Pre-Medieval Period

1. Consider the following dynasties: 1. Hoysala 2. Gahadavala 3. Kakatiya

Consider the following dynasties:
1. Hoysala
2. Gahadavala
3. Kakatiya
4. Yadava
How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?

Only one
Only two
Only three
None
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Option D is correct.
None of the listed dynasties – Hoysala, Gahadavala, Kakatiya, and Yadava – established their independent kingdoms or rose to significant prominence in the early 8th century AD. They emerged much later, primarily from the 11th century onwards, often as successors to earlier imperial powers like the Rashtrakutas or Chalukyas.
The early 8th century AD in India saw the continuation or emergence of different powers. In the north, the Gurjara-Pratiharas were consolidating power, the Palas were emerging in Bengal, and the Kashmir Kingdom was prominent. In the Deccan, the Chalukyas of Badami were still powerful before being succeeded by the Rashtrakutas in the mid-8th century. In the South, the Pallavas and Pandyas were significant.
The dynasties listed in the question rose much later:
Hoysalas: Became independent rulers in the early 12th century.
Gahadavalas: Ruled parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar from the late 11th to the 12th century.
Kakatiyas: Started as subordinates of the Rashtrakutas and Kalyani Chalukyas, becoming independent in the late 12th century.
Yadavas of Devagiri: Also started as feudatories of the Kalyani Chalukyas and became independent in the late 12th century.
Therefore, none of them established their kingdoms in the early 8th century AD.

2. With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following

With reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  • 1. Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
  • 2. In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
  • 3. The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2
2 only
1 and 3
3 only
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Only statement 2 is correct.
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Mitakshara and Dayabhaga systems were schools of Hindu law primarily dealing with inheritance and property rights, based on different interpretations of ancient Dharmasastras. They were geographically relevant (Mitakshara prevalent across most of India, Dayabhaga primarily in Bengal and Assam) and based on differing legal principles regarding joint family property and inheritance, not on caste distinctions.
Statement 2 is correct: This statement accurately describes a key difference. Under the Mitakshara system, a son acquires a right by birth in the ancestral property of the joint family (coparcenary). Under the Dayabhaga system, the son does not acquire any right in the father’s property during the father’s lifetime; inheritance occurs only after the father’s death, when the property becomes divisible.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Both systems traditionally dealt with coparcenary property, which primarily consisted of property held by male members in a joint family. While the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (and its 2005 amendment) significantly reformed this by giving daughters equal rights in ancestral property, the traditional systems as originally conceived did not deal equally with property held by both male and female members in the manner implied.
The Mitakshara system is based on the commentary by Vijnaneswara on the Yajnavalkya Smriti. The Dayabhaga system is based on the text by Jimutavahana. These systems represented divergent interpretations of Hindu law, particularly concerning property rights within a family.

3. Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ gener

Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the ‘Hundi’ generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period ?

An advisory issued by the king to his subordinates
A diary to be maintained for daily accounts
A bill of exchange
An order from the feudal lord to his subordinates
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‘Hundi’ is a traditional financial instrument widely used in India for trade and credit transactions. It functions as a bill of exchange, a promissory note, or a draft. It allowed merchants to transfer money from one place to another without physically carrying cash, reducing the risk of theft, or to borrow/lend money based on written promises. The term and instrument were prevalent in the post-Harsha period and continued to be important throughout the medieval and colonial eras.
A Hundi is essentially an indigenous form of a bill of exchange used for transferring funds or credit.
There were various types of Hundis, such as Darshani Hundi (payable on sight) and Mudati Hundi (payable after a fixed period). The Hundi system facilitated trade and commerce across long distances in India.

4. Consider the following events in the history of India : Rise of Pra

Consider the following events in the history of India :

  1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja
  2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman – I
  3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka – I
  4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala

What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time ?

2-1-4-3
3-1-4-2
2-4-1-3
3-4-1-2
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Let’s establish the approximate time periods for each event:
2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman I: Mahendravarman I ruled from c. 600 to 630 CE.
4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala: Gopala founded the Pala dynasty in Bengal around c. 750 CE.
1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja: Mihira Bhoja I (King Bhoja) was a major ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty, reigning from c. 836 to 885 CE.
3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka I: Parantaka I reigned from 907 to 955 CE. The revival of the Chola dynasty was by Vijayalaya in the mid-9th century (c. 848 CE), but Parantaka I represents a significant phase of expansion shortly after Bhoja’s peak. Considering Parantaka I specifically, this event is the latest.
The chronological order is thus: Pallavas under Mahendravarman I (early 7th century) -> Palas under Gopala (mid-8th century) -> Pratiharas under Bhoja (mid-late 9th century) -> Cholas under Parantaka I (early 10th century). This corresponds to the sequence 2 – 4 – 1 – 3.
The correct chronological order of the rulers/dynasties mentioned is Pallavas (Mahendravarman I), Palas (Gopala), Pratiharas (Bhoja), and Cholas (Parantaka I).
This question tests knowledge of major dynasties and rulers of post-Gupta/early medieval South and North India. Understanding the approximate centuries in which these dynasties flourished is crucial.

5. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :

With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs :

1. Bhilsa — Madhya Pradesh
2. Dwarasamudra — Maharashtra
3. Girinagar — Gujarat
4. Sthanesvara — Uttar Pradesh

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ?

1 and 3 only
1 and 4 only
2 and 3 only
2 and 4 only
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UPSC IAS – 2020
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The correctly matched pairs are Bhilsa (Vidisha) with Madhya Pradesh and Girinagar (Junagadh) with Gujarat. Dwarasamudra was in Karnataka, and Sthanesvara was in Haryana.
Pair 1: Bhilsa, historically also known as Vidisha, is located in the present-day state of Madhya Pradesh.
Pair 2: Dwarasamudra was the capital of the Hoysala dynasty, located in present-day Karnataka (modern Halebidu).
Pair 3: Girinagar is the ancient name for Junagadh, a city located in Gujarat.
Pair 4: Sthanesvara, also known as Thanesar, was the capital of the Pushyabhuti dynasty, including Harshavardhana’s kingdom before he moved his capital to Kannauj. Thanesar is located in the present-day state of Haryana.
These ancient place names and their locations are important for understanding the historical geography of India during different periods, including the Gupta era and later. Knowing the locations of major cities, capitals, and cultural centres helps in mapping historical events and administrative divisions.

6. Who among the following usurped power in Kanyakubja after the death of

Who among the following usurped power in Kanyakubja after the death of Harshavardhana?

Adityasena
Arunashva
Shashanka
Lalitaditya
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After the death of Harshavardhana in 647 AD, his empire fragmented. The power in his capital, Kanyakubja (Kannauj), was reportedly seized by a minister named Arunashva (also referred to as Arjuna). He imprisoned the Tang Chinese envoy Wang Xuance, which led to a punitive expedition by the Chinese.
The death of Harsha marked the end of a period of relative unity in northern India and was followed by fragmentation and the rise of various regional powers.
The Chinese accounts of Wang Xuance’s mission provide crucial information about the political situation in India immediately after Harsha’s death, specifically mentioning Arunashva’s usurpation of power.

7. Why are the Gypsies regarded as of Indian origin? 1. They follow Ind

Why are the Gypsies regarded as of Indian origin?

  • 1. They follow Indian religious practices.
  • 2. Their language, called Romani, is an Indo-Aryan language.
  • 3. They believe that they came from India.
  • 4. Epigraphic evidence locates their original home in Uttar Pradesh.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 4 only
2 only
1, 2 and 4
2 and 3
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The primary and most conclusive evidence for the Indian origin of the Gypsies (Roma people) is linguistic. Their language, Romani, is demonstrably an Indo-Aryan language closely related to languages spoken in North India.
Statement 2 is true. Linguistic analysis shows that Romani shares a common ancestor with languages like Hindi, Punjabi, etc., and contains vocabulary and grammatical structures indicating its origin from North India. Statement 1 is generally false; Roma people have adopted the religions of their host countries and do not typically follow traditional Indian religious practices in their diaspora. Statement 3 is partially true for some communities but not a universal belief and is not the primary scholarly evidence. Statement 4 is false; there is no known significant epigraphic evidence locating their origin in Uttar Pradesh; the evidence is primarily linguistic and genetic.
Genetic studies also support the Indian origin of the Roma people, showing genetic links to populations in the Indian subcontinent. The migration from India is believed to have occurred in waves, possibly starting around the 5th-10th centuries CE.
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