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Understanding Society: India and Beyond

Class 9 · Foundation (Classes 6–9)

Real UPSC Prelims questions from 2016–2026, linked to this book. Try each one first, then open the answer. 2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

One of these is a related question: NCERT alone can't answer it, so UPSC's answer is shown with the fact you need.

Ch 4 · Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation

Prelims 2019 · Q92

The word 'Denisovan' is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to

  1. (a)fossils of a kind of dinosaurs
  2. (b)an early human species
  3. (c)a cave system found in North-East India
  4. (d)a geological period in the history of Indian subcontinent
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 4 (Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 9 Understanding Society, ch 4: the map of early humans spreading out of Africa (Fig 4.4) marks Denisova Cave in northern Asia. So 'Denisovan' is linked to early humans — not dinosaurs, a north-east Indian cave or a geological period. Answer (b).

Beyond NCERT: Denisovans are an archaic human group, identified in 2010 from the DNA of a finger bone found in Denisova Cave in southern Siberia. Source: Reich et al., 'Genetic history of an archaic hominin group from Denisova Cave in Siberia', Nature 468 (23 Dec 2010), PMC4306417

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2019), question 92 ↗

Prelims 2021 · Q32

Which one of the following ancient towns is well-known for its elaborate system of water harvesting and management by building a series of dams and channelizing water into connected reservoirs?

  1. (a)Dholavira
  2. (b)Kalibangan
  3. (c)Rakhigarhi
  4. (d)Ropar
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (a)

NCERT answers it: Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 4 (Early Humans and Beginning of Civilisation).

Understanding Society, Class 9 (ch 4): Dholavira in Kachchh had an elaborate water-harvesting system, with dams built to divert water from two nearby streams. So (a).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2021), question 32 ↗

Ch 5 · State and Society up to 1000 CE

Prelims 2020 · Q24

Consider the following events in the history of India:

  1. 1.Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja
  2. 2.Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman – I
  3. 3.Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka – I
  4. 4.Pala dynasty founded by Gopala

What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?

  1. (a)2 – 1 – 4 – 3
  2. (b)3 – 1 – 4 – 2
  3. (c)2 – 4 – 1 – 3
  4. (d)3 – 4 – 1 – 2
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (c)

NCERT answers it: Class 11 An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I, Ch 6 (Temple Architecture and Sculpture); Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 3 (Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries); Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 5 (State and Society up to 1000 CE).

NCERT places Mahendravarman I before about 640 CE, when his successor took the Pallava throne (Indian Art, Part I, ch 6). The Palas came to power in the 8th century (same chapter). Bhoja of the Pratiharas ruled in the 9th century (Exploring Society, Class 7 Part 2, ch 3), and Parantaka I in the 10th (Understanding Society, Class 9, ch 5). So 2-4-1-3: (c).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2020), question 24 ↗

Prelims 2022 · Q93

Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct?

  1. (a)Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture.
  2. (b)The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
  3. (c)Sangam poems have no reference to warrior ethic.
  4. (d)Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational.
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 5 (State and Society up to 1000 CE); Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 3 (Kinship, Caste and Class: Early Societies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)).

Understanding Society, Class 9 (ch 5): Sangam literature such as the Tolkappiyam refers to a four-fold division of society. So (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2022), question 93 ↗

Prelims 2023 · Q43

With reference to ancient South India, Korkai, Poompuhar and Muchiri were well known as

  1. (a)capital cities
  2. (b)ports
  3. (c)centres of iron-and-steel making
  4. (d)shrines of Jain Tirthankaras
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 2), Ch 3 (Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries); Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 5 (State and Society up to 1000 CE).

Exploring Society, Class 7 Part 2 (ch 3) names Korkai as a port for trade with Southeast Asia, and Understanding Society, Class 9 (ch 5) names Poompuhar and Muziris (Muchiri) as ports. So (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2023), question 43 ↗

Prelims 2025 · Q19

Ashokan inscriptions suggest that the 'Pradeshika', 'Rajuka' and 'Yukta' were important officers at the

  1. (a)village-level administration
  2. (b)district-level administration
  3. (c)provincial administration
  4. (d)level of the central administration
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 5 (State and Society up to 1000 CE).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 9 Understanding Society, ch 5: pradeshikas were district governors. The question groups the three officers at one level, so they were district officers. Answer (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2025), question 19 ↗

Prelims 2026 · Q15

Which of the following pairs of the king and his dynasty in early historical Tamilakam is/are not correctly matched?

  1. 1.Senguttuvan : Chera
  2. 2.Udiyanjeral : Chola
  3. 3.Nedunjeliyan : Pandya

Select the answer using the code given below:

  1. (a)1 and 2
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)1 and 3
  4. (d)3 only
Show answer

UPSC's provisional answer: (b)

NCERT covers the topic; the answer comes from UPSC's key: Careful: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 2 titles a box 'The Pandya chief Senguttuvan', but UPSC's answer (b) treats Senguttuvan as a Chera, so pair 1 is correct. Pair 3 (Nedunjeliyan, Pandya) is correct too; only pair 2 is wrong, because Udiyanjeral was not a Chola. Answer (b).

NCERT covers the topic (not the answer): Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part I, Theme 2 (Kings, Farmers and Towns: Early States and Economies (c. 600 BCE–600 CE)); Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 5 (State and Society up to 1000 CE).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2026), question 15 ↗

Ch 6 · Democracy

Prelims 2018 · Q45

Which of the following are regarded as the main features of the "Rule of Law"?

  1. 1.Limitation of powers
  2. 2.Equality before law
  3. 3.People's responsibility to the Government
  4. 4.Liberty and civil rights

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  1. (a)1 and 3 only
  2. (b)2 and 4 only
  3. (c)1, 2 and 4 only
  4. (d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (c)

NCERT answers it: Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 6 (Democracy).

Understanding Society, Class 9 (ch 6): the rule of law ensures equality before the law, keeps everyone under the law to prevent misuse of power, and protects people's rights. Nothing about people's responsibility to the government. So 1, 2 and 4: (c).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2018), question 45 ↗

Prelims 2021 · Q85

A legislation which confers on the executive or administrative authority an unguided and uncontrolled discretionary power in the matter of application of law violates which one of the following Articles of the Constitution of India?

  1. (a)Article 14
  2. (b)Article 28
  3. (c)Article 32
  4. (d)Article 44
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (a)

NCERT answers it: Class 7 Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), Ch 10 (The Constitution of India — An Introduction); Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 6 (Democracy).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 7 Exploring Society (Part 1), ch 10: Article 14 means equality before law. Class 9 Understanding Society, ch 6: equal protection means treatment 'without arbitrary discrimination'. Unguided, uncontrolled discretion is arbitrary, so it breaks Article 14. Answer (a).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2021), question 85 ↗

Ch 7 · Elections

Prelims 2024 · Q71

How many Delimitation Commissions have been constituted by the Government of India till December 2023?

  1. (a)One
  2. (b)Two
  3. (c)Three
  4. (d)Four
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 9 Understanding Society: India and Beyond, Ch 7 (Elections).

Understanding Society, Class 9 (ch 7): India has had four Delimitation Commissions — in 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002. So (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2024), question 71 ↗

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