1) The Nitisara of Kamandaka, also known as the Kamandakiya-Nitisara, was composed during the period of:
a. Satavahana dynasty
b. Gupta dynasty
c. Kalachuri dynasty d. Nanda dynasty
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Gupta dynasty
Explanation:
The Nitisara of Kamandaka, also known as the Kamandakiya-Nitisara, was composed during the period of Gupta Dynasty. It was based on Kautilya’s Arthashastra
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2) Works of 11th century Sanskrit poet Jayadeva have become the basis of which among the following dance forms of India?
a. Odissi
b. Bharatnatyam
c. Kathak d. Manipuri
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Odissi
Explanation:
No explanation is available for this question!
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3) Yavanpriya in ancient Hindu Texts refers to which among the following?
a. Peppar
b. Clove
c. Silk d. Muslin
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Peppar
Explanation:
Black Pepper was one of the most thing thing imported by Greek traders from Ancient India . In ancient times the people in Central Asia are called as Yavanas in India. They liked the pepper and imports large amount of pepper from India so the pepper is named as Yavana-the people of foreign countries. Priya-they like pepper so it was called as Yavanapriya.
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4) Pushyamitra Shunga, who was originally a Senapati of the Mauryan Empire and assassinated the last Mauryan Emperor Brihadrath in 185 BC was a ____?
a. Brahamin
b. Kshatriya
c. Vaishya d. Shudra
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Brahamin
Explanation:
Pushyamitra Shunga was the founder and first ruler of the Shunga Empire. He was a Brahmin and follower of Hinduism. Pushyamitra was originally a Senapati “General” of the Maurya Empire. In 185 BCE he assassinated the last Mauryan Emperor, Brihadratha Maurya, during an army review, and proclaimed himself emperor.
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5) During the period of Harshavardhana the fields were watered by the pots which were called Ghati yantra. The writing of which among the following authors records this?
a. Hiuen-tsang
b. Subhandhu
c. Dandin d. Banabhatta
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Hiuen-tsang
Explanation:
Hiuen-tsang was a Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who traveled to India in the seventh century and described the interaction between Chinese Buddhism and Indian Buddhism during the early Tang dynasty. The Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang visited India during the period of emperor Harsha. Ghati Yantras was recorded by him.
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6) Who among the following is compiled the work “Ravanavadham”?
a. Bhatti
b. Kalidasa
c. Bhasa d. Banabhatta
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Bhatti
Explanation:
Bhatti compiled the work “Ravanavadham”. It is the most influential version of Ramayanam.
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7) Nigashtha, Natputra, Nirgranth & Saatputra are various names of which of the following?
a. Mahavira
b. Gautam Buddha
c. Chandra gupta Vikramaditya d. Ashoka
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Mahavira
Explanation:
Nigashtha, Natputra, Nirgranth & Saatputra are various names of Mahavira. Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana was the 24th tirthankara of Jainism. Vīr, Ativīr, Vardhamāna, Sanmati, Nāyāputta, Kasyapa are the other names.
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8) In which of the following marriages in Vedic era, a girl was given by her father to a sage?
a. Brahma marriage
b. Daiva Marriage
c. Gandharva Marriage d. Arsha Marriage
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Arsha Marriage
Explanation:
In Arsha marriage, the girl is given in marriage to a sage. One example of Arsh Marriage is that of Agastya with Lopamudra.
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9) Nalanda University was founded by which of the following ?
a. Kumaragupta
b. Skandagupta
c. Samudragupta d. None of the above
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Kumaragupta
Explanation:
The Nalanda University was founded by Gupta emperor Kumargupta I. He adopted the title of Mahendraditya. It was established in 5th century.
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10) Hemis festival is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (Gur Rimpoche) venerated as the representative reincarnate of Buddha. In which part of India it is held every year?
a. Himachal Pradesh
b. Assam
c. Ladakh d. Orissa
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Ladakh
Explanation:
The Hemis festival is dedicated to Lord Padmasambhava (Gur Rimpoche) venerated as the representative reincarnate of Buddha. He is believed to have been born on the 10th day of the fifth month of the Monkey year as predicted by the Shakia Muni Buddha
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11) Consider the following observations related to Indus Valley Civilization:
1. Cattle were the main domestic animals of the Indus farmers
2. Most common among reared cattle was the ‘unicorn’ or one horned bovid
Which among the above statements is / are correct?
a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 & 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Only 1
Explanation:
The second statement is a trap. The unicorn is the most common animal on seals but it is mythical beast not real. The unicorn frequently shown on seals is also often identified as a bovid, perhaps the humpless bull whose representation with a single horn may be due to an artistic convention (which was common in the Near East) for depicting bovids that actually had two horns. Alternatively, it may be intended as a mythical, probably composite, beast. The latter is perhaps more likely because figurines of unicorns have also been found and because the individual features of the unicorn on the seals, such as the very long horn and the pricked ear, do not match any known bovid. Alternatively, it may be a local copy of a foreign (e.g., Near Eastern) depiction of a humpless bull, if this were the case it would provide evidence that the humpless bull was not present in the Indus civilization.
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12) With reference to the architecture of Indus Valley Civilization, consider the following statements:
1: Stone was generally used for construction of houses in almost all sites of Indus realm
2: There was an extensive use of baked bricks for building houses in Mohenjodaro and Chanhu-daro
Which among the above statements is / are correct?
a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 & 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Only 2
Explanation:
Stone was rarely used in architecture except in Gujarat, where it was common; Mohenjodaro and Chanhu-daro were unusual in their very extensive use of baked bricks for building houses.
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13) With reference to the Harappan seals, which among the following statements is / are correct?
1. Unicorn seals have been found in most Indus towns and cities
2. The seals are engraved with pictures of not only bull, but also elephant, rhino, humpless bull and the tiger
3. Most harappan seals are devoid of an inscription
Choose the correct option from the codes given below:
a. Only 1
b. Only 1 & 2
c. Only 2 & 3 d. Only 1 & 3
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Only 1 & 2
Explanation:
Harappan seals bore two things: a design and an inscription. The design could be recognized and its significance understood by anyone, while the inscription could be read only by the literate few. The Indus script is still undeciphered, so it is uncertain what these inscriptions said, but studies of seals from other cultures suggest they were probably personal names, titles, or both. On the stamp seals, the inscription was written in reverse, showing that it was usually read from sealings or impressions, not from the seal itself. All but a few of the images on seals depicted a single animal, often with a feeding trough in front of it. The most common was the unicorn, a creature with a single horn combining elements of a humpless bull and an antelope. Unicorn seals have been found in most Indus towns and cities, particularly in Mohenjo-daro; more than a thousand are known, while fewer than a hundred have been found of any other individual design. Around fifty seals depict a zebu bull: These are almost all confined to Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, though one is known from Kalibangan. Zebu seals were generally large and beautifully executed, and they had short inscriptions. Other animals included the elephant, the rhino, the humpless bull, the tiger, the water buffalo, the sheep, and the goat, and were mainly wild creatures native to the Indus region. A very small number of seals bear scenes rather than individual animals. These seals were generally larger than average and must have had a special significance. While the depiction of the animals was standardized, with only small differences occurring in their detail, the scenes are unique, though some share a theme.
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14) With reference to the Samaveda, which among the following statements is / are correct?
1. It’s content is significantly sourced from Rig-Veda
2. It lays down fundamental principles of dance, music, and drama
Choose the correct option from the codes given below:
a. Only 1 is correct
b. Only 2 is correct
c. Both 1 & 2 are correct d. Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Only 1 is correct
Explanation:
The second statement related to Bharat’s Natyashashtra
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15) Gautam Buddha is known to have concentrated on two most important questions about existence. Which among the following is / are those two questions?
1: How can we minimize suffering (own and others)
2: How can we attain inner peace?
3: Whether suffering continues only for this life or for next life
4: If the world is eternal (or not)
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
a. 1 & 2
b. 2 & 3
c. 1 & 3 d. 2 & 4
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 1 & 2
Explanation:
Two most important questions Buddha wished to answer were:
1: How can we minimize suffering?-both our own and that of others?
2: How can we attain inner peace?
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16) With reference to Gupta Empire, consider the following statements:
1: Gupta Empire was based mainly in parts of central and southern India.
2: Culture of Gupta Empire revolved around ‘Brahmanical religion’
3: Harisena was a famous poet in the court of Chandragupta-II.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a. 2 Only
b. 2 and 3 Only
c. 1, 2 and 3 d. None
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 2 Only
Explanation:
First statement is incorrect because Gupta Empire was based mainly in central and northern Indian areas of Prayag (Allahabad), Saket (modern Ayodhya) and Magadha (Bihar). Second statement is correct because Gupta Empire revolved around brahmanical characteristics. Many of their works are examples to it. Third statement is also incorrect because Harisena was a famous poet in the court of Samudragupta and not in court of Chandragupta II.
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17) Which of the following religious text describes Brahmavarta as the region between the rivers Saraswati and Drishadwati in India?
a. Manusmriti
b. Bhagavata Purana
c. Atharvaveda d. Matsya Purana
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Manusmriti
Explanation:
The Hindu religious text Manusmriti describes Brahmavarta as the region between the rivers Sarasawti and Drishadwati in India. The earliest of the Hindu sacred text, Rig-Veda refers to the Saprasindhava, Panchanada, Madhyadesha and Praki. These were perhaps the first references to the emergence of regions. The geographical location of these regions suggests that the Indo- Aryans preferred to settle down along the banks of the rivers-Sindhu (Indus), Vitasta, Jhelum), Asikni also known Chandrabhaga (Chenab). There is a general agreement that the region known as Panchanada included the plains of the five great eastern tributaries of the Sindhu River. Further east, the land between the Sarasawti and Drishadwati was known to the Indo-Aryan as Brahmavarta.
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18) Consider the following pairs:
1: Gautamiputra Satakarni – Also known as Ekabrahmana
2: Yaudheya – Rulers of North-East India
3: Vasudeva – Founder of Kanva dynasty
Which of the above is/are correct?
a. 1 & 3 Only
b. 3 Only
c. 2 & 3 Only d. 1, 2 & 3
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: 1 & 3 Only
Explanation:
Gautamiputra Satakarni was known as Ekabrahmana. He is known for making Caste System Rigid during his reign. Yaudheya were the rulers of South-Eastern Punjab and Rajasthan. The Kanva dynasty was founded by Vasudeva Kanva, a Brahmin dynasty that replaced the Shunga dynasty in Magadha, and ruled in the Eastern part of India.
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19) In which of the following places Ochre Coloured Pottery culture (OCP) is mainly found?
a. Western UP
b. Bengal
c. Bihar d. Eastern UP
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Western UP
Explanation:
Ochre Coloured Pottery culture (OCP) is Bronze Age culture of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. This culture is mainly found in Western UP
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20) Which of the following is the other name Indra?
a. Protosiva
b. Purandhar
c. Soma d. God of personified water
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Answer
Explanation
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ANSWER: Purandhar
Explanation:
Indra was known as the greatest god of the Aryans. 250 hymns are attributed to him. He is also called Purandhar which means Breaker of forts. Other names include Maghavan (bounteous), and Vritrahan (Slayer of Vritra, chaos).
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