UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Disputed Bhojshala complex a temple, says M.P. High Court

Question 1

The day-to-day conservation and regulation of the Bhojshala complex as a centrally protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 is carried out by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Archaeological Survey of India

Answer

National Monuments Authority

Answer

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)

Answer

National Culture Fund

Question 2

Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, a structure of historical, archaeological or artistic interest qualifies as an 'ancient monument' only if it has been in existence for not less than:

Accepted Answer

100 years

Answer

60 years

Answer

75 years

Answer

150 years

Question 3

The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 freezes the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on 15 August 1947. Under Section 4(3), how many categories of places or matters are kept outside this bar?

Accepted Answer

5

Answer

2

Answer

3

Answer

7

Question 4

Which Union ministry is the administrative (nodal) ministry for the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991?

Accepted Answer

Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer

Ministry of Culture

Answer

Ministry of Law and Justice

Answer

Ministry of Minority Affairs

Question 5

In its 2026 Bhojshala judgment, the Madhya Pradesh High Court held that alternative land for a mosque, if sought, is to be allotted by which authority?

Accepted Answer

The State Government of Madhya Pradesh

Answer

Only the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs

Answer

The Archaeological Survey of India

Answer

The Central Waqf Council

Question 6

In the Madhya Pradesh High Court's 2026 Bhojshala judgment, the site was declared a temple of the deity 'Vagdevi'. Vagdevi is identified with which goddess?

Accepted Answer

Saraswati

Answer

Durga

Answer

Lakshmi

Answer

Parvati

Question 7

Bhojshala's association with a Saraswati temple and a centre of learning in 11th-century Dhar is attributed to which Paramara ruler?

Accepted Answer

Raja Bhoja

Answer

Munja

Answer

Siyaka II

Answer

Udayaditya

Question 8

Consider the following statements about the Paramara dynasty:
1. They were a Rajput clan who ruled parts of the Malwa region.
2. Dhar served as a capital of the dynasty.
3. King Bhoja belonged to the Paramara dynasty.
4. The Paramaras rose to power as feudatories of the Chola empire.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

3 and 4

Question 9

The Archaeological Survey of India's scientific survey report on the Bhojshala complex, handed to the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, ran to approximately how many pages?

Accepted Answer

More than 2,000

Answer

More than 500

Answer

More than 1,000

Answer

More than 1,500

Question 10

Consider the following techniques:
1. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)
2. Global Positioning System (GPS)
3. Carbon dating
4. Airborne LiDAR mapping
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as methods used in the ASI scientific survey of the Bhojshala complex?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

2 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4

Question 11

The 2019 Supreme Court judgment in the Ram Janmabhoomi–Babri Masjid title dispute — often compared with the Bhojshala case for its reliance on ASI evidence — was delivered by a Constitution Bench comprising how many judges?

Accepted Answer

5

Answer

3

Answer

7

Answer

9

Question 12

Consider the following statements about the geography of the Bhojshala site's region:
1. Dhar district lies in Madhya Pradesh.
2. The Malwa region extends into parts of southeastern Rajasthan.
3. The Chambal river drains the middle part of the Malwa plateau.
4. The western part of the Malwa plateau is drained by the Godavari river.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 and 2

Answer

3 only

Answer

2 and 4

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Disputed Bhojshala complex a temple, says M.P. High Court

Q1. The day-to-day conservation and regulation of the Bhojshala complex as a centrally protected monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 is carried out by which of the following?

Q2. Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, a structure of historical, archaeological or artistic interest qualifies as an 'ancient monument' only if it has been in existence for not less than:

Q3. The Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 freezes the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on 15 August 1947. Under Section 4(3), how many categories of places or matters are kept outside this bar?

Q4. Which Union ministry is the administrative (nodal) ministry for the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991?

Q5. In its 2026 Bhojshala judgment, the Madhya Pradesh High Court held that alternative land for a mosque, if sought, is to be allotted by which authority?

Q6. In the Madhya Pradesh High Court's 2026 Bhojshala judgment, the site was declared a temple of the deity 'Vagdevi'. Vagdevi is identified with which goddess?

Q7. Bhojshala's association with a Saraswati temple and a centre of learning in 11th-century Dhar is attributed to which Paramara ruler?

Q9. The Archaeological Survey of India's scientific survey report on the Bhojshala complex, handed to the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, ran to approximately how many pages?

Q10. Consider the following techniques: 1. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) 2. Global Positioning System (GPS) 3. Carbon dating 4. Airborne LiDAR mapping Which of the above is/are correctly identified as methods used in the ASI scientific survey of the Bhojshala complex?

Q11. The 2019 Supreme Court judgment in the Ram Janmabhoomi–Babri Masjid title dispute — often compared with the Bhojshala case for its reliance on ASI evidence — was delivered by a Constitution Bench comprising how many judges?