Minimalist IAS
← History
English हिंदी

Test yourself

Themes in Indian History, Part II

Class 12 · History

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.

Theme 5 · Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society (c. tenth to seventeenth century)

Prelims 2018 · Q73

Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India?

  1. (a)Francois Bernier
  2. (b)Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
  3. (c)Jean de Thevenot
  4. (d)Abbe Barthelemy Carre
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Theme 5 (Through the Eyes of Travellers: Perceptions of Society (c. tenth to seventeenth century)).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Theme 5, introduces Tavernier as 'the French jeweller' who visited India at least six times and studied its trade. Of the four travellers, only a jeweller would write in detail about diamonds and diamond mines. Answer (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2018), question 73 ↗

Theme 6 · Bhakti-Sufi Traditions: Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts (c. eighth to eighteenth century)

Prelims 2016 · Q17

With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements:

  1. 1.Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
  2. 2.Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (c)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Theme 6 (Bhakti-Sufi Traditions: Changes in Religious Beliefs and Devotional Texts (c. eighth to eighteenth century)); old Class 7 Our Pasts – II, Ch 6 (Devotional Paths to the Divine).

The one fact NCERT doesn't give: The Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil Nadu worshipped one formless God and rejected idol worship.

Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Theme 6, gives you statement 2 (the Lingayats questioned rebirth and rejected caste). Answer (c).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2016), question 17 ↗

Theme 7 · An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara (c. fourteenth to sixteenth century)

Prelims 2019 · Q11

Building 'Kalyaana Mandapas' was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of

  1. (a)Chalukya
  2. (b)Chandela
  3. (c)Rashtrakuta
  4. (d)Vijayanagara
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Theme 7 (An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara (c. fourteenth to sixteenth century)).

Themes in Indian History, Part II (Theme 7): among the new features of Vijayanagara temples was the kalyana mandapa, built to celebrate divine weddings. So (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2019), question 11 ↗

Prelims 2019 · Q23

Consider the following pairs:

Famous place : River

  1. 1.Pandharpur : Chandrabhaga
  2. 2.Tiruchirappalli : Cauvery
  3. 3.Hampi : Malaprabha

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

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

UPSC's answer: (a)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Theme 7 (An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara (c. fourteenth to sixteenth century)).

Themes in Indian History, Part II (Theme 7): Hampi (Vijayanagara) lies on the Tungabhadra, not the Malaprabha, so pair 3 is wrong. Only (a) leaves out 3. So (a).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2019), question 23 ↗

Theme 8 · Peasants, Zamindars and the State: Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire (c. sixteenth–seventeenth centuries)

Prelims 2019 · Q1

With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?

  1. 1.Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection.
  2. 2.Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. (a)1 only
  2. (b)2 only
  3. (c)Both 1 and 2
  4. (d)Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Theme 8 (Peasants, Zamindars and the State: Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire (c. sixteenth–seventeenth centuries)).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Theme 8. Jagirs were revenue assignments to mansabdars and 'they were transferred periodically', so they were not hereditary: statement 2 is false. Zamindars kept armed forces and performed services (khidmat) for the state, so they weren't just revenue collectors: statement 1 is false. Answer (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2019), question 1 ↗

Prelims 2021 · Q45

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

  1. (a)Paragana—Sarkar—Suba
  2. (b)Sarkar—Paragana—Suba
  3. (c)Suba—Sarkar—Paragana
  4. (d)Paragana—Suba—Sarkar
Show answer

UPSC's answer: (a)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Themes in Indian History, Part II, Theme 8 (Peasants, Zamindars and the State: Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire (c. sixteenth–seventeenth centuries)).

Themes in Indian History, Part II (Theme 8): a Mughal suba (province) was divided into sarkars, and a pargana was a subdivision within them. Smallest to largest: pargana, sarkar, suba. So (a).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2021), question 45 ↗

← Back to the books

Spotted an error? Tell us — we fix it and record the change here.

NCERT textbooks are published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Every file comes from NCERT's own website; a full book is joined into one PDF on the reader's device. Minimalist IAS does not store or edit any NCERT file.

Previous-year questions are from UPSC's question papers and answer keys (final keys; for 2026, the provisional key) published on upsc.gov.in.

Minimalist IAS is not affiliated with NCERT or UPSC. Books by other publishers are named for reference only.

NCERT can move or replace a file at any time. We re-check every link each month; if one breaks, tell us.