Q.1 With reference to the Dravidian architecture, What are Agamas ?
A) These are the collection of the scriptures constituting the methods of temple construction
B) These are the code of conduct that is to be followed by the Bhikshus
C) These are the texts describing the discourse of the tirthankara
D) These are the manuscripts in Indo-Aryan languages describing the spread of the templesof the southern India
Ans. A
Traditional Dravidian architecture and symbolism are also based on Agamas. The Agamas are non-vedic in origin and have been dated either as post-vedic texts or as pre-vedic compositions.The Agamas are a collection of Tamil and Sanskrit scriptures chiefly constituting the methods of temple construction and creation of murti, worship means of deities, philosophical doctrines, meditative practices, attainment of sixfold desires and four kinds of yoga.
Q.2 Which among the following is/are true with respect to the scripts/texts of the Dravidian style ?
1. Mayamata and Manasara shilpa texts describes the art of building in India in south and central India
2. Brihat-samhita is the widely cited ancient Sanskrit manual describing the design and construction of Nagara style of Hindu temples
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) Only 1
B) Only 2
C) Both are correct
D) Both are incorrect
Ans. B
Mayamata and Manasara shilpa texts estimated to be in circulation by 5th to 7th century AD, is a guidebook on Dravidian style of Vastu Shastradesign, construction, sculpture and joinery technique
Isanasivagurudeva paddhati is another text from the 9th century describing the art of building in India in south and central India
In north India, Brihat-samhita by Varāhamihira is the widely cited ancient Sanskrit manual from 6th century describing the design and construction of Nagara style of Hindu temples
Q.3 Consider the following :
1. Undavalli caves : Madhya Pradesh
2. Ramatheertham : Andhra Pradesh
3. Varaha Cave Temple : Mamallapuram
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) Only 1
B) 2 & 3
C) 1 & 2
D) Only 3
Ans. B
Rock-cut monuments in India
• Aihole has 3 Jaina temple
• Badami Cave Temples
• Bagh Caves
• Ellora Caves has 12 Buddhist, 17 Hindu and 5 Jain temples.[19]
• Kanheri Caves
• Lenyadri Caves
• Mahabalipuram
• Pancha Rathas
• Kazhuku Malai
• Pandavleni Caves
• Pitalkhora
• Undavalli caves, Andhra Pradesh
• Varaha Cave Temple at Mamallapuram
• Masroor Temple at Kangra
• Bojjannakonda Buddhist Site, Andhra Pradesh
• Guntupalle Buddhist Site, Andhra Pradesh
• Ramatheertham, Andhra Pradesh
Q.4 Which of the following is/are not depicted in the Rajput paintings ?
1. Stories of Krishna
2. Ragas & Ragnis
3. Deeds of Hamza
4. Deeds of Babur
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) 1,2,3
B) 2,3,4
C) 3 & 4
D) Only 4
Ans. C
Rajput painting, also called Rajasthani painting, evolved and flourished in the royal courts of Rajputana in India. Each Rajputana kingdom evolved a distinct style, but with certain common features. Rajput paintings depict a number of themes, events of epics like the Ramayana. Miniatures in manuscripts or single sheets to be kept in albums were the preferred medium of Rajput painting, but many paintings were done on the walls of palaces, inner chambers of the forts, havelis, particularly, the havelis of Shekhawati, the forts and palaces built by ShekhawatRajputs.
The colours were extracted from certain minerals, plant sources, conch shells, and were even derived by processing precious stones. Gold and silver were used. The preparation of desired colours was a lengthy process, sometimes taking weeks. Brushes used were very fine.
Elements, such as distinct portraiture, utilized by popular Mughal artists (Govardhan, Hashim, etc.) are not found in Rajput works. Likewise, Rajput techniques are not predominantly seen in Mughal paintings.
Q.5 With reference to the Indian National Movement, what was Dharsana satyagraha ?
A) It was the movement by the peasants against the land lords in Bengal
B) It was the protest against prejudice and discrimination towards brahmins
C) It aimed at removing the British Empire from power by boycotting British products
D) It was a protest against the British salt tax in colonial India
Ans. D
Dharasana Satyagraha was a protest against the British salt tax in colonial India in May, 1930. Following the conclusion of the Salt March to Dandi, Mahatma Gandhi chose a non-violent raid of the Dharasana Salt Works in Gujarat as the next protest against British rule. Hundreds of satyagrahis were beaten by soldiers under British command at Dharasana. The ensuing publicity attracted world attention to the Indian independence movement and brought into question the legitimacy of British rule in India.
Q.6 Which among the following statements is/are true with respect to the Aligarh movement ?
1. The impact of Aligarh Movement was confined to the Northern India only
2. The Aligarh Movement introduced a new trend in Arabic literature.
3. It aimed to establish a modern system of education for the Muslim population of British India
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) 2 & 3
B) 1 & 3
C) 1 & 2
D) Only 3
Ans. D
The Aligarh Movement is the movement to establish a modern system of education for the Muslim population of British India, during the later decades of the 19th century.The movement′s name derives from the fact that its core and origins lay in the city of Aligarh in Northern India and, in particular, with the foundation of: the Muhammadan Anglo Oriental Collegiate School.The founder of the original college, and the other educational institutions that developed from it, was Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. He became the leading light of the wider Aligarh Movement.
It influenced a number of other contemporary movements to a great extent that it caused the emergence of other socio-religious movements during the 19th century. The impact of Aligarh Movement was not confined to the Northern India only, but its expansion could be seen on the other regions of the Indian sub-continent during the 20th century The movement was political in nature from the very beginning.The Deoband school was opposed to the movement as Aligarh Movement was pro British.
The Aligarh Movement introduced a new trend in Urdu literature. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and his association left the old style of writing in the Urdu language, which was rhetorical and academic, and started a simple style which helped Muslims to understand the main purpose of the movement. Sir Syed Ahmed was the central figure behind this awakening..
Q.7 Consider the following :
1. Poona Sarvajanik Sabha : Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
2. Deccan Education Society : Bal Gangadhar Tilak
3. Prarthana Samaj : Atmaran Pandurang
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) 1 & 3
B) Only 2
C) 2 & 3
D) Only 3
Ans. D
Prarthana Samaj, or “Prayer Society” in Sanskrit, was a movement for religious and social reform in Bombay based on earlier reform movements. Prarthana Samaj was founded by Atmaram Pandurang with the help of Keshav Chandra Sen in 1867, with an aim to make people believe in one God and worship only one God. It became popular after Mahadev Govind Ranade joined. The main reformers were the intellectuals who advocated reforms of the social system of the Hindus.
The precursor of the Prarthana Samaj in Mumbai was the Paramahamsa Sabha, a secret society for the furtherance of liberal ideas by Ram Balkrishna Jaykar and others in Mumbai. It was secret in order to avoid the wrath of the powerful and orthodox elements of society
the primary focus of the Prarthana Samaj was on social and cultural reform.
Deccan Education Society :
In 1880 Vishnushastri Chiplunkar and Bal Gangadhar Tilak established the New English School, one of the first native-run schools offering Western education in Pune.[1] In 1884 they created the Deccan Education Society[2][3] with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Mahadev Ballal Namjoshi, V. S. Apte, V. B. Kelkar, M. S. Gole and N. K. Dharap. Soon afterwards,they established Fergusson College with Tilak and Agharkar as early lecturers.
Poona Sarvajanik Sabha :
It was a sociopolitical organisation in British India which started with the aim of working as a mediating body between the government and people of India and to popularise the peasants’ legal rights. The organisation was a precursor to the Indian National Congress which started with its first session from Maharashtra itself. The Pune Sarvajanik Sabha provided many of the prominent leaders of national stature to the Indian freedom struggle including Bal Gangadhar Tilak. It was formed in 1870 by S. H. Chiplunkar, Ganesh Vasudeo Joshi, Mahadev Govind Ranade, et al.
Q.8 Which among the following languages comes under the Dravidian language family ?
1. Tamil
2. Assamese
3. Odia
4. Malayalam
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) 1 & 3
B) Only 1
C) 1 & 4
D) Only 2
Ans. C
The Dravidian languages with the most speakers are Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam The most widely spoken languages of Indo-Aryan group are Hindi (or more correctly, Hindustani, which includes Hindi and Urdu), Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Assamese (Asamiya), and Odia. Austroasiatic languages of mainland India are the Khasi and Munda languages, including Santhali. With the exceptions of Khasi and Santhali, all Austroasiatic languages on Indian territory are endangered Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in India include Karbi, Meitei, Lepcha, as well as many varieties of several related Tibetic, West Himalayish, Tani, Brahmaputran, Angami–Pochuri, Tangkhul, Zeme, Kukish language groups, amongst many others. The Ongan family of the southern Andaman Islands, comprising two extant languages, Önge and Jarawa, and one extinct tongue, Jangil. Until the Twenty-first Amendment of the Constitution of India in 1967, the country recognised 14 official regional languages. The Eighth Schedule and the Seventy-First Amendment provided for the inclusion of Sindhi, Konkani, Meitei and Nepali, thereby increasing the number of official regional languages of India to 18. Writing systems: Most languages in India are written in Brahmi-derived scripts, such as Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Odia, Eastern Nagari – Assamese/Bengali, etc., though Urdu is written in a script derived from Arabic, and a few minor languages such as Santali use independent scripts
Q.9 Under the Government of India Act 1919, which among the following subject(s) is/are not kept under the reserved list ?
1. Local self government
2. Education
3. Communications
4. Religious endowments
Select the correct answer using the codes given below :
A) 1 & 3
B) Only 3
C) 2 & 3
D) 1,2,4
Ans. D
Subjects such as Land revenue administration, famine relief, irrigation, administration of justice, law and order, newspapers, borrowing, forests etc. were kept in reserved list; the subjects such as education, public health & sanitation, public works, agriculture, fisheries, religious endowments, local self governments, medical services etc. were kept in transferred list.
The ‘reserved list’ included Defence (the military), Foreign Affairs, and Communications.
Q.10 With reference to the ancient period, What was Pahul ?
A) It was the sanctified water offered by a master to the pupil
B) It was a device or equipment that can pump air
C) It was the turbine used for lifting water for an irrigation
D) It was token of being accepted as a trainee on shishya’s march to godliness
Ans. A
Pahul was the sanctified water offered by a master to the pupil
shishya : as a token of his being accepted as a trainee on his march to godliness.
Bellows : It was a device or equipment that can pump air
