India Medieval History MCQ

Medieval India MCQs with Explanations

1. Who was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India?
a) Akbar
b) Babur
c) Humayun
d) Ibrahim Lodi

Answer: b) Babur

• Explanation:  Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur, a Timurid prince from Central Asia, defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi, at the  First Battle of Panipat in 1526 . This victory is traditionally marked as the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India.

2. The 'Din-i-Ilahi' was a religious movement introduced by:
a) Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq
b) Sher Shah Suri
c) Akbar
d) Aurangzeb

Answer: c) Akbar

• Explanation:  The  Din-i-Ilahi  ("Religion of God") was a syncretic religious philosophy propounded by the Mughal Emperor  Akbar  in 1582. It aimed to merge elements from various religions like Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity to foster communal harmony and strengthen his political authority.

3. The famous traveler Ibn Battuta visited India during the reign of:
a) Alauddin Khalji
b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq
c) Firoz Shah Tughlaq
d) Iltutmish

Answer: b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

• Explanation:  The Moroccan scholar and explorer  Ibn Battuta  arrived in India in 1333. He was appointed as a  qadi (judge)  by the Delhi Sultan,  Muhammad bin Tughlaq . His travelogue,  The Rihla , provides a detailed account of the socio-political conditions of the Sultanate.

4. The land revenue system known as 'Zabt' was extensively developed under:
a) Sher Shah Suri
b) Akbar
c) Alauddin Khalji
d) Jahangir

Answer: b) Akbar

• Explanation:  The  Zabt  system was a method of land revenue assessment and collection introduced by Akbar's finance minister,  Raja Todar Mal . It was part of the  Dhahsala  system, where revenue was calculated based on the average produce and prices of land over a 10-year period. While Sher Shah Suri laid the groundwork, it was perfected under Akbar.

5. Who among the following was the last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate?
a) Ibrahim Lodi
b) Bahlul Lodi
c) Sikandar Lodi
d) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

Answer: a) Ibrahim Lodi

• Explanation:   Ibrahim Lodi  was the last Sultan of the Lodi Dynasty. His defeat and death at the hands of  Babur  in the  First Battle of Panipat (1526)  marked the end of the Delhi Sultanate and the beginning of the Mughal Era.

6. The 'Ashtapradhan' was a council of eight ministers associated with:
a) The Vijayanagara Empire
b) The Chola Administration
c) The Maratha Administration of Shivaji
d) The Rajput Kingdoms

Answer: c) The Maratha Administration of Shivaji

• Explanation: