68th BPSC Prelims 2023 Question Paper

Detailed Explanation:

The Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh (near Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh) and sculptures at Garhwa near Allahabad are classic examples of Gupta art (5th-6th century CE).

The Deogarh temple showcases early Nagara-style architecture with iconic relief panels depicting Anantashayana Vishnu, Gajendramoksha, and Nara-Narayana, representing the pinnacle of Gupta sculptural tradition.

Detailed Explanation:

Sudarshan Lake was an artificial reservoir built during the Mauryan period near Girnar, Gujarat.

Rudradaman I (130–150 CE), the Saka (Western Kshatrapa) ruler, repaired the lake around 150 CE after it was damaged by floods. This is recorded in the famous Junagadh Rock Inscription (also called Girnar Inscription) in chaste Sanskrit prose, one of the earliest major Sanskrit inscriptions.

The lake was originally constructed by Pushyagupta, a provincial governor under Chandragupta Maurya, and later renovated by Tushaspha under Ashoka. Rudradaman's inscription is particularly significant as it demonstrates the use of classical Sanskrit in official records during the second century CE.

Detailed Explanation:

Iron Age in the Indian subcontinent began around 1800–1200 BCE (approximately 3,000–3,800 years ago). Earliest evidence comes from sites like Atranjikhera (Uttar Pradesh) and Hallur (Karnataka).

Options suggest 9000, 12000, or 6000 years ago—all significantly overstated timelines that do not match archaeological evidence of iron smelting in India.

Therefore, none of the given options are correct, making Option 5 the correct answer.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: None of the above

The area to the south of the Ganga in ancient times was known as Magadha (modern-day Bihar and parts of Jharkhand). Anarta was located in Gujarat (Saurashtra region), Takshashila was in the northwest (modern-day Pakistan), and Chola was in the far south (Tamil Nadu region). None of these kingdoms/regions were specifically identified as the area immediately south of the Ganga.

Detailed Explanation:

Ashok Kumar (birth name: Kumudlal Ganguly) was born on 13 October 1911 in Bhagalpur, Bihar.

He was a legendary Indian actor and pioneer of Hindi cinema, known for his work in Bombay Talkies and films like Kismet (1943) and Mahal (1949).

Detailed Explanation:

Padri Ki Haveli in Patna is the oldest church in Bihar, built in 1772 by Capuchin monks.

It was originally constructed as a Catholic mission and remains a significant heritage structure reflecting colonial-era architecture in the state.

Detailed Explanation:

Dr. Rajendra Prasad authored "Mahatma Gandhi and Bihar, Some Reminiscences", documenting Gandhi's work in Bihar, particularly the Champaran Satyagraha (1917).

As the first President of India and a close associate of Gandhi during the independence movement, Rajendra Prasad provided firsthand accounts of Gandhi's transformative impact on Bihar's freedom struggle.

Detailed Explanation:

Sir James David Sifton was the first Governor of Bihar after its formation as a separate province on 1 April 1912.

Sir Maurice Garnier Hallett served as a later Governor of Bihar (1939-1943), while Sir Hugh Dow was the first Governor of the North-West Frontier Province (1932), not Bihar.

Detailed Explanation:

Vikramshila University was established by Dharmapala (ruled 770–810 CE), the second ruler of the Pala dynasty of Bengal.

Gopala founded the Pala dynasty, Devapala was Dharmapala's son who expanded the empire, but Vikramshila was specifically a creation of Dharmapala, making it one of the two most important centers of Buddhist learning along with Nalanda.

Detailed Explanation:

Sher Khan (later Sher Shah Suri) made an offer to Humayun in 1538 to surrender Bihar and pay an annual tribute of 10 lakh dinars if allowed to retain Bengal.

Humayun rejected this offer and instead chose to besiege Chunar Fort, which gave Sher Khan crucial time to consolidate his power in Bengal and Bihar, ultimately leading to his victory over Humayun at the Battle of Chausa (1539) and Battle of Kannauj (1540).

Detailed Explanation:

Shri Krishna Singh established the Swaraj Dal in Bihar in 1923.

The Swaraj Dal was formed as a political group within the Indian National Congress to contest elections under the Montague-Chelmsford reforms and work within legislative councils, while Shri Krishna Singh later became the first Chief Minister of Bihar (1946-1961).

Detailed Explanation:

On February 20, 1947, Prime Minister Clement Attlee announced in the British Parliament that the British Government would transfer power to Indian hands by June 1948.

This announcement was part of the Attlee Declaration, which formally set a definite deadline for British withdrawal from India, though the actual transfer occurred earlier on August 15, 1947 under the Indian Independence Act 1947.

Detailed Explanation:

Mahatma Gandhi founded the All India Harijan Sangh in 1932 to work for the upliftment of Dalits (whom he called Harijans).

The organization focused on removing untouchability, promoting temple entry, and improving the social and economic conditions of the depressed classes through education and employment opportunities.

Detailed Explanation:

Baba Ram Chandra was a peasant leader in Awadh (Oudh) who worked as an indentured labourer in Fiji before returning to India.

He used to recite verses from the Tulsidas Ramayana to rural audiences and played a key role in organizing the Awadh Kisan Sabha movement (1920-21) against landlords (talukdars).

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The Non-Cooperation Movement in towns witnessed participation from diverse social groups including middle class, workers, students, and traders – not just upper caste and rich.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Justice Party of Madras (representing non-Brahmins) did not boycott the council elections; they participated to protect their interests against Brahmin dominance.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Thousands of students, teachers, headmasters and lawyers boycotted government institutions and legal practice as part of the movement in 1920-1922.

Answer: Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect, hence Option 1 is correct.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Nationalist historians like R.C. Dutt analyzed the economic exploitation under British rule, documenting the drain of wealth and poverty, which inspired people to struggle against colonial oppression.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Historians refuted the colonial narrative of Indian backwardness by highlighting ancient Indian achievements in science, mathematics, art, and governance, proving Indians' capability for self-rule.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Scholars like Romesh Chunder Dutt and Jadunath Sarkar wrote about India's glorious past (ancient empires, cultural achievements), fostering national pride and self-confidence among Indians.

Detailed Explanation:

Al-Hilal was an Urdu weekly journal founded and edited by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in 1912 from Calcutta.

Zamindar was published by Zafar Ali Khan from Lahore, and The Comrade was started by Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar in 1911.

Detailed Explanation:

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Mahatma Gandhi was arrested on 10 March 1922, not in 1921, following the withdrawal of the Non-Cooperation Movement.

✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Chauri Chaura incident (5 February 1922) led Gandhi to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement due to violence.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Gandhi's first major public speech was at the opening of Banaras Hindu University in February 1916, where he criticized Indian elites.

Detailed Explanation:

Praja Mandal Movement was the parallel movement launched in princely states (Kashmir, Hyderabad, Travancore, etc.) during the freedom struggle, demanding responsible government and civil liberties from Indian rulers.

The movement was similar to the Indian National Congress activities in British India but focused on political rights within princely states, with the All India States People's Conference (1927) coordinating these efforts across different states.

Detailed Explanation:

The Flag of Swaraj was unfurled by Dadabhai Naoroji at the Calcutta Session of INC in 1906.

This session is also significant as it marked the emergence of the extremist faction in the Congress and the famous four resolutions on Swaraj, Swadeshi, Boycott, and National Education were passed.