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Indian HistoryEasyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper I

The famous female figurine known as 'Dancing Girl', found at Mohenjo-daro, is made of

  1. A.carnelian
  2. B.clay
  3. C.bronze
  4. D.gold

Correct answer

C. bronze

Explanation

The correct answer is C, bronze. The 'Dancing Girl' of Mohenjo-daro is a small bronze statue, one of the best-known metal objects of the Harappan civilisation.

The figure is about 10.5 cm tall and was found in 1926 in the HR area of Mohenjo-daro. It was made by the lost-wax (cire perdue) method: a wax model was covered in clay, heated so the wax melted away, and molten metal was poured into the hollow mould. She stands with one hand on her hip and wears many bangles on her left arm. The statue is now kept in the National Museum, New Delhi.

A is wrong because carnelian was used for beads, not for this figure. B is wrong because clay was used for the many terracotta mother-goddess figurines, not the Dancing Girl. D is wrong because gold was used only for small ornaments in the Harappan cities.

Exam tip: Dancing Girl = bronze, lost-wax method; Priest-King = steatite (soapstone).

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Q1.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2018, GS Paper IMedium

Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the

  1. A.increase in the export of Indian handicrafts
  2. B.growth in the number of Indian owned factories
  3. C.commercialization of Indian agriculture
  4. D.rapid increase in the urban population
Show answer
Correct answer: C. commercialization of Indian agriculture

British rule pushed Indian farmers to grow crops for sale and export rather than for their own food. Heavy land revenue had to be paid in cash, so peasants turned to cash crops such as indigo, cotton, jute, opium, tea and sugarcane, which fed British industry and trade.

Q2.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2022, GS Paper IHard

Consider the following freedom fighters:

1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh

2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee

3. Rash Behari Bose

Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

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

Of the three, only Rash Behari Bose worked actively with the Ghadar Party. The Ghadar Party was founded in 1913 at San Francisco by Indians in North America, with Lala Har Dayal and Sohan Singh Bhakna among its leaders.

Q3.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2025, GS Paper IMedium

Subsequent to which one of the following events, Gandhiji, who consistently opposed untouchability and appealed for its eradication from all spheres, decided to include the upliftment of 'Harijans' in his political and social programme?

  1. A.The Poona Pact
  2. B.The Gandhi-Irwin Agreement (Delhi Pact)
  3. C.Arrest of Congress leadership at the time of the Quit India Movement
  4. D.Promulgation of the Government of India Act, 1935
Show answer
Correct answer: A. The Poona Pact

After the Poona Pact of September 1932, Gandhi made the upliftment of the Harijans a central part of his work.

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

Consider the following pairs:

(Party : Its Leader)

1. Bharatiya Jana Sangh : Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee

2. Socialist Party : C. Rajagopalachari

3. Congress for Democracy : Jagjivan Ram

4. Swatantra Party : Acharya Narendra Dev

How many of the above are correctly matched?

  1. A.Only one
  2. B.Only two
  3. C.Only three
  4. D.All four
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Only two

Pairs 1 and 3 are correct; the leaders in pairs 2 and 4 have been swapped. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1951.