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 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

What was the term used for the revenue collecting department of the state?

  1. Chavni

  2. diwan-e-khas

  3. Diwani

  4. Kachehri

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

Diwani was the term used for the revenue collecting department or the right to collect revenue in the Mughal and later British administrative system. The British East India Company obtained the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765 after the Battle of Buxar. Chavni referred to military camps, while Kachehri was an administrative office.

Multiple choice

What was the term used for the grant of revenue from a village or a piece of land?

  1. Gilco

  2. Iffta

  3. Iqta

  4. Iffco

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

Iqta was the land revenue grant system in medieval Islamic kingdoms (particularly the Delhi Sultanate), where rulers granted officials the right to collect revenue from a specific territory. The holder (Iqtadar) used this revenue for maintaining troops and administration. This was a key feature of the Sultanate's military-feudal organization. The other options are all incorrect: Gilco is not a historical term, Iffta and Iffco are modern corporate entities.

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.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

  1. Au Mardan Khan introduced the system of revenue farming in Bengal.

  2. Maharaja Ranjit Singh set up modern foundries to manufacture cannons at Lahore.

  3. Sawai Jai Singh of Amber had Euclid’s Elements of Geometry’ translated into Sanskrit.

  4. Sultan Tipu of Mysore gave money for the construction of the idol of Goddess Sharda in the Shringeri temple.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Murshid Quli Khan introduced revenue farming in Bengal.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. In the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated Ibrahim Lodi.
  2. Tipu Sultan was killed in the Third Anglo-Mysore War.
  3. Mir Jafar entered in a conspiracy with the English for the defeat of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1, 2 and 3

  2. 3 only

  3. 2 and 3

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

In the First Battle of Panipat (1526), Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur. In the Third Battle of Panipat (1761), Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated the Marathas. Tipu Sultan was killed in the fourth Anglo-Mysore War (1799).

Multiple choice

Which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. The modern Kochi was a Dutch colony till India's independence.

  2. The Dutch defeated the Portuguese and built Fort Williams in the modern Kochi.

  3. The modem Kochi was first a Dutch colony before the Portuguese took over.

  4. The modern Kochi never became a part of a British colony.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

No statement is correct. Modern Kochi became a part of the British colony after being a Dutch colony. Kochi was first a Portuguese colony. Fort Williams was built in Calcutta (not in Kochi) by the English.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the battles fought in India in the 18th Century?

  1. Battle of Wandiwash - Battle of Buxar - Battle of Ambur - Battle of Plassey

  2. Battle of Ambur - Battle of Plassey - Battle of Wandiwash - Battle of Buxar

  3. Battle of Wandiwash - Battle of Plassey - Battle of Ambur - Battle of Buxar

  4. Battle of Ambur - Battle of Buxar - Battle of Wandiwash - Battle of Plassey
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Battle of Ambur-1749, Battle of Plassey-1757, Battle of Wandiwash-1760, Battle of Buxar-1764