UPSC 2015 History Previous Year Questions

Question 1

There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which of the following actions can be taken by the government to reduce the deficit? 1. Reducing revenue expenditure 2. Introducing new welfare schemes 3. Rationalizing subsidies 4. Expanding industries Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 and 3 only | 2 and 3 only | 1 only | 1, 2, 3 and 4. Reducing revenue expenditure and rationalizing subsidies can reduce a fiscal deficit. New welfare schemes raise expenditure, and expanding industries is not an immediate direct deficit-reduction action in this framing.

Question 2

Which one of the following was given classical language status recently?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Odia | Konkani | Bhojpuri | Assamese. Odia was granted classical language status in 2014, making it the recently recognized language in this question.

Question 3

Which one of the following movements has contributed to a split in the Indian National Congress resulting in the emergence of 'moderates' and 'extremists'?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Swadeshi Movement | Quit India Movement | Non-Cooperation Movement | Civil Disobedience Movement. The Swadeshi Movement period sharpened ideological differences within the Congress, culminating in the Surat split between moderates and extremists in 1907.

Question 4

With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential element/elements of the feudal system? 1. A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority 2. Emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of land 3. Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 and 2 only | 2 and 3 only | 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Feudalism is marked by land-based administrative/control structures and lord-vassal relationships. It does not require a very strong centralized authority with weak local authority; rather authority is often decentralized.

Question 5

With reference to the art and archaeological history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar | Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli | Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram | Varaha Image at Udayagiri. The rock-cut elephant at Dhauli is Mauryan-era and earlier than Udayagiri, Mahabalipuram and Lingaraja temple works.

Question 6

Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2014 was given to which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre | Indian Institute of Science | Indian Space Research Organization | Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. The 2014 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development was awarded to the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Question 7

Consider the following statements 1. The first woman President of the Indian National Congress was Sarojini Naidu. 2. The first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress was Badruddin Tyabji. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 only | 2 only | Both 1 and 2 | Neither 1 nor 2. The first woman President of the INC was Annie Besant, not Sarojini Naidu. Badruddin Tyabji was the first Muslim President of the INC.

Question 8

Consider the following: The arrival of Babur into India led to the 1. introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent 2. introduction of the arch and dome in the region's architecture 3. establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 and 2 only | 3 only | 1 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Gunpowder and arch/dome architectural forms were known in India before Babur. Babur's conquest established the Mughal/Timurid line in north India, so only statement 3 is correct.

Question 9

Which of the following kingdoms were associated with the life of the Buddha? 1. Avanti 2. Gandhara 3. Kosala 4. Magadha Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1, 2 and 3 | 2 and 3 only | 1, 3 and 4 | 3 and 4 only. The Buddha's life was closely connected with Kosala and Magadha. Avanti and Gandhara were not the principal kingdoms associated with the events of his life in this question.

Question 10

Consider the following pairs: Medieval Indian Region - Present State: 1. Champaka - Central India 2. Durgara - Jammu 3. Kuluta - Malabar. Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 and 2 | 2 only | 1 and 3 | 3 only. Durgara corresponds to the Jammu region. Champaka is associated with Chamba, not Central India, and Kuluta with Kullu, not Malabar.

UPSC 2015 History PYQs with Answers