CUETbyNTA

The correct answer is Sheikh Hamiduddin Nagori.

Key Points

• Sheikh Hamiduddin Nagori received the title of 'Sultan-i-Tariqin'.
  • Sutan-ut-Tariqeen Hazrat Hamiduddin Nagori Chishty was a Sufi Saint from Chishty Silsila. His Mazar Mubarak is in Nagaur, Rajasthan.
  • He was born in 589 Hijri or in 1113 A.D. His birth name was Muhammad, whereas Hamiduddin and Nagori were the epithets.
  • He was married to Bibi Khadija (daughter of Hazrat Fuzail Ahmed Hamdani).
  • He Had received his initial Islamic Education from his home itself and later from Hazrat Shamsuddin Halwai.
  • After accepting the Ruhani orders from Hazrat Khwaja Ghareeb Nawaz, he left for Ajmer and remain there along with Ghareeb Nawaz for almost one year. 

Additional Information

• Moinuddin Hasan Chishti was born in Sijistan (modern-day Sistan) in Iran in 1141-42 CE.
  •   After Muizuddin Muhammad bin Sam of Ghor had already defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain (1192) and established his rule in Delhi, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti started living and preaching in Ajmer.   
• Khwaja Usman Harooni was born in Haroon, which is in Iran.
  • Khwaja Usman Haruni's disciple was Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.

Answer : (2) - Anantavarman Chodaganga - was a prominent king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty who ruled in 11-12th century AD.

In News

• Naveen Patnaik approved special security for Jagannath Temple.
• The Special Security Battalion will comprise around 1190 personnel, placed under SP Puri's command.

Key Points

• The Jagannath temple at Puri, Orissa was built by Anantavarman Chodaganga in the 11th century.
• The Eastern Ganga dynasty reigned  Kalinga from the 5th century AD to 15th century AD.

The correct answer is ​1, 3, and 4 only.

Key Points

• Many foreign travellers visited the Vijayanagara empire and have provided valuable information about the empire.
• The Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta, Venetian traveller Nicolo de Conti, Persian traveller Abdur Razzak and the Portuguese traveller Domingo Paes were among them who left valuable accounts on the socio-economic conditions of the Vijayanagar Empire.
• Ibn Battuta was one of the great geographers and explorers of the 14th century and his book “Travels of Ibn Battuta” is significant in understanding the history of Asian trade. 
  • He was from Morocco, who travel thirty years of his life from North Africa, West Africa, Southern Europe and Eastern Europe in the West, to the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and East China.
  • He left an account of Harihara I’s reign in his book Rehla.
• Nicolo de Conti, an Italian, was at Vijayanagara in about 1420, just after the accession of Devaraya I. 
  • ​The first known foreign traveller, he mentions the fortifications of the city and the thousands of men employed in the army of the rulers.
• Abdur Razzak: He was a Persian, Timurid chronicler and a scholar who visited the Vijaynagar Kingdom at the time of Dev Raya II as an ambassador of Shah Rukh, the Timurid dynasty ruler of Persia. 
  • He gives an account of the reign of Devaraya II in his Matla as Sadain Wa Majma ul Bahrain.
• Domingo Paes: The most detailed chronicles of Vijayanagara was provided by him.
  • Domingo Paes was at Vijayanagara in about 1520-22, during the reign of Krishnadevaraya.
  • The visitor gives invaluable information on the walls, gates, streets and markets of the city, as well as the major temples of the city, including the Virupaksha at Hampi, together with its collonaded bazaar.
  • Paes describes the Mahanavami festival at some length.
  • The description of the king’s palace with which Paes’s account concludes seems to apply to Krishnadevaraya’s new residence in what is now Hospet.

Additional Information

• Marco Polo is an Italian traveller who visited India during 1288-1292 AD under the reign of the Pandya Kingdom. 
  • According to him Pandion Empire ruling half of India at that point in time was the richest empire in existence and they were called Gods.
• Athanasius Nikitin: He was the first Russian traveller and merchant who visited India.
  • He described the conditions of the Bahamani kingdom under Muhammad III in his Voyage to India. 

The correct answer is Jahangir.

Key Points

• The British East India Company established its first factory in Surat in 1613.
• This establishment was made possible with the permission of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir.
• Jahangir granted the British permission to trade and establish factories in India, which marked the beginning of British commercial interests in the country.
• The factory in Surat served as a significant trading post for the British East India Company, facilitating trade between India and England.

Additional Information

• Historical Context
  • During the early 17th century, European powers were vying for control over the lucrative trade routes to India and the East Indies.
  • The British East India Company was established in 1600 to exploit these opportunities and compete with the Portuguese and Dutch traders.
• Impact on India
  • The establishment of the factory in Surat marked the beginning of British economic influence in India.
  • Over the next two centuries, this influence expanded, eventually leading to British political and territorial control over large parts of India.

The correct answer is:  1 and 2 only

Key Points

• Ramananda established the Ram Bhakti tradition in North India and welcomed disciples from all castes, including Kabir and Ravidas.
  • This statement is correct.
  • Ramananda is considered one of the early proponents of the Ram Bhakti tradition in North India, advocating an inclusive approach that accepted disciples from all social backgrounds.
  • His disciples included prominent figures such as Kabir and Ravidas, who continued to spread Bhakti ideals.
• Surdas composed devotional songs in Braj Bhasha focused on Krishna and is associated with the Vallabhacharya’s Pushtimarga tradition.
  • This statement is correct.
  • Surdas, a 16th-century Bhakti poet, composed numerous devotional songs in Braj Bhasha dedicated to Lord Krishna, focusing on themes of divine love and devotion.
  • He is often associated with the Pushtimarga (Path of Grace) tradition founded by Vallabhacharya, which emphasizes devotion to Krishna.

Incorrect Statements

• Guru Nanak’s teachings influenced the Bhakti Movement in North India, emphasizing Nirguna Bhakti and community service.
  • This statement is incorrect.
  • While Guru Nanak emphasized Nirguna Bhakti (worship of a formless God) and community service, he is more accurately associated with the founding of Sikhism rather than the broader Bhakti movement in North India.
  • Though his teachings had parallels with the Bhakti movement, his establishment of Sikhism focused on creating a distinct religious path.
• Tulsidas’s Ramcharitmanas, written in Braj Bhasha, was instrumental in spreading the Bhakti movement’s influence.
  • This statement is correct.
  • Tulsidas did write other works in Braj Bhasha, such as the Hanuman Chalisa, but Ramcharitmanas specifically was composed in Awadhi

Hence, Statements  1 and 2 only are correct, and Statement 3 is incorrect.

Additional Information

• Influence of Bhakti Saints in North India:
  • Ramananda: Known for his inclusive teachings, bringing together disciples from different castes and religious backgrounds.
  • Surdas: Composed devotional poetry focusing on Krishna’s life, contributing to Krishna Bhakti.
  • Tulsidas: His Ramcharitmanas spread the Bhakti ideals of love and devotion to Lord Rama in an accessible language.
  • Guru Nanak: Although his teachings align with Bhakti concepts, his establishment of Sikhism marked a distinct path in spiritual and social reform.

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

• The Indus Valley civilization was discovered first in 1921 at the modern site of Harappa situated in the province of West Punjab in Pakistan.​The city lies on the banks of the river Ravi, a left-bank tributary of river Indus.
• Harappan civilization is also known as Indus Valley Civilization for being situated on and around the banks of the Indus river.
• It flourished around 2,500 BCE in the western part of South Asia, in contemporary Pakistan, western India, and parts of Afghanistan.

• The Indus Valley Civilization or the Harappan Civilization flourished around 2500 BC, in the western part of South Asia, in contemporary Pakistan and Western India.
• In 1924, John Marshall, Director General of ASI, announced the discovery of a new civilization in the ruins of two old cities, viz. Mohenjodaro and Harappa were unearthed.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Horses.

Important Points

• Horses were the single biggest item of import to the Vijayanagar empire.
• They imported Arabian horses on a large scale.
• It is to improve the breed of cavalry horses in their own districts.

Notes:

• There were four dynasties ruled over Vijaynagar:
• Vijaynagar Empire (1336 - 1672 AD):
  • Harihara I and Bukka on the southern banks of Tungabhadra laid the foundation of the Vijayanagar City in 1336 A.D.
• Sangama Dynasty (1334 – 1485 AD):
  • It was the first dynasty to rule over the Vijaynagar empire.
  • The founders of the Vijayanagar empire, Harihara I and Bukka belonged to this dynasty.
• Saluva Dynasty (1485-1505 AD):
  • It was founded by Saluva Narasimha.
  • It was the second dynasty of the empire. 
• Tuluva Dynasty (1491-1570 AD):
  • It was founded by Vir Narsimha.
  • The famous King Krishanadeva Raya belonged to this dynasty.
• Aravidu Dynasty (1575-1672 AD):
  • It was founded by Tirumala Raya.
  • It was the last dynasty ruled under the suzerainty of the Kingdom of Vijayanagar.

Key Points

• Harappa
  • More than two hundred bodies have been dug out at the excavated Harappan sites.
  • The burials were primarily conducted in large pits, sometimes oval or even rectangular.
  • Sometimes they would contain a wooden coffin, evident only by the stains left on the sites after all these years.
• Lothal
  • Lothal is one of the most prominent cities of the ancient Indus valley civilization.
  • Evidence of double burial (burying a male and a female in a single grave) has been found here. 
• Kalibangan
  • A different kind of burial was found here.
  • The body was laid straight with the head towards the north in a brick chamber or a simple sand pit.
• Surkotada
  • Four pot burials were found.
  • Pot burials contained bone ashes.

Thus, Wooden Coffin had been found in Harappa, Double Burial in Lothal, Brick Chambers in Kalibangan, and Pot Burial in Surkotada.

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

Important posts of Mughal Administration are as follows:

• Province (Suba):
  • Sipahsalar - The Head Executive(under Akbar and later he was known Nizam or Subedar).
  • Diwan - Incharge of the revenue department.
  • Bakshi—Incharge of military dept.
• District(Sarkar)
  • Fauzdar—Administrative head.
  • Amal/Amalguzar—Revenue collection.
  • Kotwal—Maintenance of law and order, the trial of criminal cases, and price regulation.
• Pargana
  • Shiqdar—Administrative head combined in himself the duties of ‘fauzdar and kotwal’.
  • Amin, Qanungo—Revenue officials.
• Village(Gram)
  • Muqaddam—Headman.
  • Patwari—Accountant.
  • Chowkidar—Watchman.
• Notes:
• Trick to remember Mughal Empire hierarchy- BHAJSA (Remember it as BHAJPA political party)
  •  Babur- B
  • Humayun- H
  • Akbar- A
  • Jahangir- J
  • Shahjahan- S
  • Aurangzeb- A 

The correct answer is 1 and 3 only.

Key Points

• Santhals are a tribal group and they were the agricultural people settled in Rajmahal Hills of Bihar.
• British turned to them for the expansion of the revenue through agriculture. Santhals agreed to clear forests to practice settled agriculture. in 1832, a large number of areas were demarcated as Damin-i-Koh or Santal Pargana.
• The Santhal Revolt took place in 1855-56.
• This was the first peasant revolt that occurred in India. the revolt can be attributed to the introduction of the Permanent Land Settlement of 1793.
• Hul Divas is observed annually on June 30 in memory of tribals Sidho and Kanhu Murmu, who led the Santhal Hul (rebellion) on June 30, 1855, at Bhognadih in Sahebganj district.
• The Santhals under Sido and Kanhu rose up against their oppressors, declared the end of the Company’s rule, and asserted themselves independent in 1854.
• It was only in 1856 after extensive military operations that the situation was brought under control.
• Sido died in 1855, while Kanhu was arrested in 1866.

The correct answer is Option 3.

Key Points

•  In Mughal period, Zamindars were landed proprietors who enjoyed social and economic privileges by virtue of their superior status in rural society.
• The Zamindars had the hereditary right of collecting land revenue from a number of villages. This was called his Talluqa. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• The revenue can go up to 25% in some areas.
• The Zamindars were not owners of the land. The peasants would continue to be owner till they pay the revenue. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Most Zamindars had an armed contingent comprising units of cavalry, artillery, and infantry. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Additional Information

• Zamindars enjoyed an elevated status in the society during Mughal period.
• The zamindars used to have extensive personal lands termed as Milkiyat.
• Milkiyat lands were cultivated for private use of zamindars.

• Karnal is said to established by the Kauravas for King Karna, who was known for his generosity and the attitude of giving away anything anyone requested to him.
• Karnal has been named after this king and also called as the 'City of Daanvir Karna'.
• It holds significance in Mahabharata as well. Few of its tourist destinations include the Karnal Fort, Kalander Shah's Tomb, and more.

The correct answer is Peasants.

Key Points

• Ryotwari system is one of the three principal methods of revenue collection in British India.
• It was prevalent in most of southern India, being the standard system of the Madras Presidency.
• The system was devised by Capt. Alexander Read and Thomas Munro at the end of the 19th century and introduced by the latter when he was governor (1820-27) of Madras (now Chennai).
• This was practised in the Madras and Bombay areas, as well as Assam and Coorg provinces.
• In this system, the peasants or cultivators were regarded as the owners of the land. They had ownership rights, could sell, mortgage, or gift the land.
• The rates were 50% in dryland and 60% in wetland.

Additional Information

• The advantages of this system were the elimination of middlemen, who often oppressed villagers, and an assessment of the tax on land actually cultivated and not merely occupied.
• This system also gave much power to subordinate revenue officials, whose activities were inadequately supervised.
• The name of the system comes from the word ryot, an Anglicization by the British in India of the Arabic word raīyah, meaning a peasant or cultivator.
• The Arabic word passed into Persian (rakyat) was carried by the Mughals, who used it throughout India in their revenue administration.

The correct answer is After the Revolt of 1857 the Sikhs, Pathas and Gurkhas were not allowed in Indian army.

Key Points

• After the Revolt of 1857 in India, the British recruited the soldiers in the British Indian Army from Punjabi, Gurkha and Pathan communities on a large scale and declared them as martial communities.
• The Revolt of 1857 was known as Sepoy Mutiny and the first war of Indian independence.
• The Revolt lasted for more than a year and was suppressed in mid- 1858.
• The revolt marked the end of East India Company's rule in India.
• Lord Canning was the Governor General of India during the revolt.
• The British crown was instituted in place of the East India Company.
• The Queen's declaration was announced.
• The ratio of British officers to Indian soldiers increased.
• The Governor General's office was replaced by that of the Viceroy.

The correct answer is The behavior of the British soldiers.

Key Points

• About 1857 Revolt
• The Indian Mutiny of 1857-59 was a widespread but unsuccessful rebellion against the rule of the British East India Company in India which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British crown.
• The reason for the Revolt of 1857 is the immediate factor was the introduction of the 'Enfield' rifle.
• Indian soldiers were not expected to exhibit officer characteristics and could not be rewarded for doing so. The behavior of the British soldiers was one of the reasons for the 1857 revolt. Hence option 4 is the correct answer
• The cartridge had to be bitten off before loading it into the gun.
• Indian sepoys believed that the cartridge was greased with either pig fat or made from cow fat.
• 1857 revolt started firstly on 29th March 1857 from Bairakpur (West Bengal) by Mangal Pandey. 
• The revolt is known by several names
  • the Sepoy Mutiny (by the British Historians)
  • the Indian Mutiny, the Great Rebellion (by the Indian Historians)
  • the Revolt of 1857, the Indian Insurrection
  • First War of Independence (by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar)

Additional Information

Revolt of 1857:

• It occurred during the reign of Governor-General Lord Canning.
• Causes of Revolt of 1857:
  • Heavy taxation
  • The ruin of the Indian Industry
  • Policies like Subsidiary Alliance and the Doctrine of Lapse
  • Enfield Rifle

Centres of Revolt and Their leaders:

• Delhi: Bahadur Shah and General Bakht Khan.
• Kanpur: Nana Sahib/Dhondu Pant (adopted son of Baji Rao II), Tantya Tope and Azimullah Khan.
• Jhansi: Rani Lakshmi Bai.
• Lucknow: Begum Hazrat Mahal, her son Birjis Qadr.
• Faizabad: Maulvi Ahmadullah.
• Bareilly: Khan Bahadur Khan.
• Bihar: (Arrah) Kunwar Singh, Zamindar of Jagdishpur.

The correct answer is Jhansi - 11 May, 1857.

Key Points

• The Revolt was started on 29th March 1857. The 19th Infantry at Berhampur (Barrackpore), refused to use the newly introduced Enfield rifle. The infantry was disbanded. 
• Mangal Pandey, a sepoy of the 34th Native Infantry at Barrackpore attacked and fired at his British Officers.
• On 10 May 1857, the Indian Rebellion started in Meerut. When news of the rebellion reached Jhansi, the Rani asked the British political officer, Captain Alexander Skene, for permission to raise a body of armed men for her own protection; Skene agreed to this.
• The city was relatively calm in the midst of the regional unrest in the summer of 1857, but the Rani conducted a Haldi Kumkum ceremony with pomp in front of all the women of Jhansi to provide assurance to her subjects, and to convince them that the British were cowards and not to be afraid of them.
• In June 1857, rebels of the 12th Bengal Native Infantry seized the Star Fort of Jhansi, containing the treasure and magazine, and after persuading the British to lay down their arms by promising them no harm, broke their word and massacred 40 to 60 European officers of the garrison along with their wives and children. Hence option 2 is not correct.
• Though Rani's involvement in this massacre is still a subject of debate.
• The full-scale rebellion reached Lucknow on May 30, 1857, and it reached ai its peak in 4th June 1857.

The correct answer is All three

Key Points

Revolt of 1857

• The rebellion of 1857, also known as India’s first war of Independence, began on May 10, 1857.
• In this 1857 revolt, Indian sepoys rose up against the might of the British officers of the East India company.
• The British forces, however, emerged victoriously and Delhi fell into their hands on September 14, 1857, after a four-month-long battle.
• When ordinary people began joining the revolt, the targets of attack widened.
  • In major towns like Lucknow, Kanpur and Bareilly, moneylenders and the rich also became the objects of rebel wrath. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • Peasants not only saw them as oppressors but also as allies of the British.
  • In most places, their houses were looted and destroyed.
  • There was general defiance of all kinds of authority and hierarchy.
• On March 29, 1857, sepoy Mangal Pandey fired at a British officer and his comrades refused to arrest him.
  • This led to his court-martial and he was ultimately hanged to death.
  • This was the precursor to what came to be known as India’s first war of Independence on May 10, 1857.
• After the outbreak of the mutiny, the rebels reached Delhi and Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared the Emperor of Hindustan. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Once British rule had collapsed, the rebels in places like Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur tried to establish alternate power and administration.
  • This was, of course, short-lived but the attempts show that the rebel leadership wanted to restore the pre-British world of the eighteenth century.
  • The leaders went back to the culture of the court.
  • In all this, the rebels harked back to the eighteenth-century Mughal world – a world that became a symbol of all that had been lost.
• Begum Hazrat Mahal, the wife of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, rebelled against the East India Company and almost succeeded in possibly the longest battle of the first war of Independence.
  • She had the biggest army that fought the Britishers in 1857. Hence statement 3 is correct.

The correct answer is: 'Jagannath'.

Key Points

• The Santhal Revolt (1855-1856) was a significant tribal uprising against British colonial authority and exploitative zamindars.
  • The revolt took place in the present-day states of Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal.
  • It was driven by widespread grievances among the Santhal tribes against oppressive economic and social conditions.
• Siddhu and Kanhu Murmu were prominent leaders of the Santhal Revolt.
  • Siddhu Murmu and Kanhu Murmu, along with their brothers Chand and Bhairav, led the Santhals in their fight against British colonial forces and local landlords.
  • They organized the Santhal tribes and mobilized them to resist British exploitation and oppression.
• Chand Murmu also played a significant role in the uprising.
  • Chand Murmu, along with his brothers Siddhu and Kanhu, was instrumental in galvanizing the Santhal people.
  • Their leadership united the Santhal community against common adversaries.

Additional Information

• Santhal Rebellion's Impact:
  • The Santhal Rebellion had a significant impact on British policies towards tribal communities.
  • It led to the passing of the Santhal Parganas Tenancy Act, which provided some protection to the Santhals against exploitation.
• Legacy of the Leaders:
  • Siddhu and Kanhu Murmu are remembered as heroes and martyrs among the Santhal community.
  • They are celebrated for their bravery and leadership in resisting colonial oppression.

The correct answer is Henry LawrenceKey Points

• The British forces in the Battle of Chinhat  were led by Brigadier General Henry Lawrence.
• However, the actual British force on the battlefield was commanded by Colonel William Goldby,
  • who led a contingent of British troops and loyal sepoys.
• The battle resulted in a decisive defeat for the British, and following this, the British forces retreated to the Residency in Lucknow,
  • where they faced a prolonged siege (known as the Siege of Lucknow)

Additional Information

•  The Battle of Chinhat
  • The Battle of Chinhat, fought on June 30, 1857, was a significant early engagement during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
  • It took place near the town of Chinhat, on the outskirts of Lucknow. 
  • The rebellion against British rule had spread across northern India, and Lucknow, the capital of the province of Oudh (Awadh), became a key center of resistance
  • The Battle of Chinhat was a decisive victory for the Indian rebels, and it marked the beginning of the Siege of Lucknow.

The correct answer is option (2) i.e. Sir Colin Campbell.

• Leader of Bareilly in the revolt of 1857 was Khan Bahadur Khan. He was the successor of the former ruler of Rohilkhund.
• Khan Bahadur Khan was not satisfied with the pension he was given and he arranged the army of 40000 soldiers to offer resistance against Britishers.
• James Neill was the suppressor of the revolt in Banaras where the leader was Liaquat Ali.
• William Taylor and Vincent Eyer were the suppressor of the revolt of 1857 in Awadh where the leader was Veer Kunwar Singh.

Solution: 

• The zamindari system ( land revenue system ) was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793 through Permanent Settlement which fixed the land rights of the members in perpetuity without any provision for fixed rent or occupancy rights for actual cultivators.
• Under the Zamindari system, the land revenue was collected from the farmers by the intermediaries known as Zamindars.
• The share of the government in the total land revenue collected by the zamindars was kept at 10/11^th, and the remainder went to zamindars. 

The correct answer is Gandhi-Irwin Pact.

Key PointsGandhi-Irwin Pact:

• The Second Round Table Conference was scheduled to take place in London in 1931.
• The Salt Satyagraha was held in 1930, and India and Gandhi gained international attention.
• The British government in India was chastised for treating Indians unfairly.
• Gandhi and many other leaders, as well as thousands of Indians, were imprisoned.
• Lord Irwin wanted the matter to be resolved.
• Gandhi and all other members of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) were unconditionally released on January 25, 1931, and the CWC authorised Gandhi to initiate discussions with the viceroy.
• Gandhi was authorized to meet with Lord Irwin by Congress President Sardar Vallabhai Patel.

​     Result of Gandhi Irwin Pact:

• The INC participated in the Second Round Table Conference which was held in 1931 during September – December.
• The government agreed to withdraw all ordinances.
• It agreed to release all political prisoners to save those involved in violence.
• It agreed to allow peaceful picketing of liquor and foreign cloth shops.
• It agreed to revoke the ban on the INC.
• It agreed to restore the confiscated properties of the Satyagrahis.
• It agreed to permit the collection of salt by people near the sea coasts.
• It agreed to forego fines not yet collected.
• It agreed to the lenient treatment of all government servants who had resigned from service in the wake of the civil disobedience movement.     

The correct answer is 241 miles.

 Key Points

• Dandi March or Salt Satyagraha was a non-violent means of protest led by Mahatma Gandhi which garnered huge public support and worldwide attention.
• On March 12 1930, at 6.30 in the morning, Gandhi started from his ashram with seventy-eight volunteers on a march to Dandi.
• Dandi is a village on the seacoast that is 241 miles away from his Ashram.
• Reason for Salt Satyagraha:  The British exercised a monopoly over the production of salt while collecting a heavy salt tax.
• The march ended on April 5 at Dandi village.
• Gandhi and his selected followers went to the sea-shoe and broke the salt law by picking up salt left on the shore by the sea.

The Correct Answer is 26 January 1930, Lahore.

Key Points

• The Indian National Congress issued the Purna Swaraj declaration on January 26, 1930, resolving the Congress and Indian nationalists to fight for Purna Swaraj or full independence from the British Empire.
• Jawaharlal Nehru raised the Indian flag on the banks of the Ravi River in Lahore, Pakistan, on December 31, 1929.
• The Congress had requested that India's people commemorate January 26th as Independence Day.
• The Indian flag was raised in public around the country by Congress volunteers, nationalists, and the general public. 
• The Congress designated January 26 as India's Independence Day, honouring those who fought for the country's independence.
• The British decided to hand over power and political clout to India in 1947, and 15 August was designated as India's official Independence Day.
• The new Constitution of India, as drafted and approved by the Constituent Assembly, was to take effect on January 26, 1950, to commemorate the 1930 declaration.
• India became a republic on that day in 1950. Every year, the 26th of January is observed as India's Republic Day.

The correct answer is (i), (iii) and (iv)

Explanation: Aurobindo Ghosh, later known as Sri Aurobindo, was a significant figure in the early phases of the Indian independence movement. His contributions spanned from political activism to spiritual and philosophical writings, marking him as a unique leader whose influence extended beyond mere political resistance.

 Key PointsBorn in 1872, Aurobindo was educated in England but returned to India with a fervent desire to free his country from British rule. Initially working in the administrative service of the princely state of Baroda, he later moved to Bengal, where he became deeply involved in nationalist politics.

Passive Resistance and Revolutionary Activities

• Aurobindo was among the first to advocate for 'passive resistance' against British rule, a concept that involved non-cooperation and non-violence but was distinct from the total nonviolence later championed by Mahatma Gandhi. His approach to passive resistance included boycotting British products, institutions, and courts, advocating for national education, and promoting Swadeshi (the use of indigenous goods and services). Aurobindo's vision of passive resistance was not just a strategy but a means of asserting Indian autonomy and self-reliance.
• His political activities weren't confined to passive resistance alone; Aurobindo was also associated with more aggressive revolutionary groups seeking to overthrow British rule through direct action. However, his involvement with these groups was more intellectual, providing ideological guidance and inspiration rather than participating in violent acts.

Philosophical Contributions and Human Unity

• A turning point in Aurobindo's life came after his incarceration for alleged involvement in a bombing plot. During this period, he underwent a profound spiritual transformation that led him to gradually withdraw from political life. He moved to Pondicherry, a French colony in India, where he devoted himself to spiritual and philosophical pursuits.
• In Pondicherry, Aurobindo developed a comprehensive spiritual philosophy that emphasized the evolution of human consciousness and the potential for divine realization within each individual. His concept of human unity was rooted in this spiritual vision, advocating for a transcendence of national, racial, and religious divides to achieve a higher state of collective consciousness. Aurobindo believed that true freedom and unity could only be achieved through an inner spiritual awakening that transcended external political structures.

Influence on Gandhi and Independence Movement

• While Aurobindo and Mahatma Gandhi shared similar goals for India's independence and moral upliftment, their methods and philosophies diverged significantly. Aurobindo's early advocacy of passive resistance certainly laid some groundwork for the broader non-cooperation movements in India. However, Gandhi's approach was more strictly defined by nonviolence (Ahimsa) and civil disobedience, which he applied in a more systematic and mass-oriented manner.
• It's important to note that both leaders drew from a rich tradition of Indian thought and were influenced by various sources, including Hindu scriptures, Jain teachings, and Western philosophies. While Aurobindo's ideas may have indirectly influenced Gandhi and the broader movement, both leaders developed their approaches independently, contributing uniquely to India's struggle for freedom and its post-independence philosophical and spiritual landscape.

 Additional InformationAurobindo Ghosh's role in the Indian independence movement and his contributions to Indian philosophy were profound and multifaceted. His early advocacy of passive resistance, his revolutionary activities in Bengal, and his later philosophical writings on human unity and spiritual evolution all reflect a complex legacy that influenced not just the political sphere but also the spiritual and philosophical discourse in India and beyond.

The correct answer is: 'A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4'.

Key Points

• A. Rajendra Prasad - 2: Played a key role in the Champaran Satyagraha
  • Rajendra Prasad was deeply involved in the Champaran Satyagraha led by Gandhi in 1917.
  • He provided vital organizational support and worked to improve the plight of indigo farmers in Bihar.
  • This involvement laid the foundation for his future leadership in the Indian National Congress and as the first President of India.
• B. C.R. Das - 1: Led the Non-Cooperation Movement with Gandhi
  • Chittaranjan Das, popularly known as C.R. Das, was a prominent leader of the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22).
  • He advocated boycotting British goods, institutions, and courts to press for swaraj (self-rule).
  • Das’s active participation inspired widespread support, especially in Bengal.
• C. Shaukat Ali - 3: Led the Khilafat Movement
  • Shaukat Ali, along with his brother Mohammad Ali, was a key leader of the Khilafat Movement.
  • The movement sought to support the Ottoman Caliphate and oppose British policies in Turkey after World War I.
  • Shaukat Ali worked closely with Gandhi during the Non-Cooperation Movement, symbolizing Hindu-Muslim unity.
• D. Vallabhbhai Patel - 4: Worked with Gandhi in the Ahmedabad Mill Strike
  • Vallabhbhai Patel played a crucial role in supporting Gandhi during the Ahmedabad Mill Strike in 1918.
  • He organized the workers and helped negotiate fair wages with mill owners.
  • Patel’s efforts solidified his reputation as a leader committed to the welfare of workers and peasants.

Additional Information

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917):
  • One of Gandhi’s first major movements in India aimed at addressing indigo farmers' exploitation.
  • Rajendra Prasad emerged as a key supporter of this campaign.
• Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22):
  • C.R. Das resigned from his legal practice to join Gandhi in this movement.
  • It marked a significant escalation in the demand for self-rule.
• Khilafat Movement (1919-24):
  • It aimed to preserve the authority of the Ottoman Caliphate, drawing significant Muslim support.
  • Shaukat Ali’s leadership was instrumental in galvanizing mass participation.
• Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918):
  • One of Gandhi’s early movements, focused on ensuring fair wages for mill workers.
  • Patel’s organizational skills were pivotal in securing a resolution.

The correct answer is C. R. Das.​Key Points

• At the Nagpur session of the Indian National Congress, the programme of Non-cooperation was endorsed.
• In the Nagpur session, Congress decided to have the attainment of Swaraj through peaceful and legitimate means.
• The non-cooperation movement led by Gandhi was a mass movement.
• The myth that British rule was invincible was challenged by satyagraha through mass struggle.
• C.R. Das was among the first to be arrested, followed by his wife Basantidebi, whose arrest so incensed the youth of Bengal that thousands came forward to court arrest. In the next two months, over 30,000 people were arrested from all over the country, and soon only Gandhiji out of the top leadership remained out of jail. 

Additional Information

• The movement started collapsing because of the following reasons:
  • People from the middle classes led the movement at the beginning but later they showed a lot of reservations about Gandhi’s programme.
  • In places like Calcutta, Bombay and Madras, which were centres of elite politicians, the response to Gandhi’s call was very limited.
  • The response to the call for resignation from the government service, surrendering of titles, etc. was not taken seriously.

The correct answer is Satyendra Sinha.

Key Points

• The Indian Councils Act 1909 allowed the Governor-General to nominate one Indian member to the Executive Council, leading to the election of the first Indian member, Satyendra Prasanna Sinha.
• He was the first Governor of Bihar and Orissa, first Indian Advocate-General of Bengal, first Indian to become a member of the Viceroy's Executive Council and the first Indian to become a member of the British ministry.

Additional Information

• Lord Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha, was a prominent lawyer and statesman in British India.
• He was the first Governor of Bihar and Orissa, the first Indian Advocate-General of Bengal, the first Indian to join the Executive Council of the Viceroy, and the first Indian to join the British Ministry. 
• Sinha established a successful law practice in Calcutta after returning to India in 1886.
• Sinha became Standing Counsel to the Government of India in 1903, overriding the English Barrister's claims.
• He was the first Indian to be appointed in 1905 as Bengal's Advocate-General, a post confirmed in 1908.
• He was knighted on 1 January 1915 in the New Year Honours.

The correct answer is Vakil-i-Mutlaq.Key Points

• Mahadji Sindhia was honoured with the title of Vakil-i-Mutlaq by the Mughal emperor, Shah Alam II.
• This title literally means "absolute agent" and it gave Mahadji Sindhia the power to act on behalf of the emperor in all matters of state.
• This was a very high honor and it showed the trust that the emperor had in Mahadji Sindhia.
• Mahadji Sindhia was a Maratha general who rose to prominence in the late 18th century.
• He was a skilled military leader and he was also a shrewd diplomat.
• He was able to use his skills to build up the Maratha power and to extend their influence in North India.
• Mahadji Sindhia's appointment as Vakil-i-Mutlaq was a sign of the declining power of the Mughal Empire.
• The Mughals had once been a powerful empire, but they had been weakened by internal conflict and by the rise of other regional powers, such as the Marathas.

• The appointment of Mahadji Sindhia as Vakil-i-Mutlaq was a recognition of the fact that the Mughals were no longer able to rule on their own and that they needed the help of other powers.

So we can say that Mahaji Sindhia was honoured with Vakil-i-Mutlaq by the Mughal emperor.

Mahadji Sindhia died in the year of 1794.Key Points

• Mahadji Sindhia died in the year 1794.
• He was a Maratha general and statesman who served as the Peshwa of the Maratha Empire from 1774 to 1794.
• He was a skilled military leader and administrator, and he helped to expand the Maratha Empire to its greatest extent.
• He was also a patron of the arts and sciences, and he founded the city of Indore.
• Mahadji Sindhia was a complex and controversial figure.
• He was a skilled military leader and administrator, but he was also ruthless and ambitious.
• He was a patron of the arts and sciences, but he was also a despot who ruled his territories with an iron fist.
• Despite his flaws, Mahadji Sindhia was one of the most important figures in Maratha's history.

• He helped to expand the Maratha Empire to its greatest extent, and he laid the foundation for the Maratha Confederacy, which would eventually become the dominant power in India in the early 19th century.

​Therefore we conclude that Mahadji Sindhia died in the year 1794.

The correct clause of the Treaty of Salbai (1782) is Raghunath Rao relinquished his claim to the title of Peshwa.Key Points

• Clause 12 of the Treaty of Salbai (1782) states: 
  • Raghunath Rao relinquishes all claims to the office of Peshwa and engages to live peaceably and quietly, and to abstain from all interference in the affairs of the Maratha Empire.
• Raghunath Rao was a Maratha general who served as Peshwa for a brief period in 1772.
• He was overthrown by his nephew, Madhavrao II, in 1773. In 1775, Raghunath Rao fled to Surat and sought the help of the British East India Company.
• The British agreed to help Raghunath Rao regain the Peshwaship, but they were defeated by the Marathas in the First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-1782).
• As part of the Treaty of Salbai, Raghunath Rao was forced to relinquish his claim to the Peshwaship and retire to a life of exile.
• The Treaty of Salbai was a major victory for the British East India Company.
• It ended the First Anglo-Maratha War and established the British as the dominant power in India.
• The treaty also marked the beginning of the decline of the Maratha Empire.

​So the correct answer is option 3.

The correct answer is Balaji Baji Rao.Key Points

• Balaji Baji Rao, also known as Nana Saheb I, was the 8th Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy in India.
• He was appointed as Peshwa in 1740 upon the death of his illustrious father, the Peshwa Bajirao I.
• During his tenure, the Maratha Empire reached its zenith, extending from Kattack in the south to Attock in the north.
• Balaji Baji Rao was a skilled diplomat and strategist.
• He was able to forge alliances with other Indian powers, such as the Rajputs and the Nizam of Hyderabad.
• He also led the Maratha army on several successful campaigns, expanding the empire's territory.
• Under Balaji Baji Rao's leadership, the Maratha Empire became one of the most powerful states in India.
• It was a period of great prosperity and cultural development for the Marathas.
• However, the empire's zenith was short-lived.
• After Balaji Baji Rao's death in 1761, the Marathas were defeated by the Afghans at the Battle of Panipat.
• The empire never fully recovered from this defeat, and it gradually declined over the next century.
• Balaji Baji Rao was a brilliant and capable leader who helped to make the Maratha Empire one of the most powerful states in India.

• He was a true statesman and a great warrior, and his legacy is still remembered today.

​So based on the above discussion, we can say that during the regime of Balaji Baji Rao the Maratha state reached its territorial zenith extending from 'Kattack to Attock".

Baji Rao I followed the policy of expansion of Maratha from 'Krishna to Attock followed the policy of expansion of Maratha from 'Krishna to Attock'.Key Points

• Bajirao I, the 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, followed the policy of expansion of Maratha power from the Krishna River in the south to Attock in the north.
• He was a brilliant strategist and a skilled diplomat, and he used both his military and political skills to expand the Maratha Empire.
• Bajirao I's expansion policy was based on the idea of Chauth and Sardeshmukhi.
• Chauth was a tax of one-fourth of the annual revenue of a territory, and Sardeshmukhi was a tax of one-tenth of the annual income.
• Bajirao, I would demand these taxes from the rulers of territories that he conquered, and he would use the money to fund his military campaigns.
• Bajirao I's expansion policy was very successful.
• He conquered large parts of Gujarat, Malwa, Rajasthan, and Bundelkhand.
• He even raided the Mughal capital of Delhi in 1737.
• By the time of his death in 1740, the Maratha Empire had expanded to its greatest extent. 
• Bajirao I's expansion policy had a profound impact on India.
• It led to the rise of the Maratha Empire as a major power in India and helped spread Maratha culture and influence throughout the subcontinent.

​So the correct answer is Baji Rao I.

The correct answer is Count Terauchi.Key Points

• During World War II, Bose sought the support of the Axis powers to gain India's independence from British colonial rule.
• He formed the Indian National Army (INA) in 1942, which comprised Indian prisoners of war and civilian volunteers from Southeast Asia.
• Bose believed that the INA could play a crucial role in the liberation of India from British colonial rule.
• He approached the Japanese government for support, and the Japanese agreed to provide military training and support for the INA.
• In 1944, the Japanese launched a major offensive against British India from Burma, with the aim of capturing the strategic town of Imphal in Manipur.
• Bose saw this as an opportunity for the INA to participate in the campaign and proposed the idea to Count Terauchi, the Japanese commander in chief in Southeast Asia.
• Count Terauchi was initially hesitant, as he did not want to risk the lives of Indian soldiers in a battle that was crucial for Japan's war effort.
• However, Bose's persistence and persuasion eventually convinced Count Terauchi to allow the INA to participate in the Imphal campaign.
• The INA played a minor role in the campaign and suffered heavy losses.
• The Japanese were eventually defeated by the Allied forces, and the INA's participation in the campaign did not lead to the liberation of India.

• However, Bose's vision for an independent India continued to inspire the Indian independence movement even after his death.

Hence we can conclude that the correct answer is Count Terauchi.

The correct answer is they will be easily identified as being part of the British troops.Key Points

• I.N.A. stands for the Indian National Army, which was formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 with the aim of overthrowing British rule in India with the help of Japanese forces during World War II.
• The I.N.A. fought alongside Japanese forces in several battles in Southeast Asia, including in Burma (now Myanmar).
• Regarding the proposed Japanese campaign against Imphal, it is true that Field Marshal of Japan, Hisaichi Terauchi, showed his unwillingness towards I.N.A. participation.
• I.N.A. soldiers would be easily identified as part of the British troops, which is not a valid concern.
• The I.N.A. was made up of Indian soldiers who had defected from the British Indian Army and joined the nationalist movement.

• They may have been recognizable as Indians by their accent or appearance, which could have made it difficult for them to operate in the British-controlled region of Imphal without being detected.

Hence we can conclude that the correct answer is they will be easily identified as being part of the British troops.

The statement made by Subhash Chandra Bose.Key Points

• Subhas Chandra Bose was a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement who believed in the use of force to achieve freedom from British rule.
• He believed that India needed to fight a war to gain independence and sought support from various countries, including Germany and Japan, which were also at war with the British Empire during World War II.
• Bose formed the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj, with the help of Japanese support.
• The INA was primarily composed of Indian prisoners of war who had been captured by the Japanese in Southeast Asia.
• Bose believed that the INA would play a crucial role in India's independence struggle and advocated for its use in military operations against the British.
• However, in a speech he gave on June 4, 1944, in Burma, Bose made the statement "Any liberation of India secured through Japanese sacrifices is worse than slavery."
• This statement reflected his belief that India should not become dependent on foreign powers, even if they were providing military support, and that independence achieved through foreign intervention would be a compromised one.
• Bose's statement also reflected his view that India's struggle for independence was not just a political one, but also a moral and cultural one.
• He believed that India needed to achieve independence on its own terms and through its own efforts, without compromising on its cultural and moral values.

• Subhas Chandra Bose's statement "Any liberation of India secured through Japanese sacrifices is worse than slavery" reflects his belief that India should achieve independence on its own terms, without compromising on its cultural and moral values, and not through the assistance of foreign powers like Japan.

Thus we can conclude that the statement made by Subhash Chandra Bose.

The correct option is Netaji insisted that Indians must make the maximum contribution of blood and sacrifice themselves.Key Points

• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose believed that India's participation in World War II was crucial for India's independence.
• He insisted that Indians must make the maximum contribution of blood and sacrifice themselves to gain their freedom.
• Netaji firmly believed that India's participation in the war would help India gain independence from British rule, as Britain would be forced to grant India independence in exchange for India's support during the war.
• He believed that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for India to gain freedom and that it was essential for Indians to make the maximum contribution to the war effort.
• Netaji played a significant role in rallying support for India's participation in the war and organized the Indian National Army (INA) to fight against the British alongside the Axis powers.
• He believed that India's participation in the war was not just a matter of supporting the Axis powers but was instead a struggle for India's own independence.

• Netaji's feeling about the participation of Indians in the war was that it was a crucial step towards India's independence, and Indians must be willing to make significant sacrifices for the cause.

Hence we can conclude that the correct option is Netaji insisted that Indians must make the maximum contribution of blood and sacrifice themselves.

General Katakura was the Chief of the Japanese General Staff in Burma who met with Subhash Chandra Bose in January 1944.Important Points

• General Katakura was a Japanese military commander who held the position of Chief of the General Staff of the Japanese Imperial Army in Burma (present-day Myanmar) during World War II.
• In January 1944, he met with Subhash Chandra Bose, an Indian nationalist and leader of the Indian National Army (INA).
• The purpose of their meeting was to discuss military cooperation between the INA and the Japanese forces in Southeast Asia.
• Bose had been campaigning for Japanese support in his efforts to free India from British rule, and he saw the Japanese as potential allies in this struggle.
• During their meeting, Katakura and Bose discussed the possibility of the INA assisting the Japanese forces in Burma, particularly in their efforts to repel British offensives in the region.
• Katakura was reportedly impressed by Bose's military knowledge and organizational skills, and he promised to provide support to the INA.
• Following their meeting, the INA and Japanese forces carried out joint operations in Burma, including a successful attack on the British-held town of Imphal.
• However, the INA's role in these operations was limited, and they ultimately proved unable to achieve their goal of freeing India from British rule.

• Overall, the meeting between General Katakura and Subhash Chandra Bose was an important moment in the history of India's struggle for independence, as it demonstrated the potential for cooperation between Indian nationalists and Japanese forces during World War II.

Hence we can conclude that General Katakura was the Chief of the Japanese General Staff in Burma who met with Subhash Chandra Bose in January 1944.

Statement 2 is incorrect.

Key Points

• The archaeological site of Kalibanga is situated near Ganga river (Saraswati River- Old name) in Hanumangarh district. It is an important Harappan civilization site.
• It was discovered by Amlanand Ghosh in 1951. From 1961 onwards, a decade long excavation work was carried out by The Indian Archaeological Survey department under the guidance of BK Lal and BK Thapar. Hence 1 is correct.
• Many of Harappan cities were divided into two or more parts. Usually, the part to the west was smaller but higher (citadel). Archaeologists describe this as the citadel. Generally, the part to the east was larger but lower. This is called the lower town. Hence 2 is incorrect.
• In some cities, special buildings were constructed on the citadel. For example, in Mohenjodaro, a very special tank, which archaeologists call the Great Bath, was built in this area. This was lined with bricks, coated with plaster, and made water-tight with a layer of natural tar. Hence 3 is correct.
• Other cities, such as Kalibangan and Lothal had fire altars, where sacrifices may have been performed. And some cities like Mohenjodaro, Harappa, and Lothal had elaborate store houses. Hence 4 is correct.

The correct answer is: '1-D, 2-C, 3-B, 4-A'.

Key Points

• 1. Gupta Period - D. Development of Art and Literature
  • This match is correct.
  • The Gupta Period is often referred to as the Golden Age of India due to the significant advancements in art, literature, and science. This era saw the creation of classical Sanskrit literature and remarkable achievements in temple architecture and sculpture.
• 2. Maurya Period - C. Spread of Buddhism
  • This match is correct.
  • During the Maurya Period, Emperor Ashoka played a vital role in the spread of Buddhism, both within India and across Asia. His patronage and the construction of stupas and pillars with edicts helped propagate Buddhist teachings.
• 3. Sangam Period - B. Growth of Tamil literature
  • This match is correct.
  • The Sangam Period was marked by the flourishing of Tamil literature, with the composition of classical Tamil poetry and texts. This literature highlights the social, cultural, and political life of ancient Tamil society.
• 4. Vedic Period - A. Composition of the Vedas
  • This match is correct.
  • The Vedic Period is characterized by the composition of the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. This period laid the foundation for various religious practices, philosophies, and rituals in Indian society.

Hence, the correct matches are: 1-D, 2-C, 3-B, 4-A.

Additional Information

• Overview of Key Developments in Each Period:
  • Gupta Period: Known for advancements in art, literature, and sciences, often considered a cultural renaissance in India.
  • Maurya Period: Ashoka’s reign facilitated the spread of Buddhism across Asia, with numerous edicts and monumental structures promoting Buddhist ideals.
  • Sangam Period: A time of rich Tamil literary output, capturing the lifestyle and values of the Tamil-speaking regions in ancient South India.
  • Vedic Period: Marked by the composition of the Vedas, which became foundational texts for Hindu philosophy, ritual, and social structure.

The correct answer is Sri Krishna Deva Raya.

Key Points

• Ashtadiggajas is the collective title given to the eight Telugu poets in the court of the emperor Sri Krishna Deva Raya who ruled the Vijaynagara empire from 1509 until his death in 1529.
• During his reign, Telugu literature and culture reached its zenith.
• In his court, eight poets were regarded as the eight pillars of his literary assembly.
• The age of Ashtadiggajas is called Prabandha Age (1540 AD to 1600).
• All of the Ashtadiggajas had composed at least one Prabandha Kavyamu and it was Ashtadiggajas who gave Prabandha its present form.
• The title Ashtadiggajas (Ashta + dik + Gaja) means elephants in eight directions.
• It refers to the old Hindu belief that eight elephants hold the earth in eight directions.
• Ashta Diggajas
  • Allasaani Peddana
  • Nandi Thimmana
  • Maadayagari Mallana
  • Dhoorjati
  • Ayyala Raaju Raama Bhadrudu
  • Pingali Soorana
  • Ramarajabhushana and
  • Tenali Rama Krishna.

Additional Information 

• AllasaniPeddanna was the greatest and he was called AndhrakavitaPitamaha.
• His important works include Manucharitam and Harikathasaram.
• Andhrakavitapitamaha -Progenitor of Telugu poetry.
• Allasani Peddana wrote Manucharitramu and dedicated to the Emperor Krishna Deva Raya
• Nandi Timmana wrote Parijataapaharanam and dedicated it to the emperor
• Maadayagari Mallana wrote Rajasekhara Charitramu.
• Dhoorjati wrote Kalahasti Mahatyamu.
• Ayyala Raaju Raama Bhadrudu wrote Ramaabhyudayamu.
• Pingali Surana wrote Raghavapandaveeyamu, a dual work that describes both Ramayana and Mahabharata
• Ramarajabhushanudu wrote Kavyalankarasangrahamu, Vasucharitramu and Harischandranalopakhyanamu.
• Tenali Rama Krishna wrote Udbhataradhya Charitramu, Panduranga Mahatmyamu and “Ghatikachala Mahatmyamu.

The correct pairs are-

The correct answer is ​Only two.

Key Points

Mahajanapadas

• They were sixteen kingdoms or oligarchic republics that existed in ancient India from the sixth to fourth centuries BCE during the second urbanisation period.
• Most Mahajanapadas had a capital city, and many of these were fortified. 
• The sixteen Mahajanapadas included: Kasi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa, Kuru, Panchala, Machcha, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboja.

Vajji

•  Its capital Vaishali (Bihar), was under a different form of government, known as Gana or Sangha.
• In a gana or a sangha there were not one, but many rulers.
• Sometimes, even when thousands of men ruled together, each one was known as a raja. These rajas performed rituals together.
• Women, dasas and kammakaras could not participate in assemblies.
• The territory of the Vajji mahajanapada was located on the north of the Ganga River and extended up to the Terai region of Nepal.
• On the west, the Gandak River was the boundary between it and the Malla mahajanapada, and possibly also separated it from the Kosala mahajanapada. Hence, pair 1 is correct.

Magadha

• It became the most important mahajanapada in about two hundred years.
• Many rivers such as the Ganga and Son flowed through Magadha.
• This was important for (a) transport, (b) water supplies (c) making the land fertile. Hence, pair 2 is correct.
• Besides, there were iron ore mines in the region that could be tapped to make strong tools and weapons.
• Magadha had two very powerful rulers, Bimbisara and Ajatasattu, who used all possible means to conquer other janapadas.
• Mahapadma Nanda was another important ruler.

Avanti

• It was an important kingdom of western India and was one of the four great monarchies in India when Buddhism arose, the other three being Kosala, Vatsa and Magadha.
• Avanti was divided into north and south by the river Vetravati. Hence, pair 3 is Incorrect.
• The country of Avanti roughly corresponded to modern Malwa, Nimar and adjoining parts of the Madhya Pradesh.
• Both Mahishmati and Ujjaini were located on the southern high road called Dakshinapatha extending from Rajagriha to Pratishthana (modern Paithan).
• Avanti was an important center of Buddhism and some of the leading theras and theris were born and resided there.
• Avanti later became part of the Magadhan empire when King Nandivardhana of Avanti was defeated by king Shishunaga of Magadha.

Kosala

• Kosala extended across both banks of the Sarayu (modern Ghaghara) River and north into what is now Nepal. Hence, pair 4 is Incorrect.
• According to the Hindu epic the Ramayana, Kosala was ruled by kings descended from the Sun; one of these kings was Rama, whose capital was Ayodhya (Oudh), near modern Faizabad.
• It rose in political importance early in the 6th century BCE to become one of the 16 states dominant in northern India. It annexed the powerful kingdom of Kashi.

Indian religion and philosophy are deeply entwined with Indian art. 

Key Points

Hinduism is a collection of ideas that are linked to religion and philosophy by shared concepts, practices, cosmology, pilgrimage to sacred sites, and textual resources.

• The Puranas played a crucial role in the transition from early Vedic religion to Hinduism.
• The Shastras featured scientific and philosophical literature.
• The Bhagavad Gita, a later addition to the Mahabharata, contains a philosophical concept in which the three Paths of Salvation, Viz Karma, Gyan, and Bhakti, are discussed.
• Kautilya's Arthashastra was a book on the science of government.
• Manusmriti is an example of a smriti that deals with the execution of obligations, customs, and rules established by dharma.

​Hence all the above statements are correct.

Additional Information

• Indian literature encompasses a wide range of genres, including religious and secular works, epics and songs, dramatic and didactic poetry, narrative and scientific prose, as well as oral poetry and music.
• Vedangas were another form of early period work that included astronomy, language, and phonetics.

The correct answer is option 3, i.e.  1, 4 only.

The correct chronological order is (4), (3), (2), (1).Key Points

•  Tulsi Chakraborty
  • ​Tulsi Chakraborty was an Indian actor and comedian who worked in Bengali cinema in the 1940s and 50s.
  • Tulsi Chakraborty was born on 3 March 1899 in Howrah, West Bengal.
  • One of Chakraborty's notable performances was in Sharey Chuattor and Satyajit Ray's Parash Pathar.
  • His other works are Punarjanma, Dui Purush, Kamona, Pather Panchali, etc.
• Anil Chatterjee
  • ​Anil Chatterjee was an Indian actor in Bengali cinema born on 25th October 1929.
  • He acted or performed in about 150 movies, including a few in Hindi.
  • He is one of the very few selected actors who worked with Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Tapan Sinha, and Mrinal Sen.
  • His notable works are Nagarik, Ajantrik, Devi, Meghe Dhaka Tara, Mahanagar.
• Soumitra Chatterjee
  • ​Soumitra Chatterjee born on 19th January 1935, was a Bengali film actor, play-director, playwright, writer, thespian, and poet.
  • He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential actors in the history of Indian cinema.
  • His Major works are Apur Sansar, Basanta Bilap, Sonar Kella, Joi Baba Felunath, Bela Seshe, etc.
  • His major awards and recognition are 'Commandeur' Officier des Arts et Metiers, Padma Bhushan, Dada Saheb Phalke, and others.
• Dhritiman Chatterjee
  • ​Dhritiman Chatterjee is a Bengali actor born on 30th May 1945.

  • His major works are Agantuk, Chaturanga, Naxal, and others.

The correct answer is: 'Option 3) Vaishali.'

Key Points

• Option 3: Vaishali is the place where Lord Buddha allowed women entry into the Buddhist Sangha.
  • In Vaishali, Lord Buddha agreed to allow women to join the Buddhist Sangha after the persuasion of his aunt, Mahapajapati Gotami, who requested Buddha to accept women into the monastic order. This event is significant as it marked the inclusion of women in the Sangha, which was a major step for Buddhism and the promotion of gender equality within the religious framework.

Other Options

• Option 1: Rajgriha
  • Rajgriha is an important site in early Buddhist history and was a place where many key events took place, including the first Buddhist council. However, it was not the location where Lord Buddha allowed women to join the Sangha.
• Option 2: Kapilvastu
  • Kapilvastu, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is significant in Buddhist history. However, it was not the place where women were first allowed into the Sangha.
• Option 4: Shravasti
  • While Shravasti was a major center of Buddha's teachings and a place where he spent significant time, it was not the location where women were allowed entry into the Buddhist Sangha.

Hence, Vaishali is the correct answer as it was the place where Lord Buddha allowed women entry into the Sangha, after much persuasion by Mahapajapati Gotami.

Additional Information

• Women in the Buddhist Sangha:
  • The entry of women into the Sangha represented a progressive move towards gender equality in ancient India. Mahapajapati Gotami, the foster mother of Lord Buddha, was the first woman to be ordained as a nun in the Buddhist monastic order.
  • After this event, women were accepted into the Sangha, and the establishment of the Bhikkhuni Sangha helped to create a separate community for female monks in Buddhism.
• Vaishali's Role in Buddhist History:
  • Vaishali is a major site in Buddhist history and was an important center for Lord Buddha’s teachings. The acceptance of women into the Sangha at Vaishali was a key turning point in the spread of Buddhism as an inclusive and progressive religion.

The correct answer is Durga.

Key Points

• The Vedic period is divided into the Early Vedic period and the Later Vedic period.
• During the early Vedic period, there were mainly 33 Gods.
• They were Prithvi, Agni, Soma, Brahaspati, Rivers, Indra, Rudra, Surya, Varuna, Aditi, Usha, and Ashvin.
• Among these Indra, Agni and Varuna were the most popular during that period.
• During the later Vedic period, previous Gods lost their relevance, and now Prajapati (creator of the Universe) also known as Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra (Shiva) become the main Gods.

The correct answer is I, II, IV.
Key Points

• The Therigatha, often translated as Verses of the Elder Nuns, is a Buddhist text, a collection of short poems of early enlightened women who were elder nuns. 
• The poems date from a three-hundred-year period, with some dated as early as the late 6th century BCE.
• According to Thanissaro Bhikkhu, the Therigatha is the "earliest extant text depicting women’s spiritual experiences." in Theravada Buddhism.
• In the Pāli Canon, the Therigatha is classified as part of the Khuddaka Nikaya, the collection of short books in the Sutta Pitaka.
• It consists of 73 poems organized into 16 chapters. It is the companion text to the Theragatha, verses attributed to senior monks.
• It is the earliest known collection of women's literature composed in India.

Thus, the Therigatha is part of Sutta Pitaka. It is a collection of verses composed by Bhikkhunis and it provides an insight into women's social and spiritual experiences.