Q50. Four Stars of Destiny is associated with which former Indian Army chief?
[UPSC CDS I (GK) • 21 Apr 2024]
A) Sam Manekshaw
B) K. J. S. Dhillon
C) Bipin Rawat
D) Manoj Mukund Naravane
Answer: D) Manoj Mukund Naravane
Explanation: General M. M. Naravane’s memoir Four Stars of Destiny recounts experiences from his military career. He served as India’s Army Chief from 2019 to 2022, including a period marked by heightened border tensions.
Q49. Who is the author of the book Hind Swaraj?
[WBCS Main 2023 (History) • held 18 Aug 2024]
A) Subhas Chandra Bose
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D) Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: D) Mahatma Gandhi
Explanation: Mahatma Gandhi wrote Hind Swaraj in Gujarati in 1909, questioning industrial modernity and arguing for self-rule grounded in ethical self-discipline. Although frequently examined as a political text, it is also a significant original book.
Q48. Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh was written by which historian?
[WBCS Main 2023 (History) • held 18 Aug 2024]
A) Nizamuddin Ahmad
B) Amir Khusrau
C) Faizi
D) Abdul Qadir Badauni
Answer: D) Abdul Qadir Badauni
Explanation: Abdul Qadir Badauni was a Mughal historian critical of several aspects of Akbar’s religious policies. His Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh provides an important, sometimes dissenting perspective on the Mughal court and its rulers.
Q47. Which work, authored by Tolkappiyar, is an early text of Tamil literature?
[SSC CGL Tier I • 18 Sep 2024, Shift 2]
A) Narrinai
B) Tolkappiyam
C) Kalittogai
D) Ettutogai
Answer: B) Tolkappiyam
Explanation: Tolkappiyam is an ancient Tamil treatise on grammar and literary conventions. Traditionally attributed to Tolkappiyar, it is essential for understanding classical Tamil language and poetics, and is distinct from Sangam poetic anthologies.
Q46. Which literary work by Chand Bardai celebrates Prithviraj Chauhan?
[SSC CGL Tier I • 12 Sep 2024, Shift 2]
A) Rajamartanda
B) Harakeli Nataka
C) Prithviraj Raso
D) Abhidhana Chintamani
Answer: C) Prithviraj Raso
Explanation: Prithviraj Raso is traditionally attributed to Chand Bardai, associated with Prithviraj Chauhan’s court. Its ballad-like narrative presents heroic episodes and romance, though historians debate its textual layers and reliability as factual history.
Q45. Who wrote Fearless Governance, a memoir of service as Lieutenant Governor?
[SSC CGL Tier I • 11 Sep 2024, Shift 1]
A) Droupadi Murmu
B) Kiran Bedi
C) Anandiben Patel
D) Baby Rani Maurya
Answer: B) Kiran Bedi
Explanation: Kiran Bedi, India’s first woman IPS officer, wrote Fearless Governance about her experience administering Puducherry as Lieutenant Governor. The book discusses governance challenges, public accountability and administrative initiatives during her tenure.
Q44. Which book–author pair is incorrectly matched?
[SSC CGL Tier I • 10 Sep 2024, Shift 3]
A) Hind Swaraj — Mahatma Gandhi
B) Why I am an Atheist — Bhagat Singh
C) Gitanjali — Rabindranath Tagore
D) The Discovery of India — Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: D) The Discovery of India — Subhas Chandra Bose
Explanation: The Discovery of India was written by Jawaharlal Nehru during imprisonment, not Subhas Chandra Bose. Gandhi wrote Hind Swaraj, Bhagat Singh authored Why I Am an Atheist, and Tagore wrote Gitanjali.
Q43. Who wrote The Indian Struggle, an account of India’s freedom movement?
[SSC CGL Tier I • 10 Sep 2024, Shift 2]
A) Vallabhbhai Patel
B) Motilal Nehru
C) Mahatma Gandhi
D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Explanation: Subhas Chandra Bose wrote The Indian Struggle during the 1930s while abroad. It analyzes nationalist developments, political organizations and the campaign for freedom, recording his distinctive interpretation of the struggle for independence.
Q42. Who composed the Tamil epic Silappathikaram (The Jewelled Anklet)?
[SSC CGL Tier I • 9 Sep 2024, Shift 3]
A) Tolkappiyar
B) Tirumalisai Alvar
C) Ilango Adigal
D) Sittalai Sattanar
Answer: C) Ilango Adigal
Explanation: Ilango Adigal is traditionally regarded as the composer of Silappathikaram. It narrates the ordeal of Kannagi and Kovalan and belongs to the five great Tamil epics. Sittalai Sattanar composed the related epic Manimekalai.
Q41. Who authored the Bengali play Nil Darpan?
[SSC CGL Tier I • 9 Sep 2024, Shift 1]
A) Chittaranjan Das
B) Motilal Nehru
C) Dinabandhu Mitra
D) Sarojini Naidu
Answer: C) Dinabandhu Mitra
Explanation: Dinabandhu Mitra’s play Nil Darpan exposed oppressive practices used against indigo cultivators in colonial Bengal. Written around the time of the Indigo Revolt, it became a notable example of politically engaged Bengali theatre.
