Topic Feudalism
Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 3 years (2014–2017), peaking in 2015.
Key insights
- Most tested in CDS — 2 of 3 PYQs
- First appeared in CDS 2014 — 1 years before CSE 2015 (allied exams preview CSE)
- Most asked in 2015
- Recurs across 3 years (2014–2017)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2014 → CSE 2015
How the concept evolved
Long-running — most appearances (2 of 3) predate 2016, and it still returns.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2017
Which one of the following statements about the Gupta period in Indian History is not correct?
- A Sanskrit language and literature, after centuries of evolution, reached what has been described as a level of classical excellence through royal patronage.
- B The status of women was redefined. They were entitled to formal education and hence there were women teachers, philosophers and doctors. Early marriage was prohibited by law and they were given the right to property. ✓
- C Decentralization of administrative authority was impacted by increased grants of land and villages with fiscal and administrative immunities to priests and temples.
- D Land grants paved the way for feudal developments and emergence of serfdom in India, resulting in the depression of the peasantry.
✓ Correct answer: (B)
History › Ancient India
CSE2015
With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential element/elements of the feudal system?
- A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority
- Emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of land
- Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A 1 and 2 only
- B 2 and 3 only ✓
- C 3 only
- D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct answer: (B)
History › Society & Social Institutions
CDS2014
Consider the following statements regarding Indian Feudalism in the early medieval period
- The revenue assignments were called Bhoga
- The hereditary chiefs neither collected revenues nor assumed administrative powers
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A 1 only ✓
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (A)
History › Medieval India
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