Question 1

Harshavardhana's death is generally placed in which year?

Accepted Answer

647 CE Harshavardhana's death is generally placed in 647 CE. For exams remember the beginning and end dates of Harsha's period.

Question 2

Mahmud of Ghazni's famous attack on Somnath took place in which year?

Accepted Answer

1025 CE Mahmud of Ghazni's famous attack on Somnath took place in 1025 CE. For exams remember dates of medieval invasions.

Question 3

The Slave Dynasty was founded in which year?

Accepted Answer

1206 CE The direct answer is A: the Slave Dynasty was founded in 1206 CE. In standard Indian history, Qutb-ud-din Aibak became the first ruler of the Mamluk or Slave Dynasty after the death of Muhammad Ghori, and this marks the beginning of the Delhi Sultanate in 1206. Step by step, Muhammad Ghori died in 1206; Aibak established authority in Delhi; therefore the dynasty is dated to 1206 CE. Option A is correct. Option B, 1290, marks the beginning of the Khalji Dynasty, not the Slave Dynasty. Option C, 1320, is associated with the beginning of the Tughlaq Dynasty. Option D, 1451, marks the beginning of the Lodi Dynasty. Thus the dates identify different ruling dynasties. Exam cue: remember the sequence “1206 Mamluk, 1290 Khalji, 1320 Tughlaq, 1451 Lodi.”

Question 4

Razia Sultan's reign began in which year?

Accepted Answer

1236 CE Razia Sultan's reign began in 1236 CE. For exams remember the date linked with the woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.

Question 5

Balban's reign is considered to have begun in which year?

Accepted Answer

1266 CE Balban's reign is considered to begin in 1266 CE. For exams connect Balban with strict kingship.

Question 6

Alauddin Khalji's reign began in which year?

Accepted Answer

1296 CE Alauddin Khalji became Sultan in 1296 CE. For exams connect his reign with market reforms and resistance to Mongols.

Question 7

The Lodi dynasty was founded in which year?

Accepted Answer

1451 CE The Lodi dynasty was founded in 1451 CE by Bahlol Lodi. For exams remember the order and years of Sultanate dynasties.

Question 8

Guru Nanak Dev was born in which year?

Accepted Answer

1469 CE Guru Nanak Dev, the founder and first Guru of Sikhism, was born in 1469 CE at Rai Bhoi Ki Talwandi, later known as Nankana Sahib. His teachings emphasized devotion to one God, honest work, sharing with others, and equality among people. The year 1469 is a standard historical date associated with his birth and is frequently used in school history and general-knowledge questions.

Option A, 1469 CE, is therefore correct. The other years belong to different historical events or periods and do not match Guru Nanak Dev’s birth. The question asks only for the year, so the essential reasoning is to recall this well-established date rather than calculate it. A useful memory connection is that Guru Nanak Dev was born in the fifteenth century, long before the Mughal period’s later major events. The answer should be written as 1469 CE or 1469 ईस्वी.

Question 9

When did Vasco da Gama reach Calicut?

Accepted Answer

1498 CE Vasco da Gama reached Calicut in 1498 CE. For exams remember the date of the European sea route to India.

Question 10

In which year did the Portuguese capture Goa in India?

Accepted Answer

1510 CE The direct answer is A: the Portuguese captured Goa in 1510 CE. To understand the date, remember the sequence: Portuguese explorer and administrator Afonso de Albuquerque captured Goa in 1510, making it an important Portuguese base on the western coast of India. Option A is correct because 1510 is the accepted year of the Portuguese conquest of Goa. Option B, 1526, is associated with Babur’s victory at Panipat and the beginning of Mughal rule, not the capture of Goa. Option C, 1600, is linked broadly with the English East India Company’s charter, not this event. Option D, 1757, is associated with the Battle of Plassey, not Portuguese control of Goa. Memory cue: Goa—Portuguese—1510; Plassey—1757.

Question 11

Babur founded the Mughal Empire in which year?

Accepted Answer

1526 CE Babur laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire after the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. For exams connect Mughal foundation with Panipat.

Question 12

The Battle of Chausa took place in which year?

Accepted Answer

1539 CE The Battle of Chausa was fought in 1539 between Humayun and Sher Shah Suri. For exams remember dates of Humayun's defeats.

Question 13

The Battle of Kannauj in which Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah took place in which year?

Accepted Answer

1540 CE The Battle of Kannauj took place in 1540 and Humayun lost power. For exams remember the sequence of Chausa and Kannauj.

Question 14

Akbar's reign began in which year?

Accepted Answer

1556 CE The direct answer is B: 1556 CE. Akbar became Mughal emperor in 1556 after the death of his father, Humayun. Because Akbar was still young, Bairam Khan initially played an important role in administration. In the same year, the Second Battle of Panipat was fought between Akbar’s forces and Hemu; Akbar’s victory strengthened Mughal control in north India. Option A, 1540 CE, is wrong because it is associated with Sher Shah Suri’s victory over Humayun and not the beginning of Akbar’s reign. Option B, 1556 CE, is correct. Option C, 1576 CE, is wrong because it is the year of the Battle of Haldighati, not the accession of Akbar. Option D, 1605 CE, is wrong because Akbar died in that year and was succeeded by Jahangir; it marks the end, not the beginning, of his reign. Memory cue: Akbar begins in 1556; connect the year with the Second Battle of Panipat.

Question 15

Maharana Pratap was born in which year?

Accepted Answer

1540 CE Maharana Pratap was born in 1540 CE. For exams connect him with Mewar and the Battle of Haldighati.

Question 16

Akbar started Din-i-Ilahi in which year?

Accepted Answer

1582 CE The direct answer is B: 1582 CE. Din-i-Ilahi, also called the Divine Faith in many school accounts, was associated with Akbar’s effort to promote tolerance and a broad ethical outlook among selected followers. The date reasoning is: Akbar ruled from 1556 to 1605; his major religious discussions and experiments developed during the later part of his reign; Din-i-Ilahi is conventionally dated to 1582. Option B is therefore correct. Option A, 1576, is not the accepted year for its beginning; that year is associated with the Battle of Haldighati. Option C, 1605, is the year Akbar died, not the year he began this policy. Option D, 1658, belongs to the later Mughal period and is after Akbar’s reign. Memory cue: Akbar’s Din-i-Ilahi—1582; Akbar’s death—1605.

Question 17

In which year did the East India Company receive its English royal charter?

Accepted Answer

1600 CE The East India Company received its charter in 1600. For exams remember the Company's foundation year clearly.

Question 18

Jahangir's reign began in which year?

Accepted Answer

1605 CE Jahangir's reign began in 1605 CE after Akbar's death. For exams remember the Mughal succession order.

Question 19

Shah Jahan's reign began in which year?

Accepted Answer

1628 CE The direct answer is B: Shah Jahan’s reign began in 1628 CE. After the death of his father, Jahangir, in 1627, Prince Khurram became emperor as Shah Jahan in 1628. He ruled until 1658, when Aurangzeb took power after the war of succession. Option B is correct because 1628 is the accepted beginning of his reign. Option A, 1605, is wrong because it marks Jahangir’s accession, not Shah Jahan’s. Option C, 1658, is wrong as the end of Shah Jahan’s effective reign and Aurangzeb’s accession are connected with that year. Option D, 1707, is wrong because it is the year of Aurangzeb’s death and does not begin Shah Jahan’s rule. Shah Jahan is also remembered for major Mughal architecture, including the Taj Mahal. Exam cue: “Jahangir 1605, Shah Jahan 1628, Aurangzeb 1658.”

Question 20

Shivaji Maharaj was born in which year?

Accepted Answer

1627 CE Shivaji Maharaj's birth is placed in 1627 CE. For exams connect him with the rise of Maratha power.

Question 21

Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom took place in which year?

Accepted Answer

1675 CE Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom took place in 1675 CE. For exams remember important dates of Sikh history.

Question 22

Banda Singh Bahadur's victory campaign at Sirhind is associated with which year?

Accepted Answer

1710 CE Banda Singh Bahadur's victory at Sirhind is linked with 1710. For exams remember dates of Sikh resistance.

Question 23

The Treaty of Allahabad took place in which year?

Accepted Answer

1765 CE The Treaty of Allahabad took place in 1765 and the Company received Diwani rights. For exams remember events after Buxar.

Question 24

Rani Lakshmibai was born in which year?

Accepted Answer

1828 ईस्वी Rani Lakshmibai, whose childhood name was Manikarnika, was born in 1828 CE. She became a leading figure of Jhansi during the Revolt of 1857; therefore, 1857 is associated with the revolt, not with her birth. Exam tip: remember the sequence—birth in 1828, Revolt of 1857, and death in 1858.

Question 25

Awadh was annexed by the British in which year?

Accepted Answer

1856 The British annexed Awadh in 1856 during Lord Dalhousie’s tenure. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was removed and the kingdom was brought under British rule. 1857 marks the beginning of the Revolt, not the annexation of Awadh. Exam tip: Remember 1856 for the annexation of Awadh and 1857 for the Revolt.

Important Dates in Indian History

Practice questions

01 Harshavardhana's death is generally placed in which year?

02 Mahmud of Ghazni's famous attack on Somnath took place in which year?

03 The Slave Dynasty was founded in which year?

04 Razia Sultan's reign began in which year?

05 Balban's reign is considered to have begun in which year?

06 Alauddin Khalji's reign began in which year?

07 The Lodi dynasty was founded in which year?

08 Guru Nanak Dev was born in which year?

09 When did Vasco da Gama reach Calicut?

10 In which year did the Portuguese capture Goa in India?

11 Babur founded the Mughal Empire in which year?

12 The Battle of Chausa took place in which year?

13 The Battle of Kannauj in which Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah took place in which year?

14 Akbar's reign began in which year?

15 Maharana Pratap was born in which year?

16 Akbar started Din-i-Ilahi in which year?

17 In which year did the East India Company receive its English royal charter?

18 Jahangir's reign began in which year?

19 Shah Jahan's reign began in which year?

20 Shivaji Maharaj was born in which year?

21 Guru Tegh Bahadur's martyrdom took place in which year?

22 Banda Singh Bahadur's victory campaign at Sirhind is associated with which year?

23 The Treaty of Allahabad took place in which year?

24 Rani Lakshmibai was born in which year?

25 Awadh was annexed by the British in which year?

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