UPSC Prelims 2023 · GS Paper I
Question 81: History and Culture
With reference to the Indian History, Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).
Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were colonial-era archaeologists and antiquarians. Rea and Longhurst worked on South Indian sites (Rea at Adichanallur, Longhurst at Nagarjunakonda and Hampi), Sewell wrote A Forgotten Empire on Vijayanagara, Burgess headed the Archaeological Survey of India, and Elliot collected South Indian coins, inscriptions and sculptures. They are associated with archaeological work, not press, churches or railways.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Correct: all five worked on archaeology and antiquities.
- (b) None of them is known for establishing the English press in India.
- (c) None is known for building churches in princely States.
- (d) None is known for railway construction.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.