GK (Indian History)

Annie Besant became the first woman President of the Indian National Congress in 1917. She was a British theosophist who actively supported India's freedom struggle and home rule movement. Sarojini Naidu became President much later (1925), Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit even later, and Indira Gandhi was not even born in 1917. Annie Besant's presidency marked an important milestone in women's participation in the national movement.

Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, is buried in a magnificent mausoleum located in Sikandra, which is a suburb of Agra. The construction of the tomb was started by Akbar himself and completed by his son Jahangir. Delhi, Samarqand, and Lahore contain tombs of other rulers like Humayun, Timur, and Jahangir respectively.

The Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928 to review the constitutional reforms. Its arrival and the subsequent lack of Indian representation led to widespread protests, which served as a major catalyst for the Civil Disobedience Movement launched in 1930. While the commission arrived slightly before the movement officially began, it is the most relevant historical period among the choices.

The Gandhara School of Art, known for its Greco-Buddhist style, flourished primarily during the reign of the Kushana dynasty, especially under King Kanishka. This school is famous for its realistic depictions of the Buddha influenced by Hellenistic styles. The Guptas and Mauryas had distinct artistic styles of their own, such as the Mathura and Sarnath schools.

The Vernacular Press Act was passed in 1878 by Lord Lytton, the then Viceroy of India, to curtail the freedom of the Indian-language press. It was designed to prevent the expression of criticism against British policies. Lord Ripon later repealed this controversial act in 1882.

Jhansi was annexed by the British in 1854 under the Doctrine of Lapse, a policy implemented by Lord Dalhousie. This policy stated that any princely state under the influence of the British would be annexed if the ruler died without a natural heir. The refusal to recognize the adopted son of the Raja of Jhansi led to the state's annexation and Rani Lakshmibai's subsequent role in the 1857 revolt.

The Jama Masjid of Delhi was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and completed in 1656. It is one of the largest and best-known mosques in India, built using red sandstone and white marble.

Firoze Shah Tughlaq was a prolific builder who founded several important cities in North India, including Hisar, Fatehabad, Firozabad, and Jaunpur. He is also known for his extensive irrigation works and canals.

The Nanda dynasty ruled the Magadha region in the 4th century BCE, immediately preceding the Maurya dynasty. The Guptas (4th century CE) and Pallavas (3rd century CE) emerged much later in Indian history.

Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the Servants of India Society in Pune in 1905. The society aimed to train Indians to devote their lives to the cause of the country in a selfless manner, regardless of caste or creed.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak transformed the traditional household Ganapati worship into a large-scale public festival in 1893. He used this as a platform to foster national spirit and bypass British restrictions on political gatherings.

Sambad Kaumudi was a Bengali weekly newspaper published in the early 19th century by Raja Ram Mohan Roy. It was a pioneering journal that advocated for social reforms like the abolition of Sati.

Upagupta was the Buddhist monk who is traditionally credited with converting the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka to Buddhism. This conversion occurred after Ashoka witnessed the mass destruction of the Kalinga War.

Mahatma Gandhi was the sole representative of the Indian National Congress at the Second Round Table Conference in 1931. Other leaders like Dr. Ambedkar attended but represented specific interest groups rather than the Congress party.

In 1940, Gandhi launched the Individual Satyagraha to protest against India being dragged into WWII without consent. Vinoba Bhave was selected as the first satyagrahi, followed by Jawaharlal Nehru as the second.

Din-i-Ilahi was an ethical system and syncretic religious movement introduced by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1582. It aimed to unify the diverse religious beliefs of his subjects into a single code of conduct.

In Mughal administration, 'Khalisa' referred to lands whose entire revenue was directly deposited into the central imperial treasury. This was distinct from 'Jagir' lands, where revenue was assigned to officials in lieu of salary.

Gandhiji observed a fast unto death in 1932 to protest the Communal Award announced by Ramsay MacDonald. The award provided separate electorates for the 'Depressed Classes', which Gandhi believed would divide Hindu society.

Jonathan Duncan, the British Resident at Banaras, founded the Sanskrit College in 1791. The institution was established to preserve and cultivate the laws, literature, and religion of the Hindus.

Akbar abolished the Jaziya tax in 1564 as part of his policy of religious tolerance and to win the support of his non-Muslim subjects. Jaziya was a per capita tax levied on non-Muslim citizens in an Islamic state.

Option (1) is correct.

Aurangzeb reimposed the Jaziya tax in 1679, more than a century after it had been abolished by Akbar. This move was part of his more orthodox Islamic policies and caused significant resentment among his non-Muslim subjects.