Medieval Indian History MCQs
Multiple choice questions on Medieval Indian History for General Studies and GK preparation of SSC, NDA, CDS, UPSC, UPPSC and State PSC Examinations.
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. Which of the following ladies wrote an historical account during the Mughal period?
[A] Gulbadan Begum
[B] Noorjahan Begum
[C] Jahanara Begum
[D] Zebun-nissah Begum
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gulbadan Begum]
Notes:
Gulbadan Begum (1523-1603) was a Perso-Turkic Princess, the daughter of Emperor Babur. She is most known as the author of Humayun Nama, the account of the life of her brother, Humayun.
3. The Mansabdari system was borrowed from ?
[A] Afghanistan
[B] Turkey
[C] Mongolia
[D] Persia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mongolia]
Notes:
Mansabdar implies the generic term for the military-kind grading of all royal functionaries of the Mughal Empire. The Mansabdari system introduced by Akbar was borrowed from the system followed in Mongolia.
4. What was the capital of the Bahamani Sultanate?
[A] Gulbarga
[B] Halebidu
[C] Hampi
[D] Badami
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Gulbarga]
Notes:
Gulbarga was the capital of the Bahamani Sultanate from 1347 to 1425.
Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (also known as Hasan Gangu or Zafar Khan) founded the sultanate in 1347 after rebelling against the Delhi Sultanate and established its headquarters at Aḥsanābād (Gulbarga).
In 1425, Ahmad Shah I shifted the capital to Bidar (Muḥammadābād).
Halebidu, Hampi, and Badami were capitals of Hoysala, Vijayanagara, and Chalukya dynasties, respectively.
5. A manuscript titled “Sarab Gutaka” is ascribed to which among the following mystics?
[A] Bhagat Pipa
[B] Surdas
[C] Bhagat Trilochan
[D] Bhagat Namdev
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bhagat Pipa]
Notes:
Bhagat Pipa was a mystic poet and saint of Bhakti movement. He was a Rajput King of Gagaraungarh who abdicated the throne to become a Hindu mystic poet and saint of the Bhakti movement. He was born in the Malwa region of North India in approximately AD 1425. The manuscript “Sarab Gutaka” is ascribed to Bhagat Pipa.
6. Which Mughal King sat on the throne with title of “Padshah Gazi”?
[A] Jahangir
[B] Shah Jahan
[C] Aurangzeb
[D] Mohammad Shah
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Jahangir]
Notes:
Jahangir, son of Akbar, ascended the Mughal throne in 1605 AD and adopted the title of Nur-ud-din Jahangir Padshah Ghazi. “Padshah Ghazi” is an honorific title implying “Defender of the Faith” and was traditionally used by Muslim sovereigns. Reigning from Agra, Jahangir was known for his justice, administrative reforms, and patronage of the arts.
7. The ‘Ashta Diggajas’ adorned in the court of which ruler of South India?
[A] Srikrishna Devraya
[B] Harihara Raya I
[C] Bukka Raya I
[D] Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Srikrishna Devraya ]
Notes:
In the court of an emperor Sri Krishna Deva Raya (1509-1529 AD), a ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, the group of eight Telugu poets (also known as Ashtadiggajas) were regarded as the eight pillars of his literary assembly.
The Ashta Diggajas were Allasani Peddana, Nandi Thimmana, Madayyagari Mallana, Dhurjati, Ayyalaraju Ramambhadrudu, Pingali Surana, Ramarajabhushanudu, and Tenali Ramakrishnudu. In his reign, Telugu literature and culture reached its zenith
8. In the administration of Allauddin Khilji, the ministry of commerce was organised by whom?
[A] Malik Qabul
[B] Rais Parwani
[C] Malik Yakub
[D] Khusru Malik
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Malik Yakub]
Notes:
Diwan-i-Riyasat, the ministry of commerce, organised under Malik Yakub.
9. Alamgirnama was written by whom ?
[A] Mulla Daud
[B] Dara Sikoh
[C] Mirza Muhammad Qazim
[D] Mutamid Khan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Mirza Muhammad Qazim]
Notes:
Mirza Muhammad Qazim was the author of book “Alamgir-Nama”. The book gives the chronicle of the contemporary events covering the first decaded of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s reign.
10. Birth place of Mughal emperor Akbar:
[A] Agra
[B] Fatehpur Sikri
[C] Amarkot
[D] Kabul
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Amarkot]
Notes:
Akbar was born in 1542 at Amarkot (Now in Pakistan) in the palace of King Veersaal when his father Humayun fled from military defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Suri.