UPSC (Prelims) History Hard 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 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?

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

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?

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?

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

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

Who of the following rulers of medieval India gave permission to the Portuguese to build a fort at Bhatkal?

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.

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 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 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.)

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?

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?

Consider the following pairs:

How many of the above are correctly matched?

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

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

Consider the following information:

In which of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Sanghabhuti, an Indian Buddhist monk, who travelled to China at the end of the fourth century AD, was the author of a commentary on: