UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions 2024: History | History for UPSC CSE PDF Download
Q1: Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasa? (Ancient History)
(a) Kavyalankara
(b) Natyashastra
(c) Madhyama-vyayoga
(d) Mahabhashya
View Answer 
Answer: (c) Madhyama-vyayoga.
Explanation:
- Bhasa is an ancient Indian playwright believed to have lived around the 2nd century BCE.
- Madhyama-vyayoga is one of the plays attributed to Bhasa. It is a Sanskrit play that belongs to the genre of Sanskrit drama, which typically includes elements of mythology, legends, and social themes.
- Kavyalankara is a work on poetics attributed to Bhamaha.
- Natyashastra is an ancient treatise on performing arts attributed to Bharata Muni.
- Mahabhashya is a work on grammar attributed to Patanjali.
Therefore, among the options given, Madhyama-vyayoga is specifically associated with the playwright Bhasa.
Q2: Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on : (Ancient History)
(a) Prajnaparamita Sutra
(b) Visuddhimagga
(c) Sarvastivada Vinaya
(d) Lalitavistara
View Answer Answer: (c) Sarvastivada Vinaya.
Explanation:
- Sanghabhuti was an Indian Buddhist monk who traveled to China at the end of the fourth century AD.
- He is known for his contributions to the Buddhist literature and his work on the Sarvastivada Vinaya.
- The Sarvastivada Vinaya is a set of monastic disciplinary rules (Vinaya) belonging to the Sarvastivada school of Buddhism.
- Prajnaparamita Sutra refers to a group of Mahayana sutras dealing with the perfection of wisdom.
- Visuddhimagga is a Theravada Buddhist commentary written by Buddhaghosa in the 5th century.
- Lalitavistara is a Mahayana Buddhist text that gives an account of the life of Gautama Buddha.
Therefore, Sanghabhuti is specifically known for his commentary on the Sarvastivada Vinaya.
1. Nayaputta
2. Shakyamuni
3. Tathagata
Select the correct answer using the code given below
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None of the above are epithets of Gautama Buddha
View Answer 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.
Q4: Consider the following information: (Ancient History)
In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 4
View Answer Here’s the explanation for each row:
Chandraketugarh:
- Incorrect: Chandraketugarh is not located in Odisha; it is an ancient archaeological site in West Bengal. It was a significant trading port town.
Inamgaon:
- Correct: Inamgaon is correctly matched as a Chalcolithic site in Maharashtra.
Mangadu:
- Correct: Mangadu is correctly matched as a megalithic site, but the state should be Tamil Nadu, not Kerala.
Salihundam:
- Incorrect: Salihundam is indeed located in Andhra Pradesh, but it is known for its Buddhist stupas, not rock-cut cave shrines.
Therefore, the correctly matched rows are 2 and 3.
Q5: Consider the following statements: (Ancient History)
1. There are no parables in Upanishads.
2. Upanishads were composed earlier than the Puranas.
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
View Answer 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.
Q6: Who of the following rulers of medieval India gave permission to the Portuguese to build a fort at Bhatkal? (Medieval History)
(a) Krishnadevaraya
(b) Narasimha Saluva
(c) Muhammad Shah III
(d) Yusuf Adil Shah
View 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.
Q7: With reference to the Government of India Act, 1935, consider the following statements: (Modern History)
1. It provided for the establishment of an All India Federation based on the union of the British Indian Provinces, and Princely States.
2. Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under the control of the federal legislature.
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
View Answer 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:
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.
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.
Q8: With reference to revenue collection by Cornwallis, consider the following statements: (Modern History)
1. Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvests or natural calamities.
2. Under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state, on or before the fixed date, he would be removed from his Zamindari.
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
View Answer Answer: (b) 2 only
Ryotwari Settlement: Under the Ryotwari Settlement, which was introduced by the British Governor Thomas Munro and later expanded by Lord Cornwallis, the peasants (ryots) were directly responsible for paying revenue to the British government. There was no exemption from revenue payment in case of bad harvests or natural calamities. The ryots had to pay regardless of their agricultural outcomes.
Permanent Settlement: In Bengal, under the Permanent Settlement introduced by Lord Cornwallis, the Zamindars were made permanent landholders with fixed revenue obligations to the British government. If a Zamindar failed to pay the revenue on time, they were not immediately removed from their Zamindari. Instead, they were often heavily penalized or faced legal actions to recover the dues, but removal from Zamindari was not the immediate consequence.
Therefore, statement 2 is correct (under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state on time, he would not be removed from his Zamindari), while statement 1 is incorrect (peasants were not exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvests under the Ryotwari Settlement).
So, the correct answer is (b) 2 only.
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