This section continues with a diverse set of 50 objective questions and their answers, encompassing various periods of Indian History including Ancient, Medieval, and Modern. These questions and detailed explanations are designed to aid your understanding and preparation for competitive examinations
251. The Battle of Plassey was fought in the year:
A) 1757
B) 1761
C) 1775
D) 1780
Answer: A
Explanation: The Battle of Plassey, a pivotal event in Indian history, was fought on June 23, 1757. It was a decisive victory for the British East India Company over the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj-ud-Daulah, effectively marking the beginning of British colonial rule in India.
252. The main objective of the Indian National Congress during the early 20th century was:
A) Independence from Britain
B) Equality for all Indians
C) Reforms within the British system
D) Education for all Indians
Answer: C
Explanation: In its early phase (often called the Moderate Phase, roughly 1885-1905), the Indian National Congress primarily aimed at achieving administrative reforms within the existing British colonial framework. They sought greater Indian representation in legislative councils, civil services, and other areas of governance, rather than outright independence.
253. Who introduced the Permanent Settlement in Bengal?
A) Lord Wellesley
B) Lord Cornwallis
C) Lord Dalhousie
D) Lord Irwin
Answer: B
Explanation: The Permanent Settlement of Bengal, a land revenue system, was introduced by Lord Cornwallis in 1793. This system fixed the land revenue in perpetuity to be paid by zamindars (landlords) to the East India Company.
254. The Battle of Buxar was fought between:
A) British and Marathas
B) British and Rajputs
C) British and Nawabs
D) British and Mughals
Answer: C
Explanation: The Battle of Buxar was fought on October 22, 1764, between the forces of the British East India Company (led by Major Hector Munro) and the combined armies of Mir Qasim (the deposed Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daula (the Nawab of Awadh), and Shah Alam II (the Mughal Emperor). The British victory further cemented their control over Bengal and Awadh.
255. Who was the last ruler of the Gupta dynasty?
A) Skandagupta
B) Kumaragupta
C) Vishnugupta
D) Chandragupta II
Answer: C
Explanation: Vishnugupta is generally considered the last recognized king of the Gupta dynasty. His reign marked the final decline of the once mighty empire in the mid-6th century CE.
Modern India
256. The first-ever freedom struggle of 1857 is also called:
A) The Indian Mutiny
B) The Sepoy Mutiny
C) The First War of Indian Independence
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: The uprising of 1857 is known by various names: the “Indian Mutiny” by the British, the “Sepoy Mutiny” focusing on the role of soldiers, and the “First War of Indian Independence” by Indian nationalists like V.D. Savarkar. All these terms refer to the same historical event.
257. Who was the leader of the revolt in Kanpur during the First War of Indian Independence?
A) Rani Lakshmibai
B) Mangal Pandey
C) Begum Hazrat Mahal
D) Nana Saheb
Answer: D
Explanation: Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the last Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II, led the revolt against the British in Kanpur during the Uprising of 1857.
258. The first person to use the term ‘Swaraj’ was:
A) Lala Lajpat Rai
B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
C) Subhas Chandra Bose
D) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: B
Explanation: While the concept of Swaraj (self-rule) has ancient roots, Bal Gangadhar Tilak famously popularized the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!” thereby making it a prominent part of the Indian independence movement.
259. The Indian National Congress split into two factions in 1907 at:
A) Surat
B) Lucknow
C) Calcutta
D) Madras
Answer: A
Explanation: The Indian National Congress split into two factions – the Moderates and the Extremists – at its Surat Session in 1907. This split was primarily due to ideological differences regarding the methods and goals of the freedom struggle.
260. Who was the founder of the Sikh Khalsa Panth?
A) Guru Nanak
B) Guru Gobind Singh
C) Guru Arjan
D) Guru Angad
Answer: B
Explanation: Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last of the Sikh Gurus, founded the Khalsa Panth (the collective body of initiated Sikhs) in 1699, transforming the Sikh community into a warrior brotherhood to defend their faith.
261. The Battle of Haldighati was fought between:
A) Rana Pratap and Akbar
B) Rana Sanga and Babur
C) Marathas and Mughals
D) Marathas and British
Answer: A
Explanation: The Battle of Haldighati was fought in 1576 between Maharana Pratap of Mewar and the Mughal army led by Raja Man Singh I of Amber, on behalf of Emperor Akbar.
262. Who was the first Governor-General of Independent India?
A) Lord Mountbatten
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) C. Rajagopalachari
D) Rajendra Prasad
Answer: A
Explanation: Lord Louis Mountbatten served as the first Governor-General of independent India from August 15, 1947, to June 21, 1948. C. Rajagopalachari succeeded him as the first and last Indian Governor-General.
263. The famous Hawa Mahal is located in:
A) Jaipur
B) Delhi
C) Agra
D) Mumbai
Answer: A
Explanation: The Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), an iconic architectural marvel with its distinctive honeycomb facade, is located in Jaipur, Rajasthan. It was built by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh in 1799.
264. The Quit India Movement was launched in the year:
A) 1930
B) 1935
C) 1942
D) 1947
Answer: C
Explanation: The Quit India Movement, a major civil disobedience movement demanding an immediate end to British rule, was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, during World War II.
265. The Father of the Indian Renaissance was:
A) Swami Vivekananda
B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
C) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
D) Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: B
Explanation: Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772-1833) is widely regarded as the “Father of the Indian Renaissance” for his pioneering efforts in social, religious, and educational reforms in 19th-century India, advocating for modern and rational thinking.
266. The first woman to become the Prime Minister of India was:
A) Indira Gandhi
B) Sarojini Naidu
C) Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
D) Sucheta Kriplani
Answer: A
Explanation: Indira Gandhi became the first and, to date, only woman Prime Minister of India, serving from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 to 1984.
267. Who wrote the famous book ‘Discovery of India’?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Gandhi
C) Subhas Chandra Bose
D) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer: A
Explanation: ‘The Discovery of India’ is a classic book written by Jawaharlal Nehru during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar Fort between 1942 and 1945. It provides a comprehensive overview of Indian history, philosophy, and culture.
268. The ‘Mangal Pandey’ incident took place at:
A) Delhi
B) Kanpur
C) Meerut
D) Lucknow
Answer: C
Explanation: The incident involving Mangal Pandey, a sepoy whose actions are considered a precursor to the Revolt of 1857, occurred at Barrackpore (near Kolkata, not Meerut as suggested in the options), on March 29, 1857. He attacked British officers after refusing to use the greased cartridges. The actual mutiny then broke out in Meerut on May 10, 1857. Given the options, Meerut is the closest related place where the larger mutiny began.
269. The founder of the Maratha Empire was:
A) Shivaji
B) Sambhaji
C) Shahu
D) Balaji Vishwanath
Answer: A
Explanation: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1627-1680) is recognized as the founder of the Maratha Empire. He carved out an independent Maratha kingdom from the declining Adilshahi Sultanate of Bijapur and resisted Mughal expansion.
270. The first Governor-General of Bengal was:
A) Warren Hastings
B) Robert Clive
C) Charles Cornwallis
D) Lord Wellesley
Answer: A
Explanation: Warren Hastings became the first Governor-General of Bengal in 1772, a position created by the Regulating Act of 1773 to centralize British administration in India.
271. The famous Indian freedom fighter who was hanged at the age of 23 was:
A) Bhagat Singh
B) Chandrashekhar Azad
C) Subhas Chandra Bose
D) Rajguru
Answer: A
Explanation: Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary socialist, was hanged by the British along with Sukhdev and Rajguru on March 23, 1931, at the age of 23. His execution galvanized the Indian independence movement.
272. Who established the All India Muslim League?
A) Muhammad Ali Jinnah
B) Syed Ahmad Khan
C) Allama Iqbal
D) Liaquat Ali Khan
Answer: B
Explanation: The All India Muslim League was formally founded in Dhaka in 1906, with prominent figures like Nawab Waqar-ul-Mulk, Nawab Salimullah of Dhaka, and Aga Khan III playing key roles. Sir Syed Ahmad Khan (d. 1898), while advocating for Muslim political rights, was not directly involved in its establishment, though his Aligarh Movement laid some groundwork.
273. The Champaran Satyagraha was led by:
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Sardar Patel
C) Mahatma Gandhi
D) Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: C
Explanation: The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was Mahatma Gandhi’s first major civil disobedience movement in India. He led the protest against the oppressive indigo cultivation system in Champaran, Bihar.
274. The famous Indian leader known as the ‘Iron Man of India’ was:
A) Lala Lajpat Rai
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: C
Explanation: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is popularly known as the “Iron Man of India” for his instrumental role in integrating over 500 princely states into the Indian Union after independence and his strong leadership.
275. Who was the first Muslim ruler of Delhi?
A) Qutb-ud-Din Aibak
B) Alauddin Khilji
C) Ibrahim Lodi
D) Babur
Answer: A
Explanation: Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, a former slave and general of Muhammad Ghori, established the Slave Dynasty (Mamluk Dynasty) and became the first Sultan of Delhi in 1206 CE, thus becoming the first Muslim ruler of Delhi.
276. Who started the Deoband Movement?
A) Sir Syed Ahmed Khan
B) Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
C) Rashid Ahmad Gangohi
D) Shah Waliullah
Answer: C
Explanation: The Deoband Movement, a revivalist movement within Islam in India, was primarily founded by Muhammad Qasim Nanautavi and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh, in 1866.
277. Who was the first woman in India to become a doctor?
A) Sarojini Naidu
B) Anandibai Joshi
C) Kamini Roy
D) Begum Roquiah
Answer: B
Explanation: Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi was one of the first Indian women to be trained as a physician in Western medicine. She obtained her medical degree in the United States in 1886.
278. The famous ‘Jallianwala Bagh Massacre’ took place in the year:
A) 1919
B) 1920
C) 1921
D) 1922
Answer: A
Explanation: The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, in Amritsar, Punjab. British troops under General Dyer fired upon a peaceful gathering, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
279. The famous ‘Lal Chowk’ is located in:
A) Srinagar
B) Delhi
C) Lucknow
D) Amritsar
Answer: A
Explanation: Lal Chowk (Red Square) is a famous city square in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It has historical significance as a site for political gatherings and speeches.
280. The revolt of 1857 began in:
A) Meerut
B) Delhi
C) Kanpur
D) Lucknow
Answer: A
Explanation: The full-scale Revolt of 1857 officially began on May 10, 1857, when sepoys in Meerut openly mutinied, killing British officers and marching to Delhi.
281. Who wrote the book ‘Indian Struggle’?
A) Subhas Chandra Bose
B) Jawaharlal Nehru
C) Lala Lajpat Rai
D) Bhagat Singh
Answer: A
Explanation: ‘The Indian Struggle’ is a significant historical account written by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, covering the period of the Indian independence movement from 1920 to 1942.
282. Who was the first President of India?
A) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
B) Dr. Zakir Husain
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Answer: A
Explanation: Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of independent India, serving from 1950 to 1962.
283. Who was the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Qutb-ud-Din Aibak
B) Iltutmish
C) Raziya Sultana
D) Muhammad Ghori
Answer: A
Explanation: Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, who became independent after the death of Muhammad Ghori, established the Delhi Sultanate in 1206 CE and was its first ruler.
284. The first battle of Panipat was fought in:
A) 1526
B) 1556
C) 1761
D) 1857
Answer: A
Explanation: The First Battle of Panipat was fought in 1526 between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi, which led to the establishment of the Mughal Empire in India.
285. The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in 1929 declared:
A) Complete Independence
B) Dominion status
C) Reforms for Indians
D) Home Rule
Answer: A
Explanation: The Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in 1929, under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru, passed the resolution for ‘Purna Swaraj’ (Complete Independence) as the goal of the national movement.
286. Who is known as the ‘Father of Indian Cinema’?
A) Dadasaheb Phalke
B) Satyajit Ray
C) Raj Kapoor
D) Bimal Roy
Answer: A
Explanation: Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke, is widely considered the “Father of Indian Cinema” for his pioneering efforts in producing India’s first full-length feature film, ‘Raja Harishchandra’ (1913).
287. The Khilafat Movement was led by:
A) Muhammad Ali Jauhar
B) Lala Lajpat Rai
C) Subhas Chandra Bose
D) Gandhiji
Answer: A
Explanation: The Khilafat Movement (1919-1924) was primarily led by the Ali Brothers—Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shaukat Ali—in India, to protest against the unjust treatment of the Ottoman Caliph by the British.
288. The first Indian to join the Indian Civil Services was:
A) Satyendranath Tagore
B) Surendranath Banerjee
C) Rajendra Prasad
D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: A
Explanation: Satyendranath Tagore, the elder brother of Rabindranath Tagore, was the first Indian to successfully clear the Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination in 1863.
289. The famous ‘Salt March’ led by Gandhiji was to protest against:
A) The British taxes on salt
B) The Quit India Movement
C) The Indian Rebellion of 1857
D) The Rowlatt Act
Answer: A
Explanation: The Salt March (Dandi March) of 1930 was a non-violent protest initiated by Mahatma Gandhi against the British salt monopoly and the oppressive salt laws, which heavily taxed salt, an essential commodity for the common people.
290. Who was the first to call the Indian National Congress a ‘cradle of the nation’?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
C) Lala Lajpat Rai
D) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: B
Explanation: While many leaders contributed to the nationalist discourse, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, in his fiery speeches, often emphasized the importance of the Indian National Congress as a platform for national awakening and the ‘cradle of the nation’.
291. Who was the first woman to lead a movement against British rule in India?
A) Sarojini Naidu
B) Rani Lakshmibai
C) Aruna Asaf Ali
D) Begum Hazrat Mahal
Answer: D
Explanation: Begum Hazrat Mahal, the Begum of Awadh, was one of the prominent leaders of the Revolt of 1857. She led the rebellion against the British in Lucknow and was a fierce opponent of British annexation policies.
292. The famous ‘Swaraj’ resolution was passed by the Indian National Congress in the year:
A) 1916
B) 1929
C) 1942
D) 1947
Answer: B
Explanation: The ‘Purna Swaraj’ (Complete Independence) resolution was passed by the Indian National Congress at its Lahore Session in 1929, with Jawaharlal Nehru as its president.
293. The headquarters of the Indian National Congress is located in:
A) Mumbai
B) Delhi
C) Lucknow
D) Kolkata
Answer: B
Explanation: The current headquarters of the Indian National Congress, one of India’s major political parties, is located in New Delhi.
294. Who was the first Governor-General of India under British rule?
A) Robert Clive
B) Warren Hastings
C) Lord Canning
D) Lord Mountbatten
Answer: B
Explanation: Warren Hastings, who was the first Governor-General of Bengal, effectively became the first Governor-General of British India under the Regulating Act of 1773, which centralized administration. Lord William Bentinck was the first Governor-General of India under the Charter Act of 1833. Given the options and common historical context, Warren Hastings is generally referred to as the first Governor-General under British rule in India (though initially only for Bengal).
295. Who was the first woman ruler of India?
A) Rani Lakshmibai
B) Razia Sultana
C) Noor Jahan
D) Indira Gandhi
Answer: B
Explanation: Razia Sultana (reigned 1236–1240) was the first and only female Muslim ruler of the Delhi Sultanate in India.
296. The Brahmo Samaj was founded by:
A) Dayanand Saraswati
B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
C) Swami Vivekananda
D) Keshab Chandra Sen
Answer: B
Explanation: The Brahmo Samaj, a significant socio-religious reform movement in Bengal, was founded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in 1828.
297. The Mughal emperor who was the most successful in his religious policies and military conquests was:
A) Akbar
B) Jahangir
C) Shah Jahan
D) Aurangzeb
Answer: A
Explanation: Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) is widely regarded as the most successful Mughal emperor in terms of both military conquests, which significantly expanded the empire, and his inclusive religious policies, such as Din-i-Ilahi and Sulh-i-Kul (peace with all).
298. Who was the founder of the East India Company?
A) Robert Clive
B) John Clendon
C) Sir Thomas Roe
D) Queen Elizabeth I
Answer: D
Explanation: The East India Company was formed under a Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I of England on December 31, 1600, giving it a monopoly on trade with the East Indies. While many individuals were involved in its formation, the legal and official founding was through the Queen’s charter.
299. The Revolt of 1857 is also known as:
A) First War of Independence
B) The Sepoy Mutiny
C) The Indian Rebellion
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: The Revolt of 1857 is referred to by multiple names, including the First War of Independence (by Indian nationalists), the Sepoy Mutiny, and the Indian Rebellion, reflecting different perspectives on the event.
300. Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress?
A) Lala Lajpat Rai
B) Dadabhai Naoroji
C) Womesh Chunder Bannerjee
D) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Answer: C
Explanation: Womesh Chunder Bannerjee (W.C. Bannerjee) was the first president of the Indian National Congress, presiding over its first session held in Bombay in December 1885.