ALL INDIA PRELIMS TEST SERIES - 2020 · 2020. 1. 3. · who composed the Panchasiddhantika. It...

1 AIPTS 2020 (HIS - 1) (E) Answer Key Byju’s Classes: 9873643487

ALL INDIA PRELIMS TEST SERIES - 2020 ANCIENT INDIA + ART AND CULTURE OF ANCIENT TIMES +

CURRENT AFFAIRS OF APRIL & MAY 2019

ANSWER KEY 1. Ans.: (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: The position of shudras

improved during this period. They were now

permitted to listen to recitations of the Ramayana,

the Mahabharata, and the Puranas. The shudras

could also worship a new god called Krishna and

were also permitted to perform certain domestic

rites which naturally meant fees for the priests.

This can all be linked to some improvement in the

economic status of the shudras. From the seventh

century onwards, they were mainly represented as

agriculturalists; in the earlier period, they

generally figured as servants.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Women of the two

lower varnas were free to earn their livelihood,

which gave them considerable freedom, but this

was denied to women of the upper varnas. It was

argued that the vaishya and shudra women take to

agricultural operations and domestic services and

are therefore outside the control of their husbands.

Women of the higher orders did not have access to

independent sources of livelihood in pre-Gupta

and Gupta times. Members of the higher orders

came to acquire more and more land which made

them more polygamous and more property-

minded. In a patriarchal setup, they began to treat

women as items of property, to such a degree that

a woman was expected to follow her husband to

the next world. The first example of the immolation

of a widow after the death of her husband

occurred during the Gupta period in AD 510. The

principal reason for the subordination of women of

the upper varnas was their complete dependence

on men for their livelihood, and lack of proprietary

rights.

2. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: The two epics Ramayana

and Mahabharat and the major Puranas seem to

have been finally compiled by 400. AD. Of the

epics, the Mahabharata attributed to Vyasa is

older and possibly reflects the state of affairs from

the tenth century BC to AD fourth century. It

contains narrative, descriptive, and didactic

material. The main narrative which relates to the

Kaurava–Pandava conflict may relate to the later

Vedic period, the descriptive portion might be of

the post-Vedic period, and the didactic portion

generally relates to the post-Maurya and Gupta

periods.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The most important

and interesting portion of the non-canonical

literature is provided by the stories of the previous

births of Gautama Buddha. It was believed that

before he was actually born as Gautama, the

Buddha passed through over 550 births, in many

cases in the form of animals. Each birth story is

called a Jataka, which is a folk tale. The Jatakas

throw invaluable light on the social and economic

conditions of the period between the fifth and

second century BC. They also make incidental

references to political events in the age of the

Buddha.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Bhagavad Gita

forms an important part of the Mahabharata. It

teaches that a person must carry out the duties

assigned to him by his caste and rank under all

circumstances without any desire for reward.

3. Ans. : (a)

Explanation: The Satavahana rulers promoted

Buddhism by granting land to the monks. In their

kingdom, the Mahayana form of Buddhism

commanded a considerable following, especially

amongst the artisan class. Nagarjunakonda and

Amaravati in AP became important seats of

Buddhist culture under the Satavahanas, and

more so under their successors, the Ikshvakus.

Statement 1 is correct: The reliefs are carved on

the greenish white limestone characteristic of the

region.

Statement 2 is incorrect: They mostly depict

events of the Buddha‘s life and his previous births

(Jataka stories).

Statement 3 is incorrect: It was patronised by

the Satavahanas and Ikshvakus, and not by

rashtrakutas.

4. Ans. : (b)

Explanation :

Option 1 and 3 are incorrect: Bhasa was the

author of a drama called Daridra Charudatta,

which was later refashioned as Mrichchhakatika

or the (Little Clay Cart by Shudraka)

Option 2 is correct: What has made the Gupta

period particularly famous is the work of Kalidasa

who lived in the second half of the fourth and the

first half of the fifth century. He was the greatest


poet of classical Sanskrit literature. One of his

works is Raghuvamsa (the lineage of

Raghu/Rama).

Option 4 is correct: The Gupta period is

particularly memorable for the compilation of

Amarakosha by Amarasimha, who was a luminary

in the court of Chandragupta II. This lexicon is

learnt by heart by students learning Sanskrit in

the traditional way.

Additional Information

The rich literary contribution of the Gupta period

is one of the reasons for calling it the golden age of

ancient India.

5. Ans. : (d)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: Our earliest coins

contain a few symbols, but the later coins depict

the figures of kings, and divinities, and also

mention their names and dates. The areas where

they are found indicate the region of their

circulation. This has enabled us to reconstruct the

history of several ruling dynasties, especially of the

Indo-Greeks who came to India from north

Afghanistan and ruled here in the second and first

centuries BC.

Statement 2 is correct: As coins were used for

various purposes such as donations, a mode of

payment, and a medium of exchange, they throw

considerable light on economic history. Some coins

were issued by guilds of merchants and

goldsmiths with the permission of the rulers. This

shows that crafts and commerce had become

important. Coins helped transactions on a large

scale and contributed to trade. The largest number

of Indian coins date to the post Maurya period.

These were made of lead, potin, copper, bronze,

silver, and gold. The Guptas issued the largest

number of gold coins. All this indicates that trade

and commerce flourished, especially in

postMaurya and a good part of the Gupta period.

However, only a few coins belonging to the post-

Gupta period have been found, which indicates a

decline of trade and commerce in that period.

Statement 3 is correct: Coins also portray kings

and gods, and contain religious symbols and

legends, all of which throw light on the art and

religion of the time.


As there was nothing like the modern banking

system in ancient times, people stored money in

earthenware and also in brass vessels, and

maintained them as precious hoards on which

they could fall back in time of need. Many of these

hoards, containing not only Indian coins but also

those minted abroad, such as in the Roman

empire, have been discovered in different parts of

India.

6. Ans. : (a)

Explanation: The emergence of Kannauj emerged

as a centre of political power from the reign of

Harsha onwards.

Statement 1 is correct: Pataliputra owed its

power and importance to trade and commerce, and

the widespread use of money. Tolls could be

collected from the traders who came to the city

from the east, west, north, and south across four

rivers. Once trade declined, money became

scarce, and officers and soldiers were paid

through land grants, the city lost its

importance. Power shifted to military camps

(skandhavaras), and places of strategic importance

which dominated long stretches of land. Kannauj

was a place of strategic importance. Situated in

Farrukhabad district of UP, it shot into political

prominence from the second half of the sixth

century onwards.(The doab is such a long stretch

of land )

Statement 2 is correct: Fortification of places in

the plains was far more difficult, but kannauj was

situated on the elevated area which was easily

fortifiable, whereas patliputra was situated in a

plain area. Thus, located right at the centre of the

doab, Kannauj was well fortified in the seventh

century, which helped in exercising control over

the eastern and western wings of the doab,

soldiers could be moved by both land and water

routes.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Sena Empire, a

Hindu dynasty, ruled Bengal from the 11th to 12th

century. Thus, attack by them on patliputra was

not the reason for the shift of power from

Patliputra to kannauj in post Gupta times.

7. Ans. : (c)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect: The description given is

of the kingdom of Vatsas who belonged to the kuru

clan, who had their capital at Kaushambi near

Allahabad. They had shifted from Hastinapur to

settle down at Kaushambi. Mallas were a republic

having their capital at Kusinara or the modern day

Kasia near Deoria district where Buddha passed

away.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Mahajanapadas

were centred around one capital town. However

there are instances of these clans changing their

capital which belies the principal that their capital

indicated the place of origin of the clans. Case in

point being the Vatsas who shifted from

Hastinapur to Kaushambi. Also there existed some

states having two capitals like that of the avantis

with their capitals located at Ujjain and Shravasti.

Statement 3 is correct: The presence of iron

mines in the region of Magadha and Madhya


Pradesh ensured that Magadha and Avanti became

the most powerful kingdoms of their times. This

factor enabled them to produce weapons on a large

scale and better equip their soldiers.

Extra Information

The Vedic culture originated in the North-West

Frontier Province and the Punjab, and flourished

in the western Gangetic basin; the post-Vedic

culture, mainly based on the use of iron, thrived in

the mid-Gangetic basin. The lower Gangetic valley

and north Bengal really came into focus in the age

of the Guptas; and finally, the Brahmaputra valley

covering Assam gained importance in early

medieval times.

8. Ans. : (d)

Explanation: Harsha was neither a staunch

Hindu nor the ruler of the whole country. As a

devout Buddhist he convened a grand assembly at

Kannauj to widely publicize the doctrines of

Mahayana Buddhism.

Statement 1 is correct: The ‗Hindu‘ adjective

does not stand as he was not a staunch hindu,

rather he was a great patron of Buddhism.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The given assertion

also stands false because he was not the ruler of

the entire Indian subcontinent, as Harsha‘s

southward march was stopped at the Narmada

river by the Chalukya king Pulakeshin. However,

he directly ruled western India, as Rajasthan and

Punjab were under his direct control.

Statement 3 is correct: When harsha organised a

Buddhist council at Kannauj, there were efforts to

dilate Mahayana Buddhism. It was followed by a

conspiracy and attempt to assassinate harsha in a

fire. Harsha then arrested 500 Brahmanas for

such a conspiracy. He banished most of them, and

also executed a few of them. This indicates that

harsha was not tolerant of all religions. Thus, he

was not a great Hindu ruler.

9. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: The Kalabhra revolt was

a powerful peasant protest directed against the

landed brahmanas.

Statement 2 is correct: The Kalabhras were of

Buddhist persuasion as they patronized Buddhist

monasteries.

Statement 3 is incorrect: By the last quarter of

the sixth century, according to a tradition, the

Kalabhras had imprisoned the Chola, the Pandya,

and the Chera kings, which underlines how

formidable their revolt was. The Kalabhras‘ revolt

was so widespread that it could be quelled only

through the joint efforts of the Pandyas, the

Pallavas, and the Chalukyas of Badami.

10. Ans. : (d)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Ashtadhyayi is a work on

Sanskrit grammar by Panini.

Statement 2 is correct: Vashishta Siddhanta is

one of the five siddhantas written by Varahamihira

who composed the Panchasiddhantika. It deals

with astronomy in considerable detail.

Statement 3 is correct: Thirukkural is a didactic

work of the Sangam age. It was written by

Thiruvalluvar and consists of values on virtue,

wealth and love.

Statement 4 is incorrect: Jambavati Kalyana is a

book written by Krishna Deva Raya who belonged

to vijayanagar. His other important works consist

of Amukta Malyada and Madalasa Charita

amongst others. It is not of Ancient India.


The Sangam literature is a major source of our

information for the social, economic, and political

life of the people living in deltaic Tamil Nadu in the

early Christian centuries. What it says about trade

and commerce is confirmed by foreign accounts

and archaeological finds.

11. Ans. : (c)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Arms Trade Treaty is the

first legally binding international agreement to

regulate the global trade in conventional arms by

establishing common international standards for

member countries. It has 102 state parties and

was endorsed by the UN General Assembly and

entered into force in December 2014.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Like Russia, China and

Saudi Arabia, India has neither signed nor ratified

the treaty. It was in the news because the USA is

also planning to withdraw from the International

Arms Trade Treaty, because the President views it

as a threat to America's second amendment right

to bear arms.

Statement 3 is correct: It regulates ammunition

or munitions fired, launched, or delivered by the

conventional arms covered under the treaty.

Nations also need to ensure the weapons they

export do not end up being used for genocide,

crimes against humanity or terrorist acts. If they

do find out the arms will be used for any of these,

they need to stop the transfer.

12. Ans. : (c)

Explanation: Didarganj (Patna) Yakshini belongs

to the Mauryan period. Amaravati stupa belongs to

the post-Mauryan period. Sultanganj Buddha

belongs to the Gupta period and Virupaksha

Temple at Pattadakal was built by the Chalukyas

in the 8th century.



Some works of art got royal patronage while some

were made by independent artisans.Some others

were made for monasteries and temples while

some others were commissioned by merchants.

13. Ans. : (d)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: The Chola capital,

Uraiyur was noted for its cotton trade. In ancient

times, the Tamils traded with the Greek or

Hellenistic kingdom of Egypt and Arabia, on the

one hand, and with the Malay archipelago and

China, on the other.

Statement 2 and 3 are correct: In the early

centuries of the Christian era, the Chera state was

as important as the states of the Cholas and

Pandyas, and owed its position to trade with the

Romans. The Romans set up two regiments at

Muziris identical with Cranganore to protect their

interest in the region.

Statement 4 is incorrect: Kadaisiyars were the

members of the lowest class. Though their

situation was a bit better than the earlier times, it

was little different than slaves. Pariyars on the

other hand were the agricultural labourers who

also worked in animal skins and used them as

mats.


Eventually many elements of Tamil culture spread

to the north, and in the brahmanical texts, the

Kaveri came to be regarded as one of the holy

rivers of India.

14. Ans. : (d)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect: Though the varna

system was introduced in south India, in practice

its operation was different from that in Aryavarta

or the main part of north India. It was because

Kashatriyas were not important in South India, as

they were in North India. Also, the peasantry class,

which was mostly considered as shudras in the

north was divided into various peasant castes in

south India.

Statement 2 is incorrect: After the introduction

of Varna system in South India, many south

Indian rulers claimed to be brahmanas, which

shows that the kshatriyas were not as important

in the south as in the north. The same seems to

have been the case with the vaishyas.


If the peasant and artisan castes failed to produce

and render services and payments, it was

considered a departure from the established

dharma or norm. Such a situation was described

as the age of Kali. It was the duty of the king to

put an end to such a state of affairs and restore

peace and order which worked in favour of chiefs

and priests. The title dharma-maharaja was,

therefore, adopted by the Vakataka, Pallava,

Kadamba, and Western Ganga kings.

15. Ans. : (a)

Explanation: The Sanskrit term

pratityasamutpada, meaning ―dependent arising‖

or ―dependent origination‖, is the basis for the

Buddha‘s teaching on the processes of birth and

death and appears in the canon of the two major

schools of Buddhism, Theravada and Mahayana.

Syadvada or Sapta-bhangi Naya is the most

important part of Jaina Logic. Syadvada is neither

skepticism, nor agnosticism. In fact, Syadvada is

the theory of the relativity of knowledge. Every

object exists in relation to its form substance,

scope and time and not object exists in relation to

the form substance, scope and time of any other

object. Therefore, the knowledge of every object is

not absolute but relative.

16. Ans. : (a)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: According to the early

Samkhya philosophy, the presence of divine

agency is not essential to the creation of the world.

The world owes its creation and evolution more to

Nature or prakriti than to God.

Statement 2 is correct: Nyaya, or the school of

analysis, was developed as a system of logic.

According to it, salvation can be attained through

the acquisition of knowledge.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Mimamsa literally

means the art of reasoning and interpretation.

However, reasoning was used to provide

justifications for various Vedic rituals, and the

attainment of salvation was made dependent on

their performance.

Additional Information: Salvation or moksha is

the central subject of the texts on darshana or

philosophy

17. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: The Ashokan inscription

written in Allahabad was most probably written

during the 27th year of his reign. It consists of

directives to his administrators (Rajukas), diktats

against killing of certain animals(parrots, ducks,

geese etc.) as well as directions against felling of

trees ‗without any good reason‘. Hence it was kind

of a first environmental law.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: Gupta king,

Samudragupta‘s court poet Harishena wrote a

glowing account of the military exploits of his

patron, and, in a long inscription, the poet

enumerates the peoples and countries that were

conquered by Samudragupta.



The Gupta kingdom was enlarged enormously by

Chandragupta‘s son and successor Samudragupta

(AD 335–80). He was the opposite of Ashoka.

Ashoka believed in a policy of peace and non-

aggression, but Samudragupta delighted in

violence and conquest.

18. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: According to Advaita

philosophy of Shankara, brahma is the reality and

everything else is unreal (maya). The self (soul) or

atma coincides with brahma. Therefore, if a person

acquires the knowledge of the self (atma), he

acquires the knowledge of brahma, and thus

attains salvation. On the other hand, for

Ramdnuja Brahman, jiva and World are real. Jiva

and World are attributes of Brahman.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Shankara considered

knowledge or jnana to be the chief means of

salvation, but Ramanuja‘s road to salvation lay in

practising devotion/loving faith. .


Vedanta means the end of the Veda. The Brahma

Sutras of Badarayana compiled in the second

century BC formed its basic text. Vedanta

philosophy is traced to the earlier Upanishads.The

theory of karma came to be linked to Vedanta

philosophy.

19. Ans. : (b)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: The judicial system was

far more developed under the Guptas than in

earlier times. Several law-books were compiled

during this period, and for the first time civil and

criminal laws were clearly demarcated. Theft and

adultery fell under criminal law, disputes

regarding various types of property under civil law.

Elaborate laws were laid down about inheritance.

As in earlier times, many laws continued to be

based on varna differentiation. It was the duty of

the king to uphold the law, and try cases with the

help of brahmana priests.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The village headman

gained in importance in Gupta times, managing

village affairs with the assistance of elders. In the

administration of a village or a small town, leading

local elements were associated. No land

transactions could be effected without their

consent. In the urban administration, organized

professional bodies were given a considerable say.

Statement 3 is correct: Religious Functionaries

were granted land, free of tax for ever and they

were authorised to collect from the peasants all the

taxes which could have otherwise gone to the

emperor. The villages granted to the beneficiaries

could not be entered by royal agents, retainers etc.

The beneficiaries were also empowered to punish

the criminals.


There was more decentralisation during the period

of the Guptas. When the central power grew weak,

it led to fragmentation of the empire.

20. Ans. : (c)

Explanation :

Option 1 is correct: Megasthenes was a greek

ethnographer, who visited during the period of

302-298 B.C. He was ambassador of Seleucus

Nicator, who visited the court of Chandragupta

Maurya. He wrote an interesting book Indica.

Option 2 is incorrect: I-tsing came to India for

the Period of 671- 695 A.D. He stayed in Nalanda

university. He was a Chinese traveller, who visited

India in connection with Buddhism, whereas

Bindusar was there for the period of 320 BC–273

BC.

Option 3 and 4 are correct: Fa-hsien and Hsuan

Tsang were Buddhists, and came to India to visit

the Buddhist shrines and to study Buddhism. The

first came in the beginning of the fifth century and

the second in the second quarter of the seventh

century. Fahien describes the social, religious, and

economic conditions in India in the age of the

Guptas, and Hsuan Tsang presents a similar

account of India in the age of Harsha.

21. Ans. : (c)

Explanation:

UNESCO Global Geoparks are single,

unified geographical areas where sites and

landscapes of international geological

significance are managed with a holistic

concept of protection, education and

sustainable development.

Geological Survey of India has nominated two

sites in India for the first time for Global

Geoparks status. The sites are Lonar Lake in

Maharashtra and St. Mary‘s Island and Malpe

beach in coastal Karnataka.

St. Mary‘s Island, declared a national geo-

heritage site in 1975, is estimated to be an 88-

million-year-old formation that goes back to a

time when Greater India broke away from

Madagascar.

Lonar crater became a geo-heritage site in

1979. It is relatively young geologically, at just

50,000 years old. It is distinguished by a near-

perfect, circular ejecta blanket, which refers to

earth thrown up during the collision, around

it.


22. Ans.: (c)

Explanation:

Option c is correct: United Nations Population

Fund (UNFPA) recently released the 2019 edition of

the State of World Population report titled

‗Unfinished Business: the pursuit of rights and

choices for all‘. The year 2019 marks the 50th

anniversary of UNFPA's founding.

The report reflects on the current state of sexual

and reproductive health.

India accounts for over one-sixth of the world‘s

population in 2019 (1.37 billion out of 7.71

billion).

While India‘s life expectancy at birth is lower

than the world‘s (69 years to 72), it scores

higher than the global average in terms of

access to healthcare during childbirth, and

also has a much lower adolescent birth rate.

23. Ans. : (c)

Explanation: Department of Animal Husbandry &

Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal

Husbandry and Dairying has released the 20th

Livestock Census report. Currently, India has the

highest livestock population in the world at 125.5

crore.

Statement 1 is correct.

For the first time, livestock data were collected

online in 20th Livestock Census. The 20th

livestock census is indeed a unique attempt as

for the first time such a major initiative has

been taken to digitise household level data

through online transmission from the field.

Statement 2 is incorrect.

The population of the total Exotic/Crossbred

Cattle has increased by 26.9 % in 2019 as

compared to the previous census.

There is a decline of 6 % in the total

Indigenous/ Non-descript cattle population

over the previous census.


This census is a breed-wise Livestock Census.

The Goat population in the country in 2019 is

148.88 million showing an increase of 10.1%

over the previous census.

The total Pigs in the country is 9.06 Million in

the current Census, declined by 12.03% over

the previous Census.

24. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct : The Vedic people

succeeded in the second phase of their expansion

because they used iron weapons and horse-drawn

chariots.

Statement 2 is correct : Agriculture and various

crafts enabled the later Vedic people to lead a

settled life. Excavations and explorations give us

some idea about settlements in later Vedic times.

Statement 3 is incorrect : Although the term

nagara is used in later Vedic texts only the faint

beginnings of towns appear towards the end of the

later Vedic period. Hastinapur and Kaushambi

(near Allahabad) seem to be primitive towns dating

to the end of the Vedic period, and may be called

proto-urban


Widespread Painted Grey Ware sites have been

found not only in western UP and Delhi, which

was the Kuru–Panchala area, but also in the

adjoining parts of Punjab and Haryana, the Madra

area, and in those of Rajasthan, that constituted

the Matsya area.

25. Ans. : (d)

Explanation :

Option (a) is correct as Village headmen were

called gramika.

Option (b) is incorrect as During the Reign Of

Buddha, Sataman was referred to as the name of

coins.

Option (c) is correct as During the Reign Of

Buddha, The village headmen were referred to as

Bhojaka.

Option (d) is most appropriate as it contain

both option (a) and (c).

26. Ans. : (c)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: 3D bioprinted human

skin models have certain anatomically relevant

structural, mechanical and biochemical features

similar to native human skin.

Statement 2 is correct: The bioprinted skin

model will have wide applications in testing

cosmetics. It can also reduce and probably even

replace testing on animals. The bioprinted skin

produced in the lab by the team is already being

used by ITC Ltd for experiments.

27. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct : Indo-Greek rule is

important in the history of India because of the

large number of coins that the Greeks issued. The

Indo-Greeks were also the first to issue gold coins

in India, and these increased in number under the

Kushans

Statement 2 is incorrect : The most famous

Shaka ruler in India was Rudradaman I (AD 130–

50). He ruled not only over Sindh, but also over a

substantial part of Gujarat, Konkan, the Narmada

valley, Malwa, and Kathiawar. Rudradaman was a

great lover of Sanskrit although he had Central

Asian ancestors.


Statement 3 is incorrect : Rudradaman issued

the first-ever long inscription in chaste Sanskrit.

He was a Shaka ruler.


The period that began in about 200 BC did not

witness a large empire like that of the Mauryas,

but it is notable for intimate and widespread

contacts between Central Asia and India. Of them,

the Kushans became the most famous.

28. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct : In a way Ajanta is the

birthplace of Asian art and has as many as thirty

cave temples constructed between the second

century BC and the seventh century AD. The

paintings started in the second century AD and

most of them relate to the Gupta period. Their

themes were borrowed from stories about previous

incarnations of the Buddha and from other ancient

literature.

Statement 2 is incorrect : Unlike Ellora caves, it

contains only Buddhist art


The achievement of the Indian painters of Ajanta

has been justly and greatly lauded by all art

connoisseurs. The lines and colours used at Ajanta

display a proficiency that was unmatched in the

world until the Renaissance in Europe.

29. Ans. : (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect : Kalinga is in modern

day Orissa. It was bound by Mahanadi and

Godaveri

Statement 2 is correct : A major part of Tamil

Nadu was situated between the Krishna to the

north and the Kaveri to the south.

Statement 3 is correct : The coastal area in the

extreme south-west of the peninsula was covered

by the modern state of Kerala. The sea coast along

the western part of the peninsula is called the

Malabar coast. Although the coast came to have

several ports and small kingdoms,

communications between the coast and the

adjoining areas of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and

Kerala were rendered difficult by the Western

Ghats with difficult passes to cross. Territory of

the Chera polity of the early historical period

consisted of the present day central Kerala and

western Tamil Nadu.

Extra Information

Each of the areas bounded by rivers, in some

cases by mountains, and sometimes with deltas

and plateaus, constituted a political and

administrative unit in which different ruling

dynasties rose and fell. On account of difficult

communications in a vast country and the

defensibility of the natural frontiers, it was not

easy for the ruling class of one region to establish

its control over all the other regions.

30. Ans. : (d)

Explanation : The Buddhist monasteries

developed as great centres of learning, and can be

called residential universities. Mention may be

made of Vikramashila in Bihar, Valabhi in

Gujarat, Manyakheta in Karnataka and Pushpgiri

in Odisha.


Taxila was an ancient centre of learning but it

cannot be termed a Buddhist centre of learning as

it did not evolve from a Buddhist monastery nor

was it dependent on Buddhist patrons

31. Ans.: (d)

Explanation:


Hot pursuit refers to the urgent and direct

pursuit of a criminal suspect by law

enforcement officers under international rules

of engagement for military forces

There is no international law governing ‗hot

pursuit‘ over land.


United Nations Convention on the Law of the

Sea, Article 111 of the treaty grants a coastal

state the right to pursue and arrest ships

escaping to international waters if pursuers

are competent authorities of the state and

have good reason to believe that the pursued

ship has violated the state‘s laws.


The right of hot pursuit ceases as soon as the

ship pursued enters the territorial sea of a

foreign state.

Hot Pursuit

Hot pursuit owes its origin to the law of

the seas against vessels that are involved in

piracy or smuggling. The coastal country

would take action in spite of the principle of

freedom of the high seas — the rights of

vessels of all nations to navigate freely on the

high seas

Exceptions to Hot Pursuit

The right of hot pursuit ceases as soon as the

ship pursued enters the territorial sea of a

foreign state.

Where a coastal state, stopping or arresting a

foreign ship outside the territorial sea on the

basis of its right of hot pursuit, fails to justify

the exercise, it shall be liable to compensate

the ship for any loss or damage caused to it

due to the exercise of this right.


Adaptation to land

There is no international law governing ‗hot

pursuit‘ over land. Over the years, this doctrine

has been expanded on land, to justify the breaches

of territorial sovereignty of foreign states as part of

the ongoing pursuit of offenders.

32. Ans. : (d)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: They were inhabited by

hunters and gatherers.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The largest number of

paintings of Bhimbetka belongs to the Mesolithic

period. During this period, the themes multiply,

but the paintings are smaller in size and the

hunting scene predominates. Geometric scenes are

a characteristic of paintings of the upper

paleolithic period.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The theme of paintings

found in Bhimbetka are of great variety, ranging

from mundane events of daily life in those times to

sacred and royal images.

Additional information

These animal painting rituals were realistic in the

context of hunting. In the Harappan context,

animal paintings become conventional. Animals

continue to be depicted on the Harappan seals

although the people largely lived on the food they

grew.

33. Ans. : (c)

Explanation:

Pair 1 is incorrect: The Rigveda is corroborated

with the archaeological finds at the Gandhara

grave culture.

Pair 2 is incorrect: The Mahajanapada period is

associated With NBPW.

Pair 3 is correct: Painted Grey Ware is associated

with later vedic age.

Pair 4 is correct: The Megalithic burial structures

are the archaeological findings associated with the

Sangam age.


For the study of the age of the Rig Veda we have to

take into account the Gandhara grave culture in

which the horse was used and the dead were

cremated. We have to establish a correlation

between the later Vedic age, on the one hand, and

the Painted Grey Ware and other types of

archaeological finds, on the other. Similarly, early

Pali texts have to be related to the Northern Black

Polished Ware (NBPW) archaeology. Besides, the

information derived from the Sangam texts needs

to be correlated with that inferred from

inscriptions and early Megalithic archaeology in

peninsular India.

34. Ans. : (b)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect: Charvaka was the

main expounder of the materialistic philosophy

which came to be known as the Lokayata, which

means the ideas derived from the common people.

It underlined the importance of intimate contact

with the world (loka), and showed a lack of belief

in the other world. Many teachings are attributed

to Charvaka. He was opposed to the quest for

spiritual salvation. He denied the existence of any

divine or supernatural agency. He accepted the

existence/reality of only those things that could be

experienced by human senses and organs. This

implied a clear lack of faith in the existence of

brahma and god. According to Charvaka, the

brahmanas manufactured rituals in order to

acquire gifts (dakshina).

Statement 2 is correct: According to Charvaka, a

person should enjoy himself as long as he lives, he

should borrow to eat well.


By the fifth century AD, materialistic philosophy

was overshadowed by the exponents of idealistic

philosophy who constantly criticized it and

recommended the performance of rituals and

cultivation of spiritualism as a path to salvation;

they attributed worldly phenomena to

supernatural forces. This view hindered the

progress of scientific inquiry and rational thinking.

Even the enlightened found it difficult to question

the privileges of the priests and warriors. Steeped

in the idealistic and salvation schools of

philosophy, the people could resign themselves to

the inequities of the varna-based social system

and the strong authority of the state represented

by the king.

35. Ans. : (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect

The dominant framework of international

intellectual property (IP) law — TRIPS (Trade

Related Aspects of Intellectual property Rights)

and the UPOV (Union for the Protection of

Plant Varieties) — gives plant breeders

exclusive rights over the varieties they develop,

and mostly disregards customary rights of

indigenous and farming communities to their

genetic resources and associated knowledges.

Recognising the bias in international law, the

Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers‘

Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001, entitles not just

the breeder but also the farmer

Accommodating these twin purposes meant

granting recognition of the proprietary claims

of both the farmers and breeders, more


accurately, of farmers as breeders (Section

2(c)). It gives the farmer the right to ―save, use,

sow, re-sow, exchange, share or sell‖

produce/seeds (S. 39 (1)(iv)). Importantly, the

Indian farmer is permitted to even ―brown bag

seeds‖ — sell any variety of seed on the

condition that they are sold in an unbranded

form

Statement 2 is correct

Under the Indian law, the farmer has the right

to ―save, use, sow, re-sow, exchange, share or

sell‖ produce/seeds.

36. Ans.: (d)

Explanation : These terms are various elements of

ornamentation used in distinct ways and places in

temple architecture of both dravida and nagara.

Gavaksha or chandrashala describe the motif

centred on horseshoe arch that decorates

many Indian structural temples and other

buildings.

Vyala consists of a composite leonine creature

with the head of a tiger, elephant, bird, or

other animal, frequently shown in combat with

humans or pouncing upon an elephant.

Yali is a mythical creature seen in many

South Indian temples, often sculpted onto the

pillars. It may be portrayed as part lion, part

elephant and part horse, and in similar

shapes.

37. Ans: (c)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct : The Vindhya mountains

cut right across India from west to east and

formed a boundary between north and south

India. It acts as a language barrier as to its north,

there is a predominantly hindi-language belt and

to its south, predominantly dravidian languages

dominate

Statement 2 is incorrect : Indo-Aryan languages

form the highest spoken language group. The

Dravidian languages, 153 in number, form the

second major linguistic group of the country

(24.47 per cent). After that, come sino-tebatan and

Austro Asiatic languages respectively.

Statement 3 is correct : Among Dravidian

languages, besides the four internationally known

languages spread in many parts of the world, there

are 26 Dravidian languages by the current count,

of which 25 are spoken in India and one (Brahui)

is spoken in Balochistan on the Pakistan-

Afghanistan border.

Extra Information

Indian languages belong to four important groups:

the Austro-Asiatic, Tibeto-Burman, Dravidian, and

Indo-Aryan.

38. Ans. : (b)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect : The deltaic portion of

Bengal formed by the Brahmaputra and called

Samatata, which was made to acknowledge the

authority of Samudragupta in the fourth century,

covered south-east Bengal.

Statement 2 is correct : In central Malwa and the

adjoining parts of MP lay the state of Avanti. It was

divided into two parts, the northern part with its

capital at Ujjain, and the southern part at

Mahishmati.

Statement 3 is correct : Atranjikhera was

situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Antiquities

belonging to the Kushan period have been

unearthed from Atranjikhera in the district of Etah

(Uttar Pradesh). The excavation revealed six

periods of occupation of which period IV is

assignable to early centuries of Christian era. The

ceramic of this period consisted of a dominant red

ware with medium fabric.

Statement 4 is incorrect : Indian culture also

spread to Southeast Asia, but not through the

medium of Buddhism. Except in the case of

Burma it was mostly diffused through the

brahmanical cults. The name Suvarnabhumi was

given to Pegu and Moulmein in Burma, and

merchants from Broach, Banaras, and Bhagalpur

traded with Burma.

39. Ans.: (a)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct : The hybridisation and

incorporation of several styles was the hallmark of

Chalukyan buildings. The most elaborate of all

Chalukyan temples at Pattadakal made in the

reign of Vikramaditya II (733-44) by his chief

queen Loka Mahadevi is Virupaksha temple.

Another important temple from this site is

Papanatha temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. The

temple is one of the best early examples of the

Dravida tradition. By contrast other eastern

Chalukyan Temples, like the Mahakuta, five

kilometres from Badami, and the Swarga Brahma

temple at Alampur show a greater assimilation of

northern styles from Odisha and Rajasthan.

Statement 2 is correct : The Durga temple at

Aihole is unique having an even earlier style of an

apsidal shrine which is reminiscent of Buddhist

chaitya halls and is surrounded by a veranda of a

later kind, with a shikhara that is stylistically like

a nagara one. Finally, mention must be made of

the Lad Khan temple at Aihole in Karnataka. This

seems to be inspired by the wooden-roofed temples

of the hills, except that it is constructed out of

stone.

Statement 3 is incorrect : Early Chalukyan

activity also takes the form of rock-cut caves while

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motif_(visual_arts)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythicalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Indian


later activity is of structural temples. The earliest

is probably the Ravana Phadi cave at Aihole which

is known for its distinctive sculptural style. One of

the most important sculptures at the site is of

Nataraja, surrounded by larger-than-life-size

depictions of the saptamatrikas: three to Shiva‘s

left and four to his right. The figures are

characterised by graceful, slim bodies, long, oval

faces topped with extremely tall cylindrical crowns

and shown to wear short dhotis marked by fine

incised striations indicating pleating.

40. Ans. : (c)

Explanation:


It is an Android application which will be

operational only where elections are

announced.

Without having to rush to the office of the

returning officer to lodge a complaint , citizens

can immediately report on incidents of

misconduct within minutes of having

witnessed them.

The identity of the complainer will be kept

confidential.


The user will get 5 minutes to report an

incident after having clicked a picture or a

video.

To prevent any misuse, the app will not allow

uploading of the pre-recorded or old images

and videos.


cVIGIL is an innovative mobile application for

citizens to report Model Code of Conduct and

Expenditure violations during the elections.

cVIGIL provides time stamped evidentiary

proof of model code of conduct / Expenditure

Violation, having live photo/video with auto

location data.

41. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: From sixth century A.D.

onwards tantrism spread, and it is about this time

that tantric texts, shrines and practices also

appeared. Tantrism admitted both women and

shudras into its ranks.

Statement 2 is correct: Tantrism laid great stress

on the use of magic rituals. They were intended to

satisfy the material desires of devotees from

physical possessions and to cure day to day

diseases and injuries.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Tantrism permeated

Jainism, Buddhism, Shaivism, and Vaishnavism.

From the seventh century onwards, it continued to

hold ground throughout the medieval age. In Tibet

Buddhist Tantra is called Vajrayana.

42. Ans. : (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Varnashrama Dharma is

a vedic construct.

Statement 2 is correct: The ancient sources of

history frequently refer to the system of guilds

which began in the early Buddhist period and

continued through the Mauryan period. Ancient

Indian guilds are a unique and multi-faceted form

of organisation, which combined the functions of a

democratic government, a trade union, a court of

justice and a technological institution.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Kulinism, in Hinduism,

caste and marriage rules said to have been

introduced by Raja Vallala Sena of Bengal (reigned

1158–69). The name derives from the Sanskrit

word kulina (―of good family‖). Kulinism (higher

social status) refers to marriage of

a kulina girl to a man in the same class as well as

marriage to one in a higher class.

Statement 4 is correct: Bull racing is a practice

of the ayar community (shepherds/pastoralists)

who dwelled in the mullai (pasture/forest) region

of the ancient tamil country.

43. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect : In the Mauryan

period, stone cut pillars and rock cut caves dotted

the landscape. The rock cut cave carved at

Barabar Hills near Gaya in Bihar is known as the

Lomus Rishi cave. The cave was patronized by

Ashoka for the Ajivika sect. However many other

rock cut caves were also found in the subsequent

period which were dedicated to both Buddhism

and Jainism.

Statement 2 is incorrect : From the second

century BC onwards, we get many stupa

inscriptional details mentioning their donors and

also their professions. The pattern of patronage

exhibited has been a very collective one and there

are very few examples of royal patronage. Patrons

ranged from lay devotees to gahapatis and kings.

Statement 3 is correct : Lauriya Nandangarh

pillar near Patna in Bihar has a lion capital

attached to it. However unlike the Sarnath capital

which had four lions back to back, this represents

a single lion in a sitting position.

44. Ans. : (c)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: It was easy to cross rivers

in these areas because of their narrower width,

and hence the earliest routes skirted along the

foothills of the Himalayas from the west to the east

and vice versa.

Statement 2 is correct: The foothills of the

Himalayas lent themselves to easier clearance than

the dense jungles on the alluvial soil of the plains.


Statement 3 is incorrect: Iron was not available,

but copper was known to them. This helped in

clearing the vegetation of foothills which were not

dense. However, they required iron tools for

clearing the dense forest of gangetic plains. Thus,

they settled in foothills instead of gangetic plains.

Statement 4 is correct: As we come down the

slope of the mountain, hard rocks remain in the

upper course and soft rocks get eroded and

translocated upto the plains. Thus, there was

availability of hard rocks in the foothills which

helped people in making sharp stone tools for

carrying out agriculture. Thus, foothills were a

convenient choice than gangetic plains.

45. Ans. : (c)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct : In the fifth century BC,

Panini systematized the rules governing Sanskrit

and produced a grammar called Ashtadhyayi.

Statement 2 is incorrect : Varahamihira‘s well-

known work Brihatsamhita was written in the

sixth century. He stated that the moon rotates

around the earth and the earth rotates around the

sun. He utilized several Greek works to explain the

movement of the planets and some other

astronomical problems.

It is a work on astronomy/astrology

Statement 3 is correct : Charaka‘s Charaka

Samhita is like an encyclopaedia of Indian

medicine. It describes various types of fever,

leprosy, hysteria (mirgi), and tuberculosis

Statement 4 is incorrect : Abhijnana

Shakuntalam is a Sanskrit play written by the

ancient Indian poet Kalidasa, dramatizing the

story of Shakuntala told in the epic Mahabharata.

It is considered to be the best of Kalidasa works. It

is not a Poetry, but a play.


Raghuvamsa and Meghadutam are epic poems of

Kalidasa

46. Ans. : (c)

Explanation:

Option (a) is incorrect: The sacrifice which was

supposed to confer supreme power on him was

referred to as ‗Rajasuya‘.

Option (b) is incorrect: The chariot race between

the royal chariot and kinsmen of the kings was

referred to as the ashvamedha.

Option (c) is correct: During this period collection

of taxes and tributes seems to have become

common. These were probably deposited with an

officer called ‗sangrihitri‘ who worked as the king‘s

companion.

Option (d) is incorrect: There was no specific

term used for a common pool of collected taxes

and tributes.

47. Ans. : (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Harappans had

commercial links with the people of the Tigris and

the Euphrates basins. Many Harappan seals have

been discovered in Mesopotamia, and it appears

that the Harappans imitated some cosmetics used

by the urban people of Mesopotamia.

Statement 2 is correct: The Mesopotamian

records from about 2350 BC onwards refer to

trade relations with Meluha, which was the

ancient name given to the Indus region. The

Mesopotamian texts speak of two intermediate

trading stations called Dilmun and Makan, which

lay between Mesopotamia and Meluhha. Dilmun is

probably identifiable with Bahrain on the Persian

Gulf.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Mesopotamian text

speaks of two intermediate trading stations called

Dilmun and Makan. Lothal is a port in Gujarat,

but not mentioned in Mesopotamian texts.

48. Ans. : (c)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: The Satavahanas were

the first rulers to make land grants to brahmanas.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Though it is true that

Satavahanas were Hindus and claimed

Brahmanical status, but in the Satvahanas period,

we find more instances of land grants being made

to Buddhist monks than Brahamanas.

Statement 3 is correct: The indigenous tribal

people were increasingly acculturated by the

Buddhist monks who were induced by land grants

to settle in western Deccan. It is suggested that

traders too supported the Buddhist monks, for the

earliest caves seem to have been located on the

trade routes.

49. Ans. : (d)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect: The new liberal form of

Buddhism that developed with the coming of the

foreigners (Central Asians) came to be called

Mahayana or the Great Vehicle. With the rise of

Mahayana the old puritan school of Buddhism

came to be known as the Hinayana or the Lesser

Vehicle.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Kanishka, the Kushan

ruler became a great patron of Mahayana

Buddhism. He convened in Kashmir a council,

whose members composed 300,000 words,

thoroughly elucidating the three pitakas or

collections of Buddhist literature. Mauryas were

the patron of puritan form of Buddhism.


50. Ans. : (c)

Explanation: ‗Skai‘ is an electric airplane which is

powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.

The Skai uses very light hydrogen fuel cells to

run its rotors, giving it a range of 644 km and

the capacity to carry 454 kilograms in people

or freight.

Skai is designed to fly for up to 300 miles at

up to 118 mph, powered by nearly zero-

emission hydrogen fuel cells.

It‘s built to carry up to five people or 1000

pounds of total payload in either piloted,

ground-piloted or fully autonomous mode.

51. Ans. : (a)

Explanation:


Helium hydride ion (HeH+), is the first

molecule to be formed in our universe, at a

time colloquially called the 'dawn of

chemistry'.

Almost 14 billion years ago, after the Big Bang

when the universe cooled down, ionised

hydrogen and neutral helium atoms reacted to

form HeH+.

As this process progressed, HeH+ reacted with

neutral hydrogen and created molecular

hydrogen, marking the beginning of star

formation and modern universe.


It was detected roughly 3,000 light-years from

Earth by NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for

Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) in a planetary

nebula, NGC 7027.

Planetary nebulae are shells of gas and dust

that have been ejected from a star during the

process of its evolution.

52. Ans. : (d)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: Kushan kings issued

numerous gold coins with a higher degree of

metallic purity than is found in the Gupta gold

coins.

Statement 2 and 3 are correct: The Kushan

empire brought together masons and other

artisans trained in different schools and countries.

This gave rise to several schools of art: Central

Asian, Gandhara, and Mathura. Pieces of

sculpture from Central Asia show a synthesis of

both local and Indian elements influenced by

Buddhism.


The influence of Gandhara art spread to Mathura,

which was primarily a centre of indigenous art.

Mathura produced beautiful images of the

Buddha, but it is also famous for the headless

erect statue of Kanishka whose name is inscribed

at its lower end.

53. Ans. : (c)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect: A lean organizational

structure is a structure that uses fewer resources

than a traditional organizational structure, but is

effective. However, the Mauryan empire

maintained a vast bureaucracy. In fact in no other

period of ancient history we hear of so many

officers as in Mauryan time. Thus, the

bureaucracy was not lean. Also, the rigid state

control may not have proved effective much

beyond the mid-gangetic zone owing to difficulty in

communications.

Statement 2 is correct: The punch-marked silver

coins, which carry the symbols of the peacock and

crescented hill, formed the imperial currency of the

Mauryas. They have been discovered in large

numbers. Copper coins were also punch-marked.

Besides punch-marked silver and copper coins,

cast copper coins and die-struck coins were also

issued. Without doubt, all these different types of

coins helped the collection of taxes and payment of

officers in cash. Also, because of its uniformity, the

currency must have facilitated market exchange in

a wider area.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Ashoka taught people

to live and let live. He emphasized compassion

towards animals and proper behaviour towards

relatives. His teachings were meant to strengthen

the institution of family and the existing social

classes. He held that if the people behaved well

they would go to heaven, but never said that they

would attain nirvana, which was the goal of

Buddhist teachings. Ashoka‘s teachings were thus

intended to maintain the existing social order on

the basis of tolerance. He does not seem to have

preached any sectarian faith.

54. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: Iranian scribes brought

into India a form of writing that came to be known

as the Kharosthi script. It was written from right to

left like the Arabic. Some Ashokan inscriptions in

north-west India were written in the third century

BC in this script, which continued to be used in

India till the third century AD.

Statement 2 is correct: Iranian influence on the

Mauryan sculpture is clearly perceptible. The

monuments of Ashoka‘s time, especially the bell

shaped capitals, owed something to the Iranian

models. Iranina influence may also be traced in

the preamble of Ashoka‘s edicts as well as in

certain terms used in them.


Statement 3 is incorrect: Zoroastrianism came to

India in the 8th century when Parsis migrated to

India from Persia due to religious persecution. On

the other hand the Magadha period is from 6th

century B.C. to 3rd century B.C.


It appears that through the Iranians, the Greeks

learnt about the great wealth of India, which

whetted their greed and led to Alexander‘s invasion

of India.

55. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: The two capitals of

Magadha, the first at Rajgir and the second at

Pataliputra, were situated at very strategic points.

Rajgir was surrounded by a group of five hills, and

so it was impregnable in those days when there

was no easy means of storming citadels such as

cannons. In the fifth century BC, the Magadhan

princes shifted their capital from Rajgir to

Pataliputra, which occupied a pivotal position

commanding communications on all sides.

Pataliputra was situated at the confluence of the

Ganges, the Gandak, and the Son, and a fourth

river called the Ghaghra joined the Ganges not far

from Pataliputra. In preindustrial days, when

communications were difficult, the army could

move north, west, south, and east by following the

courses of the rivers. Also, the position of Patna

itself was rendered invulnerable because it was

virtually surrounded by rivers. Thus, it provided

the natural defence system to the Magadha

empire.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Guerrilla warfare was

not known to the Indians during the Magadha

period. This was deployed in India by Marathas

under Shivaji.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Magadha enjoyed an

advantageous geographical position in the age of

iron, because the richest iron deposits were

situated not far away from Rajgir, the earliest

capital of Magadha. The ready availability of the

rich iron ores in the neighbourhood enabled the

Magadhan princes to equip themselves with

effective weapons which were not easily available

to their rivals. Copper was not readily available in

that region.

56. Ans. : (d)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect : The foreign princes

patronized and cultivated Sanskrit Literature. The

earliest specimen of kavya style is found in

Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman in Kathiawar

in about AD 150. Mauryas had declined much

earlier.

Statement 2 is correct : The rulers and princes

were great patrons of Sanskrit language and

scholars. The inscriptions are composed in chaste

sanskrit emphasizing the importance given to the

language. Royal patronage was given to writers

such as Ashvaghosha. Even the avadanas which

were written during the period show a Buddhist

hybridized version of Sanskrit.

Statement 3 is incorrect : Ashvaghosha

composed Saundarananda which is an example of

Sanskrit kavya. He also wrote the treatise of

Buddhacharita which is the biography of Lord

Buddha.

57. Ans. : (c)

Explanation :

Option c is correct : This term yavana was earlier

used to refer to greeks but it caught the public

tongue whereby it was used to describe all

foreigners. The Greeks also influenced the theatre

form in ancient India.

The advent of curtains in the theatres is

considered to be of greek influence. It was known

as yavanika which owed its origin to the word

yavana.

58. Ans. : (c)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect : The progress of

Mahayana school of buddhism led to the

composition of numerous avadanas. Most of these

texts were written with the objective of teaching

the philosophies of Mahayana Buddhism to the

people.

Statement 2 is incorrect : Most of the avadanas

were composed in what is known as Buddhist -

Hybrid Sanskrit. Thus it was neither chaste

sanskrit nor in pure prakrit. This ensured the

spread of the ideals to a greater populace.

Statement 3 is correct : Mahavastu and

Divyavadana are considered as the most important

books in the genre of avadanas. Avadanamala is

the composition of different books where

Bodhisattva is considered as a hero. Mahavastu

catalogues 36 kinds of workers living in the town

of Rajgir.

59. Ans. : (a)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct : Kanishka successfully

started the Shaka era calendar in 78AD. He was

one of the most important rulers of the Kushans.

Kushans were nomadic tribes of Central Asia and

are also known as Yuechis or Tocharians. The other

calendar started during the period was Vikram

Samvat which demarcated the beginning of an era

from 57 BC when the Shakas were defeated in

Ujjain.

Statement 2 is incorrect : The government of

India has been using the saka era calendar since

22nd March 1957. This is used in all government

communications as well as the official Gazette of

India.


60. Ans. : (d)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: GTCI is based on

research conducted by INSEAD in partnership

with The Adecco Group and Tata Communications.

It is a comprehensive annual benchmarking

measuring how countries and cities grow, attract

and retain talent.

Statement 2 is incorrect: India is placed in the

80th position in the 2019 GTCI.

Statement 3 is correct: The report reveals that

cities rather than countries are developing

stronger roles as talent hubs and will be crucial to

reshaping the global talent scene.

61. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: Megasthenes who lived in

Patliputra has mentioned about the Pandya

country in his descriptions. He talks about the

kingdom being celebrated for pearls. He also

speaks of its being ruled by a woman, which may

suggest some matriarchal influence in the Pandya

society.

Statement 2 is correct : The Pandya territory

occupied the southernmost and the south-eastern

portion of the Indian peninsula with Madurai as its

capital. It was spread in the region of the modern

districts of Tirunelveli, Ramnad and Madurai in

Tamil Nadu.

Statement 3 is Incorrect : The ashokan

inscriptions mention the Cholas, Pandyas,

Keralaputras and Satyaputras living on the

borders of the empire. Of these only the

Satyaputras are not clearly identified.

62. Ans. : (d)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct : During the reign of

Pulakesin II, Harshvardhana attacked the kingdom

and harsha and Pulakesin clashed on the banks of

river Narmada. Harsha is said to have lost a big

part of his elephant army and had to retreat. This

battle has also been recounted by Huen Tsang.

Statement 2 is correct : One of the paintings in

Ajanta represents Pulakesin II receiving the

ambassador from Iran. On account of the growing

power of Pulakesin II and the trade relations with

India, the Iranian king Khusrau II sent an

ambassador to Badami in return for the

ambassador sent by Pulakesin to Iran in 625 A.D.

Statement 3 is correct : The most important

literature of the Badami Chalukyas is the Aihole

inscription of Pulakesi II written by his court poet

Ravikirti in Sanskrit language and Kannada script.

63. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct : The Satvahana kingdom

showed high traits of military control in their

administration. The administration in the rural

areas was placed in the hands of Gaulmika, who

was the head of a military regiment consisting of 9

chariots, 9 elephants, 25 horses and 45 foot

soldiers.

Statement 2 is correct : Since the tribal

population in the Deccan were not thoroughly

brahmanized and reconciled to the new rule, it was

necessary to keep them under strong military

control. It is significant that the Senapati was

appointed provincial governor.

Statement 3 is incorrect : The Satvahana rulers

were brahmins and they represented the march of

triumphant brahmanism. From the very beginning

kings and queens performed various vedic

sacrifices like ashvamedha, vajapeya etc. They also

worshipped a large number of Vaishnava gods

such as Krishna, Vasudeva and others.

64. Ans. : (c)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct : Manushi Buddhas or the

past buddhas have been depicted in the form of

symbols. Though there are 24 Buddhas but only

the first one, Dipankar, and the last six are

pictorially represented.

Statement 2 is incorrect : The Stupa at Sanchi

has 4 beautifully decorated Toranas depicting

various events from the life of the Buddha and the

Jatakas. These are basically the entrances in the

circular boundary formed by the vedika.

Statement 3 is correct : Sanchi Stupa has both

upper and lower pradakshina patha or

circumambulatory path around the main stupa.

This path is generally used for veneration

purposes of the stupa and the remains of Buddha

which were housed in the Stupa.

65. Ans. : (d)

Explanation : Statement d is correct : The

shrines of the temples were of three basic kinds :

Sandhara ( without pradakshinapatha), Nirandhara

(with pradakhsinapatha) and Sarvatobhadra

(which can be accessed from all sides). These

largely denoted the temple architecture with

regards to the accessibility to the main shrine.

Pradakshinapathas were the circumambulatory

paths made around the temples so that the

devotees could take rounds around the shrine in

which the deity was placed.

66. Ans. : (b)

Explanation:

Pairs 1 is correctly matched: Mahaparinirvana is

in Cave 26 of Ajanta caves. This massive

sculpture, 24 feet long and nine feet tall, in a

chaitya is on the passing away of the Buddha. The

Buddha is reclining on his right side and behind

him are two sala trees. On the base of the

sculpture are shown his begging bowl, water


pitcher and walking stick. Ananda and other

disciples are shown sitting in mourning. Sculpted

on top are celestials who are rejoicing because of

the Buddha's arrival in heaven.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Descent of the

Ganges is a monument at Mamallapuram in the

Chengalpattu district of the state of Tamil Nadu,

India. It is a giant open-air rock relief carved on

two monolithic rock boulders. The legend depicted

in the relief is the story of the descent of the

sacred river Ganges to earth from the heavens led

by Bhagiratha.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched : Varaha Avatar

(boar incarnation) of Lord Vishnu is found in the

Udayagiri Caves. These are twenty rock-cut caves

near Vidisha, Madhya Pradesh

67. Ans. : (d)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is correct: Pagodas are used as

religious multi-storey Buddhist towers, erected as

a memorial or shrine. They are symbols of five

elements of the universe-Earth, Water, fire, air,

sky and ether and along with them, the most

important factor consciousness which is the

ultimate reality. They are usually made of stone,

brick, or wood.

Statement 2 is correct: Chaitya grihas were a

place of worship for the buddhist monks and

predominated the cave architecture since ancient

times. They usually had a rounded apse at the end

opposite the entrance, and a high roof with a

rounded profile.

Statement 3 is correct: Vihara consisted of an

open court surrounded by open cells accessible

through an entrance porch. Viharas were built to a

set plan, they have a hall meant for congregational

prayer with a running verandah on three sides or

an open courtyard surrounded by a row of which

served as dwelling places for the monks.

68. Ans. : (a)

Explanation:

Maach is the traditional theatre form of

Madhya pradesh. The term macch is used for

the stage itself as also for the play.In this

theatre form songs are given prominence in

between the dialogues. The term for dialogue

in this form is bol and rhyme in narration is

termed Vanag. The tunes of this theatre form

are known as rangat.

Bhavai is the traditional theatre form of

Gujarat. The centres of this form are Kutch

and Kathiawar. The instruments used in

Bhavai are : bhungal, tabla, flute, pakhaawaj,

rabaab, sarangi, manjeera, etc. In Bhavai

,there is a rare synthesis of devotional and

romantic sentiments.

Therukoothu, the most popular form of folk

drama of Tamil nadu. literally means ―street

play‖. It is mostly performed at the time of

annual temple festivals of Mariamman to

achieve rich harvest. At the core of the

extensive repertoire of therukoothu there is a

cycle of eight plays based on the life of

Draupadi. Kattiakaran ,the Sutradhara of the

Therukoothu Performance, givesa the gist of

the play to the audience and komali entertains

the audience with his buffoonery.

69. Ans. : (a)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect : The Satvahanas

issued coins primarily made up of lead. Though

they also issued coins made up of potin, copper

and bronze, they did not issue gold coins. Kushans

on the other hand issued gold coins of the highest

degree of purity.

Statement 2 is correct : The Satvahanas retained

some of the administrative traits of the mauryan

rule under Ashoka‘s times. Their districts were

called ahara, as it was known in the time of

Ashoka. Their officials were known as amatyas

and mahamatras which was similar to the

Mauryan times.

Statement 3 is incorrect : The military character

of the Satvahan rule is evident from the common

use of terms of katakas and skandhavaras in the

inscriptions. These were military camps and

settlements which served as administrative centres

so long as the king was there.

70. Ans. : (d)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Kuchipudi is one of the

classical styles of Indian dance. Its name is derived

from a village near Krishna District of Andhra

Pradesh, near Vijayawada. Around the third and

fourth decade of this century it emerged out of a

long rich tradition of dance-drama of the same

name. The music that accompanies the dance is

according to the classical school of Carnatic music

and is delightfully syncopathic. The accompanying

musicians, besides the vocalist are: a mridangam

player to provide percussion music, a violin or

veena player or both for providing instrumental

melodic music, and a cymbal player who usually

conducts the orchestra and recites the

sollukattus (mnemonic rhythm syllables).

Statement 2 is incorrect: In the 17th century the

Kuchipudi style of Yakshagaana was conceived by

Siddhendra Yogi, a talented Vaishnava poet and

visionary who had the capacity to give concrete

shape to some of his visions. He was steeped in the

literary Yakshagaana tradition being guided by his

guru Teerthanaaraayana Yogi who composed the

Krishna-Leelatarangini. a kaavya in Sanskrit.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamallapuramhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_reliefhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolithhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliefhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhya_Pradesh


Statement 3 is correct: To show the dexterity of

the dancers in footwork and their control and

balance over their bodies, techniques like dancing

on the rim of a brass plate and with a pitcher full

of water on the head was introduced. Acrobatic

dancing became part of the repertoire. By the

middle of this century, Kuchipudi fully crystallized

as a separate classical solo dance style. Thus there

are now two forms of Kuchipudi; the traditional

musical dance-drama and the solo dance.

71. Ans. : (c)

Explanation :

Statement 1 is incorrect : 5G technology

envisages to significantly increase the bandwidth

of the connection thus enabling better speeds and

access. However it shall reduce the latency period

involved in the process i.e it shall reduce the time

which is taken by the Internet Service Provider to

return the input asked from the user.

Statement 2 is incorrect : 5G seeks to utilize the

principle of beamforming in order to increase the

quality of signals available to the antennae.

Beamforming is a technique that focuses a wireless

signal towards a specific receiving device, rather

than having the signal spread in all directions

from a broadcast antenna, as it normally would.

The resulting more direct connection is faster and

more reliable than it would be without

beamforming.

Statement 3 is correct : The price of the

spectrum to be allocated is very high which is

acting as a deterrent to an already reeling telecom

sector. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

(Trai) had earmarked spectrum in the 3,300-3,600

MHz band for 5G, and recommended that the

radio waves be allocated in blocks of 20 MHz.

Thus, for a purchase of 100 Mhz of airwaves, an

operator would need to pay at least Rs 50,000

crore.

72. Ans. : (a)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Ashokan Inscriptions

shows the extent of the Mauryan empire under

Ashoka. The Ashokan inscriptions are found in

India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and

Bangladesh. Kandhar greek inscription has been

found from Afghanistan, and Mahasthan

inscription has been found from Bogra district,

Bangladesh.

Statement 2 is correct: Composed in prakrit, the

Ashokan inscriptions were written in Brahmi

script in the greater part of the subcontinent.

Thus, they were mostly carved in Brahmi script.

However, in the north-western part of the

subcontinent they appeared in Aramaic language

and Kharosthi script, and in Afghanistan they

were written in both Aramaic and Greek scripts

and languages.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Ashokan

inscriptions convey royal orders and decisions

regarding social, religious, and administrative

matters to officials and the people in general. It

also includes Dhamma philosophy and tax

collection. The Rummindei pillar inscription of

Ashoka mentions tax exemptions to the people of

the Lumbini village.

Statement 4 is incorrect: The name Ashoka

occurs in copies of Minor Rock Edict I found at

three places in Karnataka and at one in MP. Thus,

altogether, the name Ashoka occurs four times. It

is significant that Ashoka‘s name does not occur in

any of his inscriptions from north or north-west

India. The inscriptions which do not carry his

name mention only devanampiya piyadasi, dear to

the gods, and leave out the name Ashoka.

73. Ans. : (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect : Vardhamana Mahavira

is referred to as Nigantha Nataputta by Buddhist

Texts. According to Jain tradition, Mahavira was

not the founder of jainism, but the last of the 24

Tirthankaras. According to the Jaina tradition,

Risabha was the founder of the sect. He is

considered as the first Tirthankara.

Statement 2 is correct : Mahavira taught in

Ardha-Magadhi,the language of common people,

he discarded the Sanskrit language. The earliest

jaina works were written in Aparbrahmsa.

Statement 3 is correct : According to jain

tradition god is lower than the jina.

74. Ans.: (c)

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect : The style of temple

architecture that became popular in northern

India is known as nagara. In North India it is

common for an entire temple to be built on a stone

platform with steps leading up to it. There are

many subdivisions of nagara temples depending

on the shape of the shikhara such as Rekha-

Prasada, Phamsana, Valabhi. There are different

names for the various parts of the temple in

different parts of India.

Statement 2 is incorrect :

The third main sub-type of the nagara building

is what is generally called the valabhi type.

These are rectangular buildings with a roof

that rises into a vaulted chamber.

The edge of this vaulted chamber is rounded,

like the bamboo or wooden wagons that would

have been drawn by bullocks in ancient times.

They are usually called ‗wagon-vaulted

buildings‘. As mentioned above, the form of the


temple is influenced by ancient building forms

that were already in existence before the fifth

century CE. The valabhi type of building was

one of them. For instance, if you study the

ground-plan of many of the Buddhist rock-cut

chaitya caves, you will notice that they are

shaped as long halls which end in a curved

back. From the inside, the roof of this portion

also looks like a wagon-vaulted roof.

Statement 3 is correct : The placement of an

image in a temple is carefully planned for instance,

river goddesses (Ganga and Yamuna) are usually

found at the entrance of a garbhagriha in a Nagara

temple, dvarapalas (doorkeepers) are usually found

on the gateways or gopurams of Dravida temples,

similarly, mithunas (erotic images), navagrahas

(the nine auspicious planets) and yakshas are also

placed at entrances to guard them.

75. Ans.: (c)

Explanation: Elephanta Caves are a UNESCO

World Heritage Site and a collection of cave

temples predominantly dedicated to the Hindu god

Shiva. It consists of five Hindu caves and a few

Buddhist stupa mounds that date back to the 2nd

century BCE, as well as a small group of two

Buddhist caves with water tanks. The Elephanta

Caves contain rock cut stone sculptures that show

syncretism of Hindu and Buddhist ideas and

iconography. The caves are hewn from solid basalt

rock. Except for a few exceptions, much of the

artwork is defaced and damaged. The main

temple's orientation as well as the relative location

of other temples are placed in a mandala pattern.

The carvings narrate Hindu mythologies, with the

large monolithic 20 feet (6.1 m) Trimurti Sadashiva

(three-faced Shiva), Nataraja (Lord of dance) and

Yogishvara (Lord of Yoga) being the most

celebrated.

76. Ans. : (c)

Explanation: The Gupta Empire was divided into

provinces known as deshas or bhuktis. They were

administered by governors who were usually

designated as uparikas. The Uparikas was directly

appointed by the king and he ,in turn frequently

appointed the head of district administration and

the district board.

77. Ans.: (b)

Explanation:

Gombeyatta- The string puppets of

Karnataka are called Gombeyatta. They are

Date post:	09-Feb-2021
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	0 times
Download:	0 times

ALL INDIA PRELIMS TEST SERIES - 2020 · 2020. 1. 3. · who composed the Panchasiddhantika. It...

Documents