TS SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 5 (History) - TS TET MCQ

The correct answer is option 2 i.e.​​ Rajashekhara Varma

• Adi Shankara (788-820 AD) was related to the Chera dynasty and he was the founder of "Advaita Vedanta".
• He gave the importance of monastic life as accepted in the Upanishads and Brahma Sutra.
• Rajasekhara Varman was famous for the "Valapalli plates".
• It was the first "epigraphical record" of a Chera king to be discovered from Kerala.

The correct answer is option 3, i.e, 3 and 4.

• The rise of Marathas:
  • Decline of the Mughal Empire was the rise of the Marathas under the Peshwa.
  • They consolidated their position in Western India and then started entertaining plans for a Hindu-Pad Padshahi.
  • The Marathas became the strongest power in Northern India in the mid 18th century.
  • They played the role of king-makers at the Delhi court.
  • They acted as the defenders of the country against foreign invaders like Ahmad Shah Abdali.
  • The inability to the Mughal Emperors to accomodate the Marathas and to adjust their claims within the framework of the Mughal Empire.
  • The consequent breakdown of the attempt to create a composite ruling class in India.
• Ahmad Shah Abdali:
  • Abdali repeatedly invaded and plundered northern India right down to Delhi and Mathura between 1748 and 1767.
  • In 1761, Abdali defeated the Maratha in the third Battle of Panipat.
  • After defeating Mughal and Maratha, Abdali didnot found a new Afghan kingdom in India.

Vishakhadatta had written two plays, namely Mudrarakshasa and Devichandraguptam. In Mudrakarakshasa, he described how Chandragupta Maurya ascended to the throne.

Kalidas has written the best works in poetry, drama as well as in prose. His kavya, such as Meghaduta, Raghuvamsa, and Kumarasambhava, and dramas, such as Abhijnashakuntalam, are the best literary works of this time and are considered the best even today.

Panchatantra, written by Vishnu Sharma, is one of the most famous works of this period. It was translated into Persian and Arabic in the 8th century A .D., and has been translated into almost all European languages.

At Tamluk, Satara and Baliya the national goverment was established during the Quit India Movement.

Important Points

• Apart from mass agitations and violent actions during the Quit India Movement people in various states besieged temporary control over a number of towns, cities and villages.
• In some places they successfully established autonomous governments.
• These governments might not have survived for long, but they bore the evidence of capability of the Indians to manage government and administration on their own.
• They demonstrated that the people of India were prepared to carry forward the fight for independence.
• Four major parallel governments were established in:
  • Balliya (Uttar Pradesh)
  • Tamluk (Bengal)
  • Satara (Maharashtra)

  • Talcher(Orissa)

• Rafi-ud-Darajat (1719):
  • He was the 11th Mughal Emperor.
  • Ajit Singh of Marwar placed him on the throne after assassinating Farrukhsiyar.
  • In February 1719, the Mughal emperor he had assigned the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi rights over the six Mughal subas of the Deccan to Raja Shahu.
  • In return for Chauth, Raja Sahu would maintain a contingent of 15,000 Maratha soldiers for the service and protection of the emperor.
  • In return for Sardeshmukhi, Marathas were responsible for maintaining peace and order in these subas by preventing robbery and rebellions.
  • He was cremated near the shrine of Sufi saint Khawaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki at Mehrauli in Delhi.
• Chauth:
  • ​It was 1/4^th of the land revenue paid to the Marathas to avoid the Maratha raids.
  • It was nomi­nally levied at 25% on revenue or produce.
• Sardeshmukhi:
  • It was an additional levy of 10% on those lands on which the Marathas claimed hereditary rights.
  • This was an additional levy of 10% on Chauth.

Additional Information

• Farrukhsiyar (1713-1719):
  • ​​After killing Jahandar Shah with the help of the Sayyid brothers, Farrukhsiyar became the 10th Mughal emperor.
  • He followed a policy of religious tolerance by abolishing Jaziya and the pilgrimage tax.
  • In 1717, he gave farmans to the British permitting them the right to reside and trade in the Mughal Empire.
  • In 1719, the Sayyid brothers, with the help of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, dethroned Farrukhsiyar.
  • Later, he was blinded and killed.
• Rafi-ud-Daulah (1719):
  • He is also known as Shah Jahan II.
  • He was the 12th Mughal Emperor.
  • After his short-lived brother Rafi-ud-Darajat, he was throned by the Sayyid brothers.
• Muhammad Shah (1719-1748):
  • He was the 13th Mughal emperor.
  • With the help of Asaf Jah I, the Sayyid brothers were murdered.
  • He was given the title of ‘Rangeela’ due to his luxurious lifestyle.

These were some of the movements that occurred in the Madras Presidency. In 1916, the South India People’s Association, a political party which later got transformed into the Justice Party was founded by Petty Tyagaroy Chetty, C.M. Nair and T.N. Mudalian. Self Respect Movement was started by E.V. Ramaswamy Naiker, popularly known as ‘Periyar’. Munnattu Padmanarbho Pillai founded the Nair Welfare Society.

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

Key Points

Western Ganga dynasty :

• The Western Gangas ruled in Mysore state (Gangavadi) from about 250 to about 1004 CE. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The Gangas were contemporary to Kadambas. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The first ruler of the Western Gangas, Konganivarman, carved out a kingdom by conquest. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• After Konganivarman the Madhava-I, Harivarma, Madhava-II, Vishnugopa, Madhava-III and Avinita ruled from 350 to 469 AD respectively.
• By the end of the 8th century, a dynastic dispute weakened the Gangas, but Butuga II (c. 937–960) obtained extensive territories between the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers, ruling from Talakad (the capital) to Vatapi.
• Repeated Chola invasions cut contact between Gangavadi and the imperial capital, and Talakad fell into the hands of the Chola ruler Vishnuvardhana in about 1004.
• Most of the Western Gangas were Jainas, but some patronized Brahmanical Hinduism.
• They encouraged scholarly work in Kannada, built some remarkable temples, and encouraged deforestation, irrigation, farming, and cross-peninsular trade.

Additional Information

Kadambas :

• The Kadamba kingdom was the first Kannada dynasty to rule the northern part of Karnataka after the Satavahanas.
• Mayuravarma was the first ruler of that Empire.
• Banavasi was the capital of Kadambas. Hence, popular as Banavai Kadambas.
• Talagunda was the major town at their times.
• The Kadambas built many temples, basadis and lakes.
• The credit of laying the political and cultural foundation for the Karnataka Empire goes to Kadambas.

The correct answer is 2-3-4-1.

Key Points

• Narshimhavarman I (630-668 CE) succeeded his father Mahendravarman I.
  • He is considered to be the greatest Pallava ruler.
  • He took the title of Mamalla (great warrior).
  • He defeated and killed Chalukyan ruler Pulakesin II and destroyed the Chalukyan capital Vatapi.
    • He took the title Vatapikonda (conqueror of Vatapi) in order to commemorate this remarkable victory.
• Dantidurga (reigned 735–756 CE), also known as Dantivarman II was the founder of the Rashtrakuta Empire of Manyakheta.
  • He defeated the Gurjaras and captured Malwa from them.
  • Then he annexed the Chalukyan kingdom by defeating Kirtivarman II.
• Dharmapala (reigned c. 770–810) succeeded Gopala, the founder of the Pala dynasty.
  • He was one of the greatest kings that ever ruled in Bengal and one who raised the glory of the kingdom to great heights.
  • It may be mentioned that in the famous tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, to establish control over Northern India, Dharmapala played a very crucial role.
• Mihira Bhoja (c. 836–885 CE) or Bhoja I was a king belonging to the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty.
  • He was the most well-known king of this dynasty.
  • Under Bhoja and his successor Mahendrapala (reigned c. 890–910), the Pratihara empire reached its peak of prosperity and power.
  • The Gurjara-Pratiharas, or simply, the Pratiharas (8th century CE - 11th century CE) held their sway over western and northern India.

Tirthankara Parswanath was the 23rd Tirthankar who preached four teachings of Jainism: not to kill, not to lie, not to steal and not to own property. His idol is recognized by the symbol of serpent.

Swami Dayanand’s greatest asset was his mastery over the Sanskrit language and the Vedas. In 1875, he founded the Arya Samaj. Its main aim was to propagate the true knowledge of the Vedas and discard all evils that had crept into the Hindu society later in its name. He opposed untouchability. He was similarly opposed to polytheism, avataravada and ritualism. His slogan was ‘go back to the Vedas’ whose authority he accepted. For the first time in the history of India, the Vedas were printed in India under his patronage. Personally, his most important work was Satyartha Prakasha (The Light of Truth).

His followers started a Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (DAV) School and College in Lahore (now in Pakistan) in 1886.

Ain-i-Akbari is a literary source that gives an insight into the Mughal Empire.

Important Points

• The Ain-i Akbari is a 16th century document written by the Mughal Emperor Akbar's court historian and biographer, Abul Fazl.
  • It provides detailed information about the administration, society, and culture of the Mughal Empire during Akbar's reign.
  • The Ain-i Akbari covers topics such as the imperial household, land revenue, the military, the caste system, and the various religions of the empire.
  • It is considered an important historical source for understanding the Mughal Empire and its administration.

Hence, we can conclude that Ain-i-Akbari provides economic conditions of the reign of Akbar.

Among the given statements regarding Jainism, the statement 'According to the Kalpasutra, at the time when Mahaveer attained Nirvana, the Jain Sadhus outnumbered Jain sadhvies' is not true.

Key Points

• The Digambara Jain sect believes that women cannot achieve liberation without being reborn as men first.
• The Svetambara sect disagrees and believes that women too can attain Moksha during her life span itself.

Hence, the statement 1 is correct.

• Women in Jainism are treated within the same code of ethics as that is prescribed for men.
• However junior a jain sadhu (male saint) may be whenever he arrives, jain sadhavi (female saint) is bound to offer a formal welcome.

Thus, the statement 2 is correct.

• There is a controversy between the Digambara and Svetambara regarding the 19th Teerthankar Mallinath.
• The Svetambaras believed that Lord Mallinath was a female.
• The Digambaras disagree with Svetambaras and perceive that a true mendicant must renounce all property or possessions including clothes to attain moksha.

Hence, the statement 3 is true.

• According to the Kalpasutra, at the time when Mahaveer attained Nirvana, the Jain sadhvies were more in number than the Jain Sadhus.

Therefore, the statement 4 is not correct.

Hence, we can conclude that among the given statements regarding Jainism, the statement 'According to the Kalpasutra, at the time when Mahaveer attained Nirvana, the Jain Sadhus outnumbered Jain sadhvies' is not true.

The correct answer is ​places of exquisite stone art and architecture.

Key Points

• In the history of Indian art and architecture, the Gupta period occupies an important place.
• But most of the architecture of this period is lost due to foreign invasions like that of Huns.
• The sculptures in the temple at Garhwas near Allahabad remain important specimen of Gupta art.
  • The ruins of the temple were fortified in the 18th century by Raja Baghel Raja Vikramaditya.
  • The fortification consisted of a square enclosure and parapets, giving a fortress kind of look.
  • The temple has many relics belonging to the Gupta period, which date back to as old as the 5th and 6th centuries.
• The Bhitari monolithic pillar of Skandagupta is also remarkable.
  • The inscription is extremely important in understanding the chronology of the various Gupta rulers.
  • It also mentions the conflict between Skandagupta and the Pushyamitras as well as the Hunas.
• In Etah district of Uttar Pradesh, an ancient temple dating back to the Gupta period (5th century) has been discovered recently.
  • The stairs of the temple had ‘shankhalipi’ inscriptions, which were deciphered by the archaeologists as saying, ‘Sri Mahendraditya’, the title of Kumaragupta I of the Gupta dynasty.
    • Shankhalipi or “shell-script” is a term used by scholars to describe ornate spiral characters assumed to be Brahmi derivatives that look like conch shells or shankhas.

• During the reign of Masud Shah, towards the end of 1245 AD, Mongols captured Multan which was recovered by Balban.
• During the reign of Ghiyasuddin Balban, there were Mongolian invasions in 1279 AD and 1286 AD.
• During the reign of Jalaluddin Khilji, in 1292 AD, Abdullah, the leader of the Mongols, came to the northern part of India but later about 4000 Mongols were converted to Islam and came to be known as the 'New Muslaman'.
• During the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, there was no Mongol Invasion but Timur, the Lame attacked India in 1398 AD i.e. after his death.

In 1908 Prafulla Chaki and Khudiram Bose threw a bomb at the carriage that they thought was transporting the unpopular Judge Kingsford of Muzzafarpur. However, due to misinformation they attacked Mr Kennedy and in the blast his wife and daughter were killed. The duo were tried in Muzzafarpur Conspiracy Case.

The Alipore Bomb Case, also called Muraripukur conspiracy or the Manicktolla bomb conspiracy was the trial of a number of revolutionaries of the Anushilan Samiti in Calcutta.

Among the famous accused were Aurobindo Ghosh, his brother Barin Ghosh as well as 37 other Bengali nationalists of the Anushilan Samiti.

The Kakori Conspiracy was a train robbery that took place between Kakori and, near Lucknow, on 9 August 1925. The robbery was organised by the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA). The robbery was conceived by Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan who belonged to the HRA, which later became the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. This organisation was established to carry out revolutionary activities against the British Empire in India with the objective of achieving independence. Since the organisation needed money for purchase of weaponry, Bismil and his party decided to plunder a train on one of the Northern Railway lines.

• The Instrument of Accession was a legal document that allowed the rulers of princely states to join either India or Pakistan by ceding control over their defense, foreign affairs, and communications, while retaining autonomy over other areas unless otherwise agreed.
• The Instrument of Accession (IoA) was indeed a legal document at the heart of the process of the accession of princely states to either of the two new dominions, India or Pakistan, during the time of partition in 1947.
• By signing the Instrument of Accession, a princely state agreed to cede control over three specific subjects—defense, foreign affairs, and communications—to the Dominion it chose to join, while retaining autonomy over all other areas.
• This provision allowed the princely states to maintain their sovereignty over internal matters, at least in the immediate aftermath of accession.

Additional Information

• The primary purpose of the Instrument of Accession was to ensure a smooth transition from a colonial regime, where the British Crown had paramountcy over the princely states, to the newly independent dominions of India and Pakistan.
• It was designed in a way that facilitated the integration of these princely states into the respective dominions in a manner that was legally binding and recognized by both sides.
• The central government of the dominion that received the accession took over the responsibility for the state's defense, foreign policy, and communication infrastructure, integrating these aspects into its national framework.

The correct answer is Karanika.

Key Points

• Major administrative officers of the Gupta period were
  • Karanika - The officer responsible for the safe custody of land records
  • Sandivigraha - Minister of foreign affairs.
  • Nagar Srehtis - Officers looking after the city administration.
  • Kumaramatyas and Ayuktas - Officers responsible for maintaining deep contact between a king and provincial administration.

Additional Information

• The Gupta Dynasty ruled the mid-to-late 3rd century to 543 AD in Ancient India.
• The dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta.
• They are believed to have been feudatories of the Kushanas.
• The original kingdom of the Guptas comprised Bihar and Uttar Pradesh with their center of power at Prayag.​
• The Gupta period is referred to as the 'Golden Age' in ancient India.
• Vishnugupta was the last ruler of the Gupta dynasty.
• Ghatotkacha, Chandragupta I, Chandragupta II, Skandagupta, and Samudragupta are the important kings of the Gupta dynasty.

The correct answer is KakkukaKey Points

• Kakkuka, is specifically mentioned as the author of the Gwalior Prashasti, which serves as a eulogy for Mihira Bhoja.
• The inscription extols the virtues, achievements, and the extent of Mihira Bhoja's empire.The Gurjara-Pratiharas rose to prominence in the 8th century, notably resisting Arab invasions during Nagabhata I's reign.
• Bhoja, a significant emperor, is credited as the dynasty's founder.
• Known as Gurjara-Pratiharas during their rule in Kannauj, they established principalities in Rajasthan.
• Their expansion led to conflicts with rivals like the Palas and Rashtrakutas, particularly for control over Malwa, Gujarat, and Kanauj.
• Despite initial setbacks against the Rashtrakutas, the Pratiharas faced defeat in 790 and 806-07, prompting their retreat to the Deccan and paving the way for the Palas.
• The poet Rajashekhara was associated with Gurjara-Pratihara King Mahendrapala and his son Mahipal.

Additional Information

• Some notable rulers of Gurjara -Pratihara Dynasty -
  • Nagabhata I (730 – 760 AD):
    • Founded the Pratihara dynasty and resisted Arab invasions successfully.
    • Established an empire from Gujarat to Gwalior.
    • Fought against Rashtrakuta ruler Dantidurga but was later succeeded by his brother's sons, Kakkuka and Devaraja.
• Vatsaraja (780 – 800 AD):
  • Son of Devaraja, expanded control over north India and made Ujjain his capital.
  • Captured Kanauj but faced conflicts with Pala and Rashtrakuta rulers.
  • Defeated Dharmapala but later lost Kannauj to Dhruva.
• Nagabhata II (800 – 833 AD):
  • Revived the empire's prestige by conquering Sindh, Andhra, Vidarbha.
  • Defeated Rashtrakutas, expanded the empire, and rebuilt the Somnath temple in Gujarat.
• Mihir Bhoja (836 – 885 AD):
  • Grandson of Nagabhata II, ruled for 46 years.
  • Reorganized and consolidated the empire, known for his Vaishnavism.
  • Recognized by Arabs as "King Baura," ruled from Kannauj.

Seethalai Saathanaar was the author of the book ‘Manimekalai’. The book is a poem in 30 cantos. Its story is a sequel of an epic ‘Silappatikaram’ that tells the story of the conversion to Buddhism of the daughter of Kovalan and Madhavi.

Wood’s Dispatch 1854:

• It was called the ‘Intellectual charter of India’.
• It was a Magna Carta of English education.
• It introduced the English medium at Higher Education.
• It promoted Secular education.
• It encouraged Grants in aid for the educational institutions for public and private. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It encouraged female education.
• It encouraged teacher training.
• It emphasized the use of Vernacular language as a primary medium in school. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
• It recommended the creation of universities Eg. Bombay, Madras, Bengal. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Hence, option A is correct.

Key Points

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The Greeks in effect maintained a political presence at the doorstep, and sometimes within India, down to the 1st century CE with the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom and the Indo-Greek Kingdoms, with many noticeable influences on the arts of the Maurya Empire (c.321–185 BCE) especially. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• Statement 2 is correct. Excavations in the ancient palace of Pataliputra have brought to light Hellenistic sculptural works, and Hellenistic influence appears in the Pillars of Ashoka at about the same period. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Statement 3 is correct. This art was not purely Greek. It was the outcome of the Greek contact with non-Greek conquered people after Alexander’s death. Gandhara art was its best example in India. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Additional Information

• Hellenistic influence on Indian art and architecture reflects the artistic and architectural influence of the Greeks on Indian art following the conquests of Alexander the Great, from the end of the 4^th century BCE to the first centuries of the common era.
• During the Maurya period (c. 321–185 BCE), and especially during the time of Emperor Ashoka (c.268–232 BCE), Hellenistic influence seems to have played a role in the establishment of Indian monumental stone architecture.

Dastak was the trade permit sanctioned to the East India Company by the Mughal government. Under the terms and conditions of Farrukh Siyar’s farman of 1717 the East India Company was entitled to trade in Bengal without paying the normal customs duty. Based on the right derived from the imperial farman, the company used to issue dastaks authorising their agents to trade customs-free within the province of Bengal. The nawab had issued parwanas to all his officials to honour the dastaks when the company traders produced it to them on demand. According to the farman of 1717, this right of free trade covered by the dastaks was restricted to the company alone. This right, according to the farman, was not to be exercised by the company's private traders. But in practice, the private traders of the company generally abused the free trade right by producing the dastak to the chowkies of the government. Also, the company sold dastaks at high price not only to European private traders but also to native merchants. The abuse of dastak was, in fact, one of the key issues of conflicts between the nawab and the company.

The correct answer is option 2. i.e 4,2,3,1.

Bhatarka was the first ruler of the Maitraka dynasty.

• The correct sequence is 4,2,3,1.
• Bhatarka was a military governor under the Gupta empire. At the end of the 5^th century, he established an independent kingdom in Gujarat.
• Vallabhi, Gujarat was the capital city.
• I-Tsing, a Chinese traveller visited Vallabhi and mentioned its greatness and called it a centre of learning.
• Siladitya VI was the last ruler.

Tanjore paintings are characterised by rich, flat and vivid colors, simple iconic composition, glittering gold foils overlaid on delicate but extensive gesso work and inlay of glass beads and pieces or very rarely precious and semi-precious gems. The theme of this form of painting is Hindu Gods and Goddess. Hence, the pictures of child Krishna dominated the painting. It was developed by the Chola rulers.

The distinct school of Mysore painting evolved from the paintings of Vijayanagar times during the reign of the Vijayanagar Kings. The rulers of Vijayanagar and their feudatories encouraged literature, art, architecture, religious and philosophical discussions. With the fall of the Vijayanagar empire after the Battle of Talikota, the artists who were till then under royal patronage migrated to various other places like Mysore, Tanjore, Surpur, etc. Absorbing the local artistic traditions and customs, the erstwhile Vijayanagar School of Painting gradually evolved into the many styles of painting in South India, including the Mysore and Tanjore schools of painting.

Big buildings distinguished both Harappa and Mohenjo-daro; the latter was extremely rich in structures. Their monuments symbolized the ability of the ruling class to mobilize labour and collect tax; the huge brick constructions also impressed common people with the prestige and influence of their rulers.

The correct answer is 64 gates and 570 towers.

Key Points

• Megasthenes was a Greek Diplomat, Historian, and ethnographer whose extensive writings about the cultures of India gave an insight into the lives of ancient Indians during the rule of Chandragupta Maurya.
• Seleucid-Mauryan War around 305 BC, Megasthenes became an ambassador for Seleucus I to the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra.
• The compilation of Megasthenes’ work is known as Indica.
• According to the writings of the Greek diplomat Megasthenes, Pataliputra, is the capital surrounded by a wooden wall pierced by 64 gates and 570 towers that rivaled the splendors of contemporaneous Persian sites such as Susa and Ecbatana.

Additional Information

• The capital of the Maurya empire was Patliputra.
• The founder of the Maurya empire was Chandragupta Maurya.
• Chandragupta, with the help of an intelligent and politically astute Brahmin, Kautilya usurped the throne by defeating Dhana Nanda in 321 BC.
• His reign lasted from 321 BC to 297 BC.
• He abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Bindusara, and went to Karnataka with Jain monk Bhadrabahu. He had embraced Jainism and is said to have starved himself to death according to the Jain tradition at Shravanabelagola.

The correct answer is Bonded labor system.

Key Points

• “Sagadi system”
  • It is known as bonded labor system.
  • Bonded labor was the practice of keeping that person or any member of his family as a domestic servant in lieu of the amount lent to the poor people by moneylenders or upper elites or in lieu of the amount of interest.

Important Points

• About the Bonded Labor System (Abolition) Act, 1976
  • The Act is being implemented by the respective State Governments/Union Territories.
  • The Act provides an institutional mechanism at the district level in the form of Vigilance Committees.
  • For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act, the State Governments and Union Territories may assign to an Executive Magistrate the powers of a Judicial Magistrate of the first class or second class for the trial of offenses under this Act.

LATER VEDIC AGE – The Kekaya kingdom was situated on the bank of River Beas, east of Gandhar kingdom. King Aswapati ruled Kekaya when Janak was the king of Videha.

The battle of ten kings was fought between Sudas, a Bharata king of the Tritsu family and the confederacy of ten well-known tribes- Puru, Yadu, Turvasa, Anu, Druhyu, Alina, Paktha ,Bhalanas,Shiva and Vishanin. In the bloody and decisive battle on the banks of River Purushni, the Bharatas emerged victorious. The reason behind the war is the rivalry between Vishwamitra and Vasishtha.