Q1. Which Veda is the oldest and contains hymns dedicated to various deities?
Answer 4
Explanation
The Rig Veda is the oldest of the four Vedas and is a collection of hymns dedicated to various Vedic deities.
Q2. Who led the 1857 Revolt against the British in Kanpur?
Answer 3
Explanation
Nana Saheb, the adopted son of the last Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II, led the revolt in Kanpur during 1857.
Q3. At which location did Gautama Buddha deliver his first sermon after attaining enlightenment?
Answer 3
Explanation
Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon, known as the 'Dharmachakra Pravartana', at Sarnath.
Q4. Which foreign traveler visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the reign of Deva Raya II and left detailed accounts of its grandeur?
Answer 3
Explanation
Nicolo de Conti, an Italian merchant and traveler, visited the Vijayanagara Empire during the early 15th century and provided valuable descriptions.
Q5. Which Bhakti saint is famously associated with the philosophy of 'Vishishtadvaita' and emphasized devotion to Lord Vishnu?
Answer 2
Explanation
Ramanujacharya was a key proponent of the Vishishtadvaita philosophy, a qualified non-dualism, and a central figure in the Bhakti movement, emphasizing devotion to Vishnu.
Q6. Who was the last Viceroy of India, responsible for overseeing the transfer of power and the partition of India?
Answer 2
Explanation
Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India and played a crucial role in the partition and transfer of power in 1947.
Q7. Who was the first European explorer to reach India by sea, opening a direct maritime route from Europe to Asia?
Answer 3
Explanation
Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach Calicut, India, by sea in 1498, establishing a new trade route.
Q8. What is the most distinctive feature of the Harappan script?
Answer 4
Explanation
The Harappan script remains undeciphered to date, making it a unique aspect of the Indus Valley Civilization.
Q9. Who presided over the first session of the Indian National Congress held in Bombay in 1885?
Answer 3
Explanation
W.C. Bonnerjee (Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee) was the first president of the Indian National Congress.
Q10. Who was the first and only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
Answer 3
Explanation
Razia Sultan, daughter of Iltutmish, was the only female monarch to rule the Delhi Sultanate.
Q11. The famous rock-cut Rathas (chariot temples) at Mahabalipuram were constructed under the patronage of which dynasty?
Answer 3
Explanation
The rock-cut Rathas and other monuments at Mahabalipuram are prime examples of Pallava architecture.
Q12. The concept of 'Dhamma' propagated by Emperor Ashoka primarily emphasized which of the following?
Answer 3
Explanation
Ashoka's Dhamma was a moral code emphasizing social responsibility, non-violence, and compassion, not a religious doctrine.
Q13. Which ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer, associated with the Gupta period, proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system and calculated the value of Pi?
Answer 2
Explanation
Aryabhata, a prominent figure of the Gupta age, is credited with significant contributions to mathematics and astronomy, including the heliocentric theory and calculation of Pi.
Q14. The Dandi March, led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930, was a significant event primarily associated with which movement?
Answer 3
Explanation
The Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement against British salt laws.
Q15. Emperor Akbar introduced a syncretic religion known as 'Din-i Ilahi'. What was its primary objective?
Answer 2
Explanation
Din-i Ilahi was Akbar's attempt to combine elements of various religions into a single faith to promote unity and tolerance among his subjects.
Study notes for this topic
Read the theory first, then come back and practise the questions above.
