Chapter 1: Prehistoric Cultures

1. The archaeological site of Mehrgarh is critically important for understanding the subcontinent’s prehistory because it provides the earliest evidence for which significant transition?
A) The shift from Middle to Upper Paleolithic tool-making.
B) The development of megalithic burial practices.
C) The evolution from a nomadic hunting-gathering economy to settled agriculture and animal husbandry.
D) The first use of copper tools, marking the start of the Chalcolithic age.

Answer: C) The evolution from a nomadic hunting-gathering economy to settled agriculture and animal husbandry.

Explanation: Mehrgarh, in modern Pakistan, shows a continuous sequence of development starting around 7000 BCE. Its archaeological strata clearly document the gradual shift from early food-gathering to the cultivation of wheat and barley and the domestication of animals, making it a key site for understanding the origins of the Neolithic revolution in South Asia.

2. Which feature uniquely distinguishes the Neolithic culture of Burzahom in Kashmir from other contemporary Neolithic sites in India?
A) Exclusive reliance on rice cultivation.
B) The presence of pit-dwellings and the practice of burying domestic dogs with their masters in graves.
C) The first use of iron sickles for agriculture.
D) The construction of large, baked-brick community structures.

Answer: B) The presence of pit-dwellings and the practice of burying domestic dogs with their masters in graves.

Explanation: The Neolithic site of Burzahom is remarkable for its unique characteristics. The inhabitants lived in pit-dwellings, likely for protection from the harsh cold. Furthermore, archaeologists have found graves containing human skeletons buried alongside the skeletons of dogs, suggesting a deep human-animal bond and a distinct burial custom not commonly seen elsewhere.

3. The Belan Valley in Uttar Pradesh holds a unique place in Indian archaeology primarily because it:
A) Contains the oldest known rock art in India.
B) Was the largest center for manufacturing Chalcolithic pottery.
C) Presents a complete and uninterrupted sequence of Stone Age cultures, from the Lower Paleolithic through the Neolithic.
D) Is the only site where Harappan and Vedic artifacts have been found in the same layer.

Answer: C) Presents a complete and uninterrupted sequence of Stone Age cultures, from the Lower Paleolithic through the Neolithic.

Explanation: The Belan Valley is exceptionally significant because its geological and archaeological deposits have yielded a continuous record of human occupation across the entire Stone Age. This sequence allows archaeologists to study the evolution of tool technology and culture from the Lower Paleolithic, Middle Paleolithic, Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and finally to the Neolithic period in a single geographical area.

Chapter 2: Indus Civilization

4. A defining characteristic of Harappan urban planning, indicating a high degree of central control, was the:
A) Presence of monumental palaces for rulers in every city.
B) Remarkable consistency in the grid-like street layout, standardized brick sizes, and sophisticated drainage systems across numerous sites.
C) Construction of massive ziggurats similar to those in Mesopotamia.
D) Varying pottery styles unique to each individual settlement.

Answer: B) Remarkable consistency in the grid-like street layout, standardized brick sizes, and sophisticated drainage systems across numerous sites.

Explanation: The uniformity of urban features across the vast Harappan territory is a strong argument for a centralized authority. Cities hundreds of miles apart, like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, shared common principles of a grid plan, streets intersecting at right angles, and most strikingly, the use of standardized baked bricks in a consistent 4:2:1 ratio.

5. The famous bronze statuette of the “Dancing Girl” found at Mohenjo-Daro was created using which advanced metallurgical technique?
A) Forging and hammering
B) Repoussé
C) Lost-wax casting (cire perdue)
D) Granulation

Answer: C) Lost-wax casting (cire perdue)

Explanation: This iconic artifact is a testament to the metallurgical skill of the Harappans. It was crafted using the lost-wax method, a complex process where a wax model is encased in clay, the wax is melted out, and the resulting mold is filled with molten metal. This allowed for the creation of intricate, three-dimensional forms.

6. The structure identified as a dockyard at the Harappan site of Lothal provides strong evidence for the civilization’s involvement in:
A) Large-scale freshwater fishing.
B) Advanced river-based irrigation systems.
C) A powerful military navy for conquests.
D) Extensive maritime trade with contemporary civilizations like Mesopotamia.

Answer: D) Extensive maritime trade with contemporary civilizations like Mesopotamia.

Explanation: The massive engineered brick basin at Lothal is widely interpreted as a dockyard. This, along with the discovery of artifacts like Persian Gulf seals, indicates that Lothal served as a major commercial port, connecting the Indus Valley’s trade network to overseas destinations, most notably Mesopotamia.

7. Compared to contemporary civilizations in Egypt and Mesopotamia, what is conspicuously absent from the archaeological record of the Indus Valley Civilization?
A) Evidence of writing.
B) Representations of animals in art.
C) Large-scale, monumental public temples and definitive royal tombs or palaces.
D) Use of wheeled transport.

Answer: C) Large-scale, monumental public temples and definitive royal tombs or palaces.

Explanation: While the Harappans had large, well-planned cities, they lack the kind of monumental religious or royal structures that define ancient Egypt (pyramids, temples) and Mesopotamia (ziggurats, palaces). No building has been definitively identified as a public temple, and there are no grand tombs or clear depictions of kings, making their political and religious power structures appear less centralized and monarchical.

Chapter 3: Vedic Society

8. In the Rigvedic period, a person’s wealth was primarily measured by:
A) The amount of land they owned.
B) The number of gold coins they possessed.
C) The number of cattle they owned.
D) The size of their army.

Answer: C) The number of cattle they owned.

Explanation: The society described in the Rig Veda was pastoral and semi-nomadic. Cattle were the most important form of wealth, and the term for war, gavishti, literally meant a “search for cows.” A wealthy person was known as a gomat, or “one who has cows.”

9. The Sabha and the Samiti, two important assemblies in the Rigvedic period, are best distinguished as:
A) Sabha was a judicial body, while Samiti was a military council.
B) Sabha was an assembly of elders or select nobles, while Samiti was a broader folk assembly of the entire tribe.
C) Sabha was a religious council, while Samiti was responsible for tax collection.
D) Sabha was open to all, while Samiti was restricted to the royal family.

Answer: B) Sabha was an assembly of elders or select nobles, while Samiti was a broader folk assembly of the entire tribe.

Explanation: Both assemblies exercised considerable authority and checked the power of the king (rajan). The Sabha is generally understood to have been a smaller, more exclusive body, functioning like a council of elders. The Samiti was a larger assembly that included common members of the tribe and was involved in electing the king and deciding major policy matters.

10. The transition from the Rigvedic to the Later Vedic period is marked by a significant geographical shift of the center of Aryan culture from:
A) The Gangetic Basin to Central India.
B) The Sapta Sindhu region to the Ganga-Yamuna Doab and the middle Gangetic plains.
C) Central Asia directly to the Ganga-Yamuna Doab.
D) Southern India to the Sapta Sindhu region.

Answer: B) The Sapta Sindhu region to the Ganga-Yamuna Doab and the middle Gangetic plains.

Explanation: The Rig Veda’s geography is centered on the Sapta Sindhu (land of seven rivers), corresponding to Punjab and its surrounding areas. The Later Vedic texts, like the Brahmanas and Upanishads, show a clear eastward movement. The Ganga-Yamuna Doab became the new heartland, known as Aryavarta, reflecting a shift to a more settled, agrarian society.

11. The elaborate Rajasuya sacrifice, performed by kings in the Later Vedic period, was primarily intended to:
A) Mark the conquest of new territories.
B) Ensure the birth of a male heir.
C) Consecrate the king and bestow supreme power and divinity upon him.
D) Celebrate a victory in a chariot race.

Answer: C) Consecrate the king and bestow supreme power and divinity upon him.

Explanation: The Rajasuya was the supreme royal consecration ceremony. It was a complex series of sacrifices and rituals lasting over a year, designed to legitimize the king’s rule and elevate his status from a mere tribal chief to a divine-right monarch, imbuing him with universal sovereignty.

Chapter 4: Pre-Maurya Period

12. The sixteen Mahajanapadas of the 6th century BCE saw intense competition. The eventual success of Magadha is attributed to several factors, including:
A) A republican form of government that fostered innovation.
B) Its strategic location with fertile lands, control over iron ore deposits, and use of elephants in its army.
C) An alliance with the Persian empire that provided military support.
D) Its development of a powerful navy to control coastal trade.

Answer: B) Its strategic location with fertile lands, control over iron ore deposits, and use of elephants in its army.

Explanation: Magadha’s rise was not accidental. It was located in the fertile Gangetic basin, providing a strong agricultural base. It had easy access to the rich iron ore mines of Chotanagpur, which allowed for better weapons and tools. Furthermore, its control over the forests of the region gave it a unique advantage in procuring and using war elephants on a large scale.

13. The Nanda dynasty, which preceded the Mauryas, is considered the first empire-builder of India. What was a key administrative innovation that facilitated their power?
A) The introduction of the first gold coins in India.
B) The establishment of a centralized administration with a system of organized tax collection, enabling them to fund a massive standing army.
C) The creation of a federal system of governance with autonomous provinces.
D) The development of a sophisticated legal code based on the Dharmasutras.

Answer: B) The establishment of a centralized administration with a system of organized tax collection, enabling them to fund a massive standing army.

Explanation: The Nandas are renowned for their immense wealth, which was used to maintain a formidable, professional army. They achieved this by creating an efficient administrative machinery for the regular and systematic collection of taxes from their vast territories. This organized revenue system was a departure from the earlier, more arbitrary methods of collection.

14. What was the fundamental political structure of a Gana-Sangha (or Ganarajya), such as that of the Vajjis?
A) An absolute monarchy ruled by a single, hereditary king.
B) A theocracy ruled by a council of priests.
C) An oligarchy or republic, where supreme power was vested in a council of elite Kshatriya clan chiefs.
D) A territory governed directly by a Persian Satrap.

Answer: C) An oligarchy or republic, where supreme power was vested in a council of elite Kshatriya clan chiefs.

Explanation: The Gana-Sanghas were non-monarchical states. Instead of a single king, they were governed by an assembly of the heads of the ruling Kshatriya clans. These chiefs, who all held the title of raja, would meet in a central assembly hall to deliberate on important state matters, making it a form of oligarchic or republican governance.

Chapter 5: The Mauryan Empire

15. In Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the superintendent of crown lands or state farms was known as the Sitadhyaksha. The revenue from these lands was termed:
A) Bali
B) Bhaga
C) Kara
D) Sita

Answer: D) Sita

Explanation: The Mauryan state had a highly organized revenue system. Sita specifically referred to the income generated from the state’s own agricultural lands, which were cultivated either directly by state-employed laborers or leased out to tenants. This was a major source of state income, distinct from the bhaga, which was the king’s share of the produce from private lands.

16. Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma (Dharma) is best understood not as a new religion, but as:
A) A strict enforcement of Buddhist monastic rules on the general populace.
B) A universal code of ethical and social conduct aimed at promoting public welfare, non-violence, and tolerance among all sects.
C) A foreign policy doctrine of imperial expansion through cultural means.
D) A new legal system to replace traditional laws.

Answer: B) A universal code of ethical and social conduct aimed at promoting public welfare, non-violence, and tolerance among all sects.

Explanation: Ashoka’s Dhamma was a secular moral code intended to provide a common set of values for his diverse empire. As propagated through his edicts, it emphasized principles like respect for elders, kindness to servants, non-violence towards all living beings (ahimsa), and tolerance for different religious beliefs. Its goal was to create a harmonious and just society.

17. Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador, described a seven-fold division of Mauryan society. This classification, which included groups like “philosophers,” “farmers,” and “soldiers,” is believed to be based on his:
A) Misunderstanding of the Indian Varna (caste) system, confusing occupations with rigid social classes.
B) Accurate reading of Mauryan government records.
C) Observations of different ethnic groups within the empire.
D) Analysis of religious texts available at the court.

Answer: A) Misunderstanding of the Indian Varna (caste) system, confusing occupations with rigid social classes.

Explanation: Megasthenes’ seven-fold division (philosophers, farmers, soldiers, herdsmen, artisans, magistrates, councillors) does not match the traditional four-fold Varna system of India. Historians widely believe that, as an outsider, he classified the population based on their professions, which he mistook for the kind of rigid, hereditary classes he was familiar with from other societies like Egypt, rather than understanding the nuances of the Varna and Jati system.

18. The Mauryan period is considered a major landmark in Indian art and architecture because it saw the first large-scale and widespread use of which material for monumental purposes?
A) Fired brick
B) Cement
C) Wood
D) Stone

Answer: D) Stone

Explanation: While wood was used extensively before, the Mauryan era, especially under Ashoka, marked a significant shift to stone as the primary medium for monumental art and architecture. The magnificent, highly polished Ashokan pillars, the rock-cut caves for ascetics, and the railings of stupas represent the beginning of the stone architectural tradition in India, much of which has endured for millennia.

19. What was the specific role of the officials known as the Dhamma-mahamattas, who were appointed by Ashoka?
A) They were chief tax collectors for the provinces.
B) They were high-ranking military generals.
C) They were a special cadre of officers responsible for propagating the Dhamma and overseeing public welfare and justice.
D) They were spies tasked with monitoring foreign kingdoms.

Answer: C) They were a special cadre of officers responsible for propagating the Dhamma and overseeing public welfare and justice.

Explanation: In his inscriptions, Ashoka explicitly mentions creating the post of Dhamma-mahamattas. These officials had the dual role of spreading the principles of his Dhamma throughout the empire and acting as ombudsmen for public welfare. They were tasked with ensuring fair treatment, overseeing charitable works, and reporting on the condition of the people.

Chapter 6: Post-Mauryan India (BC 200–AD 300)

20. The Gandhara School of Art, which flourished under the patronage of the Kushans, is famous for its:
A) Purely indigenous Indian style, free from any external influences.
B) Abstract and non-figural representation of the Buddha.
C) Synthesis of Indian Buddhist themes with Greco-Roman artistic techniques and aesthetics.
D) Use of terracotta as its primary medium.

Answer: C) Synthesis of Indian Buddhist themes with Greco-Roman artistic techniques and aesthetics.

Explanation: The Gandhara School is a classic example of cultural syncretism. It produced some of the first sculptures of the Buddha in human form. The subject matter and iconography were Indian (Buddhist), but the style was heavily influenced by Hellenistic (Greco-Roman) art, evident in the realistic depiction of the human form, the draped toga-like robes, and the Apollo-like facial features of the Buddha.

21. The Satavahana kings introduced a practice of land grants that had long-term implications for the Indian polity. What was a key feature of these grants?
A) They were temporary grants given only for military service.
B) They involved donating revenue from land while retaining full administrative control by the state.
C) They were the first to grant not only revenue but also administrative and judicial immunities, creating semi-autonomous feudal enclaves.
D) They were exclusively given to merchants to encourage trade.

Answer: C) They were the first to grant not only revenue but also administrative and judicial immunities, creating semi-autonomous feudal enclaves.

Explanation: The Satavahanas initiated the practice of giving land grants to Brahmins and Buddhist monks that included exemptions from taxation and, crucially, freedom from the entry of royal officials and soldiers. This meant the grantees could exercise administrative control over the donated land, laying the foundation for the system of feudalism that would become more widespread in later periods.

22. The Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman I is a landmark in Indian epigraphy because it is:
A) The earliest known inscription to be written in an elaborate, classical Sanskrit.
B) The only inscription that mentions both Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka.
C) A detailed account of the king’s conversion to Buddhism.
D) The first epigraphic evidence for the use of the zero.

Answer: A) The earliest known inscription to be written in an elaborate, classical Sanskrit.

Explanation: Dated to around 150 CE, this inscription is highly significant because it is the first major edict to be composed in refined classical Sanskrit prose. Prior to this, Prakrit was the language of choice for most royal inscriptions. It records the repair of the Sudarshana Lake, showcasing both the king’s public works and his patronage of Sanskrit.

23. A major factor contributing to the economic prosperity of the Kushan Empire was:
A) Its monopoly on the salt trade in northern India.
B) The establishment of a state-controlled agricultural system.
C) Its strategic control over key sections of the Silk Road, which facilitated lucrative trade between the Roman Empire and China.
D) The discovery of massive gold mines within its territory.

Answer: C) Its strategic control over key sections of the Silk Road, which facilitated lucrative trade between the Roman Empire and China.

Explanation: The Kushan Empire was located at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, allowing it to control the vital arteries of the Silk Road. This strategic position enabled them to profit immensely from the transit trade between the East (China, exporting silk) and the West (Rome, exporting gold), leading to a flourishing economy and the large-scale issuance of their own gold coins.

24. The practice of metronymics (prefixing the mother’s name to one’s own) was a distinctive feature of which major Post-Mauryan dynasty?
A) The Sungas
B) The Kanvas
C) The Satavahanas
D) The Indo-Greeks

Answer: C) The Satavahanas

Explanation: A unique social custom of the Satavahanas was the use of metronymics. Rulers like Gautamiputra Satakarni (“Satakarni, the son of Gautami”) and Vasisthiputra Pulumavi (“Pulumavi, the son of Vasishti”) proudly used their mother’s name. This indicates a high status for women in the royal family, even though the succession to the throne remained patrilineal.

Chapter 7: The Guptas and Their Successors (AD 300–750)

25. The Prayaga Prashasti (Allahabad Pillar Inscription), composed by Harishena, is the most detailed source for the military conquests and policies of which Gupta emperor?
A) Chandragupta I
B) Samudragupta
C) Chandragupta II
D) Skandagupta

Answer: B) Samudragupta

Explanation: This famous inscription, engraved on an Ashokan pillar, is a panegyric detailing the extensive military achievements of Samudragupta. It systematically lists the kings and regions he conquered, and outlines the different policies he applied to them—from complete annexation (sarva-raja-ucchetta) to restoring defeated kings to their thrones as his vassals.

26. The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Fa-Hien visited India during the reign of which powerful Gupta monarch, providing a valuable account of the era?
A) Samudragupta
B) Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya)
C) Kumaragupta I
D) Skandagupta

Answer: B) Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya)

Explanation: Fa-Hien traveled through India in the early 5th century CE, during the prosperous and peaceful reign of Chandragupta II. His record is a crucial historical source, describing a well-governed empire with light taxes, safe travel, and flourishing Buddhist monasteries, though he notably does not mention the emperor by name.

27. The term vishti in the context of the Gupta economy refers to:
A) A tax on imported goods.
B) A type of forced, unpaid labor that subjects were compelled to perform for the state.
C) The salary paid to government officials.
D) A donation given to a temple.

Answer: B) A type of forced, unpaid labor that subjects were compelled to perform for the state.

Explanation: Vishti was a form of corvée labor, mentioned in Gupta inscriptions. It was essentially a labor tax, where people from a village could be conscripted by the state or its officials to work on roads, public buildings, or transport supplies without payment. Its increased mention suggests it became a more common and institutionalized practice during this period.

28. The Gupta period is often hailed as a “Golden Age” of India, not because of political unity, but primarily due to:
A) The complete eradication of the caste system.
B) Unprecedented achievements in Sanskrit literature, science, mathematics, and art.
C) The establishment of a fully democratic government.
D) The absence of any foreign invasions.

Answer: B) Unprecedented achievements in Sanskrit literature, science, mathematics, and art.

Explanation: The “Golden Age” label refers to the remarkable cultural and intellectual output of the era. This period saw the works of the playwright Kalidasa, the pioneering discoveries of the astronomer-mathematician Aryabhata (who discussed concepts of zero and pi), the development of classical temple architecture, and the creation of exquisite sculptures, setting a standard for centuries to come.

29. The ultimate decline and fragmentation of the Gupta Empire in the 6th century CE were significantly accelerated by:
A) A series of prolonged famines and droughts.
B) The rise of powerful provincial governors who declared independence.
C) Repeated and devastating invasions from the Hunas (Hephthalites) on the northwestern frontier.
D) Internal succession disputes that led to a century-long civil war.

Answer: C) Repeated and devastating invasions from the Hunas (Hephthalites) on the northwestern frontier.

Explanation: While internal factors played a role, the sustained military pressure from the Huna invasions was a critical external blow. These invasions, beginning in the late 5th century, drained the empire’s treasury, disrupted trade routes, and weakened its military capacity, making it impossible for the later Gupta rulers to maintain control over their vast territories.

30. The great Buddhist university of Nalanda, which became a world-renowned center for learning, was founded under the patronage of which Gupta king?
A) Chandragupta I
B) Samudragupta
C) Kumaragupta I
D) Buddhagupta

Answer: C) Kumaragupta I

Explanation: The foundation of the Nalanda Mahavihara is attributed to the Gupta emperor Kumaragupta I in the 5th century CE. His patronage established the monastery that would grow over the centuries, especially with support from the later Pala dynasty, into the most famous educational institution of ancient India, attracting scholars from across Asia.

Chapter 8: Cultural Trends in Early Medieval India (750-1200)

31. The Tripartite Struggle, a century-long conflict for imperial supremacy in northern India, was fought between which three powers for the control of Kannauj?
A) The Pallavas, Cholas, and Pandyas.
B) The Gurjara-Pratiharas, Palas, and Rashtrakutas.
C) The Chalukyas, Shakas, and Kushans.
D) The Guptas, Vakatakas, and Hunas.

Answer: B) The Gurjara-Pratiharas, Palas, and Rashtrakutas.

Explanation: After Harsha’s death, Kannauj became the symbol of imperial power. From the 8th to the 10th century, the Pratiharas of western India, the Palas of Bengal, and the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan engaged in a three-way struggle to control this prestigious city and, by extension, the entire Gangetic heartland.

32. The monolithic Kailasa temple at Ellora, carved out of a single rock from the top down, is an architectural marvel commissioned by which dynasty?
A) The Chalukyas of Vatapi
B) The Rashtrakutas
C) The Pallavas of Kanchi
D) The Imperial Cholas

Answer: B) The Rashtrakutas

Explanation: This magnificent temple (Cave 16) is the world’s largest monolithic sculpture. It was built in the 8th century under the patronage of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I. Its construction involved removing hundreds of thousands of tons of rock to excavate and sculpt the entire temple complex, a feat of engineering and artistry that remains unparalleled.

33. In the context of South Indian village administration, particularly under the Cholas, the term Ur referred to:
A) The royal court of the king.
B) A committee of Brahmin landholders.
C) A general assembly of the non-Brahmin land-owning villagers.
D) The chief tax collector of the district.

Answer: C) A general assembly of the non-Brahmin land-owning villagers.

Explanation: The Cholas had a highly organized system of local self-government. The Ur was the general assembly of the tax-paying adult males in a standard village. In contrast, the Sabha or Mahasabha was the more formal and exclusive assembly found in brahmadeya villages (villages granted to Brahmins).

34. The great philosopher Shankaracharya (Adi Shankara), who lived in the early medieval period, is most famous for consolidating which school of Hindu philosophy?
A) Dvaita (Dualism)
B) Vishishtadvaita (Qualified Non-dualism)
C) Advaita Vedanta (Non-dualism)
D) Samkhya (Dualistic Realism)

Answer: C) Advaita Vedanta (Non-dualism)

Explanation: Shankaracharya was the foremost proponent of Advaita Vedanta, a philosophical system that posits the ultimate reality is a single, non-dual consciousness (Brahman). He taught that the individual self (Atman) is identical to Brahman and that the perceived phenomenal world is ultimately an illusion (Maya).

35. The term Eripatti in Pallava and Chola inscriptions refers to a specific type of land. What was its purpose?
A) Land granted to a soldier for acts of bravery.
B) Pasture land reserved for the village cattle.
C) Land whose revenue was set aside for the maintenance and repair of the village irrigation tank.
D) Land owned directly by the king for his personal use.

Answer: C) Land whose revenue was set aside for the maintenance and repair of the village irrigation tank.

Explanation: Water management was crucial in South India. Eripatti, or “tank land,” was a special category of land donated by the community or individuals. The income generated from this land was dedicated exclusively to the upkeep of the village water reservoir (eri), showcasing a sophisticated, community-driven approach to resource management.

Chapter 9 & 10: The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)

36. The Iqta system, institutionalized by Sultan Iltutmish, was primarily an administrative mechanism for:
A) Granting hereditary land ownership to the nobility.
B) Dividing the empire into revenue units assigned to officials, who would use the income to maintain troops and cover their expenses.
C) Establishing religious endowments for mosques and schools.
D) Collecting a poll tax from non-Muslims.

Answer: B) Dividing the empire into revenue units assigned to officials, who would use the income to maintain troops and cover their expenses.

Explanation: The Iqta was a land revenue assignment given to a noble or officer (Iqtadar) in lieu of a cash salary. It was not ownership of the land itself. The Iqtadar was responsible for governing the territory, collecting the revenue, and using it to maintain a quota of soldiers for the Sultan. This system was the backbone of the Sultanate’s military and administrative structure.

37. The famous market control policies of Alauddin Khalji, which rigorously fixed the price of all essential goods, were primarily motivated by his need to:
A) Promote the welfare of the general population.
B) Win the support of the ulema (Islamic scholars).
C) Maintain a large and powerful standing army on a low and fixed salary.
D) Undermine the economic power of foreign merchants.

Answer: C) Maintain a large and powerful standing army on a low and fixed salary.

Explanation: Alauddin’s primary challenge was the Mongol threat and his own imperial ambitions, which required a massive army. To afford this army without bankrupting the state, he paid his soldiers a relatively low cash salary. To make this salary viable, he implemented a strict price control regime in the capital, ensuring that the cost of living remained low for his troops.

38. Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s experiment with “token currency” failed disastrously, primarily because:
A) The tokens were made of precious metals, which were then hoarded.
B) The state failed to establish a monopoly on the minting of the tokens, leading to widespread counterfeiting by the public.
C) The neighboring kingdoms refused to accept the new currency.
D) There was not enough bronze and copper available to produce the coins.

Answer: B) The state failed to establish a monopoly on the minting of the tokens, leading to widespread counterfeiting by the public.

Explanation: While the idea of a token currency was ahead of its time, its implementation was a spectacular failure. The state did not put in place complex designs or control measures that would make the new bronze and copper coins difficult to replicate. As a result, “every Hindu house became a mint,” as one historian noted. The flood of counterfeit coins led to hyperinflation and economic chaos, forcing the Sultan to withdraw the entire currency.

39. The Turkan-i-Chahalgani, or “The Forty,” which played a dominant role in politics after the death of Iltutmish, was:
A) A council of forty religious advisors to the Sultan.
B) A group of forty powerful Turkish slave-nobles who acted as kingmakers.
C) The forty most important provinces of the Sultanate.
D) A special contingent of forty thousand cavalry in the Sultan’s army.

Answer: B) A group of forty powerful Turkish slave-nobles who acted as kingmakers.

Explanation: This was a corps of elite Turkish slaves whom Iltutmish had organized into a loyal group of nobles to support his rule. After his death, they formed a powerful oligarchy, conspiring to place their favored candidates on the throne and murdering those who defied them. Their power was finally crushed by Sultan Balban, who had himself been one of them.

40. In the architecture of the Delhi Sultanate, the Alai Darwaza, built by Alauddin Khalji, is considered a masterpiece because it represents the first successful use in India of:
A) Red sandstone and white marble in combination.
B) Decorative calligraphy as an ornamental feature.
C) The true arch and the true dome constructed on scientific principles.
D) Pierced stone screens or jalis.

Answer: C) The true arch and the true dome constructed on scientific principles.

Explanation: While earlier structures had attempted arches and domes, the Alai Darwaza is celebrated as the first building in India to employ the true arch (built with interlocking voussoirs and a keystone) and the true dome in a structurally sound and aesthetically perfect manner. This marked a major technological and stylistic leap in Indo-Islamic architecture.

41. Which Sultan created a separate department of agriculture, the Diwan-i-Amir-Kohi, and attempted to improve cultivation by providing loans for digging wells and buying seeds?
A) Balban
B) Alauddin Khalji
C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
D) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Answer: C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Explanation: In one of his more forward-thinking experiments, Muhammad bin Tughlaq established the Diwan-i-Amir-Kohi to bring barren land under cultivation and increase agricultural output. The department provided financial assistance, known as sondhar loans, to farmers to invest in agricultural infrastructure, though the scheme ultimately failed due to corruption and poor implementation.

42. The Sufi philosophical concept of Wahdat-ul-Wujud, which was particularly popular among the Chishti saints in India, refers to the doctrine of:
A) The “Unity of Being,” which posits that God and His creation are one and the same.
B) The “Unity of Witness,” which maintains a strict separation between God and creation.
C) The absolute necessity of following Sharia law for salvation.
D) The superiority of the spiritual master over all worldly kings.

Answer: A) The “Unity of Being,” which posits that God and His creation are one and the same.

Explanation: Wahdat-ul-Wujud, or the “Unity of Being,” is a pantheistic doctrine most associated with the mystic Ibn Arabi. It teaches that all existence is a manifestation of the single Divine Reality. This concept found fertile ground in India, as it resonated with the monistic ideas of Advaita Vedanta, and it became a cornerstone of the liberal and inclusive approach of the Chishti Sufi order.

43. The city of Jaunpur, which became a great center of culture and architecture known as the “Shiraz of the East,” was the capital of which independent Sultanate?
A) The Bengal Sultanate
B) The Malwa Sultanate
C) The Sharqi Sultanate
D) The Gujarat Sultanate

Answer: C) The Sharqi Sultanate

Explanation: Following Timur’s invasion and the weakening of the Delhi Sultanate, an independent kingdom was established in Jaunpur by Malik Sarwar, a noble of Firoz Shah Tughlaq, who took the title Malik-us-Sharq (“Lord of the East”). The Sharqi dynasty ruled for nearly a century and were great patrons of art and architecture, developing a unique and magnificent style.

44. The Bhakti saint Kabir was a radical reformer whose teachings were characterized by:
A) His emphasis on idol worship and pilgrimage to holy sites.
B) His attempt to create a new religion combining elements of Hinduism and Islam.
C) His fierce attack on both Hindu and Muslim orthodoxies, caste distinctions, and empty rituals, advocating for a direct, personal experience of a formless God.
D) His composition of devotional poetry exclusively in Sanskrit.

Answer: C) His fierce attack on both Hindu and Muslim orthodoxies, caste distinctions, and empty rituals, advocating for a direct, personal experience of a formless God.

Explanation: Kabir’s philosophy was iconoclastic and uncompromising. He rejected the authority of both the Vedas and the Quran and mocked the practices of priests and mullahs. He preached that God (Ram or Rahim) was a single, formless (Nirguna) reality that could only be reached through love and devotion, not through external rituals or social hierarchies like caste.

45. Which Sultan of Delhi was the first to introduce the practice of systematic land measurement (masahat) for the purpose of assessing land revenue?
A) Iltutmish
B) Balban
C) Alauddin Khalji
D) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq

Answer: C) Alauddin Khalji

Explanation: As part of his sweeping revenue and economic reforms, Alauddin Khalji was the first ruler in the Sultanate to insist on the actual measurement of cultivated land as the basis for fixing the state’s demand. This allowed for a more uniform and rigorous assessment, bypassing the arbitrary estimates of local intermediaries and maximizing state revenue.

46. The foreign traveler Ibn Battuta, who left a detailed account of India in his book Rihla, came to India from Morocco during the reign of:
A) Alauddin Khalji
B) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
C) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
D) Sikandar Lodi

Answer: B) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Explanation: Ibn Battuta arrived in India in 1333 and spent several years at the court of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who appointed him as the Qazi (judge) of Delhi. His firsthand account is an invaluable, though sometimes exaggerated, source of information on the Sultan’s personality, his controversial experiments, and the social and economic conditions of the time.

47. The dual system of administration known as Diarchy, introduced at the center of the Sultanate by Firoz Shah Tughlaq, involved:
A) Dividing the empire into two halves, one ruled by the Sultan and the other by his son.
B) Appointing both a Hindu and a Muslim official to every major post.
C) A division of powers between the Sultan and his powerful prime minister, Khan-i-Jahan Maqbul.
D) Separating the civil and military administration under two independent heads.

Answer: C) A division of powers between the Sultan and his powerful prime minister, Khan-i-Jahan Maqbul.

Explanation: Firoz Shah Tughlaq left much of the day-to-day administration of the state in the hands of his capable Wazir (Prime Minister), Khan-i-Jahan Maqbul, a converted Hindu. The Sultan concerned himself with broader policy and religious matters, while the Wazir managed the army, finances, and government. This effective partnership is sometimes referred to as a form of diarchy.

48. In the Vijayanagara Empire, the term Amaram referred to:
A) The highest court of justice in the capital.
B) A land grant given to a military commander (nayaka) in exchange for maintaining a fixed number of troops for the state.
C) A tax on religious festivals.
D) A specific style of temple architecture.

Answer: B) A land grant given to a military commander (nayaka) in exchange for maintaining a fixed number of troops for the state.

Explanation: The Amaram system was the cornerstone of the Vijayanagara polity and is functionally similar to the Iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate. The king would grant territory (amaram) to powerful military chiefs or commanders known as nayakas. In return, the nayaka had to pay a fixed annual tribute to the king and maintain a specified contingent of soldiers ready for royal service.

49. What was the primary language of the court and administration under the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Arabic
B) Turkish
C) Urdu
D) Persian

Answer: D) Persian

Explanation: While the ruling elite was ethnically Turkic and Arabic was the language of religion, Persian was adopted as the official language of the court, administration, and high culture throughout the Delhi Sultanate. It was the language of literature, poetry, and historical chronicles, and its influence led to the development of Urdu later on.

50. The Lodi Dynasty, the last dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, was of what ethnic origin?
A) Turkic
B) Mongol
C) Persian
D) Afghan

Answer: D) Afghan

Explanation: The Lodi’s were the first dynasty of Afghan origin to rule the Delhi Sultanate. Their rise to power marked a shift from the previous Turkic-dominated nobility. The Lodi polity was based more on a confederacy of Afghan chiefs, with the Sultan being considered “first among equals,” which created inherent political instability.