SECTION A — MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (ENGLISH)

Q1 (i)

Who among the following came as ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya?

Options:

A) Xuan Zang

B) Fa Xian

C) Megasthenes

D) I-tsing

Correct Answer: C) Megasthenes

Explanation:

Megasthenes was a Greek ambassador sent by Seleucus Nikator to the Mauryan court. His work Indica gives important information on ancient India.

Q1 (ii)

‘Piyadassi’ and ‘Devanampiya’ are titles of which ruler?

Options:

A) Asoka

B) Bindusara

C) Samudragupta

D) Chandragupta II

Correct Answer: A) Asoka

Explanation:

These titles appear in Ashokan inscriptions, meaning “Beloved of the Gods” and “He who looks on with kindness.”

Q1 (iii)

In which year was the ambitious project under V.S. Sukthankar begun?

Options:

A) 1919

B) 1925

C) 1930

D) 1935

Correct Answer: C) 1930

Explanation:

The Critical Edition of the Mahabharata was initiated in 1930 under the leadership of V.S. Sukthankar at BORI, Pune.

Q1 (iv)

In 1951–52, the excavation of Hastinapura was carried out by whom?

Options:

A) R.S. Sharma

B) Irawati Karve

C) Uma Chakravarti

D) B.B. Lal

Correct Answer: D) B.B. Lal

Explanation:

Archaeologist B.B. Lal led the Hastinapura excavations, which revealed Painted Grey Ware culture layers.

Q1 (v)

Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?

Options:

A) Birth of Buddha — Lumbini

B) Enlightenment — Kusinagara

C) First Sermon — Bodh Gaya

D) Nibbana — Sarnath

Correct Answer: A) Birth of Buddha — Lumbini

Explanation:

Buddha was born at Lumbini, attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, gave his first sermon at Sarnath, and attained nirvana at Kusinagara.

Q1 (vi)

Shahjehan Begum and Sultan Jehan Begum, who funded the preservation of Sanchi, were rulers of which state?

Options:

A) Hyderabad

B) Junagarh

C) Bhopal

D) Baroda

Correct Answer: C) Bhopal

Explanation:

Both queens of Bhopal provided support for the conservation of the Sanchi stupa in the 19th century.

Q1 (vii)

Which ruler appointed Ibn Battuta as the Qazi of Delhi?

Options:

A) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq

B) Firuz Tughlaq

C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

D) Alauddin Khilji

Correct Answer: C) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Explanation:

Ibn Battuta served as Qazi during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq and recorded his experiences in Rihla.

Q1 (viii)

For how many years did François Bernier stay in India?

Options:

A) 8

B) 10

C) 12

D) 14

Correct Answer: C) 12

Explanation:

Bernier spent 12 years in India during Aurangzeb’s rule, documenting political, economic, and social life.

Q1 (ix)

Which Sufi saint is known as ‘Gharib Nawaz’?

Options:

A) Nizamuddin Auliya

B) Muinuddin Sijzi

C) Nasiruddin Chiragh

D) Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar

Correct Answer: B) Muinuddin Sijzi

Explanation:

Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer earned the title ‘Gharib Nawaz’, meaning “Benefactor of the Poor.”

Q1 (x)

‘Lotus Mahal’ is located in the royal centre of which empire?

Options:

A) Vijayanagara

B) Golconda

C) Bijapur

D) Ahmednagar

Correct Answer: A) Vijayanagara

Explanation:

Lotus Mahal, an example of Indo-Islamic architecture, is situated in Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Q1 (xi)

Krishnadeva Raya was the famous ruler of which dynasty?

Options:

A) Saluva

B) Sangama

C) Aravidu

D) Tuluva

Correct Answer: D) Tuluva

Explanation:

Krishnadeva Raya belonged to the Tuluva dynasty, under which Vijayanagara reached its peak.

Q1 (xii)

In which part of the ‘Ain’ are military and civil administration details mentioned?

Options:

A) Manzil-abadi

B) Mulk-abadi

C) Sipah-abadi

D) Fifth Book

Correct Answer: C) Sipah-abadi

Explanation:

The Sipah-abadi section of the Ain-i-Akbari documents the Mughal army and administrative systems.

Q1 (xiii)

What was the land called that had not been cultivated for five or more years during Akbar’s reign?

Options:

A) Polaj

B) Parauti

C) Chachar

D) Banjar

Correct Answer: D) Banjar

Explanation:

Banjar land was uncultivated for more than five years and considered unproductive.

Q1 (xiv)

When was the Fifth Report submitted to the British Parliament?

Options:

A) 1810

B) 1813

C) 1820

D) 1875

Correct Answer: B) 1813

Explanation:

The Fifth Report (related to Company administration) was submitted in 1813.

Q1 (xv)

In which country did a civil war break out in 1861?

Options:

A) America

B) France

C) Russia

D) Britain

Correct Answer: A) America

Explanation:

The American Civil War began in 1861 between the Union and Confederate states.

Q1 (xvi)

Who was the Governor-General of India in 1851?

Options:

A) Lord Wellesley

B) Lord Canning

C) Lord Ripon

D) Lord Dalhousie

Correct Answer: D) Lord Dalhousie

Explanation:

Dalhousie (1848–1856) implemented major reforms like railways, telegraph, and the Doctrine of Lapse.

Q1 (xvii)

K.M. Munshi, a member of the Constituent Assembly, belonged to which state?

Options:

A) Rajasthan

B) Uttar Pradesh

C) Gujarat

D) Madhya Pradesh

Correct Answer: C) Gujarat

Explanation:

K.M. Munshi was a prominent leader from Gujarat and a key contributor to constitutional discussions.

Q1 (xviii)

Who was invited to take over as Union Law Minister on Mahatma Gandhi’s advice?

Options:

A) Vallabhbhai Patel

B) Jawaharlal Nehru

C) Rajendra Prasad

D) B.R. Ambedkar

Correct Answer: D) B.R. Ambedkar

Explanation:

Gandhi recommended Ambedkar due to his expertise in law and social justice, leading to his appointment as Law Minister.