CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025

CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025

You can easily download the CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025 in PDF format for free via the myCBSEguide app or the official CBSE website. The sample paper is designed according to the revised syllabus for 2024-25, which has been rationalized to streamline the exam preparation process. CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025: Your Complete Guide to Exam Success The CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025 is a valuable resource for students preparing for their board exams. The CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025 provides a comprehensive overview of key topics, allowing students to assess their understanding of historical events and concepts. Regular practice with the CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025 can improve time management skills and boost confidence for the actual exam day. With the CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025, you’ll be able to track your progress and fine-tune your preparation strategy to achieve the best possible results in your history exam.

Create Custom Papers with Examin8 Teachers can leverage the Examin8 app to design customized exam papers with their own branding, including logos and personalized content. The new exam pattern includes case studies and competency-based questions, ensuring that students are tested on their understanding and practical application of historical concepts.

The Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025 is divided into five sections. Section D features three case study-based questions, which focus on real-life applications and analysis of historical events. Section E is dedicated to map-based questions, allowing students to demonstrate their geographical and historical knowledge. Prepare smarter and achieve better results—download the myCBSEguide app or visit our myCBSEguide website and Examin8 website to start your preparation today!

For better preparation, download the CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025 and access a variety of other study resources on the myCBSEguide app. This app provides additional mock tests, revision notes, and chapter-wise practice papers, making it an excellent tool for mastering your Class 12 History exam.

History Model Question Paper 2025

Take a look at the latest Class 12 History model paper issued by CBSE, New Delhi. The board has designed a 34-question paper this year, with Question 34 being a map-based question, testing your geographical and historical knowledge.

In this model paper, you’ll find 21 objective-type questions, including MCQs, assertion and reason-based questions, as well as statement and picture identification questions. These questions are designed to test your ability to apply concepts effectively, making it easier to assess your understanding of key historical events and facts.

The majority of the questions in the Class 12 History sample paper 2025 are straightforward and easy to tackle, with most being simple MCQs. However, some of the MCQs and case studies include twisted or conceptual questions that require deeper analysis and critical thinking. Overall, the Class 12 History exam paper is relatively easy, with only a few challenging questions to test your analytical skills.

For detailed practice and to stay ahead in your exam preparation, download the CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2025 on the myCBSEguide app or visit the CBSE official website. These platforms provide updated study materials, including chapter-wise test papers, mock exams, and revision notes to help you score high in your exams.

Class 12 History Sample Paper 2024-25

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Class 12 – History
Sample Paper – 01 (2024-25)

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Maximum Marks: 80
Time Allowed: : 3 hours

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General Instructions:

1. Question paper comprises five Sections – A, B, C, D and E. There are 34 questions in the question paper. All questions are compulsory.
2. Section A – Question 1 to 21 are MCQs of 1 mark each.
3. Section B – Question no. 22 to 27 are Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 3 marks each. The answer to each question should not exceed 60-80 words.
4. Section C – Question no 28 to 30 are Long Answer Type Questions, carrying 8 marks each. The answer to each question should not exceed 300-350 words
5. Section D – Question no.31 to 33 are Source based questions with three sub-questions and are of 4 marks each
6. Section-E – Question no. 34 is Map based, carrying 5 marks that include the identification and location of significant test items. Attach the map with the answer book.
7. There is no overall choice in the question paper. However, an internal choice has been provided in a few questions. Only one of the choices in such questions has to be attempted.
8. In addition, separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.

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1. Section A
2. Who among the following Governor Generals introduced The Enfield Rifles which became a cause of the Revolt of 1857?

   a)Dalhousie

   b)Hardinge

   c)Bentinck

   d)Wellesley

3. What was being auctioned in Burdwan in 1797?

   a)Jewelleries

   b)Paintings

   c)Estates

   d)Clothes

4. Who provided money for the preservation of the ancient site- Great Stupa at Sanchi?

   a)Shahjehan Begum

   b)Shahjehan Begum and Sultan Jehan Begum

   c)Jehan Begum

   d)Sultan Jehan Begum

5. Identify the picture from the given options:
   

    

   a)Ramparts of Golconda Fort

   b)Bastions at Gwalior Fort

   c)Fortification walls at Rajgir

   d)Citadel walls in Jaisalmer

6. There are ________ daftars (parts) of Ain.

   a)Three

   b)Four

   c)Six

   d)Five

7. Which of the following options is correct about the water resources of the Vijayanagara Empire?

   a)Embankments were built by Gajapati rulers in Vijayanagara.

   b)River Kaveri flows in Vijayanagara towards north-easterly direction.

   c)Hiriya Canal was built by the kings of Saluva dynasty.

   d)Kamalapuram tank’s water was conducted through a channel to the Royal Centre.

8. Assertion (A): Muslim rulers were effectively able to rule according to Shari‘a.
   Reason (R): A large portion of the population did not subscribe to Islam.

   a)Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

   b)Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.

   c)A is true but R is false.

   d)A is false but R is true.

9. Identify a poet-saint from the given information.
   • He emerged as a prominent figure in the fourteenth to fifteenth centuries.
   • His life and times have been reconstructed through his attributed compositions and later hagiographies.

   a)Tulsidas

   b)Kalidas

   c)Kabir

   d)Ramanuja

10. Who was the governor-general during the Revolt of 1857?

    a)Lord Willington

    b)Lord Lytton

    c)Lord Irwin

    d)Lord Canning

11. Which of the following statements is correct regarding Mahanavami Dibba?
    1. It was a high platform with slots for wooden pillars at a dose and regular intervals.
    2. It was a massive platform located on one of the highest points in the city.
    3. It was a place where the king met his advisers.

    a)i and ii

    b)only i

    c)only ii

    d)All of these

12. Identify the school of art with the help of the given image of Buddha.
    

    a)Gandhara School of Art

    b)Amravati School of Art

    c)Mathura School of Art

    d)Sarnath School of Art

13. Identify the primary reason behind the formation of the Constituent Assembly from the following options:

    a)To draft a framework for the governance of independent India

    b)To negotiate the terms of India’s independence with the British

    c)To establish a legislative body for the governance of provinces

    d)To settle issues of Partition of India through coordination

14. Match the following forms of marriage with their meanings and select the correct option accordingly:
    

    From of marriage	Meaning
    (a) Endogamy	(i) Practice in which one man has several wives.
    (b) Exogamy	(ii) Marriage within the same family unit living in the same locality.
    (c) Polyandry	(iii) Practice in which one woman has several husbands.
    (d) Polygyny	(iv) Marriage outside the family unit.

    a)(a) – (iii), (b) – (iv), (c) – (i), (d) – (ii)

    b)(a) – (ii), (b) – (i), (c) – (iii), (d) – (iv)

    c)(a) – (iii), (b) – (i), (c) – (iv), (d) – (ii)

    d)(a) – (ii), (b) – (iv), (c) – (iii), (d) – (i)

15. Which of these was the cause of the decline of Harappan civilisation?

    a)All of these

    b)Deforestation

    c)Floods

    d)Climatic Change

16. in February 1922, a group of peasants attacked and torched a police station in the hamlet of ___________, in the United Provinces (now, Uttar Pradesh).

    a)Chauri Chaura

    b)Kanpur

    c)Jhansi

    d)Lucknow

17. Who among the following in the Constituent Assembly proposed ‘horizontal tricolour National flag of saffron, white and green in equal proportion’?

    a)Rajendra Prasad

    b)K.M. Munshi

    c)Mahatma Gandhi

    d)Jawahar Lal Nehru

18. The peasants who were non-residents of the villages in which they held their lands were known as:

    a)Pahi-Kashta

    b)Muzarian

    c)Majur

    d)Kisan

19. Choose the correct site related to agricultural practices in the Harappan civilization:
    Archaeologists have found evidence of a ploughed field with two sets of furrows at right angles to each other at ________.

    a)Cholistan (Haryana)

    b)Banawali (Haryana)

    c)Kalibangan (Rajasthan)

    d)Shortughai (Afghanistan)

20. What do you mean by cutcheries?

    a)Hospital

    b)Police Station

    c)Zamindar’s house

    d)Court

21. Read the following statements carefully and identify the massive platform from the given options.
    1. It is located on one of the highest points in the city.
    2. The base of the platform is covered with relief carvings.

    a)Gol Gumbaz

    b)Mahanavami dibba

    c)Royal Centre

    d)Citadel

22. Who among the following was a Greek Ambassador to the court of Chandra Gupta Maurya?

    a)Megasthenes

    b)Fa – Xian

    c)Kautilya

    d)Harisen

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23. Section B
24. Describe the position of the untouchables in ancient society.

    OR

    What according to the Dharm Shastras, were the ideal occupations for the four Varnas? Give one way in which the Brahmanas tried to enforce these norms.

25. How did Mughals organize their land revenue system? Explain.
26. Explain with examples the role of Jotedars in the Permanent Settlement System in Bengal.
27. British did not have an easy time in putting down the Revolt of 1857. Explain the statement with examples.
28. Analyse the main features of Amara-Nayaka System which were introduced in Vijayanagara Empire.
29. Describe the distinct views of archaeologists on the Central authority of Harappa.

    OR

    Describe some of the distinctive features of Mohenjodaro.

30. Section C
31. Baba Nanak’s vision of the sacred word was all inclusive. Explain the statement.

    OR

    Describe the teachings and practices of Sufism.

32. How do modern historians explain the development of Magadha as the most powerful Mahajanapada? Explain.

    OR

    Explain the system of land grants and trade from 600 BCE to 600 CE.

33. There are different sources that provide us special insight into the working of Mahatma Gandhi in the National Movement of India. Explain the statement with example.

    OR

    Examine the reasons and outcomes of the Salt Satyagraha.

34. Section D
35. Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow:

    A Prayer to Agni

    Here are two verses from the Rigveda invoking Agni, the god of fire, often identified with the sacrificial fire, into which offerings were made so as to reach the other deities:
    Bring, O strong one, this sacrifice of ours to the gods, O wise one, as a liberal giver. Bestow on us, O priest, abundant food. Agni, obtain, by sacrificing, mighty wealth for us.
    Procure, O Agni, forever to him who prays to you (the gift of) nourishment, the wonderful cow. May a son be ours, offspring that continues our line…..
    Verses such as these were composed in a special kind of Sanskrit, known as Vedic Sanskrit. They were taught orally to men belonging to priestly families.

    1. From where have these verses been taken? Who has been invoked in them? (1)
    2. What is Rigveda? What was Vedic culture? (1)
    3. What has the god of Agni been prayed for? (2)
36. Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow:

    Education and Entertainment

    This is what Ibn Juzayy, who was deputed to write what Ibn Battuta dictated, said in his introduction:
    A gracious direction was transmitted (by the ruler) that he (Ibn Battuta) should dictate an account of the cities which he had seen in his travel, and of the interesting events which had clung to his memory, and that he should speak of those whom he had met of the rulers of countries, of their-distinguished men of learning, and their pious saints. Accordingly, he dictated upon these subjects a narrative which gave entertainment to the mind and delight to the ears and eyes, with a variety of curious particulars by the exposition of which he gave edification and of marvellous things, by referring to which he aroused interest.

    1. Why did the Sultan of Morocco insist that Ibn Battuta dictate the story of his travels to Ibn Juzayy? (1)
    2. Highlight the places Ibn Battuta explored during his travel. (1)
    3. What do Ibn Battuta’s travel accounts reveal about the things he noted in India? (2)
37. Read the following text carefully and answer the questions that follow:

    “That is very good, Sir-bold words, noble words.”

    Somnath Lahiri said:
    Well, Sir, I must congratulate Pandit Nehru for the fine expression he gave to the spirit of the Indian people when he said that no imposition from the British will be accepted by the Indian people. Imposition would be resented and objected to, he said, and he added that if need be we will walk the valley of struggle. That is very good, Sir-bold words, noble words.
    But the point is to see when and how you are going to apply that challenge. Well, Sir, the point is that the imposition is here right now. Not only has the British Plan made any future Constitution … dependent on a treaty satisfactory to the Britisher but it suggests that for every little difference you will have to run to the Federal Court or dance attendance there in England; or to call on the British Prime Minister Clement Attlee or someone else, Not only is it a fact that this Constituent Assembly, whatever plans we may be hatching, we are under the shadow of British guns, British Army, their economic and financial stronglehold – which means that the final power is still in the British hands and the question of power has not yet been finally decided, which means the future is not yet completely in our hands. Not only that, but the statements made by Attlee and others recently have made it clear that if need be, they will even threaten you with division entirely. This means. Sir, there is no freedom in this country. As Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel put it some days ago, we have freedom only to fight among ourselves. That is the only freedom we have got … Therefore, our humble suggestion is that it is not a question of getting something by working out this Plan but to declare independence here and now and call upon the Interim Government, call upon the people of India, to stop fratricidal warfare and look out against its enemy, which still has the whip hand, the British Imperialism – and go together to fight it and then resolve our claims afterwards when we will be free. CAD, VOL.I

    1. Who was Somnath Lahiri? (1)
    2. Why did Somnath Lahiri congratulate Pandit Nehru? (1)
    3. Explain in brief the intension of the British in not framing the constitution before hand. (2)
38. Section E
    1. On the given political outline map of India, locate and label the following with the appropriate symbols:
       1. Brighukachchha, Ashokan inscription
       2. Masulipatnam, a city under British control in 1857.
       3. Vaishali, an important town
          OR
          Dholavira,a Harappan site.
    2. On the same outline map, three places have been marked as A and B which are centres of the national movement. Identify them and write their correct names.
       
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Class 12 – History
Sample Paper – 01 (2024-25)

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Solution

1. Section A
2. (b)

   Hardinge

   Explanation: Hardinge

3. (c)

   Estates

   Explanation: Estates

4. (b)

   Shahjehan Begum and Sultan Jehan Begum

   Explanation: Shahjehan Begum and Sultan Jehan Begum

5. (c)

   Fortification walls at Rajgir

   Explanation: The given image is Fortification walls at Rajgir

6. (d)

   Five

   Explanation: Five

7. (d)

   Kamalapuram tank’s water was conducted through a channel to the Royal Centre.

   Explanation: Kamalapuram tank’s water was conducted through a channel to the Royal Centre.

8. (d)

   A is false but R is true.

   Explanation: The Shari‘a is the law governing the Muslim community. It is based on the Qur’an and the hadis, traditions of the Prophet including a record of his remembered words and deeds.

   Theoretically, Muslim rulers were to be guided by the Ulema. It was expected from Ulama to ensure that rulers must rule according to Shari‘a (Islamic laws). But Muslim rulers were unable to do that because a large portion of the population did not subscribe to Islam.

   The assertion is incorrect but the reason is correct.

9. (c)

   Kabir

   Explanation: Kabir (c. fourteenth-fifteenth centuries) is perhaps one of the most outstanding examples of a poet-saint. Historians have painstakingly tried to reconstruct his life and times through a study of compositions attributed to him as well as later hagiographies.

10. (d)

    Lord Canning

    Explanation: Lord Canning

11. (c)

    only ii

    Explanation: Located on one of the highest points in the city, the “mahanavami dibba” is a massive platform rising from a base of about 11,000 sq. ft to a height of 40 ft.

12. (c)

    Mathura School of Art

    Explanation: Mathura School of Art

13. (a)

    To draft a framework for the governance of independent India

    Explanation: To draft a framework for the governance of independent India

14. (d)

    (a) – (ii), (b) – (iv), (c) – (iii), (d) – (i)

    Explanation: (a) – (ii), (b) – (iv), (c) – (iii), (d) – (i)

15. (a)

    All of these

    Explanation:  The Aryan invasion was believed to be a major reason for the decline of Harappan.

16. (a)

    Chauri Chaura

    Explanation: Chauri Chaura

17. (d)

    Jawahar Lal Nehru

    Explanation: Jawahar Lal Nehru

18. (a)

    Pahi-Kashta

    Explanation: These peasants were non residents of the villages.

19. (c)

    Kalibangan (Rajasthan)

    Explanation: Archaeologists have also found evidence of a ploughed field at Kalibangan (Rajasthan), associated with Early Harappan levels. The field had two sets of furrows at right angles to each other, suggesting that two different crops were grown together.

20. (d)

    Court

    Explanation: Court

21. (b)

    Mahanavami dibba

    Explanation: Located on one of the highest points in the city, this place is adorned by the magnificent “mahanavami dibba.” The impressive platform spans an area of approximately 11,000 square feet and reaches a towering height of 40 feet. Historical evidence suggests that it once supported a wooden structure. Additionally, the base of the platform showcases intricate relief carvings.

22. (a)

    Megasthenes

    Explanation: Megasthenes

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23. Section B
24. The Brahmanas developed a sharp social division by classifying certain social categories as untouchables. The Chandalas, according to the Brahmanical norms, were considered as ‘untouchables’. This rested on a notion that certain activities, especially those connected with the performance of rituals, were sacred and by extension pure. Those who considered themselves pure avoided taking food from those designated as untouchables. In sharp contrast to the purity aspect, some activities were regarded as particularly ‘polluting’. These included handling corpses and dead animals. Those who performed such tasks, designated as Chandalas, were placed at the very bottom of the hierarchy. Their touch and in some cases even seeing them was regarded as polluting by those who claimed to be at the top of the social order. The Manusmriti laid down the ‘duties’ of Chandalas which determined their status in society. They were assigned with minimal works and has to serve the upper three castes.

    OR

    Relation between Varna system and occupations according to Brahminical texts.

    1. Brahmanas: Study and teach the Vedas, perform sacrifices, get sacrifices performed, and give and receive gifts.
    2. Kshatriyas: Engage in warfare, protect people and administer justice, study the Vedas, get sacrifices performed and give gifts.
    3. Vaishyas: Study Vedas, perform yajnas, give gifts, agriculture, pastoralism, and trade.
    4. Fourth Varna: Serving the higher three Varnas.

    Brahmanas used the following strategies to enforce these norms:

    1. Asserting that the Varna order was of divine origin.
    2. Advised kings to ensure that these norms were followed by their subjects.
    3. Attempted to persuade people that their status was determined by birth.
    • During the Mughal state the classification of lands was based on productivity and continuation of cultivation.
    • The land that remained continually under cultivation and paid full land revenue demand was classified as polaj.
    • Land that remained fallow intermittently and paid full rates as and when Parauti.
    • Land which had been fallow for three or four years due to different causes as inundation were brought under a progressive land revenue policy.
    • Full rates were applied when fully brought under cultivation. They were called Chachar lands.
    • Cultivable waste land or banjar lands paid full and revenue rates in the fifth or eight year of cultivation. State helped in bringing virgin and uncultivated waste land under cultivation.
    • Regularity of cultivation was kept in mind before fixing the revenue.
    • Land of first two types was categorised further into good, middling and bad produce.
    • Produce of each sort was added together and third of this counted the medium produce, one third of which was exacted as the royal due or revenue assessment.
25. Jotedars were influential intermediaries in the Permanent Settlement system of Bengal. As wealthy peasants with substantial landholdings, they acted as a bridge between zamindars and the actual cultivators. While not legally recognized landlords, they exercised considerable control over village affairs. They collected rents from peasants, maintained local records, and often acted as moneylenders. This position allowed them to amass wealth and influence, sometimes even challenging the authority of zamindars.
26. The statement that the British didn’t have an easy time suppressing the Revolt of 1857 is true. Several factors contributed to this difficulty, including:
    1. Sepoy rebellion: The revolt began with a mutiny by sepoys, significantly reducing the British army’s size.
    2. Widespread uprising: The revolt broke out in many places, including Awadh, Kanpur, Lucknow, Arrah, and Jhansi.
    3. Peasant participation: Peasants and villagers in Awadh and other locations joined the sepoys, giving the revolt a mass movement character.
    4. Delayed response: The British were simultaneously fighting three military campaigns, leading to a delayed reaction to the rebellion.
    5. Kingdoms joining the revolt: Resentful kingdoms saw opportunities for their zamindars and kings to rise against the British.
27. Many features of Amar Nayaka system were derived from the Iqta system of Delhi Sultanate:
    1. It was a major political innovation of Vijayanagara.
    2. Amara Nayakas were military commanders who were given territories to govern by Raya.
    3. They collected taxes and other dues from the people like peasants, craftsmen etc.from their area.
    4. They retained some part of the revenue for the personal use for raising horses and elephants. Some revenue used for the maintenance of the temples and irrigation works.
28. Various opinions of the archeologists over the central authority of the Harappa civilization:
    1. Palace at Mohenjodaro: A large building was labeled a palace by archaeologists, but no spectacular finds were associated with it.
    2. Priest-King Statue: A stone statue was labeled and continues to be known as the “priest-king.”
    3. No Rulers Theory: Some archaeologists believe Harappan society had no rulers, with everyone enjoying equal status.
    4. Multiple Rulers Theory: Others think there were several rulers, with Mohenjodaro having one ruler, Harappa another, and so forth.

    OR

    The following are the distinctive features of Mohenjodaro:

    1. Harappa as a planned urban centre. It had two parts. The first part was designed as a citadel and the second part was as a lower town.
    2. Mohenjo-Daro people had the finest bath facilities, drainage system, and knowledge of personal hygiene. The drainage system was well planned. All the roads and streets were laid out on a grid pattern. They intersected one another at the right angles.
    3. There were many buildings in the citadel. These buildings were used for many special public purposes. The Warehouse and the Great Bath were the two most important constructions.
29. Section C

    1. Early Life and Background:

       • Baba Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in a Hindu merchant family in Nankana Sahib, near the river Ravi in Punjab.
       • He trained to be an accountant, studied Persian, and married young, but spent most of his time with sufis and bhaktas and traveled widely.

    2. Spiritual Message:

       • Guru Nanak’s hymns and teachings advocate nirguna bhakti, emphasizing devotion to a formless and genderless Absolute, or “rab.”
       • He rejected external religious practices such as sacrifices, ritual baths, image worship, austerities, and the scriptures of both Hindus and Muslims.
       • Guru Nanak proposed connecting to the Divine by remembering and repeating the Divine Name, expressing his ideas through hymns called “shabad” in Punjabi, accompanied by Mardana playing the rabab.

    3. Formation of a Community:

       • Guru Nanak organized his followers into a community, setting up rules for congregational worship (sangat) involving collective recitation.
       • He appointed Angad as his successor, establishing a tradition of leadership that lasted nearly 200 years.

    4. Posthumous Development:

       • While Guru Nanak did not intend to establish a new religion, after his death, his followers began to consolidate their practices, distinguishing themselves from Hindus and Muslims.
       • The fifth preceptor, Guru Arjan, compiled Guru Nanak’s hymns, along with those of his successors and other religious poets like Baba Farid, Ravidas, and Kabir, into the Adi Granth Sahib.
       • In the late seventeenth century, the tenth preceptor, Guru Gobind Singh, included compositions of the ninth guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, creating the Guru Granth Sahib.

    5. Foundation of the Khalsa:

       • Guru Gobind Singh established the Khalsa Panth (army of the pure), defining its five symbols: uncut hair, a dagger, a pair of shorts, a comb, and a steel bangle.
       • Under Guru Gobind Singh, the community consolidated into a socio-religious and military force.
30. Conclusion
    Baba Nanak’s vision of the sacred word is a testament to his belief in a universal truth and a rejection of narrow religious divisions. His emphasis on equality, inner devotion, and compassionate action highlights the accessibility of spiritual realization to all who seek it. This inclusivity is a cornerstone of Sikh teachings and continues to inspire its followers today.

    OR

    1. God: According to Sufism, God is one. The world is a reflection of God. Everything in the world is given by God. According to them, God is the only real being. Its form is eternal and everywhere. According to Sufi seekers, God is unique, absolute, imperceptible, infinite, and the ultimate truth. Apart from the ultimate truth, he is the ultimate welfare and supremely beautiful. Thus, the Sufi doctrine can be said to be based on Satyam Shivam Sundaram.
    2. Soul: Sufi saints consider the soul to be a part of God. According to Sufis, the soul used to rule before it got imprisoned in the human body. That’s why Sufi seekers welcome death and thus the liberation of the soul. In the view of Sufi seekers, two qualities are predominant in the soul, Nafs and Rooh. Nafs is the source of all vices, pride, ignorance, anger, lust, and fear. The Rooh or The spirit is the abode of God. The Nafs and Rooh are in constant conflict.
    3. Light (Noor): According to the Sufis, when God had the desire to create the universe, he created light. The light is referred to as Noor e Muhammad (the light of Muhammad). God created the universe with this light.
    4. Humans: Humans and helping fellow human beings are given the utmost importance in Sufism. According to Sufism, human beings are the best creation of God in the universe. According to Sufi seekers, man manifests all the qualities of God’s soul. Every human being should do good deeds. Good deeds bring man closer to God. Due to bad deeds, he turns away from God. A man can rise above the human condition and attain divinity. In this stage, he can listen to the teachings of God and put forth good ideas in front of the public.
    5. Importance of teacher (Pir): Pir has great importance in Sufism. Pir is the one who takes the seeker to God. A Sufi seeker cannot achieve anything without a spiritual master. Seeker always sees his Pir like God. Before being initiated into this religion, a person has to make certain vows in front of the Pir. The disciple had to do all the work like staying in the ashram, filling water, cleaning, etc. It is necessary to have a Pir to cross the difficult paths. With the help of Pir, a person achieves his real objective. Malik Muhammad Jayasi has written in this regard, “Don’t walk without your Pir, else you’ll do mistakes”.
    6. Love: Love has great importance in the practice of Sufis. Love in the physical, mental, and spiritual sense is the driving force and the basis of Sufism is love. According to this God is uniquely beautiful and can be attained through love. The pleasure and benefit that comes from attachment to something is love.
31. Historians explained the reason behind the emergence of Magadha as the most powerful Mahajanapada in the following ways:
    • Magadha was a region where agriculture was especially productive. Magadha included the modern Patna and parts of the Shahabad district. This state made commendable progress during the reign of Bimbisara. He strengthened his position by establishing marital relations with other states. He prepared himself for expansion towards the west. However, he was assassinated by his own son, Ajatasattu who himself took charge of the state. After Ajatasattu, the sate was governed by Uddayan who defeated the king of Koshala. Thereafter, the reign of the Shishunag dynasty started. The kings of this dynasty defeated Avanti.
    • After the reign of the Shishunag dynasty, the rule of the Nand dynasty started. They enhanced the power of Magadha by winning Kalinga. During the time of an attack by Alexander, Magadha was ruled by Mahapadam Nanda. The strength of Alexander was even acknowledged by the soldiers of Mahapadam Nanda. After the decline of the Nand dynasty, Magadha was reigned by the Mauryas. The kings of this dynasty enhanced the glory of Magadha and took it to the apex of glory and prestige.
    • Iron mines were accessible and provided resources for tools and weapons. Elephants, an important component of the army, were found in forests in the region. Also, the Ganga and its tributaries provided a means of cheap and convenient communication.

    OR

    From the early centuries, the grants of land were recorded in inscriptions. Some inscriptions were recorded in copper plates. The records that have survived, give us the following facts: The land grants were given to religious institutions or to Brahmanas. The Brahmanas were usually exempted from paying land revenue and other due to the king. The Brahmanas were often given the right to collect these dues from the local people. Women were not supposed to have independent access to resources like land. But aristocrat women like Prabhavati Gupta, daughter of Chandragupta II had access to lands. All the people in rural areas had to obey the new land of the village and pay him all the taxes.

    1. Land Grants:
       1. Grants were made to religious institutions and Samanthas.
       2. Brahmans were given Agrahara grants.
       3. The system of giving land as grants was adopted as a strategic tool to extend Brahmanical practices and to provide scope for the expansion of agriculture.
       4. The kings wanted to make allies as the weakening of the powers was evident.
    2. Trade Practices:
       1. Both Inland and overseas trade flourished.
       2. Inland trade developed within the country whereas trade relations were established with Central and West Asia and Northern Africa.
       3. Inland trade was done through the rivers.
       4. Merchants used caravans and bullock carts while the peddlers travelled on foot to carry on their business.
       5. Salt, timber, cloth, spices and medicinal plants were some of the items that were traded.
       6. Punch marked coins were introduced to facilitate trade.
       7. The texts written in Tamil and Pali provide us with enough information on the trade practices during the period. The social and economic life of the people can be understood from the inscriptions and manuscripts.
    3. Land and river routes crisscrossed the sub-continent and extended in different directions from the 6th century BCE. The ruler tried to control these routes by offering protection for a price.
    4. These different routes were transversed by the peddlers who travelled on foot. But the merchants travelled with caravans of bullock carts and pack-animals.
    5. There were seafarers. Their ventures were risky but highly profitable. A wide range of goods was carried from one place to another. These were salt, grain, cloth, metal ores and finished products, stone, timber, medicinal plants, spices and pepper, and textiles. All these were transported across the Arabian Sea to the Mediterranean.
32. Public Voice and Private Scripts
    • Writings and Speeches: Gandhi’s writings and speeches, along with those of his contemporaries, offer insight into both public and private aspects of their thoughts and actions.
    • Private Letters: Letters provide a glimpse into the personal thoughts, emotions, and frustrations of individuals involved in the nationalist movement, revealing aspects they may not express publicly.
    • Private-Public Distinction: While some letters were meant for private consumption, they were often crafted with the awareness of potential publication, blurring the line between public and private expression.

    Framing a Picture

    • Autobiographies: Autobiographies, including Gandhi’s, offer retrospective accounts rich in human detail, but readers must be cautious of selective memory and the intentional framing of one’s own narrative.
    • Selective Memory: Autobiographies may omit certain details or events, consciously or unconsciously, shaping the reader’s perception of the individual and their role in history.

    Through Police Eyes

    • Government Records: Colonial government records, including reports prepared by the Home Department based on police information, offer insights into how the authorities perceived dissent and nationalist movements.
    • Colonial Perspective: Government reports often downplayed the significance of Gandhi’s actions, such as the Salt March, portraying them as insignificant and failing to acknowledge widespread public support.

    From Newspapers

    • Contemporary Newspapers: Newspapers, both English and Indian-language, tracked Gandhi’s movements and activities, providing a glimpse into public perception and reactions.
    • Biased Reporting: Newspaper accounts were influenced by the political opinions and worldviews of their publishers, resulting in varied perspectives depending on the publication’s stance.

    OR

    Salt-Satyagraha: Background

    • Gandhiji concentrated on his social reform activities for many months following the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22). In 1928, though, he began to consider returning to politics.
    • An all-India movement was launched at that time to oppose the all-White Simon Commission, dispatched from England to explore constitutional amendments and give suggestions to the administration.
    • Gandhiji chose not to participate in this struggle, but he did give his endorsement, as he did with a farmer’s satyagraha in Bardoli in 1928 (Bardoli Satyagraha).
    • The Congress met in Lahore at the end of December 1929 for its annual session.
    • The appointment of Jawaharlal Nehru as President signaled the handover of power to the next generation and the declaration of adherence to “Purna Swaraj,” or complete freedom.
    • “Independence Day” was marked on January 26, 1930, including the national flag being displayed in various locations and nationalist tunes being performed.
    • Gandhiji gave specific directions on how the occasion would be commemorated.
    • The Congress Working Committee (CWC) was permitted by the Lahore Congress in 1929 to undertake a campaign of civil disobedience, notably non-payment of taxes.
    • The CWC meeting at Sabarmati Ashram in February 1930 gave Gandhiji the authority to initiate the Civil Disobedience Campaign at any moment and location he wanted.
    • Gandhiji’s deadline to the Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin (1926-31), in which he stated that the minimal demands had been neglected and that the only alternative option forward was civil disobedience.

    Salt Satyagraha: Consequences

    • On 2nd March 1930, Lord Irwin was informed about the Salt March by Gandhi.
    • On 12th March 1930, he lead a group of people from Sabarmati Ashram. He decided to walk through the villages of Gujarat.
    • The March started with 80 people but as the March went on more than 50,000 people joined Gandhi in the protest.
    • When the group of people reached the coastal Village of Dandi on 6th April 1930, Gandhi made salt from seawater breaking the salt act against the government.
    • Throughout the protest, the people in March were strictly instructed to not get involved in any kind of violence.
    • Gandhi addressed the crowd and gave a speech against the government.

    Salt-Satyagraha: Outcome
    The twenty-four-day-long civil disobedience movement led to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact which favored the Indian freedom struggle. In the pact it was decided that civil disobedience would be ended by Indians, the salt will be allowed for domestic use for everyone, the arrested Indians for breaking the salt law were released and Gandhi was allowed to attend the second round table conference.

33. Section D
    1. These verses have been taken from the Rigveda. They have invoked the god of Agni.
    2. The Rigveda describes the early Vedic tradition. It was compiled between C. 1500 and 1000 B.C.E. It has hymns in praise of Agni, Indra, and Soma. These hymns were sung when Yajnas were performed and sacrifices were made to pray for cattle, sons, good health, and long life.
    3. The following prayers have been made to the god of Agni:
       1. To take the sacrifice to the gods
       2. To give blessings liberally
       3. To seek abundant food in life
       4. To seek wealth and prosperity
       5. To be blessed with a son and a cow
       6. To seek proper nourishment
    1. He dictated an account of the cities which he had seen in his travel.
    2. North Africa
    3. Indian cities-densely populated and prosperous.
       Indian cities were full of opportunities
    1. Somnath Lahiri was the prominent member of the constituent assembly. He was a socialist leader
    2. He congratulated him, because he (Nehru) declared that no imposition from the British will be accepted. Any imposition would be objected to and he further added that if we will walk in the valley of struggle.
    3. British wanted to divide India into two separate nations-India and Pakistan. The motive behind was that to keep India as its slave indirectly even after independence. That was why they did not want to frame the constitution in hand.
34. Section E
    1. 
    2. A – Kheda
       B – Bardoli
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