UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions

History & CultureModern History and National MovementOrganisations, Personalities and Political IdeologiesEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Concept understanding
Tags:: Gandhism and Marxism · Organisations, Personalities and Political Ideologies
Related topics:: Inclusive Growth and Inequality

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q14

One common agreement between Gandhism and Marxism is

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History & CultureModern History and National MovementColonial Economy, Land Revenue and DeindustrialisationMedium

Question details

Type:: Pairs
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Aurang Banian and Mirasidar · Colonial Economy, Land Revenue and Deindustrialisation
Related topics:: Medieval Economy and Society

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q21

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Aurang — In-charge of treasury of the State 2. Banian — Indian agent of the East India Company 3. Mirasidar — Designated revenue payer to the State Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

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History & CultureAncient HistoryBuddhism, Jainism and Shramana TraditionsMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Buddhist sects and traditions · Buddhism, Jainism and Shramana Traditions

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q22

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism. 2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism. 3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the Mahayana Buddhism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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History & CultureModern History and National MovementColonial Economy, Land Revenue and DeindustrialisationEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: industrial revolution and deindustrialisation · Colonial Economy, Land Revenue and Deindustrialisation

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q23

Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century?

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History & CultureMedieval HistoryEarly Medieval Regional KingdomsMedium

Question details

Type:: chronology sequence
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: regional dynasty chronology · Early Medieval Regional Kingdoms
Related topics:: Post-Gupta and Early Medieval Transition

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q24

Consider the following events in the history of India: 1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja 2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman – I 3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka – I 4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?

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History & CultureMedieval HistoryMedieval Economy and SocietyEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Concept understanding
Tags:: Hundi commercial instrument · Medieval Economy and Society

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q25

Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the 'Hundi' generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period?

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History & CultureModern History and National MovementSwadeshi, Boycott and Home Rule MovementsMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Desher Katha and Swadeshi · Swadeshi, Boycott and Home Rule Movements
Related topics:: Literature, Languages and Textual Traditions

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q26

With reference to the book "Desher Katha" written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements: 1. It warned against the Colonial State's hypnotic conquest of the mind. 2. It inspired the performance of swadeshi street plays and folk songs. 3. The use of 'desh' by Deuskar was in the specific context of the region of Bengal. Which of the statements given above are correct?

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History & CultureModern History and National MovementEducation, Press and Public AssociationsEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Vital-Vidhvansak and Dalit press · Education, Press and Public Associations
Related topics:: Socio-Religious Reform Movements

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q28

The Vital-Vidhvansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience was published by

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History & CultureAncient HistoryAncient Economy, Society, Science and TechnologyEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: ancient land measures · Ancient Economy, Society, Science and Technology

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q29

With reference to the history of India, the terms "kulyavapa" and "dronavapa" denote

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History & CultureAncient HistoryMauryan Empire and AdministrationMedium

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Ashokan religious tolerance · Mauryan Empire and Administration
Related topics:: Religion, Philosophy and Schools of Thought

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q30

Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? "Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely."

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History & CultureAncient HistoryBuddhism, Jainism and Shramana TraditionsEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Buddhist paramitas · Buddhism, Jainism and Shramana Traditions

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q31

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term 'paramitas'?

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History & CultureModern History and National MovementSocio-Religious Reform MovementsMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Rakhmabai case and social reform · Socio-Religious Reform Movements
Related topics:: Education, Press and Public Associations

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q32

In the context of Indian history, the Rakhmabai case of 1884 revolved around 1. women's right to gain education 2. age of consent 3. restitution of conjugal rights Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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History & CultureModern History and National MovementColonial Economy, Land Revenue and DeindustrialisationEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: indigo and synthetic dye · Colonial Economy, Land Revenue and Deindustrialisation

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q33

Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of

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History & CultureModern History and National MovementEducation, Press and Public AssociationsEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Fort William College · Education, Press and Public Associations

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q34

Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because

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History & CultureModern History and National MovementTribal, Peasant and Civil UprisingsEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Ulgulan rebellion · Tribal, Peasant and Civil Uprisings

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q35

With reference to the history of India, "Ulgulan" or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?

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History & CultureArt & CultureLiterature, Languages and Textual TraditionsMedium

Question details

Type:: Statement based
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: ancient authors and patrons · Literature, Languages and Textual Traditions
Related topics:: Gupta Age and Administration

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q36

With reference to the scholars/litterateurs of ancient India, consider the following statements: 1. Panini is associated with Pushyamitra Shunga. 2. Amarasimha is associated with Harshavardhana. 3. Kalidasa is associated with Chandra Gupta – II. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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History & CultureAncient HistoryBuddhism, Jainism and Shramana TraditionsMedium

Question details

Type:: Pairs
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Buddhist religious terms · Buddhism, Jainism and Shramana Traditions

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q71

With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs: 1. Parivrajaka — Renunciant and Wanderer 2. Shramana — Priest with a high status 3. Upasaka — Lay follower of Buddhism Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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History & CultureArt & CultureHistorical Ports and Cultural GeographyEasy

Question details

Type:: Single choice
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: Gupta-period ports · Historical Ports and Cultural Geography
Related topics:: Gupta Age and Administration

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q82

With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as

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History & CultureAncient HistoryAncient Sources, Inscriptions, Sites and TravellersMedium

Question details

Type:: Pairs
Skill:: Fact recall
Tags:: ancient sites and modern states · Ancient Sources, Inscriptions, Sites and Travellers
Related topics:: States, Union Territories and Administrative Geography

Classification and difficulty are editorial labels. Explanations are awaiting review.

2020 · Q97

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: Famous Place : Present State 1. Bhilsa : Madhya Pradesh 2. Dwarasamudra : Maharashtra 3. Girinagar : Gujarat 4. Sthanesvara : Uttar Pradesh Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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Themes in History & Culture· 4

PYQs on History & Culture

Prelims 2020

History & Culture

Themes in History & Culture· 4

PYQs on History & Culture

Prelims 2020

Prelims 2020, question 14: Organisations, Personalities and Political Ideologies

Prelims 2020, question 21: Colonial Economy, Land Revenue and Deindustrialisation

Prelims 2020, question 22: Buddhism, Jainism and Shramana Traditions

Prelims 2020, question 23: Colonial Economy, Land Revenue and Deindustrialisation

Prelims 2020, question 24: Early Medieval Regional Kingdoms

Prelims 2020, question 25: Medieval Economy and Society

Prelims 2020, question 26: Swadeshi, Boycott and Home Rule Movements

Prelims 2020, question 28: Education, Press and Public Associations

Prelims 2020, question 29: Ancient Economy, Society, Science and Technology

Prelims 2020, question 30: Mauryan Empire and Administration

Prelims 2020, question 31: Buddhism, Jainism and Shramana Traditions

Prelims 2020, question 32: Socio-Religious Reform Movements

Prelims 2020, question 33: Colonial Economy, Land Revenue and Deindustrialisation

Prelims 2020, question 34: Education, Press and Public Associations

Prelims 2020, question 35: Tribal, Peasant and Civil Uprisings

Prelims 2020, question 36: Literature, Languages and Textual Traditions

Prelims 2020, question 71: Buddhism, Jainism and Shramana Traditions

Prelims 2020, question 82: Historical Ports and Cultural Geography

Prelims 2020, question 97: Ancient Sources, Inscriptions, Sites and Travellers