INDIAN HISTORY - 50 MCQ IN ENGLISH
Q1. Who founded the Maurya Empire?
A. Ashoka
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Bindusara
D. Bimbisara
Answer: B. Chandragupta Maurya
Explanation: Chandragupta Maurya established the Mauryan Empire in 321 BCE.
Q2. The capital of the Gupta Empire was:
A. Pataliputra
B. Ujjain
C. Kannauj
D. Taxila
Answer: A. Pataliputra
Explanation: Pataliputra remained the main capital during the Gupta period.
Q3. Who wrote the book Arthashastra?
A. Kalidasa
B. Chanakya
C. Banabhatta
D. Vishakhadatta
Answer: B. Chanakya
Explanation: Chanakya (Kautilya) authored Arthashastra on statecraft.
Q4. The famous rock edicts are associated with:
A. Harsha
B. Ashoka
C. Samudragupta
D. Kanishka
Answer: B. Ashoka
Explanation: Ashoka issued rock and pillar edicts to spread Dhamma.
Q5. Which Veda is the oldest?
A. Samaveda
B. Yajurveda
C. Rigveda
D. Atharvaveda
Answer: C. Rigveda
Explanation: Rigveda is considered the earliest Vedic text.
Q6. The Battle of Plassey was fought in:
A. 1757
B. 1764
C. 1773
D. 1782
Answer: A. 1757
Explanation: It marked the beginning of British rule in India.
Q7. Who was the last Mughal Emperor?
A. Bahadur Shah I
B. Shah Alam II
C. Bahadur Shah Zafar
D. Aurangzeb
Answer: C. Bahadur Shah Zafar
Explanation: He was deposed after the Revolt of 1857.
Q8. The Permanent Settlement was introduced by:
A. Warren Hastings
B. Lord Cornwallis
C. Lord Wellesley
D. Lord Dalhousie
Answer: B. Lord Cornwallis
Explanation: Introduced in 1793 in Bengal.
Q9. Who founded the Delhi Sultanate?
A. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
B. Iltutmish
C. Balban
D. Alauddin Khilji
Answer: A. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Explanation: He established the Slave Dynasty.
Q10. The Quit India Movement was launched in:
A. 1930
B. 1942
C. 1947
D. 1920
Answer: B. 1942
Explanation: Led by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule.
Q11. Who was known as the “Napoleon of India”?
A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Samudragupta
C. Harsha
D. Skandagupta
Answer: B. Samudragupta
Explanation: Due to his military conquests.
Q12. Which city was the capital of Harsha?
A. Delhi
B. Kannauj
C. Pataliputra
D. Ujjain
Answer: B. Kannauj
Explanation: Harsha ruled from Kannauj.
Q13. The Indigo Revolt took place in:
A. Punjab
B. Bengal
C. Bihar
D. Maharashtra
Answer: B. Bengal
Explanation: Farmers protested against indigo planters.
Q14. Who built the Qutub Minar?
A. Iltutmish
B. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
C. Alauddin Khilji
D. Balban
Answer: B. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Explanation: Later completed by Iltutmish.
Q15. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre happened in:
A. 1915
B. 1919
C. 1921
D. 1930
Answer: B. 1919
Explanation: Ordered by General Dyer.
Q16. Who founded the Mughal Empire in India?
A. Akbar
B. Humayun
C. Babur
D. Sher Shah
Answer: C. Babur
Explanation: After First Battle of Panipat (1526).
Q17. The First Battle of Panipat was fought between:
A. Babur & Ibrahim Lodi
B. Akbar & Hemu
C. Aurangzeb & Dara Shikoh
D. Babur & Rana Sanga
Answer: A. Babur & Ibrahim Lodi
Explanation: It led to Mughal rule.
Q18. Who introduced the Doctrine of Lapse?
A. Lord Curzon
B. Lord Dalhousie
C. Lord Hastings
D. Lord Ripon
Answer: B. Lord Dalhousie
Explanation: Used to annex Indian states.
Q19. Who was the founder of Arya Samaj?
A. Swami Vivekananda
B. Dayanand Saraswati
C. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
D. Ramakrishna
Answer: B. Dayanand Saraswati
Explanation: Founded in 1875.
Q20. The Simon Commission came to India in:
A. 1919
B. 1927
C. 1935
D. 1942
Answer: B. 1927
Explanation: Boycotted by Indians.
Q21. Who was the first Governor-General of India?
A. Lord Canning
B. Lord Warren Hastings
C. Lord William Bentinck
D. Lord Cornwallis
Answer: C. Lord William Bentinck
Explanation: He became the first Governor-General of India under the Charter Act of 1833.
Q22. The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in:
A. 1919
B. 1920
C. 1930
D. 1942
Answer: B. 1920
Explanation: Mahatma Gandhi launched it against British rule.
Q23. Who built Fatehpur Sikri?
A. Babur
B. Humayun
C. Akbar
D. Shah Jahan
Answer: C. Akbar
Explanation: Akbar built Fatehpur Sikri as his capital.
Q24. The capital of the Maratha Empire was:
A. Satara
B. Pune
C. Nagpur
D. Raigad
Answer: B. Pune
Explanation: Pune became the main center under the Peshwas.
Q25. Who is known as the Iron Man of India?
A. Subhas Chandra Bose
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
D. B.R. Ambedkar
Answer: C. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Explanation: He unified princely states after independence.
Q26. Who discovered the sea route to India?
A. Columbus
B. Vasco da Gama
C. Magellan
D. Marco Polo
Answer: B. Vasco da Gama
Explanation: He reached Calicut in 1498.
Q27. The Battle of Buxar was fought in:
A. 1757
B. 1764
C. 1775
D. 1780
Answer: B. 1764
Explanation: It established British control over Bengal.
Q28. Who founded the Brahmo Samaj?
A. Swami Vivekananda
B. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
C. Dayanand Saraswati
D. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Answer: B. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Explanation: Founded in 1828 for social reforms.
Q29. Who wrote Discovery of India?
A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. B.R. Ambedkar
C. Jawaharlal Nehru
D. Subhas Bose
Answer: C. Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: Written during imprisonment in 1940s.
Q30. Who was the first Viceroy of India?
A. Lord Curzon
B. Lord Canning
C. Lord Ripon
D. Lord Dalhousie
Answer: B. Lord Canning
Explanation: Became Viceroy after 1858.
Q31. The capital of Vijayanagara Empire was:
A. Mysore
B. Hampi
C. Madurai
D. Bijapur
Answer: B. Hampi
Explanation: Hampi was a prosperous capital city.
Q32. Who defeated Prithviraj Chauhan?
A. Babur
B. Muhammad Ghori
C. Alauddin Khilji
D. Timur
Answer: B. Muhammad Ghori
Explanation: Defeated him in Second Battle of Tarain (1192).
Q33. Who built the Taj Mahal?
A. Akbar
B. Jahangir
C. Shah Jahan
D. Aurangzeb
Answer: C. Shah Jahan
Explanation: Built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal.
Q34. Who was the first woman ruler of Delhi?
A. Nur Jahan
B. Razia Sultan
C. Jahanara
D. Chand Bibi
Answer: B. Razia Sultan
Explanation: Only female Sultan of Delhi.
Q35. Champaran Satyagraha was led by:
A. Nehru
B. Patel
C. Gandhi
D. Bose
Answer: C. Gandhi
Explanation: First satyagraha movement in India (1917).
Q36. Who abolished Sati practice?
A. Lord Dalhousie
B. Lord Bentinck
C. Lord Curzon
D. Lord Hastings
Answer: B. Lord Bentinck
Explanation: Abolished in 1829.
Q37. Indian National Congress was founded in:
A. 1857
B. 1885
C. 1905
D. 1919
Answer: B. 1885
Explanation: Founded by A.O. Hume.
Q38. Founder of Sikhism was:
A. Guru Gobind Singh
B. Guru Nanak
C. Guru Arjan Dev
D. Guru Tegh Bahadur
Answer: B. Guru Nanak
Explanation: Founded Sikhism in 15th century.
Q39. Who wrote the Ramayana?
A. Vyasa
B. Kalidasa
C. Valmiki
D. Tulsidas
Answer: C. Valmiki
Explanation: Original Sanskrit Ramayana was written by Valmiki.
Q40. Railways in India were introduced by:
A. Mughals
B. British
C. Portuguese
D. French
Answer: B. British
Explanation: First train ran in 1853.
Q41. Who was the last Governor-General of India?
A. Lord Mountbatten
B. C. Rajagopalachari
C. Lord Wavell
D. Lord Curzon
Answer: B. C. Rajagopalachari
Explanation: Last Indian Governor-General.
Q42. Founder of Gupta Empire was:
A. Samudragupta
B. Chandragupta I
C. Skandagupta
D. Harsha
Answer: B. Chandragupta I
Explanation: Established Gupta rule around 320 CE.
Q43. Capital of Chola dynasty was:
A. Madurai
B. Thanjavur
C. Kanchipuram
D. Ujjain
Answer: B. Thanjavur
Explanation: Cultural and political center of Cholas.
Q44. Who started the Swadeshi Movement?
A. Tilak
B. Gandhi
C. Aurobindo Ghosh
D. Lala Lajpat Rai
Answer: C. Aurobindo Ghosh
Explanation: Started during Partition of Bengal (1905).
Q45. Dandi March was led by:
A. Nehru
B. Patel
C. Gandhi
D. Bose
Answer: C. Gandhi
Explanation: Against salt tax in 1930.
Q46. Who was the first President of India?
A. Nehru
B. Rajendra Prasad
C. Radhakrishnan
D. Zakir Hussain
Answer: B. Rajendra Prasad
Explanation: First President (1950).
Q47. Who wrote “Vande Mataram”?
A. Rabindranath Tagore
B. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
C. Subramania Bharati
D. Sarojini Naidu
Answer: B. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Explanation: From novel Anandamath.
Q48. Who was the first Muslim ruler of Delhi Sultanate?
A. Iltutmish
B. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
C. Balban
D. Alauddin Khilji
Answer: B. Qutb-ud-din Aibak
Explanation: Founder of Slave Dynasty.
49. Who built Red Fort? → Shah Jahan
50. Who was first PM of India? → Nehru
