UPSC Static Quiz – History : 11 April 2026

Solution: D

• Satavahana administration, as known from inscriptions such as those at Nashik and Nanaghat, shows a sophisticated blend of military, fiscal, and religious administration.
• The Golmika was originally a military officer (head of a regiment or troop unit) who often exercised civil authority in rural areas, reflecting the militarised nature of local governance.
• The Heranika functioned as the royal treasurer, responsible for custody and management of cash, gold, and revenue inflows, a role crucial in a monetised economy that issued lead and silver coins.
• The Bhandagarika was in charge of the bhandagara (storehouse), supervising royal granaries and material stores, indicating organised resource management.

The Uparakshita is attested in inscriptions as a supervisory official, often linked with the protection, management, or oversight of religious establishments and endowments, particularly Buddhist monasteries that received land and revenue grants.

Solution: B

• Row 1 (Correct): Ravikirti was the court poet of Pulakeshin II. He composed the Aihole Inscription (634 CE) in Sanskrit, detailing the king’s victories, including the check of Harsha’s advance.
• Row 2 (Correct): Dandin, a celebrated Sanskrit grammarian and author of Dashakumaracharita (Tales of Ten Princes) and Kavyadarsha, adorned the court of Narasimhavarman II (Rajasimha) at Kanchi.

Row 3 (Incorrect): Bilhana was the court poet of Vikramaditya VI (Western Chalukya) and wrote the Vikramankadevacharita (a biography). However, Mitakshara (a commentary on Yajnawalkya Smriti and a foundational text for Hindu inheritance law) was written by Vijnaneshwara, who was a contemporary in the same court.

Solution: C

• After the conquest of Sindh, the Arabs established an administrative structure that blended Islamic institutions with local Indian practices. The province was divided into districts (Iqtas/Kuras).
• Meaning of Amil: The term Amil comes from the Arabic root meaning “to work” or “to act.” In the context of the early Arab administration in Sindh (and later the Delhi Sultanate and Mughals), an Amil was a revenue officer. The Arabs appointed military officers as Amils to oversee the collection of revenue from the districts.
• Other Options:
  • The military commander/garrison was often associated with the term Jund or Thanedar.
  • Judicial matters were handled by Qazis.
  • Translation was done by scholars, not a specific administrative post like ‘Amil’.

Solution: A

• Statement I is Correct:Numismatic evidence confirms that Sher Shah’s silver Rupiya (and some copper Dams) featured the ruler’s name in Devanagari script (e.g., “Sri Ser Sahi”) in addition to the standard Persian/Arabic inscriptions (Kalima, Name).
• Statement II is Correct:The inclusion of the local script was a deliberate administrative choice. The economy of North India was heavily driven by Hindu merchants and bankers (Sarafs). By using Devanagari, Sher Shah ensured that the coinage was recognizable and trusted by the populace that dominated the marketplace, thereby facilitating trade and integration.
• The economic necessity (Statement II) directly explains the design choice (Statement I).

Solution: B

• Statement 1 (Incorrect):The Dahsala system (instituted in 1580) was based on the average produce and prices of the past ten years. However, it was not a “decennial settlement” in the sense of the British Permanent Settlement where the rate was fixed for the next ten years. The “ten years” referred to the data period used for calculation, not the duration of the settlement contract. The rate was derived from the 10-year average but was not time-bound like the British decennial settlement.
• Statement 2 (Incorrect):Nasaq was not strictly crop-sharing (Batai). Batai or Galla-Bakhshi is the method where the actual harvest is divided. Nasaq, on the other hand, was a method of estimation or summary assessment based on previous records (Hasti-o-Bud) or inspection. It avoided the need for annual measurement. Furthermore, while common in Bengal, it was also used in other provinces (like Gujarat and Berar) and was not “strictly” limited to the periphery.
• Statement 3 (Correct):The classification of land was the foundation of the Zabt To ensure the tax was fair, land was categorized by its fertility and continuity of cultivation: Polaj (cultivated annually), Parauti (fallow for 1 year), Chachar (fallow for 3-4 years), and Banjar (fallow for 5+ years). Different tax rates applied to each, preventing the taxation of unproductive land at the same rate as productive land.