1.

I. The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over peninsular India in the early medieval times.  

II. The Cholas sent an expedition against Sailendra empire of South East Asia and conquered some of the areas.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) Only I

(b) Only II

(c) Both I & II

(d) Neither I nor II

2.

1. Harappa

2. Mohenjodaro

3. Chanhudaro

4. Surkotada

Sites of Harappan culture located in Sindh include

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 and 3

(c) 2, 3, and 4

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

3.

1. A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.

2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.

3. If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was entitled to the legal status of the master''s son.

Which of the statements given above are correct according to Kautilya''s Arthashastra?.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

4.

1. It requires banks to maintain a stable funding profile in relation to their off-balance-sheet assets and activities.

2. It is a Basel III norm.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct w.r.t. Net Stable Funds Rate?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

5.

Maghreb Region includes

(a) Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

(b) Only Algeria, Libya, and Mauritania

(c) Only Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.

(d) Only Algeria, Libya and Tunisia.

6.

With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements 

1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock- cut caves in India. 

2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made   for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. 

3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths. 

Which of the statements given above is /are correct? 

(a) Only 1

(b) 2 and 3 

(c) Only 3

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

7.

1. The Ibadat Khana was constructed around the room of Shaikh Abdullah Niyazi Sirhindi, a disciple of Shaikh Salim Chishti who later became a devotee of Lord Shiva.

2. Akbar ordered the translation of the Sanskrit Mahabharata into Persian.

3. “Badshah Nama” is a chronicle of Shah Jahan.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?.

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 2 only

8.

1. Gnanadeva wrote a commentary of Bhagavad Gita called Gnaneswari.

2. Nimbarka wrote a commentary on the Brahma-Sutras known as the VedantaParijata-Saurabha.

Which of the above is/are true?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

9.

Which one of the following is a monument constructed by Shershah? 

(a) Qila-i-Kuhna at Delhi 

(b) Atala Masjid at Jaunpur 

(c) Bara Sona Masjid at Gaur 

(d) Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque at Delhi

10.

Which of the following is/are incorrect w.r.t. “Cemetery R-37” in Indian History?.

1. It refers to burial site of later vedic age.

2. It is the smaller site compared to Cemetery H of Harappan age.

3. It reflects about social structure and hierarchy.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

11.

I. Bagh Caves

II. Ajanta Caves

III. Ellora Caves

Which of the above examples of cave paintings of the Gupta period in ancient India.?

(a) Only I & III

(b) Only I & II

(c) Only II & III  

(d) I, II & III  

12.

1. Qutubuddin Aibak imposed Jizya for the first time.

2. Jizya was abolished by Akbar.

3. Ahmad Shah introduced the Jizya for Hindus of Gujarat.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct w.r.t. “Jizya”?.

(a) Only 2 and 3 are correct

(b) Only 1 and 3 are correct

(c) Only 1 is correct

(d) All are correct

o  

13.

I. He converted the Bay of Bengal into a ‘Chola Lake’.

II. He assumed the title “Gangaikonda“.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct w.r.t. Rajendra Chola I?

(a) Only I

(b) Only II

(c) Both I & II

(d) Neither I nor II

14.

The correct chronology of the following ancient dynasties is

1. Haryanaka dynasty

2. Shishunaga dynasty

3. Nanda dynasty

(a) 2, 1, 3

(b) 1, 3, 2

(c) 2, 3, 1

(d) 1, 2, 3

15.

1. Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of ten members.

2. It specifies a time limit of 60 days for completion of inquiry and 6 months for completion of investigation.

3. It fails to incorporate provisions for attachment and confiscation of property acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect with respect to Lokpal Act?.

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 1 only

16.

I. They are located in supermassive black holes.

II. Most quasars are larger than our solar system.

Which of the above statements is/are true w.r.t. Quasars?

(a) Only I

(b) Only II

(c) Both I & II

(d) Neither I nor II

17.

Which of the following kings have left inscriptions mentioning the Sudarshana Lake?

1.  Ashoka

2.  Rudra Daman

3.  Samudra Gupta

4.  Skanda Gupta

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 2 and 4

18.

Consider the following statements.

I. Asokan inscriptions were written in Prakrit & Greek only.    

II. Kandahar Greek Edicts is on a stone plaque.

Which of the above statements is/are true?.

(a) Only I

(b) Only II

(c) Both I & II

(d) Neither I nor II

19.

1. The first evidence of man was found in India in western Narmada region of Madhya Pradesh.

2. Narmada Human belongs to the category of Homo erectus.

(a) Only (1) is true

(b) Only (2) is true

(c) Both (1) & (2) are true

(d) Neither (1) Nor (2) is true

20.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. European Space Agency''s Juice Mission.

1. It was launched from French Guiana on an Ariane 5 launcher.

2. It is equipped to detect life on Jupiter.

(a) Only 1 is true

(b) Only 2 is true

(c) Both 1 and 2 are true

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 is true

21.

1. He was contemporary of Sivaji.

2. He was famously known for Abhanga devotional poetry.

Which of the above is/are true w.r.t. Saint Tukaram?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

22.

The ‘Prayag Prashasti’ composed in Sanskrit speaks about

(a) Ashoka

(b) Samudragupta

(c) Buddha

(d) Dantidurga

23.

Which of the following statements relating to Indus Valley civilization are correct?

I. Indus Valley civilization was non-Aryan because it was an Urban Civilization.

II. The main reason to keep the Indus-Valley civilization before Aryan civilization is Potteries.

(a) Only I

(b) Only II

(c) Both I & II

(d) Neither I nor II

24.

Consider the following statements w.r.t. Indus Valley Civilization:

1. It was bound by religious rule.

2. Harappan Farmers were the first to weave cotton textiles.

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.

1. He was coronated twice.

2. He fought the battle of Dharmat.

3. Muslims accepted him as "Zinda Peer".

4. Antonio Monserrate came to India during his reign.

Which is the correct combo w.r.t. Aurangazeb’s reign in India?

(a) 2 and 3 only

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

EXPLANATIONS

1.

Chola dynasty was established by Parantak-I in Southern India. He defeated Madura King and assumed the title of “Madurai-Kond.” According to Thanjavur inscription, Rajaraja-I defeated Cheras naval army in Kandalloor and then Rajaraja-I and his son Rajendra-I sent an expedition against Sailendra empire of South East Asia and conquered some of the areas as they were facing diffi  culty in a trade with China.

C

2.

Harappa is in Punjab (Pakistan), Mohenjodaro and Chanhudaro are both in Sindh. Surkotada is in Gujarat.

b

3.

Arthshastra  

• The Arthashastra states that a man could not be a slave either by birth, by voluntarily selling himself, by being captured in war, or as a result of judicial punishment. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• Slavery was a recognized institution and the legal relationship between master and slave was clearly defined e.g. if a female slave bore her master a son,
• She was legally free, and 
• the son was entitled to the legal status of the master''s son. 
• Hence statement 2 & 3 are correct.
• When a female slave gives birth to a child of her master, both the child and its mother shall be considered free at once. If the mother is to be in bondage for sustenance, her brother and sister will be set free.
• Selling or pawning the life of a male or female slave once freed shall be punished with a fine of 12 panas, except those who enslave themselves.
• Mauryan empire was a vast territorial entity. Various levels of administration were required to govern it well.
• The Arthashastra, Greek accounts and Ashokan inscriptions give us a good idea about the administrative system.
• According to the Arthshastra of Kautilya, a striking development of the Mauryan period was the employment of slaves in agricultural operations. 
• Domestic slaves were found in India from Vedic times onwards. However, ancient Indian society was not a slave society.
• Kautilya’s Arthshastra contains 15 adhikaranas or books.
• The first five deal with ‘tantra’ i.e. internal administration of the state.
• The next eight deal with ‘avapa’ or its relations with neighbouring states.
• The last two are miscellaneous in character. ​
• ​Arthshastra deals with problems of administration as well as laws of property and crime. 
• ​Arthshastra argues the case for a fully-centralised government for the empire. 
• It also mentions female bodyguards and spies that Mauryan rulers maintained. These female bodyguards were skilled in archery.

4.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/rbi-offers-relief-on-buffer-stable-funding-ratio-norms/article32725808.ece

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/rbi-asks-hdfc-bank-to-comply-with-crr-slr-lcr-post-hdfc-merger/article66764016.ece

• DFC Bank said the Reserve Bank has refused to make any exceptions on cash reserve ratio (CRR) and statutory liquidity ratio (SLR) requirements as sought by it ahead of the merger of mortgage financier parent HDFC with itself. The central bank has, however, allowed some leeways on the priority sector lending front, the city-headquartered bank said in a letter to the exchanges.
• HDFC Bank and HDFC announced a USD 40 billion merger, the largest in Indian corporate history, last April and are awaiting the final regulatory go-ahead for the same. In pursuit of the same scheme, HDFC Bank sought relaxations on certain regulatory requirements from the regulator.The bank informed the exchanges that it has received a letter from RBI with views on certain matters, while clarity on other requests is expected in due course.

CRR

• It is a certain minimum amount of deposit that the commercial banks have to hold as reserves with the central bank.
• The percentage of cash required to be kept in reserves, vis-a-vis a bank’s total deposits, is called the Cash Reserve Ratio.
• The cash reserve is either stored in the bank’s vault or is sent to the RBI. Banks do not get any interest on the money that is with the RBI under the CRR requirements.

Primary purposes of the Cash Reserve Ratio

• Since a part of the bank’s deposits is with the Reserve Bank of India, it ensures the security of the amount. It makes it readily available when customers want their deposits back.
• Also, CRR helps in keeping inflation under control.
• At the time of high inflation in the economy, RBI increases the CRR, so that banks need to keep more money in reserves so that they have less money to lend further.

Basel-III created two liquidity ratios: LCR and NSFR.

• The liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) will require banks to hold a buffer of high-quality liquid assets sufficient to deal with the cash outflows encountered in an acute short term stress scenario as specified by supervisors. The goal is to ensure that banks have enough liquidity for a 30-days stress scenario if it were to happen.
• The Net Stable Funds Rate (NSFR) requires banks to maintain a stable funding profile in relation to their off-balance-sheet assets and activities. NSFR requires banks to fund their activities with stable sources of finance (reliable over the one-year horizon). The minimum NSFR requirement is 100%.

Statutory Liquidity Ratio:

• Statutory Liquidity Ratio popularly called SLR is the minimum percentage of deposits that the commercial bank maintains through gold, cash and other securities.
• These deposits are maintained by the banks themselves and not with the RBI or Reserve Bank of India unlike the Cash Reserve Ratio.
• Banks earn returns on money parked as SLR
• Section 24 and Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act 1949 mandates all scheduled commercial banks, local area banks, Primary (Urban) co-operative banks (UCBs), state co-operative banks and central co-operative banks in India to maintain the SLR.
• It comprises of– cash, gold and SLR securities, comprising central and state government securities:
• Dated securities
• Treasury Bills of the Government of India;
• Dated securities of the Government of India issued from time to time under the market borrowing programme and the Market Stabilization Scheme;
• State Development Loans (SDLs) of the State Governments issued from time to time under the market borrowing programme; and
• Any other instrument as may be notified by the Reserve Bank of India

The liquidity coverage ratio (LCR)

• It refers to the proportion of highly liquid assets held by financial institutions, to ensure their ongoing ability to meet short-term obligations.
• The LCR was introduced as part of the Basel III reforms following the 2008 global financial crisis and was finalised by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in January 2013.
• LCR = High-Quality Liquid Asset Amount (HQLA) / Total Net Cash Flow Amount

Priority sector lending

• Priority sector lending refers to those sectors or areas of the economy which may not get timely and adequate credit.
• The RBI requires Indian banks to allocate certain portion of their overall lending for sectors mentioned under PSL. These areas of focus for PSL include Agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Export Credit, Education, Housing, Social Infrastructure, Renewable Energy.
• Reserve Bank of India has, from time to time, issued a number of guidelines to banks on Priority Sector Lending. These were last reviewed in  April 2015 and for urban and cooperative banks in May 2018.
• PSL guidelines are applicable to all domestic scheduled commercial banks (excluding Regional Rural Banks and Small Finance Banks) and foreign banks with 20 branches and above.

Basel III norms:

It came into effect in January 2023

·  Risk-based capital requirements (RWAs) and interest rate risk were introduced for the first time.

·  The new standards aim at increasing capital requirements, it introduces requirements on liquid asset holdings and funding stability

·  Key difference between the Basel II and Basel III: Basel III framework prescribes more of common equity, creation of capital buffer, introduction of Leverage Ratio, Introduction of Liquidity coverage Ratio (LCR) and Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR).

·  Leverage Ratio: The leverage ratio is calculated by dividing Tier 1 capital by the bank’s average total consolidated assets. Banks are expected to maintain a leverage ratio in excess of 3% under Basel III

·  Liquidity Coverage Ratio: The liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) denotes to highly liquid assets held by financial institutions to meet short-term obligations. The LCR is a requirement under Basel III for a bank to hold high-quality liquid assets (HQLAs) sufficient to cover 100% of its stressed net cash requirements over 30 days. The LCR is calculated as: LCR = HQLAs / Net cash outflows.

·  Net stable funding (NSF): The net stable funding is to ensure that banks maintain a stable funding profile in relation to the composition of their assets and off-balance sheet activities.

C  

5.

Tigray Region        – Ethiopia.

Darfur Region       – Region of Western Sudan.

Sahel region           – Transition region between Sahara and Savanna

https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/what-is-behind-the-coup-in-niger/article67139573.ece

A

6.

The caves at Badami are not oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India, but Bhimbetka rock shelters are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India. Ashoka in his 12 years after his coronation donated a cave to the Ajivikas in the Barabar Hills. Barabar Hill consists of four caves named Karan Chaupar, Lomas Rishi caves, Sudama and Vishva Zopari. Ellora caves were made for diff erent faiths. In these caves, 12 belong to Buddhist, 17 belong to Hindus and 5 belong to Jains. Hence statement 1 and 2 are wrong while statement 3 is correct.

C

7.

https://www.thehindu.com/books/understanding-the-mughals-there-are-lessons-to-be-learnt-from-every-king/article66703357.ece

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/up-to-follow-revised-ncert-textbooks-topics-on-mughal-empire-to-be-missed/article66699451.ece

B

8.

https://iasgoogle.com/editorial_detail/abc-of-bhakti-movement

C

9.

The short reign of Sher Shah is a revolutionary era in the  history of Indian architecture. Qila-i-Kuhna, built in 1541, is famous for its elegant architectural qualities in historical monuments of northern India.

A

10.

There are over fifty-five burial sites in the Indus Valley which were found in Harappa. The burials are interpreted primarily as reflections of social structure and hierarchy. The strongest evidence for tills interpretation would be burial sites in Harappa, cemetery R-37 and Cemetery H. R-37 is the smaller site compared to Cemetery H, and has about 200 burials. Archeologists believe it was a restricted cemetery that was used by a particular group or family that lived in Harappa.

Burial Practices in Harappa

(1) Cemeteries are generally located around the perimeter of the settlements.

(2) Three forms of burials are found at Mohenjodaro, viz. complete burial, fractional burials ( Burial of some bones after exposure to wild beasts and birds) and post-cremation burials.

(3) The general practice was extended inhumation, the body lying on it back, with the head generally to the north.

(4) A number of graves took the form of brick chambers of cists as in the case of those found at kalibangan.

(5) At Harappa, traces of a wooden coffin and bodies covered by a reed-shroud were found.

(6) From Surkotada comes the evidence of the practice of pot-burial.

(7) From Lothal cemetery comes evidence of double burial with several examples of pairs of skeletons, one male and one female in each case, buried in a single grave.

(8) In Harappa, cemetery it is present in which graves are not situated in the usual North- West axis but are situated on East-West axis.

The Indus civilisation belongs to the Bronze Age; it is older but surprisingly more developed than the Chalcolithic cultures in the subcontinent. All settlements are found in different phases:

Early Harappa phase- 2900-2500 BC

Middle Harappa phase – 2500-2000 BC
(Mature Harappa Phase)

Late Harappa Phase – 2000-1700 BC

(Most of the sites are in later Harappa phase)

B  

11.

https://iasgoogle.com/editorial/mural-paintings-amp-cave-paintings

A

12.

In 1564, Jijia was terminated by the third Mughal Emperor Akbar. Eventually it was finished in 1579. However, sixth emperor Aurangzeb presented again on non-Muslims in 1679 and implemented the jijivisha. Their goal was to promote Islam and weakened. Hinduism.

Jizya was abolished by the third Mughal emperor Akbar, in 1564. It was finally abolished during his reign in 1579. However, Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor, re-introduced and levied jizya on non-Muslims in 1679. His goal was to promote Islam and weaken the Hindu religion.

Ahmad Shah (1411-1442), a ruler of Gujarat, introduced the Jizya in 1414 and collected it with such strictness that many people converted to Islam to evade it.Jizya was abolished by the third Mughal emperor Akbar, in 1564. Jizya was a per capita yearly tax historically leviedon non-Muslim subjects, permanently residing in Muslim lands governed by Islamic law.

The Rudra Mahalaya Temple, also known as Rudramal, is a destroyed/desecrated Hindu temple complex at Siddhpur in the Patan district of Gujarat, India. Its construction was started in 943 CE by Mularaja and completed in 1140 CE by Jayasimha Siddharaja, a ruler of the Chaulukya dynasty. The Hindu temple was destroyed by the Sultan of Delhi, Alauddin Khalji, and later the Sultan of Gujarat, Ahmed Shah I (1410–1444) desecrated and substantially demolished the temple, and also converted part of it into the congregational mosque (Jami Masjid) of the city. Two torans (porches) and four pillars of the former central structure still stand along with the western part of the complex used as a congregational mosque.

https://www.opindia.com/2023/02/ahmedabad-foundation-day-sita-ram-goel-book-temples-destroyed-masjids/

D

13.

Rajendra Chola I succeeded his father Rajaraja Chola I in 1014 AD and reigned till 1044 AD. He was an able son and prince. He continued the ambitious career of his father and added more and more territories to the Chola Dominions.

The powerful standing army and a great navy organized under Rajaraja Chola I achieved even great successes under Rajendra Chola.

Rajendra Chola I was declared crown prince in 1012 AD, but he was active with his father since 1002 AD, when he conquered the Rastrakuta Country on behalf of his father. He also led a campaign against the western Chalukyan King Satyasraya and his successor Jayasimha II crossing the Tungabhadra river and attacking them at the heart of their capital, ruining the Chalukyas.

Only 4 years after he became King, in 1018 he declared his eldest son Rajadhiraja as crown prince.

Conquest of Ceylon by Rajendra Chola

In 1018 AD, he led a campaign on Illam (Sri Lanka). The Powerful navy of Rajendra Chola I overran the Sri Lankan capital Anuradhapura. The Sinhala King Mahinda V was taken prisoner and was transported to the Chola Country. He was held a prisoner for 12 years and died in captivity. The whole of Sri Lanka (Iramandalam) was conquered by Rajendra Chola-I.

Conquest of other empires

In 1021, his turned his attention to the Western Chalukyan Empire and defeated Jayasimha II in the Battle of Maski. Jayasimha II was returned his territory and was made a tributary subordinate. He also subdued the Eastern Chalukyas. After that his forces marched to Kalinga and reached the Pala Kingdom, where they met with forces of Mahipala and defeated them. The weight of the Chola arms was felt by almost all the Northern Kingdoms in this two year campaign. Victory over the Chalukyas, Kalinga, Gangas and Palas etc. led him to assume the title “Gangaikonda“.

Naval Conquests of Rajendra Chola

In 1025 AD, the Naval forces of Rajendra Cola I crossed the ocean and attacked the Srivijaya Kingdom (Sumatra) of Sangrama Vijayatungavarman. The capital Kadaram (part of Malaya) was sacked and its king was made a prisoner. Along with Kadaram, the Sumatra and Malaiyur were attacked and sacked. Kedah in today’s Malaysia was also attacked and occupied.

Relations with China

Cholas had good relations with the contemporary Chinese Kingdoms. The contemporary Chinese rulers were from the Song Dynasty who sent a mission to Chola country in 1015 AD to Rajaraja Chola I (Lo-ts’a-lo-ts’a) and again in 1033 AD to Rajendra Chola I (Shi-lo-cha Yin-to-loChu-lo Sri Raja Indra Chola). The commercial trade was extensive between them, and today’s South East Asian territories might have been the midway in the trade routes , which indicate a reason of enmity between Cholas and these countries.

Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Gangaikonda Cholapuram was constructed by Rajendra Chola I to commemorate his conquest over the Chalukyas and other feudatories, Kalinga, Gangas, Palas etc. . . . These victories led him to assume the title Gangaikonda. Gangaikonda Cholapuram was erected as a new capital of the Cholas, which served as a Capital of the later Cholas until the Chola dynasty came to an end in 1280. It is now a small village in Tamil Nadu. There is a great Shiva Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram. All the future princes of the Chola dynasty were coronated at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram after Rajendra Chola I. Now, only the temple at the Gangaikonda Cholapuram survives. A magnificent Royal Palace of burnt bricks was built over there, which was later turned to ruins most probably by the Pandyas. When Rajendra Chola I died in 1044 AD, the extent of the Chola Empire was the widest in the word and naval prestige was highest. The benevolent imperialism of the Cholas was maintained by his successor Rajadhiraja Chola.

C  

14.

 The Haryanaka dynasty (544-412 B.C.)

Shishunaga dynasty (412 - 344 B.C.)

Nanda dynasty (344-321 B.C.)

D  

15.

Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 establishes Lokpal for the Union and Lokayukta for States to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries.

Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, of which 50% shall be judicial members and 50% shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and women.

Act specifies a time limit of 60 days for completion of inquiry and 6 months for completion of investigation by the CBI. This period of 6 months can be extended by the Lokpal on a written request from CBI.

The act also incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending.

The Chairperson or any Member shall be removed from his office by order of the President on grounds of misbehaviour after the Supreme Court report. For that a petition has to be signed by at least one hundred Members of Parliament.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lokpal-disposed-of-68-corruption-complaints-against-public-servants-without-any-action-parliamentary-panel-report/article66698721.ece

B

16.

https://iasgoogle.com/current_affair/april-28-2023-current-affairs

17.

·  From the era of Chandragupt maurya to the time when inscription was written, the first eight lines of historical record of water management and irrigation conduits at Sudarshan Lake. This lake is constructed at Junagadh Gujarat. These preserved are found near Girnar hill, junagadh.

·  This lake was built as the king wanted the best irrigation facilities in his kingdom and to control over his citizens. In 150 AD, the Shaka ruler Rudradaman I repaired the lake and under Skandagupta’s rule (415AD – 455AD) the lake was again repaired by his governor Parramatta.

·  The Sanskrit edict notes the repairs done by Mahakshtrap Rudraman on the Sudarshan Lake. There are many edicts that speak about the repairs, but during 150 CE, the Sanskrit Junagadh inscription credits rudradaman.

The dam on the Sudarshan lake for irrigation was constructed by Pushyagupta, the governor during the rule of Chandragupta maurya.

D

18.

https://iasgoogle.com/editorial/ashoka-rsquo-s-edicts-amp-inscriptions

Three languages were used, Prakrit, Greek and Aramaic. The edicts are composed in nonstandardized and archaic forms of Prakrit. Prakrit inscriptions were written in Brahmi and  Kharosthi scripts, which even a commoner could read and understand.

Between the third century BCE and the eighth century CE, a series of Middle Indo-Aryan dialects known as the Prakrits were spoken on the Indian subcontinent.

While those in the northwest of the subcontinent were written in Aramaic and Greek, Prakrit was the language used for the majority of Asokan inscriptions.

Inscriptions in Afghanistan employed the Aramaic and Greek scripts.

A

19.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/loneliness-of-narmada-human-39817

C

20.

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/europes-juice-mission-to-launch-for-jupiters-icy-moons/article66732175.ece

Jupiter

·     Fifth in line from the Sun, Jupiter is, by far, the largest planet in the solar system – more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined.

·     Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are called Jovian or Gas Giant Planets. These have thick atmosphere, mostly of helium and hydrogen.

·     Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot is a giant storm bigger than Earth that has raged for hundreds of years.

·     Jupiter rotates once about every 10 hours (a Jovian day), but takes about 12 Earth years to complete one orbit of the Sun (a Jovian year).

·     Jupiter has more than 75 moons.

·     The planet Jupiter''s four largest moons are called the Galilean satellites after Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, who first observed them in 1610.

·     These large moons, named Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, are each distinctive world.

·     In 1979, the Voyager mission discovered Jupiter’s faint ring system.

·     Nine spacecraft have visited Jupiter. Seven flew by and two have orbited the gas giant.

·     The Galileo probe (NASA) which orbited the planet between 1995 and 2003.

·     Juno (NASA) has been circling the planet since 2016.

A

21.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-sant-tukaram-temple-and-its-significance-7963601/  

C

22.

Allahabad Prashasti:

·      It is also known as Prayag Prashasti.

·      It is a pillar inscription of Samudragupta found at Allahabad and written in Sanskrit.

·      It was composed by Harisena.

·      It is one of the important epigraphic sources to know about the political history of the Guptas.

·      There are thirty-three lines in total.

·      Line 22 of the inscription especially describes the conquests of Samudragupta over the frontier states.

·      Lines 13-15 of the inscription refer to the conquests of Samudragupta in his first Aryavarta war in which he defeated three important rulers namely, Achyuta, Nagasena, and Ganapatinaga of the Naga Dynasty.

·      Lines 19-20 described his South India Campaign.

·      Line 23 refers to Samudragupta violently exterminating a number of kings of Aryavarta.

Samudragupta (335-380 AD):

·      He was the son of Chandragupta-I.

·      Harishena was the court poet of Samudragupta.

·      Allahabad Pillar Inscription (Prayag Prasasti) was issued by Samudragupta and was composed by Harishena.

·      It was composed in Sanskrit.

·      Panini was a Sanskrit grammarian who gave a comprehensive and scientific theory of phonetics, phonology, and morphology.

·      Banabhatta was the court poet of  Harshvardhana and he composed the Harshacharita which gives an account of Harsha’s life and deeds.

·      Chanakya: Chandragupta Maurya became the king of Magadha with the help of Chanakya, also known as Vishnu Gupta.

·      The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy, written in Sanskrit by Chanakya.

B  

23.

The Indus Valley Civilization was the earliest known urban civilization in the Indian subcontinent, while the Aryan Civilization was a rural civilization.

Both had a huge influence on the culture and development of the region, and their legacy still lives on today.

Knowledge of script and urban town planning of Indus Valley. Civilization was much advanced from Pre-Aryans. Evidence from pottery found in Mehrgarh suggests that the Indus Valley Civilization was more advanced than Pre-Aryans. The red pottery pieces with black designs were a hallmark of the Harappan Civilization, while the Aryans used grey pottery. This proves that the Indus Valley Civilization existed before the Aryan Civilization.

C  

24.

The Indus Valley Civilization was predominantly a secular civilization, where the religious element did not dominate the scene. The civilization did not have any monumental structures or grand temples, unlike other contemporary civilizations such as the Mesopotamian or Egyptian civilizations. The artifacts found from the Indus Valley sites suggest that the people of the civilization worshipped a mother goddess, a male deity, and animals. However, the religious practices did not have a significant impact on the social or political structure of the civilization.

Textile Manufacturing

The Indus Valley Civilization was known for its advanced textile manufacturing. The people of the civilization used cotton for making textiles, which were of high quality and had intricate designs. The cotton was grown in the fertile plains of the Indus River, and the cotton textiles were exported to other parts of the world, including Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Central Asia. The artifacts found from the Indus Valley sites suggest that the people used spinning wheels and looms for making textiles. The textiles were used for making clothes, household items, and trade goods.

B   

25.

Peter Mundy, the British traveller, came to India during the reign of Shah Jahan. William Hawkins and Thomas Roe came to India during Jahangir’s reign whereas Antonio Monserrate came to India during Akbar’s reign. None of the above travellers came to India during the reign of Aurangzeb.

Battle of Dharmat (Madhya Pradesh) was fought between Aurangzeb and Dara Shukoh for their father Shah Jahan’s throne. Dara Shukoh was supported by Raja Jaswant Singh, and Aurangzeb was supported by Prince Murad. On 15  April, 1658 Aurangzeb became victorious.

The coronation of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb occurred  twice. His fi rst coronation was held on 31 July, 1658 in Delhi and second was held on 15 June, 1659 on the success of Devrai battle.

Aurangzeb was a remarkable man. Among the Mughals, he possessed extraordinary personal qualities. He maintained high moral standards and was far from vices, pleasures and extravagance. Some recommended him ‘Shahi Darvesh’ and some Muslims accepted him as "Zinda Peer".

C