2021 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2021 · GS Paper I

Question 45: History and Culture

With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size?

aParagana—Sarkar—Suba
bSarkar—Paragana—Suba
cSuba—Sarkar—Paragana
dParagana—Suba—Sarkar

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

In the Mughal administrative structure the pargana was the smallest territorial unit, a group of villages. Several parganas made up a sarkar (a district-like unit), and several sarkars made up a suba (province). So in ascending order of size the sequence is pargana, sarkar, suba. Remember: village, pargana, sarkar, suba, with the empire at the top.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: pargana is the smallest, then sarkar, then suba.
  • (b) Wrong: a pargana was smaller than a sarkar.
  • (c) Wrong: this is the descending order.
  • (d) Wrong: a suba was larger than a sarkar.

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.