CBSE Class 12 History Question Paper 2020 Set 61-3-2 Solutions

Strictly Confidential: (For Internal and Restricted use only)
Senior School Certificate Examination-2020
Marking Scheme – HISTORY
(SUBJECT CODE : 027) (PAPER CODE : 61/3/2)
General Instructions: -

1. You are aware that evaluation is the most important process in the actual and correct
assessment of the candidates. A small mistake in evaluation may lead to serious
problems which may affect the future of the candidates, education system and teaching
profession. To avoid mistakes, it is requested that before starting evaluation, you must
read and understand the spot evaluation guidelines carefully. Evaluation is a 10-12
days mission for all of us. Hence, it is necessary that you put in your best efforts
in this process.
2. Evaluation is to be done as per instructions provided in the Marking Scheme. It should
not be done according to one’s own interpretation or any other consideration. Marking
Scheme should be strictly adhered to and religiously followed. However, while
evaluating, answers which are based on latest information or knowledge and/or
are innovative, they may be assessed for their correctness otherwise and marks
be awarded to them.
3. The Head-Examiner must go through the first five answer books evaluated by each
evaluator on the first day, to ensure that evaluation has been carried out as per the
instructions given in the Marking Scheme. The remaining answer books meant for
evaluation shall be given only after ensuring that there is no significant variation in the
marking of individual evaluators.
4. Evaluators will mark( √ ) wherever answer is correct. For wrong answer ‘X”be marked.
Evaluators will not put right kind of mark while evaluating which gives an impression that
answer is correct and no marks are awarded. This is most common mistake which
evaluators are committing.
5. If a question has parts, please award marks on the right-hand side for each part. Marks
awarded for different parts of the question should then be totaled up and written in the
left-hand margin and encircled. This may be followed strictly.
6. If a question does not have any parts, marks must be awarded in the left-hand margin
and encircled. This may also be followed strictly.
7. If a student has attempted an extra question, answer of the question deserving more
marks should be retained and the other answer scored out.
8. No marks to be deducted for the cumulative effect of an error. It should be penalized
only once.
9. A full scale of marks 0-80 has to be used. Please do not hesitate to award full marks if
the answer deserves it.
10. Every examiner has to necessarily do evaluation work for full working hours i.e. 8 hours
every day and evaluate 20 answer books per day in main subjects and 25 answer books
per day in other subjects (Details are given in Spot Guidelines).
11. Ensure that you do not make the following common types of errors committed by the
Examiner in the past:-
 Leaving answer or part thereof unassessed in an answer book.
 Giving more marks for an answer than assigned to it.
 Wrong totaling of marks awarded on a reply.
 Wrong transfer of marks from the inside pages of the answer book to the title page.
 Wrong question wise totaling on the title page.
 Wrong totaling of marks of the two columns on the title page.
 Wrong grand total.
 Marks in words and figures not tallying.
 Wrong transfer of marks from the answer book to online award list.
 Answers marked as correct, but marks not awarded. (Ensure that the right tick mark
is correctly and clearly indicated. It should merely be a line. Same is with the X for
incorrect answer.)

 Half or a part of answer marked correct and the rest as wrong, but no marks
awarded.

12. While evaluating the answer books if the answer is found to be totally incorrect, it should
be marked as cross (X) and awarded zero (0)Marks.

13. Any unassessed portion, non-carrying over of marks to the title page, or totaling error
detected by the candidate shall damage the prestige of all the personnel engaged in the
evaluation work as also of the Board. Hence, in order to uphold the prestige of all
concerned, it is again reiterated that the instructions be followed meticulously and
judiciously.

14. The Examiners should acquaint themselves with the guidelines given in the Guidelines
for spot Evaluation before starting the actual evaluation.

15. Every Examiner shall also ensure that all the answers are evaluated, marks carried over
to the title page, correctly totaled and written in figures and words.

16. The Board permits candidates to obtain photocopy of the Answer Book on request in an
RTI application and also separately as a part of the re-evaluation process on payment of
the processing charges.

MARKING SCHEME HISTORY-027
CLASS XII A I S S C E-March 2020
CODE NO. 61/3/2

Q.NO. EXPECTED ANSWERS/VALUE POINTS PAGE NO. MARKS
SECTION - A
1. Gujarat Pg - 2 1
2. D – Dutch in Bombay Pg – 319 1
3. Mount Abu and Darjeeling Pg – 327 1
4. D, II-IV-I-III Pg – 314 1
5. Neo Gothic Pg – 341 1
6. A – Both A and R are correct and R is the correct Pg – 296 1
explanation of A.
7. Giovanni Careri Pg – 216 1
8. Lotus Mahal Pg – 181 1
9. Battle of Talikota/ Battle of Rakshasi – Tangadi Pg – 173 1
10. Kitab-ul-Hind 1
11. Harihara and Bukka Pg – 171 1
12. The Hazara Rama Temple Pg – 183 1
13. Delhi and Daulatabad Pg – 127 1
14. Archaeological Survey of India Pg – 20 1
Or
S. N. Roy Pg-20
15. Kailashnatha Temple (Maharashtra) Pg – 107 1
For visually impaired
Krishna Pg – 104
16. Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate Pg – 103 1
human beings who accumulated merit through their
efforts.
OR
Walter Elliot was the Commissioner of Guntur (Andhra

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Pradesh) who visited Amaravati and carried away several Pg - 98
sculpture panels to Madras that came to be called Elliot
Marbles.
17. C - I, II and III Pg – 108 1
18. D – Scholars understood the value of preservation at site Pg – 98 1
after the fall of Amaravati.
19. D – Emergence of Mahajanapadas and use of iron. Pg – 84 1
20. C – IV, I, III, II Pg – 137 1
SECTION - B
21. Quit India Movement was undoubtedly a mass
movement.
The movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi
i. Hundreds of thousands of ordinary Indians
joined together.
ii. Strikes were organized.
iii. Students left college to go to jail.
iv. Women actively participated in the movement.
v. Lawyers left courts.
vi. Independent governments were proclaimed. Pg – 363 3
vii. People followed the slogan of Mahatma
Gandhi “Do or Die” and were willing to lay
down their lives for the nation.
viii. Any other relevant point.
Any three points to be explained.
22. Many reconstructions of Harappan religion are made
on assumptions which provide parallels with earlier
ones.
i. Mother Goddess – Terracotta figurine of
women heavily jewelled with elaborate head-
dresses.
ii. Priest King – Seated with one hand on knee

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iii. Proto-Shiva – Yogic posture surrounded with
animals.
iv. Lingas – Conical shaped stone objects.
v. Fire Altars.
vi. Great Bath.
vii. Plant Motifs.
viii. Unicorn
ix. Any other relevant point. Pg – 23 3

Any three examples to be examined

OR

Transformation of Harappan successor Cultures to
rural way of life.
i. Disappearance of artefacts – Weights, seals,
beads and pottery.
ii. Writing, long distance trade, crafts
specialization disappeared.
iii. House construction techniques deteriorated.
iv. Large public structures were no longer
constructed.
v. Decline and abandonment of cities.
vi. The shift from a standardized weighing system
to the use of local weights. Pg - 17 3
vii. Any other relevant point.
Any three examples to be assessed.
23. Features of Ryotwari System.
i. The revenue was directly settled with the ryots of
Bombay-Deccan.
ii. The average income from soil was estimated.

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iii. The revenue paying capacity was assessed and part
of it fixed as the share of the state.
iv. The revenue demand was to increase after every 30
years when lands were resurveyed.
v. Revenue demands were high.
vi. Ryots were indebted under moneylenders.
vii. Moneylenders manipulated laws and forged
accounts.
viii. Ryots faced injustice and Deccan Riots occurred
due to it.
ix. Any other relevant point. Pg 282 3

Any three points to be assessed.
24.
Distinction between Wives in Mughal Household:
i. Begams –Wives who came from Royal and
Aristocratic families, received huge amount of
cash and Mahr. Higher status and attention
was given to them.
ii. Aghas –Those who were not of noble birth.
iii. Aghacha or Concubines – Occupied lowest
position, received monthly allowance. Could
rise to the position of Begams depending on
Ruler’s will, provided he already did not have
four wives.
iv. Love and motherhood played an important role
in elevating aghas and aghachas to the status of
legally wedded wives.
v. Any other relevant point to be explained. Pg – 242 3

Examine any three features.

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SECTION - C
25. Historians considered several elements when they
analyze the Mahabharata.
i. Language – Historians examined texts in
different languages such as Sanskrit, Prakrit,
Pali or Tamil.
ii. Content – Historians classify the content of
the present text under two broad heads –
a. Sections that contain stories designated as
the Narrative.
b. Sections that contain prescriptions about
social norms designated as the Didactic.
This division is by no means water tight.
The didactic section includes stories and
narrative often contains a social message.

iii. Authors –
a. Original story was composed by
Charioteer Bards known as Sutas who
generally accompanied Kshatriya
warriors to the battlefield. Their
compositions were transmitted orally.
b. Brahmans took over the story and
committed it to writing. New kings
wanted their history/ itihasa to be
recorded.
c. Later Mahabharata composed by Sage
Vyasa.
iv. Dates –
a. Historians also try and ascertain the
possible dates of the composition or

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compilation of the texts as well as the place
where they may have been composed.
b. Early to fifth century BCE, the
Mahabharata was orally transmitted.
c. From fifth century BCE, it was written
down by the Brahmanas.
d. Between C200 and 200 CE – compositions
were made when Krishna grew in
importance.
4x2=8
e. Between C200 to 400 CE large didactic Pg–72-76
sections like Manusmriti were added.

Any four points to be explained.

OR

“Mahabharata is a story based on kinship and social
relations.” Support the statement with examples.
Mahabharata is a story based on kinship and social
relations.
i. Kinfolk – Familial ties based on natural and
blood relations. Historians investigated and
analyzed attitude towards family and kinship.
ii. The idea of Patriliny – Mahabharata reinforced
this idea, feud over land and power was
between Kauravas and Pandavas who belonged
to a single ruling family that of the Kurus.
iii. Types of marriage – Endogamy, Exogamy,
Polygyny and Polyandry system were
followed.
iv. Kanyadana or gift of a daughter in marriage

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was considered an important religious duty of
a father.
v. Gotras of Women – Women were expected to
give up their father’s gotra and adopt that of
their husband’s on marriage.
vi. Members of the same gotra could not marry.
vii. Each gotra was named after a Vedic seer.
viii. Matriarchal society – Satvahanas had names
derived from Gotra of mothers.
ix. Guru Shishya Parampara – The story of
Ekalavya and Dronacharaya .
x. Importance of Mother’s advice – Pandavas
marrying Draupadi after mother’s advice.
However, the advice given by Gandhari to her
son Duryodhana was not followed.
xi. Succession of women – Although ordinary
women had no access to land, Queen
Prabhavati Gupta had rights over land which
she donated.
xii. Rules of Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras
were not always followed. For example, Non-
Kshatriyas even Brahmanas became rulers.
Like wise eight forms of marriage were
recognized but only four were considered as
good while the remaining were condemned.
xiii. It is possible that these were followed by those
who did not accept Brahmanical norms. Pg–55-60 8
xiv. Any other relevant point.

Any eight examples to be assessed.

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26. Philosophy of Kabir.
Verses of Kabir are preserved in Kabir Bijak and Kabir Grantha
Vali.
i. He was a poet saint engaged in explicit and implicit
dialogues on social situations.
ii. Kabir drew upon a range of traditions to describe the
Ultimate Reality as Allah, Khwaja, Khuda, Hazrat and
Pir.
iii. He also used terms drawn from Vedantic traditions.
iv. Used terms like alakh, nirakar, atman
v. Other terms with mystical connotations such as Shabda
or Shunya drawn from Yogic traditions.
vi. He condemned Hindu Polytheism and Idol worship.
vii. Used Sufi concept of Zikr and Ishq.
viii. Gave emphasis on the Hindu practice of nam-simaran.
ix. Kabir’s work is a source of inspiration for those who Pg – 161 8
questioned entrenched religious and social institutions,
ideas and practices in their search for the Divine.
x. Gave emphasis on communal harmony.
xi. Any other relevant point.
Any eight points to be assessed.

OR

Philosophy of Alvars and Nayanars.
i. They were the Tamil devotees of Vishnu (Alvar)
and Shiva (Nayanars)
ii. They travelled from place to place singing hymns
in Tamil in praise of their Gods.
iii. They identified certain shrines as abodes of their
chosen deity, large temples were later built which
developed as centres of pilgrimage.
iv. They protested against caste system and dominance
of Brahmanas.

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v. Major anthologies of the Alvars:
Nalayira Divyaprabandham, known as Tamil Veda.
vi. Their women devotees are Karaikkal Ammaiyar, a
devotee of Shiva and Andal a devotee of Vishnu.
vii. They followed the path of asceticism.
viii. They challenged patriarchal norms.
ix. They opposed Buddhism and Jainism.
x. They got the support of Chola Rulers and built
temples like Gangaikondacholapuram,
Chidambaram and Thanjavur. Pg -145 8
xi. Any other relevant point.

Any eight points to be assessed.
27. Causes of the Partition of India.
i. Divide and Rule policy of British.
ii. Partition of Bengal on Communal Zones.
iii. Separate electorate for Muslims in the Government
of India Act 1909 and 1919.
iv. Shuddhi, Tabligh Movement, Tanzim, Cow
Protection Movement and Music before Mosque
widened the rift between Muslim League and
Hindu Mahasabha.
v. Government of India Act 1935.
vi. 1937 Elections and Muslim League’s failure to
form a Joint Government with the Indian National
Congress in the United Provinces, alienated them.
vii. Pakistan Resolution.
viii. Jinnah’s Two Nation theory.
ix. Cripps Mission failure.
x. Failure of the Cabinet Mission.
xi. Direct Action Day. Pg – 384-392 8
xii. Communal Violence.
xiii. Any other relevant point.
Any eight points to be assessed.

9

OR

Harrowing experiences of Women
i. Women were raped, abducted and sold.
ii. Forced to settle to new life with strangers.
iii. They were deeply traumatized.
iv. They were torn away from their relatives.
v. Undermining of rights.
vi. Extreme physical and psychological dangers were
faced by women.
vii. Many men killed their women to save their honour.
viii. Many voluntarily jumped into wells to escape from
the enemy, while some may have been forced to do
so.
ix. Attackers treated women’s bodies as territory to be
conquered.
x. People developed revengeful attitude because
dishonouring women was seen as dishonouring the
community itself.
xi. Any other relevant point.

Any eight points to be assessed. Pg -395-400 8

SECTION - D
28. Irrigating trees and fields.

(28.1) Explain with examples, the sources of
irrigation in Lahore during Mughal period.

a. Wheel irrigation.
b. They make two circles of rope long enough to
suit the depths of the well, fix strips of wood

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between them and on these fasten pitchers.
c. At one end of the wheel-axle a second wheel
is fixed and closes to it another on an upright
axle.
d. Any other relevant point.
Any two (2)

(28.2) Which system was used in Agra for irrigating
lands? Explain with examples.
a. People water with buckets.
b.At the well-edge, they set up a fork of wood
having a roller adjusted between the forks, tie a rope to a
large bucket, put the rope over a roller and tie its other end
to the bullock.
Any other relevant point. (2)

(28.3) How did the irrigation projects receive the
support of the Mughal state?

a. State undertook digging of new canals.
(Nahar, Nala)
b. Repaired old ones like Shahnahar
c. Any other relevant point. (2) Pg – 199 2+2+2=6

29. I believe separate electorates will be suicidal to the
minorities.

(29.1) “Some leaders in the Constituent Assembly
argued for the continuation of separate electorates”.
Examine the statement.

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a. Members argued for separate electorate
system in the Assembly.
b. Leaders like B. Poker Bahadur pleaded for
the continuation of separate electorates.
c. For harmony and fair representation of
minorities in the political system.
d. He argued that differences between
communities could be minimized.
e. Any other relevant point.
Any two points. (2)

(29.2) Analyze the perspective of Gobind Ballabh Pant
in opposing the proposal.

a. He opposed the idea of separate electorate
and considered it as suicidal.
b. He argued that minorities would be
permanently isolated and it would make them
vulnerable.
c. Any other relevant point.
Any two. (2)

(29.3) Analyse the arguments made on making India a
strong unified nation state.
.
a. In order to build political unity and forge a
nation a strong center was given importance.
b. Assembly members laid emphasis on
assimilation. Communities could be
recognized as cultural entities and assured
cultural rights.

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c. In order to become loyal citizens people had
to stop focusing only on community and the
self.
d. Any other relative point.

Any two. (2) Pg-418 2+2+2=6
30. Source based question.

Prabhavati Gupta and the village of Danguna

(30.1) How did queen Prabhavati Gupta try to earn
religious merit?

Prabhavati tried to earn religious merit by
a. She donated lands.
b. She paid respect and homage to the Acharya.
Any other relevant point. (2)

(30.2) Explain the unusual aspect of the Land Grant.

a. Land exempted from soldiers and policemen.
b. Exempt from the obligation to provide
animals and charcoal.
c. Exempt from purchasing fermenting liquors
and digging salt.
d. Exempt from mines and khadira trees.
e. Exempt from the obligation to supply flowers
and milk.
f. Right to hidden treasures and deposits.
g. Exempt from major and minor taxes.
Any other relevant point.

13

Any two. (2)

(30.3) What does the inscription tell us about the
relationship between state and ordinary people?
Explain.

a. Ordinary people were expected to provide a
range of produce to the king.
b. They would have to obey the state orders.
c. State donated small plots to vast stretches of
land possibly for expanding agricultural land.
d. People did not keep records of transactions.
e. Land grants were also indicative of
weakening political power and rulers wished
to win allies to present a facade of power.
f. Any other relevant point. 2+2+2=6
Pg – 41
Any two (2)

SECTION - E
31. Map Based Question 1x6=6
(31.1) See attached filled map.
(31.2) See attached filled map.

For Visually Impaired Candidates in lieu of Q.No. 31:
(31.1) Magadha, Panchala, Taxila, Gandhara, Kuru, Pg- 30 1x3
Ujjayini, Vanga, Anga, Vajji, Vatsa, Malla, Kaushambhi,
Kosala, Kasi, Matsya, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Kamboja
Any three
(31.2) Agra, Lahore , Fatehpursikri, Shajahanabad (Delhi) 1x3

Any three

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15

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