UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions 2024: History | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Answer: (c) Madhyama-vyayoga.

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

• Shakyamuni and Tathagata are indeed epithets of Gautama Buddha.
• Shakyamuni means "Sage of the Shakyas," referring to his belonging to the Shakya clan.
• Tathagata is a term the Buddha used to refer to himself, meaning "Thus-Gone" or "Thus-Come."
• Nayaputta refers to Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, and is not an epithet of Gautama Buddha.

Therefore, the epithets generally known for Gautama Buddha are Shakyamuni and Tathagata.

Answer: (b) 2 only.

Explanation:

Statement 1: There are no parables in Upanishads.

• This statement is incorrect. The Upanishads do contain parables and stories that convey philosophical and spiritual teachings. For example, the parable of Svetaketu in the Chandogya Upanishad.

Statement 2: Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.

• This statement is correct. The Upanishads, which are part of the Vedic literature, were composed around 800-400 BCE. The Puranas, on the other hand, were composed much later, with most of them written between 300-1500 CE.

Therefore, only the second statement is correct, making (b) 2 only the correct answer.

Answer: (A) Krishnadevaraya

Explanation:

• Krishnadevaraya was a prominent ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire in South India during the early 16th century.
• He is known for his military conquests, administrative capabilities, and patronage of arts and literature.
• During his reign, the Portuguese were allowed to build a fort at Bhatkal, which was an important port on the western coast of India.

Therefore, the ruler who gave permission to the Portuguese to build a fort at Bhatkal was Krishnadevaraya.

Answer: (A) 1 only

The Government of India Act, 1935, was a significant legislative framework that aimed to introduce substantial reforms in India's governance under British rule. Here's a breakdown of the statements in question:

1. Establishment of an All India Federation: The Act indeed proposed the establishment of an All India Federation, which was intended to unite both the British Indian Provinces and certain Princely States. This was an ambitious plan to create a unified federal structure encompassing diverse political entities within India.

2. Control over Defence and Foreign Affairs: Contrary to statement 2, the Act did not grant control over Defence and Foreign Affairs to the federal legislature. These crucial aspects of governance remained firmly under the authority of the British government, reflecting the limitations on India's autonomy within the colonial framework.

Therefore, the correct answer is (a) 1 only, as statement 1 accurately reflects the provisions of the Government of India Act, 1935.

Answer: (b) 2 only