[Mission 2023] STATIC QUIZ, 3 May 2023 – History

Solution: c)

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.

Solution: a)

By the seventh century there were big landlords or warrior chiefs in different regions of the subcontinent.

Existing kings often acknowledged them as their subordinates or samantas.

They were expected to bring gifts for their kings or overlords, be present at their courts and provide them with military support.

As samantas gained power and wealth, they declared themselves to be maha-samanta, mahamandaleshvara (the great lord of a “circle” or region) and so on.

Sometimes they asserted their independence from their overlords.

Solution: d)

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was set up in 1985 with the principal bench at Delhi and additional benches in different states.

The CAT exercises original jurisdiction in relation to recruitment and all service matters of public servants covered by it. Its jurisdiction extends to the all-India services, the Central civil services, civil posts under the Centre and civilian employees of defence services. However, the members of the defence forces, officers and servants of the Supreme Court and the secretarial staff of the Parliament are not covered by it.

Solution: b)

Prarthana Samaj was founded by Aatma Ram Pandurang in 1867 with an aim to make people believe in one God and worship only one God. The main reformers were the intellectuals who advocate reforms of the social system of the Hindus.

It sought to remove caste restrictions, abolish child marriage, encourage the education of women, and end the ban on widow remarriage.

The religious meetings of the Samaj drew upon Hindu, Buddhist and Christian texts.

Solution: d)

The Theosophical Society was founded in New York (USA) in 1875 by Madam H.P. Blavatsky, a Russian lady, and Henry Steel Olcott, an American colonel.

Their main objectives were to form a universal brotherhood of man without any distinction of race, colour or creed and to promote the study of ancient religions and philosophies. They arrived in India and established their headquarters at Adyar in Madras in 1882.

Later in 1893, Mrs. Annie Besant arrived in India and took over the leadership of the Society after the death of Olcott. Mrs. Annie Besant founded the Central Hindu School along with Madan Mohan Malaviya at Benaras which later developed into the Banaras Hindu University.