JKPSC Prelims Paper 1 Mock Test - 10 - JKPSC KAS (Jammu and Kashmir) MCQ

The Aranyakas are called forest books and they deal with mysticism, rites, rituals and sacrifices.

Angad Cheema emerged victorious in the Vizag Open after a playoff against Aman Raj. This victory highlights Cheema's skill and determination in competitive golf, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.

Rajkumar Hirani is announced to receive the Kishore Kumar Samman, which recognizes his contributions to Indian cinema. This award honors the legacy of Kishore Kumar, a celebrated figure in Indian music and film, emphasizing the importance of artistic contributions in the entertainment industry.

The Assam government initiated a stipend scheme aimed at supporting girl students. This initiative is part of a broader effort to promote education among girls, addressing barriers they face and encouraging their academic pursuits.

The Adani Group launched India's largest hydrogen blending project, which signifies a major advancement in renewable energy technology. Hydrogen blending is crucial for transitioning towards sustainable energy solutions, reducing carbon emissions in the energy sector.

The DRDO's flight tests of the VSHORADS successfully demonstrated its hit-to-kill capability, along with other critical performance parameters. This success reflects India's advancements in missile technology and its commitment to enhancing national defense capabilities.

The Banjara Virasat Museum was inaugurated by PM Modi on October 7, 2024. This museum aims to preserve and showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Banjara community, celebrating their traditions through various galleries.

Tamil was the first Indian language to be conferred classical status in 2004 due to its ancient origins and extensive literary history. This recognition underscores the significance of Tamil culture and literature in India's heritage.

The Union Cabinet approved classical status for Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali on October 3, 2024. This decision highlights the linguistic diversity of India and acknowledges the historical and cultural significance of these languages.

A significant criterion for a language to be classified as classical in India is having a recorded history of at least 1,000 years. This criterion reflects the language's long-standing cultural and literary heritage, contributing to its recognition.

Malayalam was recognized as a classical language in 2013, noted for its continuous usage over 2,500 years and its rich literary tradition. This status enhances its cultural prestige and encourages further scholarship in its literature.

DRDO stands for the Defense Research and Development Organization, which is responsible for the development of technology for military applications in India. Its innovations play a crucial role in enhancing national security and defense capabilities.

Telugu is predominantly spoken in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also the official language. It is one of the most spoken languages in India, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Leo Tolstoy had a significant literary influence on Mahatma Gandhi, particularly through his writings on non-violence and moral philosophy. Gandhi’s principles of truth and non-violence were deeply inspired by Tolstoy's works.

The 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' vision primarily focuses on achieving self-reliance across various sectors, including defense, agriculture, and manufacturing. This initiative aims to reduce dependency on imports and boost domestic production.

VSHORADS stands for Very Short Range Air Defense System. It is designed to protect against aerial threats at short ranges, enhancing the capabilities of the Indian armed forces in modern warfare scenarios.

Option d is correct: The national motto of India, Satyameva Jayate' inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from Mundaka Upanishad. This motto means Truth Alone Triumphs". It is written in Devanagari script.

• Statement 1 is correct: Mauryan Empire maintained large standing army of Cavalry, Army, elephants, chariots, navy and transport.

• Statement 2 is correct: Administration of important cities were carried out by six boards, each consist of 5 members.

• Statement 3 is correct: Administration of army was carried by a board of 30 members divided into 6, each having 5 members- Army, Navy, Elephant, cavalry, chariots and transport.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Harappan seals are not the only items where we find Harappan writing. Harappan writing has been found on the variety of objects such as seals, copper tools, rims of jars, copper and terracotta tablets, jewellery, bone rods, even an ancient signboard. Harappan seals usually have a line of writing, probably containing the name and title of the owner. Most inscriptions are short, the longest containing about 26 signs.

• Statement 2 is correct: Although the Harappan script remains undeciphered to date, it was evidently not alphabetical (where each sign stands for a vowel or a consonant) as it has just too many signs – somewhere between 375 and 400. It is apparent that the script was written from right to left as some seals show a wider spacing on the right and cramping on the left, as if the engraver began working from the right and then ran out of space.

Nathpanthis, Siddhacharas and Yogis

• They advocated renunciation of the world. Hence, option (a) is correct.
• To them the path to salvation lay in meditation on the formless Ultimate Reality and the realisation of oneness with it.
• To achieve this they advocated intense training of the mind and body through practices like yogasanas, breathing exercises and meditation.
• These groups became particularly popular among “low” castes.
• Their criticism of conventional religion created the ground for devotional religion to become a popular force in northern India.

• Although a substantial number of non-producing people concentrated in the cities, the age of the Shakas, Kushans, Satavahanas (200 BC-AD 250), and the first Tamil states was the most flourishing period in the history of crafts and commerce in ancient India. Arts and crafts in particular witnessed remarkable growth.
  • We do not hear of so many kinds of artisans in the earlier texts as are mentioned in the writings of the period. The Digha Nikaya, which relates to pre-Maurya times, mentions nearly two dozen occupations, but the Mahavastu, which relates to this period, catalogs thirty-six kinds of workers living in the town of Rajgir, and the list is not exhaustive.
  • The Milinda Panho or the Questions of Milinda enumerates as many as seventy-five occupations, sixty of which are connected with various crafts. A Tamil text known in English as The Garland of Madurai supplements the information supplied by the two Buddhist texts on crafts and craftsmen.
• This text does not distinguish between craftsmen and shopkeepers.
• Types of Merchants: The Buddhist texts mention the sresthi, who was the chief merchant of the nigama, and the sarthavaha, the caravan leader who was the head of the corporation of merchants (vanijgramo). It also speaks of nearly half a dozen petty merchants called vanija.
• To them we can add perfumers or all-purpose merchants called gandhika. Various types of oilmen, some of them dealing in perfumed oils, are covered by the term. The term vyavahari, that is, one who transacts business, is also used, but the term vyapari or trader seems to be missing.
• The term agrivanija seems to be obscure, but these merchants may have been the predecessors of the agrawalas if we allow for some linguistic change. Whatever may be the meaning of this term, there were certainly wholesale merchants who conducted both internal and external trade. Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

The fortified Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, who ruled the Sultanate of Delhi from 1320 to 1325, stands in the vicinity of the massive Tughlaqabad Fort in southern Delhi. The massive sandstone and marble tomb stands in the middle of a pentagonal fortified complex complete with bastions and battlements. In appearance, it resembles a fort more than a burial complex. The tomb was commissioned by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq himself, unbeknownst to the unfortunate death that awaited him. Tughlaq faced a sudden death on his way back to Delhi after the annexation of Bengal in 1325. He attended a reception given by his eldest son, Muhammad bin Tughlaq in Afghanpur (present- day Bihar) when the stage collapsed, killing the ruler and his second son. The tomb is built in the typical Tughlaq-style of architecture. The single-domed tomb has a square base with slanting walls made of sandstone. The massive white marble dome rests on an octagonal drum and is crowned with a unique lotus finial. Though free of any ornamentation, the white marble inlay on the red sandstone makes for a striking feature. So, Option (d) is correct.

• The administrative structure of the Mauryan Empire involved a division of the empire into provinces, each under the direct governance of a prince (kumara) or a member of the royal family. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• The inscriptions suggest four such provinces – a southern one with its center at Survarnagiri, a northern province with a capital at Taxila, a western one with its capital at Ujjayini, and an eastern one with its capital at Tosali. Ashokan inscriptions also referred to these governors as kumara, suggesting a continuation of the tradition of appointing royal princes to these important posts.
• Senior officers called pradeshikas were tasked with touring the empire every five years and performing an audit as well as keeping a check on the provincial administration. In addition, there were judicial officers, rajukas, in both urban and rural areas, whose judicial functions often combined with the assessment of revenue. A well-organized administration was needed for a variety of tasks such as surplus production, extraction of surplus, distribution or expenditure, a strong army to conquer areas, tax collection from traders and agriculturalists, etc.
• The Arthashastra and even Ashokan edicts mention a Mantri Parishad (council of ministers). It is mentioned in the Arthashastra that the state cannot function without the assistance of ministers. Yet the Council had to report its opinion to the king immediately. The primary role of the Council was advisory in nature. The king’s decision was final in all respects. Hence statement 3 is not correct.
• As per Megasthanese's Indica, there are numerous references to different committees in the district councils. Panyadhyaksha was responsible to look after trade and commerce and inspect weights and measures. The collection of taxes was the responsibility of Sulkahyaksha and the registration of births and deaths was the work of Gopa. The head of the urban administration was called Nagarika. He was assisted by two subordinate officials-Gopa and Sthanika. Other officials are also mentioned such as Bandhanagaradhyaksha (looked after the jail); Rakshi (i.e. the police; looked after the security of the people); Lohadhyaksha, Sauvarnika (officials who looked after goods that were manufactured in the centers). Hence statement 2 is not correct.

The Viharas found in western India were found to be dug out in hills.

Enrich Your Learning: Viharas The monasteries build as a permanent shelter for monks (they used to travel for teachings) were known as Viharas. Many supporters of the monks and nuns, and monk themselves felt the need for more permanent shelters and so monasteries were built. The earliest Viharas were made of wood, and then of brick. Some of the Viharas were even in caves that were dug out in hills, especially in western India. The land on which the vihara was built was donated by a rich merchant or a landowner, or the king. The local people came with gifts of food, clothing and medicines for the monks and nuns. In return, they taught the people.

Example: Cave in Karle present in Maharashtra.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The rules made for the Buddhist sangha were written down in a book called the Vinaya Pitaka. All men, women and children could join the sangha. However, children had to take the permission of their parents and slaves of their masters. Those who worked for the king had to take his permission and debtors that of creditors. Women had to take their husbands’ permission.

Statement 2 is correct. The Puranas contain stories about gods and goddesses, such as Vishnu, Shiva, Durga or Parvati. They also contain details on how they were to be worshipped. Besides, there are accounts about the creation of the world, and about kings. The Puranas were written in simple Sanskrit verse, and were meant to be heard by everybody, including women and shudras, who were not allowed to study the Vedas.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Most Upanishadic thinkers were men, especially brahmins and raja. But there is mention of women thinkers, such as Gargi, who was famous for her learning, and participated in debates held in royal courts.

• British Government passed the Limitation Law in 1859, to control the debts mounting on ryots in Deccan. In 1832, a large area of land was demarcated as Damin-i-Koh, on the slopes of Rajmahal hills and was given to the Santhals. But with time they found that their land was slipping away from their hands as state was levying heavy taxes and moneylenders were charging high rates of interest on them. Hence, Santhal Rebellion happened in 1855-56.

• Deccan Riot Commission was assigned to make a report on the revolt by ryots in Deccan. The report was presented in British Parliament in 1878.

• The first revenue settlement system in Bombay, Deccan was made in the 1820s. It was known as ‘Ryotwari settlement, where the revenue was directly settled with the ‘ryots’ (peasants).

• Statement 1 is correct: All restrictions on European immigration and acquisition of property in India were lifted. It opened the way for wholesale colonisation of India.

• Statement 2 is correct: A law member was added to the governor-general’s council. It was added for professional advice on law making. Later, the law member was made the full member of the governor-general’s executive council by the Charter Act of 1853.

• Statement 3 is correct: The administration was urged to take steps to improve the conditions of the slaves and to abolish slavery. Slavery was abolished in 1843.

Lord Linlithgow Viceroy of India announced the August Offer (August 1940) which proposed:

• Dominion status as the objective for India. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

• Expansion of Viceroy’s executive council which would have a majority of Indians (who would be drawn from major political parties). Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• Setting up of a constituent assembly after the war where Indians would decide the Constitution according to their social, economic, and political conceptions, subject to fulfilment of the obligation of the government regarding defence, minority rights, treaties with States, all Indian services. No future constitution to be adopted without the consent of minorities. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

• Satyagraha was to be launched on April 6, 1919, but before it could be launched, there were large-scale violent, anti-British demonstrations in Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Ahmedabad, etc. Especially in Punjab, the situation became so very explosive due to wartime repression, forcible recruitments, and ravages of disease that the Army had to be called in. April 1919 saw the biggest and the most violent anti-British upsurge since 1857. So, Statement 1 is not correct.
• The entire agitation against the Rowlatt act proved its unorganized nature whereby the Satyagraha Sabha of Mahatma Gandhi concentrated mainly on publishing propaganda literature and collecting signatures on the Satyagraha pledge. So, Statement 2 is correct.
• Mahatma Gandhi left Bombay on April 8 to promote the Satyagraha agitation in Delhi and Punjab. But, as his entry into Punjab was considered dangerous by the government, Gandhi was removed from the train he was traveling at Palwal near Delhi and taken back to Bombay. The news of Gandhi’s arrest precipitated the crisis. The situation became tense in Bombay, and violence broke out in Ahmedabad and Virangam. In Ahmedabad, the government enforced martial law. In particular, the Punjab region and Amritsar witnessed the worst scenes of violence. So, Statement 3 is correct.