2002 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2002 · General Studies

Question 30: History and Culture

With reference to Sufism in Indian history, consider the following statements:

  1. 1.Shaikh Ahmad Sarhandi was a contemporary of Ibrahim Lodi
  2. 2.Shaikh Nasiruddin Chirag-i-Dehlavi was a disciple of Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
  3. 3.Aurangzeb was contemporary of Shaikh Salim Chisti
  4. 4.The Qadiri order of Sufis was first introduced in India by Shaikh Niamtullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani

Which of these statements are correct?

a1 and 2
b1 and 3
c2 and 3
d2 and 4

AnswerThe answer is (d).

Statement 2 is true: Chirag-i-Dehli succeeded Nizamuddin Auliya as the leading Chishti in Delhi. Statement 4 is true: the Qadiri order came to India in the fifteenth century through Shaikh Niamatullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani. Statement 1 is false: Ahmad Sirhindi (1564-1624) lived in the age of Akbar and Jahangir, long after Ibrahim Lodi (died 1526). Statement 3 is false: Salim Chishti died in 1572, before Aurangzeb was born in 1618.

  • 1. Sirhindi (1564-1624) was not a contemporary of Ibrahim Lodi, who died in 1526.
  • 2. Chirag-i-Dehli was Nizamuddin Auliya's disciple and successor.
  • 3. Salim Chishti died in 1572, long before Aurangzeb.
  • 4. Shaikh Niamatullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani introduced the Qadiri order.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 4 is correct, (a), (b) and (c) go: each of them leaves 4 out.

    What you needed to know: Shaikh Niamatullah and Makhdum Muhammad Jilani introduced the Qadiri order.

Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statements 1, 2 or 3.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Statement 1 is false: Sirhindi lived in Akbar's and Jahangir's time.
  • (b) Statements 1 and 3 are both false.
  • (c) Statement 3 is false: Salim Chishti died before Aurangzeb was born.
  • (d) Right: statements 2 and 4.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2002, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.