Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Pulakeshin-I was the founder of the Chalukya dynasty and ruled in the early 6th century, i.e. before Harsha’s time.

Option (b) is correct: Emperor Harsha (606-647 CE) expanded his empire across North India, ruling from Kannauj and influencing regions like Punjab, Bengal, Odisha, and Central India. Seeking to extend his control southward beyond the Vindhyas, he invaded the Deccan but was defeated by Pulakeshin II, the Chalukya ruler (c. 610-642 CE), around 618-619 CE at the Narmada River. This defeat established the Narmada as the boundary between Harsha’s northern empire and the Chalukyan kingdom, preventing further expansion into the south.

Option (c) is incorrect: Vikramaditya-I was a later Chalukya king, ruling after Pulakeshin-II.

Option (d) is incorrect: Vikramaditya-II ruled even later than Vikramaditya-I and his reign did not overlap with Harsha’s.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Cholas were successful in defeating the Pandya and Chera rulers, establishing a stronghold in peninsular India, and significantly expanding their territorial control in South India during the early medieval period. For example, under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I, the Cholas defeated these rulers and extended their empire across peninsular India.

Statement 2 is correct: The Cholas were also known for their naval power and maritime trade, which led them to conduct expeditions to South-East Asia. Their naval campaigns extended the Chola influence to regions like Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia, where they challenged the Sailendra Empire. For instance, Rajendra Chola I led a successful naval expedition (1025 CE) against the Srivijaya Empire (modern-day Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand). The Cholas temporarily conquered some areas, demonstrating their naval supremacy in the region.

Explanation

Statement A is false: Maulana Mohammad Ali and Abul Kalam Azad did not resign from the Legislative Council in 1916. They resigned in 1919 during the Khilafat Movement.

Statement R is true: The Rowlatt Act, known for its repressive provisions, was passed despite unanimous opposition from Indian members of the Legislative Council. The Rowlatt Act provoked nationwide protests across India, with people from all walks of life, including students, workers, and political leaders, expressing their anger.

Explanation

The political situation in north-west India during early 16th CE was a suitable condition for Babur’s entry into India. Ibrahim Lodi came to the throne of Delhi in 1517 and aimed to establish a large centralised empire that had alarmed the Afghan chief as well as Rajputs.

Option (a) is correct: Alam Khan, who invited Babur to invade India was an uncle of Ibrahim Lodi and a pretender to the throne of Delhi. Alam Khan along with Daulat Khan Lodi invited Babur to India. In the first battle of Panipat in 1526, Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur.

Explanation

Mughal Emperor Shahjahan’s failing health set off the war of succession among his four sons Shuja, Murad, Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb in 1657.

Option (c) is correct: The Battle of Dharmat was fought between Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh on April 30, 1658, who were both vying for the Mughal throne. Aurangzeb emerged victorious in the battle.

Explanation

Jahandar Shah (1661-1713) was the 9th Mughal Emperor who reigned from 1712 to 1713 and he was the son of Bahadur Shah. After the death of Bahadur Shah, a new element entered Mughals’ political arena, in which nobles were ‘king makers,’ and rulers were only ‘puppets’ in their hands. Jahandar Shah was considered as the first Mughal India puppet ruler as he won the seat of throne with the support of Zulfiqar Khan, the most powerful noble of the time. Jahandar Shah’s reign came to an early end in January 1713. He was defeated in the battle at Samugarh (a city near Agra) by his nephew Farrukhsiyar on 10th January 1713 with the help of Sayyid Brothers. Farrukshiyar proclaimed himself the Mughal emperor after the battle.

Explanation

Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) used diplomacy and military campaigns to expand the Mughal Empire. Assertion (A) is correct: In 1580s, Akbar led his army to Kabul and defeated Hakim Mirza, the king of Kabul. When Hakim Mirza died, the territory of Kabul was annexed to the Mughal Empire. Reason (R) is incorrect: Akbar marched towards Afghanistan in 1580s to create a safety valve to this empire but not to reclaim his ancestral country of Ferghana in Central Asia.

Explanation

/(c) Shah Alam II (1728-1806) was the Mughal Emperor, ruling from 1759 to 1806. His reign marked a period of decline for the Mughal Empire, as it faced significant challenges, including invasions and internal rebellions. Assertion (A) is Correct: Shah Alam II spent his early years away from Delhi, primarily in Bihar and Allahabad, due to political instability, including internal rivalries and external threats, such as Ahmed Shah Durrani’s invasions. Reason (R) is correct: During Shah Alam II’s reign, invasions from the northwest, especially by Ahmed Shah Durrani, posed significant threats to the Mughal Empire. The primary reason for Shah Alam II’s absence was internal threats and the dominance of nobles like Najib-ud-Daula in Delhi, rather than solely the danger of foreign invasions. Hence Reason (R) does not explain Assertion (A). Hence, Option (b) is the correct answer.

Explanation

East Timor (Timor-Leste), a Southeast Asian nation with Dili as its capital, was a Portuguese colony for over 400 years before Indonesia occupied it in 1975. Following a UN-sponsored referendum in 1999, where the majority voted for independence, violent clashes erupted. The UN Transitional Administration (UNTAET) took control to restore peace and oversee governance, leading to East Timor’s full independence in 2002. Portugal did not "hand over" the territory to Indonesia in 1975 - instead, Indonesia invaded and annexed East Timor following a power vacuum created by the impending withdrawal of Portugal, leading to a civil war within East Timor between political factions. East Timor declared its independence on May 20, 2002.

Explanation

Seychelles is the country where Rupee is used as its currency. Bhutan uses the Ngulturn, Malaysia uses the Malaysian Ringgit and Maldives uses the Maldivian Rufiyaa.