Q2moderatePartial Truth
Consider the following statements :
1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21.
2. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in legislature.
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
Answer: (b)
Trap: Partial Truth
Statement 1 is tricky because Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms did discuss women's franchise but did NOT recommend universal women's suffrage above 21. It left it to provincial legislatures. Students who vaguely recall 'women + 1919 reforms' might mark both correct.
Q3easy
With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.
(b) The Viceroy's Executive Council was expanded to include more Indians.
(c) The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.
(d) Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second World War was over.
Answer: (a)
Q4hardCommon Misconception
Who among the following is associated with 'Songs from Prison', a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(d) Sarojini Naidu
Answer: (c)
Trap: Common Misconception
Sarojini Naidu (the 'Nightingale of India') is strongly associated with poetry and lyrics, making option (d) very tempting. Tilak wrote Gita Rahasya in prison which also misleads. But Gandhi translated hymns from Ashram Bhajanavali while in Yeravda Jail.
Q5moderateScope Confusion
With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?
(a) Paragana—Sarkar—Suba
(b) Sarkar—Paragana—Suba
(c) Suba—Sarkar—Paragana
(d) Paragana—Suba—Sarkar
Answer: (a)
Trap: Scope Confusion
Students often confuse Sarkar and Suba hierarchy. Suba (province) was the largest unit, Sarkar (district) was mid-level, and Paragana (sub-district) was smallest. Option (b) swaps Sarkar and Paragana which is the most common error.
Q6moderateCommon Misconception
Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?
(a) Annie Besant
(b) Debendranath Tagore
(c) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
(d) Sarojini Naidu
Answer: (c)
Trap: Common Misconception
Debendranath Tagore (option b) is tempting because of the Brahmo Samaj connection to women's education and the Bengal renaissance. Annie Besant is associated with women's causes but in a later period. Vidyasagar was the actual Secretary of Bethune School.
Q7easy
In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as
(a) leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
(b) members of the Interim Government in 1946
(c) members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly
(d) officers of the Indian National Army
Answer: (d)
Q8easyCommon Misconception
With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State.
2. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire.
3. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only
Answer: (a)
Trap: Common Misconception
Statement 3 is the trap. Students might associate Rohilkhand with Afghan invaders (Rohillas were Afghan), but Rohilkhand was established by Rohilla Afghans who were already settled in India, not from territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani. Many pick (c) thinking both 2 and 3 are correct.
Q10moderate
Consider the following statements :
1. 21st February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.
2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b)
Q12easy
Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?
(a) Dholavira
(b) Kalibangan
(c) Rakhigarhi
(d) Ropar
Answer: (a)
Q13easyAbsolute Qualifier
In the first quarter of seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located?
1. Broach
2. Chicacole
3. Trichinopoly
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 only
(d) 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Trap: Absolute Qualifier
The time-period qualifier 'first quarter of 17th century' (1600-1625) is the key trap. Chicacole and Trichinopoly became EIC trading posts much later. Broach (Bharuch, Gujarat) was among the earliest English factories (around 1613-1619). Students who know all three were EIC locations but ignore the time period will err.
Q14hardScope Confusion
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.
(a) 1, 2 and 5
(b) 1, 3, 4 and 6
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 5 and 6
Answer: (b)
Trap: Scope Confusion
Paramaras of Malwa (9th-14th century) and Yadavas of Devagiri (12th-14th century) are from a much later period. Students who know these as important Indian dynasties but don't recall their exact time periods will include them. The question tests precise chronological knowledge.
Q15easyCommon Misconception
According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas?
1. Wrestling
2. Astrology
3. Accounting
4. Soothsaying
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d)
Trap: Common Misconception
Wrestling for women seems anachronistic and students tend to exclude it, picking (c) or another option. But Nuniz specifically mentions women excelled in wrestling among other skills. The 'all of the above' answer is counterintuitive for those applying modern assumptions to a medieval account.
Q16hardCommon Misconception
With reference to Madanapalle of Andhra Pradesh, which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour Indian National Flag here.
(b) Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India Movement of Andhra region from here.
(c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.
(d) Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set up headquarters of Theosophical Society first here.
Answer: (c)
Trap: Common Misconception
Option (d) is a strong distractor because the Theosophical Society did have connections to South India (Adyar, Chennai), and students might confuse Madanapalle with Adyar. Option (a) is also tempting since Pingali Venkayya was from Andhra Pradesh. The Tagore-Madanapalle connection is obscure.
Q17moderateCommon Misconception
Consider the following pairs :
(Historical place) — (Well-known for)
1. Burzahom : Rock-cut shrines
2. Chandraketugarh : Terracotta art
3. Ganeshwar : Copper artefacts
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 only
(d) 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Trap: Common Misconception
Burzahom (Kashmir) is famous for pit-dwellings and bone tools, NOT rock-cut shrines. Students may confuse it with rock-cut cave architecture. The deliberate pairing of 'Burzahom' with 'rock-cut shrines' exploits vague associations with stone/rock in Kashmir.
Q18easyAbsolute Qualifier
Consider the following statements :
1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince.
2. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq 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?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 3 only
(d) 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Trap: Absolute Qualifier
Statement 2: Taimur's invasion (1398) was during Nasir-ud-din Mahmud Shah Tughluq's reign, not Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325-1351). Students confuse the two Tughluq rulers. Statement 3: Vasco da Gama arrived in 1498, but Deva Raya II ruled 1422-1446. The time mismatches are subtle.
Q19moderatePartial Truth
Consider the following statements :
1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
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
Answer: (c)
Trap: Partial Truth
Statement 2 is the trap. While the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa houses his relics and is 'dedicated' to him, St. Francis Xavier actually died on Shangchuan Island (China) in 1552, NOT in Goa. His body was later brought to Goa. Students associate Xavier so strongly with Goa that they assume he died there.
Q20moderateCommon Misconception
With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
2. In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
3. The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Answer: (b)
Trap: Common Misconception
Statement 1 is a complete fabrication - these are regional (not caste-based) schools of Hindu law. Mitakshara prevailed in most of India, Dayabhaga in Bengal. Statement 3 sounds progressive and plausible but is incorrect - both systems primarily dealt with male inheritance (with some differences). Students who want a 'balanced' answer might include statement 3.