Q91. Which of the following statements best describes the primary architectural style of the Hampi monuments?
Medieval Indian History: RAS Prelims MCQs
333 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on medieval Indian history are on this page, in 6 chapters. They cover the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire and regional kingdoms, the Mughal Empire, the Marathas, medieval art, architecture, literature and music, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements. Each question has an answer and an explanation, and the formats match the exam: facts, statements, match-the-list and assertion-reason.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 91–100 of 333 questions
Browse Medieval Indian History chapters
Q92. Consider the following statements regarding the causes of the Battle of Talikota (1565):
I. The arrogant and aggressive diplomacy of Rama Raya alienated the Deccan Sultanates.
II. Rama Raya frequently interfered in the internal conflicts of the Sultanates, playing them against each other.
III. The immediate cause was a dispute over the monopoly of the diamond trade in Golconda.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The arrogant and aggressive diplomacy of Rama Raya alienated the Deccan Sultanates.
II. Rama Raya frequently interfered in the internal conflicts of the Sultanates, playing them against each other.
III. The immediate cause was a dispute over the monopoly of the diamond trade in Golconda.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Battle of Talikota was largely triggered by the aggressive foreign policy of the regent Rama Raya. He frequently interfered in the internal politics of the Deccan Sultanates, playing them against each other to expand Vijayanagar’s influence. His perceived arrogance and the humiliation he inflicted upon the Sultans eventually forced the rival states to set aside their differences and form a united front against him.
Q93. The Battle of Talikota, which marked a catastrophic defeat for the Vijayanagar Empire, is also historically known by which of the following names?
Explanation
The Battle of Talikota is also known as the Battle of Rakkasa-Tangadi, named after the two villages near which the decisive encounter took place in 1565. This conflict pitted the forces of the Vijayanagar Empire against the combined armies of the Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bidar Sultanates. The crushing defeat of the Vijayanagar army marked the beginning of the end for the empire’s dominance in South India.
Q94. Who was the de jure ruler (the king) of the Vijayanagar Empire during the Battle of Talikota, while real power rested with Rama Raya?
Explanation
Sadasiva Raya was the nominal or de jure ruler of the Vijayanagar Empire during the time of the Battle of Talikota. However, he exercised very little actual authority, as the real power was concentrated in the hands of his powerful minister and regent, Rama Raya. This period of dual leadership ended abruptly when Rama Raya was captured and executed by the Sultanates during the disastrous battle.
Q95. Consider the following statements regarding the consequences of the Battle of Talikota:
I. The city of Vijayanagara (Hampi) was thoroughly sacked and abandoned.
II. Rama Raya was captured and executed during the battle.
III. Tirumala relocated the capital to Penukonda and founded the Aravidu dynasty.
IV. The Portuguese gained control over the entire Konkan coast without resistance.
V. The Nayakas of Madurai, Tanjore, and Gingee asserted their complete independence shortly thereafter.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. The city of Vijayanagara (Hampi) was thoroughly sacked and abandoned.
II. Rama Raya was captured and executed during the battle.
III. Tirumala relocated the capital to Penukonda and founded the Aravidu dynasty.
IV. The Portuguese gained control over the entire Konkan coast without resistance.
V. The Nayakas of Madurai, Tanjore, and Gingee asserted their complete independence shortly thereafter.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Following the defeat, Hampi was sacked, and Rama Raya was executed. Tirumala subsequently established the Aravidu dynasty at Penukonda. This vacuum of central power allowed regional Nayakas, such as those in Madurai and Tanjore, to gradually assert their independence. However, the Portuguese did not gain control over the entire Konkan coast effortlessly, as they continued to face local resistance and competition from various Deccan powers.
Q96. What was the primary political factor that facilitated the rise of the Bahmani Kingdom in 1347 CE?
Explanation
The Bahmani Kingdom was established in 1347 CE primarily due to the widespread rebellion of the ‘Sada’ amirs (Centurions) against the oppressive and unstable policies of Muhammad bin Tughlaq. Led by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah, these officials successfully broke away from the Delhi Sultanate’s control. This secession occurred during a period of general fragmentation within the Tughlaq Empire, allowing the new kingdom to solidify its power in the Deccan.
Q97. Which of the following pairs relating to the Bahmani Kingdom is incorrectly matched?
Explanation
Ahmad Shah Wali is noted for shifting the Bahmani capital from Gulbarga to Bidar in 1424, not the reverse. Gulbarga had served as the first capital since the kingdom’s inception under Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah. Mahmud Gawan was indeed a highly influential Persian merchant who served as the Prime Minister, significantly modernizing the state’s administration and military before being executed due to court intrigues.
Q98. Match the items in List I with those in List II and select the correct answer using the options given below.
| Deccan Sultanate | Ruling Dynasty |
|---|---|
| A. Bijapur | i. Nizam Shahi |
| B. Ahmadnagar | ii. Adil Shahi |
| C. Golconda | iii. Barid Shahi |
| D. Bidar | iv. Qutb Shahi |
Explanation
After the disintegration of the Bahmani Empire, five independent Sultanates emerged. The Adil Shahi dynasty ruled Bijapur, while the Nizam Shahi dynasty governed Ahmadnagar. Golconda was controlled by the Qutb Shahi dynasty, and the Barid Shahi dynasty held power in Bidar. These states often engaged in mutual warfare but occasionally united, most notably to defeat the Vijayanagar Empire in 1565 at the Battle of Talikota.
Q99. The architectural marvel ‘Gol Gumbaz’, famous for its massive dome and whispering gallery, is located in which of the successor states of the Bahmani Kingdom?
Explanation
The Gol Gumbaz is the magnificent mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah and is located in Bijapur. It is world-renowned for its massive dome, which is one of the largest in existence, and its famous whispering gallery where even the slightest sound is echoed multiple times. This architectural masterpiece represents the pinnacle of the Adil Shahi style, blending Persian and Indian influences into a grand structural form.
Q100. Consider the following statements regarding the successor states of the Bahmani Kingdom (the five Deccan Sultanates):
I. Berar was the first state to break away from the Bahmani Kingdom.
II. Golconda was absorbed by the Mughal Empire during the reign of Akbar.
III. Ahmadnagar successfully defended itself against Mughal incursions under the leadership of Chand Bibi.
IV. Bidar was the last of the five Sultanates to declare its independence.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. Berar was the first state to break away from the Bahmani Kingdom.
II. Golconda was absorbed by the Mughal Empire during the reign of Akbar.
III. Ahmadnagar successfully defended itself against Mughal incursions under the leadership of Chand Bibi.
IV. Bidar was the last of the five Sultanates to declare its independence.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Berar was the first Sultanate to declare independence, and Bidar was the last. Ahmadnagar resisted the Mughals for a time under the heroic leadership of Chand Bibi. However, Golconda was not absorbed during Akbar’s reign; it maintained its independence much longer, finally falling to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1687. These Sultanates represent the complex political landscape of the Deccan during the transition to Mughal dominance.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 91 | (a) Dravidian style with high gopurams, pillared mandapas, and composite pillars |
| 92 | (b) I and II only |
| 93 | (b) Battle of Rakkasa-Tangadi |
| 94 | (c) Sadasiva Raya |
| 95 | (d) I, II, III, and V only |
| 96 | (c) The revolt of the Centurions against Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s policies |
| 97 | (b) Ahmad Shah Wali - Shifted the capital from Bidar to Gulbarga |
| 98 | (d) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 99 | (a) Bijapur |
| 100 | (a) I, III, and IV only |
Key facts from Medieval Indian History
- The RPSC syllabus names the Sultanate period, the political and cultural achievements of Vijayanagar, Mughal administration and policies, the Marathas, medieval art and literature, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements.
- Delhi Sultanate questions revolve around reforms: Alauddin Khalji’s market control and cash salaries, Firoz Shah Tughlaq’s public works and the Iqta system.
- Mughal and Maratha questions pair a ruler with a battle, treaty or institution, such as Panipat 1526, Khanwa 1527, Purandar 1665 and the Ashtapradhan.
- Art questions link monuments, painters and poets to their patron, for example the Buland Darwaza with Akbar and the Bani Thani with Savant Singh of Kishangarh.
- Bhakti questions test founders, philosophies and texts, such as Ramanuja’s Vishishtadvaita and Kabir’s Bijak.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Medieval Indian History?
This page has 333 practice MCQs on Medieval Indian History. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters are in the medieval Indian history set?
Six chapters: the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire and regional kingdoms, the Mughal Empire (administration and policies), the Marathas, medieval art, architecture, literature and music, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements.
Is medieval history in the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. RPSC includes the Sultanate period, Vijayanagar, Mughal administration and policies, the Marathas, medieval art and literature, and the Bhakti and Sufi movements in the ancient and medieval part of Indian History.
How can I revise medieval history quickly?
Make a timeline of rulers, battles and treaties for each chapter, and a table of reforms, buildings and texts against their rulers. Then attempt the chapter questions, read each explanation, and repeat the ones you missed.