Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims? UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today’s subject quiz on History and Culture to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for April 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at manas.srivastava@indianexpress.com🚨 QUESTION 1 With reference to history of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, consider the following statements: 1. It was the Danish East India Company which first attempted to colonise the islands in 1755. 2. In the years before Independence, several of the most radical and active freedom fighters, including Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Barindra Kumar Ghosh, and Batukeshwar Dutt, were incarcerated at the cellular jail in Port Blair. 3. Immediately after the Partition, large tracts of land in the islands were allotted to Partition refugees. Which of the above given statements is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation Given its strategic importance, it was the Danish East India Company which first attempted to colonise the islands in 1755. The Nicobar Islands were turned into a Danish colony, first named New Denmark and later as Frederick’s Islands. With the Dutch consolidating power in the East Indies, their presence in the Andaman Islands became crucial for the British to control trade networks in the region. The islands remained in British control until the Independence of India, when it was transferred to the Government of India and installed as a Union Territory. In the years before Independence, several of the most radical and active freedom fighters, including Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Barindra Kumar Ghosh, and Batukeshwar Dutt, were incarcerated at the cellular jail in Port Blair. When they were released during Independence, they were received amid much publicity and celebration by the press, even though very little attention was given to the aboriginal Andaman Islanders. Immediately after the Partition, the Andaman Islands were chosen as a place for resettling displaced Hindu families from East Pakistan. Accordingly, large tracts of land in South and Middle Andaman were allotted to thousands of Partition refugees, often coming into conflict with local Jarawa territories. Consequently, there exists at present in Andaman, a very large community of Bengali speakers. Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Andamanese Hindi: how Andaman and Nicobar Islands came to embrace a unique linguistic identity and take pride in it by Adrija Roychowdhury, The Indian Express.) QUESTION 2 Match the following leaders of the Revolt of 1857 with the regions they led: List I (Leader) List II (Region) A. Nana Sahib 1. Lucknow B. Begum Hazrat Mahal 2. Jhansi C. Veer Kunwar Singh 3. Kanpur D. Rani Lakshmibai 4. Bhojpur E. Khan Bahadur Khan 5. Rohilkhand Select the correct match: (a) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2, E-5 (b) A-1, B-3, C-5, D-4, E-2 (c) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-5, E-3 (d) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1, E-5 Explanation The rebellion of 1857, also known as India’s first war of Independence, began on May 10, 1857. In the revolt, Indian sepoys rose up against the might of the British officers of the East India Company. This revolt witnessed an extraordinary amount of violence unleashed by both sides. It ended the rule of the East India Company on India by an Act of Parliament known as the Queen’s Proclamation of 1858. With this, the rule of the Indian empire was taken over by the British crown. Leaders across the northern region rose to provide the leadership. Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II, assumed leadership in Kanpur, Begum Hazrat Mahal took control over Lucknow, Veer Kuwar Singh was the chief organiser from the Bhojpur region of Bihar, Khan Bahadur Khan in Rohilkhand, and Rani Lakshmibai appeared as the leader of the sepoys in Jhansi. After the outbreak of the mutiny in Meerut, the rebels reached Delhi, and Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was declared the Emperor of Hindustan. Bahadur Shah Zafar was, however, imprisoned and was later brought back as a prisoner to Shahjanabad. Later, he was exiled to Rangoon after a trial against him for sedition against his own empire. Many of the royal princes and princesses lost their lives either while trying to escape or died in poverty. Therefore, a is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Knowledge Nugget: Why is the Revolt of 1857 important for UPSC? by Khushboo Kumari, The Indian Express.) QUESTION 3 With reference to the Doctrine of Lapse, consider the following statements: 1. It denied the right of an adopted heir to succeed to the throne of a princely state. 2. It was applied to annex the territories of Satara, Punjab, Sambalpur, Jhansi, and Nagpur. 3. The policy was introduced during the tenure of Lord Canning. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation The ‘Doctrine of Lapse’ was introduced by Lord Dalhousie, who was the governor-general of India (1848–56). The adopted heir to the throne was not allowed to acquire the state, and the state automatically ‘lapsed’ into British dominion if the ruler died without any natural, biological heir. This was applied to annex the territories of Satara (1848), Punjab (1849), Sambalpur (1850), and Jhansi and Nagpur (1854). Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Knowledge Nugget: Why is the Revolt of 1857 important for UPSC? by Khushboo Kumari, The Indian Express.) QUESTION 4 Which of the following Danish colonies in India was known as New Denmark or Frederick's Islands? (a) Oddewe Torre (b) Serampore (c) Tranquebar (d) None of the above Explanation Given its strategic importance, it was the Danish East India Company which first attempted to colonise the islands in 1755. The Nicobar Islands were turned into a Danish colony, first named New Denmark and later as Frederick’s Islands. With the Dutch consolidating power in the East Indies, their presence in the Andaman Islands became crucial for the British to control trade networks in the region. Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Andamanese Hindi: how Andaman and Nicobar Islands came to embrace a unique linguistic identity and take pride in it by Adrija Roychowdhury, The Indian Express.) QUESTION 5 What is true about Amar Jiban (My life) published in 1876 ? 1. It was the first-ever full-scale autobiography written by an Indian indentured labour. 2. It is a text inspired by Vaishnavite traditions. Which of the above given statements is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation Rashsundari Devi frequently refers to herself as a ”caged bird”. Her words critiquing her life in an affluent, upper caste family in Bengal were of great significance as it was for the first time that a woman in India was writing about herself. Amar Jiban (My life) published in 1876 was the first-ever full-scale autobiography written by an Indian woman. A text inspired by Vaishnavite traditions One has to read Rashsundari’s account of her life also in the context of the religious churning going on in Bengal in the 19th century and how that impacted the lives of women. Bengal in the late 19th century was experiencing a revival of ardent Vaishnavism. In her book, Rashsundar explains that it was her irrepressible urge to read a particular sacred text, the Chaitanya Bhagabat, that made her go through the struggle to read. This was the first Bengali biography of Chaitanya, the Vaishnava saint of medieval Bengal, well-known for his maddening love for Krishna. Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Amar Jiban, the story of a Bengali woman whose desire to read led to a feminist revolution, The Indian Express) QUESTION 6 He largely followed the footsteps of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) and in his two tours as director-general of the ASI he explored a great part of North India. He was the first to excavate Harappa but failed to recognise its cultural content or significance. Among his other major achievements were the identification of Bairat, Kosambi, Nalanda, Shravasthi, Taxila and Vaishali. He in the above lines refer to: (a) Mortimer Wheeler (b) James Princep (c) Alexander Cunningham (d) John Marshall Explanation By 1851, the British government in India saw the need for a systematic archaeological survey of the country. By then the basic nature of the monuments and historical sites of India was well understood. Consequently, the ASI was established in 1861. Alexander Cunningham, a protege of Princep, was appointed as the first director-general of ASI. Cunningham was appointed to undertake a systematic survey of ancient and medieval monuments and sites in India. He largely followed the footsteps of the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) and in his two tours (1861-65 and 1871-85) as director-general of the ASI he explored a great part of North India. Archaeologist Amalananda Ghosh in his work, An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology (1990), notes that Cunningham was the first to excavate Harappa but failed to recognise its cultural content or significance. Among the other major achievements of Cunningham were the identification of Bairat, Kosambi, Nalanda, Shravasthi, Taxila and Vaishali. The ASI was abolished in 1865 and reopened again in 1870 with Cunningham as its director-general once again. He retained the post till he retired in 1885. During this period he produced 24 reports containing a trove of information on the structures of historical significance in India. Therefore, c is the correct answer. (For more, refer: From Asiatic Society to Archaeological Survey of India: The long journey to map the historicity of subcontinent, The Indian Express.) QUESTION 7 With reference to Vatsun or Vakhs, consider the following statements: 1. These are associated with stone carving traditions in southern states which dates back to 2nd century BC. 2. It is also known as venditeegapani in Karimnagar district of Telengana. Which of the above given statements is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b)2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation Lalleshwari (1320-1392),also known as Lal Ded,is the creator of the mystic poetry called Vatsun or Vakhs,literally meaning speech. Known as Lal Vakhs,her verses are the earliest compositions in Kashmiri language and are an important part of the history of Kashmiri literature. The Vakhs have also been translated into English. Therefore, d is the correct answer. QUESTION 8 Consider the following Indian artistes: 1. Bhanu Athaiya 2. Satyajit Ray 3. Resul Pookutty 4. Gulzar 5. A R Rahman Who among the above mentioned names have won the Academy awards (Oscars) in different categories over the years? (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 1, 2, 3 and 5 only (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Explanation Indian movies have not had a great run at the Academy Awards since their inception in 1929. However, various artistes have won the award in different categories over the years. Bhanu Athaiya: It was her work in Gandhi (1982) that won her the award for Best Costume Design, India’s first Oscar. Satyajit Ray: He was awarded an Academy Honorary Award in 1992, “in recognition of his rare mastery of the art of motion pictures, and of his profound humanitarian outlook, which has had an indelible influence on filmmakers and audiences throughout the world.” Resul Pookutty: Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty were the joint awardees for their work in Slumdog Millionaire (2008) for Best Sound Mixing. A R Rahman: ‘Mozart of Madras’ A R Rahman became the first Indian to win Academy Awards in two categories, both for his work in Slumdog Millionaire – Best Original Song (for ‘Jai Ho’) and Best Original Score. Gulzar: Veteran poet-lyricist Gulzar shared the prize with Rahman, as the recipient of the Academy Award for Best Original Song, for his work as a lyricist on ‘Jai Ho’ from Slumdog Millionaire. Therefore, d is the correct answer. QUESTION 9 Match the following literary works with their authors: List I (Literary Work) List II (Author) A. Divyachakshu 1. Premchand B. Char Adhyay 2. Tarasankar Bandopadhyay C. Ganadevata 3. Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai D. Pather Debi 4. Rabindranath Tagore E. Premasharam 5. Sharatchandra Chattopadhyay Select the correct match: (a) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-5, E-1 (b) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1, E-5 (c) A-2, B-5, C-3, D-4, E-1 (d) A-3, B-2, C-5, D-1, E-4 Explanation Divyachakshu by Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai Char Adhyay by Rabindranath Tagore Ganadevata and Panchagrama by Tarasankar Bandopadhyay Pather Debi by Sharatchandra Chattopadhyay Premasharam by Premchand Therefore, a is the correct answer. (For more, refer:Historical Tidbits- Freedom struggle, 20th century literature and Premchand) QUESTION 10 With reference to Kabir, consider the following statements: 1. The Bijak contains works attributed to Kabir and is argued by historians to have been written in the 17th century. 2. Instead of God being an external entity that resided in temples or mosques, Kabir argued that God existed inside everyone. Which of the above given statements is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation The Bijak contains works attributed to Kabir and is argued by historians to have been written in the 17th century. Instead of God being an external entity that resided in temples or mosques, Kabir argued that God existed inside everyone. “Why look for Me anywhere else, my friend, When I’m here, in your possession?…He is the very breath of our breaths.” Therefore, c is the correct answer. Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.