Q.1 With reference to the ancient period, consider the following :

1. Moors     –   Muslim Merchants

2. Devadasis          –   Temple dancers

3. Hundi     –   Note recording a deposit

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

A) Only 1

B) 1 & 3

C) 1 & 2

D) 1,2,3

Ans. D

Q.2 With reference to the ancient period, which among the following is/are correctly matched ?

1. Hatta                       –   Market Streets

2. Manigramam and Nanadesi         –   Taxes

3. Kaikkolars                      –   Weavers

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

A) Only 1

B) 1 & 3

C) 1 & 2

D) 1,2,3

Ans. B

Manigramam and Nanadesi- There were several such guilds in south India from the eighth.

Weavers such as the Saliyar or Kaikkolars.

Q.3 In context with the The Saint Helena Act 1833 or The Government of India Act 1833 , consider the following statements:

1) It redesignated the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India.

2) It ended the activities of the Company as a commercial body and became a purely administrative body

3) It attempted to introduce a system of open competitions for the selection of civil servants.

Select the correct statement(s) from the given codes :

A) 1 & 3

B) 2 & 3

C) 1 & 2

D) 1,2,3

Ans. D

As this Act was also meant for an extension of the royal charter granted to the company it is also called the Charter Act of 1833. Even this extended the charter by 20 years. It contained the following provisions:

•   It redesignated the Governor-General of Bengal as the Governor-General of India. Under this provision Lord William Bentinck became the first Governor-General of India.

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

•   It ended the activities of the Company as a commercial body and became a purely administrative body. In particular, the Company lost its monopoly on trade with China and other parts of the Far East.

•   It attempted to introduce a system of open competitions for the selection of civil servants. However this provision was negated after opposition from the Court of Directors who continued to hold the privilege of appointing Company officials.

•   The island of Saint Helena was vested in His Majesty.

Q.4 What constituted the crux of the Drain theory highlighted by the Dada Bhai Naoroji ?

A) Abuse of trade practices by the merchants of the ruling race

B) Ill-gotten money taken from the princely rulers & remitted to England

C) Unrequited exports from India

D) Gluttish from Indian markets with british manufactured goods

Ans. C

*Dadabhai Naoroji’s work focused on the drain of wealth from India into England through colonial rule.

*One of the reasons that the Drain theory is attributed to Naoroji is his decision to estimate the net national profit of India, and by extension, the effect that colonisation has on the country.

*Through his work with economics, Naoroji sought to prove that Britain was draining money out of India.

*Naoroji described 6 factors which resulted in the external drain.

-Firstly, India is governed by a foreign government.

-Secondly, India does not attract immigrants which bring labour and capital for economic growth.

-Thirdly, India pays for Britain’s civil administrations and occupational army.

-Fourthly, India bears the burden of empire building in and out of its borders.

-Fifthly, opening the country to free trade was actually a way to exploit India by offering highly paid jobs to foreign personnel.

-Lastly, the principal income-earners would buy outside of India or leave with the money as they were mostly foreign personnel.

*In Naoroji’s book ‘Poverty’ he estimated a 200–300 million pounds loss of revenue to Britain that is not returned.

*Naoroji described this as vampirism, with money being a metaphor for blood, which humanised India and attempted to show Britain’s actions as monstrous in an attempt to garner sympathy for the nationalist movement.

*When referring to the Drain, Naoroji stated that he believed some tribute was necessary as payment for the services that England brought to India such as the railways. However the money from these services were being drained out of India; for instance the money being earned by the railways did not belong to India, which supported his assessment that India was giving too much to Britain.

Q.5 With reference to the Mohiniyatam dance, consider the following statements :

1. It involves the swaying of broad hips and the gentle movements of erect posture from side to side.

2. The dance follows the classical text of Hastha Lakshanadeepika, which has elaborate description of  expressions by the hand palm and fingers

3. It is performed to this accompaniment by the subtle gestures and footwork of the danseuse

4. It involves the eyes in a very coy, sensual manner to enchant the mind without enticing the senses.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

A) 1 & 3

B) 2,3,4

C) 1,2,3

D) All are correct

Ans. D

Q.6 With reference to the Imperial Officials of Mughal court , consider the following :

1. Diwan-i-ala        –   Finance minister

2. Tainat-i-Rakab     –   Court

3. sadr-us sudur –   Minsiter of grants

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

A) 1 & 3

B) 2 & 3

C) 1,2,3

D) Only 2

Ans. C

Q.7 With reference to the Burials of Harappan culture , consider the following statements :

1. At burials in Harappan sites the dead were generally laid in pits & the hollowed-out spaces were lined with bricks

2. Jewellery has been found in burials of both men and women

3. Ornament consisting of three shell rings, a jasper (a kind of semi-precious stone) bead and hundreds of micro beads was found near the skull of men

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

A) 1 & 3

B) Only 2

C) 2 & 3

D) 1,2,3

Ans. D

Extra important point :

Faience (a material made of ground sand or silica mixed with colour and a gum and then fired)

Materials used to make beads is remarkable: stones like carnelian (of a beautiful red colour), jasper, crystal, quartz and steatite; metals like copper, bronze and gold; and shell, faience and

terracotta or burnt clay.

Q.8 With reference to the ancient period, who were Chandalas ?

A) Brahmanical community

B) Untouchables

C) Weavers

D) Farmers cultivating the fields

Ans. B

Q.9 With reference to the ancient period, which among the following are correctly matched ?

1. jins-i kamil –       perfect crops

2. muqaddam    –       Village headman

3. Majur       –       Labourers

4. Halalkhoran –       Scavangers

5. Milkiyat –  –       Property

Which among the above is/are correct ?

A) 1 & 3

B) 2,3,5

C) 1,2,3,4

D) All are correct

Ans. A

Q.10 With reference to the Sufism tradition, which among the following is/are correctly matched ?

1. Malfuzat    –       Conversation of Sufi saints

2. Maktubat    –       Collection of letters

3. Tazkiras    –       Biographical account of saints

Which among the above is/are correct ?

A) 1 & 3

B) 2 & 3

C) 1,2,3

D) Only 2

Ans. C