1. The irrigation tax was charged on the farmers for the first time by which among the following Sultans?
[A] Alauddin Khilji
[B] Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
[C] Mohammad Tughlaq
[D] Firoz Tughlaq
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Firoz Tughlaq]
Notes:
Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who ascended Delhi’s throne on March 23, 1351, introduced four taxes based on Islamic law: kharaj (land tax), khams (one-fifth of spoils of war), jizya (tax on non-Muslims), and zakat (2% on property). The kharaj, or land tax, was the precursor to the first irrigation tax, equalling one tenth of the land produce. This first irrigation tax marked a significant shift in the economic policy of the Sultanate and had a lasting impact on Indian agriculture.
2. Rajasekhara, the eminent Sanskrit poet, dramatist and critic, who is best known for his work Kavyamimamsa, has described himself as guru of which king of Gurjara Pratiharas?
[A] Bhoj II
[B] Mihirbhoja I
[C] Mahendrapala I
[D] Mahipala I
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mahendrapala I]
Notes:
Rajasekhara was an eminent Sanskrit poet, dramatist and critic of 10th century and was court poet of the Gurjara Pratihara Kings. His most important works are Kavyamimamsa and Karpurmanjari. He had written Karpurmanjari to please his wife Avantisundari. Karpurmanjari is written in Sauraseni Prakrit. In his plays, Rajshekhara has described himself as teacher / guru of Gurjara Pratihara King Mahendrapala I.
3. Who among the following was the writer of Tarikh-i-Firozshahi?
[A] Ziauddin Barni
[B] Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
[C] Abul Fazal
[D] Firoz Tughlaq
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Ziauddin Barni]
Notes:
We know about the period of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq from the material of Ziauddin Barni. Barni’s main works are Twarikh-i-Firuzshahi and Fatwa-i-Jahandari.
4. ‘Padshah-nama’ (Chronicle of the Emperor) written by Abdul Hamid Lahori, is the official visual history giving a detailed account of the reign of which of the following Mughal Emperor?
[A] Babur
[B] Jahanagir
[C] Shah Jahan
[D] Aurangzeb
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Shah Jahan]
Notes:
Padshahnama or Badshah Nama is a genre of works written as the official history of the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan’s reign.
5. Which among the following Mughal emperor had prohibited smoking and use of tobacco in 1617 AD?
[A] Akbar
[B] Jahanagir
[C] Shahjahan
[D] Aurangzeb
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jahanagir]
Notes:
Jahangir is the Mughal emperor who prohibited smoking and use of tobacco in 1617 AD. Jahangir ruled from 1605 to 1627.
6. The ryotwari system, which was instituted in some parts of British India, was one of the two main systems used to collect revenues from the cultivators of agricultural land. It was originally introduced by________?
[A] Akbar
[B] Shershah Suri
[C] Jahanagir
[D] Humayun
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Shershah Suri]
Notes:
The Ryotwari system was originally introduced by Shershah Suri. He had surveyed the entire land under cultivation of his territory and fixed per bigha due on the basis of average of three rates representing good, middle and low soils.
7. Which among the following Mughal emperors prohibited the use of tobacco?
[A] Aurangzeb
[B] Jahnagir
[C] Akbar
[D] Babur
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jahnagir]
Notes:
Jahangir prohibited the use of tobacco in 1617. Jahangir was the fourth Mughal emperor, holding the throne from 1605-1627.
8. In the Shivaji’s Ashtapradhan, who was in-charge of royal secretariat and King’s correspondence?
[A] Waqia-i-navis
[B] Surnavis
[C] Sar-i-Naubat
[D] Dabir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Surnavis]
Notes:
In the Shivaji’s Ashtapradhan ( or Council of Eight Ministers), Surnavis (or Sachiv) was in-charge of royal secretariat and King’s correspondence.
9. Who among the following Mughal rulers banned singing and dancing in court ?
[A] Babur
[B] Akbar
[C] Aurangzeb
[D] Bahadur Shah Jafar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Aurangzeb]
Notes:
The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb banned singing and dancing in the royal court but not the playing of musical instruments. He himself was expert in playing rudra Veena. Many books on classical Indian music were written in Persian during his reign.
10. Who among the following Mughal emperors built “Bibi Ka Makbara”?
[A] Akbar
[B] Jahangir
[C] Aurangzeb
[D] Shahjahan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Aurangzeb]
Notes:
The famous shrine ‘Bibi-ka-Makbara’ was built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Aurangabad. It is a poor imitation of Taj Mahal at Agra was built in the memory of his favourite wife, Rabbia-ud-Daurani.
