Ans: A

Exp:

• Option (a) is incorrect: The earliest capital of Magadha was at Rajgir. Later, the capital was shifted from Rajgir to Pataliputra. Pataliputra occupied a pivotal position as it was on the riverine route along the Ganga River.
• Option (b) is correct: Magadha came into prominence under the leadership of Bimbisara of the Haryanka dynasty.  His expansion of the kingdom, especially his annexation of the kingdom of Anga to the east, is considered to have laid the foundations for the later expansion of the Mauryan empire. 
• Option (c) is correct: Magadha enjoyed a special advantage in military organization. Although the Indian states were well acquainted with the use of horses and chariots, it was Magadha which first used elephants on a large scale in its wars against its neighbours. The eastern part of the country could supply elephants to the princes of Magadha. Elephants could be used to storm fortresses and to march across marshy and other areas lacking roads and other means of transport.
• Option (d) is correct: Udayin was one of the prominent rulers of the Magadha empire.  He laid the foundation of the city of Paaliputra at the confluence of the Ganges and Son, at Patna. Patna lay at the centre of the Magadhan kingdom, which now extended from the Himalayas in the north to the hills of Chhotanagpur in the south. 
• Reference: Chapter 15, Territorial States and the First Magadhan Empire., R.S.Sharma, NCERT.

Ans: C

Exp:

The following conditions favour the expansion of Magadha:

• Pataliputra was a water fortress (jaladurga)-  The Magadha kingdom shifted their capital from Rajgir to Pataliputra in the fifth century BC. Pataliputra was at the confluence of three rivers: the Ganges, the Gandak, and the Son. The army was able to proceed north, west, south, and east by following the paths of the rivers. Furthermore, it’s situation was rendered invulnerable because it was virtually surrounded by waterways.
• The Ganges as a means of transport and agricultural facilities– Magadha lay at the centre of the mid-Gangetic plains and the Ganges and its tributaries providing a means of both transport and agricultural facilities. As most of the mahajanapadas were located in the Gangetic plains, they could be reached by navigating the rivers.
• Rise of towns and use of metal money- The kingdom of Magadha benefited from the rise of towns and use of metal money. The rise of towns contributed to the  trade and commerce in north-east India and enabled the princes to levy tolls on the sale of commodities and accumulate wealth to pay and maintain their army.
• The unorthodox character of Magadhan society – The Magadhan Society had an unorthodox character. The society was inhabited by the Kiratas and Magadhas, who were held in low esteem by the orthodox brahmanas. The emergence of Jainism and Buddhism also led to changes in society and the thinking of the people.
• Advantage in Military organisation– Magadha enjoyed a special advantage in military organization. Although the Indian states were well acquainted with the use of horses and chariots, it was Magadha which first used elephants on a large scale in its wars against its neighbours. 

Reference: Chapter 15, Territorial States and the First Magadhan Empire., R.S.Sharma, NCERT.

Ans: A

Exp:

• Statement 1 is correct: Bimbisara was the founder of the Haryanka Dynasty, an early ruling dynasty of the Magadha Empire. Magadha came into prominence under his leadership. He used matrimonial alliances as a way to strengthen his political position. Example- Bimbisara’s first wife was the daughter of the king of Koshala. The marriage bought off the hostility of Koshala and gave Bimbisara a free hand in dealing with the other states.
• Statement 2  is correct: The kingdom of Anga had its capital at Champa. One of the most notable conquests of Bimbisara was Anga.  He placed it under the viceroyalty of his son, Ajatashatru.
• Statement 3  is incorrect: The Magadhan Empire was an ancient Indian kingdom that played an important role in the development of Jainism and Buddhism. The early Magadhan monarchs, such as  Bimbisara and Ajatashatru, fostered Buddhism and Jainism. The Nanda Dynasty was predominantly Jain. They extended the Magadhan power by conquering Kalinga from where they brought an image of Jina as a victory trophy.
• Reference: Chapter 15, Territorial States and the First Magadhan Empire., R.S.Sharma, NCERT.

Ans: C

Exp: 

• Statement 1 is correct: During the revolt of 1857, Delhi became the centre of the great revolt and Bahadur Shah, its symbol. The aged and powerless Bahadur Shah Zafar was proclaimed the Emperor of India.
• Statement 2 is correct: The revolt of the sepoys was accompanied by a rebellion of the civil population, particularly in the north-western provinces and Awadh. Their accumulated grievances found immediate expression, and they rose all together to vent out their opposition to British rule.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: At Kanpur, the natural choice to lead the revolt was Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the last Peshwa, Baji Rao II. Nana Saheb expelled the English from Kanpur, proclaimed himself the Peshwa, acknowledged Bahadur Shah as the Emperor of India and declared himself to be his governor. Begum Hazrat Mahal took over the reigns at Lucknow, where the rebellion broke out on June 4, 1857 and popular sympathy was overwhelmingly in favour of the deposed nawab.
• Statement 4 is correct: In Bihar, the revolt was led by Kunwar Singh, the zamindar of Jagdishpur. He unhesitatingly joined the sepoys when they reached Arrah from Dinapore (Danapur).

Ans: C 

Exp:

• Option A is correct: The Revolt of 1857 increased the resentment among the Indian people against the British due to various reasons, including social, cultural, economic, and political grievances.
• Option B is correct: Following the Revolt of 1857, the British took measures to restructure the Indian Army and its recruitment policies. They reduced the reliance on sepoys (Indian soldiers) and increased the number of British troops to prevent such uprisings in the future.
• Option C is incorrect: The Azamgarh Proclamation was not a declaration by the British to limit the economic growth of India. The Azamgarh Proclamation was authored mostly by Firoz Shah, the grandson of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah II. The English translation of the manifesto was published in the Central Delhi district of Delhi by the Delhi Gazette on September 29, 1857. The manifesto provides a detailed list of the different grievances of different sections of the society against the unjust colonial rule, and asserts the ability of the Mughals to establish their suzerainty over India.
• Option D is correct: The Revolt of 1857 had a profound impact on the Indian nationalist movement. Although the revolt itself was not successful in achieving independence, it served as a significant catalyst for future struggles against British colonialism. It fueled a sense of nationalism and paved the way for organised movements for independence in the years to come.
  Therefore, option C is the statement that does not accurately describe the effect of the Revolt of 1857.