History Optional Paper 1- 2015 | UPSC Previous Year Question Papers and Video Analysis PDF Download

 Page 1


CS (Main) Exam:201
't f k m / H I S T O R Y 
I / P a p e r I
C-AVZ-O-IJTA
ftvffcaww: r ftw v Z
Time Allow ed: Three Hours
ajfmtm 3 & : 250 
Maximum M arks: 250
3 n R -* T 3 r % fcrf^ ia 313^1
3 m jpr $ & w z f # fawfcm f mr f&ft sfk wfrft &?f # # ' /
W Rw m l 3fk5 f w w $ d d jm ipm f&g? cfrrm f zm ffin? /
ucd *) J IF f/ W T & 3 ff> Wtif ftp ? T R T f / .
w ft $ > 3 m 3tft m & m $ zr d m f p * 3 § w j &n-m # ?m t, tfk w m *m w ?w 3$ & 
jm -w-Jfft ) %f$m $ > ^ - ^ 0 T w 3 T f e r < 7 w fow wu w rf& 1 m m & zfM ft 3&r
f< h tfi W & R $ frF & ^ J ffi 7? " <#)/ 373> W iff fife ftf /
wrf $ tftm , wrfeftfife # , w 3 j ^ m fam w m t
JW it $ > 3177^ ^ f WFfJ fbHI^H/i ^yfZT ^ f $ , cff $ > drf< & 7 J U R I & drf< 3/V/rf; f& I W 7
& / Wf-w-3fn3f$i+i $ w tftw ter^& r ys a ? T sm *3 pm < m r w iffc /
Question Paper Specific Instructions
Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions:
There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI and in 
ENGLISH.
Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any THREE are to be attempted 
choosing at least ONE from each section.
The number of marks carried by a question / part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be 
stated clearly on the cover of this Question-ciim-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No 
marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question 
shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the 
Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
C-A VZ-O'IJTA
Page 2


CS (Main) Exam:201
't f k m / H I S T O R Y 
I / P a p e r I
C-AVZ-O-IJTA
ftvffcaww: r ftw v Z
Time Allow ed: Three Hours
ajfmtm 3 & : 250 
Maximum M arks: 250
3 n R -* T 3 r % fcrf^ ia 313^1
3 m jpr $ & w z f # fawfcm f mr f&ft sfk wfrft &?f # # ' /
W Rw m l 3fk5 f w w $ d d jm ipm f&g? cfrrm f zm ffin? /
ucd *) J IF f/ W T & 3 ff> Wtif ftp ? T R T f / .
w ft $ > 3 m 3tft m & m $ zr d m f p * 3 § w j &n-m # ?m t, tfk w m *m w ?w 3$ & 
jm -w-Jfft ) %f$m $ > ^ - ^ 0 T w 3 T f e r < 7 w fow wu w rf& 1 m m & zfM ft 3&r
f< h tfi W & R $ frF & ^ J ffi 7? " <#)/ 373> W iff fife ftf /
wrf $ tftm , wrfeftfife # , w 3 j ^ m fam w m t
JW it $ > 3177^ ^ f WFfJ fbHI^H/i ^yfZT ^ f $ , cff $ > drf< & 7 J U R I & drf< 3/V/rf; f& I W 7
& / Wf-w-3fn3f$i+i $ w tftw ter^& r ys a ? T sm *3 pm < m r w iffc /
Question Paper Specific Instructions
Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions:
There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI and in 
ENGLISH.
Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any THREE are to be attempted 
choosing at least ONE from each section.
The number of marks carried by a question / part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be 
stated clearly on the cover of this Question-ciim-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No 
marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question 
shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the 
Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
C-A VZ-O'IJTA
TSPJ3A
SECTION A
Q l. 3TN3it ^ w t e ('J5 4 T R) 'C R 3?fer 1^R ^8fRf 3Tfc 3P^ft
gf^RKT if 3^3 t ^ ?P m 30 ? T ® ? S I
JTnfe tR jj^ f; *sjh % foil ^sjR-ftljfat }f% <r sbHy«R 1^ ^ f I 
Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you (on page 4) 
and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your 
Questi.on-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked
on the map are given below seriatim : 2—x20=50
2
(i) ^ W F 13#T W =T 
A Neolithic site
(ii) ^ W ig r f k T O 
A Neolithic site
(iii) ^ujicblcflH T O 
A Harappan site
A Megalithic site
(v) F l c q r ^ T r f r r 1 
A Harappan site
(vi)
A painted-Grey-ware site
(vii) Rltflcrl^
An inscriptional site
(viii) TK 
An important ancient city
(ix)
An ancient port
(x) tot 
A site of ancient cave-paintings
C-AVZ-O-UTA 2
Page 3


CS (Main) Exam:201
't f k m / H I S T O R Y 
I / P a p e r I
C-AVZ-O-IJTA
ftvffcaww: r ftw v Z
Time Allow ed: Three Hours
ajfmtm 3 & : 250 
Maximum M arks: 250
3 n R -* T 3 r % fcrf^ ia 313^1
3 m jpr $ & w z f # fawfcm f mr f&ft sfk wfrft &?f # # ' /
W Rw m l 3fk5 f w w $ d d jm ipm f&g? cfrrm f zm ffin? /
ucd *) J IF f/ W T & 3 ff> Wtif ftp ? T R T f / .
w ft $ > 3 m 3tft m & m $ zr d m f p * 3 § w j &n-m # ?m t, tfk w m *m w ?w 3$ & 
jm -w-Jfft ) %f$m $ > ^ - ^ 0 T w 3 T f e r < 7 w fow wu w rf& 1 m m & zfM ft 3&r
f< h tfi W & R $ frF & ^ J ffi 7? " <#)/ 373> W iff fife ftf /
wrf $ tftm , wrfeftfife # , w 3 j ^ m fam w m t
JW it $ > 3177^ ^ f WFfJ fbHI^H/i ^yfZT ^ f $ , cff $ > drf< & 7 J U R I & drf< 3/V/rf; f& I W 7
& / Wf-w-3fn3f$i+i $ w tftw ter^& r ys a ? T sm *3 pm < m r w iffc /
Question Paper Specific Instructions
Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions:
There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI and in 
ENGLISH.
Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any THREE are to be attempted 
choosing at least ONE from each section.
The number of marks carried by a question / part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be 
stated clearly on the cover of this Question-ciim-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No 
marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question 
shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the 
Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
C-A VZ-O'IJTA
TSPJ3A
SECTION A
Q l. 3TN3it ^ w t e ('J5 4 T R) 'C R 3?fer 1^R ^8fRf 3Tfc 3P^ft
gf^RKT if 3^3 t ^ ?P m 30 ? T ® ? S I
JTnfe tR jj^ f; *sjh % foil ^sjR-ftljfat }f% <r sbHy«R 1^ ^ f I 
Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you (on page 4) 
and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your 
Questi.on-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked
on the map are given below seriatim : 2—x20=50
2
(i) ^ W F 13#T W =T 
A Neolithic site
(ii) ^ W ig r f k T O 
A Neolithic site
(iii) ^ujicblcflH T O 
A Harappan site
A Megalithic site
(v) F l c q r ^ T r f r r 1 
A Harappan site
(vi)
A painted-Grey-ware site
(vii) Rltflcrl^
An inscriptional site
(viii) TK 
An important ancient city
(ix)
An ancient port
(x) tot 
A site of ancient cave-paintings
C-AVZ-O-UTA 2
(xi) « ? !< &
A Buddhist site
(xii)
An educational centre
(xiii) T H H 
Brahmadeya village
(xiv) 'jxmrtl
An ancient capital
(xv) WfFft
An ancient capital
(xvi) ^ T f^ C
A temple site
(xvii) yr4Vi
An ancient capital
(xviii)
An ancient sea-port
(xix)
An archaeological temple site
(xx)
A Harappan site
C-AVZ-O-UTA 3
Page 4


CS (Main) Exam:201
't f k m / H I S T O R Y 
I / P a p e r I
C-AVZ-O-IJTA
ftvffcaww: r ftw v Z
Time Allow ed: Three Hours
ajfmtm 3 & : 250 
Maximum M arks: 250
3 n R -* T 3 r % fcrf^ ia 313^1
3 m jpr $ & w z f # fawfcm f mr f&ft sfk wfrft &?f # # ' /
W Rw m l 3fk5 f w w $ d d jm ipm f&g? cfrrm f zm ffin? /
ucd *) J IF f/ W T & 3 ff> Wtif ftp ? T R T f / .
w ft $ > 3 m 3tft m & m $ zr d m f p * 3 § w j &n-m # ?m t, tfk w m *m w ?w 3$ & 
jm -w-Jfft ) %f$m $ > ^ - ^ 0 T w 3 T f e r < 7 w fow wu w rf& 1 m m & zfM ft 3&r
f< h tfi W & R $ frF & ^ J ffi 7? " <#)/ 373> W iff fife ftf /
wrf $ tftm , wrfeftfife # , w 3 j ^ m fam w m t
JW it $ > 3177^ ^ f WFfJ fbHI^H/i ^yfZT ^ f $ , cff $ > drf< & 7 J U R I & drf< 3/V/rf; f& I W 7
& / Wf-w-3fn3f$i+i $ w tftw ter^& r ys a ? T sm *3 pm < m r w iffc /
Question Paper Specific Instructions
Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions:
There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI and in 
ENGLISH.
Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any THREE are to be attempted 
choosing at least ONE from each section.
The number of marks carried by a question / part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be 
stated clearly on the cover of this Question-ciim-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No 
marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question 
shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the 
Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
C-A VZ-O'IJTA
TSPJ3A
SECTION A
Q l. 3TN3it ^ w t e ('J5 4 T R) 'C R 3?fer 1^R ^8fRf 3Tfc 3P^ft
gf^RKT if 3^3 t ^ ?P m 30 ? T ® ? S I
JTnfe tR jj^ f; *sjh % foil ^sjR-ftljfat }f% <r sbHy«R 1^ ^ f I 
Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you (on page 4) 
and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your 
Questi.on-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked
on the map are given below seriatim : 2—x20=50
2
(i) ^ W F 13#T W =T 
A Neolithic site
(ii) ^ W ig r f k T O 
A Neolithic site
(iii) ^ujicblcflH T O 
A Harappan site
A Megalithic site
(v) F l c q r ^ T r f r r 1 
A Harappan site
(vi)
A painted-Grey-ware site
(vii) Rltflcrl^
An inscriptional site
(viii) TK 
An important ancient city
(ix)
An ancient port
(x) tot 
A site of ancient cave-paintings
C-AVZ-O-UTA 2
(xi) « ? !< &
A Buddhist site
(xii)
An educational centre
(xiii) T H H 
Brahmadeya village
(xiv) 'jxmrtl
An ancient capital
(xv) WfFft
An ancient capital
(xvi) ^ T f^ C
A temple site
(xvii) yr4Vi
An ancient capital
(xviii)
An ancient sea-port
(xix)
An archaeological temple site
(xx)
A Harappan site
C-AVZ-O-UTA 3
C -A V Z -Q -U T A
Page 5


CS (Main) Exam:201
't f k m / H I S T O R Y 
I / P a p e r I
C-AVZ-O-IJTA
ftvffcaww: r ftw v Z
Time Allow ed: Three Hours
ajfmtm 3 & : 250 
Maximum M arks: 250
3 n R -* T 3 r % fcrf^ ia 313^1
3 m jpr $ & w z f # fawfcm f mr f&ft sfk wfrft &?f # # ' /
W Rw m l 3fk5 f w w $ d d jm ipm f&g? cfrrm f zm ffin? /
ucd *) J IF f/ W T & 3 ff> Wtif ftp ? T R T f / .
w ft $ > 3 m 3tft m & m $ zr d m f p * 3 § w j &n-m # ?m t, tfk w m *m w ?w 3$ & 
jm -w-Jfft ) %f$m $ > ^ - ^ 0 T w 3 T f e r < 7 w fow wu w rf& 1 m m & zfM ft 3&r
f< h tfi W & R $ frF & ^ J ffi 7? " <#)/ 373> W iff fife ftf /
wrf $ tftm , wrfeftfife # , w 3 j ^ m fam w m t
JW it $ > 3177^ ^ f WFfJ fbHI^H/i ^yfZT ^ f $ , cff $ > drf< & 7 J U R I & drf< 3/V/rf; f& I W 7
& / Wf-w-3fn3f$i+i $ w tftw ter^& r ys a ? T sm *3 pm < m r w iffc /
Question Paper Specific Instructions
Please read each of the following instructions carefully before attempting questions:
There are EIGHT questions divided in TWO SECTIONS and printed both in HINDI and in 
ENGLISH.
Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
Questions no. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, any THREE are to be attempted 
choosing at least ONE from each section.
The number of marks carried by a question / part is indicated against it.
Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be 
stated clearly on the cover of this Question-ciim-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No 
marks will be given for answers written in a medium other than the authorized one.
Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
Attempts of questions shall be counted in sequential order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question 
shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the 
Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly struck off.
C-A VZ-O'IJTA
TSPJ3A
SECTION A
Q l. 3TN3it ^ w t e ('J5 4 T R) 'C R 3?fer 1^R ^8fRf 3Tfc 3P^ft
gf^RKT if 3^3 t ^ ?P m 30 ? T ® ? S I
JTnfe tR jj^ f; *sjh % foil ^sjR-ftljfat }f% <r sbHy«R 1^ ^ f I 
Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you (on page 4) 
and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your 
Questi.on-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked
on the map are given below seriatim : 2—x20=50
2
(i) ^ W F 13#T W =T 
A Neolithic site
(ii) ^ W ig r f k T O 
A Neolithic site
(iii) ^ujicblcflH T O 
A Harappan site
A Megalithic site
(v) F l c q r ^ T r f r r 1 
A Harappan site
(vi)
A painted-Grey-ware site
(vii) Rltflcrl^
An inscriptional site
(viii) TK 
An important ancient city
(ix)
An ancient port
(x) tot 
A site of ancient cave-paintings
C-AVZ-O-UTA 2
(xi) « ? !< &
A Buddhist site
(xii)
An educational centre
(xiii) T H H 
Brahmadeya village
(xiv) 'jxmrtl
An ancient capital
(xv) WfFft
An ancient capital
(xvi) ^ T f^ C
A temple site
(xvii) yr4Vi
An ancient capital
(xviii)
An ancient sea-port
(xix)
An archaeological temple site
(xx)
A Harappan site
C-AVZ-O-UTA 3
C -A V Z -Q -U T A
Q2. (a) 3TT#T ffrT « F T B W F qf % 3 ft?? tftaT <R! 3 ^
ft*TT 3 J T ^ ^ S c T T t ?
How far can the ancient Indian Sruti literature be used as historical 
sources ? ' 15
(b) f5°TT W R rn T w i % c ^r u t f s t t f t w s t t s p t u t %
c £r< j t i ft^Mi i
The decline of Harappan civilization was caused by ecological 
degradation rather than external invasion. Discuss. 20
(c) 3TRf ^RTT I; ^ T H r T T t l”
W H IdM H IrH 'b I
“Archaeology knows of no Aryans; only literature knows of Aryans.” 
Examine critically. 15
Q3. (a) ^ | f t itf^trR = & 3T^Wsn 3 m R^^h T ^ ’T T O t
3 ^ srrfift ^ k w h ! ^ ^ f^n an ?
How far is it correct to say that changes in the post-Vedic economy gave 
birth to new religious movements in India ? 20
(b) ^rwrnrthr *rcm % w«t «r a ^ ’srffir
3 m iR ^cT i
Delineate the nature and impact of India’s contact with Western Asia 
and the Mediterranean world during the Mauryan period. 15
(c) “ 5fr#T crft^ T uiifM. ftronsft ^ ^jf ^ % ^r ftrcoi
^ (i#ret ^ trmrte; siW t w?: tft
“Not only does ancient Tamil literature furnish an accurate picture of 
widely disparate classes; it also describes the social condition of Tamil 
country as it was.” Discuss. 15
C-AVZ-O-IJTA 5