Kerala SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 1 (History) - KTET MCQ

The correct answer is Option 2, served as a unifying ideal despite its inherent ambiguity.

Key Points

• The passage highlights the divergent interpretations of "Swaraj" among different factions, yet emphasizes its ability to foster temporary unity despite these differences.
• The term "Swaraj" has historical significance in India, particularly in relation to the Indian National Congress, the party that dominated the country's struggle for independence. The term, often translated as self-rule, self-governance, or independence, became a rallying cry for those seeking to end British rule.

• Within the Congress, the ambiguity may have actually served as a unifying ideal, because it allowed various factions within the party to interpret it in ways that aligned with their own goals and ideologies. It allowed the party, which was composed of individuals from diverse regional, religious, caste, and class backgrounds, to rally around a common goal without having to agree on all the specific details.

• In the late colonial period, Congress leaders like Mahatma Gandhi further broadened the term's significance by linking it to a broader socio-economic transformation and moral regeneration of the nation. "Swaraj", to Gandhi, was as much about empowering the poorest of the poor and ensuring dignity and basic rights for all, as it was about political independence.

  Overall, despite its ambiguity, or perhaps because of it, "Swaraj" served as a powerful motivator and unifier for the Indian National Congress during the independence struggle and beyond.

• Statement 1 is incorrect. Kharosthi was an ancient Indian script used in Gandhara (now Pakistan and north-eastern Afghanistan) to write Gandhari Prakrit and Sanskrit. It was used in Central Asia as well. It was also in use in Bactria, the Kushan Empire, Sogdia, and along the Silk Road. There is some evidence it may have survived until the 7th century in Khotan and Niya, both cities in Xinjiang. It was written from right to left. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. Brahmi is the modern name for a writing system of ancient South Asia. The Brahmi writing system, or script, appeared as a fully developed universal one in South Asia in the third century BCE. Among the inscriptions of Ashoka c. 3rd-century BCE written in the Brahmi script a few numerals were found, which have come to be called the Brahmi numerals. Brahmi script was written from left to right. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• Statement 3 is correct. Ancient Greeks added vowels to a consonantal language and changed their horizontal writing direction from right-to-left to left-to-right. The idea that the dextral majority in ancient Greece developed left-to-right writing solely because writing efficiency was greater is questioned.

Indian Antiquities/Essays on Indian Antiquities is not a book by Alexander Cunningham.

Important Points

• James Prinsep:
  • Indian Antiquities/Essays on Indian Antiquities is a book by James Prinsep.
  • James Prinsep was an officer of the mint of the East India Company.

  • He was responsible for the decipherment of Brahmi and Kharosthi (1838), the scripts that were used in the earliest inscritpions and coins.

Therefore, Indian Antiquities/Essays on Indian Antiquities is the correct answer.

Additional Information

• Alexander Cunnigham:
  • ​He was the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (established in 1861).
  • He is also known as the'Father of Indian Archaeology'.
  • He also authored several important works such as the Ancient Geography of India (1871), Stupa of Bharut (1879) and Coins of India/Coins of Ancient India (1891).

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Key Points

• ​The Renaissance was a time of intense, all-encompassing, and, in many ways, distinctive philosophical activity.
• A fundamental assumption of the Renaissance movement was that the remains of classical antiquity constituted an invaluable source of excellence to which debased and decadent modern times could turn in order to repair the damage brought about since the fall of the Roman Empire.
• This idea not only laid the foundation for a scholarly culture that was centred on ancient texts and their interpretation but also fostered an approach to textual interpretation that strove to harmonize and reconcile divergent philosophical accounts. So, the Assertion is correct.
• The vernacular translation of scriptures considers the use of the secularisation paradigm to provide an overarching sociological explanation of the history of religion since the Middle Ages, focusing on Europe, the United States, and the developing world.

• In A. G. Dickens's words, "concerning the immense influence of the vernacular Bible upon both the religious and the secular history." Thus the reason is also correct.

Hence, we can conclude that Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

The pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected or at least inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd century BC. Originally, there must have been many pillars but only nineteen survive with inscriptions, and only six with animal capitals. Mauryan Pillars have outside influence, either Persian, Iranian. But the Mauryan pillars ARE DIFFERENT from the Achamenian pillars. The Mauryan pillars are rock-cut pillars thus displaying the carver’s skills, whereas the Achamenian pillars are constructed in pieces by a mason. Stone pillars were erected all over the Mauryan Empire with inscriptions engraved on them. The Mauryan pillar capital found at Sarnath popularly known as the Lion Capital is the finest example of Mauryan sculptural tradition. It is also our national emblem.

Congress boycotted the Simon Commission. The main reason behind this was that all the members of this commission, which was formed in 1927 under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon, were English. No Indian was included in this commission.

In sharp contrast to Egypt and Mesopotamia, we do not find evidences of temple at the Harappan sites. We find no religious structures of any kind except the Great Bath, which may have been used for ablutions. Therefore, it would be wrong to think that priests ruled in Harappa, as they did in the cities of Lower Mesopotamia. Perhaps there are some indications of the practice of fire cult at Lothal in Gujarat in the later phase, but no temples were used for the purpose. The harappan rulers were more concerned with commerce than with conquests, perhaps, they were possibly ruled by a class of merchants. It may be noted that the Harappans were lacking in weapons.

So far Seven Prime Ministers of India have been awarded the Bharat Ratna. Atal Bihari Vajapayee is the seventh Prime Minister to receive the award, after (1) Jawaharlal Nehru, (2) Indira Gandhi, (3) Rajiv Gandhi, (4) Morarji Desai, (5) Lal Bahadur Shastri and (6) Gulzarilal Nanda.

Key Points

• Statement 1 is correct. The foreign princes patronized and cultivated Sanskrit literature. The earliest specimen of Kavya style is found in the Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman 1 of Kathiawar in about A.D. 150. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman, also known as the Girnar Rock inscription of Rudradaman, is a Sanskrit prose inscribed on a rock by the Western Satraps ruler Rudradaman I. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The earliest specimen of Kavya style is found in the Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman 1 of Kathiawar in about A.D. 150 From onwards inscription began to be composed in Chaste Sanskrit, although the use of Prakrit in composing inscription continued till the 4th A.D. and even later. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Additional Information

• From onwards A.D. 150 inscription began to be composed in Chaste Sanskrit, although the use of Prakrit in composing inscription continued till the 4th A.D. and even later.
• Junagarh inscription is located near Girnar hill near Junagadh, Gujarat, India. The inscription is dated shortly after 150 CE.^[1] The Junagadh rock contains inscriptions of Ashoka (one of fourteen of the Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka), Rudradaman I, and Skandagupta.

The correct answer is Matsya, Chedi, Magadha, Anga.

Key Points

• Mahajanapadas:
  • Kingdoms that rose to fame from the 6th Century BC onward were called Mahajanapdas.
  • The Mahajanapadas signify the tribes that came together to form different groups and later gave rise to a permanent area of settlements called ‘states’ or ‘Janapadas.’

In the Allahabad Kaushambi inscription of Ashoka, there is a mention of the queen Karuwaki of Ashoka. The most popular title of Ashoka is Devnamapriya Priyadarshi. Ashoka's name Ashoka is found in 4 of his inscriptions.

1- Gurjara (MP)

2- Maski (Karnataka)

3- Nettur – (Karnataka)

4- Udegolan – Karnataka

The Harappan culture was poor in the artistic works made of stone. We do not come across any massive work of art in stone as we find in the case of sculptures of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. However, we get many figurines made of fire-baked earthen clay, commonly called terracotta. The seals and images were manufactured with great skill, but the terracotta pieces represent unsophisticated artistic works.

The Lucknow session of INC was presided over by S.C. Majumdar. Reunion between Moderates and the Extremists took place. Apart from that INC and Muslim League revamped their nexus by demanding common issues to the Government.

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3Key PointsSignificance of the Revolt of 1857:

• The revolt disclosed several forms of flaws and inconsistencies in the administrative apparatus. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It instantly drew the attention of the British Government in London.
• The major flaws and deficiencies in the administration were corrected.
• It exposed the East India Company's military flaws, which were immediately rectified.
• The Government of India Act, 1858 abolished Company rule.
• The direct responsibility for the administration of the country was assumed by the Crown.
• Queen's proclamation made Indian states to recognise the paramountcy of the Crown.
• Earlier the provinces were ruled by companies and each province has its own governance.
• The states were ruled by local rulers that were having their own governance.
• Thus, the Queen's proclamation brought about politico-administrative unification. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• A professional civil service, a unified judiciary and codified civil and criminal laws led to political unity.
• The revolt was brought out in the open grievances of the people and sepoys. They were undoubtedly justified in fighting for their rights. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• The Indians' crude weapons were no match for the British's more advanced arsenal in the test of strength.
• The reports of the atrocities persuaded Indian intellectuals that using violence in the fight for liberation was pointless.
• It became clear that the educated Indians had no faith in military resistance.
• And the revolt's failure further strengthened their opinion and formed the bedrock of Indian nationalism.

Additional InformationConsequences of the Revolt of 1857:

• As the East India Company's tenure came to an end, the British crown assumed control.
• For the Indian government, a new structure was formed.
• India's army was restructured with more Europeans.
• The annexation strategy was abandoned.
• Beginning of the policies of divide and rule.
• End of the reform measures taken by the British, they kept an arms distance from social issues.

In Rigveda, Tasar is used for 'Winch'.

Important Points

• Rigveda is the oldest Veda which is composed about 3500 years ago.
• The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or “well-said”.
• The Rigveda is composed in old or Vedic Sanskrit.
• In Rigveda, we can find references of various crafts of the Early Vedic period. These comprised of:
  • Carpentry: To make agricultural equipments, chariots, bullock carts, boats, homes, toys etc.
  • Weaving: Vedic Aryans used to wear colorful cloths of cotton and wool. The weaver was called as 'Vaya'; whereas the Charakha or winch was called as 'Tasar'.
  • Coppersmith: Used to make copper objects
  • Goldsmith: The Goldsmith was called as 'Hiranyakar'. He used to make jewellery of gold, both for human and horses.
  • Cobbler: Cobbler used to make water bags, shoes, bridle, whips, thread for bows etc.

  • Pottery making

Hence, we can conclude that in Rigveda, Tasar is used for 'Winch'.

• Trade unions are organized associations of workers in a trade or profession.
• These are interested in the economic and social welfare of the workers and are formed to further their rights and interests.
• In India, Trade Unions in India are registered under the Trade Union Act (1926).

Key-Points

All India Trade Union Congress:

• The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) is the oldest trade union federation in India.
• It is associated with the Communist Party of India.
• According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, AITUC had a membership of 14.2 million in 2013.
• It was founded on 31 October 1920 with Lala Lajpat Rai as its first president.
• Until 1945 when unions became organised on party lines, it was the primary trade union organisation in India.
• The main purpose of labour unions is to give workers the power to negotiate for more favourable working conditions and other benefits through collective bargaining.
• The following are the objectives of a trade union:
  • To improve the economic lot of workers by securing them better wages.
  • To secure workers better working conditions.
  • To secure bonuses for the workers from the profits of the enterprise/organization.

Thus, Lala Lajpat Rai was the first President of the All India Trade Union Congress established in 1920.

The correct answer is To promote religious harmony

Key Points

• Akbar, known for his tolerance, aimed to create a system that blended elements from Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity to foster understanding and unity among his diverse subjects.
• Some historians argue that Din-i-Ilahi wasn't meant to replace existing religions but rather served as a personal exploration of spirituality for Akbar himself. He might have seen it as a path to a universal truth not confined by any specific religion.
• Beyond just religious tolerance, Akbar might have aimed to create a shared cultural identity for his vast empire. Din-i-Ilahi, with its eclectic mix of elements, could have served as a bridge between different ethnic and religious groups.

Additional Information

• Regardless of the main purpose, Din-i-Ilahi never gained widespread acceptance beyond a small circle of Akbar's confidantes. Yet, it remains a unique experiment in interfaith dialogue and a testament to Akbar's quest for tolerance and understanding

The Constituent Assembly was constituted in November 1946 under the scheme formulated by the Cabinet Mission Plan. It appointed a number of committees to deal with different tasks of constitution making. Some of them were: 

A. States Committee (Committee for negotiating with the States) headed by Jawaharlal Nehru.

B. Provincial Constitution Committee headed by Sardar Patel.

C. Fundamental Rights Sub-Committee headed by J.B. Kripalani

D. Steering Committee headed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.

The British destroyed the native industries by imposing various taxes. The first industry affected was India’s Ship building industry. The Bania merchants used to manufacture very huge ships called Zankars which were made up of coir. The second industry targeted was the textiles Industry. Taxes were levied on Indian textiles at every stage of their production. Moturpha was the tax on handlooms, Siyur was the transitory duty levied on Indian Commodities.

The correct answer is C - B - A - D.

Key Points

• The Indus Valley Civilization was spread from present-day North-East Afghanistan to Pakistan and North-West India.
• This civilization flourished in the river basins of the Ghaggar-Hakra river and the Indus.
• Sites of IVC:
  • Manda Northernmost​
  • Daimabad Southernmost
  • Alamgirpur Easternmost
  • Sutkangandor Westernmost
• It is also known as Harappan Civilization and is well-known for its organized planning based on the grid system.
• John Marshall was the first researcher to use the term, ‘Indus Valley Civilization’.
• Indus Valley Civilization spread from the year 2500 – 1750 BC according to radio-carbon dating.
• The most distinctive feature of the Harappan Civilization was its urbanization.
• Moreover, sheep and goats, dogs, humped cattle buffalo, and elephants were domesticated in the Indus Valley Civilization.
• The capital cities are Mohenjodaro and Harappa.
• The port cities are Sutkagendor, Balakot, Lothal, Allahdino, and Kuntasi.
• The Indus valley people were well-acquainted with the use of both cotton and wool.
• The name of the major cities are given below:
  • Mohenjodaro (Sind)-It is located on the right bank of the Indus.
  • Kalibangan (Rajasthan)-It was on the banks of the river Ghaggar river
  • Chanhudaro It lies on the left bank of the Indus in the south of Mohenjodaro.
  • Lothal (Gujarat) It is located at the head of the Gulf of Cambay.
  • Surkotada (Gujarat)-It is at the head of the Rann of Kutch.
  • Banawali (Haryana)-It was situated on the banks of the now-extinct Sarasvati
  • Dholavira (Gujarat)-It excavated is in the Kutch district

Mixed-method research is a kind of research that includes qualitative and quantitative elements, using both primary and secondary data.Key Points

• Mixed methods strategically integrates or combines rigorous quantitative and qualitative research methods to draw on the strengths of each.
• Mixed method approaches allow researchers to use a diversity of methods, combining inductive and deductive thinking.
• This research offsetting limitations of exclusively quantitative and qualitative research through a complementary approach that maximizes strengths of each data type and facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of health issues and potential resolutions.
• Mixed methods may be employed to produce a robust description and interpretation of the data, make quantitative results more understandable, or understand broader applicability of small-sample qualitative findings.
• Mixed methods is not simply having quantitative and qualitative data available or analyzing and presenting data findings separately.

• The integration process of this research can occur during data collection, analysis, or in the presentation of results.

So, we can conclude that Mixed-method research is a kind of research that includes qualitative and quantitative elements, using both primary and secondary data.

The correct answer is option 2.

Key Points

• The Indian Independence Act of 1947 gave princely states an option to accede to the newly born dominions India or Pakistan or continue as an independent sovereign state.
• At that time Around 565 princely states have covered 48 percent of the area of pre Independent India and constituted 28% of its population.
  These kingdoms were not legally part of British India, but in reality, they were completely subordinate to the British Crown.
• For the British these states were the necessary allies, to keep in check the rise of other colonial powers and nationalist tendencies in India.
  Accordingly, the princes were given autonomy over their territories, but the British acquired for themselves the right to appoint ministers and get military support as and when required.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (India’s first deputy prime minister and the home minister) with the assistance of V.P menon (the secretary of the Ministry of the States) was given the formidable task of integrating the princely states.
• By invoking the patriotism of the princes to remind them of the possibility of anarchy on event of their refusal to join, Patel kept trying to convince them to join India.
• He also introduced the concept of “privy purses”- a payment to be made to royal families for their agreement to merge with India.
  Bikaner, Baroda and few other states from Rajasthan were the first ones to join the union.
• There were several other states that were adamant to not join India. Some of them thought this to be the best moment to acquire independent statehood, while there were others who wanted to become a part of Pakistan.

The correct answer is 1, 2, and 5 only.

Key Points

• Chola inscriptions mention several categories of land:
  • Vellanvagai- land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors
  • Brahmadeya- land gifted to Brahmanas
  • Shalabhoga- land for the maintenance of a school
  • Devadana, Tirunamattukkani- land gifted to temples
  • Pallichchhandam- land donated to Jaina institutions
• Thus, we can say that Pallichchhandam, Shalabhoga, and Vellanvagai are the categories of land that are mentioned in the Chola inscriptions.
• The inscriptions of the Cholas who ruled in Tamil Nadu refer to more than 400 terms for different kinds of taxes.
• The most frequently mentioned tax is Vetti, taken not in cash but in the form of forced labor, and Kadamai, or land revenue.
• There were also taxes on thatching the house, the use of a ladder to climb palm trees, a cess on succession to family property, etc.

Dyarchy in Provinces was introduced by the Government of India Act of 1919. It was abolished by the Government of India Act of 1935 and dyarchy at the center was introduced.

Guru Nanak founded Sikhism during the reign of Sikander Lodhi. He was the first of the ten Sikh gurus. Guru Gobind Singh is also credited with establishing the Khalsa Panth. It is usually celebrated on 13 or 14 April every year, which commemorates the formation of Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

While Guru Arjan Dev is known for compiling the Adi Granth Sahib, Guru Tegh bahadur is known for protecting forced conversion of Sikhs into Islam.

All the given statements about the Pashupati Seal of Harappan civilization are correct.

Key Points

• The Pashupati seal is one of the most beautiful, artistic and important seals among the excavated seals of the Harappan civilization.
• It was found at Mohen-Jo-Daro.
• This seal shows a yogi with curved homed crown resembling the trishula and seated in clear Padmasana, the lotus posture.
• He is surrounded by animals like rhinos, elephant, tiger, dear and others.
• A pictographic inscription of six symbols is inscribed on the top of the seal.
• This is a highly sophisticated seal of this phase, and interpreted as the Lord of animals.
• Sir John Marshall called this seal as Proto Shiva.
• All these examples give us a feeling that in the Indus period the humans respected the animals and nature.
• The carvings on the seals display this intimate relationship.
• The figures on the seals were engraved with precision and clarity.

• They are fine specimens for studying the importance of seals in trade and transactions which has relevance for present times as well.

Based on the above discussion, we can conclude that all the given statements about the Pashupati Seal of Harappan civilization are correct.

In the 19th century, India witness the emergence of several socio-religious reform movements. One such movement was the Prarthana Samaj which emerged in Bombay and went on to wield a good deal of influence in western India and to a lesser extent, in southern India.

Founded by Atmaram Panduranga, the movement gained momentum and popularity after scholar and reformer, Mahadev Govind Ranade, joined it.

The most famous historians of medeival  period were Hasan Nizami, Minhaj-us-Siraj, Ziauddin Barani and Shams-Siraj Afif. Barani’s Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi contains the history of Tughlaq dynasty. Minhaj-us-Siraj wrote Tabaqat-i-Nasari, a general history of Muslim dynasties up to 1260. Sanskrit and Persian functioned as lingua franca in the Delhi Sultanate. Zia Nakshabi was the first to translate Sanskrit stories into Persian. His book 'Tutu Nama' or 'Book of the Parrot' became popular and was translated into Turkish, and later into many European languages. Alberuni’s Kitab-ul-Hind is the most famous work.

In 1786, the collector in each District of Bengal was made responsible for settling the revenue and collecting it by the British. The Bengal was in the control of British after Robert Clive captured it.