[T25] UPSC Mock Round#29- Indian History: Kot Diji, Ahadi Troopers, Amara Nayaka, Foreign Travelers & Charter Acts

1. Instructions for 25 Mock MCQs for UPSC: Set No.29
2. Ancient India
3. Foreign Travellers in India
4. Medieval Occupations
5. East India Company related

Instructions for 25 Mock MCQs for UPSC: Set No.29

• Timelimit: 30 minutes. 2 Marks for correct answer; -0.66 marks for wrong answer.
• Mitron, my [T25] series contains 25 Mock MCQ primarily aimed at UPSC IAS/IPS Civil Service exam aspirants.
• I usually dont give direct answer below the MCQs but indirect hints. Because, then you’ve to read the MCQ again & apply logical reasoning skills. This will improve your mental faculties compared to a scenario where direct answers are spoon-fed. having said that, if you want to learn some background theory and the correct answer, you may visit my playlist at Unacademy.
• This 28th set focuses mainly on Indian History MCQs that were asked in the UPSC CDS-ii Exam 2018, which was conducted in November 2018.
• So far I’ve done 29 sets x 25 questions each = 725 MCQs. Let’s see if I can cross 1000 before UPSC Prelims-2019.

Ancient India

Q1. In the first century AD, which among the following was not a major item of Indian exports to Rome? (UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. Pepper
2. Spikenard (~muskroot)
3. Tortoise shell
4. Nutmeg

HINT: Romans liked Pepper so much, it was called Yavanpriya. They also imported medicinal plants, ivory, muslin textile, precious stones, sandalwood, indigo. Roman paid us with gold, silver, wine and slave girls for the aiyaash Kings. BTW? Is Tortoise shell such a rare item not available in Europe itself!?

Q2. The Harappan site at Kot Diji is close to which one of the following major sites of that civilization? (UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. Harappa
2. Mohenjo-daro
3. Lothal
4. Kalibangan

HINT: UPSC examiner lifted this from Harappan Map in New NCERT Themes-1: ch1. I would suggest you go through the map.

Q3. The story Gandatindu Jataka was written in which language? (UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. Sanskrit
2. Telugu
3. Tamil
4. Pali

HINT: Again UPSC Examiner lifted from NEW NCERT Themes-I, p38. Jataka: Buddhist litt. Then must be in Pali. It was only after Kanishka’s 4th Buddhist Council they adopted Sanskrit. This, Gandatindu Jataka: plight of people living under a wicked king’s rule.

Q4. The dialogue on Varna between king Avantiputta and Kachchana, a disciple of Buddha, appears in which one of the following Buddhist texts? (UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. Majjhima Nikaya
2. Samyutta Nikaya
3. Anguttara Nikaya
4. Ambattha Sutta

HINT: UPSC Examiner finds no peace until a few tough Qs asked from Jainism-Buddhism. This is not given in routine books. Random Google Book search reveals that in Majjihima Nikaya written in Pali, the Avantiputta and Kachchana discuss with each other that if Shudra had wealth, he could employ a Bramhin or Kshtriya as servant. Therefore all four Varnas are same.

Q5. According to the Tamil Sangam texts, who among the following were the large landowners? (UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. Gahapatis
2. Uzhavars
3. Adimais
4. Vellalars

HINT: UPSC examiner lifted this from NEW NCERT Themes-I ch.2 on kings, farmers and towns. For Small Peasants & Large Landholders: “Gahapati” word used in Buddhist Litt. Whereas Sangam Literature says Ploughmen= Uzhavar and Slaves= Adimai, then think who is left?

Q6. According to the Manusmriti , women can acquire wealth through which of the following means? (UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. Purchase
2. Investment
3. Token of affection
4. Inheritance

HINT: Manusmriti contains Brahmanical, Patriarchal preaching. So even without studying you could eliminate. BTW, answer is given in NEW NCERT Themes-I ch.3, p68-69.

Foreign Travellers in India

Q7. following persons came to India at one time or another (UPSC Pre-1999)

1. Fa-Hien
2. I-Tsing
3. Megasthanese
4. Hieun-Tsang

Arrange them in chronological order

1. 3124
2. 3142
3. 1324
4. 1342

HINT: Watch my lecture in this link to learn about the Foreign travellers from China.

Q8. Find correct statement(s)

1. Fa-Hien attended Kanishka’s 4th Buddhist council
2. Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha & found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT: Watch my lecture in this link to learn about the Foreign travellers from China.

Q9. According to Chinese traveler Yuan Chwang (Hiuen Tsang)

1. The roads and river-routes were completely immune from robbery.
2. As regards punishment for offences, ordeals by fire, water and poison were the instruments for determining the innocence or guilt of a person.
3. The tradesmen had to pay duties at ferries and barrier stations.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

HINT: Watch my lecture in this link to learn about the Foreign travellers from China.

Q10. Who among the following mentioned the incidents of Sati system in India?

1. Marco Polo
2. Hiuen Tsang
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT: Watch my lecture in this link to learn about the Foreign travellers from China.

Q11. Which one of the following statements is not correct? (CDS-2018-i)

1. Al-Biruni identifies the Sufi doctrine of divine love as self-annihilation with parallel passages from Bhagavad Gita.
2. According to Al-Biruni, Sufi theories of Soul were similar to those in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra.
3. The Hatha Yogic treatise Amrita Kunda had lasting impact on Sufism.
4. Hujwiri’s conversation with the Yogis shows that he was impressed with their theory of the division of the human body.

HINT: Watch my lecture in this link to learn about the Foreign travellers from Middle East.

Q12. Who among the following European travellers never returned to Europe and settled down in India? (UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. Duarte Barbosa
2. Manucci
3. Tavernier
4. Bernier

HINT: Watch my lecture in this link to learn about the Foreign travellers from Europe

Q13. Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India? (Pre18 Set-D)

1. Francois Bernier
2. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
3. Jean de Thevenot
4. Abbe Barthelemy Carre

HINT: Watch my lecture in this link to learn about the Foreign travellers from Europe

Q14. According to the French traveller Tavernier, the majority of houses in Varanasi during the 17th century were made of (UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. brick and mud
2. stone and thatch
3. wood and stone
4. brick and stone

HINT: Watch my lecture in this link to learn about the Foreign travellers from Europe

Medieval Occupations

Q15. The class of Amar Nayakas in Vijayanagara is a reference to which of the following?(UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. Village Chieftains
2. Senior Civil Servants
3. Tributary Chiefs
4. Military Commanders

HINT: UPSC Examiner has lifted this from NEW NCERT Themes in Indian History-II / Class-12 Chapter 3.

• Delhi Sultanate’s Sultan granted court nobles & military commanders ‘iqta’ (revenue collection rights) instead of paying them salaries. Such Iqta holders were called Muqtis and Walis. Iqta holders also required to maintain troops using that revenue. But fake paper registration of troops.
• Vijaynagar copied Iqta system: The Amaranayakas were military commanders. King gave them territories for revenue collection.
• Akbar’s MilitaryBureaucratic apparatus was called Mansabdaari system. These Mansabdar had to maintain troops, horses- bring them for Emperor’s review and get salary. Some Mansabdar given salary in cash. Some Mansabdar given “Jaagir” to collect taxes. But not hereditary

Q16. Match the following:

List-1	List-2
A. Iqta	1. Maratha
B. Jagir	2. Delhi Sultans
C. Amaram	3. Mughal
D. Mokasa	4. Vijayanagar

Answer Codes:

1. A3-B2-C1-D4
2. A2-B3-C4-D1
3. A2-B3-C1-D4
4. A3-B2-C4-D1

HINT: read the hints from previous question!

Q17. Who was the Shivaji’s Ashtapradhan responsible for foreign affairs? (UPSC’s Prelims-1998)

1. Peshwa
2. Sachiv
3. Pandit Rao
4. Sumant

HINT:

Peshwa / PM	Finance and general administration; later he became Prime Minister and assumed great importance.
Sar-i-Naubat	Senapati or military commander; this was only an honorary post
Majumdar or Amatya	Accountant general / finance
Waqenavis	Intelligence, posts and household affairs.
Surunavis or Sachiv	Also called chitnis, correspondence.
Dabir or Sumanta	Master of ceremonies.
Nyayadhish	Justice.
Pandit Rao	Charities and religious affairs.

Q18. ‘Ahadi’ were troopers who _ _ _ . (Prelims-1998)

1. Offered their services singly
2. Did not attach themselves to any chief
3. Had the emperor as their immediate colonel
4. Attached themselves to Mirzas

Correct statements:

1. 1, 3, 4
2. 1, 2, 3
3. 2, 3
4. 1, 4

HINT: Not given in any Routine book. Ahadi – Elite Troopers were directly & individually recruited for Mughal emperor, Not placed under any Mansabdar. Ahadi had better armor, weapons. Had to keep 5 horses each. In real exam, better to skip, instead of guess this.

Q19. The important source for Akbar’s reign, Tarikh-i-Akbari was written by which one of the following Persian language scholars? (UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. 1. Arif Qandahari
2. 2. Bayazid Bayat
3. 3. Abdul Qadir Badauni
4. 4. Nizamuddin Ahmad

HINT: RandomGK. Abu Fazl wrote Ain-i-Akbari, Akbarnama, whereas Arif Qandahari wrote this Tarikh-i-Akbari.

Q20. The aristocrat Muqarrab Khan was a great favorite of which Mughal Emperor?(UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. Akbar
2. Jahangir
3. Farrukhsiyar
4. Shah Alam

HINT: Jahangir liked Muqarrab Khan for his skills in surgery and sports.In later years, defendedGolconda againstMaratha raids. But, Not given in routine books. 50:50 not possible. Better to skip.

Q21. Who was the first Nawab Wazir of Awadh in the 18th century?(UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. Nawab Safdarjung
2. Nawab Saadat Ali Khan
3. Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula
4. Nawab Saadat Khan

HINT:

Saadat Khan Burhan-ul-Mulk (1722– 39)	Founded the autonomous State of Awadh
Safdar Jung (1739– 54)	him and his successors were given “Nawabship” of Awadh, and Wazirship of Mughal Empire.
Shuja-ud-daula (1754– 75)	son of Safdar succeeded to the nawabship of Awadh as well as the wazirship of the Mughal empire (1754).

East India Company related

Q22: Match the following

Acts	Provisions
A) Charter Act 1813 B) Regulating Act C) Act of 1858 D) Pitt’s India Act	set up a board of control in Britain to fully regulate the East India. Company’s trade monopoly in India was ended. The power to govern was transferred the east India company to the British crown. The company’s director were asked to present to the British government all correspondence and documents pertaining to the administration of the company.

Answer Codes

1. A-2; B-4; C-3; D-1
2. A-1; B-3; C-4; D-2
3. A-2; B-3; C-4; D-1
4. A-1; B-4; C-3; D-2

HINT:

Act	Notable features
1773	Regulating Act: 20 years renewals. Terms fixed for London’s Court of Directors and India’s Governor General.
1784	Pitt’s India to solve lacunas of 1773: board of control in London.
1793, Charter	Minor changes, 20 years renewal.
1813, Charter	Rs. 1 lakh Edu, Monopoly abolished** & Missionaries given freedom, 20 years renewal
1833, Charter	Bentham philosophy, Major changes: new designation-GG India, law member in his council, Indianization of public service, 20 years renewal
1853, Charter	Legislative council, Renewal not fixed.
1858	GoI Act: Crown rule takes over Company rule

Q23. Which one of the following provisions was not made in the charter act of 1833? [UPSC -2003]

1. The trading activities of the east India company were to be abolished.
2. The designation of the supreme authority was to be changed as the Governor-General of India in Council.
3. All law-making powers to be conferred on Governor-General in council.
4. An Indian was to be appointed as a law member in the governor-general’s council.

HINT: Entry of Indians in GG/Viceroy’s council will require lot of prayer, petition and protests. Was the INC setup YET?

Q24. Consider the following statement: [UPSC-2006]

1. The charter Act,1853 abolished East India company monopoly of India trade.
2. under the Government of India act, 1858 the British parliament abolished the rule of east India company and undertook the responsibility of ruling India directly.

Which of the statement given above is/are correct ?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT: Trade monopoly of EIC was dismantled in the Charter Acts of 1813 and 1833. You can learn about all these Charter Acts and Regulating Acts in my lecture video here.

Q25. Which of the following statements relating to the Government of India Act, 1858 is/are correct? (UPSC’s-CDS-ii-2018)

1. The British Crown assumed sovereignty over India from the East India Company.
2. The British Parliament enacted the first statue for the governance of India under the direct rule of the British.
3. This Act was dominated by the principle of absolute imperial control without any popular participation in the administration of the country.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. 1 and 3 only

HINT: This is given in all routine books.

Visit Mrunal.org/prelims for Previous Rounds of [T25] Mock MCQ Question / Answers.