UPSC CSE Prelims
Social Life Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
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Solved Previous Year Questions
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In reference to the history of ancient India, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Mitakshara was the civil law for upper castes and Dayabhaga was the civil law for lower castes.
- In the Mitakshara system, the sons can claim right to the property during the lifetime of the father, whereas in the Dayabhaga system, it is only after the death of the father that the sons can claim right to the property.
- The Mitakshara system deals with the matters related to the property held by male members only of a family, whereas the Dayabhaga system deals with the matters related to the property held by both male and female members of a family.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 Only
This question tests knowledge of the two major schools of Hindu law in ancient and medieval India: Mitakshara and Dayabhaga. Only statement 2 correctly distinguishes between these systems regarding inheritance rights.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Both Mitakshara and Dayabhaga schools applied to upper castes and were not divided on caste lines. Mitakshara was followed in most of India, while Dayabhaga was primarily followed in Bengal and Assam.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: In Mitakshara, sons acquire coparcenary rights by birth and can claim property during the father's lifetime. In Dayabhaga, sons inherit property only after the father's death.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Both systems dealt with property of both male and female members (stridhana - women's property). However, Mitakshara imposed greater restrictions on women's rights and excluded them from coparcenary, while Dayabhaga was more liberal, recognizing widows as heirs.
📝 Short Notes: Mitakshara vs Dayabhaga Schools of Hindu Law
| Aspect | Mitakshara School | Dayabhaga School |
|---|---|---|
| Geographical Area | Most of India (except Bengal and Assam) | Bengal and Assam |
| Inheritance by Sons | Sons acquire coparcenary rights by birth; can claim property during father's lifetime | Sons inherit only after father's death |
| Basis of Inheritance | Based on birth in the family (coparcenary) | Based on succession after death |
| Women's Rights | Recognized stridhana but imposed restrictions; women excluded from coparcenary | More liberal; widows recognized as heirs with greater control over property |
| Authority | Commentary by Vijnaneshwara on Yajnavalkya Smriti | Commentary by Jimutavahana |
With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and Epictales was the profession of which of the following?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Maagadha
Maagadha (or Magadha) was a professional class of bards and chroniclers in ancient India who specialized in memorizing and reciting dynastic histories, genealogies, chronicles, and epic tales. They were attached to royal courts and performed the crucial function of preserving oral traditions before written records became widespread. The other options refer to different professions: Shramana were ascetic monks in Jainism and Buddhism who renounced worldly life; Parivraaj (Parivrajaka) were wandering mendicants seeking spiritual wisdom; and Agrahaarika were administrators of land grants (agraharas) given to Brahmins, unrelated to historical preservation.
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