Part III — General Knowledge: History & Polity

Chapter 3: Indian History and Political System

3.1 Ancient and Medieval India

The Indus Valley Civilisation (c. 2500 BCE), with sites at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, represents one of the world's earliest urban civilisations. The Maurya Empire under Ashoka embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga War. The Gupta Empire is often called the "Golden Age" of ancient India for its achievements in science, mathematics, and the arts. The Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire (founded by Babur in 1526) dominated medieval India.

3.2 Modern India and the Freedom Movement

British colonial rule was formally established after the Battle of Plassey (1757) and consolidated through the 19th century. The Revolt of 1857 is widely regarded as the first major armed uprising against British rule. The Indian National Congress, founded in 1885, spearheaded the freedom movement, culminating in independence on 15 August 1947.

3.3 The Constitution of India

The Constitution of India, the world's longest written constitution, came into effect on 26 January 1950 (Republic Day), though it was adopted on 26 November 1949 (celebrated as Constitution Day/Samvidhan Divas). Dr. B.R. Ambedkar chaired the Drafting Committee. Key features include a parliamentary system of government, fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy, and a federal structure with unitary bias.

3.4 Union and State Government Structure

India follows a parliamentary democracy with the President as head of state and the Prime Minister as head of government. Parliament is bicameral: the Lok Sabha (House of the People, directly elected) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States, indirectly elected). The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court of India, led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

3.5 Delhi's Administrative Structure

The National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi has a unique administrative structure combining features of a state and a union territory: it has an elected Legislative Assembly and Chief Minister, alongside a centrally-appointed Lieutenant Governor (LG), who holds significant administrative powers, particularly over police, public order, and land — a distinguishing feature of Delhi's governance directly relevant to Delhi Police recruitment.

3.6 Practice Set — History & Polity (20 MCQs)

1. The Indus Valley Civilisation's major sites include Harappa and:
   (a) Pataliputra (b) Mohenjo-daro (c) Ujjain (d) Kanauj
2. Ashoka embraced Buddhism after which battle?
   (a) Battle of Buxar (b) Kalinga War (c) Battle of Plassey (d) First Anglo-Maratha War
3. The Gupta Empire is often called the:
   (a) Golden Age of ancient India (b) Iron Age of India (c) Age of Invasions (d) Bronze Age of India
4. The Mughal Empire was founded by:
   (a) Akbar (b) Babur (c) Humayun (d) Sher Shah Suri
5. The Battle of Plassey, which established British political control in Bengal, was fought in:
   (a) 1757 (b) 1764 (c) 1857 (d) 1526
6. The Revolt of 1857 is widely regarded as:
   (a) The first major armed uprising against British rule (b) A minor local skirmish (c) The final battle of Indian independence (d) A purely economic protest
7. The Indian National Congress was founded in:
   (a) 1875 (b) 1885 (c) 1905 (d) 1920
8. India attained independence on:
   (a) 26 January 1947 (b) 15 August 1947 (c) 2 October 1947 (d) 26 November 1947
9. The Constitution of India came into effect on:
   (a) 15 August 1947 (b) 26 January 1950 (c) 26 November 1949 (d) 2 October 1950
10. Who chaired the Constitution's Drafting Committee?
    (a) Jawaharlal Nehru (b) Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (c) Sardar Patel (d) Rajendra Prasad
11. 26 November is celebrated as:
    (a) Republic Day (b) Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) (c) Independence Day (d) Gandhi Jayanti
12. The Lok Sabha is best described as:
    (a) The indirectly elected upper house (b) The directly elected House of the People (c) A purely advisory body (d) The judiciary's apex body
13. The Supreme Court of India is headed by the:
    (a) Attorney General (b) Chief Justice of India (CJI) (c) President directly (d) Speaker of the Lok Sabha
14. As of August 2026, the President of India is:
    (a) Ram Nath Kovind (b) Droupadi Murmu (c) Pratibha Patil (d) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
15. As of August 2026, the Prime Minister of India is:
    (a) Rahul Gandhi (b) Narendra Modi (c) Manmohan Singh (d) Amit Shah
16. Delhi's unique administrative structure combines features of:
    (a) A state and a union territory (b) A purely military zone (c) A purely municipal body with no assembly (d) A fully autonomous republic
17. As of August 2026, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is:
    (a) Anil Baijal (b) Vinai Kumar Saxena (c) Najeeb Jung (d) Tejendra Khanna
18. As of August 2026, the Chief Minister of Delhi is:
    (a) Arvind Kejriwal (b) Atishi Marlena (c) Rekha Gupta (d) Sheila Dikshit
19. In Delhi's governance structure, police and public order fall primarily under the purview of:
    (a) The elected Chief Minister exclusively (b) The Lieutenant Governor, given Delhi's union territory status (c) The Municipal Corporation (d) The Election Commission
20. Rajya Sabha members are:
    (a) Directly elected by the public (b) Indirectly elected, primarily by state legislatures (c) Nominated only by the Prime Minister (d) Selected by the Supreme Court

Answer Key

1.(b)

2.(b)

3.(a)

4.(b)

5.(a)

6.(a)

7.(b)

8.(b)

9.(b)

10.(b)

11.(b)

12.(b)

13.(b)

14.(b)

15.(b)

16.(a)

17.(b)

18.(c)

19.(b) 20.(b)