Medieval Indian History is a key topic for students preparing for government exams like SSC, UPSC, State PSCs, NET, and others. Many questions in these exams are based on foreign invasions, Muslim rulers, and how they changed India. To help you prepare better, we have put together 25 simple multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with answers. These questions cover important battles, invasions, and rulers from that time. Practicing them will help you remember facts better and do well in the exam.
- The first Muslim invasion of India marked the beginning of medieval foreign incursions. Who was the leader of the 711 AD attack that led to the capture of Sindh?
a) Mahmud Ghaznavi
b) Muhammad Ghori
c) Muhammad Bin Qasim
d) Timur Lang
Answer: c) Muhammad Bin Qasim - In 712 AD, Muhammad Bin Qasim defeated the last Hindu ruler of Sindh, Raja Dahir. This victory is associated with which famous battle?
a) Battle of Tarain
b) Battle of Rewar (Aror)
c) Battle of Chandawar
d) Battle of Karnal
Answer: b) Battle of Rewar (Aror) - Although Muhammad Bin Qasim initially succeeded in conquering Sindh, he was later resisted and defeated by which group of rulers from Indian dynasties?
a) Alauddin Khalji and his generals
b) Bappa Rawal, Nagabhata, and Vikramaditya II
c) Bhimdev Solanki and Jayachandra
d) Maharana Sanga and Amar Singh
Answer: b) Bappa Rawal, Nagabhata, and Vikramaditya II - Mahmud of Ghazni became renowned for his repeated invasions of India. He was the son of which earlier Turkish leader?
a) Sabuktigin
b) Muhammad Ghori
c) Timur Lang
d) Qutbuddin Aibak
Answer: a) Sabuktigin - In medieval history, the title of “Sultan” was first formally given to which ruler, who carried out numerous campaigns in India?
a) Qutbuddin Aibak
b) Mahmud Ghaznavi
c) Balban
d) Muhammad Bin Qasim
Answer: b) Mahmud Ghaznavi - From 1000 AD to 1027 AD, how many times did Mahmud of Ghazni come to India to attack?
a) 10 times
b) 12 times
c) 17 times
d) 20 times
Answer: c) 17 times - Among Mahmud Ghaznavi’s invasions, the most infamous one was his attack on a famous Hindu temple in 1026 AD. Which temple did he sack and destroy?
a) Sun Temple at Konark
b) Somnath Temple in Gujarat
c) Brihadeshwara Temple in Thanjavur
d) Lakshmana Temple at Khajuraho
Answer: b) Somnath Temple in Gujarat - At the time of Mahmud Ghaznavi’s invasion of Somnath in 1026 AD, who was the ruler under whose reign this event occurred?
a) Bhimdev Solanki I of the Chalukya dynasty
b) Jayachandra of Kannauj
c) Prithviraj Chauhan of Delhi
d) Iltutmish of Delhi Sultanate
Answer: a) Bhimdev Solanki I - Mahmud of Ghazni, despite his military successes, eventually died in 1030 AD. What was the cause of his death?
a) Killed in battle
b) Malaria
c) Assassination by rebels
d) Old age and illness
Answer: b) Malaria - Muhammad Ghori, who later helped start Muslim rule in India, made his first attack in 1175 AD. Who was the target of this attack?
a) Prithviraj Chauhan
b) Shia ruler of Multan
c) Jayachandra of Kannauj
d) Bhimdev Solanki
Answer: b) Shia ruler of Multan - In 1178 AD, Muhammad Ghori suffered a defeat while attempting to expand into Gujarat. Who was responsible for defeating him?
a) Prithviraj Chauhan at Tarain
b) Queen Naikidevi and Bhima II
c) Iltutmish of Delhi
d) Jayachandra of Kannauj
Answer: b) Queen Naikidevi and Bhima II - The First Battle of Tarain took place in 1191 AD between Muhammad Ghori and Prithviraj Chauhan. What happened at the end of this battle?
a) Ghori won decisively
b) Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated
c) Muhammad Ghori was defeated
d) The battle ended in a stalemate
Answer: c) Muhammad Ghori was defeated - In the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 AD, Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan. Which Indian king helped Ghori during this fight?
a) Bhimdev Solanki
b) Jayachandra of Kannauj
c) Alauddin Khalji
d) Khokhar tribal chiefs
Answer: b) Jayachandra of Kannauj - After his conquests in North India, Muhammad Ghori was eventually killed in 1206 AD. Which tribal group was responsible for his death?
a) Rajputs of Delhi
b) Khokhar tribe of the Salt Range
c) Mongol invaders
d) Slave soldiers of Delhi
Answer: b) Khokhar tribe of the Salt Range - Malik Kafur was a slave and a general who led attacks in South India. On whose orders did he do these campaigns?
a) Qutbuddin Aibak
b) Alauddin Khalji
c) Muhammad Ghori
d) Balban
Answer: b) Alauddin Khalji - In 1739, the Mughal Empire suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of an Iranian ruler at the Battle of Karnal. Who was this invader?
a) Timur
b) Genghis Khan
c) Nadir Shah
d) Babur
Answer: c) Nadir Shah - During his invasion, Nadir Shah looted Delhi and carried away some of India’s most precious treasures. Which two famous symbols of Mughal grandeur did he take?
a) Taj Mahal & Kohinoor diamond
b) Peacock Throne & Kohinoor diamond
c) Qutub Minar & Peacock Throne
d) Red Fort & Peacock Throne
Answer: b) Peacock Throne & Kohinoor diamond - The largest empire in world history, the Mongol Empire, was founded by which famous Central Asian conqueror?
a) Timur Lang
b) Genghis Khan
c) Kublai Khan
d) Chengiz Khan II
Answer: b) Genghis Khan - During the reign of Iltutmish, Genghis Khan invaded India. In which year did this invasion occur?
a) 1219
b) 1221
c) 1292
d) 1398
Answer: b) 1221 - The Chagatai Khanate, which was part of the Mongol Empire, attacked Punjab during the time of the Delhi Sultanate. In which year did this happen?
a) 1219
b) 1221
c) 1292
d) 1398
Answer: c) 1292 - The Mongol leader who invaded India in 1299 was defeated and imprisoned in the Battle of Kili. Which Delhi Sultan successfully resisted this invasion?
a) Balban
b) Alauddin Khalji
c) Iltutmish
d) Muhammad Ghori
Answer: b) Alauddin Khalji - The Central Asian conqueror Timur, also known as Tamerlane, invaded India during the Tughlaq dynasty. In which year did he launch his attack?
a) 1221
b) 1292
c) 1398
d) 1414
Answer: c) 1398 - Which Chandella ruler commissioned the Lakshmana temple at Khajuraho?
a) Vidyadhara
b) Yashovarman
c) Nannuka
d) Siyaji
Answer: b) Yashovarman - Rajputs are divided into how many clans?
a) 12
b) 24
c) 36
d) 40
Answer: c) 36 - Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire, invaded India and defeated Ibrahim Lodi. Which battle marked the foundation of Mughal rule in India?
a) First Battle of Panipat (1526)
b) Battle of Khanwa (1527)
c) Battle of Chausa (1539)
d) Battle of Talikota (1565)
Answer: a) First Battle of Panipat (1526)