MH SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 1 (History) - MAHA TET MCQ

The correct answer is Aitareya Brahmana

Key Points

• The passage mentions that the Aryan expansion of the 6th and 7th centuries BC is recorded in the Aitareya Brahmana.

• The Aitareya Brahmana is a text in Rigveda, one of the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism.

• The Rigveda is believed to have been composed between 1700–1100 BCE and contains hymns, prayers, and rituals that were important to the Vedic religion.

• The Aitareya Brahmana is a Vedic text that provides explanations and interpretations of the hymns in Rigveda.

• The passage suggests that the Aitareya Brahmana contains information about the Aryan expansion in the 6th and 7th centuries BC, which likely includes details about the areas they spread to and the kingdoms they encountered.

Therefore the correct answer is Aitareya Brahmana.

The correct answer is Raja Sitab rai.

• Robert Clive introduced Dual government in 1765

Key Points

• Under this the control of both the Diwani and Nizamat went to Company.
• For exercising the functions company appointed two deputies Diwans, for Bengal Mohammad Reza Khan and for Bihar Raja Sitab rai.
• Ram Narayan was deputy governor of Bihar before the introduction of Dual government.
• He was loyal to company and helped them in misuse of Dastak i.e., the trade permit.
• Raja Sitab rai was famous banker of Bengal who helped British against the Nawab in Battle of Plassey.

Both the statements would have been correct if not for a minor factual flaw. It was Lord Lytton and not Rippon who followed aggressive Afghan policy leading to second Anglo-Afghan war 1878-80. He wanted to secure natural frontiers in north west and establish firm British control to inhibit Russian advance.

Masterly Inactivity policy was followed by John Lawrence. Lord Lawrence was cautious in dealing with the Afghanistan and did not wish to intervene in internal struggle for succession. In his own words "we will leave the Afghans to settle their own quarrels, and that we are willing to be on terms of amity and goodwill with the nation and with their rulers de facto".

• Critical Methodology: Herodotus stands out for his developing a more critical approach to historical inquiry.
• He compared different accounts, acknowledged the limitations of oral traditions, and even visited places he wrote about to verify information. Logographers, on the other hand, generally lacked this level of critical analysis.

Additional Information

• Extensive use of oral traditions and myths: Both logographers and Herodotus relied heavily on oral traditions and myths. While Herodotus might have been more critical in his use of them, the reliance on such sources was a common feature.
• Focus on a single, unifying theme or chronological narrative: While some logographers might have focused on specific regions or topics, others did attempt chronological narratives. Herodotus, however, is known for weaving diverse elements into a grand narrative of the Greco-Persian Wars.
• Emphasis on political and military history: Both logographers and Herodotus were interested in political and military history.

Statement 1 is not correct as Dhrupad originates during Vedas period which gains popularity in 16th century which praises Lord Krishna. The earliest source mentioning musical genre is Ain-i-Akbari of Abu Fazl . Statement 2 is correct as Dhrupad is Indian classical music having origin to recite vedic hymns and mantras used for worshipping using sound. Statement 3 is correct as Dhrupad begins with free-time alap that carries two sections: Alap and Bandish where in Alap, the singer uses syllables from Sanskrit Mantras while Bandish is a poem with Pakhawaj. As only two statements 2 and 3 are correct.

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.

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 chronology of the conquests of Alauddin Khilji is: (ii), (iii), (i), (iv)

Key Points

• Alauddin Khalji was one of the most powerful rulers from the Khalji dynasty and became the Sultan of Delhi in 1296 AD.
• During his reign, Alauddin defended his kingdom against the Mongol invasions, at Jaran-Manjur, Sivistan, Kili, Delhi, and Amroha.
• Later, he also raided and annexed other kingdoms such as Gujarat, Ranthambore, Chittor, Malwa, Siwana, and Jalore.
• Given below is the details of various kingdoms annexed by Alauddin Khalji:
  • Gujarat (1299 AD):
    • This was Alauddin's first army attack after becoming the ruler.
    • He was aware of the weak economic status of Gujarat even before sitting on the throne, hence he found it very convenient to attack Gujarat.
    • The King of Gujarat at this time was ‘Karna’.
    • Karna rescued himself and his family to Devagiri in Maharashtra due to fear of this attack.
  • Ranthambore (1301 AD):
    • ​It was ruled by Hamir Dev of the Chauhan dynasty.
    • Hammir Dev gave refuge to the ‘new Muslims’.
    • This was not appreciated by Alauddin, and thus he attacked Ranthambore.
    • Hammir Dev Chauhan was defeated by Alauddin in this battle.
    • One of the main commander of Alauddin, ‘Nusrat Khan’ got killed in this battle.
  • Chittorgarh (1303 AD):
    • ​The reason why Chittor was attacked was that it was in the way of trade route to Gujarat.
    • The famous Sufi poet and scholar Amir Khusrow also accompanied Alauddin in this battle.
    • The fort was renamed as Khijrabad after this victory.
    • It was named after Alauddin’s son Khijr Khan.
  • Second Campaign of Devgiri (1306-1307):
    • ​The Yadav dynasty ruled it during this time under the king Ramdev.
    • The kingdom of Devgiri was attacked when Ramdev refused to pay the yearly tax to Alauddin.

    • Ramdev was brought to Delhi, where he later surrendered.

"The so-called first national war of independence was neither first, nor national, nor a war of independence" is associated with R.C. Majumdar.

Rakhmabai Raut:

• Rakhmabai Raut was born in 1864.
• She became India's first qualified physician and was a major cause behind the enactment of the Age of Consent Act in 1891.
• Raut was married off to Dadaji Bhikaji. She was 11 while her husband was 19 years old. Raut, however, continued to stay at the house of her widowed mother, The mother later got married to Assistant Surgeon Sakharam Arjun Raut.
• Rakhmabai refused to stay with Bhikaji and his family at his house. It was supported by her stepfather.
• This led to the Dadaji Bhikaji vs Rukhmabai case, 1885. While Bhikaji asked for “restitution of conjugal rights”, (Statement 3 is right) The final judgment asked Raut to live with her husband or face imprisonment for six months if not. She chose to be imprisoned for six months.
• The case was intervened by Queen Victoria and the marriage was dissolved.
• Later Raut studied at the London School of Medicine and became a medical practitioner.
• The case influenced the Age of Consent Act, 1891 which abolished child marriages thereafter.

Among the given options, Friedrich Hegel is related to the Romantic school of historiography.

Key Points

• The Romantic Age (1770-1850) was a period of immense ideological change in Europe.
• Romanticism emerged towards the end of the Age of Enlightenment (1715-1804), as a response against the rigid and often overly rational ideals of the time.
• Romantic historians perceived history as an art form, applying aesthetic principles relating to beauty and the natural world in their works.
• Romanticism is said to have its philosophical beginnings in Germany, but quickly spread throughout Europe and even across the Atlantic to the United States.

• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Immanuel Kant, Friedrich von Schiller, and Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel are the best-known historians related to the Romantic school of historiography.

Hence, we can conclude that among the given options, Friedrich Hegel is related to the Romantic school of historiography.

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.

Pratap was a Hindi newspaper was founded by Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi.

• It was his popular revolutionary weekly that associated with the oppressed's cause wherever they could be and Pratap would prove to be widespread as its circulation jumped from 500 in 1913 to 600 in 1916.
• Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was an Indian journalist, an Indian National Congress member and an activist in the independence movement.
• The Comrade was founded by Maulana Mohammad Ali.
• Punjab Kesari was founded by Lala Jagat Narain.
• Time of India is published by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd..

Charles Grant was not an Orientalist. Key Points

• Charles Grant was a British politician influential in Indian and domestic affairs who, motivated by his evangelical Christianity, championed the causes of social reform and Christian mission, particularly in India.
• In 1787 he supported David Brown’s “A Proposal for Establishing a Protestant Mission in Bengal and Bahar.”
• He wrote Observations on the State of Society among Asiatic Subjects of Great Britain in 1792 (published by the House of Commons in 1813).
• He supported William Wilberfoce’s unsuccessful campaign in 1793 to make provision for missionary work in India.
• During the first quarter of nineteenth century, a great controversy was going on regarding the nature of education and medium of instruction in schools and colleges.
• The Orientalists led by Dr H.H. Wilson and H.T. Princep advocated in favour of Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian as the medium of education.

• Two great exponents of the Evangelical view were Charles Grant and William Wilberforce.

Hence, we can conclude that Charles Grant was not an Orientalist.

Additional Information

• H. T. Colebrooke
  • ​Henry Thomas Colebrooke was a Sanskrit scholar and orientalist.
  • In 1782 Colebrooke was appointed to a writership in India.
  • He translated “Digest of Hindu Laws”, unfinished by Sir William Jones.
  • He also translated the two treatises, the Mitacshara of Vijnaneshwara and the Dayabhaga of Jimutavahana under the title Law of Inheritance.
• William Carey
  • ​William Carey was the first Baptist missionary of the modern era, who arrived in colonial Calcutta in November 1793.
  • In partnership with several veteran colleagues and scores of Indian pundits, he accomplished much in the areas of philology, Bible translation (into dozens of languages), Orientalism, literacy, education (founding Serampore College in 1818), publishing, technology, relief work, social reform, botany, evangelization, and mission promotion.
• ​James Princep
  • ​James Prinsep, an English Indologist, is known for deciphering inscriptions inscribed in Brahmi language and restoring Ashoka to his rightful place in history.
  • He became the editor of the Asiatic Society Journal by the age of thirty.
  • Prinsep was also instrumental in decoding another language called Kharosthi.
  • As a numismatist, Prinsep had noticed that some ancient coins were bilingual coins: the inscriptions on them were in two languages.
  • Prinsep’s collection included bilingual coins, which were inscribed in Greek and Kharosthi.​

1) Under this system, the ruler of the allying Indian state was compelled to accept the permanent stationing of the British defence forces within his territory and to pay a subsidy for its maintenance.

2) The ruler also sometimes ceeded part of his territory instead of paying annual subsidy.

3) The ruler would agree to the posting at his court of a resident of a British Resident, however, he would not employ any European in his service without the approval of the British, and that he would not negotiate with any other Indian ruler without consulting the Governor-General.

The correct answer is B only.Key Points

• The idea of satyagraha emphasized the power of truth and the need to search for truth.
• It suggested that if the cause was true, if the struggle was against injustice, then the physical force was not necessary to fight the oppressor.
• Without seeking vengeance or being aggressive, a Satyagrahi could win the battle through nonviolence.
• This could be done by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor. People – including the oppressors – had to be persuaded to see the truth, instead of being forced to accept the truth through the use of violence.
• Through this struggle, the truth was bound to ultimately triumph.
• Mahatma Gandhi believed that this dharma of non-violence could unite all Indians.

Thus, As a Gandhian, if you were to practice the idea of 'Satyagraha', you would emphasize Appealing to the conscience of the oppressor.

Additional Information

• The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was the first Satyagraha movement led by Gandhi in India and is considered a historically important revolt in the Indian Independence Movement. It was a farmer's uprising that took place in the Champaran district of Bihar, India, during the British colonial period.
• Ahemdabad Mill strike: Gandhi used Satyagraha and hunger strike for the first time during an industrial dispute between the owners and workers of a cotton mill in Ahmedabad. The owners wanted to withdraw the plague bonus to the workers while the workers were demanding a hike of 35% in their wages.
• The Kheda Satyagraha of 1918 was a satyagraha movement in the Kheda district of Gujarat in India organized by Mahatma Gandhi during the period of the British Raj. It was a major revolt in the Indian independence movement. It was the third Satyagraha movement, which was launched 4 days after the Ahmedabad mill strike.

The correct answer is Kushalchandra.

• Kushalchandra wrote Dhola-maru-ri-vat.

Key Points

• The Dhola Maru is the romantic tale of Dhola and Maru in Rajasthan.
• The Dhola Maru story is deeply rooted in folklore and oral traditions.
• It was composed in 1617.
• In Rajasthani literature Vat means story.
• Dhola Maru ra Doha is the edited text by Kashi Nagari Pracharini sabha.

Additional Information

• Nayan Chandra Suri
  • He was a Jain scholar.
  • He wrote Hammira Mahakavya in the 15th century.
• Bappabhatti Suri
  • ​He was a Jain monk.​
  • He composed 52 books some of which are Chaturvinshati and Saraswati stotra.
• Sringardevi
  • ​She was the daughter of Rao Jodha Rathore a ruler of Mandore.
  • She was married to Rana Raimal of Mewar.

Rajabai Tower designed by George Scott is an example of a combination of Venetian and Gothic styles of Architecture.

Key Points

• Rajabai Tower is a prominent landmark in South Mumbai, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, an English architect who modeled it on Big Ben in London.
• The tower is an amalgamation of Gothic and Venetian architectural styles and stands at a height of 85 meters.
• It is part of The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai, which was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 2018.
• The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai comprises a collection of 94 buildings and represents the fusion of Indian and Western architectural styles in the city during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

• Rajabai Tower is one of the most recognizable buildings in the ensemble and has become a symbol of Mumbai's architectural and cultural heritage.

​Hence the correct answer is Venetian and Gothic.

Samkhya is an Orthodox Indian philosophical system. Orthodox Indian philosophical system believes in soul and karma theory. For Karma theory to hold, soul has to undergo rebirth or transmigration. Therefore, without liberation no soul can be free from the cycle of rebirth or transmigration. Samkhya school philosophy- after you have ‘died’ in this life you will go through a process of rebirth where depending on your actions in your former life your status will be decided.

The correct answer is Ibrahim.

Key Points

• In the Battle of Khatoli (1517) Rana Sanga of Mewar defeated the Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodhi and imprisoned him and then released him after collecting ransom.
• Ibrahim Lodhi (1517 AD-1526 AD):
  • He was the last king of the Lodhi dynasty and the last sultan of Delhi.
  • He was the son of Sikandar Lodhi.
  • Daulat Khan Lodhi, the Governor of Punjab, invited Babur to overthrow Ibrahim.
  • He captured Gwalior and was defeated by Rana Sanga of Mewar.
  • He was defeated and killed at the hands of Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 AD.

Additional Information

• The Sisodiya ruler of Mewar (1433 AD-1468 AD):
  • Rana Kumbha was a famous ruler of Mewar.
  • He defeated Mohammad Khilji and erected the Tower of Victory (Vijay-Stambha) in Chittor.
  • His successors Rana Sangram Singh (Rana Sanga) and Rana Pratap were also great kings of the Mewar state.

Important Points

• ​Sikandar Lodhi established Agra city in 1504.
• He shifted his capital from Delhi to Agra in 1506.
• Slave Dynasty was established in Northern India by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, a Turkish Mamluk slave general from Central Asia.
• He became the ruler of an independent kingdom that evolved into the Delhi Sultanate ruled by the Mamluk dynasty.
• He constructed a Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi and Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Ajmer.
• He initiated the construction of Qutb Minar which was completed by Iltutmish.

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.

From the time England acquired political power in India, she destroyed Indian Industries principally by means of:

1) Forcing of British Free Trade on India.

2) Compelling Indian artisans to divulge their trade secrets.

3) The export of raw products from India.

4) Building railways in India.

5) Imposing heavy duties on Indian manufactures in England.

6) The transit and custom duties.

7) Granting special privileges to the British in India.

8) Holding of exhibitions.

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.

Key Points

Samudragupta (A.D. 335–375):

• Samudragupta succeeded his father Chandragupta.
• Samudragupta followed a policy of conquest and enormously enlarged his kingdom. He adopted a different policy for different areas conquered by him.
• In the Ganga-Yamuna doab, he followed a policy of annexation.
• He proceeded to the South along the eastern coast conquering twelve kings on the way and reached as far as Kanchi near Chennai. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Samudragupta, instead of annexing their kingdoms, liberated and reinstated these kings on their thrones. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• It is generally believed that though he had spread his influence over a vast area, Samudragupta exercised direct administrative control mainly over the Indo-Gangetic basin.

Important Points

Allahabad pillar inscription:

• Samudragupta's achievements are recorded in a long inscription (prashasti), written in pure Sanskrit by his court poet Harisena.
• This inscription is engraved on a pillar at Allahabad.
• It enumerates the people and the regions conquered by Samudragupta. Hence statement 3 is correct.

The real name of Sister Nivedita was Margaret Elizabeth Noble. She was a disciple of Swami Vivekananda. She was described as a real lioness by Vivekananda, ‘Lokmata’ (the mother of the people) by Rabindra Nath Tagore and 'Agnishikha' (the flame of fire) by Aurobindo Ghosh. In England, she was known as ‘The Champion for India’. Many of her letters written between 1900-1905 to her friend Miss Macleod reveal her hatred for British rule. In one such letter, she wrote “The British empire is rotten to the core – corrupt in every direction, and tyrannical and mean".

Mohammad Iqbal (Allama Iqbal) is considered as the father of the idea of Pakistan. He is also known as the “Spiritual Father of Pakistan”.

Aurobindo Ghosh was the founder of extremist thought. His pamphlet ‘New Lamps for the Old’ is regarded as the ‘Bible of Extremism’.

Vishnu Shastri Chiplunkar wrote Nibandhamala, a collection of poems with extrimist thought.

Within the Congress, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Lokmanya was the foremost extremist. He wrote Gita Rahasya.

Lala Lajpat Rai was known as ‘Punjab Kesari’ and he wrote ‘Unhappy India’.

The correct answer is Banda Bahadur.

• Sikh coinage is considered to have been started by Banda Bahadur and Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, two Sikh warriors who captured many territories in Punjab after the death of Guru Gobind Singh in 1708.
• Half a century later, when the Dal Khalsa. the confederated Sikh force under the overall leadership of Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluvalia, whom the Sikhs fondly gave the epithet Sultan ul qaum (the nation's king), temporarily occupied Lahore in November 1761, a coin was issued bearing the inscription, sikka zad dar jahari bafazi iakal, mulki ahmad shah griftah jassa kalal (the coin struck in the world (when) by the grace of God.
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh occupied Lahore in 1799 and proclaimed himself Maharaja in 1801. His coins issued from Lahore from 1801 onwards, from Amritsar since 1805-06, from Multan since 1818 and from Kashmir (Srinagar) since 1819 bore the same inscription as had appeared earlier on the Gobindshahi coins, but Ranjit Singh's coins were called Nanakshahl. Their distinguishing mark was a tree leaf and later a peacock's feather.

The French East India Company was founded in 1664 by the Louis XIV's Cabinet Minister, Colbert. The trading company of France received privilege and financial resources by the state. Therefore, it was called a government trading company.

In the year 1884, the Indian Jute Mills Association was established. In the year 1902, it was named as the Indian Jute Mills Association. Though it was renamed, it was totally under the control of the British.

Buddha himself attached great importance to the Brahmanas. He showed the special consideration. I is given in Lalita Vistara that a Buddha can be born only as a Brahmin or a Kshatriya and not “in a low family such as that of a Chandala or of a basket-maker or of a chariot-maker or of a Pukkasa.” There are references which show that if a person was a certain Brahmana, he was given free access to Buddha. Later on, Asoka himself repeated in his edicts that due honour must be shown to the Brahmanas.