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The ______ Act of 1858 transferred India's governance from the East India Company to the British Crown.
Answer: Government of India
After the 1857 Revolt, the Government of India Act 1858 ended Company rule. Queen Victoria became sovereign, and a Secretary of State for India was appointed in London. [[1]]
The Battle of Plassey was fought in which year?
- 1757
- 1764
- 1857
- 1776
Answer: 1757
Battle of Plassey (June 23, 1757) was fought between Robert Clive's forces and Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah of Bengal. British victory marked the beginning of their political rule in India. [[1]]
The Chishti Sufi order emphasized devotion to the spiritual master (pir) and service to humanity.
- True
- False
Answer: True
The Chishti order, founded in India by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, stressed love, tolerance, music (qawwali), and service to the poor, making Sufism accessible to masses. [[1]]
The Sufi shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is located in ______.
Answer: Ajmer
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan is one of India's most revered Sufi shrines. Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (1143-1236) introduced the Chishti order in India. [[1]]
Who founded the Brahmo Samaj in 1828?
- Swami Vivekananda
- Raja Ram Mohan Roy
- Dayanand Saraswati
- Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Answer: Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Raja Ram Mohan Roy founded Brahmo Samaj in 1828 to reform Hinduism, oppose social evils like Sati, and promote monotheism based on Vedantic principles. [[1]]
The Mughal Empire reached its maximum territorial extent under Aurangzeb.
- True
- False
Answer: True
During Aurangzeb's reign (1658-1707), the Mughal Empire covered the largest area, extending from Kashmir in the north to the Deccan in the south. However, constant warfare weakened the empire. [[1]]
The Mughal capital was shifted from Agra to ______ by Shah Jahan.
Answer: Shahjahanabad
Shah Jahan founded Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) in 1639 and shifted the capital there. The Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk were built as part of this new capital. [[1]]
Which Mughal emperor abolished the Jizya tax on non-Muslims?
- Babur
- Akbar
- Jahangir
- Shah Jahan
Answer: Akbar
Akbar abolished Jizya in 1564 as part of his policy of Sulh-i-Kul (universal peace) to promote religious tolerance and integrate diverse communities into his administration. [[1]]
Iltutmish introduced the silver Tanka and copper Jital as standard currency.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Iltutmish standardized currency with silver Tanka (4.8g) and copper Jital, establishing a uniform monetary system that influenced medieval Indian coinage for centuries. [[1]]
Who founded the Slave Dynasty of Delhi Sultanate?
- Iltutmish
- Raziya Sultana
- Balban
- Qutb ud-Din Aibak
Answer: Qutb ud-Din Aibak
Qutb ud-Din Aibak founded the Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty in 1206 CE after Muhammad Ghori's death. He started construction of Qutub Minar and Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Delhi. [[1]]
Kalidasa, the great Sanskrit poet, lived during the Gupta period.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Kalidasa, author of Abhijnanashakuntalam and Meghaduta, flourished in the court of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya). His works represent the golden age of Sanskrit literature. [[1]]
The famous iron pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi, dates back to the ______ period.
Answer: Gupta
The rust-resistant Iron Pillar (c. 4th-5th century CE) showcases advanced metallurgy of the Gupta period. It was originally erected at Udayagiri and later moved to Delhi. [[1]]
Who is known as the 'Napoleon of India'?
- Chandragupta I
- Samudragupta
- Chandragupta II
- Skandagupta
Answer: Samudragupta
Samudragupta (c. 335-380 CE) earned the title 'Napoleon of India' from historian V.A. Smith due to his extensive military conquests across the Indian subcontinent. [[1]]
Ashoka embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga War.
- True
- False
Answer: True
The Kalinga War (261 BCE) caused massive casualties. Witnessing the suffering, Ashoka embraced Buddhism, renounced violence, and promoted Dhamma throughout his empire. [[1]]
Who wrote the Arthashastra?
- Panini
- Kalidasa
- Chanakya
- Banabhatta
Answer: Chanakya
Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta) authored Arthashastra, a comprehensive treatise on statecraft, economics, and military strategy during Chandragupta Maurya's reign. [[1]]
The later Vedic period saw the emergence of the varna system.
- True
- False
Answer: True
While early Vedic society was relatively flexible, the later Vedic period (1000-600 BCE) saw rigidification of the four-fold varna system based on birth. [[1]]
The early Vedic society was primarily ______ based.
Answer: pastoral
Early Vedic economy centered on cattle rearing. Cows were a measure of wealth, and terms like 'Gavishthi' (search for cows) meant war. Agriculture gained prominence in later Vedic period. [[1]]
Which is the oldest Veda?
- Samaveda
- Yajurveda
- Atharvaveda
- Rigveda
Answer: Rigveda
Rigveda is the oldest Veda (c. 1500-1000 BCE), containing 1,028 hymns dedicated to various deities like Agni, Indra, and Varuna. [[1]]
The script of the Indus Valley Civilization has been fully deciphered by archaeologists.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Despite numerous attempts, the Indus Valley script remains undeciphered due to the lack of bilingual texts and limited understanding of the language family. [[1]]
Which Indus Valley site is famous for its dockyard?
- Harappa
- Mohenjo-Daro
- Lothal
- Kalibangan
Answer: Lothal
Lothal, located in Gujarat, had the world's earliest known dockyard, indicating advanced maritime trade and urban planning of the Indus Valley Civilization. [[1]]