UPSC Prelims Past Year Paper 2019: GS Paper 1 | UPSC Previous Year Question Papers and Video Analysis PDF Download

 Page 1


 
ANSWERS TO THE GS QUESTION PAPER -1  
1 
HISTORY 
 
1. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are 
the difference/differences between Jagirdar 
and Zamindar? 
1. Jagirdars were holders of land 
assignments in lieu of judicial and police 
duties, whereas Zamindars were 
holders of revenue rights without 
obligation to perform any duty other than 
revenue collection. 
2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were 
hereditary and revenue rights of 
Zamindars were not hereditary. 
Select the correct answer using the code 
given below: 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: D 
During Akbar's period all the territory was 
broadly divided into two: khalisa and jagir. The 
revenue from the first went to Imperial treasury 
and that from jagir was assigned to jagirdars in 
lieu of their salary in cash (naqd) according to 
their rank. Right to collect revenue was to utilise 
the same for their salary and to meet their 
military obligations. The judicial and police 
functions were performed locally by zamindars.  
An important feature of the jagir system was 
shifting of jagir-holders from one jagir to another 
for administrative reasons. This system of 
transfers checked the jagirdars from developing 
local roots. Thus jagirs were transferable and 
could be seized too. Zamindars on the other 
hand were hereditary. The zamindars were 
present in practically every part of the Mughal 
Empire and held the most significant position in 
the agrarian structure of Mughal India. The 
word zamindar is derived from two Persian 
words-zamin (land) and dar (holder). 
Source: Medieval India, Class 11 NCERT, by 
Satish Chandra 
 
2. With reference to land reforms in 
independent India, which one of the 
following statements is correct? 
(a) The ceiling laws were aimed at family 
holdings and not individual holdings. 
(b) The major aim of land reforms was 
providing agricultural land to all the 
landless. 
(c) It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as 
a predominant form of cultivation. 
(d) Land reforms permitted no exemptions 
to the ceiling limits. 
 
Answer: B 
Major weakness of Land ceiling laws was that 
they were aimed at individual holdings. It 
allowed many zamindars to transfer land 
notionally to their relatives and thus escape the 
ceiling. The reason for land reforms was 
providing land to all landless people 
(redistribution) because landlessness was 
considered as one major reason of poverty and 
exploitation. Cultivation of cash crops require 
much more inputs than mere availability of 
holdings. Cash crops, during British time, were 
induced by force while in post-independence, 
major transformation for cash crops has 
happened where capital, market access, 
technology and irrigation are available. After the 
Second Plan, a large numbers of exemptions 
kicked in for certain categories of land – 
tea/rubber plantations, orchards, dairying etc to 
promote certain kind of capitalist expansion in 
place of absentee landlordism.  
Source – India since Independence, Chapter 
28 and 29, Bipin Chandra 
 
3. Consider the following statements about 
'the Charter Act of 1813': 
1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East 
India Company in India except for trade 
in tea and trade with China. 
2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British 
Crown over the Indian territories held by 
the Company. 
3. The revenues of India were now 
controlled by the British Parliament. 
Which of the statements given above are 
correct? 
(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 2 and 3 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: A 
The 1813 Act ended the Company‘s monopoly 
over trade in India but the company retained 
Page 2


 
ANSWERS TO THE GS QUESTION PAPER -1  
1 
HISTORY 
 
1. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are 
the difference/differences between Jagirdar 
and Zamindar? 
1. Jagirdars were holders of land 
assignments in lieu of judicial and police 
duties, whereas Zamindars were 
holders of revenue rights without 
obligation to perform any duty other than 
revenue collection. 
2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were 
hereditary and revenue rights of 
Zamindars were not hereditary. 
Select the correct answer using the code 
given below: 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: D 
During Akbar's period all the territory was 
broadly divided into two: khalisa and jagir. The 
revenue from the first went to Imperial treasury 
and that from jagir was assigned to jagirdars in 
lieu of their salary in cash (naqd) according to 
their rank. Right to collect revenue was to utilise 
the same for their salary and to meet their 
military obligations. The judicial and police 
functions were performed locally by zamindars.  
An important feature of the jagir system was 
shifting of jagir-holders from one jagir to another 
for administrative reasons. This system of 
transfers checked the jagirdars from developing 
local roots. Thus jagirs were transferable and 
could be seized too. Zamindars on the other 
hand were hereditary. The zamindars were 
present in practically every part of the Mughal 
Empire and held the most significant position in 
the agrarian structure of Mughal India. The 
word zamindar is derived from two Persian 
words-zamin (land) and dar (holder). 
Source: Medieval India, Class 11 NCERT, by 
Satish Chandra 
 
2. With reference to land reforms in 
independent India, which one of the 
following statements is correct? 
(a) The ceiling laws were aimed at family 
holdings and not individual holdings. 
(b) The major aim of land reforms was 
providing agricultural land to all the 
landless. 
(c) It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as 
a predominant form of cultivation. 
(d) Land reforms permitted no exemptions 
to the ceiling limits. 
 
Answer: B 
Major weakness of Land ceiling laws was that 
they were aimed at individual holdings. It 
allowed many zamindars to transfer land 
notionally to their relatives and thus escape the 
ceiling. The reason for land reforms was 
providing land to all landless people 
(redistribution) because landlessness was 
considered as one major reason of poverty and 
exploitation. Cultivation of cash crops require 
much more inputs than mere availability of 
holdings. Cash crops, during British time, were 
induced by force while in post-independence, 
major transformation for cash crops has 
happened where capital, market access, 
technology and irrigation are available. After the 
Second Plan, a large numbers of exemptions 
kicked in for certain categories of land – 
tea/rubber plantations, orchards, dairying etc to 
promote certain kind of capitalist expansion in 
place of absentee landlordism.  
Source – India since Independence, Chapter 
28 and 29, Bipin Chandra 
 
3. Consider the following statements about 
'the Charter Act of 1813': 
1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East 
India Company in India except for trade 
in tea and trade with China. 
2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British 
Crown over the Indian territories held by 
the Company. 
3. The revenues of India were now 
controlled by the British Parliament. 
Which of the statements given above are 
correct? 
(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 2 and 3 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: A 
The 1813 Act ended the Company‘s monopoly 
over trade in India but the company retained 
 
    
2 
trade with China and the trade in tea. So, 
statement 1 is correct. (Spectrum 2017, 566). 
The Act asserted the ?undoubted sovereignty of 
the Crown of the United Kingdom? over Indian 
territories. So, statement 2 is correct (Plassey 
to Partition 2012, 79). 
The revenues of India were controlled by the 
British parliament through Pitts India Act 1784. 
Source – Plassey to Partition by Sekhar 
Bandyopadhyay and Spectrum History 
 
4. With reference to Swadeshi Movement, 
consider the following statements: 
1. It contributed to the revival of the 
indigenous artisan crafts and industries. 
2. The National Council of Education was 
established as a part of Swadeshi 
Movement. 
Which of the statements given above is/are 
correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both l and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: C 
The Swadeshi spirit found expression in the 
establishment of swadeshi textile mills, soap 
and match factories, tanneries, banks etc. so it 
contributed to the revival of the indigenous 
artisan crafts and industries. So, statement 1 is 
correct. 
On August 15, 1906, the National Council of 
Education was set-up to organise a system of 
education.  
Source – Spectrum History 2017, 296-297 
 
5. Consider the following pairs: 
 Movement/ 
Organization 
 Leader 
1. All India Anti-
Untouchability 
League 
: Mahatma Gandhi 
2. All India Kisan 
Sabha 
: Swami 
Sahajanand 
Saraswati 
3. Self-Respect 
Movement 
: E. V. 
Ramaswami 
Naicker 
Which of the pairs given above is/are 
correctly matched? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: D 
Gandhi set up All India Anti-Untouchability 
League in September 1932. (Spectrum Page 
438). 
The All India Kisan Sabha was founded in 
Lucknow in April 1936 With Swami Sahjananda 
Saraswati as the president. (Spectrum Page 
652). 
Self-Respect Movement emerged in South 
India under the leadership of E Ramaswamy 
Naicker, ?Periyar? (Plassey to Partition 349). 
Source – Spectrum and Plassey to Partition 
 
6. Which one of the following is not a 
Harappan site? 
(a) Chanhudaro 
(b) Kot Diji 
(c) Sohgaura 
(d) Desalpur 
 
Answer: C 
Chanhudaro and Desalpur are Harappan sites. 
Kot Diji is contemporaneous to Harappan era. 
Sohgura, on the other hand, is famous for 
Ashokan era inscription.  
Source: Ancient India NCERT, RS Sharma 
(Chapters – Harappan Civilisation, The Age 
of Mauryan) 
 
7. ln which of the following relief sculpture 
inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King 
Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone 
portrait of Ashoka? 
(a) Kanganahalli 
(b) Sanchi 
(c) Shahbazgarhi 
(d) Sohgaura 
 
Answer: A 
Kanaganahalli is about 3 km from Sannati, 
Karnataka. An important excavation site 
for Buddhist monuments. The most important 
finding of the excavation include a stone 
sculptured slab bearing the name Ranyo 
Ashoko. The first inscribed portrait 
of Ashoka (surrounded by female attendants 
and queens) found at Kanaganahalli 
Source: A History of Ancient and Early 
Medieval India, Upinder Singh  
 
Page 3


 
ANSWERS TO THE GS QUESTION PAPER -1  
1 
HISTORY 
 
1. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are 
the difference/differences between Jagirdar 
and Zamindar? 
1. Jagirdars were holders of land 
assignments in lieu of judicial and police 
duties, whereas Zamindars were 
holders of revenue rights without 
obligation to perform any duty other than 
revenue collection. 
2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were 
hereditary and revenue rights of 
Zamindars were not hereditary. 
Select the correct answer using the code 
given below: 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: D 
During Akbar's period all the territory was 
broadly divided into two: khalisa and jagir. The 
revenue from the first went to Imperial treasury 
and that from jagir was assigned to jagirdars in 
lieu of their salary in cash (naqd) according to 
their rank. Right to collect revenue was to utilise 
the same for their salary and to meet their 
military obligations. The judicial and police 
functions were performed locally by zamindars.  
An important feature of the jagir system was 
shifting of jagir-holders from one jagir to another 
for administrative reasons. This system of 
transfers checked the jagirdars from developing 
local roots. Thus jagirs were transferable and 
could be seized too. Zamindars on the other 
hand were hereditary. The zamindars were 
present in practically every part of the Mughal 
Empire and held the most significant position in 
the agrarian structure of Mughal India. The 
word zamindar is derived from two Persian 
words-zamin (land) and dar (holder). 
Source: Medieval India, Class 11 NCERT, by 
Satish Chandra 
 
2. With reference to land reforms in 
independent India, which one of the 
following statements is correct? 
(a) The ceiling laws were aimed at family 
holdings and not individual holdings. 
(b) The major aim of land reforms was 
providing agricultural land to all the 
landless. 
(c) It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as 
a predominant form of cultivation. 
(d) Land reforms permitted no exemptions 
to the ceiling limits. 
 
Answer: B 
Major weakness of Land ceiling laws was that 
they were aimed at individual holdings. It 
allowed many zamindars to transfer land 
notionally to their relatives and thus escape the 
ceiling. The reason for land reforms was 
providing land to all landless people 
(redistribution) because landlessness was 
considered as one major reason of poverty and 
exploitation. Cultivation of cash crops require 
much more inputs than mere availability of 
holdings. Cash crops, during British time, were 
induced by force while in post-independence, 
major transformation for cash crops has 
happened where capital, market access, 
technology and irrigation are available. After the 
Second Plan, a large numbers of exemptions 
kicked in for certain categories of land – 
tea/rubber plantations, orchards, dairying etc to 
promote certain kind of capitalist expansion in 
place of absentee landlordism.  
Source – India since Independence, Chapter 
28 and 29, Bipin Chandra 
 
3. Consider the following statements about 
'the Charter Act of 1813': 
1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East 
India Company in India except for trade 
in tea and trade with China. 
2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British 
Crown over the Indian territories held by 
the Company. 
3. The revenues of India were now 
controlled by the British Parliament. 
Which of the statements given above are 
correct? 
(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 2 and 3 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: A 
The 1813 Act ended the Company‘s monopoly 
over trade in India but the company retained 
 
    
2 
trade with China and the trade in tea. So, 
statement 1 is correct. (Spectrum 2017, 566). 
The Act asserted the ?undoubted sovereignty of 
the Crown of the United Kingdom? over Indian 
territories. So, statement 2 is correct (Plassey 
to Partition 2012, 79). 
The revenues of India were controlled by the 
British parliament through Pitts India Act 1784. 
Source – Plassey to Partition by Sekhar 
Bandyopadhyay and Spectrum History 
 
4. With reference to Swadeshi Movement, 
consider the following statements: 
1. It contributed to the revival of the 
indigenous artisan crafts and industries. 
2. The National Council of Education was 
established as a part of Swadeshi 
Movement. 
Which of the statements given above is/are 
correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both l and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: C 
The Swadeshi spirit found expression in the 
establishment of swadeshi textile mills, soap 
and match factories, tanneries, banks etc. so it 
contributed to the revival of the indigenous 
artisan crafts and industries. So, statement 1 is 
correct. 
On August 15, 1906, the National Council of 
Education was set-up to organise a system of 
education.  
Source – Spectrum History 2017, 296-297 
 
5. Consider the following pairs: 
 Movement/ 
Organization 
 Leader 
1. All India Anti-
Untouchability 
League 
: Mahatma Gandhi 
2. All India Kisan 
Sabha 
: Swami 
Sahajanand 
Saraswati 
3. Self-Respect 
Movement 
: E. V. 
Ramaswami 
Naicker 
Which of the pairs given above is/are 
correctly matched? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: D 
Gandhi set up All India Anti-Untouchability 
League in September 1932. (Spectrum Page 
438). 
The All India Kisan Sabha was founded in 
Lucknow in April 1936 With Swami Sahjananda 
Saraswati as the president. (Spectrum Page 
652). 
Self-Respect Movement emerged in South 
India under the leadership of E Ramaswamy 
Naicker, ?Periyar? (Plassey to Partition 349). 
Source – Spectrum and Plassey to Partition 
 
6. Which one of the following is not a 
Harappan site? 
(a) Chanhudaro 
(b) Kot Diji 
(c) Sohgaura 
(d) Desalpur 
 
Answer: C 
Chanhudaro and Desalpur are Harappan sites. 
Kot Diji is contemporaneous to Harappan era. 
Sohgura, on the other hand, is famous for 
Ashokan era inscription.  
Source: Ancient India NCERT, RS Sharma 
(Chapters – Harappan Civilisation, The Age 
of Mauryan) 
 
7. ln which of the following relief sculpture 
inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King 
Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone 
portrait of Ashoka? 
(a) Kanganahalli 
(b) Sanchi 
(c) Shahbazgarhi 
(d) Sohgaura 
 
Answer: A 
Kanaganahalli is about 3 km from Sannati, 
Karnataka. An important excavation site 
for Buddhist monuments. The most important 
finding of the excavation include a stone 
sculptured slab bearing the name Ranyo 
Ashoko. The first inscribed portrait 
of Ashoka (surrounded by female attendants 
and queens) found at Kanaganahalli 
Source: A History of Ancient and Early 
Medieval India, Upinder Singh  
 
 
    
3 
8. Consider the following: 
1. Deification of the Buddha 
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas 
3. Image worship and rituals 
Which of the above is/are the feature/ 
features of Mahayana Buddhism? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: D 
Mahayana Buddhism is one of two main 
existing branches of Buddhism (the other 
being Theravada). It started considering 
Buddha as a god rather than a great teacher 
and began worshipping Buddha‘s images. It 
also has a whole cosmology of gods and 
goddesses as well as various Bodhisattvas 
seeking complete enlightenment for the benefit 
of all sentient beings. In fact, the teachings of 
Mahayana are also nothing but treating the path 
of various Bodhisattvas.  
Source – A History of Ancient and Early 
Medieval India, Upinder Singh. Chapter 8 – 
Interactions and Innovations (200BCE-
200CE) 
 
9. With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in 
India during the Gupta period, which one of 
the following statements is correct? 
(a) It was considered a source of income for 
the State, a sort of tax paid by the 
people. 
(b) It was totally absent in the Madhya 
Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the 
Gupta Empire. 
(c)The forced labourer was entitled to 
weekly wages. 
(d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent 
as the forced labourer. 
 
Answer: A 
Vishti was form of forced labour extracted by 
either state, provincial governor or local chief. It 
is also mentioned on Gupta era copper 
inscriptions that enlist variety of taxes.  
Junagarh inscription mentions vishti as one 
form of tax, which indicates that it was extracted 
from Gujarat and Malwa region. Since it was a 
forced labour in lieu of tax, it was not a wage 
labour. Wage labour existed in ancient India but 
it was not called vishti. Vishti could be extracted 
from anyone, not in particular from eldest son 
only. 
Source: A History of Ancient and Medieval 
India, Upinder Singh. 
 
10. Building 'Kalyaana Mandapas' was a 
notable feature in the temple construction in 
the kingdom of 
(a) Chalukya 
(b) Chandela 
(c) Rashtrakuta 
(d) Vijayanagara 
 
Answer: D 
Kalyana Mandapas meant to celebrate divine 
weddings was a notable feature of the 
Vijaynagara Kingdom.  
Source – Themes in Indian History II, Page 
186 
 
11. Consider the following statements: 
1. In the revenue administration of Delhi 
Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue 
collection was known as'Amil'. 
2. The Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was 
an ancient indigenous institution. 
3. The office of 'Mir Bakshi' came into 
existence during the reign of Khalji 
Sultans of Delhi. 
Which of the statements given above is/are 
correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: A 
Amils were officers deputed to collect revenue 
during the sultanate era in North India. Mir 
Bakshi, on the other hand, was a Mughal high 
office in charge of military pay and accounts.  
Iqta system of land control was introduced in 
India by the Delhi sultans. It was originally of 
Central Asian and West Asian origin.  
Source: Medieval India, NCERT Satish 
Chandra 
 
12. Consider the following statements: 
1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of 
Akbar. 
2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by 
Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi. 
Page 4


 
ANSWERS TO THE GS QUESTION PAPER -1  
1 
HISTORY 
 
1. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are 
the difference/differences between Jagirdar 
and Zamindar? 
1. Jagirdars were holders of land 
assignments in lieu of judicial and police 
duties, whereas Zamindars were 
holders of revenue rights without 
obligation to perform any duty other than 
revenue collection. 
2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were 
hereditary and revenue rights of 
Zamindars were not hereditary. 
Select the correct answer using the code 
given below: 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: D 
During Akbar's period all the territory was 
broadly divided into two: khalisa and jagir. The 
revenue from the first went to Imperial treasury 
and that from jagir was assigned to jagirdars in 
lieu of their salary in cash (naqd) according to 
their rank. Right to collect revenue was to utilise 
the same for their salary and to meet their 
military obligations. The judicial and police 
functions were performed locally by zamindars.  
An important feature of the jagir system was 
shifting of jagir-holders from one jagir to another 
for administrative reasons. This system of 
transfers checked the jagirdars from developing 
local roots. Thus jagirs were transferable and 
could be seized too. Zamindars on the other 
hand were hereditary. The zamindars were 
present in practically every part of the Mughal 
Empire and held the most significant position in 
the agrarian structure of Mughal India. The 
word zamindar is derived from two Persian 
words-zamin (land) and dar (holder). 
Source: Medieval India, Class 11 NCERT, by 
Satish Chandra 
 
2. With reference to land reforms in 
independent India, which one of the 
following statements is correct? 
(a) The ceiling laws were aimed at family 
holdings and not individual holdings. 
(b) The major aim of land reforms was 
providing agricultural land to all the 
landless. 
(c) It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as 
a predominant form of cultivation. 
(d) Land reforms permitted no exemptions 
to the ceiling limits. 
 
Answer: B 
Major weakness of Land ceiling laws was that 
they were aimed at individual holdings. It 
allowed many zamindars to transfer land 
notionally to their relatives and thus escape the 
ceiling. The reason for land reforms was 
providing land to all landless people 
(redistribution) because landlessness was 
considered as one major reason of poverty and 
exploitation. Cultivation of cash crops require 
much more inputs than mere availability of 
holdings. Cash crops, during British time, were 
induced by force while in post-independence, 
major transformation for cash crops has 
happened where capital, market access, 
technology and irrigation are available. After the 
Second Plan, a large numbers of exemptions 
kicked in for certain categories of land – 
tea/rubber plantations, orchards, dairying etc to 
promote certain kind of capitalist expansion in 
place of absentee landlordism.  
Source – India since Independence, Chapter 
28 and 29, Bipin Chandra 
 
3. Consider the following statements about 
'the Charter Act of 1813': 
1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East 
India Company in India except for trade 
in tea and trade with China. 
2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British 
Crown over the Indian territories held by 
the Company. 
3. The revenues of India were now 
controlled by the British Parliament. 
Which of the statements given above are 
correct? 
(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 2 and 3 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: A 
The 1813 Act ended the Company‘s monopoly 
over trade in India but the company retained 
 
    
2 
trade with China and the trade in tea. So, 
statement 1 is correct. (Spectrum 2017, 566). 
The Act asserted the ?undoubted sovereignty of 
the Crown of the United Kingdom? over Indian 
territories. So, statement 2 is correct (Plassey 
to Partition 2012, 79). 
The revenues of India were controlled by the 
British parliament through Pitts India Act 1784. 
Source – Plassey to Partition by Sekhar 
Bandyopadhyay and Spectrum History 
 
4. With reference to Swadeshi Movement, 
consider the following statements: 
1. It contributed to the revival of the 
indigenous artisan crafts and industries. 
2. The National Council of Education was 
established as a part of Swadeshi 
Movement. 
Which of the statements given above is/are 
correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both l and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: C 
The Swadeshi spirit found expression in the 
establishment of swadeshi textile mills, soap 
and match factories, tanneries, banks etc. so it 
contributed to the revival of the indigenous 
artisan crafts and industries. So, statement 1 is 
correct. 
On August 15, 1906, the National Council of 
Education was set-up to organise a system of 
education.  
Source – Spectrum History 2017, 296-297 
 
5. Consider the following pairs: 
 Movement/ 
Organization 
 Leader 
1. All India Anti-
Untouchability 
League 
: Mahatma Gandhi 
2. All India Kisan 
Sabha 
: Swami 
Sahajanand 
Saraswati 
3. Self-Respect 
Movement 
: E. V. 
Ramaswami 
Naicker 
Which of the pairs given above is/are 
correctly matched? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: D 
Gandhi set up All India Anti-Untouchability 
League in September 1932. (Spectrum Page 
438). 
The All India Kisan Sabha was founded in 
Lucknow in April 1936 With Swami Sahjananda 
Saraswati as the president. (Spectrum Page 
652). 
Self-Respect Movement emerged in South 
India under the leadership of E Ramaswamy 
Naicker, ?Periyar? (Plassey to Partition 349). 
Source – Spectrum and Plassey to Partition 
 
6. Which one of the following is not a 
Harappan site? 
(a) Chanhudaro 
(b) Kot Diji 
(c) Sohgaura 
(d) Desalpur 
 
Answer: C 
Chanhudaro and Desalpur are Harappan sites. 
Kot Diji is contemporaneous to Harappan era. 
Sohgura, on the other hand, is famous for 
Ashokan era inscription.  
Source: Ancient India NCERT, RS Sharma 
(Chapters – Harappan Civilisation, The Age 
of Mauryan) 
 
7. ln which of the following relief sculpture 
inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King 
Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone 
portrait of Ashoka? 
(a) Kanganahalli 
(b) Sanchi 
(c) Shahbazgarhi 
(d) Sohgaura 
 
Answer: A 
Kanaganahalli is about 3 km from Sannati, 
Karnataka. An important excavation site 
for Buddhist monuments. The most important 
finding of the excavation include a stone 
sculptured slab bearing the name Ranyo 
Ashoko. The first inscribed portrait 
of Ashoka (surrounded by female attendants 
and queens) found at Kanaganahalli 
Source: A History of Ancient and Early 
Medieval India, Upinder Singh  
 
 
    
3 
8. Consider the following: 
1. Deification of the Buddha 
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas 
3. Image worship and rituals 
Which of the above is/are the feature/ 
features of Mahayana Buddhism? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: D 
Mahayana Buddhism is one of two main 
existing branches of Buddhism (the other 
being Theravada). It started considering 
Buddha as a god rather than a great teacher 
and began worshipping Buddha‘s images. It 
also has a whole cosmology of gods and 
goddesses as well as various Bodhisattvas 
seeking complete enlightenment for the benefit 
of all sentient beings. In fact, the teachings of 
Mahayana are also nothing but treating the path 
of various Bodhisattvas.  
Source – A History of Ancient and Early 
Medieval India, Upinder Singh. Chapter 8 – 
Interactions and Innovations (200BCE-
200CE) 
 
9. With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in 
India during the Gupta period, which one of 
the following statements is correct? 
(a) It was considered a source of income for 
the State, a sort of tax paid by the 
people. 
(b) It was totally absent in the Madhya 
Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the 
Gupta Empire. 
(c)The forced labourer was entitled to 
weekly wages. 
(d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent 
as the forced labourer. 
 
Answer: A 
Vishti was form of forced labour extracted by 
either state, provincial governor or local chief. It 
is also mentioned on Gupta era copper 
inscriptions that enlist variety of taxes.  
Junagarh inscription mentions vishti as one 
form of tax, which indicates that it was extracted 
from Gujarat and Malwa region. Since it was a 
forced labour in lieu of tax, it was not a wage 
labour. Wage labour existed in ancient India but 
it was not called vishti. Vishti could be extracted 
from anyone, not in particular from eldest son 
only. 
Source: A History of Ancient and Medieval 
India, Upinder Singh. 
 
10. Building 'Kalyaana Mandapas' was a 
notable feature in the temple construction in 
the kingdom of 
(a) Chalukya 
(b) Chandela 
(c) Rashtrakuta 
(d) Vijayanagara 
 
Answer: D 
Kalyana Mandapas meant to celebrate divine 
weddings was a notable feature of the 
Vijaynagara Kingdom.  
Source – Themes in Indian History II, Page 
186 
 
11. Consider the following statements: 
1. In the revenue administration of Delhi 
Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue 
collection was known as'Amil'. 
2. The Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was 
an ancient indigenous institution. 
3. The office of 'Mir Bakshi' came into 
existence during the reign of Khalji 
Sultans of Delhi. 
Which of the statements given above is/are 
correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: A 
Amils were officers deputed to collect revenue 
during the sultanate era in North India. Mir 
Bakshi, on the other hand, was a Mughal high 
office in charge of military pay and accounts.  
Iqta system of land control was introduced in 
India by the Delhi sultans. It was originally of 
Central Asian and West Asian origin.  
Source: Medieval India, NCERT Satish 
Chandra 
 
12. Consider the following statements: 
1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of 
Akbar. 
2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by 
Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi. 
 
    
4 
Which of the statements given above is/ are 
correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: D 
Both the statements are incorrect. Nimbarka 
era is not exactly known but its sometime in 
12
th
-13
th
 century. Kabir belonged to the earlier 
era than Sirhindi. Also, Sirhindi was Islamic, 
Hanafi, scholar of Naqshbandi silsilah while 
Kabir was the follower of Nirgun bhakti. 
Source: Medieval India NCERT by Satish 
Chandra 
 
13. Which one of the following groups of plants 
was domesticated in the 'New World' and 
introduced into the 'Old World? 
(a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber 
(b) Tobacco, cotton and rubber 
(c) Cotton, coffee and sugarcane 
(d) Rubber, coffee and wheat 
 
Answer: A 
Cotton was cultivate in India since ancient era. 
Even Harappan era evidence of cotton 
cultivation is found. So is wheat. Wheat has 
been a widely cultivated crop in India since time 
immemorial. However tobacco, cocoa and 
rubber came to India through Europeans in the 
late medieval or early modern era. All of them 
originated in South America. This process is 
termed as Columbian exchange (named for 
Christopher Columbus). It was the widespread 
transfer of plants, animals, culture, human 
populations, technology, diseases, and ideas 
between the Americas, West Africa, and the 
Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries. 
 
14. With reference to the British colonial rule in 
India, consider the following statements:  
1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in 
the abolition of the system of 'indentured 
labour'. 
2. In Lord Chelmsford's 'War Conference', 
Mahatma Gandhi did not support the 
resolution on recruiting Indians for World 
War. 
3. Consequent upon the breaking of salt 
law by Indian people, the Indian 
National Congress was declared illegal 
by the colonial rulers. 
Which of the statements given above are 
correct? 
(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 1 and 3 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: B 
Statement 1 and 3 are correct. Indentured 
labour system soon died after Gandhi left South 
Africa. Also, Gandhi‘s colleague C.f. Andrews 
contributed in the abolition campaign.  
Statement 2 is incorrect. Gandhi did support the 
resolution on recruiting Indians for World War. 
Source: Spectrum Modern India 
 
15. With reference to Indian National 
Movement, consider the following pairs: 
 Person  Position held 
 Tej 
Bahadur 
Sapru 
 President, All India 
Liberal Federation 
 K. C. Neogy  Member, The 
Constituent Assembly 
 P. C. Joshi  General Secretary, 
Communist Party of 
India 
Which of the pairs given above is/are 
correctly matched? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: D 
Tej Bahadur Sapru was a 
prominent Indian freedom fighter, lawyer and 
politician. He was a key figure in India's struggle 
for independence, helping draft the Indian 
Constitution. He was the leader of the Liberal 
party in British-ruled India. When the Montagu 
report of 1918 was made public, there was a 
divide in the Congress over it. The moderates 
welcomed it while the extremists opposed it. 
This led to a schism in the Congress with 
moderate leaders forming the "Indian National 
Liberal Federation" in 1919. The party (INLF) 
was founded by Surendra Nath Banarjea and 
some of its prominent leaders were Tej 
Bahadur Sapru, V. S. Srinivasa Sastri and M. 
Page 5


 
ANSWERS TO THE GS QUESTION PAPER -1  
1 
HISTORY 
 
1. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are 
the difference/differences between Jagirdar 
and Zamindar? 
1. Jagirdars were holders of land 
assignments in lieu of judicial and police 
duties, whereas Zamindars were 
holders of revenue rights without 
obligation to perform any duty other than 
revenue collection. 
2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were 
hereditary and revenue rights of 
Zamindars were not hereditary. 
Select the correct answer using the code 
given below: 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: D 
During Akbar's period all the territory was 
broadly divided into two: khalisa and jagir. The 
revenue from the first went to Imperial treasury 
and that from jagir was assigned to jagirdars in 
lieu of their salary in cash (naqd) according to 
their rank. Right to collect revenue was to utilise 
the same for their salary and to meet their 
military obligations. The judicial and police 
functions were performed locally by zamindars.  
An important feature of the jagir system was 
shifting of jagir-holders from one jagir to another 
for administrative reasons. This system of 
transfers checked the jagirdars from developing 
local roots. Thus jagirs were transferable and 
could be seized too. Zamindars on the other 
hand were hereditary. The zamindars were 
present in practically every part of the Mughal 
Empire and held the most significant position in 
the agrarian structure of Mughal India. The 
word zamindar is derived from two Persian 
words-zamin (land) and dar (holder). 
Source: Medieval India, Class 11 NCERT, by 
Satish Chandra 
 
2. With reference to land reforms in 
independent India, which one of the 
following statements is correct? 
(a) The ceiling laws were aimed at family 
holdings and not individual holdings. 
(b) The major aim of land reforms was 
providing agricultural land to all the 
landless. 
(c) It resulted in cultivation of cash crops as 
a predominant form of cultivation. 
(d) Land reforms permitted no exemptions 
to the ceiling limits. 
 
Answer: B 
Major weakness of Land ceiling laws was that 
they were aimed at individual holdings. It 
allowed many zamindars to transfer land 
notionally to their relatives and thus escape the 
ceiling. The reason for land reforms was 
providing land to all landless people 
(redistribution) because landlessness was 
considered as one major reason of poverty and 
exploitation. Cultivation of cash crops require 
much more inputs than mere availability of 
holdings. Cash crops, during British time, were 
induced by force while in post-independence, 
major transformation for cash crops has 
happened where capital, market access, 
technology and irrigation are available. After the 
Second Plan, a large numbers of exemptions 
kicked in for certain categories of land – 
tea/rubber plantations, orchards, dairying etc to 
promote certain kind of capitalist expansion in 
place of absentee landlordism.  
Source – India since Independence, Chapter 
28 and 29, Bipin Chandra 
 
3. Consider the following statements about 
'the Charter Act of 1813': 
1. It ended the trade monopoly of the East 
India Company in India except for trade 
in tea and trade with China. 
2. It asserted the sovereignty of the British 
Crown over the Indian territories held by 
the Company. 
3. The revenues of India were now 
controlled by the British Parliament. 
Which of the statements given above are 
correct? 
(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 2 and 3 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: A 
The 1813 Act ended the Company‘s monopoly 
over trade in India but the company retained 
 
    
2 
trade with China and the trade in tea. So, 
statement 1 is correct. (Spectrum 2017, 566). 
The Act asserted the ?undoubted sovereignty of 
the Crown of the United Kingdom? over Indian 
territories. So, statement 2 is correct (Plassey 
to Partition 2012, 79). 
The revenues of India were controlled by the 
British parliament through Pitts India Act 1784. 
Source – Plassey to Partition by Sekhar 
Bandyopadhyay and Spectrum History 
 
4. With reference to Swadeshi Movement, 
consider the following statements: 
1. It contributed to the revival of the 
indigenous artisan crafts and industries. 
2. The National Council of Education was 
established as a part of Swadeshi 
Movement. 
Which of the statements given above is/are 
correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both l and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: C 
The Swadeshi spirit found expression in the 
establishment of swadeshi textile mills, soap 
and match factories, tanneries, banks etc. so it 
contributed to the revival of the indigenous 
artisan crafts and industries. So, statement 1 is 
correct. 
On August 15, 1906, the National Council of 
Education was set-up to organise a system of 
education.  
Source – Spectrum History 2017, 296-297 
 
5. Consider the following pairs: 
 Movement/ 
Organization 
 Leader 
1. All India Anti-
Untouchability 
League 
: Mahatma Gandhi 
2. All India Kisan 
Sabha 
: Swami 
Sahajanand 
Saraswati 
3. Self-Respect 
Movement 
: E. V. 
Ramaswami 
Naicker 
Which of the pairs given above is/are 
correctly matched? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: D 
Gandhi set up All India Anti-Untouchability 
League in September 1932. (Spectrum Page 
438). 
The All India Kisan Sabha was founded in 
Lucknow in April 1936 With Swami Sahjananda 
Saraswati as the president. (Spectrum Page 
652). 
Self-Respect Movement emerged in South 
India under the leadership of E Ramaswamy 
Naicker, ?Periyar? (Plassey to Partition 349). 
Source – Spectrum and Plassey to Partition 
 
6. Which one of the following is not a 
Harappan site? 
(a) Chanhudaro 
(b) Kot Diji 
(c) Sohgaura 
(d) Desalpur 
 
Answer: C 
Chanhudaro and Desalpur are Harappan sites. 
Kot Diji is contemporaneous to Harappan era. 
Sohgura, on the other hand, is famous for 
Ashokan era inscription.  
Source: Ancient India NCERT, RS Sharma 
(Chapters – Harappan Civilisation, The Age 
of Mauryan) 
 
7. ln which of the following relief sculpture 
inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King 
Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone 
portrait of Ashoka? 
(a) Kanganahalli 
(b) Sanchi 
(c) Shahbazgarhi 
(d) Sohgaura 
 
Answer: A 
Kanaganahalli is about 3 km from Sannati, 
Karnataka. An important excavation site 
for Buddhist monuments. The most important 
finding of the excavation include a stone 
sculptured slab bearing the name Ranyo 
Ashoko. The first inscribed portrait 
of Ashoka (surrounded by female attendants 
and queens) found at Kanaganahalli 
Source: A History of Ancient and Early 
Medieval India, Upinder Singh  
 
 
    
3 
8. Consider the following: 
1. Deification of the Buddha 
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas 
3. Image worship and rituals 
Which of the above is/are the feature/ 
features of Mahayana Buddhism? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: D 
Mahayana Buddhism is one of two main 
existing branches of Buddhism (the other 
being Theravada). It started considering 
Buddha as a god rather than a great teacher 
and began worshipping Buddha‘s images. It 
also has a whole cosmology of gods and 
goddesses as well as various Bodhisattvas 
seeking complete enlightenment for the benefit 
of all sentient beings. In fact, the teachings of 
Mahayana are also nothing but treating the path 
of various Bodhisattvas.  
Source – A History of Ancient and Early 
Medieval India, Upinder Singh. Chapter 8 – 
Interactions and Innovations (200BCE-
200CE) 
 
9. With reference to forced labour (Vishti) in 
India during the Gupta period, which one of 
the following statements is correct? 
(a) It was considered a source of income for 
the State, a sort of tax paid by the 
people. 
(b) It was totally absent in the Madhya 
Pradesh and Kathiawar regions of the 
Gupta Empire. 
(c)The forced labourer was entitled to 
weekly wages. 
(d) The eldest son of the labourer was sent 
as the forced labourer. 
 
Answer: A 
Vishti was form of forced labour extracted by 
either state, provincial governor or local chief. It 
is also mentioned on Gupta era copper 
inscriptions that enlist variety of taxes.  
Junagarh inscription mentions vishti as one 
form of tax, which indicates that it was extracted 
from Gujarat and Malwa region. Since it was a 
forced labour in lieu of tax, it was not a wage 
labour. Wage labour existed in ancient India but 
it was not called vishti. Vishti could be extracted 
from anyone, not in particular from eldest son 
only. 
Source: A History of Ancient and Medieval 
India, Upinder Singh. 
 
10. Building 'Kalyaana Mandapas' was a 
notable feature in the temple construction in 
the kingdom of 
(a) Chalukya 
(b) Chandela 
(c) Rashtrakuta 
(d) Vijayanagara 
 
Answer: D 
Kalyana Mandapas meant to celebrate divine 
weddings was a notable feature of the 
Vijaynagara Kingdom.  
Source – Themes in Indian History II, Page 
186 
 
11. Consider the following statements: 
1. In the revenue administration of Delhi 
Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue 
collection was known as'Amil'. 
2. The Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was 
an ancient indigenous institution. 
3. The office of 'Mir Bakshi' came into 
existence during the reign of Khalji 
Sultans of Delhi. 
Which of the statements given above is/are 
correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: A 
Amils were officers deputed to collect revenue 
during the sultanate era in North India. Mir 
Bakshi, on the other hand, was a Mughal high 
office in charge of military pay and accounts.  
Iqta system of land control was introduced in 
India by the Delhi sultans. It was originally of 
Central Asian and West Asian origin.  
Source: Medieval India, NCERT Satish 
Chandra 
 
12. Consider the following statements: 
1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of 
Akbar. 
2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by 
Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi. 
 
    
4 
Which of the statements given above is/ are 
correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 2 only 
(c) Both 1 and 2 
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 
 
Answer: D 
Both the statements are incorrect. Nimbarka 
era is not exactly known but its sometime in 
12
th
-13
th
 century. Kabir belonged to the earlier 
era than Sirhindi. Also, Sirhindi was Islamic, 
Hanafi, scholar of Naqshbandi silsilah while 
Kabir was the follower of Nirgun bhakti. 
Source: Medieval India NCERT by Satish 
Chandra 
 
13. Which one of the following groups of plants 
was domesticated in the 'New World' and 
introduced into the 'Old World? 
(a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber 
(b) Tobacco, cotton and rubber 
(c) Cotton, coffee and sugarcane 
(d) Rubber, coffee and wheat 
 
Answer: A 
Cotton was cultivate in India since ancient era. 
Even Harappan era evidence of cotton 
cultivation is found. So is wheat. Wheat has 
been a widely cultivated crop in India since time 
immemorial. However tobacco, cocoa and 
rubber came to India through Europeans in the 
late medieval or early modern era. All of them 
originated in South America. This process is 
termed as Columbian exchange (named for 
Christopher Columbus). It was the widespread 
transfer of plants, animals, culture, human 
populations, technology, diseases, and ideas 
between the Americas, West Africa, and the 
Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries. 
 
14. With reference to the British colonial rule in 
India, consider the following statements:  
1. Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in 
the abolition of the system of 'indentured 
labour'. 
2. In Lord Chelmsford's 'War Conference', 
Mahatma Gandhi did not support the 
resolution on recruiting Indians for World 
War. 
3. Consequent upon the breaking of salt 
law by Indian people, the Indian 
National Congress was declared illegal 
by the colonial rulers. 
Which of the statements given above are 
correct? 
(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 1 and 3 only 
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: B 
Statement 1 and 3 are correct. Indentured 
labour system soon died after Gandhi left South 
Africa. Also, Gandhi‘s colleague C.f. Andrews 
contributed in the abolition campaign.  
Statement 2 is incorrect. Gandhi did support the 
resolution on recruiting Indians for World War. 
Source: Spectrum Modern India 
 
15. With reference to Indian National 
Movement, consider the following pairs: 
 Person  Position held 
 Tej 
Bahadur 
Sapru 
 President, All India 
Liberal Federation 
 K. C. Neogy  Member, The 
Constituent Assembly 
 P. C. Joshi  General Secretary, 
Communist Party of 
India 
Which of the pairs given above is/are 
correctly matched? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only 
(c) 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3 
 
Answer: D 
Tej Bahadur Sapru was a 
prominent Indian freedom fighter, lawyer and 
politician. He was a key figure in India's struggle 
for independence, helping draft the Indian 
Constitution. He was the leader of the Liberal 
party in British-ruled India. When the Montagu 
report of 1918 was made public, there was a 
divide in the Congress over it. The moderates 
welcomed it while the extremists opposed it. 
This led to a schism in the Congress with 
moderate leaders forming the "Indian National 
Liberal Federation" in 1919. The party (INLF) 
was founded by Surendra Nath Banarjea and 
some of its prominent leaders were Tej 
Bahadur Sapru, V. S. Srinivasa Sastri and M. 
 
    
5 
R. Jayakar. Tej Bahadur Sapru emerged as the 
most important leader among the Liberals. 
KC Neogy, was a politician from West Bengal. 
He was a member of the Constituent Assembly 
of India, member of the first Cabinet of 
independent India and the chairman of the first 
Finance Commission of India. 
PC Joshi was one of the early leaders of the 
communist movement in India. He was the first 
general secretary of the Communist Party of 
India from 1935–47. 
Source: Modern India Spectrum 
 
16. With reference to Mian Tansen, which one 
of the following statements is not correct? 
(a) Tansen was the title given to him by 
Emperor Akbar. 
(b) Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu 
gods and goddesses. 
(c) Tansen composed songs on his 
patrons. 
(d) Tansen invented many Ragas. 
 
Answer: A 
Tansen was the title given to him by Raja 
Vikramjit of Gwalior. Tansen was a court 
musician in the darbar of Raja Ramachandra of 
Bandavagarh (Rewa). 
 
 
17. Who among of the following Mughal 
Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated 
manuscripts to album and individual 
portrait? 
(a) Humayun 
(b) Akbar 
(c) Jahangir 
(d) Shah Jahan 
 
Answer: C 
 
18. Consider the following pairs: 
 Famous place  River 
1. Pandharpur  Chandrabhaga 
2. Tiruchirappalli   Cauvery 
3. Hampi  Malaprabha 
Which of the pairs given above are correctly 
matched? 
(a) 1 and 2 only 
(b) 2 and 3 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3  
 
Answer: A 
1. Located on the bank of the Tungabhadra 
River, Hampi was the Vijaynagar Capital. It 
is famous for many temples lik e Virupaksha 
Temple, Vithala Temple and Nandi Statue.  
2. Pandharpur is a well-known pilgrimage town 
on the banks of Chandrabhaga River in 
Maharashtra 
3. Tiruchirappalli is situated on the banks of 
the river. It was a citadel of the early Cholas 
which later fell to the Pallavas.