INDIAN HISTORY

No.	Question	Answer
01	Alexander invaded India in	326 BC
02	The Mauryan Empire was established in	322 BC
03	The First Mughal Emperor of India was	Babur
04	Taj Mahal was built by	Shahjahan
05	Lala Lajpat Rai was also known as	Lion of Punjab
06	Chandragupta II was also known as	Vikramaditya
07	The city of Fatehpur Sikri was built by	Akbar
08	The Red Fort in Delhi was built by	Shahjahan
09	Battle of Panipat was faught in	1761 AD
10	The first President of India was	Dr.Rajendra Prasad
11	"Swaraj is my birthright!" was said by	Bal Gangadhar Tilak
12	The capital of Mysore during the rule of Tipu Sultan was	Srirangapatnam
13	Battle of Plassey was fought in	1757 AD
14	The first Governor-General of Bengal under the East India Company was	Warren Hastings
15	Ashoka was born in	269 BC
16	Permanent settlement in Bengal was introduced by	Lord Cornwallis
17	The last Governor-General of India was	C.Raja Gopalachari
18	The first session of the Indian National Congress was held at	Bombay (Mumbai)
19	Quit India Movement started in the year	1942 AD
20	Sir Thomas Roe,English Ambassador, visited India during the reign of	Jahangir
21	In the battle of Plassey, Lord Clive defeated	Siraj-ud-Daula
22	The city of Calcutta was founded in	1690 AD
23	The capital of king Vikramaditya's kingdom was	Ujjain
24	The first Viceroy of India was	Lord Canning
25	The name of the famous horse of Rana Pratap was	Chetak
26	The Grand Trunk road was built during the reign of	Shersa Suri
27	Tipu Sultan was born in	1750 AD
28	Home Rule Movement was started by	Annie Besant
29	Shivaji was crowned in	1664 AD
30	East India Company was established in the year	1600 AD
31	The capital city of ancient India was	Indraprastha
32	The first woman ruler in India was	Razia Begum
33	The capital of the Mauryan was	Patliputra
34	The construction of Qutb Minar in Delhi was completed by	Ala-ud-din
35	Din-i-Ilahi was founded by	Akbar
36	Rabindranath tagore was born in	1861 AD
37	The most famous king of Vijayanagar Empire was	Krishnadevaraya
38	Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan was also known as	Frontier Gandhi
39	Samudra Gupta is popularly known as	Napolean of India
40	The first Tamil hero who fought against the British was	Veerapandya Kattabomman
41	Akbar's tomb is situated at	Sikandrabad
42	Gautama Buddha was the son of	Shuddhodan
43	Shivaji's mother was	Jeejabai
44	Gandhiji's mother was	Puthali Bai
45	The political teacher of shivaji was	Dadoji Konddev
46	Timur invaded India in the year	1398 AD
47	Mahmud Ghazni was the son of	Sabaktageen
48	The city of Ahmedabad was established by	Ahmed Shah I
49	Rani padmini was	Queen of Rana Ratna simha,the king of Chittoor
50	The real name of Babar was	Zahiruddin Muhammed
51	The meaning of the word "Babar" is	Tiger
52	Vijayasthamba is located at	Chittoor Fort
53	Timur was the ruler of	Samarkhand,Central Asia
54	The Indian social reformer who fought for the abolition of Sati was	Rajaram Mohan Roy
55	The first British Governor General of free India was	Lord Mountbatten
56	Dadabhai Naoroji was associated with the theory of	"Drain of Wealth"
57	The kingdom of South India well known for its Naval power was	The Cholas
58	Aligarh Muslim University was founded by	Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
59	The first Indian ruler who prohibited Sati was	Akbar
60	The Mughal ruler who was to recruit Rajput nobles in his administration was	Akbar
61	The reforms announced by the British Govt.in 1909 are known as	The Morle-Minto Reforms
62	The architect who designed the capital City of New Delhi was	E.L.Lutyens
63	At the time of independence, the number of princely states in India were	552
64	The Indian Prime Minister known as "Man of Peace" was	Lal Bahadur Shastri
65	The Indian king who fought the last Anglo-Mysore War against the English was	Tipu Sultan
66	Kohinoor Diamond was taken away by	Nadir Shah
67	The full name of Shahjehan was	Khurram Shihabuddin Mohammed Shahjehan
68	The Bardoli satyagraha was started by	Mahatma Gandhi
69	The founder of Arya Samaj was	Swamy Dayanand Saraswati
70	The Governor General who abolished Sati was	Lord William Bentinck
71	Bihar was earlier known as	Magadha
72	Agra was earlier known as	Akbarabad
73	"Harsha Charit" was written by	Banabatta
74	Chandragupta Maurya spent the last days of his life at	Sravanabelagola
75	Jalianwala Bagh Massacre took place at	Amritsar
76	Vijayanagar kingdom was situated on the banks of river	Tungabhadra
77	In 1498,the sea route to india was discovered by	Vasco-da-gama
78	King Bhoja was from the which dynasty	Pratihara
79	The period 1206 Ad to 1526 AD is known as	The Delhi Sultanate
80	Agra city was founded by	Sikandar Lodhi
81	Vijaynagar Empire was founded by	Harihara and Bukka
82	The Vijayanagar kings fought frequent wars with the	Bahamani Sultans
83	The last king of the Vijayanagar empire was	Rama Raya
84	Shankaracharya was associated with which movement	Bhakti
85	Ramanuja preached the philosophy of	Vishishtadvaita
86	The followers of Ramanuja are known as	Vaishnavas
87	Kabir was the disciple of	Ramanand
88	The founder of Sikh religion was	Guru Nanak
89	Babar defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the year	1526 AD
90	Babar died in the year	1530 AD
91	Humayun was defeated by	Sher Shah Suri
92	Humayun died at the age of	48 years
93	Akbar was crowned in the year	1556 AD
94	In the second battle of Panipat, Akbar defeated	Himu
95	Akbar died in the year	1605 Ad
96	The original name of Nurjahan was	Mehrunisa
97	Jehangir was known for his	Justice
98	Jehangir died in the year	1627 AD
99	Aurangzeb was the son of	Shahjehan
100	Aurangzeb died in the year	1707 AD
101	The first Guru of the sikhs was	Guru Nanak Dev
102	The tenth Guru of the sikhs was	Guru Gobind Singh
103	Amritsar was founded by	Guru Ram Das
104	The Golden Temple was built by	Guru Arjan Dev
105	The Akal Takht was built by	Guru Hargobind
106	Guru Gobind Singh was born in	1666 AD
107	The `Khalsa' at Anandpur Sahib was founded by	Guru Gobind Singh
108	Maharaja Ranjit Singh was born in	1780 AD
109	Bahadur Shah Zafar died in the year	1862 AD
110	Shivaji died at age of	50 years
111	In tne year 1798,who was appointed as the Governor-General	Wellesley
112	Wellesley started the policy of	Subsidiary Alliance
113	Dalhousie became the Governor-General in	1848 AD
114	The first war of Indian Independence fought in 1857 is also known as	The Sepoy Mutiny
115	The Lady ruler who participated in the 1857 Revolt was	Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi
116	The Indian Association was formed in 1876 at	Calcutta
117	The Indian National Congress was formed in	1885 AD
118	The Rowlatt Act was passed in the year	1919 AD
119	The Jalianwala Bagh Massacre took place in the year	1919 AD
120	The movement launched in 1920 is known as	The Non-Co-operation Movement
121	The Simon Commission came to India in the year	1928 AD
122	Chandragupta Maurya was succeeded by	Bindusara
123	Ashoka invaded Kalinga in the year	261 BC
124	Ashoka died in the year	232 BC
125	Ashoka ruled for a period of	40 years
126	The last king of Maurya dynasty was	Brihadratha
127	Chandragupta was succeeded by	Samudragupta
128	The Iron Pillar near Qutb Minar was erected by	Chandragupta II
129	Fahien, a Chinese traveller visited india during the reign of	Chandragupta II
130	Harshavardhana ascended the throne at the age of	16 years
131	Harshavardhana was defeated by	Pulakeshin II
132	The Chinese traveller who visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana was	Hieun Tsang
133	Akbar was succeeded by	Jehangir
134	Jehangir was succeeded by	Shahjehan
135	In ancient times this river was called Shatadru. How do we know it now?	Sutlej.
136	In the Rigveda there is a reference to the "Dasharajna Yuddha". What does this refer to?	It was a battle of 10 kings fought between Sudasa, a king of the Tritsu family on one side, and a confederacy of 10 tribes on the other. It was fought on the banks of the Parushni (Ravi). Sudasa defeated his enemies in this battle.
137	Who was the ruler of the territory between the Jhelum and the Ravi when Alexander invaded India?	Paurava or Porus as the Greeks called him.
138	When Porus surrendered to Alexander, Alexander asked him how he wished to be treated. What was Porus' reply?	"As one King would treat another". This was his famous reply that has become a classic. Hearing this Alexander not only reinstated Porus on the throne, but he also added territories towards the east and domains of many republican states to the existing kingdom of Porus (according to Plutarch).
139	Who was Megasthenes?	Megasthenes was the Greek ambassador to the Mauryan Court.
140	Who sent Megasthenes as his ambassador to the Mauryan Court?	Seleucus Nikator.
141	Where did Seleucus Nikator rule?	Babylon. He gradually extended his empire from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indus.
142	Whom did Chandragupta Maurya defeat to establish his kingdom?	The Nanda dynasty of Magadha.
143	Who helped Chandragupta Maurya defeat the Nanda rulers?	Kautilya also called Chanakya.
144	Of which territories was Ashoka the Viceroy before he became the king?	Taksha-Shila and Ujjain.
145	"Beloved of the gods" and "of amiable appearance". Ashoka used these titles in his inscriptions. Can you give the original titles?	"Devanampiya" and "Piyadassi" (Devanampriya and Priyadarshin).
146	What was unique about the personal bodyguards of the Maurya rulers?	They were women.
147	Who was the last Maurya King?	Brihadratha.
148	Who overthrew Brihadratha?	Pushyamitra, who was his Commander-in-chief.
149	What was the name of the dynasty that succeeded Mauryan dynasty?	The Shunga dynasty. (Pushyamitra founded this dynasty after he overthrew the Mauryan ruler)
150	From which source have historians got some details of the overthrow of the Mauryan dynasty?	Bana's Harshacharita written almost eight centuries after the event.

No.	Question	Answer
151	The Allahabad Pillar inscription is the most authentic record about the reign of a famous Emperor. Identify that Emperor.	Samudra Gupta
152	The Hindu kingdom of Champa flourished outside the present boundaries of India. Where would the kingdom be located in today's context?	Vietnam. During this period, the country was considered a great centre of Vedic education.
153	What is Theravada in the context of Buddhism?	It is a major form of Buddhism prevalent in Sri Lanka, Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand.
154	Where is Angkor Vat located?	It is located in the ancient kingdom of Kambuja (modem Cambodia). It means Temple (Vat) of the city (Angkor).
155	Who constructed Angkor Vat?	Suryavarman II.
156	To whom is Angkor Vat dedicated?	Vishnu.
157	Who wrote Uttara-Rama-Charitam?	Bhavabhuti.
158	What is the Gandhara art also known as?	Indo-Greek. The Gandhara sculptures drew their inspiration from the Hellenic (Greek) art of Asia Minor.
159	After whom have the rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu been named?	The five Pandavas and Draupadi.
160	To which dynasty did Gautamiputra Shatakarni belong?	Shatavahanas.
161	Who founded the Shatavahana dynasty?	The founder of the family was Simuka but it was Shatakarni I who raised it to eminence.
162	Who wrote the Buddha Charita?	Ashvaghosha.
163	To which dynasty did Kanishka belong?	The Kushana dynasty
164	On the banks of which river did Harappa lie?	Ravi. Mohenjodaro was on the bank of the Sindhu (Indus.)
165	Name the trading station of the Indus Valley Civilisation.	Lothal.
166	The 'Sapta Sindhu' was the area of the initial Aryan settlement. To what region did it refer?	The land of the Sindhu (Indus) and its principal tributaries.
167	Which is the crime that is most often mentioned in the Rjgveda?	Cattle-lifting.
168	What does the word 'Sangam' refer to in Tamil History?	It is the literary assembly of Tamil scholars held at Madurai under the patronage of the Pandyan Kings.
169	Which great Chola Emperor started the tradition of installing epigraphs with historical introductions?	Rajaraja Chola.
170	Nalanda and Vikramshila were very famous in ancient India. What was the reason for their fame?	These were the centres where the famous Buddhist Universities flourished.
171	What were Nalanda, Vikramshila in reality?	Buddhist monasteries. They later took on the shape of universities.
172	What does the term Bhagavata relate to?	CC.
173	Greek sources refer to him as Sandrocottus (Androcottus). How do we know him?	Chandragupta Maurya.
174	What does the term 'dwija' mean?	'Dwija' describes those who wear the sacred thread after Upanayanam. Literally 'Dwija' means twice-born.
175	What was the reason for the importance of Kaveripattanam during the Sangam period?	It was among the chief ports of the Tamil countries that carried on trade with the Romans.
176	What was the intoxicating drink that was consumed by the Rig Vedic Aryans during religious ceremonies?	Soma.
177	How do we better know "Sakyamuni" (Shakyamuni)?	Buddha.
178	Who was the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara of the Jains?	Vardhamana Mahavira
179	On the basis of the Dhamma that Ashoka propagated, what is "Shusrusha"?	Shusrusha meant obedience to father, mother, teacher and men of high caste.
180	What is the literal meaning of Mohenjodaro?	Mound of the dead.
181	What is a Stupa?	It is a kind of tomb where the relics of Buddha or other Buddhist monks are kept.
182	What were the four sights which Gautam saw, while being driven around the city?	An old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic.
183	Who was the chief deity of the Sangam Period?	Murugan (Karttikeya)
184	Which Gupta ruler is also known as 'Kavi Raja'?	Samudragupta.
185	Samudragupta is represented on coins as playing a particular musical instrument. Which musical instrument is that?	Veena.
186	What is common to the following: Kumarasambhava, Ritusamhara, Raghuvamsham and Meghdootam?	They are all works of Kalidasa.
187	What was the name of Harsha's sister?	Rajyashri
188	What was the title assumed by Harsha when he ascended the throne?	Shiladitya
189	Whom did Harsha succeed?	His elder brother, Rajyavardhana.
190	Mahendra, the son of Ashoka, was sent as a Buddhist missionary to a particular kingdom. Identify the kingdom.	Sri Lanka
191	In ancient times, who were the foreigners who were called Yavanas?	The Greeks. The word was derived from the Old Persian form of the word 'Yauna', signifying originally the Ionian Greeks, but later, all people of Greek nationality. In the medieval times it came to be used for all foreigners irrespective of their place of origin.
192	What was Sumatra called as, in ancient times?	Suvarnadvipa.
193	Who systematised the rules of Sanskrit grammar (4 Century BC) in the work Ashtadhyayi?	Panini.
194	One of the chief sources of revenue from villages mentioned in the Ashokan inscriptions is the "Bhaga". What is it?	Bhaga: King's share of the produce of the soil, usually l/6th. The other source of revenue was the Bali. The Bali was the land tribute paid to the King.
195	In the Mauryan times if someone were referring to the Karshapana, what would he be talking about?	The Karshapana was a copper coin that was in use during the Mauryan times. Dharana was a Silver coin and the Kakani were smaller copper coins.
196	Where is Gandhara art found?	The ruins of Taksha-shila, in modern Pakistan and Afghanistan.
197	What were the Jains originally called?	Nirgrantha.
198	In Jainism a small group of people were called Ganadharas. Who were they?	The close disciples of Mahavira were called Ganadharas.
199	For a while, Bhagavatism and Brahmanism were separate sects. How did the two merge into one?	When Krishna, the main deity of Bhagavatism, began to be identified with Vishnu, the main deity of Brahmanism, the two sects merged into one.
200	What is the importance of the Khyber and Bolan passes in Indian history?	The land route between India and West Asia lies through these passes.
201	Which city in ancient India was famous for its textile industry?	Mathura
202	What is Stridhana?	It is the exclusive property of a married lady, something she often inherits from her mother.
203	According to the Arthashastra the Senapati was an important member of the Mantri Parishad. What was his role?	Commander-in-Chief of the army.
204	Jyotisha is one of the Vedangas. What does it deal with?	Astronomy and astrology
205	Two popular assemblies used to control the affairs of the Vedic kingdoms. Name them.	Sabha: - Body of the elders. Constituted of               Brahmins and rich patrons. Samiti: - An assembly of common people.          Meant for the discharge of administration.
206	Who or what are the 'Uttariya' and 'Antariya'?	In ancient India, antariya (dhoti) a lower garment was worn by all common people. Uttariya was the garment that covered the upper part of the body. In addition to these the well-to-do people wore Prapata around the waist. Around the prapata, the rich wore Rasana, usually of gold. Ushneesha was used to cover the head and Stanapatta was worn to cover the breasts.
207	Who built the rock-cut temples at Ellora?	The Rashtrakuta king, Krishna I.
208	In the context of Buddhism, what is Vinaya Pitaka?	It is the work that deals with the governance of the life of Buddhists. It also describes the gradual development of the Sangha and the life and teachings of Buddha.
209	What is contained in the Sutta Pitaka?	Sutta Pitaka incorporates the greatest literary works of Buddhism. Of the five collections, the first four consist of discourses of Buddha.
210	Patanjali's Mahabhashya refers to some of the stories about Krishna's early life. Who does Patanjali call Samkarshana?	Balarama.
211	With which modern township would you identify the ancient port of Suppara (also known as Surparaka)?	Nala Sopara an extended suburb of modern Mumbai.
212	What was the basis of barter for common articles during the Vedic period?	Paddy.
213	In which script were a majority of the Ashoka inscriptions written?	Brahmi. Brahmi script was used in the whole of the country, except the northwest.
214	What script did Ashoka use in the inscriptions of the Northwest of India?	Kharoshti script.
215	The Jaina texts were finally compiled in the sixth century A.D. in Vallabhi in Gujarat. In which language were they written?	Prakrit.
216	Who wrote the Arthashastra?	Kautilya.
217	Which is a very important source of information for the social, political and economic life of the people living in the Tamil Naidu area in the early Christian era?	Sangam literature.
218	Who is the author of the Greek work "Indika"?	Megasthenes. This book, however, is not available to us in its entirety and survives only in quotations by subsequent classical writers.
219	When did the Vikram Samvat begin in India?	It began in 57 B.C.
220	Over which part of present-day India did the Pala dynasty rule?	Bengal.
221	When did the Shaka era begin in India?	78A.D.
222	Who started the Shaka era?	Kanishka of the Kushana dynasty.
223	When did the Gupta era begin in India?	In 320 A.D., after Chandragupta of the Gupta dynasty.
224	Over which kingdom did Kharavela rule?	Kalinga.
225	According to Buddhist sources, a dreaded dacoit had a transformation of heart and took refuge in Buddha's Dhamma. Who was he?	Angulimala.
226	An accomplished and rich dancer gave away her mango-grove to the Sangha of Buddha and became his disciple. Name her.	Amrapali.
227	Why was the Indus Valley Civilisation originally called the Harappan Civilisation?	It was so called because the first site of this civilization was discovered (in 1921) at the modern site of Harappa, in present day Pakistan.
228	What was the basis of the town planning of the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation?	It was the Grid System. In the format that they used all roads cut across each other almost at right angles. This led to the city being divided into blocks.
229	What was the most important public place in Mohenjodaro?	It was the Great Bath. It was probably used for ritual bathing.
230	What religion did Kharavela patronise?	Jainism.
231	The Greeks called cotton "Sindon". There is a reason behind this name. What is it?	The people of the Indus Valley Civilisation were the first to produce cotton and therefore the Greeks called it Sindon. This word is derived from the name Sindh.
232	Karikala Chola founded a famous city. What was it?	Puhar. Identified with Kaveripatnam the Chola capital.
233	To which Age does the Indus Valley Civilisation belong?	The Bronze Age. Iron was not known to them.
234	What is the birthplace of Shankaracharya?	Kaladi. Shankaracharya was a famous exponent of the Advaita philosophy. Advaita literally means not two. Advaita believes in an eternal being and holds that the plurality is nothing but illusion.
235	How many books or Mandalas does the Rig Veda contain?	Ten.
236	Who introduced chariots drawn by horses into India?	The Aryans
237	Who was born to Siddhartha and Trishala in the year 540 B.C.?	Vardhamana Mahavira
238	According to the Arthashastra, the Purohita was an important member of the Mantri Parishad. What was his role?	He was the High Priest.
239	In ancient India handicraftsmen were organised into economic corporations or guilds. What were these Guilds called?	Shreni.
240	Who wrote Kadambari?	Banabhatta.
241	At what age did Mahavira abandon the world and become an ascetic?	At the age of 30 yrs.
242	Where and when did Mahavira pass away?	In 468 B.C at Pavapuri, in modern Bihar.
243	Jainism was divided into two sects. Name them.	Shvetambara: - Those clad in white. Digambara: - Those who are sky-clad (or are                      naked)
244	Where was Buddha born?	Buddha was born in the royal grove in Lumbini near Kapilavastu.
245	Where did Buddha deliver his first sermon?	At Sarnath.
246	What was the path to be followed to be free from misery according to Buddha?	He recommended following the eight-fold path, (ashtanga magga)
247	Under whose rule did Magadha first attain prominence?	Bimbisara. According to Ashwaghosha, Bimbisara belonged to the Haryanka dynasty.
248	Who was the Royal Physician at Bimbisara's court?	Jivaka.
249	Which was the capital of the kingdom of Magadha before Pataliputra?	Girivraja. Also called Rajagriha or Rajgir.
250	Who succeeded Bimbisara to the throne of Magadha?	Ajatashatru.
251	Which dynasty succeeded the dynasty of Bimbisara?	The Shishunagas. They conquered the kingdom of Avanti, and made it a part of the Magadhan empire.
252	Where was Pataliputra situated?	It was situated at the confluence of the Gandak, the Son, and the Ganga. It is present-day Patna.
253	What were the reasons behind the refusal of the Greek soldiers to accompany Alexander beyond the Beas?	They were war weary and home sick. The hot climate of India did not suit them. Having experienced the fighting abilities of the Indian people they were apprehensive about the power of the Nandas. All these reasons contributed to their refusal.
254	What theme does Vishakhadatta's play, Mudrarakshasa, deal with?	The strategies adopted by Chanakya against the enemies of Chandragupta Maurya.
255	Which were the four divisions of the army in ancient India?	Infantry, cavalry, elephants and chariots.
256	Why did Ashoka exempt the village of Lumbini from 'Bali' (tribute paid to the king)?	Because this was the birthplace of Gautama Buddha.
257	Menander, also known as Milinda, was the most famous of the Indo-Greek kings. Where was his capital city?	Sakala, modern Sialkot.
258	Who was the Buddhist monk who converted Menander into Buddhism?	Nagasena or Nagarjuna.
259	What is the Milinda Panha?	It is a book, which records the conversation between Nagarjuna and Menander. Milinda Panha literally means Questions by Milinda.
260	Who issued the first long inscription in chaste Sanskrit?	Rudradaman, the famous Shaka ruler.
261	We know of two successive dynasties of the Kushanas. Who founded them?	The first dynasty was founded by Kadphises I and the second by Kanishka.
262	The Shakas and the Kushanas completely identified themselves with Indian culture. What factors helped them in this?	They did not have a script of their own nor did they have any organised religion.
263	What were the articles of clothing introduced in India by the Shakas and the Kushanas?	Trousers, long coat, tunic and turban. The turban, however, is mentioned as a head dress in ancient India (Ushneesha)
264	How were the foreign elements like Shaka, Pahlava and the Kushanas assimilated into Indian society?	Since they came as conquerors they were classified as Kshatriyas.
265	Buddhism was divided into two sects. What were they?	Mahayana: - The Great wheel. Hinayana: - The Lesser wheel.
266	Name the two Buddhist centres located in present day Andhra Pradesh?	Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati.
267	What was the contribution of the Greeks to Indian theatre techniques?	The use of curtain was borrowed from the Greeks. The curtain was called "Yavanika".
268	Over which areas did the Shatavahana dynasty rule?	The Deccan and Central India.
269	Over which area of India did Rashtrakutas rule?	Northern Maharashtra.
270	Who were Gandhikas?	Artisans who are mentioned as giving donations to the Buddhists. Originally Gandhika meant perfumes but was later used to describe shopkeepers. The name Gandhi is said to have been derived from it.
271	What was the Buddhist temple known as?	Chaitya.
272	What was a Buddhist monastery known as?	Vihara.
273	What were the main articles of trade of the Southern Kingdoms of the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas?	Spices especially pepper, ivory, pearls, muslin and silk.
274	Name two of the epics of the Sangam Age.	Silappadikaram, Jivakachintamani and Manimekalai.
275	What was the Uttarapatha?	It was the route that was used for trade. It ran from Taksha-shila to Broach on the Western coast.
276	Which empire rose on the remains of the Kushan Empire?	The Gupta Empire.
277	Who were Lichchhavis? What are they known for?	Lichchhavis ruled over a vast area from Magadha to Nepal. They were best known for the democracy they practised. It would not be correct to compare it with democracy as understood today. Some preferred to call it oligarchy.
278	Who wrote 'Hitopadesha'?	Narayana Bhatta. Hitopadesha is a collection of stories, most of which were drawn from the Panchatantram of Vishnu Sharma.
279	Who is regarded as the first important King of the Gupta dynasty?	Chandragupta I.
280	Which Gupta ruler adopted the title 'Vikramaditya'?	Chandragupta II. He is regarded as the greatest of the Gupta rulers (376 to 414 AD).
281	Who was the Chinese pilgrim who visited India during the time of Chandragupta II?	Fa-Hien.
282	Who was the first Gupta king to assume the title 'Rajadhiraja"?	Chandragupta I. In addition to 'Rajadhiraja', Samudragupta assumed the titles 'Parambhattaraka' and 'Paramabhagavata'.
283	What was the image on the royal seal of the Guptas?	Garuda.
284	Who was the author of the play 'Mrichchhakatikam'?	Shudraka.
285	Which empire rose on the ruins of the empire of the Pallavas of Kanchi?	The Chola Empire.
286	A ruling dynasty at Thanesar, (in modern Haryana), extended its authority over the feudatories of the Gupta Empire. Who was the ruler who achieved this?	Harsha.
287	Which city did Harsha make his capital?	Kanauj.
288	Who was the Chinese pilgrim who visited India during the time of Harsha?	Hiuen Tsang.
289	Who was the ruler of South India who prevented Harsha from extending his kingdom southwards?	The Chalukya King Pulakesin II.
290	What religion did Harsha follow during his early years?	He was a devotee of Shiva.
291	Which religious sect did Harsha patronise in his later years?	The Buddhist.
292	What are the Vedangas?	The limbs of the Vedas. It was necessary to learn the Vedanga to understand the Vedas. The Vedangas were : a) Shiksha (phonetics) b) Kalpa (rituals) c) Vyakarana d) Nirukta (etymology) e) Chhanda (metrics) f) Jyotisha (astronomy)
293	Who was reputed to be the author of the following books: Priyadarshika, Ratnavali and Nagananda?	Harsha.
294	In which book would you find the famous Gayatri mantra?	Rigveda.
295	In the Rigveda, a daughter is sometimes referred to as 'duhitr'. What is the literal translation of the word?	One who milks the cow.
296	Who was the first person to hold that the earth was a sphere and rotated on its axis?	Aryabhata. He also declared that the eclipses were not the work of Rahu but were caused by the shadow of the earth falling on the moon. Varahamihira and Brahmagupta later astronomers did not agree with his view. Aryabhata also gave an accurate approximation ofn.
297	What is the 'Dharmachakrapravartana'?	The preaching of the first sermon by Buddha.
298	Who was responsible for establishing the order of nuns in Buddhism?	Ananda, the personal attendant of Buddha, was largely responsible for the admission of Gautami (the widowed stepmother of Buddha) into the Sangha. This was the beginning of the order of nuns.
299	Who deciphered the Asokan inscriptions?	James Prinsep.
300	The word 'Aryan' originates from the Sanskrit word 'Arya'. What was the meaning of the word?	Of good family.

No. Question Answer 301 What was the complaint of Pliny the elder, against India? He complained that India drained Roman wealth by selling luxury articles at high prices to Romans 302 What was the name of the son of King of Takshashila who offered Alexander help in invading India? Ambhi. This was the first recorded instance of an Indian King turning traitor. 303 What was the name the Greeks used to refer to Ambhi? Omphis. 304 By which name do we know the ancient city of Prayag? Allahabad. 305 Of the five Siddhantas (Indian astronomical works) two are said to be of Western origin. Which? Romaka Siddhanta and Paulisa Siddhanta. This shows that Indian astronomy was considerably influenced by Western thoughts. 306 What is the modern name for the ancient city of Purushapura? Peshawar. 307 From which language is the word 'Sindoora' (vermilion) derived? Chinese. (From the Chinese word Tsin-sung.) 308 According to Chinese sources Kaundinya an Indian Prince, formed a kingdom in south East Asia. Where was this kingdom located? Cambodia. 309 Who was Buddha's personal physician? Jivaka. Jivaka was the personal physician of Bimbisara. During his visit to Buddha, Bimbisara offered the services of Jivaka, who became Buddha's personal physician. 310 Who were the Ajivikas? They were one of the prominent religious sects during the time of Mahavira and Buddha. 311 In Vedic times, who was referred to as a 'Grihapati'? The master of the house. 312 Which common seasoning ingredient of today finds no reference in the Rig Veda? Salt. 313 What was the name of the famous tract of land that lay between the Saraswati and the Drishadvati? Kurukshetra. 314 What was the Rajasuya sacrifice (yajna)? It was the yajna to mark the royal consecration. It included offerings to the gods in the houses of officials and a formal abhisheka by the priest. Other popular rites that followed were a cow-raid and a game of dice in which the king was made the Victor. 315 What was the Vishwajit sacrifice? In the Vishwajit sacrifice, the (yajamana) performer had to give away all that he possessed. 316 Who succeeded Chandra Gupta I? Samudragupta. 317 According to legend, who succeeded Samudragupta? His son Rama Gupta. He was a weak ruler who surrendered his wife to a Shaka tyrant. Her honour was saved by the younger brother of Rama Gupta, Chandra Gupta, who killed the Shaka ruler, replaced his brother on the throne and married Dhruvadevi. 318 Who succeeded Chandra Gupta II? His son Kumara Gupta, who ruled from AD 415 to 455. 319 Who or what were the Huns? They were a race of fierce, warlike people, whose original home was in the steppes of Central Asia. They spread terror and destruction both in the West (i.e. the Roman Empire) and India. 320 Which Gupta ruler successfully defended his empire against the invading Huns? Skanda Gupta. 321 Which Gupta ruler performed the Ashwamedha yajna? Samudra Gupta. 322 Into which group of people were the Huns assimilated by the Indian society? The Rajputs. 323 Which dynasty claimed its descent from Lakshmana, the brother of Shri Rama? The Pratiharas. By the ninth century the influence of Pratiharas extended from the Punjab to central India and from Kathiawar to north Bengal. 324 Who invented the decimal place value system? Aryabhata invented the decimal place value system. Scholars hold that it cannot be said with certainty that the system was invented by Aryabhata. It seems it was known to astronomers who came before him. 325 The Cholas extended their territory in South India and also conquered the northern part of Sri Lanka. Who was the ruler who made northern Sri Lanka a province of his empire? Rajaraja Chola. 326 Which part of India did the Arabs first conquer? Sindh. Mohammed Ibn-Kasim, the nephew and son-in-law of the governor of Iraq, defeated Dahir Sen in 712 A.D. 327 What are the four sources of Law according to the law giver, Manu? a. Sruti or the Vedas. b. Smriti (expanded version of the Dharma     shastras). Smriti is also regarded as the only     authentic source of Hindu Law and social     customs, c. Customs of holy men d. One's own inclination. 328 By what name was the area of western and northwestern Bengal known? Gauda. The name was applied both to the people and their country. 329 Where in Maharashtra are frescoes that depict the Jataka Stories? At Ajanta, near Ellora caves. 330 What was the language used by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization? Historians have as yet not been able to determine the language used by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization. The script used by the people of the Indus Valley Civilization has also not been deciphered. 331 Which was the animal that was most engraved on Indus Valley Civilization seals? The Humpless Bull. 332 What was unique about the ascension to the throne by Gopala, the founder of the Pala dynasty in Gauda (present day West Bengal)? He was not a hereditary ruler, but was elected by the people to rule over them. 333 Which was the seat of power of the Pallava dynasty? Kanchipuram. The Pallavas founded the first great empire in south India. Under the Pallavas, Kanchi became a great centre of Brahminical and Buddhist learning. 334 Who was the Chola ruler who crossed the Ganga and defeated the rulers there? Rajendra Chola. 335 When did the first invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni take place? 1000 A.D. 336 Who was the first Indian ruler defeated by Mahmud of Ghazni? Jayapala of the Hindushahi dynasty. 337 Where is Ghazni? In modem Afghanistan. 338 Why were temples the main target of Mahmud of Ghazni? They had immense wealth stockpiled. 339 Who was the Arab traveller whose work on India is referred to as a mirror of 11"1 century India? Alberuni. 340 At whose request did Alberuni travel to India? Mahmudof Ghazni. 341 At which battle did Prithviraj Chauhan defeat Mohammed of Ghori? In the first Battle of Tarain in 1190-91. 342 Which medieval ruler is reputed to be an author of almost 20 books on subjects as diverse as medicine, architecture and astronomy? Raja Bhoja of the Paramara dynasty. The Paramara dynasty ruled over the Malwa region. 343 Identify the person who was in charge of Mohammad of Ghori's possessions in India. Qutbuddin Aibak. 344 To which deity was the temple of Somnath dedicated? Shiva. 345 Who wrote the Ramayana in Tamil? Kamban. 346 Who was the founder of the Slave dynasty? Qutbuddin Aibak. 347 Why is the term "Slave dynasty" an inaccurate term? Only three sultans (Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish and Balban) were slaves, and later even they were released from slavery by their masters. They were slaves, but only in the early part of their lives. 348 Who was the only woman to ascend the throne of Delhi? Razia Sultana. 349 Which Persian historian accompanied Alauddin Khalji on his expedition to Chittor? Amir Khusrau. 350 The Choda Ganga dynasty of Orissa was responsible for the construction of some famous temples. Can you identify them? The Jagannath temple at Puri and the Sun Temple at Konark. 351 Name the king of Mewar who is said to have built thirty two forts during his reign? RanaKumbha 352 How did Rana Kumbha celebrate his victory over Mahmud Khalji of Malwa? He built the Tower of Victory in Chittor. It is called the Vijayastambha. 353 Who helped Humayun save himself after the Battle of Chausa? A water carrier helped Humayun cross the Ganga and to safety. 354 Over which kingdom did Chand Bibi rule? She ruled over Ahmadnagar as a Regent. 355 What articles of trade was the kingdom of Golconda known for? Diamonds and textiles. 356 Who founded the city of Hyderabad? Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah. 357 Who was the Qutub Minar dedicated to? The Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki and not Qutbuddin Aibak as people mistakenly assume. 358 In which language did Shankaradeva, a Bhakti Saint, propagate his views? Assamese. 359 In which language did Surdas sing? Brij. 360 Where is the famous Kamakhya temple (Kamakshi)? At Guwahati. 361 Which Mughal Emperor adopted the Zoroastrian practice of Navroz? Akbar. 362 Which were the provinces added by Aurangzeb to the Mughal Empire? Bijapur and Golconda. 363 Who took care of Shah Jahan when he was kept imprisoned by Aurangzeb? Jahanara, Shah Jahan's daughter. 364 Who installed a chain of bells outside his palace gate? Jahangir. 365 Why was the chain of bells installed? This was the "Chain of Justice" installed to ensure that all citizens of the country had access to justice. 366 During the reign of which Mughal Emperor was the peacock throne made? Shah Jahan. 367 Which place did Vasco da Gama reach when he found a new route to India? Calicut. Now known as Kozhikode 368 What were the European Factories that are referred to in Indian history? Factories were nothing but fortified trading stations established by the European powers in India. 369 Where did the English set up their first factory? Surat. 370 Who was the Englishman who succeeded in getting a farman from the Mughals exempting the English from paying any inland toll? Sir Thomas Roe. 371 What prompted Jahangir to allow the English to set up a factory in Surat? The British defeated the Portuguese naval squadrons. Jahangir wanted to use the English as a counter against the growing Portuguese power. 372 What were the reasons why the British wanted to secure Bombay from the Portuguese? Those controlling Bombay controlled trade on the west coast. And there was no interference from either the Mughals or the Marathas on this sea. 373 Which city did Job Charnock establish? Colcutta. 374 Which Saint inspired the Marathas with ideals of social reform and national regeneration? Saint Samarth Ramdas. 375 Near which fort, acquired early in his career, did Shivaji build Raigarh? Torna. 376 Between 1649 and 1655 Shivaji suspended offensive operations against Bijapur. Why did he do so? His father had been arrested and was released only on the condition that Shivaji suspend his military activities. 377 Alauddin Khalji was the nephew and son-in-law of a Delhi Sultan whom he later murdered. Who was the sultan? Jalaluddin Firuz Khalji. 378 One of the more interesting causes for a battle fought in Indian history has been vividly described by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in his epic Padmavat. What, according to Malik Muhammad Jayasi was the cause of the battle? That Allaudin Khalji invaded Chittor because he was infatuated by Padmini, the queen of Rana Ratan Singh of Mewar. 379 Why did Muhammad-bin-Tughluq shift his capital from Delhi? He shifted his capital to Deogir (Deogiri) because it held a central position in the empire and therefore, would be safe from Mongol invasions. 380 Who was the first Afghan to be seated on the throne of Delhi? Buhlul Khan Lodi (in April 1451). 381 Which kingdom came into existence during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq? Bahmani kingdom. 382 Where is Babur buried? He is buried in Kabul. 383 Poems of which Kashmiri poet are the oldest of the ones still available with us? LallaDidi(LalDed) 384 The ruler of Bihar conferred upon the young Farid a title. What was the title and why was it conferred upon him? Sher Khan, for killing a tiger single-handed. 385 What was the name assumed by Farid when he ascended the throne? Sher Shah. 386 Who were the opponents in the battle fought at Chausa? Humayun and Sher Shah. 387 How did Sher Shah die? Sher Shah died due to an accidental explosion of gunpowder while attempting to capture the fort Kalinjar in 1545. 388 Which ruler helped Humayun recover Kandahar and Kabul? The Ruler of Persia. 389 Who proclaimed Akbar the Emperor? Bairam Khan in 1556. 390 What words did Saint Ramanuja use to describe the scheduled castes? Tirukulattar (Belonging to the family of God). 391 At what age did Akbar ascend the thorne? Thirteen years. 392 How did Humayun die? Humayun tumbled down the stairs of his library when he was responding to the call of muezzin for evening prayers. 393 What was the occupation of Himu (also spelt Hemu) before he rose to prominence in politics? He was a grocer. 394 Who fought the second battle of Panipat? Akbar and Himu. 395 Who wrote Lilavati, a treatise on Algebra? Bhaskaracharya. 396 What title did Himu adopt after he occupied Agra and Delhi by defeating its Mughal governor? Raja Vikramaditya 397 Who did Iltutmish nominate as his successor His daughter Razia. 398 Himu, in the battle of Panipat, gained initial success against the Mughal forces. How did the tide turn in the favour of the Mughals? A chance arrow struck Himu in the eye rendering him unconscious. Deprived of his leadership his soldiers dispersed in confusion. 399 The Mughal forces defeated a Rajput ruler at the pass of Haldighat. Which ruler are we talking about? Rana Pratap. 400 Which work describes the romantic story of the marriage of Sanyogita the daughter of the Gahadavala king Jaichandra with Prithviraj Chauhan? Prithviraja Raso. 401 Marco Polo was a traveller (from Venice) who is very well known for his adventures. Which south Indian dynasty does he mention in his travelogues? The Kakatiya dynasty. 402 Timur or Tamerlane, a central Asian Turk (and an ancestor of Babur) invaded India and ransacked Delhi. Who was the ruler of Delhi at that time? Sultan Mahmud Shah. 403 Name the ruler of the Tughluq dynasty who was well versed in Astronomy, Mathematics and Medicine. Muhammad bin Tughluq. 404 A particular dance form gained prominence during the Vijayanagara period. What was the dance form? Yakshagana. 405 Who fought the battle of Talikota? The battle was fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and the combined forces of the Deccan Sultans. The Sultan of Berar however did not take part in this battle. 406 Who won the battle of Talikota? The Vijayanagara forces were comprehensively defeated and this eventually led to their downfall. 407 Where was the Battle of Talikota fought? It was fought in the area between the villages of Rakassi and Tangadi (Tagdi). Due to the bloodshed and ruin that this battle brought on the Vijayanagara Empire it was also called 'Raktakshi Tangadi'. 408 Who were the opponents at the battle of Khanua? Rana Sanga and Babur. 409 What was the name of RanaPratap's horse? Chetak. 410 Who was the Jesuit missionary who held personal discussions with Akbar? Anthony Monserrate. 411 How do we better know Mihr-un-nisa in Indian history? NurJahan. 412 What was the title given to Mihr-un-nisa by Jahangir? Nur Mahal (the light of the Palace). The title was later changed to Nur Jahan (Light of the World). 413 Who was the Mughal queen whose name was written on all the imperial Mughal farmans of her time and inscribed on coins? Nur Jahan. 414 After Akbar secured victory in Gujarat he undertook an activity to commemorate this victory. What was that activity? He founded the city of Fatehpur Sikri. 415 By which name was Ramtanu Mishra known? Tansen. He was earlier in the employment of the Raja of Rewah. 416 Name the Mughal emperor who was an accomplished veena player. Aurangzeb 417 The Razmnama in Persian was a compilation by several scholars. Of which Hindu epic was this a translation? Mahabharata 418 Name Aurangzeb's daughter who wrote under the pen name Makhi and produced a collection of poems. Zebunnisa. 419 King Charles II of England married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza. How did this event affect Indian history? The Portuguese transferred the islands that make up modern Mumbai to the British as the dowry of Catherine. 420 From whom did the Portuguese capture Goa? Sultan of Bijapur. 421 Who was the Portuguese Governor who captured Goa? Alfonso de Albuquerque. 422 What was Shivaji's council of ministers known as? The Ashla Pradhan Mandal. 423 Who were the opponents in the battle of Takkolam? Cholas and Pandyas. The Pandyas were completely defeated. 424 How do we better know the Kingdom of Pragjyotishpur? Assam. 425 Which dynasties rose on the ruins of the Chola dynasty? The Pandyas and the Hoysalas. 426 Who wrote the Telugu version of the Mahabharata? Nanniah. Though he began the work it was eventually completed by Tikkanna. 427 Who were the "Nayanars" in Tamil Nadu? They were devotees of Shiva who flourished between the sixth and ninth centuries. 428 Who were the "Alvars" in Tamil Nadu? They were the devotees of Vishnu. 429 Who fought the second battle of Tarain in 1192 A,D? Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad Ghori. 430 Before the battle of Tarain, Prithviraj Chauhan appealed for help from the rajas of North India. One prominent ruler refused any. Who was this ruler? Jaichandra of Kanauj. 431 What was the capital of the Bahmani kingdom? Gulbarga. 432 Who was the Turkish officer who conquered the area of north Bengal? BakhtiyarKhalji. 433 How did Qutbuddin Aibak die?' He fell off his horse while playing chaugan (polo) and died due to the resultant injuries. 434 Who succeeded Qutbuddin Aibak to the throne of Delhi? Iltutmish (son-in-law of Qutbuddin Aibak). 435 What did Shivaji say when he got the news of the capture of Kondana? "Gadh aala pun Sinha gela" - We got the fort but lost the lion (referring to Tanaji Malsure). 436 What was the original name of the town Daulatabad? Deogiri (Devgiri). 437 For how long did Razia rule? About three and a half years. 438 How do we better know Ulugh Khan in Indian history? Balban. 439 What were the ceremonies introduced by Balban, merely to demonstrate his superiority to other nobles? Sijada-Prostration Paibos - Kissing the emperor's feet. He introduced these ceremonies to demonstrate his superiority over the nobles. 440 During whose rule did the Mongols make the first serious attempt to establish their rule over Delhi? Alauddin Khalji. 441 What is the region of Kamrup known in modern India? Assam. 442 Who were the sons of Shah Jahan? Dara Shikoh (also Shukoh), Shuja Murad and Aurangzeb. 443 During the reign of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, where was his son Muhammad Tughlaq posted? Deogir. 444 Who was the first sultan of Delhi to pay his soldiers in cash? Alauddin Khalji. 445 Which ruler introduced the concept of token currency in India? Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. 446 Harihara and Bukka rebelled against Muhammad Bin Tughlaq and founded a kingdom. What was it? The Vijayanagara Kingdom. 447 Whom did Shah Jahan choose, in his last will, as his heir apparent? Dara Shukoh. 448 During whose rule did jizyah become a separate tax? Firuz Tughlaq. It was a part of the land revenue in earlier times. 449 During the period of the Delhi Sultanate who was the most important official? TheWazir. 450 Who was commissioned by Akbar to write the history of his reign? AbulFazI. 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 No. Question Answer 451 What did India import from China (during the medieval period)? Porcelain, raw silk. 452 What is Jnaneshwari? The free rendering of the Gita in Marathi, along with elucidation. 453 From whom did some sections of the Hindus adopt the concept of the purdah? The Turks. 454 Who was the guru of Harihara and Bukka? Vidyaranya. He was the one who readmitted them into the Hindu fold. 455 Who were the first two kings of the Vijayanagara Empire? Harihara (1336-1356), Bukka I (1356-1377). 456 Who founded the Bahmani Kingdom? Alauddin Hasan also called Hasan Gangu 457 What title did Alauddin Hasan adopt at his coronation? Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah. He is supposed to have adopted the name Bahman Shah as a mark of respect for a Brahmin in whose service he had risen to greatness. 458 Which Bahmani ruler encouraged the study of astronomy and even built an observatory near Daulatabad? Firuz Shah Bahmani. 459 What was the title of the ruler of Calicut (Kozhikode)? Zamorin. 460 Who were the parents of Sankaracharya? Sivaguru and Aryamba. 461 Who wrote Ain-i-Akbari? Abul Fazl. It is a work which deals with regulations issued by Akbar. 462 Who was the Sultan of Malwa who died when he went on board a Portuguese ship for negotiations? Bahadur Shah. 463 Which European power declared that trade in pepper, warhorses and arms and ammunitions was a royal monopoly? Portugal. 464 From which area have the potato and tobacco been introduced into India? Central America. By the Portuguese. 465 Who was born in Talwandi in 1469? GuruNanak. 466 What form of worship did Chaitanya Mahaprabhu popularise? Kirtans. 467 In which language did Narasimha Mehta (also known as Narsee Mehta) compose his songs and preach? Gujarati. 468 Which language did the Turks introduce into India? Persian. 469 Who was Nizammudin Auliya? A famous Sufi saint. His Dargah is in Delhi. 470 Which was the language, apart from Persian, used for administrative purpose in the Bahmani kingdom? Marathi 471 What was the chief reason for the difference between Hindustani and Camatic music? The introduction of Persian scales in Hindustani music led to the difference. 472 Babur succeeded to the throne of this kingdom in 1494 at the tender age of 11. Identify the kingdom. Farghana. Farghana is located in modern Uzbekistan. 473 When did Timur sack Delhi? 1398. 474 Who is supposed to have invited Babur to invade India? Daulat Khan Lodi, uncle of Ibrahim Lodi. 475 Who were the opponents in the first battle of Panipat? Babur and Ibrahim Lodi. 476 How long did the first battle of Panipat last? Three hours. It was all over by mid-day. 477 Who were the adversaries at the Battle of Khanua? It was fought between Babur and Rana Sanga. 478 Babur, after defeating Ibrahim Lodi and Rana Sanga had to deal with the Afghans who had regrouped. Who did the Afghans proclaim as their leader? Mahmud Lodi, brother of Ibrahim Lodi. 479 What was the new mode of warfare introduced by Babur in India? Extensive use of gunpowder. Though gunpowder was known in India, it was not used as skilfully and in combination with cavalry as Babur did. 480 What was the name of Babur's memoirs? Tizuk-I-Baburi. 481 Which kingdom did Shahaji Bhonsale, Shivaji's father serve initially? The Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar. When Shah Jahan captured Ahmednagar, Shahaji sought service with the Sultan of Bijapur. 482 Who was the ruler of Malwa who was among the chief adversaries of Humayun? Bahadur Shah. 483 Who built a new city at Delhi called Dinpanah? Humayun. 484 At which battle was Humayun defeated by Sher Shah? The Battle of Chausa (March 1539) and Battle of Kanauj (May 1540). 485 At what age did Sher Shah ascend the throne of Delhi? At 67 years. 486 Where did Sher Shah build a Mausoleum for himself? Sasaram. (InBihar) 487 Who repaired the Grand Trunk road that ran from the river Indus to Sonargaon in Bengal? SherShah. 488 Where was Akbar born? Amarkotinl542. 489 Where was Akbar crowned? Kalanaur in Punjab in 1556. 490 What was the title that Bairam Khan adopted? He became the wakil of the kingdom with the title Khan-I-Khanan. 491 Who was the ruler of Malwa, who was defeated by the Mughal forces? Baz Bahadur. He was a master musician and an accomplished poet. There were also stories of his romance with the beautiful and talented Roopmati. 492 Who were the two famous warriors of Chittor who held the Mughal forces at bay for almost six months? Jaimal and Patta. Akbar, to honour these two warriors ordered their stone statues, seated on elephants, be erected outside the gate of the Agra fort. 493 What did Akbar divide his empire into? Suba. Each Suba was under a governor called Subedar. 494 Who succeeded Rana Udai Singh to the throne of Mewar? Rana Pratap (in 1572). 495 Akbar sent a series of embassies to Rana Pratap. These were sent to persuade him to accept the suzerainty of the Mughals. Who led these embassies? Man Singh, Bhagwan Das, Raja Todar Mal. 496 To whom did Akbar assign the task to translate the Bible (Gospel) into Persian? AbulFazl. 497 Which famous Mughal courtier lost his life in a campaign against the tribesmen of the Khyber pass? RajaBirbal. 498 Akbar, in 1575, built the Ibadat Khana. What was it for? It was the Hall of Prayer at Fatehpur Sikri. 499 What was the original name of Raja Birbal? MaheshDas. 500 Who founded Din-I-Ilahi? Akbar. Birbal was the only Hindu to accept the new religion of Din-i-Ilahi or Tauhid-i-Ilahi. 501 Who ordered the construction of the Charminar? Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. He was a patron of art and architecture and a poet in Dakhani Urdu, Persian and Telugu. He had the Charminar constructed in 1591-92 at the centre of the new city of Hyderabad. 502 The Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur is one of the largest single domed structures constructed. Which dynasty built it? The Adil Shahi dynasty. A whisper at one end can be heard at the other end. 503 Jehangir had to face a rebellion immediately after he ascended the throne. Who was the rebel? Khusrau, Jehangir's eldest son. 504 Which Sikh guru completed the compilation of the Adi Granth? Guru Arjan Dev. 505 Which Mughal Prince had the Gita translated into Persian? Dara Shukoh (also spelt Shikoh). 506 Whom did the ruler of Bijapur send to capture Shivaji? Afzal Khan. 507 Who was the Mughal Governor of Deccan who was instructed by Aurangazeb to invade Shivaji's territories? Shaista Khan. 508 Which Mughal port city did Shivaji attack in 1664? Surat. 509 Who persuaded Shivaji to visit Aurangazeb at Agra? Raja Jai Singh of Amber. 510 Golconda, the world famous kingdom was built on the ruins of an old Hindu Kingdom. Which one? Warangal. 511 How was Mumtaz Mahal related to Nur Jahan? Mumtaz Mahal was the daughter of Asaf Khan, Nur Jahan's brother. 512 Who is regarded as the father of Carnatic music? Purandaradasa. 513 How could Shivaji with a relatively small army fight against the army of Bijapur? By adopting Guerrilla Warfare. 514 Whom did King Prataparudra consider as his guru? Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. 515 What was the capital of the Rajput Kingdom of Mewar? Chitor. 516 What was the act that led to the martyrdom of Guru Arjan? Khusrav, the son of Jehangir rebelled unsuccessfully against his father. When Khusrav was fleeing the Mughal forces, he was honourably received by Guru Arjan and provided with some money. This was perceived by Jehangir as an act of treason and ultimately led to the Guru's martyrdom. 517 Humayun attacked and besieged the fort of Chunar because it commanded the route between Agra and the east. Who was the person who held the fort? SherShah. 518 What gift did Humayun offer Babur after Babur arrived in Agra following the first Battle of Panipat? The Koh-i-nur. 519 Who saved the life of Uday Singh of Mewar, when he was still a prince? Panna. Panna, who was Uday Singh's nurse realised that his life was in danger; she placed her own son in Uday Singh's bed. The attackers assuming that Panna's son was the prince killed him thus saving Uday Singh. 520 From where did the Hoysala dynasty rule? Dorasamudra (or Dwarasamudra). The Hoysalas succeeded the Chalukyas of Kalyana as the leading power of the Mysore area. 521 Domingo Paes, the famous Portuguese traveller, described this city as the best provided city in the world. Name the city. Vijayanagar. 522 Who was the poet who enriched Kashmiri literature with her exquisite lyrics on love and life? Habba Khatun (also spelt Habba Khotun). 523 Who is the author of the Telugu work "Amuktamalyada"? Sri Krishnadevaraya, the greatest of the Vijayanagara rulers. 524 Over which part of India did Queen Didda (980-1003)rule? Kashmir. 525 According to tradition who were Harihara I and Bukka I serving before founding the Vijayanagara Empire? Prataparudra of Warangal. 526 During the time of the Vijayanagara rule, (Krishnadevaraya) what was the title adopted by the rulers of Orissa? Gajapati (1434 to 1541). 527 Vishwambhara (Nimai) was responsible for the revival of Vaishnavism in Bengal. What was the name by which we know him? Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. 528 The Sangama dynasty (1336 -1485), the Saluva dynasty (1485 - 1505) the Tuluva dynasty (1505 -1570), and the Aravidu dynasty (1570 - 1649). These dynasties ruled over, in the sequence given, the same kingdom. Which kingdom are we talking about? Vijayanagara Empire. 529 How did Timur come to be called Tamerlane? Timur had a limp because of an injury to his leg. Due to this the Persians called him Timur-i-lang (Timur the lame) which was corrupted by Europeans into Tamerlane. 530 What was the capital of the kingdom of the Gonds? Chandrapur. Durgavati was the queen of the Gonds who fought bravely with the Mughal forces sent by Akbar. 531 Who was Gorakhshanath, popularly known as Gorakhnath? Gorakhnath popularized the practice of Hathayoga throi AD. throughout India. He lived in the 10lh - 11th century 532 Where was Kabir born? What was he known for? Kabir was born in Varanasi. Throughout his life he kept dwelling on the essential unity of all religions. 533 What are Abhangs? Who composed them? Abhang literally means unbroken. Unbroken rhymes were referred to as Abhangs. Tukaram is best known for his Abhangs. Many saints that came after him also composed Abhangs. 534 According to tradition who was the guru of Kabir? Ramananda. 535 In which year was emergency declared in post-independent India? In 1975. 536 What did the East India Company acquire as its zamindari in 1698? The zamindari of Sutanati, Kalikata and Govindpur. 537 Where is Fort William located? Present day Kolkata. 538 Which European power established itself at chandernagore and Pondicherry? The French. 539 During the rule of Tipu Sultan, what was the capital of Mysore? Srirangapatnam. 540 What were the Indian soldiers in the English army called? Sepoys. 541 During the rule of Muhammad Shah, who was the ruler of Persia who invaded India? Nadir Shah. 542 What was the result of the Battle of Karnal fought between Nadir Shah and Emperor Mohammad Shah? The Mughals lost and the Emperor Muhammad Shah was taken prisoner, 543 Among the other things, what were the precious articles Nadir Shah carried away from India? The Koh-i-noor diamond and the Peacock throne. 544 After Nadir Shah's death, which of his generals established his authority in Afghanistan? Ahmad Shah Abdali. 545 What was the Doctrine of Lapse? When the ruler of a protected state died without a natural heir, the adopted heir would not be able to succeed him. In such a case the state would be annexed by the British. The only exception would be if the British authorities approved of the adoption before hand. 546 Who was the Peshwa who signed the "Subsidiary Alliance"? Peshwa Baji Rao II on December 31, 1802. This was after the combined armies of the Peshwa and the Sindhia were defeated by the Holkar. 547 Who fought the third Battle of Panipat? Ahmad Shah Abdali and the Marathas (on 14th Jan 1761). 548 Who fought the battle of Buxar? The English fought against a confederacy of Mir Kasim; Shah Alam, the Mughal Emperor and Nawab Shuja-ud-daulah. 549 What was the result of the battle of Buxar? The English won and established their supremacy in Bengal. 550 Which Indian ruler was a member of the Jacobin Club? Tlpu Sultan. 551 Name the Indian ruler who tried to promote trade with Russia, Arabia and Turkey. He also tried to set up a trading company on the lines of the East India Company. Tipu Sultan. 552 Of which state was Martanda Varma the ruler? Travancore. 553 The capital of the state of Travancore became an important centre of Sanskrit scholarship towards the later half of the 18th century. How do we know it today? Thiruvanthapuram (Trivandrum). 554 Who founded the city of Jaipur? Raja Sawai Jai Singh of Amber. 555 Where did Raja Sawai Jai Singh build astronomical observatories? Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi and Mathura. 556 Under which guru did the Sikhs become a united political power? Guru Gobind Singh. 557 He was born in a Bengali Brahmin family at Radhanagar in 1774. He served under the East India Company from 1803 to 1814. He also founded the Brahmo Samaj? Who was he? Raja Ram Mohan Roy. 558 Why was the Cripps Mission sent to India? The British Government wanted India's help in the Second World War. It sent the Cripps Commission to persuade Indian leaders to support its war effort. 559 Who was the guru of Swami Vivekananda? Ramakrishna Paramhansa. He was a saint who lived in Dakshineshwar in Bengal. 560 Over which kingdom did Ahalyabai rule? Indore. 561 Who was the first Viceroy of India? (appointed after the revolt of 1857) Lord Canning (1858-62). 562 When did the revolt of 1857 start? At Meerut, on May 10,1857. 563 Name India's first newspaper? Bengal Gazette. 564 When and where did the first Congress session take place? 1885, Bombay. Goculdas Tejpal Auditorium. 565 When did Gandhiji start his Dandi March? Marchl2,1930. 566 Who was known as the "Frontier Gandhi"? Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. 567 Who wrote the novel, 'Anand Math'? Bankim Chandra Chatterji 568 Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood as a protest against an incident. Name the incident. The Jailianwalla Baug massacre. 569 He was an uncle of Bhagat Singh and was closely . associated with Lala Lajpat Rai. He founded the "Bharat Mata" society and worked for the Ghadar party. He died on 15th August 1947. Who was it? AjitSingh. 570 What was the Kuka movement? The Kuka movement began as a religious movement. Its aim was to purify die Sikh religion by removing superstitions mat had crept into it. After the conquest of the Punjab by the British, the revival of the Sikh sovereignty became its chief aim. 571 Who wrote the poem "Heer Ranjha" (also known simply as "Heer")? Wans Shah. 572 He was born in Cuttack in 1897. He ranked 4lh in the ICS (the forerunner of the IAS) exam but resigned. He was elected President of the Indian National Congress in 1938 and 1939, in spite of opposition from Mahatma Gandhi. He organised the Azad Hind Fauj founded by Ras Behari Bose. Who was he? Subhas Chandra Bose. 573 The Revolt of 1857 started in Meerut. To which regiment did the Sepoys belong? 3rd Cavalry. 574 What was the immediate cause of the revolt? The introduction of the New Enfield Rifle whose cartridges were believed to be greased with the fat of cows and pigs. Both Hindus and Muslims resented this. 575 Who led the revolt in Kanpur? NanaSaheb. 576 Which was die Maratha family that established itself in Baroda? The Gaekwads established themselves at Baroda, the Bhonsales at Nagpur, Holkars at Indore and the Sindhias at Gwalior. 577 What were the Dastaks? They were passes that the East India Company had the right to issue for the movement of goods. The East India Company did not pay any taxes on these goods. 578 The English secured the Diwani of Bengal from the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam. This Diwani was however different from the existing practice by the Mughals. In what respect? The English got their Diwani rights permanently as opposed to the practice of limited tenure. Also under the Mughal system the office was given to an individual. 579 What did the Charter Act of 1833 achieve? It divested the East India Company of its commercial functions. 580 He was born in 1856 in Ratnagiri. He was one of the founders of the Poona New English School. In 1908 he was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment in Mandalay. He died in August 1920. Who is he? Bal Gangadhar Tilak. 581 Who recaptured Jhansi for die British? Sir Hugh Rose. 582 The Sikhs were organised into a confederacy of 12 units. What was the term given to these units? Misl. 583 Who was the first Peshwa of the Maratha kingdom? Balaji Vishwanath. 584 What help did Balaji Vishwanath render the Sayyid brothers? He marched to Delhi and helped them overthrow the Mughal Emperor Farrukh Siyar. (1719). 585 Who succeeded Balaji Vishwanath as the Peshwa? BajiRaoI. 586 He was born in 1888 in Mecca. He was a scholar of Arabic, Persian, Urdu and fluent in Islamic theology. He was the education minister in Nehru's cabinet. Who was he? Abdul Kalam Azad. 587 What was the Rowlatt Act? The Rowlatt Act sought to impose wartime restrictions on civil liberties on a permanent basis. It provided for detention without trial. 588 Who is called the 'Mother of the Indian Revolution'? Madam Bhikhaji Rustam K.R. Cama. 589 When did Bhikhaji Cama unfurl the Indian flag? August 1907 at the International Socialist Congress held in Stuttgart. This was a tricolour in green, red and yellow. 590 What was the revolutionary Jatin Mukherji popularly known as? Bagha Jatin. 591 Why did all the Congress ministers resign in 1939? The working committee of the Congress asked the British Government to state whether their war aims included the elimination of imperialism and the treatment of India as a free nation. The British did not give a satisfactory reply. Hence they all resigned. 592 When was the Sharada Act for prevention of child marriage passed? In 1929. It was to come into force from 1930. 593 Who founded the "Mirat-ul-Akbhar", the first Journal in Persian and the "Banga-Dutta" a weekly in four Languages? Raja Ram Mohan Roy. 594 He was a watchmaker by profession and had come to India from Netherlands in 1800. He however spent his entire life promoting education in India. He founded the Hindu College in Calcutta to take forward his ideas. Who was he? David Hare. 595 He was the Principal of die Sanskrit College in Calcutta and opened its gates to non-Brahmin students. He was a great proponent of widow-remarriages and the first lawful Hindu widow remarriage among the upper castes was celebrated under his supervision. Who was he? Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. 596 Who started the Swatantra Party? C. Rajagopalachari. 597 Who gave the slogan "Do or Die"? Mahtma Gandhi. While launching the Quit India movement. 598 Where is JalHanwala Baug? In Amritsar. 599 What infamous event occurred on April 13, 1919? The Jallianwala Baug massacre. 600 Why were people gathered at the JallianwaJa Baug? They had gathered there to protest against the arrest of their leaders Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Dr. Satyapal. No. Question Answer 601 Who was the first Governor General of Bengal? Warren Hastings. 602 What was the most important difference between the British and other conquerors of India? Previous invaders became an integral part of India, whereas the British always maintained their own identity. 603 Who was the Maratha general who repeatedly fought against die British during die 1857 revolt and later kept harassing the British with guerrilla warfare till he was betrayed by Mansingh and hanged by the British? TatiaTope. 604 When was the Champaran Agitation launched? The Champaran agitation was launched in the Champaran district of Bihar. It was against the English landlords who used to force the peasants, to cultivate indigo. When synthetic indigo was discovered they began to force the peasants to pay them compensation for not growing indigo any longer. 605 Which area did the Japanese hand over to the Azad Hind Government? Andaman and Nicobar islands. 606 Where did Mahatma Gandhi establish his first ashram in India? At Sabarmati, Ahmedabad. 607 Who popularised the Young India Journal? Mahatma Gandhi. 608 Why did Mahatma Gandhi spin cloth daily? To emphasise the dignity of labour and the value of self-reliance. Gandhi once said that from among the activities he was engaged in, khadi and uplift of the scheduled castes was the most important to him. 609 Why was the Akali movement started? To remove corrupt mahants from the Gurudwaras. 610 What was the unique mode of protest of the population of Chirala (in present day Andhra Pradesh) against the British? The whole town refused to pay the municipal tax and moved out of the village. 611 What was the Chauri Chaura incident? A crowd angered by police firing set Fire to a police station killing many policemen. 612 What was the impact of the Chauri Chaura incident on the Freedom struggle? Gandhiji suspended the struggle because he felt people had yet to understand the concept of non-violence. 613 Where was the decision to suspend the agitation taken? Bardoli in Gujarat. 614 Who founded the Swarajya party? Chitta Ranjan Das and Motilal Nehru. 615 To which country did Subhas Chandra Bose escape to carry on the Freedom Struggle? Germany. He escaped from Calcutta (Kolkata) and travelled through Peshawar, reaching Kabul via Jalalabad. From there he went to Russia (with an Italian passport) and then to Berlin from Moscow. 616 Who is the father of the Indian Chemical Industry? Prafulla Chandra Ray. 617 After Delhi fell to the British during the revolt of 1857 what brutal act did the British officer Hodson commit? He shot dead the sons of Bahadur Shah at point blank range. 618 Who passed a resolution declaring Sati illegal and punishable by the courts? William Bentinck. 619 Who led the rebellion of the Koyas (tribals of the West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh) against the British? Alluri Sitarama Raju. 620 When was Bengal first partitioned by the British, leading to wide-spread agitation? In 1905. 621 Who did the soldiers, who rebelled in Meerut, declare as the Emperor of India? The soldiers set out for Delhi from Meerut where they were joined by the local infantry. Here they proclaimed Bahadur Shah as the Emperor of India. 622 Who led the revolt at Lucknow? Begum Hazrat Mahal of Awadh. 623 Who founded the Arya Samaj? Swami Dayananda Saraswati in 1875. 624 What did Swami Dayananda Saraswati regard as infallible? The Vedas. He considered them to be the fountain of knowledge. 625 Madam H.P. Blavatsky and Colonel H.S Olcott founded the headquarters of this society at Adyar, Madras. Which society was this? The Theosophical Society. 626 Who was the first Indian to be elected to the leadership of the Communist International? M.N.Roy. 627 Who threw a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly? Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt (on April 9, 1929).Their aim in throwing a bomb in the Central Legislative Assembly was, as their leaflet pointed out, "to make the deaf hear". Not to hurt anyone. 628 Which British general defeated Haider Ali? EyreCooteinJuly 1781. 629 He was a member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Army. He was sentenced to death for his role in the Kakori train conspiracy. He composed the revolutionary song, "Sarfaroshi ki tamana ab hamare dil mein hai....." Name him. Ram Prasad Bismil. (1897-1927). 630 Who became the Peshwa after the Battle of Panipat? Madhav Rao. After the death of Balaji Baji Rao. 631 Which Mughal Emperor became a pensioner of the Marathas in 1771? ShahAlam. 632 When was the Poona Pact signed by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar? In 1932. 633 When did Mahatma Gandhi arrive in India from South Africa? 1915 (January). 634 Who was the Viceroy who was assassinated by a convict when he visited the Andamans? Lord Mayo. 635 When was the "Quit India" Resolution passed? August 8, 1942, in Goculdas Tejpal Auditorium in Bombay. 636 Who was the only Indian ruler who never alied himself with the British to fight against other Indian rulers? Tipu Sultan. 637 Who were the signatories to the treaty of Seringapatam (Srirangapatnam)? Tipu Sultan and the British. 638 What were the important clauses of the treaty of Seringapatam? Tipu Sultan had to cede about half his territories to the English and also pay Rs.330 lakhs as indemnity. His two sons were also kept as hostages. 639 What was the Wood's Despatch? What is its significance? Sir Charles Wood sent an educational despatch that formed the basis of the subsequent development of university education in India. Based on the principles outlined in Wood's Despatch three universities were established in India in Calcutta (Kolkata}, Bombay (Mumbai) and Madras (Chennai). 640 Who were the Siddhis? They were people of Abyssinian descent who were put in charge of important forts like Raigarh, Dabhol and Ratnagiri by Aurangzeb. They were a maritime power and constant source of problems for the Marathas. 641 He was a revolutionary, who was arrested by the British in the Maniktala bomb conspiracy. In 1910, he went to Pondicherry and led a life of a spiritualist. Who was he? Aurobindo Ghosh. 642 Who founded the Benaras Hindu University? Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya in 1916. 643 He entered politics with the Kheda Satyagraha. In 1922 he played a leading role in the Bardoli Satyagraha. He was Independent India's first home minister. Name him. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 644 Who succeeded Peshwa Baji Rao? Peshwa Baji Rao was succeeded by Balaji Baji Rao. 645 Who was the Peshwa during the third battle of Panipat? Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao. 646 Who founded the Tattvabodhini Sabha? Later he became a great leader of the Brahmo Samaj movement. Debendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore. 647 What was the Komagata Maru episode? The Komagata Maru was a Japanese vessel that was hired to take a large number of Punjabis to Canada. The passengers were not allowed to disembark and they therefore made their way back to India. The Komagata Maru on return, docked at Budge-Budge near Calcutta. The British ordered the passengers to go to Punjab in a special train. Those who wanted to go to Calcutta refused to do so and were fired upon, leaving eighteen dead and twenty nine not being accounted for. 648 After the Revolt, Bahadur Shah II was arrested and deported to a city outside modern India. Name the city. Rangoon. 649 Who was the French Governor General who helped Muzzafar Jung become the Nizam of Hyderabad? Dupleix. 650 How do we better know Narendranath Datta? Swami Vivekananda. 651 Muazzam, Aurangazeb's son, succeeded him to the throne of Delhi. On ascension he assumed a royal title. What was the title? Bahadur Shah. 652 Ranjit Singh was appointed the governor of Kabul at the age of 19. Who appointed him? ZamanShah. 653 Who was the 18th century Hindu ruler who performed two Asvamedha sacrifices? Sawai Jai Singh of Amber. 654 The English obtained the royal Farman from the Nawabs of Bengal in 1717. There was one privilege in the Farman that was to prove an irritant. What was the privilege? The freedom to export and import goods in Bengal without paying customs duties. 655 Who was the judge who found Raghunath Rao Peshwa, guilty of murder and said, "No penalty other than death is prescribed for such a crime"? Ram Shastri Prabhune. 656 Who did General Hugh Rose refer to as "the only man among the rebels"? Rani Lakshmibai. 657 Who were the adversaries in the battle of Wandiwash? The British and the French. The supremacy of the British was thoroughly established as the consequences of this battle. 658 What was the result of the battle of Wandiwash? The British under Eyre Coote comprehensively routed the French 659 Who coined the slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan"? Lal Bahadur Shastri. The slogan became immensely popular and was soon on the lips of almost every Indian. 660 Who said the following and in what context ".... in the sky of India, serene as it is, a small cloud might arise, at first no bigger than a man's hand but which growing larger and larger, may at last threaten to burst and overwhelm us with ruin." Lord Canning. He was referring to the situation in India just prior to he Revolt of 1857. 661 The first Round Table Conference was a result of a suggestion by an Englishman to the then British Prime Minister. Who was the Britisher? Sir John Simon (Chairman of the Simon Commission) 662 Who was the sole representative of the Congress at the second Round Table Conference? Mahatma Gandhi. 663 Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress? Womesh Chandra Banerji. 664 Who was the first Indian woman President of the Indian National Congress? Sarojini Naidu. 665 When did Mahatma Gandhi become the President of the Indian National Congress? 1924. 666 Who was the President of the Congress in 1947 at the time of Independence? Rajendra Prasad. 667 Who died fighting the police at Alfred Park in Lucknow? Chandrashekhar Azad. He shot himself with the last bullet that he had been left with. 668 Who signed the Treaty of Salbai? The Marathas and the English in 1782. The treaty established beyond dispute, the dominance of the British as the controlling factor in Indian politics. 669 What was the result of the Treaty of Salbai? Though the English did not gain materially, it gave them peace with the Marathas for 20 years, thereby enabling them to fight other enemies such as the French and Tipu Sultan. 670 Who was the chief minister of Peshwa Baji Rao II? Nana Fadnavis. He was responsible for preserving the Maratha confederacy. He also resisted British interference in Maratha affairs. 671 What is the meaning of the word "Satyagraha"? Satyagraha consists of two words : Satya (truth) and agraha (insistence). The term was coined by Mahatma Gandhi. 672 Who started the Home Rule movement? Annie Besant. At the Congress session held in Kolkata in 1917, the demand for home rule was made eloquent by Ms. Annie Besant, the President of the session. 673 Who formulated the two nation theory? M.A.Jinnah. 674 Over which area did the Asaf Jahis rule? The state of Hyderabad as it then was. 675 Where did Aurobindo Ghosh begin to live after renouncing an active political life? In Pondicherry from 1910 till the end 1950. 676 Which was the first state of India to be formed on the basis of language? Andhra Pradesh. 677 Who was Gopal Ganesh Agarkar? He was a social reformer of Maharashtra. He was the founder editor of Kesari, but later concentrated on a new newspaper he started called Sudharak. 678 Who was Kanaklata Barua? Kanaklata Barua played an important role in the freedom struggle. She was shot dead while holding the congress flag during the Quit India movement. 679 Who led the Santhals who were armed with only bows and arrows? BirsaMunda. 680 A prominent Naga fighter she spent eighteen years in prison for her role in the freedom struggle. Who was she? Gidalyu Rani who led the Nagas. She was released in 1949. 681 When did the Naval Mutiny break out? February 1946 682 He was born in 1889 at Allahabad. He was sent to England for studies and returned to India in 1912. He made his first appearance on the Congress platform as a delegate in 1912 at the Bankipore session. In 1923 he was elected General Secretary of the Congress. Who was he? Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. 683 Who were the adversaries at the Battle of Plassey? The British fought Siraj-ud-Daulah the Nawab of Bengal. 684 In the Battle of Plassey, a major part of Siraj-ud-Daulah's army did not take part in the fighting. Why was this? Mir Jafar and Rai Durlabh who commanded a major portion of the army had turned traitors and did not join in the battle. 685 Who were the only two leading men of Siraj-ud-Daulah's court who took active part in the Battle of Plassey? Mir Madan and Mohan Lal. 686 Who was raised to the throne of Bengal after the Battle of Plassey? Mir Jafar. 687 Who succeeded Mir Jaffar to the throne of Bengal? Mir Kasim, his son-in-law. 688 Who devised the system of "Subsidiary Alliances"? Lord Wellesley. By using Subsidiary Alliances Lord Wellesley saw to it that the Indian princes remained helpless and would soon be unable to govern their territory without the help of the British army. 689 How did Tipu Sultan die? He died fighting the English on May 4, 1799? 690 What role did the Chapekar brothers play in the Freedom struggle? Damodar Chapekar along with his two brothers, Vasudev and Balakrishna, fired at Rand and then disappeared in the dark. They were arrested later and were hanged. 691 He worked throughout his life for the uplift of the 'untouchables'. He was the law minister in the interim government. He was the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly's Drafting Committee. Who was he? Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. 692 Which day was fixed as the first Independence Day? 31st December 1929. 693 When was the Indian Tri-colour (saffron, white and green) hoisted for the first time? December 31, 1929. At the Congress session. 694 If anyone wanted to meet Mahatma Gandhi on the 6lh of April 1930, where would they have needed to go? To Dandi. On this day Gandhiji breached the salt law. 695 Who organised the society of Khudai Khidmatgars (servants of god)? Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan. 696 Why did Subhas Bose resign from the Presidentship of the Congress in 1939? He did so because of opposition from Gandhiji. 697 Which party did Subhas Bose found? Forward Bloc. 698 Who was responsible (as President of the "Committee of Public Instruction") for the introduction of English education in India? Thomas Babington Macaulay. 699 Whom did Ahmed Shah Abdali serve as a general before proclaiming himself king? Nadir Shah. Ahmed Shah Abdali proclaimed himself king of Afghanistan after Nadir Shah's assassination. 700 What was the title adopted by Ahmed Shah Abdali when he crowned himself ruler of Afghanistan? Durr-i-Durran, 'The pearl of the age.' His clan came to be known as Durrani. 701 What were the Morley Minto reforms? In 1909, the reforms introduced by Morley and Minto provided for the association of qualified Indians with the Government of India to a greater extent in deciding public queries. 702 Who did the Marathas decisively defeat in the Palkhed campaign of 1727-28? The Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad. This campaign ensured that the Nizam's attempt at challenging Maralha supremacy failed. 703 Which French Governor has been given the credit of using Indian Sepoys in his army? Dupleix. 704 Who handed over the leadership of the Independence Movement in East Asia to Subhas Chandra Bose? Rash Behari Bose (on July 4, 1943). 705 What was the slogan adopted by the Muslim League at its Karachi Session in 1943? Divide and Quit. 706 Who is Subramania Bharati? A Tamil poet and nationalist of the early 20th Century. 707 Who was the Viceroy at the time of Indepenence? Lord Louis Mountbatten. 708 Who was hired by a group of Porbandar Muslims (who were working in Natal, South Africa) as their lawyer in!893? M.K. Gandhi. 709 Where did Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose set up the provisional government of free India? In Singapore. It had been renamed Shonan. Subhas Chandra Bose regularly addressed Indians from Shonan Radio. 710 Who gave the first call for the freedom struggle in 1857? Mangal Pandey. 711 Who was the freedom fighter who led the Ramoshis of Maharashtra? Vasudev Balwant Phadke. 712 He was popularly known as Sher-1-Punjab. He founded the weekly "The People". He died due to the injuries he received from a brutal lathi charge by the police when protesting against the Simon Commission. Who was he? LalaLajpatRai. 713 Who initiated the celebration of the Ganapati Festival and the Shivaji Jayanti as social activities to awaken the people? Lokamanya Tilak. 714 What was the slogan that electrified the nation when Bengal was partitioned? Bande Mataram. 715 What was the Poona Pact? The pact between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Ambedkar. This pact was against the separate electorates announced by the British. 716 What was the Act which granted partial autonomy to the Provinces? Government of India Act of 1935. 717 Who was the Governor General of India who added the maximum extent of Indian territories to the East India Company? Lord Dalhousie 718 Who was the Governor General of India when the Revolt of 1857 broke out? Lord Canning 719 Which Act passed by the British was termed the Gagging Act? The Vernacular Press Act, 1878. This Act empowered a magistrate to stop a publisher from publishing anything that would create disaffection against the government. 720 Who was responsible for the partition of Bengal in 1905? Lord Curzon. 721 During whose Viceroyalty was the capital changed from Calcutta to Delhi? Lord Hardinge (in 1912). 722 What was the Khilafat movement? The Sultan of Turkey, who was the Caliph, was deposed after World War I. The Khilafat Movement was launched in India to defend the prestige of the Caliph. 723 Her real name was Madeleine Slade. She was a devoted follower of Gandhiji. What was the name given to her by Gandhiji? MeeraBehn. 724 The British created the Kingdom of Satara out of the Peshwa's lands. Who was it given to? A descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji. 725 To which party did Chandrashekar Azad belong? Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. 726 Who was the leader, whose death led Bhagat Singh, Azad and Rajguru to assassinate the British police officer Saunders? Lala Lajpat Rai. 727 In April 1930, the revolutionary Surya Sen led an activity. What was it? He organised an armed raid on the government armoury at Chittagong. 728 Who were executed on March 23, 1931? Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru in Lahore prison. 729 In 1927, the British Government appointed the Indian Statutory Commission. How was it popularly known as? Simon Commission. 730 What was interesting about Jawaharlal Nehru taking over the Presidentship of the Indian National Congress at the Lahore session of 1929? He succeeded his father Motilal Nehru. 731 At which session was a resolution passed which declared "Poorna Swaraj" (total freedom) as the Congress objective? At the session held at Lahore, 1929. 732 Who conceived of the idea of setting up the Indian National Congress? Allan Octavian Hume. 733 What did Mahatma Gandhi describe as a post-dated cheque? The Cripps offer of Independence. 734 Who was the admiral who recreated the Maratha navy almost single handed? Kanhoji Angrey (also spelt Angria).