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241. With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is

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.

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2″ option2=”2 only” option3=”2 and 3″ option4=”3 only” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2021

Statement 1 is correct. The Nizamat of Arcot (Carnatic) was initially a dependency of the Nizam of Hyderabad. The Nawab of Arcot was originally appointed by the Mughal Emperor but came under the authority of the Nizam as the Mughal Empire declined. The Nawabs gradually asserted their independence from Hyderabad while still nominally acknowledging Mughal authority, and later became entangled with the British and French East India Companies.
Statement 2 is correct. The Mysore Kingdom, under the Wodeyar dynasty, emerged as a significant power in South India after the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Wodeyars were initially feudatories of Vijayanagara and declared independence after the empire’s disintegration following the Battle of Talikota in 1565.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed in the early 18th century by Rohilla Pashtuns who migrated from Afghanistan and carved out a territory in the fertile Gangetic plain from the declining Mughal Empire. While Ahmad Shah Durrani (Abdali) did invade India and fight in the region in the mid-18th century, the formation of Rohilkhand predates his major invasions and was not a result of occupying territories previously held by him. The Rohillas were independent rulers fighting against both the Mughals and other regional powers, sometimes aligning with or opposing Durrani depending on the circumstances.

– The Nizamat of Arcot emerged from the Hyderabad State’s authority.
– The Mysore Kingdom emerged from the decline of the Vijayanagara Empire.
– The Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed by Afghan Rohillas in the early 18th century out of Mughal territories, not territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.

The 18th century in India was characterized by the fragmentation of the Mughal Empire and the rise of various regional states like Hyderabad, Mysore, Bengal, Awadh, Maratha confederacy, Sikh states, and Rohilkhand. These states constantly vied for power, leading to a period of political instability which was exploited by European trading companies, particularly the British and French.

242. In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal a

In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as

[amp_mcq option1=”leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement” option2=”members of the Interim Government in 1946″ option3=”members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly” option4=”officers of the Indian National Army” correct=”option4″]

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UPSC IAS – 2021

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Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were officers of the Indian National Army (INA), which was formed during World War II in Southeast Asia with the support of the Japanese. These three officers were put on trial by the British government in 1945 at the Red Fort in Delhi, famously known as the INA Trials. Their trial and subsequent public outcry played a significant role in galvanizing nationalist sentiment just before India’s independence.

– Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon were prominent officers of the Indian National Army (INA).
– They were put on trial by the British in the famous Red Fort trials of 1945.
– The INA was established during World War II with Indian prisoners of war and expatriates.

The INA trials became a major political issue in British India, leading to widespread protests and demonstrations. The Indian National Congress and other political parties defended the officers. Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai, and Tej Bahadur Sapru were among the lawyers who argued for their defense. While initially sentenced, the officers were later cashiered from service due to immense public pressure.

243. Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female

Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?

[amp_mcq option1=”Annie Besant” option2=”Debendranath Tagore” option3=”Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar” option4=”Sarojini Naidu” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC IAS – 2021

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The Hindu Female School, founded in Calcutta in 1849 by J.E.D. Bethune, was a pioneering institution for women’s education in India. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was deeply involved with Bethune in the establishment of this school and became its first Indian secretary. After Bethune’s death in 1851, Vidyasagar took on the responsibility of running the school, often funding it from his own pocket, demonstrating his strong commitment to the cause of female education. The school was renamed Bethune Female School in honour of its founder and later evolved into Bethune College.

– Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a key associate and the first Indian secretary of the Hindu Female School (later Bethune Female School).
– He played a crucial role in its management and sustenance after Bethune’s demise.
– The school was founded by J.E.D. Bethune in 1849.

Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a renowned Bengali polymath and a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance. He was a social reformer who championed widow remarriage, opposed child marriage, and advocated for women’s education. His efforts were instrumental in opening up educational opportunities for girls in India during the 19th century. Annie Besant was associated with later educational movements, Debendranath Tagore was a prominent figure in the Brahmo Samaj and Indian philosophy, and Sarojini Naidu was a nationalist leader and poet in the 20th century.

244. With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the co

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct ascending order in terms of size?

[amp_mcq option1=”Paragana-Sarkar-Suba” option2=”Sarkar-Paragana-Suba” option3=”Suba-Sarkar-Paragana” option4=”Paragana-Suba-Sarkar” correct=”option1″]

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UPSC IAS – 2021

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The correct ascending order of administrative divisions in medieval India in terms of size is Paragana – Sarkar – Suba.

During the Mughal administration, the empire was divided into several provinces, known as Subas. Each Suba was headed by a Subedar. Subas were further divided into divisions called Sarkars. A Sarkar was administered by a Faujdar. Below the Sarkar were smaller units called Paraganas (or Mahals), consisting of a number of villages. A Paragana was overseen by officials like the Shiqdar, Amin, Qanungo, etc. The smallest unit of administration was the village. Thus, the hierarchy from smallest to largest was Village < Paragana < Sarkar < Suba < Empire. The ascending order of the given options is Paragana (smallest) < Sarkar < Suba (largest).

This administrative structure evolved over time, with roots in the administrative systems of the Delhi Sultanate. The Mughals, particularly Akbar, refined and standardized this system across their vast empire. Understanding these administrative divisions is crucial for studying the political and economic history of medieval India.

245. Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, a tran

Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English?

[amp_mcq option1=”Bal Gangadhar Tilak” option2=”Jawaharlal Nehru” option3=”Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi” option4=”Sarojini Naidu” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC IAS – 2021

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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, which is a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics into English.

‘Songs from Prison: Translations of Indian Lyrics made in Jail’ is a book containing English translations of devotional poems and hymns by Mahatma Gandhi. These translations were made while he was imprisoned in Yerwada Jail, Poona (now Pune), primarily in 1930 and 1932. The collection includes translations of verses from various Indian languages and religious traditions.

The book was compiled and published after Gandhi’s release from prison. It reflects Gandhi’s deep religious and spiritual inclinations and his practice of translating texts as a form of meditation and study during his incarceration. The other options, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sarojini Naidu, were also prominent figures involved in the freedom struggle, with significant literary contributions or interests, but ‘Songs from Prison’ is specifically linked to Gandhi.

246. With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the

With reference to 8th August, 1942 in Indian history, which one of the following statements is correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”The Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.” option2=”The Viceroy’s Executive Council was expanded to include more Indians.” option3=”The Congress ministries resigned in seven provinces.” option4=”Cripps proposed an Indian Union with full Dominion Status once the Second World War was over.” correct=”option1″]

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UPSC IAS – 2021

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On 8th August, 1942, the Quit India Resolution was adopted by the AICC.

The historic Quit India Resolution, also known as the ‘Bharat Chhodo Andolan’, was passed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) at its meeting in Bombay on August 8, 1942. The resolution called for an end to British rule in India. Following the adoption of the resolution, Mahatma Gandhi gave his famous ‘Do or Die’ speech. The leadership of the Congress was arrested the next day, triggering spontaneous mass protests across the country.

The expansion of the Viceroy’s Executive Council occurred earlier in the context of the August Offer (1940). The resignation of Congress ministries in seven provinces took place in October/November 1939 after the Viceroy declared India a belligerent in World War II without consulting Indian leaders. The Cripps Mission, which proposed Dominion Status, visited India in March 1942, several months before the Quit India Movement was launched.

247. Consider the following statements: 1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms

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?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option2″]

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UPSC IAS – 2021

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Only statement 2 is correct.

1. **Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919:** These reforms extended the franchise but did not grant voting rights to *all* women above 21. Franchise was limited based on property, income, and education. The Act *allowed* provincial legislatures to enfranchise women on these limited criteria, and Madras was the first province to do so in 1921. Universal adult suffrage, let alone for all women above 21, was not a feature of these reforms. Thus, statement 1 is incorrect.
2. **Government of India Act of 1935:** This Act further expanded the electorate and made provisions for women voters. It not only increased the number of women voters but also provided for *reserved seats* for women in some provincial legislatures and the federal legislature. Thus, statement 2 is correct.

The grant of voting rights to women in British India was a gradual process, starting with limited franchise in some municipalities and then provincially under the 1919 Act, extended significantly under the 1935 Act, but still based on qualifications, not universal adult suffrage, which was introduced with the Constitution of independent India. The system of reserved seats for women under the 1935 Act was distinct from general seats and was intended to ensure their representation.

248. With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla

With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous

[amp_mcq option1=”Jain monks” option2=”playwrights” option3=”temple architects” option4=”philosophers” correct=”option2″]

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UPSC IAS – 2021

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Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla, and Kshemeshvara were famous playwrights.

Bhavabhuti was a celebrated Sanskrit playwright of the 8th century, known for works like ‘Malatimadhava’, ‘Mahaviracharita’, and ‘Uttararamacarita’. Hastimalla was a prolific Jain playwright of the 13th century, authoring several Kannada plays. Kshemeshvara was another notable Sanskrit playwright, likely active between the 10th and 11th centuries, known for his play ‘Chandakaushika’. All three are historically recognized for their contributions to drama.

While individuals might have had multiple roles (e.g., philosophers who were also playwrights), the primary fame and historical identification of these three figures are as playwrights. They are significant figures in the history of Indian theatre and Sanskrit literature.

249. Which one of the following books was declared winner of the 2021 Inter

Which one of the following books was declared winner of the 2021 International Booker Prize?

[amp_mcq option1=”At Night All Blood is Black” option2=”The Dangers of Smoking in Bed” option3=”When We Cease to Understand the World” option4=”The War of the Poor” correct=”option1″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2021

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The 2021 International Booker Prize was awarded to the novel *At Night All Blood is Black* by French author David Diop, translated into English by Anna Moschovakis.

The question asks for the winner of the 2021 International Booker Prize. This is a specific literary award given annually to a single book translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.

Other books on the shortlist for the 2021 prize included *The Dangers of Smoking in Bed* by Mariana Enríquez (Argentina), *When We Cease to Understand the World* by Benjamín Labatut (Chile/Germany), *The Employees* by Olga Ravn (Denmark), *The War of the Poor* by Éric Vuillard (France), and *In Memory of Memory* by Maria Stepanova (Russia). The prize is shared equally between the author and the translator.

250. Which one of the following films has won the Best Film Award in Enviro

Which one of the following films has won the Best Film Award in Environment Conservation category at the 67th National Film Awards, 2021?

[amp_mcq option1=”Jonaki Porua” option2=”Wild Karnataka” option3=”Water Burial” option4=”Ronuwa—Who Never Surrender” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2021

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The film ‘Water Burial’ (in Monpa language) won the Best Film Award in the Environment Conservation category at the 67th National Film Awards, 2021.

The 67th National Film Awards were announced in March 2021, honouring films from 2019. ‘Water Burial’ is based on a popular Assamese novel ‘Sabdahere Sabdah’ by Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi and highlights the issue of ecological degradation and traditional rituals.

‘Wild Karnataka’ won the award for Best Exploration Film (Non-Feature Film) at the same awards. The Environment Conservation category specifically recognizes films that contribute to awareness or action regarding environmental issues.