Q1. What was the main objective of Sultan Mahmud’s Indian conquests?
(a) Propagation of Religion
(b) Extension of Empire
(c) Acquisition of Wealth
(d) None of these
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Acquisition of wealth was the main objective of Sultan Mahmud’s Indian conquests. In 1001, Mahmud of Ghazni had first invaded India. Mahmud defeated, captured, and later released Shahi ruler Jaya Pala who had moved his capital to Peshawar. In 1005, Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Bhatia (probably Bhera) and in 1006 he invaded Multan at which time Ananda Pala’s army attacked him.
Q2. Where is the Muslim mosque situated where a hair of pagamber Mohammad Saheb has been preserved?
(a) Ajmer
(b) Ahmedabad
(c) Srinagar
(d) Mecca
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Hazratbal Shrine is a Muslim shrine in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India. It contains a relic believed by many Muslims of Kashmir to be the hair of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The name of the shrine comes from the Arabic word Hazrat, meaning holy or majestic, and the Kashmiri word BAL, (BAL is a corrupted form of Sanskrit Vala which means an enclosure) meaning place.
Q3. Who among the following were famous jurists of medieval India?
(a) Vijnanesvara
(b) Hemadri
(c) Rajasekhara
(d) Jimutavahana
Answer: (c) Rajasekhara
Explanation: He was a Sanskrit poet and dramatist.
Q4. Which of the following works of Amir Khusro deals with the military expeditions of Alauddin Khilji?
(a) Qairanus Sadain
(b) Miftah-Ul-Futuh
(c) Nuh Siphar
(d) Khazain-Ul-Futuh
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Khazain-ul-Futuh, work of Amir Khusro describes the military expeditions of Alauddin Khilji containing Gujarat (1299), Ranthambhor (1301), Mewar (1303), Malva (1305), Devagiri (1307-08) Warangal (1309-10), and Dwarsamudra (1310-11).
Qiran-us-Sa’dain: It is based on the reconciliation meeting of Sultan Kaiqubad of Delhi and his father Sultan Bughra Khan of Bengal on the banks of the river Saryu.
Miftah-Ul-Futuh: It describes four victories achieved by Jalaluddin Khilji.
Q5. Which of the following languages was in vogue during the Mughal period in the courts of India?
(a) French
(b) Persian
(c) Portuguese
(d) Arabic
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Although early Mughals spoke the Chagatai language and maintained some Turko-Mongol practices, they became essentially personalized and transferred the Persian literary and high culture to India, thus forming the base for the Indo-Persian culture. The Persian language became the lingua franca of the court and empire.
Q6. Consider the following statements: Ahmadis were those troopers who:
Offered their services singly
Did not attach themselves to any chief
Had the emperor as their immediate colonel
Attached themselves to Mirzas
Of these statements:
(a) 1, 3 and 4 are correct
(b) 1, 2 and 3 are correct
(c) 2 and 3 are correct
(d) 1 and 4 are correct
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 are correct
Explanation: Ahmadis were the gentlemen troopers who were recruited individually and were under the command of a separate mansabdar or officer, and had a diwan and a Bakshi of their own. They were considered very efficient and loyal troops and were paid high salaries.
Q7. Who among the following died while playing Chaugan?
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Alauddin Khilji
(c) Mohammad Tughlaq
(d) Qutubuddin Aibak
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Qutubuddin Aibak died while playing Chaugan. Qutubuddin Aibak died in 1210 by falling from his horse while playing Cahugan (the precursor of the game of Polo).
Q8. Which of the undermentioned facts about the Taj Mahal is not correct?
(a) It is a magnificent mausoleum
(b) It was built by Shah Jahan
(c) It is situated outside Agra Fort
(d) The names of artisans who built it are engraved on it?
Answer: (d)
Explanation: The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal (also “the Taj”) is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Islamic, Indian, and Persian architectural styles. The building began around 1632 was completed around 1653, and employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision including Abd ul-Karim Ma’mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.
Q9. In the given map, the shaded part represents Akbar’s empire at a certain juncture, A stands for an independent country, and ‘B’ marks the site of the city.
Which one of the following alternatives gives all the correct information?
(a) Akbar in 1557: (A) Gokunda, (B) Lahore
(b) Akbar in 1557: (A) Khandesh, (B) Multan
(c) Akbar in 1605: (A) Gondwana, (B) Multan
(d) Akbar in 1605: (A) Gondwana, (B) Lahore
Answer: (d) Akbar in 1605: (A) Gondwana, (B) Lahore
Explanation: The shaded part represents Akbar’s territory at the time of his death in 1605. A – Gondwana; B – Lahore.
Q10. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below:
List-I
List-II
A. Alberuni
1. Tarikh-i-Fakhruddi
B. Ainul Mulk Multani
2. Khazan-ul-Futuh
C. Amir Khusro
3. Insha-i-Mahru
D. Fakhre Mudabbir
4. Tarikh-i-Hind
Codes: A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 4 3 2 1
(c) 1 3 2 4
(d) 2 1 4 3
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Tarikh-i-Hind was written by Alberuni Insha-i-Mahru was written by Ainul Mulk Multani. Khazinat-ul-Futuh was written by Amir Khusrav. Tarikh-i-Fakhurddin Mubarakshahi was written by Fakhre Mudabbir. Al-Biruni wrote an encyclopedic work on India called “Tarikh Al-Hind” (History of India) in which he explored nearly every aspect of Indian life, including religion, history, geography, geology, science, and mathematics. Amir Khusro wrote a short auto-biographical Masnavi called “Shah Name mun” about Alauddin’s life. Khusro in his book “Khazinat-ul-Futuh” (The Treasures of Victory) recorded Alauddin’s construction works, wars, peace and security, and administrative services. Ibn Battuta writes that Sultan Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah Khilji (1316-1320) used to encourage Hindus to accept Islam by presenting a convert with a robe of honor and gold ornament.
Q11. Who wrote Akbarnama?
(a) Akbar
(b)Birbal
(c) Abul Fazal
(d)Bhagavan Das
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Akbarnama, which means Book of Akbar, is the official chronicle of the reign of Akbar, the third Mughal Emperor, commissioned by Akbar himself, by his court historian and biographer, Abul Fazl who was one of the nine jewels in Akbar’s court. It includes vivid and detailed descriptions of his life and times. The first volume of Akbarnama deals with the birth of Akbar, the history of Timur’s family the reigns of Babur and Humayun, and the Suri sultans of Delhi. The second volume describes the detailed history of the reign of Akbar till 1602 and records the events during Akbar’s reign.
Q12. Regarding Sufism in Indian history, consider the following statements: [2002]
Sheikh AhmadSarhandi was a contemporary of Ibrahim Lodi
Sheikh NasiruddinChirag-I-Dehlavi was a disciple of Sheikh NizamuddinAuliya
Aurangzeb was a contemporary of Sheikh Salim Chisti
Qadiri order of Sufis was first introduced in India by Sheikh Niamutullah and MakhdumMuhammad Jilani
Which of these statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 2 and 4
Answer:(d) 2 and 4
Explanation: Sheikh Ahmad Sarhandi of Naqshbandi order was a contemporary of Akbar and Jahangir. The Qadiri order of Sufis was first introduced in India by Sheikh Nizamatullah (He died in 1430 AD) and Makhdum (or Nasiruddin) Muhammad Jilani (died in 1517).
Q13. The temple was built in 1 100 A. D. and dominating all other temples in Bhubaneshwar is
(a) Raja Rani temple
(b) Kandariya Mahadev
(c) Tribhuvaneswara Lingaraja
(d) Mukhteswara
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Lingaraj Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Harihara, another name for Shiva, and is one of the oldest temples of Bhubaneswar. Shiva is here worshipped as Tribhuvaneshwara (Master of three worlds, i.e. Heaven, Earth, and Netherworld). The temple is more than 1100 years old, dating back in its present form to the last decade of the eleventh century, though there is evidence that parts of the temple have been there since the sixth century CE as the temple has been emphasized in some of the seventh century Sanskrit texts.
Q14. Nastaliq was:
(a) A Persian script used in medieval India
(b) A raga composed by Tansen
(c) Access levied by the Mughal rulers
(d) A manual of the code of conduct for the Ulemas
Answer: (a) A Persian script used in medieval India
Explanation: It was a Persian script during the Mughal period.
Q15. Who defeated whom in the Second Battle of Tarain (AD 1192)?
(a) Prithviraj defeated Mohammad Ghauri
(b) Mahmud Ghazni defeated Prithviraj
(c) Prithviraj defeated Mahmud Ghazni
(d) Mohammad Ghauri defeated Prithviraj
Answer: (d)
Explanation: In 1192, Ghori after returning to his capital Ghazni challenged Prithviraj at the Second Battle of Tarain where the latter was comprehensively beaten. The victory of Mohammad of Ghur was decisive and laid the foundation of the Sultanate of Delhi.
Q16. Assertion (A): At first the Turkish administration in India was essentially military.
Reason (R): The country was parcelled out as ‘Iqtas‘ among leading military leaders.
(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: (a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: Iqta is that part of the land granted by the sultan to its military chiefs for the maintenance of troopers. The land was taken back when the Iqtadars were not in a position to maintain the army.
Q17. Regarding the Revenue System in the Sultanate period, consider the following statements:
The revenue system was generally realized at 1/5 of the total produce.
The Sultans like Ala-ud-Din Khilji and Muhammed Tughlak raised it to 1/2 of the produce.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Land revenue was determined by the different Sultans and ranged from 1/10 to ½ during the Sultanate period. For example, Ala-ud-Din Khilji charged 50 percent of the agricultural produce as state share.
Q18. In which of the following towns is “Moti Masjid” situated?
(a) Agra
(b) Jaipur
(c) Lahore
(d) Ahmedabad
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Moti Masjid in Agra was built by Shah Jahan. It earned the epithet Pearl Mosque for it shined like a pearl. It is held that this mosque was constructed by Shah Jahan for his members of the royal court.
Q19. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [2001]
List-I (Bhakti Saint)
List-II (Profession)
A. Namdev
1. Barber
B. Kabir
2. Weaver
C. Ravidas
3. Tailor
D. Sena
4. Cobbler
Codes:
(a) A – 2; B – 3; C – 1; D – 4
(b) A – 3; B – 2; C – 4; D – 1
(c) A – 3; B – 2; C – 1; D – 4
(d) A – 2; B – 3; C – 4; D – 1
Answer: (b) A – 3; B – 2; C – 4; D – 1
Explanation: These Bhakti saints were disciples of Saint Ramananda.
Q20. The Horse-Shoe arch was first introduced in the
(a) Tomb of Iltumish
(b) Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din tughlaq
(c) Alai Darwazah \
(d) Quwwat-ul-islam Mosque
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Alai Darwaza is a perfect specimen of architecture belonging to the period of the Delhi Sultanate. The three doorways on the east, west, and south are lofty pointed arches, in the shape of a horseshoe, which rises above the flanking side bays. It is the first example of this type of architect in India.
Q21. Which Sultan received a robe of honor from the caliph?
(a) Ala-ud-din Khilji
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Balban
(d) Qutub-ud-din Aibak
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Iltutmish received confirmation of his robe of honor and title Nasir Amir al-mu’minin (Helper of the Commander of the Faithful) from the ‘Abbasid Caliph al-Mustansir in 626 (1229) and remained on the throne for twenty-six years. This added an element of strength to Iltutmish’s authority and gave him status in the Muslim world.
Q22. Consider the following statements:
Kitab-i-Nauras, a collection of songs in praise of Hindu deities and Muslim saints, was written by Ibrahim Adil Shah II
Amir Khusrau was the originator in India of the early form of the musical style known as Qawali
Which of these statements is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: Ibrahim Adil Shah II was the ruler of Bijapur and wrote Kitab-i-Nauras. Amir Khusrau is popularly known as the ‘Father of Qawali‘ in India.
Q23. Which one of the following was the capital of the sultanate during the reign of Iltutmish?
(a) Agra
(b) Lahore
(c) Badaun
(d) Delhi
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Iltutmish was a slave of Qutb-ud-din Aibak. He was also his son-in-law and the governor of Badaun. In AD 1211, he deposed Aram Shah, the successor of Qutb-ud-din, and became king himself. Iltutmish made Delhi his capital in the place of Lahore.
Q24. The initial design and construction of which massive temple took place during the reign of SuryavarmanII?
(a) Sri Mariamman Temple
(b) Angkor Vat Temple
(c) Batu Caves Temple
(d) Kamakhya Temple
Answer: (b) Angkor Vat Temple
Explanation: Angkorvat temple is the first Hindu temple, dedicated to the god Vishnu. The Buddhist temple was built during the reign of Suryavarman II. It is the world’s largest religious building.
Q25. Consider the following statements:
Krishnadeva Raya was known as Andhra Bhoja.
He authored Amuktamalyada’s book on polity in Telugu and also a Sanskrit drama called Jambavati Kalyanam.
His court was adorned by eight celebrated poets called ‘Ashtadiggajas’.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Krishnadeva Raya was also known as Andhra Bhoja. He authored a book named Amuktamalyada and Jambavati Kalyanam. The group of poets was named ‘Ashtadiggajas’ in his court. Krishna Deva Raya was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire who reigned from 1509 to 1529 CE. He is the third ruler of the Tuluva Dynasty. Presiding over the empire at its zenith, he is regarded as an icon by many Indians. Krishna Deva Raya earned the titles Kannada Rajya Rama Ramana (lit, “Lord of the Kannada empire”), Andhra Bhoja, and Mooru Rayara Ganda (“King of three Kings”). The emperor obliged and composed Amuktamalyada which is one of the most famous poetic works in the entire Telugu literature.
