RPSC RAS Prelims 2013 History Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The archaeological evidence from the Indus Valley Civilization confirms that the standard Harappan seal was a square plaque, usually ranging from 2 to 3 centimeters in size, which makes statement (i) accurate. Statement (ii) is correct because steatite, a soft soapstone, was the primary material used for these seals due to its carving properties and its ability to harden after being heated in a kiln. Statement (iii) is also correct as the seals served various purposes including trade and identity; while many famous seals depict animals like the unicorn or bull, a significant number of recovered specimens contain only pictographic inscriptions without any accompanying figures or motifs.

Explanation

Arabic was not used in the inscriptions of Ashoka. The Ashokan edicts, which were disseminated throughout the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BCE to spread the principles of Dhamma, were composed in three specific languages: Prakrit, Greek, and Aramaic. Prakrit was the most widely used language, appearing in the Brahmi script across the majority of the subcontinent and in the Kharosthi script in the northwestern regions. In the far northwestern frontier, such as the area around Kandahar in modern-day Afghanistan, Ashoka used Greek and Aramaic to communicate with the local populations of those former Hellenistic and Persian territories. Arabic did not emerge as a written administrative or regional language until several centuries later and was never part of the Mauryan epigraphic tradition.

Explanation

'Man Kautuhal' is a renowned medieval treatise on Hindustani classical music, specifically focusing on the Dhrupad style. It was compiled under the patronage of Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior (reigned 1486–1516), who is celebrated as a great patron of the arts and is often credited with the institutionalization and evolution of Dhrupad.

The text was a collaborative effort involving the king and several leading musicians of the era to document and standardize musical traditions, ragas, and performance techniques. This compilation served as a bridge between traditional Sanskrit musicology and the practical musical innovations of the medieval period. Its historical significance is further highlighted by the fact that during the reign of Aurangzeb, the Mughal noble Faqirullah (Saif Khan) translated the work into Persian under the title 'Tarjuma-i-Manakutuhala' to preserve its valuable insights into Indian musical theory and practice.

Explanation

During the Sultanate period, Sadar was a surcharge or cess levied on the land revenue. This term is derived from Sad-Dui, which literally translates to two per hundred, signifying a two percent additional charge imposed over the standard land revenue known as Kharaj. Such levies were part of a broader category of taxes called abwabs, which were miscellaneous cesses collected by the state to cover administrative costs or to increase the total revenue collection from the agricultural land. While the base revenue was determined by the state's share of the produce, the Sadar acted as a specific supplementary demand collected from the cultivators.

Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi’s 11-point demand letter to Lord Irwin, published in January 1930, did not include a demand for the pardon of Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt. Gandhi’s request for the release of political prisoners specifically excluded those condemned for murder or attempted murder. As Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt were involved in violent revolutionary activities, including the Lahore Conspiracy Case and the Central Assembly bombing, they were excluded from the scope of this demand. While the commutation of their sentences became a matter of public concern later, it was never part of the original eleven demands which centered on administrative, civil, and economic reforms.

Explanation

In the medieval Indian revenue system, Sadar was an additional levy or surcharge imposed on the basic land revenue (mal). These types of charges were collectively known as abwabs, which were miscellaneous cesses or imposts collected by the state or its intermediaries in addition to the standard agricultural tax. The Sadar was typically calculated as a percentage of the total revenue assessment and was intended to cover specific administrative costs or to provide additional funds for the maintenance of local revenue officials and the central administration. Such surcharges ensured that the state could meet its logistical and bureaucratic expenses without infringing upon the primary share of the crop designated for the main treasury.

Explanation

During the Sultanate period, the state provided financial assistance to peasants in the form of agricultural loans known as Sondhar, which are referred to in this context as Sadar. These loans were a key feature of the agrarian reforms introduced by Muhammad bin Tughlaq through his specialized department, the Diwan-i-Amir-Kohi. The funds were disbursed to enable farmers to purchase essential agricultural inputs such as seeds and bullocks, and to invest in infrastructure like the digging of wells. This credit system was designed to promote the expansion of cultivation and provide relief to the peasantry, especially during periods of famine or when attempting to increase the productivity of the land in the Doab region. By providing this capital, the Sultanate aimed to ensure that land did not remain uncultivated due to a lack of resources, thereby maintaining the stability of the rural economy and ensuring consistent land revenue.

Explanation

In the medieval period, particularly during the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq of the Delhi Sultanate, a specific irrigation tax was introduced for the first time. Firoz Shah Tughlaq was well-known for his extensive public works, which included the construction of several large canals to support agriculture. To maintain this infrastructure, he sought the opinion of religious scholars and subsequently imposed an irrigation tax on farmers who benefited from the state-provided water. This tax was generally known as Haq-i-Sharb or Sharb and was levied at the rate of one-tenth (1/10) of the total agricultural produce. This revenue was distinct from the traditional land revenue (Kharaj) and was dedicated to the development and upkeep of the sultanate's water management systems.

Explanation

In the revenue administration of the medieval period, particularly within the Deccan and Maratha systems, the term Sadar (often appearing as Sadir or Sadir-Wari in records) referred to a surcharge or cess imposed on the basic land revenue. These impositions were classified as extra collections beyond the standard state demand to cover various local administrative contingencies and the miscellaneous expenses of the village or district establishment. While the primary land tax was meant for the central treasury, Sadar functioned as a supplementary levy used to fund the day-to-day operational costs of the revenue machinery and communal requirements at the local level. In the broader context of medieval fiscal history, such charges fell under the category of Abwabs, which were additional cesses or surcharges calculated as a percentage of the principal land revenue.

Explanation

Haqq-i-Sharb (often transcribed or referred to as Sharb) was the irrigation tax introduced by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq during the 14th century. Firoz Shah Tughlaq was the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate to develop an extensive network of canals, such as the Rajabwah and Ulughkhani, to facilitate agricultural expansion in arid regions. To maintain this infrastructure, he levied a dedicated tax on those farmers who utilized water from these state-constructed canals.

The tax was typically set at 1/10th of the agricultural produce. This levy was formally sanctioned by the Ulema (religious scholars) after the Sultan sought a legal opinion to justify the collection of an additional tax beyond the standard land revenue. This ensured that the revenue generated from the irrigation system was utilized for the upkeep of public works and the state treasury.

Explanation

The treaties between the Rajput states and the East India Company were concluded as part of the policy of Subordinate Alliance initiated by Lord Hastings. Karauli was the first among these principalities to sign the treaty on November 9, 1817. It was followed by Kota, which signed its treaty on December 26, 1817. In the beginning of 1818, Jodhpur entered into the alliance on January 6, 1818, and Udaipur signed its treaty shortly thereafter on January 13, 1818. This timeline establishes the sequence as Karauli, Kota, Jodhpur, and Udaipur.

Explanation

Charanauta land refers to the common pasture and grazing grounds designated for village livestock in the traditional land tenure system of Rajasthan. Unlike Khalasa land, which was the direct crown land under the administrative and revenue control of the ruler, Charanauta land was treated as communal property. This land was managed by the village community or the local panchayats to ensure that the grazing needs of the rural population were met. The king did not exercise direct control or ownership over these specific parcels of land, as they were reserved for the collective use of the villagers and were generally exempt from standard state-controlled agricultural assessments. Consequently, the assertion that the king held control over Charanauta land is historically incorrect.