Question 1

How many members are elected from Bihar to the Lok Sabha?

Accepted Answer

At present, Bihar elects 40 members to the Lok Sabha, with 34 seats for the general category and 6 reserved for SC/ST candidates. In the Rajya Sabha, Bihar has 16 members. Bihar has a bicameral legislature consisting of the Bihar Legislative Assembly and Bihar Legislative Council. The Bihar Reorganization Act, 2000 reduced the Assembly strength from 325 to 243 members, including 38 SC and 2 ST reserved seats. The Legislative Council strength was reduced from 96 to 75 members. [56-59TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2015]

Question 2

What is the unique festival of Bihar?

Accepted Answer

Chhath Pooja is a unique festival of Bihar dedicated to the solar deity, Surya, to show gratitude for life's bounties and request fulfillment of wishes. Chhathi Maiya, the sixth form of Devi Prakriti and sister of Lord Surya, is worshipped. The festival occurs six days after Deepawali, on the sixth day of the lunar month of Kartika (October-November) in the Hindu Vikram Samvat calendar. [56-59TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2015]

Question 3

In which area was Rahul Sankrityayan active in the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920?

Accepted Answer

Rahul Sankrityayan, originally named Kedar Nath Pandey, was active in Chhapra during the Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920. He was a polymath and polyglot, known as the 'Father of Hindi Travel Literature.' Later, he became a Buddhist monk and adopted Marxist socialism. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1963 by the Government of India. [56-59TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2015]

Question 4

Who highlighted the plight of the peasants of Champaran by writing under pseudonyms like 'Dukhi', 'Dukhi Atma' and 'Dukhi Hridaya'?

Accepted Answer

Peer Muhammad Moonis (1882-1949), a Hindi journalist from Champaran, highlighted the plight of indigo peasants under pseudonyms like 'Dukhi', 'Dukhi Atma', and 'Dukhi Hridaya'. His writings in Pratap and other newspapers brought Mahatma Gandhi's attention to Champaran, prompting the Champaran Satyagraha. He, along with Raj Kumar Shukla, persuaded Gandhi to intervene, and the British considered him a threat to their authority. [56-59TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2015]

Question 5

Who among the following was/were peasant leaders from Bihar? Swami Vidyanand, Swami Sahajanand, Sardar Vallabhai Patel

Accepted Answer

Swami Vidyanand and Swami Sahajanand were peasant leaders from Bihar. Swami Vidyanand led cultivators in 1919-1920 protests against Darbhanga Raj. Swami Sahajanand, born in Ghazipur, UP in 1889, formed the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha in 1929 to mobilize peasants. He later became President of the All India Kisan Sabha (1936) with N.G Ranga as secretary. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was not a peasant leader from Bihar. [56-59TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2015]

Question 6

Which of the following statements is correct regarding 1857?

Accepted Answer

During the 1857 revolt, the Maharajas of Darbhanga, Dumraon, and Hatwa and their fellow landlords assisted the English with both men and money. Bihar saw incidents such as the Rohini village revolt in Deoghar on June 12, 1857, and Patna revolt under Pir Ali. Babu Kunwar Singh of Jagdishpur was the most notable revolutionary figure from Bihar. Areas like Munger remained unaffected. [56-59TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2015]

Question 7

At which place in Bihar did Gandhiji have his first Satyagraha?

Accepted Answer

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was Gandhi’s first civil disobedience movement. Rajkumar Shukla invited Gandhi to address indigo planters' exploitation under the Tinkathiya system, which forced peasants to grow indigo on 3/20th of their land. Leaders like Rajendra Prasad, Anugraha Narayan Singh, Mazhar-ul-Haque, Mahadeo Desai, and J.B. Kriplani assisted. The movement compelled the British to form a committee, leading to reduced compensation for planters. [56-59TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2015]

Question 8

By which name is Jay Prakash Narayan known?

Accepted Answer

Jay Prakash Narayan, popularly called 'Loknayak' (People’s leader), was the general secretary of the Bihar Congress Socialist Party formed in 1934. He led the 'Azad Dasta' during the Quit India Movement and advocated for 'total revolution' against Indira Gandhi. He received the Magsaysay Award in 1965 and Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1999. His biography 'Jayaprakash' was written by Rambriksh Benipuri. [56-59TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2015]

Question 9

Who was the founder of Nalanda University?

Accepted Answer

Kumaragupta I, who succeeded his father Chandragupta II and worshipped Lord Kartikeya, laid the foundation of Nalanda Mahavihara. He assumed the title 'Mahendraditya'. [56-59TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2015]

Question 10

Which Sikh Guru was born at Patna?

Accepted Answer

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, was born in Patna on 22nd December 1666. He was the only son of Guru Tegh Bahadur and Mata Gujri. His birth name was Gobind Das. Takht Sri Patna Sahib marks the site of his birthplace. Guru Gobind Singh organized the Sikhs into a disciplined military order called Khalsa. [56-59TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2015]

56th-59th Prelims 2015