Indian History GK

The Rigveda is an ancient Indian collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns. The standard scholarly count is 1028 hymns, organized into 10 books (mandalas).

 Option (4) is correct.

Ain-i-Akbari is a 16th-century detailed document of the Mughal Empire under Akbar's reign, written by his court historian Abul Fazl. It's part of his larger work Akbarnama.

The East India Company was established in 1600. Akbar ruled from 1556-1605, making him the reigning Mughal emperor when the EIC was founded. Other options ruled in earlier centuries.

Babar, founder of the Mughal Empire, specifically requested in his will to be buried in Kabul, Afghanistan. His tomb (Garden of Babar) remains there to this day, not in India.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (ruled 1351-1388) transported Ashoka's pillar from Topra (Ambala) to Delhi in 1356. He was fascinated by ancient artifacts and installed several pillars in his kingdom.

The Bhagavad Gita is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic Mahabharata. It was originally composed in Sanskrit, the ancient classical language of India.

The Chalukya dynasty was established in the southern region of India, primarily in the modern state of Karnataka. They ruled over large parts of the Deccan plateau and were one of the most important dynasties in South Indian history. Northern, Eastern, and Western India are incorrect as the Chalukyas were specifically a southern dynasty.

Buddhist literature was primarily written in Pali, which was the language of the common people during Buddha's time. The Pali Canon (Tipitaka) contains the teachings of Buddha. Sanskrit, Hindi, and Urdu are incorrect - Sanskrit was used for later Buddhist texts but not the primary canon, while Hindi and Urdu did not exist in Buddha's time.

The Chola dynasty, under Rajendra Chola I, extended its rule beyond mainland India to include parts of Sri Lanka and the Maldives through their powerful naval expeditions. They controlled most of the Indian Peninsula and established maritime dominance in the Indian Ocean. The other options are incorrect as the Cholas did not control Andaman and Nicobar, Daman and Diu, or Lakshadweep.

The Battle of Hydaspes was fought in 326 BC on the banks of the Jhelum River (called Vitasta in ancient times) between Alexander the Great and King Porus. Alexander defeated Porus but was so impressed by his bravery that he allowed him to continue ruling his kingdom. The Sutlej, Ravi, and other rivers were not the site of this famous battle.

Kadphises I (also known as Kujula Kadphises) was the founder and first ruler of the Kushana dynasty in the 1st century CE. He unified the Yuezhi tribes and established the Kushana Empire in Central Asia and Northwest India. Samudragupta, Harsha, and Ashoka belonged to different dynasties - Gupta, Pushyabhuti, and Maurya respectively.

Jalal-ud-din Khilji founded the Khilji dynasty in 1290 CE after overthrowing the last slave dynasty ruler, Muiz-ud-din Qaiqabad. He ruled from 1290 to 1296 CE. Alauddin Khilji was his more famous nephew and successor, not the founder. The other names are not historical rulers.

Khudad Dad Khan (also spelled Khuda Dad Khan) was the first Indian recipient of the Victoria Cross in 1915 during World War I for his gallantry at the Battle of Loos. He served in the 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis. The other names listed are not historical Victoria Cross recipients from India.

Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, died in 1556 after accidentally falling down the stairs of his library (Sher Mandal) in Delhi. The head injury proved fatal. Babar died of illness, Sher Shah Suri died in a cannon explosion, and Muhammad Gori was assassinated - none from head injuries.

The First Battle of Panipat was fought on April 21, 1526, between Babar and Ibrahim Lodi. This battle marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India and the end of the Delhi Sultanate. Babar's use of gunpowder and field artillery proved decisive against Lodi's much larger army.

The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on January 14, 1761, between the Maratha Empire and the Afghan forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali. It resulted in a devastating defeat for the Marathas and is considered one of the largest battles fought in the 18th century with massive casualties on both sides.

Tamralipti (modern Tamluk in West Bengal) was a major port city on the eastern coast during the Gupta period, mentioned in various texts and inscriptions. It was an important center for maritime trade with Southeast Asia. Haldighat is a mountain pass, Sopara was a western coast port, and the 'None of these' option is incorrect.

Akbar captured the Chittor Fort in 1569 after a siege, which was then the capital of Rana Udai Singh of Mewar. This was a significant victory for the Mughals against Rajput resistance. Jaipur did not exist in 1569, Mysore was in South India, and Chandernagore was a French colony established much later.

Gopala was the founder of the Pala dynasty in the 8th century CE. He established the dynasty after being elected by various regional chiefs in Bengal and eastern India. The Pala dynasty ruled for over four centuries and was a major patron of Buddhism and Buddhist learning.

The Great Stupa at Sanchi, one of the largest and most famous stupas in India, was originally commissioned by Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty in the 3rd century BCE. While later expanded by other dynasties including the Shungas, its core structure and the tradition of stupa-building flourished most during the Mauryan period as part of Ashoka's promotion of Buddhism.

The first railway line in India was opened on April 16, 1853, running from Bombay (now Mumbai) to Thane. This 34-kilometer line marked the beginning of railway transport in India and was built by the Great Indian Peninsula Railway Company. The railway network expanded rapidly after this inaugural run.

Birbal, one of the nine gems (Navaratnas) in Emperor Akbar's court, was born as Mahesh Das. He was given the name Birbal by Akbar, which is a combination of 'Bir' (bravery) and 'Bal' (strength). He was known for his wit, wisdom, and close advisory relationship with Akbar, appearing in many popular folk tales.

The Permanent Settlement (also known as the Permanent Settlement of Bengal) was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793. This land revenue system fixed the amount of revenue that zamindars had to pay to the East India Company, creating a class of landlord proprietors. It was a fundamental change from earlier systems of periodic revenue assessment.