Which of the following are true with regard to Pulakesin II?
I. He defeated Harshavardhana,
the ruler of Kanauj
II. His brother Kubja-Vishnu
vardhana founded the king
dom of Chalukyas of Vengi
III. He had friendly relations with Khusrau II, king of Persia, who received an Indian envoy in 625. A.D.
IV. It was during his reign that the celebrated Chinese pil
grim, Yuan Chwang, visited
his kingdom in 641 A.D.
(a) I, II and III (b) I, II and IV
(c) I, II, III and IV (d) I and II
221. Which of the following works was composed by Ganga King Durvinita, father-in-law of Pulakesin II?
(a) Chudamani
(b) Subdavatara
(c) Harake/i-Nataka
(d) Malavikagnimitra
222. Who founded the Western
Chalukyan branch of Kaly~ni?
(a) Taila II
(b) Jayasimha I
(c) Kubja-Vishnuvardhana
(d) Vijayaditya
223. The Chalukyas of were suc
ceeded by the Rashtrakutas.
(a) Vengi (b) Kalyani
(c) Badami (d) Anhilwara

Practice Set

168. Put in chronological order the foreign invasions on India.
I. Bactrians II Kushans
III Shakas
(a) III, II, I (b) I, III, II (c) II, I, III
(d) All simultaneous
169. Kanishka ruled over Afghanistan and part of north India from two capitals. One was Purushapura.
Which was the other?
(a) Ujjain
(b) Pataliputra (c) Mathura (d) Taxila
170. Identify the false statement with regard to Kanishka.
(a) Kanishka patronised Bud
dhism
(b) He is associated with the
Buddhist council held at
Pataliputra
(c) The Stupa at Peshawar was' built by Agesilaos, a Greek architect to the court of Kanishka
(d) The well-known poet, Nagarjuna flourished at his court.
171. Which of the following statements is false?
(a) Milinda-Panho is associated
with Menander
(b) St. Thomas visited the court
of Gondophernes
(c) Buddhacharita is associated
with Nagarjuna .
(d) The court physician of
Kanishka was Charaka
172. Which of the following are true
with regard to the Gandhara
School of art?
I. Buddha's figure appears here
for the first time.
II. Its craftsmen used white stone
to make images.
III. It was also known as Greco
Buddhist art.
IV. Its figures were superior to
the Mathura School of art. (a) I, II and III (b) I and II (c) land IV (d) III and IV
173. The banking operations in ancient India were conducted by
(a) Guilds
(b) Sarthas
(c) Satyapanas
(d) none of the above
174. Which of the following was not a port in the time of the Satav ahanas?
(a) Arikamedu (b) Taxila
(c) Sopara (d) Barygaza
175. Match the following.
A. Kushans 1. Bronze coins
B. Satavahanas 2. Gold coins
C. Shakas 3. Silver coins
4. Lead coins
(a) A-2, B-4, C-3 (b) A-3, B-2, C-I (c) A-I, B-2, C-3 (d) A-2, B-1, C-3
176. The most important item of ex
port from India to the Roman
Empire was
(a) pottery (b) gold
(c) spices (d) wine
177. Which one of the following is false with regard to the guild system?
(a) The guild was headed by a
chief, usually called the Jethaka (Elder)
(b) Guilds were not associated
with caste or sub-caste
(c) The guilds had a corporate
life symbolised by the posses
sion of banners
(d) Guilds offered the artisans
social status and a degree of
general security
178. The first ever long inscription in Sanskrit was issued by
(a) Menander
(b) Gautamiputra Satakarni
(c) Rudradaman
(d) Kanishka
179. The 'Yavanas' refer to the
(a) Greeks (b) Parthians
(c) Sakas (d) foreigners
180. Rudradaman is said to have renovated the great artificial lake at Girnar; it had originally been excavated by
(a) Bindusara
(b) Chandragupta Maurya
(c) Asoka
(d) Nahapana
181. Of the following, one is not a correct statement about the Shakas-Kushans. Identify it.
Histon} of India 177'
(a) They introduced better cavalry and the use of the riding horse on a large scale.
(b) They introduced reins, saddles, toe stirrup, turban, tunic, trousers, helmets, boots, caps, etc.
(c) They contributed to the de
velopment of feudal polity.
(d) The Gandhara school of sculp
ture originated because of
their patronage.
182. Who of the following were the
first rulers to make land grants to
the brahmanas?
(a) Shungas
(b) Kanvas
(c) Satavahanas
(d) Shakas and Kushans
183. Who introduced the Satrap system of government?
(a) Indo-Greeks (b) Shakas (c) Parthians (d) Kushans
184. Which of the.following is a wrong statement?
(a) We haye more instances of
land grants being made to the Buddhist monks than to the brahmanas in the Satavahana period.
(b) Satavahana rulers called them
selves brahmanas.
(c) The orthodox brahmans of the
north looked upon the
Satavahanas as kshatriyas.
(d) The Satavahanas show traces
of a matrilineal social struc
ture.
185. Of the following, who appointed
military generals as provincial
governors?
(a) Shakas and Kushans
(b) Shakas and Indo-Greeks
(c) Shakas and Parthians
(d) Satavahanas and Indo-Greeks
186. Which of the following is false with regard to the Gupta administration?
(a) The king did not impose any
restrictions on the movement of his subjects.
(b) The mainstay of finance was
the land revenue.
(c) The lowest unit of adminis
tration was the village.
(d) The king was an absolute ruler
and the adminis~ration was
heavily centralised.

Practice Set of History

Important Questions of History

141. Which one of the following is not a contribution of Asoka to Indian polity and culture?
(a) A non-aggressive foreign
policy based on equality between the big and small states, mutual respect and non-interference
(b) Reform in criminal justice and revolutionary change in the social system
(c) The concept of religious tolerance
(d) Brought about the unification of political and cultural concepts
142. The inscriptions of Asoka are written in
I. Greek
III. Aramic
(a) I, II and IV
(b) I, II and III
(c) II and III
(d) II, III and IV
143. 'Dhamma' or 'Law of Piety'
(a) had the essence of all religions.
(b) was a revolt against inefficiency in the Buddhist Sangha.
(c) was a new religion which Asoka founded.
(d) laid emphasis on following a mild religious policy.
II. Kharosthi IV. Sanskrit
144. The term 'Dhamma' is
(a) a Prakrit word
(b) a Sanskrit word
(c) a Pali word
(d) none of the above
145. Which of the following is not correct with regard to social life during the Mauryan period? (a) Meat-eating was a common
practice.
(b) Segregation of women from
worldly affairs was in vogue.
(c) Public and private morality
was high.
(d) Slavery was not in vogue.
146. Which of the following are true with regard to art and architecture during the Mauryan period? I. Mauryan art was influenced
by Persian and Greek art.
II. The most striking feature with
regard to the pillars was its
polish.
III. It was influenced by Buddhism to a great extent. IV. On the whole Mauryan art
was primitive in nature.
(a) I and II only
(b) I and IV only
(c) I, II and III only
(d) III and IV only
147. What was the most likely cause which led to the dismemberment of the Mauryan empire?
(a) Brahmanic dissatisfaction (b) Successors of Asoka were
weaklings
(c) financial crisis
(d) Asoka's pacifist policy
148. Which of the following regions
was/were not in Asoka's kingdom?
I. Modern Afghanistan
II. Modern Pakistan
III. Tanjore
IV. Mysore
(a) I only (b) II and III
(c) III only (d) II only
149. Match the following.
A. Rajuka 1. Provincial rev
enue collector
2. Collector-gen
eral of revenue
3. Gatekeeper
B. Sthanik
C. Vrajabhu
mik
D. Pratihara 4. Public works E. Samaharta 5. District officer
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4, E-5 (b) A-5, B-4, C-3, D-2, E-l (c) A-I, B-5, C-4, D-3, E-2 (d) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-5, E-3
r
150. Which of the following Asokan inscriptions mention the Kalinga war?
(a) 13th Rock Edict (b) 12th Rock Edict
(c) Bhabru Rock Edict (d) 8th Rock Edict
151. Which of the following is false?
(a) The saint who accompanied Chandragupta Maurya to Sarv anabelagola-Bhadrabahu
(b) The palace of Pataliputra
built of wood and stone
(c) Kara-a tax
(d) Envoy to Bindusara's court
Dionysios
152. With which one of the following
did Asoka not maintain diplo
matic relations?
(a) Antiochus II Theos of Syria
(b) Ptolemy III Philadelphus of
Egypt
(c) Antiochus I Soter of Syria
(d) Antigonus Gonatus of
Macedonia
153. The edicts of Asoka emphasise (a) catalogue of conquests
(b) extent of the empire
(c) pronouncements of policy (d) self-glorification
154. The oldest surviving Indian written record of historical significance belongs to the time of (a) Chandragupta(b) Asoka
(c) Kanishka (d) Kalhana
155. The king in the Mauryan times was called Dharmapravartaka by (a) Kautilya
(b) Megasthenes
(c) Chandragupta
(d) Asoka
156. The Mauryan punch-marked silver coins did not carry the symbol of
(a) peacock (b) cow,
(c) hill (d) cres~ent
157. Which of the following sites, where Asokan pillars exist, has the bull capital?
(a) Sarnath
(b) Sanchi
(c) Lauriya-Nandangarh
(d) Rampurva
158. The term not mentioned in Asokan inscriptions is
(a) Satyaputras (b) Cholas
(c) Cheras (d) Panyas
159. Which of the following is not one of the animals carved on the Sarnath pillar?'
(a) Elephant (b) Horse
(c) Deer (d) Humped bull
160. Which of the following was not one of the main purposes for which money was used in the Mauryan times?
(a) Trade (b) Taxes
(c) Salaries (d) Banking

Question Papers

121. Identify the wrong statement.
(a) Original Buddhist religious
texts were compiled in PalL
(b) Sthaviravada is an orthodox
school of Jainism.
(c) Jain saint mentioned in the
Rigvedl7 is Rishabhanath.
(d) Jainism patronised Ardha
magadhL
122. Milinda-panho explains the disputed points of Buddhism in the form of a dialogue between the Indo-Greek king Menander (Milinda) and the Buddhist priest,
(a) Asvaghosa (b) Nagasena
(c) Buddhaghosa (d) Nagarjuna
121. Identify the wrong statement.
(a) Original Buddhist religious texts were compiled in PalL
(b) Sthaviravada is an orthodox school of Jainism.
(c) Jain saint mentioned in the Rigvedl7 is Rishabhanath
(d) Jainism patronised ArdhamagadhL
122. Milinda-panho explains the disputed points of Buddhism in the form of a dialogue between the Indo-Greek king Menander (Milinda) and the Buddhist priest,
(a) Asvaghosa (b) Nagasena
(c) Buddhaghosa (d) Nagarjuna
139. What is the importance of the Kalinga war in Indian history?
(a) It secured for India an important sea port which promoted trade with Western Asia.
(b) It brought about the downfall of the Mauryan empire.
(c) With this victory Asoka be came a world conqueror.
(d) It brought about a marked change in the foreign policy of Asoka.
140. Which of the following statements are true with regard to the Artlwshastra?
I. It is a treatise on kingship,
statecraft and diplomacy.
II. According to it, in the last
years of his life, the king
should take to sanyas.
III. It lays down several rules for the management of the king's farms based on developed agricultural techniques like the use of manure.
IV. It suggested the appointment of a superintendent of liquor to control the sale of alcoholic drinks.
(a) I and II (b) I, II and III (c) I, III and IV (d) III and IV

History

101. What was the real cause for the split between the northern Jains and southern Jains?
(a) Idol worship
(b) Interpretation of Jain philoso
phy
(c) Whether to wear clothes or
t1)ove without them
(d) Compilation of the teachings
of Mahavira
102. Who wrote the Kalpasutra?
(a) Bhadrabhu
(b) Sthalabahu
(c) Gopala
(d) Gosala Maskariputra
103. Which of the following is not true of Buddha?
(a) He did not concern himself
with the problem of God or the soul.
(b) He declared that everything
in. the world was temporary.
(c) According to him desire was the cause of all misery.
(d) He glorified the concept of
self-mortification.
104. How many Buddhist councils were held in all?
(a) Two (b) Three
(c) Four (d) Five
105. 'Dhamma-cakka-pavattana Sutta' or the 'Turning of the wheel of law', which formed the nucleus of Buddhist teachings, consisted of three precepts which did not include
(a) the Middle Path
(b) the Four Noble Truths
(c) the belief in Bodhisattavas (d) the Eight-Fold Path
106. Which of the following was not a part of the Tripitakas (three baskets)?
(a) Jatakas (b) Vinaya
(c) Sutta (d) Abhidhamma
107. Which of the following statements are true with regard to the differences between Mahayanism and Hinayanism?
1. Mahayanism placed reliance
on faith and devotion in order to attain nirvana whereas Hinayanism believed in the practice of self-culture and
good deeds. .
2. Mahayanism regards Buddha as an incarnation of God, whereas Hinayanism regards Buddha as a man whose birth as Buddha was his last birth before he attained nirvana.
3. The religious texts of Mahayanism were written mostly hi Sanskirt, whereas those of Hinayanism were in PalL
4. Mahayanism believed that the highest ideal of life is to help others attain nirvana, whereas Hinayanism regarded the salvation of one's own self as the
highest ideal.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 and 4 (d) 1,2,3 and 4
108. Which of the following was not a fundamental point of difference between Buddhism and Jainism? (a) Buddhism differed from
Jainism in the fundamental concept of salvation.
(b) Buddhism was less accommodating towards Hinduism than Jainism because it was totally opposed to the caste system.
(c) The Buddhist concept of soul was radically different from that of Jainism.
(d) Buddhism was a religion of the common masses, while Jainism was confined to .the mercantile community.
109. The Buddhist Councils were held to
(a)
(b)
preach the Middle Path compile Buddhist canons and settle disputes
(c) send religious missions abroad (d) do none of the above
110. With whom are the following lines associated: "The greatest of all conquerors is not he who conquers a thousand men a thousand times in battle, but he who conquers his own self?
(a) Parsvanatha (b) Mahavira
(c) Buddha (d) Krishna
111. Which of the following statements are causes for the decline of Buddhism?
I. Reformation of Buddhism II. Rise of Jainism
III. Foreign invasions
IV. Lack of royal patronage
V. The Buddhist institutions had
become inefficient
(a) I, III and V
(b) I, III, IV and V
(c) 1, IV and V
(d) I and II
112. Which of the following names is not applicable to Bhagavatism?
(a) Abhira (b) Ekantika
(c) Satvata (d) Naraniya
113. Which of the following statements are true with regard to Bhagavatism?
I. Bhagavatism believes in the
theory of lmrma.
II. Bhagavatism rejects the theory
of Avatars. .
III. Bhagavatism lays great stress on the doctrine of Bhakti. IV. Bhagavatism believes in re
birth. (a) I, III and IV (b) I and IV
(c) I and II (d) I, II and IV
114. The Indo-Greek, who called himself Param-Bhagavata and erected the Garuda-dhvaja, was
(a) Antialkidas (b) Heliodorus
(c) Menander
(d) Demetrius
115. Which of the following is incorrect?
(a) The teachings of Vasudeva
Krishna-the Gita
(b) The Supreme God according
to Bhagavatism- Vishnu
(c) Shiva has been linked with
Rudra
(d) The Pancharatrikas wor
shipped Rama
116. To whom does Vasudeva-Krishna
address all his teachings in the
Bhagavad Gita?
(a) Arjuna
(b) Duryodhana
(c) Yudhishthira
(d) The common people
117. Which of the following statements is false?
(a) The Garuda Pillar is at
Besnagar.
(b) The earliest Shaiva sect is the
Lingayat.
(c) The Alvars were minstrels of
Shaiva sect.
(d) To the Greeks, Lord Krishna
was known as Heracles.
118. Match the following.
A. Fourth (1) Vasumitra
Buddhist
Council
B. Third
Buddhist
Council
Tissa
C. Second
Buddhist
Council
D. First
Buddhist
Council
Upali
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (b) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3 (c) A-I, B-2, C-4, D-3 (d) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-l
(2) Moggaliputra
(3) Sabaksmi
(4) Mahakashyap
119. Match the following events in the life of Buddha and the places.
A. Birthplace 1. Kusinagar
B. Attained
enlightenment 2. Sarnath at
C. Delivered first
sermon at
D. Attained
nirvana at 4. Lumbini
(a) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-l (b) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-l (c) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (d) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4

Question Paper for UPSC

81. Which of the Vedas was divided into 'White' and 'Black' parts?
(a) Rig (b) Sarna
(c) Yajur (d) Atharva
82. Which of the following is not matched correctly?
(a) Ayurveda-magie
(b) Shilpaveda-seulpture
(c) Gandharvaveda-music
(d) Dhanurveda-warfare
83. What was the main cause for the rise of large states during and after the sixth century B.C.?
(a) Widespread use of iron in parts of U.P. and Bihar (b) The tribal society gave way to a more settled life
(c) There was great increase 01 trade and commerce
(d) None of the above
84. The modern location of some old states are given below. Which is/ are correctly matched
: Bhagalpur and
Monghyr
2. Magadha: Patna and Gaya 3. Kosala : A vadh
4. Panchala: Badaun, Bareilly 5. Matsya : Allahabad
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1, 2, 3 and 5
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) All five
85. Which of the following old states and their capitals is/ are correctly matched?
1. Anga : Champa
2. Vatsa : Saket
3. Panchala : Kanyakubha 4. Magadha : Girivraja
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4 (d) 1 and 4
86. Tradition has it that Ajatasatru was instigated to murder his father by
(a) Devadatta (b) Chellana (c) Chetaka (d) Durmukha
87. The founder of the Nanda Dynasty was
(a) Kalasoka
(b) Mahapadma
(c) Dhana Nanda
(d) Nagadasaka
88. Who is often described as the second 'Parasurama' or 'the exterminator of the entire kshatriya race'?
(a) Ajatasatru
(b) Mahapadma
(c) Dhana Nanda
(d) Pradyota
89. Which of the following caused the success of Magadha?
I. Magadha enjoyed an advantageous geographical position in the iron age, as most of the deposits were located there
II. The rulers of this state had very good weapons
III. The capitals of Magadha were situated at strategic positions
IV. No other power at that time
had the courage to attack it (a) I, II and III (b) I and II (c) II and IV (d) I and III
90. The first foreigner to invade India was
(a) Cyrus (b) Darius I
(c) Agrammes (d) Cambyses
91. The founder of the Achaemenian dynasty was
(a) Cyrus (b) Darius I
(c) Agrammes (d) Xerxes
1. Anga
92. "Of all the nations that we have known, it is India which has the largest population". Who said these lines?
(a) Scylax (b) Herodotus
(c) Xerxes (d) Cyrus
93. Which of the following was not a result of the Iranian contact? (a) The Iranians brought to India the Kharosthi script.
(b) Iranian sculpture influenced Mauryan art.
(c) It made India known to the
outside world by finding new
trade routes.
(d) Indian grammar was influ
enced to a large extent.
94. In which battle did Alexander defeat Porus?
(a) Gaugamela
(b) Hydaspes
(c) Hyphasis
(d) None of the above
95. On the banks of which river were Alexander and Porus involved in
a grim battle?
(a) Jhelum (b) Ravi
(c) Chenab (d) Beas
96. Alexander died at
(a) Patala (b) Taxila
(c) Babylon (d) Gedrosia
97. Which of the, following was not a result of Alexander's invasion? (a) The invasion established di
rect contacts between the Indians and Greeks.
(b) It established Greek settlements in the northeastern region of India.
(c) Alexander was responsible for a number of geographical discoveries.
(d) He made India a province of Greece.
98. Which of the following factors were responsible for the rise of different religious sects during the 6th century B.C.?
I. The domineering attitude of
the brahmanas towards the common people
II. Growth of untouchability and rigidity of the caste system
III. The people from the lower strata were becoming influential
IV. The indiscriminate killing of cattle was ruining the concept
of new agriculture
(a) I and II (b) I and III
(c) I, II and IV (d) II and III
99. The original name of the sect which later came to be known as 'Jaina' was
(a) Tirthankaras (b) Jina
(c) Nirgranthas (d) Arhant
100. Which of the following statements are' correct with regard to Mahavira's views?
I. Mahavira did not believe in the transmigration of the soul.
II. Mahavira laid much emphasis on the concept of devotion for attaining nirvana.
III. Mahavira rejected God as the creator of the universe.
IV. Rituals had nothing to do with the purification of one's soul.

Some Questions from History

61. Match the following.
A. patanjali 1. Niyaya Philoso
phy
B. Gautama 2. Sankhya Philoso
phy
C. Kapila 3. Yoga Philosophy
D. Kanada 4. Uttara Mimamsa
Philosophy
5. Vaisheshika Phi
losophy
(a) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-S, E-4 (b) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3, E-S (c) A-S, B-3, C-4, D-1, E-2 (d) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-S, E-3
62. Which of the following kingdoms is not mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata?
(a) Panehala (b) Kashi
(c) Kausambi (d) Magadha
63. Which of the following is/are matched correctly?
I. Samaveda-melody
II. Atharvaveda-mainly magical
spells
III. Aranyakas-forest books IV. Srauta Sutra-ceremonies of
domestic life
(a) I and III
(b) II and III
(c) I, II and III
(d) I, III and IV
64. Which of the following are manuals of instruction in the form of brief rules?
(a) Vedas (b) Samhitas
(c) Sastras (d) Sutras
65. Which of the following is/ are associated with Dharma-sutras? 1. Gautama 2. Apasthamba 3. Vasishtha 4. Baudhayana (a) 1, 2 and 4 (b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 4 . (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
66. Which of the following wrote the Smritis pertaining to the Dharmashastra?
1. Narada
3. Yajnavalkya (a) 1 and 2 (c) 1, 2 and 3
B. Samaveda
c. Yajurveda
E.
Vyasa
2. Manu
4. Baudhayana (b) 2 and 3 (d) 2, 3 and 4
67. Which of the Vedangas gave rise to the Dharmasutra?
(a) Nirukta (b) Kalpa
(c) Jyotisha (d) Ushas
68. Whom does the 'Gayatri mantra' in the Rigveda address?
(a) Indra (b) Agni
(c) Savitri (d) Ushas
69. The mediator between man and gods according to the Vedic people was
(a) Indra (b) Agni
(c) Marut (d) Asvins
70. Which of the following is/ are correctly matched?
1. Mitra-Sun's beneficient en
ergy
2. Parjanya-god of cloud and
rain
3. Maruts-storm gods
4. Varuna-sky and water
(a) 1, 2 and 4 (b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1,2,3 and 4
71. Which of the following changes took place in the later Vedic period vis-a-vis the Rigvedic period?
1. The king's rule became terri
torial.
2. Tribal pastoralists became
peasants.
3. Caste distinctions became in
flexible.
4. Sati became a universal prac
tice. (a) 2, 3 and 4 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2 (d) 1, 2 and 3
72. What was the nishka?
(a) Number of cows
(b) A gold coin
(c) Voluntary tribute paid to the
king
(d) A metal piece
73. Why was a guest in the Vedic period known as goghna?
(a) He was as important as cattle (b) He was gifted cattle
(c) He generally brought cattle as gift
(d) He was fed on cattle
74. The battle which is the story of Mahabharata most probably took place around
(a) 100 B.C. (b) 1000 B.C.
(c) 2000 B.C. (d) 100 A.D.
75. The Bhagavad Gita and Santiparva are part of the
(a) Rigveda (b) Ramayana
(c) Mahabharata (d) Purana
76. Iron came to be used by the Vedic people in around
(a) 1000 B.C. (b) 2000 B.C.
(c) 800 B.C. (d) 400 B.C.
77. Which of the following gives the correct chronological order of the Vedas?
(a) Rig, Sama, Atharva, Yajur
(b) Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva
(c) Rig and Sama together; Yajur
and Atharva together
(d) All simultaneously
78. The ashrama system gained importance in the post-Vedic period of the Dharmashastras. The four ashramas in right order are
(a) Brahmaehari, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Sanyasi
(b) Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Brahmaehari, Sanyasi
(c) Brahmaehari, Grihastha, Sanyasi, Vanaprastha
(d) Brahmaehari, Vanaprastha, Grihastha, Sanyasi
79. The 'Battle of Ten Kings' was fought on the banks of
(a) Asikini (Chenab)
(b) Parushni (Ravi)
(c) Vitasta Ghelum)
(d) Vipas (Beas)
80. The learned lady who is said to have debated with the famous law-giver Yajnavalkya was
(a) Gargi (b) Maitreyi
(c) Kamala (d) Kalindi

Another 20 Questions of History

41. ,The primary purpose of a seal in the Indus Valley Civilisation was probably
(a) to signify royalty
(b) as a medium of exchange in
trade
(c) to signify ownership of prop
erty
(d) to indicate social status
42. Which of the following was not seen in the Nal Culture?
(a) Pink pottery
(b) Square seals
(c) Lions and fish
(d) Graves
43. Use of the plough has been evidenced at
(a) Kalibangan (b) Lothal
(c) Harappa (d) Banwali
44. Which of the following was not a characteristic' of the Harappan pottery?
(a) Peacock and fish representa
tions
(b) Geometrical figures like inter
secting circles (c) Non-glossy wares (d) Use of manganese paint and
various colours like black,
green, red, yellow, etc.
45. Post-Harappan sites have not been
discovered at
(a) Buxar (b) Alamgirpur
(c) Taxila (d) Varanasi
46. The Harappan seals, containing the picture of Proto-Shiva, do not depict
(a) elephant and tiger
(b) bull and cow
(c) rhinoceros
(d) buffalo and deer
47. Identify the response that denotes what is mostly regarded as the homeland of the Indo-Aryans. (a) Central Asia
(b) Central Europe
(c) The Far East
(d) Arctic Region

48. With which of the following do we associate the Aryans?
1. Greeks
II. Latins
III. Hittites
IV. Mesopotamians
V. Teutons (
(a) I, II and V (b) II and III (c) I, III and IV (d) IV and V
49. Which of the following is false?
(a) Central Asian theory was put
forward by Max Mueller.
(b) Mt. Mujavant was the home
of Soma.
(c) Philosophy of Upanishads
emphasises gyan.
(d) 'Panchalas,' 'Kurus' and
'Bharata' refer to territories.
50. Which of the following is the odd
man out?
(a) Ayurveda (b) Samaveda (c) Yajurveda (d) Vedanta
51. Which of the following is not correct about sabha and samiti in the/Vedic age?
(a) These assemblies exercised the
function of government and authority.
(b) They put some amount of restriction on the authority of the monarch.
(c) Women continued to take part in the assemblies during the later Vedic p~riod.
(d) The later Vedic period saw
the decline of the assemblies.
52. Which of the following is false?
(a) The earliest Aryan tax-Bali
(b) The ancient term for forced
labour- Vishti
(c) Royal coronation-Ashva
medha
(d) The basic unit of tribal king
dom in Vedic age-Jana
53. With regard to the position of women during the Vedic age, which one of the following statements is not true?
(a) Women enjoyed an
honourable position during the early Vedic period.
(b) Women took part in religious deliberations during the early Vedic period.
(c) The practice of 'sati' was unknown during the later Vedic period.
(d) The birth of girls was looked down upon during the later Vedic period.
54. In the Vedic age,
(a) polygamy was unknown (b) child marriage became promi
nent
(c) widows could remarry
(d) hypergamy was allowed
55. Which of the following factors was not responsible for encouraging the practice of caste system during the later Vedic period?
(a) Priests gave religious sanc
tion to caste system to wield authority.
(b) The vertical division of society made it easy to absorb new ethnic groups in later times.
(c) Social inequalities helped the Aryans in keeping the shudras away from owning land.
(d) Specialisation of labour due to transition from nomadic pastoral to a settled agrarian economy became a marked feature of society.
56. The Painted Grey Ware (PGW)
belongs to
(a) the Harappan civilisation (b) the Vedic age
(c) the Neolithic age
(d) none of these
57. Which of the following statements
54. In the Vedic age,
(a) polygamy was unknown (b) child marriage became promi
nent
(c) widows could remarry
(d) hypergamy was allowed
55. Which of the following factors was not responsible for encouraging the practice of caste system during the later Vedic period?
(a) Priests gave religious sanc
tion to caste system to wield authority.
(b) The vertical division of society made it easy to absorb new ethnic groups in later times.
(c) Social inequalities helped the Aryans in keeping the shudras away from owning land.
(d) Specialisation of labour due to transition from nomadic pastoral to a settled agrarian economy became a marked feature of society.
56. The Painted Grey Ware (PGW)
belongs to
(a) the Harappan civilisation (b) the Vedic age
(c) the Neolithic age
(d) none of these
60. Match the following.
A. Rigveda 1. Aitareya
Brahmana
2. Jaminiya
Brahmana
3. Gopatha
Brahmana
D. Atharvaveda 4. Taittiriya
Brahmana
(a) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3 (b) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4 (c) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1 (d) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2

20 Questions of History

21. All the three phases af the Palaealithic Age fallawed by the
Mesalithic and then by . the Nealithic have been facussed in sequence in the
(a) Gangetic Valley
(b) Indus Valley
(c) Narmada Valley
. (d) Ganga-Yamuna daab
22. Which af the fallawing is nat a
Nealithic site?
(a) Mehrgarh (b) Belan Valley (c) Chirand (d) Burzaham
23. The prehistaric bane implements have been faund at
(a) Burzaham and Chirand
(b) Belan and Narmada Valleys (c) Allahabad and Brahmagiri (d) Maski and Brahmagiri
24. The two. sites which pravide the earliest evidence far the damesticatian af animals are
(a) Sambhar and Kalibangan (b) Bagar and Adamgarh (c) Burzaham and Chirand (d) Piklihal and Bhimbetka
25. Jarwe culture is assaciated with ...
age.
(a) Palaealithic (b) Mesalithic
(c) Nealithic (d) Chalcalithic
26. Which af the fallawing is nat a characteristic af the Chalcalithic peaple?
(a) The Chalcalithic peaple also.
accasianally used law-grade branze
(b) The Malwa-ware is cansidered the richest amang the Chalcalithic ceramics
(c) The Chalcalithic peaple used only ane type af pattery called black-and-red ware
(d) The Chalcalithic peaple ate beef, but they did nat take park an any cansiderable scale
27. Regarding the Indus Valley
Civilisatian we may canclude
I. temples have nat been exca
vated at any site II. their script was cuneifarin III. a republican farm af gavern
ment prevailed
IV. cattan as well as waollen tex
tiles were used
(a) I and II (b) II and III
(c) III and IV (d) I and IV
28. Which af the fallawing statements are carrect with regard to. the Indus Valley civilisatian?
1. The peaple af this civilisatian
were the earliest to. make use af cottan.
2. They did nat cremate their
dead.
3. A grid system was fallawed
in city planning.
4. Sto.ne was the chief building
material.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4 (d) 1 and 3
29. Which af the fallawing is nat true abaut the Indus Valley Civilisatian?
1. The drainage system they
created was based an Sumerian design.
2. It had trade links by sea with
ather regians.
3. Existence af streetlighting has
been revealed in the excava
tians.
4. All the sites excavated shaw
the existence af huge public
baths.
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4 (d) 2 and 4
30. The Indus Valley peaple were nat familiar with
(a) capper (b) silver
(c) tin (d) iron
31. Which af the fallawing items and the place af their discavery i!> wrongly matched?
(1) Statuette af a bearded man
Mahenjadaro
(2) Rice husks-La thaI
(3) Fire pits and altars-Harappa (4) Bead-makers shap-Chanhu
daro
(5) Fassil remains af a harse
Surkatada
(a) 3 (b) 2
(c) 1 (d) 1 and 5
32. Which af the fallawing was nat a
characteristic af the Great Bath
discavered at Mahenjadara?
(a) The centre was quadrangular.
(b) A well situatecMn the adjain
ing roams proyided water to.
it.
(c) Access to. the bath was pro
vided by a flight af steps.
(d) It had roams anly an its right
side.
33. Which af the fallawing animals
was generally nat known to. the
Indus Valley peaple?
(a) Bull (b) Cow
(c) Rhinaceros (d) Harse
34. Match the fallawing.
I II
A. Practice af 1. Lathal
fire cuI t
B. Lo.wer tawn 2. Kalibangan
fartified
C. Great Bath
3. Mahenja
daro
D. Granary 4. Harappa E. Shipbuilding 5. Surkotada
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4, E-5 (b) A-5, B-4, C-3, D-2, E-l (c) A-2, B-5, C-3, D-4, E-l (d) A-5, B-3, C-4, D-2, E-l
35. Which af the fallowing is nat true abaut the seals faund in the Indli-&Valley excavatians?
(a) They were made af steatite
generally.
(b) The mast popular were the
square ar ablang ones.
(c) They were absalutely secular.
(d) A number af them are found
in Mesapotamia.
36. Where has a bronze rod, which
has been related to. a scale based
an 'cubits', been discavered?
(a) Harappa (b) Lothal
(c) Mahenjadara (d) Nawhere
37. Which af the fallawing statements abaut the pattery industry af the Indus Valley peaple is false?
(a) It cansisted af very fine wheel
made ware.
(b) Plain pattery was mare cam
man than painted ware o.r
ware with designs.
(c) The po.ttery was delicate and
thin.
(d) Pattery far household pur
pases was made in many
shapes and sizes.
38. Which af the fallawing is/are
Indus Valley site/s in India? 1. Rangpur 2. Banwali
3. Sutkagendar 4. Alamgirpur (a) 1 and 4 (b) I, 2 and 3
(c) 1, 2 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
40. Which of the following is not an aspect of Harappan religion adapted into Hinduism?
(a) Worship of nagas
(b) Holding the pipal tree sacred (c) Dedicating temples to particu
lar gods
(d) Worship of linga

1. Whose words are these: "The Hindus do not pay much attention to the historical order of
things ; they invariably take to
tale-telling"?
(a) AI-Beruni
(b) Megasthenese
(c) Yuan Chwang
(d) Fa-Hsien
2. Who authored the work Periplus of the Erythrean Sea?
(a) Arrian (b) Strabo
(c) Justin (d) None of these
3. Which of the following has proved the best source of information for depicting India's ancient history? (a) Religious literature
(b) Works of foreign travellers (c) Inscriptions
(d) Monuments
4. Match the following.
A Tarikh-i-Alai 1. Gulbadan
Begum
B. Tarikh-i- 2. Nizamuddin
Mubarakshahi Auliya
C. Tarikh-i-Hind 3. Yahya-bin
Ahmad
D. Humayun- 4. Amir
nama Khusrau
5. AI-Beruni
(a) A-4, B-3, C-5, D-l (b) A-5, B-4, C-3, D-2 (c) A-4, B-1, C-5, D-3 (d) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
5. Which of the following foreigners did not visit India during the medieval period?
(a) Abdur Razzaq
(b) Marco Polo
(c) Athanasius Nikitin
(d) Deimachos
6. The ]{ajatarangini by Kalhana in Sanskrit verse, was written in (a) 6th century B.C.
(b) 9th century A.D.
(c) 6th century A.D.
(d) 12th century AD.
7. Which of the following is/are matched correctly?
1. Allahabad: Samudragupta
2. Aihole : Pulakesin II
inscription
3. Gwalior
prasasti
4. Hathigumpha: Rudradaman
inscription (a) 1, 2 and 4 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4
: Devapala
8. Amir Khusrau's KluIzainul-Futah gives information about the reign of
(a) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
(b) Ala-ud-din Khalji
(c) Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah
Khalji
(d) Jalal-ud-din Khalji
9. Ancient literature refers to a fivefold division of India. The term 'Aparanta' or 'Pratichya' refers to (a) Mid-Indo-Gangetic plain
(b) North India
(c) North-Western India
(d) Western India
10. Which of the following statements is not correct?
(a) The ancient Indians knew
writing as early as 2500 B.C.
(b) There is no mention of
Alexander's invasion in In
dian sources.
(c) The authors of the Puranas
were not aware of the idea bf
change.
(d) Inscriptions record events in
the context of time and place.
11. Which of the following were characteristics of the Palaeolithic Age in India?
1. It was in this age that modern
man termed by anthropologists as homo sapiens emerged.
2. Man during this period
learned to live a settled life.
3. In order to save himself from
animals he used to lead his
life in groups.
4. Tools found in all parts of the subcontinent during this period were mostly made of quartzite.
5. The people of this period lived either in rock shelters or in
huts with thatched roofs.
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (b) 1, 2, 4 (c) 1, 3, 4, 5 (d) 1 and 5
12. At which of the following sites are Palaeolithic tools not found? (a) Soan Valley
(b) Attirampakkam
(c) Ahar
(d) Narmada Valley
13. With which of the following periods do we associate the 'microlith' implements?
(a) Palaeolithic (b) Mesolithic
(c) Neolithic (d) Chalcolithie
169
14. Which of the following are characteristics of the Neolithic period? 1. They buried their dead and
. erected tombs
2. They worshipped spirits of nature as embodied in trees and stones, and appeased them by bloody sacrifices and offerings of food and drink
3. They had no knowledge of
the wheel for making pottery
4. They knew the use of fire and
had started cooking
(a) 1, 2 and 4 (b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
15. Which was the first metal used by
man?
(a) Copper (b) Silver
(c) Bronze (d) Brass
16. With which period do we associate the 'megaliths'?
(a) Neolithic
(b) Chalcolithie
(c) Mesolithic
(d) Pleistocene
17. When the first metal tool came into being it was used for
(a) pot-making
(b) house-building
(c) clearing jungles
(d) making wheels
18. Match the columns.
I II
A Pleistocene 1. Ice Age
B. Palaeo lithic 2. Old Stone Age C Neolithic 3. New Stone
Age
D. Mesolithic 4. Middle Stone
Age
E. Chalcolithic 5. Copper Stone
Age
(a) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4, E-5 (b) A-5, B-4, C-3, D-2, E-l (c) A-3, B-2~ C-l, D-4, E-5 (d) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-5, E-2
I II
A Palaeolithic 1. Brahmagiri
B Mesolithic 2. Adamgarh
Hills
C. Neolithic 3. Kurnool
D. Chalcolithic 4. Gungeria
(a) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4 (b) A-I, B-2, C-3, D-4 (c) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-l (d) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-l

20. Which af the fallawing statements is incarrect regarding prehistaric art?
(a) Palaealithic and Mesalithic
peaple practised painting.
(b) Prehistaric art appears at several places, but Bhimbetka is the mast striking site with 500 painted rock shelters.
(c) Many birds, animals and human beings are painted. (d) The paintings depict the religiaus beliefs af the peaple.

Practice Test Paper of History