Medieval Indian History MCQs for UPSC Prelims with Answers

This Medieval Indian History MCQ practice paper for UPSC Prelims has 15 carefully selected questions on the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, the Bhakti and Sufi movements, regional kingdoms and medieval art. Each answer comes with a simple explanation, so you can strengthen your concepts while you practise.

Why Medieval Indian History Matters

Medieval history connects the ancient and modern periods, and its questions are usually asked on administration, architecture, religion and society. The topics are limited and repeated in a new form every year, so a student who has revised the rulers, the reforms and the movements properly can score well. This paper checks how well you know them.

Instructions

• Total questions: 15. Suggested time: 15 minutes.
• Each correct answer gives 2 marks and each wrong answer deducts 0.66 marks, as in the real Prelims.
• Attempt the questions first and check the answer key only after you finish.

Practice Questions

Q1. Who founded the Delhi Sultanate in 1206 CE?
(a) Iltutmish
(b) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
(c) Balban
(d) Muhammad Ghori

Q2. The Qutub Minar was completed by which ruler?
(a) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
(b) Iltutmish
(c) Alauddin Khalji
(d) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Q3. Which Sultan introduced the market control system to control prices?
(a) Balban
(b) Alauddin Khalji
(c) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
(d) Sikandar Lodi

Q4. The token currency in the Delhi Sultanate was introduced by:
(a) Alauddin Khalji
(b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
(c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
(d) Ibrahim Lodi

Q5. The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336 by:
(a) Krishnadevaraya
(b) Harihara and Bukka
(c) Deva Raya II
(d) Rama Raya

Q6. The First Battle of Panipat (1526) was fought between Babur and:
(a) Rana Sanga
(b) Ibrahim Lodi
(c) Sher Shah Suri
(d) Hemu

Q7. Which Mughal emperor is known for the 'Din-i-Ilahi'?
(a) Babur
(b) Akbar
(c) Jahangir
(d) Aurangzeb

Q8. The Mansabdari system was introduced by:
(a) Babur
(b) Humayun
(c) Akbar
(d) Shah Jahan

Q9. The land revenue system of Todar Mal was known as:
(a) Zabti
(b) Jagirdari
(c) Ryotwari
(d) Mahalwari

Q10. Which Mughal emperor built the Taj Mahal?
(a) Akbar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shah Jahan
(d) Aurangzeb

Q11. Which Bhakti saint was a disciple of Ramananda and a weaver by profession?
(a) Tulsidas
(b) Kabir
(c) Surdas
(d) Mirabai

Q12. The founder of the Sikh religion was:
(a) Guru Arjan Dev
(b) Guru Nanak
(c) Guru Gobind Singh
(d) Guru Tegh Bahadur

Q13. Which of the following Sufi orders was established in India by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti?
(a) Suhrawardi
(b) Chishti
(c) Naqshbandi
(d) Qadiri

Q14. The Chola temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadeeswara Temple, was built by:
(a) Rajendra Chola
(b) Rajaraja I
(c) Parantaka I
(d) Kulottunga I

Q15. Who wrote the Persian work Akbarnama?
(a) Abul Fazl
(b) Badauni
(c) Faizi
(d) Amir Khusrau

Answer Key with Explanations

1. Q1: (b) Qutb-ud-din Aibak founded the Slave (Mamluk) dynasty and the Delhi Sultanate in 1206 CE after the death of Muhammad Ghori.
2. Q2: (b) Aibak started it, and Iltutmish completed it. Later, Firoz Shah Tughlaq repaired it.
3. Q3: (b) Alauddin Khalji fixed the prices of goods and set up separate markets to support a large army.
4. Q4: (b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq issued token (copper and brass) coins, but the experiment failed because of forged coins.
5. Q5: (b) Harihara I and Bukka founded the empire on the banks of the Tungabhadra. The greatest ruler was Krishnadevaraya of the Tuluva dynasty.
6. Q6: (b) Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi and laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire in India.
7. Q7: (b) Akbar started Din-i-Ilahi, a code of ethics and not a new religion, and also built the Ibadat Khana at Fatehpur Sikri.
8. Q8: (c) Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system, in which the rank (zat) decided salary and the number of troops (sawar).
9. Q9: (a) Zabti (Dahsala) was the system of measuring land and fixing the revenue on the average of the last ten years. It was associated with Raja Todar Mal.
10. Q10: (c) Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal at Agra in memory of Mumtaz Mahal. It was completed in the mid-17th century.
11. Q11: (b) Kabir is traditionally believed to be a disciple of Ramananda. He preached a formless God and criticised rituals and caste.
12. Q12: (b) Guru Nanak (1469 to 1539) founded Sikhism. Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa in 1699.
13. Q13: (b) Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti settled at Ajmer and set up the Chishti order in India.
14. Q14: (b) Rajaraja I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur in the early 11th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
15. Q15: (a) Abul Fazl wrote the Akbarnama and the Ain-i-Akbari, which give the history and the administration of Akbar's reign.

Key Concepts to Revise After This Test

Quick Fact Sheet

• The Delhi Sultanate lasted from 1206 to 1526, under five dynasties.
• The Second Battle of Panipat (1556) was fought between Akbar (with Bairam Khan) and Hemu.
• The Battle of Haldighati (1576) was fought between Akbar and Maharana Pratap.
• Sher Shah Suri built the Grand Trunk Road and introduced the silver rupee.
• Ibn Battuta visited India during the reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
• The Mughal emperor Jahangir is known for the chain of justice and for paintings.
• The Maratha ruler Shivaji was crowned in 1674 at Raigad.

How to Prepare Medieval Indian History for the Prelims

For Medieval History, make one master chart for each major empire: the rulers, the capital, the administration, the revenue system, the culture and the foreign travellers. Read one standard text once and your notes thrice. Map the main battles and the main monuments. Solve 10 to 15 questions a week to see how UPSC mixes administration with culture. You can also read our free Medieval Indian History notes for simple revision, and use our other practice papers on the site for mixed practice.

Tricks for Solving Medieval Indian History Questions

• Work with the sequence. Remember the order of the Delhi dynasties and the Mughal emperors, so that you can remove the options that are out of period.
• Link a reform with a ruler. Market control with Alauddin, token currency with Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Grand Trunk Road with Sher Shah.
• Link saints with their message. Bhakti saints stress devotion and equality, and their works are in regional languages.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mixing up Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad bin Tughlaq reforms.
• Confusing the Mughal land revenue terms such as Zabti and Jagirdari.
• Not knowing the capital and the region of regional kingdoms.
• Learning the monuments without the ruler and the style.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many questions come from Medieval History in the UPSC Prelims?

Usually 2 to 4 questions come from Medieval History, with a few more in art and culture linked to this period.

Which topics are most important in Medieval History?

The Delhi Sultanate administration, the Mughal administration, the Bhakti and Sufi movements, Vijayanagara and regional kingdoms, and art and architecture.

Which book is best for Medieval History?

Start with the NCERT books and use one standard book. Our free notes also give a simple summary.

How can I remember the Mughal emperors?

Learn the order Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, and link each with one battle, one reform and one monument.

Is the Bhakti and Sufi movement important?

Yes. UPSC often asks about the saints, their ideas and the regions.

How often should I revise history?

Revise it every week by the chart method, and solve 10 to 15 MCQs weekly.

Does Medieval History help in the Mains?

Yes. It helps in GS I for the Indian heritage and culture, and in the Essay for examples.