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History of India: GK questions and answers

These questions walk through Indian history from the Indus Valley to independence: the great rulers, the famous battles and the leaders and slogans of the freedom struggle.

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20 questions on history of India

  1. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were cities of which civilisation? Indus Valley Civilisation It flourished around 2500 BCE and is known for planned cities with straight streets and covered drains.
  2. Who founded the Maurya Empire? Chandragupta Maurya He was guided by his teacher Chanakya (Kautilya).
  3. After which war did Emperor Ashoka give up violence? Kalinga War Kalinga was in present-day Odisha. After the war Ashoka turned to the teachings of the Buddha.
  4. Which period is often called the "Golden Age" of ancient India? Gupta period Art, literature, mathematics and astronomy did well in this period. Kalidasa and Aryabhata belong to it.
  5. Who founded the Mughal Empire in India? Babur He won the First Battle of Panipat in 1526.
  6. Which Mughal emperor built the Taj Mahal? Shah Jahan He built it in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
  7. In which year was the First Battle of Panipat fought? 1526 It was fought between Babur and Ibrahim Lodi.
  8. The Battle of Plassey was fought in which year? 1757 It opened the way for British rule in Bengal.
  9. In which year did the Revolt of 1857, also called the First War of Independence, begin? 1857 It began at Meerut on 10 May 1857.
  10. In which year was the Indian National Congress founded? 1885 Its first session was held in Bombay, with W. C. Bonnerjee as president.
  11. In which year did the Jallianwala Bagh tragedy take place? 1919 It happened in Amritsar on 13 April 1919.
  12. The Dandi March of 1930 was a protest against the tax on what? Salt Gandhiji walked from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, on the coast of Gujarat, and made salt there.
  13. In which year was the Quit India Movement launched? 1942 It was launched on 8 August 1942 in Bombay.
  14. Who gave the slogan "Do or Die"? Mahatma Gandhi He gave it during the Quit India Movement.
  15. Who said "Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it"? Bal Gangadhar Tilak Tilak was given the title Lokmanya, "accepted by the people".
  16. Who gave the call "Dilli Chalo" to the soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj? Subhas Chandra Bose He is lovingly called Netaji.
  17. Who is known as the "Iron Man of India"? Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel He united the princely states into the Indian Union.
  18. Who was the first Prime Minister of independent India? Jawaharlal Nehru He was Prime Minister from 15 August 1947 until his death in 1964.
  19. Who was the first President of India? Dr Rajendra Prasad He was President from 1950 to 1962.
  20. Who gave the slogan "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan"? Lal Bahadur Shastri He gave it in 1965. He was the second Prime Minister of India.

These are well-established facts, written in our own words and last checked on 11 November 2026. If your textbook says something different, follow your textbook and tell us.

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