Medieval India MCQ 2026 – Topic-wise Practice for SSC, UPSC, Railways

Who was the first Governor-General of India after independence?

Lord Mountbatten

C. Rajagopalachari

Lord Wavell

Lord Linlithgow

💡 Explanation

Lord Mountbatten was the first Governor-General of independent India (1947–48), followed by C. Rajagopalachari.

The Battle of Plassey (1757) was fought between:

British & Marathas

British & Nawab of Bengal

French & British

British & Mughals

💡 Explanation

The Battle of Plassey was fought on 23 June 1757 between the British East India Company (led by Robert Clive) and Siraj ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal.

Who gave the slogan "Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhe Azadi Dunga"?

Bhagat Singh

Mahatma Gandhi

Subhas Chandra Bose

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

💡 Explanation

This famous slogan was given by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to inspire Indians to fight for independence.

The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as:

Vedic Civilization

Harappan Civilization

Dravidian Civilization

Aryan Civilization

💡 Explanation

The Indus Valley Civilization is also called the Harappan Civilization, named after Harappa — one of its major sites discovered first.

Who founded the Maurya Empire?

Ashoka

Chandragupta Maurya

Bindusara

Bimbisara

💡 Explanation

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire around 322 BCE with the help of his advisor Chanakya (Kautilya).

The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched in:

1919

1920

1921

1922

💡 Explanation

The Non-Cooperation Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in September 1920 at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress.

Which Governor-General introduced the Doctrine of Lapse?

Lord Dalhousie

Lord Wellesley

Lord Cornwallis

Lord Canning

💡 Explanation

Lord Dalhousie introduced the Doctrine of Lapse, by which any princely state without a natural heir would be annexed by the British East India Company.

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in which year?

1915

1917

1919

1921

💡 Explanation

The Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on April 13, 1919, when British troops under General Reginald Dyer fired on a peaceful gathering.

Which Mughal emperor built the Taj Mahal?

Akbar

Jahangir

Shah Jahan

Aurangzeb

💡 Explanation

The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1632 and 1653 in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

The Indian National Congress was founded in:

1880

1885

1890

1905

💡 Explanation

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on 28 December 1885 by A.O. Hume, Dadabhai Naoroji, and Dinshaw Wacha.

The Quit India Movement was launched in which year?

1940

1942

1944

1945

💡 Explanation

Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement on 8 August 1942 during World War II, demanding an end to British rule in India.

Who was the last Viceroy of British India?

Lord Mountbatten

Lord Wavell

Lord Linlithgow

Lord Curzon

💡 Explanation

Lord Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of British India (1947). He oversaw the independence and partition of India.

The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in which year?

1942

1945

1947

1940

💡 Explanation

The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942, during the British Raj. The movement demanded an end to British rule in India.

The Indus Valley Civilization is believed to have flourished around which time period?

2500 BCE - 1500 BCE

1500 BCE - 500 BCE

500 BCE - 1000 CE

1000 CE - 1500 CE

💡 Explanation

The Indus Valley Civilization is believed to have flourished around 2500 BCE - 1500 BCE, and is known for its sophisticated urban planning and architecture.

The Battle of Panipat was fought between which two empires in 1761?

Mughal Empire and Maratha Empire

Mughal Empire and British Empire

Maratha Empire and British Empire

Mughal Empire and Sikh Empire

💡 Explanation

The Battle of Panipat was fought between the Mughal Empire and the Maratha Empire in 1761, and resulted in a decisive victory for the Mughal Empire.

The ancient Indian university of Nalanda was located in which state?

Bihar

Uttar Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

West Bengal

💡 Explanation

The ancient Indian university of Nalanda was located in the state of Bihar, and was a major center of learning and intellectual inquiry in ancient India.

The ancient Indian emperor Ashoka ruled from which city?

Pataliputra

Taxila

Kolkata

Varanasi

💡 Explanation

The ancient Indian emperor Ashoka ruled from the city of Pataliputra, which is now modern-day Patna in the state of Bihar.

The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as:

Harappan Civilization

Mohenjo-Daro Civilization

Indus-Saraswati Civilization

Vedic Civilization

💡 Explanation

The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as the Harappan Civilization due to the discovery of the city of Harappa. It is one of the four major civilizations of the ancient world.

Who was the first president of the Indian National Congress?

Dadabhai Naoroji

A.O. Hume

Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee

Lala Lajpat Rai

💡 Explanation

Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee was the first president of the Indian National Congress, elected in 1885. He was a Bengali lawyer and politician.

The Battle of Plassey took place in the year:

1756

1757

1761

1763

💡 Explanation

The Battle of Plassey took place on June 23, 1757, between the British East India Company and Siraj-ud-Daula, the ruler of Bengal. It marked the beginning of British rule in India.