Question 1

Who among the following rulers in ancient India had assumed the titles 'Mattavilasa', 'Vichitrachitta' and 'Gunabhara'?

Accepted Answer

Mahendravarman I — Mahendravarman I of the Pallava dynasty was known by the titles Mattavilasa (jolly drunkard), Vichitrachitta (curious-minded), and Gunabhara (bearer of virtues), and authored the farce Mattavilasa Prahasana.

Question 2

The irrigation device called 'Araghatta' was:

Accepted Answer

a large wheel with earthen pots tied to the outer ends of its spokes — Araghatta was a Persian wheel, a large wheel with earthen pots attached to its rim, rotated by bullocks to lift water for irrigation.

Question 3

Who among the following rulers of Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across Tungabhadra River and a canal-cum-aqueduct several kilometers long from the river to the capital city?

Accepted Answer

Devaraya I — Devaraya I (1406–1422) of the Sangama dynasty built the famous dam across the Tungabhadra and an aqueduct to supply water to the Vijayanagara capital.

Question 4

Consider the following dynasties: 1. Hoysala 2. Gahadavala 3. Kakatiya 4. Yadava. How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?

Accepted Answer

None — None of these dynasties, Hoysala, Gahadavala, Kakatiya, or Yadava, rose to power in the early 8th century; all emerged later, between the 10th and 12th centuries.

Question 5

Consider the following pairs: King – Dynasty. 1. Nannuka – Chandela. 2. Jayashakti – Paramar. 3. Nagabhata II – Gurjara-Pratihara. 4. Bhoja – Rashtrakuta. How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two pairs — Nannuka (Chandela) and Nagabhata II (Gurjara-Pratihara) are correctly matched; Jayashakti belonged to the Chandela dynasty (not Paramar), and Bhoja was of the Paramar dynasty (not Rashtrakuta).

Question 6

According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas?
1) Wrestling
2) Astrology
3) Accounting
4) Soothsaying
Select the correct answer using the code given below

Accepted Answer

1, 2, 3 and 4 — Fernao Nuniz, the Portuguese chronicler at Vijayanagara, recorded that women of the empire were trained in wrestling, astrology, accounting, and soothsaying, serving even as palace guards and royal secretaries.

Question 7

From the decline of Guptas until the rise of Harshavardhana in the early seventh century, which of the following kingdoms were holding power in Northern India? 1) The Guptas of Magadha. 2) The Paramaras of Malwa. 3) The Pushyabhutis of Thanesar. 4) The Maukharis of Kanauj. 5) The Yadavas of Devagiri. 6) The Maitrakas of Valabhi. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

1, 3, 4 and 6 — After the Gupta decline and before Harsha, northern India was dominated by later Guptas of Magadha, the Pushyabhutis of Thanesar, the Maukharis of Kanauj, and the Maitrakas of Valabhi; Paramaras and Yadavas belong to a much later period.

Question 8

Consider the following events in the history of India: 1. Rise of Pratiharas under King Bhoja. 2. Establishment of Pallava power under Mahendravarman-I. 3. Establishment of Chola power by Parantaka-I. 4. Pala dynasty founded by Gopala. What is the correct chronological order of the above events, starting from the earliest time?

Accepted Answer

2 – 4 – 1 – 3 — The correct order is: Mahendravarman I Pallava (c. 580–630 CE), then Gopala founding the Palas (c. 750 CE), then Bhoja of the Pratiharas (c. 836–885 CE), then Parantaka I Chola (c. 907–950 CE).

Question 9

Which of the following phrases defines the nature of the 'Hundi' generally referred to in the sources of the post-Harsha period?

Accepted Answer

A bill of exchange — Hundi was a financial instrument used in medieval India equivalent to a bill of exchange or promissory note, widely used by merchants for long-distance trade.

Question 10

With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term Araghatta refers to:

Accepted Answer

Waterwheel used in the irrigation of land — Araghatta was a Persian wheel or waterwheel that used a series of pots on a rotating wheel driven by bullocks to draw water from wells or rivers for irrigation.

Question 11

Regarding the taxation system of Krishna Deva, the ruler of Vijayanagar, consider the following statements:
1. The tax rate on land was fixed depending on the quality of the land.
2. Private owners of workshops paid an 'industries tax'.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 2 — Under Krishnadeva Raya's Vijayanagara administration, land tax was graded by soil quality and workshop owners paid a separate industries tax, both statements are correct.

Question 12

In the context of the history of India, consider the following pairs: Term – Description. 1) Eripatti: Land, revenue from which was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank. 2) Taniyurs: Villages donated to a single Brahmin or a group of Brahmins. 3) Ghatikas: Colleges generally attached to the temples. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

1 and 3 — Eripatti (tank-maintenance land) and Ghatikas (temple colleges) are correctly described; Taniyurs were actually single-Brahmin settlement villages, but in South Indian usage they refer to villages granted to a group of Brahmins, making pair 2 partially ambiguous, the official answer is 1 and 3.

Question 13

Who of the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong?

Accepted Answer

Harihara I — Harihara I, founder of the Vijayanagara Empire, established the city of Vijayanagara on the south bank of the Tungabhadra (a tributary of Krishna) and ruled as a representative of Lord Virupaksha.

Question 14

Consider the following pairs:
Medieval Indian State: Present Region
1. Champaka: Central India
2. Durgara: Jammu
3. Kuluta: Malabar
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

2 only — Durgara correctly corresponds to the Jammu region; Champaka was in the Kashmir/Himachal area (not Central India) and Kuluta was in present-day Himachal Pradesh (not Malabar).

Question 15

India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with southeast Asia across the bay of Bengal. For this pre-eminence of the early maritime history of the Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing explanation/explanations?

Accepted Answer

Monsoon winds across the bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages. — The seasonal reversal of monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal made trans-oceanic navigation predictable and reliable, which is the most convincing single reason for India's early maritime dominance in that region.

Question 16

When Raja Wodeyar founded the kingdom of Mysore, who was the ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire?

Accepted Answer

Ranga II — Raja Wodeyar founded the independent Mysore kingdom around 1565 CE; at that time Ranga II (Aravidu dynasty) was the nominal ruler of the weakened Vijayanagara Empire.

Question 17

Who among the following laid the foundation of Rashtrakuta Empire?

Accepted Answer

Dantidurga — Dantidurga (c. 735–756 CE) overthrew the Chalukyas and founded the Rashtrakuta Empire, with its capital at Manyakheta (modern Malkhed).

Question 18

Consider the following statements: 1. The Ikshvaku rulers of southern India were antagonistic towards Buddhism. 2. The Pala rulers of Eastern India were patrons of Buddhism. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

2 only — The Pala rulers of Bengal and Bihar were strong patrons of Mahayana Buddhism and built institutions like Vikramashila and Odantapuri; the Ikshvakus of Nagarjunakonda were actually patrons of Buddhism, not antagonistic to it.

Question 19

Consider the following statements:
1. Narasimha Saluva ended the Sangama dynasty and seized the throne for himself and started the Saluva dynasty.
2. Vira Narasimha deposed the last Saluva ruler and seized the throne for himself.
3. Vira Narasimha was succeeded by his younger brother, Krishnadeva Raya.
4. Krishnadeva Raya was succeeded by his half-brother, Achyuta Raya.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2, 3, and 4 — All four statements accurately describe the dynastic transitions in the Vijayanagara Empire from the Sangama to Saluva to Tuluva dynasties.

Question 20

Consider the following statements: 1. The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over peninsular India in early medieval times. 2. The Cholas sent an expedition against the Sailendra empire of South-East Asia and conquered some of the areas. Which of these statements is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 2 — Both statements are correct: the Cholas dominated peninsular India by defeating Pandyas and Cheras, and Rajendra Chola I launched a naval expedition against the Srivijaya/Sailendra empire around 1025 CE.

Question 21

Assertion (A): Saluva Narasimha put an end to the old dynasty and assumed the royal title.
Reason (R): He wanted to save the kingdom from further degeneration and disintegration.

Accepted Answer

A is true but R is false. — Saluva Narasimha did end the Sangama dynasty (A is true), but the conventional reason was his own ambition rather than the kingdom's welfare, the stated Reason is historically unsupported.

Question 22

Emperor Harsha's southward march was stopped on the Narmada river by:

Accepted Answer

Pulakesin II — Pulakesin II of the Chalukya dynasty defeated Harsha on the banks of the Narmada around 619 CE, halting his southward expansion, a fact confirmed by the Aihole inscription.

Question 23

Which one of the Chola kings conquered Ceylon?

Accepted Answer

Rajendra — Rajendra Chola I (1014–1044 CE) conquered northern Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and added it to the Chola empire, following the earlier partial occupation by his father Rajaraja I.

Question 24

Assertion (A): Harshavardhana convened the Prayag Assembly. Reason (R): He wanted to popularise only the Mahayana form of Buddhism.

Accepted Answer

Both A and R are individually true, but R is NOT a correct explanation of A — Harsha did convene the Prayag (Kumbh) Assembly, and he did patronise Mahayana Buddhism, but the assembly's primary purpose was the large-scale donation of accumulated wealth to all religious groups, not exclusively to promote Mahayana.

Question 25

The practice of military governorship was first introduced in India by the:

Accepted Answer

Greeks — The Greeks (Indo-Greeks) were the first to appoint military governors (strategoi) in India, a practice that influenced later Shaka and Kushana administrative systems.

Question 26

Which one of the following Muslim rulers was hailed as the 'Jagadguru' by his Muslim subjects because of his belief in secularism?

Accepted Answer

Ibrahim Adil Shah — Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur was called 'Jagadguru' (world teacher) by his subjects for his secular outlook, patronage of Sanskrit and Kannada, and devotion to the goddess Saraswati.

Question 27

Consider the following events:
I. Reign of Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara.
II. Construction of Qutab Minar.
III. Arrival of Portuguese in India.
IV. Death of Firoz Tughlaq.
Arrange the above events in chronological order:

Accepted Answer

II, IV, III, I — Qutab Minar construction began ~1193 CE (II), Firoz Tughlaq died 1388 CE (IV), Portuguese arrived 1498 CE (III), Krishnadeva Raya reigned 1509–1529 CE (I), giving the sequence II, IV, III, I.

Question 28

One consistent feature found in the history of southern India was the growth of small regional kingdoms rather than large empires because of:

Accepted Answer

Too many divisions in the social structure — The highly segmented caste and social structure of southern India, combined with strong regional identities, prevented the consolidation of power into large centralised empires.

Question 29

Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India?

Accepted Answer

Manigrama — Manigrama was a famous guild/corporation of merchants in South India during the medieval period, known from inscriptions across the Deccan and South-East Asia.

Question 30

Match List I with List II: List I – List II. I. Gupta – A) Badami. II. Chandella – B) Panamalai. III. Chalukya – C) Khajuraho. IV. Pallava – D) Deogarh. Select the correct answer using the codes:

Accepted Answer

I-D, II-C, III-A, IV-B — Gupta architecture is exemplified at Deogarh (Dashavatara temple), Chandella at Khajuraho, Chalukya at Badami, and Pallava at Panamalai.

Question 31

Who among the following were famous jurists of medieval India?
I. Vijnanesvara
II. Hemadri
III. Rajasekhara
IV. Jimutavahana
Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

Accepted Answer

I, II and IV — Vijnanesvara (Mitakshara), Hemadri (Chaturvarga Chintamani), and Jimutavahana (Dayabhaga) were renowned medieval Indian jurists; Rajasekhara was a playwright, not a jurist.

Question 32

With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements:
1. The first Mongol invasion of India happened during the reign of Jalal-ud-din Khalji.
2. During the reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji, one Mongol assault marched up to Delhi and besieged the city.
3. Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq temporarily lost portions of north-west of his kingdom to Mongols.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

2 only — The first Mongol invasion came during Balban's reign (not Jalal-ud-din Khalji), and Muhammad bin Tughlaq did not lose territory to Mongols; only statement 2 is correct.

Question 33

With reference to Indian history, which of the following were known as "Kulah-Daran"?

Accepted Answer

Sayyids — Kulah-Daran, meaning 'wearers of the tall cap', was a term used for the Sayyids, descendants of the Prophet, who held a distinguished status in medieval Indian society.

Question 34

Consider the following statements:
1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince.
2. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus.
3. It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 only — Only statement 1 is correct: Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in 1221 during Iltutmish's reign; Taimur's invasion (1398) was during Nasiruddin Mahmud's reign, not Tughlaq's.

Question 35

Consider the following statements:
1. In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue collection was known as Amil.
2. The Iqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient indigenous institution.
3. The office of Mir Bakshi came into existence during the reign of Khalji Sultans of Delhi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1 only — Amil was indeed the revenue-collection officer; the Iqta system was borrowed from Central Asia (not indigenous); and Mir Bakshi was a Mughal office, not Khalji, so only statement 1 is correct.

Question 36

Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally:

Accepted Answer

Traders — Banjaras were itinerant traders and grain carriers who transported bulk goods such as grain and salt across long distances using pack animals.

Question 37

With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential elementary elements of the feudal system?
1. A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority.
2. Emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of land.
3. Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Accepted Answer

2 and 3 only — Feudalism is defined by land-based power structures and lord-vassal relationships (2 and 3); it is actually characterised by decentralised political authority, so statement 1 is incorrect.

Question 38

In Medieval India, the designations 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila' were used for:

Accepted Answer

Village officers — Mahattara (headman) and Pattakila were titles used for village-level administrative officers in medieval India, found in inscriptions from the early medieval period.

Question 39

Assertion (A): Muhammad bin Tughlaq issued a new gold coin which was called Dinar by Ibn Batutah.
Reason (R): Muhammad bin Tughlaq wanted to issue token currency in gold coins to promote trade with West Asian and North African countries.

Accepted Answer

A is true but R is false. — Muhammad bin Tughlaq did issue a gold coin called Dinar, but his famous experiment was with token brass/copper currency, he had no specific intent to promote trans-continental trade, so the Reason is false.

Question 40

Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the Afghan rulers to the throne of Delhi?

Accepted Answer

Bahlol Khan Lodi, Sikandar Shah, Ibrahim Lodi — The Lodi dynasty's chronological order was Bahlol Khan Lodi (1451–1489), followed by Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517), and finally Ibrahim Lodi (1517–1526).

Question 41

Who was the last ruler of the Tughluq dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate?

Accepted Answer

Nasir ud din Mahmud — Nasir ud din Mahmud (died 1413) was the last sultan of the Tughluq dynasty; after Timur's invasion (1398) he ruled a much-reduced sultanate until the Sayyid dynasty replaced the Tughluqs.

Question 42

How did Sultan Qutb ud din Aibak die?

Accepted Answer

He died after a fall from his horse while playing Chaugan — Qutb ud din Aibak died in 1210 CE after falling from his horse during a game of Chaugan (a form of polo) at Lahore.

Question 43

Consider the following statement:
1. Kitab I Nauras, a collection of songs in praise of Hindu deities and Muslim saints, was written by Ibrahim Adil Shah II
2. Amir Khusrau was the originator in India of the early form of the musical style known as Qawwali.
Which of these statements is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Both 1 and 2 — Both statements are correct: Ibrahim Adil Shah II of Bijapur authored the Kitab-i-Nauras celebrating both Hindu and Sufi traditions, and Amir Khusrau is credited with developing the qawwali form of devotional music in India.

Question 44

Assertion (A): Muhammad bin Tughlaq left Delhi, and, for two years lived in a camp called Swarga dwari.
Reason (R): At that time, Delhi was ravaged by a form of plague and many people died.

Accepted Answer

Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Both A and R are individually true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
A is true but R is false.✓ Answer
A is false but R is true.

Why

Akbar did march to Afghanistan in 1581 (A is true), but the purpose was to suppress his half-brother Mirza Hakim's rebellion, not to reclaim Ferghana (R is false).

Question 45

With reference to medieval Indian rulers, which one of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

Firuz Tughlaq set up a separate department of slaves — Firuz Shah Tughlaq established a separate department called Diwan-i-Bandagan specifically to manage the large number of slaves in his service.

Question 46

The historian Barani refused to consider the state in India under Delhi Sultans as truly Islamic because:

Accepted Answer

The Sultan supplemented the Muslim law by framing his own regulations — Barani criticised the Delhi Sultanate for not being a true Islamic state because the Sultans, especially Muhammad bin Tughluq, supplemented the Sharia with their own secular regulations (zawabit), which Barani viewed as a deviation from pure Islamic governance.

Question 47

The Mongols under Gengis Khan invaded India during the reign of:

Accepted Answer

Iltutmish — Chengiz Khan (Genghis Khan) reached the Indus in 1221 CE during the reign of Iltutmish, though he did not actually invade the Delhi Sultanate's territory.

Question 48

Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Dewan-i-bandagani – Tughlaq — Dewan-i-Bandagani (department of slaves) was established by Firuz Shah Tughlaq; the Tughluq dynasty connection makes option A correct.

Question 49

Match List I with List II:
I. Iqta – A) Marathas
II. Jagir – B) Delhi Sultans
III. Amaram – C) Mughals
IV. Mokasa – D) Vijayanagara

Accepted Answer

I-B, II-C, III-D, IV-A — Iqta was the Delhi Sultanate's land assignment system (I-B); Jagir belonged to the Mughals (II-C); Amaram was the Vijayanagara system (III-D); and Mokasa was used by the Marathas (IV-A).

Question 50

'The king was freed from his people and they from their king'. On whose death did Badauni comment thus?

Accepted Answer

Muhammad-bin Tughlak — The chronicler Badauni made this sardonic remark upon the death of Muhammad bin Tughluq, whose erratic and tyrannical policies had deeply alienated his subjects.

UPSC Medieval History — previous-year questions

New Kings and Kingdoms

The Delhi Sultanate

The Mughal Empire

Bhakti and Sufi Traditions

Peasants, Zamindars and the Mughal State

Eighteenth-Century Political Formations