Medieval Indian History MCQs: Foreign Invasions, Rajputs, Slave and Khilji Dynasties for UPSC, SSC, Railways and State PSC Exams
Medieval Indian History is an important part of exams like UPSC, SSC, Railways, and State PSCs. This period includes the attacks by foreign rulers, the rise and decline of the Rajput kings, and the beginning of the Delhi Sultanate under the Slave and Khilji rulers. Many exam questions from this topic are based on major battles, systems of rule, economic changes, cultural developments, and the efforts of Indian rulers to resist foreign powers.
Who was the first Muslim invader of India, whose attack in 712 CE opened the north-western frontier for later invasions?
a) Mahmud of Ghazni
b) Muhammad Ghori
c) Muhammad-bin-Qasim
d) Timur
Answer: c) Muhammad-bin-Qasim
Muhammad-bin-Qasim invaded India and defeated King Dahir in the Battle of Rawar (712 CE). King Dahir belonged to which dynasty?
a) Chalukya
b) Maurya
c) Brahmin Dynasty of Sindh
d) Gurjara-Pratihara
Answer: c) Brahmin Dynasty of Sindh
Mahmud of Ghazni, who raided India 17 times between 1000–1027 CE, is most remembered for the plunder of Somnath temple in Gujarat. This raid took place in which year?
a) 1001 CE
b) 1014 CE
c) 1025 CE
d) 1030 CE
Answer: c) 1025 CE
Which Indian ruler, known as the last great Hindu ruler of the north before the Delhi Sultanate, fought against Mahmud of Ghazni but could not stop his invasions?
a) Rajendra Chola
b) Mihira Bhoja
c) Prithviraj Chauhan
d) Jaipal of Hindushahi dynasty
Answer: d) Jaipal of Hindushahi dynasty
The Battle of Tarain I (1191 CE) was fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad Ghori. What was its outcome?
a) Ghori defeated Prithviraj
b) Prithviraj defeated Ghori
c) Both sides signed a treaty
d) Battle ended without result
Answer: b) Prithviraj defeated Ghori
In the Second Battle of Tarain (1192 CE), Muhammad Ghori decisively defeated which Rajput king, paving the way for the establishment of Muslim rule in north India?
a) Rana Sanga
b) Prithviraj Chauhan
c) Raja Bhoja
d) Chand Bardai
Answer: b) Prithviraj Chauhan
After Muhammad Ghori’s death in 1206 CE, his slave and general Qutbuddin Aibak established which dynasty in India?
a) Khilji Dynasty
b) Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty
c) Tughlaq Dynasty
d) Sayyid Dynasty
Answer: b) Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty
Qutbuddin Aibak, the founder of the Slave Dynasty, was also known by which title because of his generosity?
a) Lakhbaksh (giver of lakhs)
b) Ghazi (warrior for Islam)
c) Alamgir
d) Shams-ud-din
Answer: a) Lakhbaksh (giver of lakhs)
Who among the following was responsible for starting the construction of Qutub Minar in Delhi, later completed by Iltutmish?
a) Balban
b) Qutbuddin Aibak
c) Razia Sultan
d) Alauddin Khilji
Answer: b) Qutbuddin Aibak
Which ruler of the Slave Dynasty shifted the capital from Lahore to Delhi and completed the construction of Qutub Minar?
a) Iltutmish
b) Razia Sultan
c) Balban
d) Qutbuddin Aibak
Answer: a) Iltutmish
Razia Sultan, the only woman ruler of Delhi Sultanate, was the daughter of which ruler?
a) Balban
b) Qutbuddin Aibak
c) Iltutmish
d) Nasiruddin Mahmud
Answer: c) Iltutmish
Ghiyasuddin Balban, one of the strongest rulers of the Slave Dynasty, is known for which policy to strengthen monarchy?
a) Blood and Iron Policy
b) Religious Tolerance
c) Annexation of South India
d) Alliance with Mongols
Answer: a) Blood and Iron Policy
The Khilji Dynasty was founded by which ruler after the decline of the Slave Dynasty in 1290 CE?
a) Jalaluddin Khilji
b) Alauddin Khilji
c) Mubarak Khilji
d) Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah
Answer: a) Jalaluddin Khilji
Alauddin Khilji introduced the market control system to regulate prices of essential goods in Delhi. Who was appointed as the market controller (Shahna-i-Mandi)?
a) Malik Kafur
b) Barid-i-Mandi
c) Amir Khusrau
d) Ziauddin Barani
Answer: b) Barid-i-Mandi
Which famous general of Alauddin Khilji led the expeditions to South India, defeating rulers like the Yadavas, Hoysalas, and Kakatiyas?
a) Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
b) Malik Kafur
c) Nasiruddin Khusrau
d) Zafar Khan
Answer: b) Malik Kafur
Which Rajput dynasty is known for its heroic resistance against Muslim invasions, with rulers like Prithviraj Chauhan and Rana Sanga?
a) Chalukyas
b) Rathores
c) Chauhans
d) Solankis
Answer: c) Chauhans
The Battle of Khanwa (1527 CE) is remembered for the resistance put up by Rana Sanga of Mewar against which invader?
a) Babur
b) Alauddin Khilji
c) Ghiyasuddin Balban
d) Timur
Answer: a) Babur
Which Delhi Sultan assumed the title “Sikander-i-Sani” (Second Alexander) because of his military conquests?
a) Balban
b) Alauddin Khilji
c) Iltutmish
d) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
Answer: b) Alauddin Khilji
Who was the court poet of Alauddin Khilji, famous for works like Tughlaq Nama and chronicling Delhi Sultanate history?
a) Amir Khusrau
b) Ziauddin Barani
c) Al-Biruni
d) Ibn Battuta
Answer: a) Amir Khusrau
Which Sultanate ruler successfully defended India from repeated Mongol invasions during his reign?
a) Qutbuddin Aibak
b) Balban
c) Alauddin Khilji
d) Razia Sultan
Answer: c) Alauddin Khilji
The term “Iqta system”, where land revenue was assigned to nobles in return for military service, was first introduced by which Delhi Sultan?
a) Qutbuddin Aibak
b) Iltutmish
c) Razia Sultan
d) Alauddin Khilji
Answer: b) Iltutmish
Who was the last ruler of the Slave Dynasty, defeated and killed by Jalaluddin Khilji in 1290 CE?
a) Nasiruddin Mahmud
b) Ghiyasuddin Balban
c) Kaikubad
d) Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah
Answer: c) Kaikubad
The famous traveler Ibn Battuta visited India during the reign of which Delhi Sultan?
a) Alauddin Khilji
b) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
c) Balban
d) Iltutmish
Answer: b) Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq
Which Rajput clan controlled Kanauj and often clashed with the Chauhans during the medieval period?
a) Gahadavalas
b) Paramaras
c) Chandelas
d) Rathores
Answer: a) Gahadavalas
The heroic queen Rani Padmini (Padmavati) is associated with which Rajput dynasty and city that resisted Alauddin Khilji’s invasion?
a) Rathores of Marwar
b) Chauhans of Ajmer
c) Sisodiyas of Chittor
d) Solankis of Gujarat
Answer: c) Sisodiyas of Chittor
