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

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. The paintings inserted in the manuscripts were a source of constant tension between rulers and the ulama. b. Abu’l Fazl held the art of painting in manuscripts against the religion. c. In spite of the conflict with the spokesmen of the orthodox muslims, Akbar patronised artists and painters.

  1. a only

  2. b only

  3. c only

  4. a and c

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

This is the correct answer as both statements are correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following were the major festivals that the Mughal kings celebrated each year?

a. Shab-i-baraat b. Id c. The solar and lunar birthdays of the monarch d. Nauroz

  1. a, b, c and d

  2. a, b and d

  3. a, b and c

  4. b, c and d

  5. c and d
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer. The major festivals that the Mughal kings celebrated were the solar and lunar birthdays of the monarch and Nauroz, the Iranian New Year on the vernal equinox. On his birthdays, the monarch was weighed against various commodities, which were then distributed in charity.

Multiple choice

Shah Jahan’s jewelled throne was called takht-i murassa. Which of the following is/are correct about it?

a. The throne was completed in a course of five years. b. It was placed in the hall of public audience in the Agra palace. c. It was also decorated with the ruby that Shah Abbas Safavi had sent to the late emperor Jahangir.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. a and c

  4. b and c

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

This is the correct answer as these statements are correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. The status in the Mughal court was determined by the spatial proximity to the king. b. The highest form of submission to the Mughal ruler was sajda or complete prostration. c. The Kornish form of salutation suggested that the subject placed his head into the hand of humility, presenting it to the royal assembly.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. b and c

  4. a and c

  5. a only
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 political and diplomatic relations between the Mughal kings and Iran and Turan depended on the control of the frontier defined by the Hindukush mountains. b. Kabul and Qandahar were the strategic outposts that gave access to north India, so the Mughals controlled them closely. c. In the winter of 1622, a Persian army besieged Kabul and the Mughals had to surrender the fortress and the city to the Safavids of Iran.

  1. a, b and c

  2. a and b

  3. b and c

  4. a and c

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

This is the correct answer as both these statements are correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

a. Tajwiz was a petition presented by a nobleman to the emperor, recommending that an applicant be recruited as mansabdar. b. Nobles stationed at the court were called madad-i maash and were considered a reserve force to be deputed to a province or military campaign. c. The local administration was looked after at the level of the pargana or the sub-district by faujdars or commandants.

  1. a only

  2. b only

  3. c only

  4. b and c

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

This is the correct answer as both statements are incorrect. Nobles stationed at the court were called tainat-i rakab. The faujdars or commandants were deployed with contingents of heavy cavalry and musketeers in districts.

Multiple choice

Had the Rajputs pooled in the history of India would have been different. (a) Loyalty to the clan and not to the nation. (b) They dissipated their energy and resources in mutual squabbles on frivolous grounds. (c) Brahmins tried to exhort them but were ignored.

Select the incorrect one.

  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (b)

  3. Only (c)

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Rajputs never united or came together and confronted the invaders. They wasted all their resources/potential in bare bickerings and in trivialities. The Brahmins wanted them to fight among themselves as otherwise they would be burden to them.

Multiple choice

Although the Rajputs were strong and valiant yet they failed to accomplish much. Which of the following is/are suitable reason(s)? (a) They were given to clannish allegiance. (b) They either indulged in infighting or fought the invaders separately and were eventually defeated. (c) They never came together to stall the invaders.

  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (b)

  3. Only (c)

  4. All of the three
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Rajputs did not bother about the country as a whole. They confronted the invaders individually leading to their humiliation. Had they united, they could rewrite history.

Multiple choice

Akbar entered into matrimonial alliances with the Rajputs, what was he aiming at? (a) He exhibited his secularism. (b) He wanted to establish a govt. with uniform system of administration. (c) He wanted to fulfil his imperialist ambitions.

  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (b)

  3. Only (c)

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Akbar instead of entering into confrontation with the Rajputs, he fostered matrimonial alliances with them, thereby expanding his rule and dissipating his resources.

Multiple choice

Rajput influence rose in the Mughal courts and culminated in Akbar's time.

(a) The Rajputs integrated with the Mughals and fought for them. (b) The Rajputs entered into marriage alliances with the Mughals.

Which of the above ensured Rajputs' position in ruling class?

  1. Only (a)

  2. Only (b)

  3. Both of these

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Rajputs could not stand up to Mughals in military might. Therefore, they sought a via media. They forged matrimonial alliances with the Mughals, thereby ensuring for themselves cosy positions in the administration.