Question Discussion & Solution

Key Points

• Gopala was the first ruler of the Pala Dynasty.
• Pala Dynasty was originated in the region of Bengal during the Late Classical Period of the Indian historical era.
• Palas followed the Mahayana and Tantric schools of Buddhism.
• It was founded by Gopala in 750CE.
• He was succeeded by Dharmapala.

Additional Information

• Mahendra Pala: Mahendrapal was the fourth king of the Pala dynasty of the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. He was the son of Devpala.
• Dharmapala: He was the second ruler of the Pala Empire of Bengal and Bihar regions in the Indian subcontinent. He was the son and successor of Gopal, the founder of the Pala dynasty.

The correct answer is Chanhudaro.

Key Points

• The Harappan site of Chanhudaro was excavated by N.G. Mazumdar in 1931.
• Chanhudaro is located near the banks of the river Indus.
• Chanhudaro is located near Mohenjodaro in present-day Sindh, Pakistan.
• Only Harappan city without a citadel.
• Beads factory was found.
• Evidence of human sacrifice was found here.
• Chanhudaro didn't have any fortified structure.

Additional Information

The correct answer is Kushinagar.

Key Points

• Buddha died in 483 BC at Kushinagar, a village in Uttar Pradesh. 
• He attained Mahaparinirvana, or the final blowing out at the age of 80 in Kushinagar.
• Ashoka, the greatest patron of Buddhism, built a stupa to mark Mahaparinirvana (Buddha's death).
• It is an important pilgrimage centre for Buddhists.

Important Points

• Gautama Buddha
  • Gautama Buddha was born at Lumbini in the Sakya Kshatriya clan.
  • He was the founder of Buddhism.
  • His father was Suddhodhana, King of Kapilavastu, and his mother was Mahamaya, Princess of Kollia republic.
  • He was married to Yasodhara at an early age and had a son Rahul.
  • At the age of 35, he got enlightened under a pipal tree in Bodh Gaya.

Additional Information

• Patna, historically known as Pataliputra, is the capital city of Bihar in India.
  • Pataliputra was the ancient capital of the Magadh empire.
• Varanasi, also known as Benaras, is one of the oldest cities in the world.
• Sarnath Buddha delivered his first sermon to his five disciples at Sarnath.
  • Dhamek stupa is located in Sarnath, 13 km from Varanasi.

The correct answer is 1952.

Key Points

• The first general elections were held in the year 1952 in India. Indian national congress won the landslide victory and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister.

Additional Information

• The part results of the first general elections of India were announced on 10 February 1952, 64 years ago.
• The day is also celebrated as India's first democratic leap. Indian National Congress (INC) had won the elections with 364 seats out of 489 seats.
• CPI is the party that finished second with 16 seats as they got about 3.29 percent votes and SOC finished third in the elections with 10.59 percent votes and winning 12 seats
• Approximately 45 percent of the total votes were polled for INC in the first Lok Sabha elections.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

• Plan Balkan
  • Between March and May of 1947, Viceroy Mountbatten decided that the Cabinet Mission Plan had become untenable and formulated an alternative plan.
  • This plan envisaged the transfer of power to separate provinces (or to a confederation, if formed before the transfer), with Punjab and Bengal given the option to vote for partition of their provinces. Hence, option 3 is the correct answer.
  • The various units thus formed along with the princely states (rendered independent by lapse of paramountcy) would have the option of joining India or Pakistan or remaining separate.
  • This plan was prepared by a committee that included General Sir Hastings Ismay, Sir George Abell, and Lord Mountbatten.
  • The Plan proposed provinces are declared independent successor states and then be allowed to choose whether to join the constituent assembly or not.
  • As per this plan all the provinces viz. Madras, Bombay, United Provinces of Bengal, Punjab & northwest Frontier, etc. were proposed to be declared Independent.
  • When heard about the plan, Nehru rejected it right away and told the British that this plan would invite the Balkanization of India.
  • The plan was quickly abandoned after Nehru reacted violently to it.
  • It was also called Dickie Bird Plan.