Q01. Consider the following pairs with reference to textiles in Southern India: (Tax): (Meaning) 1. Panjupeeli: on cotton yarn 2. Nulayam: on cotton thread 3. Tari kadamai: on silk clothes 4. Sella: on silk thread Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
A 1 only
B 1 and 2 only
C 2, 3 and 4 only
D 1, 2, 3 and 4
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Correct answer: 1 and 2 only
Q02. Which one of the following animals does not come under the category of four noble animals (Maha-Ajaneya Pasu) carved on the round drum (Anda-Phalaka) of the lion capital at Sarnath?
A Deer
B Lion
C Bull
D Horse
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Correct answer: Deer
Q03. The ruler Vindhyashakti, during the period preceding the Gupta Age is associated with which one of the following dynasties?
A Vakatakas
B Chalukyas
C Kalachuris
D Sungas
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Correct answer: Vakatakas
Q04. The ancient Indian medical treatise for horses called Ashvashastra is attributed to which one of the following persons?
A Vagbhatta of the seventh century
B The sage Shalihotra
C Bhartrihari of the seventh century
D Varahamihira of the sixth century
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Correct answer: The sage Shalihotra
Q05. The celebrated group of poets in medieval Mathura and Vrindavana called the Ashta- Chhapa were the successors of which one of the following medieval Bhakti Saints?
A Kabir of Benaras
B Chaitanya of Bengal
C Guru Nanak of Punjab
D Surdas of Braj region
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Correct answer: Surdas of Braj region
Q06. Which one of the following commissions was not associated with public services in India?
A Aitchison Commission
B Islington Commission
C Lee Commission
D Radhakrishnan Commission
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Correct answer: Radhakrishnan Commission
Q07. Who among the following was known as Lokhitwadi'?
A Keshub Chandra Sen
B Gopal Hari Deshmukh
C M.G. Ranade
D Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
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Correct answer: Gopal Hari Deshmukh
Q08. Which one of the following pairs of books and their authors is not correctly matched?
A Bandi Jiwan: Sachindranath Sanyal
B The Philosophy of the Bomb: Bhagwati Charan Vohra
C Indian Unrest: Annie Besant
D Desher Katha: Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar
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Correct answer: Indian Unrest: Annie Besant
Q09. Ashokan inscriptions in Afghanistan are written in which one of the following scripts?
A Brahmi
B Sharada
C Kharoshthi
D Greek-Aramaic
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Correct answer: Greek-Aramaic
Q10. Which one of the following statements about coins struck during 200 BCE to 300 CE in the Indian subcontinent is not correct?
A The Indo-Greeks introduced bilingual and biscript legends on their coins.
B The Kushanas minted large quantities of gold coins as well as copper coins of low denomination.
C The Satavahanas issued coins of silver, copper, lead and potin.
D Absence of Negama coins suggests the declining power and authority of merchant guilds.
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Correct answer: Absence of Negama coins suggests the declining power and authority of merchant guilds.
Q11. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List-I (Vedic name of river) List-II (Modern name) Drishadvati Chenab Askini Chautang Vitasta Ravi Purushni Jhelum Code: ABCD
A 2413
B 2143
C 3142
D 3412
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Correct answer: 2143
Q12. Which one of the following books was authored by Harshavardhana?
A Harshacharita
B Kadambari
C Ratnavali
D Gitagovinda
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Correct answer: Ratnavali
Q13. The King of Dance' is a description of
A Trimurti at Elephanta Caves
B Kaliyamardan of Krishna
C Bodhisattva Maitreya at Gandhara
D Bronze Nataraja of the Cholas
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Correct answer: Bronze Nataraja of the Cholas
Q14. The Battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi is popularly known as the
A Battle of Talikota
B Battle of Khanwa
C Battle of Panipat
D Battle of Dharmat
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Correct answer: Battle of Talikota
Q15. Which one of the following statements about Tolkappiyam is not correct?
A It is a treatise on grammar.
B It was composed between first to fourth century CE.
C It was part of the Sangam corpus.
D It was composed by Panini.
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Correct answer: It was composed by Panini.
Q16. When was the first All India Census attempted?
A 1871
B 1872
C 1881
D 1861
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Correct answer: 1872
Q17. Which of the following pairs of years and historical events is correctly matched?
A 1878: Second Anglo-Afghan War
B 1885: Ilbert Bill Controversy
C 1785: Fox's India Bill
D 1898: Lord Curzon becomes the Viceroy
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Correct answer: 1878: Second Anglo-Afghan War
Q18. Consider the following historical events in India carefully: 1. The Indian press failed to protest against the Vernacular Press Act of 1878. 2. The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was introduced by Viceroy Lytton against the counsel of his own Law Member. Which of the above is/are correct?
A 1 only
B 2 only
C Both 1 and 2
D Neither 1 nor 2
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Correct answer: 2 only
Q19. Who among the following is the author of the famous partition narrative, The Other Side of Silence?
A Amrita Pritam
B Urvashi Butalia
C Saadat Hasan Manto
D Manju Kapur
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Correct answer: Urvashi Butalia
Q20. According to early Indian philosophers, what are the basic elements described in Pancha Tattva ?
A Earth, Fire, Sky, Gas and Water
B Air, Earth, Fire, Sky and Water
C Gas, Land, Fire, Sky and Water
D Air, Earth, Fire, Land and Water
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Correct answer: Air, Earth, Fire, Sky and Water