# History, Culture and Indian National Movement practice questions (Group 4)

> This page has practice questions on History, Culture and Indian National Movement for the Group 4 / VAO (Combined Civil Services Examination-IV) exam, 20 in all: new questions our editors prepared and the founder approved, not previous-year questions. Tap “Answer and explanation” under each question for the correct answer and a short, sourced explanation. For previous-year papers and official answer keys, see tnpsc.gov.in.

Last updated: 2026-10-27 · By TNPSC Guide editorial team
URL: https://www.tnpscguide.com/exams/group-4/questions/gs-history

### Question 1

Match the limits of the Harappan civilisation as the Standard IX book gives them.
(a) West - 1. Daimabad
(b) North - 2. Alamgirpur
(c) East - 3. Shortugai
(d) South - 4. Sutkagen-dor

- A. (a) 4, (b) 3, (c) 1, (d) 2
- B. (a) 3, (b) 4, (c) 2, (d) 1
- C. (a) 4, (b) 2, (c) 3, (d) 1
- D. (a) 4, (b) 3, (c) 2, (d) 1

Correct answer: D. (a) 4, (b) 3, (c) 2, (d) 1

By the Standard IX book the limits were Sutkagen-dor in the west, Shortugai (Afghanistan) in the north, Alamgirpur (Uttar Pradesh) in the east and Daimabad (Maharashtra) in the south.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஒன்பதாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard IX, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 2 பண்டைய நாகரிகங்கள், p. 27 (PDF p. 33))

### Question 2

The word 'civilisation' comes from the ancient Latin word 'civis'. What does 'civis' mean?

- A. City
- B. River bank
- C. Fort
- D. Trade

Correct answer: A. City

The word 'civilisation' comes from the ancient Latin word 'civis', which means city.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஆறாம் வகுப்பு, முதல் பருவம், தொகுதி 3, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VI, Term I, Volume 3, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 3 சிந்துவெளி நாகரிகம், p. 133 (PDF p. 137))

### Question 3

Which Englishman first described the ruins of Harappa in his book?

- A. John Marshall
- B. Charles Masson
- C. Alexander Cunningham
- D. Yuri Knorozov

Correct answer: B. Charles Masson

The Englishman Charles Masson was the first to describe the ruins of Harappa in his book.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஆறாம் வகுப்பு, முதல் பருவம், தொகுதி 3, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VI, Term I, Volume 3, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 3 சிந்துவெளி நாகரிகம், p. 133 (PDF p. 137))

### Question 4

Consider the following statements on the Agnikula clans among the Rajput clans James Tod listed.
1. The Pratiharas are of Agnikula descent.
2. The Chauhans are of Agnikula descent.
3. The Palas are of Agnikula descent.
4. The Solankis are of Agnikula descent.
Which of these are correct?

- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2, 3 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4 only

Correct answer: D. 1, 2 and 4 only

The Pratiharas, Chauhans, Solankis and Paramaras are the four Agnikula clans, so 1, 2 and 4 are correct. The Palas were the Bengal dynasty founded by Gopala and are not among the four, so 3 is wrong.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஏழாம் வகுப்பு, முதல் பருவம், தொகுதி 3, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VII, Term I, Volume 3, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 2 வடஇந்தியப் புதிய அரசுகளின் தோற்றம், p. 116 (PDF p. 120))

### Question 5

Who is regarded as the first emperor of the Gupta empire and took the title 'Maharaja-adhiraja'?

- A. Sri Gupta
- B. Chandragupta I
- C. Ghatotkacha
- D. Samudragupta

Correct answer: B. Chandragupta I

Sri Gupta (240-280 CE) was the first king of the Gupta line and Ghatotkacha (280-319) followed him; Chandragupta I (319-335) is regarded as the first emperor and took the title Maharaja-adhiraja.

Source: வரலாறு, மேல்நிலை முதலாம் ஆண்டு, தமிழ் வழி (History, Standard XI, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (பாடம் 7 குப்தர், p. 101 (PDF p. 105))

### Question 6

Which Lichchhavi princess did Chandragupta I marry?

- A. Prabhavati
- B. Razia
- C. Kumaradevi
- D. Harka Bai

Correct answer: C. Kumaradevi

Chandragupta I married the Lichchhavi princess Kumaradevi; the Lichchhavis were an old gana-sangha of north Bihar.

Source: வரலாறு, மேல்நிலை முதலாம் ஆண்டு, தமிழ் வழி (History, Standard XI, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (பாடம் 7 குப்தர், p. 101 (PDF p. 105))

### Question 7

Consider the following statements on the Chola-Chalukya marriages.
1. Kundavai, daughter of Rajaraja I, married the Chalukya prince Vimaladitya.
2. Kulothunga I was the son of Kundavai and Vimaladitya.
3. Rajaraja Narendra married Ammanga Devi, daughter of Rajendra I.
Which of these are correct?

- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3

Correct answer: B. 1 and 3 only

Kundavai married Vimaladitya; their son Rajaraja Narendra married Ammanga Devi, and their son was Kulothunga I. Kulothunga was Kundavai's grandson, so 2 is wrong.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஏழாம் வகுப்பு, முதல் பருவம், தொகுதி 3, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VII, Term I, Volume 3, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 3 பிற்காலச் சோழர்களும் பாண்டியர்களும், p. 130 (PDF p. 134))

### Question 8

Who revived the Chola dynasty in the ninth century, captured Thanjavur and made it his capital?

- A. Karikalan
- B. Vijayalaya
- C. Rajaraja I
- D. Kulothunga I

Correct answer: B. Vijayalaya

In the ninth century Vijayalaya, who ruled a small area north of the Kaveri, revived the Chola dynasty; he captured Thanjavur and made it his capital.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஏழாம் வகுப்பு, முதல் பருவம், தொகுதி 3, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VII, Term I, Volume 3, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 3 பிற்காலச் சோழர்களும் பாண்டியர்களும், p. 129 (PDF p. 133))

### Question 9

Arrange these battles of the Carnatic Wars in chronological order.
1. Battle of Wandiwash
2. Battle of Ambur
3. Battle of Adyar
4. Battle of Arcot

- A. 2, 3, 4, 1
- B. 3, 4, 2, 1
- C. 3, 2, 1, 4
- D. 3, 2, 4, 1

Correct answer: D. 3, 2, 4, 1

Adyar was fought in 1746, Ambur on 3 August 1749, Arcot in 1751 and Wandiwash on 22 January 1760, so the order is 3, 2, 4, 1.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், எட்டாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VIII, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 2 வர்த்தகத்திலிருந்து பேரரசு வரை, p. 16 (PDF p. 22))

### Question 10

Which Portuguese sailor reached Calicut in 1498 and was welcomed by the Zamorin?

- A. Bartholomew Dias
- B. Vasco da Gama
- C. Francisco de Almeida
- D. Afonso de Albuquerque

Correct answer: B. Vasco da Gama

Bartholomew Dias reached the southern tip of Africa in 1487; Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498 and was welcomed by the Zamorin.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், எட்டாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VIII, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 1 ஐரோப்பியர்களின் வருகை, pp. 4-5 (PDF pp. 10-11))

### Question 11

Consider the following statements on the laws on the age of marriage.
1. The first law on the age of marriage, passed in 1856, fixed the age at ten.
2. In 1891 the age of marriage was raised to twelve.
3. In 1925 the age of marriage was raised to thirteen.
Which of these are correct?

- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 2 only
- D. 3 only

Correct answer: B. 2 and 3 only

The first law on the age of marriage came in 1860; the age was fixed at ten and raised to twelve in 1891 and to thirteen in 1925. 1856 is the year of the Widow Remarriage Act, so 1 is wrong.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 5 சமூக சமய சீர்திருத்த இயக்கங்கள், p. 60 (PDF p. 66))

### Question 12

Who founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828?

- A. Keshab Chandra Sen
- B. Debendranath Tagore
- C. Raja Rammohan Roy
- D. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

Correct answer: C. Raja Rammohan Roy

Rammohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 and opened a temple in Calcutta on 20 August, in which no images were placed.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 5 சமூக சமய சீர்திருத்த இயக்கங்கள், p. 59 (PDF p. 65))

### Question 13

Arrange these languages from the highest to the lowest share of speakers in the 2011 Census.
1. Tamil
2. Marathi
3. Bengali
4. Telugu

- A. 3, 4, 2, 1
- B. 3, 2, 4, 1
- C. 2, 3, 4, 1
- D. 3, 2, 1, 4

Correct answer: B. 3, 2, 4, 1

By the 2011 Census the five most spoken languages are Hindi 43.63%, Bengali 8.30%, Marathi 7.09%, Telugu 6.93% and Tamil 5.89%. So the order is Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil (3, 2, 4, 1).

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஆறாம் வகுப்பு, முதல் பருவம், தொகுதி 3, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VI, Term I, Volume 3, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (குடிமையியல் அலகு 1 பன்முகத் தன்மையினை அறிவோம், p. 196 (PDF p. 200))

### Question 14

Why is India called a 'subcontinent'?

- A. It is the home of a five-thousand-year-old civilisation
- B. It has the many natural divisions and climates that a continent has
- C. 122 major languages are spoken in it
- D. It is a secular state

Correct answer: B. It has the many natural divisions and climates that a continent has

A continent is a vast landmass with many natural divisions and climates, such as mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, seas and valleys; because India has all of these it is called a 'subcontinent'.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், ஆறாம் வகுப்பு, முதல் பருவம், தொகுதி 3, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard VI, Term I, Volume 3, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (குடிமையியல் அலகு 1 பன்முகத் தன்மையினை அறிவோம், p. 193 (PDF p. 197))

### Question 15

Match the pre-Congress associations with the years they were formed.
(a) East India Association - 1. 1885
(b) Poona Sarvajanik Sabha - 2. 1866
(c) Madras Mahajana Sabha - 3. 1884
(d) Bombay Presidency Association - 4. 1870

- A. (a) 2, (b) 4, (c) 3, (d) 1
- B. (a) 4, (b) 2, (c) 3, (d) 1
- C. (a) 2, (b) 4, (c) 1, (d) 3
- D. (a) 3, (b) 4, (c) 2, (d) 1

Correct answer: A. (a) 2, (b) 4, (c) 3, (d) 1

The East India Association was formed in 1866, the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha in 1870, the Madras Mahajana Sabha in 1884 and the Bombay Presidency Association in 1885.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 7 காலனியத்துக்கு எதிரான இயக்கங்கள், p. 88 (PDF p. 94))

### Question 16

In the Battle of Plassey (1757), whose secret support did Robert Clive have?

- A. Mir Jafar
- B. Siraj-ud-Daulah
- C. Nana Sahib
- D. Khan Bahadur

Correct answer: A. Mir Jafar

At Plassey on 23 June 1757 the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah, was defeated; Clive had the secret support of the Nawab's commander, Mir Jafar.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 7 காலனியத்துக்கு எதிரான இயக்கங்கள், p. 80 (PDF p. 86))

### Question 17

Match the works with their authors.
(a) The Kingdom of God is Within You - 1. Ambedkar
(b) Unto This Last - 2. Thoreau
(c) Civil Disobedience - 3. Tolstoy
(d) Castes in India - 4. John Ruskin

- A. (a) 4, (b) 3, (c) 2, (d) 1
- B. (a) 3, (b) 2, (c) 4, (d) 1
- C. (a) 3, (b) 4, (c) 2, (d) 1
- D. (a) 3, (b) 4, (c) 1, (d) 2

Correct answer: C. (a) 3, (b) 4, (c) 2, (d) 1

Tolstoy's 'The Kingdom of God is Within You', John Ruskin's 'Unto This Last' and Thoreau's 'Civil Disobedience' influenced Gandhi; 'Castes in India' is the paper Ambedkar submitted in 1916.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 8 காந்திய காலகட்டம், p. 96 (PDF p. 102))

### Question 18

Where was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi born on 2 October 1869?

- A. Porbandar
- B. Jaranwala
- C. Pietermaritzburg
- D. Yerawada

Correct answer: A. Porbandar

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born at Porbandar, Gujarat, on 2 October 1869; his father was Kaba Gandhi and his mother Putlibai.

Source: சமூக அறிவியல், பத்தாம் வகுப்பு, தமிழ் வழி (Social Science, Standard X, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (வரலாறு அலகு 8 காந்திய காலகட்டம், p. 95 (PDF p. 101))

### Question 19

Arrange these events in chronological order.
1. The JVP Committee submits its report
2. The Linguistic Provinces Commission submits its report
3. The States Reorganisation Commission submits its report
4. Potti Sriramulu dies

- A. 1, 2, 4, 3
- B. 2, 4, 1, 3
- C. 2, 1, 4, 3
- D. 2, 1, 3, 4

Correct answer: C. 2, 1, 4, 3

The Linguistic Provinces Commission reported on 10 December 1948, the JVP Committee on 1 April 1949, Potti Sriramulu died on 15 December 1952 and the States Reorganisation Commission reported in October 1955. So the order is 2, 1, 4, 3.

Source: வரலாறு, மேல்நிலை இரண்டாம் ஆண்டு, தமிழ் வழி (History, Standard XII, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (அலகு 8 காலனியத்துக்குப் பிந்தைய இந்தியாவின் மறுகட்டமைப்பு, p. 120 (PDF p. 124))

### Question 20

Which British Prime Minister announced in London on 20 February 1947 that Britain would grant India independence and leave by 30 June 1948?

- A. Lord Mountbatten
- B. Lord Wavell
- C. Clement Attlee
- D. Sir Cyril Radcliffe

Correct answer: C. Clement Attlee

In a statement issued in London on 20 February 1947, British Prime Minister Clement Attlee said Britain would grant India independence and leave by 30 June 1948; on 22 March 1947 Mountbatten replaced Lord Wavell as Viceroy.

Source: வரலாறு, மேல்நிலை இரண்டாம் ஆண்டு, தமிழ் வழி (History, Standard XII, Tamil medium; Samacheer Kalvi) (அலகு 8 காலனியத்துக்குப் பிந்தைய இந்தியாவின் மறுகட்டமைப்பு, p. 111 (PDF p. 115))

## Sources

- [Official syllabus page](https://www.tnpsc.gov.in/english/syllabus.html)
- [Notifications](https://www.tnpsc.gov.in/English/Notification.aspx)