GENERAL

KNOWLEDGE
2022
Manohar Pandey

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CONTENTS
Current Affairs 5-32

INDIAN HISTORY 1-75

Ancient India
Pre-Historic Period (1), Indus Valley Civilisation (2), The Aryans and the
Vedic Age (5), Pre-Mauryan Age (9), Jainism (11), Buddhism (13), The Mauryan
Empire (15), Post-Mauryan Period (19), The Age of the Guptas (21)

Medieval India
The Delhi Sultanate (26), Vijayanagara Kingdom(1336-1580) (30), Religious
Movements (32), The Mughal Empire (34), The Maratha Age (40)

Modern India
Advent of the Europeans (42), Economic and Commercial Policy (45), Revolt of
1857 (46), Governor-Generals of Bengal and India (47), Viceroys of India (48),
Social and Cultural Movements (50), The Indian National Movement (56)

Art and Culture

Religion (65), Music (67), Puppetry (71)

World History
Mesopotamian Civilisation (73), Important Wars of the 20th Century (75)

GEOGRAPHY 76-145
World Geography
Universe (76), Solar System (77), The Earth (81), Earthquakes (86),
Volcanism (87), Rocks (87), Landforms (88), Atmosphere (89), Weather
and Climate (97), Salinity (100), Tides (102), Continents (102)

Indian Geography
India At a Glance (112), The Climate of India (120), Classification of
Forests (122), Agriculture in India (123), Forests of India (124), Mineral Resources
of India (127), Transport (131), Major Tribes of India (135), States/Union
Territories (137)

Environment and Ecology

Biodiversity (143), Biosphere Reserves of India (144)

INDIAN POLITY 146-180

Constitution of India (146), The Preamble (147), Union and its Territory (149),
Citizenship (151), Fundamental Rights (152), Directive Principles of State
Policy (153), Union Government (155), President (155), Prime Minister (159),
 Parliament (161), Supreme Court (165), States Government (168),
Governor (168), High Court (171), Panchayats (172),
Municipalities (173), Election Commission and Political Parties (174),
Union Public Service Commission (175), Finance Commission of India (175),
Planning Commission (176), Constitutional Amendments (178), Glossary (180)

INDIAN ECONOMY 181-212

Indian Economy (181), Broad Sectors of Indian Economy (181), National
Income of India (182), Planning of India (184), India's New Economic Policy(1991)
(188), Macro-Economic Problems in India (189), Agriculture (194), Industry (196),
Indian Financial System (201), Insurance (204), Demography (208), Glossary (211)

GENERAL SCIENCE 213-270

Physics
Newton’s Law of Motion (214), Work, Energy and Power (216), Gravitation (217),
Satellite (218), General Properties of Matter (218), Density and Archimedes’
Principle (219), Sound Waves (221), Heat (222), Light (225), Electricity (227),
Atomic and Nuclear Physics (229), Radioactivity (230)

Chemistry
Important Concepts of Chemistry (232), Atomic Structure and Radioactivity (234),
Chemical Bonding and Reactions (236), Acids, Bases and Salts (236), Some
Important Reactions and the Catalyst Used (237), Metals, Non-Metals and
Metallurgy (238), Energy Resources (240), Electrochemistry (241), Air (241),
Water and Pollution (242), Carbon and its Compounds (243)

Biology
The Cell (247), Biomolecules (249), Systems of Human Body (253),
Bacterial Diseases in Human Beings (261), Viral Diseases in Human Beings (262),
Plant Morphology (263), Genetics (265), Biotechnology (266),
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (267)

Computer
Components of Computer (268), Internet (269), Some Commonly
Used Terms (270), Super Computers (270)

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE 271-320

First in World (Male) (271), Superlatives of the World (273), Countries with
Capitals and Currencies (275), Geographical Epithets (276), Major Newspapers of
the World (279), First in India (Male) (281), First in India (Female) (282), Principle
Languages of India (286), National Insignia of India (287), Indian Defence (288),
India's Atomic Research (293), Space Programme of India (294), Awards and
Honours (296), National Awards (299), Military Awards (300), Important Dates
and Days of the Year (303), Abbreviations (305), Books and Authors (308),
United Nations (UN) (313), Sports (316)
Current Affairs
` 64180 crore
NATIONAL l

outlay over six years

UNION BUDGET 2021-22 for PM Aatma
Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman Nirbhar Swasth
presented the first paperless Union Bharat Yojana .
Budget in India's history on February 1, l The announcement of
2021 in view of the ongoing COVID-19 National Research Foundation
pandemic. Union Budget 2021-22 lays (NRF) with an outlay of ` 5000 crore.
down the vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat l No changes in IT Slabs, 80C and 80D
or Self reliant India. limits.
The Budget proposals this year are based l Senior citizens of 75 year of age and
on six pillars namely Health and having only pension income are
Wellbeing, Physical & Financial Capital, exempted from filing their income tax
and Infrastructure, Inclusive returns.
Development for Aspirational India, l Limit of turnover for tax audit
Reinvigorating Human Capita, increased to ` 10 crore from ` 5 crore
Innovation and R&D and Minimum for entities carrying out 95%
Government and Maximum Governance transactions digitally
Focused Points l ` 2.83 lakh crore announced for health
l Estimates of ` 34.83 lakh crore for and wellness sector, which includes
expenditure in 2021-2022 including ` 35000 crore for COVID-19 vaccines.
` 5.5 lakh crore as capital expenditure, l The Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
an increase of 34.5% to give required limit in insurance has been increased
push to economy . from 49 % to 74 %.
l The fiscal deficit in 2021-22 is l A record sum of ` 110055 crore for
estimated to be 6.8% of GDP. the Railways in 2021-22. 100%
l The final report covering 2021-26 of electrification of Broad-Gauge routes
15th finance commission was to be completed by December, 2023.
submitted to the President, retaining l Government has committed ` 1.97
vertical shares of states at 41%. lakh crore for PLI schemes covering 13
l Government set up a development sector.
financial institution. l 7 textile parks will be launched over
l ` 223846 crore outlay for Health and three yea` under Mega Investment
Well being in 2021-22 an increase of Textiles Parks (MITRA) scheme.
137%. l National Rail Plan for India (2030) to
l Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) will be create a ‘future ready’ Railway system
launched for universal water supply in by 2030
all 4378 Urban Local Bodies with 2.86 l Ujjwala Scheme will be extended to
crore household tap connections. cover 1 crore more beneficiaries.
 6 Current Affairs
l SWAMITVA Scheme to be extended to While the contribution of the sector
all States/UTs to Gross Value Added (GVA)
l Agricultural credit target enhanced to declined from 18.3% to 17.8%
` 16.5 lakh crore in FY22-animal between 2014-15 and 2019-20, it is
husbandry, dairy, and fisheries to be estimated to increase to 19.9% in
the focus areas 2020-21.
l 100 new Sainik Schools to be set up in l The industrial sector is estimated to
partnership with NGOs/private decline by 9.6% in 2020-21.
schools/states. l Within the sector, highest decline is
l Higher Education Commission to be estimated in construction (12.6%)
set up, legislation to be introduced this and mining (12.4%). The
year for the same contribution of the industrial sector
l PSLV-CS51 to be launched by New to GVA has declined from 32.5% in
Space India Limited (NSIL) carrying 2011-12 to 25.8% in 2020-21.
Brazil’s Amazonia Satellite and some l India ranked 48 in Global Innovation
Indian satellites Index in 2020, which makes it first
l ` 4000 crore over five year for Deep among Central and South Asian
Ocean Mission survey exploration and countries, and third among the lower
conservation of deep sea biodiverity middle-income economies.
l ` 3768 crore allocated for first digital
l The Survey has strongly
census in the history of India. recommended an increase in public
spending on healthcare services
ECONOMIC SURVEY 2020-21 from 1% to 2.5-3% of GDP, as
l India’s Economic Survey 2020-21 was envisaged in the National Health
tabled in the Parliament by the Finance Policy 2017.
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on January l The Survey has constructed a Bare
29, 2021. Necessities Index at rural, urban & all
l The survey was prepared under India level, with 26 indicators on 5
Krishnamurthy Subramanian, the dimensions- sanitation, water, housing,
Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) to the micro-environment, & other facilities.
government of India. l The monthly GST collections have
l A foundational theme of a survey as a crossed the 1 lakh crore mark
result of the pandemic has been consecutively for the last 3 months,
Saving Lives and Livelihoods. reaching its’ highest ever in
December 2020.
Key Highlights
l Gross Non-Performing Assets ratio
l The survey estimates nominal GDP
of Scheduled Commercial Banks
growth of 15.4% and real GDP growth
decreased from 8.21% at the end of
of 11% in 2021-22.
March, 2020 to 7.49% at the end of
l The survey projected a V-shaped September 2020.
recovery; GDP declined by 23.9% in the l India’s forex reserves at an all-time
first quarter and by 7.5% in the second
high of $ 586.1 billion as on January
quarter.
08, 2021, covering about 18 months
l In 2020-21, the growth rate of worth of imports.
agriculture is estimated to be 3.4%.
Current Affairs 7

PM Modi Addressed WEF’s India’s First Social Impact

Davos Dialogue Bond Created
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal
addressed the World Economic Corporation, Pune has recently signed an
Forum’s Davos Dialogue through MoU with UNDP India to co-create India’s
video conferencing on January 28, first Social Impact Bond (SIB).
2021. A Social Impact Bond, also called
The Davos Dialogues agenda marks pay-for-success bond or pay-for- success
the launch of the World Economic financing or simply social bond, is
Forum’s Great Reset Initiative in the basically a contract with public sector
post COVID world. authority, where it pays for better social
outcomes.
Three more Rafale Join IAF
The third batch of three Rafale fighter Underwater Study to Ascertain
jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Origin of Ram Setu
reached the Jamnagar airbase from The government on January 25, 2021
France on January 27, 2021. given its nod to an underwater research
With the induction of these aircrafts, project to determine the origins of the
the number of Rafale fighter jets has Ram Setu, a 48-km-long chain of shoals
increased to eleven. between India and Sri Lanka.
The study is to be conducted by the
72nd Republic Day
Council for Scientific and Industrial
India celebrated its 72nd Republic Day Research (CSIR) and National Institute of
with only 25000 spectators and a Oceanography (NIO) Goa.
shorter parade on Rajpath on
January 26, 2021. Digital Voter ID Card Launched
Rafale fighter jets featured in the Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
Republic Day parade and culminated launched the e-EPIC programme and
the flypast by carrying out the ‘Vertical distributed e-EPICs and Elector Photo
Charlie’ formation. Identity Cards to five new voters to mark
The 122-member contingent of the the National Voters' Day on January 25,
Bangladesh Armed Forces comprised 2021.
of Bangladesh Army, sailors of the The e-Elector Photo Identity Card (e-EPIC)
Bangladesh Navy and Air Warriors of is a non-editable digital version of the
the Bangladesh Air Force took part in elector photo identity card.
India's Republic Day Parade. Howrah-Kalka Mail Renamed as
Flight lieutenant Bhawana Kanth Netaji Express
becomes first woman fighter pilot to Indian Railways has renamed the
take part in IAF’s tableau. Howrah-Kalka Mail as ‘Netaji Express’, in a
For the first time, Cultural Tableau from tribute to freedom fighter Subhas
Ladakh participated and the tableau of Chandra Bose on January 23, 2021.
Uttar Pradesh was designed on the The Howrah-Kalka Mail runs between
theme ‘Ayodhya : Cultural Heritage of Howrah in West Bengal (Eastern Railway)
Uttar Pradesh’ and it showcased and Kalka in Haryana(Northern Railway)
Ayodhya and Ram mandir. via Delhi.
 8 Current Affairs
7th Edition of MASCRADE 2021 India Digital Summit 2021 Held
Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
inaugurated the 7th edition of inaugurated the 15th edition of India
‘MASCRADE 2021 – Movement against Digital Summit 2021through virtual
Smuggled & Counterfeit Trade’ on platform on January 19, 2021.
January 21, 2021. The theme of the 2021 Summit was
The two-day programme was organized ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat – Start of New
by FICCI CASCADE (Committee against Decade’.
Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities The summit focused to bring thought
Destroying the Economy), to combat leadership on various digital initiatives.
illicit trade, especially in a post
COVID era. World’s Largest COVID-19
Vaccination Campaign Launched
India Innovation Index Released Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The NITI Aayog released the second launched the world’s largest COVID-19
edition of the India Innovation Index vaccine drive on January 16, 2021.
along with the Institute for The recipients include 30 million
Competitiveness on January 20, 2021. doctors, nurses and other front-line
In the ‘Major States’ category, Karnataka workers, to be followed by 270 million
occupied the top position. people who are either over 50 or have
In UT and city states category, Delhi illnesses that make them vulnerable to
topped followed by Chandigarh. COVID-19.
Netaji’s Birthday Declared as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas
‘Parakram Diwas’ Yojana 3.0 Launched
The government of India has decided to The government of India launched the
celebrate the birthday of Netaji Subhash third phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal
Chandra Bose, on 23rd January, as Vikas Yojana on January 15, 2021.
‘Parakram Diwas’ every year. The scheme has been rolled out for the
This day will be dedicated to honour current financial year, ending March
and remember Netaji’s indomitable spirit 2021, and will be implemented by the
and selfless service to the nation. Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship.
Special Motor Bike Ambulance for
the CRPF 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
The Defence Research and Convention Held
Development Organisation (DRDO) has PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the
launched a bike-based casualty 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
transport emergency vehicle, ‘RAKSHITA’ Convention organized in a virtual
for the Central Reserve Police Force format on January 9, 2021.
(CRPF), on January 18, 2021. The theme of the event was
The specially designed bike has been ‘Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat’,
developed by the DRDO’s Delhi-based aimed at encouraging Indian diaspora
laboratory, Institute of Nuclear Medicine to be part of socio-economic
and Allied Sciences (INMAS). development in India.
Current Affairs 9

‘Digital Ocean’ Application Launched India’s First Hypersonic Wind

Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan virtually Tunnel Test Facility Launched
inaugurated the web-based application Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
‘Digital Ocean’ on December 29, 2020. inaugurated the advanced Hypersonic
Digital Ocean is a first of its kind digital Wind Tunnel test facility of the DRDO
platform for Ocean Data Management. It in Hyderabad on December 19, 2020.
can be accessed at www.do.incois.gov.in. The state-of-the-art HWT Test facility
India’s First Indigenous Pneumonia has made India as the only third
Vaccine Launched country in the world, after the US and
Russia, to have such a huge facility in
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan
size and capability.
launched Pneumosil, India’s first
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), ISRO Sets up Dedicated Control
on December 28, 2020. Centre ‘NETRA’
The Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Indian Space Research Organization
(PCV) would be used to treat pneumonia (ISRO) has set up a dedicated Space
in children and has been developed by Situational Awareness (SSA) Control
SII in collaboration with other partners Centre, ‘NETRA’ at its ISTRAC campus
like the Bill and Melinda Gates at Peenya, Bangalore on December 16,
Foundation. 2020. The Network for space object
Tracking and Analysis (NETRA) will
India International Science
monitor, track and protect India’s
Festival 2020 Held
space assets.
PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 6th
India International Science Festival 2020 India’s First Driverless Train
that took place virtually in New Delhi Flagged-off
from December 22-25, 2020. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s
The theme of IISF-2020 was ‘Science for first-ever fully-automated driverless
self-reliant India and Global welfare’ to train service on the Magenta Line of
support the Government’s initiative of the Delhi Metroon December 28,
making Atmanirbhar Bharat. 2020.
The service will be available on Delhi
ISRO to Establish RAC-S at
Metro’s Magenta Line which connects
IIT Varanasi
Janakpuri West in West Delhi to
The ISRO and IIT-BHU signed an Botanical Garden in Noida.
agreement to establish a Regional
Academic Centre for Space at IIT Varanasi Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT
(BHU) to facilitate short and long term Scheme Launched
projects at the institute on December 23, PM Narendra Modi on December 26,
2020. 2020 has launched Ayushman Bharat
Regional Academic Centre for Space Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
(RAC-S) of ISRO will act as a major (AB-PMJAY) SEHAT scheme via
facilitator for promoting space video-conferencing to extend health
technology activities in Uttar Pradesh, insurance coverage to all the residents
Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. of Jammu & Kashmir.
 10 Current Affairs
Cloud Storage Service Indo-Bangladesh Summit Held
‘DigiBoxx’ Launched PM Narendra Modi addressed a virtual
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has Indo-Bangladesh summit with his
launched indigenously developed Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina
India’s first Digital Asset Management on December 17, 2020.
and Storage platform, called ‘DigiBoxx’ During the summit, the two leaders
on December 23, 2020. jointly inaugurated the restored Chilahati
It provides faculity to store and – Haldibari rail route re-linking
collaborate with your digital assets, like Bangladesh with North Bengal in India.
raw files, photographs, sensitive
Communication Satellite
collateral, etc.
‘CMS-01’ Launched
‘Status of Leopards in India 2018’ India’s communication satellite CMS-01
Report Released was successfully launched by PSLV-C50
Union environment minister Prakash from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre
Javadekar released a report titled the (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota in Andhra
‘Status of Leopard in India 2018’ on Pradesh on December 17, 2020.
December 21, 2020. CMS-01 is the 42nd communication
As per the report, the population of satellite of India and it is envisaged for
leopard in India has increased by 60% providing services in Extended-C Band of
in four years since 2014. the frequency spectrum covering Indian
mainland, Andaman- Nicobar &
Nehru Zoological Park Lakshadweep Islands.
First to get ISO Certificate
The Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad PM Modi Lights
has become the first in India to acquire ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’
ISO 9001 : 2015 Quality Management PM Narendra Modi lit up the ‘Swarnim
Standards Certification from Vijay Mashaal’ at the National War
Accreditation Service for Certifying Memorial in Delhi to mark the 50th
Bodies (ASCB), United Kingdom. anniversary of India’s victory in the 1971
The zoo was assessed on the basis of India-Pakistan war, on December 16, 2020.
sanitisation, food processing, animal Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveils
breeding, medicare, animal care, the logo for Swarnim Vijay Varsh to mark
hygiene maintenance and Vijay Diwas on the 50th anniversary of the
establishment. 1971 India-Pakistan war.
Lakshadweep Becomes India’s First PM Lays Foundation Stone of New
100% Organic UT Parliament Building
The Ministry of Agriculture has PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation
declared Lakshadweep as India’s first stone for the new Parliament building at
Union Territory to become 100% Sansad Marg in Parliament Complex on
organic. December 10, 2020. In the new building,
Lakshadweep is second only to the Lok Sabha chamber will have a
Sikkim, which was India’s first state to seating capacity for 888 members, while
be declared completely organic in the Rajya Sabha will have 384 seats for
2016. members.
Current Affairs 11

Union Cabinet Approved IPPB Launched PM Jeevan Jyoti

PM-WANI Scheme Bima Yojana
The Cabinet approved a public Wi-Fi India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has
access network called PM-WANI announced the launch of Pradhan Mantri
(Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) to Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) in
enable easily accessible public Wi-Fi partnership with PNB MetLife India
hotspots spread across the country Insurance Company Limited for its
on December 9, 2020. customers on November 24, 2020.
The scheme will provide a boost to PM Laid the Foundation of Water
ease of doing business and boost the Supply Projects in UP
proliferation of broadband internet
PM Narendra Modi virtually laid the
services.
foundation stone of rural drinking water
First Indigenously Developed 100 supply projects in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra
Octane Premium Petrol Launched districts of Vindhyachal region in Uttar
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Pradesh on November 22, 2020. The
launched India's first indigenously projects are planned to be completed in
developed ‘100 Octane premium 24 months with an estimated cost of
petrol’ through video conferencing around ` 5555.38 crore.
on December 2, 2020. PM Modi Launched
It has been developed by Indian Oil RuPay Card in Bhutan
Corporation Limited (IOCL) at its PM Narendra Modi and Bhutan’s Prime
Mathura refinery in Uttar Pradesh. Minister, Lotay Tshering virtually launched
One Nation One Ration Card RuPay Card Phase-II in Bhutan on
Scheme Starts in A&N Islands November 20, 2020. With the launch of
The One Nation One Ration Card Phase 2 of RuPay Card, Bhutanese Card
scheme commenced in Andaman Holders will be able to easily access the
and Nicobar Islands on RuPay network in India.
November 30, 2020. World’s First Tram Library for Children
It is to mention that 28 states and Launched in Kolkata
UTs have joined on the network Kolkata Young Reader’s Tramcar, world’s
under One Nation One Ration Card. first library on tram for children was
Rest are required to join by March, launched in Kolkata, West Bengal on
2021. November 14, 2020. The tram would run
Landline Users Must Dial Zero on Shyambazar- Esplanade and
before a Mobile Number Esplanade-Gariahat routes, spanning
across north and south Kolkata, every day
The Ministry of Communications on
from morning to evening.
November 25, 2020 noted that all
fixed to mobile calls will be dialled Two Ayurveda Institutions Dedicated
with prefix ‘0’ from January 15, 2021. to the Nation
PM Narendra Modi dedicated two
There will be no change in dialling future-ready national premier Ayurveda
plan from fixed to fixed, mobile to institutions to the nation on November 13,
fixed and mobile to mobile calls. 2020.
 12 Current Affairs
These are the Institute of Teaching & during a ceremony at Kathmandu
Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), Jamnagar as on November 10, 2020.
an Institution of National Importance (INI), The anthology marks the
and the National Institute of Ayurveda culmination of the two years long
(NIA), Jaipur as a Deemed to be University celebrations of 150 years of
by the University Grants Commission. Mahatma Gandhi.
PM Modi Unveiled Statue of Online News & OTT Platforms
Swami Vivekanand Under IB Ministry
PM Narendra Modi virtually unveiled the The government of India has issued
life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda on an order to bring video streaming
the campus of Jawaharlal Nehru University Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms such
(JNU) in Delhi on November 12, 2020. as online films, audio-visual
The statue of Swami Vivekananda has been programmes and online news and
installed in the university campus with the current affairs content under the
support of JNU alumni. ambit of Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting.
Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan 3.0
Announced The government amended the
(Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961,
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
to make the changes, which come
announced new stimulus measures under
into effect immediately.
Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan 3.0 to boost
the Indian economy amid the ongoing 15th Finance Commission
COVID-19 pandemic, on November 12, Submitted its Report
2020. The Fifteenth Finance Commission,
Under the stimulus package, the FM made led by Chairman NK Singh submitted
12 big announcements and allocated funds its report for the period 2021-22 to
and ensured credit guarantees to various 2025-26 to the President Ram Nath
sectors. Kovind on November 9, 2020.
India’s First Sandalwood Museum in The report titled Finance
Karnataka Commission in Covid Times was
submitted by Singh along with
The Mysuru Forest Division has set up
members of the Commission.
India’s first Sandalwood Museum at its
premises at the Sandalwood Depot in India-Italy Virtual Summit 2020
Aranya Bhavan, Mysuru, Karnataka. Held
The museum has been conceptualised to The Bilateral Summit between India
spread awareness about the history and and Italy was attended by the Indian
cultivation of sandalwood products. PM Narendra Modi and Prime
Minister of Italy Prof. Giuseppe
Nepal Released Special
Conte virtually on November 6, 2020.
Anthology on Gandhi
15 MoUs/Agreements were signed
Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari has
during the Summit in various sectors
released a special anthology on Mahatma
such as energy, fisheries, ship
Gandhi-My understanding about Gandhi-
building, design etc.
Current Affairs 13

Missile Test
Missile Fact
Akash-NG The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
conducted successful maiden launch of Akash-NG (New Generation)
Missile from Integrated Test Range off the coast of Odisha on
January 25, 2021. Akash-NG is a new generation Surface-to-Air Missile
for use by Indian Air Force (IAF) with an aim of intercepting high
manoeuvring aerial threats.
Smart Anti-Airfield The DRDO successfully conducted captive and release trial of
Weapon (SAAW) indigenously developed Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) from
Hawk-I aircraft of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) off the Odisha
coast on January 21, 2021.
MRSAM India successfully test-fired a Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile
(MRSAM) from Integrated Test Range (ITR), off Odisha coast, on
December 23, 2020. The MRSAM missile has been jointly developed by
the DRDO in collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries.
Prithvi II India successfully test-fired two Prithvi-2 ballistic missiles off the eastern
coast of Odisha in Balasore on December 17, 2020. The tactical nuclear
capable weapons are developed by DRDO and can strike targets at a
range up to 350 km.
Anti-Ship Version of The Indian Navy test-fired the anti-ship version of the BrahMos
BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
territory on December 1, 2020.
Land-Attack Version India successfully test-fired a land-attack version of the BrahMos
of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands territory
on November 24, 2020.

Armed Forces Exercise

Exercise Facts
AMPHEX – 21 A large-scale tri-service joint amphibious exercise AMPHEX – 21 was
held in Andaman & Nicobar group of islands from January 21-25, 2021.
The exercise involved participation of troops of Indian Army, Indian
Navy as well as the Indian Air Force.
Desert Knight 21 The Indo-France bilateral Air exercise ‘Ex-Desert Knight 21’ was held
between the Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force in
Jodhpur, Rajasthan from January 20-24, 2021. From the Indian Air
Force side, Rafale, Mirage 2000, Sukhoi-30 MKI among other aircrafts
participated in the exercise.
Sea Vigil 21 Indian Navy coordinated the second edition of the biennial pan-India,
largest coastal defence exercise ‘Sea Vigil-21’ along the entire 7516 Km
coastline & Exclusive Economic Zone of India from January 12-13,
2021. The exercise aims at assessing India’s preparedness in the
domain of coastal defence and maritime security.
Kavach Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) conducted a large scale Joint
Military exercise ‘Exercise Kavach’ in the Andaman Sea and Bay of
Bengal. The exercise will involve assets of Indian Army, Indian Navy,
Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard.
PASSEX 2020 The Indian Navy and Vietnamese Navy undertook the naval passage
exercise PASSEX in the South China Sea from December 26-27, 2020.
The two-day exercise was conducted s part of efforts to boost maritime
cooperation between the two countries.
 14 Current Affairs
Exercise Facts
SIMBEX-20 The 27th edition of India–Singapore Bilateral Maritime Exercise
SIMBEX-20 has been hosted by Indian Navy in Andaman Sea from
November 23-25, 2020.
From Indian side, destroyer Rana with integral Chetak helicopter and
indigenously built corvettes Kamorta and Karmuk, IN submarine
Sindhuraj and P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft participated in the
exercise.
SITMEX-20 The 2nd edition of Singapore, India and Thailand Trilateral Maritime
Exercise SITMEX-20 was hosted by Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)
in Andaman Sea from November 21-22, 2020.
Indian Navy (IN) Ships including indigenously built ASW corvette
Kamorta and missile corvette Karmuk participated in the exercise.
Sagar Kavach A two-day joint coastal security exercise, ‘Sagar Kavach’ was held at
Paradip Coast by a joint effort of the state of Odisha and West Bengal
governments from November 5-6, 2020.

INTERNATIONAL
Biden Signed Executive Orders Aimed at Racial Equity
US President Joe Biden signed four new Executive Orders in an effort to foster
racial equity in the country on January 26, 2021.
The four executive actions Biden signed :
1. Direct the Department of Housing and Urban Development ‘‘to take steps
necessary to redress racially discriminatory federal housing policies’’.
2. Direct the Department of Justice to end its use of private prisons.
3. Reaffirm the federal government’s ‘commitment to tribal sovereignty and
consultation’.
4. Combat xenophobia against Asian American and Pacific Islanders.
SpaceX Launched 143 Satellites in a Single Mission
SpaceX successfully launched its ambitious rideshare mission called Transporter-1,
carrying 143 small satellites, and created a new record of launching many satellites
from a single rocket on January 24, 2021 With this launch, SpaceX broke the record
set by ISRO in February 2017 for deploying 104 satellites onboard PSLV in a single
mission.
China Adopted Law Letting Coast Guard Fire on Foreign Vessels
China adopted a law that gives the country's coast guard a free hand to open fire
on any foreign vessel deemed a threat to national sovereignty on January 22, 2021.
The bill specifies the circumstances under which different kind of weapons
hand-held, ship borne or airborne can be used.
First-ever Treaty to Ban Nuclear Weapons Enters into Force
The first-ever Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force on
January 22, 2021. The treaty states that all ratifying countries will “never under any
Current Affairs 15

circumstances develop, test, produce, Five New Countries Join UNSC

manufacture, otherwise acquire, possess Five new countries namely India,
or stockpile nuclear weapons or other Mexico, Norway, Ireland, and Kenya
nuclear explosive devices.” formally joined the United Nation
Dutch Government Resigned Over Security Council (UNSC) as
Child Benefits Scandal non-permanent Members on January 4,
2021. The new countries will hold
The Netherlands Prime Minister Mark
non-permanent seats on the
Rutte and the four-party coalition
15-member council for two years.
government resigned over a child
benefits scandal on January 15, 2021. WEF Global Risks Report 2021
The Dutch government falsely accused Released
thousands of parents of fraudulently The World Economic Forum (WEF)
claiming child allowance. released the sixteenth edition of the
Global Risks Report, 2021 on January 18,
China Unveils Prototype Superfast
2021. The report was released based on
Maglev Train
the Global Risks Perception Survey
People’s Republic of China has unveiled undertaken by more than 650 members
the 69-foot prototype of a new of World Economic Forum. The top
domestically developed superfast three risks by impact are climate action
maglev train from China’s Chengdu city failures, infectious diseases and
on January 13, 2021. It can reach up to a weapons of mass destruction.
speed of 620 km per hour and has been
developed with High-Temperature Global Climate Risk Index 2021
Superconducting (HTS) technology. Released
The Bonn-based environmental think
Donald Trump Becomes First US
tank ‘Germanwatch’ has released the
President to be Impeached Twice
16th edition of Global Climate Risk
Donald Trump became the first Index 2021.
President in US history to be impeached
Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Bahamas
twice as the Democratic- controlled
were the top three most affected
House of Representatives formally
countries in 2019, respectively.
charged him with ‘incitement of
insurrection" on January 13, 2021. India ranked as the seventh worst-hit
country in terms of climate change in
Ten Republicans joined Democrats to
2019.
impeach Trump by 232-197.
Henley Passport Index 2021
Oman Sultan’s Eldest Son to
Released
Succeed Him Under New Law
The Henley Passport Index 2021 has
Oman’s Sultan Haitham will be
been released by Henley & Partners,
succeeded by his eldest son Dhi Yazan,
based on the exclusive data from the
according to a new basic law published
International Air Transport Association
on January 12, 2021. The law also
(IATA). Japan has once again topped
creates a new position of crown prince
the list of being the most powerful
and establishes succession from ruler to
passport in the world, for third
the eldest son.
consecutive year.
 16 Current Affairs
As per the latest report, India has Nepalese Parliament Dissolved
been ranked 85th among 110 Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari
countries with a visa-free score of 58. dissolved Parliament on the
Human Development Report recommendation of Prime Minister KP
2020 Released Sharma Oli on December 20, 2020.
United Nations Development The surprise move came amidst a
Programme (UNDP) has released the prolonged tussle for power between the
Human Development Index (HDI) countries embattled Prime Minister Oli
report on December 15, 2020. and former premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal
‘Prachanda’.
This year’s report is titled as Human
Development Report 2020: The Next Bill for ex-Presidents’ Lifetime
Frontier Human Development and Immunity in Russia
the Anthropocene. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed
According to the report, Norway legislation that will grant former
topped the Human Development presidents lifetime immunity once they
Index, followed by Ireland, and leave office on December 22, 2020.
Switzerland. The bill gives former presidents and their
US Coronavirus Relief Package families’ immunity from prosecution for
Bill Signed crimes committed during their lifetime.
US President Donald Trump abruptly Human Freedom Index 2020 Released
signed a measure providing $ 900 The Human Freedom Index 2020, a
billion in pandemic aid on worldwide ranking of civil, economic and
December 27, 2020. personal freedom, published by Cato
He signed the act as part of the Institute and Fraser Institute on
massive $ 2.3 trillion package for the December 18, 2020.
year-end bill to provide long- delayed New Zealand (8.87) topped the index
coronavirus relief and fund the followed by Switzerland (8.82) and Hong
federal government. Kong (8.74) at the second and third place,
EU and Britain Reach over respectively.
Post-BREXIT Trade Forbes 2020 List of Highest
European Union and United Kingdom Paid Celebrities
have struck a post-Brexit trade deal, Kylie Jenner with $590 million was
after months of negotiations over crowned the highest-paid celebrity by
future business rules on Forbes in its Highest-Paid Celebrity list of
December 24, 2020. 2020, released on December 15, 2020.
The agreement will ensure Britain and Roger Federer is the highest-paid athlete
the 27-nation bloc can continue to securing a third rank on the list with
trade in goods without tariffs or $ 106.3 million in earnings, while soccer
quotas after the UK breaks fully free of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is on fourth
the EU on 1st of next month. with $ 105 million.
Current Affairs 17

Global Terrorism Index 2020 Released PM Narendra Modi participated in the

Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) Summit along with the respective
has released the Global Terrorism Index Heads of State/ Government of 19
2020 to measure the impact of terrorism member countries, EU, other invited
on the countries. countries & international organizations.
With a score of 9.592, Afghanistan has UAE Cancels Lenient Penalties for
topped the index as the worst terror ‘Honour Killings’
impacted nation among the 163 The UAE has cancelled legal clauses
countries. It is followed by Iraq (8.682) and that allowed judges to issue lenient
Nigeria (8.314) at second and third place sentences for ‘honour killings’.
respectively.
As per the Emirati government, those
UAE becomes First Gulf Nation to crimes will now be treated by courts
Generate Electricity from Coal as normal murder cases.
The first coal-based power plant of Arab
Gulf country is being developed in Saih Nagorno- Karabakh Peace
Shuaib, Dubai, UAE. Deal Signed
The 2400 MW Hassyan clean coal power Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia
station will be built at an estimated cost of have signed an agreement to end
$ 3.4 billion. military conflict over the disputed
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh on
Cambridge Dictionary Announced November 10, 2020. Under the deal,
Word of the Year 2020 Azerbaijan will hold on to areas of
Quarantine has been named the Word of Nagorno-Karabakh that it has taken
the Year 2020 by Cambridge Dictionary. during the conflict.
As per the Cambridge Dictionary,
quarantine was one of the most highly Scotland to Ban Smacking
searched words on its website in 2020. Children
‘Quarantine’ was closely followed by Scotland has become the first part of
‘lockdown’and ‘pandemic’ on the shortlist. the UK to ban the smacking of
US Withdrew from Open Skies Treaty children after new legislation came
The Trump administration has officially into effect on November 7, 2020.
withdrawn from the Open Skies treaty, six The new law seeks to give children
months after starting the process to leave, the same protection from assault as
on November 22, 2020. adults.
The Open Skies treaty, proposed by US Japan to Achieve Zero Carbon
President Dwight Eisenhower in 1955, Emissions by 2050
was signed in1992 and took effect in 2002.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide
15th G20 Summit Held Suga on October 27, 2020 declared
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted the that the country will achieve zero
15th annual G20 Leaders’ Summit in the carbon emissions by 2050.
capital city, Riyadh under the theme It had previously made a commitment
Realising the Opportunities of the 21st only to reduce emissions 80% by 2050
Century for All from November 21-22, and achieve carbon neutrality in the
2020. second half of the century.
 18 Current Affairs
Newly Elected PM/President
Name Post (Country) Facts
Kaja Kallas Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of the Reform party (Renew Europe) became
(Estonia) Estonia’s first female prime minister on January 24, 2021.
With this, Estonia becomes the only country in the world
where both the president and the prime minister are women.
Marcelo President The incumbent President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de
Rebelo de (Portugal) Sousa has won a second five-year term after winning the
Sousa 2021 Portuguese presidential election with landslide victory
on January 24, 2021.
Joe Biden President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. has been sworn in as the 46th
(The USA) president of the United States on January 20, 2021. Apart
from this, Kamala Harris took oath as 49th Vice President of
the country, becoming the first women to hold the post in the
history of United States.
Yoweri President Uganda’s incumbent President Yoweri Museveni has been
Museveni (Uganda) declared as the winner of the country’s presidential election
for 2021 on January 16, 2021. Museveni won 5.85 million
votes, while main opposition candidate Wine had 3.48 million
votes.
Sadyr President Nationalist Sadyr Zhaparov has won the presidency of
Zhaparov (Kyrgyzstan) Kyrgyzstan on January 10, 2021 as the central Asian nation
held its first elections since political unrest in October, 2020.
Nana President Ghana’s incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo has been
Akufo-Addo (Ghana) declared the winner of the country’s 2020 presidential
election on December 10, 2020. He previously served as
Attorney General from 2001 to 2003 and as Minister for
Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2007 under the Kufuor-led
administration.
Maia Sandu President Maia Sandu, a former World Bank economist, has won
(Moldova) Moldova’s 2020 Presidential election with 57.72% vote to
become the President-elect of the country. She is the first
woman to be elected as the President of Moldova.
Roch Kabore President Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore has
(Burkina Faso) been declared the winner of the recently-held general
elections after he secured over 57% of the votes on
November 26, 2020.
Francisco President Peruvian lawmaker Francisco Sagasti sworn in as interim
Sagasti (Peru) President after the departure of two presidents over the last
week, on November 18, 2020. Sagasti has taken over from
Manuel Merino, the former speaker of Congress.

SPORTS AND GAMES

TENNIS
ATP Finals 2020
The ATP Finals 2020 was a men’s tennis tournament played at the O2 Arena in
London, United Kingdom, from November 15-22, 2020. Daniil Medvedev (Russia)
beat Dominic Thiem (Austria) to win the 2020 ATP Tour Finals tennis tournament.
Current Affairs 19

Paris Masters 2020 FORMULA ONE

Daniil Medvedev won the Paris Bahrain Grand Prix 2020
Masters for the first time by beating Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain)
Alexander Zverev for his eighth career has won the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix
title and third at a Masters event on held at Bahrain International Circuit,
November 8, 2020. Bahrain on November 29, 2020.
He became the fourth Russian to Red Bull Racing teammates Max
capture the Paris Masters title after Verstappen (Netherlands) and Alexander
Marat Safin, Nikolay Davydenko and Albon (Thailand) were spotted at second
Karen Khachanov. and third place, respectively.
TABLE TENNIS Turkish Grand Prix 2020
ITTF Women’s World Cup 2020 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain)
The 24th edition of the ITTF Women’s has won the Turkish Grand Prix 2020,
World Cup table tennis title was held held at Istanbul Park in Tuzla, Turkey on
in Weihai, China, from November 8-10, November 15, 2020.
2020. Sergio Perez (Racing Point-BWT- Mexico)
The world number one Chen Meng secured second position and Sebastian
defeated Chinese compatriot Sun Vettel of Ferrari finished third.
Yingsha to win her maiden title.
CRICKET
With her victory, she became the first
winner of the ITTF’s #RESTART series. Border- Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21
India made history by defeating Australia
BADMINTON by three wickets in the fourth and final
Thailand Open 2021 Test at the Gabba in Brisbane and
Badminton World Federation (BWF) retained the Border- Gavaskar Trophy on
organized the Yonex Thailand Open January 19, 2021.
Super 1000 badminton tournament India successfully chased the
2021 held from January 12-17, 2021. 328-run target to seal the four-match
Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) and Carolina series 2-1.
Marin (Spain) won men’s and women’s Australia-India ODI Series 2020
singles title respectively.
The Australian cricket Team won the
SHOOTING 3-match Dettol ODI series 2020 against
International Air Rifle India by 2-1.
Championship Australian Batsman Steve Smith was
World number one Elavenil Valarivan chosen as the Player of the Series for
of India won gold and Shahu Tushar scoring 216 runs in the series which
Mane bagged a silver at the 2020 included 2 centuries.
Sheikh Russel International Air Rifle Indian Premier League 2020
Championship held virtually on Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals in
October 18, 2020. the Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL)
The championship was organised by 2020 final by 5 wickets on November 10,
Bangladesh Shooting Sport 2020, held at Dubai International Cricket
Federation (BSSF).
 20 Current Affairs
Stadium to clinch their record fifth IPL from Kenya won the women's category
title. in the same event.
With this win Mumbai Indians have The marathon was organized to
become the only team to win commemorate the return of
consecutive IPL trophies (2019 and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
2020) since Chennai Super Kings in from Pakistan jail to Bangladesh in 1972.
2010 and 2011.
BOXING AWARDS & HONOURS
Cologne World Cup 2020
NATIONAL
Indian pugilists have bagged nine
medals including three gold, two silver
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal
and four bronze at the Cologne Boxing Puraskar 2021
World Cup 2020, held in Cologne, The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal
Germany from December 17-19, 2020. Puraskar (PMRBP) for the year 2021 has
Amit Panghal (52 kg), Manisha Moun been conferred to 32 children, hailing
(57 kg) and Simranjit Kaur (60 kg) from from 32 districts of 21 States/UTs
bagged gold medals in their respective on January 25, 2021.
categories. Seven awards have been given in the
field of Art and Culture, nine awards for
HOCKEY Innovation and five for Scholastic
National Ice Hockey Achievements.
Championship 2021 Subhash Bose Aapda Prabandhan
Ice Hockey Association of India (IHAI) Puraskar 2021
organized the National Ice Hockey
The government of India announced the
Championship from January 16 to 22,
Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda
2021 at Gulmarg Ice Rink, in Jammu
Prabandhan Puraskar 2021 on January
and Kashmir (UT).
23, 2021.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)
The Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda
has won the 10th National Ice Hockey
Prabandhan Puraskar 2021 has been
Championship 2021 trophy, by
conferred upon Dr. Rajendra Kumar
defeating team Ladakh with the score
Bhandari in Individual category and
line (goals) 5-1.
Sustainable Environment and Ecological
ATHLETICS Development Society (SEEDS) in
Institutional category.
Dhaka Marathon 2021
Jigmet Dolma from India secured Padma Awards 2021
fourth position in the Dhaka Marathon The Union Home Ministry announced
2021 organised at Dhaka in Bangladesh the recipients for Padma awards on the
on January 10, 2021. eve of Republic Day on January 26, 2021.
In the marathon, Hicham Lakohi of The 2021 Padma Award has been
Morocco came first in the elite conferred upon 119 winners, which
competition of the marathon in men’s include 7 Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma
category while Angela Jim Asunde Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri Awards.
Current Affairs 21

Award Winners

Padma Vibhushan Shinzo Abe (Public Affairs) (Japan), SP Balasubramaniam

(Posthumous) (Art), Dr. Belle Monappa Hegde (Medicine), Narinder
Singh Kapany (Posthumous) (Science and Engineering) (USA), Maulana
Wahiduddin Khan (Others- Spiritualism), BB Lal (Others- Archaeology)
and Sudarshan Sahoo (Art)
Padma Bhushan Ms. Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra (Art), Tarun Gogoi
(Posthumous) (Public Affairs), Chandrashekhar Kambara (Literature and
Education), Ms. Sumitra Mahajan (Public Affairs), Nripendra Misra (Civil
Service), Ram Vilas Paswan (Posthumous) (Public Affairs), Keshubhai
Patel (Posthumous) (Public Affairs), Kalbe Sadiq (Posthumous) (Others-
Spiritualism), Rajnikant Devidas Shroff (Trade and Industry) and
Tarlochan Singh(Public Affairs)
Padma Shri Gulfam Ahmed (Art), Ms. Lakhimi Baruah (Social Work), Jagdish
Chaudhary (Posthumous) (Social Work), Jai Bhagwan Goyal (Literature
and Education), Maheshbhai & Shri Nareshbhai Kanodia (Duo)
(Posthumous) (Art), P. Subramanian (Posthumous) (Trade and Industry)
and 96 others

Digital India Awards 2020

President Ram Nath Kovind will virtually confer the Digital India Awards 2020 to
honour exemplary initiatives and practices in digital governance, on December 30,
2020 via video conferencing.
Winners
Category
Platinum Icon Gold Icon Silver Icon

Innovation in eSanjeevani - Covid-19 Sample Aapda Pravasi

Pandemic National Collection Sampoorti Shramik and
Telemedicine Management Portal Rojgar Setu
Service System Portal
Excellence in Digital eCommittee Department of Department Department of
Governance Supreme Court of Posts of Fertilizers Land
Ministry/Department India, Department Resources
(Central) of Justice
Excellence in Digital Haryana Tamil Nadu Uttar West Bengal
Governance State/UT Pradesh
Excellence in Digital Khargone, Changlang, Kamareddy,
Governance District Madhya Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Telangana
Open Data Champion Department of Research Data Food Ministry of
Health and Family Management in Corporation Micro, Small
Welfare ICAR of India and Medium
Enterprises
Exemplary Product Port Community ServicePlus Integrated
System PCS1x - Temple
National Maritime Manageme
Single Window nt System
(ITMS)
 22 Current Affairs
51st IFFI Awards INTERNATIONAL
The 51st edition of International Film 19th Dhaka International Film
Festival of India (IFFI) was held at Festival Organised
Shyamaprasad Stadium near Panaji in
The 19th Dhaka International Film
Goa from January 16-24, 2021.
Festival (DIFF) was shown 226 films from
Awards Winners 73 countries from January 16-24, 2021.
Award Winners Kyrgyz film ‘The Road to Eden’ jointly
Golden Peacock Into the Darkness
directed by Bakyt Mukul and Dastan
Award for Best Film Zhapar won the best film award at the
Silver Peacock Award Tzu-Chuan Liu (The festival.
for Best Actor (Male) Silent Forest) Masud Hasan Ujjal won the Best Film
Silver Peacock Award Zofia Stafiej (I Never Award in the Bangladesh Panorama
for Best Actor Cry) section for his film ‘Unponchash Batash’.
(Female)
Special Mention Kripal Kalita (Bridge) French Order of Merit
Award Indian physicist and Padma Shri
Indian Personality of Biswajit Chatterjee awardee Rohini Godbole has been
the Year Award conferred with the Ordre National du
Lifetime Achievement Vittorio Storaro (Italy) Merite, on January 14, 2021.
Award
She has been recognised for
Gallantry Awards & Defence contributions to collaborations b/w
Decorations France & India and commitment to
promoting enrolment of women in
President Ramnath Kovind has science.
approved awards of 455 Gallantry and
other Defence decorations to Armed ICC Awards of the Decade 2020
Forces personnel and others on the eve The winners of the prestigious
of 72nd Republic Day celebrations. International Cricket Council (ICC)
These include one Mahavir Chakra, 5 Awards of the Decade were announced
Kirti Chakras, 5 Vir Chakras, 7 Shaurya on December 28, 2020.
Chakras, 4 Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry), Category Winner (Men’s)
130 Sena Medal (Gallantry), and others.
ICC Spirit of Cricket MS Dhoni
Colonel Bikumalla Santosh Babu Award of the Decade
decorated with Mahavir Chakra Sir Garfield Sobers Award Virat Kohli
posthumously. for ICC Male Cricketer of
the Decade
Ramanujan Prize for Young
ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer Virat Kohli
Mathematicians 2020 of the Decade
Carolina Araujo from Brazil became the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer Rashid Khan
first non-Indian to win Ramanujan Prize of the Decade
for Young Mathematicians 2020 for her ICC Men’s Test Cricketer Steve Smith
outstanding work in algebraic geometry of the Decade
in a virtual ceremony on December 9, ICC Men’s Associate Kyle Coetzer
2020. Cricketer of the Decade
Current Affairs 23

US Legion of Merit Goldman Environmental

US President Donald Trump has presented Prize 2020
America’s highest military decoration, ‘The Paul Sein Twa of Myanmar wins 2020
Legion of Merit’ to PM Narendra Modi on Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia
December 21, 2020. region in recognition of his efforts in
He has been awarded for his leadership promoting the self-determination of
in elevating bilateral strategic partnership the Karen people in managing their
and accelerating emergence of India as a natural resources.
global power. The Goldman Environmental Prize is
one of the most prestigious
ATP Awards 2020
environmental prizes awarded annually
The Association of Tennis Professionals to grassroots environmental activists.
(ATP) 2020 Awards were announced on
December 21, 2020 to felicitate the Time Person of the Year 2020
players and others for their performance US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice
during 2019-20 season. President-elect Kamala Harris have
Category Winner
been jointly named as Time
magazine’s 2020 ‘Person of the Year’.
Player of the Year Novak Djokovic
The TIME magazine releases the
Doubles Team of Mate Pavic and Bruno
the Year Soares annual list since 1927, to recognise a
Coach of the Year Fernando Vicente
person or organization who impacted
(coached Andrey the country and world the most, for
Rublev) better or worse, during the calendar
Comeback Player of Vasek Pospisil (Canada) year.
the Year
Rabindranath Tagore Literary
Most Improved Andrey Rublev (Russia)
Player Prize 2020
Newcomer of the Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) Indian journalist-author Raj Kamal Jha
Year has been honoured with the
Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize
UNEP Champions of the Earth 2020 2020 for his novel, The City and The
The United Nations Environment Sea on December 9, 2020.
Programme (UNEP) named six young Jha’s book ‘The City and The Sea’ is
engineers, scientists, activists and based on the December 2012
entrepreneurs from all over the world Nirbhaya rape and murder case.
as its Young Champions of the Earth
2020 awardees on December 15, 2020. Global Teacher Prize 2020
The winners are : Ranjitsinh Disale, a government
1. Frank Bainimarama teacher from Zilla Parishad Primary
2. Yacouba Sawadogo School, in Paritewadi village, Solapur
district of Maharashtra, has won the
3. Nemonte Nenquimo
2020 Global Teacher Prize on
4. Fabian Leendertz December 3, 2020. He is the first
5. Mindy Lubber Indian to win this award, which
6. Robert D. Bullard carries prize money of $ 1 million (` 7.4
crore).
 24 Current Affairs
Nobel Prize 2020
Category Winners Achievement
Economic Paul R. Milgrom (USA) and For improvements to auction theory and
Sciences Robert B. Wilson (USA) inventions of new auction formats
Peace World Food Programme For its efforts to combat hunger, for its
(WFP) contribution to bettering conditions for peace in
conflict-affected areas and for acting as a
driving force in efforts to prevent the use of
hunger as a weapon of war and conflict
Literature Louise Gluck (USA) For her unmistakable poetic voice that with
austere beauty makes individual existence
universal
Chemistry Emmanuelle Charpentier For the development of a method for genome
(France) and Jennifer A. editing
Doudna (USA)
Physics Roger Penrose (UK) For the discovery that black hole formation is a
robust prediction of the general theory of
relativity.
Reinhard Genzel (USA) and For the discovery of a supermassive object at
Andrea Ghez (USA) the centre of our galaxy
Physiology Hervey J. Alter (USA), Michael For the discovery of Hepatitis-C virus
(Medicine) Houghton (UK) and Charles
M. Rice (USA)

PERSONS IN NEWS
NATIONAL
Shrishti Goswami
19-year-old Shrishti Goswami was designated as one-day Chief Minister of
Uttarakhand on the occasion of National Girl Child day on January 24, 2021.
She administers from Gairsain and also review various schemes run by the state
government that include Atal Ayushman Scheme, Smart City project and other
development projects.
Amanda Gorman
22-year-old Amanda Gorman made history as she became the youngest poet to
read a poem at a US presidential inauguration on January 20, 2021.
She read her own poem, titled ‘The Hill We Climb,’ at the inauguration of President
Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Narendra Chanchal
The iconic Indian Bhajan singer Narendra Chanchal, who specialized in religious
songs and hymns, has passed away at the age of 80 on January 22, 2021.
Some of his ever popular bhajans include Chalo Bulawa Aaya Hai, Tune Mujhe
Bulaya Sherawaliye, among others.
Current Affairs 25

V. Shanta He replaced TC Suseel Kumar, who

Renowned oncologist Dr V Shanta has retired on January 31, 2021.
passed away, following chest pain at Buta Singh
the age of 93 on January 19, 2021.
Former Union Minister and senior
She was the chairperson of Adyar Rajasthan Congress leader Buta Singh
Cancer Institute in Chennai, which she has passed away at the age of 86 on
joined in 1954. The institute is known January 2, 2020.
for providing state-of-the-art
He served as Home Minister of India in
healthcare to all patients.
the Rajiv Gandhi government from 1986
Mata Prasad to 1989 and also served as the Minister of
Former Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture and Rural Development.
and senior Congress leader Mata Suneet Sharma
Prasad has passed away at the age of
Suneet Sharma has been appointed as
95 on January 20, 2021.
the new Chairman & Chief Executive
He served as minister in the Congress Officer (CEO) of Railway Board, Ministry of
government in Uttar Pradesh in 1988- Railways and ex-officio Principal
89 and appointed as Governor of Secretary to Government of India on
Arunachal Pradesh in 1993. December 31, 2020.
Madhavsinh Solanki Uday Kotak
Former Chief Minister of Gujarat, The RBI has approved the re-appointment
Madhavsinh Solanki has passed away of Uday Kotak as Managing Director of
at the age of 93 on January 9, 2021. Kotak Mahindra Bank for a further period
He had served as External Affairs of three years, with effect from January 1,
Minister of India from June 1991 to 2021.
March 1992. He had been the Chief Kotak is founder managing director and
Minister of Gujarat for three times promoter of the bank.
between 1976 to 1990.
Motilal Vora
Soma Mondal Veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora
Soma Mondal has taken over as the has passed away following post-
new Chairman of Steel Authority of COVID-19 complications at the age of 93
India Limited (SAIL) with effect from on December 21, 2020.
January 1, 2021. She is the first-ever
He served as the chief minister of
women-head of the body.She
Madhya Pradesh twice, once from 1985
succeeds Anil Kumar Chaudhary, who
to 1988 and then again in 1989 for 11
superannuated on December 31, 2020.
months.
Siddhartha Mohanty Narinder Singh Kapany
The Appointments Committee of the
Indian-American physicist Narinder Singh
Cabinet has approved the
Kapany, who is considered as the ‘Father
appointment of Siddhartha Mohanty
of Fibre Optics’ has passed away at the
as the new Managing Director (MD) of
age of 94 on Dec. 4, 2020. He is credited
Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) with
with coining of the term fibre optics.
effect from February 1, 2021.
 26 Current Affairs
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati K. Sivan
Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, the owner of Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala
MDH has passed away at the age of 97 on presented Doctor of Science
December 3, 2020. honorary doctorate upon ISRO
He was known as the ‘The king of spices’, Chairman K. Sivan on November 21,
and fondly called ‘dalaji’ and ‘Mahashayji’ by 2020.
his near and dear ones. The Visvesvaraya Technological
University has conferred the
Shashi Shekhar Vempati
doctorate to him.
The CEO of Prasar Bharati, Shashi Shekhar
Vempati has been elected as the Vice Sonu Sood
President of Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union Actor Sonu Sood has been
(ABU) for a period of three years on appointed as the Punjab state icon
December 16, 2020. by the Election Commission of India
(ECI) on November 16, 2020.
Uday Shankar
Uday Shankar has been named as the Tanay Manjrekar
President of the Federation of Indian Pune-born engineer Tanay
Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) Manjrekar became the first Indian
for the year 2020-21. to ride in ‘hyperloop’ at a test
conducted in Nevada, Las Vegas on
Varsha Joshi
November 9, 2020.
The government of India has appointed
The Virgin employees journeyed
Varsha Joshi as the interim Chairperson of
500 metres in 15 seconds in a
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB),
two-person pod called ‘Pegasus’ or
with effect from December 1, 2020. She
XP-2, which travelled at 160
replaced incumbent Dilip Rath.
km/hour.
Rajeev Chaudhary Ahmed Patel
Lt. Gen Rajeev Chaudhary has been Senior Congress leader Ahmed
appointed as the 27th Director General of Patel, who was the political
BRO with effect from December 1, 2020. He secretary to Congress President
succeeded Lt Gen Harpal Singh. Sonia Gandhi, has passed away at
the age of 71 on November 25,
Harpal Singh 2020.
Lt. Gen Harpal Singh has been appointed as He has represented Gujarat for
the new Engineer-in- Chief of the Indian eight terms in the Parliament of
Army on November 25, 2020. He took over India, from 1977 to 2020.
his new appointment on December 1, 2020.
INTERNATIONAL
Yashvardhan Sinha Giuseppe Conte
President Ram Nath Kovind has
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe
administered the oath of office to Mr. Sinha Conte tendered his resignation
as the Chief Information Commissioner in following widespread criticism of
the Central Information Commission at a his handling of the coronavirus
ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. pandemic in the country on
January 26, 2021.
Current Affairs 27

Khurelsukh Ukhnaa Ludovic Orban

The Prime Minister of Mongolia, The Prime Minister of Romania
Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, has resigned along Ludovic Orban has stepped down
with his entire government, following from his post after his ruling National
protests and public outrage over the Liberal Party (NLP) lost in 2020
government’s handling of the COVID-19 parliamentary election on
pandemic. December 7, 2020.
Janet Yellen Gitanjali Rao
US Senate confirmed Janet Yellen as the The Indian-American young scientist
first woman to head the US Treasury on and inventor, Gitanjali Rao, has been
January 25, 2021. named as the first-ever ‘Kid of the Year’
The former chair of the Federal Reserve by the iconic TIME magazine on
and noted economist was approved by December 4, 2020.
the Senate on an 84-15 vote.
She has been named for her
Lloyd Austin ‘astonishing work’ using technology
US Senate confirmed the appointment of to tackle issues ranging from
Retired Army General Lloyd Austin as the contaminated drinking water to
United States (US) Secretary of Defence opioid addiction and cyberbullying.
on January 22, 2021.
With this He is be the first African American BOOKS & AUTHOR
to serve as the Secretary of Defence.
India 2030 : Rise of a Rajasic
Raj Iyer
Nation Book Released
Indian-American Dr Raj Iyer has been
appointed as the first Chief Information ‘India 2030 : The Rise of a Rajasic Nation’
Officer (CIO) of the US Army, since the is a collection of essays by the likes of
creation of the position by the Pentagon Bibek Debroy, Vikram Sood, Raghunath
in July 2020. Anant Mashelkar, Ram Madhav and
David Frawley, among others.
He will direct the execution of policies
and programmes to modernise the US The Commonwealth of Cricket
Army. (Ramachandra Guha)
Avril Haines Indian writer and historian
The US Senate has approved Joe Biden's Ramachandra Guha has come out with
nomination of Avril Haines, making her a book on cricket titled ‘The
the first woman to be Director of National Commonwealth of Cricket : A Lifelong
Intelligence on January 21, 2021. The Love Affair with the Most Subtle and
Senate voted 84-10 to confirm Haines to Sophisticated Game Known to
the post. Humankind’.
Alan Burgess Abdul Kalam- Ninaivugalukku
Alan Burgess, the world’s oldest living Maranamillai Book Released
first-class cricketer, from New Zealand has Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu
passed away at the age of 100 years and released ‘Abdul Kalam- Ninaivugalukku
250 day on January 5, 2021. Maranamillai’, the biography (in Tamil)
He was a right-hand batsman and on former President APJ Abdul Kalam
left-arm spinner. He was a tank driver in at Raj Bhavan in Chennai on January
World War II. 17, 2021.
 28 Current Affairs
Manohar Parrikar – Off The Record Justice Rajindar Sachar
(Waman Subha Prabhu) Autobiography ‘In Pursuit of Justice’
Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Released
released a book titled ‘Manohar Parrikar The autobiography of late Justice
– Off the Record’, written by senior Rajindar Sachar, titled, “In Pursuit of
journalist Shri Waman Subha Prabhu. Justice : An Autobiography”, was
Through this book, the author narrates launched posthumously by Sachar’s
the multi-faceted personality of late family on the occasion of his birth
Parrikar, based on the collection of anniversary on December 29, 2020.
memories held by Waman Prabhu who The book is a story of a great jurist who
happened to be with late Parrikar was an even a greater human being, as
during the journey of his life. he delivered a lot to the society and did
Modi India Calling-2021 Book not allowed politics to cloud his
Released judgments.
A coffee table book titled “Modi India Sutranivednachi Sutra-Ekanbav
Calling – 2021” was released on the eve (Dr. Roopa Chari)
of the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Union Minister ShripadNaik released a
on January 9, 2021. Konkani book titled ‘Sutranivednachi
The 450-page book is filled with over sutra-ekanbav’ on December 27, 2020.
hundreds of photographs of Prime
The book has been written by Dr. Roopa
Minister Narendra Modi from his “107
Chari, a well-known personality in the
overseas and bilateral visits”.
field of Compering in Goa and is
India’s 71-Year Test : The Journey to published by Sanjana Publications.
Triumph in Australia (R. Kaushik)
The Presidential Years
Team India head coach Ravi Shastri
launched a book titled ‘India’s 71-Year Rupa Books announced that the
Test : The Journey to Triumph in memoir, titled ‘The Presidential Years’,
Australia’, at the Sydney Cricket Ground will be globally released in Jan. 2021.
on January 6, 2021. 'The Presidential Years’ is Pranab
The Population Myth : Islam, Family Mukherjee’s fourth volume of memoirs
Planning and Politics in India (SY recollecting the challenges he had to
face during his stint as the President.
Quraishi)
Former Chief Election Commissioner Oh Mizoram (Sreedharan Pillai)
(CEC) SY Quraishi has come out with his Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu
book titled “The Population Myth: Islam, released a book titled ‘Oh Mizoram’
Family Planning and Politics in India”. through video conferencing during an
The book evaluates India’s event organised at New Delhi on
demographics from a religious December 19, 2020.
perspective and seeks to demolish two The book ‘Oh Mizoram’ has been
basic myths that ‘Islam is against family written by the Governor of Mizoram,
planning’ and ‘Muslim rate of growth’ is PS Sreedharan Pillai.
linked to capture political power.
Current Affairs 29

Minister Portfolio
WHO’S WHO Prakash
Javadekar
Environment, Forest and
Climate Change;
President Ram Nath Kovind Information &
Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu Broadcasting; Heavy
Industries and Public
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Enterprise
Cabinet Ministers Prahlad Joshi Parliamentary Affairs;
Coal; Mines
Minister Portfolio
Dr. Mahendra Skill Development and
Rajnath Singh Defence Nath Pandey Entrepreneurship
Amit Shah Home Affairs Giriraj Singh Animal Husbandry,
Nitin Jairam Road Transport and Dairying and Fisheries
Gadkari Highways; Micro, Small Gajendra Singh Jal Shakti
and Medium Enterprises Shekhawat
DV Sadananda Chemicals and Fertilizers
Gowda Ministers of State (Independent Charge)
Nirmala Finance; Corporate Affairs
Minister Portfolio
Sitharaman
Santosh K. Labour and Employment
Narendra Singh Agriculture and Farmers
Gangwar (Independent Charge)
Tomar Welfare; Rural
Development; Rao Inderjit Statistics and Programme
Panchayati Raj; Food Singh Implementation (Independent
Processing Industries Charge); and Planning
(Independent Charge)
Ravi Shankar Law and Justice;
Prasad Communications; Jitendra Development of North Eastern
Electronics and Singh Region (Independent
Information Technology Charge); Prime Minister’s
Office; Personnel, Public
Thaawar Chand Social Justice and Grievances and Pensions;
Gehlot Empowerment Department of Atomic Energy;
Dr. S Jaishankar External Affairs Department of Space
Ramesh Pokhriyal Education Kiren Rijiju Youth Affairs and Sports
‘Nishank’ (Independent Charge);
Arjun Munda Tribal Affairs Minority Affairs; AYUSH
(Independent Charge)
Smriti Zubin Irani Women and Child
Development; Textiles Raj Kumar Power (Independent Charge);
Singh New and Renewable Energy
Dr. Harsh Health and Family (Independent Charge); Skill
Vardhan Welfare; Science and Development and
Technology; Earth Entrepreneurship
Sciences
Prahlad Culture (Independent
Piyush Goyal Railways; Commerce and Singh Patel Charge); Tourism
Industry; Consumer (Independent Charge)
Affairs; Food and Public
Hardeep Housing and Urban Affairs
Distribution
Singh Puri (Independent Charge); Civil
Dharmendra Petroleum and Natural Aviation (Independent Charge);
Pradhan Gas; Steel Commerce and Industry
Mukhtar Abbas Minority Affairs Mansukh Shipping (Independent Charge);
Naqvi Mandaviya Chemicals and Fertilizers
 30 Current Affairs
Ministers of State Governors and Chief Ministers
Minister Portfolio State Governor Chief Minister
Faggansingh Steel Andhra Biswabhusan Jaganmohan
Kulaste Pradesh Harichandan Reddy
Ashwini Kumar Health and Family Welfare Arunachal BD Mishra Pema Khandu
Choubey Pradesh
General (Retd) Road Transport and Assam Jagdish Sarbananda
VK Singh Highways Mukhi Sonowal
Arjun Ram Parliamentary Affairs; Bihar Phagu Chauhan Nitish Kumar
Meghwal Heavy Industries and Chhattisgarh Anusuiya Uikey Bhupesh
Public Enterpris Baghel
Krishan Pal Gurjar Social Justice and Goa Bhagat Pramod
Empowerment Singh Koshyari Sawant
Danve Raosaheb Consumer Affairs, Food Gujarat Acharya Dev Vrat Vijay Rupani
Dadarao and Public Distribution Haryana Satyadev Manohar Lal
G. Kishan Home Affairs Narayan Arya Khattar
Reddy Himachal Bandaru Jai Ram
Parshottam Agriculture and Farmers Pradesh Dattatraya Thakur
Rupala Welfare Jharkhand Droupadi Murmu Hemant Soren
Ramdas Athawale Social Justice and Karnataka Vajubhai R. Vala BS
Empowerment Yediyurappa
Sadhvi Niranjan Rural Development Kerala Arif Mohammed P. Vijayan
Jyoti Khan
Babul Supriyo Environment, Forest and Madhya Anandiben Patel Shivraj Singh
Climate Change Pradesh (Add. Charge) Chauhan
Sanjeev Kumar Animal Husbandry, Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Uddhav
Balyan Dairying and Fisheries Koshyari Thackerey
Anurag Singh Finance; Corporate Affairs Manipur Najma Heptullah N. Biren Singh
Thakur
Meghalaya Satya Pal Conrad
Angadi Suresh Railways Malik Sangma
Channabasappa
Mizoram PS Shreedharan Zoramthanga
Nityanand Rai Home Affairs Pillai
Dhotre Sanjay Education; Nagaland RN Ravi Nephiu Rio
Shamrao Communication;
Odisha Ganeshi Naveen
Electronics and
Lal Patnaik
Information Technology
Punjab VP Singh Amarinder
Rattan Lal Kataria Jal Shakti ; Social Justice
Badnore Singh
& Empowerment
Rajasthan Kalaraj Mishra Ashok Gehlot
V. Muraleedharan External Affairs;
Parliamentary Affairs Sikkim Ganga Prem Singh
Prasad Tamang
Renuka Singh Tribal Affairs
Saruta Tamil Nadu Banwarilal EK Palanisami
Purohit
Som Parkash Commerce and Industry
Tripura Ramesh Biplab Deb
Rameswar Teli Food Processing
Bais
Industries
Telangana Tamilisai K. Chandra-
Pratap Chandra Micro, Small and Medium
Soundararajan shekhar Rao
Sarangi Enterprises; Animal
Husbandry, Dairying and Uttar Anandiben Patel Yogi
Fisheries Pradesh Adityanath
Kailash Agriculture and Farmers Uttarakhand Baby Rani Trivendra
Choudhary Welfare Maurya Singh Rawat
Debasree Women and Child West Bengal Jagdeep Mamata
Chaudhuri Development Dhankhar Banerjee
Current Affairs 31

Note In this book, we were unable to update some new facts. Given below is
the page numberwise updation of such facts.
Page 122 l
PM SVANidhi Scheme was launched on
l
According to India State of Forest Report, 1st June 2020.
2019, the total forest and tree covers l
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar
24.56% of the total land area of the Abhiyaan was launched on 20th June,
country. 2020.
Page 133 l
One Nation, One Ration Card scheme is
l
The NH 548 which is of 5 km in length, is scheduled to implemented by 1st June,
Shortest National Highway in India. 2020.
l
Amongst the states, Maharashtra has the Page 197
largest length of National Highways in the l
At present, there are 14 Navratnas.
country followed by Uttar Pradesh. Page 198
l
In October, 2020 world’s longest highway l
At present, there are 62 Miniratna-I and
tunnel (Atal Tunnel) was inaugurated. Its 12 Miniratna-II.
length is 9.02 km. It connect Manali with
Lahaul-Spiti. Classification of MSMES
Page 134 Manufacturing and Services
l
The Government of India on 5th February, (1st July 2020)
2020 gave approval for construction of Micro Small Medium
greenfield major port at Vadhavan in
Maharashtra. Investment < ` 1 cr < ` 10 cr < ` 50 cr
Turnover < ` 5 cr < ` 50 cr < ` 250 cr
Page 143
Wildlife Conservation in India Page 204
Project Dolphin 2020
l
Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank merged with
Bank of Baroda (BoB) on 1st April, 2019.
Project Asiatic Lion 2020 l
In April, 2020, government has merged
Page 179 Indian Bank with Allahabad Bank,
l
The 104th Amendment 2020 extended the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) and
reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the United Bank of India was merged with
Lok Sabha and State Legislative Punjab National Bank.
Assemblies by 10 years. However, it
discontinued the reservation of seats to Page 207 & 208
Anglo-Indian community in Lok Sabha and At present, both IMF and World Bank
l

State Legislatives. have 190 members each.

Page 190 The 12th WTO Conference is scheduled
l

l
Public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface to be held in Nur-Sultan (Kazakhstan)
(PM-WANI) was launched on 9th in 2021.
December 2020. Page 262
l
Kisan Suryodaya Yojana was launched on COVID-19 It is caused by Novel Corona
l

24th October 2020. Virus. It affected the respiratory system.

l
Ghar Tak Fibre Scheme was launched on Its symptoms are fever, dry cough,
21st September 2020. tiredness, aches, pains, nasal congestion,
l
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat,
(PMMSY) was launched on 10th diarrhoea, loss of taste or smell or a rash
September 2020. on skin or discoloration of fingers or
toes.
 32 Current Affairs
Page 270 Monika Batra (Table Tennis) and
l
Param Siddhi super computer was Mariyappan Thangavelu (Para athlete)
developed in India in 2020 byCDAC. were awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
Award.
Page 275 l
Arjun Award carries a cash prize of
l
Toman is the currency of Iran. ` 15 lakh.
Page 276 l
Dronacharya Award carries cash prize of
l
Sugar Bowl of the World in located in ` 10 lakh.
Cuba. l
In 2020, Dharmendra Tiwari (Archery),
Page 293 Purushottam Rai (Athletics), Shiv Singh
l
At present, there are 3 functional reactors (Boxing), Romesh Pathania (Hockey),
in Kakrapar Nuclear Power Station Krishan Kumar Hooda (Kabaddi), Vijay
(Gujarat), 5 functional reactors in Bhalchandra Munishwar (Power lifting),
Rawatbhata Nuclear Power Station Naresh Kumar (Tennis) and Prakash
(Rajasthan) and 2 functional reactors in Dahiya (Wrestling) were awarded.
Kudankulan Nuclear Power Station (Tamil l
Dhyanchand Award carries a cash prize of
Nadu). ` 10 lakh.
l
There are now 22 operating nuclear l
Kuldip Singh Bhullar (Athletics), Jincy
power reactors (two boiling water
reactors and twenty PHWRs (Pressurised Philips (Athletics), Pradeep Shrikrishna
Heavy Water Reactors) with a total Gandhe (Badminton), Trupti Murgunde
installed capacity of 6780 MW. (Badminton), N Usha (Boxing), Lakha
Singh (Boxing), Sukhvinder Singh Sandhu
Page 295
(Football), Ajit Pal Singh (Hockey),
l
EOS-01/RISAT-2BR2 It was launched on Manpreet Singh (Kabaddi), J Ranjith
7th November, 2020 through PSLV-DL Kumar (Para Athletics), Satyaprakash
C49 from Sriharikota. It is an Earth Tiwari (Para Badminton), Manjeet Singh
observational satellite. (Rowing), Sachin Nag (Swimming),
l
CMS-01/GSAT-12R It was launched on Nandan P Bal (Tennis) and Netarpal
17th December, 2020 through PSLV-XL Hooda (Wrestling) were awarded
C50 from Sriharikota. It is a Dhyanchand Award for 2020.
communication satellite.
Page 314
Page 297 l
The Commonwealth (London)
l
Dar Yasin, Mukhtar Khan and Channi Organisation has 54 members.
Anand (Photography) won Pulitzer Prize
in 2020. Page 316
l
The 2022 winter olympic will be held in
Page 298 Beijing, China.
l
In 2020, Man Booker International Prize is l
Tokyo, will host 2020 summer olympic
given to Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (Dutch) (postponed) to 2021 due to COVID-19
for the book Discomfort of Evening. pandemic.
l
The 2020 Miss India event was postponed
due to COVID-19 pandemic. Page 318
ICC Twenty-20 Cricket World Cup 2021 is
l

Page 301 scheduled to be held in India.

l
The prize money in Rajiv Gandhi Khel
Ratna Award has been increased from Page 319
` 7.5 lakh to ` 25 lakh. The 15th Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023,
l

l
In 2020, Rohit Sharma (Cricket), Vinesh will be held at the Kalinga Stadium in
Phogat (Wrestling), Rani Rampal (Hockey), Bhubaneswar and in Rourkela, Odisha.
 INDIAN
HISTORY
ANCIENT INDIA
PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD l
The people of the Palaeolithic and
Mesolithic ages practised painting.
l
The artefacts from Bori in Maharashtra
suggest the appearance of early human l
Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, is a
beings in India around 1.4 million striking site of pre-historic painting of
years ago. Mesolithic age.
l
Early humans used tools of stone. This
period is therefore, known as the Stone The Neolithic Age (6000-1800
Age, which has been divided into BC)
The Palaeolithic or Old Stone Age l
The people of this age used tools and
The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age
implements of polished stone. They
The Neolithic or New Stone Age
particularly used stone axes.
The Chalcolithic Age or Stone-copper Age l
It is interesting that in Burzahom
The Palaeolithic Age (kashmir), domestic dogs were buried
with their masters in their graves.
(5,00,000-9000 BC) l
First use of hand made pottery and
l
Palaeolithic men were hunters and food potter wheel appears during the
gatherers. Neolithic age. The men lived in caves
l
They had no knowledge of agriculture, or and decorated their walls with hunting
pottery and lived in cave and rock shelters. and dancing scenes.
l
They used tools of unpolished, rough l
Neolithic settlers were earliest farming
stones. Therefore they are also called
Quartzite men. communities. They produced barley,
l
Homo Sapiens first appeared in the last gram and ragi. They domesticated
phase of this period. cattle, sheeps and goats. They wove
l
This age is further divided into three cotton and wool to make clothes.
phases : Lower, Middle and Upper l
Main Neolithic sites in India include
Palaeolithic. According to the nature of Burzahom, Machragarh, Daojali
the stone tools used by the people and the Hading, Chirand, Maski, Brahmagiri,
changes in the climate and environment. Hallur, Piklihal, Utnoor, Nagarjuna
konda and paiyampalli.
The Mesolithic Age (9000-6000
BC) The Chalcolithic Age
l
It was a transitional phase between the (1800BC-1000 BC)
Palaeolithic Age and the Neolithic Age. l
Chalcolithic culture was based on use of
l
In this age, the climate became warm and
tools made of stone and copper. Copper
dry which brought about changes in
fauna and flora and made it possible for was the first metal to be used by man.
human beings to move to new areas. l
Important Chalcolithic sites in India are
l
The Mesolithic people lived on hunting, Ahar, Kayatha, Malwa, Eran, Rangpur,
fishing and food-gathering. At a later Navdatoli, Nevasa, Daimabad and
stage, they also domesticated animals. Inamgaon.
 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION

l
Indus Valley Civilisation is one of the four TOWN-PLANNING
earliest civilisations of the world alongwith
the civilisations of Mesopotamia (Tigris and
l
A common feature was the grid
Euphrates), Egypt (Nile) and China (Hwang system i.e. streets cutting across one
Ho). another at right angles, dividing the
town into large rectangular blocks.
l
The Civilisation forms a part of the
proto-history of India and belongs to the
l
The towns were divided into two
Bronze age. parts: the Upper part or Citadel and
the Lower part.
l
In its mature form, the civilisation lasted
between 2600-1750 BC.
l
Underground drainage system
connected all houses to the street
l
Dayaram Sahni first discovered Harappa in drains, made up of mortar, lime and
1921. RD Bannerjee discovered gypsum. They were covered with
Mohenjodaro or ‘Mound of the Dead’ in either brick or stone slabs and
1922. equipped with manholes. This shows
It can be divided into the following sub-parts a developed sense of health and
sanitation.
■
Early Phase – 3500-2600 BC
■
Middle (mature) Phase – 2600-1900 BC
l
The Great Bath (Mohenjodaro) It
was used for religious bathing. Steps
■
Later Phase – 1900-1400 BC
at either end lead to the surface.
There were changing rooms
NOMENCLATURE alongside.
l
Indus Valley Civilisation, coined by John
l
The Granaries (Harappa) 6 granaries
Marshall, as it flourished along the Indus in a row were found in the Citadel at
Harappa.
river.
l
Houses were made up of burnt
l
Harappan Civilisation named after the first
bricks.
discovered site, Harappa.
l
Lamp-posts were erected at regular
l
Saraswati-Sindhu Civilisation, as most of
intervals. It indicates the existence of
the sites have been found along the
street lighting.
Indus-Saraswati river.

Indus Cities At a Glance

City Province River Bank Year of Archaeologist
Discovery
Harappa Pakistani Punjab Ravi 1921 DR Sahni
Mohenjodaro Sind Indus 1922 RD Bannerjee
Chanhudaro Sind Indus 1931 MG Majumdar
Sutkagendor Baluchistan Dasht 1931 Aurel Stein
Rangpur Gujarat Meedar 1931 MS Vats
Ropar Indian Punjab Sutlej 1953 YD Sharma
Lothal Gujarat Bhogava 1953 SR Rao
Kalibangan Rajasthan Ghaggar 1951 A Ghosh
Dholavira Kachchh (Gujarat) Luni 1967-68 JP Joshi
Banawali Haryana Ghaggar 1973 RS Bisht
Alamgirpur Uttar Pradesh Hindon 1974 YD Sharma
Rakhigarhi Haryana Ghaggar 1997 Amrendra Nath
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 3

Terracotta Figurines Terracotta means

AGRICULTURE l

the fire baked clay. It was used to make

l
Agriculture was the backbone of the toys, objects of worship, animals,
civilisation. The soil was fertile due to toy-carts, etc.
inundation in the river Indus.
l
They used wooden ploughshare TRADE
(ploughed field from Kalibangan) and l
Agriculture, industry and forest provided
stone sickles for harvesting.
the basis for internal and external trade.
l
Crops produced were wheat, barley, l
Trade was based on barter system. Coins
dates, peas, sesamum, mustard, millet,
are not evident. Bullock carts and boats
ragi, bajra and jowar. At Lothal and
were used for transportation.
Rangpur, rice husks were found.
Sugarcane was not known to the Indus
people. Towns and Trade
l
They were first to produce cotton in the Daimabad Bronze industry.
world, which Greeks called as Sindon. Lothal Factory for stone tools and
A fragment of woven cotton cloth was metallic finished goods.
found at Mohenjodaro. Balakot Pearl finished goods,
bangle and shell industry.
DOMESTICATION OF Chanhudaro Beads and Bangles factory. It
ANIMALS was the only city without a
citadel.
l
They domesticated buffaloes, oxens,
sheep, asses, goats, pigs, elephants, dogs, l
Weights and measures were made of
cats etc. limestone, steatite etc. Generally in
l
Camel bones are reported at Kalibangan weighing mostly 16 or its multiples were
and remains of horse are discovered used.
from Surkotada. Remains of Rhinoceros l
Foreign trade flourished with
are found from Amri. Mesopotamia or Sumeria (Iraq), Central
Asia, Persia, Afghanistan and Bahrain.
ART AND CRAFTS Major Imports
l
Harappans used tools made of stone and
bronze. However iron was not known to Imports From
them. Bronze was made by mixing Gold Kolar (Karnataka),
copper (from Khetri) with tin. Afghanistan, Persia (Iran)
l
Boat making, jewellery of gold, silver Silver Afghanistan, Persia (Iran),
precious stone and bead making was South India
practised. Cotton fabrics were used in Copper Khetri (Rajasthan)
summer and woollens in winter. Baluchistan, Arabia
l
Pottery Both plain and painted (red and Tin Afghanistan, Central Asia
black) pottery was made. Pots were
Lapis Lazuli Badak-Shan (Afghanistan)
decorated with human figures, plants,
and Sapphire
animals and geometrical patterns.
Jade Central Asia
l
Metal Images Bronze image of a
dancing girl (identified as devdasi) and Steatite Shahr-i-Sokhta, Kirthar Hills
stone steatite image of a bearded man Amethyst Maharashtra
were both obtained from Mohenjodaro.
 4 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

RELIGIOUS DECLINE OF THE

PRACTICES CIVILISATION
l
Chief Female Diety A terracotta The Harappan culture flourished upto 1800
figurine, where a plant is shown BC, then it began to decline. There is no
growing out of the embryo of a unanimity among historians regarding the
woman and represents the mother reason for decline of this urban civilisation.
Goddess (Goddess of Earth). There are many different theories by the
l
Chief Male Diety Pashupati thinkers, that shows the decline of the Indus
Mahadeva (Proto-Siva), represented culture.
in seals, sitting in a yogic posture on Decline of Indus Civilisation
a throne and having three faces and Different Views
two horns. He is surrounded by an
elephant, a tiger, a rhino and a Views Thinkers
buffalo, and two deers appear at his External Aggression Wheeler, Piggot and
feet. Gordon-Childe
l
Indus people believed in ghosts and Inundation MR Sahani
evil forces and used amulets for Epidemic KVR Kennedy
protection against them. Fire altars Tectonic Disturbances Marshall and Raikes
are found at Lothal and Kalibangan. (e.g. Dholavira)
l
No temples have been found at any Sudden Decline Wheeler
Harappan sites. Climatic Change Aurel Stein and
l
Swastika symbol was originated here. AN Ghosh
Deforestation, Scarcity of Fairservis
SCRIPT Resources, Ecological
Imbalances
l
It was pictographic in nature. Fish Flood (e.g. Marshall, SR Rao,
symbol is the most represented. Mohenjodaro) Maickey
It was written from right to left in the The Destruction due to GF Holes
first line. The style is called Change in course of
Boustrophedon. River Ghaggar

Important Harappan Sites

Site Archaeological Finds
Harappa Two rows of six granaries with brick platform, work men’s quarter, stone
(Gateway city) symbol of lingam and yoni, virgin-Goddess (seal), clay figures of mother
Goddess, wheat and barley in wooden mortar, copper scale and mirror,
vanity box, dice. Sculpture of dog chasing a deer (bronze) nude male and
nude dancing female (stone), sand stone male torso.
Mohenjodaro The great bath, the great granary (largest building), multipillared assembly
(Mound of the hall, college, proto-Shiva seal, clay figures of mother Goddess, dice.
Dead) Sculpture Bronze dancing girl, steatite image of bearded man.
Kalibangan Decorated bricks, bangle factory, wheels of a toy cart, wells from every
(Black Bangle) ploughed field house. Bones of camel, 7-fire altars.
Chanhudaro Inkpot, lipstick, imprint of dog’s paw on a brick, only city without citadel,
(Lancashire of India) bronze toy cart, Terracotta bullock cart.
Daimabad Bronze images of Charioteer with chariot ox; elephants and rhinoceros.
Amri Actual remains of rhinoceros.
Alamgirpur Impression of cloth on a trough.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 5

Site Archaeological Finds

Lothal (Manchester Rice husk, fire altars, dockyard, grinding machine, tusks of elephant,
of Indus Valley terracotta figure of horse, dying vat, painted jar (bird and fox), teracotta ship,
Civilisation) impressions of cloth on some seals, modern day chess, instrument for
measuring angles.
Ropar Buildings made of stone and soil. Dog buried with human, oval pit burials.
Banawali Oval shaped settlement, only city with radial streets, lack of systematic
drainage pattern.
Toy plough, largest number of barley grains.
Surkotada Both Citadel and Lower Town fortified with stone wall,
First actual remains of horse bones,
pot burials.
Dholavira Only site to be divided into 3 parts. Giant water reservoir; unique water
harnessing system; dams and embankments; a stadium; rock-cut
architecture.
Rakhigarhi largest Indus valley site.

THE ARYANS AND THE VEDIC AGE

l
The word Aryan literally means of high l
Cow was the standard unit of exchange.
birth. The location of the original Gold coins like Nishka, Krishna and
homeland of the Aryans is still Satmana were in use. Godhuli was used
controversial, but the most accepted as a measure of time and Gavyuti as
theory is that they migrated from Central measure of distance.
Asia and settled in the place which is
known as the land of seven rivers.
Rivers mentioned in the Rigveda
l
This theory was given by Max Muller. Rigvedic Name Modern Name
Sindhu Indus
RIGVEDIC PERIOD Vitasta Jhelum
(1500-1000 BC) Asikni Chenab

Early Vedic people lived in the region of Parushni Ravi

Sapta Sindhu. They had knowledge of about Vipas Beas
40 rivers including Yamuna, Saraswati and Sutudri Sutlej
Ganga. Ocean was mentioned as Samudra. Gomati Gomal
Himalaya as Himvant, Hindukush as
Munjavant and desert as Dhawa. Krumu Kurram
Drishadvati Ghaggar
Economy Suvastu Swat
l
Aryans possessed better knowledge in Kubha Kabul
agriculture. Ploughshare is mentioned in
Nandi tara Saraswati
the Rigveda. It was made up of wood and
was drawn by the ox. They were Sadanira Gandak
acquainted with sowing, harvesting,
threshing and knew about different Rigvedic Gods
seasons. l
Rigvedic people believed in nature
l
The term ‘ayas’ used for copper or worship, and not in erecting temples or
bronze shows that metal working was idol worship. They performed Yajnas in
known open areas.
 6 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

l
Soma was considered to be the God of l
Society was mostly Patriarchal.
plants and an intoxicating drink was Monogamy was prevalent. No evidence
named after him. The 9th mandala of of child marriage. Levirate and widow
Rigveda, i.e. Soma Mandala is attributed remarriage was practised.
to Soma.
l
Some female divinities were Aditi and The Dasarajna War
Usha (Goddess of Dawn). (Battle of ten Kings)
Gods and their Concerned Fields
■
This battle was fought on the banks of
Parushni River (Ravi). Sudas, the son of
God Concern Field(s) Divodas and the Bharata king of Tritsu family
Agni Fire God won over an alliance of ten tribes (5 Aryans
Varuna Water God and upholder of natural and 5 non-Aryans).
order ■
The battle broke out due to a dispute
Surya God with 7 horses-driven chariot between Vashistha (priest of Bharatas) and
Savitri God of light to whom Gayatri Visvamitra (priest of Alliance).
Mantra is addressed
Mitra
Pushan
Solar God
God of marriage, also guarded
LATER VEDIC PERIOD
roads and cattle (1000-600 BC)
Vishnu One who covered Earth in three
steps-Upakrama
l
Aryans expanded from Punjab to
Western UP, covered by Ganga-Yamuna
Rudra God of animals
Doab (Aryavrata).
Dyaus Oldest God and Father of the World l
Later Vedic texts refer to rivers
Ashwin/ God of health, youth and
Nastya immortality
Narmada, Sadanira Chambal and
Vindhya mountains. They gave 3 fold
Sindhu River Goddess
territorial division of India into
Yama God of death Aryavarta (Northern India),
Maruts Personified storm Madhyadesa (Central India) and
Usha Goddess of dawn Dakshinapatha (Southern India).
Aditi Goddess of eternity l
The expansion towards the East is
indicated in the legend of Satapatha
Polity Brahmana i.e., how Videha Madhava
l
The King or Rajan was the head of the migrated from the Saraswati region,
tribal polity. Although his post was crossed Sadanira and came to the land
hereditary, we have also some traces of of Videha (modern Tirhut).
election by the tribal assembly called
Samiti. Political Organisation
l
The Samiti was the National Assembly of l
Formation of large kingdoms. Tribal
the people; while the Sabha was the assemblies lost their importance and royal
Council of Elders. power increased at their cost. Vidhata
l
King was assisted by many functionaries. totally disappeared. Women were no
Most important is the Purohita, the longer permitted to attend assemblies.
religious advisor of the king, followed by l
The term Rashtra indicating territory,
the Senani, the head of the army. first appeared in this period.
l
Taittariya Brahmana refers to the
Society theory of divine origin of kingship.
l
Kinship was the basis of society’s l
Satapatha Brahmana refers to
structure. People gave their primary 12 Ratninas or civil functionaries of the
loyalty to the tribe, which was called time.
Jana or Vis. Vis was divided into grama. l
There was a development of the
When grama clashed with one another, it judiciary. Kings administered the
caused the Sangrama meaning war. criminal court.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 7

12 Ratninas (Satapatha Brahmin) l

New occupational groups emerged such
as fishermen, washermen, dyers,
Purohita The Priest door-keepers and footmen.
Mahishi The Queen l
Tin, silver and iron was now known to the
Yuvraj Crown Prince people.
Suta/Sarathi The Royal Herald/The l
Merchants were organised into Guilds, as
Charioteer
indicated by the terms Ganas (corporations)
Bhagadugha Collector of Taxes
and Sresthins (eldermen).
Akshavapa Courier l
Characteristic pottery : Painted Grey
Palagala Friend of King Ware.
Govikarta Head of Forest Department
Senani The General THE VEDIC
Gramani Head of the Village
Kshata Gateman/Chamberlain
LITERATURE
Sangrahitri Treasurer l
The word Veda comes from the word Vid
meaning to know or knowledge.
Social Organisation l
Vedic texts are divided between sruti
l
The four-fold division of society become (based on hearing) and smriti (based on
more clear, initially based on occupation memory).
and later became hereditary. l
Vedas are divided into Samhitas.
l
Brahmin The growing cult of sacrifice
enormously added to the power of Rigveda
Brahmins. Oldest religious text in the world. Collection
l
Kshatriyas They constituted the of hymns, composed around 1700 BC
warrior class. contains 1028 hymns and 10580 verses and
l
Vaishyas They were the agriculturists, is divided into 10 mandalas. The last
mandala contains the Purushasukta hymn
cattle rearers, traders, artisans and
which mention four Varnas. Saraswati is
metal workers.
the deity river in the Rig Veda.
l
Shudras Lowest in the social
hierarchy and born to serve the upper Samaveda
three varnas.
Samaveda derives its root from saman,
l
The Ashrama system developed in this which means melodies. It is a collection of
period and the position of women melodies. The hymns of the Samaveda were
declined as compared to what was in the recited by Udgatri. It contains Dhrupad
Rigvedic age. Raga.

Religion Yajurveda
l
Rituals became important in the cult of Deals with the procedure for the
sacrifice. performance of sacrifice. The beliefs and
l
Prajapati became the supreme God. rituals of non-Aryan are written in it.
Vishnu was conceived as the preserver
and protector of the people. Atharvaveda
l
Pushan, responsible for well being of It is a book of magical formula. It contains
cattle, became the God of Shudras. charms and spells toward off evils and
l
Towards the end of the Vedic age, a diseases.
section of society began to resent
priestly domination. Brahmanas
l
These are the prose commentaries on
Economy various Vedic hymns. They explain Vedas
l
Agriculture became the chief economic in an orthodox way. They explain the
activity. Main crops were wheat, rice, hidden meaning behind the hymns. They
barley and beans. are ritualistic by nature.
 8 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

The most important is the Satapatha Shad-Darshana

Brahmana attached to Yajurveda.
Six system of philosophies, given by six
Rigveda : Aitareya and Kaushitiki
philosophers of ancient India.
Yajurveda : Shatapatha and Taittariya l
Nyaya (analysis) Gautama
Samveda : Jaiminaya and chhandogya l
Vaisesika (logic) Kannada
Atharva Veda : Gopatha
l
Sankhya (enumeration) Kapila
The Aranyakas l
Yoga (application) Patanjali
The sages dwelling is the forest explained l
Purva Mimansa (enquiry) Jaimini
the vedic scriptures to their pupils in the l
Uttara Mimansa (vedanta) Badarayana
form of Aranyakas. This has magical
power and they form the concluding part Sutras
of the Brahmanas.
Sutra literature is divided into three
The Upanishada classes–Srauta Sutra (dealing with large
public sacrifice), Griha Sutra (dealing with
l
Also called Vedanta, because they rituals connected with birth, naming,
denote the last phase of the Vedic marriage) and Dharma Sutra (explain social
period (800-500 BC). and local customs).
l
They are spiritual and philosophical in
nature. Puranas
l
There are 108 Upanishadas. l
Puranas means ‘the old’. There are 18
Vrihadaranyaka is the oldest famous puranas. Matsya purana is the
Upanishad. oldest. Puranas deals with 5 subjects :
Sarga (creation); Pratisarga (recreation);
Vedangas Wansa (Genealogies of Gods); Manvantara
They are the limbs of the Vedas. These are (rule of Manus); and Wamshanucharita
treatises on Science and Arts. (Genealogies of kings).
1. Shiksha (deals with
pronounciation) Epic
2. Kalpa (deals with rituals) l
The Mahabharata, written by Ved Vyas, is
3. Vyakarana (grammar) older than the Ramayana. Originally,
4. Nirukta (etymology) Mahabharata consisted of 880 verses, then
5. Chhanda (metrics) it was raised to 24000 verses.
6. Jyotisha (astronomy) l
Ramayana written by Valmiki, originally
l
Panini wrote Ashtadhyayi (4th consisted 6000 verses, which was raised to
century BC) on Vyakarana (grammar). 12000 and finally 24000 verses.

Upavedas Smritis
There are four Upavedas l
Dharma Shastra is the other name for
Dhanurveda (Upaveda of Yajurveda) smritis, which are the law books written in
deals with the art of warfare. sloka form. The important smritis are
Gandharvaveda (Upaveda of Manav Dharma Shastra, Vishnu Dharma
Samaveda) deals with art and music. Shastra, Yajnavalkya Smriti and Narada
Smriti.
Shilpaveda (Upaveda of Atharvaveda)
deals with architecture.
l
Manav Dharma Shastra or Manusmriti is
Ayurveda (Upaveda of Rigveda) deals the oldest and most famous. Manu is
with medicine. supposed to be the first King and law maker.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

PRE-MAURYAN AGE
l
The material advantages brought about by l
Mahajanapadas were of two types
the use of the iron implements in Eastern Non-monarchial Republican States
UP and Bihar in 6th century BC, helped Kamboj, Kuru, Koliyas (Ramgrama),
in the formation of large territorial states. Malla, Moriya (Pipplivana), Shakya
l
Use of iron tools in agriculture produced (Kapilvastu), Vajji, Panchal, Lichchhavis
surplus. (Vaishali), Bhaggas (Sumsumasa),
Kalamas (Kesaputta), Videhas (Mithila),
l
Thus, many Janapadas sprung up in 6th Jnatrikas (Kundalgrama).
century BC, the larger of which were called Monarchial States Anga, Avanti, Chedi,
Mahajanapadas. Kashi, Kosala, Gandhara, Magadh,
Matsya, Surasenas, Vatsa.
THE MAHAJANAPADAS ■
Asmaka was the Southernmost
l
The Anguttara Nikaya of Suttapitaka Mahajanapada.
and Mahavastu (Buddhist literature) and ■
Vatsa was earlier a Kuru clan.
Bhagavati Sutta (Jain literature) ■
Vajji was a confederacy of eight republican
mentions the list of the clans.
16 Mahajanapadas. ■
Lichchhavis are said to be the oldest
l
People now owned stronger allegiance to republic in the World.
the janapada or territory, than the Jana or
tribe they belonged to.

Mahajanapadas and their Capitals

Mahajanapadas (Location) Capital(s)
Gandhara (Between Kabul and Rawalpindi) Taxila
Anga (Bhagalpur and Mungher district of Bihar) Champa
Magadha (Patna and Gaya district of Bihar) Girivrajs, Rajagriha (Bimbisara);
Pataliputra (Udayin); Vaishali
(Shishunaga); Pataliputra (Ashok)
Kashi (Varanasi district, UP) Varanasi
Vajji (Vaishali district, Bihar) Vaishali
Malla (South of Vaishali district, UP) Kushinagara and Pava
Chedi (River Ken) (Bundelkhand area) Suktimati or Sotthivati
Vatsa (River Yamuna) (Allahabad and Mirzapur Kaushambi
district in UP)
Kosala (Eastern UP) Sravasti and Ayodhaya (Saket)
Kuru (Ganga Yamuna doab) Hastinapur and Indraprastha
(Delhi-Meerut region)
Panchala (Ganga-Yamuna doab) (Rohilkhand) Ahichhatra, Kampilya
Matsya (Jaipur-Bharatpur-Alwar district) Viratnagar/Bairath
Surasenas (Mathura region) Mathura
Assaka/Asmaka (River Godavari) (Near Paithan in Potali/Poddana/Potana
Maharashtra)
Avanti (Malwa) Ujjain (Northern capital), Mahishmati
(Southern capital)
Kamboj (Hazara district of Pakistan) Rajapur or Hataka
 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

MAGADHA EMPIRE
l
The period from the 6th century BC to SHISHUNAGA DYNASTY
4th century BC saw the struggle for (412-344 BC)
supremacy among the four
Mahajanapadas-Magadha, Kosala, Shishunaga
Vatsa and Avanti. He was the minister of Nag-Dasak and was
l
Ultimately, Magadha emerged as the elected by the people. He temporarily shifted
most powerful and prosperous kingdom the capital to Vaishali.
in North India. The greatest achievement of the
l
The founders of Magadha were Shishunagas was the destruction of the
Jarasandha and Brihadratha. But the power of Avanti with its capital at Ujjain.
actual growth started under the
Haryankas and its expansion took Kalasoka
place under the Sisunagas and He transferred the capital from Vaishali to
Nandas and reached its zenith under Pataliputra and convened the second
the Mauryas. Buddhist Council in Vaishali (383 BC).

HARYANKA DYNASTY Nanda Dynasty (344-323 BC)

It is considered to be the first non-Kshatriya
Bimbisara (544-492 BC) dynasty.
l
He built the capital city Rajgir
(Girivraja). He was contemporary to Mahapadamananda
Gautam Buddha and the first king to l
The great conqueror and founder of the
have a standing army, for which he is dynasty, also known as Ekarat,
known as Seniya. Eka-chhatra (sovereign ruler). He is also
l
His three wives belonged to the royal described as ‘‘the first empire builder of
family of Koshala (Mahakosaladevi), Indian History.’’
Lichchhavi (Chellana) and Madra clan l
He conquered Koshala and Kalinga (from
of Punjab (Khema). here, he brought an image of the Jina as
l
He sent his personal physician, Jivaka to victory trophy).
his rival Avanti king Chandapradyota
Mahasena of Ujjain to cure him of
Dhanananda
jaundice. (The last Nanda ruler)
l
Alexander invaded North-Western India
Ajatashatru (492-460 BC) during his reign (326 BC), but the huge
l
He was the son of Chellana and army of Dhanananda deterred Alexander
Bimbisara. He occupied the throne by from advancing towards the Gangetic
killing his father. Valley.
l
He defeated his maternal uncle l
He is probably referred as Agrammes or
Prasenjit, king of Kosala. He destroyed Xandrames in the Greek texts.
Vaishali after a protracted war of 16 l
Chandragupta Maurya assisted by
years. Kautilya overthrew DhanaNanda to
l
He patronised the First Buddhist establish the Mauryan dynasty.
Council and Buddha died during his
reign.
Pre-Mauryan Society
Division of society into four classes
Udayin (460-444 BC) necessitated the formation of
Dharmasutras. Shudras were illtreated,
He built the new capital city Pataliputra.
restrictions were imposed on women and
Udayin was succeeded by weak rulers
Anuruddha, Munda and Naga-Dasak. Dharmasutras condemned the Vaishyas for
lending money.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 11

Pre-Mauryan Economy RELIGIOUS

Agricultural production increased. Varihi
and Sali were new varieties of rice. Karisa,
ENVIRONMENT
Nivartan and Kulyavapa were units of l
The 6th century BC was the period of
land measurement. great religious upheaval or intellectual
revolution of the various sects that
FOREIGN INVASIONS emerged in this period. Jainism and
Iranian Invasion Buddhism were the most prominent. This
marked the beginning of Second
l
Cyrus of Persia was the first foreign
Urbanisation in India, also known as the
conqueror, who penetrated well into
age of the Buddha.
India. He destroyed the city of Capisa. He
enrolled Indian soldiers in the Persian Immediate Causes for the Rise of
army.
Hetrodox Sects
l
His successors, Darius I and Xerxes
invaded North-West India in 516 BC.
■
Division of the society into 4 varnas.
■
Reaction of the Kshatriyas to the Brahmins
Alexander’s Invasion supremacy.
l
Alexander, the king of Macedonia
■
The desire of the Vaishyas to improve their
conquered Kabul in 328 BC. He moved to social position, with increase in their
India through the unguarded Khyber pass. economic position.
l
Ambhi, the ruler of Taxila, readily
■
To preserve cattle wealth.
submitted to Alexander. He got the first ■
Desire to go back to simple life. The use of
and strongest resistance from Porus. Sanskrit in Vedic texts was not
Alexander defeated Porus in the Battle of understandable to the masses.
Hydaspes on the bank of River Vitasta
(Jhelum), but was impressed by his
bravery, so he restored to Porus his
JAINISM
kingdom and made himself his ally. l
It was founded by Rishabhnath, (emblem
l
After the Battle of Sakala, Alexander -bull) the first Tirthankara (guru).
proceeded upto Beas with a view to l
The 23rd Tirthankara was Parsavanath
conquer the East, but his fatigued army (symbol-serpent). He was the Prince of
refused to cross the river. Banaras, who had abandoned the
l
So, he was forced to retreat. He placed throne, and led the life of a hermit. He
the North-Western India under the died at Sammet Sikhar/Parasanath Hill
Greek Governor Selucus Nikator. in Giridih district of Jharkhand.
l
He remained in India for 19 months l
The 24th Tirthankara was Vardhaman
(326-325 BC) and died in Babylon Mahavira (emblem-lion).
(323 BC), at the age of 33 years.
Life of Mahavira
Impacts of Invasion l
Birth Born to Siddhartha (Jnatrika
l
Iranian contact gave an impetus to clan) and Trishla (Lichchhavi
Indo-Iranian trade. Princess) in 540 BC at Kundagram near
l
There was a cultural exchange in the Vaishali in Bihar.
form of Kharoshthi script, from Iran to l
Wife Yashoda
India and also in the use of bell shaped
capitals in sculpture.
l
Daughter Priyadarsana
l
Opening of new trade routes between
l
Son-in-law Jamali
North-West India and Western Asia.
l
Renunciation At the age of 30
l
Indians learnt from the Greeks in the
l
Kaivalya Perfect knowledge at the
field of coinage, astronomy, architecture age of 42, under a sal
tree at Jimbhikgrama.
and sculpture (Gandhara School).
l
First Sermon At Pava, to eleven
l
Establishment of many Greek
disciples known as
settlements in Kabul and Sind. Ganddharas.
 12 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

l
Death, at the age of 72 in 468 BC, at Five Instruments of
Pavapuri near Rajagriha.
l
Titles Jina or Jitendriya (one who Knowledge
conquered his senses); Kevalin l
Mati Jnana Perception through activity of
(perfect learned), Arihant (blessed sense organs, including the brain.
one) and Mahavira (the brave). l
Avadhi Jnana Clairvoyant perception.
l
Shruta Jnana Knowledge revealed by
Teachings of Mahavira scriptures.
l
Rejected the authority of the Vedas and l
Manparyay Jnana Telepathic knowledge.
did not believe in the existence of God. l
Keval Jnana Omniscience or Temporal
l
Strict non-violence. knowledge.
l
Attainment of salvation by believing in
penance and dying of starvation. Sects of Jainism
l
Universal brotherhood (equality) and l
After the death of Mahavira, during the
non-belief in Caste System. He reign of the king Chandragupta Maurya, a
believed in karma and transmigration severe famine led to a great exodus of
of soul. Jaina monks, from Ganga valley to the
deccan.
Jaina Philosophy l
Bhadrabahu, who led the emigrants,
Syadavada It is the theory of ‘may be’ insisted on the retention of the rule of
and seven modes of prediction are nudity, which led to the establishment of
possible. the Digambaras.
Anekantavada It is the theory of l
Sthulabhadra, the leader of the monk,
plurality and states that reality has who remained in the North allowed his
multiple aspects. followers to wear white garments
Three Ratnas (Way to Nirvana) —Svetambaras.
l
Right faith — Samyak Vishwas
l
Right knowledge — Samyak Gyan Jaina’s Literature
l
Right conduct — Samyak Acharan
l
Sacred texts of Jainism were compiled in
6th century A D at Vallabhi. Mostly written
Panch Mahavratas
in Prakrit language.
(Five Cardinal Principles for monks)
l
6 classes of Jain literature :
l
Ahimsa (Non-injury)
(i) 12 Angas
l
Satya (Non-lying)
(ii) 12 Upangas
l
Asteya (Non-stealing)
(iii) 10 Parikarnas
l
Aparigraha (Non-possession)
(iv) 6 Chhedasutras
l
Brahmacharya (Observing continence) (v) 4 Mulasutras
Anuvratas For Householders. (vi) 2 Sutragranthas
(Minor Vows) l
Other Important Jain texts are :
(The first four principles Mahavratas Kalpasutra (in Sanskrit by Bhadrabahu);
were given by Parsvanath, while the fifth Parishishtaparvan (by Hemchandra) and
was added by Lord Mahavira). Bhadrabahu charita.

Jain Councils
Council Year Venue Chairman Royal Patron Developments
1st Jaina 300 Pataliputra Sthulabhadra Chandragupta Compilation of 12 Angas
Council BC Maurya to replace 14 Purvas
2nd Jaina AD Vallabhi Devridhigani — Final compilation of 12
Council 512 Kshmasramana Angas and 12 Upangas
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 13

BUDDHISM (e) Belief in Ahimsa Law of Karma and

Madhya Marga/Madhyama Pratipada
Founded by Gautama Buddha (Sakyamuni (The Middle Path).
or Tathagat), originally known as
Siddhartha. Sect of Buddhism
Life of Buddha l
Vajrayana Its followers believed that
salvation could be attained by magical
l
He was born in 563 BC at Lumbini in
power which they called vajra.
Sakya Kshatriya clan of Kapilvastu.
l
The chief divinity of the sect is Taras.
l
Father : Suddhodhana; Mother :
Bengal and Bihar (Eastern India) were
Mahamaya; wife : Yashodhara; Son :
the main areas of its concentration.
Rahul; Teachers : Alara Kalama and
Udraka.
l
Hinayana (the lesser vehicle).
l
Mahayana (the greater vehicle).
Teachings of the Buddha
(a) The fundamental principles of Buddhist Scriptures
Buddha’s techings are represented by
the Four Noble Truths (arya-satyas) Hinayana Literature (in Pali)
(i) Dukkha (that the world is full of l
Tripitakas
sorrow). – Vinaya Pitaka Rules of monastic
(ii) Dukkha Samuddaya (That discipline for monks.
there are causes of sorrow) – Sutta Pitaka Collection of Buddha’s
(iii) Dukkha Nirodha (This sorrow sermons.
can be stopped)
– Abhidhamma Pitaka Philosophies of
(iv) Dukkha Nirodha gamini Buddha’s teachings.
pratipada (path leading to
cessation of sorrow)
l
Some famous Buddhist Scholars–
Ashvaghosha, Nagarjuna, Asanga,
According to Buddha, roots of
Vasubandhu, Buddhaghosha, Dinnaga
all human misery was ‘desire’
and Dharmakirti.
and its annihilation was the
surest way of ending
unhappiness. One could get out
Bodhisattvas
of this chain of suffering and ■
Vajrapani (holds thunderbolt)
achieve the final salvation ■
Avlokitesvara/Padmapani (lotus bearer)
(Nirvana) by following eight fold ■
Manjushri (holds books describing 10
path (Ashtangika Marga). paramitas)
(b) Eight-Fold Path (Ashtangika Marga) ■
Kshitigarbha (guardian of purgatories)
l
Right understanding ■
Maitreya (the future Buddha)
l
Right thought ■
Amitabha/Amitayusha (the Buddha of heaven)
l
Right speech
Right action
l

l
Right livelihood
Buddhist Architecture
l
Right effort
l
Stone-pillars depicting the life of Buddha
at Gaya, Sanchi and Bharhut.
l
Right mindfulness
l
Right concentration
l
Gandhara art and the beautiful images of
the Buddha.
(c) Three Jewels (Triratnas)
l
Cave architecture in the Barabar hills at
l
Buddha (the enlightened)
Gaya and in Western India around Nasik.
l
Dhamma (doctrine)
l
Art pieces of Amaravati and
l
Sangha (order)
Nagarjunakonda.
(d) Belief in Nirvana Also known as
moksha or salvation. It refers to
l
Stupa relics of Buddha or some
belief in the concept of ultimate bliss, prominent monks.
whereby the person gets freedom l
Chaitya Prayer hall.
from the cycles of birth and death. l
Vihara Residence.
 14 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

Buddhist Universities
Buddhist Universities Location Founder
Nalanda Bodagaon, Bihar Kumaragupta I
Vikramshila Bhagalpur, Bihar Dharmapala (Pala ruler)
Somapuri North Bengal Dharmapala (Pala ruler)
Jagadal Bengal Ramapala (Pala ruler)
Odantpuri Bihar sharif, Bihar Gopala (Pala ruler)
Vallabhi Gujarat Bhattarka (Maitrak rule)

Buddhist Councils
Buddhist Year Venue Chairman Royal Patron Development(s)
Council
1st 483 BC Saptaparni Mahakassaapa Ajatshatru Compilation of Sutta
Cave, (Haryanka Pitaka and Vinaya
Rajgriha Dynasty) Pitaka by Ananda
and Upali
respectively
2nd 383 BC Vaishali Sabakami Kalasoka Monks were split
(Shishunaga into Sthavirvadins
Dynasty) and Maha sanghikas
3rd 250 BC Pataliputra Moggaliputta Ashoka Compilation of
Tissa (Maurya Abhidhamma Pitaka
Dynasty)
4th AD 72 Kundalvan, Vasumitra Kanishka Division of Buddhists
Kashmir (Chairman) and (Kushan into Hinayana and
Ashvaghosha Dynasty) Mahayana
(Vice-Chairman)

Great Events of Buddha’s Life, Symbols and Related Incident

Event Symbols Related Incident
Janma (Birth) Lotus and In 563 BC at Lumbini (Sakya tribe of Kapilvastu) on
Bull Vaishakh Purnima day in Kshatriya clan.
Mahabhinishkramana Horse At the age of 29 years, after witnessing four scenes in
(Renunciation) a sequence (old man, sick man, dead body and an
ascetic).
Nirvana/Sambodhi Bodhi tree At 35 years of age at Uruvella (Bodh Gaya) under a
(Enlightenment) pipal tree on the banks of Niranjan (Phalgu) river, on
the 49th day of meditation.
Dharmachakra pravartana Wheel At Sarnath, where his five disciples had settled.
(First Sermon)
Mahaparinirvana (Death) Stupa At the age of 80 years in 483 BC at Kusinagara in UP in
the Malla republic.

Hetrodox Sects
Sect Founder Theory
Ajivikas Gosala Maskariputra Believed in Fate called ‘Niyati’
Amoralism Purana Kassapa Samkaha Philosophy
Charvaka School Ajita Keshakambalin Uchchedavada (annihilationism)
Hindu Vaisesika School Pakudha Katyayana Sorrow, happiness and life are
indestructible like Earth, water etc
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

THE MAURYAN EMPIRE

ORIGIN Ashoka’s Edicts and Inscriptions
l
Mudrarakshasa Vrishal/Kulhina (of Ashoka’s edicts were first deciphered by
low clan). James Princep in 1837. It was mainly
written in Prakrit language and 3 scripts viz
l
Buddhist tradition as Kshatriya. Kharoshthi in North-West, Greek and
l
Puranas Moriya clan (low caste). Aramaic in West and Brahmi in Eastern
l
Junagarh rock inscription of India.
Rudradaman (AD 150) Vaishya origin.
CHANDRAGUPTA
SOURCES MAURYA
l
Arthashashtra of Kautilya (Chanakya (321-298 BC)
or Vishnugupta) Written in Sanskrit by
the Prime Minister of Chandragupta l
Also called as Sandrocottus/Androcottus
Maurya. by Greek Scholars.
l
It is a treatise on State Craft and Public l
He entered into alliance with Parvartaka
Administration under Mauryas. The and with the help of Chanakya,
book is in 15 parts. dethroned the last Nanda ruler
Dhanananda and founded the Mauryan
Buddhist Literature Dynasty, with capital at Pataliputra.
l
Ashokavadana and Divyavadana. l
Chandragupta defeated Selucus Nikator,
l
Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa (Sri Lankan the general of Alexander in North-West
chronicles). India in 305 BC. There was a matrimonial
l
Jatakas Sthaviravali Charitra or Parisistha- alliance between them.
parvan of Hemachandra l
Selucus also sent a Greek Ambassador,
(A biography of Chanakya) Chandra- Megasthenese, to the court of
gupta’s conversion to Jainism. Chandragupta Maurya. Chandragupta
l
Mudrarakshasa of Vishakhadatta. embraced Jainism and went to
Indica of Megasthenese wrote that Indians Chandragiri Hills, at Sravanbelagola with
are free from slavery; and of the existence Bhadrabahu, where he died of slow
of 7-castes in India. starvation (Salekhna).
Puranas Chronology and lists of Mauryan
kings. BINDUSARA
Others Account of Diodorous, Pliny, (298-273 BC)
Plutarch, Arrian and Justin.
l
Greeks called him ‘Amitro Chates’
meaning, slayer of foes. He extended the
Quick Digest kingdom, further to the Peninsular region
n Inscriptions of Skandagupta and of India, as far South as Mysore.
Rudradaman are also found at Girnar. l
Antiochus I, the Selucid king of Syria,
n The Pillar Edict VII is the last edict to be sent his ambassador, Deimachus to his
issued by Ashoka. court.
n Mahasthan and Sohgura Copper
Plate inscriptions – issued by
l
Pliny mentions that Ptolemy Philladel-
Chandragupta Maurya, deals with relief phus of Egypt sent Dionysius as his
measures adopted during famine. ambassador to the court of Bindusara.
n Latest discovery– 3 Ashokan minor l
Taranath, the Buddhist monk, credits
Rock Edicts from Sannati village him for conquering the land between two
(Karnataka). seas. He patronised the Ajivika sect.
 16 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

The Western part include the North-

ASHOKA l

Western provinces, Gandhara and

(273-232 BC) Kashmir was governed by Kunala (one of
the sons of Ashoka) and then for a while
l
He was the greatest Mauryan ruler; and by Samprati. The Eastern part of Maurya,
also the Governor of Taxila and Ujjain Empire, with its capital at Pataliputra,
previously. His rule extended to the came to be ruled by Dasharatha. After
whole of sub-continent except to the Dasharatha and Samprati came Salisuka.
extreme South. It also included The successors of Salisuka, according to
Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Kashmir and the puranas, were Devavarman,
valleys of Nepal.
Shatadhanvan and finally Brihadratha.
l
A Buddhist text Dipavamsa states that
he usurped the throne after killing his
99 brothers, except the youngest one
MAURYAN
Tishya in the war of succession that ADMINISTRATION
lasted for 4 years. l
The Mauryan state was a welfare state
l
He fought the Kalinga War (261 BC) in with a highly centralised government.
the 9th year of his rule. The miseries of The King was the nucleus, assisted by
war caused deep remorse to Ashoka and Mantri Parishad, which included Yuvraj-
therefore he abandoned the policy of the crown prince.
physical conquest (Bherighosa) in l
Gopa was the purohit chief priest.
favour of cultural conquest
(Dhamma ghosha).
l
Senapati, the commander-in-chief of
army and other ministers.
l
He embraced Buddhism under
Upagupta. Eighteen Tirthas
l
He sent his son Mahendra and Mahamantri Purohita Chief Minister and Chief
daughter Sanghamitra to Ceylon as Priest
Buddhist missionaries, with a sapling of Senapati Commander-in-Chief
the original pipal tree. Yuvraja Crown Prince
l
He inaugurated Dhammayatras from Dauvarika Chamberlain
the 11th year of his reign by visiting Prasastri Inspector General of
BodhGaya; also appointed Dhamma Prison
Mahamatyas (officer of righthouse to Sanidhatta Incharge of Treasury
spread the message of Dhamma. Nayaka City Constable
Vyavaharika Chief Judge
Ashoka’s Dhamma Mantri Secretary incharge of the
l
It was a code of conduct and a set of Office of Ministers
principles to be adopted and practised Parishadadhyasha Ministers
by the people to build up an attitude of Duvara Pala Chief of the Home
social responsibility and to preserve the Defence i.e. warden of the
social order. It ordained to pay respect palace to control entrance
to elders, mercy to slaves and and exit
emphasised truth, non-violence and Antarvesika Chief of the Harem
tolerance. Samaharta Tax Collector General
Pradeshtri Divisional Commissioner
LATER MAURYAS Paura Governor of the Capital
Karmantika Chief of the Industries
l
Following the death of Ashoka, the
Mauryan dynasty lasted for 137 years, Dandapal Police Chief
the empire was divided into Western Antapal Chief of the Frontier
and Eastern parts. Defence
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 17

Provincial Administration Some of the Important

Province Capital Adhyakshas
Uttarapatha (North) Taxila Adhyakshas Rank(s)
Avantipatha (West) Ujjain
Akshapataladhyaksha Accountant General
Prachyapatha (East) Kalinga
Dakshinpatha (South) Suvarnagiri Sitadhayaksha Incharge of Crown
Lands
Central Province Pataliputra
Akaradhyaksha Superintendent of Mines
Administrative Units & Their Heads Lavanadhyaksha Salt Superintendent
Unit Head Navadhyaksha Incharge of State Boats
Chakra (province) Rashtrapala/Kumara Panyadhyaksha Controller of State
Ahar (district) Pradeshika (administrative) trading
and Rajuka (revenue) Sulkadhyaksha Controller of Custom or
Sangrahana (Group Gopa Tolls
of 10 Villages) Suradhyaksha Superintendent of Excise
Gram (Village) Gramika
Pautavadhyaksha Superintendent of
Weight and Measure
Different Types of Taxes Bandhanagaradhya Superintendent of Jails
Bhaga 1  ksha
Land revenue  th 
6  Ayudhagaradh- Ordinance
Bali Additional tax yaksha Superintendent
Chorarajju Tax collected for the search of Kosthagaradhyaks- Incharge of Warehouse
thief ha
Pranaya Emergency tax Pattanadhyakshya Superintendent of Ports
Pindakara Collected annually from the Devatadhyaksha Incharge of Religious
entire village Institutions
Praveshya Import duty
Samsthadhyaksha Superintendent of
Senabhaktam Tax for the army, from the Market
region through which it passed
Suvarnadhyakshya Superintendent of Gold
Sulka Custom duty
Vishti Forced labour Hastyadhyaksha Incharge of Elephant
Hiranya A tax paid in gold Force
Udayabhagokal Irrigation tax Kosadhyaksha Incharge of Treasury
Nishkramya Export duty Kupyadhyaksha Incharge of Forest
Produce
Some Important Rock Edicts Madradhyaksha Passport Incharge
Major Rock Content Ganikadhyaksha Incharge of Courtesan
Edicts Lakshanaadhyaksha Superintendent of Mint
MRE I Prohibition of animal sacrifice
Dhyutadhyaksha Controller of Gambling
MRE II Refers to Cholas, Pandyas, Satya
putras and Kerala putra (kingdom Go-adhyaksha Superintendent of
of South) Crown Herds
MRE III Liberality to Brahmins Aspalpha Superintendent of Metal
MRE IV Non-violence; courtesy to relations
Lohadhyaksha
MRE V Appointment of Dhamma
Mahamatyas Khanyadhyaksha Superintendent of Mines
MRE VII Tolerance among all sects Pattyadhyaksha Commander of Infantry
MRE VIII Dhammayatras Sunadhyaksha Protector of Animals
MRE IX Charity, Kinship, Dhamma
Sutradhyaksha Textile Commissioner
MRE XII Religious tolerance
MRE XIII Kalinga war; Bheri Ghosa to Vivitadhyaksha Controller of Pasture
Dhamma Ghosa Land
 18 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

Major Edicts and their Location

Edicts Content Location(s)

Rock Edicts
14 Major Rock Edicts Ashoka’s principle of Kalsi (Dehradun, Girnar (Gujarat),
government and policy of Yerragudi (Andhra Pradesh),
Dhamma Mansehra (Pakistan), Sopara
(Bombay), Dhauli and Jaugada
(Odisha), Shahbazgarhi (Pakistan)

2 Separate Kalinga Kalinga War and a new system Dhauli or Tosali and Jaugada
Edicts of administration after war (All (Odisha)
men are my children - Dhauli)

Minor Rock Edicts Personal history of Ashoka and South and Central parts of the
summary of his Dhamma empire

Pillar Edicts
7 Pillar Edicts Appendix to the Rock Edicts Delhi Topra, Delhi-Meerut,
Rampurva, Lauriya-Araraj,
Lauriya-Nandangarh and
Allahabad-Kosam

Other Edicts
Queen’s Edict Refers to Karuvaki mother of On Allahabad Pillar
Tivala/Tivara, the second Queen

Bhabru Edict Ashoka’s faith in Buddhism Bairat (Rajasthan)

Nigalisagar Pillar Edict Stupa of Buddha at Kanakamuni Nigalisagar (Nepal)

was enlarged

Rummindei Pillar Ashoka visited Lumbini and Rummindei/Lumbini (Nepal)

reduced land tribute

3 Barbara Cave Edicts Donation to Ajivikas Barabar Hills (Gaya, Bihar)

Art and Architecture

l
Sculpture of Yaksha and Yakshini e.g., Yaksha of Parkham (Mathura); Yakshini from
Vidisha (MP) and Didarganj (Patna).
l
Royal Palace of Chandragupta Maurya at Kumharar, Patna. Single lion capital
Rampurva and Lauriya Nandangarh.
l
Four lion capital at Sarnath and Sanchi.
l
Carved elephant at Dhauli and Engraved elephant at Kalsi.
l
Stupas were built throughout the empire to enshrine the relics of Buddha, e.g. at
Sanchi and Bharhut.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

POST-MAURYAN PERIOD
Mauryans were succeeded by many ruling The Parthians
dynasties from Central Asia in North-West
India and by native rulers (Shungas, (AD 1st to 3rd Century)
Kanvas, Satavahanas) in the Eastern, l
Originally, the Parthians lived in Iran,
Central and Deccan regions of India. from where they moved to India and
replaced the Shakas.
FOREIGN STATES l
They occupied only a small portion of
North-Western India, compared to the
The Indo-Greeks Greeks and Shakas.
l
A series of invasion began in about 200 l
The most famous Parthian king was
BC. The weak Mauryan king failed to Gondophernes, in whose reign
restrict them. The first to invade India St Thomas came to India for the
were the Indo–Greeks, who ruled Bactria propagation of Christianity.
lying South of the Oxus river in the area
covered by North Afghanistan. Sudarshan Lake
l
They occupied a large portion of ■
It was constructed by Pushyagupta, the
North-Western India and moved upto Governor of Saurashtra under Chandragupta
Ayodhya and Pataliputra. Maurya.
l
The most famous Indo-Greek ruler was ■
Tushapa constructed a dam on the lake,
Menander (165-145 BC) or Milinda. during the reign of Ashoka Maurya. First
He had his capital at Sakala (Modern reconstruction by Governor Survishakh under
Sialkot in Punjab). He was converted to Saka Satrap Rudradaman and second by
Buddhism by Nagasena. Menander and Chakrapalit under Skandagupta.
Nagasena’s conversations were recorded
in the book Milindapanho or The
Questions of Milinda. Indo-Greeks were
The Kushanas
the first ruler in India to issue gold coins. (AD 1st to 3rd Century)
l
Kushanas (Yuechis or Tochanians)
The Shakas or Scythians replaced the Greeks and Parthians. They
were nomadic people from steppes of
(AD 1st to 4th Century) North-Central Asia.
l
The Greeks were followed by the Shaka. l
The first Kushanas dynasty was founded
There were five branches of Shakas
by Kujala Kadphises. Wima Kadphises
ruling from Afghanisthan, (Punjab);
issued gold coins in India. Kanishka
Mathura; Ujjain; Western India and
founded the second Kushana dynasty.
Deccan.
l
Kanishka, also known as Second
l
A king of Ujjain, who called himself
Ashoka, was the most famous Kushana
Vikramaditya, defeated the Shakas. An ruler. He had two capitals, Purushpur
era called the Vikram Samvat, is and Mathura.
recorded from the event of his victory l
Kanishka started an era in AD 78, which
over the Shaka i.e. 57 BC. is now known as Saka era and used by
l
The most famous Shaka ruler in India the Government of India.
was Rudradaman (AD 130-150). l
He held the Fourth Buddhist Council in
l
Other important Shaka rulers in India Kashmir, where the doctrine of
were Nahapana, Ushavadeva, Chastana, Mahayana form of the Buddhism was
Ghamatika etc. finalised.
 20 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

NATIVE STATES Satavahana Dynasty

(60 BC-225 AD)
Shunga Dynasty (185-73 BC) l
The Satavahanas are considered to
l
Pushyamitra Shunga killed the last Mauryan be identical with the Andhras, who
king Brihadratha and founded the Shunga are mentioned in the Puranas.
dynasty. Pushyamitra Shunga ruled from l
The founder of this empire was
Vidisha (MP).
Simuka, after the assassination of
l
He defeated the Bactrian king, Dematrius the last Kanva King Susarman.
and conducted two Asvamedha Yagyas (chief l
Gautamiputra Satakarni
priest-Patanjali).
(AD 106-130) was the greatest ruler
l
He built the Buddhist Stupa at Bharhut. of this dynasty.
l
The Greek Ambassador Heliodorus visited l
He built the capital city
the court of fifth Shunga king Bhagabhadra, Paithan/Pratisthan.
and set-up a pillar in honour of Lord l
Vasishthiputra Sri Satkarni, the
Vasudeva, near Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh).
24th ruler, married the daughter of
l
Shunga king Agnimitra was the hero of Saka Satrap Rudradaman, but was
Kalidasa’s Malvikagnimitram. twice defeated by him.
l
The great Sanskrit Grammarian, Patanjali They issued mostly lead coins (apart
was patronised by them. from Copper and Bronze).
l
The famous book on Hindu Law l
Satavahanas were the first rulers to
Manusmriti was compiled during this make land grants to Brahmins.
period. l
There is an instance of grants being
l
Later Kings–Vasumitra, Vajramitra, made to Buddhist monk, which
Bhagabhadra, Devabhuti. shows that they also promoted
Buddhism. Stupas at Nagarjuna
Kanva Dynasty (73-28 BC) konda and Amaravati in Andhra
l
Kanva was a minor dynasty founded by Pradesh became important seats of
Vasudeva who killed the last Shunga King Buddhist culture under the
Devabhuti at his capital Pataliputra. Satavahanas.
l
Bhumimitra and Narayana succeeded
Vasudeva. SANGAM AGE
l
The last ruler, Susharman, was killed by the It was divided into three kingdoms :
Andhra king Simuka. Chola, Chera and Pandya.

Chedi Dynasty Sangam Literature

l
The Hathigumpha inscription of l
The word Sangam is associated with
Kharavela, the third ruler of the dynasty, a college or an assembly of Tamil
gives information about the Chedis. scholars and poets, who flourished
l
Kharavela pushed his kingdom upto under the royal patronage of the
Godavari in the South and recovered the Pandyan kings.
Jains image from Magadha. l
The whole Sangam age is
l
He was a follower of Jainism. He called Golden or the Augustan
constructed residential caves for Jain monks Age. According to Tamil sources,
on the Udaygiri Hill near Bhubaneshwar, the father of Tamil literature is
Orissa. Agastya.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 21

Important Sangam Works Revenue Terminologies

l
Tolkappiyam by Tolkappiyyar (Tamil Karai Land tax
Grammar). Irai Tribute paid by feudatories
l
Tirukural or Kural by Tiruvalluvar is and booty collected in war
sometimes called the Fifth Veda or Bible Iravu Extra demand or forced light gift
of the Tamil land.
Ulgu Custom duties
l
Aggatiyam comprises grammar of letters
and life, in three parts, written by Saint Variyar Tax collector
Aggatiyar. Variyan A well known unit of territory
yielding tax

THE AGE OF THE GUPTAS

l
The fall of Kushana empire towards the l
Allahabad Pillar Inscription mention
middle of AD 3rd century led to the the title Dharma Prachar Bandhu,
establishment of the Empire of Guptas. meaning, the upholder of Brahmanical
l
Their period is generally regarded as the religion. His authority over Java,
Golden Age of Hinduism. Guptas belonged Sumatra and Malaya islands
to the Vaishya caste. proves that he maintained a strong
Navy.
l
Sri Gupta was the founder of Gupta
dynasty. Sri Gupta was followed by his son
l
According to Chinese sources,
Ghatotkacha, who was followed by his son Meghavarman, the ruler of Sri Lanka,
Chandragupta. Both used the simple title sent a missionary to Samudragupta for
of Maharaja. permission to built a Buddhist temple
at Gaya.
CHANDRAGUPTA I CHANDRAGUPTA II
(AD 319-335) (AD 380-415)
l
He greatly raised the power and prestige of l
He killed the Saka ruler and his coward
his dynasty by his matrimonial alliances brother Ramgupta and married his
and conquests. wife, Dhruva Devi.
l
He married the Lichchhavi princess
l
He issued silver coins (first Gupta
Kumaradevi and issued Chandragupta I ruler to issue silver coins) and adopted
Kumara devi type gold coins (Dinaras). the title Vikramaditya and Shakari in
the memory of his victory.
l
Chandragupta I is also said to have started l
The court of Chandragupta II at Ujjain
a new era-Gupta Era which starts from
was adorned by 9 scholars known as
26th February AD 320, the coronation
Navaratna, including Kalidasa and
date of Chandragupta I. Amarsingh. Harisena was the court
poet and ministers. Fa-hien, the
SAMUDRAGUPTA Chinese pilgrim, visited India at his
(AD 335-380) time. Ujjain was made the second
capital by Chandragupta II.
l
Son and successor of Chandragupta I.
l
The long inscription in the pillar of KUMARAGUPTA
Allahabad (Prayag Prasasti) enumerated (AD 415-455)
by his court poet Harisena informs about l
He founded the Nalanda University.
the people and the countries that were
conquered by Samudragupta.
l
He was the worshipper of Lord
Kartikeya. In the last year of his reign,
l
Virasen was his Commander-in-Chief the empire was invaded by the
during Southern campaign. Vasubandhu, Turko-Mongol tribe of the Hunas.
a famous Buddhist scholar, was his During the war with the Hunas,
minister. Kumaragupta died.
 22 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

SKANDAGUPTA Culture
(AD 455-467) l
Over 2 m high bronze image of the
Buddha of Gupta period has been
l
He repulsed the ferocious Hunas’ attack recovered from Bhagalpur.
twice. The heroic feat entitled him the l
For the first time, we get in the Gupta
title Vikramaditya (Bhitari Stone period, images of Vishnu, Shiva and
Inscription). some other Hindu Gods.
l
The continuous attack of the Hunas l
Paintings Ajanta paintings and paintings
weakened the Gupta economy and the at Bagh (Madhya Pradesh) are of this
decline of empire began soon after the time. They belong to the Buddhist Art.
death of Skandagupta. l
Stupas Mirpur Khas (Sind), Ratnagiri
(Odisha) and Dhammekh (Sarnath).
Later Guptas (AD 467-540) l
Gupta Age marks the beginning of main
Purugupta, Kumaragupta II, Buddhagupta, styles of temple architecture in India,
Narasimhagupta and Kumaragupta III. namely the Nagara and Dravida style
(shikhar style), with the Garbhagriha
ADMINISTRATION (shrine room in which the image of God
is kept).
Gupta administration was highly
decentralised and quasi-feudal in
character. Literature
l
Aryabhatta, the mathematician wrote
Administrative Unit Headed by
Aryabhatiyam and Shunya Siddhanta.
Bhukti (province) Uparika
l
Varahamihira wrote Panchsiddhantika
Vishayas (district) Vishyapati
and Vrihatsamhita.
Nagar/Peth Purapala/Nagar Pati
(sub-district)
l
Brahmagupta hinted the law of
gravitation in Brahma Siddhanta.
Gram (village) Gramika
Vagabhatta was a distinguished
Important Officials physician. Dhanvantri was famous for
his knowledge of Ayurveda.
Official Responsibility l
Bhaskara wrote Mahabhaskarya and
Maha Pratihari Chief usher of Royal Laghu Bhaskarya.
Palace
Dandapashika Chief officer of the Literary Works
Police Department
Mahaprajapati Chief officer of
Author Books
Elephant Corps Sudraka Mrichchakatikam
Vinayasthitisthapak Chief officer of Bharvi Kiratarjuniya
Religious Affairs
Dandin Dash Kumarcharitam and
Mahashvapati Chief of Cavalry Kavya Darshan
Mahadandanayaka Minister of Justice
Bhasa Svapnavasavadattam,
Charudatta
Taxes Vishakhadatta Mudura Rakshasam
■
Bhaga King’s share in the produce, to be Devichandraguptam
paid by cultivators. Vishnu Sharma Panchtantra and Hitopodesha
■
Bali (Earlier a voluntary offering) An Amarsingh Amarkosh
additional and oppressive tax during the Iswara Krishna Sankhya Kanika
Gupta period.
Vatsyayana Kamasutra
■
Bhoga Periodic supplies of fruits, firewoods
etc, which the villagers had to furnish to the Vatsabhahi Ravan Vadha
king. Varahamihira Panchasiddhantika, Vrihat
■
Uparika An extra tax levied on all subjects. Samhita
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 23

Harsha used to celebrate a festival

PUSHYABHUTI/ l

at Prayag, after every

VARDHANA DYNASTY 5 years.
l
In Eastern India, he faced
l
Harsha belonged to the Pushyabhuti dynasty,
opposition from the Shaivite
which ruled from Thaneswar. Pushyabhutis
king-Shashanka of Gauda, who
were the feudatories of Guptas, but had
cut off the Bodhi tree of
assumed independence after Hunas invasion.
Bodhgaya.
l
Prabhakar Vardhana (AD 580-605) was its l
Harsha defeated Dhruvasena II,
first important ruler, succeeded by
the Maitraka ruler of Vallabhi.
Rajyavardhan (AD 605-606).
l
Harsha was defeated in Deccan
Harshavardhana (AC 606-647) by Pulakesin II, the Chalukyan
king of Vatapi.
l
Harsha, also known as Siladitya, ascended the
throne in AD 606 and from this year, started the
l
The Kannauj Assembly (AD 643)
Harsha Era. was held in the honour of Hiuen
Tsang, and to popularise the
l
Harsha made Kannauj, his capital.
Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
l
Harsha wrote three dramas: Priyadarshika,
Ratnavali and Nagananda. Tripartite Struggle
l
Banabhatta wrote Harshacharita, Kadambari The struggle for supremacy between
and Parvatiparinay. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen the Palas, the Gurjara - Pratiharas
Tsang visited India during the Harsha period. and the Rashtrakutas for the
He informs us that the revenue of Harsha was possession of Kannauj
divided into four parts–one for the king, second (Farrukhabad District, UP) at the
for the scholar, third for the officer and fourth end of AD 8th century is known as
for religious purpose. the Tripartite Struggle in the history.

Other Dynasties and Rulers (AD 7th to 12th century)

Dynasty Capitals Founder Famous Rulers Other Features
Palas Pataliputra, Gopala n Dharma Pala Revived They traded with
(Eastern Gaur (AD 750) Nalanda University and South-East Asia, and
India) founded Vikramshila were replaced by
University, defeated Bhoja Senas in Bengal.
(Pratihara) Amog varsha
(Rashtrakuta) and won
Kannauj
n Devapala won Orissa and
Assam.
n Mahikala defeated by
Rajendra Chola.
Gurjara Jodhpur, Harichandra Mihir Bhoja He worshipped They originated in
Pratiharas Malwa Lord Vishnu and adopted the Geyanta region of
(SW Rajas- title Adi varaha. Rajasthan.
than) (AD
733-1019)
Vakatakas Vatsagumla Vindhyashakti Pravarsena I performed four Chandragupta II
(Deccan and Paunar Asvamedha Yagyas. married his daughter
Central Prabhavati to the
India) Vakataka king
Rudrasena.
Eastern Kalinganagar, Anantavar Narshima Deva I built the Sun Anantvarman built
Gangas Cuttack man temple at Konark. the Jagannath
(Orissa) Chodagong temple at Puri.
Deva
24 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

Dynasty Capitals Founder Famous Rulers Other Features

Western Kolar, Talakal Konganivarm Dunvirta Constructed Jaina
Gangas an Madhava monuments at
(AD 350-999) Sravanabelagola.
Senas Vikrampura Vijaysena Ballasena They were over
(Bengal) Vijaypura Lakshmansena thrown by Deva
Dynasty.
Hoyasalas DWara Vishnu Vira Ballal defeated the Hoysala art and
samudra Vardhan Chalukyan ruler Somesvara IV. architecture was of a
high standard. The
minute carving of
Hoysala temple is
their most attractive
feature.
Rashtra Manyaket or Dantidurga n Amogvarsha He is n Rashtrakutas are
kutas (AD Malkhed (earlier compared to Vikramaditya credited with the
750-1142) served the in giving patronage to men building of Cave
Chalukyas of of letters. shrine of
Badami) n He wrote the 1st Kannad Elephanta.
Poetry, Kavi Rajamarg, n It was dedicated
and also wrote to Mahesh (as
Prashnottar Mallika. Trimurti) and
counts among the
most magnificent
art creations
of India.
n Krishna II constructed
Kailash temple at ellora in
Dravidian style.
n Krishna III set-up Pillar of
victory and a temple at
Rameshwaram.
Pallavas Kanchi Simhavishnu n Narashimhavarman I n They were
(AD 560-903) (AD 630-668) occupied orthodox
Chalukyan capital at Brahmanical
Vatapi and assumed the Hindus.
title Vatapikonda. n Both Chalukya
and Pallava tried
to establish their
supremacy over
the land between
Krishna and
Tungabhadra.
Chalukyas Vatapi Pulakesin I n Pulakesin II He was Much of the
(Badami) (Badami) contemporary of Harsha paintings and
and was able to check sculptures of the
Harsha from conquering Ajanta and Ellora
Deccan. caves were
n The Chinese pilgrim Huen completed during the
time of the
Tsang visited his Chalukyas.
kingdom.
Chalukyas Kalyani Tailap II n Somevara I (AD Bilhana, the writer of
(Kalyani) (defeated the 1043-1068) He shifted the Vikramadeva Charita
Parmar king capital from Manyakhet to and Mitakshara on
Munj) Kalyani. Yagyavalkya Smriti,
n Vikramaditya IV adorned the court of
(1070-1126) He started Vikramaditya IV.
the Chalukya-Vikram era.
Yadavas Devagiri Bhillana Ramchandra Ramchandra was
defeated by Malik
Kafur.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

MEDIEVAL INDIA
THE CHOLAS l
He built the Cholamandalam lake and
also the city of Gangaikonda
l
The capital of Cholas was Tanjore. cholapuram.
l
Vijayalaya revived the Chola empire in AD l
Rajendra III was the last king of the
9th century. He took the title of Narkesari. dynasty.
l
Aditya Chola defeated the Pallava king l
The most important feat of Chola
Aparajit, captured Tondamandalam and administration was local-self
took the title of Maduraikonda. He built a government. Each village was divided
Shiva Temple at Tanjore. into 30 wards.
l
Rajaraja I (AD 985-1014) attacked Sri
Lanka. He permitted the Shailendra king to
build the Churamani Buddhist Vihara at
ARAB CONQUEST
Nagapattanam. OF SIND
l
He himself built the Rajarajeshwara Muhammad Bin Qasim (AD 712)
temple (Shiva temple) at Tanjore. He is Muhammad Qasim of Iraq was the first
known as Rajaraja the Great in history. Muslim to invade India. He defeated the
l
He defeated the Pala king Mahipala and ruler of Sind, Dahir and the province was
took the title of Gangaikonda cholam. given to Omayyad Khilafat.

Chola Temples (Dravid Style)

Temple Location Builder
Kailashnath Temple Kanchipuram —
Vrihadeshwara Temple Tanjore Rajaraja I
Koranganatha Temple Srini Wasanllur Parantaka I
Airateshwar Temple Darasuram Rajaraja II
Kampahreshwar Temple Tribhuvan Kullotung III
Gangaikonda Cholapuram Gangaikonda Cholapuram Rajendra I

THE RAJPUTS
They emerged as a powerful force in Northern India in the AD 9th and 10th centuries.

Rajput Kingdoms Capital(s) Founder(s)

Chauhan/Chahaman of Delhi-Ajmer Delhi Vasudeva
Pawar of Malwa Ujjain, Dhar Sri Harsha
Pratihara of Kannauj Avanti, Kannauj Nagabhata I
Rashtrakuta of Malkhand Manyakheta Dantidurga (Dantivarman II)
Chalukya/Solanki of Kathiawar Aniha/Vada Mularaja I
Kalchuri/Haihaya of Chedi Tripuri Kokkala I
Chandela of Jejakabhukti Khajuraho, Mahoba, Nannuk Chandela
Kalinjar
Gadhwal/Rathor of Kannauj Kannauj Chandradeva
Tomars of Delhi and Haryana Dhillika —
Guhilot/Sisodiya of Mewar Chittor Bappa Rawal, Hammir I
 26 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

TURKISH Muhammad Ghori

INVASIONS l
In 1173, Muizzudin Muhammad
(Muhammad Ghori) ascended the throne at
Ghazni. He moved towards Punjab and
Mahmud Ghaznavi Ganga valley, but was defeated by Prithviraj,
l
Mahmud Ghaznavi, the ruler of the ruler of Delhi in the First Battle of Tarain
Ghazni is said to have made 17 raids (1191).
into India. The initial raids were l
In the Second Battle of Tarain (AD 1192),
directed against the Hindustani
Prithviraj was defeated by Muhammad Ghori.
rulers. In AD 1001, the Hindustani
Prithviraj was allowed to rule over Ajmer for
ruler Jaipal was again defeated by
sometime, but was executed on a charge of
Mahmud. His son Anandpala was
conspiracy after some time.
defeated in the Battle of Waihind
(AD 1008-09).
l
Prithviraj Raso, written by the Chand Bardai,
the court poet of Prithviraj. It depicts the life
l
He plundered Somnath temple in
story of Prithviraj and his love for Sanyogita.
AD 1025 (his sixteenth raid).
l
The defeat laid the foundation of Muslim rule
l
In AD 1026, Mahmud defeated the
in India. Later on in 1194, Jaichand of
Jats. He died in AD 1030.
Kannauj was also defeated at the Battle of
l
The objective of Mahmud’s Chandawar.
expeditions was to plunder and loot.
He was not interested in expanding
l
Muhammad Ghori died in AD 1206, leaving
his empire to India. the charge with Qutub-ud-din Aibak.
l
He patronised 3 persons,
contemporary to him: Firdausi
Bakhtiyar Khilji
(court poet), Alberuni (scholar) and Bakhtiyar Khilji, one of Ghori’s commanders,
Utbi (court historian). annexed Bihar and Bengal and destroyed Nalanda
l
Alberuni wrote ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’. and Vikramshila Universities.

THE DELHI SULTANATE

The Sultanate of Delhi had 5 ruling Adhai-din-ka Jhopra at Ajmer. He also began
dynasties. the construction of Qutub Minar in the
honour of famous Sufi Saint Khwaja
SLAVE DYNASTY Qutub-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki. Aibak
patronised writers like Hasan-ul-Nizami,
(1206-1290) author of Taj-ul-Masir and Fakhr-ud-din,
author of Tarikh-i-Mubarak-Shahi.
Qutub-ud-din Aibak l
He fell from the horse, while playing
(1206-1210) Chaugan (Polo) and died. Aibak was
l
This dynasty also knows as Mumluks succeeded by Aram Shah (AD 1210), but the
or Ilbari Turk Dynasty. throne was usurped by Iltutmish.
Originally a slave, Qutub-ud-din,
Iltutmish (1211-1236)
l

because of his merit and loyalty was

raised to the post of Viceroy by l
He is considered to be the greatest slave king
Muhammad Ghori. and the real consolidator of the Turkish
l
Lahore and later Delhi, was his conquest in India. He made Delhi, the capital
capital. in place of Lahore.
l
For his generosity, he was given the l
He completed the construction of Qutub
title of Lakh Baksh. Minar. He constituted a group of 40 loyal
l
He constructed two mosques. slaves, known as Turkan-i-Chahalgani or
Quwwat-ul-Islam at Delhi and Chalisa.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 27

l
He introduced the Silver Tanka and l
He insisted on the Iranian ceremonies
Copper Jital. of sijda and paibos (prostration and
l
He patronised Minhaj-us-Siraj, author of kissing the monarch’s feet).
Tabaqat-i-Nasiri. l
Balban started the festival of Nauroz.
l
He is called the Father of Tomb Building
(built Sultan Garhi in Delhi). THE KHILJI DYNASTY
l
He saved Delhi Sultanate from the wrath
of Chengiz Khan, the Mangol ruler, by
(1290-1320)
refusing shelter to Khwarizm Shah, l
The most important aspect of
whom Chengiz was chasing. Jalal-ud-din Khalji reign was invasion of
l
He was succeeded by Rukn-ud-din Firoz Devagiri in 1294, by his nephew and
(AD 1236). Finally, the throne was given son-in-law Ala-ud-din Khilji. He married
to Raziya. his daughter to Ulugh Khan, a
l
He started the Iqta system in Delhi descendant of Chengiz Khan to win his
Sultanate. This is an assignment of land goodwill.
in lieu of salary, which he distributed to
his officers. Ala-ud-din Khilji (1296-1316)
l
He came to the throne by murdering his
Raziya Sultan (1236-1240) uncle and father-in-law, Jalal-ud-din
l
She was the first and last Muslim woman Khalji.
ruler of Medieval India. l
He massacred the rebellious nobles,
l
She sent an expedition against Rajput relatives, family members and the
state of Ranthambhor. Mongols, who had settled in Delhi.
Ala-ud-din gave harsh punishment even
l
Her affection towards Yakut was not liked
to the wives and children of all nobles.
by the Nobles. Yakut was killed, and she
married the Governor of Bhatinda,
l
He first conquered Gujarat and married
Altunia. She was assassinated near Raja’s wife Kamla Devi. He acquired
Kaithal (Haryana). Malik Kafur from there, who later on
carried Ala-ud-din’s Southern
l
She was succeeded by Muiz-ud-din
expedition and built a mosque at
Bahram Shah, Ala-ud-din Masud, Shah
Rameshwaram.
Nassir-ud-din Mahmud and
Ghiyas-ud-din Balban.
l
Then, he captured Ranthambhor,
Chittor and Malwa. Ala-ud-din
Ghiyas-ud-din Balban strengthened the North-West frontier,
under his trusted Commander Ghazi
(1265-1286) Mallik. He built Alai Fort, Alai Darwaja
l
He created a strong centralised army and (at Qutub Minar), Hazar Situm, Hauz
established the military department Khas and capital city Siri.
Diwan-i-Arz. He ordered the separation
of military affairs from finance Queen Padmini
department (diwan-i-wazarat). He
The Queen of Chittor (wife of Ratan Singh),
appointed spies.
Padmini committed jauhar, when his husband
l
He took up the title of Zil-i-Ilahi (shadow was defeated by Ala-ud-din Khilji.
of God) and impressed upon the people
that king was the deputy of God
(Niyamat-i-khudai). Administrative Reforms of
l
Balban adopted a policy of Blood and Iron Ala-ud-din Khilji
to save Delhi from Foreign aggressions. l
First sultan to have a permanent army,
l
He was a patron of Persian literature and he paid soldiers in cash.
showed special favour to Amir Khusro. l
He introduced the system of ‘Dagh’ or
Kaiqubad, the last Ilbari king was killed branding the horses and ‘Chehra’,
by Jalal-ud-din Khalji in AD 1290. detailed description of each soldier.
 28 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

l
Measured the cultivable land and fixed His five ambitious projects were
the land revenue. ‘Bishwa’ was 1. Increased taxation in Doab (1326).
declared to be the standard of 2. Transfer of capital from Delhi to
measurement. The state demanded Deogiri (Daulatabad—1327).
half of the produce. 3. Introduction of token currency (1329).
l
The post of special official called 4. Khurasan expedition in North-West
‘Mustakharaj’ was created for the (1329).
purpose of collection of revenue. 5. Qarachil expedition in Himalayas
¡ Ala-ud-din controlled the market by
(1330).
some regulations. l
He died in Thatta (Sind), while
– Fix the cost of all commodities.
campaigning against a Turkish slave
– He set-up three markets at Delhi.
Taghi.
THE TUGHLAQ Diwan-i-Kohi
DYNASTY (AD 1320-1414) A new department of agriculture ‘Diwan-i-kohi’
was set-up by Muhnammad-bin-Tuqhlag. He built
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq fortress of Adilabad and city of Jahanpanah.
(1320-1325) Ibn-Battuta
l
He was the founder of Tughlaq dynasty The famous Moroccan traveller Ibn-Battuta
and the first sultan of Delhi, who took came to Delhi in 1334 and acted as the Quazi of
up the title of Ghazi or slayer of the the capital for 8 years. He recorded the
infidels. contemporary Indian scene in his travel account
l
He liberalised Ala-ud-din’s administ- Rihla.
rative policies and took keen interest in
construction of canals and formulated Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388)
a famine policy.
l
He made the Iqta system hereditary.
l
He built the city of Tughlaqabad near
Delhi and made it his capital.
l
In order to encourage agriculture, the
sultan paid a lot of attention to irrigation.
l
Sufi saint, Shaikh Nizam-ud-din Aulia,
He repaired a number of canals. First
said about him “Delhi is far away.”
canal was from Sutlej to Ghaggar. The
l
He died in AD 1325, after falling from a second canal carried water from Yamuna
high raised pavilion. Ibn Battuta, the to Hisar. He imposed Haque-i-Sharb or
Moroccan traveller, who was in Delhi at Hasil-i- Sharb i.e., water tax.
that time, opined that his death was l
He brought two pillars of Ashoka from
due to sabotage arranged by his son,
Topara and Meerut to Delhi and repaired
Jauna Khan (Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq).
Qutub Minar, when it was struck by
lightening.
Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq l
A new department of Diwan-i-Khairat
(1325-1351) was set-up to make provision for marriage
l
Jauna Khan ascended the throne of poor girls.
under the name Muhammad-bin- l
Diwan-i-Bandagon was created as the
Tughlaq. He was one of the most department for slaves.
extraordinary kings ever sat on the l
Introduced two new coins–Adha (50%
throne of Delhi. He was an expert in
Jital) and Bikh (25% Jital).
Arabic, Persian Astronomy, Philosophy,
Mathematics and Medicine.
l
He was succeeded by Ghiyas-ud-din
Tughlaq Shah I, Abu Bakr Shah,
l
He applied his rational and innovative
Nassir-ud-din Muhammad and Ala-ud-
mind in every aspect of administration,
din Sikandar Shah.
but achieved little success as he was
very hasty in nature.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 29

Built new towns of Fatehabad, Hisar,

l

Jaunpur (in memory of Muhammad

THE LODHI DYNASTY
Tughlaq), Firozabad. (1451-1526)
l
Barani, the historian, was in his Considered as the first Afghan dynasty of India.
court. He wrote Tarikh-i-Ferozshahi
and Fatwa-i-jahandari. Bahlol Lodhi (1451-1489)
System of Taxation
l
Founder of Lodhi dynasty in India.
l
He annexed entire Sharqi kingdom and
■
A new system of taxation introduced issued Bahlol coins.
according to Quran. l
His achievement was the conquest and
■
Kharaj A land tax of 1/10th of the
annexation of the kingdom of Jaunpur.
procedure of land.
l
He never sat on the throne and used to sit on
■
Zakat 2.5% tax on property (by Muslim
carpets, along with the Amins.
only).
■
Jaziya A tax by non-Muslims (even by Sikandar Lodhi (1489-1517)
Brahmins).
l
Noblest of the three Lodhi rulers his real
■
Khams 1/6th of the loot captured
name was Nizam Khan.
during war. l
Conquered Bihar and Bengal in AD 1504, he
built a new city Agra and made it his capital.
THE SAYYID l
He was a fanatical Muslim and broke the
sacred images of Jwalamukhi temple at
DYNASTY (1414-1451) Nagarkot and ordered the temple of Mathura
to be destroyed.
Khizr Khan (1414-1421) l
He encouraged agriculture. For measure-
l
He founded the Sayyid dynasty and ment of land, he introduced the
claimed to have descended from the Gaz-i-Sikandari of 32 digits for measuring
Prophet of Islam. cultivated fields.
l
Khizr Khan took the title of l
He was a poet and wrote verses in Persian
Rayat-i-Ala and not of a king. The under the pen-name of Gulrukhi.
coins were struck and Khutba was
read in the name of Taimur and his Ibrahim Lodhi (AD 1517-1526)
successor Shahrukh. Khizr Khan’s l
Ibrahim Lodi arrested the absolute power of
three successors were incapable
the Sultan. As a result, some of the nobles
rulers.
turned against him. At last Daulat Khan
Lodhi, the Governor of Punjab invited Babur
Mubarak Shah (1421-1434) to overthrow Ibrahim.
l
He led successful expeditions l
He captured Gwalior from Tomar dynasty
against Mewatis, Katehars and the but was defeated by Rana Sanga of Mewar in
Gangeti Doab area. He was killed and Battle of Khatoli (1518).
deposed by the nobles. l
He was defeated and died at the hands of
l
Muhammad Shah (1434-1443) He Babur in the First Battle of Panipat in
ruled on a very small area, rest being AD 1526. This marked the end of Delhi
governed by nobles. Alam Shah Sultanate.
(1443-1451) was the last Sayyid
king, who retired as a coward, Administration
descending in favour of Bahlol Designation Department
Lodhi. Thus, Sayyid dynasty was Revenue
Wazir
replaced by the Lodhi dynasty.
Ariz-i-Mamalik Military
l
Yahya-bin-Ahmed-bin-Abdullah Chief Sadr Diwan-i-Risalat
Sirhindi wrote Tarikh-i-Mubarak (religious matter)
Shahi (history of Muhammad Shah Dahir-i-Mumalik Diwan-i-Insha
of Sayyid dynasty). (royal correspondence)
 30 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

Literature
Book Author Book Author
Khazyan-ul-Futuh Amir Khusro Mitakshara Vigyanesvara
Tughlaq Namah Amir Khusro Dayabhaga Jimuta Vahana
Tarik-i-Alai Amir Khusro Ashiqa Amir Khusro
Tabaqat-i-Nasiri Minhaj-us-Siraj Amuktamalyada Krishnadeva Raya
Tarikh-i-Firozshahi Zia-ud-din Barni Futuhat-i-Firozshahi Firoz Shah
Gita Govinda Jayadeva Parasana Kaghava Jayadeva

Provincial Kingdoms
Kingdom Founder Prominent Rulers
Gujarat (1397) Sultan Muzaffar Shah Ahmad Shah I (built city of Ahmedabad)
(Zaffar Khan) Mahmud Beghra
Malwa (1435) Dihawan Khan Ghuri Husan Shah (built Jama Masjid Hindol Mahal and
Jahaz Mahal at Mandu)
Mahmud Khilji (defeated by Rana Kumbha)
Kashmir (1339) Shamsuddin Shah Zainulabdin (known as Akbar of Kashmir, he built an
artificial island in the Wular lake)
Mewar (1326) Rana Hamir Rana Kumbha, Rana Sangram Singh
Bengal (1342) Shamsuddin Iliyas Shah Ghiyas-ud-din Azam, Sher Shah Suri

VIJAYANAGARA KINGDOM (1336-1580)

THE SANGAMAS THE TULUVAS
(1336-1485) (1505-1570)
l
The kingdom was founded by Harihara I l
Vira Narsimha (1505-09) established
and Bukka in 1336, in response to the Tuluvas dynasty.
Tughlaq authority in South India. l
Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529) was the
l
Harihara and Bukka were originally greatest ruler of the dynasty. Portuguese
feudatories of Kakatiya. They were traveller, Domingo Paes, wrote high
brought to the centre by about him. Berbosa also came as a
Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, converted to traveller. Also Friar Luis, the ambassador
Islam and were sent to South to control of Portuguese Governor, Albuquerque,
rebellion, but motivated by a Bhakti Saint resided in his court.
Vidyaranya reconverted to Hinduism. l
He defeated Gajapati ruler of Orissa and
Italian traveller Nicolo Conti visited took the title Yavanaraja Sthapnachaya
Vijayanagara during the reign of Devraya I. (restorer of the Yadava of Bidar).
l
He was contemporary to Babur.
THE SALUVAS l
Battle of Talikota (1565) Between the
(1486-1505) alliance of Ahmadnagar, Bijapur,
Golkonda and Bidar on one side and
l
Saluva Narsimha (1486-1491) Founder Sadasiva on the other side. Sadasiva was
of the dynasty. defeated.
l
Vasco da Gama came to India (Calicut) l
Caesar Frederick, the Portuguese
during the reign of Immadi in AD 1498. traveller, visited his court (1567-68).
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 31

THE ARAVIDUS (1570-1650)

The dynasty was founded by Thirumala, brother of Rama Raya. He shifted the capital to
Penugonda. Only empire in Medieval India, which employed women in the services.
Women even went to battles.

Vijayanagara Architecture
l
Important temples are Vithalswami and Hazara temples at Hampi, Varadraja and
Ekambarnatha temples at Kanchipuram and Parvati temples at Chidambaram.
l
The stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata were inscribed on the walls of the temples;
e.g. Vithalswami and Hazara Ram temple.
l
They issued gold coins called Varahas or Pagodas with the incarnation of Vishnu.
Famous Travellers Who Came to Vijayanagara Kingdom
Abu Abdullah/Ibn n A Moroccan traveller left account of Harihara I’s reign in his book
Battuta Rehla, also called Tuhfat-un-Nuzzar fi Gharaib-il-Amsar Wa
Ajaib-il-Asfar.
Nicolo de Conti n An Italian traveller, who visited during the time of Devaraya I. He left
an account in Travels of Nicolo Conti.
Abdur Razzaq n Ambassador of Shahrukh of Samarqand at the Court of the Zamorin
of Calicut. He gives an account of the reign of Devaraya II in his
Matla-us-Sadain Wa Majma-ul-Bahrain.
Athanasius Nikitin n A Russian merchant, who described the conditions of the Bahmani
kingdom under Mohammad III in his Voyage to India.
Ludvico de Vorthema n An Italian merchant, who visited India in 1502-1508 and left his
memoirs in travels in Egypt, India, Syria etc.
Dominigo Paes n Portuguese, who spent a number of years at Krishnadeva court and
has given a glowing account of his personality.
Marco Polo n The only traveller, who could rival Ibn Battuta’s tag of the greatest
medieval traveller arrived at India’s opposite extremity, a Tamil port,
enroute from China in AD 1290. Marco Polo to his surprise found that
in Peninsular India there were tailors or seamstresses. He failed to get
coat made for himself.

BAHMANI KINGDOM
l
The Bahmani kingdom of Deccan was founded by Hasan Gangu, whose original name
was Ismail Mukh. The capital was Gulbarga. Hasan Gangu took the title of Ala-ud-din
Hasan Bahaman Shah (1347-1358), and became the first king of Bahmani in AD
1347. He built an observatory at Daulatabad. He founded city of Firozabad on the banks
of river Bhima.
l
Humayun (1458-61) was so cruel that he got the title of Zalim. Muhammad Shah-III
Mahmud Gawan was the Prime Minister of Muhammad.
l
Nikitin a Russian merchant, visited Bidar during his reign. After the break-up of
Bahmani kingdom, five Muslim separate states came up.
1. Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar founded by Ahmad Nizam Shah, later annexed by
Shah Jahan.
2. Adil Shahi of Bijapur (1490-1686) founded by Yusuf Adil Shah.
3. Imad Shahis of Berar (1490-1574) founded by Fateullah Khan Imad-ul-Mulk.
4. Qutub Shahis of Golconda (1518-1687) founded by Quli Qutub Shah.
He built the famous Charminar.
5. Barid Shahis of Bidar (1528-1619) founded by Ali Barid.
 32 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

MAHMUD GAWAN
l
He was the Prime Minister or the Peshwa of Mohammad Shah III between 1463-81.
The Bahmani kingdom saw a resurgence under his guidance. His military conquests
included Konkan, Goa and the Krishana-Godavari delta. During the reign of
Mohammad Shah III, Mahmud Gawan expanded the Bahmani Kingdom as never
before.
l
However, he was a Persian by birth, hence, an Afaqi or Gharib. Afaqis or Gharibs
were the nobles, who were of foreign origins and had migrated from Arab or
elsewhere. The rise of Afaqi noble was resented by the Deccani nobles, i.e., those
who were of indigenous origin, hence the Deccani conspired against him and got
him executed in 1481.

RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
THE SUFI MOVEMENT
l
Mystics, who are called Sufis, had risen in
Islam at a very early stage.
Sufi Terminology
l
One and the earliest Sufis was Rabia, a Sufi Words Meanings
woman. Sufis organised 12 orders or
Shaikh/Mureed/Pir Spiritual teacher
silsilas. A silsila was generally led by a
prominent mystic, who lived in a Khanqah Tasawwuf Sufism
or hospice, alongwith his disciple. Murid Disciple
l
The link between the teacher or pir and his Khanqah The hospice
disciple or murids, was a vital part of
Sufism. Every pir nominated a successor or Sama Musical recital
wali to carry out his work. Sufi orders are Raksa Dance
broadly divided into Ba-shara that is those, Fana Self annihilation
which followed the Islamic law (sharia) and
Khalifah Successor
Be-shara, that is those, which were not
bound by it.
Famous Sufi Orders and Features
Sufi Orders Founders Popular Saints Other Features
Chisti (Delhi Khwaja Abdul Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti They adopted musical
and Doab Chisti (India) recitation called Sama to
region) Bakhtiyar Kaki, Nizam-ud-din create mood of nearness to
Auliya, Nasir-ud-din, God.
Chirag-i-Delhi, Nizam-ud-din
Aullia also known as
Tahbul-i-Illahi (beloved of God)
Suhrawardi Shaikh Shaikh Bah-ud-din Zakariya Saints had big jagirs and a
(Punjab and Shihab-ud-din close contact with the state
Sind) Suharwardi
Firdausi Shaikh Shaikh Shams-ud-din Yahiya Yahiya believed in pantheistic
Badr-ud-din of (Bihar) monoism and was a disciple of
Samark khwaja Nizam-ud-din Firdausi.
Qadiri Shaikh Abdul Shah Niamatullah Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of
Qadiri Syed Muhammad Jilani Shan Jahan was a follower of
this order.
Naqshbandi Khwaja Pir Khwaja Baqi Billah
Muhammad Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 33

Ramananda (15th Century) The founder

BHAKTI MOVEMENT l

of Bhakti movement in North India. He

The real development of Bhakti took discarded caste rules and included among
place in South India, between the 7th and his disciples men of all castes.
the 12th century. The Bhakti saints came l
Kabir (1440-1510) He was a weaver.
usually from the lower caste. They Represented Nirguna Bhakti tradition. His
disregarded caste, encouraged women to followers organised themselves as Kabir
join and taught in the local vernacular Panthis.
language. They considered that God has
either a form (Saguna) or is formless l
Chaitanya (1486-1533) Born in Nadia
(Nirguna). district of West Bengal. Regarded as the
l
Ramanuja (1017-1137) In 11th founder of modern Vaishnava Sect of
century Ramanuja tried to assimilate Bengal. Regarded as the founder of
Bhakti to the tradition of Vedas. modern Vaishnava Sect of Bengal.
According to him, Moksha (salvation) l
Surdas (1483-1563) Disciple of
lies through Karma, Gyan and Bhakti. Vallabhacharya and devotee of Lord
He gave the concept of Vishishtadvaita. Krishna and Radha. He wrote Sur
l
Namdeva (1270-1350) He was a Suravali, Sahitya Ratna and Sursagar.
Nirguna Upasaka. Some of his (belonged to Saguna school).
abhangas are included in the Guru l
Nimbarkacharya Worshipper of Krishna
Granth Sahib. and Radha and contemporary to
l
Ekanath (1533-1599) Born in Patan in Ramanuja.
Aurangabad; published the first l
Madhavacharya (1238-1317)
receivable edition of Janesvari According to him, the release from
(Marathi Gita). He condemned caste transmigration can be secured only by
system and accepted disciples from means of knowledge and devotion.
lower caste. Jayatirtha was his successor.
l
Tukaram (1598-1650) Contemporary l
Mirabai (1498-1546) Married to Bhojraj,
of Shivaji. The greatest Marathi Bhakti she was the Rathor Princess of Mewat and
poet, his views are similar to that of daughter-in-law of Rana Sanga of Mewar.
Kabir. Great devotee of Vithal. She belonged to the Krishna cult of
Vaishnavism.
l
Ramadas (1608-1681) He was the
spiritual guru of Shivaji. Established l
Tulsidas (1532-1623) Born in Brahmin
ashrams all over India. He wrote family in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh
Dasabodha, which gave advice on all and belonged to Ram Bhakti cult of
aspects of life. Vaishnavism. He wrote Ramcharitmanas,
Gitawali, Kavitawali, Vinay Patrika etc.
l
Guru Nanak (1469-1538) Founder of
Sikh faith in India. He has born in l
Vidyapati Maithali saint poet, wrote
Talwandi, now Nankana Sahib to a Padavali i.e. thousands of love ballads on
Khatri family. He composed hymns and Radha and Krishna.
sang them with the help of a rabab. l
Narsingh Mehta Saint from Gujarat, who
In course of time, his teaching gave rise wrote songs in Gujarati, depicting the love
to Sikhism. His teachings are compiled of Radha and Krishna.
in Adi Granth. l
Purandar Das (1480-1564) Vaishnava
l
Vallabhacharya (1479-1531) He saint, composer of Karnataka, who laid the
emphasised worship of Krishna as an foundation of Carnatic music.
incarnation of the Almighty God. Lived l
Dadu Dayal (1544-1603) Nirguna Bhakti
in the court of Krishnadeva of saint, born in Gujarat, who preached in
Vijayanagara. He taught that there was Rajasthan.
no difference between Atma and l
Thyagaraja (1767-1847) Telugu saint
Paramatma. By means of Bhakti, one
and the greatest composer of Carnatic
can get salvation and merge in him.
music.
 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

BABUR (1526-1530) l
His sister, Gulbadan Begum, Wrote
Humayun Namah.
l
He was the descendant of Timur on his
father’s side and Chengiz Khan on his
l
Battle of Kannauj (Bilgrama) (1540)
mother’s side. Originally ruled over Humayun was again defeated by Sher
Farghana (Afghanistan). Shah, and had to flee.
l
He was invited to attack India by
l
Bairam Khan his most faithful officer
Daulatkhan Lodhi, Subedar of Punjab, helped him. After the Battle of
Alam Khan Lodhi uncle of Ibrahim Machhiwara against the Afghans and
Lodhi and Rana Sanga. Battle of Sirhind against Sikandar Shah,
Humayun’s second coronation was
l
He was successful in his fifth organised.
expedition. In the First Battle of l
In 1556, he fell from the stairs of library
Panipat in 1526, he finally defeated
(Sher Mandal, Delhi) and died.
Ibrahim Lodhi.
Dinpanah was his second capital.
l
Defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar in Battle
of Khanwa in 1527. Babur took the title
of ‘Ghazi’ after this. AKBAR (1556-1605)
l
In 1529, he defeated Muhammad Lodhi l
Akbar was born to Hamida Banu Begum
(uncle of Ibrahim Lodhi) in the Battle of at Amarkot in Rana Veersal’s palace in
Ghaghra. 1542.
l
Defeated another Rajput ruler Medini l
Akbar was 14 years old, when he was
Rai in Battle of Chanderi in 1528. Babur crowned at Kalanaur in 1556.
was the first ruler to entitle himself l
Bairam Khan represented him in
‘Badshah’. the Second Battle of Panipat in
1556 against Hemu. Akbar
■
He wrote Tuzuk-i-Babari or Babarnama in defeated Hemu and re-occupied Delhi
Turkish. It was translated into Persian by and Agra.
Abdul Rahim Khan-i-khanan and in English l
He also ended the interference from
by Madam Bebridge. Petticoat Government (1560-1562)
represented by Maham Anaga and
HUMAYUN Adham Khan Junta.
Akbar followed the policy of reconcilation
(1530-40 And 1555-56)
l

with the Rajputs. In 1562, he married the

l
He was the son of Babur and Maham eldest daughter of Raja Bharmal of
Begum. His first campaign was against Jaipur, Harakha Bai.
Kalinjhar. l
Prince Salim was married to the
l
In 1533, the first siege of Chunar and daughter of Raja Bhagwan Das. He won
the March of Gaur was stopped by Jalal Gujarat in 1572. In order to
Khan. Sher Khan (Sher Shah) offered commemorate his victory of Gujarat,
nominal submission by sending his son Akbar build Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur
Qutub Khan to Humayun’s court. Sikri.
l
Battle of Chausa (1539) fought l
At the time of Akbar’s death in 1605, his
between Sher Shah and Humayun’s empire included Kashmir, Sindh,
army. Humayun was badly defeated and Kandhar and extended as far as the
escaped. He was saved by Nizam. Godavari in the Deccan.
l
He was buried at Sikandara near Agra.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 35

The Conquests of Akbar

Date Year Remarks
1561 Malwa The ruler of Malwa was Baz Bahadur.
1564 Garhkatanga Rani Durgawati and her minor son. Bir Narayana fighting
(a kingdom in Gondwana) Mughals. The Mughal Army was led by Asaf Khan.

1567 Chittor The storming of the fortrests of Chittor was one of the
most famous military feats of Rana Udai Singh was its
ruler.
1572-73 Gujarat Akbar built the famous Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur
Sikri, as a commemoration of his victory over Gujarat.
1574-76 Bihar and Bengal Akbar personally marched against Bihar and drove out
Daud from Patna and Hajipur.
1576 Battle of Haldighati Rana Pratap, the son of Udai Singh of Mewar, was
severely defeated by the Mughal Army under Man Singh
and Asaf Khan.

1581 Kabul Mirza Hakim was defeated.

1586 Kashmir and Baluchistan

1591 Sindh

1592 Orissa The Mughal Army was led by Man Singh.

1595 Kandhar The Mughal Army in this battle was commanded by

Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan.

1601 Asirgarh The capture of Asirgarh marked the climax of Akbar’s

career of conquest.

Nine Jewels of Akbar’s Court

Abul Fazl He was the wazir of Akbar. He wrote Akbarnama and also led the Mughal
imperial army, in its war in Deccan.
Faizi He translated the famous book ‘Lilavati’ by Bhaskaracharya into Persian

Tansen n He served as the court musician to King Ramchandra of Mewar and was
sent in Akbar’s court.
n He accepted Islam at the hands of great Sufi Saint Shaikh Muhammad
Ghaus of Gwalior.
n He used to sing Megh Malhar and Deepak Ragas.
Birbal He was conferred the title of Raja by Akbar. He frequently had witty and
(Mahesh Das) humorous exchanges with Akbar.
Raja Todarmal He was Akbar’s finance minister. He introduced standard weights of
measurement of revenue in the districts. His revenue collection
arrangement is called Todarmal’s Bandobast.
Raja Man Singh n He was the Raja of Amber.
n He was grand son of Akbar’s father-in-law Bharmal and the adopted son
of Raja Bhagwan Das. He assisted Akbar in many battles, including the
well known Battle of Haldighati.
Abdul Rahim He was a poet and the son of Bairam Khan.
Khan-e-Khana
Faqir Azio Din He was the cheif advisor of Akbar.
Mullah Do Piaza He was among the Mughal Emperor’s chief advisor.
 36 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

Captain William Hawkins, a

IMPORTANT ASPECTS l

representative of East India Company

OF AKBAR’S RULE visited Jahangir’s Court in 1608. He was
given the mansab of 400. In 1615, Sir
l
He abolished Jaziya, pilgrimage tax
Thomas Roe, an ambassador of king James
and forcible conversion of prisoners of
I of England also came to his court.
war. The use of beef was also forbidden.
Though initially Jahangir resisted, later on
l
He built an Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur
he granted permission to the English to
Sikri to discuss religious matters. He
establish a trading port at Surat.
invited many distinguished persons,
such as Purshottam Das (Hindu), l
Pietxa Valle, a famous traveller, came
Maharaji Rana (Parsi), Harvijaya Suri during his reign. Production of Tobacco
(Jain), Monserate and Aquaviva (brought by the Portuguese) started in his
(Christian). reign. He was buried at Lahore.
l
His liberation is reflected again in the l
He wrote his autobiography,
pronouncement of Tauhid-i-Ilahi or Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri, in Persian.
Din-i-Ilahi, which propounded Sufi
divine monotheism. Birbal, Abul Fazl Nur Jahan
and Faizi joined the order. Akbar
established the painting karkhana Nur Jahan’s actual name was Mehrunnisa. She
headed by Abdus Samad. was the widow of Sher Afghani. Jahangir married
l
Ralph Fitch (1585) was the first her and conferred the title Nur Jahan to her.
Englishman to visit Akbar’s court.
l
Sufi Saint Shaikh Salim Chisti bless Shah Jahan (1628-1658)
Akbar with a son, who was named l
Born to Jodhabai or Jagat Gosain in
Salim (Jahangir). Akbar shifted his Lahore in 1592. His real name was
court to Fatehpur Sikri from Agra in Khurram. He was youngest prince to be
honour of the saint. Mansabdari appointed as Governor of Deccan at the
System was another feature of age of 15. In 1612, he got married to
administration during Akbar’s reign, to Arzumand Bano Begum (known as Mumtaz
organise nobility as well as the army. He
Mahal) daughter of Asaf Khan. He was
was the first Mughal ruler to separate
imprisoned by his son Aurangzeb in Agra
religion from politics.
Fort and died in captivity in 1658. He was
buried at Taj Mahal (Agra) besides his
JAHANGIR (1605-1627) loving wife.
l
Akbar’s eldest son prince Salim l
Two French travellers Bernier and
assumed the title of Nur-ud-din Tavernier and the Italian traveller Nicolo
Muhammad Jahangir and ascended Manucci visited during his reign. Peter
the throne. He was born at Fatehpur Mundi described the famine that occurred
Sikri near Agra in 1569. He was given during Shah Jahan’s reign. His reign is
proper education by his tutor Rahim considered as the Golden Age of the
Khankhana. In 1585, he married Mughal Empire.
Manbai, daughter of his maternal
uncle Raja Bhagwan Das. War of Succession
l
In 1587, he married Jodhabai or Jagat l
Battle of Bahadurgarh, February, 1658
Gosain, daughter of Udai Singh, who
gave birth to prince Khusro (Shah Fought between Shuja and Dara, in which
Jahan). He mostly lived in Lahore, Shuja was defeated. Battle of Dharmat,
which he adorned with gardens and was fought on April, 1658 wherein
buildings. Combined forces of Aurangzeb and
l
His greatest failure was loss of Murad, defeated Dara.
Kandahar to Persia in 1622. Jahangir’s l
Battle of Samugarh, May, 1658 Aurangzeb
wife Nur Jahan (daughter of defeated Dara.
Itamad-daulah) exercised tremendous l
Battle of Khanjawa, December, 1658
influence over the state affairs. She was Shuja was defeated by Aurangzeb and fled
made the official Badshah Begum. to Arakan.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 37

AURANGZEB (1658-1707) Jahandar Shah (1712-1713)

l
Jahandar Shah won the War of
l
Third son of Shah Jahan, born in Ujjain. He
Succession, due to the support of
took the title of ‘Alamgir’ upon his coronation
Zulfiqar Khan.
in 1659. He was called a Zinda pir or the
living saint.
l
He was the first puppet Mughal
Emperor. He introduced the evil
l
Under him, the Mughal Empire reached its
practice of revenue farming or Ijara.
greatest extent and the largest single state ever
known in India.
l
Jai Singh of Amber was given the
title of Mirza Raja Sawai and Ajit
l
Muhtasib (regulation of moral conduct) were Singh was awarded the title of
appointed. He ended use of almanacs and
Maharaja. He abolished Jaziya.
weighing of the emperor. Aurangzeb compiled
Fatwa-i-Alamgiri.
l
He was defeated by his nephew
Farrukh Siyar in Agra.
l
He prohibited intoxicating drugs and
destroyed the Vishwanath temple of Varanasi.
Farrukh Siyar (1713-1719)
l
Aurangzeb died in 1707 and was buried at l
Ascended the throne with the help
Khuldabad (Daulatabad).
of Sayyid brothers (Abdullah Khan
and Hussain Khan), who were the
He forbade inscription of Kalma on the coins, also Wazir and Mir Bakshi respectively.
forbade sati and Jharokha-darshan. He ended the l
Surman Commission visited his
celebration of Nauraj (singing in the court) and in court.
1679, reimposed Jizya.
Muhammad Shah
Revolts during (1719-1748)
Aurangzeb’s Reign l
Ascended the throne with the help
of Sayyid brothers (king-makers).
l
Sikhs revolted under Guru Teg Bahadur.
Sayyid brothers were killed under a
l
Marathas under Shivaji and Sambhaji (were conspiracy hatched by the nobles in
executed). 1720.
l
Jats under Gokla, Rajaram and Churaman. l
During his reign, Bengal acquired
l
Afghan rebellion by Ajman Khan. virtual independence during the
l
Ahoms under Mir Jumla; Bijapur. governorship of Murshid Quli
l
Golconda and Marwar. Khan.
l
Saadat Khan (Burhan-ul-Mulk),
Religious Policy of Aurangzeb who was appointed as Governor of
l
Aurangzeb was a Sunni orthodox Muslim, who Awadh, laid down the foundation of
wanted to convert India from Dar-ul-Harb to the autonomous state.
Dar-ul-Islam. l
Nadir Shah invaded India in
AD 1739 and defeated Muhammad
LATER MUGHALS in the Battle of Karnal (1739), and
he took away Takht-i-Taus (Peacock
Bahadur Shah-I (1707-1712) throne) and Kohinoor diamond.
l
Real name is Muazzam. He also assumed the l
Ahmad Shah Abdali raided the
title Shah Alam-I. kingdom for the first time during
l
Pursued pacifist policy and was therefore his reign.
know as Shah-e-Bekhabar. l
He was a pleasure-loving king and
l
He granted Sardeshmukhi to Maratha and was nick named Rangeela.
released Shahu.
 38 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

Ahmad Shah (1748-1754) Mansabdari System

Ahmad Shah Abdali invaded Delhi many times and Mansabdari system had the
Punjab and Multan were ceded to him. following features
From 1748 to 1761, Ahmad Shah Abdali attacked l
Mansabdari system was
many times and looted Mathura and Delhi. introduced in 1595-96,
showing a noble’s civil and
Alamgir II (1754-1759) military capacity. Twin ranks
l
Ahmad Shah Abdali occupied Delhi during his Zat and Sawar were allotted.
reign. He defeated the Marathas in the Third The former indicated a noble’s
Battle of Panipat in 1761. personal status, while the
l
In this battle, Marathas were led by Sadashiv Rao latter, the number of
Bhau, while the Peshwa, at that time was Balaji horsemen he had to maintain.
Bajirao. It had a three scale gradation
1. Mansabdar (500 Zat and
Shah Alam II (1759-1806) below)
l
He crowned himself under Sujauddaula’s 2. Amir (between 500- 2500
protection in Bihar and remained in exile for 12 Zat)
years. 3. Amir-i-Umda (2500 Zat
and above)
l
He fought the Battle of Buxar in AD 1764, and
was defeated by the British. He lived for several l
The salary of the Mansabdar
years at Allahabad as a pensioner of the East India was fixed on a month scale
Company. system. During Jahangir’s
reign, a du-aspa, sih-aspa
Akbar II (1806-1837) system was introduced
The king gave Raja Rammohan Roy, the title of Raja. through which, a noble’s
Lord Hastings ceased to accept the sovereignty of Sawar rank could be increased
Mughals and claimed the status of Pensioner of the without affecting his Zat.
East India Company. l
Mansab was not a hereditary
system. Mansabdars were paid
Bahadur Shah II (1837-1857) through revenue assignments
He was the last Mughal Emperor. He was confined by (jagirs).
the British in the Red Fort. During the 1857 Sepoy
Revolt, he was proclaimed the emperor of India by the Jagirdari System
rebels. He was deported to Rangoon and died there. In this system, every Jagirdar was
He used to write Shairis in the pen-name of Zafar. assigned land in proportion to his
salary.
MUGHAL
Methods of Revenue
ADMINISTRATION
Collection
Officials Rai Yield per unit area.
Official Department(s) Kankut Based on estimates.
Diwan Executive, Revenue and Finance Zabti Based on the yields of
Minister crops.
Mir Bakshi Defence Minister
Mir Saman Incharge of Royal Household
Mughal Paintings
Sadr-us-sadar Incharge of Religious Matter The Mughals introduced new
themes, depicting the court,
Chief Qazi Head of Judiciary
battle scenes and added new
Barids Intelligence Officers colours. (peacock blue and
Mustauf Auditor General Indian red).
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 39

Mughal Paintings
Ruler Famous Painters Other Features
Humayun Mir Sayyid Ali
Abdus Samad
Akbar Abdus Samad Introduction of Persian style
Farrukh Beg Daswan illustrated ‘Razamnamah’ (Persian
Khusro Kuli Mahabharat) and Akbarnamah
Jamshed
Basawan
Daswan
Jahangir Bishan Das Painting reached at its zenith, use of halo
Abdul Hassan (divine light) started.
Ustad Mansur (animal paintings)

Mughal Architecture
Ruler Architecture
Babur Mosques at Kabuligarh (Panipat) and at Sambhal (Rohilkhand)
Humayun City of Dinpannah, Jamali mosque and mosque of Isa Khan at Delhi
Haji Begum Humayun Tomb
(wife of
Humayun)
Akbar Agra fort, Jahangiri Mahal in Agra fort based on design of Man Mandir,
Lahore Palace, Allahabad fort, temple of Govind-deva at Vrindavan and
several buildings at Fatehpur Sikri that included Panch Mahal (planned on
Buddhist Vihara), Diwan-i-khas, Jodhabais Palace, Diwan-i-Aam, Buland
Darwaza (Iranian style). He began to build his own tomb at Sikandara, which
was completed by Jahangir.
Jahangir (Indo- Moti Masjid at Lahore, own Mausoleum at Lahore.
Persian style)
Nur Jahan Itamad-daulah’s marble tomb at Agra in Pietra dura technique.
Shah Jahan At Agra : Taj Mahal, Moti Masjid, Khanas Mahal, Sheesh Mahal, Musamman
Burz (Jasmine Palace, where he spent his last years).
At Delhi : Jama Masjid, Red Fort (Diwan-i-Khas and Rang Mahal)
Others : Shalimar Bagh (Lahore), City of Shahjahanbad (Red Fort and
Takht-i-Taus i.e. Peace throne), Nahor-i-Faiz
Aurangzeb Moti Masjid at Delhi, Bibi-ka-Makbara (tomb of his wife Rabbia-ud-douna) at
Aurangabad, Badshai mosque at Lahore.

He usurped throne as Hazarat-i-Ala.

SHER SHAH SURI AND l

l
He gained Chunar by marrying Lad
AFGHAN EMPIRE Malika, the widow of Governor of
(1540-1555) Chunar.
l
Battle of Chausa In 1539, he captured
l
His real name was Farid. Chausa from Humayun. He assumed
l
He was born to Hasan, a Jagirdar of the title of Sher Shah as emperor. He
Sasaram and Hajipur. Ibrahim Lodhi also issued coins and Khutba was read in
transferred his jagir to him. his name. The whole area from Bengal
l
He joined the Babar Khan Lohanis service to Banaras was under his empire.
and then was appointed as Deputy l
Battle of Kannauj He also annexed
Governor of Bihar. Kannauj after defeating Humayun.
 40 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

l
Battle of Samel (1544) Defeated Rajput l
Built his tomb at Sasaram in Bihar.
forces of Marwar. The campaign of l
Malik Mohammad Jaisi wrote Padmavat
Bundelkhand was the last campaign of (Hindi) during his reign.
his life. While besieging its fort at l
Tarikh-i-Shershahi was written by
Kalinjar, Sher Shah got burned due to fire Abbas Khan Sarwani, his court
in the bundle of rockets in 1545. historian.
l
The peasants were given a Patta and
a Qabuliyat, which fixed their rights Administrative Unit Head
and taxes. Sher Shah improved Iqta (Province) Amin and Haqim
communication by building roads. Sarkar (district) Shiqdar-i-Shiqdaran
l
Sarais were built on the road. He restored and
Munsif-i-Munsitan
the old imperial road Grand Trunk from
Sonargaon in Bengal to Peshawar. Built Pargana (Taluka) Shiqdar and Munsif
Purana Qila, alongwith Grand-Trunk. Gram (Village) Amil and Muqaddam

THE MARATHA AGE

SHIVAJI (1674-80) Consequently, the Treaty of Purandhar
(1665) was signed according to which
l
Shivaji was born in the year 1627 in the Shivaji ceded some fort to the Mughal
hill fortress of Shivner. His father was and payed a visit to the Mughal court at
Shahji Bhonsle, and Mother was Jijabai, Agra. Shivaji also agreed to help the
Religious Teacher – Samarth Ramdas. Mughals in their attack on Bijapur.
l
Shivaji belonged to the Bhosle Clan of l
Shivaji visited Agra with his son
Marathas. Shivaji’s father was a military Shambhaji in 1666. He was put on
Commander under Nizam Shahi ruler of house arrest, but escaped from there.
Ahmadnagar. l
He very soon, conquered the forts,
l
Shivaji’s early career and life was which he had surrendered to Mughals.
influenced by Jijabai, Dadaji Kondev, the He defeated Mughal forces in the
manager of his father’s Jagir and his Battle of Salher in 1672.
spiritual teacher. l
He was crowned in 1674 at Raigarh,
l
Dadaji Kondev gave him training in civil and assumed the title of Haindava
and military administration. Dharmoddaraka (protector of
l
In 1646, he conquered the fort of Torna Hinduism) and Chhatrapati. He
and built forts at Raigarh and Pratapgarh. became the sovereign ruler of
In 1647, he assumed full charge of his Maharashtra. He died in 1680.
Jagir.
Shivaji’s Administration
l
In 1659, Shivaji killed Afzal Khan,
ambassador of Ali Adil Shah (Sultan of
l
Shivaji divided his territory under his
Bijapur), in a meeting with his tiger paws. rule (Swaraj) into three provinces, each
Later Shaista Khan, a Governor of under a Viceroy. Provinces were divided
Deccan, was deputed by Aurangzeb to put into prants, which were sub-divided
down the rising power of Shivaji in 1660. into parganas or tarafs. The lowest unit
Shivaji lost Poona and suffered several was village headed by Headman or Patel.
defeats till he made a bold attack on l
Shivaji was helped by Ashtapradhan
Shaista’s military camp at night and (eight ministers), which was unlike a
plundered Surat and later Ahmadnagar. Council of Ministers, for there was no
l
Raja Jai Singh of Amber was then collective responsibility. Each minister
appointed by Aurangzeb to put down was directly responsible to Shivaji.
Shivaji (1665) and Jai Singh succeeded in l
His administrative reform were guided
besieging Shivaji in the fort of Purandhar. by Malik Ambar of Ahmadnagar.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History 41

Shivaji’s Ashtapradhan
Ashtapradhan Department(s)
Peshwa (Mukhya Pradhan) Prime Minister, Finance
Sar-i-Naubat Military Commander
Majumdar or Amatya Accountant General (revenue and finance minister during Peshwas)
Waqenavis (Mantri) Intelligence, posts and household affairs
Surunavis or Sachiv Minister for correspondence
Dabir or Sumanta Foreign Minister and master of royal ceremonies
Nyayadhish Administration of justice
Pandit Rao (Sardar) Charity and religious affairs

The Peshwa concentrated all power in

MARATHAS AFTER l

his office. He became the functional

SHIVAJI head of the Maratha Empire.
l
There was a dispute of succession Baji Rao I (1720-1740)
between Sambhaji and Rajaram.
Under his leadership, the Marathas
l
Son of Shivaji, Sambhaji (1680-89) compelled the Mughals first to give them
succeeded the throne. He was succeeded the right to collect chauth of the vast areas
by Rajaram in 1689. and then to cede those areas to Maratha
l
Rajaram (1689-1700) was killed in 1700 kingdom.
by Aurangzeb. His widow Tarabai put her
infant son, Shivaji II on the throne. Balaji Baji Rao (Nana Sahib)
l
Rajaram created a new post of Pratinidhi, (1740-1761)
thus, taking the total ministers to nine.
In an agreement with the Mughal
l
Except Pandit Rao and Nyayadhish, all Emperor (Ahmad Shah), the Peshwa
ministers commanded armies and led agreed to protect the Mughal Empire from
expeditions. After Aurangzeb’s death in internal and external enemies in return
1707, Shahu, the grandson of Shivaji for the chauth. In the Third Battle of
and son of Sambhaji was released by Panipat in 1761, between Maratha and
Bahadur Shah. He claimed the throne Ahmad Shah Abdali, Viswas Rao, the son
and this led to a civil war between Shahu of Nana Saheb died. After his death,
and Tarabai. Peshwaship had lost its all power.
l
Shahu emerged victorious in the Battle
of Khed with the help of Balaji Later Peshwas
Vishwanath. After this, Shahu ruled from l
Narayan Rao (1772-1773), Sawai
Satara and Tarabai from Kolhapur. Madhav Rao (1773-1795), Baji Rao II
l
From now onwards, the rule of Peshwa (1795-1818).
started. They became virtual rulers of the
state. Maratha Confederacy
Under him, several Maratha families became
THE PESHWAS prominent and got themselves entrenched in
(1713-1818) different parts of India.
■
The Gaekwads at Baroda
Balaji Vishwanath (1713-1720) ■
The Bhonsles at Nagpur
l
Shahu honoured him with title of Sena
■
The Holkars at Indore
Karte in 1708 and made him his Peshwa ■
The Peshwas at Poona
in 1713. ■
The Scindhias at Gwalior
 GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ~ Indian History

MODERN INDIA
ADVENT OF l
The English East India Company was
formed by a group of merchants in
THE EUROPEANS 1599 known as Merchant Adventures.
Portuguese l
Jahangir issued a farman to Captain
Hawkins (1613) permitting him to
l
The Cape Route was discovered from
establish a factory at Surat.
Europe to India by Vasco-da-Gama. He
reached port of Calicut on 17th May, 1498
l
Sir Thomas Roe visited Jahangir’s
and was received by the Hindu ruler of court (1615) as an ambassador of king
Calicut, Zamorin. This led to the James I, to seek permission to trade in
establishment of trading station at Calicut India.
(1st Portuguese factory in India), Cochin l
First factory was built at Surat (1608).
and Cannanore. Surat was replaced by Bombay which
l
Cochin (1502) was the early capital of the acquired from Charles-II on lease as
Portuguese in India. Nino da-Cunha the headquarter on the West coast in
transferred Capital to Goa in 1530. 1687.
l
The first Governor of Portuguese in India
l
In 1639, he obtained Madras from
was Francisco Almeida (1505-1509). He Raja of Chandragiri with the
introduced the Policy of Blue Water. permission to build a fortified factory,
which was later named Fort St
l
He was succeeded by Alfonso d’
George.
Albuquerque, who conquered Goa in 1510.
l
In 1717, John Surman obtained royal
l
Portuguese acquired Daman in 1559. They
farman from Mughal emperor
lost Hughly in 1631, during the reign of
Farrukhsiyar. This farman is also
Shah Jahan.
called the Magna Carta of the British
l
In 1661, the Portuguese king gave Bombay rule in India, as it gave large
to Charles II of England as dowry, for concessions to the Company.
marrying his sister.

The famous Jesuit Saint Francisco Xavier arrived Danes

in India with Martin Alfonso De Souza l
The Danes arrived in India in 1616.
(1542-1545). They established settlement at
Tranqueber (Tamil Nadu) in 1620,
and Serampore (Bengal) in 1676.
Dutch Serampore was their headquarter.
l
The Dutch East India Company l
They were forced to sell their
established factories in India at
settlements to the British in 1854.
Masulipatnam in 1605, Pulicat (1610),
Surat (1616), Bimlipatam (1641), Karikal
(1645), Chinsura, Kasimbazar, Patna,
French
Balasore, Nagapatam and Cochin.
l
The French East India Company
l
They replaced the Portuguese as the most was formed in 1664 by Colbert under
dominant power in European trade with state patronage during the reign of
the East. The Dutch conceded to British, Louis XIV.
after their defeat in the Battle of Bedera l
The first French factory was
in 1759. established at Surat by Francois Caron
in 1668 and the second at
English Masulipatnam in 1669. They occupied
l
Before the establishment of the East India Mahe, Yanam and Karaikal.
Company, John Mildenhall, an English l
The foundation of Pondicherry was
merchant came to India over land route to laid in 1673, which afterwards,
trade with Indian merchants in 1599. became its capital.