Indian History Essentials for AP Police GS
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Why History Matters for the AP Police GS Paper
History questions in AP SI and Constable papers test a candidate's grasp of India's civilisational continuity and its long struggle for freedom, and examiners lean heavily on a fixed stock of high-yield facts: dynasties and their capitals, major battles and treaties, social reform movements, and the chronology of the national movement from 1857 to 1947. This chapter compresses ancient, medieval, and modern Indian history into the dynasties, rulers, movements, and dates most likely to appear on a competitive paper — not a narrative history, but a dense reference you can revise in a single sitting. The modern period, especially the freedom struggle's phases and leaders, typically draws the largest share of marks, so it receives proportionately fuller treatment here.
Ancient India
Prehistoric and Indus Valley Civilisation
The Indus Valley Civilisation (also called the Harappan Civilisation), one of the world's oldest urban civilisations, flourished roughly between 2500 BCE and 1750 BCE across the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakra river basins, spanning modern-day Pakistan and northwest India. Major sites include Harappa (discovered 1921, on the Ravi river, Pakistan), Mohenjo-daro (discovered 1922, on the Indus, Pakistan — meaning "mound of the dead"), Lothal (Gujarat, a major dockyard site), Dholavira (Gujarat, known for water conservation and a unique signboard), Kalibangan (Rajasthan, known for ploughed fields and fire altars), and Rakhigarhi (Haryana, one of the largest sites). The civilisation featured planned grid-pattern cities, a Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro, standardised weights and measures, an undeciphered script (written right to left), worship of a Mother Goddess and a proto-Shiva (Pashupati) figure, and extensive trade with Mesopotamia. Its decline (around 1900–1750 BCE) is attributed to factors including climate change, river shifts (drying of the Ghaggar-Hakra/Saraswati), and possibly Aryan migrations, though the exact cause remains debated.
Vedic Age
The Early Vedic (Rig Vedic) period, roughly 1500–1000 BCE, centred on the Sapta-Sindhu region (Punjab and adjoining areas), was pastoral and tribal, organised around clans (jana) with the Rig Veda — the oldest of the four Vedas — as the primary source. The Later Vedic period, roughly 1000–600 BCE, saw eastward expansion into the Gangetic plains, the rise of the varna (caste) system, territorial kingdoms (janapadas), and the composition of the Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas along with the Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads.
Jainism and Buddhism
Both religions arose around the 6th century BCE as reform movements against Vedic ritualism and the rigidity of the caste system. Mahavira (Vardhamana), the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism, born at Kundagrama near Vaishali, attained kevalya jnana (omniscience) and preached the triratna (three jewels) — right faith, right knowledge, right conduct — and died at Pavapuri. Gautama Buddha (born Siddhartha, at Lumbini, present-day Nepal, to Suddhodana of the Shakya clan) attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya under a Bodhi tree, delivered his first sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana) at Sarnath, and died (attained Mahaparinirvana) at Kushinagar. His teachings centre on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path (Madhyama Marga, the Middle Way). Buddhist councils were held periodically to compile and codify teachings; the Fourth Buddhist Council, under Kanishka at Kashmir/Kundalvana, led to the split into Hinayana and Mahayana sects.
Major Ancient Dynasties
| Dynasty | Period (approx.) | Capital | Notable Rulers / Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haryanka | 544–413 BCE | Rajgriha, later Pataliputra | Bimbisara, Ajatashatru (contemporary of Buddha and Mahavira) |
| Nanda | 413–321 BCE | Pataliputra | Mahapadma Nanda; first major empire builders of Magadha |
| Maurya | 321–185 BCE | Pataliputra | Chandragupta Maurya (founder, guided by Chanakya/Kautilya, author of Arthashastra), Bindusara, Ashoka (Kalinga War 261 BCE, Dhamma, Rock and Pillar Edicts, Buddhist propagation) |
| Shunga | 185–73 BCE | Pataliputra | Pushyamitra Shunga, overthrew last Mauryan ruler |
| Satavahana | 1st century BCE – 3rd century CE | Pratishthana (Paithan) | Deccan power; Gautamiputra Satakarni; patronised trade and Buddhism |
| Kushana | 1st–3rd century CE | Purushapura (Peshawar) | Kanishka (Fourth Buddhist Council, Saka Era begins 78 CE) |
| Gupta | 320–550 CE | Pataliputra | Chandragupta I (founder), Samudragupta ("Napoleon of India"), Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (Nine Gems/Navaratna court including Kalidasa); called the "Golden Age" of art, science, and literature; Aryabhata and Varahamihira flourished |
| Vardhana | 606–647 CE | Kannauj | Harshavardhana; Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) visited his court |
| Chola | 9th–13th century CE | Thanjavur, later Gangaikonda Cholapuram | Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I (naval expeditions to Southeast Asia); built Brihadeeswarar Temple; strong local self-government (village assemblies, Uttaramerur inscriptions) |
| Pallava | 4th–9th century CE | Kanchipuram | Mahendravarman I, Narasimhavarman I; Mahabalipuram rock-cut temples |
South Indian history relevant to Andhra Pradesh candidates includes the Satavahanas (with strong roots in the Krishna-Godavari region, capital also at Amaravati at times), the Ikshvakus of Nagarjunakonda (3rd–4th century CE, patrons of Buddhism in coastal Andhra), and later the Vishnukundins and the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi (with capital at Vengi, near present Eluru, a long-ruling dynasty from the 7th to 12th centuries CE that eventually merged into the Chola line through matrimonial alliance, giving rise to the Kakatiyas' predecessors). The Kakatiya dynasty (12th–14th century CE), with its capital at Warangal, is the most important medieval Telugu dynasty — Rudrama Devi (a rare woman ruler) and Prataparudra II were notable rulers; the dynasty fell to the Delhi Sultanate (Tughlaq invasions) in 1323.
Medieval India
Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)
| Dynasty | Period | Key Rulers |
|---|---|---|
| Slave (Mamluk) | 1206–1290 | Qutb-ud-din Aibak (founder, began Qutub Minar), Iltutmish, Razia Sultan (only woman ruler of the Sultanate), Balban |
| Khilji | 1290–1320 | Jalal-ud-din Khilji, Ala-ud-din Khilji (market reforms, Deccan expansion, repelled Mongol invasions) |
| Tughlaq | 1320–1414 | Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, Muhammad bin Tughlaq (transferred capital to Daulatabad, token currency experiment), Firoz Shah Tughlaq |
| Sayyid | 1414–1451 | Khizr Khan and successors, weak rule |
| Lodi | 1451–1526 | Bahlul Lodi, Sikandar Lodi, Ibrahim Lodi (defeated by Babur at First Battle of Panipat, 1526) |
Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646)
Founded by Harihara and Bukka (of the Sangama dynasty) with capital at Vijayanagara (Hampi, on the Tungabhadra river), it was the dominant power of peninsular India for three centuries. Its most celebrated ruler, Krishnadevaraya (Tuluva dynasty, reigned 1509–1529), patronised Telugu literature (himself the author of "Amuktamalyada" and patron of the Ashtadiggajas, eight great Telugu poets including Allasani Peddana), expanded the empire, and maintained relations with Portuguese traders (Domingo Paes and other European travellers left detailed accounts). The empire fell after defeat at the Battle of Talikota (1565) against the combined Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, Bidar, Berar).
Bhakti and Sufi Movements
The Bhakti movement, emphasising personal devotion to a personal god over ritual, produced saint-poets across regions: Ramanuja and Basavanna (Karnataka, founder of Lingayatism), Kabir and Guru Nanak (North India, founder of Sikhism), Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (Bengal, Krishna bhakti), Mirabai (Rajasthan), Tukaram and Namdev (Maharashtra, Varkari tradition), and in Andhra, the Vaishnavite poet-saint Annamacharya (15th century, Tallapaka, prolific composer of sankirtanas dedicated to Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala) and Tyagaraja (though primarily an 18th–19th century Carnatic composer working in the Bhakti idiom). The parallel Sufi movement within Islam, organised into silsilahs (orders) like Chishti (Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer, Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi) and Suhrawardi, similarly stressed a personal, mystical path to God and tolerance across religious lines.
Mughal Empire (1526–1857, effective rule to mid-1700s)
| Ruler | Reign | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| Babur | 1526–1530 | Founder; won First Battle of Panipat (1526) against Ibrahim Lodi, and Battle of Khanwa (1527) against Rana Sanga |
| Humayun | 1530–1556 (with exile) | Defeated by Sher Shah Suri, regained throne with Persian help |
| Sher Shah Suri | 1540–1545 (Suri dynasty, interregnum) | Administrative reforms, Grand Trunk Road, currency system (rupiya) |
| Akbar | 1556–1605 | Won Second Battle of Panipat (1556); Din-i-Ilahi; Mansabdari system; Rajput alliances; Navaratnas (including Birbal, Tansen, Abul Fazl) |
| Jahangir | 1605–1627 | Nur Jahan's influence; visited by Sir Thomas Roe (English envoy, 1615) |
| Shah Jahan | 1628–1658 | Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Jama Masjid; height of Mughal architecture |
| Aurangzeb | 1658–1707 | Empire's largest territorial extent; reimposed jizya; prolonged Deccan wars; death marks beginning of decline |
After Aurangzeb, weak successors and the rise of regional powers — the Marathas (Shivaji founded the Maratha kingdom in 1674 with coronation at Raigad; later the Peshwa-led confederacy), the Nizam of Hyderabad (Asaf Jah I, a former Mughal governor who became independent around 1724, founding the state that would include much of present Telangana and parts of coastal Andhra/Rayalaseema at various points), Bengal's Nawabs, and the Sikh misls in Punjab — fragmented the empire, opening the door to European trading companies.
Advent of Europeans and Company Rule
The Portuguese arrived first (Vasco da Gama landed at Calicut in 1498), followed by the Dutch, the English (East India Company chartered 1600), the Danish, and the French (French East India Company, 1664). English footholds developed at Surat, Madras (Fort St. George, 1639), Bombay (received 1661 as dowry, transferred to the Company 1668), and Calcutta (Fort William, 1690). The decisive Anglo-French rivalry was settled in the Carnatic Wars (fought partly in Andhra's coastal region) and, more importantly, the Battle of Plassey (1757, Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal through the betrayal of Mir Jafar) — the true beginning of British political power in India — followed by the Battle of Buxar (1764, the Company defeated the combined forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daula, and Shah Alam II), after which the Company obtained Diwani rights (revenue collection) over Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha (1765).
Subsequent British expansion proceeded through the Anglo-Mysore Wars (against Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, four wars 1767–1799, Tipu died defending Srirangapatna in the fourth war), the Anglo-Maratha Wars (three wars, 1775–1818, ending Maratha power), and the Anglo-Sikh Wars (1845–49, annexation of Punjab). Governance tools included the Doctrine of Lapse (Lord Dalhousie, annexing princely states without a natural heir — Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur among them) and outright annexation (Awadh, 1856, on grounds of misgovernance) — both major irritants that fed into the 1857 revolt.
The Revolt of 1857
Often called India's First War of Independence, the revolt began at Meerut on 10 May 1857 when sepoys mutinied over the greased cartridges issue (believed to be coated with cow and pig fat, offending both Hindu and Muslim soldiers) and marched to Delhi, proclaiming the aged Bahadur Shah II Mughal emperor as their nominal leader. It spread across North and Central India with key centres and leaders: Delhi (Bahadur Shah Zafar), Kanpur (Nana Sahib, aided by Tatya Tope), Lucknow (Begum Hazrat Mahal), Jhansi (Rani Lakshmibai), and Bihar (Kunwar Singh). The revolt was suppressed by 1858; its consequences were momentous — the Government of India Act, 1858 transferred power from the East India Company to the British Crown, ending Company rule; the Mughal dynasty was formally abolished; and a policy of divide-and-rule alongside greater caution in interfering with local customs followed.
The Freedom Movement: Phases and Leaders
Formation of the Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by A.O. Hume (a retired British civil servant) with its first session in Bombay under the presidency of W.C. Bonnerjee. The "Moderate phase" (1885–1905) featured leaders like Dadabhai Naoroji (author of the "Drain of Wealth" theory), Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and Pherozeshah Mehta, who favoured constitutional methods — petitions, resolutions, and dialogue — to seek reform within the British system.
Partition of Bengal and the Extremist Phase
Lord Curzon partitioned Bengal in 1905 ostensibly for administrative convenience but actually to weaken the nationalist movement by dividing Hindus and Muslims; this triggered the Swadeshi Movement (boycott of British goods, promotion of indigenous industry) and radicalised politics. The "Extremist" or Lal-Bal-Pal trio — Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bipin Chandra Pal — championed more assertive methods. Tilak's slogan "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it" became a rallying cry. The Congress split at the Surat session (1907) between Moderates and Extremists. Bengal's partition was annulled in 1911, and the capital was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi the same year.
Constitutional Reforms and World War I Era
The Indian Councils Act, 1909 (Morley-Minto Reforms) introduced separate electorates for Muslims, sowing the seeds of communal politics. The Lucknow Pact (1916) saw Congress and the Muslim League (founded 1906 at Dhaka) come together temporarily, with Congress accepting separate electorates. The Home Rule Movement (1916), led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Annie Besant, demanded self-government. The Government of India Act, 1919 (Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms) introduced dyarchy in the provinces.
Gandhian Era
Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915 and first tested satyagraha in India at Champaran (1917, indigo cultivators), Kheda (1918, peasants), and Ahmedabad (1918, mill workers) before assuming national leadership. The Rowlatt Act (1919) permitting detention without trial triggered protests, culminating in the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (13 April 1919, Amritsar, General Dyer ordered firing on an unarmed gathering, killing hundreds) — a turning point that hardened nationalist opinion against British rule.
| Movement | Years | Trigger / Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Cooperation Movement | 1920–1922 | Launched after Jallianwala Bagh and in conjunction with the Khilafat Movement; withdrawn after the Chauri Chaura incident (February 1922, a mob burned a police station) |
| Simon Commission | 1928 | All-British commission to review constitutional reforms; boycotted with "Simon Go Back" protests; Lala Lajpat Rai died from injuries sustained in a lathi charge during protests |
| Purna Swaraj Declaration | 1929–30 | Lahore Session (December 1929) under Jawaharlal Nehru's presidency declared complete independence as the goal; 26 January 1930 observed as Independence Day (Purna Swaraj Day) until 1947, later chosen as the date for the Constitution's commencement |
| Civil Disobedience Movement | 1930–1934 | Launched with the Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha, 12 March–6 April 1930, Gandhi walked from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi to break the salt law) |
| Round Table Conferences | 1930, 1931, 1932 | Gandhi attended only the second (1931), following the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), under which civil disobedience was suspended and political prisoners released |
| Government of India Act | 1935 | Provincial autonomy, provided the framework later adapted for India's own Constitution; Congress ministries formed in several provinces in 1937 elections, resigned in 1939 over India's inclusion in WWII without consultation |
| Quit India Movement | 1942 | Launched 8 August 1942 after failure of the Cripps Mission; "Do or Die" call; mass arrests of top leadership; the most widespread mass movement of the freedom struggle |
Revolutionary and Parallel Streams
Alongside the mainstream Congress-led movement ran a revolutionary tradition: the Ghadar Party (founded 1913 in the USA/Canada by Punjabi migrants, including Lala Hardayal), the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Rajguru, Sukhdev — Bhagat Singh and associates were executed in 1931 for the Lahore Conspiracy Case following the Saunders murder and the Central Legislative Assembly bomb incident), and Subhas Chandra Bose, who broke from Congress to found the Forward Bloc (1939) and later led the Indian National Army (INA/Azad Hind Fauj) with Japanese support during WWII, raising the slogan "Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom." The Indian National Army's Rani of Jhansi Regiment was a notable all-women combat unit. The INA trials (Red Fort Trials, 1945) of INA officers Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Sahgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon galvanised nationwide public sympathy.
Andhra-Specific Freedom Movement Milestones
Andhra contributed significantly to the national movement: Alluri Sitarama Raju led the Rampa Rebellion (1922–24) in the Godavari Agency tracts, a tribal armed uprising against British forest laws, until his capture and execution in 1924 — he remains one of the most revered freedom fighters of the region. Potti Sriramulu's fast unto death in 1952 (post-independence) for the creation of a separate Andhra state led to his death and the subsequent formation of Andhra State (1953), the first state reorganised on linguistic lines, a precursor to the wider States Reorganisation Act of 1956 that created Andhra Pradesh by merging Andhra State with Telangana (Hyderabad State).
Towards Independence and Partition
The Cabinet Mission Plan (1946) proposed a federal structure to keep India united but was rejected in practice; the Muslim League's Direct Action Day (16 August 1946) triggered communal violence. The Mountbatten Plan (June 1947) accepted partition, and the Indian Independence Act, 1947 (British Parliament) created two dominions — India and Pakistan — effective 15 August 1947, with Jawaharlal Nehru as India's first Prime Minister and Lord Mountbatten as the last Viceroy and first Governor-General of independent India. Partition triggered one of history's largest migrations and severe communal violence. Integration of over 560 princely states into the Indian Union was masterminded by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister) with V.P. Menon, using the Instrument of Accession — Hyderabad (under the Nizam) was integrated through Operation Polo (police action) in September 1948, and Junagadh and Kashmir presented separate complications resolved through different means.
Social and Religious Reform Movements (19th Century)
The 19th century saw a wave of reform movements responding to social evils and colonial critique of Indian society, and these reformers are frequently paired with their organisations in GS papers.
| Reformer | Organisation | Year/Region | Key Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raja Ram Mohan Roy | Brahmo Samaj | 1828, Bengal | Campaigned against Sati (abolished 1829 under Governor-General William Bentinck); called "Father of the Indian Renaissance" |
| Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar | — | Bengal | Widow remarriage (Widow Remarriage Act, 1856); women's education |
| Swami Dayanand Saraswati | Arya Samaj | 1875, Bombay | "Back to the Vedas"; opposed idolatry, caste rigidity; authored Satyarth Prakash |
| Swami Vivekananda | Ramakrishna Mission | 1897, Belur Math | Represented Hinduism at the 1893 Chicago Parliament of Religions; stressed practical Vedanta and service |
| Jyotirao Phule | Satyashodhak Samaj | 1873, Maharashtra | Anti-caste movement; education for girls and lower castes |
| Sir Syed Ahmed Khan | Aligarh Movement / MAO College | 1875, Aligarh | Modern education for Muslims |
| Kandukuri Veeresalingam | — | Andhra region, late 19th c. | Known as the "Father of the Telugu Renaissance"; widow remarriage, women's education in coastal Andhra |
| Periyar E.V. Ramasamy | Self-Respect Movement | 1925, Tamil Nadu | Anti-caste and rationalist movement |
| B.R. Ambedkar | — | Maharashtra, national | Mahad Satyagraha (1927) for Dalit access to water; later chief architect of the Constitution |
Timeline of Key Dates (Rapid Recall)
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1600 | English East India Company chartered |
| 1757 | Battle of Plassey |
| 1764 | Battle of Buxar |
| 1857 | Revolt of 1857 |
| 1858 | Government of India Act; Crown takes over from the Company |
| 1885 | Indian National Congress founded |
| 1905 | Partition of Bengal (Curzon); Swadeshi Movement begins |
| 1906 | All-India Muslim League founded (Dhaka) |
| 1909 | Morley-Minto Reforms (Indian Councils Act) |
| 1916 | Lucknow Pact; Home Rule Movement launched |
| 1919 | Jallianwala Bagh massacre; Rowlatt Act; Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms |
| 1920–22 | Non-Cooperation Movement |
| 1922–24 | Rampa Rebellion (Alluri Sitarama Raju) |
| 1928 | Simon Commission visits India |
| 1929 | Lahore Session; Purna Swaraj resolution |
| 1930 | Dandi March; Civil Disobedience Movement begins |
| 1931 | Gandhi-Irwin Pact; execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev |
| 1935 | Government of India Act (provincial autonomy) |
| 1942 | Quit India Movement; Cripps Mission fails |
| 1943–44 | Subhas Chandra Bose leads INA offensives with Japanese support |
| 1946 | Cabinet Mission Plan; Direct Action Day |
| 1947 | Indian Independence Act; India and Pakistan gain independence, 15 August |
| 1948 | Operation Polo; integration of Hyderabad State |
| 1952 | Potti Sriramulu's fast unto death |
| 1953 | Formation of Andhra State (first linguistic state) |
| 1956 | States Reorganisation Act; Andhra Pradesh formed by merging Andhra State and Telangana |
Key Facts at a Glance
- Indus Valley Civilisation: c. 2500–1750 BCE; major sites Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Lothal, Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rakhigarhi.
- Buddha born at Lumbini, enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath, death at Kushinagar ("Four Great Events").
- Ashoka fought the Kalinga War in 261 BCE, after which he embraced Buddhism and Dhamma.
- Gupta period (320–550 CE) called India's "Golden Age"; Chandragupta II's court had the Navaratnas including Kalidasa.
- Kakatiyas of Warangal ruled Telugu lands from the 12th–14th centuries; fell to the Delhi Sultanate in 1323.
- Vijayanagara Empire founded 1336; Krishnadevaraya (r. 1509–29) was its greatest ruler; empire fell after the Battle of Talikota (1565).
- Battle of Plassey (1757) and Battle of Buxar (1764) established British political dominance in Bengal.
- Revolt of 1857 began at Meerut on 10 May 1857; led to the transfer of power from the East India Company to the British Crown (1858).
- Indian National Congress founded 1885 by A.O. Hume; first session presided over by W.C. Bonnerjee.
- Jallianwala Bagh massacre: 13 April 1919, Amritsar — a decisive turning point in the freedom struggle.
- Dandi March/Salt Satyagraha: 12 March–6 April 1930, launching the Civil Disobedience Movement.
- Quit India Movement launched 8 August 1942, "Do or Die" call by Gandhi.
- Alluri Sitarama Raju led the Rampa Rebellion (1922–24) in the Godavari Agency; Potti Sriramulu's 1952 fast led to Andhra State's formation (1953).
- India became independent on 15 August 1947; Nehru first PM; Sardar Patel integrated princely states.
Practice MCQs
- Which Harappan site is known for its dockyard?
a) Mohenjo-daro b) Kalibangan c) Lothal d) Harappa
Answer: c. Lothal in Gujarat had a well-planned tidal dockyard. - Where did Gautama Buddha deliver his first sermon?
a) Bodh Gaya b) Sarnath c) Kushinagar d) Lumbini
Answer: b. The first sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana) was delivered at Sarnath. - Who authored the Arthashastra and guided Chandragupta Maurya?
a) Ashoka b) Chanakya (Kautilya) c) Megasthenes d) Kalidasa
Answer: b. Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, was Chandragupta Maurya's mentor. - The Kakatiya dynasty had its capital at:
a) Golconda b) Warangal c) Vijayanagara d) Amaravati
Answer: b. Warangal was the Kakatiya capital from the 12th to 14th centuries. - Krishnadevaraya, the greatest Vijayanagara ruler, belonged to which dynasty?
a) Sangama b) Saluva c) Tuluva d) Aravidu
Answer: c. Krishnadevaraya belonged to the Tuluva dynasty and authored "Amuktamalyada." - The Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between the British and:
a) Tipu Sultan b) Siraj-ud-Daulah c) Shah Alam II d) Mir Qasim
Answer: b. Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal, aided by the betrayal of Mir Jafar. - The Revolt of 1857 began at:
a) Delhi b) Kanpur c) Meerut d) Lucknow
Answer: c. It began at Meerut on 10 May 1857 over the greased cartridges controversy. - Who founded the Indian National Congress in 1885?
a) Dadabhai Naoroji b) A.O. Hume c) W.C. Bonnerjee d) Surendranath Banerjee
Answer: b. A.O. Hume, a retired British civil servant, founded the INC. - The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in which year?
a) 1909 b) 1919 c) 1929 d) 1942
Answer: b. It occurred on 13 April 1919 in Amritsar under General Dyer's orders. - The Civil Disobedience Movement was launched with which event?
a) Chauri Chaura incident b) Dandi March c) Quit India resolution d) Simon Commission boycott
Answer: b. Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March) of March–April 1930 launched the movement. - Who led the Rampa Rebellion in the Godavari Agency tracts?
a) Potti Sriramulu b) Alluri Sitarama Raju c) Tanguturi Prakasam d) Komaram Bheem
Answer: b. Alluri Sitarama Raju led the tribal uprising (1922–24) against British forest laws. - Whose fast unto death in 1952 led to the creation of Andhra State?
a) Alluri Sitarama Raju b) Potti Sriramulu c) T. Prakasam d) N.G. Ranga
Answer: b. Potti Sriramulu died fasting for a separate Andhra state, formed in 1953. - The Quit India Movement was launched in which year?
a) 1939 b) 1940 c) 1942 d) 1945
Answer: c. It was launched on 8 August 1942 after the failure of the Cripps Mission. - Who led the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) during World War II?
a) Bhagat Singh b) Subhas Chandra Bose c) Chandrashekhar Azad d) Rash Behari Bose (initially, then handed to Bose)
Answer: b. Subhas Chandra Bose led the INA with Japanese support from 1943. - Hyderabad State was integrated into the Indian Union through:
a) Instrument of Accession alone b) Operation Polo (Police Action), 1948 c) Referendum d) Direct annexation by the Nizam's request
Answer: b. The Nizam's reluctance was overcome by Operation Polo in September 1948.