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 not true about the downfall of Delhi Sultnate?

  1. It ended due to the bad effects of the plans of Mohd. Tughlaq

  2. It ended due to religious intolerance of Muslim rulers

  3. It ended due to monarchical administration

  4. It ended due to strengthening of the Hindu religion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The downfall of the Delhi Sultanate was caused by factors like weak successors, administrative mismanagement, and external invasions. The strengthening of the Hindu religion was not a cause for the political collapse of the Sultanate.

Multiple choice

Babur declared not to take wine at the time when

  1. the battle of Khanwaha against Rana Sanga was to be fought

  2. the First battle of Panipat started

  3. the battle of Ghagra ended

  4. the battle of Chanderi was fought
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Babur renounced wine before the Battle of Khanwa against Rana Sanga. He did this to inspire his troops and seek divine favor for the difficult battle.

Multiple choice

The Second battle of panipat was fought between

  1. Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya and Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akhbar

  2. Sher Shah Suri and Zahir-ud-din Muhammad

  3. Nasir-ud-din Humayun and Sikander Shah Suri

  4. Jalal-ud-din Akbar and Sher Shah Suri
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Second Battle of Panipat was fought in 1556 between the forces of the Hindu king Hemu (Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya) and the Mughal emperor Akbar.

Multiple choice

Which of the following choices was the main function of the Peshwa under Shivaji’s administration?

  1. He was to look after the general interest and welfare of the state

  2. He advised the king about foreign affairs.

  3. He was to fix dates for religious ceremonies.

  4. He was in charge of all public finance and accounts of the kingdom.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The main function of the Peshwa under Shivaji’s administration was to look after the general interest and welfare of the state.

Multiple choice

India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay of Bengal. for this pre-eminence of early maritime history of Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing explanation/ explanations?

  1. As compared to other countries, India had a better ship-building technology in ancient and medieval times.

  2. The rules of southern India always patronized traders, brahmin priests and buddish monks in this context.

  3. Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages.

  4. Both a and b are convincing explanations in this context.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Though India's ship-building technology was quite advanced, it is not that other countries lagged behind. Before the discovery of the monsoon winds by Hippalus in AD 45-47, the mariners of the east coast of India were aware of the monsoon wind and currents and used them for maritime trade. The maritime trade from India to Southeast Asia was a seasonal phenomenon. This shows how the monsoon wind and currents favoured mariners during their onward and return voyages to Southeast Asia. Even the Roman historian Strabo mentions that monsoon was known and manipulated for trade in his time.

Multiple choice

Which of the following reasons is/are correct for the failure of French & success of British in India? i. Commercial & naval superiority of British. ii. England’s Victory in European wars. iii. Lack of Support of French from any Mughal Emperor.

  1. i & ii only

  2. ii & iii only

  3. i only

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 Major advantages which British had were Commercial, naval superiority & their victory in European wars. British also had 3 important parts-Calcutta, Bombay & Madras, while French only had one Pondicherry.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

1.         With the death of Ibrahim Lodi in the battle of Panipat, the Delhi Sultanate came to an end. 2.         Delhi Sultanate paved way for Mughal empire where famous Grand Trunk road and reforms in the revenue system were made.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1: It is correct. The Lodi dynasty (Lodhi) was an Afghan Pashtun dynasty that ruled Delhi Sultanate from 1451 to 1526. It was founded by Bahlul Khan Lodi. Lodhi dynasty's reign ended under Ibrahim Lodi, after his defeat and death in the First Battle of Panipat allowed the Mughal empire to establish itself in Northern India. Statement 2: It is incorrect. Babar was the founder of the Mughal Empire. He came to India and defeated Ibrahim, the last Lodi Sultan in 1526. Babar was succeeded by his son Humayun, but he was ousted from Delhi by Sher Shah, an Afghan chieftain. Though Sher Shah (1540-45 AD) ruled only for a brief period of almost five years, yet he showed great administrative skills. He is remembered as the builder of the Grand Trunk road and also for the reforms he made in the revenue system.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Naval expeditions of Rajaraja - I occupied parts of Burma, Malaya and Sumatra.
  2. Rajendra I conquered Ceylon.
  3. The Cholas held northern Ceylon until they were expelled by Vijayabahu I.
  4. The Cholas fell in the 13th century when their territory was shared by the Hoysalas and Pandyas. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1, 2 and 3

  2. 3 and 4

  3. 2, 3 and 4

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

Rajendra I conquered parts of Ceylon (2), the Cholas held northern Ceylon until Vijayabahu I (3), and the Chola empire declined in the 13th century (4). Statement 1 is partially incorrect as Rajaraja I's naval expeditions were primarily directed at the Maldives and parts of the coast, not necessarily Burma/Malaya.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. During the Mughal period Mysore was the premier centre of silk production and supplied the demands of both European and Indian merchants.
  2. There was no ship-building industry in India during the Mughal period as Europeans supplied ships to the Indians.
  3. During the Mughaf period, saltpetre was exported from India by Dutch and English traders. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 2 only

  3. 1 and 3

  4. 3 only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 3 is correct; saltpetre was a major export commodity for the Dutch and English in the Mughal period. Statement 1 is incorrect (Bengal was the premier silk center, not Mysore). Statement 2 is incorrect (India had a robust ship-building industry).

Multiple choice

What was the main content of the Treaty of Deogaon concluded at the end of 1803 ?

  1. Bhonsle Raja of Berar ceded to the English the Province of Cuttack including Balasore, and the whole of his territory west of the river Warda

  2. Sindhia ceded to the English all his territories between the Ganges and Jamuna, and his first and territories to the north of the Rajput principalities, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Gohad

  3. Holkar gave up all claims to Tonk, Rampura, Bundi, Kooch, Bundelkhand and places north of the Chambal

  4. Baji Rao II renounced the post of Peshwa and the headship of the Maratha confederacy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Treaty of Deogaon (1803) was signed between the British and the Bhonsle Raja of Berar following the Battle of Argaon, resulting in the cession of Cuttack and territories west of the Warda river.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following statements is correct?

  1. When Portuguese landed at Calicut in 1498, Narasa Nayaka chastised Zamorin and expelled the Portuguese from there

  2. Pedro Alvarez Cabral captured the port of Goa in 1510

  3. When Portuguese captured the port of Goa froll) the Bijapur Sultanate, Vijayanagar rulers sided with Bijapur

  4. When Mughal forces laid siege to Sambhaji's Kalyan, Portuguese helped Mughals with provisions
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Portuguese maintained a complex relationship with Indian powers; they indeed provided military and logistical support to the Mughals against Maratha forces like those of Sambhaji.