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Indian HistoryEasyAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2021, GS Paper I

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

  1. A.Paragana—Sarkar—Suba
  2. B.Sarkar—Paragana—Suba
  3. C.Suba—Sarkar—Paragana
  4. D.Paragana—Suba—Sarkar

Correct answer

A. Paragana—Sarkar—Suba

Explanation

The correct answer is A, Paragana—Sarkar—Suba. From smallest to largest, several parganas made a sarkar and several sarkars made a suba.

Under the Mughals, especially after Akbar's reorganisation of 1580, the empire was divided into subas or provinces, each headed by a subedar with a diwan in charge of revenue. A suba was divided into sarkars, roughly like districts, under a faujdar for law and order and an amalguzar for revenue. A sarkar was made up of parganas, groups of villages, where the shiqdar kept order and the amil, qanungo and karkun dealt with land revenue and records. The village was the smallest unit below the pargana. The pargana and sarkar units were in use earlier under the Delhi Sultanate and Sher Shah too.

B is wrong because a sarkar is larger than a pargana, not smaller. C is wrong because it lists the units in descending, not ascending, order. D is wrong because a suba is larger than a sarkar.

Exam tip: village → pargana → sarkar → suba; Akbar created 12 subas in 1580.

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Q1.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2020, Paper IMedium

Which one of the following statements about the Bhakti Movement in South India is NOT correct?

  1. A.The Nalayira Divyaprabandham was also known as the Tamil Veda
  2. B.Andal was an Alvar
  3. C.Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a devotee of Vishnu
  4. D.Metal images of the saints Appar and Sundarar were made and then consecrated in a Shiva temple
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a devotee of Vishnu

Karaikkal Ammaiyar was a Nayanar, one of the Tamil saints devoted to Shiva, so this statement is not correct. The early Bhakti movement of Tamil Nadu, from about the sixth century, was led by two groups of poet-saints: the Alvars, devotees of Vishnu, and the Nayanars, devotees of Shiva.

Q2.Indian HistoryAsked in: UPSC CAPF · CAPF 2024, Paper IMedium

Consider the following statements about Mahanavami dibba, a massive platform:

1. It is situated on one of the highest points in the city of Vijayanagara.

2. Virupaksha temple is located on it.

Which of the above statements 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 Mahanavami dibba stands on one of the highest points of Vijayanagara (Hampi), but the Virupaksha temple is not on it; the temple stands in the sacred centre of the city near the Tungabhadra.

Q3.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.

Q4.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…