UP Board Class 12 History Question Paper with Answer Key and Solutions PDF (March 2, Code 321 AD)

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

The Harappan Civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, was known for its advanced urban planning and architecture. One of the most significant structures found at its major sites are granaries, which were used for storing surplus food grains. The "Great Granary" is the largest and most well-known of these structures.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The evidence of the "Great Granary" has been found at Mohenjo-daro. This massive structure is a testament to the organized and surplus-producing agricultural economy of the Harappan people. It was built on a raised platform to protect the stored grains from floods. While granaries were also found at Harappa (a series of six smaller granaries), the term "Great Granary" specifically refers to the single largest building discovered at Mohenjo-daro. Dholavira is famous for its water management system, and Kalibangan is known for its ploughed field surface and fire altars. Ropar is another important Harappan site, but it is not associated with a "Great Granary".


Step 3: Final Answer:

Based on archaeological findings, the "Great Granary" is a prominent feature of the Mohenjo-daro site. Therefore, option (A) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: For history exams, create a table of major Harappan sites and list their unique archaeological findings (e.g., Mohenjo-daro - Great Bath, Great Granary; Lothal - Dockyard; Kalibangan - Ploughed Field). This will help in quick revision and answering such specific questions.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

The excavation of the Harappan site is a landmark event in the history of Indian archaeology. It was a collaborative effort involving several archaeologists over many years. The question asks for the starting year of excavation by Madho Swaroop Vatsa.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The initial excavations at the Harappa site were started in 1921 under the supervision of archaeologist Daya Ram Sahni. Madho Swaroop Vatsa was a key archaeologist who worked alongside Daya Ram Sahni from the beginning of the major excavation campaign in 1921. He later continued the excavation work at Harappa in the following years, notably in 1926. However, his involvement began with the first major season of work in 1921. Therefore, 1921 A.D. is the most appropriate answer marking the beginning of his work at the site.


Step 3: Final Answer:

Madho Swaroop Vatsa began his excavation work at Harappa in 1921 A.D. along with Daya Ram Sahni. Thus, option (D) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: Remember the names of key archaeologists associated with major discoveries. For the Indus Valley Civilization, Daya Ram Sahni (Harappa, 1921) and R.D. Banerji (Mohenjo-daro, 1922) are the most prominent names to remember, along with their key associates like M.S. Vatsa.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

The year 78 CE marks the beginning of a significant era in Indian history, known as the Saka Era. This era is associated with the accession of a major ruler from the Kushan dynasty.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The year 78 CE is widely accepted by historians as the year of accession of the Kushan emperor Kanishka the Great. This year marks the beginning of the Saka Era, which was adopted as the basis for the Indian national calendar in 1957.
Let's analyze the other options:

(A) Beginning of Gupta rule: The Gupta Empire was founded by Sri Gupta, but the era of Gupta dominance began with Chandragupta I in c. 320 CE.

(C) End of the Mauryan Empire: The Mauryan Empire ended around 185 BCE with the assassination of the last emperor, Brihadratha.

(D) Reign of Ashoka: Ashoka the Great, a Mauryan emperor, reigned in the 3rd century BCE (c. 268–232 BCE).

Thus, 78 CE is directly related to the reign of Kanishka.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The year 78 CE corresponds to the beginning of Kanishka's reign and the start of the Saka Era. Therefore, option (B) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: Memorizing key historical dates and the eras they signify (e.g., 78 CE - Saka Era/Kanishka, 320 CE - Gupta Era/Chandragupta I, 57 BCE - Vikrama Samvat) is crucial for competitive exams as they are frequently asked.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

A Dargah is a shrine or tomb built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint. These are important pilgrimage sites in Islam. The question asks to identify the Sufi saint whose famous dargah is in Ajmer, Rajasthan.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The city of Ajmer in Rajasthan is home to the world-renowned Dargah Sharif, which is the tomb of the Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. He was a Persian Sufi saint who established the Chishti Order of Sufism in the Indian subcontinent. His dargah is one of the most sacred Muslim shrines in India and is visited by people of all faiths. The dargahs of the other saints listed are located elsewhere: Baba Farid's is in Pakpattan, Pakistan; Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki's is in Mehrauli, Delhi.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The dargah located at Ajmer belongs to Moinuddin Chisti. Therefore, option (B) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: Major Sufi saints and the locations of their dargahs are a common topic in history exams. Create a list matching saints (like Moinuddin Chisti, Nizamuddin Auliya, Bakhtiyar Kaki) with their respective cities (Ajmer, Delhi, Delhi) to easily remember them.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

The phrase 'Hunuj Delhi dur ast' is a famous Persian saying which translates to "Delhi is still far away." This statement has a specific historical context related to a confrontation between a Sufi saint and a Sultan of Delhi.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The statement 'Hunuj Delhi dur ast' is famously attributed to the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya. The context is that the Sultan of Delhi, Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, was returning from a victorious campaign in Bengal. He had a strained relationship with Nizamuddin Auliya and sent a message ahead, ordering the saint to leave Delhi before he arrived. In response, the calm and unperturbed saint uttered the phrase "Hunuj Delhi dur ast." As fate would have it, the Sultan never reached Delhi; he was killed when a pavilion built for his reception collapsed. The saying has since become a proverb, meaning that the final goal is still distant.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The statement was made by Nizamuddin Auliya. Therefore, option (B) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: Famous historical quotes and the stories behind them are often asked in exams. Pay attention to such anecdotes as they provide a deeper understanding of the relationships between historical figures, such as rulers and saints.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

The Vijayanagara Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southern India. The question asks to identify its founders.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 CE by two brothers, Harihara I and Bukka Raya I. They belonged to the Sangama dynasty. They established their capital at Vijayanagara (modern-day Hampi) on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The other options are incorrect:

(A) Krishnadeva Raya: He was the most famous and powerful ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, belonging to the Tuluva dynasty, but he was not the founder.

(B) Rama Raya: He was an influential regent and the de facto ruler during the final phase of the empire, who led the army in the fateful Battle of Talikota in 1565.

(C) Deva Raya II: He was a powerful emperor from the Sangama dynasty who ruled in the 15th century, but he was not a founder.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The founders of the Vijayanagara Empire were Harihara and Bukka. Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: It's important to differentiate between the founder of a dynasty or empire and its most prominent ruler. Exams often use the names of famous rulers as distractors in questions about founders.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

The Mughal Dynasty ruled the Indian subcontinent for several centuries. The question asks to identify the person who established this dynasty.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The Mughal dynasty was founded by Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur in 1526. He was a descendant of Timur on his father's side and Genghis Khan on his mother's side. Babur invaded India and defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last Sultan of Delhi, at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, thereby laying the foundation of the Mughal Empire in India. The other rulers mentioned—Akbar, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb—were his descendants and subsequent powerful emperors of the dynasty.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The founder of the Mughal dynasty was Babur. Therefore, option (A) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: For the Mughal Empire, create a chronological list of the first six major emperors (Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb). Knowing this sequence is fundamental for answering many questions related to medieval Indian history.

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

The 'Doctrine of Lapse' was an annexation policy followed by the British East India Company in India. It stated that if the ruler of a princely state under the paramountcy of the Company died without a natural male heir, his state would be annexed into the British territories.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

The Doctrine of Lapse is most famously associated with Lord Dalhousie, who was the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856. Although the policy was articulated by the Court of Directors of the East India Company before his tenure, Lord Dalhousie implemented it vigorously and on a large scale to expand British dominion in India. Several states were annexed under this policy, including Satara (1848), Sambalpur (1849), Nagpur (1854), and Jhansi (1854). This policy was one of the major causes of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The 'Doctrine of Lapse' is associated with Lord Dalhousie. Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: Key policies and the Governor-Generals who implemented them are a very important topic for history exams. Make a list of Governor-Generals and match them with their significant policies (e.g., Dalhousie - Doctrine of Lapse, Wellesley - Subsidiary Alliance, Bentinck - Abolition of Sati).

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

The book "My Experiments with Truth" is a famous autobiography of a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement. The question asks to identify this author.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

"The Story of My Experiments with Truth" is the autobiography of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi. The book covers his life from early childhood up to the year 1921. It was originally written in Gujarati and was published in weekly installments in his journal 'Navjivan' from 1925 to 1929. It is a detailed account of his personal life, moral and spiritual journey, and the development of his philosophy of Satyagraha (non-violent resistance).


Step 3: Final Answer:

The author of "My Experiments with Truth" is Mahatma Gandhi. Therefore, option (A) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: Autobiographies and important books written by leaders of the Indian freedom struggle are a recurring theme in exams. Be familiar with works like Gandhi's "My Experiments with Truth," Nehru's "The Discovery of India," and Tilak's "Gita Rahasya."

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:

This question is about the Indian parliamentary system. The Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States, is the upper house of the Parliament of India. An "ex-officio" chairman is a person who holds the position by virtue of holding another office.


Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

According to Article 64 and Article 89(1) of the Constitution of India, the Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. This means that whoever holds the office of the Vice-President automatically presides over the sessions of the Rajya Sabha. The Chairman's role is to maintain order and decorum in the house. The other roles are:

(A) The President: is the Head of State.

(B) The Prime Minister: is the Head of Government.

(C) The Speaker of Lok Sabha: is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha, the lower house.


Step 3: Final Answer:

The Vice-President of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Therefore, option (D) is the correct answer.
Quick Tip: Questions on the key constitutional posts and their functions are fundamental to Indian Polity. Clearly understand the distinct roles and responsibilities of the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, Speaker of Lok Sabha, and Chairman of Rajya Sabha.

N/A Quick Tip: For exams, make a list of important ancient texts (like Arthashastra, Indica, Ashtadhyayi) and their authors. Knowing the subject matter of each text (e.g., grammar, statecraft) can fetch you extra marks.

N/A Quick Tip: Remembering the authors of Mughal-era biographies is crucial. Note down key works like Baburnama (by Babur himself), Akbarnama (by Abul Fazl), and Humayunnama (by Gulbadan Begum) as they are frequently asked.

N/A Quick Tip: For famous historical chronicles, it's useful to know both the original author and the prominent English translator. This level of detail can help you answer more specific and challenging questions in competitive exams.

N/A Quick Tip: When asked for reasons for historical events like the 1857 Revolt, it's good practice to mention both a long-term political/social cause (like Doctrine of Lapse) and the immediate trigger (like the greased cartridges) to show a comprehensive understanding.

N/A Quick Tip: For the Indian freedom struggle, create a timeline of major revolutionary activities, noting the date, place, organization involved (e.g., HRA), and key personalities. This helps in quick recall of facts.

N/A Quick Tip: When answering questions about historical sources, always structure your answer by categorizing them into 'Literary' and 'Archaeological' sources. This provides a clear and comprehensive framework and is highly valued by examiners.

N/A Quick Tip: For questions on IVC town planning, always mention these three keywords: Grid Pattern, Citadel & Lower Town, and Advanced Drainage System. These are the most distinctive features and are essential for a complete answer.

N/A Quick Tip: To remember the Subsidiary Alliance, think of it as a "protection racket". The Indian ruler paid for British troops, gave up foreign policy control, and hosted a British Resident in exchange for "protection," which ultimately led to a loss of independence.

N/A Quick Tip: A key feature of Mughal provincial administration was the 'system of checks and balances'. Remember that the Subadar (executive head) and Diwan (revenue head) were independent of each other and directly accountable to the emperor. This prevented the concentration of power.

N/A Quick Tip: To structure answers about major national movements, always follow this pattern: Causes (why it started), Programme (what they did), and Withdrawal/Outcome (how it ended and its impact). This ensures a complete and logical answer.

N/A Quick Tip: For a question on the features of the Indian Constitution, try to mention a mix of structural features (e.g., Parliamentary System, Federalism), philosophical features (e.g., Secularism, Fundamental Rights), and unique characteristics (e.g., Lengthiest Constitution, Blend of Rigidity & Flexibility).

N/A Quick Tip: When discussing Mauryan administration, always mention Kautilya's Arthashastra as the primary source. Highlighting key officials like the Samaharta (Collector) and Sannidhata (Treasurer) will make your answer more specific and impressive.

N/A Quick Tip: A simple diagram of a stupa can greatly enhance your answer. If you can't draw, make sure to describe the structure from the base upwards: Vedika and Torana, Medhi, Anda, Harmika, and finally the Chhatra. This logical flow shows a clear understanding.

N/A Quick Tip: To explain Sufism effectively, focus on the core concept of 'mystical love for God'. Emphasize principles like the importance of a spiritual guide (Pir), service to humanity, and the goal of uniting with the divine. Mentioning practices like Sama (music) makes the answer more specific to the Indian context.

N/A Quick Tip: When describing Mughal central administration, focus on the 'four pillars': the Diwan (finance), Mir Bakhshi (military), Mir Saman (household), and Sadr-us-Sudur (religious affairs). Explaining the role of each of these four key ministers provides a solid foundation for your answer.

N/A Quick Tip: For 'consequences' questions, structure your answer into clear categories like 'Political/Administrative Changes', 'Military Changes', and 'Social/Long-term Impact'. The single most important consequence to remember is the Government of India Act of 1858, which transferred power from the Company to the Crown.

N/A Quick Tip: The most crucial cause for the Quit India Movement was the \textbf{Failure of the Cripps Mission}. Always start with this point. Also, remember Gandhi's famous slogan for this movement: \textbf{"Do or Die"}, as it perfectly captures the determined spirit of the final phase of the freedom struggle.

N/A Quick Tip: Creating a chronological timeline of major events in Indian history (Ancient, Medieval, and Modern) is the best way to master date-based questions. Focus on landmark events like the founding of empires, major battles, key British acts, and phases of the freedom struggle.

N/A Quick Tip: For map-based questions, it's essential to have a strong mental map of India's states and major historical cities. Associate historical events and figures with their geographical locations (e.g., Buddha with Lumbini/Bodh Gaya/Sarnath, Akbar with Agra/Fatehpur Sikri, Gandhi with Porbandar/Champaran/Dandi).