Q1. Which one of the following Sultans brought the Ashokan pillar to Delhi?
(a) Ghiasuddin Tughlaq
(b) Muhammad Bin Tughlaq
(c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
(d) Alauddin Khilji
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Firoz Shah Tughlaq brought the Ashokan pillar to Delhi. Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–88), the Sultan of Delhi, established the fortified city of Ferozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi Sultanate on the banks of Yamuna river, the site of the present Feroz Shah Kotla, literally Kotla (fortress or citadel) of Feroz Shah. Here he erected the Lat or Ashoka Column, attributed to Mauryan ruler Ashoka.
Q2. The Mughal school of painting formed the spinal column of different schools of Indian miniature art. Which one of the following painting styles was not affected by Mughal painting?
(a) Pahari
(b) Rajasthani
(c) Kangra
(d) Kalighata
Answer:(d) Kalighata
Explanation: It does not quite belong to the temper of Mughal painting which was aristocratic, celebrated imperial promp and circumstances.
Q3. The most important Sufi shrine in India is at
(a) Pandua
(b) Bidar
(c) Ajmer
(d) Shahjahanabad
Answer:(c)
Explanation: Ajmer is famous for the Dargah Sharif of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti which is situated at the foot of the Taragarh hill, and consists of several white marble buildings arranged around two courtyards, including a massive gate donated by the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Akbari Mosque, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It contains the domed tomb of the saint. Akbar and his queen used to come here by foot on pilgrimage from Agra every year in observance of a vow when he prayed for a son.
Q4. Consider the following:
Tughlaqabad fort
Lodi Garden
Qutab Minar
Fatehpur Sikri
The correct chronological order in which they were built is:
(a) 3, 1, 4, 2
(b) 3, 1, 2, 4
(c) 1, 3, 2, 4
(d) 1, 3, 4, 2
Answer: (b) 3, 1, 2, 4
Explanation: Tughlaqabad Fort is a ruined fort in Delhi, stretching across 6.5 km, built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty, of the Delhi Sultanate of India in 1321, which was later abandoned in 1327.
Fatehpur Sikri is a city and a municipal board in the Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar beginning in 1570, in honor of Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chisti.
Qutab Minar – 1206 –1236;
Lodi Garden – 1451– 1526.
Q5. Who among the following rulers is famous as “Prithvi Raj Chauhan”?
(a) Prithvi Raj I
(b) Prithvi Raj II
(c) Prithvi Raj III
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The most famous king of the Chauhan dynasty was Prithviraj Chauhan who is also known as Prithvi Raj III. In the fairy tale, he has been called ‘Rai Pithaora. The famous poet. Chanda Bardai was dwelling in his state council which has written Prithivi Raj Raso.
Q6. Who was the greatest Bhakti poet of Maharashtra?
(a) Ramdas
(b) Tukaram
(c) Namdeva
(d) Eknath
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Saint Tukaram (1608–1645) was a prominent Varkari Sant (Saint) and spiritual poet during a Bhakti movement in India. Dilip Purushottam Chitre, a well-known Marathi Scholar, identifies Tukaram as the first modern poet of Marathi. Chitre believes that Tukaram was the second saint after Sant Dnyaneshwar who denied caste hierarchy in Hindu religion and attacked rituals present in Hindu Dharma.
Q7. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I
List-II
A . 1556
1. Battle of HaldiGhati
B. 1600
2. Nadir Shah’s capture of Delhi
C. 1686
3. Death of Shivaji
D. 1739
4. Grant of Charter to East India Company
5. Accession of Akbar
Codes:
(a) A – 3; B – 4; C – 2; D – 1
(b) A – 5; B – 4; C – 3; D – 2
(c) A – 5; B – 2; C – 1; D – 4
(d) A – 1; B – 5; C – 3; D – 2
Answer:(b) A – 5; B – 4; C – 3; D – 2
Explanation: The Battle of Haldighati was fought between the Mughal Empire and the forces of Mewar on June 21, 1576, at Haldighati in Rajasthan, India. It was a decisive victory for the Mughal Emperor Jalal ud-Din Muhammad Akbar’s general Raja Man Singh against the MaharanaPratap Singh of Mewar. Akbar was 14 years old when he was crowned at Kalanaur in 1556.
Q8. The bone of contention between Bahmani and Vijayanagar kingdom was
(a) Kavery delta
(b) Malabar parts
(c) Krishna delta
(d) Krishna-Tungabhadra doab
Answer: (d)
Explanation: The bone of contention between the Bahmani and Vijayanagar kingdoms was Krishna-Tungabhadra doab. The conflict started on a large scale in 1367 during the reign of Bukka I.
Q9. Who was the Guru of Shivaji?
(a) Namdev
(b) Ramdas
(c) Eknath
(d) Tukaram
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Samarth Ramdas was a prominent Marathi saint and religious poet in the Hindu tradition in Maharashtra, India. Samarth Ramdas was a devotee of Lord Hanuman and Lord Rama. His birth name was Narayan Suryajipant Kulkarni Thosar. Ramdas was the political strategist and spiritual guru of Shivaji. It is said that Shivaji Maharaj requested Shri Ramdas swami to move his residence to a fort named Parali & establish his permanent monastery there. The fort was subsequently renamed Sajjangad – Fort of the sacred.
Q10. ‘The king was freed from his people and them from their king’. On whose death did Badauni comment thus?
(a) Balban
(b) Ala-ud-din Khalji
(c) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
(d) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Answer:(c) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
Explanation: Muhammad Bin Tughlaq died in 1351 CE. He was succeeded by his cousin FirozTughlaq.
Q11. Amir Khusrau was a musician and
(a) Sufi saint
(b) Persian and Hindi writer, and scholar
(c) Historian
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Amir Khusrau was an Indian musician, scholar, and poet. He was an iconic figure in the cultural history of the Indian subcontinent. A Sufi mystic and a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi, Amir Khusrow was not only a notable poet but also a prolific and seminal musician. He wrote poetry primarily in Persian, but also in Hindavi. He is regarded as the “father of qawwali” (the devotional music of the Sufis in the Indian subcontinent). He is also credited with enriching Hindustani classical music by introducing Persian and Arabic elements to it and was the originator of the Khayal and Tarana styles of music. The invention of the tabla is also traditionally attributed to him.
Q12. To which Lodi Sultan does the given map relate and what town does the site marked? A represents
A on the map represents?
(a) Bahlol Lodi – Jaunpur
(b) Sikandar Lodi – Aligarh
(c) Ibrahim Lodi – Jaunpur
(d) Ibrahim Lodi – Aligarh
Answer: (a) Bahlol Lodi – Jaunpur
Q13. Who built the Ibadatkhana at Fatehpur Sikri?
(a) Akbar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shahjahan
(d) Aurangzeb
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Akbar built the Ibadatkhana at Fatehpur Sikri. Ibadatkhana (House of Worship) was a meeting house built in 1575 CE by the Mughal emperor Akbar, where the foundations of a new Syncretistic faith, Din-e-Ilahi were laid by Akbar.
Q14. A new coin called the ‘Rupia’ was issued for the first time by
(a) Ala-ud-din Khilji
(b) Mohammed Shah Tughluq
(c) Sher Shah Suri
(d) Akbar
Answer:(c)
Explanation: The system of tri-metallism which came to characterize Mughal coinage was introduced by Sher Shah. While the term rupya had previously been used as a generic term for any silver coin, during his rule the term rupiya came to be used as the name for a silver coin of a standard weight of 178 grains, which was the precursor of the modern rupee. The rupee is today used as the national currency in Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Mauritius, Maldives, and Seychelles among other countries. Gold coins called the Mohur weighing 169 grains and copper coins called Dam were also minted by his government.
Q15. Assertion (A): During the time of Akbar, for every ten cavalrymen, the mansabdars had to maintain twenty horses.
Reason (R): Horses had to be rested while on the march and replacements were necessary in times of war.
(a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Answer:(d) A is false but R is true
Explanation: A is incorrect as the Duaspa Sihaspa system was introduced by Jahangir (not Akbar).
Q16. The old capital of Vijayanagar is now represented by the extensive ruins of
(a) Hampi
(b) Badami
(c) Bijapur
(d) Vijayanagaram
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The old capital of Vijayanagar is now represented by the extensive ruins of Hampi. It is located within the ruins of Vijayanagar, the former capital of the Vijayanagar empire. Predating the city of Vijayanagar, it continues to be an important religious center, housing the Virupaksha Temple, as well as several other monuments belonging to the old city. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in the Group of Monuments at Hampi.
Q17. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the list:
List-I
List-II
A. Land allotted to big feudal landlords
1. Jagirdari System
B. Land allotted to revenue farmers of rent collectors
2. Ryotwari System
C. Land allotted to each peasant with the right to sublet, mortgage transfer, gift, or sell
3. MahalwariSystem
D. Revenue settlements made at the village level
4. Zamindari System
Codes:
(a) A – 1; B – 3; C – 2; D – 4
(b) A – 1; B – 4; C – 2; D – 3
(c) A – 3; B – 4; C – 1; D – 2
(d) A – 2; B – 1; C – 3; D – 4
Answer:(b) A – 1; B – 4; C – 2; D – 3
Explanation: Under the Mahalwari system, revenue, the settlement was to be made by village or estates with the landlords. In the Ryotwari system, a direct settlement was made between the government and the ryot (cultivator). In the Zamindari system, the land is allotted to revenue farmers of Zamindars (rent collectors).
Q18. Which was the birthplace of Guru Nanak?
(a) Gurdaspur
(b) Amritsar
(c) Lahore
(d) Talwandi
Answer:(d)
Explanation: Guru Nanak was the founder of the religion of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. Guru Nanak was born on 15 April 1469, now celebrated as Prakash Divas of Guru Nanak Dev, into a Hindu Khatri family in the village of Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, now called Nankana Sahib, near Lahore, Pakistan. Today, his birthplace is marked by Gurdwara Janam Asthan.
Q19. Vidyaranya was associated with
(a) Harihar II
(b) Ramraj
(c) Devaraya II
(d) Sayan
Answer: (d)
Explanation: One theory identifies Vidyaranya as Madhava, the brother of Sayana. According to the records of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Vidyaranya was a different person, and Sayana and Madhava were his disciples. This account also claims that Vidyaranya wrote some Veda bhashyas, and his disciples Sayana and Madhava completed these works.
Q20. Who among the following streamlined the Maratha administration after Sambhaji?
(a) Raja Ram
(b) Balaji Vishwanath
(c) Ganga Bai
(d) NanajiDeshmukh
Answer:(b) Balaji Vishwanath
Explanation: The best answer is Balaji Vishwanath. Sambhaji(1680-89) was succeeded by Rajaram, Shivaji II, Tarabai and Shahuji. Balaji Vishwanath played a crucial role in the final victory of Shahu by winning over almost all the Maratha sardars to the side of Shahu. Under Baji Rao I Maratha power reached a zenith. But that option is not given.
Q21. Sheikh Moin-ud-din, Bakhtiyar Kaki and Farid-ud-din Ganj-i-Shakar were
(a) prominent military leaders of the Sultanate period
(b) prominent painters from the Sultanate period
(c) prominent Chisti saints
(d) prominent poets from the courts of the Sultanate period
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki was a disciple of Moinuddin Chishti. His most famous disciple was Fariduddin Ganjshakar. He was a renowned Muslim Sufi mystic, saint, and scholar of the Chishti Order.
Q22. Which one of the following Mughal buildings is said to possess the unique feature of being exactly equal in length and breadth?
(a) Agra Fort
(b) Red Fort
(c) Taj Mahal
(d) Buland Darwaza
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the central focus of the entire complex of the Taj Mahal. The marble dome that surmounts the tomb is the most spectacular feature. Its height of around 35 meters is about the same as the length of the base and is accentuated as it sits on a cylindrical “drum” which is roughly 7 meters high.
Q23. Ibn Battuta visited India during the reign of
(a) Ghayasuddin Tughlaq
(b) Muhammad Bin Tughlaq
(c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
(d) Bahlol Lodi
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Ibn Battuta visited India during the reign of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. Ibn Battuta (1333 – 1347) was a Moroccan Scholar and traveler who visited India during the reign of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. His book titled ‘Rehala’ throws a lot of light on Muhammad Tughlaq’s reign.
Q24. The member of Shivaji’s Ashtapradhan who looked after foreign affairs was:
(a) Peshwa
(b) Sachiv
(c) Pandit Rao
(d) Sumant
Answer:(d) Sumant
Explanation: Sachiv was the minister in charge of royal correspondence. Pandit Rao – religious matter
Q25. Who of the following was sent as an ambassador to the royal court of Jahangir by James 1, the then king of England?
(a) John Hawkins
(b) William Todd
(c) Sir Thomas Roe
(d) Sir Walter Raleigh
Answer:(a)
Explanation: The King of England sent envoys, John Hawkins in 1608 and Thomas Roe in 1615, to the Mughal court of Jahangir. In 1609, Emperor Jehangir issued Farman permitting the English to establish a factory at Surat.
