UGC NET Paper 2 History Mock Test - 5 - UGC NET MCQ

The correct answer is option 4 i.e.​​ Maravarman Rajasimha II

• Rajasimha-II was the son of Parantaka Viranarayana.
• In the battle of Velur - Rajasimha II received help from the Sri Lankan king Kassapa V, against Cholas king Parantaka I.
• After defeated by the Cholas, Rajasimha fled the Pandya country and stayed in Sri Lanka.

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

Key Points

• The last and 24th Tirthankara of the Jainas, Vardhamana Mahavira also spread his message around this time, i.e. 2500 years ago.
• He was a Kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis, a group that was part of the Vajji sangha.
• At the age of thirty, he left home and went to live in a forest.
• For twelve years he led a hard and lonely life, at the end of which he attained enlightenment.
• He taught a simple doctrine: men and women who wished to know the truth must leave their homes.
• They must follow very strictly the rules of ahimsa, which means not hurting or killing living beings.
• “All beings,” said Mahavira “long to live. To all things life is dear.”
• Followers of Mahavira, who were known as Jainas, had to lead very simple lives, begging for food, had to be honest, and were especially asked not to steal. Also, they had to observe celibacy.
• The basic philosophy of the Jains was already existing in north India before the birth of Mahavira in the 6th century BC.
• There were 23 Tirthankaras before Mahavira.
• The use of Prakrit by the Jainas supported the growth of the language.
• They used Prakrit language because it was the language of common people which helped them in the propagation of their doctrines to the grass-root level of the society.
• Various regional languages developed out of Prakrit language like Sauraseni which became the base of the Marathi language.
• The Jainas religious text was written in Ardhamagadhi. These texts were compiled in the 6th century at Vallabhi.
• They composed their earliest texts in Apabhramsa.
• They also wrote texts in Kannada which helped it to flourish rapidly.

• Jains believe that the only way to save one's soul is to protect every other soul, and so the most central Jain teaching, and the heart of Jain ethics, is that of ahimsa (non-violence).

Baul

• It is a folk music tradition native to the state of West Bengal.
• It has elements of Tantra, Sufism, Vaishnavism, and Buddhism. It is not adapted from the Afro-Arab music of Yemen. Hence, pair 1 is incorrect.
• It is practiced by Bauls - a syncretic religious sect of Vaishnavs and Sufis.
• It is part of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Marfa

• It is a folk music tradition native to the state of Hyderabad.
• It was adapted from the Afro-Arab music of Yemen.
• It does not have elements of Tantra, Sufism, Vaishnavism, and Buddhism. Hence, pair 2 is incorrect.
• It was introduced in the 18th century by the Siddi community.

Mando

• It is a folk music tradition native to the state of Goa.
• It has themes of love, tragedy, and political resistance during Portuguese presence.
• Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.

Accordingly, option (d) is correct.

The correct matching of the 'Historian' with their respective 'School of History' is: (a) - i, (b) - ii, (c) - iii, (d) - iv

Key Points

• Tara Chand:
  • ​Tara Chand was an Indian archaeologist and nationalist historian specialising in the ancient history and culture of India.
  • Tara Chand held the view that India has been a nation-in-the-making since the 19th century.
• Dipesh Chakrabarty:
  • ​Dipesh Chakrabarty is an Indian historian, who has made contributions to postcolonial theory and subaltern studies.
  • He argues that from the very beginning, the Subaltern Studies was different and ‘raised questions about history writing that made a radical departure from English Marxist historiographical tradition inescapable’.
• Rajani Palm Dutt:
  • ​Rajani Palme Dutt, generally known as R. P. Dutt, was a leading journalist and theoretician in the Communist Party of Great Britain.
  • His classic book India Today heralded the Marxist approach in Indian historiography.
• Mountstuart Elphinstone:
  • ​Mountstuart Elphinstone was a Scottish statesman and colonial historian, associated with the government of British India.
  • His work History of Hindu and Muhammedan India (1841) became a standard text in Indian universities (founded from 1857 onwards) and was reprinted up to the early years of the next century.

  • Elphinstone followed this up with History of British Power in the East, a book that traced fairly systematically the expansion and consolidation of British rule till Hastings’ administration.

Based on the above discussion, we can conclude that the correct matching of the 'Historian' with their respective 'School of History' is:

The correct answer is ​Eran--Rewa.

Key Points

Eran

• Eran is an ancient town and archaeological site in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, India.
• It was one of the ancient mints for Indian dynasties as evidenced by the diverse coins excavated here.
• The site has 5th and 6th-century Gupta era temples and monuments, particularly the colossal stone boar with sages and scholars depicted on the body of the sculpture.
• The inscription stones found at Eran are important to reconstructing the chronology of Gupta Empire history.
• . Eran or Erakina was the capital of Erakina (Airikina) Pradesha or Airkina Vishaya, an administrative division of the Gupta empire.

Additional Information

Bhimbetka-Raisen

• ​The Bhimbetka rock shelters are an archaeological site in central India that spans the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods, as well as the historic period.
• It exhibits the earliest traces of human life in India and evidence of Stone Age starting at the site in Acheulian times.
• It is located in the Raisen District in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh about 45 kilometres (28 mi) south-east of Bhopal.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that consists of seven hills

Adamgarh-Hoshangabad

• Adamgarh Hills is located in the Hoshangabad town of the Hoshangabad district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
• Adamgarh Hills are famous for the pre-historic rock shelters and rock paintings found in the hills. Stone age artefacts, lower palaeolithic and Mesolithic implements have been excavated here.

Gyaraspur-Vidisha

• ​Gyaraspur is at town in the Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is also the headquarters of a tehsil of the same name.
• Gyaraspur was of considerable importance in medieval India.
• The place has several ruins of several old Hindu, Jain and Buddhist places of worship. \These include Maladevi Temple, Hindola Torna and the Bajramath Surya Temple

• The Raigarh Fort was built by Shivaji Maharaj and was made capital in the year 1674.
• After it was captured by the Mughals in 1689 Satara was made the next capital of the Maratha Government.

Let's look at the different Inscriptions and the Rulers:

• The Hathigumpha Inscription is a seventeen-line inscription in Prakrit language incised in Brahmi script in a cavern called Hathigumpha in Udayagiri hills, near Bhubaneswar in Odisha, India. Dated between 2nd-century BCE and 1st-century CE, it was inscribed by the Jain emperor Kharavela of Kalinga kingdom.
• The Deopara Prashasti is a stone inscription (prashasti) eulogizing the Sena kings of Bengal.
  • It was composed by Umapati Dhara, a minister in the court of Lakshmana Sena, who was also one of several court poets.
  • The inscription particularly praises Lakshmana Sena's grandfather Vijaya Sena.
  • The alphabet is a precursor of the modern Bengali alphabet, with 22 letters approximating the modern forms.
  • The stone tablet was found in 1865 near the village of Deopara, now in Godagari Upazila of Rajshahi District of modern-day Bangladesh.
  • This inscription described that Sena king Bijay Sen is the real founder of the Sena Empire.
• Prayag Prashasti is a pillar inscription of Samudragupta found at Allahabad and written in Sanskrit. It was composed by Harisena. It is one of the important epigraphic sources to know about the political history of the Guptas.
• Gautamiputra Satakarni's achievements are recorded in the Nasik inscriptions.
  • He belonged to the Satavahana Dynasty.
  • He ruled in the 1st or 2nd century.
  • The Nasik Inscription was laid out by his mother Gautami Balaski.
  • The Inscription talks about his victory over Nagapana.

Thus, we can say that Deopada Prashasti is not associated with Yashodharman.

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key Points

• Swadeshi and Boycott Movement:
  • The leaders from Bengal felt that mere demonstrations, public meetings, and resolutions were not likely to affect much to the British.
  • Hence, they decided to start Swadeshi and Boycott movement.
  • Mass meetings were held all over Bengal where Swadeshi (use of Indian goods) and boycott of British goods were proclaimed. Hence, statement 2 is correct
  • ln many places, public burnings of foreign cloth was also organised and those shops who were selling foreign cloth were picketed.
    • This movement gave a great deal of encouragement to Indian industries.
  • Many textile mills, handloom weaving concerns, national banks, soap and match factories and insurance companies were opened during this duration. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
  • The Swadeshi movement was an immense success and was a befitting reply for the partition of Bengal. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray organised his famous Bengal Chemical Swadeshi Stores. Hence statement 4 is correct
    • He was the founder of Bengal Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals.
    • It was India's first pharmaceutical company.
  • 

Surkotada has not yielded evidence of fire - worship. Key Points

• The archaeological site of Surkotada in Gujarat has not yielded any evidence of fire worship.
• However, the sites of Kalibangan, Banawali, and Lothal in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat, respectively, have all provided substantial evidence of fire worship through the discovery of fire altars.
• These altars, constructed from brick or stone, are frequently located at the centre of houses or in communal spaces.
• They are believed to have served ritualistic purposes, possibly as a means of venerating fire deities or seeking divine favour.
• The identification of fire altars at these locations is of considerable importance as it furnishes insights into the religious practices of the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Fire held profound sacred significance in various ancient cultures, often symbolizing fertility, purification, and safeguarding.
• The existence of fire altars at these sites implies that the inhabitants of the Indus Valley Civilization also esteemed fire as a divine element.
• Alongside fire altars, the archaeological sites of Kalibangan, Banawali, and Lothal have unveiled other artefacts indicative of religious activities.
• These include depictions of deities in the form of figurines, seals engraved with religious motifs, and remnants of ceremonial baths.
• These findings propose that the people of the Indus Valley Civilization adhered to an intricate and refined system of religious beliefs.
• The absence of fire altars at Surkotada should not be hastily construed as an absence of fire worship among its inhabitants.
• It is plausible that they indeed engaged in fire worship, albeit without currently discernible evidence.
• The potential for future excavations at Surkotada to shed light on the religious practices of this significant site remains promising.

Presentism is a historical source of the assumption that the present-day connotations of terms also existed in the past. Key Points

• In literary and historical analysis, presentism is a pejorative term for the introduction of present-day ideas and perspectives into depictions or interpretations of the past.
• The Oxford English Dictionary gives the first citation for presentism in its historiographic sense from 1916.
• The practice of presentism is regarded by some as a common fallacy when writing about the past.
• Some modern historians seek to avoid presentism in their work because they consider it a form of cultural bias, and believe it creates a distorted understanding of their subject matter.
• Presentism is a neologism coined to identify today's preoccupation with the present age as the essential temporal referent in historical interpretation.
• As a perspective on the meaning of historical time, it accords the present privileged status.
• Presentism, therefore, stands as a counterpoint to the historicist idea of "progress," which dominated thinking about the historical time during the modern age in its greater valuation of the future.

• As a stance on historical interpretation, moreover, presentism takes issue with the proposition that historical knowledge of the past should be pursued for its own sake, and offers instead the call for interpretations of the past that contribute to morally responsible critical perspectives on the present age.

​So, we can conclude that presentism is a historical source of the assumption that the present-day connotations of terms also existed in the past.

The correct answer is All threeKey PointsAshoka:

• Asoka Maurya, succeeded to the Mauryan throne around 269 B.C.
• His policy of Dhamma has been a topic of lively discussion among scholars. The word Dhamma is the Prakrit form of the Sanskrit word Dharma.
• Dhamma has been variously translated as piety, moral life, righteousness and so on, but the best way to understand what Ashoka means by Dhamma is to read his edicts.

Contents of Dhamma:

• The principles of Dhamma were so formulated as to be acceptable to people belonging to different communities and following any religious sect.
• Dhamma was not given any formal definition or structure. It emphasised on toleration and general behaviour. The theme of ahimsa is an important aspect of Ashoka's dhamma and is frequently mentioned. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Dhamma stressed on dual toleration- it emphasised on toleration of people themselves and also an toleration of their various beliefs and ideas.
• There is a stress on the notion of showing consideration towards slaves and servants; there is stress also on obedience to elders; generosity towards the needy, Brahmanas and Sramanas, etc. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Asoka also pleaded for tolerance of different religious sects in an attempt to create a sense of harmony.
• The policy of Dhamma also laid stress on non-violence.
• Non-violence was to be practised by giving up war and conquests and also as a restraint on the killing of animals.
• However, Asoka realized that a certain display of his political might may be necessary to keep the primitive forest tribes in check.
• The policy of Dhamma also included certain welfare measures, like planting of trees, digging of wells, etc.
• Asoka attacked ceremonies and sacrifices practised regularly on various occasions as meaningless.

Additional Information Rock Edicts:

• Major Rock Edict I:
  • It declares prohibition of animal sacrifice and holiday of festive gatherings. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Major Rock Edict II:
  • It relates to certain measures of social welfare which are included in the working of Dhamma. It mentions medical treatment for men and animals, construction of roads, wells, tree planting, etc.
• Major Rock Edict III:
  • It declares that liberality towards Brahmanas and Sramanas is a virtue, respect to mother and father, etc are all good qualities.
• Major Rock Edict IV:
  • It is a very important statement of the policy of Dhamma.
  • The edict comments that due to the policy of Dhamma the lack of morality and disrespect towards Brahmanas and Sramanas, violence, unseemly behaviour to friends, relatives and others and evils of this kind have been checked.
• Major Rock Edict V:
  • It refers to the appointment of Dhamma-mahamattas for the first time in the twelfth year of his reign.
  • These special officers were appointed by the king to look after the interests of all sects and religions and spread the message of Dhamma in each nook and corner of the society.
• Major Rock Edict VI:
  • It is an instruction to Dhamma-mahamattas. They are told that they could bring their reports to the king at any time.
• Major Rock Edict VII:
  • It is a plea for toleration amongst all the sects.
  • It appears from the edict that tensions among the sects were expressed intensely, perhaps in open antagonism. The plea is part of the overall strategy to maintain unity.
• Major Rock Edict VIII:
  • It states that Dhammayatras (tours) would be undertaken by the emperor, the earlier practice, of the emperor, of going out on hunting expeditions was given up.
• Major Rock Edict IX:
  • It attacks ceremonies performed after birth, illness, marriage and before setting out for a journey.
  • A censure is passed against ceremonies observed by wives and mothers. Asoka instead lays stress on the practice of Dhamma and uselessness of ceremonies.
• Major Rock Edict X:
  • It denounces fame and glory and reasserts the merits of following the policy of Dhamma.
• Major Rock Edict XI:
  • It is a further explanation of the policy of Dhamma.
  • Emphasis is on respect to elders, abstaining from killing animals, and liberality towards friends.
• Major Rock Edict XII:
  • It is again an appeal towards toleration among sects.
  • This edict reflects the anxiety the king felt due to the conflict between sects and carries his plea for harmony.
• Major Rock Edict XIII:
  • It is of paramount importance in understanding the Asokan policy of Dhamma. The Rock Edict pleads for conquest by Dhamma instead of War.

• The policy of commercialization of agriculture by the British encouraged market-oriented produc­tion of cash crops such as opium, tea, coffee, sugar, jute and indigo.
• Indian peasants were forced to grow these cash crops that spoiled the fertility of the land and no other crop could be grown on it.
• Trade and money relations existed in the countryside even during the Mughal reign.
• As soon as the EIC desperately began to acquire more and more territories it insisted land tax be paid in cash.
• The British rule introduced cash assessments in the system of land revenue.
• Gradually, the former system of payment of land revenue in kind went out of fashion.
• This compelled the cultivator to sell a part of his produce.
• This was, however, not the whole problem.
• A new merchant class appeared in rural India who took advantage of the abysmal indebtedness of the peasantry.
• Secondly, the effect of monetization could not go far until internal means of transport were improved.
• The railway lines were built by the British rulers.
• The agricultural crops reached the parts of the then Madras, Calcutta, Bombay or Karachi from self-sufficient villages with the expansion of the railway lines
• The basic motive behind the tremendous spurt in the construction of the railway lines was to subserve the interests of the British industrialists in England.
• Colonial commerce brought the industrial revolution there.
• The raw material of the British cotton industry was almost entirely colonial, if not purely Indian.
• With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, transhipment costs of agricultural crops per cubic ton were reduced by roughly 30 p.c. Indian products, as a result, were sold at cheaper rates in Europe.
• Thus market—mainly for cotton—widened. As transport costs declined with the expansion of the means of transport, other agricultural crops, like rice and wheat, were added to the export list.

The Ryotwari Settlement concerns with annual agreements which was made among cultivators for sake of Pattas. Further it is noticed that Government was Landlord and peasants were Land Owners which possess patta by paying annual cash rents, making statements 1 and 2 correct. Statement 3 is also correct as and revenue was assessed as per fertility of land where average assessment in cash would be Re. 1/acre.

According to the terms of a subsidiary alliance, princely rulers were not allowed to have an independent armed force. They were to be protected by the East India Company, but had to pay for the 'subsidiary forces' that the company was supposed to maintain for the purpose of protection of states. If the Indian rulers failed to make the payment, then part of their territory was taken away as penalty.

Option 4th is wrong as princely states were free to conduct internal affairs of the state as they wished, though later they lost significant freedom in this respect also due to intrusive meddling by British resident.

Indian agriculture during the 18th century was technically backward and stagnant. The techniques of production had remained stationary for centuries. The peasants tried to make up for the technical backwardness by working very hard. He in fact performed miracles of productions; moreover, he did not usually suffer from shortage of land. But, unfortunately, he seldom reaped the fruits of his labour.

In 1908 Prafulla Chaki and Khudiram Bose threw a bomb at the carriage that they thought was transporting the unpopular Judge Kingsford of Muzzafarpur. However, due to misinformation they attacked Mr Kennedy and in the blast his wife and daughter were killed. The duo were tried in Muzzafarpur Conspiracy Case.

The Alipore Bomb Case, also called Muraripukur conspiracy or the Manicktolla bomb conspiracy was the trial of a number of revolutionaries of the Anushilan Samiti in Calcutta.

Among the famous accused were Aurobindo Ghosh, his brother Barin Ghosh as well as 37 other Bengali nationalists of the Anushilan Samiti.

The Kakori Conspiracy was a train robbery that took place between Kakori and, near Lucknow, on 9 August 1925. The robbery was organised by the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA). The robbery was conceived by Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan who belonged to the HRA, which later became the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. This organisation was established to carry out revolutionary activities against the British Empire in India with the objective of achieving independence. Since the organisation needed money for purchase of weaponry, Bismil and his party decided to plunder a train on one of the Northern Railway lines.

'Ayyavole' means a powerful guild organization of southern India of the early medieval age.

Key Points

• The expansion of agriculture and the growth of trade from the tenth century led to the emergence of many merchant guilds or organisations in South India.
• According to Romila Thapar, the inscriptions refer to these organisations often as samaya, i.e. an organisation born out of an agreement or contract among its members to follow a set of rules and regulations.
• The most important merchant guilds of South India were the Ayyavole, Manigraman, Nagarattar, Anjavannam and Valanjiyar.
• Geographically, the area of their operation corresponded to the present day state of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and South Andhra Pradesh.
• The Chola kings from the tenth century onwards made a concerted effort in trade and commerce through trade missions, maritime expeditions, abolition of tolls, etc.
• It greatly increased the activities of these guilds which were involved in not only inter-regional but also inter-oceanic trade across the Bay of Bengal.
• The merchant guild called Ayyavole was also known as the guild of “the 500 Swami of Aihole” or Nanadeshi.

• The organisation might have had an initial membership of 500.

Hence, we can conclude that 'Ayyavole' means a powerful guild organization of southern India of the early medieval age.

The correct answer is He wanted to avenge the expulsion by Marathas of his viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore.

• The Third battle of Panipat took place between Ahmed Shah Abdali (also called Ahmad Shah Durrani) and Maratha commander Sadashiv Rao Bhau on 14 January 1761 in the Panipat ground.

Key Points

• This battle was won by Ahmed Shah Abdali. After the death of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, Maratha's power grew in the country. They annexed several parts of Deccan which were previously controlled by Mughals.
• They also annexed Rajputana, Malwa, and Gujarat under their control.
• In 1747, Ahmad Shah Durrani established the Durrani empire in Afghanistan annexing Lahore.
• Durrani’s son Timur Shah was the governor of Lahore. Maratha Peshwa Bajirao captured Lahore and kicked out Timur Shah.
• Other rulers were alarmed by this rise of Marathas and they requested Durrani to stop Marathi expansion. As a result, Ahmad Shah Durrani gathered support from other rulers and fought this battle with Marathas.

• According to the passage, the partition of British India into India and Pakistan was described as "a defining tragedy in the subcontinent's history."
• It was characterized by widespread communal violence, the displacement of millions, and the profound grief of a divided homeland, laying the groundwork for enduring tensions.
• Consequences of Partition of British India were
• Mass Migration: The partition led to one of the largest mass migrations in human history, with estimates of 10-15 million people crossing borders to join their chosen nation. This massive migration was fraught with violence, suffering, and loss of property and livelihoods.
• Violence: Communal riots, mass killings, and sectarian violence claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands to two million people, creating a legacy of trauma and bitterness.
• Geopolitical Changes: The division also resulted in significant geopolitical changes, including territorial disputes, especially over the region of Kashmir, which remains a source of conflict between India and Pakistan.

Additional Information

• The Partition of British India remains a deeply influential event in the histories of India and Pakistan, shaping their political relations, social fabric, and collective memories.
• Its consequences are still felt today, through ongoing communal tensions, border disputes, and the shared yet divided histories of the two nations

• Diplomacy: This was a key strategy in negotiating with the rulers of princely states, convincing them to accede to the Indian Union through agreements and discussions that often included provisions for their rights and privileges post-integration.
• Persuasion: Persuasion involved convincing the rulers of the benefits of becoming part of the Indian Union, focusing on economic, social, and security benefits, while also addressing concerns and hesitations they might have had about losing their sovereign status.
• Military intervention: In cases where diplomacy and persuasion did not result in the desired outcome, military intervention was used as a last resort. Notably, this approach was taken in Hyderabad through "Operation Polo" to integrate the state into the Indian Union when peaceful negotiations failed.

Additional Information

• A plebiscite refers to the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution or in this context, deciding the fate of a territory (whether it should join one country or another).
• While plebiscites are an important democratic tool, they were not widely used as a strategy in the integration of princely states into the Indian Union.
• The integration process was primarily managed through negotiations and agreements between the leaders of the Indian government and the rulers of the princely states, with persuasion, diplomacy, and in a few cases, military intervention being the key strategies.

The correct answer is Tipu Sultan’s sword was made of wootz steel.

Key Points

• Tipu Sultan's sword is famous for its toughness and hardness. Swords can pierce armor. The ultimate hardness of the sword is made from a special high-carbon steel called wootz steel. So, option 3 is correct.
• India's first textile mill, Bombay Spinning and Weaving Mill, was established on 22 February 1854. The Indian textile industry is one of the largest industries in the Indian economy. The first Indian cotton mill- "The Bombay Spinning Mill' was opened in Bombay in 1854 by Cowasji Nanabhai Davar. So, option 1 is wrong.
• The name "Chintz" is derived from the Hindi word "chhint", which refers to a fabric with small, bright floral patterns. Printed Indian cotton fabrics became very popular in England and Europe from the 1680s onwards due to their ornate floral patterns, delicate texture and relatively cheap prices. So, option 2 is wrong.
• India's textile exports declined in the 19^th century. The growth of the British cotton industry had many effects on Indian textile manufacturers. So, option 4 is wrong.

Gujrat, Jharkhand, Haryana, and Sikkim are the five states of India.

Important Points

• Gujrat was formed on 1 May 1960.
• Jharkhand was formed on 15 November 2000.
• Haryana was formed on 1 November 1966.
• Sikkim was formed on 15 May 1975.

Thus, option 3 is correct.

Additional Information

• Gujrat ranks 5th in terms of area and Gandhinagar is its capital.
• Ranchi is the capital of Jharkhand and ranks 15th in the area.
• The capital of Haryana is Chandigarh and ranks 21st in the area.
• In terms of area, Sikkim ranks 27th and its capital is Gangtok.

In the 19th century, India witness the emergence of several socio-religious reform movements. One such movement was the Prarthana Samaj which emerged in Bombay and went on to wield a good deal of influence in western India and to a lesser extent, in southern India.

Founded by Atmaram Panduranga, the movement gained momentum and popularity after scholar and reformer, Mahadev Govind Ranade, joined it.

Mahabalipuram was one of the major port cities by the 7th century within the Pallava kingdom. The town was named after Pallava king Narasimhavarman I, who was also known as Mahabali.  Mahabalipuram is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Rebellion among the naval ratings in RIN (Royal Indian Navy) started at Bombay on 19 February 1946. Thrilled by the INA fight and trials, they wanted to contribute their strength towards India’s freedom.

Salabat Jung was the 4th Nizam of Hyderabad and the 3rd son of Nizam-ul-Mulk. After death of Nizam-ul-Mulk, the question of succession gave opportunities to the Marathas,French and the English to play King Makers. In 1751-52, Nizam Salabat Jang secured the protection of the French general, Bussy. This made Hyderabad stronger and it was not easy to eliminate the Nizam so long French General was there.

The English beginnings in India were not very promising on the account of Portuguese rivalry. However, in 1611, Captain Middleton landed at Swally near Surat in spite of Portuguese opposition. The victory of Captain Best in Surat road-stead broke the tradition of Portuguese naval supremacy. The Portuguese, hence, were defeated twice at Swally near Surat. These victories led the Mughals to hope that they could use the English to counter the Portuguese on the sea. Therefore, Jahangir issued a farman in 1613, permitting the English to establish a factory permanently at Surat.

Treaty of Bassein was a pact signed in 1802 between the British East India Company and Baji Rao II, the Maratha Peshwa of Pune. In 1803, Raghoji II Bhonsle of Nagpur signed the Treaty of Deogaon with British. Treaty of Surji Anjangaon was signed on December 30, 1803 between the British and Daulat Rao Sindhia.

Trading was the primary objective of the British East India Company. Gradually they started realizing the benefit of building an empire in India. And eventually, they came into power by winning different battles.

The Regulating Act was passed in the year 1773 (It was formally known as the East India Company Act). It was the first landmark of the constitutional development in India.