61 questions from the UPSC 2021 examination.
61 questions
Q7 (Paper 1). (a) "Discuss the importance of Iqta system. How did it help in centralization of administration of the Delhi Sultanate?" (15 marks) (b) "Why is the reign of the Khaljis known as the 'Khalji Revolution'?" (15 marks) (c) "The late seventeenth century Mughal India is considered to be a period of Jagirdari crisis. Discuss." (20 marks)
Q3 (Paper 1). (a) Were the Megaliths a single/homogeneous culture? What material life do they reveal? (15 marks) (b) Characterize the Mauryan state based on Kautilya's Arthashastra. (15 marks) (c) How did Varnashrama Dharma manifest increasing social complexities in the Gupta/post-Gupta periods? (15 marks)
How were the Princely States integrated in the Indian Union after the partition? What role did Sardar Patel play in it?
Q3 (Paper 2). (a) "How did English utilitarian thinking impact India in the British era?" (20 marks) (b) "The same Gandhiji who withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement on the issue of violence at Chauri-Chaura, refused to condemn people's violence during the Quit India Movement. Do you think that he was losing his faith in the efficacy of non-violence and was willing to deviate from this path?" Elucidate. (20 marks) (c) "While individually the Marathas were clever and brave, they lacked the corporate spirit so essential for national independence." Discuss with reasons. (10 marks)
What were the causes and consequences of the revolutionary upsurge of the 1840s in Europe?
The late seventeenth century Mughal India is considered to be a period of Jagirdari crisis. Discuss.
Q2 (Paper 2). (a) "India had been the world leader in hand spun and hand woven yarn and cloth for many centuries. Many nationalist and Marxist critiques considered that the British dominion deliberately shattered the traditional and world famous handicrafts of India." Comment. (20 marks) (b) "What were the various ways in which nationalism manifested itself in India during colonial rule?" (15 marks) (c) "The East India Company had thought that they had found an ideal puppet in Mir Kasim. Mir Kasim, however, belied the expectation of the company." Examine critically. (15 marks)
Will it be proper to consider the megaliths to represent a single, homogeneous or contemporaneous culture? What kind of material life and cultural system is revealed in the megalithic cultures?
The rise of nationalism across nations shattered the chains which held together the empires of modern Europe. Discuss.
Q2 (Paper 1). (a) "Do you agree that ecological factors influenced the flow and ebb of the Harappan Civilization? Comment." (20 marks) (b) "Do you consider that the Upanishadic principles embody the high point of Vedic religious thought? Comment." (15 marks) (c) Analyze external influences versus indigenous development in post-Mauryan art. (15 marks)
Do you agree that ecological factors influenced the flow and ebb of the Harappan Civilization? Comment.
What were the various ways in which nationalism manifested itself in India during colonial rule?
Q4 (Paper 1). (a) "Political and economic needs of rulers, combined with merchant class needs, provided a receptive milieu for Buddhism." (20 marks) (b) Land grants in non-arable areas and hydraulic resource management facilitating agricultural expansion. (15 marks) (c) The relationship between vernacular literature emergence and regional identity formation in early medieval India. (15 marks)
The Chartist Movement failed to achieve its stated objectives, but succeeded in seeding the idea that a representative democracy should include all citizens.
The introduction of Western education transformed India in unforeseen ways.
Napoleon's continental system may be reckoned as the greatest blunder and may be described as a "monument of misdirected energy".
Revolutions, whether in Russia (1917) or in China (1949), are a disastrous way of transforming a country. Comment.
Tipu Sultan had little success in setting forth a course of change significantly different from the general experience of 18th century crisis of Indian politics and society where public life tended over and over to become a system of plundering.
Q7 (Paper 2). (a) "The rise of nationalism across nations shattered the chains which held together the empires of modern Europe." Discuss. (20 marks) (b) "In the American civil war, the victory of the North had many consequences...its indirect effects on American development were perhaps even more important." Comment. (20 marks) (c) "Revolutions, whether in Russia (1917) or in China (1949), are a disastrous way of transforming a country." Comment. (10 marks)
India had been the world leader in the field of hand spun and hand woven yarn and cloth for many centuries. Many nationalist and Marxist critiques considered that the British dominion deliberately shattered the traditional and world famous handicrafts of India. Comment.
The same Gandhiji who withdrew the Non-Cooperation Movement on the issue of violence at Chauri-Chaura, refused to condemn people's violence during the Quit India Movement. Do you think that he was losing his faith in the efficacy of non-violence and was willing to deviate from this path? Elucidate.
Discuss the major constitutional developments in India after 1858 and their impact on society and polity.
How would you characterize the nature of Mauryan state on the basis of Kautilya's Arthashastra?
Why is the reign of the Khaljis known as the 'Khalji Revolution'?
In the American civil war, the victory of the North had many consequences. Some of them were direct and obvious. However, its indirect effects on American development were perhaps even more important. Comment.
Analyze the significance of external influences and indigenous development on post-Mauryan art.
There were many reasons why the industrial revolution first happened in England.
Q6 (Paper 2). (a) "What was 'enlightened' about the Age of Enlightenment?" (20 marks) (b) "What were the causes and consequences of the revolutionary upsurge of the 1840s in Europe?" (20 marks) (c) "The white-minority government of South Africa treated the natives very badly by denying them fundamental rights and made Apartheid as official policy. How were the people able to end Apartheid policy and establish a transitional rule?" (10 marks)
Q6 (Paper 1). (a) "Discuss the transformation of Sikh community from a Nirguna Bhakti sect into a politico-military organization." (15 marks) (b) "Give your assessment of Bahlul Lodi's relation with his nobility." (15 marks) (c) "Examine the basic features of Mughal tomb architecture with special reference to the Taj Mahal." (20 marks)
Do you consider that the Upanishadic principles embody the high point of Vedic religious thought? Comment.
Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your Question-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked on the map are given below seriatim : (i) Paleolithic site (ii) Mesolithic site (iii) Neolithic site (iv) Neolithic-Chalcolithic site (v) Harappan site (vi) Proto-historic and historic site (vii) Inscriptional site (viii) Jain monastic site (ix) Coin hoard (x) Paleolithic site (xi) Terracotta site (xii) Rock-cut caves (xiii) Ancient learning centre (xiv) Political and cultural centre (xv) Buddhist site (xvi) Ancient port (xvii) Early historic site (xviii) Ivory hoard (xix) Buddhist monastic centre (xx) Temple complex
Discuss the changing nature of Dalit assertion in India in the twentieth century.
How far is it justified to consider the states like Bengal, Awadh and Hyderabad as 'successor states' of the Mughal state?
Europe was at war with itself in the first half of the twentieth century with a long cease-fire. Comment.
What was "enlightened" about the Age of Enlightenment?
Discuss the relationship between emergence of literature in vernacular languages and formation of regional identities in early medieval India.
How did English utilitarian thinking impact India in the British era?
How did the Varnishrama Dharma manifest the increasing social complexities in the Gupta and post-Gupta period arising from social and economic developments?
"The political and economic needs of rulers, combined with economic and status needs of the merchant class, together provided the receptive cultural milieu in which Buddhism flourished." Comment.
Discuss with relevant illustrations the relations between Akbar and the Rajput states.
Discuss the transformation of Sikh community from a Nirguna Bhakti sect into a politico-military organization.
The East India Company had thought that they had found an ideal puppet in Mir Kasim. Mir Kasim, however, belied the expectation of the company. Examine critically.
In the first decade of the 20th century, the atmosphere was ripe for the emergence of revolutionary groups to fill up the vacant space in the political map of the country.
Answer the following questions in about 150 words each : (a) Discuss the different stages of Indian feudalism and analyze its impact on Indian political system. (b) Do you consider Sultan Iltutmish to be the real founder of the Delhi Sultanate? Discuss. (c) Identify the different categories of Persian literature which emerged during the Delhi Sultanate. (d) Examine the causes of Babur's success against Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat. (e) Discuss the attitude of Chishti saints towards the state. How were the Suhrawardy saints different in their attitude towards the government?
The rise of the Communist Movement in India in the 1920s lent a militant and revolutionary content to the Trade Union Movement.
Give your assessment of Bahlul Lodi's relation with his nobility.
Q8 (Paper 2). (a) "Europe was at war with itself in the first half of the twentieth century with a long cease-fire." Comment. (20 marks) (b) "The impact of the end of the Cold War and the emergence of the US as the lone superpower has been both, good and bad." Discuss. (20 marks) (c) "Do you think that the United Nations Organisation has played a significant role in resolving international disputes and ensuring peace in the world?"
Examine the basic features of Mughal tomb architecture with special reference to the Taj Mahal.
Discuss the importance of Iqta system. How did it help in centralization of administration of the Delhi Sultanate?
The white-minority government of South Africa treated the natives very badly by denying them fundamental rights and made Apartheid as official policy. How were the people able to end Apartheid policy and establish a transitional rule?
During the Cold War, some important leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement wanted to keep the movement away from the military blocs.
While individually the Marathas were clever and brave, they lacked the corporate spirit so essential for national independence. Discuss with reasons.
Q8 (Paper 1). (a) "The Chola rulers were not only mighty conquerors, efficient administrators but also builders of fine temples." Comment. (15 marks) (b) "Discuss with relevant illustrations the relations between Akbar and the Rajput states." (15 marks) (c) "How far is it justified to consider the states like Bengal, Awadh and Hyderabad as 'successor states' of the Mughal state?" (20 marks)
Q5 (Paper 1). Answer in about 150 words each (10x5=50 marks): (a) "Discuss the different stages of Indian feudalism and analyze its impact on Indian political system." (b) "Do you consider Sultan Iltutmish to be the real founder of the Delhi Sultanate? Discuss." (c) "Identify the different categories of Persian literature which emerged during the Delhi Sultanate." (d) "Examine the causes of Babur's success against Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat." (e) "Discuss the attitude of Chishti saints towards the state. How were the Suhrawardi saints different in their attitude towards the government?"
"The Chola rulers were not only mighty conquerors, efficient administrators but also builders of fine temples." Comment.
The Arab countries looked up to Nasser as a leader who could withstand the pressure exerted by Western countries on Egypt to make peace with Israel.
The impact of the end of the Cold War and the emergence of the US as the lone superpower has been both, good and bad. Discuss.
The Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was designed for better control of the vernacular press and to empower the government with more effective means of punishing and repressing seditious writings.
Q4 (Paper 2). (a) "Discuss the major constitutional developments in India after 1858 and their impact on society and polity." (20 marks) (b) "Discuss the changing nature of Dalit assertion in India in the twentieth century." (20 marks) (c) "How were the Princely States integrated in the Indian Union after the partition? What role did Sardar Patel play in it?" (10 marks)
Large number of land grants in hitherto non-arable tracts invariably meant expansion of agriculture in early medieval India. How did the management of hydraulic resources (different types of irrigation works) facilitate expansion of agriculture in this period?
Do you think that the United Nations Organisation has played a significant role in resolving international disputes and ensuring peace in the world?