UPSC (Prelims) 2023 History Previous Year Questions

In which one of the following regions was Dhamyanapha, which flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasan gahas, located?
(a) Avadh
(b) Gandhara
(c) Kalinga
(d) Magadha

With reference to ancient India, consider the following statements:

1. The Stupa was generally a repository of relics.
2. The Stupa was generally a votive and commemorative structure in Buddhist tradition.
3. The Stupa was a solid structure in Buddhist tradition.
   How many of the statements given above are correct?

With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as:
(a) capital cities
(b) ports
(c) centres of iron-and-steel making
(d) shrines of Jain Tirthankara

Which one of the following explains the practice of 'Vattakirai' as mentioned in Sangam poems?
(a) Kings using young men as bodyguards
(b) Learned persons assembling in royal courts to discuss religious and philosophical matters
(c) Young kings getting watch over religious and philosophical matters
(d) Kings defining the type of hunting watch over birds and animals

Consider the following dynasties:

1. Nayakas
2. Mahikantas
3. Kakatiyas
4. Yadavas
   How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?

With reference to ancient Indian History, consider the following pairs:
Literary work — Author

1. Devichandragupta — Bhasa
2. Hammira-Mahakavya — Nayachandra Suri
3. Milinda-panho — Nagarjuna
4. Mudrarakshasa — Vishakhadatta
   How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

"Souls are not only the property of animal and plant life, but also of rocks, running water and many other natural objects not looked on as living by other religious sects."
The above statement best reflects one of the following religious sects of ancient India:
(a) Buddhism
(b) Jainism
(c) Shaivism
(d) Vaishnavism

Consider the following statements regarding the rulers of Vijayanagara:

1. They built canals and a canal-cum-aqueduct several hundred km long from the river to the capital.
2. They made water from a canal available to all castes in Hampi.
   Which of the following rulers of Vijayanagara are associated with the above?
   (a) Devaraya I
   (b) Mallikarjuna
   (c) Virupaksha
   (d) Krishnadeva Raya

Who among the following rulers of medieval Rajputana surrendered Diu to the Portuguese?
(a) Ahmad Shah
(b) Mahmud Begada
(c) Virpaksha
(d) Mahmud Shah

By which one of the following Acts was the Governor General of Bengal designated as the Governor General of India?
(a) The Regulating Act
(b) The Pitt's India Act
(c) The Charter Act of 1833
(d) The Charter Act of 1853

With reference to the Indian History, Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with
(a) archaeological excavations
(b) establishment of English Press in Colonial India
(c) establishment of Churches in Princely States
(d) construction of railways in Colonial India

Consider the following pairs:
Site — Known for

1. Besnagar — Shaivite cave shrine
2. Bhaja — Buddhist cave shrine
3. Sittanavasal — Jain cave shrine
   How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: 7th August is declared as the National Handloom Day.
Statement-II: It was on 7th November 1905, that the Swadeshi Movement was launched on the same day.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?