(b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
• The history of Ashoka is reconstructed on the basis of his inscriptions, thirty-nine in number that are classified into Major Rock Edicts; Minor Rock Edicts; Separate Rock Edicts; Major Pillar Edicts; and Minor Pillar Edicts.
• The name Ashoka occurs in the copies of Minor Rock Edict, found at three places in Karnataka and at one in Madhya Pradesh. Thus, altogether, the name Ashoka occurs four times.
• It is significant that Ashoka’s name does not occur in any of his inscriptions from north or north-west India.
• Ashokan inscriptions were composed in Prakrit, they were written in Brahmi script in the greater part of the sub-continent.
• However, in the north-western part of the sub-continent, they appeared in Aramaic language and Kharoshthi script, and in Afghanistan they were written in both Aramaic and Greek scripts and languages.
• Ashoka was the first Indian king to speak directly to the people through his inscription.
• Emperor Ashoka’s name appears only four times across all the Minor Rock Edicts:
• Three times in copies of Minor Rock Edict I: Maski (Karnataka), Brahmagiri (Karnataka), and Gujjara (Madhya Pradesh).
• Once in Minor Rock Edict II: Nettur (Andhra Pradesh).
In other Minor Rock Edicts, Ashoka uses titles like “Devanampiya Piyadasi” (“Beloved of the Gods”) to refer to himself. The four instances mentioned above where his name appears are particularly significant because they provide firsthand evidence of his association with the specific edicts.

(c) 1-C, 2-B, 3-D, 4-A
Explanation:
• Neolithic Age (10000-4500 BCE): It is the first reference of pottery in this period. It is hand-made pottery, but later periods also utilized a foot-wheel.
• Chalcolithic Age (4500- 2000 BCE): The prevalence of various ceramic cultures distinguishes it. Black and red-ware pottery, black-on-red ware, and ochre-colored pottery are other examples.
• Indus Valley Civilization (3300 BCE- 1500 BCE): Polished Ware was one of the pottery traditions that existed during the period. Pottery with a rough surface, Harappa Burial Pottery, Ochre colored pottery (OCP), Black-grey burnished ware, Black-on-red ware, Grey-ware, and painted grey-ware are all examples of pottery with a rough surface.
• Vedic Age (1500- 500 BCE): Painted Grey-ware (PGW), Northern Black Polished ware (NBPW), and megalithic pottery unearthed in Kerala are examples of pottery traditions that existed during the period.
• Mauryan Period (321 BCE- 185 BCE): The pottery wheel became widely used. There are numerous different types of ceramics linked with the Mauryan period. However, the most advanced technique may be observed in a form of pottery called Northern Black Polished Ware (NBP) was popular during the previous and early Mauryan eras.

(c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
• The Paleolithic Period or Old Stone Age is the earliest period of human development, which lasted until approx 8000 BC. It is divided into two eras: The Lower Paleolithic (to 40,000 BC) and the Upper Paleolithic (40,000–8000 BC). During the Paleolithic period, man was a hunter and food gatherer.
• Statement 1 is correct: The paintings of the Upper Palaeolithic phase are linear representations, in green and dark red, of huge animal figures, such as bison, elephants, tigers, rhinos, and boars besides stick-like human figures. A few are wash paintings but mostly they are filled with geometric patterns. The green paintings are of dancers and the red ones of hunters. For example, the rock shelters on banks of the River Suyal at Lakhudiyar, about twenty kilometers on the Almora– Barechina road, bear these prehistoric paintings. Lakhudiyar literally means one lakh caves.
• The paintings here can be divided into three categories: man, animal, and geometric patterns in white, black, and red ochre. Humans are represented in stick-like forms. A long-snouted animal, a fox, and a multiple-legged lizard are the main animal motifs. Wavy lines, rectangle- filled geometric designs, and groups of dots can also be seen here.
• Statement 2 is correct: During the Mesolithic period, the themes were multiple but the paintings are smaller in size. Hunting scenes predominate. The hunting scenes depict people hunting in groups, armed with barbed spears, pointed sticks, arrows and bows. In some paintings, these primitive men are shown with traps and snares probably to catch animals.
• The hunters are shown wearing simple clothes and ornaments. Sometimes, men have been adorned with elaborate head-dresses, and sometimes painted with masks also. Elephants, bison, tiger, boar, deer, antelope, leopard, panther, rhinoceros, fish, frog, lizard, squirrel, and at times birds are also depicted.

(a) 1 only
Explanation:
• The Harappan people were aware of almost all the metals except iron. They manufactured gold and silver objects.
• A number of copper tools and weapons have also been discovered. The common tools included an axe, saws, chisels, knives, spearheads and arrowheads.
• There is evidence of the use of the bronze though in a limited manner. The most famous specimen in this regard is the bronze ‘dancing girl’ figurine discovered at Mohenjodaro.
• It is a nude female figure, with a right arm on the hip and left arm hanging in a dancing pose. She is wearing a large number of bangles.
• Pottery-making was also an important industry in the Harappan period. These were chiefly wheel-made and were treated with a red coating and had decorations in black.
• The painted motifs, generally noticed on the pottery, are pipal leaves, fish-scale design, intersecting circles, zigzag lines, horizontal bands and geometrical motifs with floral and faunal patterns. The Harappan pottery is well baked and fine in decorations.

(d) A is Karla and B is Bhaja
Explanation:
Mahayana Buddhism flourished in India between the 2nd century BCE and the 12th century CE, focusing on Bodhisattvas and elaborate stories like Jatakas.
Theravada Buddhism, established earlier, emphasizes the Buddha’s life and teachings with simpler iconography.
• Option a): Ellora features both Theravada and Mahayana caves, making it less likely as A solely depicting Mahayana themes.
• Option b): Ajanta primarily showcases Mahayana themes, aligning with A’s description. Ellora’s diverse mix makes it less suitable for B.
• Option c): Bhaja and Karla are both Theravada cave complexes, contradicting the descriptions of A and B.
• Option d): This matches the descriptions best – Karla mainly portrays Theravada themes, while Bhaja aligns with A’s focus on Mahayana stories.