DAY – 31 : Insta 75 Days Revision Plan-2026 : ANCIENT & MEDIEVAL INDIA

Answer: (c)

Explanation

The Chalcolithic (Copper-Stone Age) cultures of India are characterized by the use of stone and copper tools, regional pottery styles, and a sedentary lifestyle before the widespread use of iron.

• Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Ahar Culture (also known as the Banas culture) flourished in south-eastern Rajasthan. The site of Ahar is specifically known as Tambavati (the place of copper) because of the abundance of copper objects found there. Unlike other Chalcolithic sites, stone tools are rare here, but evidence of copper smelting in the form of copper slag and furnaces is prominent.
• Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Malwa Culture is renowned for its high-quality painted pottery (black-on-red ware), which is considered the most refined of all Chalcolithic ceramics. Navdatoli, located on the Narmada River, is one of the most extensively excavated sites of this culture and has provided evidence of a wide variety of cultivated food grains.
• Pair 3 is correctly matched: The Jorwe Culture of Maharashtra represents the most advanced stage of the Chalcolithic period. At Inamgaon, archaeologists found evidence of a large mud-bund with an irrigation canal, suggesting sophisticated water management. The site also exhibits a clear settlement hierarchy (large houses for chiefs), indicating early chiefdom features.

The Jorwe culture is particularly noted for its practice of burying the dead inside the house under the floor, usually in a North-South orientation. In Inamgaon, adults were buried in pots (urns) or pits, sometimes with their feet chopped off (likely to prevent the spirit from returning).

Answer: (b)

Explanation

The Great Bath is arguably the most famous and architecturally impressive structure found within the Indus Valley Civilization. It was unearthed at Mohenjo-daro, located in present-day Sindh, Pakistan.

• Design: It is a large rectangular tank situated in a courtyard, surrounded by a corridor on all four sides.
• Accessibility: Two flights of steps, one on the north and one on the south, lead into the tank.
• Waterproofing: To make the tank watertight, the bricks were laid on edge using a mortar of gypsum and a thick layer of bitumen (natural tar).
• Water Supply and Drainage: Water was supplied from a large well in an adjacent room, and used water was drained out through a huge corbelled drain.
• Purpose: Scholars generally agree that the Great Bath was intended for ritual bathing or special public ceremonies rather than everyday personal hygiene.

Answer: (a)

Explanation

The Rig Vedic period (c. 1500 – 1000 BCE) was characterized by a naturalistic polytheism where the forces of nature were personified as deities.

• Statement 1 is correct: Indra is the most important deity in the Rig Veda, with about 250 hymns dedicated to him. He is the god of rain, thunder, and war.
  • He is frequently called Purandara, which means the “breaker of forts,” reflecting his role as a warrior-god who helped the Vedic tribes overcome their enemies and natural obstacles.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The early Vedic religion was essentially aniconic (without idols) and lacked any concept of a temple. Worship was performed in the open air at sacrificial altars (altars or vedis).
  • The primary mode of worship was the performance of Yajnas (sacrifices) consisting of offerings like milk, grain, and ghee into the sacred fire (Agni), accompanied by the chanting of Vedic mantras.
  • Idol worship and temple construction only became prominent features of Hinduism much later, during the Puranic or Gupta periods.

Answer: (b)

Explanation

The art of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) reached a high degree of sophistication in stone statuary, bronze casting, and terracotta modeling.

• Pair 1 is correctly matched: The Dancing Girl is a world-famous 4-inch-high bronze statue found at Mohenjo-daro. It was created using the “Lost Wax” (Cire Perdue) technique. She is depicted with her right hand on her hip and her left arm covered in bangles.
• Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: The Bearded Priest (or Priest-King) was found at Mohenjo-daro, not Harappa. Furthermore, the material is Steatite (a soft soapstone), not terracotta. He is famously depicted wearing a shawl with a trefoil pattern.
• Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: While Mother Goddess figures are common terracotta artifacts of the IVC, the most iconic and elaborate versions were found at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. They are rarely found at sites like Kalibangan or Lothal.
• Pair 4 is correctly matched: The Male Torso is a remarkable stone sculpture found at Harappa. It is made of Red Sandstone and is noted for its realistic musculature and socket holes in the neck and shoulders for the attachment of the head and arms.

Answer: (c)

Explanation

The Shakas (Scythians) and Kushans, who entered India from Central Asia between the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE, brought significant military, administrative, and economic innovations that reshaped the Indian subcontinent.

• Statement 1 is correct: These nomadic and semi-nomadic groups were master horsemen. They revolutionized Indian warfare by introducing the use of cavalry on a large scale. They brought improved horse equipment, including the bridle, bit, and better saddles. They are also credited with popularizing the use of the tunic, turban, and heavy long boots, which were more suited for riding than traditional Indian attire.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: While they did introduce the Kshatrapa (Satrap) system, it actually led to a decentralized rather than a highly centralized structure. Under this system, the empire was divided into numerous satrapies governed by ‘Kshatrapas’. These governors often enjoyed significant autonomy, including the right to issue their own coins and maintain their own armies, which eventually led to the rise of independent regional powers as the central authority weakened.
• Statement 3 is correct: The Kushan Empire, particularly under Kanishka, controlled a significant portion of the Silk Route. They facilitated long-distance trade between India, China, and the Roman Empire. The Kushans were the first to issue gold coins in India on a large scale (based on Roman standards), which provided a stable medium for international commerce and helped integrate the Indian economy into trans-regional networks.

Answer: (d)

Explanation

The Kushana Empire, reaching its peak under Kanishka I, served as a crucial cultural and economic bridge between Central Asia, China, and the Indian subcontinent.

• Statement 1 is correct: Kanishka I, the most famous Kushana ruler, is widely believed to have started the Saka Era in 78 CE. Although named after the “Sakas” (who later used it extensively), historical consensus attributes its origin to Kanishka’s accession. This era was adopted by the Government of India in 1957 as the basis for the National Calendar of India (Saka Samvat).
• Statement 2 is correct: The Kushanas were the first dynasty in India to issue gold coins on a large scale. These coins were closely modeled after the Roman Denarius in weight and purity, facilitating India’s flourishing trade with the Roman Empire. Their coinage was unique for featuring a diverse pantheon of Greek, Persian, and Indian deities (such as Shiva and Buddha).

Following the Chinese tradition of “Son of Heaven,” the Kushana kings adopted the title Devaputra (Son of God) to emphasize their divine right to rule.

Kanishka’s court was a hub for scholars like Ashvaghosha (who wrote the Buddhacharita), Vasumitra, and the famous physician Charaka.

Hence option (d) is correct answer.

Answer: (c)
Explanation:

Emperor Ashoka (r. c. 268–232 BCE) of the Maurya dynasty is best known for his pivotal role in the spread of Buddhism within and beyond India. After the Kalinga war, he embraced Buddhism and became its most prominent patron.

Statement 1 is correct — Ashoka undertook a vigorous missionary program to spread the teachings of the Buddha. According to Buddhist texts like the Mahavamsa, he sent his son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitta to Sri Lanka, where they successfully established Buddhism. Missionaries were also dispatched to Burma (Myanmar), parts of South India (like Tamilakam), and even Hellenistic kingdoms such as Egypt and Greece.

Statement 2 is also correct — Ashoka convened the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra, under the guidance of Moggaliputta Tissa. The council aimed to purify the Sangha and expel corrupt and heretical monks. It also finalized a canon of Buddhist texts and helped formalize the spread of Theravāda Buddhism.

Answer: (d)

Explanation

The Gupta administration (c. 319–550 CE) was a mix of centralized authority and significant local autonomy, often described as a “decentralized” or “feudal” administrative model compared to the Mauryan Empire.

• Statement 1 is correct: The empire was divided into several provinces called Bhuktis. Each Bhukti was placed under the charge of an officer called an Uparika, who was usually a royal prince or a very high-ranking official appointed directly by the King.
• Statement 2 is correct: The practice of Vishti (forced labour) became more prominent during the Gupta period. The state claimed the right to extract labour from the peasantry and artisans for public works, such as the construction of roads or dams, often without payment. This is seen by historians as a sign of increasing feudal tendencies.
• Statement 3 is correct: While the central government maintained an army and a bureaucracy, it allowed considerable autonomy to local units. The Vishayas (districts) were headed by a Vishayapati, who was assisted by a council of local representatives (Adhisthana Adhikarana). At the village level, the Gramika (village headman) and the village elders (Panchamandal) managed local affairs with minimal interference from the center.

A unique feature of Gupta administration was the involvement of Guilds (Srenis) in local government. In district headquarters, representatives of the guilds of artisans and merchants sat on the advisory councils.

Answer: (a)

Explanation

UNESCO recently added the Manuscript Collection of Bhagavad-Gita and Natyashastra in its Memory of the World Register.

The Memory of the World (MoW) Programme is a specialized UNESCO initiative focused on the protection and accessibility of the world’s documentary heritage, which includes manuscripts, oral traditions, audio-visual materials, and library collections.

• Statement 1 is correct: The programme was launched by UNESCO in 1992. It was established following a growing awareness of the fragile state of many documentary collections worldwide. Its core objectives are to facilitate preservation by the most appropriate techniques, assist in universal access to documentary heritage, and increase global awareness of the existence and significance of this heritage.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Inscription in the Memory of the World Register does not confer the same legal status or financial obligations as those associated with the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (1972). While World Heritage Sites are governed by a legally binding international treaty that mandates state protection and can unlock specific World Heritage Funds, the MoW is a programme rather than a convention. Its primary benefits are global recognition, prestige, and expert technical guidance for preservation, rather than direct legal protection under international law.

To be inscribed, the documentary heritage must be of world significance, meaning it must have had a major influence on world history or represent a significant development in world culture.

Answer: (b)

Explanation

Nalanda University, located in present-day Bihar, was one of the most prestigious ancient seats of learning in the world. Its foundation is historically attributed to the Gupta Empire during the 5th century CE.

• Patronage of Kumaragupta I: Historical records, including the accounts of the Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang), identify a king named Sakraditya as the founder of the first monastery at Nalanda. Scholars identify Sakraditya with Kumaragupta I (reigned c. 415–455 CE).
• Mahayana Centre: While Nalanda taught all branches of Buddhism, it became the premier global center for Mahayana Buddhist philosophy. It also offered secular subjects like grammar, logic, astronomy, and medicine.
• Continued Support: After the Guptas, the university received extensive patronage from the Pushyabhuti dynasty (King Harshavardhana) and later from the Pala Kings of Bengal and Bihar.

Answer: c) 5/6

Solution:
Total ways to choose 2 coins from 4 = 6

Possible outcomes:
(5,5) → sum = 10 → not valid → 1 way
(5,10) → sum = 15 → valid → 4 ways
(10,10) → sum = 20 → valid → 1 way

Favourable outcomes = 5

Probability = 5/6

Answer: b) 720

Solution:
Vowels: A, I, E (3)
Consonants: M, C, H, N (4)

Treat vowels as one unit → total units = 5

Arrangements = 5! = 120
Internal arrangement of vowels = 3! = 6

Total = 120 × 6 = 720

Answer: c) 25,200

Solution:
Select consonants: 7C3 = 35
Select vowels: 4C2 = 6

Total selections = 35 × 6 = 210

Arrange 5 letters = 5! = 120

Total = 210 × 120 = 25,200

Answer: a) 1/6

Solution:
Total outcomes when a die is thrown twice = 6 × 6 = 36

Sums ≥ 10 are:
10 → (4,6), (5,5), (6,4) → 3 outcomes
11 → (5,6), (6,5) → 2 outcomes
12 → (6,6) → 1 outcome

Total favourable outcomes = 6

Probability = 6/36 = 1/6

Answer: b)

Solution:

The passage highlights the evolution of strategic autonomy from military neutrality to a broader framework emphasizing economic and technological strength. It argues that in a globalized world, autonomy depends on resilience in supply chains, digital infrastructure, and internal capabilities rather than isolation. Nations must engage with multiple global powers while safeguarding their interests. Therefore, strategic autonomy today is driven more by economic security and technological independence than by traditional notions of non-alignment. Option (b) correctly captures this shift. The other options are either extreme, narrow, or contradict the passage’s emphasis on interdependence combined with internal strength and adaptability.