Prelims Daily MCQs - Art and Culture + Ancient + Medieval History (3 May)

1. With reference to the Buddhist architecture in India, consider the following statements:

1. Chaitya is a place of worship while Vihara is the dwelling place of the monks.
2. Stupas were constructed solely by the Kings whereas Viharas were constructed solely by the monks.
3. Adholoka Maha Chaitya was recently unearthed in the region of Karnataka.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: c

Exp: Statement 1 is correct: Vihara is a dwelling place where the Buddhist monks resided and meditated whereas chaitya refers to a shrine or prayer hall in Buddhism.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Both the Stupas and Viharas were constructed by the Kings, common people and monks. There are many inscriptions which show that the stupas were built by persons other than kings such as traders and artisans’ categories like stone carvers, goldsmiths, stone-polishers, carpenters.

Statement 3 is correct: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) recently excavated Adholoka Maha Chaitya on the bank of Bhima River near Kanaganahalli in Kalaburagi district, Karnataka. It is believed to have been developed in three constructional phases – Maurya, Early Satavahana and Later Satavahana periods stretching from 3rd Century B.C. to 3rd Century A.D.

2. With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:

1. The caves at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: c

Exp: Not Badami, Barabar caves are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India. Barabar caves were built by King Ashoka and not Chandragupta Maurya. These caves were used by ascetics from the Ajivika sect.

Statement 3 is correct. Unlike Ajanta, Ellora caves were made for different faiths. Buddhist, Jain and Hindu mythology are represented at Ellora caves.

3. Consider Pancha Siddhantika, a work of Varahamihira, which deals with

a) Ayurvedic Medications

b) Occult and mysticism

c) Astronomical systems

d) Five principles of social living

Ans: c

Exp: Varahamihira was one of the nine jewels (Navaratnas) of the court of Chandragupta II. He was a great authority on astronomy.

In this context, he composed Pancha Siddhantika, about the five astronomical systems. It summarises five earlier astronomical treatises, namely the Surya Siddhanta, Romaka Siddhanta, Paulisa Siddhanta, Vasishtha Siddhanta and Paitamaha Siddhantas. Along with Aryabhatta, his contribution is considered seminal in Ancient India. His work Brihadsamhita is a great work in Sanskrit literature. It deals with a variety of subjects like astronomy, astrology, geography, architecture, weather, animals, marriage and omens. His Brihat Jataka is considered to be a standard work on astrology.

4. Consider the following statements regarding the revenue system under the Delhi Sultanates:

1. Alauddin Khilji was the first Sultan of Delhi who ordered the measurement of land.
2. Firoz Tughlaq banned the Iqta system of land due to its hereditary transmission from one heir to another.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: a

Exp: Statement 1 is correct: Alauddin Khilji was the second sultan of the Khilji dynasty and was the most powerful king of this dynasty. He liked to call himself ‘The Second Alexander’ and took the title ‘Sikander-i-Sani’. He is well known for his expansionist regime, besides for bringing market reforms. Alauddin Khilji took important steps in the land revenue administration, not sparing even big landlords from paying land tax. Land revenue was collected in cash in order to enable the Sultan to pay the soldiers in cash. His land revenue reforms provided a basis for the future reforms of Sher Shah and Akbar. Apart from this, no extra cess was to be levied, except a grazing tax (charai) on cattle and ghari on houses. He was the first to bring the standing army system. He started a system of branding of horses and a descriptive roster of individual soldiers to inhibit corruption. He constructed Alai Darwaza, the Palace of a thousand pillars and the Fort of Siri.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The reign of Firoz Tughlaq was more notable for his administration. He strictly followed the advice of the ulemas in running the administration. He pleased the nobles and assured hereditary succession to their properties. Thus, the iqta system was not only revived but also it was made hereditary. He withdrew all Taquavi (agricultural) loans granted by Mohammed-bin-Tughlaq and banned all kinds of damages and torture. He constructed towns like Firozabad, Hissar, Jaunpur, and Fatehabad. He levied Jizya on the Brahmins. He established hospitals (Dar-ul-shafa), Marriage Bureau (Diwani-khairat), and an Employment Bureau. He also established Diwan-i-lstibqaq to give financial aid to the poor.

5. Consider the following with respect to the Jajmani system, that is popular in parts of Medieval India in regions like Bengal:

1. Military service rendered by the local populace.
2. Terms of payment of daily allowances.
3. Revenue assessment system for a cropping season.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: b

Exp: The Jajmani system is a socio-economic and ritual arrangement in which one caste avails the services of another caste by entering into a mutually negotiated system of remuneration, most of the time goods for services. In this system everyone works for a certain family or group, with whom they are hereditarily linked. It usually takes place between landholder caste (Jajman) and other castes (Kamin) of the village. For example, eighteenth-century records tell us of zamindars in Bengal who remunerated blacksmiths, carpenters, even goldsmiths for their work by paying them “a small daily allowance and diet money”.

6. What is the total number of digits printed, if a book containing 300 pages is to be numbered from 1 to 300?

a) 601

b) 729

c) 792

d) 300

Ans: c

Exp: To find the total number of digits printed, we need to find the number of digits in each page number, add them up, and then multiply by the number of pages.

The number of digits in each page number can be determined as follows:

Pages 1 to 9 have one digit each. = 1x 9 = 9

Pages 10 to 99 have two digits each. = 2x 90 = 180

Pages 100 to 300 have three digits each. = 3x 201 = 603

Total = 9+180+603 = 792 digits.

7. If seconds and fourth Saturday and all the Sundays are taken as only holidays for an office, what would be the maximum number of possible working Days of any month of any year?

a) 22

b) 23

c) 24

d) 25

Ans: d

Exp: Maximum when days in month = 31,

Total holidays = 2 (saturday) + 4 (Sunday) = 6

Remaining Working days = 31-6 = 25.

Cover the entire CSAT syllabus in 70 hours.

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