DAY – 54 ( INSTA REVISION TEST – 54)INSTA REVISION PLAN 3.0, 2021

Solution: D

Tanaji Malusare is known for his role in the Battle of Sinhagad (1670), which he fought under the Maratha flag against the Mughals, losing his life in the campaign.

Solution: C

Razia Sultana was the fifth Mamluk Sultan and the only female ever to rule as the Sultan of Delhi. She was the daughter of the third ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, Shams-ud-din Iltutmish, and granddaughter of the first Sultan of Delhi, Qutb ud din Aibak.

She gave up purdah and proved to be an efficient ruler both in administering her government and in leading forces at war.

Solution: A

Many crafts persons and merchants formed associations known as shrenis.

These shrenis of crafts persons provided training, procured raw material, and distributed the finished product.

Then shrenis of merchants organised the trade.

Shrenis also served as banks, where rich men and women deposited money.

This was invested, and part of the interest was returned or used to support religious institutions such as monasteries.

Solution: B

The Prithviraj Raso is a Brajbhasha epic poem about the life of the 12th century Indian king Prithviraj Chauhan. It is attributed to Chand Bardai, who according to the text was a court poet of the king.

According to the epic poem or ballad, Prithviraj was a king, who, after ceaseless military campaigns, extended his original kingdom of Sambhar (Shakambara) in present-day Rajasthan to cover Rajasthan and eastern Punjab. He ruled from his twin capitals of Delhi and Ajmer.

Solution: A

Different administrative related terms used during the period of Palas:

1. Province (Bhukti),
2. Governor (Uparika)
3. District (Mandal or Visaya)
4. Head of District (Visayapati)
5. Smaller chieftains (Samantas or Bhogapatis)

Solution: A

Vikramashila University was one of the two most important centres of learning in India during the Pala Empire, along with Nalanda. Vikramashila was established by King Dharmapala in response to a supposed decline in the quality of scholarship at Nalanda.

 It lasted four centuries before being destroyed during an attack by Bakhtiyar Khilji of the Delhi Sultanate.

Solution: D

All of them were ports during ancient India.

Solution: C

Mahmud Gawan carried out a number of internal reforms. Some of these were aimed at limiting the power of the nobles.

• Thus, the old provinces (tarafs) were further sub-divided from four into eight, and the governor of each fort was to be appointed directly by the sultan.
• The salaries and obligations of each noble were fixed.

For maintaining a contingent of 500 horses, a noble received a salary of 1,00,000 huns per year. The salary could be paid in cash or by assigning a jagir. Those who were paid by means of jagir wer allowed expenses for the collection of land revenue.

• In every province, a tract of land (khalisa) was set apart for the expenses of the Sultan. Efforts were made to measure the land and to fix the amount to be paid by each cultivator to the state.
• Mahmud Gawan was a great patron of the arts. He built a magnificent madrasa or college in the capital, Bidar

Solution: B

Shivaji was also a great administrator. He laid the foundations of a sound system of administration. The king was the pivot of the government. He was assisted by a council of ministers called Ashtapradhan. However, each minister was directly responsible to Shivaji.

1. Peshwa – Finance and general administration. Later he became the prime minister.
2. Sar-i-Naubat or Senapati – Military commander, an honorary post.
3. Amatya – Accountant General.
4. Waqenavis – Intelligence, posts and household affairs.
5. Sachiv – Correspondence.
6. Sumanta – Master of ceremonies.
7. Nyayadish – Justice.
8. Panditarao – Charities and religious administration

Solution: C

Silsila is an Arabic word meaning chain, link, connection often used in various senses of lineage. In particular, it may be translated as “(religious) order” or “spiritual genealogy” where one Sufi Master transfers his khilfat to his spiritual descendant.

Solution: D

Harappan culture

• Archaeologists have been able to reconstruct dietary practices from finds of charred grains and seeds.
• These are studied by archaeo-botanists, who are specialists in ancient plant remains.
• Grains found at Harappan sites include wheat, barley, lentil, chickpea and sesame. Millets are found from sites in Gujarat. Finds of rice are relatively rare.
• Animal bones found at Harappan sites include those of cattle, sheep, goat, buffalo and pig. Studies done by archaeo-zoologists or zoo-archaeologists indicate that these animals were domesticated. Bones of wild species such as boar, deer and gharial are also found.
• We do not know whether the Harappans hunted these animals themselves or obtained meat from other hunting communities.
  • Bones of fish and fowl are also found.

Solution: C

Solution: B

Distribution of Asokan inscriptions

Solution: B

Nath, also called as Natha, are a Shaivism sub-tradition within Hinduism. A medieval era movement, it combined idea from Shaivism, Buddhism and Yoga traditions in India.

The Naths have been a confederation of devotees who consider Adinatha, or Shiva, as their first lord or guru, with varying lists of additional lords. Their unconventional ways challenged all orthodox premises, exploring dark and shunned practices of society as a means to understanding theology and gaining inner powers.

They formed monastic organisations, itinerant groups that walked great distances to sacred sites and festivals such as the Kumbh Mela as a part of their spiritual practice. The Nath also have a large settled householder tradition in parallel to its monastic groups.

Some of them metamorphosed into warrior ascetics to resist persecution during the Islamic rule of the Indian subcontinent.

Solution: C

1. Rajatarangini: Rajatarangini is a metrical legendary and historical chronicle of the north-western Indian subcontinent, particularly the kings of Kashmir. It was written in Sanskrit by Kashmiri historian Kalhana in the 12th century CE. The work consists of 7826 verses, which are divided into eight books called Tarangas
2. Harshacharitha:

The Harshacharita, is the biography of Indian emperor Harsha by Banabhatta, also known as Bana, who was a Sanskrit writer of seventh-century CE India. He was the Asthana Kavi, meaning Court Poet, of Harsha.

3. Mushikavamsha:

Mushikavamsha is a Sanskrit-language epic poem (mahakavya) composed by Atula, who is believed to have lived in the 11th century.

narrates the legendary history of the Mushika dynasty of Kerala.

Solution: d)

Justification: Statement 2:  The Harappans ate a wide range of animal products. Archaeologists have been able to reconstruct use of animals from finds of charred animal bones found at Harappan sites. These include those of cattle, sheep,goat, buffalo and pig.

Statement 1 and 3:  Archaeologists have found evidence of a ploughed field at Kalibangan (Rajasthan).The field had two sets of furrows at right angles to each other, suggesting that two different crops were grown together.

Representations on seals and terracotta sculpture indicate that the bull was known, and oxen were used for ploughing.

Terracotta models of the plough have been found at sites in Cholistan and at Banawali (Haryana).

Statement 4: Most Harappan sites are located in semi-aridlands, where irrigation was probably required for agriculture. Traces of canals, water reservoirs and wells have been found at the Harappan sites indicate that agriculture was practiced.

Solution: b)

Justification: Statement 1:  It is marked by the use of copper as the first major metal in India. Bronze too was used. The Chalcolithic age is followed by Iron Age. Iron is frequently referred to in the Vedas.

Statement 2:  The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of these materials coincided with other changes in society, including differing agricultural practices, religious beliefs and artistic styles.

Statement 3:  Black on Red ware is a famous pottery of this age.

Solution: c)

Learning: Mahavira regarded all objects, both animate and inanimate, have souls and various degrees of consciousness. They possess life and feel pain when they are injured. So, 1 is correct.

Even the practice of agriculture was considered sinful as it causes injury to the earth, worms and animals.

Similarly the doctrine of asceticism and renunciation was also carried to extreme lengths by the practice of starvation, nudity and other forms of self-torture. So, 2 is correct.

Solution: D

Mahavira organised the Sangha to spread his teachings and He admitted both men and women in the Sangha. It consisted of both monks and lay followers.

The rapid spread of Jainism was due to the dedicated work of the members of the Sangha. It spread rapidly in Western India and Karnataka.

Solution: B

Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara of the Jain tradition.

He married Yasoda and gave birth to a daughter. At the age of thirty he became an ascetic and wandered for twelve years. In the 13th year of his penance, he attained the highest spiritual knowledge called Kevala Gnana

After attaining Kevala Jnana, Mahavira taught that observance of the vows of ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (non-attachment) is necessary for spiritual liberation.  He taught the principles of Anekantavada (many-sided reality): syadvada and nayavada.

Mahavira’s teachings were compiled by Indrabhuti Gautama (his chief disciple) as the Jain Agamas.

Solution: D

In his early life, Harsha was a devout Saiva but later he became an ardent Hinayana Buddhist.

Hiuen Tsang converted him to Mahayana Buddhism. Harsha prohibited the use of animal food in his kingdom and punished those who kill any living being.

Dowry system was prevalent in Harsha’s empire.

Harsha organized a religious assembly at Kanauj to honour the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang towards the close of his reign. He invited representatives of all religious sects. It was attended by 20 kings, 1000 scholars from the Nalanda University, 3000 Hinayanists and Mahayanists, 3000 Brahmins and Jains.

Solution: C

Ala-ud-din Khilji ascended the throne in 1296A.D. Ala-ud-din Khilji was the first Sultan who invaded South India. Ala-ud-din believed in the Divine Right Theory of Kingship. He introduced four ordinances to prevent frequent rebellions. He confiscated religious endowments.

Ala-ud-din was the first to raise a standing army.  All merchants were required to register themselves in the office of the Shahana-i-Mandi and sell their goods at fixed rates. Hence, both statement 1 and statement 2 are correct.

Solution: d)

Justification: Taxes imposed under Firoz Shah Tughlaq included:

1. Kharaj: land tax which was equal to one-tenth of the produce of the land.
2. Zakat: two and a half per cent tax on property realized from the Muslims.
3. Kham: one-fifth of the booty captured (four-fifth was left for the soldiers).
4. Jaziya: levied on the non-Muslim subjects, particularly the Hindus. Women and children were, however, exempted from the taxes.

Also levied other taxes like the irrigation tax, garden tax, octroi tax and the sales tax.

Solution: D

All the statements given above are correct.

The period of the Great Mughals, which began in 1526 with Babur’s accession to the throne, ended with the death of Aurangzeb in 1707. Aurangzeb’s death marked the end of an era in Indian history. When Aurangzeb died, the empire of the Mughals was the largest in India. Yet, within about fifty years of his death, the Mughal Empire disintegrated

The weakness of the empire was exposed when Nadir Shah imprisoned the Mughal Emperor and looted Delhi in 1739. The religious and Deccan policies of Aurangazeb contributed to its decline. The weak successors and demoralization of the Mughal army also paved the way for it the financial difficulties due to continuous wars led to the decline. Further, the invasions of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali weakened the Mughal state.

Solution: a)

Learning: The land revenue system of Akbar was called Zabti or Bandobast system. It was further improved by Raja Todar Mal. It was known as Dahsala System which was completed in 1580.

By this system, Todar Mal introduced a uniform system of land measurement. The revenue was fixed on the average yield of land assessed on the basis of past ten years.

The land was also divided into four categories – Polaj (cultivated every year), Parauti (once in two years), Chachar (once in three or four years) and Banjar (once in five or more years). Payment of revenue was made generally in cash.

Solution: B

Total failed in school C in 2008 = 354 – 258 = 96

Total appeared in school D in 2006 = 235.

Therefore, total = 235 + 96 = 331
Hence, option (b) is correct.

Solution: B

The difference between the number of candidates who appeared and passed in the exam from school B is lowest in 2004 with the difference of 91.

The second lowest difference is year 2005 with the difference of 110.

Hence, the option (b) is correct.

Solution: A

The number of candidates who appeared from school C in the year 2006= 693.

The number of candidates who passed in the exam from school D in the year 2009 = 252.

Therefore, the required ratio = 693/252 = 11/4

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Solution: A

Number of candidates who passed from school B in the year 2005 = 435.

Number of candidates who appeared from school A in the year 2008 = 546.

Therefore, the required percent= (435/546) * 100 = 79. 6% or approximately 80%.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Solution: C

Number of candidates who passed from school A in the year 2009 = 435.

Number of candidates who passed from school A in the year 2008 = 346.

Thus, required percent = ((435-346)/346) * 100 = 25. 7

Or approximately 26%.

Hence, option (c) is correct.