History – GK Questions

Answer: False

The Battle of Plassey (1757) occurred after the Carnatic Wars. The Third Carnatic War (1756-63) ended with the Treaty of Paris (1763), which confirmed British supremacy over the French in India. [[1]]

Answer: War of Austrian Succession

The First Carnatic War (1746-48) was the Indian theatre of the War of Austrian Succession (1740-48) in Europe. It saw French forces under Dupleix capture Madras from the British. [[30]]

Answer: True

Queen Elizabeth I granted a royal charter to the British East India Company on December 31, 1600, giving it a monopoly on English trade with the East Indies for 15 years. [[1]]

Answer: Louis XIV

The French East India Company was founded in 1664 during the reign of Louis XIV, under the guidance of Finance Minister Jean-Baptiste Colbert. Pondicherry became their main settlement in India. [[30]]

Answer: Masulipatnam

The Dutch established their first factory at Masulipatnam (Andhra Pradesh) in 1605. They later set up centers at Pulicat, Nagapattinam, and Chinsurah, focusing on spice and textile trade. [[1]]

Answer: False

Though Vasco da Gama first landed at Calicut (1498), the Portuguese established their first factory at Cochin (Kochi) in 1503. Calicut's Zamorin was hostile to Portuguese trade ambitions. [[30]]

Answer: Vasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama reached Calicut (Kozhikode) on May 20, 1498, becoming the first European to reach India by sea via the Cape of Good Hope. This opened direct maritime trade between Europe and India. [[1]]

Answer: True

Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahore in 1799 and established the Sikh Empire. He unified the Misls, modernized the army, and ruled with religious tolerance until his death in 1839. [[1]]

Answer: Aurangzeb

Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed by Aurangzeb in 1675 for refusing to convert to Islam and for defending the religious freedom of Kashmiri Pandits. His martyrdom is commemorated at Gurdwara Sis Ganj in Delhi. [[30]]

Answer: Amritsar

The Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, Punjab, is the holiest shrine of Sikhism. Built by Guru Ram Das and completed by Guru Arjan Dev, it symbolizes openness with doors on all four sides. [[1]]

Answer: True

Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606) compiled the Adi Granth (later Guru Granth Sahib) in 1604, installing it at the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. He was the first Sikh Guru to be martyred. [[30]]

Answer: Guru Gobind Singh

Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa Panth on Vaisakhi day (March 30, 1699) at Anandpur Sahib. He initiated the Five Ks and established the Khalsa as a community of saint-soldiers. [[1]]

Answer: True

Shivaji established the Ashta Pradhan (Council of Eight) to administer his kingdom. Key positions included Peshwa (Prime Minister), Amatya (Finance), and Senapati (Commander-in-Chief). [[1]]

Answer: Bajirao I

Bajirao I (1720-1740) served as Peshwa under Chhatrapati Shahu. He expanded Maratha territory from Malwa to Delhi through brilliant military campaigns, earning the title 'Thorale Bajirao' (the great). [[30]]

Answer: Raigad

Shivaji was crowned Chhatrapati (sovereign) at Raigad Fort on June 6, 1674, in a grand ceremony officiated by Gaga Bhatt. This marked the formal establishment of the Maratha Kingdom. [[1]]

Answer: True

The Third Battle of Panipat (January 14, 1761) saw the Maratha forces led by Sadashiv Rao Bhau defeated by Ahmad Shah Abdali's Afghan army. This halted Maratha expansion northward and weakened their power. [[30]]

Answer: Shivaji

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha Empire in 1674 with his coronation at Raigad. He pioneered guerrilla warfare (Ganimi Kava) and established a well-organized administration. [[1]]

Answer: Akbar

Akbar's finance minister Raja Todar Mal introduced the Zabt system, which fixed revenue based on land measurement and average produce of 10 years. It was part of the Dahsala system implemented across the empire. [[30]]

Answer: Akbar

Akbar founded Fatehpur Sikri in 1571 near Agra as his capital. It houses architectural marvels like Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahal, and Jama Masjid. The city was abandoned due to water scarcity. [[1]]

Answer: True

Gol Gumbaz (1656), the mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah in Bijapur, features a dome with a diameter of 44 meters – the second-largest pre-modern dome after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Its whispering gallery is famous. [[30]]