[T25] UPSC Mock Round#26: Sardar Patel special, Statue of Unity, Freedom Struggle, Art & Culture

1. Instructions for Mock Prelims-MCQs
2. Freedom Struggle: Sardar Special
3. Art and Culture

Instructions for Mock Prelims-MCQs

• Timelimit: 30 minutes. 2 Marks for correct answer; -0.66 marks for wrong answer.
• Mitron, my [T25] series contains 25 Mock MCQ primarily aimed at UPSC IAS/IPS Civil Service exam aspirants.
• I usually don’t give direct answer below the MCQs but indirect hints. Because, then you’ve to read the MCQ again & apply logical reasoning skills. This will improve your mental faculties compared to a scenario where direct answers are spoon-fed.
• This 26th set focuses mainly on Sardar Patel, Freedom struggle & Art and Culture- some of these questions were taken from the recently conducted GPSC Prelims-2018.
• Make sure you’ve read Tamilnadu Class11-12 History textbooks, Nitin Singhania’s Art and Culture book and atleast one reference book on Freedom Struggle (Bipan Chandar or Sekhar Bandyopadhyay) before attempting this series.
• So far I’ve set 26 sets x 25 questions each = 650 MCQs. Let’s see if it crosses 1000 before Prelims-2019.

Freedom Struggle: Sardar Patel Special

Q. In 1946, Indian sailors in the Royal Indian Navy mutinied against the British Officers. What was Sardar Patel’s stand on this “RIN Mutiny”?

1. He asked the sailors to hoist Indian flag on the British vessels.
2. He asked the sailors to go on fast unto death.
3. He asked the sailors to surrender.
4. He did nothing in this matter because Gandhi had disapproved the mutiny.

HINT: In RIN Mutiny, socialists like Aruna Asaf Ali sympathised with the rebels. Gandhi disapproved. Vallabhbhai Patel asked the sailors to surrender because British forces had gathered in large number in Bombay to exterminate the Indian sailors and even commit atrocities against ordinary Indians. Besides, he felt that “discipline in the Army cannot be tampered with. We will want Army even in free India”.

Q. During Bardoli Satyagrah, Gandhi and Sardar Patel tried to mobilize the “Kaliparaj” people against the British. Who were “Kaliparaj”?

1. Sect of Patidar who worshipped Godess Kali.
2. Low-caste untouchable.
3. Tribal inhabitants.

Answer Codes:

1. Only 1
2. Only 2
3. Only 2 and 3
4. Only 3

HINT: In Bardoli taluq, low-caste untouchable and tribal inhabitants were known by the name of Kaliparaj (dark people) to distinguish them from the high caste or Ujaliparaj (fair people).

Q. Find correct statement(s) about Sardar Patel’s relatives

1. Sardar’s daughter Maniben Patel was the first Indian female to become President of UN General Assembly.
2. Sardar’s elder brother Viththalbhai was the first speaker of Rajya Sabha of Independent India.
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (first Indian female president of UNGA) and Ganesh Vasudev Mavalankar (first Lok sabha speaker). Viththalbhai served as President (Speaker) in the Central Legislative Assembly in 1925 and died in 1930s. Besides, Rajya Sabha speaker Chairman बनने के लिए देश का Vice President होना मंगता है, who was Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan!

Q. Sardar Patel was India’s first deputy PM. He held following portfolios

1. Home
2. States
3. Information and Broadcasting

Answer Codes:

1. Only 1 and 2
2. Only 2 and 3
3. Only 1 and 3
4. All of them

HINT: He was a multi-tasker.

Q. Who was Home Minister Sardar Patel’s trusted aide / close confidant / man-Friday / right hand man in the integration of Princely states.

1. Krishna Menon
2. Sundar Menon
3. V.P. Menon
4. N. Gopalaswami Ayyangar

HINT: Kerala’s V.P.Menon, joined as clerk during British raj, retired as IAS, became Governor of Odisha.

Q. At the time of independence, there were 562 princely states in our country. Sardar Patel successfully merged them with India. Among these states, _ _ _ was the first to join and _ _ _ was the last to join Indian Union.

1. Travancore, Hyderabad
2. Junagadh, Kashmir
3. Bhavnagar, Hyderabad
4. Bhavnagar, Kashmir

HINT:

• The first princely state to accept the merger with India was the Bhavnagar (Gujarat) under Maharaja Krishnakumar Singhji.
• Bhopal and Travancore in 1947-July
• Kashmir’s Maharaja signed an instrument of accession in 1947-October.
• Junagadh Plebiscite in 1948-February.
• Hyderabad Nizam’s hekdi (arrogance) was removed through Operation Polo in 1948-September.

Q. Sardar Patel became President of Congress session in 1931 in Karachi. This session was concluded with resolution(s) on:

1. Fundamental rights
2. National economic policy
3. Poorna Swaraj

Answer Codes:

1. Only 1
2. Only 1 and 2
3. Only 2 and 3
4. Only 3

HINT:

• 1929: Lahore session, Jawahar Nehru President- Poorna Swaraj Resolution.
• 1930: No session but Jawahar Nehru continued to be President.
• 1931: Karachi session Patel president and resolutions on Fundamental rights and National economic policy.

Q. In 1948, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel became a member of the JVP Committee. Find correct statement(s) about it:

1. This Committee looked after the enforcement of Rules of Procedure in the Constituent Assembly.
2. Jahawar Nehru and Pratap Singh Kairon were the other two members of this JVP Committee.
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT: JVP committee consisting of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhai Patel and Pattabhi Sitaramaih was appointed by the Congress Party (1948) to look into the linguistic reorganization of States. This committee also did not favour for linguistic provinces.

Q. Before Bardoli Satyagrah (1926), Vallabhbhai Patel had participated following Satyagrahas. Which of the following was / were not caused by Agrarian issues?

1. Kheda
2. Borsad
3. Nagpur

Answer Codes:

1. Only 1
2. Only 1 and 2
3. Only 2 and 3
4. Only 3

HINT:

• 1918: Kheda was being hit by famine, cholera and plague, destroying the agrarian economy, yet Bombay Presidency increased tax on farmers.
• 1922: Borsad, a small town in Anand, Gujarat suffered from string of daylight robberies by two armed dacoits, Babar Deva and Ali. British had imposed a Rs 2.4 lakh one-time “punitive tax“ on the town’s residents for the Police Expenditure against Dacoits.
• 1923: Nagpur flag Satyagrah was conducted to hoist flags at public buildings.
• Mind it! you’ve to find ‘non-agro’ satyagrahs.

Q. Government of India celebrates April 21 every year as ‘Civil Services day’ because

1. Sardar Patel had renamed the British-era Indian Civil Service (ICS) into IAS on this day in 1947.
2. Sardar Patel had renamed the British-era Indian Police (IP) into Indian Police Service (IPS) on this day in 1947.
3. Sardar Patel had met first batch of IAS probationers at Metcalf House, Delhi on this day in 1947.
4. Only 1 and 2

HINT: This date is chosen to commemorate the day when first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers in 1947 at Metcalf House, Delhi, he referred to civil servants as the ‘steel frame of India’. The first Civil Service Day function was held in Vigyan Bhawan, New delhi 21 April 2006.’

Now Sardar Quota MCQs exhausted. Let me fill remaining questions from GPSC Prelims-2018.

Q. Which of the following statements regarding The Charter Act of India (1813) are correct? (GPSC-Pre-2018)

1. Made provisions for education in British India.
2. Christian Missionaries were formally permitted to propagate Christianity.
3. ‘Governor General of Bengal’ was redesignated as ‘Governor General of India.’
4. British East India Company ceased to be a commercial agency in India.

Answer Codes:

1. Only 1 and 2
2. Only 1, 2 and 4
3. Only 1, 2 and 3
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

HINT:

• Under Charter Act of 1833, Governor-General of Fort William was hereafter called ‘the Governor- General of India’. Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India’. So eliminate accordingly.
• Under Charter Act of 1833, East India Company ceased to be a commercial agency in India. In other words, it would function hereafter as the political agent for the Crown.
• So eliminate accordingly.

Q. Who abolished the use of Persian as court language and ordered the use of Vernacular Languages? (GPSC-Pre-2018)

1. William Bentinck
2. Charles Cornwallis
3. Warren Hastings
4. None of the above

HINT: Bentick’s notable judicial reforms were

• He abolished the provincial courts of appeal established by Cornwallis, because he felt they led to the huge arrears of cases.
• He introduced local languages in the lower courts.
• He replaced Persian with English in the higher courts.

Q. Which of the following statements are correct with reference to the Theosophical Society? (GPSC-Pre-2018)

1. It was founded in 1875 by Madam H. P. Blavatsky and a former English army officer, Colonel H. S. Olcott.
2. Its aim was to achieve a universal brotherhood of man.
3. It focussed at promoting the study of ancient religion and philosophy.
4. It emphasized on occultism.

Answer choices:

1. Only 2, 3 and 4
2. Only 1, 3 and 4
3. Only 1, 2 and 4
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

HINT: This is a poorly framed question by GPSC, because statement number 4 is common in all four options, so what’s the point is putting it! Secondly, it’s a vaguely worded question because statement-1 says Olcott was “English” (=British) officer, whereas he was an American officer. So, depending on how you interpret first statement, the answer could either “Only 2, 3 and 4” or “1, 2, 3 and 4”. Sometimes UPSC also frames vaguely worded statements so this is just to give you a taste of things.

Art and Culture

Q. Find incorrect statement(s) about the Statue of Unity, presently the tallest statue in the world (182 meters):

1. After its inauguration, Newyork’s Statue of Liberty is downgraded to the second tallest statue in the world.
2. It is constructed at the confluence of Tapi and Narmada rivers in Gujarat.
3. It was inaugurated by PM Modi on 31st October 2018, which is the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.
4. All of the above.

HINT:

• Spring Temple Buddha (128 meters) is second tallest. See the IndianExpress article for top-8 statues.
• Do Narmada and Tapi even meet each other anywhere? Check School Atlas.
• When Sardar died of heart attack in 1950, he was 75 years old, so do the reverse maths.

Q. The Ainnurruvar (five hundred swamis of Aihole) were the most celebrated _ _ of southern India. (GPSC-Pre-2018)

1. Weavers’ group
2. Group of soldiers
3. Federation of feudal lords
4. Merchant guild

HINT: Bolo, Gujarat PSC also wants to show swag like UPSC so they’re asking about such random terms from Medieval history which are not given in routine history books. But they forget that rapper Badshah can never take place of Yo Yo Honey Singh. Anyways, the Ainnurruvar was a Merchant Guild of Tamilnadu.

Q. Which of the following statements regarding Rajendra Chola-I are correct? (GPSC-Pre-2018)

1. He extended his sway up to the Ganga in the north and assumed ‘Gangaikonda Cholan’ title.
2. He conquered areas which are now known as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Maldives.
3. He built the famous ‘Brihadishvara temple’ dedicated to Lord Shiva.
4. He founded a new city called ‘Gangaikonda Cholapuram.’

Answer Choices:

1. 1, 2, 3 and 4
2. Only 1 and 2
3. Only 1, 2 and 3
4. Only 1, 2 and 4

HINT: This is also a poorly frame MCQ by GPSC because each option contains statement1 so it ought to be correct. Anyways according to Tamilnadu Class11 Textbook, Rajendra-I’s father Rajaraja-I completed the construction of the famous Rajarajeswara temple or Brihadeeswara temple at Tanjore in 1010 A.D.

Q. Kanishka had patronized following Buddhist scholar(s):

1. Vasumitra
2. Asvagosha
3. Ajja Chandana

Answer Codes:

1. Only 1 and 2
2. Only 2 and 3
3. Only 1 and 3
4. All of them

HINT: When it comes to framing questions from Buddhism and Jainism, UPSC examiner goes crazier than usual. Kanishka patronized Buddhist scholars like Vasumitra, Asvagosha and Nagarjuna. He also convened the Fourth Buddhist Council. The famous physician of ancient India Charaka was also patronized by him. Ajja Chandana was a female jain monk.

Q. Navanitakam of the Gupta period was a book on _ _ . (GPSC-Pre-2018)

1. Astronomy
2. Mathematics
3. Medicine
4. Astrology

HINT: Navanitakam was a book on medical work, Hastyayurveda was a book on veterinary science.

Q. _ _ is the philosophy of Vallabhacharya. (GPSC-Pre-2018)

1. Advaitavada
2. Vishishta Advaita
3. Shuddha Advaitavada
4. Duaita Advaitavada

HINT: Given in NIOS Culture PDF.

• Vishistadvaita of Ramanujacharya
• Sivadvaita of Srikanthacharya
• Dvaita of Madhavacharya
• Dvaitadvaita of Nimbaraka
• Suddhadvaita of Vallabhacharya

Q. Kalaripayattu is one of the Oldest martial arts in India, originated in Kerala. What is the meaning of “Kalari”?

1. A sword
2. A shield
3. A set of sword and shield
4. A school, gymnasium or training hall where martial arts are being taught.

HINT: It can be called a coaching class also.

Q. Find incorrect statement(s) about Pichvai / Pichhwai : (GPSC-Pre-2018)

1. Pichvai is the temple wall hanging used as a backdrop of the God’s idol.
2. Pichvai is cloth painting.
3. Pichvai depicts scenes of Krishna’s life.
4. Pichvai is the popular art form of southern India.

Answer codes

1. Only 1 and 2
2. Only 2
3. Only 3 and 4
4. Only 4

HINT: According to Britannica

• Pichhwai, cloth hanging used as a backdrop for images worshipped in temples of the Hindu Vallabhacharya sect, who are devotees of the god Krishna. Pichhwais, which form a part of the temple decor, are changed frequently according to the day, the season, and the occasion.
• Although Pichhwais were painted at several centres in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the Deccan, the main centre of manufacture has been Nathdwara, near Udaipur in Rajasthan.
• Then think, which option is most appropriate?

Q. Karnataka’s Vesara school of temple architecture is a hybridized style of _ _ and _ _ schools.

1. Hoysalas, Chola
2. Vijaynagar, Nagara
3. Nagara, Dravidian
4. None. It’s an independent style.

HINT: Nitin Singhania book says Vesara School: Also known as the Karnataka school of architecture, it was conceptualised under the later Chalukya rulers in the mid-seventh century A.D. It combined features of both Nagara school and Dravidian school and resulted in a hybridised style.

Q. Find correct pairs of the painting school of Rajasthan and their main themes:

1. Kishangarh school of Painting: Ramayan, Purana and Court life.
2. Mewar school of Painting: Romantic myths of Bani-Thani
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

HINT: Pairs are “inverse”.

Q. Pandavani is a traditional dance|drama|theatre of which one of the following states? (GPSC-Pre-2018)

1. Chhattisgarh
2. Bihar
3. Jharkhand
4. Telangana

HINT: Nitin Singhania book says Pandavani folk music is based on the grand epic-Mahabharata and Bhima as hero. It is all inclusive of gayan (singing) and vadan (playing an instrument). Usually the songs are set to the rhythm of a tambura. One of the most well known artists is Tijanbai from the state of Chhattisgarh who won the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan for her contribution to this musical field.

Q. The walls of Nagara style temples are known as _ _ (GPSC-Pre-2018)

1. Mandovar
2. Stambh
3. Toran
4. Shrunkhala (Chain)

HINT: Atrangi (Crazy) Question not given in Nitin Singhania, and you’re not expected to secure 100% marks to clear prelims. Answer is Mandovar.