IAS Civil Services Indian History Model Test Paper

IAS Civil Services Indian History Model Test Paper

History  MCQ Paper for UPSC Civi Servies Exams

1. Which one of the following mot suitably defines the term ‘sreni’?

(A) An organisation of people of one caste following the same vocation

(B) An organisation of people of one caste following different vocation

(C) An orgamsation of people of one or more castes following one vocation

(D) An organisation of people of different castes following different vocations

Ans. (C)

2.Which of the following was not characterstic of the period that followed the Gupta-rule?

(A) Decrease in trade

(B) Increase in the use of coins

(C) Increase in the use of local weights and Measures

(D) Multiplication of feudatories

Ans. (A)

3. During the 17th century, the trade between India and Java was dominated by the—

(A) Portuguese

(B) Dutch

(C) English

(D) French

Ans. (B)

4. The rise of Brahaman aristocracy in the post Gupta period was facilated by —

(A) Donation of land to priestly class

(B) Growth of ritualistic practices

(C) Advent of foreigners

(D) Decline of Buddhism

Ans. (A)

5. Which one of the following is not related to the feudal formation in the Gupta and post Gupta times?

(A) Emergence of landed intermediaries

(B) Growth of a class of subject peasantry

(C) Localised village economy developed with little scope for functioning of the market system

(D) Emergence of strong centralise political authority

Ans. (D)

6. “Among his great nobles he (the king) was so predominant that none dared left his head too high, but with the humbler classes he was benevolent and debonair, willingly giving them audience and hearing their petitions. He was pleased to accept their presents, taking them into his hands and holding them to them to his breast.”

Consider the quotation given above and indicate who it is attributed to and who was the king referred to in it.

(A) Monserrate            Akbar

(B) Tavernier               Jahangir

(C) Fitch                      Shah Jahan

(C) Fitch                      Shah Jahan

Ans. (A)

7. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer—

      List I                                    List II

(a) Merchants                          1. Jithaka                                

(b) Craftsmen                          2. Setthis                                

(c) Federation of guilds                      3. Satthavaha             

(d) Caravan chief                                4. Bhandagarik                       

Codes:                       

 (a)       (b)        (c)        (d)

(A)       2          1          4         3

(B)       1          2          3         4

(C)       2          1          3         4

(D)       1          2          4          3

Ans. (A)

8. Which one of the following can be inferred from the paucity of coins in the later Gupta period ?

(A) Decline of trade

(B) Decline of money economy

(C) Non-availability of gold

(D) Self-sufficient village economy

Ans. (A)

9. The Satnamis who rebelled in the time of Aurangazeb and occupied the town of normal were followers of—

(A) Kabir

(B) Dadu

(C) Guru Nanak

(D) Ravidas

Ans. (B)

10. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists—

        List I                                               List II

(a)   Setthi                                           1. Gold coin

(b)   Sreni                                            2. Bronze and copper coin

(c)   Nikkha                             3. Chief of a guild

(d)   Kamsa                             4. Guild

Ans. (C)

11. Which of the following are marked by the agrarian structure in the post-Gupta period?

1. Large-scale grants of land in different parts of India.

2. Undermining of communal rights over land

3. Subjection of peasants

Select the correct answer by using the codes given below—

Codes:

(A) 1, 2                       

(B) 2, 3

(C) 1, 3                       

(D) 1, 2, 3

Ans. (D)

12. The first Danish settlement of trade at tranquebar was established in the year—

(A) 1620

(B) 1630

(C) 1660

(D) 1616

Ans. (A)

13. Which of the following statements explain the aspects of feudalism in Ancient India?

1. The king granted lands to his officers in lieu of salaries

2. The work of cultivation was carried out by Sudra peasants

3. Some of the powerful feudatories had their own sub-feudatories

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below —

(A) 1, 2, 3

(B) 1, 2

(C) 2, 3

(D) 1, 3

Ans. (A)

14. To which category can works such as Jyotisha vedanga and Surya Prajnapati’ be assigned?

(A) Cosmology

(B) Astrology

(C) Astronomy

(D) Horscopy

Ans. (C)

15. Consider the following statements — Hemu, who was defeated at the second Battle of Panipat by Akbar’s army, was a—

1. Minister and General of Adil Shah

2. Trader or Baniya by birth

3. Governor of Agra

4. General of Sikandar Shah

Which of the above statement (s) is/are correct?

(A) l and 2

(B) 1, 2 and 3

(C) 2 and 4

(D) 1 alone

Ans. (A)

16. Which one of the following place is known for its monumental temple architecture?

(A) Arikkamedu

(B) Amaravati

(C) Gangaikondacholapuram

(D) Uttaramerur

Ans. (C)

17. What was the nature of the Nagaram settlements in South India?

(A) Villages inhabited by peasant castes

(B) Villages settled and dominated by combinations of traders and merchants

(C) Villages granted to the Brahmanas

(D) Villages having the local administrative

Ans. (B)

18. The complaint that lakhs had been collected under Jaziya but hardly anything reached the imperial treasury was made by which one of the following historians of Aurangaeb’ s reign?

(A) Muhammad Kazim

(B) Isardar Nagar

(C) Khafi Khan

(D) Bhim Sen

Ans. (C)

19. The concept of ‘Varnasamkara’ occurs first in the—

(A) Brahmanas

(B) Upanishadas

(C) Dharamsutras

(D) Smritis

Ans. (C)

20. Consider the following ports —

1. Sopara                    

2. Babricum

3. Poduka                   

4. Muziris

According to the ‘Periplus of erythrean sea’ which of these ports were located on the

Western Coast ?

(A) 1, 2, 3

(B) 1, 2, 4

(C) 1, 3, 4

(D) 2, 3, 4

Ans. (B)

21. During the Gupta age, India had maximum trade contact with —

(A) Roman Empire

(B) Central Asia

(C) South-East Asia

(D) China

Ans. (C)

22. Consider the following events:

1. Din-e-Ilahi

2. Ibadat Khana

3. Mahzar

The correct chronological sequence of these eventis—

(A) 2, 3, 1

(B) 3, 2, 1

(C) 1, 2, 3

(D) 2, 1, 3

Ans. (A)

23. The Gupta era is identical with —

(A) Kaichuri era

(B) Kali era

(C) Saptarsi era

(D) Valabhi era

Ans. (D)

24. Match List I (Types of Marriages) with List II (Their Characterstic feature) and select the correct answer

        using the codes given below the lists—

List I                           List II

(a) Daiva                                 1. Bride’s father receives a pair of cow and bull from the bridegroom

(b) Arsha                                 2. Bride is, taken, away by force and married

(c) Ashura                               3. Father gives the daughter with ornaments.

(d) Rakshasa               4. Father gives daughter to a priest

5. Bridegroom pays the price of the bride

Codes:

(a)        (b)        (c)        (d)

(A)       1          4         3         5.

(B)       4          1         5          2

(C)       3          4          5          2

(D)       4          1          2         5

Ans. (B)

25. The Mughal emperor, who asked his painters to make portraits of birds, was—

(A) Humayun

(B) Akbar

(C) Jahangir

(D) Shah Jahan

Ans. (C)