MH SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 2 (History) - MAHA TET MCQ

The correct answer is Allaudin Khilji.

Key Points

• Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic empire based in Delhi that stretched over large parts of South Asia for 320 years.
• Allaudin Khilji was a Turko-Afghan emperor of the Khilji dynasty under the Delhi Sultanate in the Indian subcontinent.
• He strongly opposed the interference of the Ulemas in the affairs of the State.
• The Delhi Sultans were not the head of the religion but only the head of the state.

Thus, we can say that Allaudin Khilji did not allow the Ulemas to interfere in matters of the state.

Additional Information

• Ulema is a body of Muslim scholars who are recognized as having specialist knowledge of Islamic sacred law and theology.

Karsondas Mulji started Satya Prakesh in Gujrati in 1852 to advocate widow remarriage. Bal Shastri Jambekar was one of the first reformers in Bombay. In 1832, he started a weekly, the Darpan, with the objective of chasing away the mists of error and ignorance which clouded men’s minds, and shedding over them the light of knowledge, in which the people of Europe have advanced so far before the other nations of the world. Gopal Hari Deshmukh was an outstanding champion of new learning and social reform in Maharashtra. He was famous by the pen-name of ‘Lokahitawadi’. Vishnu Shastri Pundit founded the Widow Remarriage Association in the 1850s.

Kol Mutiny took place in 1831. It happened in the areas of Ranchi, Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Palamau and the western part of Maharashtra. The reason was the large scale transfer of land to outsiders from Kol headmen.

Explanation:

• Mirabai Meerabai was a 16th-century Hindu mystic poet and devotee of Krishna.
• She is a celebrated Bhakti saint, particularly in the North Indian Hindu tradition.
• She was the disciple of the saint Ravidas.
• She was widely known and a cherished figure in the Bhakti movement culture by about 1600 CE.
• Many poems attributed to Meera were likely composed later by others who admired Meera.
• One of her most popular compositions remains "Paayoji Maine Ram Ratan dhan paayo".
• There are no surviving manuscripts of her poetry from her time.
• The earliest records with two poems credited to her are from the early 18th century, more than 150 years after she died.

Thus, Mirabai was the disciple of Ravidas.

• After gaining independence in 1947, India made substantial strides in addressing the challenges of famines and public health crises, including epidemics. The mechanisms listed below reflect the country's efforts to enhance food security, agricultural productivity, and public health.
• Establishment of the Planning Commission: Founded in 1950, the Planning Commission was an institutional mechanism tasked with formulating India's Five-Year Plans. Through comprehensive economic planning, this commission aimed to allocate resources efficiently, promote balanced regional development, and ensure the growth of essential sectors, including agriculture and industry. Such planning was vital for ensuring food security and laying the groundwork for sustainable economic development, especially in the wake deadly famines that had occurred during the colonial period. By fostering development, the Planning Commission played a crucial role in addressing the root causes of famines.
• Adoption of the Green Revolution: Initiated in the late 1960s, the Green Revolution dramatically transformed Indian agriculture. By introducing high-yielding varieties of seeds, expanding the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and modernizing farming techniques, the Green Revolution significantly increased the productivity of Indian agriculture, especially in staple crops such as wheat and rice. This movement helped India transition from a country heavily reliant on food imports to feed its population, to one that achieved self-sufficiency in food grains. The increased agricultural output effectively mitigated the risk of famines, ensuring a more stable food supply.
• Eradication of smallpox: Smallpox was a deadly disease that caused severe epidemics in India, contributing to high mortality rates. Through extensive vaccination campaigns and surveillance, part of a global effort led by the World Health Organization (WHO), India successfully eradicated smallpox in 1977. This achievement marked a significant victory in public health, preventing future epidemics of the disease and exemplifying India's commitment to combating infectious diseases that had plagued the population for centuries.
• The launch of the Universal Immunization Program (UIP): Launched in 1985, the UIP targeted the prevention of six vaccine-preventable diseases: tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, and measles. By providing free vaccines to children across the country, the program has played a crucial role in reducing mortality and morbidity among the most vulnerable segments of the population. Immunization is a key public health strategy in the fight against epidemics, and the UIP has been instrumental in improving child health and survival rates in India.

Therefore the correct answer is 1, 2, 3, and 4

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only

Key Points

• The response and policies of the British colonial administration regarding famines and epidemics in India have been the subject of much historical analysis and debate. The consensus among historians points towards systemic issues and inadequacies in how the British dealt with these crises.

Systemic neglect and underinvestment in public health infrastructure:

• Throughout the colonial period, the British administration did not invest adequately in the public health infrastructure of India.
• This lack of investment contributed significantly to the inability to effectively manage and control epidemics, leading to high mortality rates during disease outbreaks.
• Similarly, the colonial regime's efforts to improve agricultural productivity and food distribution were insufficient to prevent famines.
• The economic policies favored the interests of the British economy over the well-being of the Indian populace, often leading to increased vulnerability to famines and epidemics.

Scathing criticism from historians:

• Scholars and historians have castigated the British colonial administration for its handling of famines and epidemics in India.
• Much of the criticism centers on the administration's profit-driven approach, prioritization of resource extraction, and economic policies that disadvantaged the local population.
• Historians like Mike Davis in his book "Late Victorian Holocausts" have highlighted how colonial policies exacerbated the effects of droughts and other natural calamities, leading to catastrophic famines
• Amartya Sen, a Nobel laureate in economics, argued that many of the famines under British rule were not due to a lack of food but to poor distribution mechanisms and the inability of people to purchase food.
• The consensus among critics is that the colonial government failed to provide adequate relief measures during crises and was often more concerned with maintaining economic stability for the empire than addressing the immediate needs of the Indian people.

Additional Information

• Statemnets 1 and 4 are incorrect because the general historical assessment does not support the notion that the British colonial administration engaged in proactive, timely, or significant efforts to address food security or public health crises effectively.
• Although there were instances of relief measures, these were often too little and too late, and marred by a lack of empathy and understanding of local conditions.
• The overarching impact of colonial policies contributed to making the Indian population more susceptible to the devastating effects of famines and epidemics.

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key PointsNature of Town

• Towns represent a unique form of economic activities and cultures.
• In town ruler administrators, artisans, mansabdars and jagirdars, traders, etc were living.
• Towns were surrounded by the fortified wall and thrived on the surplus and taxes derived from agriculture. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Peasants from the countryside came to the town for pilgrimage or to sell their produce during the lime of famine etc. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• There is also evidence of people going to the village to sell their goods, crafts, etc. People migrated to villages when towns were attacked.
• The presence of the emperor, nobles, and other affluent powerful persons in towns and centres meant that a wide variety of services had to be provided and these towns were seats of power from where the administration of the empire worked.
• In medieval times, Delhi, Agra, Lahore, Madurai, and Kanchipuram, etc were famous, towns and cities. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• Subhas Chandra Bose was re-elected as the Congress’ president in 1939, defeating Pattabhi Sitaramaiah at the Tripuri Congress which prompted Mahatma Gandhi to label Pattabhi Sitaramaiah’s defeat as his own
• He was appointed President of the Indian Congress Party in 1938 but resigned on 28 April 1939. Bose was an advocate of armed resistance against British colonialism; he could not come to terms with the ideology of non-violent resistance that Gandhi advocated.
• Upon his resignation, he formed the All India Forward Bloc on 3 May 1939, a party within Congress, in an attempt to bring together the leftist faction.
• Hence, it can be concluded that Subhash Chandra Bose fought the Congress Presidential elections in 1939 on the ground that he favoured aggressive policy which was opposed by the Congress leaders.

Additional Information

• The Forward Bloc of the Indian National Congress was formed on June 22, 1939, by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who had resigned from the presidency of the Indian National Congress on 29 April after being outmanoeuvred by Mohandas K. Gandhi.
• Subhas Chandra Bose was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress (INC) in 1939 against Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
• Subhash Chandra Bose and Sardul Singh Kavishar were the party's first president and vice-president respectively.
• It held its first conference in Nagpur from June 20-22, 1940 where it demanded complete independence for India.
• It had its own newspaper called Forward Bloc.
• After independence, the party joined mainstream politics.

Mixed-method research is a kind of research that includes qualitative and quantitative elements, using both primary and secondary data.Key Points

• Mixed methods strategically integrates or combines rigorous quantitative and qualitative research methods to draw on the strengths of each.
• Mixed method approaches allow researchers to use a diversity of methods, combining inductive and deductive thinking.
• This research offsetting limitations of exclusively quantitative and qualitative research through a complementary approach that maximizes strengths of each data type and facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of health issues and potential resolutions.
• Mixed methods may be employed to produce a robust description and interpretation of the data, make quantitative results more understandable, or understand broader applicability of small-sample qualitative findings.
• Mixed methods is not simply having quantitative and qualitative data available or analyzing and presenting data findings separately.

• The integration process of this research can occur during data collection, analysis, or in the presentation of results.

So, we can conclude that Mixed-method research is a kind of research that includes qualitative and quantitative elements, using both primary and secondary data.

• Scientific Method and Objectivity: The "positive" school, exemplified by Leopold von Ranke, emphasized applying scientific methods to historical research. They aimed for objectivity and a focus on primary sources like documents and official records.
• Reaction to Romanticism and Idealism: This movement arose as a reaction to earlier trends in historical writing, particularly Romanticism, which often relied on emotions, intuition, and philosophical interpretations of the past. They saw this approach as subjective and unscientific
• Emphasis on Critical Source Analysis: "Positive" historians valued rigorous source criticism to verify the accuracy and authenticity of historical documents. They aimed to establish a set of methodologies for historical research to ensure reliable conclusions.

Additional Information

• Increased emphasis on social and economic forces: The "positive" school actually embraced this trend, aiming to apply scientific methods to analyze these forces.
• Focus on the role of great individuals and heroic deeds: While not the sole focus, some "positive" historians found inspiration in this approach, attempting to verify details surrounding historical figures.
• Growing interest in the history of everyday life and popular culture: This development largely occurred later, in the 20th century, with the rise of social history and cultural studies.

The correct answer is West Nimad.

Key Points

• The Vakataka Empire was a dynasty from the Indian subcontinent that originated from the Deccan in the mid-3rd century CE.
  • Their state is believed to have extended from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujarat in the north to the Tungabhadra River in the south as well as from the Arabian Sea in the west to the edges of Chhattisgarh in the east.
  • They were the most important successors of the Satavahanas in the Deccan and contemporaneous with the Guptas in northern India.
  • The Vakataka dynasty was a Brahmin dynasty.
  • Vindhyashakti was the founder of the family.
  • The rock-cut Buddhist viharas and chaityas of Ajanta Caves (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) were built under the patronage of Vakataka emperor, Harishena.

Additional Information

• Bundelkhand is a geographical and cultural region and also a mountain range in central & North India.
  • The hilly region is now divided between the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
  • Bundelkhand lies between the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the north and the Vindhya Range to the south.
• Bagelkhand or Baghelkhand is a region and also a mountain range in central India that covers the northeastern regions of Madhya Pradesh and a small area of southeastern Uttar Pradesh.
  • Bagelkhand is surrounded by the Indo-Gangetic plains in the north and east, Bundelkhand in the west, and the Vindhya range in the south.
• Vindhya Pradesh was a former state of India.
  • It was created in 1948 as Union of Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States, shortly after Indian independence, from the territories of the princely states in the eastern portion of the former Central India Agency.
  • It was named Vindhya Pradesh on 25th January 1950 after the Vindhya Range.

The leader of the Sepoy Revolt at Raipur in January 1858 was Hanuman Singh.

The correct answer is V.A.Smith.

Key Points

• V.A.Smith was a renowned historian of Ireland.
• The Early History of India and The Oxford History of India are the two comprehensive volumes of Indian history published by V.A.Smith.
• Mohenjo-Daro was discovered in 1922 by R. D. Banerji.
• The northeastern sector of Mohenjo-Daro was excavated by K. N. Dikshit.
• M.S. Vats was an Account of Archaeological Excavations at Harappa carried out between the Years 1920-1921 and 1933-34.

Additional Information

The correct answer is mother.Key Points

• Nagalapuram was founded by Krishnadeva Raya in memory of his mother Nagala Devi.
• Nagalapuram was a suburban township located near Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• Krishnadeva Raya was a prominent emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who ruled from 1509 to 1530.
• The other options are incorrect.
• Krishnadeva Raya's father was Tuluva Narasa Nayaka, his teacher was Vyasatirtha, and he did not have a sister.

Additional Information

• Krishnadeva Raya's mother Nagala Devi was a devout follower of Lord Vishnu and had a great influence on him.
• Nagalapuram was also known as Nagalapura, and it was an important center of trade and commerce during the Vijayanagara period.
• Krishnadeva Raya was a patron of art, literature, and architecture, and his reign is considered the golden age of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• Tuluva Narasa Nayaka was Krishnadeva Raya's father-in-law, not his biological father.
• Vyasatirtha was a prominent saint and philosopher of the Dvaita school of Vedanta, and he was Krishnadeva Raya's spiritual guru.

The correct match is as follows: 

List I

A-Subhash Chandra Bose

B-Vallabhbhai Patel

C-Iqbal

D-Batukeshwar Dutt

List II

2- Haripura convention of Indian National Congress

3- Operation Polo

4- The Muslim League's Allahabad convention of 1930

1- Bombing of Central Government Bombing

The correct answer is both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation for (A). Key Points

• ​Muhammad bin Tughluq, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate in the 14th century, had a unique approach to governance and administration.
• One of his strategies was to confer honors and high appointments upon individuals from various backgrounds, including foreigners, converted Hindus, members of Sufi families, Afghans, and even Mongols.
• Muhammad Tughluq had several reasons for implementing this policy.
• One of the main objectives was to weaken the old nobility, who held significant power and influence.
• By appointing individuals from diverse backgrounds, he aimed to dilute the power of the existing nobility and reduce their ability to challenge his authority.
• Additionally, Muhammad Tughluq wanted to establish a new order of office-holders who owed their allegiance directly to him rather than to traditional power structures or factions within the nobility.
• By appointing people from heterogeneous racial origins, he hoped to create a loyal and dependent class of officials who would owe their positions and privileges solely to his favor.
• However, this policy had mixed results.
• While it allowed Muhammad Tughluq to maintain a degree of control over his administration, it also led to a lack of coherence and stability within the ruling class.
• The loyalty and competence of these appointees were often questionable, and it created conflicts and rivalries among different factions within the government.

• Muhammad Tughluq's reign was marked by several ambitious and controversial policies, and his attempts to reshape the administration through diverse appointments was one such initiative.

Hence we conclude that the correct answer is both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation for (A).

1) In 1853, it was decided that the Indian railways were to be constructed and operated by the private companies who were guaranteed a minimum of five per cent return on their capital by the Government.

2) This system proved very costly and slow, and so in 1869, the Government of India decided to build new railways as state enterprises. But the speed of railway extension still did not satisfy officials in India and businessmen in Britain.

3) After 1880, railways were built through private enterprise as well as through state agency. By 1905, nearly 45,000 kms of railway had been built.

Key Points

• (a) Border Negotiations: The Panchsheel principles were first codified in the 1954 Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between the People's Republic of China and India. This agreement aimed to resolve border issues between India and China's Tibet region.
• (b) Non-Interventionism for New States: The Panchsheel principles, which include mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, resonated with newly independent states seeking space to consolidate their independence and chart their own course in international relations, moving away from dominant power structures.

Additional Information

• (c) Not Strictly Adhered To: While initially promoting peaceful coexistence, the Sino-Indian relationship later deteriorated, culminating in a border war in 1962. This highlights the limitations of Panchsheel in addressing complex geopolitical realities.
• (d) Not Solely Chinese: The principles of Panchsheel drew on existing ideas of peaceful coexistence in Asian traditions and were championed by both India (particularly Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru) and China (Premier Zhou Enlai).

Important PointsPanchsheel: Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence​

The Panchsheel, meaning "five principles" in Hindi, is a set of five principles that emerged as a cornerstone of Sino-Indian relations in the mid-20th century. Here's a breakdown of the concept:

Origin and Significance:

• The Panchsheel principles were first codified in the 1954 Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between the People's Republic of China and India. This agreement aimed to address the border dispute between India and China's Tibet region.
• Beyond resolving a specific border issue, the Panchsheel principles resonated with newly independent states in Asia and Africa seeking a framework for peaceful coexistence in the international arena.

The Five Principles:

• Mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty: This principle emphasizes respecting each other's borders and internal affairs.
• Mutual non-aggression: This principle prohibits using force or the threat of force against each other.
• Mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs: This principle discourages meddling in each other's political systems or domestic policies.
• Equality and mutual benefit: This principle promotes cooperation based on mutual respect and benefit for both countries.
• Peaceful coexistence: This principle emphasizes resolving disputes peacefully through dialogue and negotiation.

The English Gitanjali is a collection of 103 English poems of Tagore's own English translations of his Bengali poems, first published in November 1912 by the India Society of London. The English Gitanjali became popular in the West and was widely translated.

Indian Nationa Army was actually founded by Capt. Mohan Singh consisting of 20,000 Indian war prisoners captured by Japan. Bose took over the commandership of INA, and changed its name to ‘Azad Hind Fauj’. The INA founded the first provincial government of free India at Singapore. It entered Burma and destroyed Mandalay Jail. From Burma, it came up to Kohima in Assam. As Japan withdrew its forces in the war front, INA was defeated and its commanders were imprisoned in the Red Fort.

Concept:

Kakatiya dynasty:

• Between the 12th and 14th centuries, the Kakatiya dynasty of India ruled over the majority of the eastern Deccan region.
• It includes Telangana and Andhra Pradesh today, as well as portions of eastern Karnataka and southern Odisha.
• Orugallu, now known as Warangal, served as their capital.

Explanation:

Ganapati Deva:

• The first Emperor to unify all of Telugu-speaking India was Ganapathi Deva.
• He changed or shifted the capital from Anmakonda to Warangal, then known as Orugallu.
• He ruled Kakatiya Dynasty from 1199-1262.
• Ganapathideva began building an earthen bund and a rock bund around Orugallu to protect it from any outside enemies.

Thus, the capital was shifted from Anmakonda to Orugallu during the regime of this king Ganapati Deva.

Additional InformationPrataprudra/ Rudradeva II:

• Rudradeva II, also known as Pratparudra, was the last emperor of India's Kakatiya dynasty (1289–1323).
• He had Warangal as his seat of government while in charge of the eastern Deccan.

Rudrama Devi:

• From 1263 until the time of her death in 1289, Rudrama Devi ruled the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan Plateau.
• She was one of the very few female monarchs in Indian history, and she did so by projecting a masculine image.

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.

The correct answer is Sabha.Key Points

• Sabha:-
  • It​ was the assembly in the villages which were inhabited predominantly by the Brahmanas in the Chola administration.
  • It was a local self-government institution that functioned as a council of elders who were responsible for the administration and maintenance of the village.
  • Sabha was also responsible for the collection of taxes, maintenance of law and order, and resolving disputes within the village.
  • The members of the Sabha were usually Brahmanas who were elected by the villagers.
  • Sabha was an important institution in the Chola administration as it helped in the smooth functioning of the village administration.

Additional Information

• Ur:-
  • It was the smallest unit of administration in the Chola empire.
  • It was a village or a group of villages that were governed by a council of elders.
• Khilya:-
  • It​ was a military unit in the Chola army that consisted of 100 soldiers.
• Nagaram:-
  • It was a term used for a city or a town in the Chola empire.

J.B. Kripalani was the President of ‘Indian National Congress’ at the time of independence.

'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.

The Treaty of Allahabad and Kara was signed on 12 August 1765, between the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, son of the late Emperor Alamgir II, and Robert, Lord Clive of East India Company as a result of the Battle of Buxar of 22 October 1764. The Treaty marks the political and constitutional involvement and the beginning of British rule in India.The Treaty of Salbai was signed on 1782, by representatives of the Maratha Empire and the British East India Company after long negotiations to settle the outcome of the First Anglo-Maratha War. The Treaty of Srirangapattanam signed 18 March 1792, ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Its signatories included Lord Cornwallis on behalf of the British East India Company, representatives of the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Mahratta Empire and Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore. The Treaty of Bassien (Vasai) was a pact signed on 31 December 1802 between the British East India Company and Baji Rao II, the Maratha peshwa of Pune after The Battle of Poona.

The correct answer is To suggest a scheme for fulfilling the claims of Indians to higher and more extensive employment in public service.

Key Points

• The Aitchison Commission (Public Service Commission) was established to devise a plan to address Indians' requests to higher and more widespread public service employment. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• It was established in 1886 under the presidency of Sir Charles Umpherston Aitchison.
• It made the following recommendations in its report submitted in 1887:
  • The two-tier classification of civil services into covenanted and uncovenanted should be replaced by a three-tier classification-Imperial, provincial and subordinate civil services.
  • The maximum age for entry into civil services should be 23 years.
  • Commission was set up by Lord Dufferin.
  • The statutory civil service system of recruitment should be abolished.
  • The competitive exam should not be held simultaneously in England and India
  • A certain percentage of posts in the imperial civil service should be filled by promotion of the members of provincial civil service.
• The above recommendations were implemented and consequently, the statutory civil service was abolished in 1892.

Amidst all the controversies, British were more successful in the introduction of modern education.

1) A humble beginning was made in Charter Act of 1813, which incorporated the principle of encouraging learned Indians and promoting the knowledge of modern sciences in the country. The Act directed the Company to spend the sum of one lakh of rupees for the purpose.

2) English Education Act 1835 decided to devote the limited resources it was willing to spare to the teaching of Western Sciences and literature through the medium of English alone

3) The Wood’s Dispatch of 1854 was another important step in the development of education in India. The dispatch asked the government of India to assume responsibility for the education of the masses. It thus repudiated the ‘downward filtration’ theory, at least on paper. In practice, the government did little to spread education and spent very little on it.

Indian Nationa Army was actually founded by Capt. Mohan Singh consisting of 20,000 Indian war prisoners captured by Japan. Bose took over the commandership of INA, and changed its name to ‘Azad Hind Fauj’. The INA founded the first provincial government of free India at Singapore. It entered Burma and destroyed Mandalay Jail. From Burma, it came up to Kohima in Assam. As Japan withdrew its forces in the war front, INA was defeated and its commanders were imprisoned in the Red Fort.