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

Which of the following statements is incorrect?

  1. Shivaji's last military expedition was against Gingee and Vellore.

  2. Chauth (a tax) was paid to the Marathas so as not to be subject to Maratha raids.

  3. Chauth was imposed on those lands of Maharashtra over which the Maratha claimed hereditary rights, but which formed the part of Mughal Empire.

  4. Chauth consisted of 25% of the total land revenue; sardeshmukhi (an additional levy) consisted of 10% of the total levy.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 3 is wrong: It was not 'chauth', but 'sardeshmukhi' that was imposed on those lands of Maharashtra over which the Maratha claimed hereditary rights, but which formed the part of Mughal Empire.

Multiple choice

What was 'Mughtai' under the Maratha Empire?

  1. A type of tax

  2. A distinct kind of region

  3. A unit of measurement of land

  4. A designation given to the Mughal captives
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Mughtai' were those regions from which 'chauth' and 'sardeshmikhi' were collected.

Multiple choice

The historic Treaty of Purandhar was signed between

  1. the Mughals and the English

  2. the Marathas and the English

  3. the Marathas and the Mughals

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

The Treaty of Purandar was signed on June 11, 1665, between the Rajput ruler Jai Singh I, who was commander of the Mughal Empire, and Maratha Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji was forced to sign the agreement after Jai Singh besieged Purandar fort. When Shivaji realised that war with the Mughal Empire would only cause damage to the empire and that his men would suffer heavy losses, he chose to make a treaty instead of leaving his men under the Mughals.

Multiple choice

The first incident of the revolt of 1857 was noticed in the

  1. 19th Native Infantry at Arrah

  2. 19th Native Infantry at Behrampur

  3. 19th Native Infantry at Meerut

  4. 19th Native Infantry at Delhi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The first incident of the revolt of 1857 was noticed in the 19th Native Infantry at Behrampur on 2nd February, 1857.

Multiple choice

General Bakht Khan and Azimullah Khan were the leaders of the revolt of 1857 at ________ and _________, respectively

  1. Lucknow, Delhi

  2. Kanpur, Bareilly

  3. Delhi, Arrah

  4. Delhi, Kanpur
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Centres of revolt and their leaders:

Delhi - Bahadur Shah II and General Bakht Khan Kanpur - Nana Sahib, Tantiya Tope and Azimullah Khan Jhansi - Rani Laxmi Bai Lucknow - Begum Hazrat Mahal and Maulvi Ahmadullah Bareilly - Khan Bahadur Khan Arrah - Kunwar Singh

Multiple choice

Arrange the following places in the chronological order in which the revolt of 1857 spread to these places? A. Lucknow B. Delhi C. Meerut D. Bareilly

  1. C A B D

  2. C B A D

  3. B C A D

  4. C B D A
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The spread of the revolt of 1857 went like this:

Feb 2nd, 1857    -           Mutiny of the 19th Native Infantry at Behrampur
May 10th, 1857  -           Mutiny of Sepoys at Meerut
May 17th, 1857  -           Mutiny spreaded to Delhi
May 23rd, 1857  -           Mutiny engulfed Bareilly June, 1857       -           Mutinies at Lucknow, Gwalior, Jhansi, Allahabad, etc.

Multiple choice

Which of the following was/were the reason(s) for the defeat of the French at the hands of the British in India?

  1. The French were not much interested in India.
  2. The French were dependent on their government.
  3. The French navy was a no match for the British navy.
  4. The French leadership was nothing compared to the British leadership.

  1. Only 2

  2. Only 2 and 4

  3. Only 2, 3 and 4

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

The reasons for defeat of the French at the hands of the English were:

The French were more interested in extending frontiers in Italy, Belgium & Germany, and were not much interested in India.

The French were more dependent on their government whereas the British were totally independent.
The French navy was nothing in front of the British.
The British were economically strong after capturing Bengal, whereas the French could not get as much benefit from Pondicherry. French leaders (Dupleix and Busy) were no match for English leaders (Clive and Lawrence).

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are true in relation to the Anglo-Mysore Wars?

  1. Hyder Ali defeated the British in the First Anglo-Mysore War.
  2. Cornwallis defeated Hyder Ali in the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
  3. The treaty of Seringapatnam was signed after the Second Anglo-Mysore War between Cornwallis and Tipu Sultan.
  4. Lord Wellesly attacked Tipu Sultan's army in the Third Anglo-Mysore War.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 1 and 4

  3. Only 1, 3 and 4

  4. Only 1 and 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Hyder Ali defeated the British in the First Anglo-Mysore War (1767-69).

Statement 2 is wrong: In the Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780-84), Hyder Ali was defeated by Eyre Coot, not by Cornwallis.

Statement 3 is also wrong: The treaty of Mangalore was signed after the Second Anglo-Mysore War. Treaty of Seringapatnam was signed after the Third Anglo-Mysore War. Statement 4 is also wrong: The Third Anglo-Mysore War was fought between Cornwallis and Tipu Sultan. Wellesly attacked Tipu's army in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War.
Multiple choice

Arrange the following events in the correct chronological order. A. The First Anglo-Maratha War B. The Second Anglo-Maratha War C. The Third Anglo-Maratha War D. Treaty of Bassein E. Treaty of Salbai

  1. A B E D C

  2. A E B C D

  3. A B D C E

  4. A E B D C
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The correct chronological order of the events given is -

The First Anglo-Maratha War (1775-82)
Treaty of Salbai was signed after the first Anglo-Maratha War
The Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-06)
Treaty of Bassein was signed after the Second Anglo-Maratha War The Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817-18)

Multiple choice

Read the following statements: Assertion: In the Battle of Plassey, the British defeated the then Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah. Reason: Siraj's army was not as well equipped on modern lines as that of the British.

Mark your answer as

  1. if both the statements are correct and statement 2 is the correct explanation for statement 1

  2. if both the statements are correct but statement 2 is not the correct explanation for statement 1

  3. if statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false

  4. if statement 1 is false but statement 2 is true
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

No doubt, the British army was better equipped with advanced weapons, but that was not the cause behind the defeat of Siraj's army. He lost the battle owing to conspiracies at various levels of his army.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are true in relation to the French in India?

  1. The biggest French settlement in India was Pondicherry.
    1. The title of 'nawab' was conferred on the French Governor Dumas by Chanda Sahib.
  2. The French commander Dupleix was taken as prisoner in the Battle of Wandiwash.

  1. Only 2

  2. Only 1

  3. Only 1 and 2

  4. Only 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Pondicherry was the biggest French settlement in India.

Statement 2 is correct: The title of 'nawab' was conferred on the French Governor Dumas by Chanda Sahib. Statement 3 is incorrect: It was the French commander Busy that was taken as prisoner in the Battle of Wandiwash.

Multiple choice

The 'Battle of Badera' is remembered in Indian history for the

  1. real establishment of the British Empire in India

  2. final collapse of the French Empire in India

  3. final collapse of the Dutch Empire in India

  4. real establishment of the Danish Empire in India
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Battle of Badera was fought in 1759 between the Dutch and the British. It led to the final collapse of the Dutch in India at the hands of the British.