2009

61. In Buddhist principle, the performance of Sila and the achievement of

In Buddhist principle, the performance of Sila and the achievement of Samadhi and Prajna lead to Nirvana. What does this Sila stand for ?

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Mental control
Physical control
Development of insight
Strict penance
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In Buddhist principles, the path to Nirvana is often described through Sila (ethical conduct/morality), Samadhi (concentration/meditation/mental control), and Prajna (wisdom/insight). Sila involves adherence to precepts and ethical discipline, which includes controlling physical actions and speech according to moral principles. While Sila encompasses more than just physical actions (it includes speech and mental effort to maintain ethics), among the given options, “Physical control” is the closest description related to the ethical control over actions that Sila entails, differentiating it from purely mental control (Samadhi) or insight (Prajna).
Sila is the foundation of the Buddhist path, representing ethical conduct, morality, and discipline, essential for developing concentration (Samadhi) and wisdom (Prajna).
Sila is often translated as ‘virtue’, ‘morality’, ‘ethics’, or ‘discipline’. It involves following precepts such as not killing, not stealing, not engaging in sexual misconduct, not lying, and not taking intoxicants. These precepts directly involve controlling one’s physical actions and speech.

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62. Which of the following statements about Bhadrabahu is/are correct ?

Which of the following statements about Bhadrabahu is/are correct ?

  • He was a Jain Saint.
  • He was spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Statement 1 is correct because Bhadrabahu was a prominent Jain saint, head of the Digambara sect. Statement 2 is also considered correct in Jain tradition, which holds that Chandragupta Maurya converted to Jainism and became a disciple of Bhadrabahu, accompanying him on a migration to South India (Sravanabelagola).
Bhadrabahu is a significant figure in Jain history, particularly associated with the migration that led to the split into Digambara and Svetambara sects. His connection with Chandragupta Maurya is a notable tradition within Jainism.
While some historians debate the historicity of Chandragupta’s conversion and migration with Bhadrabahu, it remains a widely accepted tradition in Jain literature and is often mentioned in historical contexts related to the Maurya period and the development of Jainism. Bhadrabahu is also credited with writing important Jain texts like ‘Kalpa Sutra’ (though parts are attributed to later authors) and ‘Bhadrabahu Samhita’.

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63. Consider the following statements about Indian trade and commerce in t

Consider the following statements about Indian trade and commerce in the medieval period :

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  • India exported cotton piece goods to the wider world in the medieval period.
  • India received gold and silver from the wider world in lieu of her cotton goods.
  • India also supplied raw materials to the European industries in the medieval period.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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1 and 2
1 only
2 and 3
3 only
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Statement 1 is correct. India was a major global exporter of cotton textiles, spices, indigo, and other goods throughout the medieval period, traded via overland and maritime routes. Statement 2 is correct. India generally maintained a favourable balance of trade in the medieval period, leading to an inflow of precious metals, particularly gold and silver, in exchange for its high-value exports. Statement 3 is incorrect. While India produced raw materials, its primary role in international trade during the medieval period was as a major exporter of *finished goods*, especially textiles. The pattern of being a supplier of raw materials to European industries and an importer of their manufactured goods became dominant during the *colonial* period, not the medieval period.
– Medieval India was a significant player in global trade, exporting finished products.
– The balance of trade was generally in India’s favour, leading to bullion imports.
– India became a major source of raw materials for European industries primarily during the colonial era, not the medieval period.
The shift from being an exporter of finished goods to an exporter of raw materials and an importer of finished goods is a defining characteristic of the economic impact of colonialism on India.

64. The Hindustan Republican Association was founded to :

The Hindustan Republican Association was founded to :

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Set up a republican government in Hindustan
Organize armed rebellion in India
Persuade the Indian people to participate in elections
Encourage the Indian youth on to the path of socialism
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The Hindustan Republican Association (HRA), founded in 1924, was a revolutionary organization whose primary objective was to overthrow British rule in India through organized armed rebellion and establish a Federal Republic of the United States of India. While establishing a republic was the ultimate goal, the association was founded specifically to *organize* the means to achieve this, which was armed revolution or rebellion. Therefore, organizing armed rebellion in India (Option B) is the most accurate description of what the association was founded to *do*.
– HRA was a revolutionary nationalist organization founded in 1924 by figures like Ram Prasad Bismil, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, and Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee.
– Their stated aim was to achieve independence through revolution.
– They carried out actions like the Kakori Conspiracy (1925) to fund their revolutionary activities.
The HRA was later reorganized as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) in 1928, with the inclusion of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, adding a socialist objective to their goal of a republic via armed struggle.

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65. Which of the following ideas was/were shared by Raja Rammohan Roy and

Which of the following ideas was/were shared by Raja Rammohan Roy and Rabindranath Tagore ?

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Internationalism
Opposition to idol worship
Faith in rational and scientific approach
All the above
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Raja Rammohan Roy and Rabindranath Tagore, both towering figures of the Bengal Renaissance, shared several key ideas. Raja Rammohan Roy was a pioneer of modern Indian thought, advocating for reason, science, monotheism, and universalism (proto-internationalism). Rabindranath Tagore, while rooted in Indian tradition, also embraced universalism, founded Visva-Bharati (a university promoting global cultural exchange), and strongly advocated for rationality and a scientific temper. Both opposed traditional idol worship and ritualism, although their specific approaches and expressions differed. Tagore, in his poetry and philosophy, focused more on an immanent, universal divine than Rammohan Roy’s strict Brahmo Samaj monotheism, but neither endorsed polytheistic idol worship in the traditional sense. Given their shared emphasis on universalism (Internationalism), rejection of traditional idol worship, and faith in reason and science, ‘All the above’ is the correct answer.
– Both reformers were influenced by Western thought but also rooted in Indian philosophy.
– They advocated for social reform, education, and a modern, rational outlook.
– Their vision extended beyond national boundaries to embrace universal human values and understanding.
Raja Rammohan Roy (1772-1833) is considered the ‘Father of Modern India’. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) was a polymath who reshaped Bengali literature and music and was the first non-European Nobel laureate in Literature. Their ideas represent a continuum of modern Indian intellectual and cultural development.

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66. The ‘Motorana’ and the ‘hathiana’ referred to :

The ‘Motorana’ and the ‘hathiana’ referred to :

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markets where peasants brought their produce
taxes levied by zamindars on their peasants
rent paid by peasants for the use of the motorcar or the elephant of the zamindar
the nickname for those zamindars who possessed a motorcar or an elephant
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‘Motorana’ and ‘hathiana’ were terms used in some regions, particularly in Eastern India, to refer to illegal cesses or taxes levied by zamindars on their tenants. These were types of *abwabs*, which were miscellaneous imposts collected by landlords in addition to the basic rent. ‘Hathiana’ literally relates to elephants and might have been a tax for processions or ceremonies involving elephants, while ‘motorana’ would be a later tax related to motor vehicles owned by tenants or entering the village. These were examples of the arbitrary burdens placed upon peasants by zamindars.
– Zamindars in colonial India often extracted various cesses (abwabs) from their tenants beyond the legally stipulated rent.
– These cesses could be arbitrary and were a source of peasant exploitation.
– ‘Motorana’ and ‘hathiana’ are examples of such illegal or customary taxes levied by zamindars.
The collection of abwabs was a persistent grievance of peasants against zamindars and contributed to agrarian unrest in different parts of India. These cesses varied widely in name and nature across regions and time periods.

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67. Which among the following was not a demand of Mahatma Gandhi to the Go

Which among the following was not a demand of Mahatma Gandhi to the Government as a condition of settlement before he launched the Non-cooperation movement ?

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The Government should withdraw the Rowlatt Act
The Government should express regret for the massacre at Jallianwala Bagh
The British government should behave leniently with Turkey
The Government should put a better scheme of reforms than that of the Act of 1919
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Mahatma Gandhi proposed certain conditions for calling off or not launching the Non-cooperation movement. These key demands included the withdrawal of the repressive Rowlatt Act, expressing regret and taking action regarding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and a just resolution of the Khilafat issue (which involved treating Turkey leniently after World War I). While the Government of India Act 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) was considered inadequate and was boycotted during the movement, demanding a *better scheme of reforms* as a condition *before* launching the movement was not among the primary preconditions directly linked to the immediate triggers of the movement (Rowlatt, Jallianwala Bagh, Khilafat). The focus was on rectifying specific injustices and concerns.
– The Non-cooperation movement (1920-1922) was launched in response to the Rowlatt Act, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and the Khilafat issue.
– Gandhi’s preconditions for cooperation or suspending agitation were directly related to addressing these grievances.
– Demanding a fundamental improvement over the 1919 Act was a general nationalist goal but not one of the specific immediate conditions set by Gandhi to avert the Non-cooperation campaign.
The Khilafat issue concerned the treatment of the Ottoman Caliph by the Allied powers after WWI, which deeply offended Indian Muslims and led to the Khilafat Movement, which later merged with the Non-cooperation Movement under Gandhi’s leadership.

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68. Consider the following observations relating to the reign of the Mugha

Consider the following observations relating to the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar :

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  • 1. Akbar strengthened his control on the nobility and the army by introducing the mansabdari system.
  • 2. Under the mansabdari system, every officer was assigned a rank (mansab).
  • 3. The ranks were divided into three : zat, sawar and chehra.

Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

1 only
2 only
1 and 2
1 and 3
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Statement 1 is correct. Akbar introduced the mansabdari system to organize and streamline the administration, nobility, and military, thereby strengthening his control and central authority. Statement 2 is correct. Under the mansabdari system, every civil and military officer was assigned a *mansab* or rank. Statement 3 is incorrect. The mansabdari rank was primarily divided into two components: *zat* and *sawar*. *Zat* determined the officer’s personal rank and salary, while *sawar* indicated the number of cavalrymen (and horses) the officer was required to maintain. *Chehra* was a practice introduced by Akbar for branding horses to prevent deception and ensure the quality and number of horses maintained by mansabdars, not a third division of the mansab rank itself.
– The mansabdari system was a unique administrative and military system of the Mughal Empire introduced by Akbar.
– It assigned ranks (mansabs) that determined status, salary, and military obligations.
– The rank consisted of two numbers: Zat and Sawar.
The mansabdari system helped Akbar create a centralized administration and a strong army loyal to the emperor. The dual rank (zat and sawar) distinguished between personal status/salary and military responsibility.

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69. Consider the following statements relating to the Bhakti Movement :

Consider the following statements relating to the Bhakti Movement :

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  • 1. The Bhakti and Sufi Saints gradually brought about a better understanding of the fundamental tenets of Hinduism and Islam, underlining the fact that they had a great deal of similarity.
  • 2. The Bhakti and Sufi Saints also brought about important changes in the approach to religion, laying greater emphasis on formal observances and rituals.
  • 3. They also contributed to the growth of regional languages and literature.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct ?

1 and 2
2 only
2 and 3
3 only
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The question asks for the *not correct* statement(s). Statement 1 is correct; Bhakti and Sufi saints fostered syncretism, emphasizing universal love and devotion, thus promoting better understanding and highlighting similarities between Hinduism and Islam. Statement 3 is correct; these saints used and promoted regional languages like Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Punjabi, etc., to spread their message among the masses, significantly contributing to the development of regional literature. Statement 2 is incorrect; both Bhakti and Sufi movements generally emphasized personal devotion, emotional connection with the divine, and often criticized formal rituals, caste distinctions, and elaborate ceremonies, prioritizing inner spiritual experience over outward observances.
– Bhakti and Sufi movements promoted religious harmony and mutual understanding.
– They emphasized personal devotion and criticized empty rituals and social hierarchies.
– They played a crucial role in the growth and popularization of regional languages.
Key figures of the Bhakti movement include Kabir, Nanak, Chaitanya, Surdas, Mirabai, Tukaram, etc. Prominent Sufi saints include Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya, etc. Their teachings had a profound impact on the social and cultural landscape of medieval India.

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70. Consider the following statements : 1. The Indian cities like Dacca,

Consider the following statements :

  • 1. The Indian cities like Dacca, Murshidabad and Surat were known all over the world as centers of trade and industry in the pre-colonial period.
  • 2. Such centers of trade and industry went down in the face of foreign competition in the colonial period.
  • 3. Indian artisans, manufacturers and weavers were provided alternative employment by the British Indian government after the decline of these centers of trade.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct ?

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1 and 2
2 and 3
3 only
1 only
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The question asks for the *not correct* statement(s). Statement 1 is correct as cities like Dacca (textiles, especially muslin), Murshidabad (silk), and Surat (port trade) were indeed major centers of trade and industry globally in the pre-colonial period. Statement 2 is correct; these centers and traditional Indian industries faced decline due to British policies like discriminatory tariffs, competition from machine-made British goods, and loss of court patronage. Statement 3 is incorrect; the British Indian government did not provide alternative employment to the displaced artisans and weavers. The decline of traditional industries led to mass de-industrialization, forcing people back to agriculture, which was already under immense pressure.
– Pre-colonial India had flourishing urban centers and export-oriented industries.
– Colonial policies led to the decline of these traditional industries and urban centers.
– The British administration did not facilitate the transition of the displaced workforce to new industries or provide significant alternative employment, resulting in de-industrialization and ruralization.
The decline of Indian handicrafts and industries is a key aspect of the economic impact of British rule, often referred to as “de-industrialization.” This process contributed to the impoverishment of India and the strain on its agricultural sector.

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