History · General Awareness

Medieval and Modern Indian History

1,676 Questions

Explore a comprehensive collection of medieval and modern Indian history questions designed for exam preparation. The topics cover major wars, treaties, regional conflicts, and colonial administration. This material helps candidates appearing for civil services and other competitive examinations to test their knowledge effectively.

Carnatic warsMughal and Sultanate conflictsBritish annexation policiesIndo Pak warsColonial administration

Medieval and Modern Indian History Questions

Multiple choice general knowledge history

A famous saying "Sankrant Kosalla" was quoted after thousands of Maratha soldiers lost their lives in a battle of Panipat fought on Sankrant of 1761. Which Panipat battle was it?

  1. Panipat I

  2. Panipat II

  3. Panipat III

  4. Panipat IV
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on January 14, 1761 (Makar Sankranti), between the Maratha Empire and the invading Afghan army of Ahmad Shah Durrani. The Marathas suffered a catastrophic defeat, leading to the saying 'Sankrant Kosalla' (Calamity fell on Sankrant).

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

a. Ashokan inscriptions, depicting his anguish over the war in Kalinga, have been found in the region that was conquered. b. Ashoka is not mentioned in some inscriptions, instead titles adopted by the ruler, Devanampiya and Piyadassi, are used. c. Ashokan inscriptions claim that pativedakas reported to him about the affairs of the people regularly at all times.

  1. only a

  2. only b

  3. only c

  4. only b and c

  5. a, b and c
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. Such inscriptions have been found elsewhere, but not in Orrisa, the region that was conquered.

Multiple choice

For almost eighty years after its beginning after the revolt of 1857, the British rulers of India exiled thousands of political prisoners to Andaman Islands.

  1. For almost eighty years after its beginning after the revolt of 1857,

  2. For almost eighty years after having its beginning after the revolt of 1857;

  3. In a period of almost eighty years, beginning after the revolt of 1857,

  4. Over a period of almost 80 years beginning at the end of the revolt of 1857,

  5. Beginning at the end of the revolt of 1857, for a period of almost eighty years,
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; the correctly placed commas separate the clauses and lay stress on the event and the beginning of the event, rather than the time period.

Multiple choice

The Battle of Khanwa in 1527 was fought between-

  1. Babur and Rana Sanga

  2. Ibahim Lodi and Rana Sanga

  3. Humayun and Sher Shah

  4. Humayun and Nusrat Shah
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Battle of Khanwa (1527) was fought between Babur (the founder of Mughal Empire) and Rana Sanga (the powerful Rajput ruler of Mewar). This decisive battle established Babur's supremacy over northern India after his earlier victory at Panipat. Rana Sanga was defeated despite assembling a large Rajput confederacy.

Multiple choice

In medieval India, during the reign of Shivaji the role of the official called 'Chitnis' was to-

  1. Be the in-charge of king's personal security guard

  2. Be the in-charge of intelligence/espionage activity

  3. Be the master of ceremonies in the royal court

  4. Be assisting the king with his correspondence
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Chitnis in Shivaji's administration was responsible for managing the king's official correspondence and documentation. This included drafting letters, maintaining records of diplomatic communications, and handling administrative paperwork. The role was crucial for governance as Shivaji corresponded with other rulers, managed alliances, and issued administrative orders. Option A describes the personal guards (not Chitnis), B refers to intelligence officers (like the Bahirjee Naik), and C is the role of the Sabhasad.

Multiple choice

The Battle of Dharmat was fought between

  1. Muhammad Ghori and Jai Chand

  2. Babur and Afghans

  3. Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh

  4. Ahmad Shah Durrani and the Marathas
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Battle of Dharmat (1658) was fought between Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh during the war of succession for the Mughal throne. It was a key conflict leading to Aurangzeb's eventual victory.

Multiple choice

Mumbai was taken by the English East India Company form:

  1. The Portuguese

  2. The Dutch

  3. CharlesI

  4. CharlesII
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Mumbai (then Bombay) was acquired by the English East India Company from Charles II in 1661. Charles II had received it as part of Catherine of Braganza's dowry when he married the Portuguese princess, and the company then took control of it.

Multiple choice

Changhez Khan invaded outskirts of India during the reign of:

  1. Qutub-ud-Din-Aibak

  2. Iltutmish

  3. Balban

  4. Alauddin Khilji
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Chengiz Khan (Genghis Khan) led the Mongol invasion towards India's northwest frontier during Iltutmish's reign (1211-1236 CE). Iltutmish, the third Delhi Sultan, successfully repelled this threat through diplomacy and military preparation. The other options ruled either too early (Qutub-ud-Din) or too late (Balban, Alauddin Khilji) to face Chengiz Khan's invasion.

Multiple choice

In 1836 and 1854 the Moplah peasants of Malabar rose against the

  1. Landlords

  2. Foreign lenders

  3. Money lenders

  4. Revenue officials of the British government
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Moplah (Mappila) rebellions of 1836 and 1854 were primarily agrarian uprisings against the Hindu landlords (jenmis) who exploited the Muslim peasant tenants. While religion played a role, the core issue was economic exploitation and tenurial rights.

Multiple choice

Dalhousie annexed Awadh for the British empire in India through

  1. Policy of subsidiary Alliance

  2. Doctrine of Lapse

  3. State being maladministered

  4. Swaying of War
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Awadh was annexed in 1856 under the doctrine of 'maladministration' - Dalhousie claimed the Nawab of Awadh was misgoverning the state. This was a pretext for annexation, not the actual Policy of Subsidiary Alliance (which was a different instrument) or Doctrine of Lapse (which applied to childless rulers).

Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Delhi was the capital of Tughlaq Empire till 1327, when Devgiri was proclaimed the capital by Muhamad Tughlaq, who renamed it Daulatabad and used Delhi as a garrison.

  1. who renamed it Daulatabad and used Delhi as a garrison

  2. who renamed it Daulatabad and used Delhi like a garrison

  3. who, when he had renamed it Daulatabad, used Delhi like a garrison

  4. who had renamed it Daulatabad, used Delhi as a garrison

  5. who renaming it as Daulatabad and using Delhi as a garrison
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; correctly supplies the past tense verbs renamed and used to describe two actions performed in 1327; also, it idiomatically employs the phrase used Delhi as a garrison, in which 'used as' means utilized in the capacity of.

Multiple choice

Which state/s had French influence at its/their court/s?

  1. Mysore and Hyderabad

  2. Avadh

  3. Carnatic

  4. Tanjore
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Mysore under Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan had significant French influence in their military and administration through French advisors like Lally and Bussy. Hyderabad (Nizam's territory) also had French military presence under General Bussy and later French officers. Other states like Awadh, Carnatic, and Tanjore had British or other European influences.

Multiple choice

The state of Jhansi was made a part of the British Empire in Indian through

  1. The Policy of Doctrine of Lapse

  2. The Policy of Subsidiary Alliance

  3. Mayo’s Provincial Settlement

  4. War against Gangadhar Rao
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Jhansi was annexed by the British East India Company in 1853 under the Doctrine of Lapse after the death of Raja Gangadhar Rao without a male heir. This policy allowed the British to annex any princely state where the ruler died without a natural male heir.

Multiple choice

The famous “Dasarajan war”(Battle of Ten kings) mentioned in the Rig Veda was fought between

  1. the Kurus and the Panchalas

  2. the Yadus and the Kurus

  3. the Kurus and the ten kings of Bharatas

  4. king Sudas of Bharatas and the host of ten kings
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Dasarajna (Battle of Ten Kings) was fought between Sudas, the Bharata king, and a confederation of ten kings. This famous battle is mentioned in the Rig Veda and resulted in the victory of Sudas, establishing Bharata supremacy in the Punjab region. It is not about Kurus fighting other groups.