Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Nalanda.

Important Points

• Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsang studied at the University of Nalanda.
• Nalanda University was the first ever university of India which was founded in the 5th century CE but got abandoned in the 13th century.
• Its ruins are found in present-day Bihar.

Additional Information

• Xuanzang, born Chen Hui / Chen Yi, was a Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who traveled to India in the seventh century and described the interaction between Chinese Buddhism and Indian Buddhism during the early Tang dynasty. 

The correct answer is Rapid industrialization.

• Mahatma Gandhi was against the Rapid industrialization of India.
• Gandhi emphasized decentralized production in the villages.
  • He was also against the concept of Mechanization.
  • He believed that by using machine-made Manchester cloth, Indians are only wasting their money, but instead, if they reproduce Manchester in India, they would keep their money with themselves.
  • He favored the machines that supported and reduced the burden of labor.

Additional Information 

• Industrialization is the period of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agrarian society into an industrial society.
  • As India is a developing country, rapid industrialization is needed in India.
  • Industrialization can help the progress of agriculture, trade, transport, and all other economic activities.
  • Rapid industrialization is important for creating employment opportunities, promoting education, training, and research. 
  • Industrial growth brings a rapid increase in the national income of the country.
• Gandhiji's famous Dandi March in March 1930 heralded the start of the Civil Disobedience Movement movement.
  • On March 12, 1930, Gandhiji set out from Sabarmati with 78 followers on a 241-mile march to the coastal town of Dandi on the Arabian Sea.
  • There, Gandhi and his supporters were to defy British policy by making salt from seawater.
  • At Dandi, thousands more followed his lead, and in the coastal cities of Bombay and Karachi, Indian nationalists led crowds of citizens in making salt.
  • Civil disobedience broke out all across India, soon involving millions of Indians, and British authorities arrested more than 60,000 people.
  • Gandhiji himself was arrested on May 5, but the satyagraha continued without him.
  • It was the start of the civil disobedience movement which commenced as Mahatma Gandhi broke the salt law on the coastal town of Dandi on the Arabian Sea 
    • Dandi March is also known as Namak Satyagrah or Salt Satyagrah.
  • The Salt March was a 24-day Salt March, which was non-violent in nature, is historically significant as it led to the mass Civil Disobedience Movement.

The correct answer is option 3.

Key Points

• Poona Pact (September 1932):
  • It was an agreement between Gandhi and Ambedkar.
  • Madan Mohan Malviya signed the pact on behalf of Gandhi.
  • According to this pact:
    • Separate electorates were replaced by joint electorates for depressed classes.
    • As against 71 seats announced by MacDonald, this pact reserved 148 seats in the Provincial legislature.
    • About 18% of the total seats were also reserved for the pressed classes in the central legislature.
• August Offer (August 1940)
  • The Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, issued a statement from Shimla on 8 August 1940 known as the August Offer.
  • It was an attempt to secure the cooperation of the Indians in WW II.
  • Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of England at the time.
  • Some of the provisions of the August Offer were:
    • Dominion status as the objective for India.
    • The number of Indians in the Viceroy’s Executive council will be increased.
    • A representative “Constitution Making Body” shall be appointed immediately after the war.
  • The Indian National Congress rejected the August Offer as Pt. Nehru said, “Dominion status concept is dead as a doornail”, As well as Mahatama Gandhi said that the declaration had widened the gulf between the nationalists and the British rulers.
• Cripps Mission (1942):
  • In order to get the support of India in world war II, Cripps Mission was sent to India in 1942.
  • Few proposals of this mission are:
    • Dominion status to India after the war.
    • Constitution-making body after the war.
    • Constitution so framed would be acceptable by the British Government only if certain province desires to stay away from the Union of India.
    • Any province which wouldn't accept the new constitution would have the right to sign a separate agreement with the British.
    • Gandhi called Cripps Mission 'A post-dated cheque drawn on a failing bank' due to the Cripps offer of Dominion Status after the war.
• Wavell plan/Shimla Conference (1945):
  • It was named after the Viceroy of India, Lord Wavell.  
  • Few proposals in this plan are:
    • With the exception of the Viceroy and Commander in chief, all the members of the Viceroys executive council will be Indians.
    • A kind of interim government was suggested.
    • Transfer of foreign affairs portfolio from the Governor-General to an Indian member.
    • Congress rejected the Wavell plans because of the actions of the Muslim league.

• In 1921, Daya Ram Sahni unearthed the civilisation of Harappa in Montgomery district of Punjab province of British India.
• The Vedic name of Ravi river was Parushni.
• Archaeological findings in Harappa were Granaries in a row, Clay figures of Mother Goddess, Copper scale, Stone symbols of Lingam, etc.

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key Points

• Ganeshwar civilization: The Ganeshwar civilization was first founded in 1977 according to historian Ratan Lal Mishra. This Ganeshwar civilization is more than 4000 years old and the estimated time period was 2500 - 2000 BCE.
  • He founded red and black pottery and thousand pieces of copper.
  • this culture is related to the pre-Harappan period and the main sources of copper nearby the Aravalli range. 
• Gilund civilization: Gilund civilization was founded in three faces divided as late, middle, & Early-Ahar-Banas.
  • Late Ahar Banas (2000 - 1700 BC)
  • Middle Ahar Banas (2500 - 2000 BC)
  • Early Ahar Banas (3000 - 2500 BC)
• Kalibangan civilization: The Kalibangan civilization is older than 4000 BC. Prof Amlanand Ghosh rediscovered the Kalibangan site in 1952. This Rajasthan civilization was the first metropolis state in India. The shreds of evidence are as follows
  • fortification walls, mud-bricks, etc.
  • Pottery, a sign of successful Harappan.
  • Outstanding discovery of plowed fields.