Daily Static MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams - History (24 July 2023)

Daily Static MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams

Subject : History

1. The government of India had to make huge payments to people in England, which were called ‘Home Charges’. They included:

1. Interest on public debt raised in England
2. Annuities on account of railway and irrigation works
3. Payments in connection with civil departments where Englishmen were employed.
4. India Office expenses including pensions to retired officials who had worked for India in England.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Answer: (D)

Explanation: The government of India had to make huge payments to people in England on account of political, administrative and commercial connections established between India and England. These commitments were called ‘Home Charges’. They included:

  • Interest on public debt raised in England at comparatively higher rates;
  • Annuities on account of railway and irrigation works;
  • Payments in connection with civil departments where Englishmen were employed;
  • India Office expenses including pensions to retired officials who had worked in India or who had worked for India in England and retired there, pensions to army and naval personnel, and their furlough allowances.

Hence, all statements are correct.

2. Consider the following pairs:

Organization Founder
1. Social Service League Gopalakrishna Gokhale
2. Servants of India Society N M Joshi
3. Indian National Social Conference M G Ranade

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) All three pairs
(d) None

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Social Service League: 1911 Bombay: N M Joshi: Its aim was to secure for the masses better and reasonable conditions of life and work.
  • Servants of India Society: 1905 Bombay: Gopalakrishna Gokhale: Its aim was to train Indians in different fields for the service of their motherland.
  • Indian National Social Conference: 1887 Bombay: M G Ranade: Its aim was to remove the social evils prevalent in the Indian society and to promote the welfare of women.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

3. Consider the following statements regarding Vedanta School of Thought:

1. This school upholds the philosophies of life as elaborated in the Upanishads.
2. The Vedanta theory denies the theory of rebirth.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (A)

Explanation: Vedanta is made of two words- ‘Veda’ and ‘ant’, i.e. the end of the Vedas. This school upholds the philosophies of life as elaborated in the Upanishads. This argument considers atma and brahma to be the same and if a person attains the knowledge of the self, he would automatically understand brahma and would achieve salvation. This argument would make brahma and atma indestructible and eternal. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

The Vedanta theory also gives credence to the Theory of Karma. The theory believes in Punarjanama or rebirth. They also argued that a person would have to bear the brunt of their actions from the previous birth in the next one. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

4. Consider the following statements regarding the teachings of Mahavira:

1. Mahavira regarded all objects, both animate and inanimate, have souls and various degrees of consciousness.
2. Mahavira rejected the authority of the Vedas and objected to the Vedic rituals.
3. He considered the practice of agriculture as the purest and credible occupation.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Mahavira regarded all objects, both animate and inanimate, have souls and various degrees of consciousness. They possess life and feel pain when they are injured. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Mahavira rejected the authority of the Vedas and objected to the Vedic rituals. He advocated a very holy and ethical code of life. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • Even the practice of agriculture was considered sinful as it causes injury to the earth, worms and animals. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

5. In Mughal India, Malikana was a tax portion related to:

(a) Service taxes
(b) Military expeditions
(c) Custom duties
(d) Land revenue

Answer: (D)

Explanation: In the Mughal empire, zamindars had hereditary rights of collecting land revenues which could go up to 25 percent of the revenue. They generally made collection from the individual peasants at rates fixed by tradition or by themselves and paid a fixed tax to the state. The difference between their collections and the amount paid to the state was their personal income. If the state demand reached the maximum that the peasant could pay, a deduction of 10 percent was made from the total amount of revenue and paid to the Zamindars as malikana. Hence, option (d) is correct.