UPSC: How to read Newspapers

HOW TO READ A NEWSPAPER?
Introduction: The current Affairs are an important and interesting part in every one’s life. Starting from Gossiping about Film Industry to latest Political development, every one has some interest in it. Newspapers fulfills the basic requirement of the above needs.Starting from ordinary clerical examination to the to the top most Competitive exams like Civil Services, there are questions on Current Affairs. Normal Current Affairs questions are on PERSONALITIES, PLACES AND NEWS ANALYSIS. One has to follow at least one newspaper to keep abreast of National and International developments. But most of the students don’t know, how to read a newspaper or Read and memorize for their exams. The following write up gives an idea to follow the same for better understanding of Newspapers, which will further improve student’s approach towards newspaper reading.
“ALL THE BEST”
Newspaper reading is an art in itself. It is always advisable to get hooked on to newspaper reading very early in the school days. Before familiarizing yourself with reading a newspaper, it is advisable to get acquainted with the broad contours and some technical terms related to the newspaper.Front page: As the name indicates, is the first, or the front page of the newspaper. The top left hand and the right hand corners on the front page are known as the ‘Ear Panels’. The ‘Ear Panels’ contain advertisements in small boxes. The name of the newspaper, along with the date, place of publication and the ear panels are known as the ‘Masthead’.Lead Story: The lead story of the newspaper is the main, first, or the most prominent story on the front page. It is given in bold letters with big fonts and is the most important story of the day. ‘Banner headline’ - Often in the case of a major natural disaster, or death of a head of State or Government, a ‘banner headline’ is given. Banner headline means a headline spread across the top of the front page.Columns – Every newspaper and every page of a newspaper has eight columns – from left to right. That is, the first column on the left and the eight column on the right.Pages – The number of pages in a newspaper varies from one to another. Leading dailies have between 16-24 pages on weekdays and 32-48 pages on weekends.Supplements – Supplements are also known as magazines. These are separate from the main newspaper. Each day, newspapers have supplements, or magazines. These supplements cover special issues such as fashion, health, cuisine and other material for light reading over the weekend.Layout of the newspaper – This again varies from newspaper to newspaper. But in a standard format, the first page of the newspaper is known as Front page. A front page normally has five-six prominent news stories on issues of national and international importance. Pages second to fourth page are normally reserved for local news stories, though it depends upon each newspaper. If the newspaper is published from Delhi, the local pages would have news reports about Delhi (or any other city) if a newspaper is published from that city. Pages fifth to seventh contain news from various States. Pages eight and nine, are normally the most important pages of the newspaper. These two pages combined form the ‘heart and soul’ of the newspaper and are together known as ‘Centrespread’. These contain, most importantly, editorials (usually two in number), two edit page articles and Letters to the Editor. The page on the left is the ‘Editorial page’ and the one on the right is now known as the ‘Op-ed’ (Opinion-cum-editorial pages) and contains columns written by well-known commentators, analysts, opinion-makers and experts on a particular issue. The editorial page conveys the broad policy of the newspaper management – i.e whether the newspaper is pro-government, anti-government or neutral in the coverage of the news and views that it carries.Pages 10 and 11 are often reserved for international news. The next three-four pages are for news related to Business, stock market and share prices. After these, three-four pages are dedicated to coverage of various national and international sporting events. The last page is often kept for important national and international human-interest stories, that is, stories that would interest any reader. HOW TO READ A NEWSPAPER: Readers and reading are of two broad types: skimming (scanning) and reading. There are different styles of reading for different situations. The technique of reading depends on the purpose of reading. So first of all, you should have the purpose of reading very clear in your mind. For example, one might be reading for enjoyment, information, or to finish a task. If you are researching or reviewing, you might skim through a document. Reading speed depends on the purpose of reading. Skimming is usually done four-five times faster than normal reading. Many people consider skimming and scanning to be search techniques, rather than reading strategies. Skimming is usually resorted for quick identification of the main contents of any given material. Some people read the first and last paragraphs using headlines, sub-headings, summaries, searching for keywords. But while scanning, it is advisable to read the first sentence, for it gives a fair and a broad idea of the contents of that paragraph. Newspaper reading can be easily compared to long-distance running. You should start jogging in the beginning, let the muscles warm up and accelerate a little bit at the halfway mark and sprint only at the last lap of the race. It is thus, strongly advised that if you are a beginner at serious reading of a newspaper, do not skim, or scan to start with. Skimming requires trained movement of eyes from one word, sentence, or paragraph to another. This will come with sustained practice and one must increase the speed of reading gradually. Reading requires careful attention to every word and detail. However, anyone can increase the speed of reading while maintaining equal, or even higher comprehension. If you subscribe to a particular newspaper, slow reading in the beginning is a must to train the eyes for the type and size of the font. There are three factors which can help in enhancing reading speed: (1) willingness to improve, (2) keenness to try out new techniques and (3) motivation levels to practice reading regularly. With practice – and gradually, try to develop a wider and broader eye-span. This will help in reading more words and later on, even sentences, at one glance. Try to increase the eye-span from one sentence to two, then to three, four and then the whole paragraph. For, even physiologically, the movement of the eye is amongst the fastest movements of our body. Hence, it is of utmost importance to control eye movement while reading, for eyes have a peculiar habit of not being fixed at one place and the gaze just keeps shifting to see and visualize more and more.One major difficulty in reading, or even scanning, is that the eyesight, if not trained, has the habit of jumping and skipping words that are difficult to read, or not familiar to the eye. This leads to problems in reading and retention. Often one may misread, or misunderstand a word while reading fast. Thus it is all the more important to read slowly and at a comfortable pace and increase the speed only when the eyesight is properly trained. Certain write-ups like editorials, main stories of the day have to be read carefully. Skimming can be practiced in cases where one is reading for leisure on a weekend, or vacation and perfect it before applying to daily reading. One can of course, formulate own reading techniques for speed-reading with practice.Therefore, start reading by applying these techniques, for being a prospective mass communicator, you will be required to read/scan tonnes of material. However, one major must for reading is that you must not take it as a burden and have to enjoy the entire process. For, as they say – “Bon Chance” (Wish you all the best). CIVIL SERVICES PREPARATION: Civil Services preparation point of view is important in this place, when an aspirant reads a newspaper. If one goes through the previous years questions of Current Affairs, it will give broad idea about the pattern. Normally asked questions are about Personalities, Places, News of National and International importance. Bilateral issues relating to India and other Nations, Visit of Head of the States of other Countries, Visit of Indian President and Prime Minister to other Countries, Important agreements etc. One should concentrate on above items and avoid every day politics, gossip news, crime reports, unimportant corporate news, local issues etc. One should concentrate on the first page for Latest development, Edit page for Editorial and analysis, ‘Op-ed’ (Opinion-cum-editorial pages) for the views of commentators, analysts, opinion-makers on a particular issue.

UPSC interview of Mr. Gugan

In my post last I had discussed about the 13th of April, the day that was fixed for my interview. First, I was thinking if I should sit here in front of the computer and type the entire details about it. Then for the sake of record I decided to do that. Here’s the transcript. (please leave your comments)

I was put under Dr. Bhure Lal’s panel. And I was the third person to go in the group of 5 candidates. I was waiting for my turn outside when the second candidate was being interviewed. He was out and said the panel members were very cordial. He wished me best of luck and left. I asked the attendant for some water before I was to go in. As luck would have it, there was no water there and he had to go to fill the bottle. Meanwhile the door was opened for me by another attendant there. I did not wait for the water and delay the process that was to begin. So I entered the room with mouth almost run dry.
There was a lady member among the 5 panel members,including the chairman.
First I wished the lady member and then others.
I was asked to take the seat by the chairman.

Chairman (CM): hello! Guganesan. How are you??
Me: I am very fine, sir.
CM: (he looks at the form again) G ganesan (and just moved his body forward)
(I sensed here that he was in a good mood)
Me: ( I just smile at him) yes sir, Guganesan.
CM: So, you are a chartered Accountant.
Me: yes sir!!
CM :why do you want to come to civil service after CA?
Me: sir, I had decided to join civil service even before doing CA. In fact after clearing my CA I came for civil services preparation immediately.
CM: What is money laundering?
I explain that to him
CM: What is the link between terrorism and money laundering?
I tell him about how terrorism is funded ,about drug deal and all that.
CM : what are the three stages involved in money laundering???
I started explaining. There he stopped me and asked “ do u know the stages or not”
Me: No sir. This is all I know
Then he explained me the stages with its specific names (this was moreover close to what I said, except for the jargons he used)
CM: What are the duties of CA under prevention of money laundering Act?
Me: sir, I’m not aware of any provisions under the Act.
CM: oh, I though they’ll teach u all that in CA.
CM: how much is our Forex reserve?
Me: sir, its 199 billion dollars.
CM: ok, that’s fairly 200 billion dollars. Do you think we are secured?
Me: yes sir. It is said we have so much of reserve that it can fund 13 months of our imports.
CM : I don’t feel secured.
Me: (after giving serious thought) May I ask you why,sir.
(Both the chairman and the lady member bursted in to laughter )
CM: Yes. You have every right to ask me.
( He explained me the reason to which I almost agreed)
CM: How do you manipulate stock market?
I explained him about insider trading, one of the manipulative practices.
CM: why there’s so much of volatility in the stock market now?
I gave two reasons and explained them.1. hike in interest rate. 2. Appreciation of Japanese yen.
Then the chairman showed sign for the lady member to ask questions.

Member 2 (M2): Guganesan, explain over invoicing and under invoicing in foreign trade.
I explained her about that transfer pricing practices which related companies follow.
M2: ok. That relates to transfer pricing . Tell me in general. Suppose I’m an exporter in Tiruppur and you’re my client. I’m billing you at a price less that what it actually is.
I explained how it affects India and said the balance proceeds can be siphoned off to someother countries ( I guess she was looking for that word ‘siphon off’. After I said that she seemed more convinced)
M2: do you think India should accept foreign aid? I want your opinion on that.
Me: Yes Ma’am. I feel India should accept foreign aid. Although India is a developing country and sitting on huge forex reserve it needs so much of fund to finance our infrastructure needs.
M2: Ok. What is the legislation that regulates foreign aid.
Me: (think for a while) Ma’am ,its foreign contribution regulations Act.
M2: that’s. right. But do you think we need such kind of legislation. You know, NGO’s accept lots of foreign aid . do you think it needs to be regulated?
Me:Ma’am I’m not aware of the detailed provisions under the Act. But I know that NGO’s are under an obligation to file some kind of return with RBI after the receipt of the aid. I feel we should have these kind of regulations. B’coz some accountability is ensured on that part of NGO’s . It ensures that money is spent for the said purpose.
M2: But that’s between NGO and the foreign agency why should govt get involved.
Me: yes ma’am. Its true that its only between NGO and foreign agency .but NGO’s involve in social sector projects. So I think that it concern the government. So there is need for regulation.
M2: Ok.what are the preferences u’ve given?
Me: Ma’am I’ve given IAS as my first preference and IFS -2nd, 3rd-IPS and 4Th IRS.
M2: (she just smiled and nodded her head )ok, thank you. (she showed her hand to the third member) I just thanked her and looked in to the eyes of the third member.

M3: who are mafia?
I just gave an vague explanation.
M3: can we call phoolan Devi mafia?
Me: No sir. Mafia operate as network. They are widespread. Whereas Phoolan Devi just had a set of people.
M3: tell me who are the constituents of this Mafia.
Me; (I think for a while. Couldn’t really make out where the discussion is heading) sir, mafia would have set of musclemen.
M3: ok. They’re field staff. But what it takes to organize a crime?
Me: they need a proper plan before anytning is to be committed. And they collude with people on the other side.
M3: who are this people on the other side?
Me: sir, it’s the officials of the government.
M3: do you know chartered accountants play a major part in legalizing their money?
(here I realized why he started this discussion. So much of grudges against CAs, I thought)
Me: sir, there would be very few chartered accountants who are involved in such activities.
M3:Very few? (he looks at the papers in front of him) u’ve given reading as your hobby. What kind of books you read?
I answer that .(both fiction and non fiction)
M3: Have you read this book called “ Sacred game” by Vikram Chandra.?
Me: No sir, I haven’t read that.
M3: Read that book. It talks about how chartered accountants involve in legalizing the mafia’s money. They’re even called counselors.
Me: ok sir I’ll read that.
M3: what is the legislation that exclusively covers organized crime?
Me: no sir, I’m not aware of any specific legislation.
M3: ok. Blogging is your other hobby. On what kind of issues you write.
Me: sir, I have not restricted myself to any field. I write on anything that is interesting . It could be something interesting that happened in my life.
M4:like?
Me: once I wrote about the rag picker boy in my street. (I explained what I wrote in that post. The lady member seemed to be interested too although I dint make any eye contact with her)
M3: So you are interested in human behaviour?
Me: yes sir, u can say that.
M3:ok, now looking at the psyche of Indian people. Why there’s so much of adulteration in our country. Its not found much in other countries. Why only this subcontinent?u know, law allows some qty of stone in rice. There’s adulteration in drugs. Why is it so.
Me: sir, its because of the erosion of values among people in our country. India is a country where so many movies made every year. I think people pick such things from these movies.
M3: but adulteration has been there even before the movies came.
Me: yes sir. That’s true. But after movies these things increased in numbers.
M3: but where do we learn all this. Does historical books and religious books teach us?
Me: no sir. Our religious books and historical book don’t teach us these practices. I think its people’s desire to make easy money. They come out with new ideas and get involved in such things. I think its all about money, sir,
M3: suppose there’s a shop keeper who mixes stones in rice. One day his son falls sick. He buys medicine which is adulterated and his son dies. Do you think he’ll change.
Me: sir, it depends on the person. If he’s really learnt a lesson from this incidence I think he’d change.
M3: I don’t think he’ll change.
(he thanked me and put me onto the 4th member)

M4: so you are from kancheepuram. What’s the name of the famous temple in your town.
Me: sir, its kamakshi amman temple.
M4: what is the name of the legendary who laid the statue there?
Me: I’m sorry sir. I’m not sure of the name.
M4: its adi shankara. How far is that temple from your house.
Me: sir, its 2-3 kms from my house.
M4: oh, so close and still u haven’t bothered to find out that. What is the relationship between culture and reading?
Me: sir , If one person had been unaware of his culture, he can know them by reading any books. That way one can come to know about one’s culture and get them imbibed in his life.
M4: what is culture?
Me: sir, culture is one’s way of life. One’s way of dressing, food habits. It covers these many things.
M4: why do we have so many myths in our life?
I explain him something.
M4:no,,no. u have not really understood what is myth. U know we celebrate diwali.someone killed someone.
Me: (having got the flash in mind)yes sir. We have these kind of festival in life. Although they are based on myths they bring our families together. We celebrate and stay happy. It even disciplines our lives.
M4: “churning milk out of sea” what do you interpret on this.
Me: (almost puzzled) its like getting the best out of something which is in abundance.
M4: how education has churned u?
ME: (having no clue how to address) sir, eduction has helped to meet people from different background. I have learnt to interact with them. And also I;ve been able to understand the values in their life and tried to take it if they are good.
M4: why filmstars are raised to the level of god in tamilnadu?
(M3 interrupts and says even temples have been built)
I explain something .
M4: that’s there’s everywhere. There’s one particular reason. What is it?
Me:no sir. I can’t think of any particular reason.
M4: ok, think on ur way back u;ll get it.
(he thanked me and passed onto the 5th person)

M5:I’ll just ask you few questions. (I was happy to hear tht)
How do you classify land?
Me: sir, agricultural land and non-agricultural land.
M5:ok. That’s one way of saying. U know , u can classify it as mainland and hinterland. (I uttered the word ‘hinterland “along with him, as he was very slowly talking)
And we have islands. Tell me the name of an island in Arabian sea.
Me: sir. Its lakshadweep.
M5: what is the total surface area?
Me:no sir, I’m not aware of that.
M5:ok, I thought since u were staying close to that place u might know that. Ok. Why British came to India, first?
Me: Sir, they came for trade.
M5: but there’s one incidence that prompted them to rule India. What is it?
(Here this member was very vague in framing this question. Then the M3 explained it in a better way for me.)
Me(after serioulsly thinking) no sir, I have never come across any such incidence.
M5: now I’ll give u a topic. I want you to deliberate on this and speak for and against. “All people who come for civil service preparation should not do that”
(I know it sounds confusing)
I spoke about why people want to come to civil service. Reasons like public service, improving the functions of govt. For against the topic I said there;’s so much o f corruption and abuse of power.Said “ civil service is even considered first resort of scoundrel “
(only after coming home I realized that what I spoke under :For” was actually “against” and vice versa. )
M5: do you really think people come for service?
Me: yes sir. There are many people who come for preparation with the public services in mind. In fact, I’m one such person myself.
(then M5 looked at the chairman. )
CM: guganesan, you interview is over . you can leave.

I thanked everyone and left the room. Wow. What a relief when I came out. Now I have to wait for the results. That could be anytime during the second week of May.

UPSC interview of Mr. Vikas Singh

My interview was scheduled in the fore noon session of 3rd of April 2007. I was interviewed by the board of Prof. D.P Agrawal, an ex dean of IIT, Delhi. The other members were M1, M2, M3 and M4.

The conversation started with Prof. D.P. Agrawal

DPA (Work related)

Vikas tell me about your present company?

How many years weather data you take?

Where did you do your pilot projects for weather insurance?

Is it for rain fed areas or irrigated areas?

So you collect weather data from the field?

Does Hardoi have a weather statation?

Do you think the farmers will understand your questionnaire?

What questions do you ask?

How many questions are there in the questionnaire?

Tell me the important questions?

So, on a 10 point scale how do you rate plant growth?

What discussion do you have with the district officials?

What is a crop cutting experiment?

M1 (IRMA)

What is PRM?
Why rural management? I never heard of Urban Management

Why so many IIMs and so few Rural management? Should the government not open many rural management institutes?

Is the government doing enough for rural sector?

What is the concept of PURA?

Did you ever live in rural areas?

What did you do in Kutch?

DPA:What subjects you had at IRMA? How were they different from normal B-schools?

Did you study about health sector?

What is the health structure in India?

Do you know of any health schemes?

Do you know of any education schemes?

What earlier schemes have been merged in Sarva Siksha Abhiyan?

M2 (Literature)

Who has got the Nobel Prize in literature from India? What was his contribution?

Have you heard of Osama bin Laden? why is he so antagonistic to America?

How are you creative in your writing?

What knowledge do you have about painting styles?

DPA: Don’t you know of any painting styles? Name famous Indian painters

What was Raja Ravi Verma’s painting style?

What is SUPW? Isn’t it compulsory in schools? How is it extra curricular activity?

M3 (Administration)

What is the reason of backwardness of Jharkhand despite rich resource endowment?

But what about corruption? What is the definition of corruption?

What is the effect of corruption?

Who is a public servant? Is he a servant of the people?

If a person from public comes and directs you to allocate resources what will be your response?

Suppose he is an MLA/MP?

What if a cabinet minister of a different ministry asks you to transfer people of your department?

What if your senior officer orders you to do something which your conscience does not allow?

Why do you want to join IAS?

You can have diverse experience elsewhere also, why specifically IAS?

What posts will you get as an IAS officer?

What role will you have as an SDM?

M4
Which two nations are the most recent members to join Eurpean Union?

What problems did you come across in your study in Kutch?

How are these problems being overcome?

Do you think blogs will replace mainstream media?

What do you blog about?

DPA

Tell us one personal experience of yours which can motivate the youth to come forward for rural development?

Why did you criticize the relief and rehabilitation work of Kutch as a reflex action?

What disaster has been predicted by India’s disaster management cell?

If you can not predict a disaster, won't relief always be a reflex action?

Which agency re-built the houses in kutch? I think it was a successful example of Rehabilitation, wasn't it?
What will you do if you don’t get into administrative services?

Will you be able to contribute to rural development if you are placed in some department other than the rural development department?

DPA:Vikas, Your interview is over.

UPSC interview of Mr. Vivek Kumar

Lets put the promised review on the backburner for a while.

The latest UPSC Mains results are out and the interview process starts in a few days. My days of UPSC glory are finally over. New winners will emerge in a few days and the flood of marriage proposals (which my family had to tide over) will dry up. So, time to go back to my own interview one last time (first time on the blog though).

My interview was taken by the panel of Ms. Arundhati Ghose. Yes, the same Arundhati Ghose of the “Not Now, Not Ever” fame. On August 8, 1996, she made this statement and became a hero of the nation. I remember reading about her then and wondering about diplomats for the first time. Needless to say, ever since I found out that she is a member of the UPSC, I was praying to clear the mains and be interviewed by her panel. The intensity of my prayers increased once I actually cleared the mains. All this despite the fact that she had the most fearsome reputation for stress interviews and at times, of virtually throwing out the candidates if they did not meet her standards. She doesn’t waste time, I was told. Here is one such horror story that was narrated to me:

The candidate had put “gardening” as one of his hobbies. The first question was to name the botanical names of 5 plans in his garden. He couldn’t. Ms. Ghose took him out of the room to the potted plants outside and told him their botanical names. Then, she told him that the interview was over.

I don’t know if this was true or not. But I know of other people (first hand accounts) who actually trembled in front of her. One candidate was so nervous that he picked up papers from the table (which did not belong to him, but to Ms. Ghose) while leaving when the interview got over. There are lots and lots of such stories.

While my sympathies were with these victims, in my heart I knew that these people really did not deserve good marks. If you can’t stand pressure in an interview, how will you take it when you are posted as a senior police officer or a district magistrate or an ambassador later in your life? Anyway, I wanted her panel. No matter what the marks. If the circumstances were any different, I could even have asked for her autograph!!!

Anyway, the day of my interview arrived. I was at the UPSC waiting hall and was informed that the table at which I was designated to wait belonged to some other panel in the morning session. My heart sank. There were 3 other people with me for the same panel. I was going to be the third candidate to be interviewed. Later, only 2 of us cleared. One lady was already in some other service and she continued with it. One person probably went back to prepare for next attempt (he was the first to be interviewed).

The interviews were to start at 2:00 PM. At 1:55 PM, a peon came to our table and said, “madam ka panel hai” (You are with The Madam’s panel). There was no mistaking who The Madam was. You can’t imagine the number of heartbeats my heart skipped. Wow! All the other people waiting at other tables heaved a collective sigh of relief. Apparantly, nobody wanted this panel. Except me.

First man went in at 2:00 sharp and came out sweating at 2:30. He made a mess of it. Ms. Ghose was very unhappy with him. The reputation was coming true. The lady candidate was next in. She went in at 2:35 and came out at 3:05. She spent half her interview trying to justify some triviality in her form. I was next at 3:10 PM.

There were 5 people on the panel. Lets call the members M1, M2, M3 and M4. Sitting right in the middle was Ms. Arundhati Ghose (AG), smoking a cigarette (Marlborough Lights, my guess). I wished her first (being the chairperson, as well as the only lady member there) according to protocol and then the other members collectively. I waited to be asked to be seated and took my seat when she asked me to.

She put out the cigarette and scanned my resume form (standardised UPSC format).

AG: Mr. Kumar, you passed out of IIT recently.. oh no, in 2002. This is April 2004. What have you been doing all this time?

VK: Ma’am, till November 2003, I had been preparing and appearing for the successive stages of the civil services examination. After that, I joined a telecom software startup started by some of my friends from IIT Bombay here in Delhi. I am there in an..

AG: Wait. Why are you speaking so quickly? Are you nervous? Just relax and take it easy. Speak slowly.

VK: Yes ma’am, I am nervous. This is my first, and hopefully the last, interview (smiles, trembles inwardly but doesn’t show it).

AG: Good, so proceed. What did you do at this startup?

VK: Ma’am, I am there in an informal capacity and do not draw any salary except the expenses and I help them out in any way possible. But by and large I deal with initiating contact with foreign telecom companies who might be interested in buying our software. I find out the companies, look for a key person, initiate contact, see if they would be willing to buy something. Once I get something positive, I hand it over to my Boss.

AG: So, you actually talk to these companies.. the foreigners?

VK: Yes.

AG: Have you succeeded somewhere? Which country?

VK: Ma’am I initiated the first deal that we made, in Brunei.

AG: Okay. You have given IFS as your first preference, despite your father being in the Police. Why?

VK: There are 2 reasons ma’am. Firstly, I have always wanted to represent India. To have that India tag on me. There is this feeling of pride I can’t explain. And secondly, I see more and more challenges ahead for the IFS in an increasingly globalised world. It seems exciting and I want to be where the action is.

AG: What is the biggest issue in the US presidential elections?

VK: Lots of them actually. Afghanistan, Outsourcing…

AG: No, the biggest issue.

VK: The Iraq War?

AG: Yes. Now, can you update me on the Indo-US relations?

(VK launches into an answer explaining things and bringing the Indo-Pak-US triangle into focus).

AG: You were talking about pride. But this is the government, you would have to do as your boss tell you to. Right?

VK: Yes, ma’am.

AG: Now, suppose you are in an Indian Embassy in some capacity below the rank of Ambassador. You get a direct order from Delhi, which you think is contary to our National Interests. Would you still carry it out?

VK: As you said ma’am, I probably would have to.

AG: (adopts a very nice tone) No! You must never do that. You should try and talk to the Ambassador and get him on your side. Once that is done, you can negotiate with New Delhi.

VK: But ma’am I was assuming that all this had been tried before. The order can not come out of the blue. The matter must have been under consideration for some time and I would have discussed it with the Ambassador already.

AG: Even then, you must not give up. The only guiding principle for you would be India’s National Interest. Nothing else. If you think something is wrong, refuse to carry out the order. The national interest must never be compromised.

VK: Yes ma’am. I’ll try my best to do that.

AG: Okay, you mentiom science fiction as your hobby. Name a few writers.

(VK names a few)

AG: All this fiction is fine, but has any of it ever come to reality?

(VK says yes and names a few things)

AG: Do you stay updated with science facts as well?

VK: Yes.

AG: Tell me about the Mars Mission.

(VK proceeds to talk about it. Can not name the vehicle. Discussion ensues around the table on the name and ends when Ms. Ghose brings it to an end)

AG: Okay, enough. Now the others can ask questions.

M1: You say listening to music in one of your hobbies. What kind of music?

VK: All kinds, Sir. Depends on my mood. I listen to pretty much everything.

M1: Even classical?

VK: Yes.

M1: Name some kinds of music.

(VK names 12-13 genres or so and is interrupted mid-sentence)

M1: The criminalization of politics is such a big problem. Why do criminals win elections?

VK: Because the elections are never fought on those lines. No matter what the national media says, down in the constituency, the issues are extremely local and mostly based on caste equations and local politics. So, unless there is a big wave, everything national is actually very local. Criminal backgrounds do not decide voters’ choices. Except perhaps the urban few, who do not vote anyway.

M1: So, what is the solution?

VK: Perhaps to stop them from contesting. Stricter legislation to prevent them from contesting and a more transparent information system. At the same time, efforts need to be continued to educate the people about the importance of these reforms.

M2: Mr. Kumar, what is this BPO thing? How does it work?

VK: Business Process Outsourcing Sir. (explains the BPO phenomena)

M2: Do you thing it will last?

VK: For the short-term, yes. But other developing countries will start catching up. Besides, there is the issue of growth of the BPO company and the professional growth of people working there.

M2: Meaning?

VK: An individual whose only skill is to answer calls would probably find it hard to find another job 5-6 years down the line. Not all of them can become managers. Besides, there are pressures of the lifestyle.

M2: You mean the health hazards of people in call centres. Elaborate.

VK: Only yesterday, there was a report in newspapers about a study that found the incidence of stress related disorders, drinking and (pauses, looks at Ms. Ghose, who had lit a cigarette a few minutes ago, and smiles)… smoking.

AG: (burtsts out laughing).. what did you say?

VK: Smoking ma’am. People working in call centres have been found to be more prone to smoking and they obviously expose themselves to the related health hazards.

(AG laughs some more and puts the cigarette out in an ash-tray which resembles an agricultural field growing cigarettes)

M3: You are a chemical engineer from IIT Bombay. Why did you opt for Philosophy and Public Administration?

VK: Philosophy because I have always been interested in the subject matter. My father named me after Swami Vivekanand and I have been reading material on Indian Philosophy ever since I started reading. Public Administration because I thought that if I have to do administration in life, I might as well learn something about it. Plus, the guidance was easily available.

M3: If a foreigner, during your posting abroad, asks you about the sociological impact of schools of Indian philosphy on life in India, what would you say?

VK: I’m sorry Sir, but my study has been restricted to the content of these philosphies. I have’t studied their impact.

M3: But you are interested in the subject. Would you continue reading more on the subject?

VK: Of course Sir. I find the subject fascinating.

M4: Mr. Kumar, a little while ago, while discussing Indo-Pak relations, you mentioned that India need not comment on every little thing that happens in the world. I say, we have no need to even talk to Pakistan. Do we have something in common with them. I say nothing. Nothing at all. Do you think there is anything we have in common with them?

VK: At least 2 things Sir. Firstly, the common history we share. We were practically one country barely 50 years ago. And… (interrupted by M4)

M4: No. We have no need to talk to them.. (repeats the same question again after a long monologue)

(VK starts answering again, and is interrupted again, M4 starts the same monologue)

AG: (sounds very angry and upset with M4) Enough M4! This is his interview. Why don’t you shut up and let him speak? Vivek, you answer the same question to me and ignore him completely.

VK: As I was saying ma’am, firstly there is the shared history and heritage. And secondly, both countries have claims on Kashmir. And no matter what we say, it keeps coming up again and again everywhere. It is an issue that we do share, though uncomfortably.

AG: You have held several positions at IITB.. Election Officer, Placement Representative etc. You have also won a few awards from your hostel for “organisation”. What is all this?

(VK explains the positions held at IITB and the awards from Hostel-3).

AG: Any last questions (looks around at all members)?

M4: May I ask one last question?

AG: Sure. Go ahead.

M4: You played hockey for your hostel for a while. What is the future of India hockey.

VK: Looks reasonably bright to me, Sir. At least the prospects are good. Youngsters are coming up, sponsors are also pitching in. Coaching seems to have improved.

M4: Do you think Dhanraj Pillay is good enough for the Indian team. Should he play?

VK: Well Sir, he is the most experienced and he is absolutely fit. He is the best player we have…

M4: No no.. just say Yes or No. Should he be in the team?

VK: Yes.

AG: Okay. The interview is over. You may leave Mr. Kumar. Thank you.

(VK thanks her and all the members and walks out without turning back)

I went straight to the waiting room and sipped some cold water. Phew! Time? 4:05 PM. I had lasted over 50 minutes!!! Incredible!

The conversation is more or less exact. But of course, some approximations have been made. I have also forgotten a few points. The highlight of the interview for me was the fact that she actually asked a member to shut up and let me speak. And the fact that she could understand the joke I tried about smoking being bad for health.

It was such a relief to know that it was over. I was swamped in the waiting hall by other people and the next candidate.

I came out of the UPSC campus and walked to Rajasthan House where my uncle was staying.

I analysed my performance to be worth atleast 200 marks (out of 300). This was one hell of a satisfying interview. I didn’t sweat. My voice didn’t shake. I made Ms. Ghose laugh several times. She asked a member to shut up for me. And… she was explaining things to me as if I was already in the IFS. Surely, that couldn’t be a bad sign.

As it happened, I got 225 in the interview :)

She has retired now. I am in the service. A lot of my prayers were answered around that time. Thank God. Thanks Ms. Ghose

UPSC interview: Bhurelal,Paul roy and D P Agarwal board

Interview with Dr. Bhurelals Board
Interview date: 2nd April '07
Optionals. Geog & Psycho
Dr. Bhurelal
Q1. In a pre-war situation how will u defeat the opponent without using arms and ammunitions(related to computer engg.)
supp Q: Name of the 17 yr boy who hacked pentagon?
Q2. What is the economy of ur place(U.T. of D&N H )
supp Q: What all crops?
supp Q: What is accessibility to this place?
Q3. How will knowledge of psychology help u in administration?
Member 1
Q4: What are deccan traps?
supp Q: how many flows of lava?
supp Q: how will u find water in deccan trap region?
supp Q: Imp mineral industry of pune?
Q5. How will remote sensing help u in administration?
Q6. What r flash floods? how r they caused? where does the water go?
Member 2
Q7. What is money laundering?
supp Q: what r the sources of black money?
Member 3
Q8. Name the tribal communities and tell about their culture?
supp Q: how r these tribes diff from mainstream?
supp Q: what is EDP programme for tribals?
Q9. Rajsing Dungarpur made a statement that no indian is fit to coach the indian team... ur views?
supp Q: whats wrong with Indian cricket?
supp Q: whats wrong with indian sports?
Member 4
Q10. How will u handle a potential communal situation as an IPS in ur district?
supp Q: what if ur seniors orders are contrary to what u think is right?



Mr. paul roy's board: The board members were very very cordial and accomodating..i was most pleasantly surprised...
the chairperson began by asking me which is the *last book i read? and *two latest economic developments...which brought sensex's fall in to pic and he asked me *what i thought brought about the sudden fall? he further asked me to explain the *repo rate and *the reasons for the inflationary trends
the next board member asked me if i followed any sports? then asked me to *explain the foreign ploicy of india and *what makes india a candidate for permanent seat for UN security council?
*and if we should consider permanent membership without veto?

the next board person asked me * what problems does a common man face while dealing with govt. servants and sarkari babus...* whther it was justifies to grease the palm to get a work done?
he asked me *if i knew who moily was? and what were the recommendations of *the administrative reform committee, and *police reform committee...

the next board member asked me to name *some german literary figures and if i have read faust of goethe? and asked me why i want to switch over to civil services from teaching?

the last board member asked me *if india is justified in spending so much money on having a nuclear programme when millions go foodless and *whats the rationale behind having a space programme...*and how can we call india developed when so many people are below the poverty line??

in the end the chairperson showed me a painting with mother teresa's silhouette drawn and asked me to identify the figure...and asked me if i could guess who the painter was?

Mr. DP Agrawal's Board
In my Board, there were all 5 male members and the questions were:
1. Do you think if one is coming for an IAS interview the person shd be wearing a tie (as I wasn't wearing)
2. My prior work experience and the work profile
3. What is governance and e-governance
4. Give any practical example of e-gov
5. use of e-gov
5. what is e-business
6. urban problems
7. how you will solve the problems of traffic and civil amenities
8. Views on the company mergers and effects on Indian economy...
9. problem of global warming, causes and consequences
10. ozone delpetion
11. Alternative sources of energy
12. diff beween IT and Computer science
13. Can you recite any peom and explain the meaning ( poetry is not my hobby)
14. Can you explain the meaning of Jana-gana-mana
15. what all places you have visited
16. Diff between 2-stroke and 4-stroke engine
17 Favourite singers

I found Mr. Agrawal bit rude and unsatisfied sometime but I am not sure whether it was with me or he reacts the same way with others .. Please let me know the experience of others who were interviewed by the same board...

IAS interviews from Subir Datta and Parveen Talha board

subir dutta's board. here were the ques...
what do you like to read?(i had reading as a hobby)
what is the last book u read?
why have you chosen psycho and socio?
how do you rate your interview skills?
why have you chosen IFS as your second preference?
which foreign lang would you like to learn?
what should be done in iraq?
what is the difference between shias and sunnis?
what is sociology?
what is anthropology?
how does one study sociology?
what is the problem in sri lanka?
do u think india has been consistent in its policy towards sri lanka?
what is co-ordinated patrolling?
what steps have been taken to curb inflation?
what is transparency international?
what is non-practising allowance for doctors?
why do doctors only get it?
what are the problems facing the rural health sector?
how will you rectify them?
what should be done against govt doctors found indulging in pvt practice?
what was green revolution?
which came first: HYV of rice/wheat?
how will you eliminate malaria?
name the country that has made significant strides in this respect.
what has been done in the insurance sector?
what is the criminal justice system?what are its problems?
how can they be rectified?
how can tax compliance be increased?
do you think the EC is acting as a parallel power centre in UP?
........

parveen talha's board
questions i was asked....
1>do u support the killing of street dogs and why?
2>whats ur academic background?why do u want 2 join the civil services?dont u think u'll waste ur knowledge?
3>which part of tea is plucked?what do u know about tea processing?
4>from ur studies in school level only can u tell the results of world war 2?
5>wats "struggle for existence" how do u justify your statement that animalsshould be protected not killed as we are the most superior and the inferior animals thus have failed in the struggle.
6>wats ur mental state after india's early exit frm the world cup?
7>dont u think harbhajan singh should retire?
8>when did india win the last gold in football in asian games?
9>wats d capital of canada?
10>wats ur daily routine?why do u sleep so much?
11>which tv programmes u like and why?
12>what is a "song"?
13>whats is the function of EU?
14>why do u eat fish or chicken when u r yourself against killing of animals?
15>why did u go 4 veterinary sciences in your academics?
16>after completion of education what did u do in the last 3 years?
17>wat should b our reaction to the indian cricket team......

General Studies-06(Indian History Questions only)

GENERAL STUDIES – 2005

Previous year questions (Solved)
General Studies ( Indian History Questions only)

INDIAN HISTORY

1) Consider the following statements :-
1. The Charter Act 1853 abolished East India Company's monopoly of Indian trade.
2. Under the Government of India Act 1858, the British Parliament abolished the East India Company altogether and undertook the responsibility of the ruling India directly

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans:- (b)
Expl:- The Monopoly trading rights of East India Company was abolished by the
Charter of 1813.

2) When Raja Wodeyar founded the Kingdom of Mysore, who was the ruler of the
Vijayanagar Empire?

(a) Sadasiva
(b) Tirumala
(c) Ranga II
(d) Venkata II
Ans:- (d)
Expl:- Venkata II was the last great ruler of Aravindu dynasty with his Permission
Raja Wodeyar founded Mysore.

3) Between which of the following was the ancient town of Takshasila located?

(a) Indus and Jhelum
(b) Jhelum and Chenab
(c) Chenab and Rave
(d) Rave and Beas
Ans:- (a)
Expl:- Taxila was one of the ancient learning centres. Chandragupta Maurya studied
here. It was also a Buddhist site.

4) Withe reference to the invaders in ancient India, which one of the following is the
correct chronological order?


(a) Greeks - Sakas - Kushans
(b) Greeks - Kushans - Sakas
(c) Sakes - Greeks - Kushans
(d) Sakas - Kushans - Greeks
Ans:- (a)
Expl:- In Post Mauryan Peroids, there were three important foreign dynasties to
rule India. They were Greeks (200BC), Sakas(100 BC) and Kushanas(50AD).


5) Consider the following statements :?
1. The Ikshvaku rulers of Southern India were antagonistic towards Buddhism.
2. The Pala rulers of Eastern India were Patrons of Buddhism.


Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans:- (b)
Expl:- The Ikshvaku rulers Patronised Buddhism. They Renovated the famous Buddhist
chaityas of Nagarjuna Konda and Amaravati.

6) Which one of the following revolts was made famous by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
in his novel Anand Math

(a) Bhil uprising
(b) Rangpur and Dinapur uprising
(c) Bishnupur and Birbhum rebellion
(d) Sanyasi rebellion
Ans:- (d)
Expl:- 'Bande Matram' song of 'Anand Math' was based on Sanyasi rebellion.

7) In the year 1613, where was the English East India Company given permission to set
up a factory(trading post)?

(a) Bangalore
(b) Madras
(c) Masulipattam
(d) Surat
Ans: (d)
Expl:- The first settlement of English was Masulipattam(1611).

8) With reference to the revolt of the year 1857, who of the following was betrayed by a
friend; captured and put to death by the British?

(a) Nana Sahib
(b) Kunwar Singh
(c) Khan Bahadur Khan
(d) Tantia Tope
Ans:- (d)
Expl:- Tantia Tope , the famous Gurellia warfare expert was betrayed by the Zamindari
friend Mansingh.

9) Under whose presidency was the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress held
in the year 1929 wherein a resolution was adopted to gain complete independence from the British?

(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Motilal Nehru
Ans:- (c)


10) "Lectures from Colombo to Almora" is based on the experience of which one of the following?


Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3, only
(c) 1 and 2, only
(d) 3 only
Ans:- (d)


11) Consider the following statements about Madam Bhikaji Cama :


(1) Madam cama unfurled the National Flag at the International
Socialist Conference in Paris in the year 1907.
(2) Madam cama served as private secretary to Dadabhai Naoroji.
(3) Madam cama wasorn to Parsi parents

(a) 1,2 and 3.
(b) 2 and 3 only.
(c) 1 and 2 only.
(d) 3 only.

Ans:- (b)
Expl:- Madam Cama unfurled the National Flag at 'Stuttgart' in Germany.

12) Who was the Governor-General of India during the Sepoy Mutiny ?


(a) Lord Canning
(b) Lord Dalhousie
(c) Lord Hardinge
(d) Lord Lytton
Ans:- (a) Expl:

- Expl:- Lord Canning was the last Governor - General and first Viceroy of India.
His tenure : 1856 - 1862.

13) In Indian history, who was Abdul Hamid Lahori ?

(a) An important military commander during Akbar's reign
(b) An official historian of the reign of Shah Jahan
(c) An important noble and confidant of Aurangzeb
(d) A chronicler and poet during the reign of Muhammad Shah
Ans:- (b)
Expl:- Lahori wrote 'Badshah - Nama' in Persian.

14) Bhakta Tukaram was a contemporary of which Mughal Emperor ?

(a) Babar
(b) Akbar
(c) Jahangir
(d) Aurangzeb
Ans:- (c)
Expl:- Bhakta Tukaram was the contemporary of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and
Prince Aurangazeb.


15)Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the Afghan rulers to
the throne of Delhi ?

(a) Sikandar Shah - Ibrahim Lodi - Bahlol Khan Lodi
(b) Sikandar Shah - Bahlol Khan Lodi - Ibrahim Lodi
(c) Bahlol Khan Lodi - Sikandar Shah - Ibrahim Lodi
(d) Bahlol Khan Lodi - Ibrahim Lodi - Sikandar Shah
Ans:- (c)
Expl:- Founder : Bahlol Lodi; Last Ruler : Ibrahim Lodi.

16) Who among the following laid the foundation of Rashtrakuta Empire ?

(a) Amoghavarsha I
(b) Dantidurga
(c) Dhruva
(d) Krishna I
Ans:- (b)
Expl:- Founder of Rastrakuda dynasty. Fuedatory of Chalukyas of Bhadami.
Performed Hiranya Garpa ceremony.

17) Match List I (Finding/Invention/Calculation) with
List II (Ancient Indian Scholar) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists :

List I List II
(Finding/Invention/ (Ancient
Calculation) Indian Scholar)

A. Time taken by the Earth 1. Aryabhatta
to orbit the Sun

B. Calculation of the value of 2. Bhaskaracharya
('pi')

C. Invention of the digit zero 3. Budhayana

D. The game of snakes and 4. Gyandev
ladders

Code : A B C D

(a) 2 4 1 3
(b) 1 3 2 4
(c) 2 3 1 4
(d) 1 4 2 3
Ans:- (?)
Expl:- A) Time taken by the Earth to orbit the Sun - Bhaskara Charya
B) Calculation of the value of (pi) - Aryabhatta
C) Invention of the digit zero. It was first mentioned in Aryabattam. But,
it existed before
D) The game of Snakes and Ladders - Budhayama


18) Which one of the following is not correctly matched ?

Prominent Indian Writer Language

(a) Raja Rao : Telugu
(b) Gobind Trimbuk Deshpande : Marathi
(c) Subramaniyam Bharati : Tamil
(d) Tara Shankar Joshi : Gujarati
Ans:- (a)
Expl:- Raja Rao wrote in English, He wrote KantaPuma. The serpent and the Rope,
The Cat and Shakespeare.

19) Match List I (Place of Archaeological Monument) with List II (State) and
select the correct answer using the code given below the lists :

List I List II
(Place of Archaeological (State)
Monument)

A. Sisupalgarh 1. Assam
B. Piprahwa 2. Manipur
C. Goalpara 3. Orissa
D. Bishnupur 4. Uttar Pradesh

Code :
A B C D

(a) 2 4 1 3
(b) 1 3 2 4
(c) 3 4 1 2
(d) 1 4 2 3
Ans:- (c)


20) Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched ?

(a) Vikramsila Monastery : Uttar Pradesh
(b) Hemkund Gurudwara : Himachal Pradesh
(c) Udhayagiri Caves : Maharashtra
(d) Amaravati : Andhra Pradesh Buddhist Stupa

Ans:- (d)
Expl:- (a) Vikramsila Monastery : Bengal
(b) Hemkund Gurudwara : Punjab
(c) Udhayagiri Caves : Orissa


21) The Allahabad Pillar inscription is associated with which one of the following ?

(a) Mahapadma Nanda
(b) Chandragupta maurya
(c) Ahoka
(d) Samudragupta
Ans:- (d)
Expl:-Allahabad Pillar inscription of Samudragupta was written by his court poet
and Commander-in-chief Harisena in Sanskrit.

22) Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ?

(a) State Recorganization Act : Andhra Pradesh
(b) Treaty of Yandabu : Assam
(c) State of Bilaspur : Himachal Pradesh
(d) Year 1966 : Gujarat becomes a state

Ans:- (d)
Expl:- The state of Gujarat was created in 1960.

23) The initial design and construction of whih massive temple took place during the
reign of Suryavarman II ?

(a)Sri Mariamman Temple
(b) Angkor Vat
(c) Batu Caves Temple
(d) Kumakhya Temple

Ans:- (b)
Expl:- Angkor Vat, a Vishnu temple was built by Suryavarman II.

24) Assertion (A) :

Muhammad bin Tughluq Issued a new gold
coin which was called Dinar by Ibn Batutah.

Reason (R) :
Muhammad bin Tughluq wanted to issue token
currency in gold coin to promote trade with
West Asian and North African countries


Ans:- (c)

Model Question paper of Indian History (Pre)

Model Questions
1.Match List I ( Wars ) with List II ( Governor Generals) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists ;
LIST-I LIST-II
(Wars) (Governor Generals)
A. The first Mysore war 1 Lord Cornwalis
B. The second Mysore war 2 Lord Hasting
C. The Third Mysore war 3 Lord Wellesley
D. The fourth Mysore war 4 Lord Waren hastings
5.Lord Smith

Codes:-
A B C D
a) 5 4 1 3
b) 1 2 3 4
c) 5 4 3 2
d) 4 3 2 1
2) The original cannon of the Jain’s is believed to have consisted of

a) 6 Angas b) 8 Angas c) 12 Purvas d) 14 Purvas
3) The Jaina system of thought closely resembles

a) Vedenta b) Samkhya c) Yogachara d) Rigveda
4) Aranyayi, Goddess of the Forest is first mentioned in the

a) Rig Veda b) Atharvaveda c) Aranayakas d) Upanishadas
5) Adaryu mentioned in the Vedas is

a) Vedic Rajan b) Vedic Queen c) A Type of Chariot d) A Category Sacrifices Priest
6) Match List I (Goods ) with List II ( Places) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists ;
List I List II
(Goods) (Places)
A. Copper 1. Deccan
B. Shell 2. Rajasthan
C. Lapis Lazuli 3. Kutch
D. Gold 4. Afganisthan

Codes:-
A B C D
a) 3 4 1 2
b) 1 3 2 4
c) 2 3 1 4
d) 2 3 4 1
7) Match List I ( Tribal Revolts ) with List II ( Years) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists ;
List I List II
(Tribal Revolts) (Years)
A. Khods 1.1913
B. Santhals 2.1846-1848
C. Bhils 3.1855-1856
D. Mundas 4.1899
Codes:-
A B C D
a) 3 1 2 4
b) 2 3 1 4
c) 2 1 4 3
d) 1 4 2 3
8) Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

a) C.R.Reddi - Praja Mithra Madali
b) Jotiba Phule - Satya Shodak Samaj
c) B.R.Ambedkar - All India Depressed Classes Mission
d) Rajaram Mohan Roy – Prathana Samaj
9) The system of competitive examination for civil service was accepted in principle in the year

a) 1833 b) 1853 c) 1858 d) 1882
10) Monopoly of the East India Company to trade with china was abolished by the Charter Act of

a)1793 b) 1813 c) 1833 d) 1853
11) Which one of the following Act created the post of Lt.Governor of Bengal

a) 1773 Act b) 1784 Act c) 1858 Act d) 1853 Act
12) The main feature of 1919 Act was

a) Diarchy b) Federation c) Communal Representation d) Provincial autonomy
13) The Philosophy of Upanishad emphasis on

a) Bakti b) Gyan c) Karma d) Tapas
14) Match List I (Journals ) with List II ( Founders) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists ;
List I List II
(Journals) (Founders)
A. TatwaBodhini Sabha 1. Rajarammohan Roy
B Bharat Bhrama Samaj 2. G.K..Gohale
C. Bhrama Sabha 3. K.C.Sen
D. Servants of Indian society 4. D.N.Tagore

Codes:-
A B C D
a) 4 3 2 1
b) 4 3 2 1
c) 4 3 2 3
d) 1 2 3 4
15) Which of the following is not correct regarding Gupta and Post Gupta Age

a) First capital of Harsha was Thaneswar then Second capital was Kannauj
b) Chandra Gupta II’s reign , Ujjain was the Second capital
c) The Pallavas shifted the capital to Tanjore, due to threat of Pulukesin II
d) Huen - Tsang visited Harsha-Pulkesin II - Narshima Pallava I - court
16) Ayodhya is on the River bank of

a) Chambel b) Ganga c) Yamuna d) Sarayu
17) “Raja Vyavahar Kosh’ was complied during Sivaji’s reign, the book deals with

a) Chronicles of Maratha dynasty b) Polity c) Treasury d) Lexicography
18) When was the Calcutta Hindu College started?

a) 1815 b) 1829 c) 1830 d) 1817
19) When were Bethune schools for girls started?

a) 1845 b) 1849 c) 1850 d) 1833
20) “Suniyavada” philosophy was expounded by

a) Nagarjuna b) Nagasena c) Asvagosha d) Ananda
21) Which one of the following is not true of prehistoric of India?

a) Rock paintings belonged to Upper Paleolithic age
b) Chopani-mando provides the evidence of pottery
c) Manufacturing of pottery was developed in Mesolithic age
d) Mehragarh provides the earliest evidence of cotton
22) Match List I (Sites) with List II (Periods) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists;
LIST I LIST II
(Sites) (Periods)
A. Adamgarh 1. Upper Paleolithic
B. Adirambakkam 2. Neolithic
C. Burzaham 3. Mesolithic
D. Bimbetaka 4. Lower Paleolithic

Codes:-
A B C D
a) 3 4 1 2
b) 2 4 1 2
c) 4 2 3 1
d) 3 4 2 1
23) How many seasons were mentioned in Rig Veda

a) 4 b) 5 c) 3 d) 1
24) According to the Buddhist tradition, the order of Varna system was

a) Brahmans, Kshatriyas,Vyshaiyas, Sudras
b) Kshatriyas, Brahamans, Vyshiayas,Sudras
c) Vaishiayas, Brahamans, Ksatriayas, Sudras
d) Sudras, Vyshaiyas, Kshatriyas, Brahamans
25) Who founded young Bengal movement

a) C.R.Das b) D.N.Tagore c) H.V.Derozio d) David Hare
Directions : The following seven items consist of two statements, one labeled as the ‘Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R) ‘. You are to examine these two statements carefully and select the answers to these items using the codes given below :
Codes:
a) Both A and R is true. R is correct explanation of A
b) A and R is individually correct. But R is not correct explanation for A.
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true

26) Assertion (A) : The main problem of Nawab of Bengal equal treatment of European
and Indian in trade concerned are

Reason ( R ) : East India Company’s servants misused trade pass

27) Assertion (A) : Firoz Tughlaq followed vigorous policies against Non Muslims
subject

Reason ( R ) : He imposed Jiziya tax on Non-Muslim in first time

28) Assertion (A) : Akbar founded new religion “Din-i-illahi” in 1580 A.D

Reason ( R ) : He was influenced by the philosophy of Monotheism

29) Assertion (A) : Battle of Plassey laid the foundation for British rule in Bengal

Reason ( R ) : The British received Diwani rights over Bengal after Plassey

30) Assertion (A) : Partition of India was accepted by Gandhiji in 1947

Reason ( R ) : He felt that it was only way to avoid communal riots

31) Assertion(A) : Vedic literature is the only major source to construct history of
Vedic culture

Reason ( R ) : There was no material source for that

32) Assertion(A) : The English introduced western education in India

Reason ( R ) : They wanted to make Indians aware of scientific and rational
advancement

33) Dual system was abolished by

a) Lord Warren Hasting b) Lord Wellesley c) Lord Robert Clive
d) Lord William Ben tick
34) Who founded “Veda Samaj”?

a) Doriaswamy Iyengar b)Sree Ramulu c) D.N.. Tagore d) a and b
35) who was the first English ambassador to Mughal court?

a) Hawkins b) Sir Thomas Rae c) William Norris d) Hudson
36) The first viceroy of India was

a) Lord canning b) Lord Dalhousie c) Lord William Bentick d) Lord Mountbatten
37) Lord Clive defeated Siraj-ud-duallah in the battle of

a) Battle of Plassey b) Battle of Panipat III c) Battle of Buxar d) Battle of Wandiwash
38) ‘Dipavasma’ was written in

a) Pratrit b) Pali c) Tamil d) Sanskrit
39) Who attended all the three round table conferences in London?

a) Gandhi b) Sarojini Naidu c) Jinnah d) Ambedkar
40) Under which of the following sets of ruler were organized the first three Buddhist councils

a) Bimbisara, Ashoka, Dasratha
b) Prasanajit, Bimbisara, Ajathasatru
c) Ajathatsatru, Kalakosa, Ashoka
d) Ajathatsatru, Kalakosa, Kanishka
41) Who was against the abolition of Sati

a) Rajaram Mohan Roy b) Tilak c) Gohale d) Radha Kant Deb
42) When did the east India Company established?

a) 1600 b) 1602 c) 1608 d) 1610
43) Which of the following was absent in Rig Vedic period?

a) Child marriage
b) Varna system based on occupation
c) Widow remarriage
c) Polygamy
44) “Vyakarana” is

a) Grammar b) Astronomy c) Ritual d) Jyothita

45) Who was the first to start caste movement in Maharashtra?

a) Jyothiba Phule b) B.R,Ambedkar c) Tilak d) Atmaram Pandurang
46) Which of the following was not responsible for the spread of Buddhism?

a) Language of the people was used
b) No caste barrier
c) No sacrifice
d) Too much stress on morality
47) Rivers familiar to Rig Vedic people are
!) Ganga 2) Yamuna 3) Saraswati 4) Sindhu

a) 1 & 2 b) 3&4 c) 2,3&4 d) 1,2,3 & 4
48) Give the correct order

a) Rishaba, Parsava, Mahavira, Bhadrabahu
b) Rishaba, Mahavira, Parsava, Bhadrababu
c) Rishaba, Parsava, Bhadrababu, Mahavira
d) Mahavira, Parasava, Rishaba and Badrabahu
49) Which of the following was added by Mahavira

a) Non -injury b) Non-possession c) Non-stealing d) continuance
50) Who presided over the Calcutta session of congress, when AITUC was founded?

a) Vijayaragavachari b) Lalalajpat Rai c) N.M..Joshi d) Gandhiji
51) Who started Doctrine of Lapse?

a) Warren Hasting b) Curzon c) Wellesley d) Dalhousie
52) Who among the following was not a leader of Revolt of 1857?

a) Nana sahib b) Rani Lakshmi Bai c) Kunwar singh d) Man singh
53) Awadh was annexed in 1856 who was the Nawab of Awadh at the time?

a) Begum of Awadh b) Maulvi Ahamaduallah c) Wajid Ali Shah d) Birjis Cadir
54) Who propounded the theory of “ Drain of Wealth”?

a) Dada Bai Naoroji b) Gandhi c) Nehru d) Tilak
55) Theosophical society was founded by

a) Madam H.P. Blavasky and Col H.S. Olcott
b) Madam cama
c) Annie Besant
d) Margret Nobel
56) Which freedom fighter did not accept “Drain theory”?

a) M.G.Ranade b) R.C.Dutt c).G.K.Gohale d) R.P.Dutt
57) Primary worship of Indus valley people was

a) Mother Goddess b) Pasupati Mahadeva c) Natural Worship d) Animal Worship
58) The battle of ten kings was fought on the bank of

a) River Parushni b) River Ganga c) River Saraswati d) River Yamuna
59) The oldest Sanskrit Grammar book is

a) Nirukta b) Astadhyayi c) Kalpa d) Silpasutra
60) Boghaz koi inscription refers to

a) Indra, Varuna,
b) Indra, Varuna, Mitra
c) Indra, Agni, Varuna
d) Indra,Varuna, Mitra,Nasatyas
61) The first fort the British constructed in India was the fort of

a) St.George b) St.William c) St.David d) St.Santhome
62) In 1856, which act, was passed by the British after prolonged efforts were made by Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidiyasagar

a) Abolition of sati b) Abolition Of Pardah System c) Promotion of Vedic education
e) Widow Re-marriage
63) Rule of East India Company in India ended in

a) 1833 b) 1813 c) 1853d) 1857
64). Who was the Governor General for the Introduction of Permanent Settlement in Bengal?

a) Lord corn Wallis b) Lord Bentinck c) Lord Wellesey d) Lord Canning
65) “ The aim of English Education in India was produced a class of persons who would be Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, opinions morals and intellect”, who said this

a) Charles Trevelyan b) Lord Macaulay c) Lord William Bentinck d) Lord Canning
66) The Battle of Buxar was fought between

a) Mir qasim and The English
b) Mir qasim, Nawab Of Oudh and The Mughal Emperor ShahAlamII one party against the English
c) Mir Jafar and The English
d) Mir Quasim and The Dutch
67) Which European community established first trade link with India

a) Portuguese b) Dutch c) French d) British
68) Alauddin Khalji, Sikander Lodi, Shershah Suri and Akbar - they were well known in Medieval History of India for their contribution in the field of
1) Secular policy on state affairs
2) Land revenue system
3) Market reforms system
4) Military reforms system

select the correct code
a) 2 alone
b) 2 & 3
c) 1,2 &4
d) 2,3 &4
69)It is stated that one of the four veda contains a collection of sacrifices formulas what is the name of that veda

a) Rigveda b) Atharva Veda c) Sama Veda d) Yajur veda
70) who was / were the Guru’s of Buddha

a) Rudraka Ramputra
b) Arala Kalama
c) Raghula
d) a&b
71) It is stated that all the Monks(Bhikkhus) living in a monastery were expected to attend an assembly held

a) Every day
b) Every week
c) Every fortnight
d) Every month

72) Gautama Buddha developed the idea of renunciation by seeing person in different stages which one of the following stages was not included among them

a) An Old Man
b) A Grahastha
c) A Patient
d) An Ascetic
73) The fateful Battle of Plassey was fought on the

a) 23rd April 1757
b) 19th May 1757
c) 13th June 1757
d) 23rd June 1757
74) The recapture of Delhi by the East India Company broke the mutineers when did it take place?

a) 5th June 1857
b) 20th Sep 1857
c) 2nd Aug 1858
d) 17th June 1858
75)Who founded the Gurukulkangri at Haridwar

a) Dayanand
b) Lajpat Rai
c) Shradhanandha
d) Lal Hanjraj
76) Match List-I with List-II
List-I List-II
(Books) (Authors)
A) Nibandha Mala 1) Dayanand Saraswati
B) Pecepts Of The Jesus 2) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
C) Gita Rahasya 3)Tilak
D) Satyartha Prakash 4) Vishnu Krishna Chiplukar

Codes:
A B C D
a) 4 2 3 1
b) 4 2 1 3
c) 4 1 3 2
d) 3 1 4 2
77) Match List I With List II
List-I List-II
(Associations) (Founders)
A) Satya Mahima Dharma 1)Tulsi Ram
B) Social Service League 2) N.M.Joshi.
C) Dharma Sabha 3)Radha Kant Deb
D) Radha Swami Movement 4) Mukund Das


Codes:
A B C D
a) 4 2 1 3
b) 1 4 3 2
c) 4 2 3 1
d) 2 1 3 4
78) The basic aim of Akali Movement in Punjab was

a) Protest against Hindhu rivalism
b) To spread modern education to the Sikhs
c) To liberate the Sikh Gurudawaars from the control of Mahantas
d) None of the above
79) Match List-I with List-II
List-I List-II
(Acts) (Governor Generals)
A) Age of consent bill 1) Landsdowne
B) Abolition Of Sati 2) North Brooke
C) Widow Remarriage Act 3) Dalhousie
D) Native Marriage Act 4) William Bentick

Codes:
A B C D
a) 1 4 2 3
b) 1 4 3 2
c) 2 4 3 1
d) 2 4 1 3
80) Founder of Swami Narain Sect was

a) Tulsidas
b) Jambekar
c) Sahajanand
d) Dayanand
81) Match List-I with List-II
List-I List-II
(Associations) (Founders)
A) Sangat Sabha 1) Dr.Ambedkar
B) Vedanta College 2) K.C.Sen
C) Vedanta Societies 3) Vivekanda
D) Bahishkrit Hitkarni Sabha 4) Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Codes:
A B C D
a) 4 2 3 1
b) 2 3 4 1
c) 2 4 3 1
d) 4 3 2 1
82) Chola Empire was known for their art and their architecture . among the four statements which one is not correct?

a) Lord Natraraja Statue is one of the magnificient work of the Cholas
b) “Oothuvars” were appointed in temples to enchant “Thevaram”
c) Dravida Style of architecture was originated during Chola period
d) 12th Tirumalai “Periapuranam” was compiled during Chola period
83) Battle of Takkolam was between

a) Rajaraja-I and Western Chalukyas
b) Rajendra-I and Western Chalukyas
c) Parantakai-I and Rashtrakutas
d) Aditya Chola and Pallavas
84) Which one of the state was not an ally of Bahmini Kingdom in the Battle of Talaikotta?

a) Bedar
b) Berar
c) Ahmednagar
d) Bijapur
85) Match list-I with list-II
List-I List-II
(Literary Works) (Authors)
A) Vinaya Patrika 1) Miruturya
B) Gauda Vaho 2) Sandhiya Karanandi
C) Rama Charita 3) Thulsidas
D) Prabandha sidhanata 4) Vakpati

Codes:
A B C D
a) 4 3 1 2
b) 3 4 2 1
c) 4 3 2 1
d) 3 4 1 2
86) Malik Muhammad Jayasi, a court poet of Shershah Suri wrote Padmavati,. It deals with Alauddin Khalji’s love affair with Rani Padmini of Chittor. The literary work is in

a) Arabic
b) Persian
c) Urdu
d) Hindi
87) “Mahabasya” was written by Patanjali. He was the contemporary of

a) Chandra Gupta II
b) Ashoka
c) Pushyamitra Sunga
d) Vasudeva Kanva

88) Indo-Greeks, who ruled India in Post Maurayan period. They were well known for

a) Patronizing Buddhism
b) Issuing Gold Coins
c) Developing Music
d) Patronizing Bhagavatism
89) who was the founder of “Bharat Pur” city?

a) Gokla
b) Rajaram
c) Badan Singh
d) Surajmal
90) In which Nizam period Hyderabad was annexed with Union Of India

a) Nizam Ali
b) Wazir Ali
c) Osman Ali Khan
d) Salabat Jang
91) Rajendra Chola-I had war with Sailendra Dynasty , what was the primary motive for that?

a) To capture spice island
b) To influence over Bay Of Bengal
c) To display theirs navy power
d) To monopolise trade over china
92) Amerikkan Modal- Arabiyan Katalil ( throw the American model in to the Arabian sea) slogan was raised by the communist in the event of

a) Moplah Rebellion In 1921
b) Telengana Movement In 1946
c) August Offer In 1940
d) Punnapar-Vayalar Movement In 1946
93) Bijolia Peasant Movement took place in

a) Gujurat
b) Rajasthan
c) Central Province
d) Telengana
94) Who started Ahmedabad Textile labour association?

a) Gandhi
b) Lala lajpatrai
c) Tilak
d) Nehru
95) In which session of congress adopted “ Go Back to Simon” resolution?

a) Calcutta 1928
b) Madras 1927
c) Lahore 1929
d) Karachi 1931
96) Match List-I with List-II
List-I List-II
(Secret Societies) (Founders)
A) Abinav Bharat 1) Bhagat Singh
B) Decca Anusleen Samriti 2) Vanji Iyer
C) Bharat Matha Association 3) V.D.Savarkar
D) Navjevan Sabha 4) Pulin Das

Codes:
A B C D
a) 4 3 2 1
b) 3 4 1 2
c) 4 3 1 2
d) 3 4 2 1
97) Which pair is not correct?

a) Jinnah - Home Rule Movement
b) Gandhi - Khada Satyagraha
c) Tilak - Non Cooperation Movement
d) Motilal Nehru - Swaraj Party
98) Match List-I with List-II
List-I List-II
(Nationalist) (Journalist)
A) Thiru Vi Ka 1) Kudi Arasu
B) S.A.Dange 2) Common Wheel
C) Annie Besant 3) Nav India
D) E.V.Ramaswamy Naicker 4) Indian Express

Codes:
A B C D
a) 3 4 1 2
b) 4 1 2 3
c) 3 4 2 1
d) 4 2 3 1
99) Who was the leader of “Ulgulan Movement”?

a) Ramsingh
b) Velu Thambi
c) Birsa Munda
d) Kitur Rayappa
100) Which pair is correct?

a) Fragment of Woven Cloth - Amri
b) Evidence of Lipstick - Harappa
c) Evidence of Chess Board - Lothal
d) Fire Altars- Chanhudara
101) Which one is the largest in Mohanjodara

a) Great Bath
b) Granary
c) Assembly Hall
d) Pasupati Mahadeva Statue
102) Match List-I with List-II
List-I List-II
(Adhayakshas) (Department)
A) Akara 1) Comerece
B) Sutra 2) Accounts
C) Aksha Patala 3) Textiles
D) Panya 4) Mines

Codes:
A B C D
a) 4 3 2 1
b) 2 3 1 4
c) 4 3 1 2
d) 2 3 1 4
103) Which Rashtrakuta rulers associated with Jainism?
1) Krishna I
2) Govinda III
3) Amoghavarsha I
4) Krishna II

choose the correct code:
a) 2,3
b) 3 only
c) 3& 4
d) 1& 3
104) During (800 AD –1200AD) four major kingdom ruled India, they were known for better military system. Read the statement about them
1) Rashtrakuta maintained forts in good conditions
2) Pratiharas had good cavalry
3) Good quality of elephants were used in warfare by the Palas
4) Cholas had strong navy power

Choose the Correct Code
a) 2,3 & 4
b) 1 & 4
c) 4 only
d) 1,2,3 & 4
105) The first translator of Vyasa’s Mahabharata into Tamil was

a) Perun Devanar
b) Villiputhur Alvar
c) Kamban
d) Jayandontar
106) Which of the following statements are correct about Sangam Age of Tamil?


1) Kings had matrimonial relationship with Vellalas
2) Brahmanas were Non-Vegetarians
3) Chief revenue of the state was Trade and Commerce
4) The status of women was undermined

select the correct answer using the code given below
a) 1 alone
b) 1,3
c) 1,2,3
d) 1,2,4
107) what is the correct chronological sequence of the Governor Generals of British India
1) Lord Curzon
2) Lord Lansdowne
3) Lord Chemlsford
4)Lord Minto-II

select the correct answer using the code below
a) 2-1-3-4
b) 2-1-4-3
c) 1-2-3-4
d) 1-2-4-3
108) Who was the Chief Architect of 2nd Five Year Plans?

a) Harod-Domar
b) Mahalanobis
c) John Mathai
d) Gadgil
109) What is the correct chronological order
1) Federal Bank was renamed as Reserve Bank of India
2) First Five Year Plan was drafted
3) Imperial Bank was renamed as State Bank of India
4)Economic Resolution of Karachi Session of Congress

select the answer from the code given below
a) 1-2-3-4
b) 2-1-3-4
c) 4-1-2-3
d) 4-1-3-2
110) Which Sikh Guru popularized Gurumukhi scripts

a) Guru Nanak
b) Guru Ramdas
c) Guru Angad
d) Guru Tej Bahadur
111) Dahsala system of land revenue was introduced by Akbar?

a) 1580
b) 1575
c) 1590
d) 1602
112) According to Barani, how many provinces were during Alauddin khaljis’ reign?

a) 10
b) 12
c) 15
d) 20
113) Match List-I with List-II
List-I List-II
(Departments) (Sultans)
A) Diwan-i - kohi 1) Firoz Tughlaq
B) Diwan-i - mushtakharaj 2) Balban
C) Diwan-i - arz 3) Alauddin Khalji
D) Diwan-i - kairat 4) Mohamad Tughlaq

Codes:
A B C D
a) 3 4 1 2
b) 4 3 2 1
c) 4 3 1 2
d) 3 4 2 1
114) Which Mughal Emperor introduced du-aspa-sih-aspa method in Mansabdari system?

a) Akbar
b) Shahjahan
c) Aurangzeb
d) Jahangir
115) Which pair is not correct

a) Revolt of Salim-1605 AD
b) Revolt of Khusurav-1606 AD
c) Death of Abul Faizi-1595 AD
d) Death of Birbal-1580 AD
116) Which Bundela Chief murdered Abul Fazl in 1602 AD?

a) Jujhar Singh
b) Gokla
c) Badan Singh
d) Bir Singh
117) which is considered true ach in early Delhi Sultanate period?

a) Ali Darwaz
b) Iltumish Tomb
c) Balban’s Tomb
d) Qudub Minar
118) Give the correct order

a) Belgum Session of Congress - foundation of Swaraj Party - Chauri Churra Incidence - Nehru Report
b) Nehru Report - Chauri Churra Incident - Belgum Session of Congress - Foundation of Swaraj Party
c) Foundation of Swaraj Party - Belgum Session - Chauri Churra Incidence - Nehru Report
d) Chauri Churra Incidence - Foundation of Swaraj Party - Belgum Session of Congress - Nehru Report
119) In modern Indian history, Lucknow Pact 1916 is significance. which one of the
following statement is not correct regarding Lucknow Pact?

a) Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Annie Besant, Tilak were back bone of the pact
b) First Time Congress accepted communal representation for Muslims
c) Later Tilak critised the pact because of accepting communal representation
d) Congress and Muslim league agreed to stand on common platform to fight against British Imperialism
120) Last Ruler of Mauriya Dynasty was murdered by Pushya Mitra Sunga, which one is not
acceptable reason for the incident according to Historical evidence?

a) Anti Dhamma policy of the King
b) Anti Brahmin policy of the King
c) Fear of Foreign Invasion
d) Anti-People policy


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Answers:

1) a 2) d 3) b 4) a 5) d 6) d 7) b 8) d 9) b 10) c 11) d 12) a 13) c 14) b 15) c 16) d 17) d 18) d 19) b 20) a 21) c 22) d 23) b 24) b 25) c 26) a 27) c 28) d 29) c 30) a 31) a 32) c 33) a 34) b 35) a 36) a 37) a 38) b 39) d 40) c 41) d 42) a 43) a 44) a 45) a 46) d 47) d 48) a 49) d 50) b 51) d 52) d 53) c 54) a 55) a 56) c 57) a 58) a 59) b 60)d 61) a 62) c 63) d 64) a 65) b 66) b 67) a 68) a 69) d 70) d 71) c 72) b 73) d 74) b 75) c 76) a 77) c 78) c 79) b 80) c 81) c 82) c 83) c 84) b 85) b 86) d 87) c 88) b 89) c 90) c 91) d 92) d 93) b 94) a 95) b 96) d 97) c 98) c 99) c 100) c 101) b 102) a 103) c 104) d 105) a 106) d 107) b 108) b 109)c 110)c 111) a 112) b 113) b 114) d 115) d 116) d 117) c 118) d 119) c 120) a

C.S.E. INDIAN HISTORY - 2005(pre)

C.S.E. INDIAN HISTORY - 2005
(PRELIMINARY) .
Time Allowed : Two Hours Maximum Marks: 300
1. An early translation of Bhagavat into Bengali was commissioned by Husain
Shah. Who undertook the translation work?
(a) Kavindra Parameswar (b) Maladhar Vasu
(c) Srikarana Nandi (d) Vidyapati
2. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given
below the lists:
List-I (Terms) List-II (Usage)
A. Dal al-shifa 1. Open area for equestrian exercises
B. Furusiyya 2. A hospital
C. Maydan 3. Imperial camp
D. Urdu-i Mualla 4. Open area for military parade
A B C D A B C D
(a) 4 1 2 3 (b) 2 3 4 1
(c) 4 3 2 1 (d) 2 1 4 3
3. With reference to the Medieval period match List-I with List-II and select
the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Places) List-II (Production)
A. Alwar 1. Oil and Perfume
B. Jaunpur 2. Sugar Candy
C. Kalpi 3. Glass
D. Lander 4. Woollen carpets
A B C D A B C D
(a) 2 1 3 4 (b) 3 4 2 1
(c) 2 4 3 1 (d) 3 1 2 4
4. What did Nania and Malangi castes specialize in?
(a) Medium-distance trade in foodgrains
(b) Leather tann work
(c) Iron smelting and charcoal production
(d) Salt and saltpetre production
5. The rulers of Deccan adopted istava measures in the medieval period.
What did it mean?
(a) Grant of loans with no interest
(b) Concessional assessment of land revenue
(c) Cesses imposed for enlarging the army
(d) Actual collection of land revenue
http://www.civilserviceindia.com
6. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given
below the lists:
List-I (Terms) List-II (Meanings)
A Ayagars 1. Village servants
B. Karnam 2. Policeman
C. Maniyam 3. Accountaint
D. Talaiyari 4. Headman
A B C D A B C D
(a) 4 2 1 3 (b) 1 3 4 2
(c) 4 3 1 2 (d) 1 2 4 3
7. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given
below the lists:
List-I (Terms) List-II (Meanings)
A Haqq-i Shurb 1. Loans to peasants
B. Qismat 2. Water tax
C. Taqavi 3. Agrarian cesses
D. Uslub 4. Regulations
A B C D A B C D
(a) 4 3 1 2 (b) 2 1 3 4
(c) 4 1 3 2 (d) 2 3 1 4
8. Who among the following recognised the important role played by women in
family and society in his preachings?
(a) Guru Nanak (b) . Sant Ravidas
(c) Sant Gyaneshwar (d) Sant Tukaram
9. Consider the following statements:
1. Naval expeditions of Rajaraja - I occupied parts of Burma, Malaya and
Sumatra.
2. Rajendra I conquered Ceylon.
3. The Cholas held northern Ceylon until they were expelled by Vijayabahu I.
4. The Cholas fell in the 13th century when their territory was shared by the
Hoysalas and Pandyas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 3 and 4
(c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) 4 only
10. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given
below the lists:
List-I (King) List-II (Dynasty)
A. Bhoja of Malwa 1. Chandela
B. Jayachandra 2. Gahadavala
C. Mihira Bhoja 3. Paramara
D. Paramardideva 4. Pratihara
http://www.civilserviceindia.com
A B C D A B C D
(a) 3 1 4 2 (b) 4 2 3 1
(c) 3 2 4 1 (d) 4 1 3 2
11. In which one of the following temples did Ramanuja teach?
(a) Madurai (b) Mamallapuram
(c) Somnathpur (d) Srirangam
12. Consider the following statements:
1. There are no remains of free-standing Hindu temples erected before the
Gupta period.
2. All the cave at Ellora are of Hindu gods and goddesses.
3. The great temple of Shiva at Tanjore was built by Rajaraja, the Great.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2 (d) 3 only
13. Consider the following statements:
1. During the Mughal period Mysore was the premier centre of silk production
and supplied the demands of both European and Indian merchants.
2. There was no ship-building industry in India during the Mughal period as
Europeans supplied ships to the Indians.
3. During the Mughaf period, saltpetre was exported from India by Dutch and
English traders.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only
14. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a) Ahmad Shah Bahamani : Hazrat Gesu Daraz
(b) Mahmud Begarha : Faizi Sarhindi
(c) Akbar : Abdur Rahim Khan-i Khanan
(d) Jahangir : Muhammad Salih
15. Which one of the following groups represents the correct composition of
Vijayanagar territory of Pondimandalam ?
(a) Madurai, Chindleput, South Arcot, Tirl.nelveli
(b) Chindleput, South Arcot, North Arcot, Tirunelveli
(c) Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari
(d) Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli, North Arcot, Kanyakumari
16. Which one of the following statements is not correct?
(a) Chaitanya was a contemporary of Vallabhacharya
(b) Dadu Dayal started the practice of worship at the shrines of departed saints
(c) Tukaram was a contemporary of Shivaji
(d) Vallabhacharya advocated penance, self-mortification and renunciation of the
world
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17. Which one of the following poets wrote poems hailing the Russian
Revolution of 1917 ?
(a) Subramanya Bharati (b) Muhammad Iqbal
(c) Sarojini Naidu (d) Rabindranath Tagore .
18. Consider the following statements:
1. Although the First Five-Year Plan gave priority to Agriculture but there was
hardly any increase in the agricultural production at the end of the Plan
period.
2. The iron and steel plants at Bhilai, Rourkela and Durgapur were set up during
the First Five-Year Plan.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
19. Consider the following statements:
1. Though the Constitution of India states that India is a Union of States, the
terms 'federal' and 'federation' are used in reference to India at several places
in the Constitution of India.
2. The First Schedule as adopted by the Constituent Assembly and incorporated
in the Constitution of India mentioned three categories' of States and
Territories i.e., Princely States, British Indian Provinces, Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a). 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
20. Consider the following statements:
1. Several of the Fundamental Rights incorporated in the Nehru Committee
Report appeared in the Constitution of India substantially 'unchanged.
20. Several of the social and economic rights mentioned in the 1931 Karachi
Resolution found expression in the Directive Principles of State Policy in the
Constitution of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
21. Who of the following was not included in the first Interim National
Government announced in August, 1946?
(a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (b) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
(c) C. Rajagopalachari (d) Jagjivan Ram
22. With reference to the Home Rule Movement during the Indian freedom
struggle, consider the following statements:
1. In his Home Rule Movement, Tilak linked up the question of Swaraj with the
demand for the formation of linguistic States and education in the vernacular.
2. At Allahabad, Jawaharlal Nehru joined Annie Besan:'s Home Rule League.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
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(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
23. With reference to the Swadeshi Movement during the Indian freedom
struggle, which one of the following statements is not correct ?
(a) The theme song of the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal was Rabindranath's
'Amar Sonar Bangia'
(b) Syed Haider Raza led the Swadeshi Movement in India
(c) The Ganapati and Shivaji festivals became a medium for
(d) The Surat split of the Congress in 1907 weakened the Swadeshi Movement
24. In order to advance the cause of English education in India, who among the
following introduced the regulation that all public s'ervices were to be filled
by an open competitive examination held by the Council of Education,
preference being given to the knowledge of English?
(a) Lord Wellesley (b) Lord William Bentinck
(c) Lord Hardings (d) Lord Dalhousie
25. Consider the following statements :
1. As per the Indian High Courts Act, High Courts were created in Calcutta,
Bombay and Madras by the amalgamation of the I Supreme Court and the
Sadar Diwani Adalat in 1861.
2. A Code of Civil Procedure & a Code of Criminal Procedure were
promulgated in 1867.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
26. Which one of the following Muslim leaders joined the Home Rule League
founded by Annie Besant ?
(a) Muhammad Iqbal (b) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
(c) Syed Ahmed Khan (d) Abul Kalam Azad
27. Who among the following introduced a scheme of administration which
centered around a class of officials called Commissioners, each of whom was
placed in charge of a division comprising several districts?
(a) Lord Cornwallis (b) Lord Warren Hastings
(c) Lord Wellesley (d) Lord William Bentinck
28. Which one of the following was not included in the terms of the Gandhi-
Irwin Pact?
(a) Immediate release of all political prisoners not convicted for violence
(b) Payment of suitable compensation to the released prisoners
(c) Return of confiscated land not yet sold to third parties
(d) Remission of all fines yet not collected
29. In February 1943, while in jail, why did Gandhiji declare 21 days' fast?
(a) He wanted the people to stop violence in the Quit India Movement
(b) He was forcing the Hindu and Muslim separatists to shun divisive policies
and to strive for united India
(c) This was his answer to the Government which had been constantly exhorting
him to condemn the violence of the people during the Quit India Movement
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(d) This was a part. of his non-violence strategy of forcing the. British Government to
concede the Congress demand for complete independence of India
30. Which one of the following statements is not correct?
(a) Gandhiji suggested to the KhiIafat Committee that it should adopt a
programme of Non-Violent Non-Cooperation to protest against the
Government's unfavourable attitude
(b) In the Nagpur Session of the Congress in 1920, Motital Nehru moved the
resolution of Non-Cooperation
(c) The programme of Non-Cooperation included the surrender of honours and
titles
(c) After the Vijayawada Session of the Congress in 1921, charkhas were
popularized on a wide scale and Khadi became the uniform of the national
movement
31. Consider the following statements:
1. Sauraseni was the official language of the Mauryan court.
2. Apabhramsa was used in the Middle Ages by Jaina writers in Gujarat for
composing poetry.
3. Telugn was the court language of Vijayanagar under Krishna Devaraya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
32. Agnimitra known from the Kalidasa's drama MaJavikagnimitra was a
king of which one of the following dynasties?
(a) Maurya (b) Sunga
(c) Saka (d) Gupta
33. What was upavasatha in the Buddhist order?
(a) It was the resting place of the Buddhist monks in caves or viharas during
rainy period
(b) It was an act of confession of Buddhist monks when they assembled every
fortnight on the evenings of full and new moons
(c) It was an act of fasting for a specified period of time by Buddhist monks as a
punishment for the offences committed by them in their conduct .
(d) It was the vow taken by the newly admitted monk into the Buddhist order
34. Consider the following Bhakti Saints:
1. Dadu Dayal 2. Guru Nanak
3. Tulsidas
Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur
took over?
(a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1 and 2
35. What is the ideological approach of Jainism ?
(a) Anekanta (b) Advaita
(c) Avagaman (d) Pancha-sheela
36. Who was Alara Kalama?
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(a) A disciple of Buddha
(b) A prominent Buddhist monk
(c) A teacher of Buddha
(d) A ruler who renounced his throne for Buddhism
37. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a) Sravasti The capital of Kosala
(b) Rajgriha The capital of Magadha
(c) Vaishali The capital of Chedi
(d) Ujjain The capital of Avanti
38. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
(a) Chanda Pradyota Mahasena King of Vatsna
(b) Darshaka Successor to Ajatashatru
(c) Ajatashatru Follower of Ajivikas
(d) Prasenji King of Vajji Confederation
39. Consider the following statements:
1. In Rig Vedic time, the purohita was the foremost among the functionaries of
a king.
2. In Rig Vedic time, the king was the absolute owner of the land.
3. The system of espionage was not known to the kings of the Rig Vedic time.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and.3
40. Which one of the following statements is not correct ?
(a) The Upanishads were compiled earlier than the Puranas
(b) The Upanishads believe in the transmigration of Soul
(c) The Upanishads contain instructive stories and conversations.
(d) There are no parables in the Upanishads
41. Which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) The grama of the Rig Vedic Aryans usually refers to a group of kinsfold and
not a village
(b) The Aryans of early Vedic times tamed elephants and used them in war along
with horses
(c) The Rig Veda mentions the svayamvara and marriage of widows
(d) The Rig Veda mentions Vindhya and Satpura mountains and Narmada river
42. Which one of the following texts contains the earliest evidence on Indian
mathematical writings?
(a) Aranyaka (b) Ka/pasutra
(c) Nirukta (d) Sulvasutra
43. Which Indus Valley site has yielded evidence of use of a wooden coffin in
burial?
(a) Harappa (b) Mohenjodaro
(c) Lothal (d) Kalibongan
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44. Match list-I (Ancient Finding)with list-II (Place of Finding) and select the
correct answer using the codes given below:
list -I list-II
A. Bronze dancing girl 1. Harappa
B. Persian gulf seal 2. Lothal
C. Grey stone male dancing figure 3. Mohenjodaro
D. Rows of fire altars 4. Kalibangan
A B C D A B C D
(a) 4 2 1 3 (b) 4 1 2 3
(c) 3 1 2 4 (d) 3 2 1 4
45. Where has the prehistoric cultivated field been discovered in India?
(a) Lothal (b) Kalibangan
(c) Ropar (d) Dholavira
46. Which one of the following Harappan sites has yielded evidence of a
signboard inscription?
(a) Lothal (b) Mohenjodaro
(c) Dholavira (d) Rakhigarhi
47. Which one of the following denotes a garment not prevalent during the
medieval period?
(a) Pravara (b) Qaba
(c) Jama (d) Sari
48. What is the Mitakshara of Vijnaneswar?
(a) A treatise on the system of medicine
(b) An exposition of the contemporary theatre
(c) A commentary on Hindu law
(d) A treatise on the South, Indian music
49. Consider the following statements:
1. The earliest Persian work on Indian Music - Ghunyat-ul-Munya was written in
the Court of Akbar.
2. Sangitopanishad Sarodhara - a treatise on music and dance was written by a
Jain scholar of Gujarat.
Which of the statements 'given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
50. What did the concept of Wahadat-al Wujud as supported by Akbar signify ?
(a) Purity of Islam (b) War against infidels
(c). Eradication of caste system (d) Unity of Being
51. Collection of which one of Man Kautuhal ?
(a) The portraits of Rajput rulers
(b) The musical melodies
(c) The technical contrivances of the Hindus
(d) Astronomical charts of Indian cities
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52. Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of setting up of
English factories in India?
(a) Madras - Sutanuti - Surat – Hugli
(b) Madras - Surat - Sutanuti – Hugli
(c) Surat - Hugli - Madras – Sutanuti
(d) Surat - Madras - Hugli - Sutanuti
53. What was the main content of the Treaty of Deogaon concluded at the end of
1803 ?
(a) Bhonsle Raja of Berar ceded to the English the Province of Cuttack including
Balasore, and the whole of his territory west of the river Warda
(b) Sindhia ceded to the English all his territories between the Ganges and
Jamuna, and his first and territories to the north of the Rajput principalities,
Jaipur, Jodhpur and Gohad
(c) Holkar gave up all claims to Tonk, Rampura, Bundi, Kooch, Bundelkhand
and places north of the Chambal
(d) Baji Rao II renounced the post of Peshwa and the headship of the Maratha
confederacy
54. Consider' the following statements with reference to British rule in India:
1. In 1780, the manufacture of salt was directly taken up by the Government.
2. In 1786, the Collector in each District of Bengal was made responsible for
settling the revenue and collecting it
3. In 1790, the Decennial Settlement of land revenue was declared permanent.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
55. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
1. Battle of Bedara : Rear Admiral Boscawen
2. Battle of Wandiwash : General Coote
3. Battle of Buxar : Major Hector Munro
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
56. Who among the following was India's Defence Minister when the Chinese
invaded the northern part of India in 1962 ?
(a) Morarji Desai (b) V K. Krishna Menon
(c) T. T. Krishnamachari (d) Jagjivan Ram
57. Consider the following statements:
1. In Bombay. S. A. Dange published a pamphlet 'Gandhi and Lenin' and started
the first socialist weekly 'The Socialist'.
2. In Bengal, Muzaffar Ahmed brought out 'Navyug' and later founded the
'Langal' with the cooperation of the poet Nazrul Islam. .
3. In Madras, M. Singaravelu founded the 'Labour-Kisan Gazette'. .
Which of the statements giver above are correct? :
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(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) I, 2 & 3
58. Which Session of tile Indian NationalCongress approved. the 'Gandhi-Irwin
Pact' ?
(a) Karachi Session (b) Lahore Session
(c) Calcutta Session (d) Tripura Session
59. Consider the following:
1. Asaf Ali 2. Bhulabhai Desai
3. Jawaharlal Nehru 4. Tej Bahadur Sapru
Who among the above took up the defence of the lNA prisoners in the court
at the Red Fort trials?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) I, 3 and 4 (d) I, 2, 3 and 4
60. Which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) When Portuguese landed at Calicut in 1498, Narasa Nayaka chastised
Zamorin and expelled the Portuguese from there
(b) Pedro Alvarez Cabral captured the port of Goa in 1510
(c) When Portuguese captured the port of Goa froll) the Bijapur Sultanate,
Vijayanagar rulers sided with Bijapur
(d) When Mughal forces laid siege to Sambhaji's Kalyan, Portuguese helped
Mughals with provisions
61. What was Ganj-i Sawai ?
(a) A manuscript containing astronomical observations of Sawai Jai Singh
(b) The chief market place in the town of Sawai Madhopur
(c) A large cannon fitted ship belonging to Aurangzeb
(d) The most important custom post near Surat managed by the Mughal rulers
62. Consider the following statements:
1. It was from Pala Empire that Buddhism was introduced into Tibet. .
2. The Senas of Bengal were anti-Buddhist.
3. The Solankis who ruled Gujarat, patronized Jainism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3
(c) l and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
Directions: The following 10 (TEN) items consist of two statements: one labelled
as the 'Assertion (A)' and the other as 'Reason (R)'. You are to examine these two
statements carefully and select the answers to these items using the code given
below:
(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A Both
A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
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63. Assertion (A): The Tamil literary works had a prosperous period during the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Reason (R) : Vijayanagar rulers had a special preference for the Tamil language
and literature.
64. Assertion (A): Azam Shah requested Shahu to take charge of Narmada region
during his absence from Maharashtra.
Reason (R) : It was felt that Shahu's presence in the region would weaken
Tarabai and safeguard Mughal possessions during Azam's absence.
65. Assertion (A): In medieval India, screw making was undertaken by soldering a
piece of wire on an iron nail.
Reason (R) : The technology of lathe-work was not known to the Indians.
66. Assertion (A): Akbar removed Adham Khan from his office and appointed Pir
Muhammad in his place as Governor of Malwa.
Reason (R): Adham Khan did not send the spoils of the conquest to Akbar.
67. Assertion (A): Haji Iliyas of Bengal was defeated by Firuz Shah Tughlaq but the
Sultan returned to Delhi without annexing Bengal.
Reason (R): There was a sudden invasion of Mongols on the North-West
Frontier.
68. Assertion (A): The Cabinet Mission rejected the Muslim League's demand for a
separate State of Pakistan.
Reason (R):The Cabinet Mission felt that a separate State of Pakistan would
contain a large proportion of non-Muslim population, and a sizeable population
of Muslims would be left in India.
69. Assertion (A): On the death of Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Aram Shah proclaimed
himself as the Sultan of Delhi by suppressing the other contenders to the throne.
Reason (R): There were no fixed rules governing the succession to the Crown in
the Turkish system.
70. Assertion (A): At the height of the Swadeshi Movement, communal riots broke
out in Bengal
Reason (R): Nawab Salimullah of Decca led the Muslim' peasantry of Bengal
against the Hindu Zamindars.
71. Assertion (A): Within half a century of the Battle of Plassey, the phenomenal
prosperity of Bengal suffered a serious setback.
Reason (R): The manufacture of cotton goods, the most important commodity of
export from India, increased in other parts of India while it declined in Bengal.
72. Assertion (R): The English Company was granted Diwani Rights of Bengal,
Bihar and Orissa in 1765 but the actual collection of revenue for the first few
years was left in the hands of Indians.
Reason (R): The English lacked the knowledge of revenue matters in India.
73. Consider the following statements:
1. Brahman,;;Is were exempted from execution or death penalty in all the
ancient Indian scriptures, texts and law books.
2. Dayabhaga, a treatise on inheritance was writtett by Jimutavahana of 12th
century.
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3. The Arthashastra deals with crime and punishment and suggests many forms
of execution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
74. Gautamiputra Satakarni is known largely because of the inscriptions
recorded by his mother. Which one of the following is the associated place?
(a) Hathigumpha (b) Nanaghat
(c) Nasik (d) Kanheri
75. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
(a) Rashtrakutas : Devagiri (b) Pallavas: Madurai
(c) Yadavas: Manyakheta (d) Satavahanas: Pratisthana
76. Which one of the following is the correct statement about the Sangam
society of ancient South India?
(a) Slavery was not known to them
(b) The practice of Sati did not exist there
(c) The saqed marital threat Tali was unknown to them
(d) The women had no claim to the royal throne there
77. Which one among the following is the oldest stupa ?
(a) Stupa of Sanchi (b) Stupa of Bharhut
(c) Stupa of Piprawah (d) Stupa of Amaravati
78. Who was the hero of the literary work Silappadikaram ?
(a) Karikala Chola (b) Senguttuvan Chera
(c) Nedunjeliyan (d) Segannan Chola
79. Kanishka convened the Fourth Buddhist Council which prepared an
encyclopaedia of the Buddhist philosophy. What was this known as?
(a) Mahavarya (b) Prajnaparamita Sutra
(c) Ariyasacca (d) Mahavibhasha
80. Who among the following left an inscription which records reconstruction of
a great artificial lake in Kathiawar?
(a) Gautamiputra Satakarni (b) Kanishka
(c) Nahapana (d) Rudradaman
81. Which Indo-Greek ruler is referred to in the Besanagar (Vidisha) Pillar
inscription?
(a) Antialcidas (b) Minander
(c) Demetrius. (d) Heliodorus
82. Who among the following was a renowned Pasupata Acharya ?
(a) Shantinatha (b) Sreekarapandita
(c) Udyotakara (d) Purnakashyapa
83. Which one of the following epigraphs is significant for the history of
Bhagavatism ?
(a) Mathura Pillar Inscription
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(b) Besanagar Pillar Inscription
(c) Rumindei Pillar Inscription
(d) Talagunda Pillar Inscription
84. Which one of the following is the correct chronological sequence?
(a) Ashtadhyayi -. Buddhacharita - Kathasaritsagara Meghaduta
(b) Ashtadhyayi - Buddhacharita - Megfiaduta Kathasaritsagara
(c) Buddhacharita - Ashtadhyayi - Meghaduta Kathasaritsagara
(d) Buddhacharita - Ashtadhyayi - Kathasaritsayara Meghaduta
85. According to I-tsing, where did Sri Gupta construct a temple for the Chinese
Buddhist pilgrims?
(a) Purushapura (b) Mrigasikhavana
(c) Taxila (d) Lumbinivana
86. Which one of the following statements is not correct?
(a) The earliest Indian coins bore no inscriptions
(b) Satavahanas of Deccan made coins of lead
(c) Guptas issued rupakq, the silver coins
(d) Gold coinage in India was started by Harshavardhana
87. Consider the following:
1. Kalidasa, 2. Bharvi
3. Bhasa
Who among the above belong to gupta age?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
88. Consider the following statements:
1. Sikandar Lodi changed his residence from Delhi to Agra.
2. The personal retainers of the great Amirs were appointed by Sikandar Lodi
himself.
3. Sikandar Lodi abolished duties on crop of corn.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
89. Match List-I (Literary Work) with List-II (Scholar)and select the correct
answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I. A Hammir Rasau
A. Hammir Rasau 1. Allasani Peddana
B. Pampa Ramayana 2. Jayadeva
C. Prasanna Raghava 3. Naga
D. Sarvochisa Mancharitra 4. Chandra Sarangadhara
A B C D A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4 (b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 1 3 2 4 (d) 4 2 3 1
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90. What was the duty assigned to Mustakharaj under Alaud-din Khalji ?
(a) To measure the land of peasants and to fix the revenue share of the State
(b) To collect the unrealised balance of land revenue from the peasants
(c) To punish the revenue officials indulging in corruption
(d) To spy on the merchants and traders and to ensure that prices fixed by the
State were followed
91. Match List-I (Officials of Delhi Sultanate) with List-II (Duties/Jobs) and
select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I List II
A Barid-i Mumalik 1. Dealing with royal correspondence
B. Dabir-i Khas 2. Commanding Sultan's bodyguards
C. Sar-i Jandar 3. Heading the State news and
Information agency
D. Wakil-I Dar 4. Controlling and supervising the royal
household
A B C D A B C D
(a) 2 4 3 1 (b) 3 1 2 4
(c) 2 1 3 4 (d) 3 4 2 1
92. Who among the following wrote the drama Usparinaya which describes the
marriage of Usha with Aniruddha?
(a) Ganga Devi (b) Madhava Vidyaranya
(c) Krishna Devaraya (d) AIlasani Peddana
93. With reference to the Mughal administration, which ('De of the following
statements is not correct ?
(a) The Mughal artillery was under the charge of Mir-i-Atish (b) Supervision
over the lands granted by the Emperors or
(b) Princes to pious men, scholars and monks was under the charge of the Chief
Sadr
(c) The imperial household was under the charge of Mir Manzil
(d) The censorship of public morals was under the charge of Muhtasib
94. Which one of the following buildings is not located in Fatehpur Sikri?
(a) Buland Darwaza (b) Anup Talao
(c) Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque (d) Panch Mahal
95. What was the function of the official called Karori under Akbar's
administration?
(a) Collection of revenue
(b) Maintaining royal treasury
(c) Maintaining the account of foreign. trade
(d) Working as scribe for royal correspondence
96. Through which one of the following, the king exercised his control over
villages in the Vijayanagar Empire?
(a) Dannayaka (b) Sumanta
(c) Nayaka (d) Mahanayakacharya
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97. Which one of the following is not connected with the description of the
Vijayanagar Kingdom?
(a) Amuktamalyada (b) Manucharitam
(c) Prabodha Chandrodava (d) Rehla
98. Who among the following rulers of Gujarat was treacherously drowned by
the Portuguese when he was on board his ship?
(a) Mahmud Begarha (b) Muhammad Shah
(c) Bahadur Shah (d) Husain Shah
99. Who among the following founded the city of Jaunpur?
(a) Ala-ud-din Khalji (b) Muhammad Tughlaq
(c) Firuz Tughlaq (d) Khizr Khan Sayyid
100. Who among the following introduced the dahsaJa system of land revenue
collection for the first time?
(a) Babar (b) Humayun
(c) Akbar (d) Shahjahan
101. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given
below the lists:
List-I (Ancient Town) List-II (Modern State)
A. Ajayameru 1. Assam
B. Bhrigukaccha 2. Gujarat
C Pragjyotisa 3. Orissa
D. Sisupalgarh 4. Rajasthan
A B C D A B C D
(a) 1 2 4 3 (b) 4 3 1 2
(c) 1 3 4 2 (d) 4 2 1 3
102. Which one of the following deals with the schemes of Chanakya to foil the
designs of a minister of the last of the Nandas, and to place Chandragupta
Maurya on the throne?
(a) Mricchakatika (b) Mudrarakshasa
(c) Pratijnayaugandharayana (d) Vikramolvasiyam
103. What was the reason for Gandhiji to organize a Satyagraha on behalf of the
peasants of Kheda ?
(a) Non-suspension of land revenue collection in spite of a drought
(b) Enhancement of land revenue in spite of failure of crops
(c) Confiscation of the land of those who did not pay the land tax by the British
administration
(d) The proposal of the administration to introduce 'permanent settlement' in
Gujarat
104. Consider the following statements:
1. In 1918, Tilak and Gandhi toured villages to raise money and men for the
British World War effort.
2. By the Lucknow Pact, the Muslim leaders accepted under-representation in
Muslim majority areas in return for overrepresentation in some provinces.
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Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
105. With reference to the Indian Councils Act of 1909, Consider the following
statements:
1. The Act formally introduced for the first time the principle of elections to the
legislative councils.
2. The Government of India was given general power of disallowing
politically dangerous candidates.
3. The income qualifications for the Muslim voters were lower than those for
the Hindus.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
106. Which one of the following first suggested boycott of the British goods in
Bengal?
(a) Aurobindo Ghosh's journal 'Bande Mataram'
(b) Krishna Kumar Mitra's weekly 'Sanjivani'
(c) Motilal Ghosh's 'Amrit Bazar Patrika'
(d) Sat ish Chandra Mukherji's 'Dawn'
107. Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(a) Siraj-ud-din Ahmed: Zamindar
(b) Lal Chand: Self-abnegation in politics
(c) Tej Bahadur Sapru: Tribune
(d) Abul Kalam Azad: AI-Hilal
108. Consider the following statements: Count de Lally, the French commander
failed against the English in India because
1. the home authorities in France did not recognize the importance of securing
political power in India.
2. the French were inferior to the English in naval strength.
3. there was discord between the French commanders of land and sea forces.
4. the English heavily bribed some important French officers.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
109. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given
below the lists:
List-I (Monument) List-II (Builder)
A. Arhai-Din-Ka-Jhompro at Ajmer 1. Ala-ud-din Khalji
B. Hauz-i-Khas at Dehli 2. IItutmish
e. Fortress of Adilabad 3. Muhammad Tughlaq
D. Jami Masjid at Badaun 4. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
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A B C D A B C D
(a) 4 2 3 1 (b) 3 1 4 2
(c) 4 1 3 2 (d) 3 2 4 1
110. In the context of 1857 Revolt, the causes that led to the Sepoy Mutiny were
1. the disparity in number of European and Indian troops in the British Indian
Forces.
2. the General Service Enlistment Act ordering all recruits to the Bengal Army
to be ready for service both within and outside India.
3. the introduction of the Enfield rifle.
Which of the above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
111. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given
below the lists:
List-I (Person) List-II (Work)
Madhusudan Dutt 1. Meghnad-badh Kavya
Bankim Chandra 2. Devi Chaudhurani
Dinabandhu Mitra 3. Neeldarpan
4. Grammar of Bengali Language
A B C A B C
(a) 4 2 1 (b) 1 2 3
(c) 4 3 1 (d) 1 3 2
112. Consider the following statements:
1. The cancellation of regulations concerning Indian Press by Sir Charles
Metcalfe liberated it from official control during the period 1835-1857.
2. Under the Newspaper Act of 1908, the District Magistrate was empowered to
confiscate the printing press where a newspaper containing an incitement to
violence was printed.
3. The Indian Press Act of 1910 was suspended by the Government of India
during the World War I, so as to seek cooperation of Indian nationalists for
war efforts.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
113. Who among the following was in the forefront of making efforts leading to
making the Age of Consent Act, 1891 ?
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak (b) Kesab Chandra Sen
(c) B. M. Malabari (d) Swami Vivekananda
114. Consider the following statements with reference to Wood's Despatch:
1. Institution of a regular system of scholarship to enable meritorious students
to pursue the higher courses of study.
2. Helping the educational institutions founded by private efforts to obtain
grants from government funds.
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3. Provision of moral and religious education as an important component of
curriculum.
Which of the above were the features of Wood's Despatch?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
115. Who among the following was a founder of Widow Marriage Association in
1861 ?
(a) Devendranath Tagore
(b) Mahadev Govinda Ranade
(c) Surendranath Banerjee
(d) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
116. Match List-I (Commission/Act/Despatch) with List-II (Year) and select the
correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I List- II
A. Wood's Despatch 1. 1919
B. Hunter Commission 2. 1904
C Universities Act 3. 1882
D. Sadler Commission 4. 1854.
A B C D A B C D
(a) 4 3 2 1 (b) 2 1 4 3
(c) 4 1 2 3 (d) 2 3 4 1
117. Consider the following statements:
1. Raja Ram Mohan Roy opposed the Permanent Settlement in Bengal.
2. Raja Ram Mohan Roy advocated the substitution of Persian for English as
the official language of the courts of law.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
118. Consider the following statements:
Under Todar Mal's bandobast in Akbar's administration
1. the State was to advance loans to the cultivators which could be paid in easy
annual installments.
2. remissions of revenue were granted in bad season.
3. the revenue collectors were required to write officially annual reports about
the work, character and integrity of their subordinates.
4. the accounts were to be kept in Hindi.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
119. Consider the following statements:
1. By Pitt's India Act, the members of the Governor-General's Council were
reduced to three.
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2. Pitt's India Act abolished the monopoly of the Company's Indian trade.
3. By Pitt's India Act, through a supplementary Act, the Governor General was
empowered to hold the office of Commander-in Chief in special cases.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 (b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 (d) 1, 2 and 3
120. Which one of the following is not correct regarding the chief clauses of the
Regulating Act of 1773 ?
(a) The civil and military government and the management of all territorial
acquisitions and revenues in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa, were vested in the
Governor-General at Fort William, assisted by four Councilors
(b) The Governor-General in Council at Fort William was given the power of
superintending the administration of the Presidencies of Madras and Bombay
(c) The President of the Board of Control exercised all powers relating to
supervising the Indian colony and the Court of Directors merely retained the
right of making appointments
(d) A Supreme Court consisting of a Chief Justice and three Judges was set up at
Fort William to deal with all cases of crime
(ANSWERS - 2005)
1. (b) 2. (d) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (b) 6. (b)
7. (d) 8. (a) 9. (c) 10. (c) 11. (d) 12 (a)
13. (d) 14. (b) 15. (a) 16. (d) 17. (d) 18. (d)
19. (a) 20. (c) 21. (b) 22. (c) 23 (c) 24. (c)
25. (a) 26. (b) 27. (d) 28 (b) 29. (c) 30. (b)
31. (c) 32. (b) 33. (b) 34. (b) 35 (a) 36. (c)
37. (c) 38. (b) 39. (a) 40. (d) 41. (a) 42. (d)
43. (a) 44. (d) 45. (b) 46. (c) 47. (a) 48. (c)
49. (b) 50. (d) 51. (b) 52. (d) 53. (a) 54. (b)
55. (b) 56. (b) 57. (d) 58. (a) 59. (d) 60. (d)
61. (c) 62. (c) 63. (c) 64. (a) 65. (a) 66. (a)
67. (c) 68. (a) 69. (a) 70. (a) 71. (c) 72. (a)
73. (a) 74. (c) 75 (d) 76. (a) 77. (c) 78. (b)
79. (d) 80. (d) 81. (a) 82. (c) 83. (b) 84. (b)
85. (b) 86. (d) 87. (d) 88. (a) 89. (b) 90. (b)
91. (b) 92. (c) 93. (c) 94. (c) 95. (a) 96. (d)
97. (c) 98. (c) 99. (c) 100. (c) 101. (d) 102. (b)
103. (a) 104. (c) 105. (d) 106. (b) 107. (c) 108. (a)
109. (c) 110. (b) 111. (b) 112. (a) 113. (c) 114. (a)
115 (b) 116. (a) 117. (a) 118. (b) 119. (c) 120. (c)