History – Hard Level – GK Questions

Answer: 26th Amendment

The 26th Constitutional Amendment Act (1971) abolished the Privy Purse and privileges granted to former rulers of princely states under Article 291 and 362, fulfilling the constitutional promise of equality. [[30]]

Answer: Balwantrai Mehta Committee

The Balwantrai Mehta Committee (1957) recommended the three-tier Panchayati Raj system (village, block, district levels) for democratic decentralization. Rajasthan was the first state to implement it in 1959. [[1]]

Answer: Tholu Bommalata

Tholu Bommalata, the shadow puppet theatre of Andhra Pradesh, is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. It uses leather puppets to depict epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. [[30]]

Answer: C.V. Raman

Sir C.V. Raman discovered the 'Raman Effect' (light scattering) in 1928, for which he won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. February 28 is celebrated as National Science Day in India. [[1]]

Answer: Lala Amarnath

Lala Amarnath scored India's first Test century (118) against England in 1933 at Gymkhana Ground, Bombay. He later captained India to its first Test series win against Pakistan in 1952. [[30]]

Answer: Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi became the first woman to receive the Bharat Ratna in 1971 for her leadership during the Bangladesh War. She later served as Prime Minister and remains a pivotal figure in Indian politics. [[1]]

Answer: 42nd Amendment

The 42nd Amendment Act (1976) added 'Socialist', 'Secular', and 'Integrity' to the Preamble during the Emergency. These additions reflected the commitment to social justice and national unity. [[1]]

Answer: Sivaraman Committee

The Sivaraman Committee (1979) recommended establishing NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) to coordinate rural credit. NABARD was set up in 1982. [[30]]

Answer: Simla Agreement

The Simla Agreement (1972) between India and Pakistan established the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, replacing the ceasefire line of 1949. It committed both nations to bilateral resolution of disputes. [[1]]

Answer: Non-Aligned Movement

India, under Nehru's leadership, was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement (1961) to promote Afro-Asian solidarity and independence from Cold War blocs. The Bandung Conference (1955) laid its groundwork. [[30]]

Answer: Dinabandhu Mitra

Dinabandhu Mitra wrote 'Nil Darpan' (1860), a Bengali play exposing the exploitation of indigo farmers by European planters. It sparked public outrage and contributed to the Indigo Commission. [[1]]

Answer: Ziauddin Barani

Ziauddin Barani wrote 'Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi' (c. 1357), covering the Delhi Sultanate from Balban to Firoz Shah Tughlaq. It reflects the political ideology and administrative practices of the period. [[30]]

Answer: Mudrarakshasa

Vishakhadatta's 'Mudrarakshasa' (c. 5th century CE) dramatizes Chanakya's political strategies in establishing Chandragupta Maurya's rule. It is a valuable source for understanding Mauryan political thought. [[1]]

Answer: United Arab Emirates

The UAE has the largest Indian diaspora (over 3.5 million), primarily for employment. The US has the largest diaspora in terms of permanent residents and citizens of Indian origin. [[30]]

Answer: Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar

Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar served as Dewan of Mysore during accession. Mysore joined India peacefully in 1947, and the Maharaja was retained as Rajpramukh under the new constitutional arrangement. [[1]]

Answer: Chakra Bisoi

Chakra Bisoi led the Khond Uprising (1837-56) in Odisha against British attempts to suppress human sacrifice (Meriah) and impose new revenue policies. The movement combined religious and anti-colonial resistance. [[30]]

Answer: Golconda

The Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda (1518-1687) was famous for the Golconda Fort and the Kollur diamond mines, which produced the Kohinoor and Hope diamonds. [[1]]

Answer: Mayurasharma

Mayurasharma (c. 345-365 CE) founded the Kadamba dynasty and established Banavasi (in present-day Karnataka) as the capital. The Kadambas were among the earliest native kingdoms of Karnataka. [[30]]

Answer: All of the above

Bhangra (men), Giddha (women), and Jhumar are Punjabi folk dances celebrating harvest (Vaisakhi). They feature energetic movements, traditional music, and vibrant costumes, reflecting agrarian culture. [[1]]

Answer: Ghana

Ghana (formerly Gold Coast) became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule on March 6, 1957, under Kwame Nkrumah. It inspired liberation movements across Africa. [[30]]