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 history ranjit singh: early life, achievements, and anglo - sikh relations british expansion in north india and sikhs contribution punjab's contribution towards struggle for freedom the anglo - sikh wars and annexation of the punjab

The Sikhs were defeated by the English at ___________ in $1846$.

  1. Sobraon

  2. Amritsar

  3. Lahore

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

The Battle of Sobraon ended the First Sikh War. It resulted in the defeat of Sikh by East India Company. The Treaty of Lahore was signed on 9 March 1846 after the First Sikh War. As part of the treaty the Sikhs agreed to handover Kashmir and Hazara and Jalandhar Doab to the British.

Multiple choice history ranjit singh: early life, achievements, and anglo - sikh relations british expansion in north india and sikhs contribution punjab's contribution towards struggle for freedom the anglo - sikh wars and annexation of the punjab

The Treaty of Lahore was signed between the Sikhs and the British in India in the year.

  1. $1836$
  2. $1846$
  3. $1856$
  4. $1866$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Treaty of Lahore was signed on 9 March 1846 after the First Sikh War. As part of the treaty, the Sikhs agreed to handover Kashmir and Hazara and Jalandhar Doab to the British. It was due to this treaty that Kohinoor diamond was handed to the British.

Multiple choice history new political formations in the eighteenth century causes of decline of the mughal empire decline of mughal empire downfall of mughal empire

Which one of the following was the cause for the disintegration of the Mughal Empire?

  1. War of succession among sons of Aurangazeb

  2. Attacks of Nadir Shah and Ahmad Shah Abdali

  3. Revolts of various communities like Jats, Sikhs, Rajputs etc.

  4. All of the above mentioned factors contributed to the downfall of the Mughal Empire.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The decline of the Mughal Empire was a complex process caused by a combination of economic instability, succession wars, foreign invasions, and internal rebellions.

Multiple choice history new political formations in the eighteenth century causes of decline of the mughal empire decline of mughal empire downfall of mughal empire

What was the main cause of failure of Humayun?

  1. he divided his kingdom among his brothers

  2. he wrongly estimated the increasing power of Sher Shah

  3. he had no good generals in his army

  4. he committed mistakes in the battle of Kannauj
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • Humayun was unable to properly estimate the increasing power of Sher Shah.
  • The presence of large numbers of Afghan tribes across the north India and their nature of getting united under a capable leader was ignored by him.
  • Without getting the support of the local rulers and zamindars, the Mughals were bound to remain numerically inferior.
Multiple choice history new political formations in the eighteenth century causes of decline of the mughal empire decline of mughal empire downfall of mughal empire

Why Humayun got defeated in the battle of Kannauj?

  1. The army of Sher Shah was strong

  2. The army of Humayun revolted against him

  3. Humayun adopted the wrong technique of war

  4. Gun powder became unusable due to heavy rain
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The battle of Kannauj took place in May 1540, Humayun was defeated in the hands of Sher Khan because the gun powder carried by Humayun soldiers were kept in open ground and due to heavy rain it got wet and became unusable.

Multiple choice history new political formations in the eighteenth century causes of decline of the mughal empire decline of mughal empire downfall of mughal empire

The huge wealth of the Mughals fell into the hands of _______after the capture of Delhi in $1739$.

  1. Nadir Shah

  2. The English

  3. The French

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

Emperor Nader Shah was a Persian invader and founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Persia. He invaded the Mughal Empire, eventually attacking Delhi in 1739. He got enormous wealth by looting the Mughal Empire.

Multiple choice evs community decision making in a tribe gonds and ahom society a closer look - the gonds tribes, nomad and settled societies

In 1662, the Mughals under _______ attacked the Ahoms.

  1. Mir Jumla

  2. Mir Jaffar

  3. Mir Qasim

  4. None
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Ahoms are  tribe in the North Eastern part of India. They migrated from Myanmar to the Brahmaputra valley. The Ahoms faced many invasions from the south-west. In 1662, the Mughals under Mir Jumla attacked the Ahom kingdom. Despite their brave defence, the Ahoms were defeated. But direct Mughal control over the region could not last long.

Multiple choice evs community decision making in a tribe gonds and ahom society a closer look - the gonds tribes, nomad and settled societies

The rule of Ahom kingdom ended with the invasion of _______.

  1. Burmese

  2. Bengal

  3. British

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

The Ahom kingdom was established in 1228 when Sukaphaa, a Shan prince of Mong Mao entered the Brahmaputra valley. The Ahom dynasty lasted from 1228 to 1826. The rule of this dynasty ended with the Burmese invasion of Assam and the signing treaty of Yandaboo in 1826 led to subsequent annexation by the British East India Company

Multiple choice history traders to rulers (ii) dalhousie's policy of expansion and subsidiary alliance system the policy of subsidiary alliance and doctrine of lapse the subsidiary alliance anddoctrine of lapse

The Subsidiary Alliance was not accepted by _____________.

  1. Nizam of Hydrabad and the Ruler of Mysore

  2. Bhonsle Raja of Berar and Scindia of Gwalior

  3. Rajput States of Jodhpur, Jaipur and Bharatpur

  4. Holkar state of Indore
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Subsidiary Alliance was introduced in India by Lord Wellesley.  This System was used by Wellesley to bring Indian States within the orbit of British power. It was first accepted by Nizam of Hyderabad. This system was not accepted by many Maratha rulers, Holkar state of Indore was one of them.

Multiple choice history traders to rulers (ii) dalhousie's policy of expansion and subsidiary alliance system the policy of subsidiary alliance and doctrine of lapse the subsidiary alliance anddoctrine of lapse

Which of the following policies played a major role in the conquest of lndia?

  1. Doctrine of Lapse

  2. Subsidiary Alliance

  3. Rule of law

  4. Zamindari system
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The doctrine of subsidiary alliance was introduced by Lord Wellesley, British Governor-General in India from 1798 to 1805.  As per the system, Indian rulers were not allowed to have their independent armed force. They were to be protected by the company, but had to pay for the 'subsidiary forces' that the company was supposed to maintain for the purpose of this protection. It played an important role in the conquest of lndia.

Multiple choice history traders to rulers (ii) dalhousie's policy of expansion and subsidiary alliance system the policy of subsidiary alliance and doctrine of lapse the subsidiary alliance anddoctrine of lapse

Name the provinces annexed by the British through Subsidiary Alliance system.

  1. Mysore

  2. Tanjore

  3. Arcot

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

The Nizam of Hyderabad was the first to enter into such an alliance. Tipu Sultan of Mysore refused to do so, but after the British victory in the fourth anglo-mysore war, Mysore was forced to become a subsidiary state. The Nawab of Awadh was the next to accept the Subsidiary Alliance, in 1801. After the third anglo maratha war, the maratha ruler Baji Rao II also accepted a subsidiary alliance.

 

Multiple choice history traders to rulers (ii) dalhousie's policy of expansion and subsidiary alliance system the policy of subsidiary alliance and doctrine of lapse the subsidiary alliance anddoctrine of lapse

The provinces annexed through the Doctrine of Lapse were _______.

  1. Udaipur

  2. Oudh

  3. Jhansi

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Doctrine of Lapse was an annexation policy purportedly devised by Lord Dalhousie as per which any princely state or territory under the British East India Company would automatically be annexed if the ruler died without a male heir. States annexed under this policy were:
1. The States of Satara (1848 AD)
2. Jaipur (1849 AD)
3. Sambhalpur (1849 AD)
4. Bahat (1850 A.D)
5. Udaipur (1852 AD)
6. Jhansi (1853 AD)
7. Nagpur (1854 AD)
8. Oudh (1856)
Multiple choice history traders to rulers (ii) dalhousie's policy of expansion and subsidiary alliance system the policy of subsidiary alliance and doctrine of lapse the subsidiary alliance anddoctrine of lapse

What was the Subsidiary Alliance System?

  1. An Indian ruler had to maintain British troops in his state

  2. The ruler had to give some of his territory or to pay for maintenance of troops

  3. The ruler could not fight or sign treaties with any other power

  4. British maintained a large army at the expense of the local rulers

  5. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The main principles of a subsidiary alliance were:

  1. An Indian ruler entering into a subsidiary alliance with the British had to accept British forces within his territory and also agreed to pay for their maintenance.
  2. The ruler would accept a British Resident in his state.
  3. An Indian ruler who entered into a subsidiary alliance would not enter into any further alliance with any other power, nor would he declare war against any power without the permission of the British.
  4. The ruler would not employ any Europeans other than the British, and if he were already doing so, he would dismiss them.
  5. In case of a conflict with any other state, he would agree the resolution decided upon by the British.
  6. The ruler would acknowledge the East India Company as the paramount power in India.
  7. In return for the ruler accepting its conditions, the Company undertook to protect the state from external dangers and internal disorders.
  8. If the Indian rulers failed to make the payments required by the alliance, then part of their territory was to be taken away as a penalty.

 

Multiple choice history traders to rulers (ii) dalhousie's policy of expansion and subsidiary alliance system the policy of subsidiary alliance and doctrine of lapse the subsidiary alliance anddoctrine of lapse

Why the native Indian rulers lost their prestige and dignity?

  1. Because of defeats in wars against British

  2. Because of the Subsidiary Alliance System

  3. Because of enmity with local people

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

Because of the Subsidiary Alliance System, the native Indian rulers lost their prestige and dignity. As per the Subsidiary Alliance, an Indian ruler entering into a subsidiary alliance with the British had to accept British forces within his territory and also agree to pay for their maintenance.

Multiple choice history traders to rulers (ii) dalhousie's policy of expansion and subsidiary alliance system the policy of subsidiary alliance and doctrine of lapse the subsidiary alliance anddoctrine of lapse

Who maintained troops at the cost of the Indian rulers?

  1. British Company

  2. French Company

  3. Dutch Company

  4. Emperor of India
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

According to the terms of a subsidiary alliance, princely rulers were not allowed to have an independent armed force. They were to be protected by the East India Company, but had to pay for the 'subsidiary forces' that the company was supposed to maintain for the purpose of this protection.