History · 2020 · Set 61/2/1

CBSE Class 12 History 2020 — Set 61/2/1

CBSE Class XII Board 2020 · Set 61/2/1

Real board examination⚠ Old pattern · pre-2020 syllabus

Sets

This paper has 7 questions on a topic removed in CBSE’s 2023-24 syllabus update (each marked Not in syllabus). It’s kept for historical accuracy — the exam really asked it that year — but isn’t in the current syllabus and doesn’t count toward a concept’s importance. Switch to to focus on what’s still examinable.

About this paper

The real Class-12 board examination held in 2020. Every question below is solved the concept-first way. Sample papers are labelled honestly — never shown as a past exam.

Total marks: 80
Questions: 31
Duration: 180 min
Sections: 5

The marks / questions / duration above are the official exam pattern. We currently have 31 of this paper’s questions (100% of the full paper), with 31 fully solved. Questions we couldn’t yet extract or verify are held — never shown as complete.

Sections & marks

Section	Type	Questions	Marks each	Total
ASection A	Very short answer (one word/sentence)	20	1	20
BSection B	Short answer (≤100 words)	4	3	12
CSection C	Long answer (≤350 words)	3	8	24
DSection D	Source-based	3	6	18
ESection E	Map-based	1	6	6
Total		31		80

The question paper

The questions we hold for this paper, laid out by section. Solutions are on the Answers tab.

Board Examination

History

CBSE Class XII Board 2020 · Set 61/2/1

Series/Set: 61/2/1Roll No. ________

Time Allowed: 3 hoursMaximum Marks: 80

General Instructions

This question paper contains 31 questions divided into 5 sections — A, B, C, D, E.
Section A comprises 20 questions of 1 mark each (Very short answer (one word/sentence)).
Section B comprises 4 questions of 3 marks each (Short answer (≤100 words)).
Section C comprises 3 questions of 8 marks each (Long answer (≤350 words)).
Section D comprises 3 questions of 6 marks each (Source-based).
Section E comprises 1 question of 6 marks each (Map-based).

Above is the official exam pattern. The questions printed below are those we currently hold for this paper.

Section A

Very short answer (one word/sentence) · 1 mark each · 20 of 20 shown

Q1.

Why were the French keen to take away the eastern gateway of Sanchi Stupa to France ?

(OR)

Why were the Stupas venerated ?

[1]

Q2.

Define the concept of Bodhisatta.

[1]

Q3.

Differentiate between Vaishnavism and Shaivism.

[1]

Q4.

The most unique feature of the Harappan cities was the development of _________.

[1]

Q5.

Which one of the following categories is not supposed to have belonged to the Brahmanical prescription of four varnas ? (A) Brahmanas (B) Kshatriyas (C) Nishadas (D) Vaishyas

[1]

Q6.

Study the following statements regarding the identification of centres of craft production in Harappan culture : I. Archaeologists look for raw materials such as stone nodules, copper ore, shells, etc. II. They study the soil texture. III. They find unfinished objects, rejects and waste material. IV. They try to have chemical analysis of the soils. Which of the above are correct reasons for identifying centres of craft production ? (A) I and II (B) II and III (C) I and III (D) III and IV

[1]

Page 1 of 6

Q7.

Identify the following image and write its appropriate name : [Visually Impaired alternative in lieu of Q.7: According to popular belief in Buddhism, a woman whose touch caused trees to flower and bear fruit was called _____.]

[1]

Q8.

Name the book written by Al-Biruni on religion, philosophy, astronomy and laws of India.

[1]

Q9.

Name the foreign traveller who was appointed as qazi or judge of Delhi by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq for several years.

[1]

Q10.

How do you think Francois Bernier was closely associated with the Mughal Court ?

[1]

Q11.

According to epigraphic evidence, who among the following founded the Vijayanagara empire ? (A) Sultans of Deccan (B) Gajapati rulers of Orissa (C) Harihara and Bukka (D) Cholas of Tamil Nadu

[1]

Q12.

Read the following statements : I. Krishnadeva Raya's rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation. II. There was peace and prosperity in his empire. III. He was credited with building some fine temples. IV. He belonged to the Sangama dynasty. Which of the above statements are related to Krishnadeva Raya ? (A) Only I (B) I, II and III (C) II, III and IV (D) I, III and IV

[1]

Q13.

Which one of the following statements regarding Akbar is not correct ? (A) Akbar was the devotee of Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti. (B) Akbar expanded and consolidated his empire. (C) He constructed Ibadat Khana due to his quest for religious knowledge. (D) He had cordial relations with Safavids over Qandahar.

⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Kings and Chronicles: The Mughal Courts (specifically sulh-i-kul as court ideology and related aspects like Ibadat Khana

[1]

Q14.

Name the capital of Ibrahim Lodhi which was taken over by Babur in 1526.

[1]

Q15.

Who was the author of Humanyun Nama ? OR Who was the author of Badshah Nama ?

⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Mughal Court Chronicles (removed 2023-24)

[1]

Q16.

Which one of the following provisions of Subsidiary Alliance was not applicable on Awadh in 1801 ? (A) The British would be responsible for protecting their ally from internal and external threats. (B) The British contingent would be stationed in the territory of the ally. (C) The ally would provide resources to maintain the British contingent. (D) The ally was free to enter into agreements with other rulers without the permission of the British.

[1]

Page 2 of 6

Q17.

Assertion (A) : The Congress Party never accepted the 'two-nation theory' when forced against its will to accept partition. Reason (R) : India is a land of many religions and races and must remain so. Study the above Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and find out which one of the following is correct : (A) (A) is true, but (R) is not true. (B) (A) is not true, but (R) is true. (C) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A). (D) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Understanding Partition: Politics, Memories, Experiences (removed 2023-24)

[1]

Q18.

How far was the religious factor responsible for the Revolt of 1857 ?

[1]

Q19.

Consider the following events : I. Cabinet Mission II. "Objective Resolution" in the Constituent Assembly III. The Government of India Act, 1935 IV. The Great Calcutta Killing The correct chronological order of these events is : (A) I, IV, III, II (B) III, I, IV, II (C) I, III, II, IV (D) II, I, III, IV

⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Understanding Partition: Politics, Memories, Experiences (removed 2023-24)

[1]

Q20.

State any one provision of 'Gandhi-Irwin Pact'.

[1]

Section B

Short answer (≤100 words) · 3 marks each · 4 of 4 shown

Q1.

Describe the methods of irrigation used by Harappans for agriculture.

[3]

Q2.

"Mahanavami Dibba was a distinctive structure of the Vijayanagara Empire." Justify the statement.

[3]

Q3.

Analyse the circumstances under which the British officials invited Santhals to settle in the peripheries of Rajmahal hills during the nineteenth century. OR Analyse the economic and social conditions of the Paharias (hill folk) of Rajmahal hills during the late eighteenth century.

[3]

Page 3 of 6

Q4.

"For Swaraj, Hindus, Muslims, Parsis and Sikhs will have to unite." Explain this statement of Gandhiji in the context of Non-Cooperation Movement.

[3]

Section C

Long answer (≤350 words) · 8 marks each · 3 of 3 shown

Q1.

Explain the characteristics of Mahajanapadas and explain Magadha as the most powerful Mahajanapada. (4+4=8) OR Explain the main features of the Mauryan administration and explain the principles of Ashoka's 'Dhamma'. (5+3=8)

[8]

Q2.

Describe the lives of forest-dwellers during the Mughal period in India. OR Describe the role of peasants and landed elites involved in agricultural production during the Mughal period in India.

[8]

Q3.

"The British took upon themselves the task of town planning from the early years of their rule in Bengal." Examine the statement. OR "The British commissioned hill stations in India." Substantiate the statement.

⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Colonial Cities: Urbanisation, Planning and Architecture (removed 2023-24)

[8]

Page 4 of 6

Section D

Source-based · 6 marks each · 3 of 3 shown

Q1.

Study the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow : "Proper" social roles Here is a story from the Adi Parvan of the Mahabharata : Once Drona, a Brahmana who taught archery to the Kuru princes, was approached by Ekalavya, a forest-dwelling nishada (a hunting community). When Drona, who knew the dharma, refused to have him as his pupil, Ekalavya returned to the forest, prepared an image of Drona out of clay, and treating it as his teacher, began to practise on his own. In due course, he acquired great skill in archery. One day, the Kuru princes went hunting and their dog, wandering in the woods, came upon Ekalavya. When the dog smelt the dark nishada wrapped in black deer skin, his body caked with dirt, it began to bark. Annoyed, Ekalavya shot seven arrows into its mouth. When the dog returned to the Pandavas, they were amazed at this superb display of archery. They tracked down Ekalavya, who introduced himself as a pupil of Drona. Drona had once told his favourite student Arjuna, that he would be unrivalled amongst his pupils. Arjuna now reminded Drona about this. Drona approached Ekalavya, who immediately acknowledged and honoured him as his teacher. When Drona demanded his right thumb as his fee, Ekalavya unhesitatingly cut it off and offered it. But thereafter, when he shot with his remaining fingers, he was no longer as fast as he had been before. Thus, Drona kept his word : no one was better than Arjuna. (28.1) Why did Drona refuse to accept Ekalavya as his pupil ? (2) (28.2) How did Ekalavya acquire the supreme skill of archery ? (2) (28.3) Why did Ekalavya introduce himself to the Pandavas as a pupil of Drona ? (2)

[6]

Q2.

Study the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow : The pilgrimage of the Mughal princess Jahanara, 1643 The following is an excerpt from Jahanara's biography of Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti, titled Munis al-Arwah (The Confidant of Spirits) : After praising the one God ... this lowly faqira (humble soul) Jahanara ... went from the capital Agra in the company of my great father (Emperor Shah Jahan) towards the pure region of incomparable Ajmer ... I was committed to this idea, that everyday in every station I would perform two cycles of optional prayer ... . For several days ... I did not sleep on a leopard skin at night, I did not extend my feet in the direction of the blessed sanctuary of the revered saving master, and I did not turn my back towards him. I passed the days beneath the trees. On Thursday, the fourth of the blessed month of Ramzan, I attained the happiness of pilgrimage to the illuminated and the perfumed tomb ... . With an hour of daylight remaining, I went to the holy sanctuary and rubbed my pale face with the dust of that threshold. From the doorway to the blessed tomb I went barefoot, kissing the ground. Having entered the dome, I went around the light-filled tomb of my master seven times ... Finally, with my own hand I put the finest quality of itar on the perfumed tomb of the revered one, and having taken off the rose scarf that I had on my head, I placed it on the top of the blessed tomb ... (29.1) How did Jahanara exhibit her faith and devotion to the Shaikh ? (2) (29.2) Why did she consider Dargah as a special place of pilgrimage and reverence ? (2) (29.3) How did she pay her obeisance at the Dargah ? (2)

⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Kings and Chronicles: The Mughal Courts (removed 2023-24)

[6]

Q3.

Study the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow : "Without a shot being fired" This is what Moon wrote : For over twenty-four hours riotous mobs were allowed to rage through this great commercial city unchallenged and unchecked. The finest bazaars were burnt to the ground without a shot being fired to disperse the incendiaries (i.e. those who stirred up conflict). The ... District Magistrate marched his (large police) force into the city and marched it out again without making any effective use of it at all ... (30.1) Examine the causes for the collapse of the administrative system. (2) (30.2) Why could the British officials not take any action to control the situation ? (2) (30.3) Do you think the role of the District Magistrate was justified ? (2)

⚠ This question is not in the current syllabus — Understanding Partition: Politics, Memories, Experiences (removed 2023-24)

[6]

Page 5 of 6

Section E

Map-based · 6 marks each · 1 of 1 shown

Q1.

(31.1) On the given political outline map of India (on page 19), locate and label the following with appropriate symbols : (1+1+1=3) (i) Nageshwar - A mature Harappan site OR Amaravati - A Buddhist site (ii) Panipat - A territory under the Mughals (iii) Amritsar OR Champaran - A centre of national movement (31.2) On the same political outline map of India, three places have been marked as A, B and C, which were under the British control during 1857. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them. (1x3=3) [Visually Impaired alternative in lieu of Q.31: (31.1) Mention any three mature Harappan sites. (1x3=3) OR Mention any three centres of Revolt of 1857. (1x3=3) (31.2) Name any three centres of National Movement. (1x3=3)]

[6]

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