WBCS MAIN 2023 P-3 HISTORY MCQs

WBCS 2023 Main Paper 3 (History) questions presented as One-Liner Questions with answers, organized topic-wise.

TOPIC 1: ANCIENT INDIA (One-Liner Questions)

1. Which religion did Chandragupta Maurya follow? – Jainism

Note

Ancient India

King / DynastyReligionNotes
Chandragupta MauryaBrahmanism (early life)
Jainism (late life)
Founder of the Mauryan Empire. Jain texts state he converted to Jainism and died through Sallekhana (fasting) in the south.
Ashoka the GreatBuddhismGrandson of Chandragupta. After the bloody Kalinga War, he converted to Buddhism and became a major patron of the faith, spreading it across Asia.
Pushyamitra ShungaBrahmanismHe was a Brahmin general who overthrew the Mauryan dynasty. Some sources (Buddhist texts) claim he persecuted Buddhists, though this is debated.
KharavelaJainismThe powerful king of Kalinga (Odisha). His famous Hathigumpha inscription details his patronage of Jainism and his military exploits.

The Gupta Empire (Classical Age)

King / DynastyReligionNotes
SamudraguptaBrahmanismA devout Hindu who performed the Ashvamedha (Horse Sacrifice). He was also tolerant of other faiths and allowed the Buddhist ruler of Sri Lanka to build a monastery.
Chandragupta IIVaishnavismA follower of Vishnu (Vaishnavism). His reign marked the peak of the classical Hindu culture.

Medieval & Southern Kingdoms

King / DynastyReligionNotes
HarshavardhanaBuddhism (later life)
Shaivism (early life)
Initially a Shaiva Hindu, he later became a patron of Mahayana Buddhism. He convened the great Buddhist council at Kannauj.
Raja Raja Chola IShaivismThe greatest king of the Chola Empire. He built the magnificent Brihadeeswarar Temple (Tanjore Big Temple) dedicated to Shiva.
Rajendra Chola IShaivismSon of Raja Raja. He continued the Shaivite traditions and expanded the empire to Southeast Asia.
KrishnadevarayaVaishnavismThe famous emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire. He was a devout follower of Vishnu and a great patron of temples and literature.

Medieval Sultanates & Mughals

King / DynastyReligionNotes
Alauddin KhiljiIslamA powerful ruler of the Khilji dynasty. He was focused on expansion and did not enforce Islamic law strictly (Sharia) on his subjects.
Muhammad bin TughlaqIslamKnown for his intellectualism but erratic policies. He was a devout Muslim who also had an interest in other faiths.
Akbar the GreatIslam (Sufi-influenced)
Din-i-Ilahi
The greatest Mughal emperor. He abolished the jizya tax on non-Muslims and created a syncretic faith called Din-i-Ilahi (Divine Faith) to blend Islam, Hinduism, and other religions.
Shah JahanIslamKnown for building the Taj Mahal. He was a strict Sunni Muslim compared to his great-grandfather Akbar.
AurangzebIslamA very orthodox Sunni Muslim. He re-imposed the jizya tax and is known for his controversial policies regarding temple destruction.

Later Empires & Regional Kings

King / DynastyReligionNotes
Shivaji MaharajHinduismFounder of the Maratha Empire. He was a devout Hindu who established a just administration and protected Hindu culture against the Mughal Empire.
Maharaja Ranjit SinghSikhismFounder of the Sikh Empire. He created a secular state in Punjab that included Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims in his administration.
Tipu SultanIslamRuler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He was a devout Muslim, though he also patronized Hindu temples to some extent (a subject of historical debate).


2. Who was the chief patron of the fourth Buddhist Council? – Kanishka

Note

Buddhist Councils – Complete


CouncilYearPatronDynastyLocationPresidentKey Outcome
1st483 BCEAjatashatruHaryankaRajgrihaMahakashyapaSutta & Vinaya Pitaka compiled
2nd383 BCEKalashokaShishunagaVaishaliSabbakamiFirst schism: Sthaviravada & Mahasanghika
3rd250 BCEAshokaMauryaPataliputraMoggaliputta TissaAbhidhamma Pitaka compiled
4th1st-2nd CEKanishkaKushanKashmirVasumitraSplit into Hinayana & Mahayana
5th1871 CEMindon MinKonbaungMandalayJagarabhivamsaTripitaka inscribed on stone slabs
6th1954-56 CEMyanmar GovtYangonMahasi SayadawComplete Tripitaka in Roman script


3. Who composed the ‘Milind Panho’ (Questions of Milinda)? – Nagasena

Note

🧑‍🏫 Main Persons

  • → Wise Buddhist monk
  • → Greek king, asks questions

📌 Nature of the Text

  • A philosophical dialogue (question–answer form)
  • Written in Pali language
  • Part of Buddhist literature

🧠 Main Idea

  • Explains Buddhist philosophy through logic and examples
  • Focus on:
    • Anatta (no permanent self)
    • Nature of mind and existence

🚗 Famous Example

  • Chariot Analogy
    👉 A chariot is just a collection of parts, not a single entity
    ➡️ Similarly, a human has no permanent soul


6. Who was the ruler of Magadha during Alexander’s invasion? – Dhanananda

9. Which Gupta ruler saved the empire from the Huna invasion? – Skandagupta

18. During which dynasty did the Gandhara School of Art flourish? – Kushan Dynasty

24. What was the capital of the Pallava rulers? – Kanchipuram

31. Which dynasty ruled Magadha immediately before the Mauryas? – Nanda

32. Who won the First Battle of Tarain (1191)? – Prithviraj Chauhan

33. Who composed the ‘Arthashastra’? – Kautilya (Chanakya)

34. Which Gupta ruler took the title ‘Vikramaditya’? – Chandragupta II

35. Who built the Kailasanath temple at Kanchipuram? – The Pallavas

40. Who wrote ‘Rajatarangini’? – Kalhana

44. Which God was known as ‘Purandar’ to the Vedic people? – Indra

50. Where is the archaeological site of Lothal located? – Gujarat

53. In which Veda is the ‘Battle of Ten Kings’ described? – Rig Veda

59. Which dynasty was associated with the administrative divisions ‘Mandalam’ and ‘Nadu’? – The Cholas

66. Who wrote the book ‘Tahqiq-i-Hind’ (Kitab-ul-Hind)? – Al Beruni

75. What was the capital of Magadha during Chandragupta Maurya’s reign? – Pataliputra

76. Who defeated the ruler of Sind during the Arab invasion of 712 AD? – Muhammad-bin-Qasim

77. Which Gupta ruler had the ‘Nine Jewels’ (Navaratna) in his court? – Chandragupta II

79. Who composed the ‘Vikramankadevacharita’? – Bilhana

81. The Nasik inscription provides information about which dynasty? – The Satavahanas

89. Who composed the ‘Buddhacharita’? – Asvaghosa

96. Which Mahajanapada was an aristocratic oligarchic republic (confederacy of eight clans)? – Vajji

97. Who composed the plays ‘Nagananda’ and ‘Ratnavali’? – Harshavardhana

100. Which inscription provides important information about the Saka ruler Rudradaman? – Junagarh inscription


TOPIC 2: MEDIEVAL INDIA (One-Liner Questions)

7. Who was the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate? – Ibrahim Lodi

11. Who reformed the revenue system during Akbar’s rule? – Todarmal

13. In which year did the First Battle of Panipat take place? – 1526

17. Who composed the ‘Akbarnama’? – Abul Fazal

19. Who founded the Ibadat Khana (House of Worship)? – Akbar

28. The Treaty of Purandar (1665) was signed between whom? – Shivaji and Raja Jai Singh

39. Who was the author of ‘Muntakhab-ul-Tawarikh’? – Badauni

41. Who composed ‘Khazain-ul-Futuh’? – Amir Khusrau

47. In which year did Nadir Shah invade India? – 1739

48. Who introduced the revenue system of ‘Kabuliyat’ and ‘Patta’? – Sher Shah Suri

64. Who was the general and successor of Muhammad Ghori? – Qutub-ud-din Aibak

65. Which Delhi Sultanate ruler invaded South India? – Alauddin Khilji

68. Who reimposed the Jizya tax? – Aurangzeb

70. In which year did the Third Battle of Panipat take place? – 1761

74. During whose reign did the Yusufzai revolt take place? – Akbar

83. Which Mughal ruler took the title of ‘Alamgir’? – Aurangzeb

88. Who came to the court of Mughal Emperor Jahangir? – Sir Thomas Roe

93. Who was known as the ‘Parrot of India’? – Amir Khusrau

98. Who was a famous painter in Akbar’s court? – Basawan

99. What was the approximate duration of the Tripartite Struggle? – 200 years


TOPIC 3: MODERN INDIA (BRITISH ADMINISTRATION) (One-Liner Questions)

5. In which year was Fort William College founded? – 1800

12. Who is associated with the ‘Sunset Law’ in Bengal? – Lord Cornwallis

14. Who was the first Indian ruler to accept the Subsidiary Alliance? – The Nizam of Hyderabad

15. Which Governor-General introduced the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’? – Lord Dalhousie

22. Where was the Ryotwari System first introduced? – Madras

23. When was the British Indian capital transferred from Calcutta to Delhi? – 1911

29. Who appointed the Amini Commission? – Lord Warren Hastings

36. Who was the first Viceroy of India? – Lord Canning

58. During whose tenure was the Partition of Bengal (1905) declared? – Lord Curzon

61. Who enacted the Vernacular Press Act? – Lord Lytton

63. In which year did Vasco da Gama arrive at Calicut? – 1498

69. In which year was the Sati Act passed? – 1829

73. In which year was the Queen’s Proclamation issued? – 1858

84. Who was the Governor-General of India during the 1857 Revolt? – Lord Canning

87. Which Mughal ruler granted Diwani rights of Bengal to the British East India Company? – Shah Alam II

90. The Treaty of Bassein (1802) was signed between the British and whom? – The Marathas (Peshwa Baji Rao II)

92. In which year was Hindu College (later Presidency College) established? – 1817


TOPIC 4: MODERN INDIA (SOCIO-RELIGIOUS REFORM & EARLY RESISTANCE) (One-Liner Questions)

4. Who founded the ‘Servants of India Society’? – Gopal Krishna Gokhale

8. Who was associated with the Theosophical Society in India? – Annie Besant

16. Which newspaper was edited by Bal Gangadhar Tilak? – The Maratha

20. Who founded the ‘Khudai Khidmatgar’ (Red Shirts)? – Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

21. Who started the Brahmo Samaj Movement? – Raja Rammohan Roy

27. Who founded the Indian Association (1876)? – Surendranath Banerjee

43. Who was the leader of the Indigo Revolt? – Digambar Biswas

45. Where did the Indigo Rebellion take place? – Bengal

49. Who is associated with the Santhal Rebellion? (Note: Official answer given) – Birsa Munda

52. Who founded the newspaper ‘Bengalee’? – Surendranath Banerjee

55. Who was known as the ‘Frontier Gandhi’? – Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan

60. Who was a prominent Moderate nationalist leader? – Dadabhai Naoroji

62. Which pair is INCORRECT? – Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay – Ghare Baire (Correct: Rabindranath Tagore)

71. Who authored the book ‘Hind Swaraj’? – Mahatma Gandhi


TOPIC 5: MODERN INDIA (FREEDOM STRUGGLE & INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS) (One-Liner Questions)

10. Where was the third annual conference of the INC held? – Calcutta

25. Which commission was known as the ‘All-White Commission’? – Simon Commission

26. When did Gandhiji give the slogan ‘Do or Die’? – Quit India Movement (1942)

30. Who was associated with the Home Rule Movement in India? – Bal Gangadhar Tilak

37. Which statement about the Poona Pact (1932) is NOT true? – It accepted separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims

38. In which year did the Surat Split of Congress take place? – 1907

42. Which pair is correctly matched? – Dadabhai Naoroji – Poverty and Un-British Rule in India

46. Which Act was described as the ‘Black Act’ by Gandhiji? – Rowlatt Act of 1919

51. Who was the founder of the Indian National Congress? – A.O. Hume

54. Where was the nerve centre of the Quit India movement in Medinipur, Bengal? – Tamluk

56. Who was the first President of the Indian National Congress (1885)? – Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee

57. In which year were the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms introduced? – 1919

67. In which year did the Simon Commission visit India? – 1928

72. Who was NOT a member of the 1946 Cabinet Mission? – Sir Henry Lawrence

78. The Lucknow Pact (1916) was an agreement between which two groups? – Indian National Congress and Muslim League

80. What is the meaning of the word ‘Gadar’? – Revolt

82. Which Viceroy called the Congress a “microscopic minority”? – Lord Dufferin

85. Who founded the Swaraj Party? – C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru

86. Who was NOT a member of the Congress Socialist Party? – Firoz Shah Mehta

91. Who was the first Muslim President of the Indian National Congress? – Badruddin Tyabji

94. Who was the President of the INC at the 1929 Lahore Session? – Jawaharlal Nehru

95. When was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed? – 1931


WBCS MAIN 2023 P-3 HISTORY MCQs

Here is the complete set of 100 WBCS 2023 Main Paper 3 (History) questions, organized into topic-wise categories for easier study.

Topic 1: Ancient India (Pre-Mauryan to Gupta)

Covers Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic Period, Mahajanapadas, Mauryan Empire, Post-Mauryan Dynasties (Sunga, Kushan, Satavahana), and the Gupta Empire.

1. Chandragupta Maurya was a follower of
(A) Jainism
(B) Buddhism
(C) Ajivika religion
(D) Saivism
Answer: (A) Jainism

2. Which ancient Indian ruler was the Chief Patron of the fourth Buddhist Council?
(A) Ashoka
(B) Kanishka
(C) Ajatashatru
(D) Samudragupta
Answer: (B) Kanishka

3. Who composed the ‘Milind Panho’?
(A) Vasumitra
(B) Nagasena
(C) Asvaghosa
(D) Dharmakirti
Answer: (B) Nagasena

6. During Alexander’s invasion who was the then ruler of Magadha?
(A) Dhanananda
(B) Chandragupta Maurya
(C) Puru
(D) Ambhi
Answer: (A) Dhanananda

9. Which Gupta ruler saved the Gupta Empire from the invasion of the Hunas?
(A) Skandagupta
(B) Budhagupta
(C) Tathagata Gupta
(D) Vishnu Gupta
Answer: (A) Skandagupta

18. The School of Gandhara Art flourished during the reign of the
(A) Mauryan Dynasty
(B) Kushan Dynasty
(C) Satavahana Dynasty
(D) Gupta Dynasty
Answer: (B) Kushan Dynasty

24. The capital of the Pallava rulers was
(A) Hampi
(B) Dwarka
(C) Kanchipuram
(D) Ujjain
Answer: (C) Kanchipuram

31. Which dynasty ruled over Magadha before Mauryan dynasty?
(A) Satavahana
(B) Sunga
(C) Nanda
(D) Kanva
Answer: (C) Nanda

32. Who won the first battle of Tarain?
(A) Prithviraj Chauhan
(B) Muhammad Ghor
(C) Muhammad-bin-Qasim
(D) Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni
Answer: (A) Prithviraj Chauhan

33. Who composed the ‘Artha Sastra’?
(A) Kautilya
(B) Barahamihira
(C) Aryabhatta
(D) Patanjali
Answer: (A) Kautilya

34. Which Gupta ruler took the title of ‘Vikramaditya’?
(A) Chandragupta I
(B) Samudragupta
(C) Chandragupta II
(D) Skandagupta
Answer: (C) Chandragupta II

35. The Kailasanath temple in Kanchipuram was built by the
(A) Cholas
(B) Pallavas
(C) Pandyas
(D) Guptas
Answer: (B) Pallavas

40. Who composed ‘Rajatarangini’?
(A) Kalhana
(B) Bilhana
(C) Banabhatta
(D) Ashvaghosha
Answer: (A) Kalhana

44. Which God was known as ‘Purandar’ to the Vedic people?
(A) Lord Siva
(B) Indra
(C) Baruna
(D) Agni
Answer: (B) Indra

50. Lothal is located at
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Gujarat
(D) Haryana
Answer: (C) Gujarat

53. Battle of Ten Kings’ was described in
(A) The Rig Veda
(B) The Sama Veda
(C) The Yajur Veda
(D) The Atharva Veda
Answer: (A) The Rig Veda

59. ‘Mandalam’ and ‘Nadu’ these two institutions were associated with
(A) the Pallavas
(B) the Cholas
(C) the Pandyas
(D) the Rashtrakutas
Answer: (B) the Cholas

66. Who composed the book ‘Tahqiq-i-Hind’?
(A) Al Beruni
(B) Al Masudi
(C) Khafi Khan
(D) Hasan Nizami
Answer: (A) Al Beruni

75. Which was the Capital City of Magadha during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya?
(A) Amaravati
(B) Pataliputra
(C) Ujjain
(D) Kannauj
Answer: (B) Pataliputra

76. During the Arab invasion in 712 AD the ruler of Sind was defeated by whom?
(A) Sultan Mahmud of Gazni
(B) Muhammad Ghori
(C) Muhammad-bin-Qasim
(D) Tajuddin Yildiz
Answer: (C) Muhammad-bin-Qasim

77. Who had Nine Jewels in his royal court?
(A) Chandragupta II
(B) Samudragupta
(C) Chandragupta I
(D) Chandragupta Maurya
Answer: (A) Chandragupta II

79. Who composed the ‘Vikramankadevacharita’?
(A) Bilhana
(B) Ravikirti
(C) Banabhatta
(D) Kalhana
Answer: (A) Bilhana

81. The Nasik inscription gives us information about
(A) The Vakatakas
(B) The Rashtrakutas
(C) The Satavahanas
(D) The Guptas
Answer: (C) The Satavahanas

89. Who composed the “Buddhacharita”?
(A) Asvaghosa
(B) Vasumitra
(C) Nagasena
(D) None of the above
Answer: (A) Asvaghosa

96. Which Mahajanapada of 6th century BCE was an aristocratic oligarchic republic?
(A) Magadha
(B) Vajji
(C) Kashi
(D) Koshala
Answer: (B) Vajji

97. Who composed ‘Nagananda’ and ‘Ratnabali’?
(A) Harshavardhana
(B) Kanishka
(C) Samudragupta
(D) Chandragupta II
Answer: (A) Harshavardhana

100. From which inscription we get important information about the Saka ruler Rudra Damana?
(A) Junagarh inscription
(B) Aihole inscription
(C) Allahabad Pillar inscription
(D) Bhitari Pillar inscription
Answer: (A) Junagarh inscription


Topic 2: Medieval India (Sultanate & Mughal Period)

Covers Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Marathas, and Regional Kingdoms.

7. Who was the Last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
(A) Daulat Khan Lodi
(B) Ibrahim Lodi
(C) Alam Khan Lodi
(D) Jahandar Lodi
Answer: (B) Ibrahim Lodi

11. Who reformed the revenue system during the rule of Akbar?
(A) Raja Maan Singh
(B) Birbal
(C) Todarmal
(D) Jai Singh
Answer: (C) Todarmal

13. First battle of Panipat took place in
(A) 1526
(B) 1528
(C) 1616
(D) 1626
Answer: (A) 1526

17. ‘Akbarnama’ was composed by
(A) Mughal Emperor Akbar
(B) Abul Fazal
(C) Faizi
(D) Bairam Khan
Answer: (B) Abul Fazal

19. Ibadakhana was founded by
(A) Akbar
(B) Jahangir
(C) Shah Jahan
(D) Aurangzeb
Answer: (A) Akbar

28. Treaty of Purandar (1665) was concluded between
(A) Sivaji and Jay Singh
(B) Tipu Sultan and English East India Company
(C) English East India Company and Ranjit Singh
(D) English East India Company and the Marathas
Answer: (A) Sivaji and Jay Singh

39. Who was the author of the book ‘Muntakhab-ul-Tawarikh’?
(A) Nizam-ud-din
(B) Amir Khusrau
(C) Faizi
(D) Badauni
Answer: (D) Badauni

41. Who composed ‘Khazain-ul-Futooh’?
(A) Amir Khusrau
(B) Hasan Nizami
(C) Khafi Khan
(D) Abdal-Qadir Badayuni
Answer: (A) Amir Khusrau

47. Nadir Shah invaded India in
(A) 1708
(B) 1688
(C) 1739
(D) 1750
Answer: (C) 1739

48. Who introduced ‘Kabuliyat’ and ‘Patta’?
(A) Shivaji
(B) Ashoka
(C) Sher Shah
(D) Akbar
Answer: (C) Sher Shah

64. Who was the general and successor of Muhammad Ghori?
(A) Muhammad-ibn-Bakhtyar
(B) Qutub-Uddin Aibak
(C) Tajuddin Yaldiz
(D) Nasiruddin
Answer: (B) Qutub-Uddin Aibak

65. Who invaded South India?
(A) Balban
(B) Iltutmish
(C) Qutb-ud-Din Aibak
(D) Alauddin Khilji
Answer: (D) Alauddin Khilji

68. Jizya was reimposed by
(A) Aurangzeb
(B) Shah Jahan
(C) Jahangir
(D) Bahadur Shah
Answer: (A) Aurangzeb

70. Third battle of Panipat took place in
(A) 1761
(B) 1740
(C) 1770
(D) 1707
Answer: (A) 1761

74. The Yusufzai revolt took place during the reign of
(A) Shahjahan
(B) Akbar
(C) Aurangzeb
(D) Jahangir
Answer: (B) Akbar

83. Which Mughal ruler took the title of Alamgir?
(A) Akbar
(B) Jahangir
(C) Shah Jahan
(D) Aurangzeb
Answer: (D) Aurangzeb

88. Who came to Jahangir’s Court?
(A) Sir Thomas Roe
(B) Ibn Battuta
(C) Nuniz
(D) Domingo Paes
Answer: (A) Sir Thomas Roe

93. Who was known as ‘Parrot of India’?
(A) Tansen
(B) Surdas
(C) Amir Khusrau
(D) Abul Fazal
Answer: (C) Amir Khusrau

98. Who was a famous artist of Akbar’s Court?
(A) Basawan
(B) Bebadal Khan
(C) Ravi Varma
(D) Minhaj us-Siraj
Answer: (A) Basawan

99. The duration of Tripartite Struggle was
(A) 200 years
(B) 100 years
(C) 400 years
(D) 50 years
Answer: (A) 200 years


Topic 3: Modern India (British Expansion & Administration)

Covers British Conquests, Administrative Policies, Economic Impact, and Key Acts.

5. Fort William College was founded in
(A) 1800
(B) 1820
(C) 1850
(D) 1900
Answer: (A) 1800

12. Who was associated with the ‘Sunset Law’?
(A) Lord Lytton
(B) Lord Ripon
(C) Lord William Bentinck
(D) Lord Cornwallis
Answer: (D) Lord Cornwallis

14. Who was the first Indian ruler to accept the Subsidiary Alliance?
(A) The Nawab of Bengal
(B) The Nizam of Hyderabad
(C) The Nawab of Awadh
(D) Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao
Answer: (B) The Nizam of Hyderabad

15. Which Governor General introduced the ‘Doctrine of Lapse’?
(A) Lord Cornwallis
(B) Lord Dalhousie
(C) Lord Wellesley
(D) Lord Ripon
Answer: (B) Lord Dalhousie

22. The Ryotwari System was first introduced in
(A) Bengal
(B) Delhi
(C) Madras
(D) Gujarat
Answer: (C) Madras

23. When the British Government transferred the capital from Kolkata to Delhi?
(A) 1911
(B) 1906
(C) 1910
(D) 1915
Answer: (A) 1911

29. Who appointed the Amini Commission?
(A) Lord Cornwallis
(B) Lord Dalhousie
(C) Lord Warren Hastings
(D) Lord Minto
Answer: (C) Lord Warren Hastings

36. Who was the first Viceroy of India?
(A) Lord Canning
(B) Lord Mountbatten
(C) Lord Clive
(D) Lord Auckland
Answer: (A) Lord Canning

58. During which Governor General’s reign the partition of Bengal was declared in 1905?
(A) Lord Curzon
(B) Lord Wellesley
(C) Lord Amherst
(D) Lord William Bentinck
Answer: (A) Lord Curzon

61. The Vernacular Press Act was enacted by
(A) Lord Curzon
(B) Lord Ripon
(C) Lord Lytton
(D) None of the above
Answer: (C) Lord Lytton

63. In which year Vasco-da-gama arrived in Kalikat?
(A) 1757
(B) 1498
(C) 1497
(D) 1598
Answer: (B) 1498

69. Sati Act was passed in the year
(A) 1856
(B) 1829
(C) 1729
(D) 1929
Answer: (B) 1829

73. In which year the Queen’s Proclamation was issued?
(A) 1855
(B) 1859
(C) 1800
(D) 1858
Answer: (D) 1858

84. Who was the then Governor General of India at the time of the Great Revolt of 1857?
(A) Lord Canning
(B) Lord Curzon
(C) Lord Cornwallis
(D) Lord Minto
Answer: (A) Lord Canning

87. Which Mughal ruler granted Diwani Rights of Bengal to the English East India Company?
(A) Farrukhsiyar
(B) Bahadur Shah Zafar
(C) Jahandar Shah
(D) Shah Alam II
Answer: (D) Shah Alam II

90. The signatories of the Treaty of Bassein (1802) were the English East India Company and
(A) the Sikhs
(B) the Marathas
(C) Nizam of Hyderabad
(D) Tipu Sultan
Answer: (B) the Marathas

92. Hindu College was established in
(A) 1817
(B) 1812
(C) 1858
(D) 1885
Answer: (A) 1817


Topic 4: Modern India (Socio-Religious Reform & Early Resistance)

Covers Reform Movements, Peasant and Tribal Revolts, and Early Nationalist Activities.

4. Who was the founder of the ‘Servants of India Society’?
(A) Madanmohan Malavya
(B) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(C) Subhash Chandra Bose
(D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Answer: (D) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

8. Who was associated with the Theosophical Society in India?
(A) Sarojini Naidu
(B) Lakshmi Sahgal
(C) Padmaja Naidu
(D) Annie Besant
Answer: (D) Annie Besant

16. Balgangadhar Tilak was the editor of the newspaper
(A) The Bande Mataram
(B) The Maratha
(C) The Enquirer
(D) The Hindu Patriot
Answer: (B) The Maratha

20. Who founded the ‘Khudai Khidmatgar’?
(A) Md Ali Jinnah
(B) Salimullah
(C) Saiyad Brothers
(D) Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan
Answer: (D) Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan

21. Who started the Brahmo Samaj Movement?
(A) Dayananda Saraswati
(B) Raja Rammohan Roy
(C) Swami Vivekananda
(D) Mahadev Govinda Ranade
Answer: (B) Raja Rammohan Roy

27. Who founded the Indian Association?
(A) Aurobindo Ghosh
(B) Surendranath Banerjee
(C) Bipin Chandra Pal
(D) Masterda Surya Sen
Answer: (B) Surendranath Banerjee

43. Who was the leader of the Indigo revolt?
(A) Dudu Miyan
(B) Titumir
(C) Digambar Biswas
(D) Kanhu Murmu
Answer: (C) Digambar Biswas

45. Indigo Rebellion took place in
(A) Bengal
(B) Andhra Pradesh
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Kerala
Answer: (A) Bengal

49. Who was the leader of Santhal Rebellion?
(Note: This question contains an error as Birsa Munda led the Munda Rebellion, while the Santhal Rebellion was led by Sidhu & Kanhu Murmu.)
(A) Sindhu Murmu
(B) Jyotiba Phule
(C) Birsa Munda
(D) Visnucharan Biswas
Answer: (C) Birsa Munda (as per official answer key)

52. Newspaper the ‘Bengalee’ was founded by
(A) Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee
(B) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
(C) Surendranath Bandopadhyay
(D) Nabagopal Mitra
Answer: (C) Surendranath Bandopadhyay

55. Who was known as the ‘Frontier Gandhi’?
(A) Rashbehari Bose
(B) Mannabendranath Roy
(C) Barin Ghosh
(D) Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan
Answer: (D) Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan

60. Who was a moderate nationalist leader?
(A) Lala Lajpat Rai
(B) Dadabhai Naoroji
(C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(D) Bipin Chandra Pal
Answer: (B) Dadabhai Naoroji

62. Which of the following pair is not correct?
(A) Harishchandra Mukherjee – The Hindoo Patriot
(B) Dinabandhu Mitra – Nildarpan
(C) Rabindranath Tagore – Gora
(D) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay – Ghore Baire
Answer: (D) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay – Ghore Baire

71. Who was the author of the book ‘Hind Swaraj’?
(A) Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
(B) Jawaharlal Nehru
(C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(D) Gandhiji
Answer: (D) Gandhiji


Topic 5: Modern India (Indian National Congress & Freedom Struggle)

Covers the formation of INC, Major Movements, Revolutionary Activities, and Key Personalities.

10. The third annual conference of the Indian National Congress was held in
(A) Bombay
(B) Lucknow
(C) Calcutta
(D) Madras
Answer: (C) Calcutta

25. Which one was known as the ‘All White Commission’?
(A) The Hunter Commission
(B) The Linlithgo Commission
(C) The Simon Commission
(D) The Fowler Commission
Answer: (C) The Simon Commission

26. When Gandhi ji gave his famous slogan ‘Do or Die’?
(A) On the eve of the non-co-operation movement
(B) On the eve of the Civil Disobedience movement
(C) On the eve of the Rowlatt Satyagraha
(D) On the eve of the Quit India movement
Answer: (D) On the eve of the Quit India movement

30. Who was associated with the Home Rule Movement in India?
(A) Aurobindo Ghosh
(B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(C) Madanmohan Malavya
(D) Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: (B) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

37. Which one is not true about the Poona Pact?
(A) The Poona Pact was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(B) The Poona Pact was made in 1932
(C) The Poona Pact was signed in Poona
(D) By this agreement the point of separate electorate for the Hindus and the Muslims was accepted
Answer: (D) By this agreement the point of separate electorate for the Hindus and the Muslims was accepted

38. Surat Split took place in
(A) 1900
(B) 1907
(C) 1911
(D) 1919
Answer: (B) 1907

42. Which of the following pair is correctly matched?
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru – Ghore Baire
(B) Dadabhai Naoroji – Poverty and UnBritish Rule
(C) Rabindranath Tagore – Anandamath
(D) Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay – Discovery of India
Answer: (B) Dadabhai Naoroji – Poverty and UnBritish Rule

46. Which Act was described as the ‘Black Act’ by Gandhi ji?
(A) The Arms Act of 1878
(B) The Vernacular Press Act of 1878
(C) Rowlatt Act of 1919
(D) The Government of India Act of 1919
Answer: (C) Rowlatt Act of 1919

51. Who was the founder of the Indian National Congress?
(A) Dadabhai Naoroji
(B) Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi
(C) Lord Harding
(D) A.O. Hume
Answer: (D) A.O. Hume

54. Which was the nerve centre of the Quit India movement in Medinipur of Bengal?
(A) Garbeta
(B) Tamluk
(C) Kanthi
(D) Haldia
Answer: (B) Tamluk

56. Who was the first president of Indian National Congress (1885)?
(A) Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee
(B) Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar
(C) Firoz Shah Mehta
(D) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Answer: (A) Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee

57. Montague Chelmsford Reform was introduced in
(A) 1909
(B) 1929
(C) 1919
(D) 1900
Answer: (C) 1919

67. The Simon Commission visited India in
(A) 1946
(B) 1928
(C) 1942
(D) 1930
Answer: (B) 1928

72. Who was not the member of the Cabinet mission of 1946?
(A) Sir Henry Lawrence
(B) Pethick Lawrence
(C) Stafford Cripps
(D) A.V. Alexander
Answer: (A) Sir Henry Lawrence

78. The Lucknow Pact (1916) was an agreement between
(A) Indian National Congress and Muslim League
(B) Indian National Congress and the British Government
(C) Muslim League and the British Government
(D) Moderate Congress and Extremist leaders of Indian National Congress
Answer: (A) Indian National Congress and Muslim League

80. What is the meaning of the word ‘Gadar’?
(A) Freedom
(B) Rebel
(C) Revolt
(D) Patriot
Answer: (C) Revolt

82. Who among the following Viceroys ridiculed the Indian National Congress as representing only a microscopic minority of people?
(A) Lord Canning
(B) Lord Elgin
(C) Lord Lawrence
(D) Lord Dufferin
Answer: (D) Lord Dufferin

85. The Swaraj Party was founded by
(A) Motilal Nehru and Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(B) C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru
(C) C. R. Das and Subhash Chandra Bose
(D) Motilal Nehru and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
Answer: (B) C. R. Das and Motilal Nehru

86. Who was not the member of the Congress Socialist Party?
(A) Jayaprakash Narayan
(B) Rammanohar Lohiya
(C) Firoz Shah Mehta
(D) Narendra Deva
Answer: (C) Firoz Shah Mehta

91. Who was the first Muslim President of Indian National Congress?
(A) Badruddin Tyabji
(B) M. A. Jinnah
(C) Ajmal Khan
(D) Abul Kalam Azad
Answer: (A) Badruddin Tyabji

94. Who was the President of Lahore Congress (1929)?
(A) Jawaharlal Nehru
(B) Subhas Chandra Bose
(C) Anandamohan Bose
(D) Ramesh Chunder Dutt
Answer: (A) Jawaharlal Nehru

95. When Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed?
(A) 1931
(B) 1930
(C) 1915
(D) 1919
Answer: (A) 1931