Day-703 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | GEOGRAPHY

Answer: C
Explanation:
The Vakatakas are believed to have originated from the Deccan region, with their early capital situated in Vidarbha, which corresponds to parts of present-day Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. They were the most important successors of the Satavahanas in the Deccan and coexistent with the Guptas in northern India. The exquisite cave paintings and sculptures in the Ajanta, Ellora, and Elephanta Caves are a testament to their contributions to Indian art and culture.
Additional information:
● The dynasty rose to prominence in the 3rd century CE under the leadership of its first known ruler, Vindhyashakti.
● He established his authority in the Vidarbha region and expanded his influence over adjoining areas. His successors continued the expansion of the dynasty’s territory.
● The Vakatakas extended their influence over a significant part of central India, including present-day Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
● They maintained good relations with the Gupta Empire to the north, leading to a period of relative peace and cultural exchange.
● Gupta Emperor Chandragupta II married his daughter into the Vakataka royal family and, with their support, annexed Gujarat from the Saka Satraps in the 4th century CE.
● The Vakatakas also faced competition and conflicts with other regional dynasties, such as the Kadambas and the Vishnukundins.
● It is believed that the Vakataka ruling family was divided into four branches after Pravarasena I. Two branches are known and two are unknown. The known branches are the Pravarpura-Nandivardhana branch and the Vatsagulma branch.
● The Vakatakas were great patrons of art and culture. Vakataka architecture exhibits a blend of indigenous Indian architectural styles along with influences from other regions, including elements of Gupta and Satavahana styles.
● They were responsible for the construction of several cave temples, particularly in the Ajanta Caves, which are renowned for their Buddhist frescoes and sculptures.
● The Vakataka dynasty’s patronage of art also extended to Ellora Caves and Elephanta Caves.
● The Vakataka dynasty, although relatively short-lived, played a significant role in the cultural and architectural history of India. Their patronage of cave temples and their support for both Hinduism and Buddhism left a lasting legacy in the Deccan region.

Answer: A
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Indus Valley Civilisation witnessed centralised authority and an urban quality of life.
Statement 2 is correct: The centralised characteristics of IVC can be proved by several characteristics, such as the degree of uniformity in material characteristics, the use of a standard script, standardised weights and measurements and efficient public administration system.
Additional information:
● The history of India begins with the birth of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC), also known as Harappan Civilization.
● It flourished around 2,500 BC, in the western part of South Asia, in contemporary Pakistan and Western India.
● The Indus Valley was home to the largest of the four ancient urban civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China.
● In the 1920s, the Archaeological Department of India carried out excavations in the Indus valley wherein the ruins of the two old cities, viz. Mohenjodaro and Harappa were unearthed.
● Three phases of IVC are:
1. the Early Harappan Phase from 3300 to 2600 BCE,
2. the Mature Harappan Phase from 2600 to 1900 BCE, and
3. the Late Harappan Phase from 1900 to 1300 BCE.
● The Early Harappan Phase is related to the Hakra Phase, identified in the Ghaggar-Hakra River Valley.
● The earliest examples of the Indus script date back to 3000 BC.
● This phase stands characterized by centralized authority and an increasingly urban quality of life.
● Trade networks had been established and there is also evidence of the cultivation of crops. Peas, sesame seeds, dates, cotton, etc, were grown during that time.
● Kot Diji represents the phase leading up to the Mature Harappan Phase.
● By 2600 BC, the Indus Valley Civilization had entered into a mature stage.
● The early Harappan communities were turning into large urban centers, like Harappa and Mohenjodaro in Pakistan and Lothal in India.
Town Planning and Structures
● Harappan culture was distinguished by its system of town planning.
● Harappa and Mohenjodaro each had its own citadel or acropolis, which was possibly occupied by members of the ruling class.
● Below the citadel in each city lay a lower town containing brick houses, which were inhabited by the common people.
● The remarkable thing about the arrangement of the houses in the cities is that they followed the grid system.
● Granaries constituted an important part of the Harappan cities.
● The use of burnt bricks in the Harappan cities is remarkable, because in the contemporary buildings of Egypt mainly dried bricks were used.
● The drainage system of Mohenjodaro was very impressive.
● In almost all cities every big or small house had its own courtyard and bathroom.
● In Kalibangan many houses had their wells.
● At sites such as Dholavira and Lothal (Gujarat), the entire settlement was fortified, and sections within the town were also separated by walls.

Answer: C
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Zat indicated the rank in the administration as well as the salary of the Mansabdar. Sawar represented the Cavalry Rank of Mansabdar and it denotes the number of horses and cavalrymen maintained by him. Historians have opined that while the rank of zat indicated the total number of soldiers under a mansabdar, the rank of Sawar indicated the number of horsemen under him.
Statement 2 is correct: Even if the Sawar rank was higher, the mansabdar’s position in the official hierarchy would not be affected. It will be decided only by the Zat rank. This can be explained with a simple example. A mansabdar assigned a rank of 2000 sawar and 5000 zat held a higher post than the one with a rank of 3000 sawar and 4000 zat.
Additional information:
● The mansabdari system, or mansab system, was brought into force in 1571 under the rule of Akbar.
● The word “Mansab” has its roots in the Arabic language and literally means rank or position. The nobles enrolled in the Mughal service were called “Mansabdars”.
● The mansabdari system comprised all the aspects of administration: civil, military and revenue affairs of the empire. The mansabdars comprised the ruling class initially, but later the entire nobility, military hierarchy, as well as the bureaucrats used to hold mansabs.
● For joining the royal services, an official recommendation was made by a noble called the ‘Mir Bakshi to the emperor. Mir Bakshi used to recommend the applicant suitable to be a mansabdar to the emperor. The emperor was presented with a ‘Tajwiz’ (petition) by Mir Bakshi. Then, the eligible applicants were granted mansabs.
● The enrolment, promotion and dismissal of the mansabs were solely in the emperor’s hands. The mansabs could also be transferred from one part of the empire to the other anytime by the emperor. People from all castes and religions were admitted into the mansabdari system based on their merits.
● Now, based on the zat and sawar, there were three categories of the mansabdars:
1) First-class Mansabdar: No. of zat = No. of sawar
2) Second-class Mansabdar: ½ the no. of zat = No.of sawar
3) Third-class Mansabdar: ½ the no. of zat > No.of sawar

Answer: A
Explanation:
In the context of medieval history, ‘Tariqa’ and ‘Tarifa’ refer to stages of Sufi movement.
There are three stages of medieval India:
1) 1st Stage (Khanqah): Started in 10th century, also called the age of Golden Mysticism
2) 2nd Stage (Tariqa): 11-14th century, when Sufism was being institutionalized and traditions and symbols started being attached to it.
3) 3rd Stage (Tarifa): Started in the 15th century, at this the stage when Sufism became a popular movement.
Additional information:
● Sufism is a mystical form of Islam, a school of practice that focuses on the spiritual search for God and shuns materialism.
● It is a form of Islamic mysticism which stresses on asceticism. There is a lot of emphasis on devotion towards God.
● In Sufism, self-discipline is considered an essential condition to gain knowledge of God by sense of perception.
● In the beginning of 12 AD, some religious people in Persia turned to asceticism due to the increasing materialism of the Caliphate. They came to be called the ‘Sufis’.
● In India, Sufi movement began in 1300 A.D & came to South India in the 15th century.
● In Sufism, self-discipline was considered an essential condition to gain knowledge of God. While orthodox Muslims emphasize external conduct, the Sufis lay stress on inner purity.
● Multan and Punjab were the early centers and later on, it spread to Kashmir, Bihar, Bengal and the Deccan.
Significance:
● The Sufi movement made a valuable contribution to Indian society.
● The Sufis believed in the concept of Wahdat-ul-Wajud (Unity of Being), which was promoted by Ibn-i-Arabi (1165-1240).
● He opined that all beings are essentially one. Different religions were identical. This doctrine gained popularity in India.
● There was also much exchange of ideas between the Sufis and Indian yogis. In fact, the hatha-yoga treatise Amrita Kunda was translated into Arabic and Persian.
● A notable contribution of the Sufis was their service to the poorer and downtrodden sections of society.
● Nizamuddin Auliya was famous for distributing gifts amongst the needy irrespective of religion or caste.
● According to the Sufis, the highest form of devotion to God was the service of mankind.
● They treated Hindus and Muslims alike. Amir Khusrau said, “Though the Hindu is not like me in religion, he believes in the same things that I do”.
● The Sufi movement encouraged equality and brotherhood. In fact, The Islamic emphasis upon equality was respected far more by the Sufis than by the ulema.
● The Orthodox attacked the doctrines of the Sufis. The Sufis also denounced the ulema.
● The Sufi saints tried to bring about social reforms too.
● Like the Bhakti saints, the Sufi saints contributed significantly to the growth of rich regional literature.

Answer: D
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: In 1901, Curzon called an education conference at Shimla following which the University Commission was appointed in 1902. The Indian Universities Act was passed in 1904 upon the recommendations of the commission. Gurudas Banerjee, Calcutta HC judge and a member of the commission, had given his dissent-note in the report and the Indian public despised the Act but all in vain. The aim of the act was to bring the Universities under the supervision of the government and it served its purpose.
Statement 2 is correct: : In 1904, the Co-operative Credit Societies Act was passed to induce the people to form societies for the purpose of deposits and loans, mainly to save peasants from the clutches of the money-lenders who usually charged an exorbitant rate of interest.
Statement 3 is correct: The Calcutta Corporation Act, 1899 reduced the number of elected legislatures and increased the number of nominated officials to deprive Indians from self-governance. 28 members of the Corporation resigned in protest and it, therefore, became a government department with the English and the Anglo-Indians as the majority in it.
Additional information:
Measures taken by Curzon in Various Fields
Economic
● In 1899, the British currency was declared legal tender in India and a pound was declared equivalent to rupees fifteen.
● The rate of salt-tax was reduced by Curzon, from two-and-a-half rupees per maund (1 maund is equal to approximately 37 kg) to one-and-a-third rupees per maund.
● People with annual income of more than Rs. 500 paid the tax. Moreover, income-tax payers also received relaxation.
● The yearly savings of the provinces were taken over by the Central Government which left no inducement to the provinces for saving.
● Curzon supported the policy of financial decentralization and abolished this practice.
Famine
● When Curzon arrived in India, it was in the grip of a terrible famine which affected the extensive territories in south, central and western India. Curzon provided all possible relief to the affected people.
● People were provided work on payment basis and the cultivators were exempted from the payment of revenue.
● By 1900, when the famine was over, Curzon appointed a Commission to probe into the causes of the famine and suggest preventive measures which were later brought into consideration.
Agriculture
● In 1900, the Punjab Land Alienation Act was passed which restricted the transfer of lands of the peasants to money-lenders in cases of failure of payment of their debts.
● Curzon attempted to bring about improvement in revenue administration for which he fixed three principles regarding it.
● First, the revenue was to be increased only gradually.
● Second, every care was to be taken not to harm the agriculture while collecting the revenue.
● Third, in case of drought or any other difficult situation, the peasants were to be helped immediately.
Railways
● Curzon decided to improve railway facilities in India and also to make the Railway profitable to the government.
● He appointed a Railway Commission under the chairmanship of Mr. Robertson in 1901. The Commission submitted its report after two years and the recommendations were accepted by Curzon.
● The Railway lines were increased, the Railway department was abolished and the management of the Railways was taken away from the hands of the Public Works Department and handed over to a Railway Board consisting of three members.
● The Department of Railway was organised on a commercial basis, profit being its primary motive.