History (CDS-Solved Paper)

Total Questions: 50

1. What was the Dutt-Bradley Thesis? [Evening Shift-2019 (II)]

Correct Answer: (d) It was a Communist Party document, according to which the National Congress could play a great part and a foremost part in realising the anti-imperialist people’s front
Solution:

Dutt-Bradley Thesis was a Communist Party document, according to which the National Congress could play a great part and a foremost part in realising the anti-imperialist people’s front.

The Anti-imperialistic people’s front in India written by Rajni Palme Dutt and Ben Bradley, popularly known as the Dutt-Bradley Thesis.

Anti-imperialist people are opposed to colonialism, colonial empires, hegemony, imperialism and the territorial expansion of a counter beyond its established borders. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

2. The Khuntkatti tenure was prevalent in which one of the following regions of India during the British Colonial Rule? [Evening Shift-2019 (II)]

Correct Answer: (c) Chota Nagpur
Solution:

Tribal people in Chota Nagpur area, which is present day in Jharkhand, practised Khuntkatti Tenure (system) (joint holding tribal lineages) till mid-19th century.

3. Who among the following started the Indian Agriculture Service? [Evening Shift-2019 (II)]

Correct Answer: (c) Lord Minto
Solution:

The Indian Agriculture Service was started in 1906 under the All India Board of Agriculture. It was during the viceroyalty of Lord Minto. However, the training of staff could not be taken out due to lack of funds and primary aim remained as merely education.

4. Chandimangal was composed in which one of the following languages during the 16th century CE? [Evening Shift-2019 (II)]

Correct Answer: (c) Bengali
Solution:

The Chandimangal is an important subgenre of Mangal Kavya, the most significant genre of medieval Bengali literature. The text belonging to this subgenre praise Chandi or Abhaya, primarily a folk goddess, but subsequently identified with puranic goddess Chandi. This identification was probably completed a few centuries before the earliest composition of the Chandimangal Kavya.

5. In December, 1962, which Soviet leader declared that China was responsible for the Sino-Indian War of 1962? [Evening Shift-2019 (II)]

Correct Answer: (a) Khrushchev
Solution:

The Sino-Indian War, also known as the Indo-China war and Sino-Indian border conflict, was a war between China and India that occurred in 1962. On 2nd October, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev declared that China was responsible for the Sino-Indian War of 1962.

6. Who were the Nayanars? [Evening Shift-2019 (II)]

Correct Answer: (c) Leaders who were devotees of Shiva
Solution:

Nayanars were a group of 63 saints in the 6th to 8th century who were devoted to the Hindu God Shiva in Tamil Nadu. They along with the Alwars, influenced the Bhakti movement in Tamil. The names of the Nayanars were first compiled by Sundarar.

7. Who among the following Mughal emperors was a follower of the Naqshbandiyya leader, Khwaja Ubaydullah Ahrar? [Evening Shift-2019 (II)]

Correct Answer: (a) Babur
Solution:

Mughal emperor Babur was the follower of Khwaja Ubaydullah Ahrar, a member of Naqshbandi Sufi order. This order was introduced in India by Khwaja Baqi Billah from the beginning the mystics of this order stressed on : the observance of the shariat and denounced all innovations or biddat.

8. Consider the following statements: [Evening Shift-2019 (II)]

1. According to Mahavamsa, Ashoka turned to the Buddha’s dhamma when his nephew Nigrodha preached the doctrine to him.
2. Divyavadana ascribes Ashoka being drawn to the Buddha’s teaching to the influence of Ashokavandana Samudra, a merchant-turned monk.
3. Dipavamsa speaks of Samudra, the 12 year old son of a merchant, as the key figure in Ashoka’s coming under the influence of the Buddhist dhamma.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) Only 1
Solution:

According to Mahavamsa, Ashoka turned to the Budha’s dhamma when his nephew Nigrodha preached the doctrine to him. Divyavadana ascribes Ashoka being drawn to the Budha’s teaching to the influence of Upagupta (a Buddhist monk).

Dipavamsa refers to three visits to the Sri Lanka by the Buddha, the places being Kelaniya, Deegavapi Raja Maha Viharaya. The Dipavamsa lauds the Theravada as a great banyan tree. Hence, statements 2 and 3 are incorrect and statement 1 is correct.

9. Who is the author of the 16th century Sanskrit text, the Vraja Bhakti Vilasa which focuses on the Braj region in North India? [Evening Shift-2019 (II)]

Correct Answer: (b) Narayana Bhatta
Solution:

Narayana Bhatta Goswami was Brahmin born in South India. Later, he came to Vraja and took initiation from Krishna Das Brahmachari. He wrote the 16th Century Sanskrit text Vraja Bhakti Vilasa which focuses on the Braj region in North India.

10. Read the following statements carefully and choose the correct option. [Evening Shift-2019 (II)]

Statement I The Greek travellers were most impressed by the fertility of India’s soil and the energy and ability of her cultivators.
Statement II Ancient India knew the use of manure.
Codes

Correct Answer: (a) Both the statements are individually true and statement II is the correct explanation of statement I
Solution:

Ancient India knew the use of manure. Because of this Greek travellers were most impressed by the fertility of India’s soil and the energy and ability of India’s cultivators.
From Maurya period to Gupta period, the arrival of Greeks in India is common. Greek travellers visited India and impressed by India’s natural beauty in terms of plants, animals, minerals. Hence, both the statements are correct and statement II is correct explanation of statements I.