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

Between whom was the War of Bedara fought?

  1. French and the English

  2. Dutch and the Nawab

  3. Dutch and the French

  4. English and the Dutch
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The War of Bedara (1759) was fought between the English and the Dutch over control of trade in Bengal. This conflict was part of the larger European colonial rivalry in India, with the English ultimately gaining the upper hand.

Multiple choice

When did the soldiers of Bairakpur cantt refused to use the fat cartridges?

  1. December 1857

  2. June 1857

  3. March 1857

  4. September 1857
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In March 1857, Mangal Pandey and other soldiers at Barrackpore refused to use the greased cartridges rumored to contain cow and pig fat. This marked the beginning of the 1857 Revolt and preceded the actual outbreak in Meerut in May 1857.

Multiple choice

Between whom was the Third Battle of Panipat fought?

  1. Hunayun and Shershah Suri

  2. Marathas and Ahmad Shah Durrani

  3. Humayun and Hemu

  4. Akbar and Hemu
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Third Battle of Panipat (1761) was fought between the Maratha Empire and the Afghan invader Ahmad Shah Durrani (Abdali). Humayun fought Sher Shah Suri earlier (1540), Akbar fought Hemu at the Second Battle of Panipat (1556), making option B the correct pairing for the Third Battle.

Multiple choice

Defeat in the Battle of Talikota saw the downfall of which empire

  1. Anmednagar

  2. Chola

  3. Vijayanagar

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

The Battle of Talikota (1565) was a decisive defeat for the Vijayanagara Empire against the combined forces of the Deccan Sultanates. This battle marked the end of Vijayanagara's dominance and led to the sack of their capital Hampi, causing the empire's gradual decline over the next century.

Multiple choice

The first battle of Panipat was fought between

  1. Akbar and Hemu

  2. Abdali and Maratas

  3. Humayun and Sher Sha Suri

  4. Babar and Ibrahim Lodhi
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The First Battle of Panipat (1526) was fought between Babur (founder of Mughal Empire) and Ibrahim Lodi (last Sultan of Delhi). Babur's victory marked the beginning of Mughal rule in India. Neither Akbar vs Hemu (Second Battle, 1556) nor Abdali vs Marathas (Third Battle, 1761) is correct.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the correct chronological order in which the British established their trading centre in the places mentioned below?

  1. Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, Surat

  2. Bombay, Madras, Surat, Calcutta

  3. Surat, Madras, Bombay, Calcutta

  4. Surat, Madras, Calcutta, Bombay
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The British established their trading centers in this chronological order: Surat (1612), Madras (1639), Bombay (1661, acquired from Portuguese), and Calcutta (1690). Surat was their first factory. The correct sequence is Surat, Madras, Calcutta, Bombay - which matches option D. Options A, B, and C all have incorrect sequences.

Multiple choice

Which famous battle in 1757, marked the beginning of establishment of British power in India?

  1. The battle of Panipat

  2. The battle of Buxor

  3. The battle of Palasi

  4. The battle of Sohne

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

The Battle of Plassey (1757) was Robert Clive's decisive victory over Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal. It marked the beginning of British political and military dominance in India, though the East India Company had been trading since earlier.

Multiple choice

With reference to Pondicherry (now Puducherry), consider the following statements:

  1. The first European power to occupy Pondicherry were the Portuguese.
  2. The second European power to occupy Pondicherry were the French.
  3. The English never occupied Pondicherry.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 and 3 only

  3. 3 only

  4. 1, 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The first European power to occupy Pondicherry (Mahe in the Malabar, Yanam in Coromandal and Karikal in Tamil Nadu) were the French in 1739.

Multiple choice

With which one of the following mountain tribes did the British first come into contact, after the grant of Diwani in the year 1765?

  1. Garos

  2. Khasis

  3. Kukis

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

In the later part of the 18th century, the British East India Company started establishing contact with the Garos, after acquiring the Diwani of Bengal from the Mughal emperor. The British won over all the semi-independent estates that bordered the Garo Hills. But the internal administration of the estates was not disturbed. They were given the responsibility of keeping the power of the Garos in check, as in the time of the Mughals. Hence, the enmity between the Garos and the zaminders grew stronger and the British had to finally intervene. Finally, this chaos ended when the Garo Hills were annexed in 1873.

Multiple choice

With reference to the entry of European powers into India, which one of the following statements is not correct?

  1. The Portuguese captured Goa in 1499.

  2. The English opened their first factory in South India at Masulipatam.

  3. In Eastern India, the English Company opened its first factory in Orissa in 1633.

  4. Under the leadership of Dupleix, the French occupied Madras in 1746.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Portuguese captured Goa from rulers of Bijapur in 1510 and not in 1499.