Part II — Indian History, Polity & Geography

Chapter 2: Indian History

2.1 Ancient India

The Indus Valley Civilisation (c. 2500–1900 BCE), with major sites at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, is notable for planned urban grid layouts, advanced drainage systems, and standardised weights/measures. The Vedic Period followed, producing the Rigveda (India's oldest surviving text). The Mauryan Empire (c. 322–185 BCE), founded by Chandragupta Maurya with the guidance of Chanakya, reached its zenith under Ashoka, who embraced Buddhism after the Kalinga War and propagated dhamma through edicts inscribed on pillars and rocks. The Gupta Empire (c. 320–550 CE) is often called the "Golden Age" of ancient India, noted for advances in mathematics (Aryabhata), astronomy, and Sanskrit literature (Kalidasa).

2.2 Medieval India

The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526), comprising five dynasties (Slave/Mamluk, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi), preceded the Mughal Empire (1526–1857), founded by Babur after the First Battle of Panipat (1526). Notable Mughal emperors include Akbar (known for administrative reforms and religious tolerance policies like the Din-i-Ilahi), Shah Jahan (builder of the Taj Mahal), and Aurangzeb (the last major Mughal emperor, whose reign saw significant territorial expansion but also growing internal strife).

2.3 Modern India and the Freedom Struggle

British colonial rule formalised after the Battle of Plassey (1757) and Battle of Buxar (1764), with the Revolt of 1857 marking the first major armed uprising against British rule. The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885. Key freedom movement milestones include the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22), Civil Disobedience Movement/Dandi March (1930), and Quit India Movement (1942), led substantially by Mahatma Gandhi. Subhas Chandra Bose led the Indian National Army (INA). India attained independence on 15 August 1947, with Jawaharlal Nehru as first Prime Minister.

2.4 Practice Set — Indian History (16 MCQs)

1. The Indus Valley Civilisation's major sites include Harappa and:
   (a) Pataliputra (b) Mohenjo-daro (c) Ujjain (d) Kanauj
2. India's oldest surviving text is the:
   (a) Ramayana (b) Mahabharata (c) Rigveda (d) Arthashastra
3. The Mauryan Empire was founded by:
   (a) Ashoka (b) Chandragupta Maurya (c) Bindusara (d) Samudragupta
4. Ashoka embraced Buddhism after which battle?
   (a) Battle of Buxar (b) Kalinga War (c) Battle of Plassey (d) First Anglo-Maratha War
5. The Gupta Empire is often called the:
   (a) Iron Age of India (b) Golden Age of ancient India (c) Age of Invasions (d) Bronze Age of India
6. Aryabhata, the mathematician-astronomer, is associated with which empire?
   (a) Maurya (b) Gupta (c) Delhi Sultanate (d) Mughal
7. The Delhi Sultanate comprised how many major dynasties?
   (a) Three (b) Four (c) Five (d) Six
8. The Mughal Empire was founded by:
   (a) Akbar (b) Babur (c) Humayun (d) Sher Shah Suri
9. Babur established Mughal rule after winning which battle?
   (a) Second Battle of Panipat (b) First Battle of Panipat (c) Battle of Haldighati (d) Battle of Plassey
10. The Taj Mahal was built by which Mughal emperor?
    (a) Akbar (b) Jahangir (c) Shah Jahan (d) Aurangzeb
11. The Battle of Plassey, marking a key step in British colonial expansion, was fought in:
    (a) 1757 (b) 1764 (c) 1857 (d) 1905
12. 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 with no political content
13. The Indian National Congress was founded in:
    (a) 1875 (b) 1885 (c) 1905 (d) 1920
14. The Quit India Movement was launched in:
    (a) 1920 (b) 1930 (c) 1942 (d) 1947
15. Subhas Chandra Bose is most closely associated with:
    (a) The Indian National Army (INA) (b) The Indian National Congress presidency alone (c) The Din-i-Ilahi policy (d) The Kalinga War
16. India attained independence on:
    (a) 26 January 1947 (b) 15 August 1947 (c) 2 October 1947 (d) 26 November 1947

Answer Key

1.(b)

2.(c)

3.(b)

4.(b)

5.(b)

6.(b)

7.(c)

8.(b)

9.(b)

10.(c)

11.(a)

12.(a)

13.(b)

14.(c)

15.(a) 16.(b)