History

The Araghatta was an ancient Indian irrigation device consisting of a large wheel with earthen pots fixed around its rim. As the wheel rotated—usually powered by animals or humans—the pots dipped into a water source and lifted water for irrigation. This mechanism is distinct from leather bags or simple buckets pulled by hand and represents early mechanical water-lifting technology.


The correct answer is A. Mahendravarman I.

Mahendravarman I, a 7th-century Pallava king, was known for his literary talent and artistic patronage. He adopted the titles 'Mattavilasa' (lover of playful sport), 'Vichitrachitta' (curious-minded or inventive), and 'Gunabharata' (full of virtues). He also authored the Sanskrit play *Mattavilasa Prahasana*, reflecting his cultural contributions.

The other rulers listed did not assume these titles.

The correct answer is C. Rajendra I (Chola).

Rajendra Chola I, son of Rajaraja Chola I, led a famous naval expedition against the Srivijaya kingdom around 1025 CE. Srivijaya was a powerful maritime empire controlling the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and nearby islands. Rajendra I's campaign asserted Chola naval dominance in the region and secured control over important sea trade routes.

The other rulers listed did not conduct campaigns against Srivijaya:

* Amoghavarsha (Rashtrakuta) focused mainly on the Deccan region. * Prataparudra (Kakatiya) ruled much later and was centered in the Deccan. * Vishnuvardhana (Hoysala) focused on South Indian affairs.

Papaya, pineapple, and guava are all non-native fruits to India, originally from the Americas, and were introduced during European colonial expansion, particularly by the Portuguese.

I. Papaya – Correct * Native to Central America, introduced to India by the Portuguese in the 16th century.

II. Pineapple – Correct * Originates from South America, brought to India by Portuguese explorers.

III. Guava – Correct * Native to Central America, introduced to India by the Portuguese in the 17th century.

Ashokan inscriptions mention 'Pradesika', 'Rajuka', and 'Yukta' as important officers at the district (Pradesa) level.

* 'Pradesika' managed the district administration. * 'Rajuka' handled revenue and judicial matters. * 'Yukta' was a subordinate official involved in administration and record-keeping.

Mahatma Gandhi made the famous statement "Sedition has become my religion" during the Salt Satyagraha in 1930.

In his writings in *Young India* (specifically in March 1930) and his speeches surrounding the Dandi March, Gandhi articulated that when a government becomes exploitative and unjust—exemplified by the salt tax—non-violent defiance or "sedition" against such a regime becomes a moral and religious duty. He used this phrase to emphasize that his commitment to overthrowing British rule through non-violent civil disobedience was not just a political strategy but a spiritual necessity. While he had spoken about the "passion" for sedition during his 1922 trial, the specific declaration of it being his "religion" is most prominently associated with the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement and the violation of the Salt Law.

After the Chauri Chaura incident in 1922, many people were arrested and faced severe punishment, including death sentences. Legal intervention helped reduce this.

B. Madan Mohan Malaviya and Krishna Kant – Correct

* Madan Mohan Malaviya and his son Krishna Kant provided legal defence to the accused. * Their efforts led to major sentence reductions, saving many from execution.

Pair 1 is correct: Asmaka (or Assaka) was the southernmost Mahajanapada, located in the Deccan region on the banks of the Godavari river.

Pair 2 is incorrect: Kamboja was located in the extreme north-west (modern-day Afghanistan and Kashmir). The Vipas (Beas) river flows through Punjab, which is geographically distinct and east of the Kamboja region.

Pair 3 is incorrect: Avanti was in western Madhya Pradesh (Malwa region). The main rivers flowing through it were the Kshipra and Vetravati, not the Mahanadi (which flows through Odisha and Chhattisgarh).

Pair 4 is correct: Kosala was a Mahajanapada in present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh. Its capital, Ayodhya, is situated on the banks of the Sarayu river.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a reformer who respected Indian traditions but promoted rational thinking and social equality.

Statement I is correct: * He respected traditional Eastern philosophies like Vedanta and sought their reform.

Statement II is correct: * He advocated for rationalism, scientific thinking, and equality of all men and women.

So, the correct answer is: C

The Self-Respect Movement, started in 1925, aimed to dismantle caste hierarchies and promote social equality, especially for non-Brahmin communities in Tamil Nadu.

He founded the Self-Respect Movement to fight caste oppression and promote rationalism and equality.

Mahatma Gandhi made the upliftment of *Harijans* a central goal after opposing separate electorates for the Depressed Classes in the British Communal Award.

After the Poona Pact (1932), signed with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Gandhi intensified efforts to eradicate untouchability, forming the Harijan Sevak Sangh and launching the 'Harijan' journal.

The Non-Cooperation Programme aimed to resist British rule through boycott and self-reliance, emphasizing non-violence and alternative institutions.

Statement I is correct: * Boycott of law courts and foreign cloth was a key part of the movement.

Statement II is correct: * Strict non-violence was insisted upon by Gandhi during the movement.

Statement III is incorrect: * The programme required surrendering British titles and honours, not retaining them.

Statement IV is correct: * Setting up Panchayats to settle disputes locally was encouraged.

So, the correct answer is: C (Only three)

The correct answer is B. Chandragupta II.

Fa-hien (Faxian), the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim, visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II (also known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya) of the Gupta dynasty. He arrived around the early 5th century CE, seeking Buddhist texts and studying the practices of Buddhism in India. His travel accounts provide valuable information about Gupta India's society, administration, and Buddhism.

The other rulers listed do not align with the period of Fa-hien's visit.

* Statement 1 is correct: At the Nagpur Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1920, the Congress formally adopted the objective of attaining 'Swaraj' by all legitimate and peaceful means. This became the central political goal during the Non-Cooperation Movement.

* Statement 2 is correct: The Non-Cooperation Movement was designed as a phased programme. The initial phase included surrender of titles, boycott of schools, courts, elections, and foreign goods. Advancement to the next phase—civil disobedience including non-payment of taxes—was to be undertaken if Swaraj was not achieved within the expected timeline and if the British Government responded with repression, with the discretion to launch the next stage resting with Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress leadership.

1. Nayaputta: This term means 'the son of Naya' and is NOT associated with Gautama Buddha rather this epithet is used for Mahavira.

2. Shakyamuni: This epithet means 'Sage of the Shakya clan'. Gautama Buddha belonged to the Shakya clan, making this a correct epithet.

3. Tathagata: This term means 'one who has thus gone' or 'one who has thus come'. It signifies enlightenment and is a common epithet for Gautama Buddha.

Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

* Statement 1 is incorrect: Introduced primarily in Madras (now Tamil Nadu) and Bombay (now Mumbai) presidencies by Alexander Reed and Thomas Munro. Ryotwari System, while aiming to establish direct contact with the cultivators (ryots), did not offer blanket exemption from revenue payment during bad harvests or calamities. While some provisions for remission existed, they were not automatic or guaranteed.

* Statement 2 is correct: Introduced in Bengal, Bihar, and parts of Odisha by Lord Cornwallis in 1793. A key feature of the Permanent Settlement was the strict revenue collection timeline. Zamindars were obligated to pay a fixed amount of revenue to the British by a specific date. Failure to do so could result in the auctioning of their Zamindari to recover the dues.

_Note: UPSC dropped this question from the final answer key._

* Krishnadeva Raya, the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire (1509-1529), maintained friendly relations with the Portuguese. In 1510, with his permission, Alphonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese governor, constructed a fort at Bhatkal, located in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

* Narasimha Saluva (**reigned 1491–1505) was a ruler of the Saluva dynasty, which briefly controlled the Vijayanagara Empire. The Portuguese presence in India was only beginning to take root during his reign, and their focus was primarily on establishing trade rather than fortifications.

* Muhammad Shah III (reigned 1463–1482) was a ruler of the Bahmani Sultanate, a medieval kingdom in the Deccan region. By the time of his reign, the Portuguese had not yet arrived in India (their arrival occurred in 1498).

* Yusuf Adil Shah: He was the founder of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur and ruled from 1489 to 1510. His engagements with the Portuguese were more conflictual, particularly over the control of Goa.

* Statement 1 is incorrect. Chandraketugarh, located in West Bengal, not Odisha, was an ancient port city known for its extensive trade networks.

* Statement 2 is correct. Inamgaon is a well-known archaeological site in Maharashtra, providing valuable insights into the Chalcolithic period.

* Statement 3 is correct. Kerala has numerous megalithic sites, The megalithic monuments at Mangadu consisted of 28 hard compact and unhewn laterite blocks within an area of 5 cents of land.

* Statement 4 is incorrect. Salihundam, is a village and panchayat in Gara Mandal of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. It is a historically important Buddhist monument of ancient Kalinga, not rock-cut caves.

Therefore, the correctly matched rows are 2 and 3.

* Statement 1 is correct. The Government of India Act, 1935, proposed an All India Federation that would encompass both the British Indian Provinces and the Princely States. However, this federation never fully materialized due to the reluctance of many Princely States to join.

* Statement 2 is incorrect. The Act reserved key subjects like Defence and Foreign Affairs under the control of the Governor General, representing the British Crown, and not the federal legislature. This ensured British dominance in these crucial areas.

* Alexander Rea (1858-1924) was a British archaeologist who worked mainly in South British India. He is known for unearthing a sarcophagus from the hillocks of Pallavaram in Tamil Nadu.

* Albert Henry Longhurst (1876-1955) was a British archaeologist and art historian, working in India and Ceylon. From 1927 to 1931 he was in-charge of the systematic digging of Nagarjunakonda.

* Robert Sewell (1845-1925) worked in the civil service of the Madras Presidency during the period of colonial rule in India. Sewell undertook archaeological work at the Buddhist stupa at Amaravati, which had already been largely destroyed prior to his arrival. The site had previously been surveyed by Colin Mackenzie and Walter Elliot (1803-1887)

* James Burgess (1832-1916), was the founder of the Indian Antiquary in 1872 and an important archaeologist of British India in the 19th century. From 1886-89 he was Director General, Archaeological Survey of India.

* Walter Elliot (1803-1887), visited the Amaravati site in 1854, collecting sculpture panels that later became crucial for understanding South Indian Buddhist art.

Korkai, Poompuhar, and Muchiri were prominent ancient port cities in South India during the Sangam period (c. 3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE). They played a vital role in maritime trade between India and the Roman Empire, as well as Southeast Asia.

* Korkai: Located at the mouth of the Thamirabarani River in present-day Tamil Nadu, it was an important port of the Pandya dynasty. It was particularly famous for its pearl fishery. * Poompuhar (also known as Kaveripattinam): Situated at the mouth of the Kaveri River, it was the chief port of the Early Cholas. It is vividly described in Sangam literature (like *Silappadikaram*) as a bustling hub of international trade. * Muchiri (Muziris): Located on the Malabar Coast (modern-day Kerala), it was a major port of the Chera dynasty. It was the primary center for the pepper trade with the Roman Empire.

Note: In Sangam literature, the term 'Puhar' specifically refers to a river mouth or a harbor town where goods were discharged.

* Devaraya I, around 1410 A.D., got a barrage constructed across the Tungabhadra river and commissioned a 24 km long aqueduct from the Tungabhadra river to the capital.

* The account provided by Nuniz gives details of the projects undertaken by Deva Raya I that brought prosperity to the Kingdom. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

* Statement 1 is correct The National Handloom Day is observed annually on 7th August to honour the handloom weavers in the country and also highlight India's handloom industry. The first National Handloom Day was held on 7th August 2015.

* Statement 2 is correct August 7 was chosen as the National Handloom Day to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement which was launched on August 7 in 1905 in Calcutta Town Hall to protest against the partition of Bengal by the British Government. The Swadeshi movement had aimed at reviving domestic products and production processes.

Hence Statement 2 is the correct explanation of Statement 1.

* The Charter Act of 1833 was the final step towards centralisation in British India.

* It made the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India and vested in him all civil and military powers. The act created, for the first time, the Government of India having authority over the entire territorial area possessed by the British in India.

* Lord William Bentick was the first Governor-General of India.

* It deprived the Governor of Bombay and Madras of their legislative powers. The Governor-General of India was given exclusive legislative powers for the entire British India.

Hence option (D) is the correct answer.

* The ruler of medieval Gujarat who surrendered Diu to the Portuguese was Sultan Bahadur Shah. Diu was an important port city strategically located on the western coast of India, and its surrender to the Portuguese in 1535 marked a significant event in the history of Portuguese colonial expansion in India.

* This was done to seek Portuguese military assistance against his rival Humayun, the Mughal emperor. As a result, the Portuguese established a strong foothold in Diu, turning it into a significant strategic and trading post.

Pair 1 is correctly matched. Nannuka was the founder of the Chandela dynasty.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched. Jayashakti belonged to the Chandel dynasty, not the Paramara dynasty.

Pair 3 is correctly matched. Nagabhata II was indeed a ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched. Bhoja belonged to the Paramara dynasty, not the Rashtrakuta dynasty.

The Sayyids were claimed to descend from the Prophet through his daughter Fatima. They commanded special respect in Muslim society. Even Timur protected the life of Sayyids during his invasion of India, although his policy was one of general slaughter.

The Sayyids put on a pointed cap (kulah) and they were known as KulahDaran during the Delhi Sultanate.

Statement 1 is correct: The Arthashastra recognizes several categories of slaves (dasas), including individuals who entered bondage as a consequence of punishment, debt, or distress. Judicial punishment could therefore result in servitude.

Statement 2 is correct: The Arthashastra provides that if a female slave bore a son to her master, she became entitled to freedom.

Statement 3 is correct: A son born to a female slave and fathered by her master could receive the legal status and recognition of the master's son.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The first Mongol invasion of India occurred in 1221 CE under Genghis Khan during the reign of Shamsuddin Iltutmish, not Jalal-ud-din Khalji. Jalal-ud-din Khalji ruled much later, from 1290 to 1296 CE.

Statement 2 is Correct: During the reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji (1296–1316 CE), the Mongols invaded several times. In 1303 CE, a Mongol army of about 120,000 horsemen led by Targhi marched up to Delhi and besieged the city, forcing Ala-ud-din to take shelter in the Siri Fort.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq defeated the Mongols (led by Tarmashirin) early in his reign. Instead of losing territory, he took steps to secure the frontier and even planned a 'Khurasan expedition' to mobilize against Mongol territories, though it was later abandoned.

In medieval India, the term "Fanam" referred to a unit of currency, particularly a gold coin used in South India, especially in regions like the Vijayanagara Empire, the Nayakas of Madurai, and the various states of the Deccan. The Fanam was often minted in small denominations and was widely used for trade and commerce in the region.