GS Prelims History 2014

1. The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until

(a) the First World War when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended.
(b) King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act at the Royal Darbar in Delhi in 1911
(c) Gandhiji launched his Civil Disobedience Movement
(d) the Partition of India, in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan

2.  The 1929 Session of Indian, National Congress is of significance in the history of the Freedom Movement because the

(a) attainment of Self-Government was declared as the objective of the Congress
(b) attainment of Poorna Swaraj Was adopted as the goal of the Congress
(c) Non-Cooperation Movement was launched
(d) decision to participate in the Round Table Conference in London was taken

3. With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements:

1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

4. Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days?

(a) 22 March (or 21st March)
(b) 15th May (or 16th May)
(c) 31st March (or  30th March)
(d) 21st April (or 20th April)

5. With reference to the Indian history of art and culture, consider the following pairs:

Famous work of sculpture                                                                    Site

1. A grand image of Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana with numerous                : Ajanta

celestial musicians above and the sorrowful figures of his followers below

2. A huge image of Varaha Avatar (boar incarnation) of Vishnu, as he      : Mount Abu

rescues Goddess Earth from the deep and chaotic waters, sculpted on rock

3. “Arjuna’s Penance” /”Descent of Ganga” sculpted on the surface          : Mamallapuram

of huge boulders

Which of the pairs given above is/ are correctly matched?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only,
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

6. The Ghadr (Ghadar) was a

(a) revolutionary association of Indians with headquarters at San Francisco.
(b) nationalist organization operating from Singapore
(c) militant organization with headquarters at Berlin
(d) communist movement for India’s freedom with head-quarters at Tashkent

7. With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu’?

(a) It is an ancient Bhakti cult of Shaivism still prevalent in some parts of South India
(b) It is an ancient style bronze and brass work still found in southern part of Coromandel area
(c) It is an ancient form of dance-drama and a living tradition in the northern part of Malabar
(d) It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India

8. Consider the following pairs:

1.  Garba         : Gujarat
2. Mohiniattam : Odisha
3. Yakshagana : Karnataka

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

9. With reference to Buddhist history, tradition and culture in India,

consider the following pairs:

Famous shrine                                          Location

1. Tabo monastery and temple complex      : Spiti Valley
2. Lhotsava Lhakhang temple, Nako            : Zanskar Valley
3. Alchi temple complex                              : Ladakh

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

10. Consider the following statements:

1. ‘Bijak’ is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal.

2. The Philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Madhvacharya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

11. A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their

(a) martial arts in North-East India
(b) musical tradition in North-West India
(c) classical vocal music in South India
(d) pietra dura tradition in Central India

12. What was/were the object/objects of Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1858)?

1. To disclaim any intention to annex Indian States
2. To place the Indian administration under the British Crown
3. To regulate East India Company’s trade with India

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

13. Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was

(a) the mosque for the use of Royal Family

(b) Akbar’s  private chamber prayer

(c) the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions.

(d) the room in which the nobles belonging to different religions gathered to discuss religious affairs

14. Which one of the following pairs does not form part of the six systems of Indian Philosophy?

(a) Mimamsa and Vedanta
(b) Nyaya and Vaisheshika
(c) Lokayata and Kapalika
(d) Sankhya and Yoga

15. With reference to the cultural history of India, the term ‘Panchayatan’ refers to

(a) an assembly of village elders
(b) a religious sect
(c) a style of temple construction
(d) an administrative functionary

16. The national motto of India, ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below the Emblem of India is taken from         

(a) Katha Upanishad
(b) Chandogya Upanishad
(c) Aitareya Upanishad
(d) Mundaka Upanishad

17. In medieval India, the designations ‘Mahattara’ and ‘Pattakila’ were used for

(a) military officers
(b) village headmen
(c) specialists in Vedic rituals
(d) chiefs of craft guilds

18. Which of the following Kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha?

1.  Avanti
2.  Gandhara
3.  Kosala
4.  Magadha

19. Every year, a month long ecologically important campaign/festival is held during which certain communities/ tribes plant saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the following are such communities/tribes?

(a) Bhutia and Lepcha
(b) Gond and Korku
(c) lrula and Toda
(d) Sahariya and Agariya

20. Consider the following towns of India:

1. Bhadrachalam
2. Chanderi
3. Kancheepuram
4. Karnal

Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees / fabric?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1, 3 and 4

21. Consider the following languages:

1. Gujatati
2. Kannada
3. Telugu

Which of the above has/have been declared as ‘Classical Language / Languages’ by the Government?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

22. The Radcliffe Committee was appointed to

(a) solve the problem of minorities in India
(b) give effect to the Independence Bill
(c) delimit the boundaries between India and Pakistan
(d) enquire into the riots in East Bengal