Pariksha SaathiGeneral Studies
Ancient and Medieval Indian History: Practice Questions with Answers
233 practice questions on Ancient and Medieval Indian History, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.
Read the lesson on this topic →
← Previous Page 5 / 5
-
Q.201
Who discovered Mohenjo-daro in Sindh in 1922?
- A R.D. Banerji
- B Daya Ram Sahni
- C M.S. Vats
- D Ernest Mackay
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) R.D. Banerji
Rakhal Das (R.D.) Banerji discovered Mohenjo-daro in Larkana district of Sindh in 1922, a year after Daya Ram Sahni's excavations at Harappa. M.S. Vats and Ernest Mackay were later excavators of Harappan sites.
-
Q.202
Hampi, where the ruins of the city of Vijayanagara stand, lies on the banks of which river?
- A Krishna
- B Tungabhadra
- C Kaveri
- D Godavari
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Tungabhadra
Vijayanagara was built on the south bank of the Tungabhadra in present-day Karnataka, and its ruins at Hampi are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fertile Raichur doab between the Krishna and the Tungabhadra was fought over with the Bahmanis.
-
Q.203
The second Buddhist council, held at Vaishali about a hundred years after the Buddha's death, was held under the patronage of which ruler?
- A Ajatashatru
- B Ashoka
- C Kalashoka
- D Mahapadma Nanda
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Kalashoka
The second council met at Vaishali under Kalashoka of the Shishunaga dynasty and, by the usual account, was presided over by the elder Sabakami (Sabbakami). Disputes over monastic discipline there led to the split between the Sthaviravadins and the Mahasanghikas.
-
Q.204
In the war of succession among Shah Jahan's sons, at which battle near Agra in 1658 did Aurangzeb and Murad defeat Dara Shikoh, who personally commanded the imperial army?
- A Dharmat
- B Samugarh
- C Khajwa
- D Bilgram
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Samugarh
Samugarh decided the war of succession, after which Aurangzeb confined Shah Jahan in Agra fort. At Dharmat, earlier in 1658, the imperial force was led by Raja Jaswant Singh, and at Khajwa (1659) Aurangzeb defeated Shah Shuja.
-
Q.205
Ramcharitmanas, the Awadhi retelling of the Ramayana composed during Akbar's reign, was written by whom?
- A Surdas
- B Tulsidas
- C Kabir
- D Raskhan
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Tulsidas
Tulsidas composed Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi in the sixteenth century. Surdas wrote Sursagar on Krishna, and Kabir's verses are collected in the Bijak.
-
Q.206
The rust-resistant Iron Pillar in the Qutb complex at Mehrauli, Delhi, bears a Sanskrit inscription of a king named Chandra. To which period does it belong?
- A Mauryan period
- B Gupta period
- C Kushana period
- D Delhi Sultanate period
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Gupta period
The pillar's inscription is in Gupta-period Brahmi, and King Chandra is generally identified with Chandragupta II. Its resistance to rust shows the skill of Gupta-age iron-workers.
-
Q.207
In the Mughal central administration, which officer was the paymaster general who recommended candidates for appointment and promotion as mansabdars?
- A Diwan-i-Kul
- B Sadr-us-Sudur
- C Mir Bakhshi
- D Mir Saman
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Mir Bakhshi
The Mir Bakhshi handled the appointment, promotion and pay of mansabdars. The diwan-i-kul was in charge of finance and revenue, the sadr-us-sudur of religious grants, and the mir saman of the imperial stores and karkhanas.
-
Q.208
Who was the last Mauryan ruler, killed by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra in 185 BC?
- A Dasharatha
- B Samprati
- C Brihadratha
- D Shalishuka
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Brihadratha
Brihadratha was assassinated by Pushyamitra Shunga, who founded the Shunga dynasty. Dasharatha and Samprati were earlier Mauryan successors of Ashoka.
-
Q.209
The Battle of Ten Kings (Dasarajna), described in the Rigveda, was won by which king of the Bharata tribe?
- A Divodasa
- B Trasadasyu
- C Purukutsa
- D Sudas
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Sudas
Sudas of the Bharata clan, guided by the priest Vasishtha, defeated a confederacy of ten kings on the banks of the Parushni (Ravi). Divodasa was an earlier Bharata king, while Purukutsa and Trasadasyu were Puru rulers.
-
Q.210
Arikamedu, where Roman amphorae, Arretine pottery and other evidence of Indo-Roman trade have been found, is located near which present-day city?
- A Puducherry
- B Madurai
- C Thanjavur
- D Kanyakumari
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Puducherry
Arikamedu, on the coast near Puducherry, was a trading station and bead-making centre in contact with the Roman world around the beginning of the Christian era. It was excavated by Mortimer Wheeler in 1945.
-
Q.211
The philosophy of Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism), which gave a philosophical base to Vaishnava Bhakti, was propounded by whom?
- A Shankaracharya
- B Madhvacharya
- C Ramanujacharya
- D Vallabhacharya
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Ramanujacharya
Ramanuja (eleventh-twelfth century), associated with Srirangam, taught Vishishtadvaita. Shankara taught Advaita, Madhva taught Dvaita and Vallabha taught Shuddhadvaita.
-
Q.212
The Virupaksha temple at Pattadakal was built by Queen Lokamahadevi to commemorate her husband's victory over the Pallavas. Who was her husband?
- A Pulakeshin II
- B Vikramaditya I
- C Vikramaditya II
- D Kirtivarman II
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Vikramaditya II
Lokamahadevi built the temple around 740 after Vikramaditya II of the Chalukyas of Badami captured Kanchipuram. His son Kirtivarman II was overthrown by the Rashtrakuta Dantidurga.
-
Q.213
The era beginning in 78 AD, now used as India's official national calendar, is generally believed to mark the accession of which ruler?
- A Vikram Samvat
- B Gupta era
- C Harsha era
- D Saka era
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Saka era
The Saka era of 78 AD is traditionally linked to the accession of the Kushana ruler Kanishka. Vikram Samvat begins in 57 BC and the Gupta era in 319-320 AD.
-
Q.214
In early Buddhist art, which symbol represents the Buddha's enlightenment?
- A Horse
- B Wheel
- C Bodhi tree
- D Stupa
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Bodhi tree
The Bodhi tree stands for enlightenment. The horse symbolises the Great Renunciation, the wheel the first sermon, and the stupa the Mahaparinirvana.
-
Q.215
Prithviraj Raso, a long poem on the life of Prithviraj Chauhan, is traditionally attributed to which poet?
- A Jagnik
- B Narpati Nalha
- C Chand Bardai
- D Amir Khusrau
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Chand Bardai
Chand Bardai is traditionally regarded as Prithviraj Chauhan's court poet and the author of Prithviraj Raso. Jagnik is credited with the Alha Khand on the Chandela heroes Alha and Udal, and Narpati Nalha with the Bisaldev Raso.
-
Q.216
In the later Vedic period, which royal sacrifice involved letting a horse roam freely for a year to establish the king's authority over the lands it crossed?
- A Rajasuya
- B Vajapeya
- C Agnihotra
- D Ashvamedha
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Ashvamedha
In the Ashvamedha the horse wandered for a year, and lands it crossed unchallenged were taken to accept the king's supremacy. The Rajasuya was a consecration ceremony and the Vajapeya included a chariot race.
-
Q.217
Who was the 23rd Tirthankara of Jainism, who preached four vows to which Mahavira later added Brahmacharya?
- A Rishabhanatha
- B Parshvanatha
- C Neminatha
- D Ajitanatha
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Parshvanatha
Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, taught ahimsa, satya, asteya and aparigraha; Mahavira added brahmacharya as the fifth vow. Rishabhanatha was the first Tirthankara.
-
Q.218
In the Battle of Talikota (Rakshasa-Tangadi) of 1565, the Vijayanagara army under Rama Raya was defeated by whom?
- A A confederacy of Deccan Sultanates
- B The Mughal army of Akbar
- C The Portuguese of Goa
- D The Gajapatis of Odisha
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) A confederacy of Deccan Sultanates
The combined forces of Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Golconda and Bidar, successor states of the Bahmani kingdom, defeated Vijayanagara at Talikota and sacked the capital Hampi.
-
Q.219
Basavanna, who led the Virashaiva (Lingayat) movement in 12th-century Karnataka, served as a minister of which ruler?
- A Bijjala of the Kalachuris
- B Vishnuvardhana of the Hoysalas
- C Vikramaditya VI of the Chalukyas
- D Rajendra I of the Cholas
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Bijjala of the Kalachuris
Basavanna was a minister at the court of the Kalachuri king Bijjala at Kalyana; his vachanas rejected caste distinctions and empty ritual. The Virashaivas worship Shiva in the form of the linga.
-
Q.220
The Arab merchant Sulaiman, who visited India in the ninth century, counted the 'Balhara' among the four great kings of the world. The Balhara was the ruler of which dynasty?
- A Palas
- B Gurjara-Pratiharas
- C Rashtrakutas
- D Cholas
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Rashtrakutas
'Balhara' is the Arab form of Vallabharaja, a title of the Rashtrakuta kings; Sulaiman wrote during the long reign of Amoghavarsha I. He described the Gurjara (Pratihara) king as unfriendly to the Arabs.
-
Q.221
Which of the following pairs of Sangam-age kingdom and its royal emblem is correctly matched?
- A Cheras - Bow
- B Cholas - Fish
- C Pandyas - Tiger
- D Cholas - Bow
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Cheras - Bow
The Cheras used the bow as their emblem, the Cholas the tiger and the Pandyas the fish (carp).
-
Q.222
Consider the following statements about Ashoka's inscriptions: 1. The rock edicts at Shahbazgarhi and Mansehra in the north-west are written in the Kharosthi script. 2. An Ashokan inscription found at Kandahar in Afghanistan is in Greek and Aramaic. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A Only 1
- B Only 2
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Most Ashokan inscriptions are in Prakrit in the Brahmi script, but those in the north-west used Kharosthi, which was written from right to left. The Kandahar bilingual rock inscription uses Greek and Aramaic.
-
Q.223
Which of the following pairs relating to local bodies under the Cholas is correctly matched?
- A Sabha - assembly of brahmana landholders in a brahmadeya village
- B Ur - association of merchants in a town
- C Nagaram - assembly of a brahmadeya village
- D Nadu - the king's council of ministers
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Sabha - assembly of brahmana landholders in a brahmadeya village
The sabha ran brahmadeya villages granted to brahmanas, the ur was the assembly of ordinary villages and the nagaram was an association of traders. A nadu was a larger unit made up of a group of villages.
-
Q.224
The Brihadeshwara (Rajarajeshwara) temple at Thanjavur, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was built by which Chola king?
- A Rajendra I
- B Parantaka I
- C Rajaraja I
- D Vijayalaya
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Rajaraja I
Rajaraja I completed the Brihadeshwara temple dedicated to Shiva around 1010 AD. Rajendra I built a similar temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram; Vijayalaya founded the imperial Chola line at Thanjavur.
-
Q.225
The Vijayanagara empire was founded in 1336 by which two brothers, with the guidance of the sage Vidyaranya?
- A Harihara and Bukka
- B Krishnadevaraya and Achyutadevaraya
- C Devaraya I and Devaraya II
- D Saluva Narasimha and Tirumala
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Harihara and Bukka
Harihara I and Bukka I of the Sangama dynasty founded Vijayanagara on the Tungabhadra. Krishnadevaraya belonged to the later Tuluva dynasty.
-
Q.226
Which of the sixteen Mahajanapadas was a confederacy of clans (gana-sangha) with its capital at Vaishali?
- A Vajji
- B Kosala
- C Magadha
- D Kashi
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Vajji
Vajji (Vrijji) was a republican confederacy of eight clans including the Lichchhavis, with its capital at Vaishali. Kosala (Shravasti), Magadha (Rajgriha) and Kashi (Varanasi) were monarchies.
-
Q.227
The second Jain council, at which the sacred texts of the Svetambaras were finally compiled and written down, was held at which place?
- A Pataliputra
- B Ujjayini
- C Vallabhi
- D Shravanabelagola
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Vallabhi
The council at Vallabhi in Gujarat, presided over by Devardhi Kshamashramana in the fifth or sixth century AD, compiled the Agamas (canon). The first Jain council had met at Pataliputra under Sthulabhadra.
-
Q.228
Which foreign visitor left a detailed eyewitness account of the city of Vijayanagara during the reign of Krishnadevaraya?
- A Niccolo de Conti
- B Abdur Razzaq
- C Domingo Paes
- D Afanasy Nikitin
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Domingo Paes
The Portuguese Domingo Paes visited around 1520 and described the city, its markets and the Mahanavami festival. Niccolo de Conti came under Devaraya I and Abdur Razzaq under Devaraya II.
-
Q.229
In the Battle of Chandawar (1194), Muhammad Ghori defeated and killed which ruler of Kannauj?
- A Prithviraj Chauhan
- B Jaichand (Jayachandra)
- C Bhima II
- D Paramardi
Show answer
Correct answer: (B) Jaichand (Jayachandra)
Jaichand of the Gahadavala dynasty of Kannauj was killed at Chandawar in 1194, two years after Tarain. Paramardi was a Chandela king and Bhima II a Chaulukya (Solanki) king of Gujarat.
-
Q.230
Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa on Baisakhi day in 1699 at which place?
- A Amritsar
- B Nanded
- C Talwandi Sabo
- D Anandpur Sahib
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Anandpur Sahib
The Khalsa was instituted at Anandpur Sahib in present-day Punjab. Guru Gobind Singh died at Nanded in the Deccan in 1708.
-
Q.231
According to Tamil tradition, the Sangam assemblies of poets, the last of which met at Madurai, were held under the patronage of which dynasty?
- A Cholas
- B Cheras
- C Pallavas
- D Pandyas
Show answer
Correct answer: (D) Pandyas
Tradition speaks of three Sangams patronised by the Pandya kings, whose capital was Madurai. The Cholas ruled from Uraiyur and Puhar, and the Cheras from Vanji.
-
Q.232
The Persian ruler Nadir Shah invaded India in 1739 and carried away the Peacock Throne during the reign of which Mughal emperor?
- A Muhammad Shah
- B Farrukhsiyar
- C Bahadur Shah I
- D Ahmad Shah
Show answer
Correct answer: (A) Muhammad Shah
Nadir Shah defeated Muhammad Shah's army at Karnal in 1739, sacked Delhi and took away the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor. The invasions of Ahmad Shah Abdali began later, in 1748.
-
Q.233
Which of the following pairs of Deccan Sultanate and its ruling dynasty is correctly matched?
- A Golconda - Nizam Shahi
- B Ahmadnagar - Qutb Shahi
- C Bijapur - Adil Shahi
- D Berar - Barid Shahi
Show answer
Correct answer: (C) Bijapur - Adil Shahi
After the Bahmani kingdom broke up, Bijapur was ruled by the Adil Shahis, Golconda by the Qutb Shahis, Ahmadnagar by the Nizam Shahis, Berar by the Imad Shahis and Bidar by the Barid Shahis.
← Previous Page 5 / 5
How these questions were made
Authored by an AI assistant (Claude) from its own general knowledge of stable, well-established facts (no live lookup) - not reviewed by a subject-matter expert; verify against an official source before relying on any fact.