History

Darul Uloom Deoband was founded on 31 May 1866, making option A the correct answer. The other dates are incorrect, and note that June has only 30 days, so option B is invalid.

The Indus Valley Civilization is classified under the Chalcolithic age, also known as the Copper Age, characterized by the use of copper tools alongside stone tools. It is more advanced than the Neolithic age and predates the Bronze Age.

The annulment of the partition of Bengal took place in 1911, when the British government officially reversed the 1905 partition due to widespread protests and political unrest.

Lord Linlithgow was the Viceroy of India during the Quit India Movement in 1942. He held office from 1936 to 1943, overseeing British India's administration during this critical period.

Hazrat Mahal was the Begum of Awadh and played a significant role in the 1857 War of Independence against the British. She led the resistance in Lucknow after her husband was exiled, making option D correct.

The Indus Valley Civilization was primarily spread over the regions of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan (in present-day Pakistan), and parts of Afghanistan. It covered a large area along the Indus River basin and extended into northwestern India, including Punjab, parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the Delhi-Yamuna region. However, core sites of the civilization are not found in Jammu and Kashmir or Uttar Pradesh, making option D incorrect. Option A correctly lists the main regions associated with the civilization's extent, including Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Afghanistan, which aligns with archaeological evidence and scholarly consensus.

Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee was the first president of the Indian National Congress, elected in 1885. The other options were prominent figures but did not hold this position first.

The Harappan civilization is particularly distinguished by its advanced town planning and sophisticated drainage systems, which were more developed than those of many contemporary civilizations. This feature sets it apart from others, making option C the correct answer.

By 1719, the Mughal Empire was in decline, and only one emperor, Farrukhsiyar, was officially recognized as sitting on the throne. Although there were rival claimants and regional powers, only one Mughal emperor was officially on the throne at that time.

Before the partition of India in 1947, there were approximately 560 to 562 princely states. These states varied greatly in size and importance, but the commonly accepted figure for the total number of princely states at the time of independence is around 562. This number is supported by authoritative sources such as Britannica and BBC. Therefore, option C (562) is the most accurate answer. The previously given answer of 480 is closer to the number of major princely states but does not represent the total count of all princely states.