JKPSC CIVIL SERVICES PRELIMS EXAM 2023: ANALYSIS [PART-2 HISTORY(ANCIENT, MEDIEVAL, MODERN AND ART & CULTURE)]

If they write a clickbait headline for the 2023 JKPSC Prelims Paper, it would probably read "Medieval History meets Current Affairs in a JKPSC Prelims question." Having said that, most of the questions are standard fare, provided you have read your basic texts well enough. Other notable thing I must point out is that many other questions could be traced back line by line to standard textbooks.

Before I draw any more conclusions, let's look at the questions one by one. We will be using SET A of the paper. You can download it here. 

Also, I have written the first part of this analysis, you can read it here.

  1. SET A, Question 1

    1. With reference to the prevalence of agricultural technologies in the Indus Valley Civilization, consider the following statements.

      1. The terracotta models of the plough have been found at the site of Banawaii.

      2. The evidence ofthe ploughed field was found at Kalibangan.

      3. Traces of canals for irrigation have been found at the site of Shortughai in Afghanistan. Choose the correct answer:

      1. 2 and 3 only

      2. 2 only

      3. 1 and 3 only

      4. I , 2 and 3

    2. Sub Section: Ancient
    3. Difficulty Level: Moderate
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): New NCERT/Old NCERT
  2. SET A, Question 2

    1. Choose the correctly matched pairs of Mahajanapadas with respect to their capitals.

      Mahajanapadas. Capital

      1. Avanti. Ujjain

      2. Kosala Kaushambi

      3. Magadha -Vaishali

      4. Gandhara -Poonch

      5. Choose the correct answer:

      A) Only one pair matched

      B ) Only two pairs matched

      1. Only three pairs matched

      2. All four pairs matched

    2. Sub Section: Ancient
    3. Difficulty Level: Moderate to difficult
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): Old/New NCERT
  3. SET A, Question 3

    1. The term "Votive inscriptions" refers to

      1. Records of miseries of women such as sati, etc

      2. Gifts made to religious institutions

      3. Royal orders and decisions of the kings

      4. Account on sacrifices done by kings during their consecration ceremony

    2. Sub Section: Ancient
    3. Difficulty Level: Difficult
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): New NCERT
  4. SET A, Question 4

    1. With reference to the Harsha Empire, consider the following statements.

      1. Harsha's administration had become more feudal and decentralised than the Gupta Empire.

      2. Harsha is credited with paying off cash to his officers, differing from his ancient predecessors.

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1 only

      2. 2 only

      3. Both 1 and

      4. Neither 1 nor 2

    2. Sub Section: Ancient
    3. Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): OLD NCERT Chapter-> Harsha and Times->Administration-> (Exact Wording)
  5. SET A, Question 5

    1. With reference to the social order during the Satavahanas period, consider the following statements.

      1. Satavahanas show traces of a matrilineal social structure indicating that mothers enjoyed much importance in their society, which differs from North Indian kingdoms.

      2. They were the first rulers to make land grants (tax-free lands) to the Brahmanas. Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1 only

      2. 2 only

      3. Both 1 and

      4. Neither 1 nor 2

    2. Sub Section: Ancient
    3. Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): OLD NCERT>The Age of Satavahanas> Social Organisation (page 117)and Administration (page 118)
  6. SET A, Question 6

    1. Santarakshita and Dipankara, terms in Medieval India were related to

      1. Sects of Mahayana Buddhism

      2. Sects of Digambara in Jainism

      3. Sects ofLingayats

      4. Scholars of Buddhism

    2. Sub Section: Medieval
    3. Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): Old NCERT>Age of the Three Empires>Palas (Page 14)
  7. SET A, Question 7

    1. Match the following travelers in Medieval India with respect to their dynasties.

      Travellers Dynasties

      1. Al-Masudi Paramaras

      2. Sulaiman Rashtrakutas

      3. Marco Polo Palas

      4. Amir Khusrau Ghaznavid

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. Only one pair matched

      2. Only two pairs matched

      3. Only three pairs matched

      4. All four pairs matched

    2. Sub Section: Medieval
    3. Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open):OLD NCERT>The Chola Empire for Marco Polo & Age of the Three Empires (For Al Masudi and Sulaiman Pages 14,16) New NCERT>Through the Eyes of Travellers (Partly)
  8. SET A, Question 8

    1. Match the following Rajput States with respect to their Capital during Medieval India.

      Rajput States Capitals

      1. Gahadavalas Kanauj

      2. Tomars Delhi

      3. Chauhans Jaipur

      4. Chandellas Uijain

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. Only one pair matched

      2. Only two pairs matched

      3. Only three pairs matched

      4. All four pairs matched

    2. Sub Section: Medieval
    3. Difficulty Level: Difficult
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): OLD NCERT>Age of Conflicts> The Rajputs (Page 62)
  9. SET A, Question 9

    1. He dominated and extended the Bahmani kingdom further south. He was granted the title Chief of the Merchants' (Malik-ul-Tujjar), He divided the kingdom into eight provinces or tarafs, He was also a great patron of arts and built a magnificent madarasa in the capital Bidar. Who was the person referred to above?

      1. Ahmad Shah

      2. Feroz Shah Bahrnani

      3. Mahal ud Gawan

      4. Mahmud Shah III

    2. Sub Section: Medieval
    3. Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): Old NCERT>Age of Vijayanagar and Bahaminids>Mahmud Gawan (Page 147)
  10. SET A, Question 10

    1. One of the largest and most spectacular rock shelters is located in the Vindhya hills, full of Paleolithic and Mesolithic remains. It consists of the richest paintings of daily life events from hunting, dancing, and music to animal fighting, honey collection etc. Which of the following site is referred to above?

      1. Lakhudiyar caves

      2. Pachmarhi caves

      3. Bhimbetka caves

      4. Raigarh caves

    2. Sub Section: Culture
    3. Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): NCERT>Chapter 1>Page 3
  11. SET A, Question 11

    1. With reference to Amir Khusrau, the famous Persian writer of Medieval India. consider the following statements.

      1. He was a contemporary of Mughal emperors Hurnayun and Akbar.

      2. He blended the Hindu and Iranian systems by introducing a new light music style known as qwalis.

      3. He created a new style of Persian poetry called Sabaq-i-Hind.

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1 and 3

      2. 2 and 3

      3. 1 and 2

      4. 1, 2 and 3

    2. Sub Section: Medieval
    3. Difficulty Level: Moderate
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): Old NCERT>Chapter Cultural Development in India>Arabic and Persian Literature, New NCERT
  12. SET A, Question 12

    1. Arrange the following judicial organisation in the right power structure using an appeal mechanism during Warren Hastings period

      1. Diwani Adalat

      2. Sadar Diwani Adalat

      3. Provincial Courts of Civil Appeal

      4. Registrar Courts

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1-4-3-2

      2. 4-1-3-2

      3. 1-2-3-4

      4. I-3-4-2

      Sub Section: Modern
    2. Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
    3. Current/Static: Static
    4. Source(Click to open): OLD NCERT> Chapter Adminitration and Soi-Cultural Policy> Judicial organisation>Page 111
  13. SET A, Question 13

    1. Match the following educational institutions with their establishers.


      Educational Institutions

      Establishers


      Calcutta Madrasah

      Lord Wellesley


      Sanskrit College

      Raja Ram Mohan Roy


      Vedanta College

      Jonathan Duncan


      Hindu College

      David Hare


      Choose the correct answer:

      1. Only one pair matched

      2. Only two pairs matched

      3. Only three pairs matched

      4. All four pairs matched

    2. Sub Section: Modern
    3. Difficulty Level: Easy
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): OLD NCERT>Chapter ADMINISTRATION& SOCIOCULTURAL POLICY, Social and Cultural Awakening in First Half Nineteenth Century
  14. SET A, Question 14

    1. Which of the following statements with respect to the East India Company Act of 1784 is/are correct?

      1. The Act gives the British Government supreme control over the company's affairs and administration in India.

      2. The Act provides special powers to the Presidencies of Bombay and Madras providing it more powers in terms of revenue matters.

      3. It established the Board of Control with six commissioners to look out commercial functions of the Company.

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1 and 2 only

      2. 1 and 3 only

      3. 1 only

      4. 2 and 3 only

    2. Sub Section: Modern
    3. Difficulty Level: Moderate
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): Old NCERT>Chapter Structure of Government
  15. SET A, Question 15

    1. Consider the following statements regarding Twenty eight months of Congress rule (1937- 39) in provinces.

      1. All emergency powers acquired by the provincial governments during 1932, through Public Safety Acts were repealed

      2. Bans on illegal political organizations such as the Hindustan Seva Dal and Youth Leagues were lifted.

      3. Ban on the communist party also lifted in some provinces

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 2 and 3 only

      2. 2 only

      3. 3 only

      4. 1 and 2 only

    2. Sub Section: Modern
    3. Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): India's Struggle for Independence (Bipan Chandra)>TwentyEight Months of Congress Rule
  16. SET A, Question 16

    1. Consider the following statements regards the 'Cabinet mission plan" and 'Interim government.'

      1. Cabinet mission plan implicitly accepted the 'Pakistan' demand of the Muslim league.

      2. Muslim League initially accepted the Cabinet mission plan and later withdrew its acceptance of the mission plan.

      3. The interim government was formed, under a cabinet mission plan, by Congress members alone with Nehru as de facto head.

      Choose the incorrect answer:

      1. 1 only

      2. Land 2 only

      3. 2 and 3 only

      4. I, 2 and 3

    2. Sub Section: Modern
    3. Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): India's Struggle for Independence (Bipan Chandra)>Chapter Freedom and Partition (page 501)
  17. SET A, Question 17

    1. Consider the following statements regards • Dharasana salt satyagraha.'

      1. Mahatma Gandhi, Imam Saheb and Manilal led this satyagraha

      2. It's one of the important non-violent satyagraha in Indian history

      3. It was held after Mahatma Gandhi broke the salt law in Dandi March.

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1 and 2 only

      2. 2 and 3 only

      3. l and 3 only

      4. 1.2 and 3

    2. Sub Section: Modern
    3. Difficulty Level: Moderate
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): India's Struggle for Independence (Bipan Chandra)>Chapter Civil Disobedience (page 267)
  18. SET A, Question 18

    1. Consider the following statements regards Vijayanagara and Bahrnani kingdoms,

      1. The rulers of the Vijayanagara kingdom and Bahmani sultans had a matrimonial alliance.

      2. Vijayanagara rulers inducted Muslims into their armies.

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1 only

      2. 2 only

      3. Both I and 2

      4. Neither 1 nor 2

    2. Sub Section: Medieval
    3. Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): Old Ncert>Age of Vijayanagar>Pages 142-143
  19. SET A, Question 19

    1. Consider the following statements regarding important Bhakti saints Sankara from Kerala and Ramanuja from Tamilnadu.

      I . Both Sankara and Ramanuja are contemporaries and they believed in Non-Dualism, that is, the God and created world is one.

      1. Sankara argued that the way forward to salvation was strengthened by knowledge

      2. Ramanuja argued that the grace of God is more important than the knowledge about him in order to attain salvation.

      3. Sankara upheld the Vedas as the fountain-head of true knowledge and Ramanuja believed the path of Bhakti was open to all, irrespective of caste.

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1, 2 and 3 only

      2. 2, 3 and 4 only

      3. 1,3 and 4 only

      4. 1 and 2 only

    2. Sub Section: Medieval
    3. Difficulty Level: Difficult
    4. Current/Static: Static
    5. Source(Click to open): Old Ncert>Ecoomic and Social Life, Education and Religious Belief>Page 56
  20. SET A, Question 20

    1. The Imperial Cholas are pioneers in local self-government. In this context, consider the following statements.

      1. Uttiramerur inscriptions provide details of the formation and functions of village councils.

      2. Both qualifications and disqualifications were mentioned for members of various committees

      3. The members of the committee were called variyapperumakkal. 

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1 only

      2. 1 and 3 only

      3. 2 only

      4. 1, 2 and 3 only

    2. Sub Section: Medieval
    3. Difficulty Level: Difficult
    4. Current/Static: Current
    5. Source(Click to open): PM Modi mentioned these inscriptions in his address. Indian Express carried the news.
  21. SET A, Question 21

    1. With respect to Mughal paintings, consider the following statements.

      1. Daswant and Basawan were two famous painters ofJahangir's court.

      2. Mughal paintings reached a climax under Jahangir

      3. Aurangzeb's lack of interest in paintings led to a dispersal of artists to different places.

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1 and 2 only

      2. 2 and 3 only

      3. 1 and 3 only

      4. 1, 2 and 3 only

    2. Sub Section: Medieval
    3. Difficulty Level: Easy
    4. Current/Static: Current
    5. Source(Click to open): Old NCERT> Cultural and Religious Developments>Pages 320-321
  22. SET A, Question 22

    1. Consider the following statements regarding "Tughlaq architecture.'

      1. The striking feature of the Tughlaq architecture was the sloping walls, called 'batter'.

      2. The 'batter' is extensively used by Firuz Tughlaq in his buildings.

      3. Tughlaq generally used costly red sandstone in their buildings

      Choose the correct answer:

      1. 1 and 3 only

      2. 2 only

      3. I only

      4. 1, 2 and 3

    2. Sub Section: Medieval
    3. Difficulty Level: Moderate
    4. Current/Static: Current
    5. Source(Click to open): Old NCERT> Cultural Development in India>Pages 185

Analysis

  1. Out of the 22 questions, 21 were purely static and one related to Uttiramerur Inscriptions was from current affairs. Hence, the lesson here is that keep your eyes and ears open. And keep reading your newspapers well. Current affairs questions can come even from History portion!
  2. The 16 questions from Ancient, Medieval and Culture were all sourced from NCERTs, except for one current affairs question.
  3. Out of the six questions in Modern History, three were sourced from NCERT and three from India's Struggle for Independence (Bipan Chandra) which is a standard reference. Thus, the lesson here is that the standard books especially NCERTs, as boring and sleep inducing they may be, are still the king!
  4. Traditionally, people have skipped over Medieval History for the exams. I think there is a need to revisit that stand. When we put in years and years of hard work into this exam, completely skipping over one section may do injustice to your entire hard work.
  5. In many questions, the paper setter has actually taken lines, as is from the text of the book. In some cases questions are completely opposite to the text of the book. Either ways, it can make a bell go off in your min in the exam.
  6. Mostly the questions do not need us to deduct anything, if you have read the basic texts well, and revised them well, you will be able to solve the questions. Plain and simple!
My take away from this year's History portion is read the standard sources: NCERTs are what the doctor prescribed!

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