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Indian Society

Class 12 · Society

Ch 4 · The Market as a Social Institution

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.

Prelims 2016 · Q38

Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally

(a)agriculturists
(b)warriors
(c)weavers
(d)traders

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Indian Society, Ch 4 (The Market as a Social Institution); old Class 7 Our Pasts – II, Ch 5 (Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities).

Indian Society (ch 4) says the long-distance salt trade was controlled by the Banjaras, and the old Class 7 book shows Banjaras carrying goods to markets. They were traders. So (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2016), question 38 ↗

Prelims 2020 · Q25

Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the 'Hundi' generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period?

(a)An advisory issued by the king to his subordinates
(b)A diary to be maintained for daily accounts
(c)A bill of exchange
(d)An order from the feudal lord to his subordinates

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (c)

NCERT answers it: Class 12 Indian Society, Ch 4 (The Market as a Social Institution).

Indian Society (ch 4): the hundi was an important instrument of exchange and credit — a bill of exchange. So (c).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2020), question 25 ↗

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