UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Hindu groups perform puja at Bhojshala amid security

Q1. Who was the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, the statutory custodian body under the AMASR Act, 1958?

  • A. Alexander Cunningham
  • B. John Marshall
  • C. Mortimer Wheeler
  • D. James Prinsep

Q2. The 'prohibited area' (100 m) and 'regulated area' (further 200 m) regime around centrally protected monuments was formally introduced through which enactment?

  • A. The AMASR (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010
  • B. The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904
  • C. The AMASR Act, 1958 as originally enacted
  • D. The AMASR (Amendment) Bill, 2017

Q3. The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 freezes the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on which date?

  • A. 15 August 1947
  • B. 26 November 1949
  • C. 26 January 1950
  • D. 6 December 1992

Q4. The bar imposed by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 does NOT apply to which one of the following categories?

  • A. A place of worship that is an ancient and historical monument covered under the AMASR Act, 1958
  • B. Any temple or mosque more than 500 years old
  • C. Any place of worship whose character was altered any time before 1947
  • D. Shrines administered by State Wakf Boards

Q5. Being a centrally protected monument, custodianship and day-to-day management of the Bhojshala complex vests in which body?

  • A. Archaeological Survey of India
  • B. National Monuments Authority
  • C. Madhya Pradesh State Department of Archaeology
  • D. Central Wakf Council

Q6. In the context of the Bhojshala complex, the deity 'Vagdevi' is a form of which goddess?

  • A. Saraswati
  • B. Durga
  • C. Lakshmi
  • D. Parvati

Q7. Among the following contested structures, which one is itself a centrally protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India?

  • A. Qutub Minar complex
  • B. Gyanvapi mosque, Varanasi
  • C. Shahi Idgah, Mathura
  • D. Kashi Vishwanath temple

Q8. With reference to heritage-site disputes comparable to Bhojshala, consider the following statements: 1. The Gyanvapi mosque is located in Varanasi, adjoining the Kashi Vishwanath temple. 2. The Shahi Idgah dispute concerns a site in Mathura associated with the Krishna Janmabhoomi. 3. The Bhojshala complex is located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Gyanvapi mosque is located in Varanasi, adjoining the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
  2. The Shahi Idgah dispute concerns a site in Mathura associated with the Krishna Janmabhoomi.
  3. The Bhojshala complex is located in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that delivered the Bhojshala verdict comprised how many judges?

  • A. Two
  • B. One
  • C. Three
  • D. Five

Q10. The Muslim parties challenged the Bhojshala verdict before the Supreme Court through a Special Leave Petition (SLP). An SLP is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A plea seeking the Supreme Court's discretionary leave to appeal against a judgment or order, under Article 136
  • B. An original writ petition for enforcement of fundamental rights under Article 32
  • C. A petition to review the Supreme Court's own earlier judgment under Article 137
  • D. A curative petition heard after dismissal of a review

Q11. With reference to the regime governing centrally protected monuments, consider the following statements: 1. An 'ancient monument' under the AMASR Act, 1958 must have been in existence for not less than 100 years. 2. The area up to 100 metres around a protected monument is designated the 'prohibited area'. 3. The area beyond the prohibited area up to a further 200 metres is designated the 'regulated area'. 4. The National Monuments Authority was established under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. An 'ancient monument' under the AMASR Act, 1958 must have been in existence for not less than 100 years.
  2. The area up to 100 metres around a protected monument is designated the 'prohibited area'.
  3. The area beyond the prohibited area up to a further 200 metres is designated the 'regulated area'.
  4. The National Monuments Authority was established under the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3

Q12. Raja Bhoj of the Paramara dynasty shifted his capital to Dhar from which earlier capital?

  • A. Ujjain
  • B. Mandu
  • C. Indore
  • D. Vidisha