2000 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2000 · General Studies

Question 18: History and Culture

The practice of military governorship was first introduced in India by the

aGreeks
bShakas
cParthians
dMughals

AnswerThe answer is (a).

The Indo-Greek (Bactrian Greek) rulers introduced military governors, called strategoi, to run provinces of their kingdoms in north-western India. The Shakas and Parthians ruled through satraps and kshatrapas, a different system of provincial governors, and the Mughals came many centuries later. Remember the strategos as the military governor brought by the Greeks.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: the Greeks introduced military governors, the strategoi.
  • (b) The Shakas ruled through kshatrapas, a satrap system, rather than introducing military governorship.
  • (c) The Parthians also used satraps; they were not the first to use military governors.
  • (d) The Mughals came many centuries after military governors had first appeared.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2000, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.