Q1. The Battle of Plassey was fought in which year?

1. 1757
2. 1764
3. 1526
4. 1600

Explanation: The Battle of Plassey was fought on June 23, 1757 between the British East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal. It marked the beginning of British rule in India.

Q2. Who founded the Maurya Empire?

1. Chandragupta Maurya
2. Ashoka
3. Bindusara
4. Samudragupta

Explanation: Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire around 322 BCE with the help of Chanakya (Kautilya). Ashoka was his grandson.

Q3. The Quit India Movement was launched in which year?

1. 1942
2. 1930
3. 1947
4. 1919

Explanation: The Quit India Movement (August Movement) was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942 at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee.

Q4. Who was the first Governor-General of independent India?

1. Lord Mountbatten
2. C. Rajagopalachari
3. Lord Wavell
4. Lord Curzon

Explanation: Lord Mountbatten was the first Governor-General of independent India (1947–48). C. Rajagopalachari was the last and only Indian Governor-General.

Q5. The Partition of Bengal was done in which year?

1. 1905
2. 1911
3. 1947
4. 1932

Explanation: The Partition of Bengal was effected in 1905 by Lord Curzon. It was annulled in 1911. The partition divided Bengal into East Bengal (Muslim majority) and West Bengal (Hindu majority).

Q6. Which Mughal emperor built the Taj Mahal?

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

Explanation: Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1643. UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Q7. The first War of Indian Independence was fought in:

1. 1857
2. 1905
3. 1942
4. 1919

Explanation: The Revolt of 1857, also called the First War of Indian Independence, began on May 10, 1857, at Meerut. It was triggered by the introduction of the Enfield rifle cartridge.

Q8. Who was the founder of the Indian National Congress?

1. A.O. Hume
2. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
3. Gopal Krishna Gokhale
4. Dadabhai Naoroji

Explanation: Allan Octavian Hume, a retired British civil servant, founded the Indian National Congress in 1885. The first session was held in Bombay with W.C. Bonnerjee as president.

Q9. Ashoka's Dhamma was inspired by which religion?

1. Buddhism
2. Jainism
3. Hinduism
4. Zoroastrianism

Explanation: Ashoka embraced Buddhism after the devastating Kalinga War (261 BCE). His Dhamma was based on Buddhist principles of non-violence, tolerance, and welfare.

Q10. The Treaty of Amritsar (1809) was signed between:

1. British and Ranjit Singh
2. British and Marathas
3. British and Hyderabad
4. British and Mysore

Explanation: The Treaty of Amritsar (1809) was signed between the British East India Company and Maharaja Ranjit Singh of the Sikh Empire, establishing the River Sutlej as their boundary.

Q11. Dandi March took place in which year?

1. 1930
2. 1920
3. 1942
4. 1905

Explanation: The Dandi March (Salt March) was led by Mahatma Gandhi from March 12 to April 6, 1930, covering 241 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi to protest the British salt monopoly.

Q12. Who wrote 'Arthashastra'?

1. Kautilya
2. Kalidasa
3. Banabhatta
4. Vatsyayana

Explanation: Arthashastra was written by Kautilya (also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta), the chief minister of Chandragupta Maurya. It is a treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy.

Q13. The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was related to:

1. Indigo farmers
2. Salt tax
3. Land revenue
4. Textile workers

Explanation: Champaran Satyagraha (1917) was Gandhi's first civil disobedience in India against the oppressive system forcing indigo farmers in Champaran, Bihar, to grow indigo under the tinkathia system.

Q14. Which empire was founded by Babur?

1. Mughal Empire
2. Vijayanagara Empire
3. Sultanate of Delhi
4. Maratha Empire

Explanation: Babur founded the Mughal Empire after defeating Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. He was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan.

Q15. The Simon Commission was boycotted because:

1. No Indian member was included
2. It was pro-Muslim
3. It recommended partition
4. It opposed the INC

Explanation: The Simon Commission (1927) was boycotted across India because it had no Indian members — all seven commissioners were British. Indians protested with 'Simon Go Back' slogans.

Q16. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occurred in which city?

1. Amritsar
2. Lahore
3. Delhi
4. Calcutta

Explanation: The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre occurred on April 13, 1919 in Amritsar, Punjab. Brigadier General Dyer ordered troops to fire on unarmed civilians gathered for Baisakhi festival.

Q17. Who is known as the 'Iron Man of India'?

1. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
2. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
3. Subhas Chandra Bose
4. Bhagat Singh

Explanation: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is called the 'Iron Man of India' for his crucial role in integrating 565 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947.

Q18. The Harappan Civilization is also known as:

1. Indus Valley Civilization
2. Vedic Civilization
3. Dravidian Civilization
4. Aryan Civilization

Explanation: The Harappan Civilization (2600–1900 BCE) is also called the Indus Valley Civilization, named after the Indus River. Major sites: Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Dholavira.

Q19. The Ghadar Party was founded in:

1. 1913
2. 1905
3. 1920
4. 1930

Explanation: The Ghadar Party was founded in 1913 in San Francisco by Lala Har Dayal and Indian immigrants. 'Ghadar' means revolution/mutiny. It aimed to overthrow British rule in India.

Q20. Tipu Sultan was the ruler of which kingdom?

1. Mysore
2. Hyderabad
3. Maratha
4. Vijayanagara

Explanation: Tipu Sultan (1750–1799), known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. He died fighting the British in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War at Srirangapatna.