Indian History and Culture Quiz

1. Who put up the most stiff resistance against the British in India ? (A) The Marathas (B) The Rajputs (C) The Sikhs (D) The Moghals Answer: The Marathas

2. Which amidst the following sites/monuments is not on the UNESCO’s list of World Cultural Heritages ? (A) Agra Fort (B) Humayun’s Tomb at Delhi (C) Tirupathi-Tirumala Temples (D) Keoladeo National Park Answer: Tirupathi-Tirumala Temples

3. The ancient Indian play Mudrarakshasa of Visakhadutt has its subject on— (A) A conflict between Gods and Demons of ancient Hindu lore (B) The court intrigues at the time of Chandragupta Maurya (C) A romantic story of an Aryan prince and a tribal woman (D) The story of power struggle between two Aryan tribes Answer: The court intrigues at the time of Chandragupta Maurya

4. The practice of military governorship was first introduced in India by the— (A) Greeks (B) Shakas (C) Parthians (D) Mughals Answer: Greeks

5. The Raga which is sung early in the morning is— (A) Todi (B) Darbari (C) Bhopali (D) Bhimpalasi Answer: Todi

6. Which one of the following dynasties was ruling over North India at the time of Alexander's invasion ? (A) Nanda (B) Maurya (C) Sunga (D) Kanva Answer: Nanda

7. Which among the following was sent by the Greek sovereigns as ambassadors to Pataliputra ? (A) Aristotle

(B) Plato (C) Neither of these (D) Megasthenes Answer: Megasthenes

8. Who among the following streamlined the Maratha administration after Sambhaji ? (A) Raja Ram (B) Balaji Viswanath (C) Ganga Bai (D) Nanaji Deshmukh Answer: Raja Ram

9. Who defeated whom in the second Battle of Tarain (1192 A.D.) ? (A) Prithviraj defeated Mohammad Ghauri (B) Mahmud Ghazni defeated Prithviraj (C) Prithviraj defeated Mahmud Ghazni (D) Mohammad Ghauri defeated Prithviraj Answer: Mohammad Ghauri defeated Prithviraj

10. Who issued a token currency in copper coins between A.D. 1329 and 1330 ? (A) Alauddin Khalji (B) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (C) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq (D) Firoj Tughlaq Answer: Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq

11. Which one of the following Muslim rulers was hailed as the 'Jagdamba' by his Muslim subjects because of his belief in secularism ? (A) Husain Shah (B) Zain-ul-Abidin (C) Ibrahim Adil Shah (D) Mahmud II Answer: Ibrahim Adil Shah

12. Mansabdari system was introduced in Mughal administration by— (A) Shah Jahan (B) Akbar (C) Jahangir (D) Babar Answer: Akbar

13. 'Chauth' was— (A) A religious tax imposed by Aurangzeb (B) Toll tax imposed by Shivaji (C) Irrigation tax charged by Akbar (D) Land tax levied by Shivaji on neighbouring states Answer: Land tax levied by Shivaji on neighbouring states

14. The Indus Valley Houses were built of— (A) Bricks

(B) Bamboos (C) Stones (D) Wood Answer: Bricks

15. The paintings in the Ajanta and Ellora caves are indicative of the development of art under the— (A) Rashtrakutas (B) Pallavas (C) Pandyas (D) Chalukyas Answer: Chalukyas

16. Tansen, a great musician of his time, was in the court of— (A) Jahangir (B) Akbar (C) Shah Jahan (D) Bahadur Shah Answer: Akbar

17. The Court language of the Mughals was— (A) Urdu (B) Hindi (C) Arabic (D) Persian Answer: Persian

18. Who was sent to foreign countries by Asoka to preach Buddhism ? (A) Devanampiya (B) Menander (C) Sanghamitra (D) None of these Answer: Sanghamitra

19. Who among the following Hindu religious teachers was called to the Ibadat Khana of Emperor Akbar ? (A) Hari Vijaya Suri (B) Purushottama (C) Banuchandra Upadhayya (D) Vijay Sen Suri Answer: Purushottama

20. Gautam Buddha was born in— (A) Bodha Gaya (B) Patliputra (C) Lumbini (D) Vaishali Answer: Lumbini