CBSE Class 12 History 2025 — Set 61/4/1

Fill in the blank with the appropriate word from the given options : In Jainism, the practice of severe asceticism and non-attachment is intended to achieve ______, which is liberation from the cycle of birth and death. (A) Ahimsa (B) Karma (C) Moksha (D) Dharma

Why is Mahabharata called a dynamic text ? Choose the most suitable option from the following. (A) It remains unchanged and consistent in all versions. (B) It has been reinterpreted across various contexts. (C) It focuses solely on historical facts. (D) It is a fixed text with no variations over time.

Match Column I with Column II and choose the correct option. Column I (Traveller) / Column II (Country) a. Al-Biruni - i. Morocco b. Marco Polo - ii. Uzbekistan c. Ibn Battuta - iii. Italy d. Abdur Razzaq - iv. Samarqand Options : (A) a-i, b-ii, c-iii, d-iv (B) a-ii, b-iii, c-i, d-iv (C) a-iii, b-iv, c-i, d-ii (D) a-iv, b-i, c-ii, d-iii

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ? (Sufi) / (Region) (A) Shaikh Muinuddin Sijzi - Ajmer (B) Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki - Delhi (C) Shaikh Fariduddin Ganj-i Shakar - Ajodhan (Pakistan) (D) Shaikh Nizamuddin Auliya - Agra

Which of the following was the main source of initial information about Hampi's ruins for Colonel Colin Mackenzie ? (A) British documents (B) Memories of priests (C) Foreign travellers account (D) Epigraphic inscriptions

Which of the following informations were included in the tables of the sarkars in the Ain-i-Akbari ? I. Grants of revenue in charity II. Total area measured III. Number of forts IV. Biographies of officials Options : (A) I, III and IV (B) I, II and III (C) I, II and IV (D) II, III and IV

According to Montesquieu, how did the rulers in Asia manage their subjects ? Choose the most appropriate option from the following. (A) By promoting private property (B) By ensuring economic equality (C) By exercising absolute authority (D) By decentralizing powers to leaders

Imagine reading the 'Nalayira Divyaprabandham' a significant text in Tamil. Why is this collection often referred to as the Tamil Veda ? (A) It contains laws and regulations of Tamil society. (B) It holds religious significance equivalent to Vedas. (C) It is documented as a historical epic based on events. (D) It serves as a manual for temple construction.

Match the following Column I with Column II and choose the correct option. Column I (Dynasties of Vijayanagara) / Column II (Contributions) a. Sangama - i. Strengthened military b. Saluva - ii. Belonged to Krishnadeva Raya c. Tuluva - iii. Constructed Hiriya canal d. Aravidu - iv. Last dynasty of Vijayanagara empire Options : (A) a-iii, b-i, c-ii, d-iv (B) a-ii, b-iii, c-i, d-iv (C) a-iv, b-iii, c-ii, d-i (D) a-i, b-ii, c-iii, d-iv

How did David Ricardo's ideas influence British revenue policies in India ? (A) Adoption of fixed revenue demands for Ryots (B) Taxing landowners' surplus income based on average rent (C) Widespread implementation of Permanent Settlement (D) Rejection of revenue in favour of village development

Who amongst the following wrote the line "Khoob Ladi Mardani, Woh To Jhansi Wali Rani Thi" ? (A) Mahadevi Verma (B) Harivansh Rai Bachchan (C) Subhadra Kumari Chauhan (D) Ramdhari Singh Dinkar

Arrange the following events in chronological order and choose the correct option : I. Peasant Movement in Kheda II. Gandhi-Irwin Pact III. Champaran Movement IV. Noakhali Visit of Gandhiji Options : (A) IV, I, II, III (B) II, I, III, IV (C) III, II, IV, I (D) III, I, II, IV

Which of the following pairs of Committees and their Presidents is correct regarding the Constituent Assembly ? (Committees) / (Presidents) (A) Advisory Committee - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (B) Flag Committee - N.G. Ranga (C) Steering Committee - J.B. Kripalani (D) Supreme Court Committee - Jawaharlal Nehru

Who amongst the following women was a member of the Constituent Assembly from Bombay ? (A) Kamala Nehru (B) Hansa Mehta (C) Purnima Banerji (D) Vijayalakshmi Pandit

Two statements labelled as Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are given below. Read them carefully and select the correct option : Assertion (A) : India was considered a suitable country for cotton cultivation due to its soil, climate and cheap labour, by the Britishers. Reason (R) : The American Civil War (1861 - 65) caused a significant drop in raw cotton imports from America, leading Britain to seek alternative sources. Options : (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A). (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A). (C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false. (D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Choose the correct option from the following to fill in the blank regarding the role of leaders in the Revolt of 1857. Nana Saheb : Kanpur; Kunwar Singh : ______ (A) Gwalior (B) Meerut (C) Singhbhum (D) Arrah

(a) "Historians consider several elements when they analyse the Mahabharata." Substantiate the statement with suitable examples. OR (b) "Many communities during the Mahabharata period had different social practices from Brahmanical ideas." Substantiate the statement with examples.

How does the Sanchi Stupa reflect the religious and cultural beliefs of ancient India ? Explain with examples.

(a) Imagine studying the water management system of the Vijayanagara empire. How did the empire's water resources support its agriculture and urban development ? Explain. OR (b) Imagine studying Vijayanagara's trade records. What information do they reveal about the goods traded and the empire's economic connections ? Explain.

Describe the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev.

Analyse the impact of the Ryotwari system on the ryots of Bombay.

Explain the central debates in the Constituent Assembly regarding federalism.

(a) Imagine if you were developing an educational programme on forest life during the Mughal era. What key aspects of the life of forest-dwellers during that time would you explain ? Substantiate. OR (b) Imagine if you were tasked with researching the contributions of women in Mughal rural society. How would you analyse their roles in agriculture and society ? Explain.

(a) In what ways do the challenges of inscriptional evidences restrict our ability to understand the past ? Explain with examples. OR (b) In what ways do coins serve as valuable sources for understanding the ancient period ? Explain with examples.

(a) Explain the major events and movements that defined India's political condition between 1919 and 1922. OR (b) Explain the significance of the Dandi March and its influence on the Independence movement.

Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow: (1+1+2=4) Archaeogenetic Research As you can see, a careful re-examination of the data can sometimes lead to a reversal of earlier interpretations. In this respect, it is necessary to mention the recent archaeogenetic research carried out at the site of Rakhigarhi. The site, located in Hisar district of Haryana, is the biggest Harappan city, spread over an area of 550 Hectare. In order to study the genetic history of the Harappans, DNA was extracted from the skeletal remains excavated at Rakhigarhi. This research was carried out by The Deccan College Deemed University, Pune in collaboration with Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad and The Harvard Medical College. The analysis of the data indicates that the Harappans are the indigenous people of this region. The genetic roots of the Harappans go back to 10,000 BCE. The DNA of the Harappans has continued till today and a majority of the South Asian population appears to be their descendants. Due to trade and cultural contacts of the Harappans with distant regions there is a mixture of genes in small quantity. The continuity without any break in genetic history as well as cultural history rules out large scale immigration of the so-called Aryans. This research also indicates that the people coming from bordering areas and distant regions were absorbed in the Indian society. At no stage, the genetic history of the Indians was either discontinued or broken. As the Harappans started moving towards Iran and Central Asia, their genes also gradually spread in these regions. The same team of researchers reconstructed 3D features of the Harappan people. The reconstructed facial features of the Harappans, male and female, show remarkable similarity with the modern population of Haryana. Thus, this study has indicated unbroken continuity for 5000 years in this region. (31.1) How does the research at Rakhigarhi contribute to understanding of ancient civilizations ? (1) (31.2) How does the research redefine our understanding of genetic history in South Asia ? (1) (31.3) What is the significance of extracting and analyzing DNA from the remains at Rakhigarhi ? (2)

Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow: (1+1+2=4) A language with an enormous range Al-Biruni described Sanskrit as follows: If you want to conquer this difficulty (i.e. to learn Sanskrit), you will not find it easy, because the language is of an enormous range, both in words and inflections, something like the Arabic, calling one and the same thing by various names, both original and derivative, and using one and the same word for a variety of subjects, which, in order to be properly understood, must be distinguished from each other by various qualifying epithets. (32.1) How did Al-Biruni's description of Sanskrit reflect his engagement with Indian culture ? (1) (32.2) What key similarity between Sanskrit and Arabic did Al-Biruni highlight ? (1) (32.3) Why did Al-Biruni consider Sanskrit a rich language ? (2)

Read the given source carefully and answer the questions that follow: (1+1+2=4) Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was one of the many maulvis who played an important part in the revolt of 1857. Educated in Hyderabad, he became a preacher when young. In 1856, he was seen moving from village to village preaching jehad (religious war) against the British and urging people to rebel. He moved in a palanquin, with drumbeaters in front and followers at the rear. He was therefore popularly called Danka Shah - the maulvi with the drum (danka). British officials panicked as thousands began following the maulvi and many Muslims began seeing him as an inspired prophet. When he reached Lucknow in 1856, he was stopped by the police from preaching in the city. Subsequently, in 1857, he was jailed in Faizabad. When released, he was elected by the mutinous 22nd Native Infantry as their leader. He fought in the famous Battle of Chinhat in which the British forces under Henry Lawrence were defeated. He came to be known for his courage and power. Many people in fact believed that he was invincible, had magical powers, and could not be killed by the British. It was this belief that partly formed the basis of his authority. (33.1) Why was Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah called 'Danka Shah' ? (1) (33.2) How did British officials react to Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah's growing influence ? (1) (33.3) To what extent did Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah's action reflect the resistance against British rule in India ? (2)

(34.1) On the given political outline map of India (on page 27), locate and label the following with appropriate symbols : (3x1=3) (i) Sanchi - A Stupa (ii) Kalibanga - Harappan site (iii) (a) Panipat - Territory under the control of British OR (iii) (b) Vijayanagara - Capital of Vijaynagara empire (34.2) On the same political outline map of India, two places have been marked as 'A' and 'B', as the centres of the Revolt of 1857. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them. (2) [Visually Impaired alternative in lieu of Q.34: (34.1) Mention any two ancient Buddhist sites in Deccan India. (2) (34.2) (a) Name any one territory under the Mughal empire. (1) OR (34.2) (b) Name the capital of the Vijayanagara empire. (1) (34.3) Name any two main centres of the Revolt of 1857. (2)]