UPSC 2016 History Previous Year Questions

Question 1

A recent movie titled The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the biography of

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. S. Ramanujan | S. Chandrasekhar | S. N. Bose | C. V. Raman. The Man Who Knew Infinity is based on the life of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.

Question 2

The plan of Sir Stafford Cripps envisaged that after the Second World War

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. India should be granted complete independence | India should be partitioned into two before granting independence | India should be made a republic with the condition that she will join the Commonwealth | India should be given Dominion status. The Cripps proposals envisaged Dominion status for India after the Second World War, with a constitution-making body and an option for provinces regarding the union.

Question 3

What was the main reason for the split in the Indian National Congress at Surat in 1907?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Introduction of communalism into Indian politics by Lord Minto | Extremists' lack of faith in the capacity of the moderates to negotiate with the British Government | Foundation of Muslim League | Aurobindo Ghosh's inability to be elected as the President of the Indian National Congress. The Surat split reflected the extremists' distrust of the moderates' methods and their capacity/willingness to negotiate effectively with the British.

Question 4

With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales was the profession of who of the following?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Shramana | Parivraajaka | Agrahaarika | Maagadha. Maagadhas were bards/panegyrists associated with memorizing and reciting chronicles, dynastic histories and epic tales.

Question 5

With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term 'Araghatta' refers to

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. bonded labour | land grants made to military officers | waterwheel used in the irrigation of land | wasteland converted to cultivated land. Araghatta refers to a waterwheel or Persian-wheel-like device used for irrigation.

Question 6

In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs:

Term - Description
1. Eripatti - Land, revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank
2. Taniyurs - Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins
3. Ghatikas - Colleges generally attached to the temples

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1 and 2 | 3 only | 2 and 3 | 1 and 3. Eripatti was land whose revenue maintained village tanks, and Ghatikas were educational institutions/colleges often attached to temples. Taniyurs were autonomous revenue units, not villages donated to Brahmins; such Brahmin grants were brahmadeya/agrahara.

Question 7

Consider the following: 1. Calcutta Unitarian Committee 2. Tabernacle of New Dispensation 3. Indian Reform Association Keshab Chandra Sen is associated with the establishment of which of the above?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 and 3 only | 2 and 3 only | 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Keshab Chandra Sen was associated with the Tabernacle of New Dispensation and the Indian Reform Association. The Calcutta Unitarian Committee was associated earlier with Rammohan Roy and others.

Question 8

Satya Shodhak Samaj organized

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. a movement for upliftment of tribals in Bihar | a temple-entry movement in Gujarat | an anti-caste movement in Maharashtra | a peasant movement in Punjab. Satya Shodhak Samaj, founded by Jyotirao Phule, organized an anti-caste/social reform movement in Maharashtra.

Question 9

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: 1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism. 2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment. 3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 only | 2 and 3 only | 2 only | 1, 2 and 3. The Bodhisattva ideal is central to Mahayana, not Hinayana. A Bodhisattva is a compassionate being on the path to enlightenment who postpones final liberation to help all sentient beings.

Question 10

The 'Swadeshi' and 'Boycott' were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. agitation against the Partition of Bengal | Home Rule Movement | Non-Cooperation Movement | visit of the Simon Commission to India. Swadeshi and boycott were first adopted as organized methods of struggle during the agitation against the 1905 Partition of Bengal.

UPSC 2016 History PYQs with Answers