UPSC Prelims 2003 · General Studies

Question 30: History and Culture

Consider the following statements:

1.The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over peninsular India in early medieval times.
2.The Cholas sent an expedition against the Sailendra empire of South-East Asia and conquered some of the areas.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

aOnly 1

bOnly 2

cBoth 1 and 2

dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerThe answer is (c).

Both statements are true. The Chola kings of the Tamil country, especially Rajaraja I and Rajendra I, defeated the Pandyas and Cheras and dominated the south of the peninsula from the 10th to the 13th century. Rajendra I sent a naval expedition around 1025 CE against the Sailendra empire of Srivijaya in South-East Asia and took places on the Malay peninsula and Sumatra, such as Kadaram (Kedah).

1. The Cholas overcame the Pandyas and Cheras and dominated peninsular India.
2. Rajendra I's naval expedition of about 1025 CE struck the Sailendra empire of South-East Asia.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Statement 2 is also true, so 'only 1' is incomplete.
(b) Statement 1 is also true, so 'only 2' is incomplete.
(c) Correct: both statements hold.
(d) Both statements are true, so 'neither' is wrong.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious question Next question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2003, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.