Q 1 . In the Government of India Act 1919, the functions of Provincial Government were divided into “Reserved and Transferred” subjects.
Which of the following were treated as “Reserved” subjects?
1 . Administration of Justice
2 . Local Self Government
3 . Land Revenue
4 . Police
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 4
(c) EXPLANATION: ■ The Government of India Act, 1919 introduced dyarchy for the executive at the level of the provincial government. ■ Under Dyarchy system some subjects, such as Land revenue administration, famine relief, irrigation, administration of justice, law and order, newspapers, borrowing, forests etc., were called ‘reserved’ subjects and remained under the direct control of the Governor; others such as education, public health & sanitation, public works, agriculture, fisheries, religious endowments, local self governments, medical services etc, were called ‘transferred’ subjects and were to be controlled by ministers responsible to the legislatures. ■ The subjects which were considered of key importance for the welfare of the masses and for maintaining peace and order in the state were classified as reserved, while subjects in which there was more local interest were treated as transferred.
Q 2 . Consider the following freedom fighters:
1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh
2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee
3. Rash Behari Bose
Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
(d) EXPLANATION: ■ The first revolutionary groups in Bengal were organised in 1902 in Midnapore (under Jnanendranath Basu) and in Calcutta (the Anushilan Samiti founded by Promotha Mitter, and including Jatindranath Banerjee, Barindra Kumar Ghosh and others.) ■ Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee was one of the founders of Hindustan Republican Association in October 1924 at Kanpur along with Ramprasad Bismil and Sachin Sanyal. ■ Rash Behari Bose was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian National Movement, especially during the extremist phase. He was one of the masterminds behind the Delhi conspiracy case, participated in the Ghadar movement, and established the Indian Independence league while in Japan.
Q 3 . With reference to the proposals of Cripps Mission, consider the following statements:
1. The Constituent Assembly would have members nominated by the Provincial Assemblies as well as the Princely States.
2. Any Province, which is not prepared to accept the new Constitution would have the right to sign a separate agreement with Britain regarding its future status.
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
(b) EXPLANATION: ■ According to the Cripps mission after the end of the war, a Constituent Assembly would be convened to frame a new constitution. Members of this assembly would be partly elected by the provincial assemblies through proportional representation and partly nominated by the princes. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
Q 4 . With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements:
1. The first Mongol invasion of India happened during the reign of Jalal-ud-din Khalji.
2. During the reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji, one Mongol assault marched up to Delhi and besieged the city.
3. Muhammad-bin Tughlaq temporarily lost portions of northwest of his kingdom to Mongols.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
(b) ■ The first Mongol invasion of India happened during the reign of Iltutmish. Hence, Statement 1 is not correct. ■ Changez Khan reached Indus during the reign of Iltutmish in 1221 AD,chasing the Khwarizmi prince Jalaluddin ■ The fourth Mongol invasion during Ala-ud-din Khalji reign took place in 1303 A.D. The Mongols numbering 1,20,000 horsemen under the command of Targhi moved so swiftly that provincial governors could not get time to reach Delhi to help the Sultan. Besides, a large part of the army of Ala-ud-din had left for Telingana campaign and the army left at Delhi was insufficient and weak after its tough battle at Chittor. Therefore, Ala-ud-din was not in a position to face the Mongols in an open battle. He retired to the fort of Siri and took up defensive position. The Mongols plundered the environs of Delhi and besieged the fort for two months. ■ The next major Mongol invasion took place after the Khiljis had been replaced by the Tughlaq dynasty in the Sultanate. In 1327 the Mongols invaded under Tarmashirin. According to some historians Muhammad Tughlaq defeated the Mongols and himself chased them to drive them out. However according to others , Muhammad Tughlaq bribed the Mongols and they went back. So it doesn’t seems that Muhammad-bin Tughlaq temporarily lost portions of northwest of his kingdom to Mongols. Hence, Statement 3 is not correct.
Q 5 . With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements:
1. The Dutch established their factories/warehouses on the east coast on lands granted to them by Gajapati rulers.
2. Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate.
3. The English East India Company established a factory at Madras on a plot of land leased from a representative of the Vijayanagara empire.
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
(b) EXPLANATION: ■ In 1602, the United East India Company of the Netherlands was formed and given permission by the Dutch government to trade in the East Indies including India. ■ The Dutch founded their first factory in Masaulipatam in Andhra Pradesh in 1605. ■ They captured Nagapatam near Madras (Chennai) from the Portuguese and made it their main stronghold in South India. ■ The Hindu Gajapati rulers (c. 1435 – 1541 CE) ruled over Kalinga (Odisha), large parts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, and the eastern and central parts of Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. ■ In c. 1435 CE, Kapilendra Deva founded the Gajapati dynasty and last ruler of this dynasty was Prataparudra Deva. ■ Thus the Dutch came at least six decades after decline of the Gajapati dynasty. Hence statement 1 is not correct. ■ Alfonso de Albuquerque served as viceroy of Portuguese India from 1509 to 1515. He was the real founder of the Portuguese power in the East. ■ Albuquerque acquired Goa from the Sultan of Bijapur in 1510 with ease. Hence statement 2 is correct. ■ British’s East India Company established a factory in Madras in 1639 on land leased from representatives of Vijayanagara Empire called the Nayakas. ■ Originally an uninhabited land, Francis Day and his superior Andrew Cogan of the British East India Company can be considered the founders of Madras, began construction of St George Fort in April 1640. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Q 6 . Consider the following pairs:
Site of Ashoka’s major rock edicts – Location in the State of
1. Dhauli – Odisha
2. Erragudi – Andhra Pradesh
3. Jaugada – Madhya Pradesh
4. Kalsi – Karnataka
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
(b) EXPLANATION: The set of 14 major rock edicts (or portions thereof) occur at: ■ Kandahar (in Kandahar district, south Afghanistan) (only portions of rock edicts 12 and 13) ■ Shahbazgarhi (Peshawar district, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan) ■ Mansehra (Hazara district, NWFP, Pakistan) ■ Kalsi (Dehradun district, Uttarakhand) ■ Girnar (Junagadh district, Gujarat) ■ Mumbai–Sopara (originally at Sopara in Thane district, Maharashtra; now in the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai; only fragments of rock edicts 8 and 9) ■ Dhauli (Puri district, Orissa; separate rock edicts 1 and 2 replace major rock edicts 11–13) ■ Jaugada (Ganjam district, Orissa; separate rock edicts 1 and 2 replace major rock edicts 11–13) ■ Erragudi (Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh) ■ Sannati (Gulbarga district, Karnataka; portions of rock edicts 12 and 14 and separate rock edicts 1 and 2 were found on a granite slab in a medieval goddess temple).
Q 7 . Consider the following pairs:
King – Dynasty
1. Nannuka – Chandela
2. Jayashakti – Paramara
3. Nagabhata II – Gurjara Prathihara
4. Bhoja – Rashtrakuta
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
(b) EXPLANATION: ֍ GURJARA PRATIHARA DYNASTY ■ The Gurjara Pratihara dynasty was founded by Nagabhatta I in the region of Malwa in the 8th century AD. ■ Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty ruled much of Northern India from the mid-8th to the 11th century. ■ Nagabhata I, Nagabhata II, Mihir Bhoj or Bhoja and Mahendrapala were the other important rulers of the dynasty. ■ The expansion of the Gurjara-Pratihara kingdom involved constant conflicts with other contemporary powers such as the Palas and the Rashtrakutas known as the tripartite struggle over the city of Kannauj. ֍ RASHTRAKUTA DYNASTY ■ Dantidurga was the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty (8th century AD). ■ The capital of the Rastrakutas was Manyakheta or Malkhed near Sholapur. ■ Dhruva-I, Krishna-I and Amoghavarsha were the other important rulers of this dynasty. ֍ CHANDELA DYNASTY ■ The Chandela or Chandel or Jejakabhukti dynasty was Rajput clan of Central India. ■ Nannuka was the founder of Chandela Dynasty. ■ Khajuraho was a strong hold of Nannuka. ■ Vakapati succeeded his father Nannuka in the first quarter of tenth century. ■ Jaishakti, the elder son of Vakapati, succeeded the throne and was successful in extending his empire. Jaishakti, was also called Jai Jak and from this name the region ruled by the Chandelas acquired the name of Jaijikbhukti. He was succeeded on the throne by his younger brother,Vijayshakti.
