History of India

1. Which Veda is known as the 'Book of Chants'?

A) Rigveda

B) Yajurveda

C) Samaveda

D) Atharvaveda

Answer: C) Samaveda

Explanation: The Samaveda consists of hymns and melodies meant to be sung during religious rituals.

2. The Great Bath was found at which Indus Valley Civilization site?

A) Mohenjo-daro

B) Harappa

C) Lothal

D) Kalibangan

Answer: A) Mohenjo-daro

Explanation: The Great Bath, an advanced water structure, was discovered at Mohenjo-daro and is thought to have had ritualistic significance.

3. Who composed the Tamil epic ‘Silappatikaram’?

A) Ilango Adigal

B) Thiruvalluvar

C) Kamban

D) Sekkizhar

Answer: A) Ilango Adigal

Explanation: Silappatikaram, a story about love and justice, is one of the earliest Tamil epics.

4. Which Gupta ruler was called the "Napoleon of India"?

A) Samudragupta

B) Chandragupta I

C) Skandagupta

D) Kumaragupta

Answer: A) Samudragupta

Explanation: Samudragupta earned this title for his extensive conquests and expansion of the Gupta Empire.

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5. Which Sultan of Delhi established the city of Agra?

A) Iltutmish

B) Balban

C) Sikandar Lodi

D) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Answer: C) Sikandar Lodi

Explanation: Sikandar Lodi established Agra in 1504 as a significant cultural and administrative center.

6. Who defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain?

A) Mahmud of Ghazni

B) Muhammad Ghori

C) Timur

D) Qutubuddin Aibak

Answer: B) Muhammad Ghori

Explanation: Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in 1192, marking the establishment of Muslim rule in North India.

7. Who was the author of ‘Ain-i-Akbari’?

A) Abul Fazl

B) Birbal

C) Todar Mal

D) Tansen

Answer: A) Abul Fazl

Explanation: Abul Fazl, Akbar’s court historian, wrote the ‘Ain-i-Akbari,’ which provides detailed insights into Akbar's administration.

8. At the time of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, who was the viceroy?

A) Lord Curzon

B) Lord Chelmsford

C) Lord Hardinge

D) Lord Irwin

Answer: B) Lord Chelmsford

Explanation: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred in 1919 during Lord Chelmsford's tenure as Viceroy of India.

9. Who established the Indian Home Rule League in 1916?

A) Annie Besant and Tilak

B) Mahatma Gandhi

C) Subhas Chandra Bose

D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

Answer: A) Annie Besant and Tilak

Explanation: The Home Rule League was established to demand self-governance and greater autonomy for India.

10. When was the Constitution of India adopted?

A) January 26, 1949

B) November 26, 1949

C) January 26, 1950

D) August 15, 1947

Answer: B) November 26, 1949

Explanation: The Constitution was adopted on November 26, 1949, but came into effect on January 26, 1950.

11. Who was the first Indian to become Governor-General of independent India?

A) Rajendra Prasad

B) C. Rajagopalachari

C) Jawaharlal Nehru

D) Vallabhbhai Patel

Answer: B) C. Rajagopalachari

Explanation: C. Rajagopalachari succeeded Lord Mountbatten as the Governor-General of India in 1948.

12. Which committee recommended the establishment of Panchayati Raj in India?

A) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

B) Sarkaria Commission

C) Simon Commission

D) Ashok Mehta Committee

Answer: A) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee

Explanation: The 1957 committee suggested the implementation of Panchayati Raj to empower local self-governance.

13. Which of the following rulers of medieval Gujarat handed over Diu to the Portuguese?

A) Ahmad Shah

B) Mahmud Begarha

C) Bahadur Shah

D) Muhammad Shah

Answer: C) Bahadur Shah

Explanation: Bahadur Shah of Gujarat granted the Portuguese control over Diu in 1531 as part of a defensive alliance against the Mughals. Later regretting this decision, he sought to limit Portuguese influence. In 1536, during negotiations, a scuffle led to the death of the Portuguese governor, and Bahadur Shah drowned.

14. Which book did Raja Rammohan Roy write that played a crucial role in the social reform movement? 

A) Satyarth Prakash

B) Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin

C) Rishwat ki Baat

D) The History of British India

Answer: B) Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin

Explanation: Raja Rammohan Roy wrote the 'Tuhfat-ul-Muwahhidin', a book that discussed the importance of monotheism and rationalism, playing a vital role in the Indian reform movement.

15. Which event triggered the Revolt of 1857? 

A) Introduction of the Rowlatt Act

B) Use of Enfield rifles by Indian soldiers

C) Partition of Bengal

D) Jallianwala Bagh massacre

Answer: B) Use of Enfield rifles by Indian soldiers

Explanation: The immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857 was the introduction of the new Enfield rifle cartridges, which were rumored to be greased with animal fat, offending both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.

16. Who was the founder of the Maratha Empire?

A) Shivaji Maharaj

B) Maharaja Scindia

C) Baji Rao I

D) Sambhaji Maharaj

Answer: A) Shivaji Maharaj

Explanation: Shivaji Maharaj, born in 1630, established the Maratha Empire and became known for his military tactics and innovative administration.

17. The famous battle of Panipat in 1526 was fought between?

A) Babur and Rana Sanga

B) Akbar and Hemu

C) Babur and Ibrahim Lodi

D) Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh

Answer: C) Babur and Ibrahim Lodi

Explanation: The First Battle of Panipat in 1526 was fought between Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, and Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi. Babur’s victory established Mughal rule in India.

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18. The Battle of Haldighati was fought between which two forces?

A) Rana Pratap and Akbar

B) Shivaji and Aurangzeb

C) Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj Chauhan

D) Prithviraj Chauhan and Ghazni

Answer: A) Rana Pratap and Akbar

Explanation: The Battle of Haldighati was fought in 1576 between the forces of Maharana Pratap of Mewar and the Mughal Emperor Akbar’s army. Although the Mughals won, Maharana Pratap's resilience became legendary.

19. Which of the following rulers introduced the Mansabdari system in India? 

A) Akbar

B) Babur

C) Sher Shah Suri

D) Shah Jahan

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Answer: A) Akbar

Explanation: Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system to organize military and civil administration, where officers were assigned ranks (Mansabs) and given corresponding military or administrative duties.

20. Who was the last governor-general of independent India?

A) Lord Mountbatten

B) C. Rajagopalachari

C) Rajendra Prasad

D) Jawaharlal Nehru

Answer: B) C. Rajagopalachari

Explanation: C. Rajagopalachari was the last governor-general of independent India, serving from 1948 to 1950 after Lord Mountbatten’s tenure ended.

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21. Who was the leader of the Revolt of 1857 in Lucknow? 

A) Rani Lakshmibai

B) Begum Hazrat Mahal

C) Nana Sahib

D) Mangal Pandey

Answer: B) Begum Hazrat Mahal

Explanation: Begum Hazrat Mahal played a prominent role in the revolt by leading the resistance in Lucknow against the British East India Company.

22. Who was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate?

A) Iltutmish

B) Qutb-ud-din Aibak

C) Muhammad Ghori

D) Balban

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Answer: B) Qutb-ud-din Aibak

Explanation: Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a former slave of Muhammad Ghori, became the first Sultan of Delhi and founded the Delhi Sultanate after Ghori’s death in 1206.

23. In which year did India gain independence from British rule?

A) 1947

B) 1945

C) 1950

D) 1946

Answer: A) 1947

Explanation: India gained independence on August 15, 1947, after years of struggle and the Indian Independence Act passed by the British Parliament.

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24. Which Indian ruler was known as the 'Napoleon of India'?

A) Ashoka

B) Samudragupta

C) Maharana Pratap

D) Sher Shah Suri

Answer: B) Samudragupta

Explanation: Samudragupta, known as the 'Napoleon of India,' was an accomplished military leader of the Gupta Empire, known for his conquests and military campaigns across India.

25. Who was the founder of the Vijayanagara Empire? 

A) Krishnadevaraya

B) Harihara I

C) Bukka Raya

D) Saluva Narasimha

Answer: B) Harihara I

Explanation: Harihara I, along with his brother Bukka Raya, founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336, which later became one of the most powerful South Indian empires.

26. Which of the following was a major contribution of Akbar during his reign?

A) Establishing a centralized system of government

B) Expanding the Mughal Empire into South India

C) Launching the 'Din-i-Ilahi' religious doctrine

D) All of the above

Answer: D) All of the above

Explanation: Akbar is credited with establishing a centralized system of administration, expanding the empire, and promoting religious tolerance through his 'Din-i-Ilahi.'

27. Consider the following freedom fighters:

1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh

2.Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee

3.Rash Behari Bose

Who among the above was/were associated with the Ghadar Party?

A) 1 and 2

B) 2 only

C)1 and 3

D) 3 only

Answer: D) Rash Behari Bose

Explanation:

Rash Behari Bose was an active member of the Ghadar Party, which was founded by Indian revolutionaries in the US and Canada in 1913. The party, primarily composed of Sikh peasants and soldiers, sought to overthrow British rule in India through armed revolt. While Barindra Kumar Ghosh and Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee were important in other revolutionary movements, they were not directly involved with the Ghadar Party. Rash Behari Bose, on the other hand, played a crucial role in the party’s activities and was a key figure in its revolutionary efforts both in India and abroad.

28. Which of the following Mughal emperors was known for his religious intolerance? 

A) Akbar

B) Jahangir

C) Aurangzeb

D) Shah Jahan

Answer: C) Aurangzeb

Explanation: Aurangzeb, known for his strict adherence to Islam, is often criticized for his religious intolerance, especially towards Hindus.

29. Which of the following was the capital of the Gupta Empire?

A) Pataliputra

B) Mathura

C) Ujjain

D) Kannauj

Answer: A) Pataliputra

Explanation: Pataliputra (modern-day Patna) was the capital of the Gupta Empire and a major center for administration and culture.

30. Who established the Indian National Army (INA)?

A) Subhas Chandra Bose

B) Lala Lajpat Rai

C) Bhagat Singh

D) Jawaharlal Nehru

Answer: A) Subhas Chandra Bose

Explanation: Subhas Chandra Bose founded the Indian National Army (INA) in 1942 with the aim of securing India's independence from British rule.