Indian History UPSC MCQ Paper

Indian History UPSC MCQ Paper
History Objective Sample Questions
1. Babar laid the foundation of Mughal empire in 1526 by defeating:
(a) Daulat Khan Lodi
(b) Ibrahim Lodi
(c) Rana Sanga
(d) Alauddin Khilji
Answer. (b)

2. Akbar assumed actual control over the administration of his empire in :
(a) 1556
(b) 1562
(c) 1558
(d) 1550
Answer. (d)

10. The court language of Mughals was:
(a) Arabic
(b) Hindi
(c) Persian
(d) Urdu
Answer. (c)

3. During the reign of Emperor Akbar, famous men Haribans, Mukund
and Daswant were
(a) Architects
(b) Painters
(c) Warriors
(d) Writers
Answer. (b)

4. Akbar founded the Din-i-Ilahi primarily to:
(a) Put an end to differences between the Hindus and the Muslims
(b) Establish a national religion which would be acceptable to the Muslims and Hindus
(c) Ensure racial and communal harmony
(d) Form a religious club
Answer. (b)

5. Of which one of the following kingdoms was Malik Ambar the Prime Minister?
(a) Ahmadnagar
(b) Bijapur
(c) Golconda
(d) Khandesh
Answer. (a)

6. The Mughal emperor, who died to a sudden fall from the staircase, was:
(a) Babar
(b) Humayun
(c) Jahangir
(d) Aurangzeb
Answer. (b)

7. ‘By conquering most parts of the Indian subcontinent and giving it one of the best
systems of administration then known to the world, he perpetuated the” name of his
forebears and of the Mughal dynasty in the land. This statement aptly refers to :
(a) Akbar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shahjahan
(d) Aurangzeb
Answer. (a)


8. The most famous court-poet (in Hindi literature) of Akbar was:
(a) Raskhan
(b) Surdas
(c) Tulsidas
(d) Abdur Rahim-Khan-i-Khanan
Answer. (d)

9. Humayun received the Kohinoor diamond from:
(a) The ruler of Gwalior
(b) Shershah Suri
(c) The ruler of Bikaner
(d) The ruler of Jodhpur
Answer. (a)

10. The head of the military department under the recognised central machinary of
administration during Akbar's reign was:
(a) Diwan
(b) Mir Bakshi
(c) Mir Saman
(d)Bakshi
Answer. (b)

11. Which of the following were the features of the Mansabdari system introduced
by the Mughals?
1. Periodic inspection of artillery
2. Branding horses
3. Hereditary grant of jagirs
4. Lack of distinction between civil and millitary departments
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 1 and 4
Answer. (b)

12. Which of the following was/were factors that contributed to Humayun‘s debacle against
Sher Shah in 1540?
I. Humayun lacked financial resources for continuous warfare
ll. Humayun faced hostility of his brothers
III. Sher Shah had far more courage, political experience and organizing capabilities
IV. Humayun had to face several rebellions from his nobles because of which he
could not keep an eye on` Sher Shah's activities
(a) I, Il, III and IV
(b) I and IV
(c) Only III
(d) I, ll and lll
Answer. (d)

13. Ibadat Khana, where learned men of all religions discussed religious issues during the
time of Akbar, is a famous structure in:
(a) The Agra fort
(b) The Red fort of Delhi
(c) Sikandara
(d) Fatehpur Sikri
Answer. (d)

14. The word Mansab stood for:
(a) A piece of land
(b) A rank
(c) An office
(d) A grade of pay
Answer. (b)

15. Which of the following are true with regard to Akbar?
I. He abolished Jaziya and Pilgrim Tax in 1564 and 1563 AD. respectively.
ll. He erected the ‘lbadat Khana’ for holding religious discussions
Ill. His Din-i-Ilahi was a code of social conduct
IV. He got the Khutba to be read in his name in 1574 A.D.
(a) I and ll
(b) 1, II and III
(c) I, II, III and IV
(d) I and IV
Answer. (a)

16. Which of the following buildings is not situated at Fatehpur Sikri?
(a) The Panch Mahal
(b) Moti Masjid
(c) Tomb of Salim Chishti
(d) The Mariam Palace
Answer. (b)

17. Which of the following was/were steps taken by Sher Shah to
promote trade and Commerce?
1. Making travel safe for trade
2. Building a new highway between Delhi and Warangal
3. Abolishing internal duties and levying taxes only at the points of Import and sale
4. Building sarais along roadways
Answer. (c)

18. With reference to the reign of Sher Shah, consider the following statements:
1. For ensuring safety on the roads and extending comforts to the travelly public,
he built Sarais (inns) on the highways at regular intervals.
2. He struck fine coins of silver and copper of uniform standard in place of the
debased coins of mixed metals of early times.
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)

19. Which one of the following departments was created by Alauddin Khalji to
improve the functioning of the State Revenues?
(a) Diwan-I-Mustakharaj
(b) Diwan-I-Kohi
(c) Diwan-l-Arz
(d) Diwan-l-lnsha
Answer. (a)

20. Consider the following statements:
1. When Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah was proclaimed King of the Deccan, Ibn
Batutah was travelling in India.
2. When Abdur Razzak came to India, Khizr Khan was the Sultan of Delhi.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer. (a)

21. Which of the following were reasons for popularity of the early chishtis in the
Sultanate period?
I. Tolerance on the part of Chishtis towards non-Muslim population of India
ll. Non-acceptance of theory of-two-fold division of the people into low-bom and noble-born
lll. Rejection of orthodoxy
IV. State patronage and closeness of Chishti order with the court
(a) l, Il, lll and lV
(b) ll and IV
(c) I, ll and lll
(d) l and lll
Answer. (c)

22. Match the following:
A. Pir 1. Successor of the Sufi saint
B. Murid 2. Sufi teacher
C. Wali 3. Sufi hennitage
D. Khanqah 4. Disciple
A B C D
(a) 3 1 4 2
(b) 4 2 3 1
(c) 2 4 1 3
(d) 4 1 3 2
Answer. (c)

23. Who among the following saints wrote ‘Bijak’?
(a) Ramdas
(b) Tulsidas
(c) Guru Arjun
(d) Kabir
Answer. (d)

24. Consider the following four saints:
1. Kabir
2. Nanak
3. Chaitanya
4. Tulsidas
What is the correct chronological order in which they fluorished?
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4
(b) 2, 3, 4, 1
(c) 3, 1, 2, 4
(d) 3, 2, 4, 1
Answer. (a)

25. Shankarachaiya, during Vikramaditya’s period, was a very famous personality. Which of the
following statements is not hue of Shankaracharya?
(a) He defined Vedanta
(b) He propounded ‘Vishistadvaitya’
(c) He countered the spread of Buddhism and Jainism
(d) He established four religious centres maths in different parts of India
Answer. (c)