This page lists 5 previous year UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (General Studies Paper-I) questions on Medieval History in the UPSC 2000 Prelims. Choose an option to see the correct answer and the full explanation on the same page.
Showing 1–5 of 5 questions
UPSC 2000Medieval History · Regional Kingdoms
Q1. Which one of the following Muslim rulers was hailed as the ‘Jagadguru’ by his Muslim subjects because of his belief in secularism?
Explanation
Ibrahim Adil Shah II (1580-1627 AD) of Bijapur sultanate was known for promoting religious harmony and blending Hindu-Muslim traditions in music, art, and literature. His secular outlook earned him the title ’Jagadguru’ (World Teacher) among his subjects. He also wrote a book called ’Kitab-i-Nauras’, which discussed religious tolerance and philosophical ideas. Gulshan- i-Ishq was one of his portraits made after his death.
UPSC 2000Medieval History · Regional Kingdoms
Q2. Who among the following streamlined the Maratha administration after Sambhaji?
Explanation
Balaji Vishwanath (1713-1720 AD) became the Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha Empire in 1714 during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, the grandson of Shivaji Maharaj. He is credited with playing a pivotal role in strengthening the administration of the Maratha Empire and ensuring the centralization of power under the Peshwa system. His leadership set the stage for the Maratha Empire’s expansion in the 18th century.
UPSC 2000Medieval History · Miscellaneous
Q3. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Ancient site)
List-II (Archaeological finding)
A. Iqta
1. Marathas
B. Jagir
2. Delhi Sultans
C. Amaram
3. Mughals
D. Mokasa
4. Vijayanagara
Explanation
Iqta is associated with the Delhi Sultans, this system involves land grants assigned to officials (Iqtadars) for revenue collection and administrative responsibilities. Jagir term was pertinent to the Mughals, this was a system where land revenue rights were assigned to officials as compensation for their services. Amaram is associated with the Vijayanagara Empire, this term referred to land assignments granted to military officers (Amaranayakas) who were responsible for providing troops to the central authority. Mokasa - Relevant to the Marathas, it referred to revenue assignments given to local officials or chiefs.
UPSC 2000Medieval History · Miscellaneous
Q4. Consider the following events: 1. Reign of Krishna Deva of Vijayanagara 2. Construction of Qutab Minar 3. Arrival of Portuguese in India 4. Death of Firoz Tughlaq Correct chronological sequence of these events is:
Explanation
The Qutub Minar was built by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, in 1193. It was later completed by his successor Iltutmish in the early 13th century. It is a victory tower or minaret that was constructed to mark the beginning of Muslim rule in India and to celebrate Qutb-ud-Din Aibak’s victory over the Rajputs. Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq is credited with having repaired the tower in the 14th century after it was damaged by lightning. The Qutub Minar was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, recognizing its architectural and historical significance. Firoz Shah Tughlaq, a Delhi Sultan known for administrative reforms, died in 1388 A.D. Firoz Shah introduced the Faujdar system and created the post of Shiqdar (District head). Vasco da Gama’s arrival at Calicut in 1498 marked the beginning of Portuguese maritime influence in India. Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara (1509-1529 A.D) was the greatest ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire, contributing to military, administrative, and cultural advancements.
UPSC 2000Medieval History · Miscellaneous
Q5. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the list:
List-I
List-II
A. Land allotted to big feudal landlords
1. Jagirdari System
B. Land allotted to revenue farmers of rent collectors
2. Ryotwari System
C. Land allotted to each peasant with the right to sublet, mortgage transfer, gift or sell
3. Mahalwari System
D. Revenue settlements made at village level
4. Zamindari System
Explanation
In the Jagirdari System, land was assigned to feudal landlords or nobles (Jagirdars) in exchange for administrative or military service. The land granted to Jagirdars was not permanently owned by them. They were assigned the revenue rights of the land for a fixed term. Under the Zamindari System, intermediaries (Zamindars) collected revenue from peasants and passed it to the government. They did not own the land but had the right to collect taxes from the peasants in exchange for keeping a portion of the collected revenue. In the Ryotwari System, individual peasants (Ryots) owned the land directly and had the right to sublet, mortgage, or sell it. It was mainly implemented in areas like Madras, Bombay, and parts of Assam. The Mahalwari System involved revenue collection based on the collective responsibility of an entire village (Mahal). The head of the village, often a local leader or a prominent landowner, would be responsible for paying the land tax for the entire group of villages.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2000
(c) Ibrahim Adil Shah
2
2000
(b) Balaji Vishwanath
3
2000
(b) A-2; B-3; C-4; D-1
4
2000
(a) 2, 4, 3, 1
5
2000
(b) A-1; B-4; C-2; D-3
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Medieval History?
This page covers 5 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Medieval History in the UPSC 2000 Prelims, asked between 1996 to 2024. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Medieval History?
Questions on Medieval History in the UPSC 2000 Prelims are available for 27 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
