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Roll No.
Q.P. Code 61/1/1

History

CBSE Class XII Board Examination 2024

Time allowed: 3 hoursMaximum Marks: 80

General Instructions:

  1. The paper has 34 questions in five sections (A to E); all of them must be answered.
  2. Section A: Q1–21, multiple choice (including Assertion-Reason), 1 mark each.
  3. Section B: Q22–27, short answer, 3 marks each (about 60–80 words).
  4. Section C: Q28–30, long answer, 8 marks each (about 300–350 words).
  5. Section D: Q31–33, source-based, each with three sub-questions, 4 marks each.
  6. Section E: Q34, map-based, 5 marks (locate and identify places; attach the map to the answer book).
  7. There is no overall choice, but some questions offer an internal choice (OR); attempt only one of the choices.

SECTION A

Q1–21 are multiple choice questions of 1 mark each.
1.
Harappans got lapis lazuli from distant places. Which of these sites was their best source of this blue stone?
  1. (A) Nageshwar
  2. (B) Manda
  3. (C) Rakhigarhi
  4. (D) Shortughai
1
2.
Look at these statements about Prabhavati Gupta and pick the correct combination:
(i) Her father was Chandragupta Maurya.
(ii) A Vakataka ruler was her husband.
(iii) She could use resources independently.
(iv) She made land grants.
  1. (A) (i), (ii) and (iii)
  2. (B) (ii), (iii) and (iv)
  3. (C) (i), (iii) and (iv)
  4. (D) (i), (ii) and (iv)
1
3.
Which ancient Indian ruler is described by these clues?
• He was called Devanampiya (beloved of the gods).
• He shared out portions of the Buddha's relics for building stupas.
• He was the first king to get his messages carved on rocks and pillars.
  1. (A) Samudragupta
  2. (B) Harshavardhana
  3. (C) Rudradaman
  4. (D) Asoka
1
4.
The 'Sushruta Samhita', written by Sushruta, deals with which subject?
  1. (A) Grammar
  2. (B) Medicine (Ayurveda)
  3. (C) Astronomy
  4. (D) Mathematics
1
5.
Match the sculptural motifs of Sanchi (Column I) with what they stand for (Column II):
Column I: 1. Empty seat 2. Wheel 3. Shalabhanjika 4. Gajalakshmi
Column II: (i) Good fortune (ii) An auspicious symbol (iii) The Buddha's first sermon (iv) Mahaparinibbana
  1. (A) 1-(ii), 2-(i), 3-(iii), 4-(iv)
  2. (B) 1-(i), 2-(ii), 3-(iv), 4-(iii)
  3. (C) 1-(iv), 2-(iii), 3-(ii), 4-(i)
  4. (D) 1-(iii), 2-(iv), 3-(i), 4-(ii)
1
6.
A picture shows a standing Buddha image carved in (spotted red) sandstone, wearing a thin robe over one shoulder, with a round smooth face and the right hand raised. Identify the school of art.
  1. (A) Gandhara School of Art
  2. (B) Mathura School of Art
  3. (C) Sarnath School of Art
  4. (D) Amravati School of Art
1
7.
Pick the correctly matched pair:
  1. (A) Endogamy – Marriage outside the unit
  2. (B) Exogamy – Man having several wives
  3. (C) Polygyny – Marriage inside the unit
  4. (D) Polyandry – Woman having several husbands
1
8.
Al-Biruni translated several Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit works in India. Into which language did he translate them?
  1. (A) Persian
  2. (B) Arabic
  3. (C) Urdu
  4. (D) Hindavi
1
9.
Who was the spiritual guide (pir) of Amir Khusrau?
  1. (A) Shaikh Nasiruddin Chiragh-i-Delhi
  2. (B) Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti
  3. (C) Shaikh Salim Chishti
  4. (D) Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya
1
10.
Match each temple (Column I) with its location (Column II):
Column I: 1. Hazara Rama temple 2. Chidambaram temple 3. Brihadishvara temple 4. Chennakeshava temple
Column II: (i) Tamil Nadu (ii) Vijayanagara (iii) Belur (iv) Thanjavur
  1. (A) 1-(ii), 2-(iv), 3-(i), 4-(iii)
  2. (B) 1-(ii), 2-(i), 3-(iv), 4-(iii)
  3. (C) 1-(ii), 2-(iii), 3-(iv), 4-(i)
  4. (D) 1-(ii), 2-(i), 3-(iii), 4-(iv)
1
11.
Which statement about the Ain-i-Akbari is correct?
  1. (A) Akbar Nama was the third book of Ain-i-Akbari.
  2. (B) Manzil-abadi deals with the civil administration of the Mughals.
  3. (C) Sipah-abadi deals with the imperial household of the Mughals.
  4. (D) Mulk-abadi deals with the fiscal side of the Mughal empire.
1
12.
Whose picture of a 'degenerate East' led Western thinkers to build the idea of 'oriental despotism'?
  1. (A) Peter Mundy
  2. (B) François Bernier
  3. (C) Duarte Barbosa
  4. (D) Marco Polo
1
13.
Which was the main reason for the decline of the Vijayanagara empire?
  1. (A) Internal conflicts and alliance with the Sultanates against Vijayanagara.
  2. (B) Defeat of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Golconda in Talikota.
  3. (C) Heavy decline in trade and economy of the Vijayanagara empire.
  4. (D) Invasion of Portuguese and French on Vijayanagara.
1
14.
Choose the correct pair about rural people in Mughal times (name – role):
  1. (A) Mallahzadas – Village headman
  2. (B) Muqaddam – Banker
  3. (C) Shroff – Boatman
  4. (D) Muzarian – Peasant
1
15.
Put these in chronological order:
(i) Limitation Law
(ii) Sunset Law
(iii) Santhal Rebellion
(iv) Bombay-Deccan riots
  1. (A) (ii), (iii), (i), (iv)
  2. (B) (i), (ii), (iv), (iii)
  3. (C) (iii), (iv), (ii), (i)
  4. (D) (iv), (iii), (i), (ii)
1
16.
Match the Governors-General (Column I) with what they are associated with (Column II):
Column I: 1. Lord Wellesley 2. Lord Dalhousie 3. Lord Bentinck 4. Lord Hardinge
Column II: (i) Annexation policy (ii) Subsidiary Alliance (iii) Greased cartridges (iv) Reform policies
  1. (A) 1-(iii), 2-(ii), 3-(i), 4-(iv)
  2. (B) 1-(iv), 2-(iii), 3-(ii), 4-(i)
  3. (C) 1-(ii), 2-(i), 3-(iv), 4-(iii)
  4. (D) 1-(i), 2-(iv), 3-(iii), 4-(ii)
1
17.
Assertion (A): Gandhiji joined hands with the Khilafat Movement in order to widen the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Reason (R): Gandhiji expected that Non-Cooperation and Khilafat together could end colonial rule.
  1. (A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  3. (C) A is correct, but R is incorrect.
  4. (D) A is incorrect, but R is correct.
1
18.
Which member of the Constituent Assembly strongly demanded that Hindi be used as the language of constitution-making?
  1. (A) R.V. Dhulekar
  2. (B) Shankarrao Deo
  3. (C) G. Durgabai
  4. (D) N.G. Ranga
1
19.
What was an important criticism of the Permanent Settlement?
  1. (A) The Zamindars got the permanent rights on the lands.
  2. (B) The British contacted the peasants directly.
  3. (C) The system increased the influence of tribal communities.
  4. (D) This system resulted in Bombay-Deccan riots.
1
20.
During 1857 in western Uttar Pradesh, which rebel leader occupied a British officer's bungalow and used it as a 'hall of justice' to settle local disputes?
  1. (A) Shah Mal
  2. (B) Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah
  3. (C) Gonoo
  4. (D) Kunwar Singh
1
21.
Complete the sentence: The legislatures elected under the Government of India Act of 1935 worked within the framework of ______.
  1. (A) Indian National Congress
  2. (B) Muslim League
  3. (C) Colonial Rule
  4. (D) Constituent Assembly
1

SECTION B

Q22–27 are short answer questions of 3 marks each.
22.
Justify the view that the Mahabharata is a 'dynamic text'.
OR
Analyse how scholars prepared the critical edition of the Mahabharata.
3
23.
Explain any three sources from which we learn about the Mauryan empire.
3
24.
With examples, explain how water resources were managed in the Vijayanagara empire.
3
25.
Using examples, support the view that land revenue was the economic backbone of the Mughal empire.
3
26.
Why did the revolt of 1857 spread so widely in Awadh? Explain.
OR
Why did the rebels' proclamations of 1857 call for unity among all sections of people? Explain.
3
27.
Explain what led to conflict between the Paharias of the Rajmahal hills and the Santhals.
3

SECTION C

Q28–30 are long answer questions of 8 marks each.
28.
"The most distinctive feature of the Harappan civilisation was the growth of urban centres." Explain.
OR
Explain the part played by different archaeologists in discovering the Harappan civilisation.
8
29.
Describe Kabir's contribution to the Bhakti movement and how he promoted religious and social harmony.
OR
Describe the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev, highlighting his idea of the oneness of God.
8
30.
"We can rebuild Gandhiji's political life and the story of the national movement from many kinds of sources." Examine this statement.
OR
Examine Mahatma Gandhi's contribution to building the nation after India became independent.
8

SECTION D

Q31–33 are source-based questions of 4 marks each (1+1+2).
31.
Source (summary): 'Buddhism in practice' – an extract from the Sutta Pitaka giving the Buddha's advice to a rich householder, Sigala. A master should care for his servants and employees (work suited to their strength, food and wages, care in sickness, sharing treats, granting leave); clansmen should look after samanas and brahmanas with affection in deed, word and thought, keep an open house for them and meet their needs. Similar advice is given on conduct towards parents, teachers and wife.
(i) How did the Buddha show the importance of compassion within the social hierarchy? (1)
(ii) Why did the Buddha stress righteous action? (1)
(iii) Explain any two principles of karma according to the Buddha. (2)
4
32.
Source (summary): 'A strange nation?' – Abdur Razzaq's travel account of the 1440s mixes feelings and impressions. He disliked the people he met at the port of Calicut (Kerala) and called them 'a strange nation', but near Mangalore, after crossing the Western Ghats, he admired a square temple about ten yards a side and five yards high, covered with cast bronze, with four porticos and a life-size golden human figure with ruby eyes at the entrance.
(i) Why did Abdur Razzaq call India a 'strange nation'? (1)
(ii) How are emotions and perceptions reflected in this source? (1)
(iii) How did he describe the temple near Mangalore in the Western Ghats? (2)
4
33.
Source (summary): 'There cannot be any divided loyalty' – in the Constituent Assembly, Govind Ballabh Pant urged citizens to be loyal to the State alone. Democracy needs self-discipline and caring more for others than for oneself; if rival loyalties are encouraged, or individuals and groups ignore wider interests instead of curbing their own excesses, democracy will fail.
(i) What did Pant see as the key to the success of democracy? (1)
(ii) How did Pant explain the art of self-discipline in a democracy? (1)
(iii) Explain Pant's views on the link between democracy and equality. (2)
4

SECTION E

Q34 is a map-based question of 5 marks.
34.
(a)
(34.1) On the political outline map of India, locate and label with suitable symbols:
(i) Banawali – a Harappan site
(ii) Amravati stupa
(iii) (a) Agra – a territory under the Mughals
OR
(iii) (b) Ajmer – a territory under the Mughals
(b)
(34.2) On the same outline map, two centres of the Indian National Movement are marked A and B. Identify them and write their names on the lines drawn near them:
A: a place in north-western Bihar, near the Nepal border, where Gandhiji's first satyagraha in India was held for indigo cultivators.
B: a city in Gujarat where Gandhiji set up his ashram and led a mill workers' satyagraha (1918).
5
— END —
Questions restated from the CBSE Class XII Board Examination 2024 (set 61/1/1) for practice. Reading passages and map items are described, not reproduced.