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

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.

Dadabhai Naoroji gave the statement “Kings are made for Public; Public is not made for the King” during the national movement.

Battle of Khurbura was fought in 1804 A.D. The battle is regarded as the first major attack in the history of Garhwal Kingdom.

The correct answer is Nalanda Learning Centre.

Key Points

Nalanda Learning Centre:

• Nalanda was a renowned mahavihara (Buddhist monastic university) in ancient Magadha (modern-day Bihar), India.
• Nalanda was established during the Gupta Empire era.
• It was sacked and destroyed by the troops of Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji, partly restored thereafter, and continued to exist till about 1400 CE.
• Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It has been listed as an "Institute of National Importance" by the Government of India.
• A great library at Nalanda named Dharmaganja (Piety Mart) comprised three large multi-storeyed buildings,
  • The Ratnasagara (Ocean of Jewels),
  • The Ratnodadhi (Sea of Jewels), and
  • The Ratnaranjaka (Jewel-adorned).

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 -

Chenchu belonged from the Nallamala Hills in Andhra Pradesh. They revolted against the British Forest Laws under the leadership of K. Hanumanthu. Thodoe were from Kuki, Manipur. It was led by Rani Gindinilu and her cousin Zodanang against the presence of British in the agency areas. Naikdas were from Panchamahal hills in Gujarat. They revolted against the British policy of expansionism and interference. Kachanga were from Kacher district in Assam. They revolted under the British land revenue policy under the leadership of Sambu Dan.

• The Vittala Temple, especially noted for its extraordinary musical pillars and the iconic stone chariot, is an epitome of Vijayanagara architectural brilliance, showcasing advanced engineering techniques and a deep understanding of sacred geometry.
• Carved into stone poetry, Vittala Temple resonates with Vijayanagara's brilliance.
• Its musical pillars, crafted with precise geometries, chime like celestial instruments when tapped, whispering secrets of advanced sound engineering.
• The stone chariot, a breathtaking monolith, stands as a testament to their mastery of weight distribution and symbolism, mirroring the divine vehicle of Lord Vishnu. Every intricate detail, from swirling sculptures to harmonious ratios, reflects a deep understanding of sacred geometry, imbuing the temple with an aura of divinity and architectural marvel. Standing amidst history, Vittala Temple is a symphony of stone, echoing the glorious legacy of Vijayanagara.

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.

Mahalwari system was introduced in the Ganga valley, the northwest provinces, parts of central India and the Punjab. The revenue settlement under this system was done with landlords or heads of families who collectively claimed to be landlords of the village or the estate and the land revenue was also periodically revised.

Battle of Panipat-I (1526 AD):

• It was fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi.
• Nobels were very strong and influential during the Lodi dynasty. They were not happy with the Lodi administration and hence planned a coup with Babur.
• Rana Sanga from Mewar, Rajasthan helped Babur in capturing Delhi Sultanate. Later, he turned against Babur in the Battle of Khanwa (1527 AD).
• 2^nd Battle of Panipat was fought between Akbar and Hemu in 1556 AD. Hence, only statement 1 is incorrect.
• Hence, option 1 is correct.

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.

Satara was first state that was annexed by Lord Dalhousie under the Doctrine of Lapse in 1848. Jhansi and Nagpur were annexed in 1854. As a result of these annexations, a large part of the central provinces came under the British rule.

The correct answer is 1953.

Important Points

• Potti Sreeramulu undertook a fast unto death from 19 October 1952 demanding a separate state of Andhra Pradesh.
• Potti Sreeramulu died on 15 December 1952.
• The death of Potti Sreeramulu leads to the formation of the Andra state.
• The Prime Minister announced the formation of a separate Andhra state in December 1952.

Key Points

• The Telugu-speaking area of Andhra state was formed on 1^st October 1953.
  • Kurnool was the capital city of the Andra state.
  • T Prakasam was the first chief minister of Andra state.
• The combined Andhra Pradesh state was formed based on the gentlemen's agreement.
• Andhra State combined with the Telugu-speaking areas of the already existing Hyderabad State on 1^st November 1956.

The Correct Answer is Option 3 i.e It was the tax levied from merchants, artisans on their products.

• The main source of revenue during Mughal administration were tolls and levies on craft production, market levies, customs and road tax both on inland and overseas trade, and also mint charges.
• Rahadari or Transit tax:
  • It is a road tax levied on both inland and overseas trade.
  • It was also a tax collected on river routes.
• Katraparcha:
  • It was the tax levied from merchants, artisans on their products. Hence, Option 3 is the correct answer.
  • The articles under this included all sorts of cotton, silk, and wool cloth, indigo, saltpeter and salt etc.

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

Key Points

Queen Victoria's Proclamation (1858):

• British Parliament, on August 2, 1858, passed an act for the Better Government of India.
• The act declared Queen Victoria as the sovereign of British India and provided for the appointment of a Secretary of State for India (a member of the British cabinet).
• The direct responsibility for the administration of the country was assumed by the British Crown and Company rule was abolished. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• East India Company was liquidated. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
• As per the Queen’s proclamation, the era of annexations and expansion had ended and the British promised to respect the dignity and rights of the native princes.
• The Indian states were henceforth to recognise the paramountcy of the British Crown and were to be treated as parts of a single charge.
• The people of India were promised freedom of religion without interference from British officials.
• The proclamation also promised equal and impartial protection under the law to all Indians, besides equal opportunities in government services irrespective of race or creed. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• It was also promised that old Indian rights, customs, and practices would be given due regard while framing and administering the law.

The correct answer is 1 only.

Key Points

• Prabhavati Gupta was the daughter of Chandragupta II (375-415 C.E.). Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect.
• Prabhavatigupta was the chief queen of the Vakataka king Rudrasena II. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
• She took over as queen after the sudden death of her husband. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
  • She ruled for about 10 years until her son Pravarasena II succeeded.
• She was a Vaishnavite and played a central role in the propagation of Vaishnava practices in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
• She had donated land which is a rare example of donation by any woman.

Additional Information

• Nagardhan excavations provided an oval-shaped sealing belonging to the period when Prabhavatigupta was the queen of the Vakataka dynasty.
  • It bears her name in the Brahmi script.
  • A copper plate issued by Queen Prabhavatigupta has also been found.
  • It starts with a genealogy of the Guptas, mentioning the Queen’s grandfather Samudragupta and her father Chandragupta II.

A superior court called the Sadar Nizamat Adalat was, established at Calcutta which exercised control over Fouzdari Adalats. It was presided by an Indian judge known as the Daroga-i-Adalat who was to be assisted by the Chief Kazi, Chief Mufti and three Moulvies. These persons were appointed by the Nawab on the advice of the Governor.

James Outram was the son of Benjamin Outram of Butterley Hall, Butterley, Derbyshire, and was a civil engineer. He strongly opposed the policy of his superior, Sir Charles Napier, which led to the annexation of Sind.

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.Key PointsSangam Age:

• Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras controlled the southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula.
• All of these kingdoms are mentioned in the Ashokan inscriptions from the 3^rd BCE. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The territories were located in modern-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala, outside the Mauryan empire.

Sangam Polity:

• During the Sangam era, the form of governance was a hereditary monarchy.
• The Chola kings had names like Senni, Valavan, and Killi.
• The Pandya kings had names like Thennavar.
• The Chera kings had names like Vanavaramban, Vanavan, Kuttuvan, Irumporai, and Villavar.
• Each dynasty had its own emblem.
  • The carp for the Pandyas, the tiger for the Cholas, and the bow for the Cheras. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• A sizable group of officials organized into five councils assisted the king.
• They were envoys (thuthar), ministers (amaichar), priests (anthanar), military leaders (senapathi), and spies (orrar).
• Throughout the Sangam Age, the military administration was similarly well-organized.
• Each king or queen had a regular army and a Kodimaram (tutelary tree).
• The majority of the state's revenues came from land taxes, and foreign trade was also subject to customs duties.

Sangam Agriculture:

• The main line of work was agriculture.
• The most popular crop was rice.
• The other crops included ragi, sugarcane, cotton, pepper, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, and a variety of fruits.
• In the Chera land, pepper and jackfruit were well-known.
• In the lands of the Chola and Pandya, paddy was the main crop. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

The Jain text which describes that Chandragupta embraced Jainism towards the end of his life is Parishisthaparvan.Key Points

• The Jain text which describes that Chandragupta embraced Jainism towards the end of his life is Parishisthaparvan.
• The other Jain texts question mentioned, Ratnamalika, Jayadhavala, and Dravya-sangraha, do not mention this event.
• Parishishtaparvan is a 12th-century Digambara text written by Hemachandra.
• It is the main and earliest Jain source of the complete legend of Chandragupta.
• The text describes how Chandragupta, after conquering the Nanda Empire, became disillusioned with worldly life and eventually renounced his throne to become a Jain monk.
• He is said to have travelled to South India with the Jain monk Bhadrabahu and died there in penance.
• The story of Chandragupta's conversion to Jainism is not mentioned in any other historical sources, but it is a popular legend among Jains.
• It is seen as an example of the power of Jain teachings to transform even the most powerful of rulers.

Tana Bhagat Movement (1914-1919) was a tribal uprising of a section of the Tana Bhagats and Oraons under the leadership of Jatra Oraon occurring during the late colonial period in the Chhotanagpur region of Bihar, India.

Just like Birsa’s religious movement among the Mundas, a similar religious movement emerged among the Oraon. It was known as Tana Bhagat movement. However, in its earlier phase, it was called Kurukh Dharam (literally the Original religion of the Kurukh or Oraons).

• 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.

Mahatma Gandhi's biographer, Louis Fischer, was associated with the Quit India Movement. He was an American journalist.

Major-General Robert Clive was the first British Governor of the Bengal Presidency. His brilliant leadership at Arcot gave him an immense reputation in Europe. When he went home in 1753, William Pitt the Elder called him a “heaven-born general.”

The correct answer is In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi went to Ahmedabad to organize a satyagraha movement amongst cotton mill workers.Key Points

• In January 1915, Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in January 1915 from South Africa.
  • Gandhi ji returned to India after two decades of residence abroad at the request of Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
  • To commemorate this day, January 9 is annually celebrated as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.
• Hence, option 1 is correct.
• ​After arriving in India, Mahatma Gandhi successfully organized Satyagraha Movements in various places.
• Mahatma Gandhi organized the satyagraha movement amongst cotton mill workers at Ahmedabad in the year 1918.
  • The cotton mill workers demanded a 50% wage hike but the Mill Owners were willing to give only a 20% wage hike, to support the Cotton mill workers Gandhi ji made a hunger strike.
  • The result of the Satyagraha was that the strike was successful, and the workers got a 35% wage increase.
• Hence, option 2 is not correct.
• In the year of 1918, Kheda district of Gujarat, was hit by severe drought.
  • According to the rules of revenue, if the yields are less than one-fourth of normal produce then farmers can have remission, but their appeals were being ignored by the government.
  • Gandhi used non-cooperation as a technique and initiated a signature campaign.
  • Finally, the authorities gave some concession to the farmers.
• Hence, option 3 is correct.
• In 1916, the British rulers were forcing many tenant farmers in Champaran in Bihar to grow indigo on their land as a condition of their tenancy.
  • Mahatma Gandhi travelled there at the request of Raj Kumar Shukla and inspired the peasants to struggle against this oppression.
  • His encouragement led to the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917, the first Satyagraha movement inspired by Gandhi.
• Hence, option 4 is correct.

Important Points

• Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) was born on October 2, 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat.
• He was an Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer.
• He became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India.
• Mahatma Gandhi was known as the Father of the Nation.
• He is internationally esteemed for his doctrine of non-violent protest (Satyagraha) to achieve political and social progress.
• He died January 30, 1948, in Delhi, and the day is celebrated as Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs' Day.

Additional Information

• The autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi is titled My Experiments with Truth.
• Important movements led by Mahatma Gandhi:
  • ​Champaran Movement (1917)
  • Kheda Movement (1918)
  • Khilafat Movement (1919)
  • Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)
  • Civil Disobedience Movement: Dandi March (1930)
  • Quit India Movement (1942)
• He worked as a journalist and edited 4 journals
  • the indian opinion
  • young india
  • navajivan
  • the Harijan

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.

'Chachnama' is a famous work on the History of Sindh.
Key Points

• The Chachnama is a famous work on the history of Sindh.
• It is a Persian-language text that was written in the 13th century CE.
• The author of the Chachnama is unknown, but it is believed to be based on an earlier Arabic text.
• The Chachnama tells the story of the Chach dynasty, which ruled Sindh from the 7th to the 8th centuries CE.
• The dynasty was founded by Chach, a Brahmin who usurped the throne from the Rai dynasty.
• Chach was a successful ruler and he expanded the Chach empire to include much of present-day Pakistan.
• The Chachnama also tells the story of the Arab conquest of Sindh in the 8th century CE.
• The Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim led the conquest and he defeated the Chach army.
• The Chach dynasty was overthrown and Sindh became part of the Umayyad Caliphate.
• The Chachnama is a valuable historical source for the history of Sindh.
• It is the only surviving text that provides a detailed account of the Chach dynasty and the Arab conquest of Sindh.
• The Chachnama has been translated into several languages, including English, Urdu, and Sindhi.
• The Chachnama has been used by historians, scholars, and writers to learn about the history of Sindh.
• It has also been used by religious groups to promote their own agendas.
• The Chachnama is a complex and controversial text, but it is an important source of information about the history of Sindh.
• Here are some of the key events that are recorded in the Chachnama:
  • ​The founding of the Chach dynasty by Chach
  • The expansion of the Chach empire
  • The Arab conquest of Sindh
  • The overthrow of the Chach dynasty
  • The establishment of Muslim rule in Sindh
• The Chachnama is a valuable historical source, but it is important to remember that it is not an unbiased account of events.
• The text was written centuries after the events it describes, and it is likely that the author was influenced by his own biases.
• Nevertheless, the Chachnama is an important document that provides a glimpse into the history of Sindh.

In 1893, Sir William Wedderburn entered the British Parliament as a liberal member and sought to voice India’s grievances within the house. In the same year, he formed the “Indian Parliamentary Committee” with Dadabhai Naoroji and other Indian sympathizers.

The Santhals had begun to come into Bengal around the 1780s. zamindars hired them to reclaim land and expand cultivation, and British officials invited them to settle in the Janga Mahals. The Paharias refused to cut forest, resisted touching the plough, and continued to be turbulent. The Santhals, by contrast, appeared t be ideal settlers, clearing forests and ploughing the land with vigour.

The Santhals were given land and persuaded to settle in the foothills of Rajmahal by the 18th century. By 1832 a large area of land was demarcated as Damin-i-Koh. This was declared to be the land of the Santhals.