Question 1

Who established 'Ashta Pradhan'?

Accepted Answer

Shivaji established the 'Ashta Pradhan', a council of eight ministers to assist the king. The king was the central authority, but each minister was directly responsible to Shivaji. The ministers included: Peshwa (Finance and General Administration, later became Prime Minister), Senapati (military commander, honorary post), Amatya (Accountant General), Waqenavis (intelligence, posts, household affairs), Sachiv (correspondence), Sumanta (Master of Ceremonies), Nyayadish (Justice), Panditarao (Charities and Religious administration). [65th BPSC Prelims Exam 2019]

Question 2

Which Delhi sultan built the maximum number of canals?

Accepted Answer

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388 AD) built the maximum number of canals among Delhi Sultans and was the first to impose an irrigation tax. He dug numerous canals and wells, the longest being about 200 km from Sutlej to Hansi. He developed around 1200 fruit gardens in and around Delhi for revenue purposes and established two separate departments: Diwan-i-Khairat (care of orphans and widows) and Diwan-Bandwan (for slaves). [65th BPSC Prelims Exam 2019]

Question 3

The name by which Ashoka is generally referred to in his inscriptions is

Accepted Answer

Ashoka is generally referred to as 'Priyadarshi' (meaning 'pleasant to behold') in his inscriptions. James Prinsep deciphered Ashoka's Brahmi inscriptions in 1837, revealing the use of both Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts on early inscriptions and coins. Priyadarshi was the name used extensively in Ashoka's edicts. [65th BPSC Prelims Exam 2019]

Question 4

Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period?

Accepted Answer

Sushruta is renowned for his work on medicine during the Gupta period and is considered the 'Father of Surgery'. He authored the 'Sushruta Samhita', detailing over 120 surgical instruments, 300 surgical procedures, and classification of human surgery into eight categories. He hailed from present-day Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. [65th BPSC Prelims Exam 2019]

Question 5

Which of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?

Accepted Answer

Kharosthi script was written from right to left in ancient India. Also called the Gandhari script, it was an ancient Indo-Iranian script used in north-western India, Central Asia, Bactria, and the Kushan empire. It is considered a sister script to Brahmi and was deciphered by James Prinsep. [65th BPSC Prelims Exam 2019]

Question 6

Which one of the following ports was in use for North Indian trade during the Gupta Period?

Accepted Answer

Tamralipti, located in Bengal, was used for North Indian trade during the Gupta period, facilitating commerce with China, Java, and Sumatra. Other ports such as Kalyan, Chaul, Broach, and Cambay were active in Western India, while Kadura, Ghantasala, Kaveripattanam (Puhar), and Tondail were used in Andhra, and Kottayam and Muziris on the Malabar coast. [65th BPSC Prelims Exam 2019]

Question 7

Mughal Painting reached its Zenith under

Accepted Answer

Mughal painting reached its zenith under Jahangir (1605-1627 AD). During his reign, Persian and Indian styles were fully synthesized, individual portraiture became prominent over manuscripts, brushwork became finer, and colors lighter. Jahangir had a keen aesthetic sense and preferred painting hunting scenes, birds, and flowers. Famous painters included Ustad Mansur, Abul Hasan, Bishan Das, Mansur, Inayat, and Balchand. [65th BPSC Prelims Exam 2019]

Question 8

In Medieval India, why was Mansabdari system introduced?

Accepted Answer

The Mansabdari system was introduced by Akbar to facilitate recruitment to the army. Under this system, each officer was assigned a rank (mansab), ranging from 10 to 5000 for nobles, with higher ranks for royal princes. Mansab included Zat (personal rank) and Sawar (number of cavalrymen to maintain). Every Sawar had to maintain at least two horses. Appointments, promotions, and dismissals were directly controlled by the emperor. [65th BPSC Prelims Exam 2019]

65th Prelims 2019