Miscellaneous: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Medieval History)
3 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Miscellaneous (Medieval History). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–3 of 3 questions
UPSC 1996Medieval History · Miscellaneous
Q1. The term ‘Apabhramsa’ was used in medieval Sanskrit texts to denote:
Explanation
The word "Apabhramsa" literally means "corruption" or "degeneration." In a linguistic context, it was used to describe a deviation or transformation from classical Sanskrit that led to the emergence of regional languages, which later evolved into modern Indian languages. Apabhramsa emerged during the medieval period (from the 6th to 13th centuries). It was a transitionary stage between Prakrits (the vernacular languages of ancient India) and the modern Indo-Aryan languages such as Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, and others. It was a mixture of regional dialects influenced by the local vernaculars, and its forms were quite diverse across different regions.
UPSC 1996Medieval History · Miscellaneous
Q2. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Explanation
The Gurus of Sikhism were the spiritual leaders who guided the development of the Sikh faith over approximately two and a half centuries, starting with Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. There were ten human Gurus in total, each contributing to the growth and teachings of the religion. After the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, the holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, became the eternal Guru, revered as the living Guru by Sikh followers. Pair (a) is incorrectly matched: The concept of Miri and Piri was introduced by Guru Hargobind. In Sikhism, it represents the balance between spiritual and non-spiritual aspects of life. Pair (b) is correctly matched: Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, played a pivotal role in Sikh history by compiling the Adi Granth, the foundational scripture of Sikhism. The Adi Granth is the first version of the Guru Granth Sahib, incorporating hymns of Sikh Gurus and other saints. Pair (c) is incorrectly matched: Dal-Khalsa refers to the first historical military alliance of 11 Sikh misls that operated in the Punjab region during the 18th century (1748-1799). It was formed by Guru Gobind Singh. Pair (d) is incorrectly matched: Manji or manja literally means a cot, which is taken as the seat of authority in Sikhism Manji’s are started by Guru Amar Das
UPSC 1996Medieval History · Miscellaneous
Q3. Prem Vatika, poems on the life of Krishna, were composed by:
Explanation
Raskhan’s Prem Vatika stands out as an exquisite devotional work on Krishna, blending intense love (prem) with devotion (bhakti). Raskhan, originally a Muslim by birth, became a devoted follower of Krishna and is known for his devotional poetry. Some of his important works are: Sujana Raskhana, Danalila, Astayama, and a collection of Padas. Bihari, a 17th Century poet, authored the Satsai, being a brilliant poet of classical Hindi literature, his works do not specifically focus on Krishna’s life. Surdas was a prominent saint of the Krishna Bhakti tradition. He is known for his work Sur Sagar, a collection of poems celebrating Krishna’s childhood (bal leela) and divine play (raas leela). However, Prem Vatika is not attributed to him. Kabir, a Nirguna Bhakti professed worshiping a formless divine (nirakar). His works like Sakhi and Bijak focus on spiritual truths and unity, not Krishna-centric themes. v v v
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
1996
(c) Early forms of some of the modern Indian language
2
1996
(b) Guru Arjun Dev-Adi Granth
3
1996
(c) Raskhan
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Miscellaneous?
This page covers 3 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Miscellaneous (Medieval History), asked from 1996 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Miscellaneous?
Questions on Miscellaneous (Medieval History) are available for 13 years, from 1996 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
