50 Indian History GK Questions for SSC, UPSC and Railway Exams (Part 1)

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        Indian history is one of the most important subjects for competitive exams such as SSC, UPSC, Railway, Banking, and other government recruitment exams. Many questions in these examinations are directly asked from ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history.

        For students preparing for competitive exams, it is essential to regularly practice important and exam-oriented GK questions. Indian history not only helps in the General Awareness section but also improves understanding of India’s cultural, political, and social development.

        In this article, we have compiled 50 important Indian History GK questions that are useful for aspirants preparing for SSC, UPSC, and Railway exams.

Ancient Indian History GK Questions

1. Which is considered the oldest civilization in India?

Answer: Indus Valley Civilization

2. Which city of the Indus Valley Civilization was famous for its dockyard?

Answer: Lothal

3. The Great Bath was discovered at which Indus Valley site?

Answer: Mohenjo-Daro

4. Which metal was not known to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?

Answer: Iron

5. Which Veda is the oldest Veda?

Answer: Rigveda

6. Who was the founder of Buddhism?

Answer: Gautama Buddha

7. Where did Gautama Buddha attain enlightenment?

Answer: Bodh Gaya

8. Who founded Jainism?

Answer: Rishabhanatha (first Tirthankara)

9. Who was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism?

Answer: Mahavira

10. The capital of the Maurya Empire under Chandragupta Maurya was?

Answer: Pataliputra

11. Who was the teacher of Chandragupta Maurya?

Answer: Chanakya

12. Which book was written by Megasthenes about India?

Answer: Indica

13. Which Mauryan emperor embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga War?

Answer: Ashoka

14. The Kalinga War was fought in which year?

Answer: 261 BC

15. Which script was used in Ashokan inscriptions?

Answer: Brahmi Script

16. Who founded the Gupta Empire?

Answer: Sri Gupta

17. Who is known as the Napoleon of India?

Answer: Samudragupta

18. The famous Iron Pillar is located in which city?

Answer: Delhi

19. Who wrote the Sanskrit drama “Shakuntala”?

Answer: Kalidasa

20. The Gupta period is known as the?

Answer: Golden Age of India

Medieval Indian History GK Questions

21. Who founded the Delhi Sultanate?

Answer: Qutb-ud-din Aibak

22. Who built the Qutub Minar?

Answer: Qutb-ud-din Aibak (completed by Iltutmish)

23. Who was the first woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?

Answer: Razia Sultan

24. Who introduced the token currency in India?

Answer: Muhammad bin Tughlaq

25. Who founded the Mughal Empire in India?

Answer: Babur

26. The First Battle of Panipat was fought in which year?

Answer: 1526

27. Who defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat?

Answer: Babur

28. Who was the son of Babur?

Answer: Humayun

29. Who introduced the Mansabdari system?

Answer: Akbar

30. Which Mughal emperor built the Taj Mahal?

Answer: Shah Jahan

31. Who was the last powerful Mughal emperor?

Answer: Aurangzeb

32. Which Sikh Guru founded the Khalsa?

Answer: Guru Gobind Singh

33. Who founded the Maratha Empire?

Answer: Shivaji Maharaj

34. What was the council of eight ministers of Shivaji called?

Answer: Ashtapradhan

35. Who built the Red Fort in Delhi?

Answer: Shah Jahan

Modern Indian History GK Questions

36. Who founded the British East India Company?

Answer: The British merchants under a royal charter of Queen Elizabeth I in 1600

37. The Battle of Plassey was fought in which year?

Answer: 1757

38. Who defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah in the Battle of Plassey?

Answer: Robert Clive

39. The Battle of Buxar was fought in which year?

Answer: 1764

40. Who was the Governor-General of India during the Revolt of 1857?

Answer: Lord Canning

41. Who founded the Indian National Congress?

Answer: A. O. Hume

42. In which year was the Indian National Congress established?

Answer: 1885

43. Who gave the slogan “Swaraj is my birthright”?

Answer: Bal Gangadhar Tilak

44. Who started the Non-Cooperation Movement?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

45. In which year did the Non-Cooperation Movement begin?

Answer: 1920

46. The Dandi March took place in which year?

Answer: 1930

47. Who led the Salt March?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

48. Who founded the Azad Hind Fauj?

Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose

49. The Quit India Movement was launched in which year?

Answer: 1942

50. Who gave the slogan “Do or Die” during the Quit India Movement?

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

Conclusion

        Indian history is a vast and important subject for competitive exams such as SSC, UPSC, and Railway. Candidates who regularly practice history-based GK questions can significantly improve their chances of scoring well in the General Awareness section.

        The questions mentioned in this article cover important topics from ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history. Students should revise these questions regularly and continue practicing more advanced questions to strengthen their preparation. Click here to know how to prepare for the exams properly.


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