Fill in the Blank – GK Questions

The Virashaiva movement, founded by Basavanna, is also called Lingayat. Followers worship Shiva in the form of a personal linga worn on the body and reject Brahmanical rituals and caste hierarchy. [[30]]

Ibn Battuta visited India (1333-1342) during Muhammad bin Tughlaq's reign. His travelogue 'Rihla' provides vivid accounts of Delhi Sultanate administration, society, and the Sultan's eccentric policies. [[1]]

The Nasik Inscription (c. 2nd century CE) by Gautami Balashri records her son Gautamiputra Satakarni's victories over Shakas, Pahlavas, and Yavanas. It highlights Satavahana power in the Deccan. [[30]]

Gupta gold coins (Dinara) were of high purity and featured elegant designs of kings performing rituals, hunting, or playing instruments. They reflect the prosperity and cultural achievements of the Gupta age. [[1]]

Sirkap, near Taxila (Pakistan), was built by Indo-Greek rulers in the 2nd century BCE. It features a grid plan, Hellenistic architecture, and artifacts showing fusion of Greek and Indian cultures. [[30]]

The Tashkent Agreement (January 1966) was signed by Lal Bahadur Shastri and Ayub Khan under Soviet mediation. It restored pre-war boundaries but Shastri died hours after signing, adding mystery to the event. [[1]]

Indira Gandhi's Congress (R) won the 1971 elections with the slogan 'Garibi Hatao' (Remove Poverty). The victory strengthened her position and led to major policies like bank nationalization and the Bangladesh War. [[30]]

Directive Principles of State Policy (Part IV) were inspired by the Irish Constitution. They are non-justiciable guidelines for the state to establish social and economic democracy. [[1]]

The Paik system was the backbone of Ahom administration. Every able-bodied male (Paik) owed labor or military service to the state in rotation, ensuring both revenue collection and defense readiness. [[30]]

The Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act 1879 was enacted after peasant riots against moneylenders. It aimed to regulate moneylending practices and protect cultivators from exploitative interest rates. [[1]]

Rajput painting (16th-19th century) flourished in Rajput kingdoms like Mewar, Marwar, and Bundi. It depicts royal portraits, hunting scenes, and Hindu epics with vibrant colors and flat perspective. [[30]]

The Silk Road facilitated trade and cultural exchange between India, Central Asia, China, and the Mediterranean. Indian spices, textiles, and ivory were exchanged for Chinese silk, Central Asian horses, and Roman gold. [[1]]

Thumri, a semi-classical vocal form emphasizing emotion and romance, originated in the Lucknow court of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. It is often performed in lighter ragas and talas. [[30]]

The Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) began on March 12, 1930, with Gandhi walking from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi. He broke the salt law on April 6, 1930, launching the Civil Disobedience Movement. [[1]]

The Treaty of Paris (1783) ended the American Revolutionary War, recognizing the independence of the United States from Great Britain and establishing its boundaries. [[1]]

Ancient Indian mathematicians developed the decimal place-value system and the concept of zero as a number. These innovations were transmitted to the Islamic world and Europe, revolutionizing mathematics. [[30]]

The Hindu Widows' Remarriage Act 1856, supported by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, legalized remarriage of Hindu widows. It challenged orthodox customs and improved women's social status. [[1]]

The first successful modern cotton textile mill was established by Kawasji Davar in Bombay in 1854. It marked the beginning of industrialization in India, though primarily serving British economic interests. [[1]]

Hoysala temples (11th-14th century) at Belur and Halebidu feature exquisite soapstone carvings depicting deities, dancers, and mythological scenes. The soft stone allowed for detailed sculptural work. [[30]]

Thiruvalluvar composed Thirukkural, a classic Tamil text of 1,330 couplets on ethics, politics, and love. It is revered across religious and linguistic boundaries in South India. [[1]]