UPSC (Prelims) 2020 History Previous Year Questions

With reference to the period of Gupta dynasty in ancient India, the towns Ghantasala, Kadura and Chaul were well known as:
(a) ports handling foreign trade
(b) capitals of powerful kingdoms
(c) places of exquisite stone art and architecture
(d) important Buddhist pilgrimage centres

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:
Famous Place Present State

1. Bhilsa — Madhya Pradesh
2. Dwarasamudra — Maharashtra
3. Girinagar — Gujarat
4. Sthanesvara — Uttar Pradesh
   Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
   (a) 1 and 2 only
   (b) 1 and 3 only
   (c) 2 and 4 only
   (d) 3 and 4 only

With reference to the history of India, the terms 'Polychrome' and 'demarcanam' are associated with which one of the following?
(The image shows a question referencing the history of India about terms associated with 'LARA Indulgences'. The question asks about 'dyoceraps' and 'demarcanam'. Based on visible text: 'With reference to the history of India, the terms "LARA Indulgences" and "demarcanam" denote')
(a) zone of different monetary value
(b) class of monetary value
(c) area of different monetary value
(d) religious rituals

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:
Famous Place Present State

1. Bhilsa — Madhya Pradesh
2. Dwarasamudra — Maharashtra
3. Girinagar — Gujarat
4. Sthanesvara — Uttar Pradesh
   Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
   (a) 1 and 2 only
   (b) 1 and 3 only
   (c) 2 and 4 only
   (d) 3 and 4 only

With reference to the following rulers, consider the chronological order of events:

1. The Revolt against the British government and plantation system
2. The Indigo Revolt
3. The Mappila Rebellion
4. The Champaran Satyagraha
   From page_015 actual Q36: 'Which of the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription? "Whosoever praises his own religion, due to excessive devotion, and condemns other religions with the thought of glorifying his own sect, in reality injures his own religion most gravely."'

Which of the following statements is/are correct about the cultural history of India?

1. Performing arts whose theater is considered a sacred space
2. Performances whose theater is considered a medium for attainment of liberation
   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? (From page_015, Q35 reads: 'With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the term Polychrome ware?')
   Actual Q35 extracted from image (page 015): Indigo cultivation in India declined in the 20th century because of which one of the following reasons?

Which of the following statements correctly explains the nature of the following events in the history of India?

1. The Mappila Rebellion of 1921
2. The Indigo Revolt of 1859–60
   Which one of the following is a common feature between these two events?

Which one of the following is a correct description of the term 'Indigo Revolt'? (From page_011 image visible text about history of India. Actual Q33 based on image: 'With reference to the history of India, the Indigo Revolt refers to which of the following events?')
Actual Q33 extracted: Which of the following statements correctly describes the Indigo Revolt?

With reference to the history of India, consider the following statements:

1. Indian handicrafts were ruined.
2. Machines were introduced in the Indian textile industry in large numbers.
3. Railway lines were laid in many parts of the country.
4. Heavy duties were imposed on the imports of British manufactures.
   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the description of 'Polychrome ware'? (From page 15 visible text: Q31 references the Mappila Rebellion of 1921 and the Indigo Revolt of 1859–60. Actual Q31 visible: 'With reference to the cultural history of India, which one of the following is the correct description of the Mappila Rebellion?')
Actual extracted Q31: Which one of the following best describes the Mappila Rebellion of 1921?

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

1. Aurang — In-charge of treasury of the East India Company
2. Bantas — Indian agent of the East India Company
3. Mahaldaar — Designated revenue payer to the Company
   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Wellesley established the Fort William College at Calcutta because:
(a) he was asked by the Board of Directors to do so
(b) he wanted to interest in oriental studies
(c) he wanted to provide William Carey and his colleagues with employment
(d) he wanted to train British civilians for administrative purposes in India

With reference to the cultural history of India, the terms 'Polychrome ware' and 'demarcanam' denote:
(a) class of monetary value
(b) zone of different monetary value
(c) classification of land revenue
(d) religious rituals

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact included which of the following?

1. Invitation to Congress to participate in the Second Round Table Conference
2. Withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement
3. Acceptance of Gandhiji's suggestion for enquiry into police atrocities
4. Release of those prisoners who were not charged with violence
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

With reference to the book 'Dinkar Katha' written by Sakharam Ganesh Deuskar during the freedom struggle, consider the following statements:

1. It warned against the Colonial State's hypnotic suggestions of India's economic development.
2. It inspired the spirit of swadeshi movement and patriotic songs.
3. The use of 'desh' by Deuskar was specific to the context of the region of Bengal.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of Industrial Revolution on the world in the first half of the 19th century?

Consider the following events in the history of India:

1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja
2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman — I
3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka
4. Establishment of Rashtrakuta power by Dantidurga
   What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest?

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1. Sthaviravádin belonged to Mahayana Buddhism.
2. Lokottaravadin was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.
3. The doctrine of Shunyata is associated with Mahayana Buddhism.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs:

1. Aurang — In-charge of treasury of the East India Company
2. Bantas — Indian textile industry
3. Mahaldaar — Person appointed by Aurangzeb to collect revenue
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:
   (The image shows pairs about Aurang, Bantas, Mahaldaar related to the East India Company context. Specific detail: Aurang = warehouse, Banta = Indian agent, Mahaldaar = designated revenue payer.)