Table of Contents
India’s history spans from ancient settlements in the Indian subcontinent to the Partition of India and the establishment of the Republic of India. In this article, we present GK (General Knowledge) questions and answers about India’s history. These questions are valuable for competitive exams such as UPSC prelims, SSC, State Services, NDA, CDS, and Railways, making it a great resource for exam preparation.
India’s rich history begins with ancient settlements and societies in the region. Over time, the Indus Valley Civilization paved the way for the Vedic Civilization, where Indo-Aryan culture thrived. Jainism and Buddhism emerged, followed by a series of powerful dynasties and empires that ruled for over 3,000 years. During the Medieval period, Muslim dominions coexisted with Hindu powers. European traders and pirates arrived, leading to the establishment of British India. This, in turn, sparked the Indian independence movement, resulting in India’s partition and the creation of the Republic of India.
Question 1: Who was the first emperor of the Maurya Dynasty in India?
Answer: Chandragupta Maurya.
Question 2: Which ancient Indian text is considered the oldest surviving scripture in the world?
Answer: Rigveda.
Question 3: What is the name of the ancient Indian language in which most Hindu religious texts are written?
Answer: Sanskrit.
Question 4: Who is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution?
Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Question 5: Which famous emperor of the Maurya Dynasty is known for spreading Buddhism across India and beyond?
Answer: Ashoka the Great.
Question 6: The Indus Valley Civilization was primarily located in which modern-day country?
Answer: Pakistan.
Question 7: Who was the first woman Prime Minister of India?
Answer: Indira Gandhi.
Question 8: What famous ancient university was located in the city of Nalanda?
Answer: Nalanda University.
Question 9: Who is known as the ‘Iron Man of India’ for his role in uniting the country after independence?
Answer: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Question 10: Which Mughal emperor built the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal?
Answer: Shah Jahan.
Question 11: The Indian National Congress was founded in which year?
Answer: 1885.
Question 12: Who is the author of the book “Discovery of India”?
Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru.
Question 13: Which battle in 1757 marked the beginning of British rule in India?
Answer: Battle of Plassey.
Question 14: What was the name of the ship on which Mahatma Gandhi returned to India in 1915?
Answer: SS Arabia.
Question 15: Who was the first Indian woman in space?
Answer: Kalpana Chawla.
Question 16: Who was the founder of the Maurya Empire?
Answer: Chandragupta Maurya.
Question 17: Who was the leader of the non-violent civil disobedience movement against British rule in India?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi.
Question 18: The first war of Indian independence, also known as the Sepoy Mutiny, took place in which year?
Answer: 1857.
Question 19: Who was the last Mughal emperor of India?
Answer: Bahadur Shah II.
Question 20: Who was the first Indian woman to become the President of the United Nations General Assembly?
Answer: Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit.
Question 21: What is the famous ancient trade route that connected India with Europe and Asia?
Answer: Silk Road.
Question 22: Who was the leader of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919?
Answer: General Dyer.
Question 23: Which Indian leader is known for his role in the Salt March, a significant event in the Indian independence movement?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi.
Question 24: In which year did India gain independence from British rule?
Answer: 1947.
Question 25: Who was the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize?
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore.
Question 26: Who was the founder of the Sikh religion?
Answer: Guru Nanak.
Question 27: What was the name of the Indian social reformer who advocated for women’s rights and education?
Answer: Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Question 28: Which ancient Indian mathematician is known for his work on the number zero and decimal system?
Answer: Aryabhata.
Question 29: Who was the architect of the Indian Constitution?
Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Question 30: What is the name of the famous ancient Buddhist cave complex in Maharashtra?
Answer: Ajanta Caves.
Question 31: Who was the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal?
Answer: Abhinav Bindra.
Question 32: Which famous battle was fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad Ghori?
Answer: First Battle of Tarain.
Question 33: What is the name of the ancient script used by the Indus Valley Civilization that has not been fully deciphered?
Answer: Indus Script.
Question 34: Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean?
Answer: Amelia Earhart.
Question 35: Who was the first Vice President and the second President of India?
Answer: Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
Question 36: Which Mughal emperor built the Red Fort in Delhi?
Answer: Shah Jahan.
Question 37: Who was the leader of the Indian National Army (INA) during World War II?
Answer: Subhas Chandra Bose.
Question 38: What is the name of the Indian epic that tells the story of the prince Rama?
Answer: Ramayana.
Question 39: Who was the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal?
Answer: Karnam Malleswari.
Question 40: Which emperor is known for his rock edicts and pillars promoting religious tolerance and moral principles?
Answer: Ashoka the Great.
Question 41: Which event in 1942 marked the call for immediate independence and is also known as the Quit India Movement?
Answer: Quit India Movement.
Question 42: Who was the first Indian astronaut in space?
Answer: Rakesh Sharma.
Question 43: What is the name of the ancient Indian text that provides guidelines for statecraft and politics?
Answer: Arthashastra.
Question 44: Who is known for the construction of the famous Sun Temple in Konark, Odisha?
Answer: King Narasimhadeva I.
Question 45: Who was the first woman Prime Minister of India?
Answer: Indira Gandhi.
Question 46: What is the name of the ancient trade guilds in India that played a significant role in commerce and politics?
Answer: Maurya.
Question 47: Who was the leader of the Khilafat Movement in India?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi.
Question 48: What is the name of the place where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated?
Answer: Birla House.
Question 49: Who was the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize in Physics?
Answer: C.V. Raman.
Question 50: Who is considered the “Mother of the Indian Revolution” for her contributions to India’s struggle for independence?
Answer: Rani Lakshmibai.
History of India Related FAQs
What is the Maurya Dynasty, and who was its first emperor?
The Maurya Dynasty was a powerful ancient Indian dynasty. Its first emperor was Chandragupta Maurya.
What is the oldest surviving scripture in the world, and where is it from?
The oldest surviving scripture is the Rigveda, which originated in ancient India.
What language are most Hindu religious texts written in?
Most Hindu religious texts are written in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language.
Who is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution?
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution.
Which Maurya Dynasty emperor is famous for spreading Buddhism across India and beyond?
Ashoka the Great is renowned for spreading Buddhism across India and other regions.
