UPSC Mains 2018 History Optional Paper I questions

28 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2018. Official UPSC paper (PDF) · All History Optional PYQs

1. 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

2. Cave paintings An ancient temple (iv) rosa era (xiv) Wardifeen wa grep they Paleolithic site Political and Cultural centre

3. Political and Cultural centre An ancient sea port

4. Vaishnava cultural site An ancient capital

5. Painted Grey Ware site A Jaina centre

6. Chaleolithic site An ancient capital

7. How did the early Indian historical tradition, as reflected in Itihasa-Purana, emerge? What are the distinctive features of this genre?

   20 marks

8. "Archaeological evidence does not give direct access to the possible social and political dimensions of the decline of the Harappan civilization. What it does indicate very clearly is that the Harappan culture underwent a gradual process of de-urbanization"? Comment.

9. Eat aT 7 Give an account of gana-sanghas (non-monarchical state systems)? Why did they decline?

   15 marks

10. Do you agree with the popular view that Mauryas established a unitary and highly centralized if not monolithic state system?

    20 marks

11. The concept of Shramanic religions, with particular reference to Buddhism, had; their roots in Upanisadic ideas. Discuss.

    15 marks

12. "Doubtless it was not a free state; it was any rate a state" (K AN Sastri). Reflect upon the nature of local self government institutions in the Chola country.

    15 marks

13. What was the impact of trans-regional and trams-continental trade in the post Mauryan period on social and cultural life of India?

    20 marks

14. Discuss the experimentations with art and architecture during the Gupta-Vakataka period,

    15 marks

15. airfare "The battles of Tarain and Chandawar laid the foundations of Turkish rule in India". Elaborate.

    10 marks

16. Discuss evidence on slavery provided by Ibn Batuta with special reference to Discuss slaves.

17. Discuss the advancement made in Textile Technology under the Delhi Sultans.

18. "Akbar wished to assert his strong belief in God, but his concept of the way God is to be worshipped was independent of either orthodox Islam or Hinduism". Comment.

    10 marks

19. Discuss the literature written in Hindi in Mughal India.

    10 marks

20. Critically analyze the changing nature of caste and gender relations during the early medieval period.

    15 marks

21. "An important feature of agriculture in Mughal India has been the large number of crops raised by the peasants". Illustrate by giving examples.

    15 marks

22. "The policy of creating heterogencous nobility by Muhammad Tughlug started the process of disintegration of Delhi Sultanate". Explain.

    20 marks

23. Do you agree that convergence of political vacuum and impact of Islamicate culture and polity in peninsular India has much to do with the growth of Vijayanagara kingdom?

    15 marks

24. Describe the new architectural features added by successive Sultans in the i construction of Tombs in India.

    20 marks

25. after at? What was the role of Sufi Folk literature in the diffusion of Islam in India in general and in Deccan in particular.

    15 marks

26. Discuss the working of Zamindari System under the Mughal rulers. Also describe the role played by the Zamindars in the agrarian economy of Mughal India.

    20 marks

27. "The art of building was carried to highest degree of perfection under Shahjahan". Tlustrate by giving architectural details of two of his most celebrated buildings.

28. "The Afghan invasions in the Eighteenth Century not only signified the military irrelevance of the Mughal Empire but also hastened its decline", Explain.

    15 marks