Easy Level – GK Questions

Charles Wood's Despatch (1854) recommended establishing universities, promoting female education, and introducing a graded school system. It laid the foundation for modern education in India. [[1]]

Lord Canning served as Governor-General (1856-58) and became the first Viceroy of India (1858-62) after the Government of India Act 1858 transferred power from the Company to the Crown. [[1]]

Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement in Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha in 1793. It fixed land revenue permanently and recognized zamindars as landowners, creating a loyal landlord class. [[1]]

Warren Hastings served as the first Governor-General of Bengal (1773-85) under the Regulating Act of 1773. He established administrative foundations but was later impeached for alleged corruption. [[1]]

The Battle of Plassey (1757) occurred after the Carnatic Wars. The Third Carnatic War (1756-63) ended with the Treaty of Paris (1763), which confirmed British supremacy over the French in India. [[1]]

Queen Elizabeth I granted a royal charter to the British East India Company on December 31, 1600, giving it a monopoly on English trade with the East Indies for 15 years. [[1]]

The Dutch established their first factory at Masulipatnam (Andhra Pradesh) in 1605. They later set up centers at Pulicat, Nagapattinam, and Chinsurah, focusing on spice and textile trade. [[1]]

Vasco da Gama reached Calicut (Kozhikode) on May 20, 1498, becoming the first European to reach India by sea via the Cape of Good Hope. This opened direct maritime trade between Europe and India. [[1]]

Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahore in 1799 and established the Sikh Empire. He unified the Misls, modernized the army, and ruled with religious tolerance until his death in 1839. [[1]]

The Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab, is the holiest shrine of Sikhism. Built by Guru Ram Das and completed by Guru Arjan Dev, it symbolizes openness with doors on all four sides. [[1]]

Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth on Vaisakhi day (March 30, 1699) at Anandpur Sahib. He initiated the Five Ks and established the Khalsa as a community of saint-soldiers. [[1]]

Shivaji established the Ashta Pradhan (Council of Eight) to administer his kingdom. Key positions included Peshwa (Prime Minister), Amatya (Finance), and Senapati (Commander-in-Chief). [[1]]

Shivaji was crowned Chhatrapati (sovereign) at Raigad Fort on June 6, 1674, in a grand ceremony officiated by Gaga Bhatt. This marked the formal establishment of the Maratha Kingdom. [[1]]

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha Empire in 1674 with his coronation at Raigad. He pioneered guerrilla warfare (Ganimi Kava) and established a well-organized administration. [[1]]

Akbar founded Fatehpur Sikri in 1571 near Agra as his capital. It houses architectural marvels like Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, and Jama Masjid. The city was abandoned due to water scarcity. [[1]]

Qutb ud-Din Aibak laid the foundation of Qutub Minar in 1192. Iltutmish completed three more storeys, and Firoz Shah Tughlaq added the fifth after lightning damage. It is the world's tallest brick minaret. [[1]]

Amir Khusrau (1253-1325), a Sufi poet and musician in the Delhi Sultanate, is traditionally credited with developing the tabla, sitar, and qawwali, blending Persian and Indian musical traditions. [[1]]

King Narasimhadeva I (1238-1264 CE) built the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha. Designed as a colossal chariot of the Sun God, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its intricate stone carvings. [[1]]

Ajanta Caves (2nd century BCE-6th century CE) in Maharashtra contain exquisite frescoes depicting Jataka tales (stories of Buddha's previous births) and scenes from Buddhist life. [[1]]

Tirukkural, a classic Tamil text on ethics, politics, and love, was composed by Thiruvalluvar during the Sangam period (c. 1st-4th century CE). It consists of 1,330 couplets. [[1]]