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

The Mughal emperor Jahangir met Vaishnava saint Gosain Jadroop.

Key Points

• Gosain Jadroop was a Vaishnava saint who used to live at Ujjain and later moved to Mathura.
• The Mughal emperor Jahangir having a cosmopolitan nature and and having religious bent of mind was always curious of having the company of religious divines.
• Gosain Jadroop lived during the reign of Jahangir.
• Jahangir visited Gosain Jadroop three times and discussed with him Hindu philosophy.

• Jahangir was very impressed with his piety and knowledge of Vedanata.

Hence, we can conclude that the Mughal emperor Jahangir met Vaishnava saint Gosain Jadroop.

Din-i-ilahi​

• Din-i-ilahi was a religious path suggested by Akbar.
• It was a code of moral conduct which reflected Akbar's secular ideas and he desire to achieve peace, unity, tolerance in his empire.
• Belief in one god, worship of source of light, non-killing of animals, having peace with all were some features of Din-i-ilahi.
• It didn't have any rituals, holy books, temples or priests.
• The elements were primarily drawn from Islam, Hinduism, and Zoroastrianism, but some others were also taken from Christianity, Jainism, and Buddhism.
• Hence, there was no particular elements of any one religion but a combination of all.

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.

Doctrine of Lapse was the formula devised by Lord Dalhousie to deal with questions of succession and annex the territories. Under this doctrine, Satara was annexed in 1848; Sambalpur was annexed in 1849; Karauli was annexed in 1852 and Jhansi was annexed in 1854.

The correct option is Hindus had to pay pilgrimage tax for visiting their holy places and fairs as also for bathing in their sacred tanks or rivers.Key Points

• During the Delhi Sultanate period in India (1206-1526), Hindus did not have to pay a specific pilgrimage tax for visiting their holy places, participating in fairs, or bathing in sacred tanks or rivers.
• The concept of a pilgrimage tax was not a part of the administrative system implemented by the Delhi Sultanate rulers.
• It is important to note that the Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic kingdom, and while there were instances of discriminatory policies and religious tensions, there was no systematic imposition of a pilgrimage tax on Hindus.
• The Delhi Sultanate rulers did levy various taxes for revenue generation, but these taxes were generally not directly related to religious activities.
• However, it is worth mentioning that during this period, there were occasional instances where local rulers or officials in specific regions imposed tolls or fees on pilgrims visiting popular religious sites or participating in fairs.
• These instances were more localized and not representative of a widespread policy enforced by the Delhi Sultanate as a whole.
• Furthermore, it is important to distinguish between historical facts and potential misconceptions or misinterpretations that may arise over time.
• The idea of a pilgrimage tax on Hindus during the Delhi Sultanate period may have emerged from misunderstandings or exaggerated narratives that circulated over the years.

• Overall, while there were certainly instances of religious and political tensions during the Delhi Sultanate period, the imposition of a specific pilgrimage tax on Hindus for visiting their holy places and engaging in religious activities was not a widespread or systematic practice.

Hence we conclude that the correct option is Hindus had to pay pilgrimage tax for visiting their holy places and fairs as also for bathing in their sacred tanks or rivers.

Harisena, also called Harishena or Hirisena, was a 4th-century Sanskrit poet, panegyrist and government minister. He was an important figure in the court of the Gupta emperor, Samudragupta.

He wrote Prayag Prashasti in the valour of Samundragupt.

Harisen played a vital role in the coronation of Samundragupta with Kumaradevi.

The correct answer is option 3) ​Calcutta & Peshawar.

• Sher Shah Suri built the Shahi (Royal) road to strengthen and consolidate the empire from the Indus Valley to the Sonar Valley in Bengal.
• This road was renamed the Grand Trunk (GT) road during the British period, connecting Calcutta and Peshawar.
• At present, it extends from Amritsar to Kolkata.
• It is bifurcated into 2 segments: (a) National Highway (NH)-1 from Delhi to Amritsar, and (b) NH- 2 from Delhi to Kolkata.

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.

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.

Nigantha Nataputta refers to Mahavira. A Nirgrantha refers to Jains. A person who has attained kevalya can be a nirgrantha.

The correct answer is Ibrahim Khan.

Key Points

• Ibrahim Khan built the tomb of Makhdoom Shah Daulat in Maner near Patna, Bihar.
• Makhdoom Shah Daulat died in Maner Sharif in 1608.
• The construction of the tomb was completed in 1616.
• Maner Sharif used to be the principal site of learning and knowledge in the region.
• It also houses a mosque constructed by Ibrahim Khan in 1619.
• Maner Sharif is a small town located 25 kilometres west of Patna on NH 30, in Bihar state, India.
• Maner Sharif shelters two very popular Muslim tombs: One of the tombs is of Sufi saint Makhdoom Yahya Maneri, known as the Bari Dargah (the great shrine).
• The other one is of Makhdum Shah Daulat, popularly called Chhoti Dargah (the small shrine).
• Ibrahim Khan was a veteran of Akbar's time and held various important offices of trust and responsibility in the empire including those of Wakil-i-dar (Paymaster of the Royal household) and governor of Bihar, and had already evinced his administrative ability and military talents.

• The Raigarh Fort was built by Shivaji Maharaj and was made capital in the year 1674.
• After it was captured by the Mughals in 1689 Satara was made the next capital of the Maratha Government.

All the statements are INCORRECT.

Key Points​

• First Buddhist Council
  • Conducted under the patronage of King Ajatasatru of Haryanka dynasty.
  • It was held in 483 BC just after Buddha’s demise.
  • It was held at Sattapani caves (Sattaparnaguha) in Rajagriha.
  • The monk who presided over the first council was Mahakassapa.
  • Main objective was to preserve the Buddha’s teachings.
  • At this council, Ananda composed the Suttapitaka (Buddha’s Teachings) and Mahakassapa composed the Vinaypitaka (monastic code).
• Second Buddhist Council
  • Conducted under the patronage of King Kalasoka of Sisunaga dynasty.
  • It was held in 383 BC, i.e., a hundred years after the Buddha’s death.
  • It was held at Vaishali.
  • Sabakami presided over the council.
  • The main objective was to discuss ten disputed points under the Vinaypitaka.
  • The first major split happened here – two groups that would later evolve into Theravada and Mahayana.
• Third Buddhist Council
  • Conducted under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka of Maurya dynasty.
  • It was held in 250 BC at Pataliputra.
  • The council was presided over by Mogaliputta Tissa.
  • Main objective was to purify Buddhism from opportunistic factions and corruption in the Sangha.
• Fourth Buddhist Council
  • Conducted under the patronage of King Kanishka of Kushan dynasty.
  • It was held in the 1st century AD at Kundalvana in Kashmir.
  • Vasumitra and Ashvaghosha presided over this council
  • All deliberations were conducted in Sanskrit.
  • Here, Abhidhamma texts were translated from Prakrit to Sanskrit.
  • This council resulted in the division of Buddhism into two sects namely, Mahayana (the Greater Vehicle) and Hinayana (the Lesser Vehicle).
  • Mahayana sect believed in idol worship, rituals and Boddhisattvas. They regarded the Buddha as God.

The correct answer is Naqshbandi.

Key Points

• Naqshbandi sect was believed to be the most orthodox among Sufi sects.
• It is the Sunni order of Sufism. It was one of the four major Sufism sects in India including Chisti, Qadriyya, Suhrawardiyya.
• It got its name from Baha-Ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari and traces its spiritual lineage to the Islamic prophet Muhammad through Abu Bakr, who was father-in-law, companion, and successor of Muhammad.
• Abu Bakr was the first Caliph of Sunni Islam.

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.

J.B. Bury is the author of 'The Idea of Progress'.

Key Points

• J.B.Bury (1861-1927) was an English historian of the positivist tradition.
• He firmly believed in the scientific status of history and exhorted the historians to be accurate, erudite and exact in their search and presentation of facts.
• He maintained that although history may provide material for writing literature or philosophy, it was different from both these because it was a science.
• He wrote many important historical works including the 'History of Greece' and 'A History of the Later Roman Empire'.

• He was also the author of the book 'The Idea of Progress'.

Hence, we can conclude that J.B. Bury is the author of 'The Idea of Progress'.

• Government of India Act 1935 provided for an all-India Federation of the provinces and the Princely States. This federation did not come in force as princely state did not joined the assembly. However, the act did come in force. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• The act did not abrogate the doctrine of Paramountcy. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The Act which abrogated the doctrine of Paramountcy of British over the Princely States was Indian Independence Act of 1947.

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.

Buddhism was divided into Mahayana and Hinayana in the Fourth Buddhist Council.

The correct answer is Guru Angad Dev Ji.

• Guru Angad (31 March 1504 – 29 March 1552) was the second of the ten Sikh Gurus.
• He was born in a Hindu family, with the birth name Lehna, in the village of Harike (now Sarae Naga, near Muktsar) in the northwest Indian subcontinent.
• Bhai Lehna grew up in a Khatri family (Kshatriya, traditionally warriors), his father was a small-scale trader, he worked as a pujari (priest) and religious teacher centered around goddess Durga.
• He met Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and became a Sikh. He served and worked with Guru Nanak for many years.
• Guru Nanak gave Bhai Lehna the name Angad, chose Angad as the second Sikh Guru instead of his sons.
• He is remembered in Sikhism for adopting and formalizing the Gurmukhi alphabet from pre-existing Indo-European scripts such as the Tankre of the Himalayan region.
• He began the process of collecting the hymns of Nanak, contributed 62 or 63 hymns of his own. Instead of his son, he chose a Vaishnava Hindu Amar Das as his successor and the third Guru of Sikhism.

1. Acharya Nagarjuna:- The Einstein of India. He was the greatest scholar of Buddhism and has also written many treatises.

2. Dharmakirti:- The Kant of India.

The correct answer is Churaman.

• The Jats consolidated their power in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
  • Under the leadership of Churaman they gained control of the areas west of Delhi.
  • By the 1680s they dominated the area between Delhi and Agra.

Additional Information

• Raja Bharmal, also known as Bihari Mal, Bhagmal and Bihar Mal, was a Rajput ruler of Amer, later known as Jaipur, in the present-day state of Rajasthan, India.
  • His daughter, Mariam-uz-Zamani, was married in 1562 to the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who soon became his most beloved and favorite wife.
• Hyder Ali was the sultan and de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India.
  • Born as Hyder Ali Khan, he distinguished himself as a soldier, eventually attracting the attention of the rulers of Mysore.
• Shivaji Bhonsle I, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha dynasty.

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 2-3-4-1.

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.

Muhammad Bin Qasim was the first Muslim to invade India in 712 A.D. He conquered Sindh and Punjab regions along the Indus river but did not advance further. So, (C) is the correct answer. Timur Lang or Timur the Lame was a Muslim conqueror who invaded India in 1398. The ruler of Delhi at the time was Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah. Chengiz Khan was a Mongol ruler.  He conquered some kingdoms on the banks of River Indus in 1221 A.D. The ruler of Delhi at that time was Iltutmish. Abdali was the ruler of Afghanistan who invaded India several times between 1747 and 1767, the most famous being the invasion of 1761, when he defeated the Marathas in the 3rd battle of Panipat.

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

Key Points

Zamindars during Mughals:

• Zamindars were a class of people in the countryside that lived off agriculture but did not participate directly in the processes of agricultural production.
• These were the zamindars who were landed proprietors who also enjoyed certain social and economic privileges by virtue of their superior status in rural society.
• Caste was one factor that accounted for the elevated status of zamindars; another factor was that they performed certain services (khidmat) for the state. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.
• The zamindars held extensive personal lands termed milkiyat, meaning property.
  • Milkiyat lands were cultivated for the private use of zamindars, often with the help of hired or servile labour.
  • The zamindars could sell, bequeath or mortgage these lands at will. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.
• Zamindars also derived their power from the fact that they could often collect revenue on behalf of the state, a service for which they were compensated financially.
  • Control over military resources was another source of power.
  • Most zamindars had fortresses (qilachas) as well as an armed contingent comprising units of cavalry, artillery and infantry. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
• Contemporary documents give an impression that conquest may have been the source of the origin of some zamindaris.
• The dispossession of weaker people by a powerful military chieftain was quite often a way of expanding a zamindari.
• It is, however, unlikely that the state would have allowed such a show of aggression by a zamindar unless he had been confirmed by an imperial order (sanad).
• Zamindars spearheaded the colonisation of agricultural land and helped in settling cultivators by providing them with the means of cultivation, including cash loans.
• The buying and selling of zamindaris accelerated the process of monetisation in the countryside.
• In addition, zamindars sold the produce from their milkiyat lands.
• There is evidence to show that zamindars often established markets (haats) to which peasants also came to sell their produce.

The English Education Act was a legislative Act of the Council of India in 1835 giving effect to a decision in 1835 by William Bentinck, the Governor-General of British India to reallocate funds the East India Company was required by the British Parliament to spend on education and literature in India. In the same year, British Government designated English as the medium of education for schools and universities.

Duke Memorandum is associated with Sir William Duke, a member of the English Round Table Group and he had formulated a scheme which eventually became the basis of Joint Report of Montague and Chelmsford.

Hence, the correct option is B.