Welcome to “Part 19” of our extensive series on Indian History Objective Questions! This section delves into a variety of topics, including British administrative policies, ancient Indian assemblies, prominent historical figures, and significant movements during the freedom struggle. Each question is designed to test your knowledge, followed by the correct answer and a comprehensive explanation to enhance your learning.
Mixed Topics
901. The Ryotwari System was introduced by:
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Thomas Munro
C) John Shore
D) Warren Hastings
Answer: B
Explanation: The Ryotwari System of land revenue was initially introduced by Captain Alexander Read in some parts of Madras Presidency in the late 18th century. It was later developed and widely implemented by Thomas Munro in Madras and other parts of southern India. Under this system, revenue was collected directly from the cultivators (ryots).
902. The Sabha and Samiti were:
A) Tribes during Rig Vedic period
B) Women assemblies
C) Local judicial assemblies
D) Popular assemblies in Vedic period
Answer: D
Explanation: In the early Vedic period, the Sabha and Samiti were two important popular assemblies. The Samiti was a larger general assembly of the people, while the Sabha was a smaller, more exclusive body, possibly composed of elders or aristocrats, dealing with judicial and administrative matters.
903. The Quit India Movement was launched in the backdrop of:
A) Failure of Cripps Mission
B) Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
C) Lahore Resolution
D) Simon Commission Report
Answer: A
Explanation: The Quit India Movement, launched in August 1942, was a direct consequence of the failure of the Cripps Mission (March 1942). The mission failed to offer a satisfactory proposal for India’s independence or immediate self-rule, leading to widespread disillusionment and a call for immediate British withdrawal.
904. The term “Brahmadeya” refers to:
A) Land gifted to Brahmins
B) Land under royal control
C) Tax-free trade
D) Temple-owned land
Answer: A
Explanation: “Brahmadeya” was a type of land grant in ancient and early medieval India, specifically referring to land gifted to Brahmins, often tax-free, as a form of religious and scholarly patronage.
905. The ancient Buddhist university at Nalanda was destroyed by:
A) Mahmud of Ghazni
B) Bakhtiyar Khilji
C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
D) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Answer: B
Explanation: The ancient and renowned Buddhist university of Nalanda, a center of learning, was famously destroyed by the Turkic invader Bakhtiyar Khilji around 1193 CE during his conquest of Bihar and Bengal.
906. Who among the following founded the Banaras Hindu University?
A) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
B) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
C) Madan Mohan Malaviya
D) Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: C
Explanation: Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, a prominent educationist and politician, was the main founder of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), established in 1916 with the support of Annie Besant and others.
907. “Tughlaqabad” was founded by:
A) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
B) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
C) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
D) Alauddin Khalji
Answer: A
Explanation: The fortified city of Tughlaqabad, near Delhi, was founded by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty, in 1321 CE.
908. The earliest coins in India were made of:
A) Gold
B) Silver
C) Copper
D) Punch-marked silver
Answer: D
Explanation: The earliest known coins in India were punch-marked coins, predominantly made of silver. These coins, dating back to the 6th century BCE, had various symbols punched onto them.
909. The Battle of Plassey was fought in:
A) 1757
B) 1761
C) 1764
D) 1782
Answer: A
Explanation: The Battle of Plassey was fought on June 23, 1757, between the forces of the British East India Company led by Robert Clive and the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daula. The British victory marked a crucial turning point in British dominance in India.
910. The Neel Darpan, a play portraying the plight of indigo farmers, was written by:
A) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
B) Dinabandhu Mitra
C) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
D) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer: B
Explanation: “Neel Darpan” (The Indigo Mirror) is a Bengali play written by Dinabandhu Mitra in 1860. It graphically depicted the brutal exploitation and oppression faced by indigo farmers at the hands of European planters.
911. Who was the first ruler of the Chola dynasty to invade Sri Lanka?
A) Rajendra Chola I
B) Rajaraja Chola I
C) Sundara Chola
D) Aditya Chola
Answer: B
Explanation: Rajaraja Chola I was the first Chola ruler to initiate a major invasion of Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon or Lanka) around 993 CE, conquering its northern parts. His son, Rajendra Chola I, later completed the conquest of the island. The provided answer A is incorrect.
912. The book “Discovery of India” was written by:
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Subhas Chandra Bose
C) Mahatma Gandhi
D) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Answer: A
Explanation: “The Discovery of India” is a seminal work on Indian history, philosophy, and culture, written by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar Fort from 1942-1945.
913. The Dual Government in Bengal was introduced by:
A) Robert Clive
B) Warren Hastings
C) Lord Cornwallis
D) Lord Wellesley
Answer: A
Explanation: The system of Dual Government in Bengal, where the British East India Company held the diwani (revenue collection) and the Nawab held the nizamat (administrative and judicial powers), was introduced by Robert Clive after the Battle of Buxar in 1765.
914. Which of the following was NOT a major feature of the Gupta Empire?
A) Strong central government
B) Excellent administration
C) Extensive trade relations with China
D) Significant advancements in art and science
Answer: C
Explanation: While the Gupta Empire did engage in trade, including with China (primarily silk), “extensive trade relations with China” was not as defining or dominant a feature as its strong central government, excellent administration, and unparalleled advancements in art, science, and literature, which characterized its “Golden Age.”
915. The First Battle of Panipat was fought between:
A) Babur and Ibrahim Lodi
B) Akbar and Hemu
C) Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj Chauhan
D) Rana Sanga and Babur
Answer: A
Explanation: The First Battle of Panipat was fought on April 21, 1526, between the invading forces of Babur and the Lodi dynasty under Ibrahim Lodi. Babur’s victory laid the foundation for the Mughal Empire in India.
916. The Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by which British Governor-General?
A) Lord Curzon
B) Lord Dalhousie
C) Lord Wellesley
D) Lord Hastings
Answer: B
Explanation: The Doctrine of Lapse, an annexation policy used by the British East India Company, was devised and extensively implemented by Lord Dalhousie, who served as Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856.
917. The first Indian National Congress session was held in:
A) 1885
B) 1905
C) 1900
D) 1910
Answer: A
Explanation: The first session of the Indian National Congress was held in Bombay in December 1885, with Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee as its president.
918. The Battle of Haldighati was fought between Akbar’s forces and:
A) Maharana Pratap
B) Hemu
C) Dara Shikoh
D) Shambhu Singh
Answer: A
Explanation: The Battle of Haldighati was fought in 1576 between the Mughal forces led by Man Singh I of Amber (representing Emperor Akbar) and the Rajput forces of Maharana Pratap of Mewar.
919. Who was the founder of the Maratha Confederacy?
A) Chhatrapati Shivaji
B) Shahu Maharaj
C) Balaji Vishwanath
D) Baji Rao I
Answer: D
Explanation: While Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha independent state, the structure of the Maratha Confederacy, where power devolved to various Maratha sardars (chiefs) under the leadership of the Peshwa, was largely solidified and expanded by Baji Rao I, the second Peshwa.
920. Who wrote the famous book “The History of the First War of Indian Independence 1857”?
A) Lala Lajpat Rai
B) V. D. Savarkar
C) Subhas Chandra Bose
D) R. C. Dutt
Answer: B
Explanation: The influential book “The History of the First War of Indian Independence 1857” was written by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who controversially characterized the Revolt of 1857 as India’s first war of independence.
921. Who was the last ruler of the Maurya dynasty?
A) Ashoka
B) Brihadratha
C) Bindusara
D) Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: B
Explanation: Brihadratha was the last ruler of the Maurya dynasty. He was assassinated by his commander-in-chief, Pushyamitra Shunga, who then founded the Shunga dynasty, bringing an end to Mauryan rule.
922. The Quit India Movement was launched in which year?
A) 1940
B) 1941
C) 1942
D) 1944
Answer: C
Explanation: The Quit India Movement was officially launched by Mahatma Gandhi at the Bombay session of the All-India Congress Committee on August 8, 1942, demanding an end to British rule in India.
923. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed in the year:
A) 1931
B) 1929
C) 1930
D) 1932
Answer: A
Explanation: The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was a political agreement signed on March 5, 1931, between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India, leading to the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
924. The Khilafat Movement was launched in India to support:
A) British rule in India
B) The Turkish Sultan
C) The end of the Ottoman Empire
D) The establishment of a Muslim state
Answer: B
Explanation: The Khilafat Movement (1919-1924) was an Indian Muslim political protest campaign launched to support the Ottoman Caliph (Sultan), who was seen as the spiritual head of Muslims worldwide, against the harsh terms imposed on the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Sèvres after World War I.
925. The first known use of the term Hindustan was in the context of:
A) The Vedic texts
B) The Persian accounts of the Mughal Empire
C) The accounts of Alexander’s invasion
D) The Sultanate period
Answer: D
Explanation: While the term’s linguistic roots trace back to ancient Persian (as “Hinduš” for the region of the Indus), its usage to refer to a broader geographical area roughly corresponding to the Indian subcontinent gained significant currency during the Delhi Sultanate period. Poets like Amir Khusrau (13th-14th century) used ‘Hind’ and ‘Hindustan’ to refer to India as a cultural and geographical entity. The provided answer B is inaccurate as its first prominent usage was earlier.
926. Which of the following rulers is associated with the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Iltutmish
B) Alauddin Khalji
C) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
D) Babur
Answer: C
Explanation: Qutb-ud-din Aibak, a former slave and general of Muhammad Ghori, established the Delhi Sultanate in 1206 CE and founded the Mamluk (Slave) dynasty after Ghori’s death.
927. Who was the first woman ruler of India in the medieval period?
A) Razia Sultan
B) Nur Jahan
C) Begum Hazrat Mahal
D) Maharani Durgavati
Answer: A
Explanation: Razia Sultan, daughter of Iltutmish, reigned as the Sultan of Delhi from 1236 to 1240 CE, making her the first and only female Muslim ruler of Delhi.
928. The Moplah Rebellion took place in which region of India?
A) Malabar
B) Bengal
C) Bihar
D) Punjab
Answer: A
Explanation: The Moplah Rebellion (or Mappila Rebellion) was a peasant uprising that occurred in 1921 among the Mappila Muslim community of the Malabar region of Kerala against the oppressive landlord system and British rule.
929. Who was the first European to establish a factory in India?
A) Vasco da Gama
B) Christopher Columbus
C) John Cabot
D) Portuguese traders
Answer: D
Explanation: While Vasco da Gama reached India, it was the Portuguese traders as a collective who, led by figures like Afonso de Albuquerque, established the first European factories (trading posts) in India, beginning with Cochin in the early 16th century.
930. The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occurred in the year:
A) 1915
B) 1917
C) 1919
D) 1920
Answer: C
Explanation: The horrific Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab, where British troops under the command of General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering, killing hundreds of unarmed civilians.
931. The Swadeshi Movement started in response to the partition of:
A) Bengal
B) Punjab
C) Bihar
D) Assam
Answer: A
Explanation: The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908) was a powerful anti-colonial movement that emerged in response to Lord Curzon’s decision to partition Bengal in 1905, advocating for self-reliance and the boycott of British goods.
932. The first woman to take part in the Civil Disobedience Movement was:
A) Sarojini Naidu
B) Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay
C) Kasturba Gandhi
D) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
Answer: C
Explanation: While numerous women, including Sarojini Naidu and Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, played crucial and leading roles in the Civil Disobedience Movement from its inception, Kasturba Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s wife, was a prominent participant, especially during the Salt Satyagraha. The term “first” is difficult to definitively apply to a mass movement with many simultaneous participants.
933. Who was the first Indian to lead the Indian National Congress?
A) Dadabhai Naoroji
B) Lala Lajpat Rai
C) Allan Octavian Hume
D) Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee
Answer: D
Explanation: Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee (W.C. Bonnerjee) was the first Indian to preside over the inaugural session of the Indian National Congress held in Bombay in 1885. (Allan Octavian Hume was one of the British founders of the INC).
934. The term Nadapratinidhi in the Maratha administration referred to:
A) Revenue collectors
B) Military commanders
C) Subordinate rulers representing the king
D) Officers in charge of justice
Answer: C
Explanation: The term “Nadapratinidhi” is not a commonly recognized or standard designation for an administrative post in Maratha history. However, the ‘Pratinidhi’ was one of the Ashta Pradhan (Council of Eight Ministers), a high-ranking minister who often acted as a representative or regent in the absence or minority of the king. Given the options, “Subordinate rulers representing the king” could broadly refer to chieftains or regents, which aligns somewhat with the representative nature of the Pratinidhi role, though the exact term is unusual.
935. Who was the founder of the Ahom dynasty in Assam?
A) Rudra Singha
B) Sukapha
C) Lachit Borphukan
D) Naranarayan
Answer: B
Explanation: Sukapha, a Tai prince from Mong Mao, founded the Ahom kingdom in Assam in 1228 CE, which ruled the region for nearly six centuries.
936. The ‘First Battle of Panipat’ (1526) was fought between Babur and:
A) Rana Sanga
B) Ibrahim Lodi
C) Hemu
D) Sher Shah Suri
Answer: B
Explanation: The First Battle of Panipat was fought in 1526 between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. Babur’s decisive victory led to the establishment of the Mughal Empire in India.
937. The Viceroy’s Executive Council was introduced in India by:
A) Lord Mountbatten
B) Lord Curzon
C) Lord Canning
D) Lord Wellesley
Answer: C
Explanation: The Indian Councils Act of 1861, passed during the tenure of Lord Canning (the first Viceroy of India), introduced the system of a Viceroy’s Executive Council, which included non-official members, marking a rudimentary form of representative institution.
938. Who was the author of the book “The History of the Indian National Congress”?
A) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
B) Subhas Chandra Bose
C) Bipin Chandra Pal
D) Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: None of the above.
Explanation: The monumental book “The History of the Indian National Congress” was authored by Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Subhas Chandra Bose wrote “The Indian Struggle”. The provided answer B is incorrect.
939. The Bengal Renaissance is most closely associated with which of the following?
A) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
B) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
C) Vivekananda
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: The Bengal Renaissance was a cultural, social, intellectual, and artistic movement in Bengal during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Raja Ram Mohan Roy (social reform), Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (literature), and Swami Vivekananda (spiritual revival and social work) were all towering figures contributing significantly to this period.
940. Who was the first Governor-General of independent India?
A) C. Rajagopalachari
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) Lord Mountbatten
D) Rajendra Prasad
Answer: C
Explanation: Lord Louis Mountbatten was the first Governor-General of independent India, serving from August 1947 to June 1948. C. Rajagopalachari (Option A) became the first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India after Mountbatten’s departure. The provided answer A is incorrect.
941. The famous Salt March to Dandi was started in the year:
A) 1930
B) 1927
C) 1929
D) 1932
Answer: A
Explanation: The Salt March, also known as the Dandi March, was an act of nonviolent civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi. It began on March 12, 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, protesting the British salt monopoly.
942. The Young Bengal Movement was led by:
A) Henry Derozio
B) Surendranath Banerjee
C) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
D) Keshab Chandra Sen
Answer: A
Explanation: The Young Bengal Movement was a radical intellectual trend among Bengali youth in the 1820s and 1830s, inspired and led by the charismatic teacher and poet Henry Louis Vivian Derozio at Hindu College, Calcutta.
943. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) traces its origins to which organization?
A) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
B) Hindu Mahasabha
C) Indian National Congress
D) All India Muslim League
Answer: A
Explanation: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) traces its ideological and organizational roots to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Its direct political precursor was the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, founded in 1951, many of whose members were drawn from the RSS.
944. Which of the following leaders was associated with the Ghadar Party?
A) Lala Lajpat Rai
B) Bhagat Singh
C) Kartar Singh Sarabha
D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: C
Explanation: The Ghadar Party was an Indian revolutionary organization formed in 1913, primarily by Punjabi Indians in the United States and Canada. Key leaders included Lala Hardayal, Sohan Singh Bhakna, and Kartar Singh Sarabha.
945. Who was the founder of the Indian National Army (INA)?
A) Subhas Chandra Bose
B) Bhagat Singh
C) Lala Lajpat Rai
D) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: A
Explanation: While the Indian National Army (INA) was initially formed in 1942 by Mohan Singh, it was significantly revived, reorganized, and led by Subhas Chandra Bose from 1943, transforming it into a formidable force for India’s independence. He is widely credited as its primary leader and inspirer.
946. The Charter Act of 1833 is significant because it:
A) Abolished the trade monopoly of the East India Company
B) Introduced an Indian Civil Services exam
C) Granted sovereignty to the British Crown in India
D) Established the Indian National Congress
Answer: A
Explanation: The Charter Act of 1833 formally ended the East India Company’s commercial activities, completely abolishing its trade monopoly (including trade with China and tea), and converting it into a purely administrative body for the British Crown.
947. The Battle of Plassey (1757) resulted in the victory of the British over the forces of:
A) Nawab Mir Qasim
B) Siraj-ud-Daula
C) Tipu Sultan
D) Shuja-ud-Daula
Answer: B
Explanation: The Battle of Plassey in 1757 was a decisive victory for the British East India Company forces under Robert Clive over the army of Siraj-ud-Daula, the then Nawab of Bengal.
948. The Swadeshi Movement was formally initiated after the partition of Bengal in:
A) 1905
B) 1911
C) 1895
D) 1907
Answer: A
Explanation: The Swadeshi Movement, emphasizing economic self-sufficiency and the boycott of British goods, was formally initiated in response to the British decision to partition Bengal in 1905.
949. The Chauri Chaura incident of 1922 led to the suspension of the:
A) Salt March
B) Civil Disobedience Movement
C) Non-Cooperation Movement
D) Quit India Movement
Answer: C
Explanation: The Chauri Chaura incident, where a police station was set on fire by a mob leading to the death of several policemen, occurred on February 4, 1922. This act of violence deeply distressed Mahatma Gandhi, who consequently called off the Non-Cooperation Movement.
950. The first leader to introduce the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ in India was:
A) Lord Curzon
B) Lord Wellesley
C) Lord Dalhousie
D) Lord Mountbatten
Answer: A
Explanation: While elements of divisive policies existed earlier, the policy of ‘Divide and Rule’ became more explicit and systematically implemented by the British, particularly under Lord Curzon (1899-1905), who sought to consolidate British rule by exploiting existing divisions and creating new ones, most notably through the partition of Bengal. The provided answer B is incorrect.