Q251. Identify the odd one out among the following medieval literary figures based on the primary language of their most famous devotional compositions:
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.
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Q252. 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:
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.
Q253. 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?
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.
Q254. 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?
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.
Q255. 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.
Q256. Match List I (Persian Literary Work) with List II (Author):
Select the correct code:
| 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 |
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.
Q257. 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.
Q258. 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.
Q259. 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.
Q260. 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?
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.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 251 | (d) Surdas |
| 252 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 253 | (d) Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct |
| 254 | (b) II only |
| 255 | (d) He strictly refused to participate in the translation of Hindu epics due to religious orthodoxy. |
| 256 | (a) A-iii, B-iv, C-ii, D-i |
| 257 | (c) Rekhta |
| 258 | (d) Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah - The first ruler to issue farmans entirely in classical Arabic |
| 259 | (c) It evolved from Khari Boli grammar, heavily incorporating Persian, Arabic, and Turkic vocabulary. |
| 260 | (b) II, I, III |
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.