QUES 1 . In medieval India, the term “Fanam” referred to:

(a) Clothing

(b) Coins

(c) Ornaments

(d) Weapons

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

Historically, the Fanam and Chuckram coins were the regular unit of currency in medieval Travancore and appear to have been extensively used for trading in the region of South India. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travancore_Fanam#:~:text=Historically%2C%20the%20Fanam%20and%20Chuckram,the%20native%20language%20of%20Malayalam.

The words Fanam and Panam literally mean money and are still used as a synonym for wealth in Kerala in the native language of Malayalam.

Fanam was a gold currency used only in Southern India in 17th – 19th c. The word Fanam is Europeanized version of the word Panam which means coin.

States which issued gold fanams include Maratha, Mysore, Cochin, Coorg or Kurg, Travancore, Negapatnam (for circulation in Ceylon), Tuticorin, and the Mughal Empire.

Even Madras Presidency issued fanams till 1815.

In Danish India, fano was issued while in French India it was called fanon.

QUES 2 . With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts:

1 . Nettipakarana

2 . Parishishtaparvan

3 . Avadanashataka

4 . Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana

Which of the above are Jaina texts?

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 2 and 4 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4

(d) 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (b)

Explanation

Nettipakarana – It is a Buddhist scripture, sometimes included in the Khuddaka Nikaya of Theravada Buddhism’s Pali Canon . Hence, 1 is not correct. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nettipakara%E1%B9%87a

Parishishtaparvan – It is a 12th century Sanskrit mahakavya by Acharya Hemachandra which gives details of early Jaina teachers . Hence , 2 is correct. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parishishtaparvan

Avadanashataka – It is a collection of 100 Buddhist legends. Avadana is a type of Buddhist literature telling deeds/events of the past and subsequent lives of Buddha e.g. Mahavastu, Avadanashataka and Divyavadana. Hence , 3 is not correct. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avadanasataka

Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana – It is an important Jain text composed by Acharya Jinesena. He was
in the court of Amoghavarsha, a famous Rashtrakuta king. Hence , 4 is correct.

QUES 3 . With reference to Indian history, consider the following pairs:

Historical person : Known as

1 . Aryadeva : Jaina scholar

2 . Dignaga : Buddhist scholar

3 . Nathamuni : Vaishnava scholar

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) None of the pairs

(b) Only one pair

(c) Only two pairs

(d) All three pairs

Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Aryadeva – Disciple of Nagarjuna and an important Buddhist monk of Mahayana tradition in the 3rd century. He belonged to the Madhyamaka sub-school of Mahayana Buddhism. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched. https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195393521/obo-9780195393521-0065.xml

Dignaga – Important 5th century Buddhist scholar. He was a student of Vasubandhu.
Vasubandhu and Asanga were important Buddhist monk who founded Yogachara sub-school of Mahayana Buddhism. Hence , pair 2 is correctly matched.

Nathamuni – Nathamuni, also known as Sri Ranganathamuni, (823 CE – 951 CE), was a Vaishnava theologian who collected and compiled the Naalayira Divya Prabandham. Considered the first of the Sri Vaishnava acharyas , Nathamuni is also the author of the Yogarahasya and the Nyayatattva.Hence , pair 3 is correctly matched.

QUES 4 . With reference to Indian history, who of the following were known as “Kulah-Daran”?

(a) Arab merchants

(b) Qalandars

(c) Persian calligraphists

(d) Sayyids

Answer: (d)

Explanation

The Sayyids, who belonged to the theological class during the Delhi Sultanate era, were called
as Kulah-Daran (cap-wearers). It was the distinctive pointed cap which gave them unique
identity among the larger section of theologians who were generally referred to as Dastarbandan
(turban-wearers) which was their official head-dress.

QUES 5 . According to Kautilya’s Arthashastra, which of the following are correct?

1 . A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.

2 . If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.

3 . If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master’s son.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d)

Explanation:

The Arthashastra is an Indian treatise on politics, economics, military strategy, the function of the state, and social organization attributed to Kautilya (also known as Chanakya). He was instrumental in establishing the reign of the great king Chandragupta Maurya (321-297 BCE).https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/11/14/kautilya-the-arthashastra-4th-century-bce/

According to Arthashastra, there were various ways through which a person could become a slave as per Kautilya’s Arthashatra. One of which was judicial punishment. Hence , Statement 1 is correct.

Arthashastra was quite strict when it came to rights of slaves and especially female slaves. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free. Hence , statement 2 is correct.

If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master’s son. Hence , statement 3 is correct.

QUES 6 . Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct?

(a) Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture.

(b) The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.

(c) Sangam poems have no reference to warrior ethic.

(d) Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational.

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

The corpus of poems known as Sangam literature was produced over six centuries, from around 300 BC to 300 AD, by Tamils from very diverse social backgrounds. https://sangam.org/an-overview-of-sangam-literature-%E0%AE%9A%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95-%E0%AE%87%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D/

It was compiled in anthologies several centuries later.

It gives information about material culture during those times as well as describes important warriors.

These works provide insight into early Tamil culture and into trade relations between South India and the Mediterranean, West Asia and Southeast Asia.

Sangam writings are broadly divided into those on love (Akam), and those on heroism (Puram), including the praise of kings and their deeds. They are predominantly Akam themed.

Most of the Sangam poems are free from literary conceits. They generally dealt with nonreligious subjects.

The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets. In the Purattinai of Tolkappiyam, we find a Sutra (74) that uses the term Vahai (type) denoting four Varnas.

QUES 7 . “Yogavasistha” was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of:

(a) Akbar

(b) Humayun

(c) Shahjahan

(d) Aurangzeb

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Yogavasistha also known as Maha-Ramayana is a historically popular and influential syncretic
philosophical text of Hinduism.

Dated to the 6th CE or 7th CE — 14th CE or 15th CE , it is attributed to Maharishi Valmiki, but the real author is unknown.

Nizamuddin Panipati, who was Akbar’s Mir Bakshi, translated it into persian during Akbar’s reign.

QUES 8 . The world’s second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja?

(a) The best means of salvation was devotion.

(b) Vedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative.

(c) Logical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss.

(d) Salvation was to be obtained through meditation.

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

Ramanuja was also called Ramanujacharya or Ilaiya Perumal.

Philosopher and social reformer, Saint Ramanujacharya born in 1017 in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

Ramanuja is famous as the chief proponent of Vishishtadvaita subschool of Vedānta.

He advocated universal salvation through devotion to God, compassion, humility, equality, and mutual respect, which is known as Sri Vaishnavam Sampradaya.

Ramanuja revived the Bhakti movement, and his preachings inspired other Bhakti schools of thought.

He is considered to be the inspiration for poets like Annamacharya, Bhakt Ramdas, Thyagaraja, Kabir, and Meerabai.

QUES 9 . The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple at Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple?

1 . Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.

2 . A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.

3 . Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a)

Explanation:

12 Jyotirlingas in India (Dedicated to Lord Shiva)

1 . Somnath Temple – Saurashtra , Gujarat
2 . Nageshvara Jyotirlinga – Jamnagar , Gujarat
3 . Mallikarjuna Swami – Srisailam , Andhra Pradesh
4 . Mahakaleshwar – Ujjain , Madhya Pradesh
5 . Omkareshwar – Khandwa district , Madhya Pradesh
6 . Kashi Vishwanath Temple – Varanasi , Uttar Pradesh
7 . Kedarnath – Kedarnath , Uttarakhand
8 . Baidyanath Temple – Deoghar , Jharkhand
9 . Rameshwar – Rameswaram , Tamil Nadu
10 . Grishneshwar – Near Ellora, Aurangabad , Maharashtra
11 . Trimbakeshwar Temple – Nasik , Maharashtra
12 . Bhimashankar – Pune , Maharashtra

Somnath is first among the twelve Aadi Jyotirlings of India. Hence , statement 1 is correct.

A description of the temple by Al-Biruni, an Arab traveller, was so glowing that it prompted a visit in 1024 by a most unwelcome tourist – the legendary looter Mahmud of Ghazni from Afghanistan. At that time, the temple was so wealthy that it had 300 musicians, 500 dancing girls and even 300 barbers. Hence , statement 2 is correct.

The ancient temple’s timeline can be traced from 649 BC but is believed to be older than that. The present form was reconstructed in 1951.

The Pran-Pratistha at the existing temple was done on 11th May 1951 by then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Hence , statement 3 is not incorrect.