Question

Arrange the following Indian towns from ancient to modern period according to their times of evolution.
(A) Chandigarh
(B) Nagpur
(C) Madurai
(D) Surat
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A), (B), (C), (D)
• B. (A), (C), (B), (D)
• C. (B), (A), (D), (C)
• D. (C), (B), (D), (A)

Hint:

For questions on historical city evolution, associate cities with major historical periods: Madurai with Ancient Kingdoms (Pandyas), Surat with the Medieval/Mughal era, Nagpur with the Maratha/British period, and Chandigarh with Post-Independence India.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question requires arranging Indian cities in chronological order based on their historical evolution and period of prominence, from ancient to modern times.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's establish the historical timeline for each city:


(C) Madurai: This is an ancient city with a history dating back to the Sangam period (3rd century BCE and earlier). It was the capital of the Pandyan Kingdom and is one of India's oldest continuously inhabited cities. It is clearly the most ancient on the list.
(B) Nagpur: The city gained significant importance in the 18th century as the capital of the Bhonsle dynasty of the Maratha Empire. It later became a key administrative center under the British Raj. This places it in the early modern/colonial period.
(D) Surat: While having an older history, Surat rose to prominence as a major port and trading hub during the Mughal Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries. This places it firmly in the medieval period.
(A) Chandigarh: This is a modern, post-independence city. It was planned and built in the 1950s to serve as the new capital for the states of Punjab and Haryana. It is the most recent city on the list.
The correct chronological order from ancient to modern is: Madurai $\rightarrow$ Nagpur $\rightarrow$ Surat $\rightarrow$ Chandigarh, which corresponds to the sequence (C), (B), (D), (A).
Step 3: Final Answer:
Correct historical sequence of (C), (D), (B), (A).