Home Tests UPSC Civil Services Indian History & Polity

UPSC Civil Services
Indian History & Polity

UPSC IAS/IPS MCQ questions — History, Polity, Economy, Science, General Studies.

12 Q 5 Subjects Graduate
Take Mock Test
Difficulty: All Easy Medium Hard 1–10 of 12
Advertisement
Q.1 Medium Indian History & Polity
First Governor-General of free India?
A Mountbatten
B Rajagopalachari
C Nehru
D Rajendra Prasad
Correct Answer:  A. Mountbatten
EXPLANATION

This question asks about who held the position of Governor-General of India immediately after the country gained independence on August 15, 1947.

Lord Louis Mountbatten served as the first Governor-General of free India from August 15, 1947 to June 21, 1948. He was appointed by the British Crown and continued in this ceremonial role during the crucial transition period after independence. After Mountbatten's departure, Dr. Rajagopalachari became the second Governor-General, making him the first Indian-born Governor-General, while Rajendra Prasad later became the first President of India under the new Constitution.

The correct answer is (A) Mountbatten, who was the first Governor-General of independent India.

Take Test
Q.2 Medium Indian History & Polity
Akbar policy Sulh-i-Kul means?
A Holy War
B Peace with all
C Divide and Rule
D Tax exemption
Correct Answer:  B. Peace with all
EXPLANATION

This question asks about the meaning of an important administrative policy introduced by the Mughal Emperor Akbar.

Sulh-i-Kul was Akbar's policy of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among all communities in his empire. The term literally translates from Persian as "peace with all," reflecting Akbar's pragmatic approach to governing a religiously diverse population including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and others. This policy abolished the jizya (tax on non-Muslims), appointed people based on merit regardless of religion, and promoted interfaith dialogue, making it fundamentally different from policies of religious persecution or division. By implementing Sulh-i-Kul, Akbar created a more stable and unified empire where people of different faiths could coexist peacefully under Mughal rule.

The correct answer is (B) Peace with all.

Take Test
Q.3 Medium Indian History & Polity
Champaran Satyagraha (1917) was about?
A Salt
B Indigo farming
C Land revenue
D Textile
Correct Answer:  B. Indigo farming
EXPLANATION

This question asks about the primary issue addressed during the Champaran Satyagraha movement led by Gandhi in 1917.

The Champaran Satyagraha was Gandhi's first major civil disobedience movement in India, focused on the exploitation of indigo farmers in the Champaran district of Bihar by European planters who forced peasants to grow indigo on their best lands while paying them minimal wages. The movement successfully brought national attention to the plight of these farmers and resulted in the British agreeing to compensate the exploited peasants and end the oppressive indigo cultivation system. This satyagraha established Gandhi as a national leader and demonstrated the power of non-violent resistance in addressing agrarian injustices.

The correct answer is (B) Indigo farming, as the Champaran Satyagraha was primarily a protest against the exploitative indigo farming practices imposed on peasants by European planters in Bihar.

Take Test
Q.4 Medium Indian History & Polity
Who built Fatehpur Sikri?
A Babur
B Humayun
C Akbar
D Shah Jahan
Correct Answer:  C. Akbar
EXPLANATION

This question asks about the historical figure responsible for constructing Fatehpur Sikri, a significant Mughal architectural complex in India.

Fatehpur Sikri was built by Emperor Akbar during the 16th century as his capital city, constructed between 1571-1585 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The city was named after the Sufi saint Salim Chishti, whose shrine Akbar visited seeking blessings for an heir, and it represents the pinnacle of Mughal architecture and urban planning under Akbar's reign. Although Akbar later shifted his capital to Lahore, Fatehpur Sikri remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site and testament to his architectural vision and administrative prowess.

The correct answer is (C) Akbar, who built Fatehpur Sikri as his imperial capital.

Take Test
Q.5 Medium Indian History & Polity
Who designed Indian National Flag?
A Mahatma Gandhi
B Pingali Venkayya
C B.R. Ambedkar
D Jawaharlal Nehru
Correct Answer:  B. Pingali Venkayya
EXPLANATION

This question asks about the historical figure who designed the Indian National Flag.

Pingali Venkayya, a freedom fighter and nationalist from Andhra Pradesh, designed the Indian National Flag. He created the Tricolor flag with saffron, white, and green colors, along with the Ashoka Chakra in the center, which was officially adopted as India's national flag on August 15, 1947. While Mahatma Gandhi championed the flag's adoption and significance in the independence movement, it was Venkayya's design that became the enduring symbol of independent India.

The correct answer is (B) Pingali Venkayya, who designed the Indian National Flag.

Take Test
Advertisement
Q.6 Medium Indian History & Polity
Constitution of India adopted on?
A Aug 15 1947
B Jan 26 1950
C Nov 26 1949
D Jan 26 1949
Correct Answer:  C. Nov 26 1949
EXPLANATION

This question asks about the specific date when the Constitution of India was officially adopted.

The Constitution of India was adopted on November 26, 1949 by the Constituent Assembly of India, which had been drafting it since December 1946. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Chairman of the Drafting Committee, played a pivotal role in its creation. While the Constitution came into effect on January 26, 1950 (marking the beginning of the Indian Republic), the actual adoption date was November 26, 1949, which is now celebrated as Constitution Day in India.

The correct answer is (C) Nov 26 1949 – the date the Constituent Assembly formally adopted the Constitution of India.

Take Test
Q.7 Medium Indian History & Polity
Partition of Bengal 1905 by?
A Lord Curzon
B Lord Dalhousie
C Lord Ripon
D Lord Wellesley
Correct Answer:  A. Lord Curzon
EXPLANATION

This question asks about which British Viceroy of India ordered the partition of Bengal in 1905.

Lord Curzon, who served as Viceroy of India from 1898 to 1905, announced the partition of Bengal in 1905 as an administrative measure to make governance more efficient. The partition divided Bengal into two regions—Bengal (west) and Eastern Bengal and Assam (east)—but it was widely perceived as a "divide and conquer" strategy to weaken the growing nationalist movement by separating Hindu-majority western Bengal from Muslim-majority eastern Bengal. This controversial decision sparked massive protests and civil disobedience movements, including the Swadeshi Movement, making it one of the most significant events in India's independence struggle.

The Partition of Bengal in 1905 was carried out by Lord Curzon.

Take Test
Q.8 Medium Indian History & Polity
Battle of Plassey fought in?
A 1556
B 1757
C 1857
D 1947
Correct Answer:  B. 1757
EXPLANATION

This question asks about the specific year in which the Battle of Plassey, a pivotal event in British colonial history in India, took place.

The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between the British East India Company forces under Robert Clive and the Nawab of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah. This battle marked a turning point in Indian history as it established British dominance in Bengal and laid the foundation for British colonial rule across India. The year 1757 is a crucial date in Indian history, making option (B) the correct answer.

The Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757.

Take Test
Q.9 Medium Indian History & Polity
Which architectural feature, prominently seen in medieval Indian temples, represents the literal translation of 'mountain peak' and symbolizes the ascent to heaven?
A Gopuram
B Shikhara
C Stupa
D Mandapa
Correct Answer:  B. Shikhara
EXPLANATION

The Shikhara (from Sanskrit 'shikara' meaning peak) is the characteristic pointed tower of North Indian temples that symbolizes Mount Meru and the spiritual ascent.

This architectural element became increasingly elaborate during the medieval period, particularly in temples built by the Chandela, Pala, and later dynasties, serving both aesthetic and religious purposes.

Take Test
Q.10 Medium Indian History & Polity
The Chola dynasty's maritime power and trade networks extended to which Southeast Asian region, establishing trading posts and cultural influence?
A Java and Sumatra
B The Philippines and Taiwan
C Myanmar and Thailand
D Vietnam and Cambodia
Correct Answer:  A. Java and Sumatra
EXPLANATION

The Chola Empire (9th-13th century) established extensive maritime trade networks with Java and Sumatra, creating a naval empire that controlled trade routes in the Indian Ocean.

Archaeological evidence and contemporary accounts confirm Chola settlements and cultural influence in these regions, particularly during the reigns of Rajendra Chola I.

Take Test
IGET
iget AI
Online · Ask anything about exams
Hi! 👋 I'm your iget AI assistant.

Ask me anything about exam prep, MCQ solutions, study tips, or strategies! 🎯
UPSC strategy SSC CGL syllabus Improve aptitude NEET Biology tips