UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : History, Culture and Social Issues MCQs on Mauryan Art, Lahore treaty and more (Week 79)

1. It was signed after the third Anglo-Sikh war of 1845-46.

2. As per the treaty, the British Governor General Lord Harding accepted Duleep Singh as the Maharaja of Lahore.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Duleep Singh was the youngest son of Sher-E-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Maharani Zinda. He was proclaimed Maharaja of Punjab (Lahore) in 1843, and his mother, Maharani Zind Kaur, served as Regent. When he was quite young, his mother took over the kingdom’s affairs on his behalf.

— The Lahore Treaty was signed following the loss of Lahore Darbar in the first Anglo-Sikh War in 1845-46. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Lord Harding, the British Governor General, recognised Duleep Singh as the Maharaja of Lahore, and Zind Kaur, his mother, was appointed guardian. However, per the Bhaironwal Treaty, the British took Maharani Zind Kaur from Lahore Darbar and relocated her to Sheikhupura and later Banaras. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Source: amritmahotsav.nic.in)

QUESTION 2

Consider the following statements:

Statement 1: In the 19th century, the Christian missionaries in India criticised the argument for practical education.

Statement 2: The missionaries felt that education should improve the moral character of the people which could be improved only through Christian education.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is incorrect.

(d) Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct.

Explanation

— The argument for practical education was strongly criticised by the Christian missionaries in India in the nineteenth century. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The missionaries felt that education should attempt to improve the moral character of the people, and morality could be improved only through Christian education. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Until 1813, the East India Company resisted missionary work in India.

— It believed that missionary operations would incite a reaction from the indigenous community, making them wary of the British presence in India. Unable to construct an institution within British-held areas, the missionaries established a mission in Serampore, an area owned by the Danish East India Company.

— Throughout the nineteenth century, missionary schools were established all over India. After 1857, however, the British government in India was hesitant to directly fund missionary education. There was concern that any significant attack on local habits, rituals, beliefs, and religious concepts might incite “native” opinion.

Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ncert.nic.in)

QUESTION 3

He arrived in India in 1902 to take charge as director-general of ASI. He was not particularly engrossed with Alexander or Buddhism in India. Rather, his attention was in the Mediterranean region, and the Minoan culture of Crete was his first point of reference. He dedicated himself wholly to furthering the cause of Indian archaeology. He was responsible for the excavation that led to the discovery of Harappa and Mohenjodaro.

The above mentioned lines refer to:

(a) James Burgess

(b) Daya Ram Sahni

(c) Mortimer Wheeler

(d) John Marshall

Explanation

— John Marshall arrived in India in 1902 to take over as director-general of the ASI. Unlike his predecessors, Marshall was not very interested in Alexander or Buddhism in India. Rather, his attention was in the Mediterranean region, and the Minoan culture of Crete was his first point of reference. “But he soon dedicated himself wholly to furthering the cause of Indian archaeology, despite his department’s thinly stretched financial resources,” writes Andrew Robinson in his book, The Indus (2015).

— Lord Curzon named him Director-General of Archaeology in the British Indian administration in 1902, and he revolutionised archaeology on the continent by instituting a program of collecting and conserving ancient sites and antiquities.

— He oversaw the excavation that resulted in the discoveries of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, two of the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation. Daya Ram Sahni excavated Harappa in 1921-22, and Rakhal Das Banerji excavated Mohenjodaro in 1922-23.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the Mauryan Art, consider the following statements:

1. The wood was the dominant material used for construction.

2. Stupas were built to enshrine the relics of Buddha and to commemorate the events of religious significance.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— By the third century BCE, the Mauryas had cemented their rule and controlled a substantial portion of India.

— This time saw the carving of pillars, sculptures, rock-cut buildings, stupas and viharas, rock-cut caverns, and colossal figure sculptures in various locations.

— Ashoka erected large monolithic sandstone pillars 30 to 40 feet tall, capped by animal forms such as the bull, lion, and elephant, and inscribed with concepts of morality, humanity, and piety for his people to emulate.

— In contrast to the earlier history of working with wood and clay, Ashoka began to make considerable use of stone for sculptures and huge monuments.

— In architectural remains of this period, the gradual transition from wood to stone is apparent. However, wood was still the dominant material. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Stupas were built not only to enshrine the relics of Buddha and Buddhist saints, but also to commemorate the events of religious significance. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ncert.nic.in)

QUESTION 5

Consider the following statements:

1. This majestic marine stronghold fort is situated on an island in the Arabian Sea.

2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha warrior-king, constructed it between 1664 and 1667.

3. It was built as a strategic bastion to defend Maratha territory against the expanding influence of Portuguese, Dutch, English, and Siddi pirates.

4. This fort was critical to the Maratha navy’s control of the Konkan coast, preventing enemy incursions and protecting trade routes.

The above mentioned statements refer to:

(a) Raigad Fort

(b) Shivneri Fort

(c) Lohagad Fort

(d) Sindhudurg Fort

Explanation

— On August 26, 2024, a 35-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj collapsed triggering widespread protests and criticism. The Sindhudurg Fort, which Shivaji Maharaj built 357 years ago, still stands strong.

— Shivaji Maharaj attempted to establish dominance over the oceans, particularly against the mighty Siddis who defended the formidable fort of Murud-Janjira. Despite repeated tries, he was unable to take Janjira, so he decided to establish a naval fleet and a sea fortress to fight Siddis’ influence.

— Sindhudurg Fort is a magnificent maritime castle situated on an island in the Arabian Sea, right off the coast of Malvan in Maharashtra’s Konkan region. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the famed Maratha warrior-king, erected it between 1664 and 1667. The fort’s strategic location, robust defences, and historical significance make it a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of Maratha valour.

— Sindhudurg Fort was built as a strategic bastion to safeguard Maratha territory from the expanding influence of Portuguese, Dutch, English, and Siddi pirates operating on India’s western coast.

— Sindhudurg was critical to the Maratha navy’s control of the Konkan coast, preventing enemy incursions and protecting trade routes. It also served as a base for Shivaji’s naval campaigns against the Portuguese and the Siddi fleets. The fort’s strategic value and historical significance have earned it the designation of protected monument.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: maharashtratourism.gov.in)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 79)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 78)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 78)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 78)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 78)

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