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Indian HistoryHardAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2024, Paper I

Consider the following eras in early India : 1. Shaka era 2. Kalachuri era 3. Vikrama era 4. Harsha era 5. Gupta era Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the above eras starting with the earliest ?

  1. A.1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5
  2. B.3 - 1 - 5 - 2 - 4
  3. C.2 - 3 - 1 - 4 - 5
  4. D.3 - 1 - 2 - 5 - 4

Correct answer

D. 3 - 1 - 2 - 5 - 4

Explanation

The correct answer is D, 3 - 1 - 2 - 5 - 4. Arranged by the year each era begins, the order is Vikrama, Shaka, Kalachuri, Gupta and Harsha.

The Vikrama era (Vikram Samvat) begins in 57 BCE and is still used in much of north and west India. The Shaka era begins in 78 CE and is the base of the Indian national calendar adopted in 1957. The Kalachuri or Chedi era starts in 248–249 CE and appears in inscriptions of central and western India. The Gupta era begins in 319–320 CE, linked with the accession of Chandragupta I. The Harsha era begins in 606 CE, when Harshavardhana came to the throne.

A is wrong: it puts the Shaka era before the Vikrama era, which is older by 135 years.

B is wrong: it places the Gupta era (319 CE) before the Kalachuri era (248 CE).

C is wrong: it starts with the Kalachuri era, which came well after the Vikrama and Shaka eras.

Exam tip: Vikrama 57 BCE, Shaka 78 CE, Kalachuri 248 CE, Gupta 319 CE, Harsha 606 CE; the Shaka era is India's national calendar.

Practice Questions

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Q1.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to the Government of India Act, 1935, consider the following statements :

1. It provided for the establishment of an All India Federation based on the union of the British Indian Provinces and Princely States.

2. Defence and Foreign Affairs were kept under the control of the federal legislature.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.Both 1 and 2
  4. D.Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 1 only

The Act of 1935 proposed an All India Federation of provinces and princely states, but kept defence and foreign affairs with the Governor-General, not the legislature.

Q2.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IHard

With reference to Indian history, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The Nizamat of Arcot emerged out of Hyderabad State.

2. The Mysore Kingdom emerged out of Vijayanagara Empire.

3. Rohilkhand Kingdom was formed out of the territories occupied by Ahmad Shah Durrani.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 and 2
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.2 and 3
  4. D.3 only
Show answer
Correct answer: A. 1 and 2

Arcot grew out of the Nizam's Deccan dominion and Mysore out of the Vijayanagara Empire, but Rohilkhand was carved out of Mughal land, not Durrani's. The Nawabs of Arcot, or of the Carnatic, began as deputies of the Nizam of Hyderabad, who governed the Deccan for the Mughals; Saadatullah Khan…

Q4.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper IEasy

In the context of Colonial India, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon are remembered as

  1. A.leaders of Swadeshi and Boycott Movement
  2. B.members of the Interim Government in 1946
  3. C.members of the Drafting Committee in the Constituent Assembly
  4. D.officers of the Indian National Army
Show answer
Correct answer: D. officers of the Indian National Army

These three INA officers were tried together by the British at the Red Fort in Delhi in 1945. After the Second World War, the British put Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon on trial for "waging war against the King".

Q5.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2024, GS Paper IMedium

With reference to revenue collection by Cornwallis, consider the following statements :

1. Under the Ryotwari Settlement of revenue collection, the peasants were exempted from revenue payment in case of bad harvests or natural calamities.

2. Under the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, if the Zamindar failed to pay his revenues to the state, on or before the fixed date, he would be removed from his Zamindari.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.Both 1 and 2
  4. D.Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 2 only

Under the Permanent Settlement of 1793, a zamindar who missed the fixed date of payment lost his estate, while the Ryotwari system gave the peasant no relief in bad years.