History MCQs for Competitive Entrance Exams
Ancient History
1. Which of the following is the oldest known civilization in India?
A) Vedic Civilization
B) Indus Valley Civilization
C) Mauryan Civilization
D) Gupta Civilization
Short Explanations:
Answer B– Indus Valley (Harappan) Civilization (~3300–1300 BCE).
2. The main source of information about the Vedic Age is:
A) Jataka Stories
B) Vedas
C) Tripitakas
D) Epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata
Short Explanations:
Answer : B – The Vedas are the primary literary source.
3. Ashoka’s Rock Edicts are written in which script?
A) Brahmi and Kharosthi
B) Devanagari
C) Persian
D) Greek only
Short Explanations:
Answer :A – Most edicts in Brahmi, some in Kharosthi.
4. The Gupta period is known as the ‘Golden Age’ of India mainly because of:
A) Territorial expansion
B) Great developments in art, science, and literature
C) Strong military
D) Spread of Buddhism
Short Explanations:
Answer : B – Flourishing of science (Aryabhata), literature (Kalidasa), and art.
Medieval History
5. Who was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate?
A) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
B) Iltutmish
C) Muhammad Ghori
D) Balban
Short Explanations:
Answer : A – Qutb-ud-din Aibak established it in 1206.
6. The famous ‘Zain-ul-Abidin’ was a ruler of:
A) Kashmir
B) Bengal
C) Bijapur
D) Golconda
Short Explanations:
Answer : A– Zain-ul-Abidin ruled Kashmir and was known for tolerance.
7. Akbar’s religious policy ‘Din-i-Ilahi’ was primarily aimed at:
A) Promoting orthodox Islam
B) Syncretic unity among different religions
C) Converting Hindus to Islam
D) Strengthening the Ulema
Short Explanations:
Answer: B – Attempt at religious synthesis.
8. The Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between:
A) British and Marathas
B) British and Siraj-ud-Daulah
C) Mughals and Afghans
D) French and British
Short Explanations:
Answer: B – Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah.
Modern Indian History
9. The Revolt of 1857 started from which place?
A) Delhi
B) Meerut
C) Kanpur
D) Lucknow
Short Explanations:
Answer: B – Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah.
10. Who among the following was not associated with the Moderate phase of the Indian National Congress?
A) Dadabhai Naoroji
B) Gopal Krishna Gokhale
C) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
D) Pherozeshah Mehta
Short Explanations:
Answer: C – Tilak was an Extremist leader.
11. The Partition of Bengal was annulled in:
A) 1905
B) 1909
C) 1911
D) 1916
Short Explanations:
Answer: C – Annulled by King George V in 1911.
12. The famous ‘Dandi March’ was related to:
A) Non-Cooperation Movement
B) Civil Disobedience Movement
C) Quit India Movement
D) Swadeshi Movement
Short Explanations:
Answer: B – Salt Satyagraha, Civil Disobedience (1930).
13. Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) in:
A) 1942
B) 1943
C) 1944
D) 1945
Short Explanations:
Answer: B – October 1943 in Singapore.
14. The Mountbatten Plan (3 June 1947) led to:
A) Cabinet Mission
B) Partition of India
C) Cripps Mission
D) Simon Commission
Post-Independence & Miscellaneous
Short Explanations:
Answer: B – Led to the creation of India and Pakistan.
15. The first President of Independent India was:
A) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
B) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
C) Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
D) Jawaharlal Nehru
Short Explanations:
Answer: B – Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1950–1962).
World History
16. The Industrial Revolution first began in:
A) France
B) Germany
C) Britain
D) USA
Short Explanations:
Answer: B – Britain in the mid-18th century.
17. The Russian Revolution of 1917 was led by:
A) Tsar Nicholas II
B) Vladimir Lenin
C) Joseph Stalin
D) Leon Trotsky
Short Explanations:
Answer: B– Lenin led the Bolshevik Revolution.
18. The Treaty of Versailles was signed after which war?
A) Franco-Prussian War
B) World War I
C) World War II
D) Crimean War
Short Explanations:
Answer:– After World War I (1919).
19. Who is known as the ‘Father of the Indian Renaissance’?
A) Mahatma Gandhi
B) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
C) Swami Vivekananda
D) Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Short Explanations:
Answer: – Raja Ram Mohan Roy (founder of Brahmo Samaj).
20. The Non-Aligned Movement was founded at the conference held in:
A) Bandung
B) Belgrade
C) Cairo
D) New Delhi
Short Explanations:
Answer: Belgrade Conference (1961).