DPPH-8 February


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Objective Problems

1. Which of the following inscription tells us about the local village administration of the Cholas?

(a) Halmidi inscrption

(b) Mandasor inscrption

(c) Uttaramerur inscription

(d) Tosham inscription

2. Local assembly of Brahmanas during the Cholas was called:

(a) Nagarattar

(b) Ur

(c) Sabha

(d) Nattar

3. Consider the following statement regarding ‘Indian Feudalism’-

i. Feudalism led to increase in trade and urbanisation.

ii. Feudalism had element of increasing dependence of peasantry on the landed intermediaries.

iii. Land grants had led to decline in feudalism.

iv. There were some similar features of Indian and European feudalism.

Which of the above statements are correct:

(a) i and iii

(b) ii and iii

(c) i, ii and iv

(d) ii and iv

4. Guild in early medieval India was known as:

i. Nigama

ii. Samuha

iii. Shreni

iv. Sartha

Which of the following statement is correct?

(a) Only i and ii

(b) Only i, ii and iv

(c) Only iii

(d) All are correct

5. Consider the following statements:

i. Nanadesi was merchant operating domestically in medieval India.

ii. Manigraman was the merchant guild of South India in medieval times.

iii. Cowries were used as a medium of exchange in medieval India.

iv. Hundika was a bill of exchange used by merchants for commercial transactions.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) i, ii and iv

(b) ii, iii and iv

(c) ii and iv

(d) All are correct

6. Temples in medieval times acted as:

i. centres of education

ii. nuclear of urbanisation

iii. centres of agricultural development

iv. store houses of wealth

Which of the above statements are incorrect?

(a) iii and iv

(b) i, ii and iii

(c) ii and iii

(d) None

7. Which of the following is incorrect during medieval India?

(a) In the field of leather industry, Gujarat occupied an enviable position.

(b) Udghataghati and Ghatiyantra was a device of irrigation.

(c) Brahmdeya was Brahmin’s assembly.

(d) Mahattaras and Pattakilas were village headmen.

8. Indian mathematician Bhaskara II wrote a treatise on mathematics in 12th century called:

(a) Lilavati

(b) Brihatsamhita

(c) Amarakosha

(d) Charaksamhita

9. Match the following:

List I                  List II

A. Vishti                    i. Silver Coinage

B. Harikela                ii. Taxes

C. Agrahara               iii. Forced Labour

D. Bhoga                    iv. Tax free Brahmin village

Correct match is:

A  B  C  D

(a) iii  i  iv  ii

(b) ii  iv  iii  i

(c) iv iii  ii iii

(d) i  ii  iii  iv

10. Araghatta was:

(a) a cane crusher

(b) an irrigation tool

(c) a tool for manufacturing swords

(d) an elected committee

Mains Questions(for General Studies and History Optional)

1. Do you think that the Chola village assemblies were democratic in nature? Give explanations for your answer. (300 words)




2. Write a short notes on: “Applicability  of  the  term  ‘Indian  Feudalism’  to  early  Medieval Society.” (200)





10 Comments Add yours

  1. 1- (c) Uttaramerur inscription
    {Tosham inscriptions epigraph evidence of the monastery ,water tank in Haryana; Mandsour is yashodarman era inscription;Halmidi inscription is oldest Kannada inscription}

    2- (b) Ur-local assembly consisting of commoners at time of Cholas
    {Nagarattar- assembly of organized group of merchants;Sabha- Exclusive Brahman assembly of Brahmadeya village;}

    3. maybe option ii iv.–> (d)

    { Nigama- Vedic literature read along with agamm; Samuha- part of the village unit}


    6.-? maybe (d)


    8-(a) Lilavati

    {a=iii;vb=i;vc=iv; d=2}



  2. ASK says:

    1 c
    2 b
    3 d
    4 c
    5 b/d
    6 c
    7 C
    8 a
    9 a
    10 —


  3. Ram says:

    Hi Sir,
    Please review:

    Do you think the Chola Village assemblies were democratic in nature? Give explanation for your answer.
    The Cholas became prominent in 9th Century and established one of the biggest empires in south India. Thousands of inscriptions found in temples provide detailed information about the administration of Cholas.
    The village assemblies of Cholas are not democratic in the true sense.
    • The villages were divided into wards and each ward nominates its members whose eligibility depends on factors such as ownership of land, own residence and knowledge of vedas. It is not open to everyone.
    • From the nominated members, one person is elected by Kudavolai system (lot system) instead of vote system which we see in democratic elections
    • Though the advice of the village assembly has lot of weight on an emperor’s decision, the emperor still has the absolute power to make decisions. This is evidenced by the order of Rajaraja Chola to village assemblies during the construction of Brihadeeshwara temple
    • In the revenue, military and provincial administration there was a constant supervision of officials from royal court
    Hence, though the Chola village assemblies consisted of elected representatives, the elections were not democratic in the true sense.


    1. Good answer. Mention Uttaraerur inscription and Sabha and Ur. You can take more balanced view. You can refer to the posted answer.


  4. Ram says:

    Hi Sir,
    Please review.


    The term ‘Indian Feudalism’ is highly applicable to early medieval society.
    The early medieval society was characterized by large land grants, Danas, made by the kings to Bramhnas as Bramhadeya and Devadana in return to their services such as yagnas and vedic rites. This donated land could be used for both agriculture and residential purposes. The bramhnas acted as donnes and employed a large workforce of vaishyas and sudras for agricultural activities. The above events led to the rise of Feudalism in early medieval India.
    Applicability of the term Feudalism:
    • High Sub-infeudation by donnes to get their land cultivated resulted in large number of intermediaries
    • Unequal distribution of land and its produce
    • Forced labour, Vishti, which was earlier prerogative of the king was transferred to the donne along with the land
    • Due to the growing claims of the intermediaries and donnes, the peasant was not in a position to reap benefits of the surplus production. This led to the curtailment of peasant rights and reduced his position to a tenant
    • The surplus was extracted from the peasants through various means. This was evident from the inscriptions during the time of Rajaraja Chola when more than fifty taxes were levied
    Though some historians claim peasant autonomy through nadus, on the whole, the early medieval society was characterized by high feudalism.


    1. Your attempt is good. This question has been asked many times by UPSC with changed formats. See the answer posted for concept clarity.


      1. Ram says:

        Thank you. Will check.


  5. vishvas says:

    please provide ur mail.


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