Indian History MCQ : 30 Important Questions for Exams

Indian history mcq: ancient | medieval | modern

Sharpen your Indian history prep with 30 exam-focused MCQs spanning ancient to modern periods. Designed for UPSC, SSC, and other competitive tests, these questions cover major events, notable rulers, and crucial reforms

Which Harappan site is known for having a dockyard?
A) Lothal
B) Harappa
C) Mohenjo-daro
D) Kalibangan

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A
Sabha and Samiti were two assemblies of the:
A) Mauryan Empire
B) Gupta Empire
C) Rig Vedic Aryans
D) Sangam Tamils

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C
The language and script of Ashoka’s Major Rock Edicts in most regions were:
A) Sanskrit in Brahmi
B) Prakrit in Brahmi
C) Prakrit in Kharosthi
D) Pali in Brahmi

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B
The Arthashastra was authored by:
A) Bhasa
B) Kautilya (Chanakya)
C) Megasthenes
D) Patanjali

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B
The Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription referring to “King Chandra” is generally associated with:
A) Samudragupta
B) Chandragupta II
C) Skandagupta
D) Kumaragupta I

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B
Nalanda Mahavihara was traditionally founded during the reign of:
A) Kumaragupta I
B) Ashoka
C) Harshavardhana
D) Dharmapala

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A
Hampi served as the capital of the:
A) Chola Empire
B) Bahmani Sultanate
C) Vijayanagara Empire
D) Kakatiya Kingdom

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C
The silver “Tanka” and copper “Jital” coins were introduced by:
A) Iltutmish
B) Alauddin Khalji
C) Balban
D) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

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A
Alauddin Khalji’s market regulations primarily aimed at:
A) Promoting foreign trade
B) Controlling prices and ensuring supplies to the army
C) Introducing token currency
D) Increasing customs revenues

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B
The Sultan who attempted the introduction of token currency in copper and brass was:
A) Alauddin Khalji
B) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
C) Firuz Shah Tughlaq
D) Sher Shah Suri

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B
The Battle of Talikota (1565) led to:
A) The end of the Bahmani Sultanate
B) The rise of the Marathas
C) The decline of the Vijayanagara Empire
D) The establishment of Mughal rule in the Deccan

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C
The Mansabdari system was introduced by:
A) Babur
B) Akbar
C) Sher Shah Suri
D) Aurangzeb

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B
Akbar’s Din-i Ilahi was:
A) A new spiritual order with a small number of followers
B) A land revenue settlement
C) A market control policy
D) A military recruitment code

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A
The Jizya tax was reimposed by Aurangzeb in:
A) 1658
B) 1665
C) 1679
D) 1707

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C
The Ashta Pradhan (Council of Eight Ministers) was instituted by:
A) Akbar
B) Krishnadevaraya
C) Ranjit Singh
D) Shivaji

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D
The Battle of Plassey was fought in:
A) 1757
B) 1761
C) 1764
D) 1773

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A
The Subsidiary Alliance system in India was introduced by:
A) Lord Cornwallis
B) Lord Wellesley
C) Lord Hastings
D) Sir John Shore

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B
The Doctrine of Lapse is associated with:
A) Lord Canning
B) Lord Ripon
C) Lord Dalhousie
D) Lord Curzon

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C
The immediate cause of the Revolt of 1857 was:
A) The annexation of Awadh
B) The introduction of greased cartridges
C) The land revenue settlements
D) The abolition of sati

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B
The Indian Councils Act of 1909 (Morley–Minto Reforms) introduced:
A) Provincial dyarchy
B) Separate electorates for Muslims
C) Provincial autonomy
D) A federal court

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B
The Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu–Chelmsford Reforms) provided for:
A) Dyarchy in the provinces
B) Separate electorates for Sikhs
C) Complete responsible government at the Centre
D) Abolition of communal electorates

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A
The Non-Cooperation Movement was withdrawn by Gandhi in 1922 after:
A) The Jallianwala Bagh massacre
B) The Chauri Chaura incident
C) His arrest and imprisonment
D) The arrival of the Simon Commission

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B
Gandhi’s Salt March from Sabarmati to Dandi began on:
A) 12 March 1930
B) 26 January 1930
C) 15 August 1930
D) 2 October 1930

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A
The Poona Pact (1932) was an agreement between:
A) Gandhi and Ambedkar
B) Gandhi and Irwin
C) Nehru and Jinnah
D) Bose and Subhas’s INA leadership

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A
The Quit India Resolution (1942) was adopted at:
A) Lahore
B) Karachi
C) Bombay
D) Delhi

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C
The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) proposed:
A) Immediate partition of India
B) A unitary system with a strong Centre
C) A federal union with a weak Centre
D) Dominion status for princely states only

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C
The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on:
A) 15 August 1947
B) 26 November 1949
C) 26 January 1950
D) 9 December 1946

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B
India’s First Five-Year Plan covered the period:
A) 1947–1952
B) 1951–1956
C) 1956–1961
D) 1961–1966

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B
The Arya Samaj was founded by:
A) Swami Vivekananda
B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
C) Swami Dayanand Saraswati
D) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

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C
The Vernacular Press Act (1878) was enacted under the viceroyalty of:
A) Lord Lytton
B) Lord Ripon
C) Lord Curzon
D) Lord Canning

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A

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