This compilation presents UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions (PYQs) on Medieval Indian History from 2003 to 2024. It is designed to help aspirants understand the pattern, key themes, and recurring topics essential for effective preparation.
Q1. Assertion (A): Emperor Akbar marched towards Afghanistan in 1581 with a huge army.
Reason (R): He was on his way to reclaim his ancestral country of Fergiohana in Central Asia. [2003]
Q2. Assertion (A): Shah Alam II spent the initial years as an emperor far away from his capital.
Reason (R): There was always a lurking danger of foreign invasion from the north-west frontier. [2003]
Q3. Assertion (A): Saluva Narasimha put an end to the old dynasty and assumed the royal title.
Reason (R): He wanted to save the kingdom from further degeneration and disintegration. [2003]
Q4. Assertion (A): Marathas emerged as the strongest native power in India after the decline of Mughal empire.
Reason (R): Marathas were the first to have a clear concept of a united Indian nation. [2003]
Q5. Alam Khan, one of those who invited Babur to invade India was: [2003]
Q6. Battle of Dharmat was fought between: [2003]
Q7. How did the Mughal Emperor Jahandarshah's reign come to an early end? [2003]
Q8. Consider the following statements: [2003]
1. Kitab-i-Nauras, a collection of songs in praise of Hindu deities and Muslim saints, was written by Ibrahim Adil Shah II
2. Amir Khusrau was the originator in India of the early form of the musical style known as Qawali
Which of these statements is/are correct?
Q9. How did Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aibak die? [2003]
Q10. Which one of the following sequences indicates the correct chronological order? [2004]
Q11. Consider the following statements: [2004]
1. Narasimha Saluva ended the Sangama dynasty and seized the throne for himself and started the Saluva dynasty.
2. Vira Narasimha deposed the last Saluva ruler and seized the throne for himself.
3. Vira Narasimha was succeeded by his younger brother, Krishnadeva Raya.
4. Krishnadeva Raya was succeeded by his half brother, Achyuta Raya
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Q12. Who was the last ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate? [2004]
Q13. How did the dynasty of Nizam Shahis of Ahmadnagar come to an end? [2004]
Q14. Consider the following statements about Sikh Gurus: [2004]
1. Banda Bahadur was appointed as the military leader of the Sikhs by Guru Tegh Bahadur.
2. Guru Arjun Dev became the Sikh Guru after Guru Ram Das.
3. Guru Arjun Dev gave to Sikhs their own script Guru Mukhi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Q15. The initial design and construction of which massive temple took place during the reign of Suryavarman II? [2006]
Q16. When Raja Wodeyar founded the kingdom of Mysore, who was the ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire? [2006]
Q17. In the year 1613, where was the English East India Company given permission to set up a factory (trading post)? [2006]
Q18. Assertion (A): Muhammad bin Tughlaq issued a new gold coin which was called Dinar by Ibn Batutah. [2006]
Reason (R): Muhammad bin Tughlaq wanted to issue token currency in gold coins to promote trade with West Asian and North African countries.
Which of the following is the correct answer?
Q19. Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the Afghan rulers to the throne of Delhi? [2006]
Q20. Bhakta Tukaram was a contemporary of which Mughal emperor? [2006]
Q21. In Indian history, who was Abdul Hamid Lahori? [2006]
Q22. Where is the famous Vijaya Vittala temple having its 56 carved pillars emitting musical notes located? [2007]
Q23. During the time of which Mughal Emperor did the English East India Company establish its first factory in India? [2008]
Q24. Where is the famous Virupaksha temple located? [2009]
Q25. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists: [2009]
| List-I (Famous Temple) A. Vidyashankara temple B. Rajarani temple C. Kandariya Mahadeo temple D. Bhimesvara temple | List-II (State) 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Karnataka 3. Madhya Pradesh 4. Orissa |
Q26. With whose permission did the English set up their first factory in Surat? [2009]
Q27. Among the following, who was not a proponent of Bhakti cult? [2010]
Q28. Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times? [2010]
1. Buddha was by that time considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and thus became a part of Vaishnavism.
2. Invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists.
3. Kings of Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism.
Q29. 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? [2012]
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.
Q30. 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
Q31. Consider the following Bhakti Saints: [2013]
1. Dadu Dayal
2. Guru Nanak
3. Tyagaraja
Who among the above was/were preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over?
Q32. Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri was [2014]
Q33. In medieval India, the designations 'Mahattara' and 'Pattakila' were used for [2014]
Q34. Consider the following pairs: [2015-I]
1. Champaka – Central India
2. Durgara – Jammu
3. Kuluta – Malabar
Q35. Consider the following: [2015]
The arrival of Babur into India led to the:
- Introduction of gunpowder in the subcontinent
- Introduction of the arch and dome in the region's architecture
- Establishment of Timurid dynasty in the region
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
- 3 only
- None of the above
Answer: (c)
Q36. 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? [2015]
- Amoghavarsha I
- Ballala II
- Harihara I
- Prataparudra II
Answer: (c)
Q37. Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally [2016]
- Agiculturists
- Warriors
- Weavers
- Traders
Answer: (d)
Q38. Who of the following had first deciphered the edicts of Emperor Ashoka? [2016]
- Georg Buehler
- James Prinsep
- Max Muller
- William Jones
Answer: (b)
Q39. With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements: [2016]
1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
Q40. What is/are common to the two historical places known as Ajanta and Mahabalipuram? [2016]
1. Both were built in the same period.
2. Both belong to the same religious denomination.
3. Both have rock-cut monuments.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- None of the statements given above is correct
Answer: (b)
Q41. With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Araghatta' refers to [2016]
- bonded labour
- land grants made to military officers
- waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
- wasteland converted to cultivated land
Answer: (c)
Q42. With reference to the cultural history of India, the memorizing of chronicles, dynastic histories and Epic tales was the profession of who of the following? [2016]
- Shramana
- Parivraaj
- Agrahaarika
- Maagadha
Answer: (d)
Q43. Consider the following pairs: [2016]
| # | Famous Place | Region |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bodhgaya | Baghelkhand |
| 2 | Khajuraho | Bundelkhand |
| 3 | Shirdi | Vidarbha |
| 4 | Nasik (Nashik) | Malwa |
| 5 | Tirupati | Rayalaseema |
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
- (a) 1, 2 and 4
- (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
- (c) 2 and 5 only
- (d) 1, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: (c)
44. With reference to the cultural history of medieval India, consider the following statements: [2016]
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?
45. Regarding the taxation system of Krishna Deva, the ruler of Vijayanagar, consider the following statements: [2016]
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?
46. With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements: [2018]
1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri.
2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Ilara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
47. The well-known painting "Bani Thani" belongs to the [2018]
Which school does the famous painting "Bani Thani" belong to?
48. With reference to Mughal India, what is/are the difference/differences between Jagirdar and Zamindar? [2019]
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:
49. Consider the following statements: [2019]
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?
50. Consider the following statements: [2019]
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?
51. With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct? [2019]
52. Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to albums and individual portraits? [2019]
53. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs: [2020]
1. Aurang: In-charge of treasury of the State
2. Banian: Indian agent of the East India Company
3. Mirasidar: Designated revenue payer to the State
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
54. With reference to medieval India, which one of the following is the correct sequence in ascending order in terms of size? [2021]
55. Consider the following statements: [2021]
1. It was during the reign of Iltumish that Chengiz Khan reached the Indus in pursuit of the fugitive Khwarezm prince.
2. It was during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq 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?
56. 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?
57. "Yogavasistha" was translated into Persian by Nizamuddin Panipati during the reign of: [2022]
58. In medieval India, the term "Fanam" referred to: [2022]
59. With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements: [2022]
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?
60. With reference to Indian history, who of the following were known as "Kulah-Daran"?
61. Consider the following dynasties: [2023]
1. Hoysala
2. Gahadavala
3. Kakatiya
4. Yadava
How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?
62. Who among the following rulers of Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across Tungabhadra River and a canal-cum-aqueduct several kilometres long from the river to the capital city? [2023]
63. Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to Portuguese? [2023]
Discover More Prelims PYQs
- UPSC Prelims History PYQs: Medieval History, Part I
- UPSC Prelims History PYQs: Ancient History, Part III
- UPSC Prelims History PYQs: Ancient History, Part II
- UPSC Prelims History PYQs: Ancient History, Part I
- UPSC Prelims Economy PYQs: Money & Banking
- UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology PYQs: Pollution And Solid Waste Management
- Prelims PYQs: Agriculture
- UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology PYQs: Biomes & Natural Vegetation
- UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology PYQs: Climate Change
- UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology PYQs: Biodiversity & Conservation
- UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology PYQs: Environment Laws & Acts, Regulatory Bodies
- UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology PYQs: Basics Of Ecology And Related Concepts
- UPSC Prelims PYQs: Climate Conferences & Summits