UGC NET Paper 2 History Mock Test - 3 - UGC NET MCQ

The correct answer is Bhagwanpura.

Key Points

• From Bhagwanpura sites, evidences have been found for the first time regarding co-existence of the people of Late Harappan culture and Painted Grey Ware (PGW) culture.
• Bhagwanpura, also known as Baghpur, is a village in Thanesar sub-district of Kurukshetra district, Haryana, India.
  • It is an archaeological site that lies on the bank of the Hakra Ghaggar channel.
• Painted Grey Ware culture is one of the significant archeological cultures of northern India.
  • Fine grey ware painted with black paintings is known as Painted Grey Ware.
  • It is associated with village and town settlements, domesticated horses, ivory-working, and the advent of iron metallurgy.
  • The most crucial aspect about this culture has been its chronology and its proposed relation to the Mahabharata.
  • The main concentration of PGW is in the area of northern India which covers core area of four Mahajanapadas namely Surasena, Panchala, Kuru and Matsya.
• Late Harappan Phase existed during 1900 BCE and 1300 BCE.
  • The period marks the gradual decline of the civilisation, with a breakdown of urban centres and the establishment of rural networks.
  • Towards the end of the phase, most post-urban sites were abandoned.

The correct answer is Harprasad Shastri.

Key Points

• Many scholars have opined that either Asoka's political decisions or the effects of these decisions were responsible for the disintegration of the Mauryan empire.
• Their arguments generally focus on the drawbacks of Asoka's religious policy.
• Scholars like Harprasad Shastri suggested that the discontent of the Brahmin community led to the downfall of the Maurya Empire. Hence, option 4 is the correct answer.
• There are those scholars who maintain that Pushyamitra Sunga, who killed the last Mauryan emperor represented a strong Brahmanical reaction against the pro-Buddhist policy of Asoka and the pro-Jain policy of some of his successors.
• Moreover, the Satavahanas who rose to power in the Deccan after the Mauryas were also said to have been Brahmanas.
• These scholars list a series of acts done by Asoka himself which may have antagonized the Brahmanas.
• For example, the ban on animal sacrifices is considered one which was especially resented, since this action was taken by a Shudra King (according to the Purana accounts the Mauryas are listed as Shudras).
• They suggest that the Dhammamahamattas, as special officers of Dhamma appointed by Asoka, destroyed the prestige of the Brahmanas.
• These officials disallowed Bramanas to continue their traditional laws of punishment and other Smriti injunctions.

The correct answer is Churaman.

• The Jats consolidated their power in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
  • Under the leadership of Churaman they gained control of the areas west of Delhi.
  • By the 1680s they dominated the area between Delhi and Agra.

Additional Information

• Raja Bharmal, also known as Bihari Mal, Bhagmal and Bihar Mal, was a Rajput ruler of Amer, later known as Jaipur, in the present-day state of Rajasthan, India.
  • His daughter, Mariam-uz-Zamani, was married in 1562 to the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who soon became his most beloved and favorite wife.
• Hyder Ali was the sultan and de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India.
  • Born as Hyder Ali Khan, he distinguished himself as a soldier, eventually attracting the attention of the rulers of Mysore.
• Shivaji Bhonsle I, also known as Chhatrapati Shivaji, was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle Maratha dynasty.

b) All statements are correct. The last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha was assassinated by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Sunga in 185 BC. The last ruler of Kanva dynasty Susharma was deposed by theAndhras and Satavahana dynasty came into being

The correct answer is The Indian National Congress.

Key Points

Rajani Palme Dutt ​:

• Rajani Palme Dutt (R. Palme Dutt) was a leading journalist and theoretician in the Communist Party of Great Britain.
• He founded a monthly magazine called Labour Monthly in 1921.

Indian National Congress:

• The Indian National Congress was founded by AO. Hume at Bombay in 1885.
• W.C. Bannerjee was the first President of the INC session at Bombay.
• George Yule was the first English President of the fourth session held in Allahabad in 1888.
• Annie Besant was the First Woman President of Congress session held in Calcutta in 1917.
• The Belgaum session was presided by Mahatama Gandhi in 1924.
• The INC was split into Moderates and the Extremists in 1907 at the Surat session after the Bengal split.
• The INC reconciled in 1916.

The correct answer is Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Important Points

• Tantrism expanded from the 6th century CE, and is reflected in the Tantric texts, temples, and practices of this time.
• Tantrism included both women and Shudras in the ranks.
• Tantrism placed great emphasis on the use of magical rituals.
• Their purpose was to satisfy the materialistic desires of the devotees and to cure day-to-day ailments and injuries.
• Tantrism found its way into Jainism, Buddhism, Shaivism and Vaishnavism.
• From the seventh century onwards, it held sway throughout the Middle Ages.
• The rise of Tantrism was due to the large scale admission of the aboriginal people in Brahmanical society.
• In Tibet, Buddhist tantra is called Vajrayana.
• In Tantrism, the importance of the guru is overemphasized.
• Later this tendency is also found in the Bhakti movements of the medieval period.
• Following the instructions of the Guru, a person who practices Tantra experiences mystical experiences.

• In this process their activities like yoga, mantra etc. are included.

Thus we can say that Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

• Rafi-ud-Darajat (1719):
  • He was the 11th Mughal Emperor.
  • Ajit Singh of Marwar placed him on the throne after assassinating Farrukhsiyar.
  • In February 1719, the Mughal emperor he had assigned the Chauth and Sardeshmukhi rights over the six Mughal subas of the Deccan to Raja Shahu.
  • In return for Chauth, Raja Sahu would maintain a contingent of 15,000 Maratha soldiers for the service and protection of the emperor.
  • In return for Sardeshmukhi, Marathas were responsible for maintaining peace and order in these subas by preventing robbery and rebellions.
  • He was cremated near the shrine of Sufi saint Khawaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki at Mehrauli in Delhi.
• Chauth:
  • ​It was 1/4^th of the land revenue paid to the Marathas to avoid the Maratha raids.
  • It was nomi­nally levied at 25% on revenue or produce.
• Sardeshmukhi:
  • It was an additional levy of 10% on those lands on which the Marathas claimed hereditary rights.
  • This was an additional levy of 10% on Chauth.

Additional Information

• Farrukhsiyar (1713-1719):
  • ​​After killing Jahandar Shah with the help of the Sayyid brothers, Farrukhsiyar became the 10th Mughal emperor.
  • He followed a policy of religious tolerance by abolishing Jaziya and the pilgrimage tax.
  • In 1717, he gave farmans to the British permitting them the right to reside and trade in the Mughal Empire.
  • In 1719, the Sayyid brothers, with the help of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath, dethroned Farrukhsiyar.
  • Later, he was blinded and killed.
• Rafi-ud-Daulah (1719):
  • He is also known as Shah Jahan II.
  • He was the 12th Mughal Emperor.
  • After his short-lived brother Rafi-ud-Darajat, he was throned by the Sayyid brothers.
• Muhammad Shah (1719-1748):
  • He was the 13th Mughal emperor.
  • With the help of Asaf Jah I, the Sayyid brothers were murdered.
  • He was given the title of ‘Rangeela’ due to his luxurious lifestyle.

Bhakti in South India

• Between the 7^th-10^th century CE, the doctrine of Bhakti was spread by the Shaiva (those who worshipped Lord Shiva) Nayanar saints, and the Vaishnava (those who worshipped Lord Vishnu) Alvar saints.
• The movement spread among different sections of society irrespective of caste and sex. Some of the saints were women and/or from “lower” castes. It was not concentrated just among the rural sections and was prominent in urban areas as well. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The saints used Tamil for preaching and composing devotional songs. This factor made the movement a popular character.
• The movement won many followers of Buddhism and Jainism which had become formal and rigid religions. The saints also disliked the authority of orthodox Brahmans.
• However, a limitation was that the movement never consciously opposed Brahmanism and the varna system. This resulted in the strengthening of the caste system, rather than its weakening. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

The correct answer is honouring the king.

Key Points

• Ashoka was the great Mauryan ruler and grandson of the dynasty's founder Chandragupta Maurya.
• Ashoka became a Buddhist in the 9^th year of his reign i.e., a year after the conquest of Kalinga.
• Dhamma is Prakrit form of the Sanskrit word 'Dharma'.
• Ashoka’s dhamma was neither a new religion nor a new political philosophy, it was a way of life.
• Ashoka denounced all useless ceremonies and sacrifices held under the influ­ence of superstition.
• One of the striking features of Asoka’s edicts is that he regards himself as a father figure for the people. Hence honoring the king was not dhamma.

Additional Information

• Ashoka's major dhamma is inscribed in 14 rock edicts. Some of the important dhamma are:
  • Prohibition of animal sacrifices in festive and public gatherings.
  • It pleads for toleration amongst all religions.
  • Respect for others and regard even for slaves and servants and donations to sramanas and Brahmans.
  • Emphatic plea for toleration amongst the various religions.
  • Plantation of medicinal herbs and trees and digging of wells along the roads, which describes the promotion of welfare of the people.

The correct answer is 3 and 4 only.

Key Points

• Malwa School of Painting
  • It flourished between 1600 and 1700 CE and is most representative of the Hindu Rajput courts. Hence, Statement 1 is not correct.
  • Its two-dimensional simplistic language appears as a consummation of stylistic progression from the Jain manuscripts to the Chaurpanchashika manuscript paintings. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.
  • Unlike the specificity of Rajasthani schools that emerged and flourished in precise territorial kingdoms and courts of their respective kings, Malwa School defies a precise centre for its origin and instead suggests a vast territory of Central India, where it got articulated with a sporadic mention of few places, such as Mandu, Nusratgarh and Narsyang Sahar. Hence, Statement 4 is correct.
  • Among the few early dated sets are an illustrated poetic text of Amaru Shataka dated 1652 CE and a Ragamala painting by Madho Das in 1680 CE.
  • A large number of Malwa paintings discovered from the Datia Palace collection support a claim for Bundelkhand as the region of painting. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
  • But the mural paintings in the Datia Palace of Bundelkhand defy an obvious Mughal influence, which is contrary to the works on paper that are stylistically inclined towards indigenous two-dimensional austerity. A complete absence of the mention of patron kings and also portraits in this school supports a view that these paintings were bought by the Datia rulers from travelling artists, who carried paintings on popular themes, such as the Ramayana, Bhagavata Purana, Amaru Shataka, Rasikapriya, Ragamala and Baramasa, among others.

All the above-mentioned options were reasons in part for the causes of revolt but option 4th is the best summation of all the other options and reasons herein not stated.

Thus The Indian Rebellion of 1857 occurred as the result of an accumulation of factors over time, rather than any single event greased cartridges.

For instance, nobility, many of whom had lost titles and domains under the Doctrine of Lapse, which refused to recognize the adopted children of princes as legal heirs, felt that the Company had interfered with a traditional system of inheritance. Similarly oppressive revenue demand and judicial system along with with perceived and real religious onslaught by missionaries also spread dissatisfaction among people. Administrative innovations and social reforms were also in part responsible for distrust among people towards British.

Samkhya is an Orthodox Indian philosophical system. Orthodox Indian philosophical system believes in soul and karma theory. For Karma theory to hold, soul has to undergo rebirth or transmigration. Therefore, without liberation no soul can be free from the cycle of rebirth or transmigration. Samkhya school philosophy- after you have ‘died’ in this life you will go through a process of rebirth where depending on your actions in your former life your status will be decided.

These were some of the movements that occurred in the Madras Presidency. In 1916, the South India People’s Association, a political party which later got transformed into the Justice Party was founded by Petty Tyagaroy Chetty, C.M. Nair and T.N. Mudalian. Self Respect Movement was started by E.V. Ramaswamy Naiker, popularly known as ‘Periyar’. Munnattu Padmanarbho Pillai founded the Nair Welfare Society.

All of the above statements are correct.Key Points

• Historical research in organization and management studies continues to be described as a type of inductive theory building from cases.
• But historical epistemology and methodological practices are better understood as a form of situated scholarly inquiry in which the researcher interprets or analyzes the past from a position in the present.
• Historical research mainly relies on first-hand information sources such as historical records, books, photographs, letters, and evidence that belongs to the time the research focuses on.
• Historical research represents a systematic enquiry into a new area in the past and an attempt to separate true from fictionalized accounts of historical events, based upon the examination of a wide range of relevant source material.
• This is an important task because history is the source of many of our ideas, beliefs and customs, it depends upon new interpretations of data.

• A better understanding of the past places us in a more advantageous position to appreciate change in the present and to try and learn from past mistakes and rewrite the principle.

Hence, we can conclude that all of the above statements are correct.

The correct answer is 1, 2, and 3.

Key Points

• Rise of Bengal in Bengal in the 17^th-18^th Century
  • Bengal was the most fertile and the richest province of the Mughal Empire and included present-day Bangladesh and the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
  • The authoritative powers of the province lay in the hands of the Nawab of Bengal.
  • Bengal held economic importance for its famous textiles, silk, and saltpeter. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
  • Exports from Bengal to Europe consisted of saltpeter, rice, indigo, pepper, sugar, silk, cotton textiles, handicrafts, etc. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
  • ​Bengal became the first kingdom to be occupied by the British in India. The East India Company carried on a profitable trade with this province.
  • The enormous resources of Bengal came in handy for financing the British expansion.
  • Nearly 60% of the British imports from Asia consisted of goods from Bengal.
  • The British East India Company laid the foundation of Calcutta and established a British commercial settlement in the 1690s.
  • The Company paid a sum of Rs 3,000 (£ 350) per annum to the Mughal emperor who allowed them to trade freely in Bengal.
  • In contrast, the Company’s exports from Bengal were worth more than £ 50,000 per annum.
  • Conflicts among Nawabs and the British:
    • The special privileges enjoyed by the British Company were strongly opposed by the Nawabs of Bengal as it meant a huge loss to the provincial exchequer.
    • Consequently, the friction between the British commercial interests and the Bengal government became the chief cause for conflict between the two.
    • As a result, the British felt a need for a “puppet” as the Nawab on the throne of Bengal to willingly give them trade concessions and other privileges and establish they're indirect but ultimate power in the province.

The correct answer is 2-3-4-1.

Key Points

• Narshimhavarman I (630-668 CE) succeeded his father Mahendravarman I.
  • He is considered to be the greatest Pallava ruler.
  • He took the title of Mamalla (great warrior).
  • He defeated and killed Chalukyan ruler Pulakesin II and destroyed the Chalukyan capital Vatapi.
    • He took the title Vatapikonda (conqueror of Vatapi) in order to commemorate this remarkable victory.
• Dantidurga (reigned 735–756 CE), also known as Dantivarman II was the founder of the Rashtrakuta Empire of Manyakheta.
  • He defeated the Gurjaras and captured Malwa from them.
  • Then he annexed the Chalukyan kingdom by defeating Kirtivarman II.
• Dharmapala (reigned c. 770–810) succeeded Gopala, the founder of the Pala dynasty.
  • He was one of the greatest kings that ever ruled in Bengal and one who raised the glory of the kingdom to great heights.
  • It may be mentioned that in the famous tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, to establish control over Northern India, Dharmapala played a very crucial role.
• Mihira Bhoja (c. 836–885 CE) or Bhoja I was a king belonging to the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty.
  • He was the most well-known king of this dynasty.
  • Under Bhoja and his successor Mahendrapala (reigned c. 890–910), the Pratihara empire reached its peak of prosperity and power.
  • The Gurjara-Pratiharas, or simply, the Pratiharas (8th century CE - 11th century CE) held their sway over western and northern India.

The correct answer is Haji Begam.

Key Points

• Haji Begam constructed Humayun's tomb in Delhi.
• Bega Begum was known as Haji Begam
• She was known as Haji Begam after she performed the Hajj pilgrimage.
• Construction of Humayun's tomb began in 1565 and was completed in 1572.
• The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
• Mirak Mirza Ghiyath was the chief architect.
• Babur was the father of Humayun.
• Akbar was the son of Humayun.

​

Additional Information

• Mughals:
  • The Mughals were descendants of two great lineages of rulers.
  • From their mother’s side, they were descendants of Genghis Khan (died 1227), the Mongol ruler who ruled over parts of China and Central Asia.
  • From their father’s side, they were the successors of Timur (died 1404), the ruler of Iran, Iraq and modern-day Turkey.
  • However, the Mughals did not like to be called Mughal or Mongol. This was because Genghis Khan’s memory was associated with the massacre of innumerable people.
  • It was also linked with the Uzbeks, their Mongol competitors.
  • On the other hand, the Mughals were proud of their Timurid ancestry, not least of all because their great ancestor had captured Delhi in 1398.

The correct answer is 2 only.

Key Points

Town Planning of Harappan Civilisation

• ​The Harappan culture was distinguished by its system of town planning.
• Harappa and Mohenjodaro each had their own citadel or acropolis, which was possibly occupied by members of the ruling class.
• Below the citadel in each city lay a lower town containing brick houses, which were inhabited by the common people.
• The remarkable thing about the arrangement of the houses in the cities is that they followed the grid system.
• Granaries constituted an important part of the Harappan cities.
• The use of burnt bricks in the Harappan cities is remarkable, because in the contemporary buildings of Egypt mainly dried bricks were used. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The drainage system of Mohenjodaro was very impressive.
• The underground drainage system connects all the houses to the street drains which were covered with either bricks or stone stabs and equipped with manholes.
• In almost all cities every big or small house had its own courtyard and bathroom.
• In Kalibangan many houses had their wells.
• At sites such as Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat), the entire settlement was fortified, and sections within the town were also separated by walls.

Zamindar Kunwar Singh was the king of Jagdishpur of Bihar province. He led from Bihar in the revolt of 1857.

'Journey Through the Kingdom of Awadh' in the Year 1849-50 was written by W.H. Sleeman. He played an important role in ending the practice of thugi in India.

Only statements 2 and 3 are correct, while 1 is wrong.

In 1858 Lord Canning sent forth the royal proclamation in a grand Darbar at Allahabad via which Queen Victoria intimated that she had assumed the direct government of India. This proclamation also set forth the principles on the basis of which India was to be governed in the future and the British policy towards people of British-Indian territories and princes. All treaties and engagements of East India Company with princely states would be maintained and honored. There will be no further extension of the territories of the erstwhile East India Company. No encroachment on British territories in India would be allowed and no encroachment will be done by the British on territories of others. The above proclamation was called “Magnacarta of people of India” and was declared in eloquent style to be in consonance with the principle of justice and religious toleration as guiding policy of queen’s rule. The document also granted amnesty to all except those who had directly taken part in the murder of British subjects.

Tirthankara Parswanath was the 23rd Tirthankar who preached four teachings of Jainism: not to kill, not to lie, not to steal and not to own property. His idol is recognized by the symbol of serpent.

Balathal in southeast Rajasthan shows evidence of protohistoric occupation from the closing centuries of the 4th millennium BC.

The term ‘Rashtra’ first appeared during the later vedic period. The wars were fought for territories and no longer for cows. The society which was predominantly pastoral in the early Vedic times had become agricultural.

Muhammad Bin Qasim was the first Muslim to invade India in 712 A.D. He conquered Sindh and Punjab regions along the Indus river but did not advance further. So, (C) is the correct answer. Timur Lang or Timur the Lame was a Muslim conqueror who invaded India in 1398. The ruler of Delhi at the time was Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah. Chengiz Khan was a Mongol ruler.  He conquered some kingdoms on the banks of River Indus in 1221 A.D. The ruler of Delhi at that time was Iltutmish. Abdali was the ruler of Afghanistan who invaded India several times between 1747 and 1767, the most famous being the invasion of 1761, when he defeated the Marathas in the 3rd battle of Panipat.

'Panchatantra' is one of the Sanskrit FABLES, which was composed by Pt. Vishnu Sharma. This book has been translated into 15 Indian and four foreign languages.

The Vedic literature was composed in Sanskrit. The correct sequence of Vedic literature is Vedic Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upnishadas.

Lingayatism is a distinct religious tradition in India. It is centred on Hindu God Shiva as the universal God in the iconographic form of Ishtalinga. The adherents of the faith are known as Lingayats. Lingayatism was founded by the 12th century philosopher and statesman Basava, and spread by his followers who were called Sharanas.

Alwars were Tamil poet-saints of South India who espoused bhakti (devotion) to the Hindu Supreme god Vishnu or his avatar Krishna in their songs of longing, ecstasy and service. They are venerated, especially in Vaishnavism, which regards Vishnu or Krishna as the Supreme Being. Andal was a woman Alwar who was devoted to Vishnu. Her compositions were widely sung.

The Nayanars were a group of 63 saints (also saint poets) in the 6th to 8th century who were devoted to the Hindu God Shiva in Tamil Nadu. They, along with the Alvars, influenced the Bhakti movement in Tamil. A Nayanar devoted to Shiva adopted a path of extreme asceticism.

Advaita philosophy of Shankara taught that it was only by knowledge that one could worship God. It is a Vedantic doctrine that identifies the individual self (atman) with the ground of reality (brahman).

Charter Act of 1833, section 87 stated that no person of India or the Crown would be debarred from any place, post or service subject to the Company on the ground of religion, place of birth, decent or color or any of them.

The First Factory Act was passed in 1881 during the viceroyship of Lord Ripon. It was enacted to improve the condition of the labour of factories. As per the act, children of the age group 9 to 12 were not allowed to work more than 9 hours a day. Inspectors were appointed to check safety measures.