UPSC Prelims 2020— Question 57

This question tests historical place-region identification. The key concept is: Bhilsa is Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh and Girinagar is associated with Gujarat. Dawarasamudra is Halebidu in Karnataka, not Maharashtra, and Sthaneshvara is Thanesar in Haryana, not Uttar Pradesh. Thus only the first and third pairs are correctly matched. The verified answer for the uploaded Set-B paper is option A. Option A — 1 and 3 only: This is the correct option. It matches the verified conclusion because Bhilsa is Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh and Girinagar is associated with Gujarat. Dawarasamudra is Halebidu in Karnataka, not Maharashtra, and Sthaneshvara is Thanesar in Haryana, not Uttar Pradesh. Thus only the first and third pairs are correctly matched. The wording of the option is consistent with the governing concept tested by the question. Option B — 1 and 4 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Bhilsa is Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh and Girinagar is associated with Gujarat. Dawarasamudra is Halebidu in Karnataka, not Maharashtra, and Sthaneshvara is Thanesar in Haryana, not Uttar Pradesh. Thus only the first and third pairs are correctly matched. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option C — 2 and 3 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Bhilsa is Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh and Girinagar is associated with Gujarat. Dawarasamudra is Halebidu in Karnataka, not Maharashtra, and Sthaneshvara is Thanesar in Haryana, not Uttar Pradesh. Thus only the first and third pairs are correctly matched. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. Option D — 2 and 4 only: This is not the correct option. The option does not match the verified combination or conclusion. The decisive point is the distinction explained above: Bhilsa is Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh and Girinagar is associated with Gujarat. Dawarasamudra is Halebidu in Karnataka, not Maharashtra, and Sthaneshvara is Thanesar in Haryana, not Uttar Pradesh. Thus only the first and third pairs are correctly matched. Therefore this alternative should be eliminated even if part of its wording appears plausible in isolation. For UPSC-style elimination, first identify the exact proposition being tested, then evaluate each statement independently before comparing the answer codes. Avoid treating a broad or absolute statement as correct merely because its general theme is familiar. The precise qualifiers in the question—such as 'all', 'only', 'cannot', 'largest', 'always' or a specific institutional role—often determine the answer. On that basis, option A is the verified answer.