History

Modern Indian Historical Figures

1,804 Questions

Attempt questions covering prominent modern Indian historical figures, including freedom fighters, Maratha leaders, and key political personalities. This topic is a staple in the general studies section of civil services and state exams. Review these questions to strengthen your knowledge of India's colonial and postcolonial leaders.

Freedom fighters and leadersBritish era officialsMaratha empire leadersColonial visits and policiesHistorical controversiesMilitary and political figures

Modern Indian Historical Figures Questions

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers lord william bentinck subsidiary alliance system expansion of british power in india

Under whose Governor-Generalship The Grand Trunck Road connecting Clacutta to Peshawar was refurnished?

  1. Lord Dalhousie

  2. Lord Cornwallis

  3. Lord William Bentinck

  4. Lord Warren Hastings
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The construction of Grand Trunk road  was initiated by Babur but it was completed by Sher Shah Suri. It is the oldest and most famous highway in Indian Sub continent. Under the Governor Generalship of Lord Dalhousie the Grand Trunk Road was taken up and it was refurnished. 

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers lord william bentinck subsidiary alliance system expansion of british power in india

Identify the Person.
He was the youngest Governor-general of India. His period is ever remembered for the introduction of railways, posts, and telegraphs. Hence he is known as the 'Maker of Modern India'.

  1. Lord Dalhousie

  2. William Bentinck

  3. Robert Clive

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

Lord Dalhousie, the youngest governor-general of India served India from 1848-1856. He introduced a number of reforms which paved the way for modernisation of India and also earned the title "Maker of Modern India". He introduced Railways in India in 1853. In 1852, he introduced the Electric Telegraph system. The credit of establishing the Postal Department also goes to Lord Dalhousie. In 1854, a new Post Office Act was passed.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers lord william bentinck subsidiary alliance system expansion of british power in india

Who introduced a uniform postage system in India?

  1. William Bentinck

  2. Lord Rippon

  3. Lord Dalhousie

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

Dalhousie introduced uniform postage system in India. In 1854, a new Post Office Act was passed. Under this system a Director General was appointed to supervise the works of Post Office in all the Presidencies.; a uniform rate of half anna per letter was introduced and first time Postage Stamps were introduced.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers lord william bentinck subsidiary alliance system expansion of british power in india

Who was known as the "Father of Indian Railways"?

  1. William Bentinck

  2. Lord Dalhousie

  3. Lord Curzon

  4. Lord Cornwallis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Dalhousie introduced a new system of internal communication in India. He was the "Father of Indian Railways." Dalhousie's famous Railway minutes Minute of 1853 convinced the home authorities of the need of the Railways and laid down the main lines of development.  The first train in India was run from Mumbai to Thane in 1853. It covered a distance of 26 miles.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers lord william bentinck subsidiary alliance system expansion of british power in india

Who founded the Asiatic Society at Calcutta (now Kolkata)?

  1. William Bentinck

  2. William Jones

  3. James Princep

  4. Charles Wilkins
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Asiatic Society at Calcutta was founded by  Sir William Jones, a British lawyer and Orientalist, to encourage Oriental studies on 15 January 1784. It was the vehicle for his ideas about the importance of Hindu culture and learning and about the vital role of Sanskrit in the Aryan languages.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers lord william bentinck subsidiary alliance system expansion of british power in india

The Governor of Madras presidency at the time of Vellore sepoy mutiny was __________.

  1. William Bentinck

  2. Cornwallis

  3. Robert Clive

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

Vellore sepoy mutiny was the first instance of a large-scale and violent mutiny by Indian sepoys against the East India Company which was in 10 July 1806. It was basically caused by resentment at new British regulations that ordered changes in headgear and shaving style and the prohibition of ornaments and caste marks for the Indian troops. The Governor of Madras presidency at the time was William Bentinck.

Multiple choice history how the traders became rulers lord william bentinck subsidiary alliance system expansion of british power in india

Lord Amherst was succeeded by ________ as the Governor General of India.

  1. William Bentinck

  2. Lord Hastings

  3. Lord Curzon

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

Lord Amherst was succeeded by William Bentinck as the Governor General of India. Lord Amherst was Governor-General of India between 1823 and 1828.Lord William Bentinck was Governor-General from 1828 to 1835 in India and he introduced many judicial, financial, educational, social and administrative reforms.

Multiple choice history social and religious reformation movement cabinet mission freedom and partition of india prominent leaders in indian freedom movement

Who was the first Indian Governor-General of India?

  1. C. Rajagopalachari

  2. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru

  3. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel

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

Upon independence in August 1947, the title of Viceroy was abolished. The representative of the British Sovereign became known once again as the Governor-General. C. Rajagopalachari became the only Indian Governor-General.

Multiple choice history expansion of the delhi sultanate sultanate of delhi expansion of delhi sultanate delhi during the medieval period

Allauddin Khilji appointed an officer called _________ to control the markets.

  1. Qazi

  2. Mansabdar

  3. Sahana-e-Mandi

  4. Diwan
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Alauddin put a ban on black market and profiteering. Its purpose was to keep prices low so that he could pay less to the soldiers and a vast army could be formed. He established 4 new markets. He created many new posts to control the markets, such as:
  • Diwan-e-Riyasat – Head of market.
  • Sahana-e-Mandi – Market superintendent.
  • Muhatarigba – weight-measuring inspecting officer.
He constructed rate table for each commodity during his reign.
Multiple choice history expansion of the delhi sultanate sultanate of delhi expansion of delhi sultanate delhi during the medieval period

Malik Kafur, who undertook successful campaigns in South India, was the commander of ___________.

  1. Allauddin Khilji

  2. Jalaluddin Khilji

  3. Firoz Tughlaq

  4. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Malik Kafur was a slave who became a head general in the army of Alauddin Khilji, ruler of the Delhi sultanate from 1296 to 1316 AD. He was originally seized by Alauddin’s army after the army conquered the city of Khambhat. He was castrated and made a eunuch. Malik Kafur was also called “Thousand Dinar Kafur” or Hazar Dinari, the amount paid by the sultan for his possession. Malik Kafur was the commander of Alauddin Khilji’s forces during his Deccan Campaigns.
Multiple choice civics non-cooperation movement entry of mahatma gandhi in national movement jallianwala bagh tragedy and non- cooperation movement non - cooperation movement

General Dyer imposed Martial Law in

  1. Lahore

  2. England

  3. Amritsar

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

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, also known as the Amritsar massacre, took place on 13 April 1919 when a crowd of nonviolent protesters, along with Baishakhi pilgrims, who had gathered in Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar, Punjab, were fired upon by troops of the British Indian Army under the command of Colonel Reginald Dyer. The civilians had assembled to participate in the annual Baisakhi celebrations—both a religious and cultural festival for the Punjabis. Coming from outside the city, they may have been unaware of the martial law that had been imposed.

Multiple choice civics non-cooperation movement entry of mahatma gandhi in national movement jallianwala bagh tragedy and non- cooperation movement non - cooperation movement

At Jallianwala Bagh meeting ____________ ordered the troops to open fire.

  1. Benn

  2. Irwin

  3. Dyer

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

Jallianwala Bagh Massacre was the incident in which British troops fired on a large crowd of unarmed Indians in Amritsar killing several hundred people and wounding many hundreds more. On 13 April 1919, thousands of people were gathered at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. General Dyer arrived there with armed troops and ordered ruthless firing on the uninformed crowd.