Indian History and the Indian National Movement form a foundational, high-weightage component of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. This domain spans ancient civilizations, medieval sociopolitical transformations, colonial expansion, and the anti-colonial freedom struggle. A thorough grasp of chronological milestones, administrative evolutions, cultural heritage, and nationalist movements is essential for clearing preliminary screening and descriptive Main examinations. Practicing structured multiple-choice questions helps aspirants develop analytical precision, factual recall, and contextual understanding required for competitive civil service success.
1. Which of the following sites of the Indus Valley Civilization is known for its dockyard?
Correct Answer: c) Lothal
Explanation:
Lothal, located in Gujarat along the Bhogavo river, was a prominent coastal trading city of the Indus Valley Civilization featuring an artificial brick dockyard.
2. The famous 'Assembly Hall' and 'Great Bath' were discovered at which Indus Valley site?
Correct Answer: b) Mohenjo-daro
Explanation:
Mohenjo-daro is renowned for its advanced urban planning, including the Great Bath, a large public granary, and an Assembly Hall.
3. Which Vedic text contains the famous 'Gayatri Mantra' dedicated to the solar deity Savitri?
Correct Answer: c) Rigveda
Explanation:
The Gayatri Mantra is found in the third Mandala of the Rigveda, which is the oldest of the four Vedas.
4. Who was the founder of the Maurya Empire after defeating Dhanananda of the Nanda dynasty?
Correct Answer: b) Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation:
Chandragupta Maurya, with the guidance of Chanakya (Kautilya), overthrew the Nanda dynasty in 321 BCE and established the Maurya Empire.
5. The rock-cut edicts of Emperor Ashoka are primarily written in which script?
Correct Answer: b) Brahmi and Kharosthi
Explanation:
Ashoka's edicts were written in regional scripts and languages, primarily Brahmi and Kharosthi, as well as Greek and Aramaic in the northwest.
6. Which traveler visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) and wrote the travelogue 'Fo-Kuo-Ki'?
Correct Answer: c) Fa-Hien
Explanation:
Fa-Hien (Faxian), a Chinese Buddhist monk, visited India during the Gupta period under the rule of Chandragupta II.
7. Who wrote the historical biography 'Harshacharita', detailing the life and reign of King Harsha?
Correct Answer: b) Banabhatta
Explanation:
Banabhatta was the court poet (Asthana Kavi) of King Harsha of Kannauj and composed the Harshacharita in Sanskrit.
8. The famous monolithic rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram were built by which dynasty?
Correct Answer: b) Pallavas
Explanation:
The shore temples and monolithic rathas at Mahabalipuram were constructed by the Pallava kings, particularly Narasimhavarman I.
9. Who founded the slave dynasty (Mamluk dynasty) in India in 1206 CE?
Correct Answer: b) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Explanation:
Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a loyal slave and general of Muhammad Ghori, established the Delhi Sultanate by founding the Mamluk dynasty in 1206.
10. Which Sultan of Delhi introduced market control regulations and price stabilization policies?
Correct Answer: b) Ala-ud-din Khilji
Explanation:
Ala-ud-din Khilji implemented strict market control measures, fixed prices of commodities, and created dedicated departments (Diwan-i-Riyasat) to maintain standing armies cheaply.
11. In which year was the First Battle of Panipat fought, marking the establishment of the Mughal Empire?
Correct Answer: c) 1526
Explanation:
Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat on April 21, 1526, using artillery and cavalry tactics to lay the foundation of Mughal rule.
12. Who was the revenue minister of Mughal Emperor Akbar who introduced the 'Zahb / Zabti' system of land revenue administration?
Correct Answer: b) Raja Todar Mal
Explanation:
Raja Todar Mal, Akbar's finance minister, devised the Zabt system, which involved land measurement, classification of soil, and fixed cash revenue assessment.
13. The famous battle of Haldighati (1576) was fought between the Mughal forces and:
Correct Answer: b) Rana Pratap Singh of Mewar
Explanation:
The Battle of Haldighati was fought on June 18, 1576, between the Mughal army led by Man Singh I and the forces of Mewar led by Maharana Pratap.
14. Which European power was the first to arrive in India by sea and the last to leave?
Correct Answer: c) Portuguese
Explanation:
Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498, making the Portuguese the first European colonizers to arrive; they left Goa in 1961.
15. The Battle of Plassey was fought in the year:
Correct Answer: a) 1757
Explanation:
The Battle of Plassey was fought on June 23, 1757, where Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, establishing British dominance in Bengal.
16. Which Governor-General introduced the Permanent Settlement of Bengal in 1793?
Correct Answer: b) Lord Cornwallis
Explanation:
Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement (Zamindari system) in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1793, fixing land revenue permanently with landlords.
17. Who founded the 'Brahmo Samaj' in Calcutta in 1828?
Correct Answer: b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Explanation:
Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828 to reform Hindu society, eradicate idolatry, and fight social evils like Sati.
18. The Doctrine of Lapse, which led to the annexation of Satara, Nagpur, and Jhansi, was formulated by:
Correct Answer: b) Lord Dalhousie
Explanation:
Lord Dalhousie applied the Doctrine of Lapse to annex princely states whose rulers died without a natural male heir.
19. In which year did the Indian National Congress hold its first session in Bombay under the presidency of W. C. Bonnerjee?
Correct Answer: b) 1885
Explanation:
The Indian National Congress was founded by A. O. Hume and held its first session in December 1885 in Bombay with 72 delegates.
20. Who was the Viceroy of India when the partition of Bengal was announced in 1905?
Correct Answer: a) Lord Curzon
Explanation:
Lord Curzon announced the partition of Bengal in July 1905, leading to the Swadeshi Movement and widespread nationalist agitation.
21. Where was the Ghadar Party founded in 1913 by Lala Har Dayal and Sohan Singh Bhakna?
Correct Answer: b) San Francisco, USA
Explanation:
The Ghadar Party was established in 1913 in Astoria, Oregon, and later headquartered in San Francisco (Yugantar Ashram) to organize armed revolution against British rule.
22. Mahatma Gandhi's first major satyagraha movement in India, protesting against the indigo cultivation system, took place at:
Correct Answer: b) Champaran
Explanation:
The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 in Bihar was Gandhi's first civil disobedience movement in India, addressing the plight of peasants forced into the Tinkathia system.
23. The tragic Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on the day of which Indian festival in 1919?
Correct Answer: b) Baisakhi
Explanation:
On April 13, 1919, British troops under General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering celebrating Baisakhi in Amritsar, causing massive casualties.
24. In which year was the Non-Cooperation Movement officially suspended by Mahatma Gandhi following the Chauri Chaura incident?
Correct Answer: b) 1922
Explanation:
Following the violent mob attack on a police station in Chauri Chaura (Gorakhpur) on February 4, 1922, Gandhi called off the Non-Cooperation Movement.
25. Who presided over the historic Lahore session of the Indian National Congress in 1929 where the Purna Swaraj resolution was adopted?
Correct Answer: c) Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation:
Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the 1929 Lahore session where Congress declared Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) as its ultimate goal.
26. The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched with Mahatma Gandhi's historic march from Sabarmati to:
Correct Answer: b) Dandi
Explanation:
The Dandi March started on March 12, 1930, when Gandhi and 78 followers walked 241 miles to break the salt law at the coastal village of Dandi.
27. Who founded the 'Satyashodhak Samaj' in 1873 to promote education and social rights for lower castes?
Correct Answer: b) Jyotirao Phule
Explanation:
Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in Maharashtra to liberate oppressed classes from Brahminical dominance and social inequalities.
28. The Cripps Mission visited India in which year to secure Indian support for World War II?
Correct Answer: c) 1942
Explanation:
Sir Stafford Cripps headed a mission to India in March 1942 offering dominion status after the war, which was rejected by the Congress and led to the Quit India movement.
29. Who gave the famous slogan 'Dilli Chalo' (March to Delhi) to the Indian National Army (INA)?
Correct Answer: c) Subhas Chandra Bose
Explanation:
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose gave the battle cry 'Dilli Chalo' and formed the Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore in 1943.
30. The Cabinet Mission Plan of 1946 proposed the formation of:
Correct Answer: b) A federation with a weak center and provincial grouping
Explanation:
The Cabinet Mission (1946) proposed a three-tier federal structure with a center limited to defense, foreign affairs, and communication, and provincial grouping.
31. Which of the following sites belongs to the Paleolithic Age (Lower Paleolithic) in India?
Correct Answer: b) Hunsgi
Explanation:
Hunsgi in Karnataka is a major Lower Paleolithic site known for extensive Acheulean stone tool assemblages.
32. The earliest evidence of agriculture in the Indian subcontinent is found at which Neolithic site?
Correct Answer: b) Mehrgarh
Explanation:
Mehrgarh, located in Balochistan (Pakistan), provides the earliest known evidence of farming (wheat and barley) and herding in South Asia.
33. Which Indus Valley site is famous for its unique water management system involving rock-cut reservoirs?
Correct Answer: c) Dholavira
Explanation:
Dholavira in Gujarat featured an elaborate water harvesting system with massive stone-cut reservoirs and stormwater drains.
34. The battle of the Ten Kings (Dasarajna War), mentioned in the Rigveda, was fought on the banks of which river?
Correct Answer: b) Ravi (Parushni)
Explanation:
The Dasarajna War, fought between King Sudas of the Bharatas and a confederation of ten tribes, took place on the banks of the Parushni (modern Ravi) river.
35. Who was the founder of Jainism according to historical tradition as the 24th Tirthankara?
Correct Answer: c) Mahavira (Vardhamana)
Explanation:
Vardhamana Mahavira is revered as the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism, who propagated the religion in the 6th century BCE.
36. Where did Gautama Buddha deliver his first sermon, known as Dharmachakra Pravartana?
Correct Answer: b) Sarnath
Explanation:
Buddha preached his first sermon to his five ascetic disciples at the Deer Park in Sarnath near Varanasi.
37. Which ruler convened the Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir?
Correct Answer: b) Kanishka
Explanation:
The Fourth Buddhist Council was held under the patronage of the Kushan emperor Kanishka at Kundalvana in Kashmir, where Buddhism split into Mahayana and Hinayana.
38. The Iron Pillar at Mehrauli in Delhi, which has remained rust-free for centuries, belongs to which dynasty?
Correct Answer: b) Gupta dynasty
Explanation:
The Mehrauli Iron Pillar bears an inscription mentioning King 'Chandra', generally identified with Chandragupta II of the Gupta Empire.
39. Who was the author of the famous Sanskrit drama 'Abhijnanashakuntalam'?
Correct Answer: b) Kalidasa
Explanation:
Kalidasa, the legendary classical Sanskrit poet and dramatist of the Gupta era, wrote Abhijnanashakuntalam.
40. The famous rock-cut architecture of the Ellora Caves includes monuments belonging to which religions?
Correct Answer: c) Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism
Explanation:
The Ellora Caves near Aurangabad feature 34 rock-cut caves representing Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain monuments built side by side.
41. Who founded the Rashtrakuta dynasty with its capital at Manyakheta?
Correct Answer: a) Dantidurga
Explanation:
Dantidurga overthrew the Chalukyas of Badami in the 8th century CE and established the powerful Rashtrakuta dynasty.
42. The magnificent Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur was built by which Chola king?
Correct Answer: a) Rajaraja I
Explanation:
Rajaraja I constructed the architectural masterpiece Brihadisvara Temple (Rajarajesvaram) dedicated to Lord Shiva in Thanjavur in 1010 CE.
43. Which ruler of the Delhi Sultanate shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (Devagiri)?
Correct Answer: b) Muhammad bin Tughluq
Explanation:
Muhammad bin Tughluq shifted his capital to Daulatabad in the Deccan to maintain central control, a project that later proved disastrous.
44. Who founded the Bahmani Kingdom in the Deccan in 1347 CE?
Correct Answer: a) Ala-ud-din Hasan Bahman Shah (Zafar Khan)
Explanation:
Hasan Gangu (Ala-ud-din Hasan Bahman Shah) led a revolt against the Tughluq empire and established the independent Bahmani Sultanate in 1347.
45. The famous city of Vijayanagara (Hampi) was founded in 1336 by whom?
Correct Answer: a) Harihara and Bukka
Explanation:
Harihara and Bukka Raya, sons of Sangama, founded the Vijayanagara Empire on the banks of the Tungabhadra river in 1336 with the blessings of sage Vidyaranya.
46. During whose reign did the Vijayanagara Empire reach its golden age of literature, art, and military expansion?
Correct Answer: c) Krishnadevaraya
Explanation:
Sri Krishnadevaraya of the Tuluva dynasty ruled from 1509 to 1529, marking the zenith of Vijayanagara power and patronizing Telugu and Sanskrit literature (Ashtadiggajas).
47. Which Sufi saint belonged to the Chishti order and popularized his teachings in Delhi, famously saying 'Huzoor-e-Dehlis door ast'?
Correct Answer: b) Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya
Explanation:
Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya was a prominent Chishti Sufi saint in Delhi who emphasized divine love and service to humanity.
48. Who founded the Mughal Empire in India after winning the Battle of Panipat?
Correct Answer: b) Babur
Explanation:
Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur, a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, founded the Mughal dynasty in India in 1526.
49. Which Afghan ruler defeated Humayun and temporarily ousted the Mughals from Delhi, establishing the Sur Empire?
Correct Answer: b) Sher Shah Suri
Explanation:
Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun at Chausa (1539) and Kannauj (1540), establishing the Sur dynasty and introducing administrative reforms like the Rupiya and Grand Trunk Road.
50. Akbar instituted which religious and philosophical order in 1582 to foster religious tolerance and unity among his subjects?
Correct Answer: a) Din-i Ilahi
Explanation:
Din-i Ilahi ('Religion of God') was an eclectic syncretic religious movement propounded by Akbar in 1582, drawing elements from various faiths.
51. Which Mughal Emperor executed the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, for supporting rebellious prince Khusrau?
Correct Answer: b) Jahangir
Explanation:
Guru Arjan Dev was executed in 1606 on the orders of Emperor Jahangir, a turning point in Sikh-Mughal relations.
52. The construction of the Taj Mahal in Agra was commissioned by which Mughal Emperor in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal?
Correct Answer: b) Shah Jahan
Explanation:
Shah Jahan, known as the 'Architect King', built the Taj Mahal between 1631 and 1648 on the southern bank of the Yamuna river.
53. Who was crowned Chhatrapati at Raigad Fort in 1674, formally establishing the Maratha Swarajya?
Correct Answer: b) Shivaji Maharaj
Explanation:
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj established an independent Maratha kingdom and was crowned in 1674 with elaborate Vedic rituals.
54. The Third Battle of Panipat (1761) was fought between the Marathas and:
Correct Answer: b) Ahmad Shah Abdali
Explanation:
The Third Battle of Panipat on January 14, 1761, saw the Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Abdali decisively defeat the Maratha forces led by Sadashivrao Bhau.
55. Which British official implemented the Subsidiary Alliance system to expand British paramountcy across Indian states?
Correct Answer: b) Lord Wellesley
Explanation:
Lord Wellesley (Governor-General from 1798 to 1805) compelled Indian rulers to accept British troops, surrender foreign relations, and maintain British residents.
56. The Battle of Buxar was fought in 1764 between the British and a joint alliance of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah, and:
Correct Answer: a) Shah Alam II
Explanation:
The combined forces of Mir Qasim (Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (Awadh), and Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II were defeated by Hector Munro at Buxar in 1764.
57. Who founded the 'Atmiya Sabha' in 1815 in Calcutta?
Correct Answer: a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Explanation:
Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded Atmiya Sabha as a philosophical discussion circle to campaign against social dogmas and promote monotheism.
58. The practice of 'Sati' was legally abolished during the Governor-Generalship of:
Correct Answer: b) Lord William Bentinck
Explanation:
With the active campaigning of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Lord William Bentinck enacted Regulation XVII in 1829 making the practice of Sati illegal throughout British India.
59. Who was the leader of the Santhal Rebellion (1855-1856) against British oppression and moneylenders?
Correct Answer: b) Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu
Explanation:
The Santhal rebellion was a major tribal uprising in Jharkhand led by brothers Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu against zamindars and colonial exploitation.
60. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 started with the mutiny of sepoys at which military station on May 10, 1857?
Correct Answer: b) Meerut
Explanation:
Sepoys in Meerut revolted on May 10, 1857, killing British officers and marching to Delhi to proclaim Bahadur Shah Zafar as the Emperor of India.
61. Who led the 1857 revolt in Kanpur and claimed to be the adopted son of Peshwa Baji Rao II?
Correct Answer: b) Nana Sahib
Explanation:
Nana Sahib led the uprising in Kanpur, supported by military commanders like Tantia Tope, after being denied his adoptive father's pension.
62. The famous play 'Nil Darpan' by Dinabandhu Mitra vividly portrayed the oppression of indigo planters by British officials in:
Correct Answer: b) Bengal
Explanation:
Nil Darpan (1860) highlighted the brutal exploitation of Bengali peasants by European indigo planters, sparking the Indigo Revolt (Neeb Bidroha).
63. Who founded the 'Arya Samaj' in Bombay in 1875 with the slogan 'Back to the Vedas'?
Correct Answer: b) Dayanand Saraswati
Explanation:
Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj in 1875, rejecting idol worship and advocating Vedic authority and social reform.
64. The Ilbert Bill controversy (1883) during Lord Ripon's administration was centered around:
Correct Answer: b) Granting Indian judges the power to try European criminal offenders
Explanation:
The Ilbert Bill sought to allow Indian magistrates to preside over criminal cases involving Europeans, sparking fierce racial opposition from British expatriates.
65. Who was the founder of the 'Servants of India Society' established in 1905 to train national missionaries?
Correct Answer: b) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Explanation:
Gopal Krishna Gokhale founded the Servants of India Society in Pune to promote social welfare, education, and national service.
66. The Muslim League was founded in 1906 at which place under the leadership of Aga Khan III and Nawab Salimullah?
Correct Answer: b) Dhaka
Explanation:
The All-India Muslim League was established on December 30, 1906, in Dhaka following the annual meeting of the Muhammadan Educational Conference.
67. The Surat Split of the Indian National Congress occurred in which year, dividing the Moderates and Extremists?
Correct Answer: b) 1907
Explanation:
At the Surat session in 1907, presided over by Rash Behari Ghosh, the Congress split into Moderates and Extremists due to ideological differences.
68. Which pact signed in 1916 brought the Moderate and Extremist factions of the Congress together and established a joint Hindu-Muslim political platform?
Correct Answer: b) Lucknow Pact
Explanation:
The Lucknow Pact (1916) marked a milestone where the Congress and the Muslim League agreed on separate electorates and joint political demands.
69. The Home Rule League movement in India was spearheaded by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and:
Correct Answer: a) Annie Besant
Explanation:
Tilak launched the Indian Home Rule League in April 1916 in Maharashtra, while Annie Besant started her league in September 1916 in Madras.
70. The Rowlatt Act (1919) was vehemently opposed by Indians because it authorized:
Correct Answer: b) Imprisonment of political suspects without trial for two years
Explanation:
The Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act (Rowlatt Act) suspended habeas corpus, allowing arrest without warrant and detention without trial.
71. Who founded the Swaraj Party in 1923 along with Motilal Nehru after the suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement?
Correct Answer: a) C. R. Das
Explanation:
Chittaranjan Das and Motilal Nehru formed the Swaraj Party within the Congress to contest council elections and obstruct British policies from within.
72. The Simon Commission, boycotted across India with slogans of 'Simon Go Back', was appointed in 1927 primarily to:
Correct Answer: b) Review the working of the Government of India Act 1919 and recommend constitutional reforms
Explanation:
The all-white Simon Commission was boycotted because it lacked any Indian members, leading to widespread protests where Lala Lajpat Rai was fatally injured.
73. Who was the revolutionary martyr who threw a low-intensity bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly in 1929 along with Batukeshwar Dutt?
Correct Answer: b) Bhagat Singh
Explanation:
Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw smoke bombs in the Assembly on April 8, 1929, to 'make the deaf hear' and courted arrest.
74. The Karachi Session of the Indian National Congress (1931), presided over by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, is famous for adopting resolutions on:
Correct Answer: b) Fundamental Rights and National Economic Programme
Explanation:
The 1931 Karachi session adopted landmark resolutions on Fundamental Rights, social security, and economic reforms, right after the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
75. The Poona Pact of September 1932 was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and:
Correct Answer: b) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Explanation:
The Poona Pact modified the Communal Award by abandoning separate electorates for depressed classes in favor of increased reserved seats within joint electorates.
76. In which election did the Indian National Congress form ministries in a majority of British Indian provinces (7 out of 11)?
Correct Answer: c) 1937 elections
Explanation:
Under the Government of India Act 1935, provincial elections were held in 1937 where Congress won majorities in 7 provinces.
77. The 'August Offer' of 1940 was announced by which Viceroy of India?
Correct Answer: a) Lord Linlithgow
Explanation:
Viceroy Lord Linlithgow issued the August Offer in 1940 promising post-war dominion status and expansion of the Viceroy's executive council.
78. Mahatma Gandhi gave the inspiring slogan 'Do or Die' (Karenge ya Marenge) during the launch of which movement?
Correct Answer: c) Quit India Movement
Explanation:
At the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee on August 8, 1942, Gandhi launched the Quit India movement with his 'Do or Die' address.
79. The Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny took place in Bombay in which year?
Correct Answer: c) Credit: 1946
Explanation:
The RIN mutiny broke out in February 1946 aboard ships and shore establishments in Bombay, spreading rapidly to other parts of India as a massive anti-colonial protest.
80. Who announced the historic plan for the partition of British India into two independent dominions on June 3, 1947?
Correct Answer: b) Lord Mountbatten
Explanation:
Lord Mountbatten presented the June 3 Plan (Mountbatten Plan) detailing the mechanism for the partition of India and transfer of power.
81. Who was the first Governor-General of independent India?
Correct Answer: b) Lord Mountbatten
Explanation:
Lord Mountbatten served as independent India's first Governor-General from August 1947 to June 1948, followed by C. Rajagopalachari.
82. The unification and integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union was primarily achieved through the statesmanlike efforts of:
Correct Answer: b) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Explanation:
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, serving as India's first Home Minister, along with civil servant V. P. Menon, successfully integrated princely states through diplomacy and firmness.
83. Which Maratha statesman signed the Treaty of Bassein with the British in 1802, virtually surrendering Maratha autonomy?
Correct Answer: c) Baji Rao II
Explanation:
Peshwa Baji Rao II fled to Bassein and signed a subsidiary treaty with the British in 1802 following defeat by Holkar, triggering the Second Anglo-Maratha War.
84. The famous rock-cut caves of Ajanta, renowned for their Buddhist frescoes and murals, are located in which present-day state?
Correct Answer: b) Maharashtra
Explanation:
The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, contain Buddhist rock-cut monuments and masterworks of ancient Indian painting.
85. Who was the founder of the Nanda dynasty in ancient Magadha?
Correct Answer: b) Mahapadma Nanda
Explanation:
Mahapadma Nanda overthrew the Shishunaga dynasty and founded the Nanda dynasty, often described in ancient texts as 'Ekarat' (sole sovereign).
86. The ancient port city of Tamralipti, an important trade hub connecting India with Southeast Asia, was located in:
Correct Answer: c) Bengal
Explanation:
Tamralipti (modern Tamluk) was a major ancient seaport situated in the deltaic region of Bengal on the Rupnarayan river.
87. Which ruler of the Satavahana dynasty is credited with reviving Vedic sacrifices and defeating the Saka ruler Nahapana?
Correct Answer: b) Gautamiputra Satakarni
Explanation:
Gautamiputra Satakarni was the greatest king of the Satavahana dynasty, who restored the glory of his empire in the Deccan during the 2nd century CE.
88. The famous mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata flourished during the period of which empire?
Correct Answer: b) Gupta Empire
Explanation:
Aryabhata lived during the classical age of the Gupta Empire and composed the Aryabhatiya in 499 CE.
89. Who wrote the historical epic 'Rajatarangini', which chronicles the history of the kings of Kashmir?
Correct Answer: a) Kalhana
Explanation:
Kalhana wrote the Rajatarangini in Sanskrit during the 12th century, regarded as India's first historical chronicle of Kashmir.
90. The famous Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha was built by which king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty?
Correct Answer: b) Narasimhadeva I
Explanation:
King Narasimhadeva I built the majestic Konark Sun Temple in the 13th century, designed in the shape of a colossal chariot dedicated to Surya.
91. Who founded the city of Agra in 1504 CE and made it an alternative capital of the Delhi Sultanate?
Correct Answer: b) Sikandar Lodi
Explanation:
Sikandar Lodi founded Agra in 1504 to better control the chiefs of Etawah and surrounding territories.
92. During the Mughal period, the official responsible for maintaining law and order at the district (Sarkar) level was called:
Correct Answer: a) Faujdar
Explanation:
The Faujdar was the military and administrative head of a Sarkar responsible for internal security, while the Amil handled land revenue.
