History – GK Questions

Answer: 1856

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]]

Answer: True

The Age of Consent Act 1891, championed by social reformers, raised the age of consent for girls from 10 to 12 years. It faced conservative opposition but marked progress in protecting child rights. [[30]]

Answer: Raja Ram Mohan Roy

Raja Ram Mohan Roy campaigned vigorously against Sati, arguing it was not sanctioned by true Hindu scriptures. His efforts led to Regulation XVII of 1829 abolishing Sati under Lord William Bentinck. [[1]]

Answer: False

While railways facilitated movement, they primarily served British interests: transporting raw materials to ports for export and moving troops. Indian industries gained limited benefit due to discriminatory freight rates. [[1]]

Answer: Great Famine 1876-78

The Famine Codes were introduced after the Great Famine of 1876-78, which killed millions. They outlined preventive and relief measures, though implementation remained inadequate during subsequent famines. [[30]]

Answer: Bombay

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]]

Answer: True

British free trade policy allowed duty-free import of British manufactured goods while imposing duties on Indian exports. This destroyed India's traditional handicrafts, causing unemployment and poverty. [[30]]

Answer: Expenses of the India Office in London charged to Indian revenues

Home Charges were expenses of the India Office in London (salaries, pensions, interest on debt) charged to Indian revenues. Nationalists like Dadabhai Naoroji criticized this as part of the 'Drain of Wealth'. [[1]]

Answer: True

Vijayanagara architecture (14th-16th century) blended Dravidian temple styles with Indo-Islamic elements like arches and domes, reflecting cultural synthesis. Hampi's ruins showcase this unique fusion. [[30]]

Answer: Nagara

The Nagara style of North Indian temple architecture features a curvilinear shikhara (tower) over the sanctum, often with amalaka and kalasha finials. Examples include Khajuraho and Konark temples. [[1]]

Answer: soapstone

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]]

Answer: True

The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai, expanded by the Nayak rulers, is dedicated to Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Shiva. Its towering gopurams and thousand-pillar hall exemplify Dravidian architecture. [[1]]

Answer: Erotic sculptures

The Khajuraho temples (950-1050 CE), built by the Chandela dynasty, are renowned for intricate erotic sculptures symbolizing the celebration of life and spiritual union. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. [[30]]

Answer: True

Mirabai (16th century), a Rajput princess and devotee of Krishna, composed heartfelt bhajans expressing divine love. Her poems remain popular in Hindu devotional music across India. [[1]]

Answer: Malik Muhammad Jayasi

Malik Muhammad Jayasi wrote 'Padmavat' in Awadhi (1540), an allegorical epic on the legend of Queen Padmini of Chittor and Alauddin Khilji. It blends history, romance, and Sufi mysticism. [[30]]

Answer: Thiruvalluvar

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]]

Answer: True

Goswami Tulsidas composed Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi (a dialect of Hindi) in the 16th century. It popularized the Rama bhakti movement across North India and remains widely recited. [[30]]

Answer: Jayadeva

Jayadeva composed 'Gita Govinda' in 12th-century Bengal, a Sanskrit lyrical poem celebrating the divine love of Krishna and Radha. It remains influential in Indian classical music and dance. [[1]]

Answer: True

Charvaka (Lokayata) was a materialistic school that rejected Vedas, afterlife, and supernatural entities. It emphasized perception as the only source of knowledge and advocated hedonistic ethics. [[30]]

Answer: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad contains the famous dialogue between Sage Yajnavalkya and his wife Maitreyi on the nature of Atman (Self) and Brahman, emphasizing that realization of the Self leads to immortality. [[1]]