UPSC Mains 2019 History Optional Paper I questions

33 questions from the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2019. 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 seriatim.

2. Brick temple site A Rock-cut cave site !

3. Early Harappan site Ancient capital city ae

4. Ancient seaport and trade centre Famous temple site

5. Stone age site Centre of School of art

6. Neolithic site Ancient inscriptional site

7. Archaeological site; Ancient education centre

8. Ancient capital Chalcolithic period site

9. Ancient inscriptions site Ancient petroglyphs site

10. INDIA oe WITH AFGHANISTAN, BANGLADESH, BHUTAN,: NEPAL, MYANMAR (BURMA), PAKISTAN AND SRI LANKA vara sam your Roll No.

11. Mo, -3% WFO E OF-$000 08 PRINTED AT WESTERN PRINTING GROUP OF SURVEY OF INDIA.

12. ES Do you agree that archaeological evidence often helps in the better understanding of literary sources? Comment.

    15 marks

13. The development of art and architecture during the Sunga period belies the belief that they were anti-Buddhist. Discuss.

    15 marks

14. Did the mastery over agriculture act as a leverage for the rise of Harappan towns and; cities? Discuss.

    20 marks

15. The flourishing international trade during the Kushana period gave tremendous impetus to the development of art. Discuss.

    15 marks

16. Examine how the transformation of the Varna system from the Rigvedic to the Later-Vedic period affected the position of women.

    15 marks

17. evidence for the Vedic period. Explain the phenomenon.

    20 marks

18. Explain how Ashoka used religion as a tool of political aggrandizement?

    15 marks

19. Do you agree that the system of land grants from the Gupta-Vakataka period was connected with the decentralisation of state in any way?

    20 marks

20. The discovery of monsoons by Hippalus gave a new direction to Indo-Roman trade during the Satavahana period. Comment.

    15 marks

21. Discuss how Vijayanagar empire became the cultural capital of the south?

22. Examine the status of Sanskrit in Mughal India.

    10 marks

23. Assess the rule of Zainul Abedin in Kashmir.

    10 marks

24. The economic measures of Alauddin Khalji were aimed at greater political control. Discuss.

    10 marks

25. Examine the European impact on Mughal paintings.

    10 marks

26. Assess the statement that 'the philosophy of Shankaracharya revolutionised religious thoughts in India'. 20 6.(b) aaa aa A at A seen a Rem Afi Delineate the state of agriculture during the Sultanate period..

    15 marks

27. Sufi and Bhakti thoughts ennobled Indian psyche amidst the vagaries of time. Elucidate.

28. The emergence of early capitalism in the Mughal period was primarily due to urbanisation and commercialisation. Comment.

29. Internal strife and conflict beset with personal ambitions was enough of an invitation for the Ghurids to invade India. Discuss.

    15 marks

30. The Mughals built like Titans and embellished like jewellers. Comment.

    15 marks

31. Critically analyse whether the success of the Mughals is to be credited to their

32. It was as much the court intrigues as also the defiance of the provincial powers that hastened the decline of the Mughals in the 18th century. Comment.

    20 marks

33. Shivaji was not merely a military conqueror but also was an enlightened ruler. Discuss.

    15 marks