1. Compared to previous papers
  2. History & Culture: Prelim-cum-Mains-2021 Strategy for UPSC
    1. Art and Culture for Prelims
    2. Freedom Struggle Strategy for Prelims
    3. Mains Strategy and Topic Wise Papers for History & Culture
    4. ✋Ignore Nitin Singhania’s book on Art and Culture
    5. ✋Ignore Krishna Reddy and Sumit Sarkar
  3. Medieval dictionary terms का आतंक!
  4. Answerkey: Ancient / Medieval & Culture MCQs in Prelims-2020
    1. Medieval dictionary Terms
    2. Chronology based questions
    3. Ancient/Medieval → Ports and Places
    4. Ancient → Buddhism Jainism
  5. Answerkey: History-Freedom Struggle MCQs in Prelims 2020
    1. Freedom Struggle → Persons & Pustaks (Books)
    2. Freedom Struggle → Before Gandhi
    3. Counter argument: Option-B is right as per Sumit Sarkar
    4. Freedom Struggle → From Gandhi onwards
    5. Freedom struggle → Journals, Magazines and Books
  6. Answerkey Assistance provided by Pratik Nayak

History & Culture in UPSC Prelims-2020 Compared to previous papers

Mrunal's UPSC Prelims 2020 History Answerkey and Analysis

History MCQs in 2019 and before History MCQs in 2020’s Prelim GS Paper
There is an ‘alternate zig zag swing’ in number of questions asked from History-Culture. Every alternate year they’ll ask 14-15 question and on other alternate years they’ll ask 17-21 Qs.

2018: 21 Qs → 2019: 15 Qs
  • 2020’s paper fits this alternating pattern. 20 MCQs asked.
  • So does it mean in 2021 paper 14-15 MCQs will be asked from History-Culture? Let’s wait and watch!
Regularly asking about questions on Buddhism and Jainism Continued
2017: Sects of Buddhism asked again asked
In some years questions on literature and painting Of ancient and mediaeval India nothing this time, Because excessively focused on midival dictionary terms
2016: Question on Ashoka addict/  inscription again asked
Medieval dictionary terms asked:

  • before 2018: Mahattar, Pattakila, Araghatta, Eripatti, Taniyurs, Ghatikas
  • 2018: nothing
  • 2019: two MCQs 1) Vishti 2) Iqta
 Gone Crazier than usual with 4 MCQs from this ‘Medieval dictionary ‘ genre.
Places

  • 2017: Kakatiya Port.
 2 MCQs from Ancient mediaeval places
Chronology MCQ from ancient mediaeval = usually not seen Asked
There was a trend of asking about foreign Travellers who visited India, And what they describe in their travel journals? Thankfully this lunacy was discontinued in 2019. Nothing asked
2018: asked about Santhal Uprising 2020: asked about Munda uprising
2018: Fort William College asked in context of “WHO” had set it up? 2020: Fort William College asked in context of “WHY” was it set up?
2018: Economic impact of British rule 2020: impact of industrialisation
Trend of asking about some relatively lesser known persons From freedom struggle such as

2018: Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujam and G.G. Mehta

 2020: 3 questions from Lesser known persons from freedom struggle 1) Rakhmabai 2) Vital-Vidhvansak’s author 3) Desher Katha’s author.
  • 2017 and 2018: State specific obscure dance / festival / craft with special focus on North East.
  • 2019: did not ask
 That Tokenism remains discontinued this year.
2018: two questions from under Post-Independent India: 1) Hind Mazdoor Sabha (1948) and 2) Chronology of Air India to Goa’s independence. 2019 and 2020- Thankfully nothing from post independent Indian history

To conclude: History section in Prelim-2020 (with exception of medieval dictionary lunacy) is more or less the same like 2019 in ‘content’, BUT little higher in level of difficulty, thereby requiring more 50:50 elimination skill. The preparation strategy for 2021 should remain more or less the same as usual, which is given as following:

History & Culture: Prelim-cum-Mains-2021 Strategy for UPSC

[accordion id=”my-accordion”] [accordion_item title=”Click me to expand & Know the Answer!” parent_id=”my-accordion”]

  • First cultivate the taste for History. The best source is Tamilnadu board’s Class11 History Textbook (covering Ancient Medieval) and Class12 History Textbook (covering Freedom struggle & World History.)
  • ?Available for ?Free Download
  • Tamil Nadu board also has two editions A) old edition which is only black and white and B) new edition which has colourful.
  • I recommend the colourful new edition for following reasons:
    • ✅They have a balanced mixture of factualGK and analytical history. Useful for both UPSC and State services alike.
    • ✅They move in a proper sequence and comprehensively cover the entire ancient-medieval-modern Indian history, unlike new NCERTs which completely ignore certain bloody/dark eras of India history, and directly jump from Harappa to Sufi/Bhakti to British-Indian-cities to attainment of freedom, as if nothing happened in between those events!
    • ✅Good number of questions should be solved from them
    • ✅World history is also covered in a decent manner for Mains Exam.
    • ?DRAWBACK? Perhaps not available in the Hindi medium
  • You may also join renowned History Faculty Pratik Nayak’s comprehensive courses covering History art and culture for prelims and mains at Unacademy Plus.
    • In this latest Prelims-2020, 16 out of the 20 MCQs could be solved from his lectures and Powerpoints.
    • Use Coupon Code “Mrunal.org” for extra discount!

Art and Culture for Prelims

  • ✅(New Colorful edition) Tamil Nadu class 11 history book. ?Free Download
  • ✅NEW NCERT Class 11 and 12. Then depending on time also do class7 to 9. Because sometimes the questions are asked from there as well. ?Free Download.
  • ✋The NEW NCERT Class10 is World history- so only selective study of chapters on industrialization / economy for Mains.
  • ✅Ishani Pandya’s Youtube lecture Series
  • ✋IGNORE A.L.Bhasham and other higher level book, even though a few randomGK MCQs can be solved from it.
  • ✋Ignore Nitin Singhania’s book on Art and Culture. Reasons exaplained in the next segment of this same article

Freedom Struggle Strategy for Prelims

[/accordion_item][/accordion]

Mains Strategy and Topic Wise Papers for History & Culture

Given separately in this article. 

✋Ignore Nitin Singhania’s book on Art and Culture

  • Earlier, I used to recommend Nitin Singhania’s Art and Culture Book | हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध  by Mcgraw Hill Publication
  • But upon the deeper analysis and comparison of the recent prelims papers- my thoughts are as following:
  • Every year it is giving diminishing utility. The nature of Art-Culture questions have become such that
    • A) Either it is solvable from (New) NCERT or (New) Tamilnadu Stateboard History Class11 Textbook Which is is available for free, apart from Nitin, OR
    • B)  Totally random things which is not available in routine books
    • C) So, the unique questions which could be solved “only from” Nitin Singhania and no other routine books = ⏬Declining day by day. In this latest exam there is only one such MCQ which can be solved from Nitin’s book, but not available in other books.
  • Nitin’s book has around 600 pages, costing around ₹600. It’s YouTube video summaries range from 2 hours to 15 hours to 25 hours. But if you count all this money and more importantly the time invested in memorizing so many factoids= It is giving a very poor cost-benefit than previous years.  यानी कि हाल के वर्षों का रुख देखते हुए उसको नहीं भी पढ़ा तो कुछ लूट जाने वाला है ऐसा खास नहीं

✋Ignore Krishna Reddy and Sumit Sarkar

  • To solve some of the questions asked in Prelims-2020, I have used advanced books such as Krishna Reddy, Sumit Sarkar etc
  • But they are more suitable for the preparation of optional subject of history
  • For general studies not recommended to go through them. A
  • I am saying this categorically because Some of the fresh aspirants over enthusiastic about the preparation so they tend to think I will prepare the most different book then the crowd, so It will give me some unique perspective for the Mains examination…  but those are not practicable things given the Vast amount of syllabus. पहले उन किताबों को खत्म करो जो सब लोग पढ़ रहे हैं क्योंकि स्पर्धा में आपके पास कम से कम उनके जितना तो ज्ञान होना चाहिए

Medieval dictionary terms का आतंक!

history answekey prelims 2020 UPSC is Lord Curzon

  • 4 out of the 20 Questions were devoted to the Ancient mediaeval dictionary terms
  • In Gujarati there is a saying, “A weak husband will beat his wife, because he cannot show his strength in any other manner.” Similarly UPSC examiner would have decided some quota that “within history I will ask x% tough MCQ“, but as he was unable to frame the MCQs from general theory / analysis type statement so he seems to have lifted dictionary terms, Just to fill up the quota of tough History MCQs.
  • Upon looking at such things, UPSC apologists start writhing in orgasms that You were supposed to get divine manifestation that UPSC was going to ask it, And therefore you were supposed to memorize 5,000 terms of from mediaeval dictionary! (“आपको सपना आ जाना चाहिए था कि यह सब पूछा जाने वाला है, इसलिए आपने 5000 शब्द याद करके जाने थे!”)
  • I will not be surprised if some Mercurial elements (चंचल तत्व) will start creating a ‘new subject : Medieval dictionary terms”  out of it (Just like they have done with PIB),– to sell their books, dictionaries, courses and pageviews. But beyond the point it all gives poor cost benefits.

Answerkey: Ancient / Medieval & Culture MCQs in Prelims-2020

Medieval dictionary Terms

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.91. With reference to cultural history of India consider the following pairs :

  1. Parivrajaka – Renunciant and Wanderer
  2. Shramana – Priest with a high status
  3. Upasaka – Lay follower of buddhism

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 1 and 3 only

[c) 2 and 3 only

[d) 1, 2 and 3

Difficulty : Medium ? to tough depending on your command over the ancient medieval vocabulary

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

  • During Vedic age, there was a lot of emphasis on rituals and sacrifices. This type of excessive ritualism produced a natural reaction in the form of Sramana religion, which protested against the divine origin of the Vedas and efficacy of the sacrifices.
  • Sramanas were recruited from all people irrespective of caste and creed. Their teachers were anti-Vedic and anti-Brahmanic and they challenged Vedic learning and Vedic rituals. So, #2 is wrong, By elimination we are left with correct answer “B”
  • Sree Narayana Guru had become a ‘Parivrajaka’ (one who wanders from place to place in quest of Truth), so, #1 is correct.

Answer Source(s):-

  • ✅TN Board Std 11 (New Edition): page191- The earliest instances of conflict between Saivism and Vaishnavism on the one hand and the Sramanic sects of Buddhism and Jainism on the other hand occurred during the Pallava period.So if the what is Raman is associated with Buddhism and Jainism then it is unlikely be a designation of “priest with high status”. #2 wrong, by elimination we get answer.
  • ✅Nitin Singhania: The meaning of the word Sramanas can be inferred from Chapter1 on Indian architecture subtopic Mauryan art and architecture → shramana tradition religions were opposed to Varna and Jati system of Vedic Age. So, #2 seems wrong, by elimination Answer should be C.
  • ✅ Krishna Reddy book on History (Mcgraw Hill Publication): Chapter 4: Pre-Mauryan period: Religious movements. Chapter Three Vedic society
  • ✅ Pratik Nayak’s History Lecture on Unacademy Plus:

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.11. With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term ‘paramitas’?

[a) The earliest Dharmashastra texts written in aphoristic (sutra) style.

[b) Philosophical schools that did not accept the authority of Vedas.

[c) Perfections whose attainment led to the Bodhisattva path

[d) Powerful merchant guilds of early medieval south India.

Difficulty : Medium ?

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

  • Bodhisattava are part of the Mahayana/Vajrayana Tradition. They are mentioned in the Mahayana literature called as the Vaipulya Sutra- written in Sanskrit
  • Inside the Vaipulya Sutra- Prajna Paramita are mentioned

Answer Source(s):-

  • ✋TN Board- Std 11(New Edition): Not available.
  • ✅Nitin Singhania: ? Solvable- Chapter on Buddhism- Paramita are mentioned
  • ✅Pratik Nayak’s History Lecture on – Comprehensive Course on Ancient Indian History (Lesson 12, class conducted on 12th September 2020 , Slide Number 76 )

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.49. With reference to the history of India, the terms “kulyavapa” and “dronavapa” denote

[a) measurement of land

[b) coins of different monetary value

[c) classification of urban land

[d) religious rituals

Difficulty : Tough ? Not available in the routine preparation sources

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

  • Measurement of Land – different terms used during Gupta Age- mentioned in different inscriptions-
  • Kulyavapa, Dronavapa, Adhavapa And Pataka from Bengal,
  • Nivartana And Hhumi from central India
  • Nivartana And Padavarta from western India

Answer Source(s):-

  • ✋TN Board Std 11 (New Edition): Ans Unavailable- ?
  • ✋ NCERT
  • ✅ Krishna Reddy book on History (Mcgraw Hill Publication): Chapter 7 on Guptas.

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.45. Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period?

[a) An advisory issued by the king to his subordinates

[b) A diary to be maintained for daily accounts

[c) A bill of exchange

[d) An order from the feudal lord to his subordinates

Difficulty : Easy ?

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download

  • Hundi is a note recording a deposit made by a person. The amount deposited can be claimed in another place by presenting the record of the deposit

Answer sources:

  • ✋TN Board Std 11 (New Edition): Ans Unavailable- ?
  • ✅New NCERT- Standard 8- Easily Solvable- ?
  • ✅Pratik Nayak’s lecture series on Youtube- Class 7 NCERT class conducted on 18th November 2019 – Explanation of Hundi (Time stamp- 40:00 onwards)
  • Mrunal’s Economy Lecture Pillar1C1: Debt Instruments, dated July 12th, 2020. Slide #56. (Prelim was on October 4th 2020, so my lecture was BEFORE the exam.) Note: For the purpose of classification I have kept this question under Medieval history.

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.41. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

  1. Aurang: In-charge of treasury of the State
  2. Banian: Indian agent of the East India Company
  3. Mirasidar: Designated revenue payer to the State

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 2 and 3 only

[c) 3 only

[d) 1, 2 and 3

Difficulty : Medium ?

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download

  • Aurang- Persian term for Warehouse (given in NCERT class 8- Our Past- II, also covered in the Youtube Lecture). So, #1 is wrong, We are ?50:50 between B or C. In both of this option pair#3 (Mirasidar) is common so we have to accept it as correct. Everything boils down to whether second statement is correct or not.
  • Banian- Agent of East India Company, term used for Bania (trader) so, #2 is correct– so the answer should be “”B”.
  • Just to crosscheck the validity of third statement:
  • Mirasidar– Designated revenue payer to the State (given in the Plassey to Partition Book– Glossary Page)

Answer Sources:-

  • ✋TN Board Std 11 (New Edition): Ans Unavailable- ?
  • ✅New NCERT- Standard 8- Easily Solvable- ?
  • ✅Pratik Nayak’s lecture series on Youtube- Class 8 NCERT Class conducted on 13th July 2020

Chronology based questions

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.44. Consider the following events in the history of India:

  1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja
  2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman – I
  3. Establishment of Chola Parantaka – I
  4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala

What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time ?

[a) 2-1-4-3

[b) 3-1-4-2

[c) 2-4-1-3

[d) 3-4-1-2

Difficulty : Tough ? Because difficult to memorize and recollect this much chronology of non-major dynasties, in the a real exam.

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download
History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download

  • Mahendra Varman- I (590- 630 CE)
  • Gopala (750 CE)
  • King Bhoja- Pratihara ( 836-885 CE)
  • Parantaka-1 Chola ( 907-953 CE)

Answer Source(s):-

Ancient/Medieval → Ports and Places

(Pre’20-SetB)  Q.57) With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

Famous Place Present State
1. Bhilsa Madhya Pradesh
2. Dwarasamudra Maharashtra
3. Girinagar Gujarat
4. Sthaneshwara Uttar Pradesh

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

[a) 1 and 3 only

[b) 1 and 4 only

[c) 2 and 3 only

[d) 2 and 4 only

Difficulty : Medium ? to tough, Depending on your command over the maps of Ancient India.

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download
History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download
History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download

  1. Bhilsa- Madhya Pradesh- Correct- Known as Vidisha, main centre of the Sunga dynasty & Udaigiri caves in Madhya Pradesh (not to be confused with Udaigiri-Odissa)
  2. Girinagar- Gujarat- Correct
  3. Sthaneshwara- Uttarpradesh- Incorrect. Sthaneshwara- located in Harayana (not in Uttarpradesh) Main seat of the Pushyabhuti dyansty- Harshavardhan (606-647CE) originally belonged to Sthaneshwara, who later on shifted the capital at Kannauj
  4. Dwarsamudra- Maharashtra- Incorrect- Hoysala dynasty used to rule from Dwarsamudra- also known as Halebid – located in Karnataka.

Answer Source(s):-

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.62. With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as

[a) ports handling foreign trade

[b) capital of powerful kingdoms

[c) places of exquisite stone art and architecture

[d) important Buddhist pilgrimage centres

Difficulty : Medium ?

Type: Theory ?

Explanation: By Elimination

  • Portuguese will be fighting the Battle of Chaul to control coastal areas of Western India

Answer Source(s):-

History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download

  • ✅TN Board- Std 11(New Edition): Partially Solvable (?50:50) – Page 115- Passing mention of Chaul as port of Gupta Age is given
  • ✅ Covered in Pratik Nayak’s History Lecture on Lecture series- Comprehensive Course on Modern Indian History (Lesson-1 , Class Conducted on- 22 June 2020, Slide Number- 72)

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.16. With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements:

  1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga
  2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana
  3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta-II

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 2 and 3 only

[c) 3 only

[d) 1, 2 and 3

Difficulty: Medium ?

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download

  • Statement 2- Incorrect because Amarsimha belonged to the Court of Chandra Gupta- II (he was one of the navratna). Thus, by elimination we are left with correct answer C.
  • Statement 3- Correct because Kalidasa belonged to the Court of Chandra Gupta- II ( he was one of the Navratna).
  • Statement 1- Incorrect because Panini belonged to the 5-6th Century BCE Period- he wrote Astdhyayi, where as Pushyamitra Sunga belonged to the Post Mauryan Period- 2nd Century BCE- he came to power after killing last Mauryan King- Brihadratha.

Answer Source(s):-

  • ✅TN Board Std 11 (New Edition): ? Solvable- Panini (500 BCE)- , Kalidasa & Amarsimha as Navratna of Chandragupta- II (Page 109)
  • ✋Nitin Singhania: Partially Solvable (?50:50)- Panini is mentioned- 500 BCE , Kalidasa is mentioned as author but not as contemporary of Chandragupta-II
  • ✅Covered in Pratik Nayak’s History Lecture on Unacademy Plus- Comprehensive Course on Ancient Indian History (Lesson 21- class conducted on 18 September 2020 , Slide number- 37)

Ancient → Buddhism Jainism

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.50. Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?: “Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.”

[a) Ashoka

[b) Samudragupta

[c) Harshavardhana

[d) Krishna Deva Raya

Difficulty : Easy ?

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download

  • Ashoka’s Dhamma- Always talked about Tolerance among all sects.

Answer Source(s):-

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.42. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

  1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism.
  2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.
  3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered Mahayana Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 2 and 3 only

[c) 3 only

[d) 1, 2 and 3

Difficulty : Tough ?It is difficult to memorize so many sects which are not given in the routine preparation books. While it is true that UPSC regularly asked questions from Buddhism and Jainism but brain also has a limited capacity to store the information.  कुछ लोग बोलना शुरू कर देते हैं कि, “बस आपको सपना आ जाना चाहिए था कि सारे संप्रदायों के बारे में इतना डिटेल  से पूछा जाएगा और आपने यह सब रट के जाना था!” जो लोग खुद परीक्षा नहीं देते, उनके लिए कुर्सी में बैठकर ऐसी कॉमेंट्री मारना आसान है लेकिन जो उम्मीदवार असल में परीक्षा देने जाता है उसकी लिए वह सब कुछ संभव नहीं होता। 

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download
History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download

  • Fourth Council convened in Kashmir under the patronage of Kanishka
  • It resulted into division of all the Buddhists into two major sects
    • Sarvastivadins (popular in Kashmir and Mathura regions) and Mahasanghikas together forming the Mahayanists (followers of the Greater Vehicle),
    • Sthaviravadins and others forming the Hinayanists (followers of the Lesser Vehicle);
  • Thus, Sthaviravadins is not part of Mahayana. So, #1 wrong, We are ?50:50 between B or C. In both the options statement#3 is common so we have to accept it without cross checking that Mahasangika believed in Buddha as deity, hence giving rise to the Mahayana Buddhism. Now everything boils down to the validity of the Statement#2.
  • The Mahasanghikas gave rise to the following sects: 1. Ekavyaharikas 2. Lokottaravadins 3. Kukkutikas 4. Bahusrutiyas 5. Prajnapativadins 6. Chaitya-sailas 7. Apara-sailas 8. Uttara-sailas. So, #2 is right, hence answer “B”.

Answer Source(s):-

  • ✋TN Board Std 11 (New Edition): Ans Unavailable- ? through passing mention of Sthaviravadin & Mahasangika is there, but very less explanation to solve question.
  • ✋Nitin Singhania: Ans Unavailable ?
  • ✅ Krishna Reddy book on History (Mcgraw Hill Publication): Chapter 4: Pre-Mauryan period: Religious movements.
  • ✅Covered & Explained in Pratik Nayak’s History Lecture on on Unacademy Plus-Comprehensive Course on Ancient Indian History (Lesson10, September 10th 2020, Slide Number 62, Slide Number 66, Slide Number 69)

Answerkey: History-Freedom Struggle MCQs in Prelims 2020

Freedom Struggle → Persons & Pustaks (Books)

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.12. In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around:

  1. women’s right to gain education
  2. age of consent
  3. restitution of conjugal rights

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 2 and 3 only

[c) 1 and 3 only

[d) 1, 2 and 3

Difficulty : Tough ? Because not a very famous freedom fighter, So it is unlikely that candidates would have prepared her in great detail.

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

  • All are correct
  • Rukhmabai was married off at an early age of 11. Hence by 1880 she fought a court case against her husband who demanded to live married life with her & have physical relations with him.
  • She wanted to study further and also wanted the marriage age should be increased leading to the formation of Rukhmibai defence committee supported by social reformers like Behramji Malabari, finally leading to the Age of Consent Bill- 1891 which increased the Minimum age of Marriage
  • She also became a doctor after resuming her studies.
  • Hence all 3 statements are correct

Answer Source(s):-

Freedom Struggle → Before Gandhi

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.13. Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

[a) Peasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of planters

[b) Its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions

[c) National leaders’ opposition to the cultivation of indigo

[d) Government control over the planters

Difficulty : Ease ? (But can also be tough depending on the answerkey debate!)

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download

  • 20th (twentieth) century means 1/1/1901 to 31/12/2000. We have to find out why Indigo cultivation declined by the beginning of 1901.
  • 1917: Gandhi-ji’s Champaran Satyagraha. So, C is not fitting the timeline.

NCERT Our Past-III: Page 35-36:

  • In March 1859 thousands of ryots in Bengal refused to grow indigo. As the rebellion spread, ryots refused to pay rents to the planters, and attacked indigo factories armed with swords and spears, bows and arrows……After the revolt, indigo production collapsed in Bengal. But the planters now shifted their operation to Bihar. With the discovery of synthetic dyes in the late nineteenth century their business was severely affected, but yet they managed to expand production. {In other words invention of artificial dye did not affect them yet.}

Book- PLASSEY TO PARTITION Book chapter on EMERGENCE OF INDIAN NATIONALISM page 193-94:

  • Indigo Agitation of Bengal (1859– 60) The Indigo agitation of Bengal was the result of the oppression and exploitation of the peasants. Following this oppression the peasants refused to cultivate indigo and took to armed resistance against the planters. By 1863, the movement was over, as by that time indigo cultivation, had almost disappeared from Bengal.
  • After the disturbances of 1859-60, much of the indigo investment from Bengal shifted to Bihar, where it continued to grow until an artificial dye was invented in 1898.
  • So if artificial dye was invented in 1898 it is very unlikely that within two years it will crash the cultivation of indigo in India. Because it will take time for consumers to accept new (Artificial dye) products, supply chain management, and logistics were not as fast as in the modern world.

Considering these angles, option A is more suitable than option B.

Counter argument: Option-B is right as per Sumit Sarkar

Sumit Sarkar’s book- Modern India- page 156: “As Indigo declined from about 1900 in the face of competition from synthetic dyes the planters tried to pass the burden on the peasants by charging rent enhancement.”  → Therefore Option “B” is more suitable.

Ultimate judge: official UPSC answer key to be released next year.

Answer Source(s):-

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.14. Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because

[a) He was asked by the Board of Directors at London to do so

[b) He wanted to revive interest in oriental learning in India

[c) He wanted to provide William Carey and his associates employment

[d) He wanted to train British civilians for administrative purposes in India

Difficulty : Ease ?

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:
History Art and Culture Full Course by Pratik Nayak for UPSC Prelims Mains Download

  • Lord Wellesley (1798-1805) wanted adequate training for the European civil servants. At Fort William College in Calcutta the civil servants from all the presidencies took three years of training before getting their civil posting.
  • But the Court of Directors feared that such a training programme might result in the loyalties of the civil servants shifting from London to Calcutta. So in 1802 Fort William College was closed.

Answer Source(s):-

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.15. With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?

[a) The Revolt of 1857

[b) The Mappila rebellion of 1921

[c) The Indigo revolt of 1859 – 60

[d) Birsa Munda’s revolt of 1899-1900

Difficulty : Ease ?

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

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  • The rebellion (ulgulan) of the Munda tribesmen led by Birsa Munda, occurred during 1899-1900.

Answer Source(s):-

  • ✅Tamil Nadu class 11:  Ch. Early Resistance to British Rule, page 292
  • ✅Spectrum: ? Solvable Page 172- Mention about the Birsa Munda’s Ulgulan
  • ✅Covered in Pratik Nayak’s Unacademy Plus- Comprehensive Course on Modern Indian History (Lesson 47, Class conducted on-25th November 2019 , Slide Number-25)

Freedom Struggle → From Gandhi onwards

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.24. One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is

[a) The final goal of a stateless society

[b) Class struggle

[c) Abolition of private property

[d) Economic determinism

Difficulty : Medium ? interpretation based question ideologies of two renowned personaltiies.

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

  • Stateless Society: A society which lacks formal institutions of government. (NCERT Sociology Class11)
  • Gandhiji is a philosophical anarchist. Anarchist is one who is opposed to every type of state; Gandhian Ramrajya is that it is a self-regulating system where everyone is one’s own ruler. (NIOS Political science page 40)
  • Marxism revolves around the following theoretical propositions….a classless society and stateless society. (NIOS PolSci Ch4)
  • Karl Marx had predicted that the proletariats will take control of the state and production, the, destroy all class differences and class antagonisms, and finally resulting in the ‘withering Away of the State’. Thus, the end result will be a stateless society. (Tamilnadu State Board class 11 Political Science Book)
  • From these statements we can inform that both Gandhi & Marx aimed for Stateless society.

Answer Source(s):-

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.43. Which of the following statements correctly explain the impact of the Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century?

[a) Indian handicrafts were ruined.

[b) Machines were introduced in the Indian textile industry in large number.

[c) Railway lines were laid in many parts of the country.

[d) Heavy duties were imposed on the imports of British manufactures.

Difficulty : Medium ?

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

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  • 19th century means 1/1/1801 to 31/12/1900.
  • In the first half of the 19th century: Machines were very few. They were introduced in the starting of the 20th Century CE → B is wrong.
  • Railway lines were laid post 1850s- i.e. second half of the 19th Century CE → C is wrong.
  • The British goods were given duty free trade permits → D is wrong.
  • Since Option B, C & D- Incorrect, Therefore we are left with the answer “A”.

Answer Source(s):-

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.47. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following?

  1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Round Table Conference
  2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement
  3. Acceptance of Gandhi’s suggestion for enquiry into police excesses
  4. Release of only those prisoners who were not charged with violence

Select the correct answer using the code given below

[a) 1 only

[b) 1, 2 and 4 only

[c) 3 only

[d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Difficulty : Medium ? it is testing your knowledge for multiple statements.

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

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  • Gandhi-Irwin Pact- 5th March 1931- Also known as Delhi Pact
  • Solution by Viceroy Irwin- proposed congress to suspend civil disobedience movement and participate in the second meeting of the round table conference → #1 is right.  We are ?50:50 between A or B.
  • Enquiry into the police excess was not part of the Gandhi- Irwin Pact → #3 wrong. Option C and D eliminated.
  • Gandhiji also demanded release of political prisoners not convicted of violence from jails and other demands of withdrawal of ordinances

Answer Source(s):-

  • ✋Not solvable from Tamil Nadu class 11 because all salient features of this pact are not given
  • ✅Spectrum: ? Solvable Page 422, 423- All Points of Gandhi-Irwin Pacts are Mentioned
  • ✅Covered in Pratik Nayak’s History Lecture on Unacademy Plus- Comprehensive Course on Modern Indian History (lesson 31, class conducted on 26th July 2020, slide number- 46, 47)

? GuessMaster-GiriTM: ??Anti-GuessMaster.  If you believe in the rule#1 that extreme worded statements are always wrong  → Then Forth statement should be wrong because it contains extreme word “only”  → But then you will arrive at a wrong answer.

Freedom struggle → Journals, Magazines and Books

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.46. With reference to the book “Desher Katha” written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements :

  1. It warned against the Colonial State’s hypnotic conquest of the mind.
  2. It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs.
  3. The use of ‘desh’ by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

[a) 1 and 2 only

[b) 2 and 3 only

[c) 1 and 3 only

[d) 1, 2 and 3

Difficulty : Tough ? These many details not given in any standard reference sources. Hardly any information available about this book on the internet so, if the third statement is correct or not=Difficult to ascertain. Accordingly the answer could be “A” or “D”. Final judge, UPSC’s official answer key To be released next year

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

  • The first two statements are directly lifted from a book named
  • As per Google book Ref1: “Desher Katha was book largely based on the ideas of Naoroji and Digby. It presented the vices of the British rule, The mean of the peasants, the ruin of Indian industry and British empire’s hypnotic quest over mind. #1 is correct. Option B is eliminated.
  • As per Google Book Ref2: In the last four decades of the 19th century, Voice could be heard demanding a boycott of English goods… which was not only propagated in articles but also in songs, drama and pamphlets. A special role in this process was played by the Bengali publication Desher katha ( The story of the country ), written by S. G. Deuskar. So, #2 is correct. We are ?50:50 between A or D.
  • As per Google Book Ref3: Upon reading the whole chapter about Deuskar given in this book, it appears that he opposed the partition of Bengal. But, The overall theme of his book “Desher Katha” was similar to Naoroji’s drain of wealth and how we can stop it. So, #3 seems not valid. So, Answer should be “A”.

Answer Source(s):-

  • ✋Spectrum: Ans Unavailable ?
  • ✋Not given under any standard reference books.
  • ✅ Both statements are lifted from Cambridge Publication book A History of Modern India by Ishita Banerjee Dube page 233. But I don’t really see the point of buying a ₹624 rupees book just because one question was asked!

(Pre’20-SetB) Q.48. The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by

[a) Gopal Baba Walangkar

[b) Jyotiba Phule

[c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

[d) Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar

Difficulty : Tough ? Not available in routine in prep books. Even if you memorize all the books magazines and journals published by Gandhi and Ambedkar to eliminate B and D- still the answer may have been A or B. So definitely this is not easy. No matter how the Guessmasters try to spin it for clickbaits.

Type: Theory ?

Explanation:

  • Can be answered from elimination because BR Ambedkar & MK Gandhi worked in the 20th Century. And Jyotiba Phule wrote- Ghulam Giri (Book)
  • Hence only A option is left, which is correct.
  • Gopal Baba Walangkar- leader of the Mahar Movement in 19th century. He was an ex-serviceman and demanded more jobs in the army and other government services. He was a contemporary of Jyotiba Phule.Gopal baba published Vital- Vidhvanasak

Answer Source(s):-

  • ✋Spectrum/NCERT/Tamilnadu: Answer Unavailable ?
  • ✅Sumit Sarkar’s Modern History, Page 57. But this book is meant for the optional subject. Not recommended for the general studies preparation it will give poor cost benefit.

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