Indian History, Philosophy, and Administration Practice Exam

Comprehensive set of flashcards covering Indian history, philosophy, administration, legislation, and cultural achievements based on provided transcripts and specific data points (up to year 2025 predictions and date projections of 2025).

When did anatomically modern humans first arrive on the Indian subcontinent?

Between 73,000 and 55,000 years ago.

How many years ago do the earliest known human remains in South Asia date to?

30,000 years ago.

When did sedentariness begin in South Asia?

Around 7000 BCE.

Between which years did the Indus Valley Civilisation flourish?

2500 BCE and 1900 BCE.

What caused the population of the Indus Valley to scatter to villages early in the second millennium BCE?

Persistent drought.

What are the dates for the Vedic Period in northern India?

1500–500 BCE.

Through which system was the social structure of the Vedic people loosely stratified?

The varna system.

Which ancient empire was established by Chandragupta Maurya after overthrowing the Nanda Empire?

The Maurya Empire.

For which violent war is the Mauryan king Ashoka widely recognized?

The Kalinga War.

Who assassinated Emperor Brihadratha in 185 BCE, leading to the collapse of the Maurya Empire?

His general Pushyamitra Shunga.

Which period is known as the Classical or Golden Age of India?

The Gupta Empire (4th to 6th centuries CE).

What is the meaning of the philosophical term 'darśana'?

'To see' or 'looking at.'

What does the term 'ānvīkṣikī' mean in classical Indian philosophy?

'Critical inquiry' or 'investigation.'

What are the six major orthodox (āstika) schools of Vedic philosophy?

Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mīmāṃsā, and Vedanta.

What are the five major heterodox (nāstika) schools of Indian philosophy?

Jain, Buddhist, Ajivika, Ajñana, and Charvaka.

Between which years were the main schools of Indian philosophy formalized and recognized?

Between 500 BCE and the late centuries of the Common Era.

Which philosophical text preserves the ideas of Brahmanism from the later Vedic period (1000–500 BCE)?

The Upanishads.

Who was the 23rd Tirthankara of Jainism who provided an early anchor for the tradition in the 8th-7th century BCE?

Parshvanatha.

Which school of philosophy regards the universe as consisting of puruṣa and prakṛti?

Sāṃkhya.

How many kinds of valid presentation (Pramā) does the Nyāya school accept?

Four (perception, inference, comparison or analogy, and word or testimony).

What is the central authoritative philosophical text among all Jains?

Umaswati's Tattvārthasūtra.

Which Indian philosophical doctrine refers to 'many-sidedness' or the rejection of one-sided views of truth?

Anekāntavāda.

What are the 'three jewels' or means to achieve liberation according to Jain philosophy?

Right vision, right knowledge, and right conduct.

What was the name of the first Miss India who won the title in 1947?

Esther Abraham.

Who became the first Indian to win Miss Universe in 1994?

Sushmita Sen.

Which three Femina Miss India winners claimed international titles in the year 2000?

Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra, and Dia Mirza.

Who was the first Indian woman to win the Miss Earth title in 2010?

Nicole Faria.

Which country is officially the most populous since 2023?

The Republic of India.

From which root does the English proper noun 'India' most immediately derive?

Classical Latin India.

The term 'Bharat' is a modern rendering of what historical name?

Bharatavarsha.

What is the date of the Battle of Kadesh, considered the largest chariot battle with over 5,000 chariots?

1274 BC.

Where were the oldest known chariots found, dating to c. 1950–1880 BC?

Sintashta culture burials in modern-day Russia.

What is the Sanskrit word for a chariot that is cognate with Latin 'rota'?

rátha-.

The State Emblem of India is an adaptation of which ancient sculpture?

The Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.

What is the motto inscribed below the abacus of the State Emblem of India?

Satyamēva Jayatē.

From which sacred text is the motto 'Satyameva Jayate' taken?

The Mundaka Upanishad.

Who was the 3rd-century Mahayana Buddhist monk and disciple of Nagarjuna from Siṃhala?

Āryadeva.

What is the title of Āryadeva's main work containing sixteen chapters?

Catuḥśataka (Four Hundred Verses).

What does the Sanskrit term 'vidyā' primarily mean in Indian philosophy?

Correct knowledge or valid knowledge.

What are the four 'Vidyas' of the Vedic period?

Trayi, Anviksiki, Dandaniti, and Varum.

What is considered a 'super-fast' passenger train in India in terms of average speed?

Any train with an average speed higher than 55 km/h (34 mph).

What is the maximum permitted speed of the Vande Bharat Express?

160 km/h (99 mph).

Between which two cities did the first passenger train in India run in 1853?

Bombay and Thane.

What alchemical school advocated the use of mercury to attain enlightenment?

Raseśvara.

From which tradition is the Aghori order the only surviving sect?

The Kāpālika tradition.

Who is the Aghori founding deity and ancient spiritual teacher?

Lord Dattatreya.

Tathagata Satpathy was a chief whip for which Indian political party in the Lok Sabha?

Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

What is the title of the 2025 Indian Telugu-language fantasy superhero film starring Teja Sajja?

Mirai (Mirāi: Super Yodha).

In the film Mirai, the divine superweapon is revealed to be which item?

The Kodanda of Lord Ram.

What is the date of Patañjali's Mahabhashya commentary?

The 2nd century BCE.

How many sections or 'āhnika' is Mahabhashya divided into?

Eighty five sections.

What was the duration of the British Raj on the Indian subcontinent?

From 1858 to 1947.

In what year was Queen Victoria proclaimed Empress of India?

1876.

What is the term for areas in the British Raj ruled by indigenous rulers under British paramountcy?

Princely states.

Which 1857 event led to the transfer of rule from the East India Company to the British Crown?

The Indian Rebellion of 1857.

How many states and union territories currently compose India?

28 states and 8 union territories.

As of November 2023, how many districts (zilla) are there in India?

797.

What is the name of the public autonomous body that assesses and accredits higher education institutions in India?

National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Where is the headquarters of NAAC located?

Bengaluru.

Which act focuses on fair compensation and transparency in land acquisition as of 1 January 2014?

The 2013 LARR Act.

Which amendment in 1978 deleted the right to property from the list of fundamental rights in India?

The Forty-Fourth Amendment.

Wait-bulb temperature in relation to climate change in India is integrated from which two factors?

Heat and humidity.

Which Indian city experienced a severe water shortage in 2019 affecting 9 million people?

Chennai.

What percentage of the world's fresh water resources does India possess?

4/100% (4%).

Which Indian ministry was formed to deal specifically with the water crisis?

Jal Shakti Ministry.

What was the birth name of 'Guruji', the Indian spiritual leader born in 1952?

Nirmal Singh.

Where is the Shiv Mandir known as 'Bada Mandir' located?

Chhatarpur, Delhi.

What are the three All India Services?

Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), and Indian Forest Service (IFS).

Who appoints all IAS officers regardless of their mode of entry?

The President of India.

What is the success rate for applicants of the Civil Services Examination for IAS candidates?

Less than 0.02 per cent.

Which training academy do successful IAS candidates attend in Mussoorie?

Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration.

Under which article of the Constitution of India was the modern IAS created?

Article 312(2).

What is the ratio between direct recruits and promotees in the IAS?

2:1.

What is the primary function of the Financial Intelligence Unit—India (FIU-IND)?

Collecting financial intelligence about offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.

Who heads the Economic Intelligence Council to which FIU-IND reports?

The Finance Minister.

What is the official state mission launched by Narendra Modi on 2 October 2014 for rural development?

Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY).

Which foundation adopted Dhanora to develop it as India's first Smart Village?

Eco Needs Foundation.

How many districts are estimated to be in India by 9 December 2025?

800.

The term 'Collectorates' refers to what in major cities like Mumbai and Kolkata?

District headquarters.

In which province of Pakistan is the Neolithic site Mehrgarh located?

Balochistan.

What is the name of the alchemical school that used mercury for enlightenment?

Raseśvara.

What does 'ahiṃsā' mean in the context of Jainism?

Non-violence.

What is the maximum operational speed attained by Gatimaan Express?

160 km/h (99 mph).

What does a 'biga' denote in the context of ancient Rome chariots?

A chariot requiring two horses.

What was the result of the 1892 play 'The Master Builder' regarding architects?

Architect Halvard Solness is the protagonist.

What is the name of the fictitious architect in Ayn Rand's 'The Fountainhead'?

Howard Roark.

Which Hindu deity built the palaces of the gods as an architect and artisan?

Vishvakarma.

What is the term for 'the living being' in Jain dualistic metaphysics?

Jīva.

What is the term for 'non-living or material entities' in Jainism?

Ajīva.

What was the former name of the Indian Administrative Service from 1858 to 1947?

Indian Civil Service (ICS).

In Jainism, ICCHA-PARIMANA refers to what practice for laypersons?

Voluntarily limiting their desires.

What is the name of the mythical architect cited in the Mahabharata?

Maya.

What is the name of the first Indian woman to win Miss Asia Pacific (1970)?

Zeenat Aman.

Which choreographer joined Femina Miss India in 2008 as a dance expert?

Sandip Soparrkar.

What was the reason for Kalpana Pandit's disqualification in 1989?

Misrepresenting her nationality by holding a U.S. passport.

In which city is the 'Iron pillar of Delhi' located that mentions regional reunification?

Delhi.

Which Mauryan king's general founded the Shunga Empire?

Pushyamitra Shunga.

What is the term for the 'science of fire' in ancient Indian discovery?

Agni Vidyā.

Who won the Miss World 2017 title from India?

Manushi Chhillar.

Who was the Big Four titleholder from India as of 2021?

Harnaaz Sandhu.