Bhakti - sufi Traditions

Theme 6 Bhakti-Sufi Traditions

Changes in Religious beliefs and devotional Texts

(C.Eighth to Eighteenth Century)

This chapter discusses how textual traditions have been used by historians to understand Bhakti-Sufi traditions.

The striking feature during the period between eighth to eighteenth centuries.

During this period, a large number of gods and goddesses in sculpture as well as in texts appeared. This indicated the continued and extended worship of the major deities such as Vishnu, Shiva and the goddesses, visualized in a variety of forms.

The integration of cults

 Historians who have tried to understand these developments suggest that there were at least two processes at work.

 One was a process of disseminating Brahmanical ideas. This was exemplified by the composition, compilation and preservation of Puranic texts in simple Sanskrit verse .They were meant to be accessible to women and Shudras who were excluded from Vedic learning.

 There was a second process at work that of the Brahmanas accepting and reworking the beliefs and practices these and other social categories.

 Through an example we can say that a local deity, whose image was and continues to be made of wood by local tribal specialists, was recognized as a form of Vishnu. These local deities were often incorporated within the puranic frame work by providing them with an identity as a wife of the principal male deities-sometimes they were equated with Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu.




Tantric worship


 The forms of worship often associated with goddess were classified as Tantric.

 Tantric worship was wide spread in the subcontinent. It was open to women and men.

 Those who followed Tantric rejected the caste and class within the ritual context.

 Many of these ideas influenced Shaivism and the Buddhism.Conflicts that arose during the Bhakti movement

 There were conflicts between those who followed the Vedic tradition and those who practiced the Tantric way of worshipping deities.

 Those who valued Vedic tradition often condemned the practices that went beyond the performance of sacrifices and chanting of mantras.

 On the other hand those who engaged in Tantric practices ignored the authority of the Vedas.


Early Traditions of Bhakti


 The historians of religion classified Bhakti traditions into two broad categories: saguna (with attributes) and nirguna (without attributes).

 Saguna included traditions that focused on the worship of specific deities such as Shiva, Vishnu and his avatars (incarnations) and forms of the goddess or Devi.

 Nirguna bhakti on the other hand was worship of an abstract form of god.


The Alvars and Nayanars of TamilNadu

 During the sixth century, some of the Bhakti movements were led by the Alvars and the Nayanars.

 The literal meaning of the Alvars is those who are immersed in devotion to Vishnu.

 The meaning of the word Nayanars is those who were devotees of Shiva.

 They travelled from place to place singing hymns in Tamil in praise of their gods.
 During their travels the Alvars and Nayanars identified certain shrines as abodes of their chosen deities.

 Later big temples were built at those places and developed as pilgrimage centres.


Attitude towards caste


 According to some historians, the Alvars and the Nayanars started a movement of protest against the caste system and the Brahmanas and attempted to reform the system.

 The devotees came from the different social backgrounds such as artisans, cultivators and even from the caste that were considered “untouchable”




Compositions of the Alvars and Nayanars


 The compositions of the Alvars and the Nayanars are considered to be as important as the Vedas.

 For, instance, one of the anthologies of compositions of the Alvars, the Nalayira Divyaprabandham was described as the Tamil Veda and the text was significant like the Vedas that were used by the Brahmanas.


Women devotees.

 One of the striking features of these traditions was the presence of women.

 For example, there was a saint-poet called Andal, a woman Alvar.

 Her compositions were sung and sung even today.

* Another woman, Karaikkal Ammaiyar, a devotee of Shiva adopted the path of extreme asceticism to attain her goal.

 Her compositions were preserved within the Nayanar tradition.

 These women renounced their social obligations, but did not become nuns.

 Their presence was a challenge to patriarchal norms.

Opposition to Buddhism and Jainism

 The saint –poets the Alvars and the Nayanars were opposed to Buddhism and Jainism.

 This hostility is well marked in their compositions particularly of the Nayanars.

 Historians say that his conflict was due to competition between members of different religious traditions for royal patronage.

Relation with the state

Patronage of Chola rulers

 The Chola rulers supported the bhakti traditions and built temples for Shiva and Vishnu.

 Some of the magnificent temples for Shiva such as temples in Chidambaram, Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholpuram were constructed under their patronage.

 The Chola rulers built temples often to claim divine support and proclaim their own power and status and adorned those temples with stone and metal sculpture to represent the visions of the popular saints.

 They made the spectacular representations of Shiva in bronze sculpture.

 The Chola kings introduced the singing of Tamil Shaiva hymns under royal patronage, taking the initiative to collect and organize them into a text (Tevaram).

 According to Inscriptional evidence, the Chola king Parantaka I had constructed the metal images of Appar,Sambandar and Sundarar in a Shiva temple.

 These were carried in procession during the festivals of these saints.

The Virashaiva Tradition in Karnataka

 During the twelfth century, the Virashaiva movement was started by a Brahmana named Basavanna (1106-68).

 He was a Jaina and a minister in the court of a Chalukya king.

 His followers were known as Virashaivas (heroes of Shiva) or Lingayats (wearers of the linga)

Lingayats and their belief

 Lingayats are an important community even today. They worship Shiva in the form of linga.

 They wear a small linga in a silver case over the left shoulder.

 Jangama or wandering monks are revered.

 Lingayats believe that after death, the devotee will be united with Shiva and will not return to this world.

 Therefore, they do not practice funerary rites such as cremation as prescribed in the

Dharmashastras.Instead; they ceremonially bury their dead body.




Challenge to the Caste system

 The Lingayats challenged the idea of caste and the “pollution” attributed to some groups by Brahmanas.

 They also questioned the theory of rebirth.

 Their opposition to caste system won them number of followers who were marginalized within the

Brahmanical social order.

 The Lingayats also practiced certain approvals that were rejected by the Dharmashastras such as post- puberty marriage and the remarriage of widows.

 Our knowledge about the Virashaiva tradition is came from vachanas (literally,sayings) composed in kannada by those who joined the movement.

Religious ferment in North India (Religious condition of north India)

 According to historians, in north India there was a period when several Rajput states emerged and in most of these states Brahmanas occupied important place by performing rituals.

 There was no attempt to question their position directly. At the same time there were other religious leaders who were out of the orthodox Brahmanical systems, and were gaining ground.

 These included the Naths,Jogis and Siddhas.Many of them came from artisanal groups such as weavers who were well organized.

 These religious leaders questioned the authority of the Vedas. However, they were unable to win the support of the ruling elites.

 Turkish conquest culminated in the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate.

 The power of many Rajput rulers was thus undermined and also of the Brahmanas who were associated with those kingdoms.

 The coming of the Sufis was a significant part of these developments.

The coming of Turks and the Islamic tradition

 Muhammed bin qasim conquered Sind in 711 AD. Sind became a part of the caliph’s domain. During the thirteenth century the Turks and Afghans established the Delhi Sultanate.

 Sultanates were also formed in the Deccan and other parts of the subcontinent. Islam was recognized as the religion of several areas. This continued with the establishment of the Mughal Empire.

 Muslim rulers were to be guided by the Ulema, which were expected to ensure that they ruled according to the Sahri’a.

 The Zimmi means “protected” and is derived from the Arabic word zimma, protection. It was developed for peoples who followed revealed scriptures, such as the Jews and Christians, and lived under muslim rule.They paid a tax called jizya and received protection from muslims.In India this status was extended to Hindus as well.

 In general, rulers often adopted a flexible policy towards their subjects.

 For example, several rulers gave land endowments and granted tax exemptions to Hindu, Jaina, Zoroastrian, Christian and Jewish religious institutions. They also showed respect and devotion towards non-Muslim religious

The popular practice of Islam

The five pillars of faith in Islam.

Those who adopted Islam follow five “pillars”of faith.

 1.There is one God, Allah, and Prophet Muhammad is his messenger (shahada)

 2.Offering prayers five times a day (namaz/salat)

 3.Giving alms (zakat)

 4.Fasting during the month of Ramzan(sawam)

 5.Performing the pilgrimage to mecca(hajj)

 The universal features of Islam declined due to the sectarian practices (Sunni,Shi’) and the influence of local customary practices.

 For example, Arab Muslim traders who settled Malabar Coast adopted Malayalam language and matriliny system.

 The best example of the blending of a universal faith and local traditions is mosques.

 The architectural features of mosques are universal (orientation towards Mecca and the placement of the mihrab (prayer niche) and the minbar (pulpit).

 There are variations such as roofs and building materials.

The Growth of Sufism

Sufis were a group of religious minded people in Islam. They were critical of the dogmatic definitions and scholastic methods of interpreting the Quran. They emphasized interpretation of Quran on the basis of personal experience.

By the eleventh century Sufism evolved into a well developed movement with a body of literature on Quranic studies and Sufi practices. Sufism was organized in an institution around the hospice or Kanqah controlled by a

teaching master known as sheikh, pir or murshid.He enrolled disciples and appointed a successor. He established rules for spiritual conduct and interaction between inmates as well as between laypersons and the master.

Silsilas

Silsila literally meaning a chain signifies a continuous link between master and disciple, stretching as an unbroken spiritual genealogy to the Prophet Muhammed.Sufi silsilas began to appear in different parts of the Islamic world around the twelfth century.

Dargah

Dargah is a Persian term. Its meaning is tomb-shrine. When the sheikh died, his tomb shrine became the centre of devotion for his followers. This encouraged the practice of pilgrimage or ziyarat to his grave, particularly on his death anniversary. It was believed that, after death the soul of sheikh get united with the soul of Allah. People sought their blessings to attain material and spiritual benefits. Thus evolved the cult of the sheikh revered as wali.

Ba-sharia and Be-sharia sufis

Ba- sharaia were those Sufis who adhere with the Shariat and Be-sharia Sufis were those who ignored shariat.

The Chishtis in the Subcontinent

Life in the Chishti khanqah

The khanqah was the centre of social life. It comprised several small rooms and a big hall where inmates and visitors lived and prayed. The Shaikh lived in a small room on the roof of the hall where he met visitors in the morning and evening. There was an open kitchen (langar).From morning till evening people from all walks of life, came to seek the blessings from the Shaikh in various matters.Other visitors included poets such as Amir Hasan Sijzi and Amir
Khusru and the court historian Ziyauddin Barani and all of them wrote about the Shaikh.

The practices that were adopted by the Chishtis in their kanqah

 Bowing before the Shaikh

 Offering water to visitors

 Shaving the heads of initiates

 Yogic exercises

Shaikh Nizamuddin appointed his disciple to set up hospices in various parts of the sub continent. In this way they came in touch with the people which led to the popularization of chishti practices, teachings and also the fame of Shaikh.

Chishti devotionalism: Ziyarat and qawwali

Pilgrimage called Ziyarat tombs of Sufi saints is prevalent all over the Muslim world. This practice is an occasion for seeking the Sufi’s spiritual grace (barakat).For more than seven centuries people from different walks of life expressed their devotion at the dargahs of the five great Chishti saints.The use of music and dance including mystical chants performed by specially trained musicians or qawwals to evoke divine ecstasy is also part of ziyarat.The Sufis remember God either by reciting the zikr (the Divine Names) or evoking His presence through sama or performance of mystical music known as qawwali.

Dargah of Khwaja Muinuddin

 The most popular dargah is that of Khwaja Muinuddin, popularly known as “Gharib Nawaz” (comforter of the poor).The dargah became so popular because of the following reasons.

 The austerity and piety of the Shaik, greatness of his spiritual successors and the patronage of royal visitors.

 Location of Ajmer was another factor for its popularity. As it was located on the trade route connecting Delhi and Gujarat, it attracted number of travellers.

 Muhammad bin Tughlaq was the first Sultan to visit the dargah.

 Akbar, the Mughal emperor visited dargah at Ajmer fourteen times in his life and these visits were aimed at seeking blessings for new conquests, fulfilling his of vows and to get sons.

 Many of his wishes were soon fulfilled and thus as an offering:

 He gave generous gifts on each visit

 He offered a huge cauldron to facilitate cooking for pilgrims.

 He even got a mosque constructed within the dargah.




Languages and communication

 The Chishtis composed their poems in several languages. The Chishtis used Hindavi or Persian language.

Sufis such as Baba Farid composed poetry in local language. Some Sufis composed long poems or masnavis to express ideas of divine love using human love as an allegory.

 Sufi poetry was composed in the Dakhani language around the Bijapur and Karnataka region. Women while performing household chores like grinding grain and spinning sang these poems.

 Other poems were in the form of lurinama(lullabies) or wedding songs (shadinama).The Sufis of this region
 were inspired by the kannada vachanas of the Lingayats and the Marathi abhangs of the sants of Pandharpur.

Sufis and the state.

 The chishti tradition was austere but it did not isolate political power. The Sufis accepted unsolicited grants and donations from the political elites. The sultans set up charitable trusts (auqaf) as endowments for
hospices and granted tax-free land (inam).

 The chishtis accepted donations in cash and kind and used for their immediate requirements such as food, clothes, living quarters and ritual necessities such as sama.The moral high status of the Sufis attracted people from all walks of life.

 The kings wished to secure their support. Kings simply did not need to show their association with Sufis and also required legitimating for them. When the Turks set up the Delhi Sultanate, Sufis resisted the insistence of the ulama on imposing shari’a as state law because they anticipated opposition from their subjects.

 The sultans also came to depend on the sufis to interpret the Sahri’a.It was believed that Auliya could intercede with god to improve the material and spiritual conditions of the people. As a result, kings got the shrines of the Sufis near built near their tombs.

 There were instances of conflict between the Sultans and the sufis.To assert their authority both expected certain rituals performed like kissing of the feet etc.

New devotional paths: Dialogue and Dissent

in North India 

During the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, Kabir was one of the most outstanding examples of a poet-saint.

Verses ascribed to Kabir have been compiled in three distinct traditions.

Sources to reconstruct the life of Kabir

The Kabir Bijak is preserved by the Kabirpanth (the path or sect of Kabir) in Varanasi and in Uttar Pradesh. The Kabir Granthavali is associated with the Dadupanth in Rajasthan and many of his compositions are found in the Adi Granth Sahib. All these compilations were made after the death of Kabir.Kabir’s poems have survived in several languages and dialects and sometimes with special language of nirguna poets (the sant bhasha) and others known as ulatbansi (upside-down sayings)

Teachings of Kabir

Kabir tried to describe the Ultimate Reality including Islam. According to him the Ultimate Reality was Allah, Khuda, Hazrat and Pir. He also used certain Vedic terms such as Brahman and Atman. He also used some yogic traditional terms such as shabda(sound)  shunya(emptiness) Some poems of Kabir expressed conflicting and diverse ideas. Some poems attacked Hindu polytheism and idol worship and others use
sufi concept of zikr and ishq(love) to express the Hindu practice of nam-simaran (remembrance of God’s name).

Historians have tried to analyse the language, style and content of these poems. Debates about whether Kabir was a Hindu or a Muslim by birth are well reflected in hagiographies. Hagiographies within the Vaishnava tradition suggest that he was born a Hindu, Kabirdas but brought up by a poor Muslim community of weavers. They also
suggest that he was initiated into bhakti by a guru, Ramananda. The poems of Kabir used words guru and satguru but do not mention the name of any specific guru.Historians pointed out that it is very difficult to establish that Ramananda and Kabir were contemporaries.

Baba Guru Nanak and the Sacred Word

Baba Guru Nanak was born in a village called Nankana Sahib near Ravi in Punjab in 1469.He trained to be an accountant and studied Persian.He was married at a young age but he spent most of his time among sufis and bhaktas.He also travelled widely.

Teachings of Guru Nanak

His teachings are well reflected in his hymns. These hymns suggest that he advocated a form of nirguna bhakti.He
rejected sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship and the scriptures of Hindus and Muslims.

 According to him, the Absolute or ‘rab’ had no gender or form. He proposed a simple way to connect to the Divine by remembering the Divine Name.

 He expressed his ideas through hymns called “shabad” in Punjabi, the language of the region and sang with different ragas.

 He organized his followers into a community. He set up rules for congregational worship (sangat).He
 appointed one of his disciples, Angad, to succeed him as the preceptor (guru).Guru Nanak did not want to establish a new religion.

 After his death, his followers consolidated their own practices to form a distinct community.

 The fifth guru, Guru Arjun compiled Guru Nanak”s hymns along with those of his four successors and other religious poets like Baba Farid, Ravidas and Kabir in the Adi Granth Sahib. These hymns called “gurbani” are composed in various languages.

 The tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, included the compositions of the ninth guru; Guru Tegh Bahadur.This scripture was called the Guru Grantha Sahib. Guru Gobind Singh also laid the foundation of the Khalsa Panth (army of the pure).He also defined its five symbols:

 Uncut hair, a dagger, a pair of shorts, a comb and a steel bangle. It was under the leadership of Guru Gobind Singh that the community became a socio-religious and military force.

Mirabai,the devotee princess

 Mirabai was the best known woman poet within the bhakti tradition. She was a Rajput princess from Merta in Marwar.She was married to a prince of the Sisodia clan of Mewar against her wishes. She defied her
husband and not submit to the traditional role of wife and mother.

 She recognized Krishna, the avatar of Vishnu as her lover. Her in-laws tried to poison her, but she escaped and lived as wandering singer composing songs with intense expressions of emotion.


Her most famous preceptor was Raidas; a leather worker. It shows her defiance of the norms of caste society.

 She had donned the white robes of a window or the saffron robe of the renouncer.Although she did not attract a sect or group of followers, she has been recognized as a source of inspiration for centuries.

 We get information about her from the bhajans attributed to her.

Reconstructing histories of religious traditions

 Historians used a variety of sources to reconstruct histories of religious traditions. These include stupas, monasteries, and temples.

 Historians also draw on textual sources including devotional literature and hagiographies. These sources enable historians to understand certain religious beliefs and practices.

 They range from the simple direct language of the vachanas of Basavanna to the ornate language of the farman of the Mughal emperors.

 Understanding each type of text requires different skills. Historians have to acquire familiarity with several languages and to be aware of the subtle variations in style that characterize each type.

Through the Eyes of Travellers

Theme 5 .Through the Eyes of Travellers
Perceptions of Society
(C. 10th to 17th Century)

The accounts of the travellers provide us with some aspects of social life of the people. This chapter discusses how these travel accounts enriched our understanding of the past. The theme focused on the accounts of three men: Al-Beruni, Ibn Batuta and Francois Bernier.

Travel Accounts and reconstruction of Indian history from 10th to 17th century.

 The accounts of the foreign travellers are helpful in reconstructing the history of India from 10th To 17th century.

 Most of the travellers came from vastly different social and cultural environment. Hence they were more attentive to everyday activities and practices. These were taken for granted by indigenous writers.

 Their difference in perspective makes their accounts interesting.

 Their accounts deals with affairs of the court, religious issues, architectural features and monuments

Al-Biruni

 Al-Biruni was born in 973, in Khwarizm (present day Uzbekistan).

 He was a learnt man and well versed in several languages such as Syriac, Arabic, Persian, Hebrew and Sanskrit.

 He has learnt the Arabic translation of Greeks philosophers like Plato.

 Mahamud Gazni invaded Khwarizm in 1017 and brought Al-Biruni with him to Gazni.

 When the Punjab became a part of the Ghaznavid Empire, Al-Beruni who also followed Gazni and settled there. Where he got a chance to learn Indian texts on Indian religion and philosophy.

 He came into contact with local Sanskrit scholars.

Kitab-ul-Hind

 The accounts of Al-Beruni came to be called Kitab-ul-Hind or Tahkik-e-Hind.

 The Kitab-ul-Hind was written in Arabic language and was divided into 80 chapters.

 It dealt with subjects such as religion and philosophy, festivals, astronomy, alchemy, manners and customs, social life, weights and measures, iconography, laws and metrology.

 Al-Beruni has adopted a mathematical approach. He begins each chapter with a question followed up with a description and comparison of cultures.

 Scholars viewed this method is result of his mathematical orientation.


Making Sense of an alien world: Alberuni and the Sanskritic tradition.

The barriers that Al-Beruni observed in understanding the Indian society

 Al-Beruni discussed several barriers that obstructed the understanding of Indian society.

 The first barrier was the language .To him. Sanskrit was so different from Arabic and Persian and the ideas and concepts could not be easily translated from one language to another.

 The second barrier was that Al-Beruni identified was the difference in religious beliefs and practices.

 The third barrier was the self observation and consequent insularity of the local population. He depended mainly on the works of Brahmansa and often quoted from the Vedas,the Puranas,the Bhagavad Gita, the works of Patanjali, and the Manusmriti.

Al-Beruni’s description of the caste system

 Al-Beruni tried to explain the caste system by comparing it with other societies.

 He said that in ancient Persia, there were four social categories: Knights and princes, monks, fire-priests and lawyers, physicians, astronomers and other scientists.

 He tried to understand that social divisions were not unique to india.

 He pointed out that within Islam all men were considered equal and difference was based on only the observance of piety.

 He described about the four varnas such as Brhamana, Kshatriya,Vaishya and Shudra.

 But he did not accept the Brahmanical notion of pollution.

 He said that everything which falls into a state of impurity strives and succeeds in regaining its original condition of purity.

 The sun cleanses the air, and the salt in the sea prevents the water from becoming polluted.

 According to him, the notion of pollution which was intrinsic to caste system was against the laws of nature.

 Al-Beruni’s description of the caste system was deeply influenced by his familiarity with
normative Sanskrit texts which laid down the rules governing the system from the point of view of the Brahmanas.

Ibn Battuta(An early globe-trotter)

 Ibn Battuta was an African traveller who came from Morocco.

 He was born in Tangier. He learnt literature and other scholarly works at his young age.

 He considered that knowledge gained through travels is more important source than books.

 He loved travelling, and went far off places, exploring new worlds and peoples.

 Before his visit to India ,he had made pilgrimage to Mecca and travelled extensively in Syria, Iraq, Persia, Yemen, Oman and a few trading ports on the coast of East Africa.

Ibn Battuta’s visit to India. (Ibn Battuta and the Excitement of the Unfamiliar)

 He set off his travel to India in 1332-33 and reached Sind in 1333.

 He was able to get the reputation of the sultan of Delhi; Muhammed bin Tughlaq.

 The sultan was impressed by the scholarship of Ibn Battuta and appointed him as the qazi or judge of Delhi.

 He remained judge for many years. The sultan appointed him as his ambassador to China.

 During his journey to China, he also visited Malabar Coast, Maldives, Bengal, Assam and Sumatra.

Rihla

 Ibn Battuta’s book of travels called Rihla was written in Arabic provides the social and cultural life in the subcontinent in the 14th century.

 He carefully recorded his observations about new cultures, peoples, beliefs, values etc.

The coconut and the paan

 The best example of Ibn Battuta’s strategies of representation are clear in the ways in which he described the coconut and the paan ,two kinds of plant produce that were completely unfamiliar to his audience.

Ibn Battuta and Indian cities

 Ibn Battuta found cities in the subcontinent full of exciting opportunities for those who are able and have resources and skills.

 The cities were densely populated and prosperous. Cities were disrupted during wars invasions.

 His account said that streets in many cities were crowded and bright and colourful markets were with full of many varieties of goods.

 He described Delhi as a vast city, with a great population, the largest in India.

 Bazaars were not only places of economic transaction but also the hub of social and cultural activities.

 Many bazaars had mosque and temple with spaces for public performances by dancers and singers.

 Ibn Battuta noted that the cities obtained its wealth from villages.

 This was because of the agricultural production with two crops a year.

 He says that there was a great demand for Indian textiles like cotton cloth, fine muslins, silks, brocade and satin.

 He further says that certain varieties of fine muslin were so expensive that could be worn only by the nobles and the very rich.

A unique system of communication

 Almost all trade routes were well supplied with inns and guest houses.

 Ibn Battuta was amazed by the efficiency of the postal system.

 The Postal system was of two kinds.

 One was called uluq (horse post) and the other was dawa (foot post)

 This system enabled merchants to send information, remit credit across long distances and to dispatch goods required at short notice.

Francois Bernier(A doctor with a difference)

 Francois Bernier was French by birth and doctor by profession.

 He was a political philosopher and historian.

 He came to the Mughal Empire in search of opportunities.

 He lived in India for twelve years from 1656 to 1668.

 He was a physician to Prince Dara Shukoh, the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan and intellectual
and scientist with Danishmand Khan, an Armenian noble at the Mughal court.

 Bernier travelled to different parts of the country and wrote accounts based on his own observations and compared the social conditions in India with the situations in Europe.

 He dedicated his works to Louis XIV, the king of France.

 His works were published in France in 1670-71 and translated into English, Dutch, German and Italian. Later his account was reprinted number of times.

Travels in the Mughal Empire(Bernier and the “degenerate” East)

 Bernier’s Travels in the Mughal Empire provides a detailed observations and critical insights.

 He constantly compared Mughal India with contemporary Europe.

 He emphasized the superiority of the European society.

The question of landownership

 According to Bernier, one of the fundamental differences between Mughal India and Europe was the lack of private property in the Indian society.

 He had a firm belief in the virtues of private property.

 Crown ownership of land was harmful for both state and its people.

 He thought that the Mughal Emperor owned all land and distributed it among the nobles.

 He argued that lands under the crown ownership could not be passed on to their children.

 So they were averse to any long-term investment in the sustenance and expansion of production.

 The absence of private property prevented the emergence of the class of ‘improving’ landlords as it was in Western Europe to maintain and improve the land.

 It had ruined the agriculture and oppressed the peasants and the living standards of all sections in the society declined except the ruling aristocracy.


Bernier’s description on the social condition of India

 Bernier described Indian society as consisting of undifferentiated masses of a very rich and powerful ruling class.

 There was a wide gape between the poorest of poor and richest of the rich. He says “There is no middle state in India.”

Bernier’s description on the Mughal Emperor and his subjects.

 Bernier described the Mughal Empire as the king of “beggars and barbarians”.

 Its cities and towns were ruined and contaminated with “ill air” and its fields “overspread with bushes “and full of “pestilential marishes”.

 He attributed all these problems to the crown ownership of land.

 Bernier says that there was the practice of crown ownership of land and no private ownership of land or private property.

 But none of the Mughal official documents show that the state was the sole owner of land.

 According to the official chronicler of Akbar’s reign Abul Fazl, the Mughal Emperor collected only the remunerations from the people for the protection given by the state and no rent was collected.

 Bernier regarded the remuneration as land revenue since it was very high sometimes.

The idea of Oriental despotism

 Bernier’s descriptions of landownership influenced western theorists from the 18th century onwards.

 For instance, the French philosopher Montesquieu used Bernier’s account and developed the idea of Oriental despotism.

 According to this idea in Asia (the Orient or the East) the kings enjoyed absolute authority over his subjects and owned all lands.

 There was no private property. All people except King and nobles sruggled for survival.

The Concept of Asiatic mode of production

 Karl Marx further developed the idea of Oriental despotism as Asiatic mode of production.

 Marx observes that before colonialism, surplus production was appropriated by the state.

 This led to the emergence of a society that was composed of a large number of autonomous and egalitarian village communities.

 The imperial court respected these villages as long as the flow of surplus was continued. Marx regarded this as a stagnant system




A more complex social reality

 Bernier’s descriptions occasionally hint at a more complex social reality.

 Artisans had no incentive to improve the quality of their manufactures.

 All profits were appropriated by the state. Manufactures were everywhere declining.

 At the same time he agreed that vast quantities of the world’s precious metals flowed into India, as manufactures were exported in exchange for gold and silver.

 He also mentioned that there existed a prosperous merchant community engaging in long distance trade.

Mughal cities

 During the 17th century about 15 percent of the population lived in towns.

 Bernier described Mughal cities as “camp towns”, which were dependent upon imperial patronage.

 There were all kinds of towns: manufacturing towns, trading towns, port-towns, sacred centres, pilgrimage towns etc.

 The existence of towns indicates the prosperity of merchant communities and professional classes.

 Merchants had a strong community or kin ties and were organized into their own caste –cum- occupational groups.

 In western India these groups were called Mahajans,and their chief,the sheth.

 In urban centres such as Ahmedabad the chief of the merchant community who was called nagarsheth collectively represented the Mahajans.

Urban professional classes

 Urban groups included professional groups such as physicians (hakin or vaid), teachers(pundit or mulla ), lawyers(wakil), painters, architects, musicians, calligraphers, etc.

 While some depended on imperial patronage , many made their living by serving other patrons while still others served ordinary people in crowded markets and bazaars

Use of Slaves

 Slaves were openly sold in markets. Like any other commodity, slaves were exchanged as gifts.

 When Ibn Battuta reached Sind he purchased “horses, camels and slaves” as gifts for sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

 There was considerable differentiation among slaves.

 Some female slaves in the service of the Sultan were experts in music and dance.

 Female slaves were also used to keep a watch on his nobles by the sultan.

 Slaves were used for domestic labour.Ibn Battuta noted that men and women slaves carried palanquins or dola.

 The price of slaves particularly female slaves required for domestic labour, was very low.

The Practice of Sati

 Bernier has provided a detailed description of sati in his account.

 He mentioned that while some women seemed to embrace death cheerfully, others were forced to
death.

 He also noticed the child satin which a twelve year old young widow sacrificed.

Women Labourers

 Women labour was crucial in both agricultural and non-agricultural production.

 Women from merchant families participated in commercial activities.

 Therefore it seems unlikely that women were confined to the private spaces of their
homes. 

Travelers who wrote detailed accounts regarding Indian social customs and religious practices

 Jesuit Roberto Nobili- He translated Indian texts into European languages

 Duarte Barbosa- He was a Portuguese traveler .He wrote a detailed account of trade and

society in south India

 Jean-BaptisteTavernier- He was the famous French jeweller who visited India six times.

He was particularly fascinated with the trading conditions in India, and compared India to Iran and the Ottoman Empire.

 Italian doctor Manucci- He wrote detailed accounts regarding Indian social customs and religious practices and settled in India.

 Pelsaert-He visited the subcontinent during the 17th century. He was shocked to see the widespread poverty of the people.

 Abdur Razzaq Samarqandi.He visited south India in the 1440s.and saw India as a land of wonder.

Ch-4 Thinkers, beliefs and Buildings

The sources to reconstruct Cultural Developments of this period (c. 600 BCE - 600 CE)

1. Buddhist, Jaina and Brahmanical texts written in various languages.

2. Large and impressive material remains including monuments and inscriptions.

The mid-first millennium BCE is often regarded as a turning point in world history:
1. This period saw the emergence of thinkers such as Zarathustra in Iran, Kong Zi in China, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in Greece, and Mahavira and Gautama Buddha in India.

2. They tried to understand the mysteries of existence and the relationship between human beings and the cosmic order (Universe)

3. This was also the time when new kingdoms and cities were developing aii over the world

4. This was also the time when social and economic life was changing in a variety of ways in the Ganga valley.
The sacrificial traditions (Vedic sacrifices)

1. The early Vedic tradition was one of the pre-existing traditions of thought.

2. The Rig-Veda consists of hymns in praise of a variety of deities, especially Agni, Indra and Soma.

3. Many of these hymns were chanted when sacrifices were performed, where people prayed for cattle, sons, good health, long life, etc.

4. At first, sacrifices were performed collectively. Later some sacrifices were performed by the head of the family for the wellbeing of the domestic unit.

5. More elaborate sacrifices, such as the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha, were performed by chiefs and kings who depended on Brahmana priests to conduct these rituals.

New questions in the early period

1. Many people were curious about the meaning of life, the possibility of life after death, karma and rebirth.

2. Such issues were hotly debated. Thinkers were concerned with understanding and expressing the nature of the ultimate reality.

Debates and discussions

1. There were as many as 64 sects or schools of thought. Lively discussions and debates took place between the teachers of these schools of thought.

2. Teachers like Buddha and Mahavira travelled from place to place, trying to convince one another as well as laypersons, about the validity of their philosophy or the way they understood the world.

3. Debates took place in the kutagarashala (a hut with a pointed roof) and in groves where travelling mendicants halted.

4. If a philosopher succeeded in convincing one of his rivals, the followers of the latter also became his disciples. So support for any particular sect could grow and shrink over time.

5. Many of these teachers, including Mahavira and the Buddha, questioned the authority of the Vedas.

Fatalists and materialists

1. Fatalists or Ajivikas those who believe that everything is predetermined.

2. Materialists or Lokayatas those who believe that everything is not predetermined.

3. Fatalist teacher, named Makkhali Gosala, says that the wise and the fool cannot come out of karma. It can neither be lessened nor increased.

4. Materialist teacher Ajita Kesakambalin says that a human being is made up of the four elements. When he dies the earthy in him returns to the earth, the fluid to water, the heat to fire, the windy to air, and his senses pass into space. They do not survive after death.

The Message of Mahavira or philosophy of Jainism.

1. The important idea of Jainism is the entire world is animated: even stones, rocks and water have life.

2. Non-injury to living beings, especially to humans, animals, plants and insects, is central to Jainism

3. In fact the principle of ahimsa, emphasized within Jainism, has left its mark on Indian thinking.

4. According to Jaina teachings, the cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through karma.

5. Asceticism and penance are required to free oneself from the cycle of karma. This can be achieved only by renouncing the world.

Rules for Jain Monks

1. Jain monks and nuns took five vows such as to abstain from killing. 

2. To abstain from Stealing 

3.To abstain from Lying 

4. To observe celibacy 

5. To abstain from possessing property.

Jain Literature and Spread of Jainism

1. The teachings of Mahavira were recorded by his disciples. These were often in the form of stories, which could appeal to ordinary people.

2. Jaina scholars produced a wealth of literature in a variety of languages such as Prakrit, Sanskrit and Tamil.

3. For many centuries, manuscripts of these texts were carefully preserved in libraries attached to jain temples.

4. Gradually, Jainism spread to many parts of India such as Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

5. Some of the earliest stone sculptures associated with Jainism were produced by devotees of the Jaina tirthankaras.

Spread of Buddhism

1. Buddhism grew rapidly both during the lifetime of the Buddha and after his death, as it appealed to many people who dissatisfied with existing religious practices.

2. Buddha’s messages metta (fellow feeling) and karuna (compassion) spread across the subcontinent and beyond Central Asia , China, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia.

3. Buddha’s teachings have been reconstructed by carefully editing, translating and analyzing the Buddhist texts.

4. Historians have also tried to reconstruct details of his life from hagiographies.(Hagiography is a biography of a saint or religious leader)

5. Many of these were written down at least a century after the death of the Buddha, in an attempt to preserve memories of the great teacher.
Life of Buddha (What were the traumatic incidents changed the life of the Buddha?)

1. According to the traditions, Siddhartha was the son of a chief of the Sakya clan. He had a sheltered upbringing within the palace, avoiding the harsh realities of life.

2. One day he persuaded his charioteer to take him into the city. His first journey into the world outside was traumatic.

3. He was deeply anguished when he saw an old man, a sick man and a corpse (dead body). He realized in that moment that the decay and destruction of the human body was inevitable.

4. He also saw a homeless mendicant, who had come to terms with old age and disease

5. Soon after, he left the palace and set out in search of his own truth. Siddhartha explored several paths including bodily mortification which led him to a situation of near death. He meditated for several days and finally attained enlightenment. After this he came to be known as the Buddha or Enlightened.

The Teachings of the Buddha

1. According to Buddhist philosophy, the world is transient (anicca) and constantly changing; it is also soulless (anatta) as there is nothing permanent or eternal in it.

2. Within this transient world, sorrow (dukkha) is intrinsic to human existence.

3. By following the path of moderation between severe penance and self-indulgence that human beings can come out of these worldly troubles.

4. The Buddha regarded the social world as the creation of humans rather than of divine origin. Therefore, he advised kings and gahapatis to be humane and ethical towards common people.

5. Individual effort was expected to transform social relations. The Buddha emphasised individual agency and righteous action as the means to escape from the cycle of rebirth and attain self-realisation.

Followers of the Buddha(monks and nuns)

1. According to Buddhist tradition, Buddha’s last words to his followers were: “Be lamps unto yourselves as all of you must work out your own liberation.”

2. The body of disciples of the Buddha or an organisation of monks is called Sangha. Buddha founded a sangha. The monks too became teachers of dhamma.

3. These monks lived simple life by possessing only the essential requisites for survival, such as a bowl to receive food once a day from the laity. As they lived on alms, they were known as bhikkhus.

4. Initially, only men were allowed into the sangha, but later women also came to be admitted. The Buddha’s foster mother, Mahapajapati Gotami was the first woman to be ordained as a bhikkhuni. Many women who entered the sangha became teachers of dhamma.

5. The Buddha’s followers came from many social groups. They included kings, wealthy men, gahapatis, workers, slaves and craftspeople.

6. Once persons get into the sangha, all were regarded as equal, having shed their earlier social identities on becoming bhikkhus and bhikkhunis. The internal functioning of the sangha was based on the traditions where decisions were taken through discussions and voting.

Rules for monks and nuns

1. These are some of the rules laid down in the Vinaya Pitaka: When a new felt (blanket/rug) has been made by a bhikkhu, it is to be kept for (at least) six years.

2. Before the completion of six years if a Bhikku wanted to use a new one he has to be authorised by the other bhikkhus – it is to be forfeited and confessed.

3. In case a bhikkhu may accept two or three bowls of cakes or cooked grain-meal from a house if he so desires. If he should accept more than that, it is to be confessed.

4. Having accepted the two or three bowls and having taken them from there, he is to share them among the bhikkhus.

5. Any bhikkhu, who is leaving the lodging which belongs to the sangha, must inform to other Bhikkus.

Chaityas

1. From earliest times, people tended to regard certain places as sacred. These included sites with special trees or unique rocks, or sites of awe-inspiring natural beauty. These sites, with small shrines attached to them, were sometimes described as chaityas.

2. Buddhist literature mentions several chaityas. It also describes places associated with the Chaitya may also have been derived from the word chita, meaning a funeral pyre, and by extension a funerary mound.

What are Stupas?

Stupas are semi circular mount like structures in relics of Buddha are buried.

Where were stupas built?

Stupas were built in the places associated with Buddha’s life –
1. Lumbini-where he was born

2. Bodh Gaya -Where he attained enlightenment

3. Sarnath -Where he gave his first sermon( public speech) and

4. Kusinagara -Where he attained nibbana (Death) each of these places came to be regarded as sacred.

5. By the 200 BCE a number of stupas, including those at Bharhut, Sanchi and Sarnath were built.

Why were stupas built?

1. Stupas were built because relics of the Buddha such as his bodily remains or objects used by him were buried there.

2. According to a Buddhist text known as the Ashokavadana, Asoka distributed portions of the Buddha’s relics to every important town and ordered the construction of stupas over them.

How were stupas built?

1. Inscriptions found on the railings and pillars of stupas record donations made for building and decorating them. Some donations were made by kings such as the Satavahanas; others were made by guilds, such as associations of ivory workers.

2. Hundreds of donations were made by women and men who mention their names, place from where they came and their occupations and names of their relatives.

3. Bhikkhus and bhikkhunis also contributed towards building these monuments.

The structure of the stupa

1. The stupa originated as a simple semi-circular mound of earth called anda. Gradually, it evolved into a more complex structure, balancing round and square shapes.

2. Above the anda was the harmika, a balcony like structure that represented the abode of the gods.

3. Arising from the harmika was a mast called the yashti, often surmounted by a chhatrior umbrella. Around the mound was a railing, separating the sacred space from the secular world.

4. The early stupas at Sanchi and Bharhut were plain except for the stone railings. Later wooden fence and the gateways were richly carved and installed at the four cardinal points.

5. Later, the mound of the stupas came to be elaborately carved with niches and sculptures as at Amaravati, and Shahji- ki-Dheri in Pakistan.
Role of Begums in preserving the Stupa at Sanchi

1. Nineteenth-century Europeans like the French and English sought Shahjehan Begum’s permission to take away the eastern gateway, which was the best preserved, to be displayed in museums in France and England. But she refused.

2. The rulers of Bhopal, Shahjehan Begum and Sultan Jehan Begum, provided money for the preservation of the ancient site. That is why John Marshall dedicated his important volumes on Sanchi to Sultan Jehan.

3. She funded the museum that was built there as well as the guesthouse where John Marshall lived

4. She also funded the publication of the volumes written by John Marshall.

5. The stupa complex has survived due to wise decisions of Begums, and escaped from the eyes of railway contractors, builders, and those looking for finds to carry away to the museums of Europe.

The Fate of Amaravati Stupa

1. A local raja of Amaravathi wanted to build a temple from the ruins of the stupa at Amaravati. He decided to use the stone, and thought there might be some treasure buried in what seemed to be a hill.

2. Some years later, a British official named Colin Mackenzie visited the site. He found several pieces of sculpture and made detailed drawings of them, these reports were never published to protect the Stupa.

3. In 1854, Walter Elliot, the commissioner of Guntur visited Amaravati and collected several sculpture panels and took them away to Madras. These came to be called the Elliot marbles after him.

4. By the 1850s, some of the slabs from Amaravati were taken to different places: a) To the Asiatic Society of Bengal at Calcutta b) To the India Office in Madras and some even to London.
5. It was usual to find these sculptures adorning the gardens of British administrators.

View of H.H. Cole, about the preservation of ancient monuments:

1. He wrote: “It seems to me a suicidal and indefensible policy to allow the country to be looted of original works of ancient art.”

2. He believed that museums should have plaster-cast facsimiles of sculpture, whereas the originals should remain where they had been found.
3. Unfortunately, Cole did not succeed in convincing the authorities about Amaravati, although his plea for in situ (in the original place) preservation was adopted in the case of Sanchi.

Why did Sanchi survive while Amaravati did not?

1. Perhaps Amaravati was discovered before scholars understood the value of the finds and realised how critical it was to preserve things instead of removing them from the site.

2. When Sanchi was “discovered” in 1818, three of its four gateways were still standing, the fourth was lying on the spot where it had fallen and the mound was in good condition.

3. Points 3,4,5,6,7,8( about sanchi and Amaravathi stupas)


Stories in stone

1. Art historians who have carefully studied the Ist sculpture at Sanchi identify it as a scene from the Vessantara Jataka. This is a story about a generous prince who gave away everything to a Brahmana, and went to live in the forest with his wife and children.

2. According to hagiographies, the Buddha attained enlightenment while meditating under a tree. Many early sculptors did not show the Buddha in human form – instead, they showed his presence through symbol of an empty seat to indicate the meditation of the Buddha.

3. The Stupa was meant to represent the mahaparinibbana (death)
4. Another symbol was the wheel. This stood for the first sermon of the Buddha, at Sarnath.

5. A beautiful woman swinging from the edge of the gateway, holding onto a tree. Scholars realized that it could be a representation of a shalabhanjika. According to popular belief, this was a woman whose touch caused trees to flower and bear fruit.

6. Some of the finest depictions of animals are found in sanchi. These animals include elephants, horses, monkeys and cattle.

7. While the Jatakas contain several animal stories that are depicted at Sanchi, it is likely that many of these animals were carved to create lively scenes to draw viewers. Elephants were depicted to signify strength and wisdom.

8. Another motif is a woman surrounded by lotuses and elephants which are sprinkling water on her as if performing an abhisheka or consecration. While some historians identify the figure as Maya, the mother of the Buddha, others identify her with a popular goddess, Gajalakshmi – literally, the goddess of good fortune – who is associated with elephants.

9. The serpent motif, which is found on several pillars, seems to be derived from popular traditions, James Fergusson, considered Sanchi to be a centre of serpent worship.
The Division of Buddhism into Mahayana and Hinayana

1. By the first century CE, there is evidence of changes in Buddhist ideas and practices.

2. Early Buddhist teachings had given great importance to self-effort in achieving nibbana. Besides, the Buddha was regarded as a human being who attained enlightenment through his own efforts. Those who adopted these beliefs were described as Hinayana or the “lesser vehicle”.

3. However, gradually the idea of a saviour emerged. Buddha was regarded as a God the one who could ensure salvation. Those who adopted these beliefs were described as Mahayana or the “greater vehicle”.

4. Simultaneously, the concept of the Bodhisatta also developed. Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings they accumulated merit through their efforts not to attain nibbana but to help others.

5. The worship of images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas became an important part of Mahayana tradition.


The growth of Puranic Hinduism

1. Vaishnavism, a form of Hinduism within which Vishnu was worshipped as the principal deity.

2. Shaivism, a tradition within which Shiva was regarded as the chief god.
3. In such worship the bond between the devotee and the god was visualized as one of love and devotion,मनF
4. Within the Vaishnavism many cults developed around the various avatars or incarnations of the deity. Ten avatars were recognized within the tradition.

5. Avatars were forms that the deity was believed to have assumed in order to save the world whenever the world was threatened by evil forces.

6. It is likely that different avatars were popular in different parts of the country. Recognizing each of these local deities as a form of Vishnu was one way of creating a more unified religious tradition.

7. Shiva, for instance, was symbolized by the linga, although he was occasionally represented in human form too. All such representations depicted a complex set of ideas about the deities and their attributes through symbols such as headdresses, ornaments and weapons (auspicious objects) the deities hold in their hands – how they are seated.

8. To understand the meanings of these sculptures historians have to be familiar with the stories behind them – many of which are contained in the Puranas, compiled by Brahmanas

9. Puranas contained much that had been composed and been in circulation for centuries including stories about gods and goddesses. Generally, they were written in simple Sanskrit verse, and were meant to be read aloud to everybody, including women and Shudras, who did not have access to Vedic learning.
Building temples
1. The early temple was a small square room, called the garbhagriha, with a single doorway for the worshipper to enter and offer worship to the image.

2. Gradually, a tall structure, known as the shikhara, was built over the central shrine. Temple walls were often decorated with sculptures.
3. Later temples became far more elaborate – with assembly halls, huge walls and gateways, and arrangements for supplying water.

4. One of the unique features of early temples was that some of the temples were hollowed out of huge rocks, as artificial caves (Rock cut temples). The tradition of building artificial caves was an old one. Some of the earliest of these were constructed in the third century BCE on the orders of Asoka for renouncers who belonged to the Ajivika (fatalist) sect.

5. This tradition evolved through various stages and culminated much later – in the eighth century – in the carving out of an entire temple, that of Kailashnatha (a name of Shiva) in Maharashtra.

European Scholars with the unfamiliar Indian sculptures

1. In nineteenth century European scholars first saw some of the sculptures of gods and goddesses; they could not understand what these were about. Sometimes, they were horrified by what seemed to them grotesque figures, with multiple arms and heads or with combinations of human and animal forms.

2. These early scholars tried to make sense of what appeared to be strange images by comparing them with sculptures of ancient Greece. While they often found early Indian sculpture inferior to the works of Greek artists.

3. European scholars were very excited when they discovered images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas that were evidently based on Greek models. These were, more often than not, found in the northwest, in cities such as Taxila and Peshawar, where Indo-Greek rulers had established kingdoms in the second century BCE.

4. As these images were closest to the Greek statues these scholars were familiar with, they were considered to be the best examples of early Indian art (Gandhara Art-Use of Greek style to make sculptures for Indian Gods or religious teachers)
5. In effect, these scholars adopted a strategy we all frequently use – devising meaning from the familiar to make sense of the unfamiliar.

If text and sculpture do not match what do Art Historians do?

1. Art historians often draw upon textual traditions to understand the meaning of sculptures. While this is certainly a far more efficacious strategy than comparing Indian images with Greek statues, it is not always easy to use.

2. One of the most intriguing examples of this is a famous sculpture along a huge rock surface in Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu).

3. Art historians have searched through the Puranas to identify it and are sharply divided in their opinions.

4. Some feel that this depicts the descent of the river Ganga from heaven – the natural cleft through the centre of the rock surface might represent the river. The story itself is ye narrated in the Puranas and the epics.
5. Others feel that it represents a story from the Mahabharata – Arjuna doing penance on the river bank in order to acquire arms – pointing to the central figure of an ascetic.

1857 revolt ppt

 

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Class 12 Geography Objective Questions in Hindi

GEOGRAPHY CLASS 12 CHAPTER 1-  मानव भूगोल प्रकृति  एवं विषय क्षेत्र

1] निम्नलिखित में से कौन सी परिभाषा एलन सी सेम्पल द्वारा दी गई है :

A] मानव भूगोल मानव समाजों और धरातल के बीच संबंधों का संश्लेषित अध्ययन है 
B] मानव भूगोल अस्थिर पृथ्वी और क्रियाशील मानव के बीच परिवर्तनशील संबंधों का अध्ययन है 
C] मानव भूगोल पृथ्वी और मनुष्य के अंतर्संबंधों की एक नई संकल्पना प्रस्तुत करता है 
D] इनमे से कोई नहीं 

Ans- B

2] निम्नलिखित कथनों में से कौन सा एक भूगोल का वर्णन नहीं करता ?

A] समाकलनात्मक अनुशासन 
B] मानव और पर्यावरण के बीच अंतर्संबंधों का अध्ययन 
C] द्वैधता पर आश्रित 
D] प्रौद्योगिकी के विकास के फलस्वरूप आधुनिक समय में प्रासंगिक नहीं  

Ans- D

3] निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा एक भौगोलिक सूचना का स्त्रोत नहीं है ?

A] यात्रियों के विवरण 
B] प्राचीन महाकाव्य 
C] प्राचीन मानचित्र
D] इनमे से कोई नहीं 

Ans- B

4] निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा एक मानव भूगोल का उपागम नहीं है ?

A] क्षेत्रीय विभिन्नता 
B] स्थानिक संगठन 
C] मात्रात्मक क्रांति 
D] अन्वेषण और विवरण  

Ans- C

5] निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा एक लोगों और पर्यावरण के बीच अन्योन्यक्रिया का सर्वाधिक महत्वपूर्ण कारक है ? 

A] मानव बुद्धिमता 
B] प्रौद्योगिकी 
C] लोगों के अनुभव 
D] मानवीय भाईचारा  

Ans- B

6] निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा कथन अग्नि की खोज के बारे में सही है ?

A- घर्षण और ऊष्मा की संकल्पना ने अग्नि की खोज में हमारी मदद की
B- घर्षण और ऊष्मा की संकल्पना ने अग्नि की खोज में हमारी मदद नहीं की 
C- डीएनए और अनुवांशिकी के रहस्यों की समझ ने आग की खोज में हमारी मदद की 
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं   

Ans- A

7] निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा उपक्षेत्र राजनीतिक भूगोल का उपक्षेत्र नहीं है ?

A- निर्वाचन भूगोल 
B- ऐतिहासिक भूगोल 
C- सैन्य भूगोल 
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं  

Ans- B

8] निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा कथन प्रौद्योगिकी की विषय में सही है ?

A- मानव प्रौद्योगिकी का विकास करने में सफल नहीं हुआ है 
B- प्रौद्योगिकी समाज के सांस्कृतीक विकास के स्तर का सूचक होती है
C- प्रौद्योगिकी समाज के सांस्कृतीक विकास के स्तर का सूचक नहीं होती 
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं  

Ans- B

9] मानव भूगोल के क्षेत्र की नई संकल्पना ‘नवनिश्चयवाद’ का विचार निम्न में से किसके द्वारा दिया गया था ?

A- एलन सी सेंपल
B- ग्रिफिथ टेलर 
C- रैटज़ेल 
D- हम्बोल्ट   

Ans- B

10]  हमारी पृथ्वी को नियंत्रित करने वाले भौतिक नियमों तथा इस पर रहने वाले जीवों के मध्य संबंधों के आर्थिक संश्लेषित ज्ञान से उत्पन्न  संकल्पना भूगोल है |”
उपर्युक्त परिभाषा निम्नलिखित में से किस भूगोलवेत्ता की है ?

A- एलन सी सेंपल
B- ग्रिफिथ टेलर 
C- पॉल विडाल –डी –ला ब्लाश 
D- हम्बोल्ट   

Ans- C

11] आर्थिक भूगोल में निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा उपक्षेत्र शामिल नहीं है ? 

A- संसाधन भूगोल 
B- उद्योग भूगोल 
C- कृषि भूगोल 
D- पर्यावरण भूगोल

Ans - D

12] चौराहों पर लाल बत्ती का निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा अर्थ ठीक है ?

A- तैयार रहना 
B- रुकना 
C- जाओ 
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं 

Ans - B

13] मानव भूगोल की मानववादी विचारधारा का सम्बन्ध मुख्यतः निम्नलिखित में से किससे नहीं था ?

A- आवासन 
B- प्रवास 
C- स्वास्थ्य 
D- शिक्षा  

Ans - B

14] निम्नलिखित में से कौन 'रुको और जाओ' निश्चयवाद का मुख्य चिंतन विषय है ?

A- अभाव की अवस्था से स्वतंत्रता की अवस्था की ओर अग्रसर होना
B- मनुष्य  का प्रकृति के आदेशों के अनुसार अनुकूलन 
C- संभावनाएं एक सीमा के भीतर उत्पन्न की जा सकती हैं तथा अंधाधुंध रफ़्तार दुर्घटनाओं से मुक्त नहीं होती |  
D- पृथ्वी मनुष्य का घर है 

Ans - C

15] निम्न में कौन सा कथन मानव का प्रकृतिकरण / निश्चयवाद से सम्बंधित नहीं है ?

A- मानव प्रकृति की सुनता था
B- मानव के सामाजिक विकास की अवस्था आदिम थी 
C- मानवीय क्रियाएं अभाव से स्वतंत्रता की और अग्रसर थी   
D- तकनिकी ज्ञान का स्तर निम्न था 

Ans - C

16] "मानव भूगोल मानव समाजों और धरातल के बीच संबंधों का संश्लेषित अध्ययन है" यह परिभाषा किसके द्वारा दी गई ?

A- रेटजेल 
B- एलन सी सेम्पल 
C- विडाल डी-ला ब्लाश 
D- ग्रिफिथ टेलर 

Ans - A

17] "मानव प्रकृति के नियमों को बेहतर ढंग से समझने के बाद ही प्रद्योगिकी का विकास कर पाया” इसका उदाहरण है _____?

A- वायु गति के नियम
B- DNA तथा आनुवंशिकी के रहस्यों की समझ
C- घर्षण तथा ऊष्मा की संकल्पना (आग की खोज)
D- उपरोक्त सभी

Ans - D

18] निम्नलिखित में से किस भूगोलवेत्ता का सम्बंध संभववाद से है ?

A- इमानुएल कांट
B- रैटजेल
C- रिटर 
D- विडाल डी ला ब्लाश

Ans - D

19] निम्नलिखित में से कौनसा मानव भूगोल का उपागम नहीं है ?

A- क्षेत्रीय विभेदन 
B- अन्वेषण एवम विवरण 
C- प्रकृति का मानवीकरण 
D- भूगोल में उत्तर आधुनिकवाद

Ans - C

20] "मनुष्य अपने विकास की आरंभिक अवस्था मे प्रकृति के प्रकोप से डरता था और प्रकति की सुनता था और उसकी पूजा करता था" यह कथन मानव भूगोल की किस विचारधारा से सम्बन्धित है- 

A- संभववाद 
B- नव निश्चयवाद 
C- निश्चयवाद 
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं

Ans - C

21] आरम्भिक उपनिवेशिक युग मे भूगोल का कौनसा उपागम प्रचलित था ?

A- प्रादेशिक विश्लेषण 
B- अन्वेषण और विवरण 
C- स्थानिक संगठन
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं

Ans - B

22] निम्नलिखित में से कौनसी शाखा मानव भूगोल की शाखा से सम्बन्धित नहीं है -

A- जनसंख्या भूगोल
B- नगरीय भूगोल 
C- आवास भूगोल
D- समुद्रविज्ञान

Ans - D

23] भूगोल में उत्तर- आधुनिकवाद की समय अवधि है __________________ ? 

A- 1980 का दशक
B- 1970 का दशक
C- 1960 का दशक
D- 1990 का दशक

Ans - D

24] निम्नलिखित में से किस उपागम में कंप्यूटर और सांख्यकीय विधियों का प्रयोग किया जाता है ?

A- प्रादेशिक विश्लेषण 
B- क्षेत्रीय विभेदन
C- स्थानिक संगठन 
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं

Ans - C

25] "एक प्रदेश अन्य प्रदेशों से किस प्रकार भिन्न है और क्यों भिन्न है यह समझने के लिए कौनसा उपागम प्रसिद्ध है ? 

A- क्षेत्रीय  विभेदन
B- स्थानिक संगठन 
C- भूगोल में उत्तर आधुनिकवाद 
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं

Ans - A

26] "रुको और जाओ" निश्चयवाद के नाम से किस विचारधारा को जाना जाता है ?"

A- संभववाद 
B- नवनिश्चयवाद
C- निश्चयवाद
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं

Ans - B

27] मानव भूगोल की कल्याणपरक तथा मानवतावादी विचारधारा का सम्बंध ____ से था ?

A- देश के कल्याण 
B- लोगो के सामाजिक कल्याण
C- लोगो के नुकसान
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं

Ans - B

28] मानव भूगोल की आमूलवादी (रेडिकल) विचारधारा ने ____ के सिद्धांत का उपयोग किया ?

A- अरस्तु
B- मार्क्स
C- समुदायवादी
D- इनमे से कोई नहीं

Ans - B

29] निम्नलिखित में से कौनसा सामाजिक भूगोल का उपक्षेत्र है ?

A- लिंग भूगोल
B- सैन्य भूगोल
C- जनसंख्या भूगोल
D- कृषि भूगोल

Ans - A

30] निम्नलिखित में से कौनसा आर्थिक भूगोल का एक उपक्षेत्र है ?

A- संसाधन भूगोल
B- व्यवहारवादी भूगोल
C- पर्यटन भूगोल
D- a तथा c

Ans - D

31] निम्नलिखित में से कौनसा राजनीतिक भूगोल का एक  उपक्षेत्र है ?

A- उद्योग भूगोल
B- सांस्कृतिक भूगोल
C- निर्वाचन भूगोल
D- विपणन भूगोल

Ans – C

निम्नलिखित कथनों में से कौन-सा एक भूगोल का वर्णन नहीं करता?

 

A.      समाकलनात्मक अनुशासन 

B.      मानव और पर्यावरण के बीच अंतः संबंधों का अध्ययन 

C.      द्वैधता पर आश्रित 

D.      प्रौद्योगिकी के विकास के फलस्वरूप आधुनिक समय में प्रासंगिक नहीं

Ans:- D

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निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा एक भौगोलिक सूचना का स्रोत नहीं है?

 

A.      यात्रियों के विवरण 

B.      प्राचीन मानचित्र 

C.      चंद्रमा से चट्टानी पदार्थों के नमूने 

D.      प्राचीन महाकाव्य

Ans:- C

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निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक लोगों और पर्यावरण के बीच अन्योन्य क्रिया का सर्वाधिक महत्वपूर्ण कारक है?

 

A.      मानव बुद्धिमान 

B.      प्रौद्योगिकी 

C.      लोगों के अनुभव 

D.      मानवीय भाईचारा

Ans:- A

निम्नलिखित में कौन सा एक मानव भूगोल का उपागम नहीं है

 

A.      क्षेत्रीय विभिन्नता 

B.      मात्रात्मक क्रांति 

C.      स्थानिक संगठन 

D.      अन्वेषण और वर्णनात्मक उपागम

Ans:- B

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“मानव भूगोल की यासीन मानव और अवस्थाई पृथ्वी के परिवर्तनशील संबंधों का अध्ययन है” ये किसने कहा?

 

A.      प्रो. हंटिंगटन

B.      कुमारी सैंपल ले

C.      डेविस ने

D.      जीन ब्रूंश ने

Ans:- B

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“मानव भूगोल विचारकों के विकास की अभिव्यंजना है, न की भौगोलिक ज्ञान के विस्तार और खोज का कोई तात्कालिक परिणाम है” यह परिभाषा किसने दी?

 

A.      जीन ब्रुंश ने

B.      विडाल डी ला ब्लॉश ने

C.      हंटिंगटन ने

D.      फ्रेडरिक रैटजेल ने

Ans:- B

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एंथ्रोपॉजियोग्राफी किसने लिखी?

 

A.      विडाल डी ला ब्लॉश ने

B.      रैटजेल ने

C.      डेविस

D.      जीन ब्रूंश

Ans:- B

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‘ज्योग्राफिया जनरलिस’ के लेखक कौन है?

 

A.      सैंपल 

B.      वारेनियस 

C.      रैटजेल ने

D.      डार्विन

Ans:- B

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1990 का दशक भूगोल के किस उपागम के लिए जाना जाता है?

 

A.      उत्तर आधुनिकतावाद 

B.      आधुनिकतावाद 

C.      अन्वेषणवाद 

D.      संभववाद

Ans:- B

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निम्नलिखित में से कौन-सा एक मानव भूगोल से संबंधित नहीं है?

 

 

A.      मात्रात्मक क्रांति 

B.      क्षेत्रीय विभिन्नता 

C.      स्थानिक संगठन 

D.      अन्वेषण और वर्णन

Ans:- D

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आधुनिक मानव भूगोल के जनक हैं-

 

A.      फ्रेडरिक रैटजेल

B.      वारेनियस 

C.      चार्ल्स डार्विन 

D.      एलेेन सैंपल

Ans:- A

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मानव भूगोल का जनक किसे कहा जाता है?

 

A.      स्ट्राबो

B.      टॉलमी

C.       हैकेल

D.       रेटजेल

Ans:- A

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नव निश्चयवाद के प्रवर्तक कौन है अथवा नव निश्चयवाद से संबंधित कौन है?

 

A.      टेलर 

B.      हंबोल्ट 

C.      रेटजल 

D.      ब्लॉश

Ans:- A

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नियतिवाद के विचारक कौन थे?

 

A.      कांट 

B.      हंबोल्ट 

C.      रीटर

D.      इनमें से सभी

Ans:- D

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संभववाद शब्द का प्रयोग सर्वप्रथम किस फ्रांसीसी विद्वान ने किया?

 

A.      विडाल डी ला ब्लॉश

B.      लुसीएन फैबरे

C.      फ्रांसिस बेकन

D.      जीन ब्रूंस

Ans:- B

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किसने कहा “मानव प्रकृति का दास है”?

 

A.      हंटिंगटन 

B.      अरस्तु 

C.      एलन सैंपल 

D.      बकले

Answer

 

GEOGRAPHY – CLASS 12 CHAPTER-2

1. निम्नलिखित में किस देश की जनसंख्या बढ़ने के बदले घटते जा रही है ?

A.ओमान

B. लाइबेरिया

C. लाटविया

D. डेनमार्क

ANS: C

2. निम्नलिखित में किस देश की जनसंख्या सबसे अधिक है ?

A. संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका

 B. ब्राजील

C. बांग्लादेश

D. इंडोनेशिया

ANS: A

3. निम्नलिखित में से किस एक महाद्वीप में जनसंख्या वृद्धि सर्वाधिक है ?

A. एशिया

B. अफ्रीका

C. दक्षिण अमेरिका

D. उत्तरी अमेरिका

ANS: B

4. जनांकिकीय संक्रमण सिद्धांत किसने दिया ?

A. मार्शल

B. अमर्त्य सेन

C. A & B दोनों

D. इनमें से कोई नहीं

ANS: D

5. निम्न में से कौन सघन जनसंख्या वाले क्षेत्र हैं ?

A. भूमध्य रेखीय प्रदेश

B. ध्रुवीय प्रदेश

C. मरुस्थलीय क्षेत्र

D. दक्षिण पूर्वी एशिया क्षेत्र

ANS: D

6. निम्न में से कौन एक जनसंख्या परिवर्तन का कारक नहीं है ?

A. प्रवास

B. आवास

C. जन्म

D. मृत्यु

ANS: B

7. निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा एक विरल जनसंख्या वाला क्षेत्र नहीं है ?

A. ध्रुवीय प्रदेश

B. भूमध्य रेखिये प्रदेश

C. दक्षिण पूर्वी एशिया

D. अटाकामा

ANS: C

8. प्रतिकष और अपकर्ष कारक उत्तरदाई है ?

A. प्रवास के लिए

B. भू-निम्नीकरण के लिए

C. वायु प्रदूषण के लिए

D. गंदी बस्तियों के लिए

ANS: A

9. सऊदी अरब में किस दिशा के क्षेत्र में सबसे घनी आबादी प्राचीन काल से ही हैं ?

A. पूर्व

B. पश्चिम

C. उत्तर

D. दक्षिण

ANS: B

10. निम्नलिखित में किस वर्ष के आसपास विकसित और विकासशील देशों में नगरीय जनसंख्या लगभग बराबर थी ?

A. 1950

B. 1970

C. 2000

D. 2007

ANS: B

11. निम्नलिखित में कौन सा तथ्य नहीं है ?

A. विगत 500 वर्ष में मानव जनसंख्या 10 गुना से अधिक बढ़ी है

B. विश्व जनसंख्या में प्रतिवर्ष 8 करोड लोग जुड़ जाते हैं

 C. 5 अरब से 6 अरब तक बढ़ने में जनसंख्या को 100 वर्ष लगे

D. जनांकिकीय संक्रमण की प्रथम अवस्था में जनसंख्या वृद्धि उच्च होती है

ANS: D

12. जनसंख्या वितरण को प्रभावित करने वाले कारकों में सबसे महत्वपूर्ण कारक कौन से हैं ?

A. स्थलाकृति

B. मिट्टी

C. प्राकृतिक वनस्पति

D. जलवायु

13. किस वर्ष विश्व की मानव जनसंख्या 6 अरब  हुई ?

A. 1750

B. 1775

C. 1880

D. 1999

ANS: D

GEO CLASS 12 CHAPTER – 3

1.       निम्नलिखित में से किस ने संयुक्त अरब अमीरात के लिंगानुपात को निम्न किया ?
a. पुरुष कार्यशील जनसंख्या का चयनित प्रवास
b. पुरुषों के उच्च जन्म दर
c. स्त्रियों के निम्न जन्म दर
d. स्त्रियों का ऊंच उत्प्रवास

2.       निम्नलिखित में से किस देश में पुरुषों की अपेक्षा महिलाओं की संख्या सबसे अधिक है ?
a. जापान
b. फ्रांस
c. लाटविया
d. अर्जेंटीना

3.       निम्नलिखित में से किस क्षेत्र में ग्रामीण जनसंख्या का प्रतिशत सबसे कम है ?
a. ओसेनिया
b. उत्तरी अमेरिका
c. लेटिन अमेरिका
d. यूरोप

4.       निम्नलिखित में से किस क्षेत्र में 15 वर्ष से अधिक आयु के साक्षरो का प्रतिशत सबसे अधिक है ?
a. लेटिन अमेरिका और कैरेबियन
b. पूर्वी यूरोप और स्वतंत्र देशों का राष्ट्रकुल
c. आर्थिक सहयोग और विकास संगठन
d. चीन को छोड़कर शेष पूर्वी एशिया

5.       निम्नलिखित में से किस ने संयुक्त अरब अमीरात के लिंग अनुपात को निम्न किया है?
a. पुरुष कार्यशील जनसंख्या का चयनित प्रवास
b. पुरुषों की उच्च जन्म दर
c. स्त्रियों की निम्न जन्म दर
d. स्त्रियों का उच्च उत्प्रवास

6.       निम्नलिखित में से कौन सी संख्या जनसंख्या के कार्यशील आयु वर्ग का प्रतिनिधित्व करती है?
a. 15 से 65 वर्ष
b. 14 से 66 वर्ष
c. 12 से 64वर्ष
d. 15 से 59 वर्ष

7.       निम्नलिखित में से किस देश का लिंगानुपात विश्व में सर्वाधिक है
a. लाटविया
b. जापान
c. संयुक्त अरब अमीरात
d. फ्रांस

8.       निम्नांकित में से किस देश में न्यूनतम जन्म दर पाई जाती है?
a. फ्रांस
b. जापान
c. जर्मनी
d. संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका

9.       विश्व में सबसे अधिक प्रजनन दर वाला देश है-
a. नाइजर
b. युगांडा
c. माली
d. सोमालिया

10.    निम्नांकित में से कौन सा आयु वर्ग नहीं है?
a. 0-14 वर्ष
b. 15-59 वर्ष
c. 60 वर्ष से अधिक
d. 90 वर्ष से अधिक

11.    विश्व में सबसे अधिक नगरीकृत देश है-
a. संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका में
b. ग्रेट ब्रिटेन में
c. ऑस्ट्रेलिया में
d. मिस्त्र में

12.    विश्व में सबसे अधिक लिंगानुपात किस देश का है?
a. लाटविया
b. यू. ए. ई.
c. जापान
d. फ्रांस

13.    निम्नलिखित में से किस ने संयुक्त अरब अमीरात के लिंग अनुपात को निम्न किया है?
a. पुरुष कार्यशील जनसंख्या का चयनित प्रवास
b. पुरुषों की उच्च जन्म दर
c. स्त्रियों की निम्न में जन्म दर
d. स्त्रियों का उच्च उत्प्रवास

14.    एक सौ प्रतिशत शहरी जनसंख्या वाले देश का नाम है?
a. सिंगापुर
b. थाईलैंड
c. जापान
d. इंडोनेशिया

15.    निम्न में से कौन आयु वर्ग कार्यशील जनसंख्या का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है ?
a. 15 से 25 वर्ष
b. 15 से 50 वर्ष
c. 18 से 60 वर्ष
d. 15 से 59 वर्ष

16.    निम्नलिखित में से किसने संयुक्त अरब अमीरात के लिंगानुपात को निम्न किया?
a. पुरुष कार्यशील जनसंख्या का चयनित प्रवास
b. पुरुषों के उच्च जन्म दर
c. स्त्रियों के निम्न जन्म दर
d. स्त्रियों का उच्च प्रवास

17.    निम्नलिखित में से किस देश में पुरुषों की अपेक्षा महिलाओं की संख्या सबसे अधिक है ?
a. जापान
b. फ्रांस
c. अर्जेंटीना
d. लाटविया

18.    निम्नलिखित में से किस क्षेत्र में ग्रामीण जनसंख्या का प्रतिशत सबसे कम है ?
a. उत्तरी अमेरिका
b. लेटिन अमेरिका
c. यूरोप
d. ओसेनिया

19.    निम्नलिखित में से किस क्षेत्र में 15 वर्ष से अधिक आयु के छात्रों का प्रतिशत सबसे अधिक है ?
a. लैटिन अमेरिका और अरेबियन
b. पूर्वी यूरोप और स्वतंत्र देशों का राष्ट्रकूल
c. आर्थिक सहयोग और विकास संगठन
d. चीन को छोड़कर शेष पूर्वी एशिया

GEO CLASS 12 CHAPATER – 4

1.       निम्नलिखित में कौन मानव विकास के मूलभूत क्षेत्र हैं ?
a) स्वास्थ्य
b) संसाधन
c) शिक्षा
d) उपरोक्त सभी

2.       निम्नलिखित में कौन मानव विकास का स्तंभ नहीं है ?
a) समानता
b) उत्पादकता
c) जनसंख्या
d) इनमें से कोई नहीं

3.       निम्नलिखित में कौन सा देश उच्च मानव विकास वाला नहीं है ?
a) नॉर्वे
b) अर्जेटीना
c) जापान
d) मिस्र

4.       निम्नलिखित में कौन सा विकास का सर्वोत्तम वर्णन करता है ?
a) आकार में वृद्धि में
b) गुण में धनात्मक परिवर्तन
c) गुण में साधारण परिवर्तन
d) आकार में स्थिरता

5.       मानव विकास सूचकांक ( 2005 ) के संदर्भ में विश्व के देशों में भारत के निम्नलिखित में से कौन सी कोठी है ?
a) 126
b) 128
c) 127
d) 129

6.       विकासशील देशों की जनसंख्या के सामाजिक ढांचे के विकास एवं आवश्यकताओं की पूर्ति में कौन से प्रकार के संसाधन सहायक है ?
a) वित्तीय
b) मानवीय
c) प्राकृतिक
d) सामाजिक

7.       निम्नलिखित में कौन सा देश विकासशील है ?
a) जापान
b) आस्ट्रेलिया
c) फ्रांस
d) नाइजीरिया

8.       निम्नलिखित में कौन सा विकास का सर्वोत्तम वर्णन करता है?
a. आकार में वृद्धि
b. गुण में धनात्मक परिवर्तन
c. आकार में स्थिरता
d. गुणों में साधारण परिवर्तन

9.       मानव विकास की अवधारणा निम्नलिखित में से किस विद्वान की देन है?
a. प्रो अमतर्य सेन
b. डॉक्टर महबूब उल हक
c. एलन सी सैंपल
d. रेटजेल

10.    निम्नलिखित में कौन सा देश उच्च मानव विकास वाला नहीं है?
a. नॉर्वे
b. अर्जेंटीना
c. जापान
d. मिश्र

11.    उच्च जन्म दर एवं उच्च मृत्यु- दर वाला महाद्वीप है?
a. एशिया
b. अफ्रीका
c. उत्तरी अमेरिका
d. ऑस्ट्रेलिया

12.    निम्नलिखित में से किस देश का उच्च मानव विकास सूचकांक उच्च नहीं है?
a. श्रीलंका
b. ट्रिनिडाड
c.
d. म्यांमार

13.    निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा देश उच्च मानव विकास स्तर में सम्मिलित नहीं ?
a. नॉर्वे
b. भारत
c. ऑस्ट्रेलिया
d. कनाडा

14.    निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा देश उच्च मानव विकास वाला है?
a. दक्षिणअफ्रीका
b. भारत
c. नॉर्वे
d. मिस्र

15.    मानव विकास की अवधारणा निम्नलिखित में से किस व्यक्ति की देन है?
a. प्रो अमतर्य सेन
b. डॉ मनमोहन सिंह
c. मकबूल उल हक
d. एल सी सम्पुल

FUNDAMENTAL : NATURE AND SCOPE

GEO CHAPTER 1

Q.1 Main feature of Early Colonial period is:

(A) the discovery and exploration of new areas
(B) identifying the uniqueness of any region
(C) phase of the quantitative revolution
(D) grand generalisations and the applicability of universal theories

ANS:

(A) the discovery and exploration of new areas

 

Q.2 Who coined determinism?

(A) Ratzel
(B) Griffith Taylor
(C) Ellen C. Semple
(D) Paul Vidal de la Blache

ANS:

(B) Griffith Taylor

 

Q.3 Who said, “Human geography is the synthetic study of relationship between human societies and earth’s surface.”?

(A) Ratzel
(B) Griffith Taylor
(C) Ellen C. Semple
(D) Paul Vidal de la Blache

 

ANS:

  (A) Ratzel

 

Q.4 Who first used the term Geography?

(A) Hipparchus
(B) Hecataeus
(C) Herodotus
(D) Eratosthenes

ANS:

 

(D) Eratosthenes

 

Q.5 Welfare or humanistic school of thought in human geography was mainly concerned with:

(A) the different aspects of social well-being of the people
(B) the basic cause of poverty,deprivation and social inequality
(C) the perception of space by social categories based on ethnicity, race, religion, etc.
(D) All of these

ANS:

 

(A) the different aspects of social well-being of the people

 

Q.6 Which of these factors is the most important consideration for the relationship between humans and environment?

(A) People’s perception
(B) Technology
(C) Human intelligence
(D) Human brotherhood

 

 

Q.7 One of these choices is not an approach to Human Geography:

(A) Quantitative Revolution
(B) Areal Differentiation
(C) Regional Analysis
(D) Spatial Organisation

ANS:

 

(A) Quantitative Revolution

 

Q.8 Which of the following is not a subfield of Social Geography?

(A) Medical Geography
(B) Historical Geography
(C) Military Geography
(D) Cultural Geography

ANS:

 

(C) Military Geography

 

Q.9 Which geographer out of the following belongs to France?

(A) Huntigton
(B) Vidal de la Blache
(C) Semple
(D) Trewartha

ANS:

 

(B) Vidal de la Blache

 

Q.10 Which branch of geography does not belong to Human Geography?

(A) Population Geography
(B) Economic Geography
(C) Physical Geography
(D) Social Geography

 

 

Q.11 Which approach was supported by Vidal de la Blache?

(A) Determinism
(B) Possibilism
(C) Humanism
(D) Welfare approach.

ANS:

 

(B) Possibilism

 

Q.12 Which element is not a part of the physical environment?

(A) Climate
(B) Relief
(C) Agriculture
(D) Water

ANS:

 

(C) Agriculture

 

Q.13 Who proposed the concept of Neodeterminism?

(A) Griffith Taylor
(B) Blache
(C) Huntington
(D) Ritter

ANS:

 

(A) Griffith Taylor

 

Q.14 Which subject is called mother discipline?

(A) Geography
(B) Economics
(C) History
(D) Political Science.

ANS:

 

(A) Geography

 

Q.15 Which element is not a part of the cultural environment?

(A) Villages
(B) Towns
(C) Ports
(D) Climate

ANS:

 

(D) Climate

---

Q.16 Which concept helped to discover fire?

(A) Gravity
(B) Friction
(C) DNA
(D) Dynamics

ANS:

B

---

Q.17 Which element is called ‘Mother Nature’ ?

(A) Physical Environment
(B) Cultural Environment
(C) Political Environment
(D) Industrial Environment

ANS:

 

(A) Physical Environment

 

Q.18 Which one of the following statements does not describe Geography?

(A) an integrative discipline
(B) study of the interrelationship between humans and environment
(C) subjected to dualism
(D) not relevant in the present time due to the development of technology

ANS:

 

(D) not relevant in the present time due to the development of technology

 

Q.19 The two main branches of geography are

(A) Economic and Social
(B) Physical and Urban
(C) Political and Historical
(D) Physical and Human

ANS:

 

(D) Physical and Human

 

Q.20 Which one of the following statements does not describe Geography?

(A) An integrative discipline.
(B) Study of the inter-relationship between humans and environment.
(C) Subjected to dualism.
(D) Not relevant in the present time due to the development of technology.

ANS:

 

(D) Not relevant in the present time due to the development of technology.

The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth Class 12 MCQ Questions : CHAPTER 2

Q.1 Which continent has the highest growth rate of the population?

(A) Asia
(B) Africa
(C) Europe
(D) Australia

ANS:

 

(B) Africa

 

Q.2 What was the world population at the time of the Industrial Revolution?

(A) 30 crore
(B) 40 crore
(C) 50 crore
(D) 60 crore

 

 

Q.3 Which is the most populated country?

(A) China
(B) India
(C) Russia
(D) Germany

ANS:

 

(A) China

 

Q.4 How many people are added to the world population every year?

(A) 6 crore
(B) 7 crore
(C) 8 crore
(D) 10 crore

ANS:

 

(C) 8 crore

 

Q.5 The ten most populated countries have a world population:

(A) 50%
(B) 60%
(C) 70%
(D) 80%

ANS:

 

(B) 60%

 

Q.6 Which one of the following continents has the highest growth of population:

(A) Africa
(B) South America
(C) Asia
(D) North America

ANS:

 

(A) Africa

 

Q.7 Which one of the following is not an area of the sparse population?

(A) The Atacama
(B) Equatorial Region
(C) South-East Asia
(D) Polar Regions

ANS:

 

(C) South-East Asia

 

Q.8 Which of the following is not a push factor:

(A) Water shortage
(B) Unemployment
(C) Medical/Educational facilities
(D) Epidemics

ANS:

 

(C) Medical/Educational facilities

 

Q.9 Which one of the following continents has the highest growth of population?

(A) Africa
(B) South America
(C) Asia
(D) North America

ANS:

 

(A) Africa

 

Q.10 Which one of the following is not an area of sparse population?

(A) The Atacama
(B) Equatorial Region
(C) South-East Asia
(D) Polar Regions

ANS:

 

(C) South-East Asia

 

Q.11 Which of the following is not a push factor?

(A) Water shortage
(B) Unemployment
(C) Medical/Educational facilities
(D) Epidemics

ANS:

 

(C) Medical/Educational facilities

 

Q.12 Which of the following is not one of the most populous countries?

(A) India
(B) China
(C) Norway
(D) Brazil

 

 

Q.13 Which of the following is the factor affecting the population distribution?

(A) Availability of water
(B) Fertile soil
(C) Comfortable climate
(D) All of these

ANS:

 

(D) All of these

 

Q.14 What was the world population at the beginning of the 21st century?

(A) Over 2.1 billion
(B) Over 6 billion
(C) Over 7.2 billion
(D) Over 9.1 billion

ANS:

 

(B) Over 6 billion

 

Q.15 Which are the components of population change?

(A) Birth rate
(B) Death rate
(C) Migration
(D) All of these

ANS:

 

(D) All of these

 

Q.16 Which continent has the highest growth rate of population in the world in 2010¬2015?

(A) Asia
(B) Africa
(C) North America
(D) Europe

ANS:

 

(B) Africa

 

Q.17 What was world population at the beginning of the 21st century?

(A) 4 billion
(B) 6 billion
(C) 8 billion
(D) 10 billion

ANS:

 

(B) 6 billion

 

Q.18 What is the present growth rate of population in the world?

(A) 1.0%
(B) 1.2%
(C) 1.4%
(D) 1.6%

ANS:

 

(B) 1.2%

 

Q.19 How many times The world population has increased during the last 500 years?

(A) 4
(B) 6
(C) 8
(D) 10

ANS:

 

(D) 10

 

Q.20 What is the average density of the world population? (per sq. km.)

(A) 31
(B) 35
(C) 38
(D) 54

ANS:

 

(D) 54

 

Q.21 Which of these statements is not true?

(A) Human population increase more than ten times in the past 500 years.
(B) Human population rose from 5 billion to 6 billion in 100 years.
(C) It took more than a million years for the human population to attain the one billion mark.
(D) In the twentieth century itself the human population has increased four times.

ANS:

 

(B) Human population rose from 5 billion to 6 billion in 100 years.

Chapter 3: Population Composition Class 12 MCQ Questions

 

Q.1 In European countries, a deficit of males is due to:

(A) Low Birth Rate
(B) High Death Rate
(C) Better status of women
(D) Better status of men

ANS:

 

(C) Better status of women

 

Q.2 In which continent, low sex ratio is found:

(A) Europe
(B) Asia
(C) North America
(D) Australia

ANS:

 

(B) Asia

 

Q.3 The aging population has aged more than:

(A) 40 years
(B) 45 years
(C) 50 years
(D) 60 years

ANS:

 

(D) 60 years

 

Q.4 Expanding population Pyranrd Shows.

(A) Wide Base
(B) Narrow Base
(C) Developed economy
(D) Uniform width

ANS:

 

(A) Wide Base

 

Q.5 Which type of age-sex pyramid is of Australia?

(A) Expanding
(B) Constant
(C) Declining
(D) Negative

ANS:

 

(B) Constant

 

Q.6 Which one of the following has caused the sex ratio of the United Arab Emirates to be low.

(A) Selective migration of working population
(B) High birth rate of males
(C) Low birth rate of females
(D) High out-migration of females

ANS:

 

(D) High out-migration of females

 

Q.7 Which one of the following figures represents the working-age group of the population?

(A) 15 to 65 years
(B) 15 to 66 years
(C) 15 to 64 years
(D) 15 to 59 years.

ANS:

 

(D) 15 to 59 years.

 

Q.8 Which one of the following countries has the highest sex ratio in the world?

(A) Latvia
(B) Japan
(C) the United Arab Emirates
(D) France.

ANS:

 

(A) Latvia

 

Q.9 Which diagram shows age-sex structure?

(A) A line graph
(B) A bar graph
(C) A pie diagram
(D) A population pyramid

ANS:

 

(D) A population pyramid

 

Q.10 In which country, is the lowest sex ratio found?

(A) Latvia
(B) Japan
(C) Qatar
(D) France

ANS:

 

(C) Qatar

 

Q.11 Which country’s population shows a constant population?

(A) India
(B) Japan
(C) Australia
(D) France

ANS:

 

(C) Australia

 

Q.12 The highest sex ratio in the world has been recorded in Latvia which is

(A) 85 males per 100 females
(B) 37 males per 100 females
(C) 108 males per 100 females
(D) 90 males per 100 males

ANS:

 

(A) 85 males per 100 females

 

Q.13 Which of the following are the characteristics of population in developed countries?

(A) Share of older people is large
(B) Population in higher age group has increased due to increased life expectancy
(C) The proportion of children has declined due to reduction in birth rates
(D) All of these

ANS:

 

(D) All of these

 

Q.14 Which of the following age group is considered an ageing population?

(A) Above 30 years
(B) Above 40 years
(C) Above 50 years
(D) Above 60 years

ANS:

 

(D) Above 60 years

 

Q.15 Which country’s population shows expanding population?

(A) Japan
(B) Bangladesh
(C) Mexico
(D) Both (b) and (c)

ANS:

 

(D) Both (b) and (c)

 

Q.16 Which of the following type of population pyramid is reflected by Australia?

(A) Constant
(B) Expanding
(C) Declining
(D) None of these

ANS:

 

(A) Constant

 

Q.17 Which of the following options is reflected by the population pyramid of Japan?

(A) Low birth and high death rates
(B) High birth and low death rates
(C) Low birth and low death rates
(D) High birth and high death rates

ANS:

 

(C) Low birth and low death rates

 

Q.18 Which attribute does not distinguish people?

(A) Age
(B) Sex
(C) Occupation
(D) Industries

ANS:

 

(D) Industries

 

Q.19 The average world sex ratio is:

(A) 970
(B) 980
(C) 990
(D) 995

ANS:

 

(C) 990

 

Q.20 Favourable sex ratio is found in how many countries.

(A) 109
(B) 119
(C) 129
(D) 139

ANS:

 

(D) 139

 

Q.21 Which one of the following has caused the sex ratio of the United Arab Emirates to below?

(A) Selective migration of working population
(B) High birth rate of males
(C) Low birth rate of females
(D) High outmigration of females

ANS:

 

(D) High outmigration of females

Chapter 4: Human Development Class 12 MCQ Questions

Q.1 How many countries have a low level of human development?

(A) 12
(B) 22
(C) 72
(D) 42

ANS:

 

(C) 72

 

Q.2 What is the score of the high development index?

(A) Above 0.6
(B) Above 0.7
(C) Above 0.8
(D) Above 0.9

ANS:

 

(C) Above 0.8

 

Q.3 Where does India rank in the world Human Development Index?

(A) 107
(B) 117
(C) 136
(D) 137

ANS:

 

(C) 136

 

Q.4 Which country ranks first in the world in Human Development Index?

(A) Canada
(B) Norway
(C) Iceland
(D) Australia

ANS:

 

(B) Norway

 

Q.5 Which one of the following best describes development?

(A) An increase in size
(B) A constant in size
(C) A positive change in quality
(D) A simple change in the quality

ANS:

 

(C) A positive change in quality

 

Q.6 Which one of the following scholars introduced the concept of Human Development?

(A) Prof. Amartya Sen
(B) Ellen C. Sein pie
(C) Dr. Mahabub-Ul-Haq
(D) Ratzel

ANS:

 

(C) Dr. Mahabub-Ul-Haq

 

Q.7 Which of these is not a key area on which Human Development Index of a country is determined?

(A) Health
(B) Education
(C) Happiness
(D) Access to resources

ANS:

 

(C) Happiness

 

Q.8 Which of the following are the pillars of Human development?

(A) Equity
(B) Sustainability
(C) Productivity
(D) All of these

ANS:

 

(D) All of these

 

Q.9 What is the measure of access to resources?

(A) Medical facilities
(B) Good governance
(C) Purchasing power
(D) Education

ANS:

 

(C) Purchasing power

 

Q.10 ILO stands for

(A) International Labour Organisation
(B) Indian Labour Organisation
(C) International Law Organisation
(D) Indian Law Organisation

ANS:

 

(A) International Labour Organisation

 

Q.11 UNDP stands for

(A) United Nation Dual Programme
(B) United Nation Drainage Programme
(C) United Nation Development Programme
(D) United Nation Departmental Programme

ANS:

 

(C) United Nation Development Programme

 

Q.12 Which is the only country in the world that officially proclaims the Gross National Happiness (GNH) as the measure of the country’s progress?

(A) Nepal
(B) India
(C) Bhutan
(D) Sri Lanka

ANS:

 

(C) Bhutan

 

Q.13 Which of these is the most significant aspect of human development?

(A) Income approach
(B) Welfare approach
(C) Capability approach
(D) Health approach

ANS:

 

(D) Health approach

 

Q.14 Which of the following countries rank highest in the Human Development Index?

(A) Sweden
(B) Norway
(C) France
(D) Bangaldesh

ANS:

 

(B) Norway

 

Q.15 What was the rank of India in the Human Development Index 2016?

(A) 100
(B) 113
(C) 120
(D) 130

ANS:

 

(D) 130

 

Q.16 Gross National Happiness encourages us to think about the following aspects of development:

(A) Spiritual
(B) Non-material
(C) Qualitative
(D) All of these

ANS:

 

(D) All of these

 

Q.17 Development means

(A) Qualitative change
(B) Negative change
(C) Increase in quality
(D) Simple change

ANS:

 

(A) Qualitative change

 

Q.18 Which criterion was used in the early period to measure development?

(A) Industrial growth
(B) Agricultural growth
(C) Economic growth
(D) Population growth

ANS:

 

(C) Economic growth

 

Q.19 Which is not a part of the Human development of people?

(A) Opportunities
(B) Freedom
(C) Health
(D) Number of people

ANS:

 

(D) Number of people

 

Q.20 Which of the following two South Asian economists put forward the idea of human development?

(A) Mahbub-ul-Haq and Amartya Sen
(B) Dr Manmohan Singh and Amartya Sen
(C) Dr Arun Jaitley and Mahbub-ul-Haq
(D) None of these

ANS:

 

(A) Mahbub-ul-Haq and Amartya Sen

 

Q.21 Which of these is not a key area on which Human Development Index of a country is determined?

(A) Health
(B) Education
(C) Happiness
(D) Access to resources

ANS:

 

(C) Happiness

India People and Economy MCQ Questions with Answers Class 12 Geography

Chapter 1: Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition Class 12 MCQ Questions

Q.1 Where does India rank in the world as regards area?

(A) Fifth
(B) Sixth
(C) Seventh
(D) Eighth

ANS:

 

(C) Seventh

Q.2 Name the state of India having the lowest share of population as per 2011 Census.

(A) Goa
(B) Arunachal Pradesh
(C) Sikkim
(D) Tripura

ANS:

 

(C) Sikkim

Q.3 What was the average densfty of population of India In 2011?

(A) 235 persons per sq km
(B) 382 persons per sq km
(C) 432 persons per sq km
(D) 657 persons per sq km

ANS:

 

(B) 382 persons per sq km

Q.4 Which of these Indian states has the highest rural population?

(A) Punjab
(B) Bihar
(C) Tamil Nadu
(D) Goa

ANS:

 

(B) Bihar

 

Q.5 Which of the following is the largest religious minority in India?

(A) Christian
(B) Sikh
(C) Buddhist
(D) Muslim

ANS:

 

(D) Muslim

 

Q.6 What was the annual growth rate of population in India as per 2011 census?

(A) 1.16%
(B) 1.64%
(C) 2%
(D) 2.5%

ANS:

 

(B) 1.64%

 

Q.7 Which state has the lowest density of population?

(A) Haryana
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Arunachal
(D) Mizoram

ANS:

 

(C) Arunachal

 

Q.8 How many Million Plus towns are there in India (in 2001)?

(A) 25
(B) 27
(C) 30
(D) 54

ANS:

 

(D) 54

 

Q.9 What is the average sex ratio In India (2011)?

(A) 910
(B) 923
(C) 940
(D) 953

ANS:

 

(C) 940

Q.10 What is life expectancy in India?

(A) 55 years
(B) 60 years
(C) 66 years
(D) 70 years

ANS:

 

(C) 66 years

 

Q.11 The literacy rate in India is:

(A) 55%
(B) 60%
(C) 74%
(D) 67%

ANS:

 

(C) 74%

 

Q.12 In how many years India’s population will be doubled?

(A) 32 years
(B) 34 years
(C) 36 years
(D) 38 years

ANS:

 

(C) 36 years

 

Q.13 India’s population as per the 2011 census is:

(A) 1028 million
(B) 3287 million
(C) 3182 million
(D) 1210 million

ANS:

 

(D) 1210 million

 

Q.14 Which one of the following states has the highest density of population in India?

(A) West Bengal
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Kerala
(D) Bihar

ANS:

 

(D) Bihar

 

Q.15 Which one of the following states has the highest proportion of the urban population in India according to the 2001 Census?

(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) Kerala
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Goa

ANS:

 

(D) Goa

 

Q.16 Which of these language families is predominant in India?

(A) Sino-Tibetian
(B) Dravidian
(C) Austric
(D) Indo-European

ANS:

 

(D) Indo-European

 

Q.17 Which state in India had the highest population as per the 2011

(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Punjab
(C) West Bengal
(D) Himachal Pradesh

ANS:

 

(A) Uttar Pradesh

 

Q.18 The average density of population of IndIa (2011) is per km.

(A) 216
(B) 382
(C) 221
(D) 324

ANS:

 

(B) 382

Q.19 Which state has the largest population?

(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) West Bengal
(C) Kerala
(D) Punjab

ANS:

 

(A) Uttar Pradesh

 

Q.20 Which state has the highest density of population?

(A) Haryana
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) West Bengal
(D) Bihar

 

(D) Bihar

 

Q.21 Which state has the highest sex ratio?

(A) Kerala
(B) Himachal Pradesh
(C) Odisha
(D) Tamil Nadu

ANS:

 

(A) Kerala

Chapter 2: Migration: Types, Causes and Consequences Class 12 MCQ Questions

Q.1 When was the first major modification introduced in Census by bringing in two additional components – place of birth and duration of residence?

(A) 1921
(B) 1941
(C) 1961
(D) 1981

ANS:

 

(C) 1961

 

Q.2 What is the major reason for female migration in India?

(A) Education
(B) Work and Employment
(C) Marriage
(D) Business

ANS:

 

(C) Marriage

 

Q.3 Which of the following is the economic consequence of migration?

(A) Remittances
(B) Medical facilities
(C) Basic facilities
(D) None of these

ANS:

 

(A) Remittances

 

Q.4 Which of the following is the social consequence of migration?

(A) Change in sex ratio
(B) Remittances
(C) Intermixing of people from diverse cultures
(D) Women empowerment

ANS:

 

(C) Intermixing of people from diverse cultures

Q.5 Which of the following is not an environmental consequence of migration?(A) Overexploitation of natural resources
(B) Depletion of groundwater
(C) Pollution
(D) Change in sex ratio

ANS:

 

(D) Change in sex ratio

 

Q.6 How many remittances, does India receive from international migrants?

(A) 7 Billion Dollars
(B) 8 Billion Dollars
(C) 10 Billion Dollars
(D) 11 Billion Dollars

ANS:

 

(D) 11 Billion Dollars

---

Q.7 Which one of the following is the main reason for male migration in India?

(A) Education
(B) Business
(C) Work and Employment
(D) Marriage

ANS:

 

(C) Work and Employment

 

Q.8 Which one of the following states receives a maximum number of immigrants?

(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Delhi
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Bihar

ANS:

 

(A) Uttar Pradesh

Q.9 Which one of the following streams are dominated by male migrants in India?

(A) Rural-rural
(B) Urban-rural
(C) Rural-urban
(D) Urban-urban

ANS:

(C) Rural-urban

Q.10 Which one of the following urban agglomeration has the highest share in migrant population?

(A) Mumbai UA
(B) Delhi UA
(C) Bengaluru UA
(D) Chennai Uk

ANS:

 

(A) Mumbai UA

 

Q.11 Which of the following information was added in the 1981 Census?

(A) Occupation of head of the family
(B) Place of Birth
(C) Place of residence
(D) Reasons for migration

 

ANS:

 (D) Reasons for migration

 

Q.12 As per 2011 Census, how many people have migrated to India from other countries?

(A) More than 5 million persons
(B) More than 6 million persons
(C) More than 7 million persons
(D) More than 8 million persons

ANS:

 

(A) More than 5 million persons

 

Q.13 Choose the country from where maximum number of migrants come to India.

(A) Afghanistan
(B) Bangladesh
(C) Nepal
(D) China

ANS:

 

(B) Bangladesh

---

Q.14 Which of the following Indian states has maximum number of net in-migrants?

(A) Delhi
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Kerala
(D) Gujarat

 

 

Q.15 Which of the following Indian states has maximum number of net out-migrants?

(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Bihar
(D) Chhattisgarh

 

(A) Uttar Pradesh

 

Q.16 Who wrote these lines:

“SAR ZAMIN-E-HIND PAR AQWAM-EALAM KE
CARVAN BASTE GAYE, HINDOSTAN BANTA GAYA.”
(A) Faiz
(B) Gorakhpuri
(C) Josh
(D) Akbar

ANS:

 

(B) Gorakhpuri

 

Q.17 What work was done by Indian Migrants in West Indies?

(A) Mining
(B) Industries
(C) Plantation farming
(D) Horticulture

ANS:

 

(C) Plantation farming

---

Q.18 What was the reason for migration from India to Middle-East?

(A) Agriculture
(B) Mining
(C) Increase in oil
(D) Favourable climate

ANS:

 

(C) Increase in oil

 

Q.19 The migrants in India (2001 census) are:

(A) 10.7 crores
(B) 15.7 crores
(C) 20.7 crome
(D) 30.7 crores

 

(D) 30.7 crores

 

Q.20 In which stream, female migration is highest?

(A) Rural to Rural
(B) Rural to Urban
(C) Urban to Urban
(D) Urban to Rural

ANS:

 

(A) Rural to Rural

Chapter 3: Human Development Class 12 MCQ Questions

 

Q.1 In India, the death rate per thousand

(A) 6.55
(B) 8.10
(C) 7.48
(D) 9.11

ANS:

 

(C) 7.48

 

Q.2 Which state has the highest literacy rate?

(A) Goa
(B) Kerala
(C) Mizoram
(D) Maharashtra

ANS:

 

(B) Kerala

 

Q.3 Which state has the lowest HDI value?

(A) Rajasthan
(B) Bihar
(C) Assam
(D) Madhya Pradesh

ANS:

 

(B) Bihar

 

Q.4 Who is the author of the book ‘Small is beautiful’?

(A) Maithus
(B) Mahatma Gandhi
(C) Schumacher
(D) Brundtland

ANS:

 

(C) Schumacher

 

Q.5 Which one of the following is India’s rank in terms of Human Development Index among the countries of the world in 2005?

(A) 126
(B) 127
(C) 128
(D) 129

ANS:

 

(A) 126

 

Q.6 Which one of the following states of India has the highest rank in the Human Development Index?

(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) Punjab
(C) Kerala
(D) Haryana

ANS:

 

(C) Kerala

 

Q.7 Which one of the following states of India has the lowest female literacy?

(A) Jammu and Kashmir
(B) Arunachal Pradesh
(C) Jharkhand
(D) Bihar

ANS:

 

(D) Bihar

 

Q.8 Which one of the following states of India has the lowest female child sex ratio 0-6 years?

(A) Gujarat
(B) Haryana
(C) Punjab
(D) Himachal Pradesh

 

 

Q.9 Which one of the following Union Territories of India has the highest literacy rate?

(A) Lakshadweep
(B) Chandigarh
(C) Daman and Diu
(D) Andaman and the Nicobar Islands

ANS:

 

(A) Lakshadweep

 

Q.10 What was India’s rank in Human Development Index in 2018?

(A) 126
(B) 127
(C) 128
(D) 130

ANS:

 

(D) 130

 

Q.11 Which one of the- following states of India has the highest rank in the Human Development Index?

(A) Gujarat
(B) Kerala
(C) Delhi
(D) Haryana

ANS:

 

(B) Kerala

 

Q.12 Which state has highest literacy in 2011?

(A) Mizoram
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Kerala
(D) West Bengal

ANS:

 

(C) Kerala

 

Q.13 Which one of the following states of India has the lowest female child sex ratio in the age group 0-6 years?

(A) Gujarat
(B) Haryana
(C) Punjab
(D) Himachal Pradesh

ANS:

 

(B) Haryana

 

Q.14 Which of these Union Territories has the highest literacy rate in the country?

(A) Puducherry
(B) Lakshadweep
(C) Daman and Diu
(D) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

ANS:

 

(B) Lakshadweep

 

Q.15 When was the first Human Development Report published by the UNDP?

(A) 1970
(B) 1980
(C) 1990
(D) 1995

ANS:

 

(C) 1990

 

Q.16 What is the average HDI value of India?

(A) 0.802
(B) 0.702
(C) 0.554
(D) 0.502

ANS:

 

(C) 0.554

 

Q.17 India has per capita income on prevailing prices:

(A) ₹ 15,813
(B) ₹ 17,813
(C) ₹ 18,813
(D) ₹ 20,813

ANS:

 

(D) ₹ 20,813

 

Q.18 Which state has the highest percentage of people below the poverty line?

(A) Bihar
(B) Odisha
(C) Andhra Pradesh
(D) Assam

ANS:

 

(B) Odisha

 

Q.19 The infant mortality rate in India per thousand is:

(A) 50
(B) 60
(C) 47
(D) 80

ANS:

 

(C) 47

 

Q.20 Which of the following states has the highest percentage of people below poverty line?

(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Chhattisgarh
(C) Jharkhand
(D) Bihar

ANS:

 

(B) Chhattisgarh

 

Q.21 What is the life expectancy at birth for females in India (2015)?

(A) 68 years
(B) 70 years
(C) 72 years
(D) 74 years

ANS:

 

(B) 70 years

Chapter 4: Human Settlements Class 12 MCQ Questions

 

Q.1 Name the town that is not located on the banks of a river.

(A) Kolkata
(B) Agra
(C) Bhopal
(D) Patna

ANS:

 

(C) Bhopal

 

Q.2 Which one of the following is not covered under the definition of a town as per the Census of India?

(A) Presence of municipality, corporation, etc.
(B) More than 75% of the population engaged in primary sector.
(C) Population density of 400 persons per sq. km.
(D) Population size of more than 5,000 persons.

ANS:

 

(B) More than 75% of the population engaged in primary sector.

 

Q.3 In which of the following parts of India dispersed rural settlements is not expected?

(A) Kerala
(B) Chhattisgarh
(C) Meghalaya
(D) Himachal Pradesh

ANS:

 

(B) Chhattisgarh

 

Q.4 Which of the following city is the largest agglomeration with over 18.4 million people?

(A) Bengaluru
(B) Chennai
(C) Kolkata
(D) Greater Mumbai

ANS:

 

(D) Greater Mumbai

 

Q.5 Which of the following types of rural settlements is found in the fertile alluvial plains and north-eastern states of India?

(A) Clustered
(B) Semi-clustered
(C) Hamleted
(D) Dispersed

ANS:

 

(A) Clustered

 

Q.6 How much percent is the urban population in India?

(A) 18
(B) 20
(C) 25
(D) 31

ANS:

 

(D) 31

 

Q.7 How many times the urban population has increased during the 20th century?

(A) 5
(B) 7
(C) 11
(D) 15

ANS:

 

(C) 11

 

Q.8 How much is the population of a megacity?

(A) 1 Lakh
(B) 5 Lakh
(C) 10 Lakh
(D) 50 Lakh

ANS:

 

(D) 50 Lakh

 

Q.9 The number of towns in India is:

(A) 4161
(B) 5161
(C) 6161
(D) 7161

ANS:

 

(B) 5161

 

Q.10 How many million towns are there in India (as in 2014)?

(A) 25
(B) 30
(C) 55
(D) 40

ANS:

 

(C) 55

 

Q.11 Which one of the following towns is not situated along the bank of a river?

(A) Agra
(B) Bhopal
(C) Patna
(D) Kolkata

ANS:

 

(B) Bhopal

 

Q.12 Which one of the following is NOT part of the definition of a town as per the census of India?

(A) Population density of 400 persons per sq km.
(B) Presence of municipality, corporation, etc.
(C) More than 75% of the population engaged in the primary sector
(D) Population size of more than 5,000 persons

ANS:

 

(C) More than 75% of the population engaged in the primary sector

 

Q.13 In which one of the following environments does one expect the presence of dispersed rural settlements?

(A) Alluvial plains of Ganga
(B) Arid and semi-arid regions of Rajasthan
(C) Lower valleys of Himalays
(D) Forests and hills in north-east

ANS:

 

(A) Alluvial plains of Ganga

 

Q.14 Which one of the following groups of cities has been arranged in the sequence of their ranks i.e. 1, 2, 3, and 4 in size?

(A) Greater Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai
(B) Delhi, Greater Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata.
(C) Kolkata, Greater Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata.
(D) Greater Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai.

ANS:

 

(D) Greater Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai.

 

Q.15 Which of the following towns was developed as an administrative headquarter after independence?

(A) Varanasi
(B) Chandigarh
(C) Agra
(D) Hyderabad

ANS:

 

(B) Chandigarh

 

Q.16 Which of the following is not a medieval town?

(A) Hyderabad
(B) Nagpur
(C) Jaipur
(D) Madurai

ANS:

 

(D) Madurai

 

Q.17 Which of the following is a mining town?

(A) Jharia
(B) Satna
(C) Srinagar
(D) Aligarh

ANS:

 

(A) Jharia

 

Q.18 What is the population of mega cities?

(A) more than 1 million
(B) more than 2 million
(C) more than 4 million
(D) more than 5 million

ANS:

 

(D) more than 5 million

 

Q.19 What percentage of urban population lives in Class I towns as per 2011 Census?

(A) 10%
(B) 20%
(C) 40%
(D) 60%

ANS:

 

(D) 60%

 

Q.20 Which types of settlements are found in alluvial plains?

(A) Clustered
(B) Semi-clustered
(C) Hamleted
(D) Dispersed

ANS:

 

(A) Clustered

 

Q.21 In which valley were Harappa and Mohanjodaro towns located?

(A) Ganga
(B) Narmada
(C) Indus
(D) Brahmaputra

ANS:

 

(C) Indus