Test: Ancient /Art and Culture - Italian MCQ

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, recently released the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE), marking an important and transformative step towards the implementation of National Education Policy 2020. A Steering Committee was formed under the stewardship of Professor K. Kasturirangan to create a curriculum aligned with the National Education Policy 2020, emphasizing the 5+3+3+4 design of schooling. The NCF-SE's comprehensive nature ensures that it covers all stages of schooling:

• Foundational Stage
• Preparatory Stage
• Middle Stage
• Secondary Stage

As recommended by NEP 2020, NCF-SE is strongly rooted in India’s context, Indian thought, and
Indian Knowledge and Knowledge Systems. The vibrant epistemic approach of Indian schools of thought towards knowledge and how we know has been given special focus in the development of NCF-SE. The theory of knowledge, or pramana-sashtra (one of the richest areas of classical Indian philosophy), has been used as a guiding theme in the development of NCF-SE. The main pramanas    (evidence/proof/justification)
according to different Indian Darsanas( schools of Indian Philosophy) are:

• Perception
• Inference
• Testimony.

Different kinds of ‘inferences’ according to pramana-sashtras are:

• Anumana: Using inferences to come to new conclusions from observations. Hence, pair 1 is correct.
• Upamana: Knowing through analogy and comparison is upamana. Hence, pair 2 is incorrect.
• Arthapatti: Knowing through circumstantial implication is arthapatti. Hence, pair 3 is incorrect.
• iv.    Anupalabdi: Perception of nonexistence is considered a valid form of knowledge.

Informed by these discourses, school knowledge has, for practical purposes, been organised into different kinds or forms in NCFSE 2023.

• Fair 1 is incorrect: Rupar is an archaeological site located in the Indian state of Punjab, not in Sind, Pakistan. It's situated along the banks of the Sutlej River. Rupar is known for its association with the Indus Valley Civilization, and various artifacts and structures from that ancient civilization have been discovered at this site.
• Pair 2 is incorrect: Kot Diji is situated in the Sindh region of Pakistan, not in Punjab. It is an essential archaeological site related to the Indus Valley Civilization. Kot Diji is particularly famous for the discovery of the Kot Diji pottery, which is a distinctive type of pottery associated with this period.
• Pair 3 is correct: Banawali is located in Haryana, India. It is an important archaeological site associated with the Indus Valley Civilization. Excavations at Banawali have unearthed various artifacts, including pottery, seals, and structures dating back to the time of the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Pair 4 is correct: Surkotada is correctly located in Gujarat, India. It is indeed an Indus Valley Civilization site. Surkotada is known for its fortified structures and the discovery of various artifacts, including pottery, seals, and other objects from the Indus Valley period

• Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Varanasi was the capital of Kashi. It is located in the present day Varanasi. Of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, Kashi seems to have been the most powerful in the beginning. But eventually, it succumbed to the power of Koshala.
• Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Koshala embraced the area occupied by eastern Uttar Pradesh and had its capital at Shravasti. Koshala had an important city called Ayodhya which is associated with the story in the Ramayana.
• Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Vatsas had its capital at Kausambi near Allahabad. The Vatsas were a Kuru clan who had shifted from Hastinapur and settled at Kausambi.
• Pair 4 is correctly matched: Beginning from the east, we hear of the kingdom of Anga which covered the modern districts of Monghyr and Bhagalpur. It had its capital at Champa, which shows signs of habitation in the fifth century BC, and there is a mud fort dating to that century. Eventually the kingdom of Anga was swallowed by its powerful neighbour Magadha.

• The basic philosophy of the Jainas was already in existence in north India before the birth of Vardhamana, who came to be known as Mahavira, in the sixth century BCE.
• According to Jaina tradition, Mahavira was preceded by 23 other teachers or Tirthankaras – literally, those who guide men and women across the river of existence.
• The most important idea in Jainism is that the The entire world is animated even stones, rocks and water have life. Hence statement 1 is correct. Non-injury to living beings, especially to humans, animals, plants, and insects, is central to Jaina philosophy. Asceticism and penance are required to free oneself from the cycle of karma. This can be achieved only by renouncing the world; therefore, monastic existence is a necessary condition of salvation. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through karma. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• According to Buddhist philosophy, the world is transient (anicca) and constantly changing; it is also soulless (anatta) as there is nothing permanent or eternal in it.

• Statement 1 is correct: The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) was constituted under The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006 (NO. 19 OF 2006) notified via Gazette Notification dated 31st March, 2006. The Act provide for the establishment of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board to protect the interests of consumers and entities engaged in specified activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas and to promote competitive markets and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Statement 2 is incorrect: Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board is an autonomous body under Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The board has been mandated to regulate the refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas excluding production of crude oil and natural gas so as and to ensure uninterrupted and adequate supply of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas in all parts of the country.
• Statement 3 is correct: The board aims to protect the interests of consumers and entities engaged in specified activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas and to promote competitive markets. It also oversees Petroleum Products Pipelines construction and also a Gas Exchange for the trading of Natural Gas in India. It is the authority to grant authorization to the entities for the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network in Geographical Areas (GAs).

According to Anguttara Nikaya there were the following Mahajanapadas:

• Anga (including the modem districts of Monghyr and Bhagalpur in Bihar) with its capital of Champa.
• Magadha (covering the districts of Patna, Gaya, and parts of Shahabad) with its earlier capital at Rajgriha or Girivraja.
• Vajji (8 confederacy of eight republican clans, situated to the north of the river Ganga in Bihar) with its capital Vaishali,
• Malla (also a republic all confederacy covering the modern districts of Deoria, Basu, Gorakhpur, and Siddharthnagar in eastern Uttar Pradesh) with two capitals at Kusinara and Pawa.
• Kasi with its capital at Varanasi.
• Kosala (covering the present district of Faizabad, Gonda, Bahraich, etc.), with its capital at Shravasti.
• Vatsa (covering the modern districts Allahabad, Mirzapur, etc.), with its capital at Kausambi.
• Chedi, (covering the modern Bundelkhand area with its capital at Shuktimati).
• Kuru (covering the modern Haryana and Delhi area to the west of river Yamuna) with its capital at Indraprastha (modern Delhi).
• Panchala (covering the area of western Uttar Pradesh up to the east or river Y amuna up to the Kosala Janapada) with its capital at Ahichhatra.
• Surasena (covering Brij Mandal with its capital at Mathura).
• Matsya (covering the area of Alwar, Bharatpur, and Jaipur in Rajasthan).
• Avanti (modern Malwa) with its capital at Ujjayini and Mahishmati.
• Ashmaka (between the rivers Narmada and Godavari) with its capital at Potana.
• Gandhara (area covering the western part of Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan) with its capitals at Taxila and Pushkalavati.
• Kamboja is identified with the modern district of Hazara district of Pakistan.

the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, India. It is situated on the banks of the river Brahmaputra in Assam. The Diphlu River runs through it. In 1985, the park was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Further, it was also declared as a Tiger Reserve in 2006. It is also recognized as an Important Bird Area by Bird Life International for the conservation of avifaunal species. It is majorly known for the ‘big four’ species— Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, and Asiatic water buffalo. It is home to twothirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay, also known as R. D. Banerji, was an Indian historian and a native Indian pioneer in the fields of Indian archaeology, palaeography, and epigraphy. He is mostly known as the discoverer of Mohenjodaro, the principal site of the Harappa culture.
• D.R. Sahni’s excavation of Harappa in 192021 was one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. It led to the identification of the Harappan civilization, one of the oldest urban civilizations in the world.
• Sahni's excavations at Harappa revealed a well-planned city with a grid system of streets, a sophisticated drainage system, and a number of public buildings, including a granary, a bathhouse, and a citadel. He also discovered a wide range of artefacts, including pottery, jewellery, and metalwork.
• Statement 2 is correct: The Harappan civilization was centred in the region between the Indus River and the Ganga River. While the Indus River and its tributaries were vital to civilization, many settlements were also located along the Saraswati River and its tributaries. The Saraswati River is significant in Harappan civilization studies, and its dry riverbed is believed to be a major focus of settlement distribution. Some scholars even refer to the civilization as the "IndusSaraswati civilization" to emphasize the importance of the Saraswati River.

There were also non-monarchical states in Ancient India which can be called republics or ganasanghas. Buddhist texts reveal that during the time of the Buddha there were many such republican states.
Some of the important ones were:

(i) Mallas of Kusinara
(ii) Mallas of Pava
(iii) Sakyas of Kapilavastu
(iv) Koliyas of Ramagrama
(v) Moriyas of Pipphalivana
(vi) Bulis of Nakappa
(vii) Kalamas of Kesaputta
(viii) Bhaggas of Sumsumaragiri 
(ix) Lichchhavis of Vaishali
The Vajjis were the most important republican state during the period of Buddha.

Honourable Supreme Court recently agreed to hear a Public Interest Litigation(PIL) challenging a provision of the Maternity Benefit Act which says that adoptive mothers are eligible for maternity leave only if they adopt children who are less than three months old.

The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, as amended by the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, provides for paid maternity leave to women workers and crèche facilities by establishments.

Key changes brought by the Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Act 2017 include: 

• Extended Paid Maternity Leave: As per the new Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, the Maternity leave available to working women has been increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks ( of which not more than 8 weeks can precede the expected date of her delivery) for the first two children. Maternity Benefit for ‘adoptive’ or ‘commissioning’ mothers:    Sub-
• section (4) inserted by the amendment confers upon a woman (who legally adopts a child below the age of three months or a commissioning mother) a maternity leave of twelve weeks from the date the child is handed over to her. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• For the purposes of the act, "commissioning mother" means a biological mother who uses her egg to create an embryo implanted in any other woman
• Work from Home Provisions:
• Section 5(5) of the amended Act allows women to work from home if the nature of their work permits it; after availing of the maternity benefit, for such period and on such conditions, the employer and the woman mutually agree.
• Section 11A of the amended Act mandates that every establishment with fifty or more employees must have a creche facility within a prescribed distance, either separately or along with common facilities. The employer must allow four visits a day to the creche by the woman, which shall also include rest intervals for her. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.

• Statement 1 is correct: The earliest important ruler of Magadh was the king Bimbisara, who ruled for 52 years from 544 BC to 492 BC. He pursued a three-pronged policy, namely, matrimonial alliances, friendship with strong rulers and conquest of weak neighbours to expand the empire. He was a contemporary of both Buddha and Mahavira and paid equal respect to them.
• Statement 2 is correct: Under the policy of matrimonial alliances, he married the sister of Prasenjit, the king of Kosala. She brought in dowry the territory of Kashi, which yielded a revenue of 1,00,000 coins.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: He also conquered Anga by defeating its ruler Brahmadatta. Anga and specially its capital Champa were important for the inland and maritime trade. Thus, Kashi and conquest of Anga became the launching pad for the expansion of Magadh. Bimbisara did not make Champa his capital. He conquered Anga and its capital Champa, which were important for trade, but his capital remained Rajagriha (modern Rajgir) in Magadh.

• TeLEOS-2 is a dedicated commercial mission through New Space India Limited (NSIL) with TeLEOS-2 as primary satellite and Lumelite-4 as a co-passenger satellite. The satellites weigh about 741 kg and 16 kg, respectively. Both belong to Singapore. They are intended to be launched into an Eastward low inclination orbit.
• About TeLEOS-2 The TeLEOS-2 satellite is an earth observation satellite developed under a partnership between DSTA (representing the Government of Singapore) and ST Engineering. Once deployed and operational, it will be used to support the satellite imagery requirements of various agencies within the Government of Singapore. TeLEOS-2 carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload. TeLEOS-2 will be able to provide all-weather day and night coverage and capable of imaging at 1m full-polarimetric resolution

• The earliest important ruler of Magadh was the king Bimbisara, who ruled for 52 years from 544 BC to 492 BC. He was a contemporary of both Buddha and Mahavira and paid equal respect to them. Hence, option 1 is correct.
• During the time of Buddha, the Lichchhavis, under the leadership of Chetaka, were the most prominent gana in the Vajji sangha. They are also called kshatriyas. Hence, option 2 is correct.
• Gautama Buddha, or Siddhartha, was a contemporary of Mahavira. According to tradition he was born in 567 BC in a Shakya kshatriya family in Lumbini in Nepal near Kapilavastu. Hence, option 3 is correct.
• Mahapadma Nanda (4th century BCE) was the first Emperor of the Nanda Empire of ancient India. He was not a contemporary of Gautama Buddha.

The Centre is foreseeing a “stagnation” in milk production and a possible scarcity of ghee and butter as an impact of the lumpy skin disease (LSD) that took the lives of about 1.89 lakh cattle recently.

• Statement 1 is correct: LSD is a serious viral disease that primarily affects cattle and buffalo. The disease can result in animal welfare issues and significant production losses. LSD is a disease of animals, not humans, it is not transmitted to humans by eating affected meat.
• Statement 2 is correct: The disease is transmitted by blood-feeding insects i.e., Sanguinivorous insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks. It causes fever, nodules on the skin and can also lead to death, especially in animals that that have not previously been exposed to the virus.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Lumpy skin disease was first seen as an epidemic in Zambia in 1929. Lumpi-ProVacInd is a live attenuated vaccine jointly developed by ICAR’s National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) and the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) for the treatment of disease.

The Logistic Performance Index is an interactive benchmarking tool developed by the World Bank to help countries identify the challenges and opportunities they face in their performance on trade logistics and what they can do to improve their performance. The International LPI 2023 allows for comparisons across 139 countries. The LPI is based on two components:

A worldwide survey of international logistics operators:

• Conducted worldwide among global freight forwarders and express carriers
• Measures the logistics “friendliness” of the countries they trade with
• Granular high-frequency information: The second component of the LPI is based on granular high frequency information on maritime shipping and container tracking, postal and air freight activities that is collected and made available to LPI by several data partners.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Bimbisara ruled for fifty-two years, roughly from 544 to 492 BC. He was succeeded by his son Ajatashatru (492–60 BC). Ajatashatru killed his father and seized the throne for himself. Ajatasatru was succeeded by Udayin. Udayin was succeeded by the dynasty of Shishunaga.
• Statement 2 is correct: Ajatasatru was an aggressive person and first came into conflict with his maternal uncle Prasenajit, who was aggrieved by the treatment meted out to Bimbisara. He asked Ajatasatru to return the territory of Kasi, which was given to his mother in dowry. Ajatasatru refused and it was only after a fierce battle Prasenajit agreed to leave Kasi with Magadh. Similarly he fought with his maternal grandfather Chetaka, the chief of Vaishali and after 16 long years of war Ajatasatru succeeded in breaking the might of Vaishali. Therefore, he not only retained Kasi, but also added Vaishali to Magadha.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Ajatashatru was succeeded by Udayin (460–44 BC). His reign is important because he is said to have built a fort at the confluence of the Ganges and Son at Patna. This was done because Patna lay at the centre of the Magadhan kingdom, which now extended from the Himalayas in the north to the hills of Chhotanagpur in the south. 

The Nandas extended the Magadhan power by conquering Kalinga from where they brought an image of jina as a victory trophy. All this took place during the reign of Mahapadma Nanda. This ruler claimed to be Ekarat, the  sole sovereign who had destroyed all the other ruling princes. It seems that he captured not only Kalinga but also Kosala which had probably rebelled against him.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: There is no strict correlation between the level of planning and the size of a settlement. It points out that the relatively small site of Lothal demonstrates a much higher level of planning than Kalibangan, even though Kalibangan is twice the size of Lothal. This means that planning in Harappan cities could vary independently of settlement size. In some cases, smaller settlements may exhibit better planning than larger ones.
• Statement 2 is correct: Dholavira is known for its exceptional fortification walls, which were constructed using stone with a dressed stone veneer. This distinctive architectural element sets Dholavira apart from all other Harappan sites. The use of dressed stone veneer in the construction of these fortification walls is a remarkable and unparalleled feature within the Harappan civilization. These walls served as protective structures around the city, and their construction with stone is a notable aspect of Dholavira's architecture.
• Statement 3 is correct: Notable difference can be observed in the choice of building materials between large cities and smaller towns in the Harappan civilization. It emphasizes that large cities within the Harappan civilization predominantly used burnt bricks for construction, while smaller towns and settlements relied on sun-dried bricks. This marked a significant contrast in building materials, with the quality and durability of burnt bricks making them a preferred choice for the construction of structures in larger urban centres. In contrast, smaller towns and villages typically used sun-dried bricks, which were more readily available and suitable for their needs. This choice of building materials reflected variations in construction practices based on settlement size within the Harappan civilization.

• Udayana was the king of Vatsa Mahajanapada. He was also the hero of three Sanskrit dramas which were known as Svapnavasavadatta written by Bhasa, Priyadarshika and Ratnavali written by Harsha. The dramatist Bhasa, has immortalised one of the Kings of the Vatsas named Udayana in his plays.
• These plays are based on the story of the romantic affair between Udayana and Vasavadatta, the Princess of Avanti.
• Ratnavali is based on the lives of the magnificent King Udayana and the lovely Princess Ratnavali.
• The Priyadarshika of Harsha centers on the union of Udayana and Priyadarshini, emperor Dridhavarman's daughter.

The Supreme Court recently dismissed petitions challenging the Delhi High Court judgment, which upheld the Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the armed forces. Advocate appearing for the petitioners argued that the government must be directed to complete the old process citing the doctrine of promissory estoppel.
The doctrine of promissory estoppel: Promissory estoppel is a concept developed in contractual laws.
A valid contract under law requires an agreement to be made with sufficient consideration. A claim of the doctrine of promissory estoppel essentially prevents a “promisor” from backing out of an agreement on the grounds that there is no “consideration.” Honourable Supreme Court of India, in Chhaganlal Keshavalal Mehta v. Patel Narandas Haribhai judgement 1981, laid out the conditions/ criteria where the doctrine of promissory estoppel can be applied:

• First, there must be a clear and unambiguous promise.
• Second, the plaintiff must have acted relying reasonably on that promise.
• Third, the plaintiff must have suffered a loss.

The judges dismissed the aforementioned argument saying that the matter before them was not a contract matter (as it concerns public employment); therefore, the doctrine can’t be employed.

The expansion of Magadha, the largest state in India before the Mauryas, was driven by several factors.

• The rulers of Magadha, such as Bimbisara, Ajatashatru, and Mahapadma Nanda, were ambitious and used various means to conquer their neighbours.
• Magadha also had geographical advantages, such as rich iron deposits, strategic capitals, abundant timber, fertile soil, and easy river transport.
• Magadha also benefited from the rise of towns and trade in the mid-Gangetic plains, which provided them with wealth and resources.
• Magadha enjoyed an advantageous geographical position in the age of iron, because the richest iron deposits were situated not far away from Rajgir, the earliest capital of Magadha. The ready availability of the rich iron ores in the neighbourhood enabled the Magadhan princes to equip themselves with effective weapons which were not easily available to their rivals. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The two capitals of Magadha, the first at Rajgir and the second at Pataliputra, were situated at very strategic points. Rajgir was surrounded by a group of five hills, and so it was impregnable in those days when there was no easy means of storming citadels such as cannons. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The princes of Magadha also benefited from the rise of towns and use of metal money. A Pali text speaks of twenty towns in the age of the Buddha. Most of them were located in the mid-Gangetic plains. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• Kharavela rose to power in Kalinga in the middle of the 1st century BCE. He dispatched an army to the west without caring for Satakarni; this suggests that early Satavahana power suffered setbacks both at the hands of the Kshatrapas and of Kharavela. It was revived only through the exploits of Gautamiputra Satakarni.
• The maximum territorial expansion of the Kushana empire took place during Kanishka I's reign. The accession of Kanishka is dated between 78 and 144 CE.
• An Era based on 78 CE has come to be called the Saka Era, but it is also thought by some to be linked to the accession of Kanishka.
• The Chalukya kingdom rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakesin II (AD 610–642). He was the greatest ruler of the Chalukyas. He consolidated his authority in Maharashtra and conquered large parts of Deccan.
• The Cholas came to power after overthrowing the authority of the Pallavas in South India. The founder of the Chola dynasty was Vijayalaya (9th century AD) but the real architects of the glory of the dynasty were Rajaraja I (AD 985– AD 1014) and his son Rajendra I (AD 1014– AD 1044).

Haryanka Dynasty(544-413 BC): Haryanka is the name of a new dynasty founded in Magadha by Bimbisara after overthrowing the Brihadrathas.
Sisunaga Dynasty(413-345 BC): According to the Buddhist tradition Udayin and his three successors were all unworthy to rule. So the people got disgusted and elected Sisunaga as the king, the minister of the last king, and hence called it the Sisunaga Dynasty.
Nanda Dynasty(345-322 BC): Kalasoka, the son and the successor of Sisunaga, was succeeded by a barber (according to some accounts) named Mahapadma Nanda, who founded a new dynasty known as the Nandas.

• The second phase of the bilateral air exercise, Cope India 23, began at Air Force Stations Arjan Singh (Panagarh), Kalaikunda and Agra.
• About Cope India- 23 The Cope India-2023 is an Air Exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the United States Air Force (USAF). Aircrew from the Japanese Air Self Defence Force also participated as observers. This joint exercise provided a valuable opportunity for the participants of all countries to exchange ideas and imbibe best practices through interactions, exchanges & combined missions.

Dabba trading represents an unregulated form of stock trading that deviates from traditional exchanges like Nasdaq and NYSE.
Some of the advantages of ‘Dabba trading’ are:

• Freedom from Regulations
• Lower Fees, Higher Returns i.e., Cost effectiveness
• Access to Niche Markets • Faster Execution Times
• Customized Trading Experience
• Diverse Investment Options

Limited Legal Protections: Unlike regulated exchanges, dabba trading does not offer investors the same level of legal protection. In disputes or broker malpractice cases, investors may face challenges in seeking redress. It is a disadvantage of dabba trading.

• Pair 1 is incorrect: The discovery of factory sites in the limestone hills of Sukkur and Rohri indicates that these locations were important for the production of chert blades and not copper. Copper was mined and smelted at a number of sites in the Harappan region, but the most important source of copper was the Khetri mines in Rajasthan, India.
• Pair 2 is correct: Tin is another important metal that was traded by the Harappans. It was used to make bronze, an alloy of copper and tin. Bronze is a stronger and more durable metal than copper, and it was used to make a variety of objects, including tools, weapons, and armour. The Harappans mined tin at a few sites in India, such as Tosham in Haryana. However, they also imported tin from other regions, such as Afghanistan and Central Asia.
• Pair 3 is correct: Gujarat was a major source of semi-precious stones, such as agate and carnelian, during the Harappan period. These stones were used to make beads, jewellery, and other decorative objects. The Harappans traded semi-precious stones with other regions, including Mesopotamia and Egypt.
• Pair 4 is incorrect: Lapis lazuli is a blue semiprecious stone that was imported into the Harappan region from Afghanistan. It was used to make beads, jewelry, and other decorative objects. Lapis lazuli was a highly prized commodity by the Harappans, and it was often used in the burials of the wealthy and powerful.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Achaemenid rulers of Iran,who expanded their empire at the same time as Magadhan princes took advantage of the political disunity on the north-west frontier. The Indo-Iranian contact lasted for about 200 years.It gave an impetus to IndoIranian trade and commerce. Iranian coins are found in the North-west frontier region which points to the existence of Indo-Iranian But it is wrong to think that the punch-marked coins came into use in India as a result of contact with Iran.
However,various Mahajanapadas issued punch-marked coins in the sixth century BC.
Puranas, Karshapanas, and Panas, the first Indian punch-marked coins, were produced in the 6th century BC by the numerous Janapadas and Mahajanapadas of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The Iranian scribes brought into India a form of writing which came to be known as the kharosthi script. It was written from right to left like the Arabic.
Some Ashokan inscriptions in north-west India were written in third century B.C. in this script, which continued to be used in the country till 3rd century A.D.
Statement 3 is correct: Iranian influence on Maurya sculpture is clearly perceptible.The monuments of Ashoka's time, especially the bell-shaped capitals, owed to Iranian models. Iranian influence may also be traced in the preamble of Ashoka's edicts as well as in certain terms used in them. For instance, for Iranian term ‘dipi’, the Ashokan scribe used the term ‘lipi’. Inscription of proclamations on pillars was prevalent in the west Achaemenid empire.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Nanda dynasty ruled over Magadha when Alexander invaded India.The Nanda dynasty was the fifth ruling dynasty of Magadha in northern Indian subcontinent during the fourth century BCE and possibly also during the fifth century BCE. The Nandas overthrew the Shishunaga dynasty, and expanded the empire to include a larger part of northern India. While describing Alexander the Great's invasion of Punjab (327–325 BCE), the Greco-Roman writers depict this kingdom as a great military power. The prospect of a war against this kingdom, coupled with the exhaustion resulting from almost a decade of campaigning, led to a mutiny among Alexander's homesick soldiers, putting an end to his Indian campaign.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The Battle of the Hydaspes was fought in 326 BC between Alexander the Great and King Porus of the Paurava kingdom on the banks of the Jhelum River in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent. The battle resulted in a Greek victory and the surrender of Porus.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: King Ambhi and Porus did not put up a joint front against Alexander and the Khyber pass remained unguarded. Ambhi submitted to Alexander, whereas Porus whose Kingdom laid between Jhelum and Chenab was defeated in the Battle of the Hydaspes. Although Alexander defeated Porus, he was impressed by the bravery and courage of the Indian prince. So he returned his kingdom to him and made him his ally.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The primary reason for Iranian invasion of India in 6th century B.C. was to take advantage of political disunity in North-West. During 6th century B.C., North West India was politically disunited, with several small principalities fighting amongst themselves. The Achaemenian rulers of Iran saw an opportunity to expand their empire by invading and annexing the vulnerable territories in North-West India, including Punjab, the North Western Frontier Province and Sindh.
• Statement 2 is correct: While the Persian invasion did not have a significant impact on Indian politics, it did reveal the vulnerability of India's defence in the region, ultimately leading to Alexander the Great 's conquest. The Satrap system of administration, which was introduced by the Persians in Indian provinces,later served as a model for other dynasties, especially the Sakas and Kushanas. As a result of invasion, India recognised importance of having a strong and unified empire to defend against foreign invasions.

Recently, China convened an online meeting of trade ministers of the grouping known as C+C5. The grouping includes China and the five Central Asian republics, namely Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The grouping led by China promotes China-Central Asia cooperation in various fields and international and regional issues of common concern.
The first C+C5 summit was held in virtual format on January 25, 2022, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the Central Asian Nations. Trade between China and the five countries reached a record high of $70.2 billion last year. The region provides China with:

• A readymade market for cheap exports.
• Reserves of strategic minerals such as Uranium, Copper, Gold etc., and massive oil & gas reserves.
• Provides China with overland access to markets of Europe and West Asia.

To this landlocked region, China offers access to the Pacific Ocean and East Asia through its Belt and Road Initiative. Beijing has invested billions of dollars in various projects (including oil and gas exploration; processing and manufacturing; rail, road and seaport connectivity; digital technologies; green energy etc.) in Uzbekistan and the other three smaller countries in the region.
Reports also indicate a transport and logistics project linking the Central Asian countries to Lianyungang seaport on the Yellow Sea in China’s Jiangsu province. China is also expanding the Horgos land port in Xinjiang province, improving connectivity with Central Asia and Europe.

India’s trade relations with these countries is hindered mainly because of:

• Denial of direct land linkage by Pakistan.
• Uncertainty in Afghanistan.

The Chabahar port of Iran offers an alternative route, but it is not fully developed as of now.

The C5+1 diplomatic platform represents the U.S. government’s whole of government approach to Central Asia, jointly engaging all five Central Asian governments (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan).