History · General Awareness

Medieval and Modern Indian History

1,704 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

What was the name of the provincial army under Iltutmish?

  1. Bandagan-i-Khan

  2. Hashm-i-Atraf

  3. Sawari-Qalb

  4. Amir-i-Qalb
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Hashm-i-Atraf was the name given to the provincial army under Iltutmish. This term referred to the regular provincial military forces as opposed to the central army (Qalb-i-Sultani) or specific units like Bandagan-i-Khan.

Multiple choice

Which is the correct serial of Alauddin's military expeditions?

  1. Gujarat, Ranthambhor, Chittor, Malwa and Jalore

  2. Malwa, Jalore, Gujarat, Ranthambhor and Chittor

  3. Gujarat, Chittor, Jalore, Malwa and Ranthambhor

  4. Gujarat, Ranthambhor, Jalore, Malwa and Chittor
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Alauddin Khilji's major military expeditions followed a chronological sequence: Gujarat (1299), Ranthambhor (1301), Chittor (1303), Malwa (1305), and finally Jalore (1311). This expansionist policy brought most of northern and western India under his control.

Multiple choice

The main source of sultanate's income was

  1. agricultural revenue

  2. tax on trade and commerce

  3. looted property and cash

  4. money from subordinate rulers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Delhi Sultanate's economy was predominantly agrarian. Agricultural revenue (land tax and related levies) constituted the largest portion of state income, far exceeding revenue from trade, war booty, or tributary rulers. This made the agricultural sector the financial backbone of the Sultanate.

Multiple choice

For which section of the army, did Balban pay attention for its reorganization?

  1. Sawar-i-Kalb

  2. Hashm-i-Kalb

  3. Bandagan-i-Khas

  4. Sawar-i-Tuman
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Balban reorganized the royal cavalry, particularly the Sawar-i-Kalb (literally 'infantry of the aristocracy' or select cavalry corps). This elite military unit received better pay, equipment, and horses to ensure loyalty and effectiveness in maintaining Balban's authoritarian rule.

Multiple choice

Which reason from among the following is not responsible for the downfall of the Tughlaq Empire?

  1. Vastness

  2. Autocratic rule

  3. Feroz Tughlaq's policies

  4. Intervention of Ulemas in politics
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The downfall of the Tughlaq Empire was caused by multiple factors: the vastness of the empire made administration difficult, autocratic rule created discontent among nobles and subjects, and Feroz Tughlaq's policies (especially the Jagir system) weakened central authority. However, the intervention of Ulemas in politics was NOT a major factor - in fact, Alauddin Khalji had actively tried to reduce their influence, and they did not become a decisive factor in the empire's decline.

Multiple choice

Which was the most defective army system executed by Feroz Tughlaq?

  1. The army system was based on Jagir system

  2. The permanent army was given Jagir in place of salary

  3. The army discipline and rules became lenient

  4. The hereditary system was introduced in the army
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Feroz Tughlaq's most defective military reform was introducing the hereditary system in the army. When army positions became hereditary (passed from father to son), it destroyed merit-based recruitment, led to declining quality of soldiers over generations, and created a class of soldiers who were more interested in their privileges than in military effectiveness. The Jagir-based army (options A and B) was also problematic, but the hereditary system fundamentally undermined the army's professionalism and effectiveness.

Multiple choice

According to which historian from the following, Alauddin Khilji adopted the fiscal policy to check the Mongol invasions?

  1. V. A. Smith

  2. K. S. Lal

  3. A. L. Srivastva

  4. U. N. De
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Historian K.S. Lal argued that Alauddin Khilji implemented his rigorous fiscal and market control policies primarily to mobilize resources for defense against Mongol invasions. This included price control measures and revenue enhancement to maintain a large standing army. Other historians like V.A. Smith had different interpretations focusing on administrative consolidation.

Multiple choice

Who wrote 'Aina - E- Akbari'?

  1. Faizi

  2. Abul Fazal

  3. Raheem

  4. Baisan Khan

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Abul Fazal wrote the 'Ain-i-Akbari' (also spelled 'Aina-E-Akbari'), which is the third volume of the 'Akbarnama' - a detailed documentation of Emperor Akbar's reign, covering administration, economy, culture, and geography. Faizi was a poet, Raheem (Rahim) was a poet, and Baisan Khan is not a known author of this work.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct about the perception of the Indian continent according to Bernier's accounts?

a. He thought that one of the fundamental differences between Mughal India and Europe was the lack of private property in land in the former. b. He was a firm believer in the virtues of private property and saw crown ownership of land as being harmful for both the state and its people. c. He thought that the landholders were averse to any long-term investment in the sustenance and expansion of production because they could not pass it on to their children.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. b and c

  4. a and c

  5. only b
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as all the statements are correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. The rulers of Bhopal provided money for the preservation of the ancient site of the Sanchi Stupa. b. John Marshall dedicated his important volumes on Sanchi to Shahjahan Begum, the ruler of Bhopal. c. The French and the English sought Shahjahan Begum’s permission to take away the eastern gateway of the Sanchi Stupa to be placed in museums.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. a and c

  4. b and c

  5. only a
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as both statements are correct.

Multiple choice

The French and the English sought Shahjahan Begum’s permission to take away the

  1. northern gateway of the Sanchi Stupa

  2. southern gateway of the Sanchi Stupa

  3. eastern gateway of the Sanchi Stupa

  4. western gateway of the Sanchi Stupa

  5. Sanchi Stupa
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as the French sought Shahjahan Begum’s permission to take away the eastern gateway, which was the best preserved to be displayed in a museum in France. The English also tried to seek her permission for the same.

Multiple choice

The Second Battle of Panipat was fought during the reign of

  1. Babar

  2. Humayun

  3. Akbar

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

The Second Battle of Panipat (1556) was fought between Akbar's forces (led by his regent Bairam Khan) and Hemu, the Hindu general who had captured Delhi. This battle was crucial for Akbar, who had just inherited the throne at age 13. Akbar's victory consolidated Mughal rule in India. Babar fought the First Battle of Panipat (1526), while Humayun and Aurangzeb ruled later.

Multiple choice

Who was the ruler of medieval India, credited with the construction of Grand Trunk Road?

  1. Babur

  2. Sher Shah Suri

  3. Jehangir

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

Sher Shah Suri (1540-1545 CE) built the Grand Trunk Road from Sonargaon (Bangladesh) to Peshawar (Pakistan), covering over 2,500 km. This highway facilitated trade, military movement, and postal communication. Babur and Jehangir were Mughal rulers. Krishnadevaraya was the Vijayanagara emperor who ruled South India, unrelated to this North Indian infrastructure project.

Multiple choice

'Bibi Ka Maqbara' is the tomb of

  1. Nurjahan

  2. Aurangzeb's wife

  3. Humayun's sister

  4. Mumtaz

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Bibi Ka Maqbara, located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, was built by Prince Azam Shah (son of Aurangzeb) in 1660 in memory of his mother Dilras Banu Begum. It resembles the Taj Mahal and is often called the 'Taj of the Deccan'.