Welcome to “Set 7” of our “Indian History – UPSC MCQ Series”! This set takes you through the crucial period of the 17th and 18th centuries, marking significant shifts in Indian history. Explore the rise of independent powers like the Marathas under Shivaji and the consolidation of the Sikh empire under Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Delve into the fragmented Deccan Sultanates and the impact of Aurangzeb’s policies. Most importantly, this series focuses on the advent of European trading companies—the Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French—and the pivotal battles and treaties that gradually led to the establishment of British political dominance in India.
Set 7
301. Shivaji was crowned as Chhatrapati in:
A. 1664
B. 1670
C. 1674
D. 1680
Answer: C
Explanation: Shivaji formally crowned himself as Chhatrapati (paramount sovereign) at Raigarh Fort on June 6, 1674 CE. This coronation marked the official establishment of the independent Maratha kingdom.
302. The capital of Shivaji was:
A. Pune
B. Raigarh
C. Satara
D. Kolhapur
Answer: B
Explanation: The hill fort of Raigarh served as the capital of Shivaji’s Maratha kingdom from the time of his coronation in 1674 CE until his death.
303. The administrative council of Shivaji was known as:
A. Ashtapradhan
B. Panchayat
C. Rajya Sabha
D. Dandanayaka
Answer: A
Explanation: Shivaji’s efficient administrative system was guided by a council of eight ministers known as the Ashtapradhan. Each minister was responsible for a specific department.
304. The Peshwa system was introduced by:
A. Shivaji
B. Balaji Vishwanath
C. Shahu
D. Baji Rao I
Answer: A
Explanation: While the Peshwas later became the de facto rulers of the Maratha Empire, the office of Peshwa (chief minister) was first established by Shivaji himself as one of the eight key members of his Ashtapradhan council.
305. The Maratha tax equivalent to land revenue was:
A. Sardeshmukhi
B. Chauth
C. Jizya
D. Patta
Answer: B
Explanation: Chauth was a regular tax (one-fourth or 25% of the revenue) levied by the Marathas on territories that were outside their direct administrative control but within their sphere of influence. It was extracted as protection money, promising not to raid those territories. It was a major source of revenue, but distinctly different from the land revenue collected from their own territory (Swarajya).
306. The Maratha Empire reached its peak under:
A. Shivaji
B. Baji Rao I
C. Balaji Baji Rao
D. Shahu
Answer: C
Explanation: The Maratha Empire expanded significantly and reached its territorial zenith under the Peshwaship of Balaji Baji Rao (also known as Nana Saheb), the son of Baji Rao I. This period saw Maratha influence extend over a large part of the Indian subcontinent, though it was also during his time that they suffered the devastating defeat at the Third Battle of Panipat.
307. The Third Battle of Panipat was fought in:
A. 1757
B. 1761
C. 1764
D. 1771
Answer: B
Explanation: The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on January 14, 1761 CE. It was a major confrontation that severely crippled the Maratha Empire and paved the way for the rise of the British.
308. The Marathas were defeated at Panipat by:
A. Ahmad Shah Abdali
B. Nizam of Hyderabad
C. Tipu Sultan
D. Mughals
Answer: A
Explanation: The Marathas were decisively defeated in the Third Battle of Panipat by the invading forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali, the Afghan ruler.
309. The founder of the Sikh religion was:
A. Guru Arjan
B. Guru Nanak
C. Guru Tegh Bahadur
D. Guru Gobind Singh
Answer: B
Explanation: Guru Nanak Dev (1469–1539 CE) is revered as the founder of Sikhism, one of the youngest major religions in the world. He propagated the message of one God, universal brotherhood, and equality.
310. Guru Nanak was born during the reign of:
A. Bahlul Lodi
B. Babur
C. Ibrahim Lodi
D. Akbar
Answer: C
Explanation: Guru Nanak was born in 1469 CE in Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan). This falls within the reign of Ibrahim Lodi (1517–1526 CE), the last Sultan of the Delhi Sultanate. He also witnessed the beginning of Mughal rule under Babur.
311. The Guru Granth Sahib was compiled by:
A. Guru Nanak
B. Guru Angad
C. Guru Arjan Dev
D. Guru Hargobind
Answer: C
Explanation: The holy scripture of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib, was primarily compiled by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev (1563–1606 CE). He included the teachings of the Sikh Gurus and other saints.
312. The tenth and last Sikh Guru was:
A. Guru Arjan
B. Guru Harkishan
C. Guru Tegh Bahadur
D. Guru Gobind Singh
Answer: D
Explanation: Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708 CE) was the tenth and last living Guru of the Sikhs. He formalized the Khalsa Panth and declared the Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru.
313. The Khalsa Panth was founded in:
A. 1699
B. 1701
C. 1707
D. 1715
Answer: A
Explanation: Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth on Baisakhi day in 1699 CE at Anandpur Sahib. This initiated the warrior community of the Sikhs, who pledged to uphold justice and fight oppression.
314. The Misl system is associated with:
A. Marathas
B. Sikhs
C. Afghans
D. Rajputs
Answer: B
Explanation: The Misl system refers to the confederacies of the Sikh warrior clans that emerged in Punjab in the 18th century after the decline of the Mughal Empire. These Misls later coalesced under Maharaja Ranjit Singh to form the Sikh Empire.
315. The Sikh empire was consolidated by:
A. Guru Gobind Singh
B. Banda Bahadur
C. Maharaja Ranjit Singh
D. Dal Khalsa
Answer: C
Explanation: The various Sikh Misls were unified and the formidable Sikh empire was consolidated by Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780–1839 CE), known as the “Lion of Punjab.”
316. The founder of the Bahmani Kingdom was:
A. Mahmud Gawan
B. Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah
C. Malik Ambar
D. Quli Qutb Shah
Answer: B
Explanation: The Bahmani Kingdom, an independent Muslim state in the Deccan, was founded by Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah (also known as Hasan Gangu Bahmani) in 1347 CE, after breaking away from the Delhi Sultanate.
317. The Bahmani Kingdom broke into how many Deccan Sultanates?
A. 3
B. 5
C. 7
D. 6
Answer: B
Explanation: After its decline, the Bahmani Kingdom disintegrated into five independent Deccan Sultanates: Bijapur (Adil Shahi), Golconda (Qutb Shahi), Ahmadnagar (Nizam Shahi), Berar (Imad Shahi), and Bidar (Barid Shahi).
318. Gol Gumbaz, the largest dome in India, is located at:
A. Golconda
B. Gulbarga
C. Bijapur
D. Bidar
Answer: C
Explanation: Gol Gumbaz, famous for its massive dome (the second largest unsupported dome in the world) and its whispering gallery, is the mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah. It is located in Bijapur, Karnataka.
319. The founder of the Qutb Shahi dynasty in Golconda was:
A. Quli Qutb Shah
B. Ibrahim Adil Shah
C. Yusuf Adil Shah
D. Malik Kafur
Answer: A
Explanation: The Qutb Shahi dynasty that ruled the Sultanate of Golconda was founded by Sultan Quli Qutb Shah in 1518 CE, after the fragmentation of the Bahmani Kingdom.
320. The Deccan policy of Aurangzeb led to:
A. Consolidation of Mughal rule
B. Exhaustion of Mughal resources
C. Religious unity
D. British alliance
Answer: B
Explanation: Aurangzeb’s long and arduous Deccan policy, aimed at annexing the Deccan Sultanates and crushing the Marathas, proved to be financially and militarily draining. It led to the exhaustion of Mughal resources and contributed significantly to the empire’s decline.
321. The Mughal emperor during the Battle of Plassey was:
A. Alamgir II
B. Ahmad Shah
C. Shah Alam II
D. Farrukhsiyar
Answer: A
Explanation: The Battle of Plassey took place in 1757 CE. The nominal Mughal emperor reigning during this period was Alamgir II (reigned 1754–1759 CE).
322. Who introduced the Dual Government in Bengal?
A. Robert Clive
B. Warren Hastings
C. Mir Jafar
D. Sir Eyre Coote
Answer: A
Explanation: After the Battle of Buxar (1764) and the Treaty of Allahabad (1765), Robert Clive introduced the Dual Government in Bengal. Under this system, the East India Company held the Diwani (revenue collection rights), while the Nawab retained the Nizamat (administrative and judicial functions), leading to exploitation and misgovernance.
323. The first English factory was established in India at:
A. Surat
B. Calicut
C. Madras
D. Masulipatnam
Answer: A
Explanation: The English East India Company established its first permanent factory (trading post) in India at Surat in 1613 CE, after securing permission from Emperor Jahangir.
324. Which Portuguese explorer discovered the sea route to India?
A. Bartholomew Diaz
B. Vasco da Gama
C. Cabral
D. Columbus
Answer: B
Explanation: The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama is credited with discovering the direct sea route from Europe to India, circumnavigating Africa.
325. Vasco da Gama landed in India in:
A. 1492
B. 1498
C. 1501
D. 1505
Answer: B
Explanation: Vasco da Gama famously landed at Calicut (Kozhikode) on the Malabar Coast of India on May 20, 1498 CE, opening up the direct sea route.
326. The first Portuguese Governor in India was:
A. Francisco de Almeida
B. Vasco da Gama
C. Alfonso de Albuquerque
D. Cabral
Answer: A
Explanation: Francisco de Almeida was the first Portuguese Governor and Viceroy in India, serving from 1505 to 1509 CE. He implemented the “Blue Water Policy.”
327. The Dutch East India Company was formed in:
A. 1602
B. 1605
C. 1612
D. 1620
Answer: A
Explanation: The Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie – VOC) was formed in 1602 CE through the amalgamation of several smaller Dutch trading companies, becoming a powerful mercantile force.
328. The English East India Company received a farman from Jahangir in:
A. 1600
B. 1608
C. 1615
D. 1617
Answer: C
Explanation: Sir Thomas Roe, the ambassador of King James I, visited the Mughal court from 1615 to 1619 CE. During this embassy, he successfully secured a royal farman (imperial decree) from Emperor Jahangir in 1615 CE (or early 1616), granting the English East India Company the right to establish factories and trade throughout the Mughal Empire.
329. The French East India Company established its first factory at:
A. Surat
B. Pondicherry
C. Masulipatnam
D. Calicut
Answer: A
Explanation: The French East India Company (Compagnie française des Indes orientales) established its first factory in India at Surat in 1668 CE.
330. Pondicherry was founded as a French settlement in:
A. 1670
B. 1674
C. 1680
D. 1690
Answer: B
Explanation: Pondicherry (now Puducherry) was acquired by the French from the Sultan of Bijapur and founded as a prominent French settlement in 1674 CE by François Martin.
331. The Battle of Swally (1612) was fought between:
A. English and Dutch
B. English and Portuguese
C. Portuguese and Mughals
D. Dutch and French
Answer: B
Explanation: The Battle of Swally (or Suvali), near Surat, in 1612 CE, was a naval engagement fought between the English East India Company and the Portuguese. The English victory in this battle significantly boosted their prestige and influence in India.
332. The last strong Mughal ruler before British rise was:
A. Bahadur Shah Zafar
B. Shah Alam II
C. Aurangzeb
D. Farrukhsiyar
Answer: C
Explanation: Emperor Aurangzeb (reigned 1658–1707 CE) is considered the last powerful and effective Mughal emperor. After his death, the central authority of the Mughals rapidly weakened, creating a power vacuum that the British eventually filled.
333. The Nawab of Bengal during Plassey was:
A. Siraj-ud-Daulah
B. Mir Jafar
C. Shuja-ud-Daulah
D. Alivardi Khan
Answer: A
Explanation: Siraj-ud-Daulah was the Nawab of Bengal who faced the British East India Company in the Battle of Plassey in 1757 CE. He was betrayed by his general Mir Jafar, leading to his defeat.
334. The Battle of Buxar (1764) was fought between the British and:
A. Siraj-ud-Daulah
B. Shuja-ud-Daulah, Shah Alam II, and Mir Qasim
C. Hyder Ali
D. Ranjit Singh
Answer: B
Explanation: The Battle of Buxar in 1764 CE was fought between the British East India Company and the combined forces of Mir Qasim (the Nawab of Bengal), Shuja-ud-Daulah (the Nawab of Awadh), and Shah Alam II (the Mughal Emperor). The British victory cemented their military and political supremacy in Bengal.
335. Who was known as the “Tiger of Mysore”?
A. Tipu Sultan
B. Haidar Ali
C. Shuja-ud-Daulah
D. Ali Adil Shah
Answer: A
Explanation: Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore, was famously known as the “Tiger of Mysore” for his fierce resistance against the British and his innovative military strategies.
336. The French Governor who revived French fortunes in India was:
A. Dupleix
B. Labourdonnais
C. Bussy
D. Lally
Answer: A
Explanation: Joseph François Dupleix, the French Governor-General of Pondicherry, played a crucial role in reviving French influence and establishing their political dominance in the Carnatic region through military prowess and intricate alliances with local rulers.
337. The British defeated the French finally in:
A. Battle of Swally
B. Battle of Wandiwash
C. Battle of Buxar
D. Battle of Carnatic
Answer: B
Explanation: The Battle of Wandiwash in 1760 CE was the decisive engagement of the Third Carnatic War. The British, under Eyre Coote, inflicted a crushing defeat on the French, effectively ending their hopes of becoming a dominant power in India.
338. The system of Diwani in Bengal was granted to the British in:
A. 1757
B. 1764
C. 1765
D. 1772
Answer: C
Explanation: Following the Battle of Buxar, the Treaty of Allahabad was signed in 1765 CE. As per this treaty, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II granted the Diwani (rights to collect revenue and administer civil justice) of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the British East India Company.
339. The French East India Company was founded in:
A. 1600
B. 1615
C. 1664
D. 1700
Answer: C
Explanation: The French East India Company (Compagnie française des Indes orientales) was formally founded in 1664 CE by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the finance minister to King Louis XIV.
340. The Dutch were finally defeated by the British at:
A. Cochin
B. Nagapattinam
C. Masulipatnam
D. Pulicat
Answer: B
Explanation: While the Dutch faced setbacks earlier, the British systematically dismantled their power. A significant blow was the British capture of Nagapattinam, a key Dutch settlement on the Coromandel Coast, in 1781 during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. This, along with other captures, eventually led to the complete subjugation of Dutch power in India by the British.
341. The Black Hole Tragedy occurred in:
A. 1745
B. 1756
C. 1757
D. 1764
Answer: B
Explanation: The Black Hole Tragedy, where a large number of British prisoners were allegedly confined in a small room by Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, occurred on June 20, 1756 CE, in Calcutta (Kolkata).
342. The dual administration in Bengal ended in:
A. 1765
B. 1767
C. 1772
D. 1781
Answer: C
Explanation: The system of Dual Government in Bengal, introduced by Robert Clive, was finally abolished by Warren Hastings when he became the Governor of Bengal in 1772 CE. He took over the direct administration of the Diwani.
343. The last independent Nawab of Bengal was:
A. Mir Jafar
B. Mir Qasim
C. Siraj-ud-Daulah
D. Shuja-ud-Daulah
Answer: C
Explanation: Siraj-ud-Daulah was the last truly independent Nawab of Bengal. After his defeat at Plassey and subsequent assassination, his successors were largely puppet rulers under the control of the British East India Company.
344. Hyder Ali was succeeded by:
A. Tipu Sultan
B. Nizam of Hyderabad
C. Mir Qasim
D. Ali Bahadur
Answer: A
Explanation: Upon the death of Hyder Ali, the formidable ruler of Mysore, his son Tipu Sultan succeeded him in 1782 CE. Tipu continued his father’s fierce resistance against the British.
345. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) ended:
A. First Carnatic War
B. Second Carnatic War
C. Anglo-Mysore War
D. Battle of Buxar
Answer: A
Explanation: The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was signed in 1748 CE and brought an end to the War of Austrian Succession in Europe. Consequently, it also ended the First Carnatic War in India, restoring Madras to the British.
346. The Treaty of Paris (1763) ended:
A. Third Carnatic War
B. First Anglo-Maratha War
C. Anglo-French rivalry in India
D. Battle of Plassey
Answer: A
Explanation: The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1763 CE, concluding the Seven Years’ War in Europe. In the Indian context, it formally ended the Third Carnatic War and largely marked the end of French colonial ambitions as a major political power in India, leaving the British as the dominant European force.
347. The British political power began to rise after:
A. Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
B. Battle of Wandiwash
C. Battle of Plassey
D. Battle of Buxar
Answer: C
Explanation: While the Battle of Buxar (1764) truly consolidated British power, the Battle of Plassey (1757 CE) is widely considered the pivotal event that marked the beginning of significant British political control in India. It gave the East India Company a firm foothold in Bengal and established them as a key political player.
348. The ruler of Hyderabad who aligned with the British was:
A. Asaf Jah I
B. Nizam-ul-Mulk
C. Salabat Jang
D. Mir Osman Ali
Answer: C
Explanation: Salabat Jang, who became the Nizam of Hyderabad with French support, later, after the French defeat in the Carnatic Wars, was compelled to align with the British. He signed treaties that ceded the Northern Circars to the British and accepted their protection.
349. Who ceded the Northern Circars to the British?
A. Nizam of Hyderabad
B. Nawab of Bengal
C. Tipu Sultan
D. French Governor
Answer: A
Explanation: The Nizam of Hyderabad formally ceded the Northern Circars (a coastal territory in present-day Andhra Pradesh) to the British East India Company through various treaties, especially in 1766 and 1768, as a result of their growing influence.
350. The most important result of the Battle of Plassey was:
A. End of French power
B. Beginning of British political control
C. Rise of Marathas
D. Decline of Mughals
Answer: B
Explanation: The most profound and immediate consequence of the Battle of Plassey (1757 CE) was the beginning of British political control over Bengal. This victory, achieved through treachery, gave the East India Company immense wealth and resources, laying the foundation for their eventual colonial empire in India.