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GS Paper IUPSC Prelims 2011
South Indian Kingdoms
Question No. 55Interactive Test Mode
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+2-0.66

Q55. India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay of Bengal. For this pre-eminence of the early maritime history of the Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing Solution/Solutions?

India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay of Bengal. For this pre-eminence of the early maritime history of the Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing Solution/Solutions?

Select the correct option below (or cross out options to eliminate)
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Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution

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Official UPSC Answer KeyUPSC Prelims 2011 • Ancient History

Correct Answer: Option (C) — Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages.

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified
  • Option (c) is correct: The predictable seasonal pattern of the southwest and northeast monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal made open-sea navigation reliable and regular, driving early trans-oceanic trade and cultural diffusion to Southeast Asia.
  • Options (a), (b), and (d) are incorrect: While Indian kingdoms had competent shipbuilding techniques and offered royal patronage, other contemporary civilizations (e.g., China and Arab sailors) also had sophisticated shipbuilding. The primary geographic-meteorological driver enabling widespread navigation was the monsoon wind system.
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Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2011 (Q55)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicAncient History → South Indian Kingdoms
Official Answer KeyOption (C) — Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages.

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 2011 Q55

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 2011 GS Paper I Question 55 (Ancient History)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 2011 Ancient History (South Indian Kingdoms) question is Option (C): "Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages.". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 2011 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Ancient History" and micro-topic "South Indian Kingdoms". You can explore all repeated questions from South Indian Kingdoms in Acme AI's 3D Prelims PYQ Realm or practice 50 full-length and sectional tests in the APT Prelims Test Series.

How can I solve this South Indian Kingdoms UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

To solve South Indian Kingdoms questions in UPSC Prelims, identify extreme modifiers, verify core NCERT conceptual definitions, and eliminate mutually contradictory statement pairs before locking your final option.

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