MH SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 9 (History) - MAHA TET MCQ

The correct answer is option 2, i.e, 1,2 and 3.

• Akbar II(22 April 1760-28 September 1837):
  • Akbar II granted the title of 'Raja' to the famous social and cultural reformer Ram Mohan Roy.
  • He is credited with starting the Hindu-Muslim unity festival Phool Walon Ki Sair.
  • Akbar had little de facto power due to the increasing British influence in India through the East India Company.
  • Akbar Shah II reigned from 1806 to 1837.
  • He was the second son of Shah Alam II and the father of Bahadur Shah II.
  • First Mughal ruler who was under British protection.
  • During his tenure, Mughal Empire shrinks to Red Fort only.
• Shah Alam II(1759-1806):
  • Popularly known as 'Ali Gauhar' who was defeated in the Battle of Buxar in 1764 AD.
  • During his reign, the Third Battle of Panipat took place.
  • First Mughal ruler who becomes East India Company Pensioner.
• Bahadur Shah II(1837-1857):
  • He was the son of Akbar II and Rajput princess Lal Bai.
  • He was the last ruler of the Mughal Empire.
  • During his reign, 1857 revolt took place.

The correct answer is 1, 2, and 3.

Key Points

• The following are the reasons for the emergence of the left-wing within the congress in the late British Era-
  • There was a group of young leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Bose who were influenced by the outside world and with the ideological developments there. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
  • Socialist ideas acquired roots in the Indian soil and socialism became the accepted creed of Indian youth. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
  • Impact of the Russian Revolution, wherein Lenin overthrew the despotic Czarist regime and declared the formation of the first socialist state. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.
  • Several socialist and communist groups came into existence all over the country.
  • Various publications work such as S.A. Dange’s Gandhi and Lenin, Muzaffar Ahmed’s Navayug, Ghulam Hussain’s Inquilab, and M. Singaravelu’s Labour-Kisan Gazette.
  • Most importantly was the ideological difference between the radical group and the rest of congress. The rightist believed in the method of prayers and petition with no direct attack on the British. The Left-Wing on the other hand believed indirect attack and wanted independence at the earliest.
  • There was definitely a positive impact due to the Left-Wing rise within congress on the programs and policies of congress. Some of the positives were-
  • The emergence of the All India Trade Union Congress and Workers and Peasants Party.
  • Equal importance to social and economic freedom on the lines of political freedom.
  • Due to the leftist influence, the leaders within congress were able to take critical stands on various occasions such as Karachi Resolution, Economic Policy resolution at Faizpur Session, 1936 political manifesto of Congress, and National Planning Committee in 1938.

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.​
Key-Points

• At the first post-War Congress session in September 1945 at Bombay, a strong resolution was adopted declaring Congress support for the INA cause. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Defense of INA prisoners in the court was organized by Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Kailash Nath Katju, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Asaf Ali. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Loyalists appealed to the Government to abandon the trials for good Indo-British relations. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Additional Information

The Indian National Army and Subhash Chandra Bose

• The idea was first conceived by ​Mohan Singh​ in Malaya.
• Phase 1:
  • He left the British Indian Army and turned to the Japanese for help
  • Japan handed over the prisoners of war (POW) to Mohan Singh
  • By 1942, there were about 40,000 ready to join INA
  • But they were planning to enter India only when invited by the INC
  • Also kept ready the army to counter any possible Japanese invasion of India
  • Differences arose between Japanese and Mohan Singh as well (2000 vs 20000)
• Phase 2:
  • The arrival of Subhash Bose in Singapore in 1943
    • 1938, 1939- President of INC at Haripura and Tripuri sessions. Differences with Gandhi
    • 1940- formed the Forward Bloc
    • 1941- He fled India (despite house arrest)
  • Journey via Afghanistan, Central Asia to Russia
  • Once Russia joined the Allies in WW2, he shifted to Germany for help. And then reached Japan.
  • With Japanese help, he set up a strong INA.

In Rigveda, Tasar is used for 'Winch'.

Important Points

• Rigveda is the oldest Veda which is composed about 3500 years ago.
• The Rigveda includes more than a thousand hymns, called sukta or “well-said”.
• The Rigveda is composed in old or Vedic Sanskrit.
• In Rigveda, we can find references of various crafts of the Early Vedic period. These comprised of:
  • Carpentry: To make agricultural equipments, chariots, bullock carts, boats, homes, toys etc.
  • Weaving: Vedic Aryans used to wear colorful cloths of cotton and wool. The weaver was called as 'Vaya'; whereas the Charakha or winch was called as 'Tasar'.
  • Coppersmith: Used to make copper objects
  • Goldsmith: The Goldsmith was called as 'Hiranyakar'. He used to make jewellery of gold, both for human and horses.
  • Cobbler: Cobbler used to make water bags, shoes, bridle, whips, thread for bows etc.

  • Pottery making

Hence, we can conclude that in Rigveda, Tasar is used for 'Winch'.

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre took place on 13th April, 1919. People had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh to protest against the arrest of Dr Satya Paul and Kitchlew, during Anti RowlattAct agitation.

On the Baisakhi Day of 13th April, 1919a peaceful unarmed crowd, consisting mostly of villagers who had come upon without any warning and provocation by Dyer's troops, in Jallianwala Bagh, a park enclosed from all sides. The frugality at Jallianwala Bagh stunned the entire nation. The response did not come immediately, but a little later. Mahatma Gandhi withdrew the movement on 18th April calling it a 'Himalaya blunder1. Since then, Gandhi become extremely wary about starting movements without adequate organizational and ideological preparation. Rabindranath Tagore, voicing the agony and anger of the nation, through a famous letter renounced his knight hood (30th May,1919). Gandhi returned the 'Kaiser-i-Hind' medal given to him for his work during the Boer War.

The fiscal system was established on a firm basis.

1) Warriors and priests, i.e., the Kshatriyas and the Brahmanas, were exempted from the payment of taxes, and the burden fell on the peasants who were mainly vaishyas or grihapatis.

2) Bali, a voluntary payment made by the tribesmen to their chiefs in Vedic times, became a compulsory payment to be made by the peasants in the age of Buddha, and officers called balisadhakas were appointed to collect it.

3) Artisans and traders also had to pay taxes. The tolls were collected by officers known as shulkika or shulkadhaksha.

Political:

• Charter Act,1861, Charter Act,1892 & Government of India Act,1909 enacted by the British in which all the demands made as follows were accepted.
  • Abolition of Indian Advisory Council set up under Queen’s proclamation,1858.
  • Self-government should be set up within the imperial framework. They demanded an increase in the representation of Indians in the legislature.
  • Direct elections for the membership in Legislature in place of nomination.
  • Indian members in the Viceroy’s Executive Council.
  • Right to discuss and vote on the budget. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Administrative:

• Open the Indian civil services examination for Indians.
• Holding simultaneous examinations in London and India.
• The Charles Aitchison Commission in 1886 recommended increasing (not decreasing) the age of civil services to 23 years. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Accordingly, option B is correct.

[He was ready to take the responsibility for the consequences of his own decisions].

In 1786, Lord Cornwallis was appointed as Governor-General and commander in chief in India. He is known for having instituted land , judiciary and administrative reforms and reorganized the British army and administration. He had a demand that powers of the Governor-General be enlarged to empower him, in special cases, to override the majority of his Council and act on his own special responsibility. The Act of 1786 was enacted to give him the power of working as Both Governor General & Commander in Chief. Thus via act of 1786, Cornwallis became the first effective ruler of British India under the authority of Board of Control and the Court of Directors.

The correct answer is 1, 2, and 3 only.
Key-Points

• The important points of the Mountbatten plan were as follows:
  • Punjab and Bengal Legislative Assemblies would meet in two groups, Hindus and Muslims, to vote for partition. If a simple majority of either group voted for partition, then these provinces would be partitioned. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • In the case of partition, two dominions and two constituent assemblies would be created.
  • Sindh would take its own decision.
  • Referendums in NWFP and Sylhet district of Bengal would decide the fate of these areas. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • Independence for princely states ruled out—they would join either India or Pakistan. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
  • independence for Bengal ruled out;
  • accession of Hyderabad to Pakistan ruled out (Mountbatten supported the Congress on this).
  • freedom to come on August 15, 1947.
  • a boundary commission to be set up if the partition was to be effected.

Additional Information

Quit India Movement

• AICC Meeting at Gowalia Tank, Bombay
  • Quit India resolution ratified. Gandhi was named the leader of the movement.
  • Demanded an immediate end to British rule.
  • Form a provisional government in India after the British withdrew.
  • Sanction a civil disobedience movement against British rule.
• Directions were given to other sections of the society
  • Government servants- Do not quit, but support Congress.
  • Soldiers- Do not quit the army but do not fire on the Indians.
  • Students- If confident, quit schools and participate.
  • Peasants- Pay mutually agreed rent to anti-government zamindars, else don’t pay.
  • Princely states- Support your Ruler only if he is anti-British.
• Spread of the Movement
  • Gandhiji carefully created tempo from individual satyagraha to mass movements.
  • The government did not wait long and immediately arrested all senior leaders.
  • Youth engaged in actions all across the provinces- hoisting flags, blowing up railway lines, telegraph lines, individual satyagraha, and even offered themselves to be arrested.
  • Underground leadership to guide youth, provide arms and ammunition.
  • Usha Mehta started an underground radio in Bombay.
  • Parallel governments were being formed-
    • Ballia, UP - Chittu Pandey.
    • Tamluk, Midnapore, Bengal - relief activities, grants to schools, supply paddy from rich to poor. Organized “Bidyut Bahinis” .
    • Satara, Maharastra - named “Prati sarkar” .Leaders like YB Chavan, Nana Patil headed the movement. Activities like village libraries, nyayadan mandals, Gandhi marriages conducted.

• Mughal architecture retained features from Sultanate architecture such as the arch, dome and vault. The bulbous dome and rectangular gardens were inspired later from Central Asia and Iran. Hence, statements 1 and 3 are incorrect.
• Features were adopted from provinvial styles of Gujarat, Malwa, Rajasthan, Bengal and Sharqi kingdom (Jaunpursultanate). Hence, statements 2 is correct.
  

Features of Mughal Architecture

• Bulbous domes
• Minarets (pillars) with Cupolas (chhatris)
• Use of red sandstone and white marble
• Vaulted gateways
• Arches
• Rectangular gardens (Persian Charbagh)

Jama Masjid is also known as ‘Shan-i-Fatehpur’.

Nizam-ul-Mulk was disgusted with the fickle-mindedness and suspicious nature of the Emperor and the constant quarrels at the court. He was the most powerful noble of the time, decided to pursue his own ambition.

He was the wazir of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah in 1722, and had a vigorous attempt to reform the administration. He decided to leave the emperor and the empire to their fate and to strike out on his own. He relinquished his office in October 1724 and marched South to form the state of Hyderabad in the Deccan.

Administration in Delhi Sultanate:

• Finance: Diwan-i-Wizrat
• Military: Diwas-i-Ariz
• Judicial: Diwan-i-Qaza
• Foreign Affairs: Diwan-i-Rasalat. Hence, option A is correct.
• Cooperation: Diwan-i-Insha

All given statements are correct. Jain philosophy rejected the existence of created god. They denied the authority of vedas. They accepted the doctrine of Karma and rebirth. They separate body from the soul.

Kalighat painting was a product of the changing urban society of the nineteenth-century Calcutta. It was first of its kind in the Indian subcontinent that expressed subaltern sentiment and addressed customers directly. It started on a religious note with the subjects being Hindu Gods and Goddesses along with their incarnations. However, over time, social sentiments were expressed in the medium of paper and colours.

Industrial Policy Resolution of 1948:

• It defined the broad contours of the policy delineating the role of the State in industrial development both as an entrepreneur and authority.
• It made clear that India is going to have a Mixed Economic Model.
• It classified industries into four(not three) broad areas:(Statement 1 is incorrect)
  • Strategic Industries (Public Sector):
    • It included three industries in which Central Government had a monopoly i.e. Arms and ammunition, Atomic energy, and Rail transport.
  • Basic/Key Industries (Public-cum-Private Sector):
    • 6 industries viz. coal, iron & steel, aircraft manufacturing, ship-building, manufacture of telephone, telegraph & wireless apparatus, and mineral oil.
    • They were designated as “Key Industries” or “Basic Industries”.(Statement 2 is incorrect.)
    • These industries were to be set up by the Central Government.
    • However, the existing private sector enterprises were allowed to continue.
  • Important Industries (Controlled Private Sector):
    • It included 18 industries including heavy chemicals, sugar, cotton textile & woolen industry, cement, paper, salt, machine tools, fertilizer, rubber, air and sea transport, motor, tractor, electricity, etc.
    • These industries continue to remain under the private sector
    • However, the central government, in consultation with the state government, had general control over them.
  • Other Industries (Private and Cooperative Sector):
    • All other industries which were not included in the above-mentioned three categories were left open for the private sector.
• The Industries (Development and Regula­tion) Act was passed in 1951 to implement the Industrial Policy Resolution, 1948.
• Accordingly, option D is correct.

The correct answer is 2 only.

​Key Points

• Weaknesses of peasant movement:
  • There was a lack of an adequate understanding of colonialism. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
  • The 19th-century peasants did not possess a new ideology and a new social, economic and political programme. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • These struggles, however militant, occurred within the framework of the old societal order lacking a positive conception of an alternative society.

Important Points

• Changed Nature of Peasant Movements after 1857:
  • Peasants emerged as the main force in agrarian movements, fighting directly for their own demands.
  • The demands were centred almost wholly on economic issues.
  • The movements were directed against the immediate enemies of the peasant—foreign planters and indigenous zamindars and moneylenders.
  • The struggles were directed towards specific and limited objectives and redressal of particular grievances.
  • Colonialism was not the target of these movements.
  • It was not the objective of these movements to end the system of subordination or exploitation of the peasants.
  • Territorial reach was limited.
  • There was no continuity of struggle or long-term organisation.
  • The peasants developed a strong awareness of their legal rights and asserted them in and outside the courts.

• Statement 1 is correct. The Butler Committee (1927) was set up to examine the nature of the relationship between the princely states and government.
• Statement 2 is incorrect.
• The committee gave the following recommendations—
  • Paramountcy must remain supreme and must fulfil its obligations, adopting and defining itself according to the shifting necessities of time and progressive development of states.
  • States should not be handed over to an Indian Government in British India, responsible to an Indian legislature, without the consent of states. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.

• Trade unions are organized associations of workers in a trade or profession.
• These are interested in the economic and social welfare of the workers and are formed to further their rights and interests.
• In India, Trade Unions in India are registered under the Trade Union Act (1926).

Key-Points

All India Trade Union Congress:

• The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) is the oldest trade union federation in India.
• It is associated with the Communist Party of India.
• According to provisional statistics from the Ministry of Labour, AITUC had a membership of 14.2 million in 2013.
• It was founded on 31 October 1920 with Lala Lajpat Rai as its first president.
• Until 1945 when unions became organised on party lines, it was the primary trade union organisation in India.
• The main purpose of labour unions is to give workers the power to negotiate for more favourable working conditions and other benefits through collective bargaining.
• The following are the objectives of a trade union:
  • To improve the economic lot of workers by securing them better wages.
  • To secure workers better working conditions.
  • To secure bonuses for the workers from the profits of the enterprise/organization.

Thus, Lala Lajpat Rai was the first President of the All India Trade Union Congress established in 1920.

The Vedic literature was composed in Sanskrit. The correct sequence of Vedic literature is Vedic Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upnishadas.

The original name of Ramakrishna Paramhansa was Gadadhar Chattopadhyay. He was born into a poor and orthodox Brahmin family on 18 February, 1836.

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.

Key Points

• The Wahabi movement was a revivalist movement, aiming for Dar-ul-Islam (world of Islam).
• The teachings of Abdul Wahab of Arabia and the preachings of Shah Walliullah of Delhi inspired this essentially revivalist response to Western influences and the degeneration which had set in among Indian Muslims and called for a return to the true spirit of Islam. Hence statements b and c are correct.
• Initially, the movement was directed at the Sikhs in Punjab but after the British annexation of Punjab (1849), the movement was directed against the British. Hence statement a is correct.
• During the 1857 Revolt, the Wahabi’s played an important role in spreading anti-British feelings.
• Titu Mir was a disciple of Sayyid Ahmed Barelvi, the founder of the Wahabi Movement.
• Titu Mir adopted Wahabism and advocated the Sharia. He organised the Muslim peasants of Bengal against the landlords, who were mostly Hindu, and the British indigo planters.
• The teachings of Walliullah were further popularised by Shah Abdul Aziz and Syed Ahmed Barelvi who also gave them a political perspective.
• Syed Ahmed called for a return to pure Islam and the kind of society that had existed in the Arabia of the Prophet’s time.

The pillar must have been crowned by the Vaishnava emblem, the Garuda.

Important Points

• Mehrauli Iron Pillar:
  • The Iron Pillar is located in the Qutub Complex in the area of Mehrauli of Delhi.
  • It is said to have been constructed around 1500 years ago.
  • The pillar must have been crowned by a Vaishnava emblem, perhaps a Garuda.
  • An inscription on the pillar mentions a king named Chandra, who is most often associated with Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire.

  • It is cited as one of the most remarkable example of the skill of Indian crafts persons.

Thus, the Vaishnava emblem, the Garuda is the correct answer.

Additional Information

• Other Important Features:
  • The pillar with its solid, slightly tapering shaft stands 7.16 m tall. It is surmounted by an inverted lotus emblem, over which there are three fluted discs (amalakas) supporting a square pedestal.
  • It is considered remarkable because of the metallurgical skill required to forge such a long piece of iron, the clarity of its inscriptions after so many centuries, and the fact that it has remained comparatively rust-free, even after so many centuries.

  • It is not certain where the pillar originally stood. Most historians believe it is not in situ.

All the three statements are wrong. Firstly rebels had poor understanding of imperialist ideology and quasi-democratic functioning of home government of Britain.

Secondly 1857 revolt was mainly feudal in character with some nationalistic elements and mutineers wanted to establish old social and political medieval order. They lacked progressive democratic and social-economic reforms agenda which they could execute after overthrowing foreign yoke.

Tatiya Tope fought alongside Nana Saheb, but after capture of Kanpur he fled to fight with Rani Laxmibai. However after defeat of Rani he continued his struggle with Guerrilla warfare. Later he was captured and executed by British government on 18 April 1859.

With reference to the “Board of Control” in the East India Company, Only 1 and 3 are correct.

Important Points

• Board of Control was formed as a measure for increasing the control of the British crown on the administration of the East India Company in India by Pitt’s India act of 1784.
• It consisted of six unpaid privy councillors, one of whom was the president with a casting vote.
• The Board had no patronage and did not interfere in commercial matters.
• It had power to superintend, direct and control all acts relating to the civil or military government or the revenues.
• The east India company’s officers in India were subject to the approval of the Board which also could send its own orders without the consent of the directors.

• After the mutiny when the government of India was transferred to the British crown by the Government of India Act, 1858, the Board of control as such was abolished.

Thus, we can conclude that the following statements are correct with reference to the “Board of Control” in the East India Company:

1. It was formed by Pitts India Act of 1784

3. It was abolished by the Government of India Act 1858

The last veda called the Atharva Veda is a collection of magic spells and charms to ward off the evil spirits and diseases. It is considered a non-Aryan work and is the latest addition to the Vedas in later Vedic age.

The temples built in Khajuraho of Madhya Pradesh are called "pilgrims of sculpture". These temples were built in the 10th century by the Chandel rulers.

The correct answer is 2 and 3 only

Key Points

• It was on 12 August 1765, the Mughal emperor appointed the East India Company as the Diwan of Bengal and apart from Bihar and Orissa. The Treaty of Allahabad was signed on 12 August 1765, in between the Mughal Emperor and Robert Clive, of the East India Company after the Battle of Buxar. Therefore Statement 1 is not true
• The Great Bengal Famine of 1770: A disastrous famine affected the lower Gangetic Plains of India including the regions of Bengal and Bihar between 1769 and 1773 where 1/3rd of the population perished. Therefore Statement 2 is true.
• After two decades of debates, Charles Cornwallis, who was the Governor-General at the time, introduced the Permanent Settlement in 1793. According to the Permanent Settlement, the rajas and taluqdars were recognized as Zamindars. Hence Statement 3 is also true.

The name of the author of the book ” The first war of Indian Independence” is V. D. Savarkar. In this book, he termed the great revolt of 1857 as a “planned war of national independence”.