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Civil Services Prelims Examination Indian History (Medieval India) - GS Paper I

Civil Services Examination 2019


1. 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.

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2


2. Building ‘Kalyaana Mandapas’ was a notable feature in the temple construction in the kingdom of

  1. Chalukya
  2. Chandela
  3. Rashtrakuta
  4. Vijayanagara


3. Consider the following statements:

  1. In the revenue administration of Delhi Sultanate, the in-charge of revenue collection was known as ‘Amil’.
  2. The Iqta 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?

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2 only
  3. 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3


4. 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?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2


5. With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct?

  1. Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar.
  2. Tansen composed Dhrupads on Hindu gods and goddesses.
  3. Tansen composed songs on his patrons.
  4. Tansen invented many Ragas.


6. Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manu-scripts to album and individual portrait?

  1. Humayun
  2. Akbar
  3. Jahangir
  4. Shah Jahan


Civil Services Examination 2018


1. With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements:

  1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
  2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2


2. Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India?

  1. Francois Bernier
  2. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
  3. Jean de Thevenot
  4. Abbe Barthelemy Carre


Civil Services Examination 2016


1. Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally

  1. Agriculturalists
  2. Warriors
  3. Weavers
  4. Traders


2. With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements:

  1. Siddhas (Sittars) of Tamil region were monotheistic and condemned idolatry.
  2. Lingayats of Kannada region questioned the theory of rebirth and rejected the caste hierarchy.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2


3. 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?

  1. 1 Only
  2. 2 Only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2


Civil Services Examination 2015


1. 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 give below:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3


2. 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?

  1. 1 and 2
  2. 2 only
  3. 1 and 3
  4. 3 only


Civil Services Examination 2014


1. In medieval India, the designations 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila' were used for

  1. Military officers
  2. Village headmen
  3. Specialists in Vedic rituals
  4. Chiefs of craft guilds


2. Consider the following statements:

  1. 'Bijak' is a composition of the teachings of Saint Dadu Dayal.
  2. The philosophy of Pushti Marg was propounded by Madhvacharya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2


3. A community of people called Manganiyars is well-known for their

  1. martial arts in North-East India
  2. musical tradition in North-West India
  3. classical vocal music in South India
  4. pietradura tradition in Central India


4. Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was

  1. the mosque for the use of Royal Family
  2. Akbar's private prayer chamber
  3. the hall in which Akbar held discussions with scholars of various religions
  4. the room in which the nobles belonging to different religions gathered to discuss religious affairs


Civil Services Examination 2013


1. 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?

  1. 1 and 3
  2. 2 only
  3. 2 and 3
  4. 1 and 2


Civil Services Examination 2012


1. With reference to Dhrupad, one of the major traditions of India that has been kept alive for centuries, which of the following statements are correct?

  1. Dhrupad originated and developed in the Rajput kingdoms during the Mughal period.
  2. Dhrupad is primarily a devotional and spiritual music.
  3. Dhrupad Alap uses Sanskrit syllables from Mantras.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1, 2 and 3
  4. None of the above


2. 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:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3


3. Consider the following:

  1. Assessment of land revenue on the basis of nature of the soil and the quality of crops
  2. Use of mobile cannons in warfare
  3. Cultivation of tobacco and red chillies

Which of the above was/were by the introduced into India by the English?

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 2
  3. 2 and 3
  4. None