Q 1 . Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India?
(a) Chaturvedimangalam
(b) Parishad
(c) Ashtadikgaja
(d) Manigrama
(d) EXPLANATION : A manigramam was a large, influential guild of South Indian merchants during the period of Western Chalukyan rulers in 10th – 12th Century CE.
Q 2 . The Badami rock inscription of Pulakesin I is dated in the Saka year 465. If the same were to be dated in Vikrama Samvat,the year would be:
(a) 601
(b) 300
(c) 330
(d) 407
(a) EXPLANATION : The Saka era started in 78 AD, while Vikram era started from 58 BC. So if we want to convert Badami rock inscription of Pulakesin I to Vikram era, it will be 465 + 78 + 58 = 601 Vikram Samvat.
Q 3 . Many of the Greeks, Kushanas and Shakas embraced Buddhism rather than Hinduism because:
(a) Buddhism was in the ascendant at that time
(b) they had renounced the policy of war and violence
(c) caste-ridden Hinduism did not attract them
(d) Buddhism provided easier access to Indian society
(c) EXPLANATION : They embraced Buddhism because caste ridden Hinduism did not attract them.
Q 4 . The Mughal school of painting formed the spinal column of different schools of Indian miniature art. Which one of the following painting styles was not affected by Mughal painting?
(a) Pahari
(b) Rajasthani
(c) Kangra
(d) Kalighata
(d) EXPLANATION : It does not quite belong to the temper of Mughal painting which was aristocratic, celebrated and imperial.
Q 5 . Who among the following were famous jurists of medieval India?
(a) Vijnanesvara
(b) Hemadri
(c) Rajasekhara
(d) Jimutavahana
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 1 and 4
(c) EXPLANATION : Rajsekhara was a sanskrit poet and dramatist.
Q 6 . In the interim government formed in 1946, the Vice-President of the Executive Council was:
(a) Jawaharlal Nehru
(b) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
(c) C. Rajagopalachari
(d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(a) EXPLANATION : C. Rajagopalachari was the Head of the Department of Education and Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the Head of the Department of Food & Agriculture in the Executive Council.
Q 7 . Hooghly was used as a base for piracy in the Bay of Bengal by:
(a) the Portuguese
(b) the French
(c) the Danish
(d) the British
(a) EXPLANATION : The Portuguese used Hooghly as a base for piracy in the Bay of Bengal. In 1631 – 32, Qasim Khan, who was the governor of Bengal during Shah Jahan reigns finally subdued them.
Q 8 . The radical wing of the Congress Party with Jawaharlal Nehru as one of its main leaders, founded the Independence for India League in opposition to :
(a) the Finance Commission
(b) the National Development Council
(c) Nehru Report
(d) the Constitution of India
(c) EXPLANATION : Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose as Secretaries and S. Srinivasa Iyengar as President founded Independence for Indian League to oppose the Nehru Report. They demanded complete independence and imposition of social structure in the country
Q 9 . Which one of the following was an emigre communist journal of M.N. Roy?
(a) Kisan Sahba
(b) The Worker
(c) Vanguard
(d) Anushilan
(c) EXPLANATION : Communist Vanguard was an emigre Communist journal of M.N. Roy.
Q 10 . What is the correct sequence of the following events?
1 . The Lucknow Pact
2 . The Introduction of Dyarchy
3 . The Rowlatt Act
4 . The Partition of Bengal
Codes:
(a) 1, 3, 2, 4
(b) 4, 1, 3, 2
(c) 1, 2, 3, 4
(d) 4, 3, 2, 1
(b) EXPLANATION : Lucknow Pact – 1916; Introduction of Diarchy under Montford Reforms (GIA 1919) – December, 1919; Rowlatt Act – February 1919; Partition of Bengal – 1905.
