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

History

CBSE Class XII Board Examination 2025

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 questions, 1 mark each.
  3. Section B: Q22–27, short answer questions, 3 marks each (about 60–80 words).
  4. Section C: Q28–30, long answer questions, 8 marks each (about 300–350 words).
  5. Section D: Q31–33, source-based questions with three sub-questions, 4 marks each.
  6. Section E: Q34, map-based question (locating and identifying places), 5 marks; attach the map to the answer-book.
  7. There is no overall choice, but Sections B and C (and one part of the map question) offer an internal choice (OR).

SECTION A

Multiple choice questions: Q1–21 carry 1 mark each.
1.
Pick the correct statement about the Harappan script.
  1. (A) It was an alphabetical script.
  2. (B) It was written from left to right.
  3. (C) It has not been deciphered till now.
  4. (D) It had only a few signs or symbols.
1
2.
At which pair of Harappan sites have terracotta models of a plough been found?
  1. (A) Kalibangan and Dholavira
  2. (B) Shortughai and Lothal
  3. (C) Banawali and Cholistan
  4. (D) Sanghol and Rakhigarhi
1
3.
Assertion (A): Buddhism spread quickly, both while the Buddha was alive and after his death.
Reason (R): Many people were unhappy with the religious practices of the time and were unsettled by the fast social changes around them.
  1. (A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) correctly explains (A).
  2. (B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) does not correctly explain (A).
  3. (C) (A) is true, (R) is false.
  4. (D) (A) is false, (R) is true.
1
4.
Which of these statements about Jainism are correct?
I. Karma decides the cycle of birth and rebirth.
II. One must renounce the world.
III. Worldly life is a necessary condition for salvation.
IV. Ahimsa is an important principle.
  1. (A) I, II and III
  2. (B) II, III and IV
  3. (C) I, II and IV
  4. (D) I, III and IV
1
5.
Match the ancient Mahajanapadas (Column I) with the present regions (Column II).
Column I: a. Magadha b. Avanti c. Gandhara d. Koshala
Column II: I. Qandahar (eastern Afghanistan) II. Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) III. Patna (Bihar) IV. Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
  1. (A) a-III, b-II, c-I, d-IV
  2. (B) a-IV, b-II, c-I, d-III
  3. (C) a-III, b-IV, c-I, d-II
  4. (D) a-II, b-I, c-III, d-IV
1
6.
Prabhavati Gupta is best known as:
  1. (A) Wife of Ashoka who promoted the Buddhist Sangha
  2. (B) A Mauryan queen who promoted Buddhism
  3. (C) Wife of Samudragupta and a poet of the Gupta age
  4. (D) Daughter of Chandragupta II and wife of a Vakataka king
1
7.
The paper shows a picture of a large, many-storeyed temple complex that has been cut out of one single mass of rock on a hillside (with courtyard, pillars and side shrines all carved from the same rock). Identify the temple.
  1. (A) Deogarh Temple
  2. (B) Kailashnatha Temple
  3. (C) Mahabalipuram Temple
  4. (D) Brihadeshwara Temple
1
8.
Al-Biruni's 'Kitab-ul-Hind' is valued as a detailed study of India. What was the main aim of this book?
  1. (A) To promote Islamic teaching
  2. (B) To map geographical locations
  3. (C) To criticise Indian culture and traditions
  4. (D) To document Indian culture
1
9.
During his long travels Ibn Battuta came to know many unfamiliar cultures and societies. Which competency is he most likely to have developed?
  1. (A) Leadership and judicial management
  2. (B) Cultural competencies and skills
  3. (C) Knowledge of administration and army
  4. (D) Scientific and technical expertise
1
10.
Which statements about Colonel Colin Mackenzie are correct?
I. He brought the ruins of Hampi to light in 1800.
II. He was an official of the East India Company.
III. He made the first survey maps of the site.
IV. He got information about the Vijayanagara empire from Duarte Barbosa.
  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
11.
Match the foreign travellers with the countries they came from.
Column I: a. Afanasii Nikitin b. Domingo Paes c. Abdur Razzaq d. Nicolo de Conti
Column II: I. Persia II. Russia III. Portugal IV. Italy
  1. (A) a-III, b-IV, c-I, d-II
  2. (B) a-II, b-III, c-I, d-IV
  3. (C) a-I, b-II, c-IV, d-III
  4. (D) a-II, b-I, c-III, d-IV
1
12.
Which of these is a major source for the agrarian history of India in the 16th and 17th centuries?
  1. (A) Revenue records of Agra and Delhi
  2. (B) Relationship between peasants and zamindars
  3. (C) The important chronicle Ain-i-Akbari
  4. (D) Types of crops grown at that time
1
13.
Which statement about the zamindars of 16th–17th century India is most appropriate?
  1. (A) They were an exploitative class for the peasants.
  2. (B) They collected revenue on behalf of the state.
  3. (C) They always kept friendly relations with the villagers.
  4. (D) They had only small pieces of land for personal use.
1
14.
Some friends in a modern city discuss whether Kabir's teachings still matter. Some call them outdated; others feel they spread equality and love. Which scenario best shows Kabir's relevance today?
  1. (A) A debate on Kabir's historical background
  2. (B) A discussion that dismisses spirituality as irrelevant
  3. (C) A focus only on social norms and traditions
  4. (D) Seeking a simple, direct connection with the divine
1
15.
What was the main cause of the Santhal rebellion of 1855?
  1. (A) Imposition of the Summary Settlement
  2. (B) Cultural suppression by the British
  3. (C) Imposition of Western education
  4. (D) Heavy taxes and seizure of land
1
16.
Which one is the odd one out with respect to the Permanent Settlement of 1793?
  1. (A) The Sunset Law
  2. (B) The auction of Burdwan estates
  3. (C) The Fifth Report
  4. (D) The Deccan Riots Commission
1
17.
Match the leaders of the Revolt of 1857 with their regions.
Column I: a. Shah Mal b. Kunwar Singh c. Birjis Qadr d. Nana Sahib
Column II: I. Lucknow II. Kanpur III. Baraut IV. Arrah
  1. (A) a-II, b-III, c-IV, d-I
  2. (B) a-III, b-IV, c-I, d-II
  3. (C) a-III, b-II, c-I, d-IV
  4. (D) a-IV, b-II, c-III, d-I
1
18.
Put these events in the correct chronological order:
I. Formation of the Constituent Assembly
II. Jallianwala Bagh massacre
III. Quit India Movement
IV. Gandhi–Irwin Pact
  1. (A) II, III, I and IV
  2. (B) II, IV, III and I
  3. (C) III, II, I and IV
  4. (D) IV, III, I and II
1
19.
What was a key feature of the Subsidiary Alliance brought in by Lord Wellesley in 1798?
  1. (A) A free-trade policy of the British
  2. (B) Maintenance of the native army by the British
  3. (C) Imposition of Western customs by the British
  4. (D) Protection of the native ruler's territory by the British
1
20.
Which pair of a Constituent Assembly committee and its chairman is correctly matched?
  1. (A) Flag Committee – H.C. Mookerjee
  2. (B) Union Powers Committee – Jawaharlal Nehru
  3. (C) Rules of Procedure Committee – S. Varadachariar
  4. (D) States Committee – J.B. Kripalani
1
21.
Identify the Constituent Assembly member from these clues:
• He was President of the Constituent Assembly.
• He became the first President of independent India.
  1. (A) Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
  2. (B) Zakir Hussain
  3. (C) V.V. Giri
  4. (D) Rajendra Prasad
1

SECTION B

Short answer questions: Q22–27 carry 3 marks each.
22.
Explain why Ashokan inscriptions are regarded as the most important sources for understanding Ashoka's administration.
OR
"Historians have used many kinds of sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan empire." Explain.
3
23.
Justify: the middle of the first millennium BCE is seen as a major turning point in world history.
3
24.
Analyse the causes that led to the downfall of the Vijayanagara empire.
OR
Why is the amara-nayaka system called a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara empire? Analyse.
3
25.
Examine how the village panchayat looked after the rights of common people in the Mughal period.
3
26.
"The revolt of 1857 was presented as a war in which Hindus and Muslims had equally much to lose or gain." Analyse.
3
27.
Describe Dr B.R. Ambedkar's role in the Constituent Assembly.
3

SECTION C

Long answer questions: Q28–30 carry 8 marks each.
28.
"Family relationships in the Mahabharata period had distinctive features." Explain with examples.
OR
"Kingship was not always tied to being born a Kshatriya; anyone who could gather support and resources could become a ruler." Explain with examples from the 6th century BCE onwards.
8
29.
Explain the main beliefs and teachings of Guru Nanak Dev.
OR
Explain the main beliefs and practices of the Chishti sufis in medieval India.
8
30.
Analyse how the national movement between 1915 and 1931 affected the common people of India.
OR
Analyse the role played by Mahatma Gandhi after India became independent.
8

SECTION D

Source-based questions: Q31–33 carry 4 marks each (three sub-questions).
31.
Source summary: Ernest Mackay (1948) praised the Harappan drains as the most complete ancient drainage system known. Every house was linked to brick street drains with removable covers; house drains first emptied into sumps or cesspits; long channels had sumps at intervals for cleaning; small heaps of sand found beside the drains show debris was not always removed after cleaning. Such drains existed even in smaller settlements like Lothal.
(i) Analyse the possible reason for the uniform drainage system across Harappan cities. (1)
(ii) What can we infer from the little heaps of sand found beside the drains? (1)
(iii) Assess the impact of the Harappan drainage system. (2)
4
32.
Source summary: François Bernier warned European kings that if they copied the Mughal model, their well-cultivated, populous, rich and flourishing kingdoms would turn into deserts full of beggars; cities would decay and become uninhabitable, and fields would be overrun with bushes and marshes.
(i) Mention any one prominent contribution of Bernier. (1)
(ii) How did Bernier contrast European kingdoms with Mughal territories? (1)
(iii) Explain Bernier's views on the socio-economic condition of people under Mughal rule. (2)
4
33.
Source summary: Passing through a village in the lower Rajmahal hills, Francis Buchanan admired the scenery – rice fields winding through narrow valleys, cleared land with scattered trees and rocky hills – but felt the land needed 'progress' and much more cultivation. He suggested planting Asan and Palas for tassar silk and lac in place of forests, clearing the rest for farming and growing palmyra and mahua on unfit land.
(i) How did Buchanan describe the view of the lower Rajmahal hills? (1)
(ii) Why did he think the area could support much better cultivation? (1)
(iii) How did he propose using the land for economic gain? (2)
4

SECTION E

Map-based question: Q34 carries 5 marks.
34.
(a)
On a political outline map of India, locate and label with suitable symbols:
(i) Kalibangan – a mature Harappan site
(ii) Amaravati – a Buddhist site
(b)
On the political outline map of India, locate and label Amber – a territory under the Mughals.
OR
(iii)(b)
On the political outline map of India, locate and label Bijapur – an important town of medieval India.
(c)
Two centres of the Revolt of 1857 are marked on an outline map of India. Identify them:
A: a city on the Yamuna in north India, the old Mughal capital.
B: a place in Bengal on the Hooghly, near the British capital of the time.
5
— END —
Questions restated from the CBSE Class XII Board Examination 2025 (set 61/1/1) for practice. Reading passages and map items are described, not reproduced.