GPSC Prelims Paper 1 Mock Test - 3 - GPSC (Gujarat) MCQ

Statement 1 is incorrect. In the Mughal household a distinction was maintained between wives who came from royal families (begums), and other wives (aghas) who were not of noble birth.

Statement 2 is correct. The beggars, married after receiving huge amounts of cash and valuables as dower (mahr), naturally received a higher status and greater attention from their husbands than did aghas. KB)

● The concubines (aghacha or the lesser agha) occupied the lowest position in the hierarchy of females intimately related to royalty.

● They all received monthly allowances in cash, supplemented with gifts according to their status.

● The lineage-based family structure was not entirely static.

● Agha and the Aghacha could rise to the position of a begam depending on the husband’s will, and provided that he did not already have four wives.

● Love and motherhood played important roles in elevating women to the status of legally wedded wives.

Article 51 of the Indian Constitution directs the State to promote international peace and security, maintain just and honorable relations between nations, foster respect for international law and treaty obligations, and encourage the settlement of international disputes by arbitration. This directive reflects India's commitment to promoting global peace and harmony.

Statement 1 is correct. Khilji and Tughlaq monarchs appointed military commanders as governors of territories of varying sizes. These lands were called ‘iqtas’ and their holders were called ‘iqtadars’ or ‘muqtis’. Their duty was to lead military campaigns and maintain law and order in their respective territories.

Statement 2 is incorrect. In exchange for military service, Muqtis collected revenue as salary. Care was taken that muqtis collected only the taxes prescribed by the state. They could not impose any amount of tax on the peasants.

Statement 3 is also incorrect. Their office was made non-inheritable during the reign of Khaljis and Tughlaqs to make their office more effective and accountable.

Statement 3 is correct. The oldest Veda, i.e. the Rig Veda was composed about 3500 years ago in the North-west of the subcontinent. It includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or “well said”. These hymns, composed by sages (rishis) are in praise of various gods and goddesses. Agni (the god of fire), Indra (a warrior god) and Soma (a plant from where a special drink was prepared) are the three gods that were especially important.

Statement 1 is correct. There were various battles fought during this time for cattle, land, water and to capture people.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Some of the wealth obtained was kept by the leaders, some were given to the priests and the rest was distributed amongst the people. Some of the wealth was used for the performance of yajnas or sacrifices in which offerings were made into the fire.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The ‘ur’ was a village assembly found in areas where the land owners were not brahmins.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The sabha, which was an assembly of brahmin land owners. This assembly functioned through subcommittees, which looked after irrigation, agricultural operations, making roads, local temples, etc.

Statement 3 is correct. The nagaram was an organisation of merchants. It is likely that these assemblies were controlled by rich and powerful landowners and merchants.

Statement 1 is correct. The Sun temple at Modhera dates back to the early 11th century and was built by Raja Bhimdev 1 of the Solanki dynasty in 1026 AD. The Solankis were a branch of the later Chalukyas. There is a massive rectangular stepped tank called the ‘surya kund’ in front of it. This hundred square metre rectangular pond is the grandest temple tank in India. 108 miniature shrines are carved in between steps inside the tank. The influence of the woodcarving tradition of Gujarat is also evident here. The temple faces east, and the sun shines directly into the central shrine. The style of the sculptures during the period between the 9th and 11th centuries in Bengal and Bihar is known as ‘Pala style’ named after the ruling dynasty of the time. The style from the 11th to 13th centuries is named after the Sena kings. Palas are mostly famous as patrons for Buddhist monastic sites.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The temples from this region were known to express the local ‘Vanga style’. It was a nagara sub type style of architecture similar to the contemporaneous temples of Odisha.

Statement 1 is incorrect. A famous physician named ‘Charaka’ (Charvaka was the founder of the ‘Lokayata philosophy’) wrote a book known as the Charaka Samhita about 2000 years ago. The book is on medicine. He stated that the human body has 360 bones. He arrived at this figure by counting the teeth, joints and cartilage.

Statement 2 is incorrect. It is a Sanskrit text written on Ayurveda and along with Sushrutha Samhita it is one of the two foundational Hindu texts of this (medicine) field that have survived from ancient India. Sushrutha Samhita is a book written by Sushrutha on surgery.

Statement 1 is correct. The movement was inspired by the already prevalent Bhakti movement in India. In the north it was inspired by the naths, yogis and siddhas from whom it incorporated asceticism and breathing exercises. In the decade, it was inspired by the Lingayat movement and the Marathi speaking saints of Pandharpur.

Statement 2 is correct. The Bhakti strand of Punjab manifested itself in the form of a movement by Guru Nanak Dev. The teachings were secular in nature and spoke of brotherhood between the dominant communities of Hinduism and Islam. Soon the movement took the form of a religion, Sikhism, and its holy book was compiled by Guru Arjan and Guru Gobind Singh. It included the teachings of all the gurus as well as those of Baba Farid Ganj-I-shikar, Kabir, Ravidas etc. Baba Farid was a 12th-century Punjabi Sunni Muslim preacher and mystic who went on to become "one of the most revered and distinguished Muslim mystics" of the medieval period. Fariduddin Ganjshakar's shrine darbār is located in Pakpattan, Punjab, Pakistan.

● Multiple accounts regarding Thiruvalluvar are available but little is known about his family background, religious affiliation or birthplace.He has influenced a wide range of scholars through the years in disciplines like ethics, politics, economics, philosophy and spirituality.

● His most popular work is Thirukkuṛaḷ, a collection of couplets on ethics, politics, economy and love. Tirukkural is considered a very important text in Tamil literature.

● In the early 16th century, a temple dedicated to Thiruvalluvar was built within the Ekambareswarar temple complex in Mylapore, Chennai. Locals believe that this was where he was born, underneath a tree within the temple complex.

Kondapalli Toys are colourful, hand-crafted, wooden toys made by artisans of Kondapalli town, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. The artisans who work on crafting these wooden toys are called the Arya Kshatriyas. These toys are crafted from a wood known as Tella Poniki which is obtained from local forests and seasoned for years. Themes of toys vary from mythological to modern.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Jagannatha cult is located at Puri, Orissa. Jagannatha literally means Lord of the world, which is a name for Vishnu. So, this cult is associated with Lord Vishnu. Jagannatha is considered to be a part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. Jagannatha temple is considered as one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites in India, the other three being- Badrinath (Uttarakhand), Dwarka and Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu). It is believed by Vaishnavite Hinduism that visiting these sites will help achieve Moksha.

Statement 2 is correct. In the 12th century, one of the most important rulers of the Ganga dynasty, Anantavarman, decided to erect a temple for Purushottama Jagannatha at Puri. Subsequently, in 1230, king Anangabhima III dedicated his kingdom to the deity and proclaimed himself as the ‘deputy’ of the god.

Ibn Battuta was a Moroccan explorer and scholar who is known for his extensive travels and accounts of his journeys. He was born in 1304 in the city of Tangier and began traveling at a young age, eventually visiting over 44 modern countries on three different continents. During his travels, he served as a judge, lawyer, and diplomat, and wrote detailed accounts of the places he visited and the people he met. He is known for his extensive travels, accounts of which were published in the Rihla. Battuta is considered one of the greatest travelers of all time. He came to India during the regime of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

Mirabai (c. fifteenth-sixteenth centuries) is perhaps the best-known woman poet within the bhakti tradition. Biographies have been reconstructed primarily from the bhajans attributed to her, which were transmitted orally for centuries.

Statement 1 is correct. According to sources, she was a Rajput princess from Merta in Marwar who was married against her wishes to a prince of the Sisodia clan of Mewar, Rajasthan. She defied her husband and did not submit to the traditional role of wife and mother, instead recognising Krishna, an avatar of Vishnu, as her lover.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Although Mirabai did not attract a sect or group of followers, she has been recognised as a source of inspiration for centuries. Statement 3 is correct. Her songs continue to be sung by women and men, especially those who are poor and considered “low caste” in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Though, majorly food crops were grown, the rulers encouraged production of commercial crops like cotton, sugarcane and oilseeds.

Statement 2 is correct: The agriculture remained largely rain-fed, though many nahrs were also built.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Cultivation was based on the principle of individual ownership. Peasant lands were bought and sold in the same way as the lands of other property owners.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Certain techniques like Trabeation, brackets and multiple pillars to support a flat roof or shallow dome were already famous. The new Islamic architecture introduced the ‘Arcuate form of construction’. This could support the weight of massive domes.

Statement 1 is correct. In the field of architecture, the Muslims absorbed many features of local cultures and traditions. These architectural entities showcasing multiple styles are known as Indo-Saracenic or Indo-Islamic architecture. It included the obvious Saracenic, Persian and Turkish influences.

Statement 2 is also correct. Muslims were forbidden to replicate living forms on any surface; thus, they developed their religious art and architecture consisting of the arts of arabesque, geometrical patterns and calligraphy on plaster and stone.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Abu osman Minhajuddin bin Sirajuddin or Minhaj-i-siraj was a 13th century Persian Historian who came to India with Qutubuddin aibak who set up the Mamluk dynasty in Delhi. He was a chronicler who wrote in Persian. Mihaj-i-siraj was the principal historian of the Mamluk dynasty. In the 13th century Minhaj-i-siraj used the term ‘Hindustan’ by which he meant areas of Punjab, Haryana and the land between the Ganga and Yamuna.

Statement 2 is correct. He also used the term in a political perspective for areas which were part of the dominions of Delhi Sultan of Mamluk dynasty. Statement 3 is correct. In the early 16th century Babur used the term Hindustan in a similar way it was used by 14th century poet Amir khusrau, who used the word ‘Hind’ to describe the geography, the fauna and the culture of the inhabitants of the subcontinent.

• The most significant source of the Mauryan period is undoubtedly the inscriptions of Ashoka. Ashoka’s inscriptions mark the beginning of Indian epigraphy. What sets Ashoka’s edicts apart is that they are issued in the first person, thereby revealing the voice and ideas of the king himself.
• The edicts are written in the Prakrit language and Brahmi script, and occasionally in the Kharoshti script (in the northwestern parts of the subcontinent). There are a few inscriptions in Greek and Aramaic as well. A bilingual Greek-Aramaic inscription was found at Shar-iKuna near Kandahar in southeast Afghanistan and one in Taxila. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Ashoka himself had designated these edicts as Dhammalipi (Edicts of Piety). The Maski edict in the Prakrit language, carved in Brahmi script and dated 256 BC, remains a dharma shasana, an edict exhorting people to follow the tenets of Buddhism. The Maski edict clearly told the world that it was Ashoka who had got the inscriptions carved under the name ‘Devanampriya’. The inscription has a mention of ‘Devanampriya Asoka.’ Apart from associating the title ‘Devanampriya’ with Ashoka, the inscription suggests the spread of Mauryan rule up to the Krishna valley of north-eastern Karnataka. Hence statement 2 is correct.

• •After the decline of the Mauryan Empire, northwest India was constantly under attack by various invaders from Central and West Asia. The Sakas (also written Sakas), alternatively known as Indo-Scythians, invaded northwest India from the first century BC onwards.
• There were five branches of the Shakas with their seats of power in different parts of India and Afghanistan.
  • One branch of the Shakas settled in Afghanistan. Prominent rulers of this branch were Vonones and Spalirises.
  • The second branch settled in Punjab with Taxila as its capital. Maues was a prominent ruler.
  • The third branch settled in Mathura, where they ruled for about two centuries. Azilises was a prominent ruler.
  • The fourth branch established its hold over western India, where they continued to rule till the 4th century CE.
  • The fifth branch of the Shakas established its power in the upper Deccan.
• The fourth branch of Sakas ruled for the maximum period owing to a flourishing economy based on the sea-borne trade in Gujarat and also issued a large number of silver coins. One of the famous Shaka rulers was Rudradaman 1 (CE 130-150). He ruled over Sindh, Kutch, and Gujarat and also recovered from the Satavahanas, Kokan, the Narmada valley, Malwa and Kathiawar. He is famous in history because of the repairs he undertook to improve Sudarsana lake in the semi-arid zone of Kathiawar. He was a great lover of Sanskrit and issued the first-ever long inscription in chaste Sanskrit.
• The Shakas did not meet effective resistance from the rulers and the masses of India. The king of Ujjain (around 58 BCE), effectively fought and succeeded in throwing the Shakas out. He called himself Vikramaditya and an era called Vikram-Samvat is reckoned from the event of his victory over the Shakas in 58 BCE. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• From this time onwards, Vikramaditya became a coveted title, and whoever achieved anything great adopted this title, as the Roman emperors adopted the title Caesar in order to emphasize they are a great power.
• Kanishka, who was a Kushan ruler, extended his whole-hearted patronage to Buddhism. He also convened the fourth Buddhist council to discuss matters relating to Buddhist theology and doctrine. It was held at the Kundalavana monastery near Srinagar (Kashmir) under the presidency of Vasumitra. It was in this council that Buddhism was split into two schools – the Hinayana and the Mahayana. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

• The cultures were based on the use of copper and stone implements called Chalcolithic. Technologically, the Chalcolithic stage is applied to the pre-Harappan phase. However, in various parts of India, the Chalcolithic cultures followed the Bronze Age Harappa culture. The Chalcolithic people mostly used stone and copper objects, but they also occasionally used low-grade bronze and even iron.
• The Chalcolithic people domesticated cattle, sheep, and goats, which were tethered in the courtyard. In all probability, the domesticated animals were slaughtered for food and not used for milk and dairy products. The tribal people, such as the Gonds of Bastar, believe that milk is meant only to feed young animals, and, therefore, they do not milk their cattle. Consequently, the Chalcolithic people were not able to make full use of the animals. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Ganeshwar is a Chalcolithic site in Rajasthan whose deposits are ascribed to 2800–2200 BC, they, by and large, predate the mature Harappan culture. Ganeshwar principally supplied copper objects to Harappa and did not receive much from it. The Ganeshwar people partly lived on agriculture and largely on hunting. Although their principal craft was the manufacture of copper objects, they were unable to urbanize. With its microliths and other stone tools, much of the Ganeshwar culture can be considered a pre-Harappan Chalcolithic culture that contributed to the making of the mature Harappan culture. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

• The Maurya period constitutes a landmark in the system of taxation in ancient India. Kautilya names many taxes which were collected from peasants, artisans, and traders. This required a strong and efficient machinery for assessment, collection, and storage. The Mauryas attached greater importance to assessment than to storage and deposit. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The samaharta was the highest officer in charge of assessment and collection, and the sannidhata was the chief custodian of the state treasury and storehouse. The assessor- cum-collector was far more important than the chief treasurer. The damage inflicted on the state by the first was thought to be more serious than any inflicted by the second. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• The epigraphic evidence for the existence of rural storehouses shows that taxes were also collected in kind. These granaries were probably also meant to help local people in times of famine, drought, etc.
• From Ashoka’s inscription at Lumbini, it was inferred that land revenue was of two kinds — Bali and Bhaga. The assessment of the tax varied from region to region, from being on1/6th to a quarter of the produce of the land. 1/4^th of the produce was paid in tax by the peasants. They also paid a tribute. Land tax (bhaga) was the main source of revenue. It was levied at 1/6th of the produce. The Lumbini edict of Ashoka says that during his visit to the birthplace of the Buddha, he exempted the village from the payment of bali and reduced the payment of Bhaga to 1/8^th.

• Paitkar paintings : One of the most ancient schools of painting in the country, Paitkar paintings are a creative expression of the state’s folk art. Popularly known as the scroll paintings of the east, Paitkar paintings are mostly based on themes drawn from Hindu epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana.
  • These traditional paintings tell the stories of the miracles performed by various gods and goddesses like Shiva and Durga. Paitkar painters usually make use of only primary colours like red, yellow and blue with palm leaves acting as a base.
  • The brushes used to paint are made from the hair of squirrels and goats. Most of the painted space in Paitkar paintings is occupied by human characters with elongated eyes, a prime characteristic of the Indian painting style.
  • Located in the eastern part of Jharkhand, Amadubi Village is home to families of talented Paitkar artists. The village is also known as the village of Paitkars and the art form is said to have originated here. The Santhal tribe of the state believes that Paitkar paintings can send wandering souls of dead people to heaven. Hence pair 1 is correctly matched.
• Phad is an indigenous painting style of the state of Rajasthan, India, that depicts the narratives of the folk deities of the state. This style of painting is the blend of Rajput and Mughal styles of painting. Originated hundreds of years ago, this fabled heritage of Bhilwara is done on a long piece of canvas called Phad. Mostly, the stories of the folk deity Pabuji and the Gurjar Warrior, Devnarayanji are depicted on Phads.
  • Phad paintings are very detailed. Every inch of the canvas is used. Since the ancient stories are depicted in the paintings, Phads have a lot of human figures in them. The size and color of which depends upon the role and position they had. These paintings are done on clothes.
  • A thick fine paste of wheat/rice flour, prepared by boiling the mixture in water, is applied to the cloth which is then dried in sunlight. The cloth is then rubbed with Mohra|(a stone device) to bring out the smoothness and shine it. Now the cloth is ready to be painted. The colors used in Phad are all-natural, obtained from various plants and vegetable extracts. Earthen colors are used to bring the acrylic effect. Hence pair 2 is correctly matched.
• Orissa Pattachitra is an ancient painting art form of rural Orissa that has been in existence for many centuries. The word pattachitra has evolved from the Sanskrit words ‘Patta’ and ‘Chitra’. In the Sanskrit language, the word Patta means “Canvas” or “A Piece of Cloth”, and Chitra means picture.
  • Orissa Pattachitra (Traditional Indian Painting) is a painting especially inspired by Lord Jagannath and temple tradition, the Puri district.
  • Themes for these paintings range from the events of Krishna’s life and the Avatars of Vishnu to the epic tales of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
  • The method of production for Pattachitra is very long and the entire process is completed in many steps, which include:
    (i) Preparation of Patta
    (ii) Preparation of Pigments
    (iii) Motif Selection and Layout
    (iv) Painting
  • Orissa Pattachitra paintings hold a Geographical Indication tag. Hence pair 3 is not correctly matched.

Statement Analysis:
Statement 1 is Correct: 
It is a dense, highly viscous, petroleum-based hydrocarbon.
Composition:

• It owes its density and viscosity to its chemical composition—mainly large hydrocarbon molecules known as asphaltenes and resins, which are present in lighter oils but are highly concentrated in bitumen.
• In addition, bitumen frequently has a high content of metals, such as nickel and vanadium, and nonmetallic inorganic elements, such as nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur.

Statement 2 is Correct: 
It is found in deposits such as oil sands and pitch lakes(natural bitumen) or is obtained as a residue of the distillation of crude oil.

• At the temperatures normally encountered in natural deposits, bitumen will not flow. In order to be moved through a pipe, it must be heated and, in some cases, diluted with a lighter oil.
• Bitumen can deform permanently under heavy loads. Continued stress on the material can result in cracking.

Statement 3 is Correct: 
Uses:

• Bitumen is known for its waterproofing and adhesive properties and is commonly used in the construction industry, notably for roads and highways.
  • It is commonly used to waterproof boats and other marine vessels.
  • It is also used by companies that create and manufacture roofing products.
  • It is used for sealing and insulating purposes in various building materials such as carpet tile backing and paint.

Context: Goa Power Minister recently said that bitumen used in road construction is a major cause of pollution.

Statement Analysis:
Statement 1 is Correct:

• It is formed under Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 to provide free legal aid and services to the weaker sections of this society to make sure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen because of economic or other disabilities.
• It is a statutory body organized at the district level to provide effective monitoring of legal aid programmes and their composition.
• Legal Services Authorities are statutory bodies that are formed or constituted in the various states of India by the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.

Statement 2 is Correct:
It is a body that shall be constituted by the State Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court.

Statement 3 is Correct:

• The act provides that a District Authority requires the district judge as its chairman.
• It shall also consist of a number of other members who have the experience and qualifications as prescribed by the State Government.
• The members possessing such requirements may be nominated by the Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court.
• The person to be appointed shall belong to the State Judicial Service not lowers than rank than that of a Subordinate Judge or Civil Judge posted at the seat of the District Judiciary as Secretary of the District Authority.
• The Assistant Commissioner of the concerned District acts as the Member Secretary of the District Authority.

Context: Recently, under the Department of Justice’s (Ministry of Law and Justice) Nyaya Bandhu, Pro Bono Club, ICFAI Law School, The ICFAI University, Tripura, in association with District Legal Services Authority West Tripura, organized a Door-to-Door Legal Aid Campaign.

Tribal inheritance Laws

• Inheritance rights of tribal women is neither covered under the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 nor under the Indian Succession Act, 1925.
• The Scheduled Tribes of India are governed by customary laws in matters of inheritance, marriage and succession.
• The customary tribal laws continue to discriminate against tribal women in the matter of succession.
• Hindu Succession Act, 1956 explicitly exempts tribes under section 2(2) of the act.
• Similarly, the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 and the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 are also not applicable to the STs, unless extended by the central government or otherwise directed.
• The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to examine the issue and consider amending the provisions of the Hindu Succession Act so as to make it applicable to the members of the Scheduled Tribes.

Context: Union govt. considering equal property rights to Scheduled Tribe women

• Location – Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple is located in Nashik City, Maharastra.
• It is located near the mountain named Brahamagiri from which the river Godavari flows.
• There are 3 hills surrounding this temple – Brahmagiri, Nilagiri and Kalagiri.
• History – It was constructed by 3rd Peshwa Balaji Bajirao also known as Nana Saheb, in the mid-18th century (1740-1760).
• Special features – The entire temple is built with black stone.
• Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is only one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India.
• Trimbakeshwara – It not only honor Lord Shiva but the other two gods in the Holy Trinity – Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma as well.
• They all exist within the hollow space within the Shivalinga and hence the name Trimbakeshwara (3 Lords).
• They are covered by a jewelled crown that is believed to date to the era of the Pandavas.
• Jyotirlinga means column or pillar of light.
• The stambha symbol represents that there is no beginning or end.

Context: Shri Trimbakeshwar temple in Maharastra witnessed communal tensions for the past 6 months.