2021 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2021 · GS Paper I

Question 38: History and Culture

Consider the following statements :

  1. 1.It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince.
  2. 2.It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus.
  3. 3.It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 only
b1 and 2
c3 only
d2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in 1221 chasing the Khwarezm prince Jalaluddin Mangbarni, during Iltutmish's reign, and Iltutmish declined to shelter the prince. Taimur invaded in 1398, in the reign of Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah of the Tughluq dynasty, long after Muhammad bin Tughluq died in 1351. Vasco da Gama reached the Kerala coast in 1498, decades after Deva Raya II's reign ended in the 1440s. Remember: match each event with its reigning ruler.

  • 1. Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in 1221, in Iltutmish's reign.
  • 2. Taimur invaded in 1398, under Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah, not Muhammad bin Tughluq.
  • 3. Vasco da Gama arrived in 1498, long after Deva Raya II.

How you could have got this

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

    What you needed to know: Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in 1221, in Iltutmish's reign.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.

    What you needed to know: Taimur invaded in 1398, under Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah, not Muhammad bin Tughluq.

Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statement 3.

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) Right: only statement 1 is correct.
  • (b) Wrong: Taimur invaded after Muhammad bin Tughluq's reign.
  • (c) Wrong: Vasco da Gama arrived long after Deva Raya II.
  • (d) Wrong: statements 2 and 3 name the wrong rulers.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.