MCQ -SERIES-24-CAPF 2022-Q&A-ABHIJEET SIR

1.Consider the following statements regarding Vardhanas

1. The founder of the family of Harsha was Pushyabhuti.
2. Pushyabhutis were the feudatories of the Guptas.
3. Aihole inscription of Pulakesin II mentions the defeat of Pulakesin by Harsha.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

2. Consider the following statements regarding Pushyamitra Sunga

1. The founder of the Sunga dynasty was Pushyamitra Sunga, who was the commander-in-
chief under the Mauryas.
2. Pushyamitra was a staunch follower of Buddhism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

3. Consider the following statements regarding Satavahanas

1. The founder of the Satavahana dynasty was Simuka.
2. Gautamiputra Satakarni became famous for his book Gathasaptasati, also called Sattasai.
3. Nasik and Nanaghad inscriptions throw much light on the reign of Gautamiputra Satakarni.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only

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D. 1, 2 and 3

4. Consider the following statements regarding foreign invaders

1. Menander and his dialogues with the Buddhist monk Nagasena was compiled in the Pali
work, Milindapanho (Questions of Milinda).
2. A Greek ambassador Heliodorus became a Vaishnavite and erected the Garuda Pillar at
Besnagar.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

5. Consider the following statements regarding Kushanas

1. The founder of the Kushana dynasty was Kujula Kadphises.
2. Kanishka was the founder of the Saka era which starts from 78 A.D.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

6. Consider the following statements regarding Cheras

1. The Cheras ruled over parts of modern Tamil Nadu only.
2. Their important seaports were Tondi and Musiri.
3. The Pugalur inscription of the first century A.D refers to three generations of Chera rulers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

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7. Consider the following statements regarding Cholas
1. Their capital was first located at Uraiyur and then shifted to Puhar.
2. Karikala was a famous king of the Sangam Cholas.
3. Padirruppattu portrays Karikala’s early life and his military conquests.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

8. Which of the following are sources of Gupta period?

1. Devichandraguptam
2. Puranas
3. Mudhrakshasam
4. Meherauli Iron Pillar Inscription
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1, 2 and 3 only
B. 2, 3 and 4 only
C. 1, 2 and 4 only
D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

9. Consider the following statements regarding Fahien’s Visit

1. Fahien visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II.
2. According to him, Buddhism was in a degrading condition in the northwestern India.
3. He came to India by the sea route and returned by the land route.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

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10. Consider the following statements regarding Social Life under Guptas
1. During the Gupta period, the caste system became rigid.
2. The practice of Swyamvara was given up.
3. Women were permitted to studying the religious texts like the Puranas.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

11. Which of the following battle ended with the Treaty of Allahabad?
A. Revolt of 1857
B. Battle of Buxar
C. First Anglo-Mysore War
D. Second Carnatic war

12. Consider the following statements

1. The Chauth and Sardeshmukhi were taxes conceived during the reign of Balaji Bajirao
2. The Sardeshmuki directly went to the King's treasury
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

13. The famous book Akbar Nama was written by

A. Abu’l Fazl
B. Shah Jahan
C. Jahangir

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D. Abdul Hamid Lahori

14. Consider the following statements regarding National Commission for Protection of Child
Rights (NCPCR)
1. It is a statutory body
2. It works under the aegis of Ministry of Women and Child development
3. Under the RTE Act, 2009, the NCPCR can inquire into complaints about violation of the
law.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

15. Bhashan Char Island, recently seen in news, is located in?

A. Gulf of Mannar
B. South China Sea
C. Gulf of Oman
D. Bay of Bengal

16. Consider the following statements regarding Digital Tax in India

1. The equalization levy was imposed to give level playing field between Indian businesses
who pay tax in India and foreign e-commerce companies who do business in India but do not
pay any income tax in India
2. Offshore e-commerce firms that sell through an Indian arm will not have to pay
equalization levy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

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17. Davinci+, Veritas missions, recently announced by NASA is related to which planet?
A. Venus
B. Mercury
C. Mars
D. Asteroid Belt

18. Consider the following statements regarding Nagorno-Karabakh region

1. It is a region located in West Asia
2. Majority of population residing in this region are Afghans
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

19. Consider the following statements regarding Mahendravarman I

1. He was also known as Mamalla, which means ‘great wrestler’.
2. His victory over Pulakesin II in the Battle of Manimangalam near Kanchi is mentioned in
Kuram copper plates.
3. He was converted to Saivism by the influence of the Saiva saint, Appar.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

20. Consider the following statements regarding Vedic literature

1. The term ‘Veda’ signifies ‘superior knowledge’.
2. The Atharva Veda consists of various details of rules to be observed at the time of
sacrifice.

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3. The Brahmanas are the treatises relating to prayer and sacrificial ceremony.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

21. Consider the following statements regarding Aryan culture

1. The principal traits of Aryan culture are set out by Vedic, Iranian, and Greek literary texts.
2. Generally, the texts represent agriculture and pastoralism as the principal sources of
livelihood.
3. They used spoked wheels, and fought with bows and arrows which were placed in quivers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

22. Consider the following statements regarding Nalanda University

1. Hiuen Tsang gives a very valuable account of the Nalanda University.
2. The medium of instruction was Prakrit.
3. It was a Hinayana University
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

23. Consider the following statements regarding Indo-Aryan conflicts

1. Aryans were divided into five tribes called panchajana.
2. The Bharatas and the Purus were the ruling Aryan clans, and they were supported by priest
Vasishtha.

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3. Battle of Ten Kings was fought on the river Parushni.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

24. Consider the following statements regarding Later Vedic Period

1. Satapatha Brahmana refers to the expansion of Aryans to the eastern Gangetic plains.
2. Pravahana Jaivali’s court, the king of Videha, was adorned by scholar Yajnavalkya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

25. Consider the following statements regarding Bimbisara

1. Bimbisara belonged to the Haryanka dynasty.
2. Bimbisara was a contemporary of both Vardhamana Mahavira and Gautama Buddha.
3. He was instrumental in convening the First Buddhist Council at Rajagriha soon after the
death of the Buddha.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

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 Answers with Explanation
1. Correct Answer : A
Answer Justification :
Early Life of Harsha
• The founder of the family of Harsha was Pushyabhuti.

• Pushyabhutis were the feudatories of the Guptas. They called themselves Vardhanas.
• After the Hun invasions they assumed independence.

• The first important king of Pushyabhuti dynasty was Prabhakaravardhana.

o His capital was Thaneswar, north of Delhi.
o He assumed the title Maharajadhiraja and Paramabhattaraka.
• The most important military campaign of Harsha was against the Western Chalukya ruler
Pulakesin II. the Aihole inscription of Pulakesin II mentions the defeat of Harsha by
Pulakesin, who after this achievement assumed the title Paramesvara. Hiuen Tsang’s
accounts also confirm the victory of Pulakesin. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
Harsha and Buddhism
• In his early life, Harsha was a devout Saiva but later he became an ardent Hinayana
Buddhist. Hiuen Tsang converted him to Mahayana Buddhism.

2. Correct Answer : A
Answer Justification :
Sungas
• The founder of the Sunga dynasty was Pushyamitra Sunga, who was the commander-in-
chief under the Mauryas.
• He assassinated the last Mauryan ruler and usurped the throne.
• The most important challenge to the Sunga rule was to protect north India against the
invasions of the Bactrian Greeks from the northwest.
• Pushyamitra was a staunch follower of Brahmanism.
• He performed two asvamedha sacrifices. Buddhist sources refer him as a persecutor of
Buddhism. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• But there is enough evidence to show that Pushyamitra patronised Buddhist art.
o During his reign the Buddhist monuments at Bharhut and Sanchi were renovated
and further improved.
o After the death of Pushyamitra, his son Agnimitra became the ruler.

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 o The last Sunga ruler was Devabhuti, who was murdered by his minister Vasudeva
Kanva, the founder of the Kanva dynasty.

3. Correct Answer : C
Answer Justification :
Satavahanas
• The founder of the Satavahana dynasty was Simuka.

• Hala became famous for his book Gathasaptasati, also called Sattasai. o It contains 700
verses in Prakrit language. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• In the Deccan, the Satavahanas established their independent rule after the decline of the
Mauryas.
• Their rule lasted for about 450 years. They were also known as the Andhras.
• The Puranas and inscriptions remain important sources for the history of Satavahanas.

• Among the inscriptions, the Nasik and Nanaghad inscriptions throw much light on the reign
of Gautamiputra Satakarni.
• The coins issued by the Satavahanas are also helpful in knowing the economic conditions of
that period.

4. Correct Answer : C
Answer Justification : All the above statements are correct.
• Bactria and Parthia became independent from the Syrian empire in the middle of the third
century B.C. Demetrius, the Greek ruler of Bactria invaded Afghanistan and Punjab and
occupied them.
• Menander was also known as Milinda and the capital of his kingdom was Sakala
(Sialcot). He evinced much interest in Buddhism and his dialogues with the Buddhist
monk Nagasena was compiled in the Pali work, Milindapanho (Questions of Milinda). He
also embraced Buddhism.
• A Greek ambassador Heliodorus became a Vaishnavite anderected the Garuda Pillar at
Besnagar. The Greek influence in India lasted for more than a century after the death
Menander.

5. Correct Answer : C
Answer Justification : All the above statements are correct.
Kushanas

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• The Kushanas were a branch of Yuchi tribe, whose original home was central Asia. They
first came to Bactria displacing the Sakas. Then they gradually moved to the Kabul valley
and seized the Gandhara region.
• The founder of the Kushana dynasty was Kujula Kadphises or Kadphises I. Kanishka (78 –
120 A.D.)
• Kanishka was the most important ruler of the Kushana dynasty. He was the founder of the
Saka era which starts from 78 A.D. He was not only a great conqueror but also a patron of
religion and art. Kanishka and Buddhism
• Kanishka embraced Buddhism in the early part of his reign. However, his coins exhibit the
images of not only Buddha but also Greek and Hindu gods.

6. Correct Answer : B
Answer Justification :
Cheras
• The Cheras ruled over parts of modern Kerala. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

• Their capital was Vanji and their important seaports were Tondi and Musiri.
• They had the palmyra flowers as their garland.

• The Pugalur inscription of the first century A.D refers to three generations of Chera rulers.
• Padirruppattu also provides information on Chera kings.

• Cheran Senguttuvan belonged to 2nd century A.D. o His younger brother was Elango
Adigal, the author of Silappathigaram.
• Senguttuvan introduced the Pattini cult or the worship of Kannagi as the ideal wife in Tamil
Nadu.
o The stone for making the idol of Kannagi was brought by him after his Himalayan
expedition.
o The consecration ceremony was attended by many princes including Gajabhagu II
from Sri Lanka.

7. Correct Answer : A
Answer Justification :
Cholas
• The Chola kingdom of the Sangam period extended from modern Tiruchi district to
southern Andhra Pradesh. Their capital was first located at Uraiyur and then shifted to Puhar.
Karikala was a famous king of the Sangam Cholas.

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• Pattinappalai portrays his early life and his military conquests. Hence, statement 3 is
incorrect.
• In the Battle of Venni he defeated the mighty confederacy consisting of the Cheras,
Pandyas and eleven minor chieftains. This event is mentioned in many Sangam poems.
• Vahaipparandalai was another important battle fought by him in which nine enemy
chieftains submitted before him.
• Karikala’s military achievements made him the overlord of the whole Tamil country.

• Trade and commerce flourished during his reign period.

• He was responsible for the reclamation of forest lands and brought them under cultivation
thus adding prosperity to the people.
• He also built Kallanai across the river Kaveri and also constructed many irrigation tanks.

8. Correct Answer : D
Answer Justification : All the above statements are correct.
Sources
• There are plenty of source materials to reconstruct the history of the Gupta period. They
include literary, epigraphical and numismatic sources.
• The Puranas throw light on the royal genealogy of the Gupta kings.
• Contemporary literary works like the Devichandraguptam and the Mudhrakshasam written
by Visakadatta provide information regarding the rise of the Guptas.
• The Chinese traveler Fahien, who visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II, has left
a valuable account of the social, economic and religious conditions of the Gupta empire.
• Apart from these literary sources, there are inscriptions like the Meherauli Iron Pillar
Inscription and the Allahabad Pillar inscription.
The first refers to the achievements of Chandragupta I.
o The most important source for the reign of Samudragupta is the Allahabad Pillar
inscription.
• The coins issued by Gupta kings contain legends and figures. These coins provide
interesting details about the titles and sacrifices performed by the Gupta monarchs.

9. Correct Answer : A
Answer Justification :
Fahien’s Visit

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• The famous Chinese pilgrim, Fahien visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II.
• Out of his nine years stay in India, he spent six years in the Gupta empire.

• He came to India by the land route through Khotan, Kashgar, Gandhara and Punjab. He
visited Peshawar, Mathura, Kanauj, Sravasti, Kapilavastu, Kusinagara, Pataliputra, Kasi and
Bodh Gaya among other places. He returned by the sea route, visiting on the way Ceylon and
Java. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• The main purpose of his visit was to see the land of the Buddha and to collect Buddhist
manuscripts from India. He stayed in Pataliputra for three years studying Sanskrit and
copying Buddhist texts.
• Fahien provides valuable information on the religious, social and economic condition of the
Gupta empire. According to him, Buddhism was in a flourishing condition in the
northwestern India but in the Gangetic valley it was in a state of neglect. He refers to the
Gangetic valley as the ‘land of Brahmanism’. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

10. Correct Answer : A

Answer Justification :
Social Life
• The pre-Gupta period in India witnessed a series of foreign invasions. Indian society had
given way to those foreigners who had become permanent residents here. But during the
Gupta period, the caste system became rigid.
• The position of women had also become miserable during the Gupta period.
o They were prohibited from studying the religious texts like the Puranas. Hence,
statement 3 is incorrect.
o The subjection of women to men was thoroughly regularized. But it was insisted
that they should be protected and generously treated by men.
o The practice of Swyamvara was given up and the Manusmriti suggested the early
marriage for girls.

11. Correct Answer : B

Answer Justification : The Treaty of Allahabad was signed on August 16, 1765 between
Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II of Bengal and Lord Clive of the British East India Company
after the Battle of Buxar (1764). Based on the terms of the agreement, Shah Alam II granted
Diwani rights to the East India Company.

12. Correct Answer : B

Answer Justification :

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• Chauth and Sardeshmukhi were taxes conceived during the times of the Great Maratha
Ruler Shivaji Maharaj. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• 'Chauth' means basically 1/4th i.e 25% of gross revenue or produce to be paid to jagirdars
of Maratha Empire from hostile or alien state. In return the state paying the tax would get
an assuarance of nonaggression from the Maratha army against the enemy state.
'Sardeshmukhi' is an additional 10% tax levied upon the collected 'Chauth'.
• The reason for the additional tax was due to the King claiming hereditary rights upon the
tax collection. The Sardeshmuki directly went to the King's treasury whereas the share of
king in Chauth was 1/3rd of the gross Chauth collected. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
13. Correct Answer : A
14. Correct Answer : D
Answer Justification :
• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) is an Indian
governmental commission, established by an Act of Parliament, the Commission for
Protection of Child Rights Act in December 2005, thus is a statutory body. Hence,
statement 1 is correct.
• The commission works under the aegis of Ministry of Women and Child development,
GoI. The Commission began operation a year later in March 2007. Hence, statement 2 is
correct.
• The Commission considers that its Mandate is "to ensure that all Laws, Policies,
Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights
perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child.
• " Under the RTE Act, 2009, the NCPCR can:
1. inquire into complaints about violation of the law.
2. summon an individual and demand evidence.
3. seek a magisterial enquiry.
4. file a writ petition in the High Court or Supreme Court.
5. approach the government concerned for prosecution of the offender.
6. recommend interim relief to those affected. Hence Statement 3 is correct.

Composition:
This commission has a chairperson and six members of which at least two should be
women.
1. All of them are appointed by Central Government for three years.
2. The maximum age to serve in commission is 65 years for Chairman and 60 years for
members.

15. Correct Answer : D

Answer Justification :
• Thousands of Rohingya protest at Bhashan Char: Context:

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• Several thousand Rohingya recently staged “unruly” protests against living conditions on
Bhashan Char- a cyclone-prone island off Bangladesh.
• What’s the issue?
Since December, Bangladesh has shifted 18,000 refugees to the low-lying silt island of
Bhashan Char from the mainland Bangladesh, where around 8,50,000 people live in
squalid and cramped conditions.
• What’s the main concern now?
Bhasan Char (Floating Island) also known as Char Piya or Thengar Char Island, is an
island in Hatiya, Bangladesh. The island was formed from a build-up of silt in the Bay of
Bengal only 20 years ago, and concerns have been consistently raised about Bhasan
Char’s exposure to extreme weather and distance from the mainland in emergencies.

16. Correct Answer : C

Answer Justification :
Both the statements are correct.
Digital tax in India:
Context:
• The United States recently announced 25% tariffs on over $2 billion worth of imports
from six nations over their digital services taxes, but immediately suspended the duties to
allow time for international tax negotiations to continue.
• The US. Trade Representative’s office had approved the threatened tariffs on goods from
Britain, Italy, Spain, Turkey, India and Austria after a “Section 301” investigation concluded
that their digital taxes discriminated against U.S. companies.
• The potential tariffs aim to equal the amount of digital taxes that would be collected from
U.S. firms.
About the Digital Tax:
India was the one of the first countries to introduce a 6 per cent equalisation levy in 2016, but
the levy was restricted to online advertisement services. However, India introduced the digital
tax in April 2020 for foreign companies selling goods and services online to customers in
India and showing annual revenues more than INR 20 million.
Applicability:
India has expanded the scope of the equalisation levy over the last few years, to tax
nonresident digital entities.
• While the levy applied only to digital advertising services till 2019-20 at the rate of 6
percent, the government in April last year widened the scope to impose a 2 per cent tax on
non-resident ecommerce players with a turnover of Rs 2 crore.
• The scope was further widened in the Finance Act 2021-22 to cover e-commerce supply or
service when any activity takes place online.

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• Since May 2021, this also includes any entity that systematically and continuously does
business with more than 3 lakh users in India. When will the tax not apply? Offshore e-
commerce firms that sell through an Indian arm will not have to pay.
• This means if the goods and services sold on a foreign e-commerce platform are owned or
provided by an Indian resident or Indian permanent establishment, they will not be subject to
the two percent equalization levy.
Why was it imposed?
The equalisation levy was imposed “to give level playing field between Indian businesses
who pay tax in India and foreign e-commerce companies who do business in India but do not
pay any income tax here.
Which other countries impose such a levy on digital sellers?
1. France imposes a three percent digital services tax.
2. In the ASEAN region, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia impose a digital service tax
with Thailand announcing forthcoming plans to tax its foreign digital service providers.
3. Negotiations are underway at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) involving 140 countries to overhaul international tax rules given the
fast growth of internet economies.
Why the United States Trade Representative (USTR) says that this tax is
discriminatory?
1. First, it states that the DST discriminates against US digital businesses because it
specifically excludes from its ambit domestic (Indian) digital businesses.
2. USTR also says the DST is discriminatory because it does not extend to identical services
provided by non digital service providers.
Why India says Digital services tax is not discriminatory? And why is it needed?
• Business models employed by non-resident digital service providers obviate the need for a
physical presence in India and profits earned here could easily escape the Indian income tax
net. Hence, this kind of taxation is necessary.
• Changing International Economic Order: Countries such as India which provide large
markets for digital corporations seek a greater right to tax incomes.
Associated Concerns:
1. Eventually the tax may become a burden for Digital Consumers.
2. It could invite retaliatory tariffs (such as the latest one), as similar tariffs were imposed by
the US on France.
3. It would also result in double taxation.

17. Correct Answer : A

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Answer Justification :
NASA announces two new missions to Venus: Context: The last US probe to visit the planet
was the Magellan orbiter in 1990. Now, NASA has announced two new missions to Venus.
These two sister missions both aim to understand how Venus became an inferno-like world,
capable of melting lead at the surface.
These include:
1. Davinci+: The Davinci+ (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases,
Chemistry, and Imaging) mission will:
• Measure the planet’s atmosphere to gain insight into how it formed and evolved.
• Determine whether Venus ever had an ocean.
• Return the first high resolution images of the planet’s “tesserae” geological features
(These features could be comparable to continents on Earth).
2. Veritas (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy): This
mission will map the planet’s surface to understand its geological history and investigate how
it developed so differently than Earth.
• It will use a form of radar to chart surface elevations and discover whether volcanoes and
earthquakes are still happening.
About Venus:
• Venus is the second planet from the sun and the hottest planet in the solar system with a
surface temperature of 500C – high enough to melt lead.
• The planet’s thick atmosphere has cranked the surface pressure up to 90 bars.
• A single Venusian rotation takes 243.0226 Earth days. That means a day lasts longer than a
year on Venus, which makes a complete orbit around the sun in 225 Earth days.
• The Venusian planetary core has a diameter of about 4,360 miles (7,000 km), comparable
to Earth’s core.
• Venus is one of just two planets that rotate from east to west. Only Venus and Uranus have
this “backwards” rotation.
Historic missions to Venus:
1. Magellan – a Nasa mission that ended in 1994.
2. Venus Express– A European mission- focused on atmospheric science.
3. Akatsuki– Japanese spacecraft- focused on atmospheric science.
Future missions:
The European Space Agency (Esa) is evaluating a Venus mission, called EnVision, alongside
two astronomy proposals – Theseus and Spica. Other concepts are also being proposed to
Nasa.

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18. Correct Answer : D
Answer Justification : Both the statements are incorrect.
Nagorno-Karabakh region:
• Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan, but its population is majority Armenian. As the
Soviet Union saw increasing tensions in its constituent republics in the 1980s, Nagorno-
Karabakh voted to become part of Armenia – sparking a war which stopped with a ceasefire
in 1994.
• Since then, Nagorno-Karabakh has remained part of Azerbaijan but is controlled by
separatist ethnic Armenians backed by the Armenian government. Context: A brief war took
place last year in a region recaptured in disputed Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Azerbaijan seized back swathes of territory in the separatist ethnic Armenia region with the
help of Turkish combat drones and other weaponry from Ankara.
• The conflict claimed 6,000 lives and ended with a Russian-brokered truce in November that
saw ethnic Armenians pushed out of large parts of the land they had won during a brutal post-
Soviet war in the 1990s.

19. Correct Answer : C

Answer Justification :
Mahendravarman I (600 – 630 A.D.)
• The long-drawn Pallava – Chalukya Conflict began during his period. Pulakesin II marched
against the Pallavas and captured the northern part of their kingdom. Although a Pallava
inscription refers to the victory of Mahendravarman I at Pullalur, he was not able to recover
the lost territory.
• Mahendravarman I was a follower of Jainism in the early part of his career.

• He was converted to Saivism by the influence of the Saiva saint, Thirunavukkarasar alias
Appar.
• The Mandagappattu inscription hails him as Vichitrachitta who constructed a temple for
Brahma, Vishnu and Siva without the use of bricks, timber, metal and mortar.
• He is also regarded as an expert in music. The music inscription at Kudumianmalai is
ascribed to him. Narasimhavarman I (630-668 A.D.) Narasimhavarman I was also known as
Mamalla, which means ‘great wrestler’. He wanted to take avenge the defeat of his father at
the hands of Chalukyan ruler Pulakesin II. His victory over Pulakesin II in the Battle of
Manimangalam near Kanchi is mentioned in Kuram copper plates. Hence, both statement 1
and 2 are incorrect.

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20. Correct Answer : C
Answer Justification : The word ‘Veda’ is derived from the root ‘vid’, which means to know.
In other words, the term ‘Veda’ signifies ‘superior knowledge’.
• The Vedic literature consists of the four Vedas – Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva.
• The Rig Veda is the earliest of the four Vedas and it consists of 1028 hymns. The hymns
were sung in praise of various gods.
• The Yajur Veda consists of various details of rules to be observed at the time of sacrifice.
Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The Sama Veda is set to tune for the purpose of chanting during sacrifice. It is called the
book of chants and the origins of Indian music are traced in it.
• The Atharva Veda contains details of rituals.

• Besides the Vedas, there are other sacred works like the Brahmanas, the Upanishads, the
Aranyakas and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• The Brahmanas are the treatises relating to prayer and sacrificial ceremony.
• The Upanishads are philosophical texts dealing with topic like the soul, the absolute, the
origin of the world and the mysteries of nature.
• The Aranyakas are called forest books and they deal with mysticism, rites, rituals and
sacrifices.

21. Correct Answer : D

Answer Justification : All the above statements are correct.
• The principal traits of Aryan culture are set out by Vedic, Iranian, and Greek literary texts
and cognate terms found in the proto-Indo-European languages.
• The texts that help us to reconstruct the material and other aspects of Aryan culture
comprise the Rig Veda, the Zend-Avesta, and Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Specialists may
differ on the criteria for dating these texts, but we may go by the generally accepted dates.
• The Rig Veda is assigned to roughly 1500 BC, although the later additions might be as late
as 1000 BC.
• The earliest parts of the Zend- Avesta are roughly attributed to 1400 BC, and Homer’s
works are assigned to 900–800 BC.
• Though these texts belong to different areas, they suggest the period when copper and
bronze were in use.
• The later portions of Homer also mention iron. Generally, the texts represent agriculture
and pastoralism as the principal sources of livelihood.
• The people lived in temperate climate.

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• They domesticated horses which were used for riding and for driving carts.
• They used spoked wheels, and fought with bows and arrows which were placed in quivers.

• They lived in a male-dominated society.

• They buried the dead body, but also practiced cremation.

• The cults of fire and soma prevailed among the speakers of the Indo-European languages in
Iran and the Indian subcontinent.
• However, animal sacrifice, including horse sacrifice, seems to have been practiced by all
the IndoEuropean communities.

22. Correct Answer : A

Answer Justification :
Nalanda University
• The Chinese travelers of ancient India mentioned a number of educational institutions.

• The most famous among them were the Hinayana University of Valabhi and the Mahayana
University of Nalanda. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• Hiuen Tsang gives a very valuable account of the Nalanda University.
• The term Nalanda means “giver of knowledge”.

• It was founded by Kumaragupta I during the Gupta period.

• It was patronised by his successors and later by Harsha.
• The professors of the University were called panditas.

• Some of its renowned professors were Dingnaga, Dharmapala, Sthiramati and Silabadhra.
Dharmapala was a native of Kanchipuram and he became the head of the Nalanda University.
• Though it was a Mahayana University, different religious subjects like the Vedas, Hinayana
doctrine, Sankhya and Yoga philosophies were also taught.
• In addition to that, general subjects like logic, grammar, astronomy, medicine and art were
in the syllabus. Discipline was very strict.
• More than lectures, discussion played an important part and the medium of instruction was
Sanskrit. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

23. Correct Answer : C

Answer Justification :

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• The Indo-Aryans were engaged in two types of conflicts. First, they fought with the pre-
Aryans, and secondly, they fought amongst themselves.
• Intra tribal conflicts rocked the Aryan communities for a long time. According to tradition,
the Aryans were divided into five tribes called panchajana, but there might have been other
tribes too.
• The Aryans fought amongst themselves and sometimes enlisted the support of the non-
Aryan peoples for the purpose.
• The Bharatas and the Tritsu were the ruling Aryan clans, and they were supported by priest
Vasishtha. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The country Bharatavarsha was eventually named after the tribe Bharata, which is first
mentioned in the Rig Veda.
• The Bharata ruling clan was opposed by a host of ten chiefs, five of whom were heads of
Aryan tribes and the remaining five of the non-Aryan people.
• The battle that the Bharatas fought with the host of ten chiefs is known as the Battle of Ten
Kings. • It was fought on the river Parushni, coterminous with the river Ravi, and it gave
victory to Sudas and established the supremacy of the Bharatas.
• Of the defeated tribes, the most important was that of the Purus.

24. Correct Answer : A

Answer Justification :
Later Vedic Period (1000 – 600 B.C.)
• The Aryans further moved towards east in the Later Vedic Period. The Satapatha Brahmana
refers to the expansion of Aryans to the eastern Gangetic plains.
• Kuru and Panchala kingdoms flourished in the beginning. Parikshat and Janamejaya were
the famous rulers of Kuru kingdom. Pravahana Jaivali was a popular king of the Panchalas.
He was a patron of learning. After the fall of Kurus and Panchalas, other kingdoms like
Kosala, Kasi and Videha came into prominence. The famous ruler of Kasi was Ajatasatru.
• Janaka was the king of Videha with its capital at Mithila. His court was adorned by scholar
Yajnavalkya. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• Magadha, Anga and Vanga seem to be the easternmost tribal kingdoms.

• The later Vedic texts also refer to the three divisions of India – Aryavarta (northern India),
Madhyadesa (central India) and Dakshinapatha (southern India).

25. Correct Answer : A

Answer Justification :

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Bimbisara (546 - 494 B.C.)
• Bimbisara belonged to the Haryanka dynasty.
• He consolidated his position by matrimonial alliances. His first matrimonial alliance was
with the ruling family of Kosala.
• Bimbisara also undertook many expeditions and added more territories to his empire. He
defeated Brahmadatta of Anga and annexed that kingdom. He maintained friendly relations
with Avanti. He had also efficiently reorganized the administration of his kingdom.
• Bimbisara was a contemporary of both Vardhamana Mahavira and Gautama Buddha.
However, both religions claim him as their supporter and devotee. He seems to have made
numerous gifts to the Buddhist Sangha. Ajatasatru According to the Mahavamsa, he
constructed several chaityas and viharas. He was also instrumental in convening the First
Buddhist Council at Rajagriha soon after the death of the Buddha. Hence, statement 3 is
incorrect.

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