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Indian HistoryHardAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2022, GAT

Which Chinese traveller in ancient India wrote the diary called 'Records of the Travels to Middle India'?

  1. A.Wang Xuance
  2. B.Xuanzang
  3. C.Yijing
  4. D.Li Yibiao

Correct answer

A. Wang Xuance

Explanation

The correct answer is A, Wang Xuance. Wang Xuance, a Tang envoy who came to India several times in the seventh century, wrote an account called Records of the Travels to Middle India, of which only fragments survive.

Wang Xuance first came with Li Yibiao as part of an embassy to Harsha's court. On a later mission, after Harsha's death, he found the throne seized by a usurper; he raised troops from Tibet and Nepal, defeated the usurper and took him captive to China. His book recorded what he saw in north India, and parts of it are quoted in later Chinese works.

B is wrong because Xuanzang, who studied at Nalanda under Harsha's rule, wrote Si-yu-ki, the Records of the Western World. C is wrong because Yijing, who studied at Nalanda later in the century, wrote a record of Buddhist practice in India and the Malay world. D is wrong because Li Yibiao led the embassy with Wang Xuance but is not known for this diary.

Exam tip: Xuanzang wrote Si-yu-ki, Faxian came in Gupta times, and Wang Xuance wrote the Travels to Middle India.

Practice Questions

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Q1.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2019, GKHard

Which one of the following is not a change brought about by the Indian Independence Act of 1947?

  1. A.The Government of India Act, 1935 was amended to provide an interim Constitution.
  2. B.India ceased to be a dependency.
  3. C.The Crown was the source of authority till new Constitution was framed.
  4. D.The Governor-General was the constitutional head of Indian Dominion.
Show answer
Correct answer: C. The Crown was the source of authority till new Constitution was framed.

The Indian Independence Act did not keep the Crown as the source of authority; it ended British authority over India from 15 August 1947.

Q2.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2023, GKMedium

Which of the following statements about the Vaishnava saint of Assam, Shankardeva, is/are correct ?

1. His teachings are often known as the Bhagavati dharma.

2. He encouraged the establishment of satras or monasteries and namghars or prayer halls for the transmission of spiritual knowledge.

3. His major compositions include the Kirtana-ghosha.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

All three statements about Shankardeva are correct. Shankardeva (Sankaradeva) was the leading Vaishnava saint of Assam in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries.

Q3.Indian HistoryAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2024, GKMedium

Consider the following pairs :

1. Gajapati - Name of a powerful Dynasty in Orissa

2. Ashvapati - Deccan Sultans

3. Narapati - Rayas of Vijayanagara

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched ?

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.1, 2 and 3
  4. D.None of the above
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1, 2 and 3

All three titles were in use in fifteenth- and sixteenth-century India, and each pair is matched correctly. Gajapati means 'lord of elephants' and was the title of a powerful ruling family of Orissa, the Gajapatis who succeeded the Eastern Gangas.

Q4.Indian HistoryAsked in: NDA · NDA-I 2020, GATMedium

Which one of the following statements about the Revolt of 1857 is correct ?

  1. A.It was a Revolt carefully organised and planned by the Rajas, Nawabs and Taluqdars
  2. B.Rumours and prophecies did not play any role in its outbreak and spread
  3. C.The rebel proclamations in 1857 repeatedly appealed to all sections of the population irrespective of their caste and creed.
  4. D.The British succeeded in quickly and easily controlling the rebels
Show answer
Correct answer: C. The rebel proclamations in 1857 repeatedly appealed to all sections of the population irrespective of their caste and creed.

The rebels wanted Hindus and Muslims to stand together against British rule. Proclamations issued in the name of Bahadur Shah Zafar called on everyone to join the fight, recalling the Mughal past when different communities had lived together.