Here are 25 multiple-choice questions on History, tailored for JKSSB and similar competitive exams, with answers and detailed explanations.
Section C: History (Indian History & World History)
Q1. Which ancient Indian text is considered the earliest legal and social code, laying down rules for conduct and governance?
(a) Rig Veda
(b) Arthaśāstra
(c) Manusmriti
(d) Yoga Sutras
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Manusmriti, or the Laws of Manu, is an ancient legal text among the many Dharmashastras of Hinduism and is considered one of the earliest and most influential legal and social codes in ancient India.
Q2. The famous battle of Plassey, which marked a significant turning point for British dominance in India, was fought in which year?
(a) 1764
(b) 1757
(c) 1773
(d) 1784
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Battle of Plassey was fought on June 23, 1757, between the British East India Company and the Nawab of Bengal and his French allies. The British victory under Robert Clive effectively started their colonial rule in India.
Q3. Who among the following was known as the “Iron Man of India” and played a crucial role in the integration of princely states into the Indian Union?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru
(c) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
(d) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. His role in the integration of numerous princely states into the Indian Union after independence earned him the title “Iron Man of India.”
Q4. The concept of “Swaraj” (self-rule) was first coined by which prominent Indian freedom fighter?
(a) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Lala Lajpat Rai
(d) Bhagat Singh
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent nationalist and one of the early proponents of Swaraj, famously declared, “Swaraj is my birthright, and I shall have it!”
Q5. The Harappan civilization was discovered in which year?
(a) 1901
(b) 1921
(c) 1935
(d) 1947
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Harappan civilization, also known as the Indus Valley Civilization, was first discovered in 1921 with the excavation of the site at Harappa by Dayaram Sahni.
Q6. Which of the following events is considered the immediate cause of the First World War?
(a) German invasion of Belgium
(b) Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
(c) Formation of the Triple Alliance
(d) Naval arms race between Britain and Germany
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914, is widely regarded as the casus belli (immediate cause) of the First World War.
Q7. The Roman Empire was divided into Western and Eastern halves by which emperor?
(a) Julius Caesar
(b) Augustus
(c) Diocletian
(d) Constantine the Great
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Emperor Diocletian, who ruled from 284 to 305 AD, divided the Roman Empire into administrative halves in 285 AD, creating the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire.
Q8. Who was the founder of the Mauryan Empire in ancient India?
(a) Ashoka
(b) Bindusara
(c) Chandragupta Maurya
(d) Samudragupta
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire in 322 BCE after overthrowing the Nanda dynasty.
Q9. The “Drain of Wealth” theory during the British Raj was primarily propounded by:
(a) R.C. Dutt
(b) Dadabhai Naoroji
(c) M.G. Ranade
(d) G.K. Gokhale
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Dadabhai Naoroji, known as the “Grand Old Man of India,” extensively wrote and spoke about the “Drain of Wealth” from India to Britain, highlighting the economic exploitation under colonial rule.
Q10. The Renaissance, a period of great cultural and artistic growth, originated in which country?
(a) France
(b) England
(c) Italy
(d) Germany
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Renaissance originated in Florence, Italy, in the late 14th century, and then spread across Europe.
Q11. The ancient Indian university of Nalanda, a renowned center of learning, was located in the present-day state of:
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Odisha
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Nalanda Pith, the ancient Mahavihara, was a prominent Buddhist monastic university in the ancient kingdom of Magadha, located in modern-day Bihar, India.
Q12. Who authored the book “Ain-i-Akbari,” which provides detailed information about Emperor Akbar’s administration?
(a) Faizi
(b) Todar Mal
(c) Abu’l-Fazl
(d) Birbal
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak was the grand vizier of the Mughal emperor Akbar and the author of the Akbarnama, the official history of Akbar’s reign, of which the Ain-i-Akbari is the third and final volume.
Q13. The Non-Cooperation Movement in India was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in which year?
(a) 1919
(b) 1920
(c) 1922
(d) 1930
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in August 1920 with the aim of achieving Swaraj (self-governance) through non-violent means.
Q14. The Magna Carta, a significant document limiting the power of the monarch, was signed in which year?
(a) 1066
(b) 1215
(c) 1492
(d) 1517
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Magna Carta Libertatum, commonly called Magna Carta, was signed by King John of England on June 15, 1215, at Runnymede.
Q15. Which of the following Mughal emperors was known as ‘Zinda Pir’ or ‘Living Saint’ due to his austere lifestyle?
(a) Akbar
(b) Jahangir
(c) Shah Jahan
(d) Aurangzeb
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Aurangzeb was known as ‘Zinda Pir’ (Living Saint) by his contemporaries because of his strict adherence to Islamic principles and simple, austere lifestyle.
Q16. The American Civil War (1861-1865) was fought primarily over the issue of:
(a) Taxation without representation
(b) Imperial expansion
(c) Slavery
(d) Religious freedom
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The American Civil War was primarily caused by the long-standing controversy over slavery, with the South favouring its expansion and the North opposing it.
Q17. Who is credited with the invention of the printing press in Europe?
(a) Leonardo da Vinci
(b) Gutenberg
(c) William Caxton
(d) Albrecht Dürer
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Johannes Gutenberg is credited with inventing the movable type printing press in Europe around 1440, revolutionizing information dissemination.
Q18. The famous “Dandi March” or Salt Satyagraha, organized by Mahatma Gandhi, took place in which year?
(a) 1928
(b) 1930
(c) 1932
(d) 1935
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Dandi March, an act of nonviolent civil disobedience in colonial India, was initiated by Mahatma Gandhi on March 12, 1930, to protest against the British salt monopoly.
Q19. Which ancient civilization built the Great Pyramids of Giza?
(a) Mesopotamian
(b) Roman
(c) Egyptian
(d) Greek
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Great Pyramids of Giza were built by the ancient Egyptians as tombs for their pharaohs.
Q20. The Third Battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between the Maratha Empire and:
(a) The British East India Company
(b) The Mughal Empire
(c) The Durrani Empire (Afghans)
(d) The French East India Company
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Third Battle of Panipat was fought on January 14, 1761, between the Maratha Empire and the invading Afghan army of Ahmad Shah Durrani, supported by several Indian Muslim allies.
Q21. Who was the first Governor-General of independent India?
(a) Lord Mountbatten
(b) C. Rajagopalachari
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Lord Mountbatten served as the last Viceroy of India and the first Governor-General of independent India from 1947 to 1948. C. Rajagopalachari was the first and last Indian Governor-General.
Q22. The term “Cold War” primarily refers to the geopolitical tension between which two superpowers after World War II?
(a) Germany and France
(b) United States and Soviet Union
(c) China and Japan
(d) Britain and Germany
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Cold War was a period of geopolitical rivalry between the two major superpowers, the United States and its allies, and the Soviet Union and its satellite states, from the mid-1940s until the early 1990s.
Q23. Which religious movement emphasized the equality of all human beings and rejected the caste system in medieval India?
(a) Bhakti Movement
(b) Aligarh Movement
(c) Wahabi Movement
(d) Deoband Movement
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Bhakti Movement, which emerged in various parts of India, emphasized devotion to a personal god and often preached against the caste system and ritualistic worship, promoting social equality.
Q24. The Industrial Revolution, which transformed economies and societies, began in which country?
(a) United States
(b) Germany
(c) Great Britain
(d) France
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the late 18th century, driven by innovations in textile machinery, steam power, and coal mining.
Q25. The Quit India Movement was launched in response to the failure of which mission?
(a) Simon Commission
(b) Cripps Mission
(c) Cabinet Mission
(d) August Offer
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942 after the failure of the Cripps Mission, which had offered limited self-governance to India after the Second World War but did not meet the demands of full independence.
