Previous Year UPSC Questions

Explanation

Statement I is correct: Raja Ram Mohan Roy deeply respected the philosophical core of Indian traditions, especially Vedanta, and focused on monotheism, rational inquiry, and spiritual unity. His approach was reformist; he wanted to purify Indian philosophy rather than reject it. Roy’s efforts reflect a synthesis of Eastern spiritual wisdom and Western rational thought.

Statement II is correct: Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an ardent advocate of rationalism, scientific temper, and humanism. He actively campaigned against sati and promoted women’s rights and education. His ideals were shaped by a belief in human dignity, social equality, and freedom of thought, inspired by Enlightenment values and Christian humanitarianism. He was a key figure in the Bengal Renaissance, encouraging Indians to embrace modernity while retaining ethical values

Explanation

In September 1920, at a special session in Calcutta, the Congress approved a non-cooperation programme till the Punjab and Khilafat wrongs were removed and swaraj was established. The programme was to include: boycott of government schools and colleges; boycott of law courts and dispensation of justice through panchayats instead; boycott of legislative councils; (there were some differences over this as some leaders like C.R. Das were not willing to include a boycott of councils, but bowed to Congress discipline; these leaders boycotted elections held in November 1920 and the majority of the voters too stayed away); boycott of foreign cloth and use of khadi instead; also practice of hand-spinning to be done; renunciation(not retention) of government honours and titles; the second phase could include mass civil disobedience including resignation from government service, and non-payment of taxes. During the movement, the participants were supposed to work for Hindu-Muslim unity and for removal of untouchability, all the time remaining non-violent.

Explanation

The Araghatta is an ancient irrigation device used in India. It consists of a large wheel with earthen pots (or pitchers) tied at intervals to the outer circumference or spokes. The wheel is rotated, typically powered by animals like bullocks or humans, causing the pots to dip into a water source and lift water as the wheel turns As the pots rise, they carry water which is then emptied into irrigation channels, helping water fields. This device is a variation of the Persian wheel, a popular traditional method of irrigation. Babur in his book Baburnama has described the Persian Wheel in detail.

Explanation

Mahendravarman I, a prominent Pallava ruler (600-630 CE) was known for his literary talent and artistic inclinations, in addition to his political achievements. He assumed titles such as ‘Mattavilasa’, ‘Vichitrachitta’ and ‘Gunabhara’. These titles reflect his reputation as a scholar, playwright, and patron of arts and culture, especially noted for his Sanskrit and Tamil plays. Mahendravarman I is also famous for his temple-building activities, such as the rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram.

Explanation

Fa Xian (337-422 CE), a Chinese Buddhist monk, came to India on a pilgrimage during the reign of Chandragupta II (375-415 CE) and penned A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms. His travelogues highlight the prosperity and stability of the Gupta Empire under Chandragupta II’s rule, and he visited Buddhist sites like Nalanda, Bodh Gaya, and Sarnath. Fa-hien praised the empire for its law and order and the flourishing of Buddhist monastic institutions. His accounts provide valuable insights into the political and social conditions of India during the Gupta Golden Age.

Explanation

The re-emergence of Cholas began with Vijayalaya (850-871 CE) conquering the Kaveri delta from Muttaraiyar. He built the city of Thanjavur and established the Chola kingdom in 850. Vijayalaya’s illustrious successors starting from Parantaka I (907-955) to Kulothunga III (1163-1216) brought glory and fame to the Cholas. Parantaka Chola set the tone for expansion of the territory and broadened the base of its governance, and Rajaraja I (985-1014), the builder of the most beautiful Brihadishvarar temple at Thanjavur, and his son Rajendra I (1012-1044), whose naval operation extended as far as Sri Vijaya, consolidated the advances made by their predecessors and went on to establish Chola hegemony in peninsular India. During the Chola reign, the naval achievements of the Tamils reached its peak. The Cholas controlled both the Coromandel and Malabar coasts. The Chola navy often ventured into the Bay of Bengal for some decades. Rajendra’s naval operation was directed against Sri Vijaya. The Srivijaya kingdom was a powerful maritime empire controlling trade routes in the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and surrounding islands, dominating the Straits of Malacca and Southeast Asian sea trade. Sri Vijaya kingdom (southern Sumatra) was one of the prominent maritime and commercial states that flourished from c. 700 to c. 1300 in South-east Asia. Similarly, Kheda (Kadaram), a feudatory kingdom under Sri Vijaya, was also conquered by Rajendra. Hence, Option (c) is correct Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

Amoghavarsha I was a Rashtrakuta ruler, known for cultural patronage, not naval expeditions to Southeast Asia. Prataparudra was a Kakatiya ruler who fought against the Delhi Sultanate; no known campaign against Srivijaya. Vishnuvardhana was a Hoysala king associated with expansion in Karnataka, not maritime campaigns against Srivijaya.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correct: Asmaka (or Assaka) was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas, located in the Deccan region, corresponding to parts of present-day Maharashtra and Telangana. It was located on the banks of the Godavari River, particularly near Paithan.

Pair 2 is incorrect: Kamboja was located in the northwestern region (possibly near modern Afghanistan or parts of Tajikistan). The Vipas (modern Beas River) is located in present-day Punjab. It flows much further east than where Kamboja is believed to have been. Therefore, this river does not flow through Kamboja.

Pair 3 is incorrect: Avanti was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas, located in western Madhya Pradesh, with its capital at Ujjain or Mahishmati. The main river flowing in this region is the Chambal or Shipra, not Mahanadi. Mahanadi flows through Chhattisgarh and Odisha, far to the east of Avanti.

Pair 4 is correct: Kosala was located in eastern Uttar Pradesh, with capitals at Ayodhya and Shravasti. The Sarayu River (a tributary of the Ghaghara) flows through Ayodhya, so this match is correct

Explanation

Date & Founder: Established on May 5, 1901, by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. Location: Set up in Lahore. Name: Named Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, a music school. Facilities: Included a hostel, instrument repair section, and Sangeet Printing Press. Purpose: Aimed to publish and disseminate musical material for easier communication with the educated elite. Hence option (d) is correct.

Option (d) is correct: Vishnu Digambar Paluskar founded the first Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Lahore in 1901. His aim was to make classical music education accessible to the public beyond the traditional guru-shishya parampara (teacher-disciple system). Gandharva Mahavidyalaya became a landmark institution for the systematic teaching of Hindustani classical music. Later, due to political and other reasons, the school’s activities expanded to other places, including Mumbai.

Explanation

Ashoka’s rule gives us an alternative model of a righteous king and a just state. He instructed his officials, the yuktas (subordinate officials), rajjukas (rural administrators) and pradesikas (heads of the districts) to go on tours every five years to instruct people in dhamma (Major Rock Edict 3). Ashoka’s injunctions to the officers and city magistrates stressed that all the people were his children and he wished for his people what he wished for his own children, that they should obtain welfare and happiness in this world and the next. These officials should recognise their own responsibilities and strive to be impartial and see to it that men were not imprisoned or tortured without good reason. He added that he would send an officer every five years to verify if his instructions were carried out (Kalinga Rock Edict 1). Thus, The terms ‘Pradeshika’, ‘Rajuka’, and ‘Yukta’ refer to officials who were part of the district-level administration (also called ‘pradesha’ or ‘vishaya’). Pradeshika was an official responsible for overseeing a district or province, often charged with judicial and revenue duties. Rajuka was the chief revenue officer or district officer responsible for land revenue and agricultural administration. Yukta generally refers to an assistant or subordinate officer serving under the Rajuka.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The Indian National Congress under Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership declared Swaraj (self-rule) as its ultimate objective through the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22). The movement emphasized the use of all legitimate and peaceful means such as boycott of British goods, law courts, educational institutions, and titles. The commitment to non-violence and peaceful protest was a foundational principle.

Statement 2 is correct: The strategy of the Non-Cooperation Movement was phased or staged. Gandhi proposed that the movement would initially involve peaceful non-cooperation (boycotts, resignation from government jobs, etc.). If Swaraj was not achieved within a year and if the British government resorted to repression, the next stage would involve more intense actions such as civil disobedience and non-payment of taxes. This conditional phased approach was meant to give the British government a chance to negotiate but also prepared Indians for escalated resistance if necessary.