UPSC CSE PRE 1997 - Testpapers

The Badami rock inscription of Pulakesin I is dated in the Saka year 465. If the same were to be dated in Vikrama Samvat, the year would be:

(a) 601
(b) 300
(c) 330
(d) 407

Ans: (a) 601

Explanation:The Saka era started in 78 AD, while Vikram erastarted from 58 BC. So if we want to convert Badamirock inscription of Pulakesin I to Vikram era, it willbe 465 + 78 + 58 = 601 Vikram Samvat.

Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India?

(a) Chaturvedimangalam
(b) Parishad
(c) Ashtadikgaja
(d) Manigrama

Ans: (d) Manigrama

Explanation:A manigramam was a large, influential guild ofSouth Indian m erc hants during the period of WesternChalukyan rulers in 10th – 12th Century CE.

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

List-I (Author)	List-II (Text)
A. Varahamihira	1. Prabandha Chintamani
B. Vishakhadatta	2. Mrichchha-Katikam
C. Sudraka	3. Brihat-Samhita
D. Bilhana	4. Devi-Chandraguptam
	5. Vikramankadeva-Charita

Codes:
(a) A – 3; B – 4; C – 5; D – 2
(b) A – 3; B – 4; C – 2; D – 5
(c) A – 5; B – 3; C – 4; D – 1
(d) A – 1; B – 3; C – 5; D – 2

Ans: (b) A – 3; B – 4; C – 2; D – 5

Explanation:

List-I (Author)	List-II (Text)
A. Varahamihira	3. Brihat-Samhita
B. Vishakhadatta	4. Devi-Chandraguptam
C. Sudraka	2. Mrichchha-Katikam
D. Bilhana	5. Vikramankadeva-Charita

Varahamihira also wrote Panchasiddhantika;Vishakhadatta also wrote Mudra Rakshasa.

The silver coins issued by the Guptas were called:

(a) Rupaka
(b) Karshapana
(c) Dinara
(d) Pana

Ans: (a) Rupaka

Explanation:Rupaka was a silver coin of Gupta period.16Rupaka was equal to 1 gold coin.

In the Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisatva Avalokitesvara was also known as:

(a) Vajrapani
(b) Manjusri
(c) Padmapani
(d) Maitreya

Ans: (c) Padmapani

Explanation:Avalokiteśvara is a bodhisattva who embodiesthe compassion of all Buddhas. He is one of the morewidely revered bodhisattvas in mainstreamMahayana Buddhism. In Sanskrit, Avalokitesvara isalso referred to as Padmapāni (“Holder of the Lotus”)or Lokeśvara (“Lord of the World”).

The following map shows four of the sixteen Mahajanapadas that existed in ancient India:

The places marked A, B, C and D respectively are:
(a) Matsya, Cedi, Kosala, Anga
(b) Surasena, Avanti, Vatsa, Magadha
(c) Matsya, Avanti, Vatsa, Anga
(d) Surasena, Cedi, Kosala, Magadha

Ans: (c) Matsya, Avanti, Vatsa, Anga

Explanation:Matsya Mahajanapada comprised the present-day Jaipur-Bharatapur-Alwar area of Rajasthan,Avanti was one of the most important ones and itscore area comprises the present-day Ujjain district ofMadhya Pradesh. Vatsa with its capital at Kausambiwas another powerful Mahajanapada, annexed byMagadha. Anga Mahajanapada was in Gangeticvalley.

Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Ashoka?

(a) Kalsi
(b) Rummindei
(c) Special Kalinga Edict
(d) Maski

Ans: (d) Maski

Explanation:Maski, Gurjara, Nettur and Udegolaminscriptions mention the personal name of Ashoka.

Milindapanho is in the form of a dialogue between the king Menander and Buddhist monk:

(a) Nagasena
(b) Nagarjuna
(c) Nagabhatta
(d) Kumarilabhatta

Ans: (a) Nagasena

Explanation: Milindapanho wasn’t written by one person. It is the collected dialogue between the Indo-Greek kingMilinda (or Meander) and the Buddhist sage Nagasena.

The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the:

(a) Chhandogyopanishad
(b) Mundakopanishad
(c) Kathopanishad
(d) Kenopanishad

Ans: (c) Kathopanishad

Explanation:Kathopanishad is the conversation betweenNachiketa and Yamraj (God of death). Nachiketa wasa seeker, and Yamraj was a Guru (knower of secrets).

Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?

(a) Brahmi
(b) Nandnagari
(c) Sharada
(d) Kharosthi

Ans: (d) Kharosthi

Explanation:Kharosthi script was deciphered by JamesPrinsep (1799–1840), using the bilingual coins of theIndo-Greek period. This in turn led to the reading ofthe Edicts of Ashoka, some of which, from thenorthwest of the Asian subcontinent, were writtenin the Kharosthi script.