Previous year UPSC questions – Medieval India

1. With reference to the religious history of medieval India, the Sufi mystics were known to pursue which of the following practices?

1. Meditation and control of breath
2. Severe ascetic exercises in a lonely place
3. Recitation of holy songs to arouse a state of ecstasy in their audience

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]

2. Consider the following Bhakti Saints:

1. Dadu Dayal
2. Guru Nanak
3. Tyagaraja

Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2013 Prelims]

3. Consider the following pairs:

Medieval Indian State: Present Region

1. Champaka: Central India
2. Durgara: Jammu
3. Kuluta: Malabar

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

4. Consider the following:

The arrival of Babur into India led to the

1. introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent
2. introduction of the arch and dome in the region’s architecture
3. establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region

Select the correct answer using the code given below: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

5. With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential element/elements of the feudal system?

1. A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority
2. Emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of land
3. Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord

Select the correct answer using the code given below: [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

6. Who of the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2015 Prelims]

7. With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

8. Regarding the taxation system of Krishna Deva, the ruler of Vijayanagar, consider the following statements:

1. The tax rate on land was fixed depending on the quality of the land.
2. Private owners of workshops paid an industries tax.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

9. Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]

10. Which one of the following was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2017 Prelims]

11. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar?

1. Jagirdars were holders of land assignments in lieu of judicial and police duties, whereas Zamindars were holders of revenue rights without obligation to perform any duty other than revenue collection.
2. Land assignments to Jagirdars were hereditary and revenue rights of Zamindars were not hereditary.

Select the correct answer using the code given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

12. Consider the following statements:

1. In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue collection was known as ‘Amil’.
2. The lqta system of Sultans of Delhi was an ancient indigenous institution.
3. The office of ‘Mir Bakshi’ came into existence during the reign of Khalji Sultans of Delhi.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

13. Consider the following statements:

1. Saint Nimbarka was a contemporary of Akbar.
2. Saint Kabir was greatly influenced by Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

14. With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

15. Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]

16. With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

17. According to the Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in Vijayanagara Empire were expert in which of the following areas?

1. Wrestling
2. Astrology
3. Accounting
4. Soothsaying

Select the correct answer using the code given below. [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

18. Consider the following statements:

1. It was during the reign of Iltutmish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince.
2. It was during the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq that Taimur occupied Multan and crossed the Indus.
3. It was during the reign of Deva Raya II of Vijayanagara Empire that Vasco da Gama reached the coast of Kerala.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

19. Consider the following pairs:

King                    —           Dynasty

1. Nannuka —           Chandela
2. Jayashakti —           Paramara
3. Nagabhata II —           Gurjara-Pratihara
4. Bhoja —           Rashtrakuta

How many pairs given above are correctly matched? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

20. In medieval India, the term “Fanam” referred to:[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

21. With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements:

1. The first Mongol invasion of India happened during the reign of Jalal-ud-din Khalji.
2. During the reign of Ala-ud-din Khalji, one Mongol assault marched up to Delhi and besieged the city.
3. Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq temporarily lost portions of north-west of his kingdom to Mongols.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

22. With reference to Indian history, who of the following were known as “Kulah-Daran”? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]

23. In medieval India, Mansabdari system was introduced for: [1996]

24. With reference to medieval Indian rulers, which one of the following statement is correct? [2002]

25. How did Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aibak die? [2003]