Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Mauryan Empire.

Key Points

• In the Mauryan empire Kautilya refers to two types of courts :
  • Dharmasthiyas (dealt with civil matters).
  • Kantakasodhana(dealt with criminal matters).

Additional Information

• Mauryan Empire (321 BCE - 185 BCE):
  • Chandragupta Maurya (321 BCE - 297 BCE):
    • Founder of the Maurya Dynasty and credited with the setting up of the first (nearly) pan-Indian empire.
    • Known as Sandrakottos to the Greeks and Androkottus by Aerian and Plutark. 
    • William Jones was the 1st scholar who recognized Sandrokottos as Chandragupta Maurya.
    • Kautilya mentored Chandragupta and prepared him for a takeover of Magadha.
    • Set up a vast centralized empire (details of whose functioning, society, military, and economy are well preserved in Kautilya's Arthashastra).
    • Defeated the invading army of the Eastern part of Alexander's empire Seleucus (305 BCE).​
    • Megasthenese was a Greek ambassador sent to the court of Chandragupta Maurya.
    • Chandragupta in his later years accepted Jainism.
      • Accompanied Bhadrabahu to Karnataka and later died by following the ritual of sallekhana, i.e., fasting till death. 
  • Bindusara (297 BCE - 273 BCE):
    • 2nd Mauryan Emperor of India and he was the son of Chandragupta Maurya.
    • Known as Amitrochates to the Greeks. In Jain texts, he was known as Simhasena.
    • Antiochus sent Deimachus as an ambassador to Bindusara's court.
    • Chanakya also remained the chief advisor of Bindusara.
    • Bindusara was an able monarch who was successful in consolidating the empire established by his father.
    • Bindusara patronized the Ajivikas.
  •  Ashoka the Great (268 BCE - 232 BCE):
    • 3rd king of the Mauryan Empire.
    • He was known for:
      • Renunciation of war after the Kalinga war.
      • Development of the concept of Dhamma (pious social conduct, welfare of humanity).
      • Promotion of Buddhism. 
      • Effective reign of a nearly pan-Indian political entity.
    • Under Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire stretched from modern-day Iran through almost the entirety of the Indian subcontinent.
    • Ashoka initially rules this vast empire through the political treatise's precepts known as the Arthashastra.
    • In his inscriptions, he was called Devanampriya or Devanapiyadasi.​
    • Most of the inscriptions were written in Prakrit language in Brahmi script except only two which were in Kharoshti script.
    • In 1837, James Prinsep become the 1st scholar who deciphered Ashoka's inscription.
  • Brihadratha:
    • Last Mauryan ruler.
    • Assassinated by Pushyamitra Sunga and established his own Sunga dynasty.

The correct answer is Dabla massacre.

Key Points

• Dabda massacre-
  • Dabla massacre happened in Nagore on 13 March 1947 AD.
  • Ramuram, Chunnilal, Rundharam, Dhannaram, and Nandram were martyred in this event.
  • It was the last incident related to the peasant movement in Rajasthan.

Additional Information

• Bijoliya peasant movement's associated persons - Nanji Patel, Thakri Patel, Prem Ji Bhil, Shri Manna Patel, etc.
• Bengu peasant movement's associated persons - Rupa Ji and Kripa Ji Dhakad.

• Kangda massacre happened in 1946 AD.
  • It was led by Magharam Vaidh.
  • In this event, almost 35 farmers were beaten up.
  • It was the last peasant movement incident of the Bikaner area.

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.

The correct answer is 5th.

Key Points

• Shankar Dev Rav committee's recommendations are related to the 5th phase of Rajasthan integration. 
  • The committee's other members  were Shri Prabhu Dayal and R.K. Singhawa
  • On the recommendations of this committee, Matsya Sangh was integrated with Greater Rajasthan.
  • It is known as the United States of Greater Rajasthan​ which happened on 15 May 1949.
    • Its capital was Jaipur.
    • The post of Prime minister was discontinued and the Chief minister's office was constituted.
    • Hiralal Shastri became the first Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

• Marco Polo, an Italian traveller, visited India in the 13th century. 
• His experience is described in his book The Travels of Marco Polo. 
• This book gave the Europeans the first idea regarding Asia, including India, China and Japan.