MH SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 3 (History) - MAHA TET MCQ

Answer(c) Abbas Taiybjee

• Gandhiji under the authority of the Congress launched the civil disobedience movement known as the Salt Satyagraha.
• Gandhi's arrest had created a great sensation in India and abroad. Representations were sent from all parts of the world to the British Prime Minister asking the Government to release Gandhi and make peace with India.
• C Rajagopalachari led a similar march on the southeast coast from Trichy to Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu.

Samachar Darpan, the Vernacular newspaper was started during the period of Warren Hastings's incorrect statements. Key Points

• Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of Bengal in British India and served from 1772 to 1785.
• During his tenure, he implemented various administrative reforms and played a significant role in shaping British rule in India.
• However, Samachar Darpan, the Vernacular newspaper, was not started during his period.
• Samachar Darpan was established by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1818.
• Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a social reformer and is often referred to as the "Father of the Indian Renaissance."
• He played a crucial role in advocating for social, educational, and political reforms in colonial India.
• Samachar Darpan was published in Bengali language and aimed to disseminate information and promote social awareness among the Indian masses.

• It was one of the earliest vernacular newspapers in India and played a significant role in the growth of journalism in the country.

​Therefore, the correct information is that Samachar Darpan was started by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1818, which was after the period of Warren Hastings.

An important site is that of Burzhom, which means the place of Birch, probably had a hunting and fishing economy. The people of Gufkral practiced both agriculture and domestication of animals. The place with considerable bone implements was Chirand, made up of antlers (horns of deer). Neolithic sites in Allahabad district are noted for the cultivation of rice in the sixth millennium B.C.

Key Points

Political History

• It deals with kings and their nobles during the earliest times. they were considered the architects of the society and their actions received prior treatment at the hands of historians.
• Secondly, the main source of our information for the past history is the court records and the accounts left by courtiers who wanted to flatter their patrons.

Additional Information

Social History

• It primarily devotes to the social life of the people 'viz' religion, national economy, morals, manners, foods, dresses art and culture. In this history, the political, dynastic and constitutional aspects of history are degraded to the background. In addition to these some historians made an attempt to deal with the general patrons of social development.

Diplomatic history

• It can be considered a branch of political history but developed as an independent discipline. In the view of close connections and relations between various members of the international communities, the huge body of principles of international laws has grown, which govern the foreign relations of various sovereign states.

Legal History

• It is another independent branch of history that has grown in recent times. The historians of legal history devoted themselves to the study of legal development and tried to show how the law adjusted itself according to the changing social conditions.

Parvati Devi was daughter of Lala Lajpat Rai who is know for actively taking part in the Satyagraha Committee. Radha Devi Agrawal was the wife of Lala Lajpat Rai. He had two sons, Amrit Rai Agrawal and Pyarelal Agrawal, and a daughter, Parvati Agrawal.

The correct answer is the Peasants Movement of Shekhavati.

Key Points

• Peasants Movement of Shekhavati was the movement of the Gurjars against the reign of Bundi.
  • Peasant struggles in Shekhawati in the first half of the twentieth century brought an end to the shackles of the Jagirdari system.
  • Jagirdari Abolition brought about a fundamental change in the structure of control over land in Shekhawati with tenants-at-will getting ownership rights over land.
  • In the late 1920s, leaders of All India Jat Mahasabha formed Ahir Jat Gujjar and Rajput Sabha in order to bring all peasant castes together.
  • However, Jats of Shekhawati left this organization in 1929 to organize their movement separately.

Additional Information

• Peasants Movement of Bijolia
  • Bijolia was ‘‘A” class Jagir of the Udaipur State with a population of about 1200 in 1891.
  • The majority of peasants in Bijolia belonged to Dakan Gotra of the Jats.
  • In 1897, All the farmers gathered in Bhijolia’s Girirdhpura village on the occasion of the feast of the father of Ganga Ram Dhakar. Then collectively it was decided to send Nanaji Patel and Thakri Patel to Mewar Maharana to complain of Krishna Singh. Later Krishan Singh expelled both of them from Bijolia.
  • In 1906, Thakur Prithvi Singh became a new zamindar, which in 1906 introduced the new tax called “Talwar Bandhai” (a kind successor tax, and was also called insulting tax) on the people of Bijolia in 1906.
• Bengu Kisan movement – (started in 1921)
  • The main center of the peasant movement of Bengu was Raita.
  • Earlier, this place was in Bhilwara, but it is currently in Chittorgarh district.
  • This movement ran at the time of Bangngu’s Zamidar Anoop Singh.
  • Maharana of Mewar was Fateh Singh.
  • Reason – Excessive levy and unfair means.
  • This movement was run by the farmers of Dhakar caste.
  • The initial leadership of this movement was done by Vijay Singh Pathik from Ajmer because there was a ban upon him on arrival in Mewar state. Later, on the insistence of Vijay Singh Pathik, Ram Narayan Chaudhary led the movement.
• Peasants Movement of Dabra
  • Dabda or Dabrais a village in Didwana tehsil of Nagaur district in Rajasthan.
    • The village is known for The Dabra farmers movement-1947 for the abolition of Jagirs in Rajasthan.
  • The peasant movement which was being organized by the Marwar Kisan Sabha and the Marwar Lok Parishad jointly was a parallel movement to that of the national movement going on in British India whose aims were common i.e. to free the country from foreign rule.
  • To mobilize the peasants, meetings under the joint auspices of Marwar Lok Parishad and Marwar Kisan Sabha were held at various places in the Jat belt and such meeting was fixed at village Dabra in Nagaur district for 13th March 1947.
  • The Jagirdars got together in a bid to crush the political awakening among the Kisan and the black deed at Dabra was planned.
  • In this, the Jagirdars had the blessings and active support of the Maharaja.

The fifth Sikh Guru Arjun Dev composed Adi Granth. He supported Khusroo against Jahangir for the Mughal throne and was therefore executed by Jahangir. Guru Hargobind, the Sixth Guru was the founder of the idea Akali Takht (Sikh Brotherhood) and constructed Harminder Sahib Gate in Amritsar. The eight Guru, Harikishen was the youngest to become a guru at the age of 5 and died of small pox. Guru Ramdas, the fourth Sikh guru constructed Amritsar and Santokhsar lakes in the land granted by the Mughal Emperor Akbar to his daughter.

According to Barani, the correct descending order of military cavalry composition is - iv, iii, ii, i

Key Points

• Ziauddin Barani was a Muslim political thinker of the Delhi Sultanate.
• He was best known for composing the Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi and the Fatwa-i-Jahandari .
• In his works, he mentioned about the military administration of the Delhi Sultanate.
• The diwan-i arz or military department was headed by the ariz-i mumalik.
• He was responsible for the administration of military affairs.
• Cavalry was the key to the success of Delhi Sultanate.
• Given below are the officials (in the descending order) of the military cavalry under Delhi Sultanate:
  • ​Khan - A khan's force contained at least ten maliks.
  • Malik - A malik had authority over ten amirs.
  • Amir - An amir commanded ten sipahsalars.
  • Sipahsalar - A sipahsalar directed ten sar khels.
  • Sarkhel - A sar khel had ten horsemen under him.

Hence, we can conclude that according to to Barani, the correct descending order of military cavalry composition is -

• The Assertive Nationalists, also known as Extremists in the context of the Indian National Movement, were a group of leaders within the Indian National Congress who emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were labeled as such in contrast to the earlier Moderate faction, which advocated for constitutional reforms and discussions with the British to achieve self-governance gradually.
• Assertive Nationalists such as Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bipin Chandra Pal, Lala Lajpat Rai, and Aurobindo Ghosh believed that mere petitions or constitutional methods would not be sufficient to secure national interests. They argued for a more aggressive stance against British rule, advocating for the adoption of Swadeshi (use of domestic goods and boycott of British goods), national education, and Swaraj. While they did promote passive resistance and were part of protests and picketing, they also did not completely rule out the use of force if it was deemed necessary in the struggle for independence. This stance distinguished them from the later Gandhian phase, which emphasized non-violence and civil disobedience as core principles.
• Their methods included the boycott of British goods, institutions, and schools, promotion of Swadeshi products, and the establishment of national schools and colleges to foster a sense of national identity and education not influenced by British ideals. The partition of Bengal in 1905 became a significant rallying point for their activities, leading to widespread protests and marked the rise of the Assertive Nationalist movement within the broader Indian freedom struggle.

"Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it". This slogan was given by Bal Gangadhar Tilak during the freedom struggle.

"After this event there was fierce storm, heavy rainfall and famine occurred." The event being referred here by Barani was the assassination of Sidi Maula.

Important Points

• Ziauddin Barani was a Muslim political thinker of the Delhi Sultanate.
• He was best known for composing the Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi, a work on medieval India, which covers the period from the reign of Ghiyasuddin Tughluq to the first six years of reign of Firoz Shah Tughluq.
• Barani described about the event of assassination of Sidi Maula in his works.
• Sidi Maula was a foreign-born religious leader, who belonged to a sect of unorthodox Muslim dervishes.
• He owned a huge khanqah, and had been reputed for his vast charities since the reign of Qaiqabad.
• Sidi Maula was executed by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq.
• Barani mentioned that most humane king , who had pardoned everyone, could not bear the plotting of a dervish.
• Up on the death of Sidi Maula, a black storm arose which made the world dark.
• Troubles arose after his death in the state.

• There was fierce storm, heavy rainfall and famine occurred in the region around Delhi.

Thus, we can conclude that the event being referred here by Barani was the assassination of Sidi Maula.

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

Key Points

• The broad features of administration were laid down by Akbar and were elaborately discussed by Abul Fazl in his book the Akbar Nama, in particular in its last volume, the Ain-i Akbari.
• Abul Fazl explained that the empire was divided into provinces called subas, governed by a subadar who carried out both political and military functions. Each province also had a financial officer or diwan. For the maintenance of peace and order in his province, the subadar was supported by other officers such as Mir Bakhshi, the minister in charge of religious and charitable patronage (Sadr-us sudur), military commanders (faujdars), and the town police commander (kotwal).
  • Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.
• Mir Bakshi is the head of the military department. It was the mir Bakshi and not the diwan who was considered the head of the nobility. Therefore, only the leading grandees were appointed to this post. The Mir Bakhshi was also the head of the intelligence and information agencies of the empire.
  • Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.
• Intelligence officers (barids) and news reporters (waqia-navis) were posted to all parts of the empire. Their reports were presented to the emperor at the court through Mir Bakhshi.
  • Hence, pair 4 is not correctly matched.
• Mir Saman was in charge of the imperial household, including the supply of all the provisions and articles for the use of the inmates of the haram or the female apartments.
  • Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.

• The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by two brothers, Harihara and Bukka Raya I.
• While it eventually flourished into a dominant power in southern India, its initial rise to prominence began in the mid-14th century
• 12th century: This is too early. While earlier kingdoms existed in the region, the Vijayanagara Empire itself originated later.
• 16th century: This is also too late. The empire reached its peak in the 15th and 16th centuries, but it was already established well before that
• Early 18th century: This is much too late. The empire had actually fallen by the end of the 17th century

Additional Information

• The Vijayanagara Empire (1336-1646),thrived in South India, encompassing parts of modern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and more.
• Founded by the Sangama dynasty, it rose to defend against Muslim invasions.
• It flourished under rulers like Krishna Deva Raya, known for their patronage of art, literature, and architecture, evident in the majestic ruins of Hampi, its capital.
• The empire was well-organized, with efficient administration, a strong military, and thriving trade.

• The Bahmani Sultanate significantly contributed to the Deccan culture by fusing Persianate culture, including art, architecture, and traditions, with Indian customs, which enriched the socio-cultural fabric of the Deccan region.
• ​The Bahmani Sultans blended Persianate flair with Indian roots, leaving an indelible mark on Deccan culture.
• Grand mosques with Persian arches adorning Indian bazaars, or poems flowing in Dakhni, a language born from Persian and local tongues.
• Their patronage of art birthed architectural marvels like Bidar's intricate mosques, while music thrived with instruments like the sitar resonating with Persian melodies.
• This cross-pollination wasn't just beautiful; it fostered tolerance, weaving a distinct Deccan identity amidst diverse faiths and customs.
• The echoes of this fusion still reverberate in the region's architecture, language, and traditions, a testament to the Bahmani legacy

Additional Information

• The Bahmani kingdom, which thrived from 1347 to 1526, was a prominent Deccan sultanate in South India
• Founded by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah, it carved out a vast territory encompassing present-day Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Its capital shifted between Gulbarga and Bidar, both of which boast architectural marvels showcasing the kingdom's cultural blend.
• The Bahmanis were known for their effective administration, strong military, and vibrant trade.
• They also left a lasting legacy in art, architecture, and literature. They blended Persianate influences with local Deccan traditions, resulting in unique styles evident in mosques, palaces, and literary works.

• The Vijayanagara Empire placed a strong emphasis on promoting overseas trade, which contributed significantly to its prosperity.
• The empire maintained thriving trade relations with the Portuguese, the Arabs, and other traders from the East and West, dealing in spices, cotton, precious stones, and other goods, which facilitated the flow of wealth into the empire.
• Their ports bustled with trade, exchanging spices, gems, and cotton for riches.
• Portuguese, Arabs, and others flocked to their markets, bringing wealth and cultural exchange.
• From pepper to pearls, every ship brought prosperity, filling the empire's coffers and fueling its grandeur.
• This global connect wasn't just about goods; it was a bridge between cultures, ideas, and innovations, making Vijayanagara a vibrant hub on the world map.

• Noboru Karashima was a Japanese historian, writer and Professor Emeritus in University of Tokyo, Japan.
• The focus of this the work 'Towards a New Formation: South Indian Society Under Vijayanagar Rule' is the social and economic changes that took place in South India, under the rule of the Vijayanagar kings, from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries
• He was a prominent scholar of Asia in the studies of South Indian and South Asian histories. He has rewritten historical accounts on medieval South India and published a number of writings.

• Professor Karashima played a critical role in developing Indo-Japan cultural ties and was conferred the Padma Shri award in 2013, one of India's highest civilian award, for his contribution in the field of Literature and Education.

• It focuses on the problems of socio-economic development in South india from the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries and provides a sequel to his earlier work dealing with the period of Chola rule.

The correct answer is Rigveda.

Key Points

• Rigveda contains the Gayatri mantra.
• Gayatri mantra is a highly revered mantra dedicated to Savitri.
• Veda, a collection of poems or hymns composed in archaic Sanskrit.
• There are four types of Vedas – Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda.

Important Points

• Rigveda
  • It is the oldest known Vedic Sanskrit text(1800 – 1100 BCE)
  • It has more than 10000 verses.
  • Out of 10 mandalas, Mandala number 1 and 10 are the youngest ones as they were written later than Mandala 2 to 9.
  • The ninth Rigvedic mandala is solely dedicated to Soma.

The Kandariya Mahadeva temple dedicated to Shiva was constructed in 999 by king Dhangadeva of the Chandela dynasty.

• It has an ornamented gateway led to an entrance and the main hall (maha mandapa) where dances were performed.
• The image of the chief deity was kept in the main shrine (Garbhagriha).
• This was the place for ritual worship where only the king, his immediate family, and priests gathered.
• The Khajuraho complex contained royal temples where commoners were not allowed entry.
• The temples were decorated with elaborately carved sculptures.

Thus, we can conclude that the Kandariya Mahadeva temple was constructed by Dhangadeva of the Chandela dynasty.

Additional Information

• In the early ninth century when the Pandyan king Shrimara Shrivallabha invaded Sri Lanka and defeated the king, Sena I.
• The Rajarajeshwara temple was built by king Rajarajadeva to show his devotion to lord Rajarajeshvaram.
  • Kings took god's name as it was auspicious and showed that his status was equal to that of god's and also through rituals it shows that one god (the king) worships the other god (heavenly god).

The correct answer is Bhima Nayak.

Key Points

• The Tribal Movement occurred in Sendhawa under the leadership of Bhima Nayak.
• Sendhwa is a city with a municipal government located in the Barwani district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is the headquarters for Sendhwa Tehsil.
• As of the 2011 India census, Sendhwa constitutes a population of 56,485. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%.
• Sendhwa has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 55%.
• In Sendhwa, 17% of the population is present under 6 years of age.

Additional Information

• Bhima Nayak or Bheema Nayak was an Indian revolutionary of Madhya Pradesh.
• He fought against the agitations of the British in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
• When Bhima was delinquent by the British government, he was kept in Port Blair and Nicobar.
• He was hanged in Port Blair, the present-day capital of Andaman & Nicobar on December 29, 1876.

Mahajanapadas

• Mahajanapadas were kingdoms that arose around 6th century BCE.
• The 16 Mahajanapadas were Kasi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Matsya, Surasena, Assmaka, Avanti, Gandhara, and Kamboja.
• This period is referred to as the second urbanisation, the first being the Harappan civilization. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• During this period, the centre of political activity shifted from the western to the lower part of the Gangetic plain. Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh make up the eastern half of the Gangetic plain. The fertile soils, better climate, and terrain conditions gifted with rainfall and rivers were the key reasons for this shift. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Mahajanapadas find reference in Buddhist scriptures (Angutara Nikaya), Jaina scriptures, and Later Vedic texts. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• Among the mahajanapadas, rajyas were monarchies such as Avanti, Magadha,etc. and ganas were republics, such as Vajji, Mallas and Assaka. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Accordingly, A is correct.

Mahajanpadas

Source: IGNOU

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

Important Points

• The stone Nataraj or Natesha murti, in "chatura pose with jatamakuta and trinetra" is a rare depiction of Lord Shiva in the Prathihara style. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• The statue is almost four-feet-tall.
• A depiction of Nandi (sacred bull calf) is shown behind the right leg of the Natesa icon.
• It was stolen in February 1998 from Ghateshwar Temple in Baroli, Rajasthan. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• The murti was returned to the Archaeological Survey of India.

Additional Information

• Pratihara Style of architecture is associated with the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty around 800-900 AD.
• This dynasty was one of the first four patrilineal clans of the caste group referred to as the Rajputs.
• The Pratiharas added a full-fledged mandapa to the single shrine temple as an extension to the Gupta architecture tradition.
• Gurjara-Pratiharas were known for their open pavilion temples.

The correct answer is Rajvalli Katha.

• Ravalli Katha is a Jaina text in which Bindusara is called Seemseri.
• Bindusara was the son of Chandragupta Maurya.
• Born in 320 BC, he ruled from 298 BC to 272 BC.
• Syrian King Antiochus-I sent Deimachus as his ambassador in the court of Bindusara.
• Jain literature is contained in the Agam(Sacred book of Jainism)..

Govinda III (793 - 814)

• The Rashtrakuta king who defeated the Pratihara ruler Nagabhatta II was Govinda III
• Pala King Dharmapala and his protégé Charayudh sought the help of Govinda III.
• His kingdom spread up to the Vindhyas and Malava in the north and the river Tungabhadra to the south.
• Govind III's northern campaign was not for empire expansion but for fame.
• Govind III defeated Pratihara king Nagabhatta II in 793 - 814 AD.
• Govind III further defeated the Pallava king Dantivarman in 803 at Kanchi.

Key Points

• Nagabhatta I was the first king of the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty.
• Nagabhatta I established his capital at Avanti (Ujjain) in Malwa.
• Nagabhatta II (805 - 833 AD) was the son and successor of Vatsaraj.

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.

• Pair 1 is correct.
  • MIR SAMAN -
    • He was in charge of the Royal household including the supply of all the provisions and articles for the use of the inmates of the harem or the female apartments.
    • Only nobles who enjoyed the complete confidence of the emperor were appointed to this office.
• Pair 2 is correct.
  • WAZIR -
    • He continued to be the head of the revenue department.
    • He was not generally a person who held a high position in the nobility.
    • Many nobles held Mansabs which were higher than the Wazir.
    • Thus, he was no longer the principal advisor to the ruler but an expert in revenue matters.
    • Akbar generally used the title of Diwan or Diwan-i-ala in preference to the word Wazir.
• Pair 3 is correct.
  • MIR BAKSHI -
    • The head of the military department was called the Mir Bakshi.
    • It was Mir Bakshi and not the Diwan who was considered the head of the nobility.
    • Therefore only the leading grandees were appointed to this post.
    • Recommendations for appointment to mansabs or promotions etc were made to the emperor through the Mir Bakshi.
    • Once the emperor had accepted the recommendation it was sent to the diwan for confirmation and for assigning a jagir to the appointee.
    • Mir Bakshi was also the head of the intelligence and information agencies of the empire. Intelligence Officers (barids) and news reporters (waqia-navis) were posted to all the parts of the empire
    • Their reports were presented to the emperor at the court through the Mir Bakshi.

• 1888 – George Yule
• 1889,1910 – William Wedderburn
• 1894 – Alfred Webb
• 1904 – Henry Cotton
• 1917 – Annie Besant

The Lower Palaeolithic phase are found in the valley of river Soan in Punjab (Pakistan), Kashmir, Thar dessert and Belan Valley. The Middle Palaeolithic sites are found in places of river Narmada, and also south of Tungabhadra river. The Upper Palaeolithic phase is found mostly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, central Madhya Pradesh, South of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Therefore,

1) Palaeolithic sites are found in many hilly slopes and river valleys of the country.

2) It was absent in the alluvial plains of the Indus and the Ganga.

The correct answer is Only 3

Important Points

• Akbar appointed Amil or Karoris in the year of 1574. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.
  • The most important revenue collector was the amil or amalguzar.
  • His primary duty was to assess and supervise the revenue collection through other subordinate officials.
  • A good amil was supposed increase the land tinder cultivation and induce the peasants to pay revenue willingly without coercion.
• Akbar brought the territory of Hindustan (from Lahore to Allahabad) under Khalisa in 1576. Hence, pair 2 is also correct matched.
• Akbar tried to standardize the schedule (dastur), in 1578, instead of fixing the rai at each harvest and the task was assigned to Raja Todar Mal. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
  • To prepare a dastur an average yield of last ten years( 15th regnal year to 24th regnal year of Akbar's reign ) were taken and an average of prevalent prices of the same ten years were calculated.

  • By commuting these average prices with average yield a standard final dastur(cash revenue rate per bigha) were worked out and thus the revenue demand was assessed and cash revenue demand per unit of area for each crop was fixed.

Thus, option 3 is the correct answer.

The general weakness of chalcolithic cultures is evident from the burial of a large number of children in western Maharashtra. In spite of the food-producing economy, the rate of infant mortality was very high. It might be attributed to the lack of nutrition, absence of medical knowledge or outbreak of epidemics.

The fifth king of the Adil Shahi dynasty is known as Jagadguru Badshah in Indian history. He tried to create cultural harmony between the Shias and the Sunnis, and between Hindus and Muslims through music.

He loved the art form, played musical instruments, sang and composed praises of Hindu deities Saraswati and Ganapati.