Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music: RAS Prelims MCQs
67 RAS Prelims MCQs on medieval art, architecture, literature and music cover the arcuate system, the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri, Mughal and Rajput painting, Persian and vernacular literature, and Hindustani music. Each question links a building, painter, poet or raga to its patron, region and period.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 51–60 of 67 questions
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
Q51. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): Persian emerged as the paramount language of administration, diplomacy, and high culture throughout the Mughal Empire. Reason (R): Emperor Akbar mandated Persian as the official language of the revenue administration, replacing the localized use of Hindavi. Select the correct answer from the codes below:
Explanation
Persian became the main language of administration, diplomacy and culture under the Mughals. Akbar made Persian the language of revenue records, which supports the assertion, so R explains A.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
Q52. Consider the following statements regarding the Persian literature composed by Abul Fazl: Statement I: His prose style was widely admired for its simplicity, brevity, and avoidance of complex rhetorical devices. Statement II: He authored the Akbarnama, a massive official history that glorified Akbar as the perfect spiritual and temporal sovereign. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Abul Fazl wrote in an ornate and elaborate style, not a simple one, so Statement I is incorrect. He wrote the Akbarnama, which glorified Akbar, so Statement II is correct.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
Q53. Consider the following works of Persian literature produced in or relevant to the Mughal court: I. Ain-i-Akbari serves as a detailed administrative and statistical gazetteer of Akbar’s empire. II. Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh was written by Abdul Qadir Badauni as a critical official history of Akbar’s religious policies. III. Faizi, the poet laureate of Akbar’s court, translated the mathematical treatise Lilavati into Persian. IV. Padshahnama serves as the official court chronicle for the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. V. Baburnama was initially composed in Chagatai Turkish and later translated into Persian by Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan. Which of the combinations given above is incorrect?
Explanation
The Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh was written by Abdul Qadir Badauni as a private, critical history of Akbar’s reign, particularly his religious experiments. It was not an "official" history; in fact, its publication was suppressed because of its negative view of Akbar’s policies. The other works listed, like the Ain-i-Akbari and Padshahnama, correctly identify their authors and roles within the Mughal literary tradition.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
Q54. Which of the following statements regarding Faizi, a prominent figure in the Mughal court, is incorrect?
Explanation
Faizi, a liberal intellectual and brother of Abul Fazl, was deeply involved in Akbar’s project to translate Sanskrit works. Far whom refusing, he oversaw the Persian translation of the Mahabharata and personally translated the mathematical text Lilavati. As the poet laureate, his participation was central to Akbar’s cultural policy aimed at integrating Persian and Indian intellectual traditions within the Mughal court.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
Q55. Match List I (Persian Literary Work) with List II (Author):
Persian Literary Work
Author
A. Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh
i. Abdul Hamid Lahori
B. Ain-i-Akbari
ii. Khafi Khan
C. Muntakhab-ul-Lubab
iii. Abdul Qadir Badauni
D. Padshahnama
iv. Abul Fazl
Select the correct code:
Explanation
Major Persian works of the Mughal era are associated with specific historians. Abdul Qadir Badauni wrote the Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh, while Abul Fazl authored the Ain-i-Akbari. Khafi Khan is known for the Muntakhab-ul-Lubab, which provides a detailed history of the later Mughals. Abdul Hamid Lahori was the official chronicler for Shah Jahan, responsible for the first two volumes of the imperial Padshahnama.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
Q56. During its formative period in the medieval era, the early poetic form of the Urdu language, heavily utilized by Sufi saints in the Deccan, was commonly referred to as:
Explanation
During its early development, especially in the Deccan, the burgeoning language that would become Urdu was often called Rekhta, meaning "scattered" or "mixed." This term reflected the blending of Persian and Arabic vocabulary with the grammatical framework of local Indian dialects. Sufi saints used this versatile medium to spread mystical teachings, making it a significant language for religious and poetic expression.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
Q57. Identify the incorrectly matched pair regarding early figures associated with the development of the Urdu/Hindavi language:
Explanation
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the ruler of Golconda, was a major patron of the Deccani Urdu tradition and is celebrated as the first "Sahib-e- Diwan" poet of Urdu. He did not issue farmans in Arabic to the exclusion of local languages; instead, he promoted the use of Deccani Urdu for literature and administration, contributing significantly to its growth before Delhi.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
Q58. Which of the following statements most appropriately describes the linguistic foundation of the Urdu language?
Explanation
Urdu is an Indo-Aryan language that shares its grammatical base with Khari Boli, a dialect of the Delhi region. Its distinct identity comes from the heavy integration of Persian, Arabic, and Turkic words. It is written in the Perso-Arabic script. This linguistic synthesis allowed it to serve as a bridge between the Islamic administrative elite and the diverse local populations.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
Q59. Arrange the following regions in the chronological order of their historical emergence as the primary flourishing centers of Urdu poetry and literature: I. Delhi II. The Deccan (Golconda/Bijapur) III. Lucknow Which of the above sequences is correct?
Explanation
Urdu literature first flourished in the Deccan sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda, known as Deccani Urdu. After the Mughal conquest of the Deccan, the style moved north, reaching its classical peak in Delhi during the eighteenth century. Finally, with the decline of Delhi’s political power, the center of literary excellence shifted to Lucknow, where it developed a highly sophisticated, ornate style.
RAS PrelimsMedieval Indian History · Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
Q60. Match List I (Classical Music Form/Term) with List II (Description): List I: (Classical Music Form/Term) A. Dhrupad B. Khayal C. Tarana D. Thumri List II: (Description) i. A semi-classical form known for its romantic and emotive expression ii. A majestic, rigorous, and spiritually focused classical vocal style iii. A rhythmic vocal form utilizing meaningless syllables iv. A flexible, imaginative classical style literally meaning ‘imagination’ Select the correct code:
Explanation
Indian classical music includes diverse forms. Dhrupad is a majestic, spiritually focused style with a rigid structure.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
51
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
52
(d) Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct
53
(b) II only
54
(d) He strictly refused to participate in the translation of Hindu epics due to religious orthodoxy.
55
(a) A-iii, B-iv, C-ii, D-i
56
(c) Rekhta
57
(d) Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah - The first ruler to issue farmans entirely in classical Arabic
58
(c) It evolved from Khari Boli grammar, heavily incorporating Persian, Arabic, and Turkic vocabulary.
59
(b) II, I, III
60
(a) A-ii, B-iv, C-iii, D-i
Key facts from Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music
The arcuate system uses load-bearing arches and domes with keystones; it was brought by Islamic builders.
Akbar built the Buland Darwaza to mark the conquest of Gujarat; the Taj Mahal follows the Timurid hasht-bihisht plan with a double dome.
Humayun brought the Persian painters Mir Sayyid Ali and Abd al-Samad; the Tasvir Khana was set up under Akbar.
The Bani Thani, called the Mona Lisa of India, was painted by Nihal Chand under Raja Savant Singh of Kishangarh.
Surdas wrote in Braj Bhasha, Jayasi in Awadhi and Kalhana composed the Rajatarangini on the kings of Kashmir.
Qawwali was popularised by the Chishti Sufis; Dhrupad was patronised by Raja Man Singh Tomar of Gwalior.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music?
This page has 67 practice MCQs on Medieval Art, Architecture, Literature and Music (Medieval Indian History). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What is the arcuate system of architecture?
A system of building with load-bearing arches and domes made with keystones. It was introduced by Islamic builders and replaced the older trabeate system of horizontal beams, though in the Sultanate period the two were often combined.
Why was the Buland Darwaza built?
Akbar built the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri to commemorate his conquest of Gujarat in 1573. It is one of the tallest gateways in the world and is usually asked along with the other buildings of the complex.
Who painted the Bani Thani?
The painter Nihal Chand, under the patronage of Raja Savant Singh of Kishangarh. Its elongated eyes and refined features made the Kishangarh school famous, and the portrait is called the Mona Lisa of India.
