Assam GK

1. Which of the following statements about the economy of Assam in the me

Which of the following statements about the economy of Assam in the medieval period is/are correct ?

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  • 1. Ahoms cast excellent matchlocks and made first rate gunpowder and artillery pieces
  • 2. Assam adopted new crafts of brass-casting and making granu-lated sugar during this period
  • 3. Sarthebari village (in Kamrup) was known for its skill in metal casting

Select the answer using the code given below:

3, 4 and 5
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 4
1, 3 and 4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2024
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Let’s evaluate the statements about the economy of Assam in the medieval period (primarily the Ahom kingdom):
1. Ahoms cast excellent matchlocks and made first rate gunpowder and artillery pieces: This is correct. The Ahom kingdom had significant indigenous capabilities in metallurgy and military technology. They were known to manufacture firearms, including matchlocks and cannons, and produce gunpowder locally. Historical accounts, including Mughal observations, mention their proficiency in these areas, which contributed to their military success in defending their territory.
2. Assam adopted new crafts of brass-casting and making granulated sugar during this period: This statement is likely incorrect or misleading. Brass casting was an ancient craft in Assam (e.g., Sarthebari tradition). While crafts evolve, it wasn’t necessarily a *new adoption* during the Ahom period. Granulated sugar production on a large scale using methods similar to those developed elsewhere (e.g., crystallization) was not a defining feature or a “new craft adopted” widely in medieval Assam; traditional sweeteners like jaggery were more common.
3. Sarthebari village (in Kamrup) was known for its skill in metal casting: This is correct. Sarthebari, located in the Kamrup district, has a long-standing and famous tradition of brass and bell metal craft (*Kah Shilpa*). Artisans from Sarthebari were renowned for their skill in casting utensils and other items from these metals throughout the medieval period and continue to be known for it today.
Based on the analysis, statements 1 and 3 are correct, while statement 2 is likely incorrect. The options refer to subsets of statements 1, 2, and 3.
The medieval Ahom kingdom had notable strengths in indigenous military technology and traditional crafts like metal casting, while the introduction of certain ‘new crafts’ like granulated sugar production during this specific period is questionable.
The Ahom economy was primarily agrarian, but also involved significant mining (iron, copper), metalwork, weaving (particularly silk), and forest products. The state controlled many aspects of production and labor through the *Paik* system.

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2. What are *bhuni, pachara*, and *dopati* frequently mentioned in the bi

What are *bhuni, pachara*, and *dopati* frequently mentioned in the bio- graphies of the Vaishnava reformers of medieval Assam ?

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Vessels of metal used in religious oblation
Agricultural implements
Musical instruments used at the time of Bohag Bihu festival
Pieces of men's clothes
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2024
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In the context of the biographies of Vaishnava reformers of medieval Assam, such as Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva, terms like *bhuni*, *pachara*, and *dopati* refer to specific types of clothing traditionally worn by men, particularly within the Sattriya tradition associated with the Vaishnava movement in Assam. These are pieces of cloth draped or worn in particular styles.
These terms are specific items of traditional Assamese men’s wear mentioned in the cultural and social context of the medieval Vaishnava movement led by Sankaradeva.
This question requires specific knowledge of Assamese culture and terminology found in historical and biographical texts related to the Vaishnava movement of the region. They are not vessels, agricultural tools, or musical instruments.

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3. Which one of the following Oil Refineries is not located in Assam ?

Which one of the following Oil Refineries is not located in Assam ?

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Tatipaka
Numaligarh
Bongaigaon
Digboi
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2021
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Tatipaka is an oil refinery located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, not Assam. It is operated by ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation).
Assam is a major oil and gas producing state in India and has several significant oil refineries.
Numaligarh, Bongaigaon, and Digboi are all well-known operational oil refineries situated in Assam. Digboi Refinery is one of the oldest continuously operating refineries in the world.

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4. Which one of the following is an ethnic community of Assam?

Which one of the following is an ethnic community of Assam?

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Bhil
Gond
Ahom
Adi
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2023
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The Ahom are a major ethnic group found primarily in the state of Assam, India. They are descendants of the Tai-Ahom people who migrated from present-day Yunnan, China, in the 13th century and established the Ahom Kingdom in the Brahmaputra Valley.
The Ahom language is a Tai language, although over time the Ahom people largely adopted the Assamese language. They played a significant role in the history and culture of Assam.
Bhil and Gond are large tribal communities found primarily in central and western India. Adi is a major tribal community of Arunachal Pradesh.

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5. Consider the following clues about a State of India: It is known as

Consider the following clues about a State of India:

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  • It is known as ‘land of red river and blue hills’.
  • It contains three of the six physiographic divisions of India.
  • It covers about 2.39 percent of total area of the country.

Identify the State on the basis of the given clues.

Karnataka
Andhra Pradesh
Assam
Chhattisgarh
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2023
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The correct answer is C) Assam. The clues accurately describe the State of Assam: it is known as the ‘land of red river and blue hills’ (referring to the Brahmaputra and the surrounding hills), it encompasses parts of the Northern Mountains, Northern Plains (Brahmaputra Valley), and the Peninsular Plateau (Karbi Anglong/Meghalaya Plateau extension), and its area (approx. 78,438 sq km) constitutes about 2.39% of India’s total area (approx. 3.287 million sq km).
– ‘Land of red river and blue hills’ is a popular epithet for Assam, referencing the Brahmaputra river and the Eastern Himalayas and hills.
– India’s major physiographic divisions include the Northern Mountains, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Coastal Plains, Islands, and the Great Indian Desert. Assam has portions of the first three.
– Area calculation: (Area of State / Total Area of India) * 100. For Assam, (78438 / 3287263) * 100 ≈ 2.386%.
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh are significant states but do not match all three clues, particularly the ‘red river and blue hills’ description and the area percentage. Karnataka is known for the Western Ghats and Plateau region. Andhra Pradesh is primarily known for its coastal plains and Eastern Ghats. Chhattisgarh is part of the Peninsular Plateau region.

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