History 2024 Paper I 50 marks 30 words Compulsory Write short notes

Q1

Identify the following places marked on the map supplied to you and write a short note of about 30 words on each of them in your Question-cum-Answer Booklet. Locational hints for each of the places marked on the map are given below seriatim: (i) Prehistoric site, (ii) Area of petroglyphs, (iii) Neolithic site, (iv) Harappan site, (v) Buddhist monastery, (vi) Chalcolithic site, (vii) Neo-Chalcolithic site, (viii) Megalithic site with rock art, (ix) One of the Mahajanapadas' capital and associated with Buddha's miracle, (x) Hominid fossil find site, (xi) Major rock edict of Ashoka, (xii) Ancient trade centre, (xiii) Stone inscription recording land grants with tax exemptions, (xiv) Shiva temples named after family relationships, (xv) Place of art-related inscription, (xvi) Place of inscription of three languages, (xvii) Temple site where three styles of temple architecture are found, (xviii) Jain pilgrimage site, (xix) Shiva temple of Gupta period, (xx) Megalithic monumental site.

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

आपको दिए गए मानचित्र पर अंकित निम्नलिखित स्थानों की पहचान कीजिए एवं अपनी प्रश्न-सह-उत्तर पुस्तिका में उनमें से प्रत्येक पर लगभग 30 शब्दों की संक्षिप्त टिप्पणी लिखिए। मानचित्र पर अंकित प्रत्येक स्थान के लिए स्थान-निर्धारण संकेत क्रमानुसार नीचे दिए गए हैं: (i) प्रागैतिहासिक स्थल, (ii) शैलोक्षीण का क्षेत्र, (iii) नवपाषाणकालीन स्थल, (iv) हड़प्पाकालीन स्थल, (v) बौद्ध विहार, (vi) ताम्रपाषाणकालीन स्थल, (vii) नवपाषाण और ताम्रपाषाणकालीन स्थल, (viii) महापाषाणकालीन शैलचित्रयुक्त स्थल, (ix) महाजनपदीय राजधानी व बुद्ध चमत्कार से सम्बद्ध, (x) प्राचीन मानव जीवाश्म प्राप्त स्थल, (xi) अशोक का मुख्य शिलालेख, (xii) प्राचीन व्यापारिक केन्द्र, (xiii) करमुक्त भूमि अनुदान को दर्ज करने वाला शिलालेख, (xiv) पारिवारिक रिश्तों के नामकरणवाला शिवमंदिर समूह, (xv) कला-सम्बद्ध अभिलेख स्थल, (xvi) तीन भाषाओं का अभिलेख स्थल, (xvii) मंदिर स्थापत्य की तीनों शैलियों के उदाहरण मिलनेवाला मंदिर स्थल, (xviii) जैन तीर्थस्थान, (xix) गुप्तकालीन शिवमंदिर, (xx) महापाषाणीय स्मारक क्षेत्र।

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Directive word: Write short notes

This question asks you to write short notes. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Write short notes demands precise, information-dense responses for each of the 20 map locations. Structure as 20 discrete entries, each identifying the site by name and providing 25-30 words covering: exact location (state/region), chronological period, and specific significance matching the locational hint. No introduction or conclusion required; maximize factual accuracy within word limit.

Key points expected

Correct identification of all 20 sites with precise geographical locations (e.g., Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, not generic 'central India')
Accurate chronological placement: prehistoric (Paleolithic/Mesolithic), Neolithic (c. 7000-3000 BCE), Chalcolithic (c. 3000-1000 BCE), Harappan (c. 2600-1900 BCE), Megalithic (c. 1000 BCE-300 CE), historical periods
Specific matching to locational hints: e.g., (ix) Sravasti for Mahajanapada capital with Buddha's miracle, (xvi) Prakrit-Greek-Aramaic at Shahbazgarhi or Kandahar
Architectural and artistic specificity: (xvii) Pattadakal for Chalukyan temple styles, (xiv) Badami cave temples (Varaha, Vamana, etc. with family names)
Inscriptional details: (xiii) Sannati or Nasik for land grant records, (xvi) specific trilingual content and script types

Evaluation rubric

Dimension	Weight	Max marks	Excellent	Average	Poor
Chronology accuracy	20%	10	All 20 sites placed in correct chronological brackets with specific dates/periods (e.g., 'Harappan: mature phase c. 2600-1900 BCE' not 'ancient times'); distinguishes Neo-Chalcolithic from Chalcolithic correctly; Gupta temple dated to 5th-6th century CE	Most sites broadly period-correct but vague on dates; conflates Neolithic with Chalcolithic or Megalithic with early historic; uses imprecise terms like 'old' or 'very ancient'	Major chronological errors: prehistoric sites dated to historical periods, Harappan placed in Vedic era, or complete absence of temporal markers for majority of entries
Source & evidence	20%	10	Each note cites specific archaeological evidence matching hints: fossil species at (x) Hathni Nala or Narmada, specific rock edict number at (xi) Dhauli or Girnar, exact inscription language combination at (xvi), architectural style names at (xvii)	Generic mentions of 'archaeological remains' or 'inscriptions found'; some specific evidence for major sites (Harappan, Ashokan) but vague on obscure locations; hints partially addressed	No concrete evidence cited; sites described with generic tourism-style phrases ('famous for old things'); complete mismatch between stated evidence and actual site characteristics
Multi-perspective analysis	20%	10	Notes integrate multiple dimensions where space permits: trade centre (xii) links to specific commodities (spices, horses) and sea/land routes; religious sites connect patronage (Gupta, Chalukya) with artistic development; hominid site notes paleoanthropological significance	Single-dimension descriptions; religious sites only mention deity, trade centres only mention 'trade' without goods or routes; misses opportunity to link political-economic-religious factors	Purely descriptive with no analytical content; fails to explain why site matters beyond existence; no connection between site type and broader historical processes
Historiographic framing	20%	10	Demonstrates awareness of scholarly debates where relevant: e.g., 'Megalithic culture associated with Dravidian speakers per Allchin' or 'Harappan decline debated between climate vs. tectonic theories'; cites ASI excavators for specific sites (B.B. Lal, H.D. Sankalia)	Standard textbook attributions without debate awareness; mentions excavators for famous sites (Marshall for Mohenjo-daro) but not for others; no historiographic nuance on contested identifications	No scholarly attribution; presents all information as settled fact; confuses sites due to outdated or popular sources (e.g., calling any megalithic site 'Pandava graves' without qualification)
Conclusion & synthesis	20%	10	Individual notes collectively demonstrate spatial and temporal pattern recognition: concentration of prehistoric sites in Vindhyas/Deccan, Ashokan edicts on peripheries, trade centres on coasts/rivers; implicit regional synthesis through consistent geographic precision	Notes accurate in isolation but no evident pattern awareness; treats 20 sites as disconnected checklist; some regional clustering mentioned but not systematically	Random ordering or illogical sequencing; contradictory geographic placements; no indication that candidate grasps distribution patterns of Indian archaeology

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