Question 1

What was the special feature of Samudragupta's Dakshinapatha policy?

Accepted Answer

Defeating kingdoms and then restoring them Samudragupta defeated many southern rulers and then restored their rule. Understand his policy as a mix of conquest and subordination.

Question 2

Which Chinese traveller visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II?

Accepted Answer

Faxian Faxian visited India during Chandragupta II's reign. Remember travellers with their contemporary rulers.

Question 3

The Bhitari inscription of Skandagupta indicates victory over which crisis?

Accepted Answer

Huna invasion Skandagupta is remembered for defending against the Hunas. He is important among the last powerful Gupta rulers.

Question 4

Harshavardhana's capital is considered to have shifted from Thanesar to which city?

Accepted Answer

Kannauj Harsha made Kannauj his main centre of power. Remember the importance of Kannauj in North Indian history.

Question 5

Kanishka's capital is generally associated with which city?

Accepted Answer

Purushapura Kanishka's capital is considered to be Purushapura. Link the Kushan period with contacts between Central Asia and North India.

Question 6

Gautamiputra Satakarni became famous for defeating which Shaka ruler?

Accepted Answer

Nahapana Gautamiputra Satakarni was a prominent ruler of the Satavahana dynasty in the Deccan. His achievements are known partly from inscriptions and coins, including evidence of conflict with the Western Kshatrapas, a Shaka-linked ruling power. He is especially associated with defeating Nahapana and recovering territories and influence that had been held by Nahapana’s side. This episode is important because it illustrates competition between Satavahana rulers and Shaka or Western Kshatrapa authorities in western India.

The correct choice is C, Nahapana. Rudradaman was another important Western Kshatrapa ruler and is known from the Junagadh inscription, but he is not the ruler identified in this standard account of Gautamiputra’s major victory. Menander belonged to an earlier Indo-Greek context, while Kanishka was a Kushan ruler. The names represent different political powers and periods, so remembering the Satavahana–Western Kshatrapa conflict helps select Nahapana.

Question 7

The Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman I mentions the repair of which lake?

Accepted Answer

Sudarshana Lake The Junagadh inscription mentions the repair of Sudarshana Lake. Remember Rudradaman for Sanskrit inscription and public works.

Question 8

The Aihole Prashasti of Pulakeshin II is associated with which poet?

Accepted Answer

Ravikirti Ravikirti composed the Aihole Prashasti of Pulakeshin II. It is a major source for Chalukya history.

Question 9

Why is Narasimhavarman I associated with the title Mahamalla?

Accepted Answer

Because he was a great warrior and Pallava ruler Narasimhavarman I's title Mahamalla is linked with Pallava power and valour. Also remember Mahabalipuram with the Pallavas.

Question 10

What was a major result of Rajaraja Chola I's policy toward Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Extension of Chola influence to northern Sri Lanka Rajaraja Chola I expanded Chola influence over northern Sri Lanka. Link Chola power with naval campaigns.

Question 11

By what name did Rajendra Chola I establish his new capital?

Accepted Answer

Gangaikondacholapuram Rajendra Chola founded Gangaikondacholapuram after his Ganga expedition. Remember the capital and title together.

Question 12

The conflict between Dharmapala and the Pratiharas was mainly connected with control over which city?

Accepted Answer

Kannauj The Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas fought a tripartite struggle for Kannauj. Treat Kannauj as a centre of early medieval politics.

Question 13

Which title was used by Mihira Bhoja?

Accepted Answer

Adivaraha The direct answer is B, Adivaraha. Mihira Bhoja was a powerful ruler of the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty. A royal title was used to express the ruler’s identity, authority, or religious association. Mihira Bhoja is especially remembered in history and inscriptions by the title Adivaraha, meaning the primordial or original Varaha, the boar incarnation associated with Vishnu. Therefore the clue “Mihira Bhoja” leads to “Adivaraha.” Option A, Parameshvara, is a general title meaning supreme lord and is not the specific title asked here. Option B is correct because Adivaraha was associated with Mihira Bhoja. Option C, Gangaikonda, means conqueror of the Ganga and is associated with Rajendra Chola I. Option D, Priyadarshi, meaning pleasing to behold, is connected with Ashoka. Memory cue: Bhoja means “Adivaraha” in this question; do not confuse him with Chola or Maurya rulers.

Question 14

Amoghavarsha I made Manyakheta important for which dynasty?

Accepted Answer

Rashtrakuta Amoghavarsha I was a Rashtrakuta ruler and Manyakheta became important in his time. Remember the Rashtrakutas as a Deccan power.

Question 15

The Bhojshala centre associated with Bhoja Paramara is considered to be located in which city?

Accepted Answer

Dhar Bhoja Paramara's capital was Dhar and Bhojshala is linked with this cultural tradition. Remember Bhoja as a patron of learning and art.

Question 16

Which name is traditionally famous as the court poet of Prithviraj Chauhan?

Accepted Answer

Chand Bardai Chand Bardai is traditionally regarded as Prithviraj Chauhan's court poet. It is also important to understand the difference between tradition and history.

Question 17

Which group of Turkish nobles was influential in removing Razia Sultan?

Accepted Answer

Chalisa The opposition of the Chalisa nobles was important against Razia. Pay attention to the power of nobles in the early Sultanate.

Question 18

In Balban's policy, strict action against Mewatis and robbers was linked with what objective?

Accepted Answer

Strengthening law and order in the state Balban emphasized internal security and royal prestige. Link his policy with strict centralization.

Question 19

Alauddin Khalji applied the Dagh and Chehra system mainly in which field?

Accepted Answer

Military administration Dagh was related to branding horses and Chehra to identifying soldiers. This is important in Khalji military reforms.

Question 20

Muhammad bin Tughlaq attempted to shift the capital from Delhi to which place?

Accepted Answer

Daulatabad Muhammad bin Tughlaq attempted to shift the capital to Daulatabad. Consider Tughlaq's schemes ambitious but difficult.

Question 21

Firuz Shah Tughlaq associated which tax with irrigation?

Accepted Answer

Haq-i-Sharb Haq-i-Sharb was a charge connected with the supply or use of irrigation water. The term is associated with the administration of Firuz Shah Tughlaq, who paid attention to canals, wells, and agricultural improvement. Irrigation could help farmers cultivate land and increase production, while the state could collect revenue or a water-related charge from the benefit provided. This makes Haq-i-Sharb different from general land revenue, religious taxes, or compulsory payments imposed on particular communities.

The correct choice is B, Haq-i-Sharb. Kharaj was generally a land-revenue assessment, not the specific irrigation-water charge asked about here. Jizya was a tax imposed on non-Muslim subjects in the relevant medieval administrative context, and zakat was a religious obligation on Muslims. The question links the tax with irrigation, so the water-related term is the logical and historical match. Firuz Shah’s association with canals is a useful memory aid, but the term itself supplies the decisive clue.

Question 22

Which military technique played an important role in Babur's victory at Panipat?

Accepted Answer

Use of artillery and tulughma Babur used artillery and tactics such as tulughma. Link Panipat with technological change in Indian military history.

Question 23

Which work was written by Humayun's sister Gulbadan Begum?

Accepted Answer

Humayun Nama Gulbadan Begum, the daughter of Babur and sister of Humayun, wrote the Humayun-nama, also called Humayun Nama. She composed it in the Mughal period and described aspects of Humayun’s life, family relationships, journeys, and political experiences. Because it was written by a woman of the royal household, it offers a valuable perspective on Mughal family life and on events that may not appear in exactly the same way in official court histories. It is an important example of women’s contribution to historical writing.

The correct choice is A, Humayun Nama. Akbarnama was written by Abu’l-Fazl, mainly about Akbar’s reign. Baburnama is associated with Babur, who wrote his own memoir, and Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi is a different historical work connected with the Delhi Sultanate. The similar naming pattern can cause confusion, so matching Gulbadan Begum with Humayun is essential. Her work is not a memoir of Akbar or Babur; it focuses on Humayun and the Mughal family context.

Question 24

Which major work was written by Akbar's court historian Abul Fazl?

Accepted Answer

Akbarnama The direct answer is B: Akbarnama. Abul Fazl was a major scholar and court historian during Emperor Akbar’s reign. He wrote the Akbarnama, a Persian account of Akbar’s life, reign and empire. The Ain-i-Akbari is the third part of the Akbarnama and gives detailed information about administration, revenue, the army, society and the imperial system. The reasoning is: Abul Fazl served at Akbar’s court; he recorded Akbar’s reign; his principal historical work is the Akbarnama; therefore option B is correct. Option A, Rajatarangini, was written by Kalhana and describes the history of Kashmir. Option C, Buddhacharita, is associated with Ashvaghosha and narrates the life of the Buddha. Option D, Kavirajamarga, is an early Kannada literary work associated with the Rashtrakuta period, especially Amoghavarsha I, not Abul Fazl. A useful distinction is that both Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari are connected with Abul Fazl, but only Akbarnama appears in the options. The memory cue is “Abul Fazl wrote Akbarnama and Ain-i-Akbari.”

Question 25

How is Nur Jahan's political influence during Jahangir's reign viewed?

Accepted Answer

Active influence in court and administration Nur Jahan influenced court and administration during Jahangir's reign. Remember the role of royal women in Mughal politics.

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Practice questions

01 What was the special feature of Samudragupta's Dakshinapatha policy?

02 Which Chinese traveller visited India during the reign of Chandragupta II?

03 The Bhitari inscription of Skandagupta indicates victory over which crisis?

04 Harshavardhana's capital is considered to have shifted from Thanesar to which city?

05 Kanishka's capital is generally associated with which city?

06 Gautamiputra Satakarni became famous for defeating which Shaka ruler?

07 The Junagadh inscription of Rudradaman I mentions the repair of which lake?

08 The Aihole Prashasti of Pulakeshin II is associated with which poet?

09 Why is Narasimhavarman I associated with the title Mahamalla?

10 What was a major result of Rajaraja Chola I's policy toward Sri Lanka?

11 By what name did Rajendra Chola I establish his new capital?

12 The conflict between Dharmapala and the Pratiharas was mainly connected with control over which city?

13 Which title was used by Mihira Bhoja?

14 Amoghavarsha I made Manyakheta important for which dynasty?

15 The Bhojshala centre associated with Bhoja Paramara is considered to be located in which city?

16 Which name is traditionally famous as the court poet of Prithviraj Chauhan?

17 Which group of Turkish nobles was influential in removing Razia Sultan?

18 In Balban's policy, strict action against Mewatis and robbers was linked with what objective?

19 Alauddin Khalji applied the Dagh and Chehra system mainly in which field?

20 Muhammad bin Tughlaq attempted to shift the capital from Delhi to which place?

21 Firuz Shah Tughlaq associated which tax with irrigation?

22 Which military technique played an important role in Babur's victory at Panipat?

23 Which work was written by Humayun's sister Gulbadan Begum?

24 Which major work was written by Akbar's court historian Abul Fazl?

25 How is Nur Jahan's political influence during Jahangir's reign viewed?

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