MH SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 6 (History) - MAHA TET MCQ

The correct answer is option (1) i.e. 4, 2, 1, 3.

• According to the Subsidiary Alliance, Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed forces.
• They were to be protected by the Company, but had to pay for the “subsidiary forces” that the Company was supposed to maintain for the purpose of this protection.
• If the Indian rulers failed to make the payment, then part of their territory was taken away as a penalty.
• It was introduced by the Lord Wellesley who was the Governor-General of Bengal from 1798 to 1805.
• The first state to be acquired from the Subsidiary Alliance was Nizam of Hyderabad in 1798.
• Followed by the series of states like Mysore in 1799, Tanjore in 1799, Awadh in 1801, Peshwa in 1802, Bhonsle Raja Berar in 1803, Scindia in 1804, and Holkar in 1818.

The correct answer is Both A and B are false.

Key Points

• Rajput leaders soon realized that Mughal power was incapable of resisting the Maratha expansion and decided to hold a conference at Hurda.
• Hurda conference was held to discuss terms of a united Rajputana front against the Marathas.
• Hence both statements A and B are false.

Additional Information

• Hurda conference saw in attendance Sawai Jai Singh of Jaipur, Maharana Jagat Singh of Mewar, Abhay Singh of Jodhpur, Dulel Singh of Bundi, Durjansal of Kota, Zorawar Singh of Bikaner, Gopal Singh of Karauli, Raj Singh of Kishangarh and Bakhat Singh of Nagaur.
• After prolonged deliberations, an agreement was signed on 17th July 1734.

The correct answer is Muhammad Husayn of Kashmir.

Key Points

Calligraphy

• Akbar’s favourite calligraphy style was the nastily, a fluid style with long horizontal strokes.
• Muhammad Husayn of Kashmir was one of the finest calligraphers at Akbar’s court who was honoured with the title ‘Zarrin Kalam’ (Golden pen).
• Hence the correct answer is option 1.
• Abdul Fazl was the Grand vizier of the Mughal emperor Akbar and author of the Akbarnama.

The immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857 was the introduction of Enfield rifles whose cartidges were said to have greased cover made of beef and pork sparked off the revolt.

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3Key PointsSignificance of the Revolt of 1857:

• The revolt disclosed several forms of flaws and inconsistencies in the administrative apparatus. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It instantly drew the attention of the British Government in London.
• The major flaws and deficiencies in the administration were corrected.
• It exposed the East India Company's military flaws, which were immediately rectified.
• The Government of India Act, 1858 abolished Company rule.
• The direct responsibility for the administration of the country was assumed by the Crown.
• Queen's proclamation made Indian states to recognise the paramountcy of the Crown.
• Earlier the provinces were ruled by companies and each province has its own governance.
• The states were ruled by local rulers that were having their own governance.
• Thus, the Queen's proclamation brought about politico-administrative unification. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• A professional civil service, a unified judiciary and codified civil and criminal laws led to political unity.
• The revolt was brought out in the open grievances of the people and sepoys. They were undoubtedly justified in fighting for their rights. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• The Indians' crude weapons were no match for the British's more advanced arsenal in the test of strength.
• The reports of the atrocities persuaded Indian intellectuals that using violence in the fight for liberation was pointless.
• It became clear that the educated Indians had no faith in military resistance.
• And the revolt's failure further strengthened their opinion and formed the bedrock of Indian nationalism.

Additional InformationConsequences of the Revolt of 1857:

• As the East India Company's tenure came to an end, the British crown assumed control.
• For the Indian government, a new structure was formed.
• India's army was restructured with more Europeans.
• The annexation strategy was abandoned.
• Beginning of the policies of divide and rule.
• End of the reform measures taken by the British, they kept an arms distance from social issues.

The correct answer is the Treaty of Seringapatam.

Key Points

• Treaty of Seringapatam, 1792.
  • The ‘Treaty of Srirangapatnam’ was signed on 18 March 1792.
  • It ended the Third Anglo-Mysore War.
  • During the third Anglo-Mysore war, Tipu Sultan forces were attacked by the combined forces of the Marathas, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the East India Company.
  • Tipu Sultan lost against the combined forces and was forced to sign a treaty with the British by which two of his sons were taken away as hostages. Hence, Option 1 is correct.
  • Under this treaty, nearly half of the Mysorean territory was taken over by the alliance of the British, Nizam, and the Marathas.
  • Baramahal, Dindigul, and Malabar went to the British, while the Marathas got the regions surrounding the Tungabhadra and its tributaries and the Nizam acquired the areas from Krishna to beyond the Pennar.
  • Besides, war damage of three crore rupees was also taken from Tipu.
  • Half of the war indemnity was to be paid immediately while the rest was to be given in installments, for which Tipu’s two sons were taken as hostages by the English.
  • The Third Anglo-Mysore War destroyed Tipu’s dominant position in the south and firmly established British supremacy there.

The Shatapatha / Satapatha Brahmana is a commentary on the Śukla Yajurveda. It is described as the most complete, systematic, and important of the Brahmanas. It contains details of cultivation process along with detailed explanations of Vedic sacrificial rituals, symbolism, and mythology.

Terahtali Dance is a dance performed by the Kamar tribals of Rajasthan.

The correct answer is 1, 2, and 5 only.

Key Points

• Chola inscriptions mention several categories of land:
  • Vellanvagai- land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors
  • Brahmadeya- land gifted to Brahmanas
  • Shalabhoga- land for the maintenance of a school
  • Devadana, Tirunamattukkani- land gifted to temples
  • Pallichchhandam- land donated to Jaina institutions
• Thus, we can say that Pallichchhandam, Shalabhoga, and Vellanvagai are the categories of land that are mentioned in the Chola inscriptions.
• The inscriptions of the Cholas who ruled in Tamil Nadu refer to more than 400 terms for different kinds of taxes.
• The most frequently mentioned tax is Vetti, taken not in cash but in the form of forced labor, and Kadamai, or land revenue.
• There were also taxes on thatching the house, the use of a ladder to climb palm trees, a cess on succession to family property, etc.

6 May 1996-01 June 1996,

19 March 1998 -13 October 1999 and

13 October 1999 – 22 May 2004.

The correct answer is Matsya, Chedi, Magadha, Anga.

Key Points

• Mahajanapadas:
  • Kingdoms that rose to fame from the 6th Century BC onward were called Mahajanapdas.
  • The Mahajanapadas signify the tribes that came together to form different groups and later gave rise to a permanent area of settlements called ‘states’ or ‘Janapadas.’

The correct answer is Both 1 and 2.

Key Points

Ports, Forts, and Centra for Services:

• By the 18th century Madras, Calcutta, and Bombay, all had important ports and became the economic centre.
• The company built its factories and fortified these settlements for protection.
  • Fort St. George in Madras, Fort Wiliam in Calcutta, and the Fort in Bombay were famous settlements of that time. Hence. Options 1 and 2 are correct.
• Indian traders, merchants, and artisans who worked with the European merchant lived outside these forts in their own settlements.
• The settlement of Europeans was called ‘White Town’ and the settlement of Indians was known as ‘Black Town’.
• The expansion of railways connected the hinterland to these port cities.
• So it became convenient to transport raw materials and labour to the cities.
• In the 19th century, there was the expansion of cotton and jute mills in the regions of Bombay and Calcutta.
• There were only two proper industrial cities. Kanpur, which specialized in leather, woollen, and textiles, and the second city was Jamshedpur, which specialized in steel.
• However, Industrial development was lagging behind in India due to the discriminatory policies of the British.

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).

Shahjahan (1627-1658 AD)(This is a ruling period):

• Shahjahan ascended the throne in 1627 AD. As a Prince, he had been the governor of the Deccan, Bihar, Bengal, Gujarat, and Delhi respectively.
• Hence, option B is correct.
• Mughal Architecture reached its climax under Shahjahan’s rule. Some exceptional monuments were created as follows:

Shalimar Bagh

• It’s a garden of flowers.
• It is also called ‘The Garden of Delight’
• It was developed in Lahore.
• Hence, option A is correct.

Red Fort:

• It was built in Delhi. Hence, option C is correct.
• Shahjahan commissioned it in 1638 AD when he decided to shift the capital from Agra to Delhi.
• It was completed in 1648 AD.
• Hence, option C is correct.
• Shahjahan died in 1666 AD. He ruled till 1658 AD after which Aurangzeb took over the throne.
• Hence, option D is not correct.

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.

The most famous historians of medeival  period were Hasan Nizami, Minhaj-us-Siraj, Ziauddin Barani and Shams-Siraj Afif. Barani’s Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi contains the history of Tughlaq dynasty. Minhaj-us-Siraj wrote Tabaqat-i-Nasari, a general history of Muslim dynasties up to 1260. Sanskrit and Persian functioned as lingua franca in the Delhi Sultanate. Zia Nakshabi was the first to translate Sanskrit stories into Persian. His book 'Tutu Nama' or 'Book of the Parrot' became popular and was translated into Turkish, and later into many European languages. Alberuni’s Kitab-ul-Hind is the most famous work.

The correct answer is option 4, Ability to reconcile internal ideological differences through compromise.

Key Points

• The passage emphasizes the Congress's long-term evolution and capacity to accommodate diverse viewpoints, rather than attributing its success to any single tactic or alliance.

• It can be argued that the Indian National Congress's success in achieving independence rested significantly on its ability to reconcile internal ideological differences through compromise. The Indian National Congress was a diverse entity, consisting of various factions with differing beliefs, ideologies, and principles. These included the Moderates and the Extremists, as well as regional, caste, and religious factions.

• These differences at times led to disunity, such as with the Surat Split of 1907. However, the Congress was generally successful in reconciling these differences, typically through patient dialogue, compromise, and the mutual recognition of the larger goal of national independence. This ability to maintain unity in diversity was an essential factor in the Congress's endurance and eventual success.

• The Congress's emphasis on consensus and compromise is evident in events like the Lucknow Pact of 1916, which brought the Moderates and Extremists together after the rift caused by the Surat Split. This approach also helped the Congress coordinate with other political entities like the Muslim League, which led to increased cohesion and unity within the larger Indian independence movement.

• Additionally, influential Congress leaders like Mahatma Gandhi played a crucial role in mediating internal differences. Gandhi's philosophy of satyagraha (holding on to truth) and ahimsa (non-violence) provided a unifying moral and strategic platform around which various factions could rally. His inclusive vision and leadership was central to unifying diverse groups within the Congress and maintaining a broad-based mass movement.

• Understanding and respecting the multiple ideologies at play and working towards an acceptable middle ground was key. It can be said that this mutual compromise among different groups certainly played a significant role in shaping the Congress as a potent unified entity and was instrumental in its success in leading India towards independence.

The pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected or at least inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd century BC. Originally, there must have been many pillars but only nineteen survive with inscriptions, and only six with animal capitals. Mauryan Pillars have outside influence, either Persian, Iranian. But the Mauryan pillars ARE DIFFERENT from the Achamenian pillars. The Mauryan pillars are rock-cut pillars thus displaying the carver’s skills, whereas the Achamenian pillars are constructed in pieces by a mason. Stone pillars were erected all over the Mauryan Empire with inscriptions engraved on them. The Mauryan pillar capital found at Sarnath popularly known as the Lion Capital is the finest example of Mauryan sculptural tradition. It is also our national emblem.

The story of the migration of Videgha Mathava to the east accompanied by his priest Gotama Rahugana is mentioned in 'Shatapatha Brahmana'.

Important Points

• According to Shatapatha Brahmana, Videgha Mathava lived with his tribe on the banks of Sarasvati river, in western India.
• Videgha Mathava led his people from there to the then densely overgrown Ganges Plain in the east.
• The fire god Agni burned a path through the jungle, which Videgha Mathava followed.
• Videgha Mathava was accompanied to the east by his priest Gotama Rahugana.
• All the rivers that the god found in his path were dried up, but the wide Sadanira (a river that today is called Gandak and forms the border between the Indian states Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) turned out to be an impregnable hurdle.

• This was also the boundary of the area that was considered suitable as a residence for the Brahman priests.

Thus, we can conclude that the story of the migration of Videgha Mathava to the east accompanied by his priest Gotama Rahugana is mentioned in 'Shatapatha Brahmana'.

option 3 is not correct.

Key Points

The first phase of the revolutionary movement

• The early phase of the revolutionary movement was predominantly operated in Bengal, Maharashtra, and Punjab. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The entry of Gandhi Ji into Indian politics brought a revolution in the form of satyagraha, which lead to the decline of revolutionary and terrorist activities. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The movement focused on individual heroism and was not able to mobilize the masses. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
• The era of revolutionary terrorism began with the formation of secret societies of the revolutionaries who came up all over the country.
• The Anusilan Samiti was the most famous and long-lasting secret society. Hence statement 4 is correct.

Anushilan Samiti

• The Anushilan Samiti was founded by Promotha Mitter and included Jatindranath Banerjee, Barindra Kumar Ghosh, and others in 1902.
• It was headquartered in Calcutta but has centres all over India.
• The Samiti has two main branches:
  • Dhaka Anushilan Samiti (centred in Dhaka)
  • Jugantar group (centred at Calcutta)

The correct answer is Ramacharita.

Key Points The Ramacharitam is a Sanskrit epic poem written in Arya meter by Sandhyakar Nandi during Pala Empire.

• This work simultaneously narrates the story of the Ramayana and the Pala king Ramapala.
• Sandhyakar Nandi was patronaged by Madanapala and his biographical details are retrieved from the Kaviprashasti (of 20 couplets) appended at the end.
• Nandi hailed from Brihadbatu, a village close to Pundravardhana, and was the son of Prajapati Nandi, who was the Sandhi-Vigrahika (minister of peace and war) of Ramapala.

Additional Information

• Kumarapalacharita was written by Hemchandra.
  • He was an Indian Jain scholar, poet, mathematician, and polymath who wrote on grammar, philosophy, prosody, mathematics, and contemporary history.
  • The book was about Chalukya King Kumarapala.
  • Kumarapala was an Indian king from the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty of Gujarat. He ruled present-day Gujarat and surrounding areas, from his capital Anahilapataka (modern Patan).
• Jain Literature in the form of manuscripts and publications during the 8th century A.D. is very rich.
  • For the social and cultural history of Rajasthan, the Jain sources literary as well as Archeology are important and immensely valuable.
  • Uddyotana Suri’s work on Kuvalayamala Kaha is very exhaustive work on the social and cultural history of the people during the period under study.
  • The Kuvalayamala mentioned the social, cultural, political and economic condition of the people.
• The Gaudavaho ( 'slaying of the king of Gauda' ) is known to be a Prakrit Epic composed by Vākpatirāja, a poet living in the court of Yasovarman, king of Kanauj.

Pushkalavati was capital of ancient Kingdom of Gandhara. Its ruins are currently located in Charsadda, Pakistan, located in Peshawar valley in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (formerly NWFP). Pushkalavati was home of the Sanskrit grammarian Panini.

1. Atharvaveda includes witchcraft, sorcery and invoking evil spirits. It is considered as Veda because it deals with Ayurveda, Rekhaganitha and Ganithashastra.

2. It was composed entirely by Non-Aryans. 

3. No Brahmin ever recites Atharvaveda.

The correct answer is (2) and (3) only.

Key Points

• Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador sent by the ruler of Persia to Calicut (present-day Kozhikode) in the fifteenth century, was greatly impressed by the unique features of Vijayanaga's fortification.
• He mentioned seven lines of forts. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• These encircled not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests.
• The outermost wall linked the hills surrounding the city.
• The massive masonry construction was slightly tapered.
• No mortar or cementing agent was employed anywhere in the construction. Therefore, statement 2 is correct.
• The stone blocks were wedge shaped, which held them in place, and the inner portion of the walls was of earth packed with rubble. Thus, statement 3 is correct.
• Square or rectangular bastions projected outwards. Therefore, statement 4 is not correct.
• What was most significant about this fortification is that it enclosed agricultural tracts. Hence, statement 5 is not correct.

• Abdur Razzaq noted that “ between the first, second and the third walls there are cultivated fields, gardens and houses”.

Hence, we can conclude that among the given statements only 2 and 3 are correct.

The correct answer is Captain Agnew.

Key Points

• Captain Agnew( 1818 - 1825AD)
  • His capital was Raipur.
  • He reorganized the administrative structure in Chhattisgarh.
  • He shifted the capital from Ratanpur to Raipur in 1818 AD.
  • He delimited the Praganas from 27 to 8 but later on increased it to 9.
• 9 Parganas where -
  • Ratanpur
  • Raipur was the largest of all.
  • Dhamtari.
  • Durg
  • Dhandha
  • Navagarh
  • Kharod
  • Rajhara was the smallest.
  • Balod

Important Points

• The post of Patel was abolished, following officials were appointed to improve the system-
  • Barar Pandey
  • Potdar
  • Ameen
• They made Provisions to pay the land revenue in 3 installments.
• Ameen was appointed in every Paragana and Pandya was appointed for 20-30 villages.

The correct answer is Option 4, i.e 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d.

• Ravidas Ji was an Indian mystic poet-saint of the Bhakti movement during the 15th to 16th century CE in the region of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh.
• Shankaradeva was one of the leading proponents of Vaishnavism in Assam in the late fifteenth century.
• Eknath was a prominent Marathi saint, scholar, a great devotee of Lord Krishna, and a religious poet of the Varkari sampradaya from Maharashtra.
• Baba Farid (c. 4 April 1179 – 7 May 1266) was a 12th-century Punjabi Muslim preacher and who went on to become one of the most revered and distinguished Muslim mystics.

Firuz Shah Tughlaq did not rigidly enforced the non-transfer of assignments changes in the Iqtadari system.

Key Points

• The administrative establishment of Iqta was done by Iltutmish.
• Iqta means - grant of land as salary in lieu of money.
• Institutional status was given to Iqta system by Iltutmish.
• In the beginning, an iqta was based on salary.
• Later, it became hereditary under Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq ascended the throne in 1351 AD.
• He sat on the throne with the help of the rich classes.
• So he gave many concessions to the rich classes.
• He increased the salary of his big nobles.
• Soldiers were given Iqta or land assignments now called Wajaf instead of cash salary.
• The Wajafdars were one such group of iqtadars who held assignments that were known as wajaf or wajif.
• These assignments were typically given to members of the nobility, who were expected to collect revenue from their assigned territories and maintain order among the local population.
• Under Firuz Shah Tughlaq, the system of sub-assignment of land by Muqtais to their soldiers was also started.
• The Muqtais were officials who were appointed by the Sultan to collect taxes and maintain law and order in their assigned territories.

• Under Firuz Shah's reforms, these officials were allowed to sub-assign land to soldiers who served under them, in return for military service and a share of the revenue generated from the land.

Hence we can conclude that Firuz Shah Tughlaq did not rigidly enforced the non-transfer of assignments changes in the Iqtadari system.

The correct code is 2, 3 and 4.Key Points

• Refusal of Khurram to proceed to that place. This statement is correct.
  • Khurram, the eldest son of Jahangir, was the heir apparent and was expected to lead the Mughal army in the campaign to recapture Kandahar.
  • However, he refused to go, citing health reasons.
  • This was a major setback for the Mughals, as Khurram was a capable military commander.
• Difficulties in organizing an expedition. This statement is also correct.
  • The Mughals had to contend with logistical challenges in organizing an expedition to Kandahar, which was located in a remote and mountainous region.
  • They had to transport supplies and troops over long distances, and they had to deal with the harsh winter weather.
• Severe cold in Afghanistan. This statement is also correct.
  • The winter in Afghanistan is extremely cold, and this made it difficult for the Mughal army to campaign in the region.
  • The soldiers were not adequately prepared for the cold, and many of them died from exposure.
• The statement about the inefficiency of the Mughal army is not correct.
  • The Mughal army was a well-trained and disciplined force, and it had a long history of success in battle.
  • However, the challenges posed by the refusal of Khurram to lead the army, the difficulties in organizing an expedition, and the severe cold in Afghanistan were too great for the Mughals to overcome.

The correct answer is 2 only.

Key Points

• The Rig Vedic society was Patriarchal.
  • Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• Women were given equal opportunities as men for their spiritual and intellectual development.
  • Hence statement 2 is correct.
• There were no child marriage and the practice of Sati was absent.
  • Hence statement 3 is not correct.

Additional Information

• The social life of the Early Vedic Period​
  • Women enjoyed a respectable position.
    • They were allowed to take part in Sabhas and Samitis.
    • There were women poets too (Apala, Lopamudra, Viswavara, and Ghosa).
  • Cattle especially cows became very important.
  • Monogamy was practised but polygamy was observed among royalty and noble families.
  • There was no child marriage.
  • Social distinctions existed but were not rigid and hereditary.