UPSC (Prelims) 2021 History Previous Year Questions

Which one of the following statements is correct?

With reference to the history of ancient India, Bharavahu and Sarvanandin were famous as

According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas?

1. Wrestling
2. Astrology
3. Accounting
4. Soothsaying
   Select the correct answer using the code given below.

In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as

With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
   Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements:

1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNESCO.
2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
   Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Which one of the following ancient towns is well known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelising water into connected reservoirs?

Consider the following statements:

1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21.
2. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in legislature.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?

Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?

Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?

Consider the following statements:

1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezmian prince.
2. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus.
3. It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of the Hyderabad State.
2. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of the Vijayanagara Empire.
3. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below.

From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India?

1. The Guptas of Magadha
2. The Paramaras of Malwa
3. The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar
4. The Maukharis of Kanauj
5. The Yadavas of Devagiri
6. The Maitrakas of Valabhi
   Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
2. In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim property rights during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
3. The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to Chausath Yogini Temple situated near Morena, consider the following statements:

1. It is a circular temple built during the reign of Kachchhapaghata Dynasty.
2. It is the only circular temple built in India.
3. It was meant to promote the Vaishnava cult in the region.
4. Its design has given rise to a popular belief that it was the inspiration behind the Indian Parliament building.
   Which of the statements given above are correct?

In the first quarter of seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located?

Consider the following pairs:
Historical place — Well-known for

1. Burzahom — Rock-cut shrines
2. Chandrakеtugarh — Terracotta art
3. Ganeshwar — Copper artefacts
   Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?